§. I. Of the title of the Romans to theyr conquests.

ANd here it seemes good, once for all, to make it vnderstood, vpon what points in doctrine, and persuasions in conscience, the old moral ROMANS iustifide to themselues theyr vniuersal conquests. This I cannot better doe then in the words of DVBIVS AVITVS, a ROMAN captain in GERMANIE vnder NERO, before this reuolt. The forlorne nation of the ANSIBA∣RIANS (among whom BOIOCALVS was a chiefe) for necessarie sustentation of theyr liues, would haue possessed certaine border-grounds, or wastes vpon the ROMAN pale in GERMA∣NIE, but for some reason in state were denyed. BOIOCALVS, (a faithfull old seruant of the ROMANS) becomes theyr aduocate, and pleads in TACITVS, among other things; That the hea∣uens were for the gods, the earth for men; and whatso∣euer had not an owner, was euery mans. AVITVS hereunto answered. That the commandement of bet∣ters was to be obeyd. And it was the plesure of those gods whom BOIOCALVS appealed, that the RO∣MANS should be Lords of the world, to award, or iudge a way what they thought good, without brooking any vm∣pires but themselues alone. A most high pretense, and as full of natural pietie, as maiestie. Nor had theyr title to empire any poinct so excellent vnto which to referre it selfe, as to the will of Almightie God, Page  92 who in this great game, and chesse-play of the world disposeth of power at his pleasure. So CY∣RVS was called his. And this title doth not seeme more transcendently noble, then honestly true in the case of those old moral ROMANS, though they most grossely erred in the obiect of theyr worship. For they, of all other people vpon earth (saith that matchlesse Historian, CRISPVS SA∣LVSTIVS) were the most deuout, and religious. Nor doth the apostata, IVLIANVS CAESAR, in S. CYRILS workes, ascribe the raising of the ROMAN empire to any other immediate author but diuine. This opinion therefore which confest a celestial prouidence, a goodnesse also in that pro∣uidence towards them who depend thereupon, and a necessitie of such dependencie, merits veneration simplie in it selfe, to the iust confusion of the god∣lesse. Thus flew the ROMANS aloft ouer the heads of other mortals, and prosperd in worldly power beyond all example. If they swarued from the rule of such a beliefe, the correction cost them dear; as in the massacre of VARVS and his legi∣ons vnder AVGVSTVS; and now by this Vi∣rago vnder NERO.

§. II. The estate of the Roman-Britanns immediately be∣fore the reuolt.

THe ROMAN-BRITANNS, on the other side, though ouerlaid with that power, which by hauing subdued the rest of the world, re∣moued the reproach of being ouercome, were ne∣uerthelesse onely conquered to obey, and not to be ser∣uile Page  93 base. Which greatly to their honor TACITVS testifies for them in his AGRICOLA. They therefore suffered their people (whom CLAV∣DIVS, and OSTORIVS SCAPVLA his lieue∣tenant-general, had vpon the conquest disarmed for feare of rebellion) to bee orderlie prest out at their musters, for the seruice of the ROMAN em∣pire, in the nature and name of aids. This kept vp martial spirit among them, though it exhausted the able bodies of the prouince, when they were not farthest off from the spirit of ciuilitie. The RO∣MANS their examples for both. For their hono∣rable, graue, and most decent fashions in peace worthily wann the BRITANNS (a noble, and imi∣tating people) to translate them to their proper vse. The chiefe mens children, who were wont to bee traind-vp in the blundring, and heynous schools of the DRVIDS, had now the life of the LA∣TIN tongue, and the shine of liberall knowledges. For the ROMANS conceiued an higher opinion of the witts of the BRITANNS for studie, then they did of the GALLS. So, they who before could not endure the conquerours language, did now both willinglie vse it, and were also ambitious of becomming excellent therein. CLAVDIA RVFINA, that chast, and learned BRITANN Ladie (very young in these dayes) demonstrates the witts of the men, when she a woman could deserue the commendatorie verses of so rare a ROMAN witt as MARTIALS. But they soone grew too much Romanised, by frequenting warme bathes, costlie banquets, and the like, which passing vnder the title of fashion, were fetters indeed, and a bondage: For there is not a worser mistresse to serue, then voluptuarie waste, and vanitie. Old Page  94 rudenesse a friend of freedome. New formes while they pretend to polish parts, doe oftentimes file euen manhood it selfe away. Old rudenesse notwithstanding is happely changed for faire hu∣manitie. The golden mean alone can take vp the matter so, that freedome may subsist by the force of a generous spirit, and yet smooth arts retaine their tast and luster. This I write of the tamer BRI∣TANNS in these dayes, by the warrant of that which AGRICOLA, not many yeares after, per∣swaded to the fiercer in his owne. For if he thought ciuilitie the way to assure the wilde; the ROMANS for the same purpose had vndoubtedly induced it vpon such as were alreadie humbled. Manifest in the former coign of CLAVDIVS. The inhabi∣tants of cities and townes, (the softest part of euery nation) liued willinglie obedient. For they remained secure, and ritch by the exercise of ciuil mysteries, though charg'd with sundry dueties. From which common burthen as they could not possibly bee freed vnder their owne Princes, or vnder any other forme of commonweale, so neither could they haue been so well in lieu defended, had not fond securitie charm'd asleepe all the eyes of ROMAN circum∣spection. As for the people of the countrey; they al∣so had their reason of content, men for the more part indifferent whom they serue, but as the condi∣tions are diuerse. They therefore by the familier rent-seruices of plowghing, and grazeing (employ∣ments markt out in scorne by the warlick Queene in DIO) or otherwise in paying theyr tythes (the vsuall proportion of tribute) did generallie erne protection, and sustenance. The ROMANS neuer tooke all the land away from the natiues whom they had conquer'd, but left them part. The nobler Page  95 sort, such of them as were stript or disseised either of estates, or authoritie, vnder-went therein the chance of warre, and such vnequall lawes, as liked their new Lords best. These wrecks, and waifs of fortune, were the proper fuell of combustion, or ra∣ther the fire it selfe, alwayes prompt, and alwayes putting for trouble. But from the yearlie payment of poll, or head-money, which throughout the RO∣MAN world was modest, and tolerable (the value of a teston, or some such toy) neither were the li∣uing nor the dead exempt. For that very yeare wherein any one of them dyed was answered. NERO himselfe did neither vrge, nor enlarge grie∣uances, but rather sought redresses. For his consti∣tutions in TACITVS, the one against ouercharging the prouinces with portage of corne to the publicke grana∣ries, the other to make ships tribute-free, were both of them of that nature, and ought to haue reacht ouer hither, as to a famous member of the empire, a∣bounding with corne and merchants. The ordina∣rie gouernment of the ROMANS was far from barbarous, therefore the warlick widowe forecastes in DIO, that they had wunn vpon many with faire persuasions. If their fauours were vnequal, that tended to nourish their partie. But before this vnluckie reuolt, the TRINOBANTS, and some other of the BRITANS stood possessed of so rare a felicitie, as to enioy the peace of ROME, without any ROMAN iudges among them. For the ROMANS medled not, but left them ouer to be whollie ruled by their naturall magistrates, and pe∣culiar lawes. TACITVS witnesseth it, and the GREEK historians (speaking of their condition before the rebellion) doe call them their owne men, and free. Neither did the ROMANS enuie the Page  96 immunities, and honors of their citie to persons who could not enioy them by any right of birth; most magnanimously forgetting what they had at any time done hurtfullie as enemies, and receiuing them, both into her embraces, as bosome-friends; and also into her lapp as children. CLAVDIVS so earnestlie desirous to bestow the franchise of the souereign citie vpon the RRITANNS whom hee had conquered, that SENECA (in his irreligious sports vpon that emperour) vpbraids it. ROME imperiall a gratious common mother of mankinde, and not a mistresse only. Therefore the fall of ROME, as Queene of the earth, was the common sorrow of the earth, euen in scripture it selfe. To the stubborne; sharp, and stern: against aduersa∣ries; fierce, and braue. And if the subiects in the pro∣uinces were vnworthelie violated, or villanously entreated, it was not because the lawe allowed it. For the greatest Magistrate, during his whole time abroad, might receiue nothing of guift, but hay, fower beds, and wood for fireing, towards his prouisi∣ons; and CICERO glories, that hee tooke not all them neither, when hee was proconsul in CILI∣CIA. There neuer was any common weale which more diligentlie prouided against wrongs, and ra∣pines then the ROMAN, or which more seuere∣lie punisht them. The times, euen of TIBERI∣VS, rarelie happie for the prouinces herein. PHI∣LO (who himselfe was an eye-witnesse, and a par∣taker of the benefit) doth excellently note it in his AVILLIVS FLACCVS. But the quiet estate of the ROMAN-BRITANNS, and the thriuing condition of their arts, and trades vnder NERO, was sodeinlie blasted by the scandalous, and wret∣ched iniquitie of some of the predominant (as it Page  97 almost euery where happens) to the so great hazard of the whole, that TRANQVILLVS speakes of BRITANN, as lost for the time.

§. III. The causes of the grand reuolt. Boadicia's quar∣rel the chiefe.

THe reasons which drewe the BRITANNS to rise, and attempt the massacre of the RO∣MANS were great and many. Profound contempt of NERO was the first. For that did chieflie embolden the ROMANS to doe wrong, and draue the sufferers to despaire of an orderlie re∣dresse. To gouerne with the opinion of iustice, keepes officers from presuming, and the rest of sub∣iects from ruin by rysing. DIO (a man of a most honourable place, and a like minde) assignes two principal causes which prepared the BRITANNS for an open hostilitie. The confiscation of goods, and (I blush to write it) Seneca's cruel vsuries. For whereas CLAVDIVS CAESAR (which concernes the first point of the two) had graciously forgiuen such for∣feitures and seisures as belonged to him in right of his conquering sword (NENNIVS, the ancient BRITANN, writes, that they were the tributes themselues) or had otherwise bestowed large summes vpon the chiefe among them; and for that, as for an act of celestiall bounty; was honourd as a god, while as yet aliue, CATVS DECIANVS, NERO'S Procurator in BRITANN, contended, that extremity ought to be pursued, notwithstan∣ding Page  98 any showe of discharge, or plea of pardon, and notwithstanding good CLAVDIVS had caused a Decree of the SENATE to passe for strengthning the fauours hee had done: thereby to inuite the more to yeeld themselues. A solemne wise custome of the ROMANS, to winn vpon the first with fauour, and humanitie, as they did of old in GALLIA, where they styled the AEDVI, their fellowes, co∣sens, and brothers. On the other side ANNAEVS SENECA (NERO'S chiefe counsellour) hauing a stocke going here at vse, of about two hundred and fiftie thousand pounds sterling, sodeinlie calls in his moneyes, (the loan whereof had been thrust vpon the BRITANNS, whether they would or no) where a rebellion would sooner discharge debts, then exhausted meanes could. Yet this is hee (ô strange) who cryed out, when hee was at ritchest; How vnknowne a good is pouertie! But DIO is su∣spected by some of the most noble clarks of our age, as somewhat too vnequall to the honour, and me∣morie of famous SENECA, the sharpest witt of ROME. There are other iniuries named, which concerned the commons, and the rest in generall; which toucht by TACITVS in his AGRICOLA, did principallie consist in the abusiue assignation of rates, and the carriage of corne for the armies. But if one onely iniurie had beene forborne, the com∣mon grieuances (now the blathers of rebellion, and euermore vsed to bee blowne-out with words to their vttermost widenesse, when the discontented meete) might perhaps haue sighed-out themselues without any Champion, to wage a warre on their behalfe. But in the person of a Prince al the nation is strucken; and wrongs done to a chiefe are interpre∣ted by friends and followers as their owne. Among Page  99 all the BRITANNS there was not any of this time so eminent as the Dowager of PRA∣SVTAGVS, late king of the ICENI. Her name in antiquitie is very variouslie written. One and the same woman being in TACITVS, BO∣ODICIA, BOVDICEA, and VOADICA, who is in DIO, BOVNDVICA, and perhaps in CAMDENS BRITISH monies, BODVO. Her husband while hee liued, remained in amity with the ROMANS, as a social king: and hauing first deuised his kingdome ioinctly to NERO, and his daughters, he deceased. The BRITANNS ex∣cluded neither sex from the crowne, and it was the testators meaning, that his daughters, hauing CAE∣SAR for their guardian, and hee for his fauour ha∣uing a childes part, should either bee Queenes of their owne shares, or in coparcenerie after their mother. For both by her owne words in her orati∣on in TACITVS, it seemes that shee reputed the kingdome hers, and in DIO it is expresly said, that shee gouerned in chiefe as souereign, at the time of her taking the field; and (as farre as can be gathered by all the marks of her spirit) euen then also when the king her husband liued. But the daughters (poore sillie ladies) found a sorrie partner-ship, where the lion was to make the partition For NERO'S cap∣taines, and officers, exercised intollerable licence; the pallace of PRASVTAGVS their father, as also his ritches (which were great and long in gathe∣ring) together with his whole realme, not receiued into custodie for the good of the orphans, nor NE∣RO'S part laid out as a bequest or legacie, but that which was theirs ransackt and spoild as bootie. They also of the bloud roial, the kinsmen of the king, were no better accounted of then as prisoners Page  100 taken in warre, in the nature of bondmen, or slaues. A most grieuous poinct, and yet still worler was feared. Princes (by the fortuné of their souereigne function) doe oftentimes beare the name of the crimes which others commit. These foule ones pressing for the first place, were out-gone by other more villanous. For the princelie sisters (whether by force or fraud) were irreparablie dishonoured in their bodies, and BOADICIA her selfe (their most vnfortunate mother) full of most iust griefe, and wrath, and full of all the tempestuous passions which nobilitie embased, or nature violated can suggest, did bleed & smart vnderwhips, and cutting lashes. This the CORNELIAN ANNALS sig∣nifie; worthie of beliefe against the writers nation. But DIO (who is thought but to haue paraphrased vpon TACITVS in this storie) hath no such par∣ticular, neither touching the Dowager, nor her daughters. GILDAS certainlie who was himselfe a BRITANN, and liued in BRITAIN when his miserable countreymen had reason to wish the RO∣MANS here againe, is highlie displeased, calling her (for of BOODICIA hee is thought to mean) a craftie deceitfull lionesse, guilty of the murther of those who were left to gouerne her. She her selfe in her speech to her army complaines, that euen old age was not free from the lust of the lasciuious ROMANS; as if her selfe had beene that way wronged also. But she would not haue concealed it; and in DIO she doth not appeare old, or decayd, but a strong and perfect woman. Her picture hangs vp there in such words as showe the person of some martial Bosse, or A∣MAZONIAN Giantesse.

Page  101

§. IIII. The person and qualitie of the warlick widdowe curi∣ouslie described.

BOADICIA'S bodie (that I may aduance her image to the life in the top of this historie) was bigg, and burlie, or rather huge: which some (translating the GREEK into LATIN) not think∣ing to bee a fit parcell in the bill of a ladies praise, haue turned tall. Her face naturallie good, and full of dignitie, was of purpose set to the qualitie of the present seruice, after a most seuere and serious manner. Which moued famous DIO to hang [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] an epithet of such an ambiguous sence vp∣on her countenance, as like a double picture repre∣sents her diuerslie to a diuerse vnderstanding; ex∣cellently comely, or incomparablie terrible. Her complexion verie faire. Which who will wonder at in a Ladie borne in BRITAIN? Her copious tresses dangling in compasse farre beneath her waste, were of a most bright yellowe. And though by her colour her constitution might seeme to bee cold, yet her doings declared, that choler had the maistrie in her, euen vnto deceit and adustion. Her lookes most eager, sharpe, and piercing. An ar∣gument perhaps that her eyes were disproportio∣nablie small; and that was a signe (if artists erre not) of fraud and cruelty. They exemplifie in the foxe, and bear. Nature finallie to make the consort of her properties complete, furnisht her with an alarum∣bell for the countrey, and a deadlie knell for thou∣sands; Page  102 a tongue as harsh, and rolling as her selfe was high and great. Her husband a potent king. Her progenitors kings in BRITAIN. Nor among them any one more likelie to be hers, then mightie CASSIBELINE himselfe. Certainlie she deriues (in XIPHILINES summe) to the expulsion of IVLIVS CAESAR, as to a fact and glorie, descen∣ded hers. The ROMANS inexcuseable to them∣selues, while in contempt of her sex they couple to the pride of oppression, the dull, and blinde absurdi∣tie of keeping no watch vpon her.

§. V. Of Suetonius Paullinus, Nero's Lieuetenant in Britain: and of his designe against Anglesey.

