48 
The Rudge Cup, of which we shall also have to speak, is an 
“ornamental bronze cup which was found in a rubbish pit at 
Rudge in Wiltshire more than a century ago, having the names of 
five towns (in connection with the Roman Wall) in an inscription 
round the rim. It seems to have been made for a club or society 
of persons belonging to these towns, probably hunters.” (Ce/t, 
Roman, and Saxon, p. 257.) Dr. Bruce (Lapidarium Septentrionale, 
p. 206,) says, ‘it was intended as an offering to the presiding 
deity of some spring,” and he apparently suggests Gilsland. 
Having said so much, we are now free to enter upon the discus- 
sion of our question. As we have said, the first set of antiquarians 
has mainly determined its allocations on the strength of the 
similarity of sounds ; i.e., granted that the modern name of a town 
bears a somewhat fanciful resemblance to the name of a Roman 
station, it was held that a correct allocation had been made. Thus 
Appleby, on this account, is supposed to be the modern repre- 
sentative of the ancient Aballaba; Ireby, of Arbeia; Moresby, of 
Morbium ; Hexham (= Hextoldesham), of Axelodunum, etc. As 
a variation of this method, the Maryport camp is supposed to be 
the ancient Olenacum, from the fact of the camp being near the 
Alne or Olne (now Ellen); the name Derventione, for a similar 
reason, being given to the camp at Papcastle. We can at once 
dismiss this method from our consideration, as, by the light of 
more recent investigations it has been shown, with a tolerable 
degree of certainty, that at least Arbeia and Morbium are in 
Yorkshire, and Derventione either in Durham or Yorkshire. 
(Trans. C.and W. Arch. and Antig. Soc., pt. 1, vol. iii. p. 93; Arch. 
Ailiana, pt. 24, vol. viii. p. 287.) Axelodunum and Aballaba are 
also as clearly at other stations, as we shall shortly see. 
The allocations made on the strength of etymology are likewise 
open to very serious objections ; in fact, many leading antiquarians 
of the present day are apparently quite agreed that there can be 
no more uncertain method employed—and in truth we seem as 
though we ought to accept this as a final decision, But why? 
In the first place, too frequently the descriptions conveyed by an 
etymological rendering are such, that they may be made to suit, 
