whose geography we are chiefly indebted for our knowedge of this people, describes them as possessing two principal towns, named Bremenium,* and Curia. On the testimony of Richard, the former is believed to have been the capital of the Ottadini, and is known to have occupied the site of Riechester, eight miles north of Risingham.

The aboriginal population of WALES is noticed, at some length, in the pages which are introductory to the account of Cambria, forming part of the "Beauties". But the respective territorial possessions of cach tribe, are defined in terms so brief, yet perspicuous, in the following passages, that, with the permission of their learned author, I present them, as the most desirable means of communicating concise information on this head.

"The Silures, with their two dependent tribes, the Dimecia, and the Ordovices, possessed all the country to the west of the Severn and the Dee, together with the island of Anglesey.

"Of these territories, the Dimecia had the counties of Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen; while the Silures possessed all the rest of South Wales, as well as such parts of England as lay to the west of the Severn, and to the south of the Teme. The Ordovices occupied all North Wales, as well as all the country to the north of the Teme, and to the west of the Severn and the Dee, except a small tract of country to the west of Bangor and Pwlwelly-bay, which belonged, together with the isle of Anglesey, to their subordinate clan, the Cangiani."

After a long possession of this island, throughout all its most fertile districts, the original Celtic inhabitants were compelled to admit as participators in so fair a territory, the BELGE, a Teutonic people (and the common parent of the Romans, the Saxons,

the

* See some curious particulars relating to the site and remains of this ancient city, in the Beauties for Northumberland, p. 149-153.

+ Vide Beauties, Vol. XVII. p. 5—6.

Note on Richard of Cirencester, by the Rev. Thomas Leman.

the Danes, and the Normans,)* who are supposed to have first migrated into Britain, about three centuries previous to the arrival of Cæsar. These invaders speedily effected a settlement in the southern and western parts of Britain; and, in process of time, extended their conquests from the shores of Kent, to the extre mity of Cornwall. At the date of the first invasion of Julius Casar, the Belgæ, thus settled in Britain, consisted of the following seven colonies:-1. the Cantii, of Kent; 2. the Regni, or Rhemi, of Surrey and Sussex; 3. the Proper Belga, of Hampshire and Wiltshire; 4. the Altrebates, of Hampshire and Berkshire; 5. the Morini, of Dorsetshire; 6. the Damnonii, of Devonshire and Cornwall; and 7. the Trinobantes, of Essex and Herts..

Thus, the before-mentioned Celtic inhabitants of the southern and western parts of Britain, were expelled by the following Belgic colonies: the Cantii, who gained possession of all the country, from the mouth of the Thames to the Rother; the Regni, or Rhemi, who extended their conquests from thence to the western borders of Sussex; the Belgæ proper, who over-ran all the country westward, to the banks of the Stour in Dorsetshire; the Morini, who continued their conquests to the Ax; the Damnonii, who subdued the whole remainder of country on the west, to the banks of the Fal; the Attrebates, who drove the Segontiaci from the banks of the Thames; and the Trinobantes, who, crossing the Thames, and invading the Eastern Cassii, extended their conquests to the Stour, and the middle of Hertfordshire.

• See Remarks on the Early inhabitants of Britain, History of Hertfordshire, Vol. I. p. 12.

+ Genuine Hist. of the Britons asserted, p. 65—65.

From this statement of Belgic conquests must be excepted, "a confined territory, which was left to the Segontiaci, under its capital Vendomis; and the mountains of Somersetshire, Cornwall, and Devon, all which still remained possessed by the Carnabii and the Cimbri." History of Hertford. shire, p. 11.

A more particular account of the geographical circumstances of each Belgio tribe, at the date of Cæsar's first invasion, may, however, be desirable.

The CANTII inhabited the country which is now termed Kent; and their territories comprised the whole of that county, with the exception of a small district that belonged to the Regni. They are described by Cæsar as the most civilized of all the Britons, and as differing but very little in their manners from their brethren in Gaul. Their capital was Durovernum (Canter

bury.)

The REGNI, or RHEMI,† occupied the sea coast from Rye Harbour, on the border of Sussex, and the whole interior of that county, together with Surrey, a small part of Hants and Berks, and a very trifling portion of Kent. Noviomagus, written Neomagus by Ptolemy, (Holwood hill) was their metropolis.

The territories of the BELGE PROPER comprehended the greater part of Hampshire and Wiltshire; other parts being still retained by the Celtic Segontiaci. Certain portions of Wiltshire, are, however, supposed by some writers to have been occupied by the tribe denominated CEANGI, nearly at the period of the invasion

For a notice of the Cantii, and of some historical events relating to that people, see Beauties for Kent, p. 406, et seq.

