There are fine specimens at Navenby
and Heckington churches, Lincolnshire, and {355} Hawton
church, Notts. All these in the decorated style of the
fourteenth century; and are of great magnificence, especially
the last."
To this account of the sepulchre I may add, that one principal part
of the solemn rites referred to above consisted in depositing a
consecrated wafer or, as at Durham Cathedral, a crucifix within
its recess--a symbol of the entombment of our blessed Lord--and
removing it with great pomp, accompanied sometimes with a mimetic
representation of the visit of the Marys to the tomb, on the morning
of Easter Sunday. This is a subject capable of copious illustration,
for which, some time since, I collected some materials (which are
quite at your service); but, as your space is valuable, I will only
remark, that the "Watching the Sepulchre" was probably in imitation of
the watch kept by the Roman soldiers round the tomb of Our Lord, and
with the view of preserving the host from any casualty.
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