W.J.

Havre.

Churchyards, Epitaphs (Vol. ii., p. 56.).—­I beg to submit the following observations in answer to the Queries under this head.

Fairs, and also markets, were held in churchyards until put a stop to in 1285 by an enactment in the 13 Edw.  I. c. 6:—­

    “E communde le rey e defend qe feire ne marche ne seient tenuz
    en cimeter pur honur de seint eglise.”

Previous to the passing of this act, the king had forbidden the keeping of Northampton fair in the church or churchyard of All Saints in that town; and Bishop Grostete, following the monarch’s example, had sent instructions through the whole diocese of Lincoln, prohibiting fairs to be kept in such sacred places. (See Burn’s Eccl.  Law, tit.  “Church,” ed. 1788.) Fairs and markets were usually held on Sunday, until the 27 Hen.  VI. c. 5. ordered the discontinuing of this custom, with trifling exceptions.  Appended to the fourth Report of the Lincolnshire Architectural Society is a paper by Mr. Bloxan on “Churchyard Monuments,” from which it appears that in the churchyards of Cumberland and Cornwall, and in those of Wales, are several crosses, considered to be as early as, if not earlier than, the twelfth century:  that in the churchyards of the Isle of Man are other crosses of various dates, from the eighth to the twelfth century and that in some of the churchyards in Kent, of which those of Chartham, Godmersham, and Godneston are specified, there are remaining some of the most simple headstone crosses that can be imagined, most of which the writer apprehends to be of the twelfth or thirteenth century, though he adds, “there is no sufficient reason why they should not be of later date.”  Several other instances between the periods particularised are also given.  The Report is not published, but perhaps a copy might be obtained from the printer, W. Edwards, Corn Market, Louth.  See further the Archaeological Journal, passim, and Mr. Cutt’s work on Sepulchral Crosses and Slabs.  The privilege of sanctuary was taken from churchyards, as well as from all other places, in 1623, by the 21 Jac.  I. c. 28., which provides,

    “That no sanctuary or privilege of sanctuary shall be hereafter
    admitted or allowed in any case” (sec. 7.).

ARUN.

Umbrella (Vol. i., p. 415; vol. ii., p. 25.).—­Seeing that the Query respecting this useful article of domestic economy has been satisfactorily answered, may I be allowed to mention that umbrellas are described by the ancients as marks of distinction.  Pausanias and Hesychius report that at Alea, a city of Arcadia, a feast called Scieria was celebrated in honour of Bacchus, in which the statue of the rosy god was carried in procession, crowned with vine leaves, and placed upon an ornamental litter, in which was seated a young girl carrying an umbrella, to indelicate the majesty of the god.  On several bas-reliefs from Persepolis, the king is represented under an umbrella, which a female holds over his head.