upper portions were fresh, compact, and entire. In them the silver was nearly the same as our present standard.
"These are nearly all the facts which have as yet been obtained from trust- worthy sources respecting the Norrie's Law Armour."—Mr. Buist, in the Preface to his Report, adds the following statement:—"For the information in regard to the lost portion of the Norrie's Law Armour, I have been indebted to Mr. R. Robertson, jeweller, Cupar, or to individuals to whom I have been by him referred. Mr. Robertson first made a purchase of 5l. worth, subsequently two of 10l., and knew of another made by some one about Edinburgh to the amount of about 20l.; and is under the belief that perhaps as much as that may have been carried away and bestowed on various uses. This, by rough computation, may, together with what remains, be reckoned not much under four hundred ounces of pure bullion. Mr. Robertson has, as may readily be supposed, a peculiarly distinct recollection of the forms of the various portions of the armour procured by him, and gives a most vivid description, in particular, of the rich carving of the shield, the helmet, and the sword handle, which were brought to him crushed in pieces to permit convenient transport and concealment."[1]
The Report, to which we are indebted for the foregoing information, is illustrated by lithographic drawings which represent the supposed armlets, bodkin, oval plates, and the spiral ring: with these is also given a sketch of the shield and sword-hilt, drawn, as it is believed, from Mr. Robertson's description. On the former, of which the dimensions are given, 16 in. by 10 in., appears a figure of a mounted warrior, his right hand resting on his sword, the point of which is supported by his foot. The shield has the upper edge shaped with two curves, meeting in a central apex, resembling the debased form of scutcheon prevalent only in the last century. The sword-hilt appears equally conjectural; both appear to be drawn conformably to the notion which a vague description of a shield and a sword would suggest, and deserve notice only in default of all other evidence. The other lithographs represent twelve of the curious sculptured crosses in North Britain, on which the mystic symbols appear, and a cross at Largo, of the same period, exhibiting various animals, mounted hunters, and interlaced ornaments. It was found many years since, broken into several fragments; and having been reunited, was securely placed by General Durham in the grounds at Largo.
In the magnificent volume recently published by Mr. Patrick Chalmers, accurate representations of the principal objects found in Norrie's Law have been given, of the original size.
- ↑ "Report by Mr. George Buist on the silver fragments in the possession of General Durham, at Largo, commonly called the Silver Armour of Norrie's Law. To the Fifeshire Literary and Antiquarian Society." Dated, Cupar Museum, Nov. 1, 1839.). Printed in the Fifeshire Journal Office, 1839, pp. 4, 4to, with three lithographic plates, representing the principal silver relics, various cross-stones in Scotland on which the mystical Z-symbol is sculptured, and two views of the cross at Largo.
