OS1/19/10/128

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[Page] 128
Parish of Fetteresso

[continued from page 127]
-navigated the whole coasts, probably as far as Orkney and Shetland, occasionally landing as before,
and pillaging the defenceless inhabitants, but never again at this time attempting any permanent Settle-
ment or conquest. - It is certain however that some time thereafter, it is not exactly known how
long, another Roman army led by Severus, Lollius Urbicus, or Some other General, penetrated much
farther into this part of Caledonia, at least as far as the Moray Frith, and that it was finally reduced
according to Richard of Cirencester, into a sort of Roman province under the name of Vespasiana,
and which he says continued attached to their empire for about Seventy years before the final
departure of that people. History informs us of several expeditions undertaken for this purpose by
the two Generals above mentioned, but scarcely any particulars are taken notice of unless one
by Dio Cassius, that does much honour to the bravery and perseverance of our ancestors, while it rather
throws discredit on the former easy victory said to have been obtained by Agricola, - and this is
that in one of these expeditions, the Emperor Severus sustained a loss of not less than 50,000 men.
Whatever may have been the case, and at whatever period this conquest may have been achieved we
have abundant proofs of its having happened, from the frequent remains of Roman Camps, and other
monuments of that people, which have been discovered over all this tract of country. -
The Roman General, whoever he was, that next engaged in this undertaking, appears to
have followed Agricola's line of march as far as Stonehaven, or the eastern extremity of
the Montes Grampii and to have then directed his route through the hills, the road along
the coast being more difficult or impracticable, Straight to the river Dee, from which he was dis-
tant only about twelve miles. In this line the level of the country is Somewhat lower being chiefly through [wet]
moors and morasses, in one of which last, about half way in this day's march, upon the property of Mr. Silver of
Netherley, in the year 1809 was found a very fine Roman Gladius, which is now to be Seen in the
Museum of the Marischal College Aberdeen. It is of the mixed brass, of which are formed almost all
the [continued on page 129]

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