The genuine history of the Britons asserted against Mr. Macpherson ...

THE BRITONS ASSERTED. 71
The only reafon, for Mr. Macpherfon's fixing
the Cirabri between the Humber and Tweed, as
well as in Wales, was obvioufly the antient and
prefent appellation of Cumberland in one part of
it. And the only ground for his aflerting the in-
curfions of the Cimbri into the dominions of the
Belgas, was the appellation of Brigantes in another.
Upon fuch flight fprings does the vad
machine of this hiftory move. But, as the Belgx
never extended their poffeffions to the Hum-
ber, the Cimbri beyond it could not poiEbly
make incurfions into them. And, even if they
could, fince thofe invafions were made equally by
their brethren of Wales as by them, their breth-
ren muft equally with them have obtained the
opprobrious appellation of Brigante:.
But the Brigantes were not denom^i?ated at all
from any incurfions to the South of tlie Humber.
They made none that appear in hiftory. Able as
we are to difcover their expeditions into Lan-
cafliire, Weftmoreland, Cumberland, Anandale,
and Chelhire ^ we have not one trace of any into
the counties of Lincoln and Nottingham. And
the name was not peculiar to the Britons of
Yorkfhire and Durham. It was equally the name
of fome of the Celtic fettiers on the Alps % of
' Hiftory of Manchefter, p, 8. and 104— 10^.
* Strabo, p. 316. Amilel. And fee p. 190 alfo.
F 4
fome