and reprehends him that he is interdum negligens Geographus etiam in iis locis quae ipse adiit But let the care of that be as indeed it belongs in the hands of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among us And the manner of writing the Rivers name also seems not to admit of the usual composition of the name from Tama and Isis but to that let the learned Camden see and other diligent antiquaries But I am sure they speak more to the purpose and are rather to be hearkned to then the Author of that Greek Etymology who deduces the name of the River from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it separated or cut in sunder the land where it went except you will say he sported with our youth as did somtime that great Abbat who deriving the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tells us it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so brings it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dorsum because men when they are dead are laid upon their backs Much better could I bear with that late Graecian who neerer our common pronuntiation of Tems hath written the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So much evident lucre and a certain sense of gain could effect with some men among us to suffer our Schools to be furnished with any thing it matters not what Et succus pecori lac subducitur agnis The Ewes of juice the Lambs of milk deprive But I said I would have done with the Thames in a few words At ille Lavitur habetur in omne volubilis aevum But it o're-floated rides And still doth keep its constant tides The state of London and the Trinobantes whose chief City it was at the comming of Julius Caesar and after him was thus as himself hath left recorded Cassibelaunus so he calls him had lately made War upon them and slain Imanuentius the chief Governour and Commander Whereupon Mâ—…ndubratius his Son Orosius and Beda after him name him Androgorius but others Androgeus applying himself unto Caesar and he having brought Cassibelaunus to terms of yielding he received likewise from him special Command at his last quitting of the Island that he should not presume to annoy Mandubratius or the Trinobantes as friends of the Roman State and Caesar. Thus much himself As for the gallant City I will take my leave of it and its admirers in the words of Otho out of that wise Oration of his for Tacitus made it for him a little before he became Emperour and his words concerning Rome very little altered Quid vos pulcerrimam hanc urbem domibus tectis congestu lapidum stare creditis Muta ista inanima intercidere ac reperari promiscue possunt Aeternitas rerum pax reipublicae incolumitate urbis firmatur NOVIOMAGO M. P. X. Besides in Antoninus here ' this station is likewise mentioned by Ptolemy who calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and names it as the chief City of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Regni or the Surrey-men as Camden pleaseth but Cluverius makes them to be Caesars Bibroci rather The most probable conjecture we can make concerning the old name of this place is that it was brought from beyond sea out of Gallia Belgica we have formerly produced authority sufficient for practice and custome here in this kind It seems to be very antient for it is taken notice of by that antient Geographer Marinus Tyrius as Ptolemy witnesses calling him nâ—…vissimum Geographorum finilimis hisce temporibus and reprehends him that he had placed Noviomagum of Britain by Climates more Northern then London and more Southern by Itinerary account But why may not we have Ptolemies own words see there they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Military Tables published out of Conâ—… Pentingers Study have Madus a Towns name of which the learned Mark Velser of Auspurg not knowing what to make did by a slight conjecture conceive it to be the same with Noviomagus the first half of the word being worn out and lost in the other G. being turned into D. But Camden refers it to Maidstone in Kent For old Marinus I know not how to excuse him but sure I am that our Chorographers are a great deal farther wide then he while some of them will have Noviomagum to have been where i Chester now stands as Sir Thomas Eliat others at Iuckingham as George Lilly in his book of the Names of antient places some again at Guildsord as Humfrey Lhuid But worst of all i William Harrison who derives this Towns name from the first founder Magus the Son of Samoches the second King of the Celts that reigned in this Island two presumptuously when as from better authority by far we may learn that Magus amongst the old Gouls and so consequently the Britains signified oppidum or a Town Camden our learned Antiquary seems in his opinion to have lighted pat upon the place where this old station sometime stood in Surrey at Woodcote two miles Southward of Wimbledon on an hill in quo modicae urbis manifesta visuntur vestigia saith he And he thinks he is in the right both from the situation as also distance from London And before him a learned man Robert Talbot sought for it neer there about at Croydon adding that juxta Ptolemaeum non potest longe remota esse à Londino cum nec in longitudine nec in latitudine plene dimidiatum gradum And it is well known how easily and frequently Ptolemy both is and may be corrupted But a very rational Gentleman is not pleased with either of these and he saies he cannot conceive how Noviomagus should be a stage for this Rode A Londinio Rutupias and lye wide of London as Woodcote doth so many miles and consequently set the Traveller at as great a distance from the place whither he is bound Richborough as when he first set out of London Considering this and the distance between London and Rochester by the Itinerary I should rather place it about Crayford much about ten miles from London upon or along some Hill or Down since it is otherwise called Noviodunum Thus far he very judicially as he doth other things Yet we may be permitted to request satisfaction in some doubts which cause us not to give such assent to his words as we would be willing otherwise to do As first what we shall say to Ptolemy who places it among the Regni not amongst the Cantii and it is not likely that he there where he reprehendeth the want of care in another about the position of this place would himself be so overseen neither may it be said that the Cautian Territories were more contract then than they are at this day we would know likewise what ground or place may be the likeliest to be assigned and set forth for this station in old time to
enough steep to which there was no accesse but upon one side onely on it were some ruines of Walls and manifest signes of a Camp But Secula vicerunt as the Poet saies That it was indeed seated upon an Hill the very name sufficiently shewes for all Towns for the most part beginning or ending in Dunum are placed upon Hills For in the old Gallick Tongue the same with our British Dunum signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hill or rising peice of ground as I have ere while told you out of Plutarch In the first Saxon times it flourished in great honour as the place before brought out of Beda sufficiently witnesseth But whereas he writes that the Church which Paulinus built and dedicated to Saint Alban whence the place was called Albanbury at this time corrupted into Almondbury was burnt by the Pagans Camden who was an eye-witness affirms that to this day the colour of burning remains in the stones William Fulks Antoninus to Cambodunum had Camborough noted of which place yet as unknown we can sodainly determine nothing MANUCIO M. P. XVIII The reading of the name of this Station is very diverse Manucio here Otherwise Mammucio Mammunccio Mamutio Manutio Mancinto as may be seen out of Surita and others in whom yet there is no difference in matter of distance of the Miles and in the X. Journey there is another Station set before it there is the right name of it to be found Mancunio of which see there It is doubtless neer Manchester in Lancashire which though it be said to belong to the old Brigantes yet was not Mancunium one of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for we miss it in Ptolemy and we may judge it to be that which at this day we call Mancastle a Park neer the Town belonging sometimes to the Earl of Derby where are to be seen antiqui propugnacul radices quadrata forma although our Antiquary is unwilling to say so much because of its angustum spacium or narrow continent Dr. Deâ—… the famous Interpreter of â—…uclide who lived there communicated to our learned Antiquary what Monuments of the Roman times remained found there among which one mâ—…ns the first Coborâ—… of the Frisingenses who it seems resided sometimes here those in him you may sâ—…e Nor have I ought else to say to it save that Maunguid or Mauchguid in Ninâ—… his Catalogue of British 〈◊〉 of the recension of the Incomparable Dr. Ushur and compared with the best Manuscripts is by him thought to be Mâ—…unium in case it be not rather Manduessedum in Warwickshire or Manchester which he seems more enclined unto CONDATE M. P. XVIII Congleton is a Town generally noted in Cheshire That it hath its standing where condate celebrated of old by Antoninus XX. miles from Deva had its being is unanimously agreed upon by Talhot Camden and others as we see save that Dr. Fulk hath set down to it Standish a Town it should seem not far from thence As for Câ—…date there is great probability that it was in antient times a Colony deduced from Condate in Gallia on the hither side of it It was a place famous for the Exequies of Saint Martin for Suspicius Severus is our Author Illum apud Condatensem Dioecesis suae vicum excessisse è vita that he dyed at Condate a Town of his own Diocesse Ptolemy assigns the situation of it more plainly calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Rhedonibus and it was by the Lâ—…geris or Loir The probability of it as I said will appear out of Caesar for even in his time out of that part of Gaul they translated themselves into Britain omnesque tis civitatum nominibus appellabantur quibus orti civitatibus eo pervenerunt I might here say something concerning the corruption of Condate into Congleton But what is obvious to every eye I trouble not my self withall as knowing the truth of that saying of the old Orator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DEVA LEG XX. VICT. M P. XX. From Condate we pass on twenty Miles to Deva now Westchester where as by Antoninus appears here the XX Roman Legion had its abode So Ptolemy saies also in the second of his Geography if you mend him first as you must The Câ—…rnavii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose Cities are saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deunana it is printed and there is in him anotâ—… of a like name belonging to the Texali of our Britain but far more Northern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For whereas the ordinary Latine Copies have Devena Et Legio XX. they are to be mended out of the Greek and Antoninus not to be expressed so as distinct places Dion Cassius the Consular Roman Historian in his notable recension of the Legions from Augâ—… his time to his own hath by no means omitted this Legion we will bring his own words because in them there is some obscurity which by this means I hope may be better cleared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…rum Victrix in Brittannia superiori versantes quos ipsos ut mihi videtur cum ea Legione cui nom nest â—…gesimae ac Hiberna in superiori sunt Germania ac non ab omâ—…bus Valeâ—…an 〈◊〉 dicitur neque bodie idnomen retinet ipse acceptos servavit This place as I said is obscure and by no means easily intelligible And indeed the Translator himself Gulielmus Xylander thought it not to be locum integrum nor it seems Stephanus who came after him and reviewed what he had done Quoid verbum referendum est saith he Whitherto shall we refer that verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yet though the cure seem past our skill at present thus much we may learn from the place That the Twentieth Legion was in the Upper Britain in his time That they were in the opinion of some called the Valeriani but that in his judgement the Twentieth Legion was not ever generally called Valeriana no not to his daies The learned Savile to whom also this place in Dio savoured of some corruption tells us from it for he can mean none else that there were two Legions of that name continued from Augustus I. to his time which whether it be the meaning of the words you see I leave to others to judge I am sure there are neither two Vicessimae or a Valeriana Legio among the old ones that appear in a Column yet remaining at Rome or any newer recension of them However the Roman Antiquaries very knowing men of late have imposed it upon our belief that Vigesima Valeriana Victrix in Britannia superiori versabatur and this is done hand over head never minding withall the Historians words who was bound in a double respect both as a learned man and then as a Consul not to be ignorant of what he said Of the division of Britain into Upper and Lower here mentioned we have said enough before out of
