238 SYLVA BOOK iv 



Gfc. for some little gratification of those who should 

 have more respect to decency at least, if for no other. 

 The fields, the mountains, the high-way-sides, and 

 gardens, were thought enough honourable for those 

 funeral purposes : Abraham and the Patriarchs (as we 

 have shew'd) had their caves and crypta in the fields, 

 set about with trees : The kings of Judah, their sepul- 

 chres in their palaces, not the Sanctuary and Temple: 

 And our most Blessed Saviour's was in a garden ; which 

 indeed seems to me to be the most proper and eligible, 

 as we have already shew'd ; nor even to this day, do 

 the Greeks and Eastern Christians bury in churches, 

 as is well known. A remarkable instance of this, we 

 have of a worthy person of our own country : Mr. 

 Burton, great grand-father of the learned author who 

 writ the Commentary on Antoninus's Itinerary ; which 

 for its laudable singularity, I present my reader the 

 description of: In agro Salopiensi Lognorae ad Sabrinam^ 

 ft. ad piscinas in horto juxta aedes patruelis mei Francisci 

 Eurtoni pro-avi mei epitaphium ; with the following 

 elegant title, 1558, 



Quod scelus ? Aut Christi nomen temerare quod ausus, 



Hinc vetitum sacro condere membra solo ? 

 Di melius ; sincera fides, nee tramite veri 



Devia, causa ; illo tempore grande nefas. 

 Urbibus insultat nostris, dum turbida Roma ; 



Rasaque gens sacris dat sua jura locis : 

 Nee sacri ritus, nee honores funeris ; intra 



Moenia Christicolis, heu male sancta ! piis : 

 At referens Dominum inculpatae munera vitae, 



Ad Domini exemplar funera nactus erat. 

 llle ut odorifero tumulatus marmore in horto : 



Ossa etiam redolens hortus fc? hujus habet, 

 Hie ubi fc? expectat, felix ! resonantia verba : 



Ergo age ! mercedem jam, bone serve, cape. 



