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§. 3. An expedition into England.
This year did Aulus Plautius with much ado lead an Army into Britain: For one Beri∣cus, who had been expelled thence for sedition, had perswaded Claudius to send an Army over: But hardly would the Souldiers be gotten out of Gaul over thither, they being in∣censed and taking it ill that they should go fight even out of the world: Narcissus being sent by Claudius to the Army, made a speech to them which exasperated them the more, in so much that they made the outery of Jo Saturnialia: or All Masters, and were ready to make head, but at last they willingly followed Plautius: He parted his army into three parts, because that if they were repelled and opposed in one place, they might land in another: They had some trouble in their passage, through cross winds, but they took heart and bare it out, and the rather because a bright light or flame ran from the East to∣ward the West even that way that they were to go: they entred the Island without oppo∣sition: for the Britains suspected not their coming: but when they were now entred and they not ready to withstand them, they ran into the woods and bogs, hoping to weary out the Romans with following and seeking them, and so to cause them to return with∣out doing any more.
It cost Plautius a great deal of toil accordingly to find them out, which at last he did, and overcame first Cataratacus and then Togodumnus the two sons of Cynobellinus, who himself was but lately dead.
These fleeing, he took into homage part of the * 1.1 Boduni, who were subject to the * 1.2 Catuellani, for the Britains were now subject to divers Kings. He leaving a Garrison there, marched on till he came to a river, which the Britains thought he could not have passed without a bridge, and therefore they incamped carelesly on the other side: But Plautius sent over some * 1.3 Germane Souldiers, who were accustomed to swim over Rivers, and they suddenly assault the enemy, but wounded not the men, but only their horses that should have drawn their Chariots, and so spoiled and undid the Riders. Then sent he over Flavius Vespasian, who was afterwards Emperor, and Sabinus his brother, who passing the River slew many of the enemies on a suddain: yet did not the rest flee but gave battel the next day, and the fortune of the fight was doubtful till C. Sidius Geta, be∣ing in danger to be taken, did so stoutly behave himself, that he got the victory, and triumphal honours, though he were not Consul.
Then did the Britains betake themselves to the Thames towards the place where it falls into the Sea and flows high, and they easily get over, knowing the convenientest places: but the Romans following them were in danger: when the Germans had again swum the River, and others had passed at a bridge above, they fell upon the Britains on all parts, and made a great slaughter: but in pursuit of them they fell into some marishes, and so lost many of their men.
Upon this mishap, and because the Britains were exceedingly exasperated for the death of Togodumnus, and made still greater preparations for war, Plautius proceeded no fur∣ther, but garrisoning those places that he had gotten, he sends for Claudius: for so he had been commanded to do if he came to a pinch.
Claudius receiving the tidings, prepares for the expedition, and among many other things brings divers Elephants along with him, and coming to his army at the Thames, and passing the River he fights a pitcht battle and obtains the victory, and takes in * 1.4 Camalo∣dunum the ‖ 1.5 chief City of Cynobellinus; disarms the Britains, leaves them that were conque∣red to be governed, and the rest to be conquered by Plautius, and so goes for Rome, where the Senate gives him the title of Britanni••us, appoints triumphs and Statues for him, and honors for Messalina.