PROCEEDINGS of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

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www.socantscot.org Charity No SC 010440 NOTICE OK ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 321

NOTICE O SILVEA F R CHAI GIRDLER NO E PROPERTTH , THOMAF YO S SIMSON BLAINSLIEF O , , ESQ., BERWICKSHIRE; ANOTHERE TH N I , POSSESSIO E UNIVERSITTH F NO ABERDEENF YO OTHEF O D R AN , ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. Br JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, M.D., F.S.A. SCOT.1 (PLATES XII., XIII.)

Silver square-sided Chain, Blainslie, Berwickshire.—Throughe th politenes f Kobero s t Romanes, Esq., writer e loath n ,t Laudergo o wh , of this chain for me from Thomas Simson,2 of Blainslie, Esq., I am ahle te oSociety th e chaiexhibi o t r Th girdlo nt . i t e measure fee4 s 3 t inches in length, it is formed of a four-sided or " herring bone" series of links, J of an inch across the side, and weighs 7 ounces 11 dwts. At one extremity there is a circular plate or disk, measuring 2J inche e othen diameteri th s t a conicara d r tassel-likan ,o l e pendant, inche3 s in lengt aboud han t 1J inc greatesn hi t diameter nea basee th r . The chain itself measures 48^ inches in total length, and is attached' e a bassilve.t oth f o e r hook, whic s fastenei h cire e bacth -th f kn o do cular silver plate, towards its margin. It is divided into seven portions of varying length y opeb , n circular link r ringo s f silvero s , which measure from, half an inch to -| of an inch in diameter. The first por- e chaith tio f nno nex e circulath t r plate measure s2 fee inche4 t n i s length nexte th ; , If inch thirde th ; , 2J inches fourthe th ; , 2| inches; e fifthth , 3|- inches e sixthth ; , 5^ e incheslast th inche6 ,d an ;n i s length. The circular plate is ornamented, having engraved on its front two concentric circular bauds, with scrolls of foliage between them, and^he Eoman letters B. C. in the centre. On the back of this disk there is fixed a large silver open hook, \\ inch in length, to the base of

1 This communication was read before the Society at the meeting on the 12th May s publicatio1872It . e lasth t n volumni e Proceeding th f o e unavoidabls wa s y pre- vented. (See Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. ix. p. 532.)' 2 I regret to state that before these sheets could he published Thomas Simson, Esq., died at Blainslie, on the 20th January 1874. X VOL . PARx . . I T 322 . PliOUEEUINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

whic chaie hth s fastenedi n . Ther e threear e separat e stampsdi e , side e platy e sidbacth b •th n f eo o k itself e firsth ;a monograt o tw f mo AVr initialso A ; V nex, n imperfectla t y struck stamp, which, from its embattled appearance, appears to represent a castle, and is appa- d castlrentlol e yth stam f Edinburgho p d lastan ;, another mono- graminitiale . th D f . o , sR e tassel-likTh e terminal pendan s alsi t o ornamented wit serieha f so engraved leaves, each rising from a central stem, which springs from the projecting ring near its base, and runs upwards towards its top; fro same mth e projecting ring other ruder stripe r leaveso s taper down- wards toward e bottomth s , which terminate smala n si l open ring about incn a f h£o across. Thstampe edi s roundee bace struc th mucf th o f ko n e ko hlar interest, s theassisy a yma judginn i t e datth ef go when placd an , e wheree th , chain was made (see Plate of Chain, XII. I.; and fig. 1, the die stamps figured above it.) e firsTh t pai f theso r e e platinitialprobablbace y th th f e ma ko n so y be styled the Maker's Mark, bein initiale makee garticleth e th th f f so ro , which was the oldest stamp struck on Scottish silver plate. Mr J. H. Sanderson informs us in his paper on. " The Plate Marks use n Scotland,di e Proceedingth f "o publishe 1 f 54 o s . p n voldi . iv . the Society, that the Maker's Mark was introduced by an Act of the Scots Parliament in 1457. By the same Act of the Parliament of n Jame1457i t . i wa,II s s declared "That gol dt wors worno e eb k than xx. grains fine, and silver xi. grains fine, and that it he marked by the maker and deacon, or head officer of the toun." These individuals used the initial letters of their names as marks; e hav sw othin o e s e f seconinitialsplateo th t n e additioi ,se d th , n also mad f somethino e g equivalen a standar o t t d mark, showine th g quality of the metal. It was not, however, until 1759 that the Corpora- e Goldsmithth tio f o n f Edinburgo s h introduce e morth d e formal " Standard Mark "—a thistle for Edinburgh, which has been continued down to the present time. The Town Mark, indicating .the place where the plate was made—for Edinburgh, the castle—was next added by an Act of the Scots Parlia- ment in 1483. NOTIC " ANCIENE01 T SCOTTISH SILVEI3 t32 CHAINS.

Date Th e Mark, shewin e yeagth r whe e plat mades th n ewa , whics hi generally a special letter on an escutcheon, was introduced in 1681. Lastly, the Duty Mark—the head of the reigning sovereign—was not introduced until 1784. absence Th f thes eo laso tw et stamps from, this silver dis f coursko e points to its being of an older date than 1681 ; and the same idea of age is also home out by the character of the ornamental engraving on the plate itself t therefori ; e belong n oldea o rt s. periodJ H r . M . Sanderso s seee nsamha th ninforme eh style m f e slettero eth s a s engraved initials on Scots plate from about 1616 to 1670. A learned authority in all such matters—A. W. Franks, Esq., &c., of the British Museum—to who mI sen a photograpt f thio h s silver chai d platan n e —conjecture e medallio e th dat th f s o e r circulao n r e abouplatb o t et 155 r 1560o 0 t this bu e ;says h , s onli , y surmise f I thi. s surmiss i e correct it would take this chain back to a time when we know silver chains were wor s ordinara n y e waistgirdleth r dresr d fo ,fo an ss ornament. . Fairholt W s wor M. hi "F rn Costumo kn i , England,n i e " London, 1847, 8vo, when referring to the use of the girdle, or ceinture for the waist, mentions that they sometimes took the form of chains, particularly e tim th f Mar o eElizabetn d i yan thad an th; som f the o ed larg mha e pendants at their ends. He also states that on monumental brasses of an older date, the girdles had circular plates, bosses, 01 studs in front, and that the mode of fastening these was not known. In this chain or girdle, with a somewhat similar circular plate, the fastening is seen, as I have already described it, to consist simply of a hook fixed on the back of e circula th e plate th f n o whico r,e link on he chai r loopth o s f no s ma hookede yb ; this probably explaine fasteninth w s madsho wa g n i e e morsomth f eo e ancient example o whict s r FairholhM referreds ha t . In the Museum of the Society there is a small broken stone statue of a robed female figure, whic discoveres hwa takinn di g down som walld eol s t Bannatyna e House, Newtyle, Forfarshire t i show; e manneth s f o r wearing a chain girdle. The style of this chain is more open in character; it has, however, the large disk for fastening it at the waist in front, in this instance of an ornamented oval shape; and the pendant part of the chain falls toward s beee rob e skirha th n frontn i th e f s t o I alst . o 4 32 PKOCEEWNG SOCIETYE TH E SO .

