VICINITY OF BURY. 413 
well overlook any traces of a people who have 
thus become so interesting and useful to us, which 
may have survived the physical and artificial 
changes of fourteen centuries, and still be linger- 
ing in our very neighbourhood ; and over which 
we may be, and undoubtedly have been, many 
times, led, either by the avocations of business, or 
the promptings of pleasure. 
The Romans first entered that part of Britain 
which now comprises the county of Lancaster, 
about the year 79. During the preceding sum- 
mer Agricola, their general, had reduced the 
Ordovices, or the inhabitants on the Dee, in 
Cheshire and North Wales; and in the summer 
of the year just mentioned, proceeded with his 
conquests northward to the Sistuntii, who inha- 
bited Lancashire and the southern portion of 
Westmorland. As one object of this celebrated 
commander was to secure to the empire the coun- 
tries which he subdued, his successes were fol- 
lowed up by the erection of such works as experi- 
ence had shown to be capable of keeping the in- 
habitants under complete subjection. Tacitus 
informs us that Agricola built forts and placed 
garrisons within them throughout this district, 
which then was woody. The discipline of the 
