Britanniæ speculum, or, A short view of the ancient and modern state of Great Britain, and the adjacent isles, and of all other the dominions and territories, now in the actual possession of His present Sacred Majesty King Charles II the first part, treating of Britain in general.

CHAP. V. Of the Discovery, Invasion, and Con∣quest of Britain by the Romans.

ABout the Year of the World 3913, and fifty three years be∣fore the Birth of CHRIST, the Britains, having notice, that Julius Caesar, the Roman General in Gallia, displeased with them for having as∣sisted the rebellious Gauls, intended to invade their Country, and fearing the Consequence of his Ambition, and usual Success, to avert his Design, sent Ambassadours to him with pro∣mise of Hostages and Obedience to the Roman Empire. These, after Au∣dience given, he sent back, promising them fair, and exhorting them to continue firm in these Resolutions:

and with them his Confident Comius, on whom he had bestowed the King∣dom of Arras to signifie to them his Intentions of coming speedily over in person, giving him private Instructions to manage his Interest secretly with the Princes and States of Britain, and to gain a Roman Party in the Island.

Gaesar in the mean time, having sent Caius Volusenus to spy out the Coasts, drew down his Forces into the Countrey of the Morini about Bulloign, from whence was the shor∣test Passage into Britain. Here he commands a general Rendezvouz of all his Naval Forces, summoning from all parts his Shipping.

Volusenus after five dayes Sail be∣ing returned with such small Discove∣ries, as, not daring to land for fear of the Britains, he had been able to make from abord his Ship, Caesar, who had with him two Legions, ordi∣rily amounting to five and twenty thousand Foot, and four thousand five hundred Horse of Romans and their Allies, having embarkt the Foot in eighty Ships of Burthen, besides the Gallies distributed amongst the Commanders, and commanding the

Horse, whom he sent eight Miles up∣ward to another Haven, where eigh∣teen Ships, appointed for them lay wind-bound, to follow him with speed, about the third Watch of the Night with a good Gale set off for Britain: In sight whereof coming by Ten in the Morning, and finding that Place, which was a narrow Bay, close environed with Hills, upon every one whereof he beheld Multitudes of armed men, no way commodious for Landing, hav∣ing called a Councel of War, to whom he imparted the Discoveries, made by Volusenus, and gave necessary Or∣ders, his whole Fleet being now come up, about three in the Afternoon he weighed Anchor, and with a favou∣rable Wind and Tide removed eight Miles thence to a plain and open Shore, commonly supposed to be about Deal in Kent.

The Britains, who watched his Motions, sending their Horse and Cha∣riots before, their Infantry speeding after, undauntedly assaulted the Romans under their very Ships, and gave them so smart a Welcome, that Caesar him∣self, tho endeavoring by all means to excuse it, could not yet deny, but that

the resolute Opposition of the Bri∣tains made his Souldiers forget their wonted Valour.

By the help nevertheless of his Gallies, which, as more apt for Mo∣tion, he commanded to row up a∣gainst the open side of the Enemy, the unusual strangeness whereof, toge∣ther with the Ratling of their Oars, and the fierce Battery of the Engines set up in them, made the amazed Bri∣tains stand a little at a Bay; and by the great Courage of the Standard-bearer of the tenth Legion, who, seeing, that the Romans, fearing the Depth of the Sea, or (more probably) the Readvancement of the Enemy, durst not quit their Ships, having first invocated the Gods, leapt over board and with his Eagle advanced, marched boldly against the Britains, the Foot were with much difficulty disembarkt, and the wearied Islanders after a sharp dispute forced to retire, whom Caesar for want of his Horse, that were yet kept back by the wind, was not able to pursue.

The Britains, finding themselves over-mastered, had now made their Peace, sent in some Hostages, and

promised more, and several of their Princes had submitted themselves and States to Caesar, lying encamped, as 'tis thought, upon Barham-Down, when an unlookt-for Accident put them uppon new Counsels. For the eigh∣teen Ships, which had been left be∣hind to transport the Roman Horse, being four dayes after Caesars Arrival come within sight of the Camp, were by a sudden Tempest dispersed, and that Night most of them lost: Their Gallies also, which had been haled ashore, being the same Night cove∣red with a Spring-tide, and their Ships, that lay off at Anchor, sorely shattered.

