178 
a wreck of departed grandeur, measures fifty-six feet 
in circumference ; and Evelyn tells of yet larger di¬ 
mensions. 
The Yew was anciently in high 'request to furnish 
the archers with their instruments of death. Spenser 
speaks of 
“ The Eugli obedient to the bender’s will.” 
But it is as “ the bitter Yew, the churchyard’s shade,” 
that this tree is now generally known, and awakens 
in almost every mind a sensation of melancholy. 
As upon ail subjects that admit of doubt, various 
conjectures arise ; so it is with regard to the 
origin of the custom of planting Yews in churchyards. 
It has been thought probable that its association 
with religious observances may hâve occasioned it. 
A solemn procession was formerly made on Palm 
Sunday, when boughs of Yew were substituted for the 
Palm branches mentioned as strewed in our Lord’s 
path, when he made his triumphant entrance into Jéru¬ 
salem. Caxton gives the foliowing reason for this : — 
£< For encheson that we hâve non Olyve that berith 
grene leef, algate therefore we take Ewe instede 
of Palme and Olyve, and beren about in procès- 
