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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16536-0.txt b/16536-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5aec808 --- /dev/null +++ b/16536-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5661 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) + The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 16, 2005 [EBook #16536] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE FOVRTH BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains discomfited, sore wounded, slaine, and disabled by +Plautius and his power, Claudius the Romane taketh the chiefe citie +of Cymbeline the king of Britaine, he bereaueth the Britains of +their armour, and by vertue of his conquest ouer part of the land is +surnamed Britannicus_. + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Now Plautius had much adoo to find out the Britains in their lurking +holes and couerts; howbeit when he had traced them out, first +he vanquished Cataratacus, and after Togodumnus the sonnes of +Cynobellinus: for their father was dead not verie long before. These +therefore fléeing their waies, Plautus receiued part of the people +[Sidenote: Bodumni Catuellani] +called Bodumni (which were subiects vnto them that were called +Catuellani) into the obeisance of the Romans: and so leauing there a +garrison of souldiors, passed further till he came to a riuer which +could not well be passed without a bridge: wherevpon the Britains +tooke small regard to defend the passage, as though they had béene +sure inough. But Plautius appointed a certeine number of Germans which +he had there with him (being vsed to swim ouer riuers although neuer +so swift) to get ouer, which they did, sleaing and wounding the +Britains horsses, which were fastened to their wagons or chariots, so +that the Britains were not able to doo anie péece of their accustomed +seruice with the same. + +Herewithall was Flauius Vespasianus (that afterwards was emperour) +with his brother Sabinus sent ouer that riuer, which being got to the +further side, slue a great number of the enimies. The residue of the +Britains fled, but the next day proffered a new battell, in the which +they fought so stoutlie, that the victorie depended long in doubtfull +balance, till Caius Sidius Geta being almost at point to be taken, did +so handle the matter, that the Britains finallie were put to flight: +for the which his valiant dooings, triumphant honors were bestowed +vpon him, although he was no consull. + +The Britains after this battell, withdrew to the riuer of Thames, +néere to the place where it falleth into the sea, and knowing the +shallowes and firme places thereof, easilie passed ouer to the further +side, whom the Romans following, through lacke of knowledge in the +nature of the places, they fell into the marish grounds, and so came +to lose manie of their men, namelie of the Germans, which were the +first that passed ouer the riuer to follow the Britains, partlie by a +bridge which lay within the countrie ouer the said riuer, and partlie +by swimming, and other such shift as they presentlie made. + +[Sidenote: _Togodumnus_] +The Britains hauing lost one of their rulers, namelie Togodumnus +(of whom ye haue heard before) were nothing discouraged, but rather +more egerlie set on reuenge. Plautius perceiuing their fiercenesse, +went no further, but staid and placed garrisons in stéeds where néed +required, to kéepe those places which he had gotten, and with all +spéed sent aduertisement vnto Claudius, according to that he had in +commandement, if anie vrgent necessitie should so mooue him. Claudius +therefore hauing all things before hand in a readinesse, straightwaies +vpon the receiuing of the aduertisement, departed from Rome, and came +by water vnto Ostia, and from thence vnto Massilia, and so through +France sped his iournies till he came to the side of the Ocean +sea, and then imbarking himselfe with his people, passed ouer into +Britaine, and came to his armie which abode his comming néere the +Thames side, where being ioined, they passed the riuer againe, fought +with the Britains in a pitcht field, and getting the victorie, tooke +the towne of Camelodunum (which some count to be Colchester) being the +chiefest citie apperteining vnto Cynobelinus. He reduced also +manie other people into his subiection, some by force, and some by +surrender, whereof he was called oftentimes by the name of emperour, +which was against the ordinance of the Romans: for it was not lawfull +for anie to take that name vpon him oftener than once in anie one +voiage. Moreouer, Claudius tooke from the Britains their armor +and weapons, and committed the gouernment of them vnto Plautius, +commanding him to endeuour himselfe to subdue the residue. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_] +Thus hauing brought vnder a part of Britaine, and hauing made his +abode therin not past a sixtene daies, he departed and came backe +againe to Rome with victorie in the sixt month after his setting +[Sidenote: _Suetonius_] +foorth from thence, giuing after his returne, to his sonne, the +surname of Britannicus. This warre he finished in maner as before is +said, in the fourth yéere of his reigne, which fell in the yéere of +the world 4011, after the birth of our Sauiour 44, and after the +building of Rome 797. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The diuerse opinions and variable reports of writers touching the +partile conquest of this Iland by the Romans, the death of Guiderius_. + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +There be that write, how Claudius subdued and added to the Romane +empire, the Iles of Orknie situate in the north Ocean beyond Britaine: +which might well be accomplished either by Plautius, or some other his +lieutenant: for Plautius indéed for his noble prowesse and valiant +acts atchieued in Britaine, afterwards triumphed. Titus the sonne of +Vespasian also wan no small praise for deliuering his father out of +danger in his time, being beset with a companie of Britains, which the +said Titus bare downe, and put to flight with great slaughter. Beda +following the authoritie of Suetonius, writeth bréeflie of this +matter, and saith, that Claudius passing ouer into this Ile, to the +which neither before Iulius Cesar, neither after him anie stranger +durst come, within few daies receiued the most part of the countrie +into his subiection without battell or bloudshed. + +Gyldas also writing of this reuolting of the Britains, saith thus: +"When information thereof was giuen to the senate, and that hast was +made with a spéedie armie to reuenge the same, there was no warlike +nauie prepared in the sea to fight valiantlie for the defense of the +countrie, no square battell, no right wing, nor anie other prouision +appointed on the shore to be séene, but the backes of the Britains +in stead of a shield are shewed to the persecutors, and their necks +readie to be cut off with the sword through cold feare running through +their bones, which stretched foorth their hands to be bound like +womanlie creatures; so that a common prouerbe followed thereof, to +wit, That the Britains were neither valiant in warre, nor faithfull in +peace: and so the Romans sleaing manie of the rebels, reseruing some, +and bringing them to bondage, that the land should not lie altogither +vntilled and desert, returned into Italie out of that land which was +void of wine and oile, leauing some of their men there for gouernors +to chastise the people, not so much with an armie of men, as with +scourge and whip, and if the matter so required, to applie the naked +sword vnto their sides: so that it might be accounted Rome and not +Britaine. And what coine either of brasse, siluer or gold there was, +the same to be stamped with the image of the emperour." Thus farre +Gildas. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +In the British historie we find other report as thus, that Claudius +at his comming aland at Porchester, besieged that towne, to the rescue +whereof came Guiderius, and giuing battell to the Romans, put them to +the woorse, till at length one Hamo, being on the Romans side, changed +his shield and armour, apparelling himselfe like a Britaine, and so +entring into the thickest prease of the British host, came at length +where the king was, and there slue him. But Aruiragus perceiuing +this mischiefe, to the end the Britains should not be discouraged +therewith, caused himselfe to be adorned with the kings cote-armor, +and other abiliments, and so as king continued the fight with such +manhood, that the Romans were put to flight. Claudius retired backe to +his ships, and Hamo to the next woods, whom Aruiragus pursued, and at +length droue him vnto the sea side, and there slue him yer he could +take the hauen which was there at hand; so that the same tooke name of +him, and was called a long time after, Hamons hauen, and at length by +[Sidenote: Hampton, why so called.] +corruption of speach it was called Hampton, and so continueth vnto +this day, commonlie called by the name of Southhampton. Thus haue you +heard how Guiderius or Guinderius (whether you will) came to his end, +which chanced (as some write) in the 28 yéere of his reigne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus the Britaine & Claudius the Romane with their armies doo +incounter, a composition concerning mariage concluded betweene them, +Claudius returneth to Rome_. + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ARUIRAGUS. _Hector Boet._] +Aruiragus the yoongest son of Kymbeline, and brother to Guinderius +(bicause the same Guinderius left no issue to succéed him) was +admitted king of Britaine in the yeere of our Lord 45, or rather 46. + +This Aruiragus, otherwise called by the Britains Meuricus or Mauus, of +[Sidenote: _Caxton_.] +Tacitus Prasutagus, is also named Armiger in the English chronicle, +by which chronicle (as appéereth) he bare himselfe right manfullie +against Claudius and his Romans in the war which they made against +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon_.] +him: in so much that when Claudius had renewed his force and woone +Porchester, and after came to besiege Winchester (in the which +Aruiragus as then was inclosed) Aruiragus assembling his power, was +readie to come foorth and giue Claudius battell: wherevpon Claudius +doubting the sequele of the thing, sent messengers vnto Aruiragus to +treat of concord, and so by composition the matter was taken vp, with +condition, that Claudius should giue his daughter Genissa in marriage +vnto Aruiragus, & Aruiragus should acknowledge to hold his kingdome of +the Romans. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulfus Cestrensis_.] +Some write that Claudius in fauour of the valiant prowesse which he +saw & found in Aruiragus, honored not onlie him with the mariage of +his daughter the said Genissa, but also to the end to make the towne +more famous where this marriage was solemnized, he therefore called +it Claudiocestria, after his name, the which in the British toong was +called before that daie Caerleon, and after Glouernia, of a duke that +ruled in Demetia that hight Glunie, but now it is called Glocester. + +Other there be that write, how Claudius being vanquished in battell by +Aruiragus, was compelled by the said Aruiragus to giue vnto him his +said daughter to wife, with condition as before is mentioned: and that +then Aruiragus was crowned king of Britaine. But Suetonius maie +[Sidenote: _Sueton._] +séeme to reprooue this part of the British historie, which in the +life of Claudius witnesseth, that he had by thrée wiues onlie three +daughters, that is to saie, Claudia, Antonia, and Octauia: and +further, that reputing Claudia not to be his, caused hir to be cast +downe at the doore of his wife Herculanilla, whome he had forsaken by +waie of diuorcement: & that he bestowed his daughter Antonia first +on C. Pompeius Magnus, and after on Faustus Silla, verie noble yoong +gentlemen; and Octauia he matched with Nero his wiues son. Whereby it +should appéere, that this supposed marriage betwixt Aruiragus and the +daughter of Claudius is but a feined tale. + +¶ And héere to speake my fansie also what I thinke of this Aruiragus, +and other the kings (whome Galfrid and such as haue followed him doo +register in order, to succéed one after another) I will not denie but +such persons there were, and the same happilie bearing verie great +rule in the land, but that they reigned as absolute kings ouer the +whole, or that they succéeded one after another in manner as is +auouched by the same writers, it seemeth most vnlike to be true: for +rather it maie be gessed by that, which as well Gyldas as the old +approoued Romane writers haue written, that diuerse of these kings +liued about one time, or in times greatlie differing from those times +which in our writers we find noted. As for example, Iuuenal maketh +this Aruiragus, of whom we now intreat, to reigne about Domitians +time. For my part therefore, sith this order of the British kinglie +succession in this place is more easie to be flatlie denied and +vtterlie reprooued, than either wiselie defended or trulie amended, I +will referre the reforming therof vnto those that haue perhaps séene +more than I haue, or more déepelie considered the thing, to trie out +an vndoubted truth: in the meane time, I haue thought good, both to +shew what I find in our histories, and likewise in forren writers, +to the which we thinke (namelie in this behalfe, whilest the Romans +gouerned there) we maie safelie giue most credit, doo we otherwise +neuer so much content our selues with other vaine and fond conceits. + +To procéed yet with the historie as we find it by our writers set +foorth: it is reported, that after the solemnization of this marriage, +which was doone with all honour that might be deuised, Claudius +[Sidenote: Legions of souldiers sent into Ireland.] +sent certeine legions of souldiers foorth to go into Ireland to subdue +that countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus denieth subiection to the Romans, Vespasian is sent to +represse him and his power, the Romane host is kept backe from +landing, queene Genissa pacifieth them after a sharpe conflict: & what +the Romane writers say of Vespasians being in Britaine, the end of +Aruiragus_. + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +Then did king Aruiragus ride about to view the state of his realme, +repairing cities and townes decaied by the warre of the Romans, and +saw his people gouerned with such iustice and good order, that he was +both feared and greatlie beloued: so that in tract of time he grew +verie welthie, and by reason thereof fell into pride, so that he +[Sidenote: Vespasian in Britaine. _Cornel. Tacit. in uit. Agr. lib. +3 & li. 6. Gal. Mon. Rutupium_.] +denied his subiection to the Romans. Wherevpon Claudius appointed +Vespasian with an armie to go as lieutenant into Britaine. This +iournie was to him the beginning of his advancement to that honour, +which after to him most luckilie befell. But if we shall credit our +Britaine writers, he gained not much at Aruiragus hands, for where he +would haue landed at Sandwich or Richborough, Aruiragus was readie to +resist him, so as he durst not once enter the hauen: for Aruiragus had +there such a puissant number of armed men, that the Romans were afraid +to approach the land. + +Vespasian therefore withdrew from thence, and coasting westward, +landed at Totnesse, and comming to Excester, besieged that citie: but +about the seuenth day after he had planted his siege, came Aruiragus, +and gaue him battell, in the which both the armies sustained great +losse of men, and neither part got anie aduantage of the other. On +the morrow after quéene Genissa made them friends, and so the warres +ceassed for that time, by hir good mediation. + +¶ But séeing (as before I haue said) the truth of this historie maie +be greatlie mistrusted, ye shall heare what the Romane writers saie +of Vespasianus being héere in Britaine, beside that which we haue +alreadie recited out of Dion in the life of Guiderius. +[Sidenote: Vespasian. _Suetonius. Salcellicus_.] +In the daies of the emperor Claudius, through fauour of Narcissus +(one that might doo all with Claudius) the said Vespasian was sent as +coronell or lieutenant of a legion of souldiers into Germanie, and +being remooued from thence into Britaine, he fought thirtie seuerall +times with the enimies, and brought vnto the Romane obeisance two most +mightie nations, and aboue twentie townes, togither with the Ile of +Wight; and these exploits he atchiued, partlie vnder the conduct of +Aulus Plautius ruler of Britaine for the emperor Claudius, and partlie +vnder the same emperor himselfe. For as it is euident by writers of +good credit, he came first ouer into Britaine with the said Aulus +Plautius, and serued verie valiantlie vnder him, as before in place we +haue partlie touched. By Tacitus it appeareth, that he was called to +be partener in the gouernment of things in Britaine with Claudius, +and had such successe, as it appéered to what estate of honour he was +predestinate, hauing conquered nations, and taken kings prisoners. But +now to make an end with Aruiragus: when he perceiued that his force +was too weake to preuaile against the Romane empire, and that he +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +should striue but in vaine to shake the yoke of subiection from the +necks of the Britains, he made a finall peace with them in his old +age, and so continued in quiet the residue of his reigne, which he +lastlie ended by death, after he had gouerned the land by the space +[Sidenote: 73.] +of thirtie yéeres, or but eight and twentie, as some other imagine. He +died in the yéere of Grace 73, as one author affirmeth, and was buried +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +at Glocester. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ioseph of Aramathia came into Britaine and Simon Zelotes, the +antiquitie of christian religion, Britaine gouerned by Lieutenants and +treasurers of the Romane emperors, the exploits of Ostorius Scapula +and the men of Oxfordshire, he vanquisheth the Welshmen, appeaseth the +Yorkshiremen, and brideleth the rage of the Silures_. + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +In the daies of the said Aruiragus, about the yeare of Christ 53, +Ioseph of Arimathia, who buried the bodie of our sauiour, being sent +by Philip the Apostle (as Iohn Bale following the authoritie of Gildas +and other British writers reciteth) after that the Christians were +dispersed out of Gallia, came into Britaine with diuers other godlie +[Sidenote: _Polydorus_.] +christian men, & preaching the gospell there amongst the Britains, +& instructing them in the faith and lawes of Christ, conuerted manie +to the true beliefe, and baptised them in the wholsome water of +regeneration, & there continued all the residue of his life, obteining +of the king a plot of ground where to inhabit, not past a foure miles +from Wells, and there with his fellowes began to laie the first +foundation of the true and perfect religion, in which place (or néere +thereinto) was afterward erected the abbeie of Glastenburie. + +Nicephorus writeth in his second booke and fourth chapter, that one +Simon Zelotes came likewise into Britaine. And Theodoretus in his 9. +booke "De curandis Græcorum affectibus," sheweth that Paule being +released of his second imprisonment, and suffered to depart from Rome, +preached the gospell to the Britains and to other nations in the west. +The same thing in manner dooth Sophronius the patriarch of Ierusalem +witnesse, Tertullian also maie be a witnesse of the ancientnes of +the faith receiued here in Britaine, where he writing of these times +saith: Those places of the Britains, to the which the Romans could +not approch, were subiect vnto Christ, as were also the countries +of Sarmatia, Dacia, Germania, Scithia, and others. ¶ Thus it maie +appeare, that the christian religion was planted here in this land +shortlie after Christes time, although it certeinlie appeareth not who +were the first that preached the gospell to the Britains, nor whether +they were Gréeks or Latins. + +Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Romane emperours in this season +[Sidenote: Treasurers or receiuers.] +gouerned this land by lieutenants and treasurers, the which were +called by the name of legats and procurators, thereby to kéepe the +vnrulie inhabitants the better in order. + +[Sidenote: Aulus Plautius.] +And Aulus Plautius a noble man of Rome of the order of consuls, was +[Sidenote: Ostorius Scapula.] +sent hither as the first legat or lieutenant (in maner as before ye +haue heard) & after him Ostorius Scapula, who at his comming found the +Ile in trouble, the enimies hauing made inuasion into the countrie of +those that were friends to the Romans, the more presumptuouslie, +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus lib. 12_.] +for that they thought a new lieutenant, with an armie to him +vnacquainted and come ouer now in the beginning of winter, would not +be hastie to march foorth against them. But Ostorius vnderstanding +that by the first successe and chance of warre, feare or hope is bred +and augmented, hasted forward to encounter with them, and such as he +found abroad in the countrie he slue out right on euerie side, and +pursued such as fled, to the end they should not come togither againe. +Now for that a displeasing and a doubtfull peace was not like to bring +quietnesse either to him or to his armie, he tooke from such as he +suspected, their armour. And after this, he went about to defend +the riuers of Auon & Seuerne, with placing his souldiers in camps +fortified néere to the same. But the Oxfordshire men and other of +those parties would not suffer him to accomplish his purpose in anie +quiet sort, being a puissant kind of people, and not hitherto weakened +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12.] +by warres: for they willinglie at the first had ioined in amitie +with the Romans. The countries adjoining also being induced by their +procurement, came to them, & so they chose forth a plot of ground, +fensed with a mightie ditch, vnto the which there was no waie to enter +but one, & the same verie narrow, so as the horssemen could not haue +anie easie passage to breake in vpon them. Ostorius, although he had +no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids, marched foorth +towards the place within the which the Britains were lodged, and +assaulting them in the same, brake through into their campe, where the +Britains being impeached with their owne inclosures which they had +raised for defense of the place, knowing how that for their rebellion +they were like to find small mercie at the Romans hands, when they saw +now no waie to escape, laid about them manfullie, and shewed great +proofe of their valiant stomachs. + +In this battell, the sonne of Ostorius the lieutenant deserued the +[Sidenote: which was a certaine crowne, to be set on his head called +_ciuica corona_.] +price and commendation of preseruing a citizen out of the cruell +enimies hands. But now with this slaughter of the Oxfordshire men, +diuers of the Britains that stood doubtfull what waie to take, either +to rest in quiet, or to moue warres, were contented to be conformable +[Sidenote: Cangi.] +vnto a reasonable order of peace, in so much that Ostorius lead +his armie against the people called Cangi, who inhabited that part of +Wales now called Denbighshire, which countrie he spoiled on euerie +side, no enimie once daring to encounter him: & if anie of them +aduentured priuilie to set vpon those which they found behind, or on +the outsids of his armie, they were cut short yer they could escape +out of danger. Wherevpon he marched straight to their campe and giuing +them battell, vanquished them: and vsing the victorie as reason moued +him, he lead his armie against those that inhabited the inner parts +of Wales, spoiling the countrie on euerie side. And thus sharplie +pursuing the rebels, he approched néere vnto the sea side, which lieth +ouer against Ireland. While this Romane capteine was thus occupied, +he was called backe by the rebellion of the Yorkshire men, whome +forthwith vpon his comming vnto them, he appeased, punishing the first +authors of that tumult with death. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus. lib_. 12] +In the meane time, the people called Silures, being a verie fierce +kind of men, and valiant, prepared to make warre against the Romans, +for they might not be bowed neither with roughnesse, nor yet with +any courteous handling, so that they were to be tamed by an armie of +legionarie souldiers to be brought among them. + +Therefore to restraine the furious rage of those people and their +neighbours, Ostorious peopled a towne néere to their borders, called +Camelodunum with certeine bands of old souldiers, there to inhabit +with their wiues and children, according to such maner as was vsed in +like cases of placing naturall Romans in anie towne or citie, for the +more suertie and defense of the same. Here also was a temple builded +in the honor of Claudius the emperour, where were two images erected, +one of the goddesse Victoria, and an other of Claudius himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The coniectures of writers touching the situation of Camelodunum +supposed to be Colchester, of the Silures a people spoken of in the +former chapter, a foughten field betwene Caratacus the British prince, +and Ostorius the Romaine, in the confines of Shropshire; the Britains +go miserablie to wracke, Caratacus is deliuered to the Romans, his +wife and daughter are taken prisoners, his brethren yeeld themselues +to their enimies_. + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +But now there resteth a great doubt among writers, where this citie +or towne called Camelodunum did stand, of some (and not without good +ground of probable coniectures gathered vpon the aduised consideration +of the circumstances of that which in old authors is found written +[Sidenote: Camelodunum, Colchester.] +of this place) it is thought to be Colchester. But verelie by this +place of Tacitus it maie rather seeme to be some other towne, situat +more westward than Colchester, sith a colonie of Romane souldiers were +planted there to be at hand, for the repressing of the vnquiet +[Sidenote: Silures where they inhabited.] +Silures, which by consent of most writers inhabited in Southwales, or +néere the Welsh marshes. + +There was a castell of great fame in times past that hight Camaletum, +or in British Caermalet, which stood in the marshes of Summersetshire; +but sith there is none that hath so written before this time, I will +not saie that happilie some error hath growne by mistaking the name of +Camelodunum for this Camaletum, by such as haue copied out the booke +of Cornelius Tacitus; and yet so it might be doon by such as found it +short or vnperfectlie written, namelie, by such strangers or others, +to whom onelie the name of Camelodunum was onelie knowne, and +Camaletum peraduenture neuer séene nor heard of. As for example, +an Englishman that hath heard of Waterford in Ireland, and not of +Wexford, might in taking foorth a copie of some writing easilie commit +a fault in noting the one for the other. We find in Ptolomie Camedolon +to be a citie belonging to the Trinobants, and he maketh mention also +of Camelodunum, but Humfrey Lhoyd thinketh that he meaneth all one +citie. + +Notwithstanding Polydor Virgil is of a contrarie opinion, supposing +the one to be Colchester in déed, and the other that is Camelodunum +to be Doncaster or Pontfret. Leland esteeming it to be certeinelie +Colchester taketh the Iceni men also to be the Northfolke men. But +howsoeuer we shall take this place of Tacitus, it is euident inough +that Camelodunum stood not farre from the Thames. And therefore to +séeke it with Hector Boetius in Scotland, or with Polydor Virgil so +far as Doncaster or Pontfret, it maie be thought a plaine error. + +But to leaue each man to his owne iudgement in a matter so doubtfull, +we will procéed with the historie as touching the warres betwixt the +Romans and the Silurians, against whome (trusting not onelie vpon +their owne manhood, but also vpon the high prowesse & valiancie of +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacitus lib. Anna. 12_.] +Caratacus) Ostorius set forward. Caratacus excelled in fame aboue all +other the princes of Britaine, aduanced thereto by manie doubtfull +aduentures and manie prosperous exploits, which in his time he had +atchiued: but as he was in policie and aduantage of place better +prouided than the Romans: so in power of souldiers he was ouermatched. +[Sidenote: _Hu. Lhoyd_.] +And therefore he remoued the battell into the parts of that +countrie where the Ordouices inhabited, which are thought to haue +dwelled in the borders of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, which +people together with other that misliked of the Romane gouernment, +he ioined in one, and chose a plot of ground for his aduantage, +determining there to trie the vttermost hazard of battell. + +The place which he thus chose was such, as the entries, the backwaies, +and the whole situation thereof made for the Britains aduantage, and +cleane contrarie to the Romans, as inclosed among high hils. And if +there were anie easie passage to enter it vpon anie side, the same was +shut vp with mightie huge stones in manner of a rampire, and afore it +there ran a riuer without anie certeine foord to passe ouer it. This +place is supposed to lie in the confines of Shropshire aloft vpon the +top of an high hill there, enuironed with a triple rampire and ditch +of great depth, hauing thrée entries into it, not directlie one +against an other, but aslope. It is also (they saie) compassed about +with two riuers, to wit, on the left hand with the riuer called Clun, +& on the right hand with an other called Teuid. On thrée sides thereof +the clime is verie stéepe and headlong, and no waie easie to come or +reach vnto it, but onelie one. + +Caratac hauing thus fortified himselfe within this place, and brought +his armie into it: to encourage his people, he exhorted them to shew +their manhood, affirming that to be the day, and that armie to be the +same wherein should appeare the beginning either of libertie then to +be recouered, or else of perpetuall bondage for euer to be susteined. +He rehersed also speciallie by name those their elders, which had +resisted Iulius Cesar, by whose high valiancie they liued free from +the bloudie thraldome and tributes of the Romans, and enioied their +wiues and children safe and vndefiled. Thus discoursing of manie +things with them, in such hope of assured victorie, that they began to +raise their cries, each one for him selfe, declaring that he was bound +by the dutie he owght to the gods of his countrie, not to shrinke +for feare of anie wounds or hurts that might chance vnto them by the +enimies weapon. + +This chéerefulnesse of the Britains greatlie astonished the Romane +lieutenant. The hideous course also of the riuer before his face, the +fortifications and craggie higth of the hils, all set full of enimies +readie to beat him backe, put him in great feare: for nothing he +saw afore him, but that which séemed dreadfull to those that should +assaile. But the souldiers yet séemed to be verie desirous of battell, +requesting him to bring them to it, protesting that nothing was +able to resist the force of noble prowes. Herewith the capteins and +tribunes discoursing the like, pricked forward the earnest willes +which their souldiers had to fight. + +Ostorius perceiuing such courage and readie wils in the men of warre, +as well souldiers as capteins, began to bestirre himselfe, and left +nothing vndone that might serue to set forward their earnest desire to +battell. And hauing aduisedlie considered which waies were hard and +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacitus Annal. lib. 12.] +vnpossible to be entered vpon, and which were most easie for his +people to find passage by, he led them foorth, being most earnestlie +bent to cope with the enimie. + +Now hauing passed the water without any great difficultie, but comming +to the rampire, he lost manie of his people, so long as the fight was +continued with shot and casting of darts: but after that the Romans +couering themselues with their targets, came once close togither, and +approched vnder the rampire, they remooued away the stones which the +Britains had roughlie couched togither, and so came to ioine with them +at handblowes. The Britains being vnarmed, and not able to abide the +force of the armed men, withdrew to the top of the hilles, but as well +their enimies that were light armed, as the other with heauie armour, +followed and brake in among them, so as the Britains could not turne +them anie way to escape, for the light armed men with shot a farre +off, and the heauie armed with weapons at hand, sought to make +slaughter and wracke of them on ech side, so that this was a verie +dolefull day to the Britains. + +The wife and daughter of Caratake were taken prisoners, and his +brethren also yéelded themselues. He himselfe escaped, and committing +his person vnto the assurance & trust of Cartemandua queene of the +Brigants, was by hir deliuered into the hands of the Romans. All this +happened about nine yeres after the warres in Britaine first began. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The name of Caratacus famous in Italie, the maner how he and his +alies were led captiues by the Romans in triumph, his courage and +manlie speech to the emperour Claudius, whereby he and his obteine +mercie and pardon: the Britains vndertake a new reuenge against the +Romans; the cause why the Silures hated the Romans, Ostorius Scapula +dieth, the citie of Chester builded_. + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12_. Carataks name renowmed.] +The name of Caratacus being brought out of the Iles was alreadie +spred ouer the prouinces adioining, and began now to grow famous +through Italie. Men therefore were desirous to sée what maner of man +he was that had so manie yéeres set at naught the puissant force of +the empire. For in Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of, +insomuch that the emperour whilest he went about to preferre his owne +honour, aduanced the glorie of him also that was vanquished: for +the people were called foorth as vnto some great notable sight or +spectacle. The pretorian bands stood in order of battell armed in the +field that laie before their lodgings, through which field Caratake +shuld come. Then passed by the traine of his friends and seruants; and +such armor, riches, iewels, and other things as had béene gotten in +those warres, were borne forward, and openlie shewed, that all men +might behold the same. + +After these followed his brethren, wife, and daughters: and last of +all came Caratacus himselfe, whose countenance was nothing like to +theirs that went afore him. For whereas they fearing punishment for +their rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercie, he neither +by countenance nor words shewd anie token of a discouraged mind, but +being presented before the emperour Claudius sitting in his tribunall +seat, he vttered this speach as followeth. + +"If there had béene in me so much moderation in time of prosperitie, +[Sidenote: _* Sic_.] +as there was nobilitie of birth and puissance, I had come to this +citie rather as a friend than as a capteine *: neither should I haue +thought scorne, being borne of most noble parents, and ruling ouer +many people, to haue accepted peace by waie of ioining with you in +league. My present estate as it is to me reprochfull, so to you it +is honorable. I had at commandement, horsses, men, armor, and great +riches; what maruell is it if I were loth to forgo the same? For if +you shall looke to gouerne all men, it must néeds follow that all men +must be your slaues. If I had at the first yéelded my selfe, neither +my power nor your glorie had béene set foorth to the world, & vpon +mine execution I should straight haue béene forgotten. But if you +now grant me life, I shall be a witnesse for euer of your mercifull +clemencie." + +The emperour with these words being pacified, granted life both to +Caratake, and also to his wife and brethren, who being loosed from +their bands, went also to the place where the empresse Agrippina sat +(not farre off) in a chaire of estate, whom they reuerenced with the +like praise and thanks as they had doone before to the emperour. After +this the senat was called togither, who discoursed of manie things +touching this honourable victorie atchiued by the taking of Caratake, +estéeming the same no lesse glorious, than when P. Scipio shewed in +[Sidenote: Siphax. L. Paulus.] +triumph Siphax king of the Numidians, or L. Paulus the Macedonian +king Perses, or other Romane capteins anie such king whom they had +vanquished. + +Héerevpon it was determined, that Ostorius should enter the citie of +Rome with triumph like a conqueror, for such prosperous successe as +hitherto had followed him: but afterwards his procéedings were not so +luckie, either for that after Caratake was remooued out of the waie, +or bicause the Romans (as though the warre had béene finished) looked +negligentlie to themselues, either else for that the Britains taking +compassion of the miserable state of Caratake, being so worthie a +prince, through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie, were more +earnestlie set to reuenge his quarrell. Héerevpon they incompassed the +maister of the campe, and those legionarie bands of souldiers which +were left amongst the Silures to fortifie a place there for the armie +to lodge in: and if succour had not come out of the next towns and +castels, the Romans had béene destroied by siege. The head capteine +yet, and eight centurions, and euerie one else of the companies being +most forward, were slaine. Shortlie after they set vpon the Romane +forragers, and put them to flight, and also such companies of +horssemen as were appointed to gard them. Héerevpon Ostorius set +foorth certeine bands of light horssemen, but neither could he staie +the flight by that meanes, till finallie the legions entred the +battell, by whose force they were staid, and at length the Romans +obteined the better: but the Britains escaped by flight without great +losse, by reason the daie was spent. + +After this, manie bickerings chanced betwixt the Britains and Romans, +& oftentimes they wrought their feats more like the trade of them that +vse to rob by the high waies, than of those that make open warre, +taking their enimies at some aduantage in woods and bogs, as hap or +force ministred occasion vpon malice conceiued, or in hope of prey, +sometimes by commandement, and sometimes without either commandement +or knowledge of capteine or officer. + +At one time the Britains surprised two bands of footmen that were with +the Romans in aid, and sent foorth to forreie abroad vnaduisedlie, +through couetousnesse of the capteins. This feat was atchiued by the +Silures also, the which in bestowing prisoners and part of the spoile +vpon other of their neighbours, procured them likewise to rebell +against the Romans, and to take part with them. The Silures were the +more earnestlie set against the Romans, by occasion of words which the +emperor Claudius had vttered in their disfauour, as thus: that euen +as the Sicambres were destroied and remooued into Gallia, so likewise +must the Silures be dealt with, and the whole nation of them +extinguished. These words being blowne abroad, and knowne ouer all, +caused the Silures to conceiue a woonderfull hatred against the +Romans, so that they were fullie bent, either to reteine their +libertie, or to die in defense thereof vpon the enimies swoord. + +In the meane time Ostorius Scapula departed this life, a right noble +warrior, and one who by litle & litle insuing the steps of Aulus +Plautius his predecessor, did what he could to bring the Ile into the +forme of a prouince, which in part he accomplished. + +[Sidenote: W.H. in his chronologie.] +There be some led by coniecture grounded vpon good aduised +considerations, that suppose this Ostorius Scapula began to build the +citie of Chester after the ouerthrow of Caratacus: for in those parties +he fortified sundrie holds, and placed a number of old souldiers either +there in that selfe place, or in some other néere therevnto by waie of +a colonie. And for somuch (saie they) as we read of none other of anie +name thereabouts, it is to be thought that he planted the same in Chester, +where his successors did afterwards vse to harbour their legions for the +winter season, and in time of rest from iournies which they haue to make +against their common enimies. + +In déed it is a common opinion among the people there vnto this daie, +that the Romans built those vaults or tauerns (which in that citie are +vnder the ground) with some part of the castell. And verelie as +[Sidenote: _Ran. Hig._ alias _Cestrensis_.] +Ranulfe Higden saith, a man that shall view and well consider those +buildings, maie thinke the same to be the woorke of Romans rather than +of anie other people. That the Romane legions did make their abode +there, no man séene in antiquities can doubt thereof, for the ancient +name _Caer leon ardour deuy_, that is, The citie of legions vpon the +water of Dée, proueth it sufficientlie enough. + +[Sidenote: Corn. Tacit.] +But to returne vnto Ostorius Scapula, we find in Corn. Tacitus, that +during his time of being lieutenant in this Ile, there were certeine +[Sidenote: Cogidune a king in Britane.] +cities giuen vnto one Cogidune a king of the Britains, who continued +faithfull to the Romans vnto the daies of the remembrance of men +liuing in the time of the said Cornelius Tacitus, who liued and wrote +in the emperor Domitianus time. This was doone after an old receiued +custom of the people of Rome, to haue both subiects and kings vnder +their rule and dominion, as who so shall note the acts and déeds of +the Roman emperours from C. Iulius Cesar (who chased Pompeie out of +Italie, and was the first that obteined the Romane empire to +himselfe; of whom also the princes and emperours succéeding him were +called Cesars) to Octauian, Tiberius, Caligula, &c: maie easilie marke +and obserue. For they were a people of singular magnanimitie, of an +ambitious spirit, gréedie of honour and renowme, and not vnaptlie +termed "Romani rerum domini, &c." + + * * * * * + + + + +_ A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the +trecherie and lecherie of queene Cartimanda, Venutius keepeth the +kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what meanes their confines in this +Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others touching the +Silures, Brigants, and Nouants notified, the Britains giue the Romans +a shamefull ouerthrow_. + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: A. Didius lieutenant.] +After the deceasse of Ostorius Scapula, one A. Didius was sent to +supplie his roome, but yer he could come, things were brought out of +order, and the Britains had vanquished the legion whereof Manlius +Valens had the conduct: this victorie was set foorth by the Britains +to the vttermost, that with the bruit thereof they might strike a +feare into the lieutenants hart, now vpon his first comming ouer. And +he himselfe reported it by letters to the emperour after the largest +manner, to the end that if he appeased the matter, he might win the +more praise; or if he were put to the woorst, and should not preuaile, +that then his excuse might séeme the more reasonable and woorthie of +pardon. The Silures were they that had atchiued this victorie, and +kept a fowle stur ouer all the countries about them, till by the +comming of Didius against them, they were driuen backe and repelled. + +But héerewith began trouble to be raised in another part: for after +[Sidenote: Venutius ruler of the Iugants.] +that Caratac was taken, the chiefest and most skillfull capteine +which the Britains had, was one Venutius, a ruler of the people named +Iugants, a man that remained a long time faithfull to the Romans, and +[Sidenote: Cartimanda.] +by their power was defended from his enimies, who had married with +Cartimanda queene of the Brigants or Yorkeshire men. This Cartimanda +(as ye haue heard) had deliuered Catarac into the Romans hands, +thereby ministring matter for the emperour Claudius to triumph, by +which pleasure shewed to the Romans, she increased thorough their +friendship in power and wealth, whereof followed riotous lust to +satisfie hir wanton appetite, so as she falling at square with hir +[Sidenote: Vellocatus.] +husband, married Vellocatus, one of his esquires, to whom she gaue hir +kingdome, and so dishonoured hir selfe. Héerevpon insued cruell warre, +in so much that in the end Venutius became enimie also to the Romans. +But first they tugged togither betwixt themselues, & the quéene by +a craftie policie found meanes to catch the brother and coosens of +Venutius, but hir enimies nothing therewith discouraged, but kindled +the more in wrath against hir, ceassed not to go forward with their +purpose. + +Manie of the Brigants disdaining to be subiect vnto a womans rule +that had so reiected hir husband, reuolted vnto Venutius: but yet the +quéenes sensuall lust mixed with crueltie, mainteined the adulterer. +Venutius therefore calling to him such aid as he could get, and +strengthened now by the reuolting of the Brigants, brought Cartimanda +to such a narrow point, that she was in great danger to fall into the +hands of hir enimies: which the Romans forséeing, vpon suit made, sent +certeine bands of horssemen and footmen to helpe hir. They had diuerse +incounters with the enimies at the first, with doubtfull successe: +[Sidenote: Venutius keepeth the kingdome in despite of the Romans.] +but at length they preuailed, and so deliuered the quéene out of +perill, but the kingdome remained to Venutius: against whom the Romans +were constreined still to mainteine warre. + +About the same time, the legion also which Cesius Nasica led, got the +vpper hand of those Britains against whom he was sent. For Didius +being aged, and by victories past inough renowmed, thought it +sufficient for him to make warre by his capteins, so to staie and +kéepe off the enimie. Certeine castels and holds in déed he caused to +be built and fortified, further within the countrie than had béene +afore attempted by anie of his predecessors, and so thereby were the +confines of the Romans in this Ile somewhat inlarged. Thus haue ye +heard with what successe the Britains mainteined warre in defense of +their libertie against the Romans, whilest Claudius ruled the empire +(according to the report of the Romane writers.) + +[Sidenote: The error of _Hector Boetius_.] +¶ But here you must note, that Hector Boetius, following the +authoritie of one Veremond a Spaniard, of Cornelius Hibernicus, & also +of Campbell, remooueth the Silures, Brigants, and Nouants, so farre +northward, that he maketh them inhabitants of those countries which +the Scots haue now in possession, and were euen then inhabited (as he +affirmeth) partlie by the Scots, and partlie by the Picts (as in the +Scotish historie ye may sée more at large) so that what notable feat +soeuer was atchiued by the old Britains against the Romans, the +same by him is ascribed to the Scots and Picts throughout his whole +historie, whereas (in verie truth) forsomuch as may be gathered by +coniecture und presumption of that which is left in writing by ancient +authors, the Brigants inhabited Yorkshire, the Silures Wales and the +Marches, and the Nouants the countrie of Cumberland. + +But forsomuch as he hath diligentlie gathered in what maner the warres +were mainteined by those people against the Romans, and what valiant +exploits were taken in hand and finished thorough their stoutnesse +and valiancie, ye may there read the same, and iudge at your pleasure +[Sidenote: A note to be considered in the reading of _Hect. Boetius_.] +what people they were whome he so much praiseth: aduertising you +hereof by the way, that as we haue before expressed, none of the +Romane writers mentioneth any thing of the Scots, nor once nameth +them, till the Romane empire began to decay, about the time of the +emperor Constantius, father of Constantine the great: so that if they +had béene in this Ile then so famous both in peace and warre, as they +are reported by the same Boetius; maruell might it séeme, that the +Romane writers would so passe them ouer with silence. