On Rune-Inscribed Relics of the Norsemen in Shetland

Home , Cunningsburgh, Levenwick, Norsemen, Quarff

II.

ON RUNE-INSCRIBED RELICS OF THE NORSEMEN IN SHETLAND. BY GILBERT OOUDIE, ESQ., F.S.A. SCOT.

The history of the Shetland Islands (in common with that of the Orkneys) divides itself naturally into three distinct periods, viz.:— Pictise (I.Th ) h period, ending about A.D. 870; e (II.Norsth ) e period, from A.D. 870 to A.D. 1468; and (III.) the Scoto-Norse period, from A.V. 1468. It has heen my privilege, owing to incidental discoveries which have come undeable eyeb y o plac et o m rt , e befor e Societth e y on former occasions contemporaneous relics illustrating interesting fea- tures of the first and third of these periods.1 The rune-inscribed stone now presented furnishes occasion for the illustration of the second. It is obvious, from the results of archoeological investigation, that the native inhabitant f Orkneo s d Shetlanan y d attaine o meaha dn o nt d positio e scal th f ancien o en i n t civilisation n particularI . e Brochth , s 1 The Pictish period—(a) Notice of Excavations in a Broch and Adjacent Tumuli near Levenwick e paristh f Dunrossnessn o hi , , Zetland (" Proceedings," vol. ix . p. 212; (6) On Two Monumental Stones with Ogham Inscriptions, recently dis- covere n Shetlani d d ("Proceedings," vol. xii . e Scoto-Nors20)p . Th . e period —Notice of two Charters in the Norse Language, found among the Papers of the Sheriff Court of Shetland ("Proceedings," vol. xii. p. 472). ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE RELICS IN SHETLAND. 137

or towers of strength, erected by them with a prodigious expenditure of meano n y b s unskilful labour, evinc econcentratioa f energno y for purpose f defenco s e which must excite wonde d admiratioan r ne eveth t na presen t e studydayTh . , too f ecclesiasticao , l relics, suc s sculptureha d and Ogham-inscribed monumental stones, which have been brought to light in recent years, furnishes evidence of their culture having been toned, if not altogether altered, in its character by the influence of Christianity, introduced by the followers of St Columba. Specimens of

Fig. 1. St Ninian's Stone (edge). those early Christian monuments are here figured, for the purpose of exhibiting the distinction between them, as Celtic relics "with Oghamic inscriptions e rune-inscribeth d an , d e Norsemenrelicth f o s , whice ar h afterward e describedb o t s witd an ,h whice b caso n o t ehn i the e yar confounded. e language e kinTh th f 1character do d an s se th use n i d tw os radicall a racecaseo e tw ar o s e ywhictw th distinc e e hth ar s a t classe f monumentso s separately represent. yeae A.D.2 th 87 r n , I Harald Haarfagr accomplishe e unificatiodth f o n Norwa e decisivth t ya e battl f Hafursfiordeyearo w fe sa lated e an th r, irruption of the Norsemen under his leadership overthrew, with fire and sword e fugitivth , e Viking defieo s authoritwh shi d e Westerth n yi n Isles.2 The result of this conquest was the subjugation and absorption t thei no e Picts rth od f extinction.an , e ChristiaTh 3 n religions a ,

Both these stones, now in the Museum, were found in Shetland in 1876, and 1 were submitted to the Society, and described in my paper in vol. xii. of the "Proceed- . ings,20 . "p accoune th Orkneyinge e th n Se 2i t e Sag th Haralf aao n i Saga d dan ,Haarfagr . 3 It has been pointed out that the overwhelming preponderance in the Hebrides of place-name f Scandinaviao s n origin d stilan ,l more strikingl n Orkneyi Shetd yan - land, where Celtic place-name unknowne ar s ,e inferenc leadth o t s e thaPicte th t s were probably extirpated theis a , r local nomenclatur s beeneha ,e fro th face f mth o e country. But it is not strange that in thinly-peopled districts like these islands, 138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879. already indicated, had previously gaine a footind g among themd an ; there is ground for believing that it t waaltogetheno s r destroyedt bu , tha t lingerei t e memorieth n di f o s the people, through their Pictish affinities, until, by a rude retribution, t i again reared s heait d ovee th r ruins of vanquished Odinism. Apart, however, froe probamth - bilities of the case, there is evidence —scant, it is true, but still signifi- cant—o e survivath f a Pictis f o l h

original names should be lost sight of— overlaid by those conferred by a later dominant race, even though a residue of the earlier race remained knowe W r in.fo -, stance quickl Northow ,the yhin American States the map is covered with Anglo- Saxon names white pushen th s ema a e , sth E.ed Indian westward; but more particu- larle States thith i ye cas f th sn o i s e Southern America, wher e aboriginath e l races remain to a large extent coexistent or commixed wite descendantth h f theio s r conquerors, while most places known to us bear name f unmistakablo s y European complexion. Indeed Shetlandn i , e th t a , present day, the ancient Scandinavian name fase sar t perishing muco s t y b hno , any changgraduae th y racf b e o s l ea influ - ence of the English language, and the natu- l movementra e merth f eo s individual f so populatione th e musW .t bea n mindi r , too, that there were no written titles to iand r otheo , r documents preserves u o t d from the remote ages, to stereotype such Fig. 2. Lunnasting Stone (face.) names, as has been the case in later times. ON KUNE-IXSCR1BKD NORSE REMCS IN SHETLAND. 139

remnant. Among others, it may be mentioned that on the spot where the rune-inscribed Norse memorial stones—t afterwarde oh s described— were found, several unmistakabl ee Pictisrelicth e havf o shag e been brough o t lightt , including fragment f o sculptures d Oghaman d - inscribed stones, undoubtedly Celtic and Christian. The inference from these is—a continuity of occupation, a continuity of resort for the pur- pos f intermenteo e continuitth d an a ,recognise f yo d religious site from Pictish times througn o , invasioe hth d permanenan n t settlemene th f o t Norsemen, to our own day. It is scarcely possible to conceive such a survival of sacred sites and traditions among people of another race, language, and religion, coincident with the total extinction of the preceding rac whico t e h those sited traditionan s s belonged.1 Several instances are expressly mentioned in the Sagas of intermaniages between Norsemee th nativd an n e Celtic familieNorte th f Scotlann ho i s d an d elsewhere therd an ,s ever i e y reaso believo nt e thae samth t e took place in Shetland and Orkney.

THE NORSE PERIOD.

It is almost exclusively to the evidence furnished by the remains of the early ages that we are indebted for the limited knowledge we possess of the Pictish times to which I have referred. But the age of the Norseme islandse th n ni , embracin ga periohundrex si f do d years, from t withouo 1468t no A.n. 2 s i , 87 a literatur t e independent mannera n i , , of archaeology. The story of the Conquest, the lives of the island Jarls, e bloodth y e Vikingse home-lifraidth th e Odalmen f th d o s an f ,o e , were transmitted orally in songs and narrative for ages, until, in the e latehandth f r o ssaga-men , these assume e literarth d e y th for f mo Saga (histor havw no er story)ye o them e Orlcneyinc/aw s Th a ,. Saga,

late eTh 1 Professor Munch seem havo t s e thought thaPicte th t s were "wholly absorbed" by the Norse settlers in Orkney and perhaps in Shetland ("Chronicle of Man, . xviii.)"p Georgr Si . e W. Dasen opinios thi gives a nt s i that originae "th l inhabitants were not expelled, but held in bondage as thralls" ("Burnt Njal," . clxxxivp . vol. i.). 0 14 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1879Y10 .

