St. Ambrose's Funeral Oration on Satyrus, cited by Durant, which I flatter myself will be thought to have deserved a translation :-" The Poor alsó "shed their Tears-precious and fruitful Tears! "that washed away the Sins of the Deceased."They let fall Floods of redeeming Tears.*" Funeral Sermons also are of great Antiquity.† Doles were used at Funerals, as we learn from St. Chrysostom, t, to procure Rest to the Soul of the Deceased, and that he might find his Judge propitious. Dr. Browne, in his Urne Burial, observes, that the Custom of carrying the Corpse as it were out of the World with its feet forward, is not inconsonant to Reason," as contrary to the native Posture of Man, and his Production first into it." 66 It may be added to Mr. Bourne's Observations on Ever-greens used at Funerals ||, that the planting of "great Feast and lyberall Dole to the Poore." This Custom of giving a Funeral Feast to the Chief Mourners, was universally practised all over the Kingdom, as well as giving Alms to the Poor, in Proportion to the Quality and Finances of the Deceased. Vol. II. p. 109. *It should seem to have been from such figurative Expressions as these in the first Christian Writers, literally understood, that the Romanists have derived their superstitious Doctrine of praying for the Dead. +Ceterum priusquam Corpus humo injecta contegatur, defunctus oratione funebri laudabatur. Durant, p. 236. † Μᾶλλον δὲ τι μετα ταυτα πένητας καλεις; ἵνα εις αναπαυσιν απέλθη ινα ίλεω σχη τον δικαστην. Homilia xxxii. in Matthei cap. non. || Dr. Trusler in his Chronology tells us, that in the Year 1482, Yew Trees were encouraged in Church-yards (as being fenced from Cattle) of Yew Trees in Church-yards seems to derive its Origin from antient Funeral Rites; in which, (the Doctor conjectures) from its perpetual Verdure, it was used as an Emblem of the Resurrection. -He observes farther, that the christian Custom of decking the Coffin with Bay, is a most elegant Emblem. It is said that this Tree, when seemingly dead, will revive from the Root, and its dry Leaves resume their wonted Verdure. The Custom of laying flat* Stones in our Churches and Church-yards over the Graves of better Sort of Persons, on which are inscribed Epitaphs containing the Name, Age, Character, &c. has been transmitted from very antient Times, as appears from Cicero and others. I cannot better close these additional Remarks on the obsolete Custom of carrying Evergreens at Funerals, than with a Description of it in the Words of the elegant Mr. Gay, in his Pastoral Dirge. He paints the rustic, vulgar Ceremonies with great Truth, though his Stile is intended for that of affected Simplicity. To shew their Love, the Neighbours far and near, Cattle) for the making of Bows. Hence their Frequency in Churchyards. This seems to me the Observation of one totally ignorant of ecclesiastical Antiquities. Are not all Plantation Grounds fenced from Cattle? And whence is it that there is usually but one Yew Tree in each Church-yard? How much more probable the Conjecture of the learned Author of the Vulgar Errors! * Cicero de legibus. Lapidea Mensa terra operitur humato Corpore hominis qui aliquo sit numero, quæ contineat laudem et nomen mortui incisum. Mos. ritinetur. Moresini Deprav. Rel. Orig. p. 86. Sprigg'd Sprigg'd Rosemary the Lads and Lasses bore, The Reader, conversant in classical Learning, will call to mind here the beautiful Thought in the Idyllium on Bion, by Moschust—though the fine Spirit in it will perhaps evaporate, when we apply it to the Christian Doctrine of the Resurrection : The Antithesis will be destroyed. * I have almost thought it unnecessary to give any other Proofs than Mr. Bourne has left us, of the Antiquity of singing Psalms before the Corpse. The learned Reader may not think the subsequent quotation unworthy his Perusal. "Cantilena feralis per Antiphonas "in pompa funebri et Fano debacchata hinc est. Inter Græcos "demortui cadavere deposito in inferiori domus aula ad portam, "et peractis cæteris ceremoniis, Cantores funerales accedunt et "Spñvov canunt, quibus per intervalla respondebant domestica "servæ, cum Assistentium Corona, neque solum domi, sed usque "ad sepulchrum præcedebant feretrum ita canentes." Guichard. Lib. II. cap. 2. Funer. apud. Moresini, &c. p. 32. + Αἱ Αι, ταὶ μαλάχαι μὲν, ἐπαν κατα κᾶπον ὅλωνται, Alas! the meanest Flowers which Gardens yield, But We, the Great, the Brave, the Learn'd, the Wise, In Tombs forgotten lie, no Suns restore, We sleep, for ever sleep, to wake no more, FAWKES. CHAP. CHAP. IV. Of Garlands in Country Churches: Of strawing Flowers on the Grave; the Antiquity of these Customs, the Innocency of them. IN some Country Churches 'tis customary, to hang a Garland of Flowers over the Seats of deceased Virgins, as a Token of Esteem and Love, and an Emblem of their Reward in the heavenly Church. This Custom perhaps may be look'd upon, as sprung from that antient Custom of the Heathens, of crowning their Corps with Garlands in Token of Victory. But Mr. Bingham tells us, That we find not this Custom used by the Ancients in their Funeral Rites. For as he observes, the Heathen in Minutius makes it one Topick of Accusation against them, * That they did not crown their Sepulchres. But if they did not crown them after the Manner of the Heathens, they had a Custom of using crowns of Flowers, if we may believe Cassalion, who tells us, + It was a Custom of * Min. P. 35. Coronas etiam sepulchris denegatis, Bing. Vol. 10. P. 68. Fuit quoque mos ad capita virginum apponendi florum coronas, &c. Cass. de Vet. Sacr, Christ. P. 334, the the ancient Christians to place Crowns of Flowers, at the Heads of deceased Virgins; for which he quotes Damascen, Gregory Nyssen, St. Jerom and St. Austin. And this hath probably been the Original of this Custom among the Vulgar. That other Custom of strawing Flowers upon the Graves of their departed Friends, is also derived from a Custom of the ancient Church. For it was usual in those Times for the common Sort of People, to straw the Graves of their Friends with various Flowers. Of this there are two notable Instances taken Notice of by 'Cassalion, and several other Ritualists. The one is that of St. Ambrose, in his Funeral Oration on the Death of Valentinian, * I will not sprinkle his Grave with Flowers, but pour on his Spirit the Odour of CHRIST. Let others scatter Baskets of Flowers: CHRIST is our Lilly, and with this will I consecrate his Relicks. The other is that of St. Jerom, in his Epistle to Pammachius upon the Death of his Wife. * Nec ego floribus tumulum ejus asperagam, sed spiritum ejus Christi odore perfundam; spargant alii plenis lilia calathis: Nobis lilium est Christus: Hoc reliquias ejus sacrabo. Ambros. Orat. Funebri, de obitu Valentin. |