42 PAPERS, ETC. 
western part of Somersetshire bordering upon the 
sea. The Britons, on his approach, threw up on 
the Quantock hills, Dousborough, for their retreat, 
and commenced a similar stronghold on Brendon 
hill, near Elworthy, there to await the advance of 
the Romans. In the mean time the Silures and 
western Brigantes revolted, and threatened hisrear, 
which obliged the Roman general to retrace his 
march, to secure his newly conquered territory. 
The Britons being thus relieved from the impend- 
ing attack, ceased from their labours on Brendon 
hill, and left Elworthy Barrows as they now appear. 
The country having been tranquilized, there was no 
farther necessity for these defences. 
The anonymous writer whom I have mentioned, 
supposes that Ostorius, having approached the sea, 
near the mouth of the Uxella or Parret, ascended 
the ridge of Quantock, at Cothelston, and from 
thence descending into the vale, marched to attack 
the British strong-hold at Norton, and being met 
by the aborigines at Conquest, obtained a complete 
victory over them at that place. Now, without 
deciding upon the reason which induced the Britons 
to leave the earth-work at Elworthy in an un- 
finished state, which might as likely have been 
owing to a defeat having compelled them to fall 
back upon the fastnesses of Exmoor, as to the coun- 
termarch of Ostorius, I see every reason to believe 
that both these accounts are substantially true. 
Östorius was at the mouth of the Parret ; the 
