SYLVA 237 



in the cities, much less would they have permitted it 

 in their temples : Nor was it in use among Christians, 

 who in the primitive ages had no particular coemeteria; 

 but when (not long after) it was indulg'd, it was to 

 martyrs only ad limina^ and in the porches, even to 

 the deposita of the * Apostles themselves. Princes 

 indeed, and other illustrious persons, founders of 

 churches, &c. had sometimes their dormitories near 

 the basilica and cathedrals, a little before St. Augustine's 

 time ; as appears by his book de cura pro mortuis^ and 

 the concession not easily obtain'd. Constantine (son 

 to the Great Constantine himself) did not without 

 leave, inhume his royal father in the church-porch 

 of that august fabrick, tho' built by that famous 

 emperor; 2 and yet after this, other great persons 

 plac'd their sepulchres no nearer, than towards the 

 church-walls ; whilst in the body of the church, they 

 presum'd no farther for a long time after ; as may be 

 proved from the Capitula of Charle-Magni ; nor 

 hardly in the city, till the time of Gregory the Great; 

 and when conniv'd at, it was complained of: And 

 we find it forbidden (as to churches) by the emperors, 

 Gratian, Valentinian and Theodosius ; and so in the 

 code, where the sanction runs thus, nemo apostolorum 

 ve/ martyrum sedem humanis corporibus existimet esse* 

 concessam, &c. And now after all this, would it not 

 raise our indignation, to suffer so many extortioners, 

 luxurious, profane, and very mean persons, without 

 merit, not only affecting, but permitted to lay their 

 carcasses, not in the nave and body of the church only, 

 but in the very chancel, next the Communion-table ; 

 ripping up the pavements, and removing the seats, 



1 So that passage of the famous civilian Baldwin, ad leg. XII. tab. 



3 Chrys. Horn. XXVI. Epist. ad Corinth. 



3 Gretzer, 1. 2. defun. Christ, c. 8. Onuphr. de ritu sepul. 



