The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

Cuthbert. 11.

Cuthbert was his Successor. This man was the first that obtained Church-yards for this Kingdome. For you must know there was a law amongst the Romanes, borrowed of the Grecians, and inserted into their Twelve Tables, that none should be buried or burned within any town. Hominem mortuum in urbe nè sepelito neve urito. So that all were buri∣ed either in the fields, along the high way-side (to put

passengers in minde of their mortality) upon the top or at the feet of mountains. And this kinde of interrement by generall custome was used both of Jewes and Gentiles, as you may finde at large illustrated by Wever in his Monu∣ments. Hence was it that Augustine the first of our Archbi∣shops procured the ground, on part whereof he afterward erected his Abbey, lying without the City, for a place of sepulture for the Kings of Kent, himself and all succeed∣ing Archbishops of that See.

Cicero making mention of this law, gives this reason for it. Credo (saith he) vel propter ignem, vel periculum. But l Hospinian out of Durand, Vlpian and others, shewes the rea∣son of it more at large. It was a custome (saith he) in times of old that men and women were buried in their own pri∣vate houses or gardens; but afterwards for the noisome savour and contagious stink of the dead carcasses so inter∣red, it was inacted that all burialls should be without Towns and Cities, in some convenient place appointed for that purpose. And however that this order was observed by the Gentiles upon this reason onely, scilicet ut in urbibus mundi∣cies servaretur, et aer minus inficeretur, ex cadaverum putre∣scentium foetore; yet the true Christians, and such as by their lively faith were adopted the children of God, had a fur∣ther mystery in this their manner of interrments: for by the carriage and buriall of the dead corps without their City-walls, they did publikely confirme and witnesse, that the parties deceased were gone out of this world to be made free denizens of another City, namely Heaven, there to remain with the blessed Saints in eternall happi∣nesse.

This order or custome of buriall without cities continu∣ed amongst the Christians untill the time of Gregory the Great, for as then the Monks, Friers and Priests (saith my foresaid Author) began to offer sacrifice for the souls de∣parted. So that for their more ease and greater profit, they procured first that the places of sepulture should be adjoyn∣ing unto their Churches. Upon this reason out of the said

Gregory m. Cum gravia peccata non deprimunt (saith he) tunc prodest mortuis si in ecclesiis sepeliantur: quia eorum proximi quoties ad cadem sacra loca veniunt suorumque sepulturam aspi∣ciunt, recordantur & pro eis Domino pr••ces fundunt. Ancient∣ly (saith Onuphrius Panvinius) the bodies of the dead were buried onely without Cities in coemiteries or sleeping places (as the word signifies) untill the resurrection. But persecution being ended, and peace given to the Christian Church, the manner grew in use to bury within Cities, at the entrance into their sacred Temples, yea and afterwards in the very Churches themselves. Now our Archbishop Cuthbert happening to be at Rome, and seeing of these bu∣rialls, obtained from the Pope a dispensation for the ma∣king of Coemiteries or Churchyards within Townes or Cities throughout England.

By this time you may see when the old custome of bury∣ing without City-walls ceased, and buryingin Churches and Church-yards both here and elsewhere began, and may guesse at the cause of the frequency of burialls in Churches in former times. A thing thus tartly reproved of Baldvinus the Civilian. Posteatamen (saith he o, having spoken before of the prohibition of such burialls) Christianorum Princi∣pum indulgentiâ res eò evasit ut multi in ipsis etiam divorum templis atque sacellis loculisque ambitiosè sepeliri vellent, quam superstitionem dicam an impudentem ambitionem Gratianus, Valentinianus & Theodosius reprimere conati sunt, edito hoc rescripto. Nemo Apostolorum vel Martyrum sedem humanis corporibus existimet esse concessam &c. So he. But enough of this.

Now return we to our Archbishop, Cuthbert. Who five yeares after his translation to this See, to wit anno 747. by the counsell of Boniface Bishop of Mentz, called a Convo∣cation at Clift beside Rochester, to reforme the manifold enormities wherewith the Church of England at that time was over grown. The constitutions whereof you may reade of elsewhere. He procured of Eadbert King of Kent, that the bodies of all the Archbishops deceased, from thence∣forth

should not be buried at S. Augustines (as heretofore) but at Christ-Church. And dying, his funeralls were there solemnized accordingly.

Notes

• 742. Church-yards.
• l

  Wever. Of ancient funer-Monuments pag. 7.
• m

  13. quaest. 2•• c. xvij.
• In lib. de Rit•• sepeliendi mor∣tuos.
• o

  Ad LL. 12. Tabularum.
• Anno Dom.