burial too. And it has scarce or never been heard of, but that every cell now known contains or contained the relicts of humanity, some mutilated and some entire. I do not inform, but give me leave to remind your Lordship, that here sat solitary sanctity, and here the hermit or the anchoress, hoped that repose for their bones, when dead, they here enjoyed when living. All the while, my Lord, I am sensible this is known to your Lordship, and many in this court, better than to me. But it seems necessary to my case that others, who have not at all perhaps adverted to things of this nature, and may have concern in my trial, should be made acquainted with it. Suffer me then, my Lord, to produce a few of many evidences, that these cells were used as repositories of the dead, and to enumerate a few in which human bones have been found as it happened in this question; lest to some, that accident might seem extraordinary, and consequently occasion prejudice.
1st. The bones, as was supposed, of the Saxon St. Dubritius were discovered buried in his cell at Guy's Cliff near Warwick, as appears from the authority of Sir. W. Dugdale.
2d. The bones, thought to be those of the anchoress Rosia, were but lately discovered in a cell at Royston, entire, fair, and undecayed, though they must have lain interred for several centuries, as is proved by Dr. Stukely.
3d. But my own country, nay almost this neighbourhood, supplies another instance, for in Jan. 1747 were found by Mr. Stovin, accompanied by a rev. gentleman, the bones, in part, of some recluse, in the cell at Lindholm near Hatfield. They were believed to be those of William of Lindholm, a hermit, who had long made this cave his habitation.
4th. In Feb. 1744 part of Hoburn Abbey being pulled down, a large portion of a corpse appeared, even with the flesh on, which bore cutting with a knife; though it is certain this had lain above 200 years, and how much longer is doubtful, for this Abbey was founded in 1145, and dissolved in 1538 or 9.