IN the meane while SVETONIVS PAVLLI∣NVS, who commanded in chiefe ouer all the ROMAN forces in BRITAIN as lieutenant for NERO, was far off in the ile of MONA, or ANGLESEY, vpon a most earnest desire to an∣nex it to the rest of the empire. Which ministred to the BRITANNS both an occasion and meanes of reuenge, and was to the widowe an aduantage di∣uerse wayes. For besides that some part of the army did necessarilie attend him in that seruice (which must needes leaue the prouince somewhat the wea∣ker) his person was not onely absent, but those things also without the which euen his presence had beene to little purpose. Attention, circumspection, the awe of souereign authoritie, and whatsoeuer else are restraincts in common sense vpon the vnsure, Page  103 and fickle, and which should also haue beene in his deputies to the purpose of ruling the subiects, were no lesse away with him then hee himselfe. This great ROMAN Senatour (for after BOA∣DICEA, it is reason to speake of him, her aduer∣sarie vanquisher) was a soldier of so victorious e∣minencie, as well in AFRICA as in ALBION, that he commonly went reported as a match for martiall worth to NERO'S kinsman, CORBV∣LO; between whom in their times the globe of warlicke glorie seemed to moue. None of the safest commendations vnder such a feeble prince, whose ignoble life was the clearer seene thereby. PAVL∣LINVS so able in obseruation, and so wakefull in studie, that PLINIE (who afterwards saw him Consul) doth cite him as a worthie author. So farre from rash, that he was naturallie a prolonger. Arro∣gant neuerthelesse, and sowr, in his owne case (as TACITVS notes him in his AGRICOLA) when once he had gotten the vpper hand. Which vices of minde, are familiar to armed might, and are as rarelie found seueral from deeplie musing and tar∣dy natures. The seruants of glorie doe not alwaies see the moral helpes they need. Nothing could pre∣uent those blemishes but temperance. Two yeares time hee had alreadie spent in BRITAIN with prosperous successe. But because the ile of MONA, by the common benefit of such a situation, was a kinde of naturall fortresse, as well to the natiues, as to those other of the enemies who fled, he resolued to make it the chiefe worke of that summer to con∣quer it, that common libertie might haue no refuge any where. An enterprise full of difficultie, both in respect of the mightie barrs which high and crag∣gie mountaines laid in the way, and of the salt Page  104 narrow channell of MENAI, which made that shire an iland. But the loue of glorie smoothed all with him to his hand. For, according to the vsuall saying; nothing seemes hard to the willing.

§. VI. Suetonius being absent vpon the conquest of Anglesey, what Roman forces, and friends resided behinde for a stay, and where.

BVt least the desire of renowne might appeare to bee blinde ambition rather then wise cou∣rage, hee left both the prouince, and borders full of legionarie soldiers, and of their aides. For he is no discreet commander, whose lookes are onelie forward, and not like a bi-fronts, both wayes. Three men are named to haue remained behinde with command. CATVS DECIANVS princi∣pal, as being the steward, attorney, or auditor ge∣neral of CAESARS profits in BRITAIN. The ROMANS call'd such a man Procuratour. NERO'S vast riots needed vnconscionable sup∣plies. And CATVS, to gratifie those ends at his proper enuie, instrumentallie conuerted the ICE∣NIAN kingdome to a prouincial demesn of the CAESARS. For to their imperiall part all the coun∣treyes where ROMAN armies were in warfare, did by a most politicke prouision of AVGVSTVS, ap∣pertain. CATVS therefore was among the ICE∣NI, and with a force. Hence it was, that the colo∣nie at CAMALODVNVM, vpon notice of their danger, sent to him for helpe: PETILIVS Page  105 CEREALIS commanded ouer the ninth legion, and quarterd neerest to the colonie; for hee was the first who made vp towards the rescue. And where else should wee think his abode was but in those very camps about BANNAVENNA, which CAMDEN poincts out vnto vs, at GILDS∣BROVGH, and DAINTRIE, in his ICENI? PAENIVS POSTHVMVS, campmaster of the second legion (surnamed AVGVSTA) lodged vp∣on the necke of the SILVRES. And these two seates of legions, OSTORIVS SCAPVLA ordai∣ned when hee was General vnder CLAVDIVS here. TACITVS signifies it where hee mentions the riuers SABRINA, and AVFONA. The twen∣tieth legion (in some opinions) was not transpor∣ted hither till after NERO'S dayes. But because I finde in TACITVS, that the vexillaries, or the old soldiers of that legion, or as some read the place, the vicesimarians themselues, that is to say, they of the twentieth legion it selfe, were with SVETO∣NIVS at the battle, it is plaine to mee, that the camp, or winter-seat of the twentith, was alreadie begun at DEVA, to bridle the ORDOVICES. As for the fourteenth legion (of all other in BRITAIN the most renowned) there is not the least word concer∣ning it till the battle with BOADICIA. No war∣rant for HOLINSHEAD to fain that it came o∣uer sea for the purpose of that fight. For, as touching the number, king AGRIPPA is my witnesse in IOSEPHVS, that fower legions were the propor∣tion allotted for the custody of this iland euen in VESPASIANS dayes; and the former argument satisfies, that the fourteenth had residence here before the battle. The countreyes themselues were very ful of ROMAN castles, holds, and forts, full of inhabi∣tants, Page  106 full of dwellings all ouer, and not at CA∣MALODVNVM, LONDON, and VERVLAM onelie, though onelie they are named for their sin∣gular misfortunes. Thus we see that the absence of SVETONIVS entrusted it selfe for safetie till his returne, to at least thirtie thousand foote of all sorts, besides horse, bestowed diuerslie: which in a land where all things seemed quiet, seemed more then needed. Other stayes, and affiances he also had, and those not founded in armed power, but in amitie. For the ROMANS were too wise to repose them∣selues where they came, vpon their owne strengths whollie; and for that cause made all the friends they could. Among vs therefore, the TRINOBANTS, and the rest of the nations within the TRINO∣BANTISH vnion (which was as antient as from IVLIVS CAESARS dayes) were louinglie theirs (till BOADICIA secretlie withdrew them) CO∣GIDVNVS speciallie, who could neuer be with∣drawne.

§. VII. Main obseruations touching Cogidunus, a king at this time in Britain.

THis COGIDVNVS was a king in BRI∣TAIN, to whom, vnder CLAVDIVS CAE∣SAR, the ROMANS about eighteen yeares before, had giuen sundrie countreyes for enlarge∣ment of his dominions, which they themselues could not handsomlie keepe vpon their first con∣quests. In requital whereof, hee continued a most constant and faithfull friend, and could not but stand them in great good sted in this most perilous Page  107 moment. For there is no doubt but he was now a∣liue, because TACITVS who was himselfe at this time not aboue sixe or seauen yeares old (as being borne but either in the first of NERO or in the last of CLAVDIVS) hath left it written that COGI∣DVNVS was so within his memorie, as hee tooke notice of his vnshaken faithfulnesse. For euen kings themselues were so among the instruments of seruitude. The seat of his kingdome might bee in middle-ENGLAND; and the nations, which the ROMANS vnited to his crowne, the DOBVNI, and CATTIEVCHLANI. For they lay next north from the THAMES, and therefore the lesse fit for the donours; who did at first prouinciate no parts of BRITAIN, but such as that riuer, and the BRI∣TISH sea (now of the resemblance called the Sleeue) did southward bound. The place, when CLAV∣DIVS reignd, where VESPASIAN in thirtie se∣ueral battles, and fights (some of them also very pe∣rilous) wann twentie strong townes, and the ile of WIGHT by special name, hauing at that time the second legion vnder his command. His scholars prize for the empire; whereunto hee came in con∣clusion. By the benefit of this friendship with immu∣table COGIDVNVS, the ROMANS, while they were in action against the SILVRES, and OR∣DOVICES, had him readie for all occasions. And by his authoritie these mid-land parts doe seeme to haue beene so tempered, that SVETONIVS, after BOADICIA was vp, passed safe from ANGLE∣SEY to LONDON, though the people on euery side were enemies (for so TACITVS expresly saith) which otherwise then by some such meanes (the BRITANNS being then victorious) could not pos∣sibly haue hapned, without surprize, or blowes. Page  108 No common risings, or tumults there at all. The BRIGANTS, and other northerlie nations carried a face of amitie, but were vnsound at the kores, by reason of the late bloudie strife about CARTIS∣MANDVA, their abandoned Queen, whom the ROMANS relieued against them, as CAESARS friend. The ICENI were the top it selfe of dan∣ger, and as well they as the TRINOBANTS (their neerest neighbours) dwelt eastward from CO∣GIDVNVS as far off as the GERMAN OCE∣AN would permit. These considerations are all of them such, and so important, that without them our knowledge of the whole must needes bee very imperfect. Right historie deals in particulars, and handles limb by limb. Generalities are for sum∣mists. The odds full out as great, as between a glim∣mering twilight, and a bright noon-day; or as be∣tween a bare nomination of parts, and their precise dissection. My diligence vpon a ground neuer here∣tofore beaten by any, wil in others quicken greater. SVETONIVS therfore, by this account, might carrie with him about ten thousand to the enterprise of MONA. And these prouisions for retayning pos∣sessed purchase had without all doubt been abun∣dantlie sufficient, if BOADICIA would haue re∣sted quiet. For the BRITANNS very willinglie o∣beid when they were not abused. But here wee be∣hold (not without much horror at the giddie con∣dition of humane affaires) what a mightie bodie of men & matter one womans wrath was able to stir: or rather that vsuall sentence, patience too much moo∣ued, turnes into rage, made good to the world by a most terrible instance.

Page  109

§. VIII. Boadicia, and the Britanns meet in great secrecie, and resolue to rise in armes.

BVt all the care which PAVLLINVS tooke could not make vp the want of his personall presence. In the worth of some one man a∣lone there is sometime so much weight. This ab∣sence therefore of the ROMAN Generall was inter∣preted by BOADICIA and the BRITANNS, as a benefit sent from heauen, because it remoued the difficultie of assembling: the first degree alwayes of a rebellion, next after the inward matter is incli∣nable. Therefore at their meeting, the prime thing which they gratulated to themselues was, that they met, though it were in greatest secrecie as their e∣state, and cause required. And to quicken their da∣rings to an headlong, and desperate extremitie, they vpbraided to themselues in detestation, as if they were men who could doe any thing rather then dye for their countrey. A notion, or common place of in∣citement most apt to fire the bloud; In which sense TACITVS hath it, and SAVILE; who was an∣other TACITVS for grauitie and iudgement. Some haue turnd the keen edge of that sentence by turning it quite contrarie thus; as if they were men who knew not to doe any thing else but onelie to die for their countrey. The wrongs, and dishonors, which the most noble authors sustain oftentimes by many translatours, are infinite and intollerable. Scarce one booke among one hundred honestlie done, and Page  110 not one of one hundred exactlie. But to our present taske. The forwardnesse of the Dowager Queene vnlockt all hearts and tongues among themselues; and while each one layes open his griefes (which in telling kindle) or would for companies sake seeme to haue cause (as in such cases it euermore happens) they all agree together to rise in armes with her. As for the sworne couenants betweene the RO∣MANS, and the BRITANNS (which DIO calls their Symbasies) as also the Senates decree for their confirmation, by vertue whereof they had title to a lawfull redresse, they were all broken-through as cobwebs. The sword their iudge and vmpire. Right, and common libertie the names of their quarrell: confusion, spoil, and thirst of bloud the sequel. In∣stincted thus, and embude by BOADICIA, the countrey-TRINOBANTS came in to the plot, and so the rest. Most cunning and vnauoida∣ble, while the cold aër of feare (like a counter-cir∣cumstance of qualities) kept together the heat of counsel. In CAMALODVNVM it selfe they had their close correspondents among their countrey∣men inhabiters.

§. IX. The Druids of Britain, parties in this reuolt.

THe head and members of this blacke agree∣ment were fastned together in a most bloudie knot with speciall rites, and ceremonies. For a mysterie so deepe and darke was neuer seald vp without most solemn vowes, toucht at by TACI∣TVS Page  111 in the word pepigerant. Nor need wee doubt that they were as horrible as could bee deuised, con∣sidering the DRVIDS were the solemnisers, who besides the generall barbarousnesse of their super∣stition, had a special tooth against the ROMANS. For if they preuaild, their profession must needs goe downe, because that wise and ciuil people abhorr'd it as hellish. SVETONIVS therefore, after his vi∣ctorie, felld their groues distaind with sauage rites. The DRVIDS interest a most inward cause of troubles. And how much they thought it concernd them to beat off the ROMANS, who had forbid∣den their sect in ROME and GALLIA, did well appeare in their bedlam doings at MONA. Vpon their altars they vsed to offer in fire the bloud of men; and that was their sacrifice: to know what should happen, they did cut vp an enemie quicke; and that was their sooth-say. They opened there∣fore some ROMAN or other aliue, to read in his heart-strings, how they should speed, and intercep∣ted his bloud to offer to their goddesse, ANDATE. Bloud was the seale of this coniuratorie secret, and this a season of all other the most likelie for the wiues, and daughters in lawe of the wilde and ru∣der BRITANNS (of which sort BOADICIA'S forces did principallie consist) to celebrate those rites in which PLINIE saith they were wont to goe naked, their bodies colourd ouer with oad. A grizlie ceremonie for a gastlie purpose.

Page  112

§. X. Wonders fore-show the ouer-hanging euils.

TO the euerlasting confusion of the impious, all times afford cleare proofes in facts, that there is one vniuersal minde of things, whose fore-knowledge is seene in fore-warnings, and whose goodnesse is declared in giuing them. God, who is that minde, and from whom alone all good things come, in his ordinarie, and generall care o∣uer all, and not ouer the elect alone, sends signes, and wonders. Out of this fountaine of pittie to∣wards his creatures, it proceeded, that many great maruels fore-went the sodein change; and not with∣out particular respect to some in BRITAIN (for CHRISTIANITIE euen here had friends as then) and neuer but for his owne more glory. DIO, (himselfe an ETHNICK) ascribes the same to God. The OCEAN betweene BRITAIN, and GALL, at the full tide did ouerflowe, of a bloudie colour, and at a low water the prints of mens bo∣dies were seene vpon the bare, and not the dead bodies themselues, which the englished ANNALS of TACITVS mistakingly say. The similitudes also of the broaken, and shatterd houses of a colonie were seene vnder water in the mouth of the THAMES. These in that element. Vpon the land; the image of victorie in the temple of CLAVDI∣VS, without any known cause, fell downe with the backe vpwards, as if it gaue way to the enemy; wo∣men rapt with a sodein furie, sung near destruction, Page  113 or Woe and alas at hand. Moreouer, in the common court-hall of CAMALODVNVM, there was heard a strange hollow noise or murmure as of the barbarous, by night (which DIOS Greek text notes) with much lowd laughter, and in the theater (the place of sports) a dreadful lumber, mixt with a sound, at the same time, as if multitudes of spectators were weeping and howling together therein, when there was not a man in either. Wonderfull things and to wonderfull ends. Causes of greatest dread to the ROMANS, and of like encouragement to the BRI∣TANNS. In these descriptions I haue holpen my selfe by comparing TACITVS, and XIPHI∣LINES DIO together, and with the most cor∣rected readings in best Criticks, which I thought meete to admonish, not for boast of indu∣strie, but to keepe blame off, where I shall be found to differ from the vulgar. Though the subiect bee such as well deserues greatest diligence.

§. XI. Boadicia's musters, and attire, and of the place of the rendeuous.

ONe hundred and twentie thousand men ap∣peared now for warre at BOADICIA'S musters. An admirable effect of a close and sodein conspiracie. Those numbers not drawne to an head out of the ICENI, and TRINOBANTS alone, but also out of what other BRITISH na∣tions soeuer. Some other else there were. TACI∣TVS notes it in generall words euen at this first as∣semblie. For the earth of the ICENI (according to Page  114 worthie CAMDEN) was spred no farther then the compasse of fower shires, nor they the greatest, and the same at this day inhabited with fewer then fif∣teen hundred parishes; the countrey of the TRI∣NOBANTS (the gemme and flower of BRI∣TAIN) with lesse then ten aboue sixe hundred; and it selfe but two shires now. Impossible therfore that so huge a force should rise on a sodein within so narrow a circuit, as sixe of our present shires; spe∣cially, where very many thousands held loyall to the death, and where so many impediments of free assemblies interposed themselues in the ROMAN forts, and garrisons about. BVNDVCA, the head, and life of these reuolted BRITANNS, came forth in state, attended with the peers, and chiefes. Her bodie cloathed in a deep, and full gathered garment, embroidred with diuers colours all ouer; about her necke a chaine of great wreathed lincks of gold; her shoulders sustaind vpon them a milita∣rie cloake, or a thicke wrought mantle, buttond be∣fore, her goodlie tresses flowing in length downe her backe, serued for a couer, or a golden vaile to all. Thus shee went alwaies attyred. But now more; she held with the one hand in the lapp of her gowne, a leueret or hare for a mysterie; and in the other, a launce for terrour. HOLINSHEAD in her printed picture sets a crowne of gold vpon her as a finall ornament; and it displeaseth not; though authoritie wants. An helme with a coronet, and a plume of feathers more proper, and they also Ro∣manesco, as her cloake, and somewhat else. In this wise fitted, and adornd, shee takes her stand vpon a square hillocke of turfes, rising vp about with sundry steps of the same, altogether after the fashion of a ROMAN tribunal in field. And by that Page  115 qualitie which is assigned to the materials of this militarie throne, it may be well suspected, that the place it selfe of this camp was some where in Marsh∣land, or the ile of Elie, as a place among all other the ICENIAN countreyes, one of greatest safetie. For those turfes were cut vp out of plashie, or fennie grounds, and shee her selfe also assignes in her speach a refuge to bee had in the like, if the worst should happen. That the very word Elie, onely as∣pirated in the first letter, is vsed by DIO, is not much to the purpose; because HELOS doth not signifie there the proper name of a place, but is one∣ly appellatiue of a marsh, or moorish soile: though some there bee (saith CAMDEN) who deriue the name of that ile out of the GREEK, for the proba∣ble significations sake. Her selfe in her owne per∣son most conspicuous, had her naturall tallnesse so holpen out with the notable aduantage of this ear∣then stage, mounted vpon the leuel flatnesse of the open land, that shee easilie ouer-lookt all their heads, as they had their eyes on her.

§. XII. Bunduca's oration to her armie, affording a most force∣able poinct to inflame the Britanns by opposing their manners to the Romans.

