CASTLE NEROCHE. 39 
and the indomitable Silures. On the west, the ridge of 
Brendon, the eastern frontier of the Dumnonii, bounds the 
view. On the south and east extend the territories of the 
Morini, Durotriges, and Hedui, for centuries the battle- 
field of the Belgie invaders and the original Loegrian 
tribes. From this point the beholder may see the earth- 
works of Dumpdon, Hamdon, Worle, Dousborough, and 
Elworthy, and immediately on the opposite side of the 
broad vale, rises the beacon of Cothelstone, rendered more 
conspicuous by the modern tower which erowns its summit. 
So commanding a point would hardly be neglected on a 
frontier defended by a system of repeating forts ; and 
accordingly we find it occupied by one of the most remark- 
able fortifications to be met with in the south of England. 
Whether, in conjunction with Dumpdon, Hembury, Black- 
bury, Belbury, Sidbury, and Woodbury, it completed the 
line of defence constructed by the Dumnonüi against their 
neighbours the Morini; or whether it owes its origin to 
the Belgie invasion, it is in vain now to enquire, for the 
history of petty tribes, and their wars, the latest of which 
probably dates as early as the third century before Christ, 
we need hardly say, cannot at this day be recovercd. 
But the earthworks are still before us, and though 
mutilated and obscured by extensive plantations, are still 
sufficiently preserved to enable us to form a tolerable 
conjecture as to their original plan and design ; and it will 
be more interesting to endeavor to show what they were, 
than to perplex ourselves with guesses about the boundaries 
and defences of tribes the very existence of which is rather 
a matter of tradition than of history. Of all the so 
called improvements of modern days, there is perhaps none 
more annoying to the antiquary than that, at one time so 
generally adopted, of planting the areas of ancient fortifica- 
