They are probably the most remarkable of
those kept by the various towns or cities in the provinces. They include
no less than forty-nine Royal Charters, the earliest existing being that
granted by Henry II in the twelfth century, and attested by Thomas
a-Becket. A herb (_Acorus calamus_ or sweet sage), which was found in
the neighbourhood of Exeter, was highly prized in former times for its
medicinal qualities, being used for diseases of the eye and in
intermittent fevers. It had an aromatic scent, even when in a dried
state, and its fragrant leaves were used for strewing the floors of
churches. It was supposed to be the rush which was strewn over the floor
of the apartments occupied by Thomas a-Becket, who was considered
luxurious and extravagant because he insisted upon a clean supply daily;
but this apparent extravagance was due to his visitors, who were at
times so numerous that some of them were compelled to sit on the floors.
It was quite a common occurrence in olden times for corpses to be buried
in churches, which caused a very offensive smell; and it might be to
counteract this that the sweet-smelling sage was employed. We certainly
knew of one large church in Lancashire within the walls of which it was
computed that 6,000 persons had been buried.
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