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THE ancient Jews had their Sepulchres in thier Gardens, 2 Kin. 21.18. Matt. 27.60.
The Barbary Jews at this day in their Burials use this Order.
1. They wash the Corps of the poorer sort in common VVater; of the Rich in VVater of Roses, Orange-Flowers, &c.
2. They put it in a Shirt, Drawers, a Stripe of Linnen, white Sheet and Coffin.
3. The Corps is carried by four to the place of Burial, in this order; first the Priests, next the Relations, next the Invited Neighbours.
4. As they go, they all sing the 49th Psalm, Hear this all ye People, &c. and if it last not to the Grave, they begin it again.
5. At the Grave ten Rabbies or old Jews say over some parcels of Divine Service.
6. The Relations stir not abroad for a week after, unless upon some extraordinary business, (and then without Shoes) Neighbours come, to the House to pray with them;
7. Their mourning Habit is a black Gantphe, the same Cloaths they wore, when the Party died. Dr. Addison.
8. Their common Epitaph is, Let his Soul be in the bundle of Life, with the rest of the Just. Amen, Amen. Selah. Rosse.
In the Funerals of the Ancients, there were these following Officers.
1. Libitinarii, such as had, the oversight of all things necessary.
2. Pollinctores, who had the Office of anointing the dead Bodies.
3. Custodes Cadaverum, who attended the Dead till they were carried to the Funeral Fire.
4. Vespillones, of Sandapilarii, such as commonly carried out by Night the meaner sort, and they were cloathed commonly in white.
5. Designatores, such as did marshal every Man according to his place.
6. Praeficae, Women-Mourners, that went before the Corps, singing a doleful Song (to invite others to Sorrow) which was called Naenia; as some would have it, from the noise which is made in weeping.
7. Ʋstores, such as burnt the Bodies of the Dead.
Among the Romans burying in the Earth was first used, then Burning, till A.C. 200.
Trumpets used at the Funerals of the Rich.
Pipes at poorer Funerals.
The Order of Burials was thus:
1. The Body was wash'd and anointed: the Rich with costly Oyntments, such as Amomum yielded, which was a Shrub growing in Armenia, and the Eastern parts, from the use of which, in en∣balming the Dead, some think the word Mummy is deriv'd.
2. The Body was decently covered, and laid up∣on a Bier, and placed ready to be carried forth.
3. A Coronet of Flowers was set upon it.
4. Wax-Candles also were carried before it to the Funeral Fire.
5. In the Funerals of Honourable Persons there went before the Corps in order many Chariots, according to the number of Progenitors (such as were famous) and on each Chariot a Bed with an Image of one of them.
6. Before all these went, the Lictores, carrying the Fasces (the Rod and Axe) with such Orna∣ments as belong'd to the Office of the Person de∣ceas'd.
7. To preserve the Ashes and Bones from mix∣ing with the Ashes of the Wood, with which it was burnt; they wrapt the Body in a Sheet, made of a kind of Flax, called Asbestinum, which is of that nature, that it is not consumed, but is only cleansed by the Fire.
8. They gather the Ashes and Bones, and put them in Pitchers or Pots, (Ʋrnae, Vessels of four Gallons and a half a piece) made sometimes of Earth, and sometimes of Brass.
9. They placed the Ʋrns of the better sort in stately Vaults, belonging to great Families.
10. The time of the Funeral was the Eighth day for Burning, and the Ninth for Burying.
11. The Fire (Bustum) was quench'd with Wine; the Bones being gather'd together, were sprinkled
with Wine, and washed with Milk till separated from the Ashes, and then perfumed, and put into the Urn, and buried.
