132

THE MAIDEX WAY, immodiatelv umlcr the fi2:iire of our Saviour, show that the monuiiK'iit is of a Christian cliaractcr ; tlie hist letter being evidently the Runic S, ami not an inverted Z. as supposed by Mr. Smith. The third hue begins ^vith the letters PATR : but it appears uncertain Avhether thev are intended for pater. I wn3 iii^M4r r or part of some such W(.)rd as iiafrin, Patrick, &c. ; or whether the first letter is not W, in whicli ease tlie word will probabh- be W^AKTUO, the ])lural oi" waetcr. In the sixth line we fnid the word SUEXU, which, taken in connection with the word Danegelt, on the south side, may indicate the period, as well as the object, of the erection of the momi- ment. In the reign of Ethelred the Uni-eady, a terrible deed was done in England. With a view of providing against the treachery <-(" tlmse numerous ])anish families (especially such as had been j)ermitte(l by Allred the Great to settle in Northumberland and East Anglia), who upon any threatened invasioi, nm'ic re;i(l' to join tlicir country- men against those among uliom they were .-illowed lo i-eside, JOthelred, with a policy ini-idciit to we.-ik luiiiecs, adoj>ted the resolution of jniiling them (o the swoi'd (hiougiiout his dominions. On tlie i;Uii of Nov. Kxi'J. in pursuance of secret instructions sent l»y the king o(r the country, the in- habit.'inls <»(" every town and city I'ose, nnd nnuili red ;ill the l)anes, who were tli«ir iieighbonrs, young and old, men, women, and cliiMrcn. h^vei'y J)ane was killed, even to