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gives an account of an hour-glass, found in a grave in Clerkenwell church-yard; and that some antiquarians supposed, that it was an ancient custom to put an hour-glass into the coffin, as an emblem of the sand of life being run out; others conjectured that little hour-glasses were anciently given at funerals, like rosemary, and by the friends of the dead put in the coffin or the grave.

But I fear neither of these customs can be proved by the works of any authentic author; besides, had such been the use or custom, certainly these glasses, or at least fragments of them, would be more frequently discovered. Give me leave, sir, therefore, to offer what I flatter myself will seem a more probable reason for the hour-glass's interment.

In this nation (as well as others) by the abundant zeal of our ancestors, virginity was held in great estimation; insomuch that those which died in that state were rewarded, at their deaths, with a garland or crown on their heads, denoting their triumphant victory over the lusts of the flesh. Nay, this honour was extended even to a widow that had enjoyed but one husband (saith Weaver in his Fun. Mon. p. 12). And, in the year 1733, the present clerk of the parish church of Bromley in Kent, by his digging a grave in that church-yard, close to the east end of the chancel wall, dug up one of these crowns, or garlands, which is most artificially wrought in fillagree work with gold and silver wire, in resemblance of myrtle (with which plant the funebrial garlands of the ancients were composed,*) whose leaves are fastened to hoops of larger wire of iron, now something corroded with rust, but both the gold and silver remains to this time very little different from its original splendor. It was also lined with cloth of silver, a piece of which, together with part of this curious garland, I keep as a choice relic of antiquity.

Besides these crowns, the ancients had also their deposi tory garlands, the use of which were continued even till of late years (and perhaps are still retained in many parts of this nation, for my own knowledge of these matters extends not above twenty or thirty miles round London) which garlands, at the funerals of the deceased, were carried solemnly before the corpse by two maids, and afterward hung up in some conspicuous place within the church, in memorial of the departed person, and were (at least all that I have seen)

* Sir Thomas Brown's Misc. Tracts, p. 29.

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made after the following manner, viz. the lower rim or circlet, was a broad hoop of wood, whereunto was fixed, at the sides thereof, part of two other hoops crossing each other at the top, at right angles, which formed the upper part, being about one third longer than the width; these hoops were wholly covered with artificial flowers of paper, dyed horn, or silk, and more or less beauteous, according to the skill or ingenuity of the performer. In the vacancy of the inside, from the top, hung white paper, cut in form of gloves, whereon was wrote the deceased's name, age, &c. together with long slips of various coloured paper, or ribbons. These were many times intermixed with gilded or painted empty shells of blown eggs, as farther ornaments; or, it may be, as emblems of the bubbles or bitterness of this life; whilst other garlands had only a solitary hourglass hanging therein, as a more significant symbol of mortality.

About forty years ago, these garlands grew much out of repute, and were thought, by many, as very unbecoming decorations for so sacred a place as the church; and at the reparation, or new beautifying several churches, where I have been concerned, I was obliged, by order of the minister and church-wardens, to take the garlands down, and the inhabitants were strictly forbidden to hang up any more for the future. 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, and put therein, upon the coffin, over the face of the dead; this I have seen done in many places. Now I doubt not but such a garland, with an hourglass, was thus placed in the grave at Clerkenwell, which at the rotting and falling in of the lid of the coffin, must consequently be found close to the skull, as that was said to be, and the wooden frame of the glass being but of slender substance, must needs have long since decayed, had it not been in great measure secured from moisture within the hollow part of the garland, though the thread that held it might in a short time let it slip down to the coffin's lid.

Thus, sir, I have given your my thoughts of your Clerken well hour-glass, although there may be several things found in graves not so easily accounted for: as in digging a grave, anno 1720, for one Mr. William Clements, in Nockholt church-yard, in this county, were found deep in the earth several rolls of brimstone; and last year was dug out of a grave at Wilmington near Dartford, a quantity of Henry

the IIId's coins, the particular account of which, I intend shall be the subject of another letter if it will be any ways entertaining or acceptable to your readers; the which will be a great pleasure to,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

Bromley in Kent.

S. E.

1747, June.

XXIV. Saxon Idols worshipped in England, whence the names of our days are derived.

THE Idol of the Sun, from which Sunday is derived, among the Latins dies Solis, was placed in a temple and adored and sacrificed to; for they believed that the sun did co-operate with this idol. He was represented like a man half naked, with his face like the sun, holding a burning wheel with both hands on his breast, signifying his course round the world; and by its fiery gleams, the light and heat wherewith he warms and nourisheth all things.

2. The Idol of the Moon, from which cometh our Monday, dies Lunæ, anciently Moonday: this idol appears strangely singular, being habited in a short coat like a man: her holding a moon, expresses what she is, but the reason of her short coat and long-eared cap is lost in oblivion.

