OF SELBORNE 273 



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,^ was buried under an oak ; the 

 most honourable place of interment probably next to the 

 cave of Machpelah,' 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 

 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 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. 



LETTER VI 



The living of Selborne was a very smaU vicarage; but, 

 being in the patronage of Magdalen-college, in the uni- 

 versity of Oxford, that society endowed it with the great 

 tithes of Selborne, more than a century ago : and since the 



* Gen. XXXV. 8. * Gen. xxiii. 9. 



