Bewdley, 17 Sept. 1721. [Illustration: 4 _The North Prospect of Ludlow Castle._] [Illustration: _The Ichnography of Ludlow Castle._ _Stukeley delin._ _I. Harris Sculp._] [Illustration: 5 _The West prospect of Ludlow Castle. Sep. 16. 1721._ Robto Cornwall Barrᵗᵗᵒ. d.d. _W. Stukeley_] [Illustration: 13 _View of_ Blackston Cave. _River Severn & Lᵈ. Herberts house near_ Bewdley _Sep. 23. 1721_. _Stukeley delin:_ _E. Kirkall sculp:_] [Illustration: 14 HERMITAGES. _The Groundplot & Section of an Hermitage near Bewdley._ _The Hermitage at Dale Abby_ _W Stukeley Del_] ITER ROMANUM. V. _Salve magna parens frugum Britanica tellus, Magna virum! tibi res antiquæ laudis & artis Ingredior. Sanctos ausus recludere fontes, Antiquum repeto Romana per oppida cursum. +Virg.+ Nam quid Britannum cœlum differre putamus._ +Lucret. vi.+ _To my Lord_ WINCHELSEA. The journey I here present your lordship is intirely Roman; for I went from London full northward to the banks of the Humber, upon the famous Hermen-street road, passing through Lincoln: then coasting about a little, at Lincoln again I took the Foss way to its intersection of the Watling-street in Warwickshire: upon that I returned back to London, and pursued it to the sea-coasts of Kent: likewise some part of the Icening-street, as it crosses the others, where it lay not too far out of my main route, was the subject of my enquiry: so that in this account is somewhat of all these four great roads of Britain, which our old monkish writers make a considerable harangue about, but are scarce able fully to distinguish them, and of the reason of their names say but little to our satisfaction: but the ways themselves, as drawn quite a-cross the island in different directions, are sufficiently manifest to a traveller of common sagacity. Though my discoveries herein are mean enough, yet I reckon this an happy _æra_ of my life, because, the very day before I undertook it, I had the good fortune to be known to your lordship, and at the end of it enjoyed the pleasurable repose of your delightful seat at Eastwel, but what is more, your own conversation: since then your many favours, like all other felicities in life, give me uneasiness in the midst of joy, as sensible of my own little merit. I have no hope indeed of retaliating; and I know that great minds like yours imitate Providence, expecting no return from its beneficiaries: but it is consentaneous to human nature to endeavour at it, and offer tokens of gratitude, however unequal. The delight you take in rescuing the monuments of our ancestors, your indefatigable zeal in collecting them, your exquisite knowledge in the Greek, Roman, and British antiquities, and especially your great love for those of your own country, which you continually commit to writing in your