BELISAMA OF PTOLEMY. 381 
been disentombed at Ribchester—its subsequent 
name. Even in the days of Leland, the tide flowed 
further up the Ribble than at present; for he 
says, ‘It floweth and ebbeth in Rybyl most com- 
munely more than half-way between Preston and 
Ribchester, and at rages of spring tides further,” 
(vol.iv. p.1—22. This same laborious Itinerant, in 
speaking of Thellwal on the Mersey, says, ‘“ Thell- 
waul, sumetime a havenet and little cite, as it ap- 
peareth by the King’s Recordes. Now fischegar- 
thes mar the haven, and the old towne, now a 
poore village. It standith a ii miles upward from 
Warrington.”* He also notes, ‘‘ Wyrall beginneth 
less than 4 mile of the city of Chester, and within 
two bow-shot, Flokar’s Broke cometh into Dee 
Ryver, and there is a Dok, where at a spring tide 
ships may ly, called Porte Poole.” These re- 
marks of Leland as to the rise of the tide at three 
different places on the several principal rivers on 
our coast, about three hundred years ago, show 
that the sea-level was then much higher than it is 
now; and countenance the further opinion that 
it stood at a still higher level in more early times. 
The names of many places along the estuaries 
* « Thellwaul was so called bycause it was walled about 
with greate Logges or Timber postes.” (Jbid.) 
3 E 