besides others in this place taken up the Inscriptions whereof one makes mention of HATERIANUS LEG AUG PR PR PROVINC CILIC There is another which mentions the Effigies of Diana and witnesseth that a Temple to her was restored by Titus Flavius Postumius Varus Veteran perhaps of the Cohors of the second Legion T. FLAVIUS POSTUMIUS VARUS V. C. LEG TEMPL DIANAE RESTITUIT A Monument which all that Gyantlike structure of Paules cannot shew the like though it be said most anciently to have been dedicated to this Deity Next to that is a votive Altar for Severus his Sons but with Getas name scraped out at such time as he being declared to be an Enemy was at length quite removed by his Brother Antoninus Bassiaâ—…us PRO SALUTE AUGG. N. N. SEVERI ET ANTON NI ET GETE CAES P. SALTIENUS P. F. MAECIA THALAMUS HADRI PRAEF LEG II. AUG C. VAMPEIANO ET LUCILIAN GALPHRIDUS MONOMETHENSIS HISTORIAE BRITANINCAE LIB I. CAP. XIX Belinus renovavit urbes ubicunque collapsae fuerant multas novas adificavit Inter cateras composuit unam super Oscam flumen prope Sabrinum mare qua multis temporibus Kaerosc appellata est Metropolis Glocestre fuerat Postquam autem Romani venerunt praefato nomine deleto vocata est urbs Legionum nomen nacta a Romanis legionibus qui ibidem hyemare solebant Ex Alexandro Elsebiensi Hic etiam sub ingressum Saxonum fuit gymnasium ducentorum Philosophorum qui Astronomia caterisque artibus eruditi cursus stellarum diligenter observabant ut scripsit Alexander Elsebiensis author rarus è quo mihi plurima descripsit Thomas James Oxoniensis vir eruditus vere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui se totum literis libris involvit jam publici boni studio in Angliae Bibliothecis excutiendis Deus opus secundet id molitur quod reip literariae imprimis erit usui Among the rubbish and fragments of stones here you shall also finde these too VIII 7. VALER MAXSIMI Hyeronimus Surita in Varijs Lectionibus in Antoninum Iscam Leg. II. Aug. M. P. XXVII In Bland Iscaelia Augusti M. P. XXVII in Meap Iscalegi Augusti M. P. XXVIII in Longol libris Iscalegia Augusti M. P. XXVII pro dictione Augusti Legi corrigtur XXVII M. P. Legionem II. Augustam eo loco constitutum indicat quod a Ptolemao definitur tametsi tanquam duo sint opida numeri longitudinis latitudinis utrique inepte attribuantur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praterea legio secunda Augusta in Britannijs ab Auctore Notitiae Provinciarum recensetur sub Comite littoris Saxonici per Britanniam hoc modo Prapositus Legionis II. Augustae Butupis This Legion instituted by Augustus was taken into Britain by Claudius Casar and planted here where by the leading of Iulius Frontinus it recided against the Silures of whom Tacitus How great this Isca was read a little out of Giraldus in his Itinerary of Wales Erat haec urbs antiqua autentica a Romanis olim coctilibus muris egregie constructa Videas hic multa pristinae nobilitatis vestigia palatia immensa aureis olim tectorum fastigijs Romanos fastus imitantia eo quod a Romanis principibus primo constructa adificijs egregijs illustrata fuisset Turrim giganteam thermas insignes templorum reliquias loca theatralia muris egregijs partim adhuc extantibus omnia clausa c. Guil. Camden in Siluribus pag. 489. BURRIUM M. P. IX It stands where the stream of Birthin is mingled with the Isca The Britains at this day transposing the letters call it Brubege for Burenbege by Giraldus Castrum oscae but by the English Uske it now onely possesses the ground or room of a large and fortified Castle which most pleasantly lyes between the River Isca an Oilway the stream which under it passeth by the neat dwelling of the Earle of Worcester as it were under a Castle on the East GOBANNIUM M. P. XII At the confluents of Isca and Gobannius this Statio is placed whence Aber-Gevenne and contractedly Aber-Genne which signifies just as much H. S. MAGMIM M. P. H. S. XXII In Bland reliquis Magnis M. P. XXII Sub Duce Britanniarum in Notitia Provinciarum Prafectus Numeri Pacensium Magnis recensetur tam etsi in Manuscripto vulgatis Magis legitur nam infra in eis per Lineam valli Tribunus Cohortis II. Dalmatarum Magnis legitur Old Radnor in Brittish called Maiseveth â—…hean and from the steep ascent Pencrag which in the Reigne of King Iohn was by Rees Ap-Griffin burnt downe to the Ground If I shall say that this which Antoninus seems to call Magnos wherein Theodosius the younger time the praefectus of the Milites Pacenses had his being Sub Britanniarum Ducis I should perhaps misse of the truth in other mens opinion however not in mine own for the inhabitants of this whole Tract are called Magaseses and the Earles thereof Magesetenses and Masegetenses in the writers of the middle Age and the Reason of the account of Miles from Gobannium or Aber-Gevenne so also from Brangonium doth not in the least differ from that of Antoninus In lib. de Notitia imp Po. Ro. legitur praefectum numerorum Pacensium in prasidio Magis item in eodem lib. Tribunum cohortis secunda Magnis collocatum Magnos item in Itin. Ant. invenimus unumne oppidum an diversa sint non ausim pro certo affirmare Verum magis inclinat animus ut credam diversa Geor. Bukanan Rerum Scoticarum Fol. 24. An Chesteringwall it is called by Camden BRAVONIUM P. XXIV The name of a City of Britaine in the way to Wrokcester But Simlerus hath Bravinium and so hath he caused it to be published but Camden hath corrected it Brannomium most amendedly if I am able to Judge any thing aright In Piolemy it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brannogenium which William Fuâ—…k minded not who set down to it Bangor following as it seemes Ioseph Moletius and Paullus Iovius who yet pleased to have Bravium heretofore to be called Bridge-North as we see It is a City of the Ordovites and therefore by Camden who found it among the Cornavij rightly thought to be banished from its own Seat it is famous to Posterity for the Antiquity of it and the often variety of Fortune First it remained content under the safeguard of the Roman gentlenesse straightway the Danes troubling all with boundlesse Fury it passed diverse changes yet alwayes after the ruine it sprang up fresh again as at this day it flourisheth with very great celebrity whether you consider the splendidness of the Buildings and the magnificence of the Churches or whether the frequency of the Citizens themselves and inhabitants or whether the Nature of the Soil and Scituation by the River Severn upon no very sleep Hill on whose Easterne banck it was placed by the Romans
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corinnium SPINIS M. P. XV. Cunetio or Kenet goeth by an ancient town whose name is not yet quite obliterated being as yet called Spene it is scarce a mile from Newberry a famous Town which sprung out of the Ruines thereof whence also it was called so and part yet thereof is still to this day called Spinam Lands to witness its Originall CALLEVA M. P. XV. I have spoken sufficiently to this Town in what goes before ABONEM P. IX Ita enim semper casu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive ablativo quem vocant proferuntur ea opida mansiones quae in Antonini Itinerario occurrunt Id factum a descriptore ejus more prisci seculi quo urbium nomina 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fere sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 esse volebant quod etiam nos pluribus docemus ad illud Itinerarium quod quantum ad Eritanniam pertinet restitutum jam in jublicum damus Quamobrem merito reprehendendus videatur Hieronymus Surita qua hoc in sua Antomini editione primus mutavit contra omnium coditum authoritatem quos tamen constat illum plures inspexisse Memoratur hoc opidum in XIV Itinere Brit. ab Isca Leg. 11. Augusta Gallenam Atrebatam instituto ad IX Mill distantiam à Venta Silurum Situm autem est in Conventu Gleucestriensis ad Sabrinam fl nec procul ab ipso ostio hodieque etiam Aventon appellatur de quo Vir Clariss atque idem felicissimus Antiquarum Originum vindex Guilielmus Camdenus Cum Avon inquit stumen Britannis denotet non absonum erit si à stumine sic dictum putemus eadem enim plane significatione ut alia omittam nos Waterton Bourne Riverton Latini Aquiâ—…um Fluentiam habuerunt Ita vir Eruditissimus quanquam eum hoc nomine sugillet cui tamen sua omnia debet plagiarius ille transfuga Richardus Vitus Basinstochius in Notis suis ad Historiam Britannicam miseris modis ab eo contaminatam quod palpitando scilicet vocabula Britannica studeat inde nomina locorum producere Norunt autem viri eruditi quod nos pace ipsius dictum volumus non aliunde locorum appellationes sive Urbium Origines quam ex ipsorum incolarum linguis petendas esse De Fluentia certe ex Plinio constat ita nominatam quod praefluenti Arno apposita esset lib. III cap. 5. Et Tenon è Cycladibus unam propter aquarum abundantiam Aristoteles Hydrussam appellatam ait teste eodem Plinio Lib. IV. cap 12. Eadem prorsus ratione Hydruntem in primis Italiae portuns nobilem nomen sortitam esse par est ut credamus cum ut ille idem â—…os docet Plinius lib. III. cap 2. ad discrimen Iönij Adriatici maris situm habeat qua in Graeciam brevissimus transitus Sed ad Abonem etiam Sabriani aestuâ—…rii trajectus olim fuit vide TRAIECIU Guilielmus Fulco Antiquarius patrum memoria Cantabrigiensis atque idem insignis Theologus inter praclara Academia illius decora merito censendus Abonem Bristoliam fuisse credidit sive ut veteres â—…uncuparant Emporium florentissimum ad Avonam fl quod Julio Caes. Bulengero Burgstovia perperam appellatur verum hujus erroris caussam inde fluxisse apparet quod opido huic fluvium illum cognominem videret Immensum autem quantum in hoc loco designando aberraverit Franciscus a Sacra-quercu vir quidem optimus quem pueri nos admodum Oxonijs in eodem contubernio senem novimus Abingdon enim sive ut in Monachorum libris legitur notissimum opidum ad Issidem fl nec Oxonijs procul it a nuncupatum scribit Sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod dici solet alludente enim nomine tantum ratio itineraria heic plane repugnat BRITANNIARUM ITER XIV Editio Aldina Suritana Simlerians  ALIO ITINERE   AB ISCA   CALLEVAM M. P. CIII sic   VENTA SILURUM M. P. IX   ABONE M. P. IX   TRAJECTUS M. P. IX   AQUIS SOLIS M. P. VI.   VERLUCIONE M. P. XV.   CUNETIONE M. P. XX.   SPINIS M. P. XV.   CALLEVA M. P. XV.  VENTAM SI LURUM M. P. IX I before gave notice that there were three Venta's in this Itinerary one of the Belgae and one of the Iceni and this last is attributed to the Country of the Silures Tacitus names them in an old Copy the Nation of the Silures was changed with no feircenesse nor with clemency but that they would exercise War And in the life of Agricola that the Silures passed into Britaine he conjectures as a Colony of the old Iberi that saith he their coloured looks and curled hair for the most part and their scituation over against Spain cause a beleif that the old Iberi passed over and possessed those places And in the same Book Julius also Frontinus sustained the brunt a great man as far as he might and overcame in armes the strong and stout Nation of the Silures Ptolemy made the Demeta the utmost people of the Island towards the West and the Silures after them more to the East Amongst them is the Wy or Vaga the limit betwixt the Glocester-shire and Monmouth-shire men In former times this City was called Caer-Went TRAJECTUS M. P. IX This is named by Antoninus over against Abonis where there was wont to be a passage over the Sabrinian Sea at a place which is called to this day Oldbury i. e. Vetus Burgus now a dayes they passe over a little beneath at Aust a Village VERLUCIONEM M. P. XV. Diverril a little River passeth by here so called because it passeth under ground as the Anas in Spain and the Mole with us in Surrey and about a mile off it hasteneth to Cunetio a very ancient Towne which is now called Warminster and from the Saxon signifieth a Monestery CUNETIO M. P. XX. The River Kennet visiteth a City of its own name XX. miles from Verlucio mentioned likewise by Antoninus It is now called Marlburrow named so perhaps from Marga in Plinnie which they now call Marl and wherewith as by a kind of Melioration they dung their Land as with a kind of Chalk For it is ridiculous to deduce it from Merlin the Wizard which yet however some anciently have ventered to do SPINIS M. P. XV. CALLEVAM M. P. XV. AQUIS SOLIS M. P. VI. Ponitur hoc opidum ab Antonino in Itinere ab Isca Damnoniorum Gallenam Atrebatum Ptolemaeo in Geographia lib. II. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Aquae calidae dicuntur Stephano vero Byzantino 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Badiâ—…a Nobis hodie Bathe a Thermis hie nobilissimis unde infima latinitas Bathoniam appellat Britanni antiqui Caer-badon quod Camdeno placere video Caer-Palladour vocabant Joannes Lelandus magni nominis superiori seculo
