antick peeces: Where we finde D. M.1 it is obvious to meet with sacrificing patera's and vessels of libation, upon old sepulchrall Monuments. In the Jewish Hypogaum2 and subterranean Cell at Rome, was little observable beside the variety of Lamps, and frequent draughts of the holy Candlestick. In authentick draughts of Anthony and Jerome we meet with thighbones and deaths-heads; but the cemeterial Cels of ancient Christians and Martyrs, were filled with draughts of Scripture Stories; not declining the flourishes of Cypresse, Palmes, and Olive; and the mystical Figures of Peacocks, Doves and Cocks. But iterately affecting the pourtraits of Enoch, Lazarus, Jonas, and the Vision of Ezechiel, as hopefull draughts, and hinting imagery of the Resurrection; which is the life of the grave, and sweetens our habitations in the Land of Moles and Pismires.

Gentile Inscriptions precisely delivered the extent of mens lives, seldome the manner of their deaths, which history itself so often leaves obscure in the records of memorable persons. There is scarce any Philosopher but dies twice or thrice in Laertius; Nor almost any life without two or three deaths in Plutarch; which makes the tragicall ends of noble persons more favourably resented by compassionate Readers, who finde some relief in the Election of such differ

ences.

The certainty of death is attended with uncertainties, in time, manner, places. The variety of Monuments hath often obscured true graves; and cenotaphs confounded Sepulchres. For beside their reall Tombs, many have found honorary and empty Sepulchres. The variety of Homers Monuments made him of various Countreys. Euripides had his Tomb in Africa, but his sepulture in Macedonia. And Severus found his real Sepulchre in Rome, but his empty grave in Gallia.

1 Diis manibus.

3 Pausan. in Atticis.

2 Bosio.

• Lamprid. in vit. Alexand. Severi.

He that lay in a golden Urne,1 eminently above the Earth, was not like to finde the quiet of these bones. Many of these Urnes were broke by a vulgar discoverer in hope of inclosed treasure. The ashes of Marcellus2 were lost above ground, upon the like account. Where profit hath prompted, no age hath wanted such miners. For which the most barbarous Expilators found the most civill Rhetorick. Gold once out of the earth is no more due unto it; What was unreaonably committed to the ground is reasonably resumed from it: Let Monuments and rich Fabricks, not Riches adorn mens ashes. The commerce of the living is not to be transferred unto the dead; It is not injustice to take that which none complains to lose, and no man is wronged where no man is possessor.

What virtue yet sleeps in this terra damnata and aged cinders, were petty magick to experiment; These crumbling reliques and long-fired particles superannate such expectations; Bones, hairs, nails, and teeth of the dead, were the treasures of old Sorcerers. In vain we revive such practices; present superstition too visibly perpetuates the folly of our Fore-fathers, wherein unto old Observation3 this Island was so complete, that it might have instructed Persia.

Plato's historian of the other world, lies twelve dayes incorrupted, while his soul was viewing the large stations of the dead. How to keep the corps seven dayes from corruption by anointing and washing, without exenteration, were an hazardable peece of art, in our choicest practise. How they made distinct separation of bones and ashes from fiery admixture, hath found no historicall solution. Though they seemed to make a distinct collection, and overlooked not Pyrrhus his toe. Some provision they might make by fictile Vessels, Coverings, Tiles, or flat stones,

1 Trajanus.-Dion.

2 Plut. in vit. Marcelli. The commission of the Gothish King Theodoric for finding out sepulchrall treasure.-Cassiodor. var. I. 4.

3 Britannia hodie eam attonitè celebrat tantis ceremoniis, ut dedisse Persis videri possit.—Plin. I. 29.

upon and about the body. And in the same Field, not farre from these Urnes, many stones were found under ground, as also by carefull separation of extraneous matter, composing and raking up the burnt bones with forks, observable in that notable lamp of Galvanus.1 Martianus, who had the sight of the Vas Ustrinum2 or vessell wherein they burnt the dead, found in the Esquiline Field at Rome, might have afforded clearer solution. But their insatisfaction herein begat that remarkable invention in the Funerall Pyres of some Princes, by incombustible sheets made with a texture of Asbestos, incremable flax, or Salamander's wool, which preserved their bones and ashes incommixed.