HEere DIO CASSIVS NICAEVS puts into her mouth a long oration, well worthie of his eloquence, and the wit of a GREEK, who was so greatlie delighted with the wonder, and worth of this argument (the world hath not a rarer) Page  116 that hee seemes to haue made the exquisite hand∣ling thereof, his maister-piece. For there is not any thing of that bright author extant, vpon which he can be thought to haue dealt with greater care, or endeuour, then vpon his BVNDVCA'S storie, which (by the speciall good fortune of our famous iland) wrought so well in the minde of XIPHI∣LINE, that he seems not to abridge, but to insert it entire. That oration I will not draw in hither, both in regard that HOLINSHEAD partlie hath it al∣readie, and I haue showed the causes of this reuolt in a speciall chapter before, (the principall matter of the speech) and also for that it is not my purpose to translate, but to make all mine owne. That which next is most of force, and in the oration may be called a counter-comparison, or a confronting of contraries (the receiued word in art is antithesis,) shall not escape my diligence, the particulars extra∣cted after my way, and couched pillar-wise in table, for the readers clearer comprehension, without ex∣ceeding my written warranties. An excellent glasse of the ROMAN, and the reuolted BRITANNS manners.

At this (as at a cu in a players part) she for lucke sake suffers the hare to slip out, which all the while before lay wrapt in the foulds of her skirts. The hare among the BRITANNS a creature vnlaw∣full to be tasted; and now (as if some thing sacred were in it) the subiect it selfe of omen. That prouing luckie (the poinct of fortune being in the way it tooke) all the soldiers spent their mouthes in an v∣niuersall showt, crying a BVNDVCA. Shee ac∣cepts the luckie signe, and after her thankes giuen to ANDATE (the goddesse to whom shee was chiefe∣lie deuoted, and the same which Victoria was a∣mong the ROMANS) most affectionatelie recom∣mends her cause to her speciall protection. Her o∣risons, and all other rites finished, she forth with ri∣seth, and leads them most fiercelie on to extirpate all that was ROMAN in BRITAIN, with sword, and fire, and with all the extremes of warre. Against which for the present, there was no sufficient stop, the tyde was in such sort out at vnawares. CA∣MALODVNVM Page  119 felt the first great mischiefe of the tempest, and perisht vnder it.

§. XIII. The motions and actions of this mightie bodie of rebelli∣on; and first concerning the Roman colonie at Camalodunum, and the castles on the borders.

IN this famous place, CLAVDIVS CAESAR had planted that colonie of old soldiers (as an help for curbing the rebellious, and a mean to informe, and fashion others in the duties of lawes) whereof there is mention before. But this in∣tention, by the faulr of the new inhabitants, fell out quite otherwise. For being but lately brought thither, they did not onely thrust the natiues out of their owne permitted dwellings, and dispossest them of other lands then such as vpon suruey had already been allotted by the publicke officers to euery soldi∣er in particular, (according to the custome) but shar∣pened these wrongs with reuilings, terming them captiues, and slaues. Wherein they foulie mistooke. For the BRITANNS were conquerd to yeeld, and not to bee trod vpon. Force had maistred their strengths, but naturall indignation remained. STRABO therefore foretold the truth, that if vio∣lence were vsed to the BRITANNS, there would bee danger. In the meane while, looke how many the old soldiers, so many new Lords there were. For the younger sort (of whom there was for a kinde of garrison, a slender band) partlie through Page  120 likenesse of manners, and partlie in hope of the same licenciousnesse, did soothe, and vphold the older in their madnesse. This bred so deepe an hatred in the hearts of the natural CAMALODVNIANS, and of their countreymen, the TRINOBANTS about, as it secretlie drew them to side with BOA∣DICIA; so much the rather, because they saw it was not a short bondage which they were likelie to vndergoe, but in the purpose of the ROMANS a perpetual. For whither the word which TACI∣TVS vseth in this case, were an altar, or an earnest of tyrannie, whither ara, or else arrha, or (as VA∣LENS ACIDALVS reads it) arx, that is to say, a capitall fort, or keep of oppression, the TRINO∣BANTS could neuer cast their eyes vpon the tem∣ple of CLAVDIVS erected among them, but as vpon a dedication of their seruitude to perpetuitie. CAMALODVNVM, the standing court or palace-roiall of their kings, while CVNOBELINE li∣ued, was now become the center of pleasant retire∣ments for the ROMANS, not the rendeuous of their power. And though it stood as farre remoued from all open enemies as the easterne sea would suf∣fer, yet did that temple, vnder the colour of cere∣monies, sucke and engorge the ritches of the BRI∣TANNS, not as a temple, but as if it had beene a gulph, or indraught of the neighbour OCEAN. The onelie worship of such a kinde of dietie as CLAVDIVS, the principall cause to ripen the wrath of God, and to hasten fearefull vengeance. The outward state of the towne seemed neuerthe∣lesse very flourishing. For, besides the old palace, and other the buildings of the BRITANNS (for the ROMANS (saith SIGONIVS) did not vse to destroy the buildings they found) it had a senate-house Page  121 for consultations, a theater for playes, that goodlie temple of CLAVDIVS, and as well they, as the rest, vndoubtedlie answerable in some mea∣sure to the ROMAN magnificence. But the BRI∣TANS of the towne, whom the insolencies of that colonie had vtterlie lost, holding close correspon∣dence (as is noted before) with those in BOADI∣CIA'S camp, for the hope and desire of reuenge, did notablie further it, and as otherwise also, so spe∣ciallie by disswading the ROMANS to fortifie. For the colonie lay open on all sides, the better to enioy free walkes, and aër about, though it had not alwayes done so. For this was the towne which CLAVDIVS assaulted, and tooke, and whose i∣mage he represented in a mock-fight at ROME. TRANQVILLVS cannot be thought to meane it of any other. The old ditches therefore fild with the ramparts thrown in, and all the fortifications rased after it was wunne, yet safetie was not alto∣gether neglected, though pleasure was rather sought then strength. It had no trench, no palisado, nor o∣ther defence about it selfe, but it had the maiestie of the ROMAN name (a reputed wall of brasse) the awe of a fresh conquest, and sundrie strengths (though many miles off) in the marches, or pale of the prouince (euident in the AGRICOLA of TA∣CITVS) where the ROMAN garrisons watcht, and warded in castles, sconces, and other presidia∣rie places. These together with the small force of soldiers mentioned before, were the hopes vpon which the colonie relyed against all sodein inroads or commotions, as the hope of those soldiers con∣sisted in the strength of the temple. Which though at other times they might haue beene competent, yet now were vaine. For BVNDVCA suddenlie Page  122 assailing such other of the ROMAN soldiers as lay scatterd here and there vpon the frontiers in forts, and castles, and forceing the garrisons, rusht ouer them with such violence into the bosome of the countrey, as the sea at a breach, making vp with all speed to the colonie it selfe, the obiect of their grea∣test spight.

§. XIIII. The Roman colonie at Camalodunum destroid by Boadicia.

THe darke and thicke cloud of warre, full chargd with the lightnings and thunders of reuenge, was scarce any sooner before CA∣MALODVNVM (where their correspondents ex∣pected them) but it was also within it. The RO∣MAN partie there, vpon the first appearings of dan∣ger, had sent to CATVS DECIANVS for some assistance, but hee (as so bad a man must needes) misdoubting his owne case, onelie spared two hun∣dred soldiers, and those not fullie armed. The colo∣nie it selfe, with their wiues, children, seruants, all sorts of tradesmen (as in a great flourishing corpo∣ration) and their families, could not amount to so few in all as tenne, or twentie thousand; though it was a colonie of but about tenne yeares standing. CAMDEN saith it was that braue, and noble legi∣on, the fourteenth, surnamed Gemina Martia Victrix, which CLAVDIVS planted here, and of the word Victrix styled the whole colonie Victricensian. This may be so; for though wee finde a fourteenth Page  123 legion in the field with SVETONIVS PAVL∣LINVS at the ouerthrow of BOADICIA, yet might the numbers be new, though the name con∣tinued. For by suffection, or supplie, they lengthe∣ned out the names of fortunate legions, not onely farre beyond the age of a man, but of many ages al∣so; as a ship, which though by new trimmings, and frequent reparations, it bee not the same in stuffe, yet is the very same in opinion, by reason of the name remaining. And this kinde of entire plantati∣on was sutable with the antient custome of the ROMANS, which (as TACITVS notes, and commends) was of whole legions, with their cap∣taines, and officers. Euery ROMAN colonie an i∣mage of ROME their mother. CLAVDIVS am∣bitious to imitate the best and oldest. But the colo∣nie (how populous so euer) was manifestlie weake in all respects; for these antient warriours had a∣bandoned the vse of armes, and being ouer-mel∣low with ease and pleasure, held it enough to walke vp and down with warders, or truncheons in their hands. A fashion of honour (saith LIPSIVS) which was common to them by speciall priuiledge with captaines, to whom alone it did regularlie be∣long. Old, and young, the feeble and the able, men, and women, as in a time of deep peace, mingled to∣gether. The BRITANNS who were natiues of the citie (for colonies were reputed cities) alwayes couert enemies, and ouert now, ioyne to their par∣tie The soldiers seeing no hope left for a common defence, quit the streets, and market-place, and throngd themselues vp within the great temple, nei∣ther safe in the veneration of CLAVDIVS, as a sanctuarie (though the temples of the CAESARS were sanctuaries) nor in their small forces. The Page  124 name of NERO, the present emperour, void of honour. Their onely affiance this: that if they could maintaine the gates, and battlements, till PE∣TILIVS CEREALIS came in with his legion, they might perhaps escape. No third course could be deuised (for the enemie would not parlea) and this was friuolous. For BOADICIA becomming mistresse of all the towne at an instant, did sodeinlie sacke, or fire whatsoeuer lay without the walls of the temple. The assault whereof was neuer inter∣mitted till it was wunne; which hapned vpon the second day of the siege. All went to wracke there∣in, as in the rest. Sword, furie, and fire concurred in the execution. There was nothing ROMAN, which force tooke not away, or reuenge deuoured not. CAMALODVNVM, vnfortunate in her kings, and colonie, though very fortunate in the blessings of a seate, was thus betraid, and destroid together. Neuerthelesse the commoditie of situati∣on gaue it life againe very soone after: for euen in PLINIES time it was a towne of speciall note. In our dayes, the antient name is not shorter by the syllables which MALDON wants thereof, then the place it selfe is short of the former glorie; though it otherwise be a faire, and a famous borough.

Page  125

§. XV. Petilius Cerealis comming tardie to the rescue, is en∣countred vpon the way by Boadicia, and put to flight.

THe BRITANNS were so flesht with this bloudie handsel, that BOADICIA, hearing how PETILIVS CEREALIS, and the ninth legion, ouer which hee commanded, were marching vp for the deliuerance of the colonie, they could not but haue cause to deride his too late ap∣proach for bringing succour to his fellowes; and to gratulate to themselues, that hee sought for a mis∣chiefe too soone. Therefore while they greedily catcht at reuenge, as if they would fore-lay, or take it before hand vp, they gladlie set forward to his in∣terception. A rashnesse in CEREALIS, with so great a disproportion of numbers to encounter the first heates of an huge incensed multitude, and cen∣sured for such by his Generall, PAVLLINVS. Neither was BOADICIA deceiued in her hopes. For all the probable meanes of information being cut off from CEREALIS together with the colo∣nie, shee meets him vpon much the more aduan∣tage, giuing in vpon his squadrons with so round and home a charge, that vtterlie vnable to resist, he was beaten from his ground, and compelled to flye away vpon the spurre, with onely his troups of horse. The infanterie of the legion, thus left naked, and immediatelie ouerlaid, was driuen to the earth, and cut in pieces, not any one taken to mercie. Page  126 That all the ROMAN footmen which were then in the field, lost their liues is euident, but that they were more then two thousand may bee doubted; because the very same number (two thousand iust) was soone after sent ouer hither by NERO, to fill vp the breach of that vnluckie legion. They of the same who were not in the field with CEREALIS, serued to man the camp, and to see to things behind. So necessarie a poinct of prouidence, that other∣wise they had perisht all. For it will easilie bee thought that the BRITANNS pursued close. But he riding for his life, got within the trenches, and by their helpe was safe. Which kinde of spea∣king in TACITVS, satisfies mee, that CEREA∣LIS was not a dayes iourney from his campe, and that the BRITANNS attempted to enter vpon the luckier remaines of the legion, but preuailed not. Hither also is the reason of BOADICIA'S change of course to be drawne. For to linger about the win∣ning of forts, and hard places (which as yet was vaine) being found to be losse, the counsell alters. In sted whereof, as a more compendious way to their purposes, they fall vpon such other places as had the fattest booties, and least defences. Men (as they are described in TACITVS) greedie, and glad of pillage, but of all other long toils of warre impatient. Lo here the naturall spirit of the tumul∣tuous multitude, whose proper scope is to grow by robberie, and not to restore common freedome. For of that noble desire they generallie haue no feeling, because their more part hath no honesty.

Page  127

§. XVI. Catus Decianus Nero's procurator, leaues Britain without leaue.

THis ouerthrow of CEREALIS, and the de∣serued hatred of the ICENI against CA∣TVS DECIANVS, among whom hee had exercised his couetousnesse, and crueltie, strooke such an affright, as hee durst not abide any longer, but sped ouer-sea into GALLIA. There is nothing so bad, or base, which vnderstood to be spoken of a couetous wretch or coward, will not readily bee beleeued by others. Therefore it is not hard to per∣swade, that hee was the cause of all those molesta∣tions which SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS af∣terwards sufferd by the meanes of IVLIVS CLAS∣SICIANVS. For CATVS (to whom CLASSI∣CIAN succeeded in office) poisoning the credit of PAVLLINVS, with all the ill reports hee could, his owne vile deserts might the rather escape vn∣seen, as in a troubled water. And if CORNELIVS TACITVS were to be thought a man apt to be∣lieue at large, and that in some of those particulars which hee rehearseth vp among the causes of the BRITANNS reuolt (as the stripes of BOADI∣CIA) hee might perhaps be abused, there is not any thing which would sooner offer it selfe to mee as the occasion of misleading him, then the conceipt, that it was his fortune to light vpon CLASSICI∣ANS accusations of SVETONIVS PAVLLI∣NVS. BOADICIA also, by way of stratagem, Page  128 might tell the BRITANNS, that her bodie was scourgd, and a thousand such other things, to cre∣ate the more hatred against the ROMANS, though not one of them were true; which as CLASSI∣CIAN might vrge in writing to disgrace the times of PAVLLINVS, so might TACITVS finde. DIO did not thinke her words in those poincts cre∣dible: for hee could not then haue omitted them without blame. That TACITVS should onely tell of the scourgings, and not specifie the cause is strange. But he doth little other in the case of king TIGRANES, who was put to death vnder TI∣BERIVS. That so vehement a louer of popular partie as he, could haue so reuerent a conceipt of roiall maiestie as to thinke that no cause was suffici∣ent to iustifie the violation euen of vnderling prin∣ces (such as TIGRANES, and BOADICIA) and that hee might therefore forbeare to insert the reason, is by no meanes credible. All that occurs to me as the most likely cause why the centurions, and other the rauenous, and outragious officers of NERO, laid violent hands vpon her, is meerely this, that it was an effect of their quicke, or capti∣ous sence of her words, vpon expostulations in her palace, and kingdome, when they oppressed her. Among which words, if there were but the same, or the like, which she afterwards vsed in her armie (a matter not improbable) the admiration is at an end. For they were so full of most iust scorne, and open contempt of NERO'S person, as could not but minister that aduantage which their couetous∣nesse, and cruell iniquitie desired. Yea, so far forth, as to make it seeme a fauour, that they punisht her no more seuerely then so: the blemishing of maie∣stie, high treason among the ROMANS. The storie Page  129 of TACITVS in that poinct failing vs; our best perswasion must be, that his writings are in those places imperfect, as LIPSIVS and other think they are in very many, and without doubt doe ther∣in thinke most truely. CATVS DECIANVS was glad hee got whole away. That hee fled alone, or that great numbers did not follow his example, is not probable. The THAMES, and sea were open.

§. XVII. Suetonius Paullinus, vpon the newes of Boadicia's re∣bellion, came in haste from Mona to London.

WHile these things were in doing at the one side of BRITAIN, SVETONI∣VS PAVLLINVS, the ROMAN Ge∣nerall, was busied at the opposite other. As that maister of a familie, who while hee seekes a farre off to enlarge the seat of his abode with more out∣houses, beholds his maine dwellings on a blaze in their remotest parts. He had therefore scarce finisht the conquest of the ile of MONA, and let light in throughout the same, by felling the bloudy groues of the DRVIDS, when the newes of this grand re∣uolt violentlie pluckt the fruit of his fresh victories out of his hands. Other labours aske his attendance now, and other cares. But they not such as to make him wholly negligent of MONA, vpon which he pla∣ced garrisons. Great ones vndoubtedlie, considering the remotenes of place, the difficulty of relieuing, the wayes almost impassible; enemies round about, who though but very latelie ouercome, yet were strong∣lie Page  130 re-encouraged by the example of BOADICIA. That he afterwards withdrew those presidiarie for∣ces (the yron yoake of warre) is very apparent. For TACITVS elsewhere saith, that PAVLLINVS was recalled from the possession of MONA, by the newes of the BRITANNS rysing: and posses∣sion is not otherwise to be vnderstood to bee kept in such a case, but by maintayning forces vpon the conquered land. His danger also did shortlie need that he should call vnto him all the helpe he could. Lastlie, IVLIVS AGRICOLA vsing the coun∣sell and seruice of some of the auxiliarie BRI∣TANNS themselues, did about ten yeares follow∣ing, bring that iland backe vnto obedience, and therefore it had gotten loose againe, what course so∣euer PAVLLINVS tooke, or the rulers betweene. From MONA to LONDON (about two hundred miles diuided) the way was for a great part sharpe, and rugged, and euery where else either the length of the march, or the perils of the passage made the smoothest of it rough enough. To LONDON notwithstanding it mainely concernd him to come. Holpen therefore by the faithfulnesse of COGIDVNVS (according to my former grounds) hee held on his iourney with admirable constancie, among swarmes of enemies, and got safe through.