Antoninus Caracalla the Son of Severus making the recension of our Britain Mansions therein sited so far Northerly and conquered anew by them as a ground of this his assertion he cannot do better then to joyn thereunto Piolemic's annumeration of the severall Provinces or People that then inhabited Britain their more noted Cities Rivers Promontories Havens Islands c. he living not very long before the time that Caracalla was Emperour And somewhat after Ptolemies age you have the number of them all set down to your hand I know not how exactly by Marcianus Heracleota a Greek Writer also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Albion or Britain containeth in it XXXIII distinct Provinces noted Cities LIX famous Rivers XL. IV remarkable Promontories I Peninsula of more then ordinary note V notable Bayes besides III principall Havens The number of Cities here exactly agrees with that in Ptolemy to whom I conceive he is beholding for the rest also for that he was after him evidently appears by his citing him as he was also junior to the other Marcianus of Heraclea also a Writer of the same subject whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Iambick Verse we have published by Fred. Mcrellus In our Antoninus the names of the Mansions or Townes if you please to call them so are well neer double that number there being reckoned no less then CXIV in this Itinerary through the XV. Journeys We may say then that Antoninus set down all he took in his way Ptolemy onely the more noted In the Notitia of the Western Empire under Theodosius the younger you shall find not above XLVI Garrisons in the whole Island whereof IX were kept on the Sea-coast to hinder the frequent Attempts and Invasions of the Saxon Pirats under the Command of the Comes Littoris Saxonici per Britanniam XIV others more in-land were commanded by the Dux Britanniarum who had the Title of Spectabilis as had also the other whereof York is the first under the notion of Legio VI. Besides XXIII more Per Lineam Valli who had most of them their Stations very neer the Wall to keep off the continuall Assaults and Irruptions of the Scots and Picts and other barbarous people But the inland of the Country I believe was stored with many other flourishing Cities which being named by Antoninus and Ptolemie I cannot think were therefore sackt and ruined before this Notitia or Survey was taken because we find them not mentioned there And this we may the more probably suppose because that after the Romans had abandoned the Island we find many of them still remaining in good condition however in succeeding times and not long after their departure we find not but XXVIII Cities in Britain But certainly they were of principall note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ptolemie's expression is and such indeed are they described to be by Venerable Bede the ancient glory of this Nation Erat sayes he Britannia viginti octo civitatibus quondam nobilissimis insignita praeter Castella innumera quae ipsa muris turribus portis ac seris erant instructa sirmissimis He had for his Author our Countryman Gildas who in his Epistle the ancientest Writing of any Britain that is now extant tells us That Britain was adorned Decorata bis denis bisque quaternis civitatibus That is with eight and twenty Cities The Catalogue of whose British names collected by Ninnius the old Historian being compared with the best Copies that are to be found thereof at this day is published and illustrated as well with the Roman names as such as they are known by at this day by the Reverend and most Learned Primate of Ireland Having nothing therefore in my own poor store to add to so great abilities and exact diligence it is high time for us to bethink our selves of our passage from the Coast of France where the most usuall Port to set sayl for the Island while the Romans had the Command thereof was Gessoriacum whence also our Autoninus begins his Itinerary as followes A GESSORIACO DE GALLIIS RITUPIS IN PORTU BRITANNIARUM STADIA NUMERO CCCCL A GESSORIACO DE GALLIIS From Gessoriacum out of Gaul for which in the Sea-Itinerary whereof we spake before you have A Portu Gessoriacensi as Simlerus mends it for in the Venetian Edition of Aldus and others it is Printed Gesorigiagensi as if the name of the place had been also called Gessorigia of which more anon as for the last g. in this word for c. against the ordinary making that is to be imputed to the frequent mistake of Transcribers who most usually confound these two letters as all know that handle written Books and we shall see variety of examples for it before we have done with Antoninus Among divers others of the Ancients Pliny also mentions this Port calling it Gessoriacum Morinorum littus which else where he expresses by Portum Morinorum Britannicum for of this place I understand him there rather then with 〈◊〉 Chiffletius that he should mean Portus Iccius for indeed in his time and some while before him Gessoriacum was the onely known accustomed Port whence they set say I for Britain as may appear by a place in Pomponius Mela who wrote some what after the time that Claudius undertook his expedition hither taking Shipping at this very place Nec Morini saith he portu quem Gessoriacum vocant quicquam habent notius They have nothing of greater note then their Haven Gessoriacum which Ptolemy also confirms in whom you find 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gisorriacum the Haven of the Morini in whom by the Transcribers heedlesnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iâ—…cium the Promontory for he mentions not the Haven is got into the place that Gessoriacum should be in as the learned Camden hath observed And yet we deny not but that Iccius or Iâ—…us was a Port also of these extremi hominum Morini as †Virgil calls them Strabo expresly witnesseth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Although Ortelius make it belong to the Caletes a People neighbouring upon them vouching for it the very same Strabo's authority Besides Florus tells us That Caesar set sayl à Portu Morino which himself in his Commentaries calls Iccius ex quo commodissimum in Britanniam transjectum esse cognoverat Whence he had observed the most convenient passage was over into Britain However because in after-times Gessoriacum was thought to be so too Iccius perhaps being stopt up and become less frequented we may not therefore with Cuverius having no more ground for it then his bare word conclude that they were the same which he indeed doth very resolvedly without once question made thereof Portus Gessoriacus saith he Qui antea itius postmodùm Bononia nunc Boulogne for this assertion hath as little proof for it as Dempesters wilde conceit that the Inhabitants
mighty Mount and four Bulwarks raised as it were with exceeding great labour up to a great height But now it is viculus pertenuis a very poor Countrey Village and as famous as it was of old times we may at this day seek it in its ruines and scarce or not at all find it I have done with it therefore and will shut up all in the words of the Psalmist Come sayes he behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the Earth Thus much shall be sayd of Cataractonium ISURIUM M. P. XXIV The distance between Catarick and Aldburgh which is put for Isurium will well agree with the number XXIV here between that and Cataractonium if you doe but remember and observe what I said e're now concerning the distances of old times and those at this day Taking notice also of the course they then took in their journeying which quite thorow this Itinerary is to be heeded In the 11. Journey this Station is called Isuria and in the fifth Isubrigantum that is Isurium Brigantum for Ptolemie also makes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be one of the Cities of the Brigantes They say it had its name from the Confluence of the Isis and the Urus a little above which it stood not far from Burrowbridge a place very famous of later ages but of old for three Roman Trophees set up not far from thence like Pyramids saith Leland a little from the High-way The Saxons called them both met together by one name the Ouse or Uyan That the old Britains had knowledge of Isis not onely as acquainted with the Romans worshipping her but otherwise also by their bearing armes for them in Egypt where she was most adored is to be made good by clear record The Notitia of the Provinces of the East Sub dispositione viri Spectabilis ducis Thebaidos Ala quarta Briconum Isui In the Itinerary it is Isiu Both places are to be mended Isij out of Plutarch in whom as also in Heliodorus you have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the City and Temple of Isis of which Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 witnesses you have such large circuits of her Travellors in Cumens Alexandrinus that it were no more wonder to hear of her name in these Northern Climates then in Aegypt Hence it is sayd the Suides and Angles and Eudoses and other Germans in old time worshipped her Tacitus particularly of the Swedes Isidi sacrificant c. What reason they have to use that strange Sacrifice I know not saith he unlesse it be that the Image of that Goddesse being fashioned in modum liburnae in forme of a kinde of Boat doth declare that their Religion hath been brought them from a strange Countrey And therefore we wonder not now that we have three noted Rivers of her name among us For by the testimony of Pausanias and an old Coyn published by Golizius she hath also the Title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Isis of the Sea And truely the indigitaments of old Deities were often inscribed to Rivers as Belisama a name of Minerva to the River Rible in Lancashire and others as the names of Saints are usually to divers places abroad at this day Now whereas they say the Aegyptians alwayes fashioned and Painted Isis with hornes some may conceit that done because her name is attributed to Rivers all Rivers being described horned by the Poets I and some called Hornes by reason of the windings of their Channels But the Fable affords a better reason which tells us Jo that is Isis the Daughter of the river Inachus was by Jupiter turned into a Cow and so conveyed into Aegypt where it should seem she and Apis were horned Deities But truly I must tell you I had rather have met with one antient authority out of Ptolemie or some other of old time whereby I might be assured these rivers were so called sometimes by the Romans then all that either Leland or Camden have wittily said for Leland seems to me one who had rather devise handsome names himself for any place then diligently tread the very and certain steps of Antiquity The Town out of its ruines is as I said called Aldburgh the name signifying The old Borough or Town On the very ground where Isurium sometime stood you may at this time see either cornfields or pasture Et campos ubi Troja suit Laborat annalium fides ut Veios fuisse credamus says the elegant Historian concerning the old Veii And our Antiquary