How the bulk of a man should sink into so few pounds of bones and ashes, may seem strange unto any who considers not its constitution, and how slender a masse will remain upon an open and urging fire of the carnall composition. Even bones themselves reduced into ashes, do abate a notable proportion. And consisting much of a volatile salt, when that is fired out, make a light kind of cinders. Although their bulk be disproportionable to their weight, when the heavy principle of Salt is fired out, and the Earth. almost only remaineth; Observable in sallow, which makes more Ashes than Oake; and discovers the common fraud of selling Ashes by measure, and not by ponderation.

The

Some bones make best Skeletons, some bodies quick and speediest ashes. Who would expect a quick flame from Hydropicall Heraclitus ? poysoned Souldier, when his Belly brake, put out two pyres in Plutarch. But in the plague of Athens,5 one private pyre served two or three Intruders; and the

1 To be seen in Licet, de reconditis veterum lucernis.

2 Typograph. Roma ex Martiano. Erat et vas ustrinum appellatum, quod in eo cadavera comburerentur. Cap. de Campo Esquilino. 3 Old bones according to Lyserus. Those of young persons not tall nor fat according to Columbus.

4 in vita Gracc.

Thucydides.

Saracens burnt in large heaps, by the King of Castile,1 shewed how little Fuell sufficeth. Though the Funerall pyre of Patroclus took up an hundred foot,2 a peece of an old boat burnt Pompey; And if the burthen of Isaac were sufficient for an holocaust, a man may carry his owne pyre.

From animals are drawn good burning lights, and good medicines against burning; Though the seminall humour seems of a contrary nature to fire, yet the body compleated proves a combustible lump, wherein fire findes flame even from bones, and some fuell almost from all parts. Though the Metropolis of humidity seems least disposed unto it, which might render the sculls of these Urnes lesse burned than other bones. But all flies or sinks before fire almost in all bodies: when the common ligament is dissolved, the attenuable parts ascend, the rest subside in coal, calx or ashes.

To burn the bones of the King of Edom for lime,5 seems no irrationall ferity; But to drink of the ashes of dead relations, a passionate prodigality. He that hath the ashes of his friend, hath an everlasting treasure; where fire taketh leave, corruption slowly enters; In bones well burnt, fire makes a wall against itself; experimented in copels, and tests of metals, which consist of such ingredients. What the Sun compoundeth, fire analyseth, not transmuteth. That devouring agent leaves almost always a morsell for the Earth, whereof all things are but a colonie; and which, if time permits, the mother Element will have in their primitive masse again.

He that looks for Urnes and old sepulchrall reliques, must not seek them in the ruines of Temples: where no Religion anciently placed them. These were found in a Field, according to ancient custome, in noble or private buriall; the old practise of the Canaanites, the

1 Laurent. Valla.

8 Speran. Alb. Ovor.

5 Amos ii. I.

2 ́Εκατόμπεδον ἔνθα ἢ ἔνθα. The brain. Hippocrates.

As Artemisia of her husband Mausolus.

Family of Abraham, and the burying-place of Josua, in the borders of his possessions; and also agreeable unto Roman practice to bury by highwayes, whereby their Monuments were under eye; Memorials of themselves, and memento's of mortality unto living passengers; whom the Epitaphs of great ones were fain to beg to stay and look upon them; A language though sometimes used, not so proper in ChurchInscriptions.1 The sensible Rhetorick of the dead, to exemplarity of good life, first admitted the bones of pious men, and Martyrs within Church wals; which in succeeding ages crept into promiscuous practise. While Constantine was peculiarly favoured to be admitted into the Church Porch; and the first thus buried in England was in the dayes of Cuthred.

Christians dispute how their bodies should lye in the grave.2 In urnall interrment they clearly escaped this controversie; though we decline the Religious consideration, yet in cemiteriall and narrower buryingplaces, to avoid confusion and crosse position, a certain posture were to be admitted; which even Pagan civility observed. The Persians lay North and South, the Megarians and Phænicians placed their heads to the East; The Athenians, some think, towards the West, which Christians still retain. And Beda will have it to be the posture of our Saviour. That he was

crucified with his face toward the West, we will not contend with tradition and probable account; But we applaud not the hand of the Painter, in exalting his Crosse so high above those on either side; since hereof we finde no authentick account in history, and even the crosses found by Helena, pretend no such distinction from longitude or dimension.

To be knav'd out of our graves, to have our sculs made drinking-bowls, and our bones turned into Pipes, to delight and sport our Enemies, are Tragicall abominations escaped in burning Burials.

Urnall interrments and burnt Reliques lye not in fear of worms, or to be an heritage for Serpents; In 2 Kirkmannus de funer.

1 Siste viator.