On the claims of CAMERTON, near Bath, to be considered as the CAMALODUNUM spoken of by Dion and Tacitus, in which was established the first Colony of the Romans in Britain. Read at the Bristol Philosophical and Literary Society. By the Rev. John Skinner, A.M. F.A.S. Rector of Camerton, Thursday, Feb. 8, 1827. Mr. SKINNER, in allusion to a former Paper read to the Bristol Institution, briefly stated his reasons for believing that the Brigantes mentioned by Tacitus, whose insurrection re-called the General Ostorius from his march along the northern coast of Devonshire', were the dwellers near the Briga, or principal pass over the Severn in the vicinity of Brigastow or Bristow. That the Iceni, who had been previously defeated by Ostorius, inhabited the coast of Hampshire, near the Itchen or Southampton water2. That the Cangi dwelt on the projecting angle between the Parrett and the Severn3. That the colony settled at CamaJodunum, the royal residence of Cunobelin 1, occupied the ridge of high ground (on which is situate the parish of Camerton) extending from Twiney, in Wellow parish, to Clan down above Paulton parish, six miles in length, and nearly two in width; which high land or dunum was nearly encompassed by the two streams of the Cam and a brook which rises at Clan down, and falls into the southern branch at Radstock. That the lofty hills, deep vallies, and continued morasses surrounding the territory, afforded a strong defence to the first settlers and their Belgic successors for centuries before the arrival of the Romans in the country; as has been proved by existing tumuli and their contents, together with the original Celtic name, which indicates the situation of a strong-hold encompassed in the manner here described. That Colchester and Malden have neither of them the same identity of situation, the former denominat ed by the Britons Caer Coln (when latinised, Colonea) being a strong post, above the river Coln, not encompassed by its waters, and the latter Maldon (id est, Moel dun), implying simply a detached range of hill. That, although Hollinshed and Caniden had partially given their opinions in favour of these places, yet both found the testimony of Tacitus so strong respecting the operations of Ostorius in the vicinity of the Severn and Avon rivers, and of the establishment of his colony in those parts, that they conjectured it must have been at Camalet, a strong fortified camp at the S. W. extremity of the county of Somerset 8; but that this strong hold, only 20 acres in extent, could not have been adapted to the residence of the colony, is evident from the further testimony of Tacitus, who says the colonists of Camalodunum had no regular lines of defence, having built their foundations over the territory they occupied, as pleasure or convenience inclined them, and on that account they were easily overcome by the Britons under their Queen Boadicea, and having taken refuge in the temple dedicated to Claudius, in the vicinity, they were cut off after a siege of two days. It moreover appears, that one of the principal reasons assigned by the historian for this revolt of the Britons was, because the revenues of their priests had been alienated and bestowed on the Roman Sacerdotes who officiated in the temple dedicated to the Emperor Claudius by the colonists at Camalodunum 19. By the same historian we are informed that Ostorius occupied a chain of camps, facing the Severn and Avon rivers, in order to prevent the invasions of the Silures, and after he had established a colony at Camalodunum, he proceeded from thence against that people. That the Camalodunum mentioned by Tacitus must have been on the west of England, may be further confirmed by the testimony of Dion, who asserts it was the regal residence of Cunobelin before 1 Taciti Ann. lib. 12, cap. 31 and 32. * Prutusagus, the King of these Iceni, had enriched himself by the traffic of the metals through his territories. Leland quotes an ancient author, who calls the New Forest, Sylva, or Foresta Icenea. Gale also remarks there were ICENI dwelling. in Hamphire, near the Itchen. 3 The name is retained in Cannington and the Quantock hills. 4 Vide Dion, lib. 60, Καμουλοδουνιον του Κυνοβελλινου Βασίλειον. 5 There is a large vaulted Celtic tumulus at Stoney Littleton, in Wellow parish; another opened in Brays Down, in the same parish, contained two flint arrow heads and some very coarse pottery: in a third place of interment were found fragments of an urn of the rudest construction. 6 Cambodunum under the Alps, and indeed all places retaining the particle Cam, are inclosed territories of this description. 7 Camden and Horsley declare in favour of Camalodunum, at Malden; Leland at Colchester; Dr. Gale at Saffron Walden; others at Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire; Polydore Vergil at Doncaster; Hector Boethius at Camilon, in Scotland. 