Burials in Woollen

To stimulate the manufacture of woollens in Great Britain an appeal was recently made to re-enact an old provision of the legislature making it obligatory to use a woollen shroud at every interment. This whimsical measure was one of the most curious Acts of Parliament ever passed in this country, and the suggestion to re-instate the enactment will be regarded by most people as one of the most remarkable proposals of the present century. Burials in woollen is practically unknown today,. And it is conceived that the manufacture of a million woollen shrouds a year would provide some recompense for the diminution in the use of woollen “cloths” occasioned by the popularity alike of abbreviated skirts and of artificial silk.

At one time the production of wool, and the making of woollens, were considered the foundations of England’s greatness. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth an Act of Parliament, the forerunner of many to the same effect, was passed to prevent the exportation of wool from these shores. It was believed that wool sent abroad represented so much less to this country. In order that it should be constantly bourne in mind that wool was the source of our national wealth, sacks of wool were placed in the House of Lords for the seats of the judges. The “woolsack” still remains for the Lord Chancellor who presides at the sitting of the House. It is a large square bag, stuffed with wool, and covered with red cloth. The seat has no back and no arms.

Parliament, in 1660, passed an Act again prohibiting the export of wool, and the prohibition remained on the statute book until 1825. The notions grew up towards the end of the seventeenth century, and continued to gain ground until about 1750, that the wool of England was superior to that of every other country, that long wool could not be produced anywhere else, and that if we succeeded in keeping the raw material at home we should infallibly command the markets of the world for our woollen manufactures. As a corollary the importation was allowed free of duty. In 1802, however, an import tax of 5s. 3d a hundredweight was imposed on imported wool, and the import was increased in 1819 to 56s., that is, sixpence per pound.

The prohibition of the export of wool in 1660 did not give that impetus to our woollen manufactures that was expected. During the reign of Charles II there were indeed many complaints of their decay, and by way of encouraging the industry, in 1678 an Act of parliament was passed providing that all persons should be buried in woollen shrouds. This Act was on the statute book for more than 130 years. Persons responsible for the interment were to produce to the incumbent of the parish, within eight days of the funeral, an affidavit in the following form.

A.B., of the parish of C., in the county of D., maketh oath that E.F., of the parish of G., county of H., lately deceased, was not put in, wrapt up, or wound up. Or buried in any shirt, shift, sheet, or shroud, made or mingled with flax, hemp, silk, hair, gold, or silver, or other than what is made of sheep’s wool only; nor any coffin lined or faced with any cloth, stuff, or any other thing whatsoever made or mingled with flax, hemp, silk, hair, gold, or silver, or any other material contrary to the late Act of Parliament for burying in woollen, but sheep’s wool only.

Dated the ………. day of ………. 16

In default of the affidavit a fine of £5 was imposed, half to go to the informer and half to the poor.

This measure was long extremely unpopular; and among the rich many vaunted their opposition, or their wealth, by burying in linen and paying the penalty.

Almost every parish register in the county contains records of no affidavit and the payment of the penalty. We may take it that in practically every instance the infraction of the law was owing to the strength of sentiment, spiced occasionally with political opposition.

At the beginning a good proportion of the clergy were against the measure: for one thing it necessitated a fresh register book in every parish. The clergyman at Helmdon (in Northamptonshire) was sarcastic in his entries. Here is an example:

1680, June 16. Thomas Shortland, the son of Thomas Shortland of the Parish of Helmdon, being Dead was out into a Pit-hole and Bury’d in the churchyard of the Town above written.

Memorandum That within the revolution of eight days after the Funerall obsequays of Thomas Shortland Affidavit was brought from a justice of the Pease that the said Thomas Shortland was well wrapt in a shirt of Woollen and was let down into hid dormitory with that vestment about his corps to the great satisfaction of the Law enjoineing that Habiliment as convenient for the Dead.

In an entry two years later the same cleric wrote “Affidavit was brought from a neighbouring minister that the abovesaid Frances Pickeings was shrowded only in a winding sheet made of the Fleece of good Fat Mutton.

It may be noted that until well into the eighteenth century a large proportion of the burials took place without coffins. It was a luxury the poor could not afford. In most, if not all parishes, a public coffin was provided for taking the body into the church and to the graveside, and there the body was removed from the coffin prior to its being placed in the grave.

This usage explains the two rubrics in the Service for the Burial of the Dead in the Book of Common Prayer. After the reading of the Epistle the direction is:

When they come to the Grave, while the Corpse is made ready to be laid in the earth, the Priest shall say, or the priest and Clerks shall sing:

Man that is born of a woman, etc.

And after these verses:

Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the Body by some standing by, the Priest shall say, here follows the Committal.