"T.W." (No. 20. p. 218.) will find no end of "Items" for watching the
sepulchre, in the "Churchwardens' Accounts" before the Reformation, and
during the reign of Queen Mary. At Easter it was the custom to erect a
sepulchre on the north side of the chancel, to represent that of our
Saviour. This was generally a temporary structure of wood; though in
some churches there still remain elaborately ornamented ones of stone.
Sometimes the founder's tomb was used for the purpose. In this sepulchre
was placed on Good Friday the crucifix, and occasionally the host, with
other emblems; and a person was employed to watch it till the morning of
Easter Day, when it was taken out with great ceremony, in imitation of
our Lord's resurrection. It was the payment for this watching that
occurs continually in the Churchwardens' Accounts, and of which, it
appears, Fuller could not understand the meaning. A paper on the subject
of Easter sepulchres, by Mr. Venables, was read at the meeting of the
Cambridge Camden Society in March, 1843, but I am not aware whether it
has been printed. Some very curious "Items" on this subject are given in
Britton's _Redcliffe Church_, which are quoted in the _Oxford Glossary
of Architecture_. They are so illustrative, that I subjoin them, to give
you an opportunity, if you please, of serving them up to your readers:--
"Item, That Maister Canynge hath deliver'd, this 4th day of
July, in the year of Our Lord 1470, to Maister Nicholas Petters,
Vicar of St. Mary Redcliffe, Moses Conterin, Philip Barthelmew,
Procurators of St. Mary Redcliffe aforesaid, a new sepulchre,
well gilt with gold, and a civer thereto.
"Item, An image of God Almighty rising out of the same
sepulchre, with all the ordinance that 'longeth thereto; that is
to say, a lathe made of timber and the iron work thereto.
"Item, Thereto 'longeth Heaven, made of timber and stained
clothes.
"Item, Hell, made of timber, and the iron-work thereto, with
Divels to the number of 13.
"Item, 4 knights, armed, keeping the sepulchre, with their
weapons in their hands; that is to say, 2 axes and 2 spears,
with 2 pavés.
"Item, 4 payr of angels' wings for 4 angels, made of timber and
well painted.
"Item, The Fadre, the crown and visage, the ball with a cross
upon it, well gilt with fine gould.
"Item, The Holy Ghost coming out of Heaven into the sepulchre.
"Item, 'Longeth to the 4 angels 4 chevelers."
Ducange (vol. vi. p. 195. new edit.) gives a detailed account of the
service performed at the Easter sepulchres on the continent.
E. VEE.
Cambridge, March 27.
"_Watching the Sepulchre_" (No. 20. p. 318.).--At the present day, in
most Roman Catholic countries it is the custom to exhibit in the
principal churches at this period, and at Christmas, a kind of _tableau_
of the entombment and of the birth of the Saviour. The figures are
sometimes small, and at other times the size of life: generally
coloured, and formed of wax, wood, stone, or other materials; and when
artistically arranged, and judiciously lighted, form sometimes beautiful
objects. I have no doubt the entry in the Churchwardens' Accounts of
Waltham Abbey refers to a custom of the same kind, prevailing in the
country before the Reformation. If the date of their entry were sought
for, I have little doubt but that it would be found to have been about
Easter. The _sepulchre_ itself was often, I believe, a permanent
erection of stone, and some of them probably now remain in the churches
of England on the north side of the chancel, where they may sometimes be
taken for the tombs of individuals there interred.