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. annal._ 15.] +After the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome, Claudius +Domitianus Nero succéeded him in gouernement of the empire. In the +seuenth yéere of whose reigne, which was after the incarnation 53, +the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow in Britaine, where neither the +lieutenant A. Didius Gallus (whom in this place Cornelius Tacitus +calleth Auitus) could during the time of his rule doo no more but +hold that which was alreadie gotten, beside the building of certeine +castels (as before ye haue heard) neither his successor Verannius, +beating and forreieng the woods, could atchiue anie further +enterprise, for he was by death preuented, so as he could not procéed +forward with his purpose touching the warres which he had ment to haue +folowed, whose last words (in his testament expressed) detected him +of manifest ambition: for adding manie things by way of flatterie to +content Neros mind, he wished to haue liued but two yéeres longer, in +which space he might haue subdued prouinces vnto his dominion, +meaning therby the whole Ile of Britaine. But this was a Romans brag, +sauouring rather of ambition than of truth or likelihood. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The gouernment of P. Suetonius in this Iland, he inuadeth Anglesey, +and winneth it, a strange kind of women, of the Druides, the Britains +lament their miserie and seruitude, and take aduise by weapon to +redresse it against the Romans their enimies_. + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: P. Suetonius lieutenant.] +But now when this great losse chanced to the Romans Paulinus +Suetonius did gouerne here as lieutenant, a man most plentifullie +furnished with all gifts of fortune and vertue, and therewith a right +skilfull warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of +[Sidenote: Anglesey inuaded.] +the Britains as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a +countrie full of inhabitants, and a place of refuge for all outlawes +and rebels. He builded certeine brigantins with flat kéeles to serue +for the ebbes and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie +in the straits which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in +those vessels, the horssemen following by the foords, and swimming +when they came into the deepe, got likewise to the shore, where stood +in order of battell and huge number of armed men close togither, redie +to beat backe the Romans, and to staie them from comming to land. +[Sidenote: A strange maner of women.] +Amongst the men, a number of women were also running vp and downe +as they had béene out of their wits, in garments like to wild roges, +with their haire hanging downe about their shoulders, and bearing +firebrands in their hands. There was also a companie of their priests +[Sidenote: The Druids.] +or philosophers called Druides, who with stretched forth hands +towards heauen, thundered out curssings against the Romans in most +bitter wise. + +The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that +(as men benummed of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to +be wounded and slaine like senselesse creatures, till by the calling +vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other in no wise to +feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder +their ensignes, bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with +their owne fire smooldered and burnt them to ashes. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey won by the Romans.] +To conclude, the Romane lieutenant got possession of the whole Ile, +wherein he placed garisons of men of warre to kéepe the people there +in subiection. He also caused their woods to be cut downe, that +[Sidenote: Woods cut downe.] +were consecrated to their gods, within the which they were accustomed +to sacrifice sush as they tooke prisoners, and by the view of their +intrailes, in dismembring them, to learne of their gods some oracles +and such other things as should come to passe. + +But now in the meane time, whilest Paulinus was abroad about this +enterprise, the Britains began to conferre togither of they great and +importable miseries, of their grieuous state of seruitude, of their +iniuries and wrongs, which they dailie susteined: how that by +sufferance they profited nothing, but still were oppressed with more +[Sidenote: Lieutenant & procurator.] +heauie burthens. Ech countrie in times past had onelie one king +to rule them: now had they two, the lieutenant by his capteins and +souldiers spilling their bloud, and the procurator or receiuer (as we +may call him) bereauing them of their goods and substance. The concord +or discord betwixt those that were appointed to rule ouer them, was +all alike hurtfull vnto the subiects, the lieutenant oppressing them +by his capteins and men of warre, and the procurator or receiuer +by force and reprochfull demeanours, polling them by insufferable +exactions. + +There was nothing frée from the couetous extortion and filthie +concupiscence of these vnsatiable persons, for in these daies (say +they) the greatest spoiler is the valiantest man, and most commonlie +our houses are robbed and ransacked by a sort of cowardlie raskals +that haue no knowledge of anie warlike feats at all. Our children are +taken from us, we are forced to go to the musters, and are set foorth +to serue in forren parties, as those that are ignorant which way to +spend our liues in the quarell of our owne countrie. What a number of +souldiers haue beene transported ouer from hence to serue in other +lands, if a iust account were taken thereof: The Germans by manhood +haue cast (said they) from their shoulders the heauie yoke of bondage, +and are not defended as we are with the maine Ocean sea, but onelie +with a riuer. Where the Britains haue their countrie, their wiues and +parents, as iust causes of war to fight for: the Romans haue none at +all, but a couetous desire to gaine by rapine, and to satisfie their +excessiue lusts. + +They might easilie be compelled to depart the countrie, as Iulius +Cesar was, if the Britains would shew some proofe of the noble +prowesse that was euidentlie found in their woorthie ancestors, and +not shrinke or quaile in courage for the misaduenture that should +happilie chance by fighting one battell or two. Greatest force +and constancie alwaies remaineth with those that séek to deliuer +themselues from miserie. Now appeared it that the gods had taken some +pitie of the poore Britains, who by their diuine power did withhold +the chiefe capteine of the Romans with his armie, as it were banished +[Sidenote: Occasion not be neglected.] +in an other Iland. Let vs then (said they) take the oportunitie +of time and good occasion offered, and foorthwith procéed in our +businesse: for lesse danger it is manfullie to aduenture, and to go +forward with our purpose, than to be bewraied and taken in these our +consultations. Thus hauing taken aduise togither, and wholie misliking +their present state, they determined to take weapon in hand, and so by +force to seeke for reformation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A catalog of causes or greeuances inciting the Britains to rebell +against the Romans, wherein is shewed what iniuries they susteined: +of diuers strange wonders and apparitions; the chiefe cause of the +Britains insurging against the Romans, they admitted as well women +as men to publike gouernement. A description of queene Voadicia, hir +personage and maner of attire_. + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. 14_.] +The Britains indeed were occasioned to doo as they purposed, +thorough manie euill parts practised by the Romans greatlie to their +griefs and displeasures. For whereas Prasutagus (who is supposed +[Sidenote: Prasutagus.] +by Hector Boetius to be Aruiragus, king of the people called +[Sidenote: The Oxfordshire and Glocestershire men.] +Iceni) had made the emperour and two of his owne daughters his heires, +supposing by that meane to haue his kingdome and familie preserued +from all iniurie: it happened quite contrarie to that his expectation. +For his kingdome was spoiled by the Romane capteins, his wife +[Sidenote: Voadicia alias Bunduica.] +named Voadicia beaten by the souldiers, his daughters rauished, the +péeres of the realme bereft of their goods, and the kings friends made +and reputed as bondslaues. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +There was also an other great cause that stirred the Britains to +this rebellion, which was the confiscating of their goods: for +whereas Claudius himselfe had pardoned the chiefest persons of the +forfeitures, Decianus Catus the procurator of that Ile mainteined that +[Sidenote: Vsurie.] +the same ought to be renewed againe. To this an other griefe was +added, that where Seneca had lent to the nobilitie of the Ile, foure +hundred sestercies, ech hundred being 500000 pounds starling, or +thereabout, vpon great interest, he required the whole summe togither +by great rigor and violence, although he forced them at the first to +take this monie to vsurie. + +Also such old souldiers as were placed by waie of a colonie, to +inhabit the towne of Camelodunum, expelled manie of the Britains out +of their houses, droue them out of their possessions and lands, and +accounted the Britains as slaues, and as though they had bene captiue +prisoners or bondmen. Besides this, the temple there that was built in +honor of Claudius, as an altar of eternall rule and gouernment, was +serued with préests, the which vnder colour of religion did spoile, +consume and deuoure the goods of all men. + +Moreouer, such strange sights and woonders as chanced about the same +time, pricked the Britains the rather forward. For the image of the +goddesse Victoria in the temple at Camelodunum, slipping downe, turned +hir backe (as who should saie she gaue place as vanquished) to the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +enimies. Also in the hall where the courts of iustice were kept, there +was a maruellous great noise heard, with much laughing, and a sturre +[Sidenote: Strange woonders.] +in the theatre, with great wéeping and lamentable howling, at such +time as it was certeinlie knowne that there was no creature there +to make anie noise. The sea at a spring tide appeared of a bloudie +colour, and when the tide was gone backe, there were séene on the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +sands the shapes & figures of mens bodies. Women also as rauished +of their wits, and being as it were in a furie, prophesied that +destruction was at hand, so that the Britains were put greatlie in +hope, and the Romans in feare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +But those things, whether they chanced by the craft of man, or +illusion of the diuell; or whether they procéeded of some naturall +cause, which the common people oftentimes taketh superstitiouslie, in +place of strange woonders signifieng things to follow, we would +let passe, least we might be thought to offend religion; the which +teaching all things to be doone by the prouidence of God, despiseth +the vaine predictions of haps to come, if the order of an historie +(saith Polydor Virgil) would so permit, the which requireth all things +to be written in maner as they fall out and come to passe. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. li. 15_. Voadicia by Dion Cassius is called +Bunuica.] +But the Britains were chiefelie mooued to rebellion by the iust +complaint of Voadicia, declaring how vnséemelie she had beene vsed +and intreated at the hands of the Romans: and because she was most +earnestlie bent to séeke reuenge of their iniuries, and hated the name +of the Romans most of all other, they chose hir to be capteine (for +[Sidenote: The ancient Britains admitted as well women as men to +publike gouernment.] +they in rule and gouvernment made no difference then of sex, +whether they committed the same to man or woman) and so by a generall +conspiracie, the more part of the people hauing also allured the Essex +men vnto rebellion, rose and assembled themselues togither to make +warre against the Romans. There were of them a hundred and twentie +thousand got togither in one armie vnder the leading of the said +Voadicia, or Bunduica (as some name hir.) + +She therefore to encourage hir people against the enimies, mounted vp +into an high place raised vp of turfes & sods made for the nonce, out +of the which she made a long & verie pithie oration. Hir mightie tall +personage, comelie shape, seuere countenance, and sharpe voice, with +hir long and yellow tresses of heare reaching downe to hir thighes, +hir braue and gorgeous apparell also caused the people to haue hir in +great reuerence. She ware a chaine of gold, great and verie massie, +and was clad in a lose kirtle of sundrie colours, and aloft therevpon +she had a thicke Irish mantell: hereto in hir hand (as hir custome +was) she bare a speare, to shew hirselfe the more dreadfull. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The oration of queene Voadicia full of prudence and spirit to the +Britains, for their encouragement against the Romans, wherein she +rippeth vp the vile seruitude and shamefull wrongs which their enimies +inflicted vpon them, with other matters verie motiue, both concerning +themselues and their enimies, hir supplication and praier for +victorie_. + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now Voadicia being prepared (as you heare) set foorth with such +maiestie, that she greatlie incouraged the Britains; vnto whome for +their better animating and emboldening, she vttered this gallant +oration in manner and forme following. + +[Sidenote: The oration of Voadicia.] +"I doo suppose (my louers and friends) that there is no man here +but dooth well vnderstand how much libertie and fréedome is to be +preferred before thraldome and bondage. But if there haue bene anie +of you so deceiued with the Romane persuasions, that ye did not for +a time see a difference betwéene them, and iudged whether of both is +most to be desired: now I hope that hauing tried what it is to be +vnder both, ye will with me reforme your iudgement, and by the harmes +alreadie taken, acknowledge your ouersight, and forsake your former +error. Againe, in that a number of you haue rashlie preferred an +externall souereigntie before the customes and lawes of your owne +countrie, you doo at this time (I doubt not) perfectlie vnderstand how +much free pouertie is to be preferred before great riches, wherevnto +seruitude is annexed; and much wealth in respect of captiuitie vnder +forren magistrats, wherevpon slauerie attendeth. For what thing (I +beséech you) can there be so vile & grieuous vnto the nature of man, +that hath not happened vnto vs, sithens the time that the Romans haue +bene acquainted with this Iland? + +"Are we not all in manner bereaued of our riches & possessions? Doo +not we (beside other things that we giue, and the land that we till +for their onelie profit) paie them all kinds of tributs, yea for our +owne carcases? How much better is it to be once aloft and fortunate in +deed, than vnder the forged and false title of libertie, continuallie +to paie for our redemption a fréedome? How much is it more commendable +to lose our liues in defense of our countrie, than to carie about not +so much as our heads toll frée, but dailie oppressed & laden with +innumerable exactions? But to what end doo I remember and speake of +these things, since they will not suffer by death to become frée? For +what and how much we paie for them that are dead, there is not one +here but he dooth well vnderstand. Among other nations such as are +brought into seruitude, are alwaies by death discharged of their +bondage: onelie to the Romans the dead doo still liue, and all to +increaes their commoditie and gaine. + +"If anie of vs be without monie (as I know not well how and which way +we should come by anie) then are we left naked, & spoiled of that +which remaineth in our houses, & we our selues as men left desolate & +dead. How shall we looke for better dealing at their hands hereafter, +that in the beginning deale so vncourteouslie with vs: since there is +no man that taketh so much as a wild beast, but at the first he will +cherish it, and with some gentlenesse win it to familiaritie? But we +ourselues (to saie the trueth) are authors of our owne mischiefe, +which suffered them at the first to set foot within our Iland, and did +not by and by driue them backe as we did Cesar, or slue them with our +swords when they were yet farre off, and that the aduenturing hither +was dangerous: as we did sometime to Augustus and Caligula. + +"We therefore that inhabit this Iland, which for the quantitie thereof +maie well be called a maine, although it be inuironed about with the +Ocean sea, diuiding vs from other nations, so that we séeme to liue +vpon an other earth, & vnder a seuerall heauen: we, euen we (I saie) +whose name hath béene long kept hid from the wisest of them all, are +now contemned and troden vnder foot, of them who studie nothings +else but how to become lords & haue rule of other men. Wherefore my +welbeloued citizens, friendes, and kinsfolkes (for I thinke we are all +of kin, since we were borne and dwell in this Ile, and haue one name +common to vs all) let vs now, euen now (I saie, because we haue not +doone it heretofore, and whilest the remembrance of our ancient +libertie remaineth) sticke togither, and performe that thing which +dooth perteine to valiant and hardie courages, to the end we maie +inioie, not onelie the name of libertie, but also freédome it selfe, +and thereby leaue our force and valiant acts for an example to our +posteritie: for if we which haue béene liberallie and in honest maner +brought vp, should vtterlie forget our pristinate felicitie: what may +we hope for in those that shall sucéed vs, and are like to be brought +vp in miserie and thraldome? + +"I doo not make rehearsall of these things vnfo you, to the end I +would prouoke you to mislike of this present estate of things (for +well I know you abhorre it sufficientlie alreadie) neither to put you +in feare of those things that are likelie to fall hereafter (because +you doo feare and sée them verie well before hand) but to the end I +maie giue you heartie thankes and woorthie commendations, for that +of your owne accord and meanes you determine so well to prouide for +things necessarie (thereby to helpe both me and your selues with +willing minds) as men that are nothing in doubt of all the Romane +puissance. + +"If you consider the number of your enimies, it is not greater than +yours: if you regard their strength, they are no stronger than you: +and all this dooth easilie appéere by the bassinets, habergeons, & +greiues wherewith you be armed; and also by the walls, ditches and +trenches that you haue made for your own defense, to kéepe off their +excursions, who had rather fight with vs a farre off, than cope & +deale with vs at hand strokes, as our custome of the warres and +martiall discipline dooth require. Wherefore we doo so farre exceed +them in force, that in mine opinion, our armie is more strong than +stone walls, and one of our targets woorth all the armour that they +doo beare vpon them: by meanes whereof, if the victorie be ours, we +shall soone make them captiues: or if we lose the field, we shall +easilie escape the danger. + +"Furthermore, if after the flight we shall indeuour to méet anie +where, we haue the marishes héere beneath to hide vs in, and the hils +round about to kéepe them off, so that by no meanes they shall haue +their purpose of vs, whereas they being ouercharged with heavie +armour, shall neither be able to follow, if we flée; nor escape out of +our danger, if they be put to flight: if they happen to breake out at +anie time as desirous to make a rode, they returne by and by to their +appointed places, where we maie take them as birds alreadie in cage. +In all which things, as they are farre inferior to vs, so most of all +in this, that they can not indure hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and +sunneshine, as we can doo. + +"In their houses also and tents, they make much account of their baked +meates, wine, oile, and abroad of the shadow, that if anie of these +doo faile them, they either die foorthwith, or else in time they +languish and consume: whereas to vs euerie hearbe and root is meat, +euerie iuice an oile, all water pleasant wine, and euerie trée an +house. Beside this, there is no place of the land vnknowne to vs, +neither yet vnfriendlie to succour vs at néed; whereas to the Romans +they are for the most part vnknowne and altogither dangerous, if they +should stand in néed: we can with ease swim ouer euerie riuer both +naked and clad, which they with their great ships are scarse able to +performe. Wherefore with hope and good lucke let vs set vpon them +couragiouslie, and teach them to vnderstand, that since they are no +better than hares and foxes, they attempt a wrong match, when they +indeuour to subdue the grehounds and the woolues." With which words +the quéene let an hare go out of hir lap, as it were thereby to giue +prognostication of hir successe, which comming well to passe, all the +companie showted, and cried out vpon such as not long before had doone +such violence to so noble a personage. Presentlie vpon this action, +Voadicia calling them togither againe, procéeded forward with hir +praier, which she made before them all, holding vp hir hands after +this manner: + +"I giue thée thanks O Adraste, and call vpon thee thou woman of women, +which reignest not ouer the burthen-bearing Aegyptians, as Nitocris; +neither ouer their merchants, as dooth Semiramis, for these trifles we +haue learned latelie of the Romans: neither ouer the people of Rome, +as a little héeretofore Messalina, then Agrippina, and now Nero, who +is called by the name of a man, but is in déed a verie woman, as dooth +appéere by his voice, his harpe, and his womans attire: but I call +vpon thee as a goddesse which gouernest the Britains, that haue +learned not to till the field, nor to be handicrafts men, but to lead +their liues in the warres after the best manner: who also as they +haue all other things, so haue they likewise their wiues and children +common, whereby the women haue the like audacitie with the men, and no +lesse boldnesse in the warres than they. + +"Therefore sithens I haue obteined a kingdome among such a mightie +people, I beséech thée to grant them victorie, health, and libertie, +against these contentious, wicked, and vnsatiable men (if they maie be +called men, which vse warme bathings, delicate fare, hot wines, swéet +oiles, soft beds, fine musicke, and so vnkindlie lusts) who are +altogither giuen to couetousnesse and crueltie, as their dooings doo +declare. Let not I beséech thée, the Neronian or Domitian tyrannie +anie more preuaile vpon me, or (to saie truth) vpon thée, but let them +rather serue thée, whose heauie oppression thou hast borne withall +a long season, and that thou wilt still be our helper onlie, our +defender, our fauourer, and our furtherer, O noble ladie, I hartilie +beséech thée." + + * * * * * + + + + +_Queene Voadicia marcheth against the Romans, to whom she giueth +a shamefull and bloudie ouerthrow without anie motion of mercie, +dredfull examples of the Britains crueltie indifferentlie executed +without exception of age or sex_. + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +When Voadicia had made an end of hir praier, she set forward against +hir enimies, who at that time were destitute in déed of their +lieutenant Paulinus Suetonius, being as then in Anglesey (as before +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._ Catus Decianus procurator.] +ye haue heard.) Wherefore the Romans that were in Camelodunum sent for +aid vnto Catus Decianus the procurator, that is, the emperours agent, +treasurer, or receiuer, for in that citie (although it were inhabited +by Romans) there was no great garrison of able men. Wherevpon the +procurator sent them such aid as he thought he might well spare, which +was not past two hundred men, and those not sufficientlie furnished +either with weapon or armour. + +The citie was not compassed with anie rampire or ditch for defense, +such as happilie were priuie to the conspiracie, hauing put into the +heads of the Romans that no fortification néeded: neither were the +aged men nor women sent awaie, whereby the yoong able personages might +without trouble of them the better attend to the defense of the citie: +but euen as they had béene in all suertie of peace, and frée from +suspicion of anie warre, they were suddenlie beset with the huge armie +of the Britains, and so all went to spoile and fire that could be +found without the inclosure of the temple, into the which the Romane +souldiers (striken with sudden feare by this sudden comming of +the enimies) had thronged themselues. Where being assieged by the +Britains, within the space of two daies the place was woonne, and they +that were found within it, slaine euerie mothers sonne. + +After this, the Britains incouraged with this victorie, went to méet +with Petus Cerealis lieutenant of the legion, surnamed the ninth, +and boldlie incountering with the same legion, gaue the Romans the +ouerthrow and slue all the footmen, so that Cerealis with much adoo +escaped with his horssemen, and got him backe to the campe, and saued +himselfe within the trenches. Catus the procurator being put in feare +with this ouerthrow, and perceiuing what hatred the Britains bare +towards him, hauing with his couetousnesse thus brought the warre vpon +the head of the Romans, got him ouer into Gallia. + +But Suetonius aduertised of these dooings, came backe out of Anglesey, +and with maruellous constancie marched through the middest of his +enimies to London, being as then not greatlie peopled with Romans, +though there was a colonie of them, but full of merchants, and well +prouided of vittels: he was in great doubt at his comming thither, +whether he might best staie there as in a place most conuenient, +or rather séeke some other more easie to be defended. At length +considering the small number of his men of warre, and remembring how +Cerealis had sped by his too much rashnesse, he thought better with +the losing of one towne to saue the whole, than to put all in danger +of irrecouerable losse. And therewith nothing mooued at the praier & +teares of them which besought him of aid and succour, he departed, and +those that would go with him he receiued into his armie, those that +taried behind were oppressed by the enimies: and the like destruction +happened to them of Verolanium, a towne in those daies of great +fame, situat néere to the place where the towne of Saint Albons now +standeth. + +The Britains leauing the castels and fortresses vnassaulted, followed +their game in spoiling of those places which were easie to get, and +where great plentie of riches was to be found, vsing their victorie +with such crueltie, that they slue (as the report went) to the number +[Sidenote: 80000, saith _Dion_.] +of 70 thousand Romans, and such as tooke their part in the said +places by the Britains thus woon and conquered. For there was nothing +with the Britains but slaughter, fire, gallowes, and such like, so +earnestlie were they set on reuenge. They spared neither age nor sex: +women of great nobilitie and woorthie fame they tooke and hanged vp +naked, and cutting off their paps, sowed them to their mouthes, that +they might séeme as if they sucked and fed on them, and some of their +bodies they stretched out in length, and thrust them on sharpe stakes. +All these things they did in great despite whilest they sacrificed in +their temples, and made feasts, namelie in the wood consecrated to the +honour of Andates, for so they called the goddesse of victorie whom +they worshipped most reuerentlie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_P. Suetonius the Romane with a fresh power assalteth the Britains, +whose armie consisted as well of women as men: queene Voadicia +incourageth hir souldiers, so dooth Suetonius his warriors, both +armies haue a sharpe conflict, the Britains are discomfited and +miserablie slaine, the queene dieth, Penius Posthumus killeth +himselfe, the Britains are persecuted with fire, swoord, and famine, +the grudge betweene Cassicianus and Suetonius, whome Polycletus is +sent to reconcile, of his traine, and how the Britains repined at +him_. + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +In this meane time there came ouer to the aid of Suetonius, the legion +surnamed the 14, and other bands of souldiers and men of warre, to +the number of ten thousand in the whole, wherevpon (chieflie bicause +vittels began to faile him) he prepared to giue battell to his +enimies, and chose out a plot of ground verie strong within straits, +and backed with a wood, so that the enimies could not assault his +campe but on the front: yet by reason of their great multitude and +[Sidenote: The Britains were at that time 230000 men, (as _Dion_ +writeth.)] +hope of victorie conceiued by their late prosperous successe, the +Britains vnder the conduct of quéene Voadicia aduentured to giue +battell, hauing their women there to be witnesses of the victorie, +whome they placed in charrets at the vttermost side of their field. + +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit. li. 15 Dion Cassius_.] +Voadicia, or Boudicia (for so we find hir written by some copies, +and Bonuica also by Dion) hauing hir daughters afore hir, being +mounted into a charret, as she passed by the souldiers of ech sundrie +countrie, told them "it was a thing accustomed among the Britains to +go to the warres vnder the leading of women; but she was not now come +foorth as one borne of such noble ancestors as she was descended from, +to fight for hir kingdome and riches; but as one of the meaner sort, +rather to defend hir lost libertie, and to reuenge hir selfe of the +enimie, for their crueltie shewed in scourging hir like a vagabond, +and shamefull deflouring of hir daughters: for the licentious lust of +the Romans was so farre spred and increased, that they spared neither +the bodies of old nor yoong, but were readie most shamefullie to abuse +them, hauing whipped hir naked being an aged woman, and forced hir +daughters to satisfie their filthie concupiscence: but (saith she) the +gods are at hand readie to take iust reuenge. + +"The legion that presumed to incounter with vs is slaine and beaten +downe. The residue kéepe them close within their holds, or else séeke +waies how to flée out of the countrie: they shall not be once able so +much as to abide the noise and clamor of so manie thousands as we +are héere assembled, much lesse the force of our great puissance and +dreadfull hands. If ye therefore (said she) would wey and consider +with your selues your huge numbers of men of warre, and the causes why +ye haue mooued this warre, ye would surelie determine either in this +battell to die with honour, or else to vanquish the enimie by plaine +force, for so (quoth she) I being a woman am fullie resolued, as for +you men ye maie (if ye list) liue and be brought into bondage." + +"Neither did Suetonius ceasse to exhort his people: for though he +trusted in their manhood, yet as he had diuided his armie into three +battels, so did he make vnto ech of them a seuerall oration, willing +them not to feare the shrill and vaine menacing threats of the +Britains, sith there was among them more women than men, they hauing +no skill in warrelike discipline, and heereto being naked without +furniture of armour, would foorthwith giue place when they should +féele the sharpe points of the Romans weapons, and the force of them +by whom they had so often béene put to flight. In manie legions (saith +he) the number is small of them that win the battell. Their glorie +therefore should be the more, for that they being a small number +should win the fame due to the whole armie, if they would (thronging +togither) bestow their weapons fréelie, and with their swoords and +targets preasse forward vpon their enimies, continuing the slaughter +without regard to the spoile, they might assure themselues when the +victorie was once atchiued to haue all at their pleasures." + +Such forwardnesse in the souldiers followed vpon this exhortation of +the couragious generall, that euerie one prepared himselfe so readilie +to doo his dutie, and that with such a shew of skill and experience, +that Suetonius hauing conceiued an assured hope of good lucke to +follow, caused the trumpets to sound to the battell. The onset was +giuen in the straits, greatlie to the aduantage of the Romans, being +but a handfull in comparison to their enimies. The fight in the +beginning was verie sharpe and cruell, but in the end the Britains +being a let one to another (by reason of the narrownesse of the place) +were not able to susteine the violent force of the Romans their +enimies, so that they were constreind to giue backe, and so being +disordered were put to flight, and vtterlie discomfited. + +[Sidenote: 80000 Britains slaine.] +There were slaine of the Britains that day few lesse than 80000 +[*_sic_] +thousand*, as Tacitus writeth. For the straits being stopped with +the charrets, staied the flight of the Britains, so as they could +not easilie escape: and the Romans were so set on reuenge, that +they spared neither man nor woman, so that manie were slaine in the +battell, manie amongst the charrets, and a great number at the +woods side, which way they made their flight, and manie were taken +prisoners. Those that escaped, would haue fought a new battell, but +in the meane time Voadicia, or Bonuica deceassed of a naturall +infirmitie, as Dion Cassius writeth, but other say that she poisoned +hir selfe, and so died, because she would not come into the hands of +hir bloodthirstie enimies. There died of the Romans part in this most +notable battell 400, and about the like number were grieuouslie hurt +and most pitifullie wounded. + +[Sidenote: Penius Posthumous sleieth himselfe.] +Penius Posthumous maister of the campe of the second legion, +vnderstanding the prosperous successe of the other Romane capteins, +because he had defrauded his legion of the like glorie, and had +refused to obeie the commandements of the generall, contrarie to the +vse of warre, slue himselfe. + +After this all the Romane armie was brought into the field to make an +end of the residue of the warre. And the emperour caused a supplie to +be sent out of Germanie being 2000 legionarie souldiers, and 8 bands +of aids, with 1000 horssemen, by whose comming the bands of the ninth +legion were supplied with legionarie souldiers, and those bands and +wings of horssemen were appointed to places where they might winter, +and such people of the Britains as were either enimies, or else stood +in doubt whether to be friends or enimies in déed, were persecuted +with fire and sword. + +But nothing more afflicted them than famine, for whilest euerie man +gaue himselfe to the warre, and purposed to haue liued vpon the +prouision of the Romans and other their enimies, they applied not +themselues to tillage, nor to anie husbanding of the ground, and long +[Sidenote: Julius Cassickinus procurator.] +it was yer they (being a fierce kind of people) fell to embrace +peace, by reason that Iulius Cassicianus, who was sent into Britaine +as successor to Catus, fell at square with Suetonius, and by his +priuat grudge hindered the prosperous successe of publike affaires. +He sticked not to write to Rome, that except an other were sent to +succéed in the roome that Suetonius did beare, there would be no end +of the warres. Herevpon one Polycletus, which sometime had béene a +bondman, was sent into Britaine, as a commissioner to surueie the +state of the countrie, to reconcile the legat and procurator, & also +to pacifie all troubles within the Ile. The port which Polycletus +bare was great, for he was furnished with no small traine that +attended vpon him, so that his presence seemed verie dreadfull to the +Romans. But the Britains that were not yet pacified, thought great +scorne to see such honorable capteins and men of warre as the Romans +were, to submit themselues to the order of such a one as had béene a +bondslaue. + + * * * * * + + + + +_In what state the Iland stood whiles Aruiragus reigned; the dissolute +and loose gouernement of Petronius Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus, +and Victius Volanus, thrée lieutenants in Brltaine for the Romane +emperours, of Iulius Frontinus who vanquished the Silures_. + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: PETRONIUS TURPILIANUS LIEUTENANT.] +In place of Suetonius, was Petronius Turpilianus (who had latelie +béene consull) appointed to haue gouernance of the armie in Britaine, +the which neither troubling the enimie, nor being of the enimie in +anie wise troubled or prouoked, did colour slouthfull rest with +the honest name of peace and quietnesse, and so sat still without +exploiting anie notable enterprise. + +[Sidenote: TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS LIEUTENANT.] +After Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus was made lieutenant of +Britaine, who likewise with courteous demeanour sought to kéepe the +Britains in rest rather than by force to compell them. And now began +the people of the Ile to beare with pleasant faults and flattering +vices, so that the ciuill warres that chanced in those daies after +the death of the emperour Nero at home, might easilie excuse the +slouthfulnesse of the Romane lieutenants. + +Moreouer, there rose dissention amongest their men of warre, which +being vsed to lie abroad in the field, could not agrée with the idle +life; so that Trebellius Maximus was glad to hide himselfe from the +sight of the souldiers being in an vprore against him, till at length +humbling himselfe vnto them further than became his estate, he +gouerned by waie of intreatie, or rather at their courtesie. And so +was the commotion staied without bloudshed, the armie as it were +hauing by couenant obtained to liue licentiouslie, and the capteine +suertie to liue without danger to be murthered. + +[Sidenote: VICTIUS VOLANUS LIEUTENAT.] +Neither Victius Volanus that succéeded Maximus whilest the time of +the ciuill warres as yet endured, did trouble the Britains, vsing the +same slacknesse and slouth that the other lieutenants had vsed before +him, and permitted the like licence to the presumptuous souldiers: but +yet was Volanus innocent as touching himselfe, and not hated for +anie notable crime or vice: so that he purchased fauour, although +authoritie wanted. + +But after that the emperour Vsepasianus had subdued his aduersaries, +and atteined the imperiall gouernment, as well ouer Britaine as ouer +other parts of the world, there were sent hither right noble +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +capteins, with diuers notable bands of souldiers, and Petilius +Cerialis being appointed lieutenant, put the Britains in great feare, +by inuading the Brigants the mightiest nation of all the whole Iland: +and fighting manie battels, and some right bloudie with those people, +he subdued a great part of the countrie at the last. + +[Sidenote: IULIUS FRONTINUS LIEUTENAT.] +After him succéeded as lieutenant of Britaine, one Iulius +Frontinus, who vanquished and brought to the Romane subiection by +force of armes the people called Silures, striuing not onelie against +the stout resistance of the men, but also with the hardnesse & +combersome troubles of the places. + +¶ Thus may you perceiue in what state this Ile stood in the time that +Aruiragus reigned in the same, as is supposed by the best histories of +the old Britains: so that it may be thought that he gouerned rather a +part of this land, than the whole, and bare the name of a king, +the Romans not hauing so reduced the countrie into the forme of a +prouince, but that the Britains bare rule in diuerse parts thereof, +and that by the permission of the Romans, which neuerthelesse had +their lieutenants and procuratours here, that bare the greatest rule +vnder the aforesaid emperours. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland under Marius the sonne of Aruiragus, the +comming in of the Picts with Roderike their king, his death in the +field, the Picts and Scots enter into mutuall aliance, the monument of +Marius, his victorie ouer the Picts, his death and interrement_. + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MARIUS. _Hector Boetius_ saith that his Marius was a +Romane. 73.] +After the decease of Aruiragus, this sonne Marius succeeded him in +the estate, and began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 73. In the +old English chronicle he is fondlie called Westmer, & was a verie wise +man, gouerning the Britains in great prosperitie, honour and wealth. + +In the time of this mans reigne, the people called Picts inuaded +[Sidenote: Of these you maie reade more in pag. _Matth. West._] +this land, who are iudged to be descended of the nation of the +Scithians, neare kinsmen to the Goths, both by countrie and maners, +a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres. This people with +their ringleader Roderike, or (as some name him) Londorike, entering +the Ocean sea after the maner of rouers, arriued on the coasts of +Ireland, where they required of the Scots new seats to inhabit in: for +the Scots which (as some thinke) were also descended of the Scithians, +did as then inhabit in Ireland: but doubting that it should not be for +their profit to receiue so warlike a nation into that Ile, feining as +it were a friendship, and excusing the matter by the narrownesse of +the countrie, declared to the Picts, that the Ile of Britaine was not +farre from thence, being a large countrie and a plentifull, and not +greatly inhabited: wherefore they counselled them to go thither, +promising vnto them all the aid that might be. + +The Picts more desirous of spoile than of rule or gouernment without +delaie returned to the sea, and sailed towards Britaine, where being +arriued, they first inuaded the north parts thereof, and finding +there but few inhabiters, they began to wast and forrey the countrie: +whereof when king Marius was aduertised, with all speed he assembled +[Sidenote: Roderike king of Picts slaine.] +his people, and made towards his enimies, and giuing them battell, +obtained the victorie, so that Roderike was there slaine in the field, +and his people vanquished. + +Vnto those that escaped with life, Marius granted licence that they +might inhabit in the north part of Scotland called Catnesse, being as +then a countrie in maner desolate without habitation: wherevpon they +withdrew thither, and setled themselues in those parties. And bicause +the Britains disdained to grant vnto them their daughters in mariage, +they sent vnto the Scots into Ireland, requiring to haue wiues of +their nation. The Scots agréed to their request, with this condition, +that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings linage to succéed +in the kingdome of the Picts, then should they name one of the womans +side to be their king: which ordinance was receiued and obserued euer +after amongst the Picts, so long as their kingdome endured. + +Thus the Picts next after the Romans were the first of anie strangers +that came into this land to inhabit as most writers affirme, although +the Scotish chronicles auouch the Picts to be inhabiters here before +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Matth. West._] +the incarnation of our sauiour. But the victorie which Marius obteined +against their king Roderike, chanced in the yéere after the +incarnation 87. In remembrance of which victorie, Marius caused a +stone to be erected in the same place where the battell was fought, in +which stone was grauen these words, _Marij victoria_. The English +chronicle saith that this stone was set vp on Stanesmoore, and that +the whole countrie thereabout taking name of this Marius, was +Westmaria, now called Westmerland. + +King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies, and escaped the danger of +their dreadfull inuasion, gaue his mind to the good gouernement of +his people, and the aduancement of the common wealth of the realme, +continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie, and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Thus find we in the British and English +histories touching this Marius.] +finallie departed this life, after he had reigned (as most writers +say) 52, or 53 yéeres. Howbeit there be that write, that he died in +the yéere of our Lord 78, and so reigned not past fiue or six yéeres +at the most. He was buried at Caerleill, leauing a sonne behind him +called Coill. + +Humfrey Lhoyd séemeth to take this man and his father Aruiragus to be +all one person, whether mooued thereto by some catalog of kings which +he saw, or otherwise, I cannot affirme: but speaking of the time when +the Picts and Scots should first come to settle themselues in this +land, he hath these words; Neither was there anie writers of name, +that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time, +about the yeere of the incarnation 72: at what time Meurig or Maw, or +Aruiragus reigned in Britaine, in which time our annales doo report, +that a certeine kind of people liuing by pirasie and rouing on the +sea, came foorth of Sueden, or Norwaie, vnder the guiding of one +Rhithercus, who landed in Albania, wasting all the countrie with +robbing and spoiling so farre as Caerleill, where he was vanquished in +battell, and slaine by Muragus, with a great part of his people; the +residue that escaped by flight, fled to their ships, and so conueied +themselues into the Iles of Orkney and Scotland, where they abode +quietlie a great while after. + +Thus farre haue I thought good to shew of the foresaid Lhoyds booke, +for that it seemeth to carie a great likelihood of truth with it, for +the historie of the Picts, which vndoubtedlie I thinke were not as yet +inhabiting in Britaine, but rather first placing themselues in +the Iles of Orkney, made inuasion into the maine Ile of Britaine +afterwards, as occasion was offred. In the British toong they are +called Pightiaid, that is Pightians, and so likewise were they called +in the Scotish, and in their owne toong. Now will we shew what chanced +in this Ile, during the time of the foresaid Marius his supposed +reigne, as is found in the Romane histories. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Iulius Agricola is deputed by Vespasian to gouerne Britaine, he +inuadeth the Ile of Anglesey, the inhabitants yeeld vp them selues, +the commendable gouernement of Agricola, his worthie practises to +traine the Britains to ciuilitie, his exploits fortunatelie atchiued +against diuerse people, as the Irish, &c._ + +THE 16. CHAPTER. + + +After Iulius Frontinus, the emperor Vespasian sent Iulius Agricola to +[Sidenote: Iulius Agricola lieutenant.] +succéed in the gouernement of Britaine, who comming ouer about the +midst of summer, found the men of warre thorough want of a lieutenant +negligent inough, so those that looking for no trouble, thought +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacit in uit. Agr._] +themselues out of all danger, where the enimies neuerthelesse watched +[Sidenote: The first yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +vpon the next occasion to worke some displeasure, and were readie +on ech hand to mooue rebellion, For the people called Ordouices, +that inhabited in the countrie of Chesshire, Lancashire and part of +Shropshire, had latelie before ouerthrowne, and in maner vtterlie +destroied a wing of such horssemen as soiourned in their parties, by +reason whereof all the prouince was brought almost into an assured +hope to recouer libertie. + +Agricola vpon his comming ouer, though summer was now halfe past, and +that the souldiers lodging here & there abroad in the countrie, were +more disposed to take rest, than to set forward into the field +against the enimies, determined yet to resist the present danger: and +therewith assembling the men of warre of the Romans, and such other +aids as he might make, he inuaded their countrie that had done this +foresaid displeasure, and slue the most part of all the inhabitants +thereof. Not thus contented (for that he thought good to follow the +steps of fauourable fortune, and knowing that as the begining proued, +so would the whole sequele of his affaires by likelihood come to +passe) he purposed to make a full conquest of the Ile of Anglesey, +[Sidenote: The Ile of Anglesey.] +from the conquest wherof the Romane lieutenant Paulinus was called +backe by the rebellion of other of the Britains, as before ye haue +heard. + +But whereas he wanted ships for the furnishing of his enterprise, his +wit and policie found a shift to supplie that defect: for choosing out +a piked number of such Britains as he had there with him in aid, which +knew the foords and shallow places of the streames there, and withall +were verie skilfull in swimming (as the maner of the countrie then +was) he appointed them to passe ouer on the sudden into the Ile, +onelie with their horsses, armor, and weapon: which enterprise they so +spéedilie, and with so good successe atchiued, that the inhabitants +much amazed with that dooing (which looked for a nauie of ships to +haue transported ouer their enimies by sea, and therefore watched +on the coast) began to thinke that nothing was able to be defended +against such kind of warriors that got ouer into the Ile after such +sort and maner. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey yéelded to Agricola.] +And therefore making sute for peace, they deliuered the Ile into +the hands of Agricola, whose fame by these victories dailie much +increased, as of one that tooke pleasure in trauell, and attempting to +atchiue dangerous enterprises, in stead whereof his predecessors had +delighted, to shew the maiesties of their office by vaine brags, +statelie ports, and ambitious pomps. For Agricola turned not the +prosperous successe of his procéedings into vanitie, but rather with +neglecting his fame, increased it to the vttermost, among them that +iudged what hope was to be looked for of things by him to be atchiued, +which with silence kept secret these his so woorthie dooings. + +Moreouer, perceiuing the nature of the people in this Ile of Britaine, +and sufficientlie taught by other mens example, that armor should +little auaile where iniuries followed to the disquieting of the +[Sidenote: Agricola his good gouernment.] +people, he thought best to take away and remooue all occasions of +warre. And first beginning with himselfe and his souldiers, tooke +order for a reformation to be had in his owne houshold, yéelding +nothing to fauor, but altogither in respect of vertue, accounting them +most faithfull which therein most excelled. He sought to know all +things, but not to doo otherwise than reason mooued, pardoning small +faults, and sharpelie punishing great and heinous offenses, neither +yet deliting alwaies in punishment, but oftentimes in repentance of +the offendor. Exactions and tributes he lessened, qualifieng the same +by reasonable equitie. And thus in reforming the state of things, he +wan him great praise in time of peace, the which either by negligence +or sufferance of the former lieutenants, was euer feared, and +accounted woorse than open warre. This was his practise in the winter +time of his first yéere. + +[Sidenote: His diligence.] +But when summer was come, he assembled his armie, and leading +foorth the same, trained his souldiers in all honest warlike +discipline, commending the good, and reforming the bad and vnrulie. +He himselfe to giue example, tooke vpon him all dangers that came to +hand, and suffered not the enimies to liue in rest, but wasted their +countries with sudden inuasions. And when he had sufficientlie +chastised them, and put them in feare by such manner of dealing, he +spared them, that they might againe conceiue some hope of peace. +By which meanes manie countries which vnto those daies had kept +themselues out of bondage, laid rancor aside, and deliuered pledges, +and further were contented to suffer castels to be builded within +them, and to be kept with garrisons, so that no part of Britaine was +frée from the Romane power, but stood still in danger to be brought +vnder more and more. + +[Sidenote: The second yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In the winter following, Agricola tooke paines to reduce the +Britains from their rude manners and customs, vnto a more ciuill sort +and trade of liuing, that changing their naturall fiercenesse and +[Sidenote: The woorthie practises of Agricola to traine the Britains +to ciuilitie.] +apt disposition to warre, they might through tasting pleasures be +so inured therewith, that they should desire to liue in rest and +quietnesse: and therefore he exhorted them priuilie, and holpe them +publikelie to build temples, common halls where plées of law might be +kept, and other houses, commending them that were diligent in such +dooings, and blaming them that were negligent, so that of necessitie +they were driuen to striue who should preuent ech other in ciuilitie. +He also procured that noble mens sonnes should learne the liberall +sciences, and praised the nature of the Britains more than the people +of Gallia, bicause they studied to atteine to the knowledge of the +Romane eloquence. By which meanes the Britains in short time were +brought to the vse of good and commendable manners, and sorted +themselues to go in comelie apparell after the Romane fashion, and +by little and little fell to accustome themselues to fine fare and +delicate pleasures, the readie prouokers of vices, as to walke in +galleries, to wash themselues in bathes, to vse banketting, and such +like, which amongst the vnskilfull was called humanitie or courtesie, +but in verie deed it might be accounted a part of thraldome and +seruitude, namelie being too excessiuelie vsed. + +[Sidenote: The third yéere.] +In the third yéere of Agricola his gouernment in Britaine, he +inuaded the north parts thereof (vnknowne till those daies of the +Romans) being the same where the Scots now inhabit: for he +[Sidenote: The water of Tay.] +wasted the countrie vnto the water of Tay, in such wise putting the +inhabitants in feare, that they durst not once set vpon his armie, +though it were so that the same was verie sore disquieted and vexed +by tempest and rage of weather. Wherevpon finding no great let or +hinderance by the enimies, he builded certeine castels and fortresses, +which he placed in such conuenient stéeds, that they greatlie annoied +his aduersaries, and were so able to be defended, that there was none +of those castels which he builded, either woon by force out of the +Romans hands, or giuen ouer by composition, for feare to be taken: so +that the same beeing furnished with competent numbers of men of warre, +were safelie kept from the enimies, the which were dailie vexed by the +often issues made foorth by the souldiers that laie thus in garrison +within them: so that where in times past the said enimies would +recouer their losses susteined in summer by the winters aduantage, now +they were put to the woorse, and kept backe as well in the winter as +in the summer. + +[Sidenote: The fourth yéere of Agricola his gouernment. Clota +Bodotria.] +In the fourth summer, after that Agricola was appointed vnto the +rule of this land, he went about to bring vnder subiection those +people, the which before time he had by incursions and forreies sore +vexed and disquieted: and therevpon comming to the waters of Clide and +Loughleuen, he built certeine fortresses to defend the passages and +entries there, driuing the enimies beyond the same waters, as it had +béene into a new Iland. + +[Sidenote: The fift yéere.] +In the fift summer, Agricola causing his ships to be brought +about, and appointing them to arriue on the north coasts of Scotland, +he passed with his armie ouer the riuer of Clide; and subdued such +people as inhabited those further parts of Scotland, which till those +daies had not beene discouered by the Romans. And bicause he thought +it should serue well to purpose, for some conquest to be made of +Ireland, if that part of Scotland which bordereth on the Irish seas +might be kept in due obedience, he placed garrisons of souldiers +in those parties, in hope verelie vpon occasion to passe ouer into +Ireland, and for the more easie aduancement of his purpose therein, he +interteined with honourable prouision one of the kings of Ireland, +[Sidenote: An Irish king expelled out of his countrie.] +which by ciuill discord was expelled and driuen out of his countrie. +In déed Agricola perceiued, that with one legion of souldiers, and +a small aid of other men of warre it should be an easie matter to +conquer Ireland, and to bring it vnder the dominion of the Romans: +which enterprise he iudged verie necessarie to be exploited, for +better kéeping of the Britains in obedience, if they should sée the +iurisdiction of the Romans euerie where extended, and the libertie of +their neighbours suppressed. + +[Sidenote: The sixt yéere of Agricola his government.] +In the sixt summer of Agricola his gouernment, he proceeded in +subduing the furthermost parts of Scotland northwards, causing his +nauie to kéepe course against him by the coast as he marched foorth +by land, so that the Britains perceiuing how the secret hauens and +créekes of their countries were now discouered, and that all hope of +refuge was in maner cut off from them, were in maruellous feare. On +the other part the Romans were sore troubled with the rough mounteins +and craggie rocks, by the which they were constreined to passe beside +the dangerous riuers, lakes, woods, streicts, and other combersome +waies and passages. + +The danger also of them that were in the ships by sea was not small, +by reason of winds and tempests, and high spring tides, which tossed +and turmoiled their vessels verie cruellie: but by the painfull +diligence of them that had béene brought vp and inured with continuall +trauell and hardnesse, all those discommodities were ouercome to their +great reioising, when they met and fell in talke of their passed +perils. For oftentimes the armie by land incamped so by the shore, +that those which kept the sea came on land to make merrie in the +campe, and then ech one would recount to others the aduentures that +had happened, as the manner is in semblable cases. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains of Calenderwood assalt the Romans upon aduantage, +bloudie battels fought betwixt them, great numbers slaine on both +sides, the villanous dealing of certeine Dutch souldiers against their +capteins and fellowes in armes, the miserie that they were driven vnto +by famine to eate one another, a sharpe conflict betweene the Romans +and Britains, with the losse of manie a mans life, and effusion of +much bloud_. + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Calenderwood.] +The Britains that inhabited in those daies about the parts of +Calenderwood, perceiuing in what danger they were to be vtterlie +subdued, assembled themselues togither, in purpose to trie the fortune +of battell: whereof Agricola being aduertised, marched foorth with his +armie diuided in three battels, so that the enimies doubting to trie +the matter in open field, espied their time in the night, and with all +their whole puissance set vpon one of the Romane legions, which they +knew to be most féeble and weake, trusting by a camisado to distresse +the same: and first sleaing the watch, they entred the campe, where +the said legion laie, and finding the souldiers in great disorder, +betwixt sléepe and feare, began the fight euen within the campe. + +Agricola had knowledge of their purposed intent, and therefore with +all speed hasted foorth to come to the succours of his people, sending +first his light horssemen, and certeine light armed footmen to assaile +the enimies on their backs, and shortlie after approched with his +whole puissance, so that the Romane standards beginning to appéere in +sight by the light of the daie that then began to spring, the Britains +were sore discouraged, and the Romans renewing their force, fiercelie +preassed vpon them, so that euen in the entrie of the campe, there was +a sore conflict, till at length the Britains were put to flight and +chased, so that if the mareshes and woods had not saued them from the +pursute of the Romans, there had beene an end made of the whole warre +euen by that one daies worke. But the Britains escaping as well as +they might, and reputing the victorie to haue chanced not by the +valiancie of the Romane soldiers, but by occasion, and the prudent +policie of their capteine, were nothing abashed with that their +present losse, but prepared to put their youth againe into armour: and +therevpon they remooued their wiues and children into safe places, and +then assembling the chiefest gouernours togither, concluded a league +amongst themselues, ech to aid other, confirming their articles with +dooing of sacrifice (as the manner in those daies was.) + +[Sidenote: The seuenth yéere.] +The same summer, a band of such Dutch or Germaine souldiers as had +béene leuied in Germanie & sent ouer into Britaine to the aid of +the Romans, attempted a great and woonderfull act, in sleaing their +capteine, and such other of the Romane souldiers which were appointed +to haue the training and leading of them, as officers and instructors +to them in the feats of warre: and when they had committed that +murther, they got into thrée pinesses, and became rouers on the coasts +of Britaine, and incountring with diuerse of the Britains that were +readie to defend their countrie from spoile, oftentimes they got the +vpper hand of them, and now and then they were chased awaie, insomuch +that in the end they were brought to such extremitie for want of +vittels, that they did eate such amongst them as were the weakest, +and after, such as the lot touched, being indifferentlie cast amongst +them: and so being caried about the coasts of Britaine, & losing their +vessels through want of skill to gouerne them, they were reputed for +robbers, and therevpon were apprehended, first by the Suabeners, and +shortlie after by the Frizers, the which sold diuerse of them to the +Romans and other, whereby the true vnderstanding of their aduentures +came certeinlie to light. + +[Sidenote: The eight yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In summer next following, Agricola with his armie came to the +mounteine of Granziben, where he vnderstood that his enimies were +incamped, to the number of 30 thousand and aboue, and dailie there +came to them more companie of the British youth, and such aged persons +also as were lustie and in strength, able to weld weapon and beare +[Sidenote: Galgagus whome the Scots name Gald and will néeds haue +him a Scotish man.] +armour. Amongst the capteins the chiefest was one Galgagus whom the +Scotish chronicles name Gald. This man as chiefteine and head capteine +of all the Britains there assembled, made to them a pithie oration, to +incourage them to fight manfullie, and likewise did Agricola to his +people: which being ended, the armies on both sides were put in order +of battell. Agricola placed 8 thousand footmen of strangers which he +had there in aid with him in the midst, appointing thrée thousand +horssemen to stand on the sides of them as wings. The Romane legions +stood at their backs in stéed of a bulworke. The Britains were +imbattelled in such order, that their fore ward stood in the plaine +ground, and the other on the side of an hill, as though they had risen +on heigth one ranke aboue another. The midst of the field was +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._] +couered with their charrets and horssemen. Agricola doubting by the +huge multitude of enimies, least his people should be assailed not +onlie afront, but also vpon euerie side the battels, he caused the +ranks so to place themselues, as their battels might stretch farre +further in bredth than otherwise the order of warre required: but he +tooke this to be a good remedie against such inconuenience as might +haue followed, if the enimie by the narrownesse of the fronts of his +battels should haue hemmed them in on ech side. + +This done, and hauing conceiued good hope of victorie, he alighted on +foot, and putting his horsse from him, he stood before the standards +as one not caring for anie danger that might happen. At the first they +bestowed their shot and darts fréelie on both sides. The Britains +aswell with constant manhood, as skilfull practise, with broad swords +and little round bucklers auoided and beat from them the arrowes and +darts that came from their enimies, and therewithall paid them home +againe with their shot and darts, so that the Romans were néere hand +oppressed therewith, bicause they came so thicke in their faces, +[Sidenote: Betaui. Congri.] +till at length Agricola caused thrée cohorts of Hollanders, & two of +Lukeners to presse forward, & ioine with them at hand-strokes, so as +the matter might come to be tried with the edge of the swoord, which +thing as to them (being inured with that kind of fight) it stood +greatlie with their aduantage, so to the Britains it was verie +dangerous, that were to defend themselues with their mightie huge +swoords and small bucklers. Also by reason their swoords were broad +at the ends, and pointlesse, they auailed little to hurt the armed +enimie. Wherevpon when the Hollanders came to ioine with them, they +made fowle worke in sleaing and wounding them in most horrible wise. + +The horssemen also that made resistance they pulled from their +horsses, and began to clime the hill vpon the Britains. The other +bands desirous to match their fellowes in helping to atchiue the +[Sidenote: Hollanders.] +victorie, followed the Hollanders, and beat downe the Britains where +they might approch to them: manie were ouerrun and left halfe dead, +and some not once touched with anie weapon, were likewise ouerpressed, +such hast the Romans made to follow vpon the Britains. Whilest the +British horssemen fled, their charets ioined themselues with their +footmen, and restoring the battell, put the Romans in such feare, that +they were at a sudden stay: but the charets being troubled with prease +of enimies, & vnéeuennesse of the ground, they could not worke their +feat to anie purpose, neither had that fight anie resemblance of a +battell of horssemen, when ech one so encumbred other, that they had +no roome to stirre themselues. The charets oftentimes wanting their +guiders were caried awaie with the horsses, that being put in feare +with the noise and stur, ran hither and thither, bearing downe one +another, and whomsoeuer else they met withall. + +Now the Britains that kept the top of the hils, and had not yet fought +at all, despising the small number of the Romans, began to come +downewards and to cast about, that they might set vpon the backs of +their enimies, in hope so to make an end of the battell, and to win +the victorie: but Agricola doubting no lesse, but that some such thing +would come to passe, had aforehand foreséene the danger, and hauing +reserued foure wings of horssemen for such sudden chances, sent them +foorth against those Britains, the which horssemen with full randon +charging vpon them as they rashlie came forwards, quicklie disordered +them and put them all to flight, and so that purposed deuise and +policie of the Britains turned to their owne hinderance. For their +horssemen by their capteins appointment trauersing ouerthwart by the +fronts of them that fought, set vpon that battell of the Britains +which they found before them. Then in those open and plaine places a +greeuous & heauie sight it was to behold, how they pursued, wounded, +and tooke their enimies: and as they were aduised of other to slea +those that they had before taken, to the end they might ouertake the +other, there was nothing but fléeing, taking, and chasing, slaughter, +spilling of bloud, scattering of weapons, grunting and groning of men +and horsses that lay on the ground, gasping for breath, & readie to +die. + +The Britains now and then as they saw their aduantage, namelie when +they approched néere to the woods, gathered themselues togither, +and set vpon the Romans as they followed vnaduisedlie, and further +(through ignorance of the places) than stood with their suertie, +insomuch that if Agricola had not prouided remedie, and sent foorth +mightie bands of light armed men both on foot and horssebacke to close +in the enimies, and also to beat the wood, some greater losse would +haue followed through too much boldnes of them that too rashlie +pursued vpon the Britains: who when they beheld the Romans thus to +follow them in whole troops and good order of battell, they slipt +awaie and tooke them to flight, ech one seeking to saue himselfe, and +kept not togither in plumps as before they had doone. The night made +an end of the chase which the Romans had followed till they were +[Sidenote: Ten thousand Britains slaine. Aulus Atticus slaine.] +throughlie wearied. There were slaine of the Britains that day 10000, +and of the Romans 340, among whom Aulus Atticus a capteine of one +of the cohorts or bands of footmen was one, who being mounted on +horssebacke (through his owne too much youthfull courage, and fierce +vnrulines of his horsse) was caried into the middle throng of his +enimies, and there slaine. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains +after their ouerthrow, Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his +victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, and Cneus +Trebellius surrogated in his roome_. + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The night insuing the foresaid ouerthrow of the Britains was spent of +[Sidenote: Britains, not Scots, neither yet Picts.] +the Romans in great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But +among the Britains there was nothing else heard but mourning and +lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togither, some +busie to beare away the wounded, to bind and dresse their hurts; other +calling for their sonnes, kinsfolkes and friends that were wanting. +Manie of them forsooke their houses, and in their desperate mood set +them on fire, and choosing foorth places for their better refuge and +safegard, foorthwith misliking of the same, left them and sought +others: herewith diuerse of them tooke counsell togither what they +were best to doo, one while they were in hope, an other while they +fainted, as people cast into vtter despaire: the beholding of their +wiues and children oftentimes mooued them to attempt some new +enterprise for the preseruation of their countrie and liberties. And +certeine it is that some of them slue their wiues and children, as +mooued thereto with a certeine fond regard of pitie to rid them out of +further miserie and danger of thraldome. + +The next day the certeintie of the victorie more plainlie was +disclosed, for all was quiet about, and no noise heard anie where: the +houses appeared burning on ech side, and such as were sent foorth to +discouer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature +stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off. + +When Agricola had thus ouerthrowne his enimies in a pitcht field at +the mountaine of Granziben, and that the countrie was quite rid of all +appearance of enimies: bicause the summer of this eight yéere of his +gouernement was now almost spent, he brought his armie into the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +confines of the Horrestians, which inhabited the countries now called +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +Angus & Merne, and there intended to winter, and tooke hostages of +the people for assurance of their loialtie and subiection. This doone, +he appointed the admirall of the nauie to saile about the Ile, +[Sidenote: An hauen called Trutulensis, peraduenture Rutupensis.] +which accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued, luckilie +accomplished his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into +an hauen called Trutulensis. + +In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in +Britaine, both the emperour Vespasianus, and also his brother Titus +that succéeded him, departed this life, and Domitianus was elected +emperor, who hearing of such prosperous successe as Agricola had +against the Britains, did not so much reioise for the thing well +doone, as he enuied to consider what glorie and renowme should redound +to Agricola thereby, which he perceiued should much darken the glasse +of his fame, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in woorthinesse of +noble exploits atchiued, farre excelled his dooings. + +To find remedie therefore herein, he thought not good to vtter his +malice as yet, whilest Agricola remained in Britaine with an armie, +which so much fauoured him, and that with so good cause, sith by his +policie and noble conduct the same had obteined so manie victories, +so much honor, and such plentie of spoiles and booties. Wherevpon to +dissemble his intent, he appointed to reuoke him foorth of Britaine, +as it were to honor him, not onelie with deserued triumphs, but also +with the lieutenantship of Syria, which as then was void by the +[Sidenote: Cneus Trebellius alias Salustius Lucullus as some thinke.] +death of Aulius Rufus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome, +deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed +thereto by the emperour Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard. + +¶ Thus may you sée in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king +Marius, of whome Tacitus maketh no mention at all. Some haue written, +that the citie of Chester was builded by this Marius, though other +(as before I haue said) thinke rather that it was the worke of +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +Ostorius Scapula their legat. Touching other the dooings of Agricola, +in the Scotish chronicle you maie find more at large set foorth: +for that which I haue written héere, is but to shew what in effect +Cornelius Tacitus writeth of that which Agricola did here in Britaine, +without making mention either of Scots or Picts, onelie naming them +Britains, Horrestians, and Calidoneans, who inhabited in those daies +a part of this Ile which now we call Scotland, the originall of which +countrie, and the inhabitants of the same, is greatlie controuersed +among writers; diuerse diuerslie descanting therevpon, some fetching +their reason from the etymon of the word which is Gréeke, some from +the opening of their ancestors as they find the same remaining in +records; other some from comparing antiquities togither, and aptlie +collecting the truth as néere as they can. But to omit them, and +returne to the continuation of our owne historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his education in Rome, how long he +reigned: of Lucius his sonne and successor, what time he assumed +the gouernment of this land, he was an open professor of christian +religion, he and his familie are baptised, Britaine receiueth the +faith, 3 archbishops and 28 bishops at that time in this Iland, +Westminster church and S. Peters in Cornehill builded, diuers opinions +touching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the +christian faith was receiued in this Iland_. + +THE 19. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: COILLUS. 125.] +Coillus the sonne of Marius was after his fathers deceasse made +king of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 125. This Coillus or Coill +was brought vp in his youth amongst the Romans at Rome, where he spent +his time not vnprofitablie, but applied himselfe to learning & seruice +in the warres, by reason whereof he was much honored of the Romans, +and he likewise honored and loued them, so that he paied his tribute +truelie all the time of his reigne, and therefore liued in peace and +good quiet. He was also a prince of much bountie, and verie liberall, +whereby he obteined great loue both of his nobles and commons. Some +[Sidenote: Colchester built.] +saie, that he made the towne of Colchester in Essex, but others write, +that Coill which reigned next after Asclepiodotus was the first +founder of that towne, but by other it should séeme to be built long +before, being called Camelodunum. Finallie when this Coill had reigned +the space of 54 yeares, he departed this life at Yorke, leauing after +him a sonne named Lucius, which succéeded in the kingdome. + +[Sidenote: LUCIUS.] +Lucius the sonne of Coillus, whose surname (as saith William +Harison) is not extant, began his reigne ouer the Britains about the +yeare of our Lord 180, as Fabian following the authoritie of Peter +Pictauiensis saith, although other writers seeme to disagrée in that +account, as by the same Fabian in the table before his booke partlie +appeareth, wherevnto Matthæus Westmonasteriensis affirmeth, that this +Lucius was borne in the yeare of our Lord 115, and was crowned king in +the yeare 124, as successor to his father Coillus, which died the same +yeare, being of great age yer the said Lucius was borne. It is noted +[Sidenote: 165.] +by antiquaries, that his entrance was in the 4132 of the world, +916 after the building of Rome, 220 after the comming of Cesar into +Britaine, and 165 after Christ, whose accounts I follow in this +treatise. + +This Lucius is highlie renowmed of the writers, for that he was the +first king of the Britains that receiued the faith of Iesus Christ: +for being inspired by the spirit of grace and truth, euen from the +beginning of his reigne, he somewhat leaned to the fauoring of +Christian religion, being moued with the manifest miracles which the +Christians dailie wrought in witnesse and proofe of their sound and +perfect doctrine. For euen from the daies of Ioseph of Arimathia and +his fellowes, or what other godlie men first taught the Britains the +gospell of our Sauiour there remained amongest the same Britains some +christians which ceased not to teach and preach the word of God most +sincerelie vnto them: but yet no king amongst them openlie professed +that religion, till at length this Lucius perceiuing not onelie some +of the Romane lieutenants in Britaine as Trebellius and Pertinax, with +others, to haue submitted themselues to that profession, but also the +emperour himselfe to begin to be fauorable to them that professed it, +he tooke occasion by their good example to giue eare more attentiuelie +vnto the gospell, and at length sent vnto Eleutherius bishop of Rome +two learned men of the British nation, Eluane and Meduine, requiring +him to send some such ministers as might instruct him and his people +in the true faith more plentifullie, and to baptise them according to +the rules of christian religion. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 119. (*)] +¶ The reuerend father Iohn Iewell, sometime bishop of Salisburie, +writeth in his * replie vnto Hardings answer, that the said +Eleutherius, for generall order to be taken in the realme and churches +héere, wrote his aduice to Lucius in maner and forme following. "You +haue receiued in the kingdome of Britaine, by Gods mercie, both the +law and faith of Christ; ye haue both the new and the old testament, +out of the same through Gods grace, by the aduise of your realme make +a law, and by the same through Gods sufferance rule you your kingdome +of Britaine, for in that kingdome you are Gods vicar." + +Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, +the one named Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the +king with all his familie and people, and therewith remoued the +[Sidenote: Britaine receiueth the faith.] +worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right meane and +waie how to worship the true and immortall God. There were in those +daies within the bounds of Britaine 28 Flamines, & thrée Archflamines, +which were as bishops and archbishops, or superintendents of the +pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they being remoued) were +instituted 28 bishops & thrée archbishops of the christian religion. +One of the which archbishops held his sée at London, another at Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and the third at Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorganshire. Vnto the +archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall, and all the middle part of +England, euen vnto Humber. To the archbishop of Yorke all the north +parts of Britaine from the riuer of Humber vnto the furthest partes +of Scotland. And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, +within which countrie as then were seuen bishops, where now there are +but foure. The riuer of Seuern in those daies diuided Wales (then +called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine. Thus Britaine +[Sidenote: Iosephus of Arimathia.] +partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard +before) & partlie by the wholesome instructions & doctrines of +Fugatius and Damianus, was the first of all other regions that openlie +receiued the gospell, and continued most stedfast in that profession, +till the cruell furie of Dioclesian persecuted the same, in such sort, +that as well in Britaine as in all other places of the world, the +christian religion was in manner extinguished, and vtterlie destroied. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Westminster Church built.] +There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church +of saint Peter at Westminster, though manie attribute that act vnto +Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write how the place was then +ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, and +was called Thorney. They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of London +preached, read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made +resort vnto him. Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestrie of +saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime hanging in saint +Peters church in Cornehill, it should séeme that the said church of +saint Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded. But herein +(saith Harison _anno mundi_ 4174) dooth lie a scruple. Sure Cornell +might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speciallie in such old records, +as time, age, & euill handling haue oftentimes defaced. + +But howsoeuer the case standeth, truth it is, that Lucius reioising +much, in that he had brought his people to the perfect light and +vnderstanding of the true God, that they néeded not to be deceiued +anie longer with the craftie temptations and feigned miracles of +wicked spirits, he abolished all prophane worshippings of false +gods, and conuerted all such temples as had béene dedicated to their +seruice, vnto the vse of christian religion: and thus studieng onlie +how to aduance the glorie of the immortall God, and the knowledge of +his word, without seeking the vaine glorie of worldlie triumph, which +is got with slaughter and bloudshed of manie a giltlesse person, he +left his kingdome; though not inlarged with broder dominion than he +receiued it, yet greatlie augmented and inriched with quiet rest, good +ordinances, and (that which is more to be estéemed than all the rest) +adorned with Christes religion, and perfectlie instructed with his +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Fabian. Iohn Hard._] +most holie word and doctrine. He reigned (as some write) 21 +yeares, though other affirme but twelue yeares. Againe, some testifie +that he reigned 77, others 54, and 43. + +Moreouer here is to be noted, that if he procured the faith of Christ +to be planted within this realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romane +bishop, the same chanced in the daies of the emperour Marcus Aurelius +Antonius; and about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus was ioined +and made partaker of the empire with his father, which was seuen yéere +after the death of Lucius Aelius, Aurelius Verus, and in the 177 after +the birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, as by some chronologies is +easie to be collected. For Eleutherius began to gouerne the sée of +Rome in the yéere 169, according to the opinion of the most diligent +chronographers of our time, and gouerned fiftéene yeeres and thirtéene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +daies. And yet there are that affirme, how Lucius died at +Glocester in the yéere of our Lord 156. Other say that he died in the +yere 201, and other 208. So that the truth of this historie is brought +into doubt by the discord of writers, concerning the time and other +circumstances, although they all agrée that in this kings daies the +christian faith was first by publike consent openlie receiued and +professed in this land, which as some affirme, should chance in the +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +twelfe yéere of his reigne, and in the yéere of our Lord 177. +Other iudge that it came to passe in the eight yeere of his regiment, +and in the yéere of our Lord 188, where other (as before is said) +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_.] +alledge that it was in the yéere of the Lord 179. Nauclerus saith, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Herf._] +that this happened about the yeare of our Lord 156. And Henricus +de Herfordea supposeth, that it was in the yéere of our Lord 169, and +in the nintéenth yéere of the emperor Marcus Antonius Verus; and after +other, about the sixt yéere of the emperor Commodus. + +But to conclude, king Lucius died without issue, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +after his deceasse the Britains fell at variance, which continued +about the space of fiftéene yéeres (as Fabian thinketh) howbeit the +old English chronicle affirmeth, that the contention betwixt them +[Sidenote: _Caxton. Iohn Hard._] +remained fiftie yéeres, though Harding affirmeth but foure yéeres. +And thus much of the Britains, and their kings Coilus and Lucius. Now +it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romans which gouerned here in +the meane while. After that Agricola was called backe to Rome, the +Britains (and namelie those that inhabited beyond Tweed) partlie being +weakned of their former strength, and partlie in consideration of +their pledges, which they had deliuered to the Romans, remained in +peace certeine yéeres. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains after the deceasse of Lucius (who died without issue) +rebell against the Romans, the emperor Adrian comming in his owne +person into Britaine appeaseth the broile, they go about to recouer +their libertie against the Romans, but are suppressed by Lollius the +Romane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and +his policie to keepe the souldiers waking, the Britains being ruled by +certeine meane gentlemen of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse +him to the emperor Commodus, he is mangled and murthered of his +souldiers_. + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CNEUS TREBELLIUS LIEUTENANT.] +In the meane time the Romane lieutenant Cneus Trebellius that +succéeded Iulius Agricola, could not foresee all things so preciselie +but that the souldiers waxing vnrulie by reason of long rest, fell +at variance among themselues, and would not in the end obey the +lieutenant, but disquieted the Britains beyond measure. Wherefore +the Britains perceiuing themselues sore oppressed with intollerable +bondage, and that dailie the same incresed, they conspired togither, +vpon hope to recouer libertie, and to defend their countrie by all +meanes possible, and herewith they tooke weapon in hand against the +Romans, and boldlie assailed them: but this they did yet warilie, +and so, that they might flie vnto the woods and bogs for refuge vpon +necessitie, according to the maner of their countrie. Herevpon diuers +slaughters were committed on both parties, and all the countrie was +now readie to rebell: whereof when the emperour Adrian was aduertised +from Trebellius the lieutenant, with all conuenient speed he passed +ouer into Britaine, and quieted all the Ile, vsing great humanitie +towards the inhabitants; and making small account of that part where +the Scots now inhabit, either bicause of the barrennesse thereof, or +for that by reason of the nature of the countrie he thought it would +be hard to be kept vnder subiection, he deuised to diuide it from the +[Sidenote: The wall of Adrian built. _Spartianus_.] +residue of Britaine, and so caused a wall to be made from the +mouth of Tine vnto the water of Eske, which wall contained in length +30 miles. + +After this, the Britains bearing a malicious hatred towards the Romane +souldiers, and repining to be kept vnder the bond of seruitude, +eftsoones went about to recouer libertie againe. Whereof +[Sidenote: Lollius Vrbicus lieutenant.] +aduertisement being giuen, the emperour Pius Antoninus sent ouer +Lollius Vrbicus as lieutenant into Britaine, who by sundrie battels +striken, constreined the Britains to remaine in quiet, and causing +[Sidenote: _Julius Capitol_. An other wall built.] +those that inhabited in the north parts to remooue further off from +the confines of the Romane prouince, raised another wall beyond that +which the emperor Adrian had made, as is to be supposed, for the more +suertie of the Romane subiects against the inuasion of the enimies. +But yet Lollius did not so make an end of the warrs, but that the +Britains shortlie after attempted afresh, either to reduce their state +into libertie, or to bring the same into further danger. + +[Sidenote: CALPHURNIUS AGRICOLA. Of the doings of this Calphurnius in +Britaine ye may read more in the Scotish chronicle. _Dion Cassius_.] +Wherevpon Marcus Antonius that succéeded Pius, sent Calphurnius +Agricola to succéed Lollius in the gouernement of Britaine, the which +easilie ouercame and subdued all his enimies. After this there chanced +some trouble in the daies of the emperour Commodus the son of Marcus +Antonius and his successor in the empire: for the Britans that dwelled +northwards, beyond Adrians wall, brake through the same, and spoiled +a great part of the countrie, against whom the Romane lieutenant for +that time being come foorth, gaue them battell: but both he and the +Romane souldiers that were with him, were beaten downe and slaine. + +[Sidenote: Vlpius Marcellus lieutenant.] +With which newes Commodus being sore amazed, sent against +the Britains one Vlpius Marcellus, a man of great diligence and +temperance, but therewith rough and nothing gentle. He vsed the same +kind of diet that the common souldiers did vse. He was a capteine much +watchfull, as one contented with verie little sléepe, and desirous to +haue his souldiers also vigilant and carefull to kéepe sure watch in +the night season. Euerie euening he would write twelue tables, such as +they vsed to make on the lind trée, and deliuering them to one of his +seruants, appointed him to beare them at seuerall houres of the night +to sundrie souldiers, whereby supposing that their generall was still +watching and not gone to bed, they might be in doubt to sléepe. + +And although of nature he could well absteine from sléepe, yet to be +the better able to forbeare it, he vsed a maruellous spare kind of +diet: for to the end that he would not fill himselfe too much with +bread, he would eat none but such as was brought to him from Rome, so +that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eat, by reason +that the stalenesse tooke awaie the pleasant tast thereof, and lesse +prouoked his appetite. He was a maruellous contemner of monie, so that +bribes might not mooue him to doo otherwise than dutie required. This +Marcellus being of such disposition, sore afflicted the Britains, and +put them oftentimes to great losses: through fame wherof, C[=o]modus +enuieng his renowme was after in mind to make him away, but yet spared +him for a further purpose, and suffered him to depart. + +[Sidenote: Perhennis capteine of the emperours gard.] +After he was remooued from the gouernment of Britaine, one +Perhennis capteine of the emperors gard (or pretorian souldiers +as they were then called) bearing all the rule vnder the emperor +Commodus, appointed certeine gentlemen of meane calling to gouerne the +armie in Britaine. Which fond substituting of such petie officers +to ouersée and ouerrule the people, was to them an occasion of +hartgrudge, and to him a meanes of finall mischéefe: both which it +is likelie he might haue auoided, had he béene prouident in his +[Sidenote: _Aelius Lampridius_.] +deputation. For the souldiers in the same armie grudging and +repining to be gouerned by men of base degree, in respect of those +that had borne rule ouer them before, being honorable personages, as +senators, and of the consular dignitie, they fell at square among +themselues, and about fiftéene hundred of them departed towards Rome +to exhibit their complaint against Perhennis: for whatsoeuer was +amisse, the blame was still laid to him. They passed foorth without +impeachment at all, and comming to Rome, the emperour himselfe came +foorth to vnderstand what they meant by this their comming in such +sort from the place where they were appointed to serue. Their answer +was, that they were come to informe him of the treason which Perhennis +had deuised to his destruction, that he might make his son emperor. To +the which accusation when Commodus too lightlie gaue eare, & beléeued +it to be true, namelie, through the setting on of one Cleander, +who hated Perhennis, for that he brideled him from dooing diuerse +vnlawfull acts, which he went about vpon a wilfull mind (without all +reason and modestie) to practise; the matter was so handled in the +end, that Perhennis was deliuered to the souldiers, who cruellie +mangled him, and presentlie put him to a pitifull death. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Pertinax is sent as lieutenant into Britaine, he is in danger to be +slaine of the souldiers, he riddeth himselfe of that perilous office: +Albinus with an armie of Britains fighteth against Seuerus and his +power neere to Lions, Seuerus is slaine in a conflict against the +Picts, Geta and Bassianus two brethren make mutuall warre for the +regiment of the land, the one is slaine, the other ruleth_. + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Pertinax lieutenant of Britaine.] +Now will we saie somewhat of the tumults in Britaine. It was +thought néedfull to send some sufficient capteine of autoritie +thither; and therefore was one Pertinax that had béene consull and +ruler ouer foure seuerall consular prouinces, appointed by Commodus +to go as lieutenant into that Ile, both for that he was thought a man +most méet for such a charge, and also to satisfie his credit, for that +he had béene discharged by Perhennis of bearing anie rule, and sent +home into Liguria where he was borne, and there appointed to remaine. +This Pertinax comming into Britaine, pacified the armie, but not +[Sidenote: The lieutenant in danger.] +without danger to haue béene slaine by a mutinie raised by one of +the legions: for he was stricken downe, and left for dead among the +slaine carcasses. But he woorthilie reuenged himselfe of this iniurie. +At length, hauing chastised the rebels, and brought the Ile into +méetelie good quiet, he sued and obteined to be discharged of that +roome, because as he alledged, the souldiers could not brooke him, +for that he kept them in dutifull obedience, by correcting such as +offended the lawes of armes. + +[Sidenote: CLODIUS ALBINUS LIEUTENAT.] +Then was Clodius Albinus appointed to haue the rule of the Romane +armie in Britaine: whose destruction when Seuerus the emperour sought, +Albinus perceiued it quicklie: and therefore choosing foorth a great +power of Britains, passed with the same ouer into France to encounter +with Seuerus, who was come thither towards him, so that néere to the +citie of Lions they ioined in battell and fought right sore, in so +much that Seuerus was at point to haue receiued the ouerthrow by the +high prowesse and manhood of the Britains: but yet in the end Albinus +lost the field, and was slaine. Then Heraclitus as lieutenant began to +gouerne Britaine (as writeth Spartianus) being sent thither by Seuerus +for that purpose before. And such was the state of this Ile about the +yeare of our Lord 195. In which season, because that king Lucius was +dead, and had left no issue to succéed him, the Britains (as before ye +haue heard) were at variance amongst themselues, and so continued till +the comming of Seuerus, whome the British chronographers affirme to +reigne as king in this Ile, & that by right of succession in bloud, as +descended of Androgeus the Britaine, which went to Rome with Iulius +Cesar, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: SEUERUS] +This Seuerus as then emperour of Rome, began to rule this Ile (as +authors affirme) in the yeare of our Lord 207, and gouerned the same 4 +yeares and od moneths. At length hearing that one Fulgentius as then +a leader of the Picts was entred into the borders of his countrie on +this side Durham, he raised an host of Britains and Romans, with +the which he marched towards his enimies: and méeting with the said +Fulgentius in a place néere vnto Yorke, in the end after sore fight +Seuerus was slaine, when he had ruled this land for the space almost +of fiue yeares, as before is said, and was after buried at Yorke, +leauing behind him two sonnes, the one named Geta, and the other +Bassianus. This Bassianus being borne of a British woman, succéeded +his father in the gouernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the +incarnation of our Lord 211. The Romans would haue had Geta created +king of Britaine, bearing more fauour to him because he had a Romane +ladie to his mother: but the Britains moued with the like respect, +held with Bassianus. And thervpon warre was raised betwixt the two +brethren, who comming to trie their quarrell by battell, Geta was +slaine, and Bassianus with aid of the Britains remained victor, and +so continued king, till at length he was slaine by one Carausius a +Britaine, borne but of low birth, howbeit right valiant in armes, and +therefore well estéemed. In somuch that obteining of the senat of Rome +the kéeping of the coasts of Britaine, that he might defend the same +from the malice of strangers, as Picts and others, he drew to him a +great number of souldiers and speciallie of Britains, to whome he +promised that if they would make him king, he would cléerelie deliuer +them from the oppression of the Roman seruitude. Wherevpon the +Britains rebelling against Bassianus, ioined themselues to Carausius, +who by their support vanquished and slue the said Bassianus, after he +had reigned 6 or (as some affirme) 30 yeares. + +¶ Thus farre out of the English and British writers, the which how +farre they varie from likelihood of truth, you shall heare in the next +chapter what the approued historiographers, Gréekes and Latines, +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +writing of these matters, haue recorded. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The ambitious mind of the old emperour Seuerus, he arriueth in +Britaine with a mightie power to suppresse the rebellious Britains, +the emperours politike prouision for his souldiers in the fens and +bogs: the agilitie of the Britains, their nimblenesse, the painting +of their bodies with diuerse colours, their furniture, their great +sufferance of hunger, cold, &c: diuerse conflicts betweene the Romans +and the Britains, their subtile traines to deceiue their enimies, the +Romans pitifullie distressed, Seuerus constreineth the Caledonians +to conclude a league with him; he falleth sicke, his owne sonne +practiseth to make him away: the Britains begin a new rebellion, the +cruell commandement of Seuerus to kill and slea all that came to +hand without exception, his age, his death, and sepulchre: Bassianus +ambitiouslie vsurpeth the whole regiment, he killeth his brother Geta, +and is slaine himselfe by one of his owne souldiers_. + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Seuerus receiuing aduertisment from the lieutenant +of Britaine, that the people there mooued rebellion, & wasted the +countrie with roads and forraies, so that it was néedful to haue the +prince himselfe to come thither with a great power to resist the +enimies, he of an ambitious mind reioised not a little for those +newes, bicause he saw occasion offered to aduance his renowne and +fame with increase of new victories now in the west, after so manie +triumphs purchased and got by him in the east and north parts of the +world. Héerevpon though he was of great age, yet the desire that he +had still to win honour, caused him to take in hand to make a iournie +into this land, and so being furnished of all things necessarie, he +set forwards, being carried for the more part in a litter for his more +ease: for that beside his féeblenesse of age, he was also troubled +with the gout. He tooke with him his two sonnes, Antoninus +[Sidenote: Antoninus and Geta.] +Bassianus and Geta, vpon purpose as was thought, to auoid occasions +of such inconuenience as he perceiued might grow by discord mooued +betwixt them through flatterers and malicious sycophants, which sought +to set them at variance: which to bring to passe, he perceiued there +should want no meane whilest they continued in Rome, amidst such +pleasures & idle pastimes as were dailie there frequented: and +therefore he caused them to attend him in this iournie into Britaine, +that they might learne to liue soberlie, and after the manner of men +of warre. + +[Sidenote: The emperor Seuerus arriueth in Britaine.] +Seuerus being thus on his iournie towards Britaine, staied not by +the waie, but with all diligence sped him foorth, and passing the +sea verie swiftlie, entred this Ile, and assembled a mightie power +togither, meaning to assaile his enimies, and to pursue the warre +against them to the vttermost. The Britains greatlie amazed with this +sudden arriuall of the emperour, and hearing that such preparation was +made against them, sent ambassadours to him to intreat of peace, and +to excuse their rebellious dooings. But Seuerus delaieng time for +answere, as he that was desirous to atchiue some high enterprise +against the Britains, for the which he might deserue the surname of +Britannicus, which he greatlie coueted, still was busie to prepare all +things necessarie for the warre; and namelie, caused a great number +of bridges to be made to lay ouer the bogs and mareshes, so that his +souldiers might haue place to stand vpon, and not to be incumbered for +lacke of firme ground when they should cope with their enimies: for +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +the more part of Britaine in those daies (as Herodianus writeth) was +full of fens & maresh ground, by reason of the often flowings and +[Sidenote: He meaneth of the north Britains or sauage Britains as we +may call them.] +washings of the sea tides: by the which maresh grounds the enimies +being thereto accustomed, would run and swim in the waters, and wade +vp to the middle at their pleasure, going for the more part naked, so +that they passed not on the mud and mires, for they knew not the vse +or wearing cloths, but ware hoopes of iron about their middles and +necks, esteeming the same as an ornament token of riches, as other +barbarous people did gold. + +Moreouer they marked, or (as it were) painted their bodies in diuerse +sorts and with sundrie shapes and figures of beasts and fowles, and +therefore they vsed not to weare anie garments, that such painting of +their bodies might the more apparantlie be séene, which they estéemed +a great brauerie. + +They were as the same Herodianus writeth, a people giuen much to war, +[Sidenote: The furniture of the sauage Britains.] +and delighted in slaughter and bloudshed, vsing none other weapons +or armour but a slender buckler, a iaueline, and a swoord tied to +their naked bodies: as for headpéece or habergeon, they estéemed not, +bicause they thought the same should be an hinderance to them when +they should passe ouer anie maresh, or be driuen to swim anie waters, +or flée to the bogs. + +Moreouer, to suffer hunger, cold, and trauell, they were so vsed and +inured therewith, that they would not passe to lie in the bogs and +mires couered vp to the chin, without caring for meate for the space +of diuerse daies togither: and in the woods they would liue vpon +roots and barks of trées. Also they vsed to prepare for themselues a +certeine kind of meate, of the which if they receiued but so much as +amounted to the quantitie of a beane, they would thinke themselues +satisfied, and féele neither hunger nor thirst. The one halfe of +the Ile or little lesse was subiect vnto the Romans, the other was +gouerned of themselues, the people for the most part hauing the rule +in their hands. + +Seuerus therefore meaning to subdue the whole, and vnderstanding their +nature, and the manner of their making warre, prouided him selfe of +all things expedient for the annoiance of them and helpe of his owne +souldiers, and appointing his sonne Geta to remaine in that part of +the Ile which was subiect to the Romans, he tooke with him his other +sonne Antoninus, and with his armie marched foorth, and entred into +the confines of the enimies, and there began to waste and forrey +the countrie, whereby there insued diuerse conflicts and skirmishes +betwixt the Romans and the inhabitants, the victorie still remaining +on the Romans side: but the enimies easilie escaped without anie great +losse vnto the woods, mountains, bogs, and such other places of refuge +as they knew to be at hand, whither the Romans durst not follow, nor +once approch, for feare to be intrapped and inclosed by the Britains +that were readie to returne and assaile their enimies vpon euerie +occasion of aduantage that might be offered. + +This maner of dealing sore troubled the Romans, and so hindered them +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +in their procéedings, that no spéedie end could be made of that +warre. The Britains would oftentimes of purpose laie their cattell, as +oxen, kine, shéepe, and such like, in places conuenient, to be as a +stale to the Romans; and when the Romans should make to them to fetch +the same awaie, being distant from the residue of the armie a good +space, they would fall vpon them and distresse them. Beside this, the +Romans were much annoied with the vnwholesomnesse of the waters which +they were forced to drinke, and if they chanced to straie abroad, they +were snapped vp by ambushes which the Caledonians laid for them, and +when they were so féeble that they could not through want of strength +kéepe pace with their fellowes as they marched in order of battell, +they were slaine by their owne fellowes, least they should be left +behind for a prey to the enimies. Héereby there died in this iournie +of the Romane armie, at the point of fiftie thousand men: but yet +would not Seuerus returne, till he had gone through the whole Ile, +and so came to the vttermost parts of all the countrie now called +Scotland, and at last backe againe to the other part of the Ile +subiect to the Romans, the inhabitants whereof are named (by Dion +Cassius) _Meatæ_. But first he forced the other, whom the same Dion +nameth Caledonij, to conclude a league with him, vpon such conditions, +as they were compelled to depart with no small portion of the +countrie, and to deliuer vnto him their armour and weapons. + +In the meane time, the emperour Seuerus being worne with age fell +sicke, so that he was constreined to abide at home within that part of +the Ile which obeied the Romans, and to appoint his sonne Antoninus +to take charge of the armie abroad. But Antoninus not regarding the +enimies, attempted little or nothing against them, but sought waies +how to win the fauour of the souldiers and men of warre, that after +his fathers death (for which he dailie looked) he might haue their aid +and assistance to be admitted emperour in his place. Now when he saw +that his father bare out his sicknesse longer time than he would haue +wished, he practised with physicians and other of his fathers seruants +to dispatch him by one meane or other. + +Whilest Antoninus thus negligentlie looked to his charge, the Britains +began a new rebellion, not onlie those that were latelie ioined in +league with the emperour, but the other also which were subjects to +the Romane empire. Seuerus tooke such displeasure, that he called +togither the souldiers, and commanded them to inuade the countrie, and +to kill all such as they might méet within anie place without respect, +and that his cruell commandement he expressed in these verses taken +out of Homer: +[Sidenote: _Iliados. 3_.] + + Nemo manus fugiat vestras, cædémque cruentam, + Non foetus grauida mater quern gessit in aluo + Horrendam effugiat cædem. + +But while he was thus disquieted with the rebellion of the Britains, +and the disloiall practises of his sonne Antoninus, which to him were +not vnknowne, (for the wicked sonne had by diuers attempts discouered +his traitorous and vnnaturall meanings) at length, rather through +[Sidenote: Heriodianus. Dion Cassius. Eutropius. Dion Cassius.] +sorrow and griefe, than by force of sicknesse, he wasted awaie, and +departed this life at Yorke, the third daie before the nones of +Februarie, after he had gouerned the empire by the space of 17 yeares, +8 moneths, & 33 daies. He liued 65 yeres, 9 moneths, & 13 daies: he +was borne the third ides of April. By that which before is recited out +of Herodian and Dion Cassius, of the maners & vsages of those people, +against whome Seuerus held warre here in Britaine, it maie be +coniectured, that they were the Picts, the which possessed in those +daies a great part of Scotland, and with continuall incursions and +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Orosius.] +rodes wasted and destroyed the borders of those countries which +were subiect to the Romans. To kéepe them backe therefore and to +represse their inuasions, Seuerus (as some write) either restored +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +the former wall made by Adrian, or else newlie built an other +ouerthwart the Ile, from the east sea to the west, conteining in +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +length 232 miles. This wall was not made of stone, but of turfe and +earth supported with stakes and piles of wood, and defended on the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boetius_] +backe with a déepe trench or ditch, and also fortified with +diuerse towers and turrets built & erected vpon the same wall or +rampire so néere togither, that the sound of trumpets being placed in +the same, might be heard betwixt, and so warning giuen from one to +another vpon the first descrieng of the enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Polydorus. Herodianus_. 211.] +Seuerus being departed out of this life in the yere of our Lord +211, his son Antoninus otherwise called also Bassianus, would faine +haue vsurped the whole gouernment into his owne hands, attempting with +bribes and large promises to corrupt the minds of the souldiers: but +when he perceiued that his purpose would not forward as he wished in +that behalfe, he concluded a league with the enimies, and making peace +with them, returned backe towards Yorke, and came to his mother and +brother Geta, with whome he tooke order for the buriall of his father. +And first his bodie being burnt (as the maner was) the ashes were put +into a vessell of gold, and so conueied to Rome by the two brethren +and the empresse Iulia, who was mother to Geta the yonger brother, +and mother in law to the elder, Antoninus Bassianus, & by all meanes +possible sought to maintaine loue and concord betwixt the brethren, +which now at the first tooke vpon them to rule the empire equallie +togither. But the ambition of Bassianus was such, that finallie vpon +desire to haue the whole rule himselfe, he found meanes to dispatch +his brother Geta, breaking one daie into his chamber, and slaieng him +euen in his mothers lap, and so possessed the gouernment alone, till +at length he was slaine at Edessa a citie in Mesopotamia by one of his +owne souldiers, as he was about to vntrusse his points to doo the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_.] +office of nature, after he had reigned the space of 6 yeares, as is +aforesaid. Where we are to note Gods judgment, prouiding that he which +had shed mans bloud, should also die by the sword. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Carausius an obscure Britaine, what countries he gaue the Picts, +and wherevpon, his death by Alectus his successor, the Romans foiled +by Asclepiodotus duke of Cornewall, whereof Walbrooke had the name, +the couetous practise of Carausius the usurper_. + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CARAUSIUS. 218.] +Carausius a Britan of vnknowne birth, as witnesseth the British +histories, after he had vanquisht & slaine Bassianus (as the same +histories make mention) was of the Britains made king and ruler ouer +them, in the yeare of our Lord 218, as Galfridus saith: but W.H. +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Polychron. Fabian_.] +noteth it to be in the yeare 286. This Carausius either to haue the +aid & support of the Picts, as in the British historic is conteined, +either else to be at quietnesse with them, being not otherwise able +to resist them, gaue to them the countries in the south parts of +Scotland, which ioine to England on the east marshes, as Mers, +Louthian, and others. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_.] +¶ But here is to be noted, that the British writers affirme, that +these Picts which were thus placed in the south parts of Scotland at +this time, were brought ouer out of Scithia by Fulgentius, to aid him +against Seuerus, and that after the death of Seuerus, and Fulgentius, +which both died of hurts receiued in the batell fought betwixt them at +Yorke: the Picts tooke part with Bassianus, and at length betraied him +in the battell which he fought against Carausius: for he corrupting +them by such subtile practises as he vsed, they turned to his side, +to the ouerthrow and vtter destruction of Bassianus: for the which +traitorous part they had those south countries of Scotland giuen +vnto them for their habitation. But by the Scotish writers it should +appeare, that those Picts which aided Fulgentius and also Carausius, +were the same that long before had inhabited the north parts of +Britaine, now called Scotland. But whatsoeuer they were, truth it is +(as the British histories record) that at length one Alectus was +sent from Rome by the senat with 3 legions of souldiers to subdue +Carausius, which he did, and slue him in the field, as the same +histories make mention, after he had reigned the space of 7, or 8, +yeares: and in the yeare of our saluation two hundred, ninetie, three. + +[Sidenote: ALECTUS. Of whom our British histories doo write after their +maner. 293.] +Alectus in hauing vanquished and slaine Carausius tooke vpon him +the rule and gouernment of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 293. +This Alectus, when he had restored the land to the subiection of the +Romans, did vse great crueltie against such Britains as had maintained +the part of Carausius, by reason whereof he purchased much euill +will of the Britains, the which at length conspired against him, and +purposing to chase the Romans altogither out of their countrie, they +procured one Asclepiodotus (whome the British chronicles name duke +of Cornewall) to take vpon him as chiefe captaine that enterprise. +Wherevpon the same Asclepiodotus assembling a great armie, made such +sharpe warres on the Romans, that they being chased from place to +place, at length withdrew to the citie of London, and there held them +till Asclepiodotus came thither, and prouoked Alectus and his Romans +so much, that in the end they issued foorth of the citie, and gaue +battell to the Britans, in the which much people on both parts were +slaine, but the greatest number died on the Romans side: and amongst +others, Alectus himselfe was slaine, the residue of the Romans that +were left aliue, retired backe into the citie with a capteine of +theirs named Liuius Gallus, and defended themselues within the walles +for a time right valiantlie. Thus was Alectus slaine of the +[Sidenote: _Fabian. Matth. West._] +Britains, after he had reigned (as some suppose) about the terme of +six yeares, or (as some other write) thrée yeares. + +[Sidenote: ASCLEPIODOTUS. _Gal. Mon. Matt. West._] +Asclepiodotus, duke of Cornewall, began his reigne ouer the +Britains in the yeare of our Lord 232. After he had vanquished the +Romans in battell, as before is recited, he laid his siege about the +citie of London, and finallie by knightlie force entred the same, and +slue the forenamed Liuius Gallus néere vnto a brooke, which in those +daies ran through the citie, & threw him into the same brooke: by +reason whereof long after it was called Gallus or Wallus brooke. +[Sidenote: Walbrooke.] +And at this present the streete where the same brooke did run, is +called Walbrooke. + +Then after Asclepiodotus had ouercome all his enimies, he held this +land a certeine space in good rest and quiet, and ministred iustice +vprightlie, in rewarding the good, and punishing the euill. Till at +length, through slanderous toongs of malicious persons, discord was +raised betwixt the king and one Coill or Coilus, that was gouernour +of Colchester: the occasion whereof appeareth not by writers. But +whatsoeuer the matter was, there insued such hatred betwixt them, that +on both parts great armies were raised, and meeting in the field, +[Sidenote: Asclepiodotus slaine. _Matt. West._ hath x. years.] +they fought a sore and mightie battell, in the which Asclepiodotus was +slaine, after he had reigned 30 yeares. Thus haue Geffrey of Monmouth +and our common chroniclers written of Carausius, Alectus, and +Asclepiodotus, which gouerned héere in Britaine. + +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +But Eutropius the famous writer of the Romane histories, in the +acts of Dioclesian hath in effect these woords. "About the same time +Carausius, the which being borne of most base ofspring, attained to +high honour and dignitie by order of renowmed chiualrie & seruice in +the warres, receiued charge at Bolein, to kéepe the seas quiet alongst +the coasts of Britaine, France, and Flanders, and other countries +thereabouts, bicause the Frenchmen, which yet inhabited within the +bounds of Germanie, and the Saxons sore troubled those seas. +[Sidenote: The couetous practising of Carausius.] +Carausius taking oftentimes manie of the enimies, neither restored the +goods to them of the countrie from whome the enimies had bereft the +same, nor yet sent anie part therof to the emperours, but kept the +whole to his owne use. Whervpon when suspicion arose, that he should +of purpose suffer the enimies to passe by him, till they had taken +some prises, that in their returne with the same he might incounter +with them, and take that from them which they had gotten (by which +subtile practise he was thought greatly to haue inriched him +selfe) Maximianus that was fellow in gouernment of the empire with +[Sidenote: Maximianus purposeth to slea Carusius.] +Dioclesianus, remaining then in Gallia, and aduertised of these +dooings, commanded that Carausius should be slaine, but he hauing +warning thereof rebelled, and vsurping the imperiall ornaments and +title, got possession of Britaine, against whom (being a man of +great experience in all warlike knowledge) when warres had béene +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +attempted and folowed in vaine, at length a peace was concluded with +him, and so he enioied the possession of Britaine by the space of +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +seuen yéeres, & then was slaine by his companion Alectus, the +which after him ruled Britaine for the space of thrée yéeres, and was +in the end oppressed by the guile of Asclepiodotus gouernour of the +pretorie, or (as I maie call him) lord lieutenant of some precinct +and iurisdiction perteining to the Romane empire." And so was Britaine +recouered by the foresaid Asclepiodotus about ten yeeres after that +Carausius had first vsurped the gouernment there, and about the +[Sidenote: 300.] +yéere of our Lord 300, as Polydor iudgeth, wherein he varieth much +from Fabian and others. + +¶But to shew what we find further written of the subduing of Alectus, +[Sidenote: _Mamertinus_.] +I thinke it not amisse to set downe what Mamertinus in his oration +written in praise of Maximianus dooth report of this matter, which +shall be performed in the chapter following. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The substance of that which is written touching Britaine in a +panegyrike oration ascribed to Mamertinus, which he set foorth in +praise of the emperors Dioclesian and Maximian: it is intituled onelie +to Maximian, whereas neuerthelesse both the emperors are praised; +and likewise (as ye may perceiue) Constantius who was father to +Constantine the great is here spoken of, being chosen by the two +foresaid emperors, to assist them by the name of Cæsar in rule of the +empire: of whom hereafter more shall be said_. + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +"All the compasse of the earth (most victorious emperor) being now +recouered through your noble prowesse, not onelie so farre as the +limits of the Romane empire had before extended, but also the enimies +borders beeing subdued, when Almaine had beene so often vanquished, +and Sarmatia so often restrained & brought vnder, the people called +[Sidenote: Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi, and people of Germanie and Polonie.] +Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi so often put to flight, the Goth submitting +himselfe, the king of Persia by offering gifts suing for peace: one +despitefull reproch of so mightie an empire and gouernement ouer the +whole greeued vs to the heart, as now at length we will not sticke to +confesse, and to vs it seemed the more intollerable, bicause it onlie +remained to the accomplishing of your perfect renowme and glorie. And +verilie as there is but one name of Britaine, so was the losse to be +esteemed smal to the common wealth of a land so plentifull of corne, +so abundant with store of pastures, so flowing with veines of mettall, +so gainfull with reuenues rising of customs and tributes, so enuironed +with hauens, so huge in circuit, the which when Cesar, the founder of +this your honourable title, being the first that entered into it, writ +that he had found an other world, supposing it to be so big, that it +was not compassed with the sea, but that rather by resemblance the +great Ocean was compassed with it. Now at that time Britaine was +nothing furnished with ships of warre; so that the Romans, soone after +the warres of Carthage and Asia, had latelie beene exercised by +sea against pirats, and afterwards by reason of the warres against +Mithridates, were practised as well to fight by sea as land; besides +this, the British nation then alone was accustomed but onelie to +[Sidenote: Picts and Irishmen.] +the Picts and Irishmen, enimies halfe naked as yet & not vsed to weare +armor, so that the Britains for lacke of skill, easilie gaue place to +the Romane puissance, insomuch that Cesar might by that voiage onelie +glorie in this, that he had sailed and passed ouer the Ocean sea. + +"But in this wicked rebellious robberie, first the nauie that in times +past defended the coasts of Gallia, was led away by the pirat when he +fled his waies: and beside this, a great number of other ships were +built after the mould of ours, the legion of Romane souldiers was +woon, and brought to take part with the enimie, and diuers bands of +strangers that were also souldiers were shut vp in the ships to serue +also against vs. The merchants of the parties of Gallia were assembled +and brought togither to the musters, and no small numbers of barbarous +nations procured to come in aid of the rebels, trusting to inrich +themselues by the spoile of the prouinces: and all these were trained +in the wars by sea, through the instruction of the first attemptors of +this mischieuous practise. + +"And although our armies were inuincible in force and manhood, yet +were they raw and not accustomed to the seas, so that the fame of a +greeuous and great trouble by warre that was toward by this shamefull +rebellious robberie was blowne and sounded in ech mans eare, +[Sidenote: Long sufferance of euill increaseth boldnesse in the +authors.] +although we hoped well of the end. Vnto the enimies forces was added +a long sufferance of their wicked practises without punishment, which +had puffed vp the presumptuous boldnesse of desperate people, that +they bragged of our stay, as it had bene for feare of them, whereas +the disaduantage which we had by sea, seemed as it were by a fatall +necessitie to deferre our victorie: neither did they beleeue that the +warre was put off for a time by aduise and counsell, but rather to be +omitted through despaire of dooing anie good against them, insomuch +that now the feare of common punishment being laid aside, one of +[Sidenote: Carausius slaine.] +the mates slue the archpirat or capteine rouer as I may call him, +hoping in reward of so great an exploit, to obteine the whole +gouernement into his hands. + +"This warre then being both so necessarie, so hard to enter vpon, so +growne in time to a stubborne stiffenesse, and so well prouided for of +the enimies part, you noble emperour did so take it in hand, that so +soone as you bent the thundering force of your imperiall maiestie +against that enimie, ech man made account that the enterprise was +alreadie atchiued. For first of all, to the end that your diuine +power being absent, the barbarous nations should not attempt anie +new trouble (a thing chieflie to be foreseene) it was prouided for +aforehand by intercession made vnto your maiestie: for you your selfe, +you (I say) mightie lord Maximian eternall emperour, vouchedsafe to +aduance the comming of your diuine excellence by the neerest way that +might be, which to you was not vnknowne. You therefore suddenlie came +to the Rhine, and not with anie armie of horssemen or footmen, but +with the terrour of your presence did preserue and defend all that +frontire: for Maximian once being there vpon the riuage, counteruailed +anie the greatest armies that were to be found. For you (most +inuincible emperour) furnishing and arming diuers nauies, made the +enimie so vncerteine of his owne dooing and void of counsell, that +then at length he might perceiue that he was not defended, but rather +inclosed with the Ocean sea. + +"Here commeth to mind how pleasant and easefull the good lucke of +those princes in gouerning the common wealth with praise was, which +sitting still in Rome had triumphs and surnames appointed them of +[Sidenote: Fronto counted Ciceros match.]such nations as their +capteins did vanquish. Fronto therefore, not the second, but match +with the first honor of the Romane eloquence, when he yeelded vnto +the emperor Antoninus the renowme of the warre brought the citie, +had committed the conduct and successe of that warre ouer vnto the +same Fronto, it was confessed by him, that the emperour sitting as +it were at the helme of the ship, deserued the praise, by giuing of +perfect order to the full accomplishing of the enterprise. But you +(most inuincible emperour) haue bene not onlie the appointer foorth +how all this voiage by sea, and prosecuting the warre by land should +bee demeaned, as apperteined to you by vertue of your imperiall rule +and dignitie, but also you haue beene an exhorter and setter forward +in the things themselues, and through example of your assured +constancie, the victorie was atchiued. For you taking the sea at +Sluice, did put an irreuocable desire into their hearts that were +readie to take ship at the same time in the mouth of the riuer of +Saine, insomuch that when the capteins of that armie did linger out +the time, by reason the seas and aire was troubled, they cried to haue +the sailes hoised vp, and signe giuen to lanch foorth, that they +might passe forward on their iournie, despising certeine tokens +which threatened their wrecke, and so set forward on a rainie and +tempestuous day, sailing with a crosse wind, for no forewind might +serue their turne. + +"But what was he that durst not commit himselfe vnto the sea, were +the same neuer so vnquiet, when you were once vnder saile, and set +forward? One voice and exhortation was