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A stubborn adherence to facts, in the face of evidence, is, 
however, not uncommon, especially amongst archaeologists. 
"We all of us bring prejudices, more or less, out of our 
nurseries, and the small modicum of history which was 
flogged into us at school haunts and disturbs our judgment 
in later years. It has been well put, that there is no 
progression in historical inquiry without retrogression ; at any 
rate, I myself feel that many of my earlier ideas on archaeo- 
logical subjects have to be recanted, and it would be a want 
of moral courage not honestly so to do. 
I shall have to ask you this day for great indulgence. I 
shall have to bid you draw largely on my motto, " live and 
unlearn,'* to give up many cherished opinions — much that 
you have studied or read or taken for granted connected 
with one of the most important eras of our country's history, 
and shall lay before you proof, convincing, I hope, to each 
and all, that what I state commends itself to your intellect 
and reason and common sense. I am one of those who 
believe that this North Humberland, i.e., the country North 
of the Humber, taking the words in the widest signification, 
was the cradle of Britain's greatness. I believe the Brigantes 
were first and greatest in prowess when Britain was first 
known to the civilized world; that the Eomans in their 
might dwelt here " within the wall, on the south side of it," 
as Bede informs us ; that it was at their chief town that 
emperor after emperor resided, and the main body of their 
legions had their home ; that not far from hence was their 
first great colony, Camulodunum. " Brigantes faemina duce 
exurere coloniam," — Tacitus. Polydore Yirgil — " Puto Cam- 
bodunum Doncaster aut Pomfrid. Ptolemy — " Southernmost 
amongst the Brigantes, near the Parisi, below York," " twenty 
minutes more northerly than York." It must have been 
situate amongst the Brigantes, for Tacitus tells us Claudius 
took Cunobelin's royal city of Camulodunum," and Seneca 