This the British Princes perceiving, and from the Compass of their Camp, which without Baggage was the smal∣ler, guessing at the Number of the Roman Forces, consulted together, and, secretly one by one withdrawing from the Camp, resolved to stop all Provi∣sions, and to protract the Business un∣to Winter: judging, that if they could now destroy their Enemies, or intercept their Return, none would ever after dare to invade them.

Caesar from his own Condition, and the Britains neglecting to send their

Hostages, suspecting, what was like to happen, got up, what Corn he could, and with Materials fetcht from the Continent, and the Remains of such Ships, as were quite spoiled, re∣paired the rest: so that by the indefa∣tigable Industry of his Souldiers all of them, but twelve, were in a short time made serviceable.

While this was doing, Caesar adver∣tized by the Sentinels at the Camp-Gates, that an unusual Dust was seen to arise from that part of the Coun∣trey, whither the seventh Legion was gone forth to forrage, taking with him the Cohorts of his Guards, and commanding all the rest, but two, who were to keep the Camp, to speed after him, came very opportunely, to assist his Legion, that was now o∣ver-born by the Britains, who, not doubting but their Enemies would on the morrow return to that Place, which they had only left unreapt of all their Harvest, had laid themselves in Ambush, and, whilst the Romans were disperst, and busy at their Labor, set upon them, killed some, and rou∣ted the rest, and had now enclosed them with their Horse and Chariots,

when Caesars Arrival caused the Bri∣tains to retire, and he, not thinking it convenient to offer them Battel, drew off his Legions to the Camp.

Foul weather for many dayes after hindring all Action on both sides, the Britains by dispatching Messengers into all parts, signifying to what small number their Enemies were reduced, the great Hopes, there was of Spoil, and of free∣ing their Country from future Invasion, if they could now make the Romans a severe Example, had got together great Multitudes both of Horse and Foot, whom Caesar having after a fierce Encounter put to flight, pursued, as far as he could, and in his return burnt and laid wast all about him. The Britains the same day sent Am∣bassadours to him to treat of Peace, who, glad no doubt, that he could return with some Shew of Honour, whereas, if they had delayed but a little he must either have forsaken the Island, or else perished for want of Provisions, enjoyned only (for so great a Breach of Faith) a double number of Hostages, to be sent him into Gallia, and about Midnight set Sail for the Continent, whence send∣ing

to Rome an account of his At∣tempt, the Senate for this Discovery decreed twenty dayes of Thanksgiving to the Gods.

The Britains not sending their Hostages, Caesar, at his Departure (ac∣cording to annual Custom) for Rome, commanded his Legats to provide, what possible Shipping they could, ordering them to be low-built for the easier Fraughtage, and better haling ashore, and flat-bottom'd for the more convenient Transporting of Horse.

Finding at his Return six hundred such in readiness, with twenty eight Gallies, and above two hundred Ad∣venturers, and other Hulks, in all a thousand, about Sun-set with sive Le∣gions and two thousand Horse hoy∣••ing Sail from Port Iccius, he was at Midnight becalmed: so that at Day-break descrying the Island to bear left of him, he turned about with the Tide, and by the unwearied Labor of his Souldiers, who cheerfully tug∣ged at the Oar, came up about Noon near the same Place, which the year before he had found so convenient for Landing.

At his Arrival no Enemy was seen, the Britains, who had been there in great Numbers, being withdrawn into the higher Countries, terrified with the Sight of so vast a Fleet.

Having landed his Army, encam∣ped to the best advantage, and learnt of some Fugitives, where to find the Britains, leaving Quintus Atrius with ten Cohorts and three hundred Horse to guard his Ships, about the third Watch of the Night he advanced with his main Body twelve Miles into the Country, where upon the Banks of a River, commonly thought to be the Stowr in Kent, he sees embattelled the British Forces, who with their Horse and Chariots, having possest them∣selves of the upper Ground, smartly opposed the Romans March; but re∣pulst by their Enemies Cavalry, reti∣red into the Woods to a Place, for∣tified both by Art and Nature, cast up, as it seemed, in time of Wars amongst themselves, the Passages whereto were on all sides blockt up with huge Trees, felled and laid over∣thwart one another, within which they did their utmost to keep out the Romans, till the seventh Legion, hav∣ing

raised a Mount, and lockt their Shields close over their Heads like a Roof, without much loss of Blood took the Place, and drave the Bri∣tains from their Holds, whom yet Caesar would not pursue through un∣known wayes; but, Evening drawing on, more wisely employed the Time in fortifying another Camp, and re∣freshing his Souldiers.

