ANTIQUITIES OP SELBQRNE. 335 



we cannot by any means assent, because, among the number of 

 cattle that we have known fall victims to this deadly food, not 

 one has been found, when it was opened, but had a lump of 

 green yew in its paunch. True it is, that yew-trees stand for 

 twenty years or more in a field, and no bad consequences ensue : 

 but at some time or other cattle, either from wantonness when 

 full, or from hunger when empty, (from both which circum- 

 stances we have seen them perish) will be meddling, to their 

 certain destruction ; the yew seems to be a very improper tree 

 for a pasture-field. 



Antiquaries seem much at a loss to determine at what period 

 this tree first obtained a place in church-yards. A statute passed 

 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 respectable 

 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,* 

 was buried under an oak ; the most honourable place of inter- 

 ment probably next to the cave of Machpelah,f which seems to 

 have been appropriated to the remains of the patriarchal family 

 alone. 



The further 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 appearance. 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 

 ound.J: 



t Gen. xxiii. 9. 



