82 The Ancient Stone Crosses Though standing on the line of the Abbots* Way, the appearance of this cross would seem to warrant the sup- position that it is of earlier date than either of the religious houses of the moorland borders. It used to be related in the neighbourhood that refourtoiy prisoners of war were brought to this weather-beaten stone from Princetown to be whipped, but what gave rise to such a report it is not easy to see. At this part of the down the track we have been lately noticing was joined by the one which we have already followed from Plympton through Sampford Spiney, for though all traces of these ancient paths have disappeared, it is certain that from near this cross to the town of Tavistock they were one. We take the road leading to that place, but before quitting the down shall find yet another cross. On nearing the northern end of the common, where the road descends to Vigo Bridge, it will be seen close to the wayside. Like so many other examples, it has been sadly mutilated, the head and arrns^ with the socket-stone, alone remaining. It is this cross to which we have referred as having the hole for the reception of the shaft cut entirely through the base, in the manner seen in the stones we have already ex- amined at Roborough, and at Dousland and Walkhampton. As this is an undoubted base of a cross, and yet similar to the stones named, we may perhaps consider that we have now a very strong reason for regarding them as having been designed for a like purpose. The stone is sunk into the ground, its surface being level with the turf, and is in two parts, having by some means been broken completely across. The socket is square, but has the corners rounded, and in this the head is fixed. Of the shaft below the arms, which are a little over two feet across, and project about seven inches, only some three or four inches remain; above them the head rises thirteen inches. In the centre where the shaft is intersected by the arms there is a small incised cross. This is the last of the interesting objects we have here attempted to describe, that we shall meet with on the path leading to the great Benedictine foundation on the banks of the Tavy. Among those crosses that we have seen marking the direction of the various roads by which it was approached^
