Thomas Bastard, Dorset Poet (1566-1618), Epigrams (1598)

Text of Chrestoleros, Seven Books of Epigrams (1598)

Thomas Bastard was born in Blandford Forum in 1566, and was for a while Vicar at Bere Regis. "He died impoverished in the debtor's prison at Allhallows parish, Dochester, and was buried in the parish churchyard" (Wikipedia)

All Hallows or All Saints Church, Dorchester, is not in use as a church, but I was pleased to locate his stone slab in the graveyard there today. At least I thought I had found it. The inscriptions are difficult to read. They all need a good clean and some restoration. Douglas Greenwood, in "Wessex Has Their Bones" (1985), says his gravesite is no longer traceable.

On Thomas Bastard

I knowe where is a thiefe and long hath beene (Liber Tertius, Epigr. 22)  continued

Sheepe have eate up our meadows and our downes (Liber Quartus, Epig. 20)