its Value to the Archeologist. 341 
ditch two contemporaneous phenomena, the hole made by removing 
the earth, and the corresponding rise or bank which results from 
throwing it out. The language of literature has appropriated dike 
to the latter, ditch to the former phenomenon.” 
Hence, as Mr. Kemble afterwards suggests, ditch and dike became 
the English equivalents of the fossa and val/wm of Roman fortification. 
The language of King Alfred, in his translation or rather para- 
phrase of Beda, Lib. 1, c. 12, curiously illustrates this process of 
ditching and diking. After stating in chapter v. that Severus 
fortified this island against the Piets and Seots, with a ditch and 
earth wall “ mid dice and eorth wealle,” he goes on to describe how 
the Romans, in taking their final farewell of Britain, advised the 
Britons to build a stone wall, where the Emperor Severus long before 
commanded to make a ditch and form an earth wall: “ thaer Severus 
se Casere iu het dician and eorth weall gewyrean.” Observe, by 
the way, that we have here “het gewyrcan,” the very same phrase 
as on the jewel. 
In a recent learned edition of Beda, by Rev. G. H. Moberly, a 
son of the Bishop of Salisbury, it is shewn that Beda was here 
probably misled by Orosius as to the place and nature of Severus’ 
fortification, but the historical question as to the locality does not 
affect the value of the language of the Saxon paraphrast in illus- 
trating the process of ditching and diking, in which the English 
became so clever and industrious, that their country is more inter- 
sected than any other with ditches, dikes, and hedges, and they have 
proved themselves the best navvies in the world in making canals, 
roads, and railways. There is less room than ever in this busy 
world for the mere idler, but there is as much need as ever not only 
of the gentleman but of the prince and noble to legislate, to plan, 
to direct, and to educate. 
Before leaving the subject of the Downs, and their earth-works, I 
should state that the linches, or linchets, which are seen on the sides 
of the Downs, whether natural, whether they have grown,' or have been 
1 Compare ‘‘ On Terraces or Lynchets,” by G. P. Serope, Esq., F.R.3., W alts 
Mag., vol. xii., p. 185. Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., the president, upon the con- 
clusion of Mr. Baron’s paper, said a few words in favour of Mr. Serope’s theory 
of the formation of linchets. 
