10 



if the argument be held to be good, for we have on it the fullowing 



inscription : — 



DIS MANIBVS 



AMMONIVS DA 

 MIONIS C COH 

 I HISPANORVM 



STIPENDIORVM 



XXVII HEREDES 



EC 



where the heirs are stated to have erected the slab. 



Another point might still be urged in favour of continuity of tlie 

 Spanish Cohorts in the Maryport camp. Being the First Cohort, 

 it might with a show of reason be argued that drafts merely were 

 sent from the station to the other stations mentioned, the main 

 body still remaining at the Maryport camp. But this idea is at 

 once shown to be untenable. The altars found at Netherby state 

 that the cohort in garrison was looo strong; not a mere draft, but 

 the whole cohort. Whilst the Maryport altars show as clearly that 

 the First Cohort of the Dalmatians were in camp probably about 

 A.D. 140, or thereabouts, and hence the Spaniards must have gone 

 as a whole. The presence of the Dalmatians is recorded by two 

 altars and two slabs. The latter are dedicated " For the safety of 

 Antoninus Pius" (A.D. 138 — 161), and thus help to fix a date 

 which the two altars themselves are povi'erless to do. 



Yet another cohort was in garrison, viz., the First Cohort of the 

 Baetasians. No very satisfactory proof as to their date is to be 

 had, but on each altar occur the letters C.R. (Civium Romanum), 

 as though the Bsetasians were proud they were Roman citizens. 

 From this Dr. Bruce seems to infer that such letters favour a date 

 at least as early as A.D. 211 ; in fact, he is evidently of opinion 

 that the whole of the altars found at Maryport belong to the reigns 

 of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius (A.D. 117 — 161). If it be held 

 that the Baetasian altars are of a much later date than this, on 

 account of the freshness which they present, this in itself would be 

 an important argument against the return of the Spaniards, and 

 hence against the name Axelodunum. 