among them all (as report hath +gone thereof) when they heard that you were once got forth vpon the +water, What doo we dout? what mean we to staie? He is now loosed from +land, he is forward on his waie, and peraduenture is alreadie got +ouer: Let vs put all things in proofe, let vs venter through anie +dangers of sea whatsoeuer. What is there that we may stand in feare +of? we follow the emperour. Neither did the opinion of your good hap +deceiue them: for as by report of them selues we doo vnderstand, at +that selfe time there fell such a mist and thicke fog vpon the seas, +that the enimies nauie laid at the Ile of wight watching for their +aduersaries, and lurking as it were in await, these your ships passed +by, and were not once perceiued, neither did the enimie then staie +although he could not resist. + +"But now as concerning that the same vnuanquishable army fighting +vnder your ensignes and name, streightwaies after it came to land, +set fire on their ships; what mooued them so to doo, except the +admonitions of your diuine motion? Or what other reason persuaded them +to reserue no furtherance for their flight, if need were, nor to feare +the doubtfull chances of war, nor (as the prouerbe saith) to +thinke the hazard of martiall dealings to be common, but that by +contemplation of your prosperous hap, it was verie certeine that there +needed no doubt to be cast for victorie to be obteined? There were no +sufficient forces at that present among them, no mightie or puissant +strength of the Romans, but they had onelie consideration of your +vnspeakable fortunate successe comming from the heauens aboue. For +whatsoeuer battell dooth chance to be offered, to make full account +[Sidenote: The good lucke in a capteine.] +of victorie, resteth not so much in the assurance of the +souldiers, as in the good lucke and felicitie of the capteine +generall. + +"That same ringleader of the vngratious faction, what ment he to +depart from that shore which he possessed? Why did he forsake both his +nauie and the hauen? But that (most inuincible emperour) he stood +in feare of your comming, whose sailes he beheld readie to approch +towards him, how soeuer the matter should fall out, he chose rather to +trie his fortune with your capteins, than to abide the present force +of your highnes. Ah mad man! that vnderstood not, that whither so euer +he fled, the power of your diuine maiestie to be present in all places +where your countenance & banners are had in reuerence. But he fleeing +from your presence, fell into the hands of your people, of you was he +ouercome, of your armies was he oppressed. + +"To be short, he was brought into such feare, and as it were still +looking behind him, for doubt of your comming after him, that as one +out of his wits and amazed, he wist not what to doo, he hasted forward +to his death, so that he neither set his men in order of battell, nor +marshalled such power as he had about him, but onlie with the old +authors of that conspiracie, and the hired bands of the barbarous +nations, as one forgetfull of so great preparation which he had made, +ran headlong forwards to his destruction, insomuch (noble emperour) +your felicitie yeeldeth this good hap to the common wealth, that the +victorie being atchiued in the behalfe of the Romane empire, there +almost died not one Romane: for as I heare, all those fields and +hills lay couered with none but onelie with the bodies of most wicked +enimies, the same being of the barbarous nations, or at the leastwise +apparelled in the counterfet shapes of barbarous garments, glistering +with their long yellow haires, but now with gashes of wounds and bloud +all deformed, and lieng in sundrie manners, as the pangs of death +occasioned by their wounds had caused them to stretch foorth or draw +in their maimed lims and mangled parts of their dieng bodies. And +[Sidenote: Alectus found dead.] +among these, the chiefe ringleader of the theeues was found, who +had put off those robes which in his life time he had vsurped and +[Sidenote: He had despoiled himselfe of the imperiall robes, bicause +he would not be knowne if he chanced to be slaine.] +dishonoured, so as scarse was he couered with one peece of apparell +whereby he might be knowne, so neere were his words true, vttered at +the houre of his death, which he saw at hand, that he would not haue +it vnderstood how he was slaine. + +"Thus verelie (most inuincible emperour) so great a victorie was +appointed to you by consent of the immortall gods ouer all the enimies +whome you assailed, but namelie the slaughter of the Frankeners and +those your souldiers also, which (as before I haue said) 24 through +[Sidenote Francones slue Franci.] +missing their course by reason of the mist that lay on the seas, were +now come to the citie of London, where they slue downe right in ech +part of the same citie, what multitude soeuer remained of those hired +barbarous people, which escaping from the battell, ment (after they +had spoiled the citie) to haue got awaie by flight. But now being thus +slaine by your souldiers, the subiects of your prouince were both +preserued from further danger, and tooke pleasure to behold the +slaughter of such cruell enimies. O what a manifold victorie was this, +worthie vndoubtedlie of innumerable triumphes! by which victorie +Britaine is restored to the empire, by which victorie the nation of +the Frankeners is vtterlie destroied, & by which manie other nations +found accessaries in the conspiracie of that wicked practise, are +compelled to obedience. To conclude, the seas are purged and brought +to perpetuall quietnesse. + +"Glorie you therefore, inuincible emperour, for that you haue as it +were got an other world, & in restoring to the Romane puissance the +glory of conquest by sea, haue added to the Romane empire an element +greater than all the compasse of the earth, that is, the mightie maine +ocean. You haue made an end of the warre (inuincible emperour) that +seemed as present to threaten all prouinces, and might haue spred +abroad and burst out in a flame, euen so largelie as the ocean seas +stretch, and the mediterrane gulfs doo reach. Neither are we ignorant, +although through feare of you that infection did fester within the +bowels of Britaine onelie, and proceeded no further, with what furie +it would haue aduanced it selfe else where, if it might haue beene +assured of means to haue ranged abroad so far as it wished. For it was +bounded in with no border of mounteine, nor riuer, which garrisons +appointed were garded and defended but euen so as the ships, although +we had your martiall prowes and prosperous fortune redie to releeue +vs, & was still at our elbowes to put vs in feare, so farre as either +sea reacheth or wind bloweth. + +"For that incredible boldnesse and vnwoorthie good hap of a few sillie +[Sidenote: The piracie of the Frankeners called _Franci_ or _Francones_.] +captiues of the Frankeners in time of the emperour Probus came to our +remembrance, which Frankeners in that season, conueieng awaie certeine +vessels from the coasts of Pontus, wasted both Grecia and Asia, and +not without great hurt and damage, ariuing vpon diuers parts of the +shore of Libia, at length tooke the citie of Saragose in Sicile (an +hauen towne in times past highlie renowmed for victories gotten by +sea:) & after this passing thorough the streicts of Giberalterra, +came into the Ocean, and so with the fortunate successe of their rash +presumptuous attempt, shewed how nothing is shut vp in safetie from +the desperate boldnesse of pirats, where ships maie come and haue +accesse. And so therefore by this your victorie, not Britaine alone +is deliuered from bondage, but vnto all nations is safetie restored, +which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of +warre, as to gaine of commodities in time of peace. + +"Now Spaine (to let passe the coasts of Gallia) with hir shores almost +in sight is in suertie: now Italie, now Afrike, now all nations euen +vnto the fens of Meotis are void of perpetuall cares. Neither are they +lesse ioifull, the feare of danger being taken awaie, which to feele +as yet the necessitie had not brought them: but they reioise so much +the more for this, that both in the guiding of your prouidence, and +also furtherance of fortune, so great a force of rebellion by seamen +is calmed, vpon the entring into their borders, and Britaine it selfe +which had giuen harbour to so long a mischiefe, is euidentlie knowne +[Sidenote: Britains restored to quietnes.] +to haue tasted of your victorie, with hir onelie restitution to +quietnesse. Not without good cause therfore immediatlie, when you hir +long wished reuenger and deliuerer were once arriued, your maiestie +was met with great triumph, & the Britains replenished with all inward +[Sidenote: The Britains receiue Maximian with great ioy and +humblenesse.] +gladnesse, came foorth and offered themselues to your presence, +with their wiues and children, reuerencing not onlie your selfe (on +whom they set their eies, as on one descended downe to them from +heauen) but also euen the sailes and tackling of that ship which had +brought your diuine presence vnto their coasts: and when you should +set foot on land, they were readie to lie downe at your feet, that you +might (as it were) march ouer them, so desirous were they of you. + +"Neither was it anie maruell if they shewed them selues so ioifull, +sith after their miserable captiuitie so manie yeeres continued, after +so long abusing of their wiues, and filthie bondage of their children, +at length yet were they now restored to libertie, at length made +Romans, at length refreshed with the true light of the imperiall rule +and gouernement: for beside the fame of your clemencie and pitie, +which was set forth by the report of all nations, in your countenance +(Cesar) they perceiued the tokens of all vertues, in your face +grauitie, in your eies mildnesse, in your ruddie cheekes bashfulnesse, +in your words iustice: all which things as by regard they +acknowledged, so with voices of gladnesse they signified on high. To +you they bound themselues by vow, to you they bound their children: +yea and to your children they vowed all the posteritie of their race +and ofspring. + +[Sidenote: Dioclesian and Maximian.] +"We trulie (O perpetuall parents and lords of mankind) require +this of the immortall gods with most earnest supplication and heartie +praier, that our children and their children, and such other as shall +come of them for euer hereafter, may be dedicated vnto you, and to +those whom you now bring vp, or shall bring vp hereafter. For what +better hap can we wish to them that shall succeed vs, than to be +enioiers of that felicitie which now we our selues enioy? The Romane +common wealth dooth now comprehend in one coniunction of peace, all +whatsoeuer at sundrie times haue belonged to the Romans, and that huge +power which with too great a burden was shroonke downe, and riuen in +sunder, is now brought to ioine againe in the assured ioints of the +imperiall gouernment. For there is no part of the earth nor region +vnder heauen, but that either it remaineth quiet through feare, or +subdued by force of armies, or at the lestwise bound by clemencie. +And is there anie other thing else in other parts, which if will and +reason should mooue men thereto, that might be obteined? Beyond the +Ocean, what is there more than Britaine, which is so recouered by +[Sidenote: Nations néere to Britaine obeie the emperours.] +you, that those nations which are nere adioining to the bounds of that +Ile, are obedient to your commandements? There is no occasion that may +mooue you to passe further, except the ends of the Ocean sea, which +nature forbiddeth should be sought for. All is yours (most inuincible +princes) which are accounted woorthie of you, and thereof commeth it, +that you may equallie prouide for euerie one, sith you haue the whole +in your maiesties hands. And therefore as heretofore (most excellent +emperour Dioclesian) by your commandement Asia did supplie the desert +places of Thracia with inhabitants transported thither, as afterward +(most excellent emperour Maximian) by your appointment, the Frankeners +at length brought to a pleasant subiection, and admitted to liue vnder +[Sidenote: The printed booke hath Heruij, but I take the H, to be +thrust in for N.] +lawes, hath peopled and manured the vacant fields of the Neruians, +and those about the citie of Trier. And so now by your victories +(inuincible Constantius Cesar) whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens, +Beauois, Trois, and Langres, beginneth to florish with inhabitants of +sundrie nations: yea and moreouer that your most obedient citie of +Autun, for whose sake I haue a peculiar cause to reioise, by meanes +of this triumphant victorie in Britaine, it hath receiued manie & +[Sidenote: Artificers foorth of Britaine.] +diuerse artificers, of whom those prouinces were ful, and now by their +workemanship the same citie riseth vp by repairing of ancient houses, +and restoring of publike buildings and temples, so that now it +accounteth that the old name of brotherlie incorporation to Rome, is +againe to hir restored, when she hath you eftsoones for hir founder. I +haue said (inuincible emperour) almost more than I haue beene able, +& not so much as I ought, that I may haue most iust cause by your +clemencies licence, both now to end, & often hereafter to speake: and +thus I ceasse." + + * * * * * + + + + +_What is to be observed and noted out of the panegyrike oration of +Mamertinus afore remembred, with necessarie collections out of other +Antiquaries_. + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Now let vs consider what is to be noted out of this part of the +foresaid oration. It should seeme that when the emperour Maximian was +sent into Gallia by appointment taken betwixt him and Dioclesian, +after he had quieted things there, he set his mind foorthwith to +reduce Britaine vnder the obedience of the empire, which was at that +present kept vnder subiection of such princes as mainteined their +state, by the mightie forces of such number of ships as they had got +togither, furnished with all things necessarie, & namelie of able +[Sidenote: Franci, or Frankeneres, people of Germanie.] +seamen, as well Britains as strangers, among whome the Frankeners +were chiefe, a nation of Germanie, as then highly renowmed for their +puissance by sea, néere to the which they inhabited, so that there +were no rouers comparable to them. + +But because none durst stirre on these our seas for feare of the +British fléet that passed to and fro at pleasure, to the great +annoiance of the Romane subiects inhabiting alongst the coasts of +Gallia, Maximian both to recouer againe so wealthie and profitable a +land vnto the obeisance of the empire, as Britaine then was, and also +to deliuer the people of Gallia subiect to the Romans, from danger +of being dailie spoiled by those rouers that were mainteined here in +Britaine, he prouided with all diligence such numbers of ships as were +thought requisite for so great an enterprise, and rigging them in +sundrie places, tooke order for their setting forward to his most +aduantage for the easie atchiuing of his enterprise. He appointed to +passe himselfe from the coasts of Flanders, at what time other of +capteines with their fleets from other parts should likewise make +saile towards Britaine. By this meanes Alectus that had vsurped the +title & dignitie of king or rather emperour ouer the Britains, knew +not where to take héed, but yet vnderstanding of the nauie that was +made readie in the mouth of Saine, he ment by that which maie be +coniectured, to intercept that fléet, as it should come foorth and +make saile forwards: and so for that purpose he laie with a great +number of ships about the Ile of Wight. + +But whether Asclepiodotus came ouer with that nauie which was rigged +on the coasts of Flanders, or with some other, I will not presume +to affirme either to or fro, because in déed Mamertinus maketh +no expresse mention either of Alectus or Asclepiodotus: but +notwithstanding it is euident by that which is conteined in his +oration, that not Maximian, but some other of his capteins gouerned +the armie, which slue Alectus, so that we maie suppose that +Asclepiodotus was chiefteine ouer some number of ships directed by +Maximians appointment to passe ouer into this Ile against the same +Alectus: and so maie this, which Mamertinus writeth, agrée with the +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +truth of that which we doo find in Eutropius. + +Héere is to be remembred, that after Maximians had thus recouered +Britaine out of their hands that vsurped the rule thereof from the +Romans, it should séeme that not onelie great numbers of artificers +& other people were conueied ouer into Gallia, there to inhabit and +furnish such cities as were run into decaie, but also a power of +warlike youths was transported thither to defend the countrie from the +inuasion of barbarous nations. For we find that in the daies of this +Maximian, the Britains expelling the Neruians out of the citie of Mons +in Henaud, held a castell there, which was called Bretaimons after +them, wherevpon the citie was afterward called Mons, retaining the +last syllable onlie, as in such cases it hath often happened. + +Moreouer this is not to be forgotten, that as Humfrey Lhoyd hath very +well noted in his booke intituled "Fragmenta historiæ Britannicæ," +Mamertinus in this parcell of his panegyrike oration dooth make first +mention of the nation of Picts, of all other the ancient Romane +writers: so that not one before his time once nameth Picts or Scots. +But now to returne where we left. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting +tyrant, of Alban the first that suffered martyrdome in Britaine, what +miracles were wrought at his death, whereof Lichfield tooke the name; +of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was maried to +Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose_. + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that Britaine was thus recouered by the Romans, Dioclesian and +Maximian ruling the empire, the Iland tasted of the crueltie that +Dioclesian exercised against the christians, in persecuting them with +all extremities, continuallie for the space of ten yéeres. Amongst +other, one Alban a citizen of Werlamchester, a towne now bearing +his name, was the first that suffered here in Britaine in this +persecution, being conuerted to the faith by the zealous christian +Amphibalus, whom he receiued into his house: insomuch that when there +[Sidenote: _Beda and Gyldas_.] +came sergeants to séeke for the same Amphibalus, the foresaid +Alban to preserue Amphibalus out of danger, presented himselfe in the +apparell of the said Amphibalus, & so being apprehended in his stead, +was brought before the iudge and examined: and for that he refused to +doo sacrifice to the false gods, he was beheaded on the top of an hill +ouer against the towne of Werlamchester aforesaid where afterwards +was builded a church and monasterie in remembrance of his martyrdome, +insomuch that the towne there restored, after that Werlamchester was +destroied, tooke name of him, and so is vnto this day called saint +Albons. + +It is reported by writers, that diuers miracles were wrought at the +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Sée the booke of acts and monuments set forth +by master Fox.] +time of his death, insomuch that one which was appointed to doo the +execution, was conuerted, and refusing to doo that office, suffered +also with him: but he that tooke vpon him to doo it, reioised nothing +thereat, for his eies fell out of his head downe to the ground, +togither with the head of that holie man which he had then cut off. +There were also martyred about the same time two constant witnesses +of Christ his religion, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerleon +[Sidenote:_Iohn Rossus. Warwicens. in lib. de Wigorniens. epis._] +Arwiske. Moreouer, a great number of Christians which were assembled +togither to heare the word of life, preached by that vertuous man +Amphibalus, were slaine by the wicked pagans at Lichfield, whereof +[Sidenote: Lichfield whereof it tooke name.] +that towne tooke name, as you would say, The field of dead corpses. + +To be briefe, this persecution was so great and greeuous, and thereto +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +so vniuersall, that in maner the Christian religion was thereby +destroied. The faithfull people were slaine, their bookes burnt, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +and churches ouerthrowne. It is recorded that in one moneths space +[Sidenote: _Matth. West. Constantius_.] +in diuers places of the world there were 17000 godlie men and women +put to death, for professing the christian faith in the daies of that +tyrant Dioclesian and his fellow Maximian. + +[Sidenote: COELUS. 262.] +Coelus earle of Colchester began his dominion ouer the Britains in +the yeere of our Lord 262. This Coelus or Coell ruled the land for +a certeine time, so as the Britains were well content with his +gouernement, and liued the longer in rest from inuasion of the Romans, +bicause they were occupied in other places: but finallie they finding +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +time for their purpose, appointed one Constantius to passe ouer +into this Ile with an armie, the which Constantius put Coelus in +such dread, that immediatlie vpon his arriuall Coelus sent to him an +ambassage, and concluded a peace with him, couenanting to pay the +[Sidenote:_Gal. Mon._ _Fabian_. _Caxton_.] +accustomed tribute, & gaue to Constantius his daughter in mariage +called Helen, a noble ladie and a learned. Shortlie after king Coell +died, when he had reigned (as some write) 27 yeeres or (as other haue) +but 13 yeeres. + +¶ But by the way touching this Coelus, I will not denie, but assuredly +such a prince there was: howbeit that he had a daughter named Helen, +whom he maried vnto Constantius the Romane lieutenant that was after +emperor, I leaue that to be decided of the learned. For if the whole +course of the liues, as well of the father and the sonne Constantius +and Constantine, as likewise of the mother Helen, be consideratelie +marked from time to time, and yeere to yéere, as out of authors both +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7. cap. 18_.] +Greeke and Latine the same may be gathered, I feare least such +doubt maie rise in this matter, that it will be harder to prooue Helen +a Britane, than Constantine to be borne in Bithynia (as Nicephorus +auoucheth.) But forsomuch as I meane not to step from the course of +our countrie writers in such points, where the receiued opinion may +séeme to warrant the credit of the historie, I will with other admit +both the mother and sonne to be Britains in the whole discourse of the +historie following, as though I had forgot what in this place I haue +said. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, his +regiment ouer this Iland, his behauiour and talke to his sonne and +councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a deuise that he put in +practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, +his commendable vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the +christian faith is prooued_. + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matth. West._ saith 302. 289.] +Constantius a senatour of Rome began to reigne ouer the Britains, +in the yeere of our Lord 289, as our histories report. This +Constantius (as before ye haue heard) had to wife Helen the +daughter of the foresaid king Coel, of whome he begat a sonne named +Constantinus, which after was emperour, and for his woorthie dooings +surnamed Constantine the great. S. Ambrose following the common +[Sidenote: _Orosius. Beda_.] +report, writeth that this Helen was a maid in an inne: and some +againe write, that she was concubine to Constantius, and not his wife. +[Sidenote: _Cuspinian_.] +But whatsoeuer she was, it appeareth by the writers of the Romane +[Sidenote: _Fabian._] +histories, that Constantius being the daughters sonne of one +Crispus, that was brother to the emperour Claudius, came into +Britaine, and quieted the troubles that were raised by the Britains, +and there (as some write) maried the foresaid Helen, being a woman of +an excellent beautie, whom yet [after] he was constreined to forsake, +and to marrie Theodora the daughter in law of Herculeus Maximianus, by +whome he had six sonnes, and finallie was created emperour, togither +with the said Galerius Maximianus, at what time Dioclesianus and his +fellow Herculeus Maximianus renounced the rule of the empire, and +committed the same vnto them. The empire was then diuided betwixt +them, so that to Constantius the regions of Italie, Affrike, France +Spaine and Britaine were assigned; & to Galerius, Illyricum, Grecia, +and all the east parts. But Constantine being a man void of ambition, +was contented to leaue Italie and Affrike, supposing his charge to be +great inough to haue the gouernement in his hands of France, Spaine, +and Britaine (as Eutropius saith.) + +But as touching his reigne ouer the Britains, we haue not to say +further than as we find in our owne writers recorded: as for his +gouernement in the empire, it is to be considered, that first he was +admitted to rule as an assistant to Maximian vnder the title of +Cesar: and so from that time if you shall account his reigne, it maie +comprehend 11, 12, or 13 yeeres, yea more or lesse, according to the +diuersitie found in writers. Howbeit, if we shall reckon his reigne +from the time onelie that Dioclesian and Maximian resigned their +title vnto the empire, we shall find that he reigned not fullie thrée +yéeres. For whereas betwéene the slaughter of Alectus, and the comming +of Constantius, are accounted 8 yéeres and od moneths, not onelie +those eight yéeres, but also some space of time before maie be +ascribed vnto Constantius: for although before his comming ouer into +Britaine now this last time (for he had béene here afore, as it well +appéereth) Asclepiodotus gouerning as legat, albeit vnder Constantius, +who had a great portion of the west parts of the empire vnder his +regiment, by the title, as I haue said, of Cesar, yet he was not said +to reigne absolutelie till Dioclesian and Maximian resigned. But now +to conclude with the dooings of Constantius, at length he fell +[Sidenote: 306.] +sicke at Yorke, and there died, about the yéere of our Lord 306. + +This is not to be forgotten, that whilest he laie on his death-bed, +somewhat before he departed this life, hearing that his sonne +Constantine was come, and escaped from the emperours Dioclesian and +Maximian, with whom he remained as a pledge (as after shall be partlie +touched) he receiued him with all ioy, and raising himselfe vp in his +bed, in presence of his other sonnes & counsellours, with a great +number of other people and strangers that were come to visit him, he +set the crowne vpon his sonnes head, and adorned him with other +[Sidenote: _Niceph._] +imperiall robes and garments, executing as it were him selfe the +office of an herald, and withall spake these woords vnto his said +sonne, and to his counsellours there about him: "Now is my death to +[Sidenote: _Tripartit. histo._] +me more welcome, and my departure hence more pleasant; I haue héere a +large epitaph and monument of buriall, to wit, mine owne sonne, and +one whome in earth I leaue to be emperour in my place, which by Gods +good helpe shall wipe away the teares of the Christians, and reuenge +the crueltie exercised by tyrants. This I reckon to chance vnto me in +stéed of most felicitie." + +After this, turning himselfe to the multitude, he commanded them all +to be of good comfort, meaning those that had not forsaken true vertue +and godlinesse in Christ, which Christ he vndertooke should continue +with his sonne Constantine in all enterprises, which in warres or +otherwise he should take in hand. That deuise also is woorthie to +be had in memorie, which he put in practise in his life time, to +vnderstand what true and sincere Christians were remaining in his +court. For whereas he had béene first a persecuter, and after was +conuerted, it was a matter easie to persuade the world, that he was no +earnest Christian: and so the policie which he thought to worke, was +the sooner brought to passe, which was this. + +He called togither all his officers and seruants, feining himselfe +to choose out such as would doo sacrifice to diuels, and that those +onelie should remaine with him and kéepe their office, and the rest +that refused so to doo, should be thrust out, and banished the court. +Héervpon all the courtiers diuided themselues into companies: and +when some offered willinglie to doo sacrifice, and other some boldlie +refused: the emperour marking their dealings, sharpelie rebuked those +which were so readie to dishonour the liuing God, accounting them as +treitours to his diuine maiestie, and not woorthie to remaine within +the court gates: but those that constantlie stood in the profession +of the christian faith, he greatlie commended, as men woorthie to be +about a prince: and withall declared, that from thencefoorth they +should be as chiefe counsellours and defenders both of his person and +kingdome, estéeming more of them than of all the treasure he had in +his coffers. + +To conclude, he was a graue prince, sober, vpright, courteous and +liberall, as he which kept his mind euer frée from couetous desire of +great riches: insomuch that when he should make anie great feast to +his friends, he was not ashamed to borow plate and siluer vessell to +[Sidenote: _Pomponius Lænis_.] +serue his turne, and to furnish his cupbord for the time, being +contented for himselfe to be serued in cruses & earthen vessels. He +was woont to haue this saieng in his mouth, that better it was that +the subiects should haue store of monie and riches, than the prince to +kéepe it close in his treasurie, where it serued to no vse. By such +courteous dealing the prouinces which were in his charge flourished +in great wealth and quietnesse. He was a verie wise and politike +[Sidenote: He died in the yéere 306. as _Matt. West._ hath noted, +and reigned over the Britains but 11. yéeres as _Galf._ saith.] +prince in the ordering of all weightie matters, and verie skillfull in +the practise of warres, so that he stood the Romane empire in great +stéed, and was therefore highlie beloued of the souldiers, insomuch +that immediatlie after his deceasse, they proclaimed his sonne +Constantine emperour. + +That the Christian faith was imbraced of the Britains in this season, +it maie appéere, in that Hilarias bishop of Poictiers writeth to his +brethren in Britaine, and Constantine in an epistle (as Theodoretus +saith in his first booke and tenth chapter) maketh mention of the +churches in Britaine: which also Sozomenus dooth affirme. For the +Britains after they had receiued the faith, defended the same euen +with the shedding of their bloud, as Amphibalus, who in this +[Sidenote: 291. _Iohn Bale_.] +Constantius daies being apprehended, suffered at Redburne neere to +Werlamchester, about 15 yéeres after the martyrdome of his host S. +Albane. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantine created emperour in Britaine, he is sollicited to take +vpon him the regiment of those countries that his father gouerned, he +is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping tyrant, Maximianus his +father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by the +said Maximianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daughter +of Maximianus & wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie +to hir husband, Maximianus is strangled at Constantines commandement, +lèague and alliance betweene him and Licinius, he is slaine, the +empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with the +inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the +nailes wherewith Christ was crucified, Constantine commended, the +state of Britaine in his time_. + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE. 306.] +Constantine being the son of the forenamed Constantius, begot of +his first wife Helen, the daughter (as some affirme) of Coell late +king of the Britains, began to reigne in the yéere of our Lord 306. +This worthie prince begotten of a British woman, & borne of hir in +Britaine (as our writers doo affirme) and created certeinlie emperour +in Britaine, did doubtlesse make his natiue countrie partaker of his +high glorie and renowme, which by his great prowes, politike +wisedome, woorthie gouernment, and other his princelie qualities most +abundantlie planted in his noble person, he purchased and got thorough +the circuit of the whole earth, insomuch that for the high enterprises +and noble acts by him happilie brought to passe and atchiued, he was +surnamed (as before is said) the great Constantine. Whilest this +Constantine remained at Rome in manner as he had béene a pledge with +Galerius in his fathers life time, he being then but yoong, fled from +thence, and with all post hast returned to his father into Britaine, +killing or howghing by the waie all such horsses as were appointed +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Sextus Aurelius Victor.] +to stand at innes readie for such as should ride in post, least being +pursued, he should haue béene ouertaken, and brought backe againe by +such as might be sent to pursue him. + +At his comming into Britaine, he found his father sore vexed with +sicknesse, whereof shortlie after he died, and then was he by helpe of +such as were about him, incouraged to take vpon him as emperour: +[Sidenote: Erocus king of the Almains.] +and namelie one Erocus king of the Almains, which had accompanied +his father thither, assisted him thereto, so that being proclaimed +emperour, he tooke vpon him the rule of those countries which his +father had in gouernment, that is to saie, France, Spaine, the Alpes, +and Britaine, with other prouinces héere in the west: and ruling the +same with great equitie and wisdome, he greatly wan the fauour of +the people, insomuch that the fame of his politike gouernment and +courteous dealing being spred abroad, when Maxentius the tyrant +[Sidenote: Maxentius the tyrant.] +that occupied the rule of the empire at Rome, and in Italie by +wrongfull vsurping & abusing the same, was grown into the hatred of +the Romans and other Italians, Constantine was earnestlie by them +requested to come into Italie, and to helpe to subdue Maxentius, that +he might reforme the state of things there. + +This Maxentius was sonne to Herculeus Maximianus, and Constantine had +married Fausta the daughter of the said Maximianus. Now so it was, +that Maximianus, immediatlie after that his sonne Maxentius had taken +the rule vpon him, sought meanes to haue deposed him, and to haue +resumed and taken eftsoones into his owne hands the gouernment of +the empire. But solliciting Dioclesian to doo the like, he was much +reprooued of him for his vnreasonable and ambitious purpose: so that +when he perceiued that neither Dioclesian would be thereto agreeable, +nor induce the souldiers to admit him, they hauing alreadie +established his sonne, began to deuise waies how to assure the state +more stronglie to his said sonne. And hearing that his sonne in law +Constantine was minded to come into Italie against him, he purposed to +practise Constantines destruction, insomuch that it was iudged by this +[Sidenote: Dissimulation.] +which followed, that Herculeus Maximianus did but for a colour +séeme to mislike that which his said son Maxentius had doone, to the +end he might the sooner accomplish his intent for the dispatching of +Constantine out of the waie. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulphus Cestrensis_.] +Heerevpon (as it were) fléeing out of Italie, he came to +Constantine, who as then hauing appointed lieutenants vnder him in +Britaine, remained in France, and with all ioy and honour that might +be, receiued his father in law: the which being earnestlie bent to +[Sidenote: Fausta the daughter of Maximianas and wife to Constantine.] +compasse his purpose, made his daughter Fausta priuie thereto: +which ladie (either for feare least the concealing thereof might turne +hir to displeasure, either else for the entire loue which she bare to +hir husband) reuealed hir fathers wicked purpose. Wherevpon whilest +[Sidenote: Marsiles.] +Constantine went about to be reuenged of such a traitorous +practise, Herculeus fled to Marsiles, purposing there to take the sea, +and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italie. But yer he could +[Sidenote: Maximianus slaine. _Ann. Chri. 322_.] +get awaie from thence, he was strangled by commandement of his +sonne in law Constantine, and so ended his life, which he had spotted +with manie cruell acts, as well in persecuting the professours of the +christian name, as others. + +[Sidenote: Licinius chosen fellow with Maximianus in the empire.] +In this meane time had Maximianus adopted one Licinius to assist +him in gouernance of the empire, proclaiming him Cesar. So that now at +one selfe time Constantine gouerned France and the west parts of the +empire, Maxentius held Italie, Affrike, and Aegypt: and Maximianus +which likewise had beene elected Cesar, ruled the east parts, and +Licinius Illyrium and Grecia. But shortlie after, the emperour +Constantine ioined in league with Licinius, and gaue to him his +sister in marriage, named Constantia, for more suertie of faithfull +friendship to indure betwixt them. He sent him also against Maximianus +who gouerning in the east part of the empire, purposed the destruction +of Constantine and all his partakers: but being vanquished by Licinius +at Tarsus, he shortlie after died, being eaten with lice. Constantine +after this was called into Italie, to deliuer the Romans and Italians +from the tyrannie of Maxentius, which occasion so offered, Constantine +gladlie accepting, passed into Italie, and after certeine victories +got against Maxentius, at length slue him. + +After this, when Maximianus was dead, who prepared to make warre +against Licinius, that had married Constantia the sister of +Constantine, he finallie made warre against his brother in law the +said Licinius, by reason of such quarrels as fell out betwixt them. In +the which warre Licinius was put to the woorse, and at length comming +into the hands of Constantine, was put to death, so that Constantine +by this meanes got the whole empire vnder his rule and subiection. +He was a great fauourer of the Christian religion, insomuch that to +aduance the same, he tooke order for the conuerting of the temples +dedicated to the honour of idols, vnto the seruice of the true and +almightie God. He commanded also, that none should be admitted to +[Sidenote: Christians honoured and cherished.] +serue as a souldier in the warres, except he were a christian, nor yet +to haue rule of anie countrie or armie. He also ordeined, the wéeke +before Easter, and that which followed to be kept as holie, and no +person to doo anie bodilie woorks during the same. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The praise of the empresse Helen. 328.] +He was much counselled by that noble and most vertuous ladie his +mother, the empresse Helen, who being a godlie and deuout woman, did +what in hir laie, to mooue him to the setting foorth of Gods honour +and increase of the christian faith, wherein as yet he was not fullie +instructed. ¶ Some writers alledge, that she being at Ierusalem, made +diligent search to find out the place of the sepulchre of our Lord, +and at length found it, though with much adoo: for the infidels had +stopped it vp, and couered it with a heape of filthie earth, and +builded aloft vpon the place, a chappell dedicated to Venus, where +yoong women vsed to sing songs in honour of that vnchast goddesse. +Helen caused the same to be ouerthrowne, the earth to be remooued, and +the place cleansed, so that at length the sepulchre appéered, and fast +by were found there buried in the earth thrée crosses and the nailes. +But the crosse wherevpon our Sauiour was crucified, was knowne by the +title written vpon it, though almost worne out, in letters of Hebrew, +Gréeke, and Latine: the inscription was this, _Iesus Nazarenus rex +Iudæorum_. It was also perceiued which was that crosse by a miracle +(as it is reported, but how trulie I can not tell) that should be +wrought thereby: for being laid to a sicke woman, onlie with the +touching thereof she was healed. It was also said, that a dead man was +raised from death to life, his bodie onlie being touched therewith. +Wherevpon Constantine mooued with these things, forbad that from +thencefoorth anie should be put to death on the crosse, to the +end that the thing which afore time was accounted infamous and +reprochfull, might now be had in honour and reuerence. + +The empresse Helen hauing thus found the crosse, builded a temple +there,& taking with hir the nailes, returned with the same to hir +sonne Constantine, who set one of them in the crest of his helmet, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +an other in the bridle of his horsse, and the third he cast into the +sea, to asswage and pacifie the furious tempests and rage thereof. She +also brought with hir a parcell of that holie crosse, and gaue it +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +to hir sonne the said Constantine, the which he caused to be closed +within an image that represented his person, standing vpon a piller +in the market place of Constantine, or (as some late writers haue) he +caused it to be inclosed in a coffer of gold, adorned with rich stones +and pearls, placing it in a church called Sessoriana, the which church +he indued with manie great gifts and precious ornaments. Manie works +of great zeale and vertue are remembered by writers to haue béene +doone by this Constantine and his mother Helen, to the setting foorth +of Gods glorie, and the aduancing of the faith of Christ. But to be +[Sidenote: The commendation of Constantine.] +briefe, he was a man in whome manie excellent vertues and good +qualities both of mind and bodie manifestlie appéered, chieflie he was +a prince of great knowledge and experience in warre, and therewith +verie fortunate, an earnest louer of iustice, and to conclude, borne +to all honour. + +But now to speake somewhat of the state of Britaine in his time, ye +shall vnderstand, that as before is recorded, at his going ouer into +France, after that he was proclaimed emperour, he left behind him in +Britaine certeine gouernours to rule the land, and amongst other one +Maximinus a right valiant capteine. He tooke with him a great part +of the youth of Britaine, and diuerse of the chiefe men amongst the +nobilitie, in whose approoued manhood, loialtie, and constancie, he +conceiued a great hope to go thorough with all his enterprises, as +with the which being accompanied and compassed about, he passed ouer +into Gallia, entred into Italie, and in euerie place ouercame his +enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Gulielmus Malmes._ Britains seruing in the warres vnder +Constantine.] +Some write that Constantine thus conueieng ouer sea with him a +great armie of Britains, and by their industrie obteining victorie as +he wished, he placed a great number of such as were discharged out +of wages, and licenced to giue ouer the warre, in a part of Gallia +towards the west sea coast, where their posteritie remaine vnto this +daie, maruellouslie increased afterwards, and somewhat differing from +our Britains, the Welshmen, in manners and language. Amongst those +noble men which he tooke with him when he departed out of this +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Matt. West._] +land (as our writers doo testifie) were thrée vncles of his mother +Helen, that is to say Hoelmus, Trahernus, and Marius, whome he made +senators of Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Octauius a British lord, his reigne ouer the Britains, he +incountereth with Traherne first neere Winchester, and afterwards in +Westmerland: Octauius being discomfited fleeth into Norway, Traherne +is slaine, Octauius sendeth for Maximianus, on whom he bestoweth his +daughter and the kingdome of Britaine: the death of Octauius, Helena +builded the wals of Colchester and London, she dieth and is buried, +Constantine departeth this life, Britaine reckoned among the prouinces +that reteined the christian faith, Paulus a Spaniard is sent into +Britaine, he dealeth roughlie with the people, Martinus the lieutenant +excuseth them as innocent, his vnluckie end, Paulus returneth into +Italie_. + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now in the meane time that Constantine had obteined and ruled the +whole empire, Britaine as it were hauing recouered libertie, in that +one of hir children being hir king, had got the gouernment of the +[Sidenote: Octauius. _Caxton_. Gewisses inhabited the countrie +which the west Saxons after held. The name of Gewisses came in with +the Saxons of Guuy, &c.] +whole earth, remained in better quiet than afore time she had doone. +But yet in the meane season, if we shall credit the British chronicle +and Geffrey of Monmouth the interpretor thereof; there was a British +lord, named Octauius or Octauian, as the old English chronicle nameth +him, that was duke of the Gewisses, and appointed by Constantine to +be ruler of the land in his absence, the which Octauius (after that +Constantine had recouered Rome and Italie, and was so busied in the +affaires of the empire in those parts, that as was thought, he could +not returne backe into Britaine) seized into his hands the whole +dominion of Britaine, and held himselfe for king. + +[Sidenote: OCTAUIUS.] +This Octauius then beginning his reigne ouer the Britains in the +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_. Sidenote: 329.] +yéere of our Lord 329, prouoked Constantine to send against him one +of his mothers vncles, the foresaid Traherne. This Trahernus, or +as some name him Traherne, entred this land with three legions of +souldiers, & in a field néere vnto Winchester, was incountered by +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Galfridus_. This agréeth not +altogither with that which _Hector Boetius_ writeth, as in the +Scotish chronicle appéereth.] +Octauius and his Britains, by whome after a sore battell there +striken betwixt them, in the end Traherne was put to flight and +chased, insomuch that he was constreined to forsake that part of the +land, and to draw towards Scotland. Octauius hauing knowledge of his +passage, followed him, & in the countrie of Westmerland eftsoones gaue +him battell, but in that battell Octauius was put to the woorsse, and +constreined to forsake the land, fled into Norway, there to purchase +aid: and being readie with such power as he there gathered, what of +Britains and Norwegians, to returne into Britaine. Before his landing +he was aduertised that an earle of Britaine which bare him heartie +[Sidenote: Traherne slaine. See in the Scotish chronicles more of +these matters. _Matth. West._ saith 316.] +good will, had by treason slaine Traherne. Octauius then comming to +land, eftsoones got possession of Britaine, which should be (as Fabian +gathereth) about the yéere of our Lord 329, in the 20 yéere of the +reigne of the emperour Constantine, and about two yéeres after that +the said Octauius first tooke vpon him to rule as king. + +After this (as the British chronicle affirmeth) Octauius gouerned the +land right noblie, and greatlie to the contentation of the Britains. +At length when he was fallen in age, and had no issue but one +[Sidenote: Maximianus is sent for. Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall. +This agréeth not with that which is found in the Scotish chronicles.] +daughter, he was counselled to send vnto Rome for one Maximianus, a +noble yoong man, coosine to the emperour Constantine, on the part of +his mother Helena, to come into Britaine, and to take to his wife +the said daughter of Octauius, and so with hir to haue the kingdome. +Octauius at the first meant to haue giuen hir in mariage vnto one +Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall, which was his nephue: but when the +lords would not thereto agrée, at the length he appointed one +Maurice sonne to the said Conan to go to Rome to fetch the forenamed +Maximianus. + +Maurice according to his commission and instruction in that behalfe +[Sidenote: Maximianus commeth into Britaine.] +receiued, came to Rome, and declared his message in such +effectuall sort, that Maximianus consented to go with him into +Britaine, and so taking with him a conuenient number, set forward, and +did so much by his iournies, that finallie he landed here in Britaine. +And notwithstanding that Conan Meridoc past not so much to haue béene +dooing with him, for malice that he conceiued towards him, because +he saw that by his meanes he should be put beside the crowne, yet at +length was Maximianus safelie brought to the kings presence, and of +him honorablie receiued, and finallie the mariage was knit vp, and +solemnized in all princelie maner. Shortlie after, Octauius +[Sidenote: Octauius departeth this life.] +departed out of this life, after he had reigned the terme of fiftie +and foure yeares, as Fabian gathereth by that which diuers authors +doo write, how he reigned till the daies that Gratian and Valentinian +ruled the Roman empire which began to gouerne in the yeare of +[Sidenote: 382.] +our Lord (as he saith) 382, which is to be vnderstood of Gratian his +reigne after the deceasse of his vncle Valens, for otherwise a doubt +maie rise, because Valentine the father of Gratian admitted the said +Gratian to the title of Augustus in the yeare of our Lord 351. + +But to leaue the credit of the long reigne of Octauius, with all his +and others gouernement and rule ouer the Britains since the time of +Constantius, vnto our British and Scotish writers, let vs make an end +with the gouernement of that noble emperour Constantine, and assured +branch of the Britains race, as borne of that worthie ladie the +empresse Helen, daughter to Coell earle of Colchester, and after king +of Britaine (as our histories doo witnesse.) Vnto the which empresse +Constantine bare such dutifull reuerence, that he did not onelie +honour hir with the name of empresse, but also made hir as it were +partaker with him of all his wealth, and in manie things was led and +ruled by hir vertuous and godlie admonitions, to the aduancement +of Gods honour, and maintenance of those that professed the true +christian religion. For the loue that she bare vnto Colchester and +London, she walled them about, and caused great bricke and huge tiles +to be made for the performance of the same, whereof there is great +store to be séene euen yet to this present, both in the walls of +[Sidenote: _Nicephorus_. The empresse Helen departeth this life.] +the towne and castell of Colchester, as a testimonie of the +woorkemanship of those daies. She liued 79 yeares, and then departed +this life about the 21 yeare of hir sonnes reigne. First she was +buried at Rome without the walls of the citie with all funerall pompe, +[Sidenote: 340.] +as to hir estate apperteined: but after hir corps was remoued and +brought to Constantinople, where it was eftsoones interred. Hir +[Sidenote: The deceasse of the emperour Constantine.] +sonne the emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ +340, and then deceassed at Nicomedia in Asia, after he had ruled the +empire 32 yeares and od moneths. + +We find not in the Romane writers of anie great stur here in Britaine +during his reigne more than the British and Scotish writers haue +recorded: so that after Traherne had reduced this land to quietnesse, +it maie be supposed, that the Britains liued in rest vnder his +gouernement, and likewise after vnder his sonnes that succéeded him in +[Sidenote: 360.] +the empire, till about the yeare 360, at what time the Picts and +Scots inuaded the south parts of the land. + +But now to end with Octauius, that the christian faith remained still +in Britaine, during the supposed time of this pretended kings reigne, +it maie appeare, in that amongst the 36 prouinces, out of the which +there were assembled aboue 300 bishops in the citie of Sardica +[Sidenote: _Synodus anno_. 354] +in Dacia, at a synod held there against the Eusebians, Britaine is +numbred by Athanasius in his second apologie to be one. And againe, +the said Athanasius in an epistle which he writeth to the emperour +Iouinianus reciteth, that the churches in Britaine did consent with +the churches of other nations in the confession of faith articuled +in the Nicene councell. Also mention is made by writers of certeine +godlie & learned men, which liued in offices in the church in those +daies, as Restitutus bishop of London, which went ouer to the synod +held at Arles in France, and also one Kibius Corinnius sonne to +Salomon duke of Cornewall, and bishop of Anglesey, who instructed the +people that inhabited the parts now called Northwales, and them of +Anglesey aforesaid verie diligentlie. + +But now to speake somewhat of things chancing in Britaine about this +season (as we find recorded by the Romane writers) some trouble was +likelie to haue growne vnto the Britains by receiuing certeine men of +warre that fled out of Italie into Britaine, whome the emperour +[Sidenote: _Marcellinus. lib._ 14.] +Constantius would haue punished, because they had taken part with +[Sidenote: Paulus a notarie.] +Maxentius his aduersarie. Paulus a Spaniard and notarie was sent +ouer by him, with commission to make inquirie of them, and to sée them +brought to light to answere their transgressions: which Paulus began +to deale roughlie in the matter, whereof he was called Catera, and to +rage against the Britains and partakers with the fugitiues, in that +they had receiued and mainteined them, as he alledged: but in the +[Sidenote: Martinus lieutenant.] +end being certified by Martinus the lieutenant of their innocencie, +and fearing least his extreame rigour might alienate the hearts of the +inhabitants altogither, and cause them to withdraw their obedience +from the Romane empire, he turned the execution of his furie from them +vnto the Romans, and made hauocke of those that he suspected, till the +said Martinus fell at square with him, & thinking on a time to kill +him, he drew his sword and smote at him. But such was his age and +weakenesse, that he was not able to kill him or giue him anie deadlie +wound: wherefore he turned the point of his sword against himselfe, +and so ended his life, being contented rather to die than sée his +countriemen and subiects of the empire so to be abused. After this the +said Paulus returned backe againe into Italie from whence he came, +after whose departure, it was not long yer he also was slaine, and +then all the Scots and Picts sore disquieted the Romane subiects, +for the suppressing of whose attempts Lupicinus was sent ouer out of +Gallia by Iulianus, as shall be declared out of Amianus Marcellinus, +after we haue first shewed what we find written in our owne writers +concerning the Scots and Picts, who now began to rob and spoile the +British inhabitants within the Romane prouinces here in this Ile, and +that euen in most outragious maner. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Maximianus or Maximus gouerneth this Ile, why writers speake ill +of him, strife betwixt him and Conan duke of Cornewall, Maximus is +proclaimed emperour in Britaine, he transporteth the British youth +seruiceable for warres into France, little Britaine in France why +so called, eleuen thousand maids sent thither to match with Conans +people, whereof some were drowned, and other some murthered in the +way by Guanius king of Hunnes and Melga king of Picts, they flie into +Ireland, murther requited with murther, the words of Gyldas concerning +Maximus_. + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MAXIMIANUS OR MAXIMUS. 383.] +After the deceasse of Octauius or Octauian (as the old English +chronicle nameth him) Maximianus or Maximus (as the Romane writers +call him) began to rule the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 383, he +was the sonne of one Leonine, and coosen germane to Constantine the +great, a valiant personage, & hardie of stomach: but yet because he +was cruell of nature, and (as Fabian saith) somewhat persecuted the +christians, he was infamed by writers: but the chiefe cause why he was +euil reported, was for that he slue his souereigne lord the emperour +Gratianus, as after shall appeare, for otherwise he is supposed +woorthie to haue had the rule of the empire committed to his hands in +ech respect. Betwixt him and the aboue-named Conan Meridoc duke of +Cornewall, chanced strife and debate, so that Conan got him into +Scotland, and there purchasing aid, returned, and comming ouer +Humber, wasted the countrie on ech side. Maximianus thereof hauing +aduertisement, raised his power and went against him, and so fighting +with him diuers battels, sometime departed awaie with victorie, and +sometime with losse. At length through mediation of friends, a peace +was made betwixt them. Finallie this Maximianus, or (as the Romane +histories say) Maximus, was by the souldiers chosen and proclaimed +emperour here in Britaine: although some write that this was doone in +Spaine. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Fabian. Caxton. Matth. West._ The British youth +led forth of the realme by Maximianus. Britaine in France.] +After he had taken vpon him the imperiall dignitie, vpon desire to +haue inlarged his dominion, he assembled togither all the chosen youth +of this land méet to doo seruice in the warres, with the which he +passed ouer into France, & there (as our writers record) he first +subdued the countrie ancientlie called Armorica, and slue in battell +the king thereof called Imball. This doone he gaue the countrie vnto +Conan Meridoc, which was there with him, to hold the same of him, and +of the kings of great Britaine for euer. He also commanded that the +said countrie from thencefoorth should be called litle Britaine, and +so was the name changed. What people soeuer inhabited there before, +the ancient name argueth that they were rather Britains than anie +other: for Armorica in the British toong signifieth as much as a +countrie lieng vpon the sea. + +Conan then placing himselfe and his Britains in that quarter of +Gallia, auoided all the old inhabitants, peopling that countrie onelie +with Britains, which abhorring to ioine themselues with women borne in +Gallia, Conan was counselled to send into Britaine for maids to be +[Sidenote: Dionethius duke of Cornwall.] +coupled with his people in mariage. Herevpon a messenger was +dispatched vnto Dionethus at that time duke of Cornwall, and gouernour +of Britaine vnder Maximianus, requiring him to send ouer into +[Sidenote: Maids sent foorth.] +little Britaine 11000 maids, that is to say, 8000 to be bestowed vpon +the meaner sort of Conans people, and 3000 to be ioined in mariage +with the nobles and gentlemen. Dionethus at Conans request, assembled +the appointed number of maids, and amongst them he also appointed his +daughter Vrsula, a ladie of excellent beautie, to go ouer and to be +giuen in mariage to the foresaid Conan Meridoc, as he had earnestlie +requested. + +[Sidenote: Vrsula the daughter of Dionethus.] +These number of maids were shipped in Thames, and passing forward +toward Britaine, were by force of weather and rage of wind scattered +abroad, and part of them drowned, and the residue (among whom was the +foresaid Vrsula) were slaine by Guanius king of the Hunnes, and Melga +king of the Picts, into whose hands they fell, the which Guanius and +Melga were sent by the emperour Gracian to the sea coasts of Germanie, +to oppresse and subdue all such as were friends and mainteiners of the +part of Maximianus. We find in some bookes, that there were sent ouer +at that time 51000 maids, that is to say, 11000 gentlewomen, and 40000 +other. + +[Sidenote: Guanius and Melga.] +After that Guanius and Melga had murthered the foresaid virgins, +they entred into the north parts of Britaine, where the Scots now +inhabit, and began to make sore warre on the Britains, whereof when +Maximus was aduertised, he sent into Britaine one Gratianus with thrée +legions of souldiers, who bare himselfe so manfullie against the +enimies, that he constreined the said Guanius and Melga to flie out of +the land, and to withdraw into Ireland. In this meane while, Maximus +hauing slaine the emperor Gratian at Lions in France, and after +entring into Italie, was slaine himselfe at Aquilia (after he had +gouerned the Britains eight yéeres) by the emperour Theodosius, who +came in aid of Valentinian, brother to the said emperor Gratian, as ye +may find in the abridgement of the histories of Italie. + +¶ But here yet before we make an end with this Maximus or Maximianus, +I haue thought good to set downe the words which we find in Gyldas, +where he writeth of the same Maximus, vndoubtedlie a Britaine +[Sidenote: Consobrinus Helenæ imperatricis.] +borne, nephue to the empresse Helen, and begotten by a Romane. "At +length (saith Gyldas) the spring of tyrants budding vp, and now +increasing into an huge wood, the Ile being called after the name of +Rome, but holding neither maners nor lawes according to that name, but +rather casting the same from it, sendeth foorth a branch of hir most +bitter planting, to wit Maximus, accompanied with a great number of +warriors to gard him, and apparelled in the imperiall robes which he +neuer ware as became him, nor put them on in lawfull wise, but (after +the custome of tyrants) was put into them by the mutining souldiers: +which Maximus at the first by craftie policie rather than by true +manhood winding in (as nets of his periurie and false suggestion) +vnto his wicked gouernement the countries & prouinces next adioining, +against the imperiall state of Rome, stretching one of his wings into +Spaine, and the other into Italie, placed the throne of his most +vniust empire at Trier, and shewed such rage in his wood dealing +against his souereigne lords, that the one of the lawfull emperours he +expelled out of Rome, and the other he bereft of his most religious +and godlie life. Now without long tariance, compassed about with +such a furious and bold gard as he had got togither, at the citie +of Aquilia he loseth his wicked head, which had cast downe the most +honourable heads of all the world from their kingdome and empire. + +"From thencefoorth Britaine being depriued of all hir warlike +souldiers and armies, of hir gouernors also (though cruell) and of +an huge number of hir youth (the which following the steps of the +foresaid tyrant, neuer returned home againe) such as remained being +vtterlie vnskilfull in feats of warre, were troden downe by two +nations of beyond the seas, the Scots from the west, and the Picts +[Sidenote: Scotorum à circio, Pictorum ab aquilone.] +from the north, and as men thus quite dismaid, lament their miserable +case, not knowing what else to doo for the space of manie yéeres +togither. By reason of whose gréeuous inuasion and cruell oppression +wherewith she was miserablie disquieted, she sendeth hir ambassadors +vnto Rome, making lamentable sute euen with teares to haue some power +of men of warre sent to defend hir against the enimies, promising to +be true subiects with all faithfulnes of mind, if the enimie might be +kept off and remooued." + +¶ Thus farre Gyldas, and more, as in place hereafter you shall find +recited. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What Gratianus it was that was sent ouer from Rome into Britaine by +Maximus, in what estimation the British souldiers haue beene, the +priuie treason of Andragatius whereby Gratian came to his end: Maximus +and his sonne Victor doo succeed him in the empire, they are both +slaine, Marcus the Romane lieutenant sucéeding them is murthered, +Gratianus also his successour hath the same end, the election of +Constantine a Britaine borne, his praise and dispraise reported by +writers, he goeth into France, maketh his sonne Constance partaker +with him of the empire, a sharpe incounter betwixt his power and two +brethrens that had the keeping of the Pyrenine hils, the issue of the +battell_. + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +But now where the British histories, and such of our English writers +as follow them, make mention of one Gratianus a Romane, sent ouer with +thrée legions of souldiers by Maximus, as before ye haue heard: we +maie suppose that it was Gratianus the Britaine, that afterwards +vsurped the imperiall dignitie héere in Britaine, in the daies of the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_] +emperour Honorius. For it standeth neither with the concurrence of +time nor yet with reason of the historie, that it should be Gratianus, +surnamed Funarius, father to Valentinian, and grandfather to the +emperour Gratianus, against whome Maximus rebelled. And yet I remember +not that anie of the Romane writers maketh mention of anie other +Gratianus, being a stranger, that should be sent hither as lieutenant +to gouerne the Romane armie, except of the foresaid Gratianus +[Sidenote: _Lib. 30_.] +Funarius, who (as appéereth by Amian. Marcellinus) was generall of +the Romane armie héere in this Ile, and at length being discharged, +returned home into Hungarie (where he was borne) with honour, and +there remaining in rest, was at length spoiled of his goods by the +emperour Constantius as confiscate, for that in time of the ciuill +warres he had receiued Maxentius, as he past thorough his countrie. + +But let vs grant, that either Gratianus the Britaine, or some other of +that name, was sent ouer into Britaine (as before is said) by Maximus, +least otherwise some errour may be doubted in the writers of the +British histories, as hauing happilie mistaken the time and matter, +bringing Gratianus Funarius to serue vnder Maximus, where peraduenture +that which they haue read or heard of him, chanced long before that +time by them suppposed: and so thorough mistaking the thing, haue made +a wrong report, where neuerthelesse it standeth with great likelihood +of truth, that some notable seruice of chiualrie was atchiued by the +same Gratianus Funarius whilest he remained héere in this Ile, if the +truth might be knowne of that which hath béene written by authors, and +happilie by the same Am. Marcellinus, if his first thirtéene bookes +might once come to light and be extant. + +But now to end with Maximus. William of Malmesburie (as ye haue heard) +writeth, that not Maximus, but rather Constantine the great first +peopled Armorica: but yet he agréeth, that both Maximus, and also +Constantinus the vsurper, of whome after ye shall heare, led with them +a great number of the Britains out of this land, the which Maximus +or Maximianus and Constantinus afterwards being slaine, the one by +Theodosius, and the other by Honorius, the Britains that followed them +to the warres, part of them were killed, and the residue escaping by +flight, withdrew vnto the other Britains which Constantine the great +had first placed in Armorica. And so when the tyrants had left none in +the countrie but rude people, nor anie in the townes but such as were +giuen to slouth and gluttonie, Britaine being void of all aid of hir +valiant youth, became a prey to hir next neighbours the Scots and +Picts. + +Héere is yet to be considered, in what price the souldiers of the +British nation were had in those daies, with whose onelie puissance +Maximus durst take vpon him to go against all other the forces of the +whole Romane empire: and how he prospered in that dangerous aduenture, +it is expressed sufficientlie in the Romane histories, by whose report +[Sidenote: _W.H._ out of _Paulus Diaco. lib. 12. & alijs_.] +it appéereth, that he did not onlie conquer all the hither parts of +France and Germanie, namelie on this side the Rhine, but also found +meanes to intrap the emperour Gratian by this kind of policie. He had +a faithfull friend called Andragatius, who was admirall of the seas +perteining to the empire. It was therefore agréed betwixt them, that +this Andragatius (with a chosen companie of the armie) should be +carried in secret wise in a coch toward Lions, as if it had béene +[Sidenote: _Tripart. hist. lib. 9. cap. 21_.] +Constantia Posthumia the empresse, wife to the emperour Gratian, +bruting abroad there withall, that the said empresse was comming +forwards on hir waie to Lions, there to méet with hir husband, for +that vpon occasion she was verie desirous to commune with him about +certeine earnest businesse. + +When Gratian heard héereof, as one mistrusting no such dissimulation, +he made hast to meete his wife, and comming at length without anie +great gard about him, as one not in doubt of anie treason, approched +the coch, where supposing to find his wife, he found those that +streightwaies murthered him: & so was he there dispatched quite of +life by the said Andragatius, who leapt foorth of the coch to woorke +that feate when he had him once within his danger. + +Thus did the emperour Gratian finish his life in the 29 yéere of his +[Sidenote: 383.] +age, on the 25 of August, in the yéere of Christ 383, and then +died. Maximus succéeded him (making his sonne Flauius Victor +[Sidenote: This Flauius Victor he begat of his wife Helen the daughter +of Eudes. _H. Lhoyd_.] +Nobilissimus his assistant in the empire) reigning fiue yéeres and two +daies. In the beginning of his reigne Valentinian the yoonger made +great suit to him to haue his fathers bodie, but it would not be +granted. Afterwards also Maximus was earnestlie requested to come to +an enteruiew with the same Valentinian, who promised him not onelie +a safe conduct, but also manie other beneficiall good turnes beside. +Howbeit Maximus durst not put himselfe in anie such hazard, but rather +ment to pursue Valentinian as an vsurper, and so at length chased him +into Slauonie, where he was driuen to such a streight, that if +[Sidenote: Valentinian put in danger by Maximus.] +Theodosius had not come to releeue him, Maximus had driuen him thence +also, or else by slaughter rid him out of the waie. + +But when Maximus thought himselfe most assured, and so established in +the empire, as he doubted no perils, he liued carelesse of his owne +safegard, and therfore dismissed his British souldiers, who retiring +into the northwest parts of Gallia, placed themselues there +among their countriemen, which were brought ouer by the emperour +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_. 388.] +Constantius, whilest Maximus passing the residue of his time +in delights and pleasures, was surprised in the end and slaine by +Theodosius néere vnto Aquilia, the 27 of August, in the yéere of Grace +388, and in the beginning of the sixt yéere of his reigne, or rather +vsurpation, as more rightlie it maie be tearmed. His sonne Flauius +Victor surnamed Nobilissimus was also dispatched and brought to his +end, not farre from the place where his father was slaine, by the +[Sidenote: Arbogastes.] +practise of one Arbogastes a Goth, which Flauius Victor was by the +said Maximus made regent of the Frankeners, and partaker (as before is +said) with him in the empire. + +After this, the Ile of Britaine remained in méetlie good quiet by the +space of twentie yéeres, till one Marcus (that was then legat, or +as we maie call him lord lieutenant or deputie of Britaine for the +Romans) was by the souldiers héere proclaimed emperour against +Honorius, which Marcus was soone after killed in a tumult raised among +[Sidenote: Gratianus a Britaine. He reigned foure yéeres if we shal +beléeue the British historie.] +the people within few daies after his vsurpation began. Then one +Gratianus a Britaine borne succéeded in his place, who was also slaine +in the fourth moneth, after he had taken vpon him the imperiall +ornaments. The souldiers not yet heerewith pacified, procéeded to the +election of an other emperour, or rather vsurper, and so pronounced a +noble gentleman called Constantine, borne also in Britaine, to be +[Sidenote: 409.] +emperour, who tooke that honour vpon him in the 409 yéere after the +birth of our Sauiour, continuing his reigne by the space of two yéeres +and od moneths, as the Romane histories make mention. Some report +this Constantine to be of no great towardlie disposition woorthie to +gouerne an empire, and that the souldiers chose him rather for the +name sake, bicause they would haue another Constantine, more than for +anie vertues or sufficient qualities found in his person. But other +commend him both for manhood and wisedome, wherein to speake a truth, +he deserued singular commendation, if this one note of vsurpation of +the imperiall dignitie had not stained his other noble qualities. But +heerein he did no more than manie other would haue doone, neither yet +after his inuesture did so much as was looked for at his hands. + +Constantine being placed in the imperiall throne, gathered an armie +with all possible indeuour, purposing out of hand to go ouer therwith +into France, and so did, thinking thereby to win the possession of +that countrie out of the hands of Honorius, or at the least to worke +so, as he should not haue the souldiers and people there to be against +him, if he missed to ioine in league with the Suabeiners, Alanes, and +Vandales, which he sought to performe. But in the end, when neither +of these his deuises could take place, he sent ouer for his sonne +Constans (whome in his absence his aduersaries had shorne a moonke) & +making him partaker with him in the empire, caused him to bring ouer +with him another armie, which vnder the conduct of the same Constans +he sent into Spaine to bring that countrie vnder his obeisance. + +This Constans therefore comming vnder the passages that lead ouer the +Pyrenine mountains, Dindimus and Verianianus two brethren, vnto whome +[Sidenote: His souldiers were Picts, and placed among other men of +warre that serued vnder the ensignes of the empire, and named after +Honorius, Honoriciani. _Blondus_.] +the keeping of those passages was committed to defend the same +against the Vandals, and all other enimies of the empire, were readie +to resist him with their seruants and countriemen that inhabited +therabouts, giuing him a verie sharpe incounter, and at the first +putting him in great danger of an ouerthrow, but yet at length by the +valiant prowes of his British souldiers, Constans put his aduersaries +to flight, and killed the two capteins, with diuers other men of +name, that were partakers with him in the necessarie defense of that +countrie against the enimies. When Constans had thus repelled those +that resisted him, the custodie of the passages in the Pyrenine +mounteins was committed vnto such bands of Picts and other, as were +appointed to go with him about the atchiuing of this enterprise, who +hauing the possession of those streicts or passages in their hands, +gaue entrie vnto other barbarous nations to inuade Spaine, who being +once entered, pursued the former inhabitants with fire and swoord, +setled them selues in that countrie, and droue out the Romans. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Honorius sendeth earle Constantius to expell Constantine out of +Gallia, the end of Constantinus the father and Constans the sonne, +the valure and prowesse of the British souldiers, the British writers +reprooued of necligences for that they haue inserted fables +into their woorkes, whereas they might haue deposed matters of truth_. + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Honorius, perceiuing the réeling state of the empire, +determined, foorthwith to recouer it, before it fell altogither +into ruine: and therefore sent one Constantius an earle to driue +Constantine out of Gallia, which he accordinglie performed: for after +certeine bickerings, he slue the said Constantine at Arles, although +not without great bloudshed. He pursued also the residue of the +Britains, driuing them to the verie sea coasts, where they shrowded +themselues among the other Britains, that before were setled in the +countrie there, ancientlie called (as before we said) Armorica, that +is, a region lieng on the sea coast: for _Ar_ in the British toong +signifieth vpon; and _Moure_, perteining to the sea. And as this +Constantine the father was slaine by Constantius, so was Constans the +sonne killed at Vienna by one of his owne capteines named Gerontius. +Whereby it came to passe, that Honorius shortlie after, hauing thus +obteined the victorie of both these vsurpers, recouered the Ile, but +yet not till the yeare next following, and that by the high industrie +and great diligence of that valiant gentleman earle Constantius. The +slaughter of Constantine & his sonne happened in the 1 yeare of the +297 Olympiad, 465 after the comming of Cesar, 1162 after the building +of Rome, the dominicall letter being A, and the golden number 13, so +[Sidenote: 411.] +that the recouering of the Iland fell in the yeare of our Lord +411. + +Here also is eftsoones to be considered the valure of the British +souldiers, who following this last remembred Constantine the vsurper, +did put the Romane state in great danger, and by force brake through +into Spaine, vanquishing those that kept the streicts of the mounteins +betwixt Spaine and Gallia, now called France, an exploit of no small +consequence, sith thereby the number of barbarous nations got frée +passage to enter into Spaine, whereof insued manie battels, sacking of +cities and townes, and wasting of the countries, accordinglie as the +furious rage of those fierce people was mooued to put their crueltie +in practise. + +¶ If therefore the Britaine writers had considered and marked the +valiant exploits and noble enterprisee which the Brittish aids, armies +and legions atchiued in seruice of the Romane emperours (by whome +whilest they had the gouernement ouer this Ile, there were at sundrie +times notable numbers conueied foorth into the parties of beyond the +seas, as by Albinus and Constantius, also by his sonne Constantine the +great, by Maximus, and by this Constantine, both of them vsurpers) if +(I saie) the British writers had taken good note of the numbers of the +British youth thus conueied ouer from hence, & what notable exploits +they boldlie attempted, & no lesse manfullie atchiued, they néeded not +to haue giuen eare vnto the fabulous reports forged by their Bards, +of Arthur and other their princes, woorthie in déed of verie high +commendation. + +And pitie it is, that their fame should be brought by such meanes out +of credit, by the incredible and fond fables which haue béene deuised +of their acts so vnlike to be true, as the tales of Robin Hood, or the +gests written by Ariost the Italian in his booke intituled "Orlando +furioso," sith the same writers had otherwise true matter inough to +write of concerning the worthie feats by their countriemen in those +daies in forren parts boldlie enterprised, and no lesse valiantlie +accomplished, as also the warres which now and then they mainteined +against the Romans here at home, in times when they felt themselues +oppressed by their tyrannicall gouernment, as by that which is written +before of Caratacus, Voadicia, Cartimandua, Venusius, Galgagus, or +Galdus (as some name him) and diuers other, who for their noble +valiancies deserue as much praise, as by toong or pen is able to be +expressed. But now to returne vnto the British historie: we will +procéed in order with their kings as we find them in the same +mentioned, and therefore we haue thought good to speake somewhat +further of Gratian, from whome we haue digressed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Gratians rough regiment procureth his owne destruction, the comming +of his two brethren Guanius and Melga with their armies, the Scots +and Picts plague the Britains, they send for aid to Rome, Valentinian +sendeth Gallio Rauenna to releeue them, the Romans refuse anie longer +to succour the Britains, whom they taught how to make armour and +weapons, the Scots and Picts enter afresh into Britaine and preuaile, +the Britains are brought to extreme miserie, ciuill warres among them, +and what mischiefe dooth follow therevpon, their lamentable letter to +Actius for succour against their enimies, their sute is denied, at +what time the Britains ceased to be tributaries to the Romans, they +send ambassadors to the K. of Britaine in France, and obteine their +sute._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: GRATIANUS.] +Gratianus then, whome Maximus or Maximinus had sent into Britaine +(as before ye haue heard) hearing that his maister was slaine, tooke +[Sidenote: 390.] +vpon him the rule of this our Britaine, and made himselfe king +therof, in the yeare 390. He was a Britaine borne, as Polydor writeth, +coniecturing so, by that he is named of authors to be Municeps, that +[Sidenote: Of the Romane souldiers as _Blondus_ saith.] +is to saie, a frée man of the countrie or citie where he inhabited. +For his sternenesse and rough gouernement, he was of the Britains (as +the histories alledge) slaine and dispatched out of the waie, after +he had reigned the space of foure yeares, or rather foure moneths, as +should séeme by that which is found in autentike writers. Then the +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Caxton_.] +forenamed kings Guantius and Melga, which (as some write) were +brethren, returned into this land with their armies increased with +new supplies of men of warre, as Scots, Danes, the Norwegians, and +destroied the countrie from side to side. For the Britains in this +season were sore inféebled, and were not able to make anie great +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Matth. West. Caxton_.] +numbers of souldiers, by reason that Maximus had led foorth of the +land the floure and chiefest choise of all the British youth into +Gallia, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +Gyldas maketh no mention of these two kings Guanius and Melga +of the Hunnes, but rehearsing this great destruction of the land, +declareth (as before ye haue heard) that the Scots and Picts were +the same that did all the mischiefe, whome he calleth two nations of +beyond the seas, the Scots comming out of the northwest, and the Picts +out of the northeast, by whome (as he saith) the land was ouerrun, and +brought vnder foot manie yeares after. Therefore the Britains being +thus vexed, spoiled, and cruellie persecuted by the Scots and Picts +(if we shall so take them) sent messengers with all spéed vnto Rome +to make sute for some aid of men of war to be sent into Britaine. +Wherevpon immediatlie a legion of souldiers was sent thither in the +[Sidenote: 414.] +yéere 414, which easilie repelled the enimies, and chased them backe +with great slaughter, to the great comfort of the Britains, the which +by this meanes were deliuered from danger of vtter destruction, as +they thought. + +But the Romans being occasioned to depart againe out of the land, +appointed the Britains to make a wall (as had béene aforetime by the +emperours Adrian, Antoninus and Seuerus) ouerthwart the countrie +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +from sea to sea, stretching from Penuelton vnto the citie of Aclud, +whereby the enimies might be staid from entring the land: but this +wall being made of turfs and sods, rather than with stones, after +the departure of the Romans was easilie ouerthrowne by the Scots +and Picts, which eftsoones returned to inuade the confines of the +Britains, and so entring the countrie, wasted and destroied the places +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +before them, according to their former custome. Herevpon were +messengers with most lamentable letters againe dispatched towards Rome +for new aid against those cruell enimies, with promise, that if the +Romans would now in this great necessitie helpe to deliuer the +land, they should be assured to find the Britains euermore obedient +subiects, and redie at their commandement. Valentinianus (pitieng +[Sidenote: _Blondus_. Gallio Ravenna sent into Brittaine.] +the case of the poore Britains) appointed another legion of souldiers +(of the which one Gallio of Rauenna had the leading) to go to their +succours, the which arriuing in Britaine set on the enimies, and +giuing them the ouerthrow, slue a great number of them, and chased the +residue out of the countrie. + +The Romans thus hauing obteined the victorie, declared to the +Britains, that from thencefoorth they would not take vpon them for +euerie light occasion so painefull a iournie, alledging how there was +no reason why the Romane ensignes, with such a number of men of warre, +should be put to trauell so far by sea and land, for the repelling and +beating backe of a sort of scattering rouers and pilfring théeues. +Wherfore they aduised the Britains to looke to their dueties, and like +men to indeuour themselues to defend their countrie by their owne +force from the enimies innasions. And because they iudged it might be +an helpe to the Britains, they set in hand to build a wall yet once +againe ouerthwart the Ile, in the same place where the emperour +[Sidenote: A wall built overthwart the Iland. _Beda_.] +Seuerus caused his trench and rampire to be cast. This wall which the +Romans now built with helpe of the Britains, was 8 foot in bredth and +12 in length, trauersing the land from east to west, & was made of +stone. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas and Beda_.] +After that this wall was finished, the Romans exhorted the +Britains to plaie the men, and shewed them the way how to make armor & +weapons. Besides this, on the coast of the east sea where their ships +lay at rode, & where it was douted that the enimies would land, they +caused towers to be erected, with spaces betwixt, out of the which the +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +seas might be discouered. These things ordered, the Romans bad the +Britains farewell, not minding to returne thither againe. The Romans +then being gon out of the land, the Scots and Picts knowing thereof, +by & by came againe by sea, & being more emboldened than before, +bicause of the deniall made by the Romans to come any more to the +succor of the Britains, they tooke into possession all the north and +vttermost bounds of the Ile, euen vnto the foresaid wall, therein +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yere 43. as _M. W._ saith.] +to remaine as inhabitants. And wheras the Britains got them to their +wall to defend the same, that the enimies should not passe further +into the countrie, they were in the end beaten from it, and diuers of +them slaine, so that the Scots and Picts entred vpon them and pursued +them in more cruell maner than before, so that the Britains being +chased out of their cities, townes, and dwelling houses, were +constreined to flie into desert places, and there to remaine and liue +after the maner of sauage people, and in the end began to rob and +spoile one another, so to auoid the danger of staruing for lacke of +food: and thus at the last the countrie was so destroied and wasted, +that there was no other shift for them that was left aliue to liue by, +except onelie by hunting and taking of wild beasts and foules. And +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._ Rebellion.] +to augment their miserie, the commons imputing the fault to rest in +the lords and gouernors, arose against them in armes, but were +vanquished and easilie put to flight at two seuerall times, being +beaten downe and slaine (through lacke of skill) in such numbers, +especiallie the latter time, that the residue which escaped, withdrew +into the craggie mounteins, where within the bushes and caues they +kept themselues close, sometimes comming downe and fetching away from +the heards of beasts and flocks of shéepe which belonged to the nobles +and gentlemen of the countrie, great booties to relieue them withall. +But at length oppressed with extreme famine, when neither part could +long remaine in this state, as néeding one anothers helpe, necessitie +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre decaied the force of the Britains. What +mischiefe follow of ciuill warres.] +made peace betwixt the lords and commons of the land, all iniuries +being pardoned and cléerelie forgiuen. This ciuill warre decaied the +force of the Britains, little lesse than the tyrannicall practises of +Maximus, for by the auoiding of the commons thus out of their houses, +the ground laie vntilled, whereof insued such famine for the space of +thrée yéeres togither, that a woonderfull number of people died for +want of sustenance. + +Thus the Britains being brought generallie into such extreame miserie, +[Sidenote: Actius.] +they thought good to trie if they might purchase some aid of that +noble man Actius, which at that time remained in France as yet called +Gallia, gouerning the same as lieutenant vnder the emperor Honorius: +and herevpon taking counsell togither, they wrote a letter to him, the +tenor whereof insueth. + +_To Actius thrise consull_. + +"The lamentable request of vs the Britains, beseeching you of aid +to bee ministred vnto the prouince of the Romane empire, vnto our +countrie, vnto our wiues and children at this present, which stand in +most extreame perill. For the barbarous people driue vs to the sea, +and the sea driueth vs backe vnto them againe. Hereof rise two kinds +of death, for either we are slaine, or drowned, and against such euils +haue we no remedie nor helpe at all. Therefore in respect of your +clemencie, succor your owne we most instantlie require you, &c." + +Notwithstanding the Britains thus sought for aid at Actius hands as +[Sidenote: The Britains could get no aid fr[=o] the Romans.] +then the emperours lieutenant, yet could they get none; either +for that Actius would not, as he that passed litle how things went, +bicause he bare displeasure in his mind against Valentinian as then +emperor; or else for that he could not, being otherwise constreined to +imploie all his forces in other places against such barbarous nations +as then inuaded the Romane empire. And so by that means was Britaine +lost, and the tribute which the Britains were accustomed to pay to the +Romans ceassed, iust fiue hundred yéeres after that Iulius Cesar first +entred the Ile. + +The Britains being thus put to their shifts, manie of them as +hunger-starued were constrained to yéeld themselues into the griping +hands of their enimies, whereas other yet kéeping within the +mounteins, woods and caues, brake out as occasion serued vpon their +aduersaries, and then first (saith Gyldas) did the Britains not +putting their trust in man but in God (according to the saieng of +Philo, Where mans helpe faileth, it is needfull that Gods helpe be +present) make slaughter of their enimies that had béene accustomed +[Sidenote: Punishment ceaseth, but sin increaseth.] +manie yéeres to rob and spoile them in maner as before is recited, +and so the bold attempts of the enimies ceassed for a time, but the +wickednesse of the British people ceassed not at all. The enimies +departed out of the land, but the inhabitants departed not from their +naughtie dooings, being not so readie to put backe the common enimies, +as to exercise ciuill warre and discord among themselues. The wicked +Irish people departed home, to make returne againe within a while +after. But the Picts settled themselues first at that season in the +vttermost bounds of the Ile, and there continued, making insurrections +oftentimes vpon their neighbours, and spoiling them of their goods. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Gyldas_ his words are to be considered.] +This with more also hath Gyldas, and likewise Beda written of this +great desolation of the British people: wherein if the words of Gyldas +be well weighed and considered, it maie lead vs to thinke, that the +Scots had no habitations here in Britaine, but onelie in Ireland, till +after this season, and that at this present time the Picts, which +before inhabited within the Iles of Orkenie, now placed themselues in +the north parts of Scotland, and after by processe of time came and +nestled themselues in Louthian, in the Mers, and other countries more +neere to our borders. But to procéed. + +The British histories affirme, that whilest the Britains were thus +persecuted by these two most cruell and fierce nations the Scots and +Picts, the noble and chiefest men amongst them consulted togither, +[Sidenote: An ambassage sent from the Britains vnto Aldroenus king of +Britaine in France.] +& concluded to send an honorable ambassage vnto Aldroenus as then king +of little Britaine in Gallia, which Aldroenus was the fourth from +Conan Meridoc the first king there of the British nation. Of this +ambassage the archbishop of London named Guetheline or Gosseline was +appointed the chiefe and principall, who passing ouer into little +Britaine, and comming before the presence of Aldroenus, so declared +[Sidenote: Constantine the brother of Aldroenus] +the effect of his message, that his suit was granted. For +Aldroenus agréed to send his brother Constantine ouer into great +Britaine with a conuenient power, vpon condition, that the victorie +being obteined against the enimies, the Britains should make him king +of great Britaine. + +¶ Thus it is apparent, that this land of Britaine was without anie +certeine gouernour (after that Gratian the vsurper was dispatched) a +number of yéeres togither, but how manie, writers in their account +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +do varie. Fabian deposeth by diuers coniecturs that the space betwixt +the death of Gratian, and the beginning of the reigne of the said +Constantine, brother to Aldroenus, continued nine and thirtie yéeres, +during which time the Britains were sore and miserablie afflicted +by the inuasions of the Scots and Picts, as before ye haue heard by +testimonies taken out of Beda, Gyldas, Geffrey of Monmouth, and other +writers both British and English. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the Roman historiographer Marcellinus reporteth of the Scots, +Picts, and Britains vnder the emperour Iulianus, Valentinianus and +Valens, they send their vicegerents into Britaine, the disquietnesse +of that time, London called Augusta, the worthie exploits of +Theodosius in this Iland against the enimie, Valentinus a banished +malefactor deuiseth his destruction, he is taken and executed, he +reformeth manie disorders and inconueniences, the first entring of +the Saxons into Britaine, they are dawnted at the verie sight of the +Romane ensignes, the Saxons lieng in wait for their enimies are slaine +euerie mothers sonne_. + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Maximus.] +But now sith no mention is made of the Scots in our histories, +till the daies of Maximus the vsurper or tyrant, as some call him, who +began his reigne here in Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 383, +[Sidenote: 383.] +and that till after he had bereft the land of the chiefest forces +thereof, in taking the most part of the youth ouer with him: we find +not in the same histories of anie troubles wrought to the Britains by +that nation. Therefore we haue thought good héere to come backe to the +former times, that we may shew what is found mentioned in the Romane +histories, both before that time and after, as well concerning the +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 20. The emperor Iulianius.] +Scots and Picts, as also the Saxons, and especiallie in Ammianus +Marcellinus, where in the beginning of his twentith booke intreating +of the doings of the emperour Iulianus, he saith as followeth. + +In this state stood things in Illyricum or Slauonia, and in the east +parts, at what time Constantius bare the office of consull the tenth +time, and Iulianus the third time, that is to say, in the yéere +[Sidenote: 360.] +of our Lord 360, when in Britaine quietnesse being disturbed by roads +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts trouble the state of this Ile.] +made by the Scots and Picts, which are wild and sauage people, +the frontiers of the countrie were wasted, and feare oppressed the +prouinces wearied with the heape of passed losses. The emperor [he +meaneth Iulianus] as then remaining at Paris, and hauing his mind +troubled with manie cares, doubted to go to the aid of them beyond the +sea, as we haue shewed that Constantius did, least he should leaue +them in Gallia without a ruler, the Almains being euen then prouoked +and stirred vp to crueltie and warre. + +[Sidenote: Lupicinus sent into Britaine.] +He thought good therefore to send Lupicinus vnto these places to +bring things into frame and order, which Lupicinus was at that time +master of the armorie, a warlike person and skilfull in all points of +chiualrie, but proud and high-minded beyond measure, and such one as +it was doubted long whether he was more couetous or cruell. Herevpon +[Sidenote: Bataui now Hollanders.] +the said Lupicinus setting forward the light armed men of the +Heruli and Bataui, with diuers companies also of the people of Mesia +now called Bulgarie; when winter was well entred and come on, he came +himselfe to Bulleine, and there prouiding ships, and imbarking his +[Sidenote: Rutupis.] +men, when the wind serued his purpose, he transported ouer vnto +Sandwich, and so marched foorth unto London, from thence purposing to +set forward, as vpon aduise taken according to the qualitie of his +businesse he should thinke méet and expedient. + +[Sidenote: Of the displacing of these men the learned may sée more in +_Am. Mar._] +In the meane time, whilest Lupicinus was busie here in Britaine +to represse the enimies, the emperour Constantius displaced certeine +officers, and among other he depriued the same Lupicinus of the office +of the master of the armorie, appointing one Gumobarius to succéed him +in that roome, before anie such thing was knowen in these parties. And +where it was doubted least that Lupicinus (if he had vnderstood so +much whilest he was yet in Britaine) would haue attempted some new +trouble, as he was a man of a stout and loftie mind, he was called +backe from thence, and withall there was sent a notarie vnto Bulleine, +to watch that none should passe the seas ouer into Britaine till +Lupicinus were returned: and so returning ouer from thence yer he +had anie knowledge what was doone by the emperour, he could make no +sturre, hauing no such assistants in Gallia, as it was thought he +might haue had in Britaine, if he should haue mooued rebellion there. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 26.] +The same Marcellinus speaking of the doings about the time that +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 26.] +Valentinianus, being elected emperour, had admitted his brother +Valens as fellow with him in gouernement, hath these words. In this +season as though trumpets had blowne the sound to battell through out +the whole Romane empire, most cruell nations being stirred vp, inuaded +[Sidenote: The Almans. The Sarmatians. The Quadi Picts and Saxons. +Austorians. The Goths.] +the borders next adioining, the Almans wasted and destroied the +parts of Gallia and Rhetia, as the Sarmatians and Quadi did Paunonia, +the Picts, the Saxons, the Scots, and the Attacots vexed the Britains +with continuall troubles, and gréeuous damages; the Austorians and the +people of the Moores ouerran the countrie of Affrike more sharpelie +than in time past they had done; the pilfring troops of the Goths +spoiled Thracia; the king of Persia set in hand to subdue the +Armenians, and sought to bring them vnder his obeisance, hasting with +all spéed toward Numonia, pretending (though vniustlie) that now after +the deceasse of Iouinius, with whome he had contracted a league and +bond of peace, there was no cause of let what he ought not to recouer +those things, which (as he alledged) did belong to his ancestors: and +so foorth. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 27.] +Moreouer, the same Marcellinus in another place writeth in this +wise, where he speaketh of the said Valentinianus. Departing therefore +from Amiens, and hasting to Trier, he was troubled with gréeuous newes +that were brought him, giuing him to vnderstand, that Britaine by +[Sidenote: Comes maritimi tractus.] +a conspiracie of the barbarous nations was brought to vtter pouertie, +that Nectaridus one of the emperours house earle of the sea coast, +hauing charge of the parties towards the sea, was slaine, and that +the generall Bulchobaudes was circumuented by traines of the enimies. +These things with great horrour being knowne, he sent Seuerus as then +[Sidenote: Comes domesticorum.] +erle, or (as I may call him lord steward of his houshold) to +reforme things that were amisse, if hap would so permit, who being +shortlie called backe, Iouinius going thither, and with spéed hasting +forward, sent for more aid and a great power of men, as the instant +necessitie then required. At length, for manie causes, and the same +greatlie to be feared, the which were reported and aduertised out +[Sidenote: Theodosius sent into Britaine.] +of that Ile, Theodosius was elected and appointed to go thither, a man +of approoued skill in warlike affaires, and calling togither an hardie +youthfull number of the legions and cohorts of men of warre, he went +foorth, no small hope being conceiued of his good spéed; the fame +wherof spred and went afore him. + +A litle after, Marcellinus adding what people they were that troubled +[Sidenote: Picts diuided into two nations. Attacotti.] +the Britains in this wise, saith thus. This shall suffice to +be said, that in this season the Picts diuided into two nations +Dicalidones, and Victuriones, and in like maner the Attacotti a right +warlike nation, and the Scots wandering here and there, made fowle +woorke in places where they came. The confines of France were +disquieted by the Frankeners and Saxons borderers vnto them, euerie +one as they could breaking foorth, & dooing great harme by cruell +spoile, fire, and taking of prisoners. To withstand those dooings if +good fortune would giue him leaue, that most able capteine going +[Sidenote: Theodosius passeth ouer into Britaine.] +vnto the vttermost bounds of the earth, when he came to the coast of +Bullen which is seuered from the contrarie coast on the other side by +the sea, with a narrow streight, where sometime the water goeth verie +high and rough, & shortlie after becommeth calme & pleasant, without +hurt to those that passe the same, transporting ouer at leasure, he +arriued at Sandwich (or rather Richburrow) where there is a quiet road +[Sidenote: Bataui Hollanders.] +for vessels to lie at anchor. Wherevpon the Bataui and Heruli, +with the souldiers of the legions called Iouij, and Victores, being +companies that trusted well to their owne strength, marched foorth +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +& drew towards London, an ancient citie, which now of late hath bin +called Augusta. Herewith diuiding his armie into sundrie parts, he +set vpon the troops of his enimies as they were abroad to forrey the +countrie, pestered with burdens of their spoiles and pillage, and +spéedilie putting them to flight, as they were leading away those +prisoners which they had taken, with their booties of cattell, he +bereft them of their preie, the which the poore Britains that were +tributaries had lost. To be briefe, restoring the whole, except a +small portion bestowed amongst the wearie souldiers, he entred the +citie which before was opprest with troubles, but now suddenlie +refreshed, bicause there was hope of reliefe and assured preseruation. + +After this, when Theodosius was comforted with prosperous successe to +attempt things of greater importance, and searching waies how with +good aduise to woorke suerlie: whilest he remained doubtfull what +would insue, he learned as well by the confession of prisoners taken, +as also by the information of such as were fled from the enimies, that +the scattered people of sundrie nations which with practise of great +crueltie were become fierce and vndanted, could not be subdued but by +policie secretlie practised, and sudden inuasions. At length therefore +setting foorth his proclamations, and promising pardon to those that +were gone awaie from their capteins or charge, he called them backe +againe to serue: and also those that by licence were departed and laie +scattered here and there in places abroad. By this meanes, when manie +were returned, he being on the one side earnestlie prouoked, and +[Sidenote: Theodosius requireth to haue Ciuilis sent to him.] +on the other holden backe with thoughtfull cares, required to haue +one Ciuilis by name sent to him to haue the rule of the prouinces in +Britaine in steed of the other gouernours, a man of sharpe wit, +[Sidenote: Dulcitius.] +and an earnest mainteiner of iustice. He likewise required that one +Dulcitius a capteine renowmed in knowledge of warlike affaires might +be sent ouer to him for his better asistance. These things were doone +in Britaine. + +Againe, in his eight and twentith booke, the same Marcellinus reciting +further what the same Theodosius atchiued in Britaine, hath in effect +these words: Thedosius verelie a capteine of woorthie fame, taking +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +a valiant courage to him, and departing from Augusta, which men of old +time called London, with souldiers assembled by great diligence, did +succour and reléeue greatlie the decaied and troubled state of the +Britains, preuenting euerie conuenient place where the barbarous +people might lie in wait to doo mischiefe: and nothing he commanded +the meane souldiers to doo, but that whereof he with a chéerefull +mind would first take in hand to shew them an example. By this meanes +accomplishing the roome of a valiant souldier, and fulfilling the +charge of a noble capteine, he discomfited and put to flight sundrie +nations, whome presumption (nourished by securitie) emboldened to +inuade the Romane prouinces: and so the cities and castels that +had béene sore endamaged by manifold losses and displeasures, were +restored to their former state of wealth, the foundation of rest and +quietnesse being laid for a long season after to insue. + +But as these things were a dooing, one wicked practise was in hand & +like to haue burst foorth, to the gréeuous danger of setting things in +broile, if it had not béene staied euen in the beginning of the +[Sidenote: Valentinus. Valeria now Stiermarke.] +first attempt. For there was one Valentinus, borne in the parties of +Valeria adioining to Pannonia, now called Stiermarke, a man of a proud +and loftie stomach, brother to the wife of Maximinus, which Valentinus +for some notable offense had béene banished into Britaine, where +the naughtie man that could not rest in quiet, deuised how by some +commotion he might destroy Theodosius, who as he saw was onelie able +to resist his wicked purposes. And going about manie things both +priuilie and apertlie, the force of his vnmeasurable desire to +mischiefe still increasing, he sought to procure aswell other that +were in semblable wise banished men, & inclined to mischiefe like him +selfe, as also diuers of the souldiers, alluring them (as the time +serued) with large promises of great wealth, if they would ioine with +him in that enterprise. But euen now in the verie nicke, when they +shuld haue gone in hand with their vngratious exploit, Theodosius +warned of their intent, boldlie aduanced himselfe to sée due +punishment executed on the offendors that were foorthwith taken and +knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie. + +[Sidenote: Dulcitius is appointed to put Valentinus to death.] +Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie +complices vnto the capteine Dulcitius, commanding him to see them put +to death: but coniecturing by his warlike skill (wherein he passed all +other in those daies) what might follow, he would not in anie wise +haue anie further inquirie made of the other conspirators, least +through feare that might be spread abroad in manie, the troubles of +the prouinces now well quieted, should be againe reuiued. After +this, Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse manie things as néed +required, all danger was quite remooued: so that it was most apparent, +that fortune fauored him in such wise, that she left him not destitute +of hir furtherance in anie one of all his attempts. He therefore +restored the cities & castels that were appointed to be kept with +garrisons, and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with +sufficient numbers to keépe watch and ward in places necessarie. And +hauing recouered the prouince which the enimies had gotten into their +possession, he so restored it to the former state, that vpon his +[Sidenote: A part of Britaine called Valentia.] +motion to haue it so, a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it, +and the name was changed, so as from thencefoorth it should be called +Valentia for the princes pleasure. + +The Areani, a kind of men ordeined in times past by our elders (of +whome somewhat we haue spoken in the acts of the emperour Constance) +being now by little and little fallen into vices, he remooued from +their places of abiding, being openlie conuicted, that allured with +bribes and faire promises, they had oftentimes bewraied vnto the +barbarous nations what was doone among the Romans: for this was their +charge, to runne vp and downe by long iournies, and to giue warning to +our captains, what sturre the people of the next confines were about +to make. + +[Sidenote: The praise of Theodosius.] +Theodosius therefore hauing ordered these & other like things, +most woorthilie & to his high fame, was called home to the emperours +court, who leauing the prouinces in most triumphant state, was highlie +renowmed for his often and most profitable victories, as if he had +béene an other Camillus or Cursor Papirius, and with the fauor and +loue of all men was conueied vnto the sea side; and passing ouer with +a gentle wind, came to the court, where he was receiued with great +gladnesse and commendation, being immediatlie appointed to succéed +in the roome of Valence Iouinus that was maister of the horsses. +Finallie, he was called by the emperour Gratianus, to be associated +with him in the imperiail estate, after the death of Valence, +[Sidenote: 379.] +in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauior 379, and reigned +emperour, surnamed Thodosius the great, about 16 yeares and 2 daies. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Har._] +Hereto also maie that be applied which the foresaid Marcellinus +[Sidenote: _Walf. Lazi._] +writeth in the same booke, touching the inuasion of the Saxons, +the which (as Wolf. Lazius taketh it) entred then first into great +Britaine, but were repelled of the emperour Valentinianus the first, +[Sidenote: Seuerus.] +by the conduct and guiding of Seuerus. The same yéere (saith he) +that the emperours were the third time consuls, there brake forth a +multitude of Saxons, & passing the seas, entred stronglie into the +Romane confines: a nation fed oftentimes with the slaughter of our +[Sidenote: Nonneus Comes.] +people, the brunt of whose first inuasion earle Nonneus sustained, +one which was appointed to defend those parties, an approoued +capteine, & with continuall trauell in warres verie expert. But then +incountring with desperate and forlorne people, when he perceiued some +of his souldiers to be ouerthrowne and beaten downe, and himselfe +wounded, not able to abide the often assaults of his enimies, he +obteined this by informing the emperour what was necessarie and +[Sidenote: Seuerus coronell of the footmen.] +ought to be doone, insomuch that Seuerus, maister or (as I maie call +him) coronell of the footmen, was sent to helpe and reléeue things +that stood in danger: the which bringing a sufficient power with him +for the state of that businesse, when he came to those places, he +diuiding his armie into parts, put the Saxons in such feare and +trouble before they fought, that they did not so much as take weapon +in hand to make resistance, but being amazed with the sight of the +glittering ensignes, & the eagles figured in the Romane standards, +they streight made sute for peace, and at length after the matter +was debated in sundrie wise (because it was judged that it should be +profitable for the Romane commonwealth) truce was granted vnto them, +and manie yoong men (able for seruice in the warres) deliuered to the +Romans according to the couenants concluded. + +After this the Saxons were permitted to depart without impeachment, & +so to returne from whence they came, who being now out of all feare, +and preparing to go their waies, diuers bands of footmen were sent +to lie priuilie in a certeine hid vallie so ambushed, as they might +easilie breake foorth vpon the enimies as they passed by them. But +it chanced far otherwise than they supposed, for certeine of those +footmen stirred with the noise of them as they were comming, brake +foorth out of time, and being suddenlie discouered whilest they hasted +to vnite and knit themselues togither, by the hideous crie and shout +of the Saxons they were put to flight. Yet by and by closing togither +againe, they staied, and the extremitie of the chance ministring to +them force (though not sufficient) they were driuen to fight it out, +and being beaten downe with great slaughter, had died euerie mothers +sonne, if a troope of horssemen armed at all points (being in like +maner placed in an other side at the entring of the waie to assaile +the enimies as they should passe) aduertised by the dolefull noise +of them that fought, had not spéedilie come to the succour of their +fellowes. + +Then ran they togither more cruellie than before, and the Romans +bending themselues towards their enimies, compassed them in on each +side, and with drawne swords slue them downe right, so that there was +not one of them left to returne home to their natiue countrie to bring +newes how they had sped, nor one suffered to liue after anothers +death, either to reuenge their ruine, or to lament their losse. +Thus were the limits of the Romane empire preserued at that time in +Britaine, which should séeme to be about the yéere of our Lord 399. +[Sidenote: 399.] + +¶ Thus were the Romans, as commonlie in all their martiall affaires, +so in this incounter verie fortunate, the happie issue of the conflict +falling out on their side. And strange it is to consider and marke, +how these people by a celestiall kind of influence were begotten and +borne as it were to prowesse and renowme; the course of their dealings +in the field most [Page 548] aptlie answering to their name. For (as +some suppose) the Romans were called of the Gréeke word [Greek: rhomae], +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +signifieng power and mightinesse: and in old time they were called +Valentians, _A valendo_, of preuailing: so that it was no maruell though +they were victorious subduers of forren people, sithens they were by +nature created and appointed to be conquerors, and thereof had their +denomination. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the poet Claudianus saith of the state of Britaine in the decaie +of the Romane empire, of the Scots and Picts cruellie vexing the +Britains, they are afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations, the +practise of the Saxons, of the Scots first comming into this Iland, +and from whence, the Scotish chonographers noted for curiositie and +vanitie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER + + +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +After this, in the time of the emperour Honorius, the Scots, +Picts, and Saxons, did eftsoones inuade the frontiers of the Romane +prouince in Britaine, as appéereth by that which the poet Claudianus +writeth, in attributing the honour of preseruing the same frontiers +[Sidenote: 396. _Claudianus_.] +vnto the said emperour, in his booke intituled "Panegerycus tertij +consulatus" (which fell in the yéere 396) as thus: + + Ille leues Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos + Edomuit, Scotúmq; vago mucrone secutus, + Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus vndas, + Et geminis fulgens vtróq; sub axe tropheis, + Tethyos alternae refluas calcauit arenas. + + The nimble Mores and Picts by right + so cald, he hath subdude, + And with his wandring swoord likewise + the Scots he hath pursude: + He brake with bold couragious oare + the Hyperborean waue, + And shining vnder both the poles + with double trophies braue, + He marcht vpon the bubling sands + of either swelling seas. + +The same Claudianus vpon the fourth consulship of Honorius, saith in a +tetrastichon as followeth: + + Quid rigor æternus cæli? quid frigora prosunt? + Ignotúmq; fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso + Orcades, incaluit Pictonum sanguine Thule, + Scotorum cumulos fleuit glacialis Hyberne. + + What lasting cold? what did to them + the frostie climats gaine? + And sea vnknowne? bemoisted all + with bloud of Saxons slaine + The Orknies were: with bloud of Picts + [Sidenote: Thule some take to be Iseland, some Scotland.] + hath Thule waxed warme, + And ysie Ireland hath bewaild + the heaps of Scotish harme. + +The same praise giueth he to Stilico the sonne in law of Honorius, and +maketh mention of a legion of souldiers sent for out of Britaine in +the periphrasis or circumlocution of the Gotish bloudie warres: + + Venit & extremis legio prætenta Britannis, + Quas Scoto dat fræna truci, ferróq; notatas + Perleget exanimes Picto moriente figuras. + + A legion eke there came from out + the farthest Britains bent, + Which brideled hath the Scots so sterne: + and marks with iron brent + Vpon their liuelesse lims dooth read, + whiles Picts their liues relent. + +He rehearseth the like in his second "Panegerycus" of Stilico, in most +ample and pithie manner insuing: + + Inde Calidonio velata Britannia monstro, + Ferro Picta genas, cuius vestigia verrit + Cærulus, Oceaniq; æstum mentitur amictus, + Me quoq; vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit, + Muniuit Stilico, totam quum Scotus Hybernam + Mouit, & infesto spumauit remige Thetis, + Illius effectum curis, ne bella timerem + Scotica, ne Pictum tremerem, ne littore toto + Prospicerem dubijs venturum Saxona ventis. + + Then Britaine whom the monsters did + of Calidone surround, + Whose cheekes were pearst with scorching steele, + whose garments swept the ground, + Resembling much the marble hew + of ocean seas that boile, + Said, She whom neighbour nations did + conspire to bring to spoile, + Hath Stilico munited strong, when + raised by Scots entice + All Ireland was, and enimies ores + the salt sea fome did slice, + His care hath causd, that I all feare + of Scotish broiles haue bard, + Ne doo I dread the Picts, ne looke + my countrie coasts to gard + Gainst Saxon troops, whom changing winds + sent sailing hitherward. + +[Sidenote: Britaine afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations.] +Thus maie it appéere, that in the time when the Romane empire began to +decaie, in like manner as other parts of the same empire were inuaded +by barbarous nations, so was that part of Britaine which was subiect +to the Romane emperors grieuouslie assailed by the Scots and Picts, +and also by the Saxons, the which in those daies inhabiting all +alongst the sea coasts of low Germanie, euen from the Elbe vnto the +Rhine, did not onelie trouble the sea by continuall rouing, but also +vsed to come on land into diuerse parts of Britaine and Gallia, +inuading the countries, and robbing the same with great rage and +crueltie. + +[Sidenote: _Sidon. Apol. li. 8. Epist._] +To the which Sidonius Apollinaris thus alludeth, writing to Namatius. +"The messenger did assuredlie affirme, that latelie ye blew the +trumpet to warre in your nation, and betwixt the office one while of +a mariner, and another while of a souldier, wafted about the +[Sidenote: The pirasie of the Saxons.] +crooked shores of the ocean sea against the fléet of the Saxons, of +whome as manie rouer as ye behold, so manie archpirats ye suppose to +sée: so doo they altogither with one accord command, obeie, teach, +and learne to plaie the parts of rouers, that euen now there is good +occasion to warne you to beware. This enimie is more cruell than all +other enimies. He assaileth at vnwares, he escapeth by forseeing the +danger afore hand, he despiseth those that stand against him, he +throweth downe the vnwarie: if he be followed he snappeth them vp that +pursue him, if he flée he escapeth." + +Of like effect for proofe héereof be those verses which he wrote vnto +Maiorianus his panegyrike oration, following in Latine and in English +verse. + + Tot maria intraui duce te, longéq; remotas + Sole sub occiduo gentes, victricia Cæsar + Signa Calidonios transuexit ad vsq; Britannos, + Fuderit & quanquam Scotum, & cum Saxone Pictum, + Hostes quæsiuit quem iam natura vetabat, + Quærere plus homines, &c. + + So manie seas I entred haue, + and nations farre by west, + By thy conduct, and Cæsar hath + his banners borne full prest + Vnto the furthest British coast, + where Calidonians dwell, + The Scot and Pict with Saxons eke, + though he subdued fell, + Yet would he enimies seeke vnknowne + whom nature had forbid, &c. + +¶ Thus much haue we thought good to gather out of the Romane and other +writers, that ye might perceiue the state of Britaine the better in +that time of the decaie of the Romane empire, and that ye might haue +occasion to marke by the waie, how not onelie the Scots, but also the +Saxons had attempted to inuade the Britains, before anie mention is +made of the same their attempts by the British and English writers. +But whether the Scots had anie habitation within the bounds of +Britaine, till the time supposed by the Britaine writers, we leaue +that point to the iudgement of others that be trauelled in the search +of such antiquities, onelie admonishing you, that in the Scotish +chronicle you shall find the opinion which their writers haue +conceiued of this matter, and also manie things touching the acts of +the Romans doone against diuerse of the Britains, which they presume +to be doone against their nation, though shadowed vnder the generall +name of Britains, or of other particular names, at this daie to most +men vnknowne. But whensoeuer the Scots came into this Ile, they +made the third nation that inhabited the same, comming first out of +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Scithia, or rather out of Spaine (as some suppose) into Ireland, +and from thence into Britaine; next after the Picts, though their +writers fetch a farre more ancient beginning (as in their chronicles +at large appéereth) referring them to the reading thereof, that desire +to vnderstand that matter as they set it foorth. + +_Thus farre the dominion and tribute of the Romans ouer this land +of Britaine, which had continued (by the collection of some +chronographers) the space of 483. yeeres. And héere we thinke it +conuenient to end this fourth booke._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16536-0.txt or 16536-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/3/16536/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/16536-0.zip b/16536-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d06a4da --- /dev/null +++ b/16536-0.zip diff --git a/16536-h.zip b/16536-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c89a7cb --- /dev/null +++ b/16536-h.zip diff --git a/16536-h/16536-h.htm b/16536-h/16536-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d450044 --- /dev/null +++ b/16536-h/16536-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4993 @@ + <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + + <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy, see www.w3.org" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> + <title>Project Gutenberg e-Book: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) - Raphael Holinshed</title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + body { + background: #ffffff; + margin-left:15%; + margin-right:15%; + } + + td.left { + font-weight: bold; + text-align: left; + } + + td.right { + font-weight: bold; + text-align: right; + } + + p { + text-align: justify; + } + + p.center { + text-align: center; + } + + p.indent { + margin-left: 30%; + } + + span.indent1 { + margin-left: 1em; + } + + blockquote { + text-align: justify; + margin-left: 25%; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + } + + span.rightnote { + position: absolute; + left: 87%; + right: 1%; + font-size: 0.7em; + text-align: left; + } + + span.leftnote { + position: absolute; + left: 2%; + right: 86%; + font-size: 0.7em; + text-align: left; + } + + span.right { + float: right; + text-align: right; + font-size: 0.9em; + } + + span.page { + position: absolute; + left: 0%; + right: 88%; + font-size: 0.7em; + color: #cccccc; + text-align: left; + } + + hr { + text-align: center; + width: 10%; + margin-left: auto; /* these two ensure a.. */ + margin-right: auto; /* ..centered rule */ + color: #000000; + } + + hr.medium {width: 30%; + color: black; + } + + hr.full {width: 70%; + color: black; + } + + a:link { + text-decoration: none; + } + + a:visited { + color: blue; + text-decoration: none; + } + + a:hover { + color: blue; + background: #ffffff; + text-decoration: none; + } + + a:active { + text-decoration: underline; + } + + a.contents:link { + color:#000000; + text-decoration:none; + } + + a.contents:visited { + color:#000000; + text-decoration:none; + } + + a.contents:hover { + color:blue; + background:#ffffff; + text-decoration:none; + } + + a.contents:active { + color: #0000ff; + text-decoration:underline; + } + + </style> + </head> + + <body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) + The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 16, 2005 [EBook #16536] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + <span class="page">[<a name="page482">Page 482</a>]</span> + <br /><br /> + <h3>THE FOVRTH BOOKE</h3> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h2>HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.</h2> + <br /><br /><br /> + + <hr class="full" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" summary="contents"> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%"> <br /></td> + <td class="right" valign="top">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#first4">THE FIRST CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page482">492</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#second4">THE SECOND CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page483">483</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#third4">THE THIRD CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page484">484</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fourth4">THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page485">485</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fift4">THE FIFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page486">486</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#sixt4">THE SIXT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page488">488</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#seuenth4">THE SEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page490">490</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eight4">THE EIGHT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page492">492</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#ninth4">THE NINTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page494">494</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#tenth4">THE TENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page495">495</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eleuenth4">THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page496">496</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#twelfe4">THE TWELFE CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page499">499</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiij4">THE XIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page500">500</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiiij4">THE XIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page502">502</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xv4">THE XV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page503">503</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvj4">THE 16. CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page504">504</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvij4">THE XVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page507">507</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xviij4">THE XVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page509">509</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xix4">THE 19. CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page510">510</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xx4">THE XX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page512">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxj4">THE XXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page515">515</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij4">THE XXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page516">516</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiij4">THE XXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page519">519</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiiij4">THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page521">521</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxv4">THE XXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page526">526</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvj4">THE XXVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page527">527</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvij4">THE XXVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page528">528</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxviij4">THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page530">530</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxix4">THE XXIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page532">532</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxx4">THE XXX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page535">535</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxj4">THE XXXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page537">537</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxij4">THE XXXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page539">539</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiij4">THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page540">540</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiiij4">THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page543">543</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxv4">THE XXXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page548">549</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <br /><br /><hr class="full" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + + + <a name="first4" id="first4"></a> + + + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<p> +<i>The Britains discomfited, sore wounded, slaine, and disabled by Plautius and his power, +Claudius the Romane taketh the chiefe citie of Cymbeline the king of Britaine, he +bereaueth the Britains of their armour, and by vertue of his conquest ouer part of the +land is surnamed Britannicus</i>.</p> + + + + +<h3>THE FIRST CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now Plautius had much adoo to find out the Britains in their lurking holes and couerts; +howbeit when he had traced them out, first he vanquished Cataratacus, and +after Togodumnus the sonnes of Cynobellinus: for their father was dead not verie long +before. These therefore fléeing their waies, Plautus receiued part of the people called +<span class="rightnote">Bodumni Catuellani</span> +Bodumni (which were subiects vnto them that were called Catuellani) into the obeisance of +the Romans: and so leauing there a garrison of souldiors, passed further till he came to a +riuer which could not well be passed without a bridge: wherevpon the Britains tooke +small regard to defend the passage, as though they had béene sure inough. But Plautius +appointed a certeine number of Germans which he had there with him (being vsed to +swim ouer riuers although neuer so swift) to get ouer, which they did, sleaing and wounding +the Britains horsses, which were fastened to their wagons or chariots, so that the Britains +were not able to doo anie péece of their accustomed seruice with the same.</p> +<p> +Herewithall was Flauius Vespasianus (that afterwards was emperour) with his brother +Sabinus sent ouer that riuer, which being got to the further side, slue a great number of +the enimies. The residue of the Britains fled, but the next day proffered a new battell, in +the which they fought so stoutlie, that the victorie depended long in doubtfull balance, till +Caius Sidius Geta being almost at point to be taken, did so handle the matter, that the +Britains finallie were put to flight: for the which his valiant dooings, triumphant honors +were bestowed vpon him, although he was no consull.