Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Copy of epitaph 12 February 1744/45

Tacel Sub isto Maurisona Marmore,
Adeo Ore, pectore, Moribusque Condidis
Ut Ipse Livor nil potest corpere,
Femella piamvis, mente plusue mascula
Et ante Canos cana eval prudentia,
Pietate priscis quie vigebat Seculis,
Uno verbo, Fotea Virbulum omnium,
Ostensa tervis, Mose recepta ad celites.

Copy of a letter from Robert Spotswood to his children, 1646

It is Gods pleasure y^t you be deprived of mee, [y^t ] I trust,
will not be wanting to supply my Loffe to you anuy^o way.
especially if you Seek him earnestly g^ch I beg of him y^t you
may my boy for y^e present will have a care of you; untill y^e
country be quieted I have left y^e charge of you chiefly to
him as nearest to me & I doubt not bot kindest to you. yo^r—
Grand moy^r uncle & friends of yo^r moyrs side I enjoyne you to
honour & respect & the Laird of furd & M^r John Seerigal as much
as any; g^o if I be not mistaken will give place to none for kindnes
& good ad vise. All y^t I have to bequeath you is y^e example of
my loyalty: g^ch as you looke for a blessing from heaven or will
have mine to light upon you I command you to Imitate & never
to set yo^r faces against yo^r prince for any cause g^t so ever: I hope
you you shall sustain neiy^r infamy nor prejudice by this death
of mine if you ^are not wanting to let yo^r selves oy^rwise present my last
good night to furd & his bedfellow & so praying God may plant his
feare in yo^r hearts & to supply y^e place of a fay^r unto you in my
Blessing Upon you both & Upon the two younger ones I rest for
Ever

The above Copies ^{of Sir Ro Letters to his Children & [illegible] his Hyness} are transcribed from the
Originalls in the Custody of F. Sp[illegible]d of that Ilk
and are hereby attested to be genuine by me
the F. Sp[illegible]d In Wittness
The [Derquet] added to the forgoing papers sent to
Virginea

The above ^forgoing Coppies of Sir Roberts Letter to his Children and their
Birth, with his Hymn (after Sentences) are transcribed by W. [Rawilen]
and Carefully Compared ^{deverbs in verbum} with the originals, which are in the Custody
of J: S—d of that ilk and are hereby attested to be genuine
In witness wherof I have subscribed their presents this 12
Febry 1745 [E Sp]

The day of my Childrens birth
I was Marryed upon my wife Bethia Morrison in
prestongrange upon y^e 6 of June being a Saturday 1629
God called her 17 Nov^r 1639 John my first borne was
borne in Edin^r 22 Feb: 1630 being a Monday about a
quarter of an hour befor nine a clock at night & was
Christened 6 march following by M^r John Maxwell
called after my father Alex^r born in prestongrange
on Sonday y^e 26 of August 1631 about 3 a clock in the
Morning & was christened y^e tuesday following m in y^e kirk
of Salt preston by M^r John Ker called after my fay^r in
Law who was Lying Sick in y^e [illegible] and dyed y^e 20 of—
Sept^r following. Helenor born in Edin.^r upon Sunday
y^e 26 March 1633 about a glen of an house after eight
a Clock at night & was Christened & was christened y^e
thursday following by M^r J Maxwell called after
my Mother in Law; she dyed y^e 11 Ja^r 1634 William
Born in Ed.^r 1 dec^r 1634 being a Monday about a
glen befor two in the afternoon & was Christened y^e
Thursday following by M^r Andrew Ramsay his Godfay^r
Were, y^e earle of Dumfries y^e Laird of Ross[glen] W^m
Dick of braide & M^r W^m Scot clerk of ^e Lession God
called him y^e 29 Jan^r 1636.

Rachell born in Edi^r on Monday y^e 21^st march 1636 about
half ane houre after ten at night & was christened upon
Tuesday y^e 29 of y^e same by M^r Andrew Ramsay named
after my moy.^r

Robert Born in Edr^r on Sonday y^e 17 Sept^r 1636¹⁶³⁷ about
half an houre befor Six a clock in y^e morning & was
christened on y^e friday after by D^r Hannoy Dean of Ed:^r
named after my Lord Boyd y^o was his chief Godfay.^r

Bethia born in Ed^r on Tuesday y^e 22 of october 1639
about half ane houre after nine in y^e morning & was
Christened y^e same night at even by M^r Andre Ramsay
named after my wife God called her in Ja^ry next follow-
ing I being for y^e time in London .

Copie of S^r Robert Spottwoode's Hymn wrote in
his own hand writting.

When I See, thes O Saviour to a Judge
Whose, crosses ^Sinnes were [vidder] then the Scarlet, [trudge]
upon thy blessed feet, Should I grow lame
to go to dye, or think that Sentence shame
when I behold O Son of God their Scorns
and How they mocked thee w^t a Crown of Thorns
When I look on that cursed Crew, that Spitt
Upon thy Sacred face & buffet it
Shall I think Shame when I the Like Shall See
done by the like (Lord) when I come to thee
When I behold, thee naked, Stript of all
thy Ornaments, and Bloody Miscreants fall
to part thy Garments, why should I repine
If there should be no friend to Ransom mine
and when I see those hands perst throu w^t holes
w^ch grasp this all & Span at once the [illegible] poles
Shall I not reach out mine that they may Christ
what Cords So eve they please about my wrist
I will, O Saviour, whilst, I look on thee
nailed to the Cross, think no dath Infamie
let them apparell it also ^as grim & Sad
as y Wiltie Crueltie can make it, add
yet still move weight, unto my Miseries
I like a generous palm shall higher rise
and whilst they lop my branches off, will grow
more straight more upward & more evenly too
Let em bestow on every wind a Limb
open all my va^eins at onece y^t I may Swim
from hence to thee in y^t same Crimson lake
then plant my pierboil'd head upon a stake
Scatter my ashes, throw them in the Air
Lord Since thou knows where all the Atoms are
I care not, thou will recolect my dust
and I am Sure will raise me with the Just