Morgan until this day, by com'on use Margam, according to the manner yet used in Scotland and the North of England, pronouncing A oftentimes for o." The stone here referred to is of course the well-known Pumpeius Carantorius monument near Margam; but, in making merry over the blunders of the antiquary of three hundred years ago, we must not forget that it is not long since Professor George Stephens read an inscription in Greek hexameters, found at Brough, in Westmoreland, as an epitaph in the ancient dialect of Northumbria written in Runes. It is also a point worthy of note that the Pumpeius Carantorius stone should have been described at so early a period, although Merrick does not seem to have noticed the Oghams on the edge of the pillar.

The description given of the physical peculiarities of the country, on p. 9, is not without interest. "Bro", or the Country in the Vale, Merrick tells us, was "a champyon and open country, without great store of inclosures; for, in my time, old men reported that they remembered in their youth that Cattell in some time for want of shade, from the port way runne to Barry, which is 4 miles distant, whose fforefathers told them that great part of th'inclosures was made in their days." "Blayne", on the other hand, "which in English wee call Montaines", was of greater area than the low country of the vale; and "in this part was always great breeding of Cattell, Horses, and Sheepe; but in the Elder time therein grew but small store of Corne; for in most places there the ground was not thereunto apt, unlesse it were mended with Soyle or dung; but now of late yeares, since the knowledge or use of lyminge was found, there groweth more plenty of grayne, as in place thereto more aptly serving shall be declared."

Merrick concludes the historical portion of his work by pointing out the great advantages accruing to the Principality by being united with England, and the following sentence will not be very pleasant reading for Welsh Home-Rulers: "The Discord betweene England and Wales, then, procured Slaughters, Invasions, Enmityes, burnings, Poverty, and such like fruites of Warr. This Vnity engendered ffreindshipp, Amity, Love, Alliance, assistance, wealth, and quietnes; God preserve and encrease it."

The remaining part of the Morganic Archaiographia, although short, is really the most valuable, as it contains accounts of the state of Cardiff, Llandaff, Caerphilly, Merthyr, etc., in the sixteenth century, founded on personal knowledge. The commercial importance attained by Cardiff as a port within the last few years was then undreamt of, but its germ existed in "a faire key, to the which both Ships and Botes resort." The "high crosse" and the "foure faire Gates" in the town walls have disappeared, but the steeple of St. John's Church, "beautified with Pinnacles", still" of all skillfull behoulders is very well liked of". The description of Cardiff Castle is very full, and should be compared with that given by

1 Westwood's Lapidarium Walliæ, pl. xiii, fig. 1.

Mr. G. T. Clark in his Medieval Military Architecture. Merrick's speculations as to the derivation of the name Caerphilly are amusing. "Some conjecture it to proceede of one Fily, the sonne of a Gyant. Others think it to spring of the Romanes, and that a Roman Governour builded it, and left his daughter there to dwell, and soe called it Cara Filia, and corruptly Caer Filly." A curious relic of superstition is preserved on p. 107 in connection with Eglwys Ylan, which church was visited every May eve by people to make an offering to the priest, "believing thereby to ridd their Cattell out of danger of any pestilent or sodaine death."

Mr. Corbett's notes in the Appendix are admirable as far as they go; and their quality being so good, we can only regret that the quantity is not greater. The question of illustrations generally affects the price at which it is possible to publish a book; but we cannot help thinking that it would be a decided improvement if a map of the county, a plan of Cardiff Castle, and a few woodcuts of the Pumpeius Carantorius stone and the inscribed sepulchral slabs at Ewenny, etc., could be introduced in the next edition. Having said so much, we must, in conclusion, recommend every Glamorganshire man and every student of county history to take the first opportunity of adding A Booke of Glamorganshire Antiquities to his library.

CATALOGUE OF THE MANX CROSSES, WITH THE INSCRIPTIONS AND VARIOUS RENDERINGS COMPARED. By P. M. C. KERMODE. Elliot Stock. 8vo., pp. 36. Price 18.

