The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
That these were the Urnes of _Romanes_ from the common custome and place
where they were found, is no obscure conjecture, not far from a _Romane_
Garrison, and but five mile from _Brancaster_, set down by ancient
Record under the name of _Brannodunum_. And where the adjoyning Town,
containing seven Parishes, in no very different sound, but Saxon
termination, still retaines the Name of _Burnham_, which being an early
station, it is not improbable the neighbour parts were filled with
habitations, either of _Romanes_ themselves, or _Brittains Romanised_,
which observed the _Romane_ customes.
Nor is it improbable that the _Romanes_ early possessed this Countrey;
for though we meet not with such strict particulars of these parts,
before the new Institution of _Constantine_, and military charge of the
Count of the _Saxon_ shore, and that about the _Saxon_ Invasions, the
_Dalmatian_ Horsemen were in the Garrison of _Brancaster_: Yet in the
time of _Claudius Vespasian_, and _Severus_, we finde no lesse then
three Legions dispersed through the Province of _Brittain_. And as high
as the Reign of _Claudius_ a great overthrow was given unto the _Iceni_,
by the _Romane_ Lieutenant _Ostorius_. Not long after the Countrey was
so molested, that in hope of a better state _Prasatagus_ bequeathed his
Kingdom unto _Nero_ and his Daughters; and _Boadicea_ his Queen fought
the last decisive Battle with _Paulinus_. After which time and Conquest
of _Agricola_ the Lieutenant of _Vespasian_, probable it is they wholly
possessed this Countrey, ordering it into Garrisons or Habitations, best
suitable with their securities. And so some _Romane_ habitations, not
improbable in these parts, as high as the time of _Vespasian_, where the
_Saxons_ after seated, in whose thin-fill'd Mappes we yet finde the Name
of _Walsingham_. Now if the _Iceni_ were but _Gammadims_, _Anconians_,
or men that lived in an Angle wedge or Elbow of _Brittain_, according to
the Original Etymologie, this countrey will challenge the Emphatical
appellation, as most properly making the Elbow or Iken of _Icenia_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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