or History of the Earls of Orkney and Shetland, and the Saga of Earl Magnus Saint,e th compile earln a t yda Old-Northere datth n ei n tongue, contain a vivid portrayal of life and manners in those rude ages. It is rememberee b o t d that in these island region e languagth s civilisad an e - Latine th tio f o ns never penetrated excepservice th formularied n i te an s e Church oth whole fe boas th th d thi f es an o t;i s Gothic North—that its literature and civilisation are of purely native growth, independent e classicaoth f l influences which elsewhere were paramoun n Europei t . Consequently, Saga literatur s i characterisee a ruggednes y b da d an s simplicit n entiri y e harmony wite prevailinth h g aspec f o naturt e around t mosbu , t unlikpolise th complexitd o eht an classice th f yo . While these Saga valuable sar e historically, their importanc s showei n e greatlb o t y enhanced d theian , r picture f lifo s e illustratee th y b d material remain f thoso s e ages which have from tim o timt e e been disinterred.1 Few as these are, compared with the multitude of such remains winch have been found in Scandinavia, they aid us most materially n understandini e mos e th Sagasth g t d typicaan , l aspecf o t ancient northern life with whic e Sagahth s abound—roving expeditions sworde th f o . e us e th d an That vigorous native life in the North has left other traces in the island shape th f inscribedn eo si t scanto knownrelies,to ye l t s yal a bu , likely to be multiplied as circumstances may bring them to light here- s onli after t yI seventee. n years sinc e openin e th chamberee th f o g d mound of Maeshowe in Orkney revealed the -first-known Bunic inscrip- e islandstionth perhapd n i san , e largesth s t single collectioe th f o n e con e observedth e b world; - f th kino o t n t e worki ds i th no 2 , t i , V recen1A t" e pape Proceedingth n i r SocietVikine e Relice th th sth f f "n o so ygo Period of the Northmen in Scotland, "by Mr Anderson, deals -with the arms and per- sonal ornaments of the old warriors, and other objects, recovered from their tombs " Proceedings," vol. x. p. 536). (I.) " Notic Kuuif eo c Inscriptions discovered durin Recene gth t Excavationn si 2 the Orkneys," made by James Farrer, M.P. (Privately printed, 1862). (II.) " Notice of Excavations in the Chambered Mound of Maeshowe, in Orkney, and of the Runic Inscriptions on the Walls of its Central Chamber," by John Stuart, Sec. S. A. Scot. ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE KELIC SHETLANDN S1 I 14 .

structors of tlie mound itself, but apparently, for the most part, of the Jerusalem-farers (Jorsalafarar) accompanieo wh e Earth d l Rognalo t d the Holy Places in the year 1152, and scratched their jottings upon its walls. The object of the present paper is to describe the other rune- inscribed relics which have been brought to light in the islands (all in Shetland), especiall stone yth e last discovered beforw e Societyno th e d ,an . e importancTh f theso e e recent discoverie e inferreb y sma d froe mth extreme scantines thin si s countr f thiyo s interesting clas relicsf e so W . have Hunterstoth e n Brooch, d therperhapy an 1ma e e somb s e other portable objects with runic lettering preservea e havt w no et dbu ; single specimen of a rune-inscribed stone in the National Museum apart from these Shetland fragments. Indeed, with the exception of these and the Maeshowe inscriptions in Orkney, only three rune carvings on stones have, so far as I am aware, been found in all Scotland up to this time. These are — first, e Euthwelth l Cross Dumfriesshiren i , , inscribed in Anglo-Saxon runes ; second, e letterin th t Molais S n i g e Cavn i e

Holy Island, Arra nd third, ;e stonan 3 th 2 t Knockanda e Morayn oi - shire.4 The scarcity of these relics seems surprising, in view of the extent and nature of the Scandinavian dominion in the Hebrides and on the mainland of Scotland, as well as in the northern isles. But in Ire- land, in the same way, the once-powerful kingdom of the Dubh-Gaill, or Ostmen (black strangers East-men)r o , thes a , y were indifferently termed,

("Proceedings Societye th f "o ,. 247)p vol . v .. (III.) "Maeshow eIllustration: f so the Runic Literature of Scandinavia," by J. M. Mitchell, F.S. A. Scot., &c. (Pri- vately printed, 1863.) "Proceedings,e th e Se 1 " vol. vii . 462p . . 2 This most precious relic is figured in the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland," vol. i. p. 43, plate cxxxviii. 3 The Holy Island inscription reads —

NIKULOS AII.ENE ILEIST Nicholas of Hien carved (these nines). It has been attributed to the twelfth or thirteenth century. 4 Sculptured Stone f Scotlando s , plat . 61 cv eI. , t p vol seem. ii . o reat s d I | Y H r, SIKSIK. 142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879.

appear havo t s e left onle inscribeyon d relie littlth c e"behinn I . it d Scandinavian state of the Isle of Man, the Kunic remains are numerous;l but the Danish sovereignty in England, of which King Knut (Canute) e centra th e Grea s th lwa t representative figure d whican , h occupieo s s important a place in the history of Southern Britain, has only a few relics of this description now known to exist. Since, then, so few Runic monuments remain iu extensive districts where Scandinavian influenc lono s e g prevailed t wouli , t havdno e been wonderful had the island principality of Orkney and Shetland, intensely Scandinavia t wasi s na , been also comparatively barre f suco n h remains. The inquire studieo wh re grea th s t wor f Professoo k r Stephens d ("Ol Northern Eunic Monuments, of Scandinavia and England ") will observe how vastly rich Scandinavia, especially the kingdom of Sweden, is in monument f thiso s description d Orknean , d Shetlanyan d have recently been abl o contruratt e e most interesting addition o thit s s great col- lection. Maeshowe, in Orkney, was opened in 1861, with the results to which, reference has been made ; but Shetland continued to exhibit an absence of authenticated Eunic remains. This assumed absence in the northern isle f inscribeso d relic s observeswa d commentean d r BurtodM oy nb n "e notics Unrecordeth hi f n ei o d Ages, DTd " an 2Hunt a communi n i , - cation to the Anthropological Society about the year 1864, remarks— s somewhai "t I t singula hundree th f ro dt tha islandou t s composing e Shetlanth d group e islanth , f Bressao d y e shoulonle inth on ye b d which any form of inscribed stones should have been found."8 numbea r Fo thesf o r e inscription appeae indebtee sw zealou b e o t ron o dt s stone- 1 carver named Gaut (Gaut r Gautio r ) Bjarnarson. Thi s expressli s y state n tlido e stone at Kirk Michael ns follows :— NM : KIRN' NH»: m: 4MvlT

This reference to Bressay, as an exception, points to the Ogham-inscribed sculptured stone presented to the Museum in 1864, the precursor varioue oth f s inscribed monuments which have since been brougho t t e subjecth ver o s lightf runes a o ty s d rarelha s; an ld occasio yha o t n come before the Society, I purpose treating these discoveries somewhat more in detail than I should otherwise have done.

I. STONE AT GEOSS-KIEK, PAEISH OF NORTHMAVINE. This ston s noticei e r d figureHibbert,D an d y b d 2 followine th g e Eev r MSSth Lowo foun M f . o wh e t .,i occasio ods th u hi f o n visiting Shetland more tha a ncentur a sepulchra s yi ago.t I 3l slab, inscribed alon e e bordeflagth th t f o surfacr n characteri e s whice ar h undoubtedly Runic d whican , h mus e accepteb t s genuinea d , because it is scarcely possible to suspect them of having been simulated by Mr Low, whose integrit s neveyha r been questioned e samth t e A time. , the stone does not appear now to be known; or, if it is known, a century of exposure has so obliterated the characters as to make them unrecog- nisable. Inquiries which I recently made through the Eev. Mr Eusscll, Ollaberry, have not resulted in any satisfactory information being ob- e mortainedon eo d ther n favourablan , s i e y situate r knowindfo e th g facts than he. Letters forming the following words have been identified by Professor Munch :— N riRIBI R HOf BITHI FIRIR SOL Pray for the soul. The remainder is unintelligible.

