226 RIVERSIDE LETTERS XXIX 



either the hands or feet. I do not think 

 that this figure has always been in the place 

 where it is now, most probably it was origin- 

 ally on an inner wall of the church itself ; the 

 present porch appears to be of comparatively 

 modern date, perhaps built in the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth when the church was re- 

 stored ; the crucifix itself was in all likelihood 

 carved in the seventh century. This vested 

 crucifix is unique in our islands ; there are 

 several in France and Italy, and a few in 

 Germany. No crucifix at all is known earlier 

 than the sixth century, and up to the end of 

 the seventh century the figure was always 

 entirely clothed, as this one is. Sometimes a 

 crown (not of thorns) is seen on the head, and 

 rich embroidery on the vestment. After the 

 seventh century the vestment was shortened, 

 and in time a sort of kilt remained as the only 

 clothing. The realistic treatment of the 

 crucifix is, comparatively, quite a modern 

 idea, the figure never having been repre- 

 sented as hanging from the nailed hands, or 

 crowned with thorns, until the thirteenth cen- 



