¹ ‘tumulus’ because the tumuli, the barrows on our downlands and hill-sites, were essentially burial places and because a Christian altar, by the requirements of Canon Law, and in observance of a use at least as old as the fourth century, should contain relics of the dead. Cf. at the beginning of Mass the priest kisses the altar, saying, ‘ ... by the merits of thy saints whose relics are here ...’ and cf. the Offertory prayer Suscipe sancta trinitas in which the words occur ‘and of these here’ (et istorum). This prayer is very explicit; it says that the oblation is offered to the Trinity, in remembrance of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascenion and in honour of the Theotokos, of certain named saints and those whose relics lie under the particular altar at which the Mass is being celebrated, together with all the saints departed.