A N T I Q^U I T I E S 
arbores in cemeterlo profternat." Now if it is recollefted that 
w'e feldom fee any other very large or ancient tree in a church- 
yard but yews, this ftatute muft have principally related to this 
fpecics of tree ; and confequently their being planted in church- 
yards is of much more ancient date than the year 1307. 
As to the ufe of thefe trees, poffibly the more refpeftable 
parilhioners were buried under their fliade before the improper 
cuflom was introduced of burying within the body of the church, 
where the living are to affemble. Deborah, RebekaFs nurfe^, was 
buried under an oak ; the moft honourable place of interment 
probably next to the cave of Machpelah which feems to have 
been appropriated to the remains of the patriarchal family alone. 
The farther ufe of yew-trees might be as a fcreen to churches, 
by their thick foliage, from the violence of winds ; perhaps alfo 
for the purpofe of archery, the befl: 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 fo much 
in ufe. They might alfo be placed as a flicker to the congregation' 
aflembling before the church-doors were opened, and as an emblem 
of mortality by their funereal appearance. In the fouth of 
England every church-yard almoft has it's tree, and fome two;; 
but in the north, we underftand, few are to be found. 
The idea of R. C. that \.\\Qyew-tree afforded it's branches inftead 
of palms for the proceffions on Palm-Sunday, is a good one, and 
deferves attention. See Gent. Mag. Vol. L. p. 1 28. 
1 Gen. XXXV, 3. Gen; xxlii, 9. s 
LETTER 
