gb0551ms-33-67

Transcription

[Page] 67
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to think that the deposit had been made during
the latest period of occupancy of the site. It
is significant that my plan shows no stones on
the surface of G/0 at that spot. The excitement
of the three workers, Pringle, Young, & “Johnny”,
who have been our staff since we started on the
Law was immense, but they had kept their heads,
and shown great judgment & good sense.
Johnny had been despatched to East Linton
to telephone to me on Monday night, but so
cryptic was his message, least he should give
the show away, that it was not properly under:
:stood. Pringle had got boxes ready, & as far as
possible my requirements were anticipated.
As it was impossible to carry the loot to E. [East] Linton,
I sent Johnny in to order the car, & Pringle &
Young helped me to carry down the three boxes,
my bag etc., to the roadside, there to await my
car. Meanwhile in consultation with Pringle,
I decided to motor direct to Edinburgh, in
order to avoid the scrutiny at the railway station,
& the risk involved in travelling, with the spoil in:
:sufficiently packed. Unfortunately the local
car was engaged to meet a 6. o’clock train &
take someone to Biel, so for 1¾ hours I
guarded my boxes by the roadside. The

only people who passed were a minister and wife in
a dog cart, they stared inquisitively, while I glowered
arrogantly, till they averted their glances. I got back
with my treasure by 8. o’clock, & reported to Macdon:
:ald, who was greatly thrilled, & arranged with
him to come over after dinner for an inspection.
Our meal over we got out card tables & unpacked
the boxes. It was a wonderful collection & as we
cleared the earth away we discovered more & more
objects of supreme interest. Two parts of a goblet
decorated in repoussée with the ‘Fall of Man’ &
‘The Adoration of the Magi’; here and there a piece
with a Chi Rho Monogram; another bearing
the word AVE: in fact sufficient evidence to
show that the hoard belonged to Christian times
& was probably ecclesiastical. The Art especially
where human figures were concerned was so good
that a native origin seemed impossible, and so
truly classical were these figures in style that they
could only belong to an early period. In some
aspect a Celtic element in the ornament seemed
apparent - but the general character was too
early for the vessels to belong to native celtic
Christians. Loot it must have been. Who then
was it looted from and by whom? This morning
I was strongly of opinion that it was from
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