81 



were drawn out, and some attempts were made to 

 pull away the tongue. It was therefore put iato 

 a glass case, arid transmitted to the king's cabinet, at 

 Paris. 



There are many reasons to believe this to be the 

 body of a person of the highest distinction ; however 

 no marks remain to assure us either of the quality of 

 the person, or the time of his decease. There are only 

 to be seen some irregular figures on the cuffin : one 

 of which represents a kind of star. 



T cre were also some singular characters upon the 

 bandages, which were totally defaced by those who 

 had fore them. It should seem that it had remained 

 for several ages in this state, since the first years im- 

 mediaMy succeeding +he interment, are usually those 

 in wnich the body is most liable to decay. 



On this remarkable subject, I beg leave to add an 

 extract from a iate author : 



" I always apprehended that human bodies after 

 death, if interred, or exposed to the air without any 

 preparation to defend them trom the attacks of it, 

 won d of necessity corrupt, become offensive, and 

 putj.fy. The art of embalming is very ancient, and 

 was invented to preserve them from this inevitable co;i. 

 sequence of death ; but that they may remain tmputri- 

 fied -for centuries without any sort of artificial aid,! have 

 seen so incontestibly proved since my arrival at Bre- 

 men, that 1 imagine not the shadow of doubt can re- 

 main about it. Under the cathedral church is a 

 vaulted apartment, s-.ipportcd on pillars ; it is near 

 sixty paces long, and half as many broad. The light 

 and air are constantly admitted into it by three win. 

 dows, though it is several feet beneath the level of the 

 ground. Here are five large oak cotters, rather than 

 Cv,ihns, each containing a c<xrpse. 1 examined them 

 several!) for i\vj nour^. The most curious and per. 

 feci, is tha. of a woman. Tradi.<on says, she was an 

 countess^ who dying hero at Bremen, 

 5 