Page  131

§. XVIII. Of Nero's LONDON before Suetonius Paullinus was driuen by Boadicia to abandon it: and first whi∣ther it were once a Roman colonie, or no.

HEere the name of LONDON is first found in antient authenticke writings, and that for the calamities sake which at this time it suf∣fered most extreame. But that violence which could abate, and desolate happinesse for the time, aduan∣ced the name thereof to immortall remembrance by CORNELIVS TACITVS, her principall histo∣rian, and witnesse. Tragicall effects the most naturall matter of renown. Prosperous successes va∣nish in the warmth of their owne fruition. His me∣morie therefore deserues a speciall honour there. And if euer the most ciuill, pompous, and thankfull vses of the magnificent arts of statuarie, founding, mowlding, musiue, and grauing, preuaile to come vp here, as among the GREEKS and RO∣MANS, both hee and others shall vndoubtedly en∣ioy it. London (saith he) is a towne, which though it was not ennobled with the surname of a colonie, yet was it most notable for multitude of merchants, and multitu∣dinous passages; that is to say; for great resort, or flocking to and againe by sea. But if the CORNE∣LIAN word, Commeatuum, here, bee called vpon to beare a lesse proper sense, then are wee for these englishes to substitute, a towne abounding with all sorts of victuals, or prouisions. Though voiages, fleets, embarkments, and passages vsuallie made, Page  132 doe necessarilie imply an ouerflowing plenty in the station. Both interpretations true. But there are two seuerall translations each of them in print, who out of that very place of TACITVS would make LONDON seeme a colonie. If there be any hope that he could haue such a meaning; it must shine from out of other words in his AGRICOLA, where summing the hurts, and mischiefes of BOADICIA'S darings hee speakes plurallie, as if colonies were destroid, and not one colonie alone. That reading of the place being literallie vrged, LONDON then may best put in for that title, with CAMALODV∣NVM. But some of the most learned neither reade the LATIN word as in the number of multitude, and there is also another commodious answere; fi∣gure of speech; which not rarely admits a plural for a singular, as a gracefull excesse. LONDON was neuer said to bee a colonie. The honour so much the more, that hauing no such potent support, it should grow so superlatiuely eminent. These are some few among the infinite innouations of transla∣tors. Description of places is an expresse office of historie; as the clearing of doubts a necessarie right of description.

§. XIX. The qualitie and estate of London immediately before the burning.

THe seat of LONDON, one of the best of the world for locall guifts, and maiestie, was more antiently inhabited then ROME it Page  133 selfe, according to some. Which may also well bee true according to reason; though CAESARS com∣mentaries, and such as follow him in them may seeme to inferre the contrarie; as if none of the BRITANNS had any other townes, but woods or thickets, ditcht, and banckt about. The clearing of which sauage deformitie, by competent proofes, and reasons, would bee an office of honour well bestowed vpon the most noble of ilands. Nor should day bee taken for the taske but for auoiding to dis∣continue the line of narration. It is therefore most of vse for the present, and most certaine for the sto∣rie, that the estate, and qualitie of LONDON, im∣mediately before the burning vnder NERO, was most flourishing; at leastwise comparatiuely with all other places of BRITAIN, for the poincts of trade, resort, and plenty. And those few words of COR∣NELIVS TACITVS formerly cited, confesse somewhat either of a wrong, or wonder; that LON∣DON being worthy indeed to enioy the title, and priuiledges of a colonie, it was left notwithstanding vnder the inferiour reputation of but onely a towne among the ROMANS. A city among the BRI∣TANNS and their principall. The very last ioincts in the composition of the name LONDINVM (if nothing else) would proue it well. For the word Dinas in antient BRITISH, signifies (as they say) a citie. Among CAMDENS ROMAN copper coigns, touching our countrey, there is one in ho∣nour of BRITANNICVS, the sonne of CLAV∣DIVS CAESAR, which hath nothing legible vp∣on it, but

Page  134 that BA. (in short writing) standing for BASI∣LEOS, or KING, the name of the citie fretted out, and quite worne away with age.

But OCTAVIVS STRADA, a gentleman of knightlie degree, vnder the emperour RODOL∣PHVS the second, with the honourable title of be∣ing his ANTIQVARIE, hath publisht one of those inualuable medals much more entire.

A most fortunate iewell to BRITAIN, better worth being but copper, then obrize gold, or para∣gon stones; nor simplie a single peece of money, Page  135 but it selfe an entire treasure. For without the least alteration of characters,

being the visible remain of the circumferential in∣scription vpon the reuerse, a most easie distinction (by supplie of poincts decaid) reads, that is to say,

For in the very letter L. and much more in the syllable LO, all men (though but slightlie conuer∣sant in antiquities) will readily confesse, that after the name of the king, the name of the place in BRI∣TAIN did commence.

Now if great IOSEPH SCALIGER, witti∣lie straining, or (as most thinke) directlie corrupting SENECA'S play of CLAVDIVS, to bring forth his Scoto-Brigantes, could not containe himselfe from breaking out into a glorious ioy, that he was now the man to whom the noble SCOTTISH nation stood obliged for such a testimonie of their antientie in BRITAIN, then might I also (who endanger no mans writings, but deale sincere∣ly) gratulate to my selfe this discouerie. And, if no∣thing shall hereafter infirme it, Great BRITAIN Page  136 must no longer incurre the barbarous note of being citie-lesse in CAESARS dayes; and then also must LONDON vndoubtedlie owe the best proofe, and clearest light, as well for dignitie as antiquitie, that hath hitherto beene seene among vs, vnto me; who first of mortals haue duly asserted the honourable name thereof into the title of a ciuill Metropolis, till this present hower ouerwhelmed in the rubbidge of BRITAINS ruine. For though OCTAVIVS STRADA (to whose memorie immortall thankes are due) hath afforded the medalia, hee hath not medled with the life of the thing, the meaning▪ that is onely mine. Speciall historie depends vpon the rare argument of the coign; for both the which one act of exposition shall serue in their more proper place, and time. And that LO being the initial let∣ters of the name, should in STRADA'S coigne sig∣nifie LONDON, cannot seeme strange either to the learned, or the ignorant, when in other coigns concerning BRITAIN, the meere single L it selfe imports as much. Nor will it be the fortune of any man to finde a towne in BRITAIN, whose name beginning with those letters, can be fit to beare the stately title of a metropolis, but this alone.

London to say the truth (say those famous ANNALS) was not ennobled with the surname of a colonie. The ROMANS therefore who had setled their hous∣holds in LONDON (for as wise SENECA ob∣serues, they made their countrey euery place where they ouercame) were so many, that nothing wanted to erect it into a colonie, but an act of the SENATE of ROME to authorise the title, and rights; their numbers appearing to bee alreadie suf∣ficient for support of the charge, and dignitie. They therefore and their fellowes, the natural BRITANNS, Page  137 together with the ordinarie sequels of their per∣sons, and professions, who dwelt therein, ammoun∣ted to an extraordinarie multitude, which made the place not more populous then full of houses. For the proportion of habitations answeres the proporti∣on of inhabitants. How many the LONDO∣NERS were of either kinde, is a matter lesse known, then how far euery way the buildings went, which neither could be narrow, nor ignoble; but large as forcopious merchants, & magnificent as for magni∣fico's. For, as the most learned CAROLVS SI∣GONIVS obserues out of CICERO, the gentle∣men, and knights of ROME, dealt in merchandise at home, and abroad, and were members of the col∣ledge of Mercurie, whose statelie seate was vpon mount CAPITOLINE it selfe, and whose limbs, and parts were spread through the ROMAN world. One of the suburbs of NERO'S LONDON abutted vpon the fields which are at this day ter∣med of the neighbour Spittle, as NERO'S coigns, and the coigns of other emperours dig'd vp there, among the monuments of the dead, doe abundant∣lie witnesse. The very bignesse of LONDON a cause why PAVLLINVS forsooke it the rather, as hauing not men enough to keepe it. So antient a citie of the BRITANNS, the same in like sort so new a seat of the ciuill ROMANS, could neither want temples, bains, aquaeducts, courts of counsel, and iustice, nor other publicke workes to render it complete in it selfe, and a farre-off worth the behol∣ding. The riuer full of ships (for merchants and shippes doe alwayes suppose one the other) the ri∣uage full of sea-faring men, the inns full of stran∣gers. Here was the staple of trade, and the capitall mart of BRITAIN, the bower of the noble (for Page  138 they had no where else to be so furnisht,) the blisse of the thriftie (for they had no where else to bee so enriched) the delight of all. Here also, or no where rather, the publicke storehouses, granaries, and ma∣gazines; the safest stowage of gotten spoiles, the soldiers packs, and baggage, the hostages of the BRI∣TISH states, the publicke records, (as at SAMARO∣BRIVA vnder IVLIVS CAESAR, in GALL-BELGICK) and whatsoeuer stuffe, or prouisi∣ons SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS in his aspi∣ring spirit, might designe for a triumphall, or an o∣uant showe at ROME. His care to reach to LON∣DON before the cruell rebells, an argument of the premisses, and of this also, that it was the top it selfe of all the ROMAN interest in BRITAIN. His pur∣pose moreouer to erect the same into the seate of warre, makes it credible, that it was not without a wall euen then, but euery way defensible; had it met with a season more fauourable, or with a cap∣taine as firme as the faith of the people. Within it the splendor of armes, and the furnitures of peace, which till the most fierce BOADICIA strucke vp for battle, was euery where most deepe, and still. And whereas the place of store had euermore a strong guard within it, as at SAMAROBRIVA before said, where a legion lay in defense, so here (if my diuinations faile mee not) either the valorous fourteenth kept, or some large portion thereof, as in the main stay, or seat of the empires part in BRI∣TAIN, it selfe also the key or gate of the prouince, which lay beyond the riuer from SVRREY-side to∣wards CORNVVALL. An argument hereof, that though LONDON for the territorie was Tri∣nobantish, yet for the iurisdiction was Can∣tian; at leastwise, in PTOLOMEAS dayes vn∣der Page  139 ADRIAN. And the infrequencie of soldiers which is alledged in TACITVS for a cause why SVETONIVS did dislodge from thence, was the infrequencie (if coniecture hits right) of that braue bold legion, whose bands and troups were not full as then, by reason of absences vpon leaue, or farre dispersion of the parts, which all came in before the battle, though wanting at the musters. Thus ritch, thus populous, thus great, thus strong, thus good∣lie, and thus abounding with all the necessaries, and pleasures of life, SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS possessed LONDON at his returne from MONA, for the seruice of CAESAR, and of CAESARS RO∣MAN-BRITAIN.

§. XX. Nero's lieutenant in Britain abandons London to the rebells.

NOr did the place seeme of lesse importance to SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS himself, who (all other businesse set apart) vnderwent so much paine, and perill, to reach and keepe it. But LIPSIVS not without cause complaines of the many wants and imperfections of narration in this noble piece of the CORNELIAN Annals; the blame whereof hee principallie casts (as common∣ly elswhere) vpon transcribers, who while they should haue giuen vs true copies, haue otherwise v∣sed their pleasures in them, contrarie to faith, and office. For in a matter which had somewhat in it of a wonder, to tell vs nothing but the name of the Page  140 vertue by which PAVLLINVS wrought, to bring himselfe from MONA to LONDON, yeelds slen∣der satisfaction. But if some part of his aduentures; and some particulars of his carriage had been with∣all vnfolded, the competent reader (whose proper∣lie the iudgement is) could of himselfe haue gathe∣red out of them, whither it was constancie, or rashnesse in the ROMAN Generall, to march through the midle of his enemies. Which heroicke action, as now it stands declared, may rather seeme of one who had gotten a ring, or receipt, to qualifie him with a gliding inuisibilitie, then his who followed right reason, the onely true guide of valour. More∣ouer also, it would not haue beene impertinent, but very satisfactorie, and vsefull, to haue reuealed what kindes of soldiers, and how many went with him in guard along; where they rested vpon the way; and among what seuerall nations; as XENO∣PHON in his excellent bookes of CYRVS his As∣cense hath done. But the law of ANNALS, re∣quires no such exactnesse, being properlie nothing else but summaries, or narrow registers. I for my part am glad to behold so many poincts, and glim∣merings of facts remaining in TACITVS for ac∣complishing our countreyes historie in this most memorable parcell. In him therefore wee finde the subiect matter of PAVLLINVS his main delibera∣tion at LONDON; his doubtfulnesse what to re∣solue; his generall musters there; his scantnesse of numbers; the capitall motiue of his warinesse; his finall determination, and execution thereof. The question in counsell was; whither hee should choose and vse London for the seat of warre or otherwise aban∣don it. Before the proposure whereof it must neces∣sarily precede, that he resolued with himselfe, not Page  141 to issue out to fight with Boadicia; And both these poincts were principally grounded vpon the know∣ledge of weakenesse in the ROMAN partie, disco∣uerd after his entrance at the musters. To perswade a stay, the reasons were great and many. The pre∣seruation of so famous a place; the honour of the Roman name; the certaintie of aid from Nero; the danger of a retreat; the necessitie of giuing a stop to Boadicia's furie. But without some competent proportions of forces, he was warnd by the fresh disaster of PETILIVS CEREALIS not to hazard battle. To authorise a departure there wanted not arguments, and those most weightie. For, wheras SVETONIVS PAVL∣LINVS had here appointed the generall assemblie of his side, now vpon a view taken, his troups and companies were not found full, but infrequent, and thin. The main prop therefore of resistance failed, which whither it were by CATVS DECIANVS his example, fraud, or basenesse, or otherwise, did howsoeuer happen. A more compulsorie cause was want of corne, which DIO notes. For neither with∣out store of men could so great a citie be defended; nor men be kept aliue without food. The fortune of LONDON thus hanging in ballance, and sway∣ing mainly downwards for the present, the newes of BOADICIA'S terrible approach, drane them whither they would or no, to a round, and present resolution. That seeing LONDON could not be made good against the preuailing rebells, who were now in their ruffe and vtmost brauery, the excellencie of the place could be no colour why they should wilfullie perish with it. The ho∣nour of the Roman name was doublie safe, both by the monstrous oddes now against them, and by a meere ne∣cessitie. Besides that, whensoeuer they got the vpper-hand againe, honour would acknowledge old clients, and Page  142 willinglie returne with aduantage. And though aid would certainlie arriue to relieue them besieged, it would bee more acceptable at Rome so to order things here in Bri∣tain as not to need reliefe: and if there should bee need, Nero's succours would not come lesse contentedlie to find their fellowes in an open field, then shut vp within dit∣ches, and fortifications, as in a kinde of dishonourable pinfold. The danger of a retreat nothing comparable to the mischiefe of a stay. And London was not lost gratis, but did a seruice worth it selfe, if the ritches, and plea∣sures thereof could performe that for the present, which their armed powers were vnable to doe. The stop of Bo∣adicia's furie much better to be made with onelie the for∣tunes of a place, then besides the losse of the best towne with the remains also of all the Roman-Britann powers together in one. Nor could any goods perish, which were but sackt, or pillaged, and not quite destroid: for one vi∣ctorie would recouer both all their owne things, and their enemies. It was therefore a loan or licence, rather then a desperate debt, or shipwracke, to permit the rebells to make spoile, and bootie; and meerely a stale, or golden ball, such as Atalanta stoopt vnto. Therefore, while the greedie Boadicians spent their time in sharing among themselues the wealth of the most famous merchant-towne of Britain, the Roman partie should haue opportunitie to gather head elsewhere, without the shame of an open flight, and with the certain∣tie of making a secure retreat. Nor though Boadicia, per∣ceiuing the scope, should be willing to suspend the sack∣age, and plie the pursuit, yet would she not dare to vrge it, because the cardinall mysterie of her greatnesse was licence to rob and steale This benefit among the rest not the least, that euen time it selfe would abate the edge, and quantitie of the present mischiefe, nothing violent being permanent; wayes would also be found, how to sun∣der Page  143 the combined, thereby to weaken the mightie knot▪ and if nothing else yet this would vndoubtedlie happen, that euery one as he had gotten most, would most affect to be gone, each to enioy his purchase, the end and fruit of their partakings; nor should Boadicia bee alwayes able to hold them together. And to imagine the very least, yet the commoditie, to assemble, and enable the Roman par∣tie, would vndoubtedly follow; whereby the necessitie to fight should bring no necessitie vpon them of being ouer∣come in fight, but a iuster hope of preuailing by the meanes of more prouisions. Thus was LONDON heauily condemned to bee left for the time to the lusts, or mercie of the rebells. In execution of which sad sentence, the ROMAN Generall caused it to be proclaimed through the city, that hee must rise and leaue the place, though not the people; for whosoe∣uer would depart and partake with him the fortune of warre vnder the ROMAN name, and standard, should be receiued, the rest vpon this warning were otherwise to prouide for themselues so well as they could, either by abode, or absence. The LONDO∣NERS, the comfort of whose liues, and hopes rely∣ed vpon the issue of this counsell of warre, tooke desperation in at the same eare at which these newes did enter. The wofull estate, and face of a people and things, after such a proclamation, cannot easi∣lie be imagined. And in historicall narrations of ca∣lamities it is vnlawfull to fain at all, or to make any other description then of only that which was actu∣allie, and properly theirs of whom the speech is in∣stituted. Office•• of inuention, and imagination, are the proper of other MVSES; those of reason, and consequent discourse the onely ones of historie. This we finde in textuall authoritie, that vpon this dismall Oyez, Oratours in the name of the whole Page  144 corporation besought the Generall with teares, and cryes, not to forsake them. But in vaine; for against all batteries of passionate gestures, vowes, and adiu∣rations, hee continued inexorablie firme to his own decree. Of them therefore who were at this instant time of LONDON, some resolued to stay behinde; being persons whom either weakenesse of age, or sex made vnable to flye, or such other as the sweets, and dearenesse of the most beloued place, confir∣med in a desire to stand, or perish with it. The re∣sidue being fitted as well as the miserie, and shortnesse of the time would possiblie suffer, encrea∣sed (as CAMDEN obserues) the forces of PAVL∣LINVS, and were receiued after the signall of de∣parture, into part of his host, or conuoy: The ri∣uer vndoubtedly, though straightly beset, at least∣wise vpon London-side; befriended many by affor∣ding meanes to escape. The ROMANS had a na∣uie vpon the coasts, as appeares in TACITVS at the end of the BRITISH affaires, where TVR∣PILIAN succeeds in the charge.

