The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 29

Most men do vulgarly understand this word _Dread_ after the common and English acception, as implying _Fear_, _Awe_ or _Dread_.

Others may think to expound it from the French word _Droit_ or _Droyt_.

For, whereas in elder times, the _Presidents_ and _Supremes_ of Courts were termed _Sovereigns_, men might conceive this a distinctive t.i.tle and proper unto the King as eminently and by right the Sovereign.

A third exposition may be made from some Saxon Original, particularly from _Driht_, _Domine_, or _Drihten_, _Dominus_, in the Saxon Language, the word for _Dominus_ throughout the Saxon Psalms, and used in the expression of the year of our Lord in the Decretal Epistle of Pope _Agatho_ unto _Athelred_ King of the Mercians, _Anno_, 680.

_Verstegan_ would have this term _Drihten_ appropriate unto G.o.d. Yet, in the Const.i.tutions of _Withred[267] King of Kent_, we find the same word used for a Lord or Master, _Si in vespera praecedente solem servus ex mandato Domini aliquod opus servile egerit, Dominus (Drihten) 80 solidis luito_. However therefore, though _Driht_, _Domine_, might be most eminently applied unto the Lord of Heaven, yet might it be also transferred unto Potentates and G.o.ds on Earth, unto whom fealty is given or due, according unto the Feudist term _Ligeus a Ligando_ unto whom they were bound in fealty. And therefore from _Driht_, _Domine_, _Dread Sovereign_, may, probably, owe its Original.

[267] V. Cl. Spelmanni _Concil._

I have not time to enlarge upon this Subject: 'Pray let this pa.s.s, as it is, for a Letter and not for a Treatise. I am

_Yours_, etc.

OF ARTIFICIAL HILLS, MOUNTS OR BURROWS

In many parts of England.

What they are, to what end raised, and by what Nations.

TRACT IX

My honoured Friend Mr. _E. D._[268] his _Quaere_.

'In my last Summer's Journey through _Marshland_, _Holland_ and a great part of the _Fenns_, I observed divers artificial heaps of Earth of a very large magnitude, and I hear of many others which are in other parts of those Countries, some of them are at least twenty foot in direct height from the level whereon they stand. I would gladly know your opinion of them, and whether you think not that they were raised by the Romans or Saxons to cover the Bones or Ashes of some eminent persons?'

[268] [Sir William Dugdale.--ED.]

My Answer.

_Worthy Sir_,

Concerning artificial Mounts and Hills, raised without Fortifications attending them, in most parts of _England_, the most considerable thereof I conceive to be of two kinds; that is, either Signal Boundaries and Land-Marks, or else sepulchral Monuments or Hills of Interrment for remarkable and eminent persons, especially such as died in the Wars.

As for such which are sepulchral Monuments, upon bare and naked view they are not appropriable unto any of the three Nations of the Romans, Saxons or Danes, who, after the Britaines, have possessed this Land; because upon strict account, they may be appliable unto them all.

For that the Romans used such hilly Sepultures, beside many other testimonies, seems confirmable from the practice of _Germanicus_, who thus interred the unburied Bones of the slain Souldiers of _Varus_; and that expression of _Virgil_, of high antiquity among the Latins,

--_facit ingens monte sub alto_ _Regis Dercenni terreno ex aggere Bustum._

That the Saxons made use of this way is collectible from several Records, and that pertinent expression of _Lelandus_,[269] _Saxones gens Christi ignara, in hortis amnis, si domi forte aegroti moriebantur; sin foris et bello occisi, in egestis per campos terrae tumulis (quos Burgos appellabant) sepulti sunt_.

[269] Leland. _in a.s.sertione Regis_ Arthuri.

That the Danes observed this practice, their own Antiquities do frequently confirm, and it stands precisely delivered by _Adolphus Cyprius_, as the learned _Wormius_[270] hath observed. _Dani olim in memoriam Regum et Heroum, ex terra coacervata ingentes moles, Montium instar eminentes, erexisse, credibile omnino ac probabile est, atque illis in locis ut plurimum, quo saepe homines commearent, atque iter haberent, ut in viis publicis posteritati memoriam consecrarent, et quodammodo immortalitati mandarent._ And the like Monuments are yet to be observed in _Norway_ and _Denmark_ in no small numbers.

[270] Wormius _in Monumentis Danicis_.