1 Two of these, bearing Ogham inscriptions. I have already described to the Society (see before, figs. 1 and 2). These, and two other Oghamic fragments, and a richly sculptured stone which lessee recentlth f ro islandse y on cam n i ,ee undeey y m r being I believe s a , Celtif o , c workmanshi Celtid an p t comc no art o ed ,unde r notice t herethreBu .e rune-inscribed relic f undoubteo s d Scandinavian origin hav- re e cently been discovered, in addition to one of somewhat dubious character, but evidently Runic, formerly existing. 2 Description of the Shetland Islands, 1822, p. 531. 3 Low's " Tour," MSS. 177 coursn 4(i publication)f eo . 144 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10,' 1879.

Another Runic stone, so-called s figurei , Hibbert,y db reproduced 1an d in the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland." 2 It is described as fixed in the wall of. the'parish Church of Sandness, and conceived to be. of a date not later than the tenth or eleventh century. But it is in reality iio runic ston carvea t all ea t ,bu d slab, with mirror, comb(?) crescend an , t symbols welo s , l e knowsculptureth n o n d stone f Eastero s n Pictland. This stone also, it appears, is not now known to exist. Dr Stuart observes that it was not found when looked for some time ago.

. II STONE FOUN CCJNNINGSBURGN DI H PAEIS 1872N HI . The stone here figured was found by Mr Robert Cogle, a zealous native inquirer, at the depth of 3 feet beneath the bed of a stream.

Fig. 3.

A drawing of the stone forwarded by Mr Anderson to. Professor Stephens, Copenhagen, enabled the professor to read it rr\mr K V I M I K which he regards as [HA]KVI MIK = [HB]WED MB, or carved me (the stone), it being evidently a fragment of a memorial tablet. Professor

1 Descriptio Shetlane th f no d Islands . 547p , . Sculptured Stone f Scotlando s y Johb , n Stuart, LL.D. , plat44 , e. volp . ii . 2 ON RUNE-INSCKIBED NORSE RELIC SHETLANDN S5 I 4 ] . Stephens's lette printes "e ri Proceedingth f volo dn i . .x Societye th s f "o , p. 425, and the stone is now in the Museum.

III. STONE FOUND IN CUNNINCJSBURGH PAEISH, IN 1875. Thia stil s i sl smaller fragment, hrough Coglr e th lighM o t tn y e i b t same parish vera t a y, short distance fro d formere ol m th e closd th an ,o et burying-ground, wher followine eth mosd gan t important ston founds ewa . remainins It g stavee sar * Mi* r+ * KT + TK * openino charactertw laso e e th tw tword e gth oneon d f anotherf an ,so so . Museume th n i w .t alsI no s oi

. STONIV E POUN CUNNINGSBURGHN DI 1877N I , . This is the third Kunie inscription discovered in this neighbourhood within a period of about five years, these being, with the exception of the Nbrthmavine stone (No. I.) before referred to, the only Kuuic stones ever know havo nt e been foun Shetlandn i d same Th e . spoalss ha ot yielded two Ogham-inscribed fragments, relics of the Celtic race which preceded Norse th e rune-carvers. The first intimation of the discovery of this stone reached me in the mont f Juaho e 1877 lettea n i , r fro frieny m m Eeve dth . George Clark, Free Church minister of Cunningsburgh. Tracings were sent to me, and in the following month I visited the spot and examined the stone, where it remained undisturbed. On applying to John Brace, Esq. of Sumburgh, principae th l heritodistricte th t onc a f ro e eh , most kindly consenteo dt the stone being removed authorised an , presentatios dit Societye th o nt I . have therefor k youas r o t ea donatioacceptanc s a , it n f o efro m that gentleman, with the hearty concurrence of Mr Clark, the finder, to both o fe mucar who e hm w indebte r theifo d r extreme courtese th n i y matter. Various indications previously noticed had led to the conclusion that VOL. XIII. K 146 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUAKY 10, 1879.

the spot in question, adjacent to the church and manse at Maill, was the n earla sitf yo e settlement e RevTh ,. Frederick Souter r dark'M , s predecessor d somha , e years previousl a sligh n o t, yme pointeo t t ou d disturbanc e exposeth f eo de sandban th fac f o e k facin e seagth , fragments of charred bones, of molluscs, and other remains, which seemed to indicate refuse heaps and human interments. Since then Mr Clark has made occasional diggings, resulting in the discovery of a large, deeply hollowed stone of the kind regarded as grain rubbers, represented in the Museum by»the specimen fro e islanmth f Barrado f variouo , s form rougf o s h stone implements of the kind found at Safester and Houlland, in the parish of Sandsting t Braefielda d parise an th , f Dunrossnessn hi o , amplo s , y illus- trated by specimens in the Museum, and described by Dr Arthur Mitchell Society'e inth s " Proceedings," vol. vii . 11p . 8 ; als quantitoa charref yo d a grainsmal d vesser lan ,o dee f p steatito l p cu carefullo s thio d es nan y scooped .out as rather to resemble a piece of pottery. Thes diggingsn e ow result s hi ,f togetheso r wit previoue hth s discoveries of inscribed fragment e neath r n i neighbourhoods , induce r ClardM o kt make a careful examination of the adjoining burying-ground which surrounded-the ancient churc f Cunningsburghho f whico , h scarcela y trace now remains. His examination did not meet the disappointment so commonly experience y ardenb d t inquirers e rune-carveth ; d monument now before us caught his eye. It was placed, with the inscription upside down, on the outside of the western enclosing wall of the churchyard. Covere t thei s literall s na dwa y wit e "h th mos f ages,o s detectios it " n required no ordinary keenness of eye, and is a remarkable instance for the encouragement of patient inquirers in all time to come. It is most fortunate that the inscription was on the exposed face of the stone; had it been otherwise, the discovery must have been impossible; and the whole circumstance illustration a e sar e immens th f no e injury that must have been course don th usee n ageth f ei ignorancee n o i , y sb f preciouo , s relics as building material. How many more of the same kind may have perished in the same wall, which is built out of the church and of the lapidar ytellw remain .no e churchyard n th ca f so e on o n , ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE RELICS IN SHETLAND. 147

