Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/114

 HISTOBT OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. 87 there, formed of white paper cut in various shapes, apparently to resemble flowers ; and in the centre is represented the figure of a human hand, on which is written the name and £^e of the deceased." In Witton Gilbert Church is preserved (says Surtees), the ahnost obsolete custom of hanging up funeral garlands. A good account of this pretty observance (says the same author), may be found in the "Gentlemen's Magazine" for 1747. The garland is thus described: "The lower rim, or circlet, was a broad hoop of wood, to which was fixed, at the sides, part of two other hoops, crossing each other at the top at right angles. These were covered with artificial paper flowers, dyed horn, or silk, and in the interior from the top hung white paper cut in the form of gloves, inscribed with the name and age of the deceased, together with long slips of coloured paper or ribands, sometimes intermixed with gilded or painted shells of blown eggs — it may be as emblems of the bubbles, or bitterness of this life ; other garlands had within them only a solitary hour-glass." The same informant proceeds to state, " that on the beautifying and white-washing of churches (a period always replete with mischief), several ministers or churchwardens ordered these simple memorials to be removed, and forbade the countenance of the custom. Yet, notwithstanding, several people, unwilling to forsake their ancient and delightful custom, continued still the making of them, and they were carried at the funerals, as before, to the grave by two maids, and placed upon the coflfin over the face of the dead." With respect to the origru of the above custom (Surtees further says), " The antiquary may deduce the custom from Greece, or Kome, or Jerusalem, at his pleasure; but it is, strictly speaking, neither of Jewish, nor Gentile, nor Christian origin, but rooted in the very feelings of human nature. The Eoman Ritual* recommends it in regard of those who die soon after baptism, in token of purity and virginity. The custom of strewing flowers upon the graves of departed friends is also derived from a custom of the ancient church. St Ambrose (says Brand), in his funeral oration on the death of Valentinian has these words — ** I will not sprinkle his grave with flowers, but pour on his spirit the odour of Christ. Let others scatter baskets of flowers : Christ is our lily, and with this will I consecrate his relics." And St. Jerome, in his Epistie to Pammachius, upon the death of his wife, tells us : " Whilst other husbands strewed violets, roses, lilies, and purple flowers upon the graves of their wives, and comforted themselves with such-like offices, Pammachius bedewed her ashes and venerable bones with the balsam of alms. Shakespeare says of Paris, in " Romeo and Juliet," " He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave," and Gay thus describes the strewing of flowers upon the graves : — Upon her grave the rosemary they threw, The daisy, butter'd floVr, and endive blue. The custom, still extant, of placing fresh flowers in the coffins of the dead is, no doubt, equally as ancient, and of a kindred origin with the above. H. Kirk White, in his beautiful poem " To the Herb, Eosemary," thus alludes to it :— Gome, funeral flower ! who loVst to dwell With the pale corse in lonely tomb, And throw across the desert gloom A sweet decaying smell. Come, press my lips, and lie with me Beneath the lowly alder-tree ; And we shall sleep a pleasant sleep, And not a care shall dare intrude To break the marble solitude, So peaceful and so deep. Jhrihu, ieu de herHt aromatieis et odofiferie, in iiffnum xntegritaHt oamii et vit^ffinitatU.** Digitized by Google
 * " Com igitar infanB vd pner bratizatiu, defnnctiis fneiit ante iisam rationis, indaitar jnxta etatem, et imponitur ei corona de