suggested that this chaihavy ma ne been worn oveshouldee on r d an r across the chest, instead of as a girdle round the waist. The latter however, seem mose s havinsth it tf likelo gy beeywa n worn. populae Th r stor f thiyo s Blainslie silver chai gives nwa fuln ni l detail by Sir Walter Elliot of Wolfelee, K.C.S.I., F.S.A. Scot., in his annual address as President of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. It is pub- lished in their Proceedings for 1869, and from it I shall make a few quotations. r WalteSi r Elliot relates how Thomas Hardi s tenan portioa ewa f o t n of Tollies-Hill, calle e Midsiddth e Farm severA . e winte d othean r r causes destroyed his flock, and he was unable to pay his rent. His wife, the Maggie of the story, applied to the Earl of Lauderdale for relief, tolds snos wa a , d w an seeme plentifuo ds destructivd an l t Midsideea e h , would consider the claim for relief if she brought him a snow-ball in June. Maggie accordingly prepare dquantita followine f snoyo th n wi g winte keeo t r p until Juner landlord broughd he an o ,t t i ,t reminding promises hi hie earf mo Th l .gav e relieth e f claimed Hardiee th d an ,s subsequently throvearle farme th Th , n bein.ei royalistga , followee dth fortunes of Charles II. to the battle of Worcester, where he was taken prisoner in 1651, and was subsequently confined for several years in the Tower Hardiese Th . , during these years, laid past their rents, andt ou , of gratitude, Maggie baked the gold pieces due into a bannock, which she tooTowee th kf Londono o t witr r hpresentehe d an ,imprisonee th o dt d earl. Soon after, throug e favouth h f Monko r s e releasedearth ,wa l , and repaired to Holland. He afterwards returned with the king in May 1660, and, revisiting Scotland, presented Maggie, so runs the tale, with this silver chain, and allowed her and her children to sit rent free for their lives, with the remark, that "Every bannock has its maik, hut the bannock of Tollies-Hill." Sir Walter Elliot says :—

" The Tollies-Hill girdle is formed of silver wire twisted in a double curb pattern, attached to a round plate engraved with arabesques of foliage, and having in the centre the letters B. 0. . The other extremity terminates in a silver cone, fittind witen ge loo ha th int hooe t pa oth k unde circulae th r r plat e; and neef ,i d be, into rings at various lengths of the chain, to meet the increasing rotundity of the dame' sadvancee waissh s a t years.n di " ... significatioe "Th lettere th f no s B. C. is not apparent, nor does the story afford a clue to their meaning. The NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 325

Rev WalkerJ. . Greenlawof , formerly incumben Legerwooof t d parishwas who , well acquainted with the Simson family, informed me that these letters were believed to be the initials of her name, which could not therefore have been s probablMaggiewa d an ,a yhousehol t namee incidenpe Th r firss o d. wa tt mentioned by Chambers in his ' Picture of Scotland,' on which Miss Margaret Corbet founde storr ' Muirsid dhe f yo e Maggie,' communicate ' Friendship' o t d s Offering 1829r reprinted fo ' ,an 'n dChambers'i s Journal,' iii. 331. afters Itwa - ward ' Wilson' sf mado e e subjeceth son f Bordeo t r Tales,' unde e titlf th r o e ' Midside Maggie; or, The Bannock of Tollies-Hill.' Both versions are largely embellishe writerse fance th th f y o d b ; but, diveste fictionf do simple th , e story is sufficiently romantic." "Whateve chaine th charactee f havy o th , e e ma rstyl d us bee e an r enth s workmanshioit f p see o mbelont a perio o gt d quite s th earla e s a y dat f thio e s romanti cinclined m storya I . , indeed believeo t , , that i t might perhaps have been made at a considerably earlier date. Chains of this description seem to be of great rarity.

Silver square-sided Chain with Gilt Ornaments, at the University of Aberdeen.—The only other chain with whic acquaintedm a hI l coral -t a , responding in character to that just described, is one preserved at the Uni- versity of Aberdeen. It also consists of a long, square-sided, "herring-bone pattern" chain a simila f o , r character, wit a flah t circulae r on dis t a k extremity and a somewhat similar but larger tassel-like pendant at the other. The chain itself measures 5 feet 2| inches in length by \ of an inch in breadth on the side; and instead of the six open rings, it has six projecting barrel-shaped ornaments, whic perforatee har thy db e chain, each 1 inch in length by -f of an inch in greatest diameter at the middle, and J inc t eacha h extremity. Ther e threar ef thes o e e ornament n eaco s h side of a smaller cylindrical ornament, f- of an inch long by nearly i of an inch in diameter, which has an open circle or ring, |- inch in diameter, attached to one side of it, as if for being looped on the hook at the back foro s diske m ogirdld a fth an , e waistfoe rth ; ornamentthree th f eo s being thus on the waist and three on the pendant part of the chain. The circular disk (Plates XII. and XIII., figs. 1, 2, 3) at one extremity e chaioth f s richlni s ycoverei giltd an , d wit serieha f threo s e rowf o s projecting circular ornaments forme twistef do d wire, each enclosing four smaller circles, with a small knob in the centre, and a smaller row of PROCEEDING. SOCIETYE TH F S32O .6

