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portance of the position was too great to allow of its being retained 

 in the hands of the enemy for any great length of time. 



Is it not an indirect proof that they did not come back again ? 

 Clearly, however, such a method of argument involves more of 



uncertainty than is admissible. 



It would thence appear most likely that the Baetasians, before 

 being expelled, first buried their own altars, then those of the 

 Dalmatians, and lastly those of the Spaniards ; and this would be 

 quite in keeping with a supposed promise to their predecessors to 

 take care of what they looked upon as sacred. 



That they did leave the camp is certain ; for in the Notitia we 

 find that the first cohort of the Vetasians (Bsetasians?) was stationed 

 at Regulbiurn (Reculver, in Kent). 



Another argument pointing to the fact of the early burial of the 

 altars, and this by the Bsetasians, may very probably be found in 

 the consideration of the general appearance af the altars as shown 

 at the present day. Those found in 1870 are for the most part in 

 a surprisingly good state of preservation, the lettering being — 

 especially in the Bsetasian altars — remarkably clear and distinct. 

 It is true they are chipped, etc.; but, as has been already shown, 

 this was the result of accident — not of the weather, nor yet of 

 design. 



It is also true that those found previous to 1870 are in a much 

 worse state ; but this is to be accounted for — not that they were in 

 a worse state when interred, but that they have deteriorated since 

 they were dug up. A very cursory examination of the whole of 

 the altars in the portico at Netherhall would show that they can 

 be easily divided into three classes ; and the distinction is so 

 marked that, unaided by any other help than their appearance, the 

 merest tyro in antiquarian lore would almost unerringly divide 

 them correctly, each under its separate head. 



Though there appears to be no record of the actual dates, etc., 

 at which the altars were found previous to 1870, still an approxi- 

 mate date may be fixed. Thus Camden in 1599 notifies the 

 existence of four altars and a slab. Three of these are in the 

 portico, and they are certainly wrecks of their former selves. 



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