54 
It has been stated that the Roman cohorts continued to reside 
in the stations which were assigned to them on their coming into 
Britain, and that they never moved from these stations without the 
most urgent necessity. (Zyson’s Cumberland, c. \xiii.) This may 
have been the rule, but it certainly was one which had many 
exceptions, especially in the immediate vicinity of the Wall. Thus 
any allocation made on the strength of such rule ought to be 
received with a certain degree of caution. Still there are undoubted 
cases in which the allocations can be accepted as conclusive. 
It has been stated that ‘“‘when in the ruins of a station inscribed 
stones are found, bearing the name of a cohort mentioned in the 
Notitia, the inference is natural that, in most cases at least, the 
imperial Notitia will furnish us with a key to the ancient designation 
of the station. The argument becomes irresistible when, in several 
successive instances, the designations thus obtained correspond 
exactly with the order of the places as given in the Notitia.” 
(Cumb. and West. Antig. and Arch. Soc. Trans., pt. i. vol. 3, p. 64.) 
On the face of it, this seems a most reasonable and effective 
method ; still, it is one that we cannot accept without the strictest 
investigation, as on the very surface difficulties appear. Thus, 
two or more cohorts may be shown by the altars or inscriptions to 
have been stationed at the same camp. According to the Notitia, 
each of these cohorts may have been stationed at a different 
camp. How are we to decide in such a case? for two or more 
names could not be applied to the same station. As a case in 
point, the 2nd Cohort of the Lingones, according to the Notitia, 
was at Congavata, and the znd Cohort of the Thracians at Gabro- 
sentis, both stations “per lineam valli.” Altars dedicated by each 
of these cohorts have been found at Moresby. Hence, according 
to the theory above propounded, this place may be either Congavata 
or Gabrosentis. As it cannot be both, which is the right one, if 
either ? 
To reverse the case. Altars or inscriptions by the 1st Cohort 
of the Dacians, stationed at Amboglanna, according to the Notitia, 
have been found at Birdoswald, Lanercost, Netherby, Old Wall, 
and Bewcastle; by the Ala Petriana, stationed at Petriana, at 
