The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

VIII. Ostorius gouernor of great Britannia, gaineth a battell against the Iceni, and tooke Caractacus King of the same countrey, and sent him to Rome. The warres of the Romaines against the Siluri.

POstorius Propretor of Britannia, at his landing found all in an vprore: the enemie ranging the allies countrey, and vsing so much the greater violence, bicause he thought the new captaine, as vnacquainted with his armie, and the winter also begun, would not come foorth to encounter him. But he knowing well that the first successe breedeth either feare or confidence; gathered with speede his readiest cohorts, made toward the enemie, slaying those which made head against him; pursued the residue stragled abroad, for feare least they should ioyne againe: and least a faithles and cloaked peace should neither giue the captaine nor the souldier any rest, he disarmed those he suspected, and hemmed them in with garri∣sons betweene Antona and Sabrina a 1.1. Which the Iceni b 1.2 first of all refused, a strong people, and vnshaken with warres; because that of their owne motion they had sought our alliance and amitie: and at their instigation the people adioyning chose a place to fight, compassed in, with a rude and common trench, and nar∣row entrance, to hinder the comming in of horsemen. That fence the Roman Cap∣taine, although he wanted the strength of the legions, went about to force with the aide of the allies alone: and hauing placed his cohorts in rankes, setteth the troupes of horsemen in alike readines to their busines: then giuing the signe of battell brake the rampire, and disordered the enimies in their owne fortresses. Who stro∣ken in conscience with a remorse for their rebellion; and seeing all passages of esca∣ping stopped vp; shewed great courage and valoure in defending themselues. In which fight M. Ostorius the Lieutenants sonne, deserued the honour of sauing a citizen. But by the slaughter of the Iceni, those which wauered betweene warre and peace were quieted, and the armie lead against the c 1.3 Cangi. Whose countrey they wasted and spoiled; the enimie not daring to shew himselfe in fielde: or if priuily and by stealth they attempted to cut off any which dragged behind, they payed for their comming. Now the Roman armie was come neere vnto the sea coast which lookes towards Ireland, when as certaine tumults sproong vp among the d 1.4 Brigan∣tes brought backe the Captaine, certainly resolued not to attempt any new matter, vntill he had setled the old. But as for the Brigantes, some fewe put to death which first began to take armes; the residue being pardoned, all were quieted. The e 1.5 Siluri could neither by crueltie nor faire meanes, be hindered from making warre: and therefore no remedie left to keepe them vnder, but with a garrison of legionarie sol∣diers. The which to performe more easily, a colonie called f 1.6 Camalodunum, of a strong companie of old souldiers, was brought into the subdued countrey, as an aide and safegard against the rebels; and inducement to the confederates, to the obser∣uation of lawes. From thence they marched against the Siluri; besides their owne courage trusting to Caractacus strength: who hauing waded thorow manie dangers, and in manie aduentures prosperous and luckie, had gotten such reputation, that he was preferred before all the British Captaines. But in craft, and skilfulnes of the countrey, hauing the aduantage on vs, but weaker in strength, remoueth the war to the g 1.7 Ordouices: and there all those ioyning to him which feared our peace, resol∣ued