The Annual Meeting of the Cambrian Archæological Association for 1865 was held at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, and several papers on Manx antiquities have since appeared in our Journal, the most important perhaps being those on the Rune-inscribed crosses from the pen of the Rev. J. G. Cumming. The work of investigating the early Christian remains of the Isle of Man, which was begun by Cumming some thirty years ago, is now being carried on by Mr. P. M. C. Kermode, of Ramsey, who is preparing a book dealing exhaustively with the whole subject. In the meantime, he has published the Catalogue now before us, containing a list of seventy known specimens of pre-Norman Manx crosses, with accurate descriptions of each, and readings of the twentythree inscriptions which occur upon them. It would be difficult to overrate the scientific value of catalogues of this kind, and it should be the first duty of the various archæological societies throughout the country to follow the good example set by Mr. Kermode of preparing complete lists of all the structures and monuments which come within the sphere of their operations. An

1 Kinnebrock's Etchings of the Runic Monuments of the Isle of Man was published in 1841, but it was not until Cumming's Runic Remains of the Isle of Man was issued in 1857 that any real advance was made.

archæological survey such as that suggested ought, of course, to be undertaken by H.M. Inspector of Ancient Monuments; but, as there does not seem much chance of any Government giving assistance in a matter where no votes are to be gained, the sooner private associations bestir themselves the better. It is an instance of the strange apathy shown with regard to the antiquities of our own country that, although there is an archeological survey of India, there is none of Great Britain. The Isle of Man, which has a separate government of its own, may perhaps be able to prove the advantage of Home-Rule by taking better care of its national monu

ments.

Mr. Kermode divides his book into two parts; the first containing descriptions of the crosses, and the second readings of the inscriptions. The arrangement of the whole is admirable, showing that no small amount of thought has been bestowed upon the working out of the various details. It appears to us a model of what such a catalogue should be. The names of the places where the stones occur are placed in alphabetical order. The crosses are in almost all cases found in churchyards, having been placed there originally, or discovered during restorations, or removed for safety from the site of some ancient Treen chapel in the neighbourhood. The largest collection of ornamented crosses is at Kirk Maughold, where there are eighteen; and the greatest number of inscriptions in a single place is at Kirk Michael, where there are seven, stone is identified by two numbers, one in Arabic figures, referring to the total number of stones on the island, and the other in Roman numerals, referring to the number of stones in each particular locality, This plan is very simple, and will be found convenient. The lengths of the descriptions vary from three lines to half a page. The particulars given are: (1) the position of the monument in the churchyard, or elsewhere; (2) the shape of the cross; (3) the dimensions; (4) the ornamental features and figuresculpture; and (5) the inscription.

Each

By studying Mr. Kermode's Catalogue with the help of the series of excellent photographs of the crosses which have been taken by Mr. George Patterson (of the Studio, Ramsey, Isle of Man), the archaeologist can obtain a far better idea of the great beauty and interest of these remains of early Christian art than was possible from the lithographic illustrations in the Rev. J. G. Cumming's work on the subject. Several new crosses have been discovered of late years, amongst which the most remarkable is that at Kirk Andreas (No, 5), v. On this cross will be found "a strange mixture of Christian symbolism and illustrations of the

1 The present Inspector of ancient monuments has applied to some of the archæological associations for information as to what remains require protection. To give this information really means making an archæological survey for the benefit of H.M. Inspector, without getting either remuneration or credit for it.

Sagas and ancient Northern mythology." The subjects represented are the hound Loké and Sigurd roasting Fafner's heart.I

The inscriptions on the Manx crosses are, with one exception (at Kirk Michael), in a peculiar variant of the Scandinavian Runic alphabet found in those parts of Western Scotland which were ravaged by the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries. This alphabet is characterised by the pointed E and s, and is quite distinct from the Anglian Futhorc of Northumbria, which belongs to an earlier period.