The stone is a piece of hewn sandstone, 4 feet 3 inches long, 6 inches ende broaon ,t narrowinda inchee other5 th o g t t a s, wit uniforha m thickness of about 6 inches. Unfortunately, it has sustained a fracture at the end where the inscription begins. A portion of the lettering is gone, and several of the characters first in order are a good deal defaced. They l ardistinctlyal et deeplno t ybu , incised, formin a ling f staveo e f o s slightly irregular breadth (averaging 5| inches) without longitudinal score r otheso r markings, excep e divisionath t l dots between certaif o n the words. Runic characters bees ha n t i wel, l remarked e naturth f o e , e tha"ar t does not yield an immediate harvest to the bold guesser, but must be extracted by toilsome inductive criticism. These inscriptions are a literatur n stoni e e e devisenortherth y b d n nations before they were Christian, ... an original achievement of the genius of the people, unaided from that classical source whence the later alphabets of all the European nations were n thii derived." s i a light t I s a ,J purely native relic, of a kind not known beyond the limits of Scandinavia d placean , s directly under Scandinavian influence, thae th t present monumen e a voicviewed b s a o et t I comes frou s .i t o mt s the long forgotten past, from the days of Scandinavian supremacy, not onl n Shetlanyi d almoss n foundi wher t wa l Norther t al bu t,i e n Europe s therefori t I . e desirable, fragmentar , tha s is meanin it t ti s ya g shoul ascertainee db d wit l possiblhal e precision. Much injur bees yha n done elsewher crudy e b unscientifi d ean c attempt decipheringt sa , regardless of the diversities of language and of written character during a period of nearl thousanya d years whicn i , h rune carvin knows gi havo nt e prevailed, as well as the variations of dialect which must have existed, even at one and the same time, in the different regions of the Scandinavian north in which these palajographic forms were common. Accordingly, having brought the stone to Edinburgh, I delayed sub- Societe mittinth o t yt gi unti I shoull d hav opportunitn ea consultinf yo g Professor Stephens, of Copenhagen, the learned author of the "Old 1 Burton, "History of Scotland," vol. i. p. 150 (2d edition). 148 PROCEEDING THF SO E SOCIETY, FEBHUAR , 1879Y10 .

Northern Eunic Monuments of Scandinavia and England," and the most eminent living authority on this class of remains. I am indebted to Mr Anderson for removing the thick covering of lichens, which permitted a careful drawing to be made, and the following is the result:—

Fig. 4.

This drawing I forwarded to Professor Stephens, whose prompt and obliging reply I print without abbreviation, in so far as it relates to this matter : — CHEAPINGHAVEN, DENMARK, Jan., 187927 . MY DEA receivo Rt s SIR glaw wa e ,d —I youho y I neersa communicationt dno . of the 22cl, which reached me yesterday. I lose no time in my reply. Pray make what use you please of my answer. e hel th f you po y B r excellen certainltw enclosurno n yca e reaew d whas i t left of the valuable Kunningsburgh stone. The beginning is broken away; three following staves hav replacede eb sufferedlettern e ca On t ., bu ,| » (N), wants at the end, but is undoubted. Whether aught else followed, of course I cannot thire sayTh d. usuae stavth s ei l shor I (s)t , here running lower down by a flaw. Then follow traces of three letters, doubtless ^ | [>, TIN. The fc in interestine lase th , th tB wor= rars o dgi s Scandinavian ei typB r efo ofteo s , n Mane founth n xdo stones. The whole, then, has been —

(**-** RI8)[> | (rais)E* s* D this STONE AFTER . FATHE (hisN SI )R (* *. * * ris)THI STIN IFTIR FOTHUR SIN THCTRBAIR(n)

grave Th efro e earlies e b pilla mth y rma t Christian times. I remain, &c., GEORGE STEPHENS. ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE KELICS IN SHETLAND. 149

With suc a hclea r report from Professor Stephens s perhapi t i , s unnecessar adduco yt furthey ean r testimony mentiony ma I ., however, that Dr Hjalmar Kempff f Gefleo , , in. Sweden, formerl e universitth f yo y of Upsala accomplishen a , d scholar, well versel thaal tn i drelate e th o st ancient monuments of his country, has taken an interest in this latest Runic discovery, from having examined the stone in the Museum when he visited Scotland last summer. He explained to me his views at the time ; and I have just received from him a letter, in which he refers to the inscription as follows, in English :—

GEFLE, January , 187931 .

The reading and interpretation are such as I can make out from the not very clear annotation I made in the Museum at my short inspection of the inscription. Wha I havt e founreae b do dt ther followins ei g :—

** N*** iniR+Nt>nR'ihpiiRhNh ** which I transliterate so—

« THI * * * o'TIR + PATHDE SIN THURBIAU * *

I suppose that the imperfect Eunic sign immediately before PI (THI) is the latter half part of R (R), and, together with the following P and I , the latter partof aword (l DRrl gerthi (made). The precedent subject is missing. The following signs, that may have composed a word denoting the object and telling us what was made, I cannot make out. three Th e following word easy:e sar — I P1 I R, iftir, after; YA P l\ R , fattmr, father ; 'IK, sin, AM. The no w following runes, of whic fire h sth fout easile rar y reaHr Rs da r, thurl, are no doubt meant to be Pll R r I H M R r, Thurbiaurn, Isl. Thurbiorn. Atflrst I could not but read them as Pll K rH r\ * * Thurbyr(n), a certainlynot impossible writin e namth f f Thorbiorno ego . Nevertheless t nearea , r inspectiond an , after comparison with the inscription of the cast of a stone cross at Kirkbradclan, (Catalogun Ma Isl f o e Antiquitiesf eo . 113)G , , wher eI als o reae namth d f eo Thorbib'rn there written hav1 f i ,e note t rightlyi d , PnUKMflRK I soo, n 0 15 FKOCEIiUlNG SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBKUAKY 10, 1879.

clearly saw that there was to be read PnRhMHRIs that is, Thwrbiaivm, Thurbib'rn. The [\ that I first had taken for a Y dissolved itself into an | (i) and an 4 (A) j tne following ft (R) became a ft (u); and now there was no doubt that the following j was to be completed to R (R), and that an | found at a just distance from it once had the transversal line of the "t> (N). The wholinscriptioe th f eo n should the interpretee nb d —

(Somebody (something)E D ) ma AFTE FATHES RHI R THUBBIOBK.

Who that somebody was may perhaps never be known, unless the missing piece of the stone inscribed with the name be recovered, which may not be quite impossible. &c., ..,am I . HJALMAR KEMPFF.

It will be observed that the points upon which Professor Stephens and Dr Kempff differ are only two, and they are very trifling. The latter thinks that the partly- defaced rune at the beginning may be R (R), hence —— BTHI terminatioe ,th wore th f dno GERTHI, made. Stephenr D s sees only t* I, THI, which he assumes to be part of the word .BISTHI, raised. Conse- quently, while he reads the next word as probably ' "1 I h , STIN, stone, Dr Kempff supposes a word representing something that was " made " (gertlii), e conclusioth s n lettei hi e d suggestf h rno an s bru, bridgea , Ttumbl,a cairn, merM, a monument r haug,o , a barrow e lasTh te . th wor f o d inscription Drs Stephens and Kempff both read as the equivalent of THOBBIOBN; they onle voweth y o diffet l s charactera r e seconth n i sd syllabl namee th f eo . To my own mind the distinct portion of the inscription was clear from beginninge th wore th t d upobu , ndoctoro whictw e shth disagree, 1 1PI (STIN f), is so utterly defaced that I do not express an opinion upon it, though rather inclined to Professor Stephens's view. The other word, THOBBIOBN, seems also to present some difficulty, from the dubious characte run e f somth o r ef e o stave s composin lattee gth r. parit f o t Wit concurrence hth f opinioeo n indicated above I thin, neee t kw dno now scruple to regard this precious relic as a tribute of filial respect to the memor deceasea f yo d parent, named apparently y ma Thorbiorn e h o Wh . OS RONE-INSCRIBED NORSE UKLICS IN SHETLAND. 151

liave boon it is vain to conjecture. Several persons of the name are mentioned in the "Orkneyinga Saga," in particular, Thorbiorn, "a famous man," who was slain in Borgarfiord (Burrafirtli), in Shetland, by the earls Magnus Hakond an ,twelft e earlth n yi h century, Thorbiord 1an n Svarti2 (swarthy). e cannoW t identify eithe f theso r e Thorbiorns wit e Thorbiornth h f o . Cunningsburgh, though his monument is in all probability of about the same age (twelfth century), and -they seem both to have been connected with the islands. The name was a common one, the original probably of our moder raiseo e stonwh n th ds n Thorburneso ha e e namth Th f o e. perishe accidente th y db timef so portio e th , n containin t gi havin g been broken off, and he, like his father, has left no other trace behind him. Accordin o Professogt r Stephens e monumen e th dat th e ,f b o e y ma t assigned to the earliest period of Norse Christianity in the islands, that is to say, not earlier than the year 1000, when the people were compelled by

