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Cursed Be He That Moves My Bones -
Famous Memorial Inscriptions
By Phil T Byrne
Headstones of the rich and famous, or sometimes
infamous, can be found in graveyards and cemeteries all
over the world. Many of which contain epitaphs and
inscriptions written either by or about the deceased.
These epitaphs, far from being depressing, are often
humorous and very interesting as they are written at the
time of their death.
Take for example the memorial stone for William
Shakespeare, who lived in morbid fear of his body being
dug up or moved after his death. This fear can be
followed through at least 16 of his 32 plays. For
example in Romeo and Juliet when Juliet imagines waking
up and tearing bodies and in Hamlet when a grave digger
throws up skulls and bones.
Dr Schwyzer believes that Shakespeare's epitaph shows he
foresaw his lasting fame. "The strength of feeling is
most extraordinary - gravediggers are threatened with a
curse and even archaeological exploration discouraged,"
added Dr Schwyzer in his Archaeologies of English
Renaissance Literature publication.
Shakespeare's inscription reads (translated into modern
English):
"Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here:
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones."
Shakespeare's grave is in the Holy Trinity Church in
Stratford and has remained, as his wishes, untouched.
Another element of interest in the headstones of the
famous is the design. Many contain lifelike images, or
carvings of hobbies.
John Keats' headstone is engraved with the design of a
lyre with broken strings, which was added by Keat's
friends Joseph Severn and Charles Brown. Keats wanted an
anonymous headstone with only: "Here lies one whose name
was writ in water" as an inscription. Severn and Brown
later added: "This grave contains all that was mortal of
a YOUNG ENGLISH POET who on his death bed in the
bitterness of his heart at the malicious power of his
enemies desired these words to be engraven on his tomb
stone". John Keats is buried in the Protestant Cemetery,
Rome, Italy.
There is plenty to read and contemplate over with regard
to Robin Hood. Kirklees Priory features frequently as
the burial place of a person who is considered to be the
man on whom the legends are based. The small Cistercian
priory of Kirklees was founded in 1155AD during the
reign of Henry II by Reiner le Fleming, lord of the
manor of Wath-upon-Dearne
Although there is no record of when or how Robin Hood
died, it is possible that he was the person who was
killed at Kirklees, which is only 10 miles from
Wakefield. The ballads tell us that Robin Hood was
killed by a relative who was in charge of the priory 22
years after he had left the king's service. Robert
(probably the original name of Robin) left his portering
position in November 1324, so if the ballads are about
him, he would have died in about 1346 or 1347. The
records reveal that, in 1346, the prioress at Kirklees
was Elizabeth de Staynton, the cousin, not of Robert,
but of Matilda, his wife. Elizabeth is recorded as dying
in 1347, the very year that the Geste says Robin's
murderer died. How did he die? A common conclusion is
that he was murdered by the "drawing of blood", not an
uncommon action around those times, taken in the belief
that taking the blood of a person enabled their traits
to be taken by the perpetrator.
The site of Robin's gravestone at Kirklees has been a
place of pilgrimage for centuries. The problem is: it's
the wrong place. The grave has been moved at least three
times. The original grave slab disappeared some time
after 1665. A replica was made, but this was chipped to
pieces by 18th-century canal workers who thought a
little bit of Robin Hood's gravestone would cure
toothache. |