8 Vide Hollinshed, vol. i. lib. 12, cap. 33; also Gibson's Camden, vol. i. p. 88; Taciti Ann. lib. 12, c. 31. 9 Tac. Ann. lib. 14, c. 31. 10 Tac. Ann. lib. 14, c. 82. 11 Tac. Ann. lib. 12, c. 31. the Romans became masters of it, during the reign of Claudius. By examining the great variety of coins stamped with the name of Cunobelin, and Cam on the reverse for Camalodunum, it will be perceived that the effigies there represented could never have been intended for the same person, since the features of some of the heads are wholly different, and some, indeed, are the representatives of females. The name Cynobellin literally signifies the Cyu or Chief, O Bellin of the Belga; and the Roman mint masters, in imitation of their own coins, which were inscribed with I. M. P. signifying Imperator Romanorum, applied Cyn Ó Bellin as a similar term for the existing ruler of the Belgic tribes in Britain. If the Cyn O Bellin or Chief of the Belge had his royal residence at Camalodunum, where are we to look for that place but in the midst of the Belgic people over whom these chieftains successively presided 12 ? Besides, on the authority of Tacitus 13, the Roman Province in the time of Ostorius, did not extend further than Britannia Prima (or as he terms it the proxima pars Britannia). This was the country bounded by the Thames, the Severn, and the channel, which had by degrees been reduced into the form of a province under the Generals Aulus Plautius, Ostorius, and Vespasian. Britannia Secunda, or Wales, so named from having been the second fruits of the Roman victories, was not subdued till long after the death of Ostorius. Indeed, to Agricola may be attributed chiefly the conquest of the other parts of Britain and Scotland, nearly 30 years after this period. How then can it, with any shew of reason, be presumed that Camalodunum, the capital of the province of Britannia Prima, was at Colchester, in Essex, which place was entirely out of the province, and every way remote from the operations which Ostorius subsequently carried on against the Silures and Ordovices, the inhabitants of South and North Wales? Besides, Pliny asserts that Camalodunum was distant from Mora two hundred miles 14, whereas Colonea, now Colchester, as it appears from the Itineraries, measured to Caer Segont, or Caernarvon, is short of Mona, 321 miles. Besides, the Romans ever kept in view the convenience of situation with respect to military operations. The few were to overawe the many, and the head-quarters of a Legion, as was the colony in question, must have had a centrical situation with respect to the country already conquered, in order to transport a body of troops, with all possible celerity, to the point threatened. Our western Camalodunum possessed all these 12 Three copper coins of the Belgae have aud are now in my possession.-J. S. 13 Agricolæ Vita, cap. 14. advantages of situation. It was nearly equidistant from Kent, the eastern extremity of the province, Land's End the western, and Mona the northern point of Britannia Secunda, then about to be subdued. But the most powerful argument which may be adduced in favour of our hypothesis, is this: -The Roman colonists, by establishing themselves in this part of the Island, had all the mines of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Wales, open to their commercial speculations, by which they enriched themselves and their countrymen, carrying on the same traffic the Belgic Britons did with the continent prior to the invasion of Julius Cæsar 15. Caer Coln, or Colchester, promised none of these advantages for commerce, by which the colonists might have enriched themselves; as the original strong hold from whence the station sprang, was in the midst of woods and marshes, and had no mines or minerals, which seem to have held out the principal inducement for the invasion of Britain; it was moreover entirely out of the way of all the subsequent operations of Ostorius and his successors against Britannia Secunda or Wales. From these premises Mr. S. derived the following conclusions in support of his opinion that Camerton, called in Domesdaybook Camerlertone, has very strong if not exclusive claims to be considered as the Camalodunum, recorded by Dion and Tacitus as having been the first colony of the Romans in Britain: 1st.-It accords in name and situation. The name Cam-al-o-dunum implies the strong hold above the inclosing streams of the Cam-Cam-el-er-tun indicates exactly the same thing; the D and T being convertible letters; vide Dun and Tun, Don and Ton. Cam-er-ton is the ton or residence above the Cam or inclosing streams. With respect to its having been an original Dunum or British strong hold, it entirely coincides with the description given of such capitals of districts, capable of containing the whole population of the surrounding country with the flocks and herds of the inhabitants.