single circle d knoban s s roun n oval-shapea d d stonedre , carbunclr eo garnet, in a projecting setting, fill up the centre of the disk. This circular plat slightls ei y rounde frontn d i t measure I . s 3| inche diametern si , and larga s eha hook, If inc n lengthhi , e fastene plate bacth th f e ko o t d towards its circumference, the silver chain being, as in the former instance, fastene e uppe th a loo t o a rpt d par f thio t s hook, nex e margith t f no e silve th bace f th ro ke disk n disth O square-shapeo .k tw ther e ar e d die stamps impresse e metale stampth Th n togethere do . ar s : onee th , larger, rather indistinct, may represent the letter D, and above it a crown, whole operhapy th r ma e simple b s ya fetterlock e otherth ; a smalle, r die-stamp, bears the letters P. H. The first may be the mark of the place where it was made, and the initials those of the maker of the chain, but I have not as yet been able to discover any further explanation of them. Each of the six barrel-shaped slides or ornaments (Plate XIII, fig. 4), and centrathe l cylindrical one, wit laterahthe l rin alsgare o (fig gilt5), . and , covere similaa n di r manne e diskth o ,rt wit e circulahseriea th f so r pro- jecting ornament f twisteso d wire, each enclosing three circles, aiid small knobs, with a row of single circles at each extremity. The tassel-like pen- dant , (figals6) .o richly gilt s coverei , a serie y f b deigho s t rowf o s circular ornaments and knobs similar to those on the disk; the loop at the top connecting it to the chain, terminates in four somewhat pointed and projecting leaves, which pass down the tapering neck of the uppe e pendantr th par f t o I tmeasure . 4 inches n lengti s2 y b h inche n greatesi s t diameter workmanshie Th . whole th f epo chaid nan ornaments, though not perhaps of the finest character, is at once rich and /beautiful. (Since this paper was read, by the courtesy of the Senatus of the Universit Aberdeenf yo , through Professor John Struthers, M.D., allow- ing me to get the chain for examination, I have had drawings made of it, which are given in Plates XII. and XIII.) The chain was discovered in the year 1735 under the flooring of the old blbliothec librarr ko Marischaf yo l College, which originally formed parf to the buildings of the ancient Franciscan convent. The place where it was found suggests the inquiry, Could this beautifully-worked chain have been a badg et e Francin S ordeofficiaa worth f f y o ro b n ls ?—the silver NOTIC ANCIENF EO T SCOTTISH SILVE7 R32 CHAINS.

chain first described having bee e badg na th lowe f eo r dignitar f somyo e similar order—the circular loops or rings of the chain first described, e richlth d y an ornamented Aberdeee knobth f so n chain, corresponding, it may be, to the knots on the rope girdle, of this once lowly and mendi- cant order? These chains, however, bea o ecclesiastican r l emblemf o s havy ma ekindy d beean an , n eithe a badgr f offico e f somo e e civif o l other dignitary r perhapso , I hav s a ,e already stated, simpl ornan a y - mental girdle-—a forgotten fashioyear300 s of chainago The is n. considered, by some practical men who have examined it, to be pro- Spanisd bablol f yo h manufacture e characte Th ornamentatioe .th f o r n and workmanship, however, which is that of twisted wire formed into circles soldered an , n pattern i de silve th n rs o plate interestings i , t i s a ; is a kind of filagree-like work made apparently in many very distant places.

Silver square-sided Chain found t Gaulcross,a Bunffshire.—a f Parto simple silver chain, of a similar square-sided " herring-bone pattern/' though apparently of a more loosely plaited character, than those now described, was found at Gaulcross, BanfTshire, along with a silver pin, and both are figured in Dr Stuart's "Sculptured Stones of Scotland." The pin was somewhat similar in style and shape to one found in Fife- shire with the Norries Law silver relics, and ornamented like it with the peculiar C-like curved scrolls. This chain is therefore probably of an older date than those just described.

Larye Silver Chain found at Greevlaw, Berwickshire.—Sir "Walter s ElliotPresident'hi n i , s Address already referre , allude dise dto th - o t s cover f anotheyo r silve re sam chaith en i ncount f Berwicks yo wa t I . first notice Statisticaw d e "iNe nth l Accoun f Scotland,o t e deth - n "i scriptio parise th f f Greenlawnho o Reve Hometh . A .y b , , unde date rth e 1834saye H thin si . s Account, publishe 184n di 5 :-—

" remaine Therth e ef arar so t encampment abou mileo tw t s abov e towth e n (of Greenlaw), at the confluence of the Blackadder and Faungrass rivers, and on the very verge of their precipitous banks. The camp, which is called the Black- castl northere soute Ringsth th n hn o o side s nrived i ,e sidth an , f r; exactle o y opposit e beginninth s n entrenchmeni ea f o g t which runs about hal a milf e 8 32 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO .

along the bank and then turns off to the south in the direction of Hume Castle. . . . A piece of a silver chain was also found at the old camp."

Sir Walter Elliot gives us the additional information :— " In the ascertained track of this ancient fence (Herit's Dyke), are several British strengths, situate s usuaa d thein o l r several heights t Chestera s a , n si Fogo parish, the fort called Black-Castle-Rings near Dogdenmoss, near which a silver chain was found many years ago, and given to the last Earl of March- mont. I have been informed by the Rev. J. Walker, of Greenlaw, that this chaidyk e founs th newa n di near Greenla blaco s d s womana kan wa y w b d an , oxydised blacksmite ,th thagave o t sh t ei h named Matheson, thinkine b o t t gi smithe th r somn i yfo ey la timeiron t I ,. till Matheson repaitooo t t e ki rth rig-widdy, or chain of a cart harness, when its true nature was discovered, and sens Loro t wa t di Marchmont smite th f stils hi o dien lo 1794so n di wh , e Th . at Greenlaw."'

This chain probably belonged to a much greater antiquity than that first described, and, from the use to which it was intended to have been applied by the blacksmith, must have been a large linked and strong chain, pro- bably simila characten ri curioua o t r s clas ancienf so t silver chains, formed of silver rods bent into plain rings, which have been discovered in different "parts of Scotland. Three examples of these latter chains are now pre- serveMuseue th Societye n di th f mo .

