The historie of Great Britannie declaring the successe of times and affaires in that iland, from the Romans first entrance, vntill the raigne of Egbert, the West-Saxon prince; who reduced the severall principalities of the Saxons and English, into a monarchie, and changed the name of Britannie into England.

CHAP. XVI.

What opinion the Romans held of Caractacus. Triumphal honors assigned to Ostorius for taking him. The Bri∣tans assaile the Roman campe in the Countrie of the Silures. The principalitie of South-wales. The death of Ostorius the Generall.

FOr many dayes togither, Caractacus his Fortune ministred matter of discourse to the Lords of the Senate, who affirmed the spectacle of his captivitie to be no lesse honorable, then that of Syphax the Numi∣dian King, over whom P. Scipio triumphed, or that of Perses, whom Paulus Aemilius vanquished, or of any o∣ther Kings, that had in former times beene taken in warre, and shewed to the people. Then publike honors of triumph were decreed for Ostorius, whose fortunes being now at the highest, began afterwards to decline, by reason, that either Caractacus (the obiect of his va∣lour) being removed, he supposed he had made a full conquest, and therfore followed the service more care∣lesly: or else, for that the residue of the Britans, having compassion of the misfortune of so mightie a Prince, and being eagre of revenge, renued the warre; for they

assayled the Legionary Cohorts which were left behind to build fortresses in the Silures Country, killed the camp-Maister, and eight Centurions, besides some of the for∣wardest souldiers, and they had put all the rest to the sword, if speedy rescue had not come from the villages and Forts adioining. Diuerse other sallies they made, as time and place gave them advantage, prevailing some∣times by strength, sometimes by pollicie, and somtimes by chance. The Principal motive, that enduced the rest to take armes, was the example of the Silures, who were most resolutely bent, as being exasperated, by reason of as peech that the Roman Emperor had vsed, which was: That he would root out the name of the Silures, as the Sicambrians had beene in former time. This made them bold and desperate to adventure, as men knowing their destinie before hand. Many skirmishes they had, in sur∣prising the scattered troupes of the Roman souldiers, and often times with good successe, in taking rich booties, and prisoners, and distributing the spoiles among their neighbours, by which meanes they drew them also to revolt. In the meane time, Ostorius wearied with care and travaile, ended his life.