Roche Abbey: the tombs

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Perwyn of Doncaster and his wife, Isobel
The tomb of Perwyn of Doncaster and his wife, Isobel, lies to the west of the rood screen, in the centre of the nave. A large floriated cross mounted on three steps is depicted on the slab, and a rhymed inscription is carved around the edges; only part of this can is legible and seems to read:

Here lygges Peryn of Doncastre and Ysbel his wife
A gude trwe brother whilome he was on lyfe Jesus for Thy mercy bring them to blysse Pater ni for yam whoso redis (7)

[Here lies Perwyn of Doncaster and Isobel his wife. A good true brother while in life Jesus for Thy mercy bring them to bliss; Paternoster for those who read this.) It has been suggested that Perwyn and his wife were members of the confraternity of Roche, i.e. in return for gifts they were included in the monks’ prayers and received spiritual benefits.(8)]

Two tombs of members of the Rilston family lie north-west of the rood screen, below Perwyn’s tomb. The larger of the two is c. 2.4m x 1m and dated 1498. The Christian name cannot now be seen, but two armorial shields are visible: the upper is a saltire for Rilston, the lower a bend.(9) A figure, praying, is carved on the tomb and the following inscription is etched around the edge:

Hic jacet … Rilston genero(sus) hujus monasterii benefactor qui obiit ix die Augusti Anno Domini
M CCCC IX VIII propicietur Deus, Amen.

[Here lies the noble …. Rilston, benefactor of this monastery, who died 9 August 1498 AD. May God have mercy on his soul, Amen.]

The second Rilston tomb is dated 1494. The slab is plain, c. 2m x 1m, with the following inscription around the edge:

Orate pro animo (Tho)me Rilston gen(er)osi qui
obiit die penultimo Januarii Anno Domini
M CCCC L XXXX IV propicietur Deus. Amen

[Pray for the soul of the noble Thomas Rilston, who died 30 January, 1494 AD. May God have mercy on his soul. Amen].