WARH . G . GOTT . DIE . ERH. “This, O my dear children, has at my wish been put into rhymes, in order that you may know your age by this work of my own hand, which I leave to you as a memorial. I beseech you to be sincere in all matters; that will make you great and glorious. Honour everybody according to his station; it will make you honourably known. You, my truly beloved sons, beware of fiery wine, and drink with moderation; that will preserve you from evil. And you, my truly beloved daughters, let me recommend you to be virtuous. Preserve and guard your honour; and reflect before you do anything; for many have been led into evil by acting first and reflecting afterwards. The way to get to this end is the fear of God, mark me well! The fear of God brings wisdom and understanding. The fear of God makes rich, and gives joy and courage, refreshes life and blood. The fear of God protects us from all evil; and is the way to the state of bliss. The fear of God is the foundation on which the happiness of man rests; and is the chief way to all virtues. He who seeks it in his youth will live with honour till his old age; and his happiness will daily increase. “Amen. Give to God all honour.” “ALS . MAN . ZALT . FUFZEHN . HUNDERT . JAHR. UND . NEUNTZIG . NEUN . DARZU . JST . WAR. DEN . ERSTEN . APRIL . NACH . MITNACHT. GLEICH . UMB . EIN . UHR . OFFT . ICHS . BETRACHT. DER . ALLERLIEBSTE . JUNCKER . MEIN. GENANDT . HEINRICH . VON . GEISPITZHEIM. ZU . DIR . O . GOTT . AUS . DIESER . WELT. ERFORDERT . WIRT . ALS . DIRS . GEFELLT. SEIN . ALTER . WAR . SECHZIG . UND . ACHT. DIE . WASSER . SUCHT . IHN . UMGEPRACHT. DEN . WOLLEST . O . GOTT . GNED . GEBEN. SEIN . PFLEGEN . NACH . DEM . WILLEN . DEIN. JCH . SEIN . BETRUEBTE . NACHGELASSEN . ANN. BLICKIN . VON . LIECHTENPERG . GENANDT. HAB . MIT . NICHT . UNDER . LASSEN . WOLLEN. SONDERN . EIN . SOLICHES . HIE . MELDEN . SOLLEN. IN . DIESEM . TUCH . MIT . MEINER . HANDT. DAMIT . ES . WERD . MEINEN . KINDERN . BEKANDT. DIESES . MEIN . GROSSES . LEID. WELCHES . MIR . VON . GOTT . WARD . BEREIT. “When one wrote the year Fifteen hundred and ninety-nine, on the first of April after midnight, just at one o’clock--often I think of it--my truly beloved husband, the Squire Henry von Geispitzheim, was called to Thee, O God! from this world, according to Thy will. His age was sixty and eight years. The dropsy has killed him. To him grant, O God! Thy mercy, after Thy will. I, his afflicted Anna Blickin von Liechtenperg who was left behind, have related it with my hand in this cloth, that it might be known to my children--this my great sorrow, which God has sent me.”