4t 



On that occasion my attention was directed to some very 

 ancient-looking tombstones, standing in different parts of the 

 burial-ground, and now used as headstones. Two others, which 

 are in more perfect condition than the rest, have been removed to 

 the garden of Mr. Jamison's house, close by, for security. All of 

 the stones have crosses of different designs sculptured on them, 

 either incised or in relief. One of them, evidently the most ancient 

 of the series, bearing an incised cross and shaft, has the following 

 inscription in the Irish character : — " Oedo Dertrend," " A 

 prayer for Dertrenn." This is supposed to be the sepulchral 

 slab of an Abbot of Movilla, who died in the latter part of the 

 tenth century. 



The other slabs, of which there are seven at present to be seen 

 (although I am told that some years ago there were others not 

 now to be found), are considered to belong to the thirteenth century. 

 They may be described as heavy flags of sandstone, tapering from 

 the head to the foot end, and with bevelled edges. They vary much 

 in length, some of the shortest not exceeding three feet wide, while 

 the longer ones cannot have been less than six feet. They are 

 very narrow, the width at the top, or broadest part, varying from 

 14 inches to 22 inches. The largest one, which has all the orna- 

 ment in relief, has a very handsome floriated cross, w T ith shaft, and 

 leaves springing from the shaft, and a pair of shears curved, beside 

 the shaft, to the right. A smaller slab, which has a very different 

 design of cross, has also the shears to the right of the shaft. 



The other stones have all crosses carved in relief, within a sunk 

 circular panel. The shaft is incised, and, in some cases, terminates 

 in four steps, also incised. Two of the slabs have a straight Norman 

 sword to the left of the shaft. The actual meaning of these 

 symbols cannot now be known with certainty ; but I think the 

 supposition is probably correct — that the sword symbolizes the man, 

 and the shears the woman. 



The Abbey of Movilla was founded by Finian about the year 

 A.D. 540, and flourished until the suppression of the Irish monas- 

 teries in the reign of Henry VIII. The name Movilla, or, more 

 properly, Moville, is the Irish " Magh-bile," the literal translation 

 of which is, " The field of the aged tree." 