-Vide Cambodunum, Ebordunum, Melodunum, Lugdunum, Sorbeodunum, Maredunum, &c. &c. It was approached by no less than eleven vicinal roads, besides the Fosse-way, the Ridgeway, and Port-way; these roads are known to have been employed by the ancients, from the circumstance of interments having been discovered by the way side, and the banks of earth by which they were defended; besides, villages and hamlets have sprung from the original forts, which guarded the approaches into the Dunum over the fords been found at Camerton during my residence, and causeways; namely, Radford, Dunford, 2dly. It accords as to the general situation of the country, being in the vicinity of the Avon and Severn rivers. Ostorius having conquered the Iceni on the Hampshire coast, and the Cangi beyond Bridgewater, and quelled an insurrection of the Brigantes, dwelling near the Briga or principal pass into Wales, established a colony in this part of the country, having first guarded the Severn and Avon rivers by a connected line of forts from the incursions of the Silures. These camps are still remaining, or the site of them may be traced On the Severn.-Portbury, Portishead, Walton, Clevedon, Worle, Uphill, Bream Down, Brent Knoll. On the heights above these, a second line of Camps-Cadbury or Tickenham, Congersbury, Dolebury, and Dynhurst, Burrington, and Banwell, with Bleadon-hill. On the Avon.-Clifton camp, Stoke-leigh, Burrough-walls, Wick in Brislington parish, a Camp facing Hanham, another at Twerton, and a third at Berwick-hill on the line of the Foss above Bath. Above these on the line of the Wans Dyke, Maes-knoll, Knoll-hill, Stanton-bury, Newton old Park, Angliscomb, and Oldun, now called Old Down. 3dly, It accords in not having had the lines of a regular station to protect the colonists. Tacitus informs us, that the Veterans settled at Camalodunum were not guarded by walls as was usual with them in other instances, but were scattered over the territory according as inclination or convenience induced them to fix their residences. It is a singular coincidence, that though Roman coins and remains have been discovered, partially over the whole Dunum from Twiney to Clan Down, no regular lines or fortifications have been met with to mark the site of a station on the heights. This coincidence certainly has its weight; moreover it clearly proves that Camalet or Cadbury, which is a strongly guarded camp with a triple trench, could not have been occupied by the colonists, as Tacitus expressly says it had no regular fortifications. 4thly, The circumstance of there having been a temple dedicated to the Emperor Claudius in the vicinity of Camalodunum, accords in a singular manner, both with the name and situation of Temple Cloud, in the parish of Clutton, a short distance to the N. W. of the Dunum. We learn from Dion, Tacitus, and Seneca, there was a temple dedicated to Claudius by the colonists of Camalodunum, which gave great offence to the Britons, as the revenues of their own priests were confiscated to maintain the Roman sacerdotes who officiated therein. Since the Druidical circles at Stanton Drew are within three miles of Temple Cloud, we have not far to look for the origin of this discontent; that is, supposing it be admitted that Temple Cloud was actually the site of the temple dedicated to Claudiusand that Clutton was the Cloud-tun or settlement of some of the Veterans in the vicinity of the temple. That the Romans worked the Iron Mines in the vicinity of Clutton, is very evident. How this singular coincidence in respect to name can otherwise be accounted for, I cannot pretend to determine. Templum Claudii affords a ready solution of the etymon,-if it be not admitted, where are we to look for another? 5thly, The distance of Camerton from Mona or the Isle of Anglesea, two hundred miles, accords with what Pliny mentions as the actual distance between Camalodunum and that celebrated abode of the Druids. The reason Pliny gives the distance between these two places, and connects them together, seems to be, because Paulinus Suetonius was called from the conquest of that island by an insurrection of the Britons under Boadicea, who destroyed the colony at Camalodunum, and the temple dedicated to Claudius, before the General could return back to render them any assistance. Some books probably extant in Pliny's time, might have recorded these events, and given it as a reason for his not having been able to prevent this sad catastrophe, owing to the distance between the two places. 