1903 Archeology 65 



the west entrance of the church dedicated to S. Michael, 1 

 the warrior archangel. Yew-trees are evergreen, and they 

 cast a dark shade. Therefore yew-tree represents life, and 

 its shade death. Once, while awaiting the minister's ap- 

 proach to head the funeral procession into the church, it 

 was the custom to rest the coffin under a yew-tree — i.e., 

 shadow of death, — or between two yew-trees — i.e., gate of 

 death and life, — or among three yew-trees — i.e., faith in the 

 Holy Trinity, — or at one end of two rows of yew-trees 

 leading to the church — i.e., through the valley of the shadow 

 of death. The fact that Garway churchyard yew-trees are 

 of different ages points to two periods of her church history 

 — viz., (1) to the first foundation, when Llan became pre- 

 fixed to the British Carewey, and (2) to the second found- 

 ation, or rather enlargement, of a small existing church in 

 the reign of Henry II. (1145-1189) by the Preceptor of 

 Garway Templars, whose arms 2 are still to be seen on the 

 wall of the nave over the north entrance (now built up). 



Next, the position of the massive square-sided tower 

 (once wholly detached from, now joined on by a slyppe to, 

 the nave) arrests attention. Seeing that ample room still 

 exists on the west end of the church, one naturally wonders 

 at its most unusual position — viz., diagonal to the nave (and 

 the temple or chapel of the Order) — i.e., pointing to S.E., 

 or rather E.S.E. The tower, no doubt, is of the same date 

 (thirteenth century) as the Templars' chapel adjoining the 

 chancel on the south. In this chapel, according to John de 

 Stoke, 3 Chaplain of the Order, and Treasurer of the Temple, 

 London, novices or recruits to the Order were received and 

 initiated. On their reception, they took the oath of perfect 

 obedience to the Grand Master of the Order, who resided 

 at Jerusalem. Transgressors of this oath were punished 

 with severity by stripes, temporary separation from the 

 Brethren, and other penalties. Now, at this distant date, 

 when one hears that the basement or ground-floor of the 



1 The Rriton's fondness for S. Michael curiously exemplifies the provocations 

 they received from Roman Christianity and Saxon Paganism. 



' 2 The arms consist of a cross pattee with hearts connecting the ends of the 

 beams, and on it a hand in a sunk lozenge. 



3 See ' Archreologia,' vol. xxxi. pp. 182-197. 



VOL. II. — NO. 5. E 