12. At the Funerals of great Persons there were Ludi, called Novendiales.
13. There were Suppers.
14. They strewed Flowers on the Sepulchre, and planted them on the Graves; and this some∣times yearly.
The Funerals of the Bannyans in East-India are of the old stamp, burning the Corps to Ashes in a holy fire compounded of all sorts of costly Woods and Aromatick Spices; the Wife also (in expectation to enjoy her Husband amongst incomparable plea∣sures) invelops her dainty Body with the merciless Flames, for which affection she obtains a living Memory: The reason of which custom was, the spite of former Wives, in poysoning their Hus∣bands, which gave occasion to their Prince to make such a Law, That the Wife should be burn'd with the Husband; as Sir Tho. Herbert in his Tra∣vels, tells us out of Aelia, and St. Hierome.
In Angola they bury thus; the Dead is wash'd, painted, apparrell'd, and laid to sleep in a spaci∣ous Dormitory, his Armolets, Bracelets, and vo∣luntary Shackles accompany him; they circle the Grave with Mimic Gestures and Ejaculations, con∣cluding with the Sacrifice of a Goat. Sir Th. Her∣bert, and Rosse.
The Persees put the Body into a Winding-sheet; as they go to the Grave, the Kindred beat their Breasts all the way, but with little Noise, till they come within fifty or an hundred paces of the Burial-place; where the Herbood meets them, usually attired with a yellow Scarfe, and on his Head a thin Turbant; the Bearers carry the Corps upon an Iron Bier (for Wood being Dedicated to the Fire, is forbid) to a little shed, where, after some mysticks acted, they hoise it up to the Top of a Round Building, about 12 Foot high, and 80 in circuit, flat above, and open to the Air, and ex∣pose the Carcass to the Sun, and Ravening Birds. Sir Th. Herb.
Lucian in his discourse de Luctu hath this obser∣vation;
The Greeks burn,
The Persians bury,
The Indians Besmear with hogs-grease,
The Scythians eat, or hang upon Trees,
The Egyptians powder, (with salt and spices to preserve from putrefaction.)
The Romans Embalm,
The Gangetiques drown,
The Narsingans immure,
The Brachmans expose to birds,
The Bactrians to dogs, &c. Sir Tho. Herb. Travels.
The Gowhers (Heathens in Spahawn) put their dead upright in a hollow Tree.
The Indian Christians thus,
1. The Priest is sent for to pray; and admi∣nister the Eucharist, (if desired.)
2. The sick takes a long Farewell of wife, children, &c.
3. The Survivors rather joy, then mourn.
4. The Corps is washed and wrapt in clean linnen.
5. Friends carry it to the grave, and place the head West, with respect to Jerusalem, or else local Paradise.
6. Five days after they visit the family, feast and fast, as we accustome. Idem.
The Inhabitants of Casta in E. Ind. place the Carcass in a deep, long, narrow Gave, or else be∣tween two walls built on purpose; where the simple Relict immures her self voluntarily, and dies by famine. A most formidable death! Idem.
The Inhabitants of Japan in mourning wear white. Idem.
The Chinese,
1. Wash, perfume, and apparel the Corps with his best cloaths.
2. Cover his Head, and set him in a chair.
3. The wife and Children come in and kiss him, according to their Seniorities, and Kindred also, kneeling down, and kissing the dead man's hand, with ejaculations, beating their breasts, and tears.
4. The Third day Coffin him, Cover him with silk, and set up his picture.
5. For 15 days the Corps rest; the Priests feast, offer sacrifice, burn incense.
6. The Widow and Children mourn for 3. years, not seen to joy in any thing.
In like manner the Inhabitants of Japan invo∣cate their Mannadaes.
1. When the sick is departed, the Relations stand about the body, and excite one another to bemoan him, asking the Deceased, why he would
die? Were his affairs in a good condition? Did he want meat and drink? Was not his wife hand∣som or young enough? Or not faithful to him? &c.
2. They send a present of Beer, Hydromel and Aqua-vitae to the Priest, that he may pray for the Soul, &c.
3. They wash the Body, put on a clean Shirt, and new Russia-Leather Shoes, and lay him in the Coffin, with his Arms Cross the Breast.