to hazard the last chaunce; chusing a place for the battell, where the comming in and going out was verie incommodious to vs; and to his, great aduantage. Then they got to the top of a hill: and if there were any easie passage vnto them, they stopped it vp with heapes of stones, as it were in maner of a rampire. Not farre off, ranne a riuer with an vncertaine foord, where a great troupe of his best soldiers were readie in order before the rampire. Besides this, the leaders went about, exhorted and incouraged the souldiers, taking all occasion of feare from them, and putting them in hope, with all other inducements of warre. And Caractacus coursing hither & thither, protested: That that day, and that battell should be either the beginning of the recouering of their libertie, or perpetuall seruitude. He called vpon the names of his auncestors, which chased Caesar the Dictator out of the Ile; by whose valour they were deliuered from hatchets, and tributes; and inioyed freely their wiues and childrens bodies vndefiled. Whilest he vttered these or the like speeches, the people made a noise about him; and euerie man swore according to the religion of his countrey, that he would yeeld, neither for wounds nor armes. That courage and cheerefulnes greatly astonied the Roman Captaine: and considering the riuer before his face; the forte they had cast vp; the high hils which hanged ouer them; all things deadly to thē, and commodious for the enimie; droue him into a doubt of the successe. Neuerthelesse the souldier demaunded battell, crying that there was nothing which valour could not ouercome. The Prefects and Tribunes vsing the like speeches, greatly incensed the ardour and courage of the rest. The Ostorius hauing viewed what places were of hard passage, and which of easie; leadeth his ar∣mie boiling with choler, with small difficultie ouer the riuer. But when we were come to the rampire, as long as we fought with throwing of dartes, we receiued most wounds, and many of our men were slaine: but after we had made our target fence * 1.8 thicke, and broken downe those rude compacted heapes of stones; and that the fronts of both the armies came close to handie strokes, without ods the Barbarians fled to the hill tops. But thither also as wel the light harnessed souldier, as the corslets brake in: after whom the one galding them with darts and Iauelins; and the o∣thers marching thicke and close togither, brake the ranks, and disordered the Bri∣taines; hauing neither head-peece, nor coate offence. If they thought to resist our aid-souldiers, they were beaten downe with swords and Iauelins by the legionaries; if they turned to make head against them, they were slaine with the pikes and two hāded swords of the auxiliaries. That victory was famous; Caractacus wife & daugh∣ter were taken, and his brothers yeelded themselues. He himselfe (as generally all succour failes in aduersitie) crauing defence and protection of Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes was by her taken prisoner and deliuered to the conquerers, nine yeeres after the warre was begun in Britannia. Whereupon his fame being car∣ried ouer the Ilands, and spread abroade throughout the Prouinces adioyning, was also renowmed in Italie: and they desired to see who he was, that so manie yeeres had contemned our forces. Neither was his name meanely esteemed of at Rome. And whilest Caesar extolled his owne woorth, he made the conquered more glori∣ous. The people was assembled, as to see a notable spectacle. The Emperours guard was all in armes, and good order, in the field before their campe: then Caractacus vas∣sals and retinue going before, the caparissons, his chaines and all other things gotten in warre against strangers, were brought after; then his brothers; his wife and daughter; and last of all, he himselfe was shewen to the people. The prayers of the rest were base for feare: but Caractacus neither hanging downe the head; nor in words crauing mercie, when he stoode before Caesars tribunal, spake as followeth.