§. XXI. London entred, sackt, and set on fire by Boadicia.

SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS, hauing abso∣lutely thus quit the place; there are some rea∣sons to perswade, that they who remaind be∣hinde, attempted to defend themselues, without dy∣ing whollie vnreuenged. For they besought not PAVLLINVS of his stay, but of his helpe; and in the life of AGRICOLA there is mention, after Page  145 the burning of the ROMAN colonie, that BOA∣DICIA forced a great fortified ground, or castra, whereby whatsoeuer TACITVS meanes, whe∣ther a campe, according to the nature of the word, or (contrary to the propriety of his speaking, and of the Latin language in those dayes) some mighty castles, or citadels; to looke for such a thing any o∣ther-where rather then here, is improbable: finally; the same grauest author writes, that they who re∣mained, were ouer-laid by the enemie; which ar∣gues a resistance; and DIO expressely professeth, that BVNDVCA did assaile and take two cities by force. But of the fort of LONDON, commonly knowne all in present by the nobler part thereof, the Tower; and of DIANA'S temple (where the cathedrall church of Saint PAVL doth thrust the head there∣of into the clowds) which as the temple of CLAV∣DIVS in CAMALODVNVM did, might serue as a castle for the time; as of whatsoeuer else may in most likelihood concerne this point of defense, there may be opportunity to speake elsewhere more at large. BOADICIA, succeeding to PAVLLINVS with a most different affection, was now become absolute mistresse of LONDON, and of all there∣in. The wilde vplandish crewes of her beggerlie kern, and sauages, with the rest of that rable, spared nothing quicke, or dead. Thirst of reuenge in her, and rapine in them banisht all humanitie. The streets and houses, and all the corners were filled with miserable murthers; the goods felt other ruder owners then the right ones; nor did they content themselues with a simple massacre; and when they had glutted their barbarous appetites with all sorts of licenciousnesse, and outrage, they fired the spaci∣ous towne, as if in the smoake of the burnings the Page  146 note of their carriage should vapour away. A most horrible effect of the pretended recouerie of liberty. But while they consumed what things or persons it pleased them, they withall consumed time, to their vndoing, and fatallie cockerd themselues vp with the hope of continuall felicitie: the cause why they finally miscarried. GALGACVS wisely afterwards obserued it in a speech, to his Caledonian BRITANNS. This destruction was particularlie foretold among the former wonders, by the images of shattered houses vnder water; which being seene in the riuer of THAMES, belonged not in the qualitie of the presage, to CAMALODVNVM, but to LONDON. Of those fourescore thousand ROMANS, & RO∣MAN-BRITANNS, which were slaine by the BOADICIANS in this vast reuolt (as DIO giues the account) fewer then fortie thousand could not perish here, according to the least proportion. That such was now the fortune of the place, can∣not be colourablie doubted; both because TACI∣TVS in generall words hath testified, that fire was among the common instruments of BOADI∣CIA'S reuenge, and PAVLLINVS himselfe is my witnesse in DIO, that here it wrought particular∣lie, though he names not LONDON otherwise then by circumstance. For of those two chiefe townes destroid in this dreadfull rebellion by firing them, the one (saith he) was betraid; euidently CA∣MALODVNVM: the other was abandoned; the spe∣ciall case of LONDON. The faithfull towne sit∣ting vtterly desolate in cinders, and ashes, among the dead trunckes, and bloudlesse bodies of the late children and inhabitants therof, had no other com∣fort but the honourable conscience of constant loi∣altie; and the noble hope to rise againe more hap∣pie, Page  148 and maiesticall; which afterwards proued so true, that for the greater dignitie it came to bee enti∣tuled AVGVSTA. The nature of the merit immor∣tall in the fame, and the imitation perpetuall to the people. Nor doth any thing threaten the glorie thereof so much, as the halfe-brutish manners of the rascall multitude (the branne, and scurfe of all so∣cieties) who darken the desarts of the worthie, by confounding their qualitie in common estimation abroad. Or rather not they, but some disguised limbs of such crewes as swarme forlorne, and desperate, about the citie, without profession of life, and who contriue for disorder. Full amendment the proper and continual care of the magistrate; the wishes of that amendment common with my selfe to all who loue the honour of the realme therin, & LONDON.

§. XXII. VERVLAM sackt, and destroid by BOADI∣CIA. An essentiall difference betweene the persons of a municipium, and a colonie.

THe same miserable fortune there was of the towne called VERVLAM (a municipium, or a free-borough of the ROMANS) as there was of LONDON it selfe. And though in COR∣NELIVS TACITVS it be the last of the three fa∣mous places in the order of naming, which were en∣tred vpon at this time, yet whither it were also such in the order or suffering, may be doubted. For how doth that reason hold good which SVETONI∣VS rendred as the finall cause of his quitting LON∣DON, Page  148 By the losse of one towne to saue the whole resi∣due, if VERVLAM was ouerwhelmed after? But being it is cleare for the disorder of the fact, the strife, or doubt concerning the order of the time, may very well cease, and wee may follow what wee finde. CAMDEN probablie supposeth this towne to haue beene the very same which IVLIVS CAESAR wanne by assault from king CASSIBE∣LINE, Captaine-generall of the league of BRI∣TAIN. VERVLAM therefore is now but a part of the common calamitie which was then the onely all. Nor did any thing more vnmaske the co∣uetous, corrupt, and inwardly most vitious intents of the BOADICIANS, then the iniurie done hereunto. For in CAMALODVNVM the maine bodie and stocke of the people were ROMANS, and LONDON likewise was full of them, which ministred some colour for mercilesse carriage; but why they should deale in that manner with VE∣RVLAM, the magistrates, and comminaltie wher∣of were BRITANNS, no tollerable cause can be well assigned. True it is they had the dignitie and benefit to be free of ROME, but were not otherwise RO∣MAN. A principall difference betweene the persons of a colonie, and those of a municipium, this; that in a colonie they were euermore drawne out of the cor∣poration it selfe of the people of ROME, as mem∣bers before; but in the other, they were not any part of that imperiall bodie till fauourably receiued by municipiall priuiledge into the freedome; men gene∣rally forein else, and but by admission capable. The VERVLANIANS therfore were BRITANNS, though now they smarted as ROMANS, & found their riches to be their vndoing. It might be suppo∣sed (if histories were places for supposals) that king Page  149 COGIDVNVS (of whom there is already suffici∣ent spoken) was Lord of the soile about, which being vpon the frontire of the reuolted TRINO∣BANTS, the towne for that cause suffered mis∣chiefe, in hatred, and despite of his constant friend∣ship to his great benefactors the ROMANS. And here among many other the like, in the CORNE∣LIAN Annals, the infelicitie of the text, corrupted by transcription, breeds confusion. Nor doth the surgerie of Criticks so heale it, but that new galls and blisters may still arise. What TACITVS would principallie say is not obscure: For hee hath told vs; that the Britanns, omitting castles, and garrisons, as tedious and troublesome to con∣quer, ranged loose about, and made bootie or hauock of that which was most of worth abroad; And although a very commodious sense seemes to lurke vnder the disordered shufflings of the vulgar text, which is, that the Boadicians carried their pillage, and robberies into places of safety (whither woods or bogges, or whatsoeuer else) and full of gladnesse for their cheui∣sance, did then come againe to fetch more (which eue∣ry man will repute reasonable to suppose) yet those learned maisters frame other coniectures; best to be seene in their owne writings. The most iudicious of them agree in this to be the sense; that the Boadi∣cians sought for that which was most gainefull to them∣selues, and withall vnsafe for the owners to defend; a people forward to boot-hale, and consume, but backe∣ward to the duties of warre. A censure they well deser∣ued, and extends to all others, who propounding to themselues no laborious, nor honest meanes of life, long for ciuill confusions, that they might haue what to lauish, though for but neuer so short a while, and with whatsoeuer lasting miserie of the innocent Page  150 and industrious. Natiôns marke it wel. The ruins of VERVLAM (soone afterwards re-ëmpeopled, and reflourishing) a wall of flints and brickes, eaten downe into the earth with age and weather, and deepe double trenches about, which remaine at this day, looke sadly with an ouer-growne face vpon the towne of Saint ALBAN, and retaine the anti∣ent name. That the syllable VER, the first in the word, should be somewhat sounding honorable in the BRITISH tongue, because VER-GOBRET was the name of a chiefe magistracie among the GALLS (whose language was the same with the BRITANNS) and their most heroicke champion, was called VER-CINGETORIX, is more easie to image, then to prooue. But that it signified the same with Mawr, is probable, if the sense of Ver, or VAWR, in some BRITISH dialect, bee like∣wise equiualent to Great in English, as MAWR is. Great an apt addition in these particulars. HVM∣FREY LHVID, one of the most learned late an∣tiquaries of the BRITANNS, will haue it, that the prettie streame which runs thereby was denomina∣tiue of the place, and VERLAM to haue been Wer∣lhan, the fane, or temple vpon the water Werr, hee supposing that to be the name thereof; the same towne also afterwards called CAER-municip, by oc∣casion of the ROMAN franchise. It is no great mat∣ter whither of the opinions be truer, or if neither. Here also sword, and fire (the instruments of wrath & furie) deuoured what rapine left: nor fewer thou∣sands then tenne of those eightie, which the BOA∣DICIANS slew in all, could probably perish ther∣in.

Page  151

§. XXIII. The most sauage behauiours of the Boadicians in the vse of their victories throughout.

THus farre the motions, and actions of that mightie bodie of enemies assembled together vnder a most glorious title, the recouerie of common libertie, and commanded in chiefe by BOA∣DICIA, prospered after their manner. The same being now at the vtmost height aswell for successe as wickednesse, fell sodeinly to ground. No won∣der at all; considering how hatefull they had made themselues in the sight of God and man, by abusing their power, and fortunes: quite blotting out all the splendours of their fauourable cause, with the foule∣nesse of their carriage. There was no taking to mer∣cy (saith TACITVS,) no quarter allowed, no hope of ransome, nor any trade of tearmes, as in other warres; but blades, halters, fire, gallowes, and vt∣ter vengeance to all that was ROMAN, or towards it; the Boadician BRITANNS not onely striuing to be euen with their oppressours, for the wrongs they had done, but also to get before-hand with them, by worse, and greater. But not to accuse this course too far, because their purpose was absolute∣ly to root out all that was ROMAN; the vnkinde∣ly kindes of their sauage practise in the workes of reuenge, and extirpation, are hardly credible. BO∣ADICIA, a most martiall, bold, and mighty Lady, but not woman enough; for led by infernall super∣stitions, or no lesse then infernall passions, her BRI∣TANNS Page  152 tooke the most noble, and honourable dames among their enemies, stript them naked, sliced away their pappes, stitcht them to their mouthes as to make them seeme feeding, and final∣ly staked their bodies through in length. Villanies at which barbaritie it selfe would blush, and which in themselues most horrible, DIO'S credit makes cre∣dible. The men whom they far more cruelly saued, then they could haue simplie slaine, had their bel∣lies ript open aliue (saith SVETONIVS PAVLLI∣NVS in XIPHILINE) their boweles cut out: some gored vpon burning stakes, and others boild to death in seething water. Man is to man a diuell at times; no where rather verifide then here. The forms and paines of these murthers not to be out-gone for their invention, and execution, sauage wit found how to aggrauate by religious impiety, and irreligi∣ous contumely. For it being not absurd to think, that they might aslo eate what thus was drest (the infe∣rence familiar from the shambles to the kitchin) these certainly whether sacrifices, or games, were most spitefully presented, while they offred in their temples, or reueld at their feasts, but specially in the groue of their goddesse ANDATE, the patronesse of their proceedings, as ANDRASTA, or ADRA∣STE was their deitie of reuenge. For DIO, and XI∣PHILINE, in BVNDVCA'S oration, distinctly speake of them as of two seuerall; if our copies bee sincere. Their great sacrifice of all, which CAESAR, and STRABO describe, is rather not remembred here in particular, then likely to haue been forborn. The DRVIDS who dealt in bloud, the authors, & actors of all; vpon this one ground of doctrine in their schooles, that the wrath of the Gods could not be appeased in a case of life, but with the life of man. And Page  153 their inhumane diuinations had not any other rea∣son for their mysterie. They composed a colossus of wouen osyars, or a monstrous bigg gyant of wic∣ker, which stuft with men, was set on a fiery blaze, and burnt all. STRABO writes that they had an huge image of hay, vnder which not onely men, (shot first with arrowes, or fixr vpright vpon raf∣ters) but cattle, and al sorts of beasts were packt and consumed together. The generall words in TA∣CITVS, and the particular in DIO, exclude not these figures of death from the acts of this tragicke vengeance, though they expresse them not. And a thing so solemne with the Druids of GALL (whose mother-schools were in BRITAIN) which might answere in quantitie to a GREEK hecatomb, and was in very deed an holocaust, was not probablie o∣mitted now, in such plenty of humane bodies, and so great wantonnesse of inhumane butcheries. But this augments not the opinion of their cruelties, though it addes a strange one to the formes. There is more then enough already said, to shew how iust∣ly the BOADICIANS perished. To fall into the hands of the wilde and vitious, is a wretched, and a dreadfull thing.

Page  154

§. XXIIII. The course which Suetonius Paullinus held in his retreat from London, and of his constraint to resolue for fight.

BVt while BOADICIA, and her people grew ripe for ruin, the ROMAN-generall, after he had abandoned LONDON, maintayned re∣treat, partly to gather more strength, but specially to shunne for the time the furie of a prosperous ha∣tred. For DIO plainely tels vs, that hee feared the encounter. Such were the heats and darings of the victorious enemy. The way which SVETO∣NIVS tooke, after his departure, was in mine opi∣nion toward SEVERN, where PAENIVS POST∣HVMVS, encamped with the second legion, among the SILVRES. A great accession of strength in such an addition of number. Neuerthelesse it failed. For when SVETONIVS commanded them to draw themselues vp to his quarter, PAENIVS POSTHV∣MVS, maister of the camp, and of the company, vt∣terly refused to come, contrary to the dutie of his place, and discipline of warr. Of him BOADICIA vndoubtedly meant, where she glories in her speach before the fight, that of those ROMANS who had escaped her sword, some couered themselues within their camp, and the rest (SVETONIVS, and his po∣wers then present in the field) did but cast about which way to flye. But in his march towards that second le∣gion, the Generall, by crossing the THAMES at LONDON, could not but farre away prouide best Page  155 for his owne more safetie, and his peoples most su∣stentation. For in keeping the riuer vpon his right hand still, the water was both a deepe barre against the pursuing enemy, and betweene the same and the British OCEAN, the prouince, which ran all along, was ROMAN. Thus houerd hee aloofe, in obedience to his nature, which being slow, and weighty, preferred safe courses with reason, aboue great good lucke by chance. But when hee beheld the intollerable brauery of the woman, in maintai∣ning a personall chase vpon him (for it was not long before she followed close, and quicke) it was high time to redeeme his fame, or die in the quar∣rell. Away goe all lingrings therefore; euermore pernicious, when things are no longer to bee deba∣ted, but done. The necessitie of action often begets felicity in action: and a state of feare is a state of guard. Vaine confidence destroid the other.

§. XXV. The number and qualitie of the Roman forces, proui∣ded for fight.

COncerning the power which SVETONI∣VS PAVLLINVS had in readinesse at this great extremity; TACITVS is vniuersally so vnderstood, that the whole number is not taken to haue amounted to fully tenne thousand, horse, and foote of all sorts in armes. A dreadfull disproporti∣on against three and twenty times as many. They are named in the CORNELIAN ANNALS, the fourteenth legion, with the rereguard, or triarij, of the Page  156 twentieth, as some doe point the readings, and aids, of the nearest at hand, drawne out as vpon a violent need in haste: but, as others doe place the points, they are reckoned the fourteenth legion with the Tria∣rij, or rere of the same, and the vicesimarians, or soldi∣ers of the twentieth, together with aids as before-said. The word for that companie is in the text uexillarij, which some haue translated standard-bearers. But a∣ny thing (as it seemes) is good enough in their con∣ceits, for the common swallow. Some expunctory volumes of such abuses would doe well. The num∣ber of these choise old soldiers (for they were vete∣rans) the last hope of euery battle, was vpon cer∣tainty sixe hundred, and neuer either more, or fewer in complete legions, whose rere they alwaies made; and in later times, for their antient name triarij, they came to be styled vexillarij, because they fought vn∣der one vexillum, flag, or banner. They who would see more of this, may satisfie themselues out of CLAVDIVS SALMASIVS, the SELDEN of GALLIA, if without creating enuy to my lear∣ned friend, Iohn Selden, I may compare them so. As for that common vnderstanding of TACITVS there, concerning the numbers, though no man supposeth any corruption of the text, yet may it well receiue a trauerse in common sense. For it will easily be credited that SVETONIVS brought some proportion of souldiers with him from the ile of MONA, if but for his necessary guard, vnlesse hee may bee thought to haue ridden poast from thence to LONDON, where there also was an assemblie of others, as is plaine, because the view of their thin∣nesse moued him to quit the station. Besides, hee tooke into a part of his troup all the voluntaries of LONDON, and each legion had store of aids ap∣pertaining Page  157 to it selfe. The fourteenth (whose fame is greatest) had belonging to it eight cohorts of BA∣TAVIANS, braue fellowes all, & were, if full, about foure thousand, who would groane out in their graues if they should be put from their share in the glorie of this day. And if no part could belong to them herein, the fourteenth alone which seemes to haue come entire; had sixe or seauen thou∣sand beside the prest aides, and the vicesimarians. All which that they should not make ten thousand together, is strange. Therefore if the number bee true, the words of TACITVS may thus bee vn∣derstood, that to those forces with which SVETO∣NIVS parted from LONDON, there came now in the end and in all, such, and so many more as am∣mounted to almost ten thousand. If the number be not sincere, then the numeral word in the ANNALS, hath had a maine limb lopt away. And if it were nine aboue tenne, the wonder of the victorie would seme great enough euen with nineteene thousand.

