A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



head, which was turned backwards, looking towards the tail, is broken away. 

 The north face exhibits the legs only of two figures, and that towards the 

 south the termination of a shield-shape panel. 



In the fourth row the first stone measures 2 feet 4 inches by i foot 

 by 71 inches. It has a panel which contains the standing figure of a warrior. 

 He has a circular shield on his left arm, and his right hand grasps a spear, the 

 shaft of which rests upon the ground and the point rises above his head. He 

 wears a helmet. 



The next stone is apparently not part of a cross-shaft. It measures 

 12 inches in height, 2 feet i inch in length, and 9 inches in thickness. On 

 the side facing the east are two warriors on horseback. The horses are shown 

 as if trotting, their heads raised. Their tails are long and tied into knots. 

 The men wear helmets, and hold the bridles in their left hands, and in their 

 right long spears with the points inclined downwards. The saddles have high 

 peaks at the back which end in knobs. Altogether, this is the most inter- 

 esting sculpture of the series. The forms represented should be compared 

 with those of the knights in the woven silk tissues which were taken from 

 St. Cuthbert's body.^ The top of the stone is broken ; the ends and foot are 

 plain. The other side has a knot-work design of intricate character, but in 

 an advanced state of dilapidation. It seems to consist of a six-cord plait, 

 every alternate crossing of which is bound by a continuous ring. 



The fifth row has three hog-backs. 



The first in the sixth row is a portion of a cross-shaft 2 feet 1 1 inches 

 high, I foot 2j inches wide, and 1 1 inches thick. It retains ornament on all 

 its four sides. On that facing west is an interlaced design of a six-cord plait 

 with divided bands. That facing east has in the upper part two figures very 

 much damaged. Below them the plait is repeated for a short distance, and 

 belovvf this again two figures appear apparently in combat. The two sides 

 have each the chain of curious triangular links previously described. In 

 one the links form a simple chain, in the other they are more closely com- 

 bined, each link interlocking with two others on each side of it. 



The next one measures 3 feet 10 inches by i i inches by 8 inches. The 

 west face retains three panels, the upper one having a six-cord plait, undivided. 

 The next shows a man who wore a helmet of conical form. The portion of 

 the stone carrying the helmet and the head has unfortunately flaked off. The 

 right hand grasps a long spear, and in the left is a short sword with a broad, 

 double-edged blade. Below is a stag. The opposite face has three panels, 

 with a six-cord plait in the upper one, two divided loops with pointed ends 

 interlaced in the next, and in the lower a dog with curled tail and head looking 

 backwards. The two sides have double looped cords,' and below them, on the 

 side facing north, is a triquetra. 



The next is the largest stone in the series. It is the greater portion of 

 the shaft of a tall cross and measures 7 feet in height, i foot 2 inches by 

 9 inches square at the base, and 9 inches by 5i inches at the top, where it is 

 l)r()ken away. For a distance of 4 feet 4 inches from the base the surface is 

 plain, from which point to the top it is ornamented on all four sides. The 

 character of this ornament is so unusual and of such interest that it is much 

 to l;c regretted that the remainder was not recovered. The side facing west 



' Tram. Dur. Ncrl/'umi. Arth. Soe. i. 53. ^ Romilljr Allen, of<. <it. No. 12. 



236 



