398 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



from Caxton's Directions for keeping all the feasts of 

 the year (printed in 1483) as decisive on this point. 



<t Wlierfor holy church this day maketh solemn pro- 

 cession, in mind of the procession that Christ made this 

 day; but for enclieson that we have none olive that 

 beareth green leaf, algate therefore we take Yew instead 

 of palm and olive, and bear about in procession ; and so 

 is this day called Palm-Sunday." 



" As a confirmation of this fact," adds Dr. Hunter, 

 " the Yew trees in the churchyards of East Kent are to 

 this day called palms." 



Dr. Trussler supposes the Yew to have been planted 

 in churchyards for the purpose of making bows, and 

 such places particularly chosen, because fenced from 

 cattle. But to this Mr. Brand very justly objects, that 

 other plantations also are fenced from cattle, adding, 

 " Why, too, should there usually be but one Yew tree 

 in each churchyard*? 



These were evidently placed near the church for some 

 religious purpose, from the great value set upon a con- 

 secrated Yew, in comparison with another Yew tree, in 

 the following list of the comparative value of trees, taken, 

 as Martyn tells us, from the ancient laws of Wales. 



A Consecrated Yew 



- £1 



0 



0 



An oak _ - - - 



0 



10 



0 



A mistletoe branch 



0 



5 



0 



A principal oak branch 



0 



2 



6 



A sweet apple tree 



0 



5 



0 



A sour apple tree 



0 



2 



6 



A Wood Yew Tree 



0 



1 



3 



A thorn tree - 



0 



0 





Every tree after that - 



0 



0 



4 



* Brand's Popular Antiquities. 