Silver Chain, formed of large Rings, found in Inverness-shire.—The firs thesf o t e chains, forme largf do e plain circular rings presentes ,wa e th o dt Museu treasure-trovms a discoveres 1837n wa ei cours e e t I th th . f n di eo formation of the Caledonian Canal, at the bottom of a high gravelly ridge forming a hilpar f lo t for- figures de t d cairnwa d besid ol d dan n an , a e scribe r GeorgSi y db e Mackenzi e Scot' "e Th th s n Magazine,ei y Ma r "fo 1810 (Edinburgh, vol. Ixxii. 1810) follows:s a , —

" This chain of pure silver was found in the course of last year (1809), by the workmen employe digging-thn di e Caledonia possessioe th n i w n nCanalno s i t I . Honourable ofth e Baron Exchequerf so s conceivei objecn d a an e ,conf b o t o d-t siderable curiosity. -We were anxious, therefore, to preserve a drawing of it,

1 " Proc. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club,". 186918 . p , NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 329

whic e havw h e been enabled o gratift , r readerou y s with, throug e polithth e . MackenzieattentioG r t onlSi no f y no s , supplieha Bart. o wh s ,wit u de hth engraved plate t als,bu o wit followine hth g extract fro mcommunicatioa n made subjece Royae th th n o o t l Societm hi y Edinburghf b yo . " The chain was found at the depth of two feet, among gravel. The length is 18 inches, exclusive of a grooved link, which has not reached Edinburgh with the chain. The single ring at one end is '2 inches and one-tenth in diameter. The othee ring 2'd th 8t r en sa inche diametern si d thicknese en e ringTh e .th th t sf a s o inchn a s -4 i f 5othere o , thath f whole o st '4Th .e chai dwtsn2 1 weigh. .oz 2 s9 It was reported that a ball of silver was found with the chain; but it has not been recovered. Sir George is of opinion, from the general appearance of the chain bees , thaha n t i tuse r ornamentdfo thad t an ,probabli t suspended yha da lamp in some Koman Catholic Church, whence it had been stolen during the ferment'excite Johy db n Knox d buriedan , . Perhap beed ha n t si conceale y db e rightfuth l owner s; and , owin somo gt e accident befallin e possessorth g d ha , lai canal."—(Pne linconcealee th f th e o n i p u d . g til323.du l )

Silver Chain found on the line of the Caledonian Canal, Inverness-shire, in 1809. (18 inche length.n si )

fin n notico dn ca I f thio e s communication publishe Transace th n di - tions of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh. Part of this account, with the figure of the chain, is also given in the " Archseologia Scotica," . 373 volp fro d . e interes,.man iv th t connected with it, I reproduce the accompanying figure. As e annexeshowth n i n d woodcut e chaith , s i formea n f o d double serie f plaiso n unornamented circular rings, sixteen pair f ringso s with a single ring at one extremity, thirty-three in all; not including 330 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH f SO .

the large grooved link wantingwhicw ringe no s hi Th s. show distinctly marke hammee th th f so r use bringinn di g them into proper shape.

Silver Chain, of large Rings, found at Parkhill, Aberdeenshire.— Another silver chai f exactlo n y similar style t mucbu , h less massivn i e character s discoverewa , n diggindi t Parkhillga w e parisNe th f n i ho , Machar, Aberdeenshire, and was presented to the Museum as treasure- r Majesty'e LordHe trovth f y o sb e s Treasury, throug late th he John Henderson, Esq., Queen' Lord an sd Treasurer's Kemembrancer Febn i , - ruary 1864. This chai fortunatels ni y complete (see woodcut), havin e terminagth l

Silver Chain foun t Parkhillda , Aberdeenshire. (171 inches in length.)

grooved link or ring, which, in the case of the larger chain found near Inverness, unfortunately did not reach Edinburgh. It is formed oseriea f f twenty-threso e pair f plaio s r unornamenteno d circular links or rings, wit ha singl e larger grooved terminal ring, being forty:seven ring e chain alli s Th .n measure n totai s l length 17|- inches, and, exclusive of the large terminal ring, 16J inches. It weighs 39 ounces, 15 dwts. troy. e ringEacth s f formedi so h , like laseth t chaina f o , hammered rounde silvef o incr n thickness,ra n dhi ba \f o simply bent upon itself into a circular form; with the ends cut square and brought into close apposition, but apparentl t fixeyno d togethe wayy an . n ri Thee yar NOTIC ANCIENF EO T SCOTTISH SILVE1 R33 CHAINS.

inchn a diametern f i ,I o f aboud an ,incn a tthickness n hf i ^ o e lasth , t pair being a very little larger than the others, If inch in diameter. The large terminal ring, however s penannulai , n formi r , wit edges hit s pro- jecting in a rounded bead externally, giving it thus a somewhat grooved appearance d havinan , g als groova o e running alon s internagit l surface. It possibly bears a close relation to the so-called grooved link of the first described chain, whic s unfortunatelhwa t sen no yEdinburgho t t , and was in all probability of an exactly similar character. It measures 1} inches in greatest diameter, f of an inch in breadth, and § of an inch thicknessn i e openinTh . g throug circumference hth thif eo s large ring, mentiony ma littla I s i e, wider thae thicknesnth othe e th f r so ring s

Large Terminal Penannular King or Clasp of Silver Chain, showing incised ornaments, found at Parkhill (actual size).

chaine oth f , whic thun e hpasseca sb d eacthrougn O h sid . hthf it e o e opening through its circumference, there is a series of incised ornaments ; on one side two acute angled triangles, side by side, with their narrow bases next the opening of the link, and between their pointed extremities lozenge-shapea d figure forme fouy b d r depressed points l beinal ; g sunk e flath t othee n surfac i .e ring Th th re openinf . esido th f eo occupies gi d by a double curved figure; with three sunk dots or points forming a trian- gular figure, placed opposite to each of its concave or curved extremities. All these incised figures still show traces of having been inlaid with, red enamel. The incised figure thin so s large terminal link were notice recorded dan d 2 33 PROCEEDING E SOCIETVTH F SO . .

