DERBYSHIRE FUNERAL GARLANDS. BY T. N. BRUSHFIELD, ESQ., M.D., F.S.A. LTHOUGH mentioned by various writers, the first author to devote a special paper to the subject of Funeral Garlands was Mr. Ll. Jewitt, in one that appeared in the first number of the Reliquary, issued in 1860. Of this archæological periodical he remained the editor from that year to the close of his life in 1886. I may be permitted to add that I first called his attention to the garlands preserved in Ashford Church, during the period of a joint visit to the late Mr. Thomas Bateman, the well-known antiquary, of Lomberdale House, near Youlgreave. Let me at once attempt to explain what is meant by a Funeral Garland. It was formerly the custom in many English counties, and one which extended into the present century, on the occasion of the death of an unmarried woman who had led a pure and blameless life, for her friends and neighbours to construct in her honour a light framework, nearly always of wood, and decorated with flowers (real and artificial), ribbons and paper ornaments, several emblematical articles being suspended in the interior. This was generally termed a Funeral Garland, and was borne with much ceremony before her coffin in its way to the place of interment; and at the conclusion of the burial service, was hung up in a conspicuous position in the church. The mode in which this was carried out varied considerably in its details in different places. Although regarded as an obsolete custom, it is still practised in a Hampshire village (vide post). In explanation of the term, the Historical English Dictionary defines it as "A wreath of ribbons, chiefly nautical"; and quotes instances of its employment from four different works, three relating to naval decorations, while the fourth is taken from the Cleveland Glossary of the Rev. J. C. Atkinson, and runs thus: "Wreaths of ribbons enclosing a white glove, formerly borne at the funerals of young unmarried women." It appears to be a mistake to include under the same definition the naval wreath or garland used for rejoicings, and the funeral one, as the objects of each were so wholly different. It has been designated a funeral, funereal, or funebrial garland, a coronal, a chaplet, wreath, burial garland, Virgin's crown, and Virgin's garland;-none of these terms require comment. There is, however, one of some interest that demands a short notice here. In the graveyard scene in Hamlet, as the burial procession of Ophelia's body approaches the place of interment, the Priest, in reply to Laertes, remarks, that "her death was doubtful"; so that instead of being lodged "in ground unsanctify'd," and being pelted with "shards, flints, and pebbles," as a suicide, "she is allow'd her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home (Hamlet, v, 1.) Now "crants" in Johnson's Dict. (ed. Latham), is defined as "Crown; chaplet; garland; "from the German Krantz;" and this important note is added:-" This word, which never became English, seems to have been used by Shakespeare on the strength of his having learned that rosecrown is the translation of the name of one of his characters, Rosencranz." This, at first sight, appears to be corroborated by Halliwell and Wright in their edition of Nares' Glossary. But on turning to the Historical English Dictionary, we find it accepted as an English word, although now obsolete. According to Fleay (The English Drama, ii, 185), Hamlet was first performed in 1601, and published in 1602 or following year; but as shown by Dr. Murray, the word had been employed by English authors some years prior to Shakespeare's play, the earliest quotation given by him in illustration being the following "The filthy queane weares a craunce and is a Frenchwoman, forsooth." (Robert Greene, in A Quip for an Upstart Courtier Imprinted by John Wolfe, at Poules Chayne, 1592). "Rites" was substituted for "crants" in the later editions of Shakespeare's works. Mr. Syer Cuming reports "crant to be "an old northern word for garland" (Journal of the B. A. A., xxxi, 192), but it is not contained in the English Dialect Dictionary. It is hardly necessary to advert to the practice of adorning the dead with flowers, or of employing them at the time of the funeral ceremony--a custom that probably dates back as far as History itself-nevertheless, a few remarks may not be deemed out of place. In his work on the Ancient Egyptians, Sir G. Wilkinson has pointed out, how they crowned the embalmed body of the deceased "with a garland of immortelles, bay-leaves, or fresh flowers"; adding this pertinent note: "Some suppose that these wreaths of xeranthemums and other flowers were only given to unmarried women" (ed. S. Birch, 1878, iii, 451). Chaplets of flowers were placed on the heads of the deceased by both Greeks and Romans. The floral decoration of deceased virgins is alluded to by the early Christian writers; and as an emblem of purity flowers continued to be used for successive centuries, made up into wreaths or garlands, or cast upon the dead body before the funeral, or even while lying in the grave. Thus, at the funeral of Ophelia, Hamlet's mother, after 'scattering flowers" over the body, mournfully remarks: "I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, And not have strew'd thy grave.” 1 Notwithstanding the prevalence of the custom in this and in other countries for so long a period, it is uncertain 1 Sir T. Browne, in Certain Miscellany Tracts (1689), enumerates several kinds in his second Tract, entitled "Of Garlands, and Coronary Garland Plants,' ," '89-'95; and amongst others mentions the "Depository, such as they laid upon the Graves and Monuments of the dead." or |