saies that such Writers as mention Isurium would have much ado to make us believe it had once a being here were it not for the proportionable distance from York here set down and the great store of Roman coin found daily hereabout EBORACUM LEGIO SEXTA VICTRIX M. P. XVII The distance here from Aldburgh to York is various according to the variety of Copies and the severall journeys in which we meet with it In the first journey you have seventeen miles in some books sixteen in the second eighteen and in this fourteen according to Surita but in his divers readings he takes notice of seventeen also which Aldus Simlerus and Harrison admit and this will make the generall number in the foot of the reckoning to agree with the particulars as is before observed Neither will the distance at this day unhandsomely sure if you conceive as you must that the antient site is somewhat altered The first mention you meet with of this place is this in Antonine except you make Ptolomie antienter as indeed he should be if it be true that he wrote in Antoninus Pius dayes as the common Chronologie gives it out Truly as it is already observed the time when this Itinerarie was published though commonly it bears Antoninus Pius name is not certain neither is it likely it was extant till under Severus For Britain indeed being by Julius Agricola the Pro-Pretor under Domitian wholy reduced and falling a way by little and little under Hadrian the Antonini and Commodus so that in Hadrian's time who in person did what he could to restore all the Romanes having not much above one half thereof and that not very usefull or beneficiall to them and in Antoninus Pius time the d Brigantes of whom Eboracum was a principall city revolting from them things me thinks could not be at this passe as they are represented in this Itinerary till Severus time especially if you consider the stirs and turmoiles at home for the Empire immediately before his arrivall here the Britains from thence taking ground for their defection But omitting here a more exact enquiry after the just time when either of them wrote we are to take notice that the VI. Legion that had the Title of Victrix from it's conquests brought over out of Germany saith Camden and yet for all Severus coin which follows he
of him we have a neer ken of the place where some time of old it had its being Let us therefore first hear Beda and by some observations taken from him I hope we shall find out Delgovitia He then tells his story thus briefly Eadwin King of Northumberland entring into a serious Deliberation with his Noblemen and other his chief Subjects concerning the entertaining of the Gospel preached in these parts by Paulinus the first Bishop of York among the Saxons he that shewed himself most for ward to abolish Idolatry was Coyfi a chief Priest and observer thereof having first gained liberty of the King for the same purpose The place where he first executed this his so earnestly sought for power to the great astonishment of the vulgar who thought he had been mad Beda thus describes Ostenditur autem locus ille quondam idolorum non longe ab Eboraco ad Orientem amnem Doroventionem vocatur hodie Gotmundin Gaham ubi Pontifex ille inspirante Deo vero polluit ac destruxit eas quas ipse sacraverat aras Observe first from his words that it was locus quondam Idolorum and they may be meant as well of Roman Idols as Saxon. Now Delgovitia being rightly deduced as our learned Antiquary informs us of the old British word Delgive which signifies Deorum Gentilium statuâ—…s and I find elsewhere in their language delio for an image or Statue we may well collect that it was this place of Idols described in Beda especially if we consider the situation of both in the same distance and Tract That of Delgovitia in Antonine somewhat about XX. miles from York VII thence to Derventio then XIII to Delgovitia and that in Beda non procul ab Eboraco ad Orientem amnem Doroventionem Here note that York was the best known place by which to find out that place he aimes at which he as you see calls in his times Godmundingham at this day Godmanham almost in the same sense as Delgovitia rendred Deorum Fanum sive Habitatio And whereas he sets down the site thereof by the River Derventio running from the East we are the place being indeed a good way distant from it to make no more of that but that it was the notedst River neer it Neither was Beda any more then I any diligent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or eye-witness of his own Chorographical Descriptions Every one knowes how constantly close he kept to his Monastery But well may his non procul be excused for denoting XX. miles when far longer distances are expressed by Not far One notable one I bear in mind out of the Greek Historian of the Emperours It is where he gives notice of Severus fear least while himself being busied with Wars in the East Albinus then in Britain might take possession of Rome not far saith he distant thence And yet this distance I know not how well measured by some is made neer upon a thousand Miles The even distance and upon the matter quite answerable by Itinerary account suites exceedingly well here which it would by no means do if Delgovitia had ever been Wenbridge be it where it will for I know not yet which Harrison however and that upon second thoughts too hath not doubted to publish I am afraid too unadvisedly PRAETORIUM M. P. XXV It will be required that I speak in the first place concerning the various acceptions of the word or name whereby this Mansion is called Praetorium then was in the Roman Camp the place where the Generals Pavilion was pitched whether he were Consul or as Praetor the Preparation and Furniture of which after their excessive enrichment by the Conquest of Asia was such that their very Poets scoffed at the Musive work of the pavements the Canopies the looking glasses and other unnecessary implements carried up down with the Baggage of the Army Josephus compares it to a Temple for magnificence And when it signified so Polybius and the Greek Historians render it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Out of the like affectation of magnificence they came at length to call their Country houses or dwellings for pleasure Praetoria also In former times they named them villae In Seneca you may see the description of such a one belonging to Servilius Vatia whom thence he stiles divitem Praetorium This may elsewhere appear For Spelunca a Mannour House of Tiberius by the Sea side which is termed plainly Villa in Tacitus is the very same in Swetonius according to the use of that age he wrote in called Praetorium And so were all the nearer villae and not of rustical employment Praetorium in another sense is as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a place of Judicature or as in our English Bibels you have it translated A Judgment Hâ—…l from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in more Barbarous writers retained in the Greek Text both by S. John and Luke in the later of whom you shall find Herods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we should not rather understand the Prison-house belonging thereto as he was made King of the Jewes by Augustus otherwise he had nothing to do with the Roman affairs in the Province How great a favour it was in the Provinces to be graced with the stile of King either by the Senate or the Prince every one knows that doth also the History of Massinissa or Ariâ—…vistus or else at home the relations in Tacitus of Prasustagus and Cogidumus if perhaps as some have thought they be not the same For as Tacitus doth truly observe the Romans had every where instrumenta servitutis etiam Reges But the chief power was Roman which resided in the person of Pontius Pilatut who had likewise his Praetorium being then Governour of Judea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Text which the old Interpreter renders by Procurare contrary to his custome who still uses to translate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into Prasidem except you will say his Copy had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we find by the divers Readings to remain yet in some books For indeed Palate was not in Judea with the power of a Praeses or Legâ—…tus pro Praetore which are all one but onely as a Steward or Procurator as it was usual also in other less considerable Provinces which the authority of Tacitus sufficiently confirms Auctor nominis eius Christus qui Tiberio imperitante per Procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat True it is the Government of the Provinces was divers accordingly as they were either belonging to Caesar or the Senate Let us hear Tacitus concerning Britain reduced into the form of a Province in firm the Britans thus complain Singulos sibi olim Reges â—…uisse nunc binos imponi è quibus Legatus insanguinem Procurator in bona viret aeque discordium praepositorum aeque concordiam subjectis exitiosam
alterum manus centuriones alterum vim Contumelias miscâ—…re That whereas in former times they had onely one King now were there two thrust upon them The Lievtenant to suck their blood the Procurator their substance whose disagreeing was the torment of the Subjects their agreement their undoing the one vexing by Souldiers and Captains the other by wrongs and indignities Now whereas we have sufficiently shewed in the foregoing discourse about EBORACUM both out of Spartian and otherwise that the Chief Praetorium in britain from before Severus times and long after was at York under the power of the several Legati Augg. for the time being I cannot see what should hinder us why we may not think that the respective Procuratores also may not have had their residence here at Praetorium And that not without very good reason too For as Ulpian the Lawyer tells us all waies and journeys ending most commonly at the Sea or at least great Rivers and the whole ductus or Tract of this journey leading to the Sea side which others not observing have fowly mist their way whom may I better conceive to have had his abode there then the Procurator notwithstanding that all memories thereof are quite extinguished by the all-whelming deluge of Time All yearly Pensions Tâ—…tes or Customes from this part of the Island being by this jâ—…urney from the very Bound of the Empire conveyed hither unto him as to the most convenient place for exportation and dispatch to Rome And therefore with very good reason as I believe did our great Antiquary assign the antient being of Praetorium at Patrington in Holdernâ—…ss neer to the Sea side neer upon the Promontory now called the Spurâ—…ead And whereas formerly he thought Pâ—…tuaria in Ptolemy the same with this Praetorium upon second thoughts he let quit this conjecture which I believe he needed not but rather to have suspected â—…myes text for some corruption not unlike that in the English That Praetorium was at Patrington the proportionable distance from Delgovitia or 〈◊〉 very powerfully argues There is indeed some difference in the number of miles but those copies which have XXV best serve to make the particular numbers to agree with the Summary in the head of the journey the others have but XXII less suiting with the distance from Delgovitia to Patrington Which name if it seem to any not handsomly made from Praetorium let them consider also saith Camden that the Italians from Praetorium there have made Petrouina I might adde that Praetorium in 〈◊〉 hath its name at this day far worse interpolated into Predanich In the Provinces both East and West very many Stations that bear this name are to be met with The Natives of the place glory much of what our Praetorium hath been in old time and no less of the antient commodiousness of the Haven Now they may also of the prospect into the most pleasant green fields in Lincoln-shire on the other side the water and the open view of the main Ocean into which Ptolemies Abus which at this day we call Humber in great state exposes it self To tell you how pittifully learned men have been mistaken in assigning the ground where this Praetorium of old had its standing without having the least heed to Itinerary distance which shamefully most an end they neglect were to press upon your patience My own pains however I will not spare perhaps it may delight some to know this too Talbot then in the first place would have it to be Chester