Inscription description

inscription: Here Lyes the Right Honble AMABELLA late Countess Dowager of KENT Entombed by her Dear Lord HENRY Earl of KENT, to Signifie her resolution to dye with him to the rest of the world, and to Live after so great a Loss only to GOD, and the interest of his Noble Family. This she made good by her exemplary piety and regular Devotion in her Chappel [at Wrest Park] whereto She obliged all her Domesticks every morning and evening to attend her. And Surviving her own Monument 45 years She had time to raise to her Self a more Lasting one, by restoring the Fortune of this Illustrious Family which She found under an Eclipse to near the Height of its antient Splendour. This she effected by her wise Conduct and Large Acquisitions, and by ye Advantageous disposal of her only son ANTHONY Earl of KENT in Marriage with Mary Sole Daughter & Heiress of the Right Honble JOHN Lord LUCAS Baron of SHENFIELD in ESSEX. To the Concerns of her Children and Grand-Children She confined her thoughts & fixed her residence at WREST their usual Seat which She wonderfully improved & imbellished, continually adding to the profit or ornament of that Place until Death gently Seized her August: 17th: 1698 in the 92nd year of her age, & was here interred by ye Right Honble ANTHONY Earl of KENT her most Dutyful Son, who would have caused ys to be here engraven had not a Sudden Death prevented him; but was afterwards perform'd in due acknowledgement of her great beneficence and to perpetuate her pretious Memory to all his Posterity by her Grand-Son, HENRY DUKE of KENT". The Earl's inscription: "To the Pious Memorie of Henry Earle of Kent, Lord Ruthn, Hasting and Washford sonne of Anth Grey of Burbech in the County of Leycester Earle of Kent also of Amabella Countesse of Kent, daughtr & heyre of Sr Anthony Benn of Surrey Knight, by whome he had issue two sons & one Daughtr Anthony Earle of Kent (Henry Grey deceased) and the Lady Elizabeth his only daughtr now living. This monumt was erected by Amabella Countesse Dowager of Kent to the memory of her deare Lord, who was the best of husbandes, and the most pious of men. He departed this life in the yeare of Our Lord 1651.