92 



Transactions. 



Keutif^vi'ii'. It is of fine red sandstone, and measures two feet in 

 height, nine and a half inches broad at the base, and is six inches 

 thick. On the front of the stone is a draped figure standing under 

 an arched pediment, having- a nimbus, and holding a book in the 

 right hand. Above the pediment are the heads of two fig-ures, 

 much defaced, probably of angels. On each of the sides is a half- 

 leng'th figure of a saint, each with nimbus and book. The back of 

 the shaft has also been sc ilptured, but the carving has been nearly 

 all chiselled or worn away. On the lower part, however, the 

 (ratlines of two human figures can be made out. In all probability 

 this portion of cross-shaft is of contemjjorary date with the famous 



rune-hiscribed cross at Ruthwell. 

 The lat9 Sir Daniel Wilson, in his 

 Prehistoric Atinah, states that the 

 late Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe 

 informed him " that a sculptured 

 stone built into the wall of the 

 ancient Church of Hoddam bore 

 an inscription of some leiig'th in 

 Runic characters. Of this he 

 made a copy before the final 

 demolition of the ruined church, 

 in 181.'). Imt he had since sought 

 for the transcript in vain. The 

 orighial, it is to be feared, no 

 longer exists."^ The cross-shaft 

 is shown in the accompanying 

 figure, and has been figured by 

 \V ilson at the place cited, and also 

 in the Proceedings of Society of 

 Antiquaries of Scotland. Vol. i.. 

 p. 12. 

 CRO!>IEK. 



Another object, also from Hoddam, is the front portion of a 

 crosier-head of bronze, richly ornamented with interlaced and 



' Seotland in Early ChrUtian Time's. First Series, p. 225. Prior to 

 the Reformation the Church of Hoddam belonged to the Archbishop of 

 Glasgow, and was united to Ecclefechan by Act of Parliament on 

 24th June, 1609— Fa>iti Eccle-s. Scot., lit. ii. pp. 620-G21. The parish of St. 

 Mungo (formerly called Abermilk) is also called after Saint Kentigern — A'e'f 

 iifati^tical Account, Dumfries, p. 203. 



' Prehistoric Annal-i of Scotland, Vol. ii., p. 329. 



Sculptured Cross Shaft from Hoddam. 



