54 



Notes on the Ornamentation of the Early 



of figure-of-eight knots may in a similar way be derived from an 

 eight-cord plait. Stone (B") at Eamshury is interesting as showing 

 two different ways of terminating the pattern at the top and 

 bottom. The terminal knots at the bottom (Fig. 8) are the same as on 

 stone (H) at Crieklade. It will be noticed that on all four sides of 

 the cross-shaft (B) at Ramsbury the designer has in a most in- 

 genious way adapted his patterns to the length of the stone, instead 

 of getting a larger stone to suit his patterns, as would be done now- 

 a-days by a less conscientious artist to save himself trouble. The 

 figure-of-eight knot arranged in a double row, as at Ramsbury, 

 occurs elsewhere at Meigle, in Perthshire ; Llanynnis, in Breck- 

 knockshire ; and elsewhere. Sometimes the number of rows is in- 

 creased to three, as at Manby, in Lincolnshire ; and at Govan and 

 Jordanhill, near Glasgow ; or to five, as at Dolton, in Devonshire ; 

 or to six, as at St. Peter^s, Northampton. 



Upon the cross-shaft (B) at Ramsbury is also to be seen a 

 variation of the twist-and-ring pattern ^ I do not remember to have 

 noticed anywhere else. Both the twist and the rings are composed 

 of triple bands (Fig. 5), but where the bands of the twist cross in the 



Fig. 5. 



centres of the rings the outer bands are joined up together in pairs, 

 leaving only the middle ones to cross each other. In the portion of the 

 twist in the S2:iandrils between the circular rings and the border the 

 bands are made to cross over and form a plait, instead of running 



> "Analysis," p. 232, pattern No. 13. 