contrary to what you shall see his judgement to be in the following journey next upon other thoughts he will have it to be Coventry it being called so as he deemed from the Procurators or some other Magistrates meeting there ad Coventus agendos I save confuting him onely repeat his own words Haec conjecturarum nostrarum somâ—…a prodinius non in its seâ—…uri sed libentius cessuri assurrecturique siquis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…lidiora protulerit i. e. I onely deliver these things by conjecture not affirming them as certain but ready to yield and joyn with any that shall find out more solid and substantial groundâ—… Harrison in both the Copies of Antoninus pubpublished by him hath Tudford whereto indeed I cannot readily direct you The learned Fulk and others have Liecester Burton-Stader c. of which this I must say they so much almost are distant from Praetorium Dissita quod Phrygibus distant procul arva Mysorum As Phrygia distant from the Myssian Plains And thus have we restored this first Journey beginning beyond the WALL where the Limit of the Empire was in the Island and ending here ITER II. THis second Journey is begun from the Western end of the Wall which is reported to have been drawn by Severus when he saw he could do no more good upon the Northern Britains some good way beyond Carlile neer upon the mouth of Ituna and it hath its ending in the East of the Island at Rutupiae or Richborow now called Sandwich in Kent It is as it were the Diametre of the whole Island however of so much as the Romans held subject to them The way this Journey takes as Talbot thinketh is by the Watlingstreet or as he saies he met with it written in an old Book Waeclyng-street so called because it passed thorough Watlingcester by which name among the Britans as well as Saxons Verulamium of old was known and for which at this day we have S. Albans The chief antient waies or thorough-fares of Britain are by the Interpreter or Author chuse you whether you please of the Britain History ascribed to Dunwallo Malmutius which afterward his Son Belinus confirmed Their courses are differently reported and in some part their names also They are commonly made four in number thus called and briefly described I. Watling-street Out of the South East into the North East from Dover to Cardigan in Wales at the Irish Sea II. The Fosse from the South to the North from Totness in Cornwall to Lincoln III. Ermingstreet Out of the West North West unto the East South East beginning at S. Davids to Southampton IV. Iknel-street by Worcester and so by York unto Tinmouth So commonly I say To endeavour certainty in all these were to obtrude saith one who was if ever any one else among us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unwarrantable conjectures and abuse both time and the Reader Of Watling it is said that it went from Dover in Kent and so by the West of London yet part of the name seems to this day left in the middle of the City to S. Albans and thence having crossed the Fosse in a crooked line through Shropshire where yet also the name abideth by Wrekin hill unto Cardigan by the Irish Sea side But others say from S. Albans to Câ—…ester and whereas all is referred to Belin and his Father by the British Historian and
agebantur aliquotiens barbaris prodidisse Id enim illis erat officium ut ultro citroque per longa spatia discurrentes vicinarum gentium strepitus nostris ducions intimarent So deserving a Commander for Marcellinus compares him with Domitius Carbulo in Nero's time whom the wisest Historian so surpassingly advanceth whose Tropaees and triumphs were every where extant and conspicuous and whose providence for the safety of the whole Empire was not inferior to but exceeded that of the best Princes came by free Election at length to take charge of all being a man both for his excellent Natural Endowments as well as for his wonderfull stately comelinesse born and made to command the whole World And had I not said enough of him out of Marcellinus I would recommend to the studious youth and yet however I will do it the excellent and eloquent Oration of the Panegyrist made to him personally at Rome when he was now compleat and sole Augustus for in that too you shall finde his extraordinary care for the Welfare of Britain And that learned Author who ever he was who wrote the Book De Rebus Bellicis ad Theodosium filios seems not to me so much to have directly advised them to what was fitting in this kind for them to do as to have expressed lively the Imitable practise and performance of so renowned a Chief and Souldier And the Younger Theodosius also directly trod in the steps of so glorious â—…an example as may be seen by the Lawes of his time enjoyning Magister Officiorum yearly to acquaint the Emperour in what case the Rampiers Garrisons and Souldiery in Generall every where stood as the Studious Reader may see at his pleasure And here in a discourse De Limitum cura custodia and that in Britain too is it possible I can omit the glorious name of Flavius Stilicho whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here peace I mean and security in this Island the brave Poet Clau-Claudian doth so highly advance in verse which shall outlive time and a worse vermin then Mothes ill men For thus he brings in Britain speaking by a Prosopopoeia Me quoque vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit Munivit Stilicho totm quum Scotus Iernen Movit infesto spumavit remige Tethys I lius effectum curis ne bella timerem Scotica ne Pictum tremerem ne littore toto Prospicerem dubiis venturum Saxona ventis Me also thou O Stilicho didst aide By neighbouring Nations overran she said When Scots brought Irish to my fertile shores And Thetis foam'd plow'd with invading Oars Yet I not fear'd the Scots nor Pictish Hoast Nor Saxons sayling to invade our Coast. Elsewhere he affirms the same thing as thus Venit extremis Legio praetenta Britannis Quae Scoto dat fraena truci ferroque notatas Perlegit exanimes Picto moriente figuras The Legion on the British borders lay Which curb'd the valiant Scot and did survey The steel-cut figures on the dying Pict And again in another place domito quod Saxone Tethys Mitior aut fracto secura Britannia Picto The waves to beaten Saxons were more milde Or Britannie the Picts by force exilde I know well enough that the actions of Stiâ—…cho are diversely related by others from what you meet with in Claudiâ—…n and therefore what he saies is reputed but for Poetical sigments But as wise men as them think not so for whatever you read of in Claudian about him depends upon sure grounds and granted by such whose knowledge of the Saxons outgoes Hengists time For that they a long while before in the beginning of Valentinians Empire annoyed the Britans and their Coasts we have good authority Saxones Brittannos â—…nis vexavere continuis saith Ammianus lib. XXVIII In Theodosius his time they are neer spoiled at Sea where they used to rove And within not so long after we find that to keep off their violence and fury from the Island Comitem littoris Saxonici per brittanniam placed here with forces assigned him for that purpose so that I need not to look for further proof out of the forenamed Panegyrick or else out of Sidonius Apollinaris or any where else to defend our good Poet sure I am there are far worse fictions told by some of our Historians in prose I more hearken after them who cry out Enough of this Vallum There is more than sitting said of it already Well then be it so We will therefore have the less to say to Gallio Ravennas and his Legion with the Wall he built here for the Britans safety for which I refer you to Paulus Diaconus Blandus and others As I would also have you for those raised afterwards by the Britans themselves for the same purpose to go to Gildas in his Epistle in which you have the miseries of those and the times neer thereupon lively described And to him you may adde the Venerable Bede who as is well known hath most out of him in the twelfth Chapter of his first Book of his Ecclesiastical History of the Englâ—sh as it is vulgarly intituled As for Gildas his Latine because it is generally harsh and forced I let it alone and commend the Reader to his English which is commonly to be had in Pauls Church-yard Take Beda then as smoother and easier to be dealt withall by the ordinary English man if ever he were at the Latin School Exin Britannia saith he omni armato milite militaribus copiis universis tota floridae juventutis alacritate spoliata quae tyrannorum temeritate abducta nusquam ultra domum rediit praedae tantum patuit utpote omnis bellici usus prorsus ignara Denique subito duabus gentibus transmarinis vehementer saevis Scottorum à Circio Pictorum ab Aquilone multos stupet gemitque per annos Transmarinas autem dicimus has gentes non quod extra Britanniam essent positae sed quia à parte Britonum erant remotae duobus finibus mari interjacentibus quorum unus ab Orientali mari alter ab Occidentali Britanniae terras longe lateque irrumpit quamvis ad se invicem pertingere possint Orientalis habet in medio sui urbem Guidi Occidentalis supra se hoc est ad dextram sui habet urbem Alcluith quod lingua eorum significat Petram Caith est enim juxta fluvium nominis illius Ob harum ergo infestationem gentium Britones Legatos Romam cum Epistolis mittentes lachrymosis precibus auxilia flagitabant subjectionemque continuam dummodo hostis imminens longius arceretur promittebant Quibus mox Legio destinatur armata quae ubi in Insulam advecta congressa est cum hostibus magnam eorum multitudinem sternens caeteros sociorum finibus expulit eosque interim à dirissima depressione liberatos hortata est instruere inter duo maria trans Insulam Murum qui arcendis hostibus posset esse
there yet to be seen and which at this day enclose some two acres of ground which they call Castlecroft as it were Castri Campum To this the inhabitants of the place by constant tradition say an old City was joined standing on the other side of the way guessing by the rubbish in such store the place where a Church sometime stood and which is the best proof of Antiquity they produce to shew the Caesars coines found here So that to borrow Tacitus words Veteris famae latae vestigia manent spatiumque cujus ambitu nunc quoque metiaris molem Or if you had rather take that of Veleius Paterculus the Court-Historian concerning the very old City Cumae Vires veteris ejus Urbis hodieque magni udo ostentat moenium The distance from Manduessedum in the Itinerary suits well with the places now and what ought to move also the old Highway with a fair visible and continued ridge comes from the Penâ—…ks bank even hitherto MANDUESSEDUM M. P. XVI Manduessedum was sometime a famous Roman Mansion as appears by Antoninus To find out the place where of old it stood among our many Antiquaries is not worth the while for even Talbot confesseth and so must they that he can neither divine nor devise whereabout it should be and yet he tells us that Manâ—…field in Shâ—…wood comes the neerest The difficulty in discovering it proceeds I conceive from not following a certain course for the finding it out next the uncertainty of distance Talbot telling us that the book he used having XVI M. P that the notes in the end would have it mended VI. the contrary of which was in the Longoâ—…an Manuscripts in which as Surita witnesses was to be found M. P. VI. XVI corrigitur Our very learned Antiquary Camden taking a sure course in these parts along Watlingstreet hath light uponit most luckily at a proportionable distance from Etocetum and thereby hath he found it not far from the River Anker where it is laid over with a stone-bridge Neither is the English Name at this day so totally dissonant from the old one but that it still retains some part of it for it is called Mancester in which what the addition of chester betokens you have formerly had notice given you In Ninnius his Catalogue of our old Cities it is named Mauncegaâ—…d and the all-knowing Usher agrees to all that is said here onely as he was more plentifully accomodated with Copies of Ninnius he produceth more varieties of reading Cair Maunguid alias Mauchgnid which whether at all material our friends the old Britains have most reason to know best Now whereas there is a Quarry of stones here by whence they have supplyed their need formerly cutting thence and seeing we are informed