The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1I. CHAP.

1.2.3. &c. About the time of S. Iosephs death Iulius Agricola came to be Gover∣nour of Brittany. His gests and Victories.

* 1.21. THE death of S. Ioseph hapned little after the time that Iulius Agricola was sent Pretor into Brittany, in the last year of the raign or the Emperour Vespasian. At his first entrance he was entertained with sedi∣tions in the Army, and commotions in the Countrey. The former he by his prudence and authority easily quieted: and the other by his courage and diligence.

* 1.32. It was the Province of the Ordovices (or Inhabitants of Northwales) that taking example from their neighbours the Silures, endeavoured to shake off the Roman yoke. The first Act of their Rebellion was to invade and utterly rout certain Troops of horse quarterd amongst them. Hereupon Agri∣cola, though then newly arrived, and the Winter already beginning, yet assembled the Legions, and march'd into their coun∣trey. Which diligence of his so discouraged them, that they durst not oppose him with an Army: inso much as he freely wasted and destroyed almost the whole Province.

* 1.43. That which made his conquest entire, was an impression which he made into the Isle of Mona (or Anglesey:) from the pos∣session wherof Suetonius Paulinus had been recall'd by the rebellion of Boudicea Queen of the Trinobantes. The Ordovices thought themselves secure in this Island, because Agricola was unprovided of boats to passe his army. But this defect he supplied by his wisdome and constancy: For chusing among his Auxiliaries such as were most skillfull in swimming, and in the water could both carry their arm's and direct their horses, he made them passe over into the Island. Hereby the Enemies were so asto∣nished, that they humbly begg'd peace, and deliver'd up the Island to him.

4. After this victory Agricola's care was to govern the Province peaceably:* 1.5 for which purpose he restrain'd the avarice of the Ro∣man soldiers, and defended the Natives from their injuries. Yea moreover having terrified them with marches through all the difficult passages in the Island, he by his cour∣tesy & civility invited them to take pleasure in living peaceably. For which purpose he incourag'd them to conform themselves to the Roman fashion of life, by building houses, Temples and Market-places. Yea he allured them to imitate even the vices of their Conquerours, in magnificent banquets, baths and other instruments of Luxury. He likewise caused the children of the Brittish Nobility to be instructed in literature, pre∣ferring their witts and naturall endow∣ments

beyond the capacities of the Gaules:* 1.6 By which means not only the Roman tongue became familiar to the Brittains, from which formerly they had a great aversion, but they aspired also to learn and practise Elo∣quence.

* 1.75. Such was the employment of the two first years of Agricola's government. In the third he march'd Northward, there discove∣ring new Nations and Provinces, whose countrey he wasted as far as the river Taus (or Tweed.) And the summer following he continued his conquests as far as Bodotria (or Edinborow-frith) Eastward, and Glotta (or the Frith of Dunbritton) Westward: and the narrow space of land between them he strengthned with forts and garrisons, so that the only Enemies remaining uncon∣quer'd, which were the Caledonian Brittains, were driven beyond those Northern limits. In the foresayd streits neare a town called by Ptolomy Coria (now Abercurven) there is to this day extant an ancient Structure of squard stones, call'd by the Inhabitants Iulius Hot, fancied by them to have been built by Iulius Caesar, who yet never came near this Province: but in all probability rais'd by Iulius Agricola, as a Monument of his Conquests.

6. In the fifth year of his Expedition he subdued the Northwest Provinces of Brit∣tany looking towards Ireland:* 1.8 into which parts he drew most of his forces, as if he had had some thoughts of invading that Island: from whence a petty Prince, ex∣pell'd by a Sedition of his Subjects, repaired to him: whom with a shew of freindship he detaind, intending when an opportu∣nity offred it selfe, to make use of him in a design upon that Island.

* 1.97. The following yeare he spent in a march northward from Bodotria (or Edin∣borough) on purpose to find out the limits of the countrey: for hitherto it was not known to the Romans whether Brittany was an Island, or no. And both to secure his march and carry provisions, he caused his Navy to keep pace with his land Army: a spectacle of great terrour to the poore Brittains. Who therupon united all their counsells and forces to endeavour by this last attempt to free themselves from dan∣ger by the Romans.

* 1.108. Their first exploit was to assault the camp of the ninth Legion, separated from the rest. But the watchfull Generall came upon them when they were ready to break into the Camp, and at last, though with great difficulty, dispersed them.

9. The Caledonian Brittains fayling in this, resolved to decide the whole controversy by a generall Combat.* 1.11 Wherupon they as∣sembled all their forces on a Mountain, call'd Grampius, which divides the whole countrey (since call'd Scotland) into the Northern and Southern Provinces. Their Generall,* 1.12 specially elected for this warre, was called Galgacus, eminent both for his Nobility and courage, who omitted no ar∣guments which might inflame his soldiers valour: especially insisting on this, That the Romans by their shipping having discove∣red that Brittany was an Island, they had no∣thing behind them but the Sea and rocks, to which by flying they might have re∣course.

10. Agricola on the other side having brought his Army in sight of the enemy, rais'd their courage by showing that they were now come to an end of all their la∣bours and dangers: that this Victory would bring them all manner of security and plen∣ty: And however, that in case they should be overcome, it would not be inglorious to their memory, that they dyed in the ut∣most bounds of the Earth and Nature.

11. The battell was fought with valour on both sides proportionable to the neces∣sity: but at last the Brittains were entirely defeated, and though in the chace through woods and fast places their rage made them turn upon their pursuers, and kill not a few of them, yet they were so wholly bro∣ken, that for many years after their im∣potency made them quiet.

12. This combat was fought in the eighth and last year of Agricola's Government: For in the beginning of the year following, which was the fifth of Domitians raign, he returned to Rome: having triumphall orna∣ments decreed him by the Senat: and though in appearance he was honourd by the Emperour, yet his glory and vertues rendred him the object of the Tyrants Envy and hatred, and within a few years the sacrifice of his cruelty.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  Tacit. in vit. Agricolae.
• * 1.3

  Id. Ibid.
• * 1.4

  Id. 16.
• * 1.5

  Id. 16.
• * 1.6

  A. D. 87.
• * 1.7

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.8

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.9

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.10

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.11

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.12

  A. D. 94.