If my moderation in prosperitie had beene as great as my nobilitie and fortune, I had come rather as a friend into this citie, then a captiue: neither wouldest thou haue disdained to haue receiued me with couenāts of peace, being descended of an∣cient progenitors, and commaunding ouer many nations. My present lot, as it is to me dishonorable; so is it to thee magnificent. I haue had horses, men, armes, wealth: What maruell is it if vnwillingly I haue lost them? for if you will commaund all men, it followeth that all men become bondmen. If presently I had yeelded and beene deliuered into thy hands; neither my fortune, nor thy glorie had beene renowned; and obliuion would haue followed my punishment. But if thou keepe me aliue, I shall be for euer an example of thy clemencie. Hauing spoken these words, Caesar pardoned him, his wife, and his brothers. And being all vnbound, they did their re∣uerence likewise vnto Agrippina, who sate aloft in another high chaire; and gaue her the like praises and thankes, as they had giuen the Prince. Surely a new and strange thing, and of our ancestors neuer vsed, that a woman should sit and commaund the Roman ensignes; but she carried herselfe as a fellow and associate of the Empire gottē by hir ancestors. After this the Lords of the Senat being called togither, they made long and glorious discourses touching Caractacus captiuitie: affirming it to be no lesse honorable then when P. Scipio shewed Siphaces vnto the people, and L. Paullus, Perses; or if any other had exhibited to the view of the people Kings, vanqui∣shed and ouercome. Then publike honours of triumphe were ordained for Ostorius, his fortunes vntill then prosperous; but not long after doubtfull: either bicause that Caractacus being remooued, as though thereby all had beene vanquished and subdu∣ed, seruice was carelesly intertained; or els bicause that the enimies hauing compas∣sion of so mightie a King, were more feruently enflamed to reuenge. For they inuiro∣ned the campe-master, and the legionarie cohorts, which were left behinde to build fortresses in the Silures countrie: and if they had not been speedily rescued by the villages and fortes adioyning, they had been put to the sword euerie man. Neuerthe∣lesse the campe-master, and eight Centurions, and the forwardest common soldiers, were slaine: and anon after they put to flight our forragers, and the troupes of horsemen which were sent to rescue them. Then Ostorius sendeth abroade certaine light harnessed companies; which yet could not staie their flight, if the legions had not vndertaken the battell. By their strength they fought with small oddes on either hand, till at length we had the better of it; and the enemie betooke him to his heeles with small losse, because the day beganne to faile. After that time they had diuers skirmishes, though for the most part in woods and marishes, according as occasion was giuen, in manner of roades, either by chance, or of valoure; sometime rashly, sometimes with foresight; now for anger, now for bootie; sometimes by their captaines commaundement; and some∣time without warrant: but principally by the obstinacie of the Siluri, exasperated with a speech which the Roman Emperour should haue vsed: which was, that as the Sugambri were destroyed, and transported into Gallia; so the name of the Siluri should vtterly bee extinguished. And in this heate they intercepted two aide∣bandes, vncircumspectly wasting and spoiling through the auarice of the cap∣taines; and by distributing the spoiles and prisoners, drew the residue of the nations to reuolt; when as Ostorius wearied with care and trauell yeelded vp his ghost: the enemie reioysing thereat, as at the death of a captaine not to be despised, though not in battell, yet spent by reason of the warre. But Caesar being aduertised of the death of his Lieutenant, least the Prouince should be destitute of a gouernor, sent A. Didius in his place. He being gone thither with great speede, yet found not all

quiet: Manlius Valens in the meane space hauing had with a legion committed to his charge an vnluckie fight. The fame whereof the enemie made greater then it was, to terrifie the captaine which was comming: and he vsed the like pollicie, and augmented the fame of that which he had heard, to win more praise by appeasing the sturres; or if he could not, to purchase pardon more easily. The Siluri did therein endomage vs, and waste and spoile farre abroad, vntill by Didius comming they were driuē back. But after that Caractacus was taken, Venutius a very expert man in militarie affaires, borne at the citie of the Iugantes; * 1.9 & as I haue said before, a long time trustie vnto vs, and defended by the Roman power, as long as the marriage be∣twixt him and Cartismandua continued; rebelled against vs, by reason of a diuorse and warre betweene them. But at the first the strife was onely betweene them two, vntill Cartismandua by pollicie had taken prisoner Venutius brother and neerest kinsmen. Whereupon the enemies kindled with rage, and ignominie pricking them forward, least they should be brought vnder the yoke of a woman, they inua∣ded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth. Which was foreseene by vs, and the cohorts sent to second her, fought a hote battell; which at the beginning was doubtfull, though the end more ioyfull. A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded, fought with the like successe: for Didius being stroken in yeeres, and hauing receiued many honors, thought it sufficient to execute his charge, and driue away the enemie by the help of others. These exploites al∣though they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres; yet I thought good to ioyne together, least being seuered, they should not so well haue beene remembred.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Nen, at Northhamp∣ton and S••∣uerne. Vice Camdenum
• b 1.2

  Sffolke, Norfolke, Cambrid e∣shire, and Hunting on∣shire.
• c 1.3

  Whether So••••merset∣shire men or Chesshire, Consul. Camd.
• d 1.4

  Yorkeshire, Lancashire, B. of Durham Westmerlād, Cumberland,
• e 1.5

  Southwales as Hereford∣shire, Radnorshire, Brecknock∣shire, Monmouth∣shire, and Glamorgan∣shire,
• f 1.6

  Maldon in Essex,
• g 1.7

  Northwales Montgomery shire, Merionyth∣shire, Carnaruon∣shire, Denbigh∣shire, and Flintshire
• * 1.8

  Vide annot in hist. lib. 3. num. 7.
• * 1.9

  E〈…〉〈…〉itate Brigantum saith Camd.