The history of Great Britaine under the conquests of ye Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans Their originals, manners, warres, coines & seales: with ye successions, lives, acts & issues of the English monarchs from Iulius Cæsar, to our most gracious soueraigne King Iames. by Iohn Speed.

FLAVIVS VESPASIAN. CHAPTER XII.

[illustration]

* 1.1 * 1.2

SO acceptable was the fall of this Prince, and such * 1.3 hopes reuiued at the en∣trance of his Successour, as that all mens mindes were raised to an expectation, that the glorie of the Em∣pire, so much Eclipsed through the ciuill broiles of Galba, Otho, and this last Vitellius, should now shine againe in the beautie of her former libertie, by the desired gouernement of aged * 1.4 Vespasian; whose integritie, valour, and seruice, had beene sufficiently approued by his many Expeditions in all the Prouinces wherein he had to doe.

(2) His descent was from the Flauian family, and * 1.5 that but base and obscure: his Father called Titus Flauius, his Mother Polla Vespasia, his Wife Domilia, and his Sonnes Titus, and Domitian, both Emperours suc∣ceeding after him.

(3) In his yong yeares, hee serued as a Militarie * 1.6 Tribune in the Countrey of Thracia, and as Questor in the Prouinces of Crete, and Cyrene: Vnder Claudius the Emperour, he went forth into Germanie, as Lieu∣tenant of a Band, and from thence was sent into Bri∣tannie, to be Leader of the second Legion, where the foundation of that greatnes whereunto after hee at∣tained, was first laid: for as Suetonius hath written, therein with victorie hee fought thirty set Battailes, and was also Conquerour of the Ile of Wight: whereby two mightie Nations were subdued to the Romanes, and twentie Townes wonne from the Britaines: for which exploits he had Triumphall ornaments, worthily assigned him by Claudius, whose owne Triumph, (as Iosephus saith) was gotten without his paines, but by the only prowesse of Vespasian. After this, he gouer∣ned * 1.7 Africke with singular integritie and much ho∣nour, and was lastly sent by Nero for his Vice-roy in∣to Syria vpon this occasion.

(4) There had beene spread thorow all the East∣parts, * 1.8 an old Prophecie and setled opinion constantly be∣leeued, that it was appointed by the Destinies, there should come out of Iurie him that should be Lord of the whole world: which how it serued for the Iewes to re∣uolt, or for the Romanes to apply onely vnto Vespasi∣an, * 1.9 the euent sheweth, which cannot agree to any o∣ther, then to the person and power of Christ Iesus, there borne, and throughout the whole world still raigning: Yet vpon the confidence of such an accomplishment, the Iewes reuolted from the Romanes obedience, and * 1.10 slew their President Sabinus by name, putting to flight Gallus, Lieutenant Generall of Syria, that came to his aide, and got from him the maine Standard, or Ensigne of the Eagle. This Nation was so populous and strong, that none was thought fitter to stay their attempts, then was Vespasian, who with great honour and approbation, reduced that Prouince vnto their former subiection, and there remained the short time of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius their Raignes; of whose * 1.11 proceedings there Iosephus writeth at large, vnto whom I must referre the vnsatisfied Reader.

(5) All which times, the ciuill stirres amongst the Romanes, gaue the Prouinces occasion to attempt their former liberties; as did the Batauians, Germanes and French, with whom the Britaines also tooke hart * 1.12 to reuolt: But the first that sided with Vespasian, were two thousand expert Souldiers, drawne out of the Mesian Legions, and sent to aide Otho against Vitel∣lius; who marching as farre as Aquileia, they heard there of the certaine death of Otho, and thereupon ta∣king the aduantage of the offred opportunitie, with an vncontrolled libertie, committed many robberies and outragious villanies: In so much, that fearing con∣digne punishment, they held it their best policie, to combine some speciall man by their fauours vnto them, whereby their facts might bee either quite smoothered, or lightly reprehended; neither in their opinions was any so gracious for desert or power, as was Vespasian, and therefore with one assent they pro∣claimed him Emperour, and wrote his name in their * 1.13 Banners, thinking themselues as worthy to make an Emperour, as were the Legions either of Spaine, or Ger∣many.

(6) Of the like minde were his owne Legions in Syria and Iurie, growne now so famous by the pro∣secution of those warres, that they highly conceited

his valour, and their owne sufficiencie to bee inferiour to none: And therefore all on the sudden at Caesarca, both Captaine and Souldier salute him Emperour; which * 1.14 title when he resolutely gainsaid and refused, with drawne swords they threatned his death. Thus then being brought into danger euery way, he sent his let∣ters vnto Tiberius Alexander, Lieutenant of Aegypt, who likewise at Alexandria, presently proclaimed him Emperour.