1 Orkneyinga Saga, Translation, p. 60. This Thorbiorn was one of Earl Rognvald's companions on the expedition from 2 Orkne Hole th y o yt e yea Lanth rn di 1152 , and die t Akursborda s g (Acre)wa e H . a scald, and as the earl and liis men, on their way to Jerusalem, landed there " with great pom splendourd pan , suc seldos ha d beemha n seen before, composee h " d this lay— u Oft have 1 with comrades hardy, Been in battle, in the Orkneys, When the feeder of the people Le forcecombats e dhi th o st . Now our trusty Earl we follow, As we carry up our bucklers, Gaily to the gates of Acre, On this joyful Friday morning." A few days later his dirge was sung by Oddi the Little, a Shetlander, son of Glum, e followinth n i g stanza :— " Bravely bor baron'e eth s vassals, Thorbiorn Svarti, scal comraded dan , Atro e sea-king'e sh dth s highway, Round by Thrasness, south to Acre. There I saw them heap the grave-mould hige Oth f h church o'eking'e rth s friend. Earth and stones now lies he under than I t southern lan sunshine.f do " —Orkneyinga Saga, Trans . 147p . . 152 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879.

King Olaf Trygvisso faith.w accept o nI ne beart 1e distinctivo th n st e Christia d charactean e ne determineag ar rformula s it t bu ,d -on other grounds. To tak worde inscriptioe eth th f so ordern i —

(#**** *) fhg nam persoe raise o o th fstonee ndwh th , broken away. (RIS) £ —(ris| ) THI (1), raised. The third person singular, imperfect indicative. . There are two verbs, reisa, to raise, and rista, to carve, used indifferently on these monuments, distinct words, though often confounded. RI'H (B.LSTHI) raised, probabls a y used here RId ,an ' 1s (EIST RId (EISTII s )an 1 ' ) caned, oftee ar n so varied in spelling as to be indistinguishable. pI —STinC?1 ) stone, accusative singula stenn,f o r steinn.r o I M R—IFTIBI , after, preposition governin e accusativegth . This wor s i found d with numerous variation e Swedishth n o s , Danish, and Manx stones—after, aft, auft, eft, aftir, eftir, oftir, presene th n aiftir,i iftird ts a casean . FA P f\ R—FOTHUE, father, accusative singula f FATHIRo r . (Gothic, fadar ; Anglo-Saxon ,Hig d faderOl h ; German , fatar, Modern, voter; Swedis Danishd an h , fader.) Found iii rune-carvings with varying spellings. * | fn —SIN, Ms, possessive pronoun, accusative ; singular, masculine (sinn, sin, sitt). I*ARMIK(I^—THUBBAIK(N), proper name, Thorbairn r Thor-o bjorn, compounde f Thuo d r Thorro r e god d th Bjorn, an , a , bear.

Though these Shetland stones are only four in number, they are undoubtedly an interesting addition to the catalogue of relics of the Northern rune-carvers. Of the four, three have been found within a short distance of each other, in proximity to the site of the ancient churc Cunningsburghf ho therefory inappropriatee ma b t t I eno . thin i s 1 See tlie account in the Saga of Olaf Trygvisson. ON KUNE-INSCKIBED NORSE RELIC SHETLANDN SI 3 15 .

plac introduco et e some accoun churce th parish,—sy d f to h an ma I s a r ofa he able to glean a few particulars relating to the past from the very scanty records that remain,—wit he notica e markScandinavia th th f f eo o s n fatherland, still observabl s place-names it remaine e n th ei th n i f o sd an , Norse language.

E CHUBCTH CUNNINGSBURGHP HO .

The origin of parishes in Shetland, as elsewhere, is involved in obscurity. always i t I s difficul sayio t particulat y nan r case whethe churce rth bees hha n erecte meeo dt requiremente th t districa f so parisr o t h previously formed, or whether the district has been allotted in the course of time, as a parish, to a church previously existing within its bounds. In the present case, circumstancee asth s connected wit erectioe hShetlanth e th f no d parishes extend far back before the date when the islands were pledged to Scotland, facte probable th ar s y beyon e reacth d f investigationo h knoe w wl Al . is tha parise th t f Cunningsburgho h existe a parisBeformae s th a d t ha - tion, and that the church was the recognised church of the district from a very early time. intermente th n I manufactured san d relics which have been brougho t t immediate lighth n i t e neighbourhoo churche th f do , ther evidencs ei f eo an early native population existing on the spot. The church stood close e sea-shorebth y hundre w a distanc fe t a ,a f do e yards east froe mth present Free Church and manse at Maill's Ayre. The fabric has dis- appeared, but the burying-ground is still used, and is enclosed by a good modern stone wall. Inland, the Broch of Aithsetter remains a fortalice of the early occupants, while across the bay to the southward the broch e islanoth n f Mosao d , most celebratee towerPictse th th l f ,al o s f o d stands boldly exposed to view. The Ogham-inscribed relics which have been found point to Celtic influences existing when probably the original church was reared. The Kunic relics found among its ruins, or close by, attest its continuance as a sacred site durin e Norsemenperioe e grounth gth th f s o da dd surroundinan ; g 154 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAK , 1879Y10 .

stils i t i l the burying-plac districte th f eo traditionae ,th l sacredues f thso e sit maintaines ei presene th o dt t day. In 1567, seven years after the legal establishment of the Beformatioii, entire th e district from Quarf o Smnburghheadt f , upward mile2 1 f n si so length, wit e Faihth r Islmile5 2 e s distant s unde e chargwa , th ra f eo Eeader only.1 In the course of a few years even this makeshift came to an end.2 The people ceased to have a local place of worship; the sacred edifice fell into decay,3 and became a victim to desecration. This desecration appear o havt s e become matte f notoriety o rcoura t a t d helan , d at Dunrossness, on 7th July .1603, by Mr John Dishington, depute for Earl Patrick Stewart, the following judgment was pronounced :—

1 " DTINKOSNIS, CANNISBKUGH SANDWId an , FAId Kan R ISLE, being Johne Crab, reidar, xxli.,—died Novembe s rowmehi r 1571n I , John. e Kingsone, minister, xl merkis" [£2, 16s. 8d.] "sen November 1571."—(Register of Ministers, 1567.) Kingso r Kingstono n , continue n chargi d e till 1575, when Malcolm Sinclair, Eeader, was presented to the vicarage by King James VI. Buike th f Assignationiso n I f theo Ministeris Reidarisd an Stipendis, e yeath r fo 1576 followine th , g entry occurs :— "Dunrosnis, Sandwik, Cunisburgh.—Malcolm Sinclair his stipend the haill vicarage of Dunrosnes, quhairunto he is newlie providit, extending to 80 tt., he payand the reidare at thir kirkis. "Croee Kirk, Fair Isle.—Laurence Sinclair, reidar t thia e r Kirkis stipendes hi , , providiw ne e tpaixth e Vicar.xb e 1itb o t . " 2 The order of readers was authoritatively suppressed in 1581:— " Anent Reader s: Forsuamickl Assemblien i s ea s preceiding office th , e thereos wa f concludit to be no ordinar office in the Kirk of God, and the admissione of them sus- pendit to the present Assemblie : the Kirk, in ane voyce, hes votit and concludit farther ,tyme o than n i ts comein Readey gan e admittib r e offic th Eeadef o eo t t e rb any haveing power within the Kirk."—(Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland, p. 219.) yeae founs th rwa n di 1581t I , that (beside province sth Islese Argylf eth o d ) an l 3 there were 924 churches in Scotland. "Of thir, syndrie are pendicles and small parochines mand an , y Kirks demolishe d; som e parochine f greates o als e oar r bounds nor the parochiners may convenientle conveine to their paroche Kirks." It was thought meet, therefore striko t , morf of e e tha na thir f themdo , reducin4 92 e gth churche 600.—o st (Book eUniversalle oth f Kirk of Scotland,; Eowe' 3 21 . s p Histoire, whole . 83.p Th Shetlanf )eo thes dnwa erected intpresbyterye oon , tha f "Tingo t - well." ON HUNE-INSCRIBED NOKSB RELICS IN SHETLAND. 155

