406 
state of the district they inhabit, or transactions in which 
men who lived on the same local stage as themselves played 
a part. 
To use the words of an old author, " We are curiously 
listening after the memory of our ancestors.' ' We delight 
to hear the voice of the past describing the objects of natural 
scenery, or the affairs of our own locality in ancient times, 
and generations of old. 
For these considerations I have chosen for the subject of 
this paper, " The Early History of Sheffield," as I apprehend 
it will be of peculiar interest to many here assembled. I 
propose tracing the history of this district to the time of 
Doomsday Survey, under three divisions — the British, the 
Roman, and the Saxon. Should any of the views entertained 
by me excite discussion, I hope it will be approached in a 
candid and unbiassed spirit, and with a desire only of ascer- 
taining the truth. 
After much consideration, I have arrived at the conclusion 
that the Don formed the boundary between two of the 
British tribes, the Brigantes and the Coritani; between the 
Roman provinces, Maxima Caasariensis and Flavia Caesari- 
ensis ; and between two of the great Saxon kingdoms of the 
Heptarchy, Northumbria and Mercia. In the ensuing nar- 
rative I shall adduce several reasons in support of these 
conclusions, which I have formed with some reluctance, 
and offer with all deference to the authority of the late 
Mr. Hunter, the able and learned historian of Hallamshire, 
who was of a contrary opinion. 
British Period. 
The Roman historians inform us that when their country- 
men landed on our shores, they found the country divided 
among many independent tribes, somewhat resembling the 
septs or clans of Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland 
in the middle ages, and ruled by chiefs or petty kings. 
