Irish Druids and old Irish religions / by James Bonwick.

  • James Bonwick
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Irish Druids and old Irish religions / by James Bonwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in this Abbey, since the most ancient document in which it was thus described appears to have been a tablet that was formerly suspended above the chair, but which has long ago partaken of the same fate as all the other written memorials that were in this chapel.” As to the nature of that one in our Abbey, Neale, in his IVestminster Abbey, describes it as “chiefly quartz, with light and red-coloured felspar, light and dark mica, with probably some green hornblende, intermixed ; some frag- ments of a reddish-grey clay slate or schist are likewise included in its composition ; and, on the upper side, there is also a dark, brownish, red-coloured, flint pebble.” Dean Stanley thought the stone certainly from Scotland. Scone is of Old Red Sandstone formation. The Dean had a piece of it tested in Percy’s laboratory, when it was found to be slightly calcareous. Examined under the microscope, grains of quartz and small scales of mica were detected. Prof. Ramsay, 1865, had the like opinion of its geology. Keepe’s Monument a Westinonasteriensia, in i68r, tells us—“ Here is likewise on the west side the Feretory (shrine) of St. Edward, hard by the screan that separates the High Altar from the Chappel, the chair or seat whereon our Kings are accustomed to be inaugurated and crowned. It appears extreamly antient both in its fashion and materials, being made of solid, hard, firm wood, with a back and sides of the same, under whose seat, supported by four lions curiously carved, instead of feet, lies that so much famed Stone, whereon the patriarch Jacob is said to have reposed. —The mines of this chair itself shows that heretofore it hath been fairly painted, and gilt with gold.” The cost of the labours of carpenters, painters, and gilders upon the same, nearly seven hundred years ago, was £\ igs. jd. The chair itself is 6 ft. 9 in. by 3 ft. 2 in. The seat is 2 ft. 3 in. from the ground. There appears a groove in