Page:History of Manchester (1771), Volume 1, by John Whitaker.djvu/186

 Chap. V.. OF MANCHESTER. i ST h fo written from the fame cuftomary fubftitution of an L for an R ifr the language of our Saxon anceftors, from which the name- of the Wiltshire- Ambrefbury is changed in the fame records inta Amblefcury, and from which the appellation of Sarum, theSearo- byrig of the Saxon chronicle, has been long altered into Salifbury V At the diftance of a few miles from this ftation, but on the fouthern bank of the Merfey, were formerly difcovered more than twenty oblong pieces of lead* fbme of which were faid to be- infcribed IMP. VESP. VH.T. IMP. V. and others IMP. DOMIT- GOSS. A V G. GER. DE.. The difcovery is fufficiently authentic CEANG. eated,. and the ihfcri prions are intereftingly curious; Thefe pieces of lead the venerable father of our Britifh antiquarians; has confidered as the memorial of fbme viftory which the Ro- mans obtained over the Ceangi or the inhabitants- of the norths- weftern region of Cheftrire And this is certainly the light in; which the^ firft obvious reftfe&ion, prefents them, to the mind ♦. But the late antiquarian of Grefliam College- has queftioned the- juftnefs.ofe Mr.. Camden!s opinion, and has advanced a; very dif- fercnt one: of; his own. He confldersr them merely as commoni pieces of lead,, licenfed only for the market by an infcription of. the name of the reigning emperor,. and fecured to the proprietor by another infcription of the name of his nation, and. thrown by an accidental wrofck upon the fhoreof Ghefhire.. And to this^ his account of them Dr. Stukeky has given the, fanftionof hit own commendation '. . But* the. account is afluredly, wrong,. and: will appear to be. fo from ithis .one argument only.. , The Chefhire are not the only pkcea of lead which have bben^ difcovered. of - a fimilar form and; with a.fitnilar infcription Ir* the reign of our eighth .Henry, an oblong plate o£the fame mocalt was. thrown up by the. plough near Ochyhole in Somerfetflure^ hearing this infcription, TL. GLAVDIVS CiESAR; AVG^ P..M.TRIB. P. VUIL IMP.. XVL. DE^ BRETAN. » Lela!^ Jtt hb ' AUertio Artfcnrii, p. 13; edit; 1544, gWes Km tlitat,- T!. CLAUft.. tiBSAA AHG..P-M.IR. E.VUIUIMB..XYL DE.tfUTA»NI^ Jot %«wh.- , Am p. 16&