422 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



The way of, drawing and vcpreCcntmg faints among the Saxons, 

 may be feen in that curious piece of antiquity found near A/hel- 

 ncy, in SomcrfetJJnre, defcribed and figured by two eminent anti- 

 quaries (e) j of pure gold, weighing about three guineas, m 

 enamel, covered over with chryftal, reprefenting St. Cnthbert, as 

 is fuppofed, fitting in a chair, with this infcription on a plane 

 rifmg c^liquely, in Roman or Gallo-Itallc letters, except two. 



AELFRED M E E HETT G E W y R E A N. 



Alfredus me juflit fabricari. 



On the reverfe are flowers. K. Alfred preferred thefe characters 

 to the Saxon, and, when he fwayed the fcepter, brought them 

 into ufe ffj. This curious memorial of St. Cuthbert was 

 found in the very place of that glorious monarch's retreat 

 and deliverance from the Danes, fortified by him in time of 

 war (g), and in time of peace converted into a monaftery (h). 

 Dr. Mil/grave thinks this curious cimolium an undeniable imlancc 

 of the ufe of images coming from the heathens into the Chrif- 

 tian church (i). 



On the vacancy of the fee of Lindisfarn by the death of St. Cutb- 

 bert, it was governed for one year by Wilfrid, bifliop of Hexham, 

 on the expiration of which, 



(e) Dr. Mufgrave, Ph. Tr. No. 247. 

 Dr. Hici-i, Thefaur. Ling. Septentr. 

 Ph. Tr. No. 260. 



(f) Ingulphus. (g) Milton. f/t) Malmlbtiry. 



(i) Geta Brit. 

 Ph. Tr. No. 



Fadlert 



