Particularly in regard to its influence on the County of Wilts. 197 
The only other Roman remains of which I have a record are the 
nineteen little images or Penates found in 1714, close to the site of 
the present Southbroom House, which is out of the track of known 
roads. A Roman road along the fertile Vale of Pewsey would, 
however, be natural enough, and Harepath in Burbage has been 
said to be on such a road, local antiquaries connecting it with A. 8S. 
here-pad. 
Is it not likely also that the station of Verlucio was joined by a 
eross-road 10 Sorbiodunum? This would naturally pass through 
the site of Devizes. Roman coins of the age of Constantine are 
also said to have been found at Imber. 
Having thus made a very rapid sketch ofthe existing Roman 
remains in the county, I think it may be useful to connect this 
sketch with what is known of the general history of the conquest 
of Southern Britain. The materials for this purpose have been 
gathered by many persons, for instance by Mr. Thomas Wright, in 
his useful and compendius volume, “ The Celt, the Roman, and the 
Saxon,” and with greater learning and more special knowledge of 
the monuments by Prof. Emil Hiibner, in a paper called “ Das 
Rémische Heer in Britannien” (Berlin, Wiedmanns, 1881, reprinted 
from the sixteenth volume of the Hermes). 
The invasion of Julius Cesar in the first century B.C. is im- 
portant for the light which it throws on the early condition of the 
country, and as affording the pretext on which after invasions were 
founded, viz., the non-payment of the tribute or import and export 
duties which he imposed; but it is well known that he “ retired 
quickly ” (as Strabo observes) “ having effected nothing of conse- 
quence ” (iv., p. 20U== Mon. Hist. Brit.,” p. vii.) It was not till 
A.D. 42, in the reign of Claudius, that anything serious was done 
in respect of Roman occupation. A fugitive king Bericus, whom 
it is natural to identify with Verica, King of the Atrebates, son of 
the Commius mentioned by Cesar, supplied, in accordance with 
precedent, the proximate cause or pretext of the invasion, and 
probably acted as guide and intermediary with the more friendly 
tribes. (Dion Cassius, lx., 19, no doubt founded on the lost books 
of Tacitus, cp. Hiibner, l.c., pp. 7, 8.) 
