214 



again surmounted by a finial and ii"on cross, to complete the harmony of 

 proportion of the whole. The present actual measurement of the 

 Cross is as follows : — 



The total height of the original building to the summit of the iron 

 Cross would thus be about 30 feet. 



Of the shields already alluded to, one on the north side and one on 

 the south are armorial, and have their devices incised. The insignia on 

 the others do not consist of "mechanical instruments, such as hatchets," 

 &c., as Garter erroneously supposed, but are simply the very significant 

 and Catholic Emblems of the Passion, beautifully carved in relief. Two 

 of the shields are blank, never having been touched by the chisel. 

 Although neither annorial nor truly heraldic, the four shields containing 

 the Emblems of the Passion, admit of being described in heraldic terms. 

 As they are not depicted in colours, taste alone can guide us in this 

 respect. It seems proper that the field should in all these cases be 

 Gules, in allusion to the outpouring of the Blood, and the Emblems 

 Gold, in allusion to the Golden Fruits of the Lord's Passion. The 

 relative position of the shields on the Cross, and their respective 

 emblazonments, would then be as follows : — 



East Side — Two Shields. One shield blank ; the other charged. On 

 the dexter side a Ladder erect, and on the sinister, a Man's Vest in chief, 

 and three Dice (two and one) in base. 



West Side — Two Shields. One shield blank; the other charged with: 

 A Passion Cross, surmounted at its centre by a Crown of Thorns ; above 

 it an Escroll, and at each extremity of the transverse beam, and at the 

 foot, a Passion Nail. 



North Side— Two Shields. One bearing a Coat of Arms ; the other 

 having : — In the centre, a Pillar* in the form of a Cross, between two 

 Knotted Scourges with handles erect. 



* The pillar against which our Saviour was scourged, and which, it is said, is 

 still to be seen in the Church of St. Procnistus, at Rome. 