§. XXVI. Of Iulius Agricola, the father in law of Cornelius Tacitus.

NEither was it the least honour of SVETONI∣VS PAVLLINVS, that IVLIVS AGRICOLA, (whose life his sonne in law CORNELIVS TACITVS (doubtfully whither with more pietie, or eloquence) hath commended to all posteritie) that he had his breeding for warre in his schoole, where he carried the honourable title of a tribune, Page  158 and exercised al the duties of his place. On the other side, it was the speciall good fortune of AGRICOLA that he had PAVLLINVS for his maister, whose fa∣miliar friend he liued, and as well his companion in armes, as his camerado. Here therefore did that no∣ble gentleman learne, how to command by hauing obeid, and what the warres of BRITAIN requi∣red, before hee came (as hee afterwards did) to bee Generall himselfe in BRITAIN.

§. XXVII. The number of men in Boadicia's armie, their nations, qualities, and armes.

BOADICIA, whose people had handled the quarrell of their countrey infinitely worse then the sorest enemies which euer their countrey had, drew hastily vp to the fatal ground, vpon which SVETONIVS necessarily resolued to ride out the finall fortune of a day while any hope remained. Her two defloured daughters are the onely persons particularly remembred to haue attended in the ser∣uice, and yet euen their names are lost. So inglori∣ous are all whom the light of letters retaines not aloft in sight. Her numbers couerd the region ouer. Two hundred and thirty thousand fighting men in field. Successe, and spoile most effectuall meanes to multiply partakers. The ICENI, & the TRINO∣BANTS were chiefe in the action, as authors. There were also the CORITANI, and other Marshmen (BOADICIA shewes it in DIO, where she speakes of fennes and bogges for hiding themselues, if ouer∣throwne) Page  159 there were the ORDOVICES (for who else had such mountaines to shelter them as they?) and whosoeuer else of the BRITANNS, the BRI∣GANTS certainely were not absent. TACITVS expresly names them. And why the greatest Cri∣ticks should be so troubled thereat, as to substitute a∣ny other word for that, seemes to mee a great mar∣uell. For the speaker in that place is GALGACVS, the rough Caledonian Prince, who vnder the one name of BRIGANTS (being among his nearest neighbours, and therefore most knowne to him) doth seeme to vnderstand, and comprise all the more Southerlie BRITANNS, who were at this time out in armes, vpon this one womans lea∣ding. To GALGACVS therefore all were indiffe∣rently BRIGANTS, who were not his. And be∣sides the authoritie of TACITVS, the very descrip∣tion of the manners of some of the Boadicians in XI∣PHILINE, doth plainely conuince, that the rudest nations were at this worke, and consequentlie the BRIGANTS, as neither the most polite, nor most re∣mote, and certainly not least populous. Wherefore the CORNELIAN text is sincere, and decent. For GALGACVS is speaker, and not TACITVS. Nor can DIO'S text bee iustified without this sen∣ses admission. For he was euidently too much in the thought of the MAEATS, and CALEDONIANS, such as his owne times saw them vnder the empe∣rour SEPTIMIVS SEVERVS, when he recor∣ded his BVNDVCA'S oration, if he meant the bar∣barous manners, which that oration boasteth to be common to all the BRITANNS who were in that martiall auditorie. For nothing can bee more vn∣true: because, euen in IVLIVS CAESARS times some of them were much more courteous then others, Page  160 and the ciuility of many of the BRITANNS, now vnder NERO, is confessed as a disaduantage. There is no doubt, nor cause of doubt why the BRI∣GANTS should not be helpes to BOADICIA as complices; vpon whom soone after the whole weight of warre did fall; nor improbablie for this partaking. For the ROMANS prosecuted the con∣tagion of assistance as they did the maine oppositi∣on it selfe. Their enemies succours, properly ene∣mies. The most wilde, and barbarous therefore of the qualities which are deciphered in her oration, are onely to bee vnderstood of a part of the BRI∣TANNS, & not of all; or of the more Southerly. But amongst her strengths at this time, wee must not reckon the flockes of British wiues and women, who were brought to sit spectators of the expected vtter ruine of PAVLLINVS (the cause and hope of their iourney) though the versifier in his Albions England, pleasantly encroaching vpon the poet, doth furnish this Queene-Mother, and her martiall daugh∣ters, with sixe thousand armed Ladies, out of his Ho∣mericall hearsayes. A licence of wit not vnbeseeming the musicke of rimes, but incompetent for the gra∣uity of storie, which admits no fables. And though the CORNELIAN writings mention not the na∣ture of the Boadician armes, and weapons at this field, but repute them as naked men, and doe else∣where before, deny, that the ORDOVICES (har∣die BRITANNS) had the vse either of murrions, or brest-plates, yet DIO, and XIPHILINE make it cleare that she not onely had soldiers compleatly ar∣med, and light both horse and foote, but charriots also of warre, such as IVLIVS CAESAR, in penning the British affaires, doth greatly celebrate, though of all these there is not the least inckling, or touch in CORNELIVS TACITVS.

Page  161

§. XXVIII. Of the place of the battle, and season of the yeare.

THe leuell, or plot of ground vpon which the army of BOADICIA, by the ROMANS forestallment, came to be embatteld, was cer∣tainly vpon a plaine, of at least fiue, or sixe miles ouer in breadth, betweene two woods; at either end of the open field one. The quantitie of the space shall bee made apparent by the same infallible demonstrati∣on in the Tacticks, by which POLYBIVS dis∣prooued CALLISTHENES, erroneously descri∣bing the field betweene ALEXANDER, and DA∣RIVS; as that poinct also of the two woods, by the best bookes compared. But whereabout in these parts of BRITAIN, that very place was, vnlesse it were vpon SALISBVRIE plaine, where there is a black-heath, and scope enough, is not for mee to imagine. Edmund Spencer, who was in his time, the most learned poet of ENGLAND, layes it to haue beene further off; for he names besides SEVERN. But without praying in aide of his poëms, I seeme to my selfe to haue made it vehementlie probable, that the field was hereabout, by hauing shewed that PAVLLINVS was marcht hitherwards. And somewhat perhaps it will fortifie the coniecture, that vpon the brimme, or skirts of this most spatious plaine, nor far from Stonage, there suruiue at this houre three memorable arguments of antient camps, the greatest of which being ouer against Page  162 WILLY, is doubly enuironed with depth of ditch, and by the forme (saith CAMDEN) appeares to haue beene a ROMAN worke, the other singlie; none of them farre asunder, and all of them distin∣guisht, by the common people, with the seuerall names of Yanesburie castle, Dunshot, and Woldsburie. And admitting that VESPASIAN was the au∣thor of Yanesburie vnder CLAVDIVS (as some doe well diuine) that cannot hinder why SVETO∣NIVS PAVLLINVS should not the rather make vse thereof at this time vnder NERO, both as a strength readie wrought, and fortunately hanseld by the lucke of so braue a commander. Concer∣ning the time of the yeare; it was manifestlie in the stoope thereof, as declining towards the winter-quarter; which many signes, extant in TACI∣TVS, seeme to discouer: the expedition of MONA abruptly ended; the mention of win∣ter-campes; and the BRITANNS trusting for corne to the ROMAN store or haruest, which they presumed should be theirs. So it may be thought to haue beene at sometime or other in September, when these two GENERALS, more opposite in affecti∣ons then diuerse in sex, encountred.

§. XXIX. The order of the Roman battle.

THe ROMAN Generall, in marshalling his little army, did principally labour, to keepe all his enemies before him, that their vnreasonable numbers might not enclose, nor ouer-lay him. And Page  163 in that one poinct the maine mysterie of his finall hopes consisted. Therefore he selected a place with a wood at his backe, to serue with the help of art as a wall, or bulwarke behinde: from whence forth∣right, and before the entrance into the open wowlds or plaines, the whole plot of ground betweene cheeke, and cheeke, but specially at the very mouth it selfe, was narrow, and yet withall wide enough to containe his people, as being halfe a myle broad, or so; the sides themselues secure, by whatsoeuer thickets, waters, cliffes, or moores, or other aduan∣tages of nature, or prouisions of skill, by trenches, or barricadoes, with his carriages and the like, in which the ROMANS were excellently ready mai∣sters. A ground well chosen for fight is not a little onwards to a victorie: and these straights, hauing the euen countrey for a prospect, and therefore true against ambush, were to the ROMANS as a very campe or fortresse. PAVLLINVS hauing thus deuised for the best, and fore-stalled the choise of the field, hee drew out his soldiers, now through∣ly refresht, and furnisht. They were Legionaries, freemen of ROME, and auxiliaries, their fel∣lowes in armes, and not otherwise ROMANS; and these of all sorts, horse and foote, and as well hea∣uy, as light armed men. His principall hope, and strengths resided in the fourteenth legion, which was there entire. The victorious standard, and en∣signes whereof, thought to be worthie of a particu∣lar memoriall, were aduanced in such forme as this coigne in LIPSIVS specifies.

Page  164The method of his proceedings was this. He di∣uided the bodie of his force within these straights, into three wards, or battalia's (for that is euident in DIO) that he might the better keepe himselfe from the mortall mischiefe of circumuention, and oppres∣sion, and also by possessing the whole plot, fight at once and in front quite through. And hereunto he was necessarily driuen; because the enemies, as to daunt him with the ostentation of their multitudes, which threatned a most certaine surcharge, tooke vp in front fiue, or sixe miles at least, as where their or∣der of battaile comes to bee displaied will appeare. The legionaries how many thousands is vncer∣taine. Fewer then sixe they were not. Of them (vp∣on whom the bloudie summe, and weight of the worke did rest) the middle ward, or main consisted, commonly armed with helmets, raisd higher with plumes of feathers, and substantiall breast-plates, each of them ballancing two or three piles, or dar∣ting iauelings in their hands. A terrible weapon. For being about seauen foote long, and plated with yron halfe way from the massiue head downward, the head it selfe either round, and broad, or more vsually foure square, the staffe alone a prettie gripe about, they could in hurling deliuer it with such a Page  165 violence, as to strike through a corslet, yea, through the man himselfe sometimes, and armour together. For the vse of combat, each had a couering target, either ouall round, or square and hollow, in man∣ner of a roofe-tile, about thirtie inches thwart, and aboue fiftie long, with a broad Spanish sword, which hung somewhat off behinde, with the pommell towards the right hand, not much aboue two foot long in blade, of an excellent temper, fine and thin, to lop off limbs, but passing strong at the point to maintaine a thrust, or foine. Nor doth CORNE∣LIVS TACITVS mention any other sort of legi∣onaries in the infantery at this field. On either hand of this martiall phalanx stood the battles of the aids, with speares and greater swords, and though they might haue the titles, or properties of vann and rere, yet it is cleare enough in XIPHILINE, that they made all but one front with the legionaries, from whom they were distinguisht with certaine spaces competent. The troups of horse stood ready in wings. And they (in mine opinion) were extraor∣dinary many, because TACITVS, who makes but one battle of the stedfast infantery in all, casting off the light-armed into clusters, and plumps about, supplies the sides with cauallarie. The ordinarie proportion of horse to a legion was but three hun∣dred, which they diuided into two maine bodies, and subdiuided by thirties into cornets, which would make but poore weake wings, or rather not wings, but according to the phrase of the CORNE∣LIAN Annals, the two other battalions for supply of vann, and rere, in regard that all the three diui∣sions of the armie, in DIO, seemed after a sort to be put into one, by placing them in one and the selfe same line of longitude. Their great vse also at Page  166 this great seruice doth alone demonstrate, that the numbers of the horse were vnusually many, nor vnlikely to be either all, or, the most part of the ca∣uallarie which belonged to all the ROMAN legi∣ons in BRITAIN. I for my part haue suspected and thought, that PAVLLINVS came from ANGLE∣SEY to LONDON, with none but horse, and those, them of the twentieth legion. And there is no cause for vs to thinke, why PETILIVS CEREALIS might not spare his horse-troups hither, himselfe being shut vp within his fortifications. So that let PAENIVS POSTHVMVS enioy his owne feares, and with-hold his concurrence at this field, yet (as we see here) SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS might be otherwise furnished with extraordinary horse-troupes. What vse or station the old soldiers, or the rere of the twentieth legion had in this field, there is no particular mention any where, I wish that there had beene, because they seeme to haue done very nobly, as well because their presence is singularly specified, as a very choise member of the ROMAN forces here, as for that they wanne much honour to their proper companie, or legion. But because their speciall placings are not remembred, it seemes most likely, that they fought not apart, but were sorted among other the ribs, & sinewes of the legi∣onarie forces. The forlorne hopes of foote, or light nimble shot, of all sorts (DIO names archers in particular) whose part was to take off the edge of the encounter, were cast off before the squadrons, in carelesse and scattered companies. All the soldi∣ers who expected in battle-ray, but specially the le∣gionaries were vpon the least distance one from another, which the vse of their weapons would per∣mit, that fighting all close together, they might at Page  167 once be bothimpenetrable, & invincible. The bredth and depth of their battalia's, because the true mea∣sure of the ground is vnknown, cannot be certaine; but supposing all the men were but well-near tenne thousand, the length of the whole front of all the three battles might containe, at three foot space be∣tweene man and man, about foure, or fiue hundred, and in file about seauenteen, or eighteen, leauing in∣teruals betweene battalia and battalia, for retreats and other vses, and roome for the horse-troopes vp∣on the outsides. All which might together take vp about that halfe a mile ouer, in the mouth of the straights, which is mentioned before. The ouer-plus of the soldiers (for vpon the poinct of eight thousand would doe all this) may be thought to bee in reserue for accidents, and other the sodein exi∣gents of warre. And this coniecture of about foure or fiue hundred in rancke, is somewhat supported out of TACITVS himselfe, where after the end of the battle, he writes, that near vpon foure hundred were slaine of the ROMAN side, and not many more hurt or wounded. Which seemes as much as if hee had said, that the fortune of the two first rancks dispatched the day. And this might well be true ac∣cording to the axiom of PAVLLINVS, in the CORNELIAN ANNALS, putting his people in minde, that euen where many legions fought, a few hands did the deede. But as for the numbers in the ROMAN party at this battle, I haue elsewhere be∣fore tendred some reasons, which lead me to beleeue they were rather twice tenne thousand then onely the moitie of twenty. Thus while the Generall was busied, and as he past from company to company, he inspired them with courage, by the life of his presence, and power of his words, calling them some∣time Page  168 by the glorious name of Romans, and otherwhile by the more familiar title of companions in armes and fellow soldiers. He sets before their eyes the cruelties, and hor∣rid dealings of their enemies, their owne and their coun∣treyes honour, and their common danger in the most ab∣solute necessity of doing, or dying nobly. No hope but in victorie; no refuge for runnawayes. Pure Manhood, and the fauour of their cause with powers diuine, who vse to incline to the sufferers of wrong (such as hee in DIO declares their cause to be) the onely meanes of safety to themselues, and of recouering Britain to the em∣pire, which was otherwise now in manifest perill to bee vtterly torne away. Hee sowes withall euery where about him, most certaine hopes of good successe, by remembring their former valours, and prosperities against these ve∣ry enemies, whom hee named contemptiblie, as men both vnskilfull, and vnarmed; mingling for a speciall ingredi∣ent towards the atchieuement of the victorie, this pre∣cept or rule of fight; that after they had most forceably throwne their piles home, they should all then rush forth together in a runne, and with their drawne swords, and the bosses of their targets, presse in round and close, and neuer giue ouer till they preuailed. His conclusion: that if the worst should happen, yet hee and they, by dying ho∣nourably on the place, should keepe possession of Britain, were it but with their dead bodies onely. In these, and the like exercises of speech and action, PAVLLI∣NVS spent the whole time till the very instant it selfe of ioyning. Nor fell his words, like burning sparckles vpon dancke and vnprepared matter, but vpon dry, tindry spirits, such as were most ready to take, and kindle: which their countenances, and gestures testified. The dutie of a Chiefe towards the poinct of perill (saith the greatest Captaine of the world in his invaluable commentaries) is to work Page  169 vpon that forward and stirring humor, which be∣ing naturally in all men, is apt to be inflamed with a desire of battle; accordingly to augment that ea∣gernesse, and heat, vpon the instant of encounter: but neuer to represse, or checke it backe in any de∣gree. The fatall errour of POMPEI at PHARSA∣LIA. But not of PAVLLINVS heere. For that rule of warre was envred by him to the proofe; who the more to assure his fierce soldiers, affirmed, that not onely their fore-fathers, but they themselues also had often ouercome many more enemies at a time then these. A thing which otherwise then by the figure of excesse can hardly haue any defense: for TA∣CITVS, and the truth are cleare, that the Britanns were neuer before in so great numbers, vnlesse it be ad∣mitted (which PAVLLINVS also saith) that the women at this field were more then the warlike youth. But that was also another extreame of speech; another (as they call it) hyperbole. And thus both hee, and his, prouided either for a graue or garland.

§. XXX. The order of the Britanns battle.