by the Glossaries of the British Language that as Main is a Stone so Fosswad in the Provincial speech hath the signification of digging from which two words joined together as they may easily produce Manduessedum so do they to the life expresse the Nature of the place The other course I was thinking on to find out the meaning of Manduessedum was to learn if possible I might meet with any one who could tell me what that sedum might signifie as I had seen the terminations of other Stations made significative for example dunum durus briga magus and divers others The studious youth may think of it as besides this here Mâ—…iosedum in Caesar and elsewhere more For my part I surcease all farther enquiry except I were better furnished with helps and means wherewithall to effect it And whosoever shall attempt it let him alwaies have this in his minde that the old Gallique tongue and the British were the very same How great soever it was in old time I know not now it makes shew of nothing antient praeter antiquam molem saith Camden which they call Aldbury and is as much as Antiquus Burgus The Town consists not of above fourteen houses Atherstone a Market Town on one side and Nonmeatus on the other side having in a manner exhausted it VENNONIS M. P. XII alias Bennonis for so it is other wise called Take therefore what is to be said concerning this Station from an eye-witness thereof after Camden the diligent and judicious William Burton Esquire in the LXXII page of his Description of that Shire Cleybroke in the Hundred of Guthlakeston standing upon the edge of Warwickshire neer Watlingstreet Neer unto this Town many ages since stood a great Roman City out of the ruines whereof this might seem to spring of the station called Bennones but by the Saxons after called Claycester through which went the great street way called Watlingstreet for on both sides of the Way have been plowed and digged up many antient Roman Coyns great square stones and bricks and other rubbish of that antient Roman building not far from a Beacon standing upon the way now called High Cross of a cross which there stood sometimes upon the cross meeting of another Great way Many of these coines here found have been delivered to me of which I will onely set down two the one the antientest the other the latest though that the rest being well viewed might give light perhaps to some other passages for as that excellent Graecian Geometrician that finding the length of Hercules foot upon the sand of the Hill Olympus drew all the lineaments of his whole body by the proportion of that one onely part So by the learned and judicious out of the observances of these small Coyns Inscriptions and such other Reliques may be found the Antiquity continuance greatness and other circumstances of this antient City now utterly perished and extinct The first and antientest of these Coyns here found is of the Emperor Caius Caligula in Copper stamped as Occo setteth down An. Dom. 42. upon the one side the Emperour with a Lawrel wreath with this Inscription viz. C. CAESAR DIVI AUG PRON. AUG P. M. T. R. P. IIII. PP Upon the reverse VESTA S. C. Vesta sitting in a chair holding in her right hand a dish The other Coyn is of Constantine the Great Emperour in Copper stamped An. Dom. 306. upon the one side the face with a Lawrel wreath circumscribed viz. CONSTANTINUS P. F. AUG Upon the reverse SOLI INVICTO COMITI T. F. P. R. The figure of the Sunne The Roman Emperours as Marguard Frehere in his Diatribe upon a piece of Coyn of Constantine Palaeologus the last Emperour of Constantinople well observes were very carefull in the graving and stamping of their Coines holding it no small lustre and ornament to their Majesties to have their devices neatly cut and their faces made to the life which was performed with that exquisite Art that though many of them of several sorts were mingled together yet by a judicious beholders view of the favour and Physiognomy without reading the inscription they might very easily be distinguisht which curious observance of theirs continued from
The River which through Nottingham runs into the Trent is at this day called Lin or rather Lind which rising out of Lindwood a little above the Village Linsey by the Priory of Newsted in a small Tract of ground suddenly encreased with the sources of many springs becomes an handsome River then running down by Lenton or Lynton Town Nottingham it is swallowed into the Trent before it hath well finished twelve miles from the Spring But by Lenton I think saies he that Lindum in this place is meant for Nottingham is very neer thereunto so that it may seem sometimes to have been part therof as which at this day is scarce one mile distant what if we should say that the old Town was there for it is not a thing unseldome seen that famous Towns have degenerated into little villages And bringing several arguments for the Antiquity of Lenton as also of Nottingham as that from London to York no body will chuse his road through Lincoln but ordinarily through Nottingham Then that the distance from Nottingham to York according to the Itinerary suits at this day exactly so also from Danum or Dancaster not amiss nothing more conveniently but from Lincoln to York and Dâ—…oaster it doth not hit out so right Again by longitude in Ptolemy it is plain that Lindum is not so much stretched out to the East as Eboracum But Lincoln is just so much but not so Nottingham now though all this may be well answered yet by these arguments saies he si qui 〈◊〉 mecum in eam sententiam descenderent facile adducerer ui arederem Lindum de quo hic apud Ptolemaeum fit mentio esse non quae nunc Lincolne sed quae Nottingham aut quae Lentonvocitatur But Camden is none of those who will come to be of the same opinion with him he then placeth Lindum or Lincoln at the Foss way where it and the River Wytham meet together the Britains called this City Lynd-coit from the woody situation thereof for which you have it misnamed in Ninnius Luit-coit The Many believed it called Lindum from the River Wytham which by an antienter name they say was Lindis but they have no authority for it of any standing With the Saxons it was Lindo-colin Camden knows not whether à collino situ and Lind-cyllan-ceaâ—… Camden rather deduceth it from Lhin a British word signifying a Lake and he brings many instances of the like The curious reader perhaps will look for farther Antiquity but there is none extant besides what we have brought yet if he please I bring that out of Beda Pradicabat autem Paulinus verbum etiam provinciae Lindisi qua est prima ad meridianam Humbri fluminis ripam pertingens usque ad mare Prafectumque Lindocolina civitatis cui nomen erat Blecca primum cum domo sua convertit ad Dominum In qua videlicet civitate Ecclesiam operis egregii de lapide fecit cujus tecto vel longa incuria vel hostili manu dejecto parietes hactenus stare videntur omnibus annis aliqua miracula sanitatum in eodem loco solent ad utilitatem â—…orum qui fideliter quaerunt ostendi He mentions it again in the XVIII chapter but Beda is beneath that authority which I pretend to SEGELOCIM M. P. XXIV This Station in this Journey is so called which elsewhere you have written Agelocum And this also is noted by Talhot and Simler by reason of the aequi-distance between Lindum and Danum or Dancaster Agelocum therefore is to be reckoned among those words to which the antients sometimes put an S. or Sibilus sometimes they omitted it So they called the Alpes which in Lycophrons Cassandra we find written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And they who are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insula by Dionysius the Periegetes the same in Strabo are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lying in the British Sea Salamantica of Spain is called by Polybius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Casars Swessiones in Ptolemy are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To adde one Common Noun out of Dioscorides what in Virgils Eglogues is Saliunca in him is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather take the whole place out of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In our great Antiquaries judgement this place possessed the banks of Trent in Nottinghamshire where at this day Littleborough a little Town but very antient stands and that upon second cares At this day it is famous for nothing more then for the frequent pass of the River there That the Romans held it there are many things which cause a belief For the Military Way went here and the Tract of the Walls yet appears to be seen which yet the Inhabitants such is their captuâ—… do think were raised there to keep in the violence of the River Then there is so great plenty of Roman Coynes in the neighbouring Feilds that they are often rooted up by the very Swine whence it is that they are commonly called Swine-pennies The distance moreover from Lindum to Agelocum or Segelocum makes us not at all to doubt although the same learned man write in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his Work or former edition that it was Idleton a Countrey Village which is no where else to be found but by the River Idle whence also is the Name And it produced his Conjecture whereby he would in Antoninus have Adelocum restored for Agelocum For Agelocum Aulerton in Sherwood is the divination of Robert Talbot William Fulk for some small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would have it to be Agle a small Village not quite VI. whole miles distant from Lindum when as in Antoninus in any Copies that are extant of him Agelocum is from it fourteen miles at least DANO M. P. XXI This was that Station which in after ages was called Dancaster and the Name shewes as much It is Talbots conceit that the Water which runs here under a stately Bridge was Ptolemies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called by him Humber for saies he the numbers in him of Longitude and Latitude added to this and to York are neer the same then there is none beside hereabout to which you may better apply it I know not this but I am sure Hieronymus Surita is wide here and that very much who would have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Durotriges in Ptolemie corrected into Danum as after Antoninus it is also called by the Notitia Provinciarum Occidentis where we read Sub dispositione Viri spectabilis Ducis Eritanniarum Praesectus Equitum Crispianorum Dano Chrispiana saith Pancirolus is a Town of Pannonia in this Itinerary whence these Crispiani may seem to be taken except as he thinkes we had better read for them Chrestini out of Velferus his old Papers who are a People of the Countrey of Dorilania in Belgica along the Rhine whence these might easily be brought hither In the Learned Doctor Ushers Edition of Ninnius the old Britains Catalogue of our Cities