"Proceedingse th n i e m time e y chaith presenteb s th et a "n wa e th o dt Museum. The publication of the second volume of Dr Stuart's important work on the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland," has since made us more familiar wit varioue hth s curious figure so-caller so d " symbols, s som"a e antiquaries have supposed them to be, sculptured on these ancient stone monuments; and it is of much interest to find that one if not more of these incised ornaments on the large link of this chain, are exactly similar to these peculiar ancient figures cut on the sculptured stones. I refer especiall double th o yt e curved figure which occur varioun i s s instances, and, for comparison, I subjoin a drawing of one copied from the "Sculptured Stones." This figure, or at least a closely corresponding one, only a little more ornamented, occur sculpturen so d stones t Drimmiesa , Aberdeenshire d Kinan , - tradwell, Sutherlandshire ; one exactly corresponding to it is cut on the rocky walls of the caves at Weymss, Fifeshire.' The curious fact of the correspondence of these incised figures on the chain, . , „ , , ., ,, , to those of the "Sculptured Stones," Incised figur r symboeo l from "The m ' *• Sculptured Stones of Scotland." adds very much to the interest other- wise attached to these old chains.

Silver Chain f largeo Rings found n Midlothian.—i Another silver chai f exactlo n y similar character t formebu , f smalleo d r sized ringr o s links, has been more recently presented as treasure-trove to the Museum. It was found in the course of some improvements made on the Queen's Park at Holyrood, Edinburgh. This chai formens i pair 1 3 plaif f so do n circular ringe linksr on so d ,an single ringlink3 s 16i 6 alln t r |i sI o ;inche . lengthn si . Each ring measure inc1 s diameten hi i%thincy n rb a thicknessn hf i s o t weighI . s 22 ounces 7 dwts. troy. Like the other chains, each link is formed of a rounde silvef o r rd ba ben t int ocirclea extremitiee ,th s being simply brought into close apposition, and like all the others, it appears to have been shaped 1 See " Sculptured Stones of Scotland," vol. ii., and p. 77 of Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot, . i . p vol . iv . NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 333

by careful hammering. There is no large terminal grooved and ornamented ring remaining attache thio dt s chain likd large ean th , e chain found near Inverness, one of the extremities terminates in a single ring, its fellow, however, may have been also cut off by the finders, and destroyed to dis- cove metae th r composed s whicf o l wa t hi .

Silver Chain of large Rings found in Dumfriesshire.—I may refer to still another exampl f thio e s same clas f silveo s r chains e founth n i d sout f Scotlandho followine Th . g woodcut takee sar n from photographs of it which were procured by Dr Arthur Mitchell, Commissioner in Lunacy, . Scot. SecinformeA s . S .wa , &c.o dwh , tha chaie recentlts th nwa y founn di Dumfriesshire, in the district adjoining to Drumlanrig Castle, and was now, he believed possessioe th n ,s i Grac Hi Duk e f neo th Buccleuchf eo e th s A . .chain appears from the photographs to he exactly similar in character (except a slight difference in the size and number of its rings) to the per- fect one already described, which was found in Aberdeenshire, it has not been thought necessary to figure more than the peculiar terminal ring. (Se annexee eth d woodcuts).

Large Terminal Fenanmilav Kin f Silvego r Chain foun Dumfriesshiren i d .

The chain consists of 22 pairs of circular rings or links, and one single ring, 45 in all, of a similar character; it, however, has also the larger terminal grooved penannular ring presence th , whicf e o therefor y hma e eb considered necessary to make the chain complete. This penannular ring is richly ornamented with incised figures on each side of its opening, and most interesting it is to observe, that eacli of these figures also belongs to 334 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. e e "symbolsso-calle clase th th th f n o so dt cu ""Sculpture d Stonef o s Scotland." One of-the sides of the transverse opening of this penannular

"Spectacle and Zigzag" Ornament from the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland."

rin s ornamentei g a zigza y b d g mouldin r bordeo g r acros e plaith s n field of the ring, and beyond it also on the field of the ring, there is incise a richld y ornamented " Spectacle Ornament," wit "a h Double

'Oblong Ornament," with "Zigzag" or " Bent Sceptre," from the "Sculptured Stones of Scotland."

Sceptre r Zigzao " g through ite floriateth ; d extremit e sceptrth f o ye being nex e openinge circulath th t d an re spectacl, diskth f o s e orna- NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 335

inen coveree ar t d wit peculiae hth r converging (7-like curvede lineth f o s late Celtic styl f ornamenteo I giv ( comparisor .e fo n wit sketca t hi f ho this peculiar figure, taken from "the Sculptured Stones of Scotland.") On the opposite side of this transverse opening in the large ring there is, as it appears to me, an example of a variety of the so-called " Olilong orna- ment," wit s forkeit h r opeo d n extremity away froe openinmth f o g the ring, the field of the " oblong ornament" displays a pair of circles with central dot, each one opening on the opposite sides of the " ohlong figure." This oblong figure is almost always on the Sculptured Stones, like the " Spectacle Ornament," crossed with a variety of the " Z orna- ment, r "o " Doubl e Sceptre,s beeha n t i designateds a " ; this, however, is absent here, the space on the field of the ring being nearly filled up by oblone th g ornament itself givI ( more .figura th f eeo usua l compound or combined form of this ornament, copied also from the " Sculptured Stone Scotland.f so precedine th e Se "g woodcut.) It is interesting to observe that this last figure seems, in the relation borne by its two enclosed circles, one on each side of the " bent sceptre," itsel o containt f t leasa r o ,t possibl refeo yt r t'oe otheth , r well-known "spectacle "bend "an t sceptre ornament." This chai apparentls ni y abou same th t e size and lengt thosf ho e already e greatesth described f o s ti interesd an , t fro presence mth f theseo e well known and distinctive figures of the "Sculptured Stones."

