yi 
4 
J 
* 
4 
f 
83 
the prehistoric people retired when the lowlands beneath were 
harried by tribal quarrels, and a very commanding site it was, 
well nigh inaccessible from all sides, as the almost precipitous 
slopes even now up which they had toiled to the top bore witness. 
That it was formerly used by these prehistoric people a fine 
polished stone axe recently found by Mr. Bennett was amongst 
others a sufficient proof. Coming down to more recent and 
historic times, of course the Romans who always wisely took 
advantage of the strong positions of those who had preceded them 
were here, and picking up the thread of Mr. Bennett’s paper he 
alluded to the latter’s discoveries in several hut dwellings exca- 
vated by him on the hill, whence he had obtained a bronze 
bracelet, some broken querns, Roman coins (the latter chiefly on 
the E. side), one fragment of Samian ware, a tile or brick which 
might be Roman, and various pots, &. The importance, how- 
ever, of this stronghold he considered to have culminated some 
290 years after the Romans left Britain, when (following the local’ 
tradition) King Arthur held his court here, for he agreed with 
Leland and other early writers in considering this to be the 
Camelot of ancient Bardic song. Many arguments were put forth 
to strengthen this theory; firstly, the traditions which hung around 
the spot, ¢.7., the idea that King Arthur rode round the hill on 
~ silver-shod steeds during the full moon—indeed, one of the silver 
horse shoes had been found in the track !—one of the two wells 
was “King Arthur’s Well” on the E. face—an early British 
road leaving Cadbury by its W. gate, going straight for Glaston- 
bury, a bridle path in his (Mr. B’s) recollection, the trace of which 
is now nearly lost, was called by the natives ‘‘ King Arthur’s 
lane.” Secondly, the name of Camelot, surviving in the Camels 
(W. Camel and Queen’s Camel) and the fact that Camulus was 
the Celtic Mars, or God of War. These, and such like arguments, 
were cleverly used to strengthen the idea that they were now’ 
standing on no less a place than the Arthurian Camelot, the scene 
of King Arthur's last stand against the West Saxons. ; . 
