74 



Besides, in the second campaign, we are told that he examined the 

 estuaries, but in the sixth, that he crossed, the Latin terms being 

 different in each case. Thus, in describing the events of the 

 second campaign, the Latin verb is pretentare, i.e., to search or 

 examine previously, or beforehand ; whilst the action in the sixth 

 campaign is denoted by the word transisse, i.e., to cross, to pass 

 over. Surely such use of these two terms is not an accidental one. 

 Hence we seem driven to the conclusion that if he crossed the 

 estuaries in the second campaign, the army certainly did not. If 

 this be so, it is fatal to the coast route. Still, such a road might 

 have been made secure had no other road been feasible ; but in no 

 case could it have been considered safe without precautions having 

 been taken to keep open his communications. Such would seem 

 to have necessitated a camp at least on the side of the estuary 

 opposite to Lancaster. 



So far as we know, there is no evidence of such a camp ; nor 

 can we suppose that Agricola would advance with the intention of 

 making a hasty camp in case of retreat. He could not be sure 

 that there would be time for this. Nothing would be left to 

 chance, for, under Petilius Cereaiis, he had learnt not to despise 

 his enemies. 



And yet again, it may be said that even with all these incon- 

 veniences, he would choose this route, as he would then be in no 

 difficulty with regard to provisions. This, of course, necessitates 

 his being accompanied by a fleet, or, at any rate, being in a position 

 to easily communicate with one. But are we certain that a fleet 

 did accompany him ? Mr. W. Thomson \A'atkin, a great authority 

 in all that pertains to antiquarian lore, says that there was no fleet 

 on this coast till at any rate three years later, i.e., A.D. 82.* If 

 we can prove this point, then we shall have to abandon the coast 

 route. 



In the account of the sixth campaign, we meet with the following 



statement: — "Portus classe exploravit. Quae ab Agricola primum 



assumpta in partem virium ;" i.e., he explored the harbours, (viz., 



those on the East coast of Caledonia,) with his fleet, which was 



* Manchester Guardian, April 10, 1882. 



