THE Lost STONE OF KIRKMADRINE. 137 
Antiquarian Museum, the Q was there and the T. Both 
are now frayed away. Below is the monogram cross of 
Constantine. This combination of A et Q with the mono- 
gram is common in early Christian times, but in this form it 
is found only here in the United Kingdom. The form of the 
monogram fixes a date. It is said that by the end of the 
sixth century the combination of A et Q with the monogram 
ceases to be found on sculptured monuments in the west of 
Europe. The monogram in the circle—a Greek cross with 
the Greek letter ‘‘ r’’ ligatured on to the upper limb—the 
Chi-Rho monogram—underwent changes. The Greek ‘‘ r ”’ 
(P) was modified to the Latin R, and by and by dropped, 
leaving only a cross in the circle and no monogram. This 
simple cross is not found before 500 a.p. The carving of the 
four monograms on these stones assigns their date to 
450-550. All four have the ligatured ‘‘r ’”’ 
R, not Greek P. 
Below the circle there are six lines of inscription cut in 
good Latin capital letters, nine or ten in a line. The letter- 
ing has suffered less from the effects of time than have the 
formula and monogram. The fifty-six letters are distinct 
enough. The only question here is, was there another at the 
end of line four? It seems as if a small chip had been 
knocked off after the inscription was cut. There is a slight 
indication of at least one other letter in that line. If so, 
what was it? The letters are, as in ancient MSS, not spaced 
into words. Up to this part there is no question what are 
the words. The. inscription reads :—Hic Jacent Sancti et 
prae cipui sacerdotes ID ES. T is supplied, making id est. 
But this is said to be unheard of in epigraphy. A more 
commonly received idea now is, that the word, however it 
was written, indicated the name of the man buried there, as 
did the words following. In that case there are three com- 
memorated—Ides, Viventius, Mavorious. 
They were sacerdotes. That did not then always imply 
in Latin form, 
what now is suggested when we translate sacerdotes by priest. 
Writers of the period make it synonymous with episcopus. 
But that could not then have the same connotation as bishop 
has tous. Kirkmadrine could not have had at that time four 