(7) At this time Vectius Bolanus sent by Vitellius, * 1.15 was Lieutenant of Britaine, there ruling in a gentler and milder manner then was fit for so fierce a Nation: for the Souldiers hauing gotten head, by the remisse Gouernment of Trebellius Maximus, continued the same loosenesse in discipline still: and Bolanus in stead of awe and Obedience, retained onely their affections and good wils. But most especially the short Raignes of these last Emperours (whose beginnings were alto∣gether imploied to satisfie their licentious pleasures, and latter times spent for the defense of their Liues from violent Deaths) gaue way to many imperfecti∣ons of the Gouernors, and misdemeanours of the com∣mon Souldiers.

(8) But when Vespasian had assumed the Empire, * 1.16 great Captaines and good Souldiers were sent into the Prouinces, and into Britaine, Petilius Cerealis, that had formerly there made proofe of his seruice vnder Ne∣ro, in the warres against Boduo, and afterwards in o∣ther parts, as against the Gaules and Batauians, with prosperous victories. The fame of this man strooke * 1.17 great terrour into the hearts of the wauering Britains, and amongst them of the * Brigantes, the most popu∣lous State of the whole Prouince: against whom at his first approch he warred, and in many battles, and some of them bloudy, the greatest part of these people were wasted, and their Countrey came into the Romish subiection.

(9) Whereby the glory of Cerealis might well haue dimmed the fame of his Successour, had not Iuli∣us Frontinus a great Souldier also, sustained the charge * 1.18 with reputation and credit, in subduing the strong and Warlike nation the * 1.19 Silures: where he had, beside the force of the enemie to struggle with, the straits, and difficult places of rockes and mountaines, for accesse.

(10) After whose gouernment (no further Acts being mentioned) Iulius Agricola, who in Rome had * 1.20 beene Questor, Tribune, and Pretor, and Lieutenant in Aquitania, was sent Generall into Britaine by Vespasian the Emperour, the yeere before his death. This man formerly had there serued vnder the command of Petilius Cerealis, whereby hee had gained experience both of the People and Prouince; and at his first ap∣proch gathered the Ensignes of the Legions, and other aids of the Auxiliaries, (who for that yeere attended an end of their trauels, because the Summer was al∣most spent) lest by protracting time, the violence of the Ordouices should further burst foorth, who a lit∣tle before his entrance, had vtterly almost cut off a wing which lay on their Borders, the rest of the Countrey, as men desirous of Warre, allowing their example.

Against these Agricola addressed, who kept them∣selues in places of aduantage, and durst not descend into indifferent ground. Hee therefore being him∣selfe formost, lead vp his Armie to their encounter, and seconded with the courage of his trained Souldi∣ers, put them all to sword and flight, whereby the * 1.21 whole Nation was almost quite destroied.

(11) And now that his fame began to ascend, he knew well that with instance it must be followed, and as the first affaires had issue, the rest would succeede; he therefore deliberated to conquer the Iland Mona, from the possession whereof Paulinus Suetonius was reuoked, by the generall Rebellion vnder Boduo. But in a purpose not purposed before, and ships wanting, the policie of the Captaine deuised a passage; for hee commanded the most choice of the Aids, to whom the shallowes were well knowen (and without whom the Romans did almost attempt nothing) to put ouer at once, and suddenly to inuade them. These Bri∣taines, after the vse of their Countrey manner, were most skilfull swimmers, and in swimming armed, able to gouerne themselues and horses. The Monaans thinking themselues secure, for that no Ships were seene in their Riuer, now thus suddenly surprized, as men amazed, firmly thought that nothing could bee inuincible to them, who came with such resolutions to Warre, and therefore they humbly desired Peace, and yeelded the Iland vnto Agricolaes deuotion. * 1.22

(12) Who now in these prosperous proceedings of his fortunes, sought not with any glorious relations or letters of aduertisements, to improoue and aug∣ment the greatnesse of his honour; but rather in see∣king to suppresse his fame, made it shine more bright; and addressing himselfe for ciuill gouern∣ment, reformed many abuses in his House, his Campe, and in the whole Prouince, and those especially that most touched the poorer sort, as by moderating the * 1.23 increase of Tribute and Corne, wherewith the Britains were daily burdened: by the suppressing of which enormities (and the like) an honourable opinion of him was euery where entertained, and a generall in∣clination vnto Peace, which partly by the negligence, partly by the auarice of former Gouernours, had beene no lesse feared then Warre it selfe.

