C 73 1 
infcrlption in Gruter, which mentions one of-thefe 
equites fmgulares^ as having ferved under Auguflus 
in feveral of his wars, and been rewarded by him ( i). 
This account of the origin and ftation of that body 
of Roman horfe may afford fome light in fettling 
the time, when this funeral monument of Aurelius 
Macrinus was erected. For if they always attended 
on the emperor himfelf, fome one of the Roman em- 
perors mull then have been refident in Britain. And 
as there appears no probable reafon for affigning it to 
any of them before Hadrian ; fo there are fome cir- 
cumftances relating to the infcription, as will be 
fhewn afterwards, which do not fuit with his time. 
And after him there was no other emperor in Bri- 
tain, before the reign of Severus. Indeed Albinus, 
who then governed here, had been complimented by 
him with the title of Auguflus, before he came over 
himfelf. But he was foon after defeated and flain 
by him in Gaul, and wc have no other infcription 
hitherto difcovered in Britain, which has any relation 
to Albinus ; whereas we have feveral, in which the 
name of Severus is exprefly mentioned (2). As Se- 
verus therefore refided here for about three of his 
lafl years, and died at York ; it feems to me mofl 
probable, that this monument was fet up within that 
time. And to this both the form of the letters on 
the infcription very well agree, and the ligature of 
the two letters G and A at the end of it. For tho 
(i) P ag. ccq\x'k\. mm, 
(2J Camden. Britann. pag. 568. edit, 1607. Ibid. pag. 592. 
Horjley, Brit. Rom, Northumb. cix. 
VoL. 45). 
L 
fuch 
