The Myth of Galfridius de Mervin
No one knows for sure who commissioned or built the Stalbridge Market Cross, but a legend from the past unearthed itself in the pages of an old publication known as Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries. People could write in to the publishers asking for information or help on a particular topic of investigation. Sadly it seems that the replies might have been simply posted to the person, rather than published in subsequent editions since no one seems to be able to find any response to the query from the gentleman featured below.
A modern translation of the above appears in an extract from the Stalbridge Parochial Magazine of 1891.
Regarding the latin inscription...the answer appears to be as follows:
"Galfridius de Meovin of St. John wishes that the Mediterranean colony of Rhodes may never perish while the letters remain".
So far it has not been possible to interpret the last three letters P.L.M.
Regarding the latin inscription...the answer appears to be as follows:
"Galfridius de Meovin of St. John wishes that the Mediterranean colony of Rhodes may never perish while the letters remain".
So far it has not been possible to interpret the last three letters P.L.M.
Extracts from the Ring Magazine of Stalbridge (1968-2008)
Extract from St. Mary's Church, Stalbridge, Parochial Magazine of May 1891
"It is always interesting to learn what our forefathers thought as to any object which is familiar to us, and in this connection I have thought that readers of our magazine would like to know what was believed about our Market Cross early in the 16th century and no doubt earlier still. I am indebted for the information to a brother clergyman who has sent me a copy of the "Salisbury Journal", itself venerable from age, being dated Feb. 29th 1768. From this it appears that there had been some inquiry as to the cross and a Mr. Charles Willis, heir to the renowned Dorset Antiquiary Dr. Browne Willis, who died in 1760, from his uncle's writings quotes an extract from a book, now probably lost, of the date 1534 entitled 'Durotngiarea" ('Dorsetshire notes"). In this book the following account of the origin of the cross is given which is, as I have said, interesting, though we shall believe just as much as we think good,
"Galfridius de Meovin", Knighte of Malta, was sorely rent and torn with dolorous wounds in the victorious attack which this right valiant champion likewise his Brethren made upon the Bloodie Saracens in the year 1309. Albeit when his friends had banished from their breasts all hope of his recovery, Saint John, the tutelarie Saint of the Order, ap¬peared unto him at his bedside and with a plugale of most Miraculous Unction, did forthwith anoynte and cure his blessures (wounds). To make a mete return thereunto, he was ordered to erect a pillar, which was to be removed into the several countries where he might in future times set his mind to live and also to remain there during his stay, The Saint likewise delivered a behest that an Inscription be devised and graven on the said Pillar. He then prophecyede that the Knights of Malta should possess Rhodes without interruption untill the time should come when the said inscription should be suddenly obliterated. With these words the Holy Man vanished. Galfredius de Meovin, succeeding to rich demesnes (domains) in England, passed over into that kingdom and tooke the Pillar with him. His sister Elfrida was there given in marriage to one of the Right Noble and Ancient Familie of Audley, Lordes of the Manour of Stalle¬brigge. In this Towne Galfridius erected the said Pillar, It was the work of the famous artist Pietro di Colonna, the Discyple of Pazzino. The Emblems and Rare Devices portrayed upon the Pillar are Saint John, 2,
a lion treadynge upon a crescent, wrythes of Laurell, a chevalierisse or female Hospitaler, ande the A.rmoiyalle Standard of Malta, to wit
a White Cross in a field Argent. In the beginning of the year 1522 and in the Reigne of Henry the Eighth the Inscription became suddenly ef¬faced, and incontinently, news was brought that through the treachery of the Chancellor of the Order, Rhodes was taken by Soloman the Magnificent."
The Inscription:
MCCCIX GAL: D. MER: SAN: 10H: VUL: MED: COL: RHOD PERIT: NUNQ: MAN: LITT:
P: L: M:
Mr. Willis asked for assistance in reading this inscription." Note: Incumbent of Stalbridge in 1891 was Revd. Perowne.
