Inscription on the Terpersie Stone in
the Churchyard of Tullynessle & Forbes
Here lyes Anna Gordon
sometime spouse of James Gordon Laird of Derpersie who
departed this life the
18th of December anno 16711
Here lyes inclosed within this little shrine
The precious body of a soul divine
The souls retourned to God who did it give
To (FORPAC2) his praise, and shall for ever live
The body which with beauty was adorned
Must now to dust from when it was (returned?3)
But yet in remembrence of hir virtue
Shall indure from age to age
Perpetual as Elias she hir wisdom still did show
As Pytho she in (eloquence?4) did flow
And Juno who in riches did excel,
Was not mor free, nor yet mor hospital
The poor she fed, the naked clad
Also non hungry, naked from her house did go
Of beauty, manners and humility
(two lines here at break of stone not yet found)
And there hir life did grace
And showed hir discent of a worthy race
So here the Pheynix of her time doth ly,
Who lived inspottedly and blest did die
(then comes a word, possible age and 72)
(Note. The cross bones immediately
above come after the wading.
There is the hour glass & death’s head
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The above come below the other; all made
larger – below this again a scroll with
words I cant make out)
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The larger stone is in two pieces. The upper portion about 3½ft
by 3ft, the lower about 3ft 4 3 3ft. I can send the exact measure
if require (sic), I had not a rule with me. The other stone, also in
two pieces measures – upper portion 3ft 8in x 1ft 10in or thereby, lower
portion 1ft 8in x 1ft 10in
The smaller stone to the left appears to be the more
ancient of the two. The letters are raised, and are much
worn. I cannot make much of it. First corner at
the top YOMAN or YONAN, occupying the whole
breadth of the stone – Below that word a shield which
occupies the greater portion of the upper part, Below
which appear this ------5
(possibly the last letter is F, and
immediately below and where the stone is broken is TERPERSIE
next line begins QV (who) below again DEPART
Below again something like RT IHE. Below that I have
been unable to make anything: whether any thing is
on the shield I have failed to find
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