C 696 
gining of his reign, before he affumed it as a cog- 
nomen (29), it is not improbable, that this peice of 
lead might alfohave been caft within the time, when 
slgricola was governor of Britain. 
The method of calling the lead, when feparated from 
the ore, into large peices of a proper fize, form, and 
weight, was very proper ; as well to alcertain their 
quantity, as to render them portable, and fit for fale. 
And they might be marked with the name of the 
emperor for a like reafon, as when it was put upon 
the coins ; namely, to authoriie the lale of them by 
vertue of his permiffion. The year likewife, and 
the name of the people, where the mines lay, were 
neceffary to be added, for the fake of the proprietors; 
in order to adjuff their accounts with the officers, 
and prevent frauds in the execution of their truft. 
And it is obfervable, that the method now made ufe 
of in our lead mines is not much different from this. 
For the metal, while liquid, is caft in an iron mold 
into large peices, which from the ffiape of them are 
ufually called pigs ; and, as I have been informed, 
are upon an average near the fame weight, with that 
fpecitied in the draught. And they are likewife 
commonly marked with the initial letters of the name 
of the l'meiter, or facftor, and fometimes both, before 
they are fent from the mines. 
Camden might poffibly take thefe peices of lead 
for the monument of a vidtory, by fupplying vidio- 
ria , or monnmentum vitloriae, before the words de 
ceang. for Ceangis j the fame people, as he fup- 
(29) See Vail' ant, Numifm. imp. Rom. pr a eft ant. lom. II. ed.$. 
i>. 1 1 •?. And Sueton. in vit. Demit, c. 13. 
pofes. 
