"But the foulest and most inhuman action of those times, was the violation of funeral monuments. Marbles which covered the dead were digged up and put to other uses, tombs hacked and hewn a-pieces; images, or representations of the defunct, broken, erased, cut, or dismembered; inscriptions or epitaphs, especially if they began with an orate pro anima, or concluded with cujus animæ propitietur Deus. For greediness of the brass, or for that they were thought to be antichristian, pulled out from the sepulchres, and purloined; dead carcasses, for gain of their stone or leaden coffins, cast out of their graves, notwithstanding this request, cut or engraven upon them, propter miserecordiam Jesu requiescant in pace."-Weever's Discourse on Funeral Monuments, p. 50, 51. What was thought to be left unfinished by those persons then in power, the fanatical zeal of the succeeding century pretty fully accomplished; a reference to this Journal alone is sufficient to shew how far the ignorance and obstinacy of selfish men may be persisted in, and carried on, against the remonstrances of sober and moderate reason. A TRUE COPY OF A MANUSCRIPT Found in the Library of Mr. Samuel Dowsing of Stratford, being written by his Father, William Dowsing's own hand, carefully and almost literally transcribed, Sept. 5th, 1704. о O WILLIAM DOWSING SUBSTITUTES Thomas Denning, Mr. Thomas Westhorp of Hunden (a godly man,) Frances Verden for Wangford, Suthelham, Blything, Bosmere, Sudbury, Clare, Fordham, Blacksmere, and would have had Hartsmere. Francis Jessup of Beccles for Lethergland and Shutford Hundred, Bungay, Blithborough, Yoxford and Ringshall. SUDB 9th, 1643. We brake down a picture of God the Father, two crucifix's and pictures of Christ, about an hundred in all; and gave order to take down a cross off the steeple, and diverse angels, twenty at least, on the roof of the church. SUDBURY, Gregory Parish. brake down ten mighty great all eighty. Jan. the 9th. We angels in glass, in ALHALLOWS, Jan. the 9th. We brake about twenty superstitious pictures, and took up thirty brazen superstitious inscriptions, ora pro nobis, and "Pray for the soul," &c. 1. SUFFOLK. At HAVER Jan. the 6th. 1643. We brake down about an hundred superstitious pictures, and seven fryars hugging a nun, and the picture of God and Christ, and diverse others very superstitious; and two hundred had been broke down before I came. We took away two popish inscriptions with ora pro nobis; and we beat down a great stoneing cross on the top of the church. 2. At CLARE, Jan. the 6th. We brake down one thousand pictures superstitious; I brake down two hundred; three of God the Father and three of Christ, and the Holy Lamb, and three of the Holy Ghost like a dove with wings; and the twelve Apostles were carved in wood on the top of the roof, which we gave order to take down; and twenty cherubims to be taken down; and the sun and moon in the east window, by the king's arms, to be taken down. 3. HUNDEN, Jan. the 6th. We brake down thirty superstitious pictures; and we took up three popish inscriptions in brass, ora pro nobis on them; and we gave order for the levelling the steps. 4. Wixo, Jan. the 6th. We brake a picture, and gave order for levelling the steps. 5. WITHERSFIELD, Jan. the 6th. We brake down a crucifix, and sixty superstitious pictures; and gave order for the levelling the steps in the chancel. 6. STOKE-NAYLAND, Jan. the 19th. We brake down an hundred superstitious pictures; and took up seven superstitious inscriptions on the gravestones, ora pro nobis, &c. 7. NAYLAND, SUFF. Jan. the 19th, 1643. We brake down thirty superstitious pictures, and gave |