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 Grostête, 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.).