Next Morning early three Bodies of Roman Horse and Foot, sent to seek the Enemy, were not yet got out of sight, when News, coming Post from Q. Atrius, that most of the Fleet, wrackt that Night by a sudden Tem∣pest, lay split on the Shore, made Caesar call back his Forces, and return to his Ships: of which finding about forty▪ utterly lost, and the rest so shattered, as not to be new rigged without much Labour, he assembled, what Shipwrights he could, both from his own Legions, and the Continent, send∣ing Orders to Labienus, whom he had left to make good the Port in Gallia, to fall a Building more; and in ten dayes time, not respiting his Souldiers either Night or Day, drew up all his Ships, and entrencht them within his Camp.

This done, leaving there the for∣mer Guard, he marcht up to the same Wood, where he had defeated the Britains, whom he finds now re∣possest of that Place with far grea∣ter Numbers, under the Command of Cassibelan, chosen by the British Prin∣ces, whom common Danger had now united, for their chief Leader: who with his Horse and Chariots stoutly fought the Roman Cavalry in their March, but being somewhat overmacht, retreated to the Woods and Hills, whi∣ther the Romans too eagerly pursuing them, the Britains, rallying again, cut off the forwardest, and after a while, when Caesar, who thought all over, was busied about the entrenching of his Camp, of a sudding breaking out of their Coverts, fiercely assaulted the very Stations of his Guards and Sen∣tries, and whilst two of the choicest Cohorts, drawn out of two Legions, and sent to the Alarm, stood at small distance from each other, amazed at the Novelty and Fierceness of the Fight, charged back again through the midst without Loss of a Man.

Next Morning the Britains shew∣ed themselves upon the Hills, and,

tho not so boldly as before, skirmi∣shed with the Roman Horse; but a∣bout Noon, Caesar having sent forth three Legions, and all his Horse to seek Fodder, they suddenly set upon the Forragers, and charged up after them to the very Legions and their Standards, where they were couragi∣ously repelled by the Romans, whose Horse, well seconded by their Foot, so closely pursued them, that the Bri∣tains, not having leisure to rally, stand, or descend from their Chariots, were many of them slain, and the rest ge∣nerally routed.

Cassibelan, after this Overthrow, resolving in a manner to change the whole Nature of the War, disbanded many Auxiliary Forces, that had from all parts been sent him, and with the choicest of his Men, and four thou∣sand Chariots, which he judged suf∣ficient to hinder the Enemies Incur∣sions, set himself to attend Caesars March: Who, advertized thereof, drew his Army toward the Frontiers of Cassibelans Kingdom, which was bounded by the Thames, fordable on∣ly in one Place, conjectured to be about Coway Stakes neer Oatlands,

where Cassibelan, having caused the Bank to be set with sharp Stakes, and the Ford knockt full of them, cover∣ed with Water, had drawn up his men in great numbers to oppose the Passage of the Romans, who, having notice of this Stratagem by their Captives, with greater Circumspecti∣on entred the River, first the Horse, then the Foot, wading up to the Neck in Water, so resolutely, and so fast, that the Britains, having be∣stowed a few Darts upon them, reti•…•… into Woods and secret Coverts, where lining with their Horse and Chariots the Roads, through which Caesar was to pass, and driving the Inhabitants and their Cattel into places of secu∣rity within the Woods, with conti∣nual and unexpected Sallies upon the Roman Horse, cutting off some, and terrifying others, they compel'd them so close together, that they could not fetch in Prey or Booty without ill suc∣cess.

The Affairs of Caesar, who had nothing left in his way but empty Fields and Houses, had now but a bad Aspect, his Army, whose Horse durst not stir out of the Protection of

their Foot, being almost starved, when a Dissention, arising among the Bri∣tains, brought them joyful News of a Supply. The Trinobantes, one of the most potent States amongst the Bri∣tains, out of an old Grudge against Cassibelan, who had slain their King Immanuentius, and forced his Son Mandubratius, called also Androgori•…•… and Androgius, to secure his Life b•• Flight into Gallia, sent Ambassadour to Caesar, imploring his Protection•• promising Obedience to the Roman State, and desiring Mandubratius, who was then with Caesar, to be sent to take Possession of his Fathers Crown. Caesar granted their Request, having first demanded fourty Hostages, and Provisions for his Army, which they sent in, and had their Confines pro∣tected from the Souldier.

