62 NOTES ON INSCRIBED STONES IN CORNWALL. 
name; ‘“Clotuali Mo’—egratti,” possibly standing for “ Clotuali 
fil-Gratti.” The inscription would then refer to “CLOTUAL, 
SON OF GRATTUS.” 
Lastly, should Mogratti admit of this division into component 
parts with such a meaning, “fil” may after all have been used 
with it, as previously supposed. “ Clotuali Mo’-Gratti fil: ” would 
give us three links of a chain of pedigree—“ Grattus, Mo’grattus, 
Clotual, appearing in direct descent. If this beso, the stone, we 
may consider, marked the last resting place “OF CLOTUALUS, 
THE SON OF GRATTUS'S SON.” But we may now be passing 
beyond due bounds. It remains for us to enquire to what age 
and nationality this memorial stone should be ascribed ; and also, 
to what undisguised form the names are capable of being reduced. 
On these points the style of the words and the manner of 
their cutting will afford some clue for our guidance. Distinct 
identification may not be possible; for, during the few centuries 
just prior to the Norman conquest, so frequently did the chieftains, 
religious teachers, and other inhabitants of Cornwall, Brittany, 
Wales, and Ireland, migrate from one locality to another, that to ~ 
fix upon some who are mentioned in the scant historical records 
of those unsettled times, as commemorated by the names upon 
these stones, is generally hazardous—even when the names appear 
to be the same—unless there be some strong confirmatory evidence, 
or distinct probability in the case. Many, at or about the same 
dates, bore names in common : either as indicative of like pursuits, 
aims, ambitions, good qualities, or peculiarities, or else in compli- 
ment to relatives or illustrious personages for whom some special 
admiration was entertained. 
_ As to the actual incisions on this stone, the lines are well kept 
and the letters are small; they range (according to a certain 
system) from 1? in., to 4 in, in height. Ten different letters. 
are made use of—several of them recur (invariably in the same 
form), and not one of them is at all doubtful. 
(is met with twice; being in the midst of each. word, and 
) | disproportionately large compared with the other letters, 
It-is rounded above and has indented cross stroke. In the 
upper line this letter is broken so as to appear almost like 
an M. In the lower line it is complete (and m is found to 
be of a very different outline). 
