Jane Stoteville

The oldest monument in the nave of Westminster Abbey is that to Mrs Jane Hill (nee Stoteville), who is buried nearby. This is an alabaster and black marble mural monument consisting of a praying effigy of Jane kneeling on a cushion. Within the arch of the arcade behind is a small skeleton in a winding sheet, representing Death, with the motto 'Mors Mihi Lucrum' [Death is gain to me] and also a grapevine with the words 'Solus Christus mihi sola salus' [Christ is my only salvation]. The Latin inscription can be translated:

In hope of a resurrection here lies JANE STOTEVILL daughter of Thomas Stotevill of Brinkley in the county of Cambridge, Esq [Esquire], married first to Edward Ellis of Chesterton in the county of Cambridge, Esq., to whom she bare six sons and three daughters, afterwards married to Othowel Hill, Doctor of Civil Laws and Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln, whose widow she died 27 April 1631, aged 78. Virtue survives death.

There are three shields of arms with the Stoteville, Hill and Ellis arms. The lozenge shows "a saltire engrailed ermine" for Stoteville.

Her mother was Cicely (Rudston). Her husband Edward died in 1596. Othowel is buried in Lincoln cathedral. Jane's son Edward Ellis, Gentleman waiter to James I and cup bearer to Charles I, died unmarried and was buried in the Abbey on 14th October 1656.