By their Example did several othe•• States also submit themselves, from whom Caesar having learnt, that Cassi∣belians chief Seat, supposed to be Veru¦lam (near the now St. Albans) was not far off, fenc't about with Woods and Marshes, and full of Men and Cattel went thither, assaulted it in two Pla¦ces, and after some Dispute forced

the Britains to fly out at a Postern Gate, and leave the Plunder of the Town to the Enemy, by whom ma∣ny of them were cut off in their Flight.

Yet did not Cassibelan desert him∣self, but sending into Kent, directed Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax, four Kings, reigning in those Countryes, who still kept faith∣ful to the Union, to raise, what For∣ces they could, and assault the Camp, where the Roman Shipping was en∣trencht; but these Kentish Souldiers being raw and unskild, not able to endure one Sally, were totally routed, and Cingetorix made Prisonor.

Cassibelan, informed of this Defeat, and seeing the treacherous Defection of so many States, for the Preserva∣tion of himself and Country, by the Mediation of Comius of Arras sent Ambassadours to Caesar, who, having enjoyned him not to Molest Mandu∣bratius and the Trinobantes, setled the Annual Tribute to be paid by the Britains to Rome, and received Hosta∣ges, with a great number of Cap∣tives put off to Sea, having at twice embarkt his whole Army. Returning

to Rome, he offered to Venus Genitrix, the Patroness of his Family, a Corslet of British Pearles, as a Testimony of his Glorious Enterprize.

Julius Caesar having now taken his last Farewell of Britain, the Romans, hindred partly by Civil Dissensions, and partly by other more urgent Af∣fairs, had not the least Thoughts of making any farther Attempt against it for twenty Years together, when Octavius Augustus, now setled in the possession of the Roman Empire, hav∣ing advanced as far as Gallia, in order to the reducing of Britain, was di∣verted by a Revolt in Pannonia: as he was seven Years after by the unset∣ledness of Gallia, and the coming of the British Ambassadours thither to him; and the Year following by new Commotions, arising in Spain. Being so often crost in his Designs upon Britain, he no more bent his thoughts that way, being satisfied with the Respects, paid him by the British Princes, who courted his Friendship with Gifts offered in the Capitol, and other obsequious Addresses. The like amicable. Correspondence they held also with his Successor Tiberius, whom

more highly to oblige, they courte∣ously entertained, and sent home the Souldiers of Germanicus, cast by Tem∣pest on their Shore. Caligula indeed, to whose Protection, Adminius, Son of Cunobelyn, banished by his Father, had betaken himself, making sem∣blance to invade Britain, brought down all his Army to the Belgick Shore, where being informed, that the Britains, having levyed the Strength of their Nation, stood rea∣dy to oppose his Landing, if he should make any attempt upon them, he com∣manded his Souldiers, whom he sup∣posed to have Lyncean Eyes, to take a full view of the British Forces, and having encouraged them not to fear their great Numbers, with unmatch∣able Valor rowed a Stones cast or two from the Shore, where resolutely defying the Britains, he caused the Engines of Battery to be set up, the Trumpets to sound a Charge, and the Souldiers to fall on, but no Enemy appearing, he ordered them to plun∣der the Ocean of its Shells, and there∣with fill their Helmets and Laps; and that the Memory of so Heroick an Enterprize might not be lost, he

erected in the same place an high Tow∣er, wherein Lights were set to direct Mariners in their Courses by Night, the Ruins whereof, sometimes seen at Low-Water on the Coast of Hol∣land, are to this day by the Inhabitants ealled Briten-huis.