In addition to his own readings of the inscriptions, Mr. Kermode gives those of the Rev. J. G. Cumming, Prof. Munch, Mr. Kneale, and Dr. Vigfusson. The letters on the stones themselves are generally easily read, being well cut, and not much weathered. The stops between the words also remove a source of uncertainty in decipherment of many ancient inscriptions. The differences between the various readings are therefore in most cases trifling, and chiefly of interest to specialists. The names mentioned, like the ornament, show a mixture of the Scandinavian and Celtic element. In only three instances is the name of the artist who carved the cross given: at Kirk Michael is a cross made by Gant; at Kirk Andreas one by Gant Biörnson; and at Kirk Michael one by Thorbiörn.

The only point on which we feel inclined to differ with Mr. Kermode is as to assigning so late a date as the early part of the twelfth century to most of the crosses. The oldest stones are probably those with rude incised crosses, and the pillar at Santon, with an inscription in debased Latin capitals. The crosses with Runic inscriptions belong to the period of the Danish or Norwegian occupation, A.D. 888 to 1266, and it is more probable that they were erected before A.D. 1066 than after. Unfortunately, none of the names mentioned in the inscriptions give any clue as to their age; but the style of the ornamental features is that of the MSS. of the ninth and tenth centuries. It must be admitted, on the other hand, that the font at Bridekirk, in Cumberland, with its Runic inscription, is of the twelfth century; but this is apparently a very late survival of the Scandinavian alphabet in this country.

Mr. Kermode has been doing really good work by giving lectures during the past year on the Manx crosses at the places where the monuments exist, with a view to interest the inhabitants in their preservation; and it is to be hoped that his efforts in this direction will be well rewarded. We cordially recommend every member of the Cambrian Archæological Association to add Mr. Kermode's Catalogue to his library; and those who are induced thereby to spend a week or fortnight's summer holiday in exploring the antiquities of the Isle of Man will find this little book of the utmost value in facilitating their researches. We shall look forward

See paper on the "Early Christian Monuments of the Isle of Man", by J. Romilly Allen, Esq., in Journ. Brit. Archæol. Assoc., vol. xliii.

to the appearance, at no distant time, of the larger work, of which this is only the foretaste; and we most heartily sympathise with Mr. Kermode's persistent efforts to get the Manx crosses protected from the weather, and preserved from injury at the hands of thoughtless or malicious persons.

A HISTORY OF LITTLE ENGLAND BEYOND WALES, AND THE NON-KYMRIC COLONY SETTLED IN PEMBROKESHIRE. By EDWARD LAWS. London George Bell and Sons. 4to. Price 25s.

(FIRST NOTICE.)

Many of our members are aware that Mr. Edward Laws, of Tenby, has long been engaged on writing a history of Pembrokeshire, and also know that it would be difficult to find any one better fitted for so arduous a task, notwithstanding his modest disclaimer in the Preamble. We have just received the advance sheets of his work, which will take the form of a handsome quarto volume, dedicated, "in grateful remembrance of pleasant summer days spent in good company, to the President, officers, and members of the Cambrian Archæological Association, by their General Secretary for the Southern Division."

Fenton's History, whatever its merits may have been at the time it was written, in the early part of the present century, is now quite out of date. The development of the science of prehistoric archæology has thrown an entirely new light on the age and culture of the early inhabitants of Great Britain; so that it is now no longer necessary to invoke the aid of the Devil, the Druid high priest, revelling in bloody human sacrifices, or even the dainty little fairy, endowed with supernatural power, to explain how the huge capstone of the cromlech was raised upon its supports. History, no doubt, has lost much of its romance, but it has gained in truth. If man was little better than a superior kind of ape in his earlier stages, as the disciples of Darwin would have us believe, it is satisfactory to know the cold climate of northern latitudes soon sharpened up his intellect sufficiently to enable him to make quite creditable drawings of the mammoth and the reindeer, and that the "Flint Jack" of the nineteenth century finds the attempt to forge his stone weapons tax his powers to the utmost. The great advances made recently in the study of comparative philology, folk-lore, anthropology, and other subjects, by means of which our knowledge of the past as derived from written documents alone may be vastly increased, enables the historian of the present day to take a far more comprehensive view of the progress made by the human race in any given geographical area, such as Pembrokeshire, than was possible in Fenton's day. At the same time that new sciences which supplement, or in some cases supply, the place of history have been introduced, new sources of iuformation have been made available by the opening up of the national