4. The Coffin (made of the Trunk of a Tree) is covered with a Cloth, or some Coat of the De∣ceased, and carried to Church, with this Solemni∣ty and Order.
1. First the Priest carrying the Image of the Saint, assign'd the Deceased at Baptism.
2. Next, four Virgins, next a-kin, filling the Air with horrid Cries, and keeping time in their Elevations, and Cadencies one with another.
3. Next the Corps, carried by six Men, the Priests incensing it all the way, to keep off evil Spirits, and withal singing Psalms.
4. Lastly, Kindred and Friends, but disor∣derly, with every one a Wax-candle in his Hand.
5. At the Grave, the Coffin is uncovered, the Image held over him, certain Prayers said, with these words oft repeated,—Lord look upon his Soul in Righteousness; the Widow continuing her La∣mentations, with the same questions mentioned before.
6. They Kiss the Corps, or the Coffin; and the Priest puts a piece of Paper between his Fin∣gers, which is a kind of Testimonial, or Passe for his Admittance into the other World, sign'd by the Patriarch, &c. and Sold by the Priest.
The Form thus,
(We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed (the Patriarch, or Metropolitan) and Priest of the City of N— do make known and certify by these Presents, that the Bearer of these our Letters
hath always lived among us, like a good Christian, professing the Greek Religion; and tho he hath committed some Sins, yet he hath confessed the same, and received Absolution, and taken the Communion, for the Remission of his Sins;— hath Honoured God and his Saints;—hath said his Prayers; and Fasted on the Hours and Days ap∣pointed by the Church; and hath carried himself so well towards me his Confessor, that I have no reason to complain of him, nor to deny him the Absolution of his Sins. In witness whereof we have given him the present Testimonial, to the End, that upon sight thereof, S. Peter may open to him the Gate of Everlasting Bliss.
This done, the Coffin is shut up, and put in the Grave, with the Face Eastward: They Mourn forty Days, and Feast on the third, because then the Face is disfigured; on the second, because then the Body begins to Putrify; and on the twentieth, because then the Heart Corrupts. Some build Huts over the Grave, and cover them with Mats, because the Priest, Morning and Evening, for six Weeks, Prays over the Grave. The D. of Hol∣stein's Embas. Travels,
The Lutheran Women Mourn in White. Dr. Brown's Trav. p. 169.
When a Sick Person lies dangerously ill, they send for a Moullah, who comes with the Alcoran, which he opens and shuts three times, saying cer∣tain Prayers, and laying it upon the Sick Person's Face; if the Sick Person recover, 'tis attributed to the Sanctity of the Alcoran, and the Moullah is Presented with a Sheep or Goat. If he die, all
his Kindred meet, and carry him to the Grave, with great Testimonies of Sadness, crying conti∣nually, Alla, Alla. When he is Interr'd, the Moul∣lah mutters certain Prayers over the Grave, and is paid for his Pains according to the Wealth of the Heirs. For the Poor he generally spends three days and three nights in that Exercise; for the Rich he as usually spends a Month, never stirring all the while from the Grave, and sometimes seven or Eight. M. Tavernier l. 3. c. 13.
At their Funerals, the near Relations or Friends of the Dead cut their Faces, and some other parts of their Bodies with sharp Flints; others Prostrate themselves upon the Ground, and tear their Hair; so that when they return from the Burial, they are all of a gore Blood: However, notwithstanding all this Affliction, they never Pray for the Dead. Idem. l. 3. c. 12.
When the Gaurs are Sick, they send for their Priests, to whom they make a kind of Confession; whereupon the Priests enjoyn them to give Alms, and other good Works, to gain Pardon of their Sins. They neither Burn, nor Bury; but carry the Corps without the City, to a Wall'd place, where are abundance of Stakes about 7 or 8 foot high, fixt in the Ground, and tie the Dead Corps to one of the Stakes, with his Face towards the East: The People falling to their Prayers, till the Crows come, (which those Coemeteries draw to them.) If the Crow fasten on the right Eye, they believe the Person to be happy, and for joy, give large Alms, and make a Feast in the Field; but if upon the left Eye, they return home sad, without
speaking to one another, give no Alms, nor Eat, nor Drink. Idem. l. 4. c. 8.
