282 



Observations on a Boman Inscription lately discovered in 

 York : read at the Monthly Meeting of the Yorkshire 

 Fhilosojphical Society, Nov. 7, 1854, by Rev. C. 

 Wellbeloved. See Plate 8. 



It cannot be unknown to any member of the Society residing 

 in York, that an inscribed stone was lately discovered at the 

 depth of about 28 feet below the surface by some workmen em- 

 ployed in digging the drain from Goodramgate to the river 

 Ouse. It was found, not in the direct line of the drain, but 

 about 4 feet on the eastern side of it, in King's Square, near the 

 house which stands at the corner of the Square and Goodram- 

 gate, and within a few yards of the line of the Roman wall 

 and the supposed site of the Praetorian gate of the Roman 

 station. It is a fragment of a large slab of mountain lime- 

 stone, and the inscription is unfortunately imperfect. Not 

 being able to examine it with a due degree of attention while 

 it was lying in the Guildhall, for the inspection of the public, 

 I obtained, through the kindness of Mr. Monkhouse, an excel- 

 lent rubbing of it, by means of which I have been enabled to 

 supply, I believe with accuracy, the letters which have been 

 lost, and to assign to them the places which they occupied in 

 the perfect tablet. 



The stone in its present state measures 3 ft. 9 in. by 3 ft. 4 in., 

 and the inscription appears thus : 



PCAESA 



ERVAEFIL-N 



NVS-AVGGER 



NTIFEXMAXIMV 



TESTATIS • XTl • IMP • V 



PER-LEGVmiHI 



The letters, which are all beautifully cut, are arranged in six 



lines, and vary in height from 6 in. to 3| in., those of the first 



line measuring 6 in., those of the second line 5J in,, those of the 



third line 4| in., those of the fourth and fifth lines about 3 J in., 



and those of the sixth line about 3| in. Guided by this circum- 



