222 
how much they are indebted to the in- 
formation of F.L.W.on the score of 
originality, I have given the subjoined 
extract from the second edition of “ The 
History and Antiquities of Islington,” 
published in 1823. 
“« BaTTLE Brier is supposed to have 
been so called from its contiguity to the 
spot where the celebrated battle was fought 
between the Roman General Suetonius 
Paulinus, and Boadicea, Queen of the 
Iceni, A. D. 61; and there are circum- 
stances that seem to make in favour of 
this opinion. A place on the river Der- 
went, in the East-Riding of Yorkshire, is 
called by this name, from its haying been 
the scene of a battle between Harald Haar- 
dred, the Norwegian, and Harold, King of 
England, just before the arrival of William 
the Conqueror. The town of Battle, in 
Sussex, also derived its name from the bat- 
tle fought there between the two princes 
last named.” —(Camd. Brit.—Etym. Ling. 
Angi. ) 
The operations of the Roman General 
in his arduous contest with the injured and 
unfortunate Boadicea, were, it is most pro- 
bable, confined to the north or north- 
western vicinity of London. Tacitus, who 
had the most authentic information as to 
the affairs of Britain, informs us, that after 
Suetonius had abandoned London as un- 
tenable by the small army under his com- 
mand, he was determined on hazarding a 
battle, and for that purpose waited the ap- 
proach of the enemy. No situation in the 
neighbourhood of the capital could afford a 
more advantageous position than the high 
ground in the vicinity of Islington, both in 
regard to security and as a post of observa- 
tion, for an army apprehensive of an attack 
from an immense superiority of force. 
The opinion, that the scene of this dread- 
ful conflict was not far distant from this 
spot, is strengthened by the remains of an 
encampment, which may yet be seen in the 
immediate neighbourhood, and which ex- 
hibit sufficient evidence that the situation 
Was upon some occasion an important mili- 
tary post at a very remote period. In a 
field, called the Reed Moat Field, a little to 
the north-\west of the workhouse, part of a 
camp, evidently Roman, and generally sup- 
posed to have been the position occupied 
by Paulinus previous to his engagement 
with the Britons, may still be traced, 
though its more prominent features have 
been lately destroyed by the digging for 
clay and gravel. These remains consist of 
a pretorium, &c.,* which, in situation, form, 
and size, corresponds exactly with the de- 
scription of the General’s tent, as given by 
Polybius (book vi), in his account of the 
Roman method of castrametation. The site 
of the preetoriwm is an exact square of about 
200 feet, the area within the entrenchment 
* A reference is here given to a plate ac- 
companying the description. 
Remarks on the Remains of a Roman Encampment. 
[Ocr. 1, 
being a quadrangle of about forty-five yards. 
The surrounding fosse varies in breadth from 
twenty to thirty feet, which irregularity has 
been occasioned by encroachments upon 
the embankment. The fosse, which is 
about ‘ten or twelve feet deep, is for the 
most part filled with water, and overgrown 
with sedge. 
In the encampment of a Roman army, 
the General’s tent always occupied the 
most convenient place for prospect and 
command ; so the situation of this preto- 
rium is on an elevated spot, embracing an 
extensive view over the adjacent country 
on all sides. To make it more convenient 
in this respect, the side from whence the 
view was least commanding, has been raised 
by art, and presents a bolder embankment ; 
and there is a visible ridge across the mid- 
dle of the area where this elevated part 
begins. Here is also a raised breast-work 
or rampart, extending for a considerable 
length on the western side of the preto- 
rium, and another on the south. The po- 
sition occupied by this camp, supposing it 
to have been that of Paulinus, will be 
found strikingly advantageous, when it is 
considered that the enemy was expected to 
make the attack from that side next to the 
metropolis.” 
It is probable that this was the first 
place of security to which Paulinus re- 
tired to unite his scattered forces, and 
upon which occasion this camp was 
formed, for it was customary with the 
Romans to intrench themselves though 
they remained but a single night in a 
place. The description Tacitus gives 
of the scenes of his operations is very 
narrow and confined. “ Deligitque lo- 
cum arctis faucibus et atergo silva clau- 
sum ; satis cognito nihil hostium, nist in 
. fronte, et apertam planitiem esse, sine metu 
insidiarum.” But the great scene of 
carnage appears to have been between 
a couple of eminences : “ Angustias loci 
pro munimento.”* 
It is not unlikely that the Roman 
General abandoned the above encamp- 
ment, on finding the disparity of his 
force compared with that of the Bri- 
tons with which he had to contend, and 
fixed upon the narrow spot of ground 
as best calculated for his little army to 
act with advantage. The situation of 
the valley that lies between the acclivity 
of Pentonville and the high ground 
about Gray’s Inn Lane, though now for 
the most part obscured by buildings, will 
not, on inspection, be found any thing 
at variance with the above description 
of Tacitus; and in the absence of all 
direct historical proof, an opinion, sup- 
ported 
* Tacit. Ann. Lib. xiy. c, 34, 