" David repentanceLesliemak to misusingfor Kirkthe of Gunnisburghe. " It is tryit that David Leslie hes maist sohamefullie misusit the Kirk of Cunnisbrughe d placeian ,s guidihi t s theirinto, makinw e sameko th ge nan s repentanc hi e quhil byres decernik th i r e ma fo k,h presencn o ei t t e th f eo Ministe haild ran l Congregationn Sondan eo y nix sackclaythn i t farded an , o t r offences forded Kine hi r th pa An gl fo o srt y.. x ordaini haile th s l commonis to upmak their kirk dykes lawful withi moneth e e spacnon th f personek o il , n under the paine of xl B."—(Gourt-Book of Orkney and Shetland, General Register- House.)

congregatioe Th n referre o coult dt havno d e "bee meetine e non th n gi church, whic d beeha hn thus degraded int a oshelte r bestialfo r t bu , must have been that of the church of Dunrossness, at that time Cross e sanKirk th t Quendaleda n o , , more tha a ndoze f mileo n s distant, which was the church of this extensive "ministry" as then reconstituted and as still existing. downware Th d coursbuildine th f eo g from thi absoluto st e ruin cannot have bee nmattea greaf o r t lengt yearw f fe time ho s A late. t appearri s noted in Font's Map,1 published by Blaeu of Amsterdam, as " St Paul's indebtee Kirk;thiar o t e sd w notic d"an t i onle fo f th reo y definite hint s dedicationwit e o havt t this a eBu s . early hint I find, , cannoe b t entirely depended a paperupon n I ,. under Pitcairn e hanM th rf o d , minister of the parish of If orthmavine, without date, but apparently very yeae neath ro t r1600 vicarage th 2 Dunrossnesf eo sais si compriso dt e eth churches of St Matthew, St Magnus, St Colme, and the church of the Fair Isle.3 The three first named are obviously the churches of Dunross- ness, Sandwick Cumiingsburgd an , h respectively whan i t t bu ,orde r stated it is impossible to say, there being no other record known mentioning the saints to whom they were dedicated. In the natural order the church of Timothy Pont's surve understoos yi havo dt e been made as earl 1608s ya , thougt hi 1 remained, unpublished till 1654. r PitcairM ministes nwa r from 157 1612o t 9 . — (Fasti Ecclesiw Scotuance.) 2 The paper from which I quote has never been before referred to. It is an account 3 of all the benefices in Shetland, preserved among the muniments in the Charter- House of the City of Edinburgh. 156 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIKTY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879.

Cuniiingsburgh should be either the first or the last—St Matthew's or St Columba's ; Sandwick being placed topographically between the two. If the latter, the dedication to St Columba would be in entire harmony with the supposition that the church is on the site of an early Celtic foundation. e churchTh ' would appea havo t r e bee beginninn e decai n th t ya f go last century Brands a ,visite o island wh e ,yea e dth th r n si 1700 , passet si by without mention. He expressly states that the churches in the ministry of Dunrossness, " in which their minister performeth divine service," are three, namely, Cross Kirk (Dunrossness), Sandwick Faid an ,r Isle only.1 Sir Robert Sibbald, writing in 1711, merely remarks that "in Cunisburgh there is another Kirk built in the time of Poperie,"2 • With this last reference the church of Cuniiingsburgh passes out of view. fragmeno N fabrie remainw th f no co t s standin gbees ; but ha ns ,a mentioned, the dead of all the ages of both the Pictish and Scandinavian races e clustereli de inscribe arounTh . it dd stones remainin e verar g y few. Onen particulari , a handsom s i , e carved sla f largo b e size,- witin n ha scriptio mucw no nh defaced t seeminbu , o commemoratt g e Annon e a Forrester, of date 1691. Man ye successivrelicth f o s e e historstageth f f o thisyo s venerable edifice must have been destroyed in forming the churchyard wall, and the dwelling-house inhabitantmore e officed th th s an l ef al o s s i t I s clos . eby remarkable that, with such occasio r destructionnfo e preciouth , s ruiie- inscribed relics before described should have been preserved. Besides these and other interesting fragments there is in my possession a small hewn stone, in form resembling an inverted cross with the shaft pointed, havy als ma eoe spot t founbeeth I .n na grave-stoneo d r moro , e pro- babl yfiniaa l e gablechurche terminatinth th f f o so .e e apeon g th f o x Another small stone cross, in the Greek form, from the same place, now in possession of my friend James M. Goudie, Montfield, Lerwick, is appa- rentlsame th f ey o character . Thes perhapy onle ema th ye sdistinctivb e relics of the church fabric remaining.

Brie1A f Descriptio Orkneyf no , Zetland, &o. Rev. John Brand, 1701. 83 . ,p 2 The Description of the Isles of Orkney and Zetland. 1711, p. 44 (Eeprint). ON KUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE KELIC SHETLANDN S7 I 15 .

LOCAL LANDMARK SCANDINAVIASE oTH r N FATHEELAND. name Th f Cunningsburgeo itselhs i f very suggestivcountryd ol e th .f eo The word is plainly in the northern tongue Konungs-borg, burgh, castle, or residenc somf eo e kin r chiefgo whof o , shale mw l prohably never learn anything. The parish, too, still continues to be the greatest stronghold l Shetlaninal representativee th f do anciene th f o s t TJdallers. pree Th -1 vailing family name is Halcrow, with a number of patronymics (such as Jamieson, Johnson, Laurenson, and Williamson), as usual in all Scandi- navian countries. Apart from the Udallers and the Eune-carved relics which have been described, there is strong evidence of the race and language of the fatherland preserved in the local names of the district. Every homestead, every hill, rock, and rivulet tells its own story of a descriptive meaning, although now unintelligible alike to strangers and natives. The earliest list of local names n Shetlani years jus0 di 30 ts old n 157I . enormitiee 6th s committe y Lorb d d Robert Stewart e Stewar,th firsf o t ty b earls d an , Laurence Bruce of Cultemalindie, acting under him, and in his own interest, as Great Fowde of Zetland, extorted a semblance of justice to the oppressed islanders from the Scottish Government. At a court held for several successive days at Tingwall before commissioners under orders from the Regent Morton, the complaints preferred" at the instance of Arthur Sinclair of Ayth, Andrew Hawick of Scatsta, Gawane Gadie of Louga- setter Dunrossnessn i , othed an , r patriotic individuals, were established voice byth f aboue o Udaller 0 t80 othed san r inhabitants, summoned from

destructioe 1Th e Udath f lo nsyste m generall s beeha yn accomplishe- en n a y db forced feudalising at the instance of the Crown Donatories, and by " gripping" of the lands "r o ,stressin Udallers,e termeds gth wa large y t i b , s "a r landowner Scottisf so h origin. The system, besides, contained the elements of destruction in itself in the minute subdivision heritagef so s among heirs, which tended ultimatel reduco yt - ein dividual holdings to mere patches. The result of all this is shown in the Parlia- mentary Retur f Ownero n f Lando s d Heritagesan s , Scotland, 1872-73 n whichi , , though the Udallers (or representatives of Udallers) are surprisingly strong numeri- cally in this parish, most of their holdings (no less than sixteen) are under £5 of annual value, one being entered at 12s. and another at 18s. yearly. 158 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1879Y10 .

