Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/280

 Mr. Aftle's Olfervatkns on Stone Pillars, SECT. II. On Crucifixes. AFTER what has been faid concerning croffes and ftone pillars in the open air, fome obfervations on crucifixes may be proper. In former times crucifixes were fet up in churches to recognife our Lord's paffion. The place appropriated for this purpofe was called the Rood Loft. Portable croiTes or crucifixes were ufed by our an- ceftors on folemn occafions ; many of thefe were adorned with holy relicks and precious ftones of great value. They were carried by princes in their pilgrimages and proceffions to the ilirines of faints, and with their armies when they went on expeditions. See feveral particulars concerning the crofs of Gneyth or Neyth in the Liber Garderobae Edwardi Primi, publilhed by this Society 1787, p. 33 and 42, and Preface, p. 30 ; and in the Gloflary Voce Gneyth. The famous crofs which was preferved at Holy-Rood Houfe in Edinburgh was carried by king David the fecond in his expedition to England, where it was taken w r ith the king, and many of his bifhops and nobles, at Nevill's Crofs near Durham, OcT:. 27, 1346", by the forces commanded by Ralph lord Nevill and John Nevill his fon, and was offered by them at the fhrine of St. Cuthbert, wifh the images of the Virgin Mary and St. Jphn the Apoftle, of pure and many gold. The foot or pedeftal of this crofs was garnimed with rich and large diamonds, precious rubies, fine turquoifes, and coftly emeralds. This offering was placed on the pillar near St. Cuthbert in the fouth aifle of Durham cathedral [2]. [%] There is a miraculous relation concerning this famous crofs in Richard Hay's Defence of Elizabeth More, wife of Robert the Ilnd king of Scotland. Edinburgh, 4*0. i723> p. 124. See alfo fir D. Dalrymple's Annals of Scotland, fub anno 1346. CrofTes