The Britains, for well-near an hun∣dred Years after the departure of Ju∣lius Caesar, had been governed by their own Princes, unmolested by the Ro∣mans, to whom after the first break∣ing out of the Civil War they paid not any Tribute, except such easy Customs, as were levied on the Com∣modities, wherewith they traded into Gallia, when, intestin Divisions a∣mong themselves making way for a Roman Conquest, Claudius Drusus, now the third time Consul, instigated by the perswasions of Bericus (of whom there is no farther knowledge) and other Fugitives, whom the Britains demanding, he had refused to deliver up, and they for that cause had de∣nied farther Amity with Rome, resol∣ved upon an Invasion of Britain, send∣ing Orders to Aulus Plautius the Prae∣tor to transport thither the Legions,

lying in Gallia, who, complaining, that they must now be put to make War beyond the Worlds end, were at last with much difficulty prevailed upon, and from three several Ports set sail for Britain; but meeting with cross Winds, were driven back and disheartned, till in the Night a Meteor darting Flames from the East, and directing, as they fancied, their Course for this Island, they again put to Sea, and landed without oppositi∣on, the Britains, who had heard of their Unwillingness, having neglected to provide against them, and now re∣tiring into the Woods, where they intended to wear them out with De∣layes, as their Predecessors had for∣merly done Caesar.

The British Armies were command∣ed by two young Sons of the decea∣sed Cunobelyn, who, keeping their For∣ces separate, were by Plautius, after he had with much difficulty found them out, easily overcome, first Ca∣ractacus, then Togodumnus: Whereup∣on the Dobuni, formerly subject to the Catieuchlani, submitted themselves to the Conqueror, who, leaving a Garrison there, marched on to a cer∣tain

River, where finding the Enemy, who thought, the Romans without a Bridge could not possibly get over, lying on the farther side careless and secure, he sent first the Germans, that were in his Army, whose Custom it was armed to swim with ease the strongest Current: These, having got foot∣ing on the other side, spent, as they were commanded, all their Darts on the Britains Horses, which, falling dead in their Harness, rendred the Chari∣ots, wherein consisted their chief Art of fighting, not only unserviceable, but cumbersom, when Vespasian with his Brother Sabinus, sent by Plautius to second them, unexpectedly assail∣ing those, who were least aware, with great slaughter forced the Enemy to retire: Who, yet the next day re∣uniting, with such Courage fought the Romans, that the Victory hung in sus∣pence, till Caius Sidius Geta, in dan∣ger of being taken, valiantly recover∣ing himself, turned the Scales on the Romans side, for which he afterwards at Rome received high Honours.

The Britains, after this, drew back to the Mouth of the Thames, which acquainted with the Shallows and

Flats, they easily crossed, whom, their Enemies, unadvisedly following, were in great hazard of being lost; yet the Germans getting over by swimming, and others by a Bridge a little high∣er, so encompast the Britains, that they did great Execution upon them; but too eagerly pursuing them into Bogs and Marshes, lost as many of their own.

Plautius, who in these Engagements had lost many of his Souldiers, per∣ceiving the Courage of the Britains rather inflamed, than cooled, by their Defeats, and their Rage exasperated by the Death of Togodumnus, slain in one of the former Encounters, durst not proceed any farther; but having been commanded by Claudius on any great Emergencies of Affairs to give him speedy Intelligence, accordingly sent to him, who, waiting ready with a vast Preparation, marched through Gallia, leading with him (so appre∣hensive was he of the Difficulty of this Enterprize) besides his Roman Le∣gions, and the Auxiliaries of Germans and Gauls, many armed Elephants, to meet the naked Valor of the undaun∣ted Britains.

Having with this Equipage crossed the Channel, he directly joyned Plau∣tius, who with the Residue of his Men lay encamped at the Mouth of the Thames to secure his Landing, and having past the River, discovered the Britains, who, having the Courage, but wanting the Conduct of old Cassi∣belan, scrupled not with daring Man∣hood to combat in open Field almost the whole Power of the Roman Em∣pire, whereby being overcome, Cama∣lodunum (now Maldon) the Royal Seat of Cunobelyn, with many other im∣portant Places, some by Force, o∣thers by Treaty, were yielded up to Claudius, who for these Successes was often by his Army saluted Im∣perator, a Title before this time ne∣ver given above once to any in the same War, as if there could not Honor enough be given to so great Atchiev∣ments.

Claudius, having disarmed the Bri∣tains, but remitted the Confiscations of their Goods, for which they, who (by their former long acquaintance with the Romans) were well-skild in all the Arts of Flattery, erected Tem∣ples, and offered Sacrifices to him,

as to a God, leaving Plautius to sub∣due, what remained, returned to Rome, whence he had been absent on∣ly six Months, and in Britain but six∣teen Dayes, sending before him the News of his Victories to the Senate, who for such transcendent Merits de∣creed excessive Honours: Arches, Triumphs, annual Solemnities, and the Sir-name of Britannicus both to himself and Son.

