The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-02-20
The YeR Tree.


After the oak, there is no British tree
that in grandeur and endurance can vie
with the yeW. Like the oak, its length
of life is prOdigiOus,' Immense shells Of
dead yew trees are spread sparingly all
over the country; but living specimens
of this tree cannot now be recorded as
very common, and the ancient yew tree
groves have passed away. The yeW is
fond of mountainous and hilly, but
moist districts, and abOunds in all parts
Of Europe except the extreme north.
One specimen of the wood Of this tree
may be seen in good condition at the
British Museum, from the excavations
at Nineveh, apparently quite free from
any effect Of time or insects; and another
specimen, from the ancient submerged
lake-dwellings Of Moosseedorf, Canton
Berne, of enormous antiquity. 1t fres
quently grows 10 an immense size, and
some are recorded in the country more
than fifty feet in circumference.
One of the most interesting facts in
connection with the yew tree IS its fire.
uuent occurrence in ChurCh-yards; and
most of the finest specimens Of this
country are to be found closely adiOin-
ing ecclesiastical buildings. The reason
for this is not very clear; but it is evi-
dent, in many instances, that the yeWs
were not planted near the churches,
but that the churches were built near
the yeWs, as the ages Of several British
specimens of this tree are known 90 be
far greater than those of the buildings
TO which they are attached, many yeW
trees dating anterior to the Norman con-
quest. There seems to be some reason
for suppOsing that this tree was cOnsid-
cred sacred in this country before the
introduction of Christianity, and that
certain religious rites were performed in
groves of yeW; the first Christian
churches being erected on the sites OF
heathen temples, they necessarily were
built near yeW trees. But why this tree
was retained in the Church-yard, and
Christian churches afterwards built near
YeWs, yeWs ultimately plantedin church
yards, and the wood used for religious
purposes, as is proved by references to
consecrated yew," is most certainly
more difficult to understand. Many
trifing reasons have been offered at
various times-not worth repeating here;
but, Of all trees, perhaps, no other has
so many ghOstly legends and sUpersti'
tiOns in connection with it. The shade
Of yeW was at one time considered fatal
to any creature sleeping beneath. 1t
was always an emblem of death and
silence and for this reason, and per-
haps for its great length Of life and free
dom from deterioration, it may be Sc
lected as an emblem of incorruptibility.
1t appears to the writer that the ancient
belief of yew wood eOunteracting and
curing the bite of the serpent may in
some way be connected with its reten-
ton but in support of this or any other
reason for its selection there is little OF
no evidence to bring forward.
No insect or caterpillar is peculiar TO
or lives upon either the foliage or wood
Of this tree, perhaps for the simple
reason that all parts, excepting the fruit,
are highly poisonous; and not to small
creatures alone, for larger qUmdrupeds,
such as horses, oxen, ETC., freqently die
after nibbling the leaves. Deer, goats,
and sheep have been said to be exempt
but the contrary is proved by the fact
that last winter between thirty and forty
deer were poisoned in the Duke of
Beauforts park, at Badminton, after
eating a few leaves that approached the
ground. Not only Is the tree exempt
from all insects, but it is rare to find
either moss, lichen, or fungus growing
on the trunk or branches.
The associations connected with the
yew are full Of interest. Three kings
were slain by bows of the double fatal
yeW," namely, Harold, Rufus, and CoeuT-
de Leon. The victories Of Cressy,
Poictiers and Agincourt were gained by
the archers, dreadful with the bended
yew." Mary Queen Of Scots promised
marriage to Darnley under this tree, to
commemorate which a coin was struck.
The first meeting Of Henry VIII and
Anne Boleyn took place under yeW
tree; and to add no other incidents, the
name of the town of Halifax is said to
be indirectly derived from a legend in
.conneXion with a yew tree, and to which
many pilgrimages were made in times
long past.