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Runes, Bewcastle
Cross
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Dr. Charlton then read a paper "On the Runic Inscription on
the Cross at Bewcastle." This cross stands on the line of
the celebrated Roman road, the Maiden Way, in the wastes of
Cumberland, near the Borders, and is about 14 1/2 feet high,
and 21 inches square at the base, tapering upwards to about
15 inches square at the top. At the summit is a socket in
which a cross was doubtless placed. The pillar bears on its
four faces various figures and ornaments (as may be seen
engraved in Lyson's Cumberland), and also inscriptions in
Runes. The first notice of this relic of antiquity appears
in Camden, two centuries and a half ago; and various
attempts have since been made, from time to time, to
decipher the inscription - one of the latest being that of
the zealous incumbent of Bewcastle, Mr. Maughan. Having,
with great care, cleansed the stone of its lichens and moss,
Mr. Maughan took careful casts of the characters, and
communicated copies to several archaeologists; amogst
others, to the Rev. Daniel Haigh, of Erdington, near
Birmingham. On the north side of the cross is inscribed,
very plainly, "Kyniburuk," or Cyneburg, the name of a queen
of Northumbria, being the wife of Alchfrid son of Oswiu king
of Northumberland. On the western face, the inscription, as
deciphered, is - THIS SIGBECUN SETTAE HWAETRED, WITGAER,
FELWOLD, & ROETBERT, UMAE KYNING ALCFRITHAE GEBIDAED
HISSUM SAULA - intimating that the four persons first named
had set up this cross to king Alcfrith, and requested
prayers for his soul. Roetbert is commemorated in the
Falstone inscription [Northumberland] as dead. Here he is
named, with three other "thegns," as raising a stone to the
memory of the good king Alcfrith, eldest son of Oswy, who
succeeded St. Oswald, as king of Northumbria, in 643.
Alcfrith, or Alchfrid, married Cyneburg, daughter of Penda,
the pagan king of Mercia. Oswy and Alcfrid were zealous
Christians; and to the influence of the latter was owing the
conversion of Peada, son of Penda, and eventually that of
the Mercians or Middle Angles. ... Not to follow Dr.
Charlton into the controversies of Oswy and Alcfrid ... we
return to the Runes. Mr. Haigh's interpretation of the
inscription on the western face - (which, however, he gives
subject to correction, his opinion being that the characters
may not, all of them, have been accurately deciphered) - is
remarkably confirmed by the occurence of Cyneburga on the
cross, as read by Mr. Smith and others some years ago. On
the south face is a Runic inscription, interpreted by Mr.
Haigh - OSWU KYNING ELT - or Oswy the king. "Elt" may
possibly refer to his being the elder (or head) of the
family. This inscription confirms the supposition that the
cross was reared in the lifetime of Oswy. No prayers being
asked for the souls of Oswy and Cyneburga, as for the soul
of Alcfrid, it may be inferred they are still living. If so,
the memorial must have been erected between 644, when we
last hear of Alchfrid, and 670, when Oswy died; and we have
then a good date for fixing the age of the Falstone
inscription, and of the many similar crosses which have
escaped the ravages of time and man in the remote districts
of Cumberland. In a note to his paper, Dr. Charlton refers
to a new version of the Bewcastle inscription, published by
Mr. Maughan in December, viz. - This sigbeacthon saetta
Hwaetred, Withgar, Allewolthu, aft Alcfrithu, ean Kunig eak
Oswiuing. Igebid heo sinna sawhual, i.e. "Hwaetred,
Withgar, and Alfwold, erected this little beacon in memory
of Alcfrid, at one time king with, and son of, Oswy. Pray
for them, their sins and their soulds." The Doctor thinks
the version of Mr. Haigh the more probable of the two, and
nearer the truth.
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