It is generally agreed that Lucius, a petty king who is supposed by Usher and Stillingfleet to have reigned in some part of Britain in the time of Commodus, between 180 and 192, was the first king who embraced the Christian scheme, and as the people were generally governed in their faith, by the belief of their monarch, Christianity became the prevailing religion of his subjects, long ere it was acknowledged in Rome as the religion of the Emperor. From this time to the reign of Dioclesian, the Christian doctrine seems gradually to have spread amongst the people, but in the last years of that tyrant's reign, the rage of persecution spread from the eastern church to the west, and Britain became a theatre of martyrdom. After Constantine the Great, about the year 311, had professed himself a convert to the new faith, the progress of Christianity was unchecked in the island. From being barely tolerated, it soon became openly encouraged, and splendid rites and showy ceremonies were devised to lure the people to embrace a doctrine which was professed by the great ones of the earth, and sanctioned by the imperial decrees. In this state of apparent prosperity the Christian religion continued in Britain till towards the close of the fifth century, when the withdrawment of Roman patronage, and the inroads of the victorious Saxons, threw over the face of the country the thick darkness of German superstition. What effect was produced upon the minds of the people by the cheering truths of Christianity, we have no means of ascertaining. The vices engendered by a state of continued warfare, and favoured by a military government, are of such a nature as to defy almost the all-powerful influence of divine truth. Besides the Romans were certainly a corrupt and degenerate people, and as the Britons were compelled continually to associate with them, the force of example doubtless limited, in a great degree, the beneficial influence which the precepts of the Saviour would otherwise have produced upon the mind. The effect must however upon the whole have been salutary; for though Christianity may not altogether restrain from vice, it has certainly a powerful counteracting influence.

SECTION I.-Of the Castra or Earth Works.

In the time of the Romans, and especially during the latter years of their lominion in Britain, when the greater part of the southern coast was comprehended in the Regnian province, there is every reason to believe, both from the situation of the town, the direction of the Roman Iters, and the antiquities which have been discovered in the neighbourhood, that Lewes was a Roman station, and was the only convenient pass between the western and eastern districts of the Regnian territory. The town is in fact surrounded by monuments of antiquity, in the Castra or Earth-works still remaining on the summits and acclivities of the Downs: but whether they are vestiges of the British, the Roman, or the Saxon dominion, is difficult to determine. The present chapter shall commence with a brief notice of those Castra which are in the immediate vicinity, or within a few miles of Lewes.

Proceeding across the Downs, in a northerly direction from Brighton to Ditchling, three of these ancient encampments are conspicuously placed. The first is an extensive one on the summit of the Downs about a mile to the north of Brighton, and now forming a part of the southern boundary of the New Race

Course. It is named the WHITE HAWK'. It is a triple earth-work, with ditches, which although now nearly filled up, have evidently been of considerable breadth and depth. The outermost trench measures nearly three quarters of a mile. It appears to have had two portæ, one on the northern escarpment, the other to the south. Towards the east it was defended by the natural declivity which is deep and precipitous; to the west and the south the land gently slopes towards the sea. It appears originally to have been square, but the corners were afterwards rounded off, as are those of many of the Roman Camps. The position of these works is extremely commanding. From the beacon within a short distance of the camp, is an extensive view over a great part of the British Channel, stretching to the Isle of Wight, and of the southern coast, as far as Worthing. It commands, at the same time, a distinct view of Chenkbury, Wolstonbury, Hollingbury, and Ditchling hills, on the summits of all of which were formerly strong earth-works.

The next Camp which has just been mentioned, is of a smaller size. It is called HOLLING BURY CASTLE, and is about three miles north of White-hawk, and four miles south of Ditchling. It is distinguished by its being the only Camp in this part of the coast at least, that is situated in the middle of the Downs all the others being formed either on their northern or their southern borders. The enclosure is about five acres, and the outline is that of a square. The elevated point on which these earth-works are constructed, commands the whole south-western coast.

The third Camp, about four miles north of the last-mentioned, is of much greater extent, including an area of twelve or fourteen acres. It has long borne the name of DITCHLING BEACON, from the village of Ditchling, which stands at a short distance from its base. The north side is secured by the declivity of the hill, which is steep and abrupt. "The other three sides have each their porta after the Roman manner, still very visible. The ditch was at least eleven feet broad, but the height of the vallation has been much reduced and levelled by the plough." This Camp is on the highest point of the Sussex range of hills, and commands part of the sea coast, the greater portion of the northern edge of the Downs, with an extensive prospect over the thickly wooded Weald. These three Camps appear to have been of Roman construction. Their

According to the late Rev. J. Douglas, this eminence was so named from Whyth, (Huyth?), Brit. to blow, and Oich, Brit. cold-the cold or bleak hill. Chinkbury from Chinckla, Brit. earth thrown up, with the addition of the Saxon burg.

Wolstenbury from Owel, or Voel, bleak cliff; and
Hollingbury, from Huel, a work performed with
spade or pick-axe, or Holi, Brit. to watch, and the
Saxon burg, a fortified place.

