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The Caledonians, the unconquered enemies and greatest plague of
the Romans in Britain, were particularly galled and offended with
the garrison at Lancaster, it being always the first to oppose
them, as often as they invaded the empire, by crossing the Solway
firth. For having taken advantage of the spring-tides and the
darkness of the nights at the change of the moon, they escaped
the garrison at Virosidium, Ellenborough, Arbeia, and Moresby;
and skulking along the Cumberland coast, they crossed the
Morecambe-bay, and were first discovered on the banks of the
Lune. Here they were opposed by the townsmen, who kept the
garrison; and if they did not return by the way they came, the
alarm brought upon them the garrisons of Overborough, Watercrook,
and Ambleside, which surrounded and cut them off. Hence arose a
particular hatred to the Lancastrians, which time and repeated
injuries fomented into rage. In the end, the barbarous clans,
following close upon the heels of the flying Romans, in a
particular manner satiated their desire of revenge upon the
helpless Lancastrians, by sacking and destroying their town and
fortifications, in order that they might at no future time oppose
their invasions. The
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