great wall of Hadrian, were accustomed, when they found an inscribed stone—and inscribed stones are there very abundant—to hew out at least a part of the letters of the inscription with a pick or axe, in order to destroy the charm. We thus understand how a ruined city—like that at Wroxeter—was allowed to remain untouched for centuries. Many of these ruined towns became the subject of romantic legends. One of these legends relating to an ancient ruined city in this neighbourhood, is told in the curious history of the Fitz-Warines, composed in the thirteenth century, in Anglo-Norman, no doubt by a border writer. This writer is describing a visit supposed to have been made by William the Conqueror to the Welsh border in order to distribute the land to his followers. “When King William approached the hills and valleys of Wales he saw a very large town, formerly enclosed with high walls, which was all burnt and ruined, and in a plain below the town he caused his tents to be raised, and there he said he would remain that night. Then the king inquired of a Briton what was the name of the town, and how it came to be so ruined. ‘Sire,’ said the Briton, ‘I will tell you. The Castle was formerly called Castle Bran, but now it is called the Old March. Formerly there came into this country Brutus, a very valiant knight, and Corineus, from whom Cornwall still retains its name, and many others derived from the lineage of Troy, and none inhabited these parts except very foul people, great giants, whose king was called Geomagog. These heard of the arrival of Brutus, and sent out to encounter him, and at last all the giants were killed except Geomagog, who was marvellously great. Corineus, the valiant, said that he would willingly wrestle with Geomagog, to try Geomagog’s strength. The giant, on the first onset, embraced Corineus so tightly, that he broke three of his ribs. Corineus became angry, and struck Geomagog with his foot that he fell from a great rock into the sea, and Geomagog was drowned. And a spirit of the devil now entered into the body of Geomagog, and came into these parts, and held possession of the country long, that never Briton dared to inhabit it. And long afterwards, King Bran the son of Donwal, caused the city to be rebuilt, repaired the walls, and strengthened the great fosses, and he made Burgh and Great March. And the devil came by night and took away every thing that was therein, since which time nobody has ever inhabited there.’ The king marvelled much at this story, and Payn Peverel, the proud and courageous knight, the king’s cousin, heard it all, and declared that that night he would essay the marvel. Payn Peverel armed himself very richly, and took his shield, shining with gold, with a cross of azure indented, and fifteen knights and other attendants, and went into the highest palace, and