the very midst and heart of the land as by all Writers and by the Topography thereof it doth appear and upon the great Rode-way called the Foss as Ranulph Higden affirmeth which goeth from the South into the North which begins at Totness in Devonshire and endeth at Catness in the utmost part of Scotland It is situated in a most rich delicate and pleasant soyl and a delicious air and whether you respect health or wealth pleasure or profit it is in this place afforded To parallel it with other Cities is not my purpose but had it a Navigable River whereby it might have trading and commerce it might compare with many of no mean rank For the antiquity thereof I shall speak what I have either read or found in the best and most approved Writers That this was a City in the Britains time before the comming of the Romans I should conjecture by the name thereof set down by Ninnius in his Catalogue of Cities viz. Caer Lerion that is the City upon Leir What the name was in the Romans time I must assent unto Master Camden Clarencâ—…ux his opinion who taketh it to be Ratae induced thereunto first by the situation thereof upon the said great Rode-way called the Foss the distance from Bennones and Vernomet agreeing so justly with the Emperour Antonine in his Itinerarium and a peice of the name yet remaining in that old long Ditch and rampier called Radikes That this his assertion should stand probable and true and that this was a great Roman Station these Roman Antiquities here found and affirmed will give strength and confirmation First the antient Temple here dedicated to Janus which had a Flamen or High Priest here resident in which place great store of bones of beasts which here have been sacrificed have been digged up and found and the place yet called thereof the Holy bones which all Histories do agree to have been here and surely was the foundation of the Romans as appeareth by their God Janus Bisrous to whose honour the first Temple was built in Rome by Romulus and Tatius or â—…s others say Numa Pompilius in a place called Argiletum and not founded by that feigned King Leir to the honour of Janus as Geffrey of Monmouth and of later daies John Harding and John Reut of Warwick will have it which how fabulous and improbable it is any ordinary capacity may conceive in that it is known to all that Janus was not adored or thought of ever of any but the Romans And this King Lier died at least three hundred years before Rome was built as by their own Chronology and Computation will appear But this and many such improbabilities and contradictions will easily convince this forged History of Brute and of his progeny Next the many Roman Antiquities here found their Medaglies and Coyns in great abundance both in silver and Copper of Vespasian Domitian Trajan Hadrian Antonine and others which I my self have seen and have of them And within these ten years neer unto the Town somewhat deep in the ground was found a piece of Work of stone arched over the stones very small about an inch long and half an inch broad and thick finely joined together with a thin morter It was in length about five or six yards in breadth about four the roof covered with a square kind of quarry with small Earthen Pipes therein This I guess to be a Stouphe or hot-house to bath in for as Vitrivius writeth the Romans growing to the excesse of riotousnesse and excesse through the abundance of their wealth used these kinde of Bathes in a wantonness to purge and clarifie themselves All this hitherto hath been transcribed out of the exact Description of Lestershire so far as it conduced to my present drift and institutum We shall also do the like in what followes to the next Station If we had known that the places about Lester had abounded with Ferne we would presently have concluded that the name RATAE had been from RATIS which Dioscorides saith in the old Gallick Tongue and so consequently in that of the Britains signified just as much The good Readers I hope will excuse this observation who also know that lame men though they be never so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet they cannot conveniently be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Being bad for any discovers though never so studious and desirous thereof Let those tell us here of Rateford in Nottinghamshire or Rutland look well to their Arguments why they do it VEROMETUM M. P. XIII Master William Burton the restorer of his own Country and the antiquities thereof in his exact description of Lestershire pag. 62. Burrow antiently called Erdburrow standing neer to the confines of Rutlandshire Master Camden doth conjecture that this place should be that Vernometum mentioned by Antonine the Emperour in his Itinerarium by reason of the true distance between Ratae and Vernometum And his words be these the name of Burrow also that it hath at this day came from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the Saxon Tongue signifieth a place fortified and under it is a Town called Burrow belonging to an old Family of Gentlemen so surnamed But that which maketh most for the proof in that very place there riseth up an Hill with a steep and upright ascent on every side but South-eastward in the top wherof appear the express tokens of a Town destroyed a double Trench and the very Tract where the Walls went which inclosed about 18. Acres within at this day it is arable ground and in nothing so famous as in this that the Youths dwelling neer thereto were wont yearly to exercise themselves in wrestlings and other sports in this place And out of the very name a man may conjecture that there stood some great Temple of the Heathen Gods for the word Vernometum in the old Gauls language which was the same with the old Britains tongue signifieth as much as a great Temple as Venantius Fortunatus in his first book of his Songs doth shew writing of Vernometum a Town of Gaul in these verses Nomine Vernometum voluit vocitare vetustas Quod quasi fanum ingens Gallica lingua sonat Of old the place they Vernomet did name Which signifies among the Gauls a Fane In elder times this place they termed by the name of Vernomet which sounds in the language of the Gauls as much as a Temple great Thus far the diligence and the great ornament of his Countrey William Burton Esquire of Linley who though now with God hath left the heir of his vertues as well as other fortunes Cassibbelaun Burton Esquire MARGIDUNUM M. P. XIII Where Lincolnshire borders upon Liecestershire there stands Beâ—…vior or Beauvior Castle not far from whence as our great Antiquary thought stood the Roman Station Margidunum in old time in a most pleasant and fruitful Soyl. This the distance from Vernometum to which it stands next in Antoninus having Ad Pontem or
here in the printed Edition of Aâ—…us as also in some Copies which Ierom Surita made use of for that somewhere Margitudis is put in by him out of others in what goes before it is just as much as nothing and so much seemed requisite to be said concerning the Eighth Journey but that here also is Bâ—…nnavantum or Bennaventum for what was before Bennavenna and Isannavatio BRITANNIARUM ITER IX Editio Aldina Suritana Simleriana  ITER A VENTA ICENORUM LONDINIUM M P. CXXVIII sic Icin XXXI SITOMAGUM M. P. XXXII XXXI Combret CAMIRETOVIUM M. P. XXII Comb.  AD ANSAM M. P. XV.  Camolodun CAMULODUNUM M P. VI. Camolod  CANONIUM M. P. IX   CAESAROMAGUM M. P. XII   DUROLâ—…UM M. P. XVI   LONDINIUM M. P. XV.  THis Journey is from Venta Icenorum or Caster to London some three miles distant from Norwich which place was so named from the Castra or Camps of the Romans sometimes hereabouts and not as the Cambridge Antiquary writes from Castor a King here placed by Julius Caesar. In Surita's MSS. and those Printed Copies of Antoninus which we use it is read Icinorum yet he following Tacitus rather and others mends Ptolemy making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For it seems not likely to him that Ptolemy who wrote down the severall names of the Countrys Cities Rivers Ports Promontories c. throughout all Britain should leave out so powerfull a people as the Iceni are said to be Tacitus Quod primi Iceni abnuere valida gens nec praeliis concussa quia societatem nostram volentes accesserant And a little after Caterum clade Icenorum compositi qui bellum inter pacem dubitabant As they are corruptly called in Ptolemy Simeni so were they also Tigeni in Tacitus his old Copies to borrow his words elsewhere pacem exuebant magis nostra avaritia quam obsequi impatientes as plainly he shewes in his relation concerning them of later Writers see by all means Camden Surita for better distinction sake calls the station here Secunda Venta Ptolemai I might very well let passe their high flown fancy who would have the King Cynobellinus mentioned by Diâ—… Cassius to be as much as the Bellinus of the Icenians This station hath not so much in Ptolemy lost the right name of the people among whom it stood as it self too for they say nothing thereof remains now besides a few decayed Walls which enclose some thirty acres that shewes the ground there sometime inhabited and some Roman Coyn now and then taken up else there is nothing remaining But out of the ruines thereof in after times there arose Norwich a City whose antiquity the learned Author of Kets History hath most learnedly and elegantly in Latin set down It stands neer the confluents of Garienis and another River which they call Bariden Norwicus signifies as much as Aquilonare Castellum seu vicus Wic enim Alfrico Saxone teste Castellum sonat as Camden observes To say that Julius Caesar was founder thereof were to say with the Many which renders it much suspected As is also the tradition of some outlandish men very false who think to find something of Norwicus in the name of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a people of Britain in Ptolemy far enough dissite hence Yet of the name Venta there are plain vestigia to be seen in the neer River Wentsum or Wentsar as some doe call it SITOMAGUS M. P. XXXII With this Station this journey goes on here The name whereof is corruptly set forth in Peutingers Military Tables SIMOMAGUS and sometime SINOMAGUS but here in Antoninus it is right SITOMAGUS From the Saxon times it was called Thetford from the little River Thet and the Ford there besides the old British or Gallick word Magus a dwelling or house as you would say The mansion by the Thet. Thet and sit they say come very neer Olim frequens celebrata this Station was saith our great Antiquary praeter alia vetustatis indicia molem ostendit in magnam altitudinem aggestam duplicique vallo munitam moenibus ut ferunt olim firmatam quam Romanorum fuisse opus credunt nonnulli vel potius Saxonicorum Regum ut volent alii CAMBRETOVIUM M. P. XXII So many copies have it but amisse There is a small Town in Suffolk not far from the Source of the Breton lying low in a bottome This of old was Combretonium as if you should have said The Valley or bottom by Breton This sometimes it was Now scarce any thing appeares left else to say that ever it was In the room thereof you have in Peutingers Military Tables which the noble Mark Velfer set forth but corruptly for how could it be otherwise after so long time and so ungain Transcribers Comvetronum and Ad Coverin AD ANSAM M. P. XV. But you shall find that it is six miles from Camulodunum the Colony In Camden our excellent diligent Antiquary it is thought to be a Terminus of this Colony grounding his conceit upon the authority of Seculus Elarcus for so his name is to be written not Siculus and him you have published in the Volume of Writers De limitibus Agrorum Agri saith he Coloniis adjacentes variis Terminis definiebantur in limitibus constitutae erant pro Terminis res aliae atque aliae alibi Hermulae alibi spatuâ—…ae alibi rhombi alibi secundum vitalem Arcadium Termini erant Lagenares vel Orculares id est Lagenae Or. Upon which words that learned man thus infers Cur igitur non Ansa terminale signum fuerit vel diversorium aliquod ad Viam sub ejusmodi intersignio Cum ad Ansam non Ansae suo more dixerit Antoninus Nec alia quam signa terminalia vel diversoria erant quae eadem loquendi formula Romano saculo nomâ—…nabantur Which we may truly beleive to be said by him if we understand it concerning the Mutations only appointed in latter ages through the Provinces in publick Roads and were called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 furnished with beasts for publique carriage as also with their meat and provender but not with other accomodations and therefore distinguished from Mansions For otherwise places in the very City were expressed in this form of speaking Suetonius Domitianus natus est regione Urbis sexta Ad Malum Punicum domo quam postea in Templum gentis Flavia convertit P. Victor also mentions it in the same Region of the City and names it the House of Domitian where also he places Ad Gallinas Albas The name of this house was taken from the Viâ—…ntan Countrey-dwelling of the Caesars which was called Ad Gallinas from the brood of Chickens of that white Hen which an Eagle flying over let fall into Livias Lap. Lampridius Romae in