Supposed Use of the Silver. Chains of, large Rings.—Sir George Mac- kenzie, I have already stated, considered the large chain he described, Caledoniae whic line th foun s f th e o h wa n do n Canal havins a , g probably been use somr dfo e medieval ecclesiastical purpose,—a r suspendinfo s ga lam r censerpo . Dr Daniel Wilson, in his well-known "Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," refer thio t s s same massive silver chain, which he, however, supposey sma have been probably ring money. He mentions that it was "found in the year 1808, near Inverness course th excavationn f i e,o Caledoniae th r sfo n Canal. It now forms one of the valued treasures of the Museum of the Scottish Antiquaries. It weighs a little more than ninety-two ounces, and each link is opeonld an ny bent together thao s , t mayti , perhaps, be assumed with considerable probability that it was designed to be used 6 33 PROCEEDINGS THF O , E SOCIETY.

n barteri , bein n factgi , silver ring money. saye H s" :— additionan "A l link n imperfeca , n i whic s t wa hstate s destroye wa e ,origina th y b d l discoverers in an attempt to ascertain the nature of the metal." Dr "Wilson also allude silvee th o srt chain found near Greenlaw describes a , d Statisticaw "e iNe nth l Accoun f Scotland,o t whico "t hI hav e referred. founds wa e says t h ,I , " withi entrenchen a e are f nth o a d camp, about two miles above Greenlaw, Berwickshire, at the confluence of the Black- adde Faungrasd an r s rivers." l thesAl e silver chainsremarky ma nearle I ,a similaar , f yo r length, having thu smallesa r numbe e larg f linkth o r en si chain greatea d an , r numbe n thosi r e with smaller links. s Iprobablei t , also, that eacf ho them had a single penannular ring attached to one extremity of the chain, of a larger, diiferent, and more ornamental character than the other openine th rings, d gan throug e sid th hf thi eo s larger ring corresponds apparently to the width of the smaller rings, so that they can be easily passed through it; this naturally suggest s bein it idee f sth ago probably e clasth r connectinpo thusn ca u readilchaine g th linYo f o k.y loop up the smaller single ring in some cases, or the two smaller rings, of the opposite extremit e chainth y passinf b yo , g them singly' through this open part of the larger ring, and the chain is thus firmly looped into a circle, which is little more than sufficient to surround the neck of a man; when therterminaa eare l pai smalleof r r rings bot passe,and hare d through e chain, th the thao x s y,fi t canno i t unfastenee b t d untiu yo l slip theoney b agaif me of . non Whe e chainth s loope i nn thi i sp du havu opee circleyo waa e th n nd yi e larg an th ,par f e o t ring turneo dt the front, it displays distinctly the mysterious ornamental figures or symbol aree s inscribeW , therefore . it n do , incline fanco dt y this larger ornamented termina e reallriny th ge ma y b l clasp thaprobabls d i t an ,ti e these chains of large plain rings, in spite of their great weight, may have been actually worn roun firs s necke dtwa th suggestes a ; r JosepM y db h Anderson t I woul. d for ma massiv certainld an e a ymos t distinctive chain decoratio r badgo n f honouro e d mighan , t probabl e woryb y b n some ancient official, either civil or ecclesiastical. In Sir W. E. Wilde's " Catalogue of the Gold Antiquities in the Museum of the Eoyal Irish Academy," 1862, it is stated at p. 91 :—" Of gold chains, suc thoss ha e with which Muineamhon decorate Irise th d h NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVEB CHAINS. 337 chieftains in his day (see Annals of the Four Masters, under A.M. 3872), and now very rarely discovered, we have as yet no specimen in the collection t Lorbu ; d Londesboroug magnificens hi n hi t work (Miscellanea Graphica), has figured one (?) found at JSTew Grange, county Meath." On referring to the " Annals," under A.M. 3872, I find it stated that Muineamhon was the first who introduced muincedha oir, neck-chains .of gold, to be worn on the necks of the kings and queens in Ireland. So tha have w t e her ea referenc e facth t o apparentlet chainf yo s being worn roun necd the ancien kin t times JosepMr . h Anderso callenhas d my attention to a reference to chains being also worn by British warrior chieftains at a very early period :— " Thus Llywarch Hen (in the sixth century), describes Cynddylan, Prince of Powys, as— " Cynddylan, eminen sagacitr fo t thoughtf yo , Cadwynawg' (wearing the chain), foremost in the host, protectoe Th Trenf o r , whils lived."—e h t Eleg Cynddylan.*n o y It is also stated, that in ancieut times the British or Welsh princes wore golden chains as the badge of royalty, and it was not until the ninth century that a royal crown appears to have been first used in the reign of Ehodri Mawr:—

"These [Cadell, Anarawd, and Merfyn] were called the three diademed princes, because they, contrary to all that preceded them, wore frontlets about their coronau (crowns), like the kings of other countries ; whereas, before that time e king prince d th Welse , an th s f o sh nation wore only golden chains.— Brut y Tywysogion (Myv. Arch. II. p. 481).2" e havW e also, among others e followinth , g reference e wearingth o t s , by the ancient nobility and warriors of Britain, of a golden collar, or chain as translated by the Eev. J. Williams, M.A. :—

" Four-and-twenty son shavI e had, Eurdorchawg (wearin goldee gth n chain), leader armief so s; bese Gwethem."—f th o ts nwa Llywarch Hen.1 1 Oadywn, a chain. 2 See Glossary of Terms of British Dress and Armour, by Eev. J. Williams, M.A. ;' " Archjeologia Cambrensis," Supplement, 1850-51. VOL. X. PART I. Y . PROCEEDING 8 33 SOCIETYE TH F SO .

" Frequent allusion is made to the torch (torques or collar)', by the Bards of the sixth century ; and even as.late as the close of the twelfth century, we meet with a lord of lal wearing the golden chain, and hence denomi- nated Llewelyn aurdorehog." 1 The word dorch, torch (torquis), or torque, in these last quotations, is now believed by antiquaries to refer not so much to a chain as to a curved or circular collar (torquis—literally that which is turned, from torqueo), f metalformeo a ben r f ba o ,dt frequently twiste r otherwiso d e orna- mented, and tapering generally towards its extremities, which' terminate knobsn i hookn i r fastenes whico y , sb wa t hi d roun neck.e dth ' .^Various examples of this ancient ornament have now been discovered j and we have a well-known instance of its use displayed on the ancient statue of the " Dying Gladiator." In the first quotation given here there is, however, a manifest reference wearine toth anothef go r distinctive decoratio r ornament—thno e eadwyn (catena), which undoubtedly mean wors a chainswa n d apparentlan , s ya a badge of dignity or rank. If a golden chain was thus the ancient badge of British royalty., is t leasa ther t strona t no e g presumption tha massiva t e silver chain, such as those now described, displaying the peculiar figures or symbols of the ancient sculptured stones, may have been the badge of some other high Stat r Churceo h officia1 l

