Some bones make best Skeletons,[65] some bodies quick and speediest ashes: Who would expect a quick flame from Hydropical _Heraclitus_? The poisoned Souldier when his Belly brake, put out two pyres in _Plutarch_.[66] But in the plague of _Athens_,[67] one private pyre served two or three Intruders; and the _Saracens_ burnt in large heaps, by the King of _Castile_,[68] shewed how little Fuel sufficeth. Though the Funeral pyre of _Patroclus_ took up an hundred foot,[69] a peece of an old boat burnt _Pompey_; And if the burthen of _Isaac_ were sufficient for an holocaust, a man may carry his own pyre.
[65] _Old bones according to_ Lyserus. _Those of young persons not tall nor fat according to_ Columbus.
From animals are drawn good burning lights, and good medicines[70] against burning; Though the seminal humor seems of a contrary nature to fire, yet the body compleated proves a combustible lump, wherein fire findes flame even from bones, and some fuel almost from all parts. Though the Metropolis[71] of humidity seems least disposed unto it, which might render the sculls of these Urnes less burned then 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_[72] for Lyme, seems no irrational ferity; But to drink of the ashes of dead relations,[73] 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 it self, 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 alwayes a morsel for the Earth, whereof all things are but a colony; and which, if time permits, the mother Element will have in their primitive mass again.
[73] _As_ Artemisia _of her Husband_ Mausolus.
He that looks for Urnes and old sepulchral 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 burial; the old practise of the _Canaanites_, the Family of _Abraham_, and the burying place of _Josua_, in the borders of his possessions; and also agreeable unto _Romane_ practise to bury by highwayes, whereby their Monuments were under eye: Memorials of themselves, and _memento's_ of mortality into 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 Church-Inscriptions.[74] 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 unto the Church Porch; and the first thus buried in _England_ was in the dayes of _Cuthred_.