THE STAIRFOOT INSCRIBED STONE. 287 



On very careful examination, the inscription became clearer, 

 I found the Villi to have been originally cut thus viiij, and the 

 scratches or faint characters above resemble |_ Q • but on a 

 closer scrutiny resolved themselves into the Arabic numerals 



13- 



The weight of the stone, instead of being 9 Roman pounds, 

 proved to be 9 lbs. 1 3 oz. avoirdupois. 



It will be seen that this agrees accurately with the characters 

 ^•^j which I had succeeded in deciphering on the stone. 



Judged by their style, these figures and letters may belong 

 to the 1 6th or 1 7tli centur3\ They may be about two or three 

 hundred years old. Taken in connection with each other they 

 cannot be more ancient. 



The Stairfoot inscription, then, whatever may be its exact 

 age, is of Tudor or later date, notwithstanding the venerable 

 appearance of the marks cut upon it. 



The Hensbarrow Inscribed Stone. 



In or about April, 1883, a stone incised with letters was 

 found within the boundary of St. Austell parish, on Hensbarrow 

 range, by Mr. John Payne of Roche village. 



On the 24th of March, 1884, Major Parkyn informed me 

 that he had heard from Mr. Arthur Willyams of its discovery. 

 A sketch of the incisions was enclosed with his communication. 



In December following, Mr. Goodfellow of Roche, surgeon, 

 wrote to me concerning it, expressing a doubt as to the antiquity 

 of the letters. 



On the 24th of Januaiy, 1885, I went with the last named 

 gentleman to inspect the inscription, being accompanied to the 

 spot by Mr. Payne, its discoverer. I then took a sketch and 

 rubbings of it. — (See Plate ||^ ) 



The stone lies near North Bunny Mine, and is about half 

 a mile south-east of the lofty barrow on the great hill which 

 Carew (born in 1555) well described as " the Arch-beacon of 

 Cornwall." Writing of this place, his quaint words are — "If 

 " the weather's darkness bound not your eyesight, within his 

 "ordinary extent you shall thence plainly discern, to the 

 " eastward, a great part of Devon ; to the west, very near the 