When a Man is just breathing his last, they put the Mouth of a Dog, to the Mouth of the Person Dying, and cause him to Bark twice in that posture, that the Soul of the Deceased may enter into the Dog, who, they say, will deliver it into the hands of the Angel appointed to receive it. When any Dog dies, they carry him out of the City, and Pray to God for the Carrior. Idem.
When an Armenian Dies, the Mordichou (one whose Office it is to wash the Dead) fetches from Church a Pot of Holy-water, puts in into a great Vessel of Water, in which he puts the Corps and washes it; then they dress it with a new white shirt, breeches, wastcoat, bonnet, put it in a linnen Sack, carry it to Church, with every one a Taper in their hand: there the Priest saith certain prayers, sets up lighted Tapers round the Corps, and so leaves it all night. Next morning the Bishop or Priest saith Mass, and then carry the body before the door of the Bishop's house, where the Bishop comes forth, and saith a prayer for the soul of the deceased, then 8 or 10 of the poorer sort carry the body to the Church-yard, the Priests Singing Dirges all the way, till the body is let down into the grave, the Bishop throwing 3 handfuls of Earth into the grave, saying, from Earth thou cam∣est, to Earth thou shalt return, and stay there till our Lord comes. Their feasts afterwards for Priests and poor are chargeable for 7 days together, be∣lieving no soul departed can be saved without it. Tavernier l. 4. c. 13. If a slave dies, the Master writes a note, let him not grieve, I make him free.
The Pagans buried their dead in gardens, or on mountains; sometimes they burn'd the body, and if he was a great man, they killed his chaplain, and his officers to attend him, and buryed his wealth with him, that he might not want in the other world. Ross.
The Priest used to attire himself at these fune∣rals, like a Devil with many mouths and glass∣eyes, and with his staff stir'd and mingled the ashes. When the King died, the Priests were to Sing his Elogies, and to sacrifice 200 persons to serve him. Idem.
When we were at Breakfast, news came that a certain Bishop was dead, in his return from the three Churches; whither he was sent by the Pa∣triarch, to gather certain duties due from the Vil∣lages. Immediately the Arch-Bishop rising from Table, with all his Assistants, and having made a prayer for the dead, sent a Bishop and six Monks to fetch the Corps; who returning a little after midnight, the body was presently laid in the Church upon a Carpet spread upon the ground, with the face turn'd toward the Altar: In the mean time a great number of Wax-Tapers were lighted, and all the rest of the night two Monks watch'd by turns to pray for the dead. The next morning early the Arch-Bishop the Bishops and all in Religious orders said the Office for the dead, which lasted half an hour; and at the end of the Mass they brought the Corps to the Altar, so that they made the feet of the Corps to touch it. Then they took off the linnen cloth that cover'd his head, at which time the Arch-Bishop anointed
him in six places with holy oyl, saying certain prayers every time. Then they cover'd him again and said other prayers which lasted half an hour. Then they carryed the Corps out of Church with Grosses and Banners, and every one a Taper in his hand. As the Corps pass'd by, one of the Bishops put a paper in his right hand, containing these words, I came from the Father, and I return to the Father. Being brought to the grave, upon a little mountain near the Covent, and set down, they said other prayers which lasted a quarter of an hour. In the mean time a Bishop going down into the grave, took away all the stones, and made the place smooth; after which the Corps was let down wrapt in a large linnen sheet. Then the Bishop according to the Custom, raised his head a little higher than his feet, turn∣ing his face to the East. Which done, the Arch-Bishop and Assistants took every one a handful of Earth, which the Arch-Bishop bless'd and gave it to the Bishop who strewd it over the body. Then the Bishop coming out again, the grave was filled up. M. Tavernier l. 1. c. 4. p. 18.