(13) And whereas the Britaines hitherto still har∣ried with Oppressions and Warres, had little leisure or will to apply themselues to things which accompany Peace, and are the ornaments of Ciuil and settled Soci∣eties, and therefore were prone vpon euery occasion to reuolt and stirre: to induce them by pleasures to quietnesse and rest, he exhorted them in priuate, and helpt them in publike, to build Temples, Houses, and Places of Assemblies, and common resort; and likewise prouided that the sonnes of their Nobles should be in∣structed * 1.24 in the liberall Arts and Sciences, commen∣ding the industrie, and preferring the wits of the Bri∣taines before the Students of France, as being now growen curious to attaine the Eloquence of the Ro∣man * 1.25 Gentrie, (yea euen the Gowne, the habit of peace and peaceable Arts) and to delight in gorgeous Buildings, Banquets, and Baths.

(14) And thus farre had Agricola proceeded be∣fore the death of Vespasian, whose managing of the Imperiall dignitie was euery way answerable to so high a place, and whose death was as much lamented, as his Vertues did surmount his Predecessours. But as tou∣ching * 1.26 his miraculous cures of the Blind and the Lame, as they serue not either to bee vrged or inserted in this our present Historie; so yet may they conuince the in∣durate Atheist, whose conscience is seared with the sinne of incredulitie of the Miracles wrought by our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ. For if the wisest Historians * 1.27 of those times haue beleeued themselues, and left Re∣cords vpon their credit to following posterities, that by his touch onely hee cured a Lame-man, and with his * 1.28 spittle opened the eies of the Blinde, being a mortall∣and sinfull man; shall it then bee doubted, that hee * 1.29 which knew no sinne, neither receiued the gift by mea∣sure, either in power could not, or in act did not worke such Miracles as were the witnesses of his God-head, and for such are recorded to confirme our faith? But to our purpose.

(15) When Vespasian had liued threescore and nine yeeres, seuen moneths, and seuen daies, and had * 1.30 raigned ten yeeres, as Eusebius saith, he died peaceably in his Bed; which no Emperour since Augustus euer did, hauing beene a great Scourge and Instrument of God against the miserable Iewes; whose kingly race from Dauids line he sought by all meanes to extirpate, that * 1.31 so all their hopes and expectations might for euer be cut off.

(16) Hee was of a middle stature, well set, and strongly compact: his countenance not altogether * 1.32 amiable, neither any waies deformed: a great fauou∣rer of Learning, very Liberall, a Iust, Wise, and Most Vali∣ant Prince.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vespasian.
• * 1.2

  Petilius.
• * 1.3

  Ann. Do. 72.
• * 1.4

  Vespasians worth and estimation.
• * 1.5

  His originall. Sueton. in vit. Vespas. sect. 1.
• * 1.6

  His imployments in former ti•…•…es. Tacit. in vita A∣gric. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 189.
• * 1.7

  Iosephus •…•…el. I•…•…d. lib. 3. cap. 1.
• * 1.8

  Sueton. in vit. Ve∣spasi. Sect. 4.
• * 1.9

  An ancient pro∣phecie in all the East parts.
• * 1.10

  The cause of the Iewes reuolt.
• * 1.11

  Ioseph. de Ballo Iud.
• * 1.12

  Taci•…•…. Hist. 3. cap. 9.
• * 1.13

  Vespasian chosen Emperour by the Mesian Souldi∣ers.
• * 1.14

  By his owne. Ioseph. bell. Iud. lib. 5. cap. 10.
• * 1.15

  Tacit. in vit. A∣gric. fol. 187.
• * 1.16

  Petilius Cerealis Deputy in Bri∣taine.
• * 1.17

  Yorkeshire, Lancashire, Westmerland, and the Bishop. ricke of Durha•…•….
• * 1.18

  Iulius Frontinus subdueth the Britaines.
• * 1.19

  South-Wales.
• * 1.20

  Iulius Agricola Lieutenant in Britaine.
• * 1.21

  Hee ouercōmeth the Ordouices.
• * 1.22

  He winneth the Iland o•…•… Mon•…•….
• * 1.23

  Agricola good to the poore.
• * 1.24

  His good course in winning the people from wildnesse.
• * 1.25

  The Britaines ciuili•…•…ed.
• * 1.26

  Agricola cureth the blinde and the lame, and that miracu∣lously.
• * 1.27

  Suet. in vit. Ve∣spas. sect. 7.
• * 1.28

  Tacit. hist. 4. c. 35.
• * 1.29

  Agricol•…•…es mira∣cles conuince Atheists that d•…•…∣ny our S•…•…uiours miracles.
• * 1.30

  Vespas•…•… dieth peaceablie. Eus•…•…b. Eccles. Hist. lib. 3. ca. 12. & 13.
• * 1.31

  A great scourge of God against the Iewes.
• * 1.32

  His endow•…•…nts of body. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in •…•…it. V•…•…∣•…•… •…•…t. 23. H•…•… ver•…•…s.