Transactions. 27 



The Abbot's Stone in Dundrennan Abbey. By Jas. 

 Starke, F.S.A. Scot, 



Among the old monuments at Drundrennan Abbey is the 

 Abbot Stone. It is lying in the abbey on the ground, but 

 not being a mere slab, it may have been raised a little, or 

 even originally stood upright. 



It has on it an incised figure, full length. This figure is 

 a monastic dignitary. He is a monk, with shaven crown and 

 in loose vestments, holding in his right hand a small cross 

 or crucifix, and in his left an episcopal staff or crosier, the 

 end of which is resting on the left temple of a small figure 

 recumbent under the Abbot's feet. 



This small figure is that of a person bareheaded and 

 kilted, with something like a snake in his hand. His legs 

 are hanging down from the knees to the ground, having on 

 them large brogues or boots, and the abbot's right foot is 

 clasped under the left arm. 



This is what we find on the Abbot Stone. There is 

 no legend or inscription, nor any date upon the stone. 

 The figures are supposed to tell their own story ; 

 and what appears meant to be represented is, the sub- 

 jugation of the small figure under monastic power and in- 

 fluence. 



The small figure under the abbot's feet is, of course, a 

 representative man ; and he may represent the wild Scots of 

 Galloway. 



Galloway was in early times a separate and peculiar 

 district, with its own lords or reguli, and its own people, 

 with their own language, laws, and customs. They were a 

 Celtic population, and retained their native language, which 

 Tytler says was the Erse, down even to Buchanan's time. 

 Ea magna ex parte patrio sermone adhuc utitur. This 

 would be in the latter part of the sixteenth century, the 

 History of Scotland being published in 1582. A Gaelic- 

 speaking population is obviously under great disadvantages 

 in the march of civilization : for, by their want of the 