e Silverth Supposedf o e ChainsAg f largeo Rings.—The only other instanc t discovereye e e presencth f o d f theso e e peculiar "symbols" engraved on metal is the same compound figure of the "spectacle and double sceptre, underneatd "an t hi ther s ai e, "Dog's head," anothef o r the peculiar "symbols" of the "Sculptured Stones?' It occurs on the leaf- shaped silver plate found, with other silver ornaments, in the tumulus at Nome's Law, near Largo, Fifeshire. Whil e lonfounn eth pi g d with them has also, on'the back of its richly ornamented head, apparently the remain "spectacle,e th f o s t leas a e "zigzar th "o t g ornament." There howevers i , curiously enough thin o , s same pin, apparentl ysmala l Greek

"' 'See Glossar Termf yo Britisf so h Dres Armourd san Revy b , . "WilliamsJ . , M.A; . J " Archueologia Cambrensis," Supplement, 1850-51. NOTIC ANCIENF EO T SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. •339 cross patee cut on the front of the rounded, top, and below it we also find the peculiar (7-like style of scroll ornament. The.peculiar characte e ornamentath f o r l detail d scrolan s l work l othesnal e silver, articles, like thos describedw eno , forme thy db e bent

Silver. Leaf-shaped Plate found at Nome's Law, Largo, Fifeshirc. (Actual size.) loops, and spiral scrolls, or (7-like curved lines, which are also found on many "e o Sculptureth f d Stones" themselve exampln s(a whicf eo e hI giv th n ei annexed woodcut) ; all apparently closely correspond to what has been described-as the style of art of the "Late Celtic Period,"1 by A. W. 1 See'Proc. Soo.• Anf'Scot., vol. vii. 334p . . Notic a remarkabl f o e e Bronze Ornament with Horns . Smith. A . B&c ,y,T , M.D. 340 Franks, Esq., A.M. Brie , &c.th f -o , tish Museum e " Horath - n i Fe s, rales Studier o Archaeolog,e th n si y of the Northern Nations," London,. 1863. (See woodcuts.) May we not, therefore, assume the probability of these last described chains, formed of a series of pairs of large rings, with their penannular clasps, ornamente same th edn i man - ner and style of art, also belonging to the later times of this Celtic period; which, however, probably continue Scotlanin d a muc to dh later date than in England. The age it may be of the earlier monu- mental stones which display these same mysterious symbols, in some cases, however, also associated with the symbol of the cross itself, on the " Sculptured Stones of Scot- land." From the presence on these silver chains of the peculiar figures or " symbols" of the " sculptured stones," I examined carefully the numerous figures given " e o Sculpfth - tured Stones of Scotland" in the volumes of the Spalding Club by Dr John Stuart. Dr Stuart is inclined to believe that these peculiar figures represent personal ornaments, as thereford broochesha I . e hope&c , s of perhaps discovering something .sculptured on the stones themselves, resembling or representing these large NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 341 silver chains which were probably personal or official decorations or orna- ments. My search has, however, as yet been a fruitless one. The "symbols" occur most abundantl more th en y o rude , less ornamented, and perhaps earlier sculptured stones; often nothing more than these peculiar figures themselve e otherwisth s n beino t egcu unhewn block granitef o s , &c. ~No doubt they also occur on a few of the more ornamented stones, sculptured with crosses .and various interlaced pattern f ornamentao s l knotwork, probably of a later date; on none of them, however, could I find anything suggestive of a chain like those I have described, as display- ing, engraved on their large terminal rings, the very symbols themselves.

Spectacle Ornament, with C-like Spiral Scrolls (like those on the Dumfriesshire silver chain, &c.), from the " Sculptured Stonea of Scotland." fac e thesf o tTh e peculiar figure large th s en bein o chain t gcu s seemo st me rathe o telt r l agains e ide th theif t ao r representing simply favourite personal ornaments, which we would scarcely expect to find figured on other ornaments themselves ; though not against that of their being of a symbolic characte f somo r e kind possibld an , y distinctive badge f officso e Churcn i r Stateho .

(Since this paper was read an example of a chain figured on .a richly sculptured stone, not however of the most ancient character, has been recently observed on the sculptured stone at Killean, Knapdale, Argyle- shire. This chain is attached to a collar fixed round the neck of an imaginary dragon-like quadruped, symbolical, doubtless, of some evil one, and otheits r extremit carrieyis keepin fasa up, d t prisonerghim the to , adjoining outer corner of the stone. In this case, however, the chain is 2 34 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO .

of quit a edifferen d moran t e complex pattern, -.being'. forme lon. f o gd links, open at each end, through which the adjoining links pass, ..the sides of the loop or link being welded or brought, close together in. the middle of each link.)

conclusionn I remarky ma I , , that these peculiar "symbols figuresr "o , sculptured .on the monumental stones; have been almost entirely found in the.north-eastern .parts of> Scotland whico t , h districts they have accord- ingly-.been.'believed, more, peculiarly to belong.-. The same figures or "symbols." have,' however, now been found engraved on silver.ornaments; but curiously enough one of these instances occurred, with the relics of the Nome's Law tumulus, at Largo, in Fifeshire, on the northern shores of . Firte th f Forthho e mosth , t southern boundar supposee th f yo d district to which these peculiar sculptured stones seem to belong. The very same "symbols"—the " Spectacle " crossed by the " zigzag ornament," with the same emblem of the "Dog's Head "associated with it—have been also more recently discovere t witcu d h other emblematic-like figures (including among these, as I have already mentioned, the same double curved figure which e largoccurth n e o stermina e silvel th rin f rgo chain found at Aberdeenshire), on the living rock on the wall of the west " Doo-cofc Cave," on the shore of the Firth of Forth, near East Wemyss, in the same county of Fife.1 Then we have the. same "spectacle and zigzag" en- graved on an exactly similar silver chain, but in this instance found out of this north-eastern district altogether, awa Dumfriesshiren yi e th n i , very south of Scotland. No doubt, there,, is, nothing to prevent these symbols engrave e preciouth n o d s metals ..being easily carriey d an off o .t part of the land. Still, we must remember that stones sculptured with some of the same class of figures have been found to the north, in Suther- landshire r examplfo s a , t anciene Kintradwella eth f o te on site f th ,o e Pictish round tower brochs," or s " where ther stona s ei e sculptured witha peculiar ornament, wit roundea h d hea forked dan d extremities below, and above it an ornamented and more elaborately detailed variety of the double'curved "ornament, the simple form of which is cut on the large link Aberdeenshir e ,oth f e silver chain; (See annexed figures.) Other 1 See figures .in Proc; Soc. Ant. Soot. vol. ix. p. 74, and "Sculptured Stones of . Scotland," vol.-ii• • . pi. . 3334 , NOTIC ANCIENF EO T SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 343'

