Roskitil's Cross Slab (Manx Cross 138) can be found in Old Kirk Braddan (Church of St. Brendan) at Braddan Bridge in Braddan. It is one of a collection of craved stones which are displayed inside the church.
The runes on No.138 run up the shaft of the cross on one side of the fragment and are completed above the left arm of the cross (see notes below).
‘The main sequence of runes is 37.5cm long, measured to the separator after c.20; the overrun (see notes below) measured branch to branch.’
The translation of the inscription reads:
‘And/But Hrossketill betrayed the trust of a man to whom he was bound by oath’‘The graphs are cut between framing lines, all except rr.1-6 where the design of the cross prevents this. In the main runes touch both top and bottom frames, although r.13 t, ends some way short of the top line, again to fit in with decoration. Rune height varies between 64mm (r.31 i) and 93mm (r.2 r). The graphs are firmly and clearly carved, apparently in a back-and-forth movement, judging by the odd overcut at both top and base.’
Source: The Runic Inscriptions of the Isle of Man by Michael P. Barnes (ISBN: 978-0-903521-97-0)
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No.138 is a fragment of grey mudstone whose dimensions are as follows: c.44cm (height) x 39cm (maximum width) x 6-8 cm. The top of the slab has been broken away and the original dimensions of the cross are not known.
Note 1 - as currently displayed inside the church the fragment is at right-angles to what was intended orientation. So, the height given above is measured horizontally and the width vertically. Note 2- ‘Manx runic inscriptions are not normally set horizontally; nor rune-stone texts in general.’‘The original slab had a sculptured cross on each face, decorated with different designs of interlace. On both sides part of the cross head remains; rather more on the runic side, which also preservers the very top of the shaft – enough to show that the text ran up the face along the shaft’s centre line. The message overran, however, and had to be completed in the space above the left arm of the cross.’
‘A fragment of a cross having a design of two diagonal rings, interlaced, decorated with notches and flourishes and pellets. There is an inscription which runs up the shaft of the cross and is finished in the space to the left. The inscription reads. “But Hross-Ketill betrayed in a truce his own oath fellow…”
The importance of truce making is seen in the forms and ceremonies under the old Icelandic Constitution, the breach of it being punished by outlawry.
The opposite face shows the usual Manx design of two bands crossing and interlacing with two others at right angles.’
Source: “The Braddan Crosses” a booklet available inside the church with unknown author.
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