all quarters of the country, 'their names and places of residence are given e Minutei nth e Court th f o s , preserve e Generath n i d l Eegister House.1 Among those present fro e parismth f Cunningsburgho h wer e followeth - ing. In a parallel column are placed the modern place names, which show little alteration, and in a separate column the prohable original attempten formsa d an , d explanatio f theino r meaning :—

Probable Original 1876. 1878. Form. Meaning. Olaw [in] Flattabustare. Fladabister. Flat-bu-stadr. Place of flat land. Erasmu f Ocraquoysa . Ockraquoy. Akra-kvi . Enclosure of ara- ble land. Magnu Howkenasettern si . TJkinster. Hogna-settr. Sette f Hogniro . Johannis of Blostoiff. Blosta. Blaut-stadr. Wet place. Olaw of Hellyness, Hellyness. Hellu-nes. Flat Jfess. Magnus [in] Bramer. Braemar, Breid-myrr. Broadmyre. Magnus of Cutha. Keotha. (Kjos. A deep hollow place.) Erei Magnud kan Goirdf so . Gord. Gard. House r farmo , . Olaw in Starkegar. Starkigard. ,Styrkars-gard. Farm of Styrkr. Magnu Town si . Tow. (Danish) Tue. A hillock. Symon Culbinsgarthn ei . Culbinsgarth. Kolbein's-gard. Kolbein's farm. Swaine [in] Eldegar. Ealdigarth. Eldi-gard. Keep-farm.2 Hector of Brind. Brinn. Brunn. A spring. Nichol Clapwallf eo . Claphou r Clapwalo l l Klepp-holr. Lumpy hillock. Browni Scarpagarthf eo . Scarpigarth. Skarpa-gard. Rocky farm. Magnu "Wastanon si . Vestanore. ? ? Magnus of Wattisgarth. Vatsgard. Vatz-gard. "Watery farm. Ola Maillf wo . Maill. Melr. Sandbank.

To these may be added a few other places in the district, mostly minor names, which do not appear in the above list, spelt, as nearly as may bo to their pronunciatio presene th t na t day.

1 Printe Balfour M y Balfouf dMaitlanb e o r th r fo r d Club. 1859. 2 Probably a place for keeping and feeding other people's animals. Hence lambs- eldi, an obligation on every householder to feed a lamb for the priest in winter, literally "lamb's keep."—CLEASBY. ON RUNE-INSCRTfiED NORSE RELIC SHETLANDN SI . 159

Towns (Tuns), i.e., 1Hamlets Farms.or Probable Original Form. Meaning. Clivigard. Klofa-gard. Farm at a cleft in a hill. Voxter. Vag-settr. Place beside a we or creek. Flugalie. Fluga-hlid. Place near a precipice. Swarthoul. Svart-hoL Dark hillock. (Swardale ?). Svardar-dalr. Greensward dale. Valdigard. Valda-gard. Valdi's farm. Aithsetter. Aith-settr. Township of Aith (isthmus). Hills, Tordal. Torf-dalr. Turf-dale. Torrafiold. Torfa-fjall. Turf-hill. Hufield. Ha-fjall. High hill. Staraberg. Stjora-bjevg. 8tirk's(or Steer's) hill. Hammerfeld. Hamar-fjall. Hammer-shaped hill. Tungafeld. Tungu-fjall. Tongue hill. Mnsnafeld. Musna-fjall. Mice hill.

Lochs and Marshes. Engla-mor-vatn. Ongla-mor-vatn, Hook-trout-water. (?) Vatnsgard. Vatns-gard. Watery place. Laxadale. Laxar-dalr. Salmon-water-dale. Gios (Creeks) and Roclts by the Shore. Sili-gio. Sela-gia. Seal creek. Ynxna'gio. Yxnagia. Oxen's creek. Dunnabacka. Dynja-bakki. Ban dinf ko . Fugla-stack. Fugla-stakkr. Wild-fowl stack. t I "woul e easb d y largel o multiplt y y these illustrations, whice ar h taken from a single district, but they are sufficient to indicate with what persistenc Norso yth e languag stampes eha d itself upo soile nth , anw dho reluctan departo t s i t i t, thoug e originath h l descriptive significations ha ceaseunderstood.o b o dt 1 explanatione 1Th f meaninso g give merele ar n e mosth y t obvious that occuo t r d methean ,y may y chang,b f circumstanceso e onle b , y approximately applicable now. They arc all, however, unmistakably Norse, and their component parts are commo place-namen ni Icelann si anciendn i nod wan t times. 160 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879'.

GENERAL PREVALENC NORSE TH P EEO LANGUAGE. It is not to the place-names alone that we have to look for evidence of the general prevalenc e Norsth f eo languag n Shetlani e d formerlyd an , partias it l continuanc o timet e s comparatively recent testimone Th . f yo George Buehana e earliesnth f (1582)o t e writeron , o s knowwh s u o nt e alludesubjectth o t s si ver , y e clearsays:—"ThH . e measures, numbers, and weights (of the Shetlanders) are German; their speech, too, is German, or rather Old Gothic " (by which, of course, we must understand Norse).1 o mern Thi s ei s assertio e historiane a matteth th s i f f o n o t r I . clearest evidence. Many documents in the old language, framed in Shet land durin e Scandinaviatime th g th f eo n sovereignty somr fo ed timan , e after annexatio Scotlando nt , have been preserved printee e ar th d n di an , Diplomatarium Norvegicum, issue y authoritdb Norwayn yi , forminn ga importan tmateriale ite th r norther mn i ou f so n deedo historytw sf O . Norsn i e whic hI foun d som e paperlocae th th eln f i so yearcourt o ag s , one, writte islandse th n n i dates i , lato withi d s 153s ea an lase 6; nth t few days another documen s beeha t n forwarde Societye th o dt , daten di one of the early years of the seventeenth century. This, it is to be observed, is long after the annexation, and while the country was administere tacksmeny db , with attendant lawyers, from Scotlande Th . e advenStewarth f o t t earls prove dl thesal fata o et l trace f locao s l nationality, and the native lands,, as well as language, have been mostly swallowed up by the alien race, and language, which have been dominant since then. At the same time there is no doubt that the Old Norse language died hard. Brand, writin 1701n gi , afte island e previoue visia rth th o t tn s i s year, remarks:— " Englis e commoth s i h n language among them people t manth ye , f yeo speak Norse corrup. or , t Danish, especially e morsuc th s liv a ehn i enorther n 1 Histor Scotlandf yo . Buehanan, 1582. • Mensuris numeric, ac pondere moremd a Germanicum utuntur. Germanicm ctiam, aut penc vetiis Gothicus illiseat sermo . (folio 14). ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE RELICS IN SHETLAND. 161

isles; yea so ordinary is it in some places, that it is the first language their children speak. Several also here speak good Dutch, even servants, though they never e countryhavth f e o bee t , ou nbecaus e manth f yo e Dutch ships which do frequent their ports. And there are some who have something of all these three languages—English, Dutch Norse d Norsee an , Th . hath continued ever sinc Norwegiane eth thesd sha e isle possessionn si t Orknen i no d s i an ,t yi quite extinct, thougn Zetlandi r mort i fa f h o e y therb , whice b e h mano yd commonly use."1

