Muiredach, abbot of Monasterboice, 890-923 AD.; his life and surroundings . VII, Fig. 28) 50. do. (identical with 48) 51. do. (identical with 49) 52. do. (Plate VII) 53. Key-pattern (Fig. 18) 54. Interlacement (Plate VII) 55. do. (Plate VII) 56. do. (Plate VII) 57. do. (Plate VII) 58. do. (Plate VII, Fig. 20) 59. Interlaced snakes with heads in the coils (Fig. 20) 60. Interlacement (Plate VII, Fig. 20) 61. Key-pattern (Figs. 18, 30) 62. Similar to 59 (Fig. 30) 63. Key-pattern (Figs. 18, 30) 38 MUIREDACH In some of our ancient tales there are descriptions of the attire of theprincipal persons,
Muiredach, abbot of Monasterboice, 890-923 AD.; his life and surroundings . VII, Fig. 28) 50. do. (identical with 48) 51. do. (identical with 49) 52. do. (Plate VII) 53. Key-pattern (Fig. 18) 54. Interlacement (Plate VII) 55. do. (Plate VII) 56. do. (Plate VII) 57. do. (Plate VII) 58. do. (Plate VII, Fig. 20) 59. Interlaced snakes with heads in the coils (Fig. 20) 60. Interlacement (Plate VII, Fig. 20) 61. Key-pattern (Figs. 18, 30) 62. Similar to 59 (Fig. 30) 63. Key-pattern (Figs. 18, 30) 38 MUIREDACH In some of our ancient tales there are descriptions of the attire of theprincipal persons, which it is very instructive to compare with the sculp-tured figures. Here, for instance, is one from the old story called theWooing of Ferb, in the Book of Leinster. There were fifty white-facedslender youths in those fifty chariots ; and there was not one of thembut was the son of a king and a queen and a hero and a warrior of Con-nacht. Fifty purple robes were on them, with hems garnished with goldand silver. A brooch of red-gold, refined in the fire, in every robe. A. Fig. 8.—Panels from the broken Cross at Kells. lyFrom a Fiioti i-y Mr. H. S. Crawford.) filmy silken smock, with loop-fastenings of yellow refined gold girt abouttheir white skin ; fifty battle-shields of silver —and so on. This and thelike passages indicate that, when you take away the golden brooches andchains and other ornaments which the storytellers hang so liberally abouttheir heroes, there were two main garments in evidence on the personsof importance—a close-fitting smock, called leine, and an outer mantlecalled brat thrown over it. Consider for a moment the interesting panel on a broken cross in thegraveyard at Kells (the lower panel in fig. 8). This represents the baptismof Christ in the Jordan. The Baptist is pouring water over the head ofChrist, who stands in the river. The representation of the river is interest- IRELAND 39 ing, as it illustrates the mediaeval idea that the River Jordan owed
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