At Bagdat, if a Christian dies, all the rest come to his burial, and returning home, find a supper prepared to welcome them: the next day they return to the grave, pray for the deceased; and the third day there is a dinner for all comers and goers. Sometimes there will be a 150 persons at a burial. They repeat the same Ceremonies for the 7th 15th 30th and 40th days afterwards: having a great veneration for the dead, for whom they pray too often. This feasting is so costly, that the poor often sell their Children for their debts. Tavernier l. 2. c. 2. p. 86.
Among the Persians, when a Patient lies danger∣ously ill, a Fire is made upon the Terass of the House, to give the people notice to pray for him: when dead, the House rings with Crys and Lamentati∣ons, especially of the Women who tear their Hair, and shew such Antic Postures, that a Man would think them possess'd; in the midst of their telling what worthy Acts he hath done, &c. then the Casi is informed, who answers, —Serchoama Sala∣met bashet, i. e. May your Head be in safety; he seals a License to a Mourderchour, to take the Bo∣dy, and wash it in a House, built on purpose near a running Water; then come a great number of Moullahs with long staves (having thin Iron or Latten Plates at the ends) wrapt about with Taffata, tearing their Throats, with crying Allah, Allah, Allah, repeating nothing else, and dancing some∣times on one Foot, sometimes on another; the Cloaths of the deceased belong to the Mourder∣chour; all that meet the Bier, proffer their Shoul∣ders to help to carry: If a Person of Quality be buried, all his Horses are bridled and saddled, and one carries his Turban, another his Scimiter, ano∣ther his Bow, Arrows, Buckler, &c. Their Graves are six Foot long, six deep, and two wide, wherein they lay their Bodies with their Faces towards Mecha: if a rich Man, he is buried with Turbant, Scimiter, Bow and Arrows, and Victuals set before him; the Moullahs go to the House, and eat, and are paid there for their singing and bawling, &c. Tavernier, l. 5. c. 20.
The Dead Body is,
1. Well washed.
2. Fumed with Incense, and wrapt up in pro∣per Garments.
3. If of noble extract, laid on a Bier, (covered with a Bull's Hide.)
4. Carried to the Grave, laden with Crosses, Censers, and Holy Water, and this with a very swift pace.
5. Set down before the Grave, whilst a certain Paragraph out of St. John's Gospel is a reading.
6. After this the Body being sprinkled with the Water, is not let down, but thrown into the Se∣pulchre.
—When Marcus, the eldest Son of Susneus the King, was buried, they sounded forth,—
Marcus is dead, Hallelujah. Marcus is dead, Hallelujah, &c.
And this they repeated so often, and so loud, that the Fathers sent from Rome, and then but newly arrived in Aethiopia, were astonished, not knowing whether the Aethiopians rejoyced or la∣mented. Job Ludolph. l. 3. c. 6.
1. The Surviver rather rejoyceth, then seems to mourn.
2. The Corps is wash'd, and wrapt up in clean Linnen.
3. When 'tis carried to the Grave, the Head is laid West, with respect to Jerusalem, or the Local Paradise.
4. Five days after Friends visit the Family, and Feast and Fast with them, as with us they use to do. Sir Tho. Herbert.
The Turks commonly bury by the High-ways, yet their Tombs are not ordinarily splendid, con∣sisting
only of a Stone, erected at the Head and Feet; yet some set up Stones, of two, three or four Yards high; some have a Turbant carved up∣on the Stone, at the Head, and others set up two Pillars of Stone; some proceed farther, and raise the Sepulchres (as with us) and afterwards place two Pillars upon them, one at the Head, an∣other at the Feet. At Seopia I saw fair Ones after this manner, and two Sepulchres in one of them; but the best way I observed in these parts, (Larissa and Thessaly) is by building a Pavillion supported by four Pillars. As we travelled from the South from Jagodna to Servia. I saw on the side of a Hill, a large Turkish Tom, about four Yards long, and a square place covered by it, which the Chiause told me was the Tomb of one of their Saints, and accordingly performed his Devotions at it, and at other places; on Thurs∣day-night and Fridays I observed the Women to visit to Sepulchres, and pay their Devotions at the Tombs of their deceased Friends. Dr. Brown's Travels, p. 50.