became dry the Parishoners supplyed them again as their own relation was to Adam of Brâ—…me in Germany whom they took in their way from Italy homeward I may fit both with that excellent character of those poor Countrey Bishops of Italy in Ammianus Marcellinus an Heathen Historian Quos tenuitas edendi potandique pâ—…rcissime vilitas etiam indumentorum superâ—…ilia humum spectanâ—…a perpetuo Numini verisque ejus cultoribus ut puros commendabant verecundos i. e. Whom their spare diet and most abstemious drinking the meaness of their apparel their countenances conversing so much with the ground and alwaies looking to God and his true Worshippers commended as pure and meek Not but that then there were swaggering Bishops and far unlike these as appears also in him Thus much upon occasion of mentioning EBORIUS Bishop of York hitherto unknown to our History Concerning the antient Britain Bishops men of a more golden and godly age then we have known But these are dangerous examples to urge for imitation or practise in our daies I have therefore instanced in them but sparingly and scarce let them speak in English What have we to do with Bishops will they say who I fear are neither so painful or so poor I am sure not so humble I will have done because I will not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If they therefore or any other whatsoever think this last part or any else in this Discourse which I have intended to recover the old glory of Eboracum too tedious let them read nothing at all of the whole and by that means make it the more compendious I ever thought with the wiseman and vulgus non tam Coronam quam Chlamydatos appello Equitem mihi plaudere curo To my applause a Herauld do provide DERVENTIONE M. P. VII Upon the River Derwent some seaven Miles from York there is seated a Village called at this day Aldby And in the Itinerary you have just at that distance from Eboracum a Roman Mansion or rather Station called Derventio That it was placed where now the village stands or not far from thence we have sufficient assurance This place a long while after this continued a station of Roman Souldiers with their Commander who also had their Title or Denomination from it about the time of the Declination of the Roman glory in Britain under Theodosius the younger This we learn from the Notitia or Survey of the Western Empire Sub dispositione Viri Spectabilis Ducis Britanniarum Praefectus Numeri Derventionensis Derventione We have observed out of our Beda in several places that those Stations which were left unruined after the Romans time became the Palaces and residing Houses of the former Saxon Kings As this for one and Beda tells us this story In the year of Christ ICXXVI Eumerus as an Assassin was dispatched by William King of the West-Saxons to Edwin King of Northumberland with an intent to deprive him of Kingdome as well as life having with him a two-edged weapon empoisoned that if the wound would not speed him the poison might He came to him saies he juxta amnem Doroventionem ubi tunc erat Villa Regalis and pretending a Message to him drawing his tool when he saw his time he made an attempt upon the Kings person with that violence that he wounded the King through the very body of one of his Guard who stept between for his safely yet without any danger of the Kings life the faithfull Souldier lost his and the Assassin or Murtherer was soon dispatched by the rest of the Guard You see here how Beda names this River Doroventio which other wise is Derventio or Derwent as he doth likewise Canterbury Dorobernia which to Ptolemy and Antonine is Darvernum or Durarvernum However our Antiquaries deduce the name so as that it signifies The White Water For that Dour-guent is as much as aqua alba the learned Cambro-Britan Hum phrey Lhuyd is sufficient witness though indeed when he saies so he speaks not of this but of another Derwent which runs by Darby But there are stranger readings of it then this of Beda and in old Books too By Ninnius an old Britain Historian in a written Copy it is called Fluvius de Revent by a mistake undoubtedly as you have it likewise printed in an old Edition of Gâ—…ffrey of Monmouth Deriment Vorâ—…uerus saith he pugnabat contra Saxones super fluvium Deriment Indeed there were saith he many Rivers in Britain of the same and a like name which as the onely cause hath made learned men as we shall see wide the whole Heaven and Earth in search of this station never observing the account of Itinerary distance a thing most to be observed though the numbers truly sometimes are very corrupt But that it is no where to be found but here divers good reasons meeting together do more then perswade First The almost exact distance and constantly so written down in the Itinerary as it is observed to be at this day Next the station and Rivers being both of the same Name a thing not strange to either Greeks or Romaens and frequently to be taken notice of in old Chorographical Descriptions Then the present name at this day Aldby which our Antiquary renders out of the Saxon Antiqua habitatio argues that in much elder times there was here some antienter City or Station as you may also see in Aldborow next before York as this is next after formerly called Isurium and many places besides in this work I might very well adde hereto among other reasons such remains of Antiquity as do yet appear about the place which do yet plainly testifie the residence of a Praefectus here and company of Souldiers in the Romans time which the Notitia also mentions The words of our learned Antiquary who also was an eye witness are these Ibi nonnulla vetustat is indicia in Editiori ad flumen colle antiqui castri extant adhuc rudera All this put together serves to disprove the Wild and extravagant dreams of such as search for Derventio at Darby for some small agreement in the first syllable of the names when besides the irreconcileable distance according to the old writing of the English Deoraby in Fabius Ethelooerdus there is no consonancy at all Yet this opinion is followed by Talbot and Lhuyd Harrison hath set down Tadcaster to Derventio in both his Editions of Antoninus and it seems he followed Leland No reckoning to be had of such Conjectures All being fowly out DELGOVITIA M. P. XIII This Mansion hath not sped so well as the foregoing Derventio none of the Antients except here making any mention of it No not so much as our good Beda Our learned Antiquary therefore hath shewed very good judgement in descrying the ground where-nigh it stood of yore And though the name be lost in Beda yet by the light he borrows out
When one day sitting alone in his upper parlour at Longnor in meditation no doubt of Gods deliverance of his people he heard a general Ring of all the Bells in Shrewsbury whereunto in St. Ceadda's Parish his house belonged when strait his right-divining soul told him it was for Q. Maries death yet longing to know the truth more certainly and loath to trust his Servants therein for some reasons he sent his Eldest Son my Grandfather being then but a boy of sixteen years of age willing him to throw up his hat if it were so so impatient was his expection Who finding it and doing accordingly as he was directed the good man retiring presently from the window and recovering his Chair for extremity of joy which he conceived for the deliverance of the Saints of God he suddenly expired And this was his Nunc dimittis Domine But neither was the storm of persecution so quite blown over hereby but that still some scatterings did fall upon the Servants of God for they suffered some grievances still among which was their being debarred from Christian interment in Churches But facilis jactura sepulcri His friends made a shift to bury him in his Gardens by the Fish-ponds and set a Monument over him which being defaced by time and rain it happened in the year ∞ DC XIV that Edward Burton Esquire his Grandson inviting to Dinner the noble Sir Andrew Corbet then Lieutenant of the Shire with divers other Gentlemen of quality that the good Baronet desirous to see the place which preserved the reliques and memory of that excellent man as good men are still inquisitive after them whose vertues they honour but finding it much decayed by the weather after a friendly correption of his Host and serious injoynment to repair the Tomb whereby the memory of his most deserving Grandfather was kept alive he without any ado effected what he spake for and promised himself to become the Poet for an Epitaph And this is it which follows turned also into Latine verse but ex Anglicanis bonis Latina non item bona Haec mihi non vani nec erat cur fallere vellent Narravere Senes Here lieth the body of Edward Burton Esquire who deceased Anno Domini 1558. Was 't for denying Christ or some notorious fact That this mans body Christian burial lackt O no his faithful true profession Was the chief cause which then was held transgression When Pop'ry here did reign the Sea of Rome Would not admit to any such a Tomb. Within their Idol-Temple Walls but he Truly professing Christianity Was like Christ Iesus in a Garden laid Where he shall rest in peace till it be said Come faithful Servant Come receive with me A just reward for thy Integrity 1614. In Agro Salopiensi Longnorae ad Sabrinam Fl. ad Piscinas in Horto Iuxta Aedes patruelis mei Francisci Burtoni Proavi mei Epitaphium Quod scelus an Christi nomen temerare quod ausus Huic vetitum sacro condere membra solo Dii melius sincera fides nec tramite veri Devia causa illo tempore grande nefas Urbibus insultat nostris dum turbida Roma Rasaque gens sacris dat sua jura locis Noc saâ—…ri ritus nec honores suneris intra Moenia Christicolis heu malesancta 〈◊〉 piis At referens Dominum inculptae munere vitae Ad Domini exemplar funera â—…actus eret Ille â—…t odorifero tumulatus marmore inhorto Ossa etiam redolens hortus hujus habet Hic ubi expect at felix solantia verba Euge age mercedem jam Bone Serve Cape And now have we done with Wrokcester and Longâ—…or the former whereof I have finished as part of my task undertaken what I have said concerning the other the great respect I had of my worthy Progenitours memory would not let me omit And I might also take my leave of Shropshire but that Usocona an old Station in Antoninus and thought sometimes to have been neer the limits thereof makes me some short stay USOCONA M. P. XI Not very far from the foot of the Wrekin in somewhat a low bottom stands a small village called Oken-Yate not famous at this Day for any thing except it be for the much frequented Coal-pits Of old time that it was Usocona written also according to the variety of copies Usoccona and Uxacona a Roman Station mentioned here in Antoninus is the conjecture of our great Antiquary for these reasons First that it is by the Military or antient Roman High-way an infallible sign in his judgemeut especially if there accompany it any proportionable distance which he next observes The equidistance between Wroxcester and this village on the oâ—…e side and Pencridge on the other agreeing with that in the Ininerary exactly confirms it so that he concludes it with that peremptoriness that there is no cause saith he our quisquam dubitet He addes then nec abnuit ipsum nomen deducing it as his manner is from the old British the ignorance of which I have more then once in this Work openly professed Nam haec dictio Y S saith he Britannis inferius notat and is it seems added to notify the Low situation And though the Language of the antient Britains endured not an X. as is somewhere else taken notice of yet the reading of the Name so Uxacona among the Romans it being frequent in old books is thereby nothing hindered at all PENNOCRUCIUM M. P. XII The divers readings in Surita are not worth the heeding Talbot first of all assigned it to Pencridge in Staffordshire where is the notable Horse-â—…air Both names as well that which was in use in the Romans time as that which is at this day seem to be derived from the River there named Penck by a stone bridge over which the Military way which being there parted asunder is in a manner thereby joined again The distance of Miles in Antoninus from Uxacona also doth very handsomely suit ETOCETUM M. P. XII The divers readings of the Name are to be taken notice of for besides that set down you have in some old Copies Etoretum in others Erocetum But we follow the most common The learned Antiquary Camden confesseth he was out in his conjecture in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his great Work entituled BRITANNIA conceiving it to have been Uâ—…exeter or Uâ—…r which is also the mistake of William Fulk in his time Yet I dare say boldly they two conferred not notes The errour I am perswaded was the sooner entertained because of some light consonancy in the Names as if the late one had signified as much as Etoceti Urbs. But he upon farther Enquiry and second thoughts is confident he hath found it there being the karcass of an old City as he saics lying by the antient Roman High-way distant from Lichfield which is South of it scarce a whole mile At this day it is called the Wall in Staffordshire from the ruins of Walls