2

Dallaway's West. Suss. p. xviii.

outline indicates this, perhaps more clearly than that of any other entrenchment in the neighbourhood: and the many Roman coins and other relics that have been from time to time found in or near one or other of them, pretty clearly demonstrate that they were occupied by the Roman forces. As these Camps are situated not more than three or four miles from one another, and all on lofty stations, they formed an easy and perfect military line of communication; so that when well manned with Roman forces, and a Roman navy, if necessary, cruizing in the channel, nothing of consequence could escape their notice, or elude their power. It is not at all improbable that these works were formed by Vespasian, who, whilst he commanded the second legion here, under Claudius and his general Aulus Plautius, reduced, as we have before mentioned, the Regni, the Belgæ, and the Isle of Wight.

In the parish of Telscombe, near Newhaven, there are two camps of considerable magnitude, but both are very imperfect. They were evidently designed for squares, and contain each from twelve to fifteen acres. Although the vallation has been much reduced, and in some parts is altogether gone, yet it is not difficult to ascertain their boundaries. The cliff forms a south fence for one, and the west sides of both are finished with very strong works.

At Newhaven, on the point of a promontory that overlooks the haven's mouth, is a fortification called the CASTLE. The embankment is very strong and lofty, and is of a semi-circular shape. It was probably, when constructed, a complete circle, embracing twelve or fourteen acres: there remain now not more than five acres enclosed within the banks, the sea having undermined the cliffs, and vast masses are yearly falling into the tide.

MOUNT CABURN1, within a mile and a half of Lewes, presents one of the most perfect specimens of the ancient earth-works, that this neighbourhood affords. The camp is of a circular form, and scarcely three furlongs in circumference. It has double trenches. The outer vallum is broad and deep, the inner one is of less dimensions: and the rampart within rises extremely high. There was evidently a porta to the east, and another to the west. From the strength of the works it would seem that the spot was deemed by its possessors of great importance, commanding a full view of the eastern parts of the county, and overlooking the Levels, and Town of Lewes.

as standing by a lesser bourn running into the same rivulet. This is another instance of the usage of our Saxon ancestors, in compounding the names of places, partly of British and partly of Saxon words: Glyn, in the British tongue, signifying a valley, and Bourn, or Burn, in the Saxon language,

'Dr. Tabor, (Phil. Trans. No. 356, p. 792.), considers Caburn to be a corruption of the British word Cadir. It rather seems a contraction of the British word Cair, a fort, compounded with the Saxon word Bourn, or Burn, from its standing immediately over the Glyn river, or bourn. The Rev. Mr. Tutty's seat is now called Glynde-bourn, a stream or rivulet.

K

That part of the range of Downs on which Mount Caburn forms so conspicuous and interesting an object, has a peculiarity in it which is not again to be found in the whole extent of the Sussex coast. It stands alone as if separated

from the neighbouring hills by some terrible convulsion of nature. To the west it is divided from the protruding Down on which Lewes is raised, by the intervention of what was formerly an inland sea or estuary, which spread its waters over the whole of the present Lewes Levels on the south, and was partly surrounded by them on the south east and north west; whilst on the north it was bounded by the impassible forest of Anderida. Thus it was by nature the most defensible spot of Down in the whole county, and was consequently well inhabited, even before the Roman invasion of the island.

The valley at the base of Mount Caburn on the west or Lewes side, which insinuates itself between the Downs, is usually called Ox-settle-bottom1. At the extremity of this valley or bottom, proceeding in the direction from Mount Caburn towards the village of Southerham, are found the vestiges of a British treu, tref, or township. The number of extensive square trenches that are found at the north eastern boundary of the enclosed ground in the valley, warrants the conclusion that a British hamlet was there placed; for it can scarcely be supposed to have been a camp of any people, since all the entrenchments in the neighbourhood, whether they are square or round, are situated on the loftiest points of the Downs that could be chosen; but this station is at the very base. Neither can it be supposed to have been a castrum æstivum, or summer camp for the Roman horsemen, since these stations were generally chosen so as to avoid the summer heats, with a northen aspect, and near water; both of which qualifications were here wanting, unless the water of the estuary, at that time covering the Lewes levels, reached the valley. If it were a summer camp, it must have been chosen for grazing and tending the horses and other cattle for the use of the Lewes garrison. The most probable supposition is, that it was a British township, and of a tribe distinct from that which settled on the scite of Lewes, from which it was separated by the natural boundary of the estuary. If this supposition be correct, the large square surrounded with a trench and rampire, at the base of Mount Caburn, must have been the residence of the Chief; and the other squares and oblongs on the easy ascents on

This name would appear to be formed from the British word Uch, lofty, high, and Sittelth, an arrow, in the Armoric English: for Mount Caburn appears to the eye of the traveller from the south or east, to resemble the barb of an arrow. Perhaps Caburn itself might obtain this name,

of Uch-sittelth, or Ox-settle, originally, from the battles that had been fought on its summit. In after times when the Saxons took possession of the district, its ancient name might be changed by them to Caer-burn, or Caburn.-Elliot's MSS.