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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. x. DEC. 25,

went on for seven days, from the 17th to the 23rd of December. Dr. Frazer has shown that

"many peoples have been used to observe an annual period of licence, when the customary restraints of law and morality are thrown aside, when the whole population give themselves up to extravagant mirth and jollity, and when the darker passions find a vent which would never be allowed them in the more staid and sober course of ordinary life. Such outbursts of the pent-up forces of human nature, top often degenerating into wild orgies of lust and crime, occur most commonly at the end of the year, and are frequently associated, as I have had occa- sion to point out, with one or other of the agricul- tural seasons, especially with the time of sowing or harvest."' Golden Bough,' 2nd ed. iii. 138.

The same author says that the name Saturn seems to be etymologically akin to satus and satio, " a sowing " or " planting," and he refers to Festus, who expresses that opinion.

It has been observed that many of the peculiar customs of the Saturnalia exhibited a remarkable resemblance to the sports of our own Christmas and of the Italian Carnival. Thus public gambling was allowed by the sediles (Smith's ' Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq.,' 3rd ed., ii. 600).

The waits or watchmen of old cities were also pipers or musicians, and perhaps they announced the hours of the night by piping a tune. Our Christmas waits seem to be more intimately connected with them than with the watchmen who, one by one, per- formed the duty of guarding the lord's hall at the riotous season of Yuletide.

S. O. ADDY.

EPITAPHIANA.

ELIHU YALE'S EPITAPH. In St. Philip's (Lambeth) Monthly Magazine for November I notice a paragraph (signed Miss Boyes) which may interest readers of ' N. & Q.' Any items connected with the makers of the U.S.A. always seem to me attractive :

" In the churchyard of Wrexham Parish Church, Flintshire, is the grave of Elihu Yale, the founder of the famous American University of Yale. On his tombstone is the following quaint inscription : Born in America, In Europe bred, In Africa travelled, In Asia wed, Where long he lived and thrived :

In London dead. Much good, some ill, he did,

So hope all's even, And that his soul through Mercy's gone to heaven.

Elihu Yale's paternal ancestor was one of the Pilgrim Fathers, and before emigrating he lived at Plas-yn-Yale, near the quaint village of Bryn

Eglwys. For centuries this has been the home of the Yale family, and there are to this day Yales in Yale. The church at Bryn Eglwys has a transept called Yale Chapel, used for generations of Plas-yn- Yale."

HEBBEBT B. CLAYTON. 39, Renfrew Road, Lower Kennington Lane.

" Now THUS." (See 9 S. vi. 387, 477.)

On the floor of Yalding Church, Kent^

there is a memorial slab bearing this motto :

Ambrose Ward, son of

George Ward, Gent.

died March (15) 1673

aged 44.

NOW THVS. NOW THVS. NOW THVS.

There are many other memorials to tha family in this church, one (dated 1679), very handsome, with heraldic achievement, but without the above motto.

R. J. FYNMOBE. Sandgate.

EPITAPH AT KINGSTON-ON-THAMES. The- following is on the tomb of one named Hawarde (1655) in the church of Kingston-on Thames :

Earth to Earth,

Ashes in Ashes lye, on Ashes tread, Ashes engrav'd these Woords, which Ashes read. Then what poore Thing is Man, when any Gust Can blow his Ashes to their elder Dust ? More was intended, but a Wynd did rise, And fill'd with Ashes both my Mouth and Eyes,

CHB. WATSON. 294, Worple Road, Wimbledon.

WABBINGTON EPITAPHS. In the Warring- ton Parish Churchyard is the following epitaph on one Margaret Robinson, who died in December, 1816, aged 38 :

This Maid no Elegance of Form possess'd, No earthly Love defil'd her sacred Breast : Hence free she liv'd from the Deceiver Man : Heav'n meant it as a Blessing she was plain. Much of the gravestone has fallen and: crumbled away. The Christian name and parts of the surname and date have gone.. The parish clerk, who has been connected with the church for many years, is certain of the name (Margaret Robinson) and of the date. He has shown me the register of Margaret Robinson of Penketh, buried 29 Dec., 1816. Penketh is a village about three miles west of Warrington.

In a small commonplace book which belonged to my grandmother, who died in. 1851, aged 81, is the following :

Epitaph on A young woman in Warrington

Churchyard.

No comeliness of form this Maid possess'd No Earthly Love defiled her sacred breast Secure she lived from the deceiver Man Heaven sent it as a Blessing she was plain.