From this Time Britain may be reckoned amongst the Provinces of the Roman Empire, whereunto it now began to be subjected, tho not with∣out great Resistance of the Inhabitants, who after the departure of Claudius gave Plautius Work enough to de∣serve at his Return to Rome a petty Triumph, riding on the Emperours Right hand into the Capitol, Trium∣phal Ornaments and other Honors being given also to Vespasian, who in these Wars had subdued two power∣ful Nations, above twenty Towns, and the Isle of Wight. Nor was Osto∣rius Scapula, the Successor of Plautius, less busied, the Britains, who were not yet subdued, at his very first Coming making Incursions upon those, who

had submitted to the Romans; but he, by an unexpected Assault over∣coming them, and disarming all those, of whom he had any Suspicion, pla∣ced many Garrisons upon the Rivers Sabrina and Antona. Then having van∣quished the Iceni, and spoiled the Coun∣trey of the Cangi, supposed to be a small Territory in Cheshire, he was come to the Irish Sea, when he was recalled by Commotions amongst the Brigantes, whom, by punishing some, and pardoning the rest, he soon quieted, and having planted Camal••∣dunum with a Colony of Veteran Soul∣diers, he marched forth against the Silures, who under the Command of Caractacus, upon whose Courage and Conduct they very much relied, were at a place (supposed to be Caer Ca∣radoc on the West Edge of Shropshire) not without great Slaughter of the Ro∣mans, whom, not able to endure the Galling of the British Darts, they for∣ced to make a Testudo of their Shields at length overcome, the Wife and Daughter of Caractacus taken Priso∣ners, his Brethren reduced, and I himself by Cartismandua, Queen o•• the Brigantes, to whom he fled fo••

Protection, treacherously delivered up to the Romans, against whom he had held out nine years, and by them sent to Rome, where the Gallantry of his Deportment in his Afflictions pro∣cured Pardon for himself and all the rest. To Ostorius, whose Actions were esteemed equal to theirs, that had brought in Bonds to Rome the great∣est Princes, was a Triumph decreed by the Senate.

After this, tho those Britains, that were yet unsubjected, did with per∣petual Skirmishes and Excursions so infest the Roman Province, that the very Vexation of it cost Ostorius his Life, yet did the Romans still keep their Hold, and by Degrees extend their Conquests: till about the third year of Nero, Boadicea, Widow to Prasutagus, King of the Iceni, who at his death had made the Emperor Co-heir with his two Daughters, ta∣king advantage of the Absence of Paulinus Suetonius the Governour, who, having subdued many British Nations, was busied in conquering the Isle of Mona (now called Anglesey) to revenge the barbarous Usage, her self and Daughters had received from

the Romans, sollicited the Britains, already by the Oppressions of Catus Decianus the Procurator, Seneca the Philosopher, and others deeply dis∣contented, and by the intolerable Li∣centiousness of the Souldiery highly exasperated, to a Revolt; and having sacked Camalodunum, routed Petilius Crealis, and cut his Legion to Pie∣ces, destroyed London and Verulam, and slain seventy thousand Romans and their Allies, she endangered the utter Extirpation of the Roman Goverment in this Island, when Suetonius, who was opportunely returned out of Anglesey, having got together about ten thousand men, at one Battel overthrew her Army of two hundred and thirty thousand, fourscore thousand whereof he slew, with the loss only of four hun∣dred Romans, and as many more woun∣ded: the Grief of which Defeat, as∣sisted (as some say) by Poyson, put a Period to the Life of Boadicea.

Britain, which was wel-nigh lost, being thus by one Battel recovered, the vindicative Nature of Suetonius, who, tho otherwise a very worthy person, over-proud of his Victory, gave too much way to his Anger a∣gainst

the Britains, caused those, that were yet untamed, to stand out, encouraged the rather thereunto by the Differences between him and the new Procurator Julius Classicianus. But Suetonius being recalled, his Successor Petronius Turpilianus, set himself whol∣ly to quiet the Province, without making any new Attempts, so that thenceforward the Britains, who liv∣ed unmolested, beginning to suck in the Pleasures of Vice, were more en∣slaved by the Roman Luxuries, than ever they had been by their Arms.

