[Berwick 3 of 86]

3

County of the Borough and Town of Berwick upon Tweed

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County of the Borough } equally so with the tradition of its
and Town of } Continued deriving its name from bears,
Berwick upon Tweed } founded on the idea that the
neighbourhood was formerly infested
with those animals. The heralds
have adopted this supposition,
for to this day, the arms of the
Corporation are a bear chained to a tree.
When Aberwicke rose to any importance is not known; that it was a place
of considerable strength during the wars of the Romans and their allies there
is no sufficient evidence to prove. Antiquarians offer nothing definitive; all
is conjectural. Some authors allege it was known to Ptolemy, the Geographer
who wrote in the time of Antoninus, by the name of Tnesis; but the situation described
by him does not correspond with that of the present town. Several Silver coins of
Gratian, Nero, Antoninus Pius, Lucius Flaminius and others, have at different times
been dug up, with their inscriptions defaced, but too distinct to admit a doubt
of their being Roman mintage. According to Maitland, the great
Roman road called Watling Street, or the Devils Causeway, crossed
the Tweed at Berwick; and there pursued its way into East Lothian.
Other annalists argue that it had a more westerly direction. But there are
evident remains of Roman fortifications in the neighbourhood of

Note: Unsigned

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Transcribed by PT and PF

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