caithness-1911/05_169

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. -- [Page] 91

PARISH OF REAY.

the right of the entrance is another panel bearing at the top the
initials DMM and MM; in the centre, a shield charged with an
eagle's head erased, dividing the date 1691 and the motto TIME DEUM.
On the lower part is an inscription narrating that the fourth part of
this "ile" belongs to Mr David Munro and Margaret Munro.
340. Sculptured Stone, Reay. - Set into the W. wall of the remains
of the old church, towards its N. end, is a rectangular slab of grey
sandstone (pl. XXXI.) 6' 4" in length, 2' 3 1/2" in width at the top, 1' 11" in
width at the bottom, and 3 1/2" thick. It is sculptured in relief on one
face thus:- In the centre of the slab a cross with square ends to
the arms, round hollows in the angles, and a ring connecting them
together: a short shaft and a rectangular base the whole width of
the stone. The ornament on the cross is arranged in five different
divisions, the central boss being a separate panel surrounded by a
border, and the other divisions being marked by a change in the
pattern. The ornament on the left and right arms and on the base
is a key pattern, on the shaft circular knot work; on the top arm
the pattern is defaced by a modern inscription - ROBERT McKAY 17 .
The stone, till recently , stood in the old burial-ground over an
eighteenth-century grave.
See Early Christ. Mon., pt. iii. p. 36 (illus.).

Sepulchral Monuments.

Lying in the churchyard of Reay are a number of old tombstones
bearing heraldic and other devices of interest.
341. At the W. end of the graveyard is a slab (pl. XXXII.)
measuring superficially 3' 10" x 1' 11". At the head of the stone
are two heraldic shields beneath the initials IMI and EI respectively,
carved in relief. The shields bear arms. Dexter, three stars with
a crescent at fess point for Innes; Sinister, a saltire and chief - the
latter charged with three cushions for Johnstone.
Beneath the shields runs the following Latin inscription in
incised lettering, viz:-

VOX DIXIT PRAEDICA
DIXIT QUE QUID
PRAE DICATURUS
SUM OMNEM CARN
EM ESSE GRAMEN
PULVIS ET UMBRA
SUMUS PULVIS NI
HIL EST NISI FUMUS
SED NIHIL EST FUM-
US NOS NIHIL ERGO
SUMUS QUEM NON
FALCE METIT FERA
MORS QUIS MO....
SEPULCHRI OBRUT
US INFERNO VICT . .
. . AB ORBE REDIT.