In this posture Affairs continued here, till that Vespasian, having ta∣ken possession of the Empire, sent hi∣ther Petilius Crealis, who had many Battels with the Brigantes, over whom tho he obtained some Victories, yet he had alwayes enough of War. His Successor Julius Frontinus subdued the stout and warlike Nation of the Silu∣res. But Julius Agricola, sent into Britain in the last year of Vespasian, extended the Roman Limits beyond all his Predecessors: For at his very entrance into this Government he o∣verthrew, and almost extirpated the whole Nation of the Ordovices, and

gained the Isle of Mona, from the Pos∣session whereof the Rebellion of the Britains had called back Suetonius. After which by proportionating with Equality the imposed Tribute, remov∣ing the Exactions and exorbitant Fees of Officers, and bridling the Ex∣travagance and Licentiousness of his Domesticks and Souldiers, he brought the People to be in love with Peace, which before seemed no less formida∣ble to them, than War it self: So that having first by many Inrodes ter∣rified the Enemy, and then by his gentle Demeanor allured them, several Cities, which hitherto had refused to bend, voluntarily submitted to him, gave Hostages, and received Garisons, for which he providently chose Places of such advantage, that never any of them was either forced, yielded up, or quitted. Then encouraging the Britains, who before lived rude and scattered, to build Houses, Temples, and Places for Publick Resort, he taught them the Institutes and Cust∣oms of a Civil Life, causing their Noblemens Sons to be instructed in the Liberal Sciences, and by prefer∣ring the Wits of Britain before those

of Gallia, bringing them, who before hated the Roman Language, to be in love with the Latin Eloquence. Now likewise came in the Gown, and other Fashions of the Romans, and by De∣grees all those Incitements of Vice, and Voluptuous Living, which the Luxurious miscall Civility.

Glota and Bodotria (called at this day Dunbritton and Edinborough Friths) two opposite Arms of the Sea, disjoined only by a Neck of Land, with all the Creeks and Inlets on this Side, being now held by the Romans, and the Enemy shut up (as it were) in another Island, Agricola passed o∣ver into, and subdued Nations, till then unknown, supposed to be the Orcades, and other Scotch Isles, and placed Garrisons likewise in that part of Britain, which faced Ireland, at the Conquest whereof he also aimed, cour∣teously entertaining for that purpose one of the Irish Kings, driven out of his Country by Civil Wars, whom he kept with him for a fit Occasion.

But an Apprehension of a general Rising of the Nations beyond Bodotria called him away from this design: for understanding, that they had

forelaid the Passages by land, he com∣manded his Fleet to bear along the Shores, and up the Friths and Harbors, himself with even Marches keeping up close to it, so that both Land and Sea Forces joined commonly at night with Shouts and loud Greetings: Which much daunted the Britains, not ac∣customed to see their Sea so ridden.

Yet the Caledonians, generally taking Arms, and attacking sundry Castles, strook no small Terror into several of the Roman Commanders, who, con∣cealing their Fears under the Name of cautious Counsel, advised the Ge∣neral to retreat on this side Bodotria. But he, whose Resolutions were o∣therwise, having Intelligence, that the Enemy would fall on in many Bodies, divided also his Army into three parts: Which the Britains learning, changed Counsels, and with all their Forces assailed by night that part of the Roman Army, which they knew to be the weakest, whom surprizing between Sleep and Fear, they had now begun some Execution, when Agricola, who was informed of their March, following them at the Heels, com∣manded the lightest of his Horse and

Foot to charge on their Backs, the whole Army soon seconding them with a Shout: So that by approach of Day the Caledonians, finding themselves encom∣past with the glittering Roman Ensigns, after a sharp Fight betook themselves to their old Refuge, the Woods and Boggs, or else that day had probably made a total End of the War. The Romans, reencouraged with this Suc∣cess, and now boasting, who but ere while trembled, with one voice cried out to be led on, as far as there was any British Ground. Nor did the Britains, who imputed that Dayes Victory not to the Valor of their Enemies, but to the Policy of their General, abate any thing of their Stoutness; but arming their Youth, and conveying their Wives and Chil∣dren to places of Safety, with solemn and sacred vows bound themselves to mutual assistance against the com∣mon Adversary.

