In longas orbem qui secuere vias. Ovid. Amor. II. 16.
[51] Among the old Egyptians, Herodotus tells us, (Euterpe) one sort of soldiers was called Hermotybiæ; latui arma.
[52] The Roman station between London and Hertford (I suppose they had one every ten miles, if conveniently it could be) was probably at Cheshunt, anciently Cestrehunt; and it is likely there was a fortification there. Wadesmill retains the name of Vadum.
It is very easy to discern where the old Roman road becomes the present road northward, by the alteration of its direction, near a little rill between Wadesmill and Ware. Wadesmill was a Roman ford, vadum, wath; whence its name: and from hence the Roman road is the common one, or post road, to Chesterton, or Durobrivæ, upon the river Nen.
K. Edward senior, in 909, the 9th year of his reign, built a castle there, says H. Hunt; where it is printed Herefordiam instead of Hertfordiam. Castrum non immensum, sed pulcherrimum, inter Beneficiam (the Bean) & Mimera & Luge flumina, &c.
Cestrehunt, Cheshunt, is via ad castrum. Huynt, hynt, is in Welsh a gang, or road, a by-road, short road.
[53] Vast quantities of coins found at Gamlingay, as I am told by Mr. Peck.
[54] June 11, 1729, Mr. Welby of Denton tells me, Gardiner, who keeps the Crown inn at Camboritum, lately found many Roman coins there, and sells them for four pence a piece.
[55] Dr. Brady, in his History of England, p. 48. mentions this city. Hollingshed, p. 92. b. of his History of England, says a gate of it was standing in his time.
[56] Et camuris hirtæ sub cornibus aures. Virg. G. III.