A commentary on Antoninus, his Itinerary, or, Journies of the Romane Empire, so far as it concerneth Britain wherein the first foundation of our cities, lawes, and government, according to the Roman policy, are clearly discovered ... / by VVilliam Burton ... ; with a chorographicall map of the severall stations, and index's to the whole work.

BRITANNIARUM. ITER. VI. Editio.

Aldina.	Suritana.	Simleriana.
	ITER A LONDINIO
	LINDUM M. P. CLVI. sic;
Verolani.	VEROLAMUM M. P. XXI.	Verolami.
Durocobrius.	DUROCOBRIUM. M. P. XII.	Duro-Cobrius.
	MAGIOVINIUM. M. P. XII.
	LACTODORUM. M. P. XVI.
	ISANNAVATIA. M. P. XII.	Isannavantia. Isan∣navaria.
	TRIPONTIUM. M. P. XII.
Venonis.	VENNONIM. M. P. IX.	Venonis.
Ratas.	RATIS. M. P. XII.	Ratas.
	VEROMETUM. M. P. XIII.
12.	MARGIDUNUM. M. P. XIII.	Margindun. 12.
Ad Pontum.	AD PONTEM. M. P. VII.
Croco. Cal.	CROCOCALANUM. M. P. VII.	Crorolana.
	LINDUM. M. P. XII.

THese five first Stations here, even to Isannavatia (which is altogether the same with Bennavenna.) you have before explained in the second Journey, but converso Itinere, the way ly∣ing there backward. Here at Vennonis there is a diversion from the publick way, which they call Watling-street. See Talbot in VENNONIS. But whereas in this Journey between Isannava∣tia, or Bennavenna, and Vennonis, you see Tripontium put between, that indeed is done as Camden thinks, loco non suo, out of its right place. But see also Talbot in BENNAVENNA.

ISANNAVATIA. M. P. XII.] Go to BENNAVENNA, which seems to be the very same Station or City with it.

TRIPONTIUM. M. P. XII.] Hierom Surita shews himself a stranger indeed to our affairs, when he makes but so much as a doubt, whether a Ptolemies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an ancient City of the Sel∣govae here, had any thing to do in this place. Camden supposeth it to be that which now we call Torcester: and that he hath remain∣ing for it such arguments, as are not languidae fidei. For saith he, if Trimontium a City of Thrace had its name, à tribus montibus; if Triturrita of Hetruria, à tribus turribus: if Tripolis, à tri∣bus urbibus: then this Tripontium without doubt is denominated à tribus pontibus; as it may plainly be seen also to this day: here may also be seen the Praetorian, or Military High-way, which

in very many places between this Town and b Stony-Stratford shews it self. Marianus Scotus hath this Towns name written Tovecester: and indeed there want not many who would have the Town called so, from the Tove running by it.

Age and time have at length so wasted it, that now at length it owes to its situation, name, and antient Coyns, that it is be∣lieved that it is old. Of them indeed there have been some good store taken up there.

VENNONIM. M. P. IX.] This is spoken to in the Second Journey already, to which you may have a re∣course:

RATIS. M. P. XII.] Leicester, called also by antient Wri∣ters, and in old Records, Legracester, Legecester, Legeocester, Le∣ogora and Caer-Lerion, so called, not of that fabulous King Leir, whom Geffrey of c Monmouth will have to be the first Builder thereof, but for that it standeth upon the River Legra, or Leir, now called Sore; as d Leland holdeth, signifying as much as the City standing upon the River Leir. Many other Cities and places in this land are so denominated, as Colchester, upon the River Colne, Lancaster upon the River Lune, Riblechester, upon the River Rible. It standeth in the Center and heart of the Shire (as I have said before:) bearing the proportion of an heart, and being in 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 Na∣vigable River, whereby it might have trading and commerce; it might compare with many of no mean rank. For the anti∣quity 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 con∣jecture by the name thereof, set down by Ninnius in his Cata∣logue of Cities, viz. Caer Lerion: that is, the City upon Leir, What the name was in the Romans time, I must assent unto Ma∣ster Camden Clarenc•…•…ux his opinion, who taketh it to be e 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 as∣sertion should stand probable and true, and that this was a great Roman Station, these Roman Antiquities (here found and affir∣med)

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 Hi∣stories do agree to have been here, and surely was the founda∣tion 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, •…•…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 pro∣geny.