sculptures on-stone of the same class, as the " crescent with the Y-shaped sceptres" 'have heen found also in the Orkney Islands, even in some in- stances use s buildina d gd churchest stoneol S t e a n somi th s s f a ,o e Peter's Church, South Konaldshay (now preserve Museue th e n th di f mo Society). This shows t leasta , , their more wide-spread charactee on t a r

Sculptured Stone foun t Kintradwellda , Symbol or Ornament, " Crescent and Sutherlandshirc. V-shaped Sceptres," on Sculptured Stones.

time, their great antiquity e apparenth d an , t neglec f thelateo a t t ma r date, as when this old church in South Eonaldshay was built. (Ther also-(sincs eha e this pape reads wa r ) been more recently founn di ruine brocha th f o s t Baniana , , North Eonaldshaye , th Orkney f o e on , phalanges or bones of .the foot of a small-sized ox, having cut on one side of it the "crescent and V-shaped sceptres," the ornament of the most frequent occurrence of them all, and on the other side of it a round-headed oblong figure, similar to that on the Kintradwell stone (figured above). The discovery of this bone among the debris of an ancient habitation in e greatesOrkneth f o s tyi interest detaileA . d accoun e Brocth f f o ho t Burrian, by Dr Tiaill, will be published in the " Archteologia Scotica," 346 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

monumental stones, which have borne them therdayn eow ; r dowou o nt where, it may be, their authors last held their ground, before the in- trusion of other tribes, and, shall I say, of an alien church—the Culdee bein t lasga t absorbe Papae th n di l Churc Bornef ho . This view appears to me to be at least not inconsistent with what is known of the ancient British or Pictish inhabitants of Scotland. Johr D n Stuart considers these peculiar symbol "e Sculptureth n o s d Stones," fro localite mth y wher mostw e no the abundantle yar y found, viz., the north-eastern districts of Scotland, to have been the work of the Pictish people t apparentl theno d o an ;yd y occur elsewhere e saysh , s a , in Ireland, or Scandinavia, or even in Northumberland, Wales, or Brit- tany. He supposes they may mark their period of transition from heathenis mo Christianityt . "The Pictish peopl spokee ar e n of,r "D Stuart says, Boma"y b n authorthire th dn i scentury , whe tere nth m Caledonii is given up, and we find them historically in possession of the country till they were overcom e ninte Scotth th h n i sy b century.e " There wer nationso etw northere southere th ,th d an nn Picts formee th , r converted by Mnian, the latter by Columba in the latter part of the sixth century.1 Josepr M n I h Anderson's important memoie " th Broch n o rYarf so - hous d others,an e e Picte referth h " o st s-havin g occupie e wholth d e territor n whicyi h remain f brocho s s have been found d statean , s that " From their first appearance in the Annals, they were in possession of Orkneyse th . Betwee 6 the e d yearpossessio47 nth y ha d s an A.D2 n44 . of the whole territory from Caithnes e Forth th d thao t san , t aftee th r departure of the Romans they occupied the territory south of the wall of Antoninus, there seems to be no reasonable doubt." "Even throughout the Anglic ascendancy populatioe th , thif no s portio countre th f no y continued largele tob y Pictish."2 The very existence, therefore, of any of these peculiar sculptured symbols in parts of Scotland at a distance from the north-eastern districts, where they are now most frequently found, and where we know the Picts last

1 Dr Stuart on the '' Sculptured Stones of Scotland,'' Brit. Assoc. Eeport, Aberdeen, 1859. 2 Archeeologia Scotica, vol. v. p. 131, Mr Joseph Anderson on the " Brochs of Yarhouse," &c. NOTICE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SILVER CHAINS. 347

held possession of the country; seems to me to suggest the probability not only of their being the work of the same people, but also of their very ancient character fine w d s thesA . e outlying sculptures generally consist of simpl peculiae yth r symbols themselves, the probabld yha y been sculp- tured at the time these more distant parts of the country were still in the possessio e Pictisth f no h people d beforan , e their borders were invaded and contracted by Scot, and Norseman, and Saxon, and their dominion gradually confine more th eo dt northern easterd an , n district f Scotlandso ; t lasa s t untibrough wa overmasterine t closa li th y o t b te g e Scotth n si ninth century. The whole subject of the history and true meaning of these symbols seems, however, stil invito t l furthee th e r exploratio antiquarye th f no , and waits, it may be, for fuller explanation in the time to come.

DESCRIPTIO PLATESF NO . I.—PLATE XII. . I Silver Chai r Girdleno , with Circular Plate, Rings d Pendantan , e propertth , y of Thomas Simson of Blainslie, Esq., Berwickshire (51 inches in-total length). 1. Die stamps on back of Circular Plate. I . Silver Chain or Girdle, with gilt Circular Plate, Slides and Pendant, the pro- Universitperte th f yo Aberdeef yo inche5 n(6 totan si l length).

II.—PLATE XIII. Silver gilt Ornament Chaif e Universitso th f no Aberdeef yo n (actual size):^- . Circula1 r Plate, with filagree ornaments garned an , centren i t . 2. Circular Plate in profile, showing silver hook on back, and attachment of chain. 3. Two Die Stamps struck on back of silver plate. 4. Barrel-shaped Ornament, or slide, on chain (one of six). 5. Cylindrical Ornament, or slide, on chain, with ring attached to it. 6. Terminal Pendant, showin chaie gth n attache uppes it o dt r part.