Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/440



work before us is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Roman civilization in this country. The first chapter treats of the origin of Roman York, and of its history as far as it can be gathered from classical authors, the few incidental notices which ancient writers afford being incorporated in a general sketch of the progress of the Roman arms in Britain. Mr. Wellbeloved considers that Eboracum, or according to the orthography which he prefers Eburacum, was originally, as its name implies, a British city, and that the Roman station was there founded on the occasion of the expedition of Agricola against the Brigantes. That it was founded by Agricola himself, and that it was subsequently visited by the emperor Hadrian, are statements of earlier topographers, for which there does not appear to be any sure warranty. In the time of Antoninus Pius, Eburacum is described by Ptolemy the geographer, as the head quarters of the sixth legion, and Septimius Severus, as is well known, resided and died there. From his time till the fourth century, nothing certain seems known of Roman York. Constantius Chlorus on his accession to the divided empire of Rome, came over to Britain and fixed his residence at Eburacum, where after two years he died, and where after his death, his son, Constantine the Great, was proclaimed emperor by the army. To the arguments that have been adduced to prove that this latter emperor was born at York, Mr. Wellbeloved gives due consideration, more perhaps than reasoning depending so entirely on doubtful interpretation and late authorities deserves; his conclusion is, that so far from its being proved that Constantine was born at York, it is highly probable that he was not born in Britain. Nor does there seem any true evidence for the assertion that his mother Helena was the daughter of a British king named Coïl, which, like the story of the tomb of Constantius Chlorus in the church of St. Helen's, is probably an invention of some ancient local historian, whose zeal for his native city surpassed his critical discretion. Such are the few facts recorded in history of Roman York, but we might infer from these scanty particulars that it became the chief northern station of the Romans, after the invasion of the Brigantes, by Agricola. That such was the case, Mr. Wellbeloved proceeds to shew by a consideration of the monumental evidence, afforded by the Roman remains found at York.

First, as to the plan and extent of the ancient city, Mr. Wellbeloved shews that Eburacum was laid out in the usual rectangular form of a Roman camp, inclosed by a wall, on the inside of which was a rampart mound of earth, and on the outside probably a fosse; that in dimensions it was about 650 yards by 550, and that it was situated between the Fosse and the Ouse, near