124 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



them fo defaced as to be illegible, he 

 fays, " The following account and in- 

 " terpretation of fome that are more 

 " perfect, was kindly communicated by 

 " Mr. Griffiths of the Navy-Office, 

 " moft of thefe houfes were founded 

 " by an injunction from the Popes, by 

 " way of penance, upon fome great 

 " Lords of thofe times, for what the 

 " Holy Church judged infringements 

 " on her prerogative, or for fome crime 

 " which thofe fathers of the church 

 ' knew full well how to avail themfelves 

 * e of. Taking the matter in this light, 

 " and from the Welfli name of the 

 " place, the infcription upon the ruins 

 (( will be intelligible. The characters are 

 " Mafo-Gothic, and Franco-Theotifcan 

 mixt. MD H'OO HR BMSPOE ac 

 " he aPOuS == PRO BHOV OES CM 

 " G RQO. The firft double letters I 

 take to be MAD. or Madocus ; H. hoc ; 



f <c OO. 



