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NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE Christopher Packe Reclining civilian Alabaster 1682

Christopher, lying on a mattress, is depicted in a large wig, the fur-trimmed robe of the Lord Mayor of London and mayoral chain bearing the portcullis and rose. Behind the effigy are three shields of the Packe arms impaling those of his three wives Sable, a chevron wavey between three griffins segreant or (Newman). Sable, a lion rampant within an orle of cinquefoils argent (Clifton). Ermine, a fess sable cotised gules, charged with four lozenges argent (Richards). At the west end of the tomb are the mace, sword, cap of maintenance and the arms of the City of London (Argent, a cross gules, in the first quarter a sword erect of the second). At the east end of the chest are the arms of Packe (Qly. Sable and or, in dexter quarter a cinquefoil argent) with the motto Libertas sub Rege pro ('Liberty under a pious king') and a lion's head crest. An urn in a broken pediment surmounts the whole creation. Above the inscription plaque is another achievement of arms (Packe impaling Clifton). Bordered by strapwork the inscription reads: Christopherus Packe de Cotes, armiger, Christopheri Packe armigeri hic infra sepulti. Filius natu maximus, necnon hujus manerii dominus; uxorem duxit Janam, filiam unicam superstitem Gervasii Clifton, de Clifton, in Agro Nottinghamiensi, militis et baronetti, e sexta uxore; et tumulum hunc proprio sumptu, officii erga optimum parentem monumentum, mortisque suae indies adrepentis monitorem, diu valetudinarius posuit, suum juxta patrios cineres brevi expectans sepulchrum. Filiios hodie numerat duos, Clifton nempe et Carolum; tesque filias Annam, Francescam et Arabellam. Translated into English the inscription reads: Christopher Packe esquire of Cotes, eldest son of Christopher Packe, who is buried here within, also Lord of the Manor. He wed as wife Jane, only surviving daughter of Gervase Clifton of Clifton in the county of Nottingham, knight and baronet, by his sixth wife; and for a long time ill in health he placed this tomb at his own expense as a monument of duty towards the best of parents and as a warning of his own death which was drawing on him day by day, expecting his own burial place near the ashes of his forefathers in a short time. Today he counts two sons, Clifton of course, and Charles; and three daughters: Anne, Frances and Arabella. Beneath the effigy is a second inscription: Sub hoc marmore deponuntur reliquiae Christopheri Packe, de Cotes, armigeri: qui, agro Northamptoniensi oriundus, difficillimis temporibus civitatis Londin, magistratum gessit, anno scilt MDCXLIX vicecomitis MDCLIV praetoris. E tribus quas duxit uxoribus ab una tantum suscepit prolem: filia nempe natu maxima Simonis Edmonds, ano MDCXLVII vicecomitis Londini, Annoq MDCLI electi Praetoris. Ex hac binos genuit filios, Christophorum et Simonem; tresque filias, Anna nempe natu maxima, Thomae Wilson mercatori Londinensi, Mariam secundam Georgio Pochin, de Barkby, armigero, et Susannam tertiam Thomae Bellot, de Moreton, in comitatu Palatino Cestriae, baronetto, matrimonio junctas. Postquam octoginta-quatuor plus minus impleverat annos, ingravescente indies senecta, moriendi cupidus, feliciorisq vitae spe plenus, ex hac migravit, anno Domini incarnati MDCLXXXII, mensisq Maii die XXVII. Uxor prima fuit filia Newman. Uxor tertia filia Richards. (Under this monument are deposited the remains of Sir Christopher Packe esquire of Cotes, who originating in the county of Northamptonshire performed the office of magistrate of the city of London in most difficult times to wit sheriff in the year 1649 and Mayor in 1654. Of the three wives whom he married he raised offspring from one only: the eldest daughter in fact of Simon Edmonds who in the year 1647 was elected sheriff of London and in the year 1651 mayor. From this woman he bore a pair of sons, Christopher and Simon, and three daughters Anne of course the eldest, who was married to Thomas Wilson, merchant of London; Mary, the second daughter married to George Pochin esquire of Barkby; and Susanna the third married to Thomas Bellot of Moreton in the palatine county of Cheshire. After he had fulfilled 84 years more or less, with old age daily growing heavier, desirous of dying and full of hope of a happier life he departed from this one in the year of our Lord's incarnation 1682 and in the 27th day of the month of May. His first wife was the daughter of Newman. His third wife was the daughter of Richards.) Born about 1598 in Finchley, Middlesex, Christopher Pack was apprenticed as a draper to the Mayor of Reading, John Kendrick. Kendrick died in 1624 leaving Pack £100, which he used to set himself up in business. He soon amassed a large fortune and, in 1649, was elected an Alderman of Cripplegate Ward (London). Sometime Sheriff of London, he became Lord Mayor in 1654. In March 1650 he obtained the lease of the Manor of Prestwold and Cotes. He was an ardent Parliamentarian and in 1657 was amongst those who petitioned Oliver Cromwell to assume the Crown. This was not forgotten by his political enemies, for on the Restoration he was removed from office. Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland Text copyright Max Matthews 2002. Selected text copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025–6. Images copyright Max Matthews 2002 or Bob Trubshaw 2002, 2025–6. No copying or reproduction without prior written permission. Published by Heart of Albion Press Back to top of this page This website does not gather or store any visitor information.