STALBRIDGE CROSS (Ring Magazine Archive - 1968 - 2008)
Mrs Anne Moore has sent us this interesting snippet -
"Galfridius de Mervin, Knight of Malta, was sorely rent and torn with dolorous wounds, in the victorious attack which this right valiant champion and likewise his brethren made upon the bloodie saracens in the year 1309.
Albeit when his friends had banished from their breasts all hope of recovery, Saint John, the tuterlarie saint of the order, appeared unto him at his bedside with a plugale of most miraculous unction, did forthwith anoynte and cure his blessures. To make a meete return thereunto, he was ordered to erect a pillar, which was to be removed into the several countries where he might in future times set his mind to live and also to remain there during his stay. The saint likewise delivered a behest that an inscription be devised and graven on the said pillar. He then pro¬phecied that the knights of Malta should possess Rhodes without interruption untill the time should come when the said inscription should be suddenly obliterated. With these words the holy man vanished. Galfridius de Mervin, succeeding to rich de¬mesnes in England, passed over unto that kingdom and took the pillar with him. His sister Elfrida was there given in marriage to one of the right noble and ancient familie of Audley, Lordes of the Manor of Stallebrigge. In this town Galfredius erected the said pillar. It was the work of the famous artist Pietro di Colonna, the disciple of Pazzino. The emblems and rare devices portrayed upon the pillar are Saint John, a lyon treading upon a crescent, wrythes of laurell, a chevalieresse or female hospitaler and the armoryalle standard of Malta, to wit, a white cross in a field argent. In the beginning of the year 1522, in the reign of Henry VIII the in¬scription became suddenly effaced, and incontinently, news was brought that through the treachery of the chancellor of the order, Rhodes was taken by Soloman the magnificent.
(MCCCIX Gal: D:MER: SANIOH VUL MID COL RHOD PERIT NUNQ MAN LITT. PLM)
From Salisbury Journal 29th February 1768, extracted from a book written in 1534, entitled Dorset Notes.
N.B.
Templecombe Manor became the property of the Order of St John after suppression of Knights Templar in 1312 - 15.
St John would have appeared on the Pillar as the Patron Saint of the Order, St John the Baptist. "A Lion treadynge upon a crescent would have symbolized the Order (lion) crushing the Infidel (crescent). The description of the banner should be a White Cross in a field Gules, that is, a white cross on red, which is the Arms of the Order, and not in a field Argent.
How the abbreviated inscription should be rendered in English:
1309
Galfridius de Meovin of St. John wishes that the Mediterranean colony of Rhodes may never perish while the letters remain.
So far it has not been possible to interpret the last three letters P.L.M.
"It is always interesting to learn what our forefathers thought as to any object which is familiar to us, and in this connection I have thought that readers of our magazine would like to know what was believed about our Market Cross early in the 16th century and no doubt earlier still. I am indebted for the information to a brother clergyman who has sent me a copy of the "Salisbury Journal", itself venerable from age, being dated Feb. 29th 1768. From this it appears that there had been some inquiry as to the cross and a Mr. Charles Willis, heir to the renowned Dorset Antiquiary Dr. Browne Willis, who died in 1760, from his uncle's writings quotes an extract from a book, now probably lost, of the date 1534 entitled 'Durotngiarea" ('Dorsetshire notes"). In this book the following account of the origin of the cross is given which is, as I have said, interesting, though we shall believe just as much as we think good,
"Galfridius de Meovin", Knighte of Malta, was sorely rent and torn with dolorous wounds in the victorious attack which this right valiant champion likewise his Brethren made upon the Bloodie Saracens in the year 1309. Albeit when his friends had banished from their breasts all hope of his recovery, Saint John, the tutelarie Saint of the Order, ap¬peared unto him at his bedside and with a plugale of most Miraculous Unction, did forthwith anoynte and cure his blessures (wounds). To make a mete return thereunto, he was ordered to erect a pillar, which was to be removed into the several countries where he might in future times set his mind to live and also to remain there during his stay, The Saint likewise delivered a behest that an Inscription be devised and graven on the said Pillar. He then prophecyede that the Knights of Malta should possess Rhodes without interruption untill the time should come when the said inscription should be suddenly obliterated. With these words the Holy Man vanished. Galfredius de Meovin, succeeding to rich demesnes (domains) in England, passed over into that kingdom and tooke the Pillar with him. His sister Elfrida was there given in marriage to one of the Right Noble and Ancient Familie of Audley, Lordes of the Manour of Stalle¬brigge. In this Towne Galfridius erected the said Pillar, It was the work of the famous artist Pietro di Colonna, the Discyple of Pazzino. The Emblems and Rare Devices portrayed upon the Pillar are Saint John, 2,
a lion treadynge upon a crescent, wrythes of Laurell, a chevalierisse or female Hospitaler, ande the A.rmoiyalle Standard of Malta, to wit
a White Cross in a field Argent. In the beginning of the year 1522 and in the Reigne of Henry the Eighth the Inscription became suddenly ef¬faced, and incontinently, news was brought that through the treachery of the Chancellor of the Order, Rhodes was taken by Soloman the Magnificent."