3. Tuisco, the most ancient and peculiar god of the Germans, represented in his garment of a skin, according to their ancient manner of cloathing; next to the sun and moon, they paid their adoration to this idol, and dedicated the next day to him; from which our Tuesday is derived, anciently Tuisday, called in Latin dies Martis. But this idol is very unlike Mars, whom Woden much nearer resembles than he does Mercury.

4. Woden was a valiant prince among the Saxons; his image was prayed to for victory over their enemies, which if they obtained, they usually sacrificed the prisoners taken in battle to him. Our Wednesday is derived from him, anciently Wodensday. The northern histories make him the father of Thor, and Friga to be his wife.

5. Thor was placed in a large hall, sitting on a bed, canopied over, with a crown of gold on his head, and twelve stars over it, holding a sceptre in the right hand; to him was attributed the power over both heaven and earth, and,

that as he was pleased or displeased, he could send thunder, tempests, plagues, &c. or fair seasonable weather, and cause fertility. From him our Thursday derives its names, anciently Thorsday; among the Romans, dies Jovis, as this idol may be substituted for Jupiter.

6. Friga; this idol represented both sexes, holding a drawn sword in the right hand, and a bow in the left, denoting that women as well as men should fight in time of need: she was generally taken for a goddess, and was reputed the giver of peace and plenty, and causer of love and amity. Her day of worship was called by the Saxons, Frigedaeg, now Friday, dies Veneris; but the habit and weapons of this figure have a resemblance of Diana rather than Venus.

7. Seater or Crodo,, stood on the prickly back of a perch: he was thin-visaged, and long-haired, with a long beard, bare-headed, and bare-footed, carrying a pail of water in his right hand, wherein are fruit and flowers; and holding up a wheel in his left; and his coat tied with a long girdle: his standing on the sharp fins of this fish, signified to the Saxons, that by worshipping him they should pass through all dangers unhurt; by his girdle flying both ways was shewn the Saxons' freedom, and by the pail with fruit and flowers, was denoted that he would nourish the earth. From him, or from the Roman deity Saturn, comes Saturday.

1748, Nov.

XXV. Human Bones found filled with Lead.

MR. URBAN,

IN digging a vault, very lately, in the parish church of Axminster in the county of Devon, were found several bones of a human body, very ponderous, which, when opened, appeared to be full of lead, particularly the thigh bone. This, so surprising a thing, has puzzled the most curious in those parts. You are, therefore, desired to give this a place in your next magazine, in order to have the sentiments of your learned readers hereon.

Yours, &c.

1748, May.

J. J. Oxon, Oct. 11.

In

your magazine for May, p. 214, is an account of some

human bones lately found at Axminster in the county of Devon, filled with lead. An affair of this nature is mentioned by Weever in his Funerall Monuments, p. 30. I shall here transcribe Mr. Weever's own words.

In the north isle of the parish church of Newport Painell, in Buckinghamshire, in the year 1619, was found the body of a man whole and perfect; laid downe, or rather leaning downe, north and south: all the concauous parts of his body, and the hollownesse of euery bone, as well ribs as other, were filled up with sollid lead. The skull with the lead in it doth weigh thirty pounds and sixe ounces, which with the neck-bone, and some other bones (in like manner full of lead) are reserued, and kept in a little chest in the said church, neare to the place where the corps were found, there to bee showne to strangers as reliques of admiration. The rest of all the parts of his body are taken away by gentlemen neare dwellers, or such as take delight in rare antiquities. This I saw.'

By the position of this body mentioned by Mr. Weever, I should judge it to have been buried before, or, at least, very soon after Christianity was received in the island.

1748, Nov.

I am, Sir,
Yours, &c.

R. M.

MR. URBAN,

Gravesend, Dec. 15, 1748.

Waving all encomiums on the usefulness of your canal to the learned, as well as to the curious and inquisitive, I observe, in your magazine for May last, a letter from Axminster, the writer of which is in great surprise on finding, in digging a grave in that parish church, several human bones filled with lead, particularly a thigh-bone, which, he says (justly, no doubt) was very ponderous; and desires, by your means, to have the sentiments of the learned upon it. Though I have no pretensions to be ranked in that class, yet, observing in your magazine of November last, p. 506. another letter on the same subject from Oxon, of a human skull, &c. mentioned by Weever, dug out of a grave in the church of Newport Pagnel, filled with the same metal, as if it had been an ancient embalming, never till now heard of or discovered; I beg room for a few lines, to give you my thoughts upon it.

In the year 1727, the greatest part of this town, together with the parish church, were consumed by fire. The roof

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