Sir Bobert Sibbald, speaking of the parish of Cunningsburgh (1711), wher Eunie eth c stones were found, states that "Al inhabitante th l f so this parish can speak the Gothick or Norvogian language, and seldom speak other among themselves f theo , yefl mal c spea e Scotkth s tongue more promptly and more properly than generally they do in Scotland.2 Sibbald affirm e samth s e thin s regardga e languagth s nativee tb f eo s generally, whic saye hh s " they call Norn, mucw no h worn out." 3 visitew Eeve parisLo e dr th Th .M f Cunningsburg ho h abou yeae th t r 1770. zealouA 4 s investigato e antiquitieth f o r d naturaan s l historf yo the country, he paid some attention also to the language, and has recorded an inhospitable formula formerly addressed by impatient Cunningsburgh host tardilo t s y departing guests :— "Myrkin i liora ; lurein i liunga ; timin i guestin i geunga ; "' correcn i tha , is t t Northern— " Myrkt i Ijora ; Ijost i lyngi ; timi at gestrinn se genginn ; " in English— " Murk (dark) in the liore (or loover, smoke vent in the roof) ; light

in the ling (heath); time that the guest should be gone.6 3" '

1 A Brief Description of Orkney, Zetland, &c. Eev. John Brand, 1701, p. 69. Descriptioe Th 2 Islee th Orknef f so no Zetlandd yan , 1711 (Reprint)9 4 . ,p . 3 Ibid., p. 16. 4 MS. now in course of publication (dated 1774). 5 Quote Hibberty db . "Descriptio Shetlane th f no d Islands, . 259"p . Munch, "Memoires do la Societe Royale des Artiqnaires dn Nord," 1850-1860, (i p. 127. VOL. XIII, 1 162 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879.

The original is good Norse, though noted only phonetically by Mr: Low, without any knowledge of the language. And this was only a hundred years ago. visitinn I e islanth g f Fouldo a (Fugl-ey, Fow lsame Isleth et )a time , s preserved notedha w Md Lo re Lord' an , th , s Praye"e North n ri n f "o the islands, as then remembered :—

" Fy vor o er i Chimeri. Helagt vara nam det. La Konmmgdum din cumma vilvera n L ldi a . guerd ei vrilde n sindac Chimeriri v Ga . vus dag hdaglaghu t brau. Forgive sinder was wn iasi forgivm age gem ao sinda gainst •won. Lia wus ike o vera tempa, but delivra wu adlo r Konnungdmsi fr uo idlud r fo , purnu gloriu i . Amen."

t I migh interestino b t quoto t g parallee th e l passage th thio t en i s Scandinavian tongues, to all of which the resemblance is very close ; but there is sufficient evidence in itself of its genuine character as the prevail- ing " Norn Norsr "o forme a f eo r periodistricte th n di . Written phonetically s slighit , t divergences froe othemth r northern form e morar s e apparent tha wore nth drealn i "braus a ; " (bread liraudr fo ) (Icelandic), "dagh" (day) for dag (Icelandic and Danish). Here, and in "adlu idlu" for allu illu (all ill), the spelling seems more nearly to approximate the pronunciatio thf no e word Icelann i s d tha e correcnth t written form. do s Other words are obvious, such as "Fy," a softening down of fadir (father); "s fo"vu r oss (us) demr "fo ; m "(them)ge ;ogr " " fo u (and) fea ; w other importatione sar s froScotce mth h (" delivra," " gainst," " tempa " for temptation, "puri r powerfo " , " glpri," &c.). "Chimeri," user fo d heaven, seems at first sight a distorted form (« liimnum, Icelandic ; i Mm- lene, Danish) , howeveris t I e wor. th , d Himi-riM (heaven kingdom), Swedisd whicol n uses ha i hn di versioe Lord'th f o ns Prayer, probably of the thirteenth century.1 alsw oLo collectedr M same th en i islan, Foulaf do , thirty-five stanzaf o s a Nors d manol e n poem, a Willia y b , recitemm hi Henry o dt , Guttorm (Guttern?) supposede than b i , y t islandwretchedls i ma t s i , A . y indited,

1 Published by J. H. Schroder. Upsala, 1829. ON RUNE-INSCRIBED NORSE RELICS IN SHETLAND. 163

owine illiteracth o gt f tho y er Low' reciterM n ignoranc d ow s an , f o e languagee th t hasI . , however, been revise a norther y b d n scholare th , late Professor Munc intros Christiania;f stanzae ho it b f y o - e sma on d 1an duced here by way of illustration :—

Da vara Jarlin d'Orkneyar, r frind Fo spin roe si ad r , Whirdi an skilde menn Our glas buryon burtaga.

Icelandid thn I eOl c this woul :e —db

Tha Jarlinr va t Orkneyunif na , Fra franda sinu^u spurdi rad, Hvert ban skuldi mb'yna Or gler-(glas)-borginni burttaka.

An modern di n Danish :—

r Jarleva t Orknoerf na De , Af sin Froande spurgt om Baad, Om han skill de Moen Af Glasborgen borttage.

Thirathea s si r favourable specimen. Manothee th f ryo verse more sar e difficult to render. The wonder is, in the circumstances, that the obscu- t morritieno ee sar insurmountabl e than they are Englisn I . linee hth s ma givee yb :s —na

It was the Earl of the Orkneys friends Ohi f s asked (spierecl) advice, Whether he should a maiden From a glass castle forth take.

The poem has been recognised by Munch as akin to the Old Scandinavian

1 Geograplliske og Historiske Notitser om Orknoerne og Hetknd ; in Samlinger til det Norske Folks Sprog og Historic. Cliristiania, 1838. 164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY-10, 1879.

Koc.mpcviser (knightly songs), and based upon the Sorlathattr, one of scenee th Orkney.n i f whic so y islane laith s Ho hi f n 1ddi o I think it is conclusively shown by the foregoing illustrations to what comparatively recent times the Norse language lingered in the Shetland Islands. Traditional fragmentstile ar l t i occasionall f o s e heardb o yt ; indeed it is only those who are acquainted with the life and manners of the people that can comprehend how much of it is" still mixed up with their ordinary colloquial dialect; and how almost exclusively it embraces e articleth f domestiso e cterm th d phraseologuse an d s ,an f nativyo e industry and common life.2 Constantly increasing intercourse with Scotland, Scottish settlers, and Scottish ministers e Englisth , h Bible d schoolsan , , hav l combineal e d towards obliterating the distinctive traces cff the old Udallers and rune- carvers. Hence the great and increasing interest of every early relic that ma able yb o thro t e w light upon those form f e liflaso sth e t tracef so which are so fast passing away.

1 The ballad goes on to relate the story of Hildina, daughter of a king of Norway, married to an earl of Orkney, who was afterwards slain by a former lover. The murdere victie lone th blood er a r s g f i m o y reveng hande th t Hildinaf ea so . remaine Th t 2stili f slo known have been preserve e "Etymologicath n i d l Glossary of tlie Shetland and Orkney Dialect" (T. Edmonston, Edinburgh, 1866), of which a copy, greatly amplified, in manuscript, by the late Principal Barclay, is in the Librar Societye th "Shetlane f yTh o . d Fireside TalesHermie th r o ,f Trosswick o t - ness, "wora k recently publishe r GeorgM y db e Stewart alss i , valuabloa e recorf o d languagd life th an e f theo e people.