27 burnt their dead, yet came they from parts where CHAP. II. 'twas of ancient practice; the Germans using it, from whom they were descended. And even in Jutland and Sleswick in Anglia Cymbrica, urns with bones were found not many years before us1. the northern nations But the Danish and northern nations have [20] raised an era or point of compute from their Customs of custom of burning their dead 2: some deriving it from Unguinus, some from Frotho the Great, who ordained by law, that princes and chief commanders should be committed unto the fire, though the common sort had the common grave interment. So Starkatterus, that old hero, was burnt, and Ringo royally burnt the body of Harold the king slain by him. What time this custom generally expired in [21] that nation, we discern no assured period; whether it ceased before Christianity, or upon their conversion, by Ansgarius the Gaul, in the time of Ludovicus Pius the son of Charles the Great, according to good computes; or whether it might not be used by some persons, while for an hundred and eighty years Paganism and Christianity were promiscuously embraced among them, there is no assured conclusion. About which times the Danes were busy in England, and particularly infested this country; where many castles and strongholds were built by them, or against them, and great number of names and families still derived from them. 28 But since this custom was probably disused before their invasion or conquest, and the Romans 2 Brendetyde. Ild tyde. 1 Roisold. CHAP. II. confessedly practised the same since their possession of this island, the most assured account will fall upon the Romans, or Britons Romanized. [22] [23] Rollrich stones, and similar stones in Norway and However, certain it is, that urns conceived of no Roman original, are often digged up both in Norway and Denmark, handsomely described, and graphically represented by the learned physician Wormius 1. And in some parts of Denmark in no ordinary number, as stands delivered by authors exactly describing those countries. And they contained not only bones, but many other substances in them, as knives, pieces of iron, brass, and wood, and one of Norway a brass gilded jew's-harp. Nor were they confused or careless in disposing the noblest sort, while they placed large stones in circle about the urns or bodies which they interred somewhat answerable unto the monument of Rollrich stones in England3, or sepulchral monument probably erected by Rollo, who after conquered Normandy; where 'tis not 29 improbable somewhat might be discovered. Meanwhile to what nation or person belonged that large urn found at Ashbury, containing mighty bones, and a buckler; what those large urns found at Little Massingham; or why the Anglesea urns are placed with their mouths downward, remains yet undiscovered. 1 Olai Wormii, Monumenta et Antiquitat. Dan. 2 Adolphus Cyprius, Annal. Sleswick., urnis adeo abundabat collis," &c. 3 In Oxfordshire.-Camden [Britann. col. 294 sq.]. 4 In Cheshire, Twinus, De rebus Albionicis [lib. ii. p. 153]. 30 PLAI CHAPTER III. LAISTERED and whited sepulchres were [1] anciently affected in cadaverous and cor- Sepulchres rupted burials; and the rigid Jews were wont of the Jews, to garnish the sepulchres of the righteous1. Ulysses, in Hecuba, cared not how meanly he lived, so he might find a noble tomb after death 2. Great persons affected great monuments; and the fair and larger urns contained no vulgar ashes, which makes that disparity in those which time discovereth among us. The pre- Description sent urns were not of one capacity, the largest of sepulchral urns, and containing above a gallon, some not much above their coverhalf that measure; nor all of one figure, wherein ing. there is no strict conformity in the same or different countries; observable from those represented by Casalius, Bosio, and others, though all found in Italy; while many have handles, ears, and long necks, but most imitate a cir21 cular figure, in a spherical and round composure; whether from any mystery, best duration or capacity, were but a conjecture. But the 1 Matt. xxiii. [29]. 2 Euripides [Hec. v. 317]. CHAP. III. common form with necks was a proper figure, making our last bed like our first; nor much unlike the urns of our nativity while we lay in the nether part of the earth', and inward vault of our microcosm. Many urns are red, these but of a black colour, somewhat smooth, and dully sounding, which begat some doubt, whether they were burnt, or only baked in oven or sun, according to the ancient way, in many bricks, tiles, pots, and testaceous works; and, as the word testa is properly to be taken, when occurring without addition and chiefly intended by Pliny, when he commendeth bricks and tiles of two years old, and to make them in the spring. Nor only these concealed pieces, but the open magnificence of antiquity, ran much in the artifice of clay. Hereof the house of Mausolus was built, thus old Jupiter stood in the Capitol, and the statua of Hercules, made in the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, was extant in Pliny's days. And such as declined burning or 32“ funeral urns, affected coffins of clay, according to the mode of Pythagoras, and way preferred by Varro. But the spirit of great ones was above these circumscriptions, affecting copper, silver, gold, and porphyry urns, wherein Severus lay, after a serious view and sentence on that which should contain him 2. Some of these urns were thought to have been silvered over, from sparklings in several pots, with small 1 Psal. Ixiii. [9]. 2 Χωρήσεις τον ἄνθρωπον, ὃν ἡ οἰκουμένη οὐκ ἐχώρησεν. Dion. [lib. lxxvi. ; Sevcrus § 15]. tinsel parcels; uncertain whether from the CHAP. III. earth, or the first mixture in them. urn of Patroclus. Among these urns we could obtain no good [2] account of their coverings; only one seemed arched over with some kind of brick-work. Of those found at Buxton, some were covered with flints, some, in other parts, with tiles; those at Yarmouth Caster were closed with Roman bricks, and some have proper earthen covers adapted and fitted to them. But in the Ho- Homerical merical urn of Patroclus, whatever was the solid tegument, we find the immediate covering | 33 to be a purple piece of silk and such as had no covers might have the earth closely pressed into them, after which disposure were probably some of these, wherein we found the bones and ashes half mortared unto the sand and sides of the urn, and some long roots of quich, or dog'sgrass, wreathed about the bones. urns. No lamps, included liquors, lacrymatories, or [3] tear bottles, attended these rural urns, either as What was found in the sacred unto the manes, or passionate expressions of their surviving friends. While with rich flames, and hired tears, they solemnized their obsequies, and in the most lamented monuments made one part of their inscriptions 1. Some find sepulchral vessels containing liquors, which time hath incrassated into jellies. For, besides these lacrymatories, notable lamps, with vessels of oils, and aromatical liquors, attended noble ossuaries; and some yet retaining a vinosity 2 and spirit in them, which, if any have 1 "Cum lacrymis posuere." D Lazius. ་ |