In the mean time a Cohort of Ʋsi∣pians, here in Britain, having slain their Centurion, and other Officers in a Mutiny, fearing Punishment, fled to Sea without any Pilot in three Pinnaces, and being driven at random

about the Coast, used Piracy, where they landed, till, after various For∣tunes, taken first by the Suevians, af∣terwards by the Frisians, they were sold into Britain, where being known, they first discovered to the Romans, that Britain was an Island.

The Summer following Agricola, having gained this Knowledge, sending forth his Navy to scour the Coasts, and by various and uncertain Land∣ings to divert and disunite the Enemy, with a flying Army, wherein were many Britains, whose Courage and Fidelity he had long experienced, came as far as the Mountain Gram∣pius, where the Caledonians to the number of thirty thousand were as∣sembled under the command of Gal∣gacus, whom both his Birth and Me∣rit made their chief Leader. He by his rough Oratory in detestation of Servitude and the Roman Yoke having augmented the Eagerness of his Follow∣ers, and Agricola having incited his by exhorting them to Glory and Victory, the Armies joyned Battle, where after a vehement and various Contest the Romans clearly wan the Day, ten thousand of their Enemies

being slain, and the rest so totally dis∣comfited, that the next day there was not a Man of them to be seen, all be∣ing fled, none knew whither.

Agricola, informed hereof by his Scouts, Summer being far spent, and it being now no fit Time to divide his Forces, leads his Army amongst the Horesti, thought to be the Inha∣bitants of Eskdale in Scotland, from whom having received Hostages, he commanded his Navy to sail round Britain, whilst himself with slow Mar∣ches, that he might aw the new-con∣quered Nations by his Delay in pas∣sing, placed his Men in their Winter Quarters. His Fleet, having prospe∣rously and speedily compast the Isle, put in at the Port Trutulensis, now Richborough, neer Sandwich, from whence it first set out.

Agricola, envied by the Emperour Domitian, in the fourth year of whose Reign, Anno CHRISTI 86. this Victory was gotten, was soon after recalled, leaving his Province to his Successor quiet and secure.

The Roman Province in Britain, ex∣tended thus by Agricola as far as Glota & Bodotria, or the Friths of Dunbritton

and Edenborough, was by the Emperour Hadrian, following the Advice of Au∣gustus and Tiberius to gird the Em∣pire within moderate Bounds, redu∣ced to a narrower Compass. For he, giving the Northern Nations, no lon∣ger now called Britains, but hence∣forth first Caledonians, afterward Picts & Scots, more Room to Inhabit, quitted the colder and more barren Soils, reser∣ving only the most delicate Part of the Island, which, to hinder the Caledonian Boars from breaking in and rooting it up, he inclosed (like a precious Garden-Plot) with a mighty Wall of fourscore Miles in length from the Bay of Itun (or Solway-Frith) on the Irish Sea to Tinmouth on the German Ocean: Which Wall, decay∣ed by the Injuries of Time, and the Incursions of the Enemy, was reedi∣fied by the Emperor Septimius Severus, who fortified it with a deep Trench, and many Turrets, erected at such convenient Distances, that the Sound of a Trumpet, tho against the Wind, might be heard from one to another. In the same Wall also is said to have been artificially set a Brazen Trunk, which, running from Tower to Tow∣er,

served upon the Invasion of the Enemy to give speedy and secret In∣telligence. But this Wall now lying along, and no Pipe remaining, many Tenants at this day hold Farms of the King in Cornage, whereby they are obliged by winding of an Horn to give Notice to their Neighbours of the Enemies Approach.

Agricola, having thus conquered all the Southern Part of this Island, abro∣gated most of the antient Rites and Customes of the Britains, in the Room whereof the Roman Laws, Usages, and Learning began here to Flourish. Their humble Cottages he changed into fair Houses and stately Palaces, superb Porticoes, and sumptuous Baths: Their Diet was now more curious, and their Apparel more magnificent: Their cumbersome Chariots were turned in∣to the Coaches and delicate Litters of Rome, and for the Convenience of Tra∣vel Roads and Causies began to be made through the whole Island, and paved with Stone.

Notes

• Discove∣ry.
• Invasion.
• Con∣quest.