40 ORNAMENT ON THE EARLY CROSSES OF CORNWALL. 



plaitwork, with spaces left, the bottom one finished square. In 

 the middle of each space is a plain boss, level with the interlaced 

 work, and it was into the lowest of these that the 2-J- in. iron bar 

 was inserted for supporting the gear of the thrashing machine, 

 when the shaft formed the pivot stone. 



N. Side. This is in the best state of preservation, the orna- 

 ment is much bolder and not so worn as on the other sides. It 

 is also divided into two panels of unequal height, the lower one 

 is considerably longer, and contains foliated scroll work, which 

 is quite distinct except at the extreme end. The upper pane 

 has some bold diagonal key pattern ornament, which looks really 

 more like a square twist. 



W. Front. We come now to the most interesting side, the 

 one which was on the ground, and consequently hidden from 

 view for so many years. My surmise that it was probably in- 

 scribed has proved correct. 



There are three panels on this side ; at the bottom a piece 

 of twist and ring pattern, the upper portion being very distinct, 

 but that below worn away. The middle panel is inscribed, but 

 until further investigations have been carried out, and the true 

 reading ascertained, the following notes must not be accepted as 

 final. 



I sent the rubbing down to the Rev. W. Iago, who de- 

 ciphered most of the letters, the chief difficulties lie in the third 

 or middle line, this is what they look like, 



C R 



V X 



I H S ? I F S, or I R s 



V R 

 OC 



CRUX I HS U ROC 



The c, R, v, x, v, & o are quite plain, but the other letters 

 are much worn. The middle line may possibly represent the 

 three Greek characters, which form the ordinary abbreviation 

 for the name of jesus. According to some authorities they may 

 stand for the name of the man who erected the cross, but the 

 former interpretation appears to me the more likely. The ihs so 

 frequently found as a religious emblem in the present day 

 (representing the Latin words Iesus Hominum Salvador) was 

 not used in the earlier ages of Christianity. 



