At the Burial of the Dead at Sea.
¶ The same office may be used; but instead of the Sentence of Committal, the Minister shall say,
UNTO Almighty God we commend the soul of our brother departed, and we commit his body to the deep; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up her dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
In the days of “wooden ships and iron men”, the sailors slept in canvas (what else?), hammmocks slung belowdecks wherever there was (almost) room.
Should a man die, and need to be buried at sea, his former bunk became his (canvas) shroud.
Very efficient.