ON the other side, Queene BOADICIA, full of present spirits, and martiall vigour, leads vp her two hundred and thirty thou∣sand men, and forgetting the softnesse of her sexe, performes in person all the duties of a most vigilant and diligent Chiefe. For mounted in an open char∣riot, with her two orphane daughters before her Page  170 in the same, as the obiects of compassion, and the motiues of wrath and reuenge, shee rides about the plaine, and marshalls them to the last man. The na∣tions of BRITAIN, assistants at this need, as they were many and diuers, so each of them was arran∣ged by it selfe in a seuerall battalion, which TA∣CITVS doth not obscurely declare, where hee mentions her accesse to euery of them apart; and ARIOVISTVS, in his array of battle against IV∣LIVS CAESAR vsed the same method. So it seems to haue beene a custome in these parts, for the appa∣rent benefit which comes by distinctions of worth, from whence degrees of courage doe manifestly spring. The noble ground of armories. And these were the rowts and troupes, who being ordered in seuerall, are mentioned in TACITVS to haue euery-where vaunted themselues in the face of the ROMANS with so great scorne and iollitie, because of a few smiles of mutable fortune. And surely all sodein prosperitie is for the more part a druncken thing; much harder to carry well then either aduer∣uersity, or a doubtfull state. Happier they whom it it ouer-turnes not, then whom it raiseth. It was the BRITANNS bane. The front of her battle exten∣ded it selfe to fiue or sixe miles out, at the least. For eight or nine thousand onely, with the smallest allow∣ances of distance, take vp alone in one rancke so much ground; not accounting the interualls be∣tweene nation, and nation, by which they were disparted, and designed. This proportion of extensi∣on is fully proued out of DIO, who writes in plaine tearmes, that SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS had not so many in his army, as placed man against man, could equall the length in battle-ray, nor the very first rancke of the BRITANNS. Nor seemes Page  171 it doubtfull, that the forme of her battle was semi-circular; the dilatation being to affright the RO∣MANS, and the forme to enclose them. But that speech of DIO'S, if taken precisely, and according to the rigour of the letter, is either a confirmation, against my former arguments, that the ROMANS had tenne thousand in the field; or that the BRI∣TANNS had aboue that number in front. These nations had all of them their seuerall banners, or markes of conduct. For POMPONIVS MELA writes, that the BRITANNS imitated the Gallicke fashion in armes; and CAESAR in his immortall bookes doth say, that CONSIDIVS partly disco∣uered by their ensignes, that the GALLS were masters of an hill of aduantage. The GALLS had en∣signes therefore. But reason, much better then testi∣monies, conuinceth, that this was so among the BRITANNS; because it must of force be so. For where order is, there is also a necessity of directiue signes; impossible otherwise to be preserued. What their stuffe, or arguments were, is vnknowne. They had their paintings, and lineamentall purfles as is obserued in the Elements of Armories. To say, that the figures of a wolf, and greyhound were among the symbolicall notes of the BRITANNS, because BO∣ADICIA, in her auspicatory oration, may seeme to allude to their bearings, is but to say it onely. And yet the conjecture dislikes mee not the more, that King HENRIE the Seauenth, who descended of these antient BRITANNS by the fathers side, did aduaunce the greyhound in supporture. Before the head of this huge, and wide-spred battle of the BRI∣TANNS, the chariots of warre were planted, which (as MELA depourtrayes them) had sharpe sithes standing out, wherewith to mowe downe enemies. Page  172 Among them the nimblest & the lightest of her peo∣ple were scatter'd at aduenture: the horse vpon either hand. Against the maine body, or strength of the ROMAN battalia's, BOADICIA did set her cor∣slet-men, or such as were whole arm'd. DIO wit∣nesseth their vse at this seruice; and their meanes of furniture came in all probability from the spoyles of the legionaries, who rashly carryed on by PETILI∣VS CEREALIS, were (as we haue heard before) defeated all of them, and slaine, in the beginnings of this reuolt. Behinde, shee placed the carriages, wal∣ling the backe of her battels with waggons, waynes, and carts, where the wiues and women of the BRI∣TANNS stood lookers-on. And least those impedi∣ments might not proue barr enough to their then vnthought-of flight, there grew a wood also next be∣yond. Thus while vpon vaine assurance they pro∣uided to create a spectacle for their women, they emparkt themselues for slaughter; the game, and sur∣fet of the ROMANS; little dreaming that they should become their owne showe. But ouermuch bold∣nesse is rarely any other then the common for-run∣ner of a downefall. ARIOVISTVS, Generall of the GERMAN league, against IVLIVS CAESAR, had the same kinde of theater, and spectators, and because it was also with the like ill successe, the BO∣ADICIANS lackt not the poore comfort of ha∣uing an example, and parallel; themselues not the first, nor the onely vnluckie that were. Obstinacie on both sides fixed with trabal nailes of necessitie; the BRITANNS to maintaine what they had be∣gunne; the ROMANS to maister their perill, or to die. No possibilitie to hang the quarell euen vpon the weighing beame of iustice and peace. BOADI∣CIA therefore was not more wanting to her Page  173 peoples encouragements, then to their disposure for fight. Yet, by some words in the CORNELIAN Annals, it may well be gathered, (notwithstanding all her great care and paines in placing them) order was not kept so precisely, as their dangerous estate required: for as well the cauallarie, as the foote, vaunted themselues euery-where in the face of the enemy, flaunting, and brauing about in heaps, and troupes. BOADICIA her selfe deepely tainted with that selfe-flattering pestilence: for from thence it was shee told her armie; the Romans would neuer stand the ecchoing showtes of so many scores of thou∣sands, or the bare rustle of their armes, much lesse endure their shocke, and stroakes: thereupon also she boasted the defeat of PETILIVS CEREALIS, as a pat∣terne of their warlike workman-ship, and the ear∣nest of their lasting good fortune; gloriously affir∣ming; feare did so benumbe their enemies, that they of them who were absent, coopt themselues vp within camps, and sconces, not daring once to peere out (a thing not vntrue with PAENIVS POSTHVMVS) and that these very men, whom they had at last with so much trouble and trauaile found out and ouertaken, did not meditate fight, but flight, and how to runne safest a∣way. Euident in her opinion, by the sheltring them∣selues within those straights; the lodgings and denns of the timerous; not fore-casting, that it might in them be nothing else but a point of warre-craft, to nourish foulest ouerweenings by the greatest show of feare. Her person, conspicuitie, and postures in speaking, added greatly to the life of her words. For riding about from one embattelld nation to ano∣ther, she turnd her selfe on all sides in her open cha∣riot, roially appointed; presenting her fortunes, and the fortunes of her princely children, who sat with Page  174 her in sight there, as the most liuely meanes for stir∣ring vp extreamest indignation, and reuenge. Ma∣lignant humors thus being throughly stirred, and the clowds of defiance impatiently striuing to emp∣tie themselues in a tempest of blowes, BOADI∣CIA at an instant strucke of all the locks of re∣straint on her side, by giuing the word, and with∣out God to friend, permits her cause to brute triall.

§. XXXI. The battle, ouerthrow, and death of Boadicia.

IMmediately hereupon, the BRITANNS raise vni∣uersall showts, and cryes, to affright the RO∣MANS, and vainely chaunted out aloud their warlike odes, or ditties; which deuised by their Bards, or by each of themselues as his boystrous wit would serue him, were filled with glorious braues, and irefull threats. At the same time also they aduance their battalia's, and continuing their songs, and clamours, make the wide plaines trem∣ble with the stresse, and strength of a generall vio∣lent motion; men, horses, chariots, and all sorts of armes & weapons stirring at once, render the noise as of a rough and angrie sea. A stately LACEDEMO∣NIAN march towards the onset (as SYLBVRGIVS translates the place in DIO) & not an headlong furi∣ous; onely somewhat full, and round at the instant it selfe of charging. The first assault therefore was with shrill sounds, and voices; quickly to be dampt, and alaid with the groanes and shrikes of the dy∣ing. On the contrary, SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS, Page  175 perceiuing his people fiery prompt, hoysed vp aloft at a spears end the publicke signe of battle, which was commonly the Generals purple fur-coat, in the nature of a bloudie banner. And first of all, the RO∣MAN legionaries, (throughly taught to contemne lowd clamours, as a terrible toy) kept close together within the narrow out-let of their ground, aswell to encrease their enemies presumption, as to preuent oppression and circumuention. But when the BRITANNS had deliuered their rouing shot, and were aduanced within the reach of mischiefe, the ROMANS (till that instant husht, and silent, and obseruing faire regularitie) all on a sodein ioyne together in a martiall showt at a signe, and most forceably flinging their heauy piles into the thicke of their comming enemies, they presently drew their swords, and clashing them hard vpon their shields, sally out at once with all the force they could, and dealt their stroakes and thrusts to great aduantage. The CORNELIAN Annals, where they speake of the fourteenth legion at this field, doe not meane by these words, velut cuneo erupit, any thing else but a close and ioynct squadron, not the forme of battle, called pointed, and which bursting forth with an vnexpected force, had the operation, not the figure of a wedge, or of a long three square, with an obtuse angle forward. All authoritie is a∣gainst it. Nor onely in this place of the best authors is the Latin word cuneus interpreted, and vnder∣stood so; for TITVS LIVIVS himselfe doth La∣tin the M•••••ONIAN Phalaux by the same. At the same time they encountred euery where all ouer. Out flew the auxiliaries (among whom, accor∣ding to CAMDEN, bands of LONDONERS were) and with no lesse brauerie of courage, and Page  176 with as great violence as the legionaries, charged their cruell aduersaries home; the archers vndertook the chariotéers, & their cauallarie attacked the other. The bloudie confusion of this tumult is well set forth by DIO and XIPHILINE: The violent giuing in of the ROMANS vpon the BOADICI∣ANS at their sodein rushing forth, did easily rowt, and disorder their rancks, though their files could not choose but be very deepe in regard of their ne∣cessitie to contract their length for fighting nar∣row, which made their vast multitudes rather mis∣chieuous to themselues, and combersome, then vsefull. A maine reason of BOADICIA'S ouer∣throw. For the weight and worke of the day was brought hereby to rest but vpon a few; and the RO∣MANS, (in regard of their discipline, skill, and ex∣perience) had extreamely the oddes while they only dealt vpon the euen. Nor had she patience to watch them, nor art to draw them out of their fortifide ground. Venerable Moderâtion, thy coolings how necessary for the ouer-boylings of prosperitie! That defect a common cause of greater fiercenesse then good fortune. And in the case of my dearest coun∣trey, during this whole warre, there was nothing from first to last so vnfortunately absent. The vi∣ctory of the ROMANS (as much as out of TACI∣TVS may be gathered) seemes to haue begunne at the cornets of horse, who with their armed staues, or lances, charged in flanck, and front, and euery where as their enemies came to hand, or were strongest. The fight neuerthelesse continued hot, and doubtfull till the euening, nor was the face ther∣of simple or vniforme, but diuers. The light-armed of the one side, lay fiercely at the light-armed of the o∣ther; the well-armed oppose their likes; horse encounter Page  177 horse; the Roman archers let flye at the chariots of the Britanns; they againe driue headlong vpon the Romans, and tumble them ouer. But for want of armour, where∣with to mock the shot, they are enforced with the storms of Roman arrowes to fall off againe. The foot trampled vnder-foot by the horse; and the horse beaten back by the foot. Many close together make vp with a ioynct force against the waggons of warr; they on the other side beare many downe before them, and compell others to flye. Here the Archers aduauncing ouer-forwardly, beyond the protection of their cauallarie, are glad to saue themselues by flat running away: there, other keep aloofe for feare of the peircing arrowes. These things while they were not acted in one place onely, but in three at once (according to the triple distinction of the Roman host in DIO) the conflict was long maintained on both parts with equall boldnesse, and brauerie. This is the table of the bat∣tle, or maine meddlie betweene the BRITANNS and the ROMANS, as it stands drawn with immortall words among the Greekes; which singularly helpe to open the most weighty chro∣nicle of TACITVS; where the acts of this great and bloudy businesse are all of them trussed vp together in a lesser roome, then the short con∣tents of a chapter. Briefs in heroicall arguments, as they are the iniurious eclipse of mightie actions, so in all other kindes of learning where they are in∣sisted vpon by truants as principall, they proue to be the very bane it selfe of wits, and studies: On the contrary, whatsoeuer in narrations is for the size thereof aboue the iust length, doth iustly heare tedious; and whatsoeuer for the nature of it is pe∣tie and poore, and beneath the maiestie of storie, is worthely base and odious. In this famous conflict (where the naturall libertie of BRITAIN, and the Page  178 title of the empire lay at stake) the ROMANS, by dashing in with the whole breadth of their batta∣lia so violently as they did vpon the enemies, though they draue innumerable of them downe to the earth, tare their rancks in pieces, and strucke those other with amazement, and dismay, whom their weapons could not reach, yet they plunged them∣selues so farre off withall from their ground, or stand of aduantage, into the depths of the surmoun∣ting multitudes, as they were after a sort enclosed, and compelled to fight all. In the end notwithstan∣ding (though so late first, that it was at least vpon the setting of the Sunne) the ROMANS were eue∣ry where, throughout the field, victorious, while the barbarous sinnes of the BRITANNS, commit∣ted in the time of their prosperitie, fought not lesse against the guiltie then the armed foe. There is no regard, nor heed to be taken in this place what our domesticke poets faine, in fauour of Queene BOA∣DICIA and her side; as if they were ouercome by the treason of some BRITANN Captaines who reuolted to PAVLLINVS; or the like goodly, or honourable excusals. For they haue no warrantie in vnexceptionable moniments. But after the BRI∣TANNS, in the head of their battle, beganne to shrincke, and turne, that alone was a blow to all behinde, who being many scores of thousands, re∣mained vntoucht, during the fight, because they could neuer come vp to handie-stroakes, for want of roome, in the narrowings of the field. So they who first did fall to running away, were among their owne fellowes as vnresistable as enemies, while they fearefully sought to open passages for their owne escape, bringing a strong necessitie for all to disband, and scatter, and wholly to relye on Page  179 flight for present safetie. The Ladie Generall, con∣strained to obey the authoritie of her disaster, got free out, and fled. But the ROMAN partie most bold in attempting, was also now most nimble in pursuit, making execution of the ouertaken flyers, and slaughter of the very labouring beasts, and cart-horse. Yea, such was their hatred, and heat of reuenge, that their swords made no difference be∣tweene sex and sex, but slew euen the women, who were seated aloft vpon the waines, and carts, as vpon scaffolds, at the backe of their armie, to giue their applause. A most certaine signe of the wrath of God for the punishment of insolencie, and pride, that the councell which the BOADICI∣ANS followed for a supposed triumph, was con∣uerted to the piteous encrease of their miserie. For the carriages thus planted and possessed, were like a wall against euasion. A vulgar writer, describing the effect of this obstacle, hath prettie smooth ver∣ses, wherein he saith; that the women, who were moun∣ted in that manner to behold who bare himselfe stoutly, and to controll the coward; did now call in vaine vpon their sonnes and husbands to turne the head, for they themselues, together with their sonnes and husbands were mercilesly slaine. This, and the dead bodies of cattle, did mightily augment the heapes of carcases. They who got past the doleful barricado of the carrs, were furiously followed into the wood (which by DIO'S description grew beyond) and in no small number perished. Here it is apparent, that the place of the field was betwixt two woods, according to my as∣sertion else-where; the one at the backe of PAVL∣LINVS, the other behinde the BRITANNS carriages. Vnlesse perhaps some would rather haue it vnderstood, that the BRITANNS, thus put to Page  180 the sword among the trees, were of those who had runne vp in the rage of charge past the ROMAN squadrons, within their strengths, and so were fol∣lowed through. Many notwithstanding were sa∣ued aliue after there was a glut of bloud, and victo∣rie assured. Multitudes also escaped away, either by their speed, their earlie running, or by the benefit of night. These did prepare to re-enforce their troups, and to put for another day. A lamentable fell of men; almost fourescore thousand cut downe into their graues with the sharpe-edged axe of warre. There are some (saith TACITVS) who haue deliuered it for truth (and they were but some) that of the Ro∣mans there died not full out foure hundred, and, (as once before hath beene occasionally mentioned) not many more then such a number hurt. For which cause this victorie was markt vp among the famous ones of old, and most worthily might bee so; for, besides the glory of the day, it brought backe BRI∣TAIN to CAESAR, and fixed it to endure for sun∣dry ages after. They who auoided the violence of this misfortune, while they were in preparation for a new triall, lost their souereigne ladie and mistresse, BOADICIA. Our ENGLISH poets present her, kil∣ling her selfe; one of them by falling on her lance, as the most gallant forme in his conceit, ano∣ther without naming the way, but all with admi∣ration, as of one of the most noble Shee-worthies of the world. TACITVS saith she finished her life by poyson, and DIO and XIPHILINE, by sick∣nesse; which admit a reconciliation; she dying by a sicknesse of poyson. With her departing soule (as if it had beene the soule of the opposition) the flame of warre went out by degrees, and the BOADI∣CIANS, as confessing themselues to be then quite Page  181 vanquished, and neuer before, shifted each for him∣selfe and fled. Her death was vehemently lamen∣ted of her suruiuing friends, who honoured her fu∣nerall with stately rites, and buried her remaines ambitiously braue.

§. XXXII. Of the place of Boadicia's buriall.

