Note 147 — PLATE LXIX. CASTLE OF LILLEBONNE.
Reading edition
Ordericus Vitalis, on the other hand, says, but he is borne out by no classical authority, that Lillebonne occupies the site of an old Belgic town, called Caletus which was destroyed by Julius Cæsar; who built on its foundation a new one, and named it Julio-bona, after himself. The passage, which is curious, is as follows:—“Antiqua urbs fuit, quæ Caletus ab incolis dicta est. Hanc (ut in antiquis Romanorum legitur gestis) Caius Julius Cæsar obsedit, et pro nimia bellatorum obstinatione intus acerrimè repugnantium subvertit. Deinde postquam hostes ibidem ad libitum compressit, considerata opportunitate loci, præsidium Romanorum providè constituit, et a nomine suo Juliam-bonam (quam barbari nunc corrupto nomine Ille-bonam nuncupant) appellavit.”—Duchesne, Scriptores Normanni, p. 554.