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
