CHAP. II. bulk and bigness. That so few of the Saxons [9] these relics uncertain. remain, because, overcome by succeeding con querors upon the place, their coins, by degrees, passed into other stamps and the marks of afterages. Than the time of these urns deposited, or Antiquity of precise antiquity of these relicks, nothing of more uncertainty; for since the lieutenant of Claudius seems to have made the first progress into these parts, since Boadicea was overthrown by the forces of Nero, and Agricola put a full end to these conquests, it is not probable the country was fully garrisoned or planted before; and, therefore, however these urns might be of later date, not likely of higher antiquity. [10] [11] And the succeeding emperors desisted not from their conquests in these and other parts, as testified by history and medal-inscription yet extant the province of Britain, in so divided a distance from Rome, beholding the faces of many imperial persons, and in large account, 21 no fewer than Cæsar, Claudius, Britannicus, Vespasian, Titus, Adrian, Severus, Commodus, Geta, and Caracalla. A great obscurity herein, because no medal or emperor's coin enclosed, which might denote the date of their interments; observable in many urns, and found in those of Spitalfields, by London', which contained the coins of Claudius, Vespasian, Commodus, Antoninus, attended with lacrymatories, lamps, bottles of liquor, and other appurtenances of affectionate 1 Stowe's Survey of London. superstition, which in these rural interments CHAP. II. were wanting. Some uncertainty there is from the period [12] or term of burning, or the cessation of that Cessation of the practice practice. Macrobius affirmeth it was disused of burning in his days; but most agree, though without the dead." authentic record, that it ceased with the Antonini,-most safely to be understood after the reign of those emperors which assumed the name of Antoninus, extending unto Heliogabalus. Not strictly after Marcus; for about fifty years later, we find the magnificent burning and con22 secration of Severus; and, if we so fix this period or cessation, these urns will challenge above thirteen hundred years. But whether this practice was only then left [13] by emperors and great persons, or generally about Rome, and not in other provinces, we hold not authentic account; for after Tertullian, in the days of Minucius, it was obviously objected upon Christians, that they condemned the practice of burning1. And we find a passage in Sidonius 2, which asserteth that practice in France unto a lower account. And, perhaps, not fully discussed till Christianity fully established, which gave the final extinction to these sepulchral bonfires. Whether they were the bones of men, or [14] women, or children, no authentic decision from ancient custom in distinct places of burial. 1 "Execrantur rogos, et damnant ignium sepulturam."— Min. Oct. [c. 11]. Sidon. Apollinaris [lib. iii. ep. 5]. Various things found in the urns. CHAP. II. Although not improbably conjectured, that the double sepulture or burying-place of Abraham1, had in it such intention. But from exility of bones, thinness of skulls, smallness of teeth, ribs, and thigh bones, not improbable that many thereof were persons of minor age, or women. Con- 23 firmable also from things contained in them. In most were found substances resembling combs, plates like boxes, fastened with iron pins, and handsomely overwrought like the necks or bridges of musical instruments; long brass plates overwrought like the handles of neat implements; brazen nippers, to pull away hair; and in one a kind of opal, yet maintaining a bluish colour. [15] Now that they accustomed to burn or bury 1 "Det mihi speluncam duplicem."--Gen. xxiii. [9]. 25 of urns, in the monument of Childerick the CHAP. II. First1, and fourth king from Pharamond, casually discovered three years past at Tournay, restoring unto the world much gold richly adorning his sword, two hundred rubies, many hundred imperial coins, three hundred golden bees, the bones and horse-shoes of his horse interred with him, according to the barbarous magnificence of those days in their sepulchral obsequies. Although, if we steer by the conjecture of many and Septuagint expression, some trace thereof may be found even with the ancient Hebrews, not only from the sepulchral treasure of David, but the circumcision knives which Joshua also buried. Some men, considering the contents of these [16] urns, lasting pieces and toys included in them, and the custom of burning with many other nations, might somewhat doubt whether all urns found among us, were properly Roman relicks, or some not belonging unto our British, Saxon, or Danish forefathers. In the form of burial among the ancient [17] Britons, the large discourses of Cæsar, Tacitus, Form of and Strabo are silent. For the discovery the Ancient burial among whereof, with other particulars, we much de- Britons. plore the loss of that letter which Cicero expected or received from his brother Quintus, as a resolution of British customs; or the account which might have been made by Scribonius Largus, the physician, accompanying the Emperor Claudius, who might have also 1 Chifflet, in Anast. Childer. CHAP. II. discovered that frugal bit of the old Britons1, which in the bigness of a bean could satisfy their thirst and hunger. [18] the Druids. But that the Druids and ruling priests used Funerals of to burn and bury, is expressed by Pomponius; that Bellinus, the brother of Brennus, and king of Britons, was burnt, is acknowledged by Polydorus, as also by Amandus Zierexensis in Historia, and Pineda in his Universa Historia (Spanish). That they held that practice in Gallia, Cæsar expressly delivereth. Whether the Britons (probably descended from them, of like religion, language, and manners) did not sometimes make use of burning, or whether at least such as were after civilized unto the Roman life and manners, conformed not unto 26 this practice, we have no historical assertion or denial. But since, from the account of Tacitus, the Romans early wrought so much civility upon the British stock, that they brought them to build temples, to wear the gown, and study the Roman laws and language, that they conformed also unto their religious rites and customs in burials, seems no improbable conjecture. [19] That burning the dead was used in Sarmatia is affirmed by Gaguinus; that the Sueons and Gothlanders used to burn their princes and great persons, is delivered by Saxo and Olaus; that this was the old German practice, is also asserted by Tacitus. And though we are bare in historical particulars of such obsequies in this island, or that the Saxons, Jutes, and Angles 1 Dionis excerpta per Xiphilin. in Severo [lxxvi. 12]. |