THis most great, and noble ladie (the stay and last anchor of her partie) thus deceasing, the fortune of the miserable princesses, her daughters, lyes vtterly vnknowne. That they al∣so ended their liues, together with their hopes, a∣bout the same time, remaines therefore probable, because there is not the least inckling left in the world, what afterwards became of them. Concer∣ning the place of her enterrment, it will easily bee collected out of the premisses, vnto what opinion my coniectures doe incline. For without auerring any thing precisely, no other toombe seemes to mee so likely to be hers, as the admirable moniment of the stones vpon SALISBVRIE plaine. The dumb∣nesse of it (vnlesse the letters bee worne quite away) speakes; that it was not any worke of the ROMANS. For they were wont to make stones vocall by inscriptions. The common opinion, touching that trophea, or whatsoeuer else it may be called, would haue it belieued, that their structure was contriued in memorie of the BRITAIN Lords, perfidiously murthered by the SAXONS here, vpon an interuiew. Of that hainous assassi∣nate, Page  182 NENNIVS hath a touch, but assignes not the place. GEFFREY Arthur, or Monmouth, is the man, who fetcheth these marueilous stones (reported by him to be medicinall) from out of IRELAND, for the pupose of a memoriall, by MERLINS counsell, and force of armes. That STONAGE was a worke of the BRITANNS, the rudenesse it selfe perswades. And if that plate of mixt metall (mentioned by CAMDEN) which found about fourescore yeares since neare to that moniment, and inscribed with such characters as were not legi∣ble to the learned of that time, did appertaine to STONE-HENGE, or (as it is more commonly na∣med) STONAGE, then may it easily be credited to haue beene some old BRITISH inscription, de∣dicated to the immortall fame of some or other great Worthie, nor of any rather then in my conceit of the most mightie BVNDVCA. To strengthen which diuination, the cleare testimonie of DIO, that the BRITANNS enterred her pompously, or with much magnificence, cannot be better verified then by assigning these orderly irregular, and form∣lesse vniforme heapes of massiue marble, to her euerlasting remembrance. The name of the dance of gyants, by which it is styled in MONMOVTH, hath nothing allusiue, no not so much as to the tale he tels vs. CAMDEN himselfe doth bewray, that his iudgement was vnsatisfied touching the reason of that moniments erection, notwithstan∣ding all he could finde. The storie of BVNDVCA (then which neither our owne noble countrey, nor the whole globe of earth hath a rarer) was so little vnderstood of MONMOVTH, as it doth not ap∣peare at all, that euer the bare sound thereof arriued within his hearing. But had the pretious volumns Page  183 of the CORNELIAN Annals, and DIO CASSI∣VS, and IOHN XIPHILINE, (where her hero∣icke deedes are vpon record to all posterities) been within the spheare of his studies, not AVRELIVS AMBROSIVS, nor those foure hundred and three∣score noblemen of BRITAIN, murthered in VORTIGERS reigne, should perhaps haue carri∣ed away with him the fame of this materiall won∣der, but her magnanimous selfe. Higher then to her no bookes doe reach, with any probabilitie of a person more capable of such a testimonie then she, and the profound obliuion which couers the au∣thor, and the first intention of rearing them, where now they still defie the weather, doth strongly for∣tifie my suspition, that the stones were consecrated to the glory of BVNDVCA, and of her captaines slaine in her quarell, so long time since as NERO CAESARS dayes, much aboue fifteene hundred yeares. And surely such a calme, and patience of state, followed vnder PETRONIVS TVRPILI∣ANVS, who the next yeare after was sent to take charge of the ROMAN armie in BRITAIN, as successor of SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS, that might well permit such an office to the BRI∣TANNS in her honour, or if those would not, yet other ensuing seasons might; her name for euer glo∣rious among them. The ruins of that old fortresse which suruiuing not farre from Stonage, are thought by some, whomsoeuer, to haue beene a ROMAN worke, afford no cypher for spelling out the foun∣ders of this stonie marueil. To grant, that it might be a common monument of the murthered lords, and that AVRELIVS AMBROSIVS, or AM∣BROSIVS AVRELIANVS, the almost onely BRITANN Prince (saith venerable BEDE) of Page  184 ROMAN race then left aliue, and other BRITISH kings doe slumber there in their ashes, till the resur∣rection-day, is no hindrance why it might not at first haue beene erected in honour of that most he∣roicall championesse of BRITAIN, BOADICIA; since DIO and XIPHILINE affirme, they fu∣nerally enterred her with much magnificence. The bones of men digged vp at times neere this place vnder little banckes, conuince it to haue beene se∣pulchral; but armours of a large and antique fashi∣on, vpon which the spade, or pickaxe are some∣times said to hit, doe cleare the owners from hauing beene in the number of those BRITANNS, whom pagan HENGIST wickedly slew: for they came not armed, but weaponlesse. They are not the friends of honour, who carrie not a reuerence to the memorials of the noble dead; or contemne an∣tiquities, the rewards, and records of vertue. My iealousie touching the cause of STONAGE, concludes not others freedome to censure what they please.

§. XXXIII. A recapitulation of the premisses touching the af∣faires of Britain hitherto.

BEfore IVLIVS CAESAR the ROMANS knew vs not, and he came twice ouer hither in armes, with vnlike successes; made MAN∣DVBRATIVS king of the TRINOBANTS, or of LONDON-land, as his father was; but left not a ROMAN behinde. AVGVSTVS remained exorable to the peace of BRITAIN. TIBERIVS Page  185 was no way troublesome. CALIGVLA would haue beene. CLAVDIVS made it his chiefe busi∣nesse, arriued, conquered part, and planted RO∣MANS, and ciuilitie. NERO CAESAR hazarded all for want of iustice. The BRITANNS general∣ly discontented, and BVNDVCA (the dowager Queene of king PRASVTAGVS) shamefully wrong∣ed, she becomes their captaine, and wrought many wonders, while SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS, (CAESARS lieuetenant) was busie to winne the ile of MONA for the vses of the ROMAN Empire. Downe went the ROMANS, at CAMALODV∣NVM; downe went CAMALODVNVM it selfe; downe went the infanterie of the legion which PE∣TILIVS CEREALIS led vp against her; and SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS was himselfe so terrified after his returne from MONA, that he left LONDON to the spoile, which she sackt, and fi∣red, and tooke VERVLAMIVM; destroying in these three places vpon the poinct of fourescore thousand, with a most firme resolution to leaue no∣thing ROMAN in BRITAIN, that (according to her words in DIO, to her armie) the example might with the terrour of it, secure succession. And while as yet the tide of her gallantrie was vp, shee pursued SVETONIVS himselfe, as the capitall ob∣iect of her quarel, vpon whom the defense of the ROMAN cause relyed here. But the wanton, and bloudie abuse of her fortune, pluckt infelicitie vpon her; for while in confidence of a continuall happi∣nesse, by reason of her excessiue numbers, shee was ouer-forward to fight, shee encountred him in a set battle (vpon tearmes of great disaduantage, in regard of the place) was discomfited, fled and died. BRI∣TAIN hereupon (like a recouered sicke bodie relap∣sing) Page  186 came backe to former sufferings, and to worser farre, till NERO (therein pittyfull) remoued SVE∣TONIVS, whose implacabilitie (in regard he tooke it as his iniurie, that the rebellion hapned during his lieuetenancie in BRITAIN) endangered the pro∣uince to a new insurrection: as it was suggested by his enemies at court. With the death and buriall of BOADICIA, DIO CASSIVS concludes, and seals vp the warlike troubles, and all other the businesses of our BRITAIN, vnder NERO; and so doe also I. There cannot be a fitter stop, nor a fuller. For the hither parts of our iland were neuer after∣wards able to come into the like hope of freeing themselues (if meerely to change lords be to be free) because their sinewes, by so dreadfull a defeat, were vtterly dissolued. A most weightie poinct, which XIPHILINE out of DIO truely notes. My reca∣pitulation of premisses (to which seruice this chap∣ter is singled forth) hath together both example and authoritie in LVCIVS FLORVS, and mani∣fold vses in it selfe; because it is equally good for re∣membrance, and manuduction, and those volatil spirits who couet all in a word, need looke no fur∣ther then so. Neuerthelesse, the true children of hi∣storicall knowledge, who enioy the blisse of studi∣ous leisure, they certainly, by comparing the riches of narrations, deliuered in a iust length, with the beggerie of abridgements, will clearely behold the notable oddes betweene the one and the other. For the spoile, and losse of things left out, or nakedly told, can be no way counteruaild with the carcases, and stubbs of facts preserued standing in narratorie moniments. Lastly, though now and then, and throughout this whole historicall webbe of NE∣RO, there are sundrie doctrines, iudgements, and Page  187 other lights sparingly wouen-in of set purpose, which some would shoulder out into marginall spaces, or blanckes at the end; yet this is the way of that excellent maister, and patterne of Histori∣ans, POLIBIVS, who speakes interposiuely, and in his owne person often. A skill, or cunning, in the noble craft of writing, which most effectually con∣ueighs the profit of directions with the delight of narrations into the sober reader; and the better with∣all prouides for the lasting of what is good.

§. XXXIIII. Free thoughts and notes vpon the whole matter of BOA∣DICIA'S action, by way of publick counsell.

SVch was the issue and euent of that great euill which the deepe contempt of NERO prima∣rely caused, as hath already beene fully descri∣bed. A lesson for soueraigne princes; by iustice, and other the vertues of that super excellent function, to sustaine themselues from sodein slidings beneath their proper values. On the other side (to take the whole matter into consideration) without measu∣ring BOADICIA'S enterprize by finall successe (for that were not to measure, but to depraue the same) it may worthily appeare, that feminine impotencie of minde was chiefe therein, from the beginning to the ending. For, transported with the desires of reuenge, and soueraigntie, shee neuer indifferently weighed the qualitie, and power of the empire, a∣gainst which shee vndertooke. A grand, and rui∣nous errour. The ROMANS at this time, had the Page  188 lordship of the world by the speciall purpose, and prouision of God. For (as the noble, and eloquent king, AGRIPPA, speakes in IOSEPHVS) it had otherwise beene impossible. The speciall deuo∣tion of their monarkes most remarkeable. AVGV∣STVS CAESAR so religiously reuerent towards that deitie, which was adored in the temple of HIERV∣SALEM, that he commanded the first fruits should be sent from all the parts of his dominions, where the IEWES abode. Nay more; hee founded in that place it selfe, for a daily sacrifice in fire, the perpetu∣all constant allowance of a bull, and two lambs, ho∣nouring their synagogues, as the schooles of iustice and temperance. Aske admired PHILO an account for what is written here. The same pious instituti∣on was not onely continued by his dowager, the empresse LIVIA, but by her sonne, TIBERIVS, and euen in NERO'S dayes. For the reiection of that customarie holocaust, by the seditious of HIE∣RVSALEM, was among the causes of the warre which ruin'd it. So the ROMAN empire did after a sort hold of true God in chiefe, by a kinde of speciall rent seruice, and acknowledgement: and as al honour, glory, and power doe properly belong to our Lord, IESVS CHRIST, so euen TIBERI∣VS CAESAR (vnder whom it pleased him to suffer) was most forward for his adoration (apparent in TERTVLLIAN) that nothing (hauing the name of God) might among the ROMANS remaine neg∣lected, for feare to endanger their empire, by offen∣ding any power diuine. But no man, sound in his braine, will exact such a transcendent consideration at BOADICIA'S hands. Things subiect to sense shall trye her. The state of the empire, as it was in NE∣RO'S time, king AGRIPPA hath described, in that Page  189 rarest oration of his, which for the naturall piety, wisedome, and weightie worth therof, deserues to be written in a table of gold, or rather in the hearts of all men, who would not forget their reason, while they pretend for libertie. Nineteene legions, and aboue foure and twentie cohorts, besides the guards of the prince, and the standing watch of ROME, (both which together contained about fif∣teene thousand,) and besides all other forces in ITALIE it selfe, and at sea, are particularly there found bestowed in the prouinces. These, with their ordinarie aids, did not amount to so few as two hundred thousand in continuall pay and readinesse. Of which number eight legions full, and their aux∣iliaries lay neare at hand vpon the RHENE. Of these, certainely, BOADICIA was bound to take knowledge, before shee ranne such an hazard of her selfe, and countrey. And if her knowledge might excusablie haue bounded it selfe within the walls of BRITANN (as king AGRIPPA termes our Ocean) yet the experience of former times would haue informed her enough, concerning the RO∣MANS. But euen that knowledge was manifestly corrupted in her, when in her first oration to her ar∣mie, she doth not obscurely vaunt, that the valour of her ancestors had made our seas terrible to IVLI∣VS CAESAR, and CALIGVLA, and yet CLAV∣DIVS, in her owne fresh remembrance, had pas∣sed them in person, and preuailed. But the carriage of some of the ROMANS could not bee endu∣red: and it is most honest, iust, and noble to dye for common good. Therefore MARCVS CICERO (of all the gowned ROMANS one of the best pa∣triots that euer ROME Ethnick could boast) ora∣culously pronounced, that no worthie man did euer Page  190 foregoe his freedome, but together with his life. For what other thing is life it selfe, but a most fettred condition of humane being, and after a manner void of vse, or motion, when it onely hangs vpon a tyrants will? In such a case, the choise of dying free vpon defense, is sweeter then to remaine in life a slaue. Hence came her armes, and hopes: which propounded to themselues the making of such an example, as should for euer secure the iland from in∣uasion, and encourage the rest of the world to fol∣low. Most loftie propositions, and which failing, it must needes be neuerthelesse confest that she went vpon highest darings. On the other side, no action can euer attaine true renowne, whereunto reason is forein. For nothing is so peculiar to barbarous∣nesse as to be ouer-indulgent to passions. And to bee so deceiued with the name, or sound of freedome, (the ordinarie miserie of the common sort) as but meerely to proue instrumentall to particular ends, or reuenges, and not to obtaine reliefe, is fit for none of the wise. Then, then should the IEWES haue concurred with one consent to defend their liber∣ties by manhood, when POMPEI first assailed them. So disputes king AGRIPPA. The BRITANNS in like sort should haue done their vtmost to keepe off the ROMANS, and to empeach their setlings. For, vntill then, that was iust resistance, which see∣med afterwards plaine rebellion. The same noble prince (a creature, I confesse, and client of the CAE∣SARS) could finde no hope of remedy for his wronged countreymen by the sword, no nor by complaining of their oppressour while hee was a∣mong them with power. His counsell therefore was, to expect his remoue vpon course, and then to accuse him. The admission, and administration Page  191 of which most sound aduise would haue preserued their citie and temple entire, whereas the refusall (a manifest operation of the curse of God vpon them for the death of his onely sonne, our Sauiour) de∣stroid them both. BOADICIA had no course so se∣cure as that, if either she her selfe meant to suruiue, or would not cast her countrey into an absolute capti∣uitie, while she went about to ease it of a partiall. For, with two or three hundred thousand bodies of men, and they of them who were armed, and trai∣ned, being neither for discipline, art, or weapons, comparable to the victorious ROMANS, to defie, and assaile the whole empire, was a plaine effect of a womanish furie. AEGYPT alone, hauing at once within it vnder NERO, seauen millions of people (easily knowne by their poll-money) besides the in∣habitants of the goodly citie of ALEXANDRIA (which gathered tenne miles in compasse) was ne∣uetthelesse yoaked downe with onely two RO∣MAN legions. Yea, the three hundred and fifteene seuerall nations of GALLS (next neighbours to our iland) vnder this very emperour were all kept in o∣bedience, with poore twelue hundred soldiers; being almost fewer men, then they themselues had cities. Therefore it was not a work of number, for BOA∣DICIA to deliuer the BRITANNS, from NERO, that she might subdue them to her selfe (for that was the end) but of vertue, skill and felicitie. Her stout stomacke disdained, or despaired to seeke re∣dresse; which if SVETONIVS PAVLLINVS would not haue afforded, his next successors might. To conclude: had that ladie extended her wrath to none but to the nocent, and rested then vpon her guard, till NERO (who manifestly fauoured the quiet of BRITAIN) had beene aduertised of the Page  192 causes of her armes, that very middle course it selfe (though middle courses are euermore misliked by the violent) was not without hope, nor reason. For when the FRISIANS in GERMANIE ranne to their swords, for resisting the rapines, and cruelties of OLENNIVS (such another wretch among them, as CATVS DECIANVS was here) with∣out exceeding the right of a naturall defense, TI∣BERIVS CAESAR stirred not against them at all, but silently permitted them to enioy their owne sa∣tisfaction, as if in secret fauour of iustice, and as a sharpe lesson of modestie to others; though TA∣CITVS assignes another abstruser reason. NERO very likely to haue embraced such an example; if but for his owne more leisure to sing and play. BOA∣DICIA went vpon higher straines, resoluing either for death, or domination. The people in the meane time, doe howsoeuer euery-where smart for the fol∣lie of their princes, and their owne. Accordingly, they support her quarrell, without being first sure how themselues should afterwards stand better, when the ROMANS were off; and it was most cer∣taine, that vpon their miscarrying, they must all of them lye at the victors mercie, without so much as the right of an vnattainted subiect, the priuilege to complaine, whatsoeuer they suffer more ex∣treame. The case of her ICENI worthily harder then ordinarie, because they had formerly taken armes against OSTORIVS SCAPVLA vnder CLAVDIVS, after that first they had voluntarily entred into the league, and amitie of the ROMANS. Let me speake out cleare, as by way of counsell for the best, and in a common cause. Without some ve∣ry speciall feelings, or ends of their owne, few or none of the mightie lead onward to the remoue of Page  193 an euill for common reliefe. Therefore, after BOA∣DICIA was once enraged, other causes were dili∣gently sought, to drawe and encrease a side, for ena∣bling her particular reuenge: The names of liber∣tie, and reformation are the vsuall maskes of facti∣on; and libertie it selfe, after a short while is rarely any-where lesse then vnder the new lords rule. Things, fit for all times, and nations to consider, lest too late they finde true; The▪ vniustest peace is to bee preferred before the iustest warr. BOADICIA notwithstanding liues a name of glory among the fewest, for the great nobilitie of her pretenses, and the most roial qualitie of her vndertakings, such as neuer any lady waged higher.