See the Regni noticed in the Beauties for Sussex, p. 23; and for Surrey, p. 30.

The Cangi, Ceangi, or Cangani (for these terms are usually supposed to be descriptive of the same people,) are mentioned by Tacitus, as dwelling near the sea "which looks towards Ireland." Camden is inclined to place them either in Somersetshire or Cheshire; but traces of the appellation by which they are known, may be discovered in various other counties. Some modern antiquaries, of whom Baxter (vide Gloss. Brit.) and Whitaker (vide Hist. of Manchester) are the principal, suppose that the Cangi were not a distinct tribe, but merely such of the youth of different British nations, as were employed in watching the herds and flocks. Persons engaged in such a duty would be armed, for the defence of their herds from the attack of rival Clans, or from the ferocity of beasts of prey; and as they were proba

bly

invasion under Julius Cæsar: and the people thus described, together with the Attrebates, are conjectured by other antiquaries to have possessed a part of that county, so late as the date of the invasion under Claudias.

In the above statement of the possessions of the Belgæ proper,* I have followed the account of Richard of Cirencester, as illustrated by the able notes of Mr. Leman. The towns unquestionably belonging to this people are noticed in the annexed Map. Venta + (Winchester) which Richard mentions as a "noble city," was their capital.-In regard to the name by which this tribe is distinguished, it may be observed that they are often termed the Proper Belga by modern historians and antiquaries, in contradistinction either from such colonies of the same stock, as had obtained an earlier footing, and had effected an intermingled settlement with Celtic tribes more towards the interior of south Britain; or from such nations as were conquered by the Belgic arms, and were become tributary.

The MORINI, having subdued the Durotriges, who originally possessed Dorsetshire, fixed themselves in that district; and their territory is believed to have comprehended the whole of the present county. Their capital was Dunium, or Durinum (Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, which last place was subsequently the Roman station.)

bly considerable in number, they might venture on opposing the Romans, at least when those enemies appeared only in straggling parties.—Such is the hypothesis of the above writers; and considering the frequency, and the dissimilarity of situation, in which traces of the Cangi or Ceangi occur, the conjecture certainly wears an air of probability.-For some remarks on this subject, see Beauties for Cheshire, p. 184-185; and for Wilts, p. 5-6.

• For some notice of the Belge, and their possessions, see Beauties for Hampshire, p. 5-6; for Wiltshire, p. 3-7 ; and for Somersetshire, p. 339 -340.

+ The capital of the Celtic tribe, the Segontiaci, before the invasion of the Belgæ, was at Old Winchester, which the Belgæ removed to the present site of New Winchester.

The Morini are mentioned in the Beauties for Dorsetshire, p. 321,

The DAMNONII, or DANMONII,* occupied Devonshire, and the south-east part of Cornwall; having for their metropolis, Isca (Exeter.)

The ATTREBATES, or ATTREBATII,† possessed the north-east part of Hampshire, and the south and north-east parts of the county of Berks; (the remaining parts of those districts being retained by the Segontiaci.) The only town mentioned by Ptolemy as belonging to this tribe, is termed Nalcua by that writer; which is generally agreed to have been the same with the Calleva of Antoninus, and the Calleba of Richard. Much uncertainty has prevailed as to the probable site of this town, the capital of the Attrebates. But, in the commentary on Richard's Itinerary, strong arguments are adduced for ascribing it to Silchester, that venerable spot which now presents so impressive an outline of a vast Roman city, deserted by inhabitants, and remote from the track of all travellers, except those led by curiosity to examine its massy and extensive walls.

To the north of the Cantii and of the Thames, were seated the TRINOBANTES, or TRINOVANTES, who inhabited the districts now denominated Middlesex and Essex, together with a part of Hertfordshire; having Trinobantum, or Trinovantum (afterwards better known by the names of Londinium and Augusta) for their capital. According to Mr. Whitaker, and his opinion has a great appearance of correctness, the Trinobantes were no

other

• For many particulars respecting the Damnonii and their possessions, see Beauties for Cornwall, p. 311, et seq; and Beauties for Devonshire, p. 5. ↑ The Attrebates are mentioned in the Beauties for Berkshire, p. 83-84. The Trinobantes are noticed in the Beauties for London and Middlesex, p. 1; and for Essex, p. 243.

It is observed by Mr. Whitaker (Hist. of Manchester, Vol. I. p. 100. notes) that " Ptolemy, who places the Cantii in all the south of Middlesex, fixes the Trinoantes in Essex only. But as the Trinoantes, according to Richard, p. 23, &c. once resided in Middlesex, Ptolemy's account of the Cantii and Trinoantes was taken from records of two different dates, and ought, therefore, to be referred to different periods."

Hist. of Manchester, Vol. 1I. p. 205.