What is recorded here

Inside St. Erc’s Hermitage, a dismantled limestone table still presses against the north wall, carrying the arms of Fleming, Moore and Barnwall. Randall Baron of Slane married Ellenor Barnwall first and Penelope Moore second, yet the tomb remembers both women in one heavy slab. Goats with collars guard the motto BEARNE REGVN, as if bearing a kingdom meant holding grief steady rather than conquering land.

From Bradley and King (1985, 143), but it is also described by Du Noyer (1891) and Westropp (1901, 428): Chest tomb. This tomb is located against the N wall of the chancel of St. Erc’s Hermitage (ME019-026----). Ellenor Fleming and Penelope Moore. 1667. A table tomb in the chancel is now dismantled except for one table support and the end panel which are in position against the N wall. The mensa consists of a large rectangular slab of limestone, three edges of which have concave and convex mouldings but the fourth side was intended to rest against a wall. The top has an achievement of arms in false relief of the Flemings, Moores, and Barnwalls. The supporters are two goats with collars and rings and the motto: BEARNE REGVN. Incised roman inscription: THIS MONIMENT WAS ERECTED / BY RANDALL LORD BARON OF / SLANE MARIED FIRST TO ELLENOR / BARNEWALL WHO HERE IS / ENTERED DAVGHTER TO Sr RICHARD / BARNWALL OF CHRICKESTOWNE / KNIGHT & BARONETT & AFTER / TO THE LADY PENELOPE MOORE / DAVGHTER TO HENERY MOORE / EARLE OF DROGHEDA / ANNO 1667 The side panel is now completely covered by the mensa but it is a large rectangular piece of limestone. Trench (1976, 30-1, 45) describes it as having the arms of Moore impaled with Spencer and the following inscription: THIS IS THE COATE OF HENRY MOORE / EARLE OF DROGHEDA AND DAME ALICE / SPENCER HIS WIFE WHOSE DAVGHTER / PENELOPE MOORE IS SEACOND WIFE TO / RANDALL LORD BARRON OF SLANE / THE SAIDE DAME ALICE SPENCER DAVGHTER TO WILLIAM / LORD BARRON OF WORME LAYTON WHOSE SONN BEING / KILLED AT NVBERRY IN HIS MATis SERVICE WAS BEFORE BY / CHARLES THE FIRST HIS SAID MATie CREATED EARLE OF / SUNDERLAnd / THE MOTHER TO THE SAID DAME ALICE WAS / PENELOPE WRIOETHESLY / DAVGHTER OF HENRY EARLE OF SOVTHAMTTON WHOSE / BROTHER / THOMAS EARLE OF SOVTHAMTTON SONN TO THE SAID HENRY / WAS CREATED LORD HIGH TREASERER OF ENGLAND / AND DIED ANNO 1667 Dims L 2.14m; Wth 1.13m; T 0.09m. Date of upload: 15 July, 2014

Chest tomb; likely medieval in date. Its location within the chancel of St. Erc’s Hermitage suggests a ecclesiastical and possibly commemorative significance.

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