Amongst the Thebans none might build him an House, before he build himself a Sepulchre to be buried in.
The Synod at Eleven a Clock, went to the Fune∣ral of Henricus ab Hell; the solemnity was no more but this; some of the chief of the Town, with the whole Synod, (of Dort, I suppose) went to the House where he died, accompanied him to the Church, laid him in the Grave, and went home again, almost in as little a time as I have told it you. Mr. Hales's Letter to Sir D. C.
The Tunquinese at their Entertainments use great store of Artificial Fire-works; they set upon the Tombs of the Deceased good store of Victuals and Comfitures, out of a Belief that the Dead are bet∣ter for them; for their Priests keep them in that blind error for their own advantage, and so well order their business, that there is nothing left by Morning. The same is practised by the Chinese at Batavia, where they have a place without the Town to bury their Dead, which puts me in mind of this story: Their Burying-place lying in the walk of the Soldiers, when they saw the Provant on one of the Tombs, they took it away to their Guard, and there feasted themselves; the Chinese Priests that usually came about Midnight to take away the Victuals, finding themselves several times be∣reaved of their Expectations, and suspecting the Soldiers belonging to the Holland Garrison; first, complained to the General and Council; but that not taking effect, they resolved to poison both the Meat and Drink, to prevent the like fraud for the future. This took so good effect, that afterwards many of the Dutch Soldiers being poisoned, de∣terred the rest from any such Licorish Attempts. Tavernier's Collect, &c.
Concerning the Funeral of the Calvinists, see before in the former part.
They have a peculiar Office for the Dead in Purgatory, which some perform every third day,
some every seventh, some the 30th, some the 40th day, others the 50th, others yearly; but note, that no Mass must be said for the Dead on Festival days, except the Body be present. Incense may be be burned for the Living, but not for Dead. The Corps may not be brought into the Church whilst Mass is saying for the Living, but must be set in the Church-porch till Mass be done, and the Mass for the Dead be begun, in which Mass the Kiss of Peace must not be given, because there is no Com∣munion between us and the Dead. Their Order is thus:
The Roman Catacombs are without the Walls of the Town, according to the Law of the twelve Tables, yet they seem to run under it, viz. vast Caves in the Rocks, made use of as Repositories of dead Bodies, where they were thrown, and there putrified (putuerunt) thence called Puticoli, where the meanest sort of the Ronan Slaves were laid. Dr. Burnet's Letters, who discourses upon them at large.
In Guinea they bury Gods of Straw with their Dead, that they may accompany them in the other World. Pacquet broke open, Vol. 2.
The Priests in Mexico interr'd the Dead; the places where they buried them were their Gardens and Courts of their own Houses; others carried them to the places of their Sacrifices—in the Mountains; others burnt them, and after buried the Ashes in the Temples. They sung the Fune∣ral Offices like Responds, often lifting up the dead Body, with many Ceremonies; at these Mortua∣ries they did eat and drink; and if it were a Per∣son of Quality, they gave Apparel to such as came; the Friends saluted the Person, as if he were liv∣ing;
for a King or Lord, they put some Slaves, Cook, Butler, &c. to death with him, to serve him in the other World; they give him Ornaments also; the Obsequies continued ten days, &c. Purchas out of Acosta.
In some parts of Guiana, when the Flesh of the Dead is worn off by Putrefaction, they hang up the So••leton in the Chamber or House where the Par∣ty died, decking the Scull with Feathers of divers Colours, and hanging Jewels and Plates of Gold about the Arm and Thigh-Bones. S. Clark.