Of OXFO%T>^SHI%E. 
verings^ by the Saxons alfo called f^cI from one of thefe, or 
both, Iguefs this Town took its name. 
70. As alfo the Pr<£torian or Confular way^ called Watlingftreeti 
and Wattle-bank, here in Oxford/hire-, thefe in all probability be- 
ing made the fame way, that Hadrian is fa id to have made hounda- 
daries (where Rivers were w^anting) between barharows people^ 
Stipitibu^ magnps in modum muralps fefps funditus jaSiis atque con- 
nexis\ i. e, with great flakes fet fall in the ground, and knit to- 
gether 'tis like with fmaller wood woven between ; which if hap- 
pily made ufe of in thefe ways to keep up the earth at firft^ 
might well invite the toow^ to name them Wattleing-Jireety Wat- 
tie-bank^ isrc. 
71. Juft upon the meeting of AkemanHreet way, and the Port 
way from Wallengford^ there are alfo fome foot-fteps of that decay- 
ed ancient §iation^ by Camden called Akhefier^ ftill remaining^ 
which he guelTes fo called, as one would fay an old Town \ But I 
have met with fome notes in a MS. no\^by me, that fays it w^as 
the Seat of AkSIu^ the Emperor ^ who having trecheroufly flain 
his Friend and Mafter, the Emperor Caraufm^ bafely ufurped 
Britan for himfelf, calling this his new Seat after his own name, 
Ale^i Caftrum^ fince Alcbefler or Aldcefter : but it feems by the 
ftory that it florilh'd not long, for Conftantim Chlorus being fenc 
againft him by the Emperors Dioclefian and Maximian^ and by 
the benefit of a mift, landing privatly fomwhere on the South 
flioar, near the I/le of Wight (whether Ak^u6 came to prevent it) 
gave him battle, defeated, and put him to flight towards this 
.his chief Fortrefs, but was over-taken and flain by Afclepiodotud^ 
one of Con§itantiu6^sC2Lptzins (as this Author will have it) here 
2Lt Elsjield near Oxon^ (which he alfo would have a corruption of 
AleSIus-^eld) before he could reach it. 
72. For the credit of this relation, it having no foundation 
in the Roman ftory, I fl:iall wholly leave it to the Readers judg- 
ment ; yet (liall add thus much for its reputation, that the Roman 
military ways lye very agreeable to it ; for on fuppofition, this 
confliSi happened 2kyo\xtRegnum^ now Pang-wood or CI aufentum^ 
! now Southampton, the Roman ways lye direftly thence to Venta 
I Belgarum^ now Winchefter ; and fo to Callena^ now Wallengford, 
* Gul Somneri DiSfionartum SaxoK!co-Lat-z^?igl.i?t verbis. [ /^limSpartianHsmliadriano. * Cai^d, 
Britan, inOxon. ,^ MS .]^enes Authorem. 
accord^ 