The Inscription:
MCCCIX GAL: D. MER: SAN: 10H: VUL: MED: COL: RHOD PERIT: NUNQ: MAN: LITT:
P: L: M:
Mr. Willis asked for assistance in reading this inscription." Note: Incumbent of Stalbridge in 1891 was Revd. Perowne.
STALBRIDGE CROSS (Ring Magazine Archive - 1968 - 2008)
Mrs Anne Moore has sent us this interesting snippet -
"Galfridius de Mervin, Knight of Malta, was sorely rent and torn with dolorous wounds, in the victorious attack which this right valiant champion and likewise his brethren made upon the bloodie saracens in the year 1309.
Albeit when his friends had banished from their breasts all hope of recovery, Saint John, the tuterlarie saint of the order, appeared unto him at his bedside with a plugale of most miraculous unction, did forthwith anoynte and cure his blessures. To make a meete return thereunto, he was ordered to erect a pillar, which was to be removed into the several countries where he might in future times set his mind to live and also to remain there during his stay. The saint likewise delivered a behest that an inscription be devised and graven on the said pillar. He then pro¬phecied that the knights of Malta should possess Rhodes without interruption untill the time should come when the said inscription should be suddenly obliterated. With these words the holy man vanished. Galfridius de Mervin, succeeding to rich de¬mesnes in England, passed over unto that kingdom and took the pillar with him. His sister Elfrida was there given in marriage to one of the right noble and ancient familie of Audley, Lordes of the Manor of Stallebrigge. In this town Galfredius erected the said pillar. It was the work of the famous artist Pietro di Colonna, the disciple of Pazzino. The emblems and rare devices portrayed upon the pillar are Saint John, a lyon treading upon a crescent, wrythes of laurell, a chevalieresse or female hospitaler and the armoryalle standard of Malta, to wit, a white cross in a field argent. In the beginning of the year 1522, in the reign of Henry VIII the in¬scription became suddenly effaced, and incontinently, news was brought that through the treachery of the chancellor of the order, Rhodes was taken by Soloman the magnificent.
(MCCCIX Gal: D:MER: SANIOH VUL MID COL RHOD PERIT NUNQ MAN LITT. PLM)
From Salisbury Journal 29th February 1768, extracted from a book written in 1534, entitled Dorset Notes.
N.B.
Templecombe Manor became the property of the Order of St John after suppression of Knights Templar in 1312 - 15.
St John would have appeared on the Pillar as the Patron Saint of the Order, St John the Baptist. "A Lion treadynge upon a crescent would have symbolized the Order (lion) crushing the Infidel (crescent). The description of the banner should be a White Cross in a field Gules, that is, a white cross on red, which is the Arms of the Order, and not in a field Argent.
How the abbreviated inscription should be rendered in English:
1309
Galfridius de Meovin of St. John wishes that the Mediterranean colony of Rhodes may never perish while the letters remain.
So far it has not been possible to interpret the last three letters P.L.M.
Stalbridge Market Cross as a 'coloured in' postcard
