254 WHITE 



A.D. 1307 and 35 Edward I., the title of which is "Ne rector 

 arbores in cemeterio prosternat." Now if it is recollected that 

 we seldom see any other very large or ancient tree in a church- 

 yard but yews, this statute must have principally related to this 

 species of tree ; and consequently their being planted in church- 

 yards is of much more ancient date than the year 1307. 



As to the use of these trees, possibly the more respect- 

 able parishioners were buried under their shade before the 

 improper custom was introduced of burying within the body 

 of the church, where the living are to assemble. Deborah, 

 Rebekah's nurse, 1 was buried under an oak ; the most honor- 

 able place of interment probably next to the cave of Mach- 

 pelah, 2 which seems to have been appropriated to the remains 

 of the patriarchal family alone. 



The farther use of yew-trees might be as a screen to churches, 

 by their thick foliage, from the violence of winds ; perhaps also 

 for the purpose of archery, the best long-bows being made of 

 that material ; and we do not hear that they are planted in the 

 church-yards of other parts of Europe, where long-bows were 

 not so much in use. They might also be placed as a shelter 

 to the congregation assembling before the church doors were 

 opened, and as an emblem of mortality by their funereal appear- 

 ance. In the south of England every church-yard almost has 

 its tree, and some two ; but in the north, we understand, few 

 are to be found. 



The idea of R. C, that the yew-tree afforded its branches 

 instead of palms for the processions on Palm Sunday, is a good 

 one and deserves attention. See "Gent. Mag.," Vol. L., p. 128. 



NOTES 

 * Gen. xxxv. 8. G. W. 2 Gen. xxiii. 9. G. W. 



LETTER VI 



THE living of Selborne was a very small vicarage; but, 

 being in the patronage of Magdalen College, in the Univer- 

 sity of Oxford, that society endowed it with the great tithes 

 of Selborne, more than a century ago; and since the year 



