282 MAWGAN CROSS, MENEAGE. 



of partaking of the old heathen and classical Roman style, the 



inscription exhibits indications of belongiug to a subsequent 



era. 



We will treat of the letters in the order of their occurrence : — 



C. The form (L) in which this initial has been cut upon the 

 stone, is not of the most ancient type. It is angular, like 

 three sides of the square. Such a letter was in use in the 

 6th and following centuries. 



N. Previous writers have indicated that this second letter is 

 blended with the third ; but the diagonal stroke downward 

 which they have shewn, is very faint on the monument ; a 

 stronger one runs upward, from the lower part of the first 

 upright to the top of the next which is the stem of the E, 

 making the N appear backward (M). This, hitherto, has 

 not been noticed. 



E. The perpendicular portion of this letter, as already 

 explained, is part of the preceding N . 



g. Instead of being like a Roman capital, this character is of 



later style, viz : minuscule with a flat head (3)- 

 V. This is of ancient form. 

 m. Square-headed minuscule. 



I. ^ 



F. / These lack boldness, and are not of uniform heisrht. 

 I. \ They appear to be minuscule, although scarcely differing 

 L. I from majuscule in form. 



I. ) 



g. As before ; minuscule, with T or Z-shaped head (5)- The 

 lower part of this character is indistinct. Dr. Borlase took 

 no account of this as a letter, but he marked the horizontal 

 stroke of its head. 



E. More rounded (£) than is consistent with great antiquity. 



N. Of ancient form. 



A. Later ; having its middle-bar V-shaped like an indent, pile, 



or inverted chevron (a). 

 I. \ Of ancient form. They do not meet, but (being near to 

 V. j each other) Dr. Borlase mistook them for N. 

 S. This concluding letter is so much curled as nearly to 



resemble the figure 8. 



