a sketch in his possession, of a sculptured stone of the same early period in Caermarthenshire, taken by his ancestor, John Dyer, the poet. It appears to have been the shaft of a cross, and, as stated in an accompanying note in the handwriting of the poet, was standing "on the estate of R. D.[1], esq., called Abersannar, and is in a field called Kar Maen, that is, the Great Stone Field. On the top is carved a shallow bed, an inch and a half deep, in the centre of which is a hollow about three inches deep, both of an oblong square. Some think it an heathen altar of the earliest times, and that the middle hollow was to bind the victim at the sacrifice, but it seems too high for an altar, it being even now about seven feet above ground. It is of an exceeding hard flinty stone." The oblong hollow in question is evidently a mortice, by means of which the head of the cross was fixed in its place. The ornaments sculptured upon this shaft closely resemble those of the Penally crosses, noticed on a former occasion[2]. In the centre there is an oblong panel, in which appear six letters. A representation of this inscription has been given in the additions to Camden's Britannia, but no explanation of its import has been supplied[3], and we have not been able to ascertain whether this monument is still in existence.
The sculptured remains of this description deserve careful examination, especially when they present any vestiges of inscriptions. We are indebted to Mr. Chalmers, of Auldbar, for a sketch of a fragment existing in the churchyard of St. Vigeans, Forfarshire, sculptured with interlaced scrollwork, and a defaced inscription, hitherto unexplained.
PERIOD OF GOTHIC ART.
In the last Number of the Archæological Journal, a representation was given of a curious inscribed ring, found in the church-yard at Bredicot, Worcestershire, and now in the possession of Mr. Jabez Allies. The statement then submitted to our readers that this object had been regarded as talismanic, has subsequently been called in question. The subject of the value attached to physical charms, during the middle ages, is well deserving of attention, and it has hitherto been imperfectly taken into consideration. It may not be without interest to our readers, if some observations be offered in proof of the talismanic character of the ring above mentioned, and other objects of a similar description. The custom of wearing some phrase or cabalistic combination of letters, either inscribed on parchment and paper, or more indelibly affixed to rings and other personal ornaments, is of considerable antiquity. Its origin may very probably be traced to the Gnostics, and to the legends on the strange devices known by the name of Abraxas, in which heathen and Christian allusions are strangely confounded together[4]. It may now be impracticable to explain the import of the legends
- ↑ Richard Dyer, as stated by Gough. Probably one of the poet's relations. His father was Robert Dyer, of Aberglassney.
- ↑ See representations of two fragments existing at Penally, near Tenby, Archæol. Journal, vol. i. p. 384.
- ↑ Gough's Camden, vol. iii. p. 141.
- ↑ A great variety of these are given by Montfaucon, Ant. Exp., tom, ii., and Supplem., tom. ii.