6thly, The number of Roman coins discovered at Camerton, within these few years, upwards of 1800, being in possession of the Rector, which extend in an almost uninterrupted series from Augustus to Honoriusthe numerous graves and tumuli in the vicinity-the various fords, roads, and trackways conducting directly to the Dunumthe camps, out-posts, and earth-works which defended the approaches to it-above all, its contiguity to the boundary of the Wansdyke, which securely guarded it from invasion by the Avon, together with its connection by port-ways leading direct to the camps on the Severn;-we must be satisfied of the importance of the place in past times, and since there is no other name so applicable as that of Camalodunum, to iden tify a situation of such consequence, we feel justified in supporting the opinion that Camerton or Camelertone, as it is written in Domesdsy-book, was actually the site of the Roman colony established by Ostorius to awe the Silures, and to carry on a lucrative traffic in the metals with Gaul, and the mother country. Indeed the subsequent prosperity of the district in which it is situate, in which are established three cities, namely, Bath, Bristol, and Wells, and the first and richest monastery in Britain, name ly, Glastonbury, can hardly be accounted for, unless by supposing that it was in very early times the principal mart for commerce in Britain. Mr SKINNER Concluded his Essay by expressing his sincere wishes that the prospe rity of these Cities might long continue, and that they might be spared for ages the desolation which had befallen the Capital, where scarcely one stone now remains on another to record where Camalodunum stood. SELECT POETRY. On the Picture of "The Holy Family," painted by Mrs. W. Carpenter, the Design from a Bas-relief by Michael Angelo; brought from Rome by the late Sir George Beaumont, Bart. BY JOHN TAYLOR, ESQ. THIS noble work by Angelo design'd, The pious offspring of his pregnant mind, E'en though imperfect, is a master-piece, Like the fam'd Torso of enlighten'd Greece! Beaumont, to judgment, taste, and virtue dear, Brought from reluctant Rome the relic here; [side; That freedom dearer far than ought beKindling with patriot warmth the weak and cold, Valour which when in chains new strength supplied, And won the meed of praise, even from Roman pride. Or that which liv'd and glow'd within the breast Of Boadicea, Britain's injur'd Queen! Whose wrongs had never been in part redress'd, If in her bosom cowardice had been; Hers was a soul that held the being mean That could cringe down before a conqueror's spear; [were seen; Revenge and Death in her proud glance She saw the Roman host, yet knew not fear; [derers paid full dear. And for her daughters' charms the plunExamples worthy of a better age! Spirits superior to your rugged race! Yours is a record brief on history's page, But, still a record time may not efface! In deeds like yours amidst a realm's disgrace We find redemption, rarely to be found: Compar'd with yours Napoleon's aims were [and bound, base; He fought and conquer'd,—then was foil'd For freedom and for home ye bled, and are renown'd. But now for them the dreadful die was cast, Nor were their treacherous allies more mild; Allur'd by conquest in the sequel, pil'd Extermination o'er the bleeding land, Whence amidst rocks unblest they took their gloomy stand. And now, old Sherwood, o'er thy forest bound, Proud of their conquest, a rekindling race, And with exulting shouts, with hawk and hound, [chace ;Bold chiefs and Mercian kings pursued the Oh, Earth! what various changes on thy face, [sorrow, What peals of triumph, and what cries of - In the long lapse of time have taken place, From which the bard and the historian [ful morrow. borrow, Yet may they not unfold the dark event Thou art, then, dead! and from my arms To shed o'er thee a parting tear,— No more to see thee, till the hour Of Him who died the world to save; Nor what was late so lovely die, Without one tear-one tender sigh: Is heard that sigh,—is shed that tear. LINES SENT WITH A SPARROW HAWK. I ne'er will crush one tender stalk; All vermin will destroy. The ripening fruit unmov'd I'll see ; The idol schoolboy, older grown, And gladly parts with me: Thus as revolving years arise, A humble lab'rer where, But, settled there, the lily white Stands fix'd as marble to my sight. See Obituary for January, p. 94: an article we shall take this opportunity to enlarge. Mrs. Booker was an interesting woman. Her figure was formed with exact symmetry. Her features were delicate, and highly attractive; and her fine hazel eye cast an irresistible charm over her countenance. Her voice was pleasing, and her pronunciation elegant. Her mind was well worthy the graces of her person. Her acquirements in languages were very extensive. She excelled in Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, and in general information. She was a great proficient in music. The instruments on which she excelled were the pedal harp, dital harp, and piano-forte; but on the musical glasses, she drew forth the very soul of harmony. In singing, her voice was soft, clear, and flexible. She was, moreover, active in every Christiau duty; and especially in those within the province of a Clergyman's wife.-ÉDIT. + Selected, by Dr. Booker's permission, from several other picces (printed, but not published,) intituled, "Hours of Mourning." |