116 PAPEKS, ETC. 



tinguished members of tlie Community of Hackness, but 

 tliat tlie name of St. Hilda does not occur* 



Mr. Boutell in bis work on Christian Monuments in 

 England and Wales, (London 1854) makes mention of 

 tbis monument, as one of tbe fine specimens of uprigbt 

 stone memoria! crosses, "tbe known existing remains of 

 wbicb are very feio in numher, wbile in tbeir cbaracter they 

 are generally somewhat uncertain and indefinite/^ 



" Memorials of tbis class/^ says be, " almost invariably 

 exhibit tbe symbol of tbe cioss, accompanied witb a pro- 

 fusion of interkiced and knotted carving, and tbey bave 

 some brief legend. A most interesting fragment of such a 

 memorial is preserved in tbe cbancel of Hackness Cburch, 

 in Yorksbire, and may possibly commemorate St. Hilda 

 herseif, tbe foundress of an abbey at tbat place." He then 

 refei's, for bis autbority on tbis point, to tbe Churches of 

 Scarhro' and its Neighhourhood, p. 44, Avhere he says tbis 

 curious relique is figured and fuUy described, in wbat be 

 calls " a model guide book." 



We will now examine Avbat Information we derive from 

 tbis stone, and wbetber these suppositions are well founded ; 

 and bere I must express tbe Obligation I bave been under 

 to Mr. Haigb for bis exertions in deciphering tbe inscrip- 

 tions. Having called bis attention more particularly to 

 tbis relique, by sending bim sketches and impressions in 

 paper, taken on tbe spot, he afterwards obtained more 

 complete impressions, and tbrougli tbem has been enabled 

 to decipher Avbat remains of three of tbe inscriptions. 

 Tbe key to tbe cbaracters of tlie fourtb has, I believe, not 

 yet been found. 



"Tbis stone,^" says be, "is tbe remains of a cross, such 



* See Xoies on iJte Eistory of Et. Begv and St. Sild. Proctor, Hartle- 

 pool, 1856. 