Next the many Roman Antiquities here found, their Meda∣glies 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 pre∣sent drift and institutum. We shall also do the like in what fol∣lowes 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 RA∣TIS; 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, yet they cannot conveniently be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 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 con∣fines 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 be∣tween Ratae and Vernometum; And (his words be these) the name of Burrow also that it hath at this day, came from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in the Saxon Tongue signifieth a place fortified, and under it is a Town called Burrow, belonging to an old Family of Gentle∣men so surnamed. But (that which maketh most for the proof) in that very place there riseth up an Hill, with a steep and up∣right ascent on every side, but, South-eastward; in the top wher∣of appear the express tokens of a Town destroyed, a double Trench, and the very Tract where the Walls went, which in∣closed 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 wrest∣lings 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) sig∣nifieth 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 Verno∣met, 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 Be•…•…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 Paunton, also at not an unlike remotenesse from what is set down there, gives

good credit unto. From the Marga, or Marle, and its site upon a rising hill, its seems to have had its denomination. For the later, I have several times taught out of Plutarch what Dunum signifies, namely a rising place. As for the other word Marga, a Pliny in his Natural History tells us what it is there where he treats De terra quam Britannia & Gallia amat. Alia est ratio, saith he, quam Britannia & Gallia invenere, alere eam ipsae quod genus vocant Margam. But Camden speaks of little use of Marle in those parts: he indeed tells us of a kind of Chalk found neer there; in which perhaps Pliny might be mistaken, for his Margu: else he thinks it was never well searcht for there. There is found there about also the stone called from its figure 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Astroites, the form of which Camden describes, after b Agricola and others: but Ile meddle not with it, as being nothing to my present design in hand.

AD PONTEM. M. P. VII.] That it was that Town of Lincolnshire, which on the banks of the River Wytham is yet called Paunton to this day, our Antiquaries do generally believe For to say nothing of the distance from the two stations on ei∣ther hand, which very well agree with that at present, the rea∣son of the name from a Bridge (for the River) according to the report of the Inhabitants was here in old time joined with the Bridge:) cleerly evinceth the matter in hand: not to say that pavements of the Romans of Musive Work are sometimes digged up here. Wherefore Aldus his Edition of Antoninus may be observed, where ye find it falsly printed, Ad Pontum. Josias Simlerus in his Scholia upon Antoninus would have this Town to have been otherwise called Pons Aelii, where sub Duce a Britan∣niarum Tribunis Cohortis I. Cornaviorum kept his Guard: which Station being long before first appointed by Hadrian the Empe∣rour, was to be sought far away off, by the Vallum. Him yet our Harrison follows, who hath described unto us Britain in English. William Fulk would have it to be rather Boston, that is, S. Buttolphes Town in this same Shire; though the Itinerary account do wholly reclaim, and gainsay it; as being neerer to the Eastern Sea.

CROCOCALANA. M. P. VII.] In the diverse readings collected to Antoninus there is Crorolana set down, which in very deed signifies nothing and might a great deal better have been quite left out. In Antoninus that Town is called so; which at this day is Ancaster, nothing but a long street upon the Military High-way. At the entrance from the South our Antiquarie saith, he saw a Trench, and it is evident that there was a castle about there. The British or old name may seem to have been taken from the situation; for it lies under the side of an hill; and Cruc M•…•…ur with the Britains doth signify magnum collem or a great Hill; as Cruc Occhidient doth a Western Hill, as we are

taught by Giraldus Cambrensis, and Ninnius very antient Writers. But what shall we do then with Colana? Camden our Antiqua∣ry knew not: neither have we time to think of it, as we should: if we truly understood the meaning of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of a Ptolemy in the North of Britain, we should also better know this. In this Town the Roman coyns keep up the Memory of Antiquity therein; besides the vaults under ground, sometimes opened: to say nothing of the site by the Praetorian Causey or High-way, and due distance between it and Lindum or Lincoln. William Harrison saith Ancaster hath been a great thing, for many square and coloured pavements, vaults, and arches are yet found, and oft laid open by such as dig and plow in the fields about the same, and among these one Vresby or Roseby a Ploughman did erd up not long since a stone like a trough covered with another stone, wherein was great abundance of the aforesaid Coynes. The like also was seen not fourty years ago about Grantham.

LINDUM. M. P. XII.] Camden from the foregoing Station seems to have read the distance to Lindum XIV. miles; and that where he speaks of Ancaster where the foregoing Station had its being. Something is said, and perhaps more then enough, con∣cerning this Lindum in the former Journey.

Finis Itineris VI. Britanniarum.

Notes

• Pro Codda va∣rietate, Isanna∣vantio. Isanna∣varia.
• a

  Ptol. Geo∣graph. lib. 2.
• b

  Lactorodum
• c

  Galfr. Mon. lib. 1. Hist. c. 15.
• d

  Leland Col∣le•…•…. 2. T. 323.
• e

  Prolemeo in Cori•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 altera. Talbotus ait se vidisse co∣dicem in quo Ratae haberctur. Certe Petrus Bertius ex cod. Palatino 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 men∣dose omnino edi∣dit.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Talbot. & quie∣um sequuntur.
• An antient Ro∣man Fort.
• Vide Christophe∣rum Boverum in Notis.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a

  Plin. 17. cap. 6. cujus il∣lud est lem•…•…a.
• * A kinde of plaistering stuff, gypsum.
• b

  Georg. A∣gricola Fos•…•…∣um lib. 6.
• Pavimenta tessell•…•… Vide Scalig•…•…n Sphae∣ram Barbaricam M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pa. 454. Ald. editio Antonini cor∣rects.
• a

  Notitia Oc∣cidental. Impe∣rii.
• a

  Ptol. Geogr. lib. 2.
• Harris. Deser. Britan. lib. 12. cap. 17.