Ogborne’s History of Theydon Bois and Theydon Mount 1817 – Revisited

Introduction

In 2015 the Group published local extracts from Ogborne’s ‘History of Essex’ a book which, covering the Becontree Hundred, Royal Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower, Half Hundred of Waltham, and a handful of parishes in the Ongar Hundred, turned out to be the only volume published.

Extracts were published of Theydon Bois and Theydon Mount, including descriptions in Latin of memorials in both churches. The power of the Internet allows for quick translation for any non-Latin scholars. (Not being taught Latin the previous approach was to use an English/Latin dictionary word-for-word.)

Theydon Bois

The former church at Theydon Bois dedicated to St Mary, “a small low building, with cupola of wood” contained the memorial “To the memory of John Marmaduke Grafton Dare, esq. died November 22, 1810, aged 49” not long before the publication of Ogborne’s work.

The memorial contained the Latin inscription:

Etate jam florente, miles sese relinquens Patriæque / Penitus addixit, maturis autem annis omnia. / Munera civilis vitæ ftliciter peregit, magisterio / Officio potitus ; ob quietatem animique acumen / Sese elarum reddidit omnibus: mariti, patris, / Filii, fratrisque officiis summo cum amore et / Pietate perfunctus est ; in amicos Denique / Maxime ingeniis studioque semper incensus. / Ut inseriberetur hæc tabella in testimonium / Illius virtutum, suisque plorabilis infortunii / Curavit Elizabetha Grafton Dare, ejus vidua, / Henrici Eaton, armigeri, nuper de villa / Rainham, filia ex uxore Elizabetha unica, / Prole Georgii Mildmay, armigeri, de consanguineo / Generis veteris prosapie diu commorantis apud Marks.

This translates as:

In his prime years, he dedicated himself entirely to his country, and in later years accomplished all the duties of civil life successfully, mastering his profession; for the sake of peace and sharp mind he made himself available to everyone: as a husband, father, son, and brother he performed his duties with utmost love and piety; and to friends, above all, he was always eager in talent and learning.

To have this tablet placed as a testimony of his virtues and his regrettable misfortune, Elizabeth Grafton Dare, his widow, daughter of Henry Eaton, esquire, formerly of the village of Rainham, and the only child of Elizabeth, by George Mildmay, esquire, of an old noble family long residing at Marks, took care.

Theydon Mount

The church was “burnt by lightning, and the present one rebuilt by the first Sir William Smith”. Ogborne tells us that it is “rich in monuments of the Smith family”, one of which is “to the memory of Sir Thomas Smith, whose effigy is placed in a recumbent posture, leaning on his right hand, under an arched canopy: over the figure is the following inscription:

Thomas Smithus, eques auratus, hujus manerii dominus cum regis Edwardi sexti, tum Elizabetha reginæ consiliarius; ac primi nominis secretarius, eorundemque principum ad maximos reges legatus; nobilis ordinis Garterii cancellarius, arda Australisque Claneboy in Hibernia Collenellus, juris civilis supremo titulo etiam cùm adolescens insignitus, orator, mathematicus, philosophus excellentissimus, linguarum Latinæ, Græca, Hebraica, Gallic etiam et Italica callentissimus. Proborum et ingeniosorum hominum fautor eximius, plurimis commodans, nemini nocens, ab injuriis ulscilcendis alienissimus. Denique sapientia, pietate, integritate insignis, et in omni vitâ, seu æger seu valens, intrepidus mori, cum ætatis suæ 65 annum complevisset in ædibus suis Montaulensibus, 12° die Augusti, anno salutis 1577, pie et suaviter in Domino obdormivit.

In other words:

Thomas Smith, a knight of the Golden Order, lord of this manor, counsellor to both King Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth, first secretary of these rulers, envoy to the greatest kings, chancellor of the Order of the Garter, chief of Claneboy in Southern Ireland, awarded the supreme title of civil law even as a youth, an orator, mathematician, and distinguished philosopher, highly skilled in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and even Italian.

A remarkable supporter of virtuous and talented people, generous to many, harming none, completely averse to seeking revenge. Finally, distinguished for wisdom, piety, and integrity, fearless in face of death whether sick or healthy, he peacefully and sweetly passed away in the Lord at his Montaules home on the 12th of August 1577, having reached the age of 65.

Ogborne continues that beneath the figure:

Gloria vita anteacta celebrem facit in terræ Visceribus sepultum. Innocuus vixi; si me post funera lædis, Cælesti Domino facta (sceleste) lues.

In English this reads:

“Fame makes past life celebrated though buried in the bowels of the earth. I lived harmlessly; if you harm me after death, you will suffer before the Heavenly Lord (wicked one).”

He is commemorated with his wife, Philippa who died 20 June 1578.

The Arms and Motto

Over the monument are his Arms in marble with these words:

“Tabificus quamvis serpens oppresseret ignem, Qua tamen erumpendi sit data copia lucet.”

The says “Though the tamer held back the fire like a snake, it's clear there was still the chance for it to burst out.”

Finally, under the is this motto, “Qua pota lucet” meaning “Where the drink shines”.