So that upon a single view and outward observation they may be the Monuments of any of these three Nations: Although the greatest number, not improbably, of the Saxons; who fought many Battels with the Britaines and Danes, and also between their own Nations, and left the proper name of Burrows for these Hills still retained in many of them, as the seven Burrows upon _Salisbury_ Plain, and in many other parts of _England_.

But of these and the like Hills there can be no clear and a.s.sured decision without an ocular exploration, and subterraneous enquiry by cutting through one of them either directly or crosswise. For so with lesser charge discovery may be made what is under them, and consequently the intention of their erection.

For if they were raised for remarkable and eminent Boundaries, then about their bottom will be found the lasting substances of burnt Bones of Beasts, of Ashes, Bricks, Lime or Coals.

If Urns be found, they might be erected by the Romans before the term of Urn-burying or custom of burning the dead expired: but if raised by the Romans after that period; Inscriptions, Swords, s.h.i.+elds, and Arms after the Roman mode, may afford a good distinction.

But if these Hills were made by Saxons or Danes, discovery may be made from the fas.h.i.+on of their Arms, Bones of their Horses, and other distinguis.h.i.+ng substances buried with them.

And for such an attempt there wanteth not encouragement. For a like Mount or Burrow was opened in the days of King _Henry_ the Eighth upon _Barham_ Down in _Kent_, by the care of Mr. _Thomas Digges_ and charge of Sir _Christopher Hales_; and a large Urn with Ashes was found under it, as is delivered by _Thomas Twinus De Rebus Albionicis_, a learned Man of that Country, _Sub incredibili Terrae acervo, Urna cinere ossium magnorum fragmentis plena, c.u.m galeis, clypeis aeneis et ferreis rubigine fere consumptis, inusitatae magnitudinis, eruta est: sed nulla inscriptio nomen, nullum testimonium tempus, aut fortunam exponebant_: and not very long ago, as _Cambden_[271] delivereth, in one of the Mounts of _Barklow_ Hills in _Ess.e.x_, being levelled there were found three Troughs, containing broken Bones, conceived to have been of Danes: and in later time we find, that a Burrow was opened in the Isle of _Man_, wherein fourteen Urns were found with burnt Bones in them; and one more neat than the rest, placed in a Bed of fine white Sand, containing nothing but a few brittle Bones, as having pa.s.sed the Fire; according to the particular account thereof in the description[272] of the Isle of _Man_. Surely many n.o.ble Bones and Ashes have been contented with such hilly Tombs; which neither admitting Ornament, Epitaph or Inscription, may, if Earthquakes spare them, out last all other Monuments. _Suae sunt Metis metae._ Obelisks have their term, and Pyramids will tumble, but these mountainous Monuments may stand, and are like to have the same period with the Earth.

[271] Cambd. Brit. _p. 326_.

[272] _Published_ 1656, by Dan. King.

More might be said, but my business, of another nature, makes me take off my hand. I am

_Yours_, etc.

OF TROAS

What place is meant by that Name.

Also, of the situations of _Sodom_, _Gomorrha_, _Admah_, _Zeboim_, in the dead Sea.

TRACT X

SIR,

_To your Geographical Queries, I answer as follows._

In sundry pa.s.sages of the new Testament, in the _Acts of the Apostles_, and Epistles of S. _Paul_, we meet with the word _Troas_; how he went from _Troas_ to _Philippi_ in _Macedonia_, from thence unto _Troas_ again: how he remained seven days in that place; from thence on foot to _a.s.sos_, whither the Disciples had sailed from _Troas_, and there, taking him in, made their Voyage unto _Caesarea_.

Now, whether this _Troas_ be the name of a City or a certain Region seems no groundless doubt of yours: for that 'twas sometimes taken in the signification of some Country, is acknowledged by _Ortelius_, _Stepha.n.u.s_ and _Grotius_; and it is plainly set down by _Strabo_, that a Region of _Phrygia_ in _Asia minor_ was so taken in ancient times; and that, at the Trojan War, all the Territory which comprehended the nine Princ.i.p.alities subject unto the King of _Ilium_, ????? ?e?????, was called by the name of _Troja_. And this might seem sufficiently to salve the intention of the description, when he came or went from _Troas_, that is, some part of that Region; and will otherwise seem strange unto many how he should be said to go or come from that City which all Writers had laid in the Ashes about a thousand years before.