</p> +<p> +The Britains after this battell, withdrew to the riuer of Thames, néere to the place where<span class="page"><a name="page483" id="page483"></a>[Page 483]</span> +it falleth into the sea, and knowing the shallowes and firme places thereof, easilie passed +ouer to the further side, whom the Romans following, through lacke of knowledge in the +nature of the places, they fell into the marish grounds, and so came to lose manie of their +men, namelie of the Germans, which were the first that passed ouer the riuer to follow the +Britains, partlie by a bridge which lay within the countrie ouer the said riuer, and partlie by +swimming, and other such shift as they presentlie made.</p> +<p><span class="rightnote"> +<i>Togodumnus</i></span> +The Britains hauing lost one of their rulers, namelie Togodumnus (of whom ye haue +heard before) were nothing discouraged, but rather more egerlie set on reuenge. Plautius +perceiuing their fiercenesse, went no further, but staid and placed garrisons in steeds where +néed required, to keepe those places which he had gotten, and with all spéed sent aduertisement +vnto Claudius, according to that he had in commandement, if anie vrgent necessitie +should so mooue him. Claudius therefore hauing all things before hand in a readinesse, +straightwaies vpon the receiuing of the aduertisement, departed from Rome, and came by +water vnto Ostia, and from thence vnto Massilia, and so through France sped his iournies +till he came to the side of the Ocean sea, and then imbarking himselfe with his people, +passed ouer into Britaine, and came to his armie which abode his comming néere the Thames +side, where being ioined, they passed the riuer againe, fought with the Britains in a pitcht +field, and getting the victorie, tooke the towne of Camelodunum (which some count to be +Colchester) being the chiefest citie apperteining vnto Cynobelinus. He reduced also manie +other people into his subiection, some by force, and some by surrender, whereof he was +called oftentimes by the name of emperour, which was against the ordinance of the Romans: +for it was not lawfull for anie to take that name vpon him oftener than once in anie one +voiage. Moreouer, Claudius tooke from the Britains their armor and weapons, and committed +the gouernment of them vnto Plautius, commanding him to endeuour himselfe to +subdue the residue.</p> +<p><span class="rightnote"> +<i>Dion Cassius</i></span> +Thus hauing brought vnder a part of Britaine, and hauing made his abode therin not +past a sixtene daies, he departed and came backe againe to Rome with victorie in the sixt +<span class="leftnote"><i>Suetonius</i></span> +month after his setting foorth from thence, giuing after his returne, to his sonne, the surname +of Britannicus. This warre he finished in maner as before is said, in the fourth +yéere of his reigne, which fell in the yéere of the world 4011, after the birth of our Sauiour +44, and after the building of Rome 797.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="second4" id="second4"></a> +<p> +<i>The diuerse opinions and variable reports of writers touching the partile conquest of this +Iland by the Romans, the death of Guiderius.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SECOND CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +There be that write, how Claudius subdued and added to the Romane empire, the +Iles of Orknie situate in the north Ocean beyond Britaine: which might well be accomplished +either by Plautius, or some other his lieutenant: for Plautius indéed for his noble +prowesse and valiant acts atchieued in Britaine, afterwards triumphed. Titus the sonne of +Vespasian also wan no small praise for deliuering his father out of danger in his time, being +beset with a companie of Britains, which the said Titus bare downe, and put to flight with +great slaughter. Beda following the authoritie of Suetonius, writeth bréeflie of this matter, +and saith, that Claudius passing ouer into this Ile, to the which neither before Iulius Cesar, +neither after him anie stranger durst come, within few daies receiued the most part of the +countrie into his subiection without battell or bloudshed.</p> +<p> +Gyldas also writing of this reuolting of the Britains, saith thus: "When information +thereof was giuen to the senate, and that hast was made with a spéedie armie to reuenge +the same, there was no warlike nauie prepared in the sea to fight valiantlie for the defense<span class="page"><a name="page484" id="page484"></a>[Page 484]</span> +of the countrie, no square battell, no right wing, nor anie other prouision appointed on the +shore to be séene, but the backes of the Britains in stead of a shield are shewed to the persecutors, +and their necks readie to be cut off with the sword through cold feare running +through their bones, which stretched foorth their hands to be bound like womanlie creatures; +so that a common prouerbe followed thereof, to wit, That the Britains were neither +valiant in warre, nor faithfull in peace: and so the Romans sleaing manie of the rebels, +reseruing some, and bringing them to bondage, that the land should not lie altogither vntilled +and desert, returned into Italie out of that land which was void of wine and oile, +leauing some of their men there for gouernors to chastise the people, not so much with an +armie of men, as with scourge and whip, and if the matter so required, to applie the naked +sword vnto their sides: so that it might be accounted Rome and not Britaine. And what +coine either of brasse, siluer or gold there was, the same to be stamped with the image of +the emperour." Thus farre Gildas.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon. Matth. West.</i></span> +In the British historie we find other report as thus, that Claudius at his comming aland +at Porchester, besieged that towne, to the rescue whereof came Guiderius, and giuing battell +to the Romans, put them to the woorse, till at length one Hamo, being on the Romans +side, changed his shield and armour, apparelling himselfe like a Britaine, and so entring +into the thickest prease of the British host, came at length where the king was, and there +slue him. But Aruiragus perceiuing this mischiefe, to the end the Britains should not be +discouraged therewith, caused himselfe to be adorned with the kings cote-armor, and other +abiliments, and so as king continued the fight with such manhood, that the Romans were +put to flight. Claudius retired backe to his ships, and Hamo to the next woods, whom +Aruiragus pursued, and at length droue him vnto the sea side, and there slue him yer he +could take the hauen which was there at hand; so that the same tooke name of him, and +was called a long time after, Hamons hauen, and at length by corruption of speach it was +<span class="rightnote">Hampton, why so called.</span> +called Hampton, and so continueth vnto this day, commonlie called by the name of Southhampton. +Thus haue you heard how Guiderius or Guinderius (whether you will) came +to his end, which chanced (as some write) in the 28 yéere of his reigne.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="third4" id="third4"></a> +<p> +<i>Aruiragus the Britaine & Claudius the Romane with their armies doo incounter, a composition +concerning mariage concluded betweene them, Claudius returneth to Rome.</i></p> + +<h3>THE THIRD CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ARUIRAGUS. <i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +Aruiragus the yoongest son of Kymbeline, and brother to Guinderius (bicause the same) +Guinderius left no issue to succéed him) was admitted king of Britaine in the yeere +of our Lord 45, or rather 46.</p> +<p> +This Aruiragus, otherwise called by the Britains Meuricus or Mauus, of Tacitus Prasutagus, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Caxton</i>.</span> +is also named Armiger in the English chronicle, by which chronicle (as appéereth) he +bare himselfe right manfullie against Claudius and his Romans in the war which they made +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon</i>.</span> +against him: in so much that when Claudius had renewed his force and woone Porchester, +and after came to besiege Winchester (in the which Aruiragus as then was inclosed) Aruiragus +assembling his power, was readie to come foorth and giue Claudius battell: wherevpon +Claudius doubting the sequele of the thing, sent messengers vnto Aruiragus to treat of concord, +and so by composition the matter was taken vp, with condition, that Claudius should +giue his daughter Genissa in marriage vnto Aruiragus, & Aruiragus should acknowledge to +hold his kingdome of the Romans.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ranulfus Cestrensis</i>.</span> +Some write that Claudius in fauour of the valiant prowesse which he saw & found in +Aruiragus, honored not onlie him with the mariage of his daughter the said Genissa, but<span class="page"><a name="page485" id="page485"></a>[Page 485]</span> +also to the end to make the towne more famous where this marriage was solemnized, he +therefore called it Claudiocestria, after his name, the which in the British toong was called +before that daie Caerleon, and after Glouernia, of a duke that ruled in Demetia that hight +Glunie, but now it is called Glocester.</p> +<p> +Other there be that write, how Claudius being vanquished in battell by Aruiragus, was +compelled by the said Aruiragus to giue vnto him his said daughter to wife, with condition +as before is mentioned: and that then Aruiragus was crowned king of Britaine. But +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sueton.</i></span> +Suetonius maie séeme to reprooue this part of the British historie, which in the life of +Claudius witnesseth, that he had by thrée wiues onlie three daughters, that is to saie, Claudia, +Antonia, and Octauia: and further, that reputing Claudia not to be his, caused hir to be +cast downe at the doore of his wife Herculanilla, whome he had forsaken by waie of diuorcement: +& that he bestowed his daughter Antonia first on C. Pompeius Magnus, and +after on Faustus Silla, verie noble yoong gentlemen; and Octauia he matched with Nero +his wiues son. Whereby it should appéere, that this supposed marriage betwixt Aruiragus +and the daughter of Claudius is but a feined tale.</p> +<p> +¶ And héere to speake my fansie also what I thinke of this Aruiragus, and other the kings +(whome Galfrid and such as haue followed him doo register in order, to succéed one after +another) I will not denie but such persons there were, and the same happilie bearing verie +great rule in the land, but that they reigned as absolute kings ouer the whole, or that they +succéeded one after another in manner as is auouched by the same writers, it seemeth most +vnlike to be true: for rather it maie be gessed by that, which as well Gyldas as the old +approoued Romane writers haue written, that diuerse of these kings liued about one time, +or in times greatlie differing from those times which in our writers we find noted. As for +example, Iuuenal maketh this Aruiragus, of whom we now intreat, to reigne about Domitians +time. For my part therefore, sith this order of the British kinglie succession in this +place is more easie to be flatlie denied and vtterlie reprooued, than either wiselie defended or +trulie amended, I will referre the reforming therof vnto those that haue perhaps séene more +than I haue, or more déepelie considered the thing, to trie out an vndoubted truth: in the +meane time, I haue thought good, both to shew what I find in our histories, and likewise +in forren writers, to the which we thinke (namelie in this behalfe, whilest the Romans +gouerned there) we maie safelie giue most credit, doo we otherwise neuer so much content +our selues with other vaine and fond conceits.</p> +<p> +To procéed yet with the historie as we find it by our writers set foorth: it is reported, +that after the solemnization of this marriage, which was doone with all honour that might +<span class="rightnote">Legions of souldiers sent into Ireland.</span> +be deuised, Claudius sent certeine legions of souldiers foorth to go into Ireland to subdue +that countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fourth4" id="fourth4"></a> +<p> +<i>Aruiragus denieth subiection to the Romans, Vespasian is sent to represse him and his +power, the Romane host is kept backe from landing, queene Genissa pacifieth them +after a sharpe conflict: & what the Romane writers say of Vespasians being in Britaine, +the end of Aruiragus.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FOURTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Then did king Aruiragus ride about to view the state of his realme, repairing cities and +townes decaied by the warre of the Romans, and saw his people gouerned with such iustice +and good order, that he was both feared and greatlie beloued: so that in tract of time he +grew verie welthie, and by reason thereof fell into pride, so that he denied his subiection +<span class="rightnote">Vespasian in Britaine. <i>Cornel. Tacit. +in uit. Agr. lib. 3 & li. 6. Gal. Mon. Rutupium.</i></span><span class="page"><a name="page486" id="page486"></a>[Page 486]</span> +to the Romans. Wherevpon Claudius appointed Vespasian with an armie to go as lieutenant +into Britaine. This iournie was to him the beginning of his advancement to that honour, +which after to him most luckilie befell. But if we shall credit our Britaine writers, he +gained not much at Aruiragus hands, for where he would haue landed at Sandwich or Richborough, +Aruiragus was readie to resist him, so as he durst not once enter the hauen: for +Aruiragus had there such a puissant number of armed men, that the Romans were afraid to +approach the land.</p> +<p> +Vespasian therefore withdrew from thence, and coasting westward, landed at Totnesse, +and comming to Excester, besieged that citie: but about the seuenth day after he had +planted his siege, came Aruiragus, and gaue him battell, in the which both the armies +sustained great losse of men, and neither part got anie aduantage of the other. On the +morrow after quéene Genissa made them friends, and so the warres ceassed for that time, by +hir good mediation.</p> +<p> +¶ But séeing (as before I haue said) the truth of this historie maie be greatlie mistrusted, +ye shall heare what the Romane writers saie of Vespasianus being héere in Britaine, beside +that which we haue alreadie recited out of Dion in the life of Guiderius.</p> +<p> +In the daies of the emperor Claudius, through fauour of Narcissus (one that might doo +all with Claudius) the said Vespasian was sent as coronell or lieutenant of a legion of +<span class="rightnote">Vespasian. <i>Suetonius. Salcellicus.</i></span> +souldiers into Germanie, and being remooued from thence into Britaine, he fought thirtie +seuerall times with the enimies, and brought vnto the Romane obeisance two most mightie +nations, and aboue twentie townes, togither with the Ile of Wight; and these exploits he +atchiued, partlie vnder the conduct of Aulus Plautius ruler of Britaine for the emperor +Claudius, and partlie vnder the same emperor himselfe. For as it is euident by writers of +good credit, he came first ouer into Britaine with the said Aulus Plautius, and serued verie +valiantlie vnder him, as before in place we haue partlie touched. By Tacitus it appeareth, +that he was called to be partener in the gouernment of things in Britaine with Claudius, and +had such successe, as it appéered to what estate of honour he was predestinate, hauing conquered +nations, and taken kings prisoners. But now to make an end with Aruiragus: +when he perceiued that his force was too weake to preuaile against the Romane empire, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +and that he should striue but in vaine to shake the yoke of subiection from the necks of +the Britains, he made a finall peace with them in his old age, and so continued in quiet the +residue of his reigne, which he lastlie ended by death, after he had gouerned the land by +the space of thirtie yéeres, or but eight and twentie, as some other imagine. He died in +<span class="leftnote">73.</span> +the yéere of Grace 73, as one author affirmeth, and was buried at Glocester. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span></p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fift4" id="fift4"></a> +<p> +<i>Ioseph of Aramathia came into Britaine and Simon Zelotes, the antiquitie of christian religion, +Britaine gouerned by Lieutenants and treasurers of the Romane emperors, the +exploits of Ostorius Scapula and the men of Oxfordshire, he vanquisheth the Welshmen, +appeaseth the Yorkshiremen, and brideleth the rage of the Silures.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In the daies of the said Aruiragus, about the yeare of Christ 53, Ioseph of Arimathia, +who buried the bodie of our sauiour, being sent by Philip the Apostle (as Iohn Bale following +the authoritie of Gildas and other British writers reciteth) after that the Christians +were dispersed out of Gallia, came into Britaine with diuers other godlie christian men, & +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydorus.</i></span> +preaching the gospell there amongst the Britains, & instructing them in the faith and lawes +of Christ, conuerted manie to the true beliefe, and baptised them in the wholsome water +of regeneration, & there continued all the residue of his life, obteining of the king a plot +of ground where to inhabit, not past a foure miles from Wells, and there with his fellowes<span class="page"><a name="page487" id="page487"></a>[Page 487]</span> +began to laie the first foundation of the true and perfect religion, in which place (or +néere thereinto) was afterward erected the abbeie of Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +Nicephorus writeth in his second booke and fourth chapter, that one Simon Zelotes came +likewise into Britaine. And Theodoretus in his 9. booke "De curandis Græcorum affectibus," +sheweth that Paule being released of his second imprisonment, and suffered to depart from +Rome, preached the gospell to the Britains and to other nations in the west. The same +thing in manner dooth Sophronius the patriarch of Ierusalem witnesse, Tertullian also maie +be a witnesse of the ancientnes of the faith receiued here in Britaine, where he writing of +these times saith: Those places of the Britains, to the which the Romans could not approch, +were subiect vnto Christ, as were also the countries of Sarmatia, Dacia, Germania, +Scithia, and others. ¶ Thus it maie appeare, that the christian religion was planted here +in this land shortlie after Christes time, although it certeinlie appeareth not who were the +first that preached the gospell to the Britains, nor whether they were Gréeks or Latins.</p> +<p> +Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Romane emperours in this season gouerned this land +<span class="rightnote">Treasurers or receiuers.</span> +by lieutenants and treasurers, the which were called by the name of legats and procurators, +thereby to kéepe the vnrulie inhabitants the better in order.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Aulus Plautius.</span> +And Aulus Plautius a noble man of Rome of the order of consuls, was sent hither as the +<span class="leftnote">Ostorius Scapula.</span> +first legat or lieutenant (in maner as before ye haue heard) & after him Ostorius Scapula, +who at his comming found the Ile in trouble, the enimies hauing made inuasion into the +countrie of those that were friends to the Romans, the more presumptuouslie, for that they +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus lib. 12.</i></span> +thought a new lieutenant, with an armie to him vnacquainted and come ouer now in the +beginning of winter, would not be hastie to march foorth against them. But Ostorius vnderstanding +that by the first successe and chance of warre, feare or hope is bred and augmented, +hasted forward to encounter with them, and such as he found abroad in the +countrie he slue out right on euerie side, and pursued such as fled, to the end they should +not come togither againe. Now for that a displeasing and a doubtfull peace was not like to +bring quietnesse either to him or to his armie, he tooke from such as he suspected, their +armour. And after this, he went about to defend the riuers of Auon & Seuerne, with +placing his souldiers in camps fortified néere to the same. But the Oxfordshire men and +other of those parties would not suffer him to accomplish his purpose in anie quiet sort, +being a puissant kind of people, and not hitherto weakened by warres: for they willinglie +<span class="righnote">Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12.</span> +at the first had ioined in amitie with the Romans. The countries adjoining also being induced +by their procurement, came to them, & so they chose forth a plot of ground, fensed +with a mightie ditch, vnto the which there was no waie to enter but one, & the same verie +narrow, so as the horssemen could not haue anie easie passage to breake in vpon them. +Ostorius, although he had no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids, marched foorth +towards the place within the which the Britains were lodged, and assaulting them in the +same, brake through into their campe, where the Britains being impeached with their owne +inclosures which they had raised for defense of the place, knowing how that for their rebellion +they were like to find small mercie at the Romans hands, when they saw now no +waie to escape, laid about them manfullie, and shewed great proofe of their valiant stomachs.</p> +<p> +In this battell, the sonne of Ostorius the lieutenant deserued the price and commendation +<span class="rightnote">which was a certaine crowne, to be set on his head called <i>ciuica corona.</i></span> +of preseruing a citizen out of the cruell enimies hands. But now with this slaughter of the +Oxfordshire men, diuers of the Britains that stood doubtfull what waie to take, either to +rest in quiet, or to moue warres, were contented to be conformable vnto a reasonable order +<span class="leftnote">Cangi.</span> +of peace, in so much that Ostorius lead his armie against the people called Cangi, who inhabited +that part of Wales now called Denbighshire, which countrie he spoiled on euerie +side, no enimie once daring to encounter him: & if anie of them aduentured priuilie to set +vpon those which they found behind, or on the outsids of his armie, they were cut short +yer they could escape out of danger. Wherevpon he marched straight to their campe and +giuing them battell, vanquished them: and vsing the victorie as reason moued him, he lead +his armie against those that inhabited the inner parts of Wales, spoiling the countrie on<span class="page"><a name="page488" id="page488"></a>[Page 488]</span> +euerie side. And thus sharplie pursuing the rebels, he approched néere vnto the sea side, +which lieth ouer against Ireland. While this Romane capteine was thus occupied, he was +called backe by the rebellion of the Yorkshire men, whome forthwith vpon his comming +vnto them, he appeased, punishing the first authors of that tumult with death.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus. lib</i>. 12</span> +In the meane time, the people called Silures, being a verie fierce kind of men, and valiant, +prepared to make warre against the Romans, for they might not be bowed neither with +roughnesse, nor yet with any courteous handling, so that they were to be tamed by an armie +of legionarie souldiers to be brought among them.</p> +<p> +Therefore to restraine the furious rage of those people and their neighbours, Ostorious +peopled a towne néere to their borders, called Camelodunum with certeine bands of old +souldiers, there to inhabit with their wiues and children, according to such maner as was +vsed in like cases of placing naturall Romans in anie towne or citie, for the more suertie and +defense of the same. Here also was a temple builded in the honor of Claudius the emperour, +where were two images erected, one of the goddesse Victoria, and an other of +Claudius himselfe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="sixt4" id="sixt4"></a> +<p> +<i>The coniectures of writers touching the situation of Camelodunum supposed to be Colchester, +of the Silures a people spoken of in the former chapter, a foughten field betwene Caratacus +the British prince, and Ostorius the Romaine, in the confines of Shropshire; the +Britains go miserablie to wracke, Caratacus is deliuered to the Romans, his wife and +daughter are taken prisoners, his brethren yeeld themselues to their enimies.</i></p> + + + +<h3>THE SIXT CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +But now there resteth a great doubt among writers, where this citie or towne called Camelodunum +did stand, of some (and not without good ground of probable coniectures +gathered vpon the aduised consideration of the circumstances of that which in old authors is +<span class="rightnote">Camelodunum, Colchester.</span> +found written of this place) it is thought to be Colchester. But verelie by this place of Tacitus +it maie rather seeme to be some other towne, situat more westward than Colchester, sith a +colonie of Romane souldiers were planted there to be at hand, for the repressing of the +<span class="leftnote">Silures where they inhabited.</span> +vnquiet Silures, which by consent of most writers inhabited in Southwales, or néere the +Welsh marshes.</p> +<p> +There was a castell of great fame in times past that hight Camaletum, or in British Caermalet, +which stood in the marshes of Summersetshire; but sith there is none that hath so +written before this time, I will not saie that happilie some error hath growne by mistaking +the name of Camelodunum for this Camaletum, by such as haue copied out the booke of +Cornelius Tacitus; and yet so it might be doon by such as found it short or vnperfectlie +written, namelie, by such strangers or others, to whom onelie the name of Camelodunum +was onelie knowne, and Camaletum peraduenture neuer séene nor heard of. As for example, +an Englishman that hath heard of Waterford in Ireland, and not of Wexford, might in +taking foorth a copie of some writing easilie commit a fault in noting the one for the other. +We find in Ptolomie Camedolon to be a citie belonging to the Trinobants, and he maketh +mention also of Camelodunum, but Humfrey Lhoyd thinketh that he meaneth all one citie.</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding Polydor Virgil is of a contrarie opinion, supposing the one to be Colchester +in déed, and the other that is Camelodunum to be Doncaster or Pontfret. Leland +esteeming it to be certeinelie Colchester taketh the Iceni men also to be the Northfolke +men. But howsoeuer we shall take this place of Tacitus, it is euident inough that Camelodunum +stood not farre from the Thames. And therefore to séeke it with Hector Boetius +in Scotland, or with Polydor Virgil so far as Doncaster or Pontfret, it maie be thought a<span class="page"><a name="page489" id="page489"></a>[Page 489]</span> +plaine error.</p> +<p> +But to leaue each man to his owne iudgement in a matter so doubtfull, we will procéed +with the historie as touching the warres betwixt the Romans and the Silurians, against whome +(trusting not onelie vpon their owne manhood, but also vpon the high prowesse & valiancie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cornelius Tacitus lib. Anna. 12</i>.</span> +of Caratacus) Ostorius set forward. Caratacus excelled in fame aboue all other the princes +of Britaine, aduanced thereto by manie doubtfull aduentures and manie prosperous exploits, +which in his time he had atchiued: but as he was in policie and aduantage of place better +prouided than the Romans: so in power of souldiers he was ouermatched. And therefore +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hu. Lhoyd</i>.</span> +he remoued the battell into the parts of that countrie where the Ordouices inhabited, which +are thought to haue dwelled in the borders of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, which +people together with other that misliked of the Romane gouernment, he ioined in one, and +chose a plot of ground for his aduantage, determining there to trie the vttermost hazard +of battell.</p> +<p> +The place which he thus chose was such, as the entries, the backwaies, and the whole +situation thereof made for the Britains aduantage, and cleane contrarie to the Romans, as +inclosed among high hils. And if there were anie easie passage to enter it vpon anie side, +the same was shut vp with mightie huge stones in manner of a rampire, and afore it there +ran a riuer without anie certeine foord to passe ouer it. This place is supposed to lie in the +confines of Shropshire aloft vpon the top of an high hill there, enuironed with a triple +rampire and ditch of great depth, hauing thrée entries into it, not directlie one against an other, +but aslope. It is also (they saie) compassed about with two riuers, to wit, on the left hand +with the riuer called Clun, & on the right hand with an other called Teuid. On thrée sides +thereof the clime is verie stéepe and headlong, and no waie easie to come or reach vnto it, +but onelie one.</p> +<p> +Caratac hauing thus fortified himselfe within this place, and brought his armie into it: to +encourage his people, he exhorted them to shew their manhood, affirming that to be the +day, and that armie to be the same wherein should appeare the beginning either of libertie +then to be recouered, or else of perpetuall bondage for euer to be susteined. He rehersed +also speciallie by name those their elders, which had resisted Iulius Cesar, by whose high +valiancie they liued free from the bloudie thraldome and tributes of the Romans, and enioied +their wiues and children safe and vndefiled. Thus discoursing of manie things with +them, in such hope of assured victorie, that they began to raise their cries, each one for +him selfe, declaring that he was bound by the dutie he owght to the gods of his countrie, +not to shrinke for feare of anie wounds or hurts that might chance vnto them by the enimies +weapon.</p> +<p> +This chéerefulnesse of the Britains greatlie astonished the Romane lieutenant. The hideous +course also of the riuer before his face, the fortifications and craggie higth of the hils, +all set full of enimies readie to beat him backe, put him in great feare: for nothing he saw +afore him, but that which séemed dreadfull to those that should assaile. But the souldiers +yet séemed to be verie desirous of battell, requesting him to bring them to it, protesting that +nothing was able to resist the force of noble prowes. Herewith the capteins and tribunes +discoursing the like, pricked forward the earnest willes which their souldiers had to fight.</p> +<p> +Ostorius perceiuing such courage and readie wils in the men of warre, as well souldiers as +capteins, began to bestirre himselfe, and left nothing vndone that might serue to set forward +their earnest desire to battell. And hauing aduisedlie considered which waies were hard and +<span class="rightnote">Cornelius Tacitus Annal. lib. 12.</span> +vnpossible to be entered vpon, and which were most easie for his people to find passage by, +he led them foorth, being most earnestlie bent to cope with the enimie.</p> +<p> +Now hauing passed the water without any great difficultie, but comming to the rampire, he +lost manie of his people, so long as the fight was continued with shot and casting of darts: +but after that the Romans couering themselues with their targets, came once close togither, +and approched vnder the rampire, they remooued away the stones which the Britains had +roughlie couched togither, and so came to ioine with them at handblowes. The Britains<span class="page"><a name="page490" id="page490"></a>[Page 490]</span> +being vnarmed, and not able to abide the force of the armed men, withdrew to the top of +the hilles, but as well their enimies that were light armed, as the other with heauie armour, +followed and brake in among them, so as the Britains could not turne them anie way to +escape, for the light armed men with shot a farre off, and the heauie armed with weapons at +hand, sought to make slaughter and wracke of them on ech side, so that this was a verie +dolefull day to the Britains.</p> +<p> +The wife and daughter of Caratake were taken prisoners, and his brethren also yéelded +themselues. He himselfe escaped, and committing his person vnto the assurance & trust of +Cartemandua queene of the Brigants, was by hir deliuered into the hands of the Romans. +All this happened about nine yeres after the warres in Britaine first began.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="seuenth4" id="seuenth4"></a> +<p> +<i>The name of Caratacus famous in Italie, the maner how he and his alies were led captiues +by the Romans in triumph, his courage and manlie speech to the emperour Claudius, +whereby he and his obteine mercie and pardon: the Britains vndertake a new reuenge +against the Romans; the cause why the Silures hated the Romans, Ostorius Scapula +dieth, the citie of Chester builded.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12.</i>Carataks name renowmed.</span> +The name of Caratacus being brought out of the Iles was alreadie spred ouer the prouinces +adioining, and began now to grow famous through Italie. Men therefore were desirous +to sée what maner of man he was that had so manie yéeres set at naught the puissant force +of the empire. For in Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of, insomuch that +the emperour whilest he went about to preferre his owne honour, aduanced the glorie of +him also that was vanquished: for the people were called foorth as vnto some great notable +sight or spectacle. The pretorian bands stood in order of battell armed in the field that laie +before their lodgings, through which field Caratake shuld come. Then passed by the traine +of his friends and seruants; and such armor, riches, iewels, and other things as had béene +gotten in those warres, were borne forward, and openlie shewed, that all men might behold +the same.</p> +<p> +After these followed his brethren, wife, and daughters: and last of all came Caratacus +himselfe, whose countenance was nothing like to theirs that went afore him. For whereas +they fearing punishment for their rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercie, he +neither by countenance nor words shewd anie token of a discouraged mind, but being +presented before the emperour Claudius sitting in his tribunall seat, he vttered this speach +as followeth.</p> +<p> +"If there had béene in me so much moderation in time of prosperitie, as there was nobilitie +<span class="rightnote">[<i>* Sic.</i>]</span> +of birth and puissance, I had come to this citie rather as a friend than as a capteine *: +neither should I haue thought scorne, being borne of most noble parents, and ruling ouer +many people, to haue accepted peace by waie of ioining with you in league. My present +estate as it is to me reprochfull, so to you it is honorable. I had at commandement, horsses, +men, armor, and great riches; what maruell is it if I were loth to forgo the same? For if +you shall looke to gouerne all men, it must néeds follow that all men must be your slaues. +If I had at the first yéelded my selfe, neither my power nor your glorie had béene set foorth +to the world, & vpon mine execution I should straight haue béene forgotten. But if you now +grant me life, I shall be a witnesse for euer of your mercifull clemencie."</p> +<p> +The emperour with these words being pacified, granted life both to Caratake, and also to +his wife and brethren, who being loosed from their bands, went also to the place where the +empresse Agrippina sat (not farre off) in a chaire of estate, whom they reuerenced with the<span class="page"><a name="page491" id="page491"></a>[Page 491]</span> +like praise and thanks as they had doone before to the emperour. After this the senat was called +togither, who discoursed of manie things touching this honourable victorie atchiued by the +taking of Caratake, estéeming the same no lesse glorious, than when P. Scipio shewed in +<span class="rightnote">Siphax. L. Paulus.</span> +triumph Siphax king of the Numidians, or L. Paulus the Macedonian king Perses, or other +Romane capteins anie such king whom they had vanquished.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon it was determined, that Ostorius should enter the citie of Rome with triumph +like a conqueror, for such prosperous successe as hitherto had followed him: but afterwards +his procéedings were not so luckie, either for that after Caratake was remooued out of the +waie, or bicause the Romans (as though the warre had béene finished) looked negligentlie to +themselues, either else for that the Britains taking compassion of the miserable state of +Caratake, being so worthie a prince, through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie, were +more earnestlie set to reuenge his quarrell. Héerevpon they incompassed the maister of the +campe, and those legionarie bands of souldiers which were left amongst the Silures to fortifie +a place there for the armie to lodge in: and if succour had not come out of the next towns +and castels, the Romans had béene destroied by siege. The head capteine yet, and eight +centurions, and euerie one else of the companies being most forward, were slaine. Shortlie +after they set vpon the Romane forragers, and put them to flight, and also such companies of +horssemen as were appointed to gard them. Héerevpon Ostorius set foorth certeine bands +of light horssemen, but neither could he staie the flight by that meanes, till finallie the +legions entred the battell, by whose force they were staid, and at length the Romans obteined +the better: but the Britains escaped by flight without great losse, by reason the daie +was spent.</p> +<p> +After this, manie bickerings chanced betwixt the Britains and Romans, & oftentimes they +wrought their feats more like the trade of them that vse to rob by the high waies, than of +those that make open warre, taking their enimies at some aduantage in woods and bogs, as +hap or force ministred occasion vpon malice conceiued, or in hope of prey, sometimes by commandement, +and sometimes without either commandement or knowledge of capteine or officer.</p> +<p> +At one time the Britains surprised two bands of footmen that were with the Romans in +aid, and sent foorth to forreie abroad vnaduisedlie, through couetousnesse of the capteins. +This feat was atchiued by the Silures also, the which in bestowing prisoners and part of the +spoile vpon other of their neighbours, procured them likewise to rebell against the Romans, +and to take part with them. The Silures were the more earnestlie set against the Romans, +by occasion of words which the emperor Claudius had vttered in their disfauour, as thus: +that euen as the Sicambres were destroied and remooued into Gallia, so likewise must the +Silures be dealt with, and the whole nation of them extinguished. These words being blowne +abroad, and knowne ouer all, caused the Silures to conceiue a woonderfull hatred against the +Romans, so that they were fullie bent, either to reteine their libertie, or to die in defense +thereof vpon the enimies swoord.</p> +<p> +In the meane time Ostorius Scapula departed this life, a right noble warrior, and one who +by litle & litle insuing the steps of Aulus Plautius his predecessor, did what he could to bring +the Ile into the forme of a prouince, which in part he accomplished.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>W.H.</i> in his chronologie.</span> +There be some led by coniecture grounded vpon good aduised considerations, that suppose +this Ostorius Scapula began to build the citie of Chester after the ouerthrow of Caratacus: +for in those parties he fortified sundrie holds, and placed a number of old souldiers either +there in that selfe place, or in some other néere therevnto by waie of a colonie. And for somuch +(saie they) as we read of none other of anie name thereabouts, it is to be thought that +he planted the same in Chester, where his successors did afterwards vse to harbour their +legions for the winter season, and in time of rest from iournies which they haue to make +against their common enimies.</p> +<p> +In déed it is a common opinion among the people there vnto this daie, that the Romans +built those vaults or tauerns (which in that citie are vnder the ground) with some part of the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Hig.</i> alias <i>Cestrensis.</i></span><span class="page"><a name="page492" id="page492"></a>[Page 492]</span> +castell. And verelie as Ranulfe Higden saith, a man that shall view and well consider those +buildings, maie thinke the same to be the woorke of Romans rather than of anie other people. +That the Romane legions did make their abode there, no man séene in antiquities can doubt +thereof, for the ancient name <i>Caer leon ardour deuy,</i> that is, The citie of legions vpon the +water of Dée, proueth it sufficientlie enough.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Corn. Tacit.</i></span> +But to returne vnto Ostorius Scapula, we find in Corn. Tacitus, that during his time of +<span class="rightnote">Cogidune a king in Britane.</span> +being lieutenant in this Ile, there were certeine cities giuen vnto one Cogidune a king of the +Britains, who continued faithfull to the Romans vnto the daies of the remembrance of men +liuing in the time of the said Cornelius Tacitus, who liued and wrote in the emperor Domitianus +time. This was doone after an old receiued custom of the people of Rome, to haue +both subiects and kings vnder their rule and dominion, as who so shall note the acts and +déeds of the Roman emperours from C. Iulius Cesar (who chased Pompeie out of Italie, and +was the first that obteined the Romane empire to himselfe; of whom also the princes and +emperours succéeding him were called Cesars) to Octauian, Tiberius, Caligula, &c: maie +easilie marke and obserue. For they were a people of singular magnanimitie, of an ambitious +spirit, gréedie of honour and renowme, and not vnaptlie termed "Romani rerum +domini, &c.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="eight4" id="eight4"></a> +<p> +<i> A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the trecherie and lecherie of +queene Cartimanda, Venutius keepeth the kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what +meanes their confines in this Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others +touching the Silures, Brigants, and Nouants notified, the Britains giue the Romans a +shamefull ouerthrow.</i></p> + +<h3>THE EIGHT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A. Didius lieutenant.</span> +After the deceasse of Ostorius Scapula, one A. Didius was sent to supplie his roome, +but yer he could come, things were brought out of order, and the Britains had vanquished +the legion whereof Manlius Valens had the conduct: this victorie was set foorth by the +Britains to the vttermost, that with the bruit thereof they might strike a feare into the lieutenants +hart, now vpon his first comming ouer. And he himselfe reported it by letters to +the emperour after the largest manner, to the end that if he appeased the matter, he might +win the more praise; or if he were put to the woorst, and should not preuaile, that then +his excuse might séeme the more reasonable and woorthie of pardon. The Silures were +they that had atchiued this victorie, and kept a fowle stur ouer all the countries about them, +till by the comming of Didius against them, they were driuen backe and repelled.</p> +<p> +But héerewith began trouble to be raised in another part: for after that Caratac was +<span class="leftnote">Venutius ruler of the Iugants.</span> +taken, the chiefest and most skillfull capteine which the Britains had, was one Venutius, a +ruler of the people named Iugants, a man that remained a long time faithfull to the Romans, +<span class="rightnote">Cartimanda.</span> +and by their power was defended from his enimies, who had married with Cartimanda queene +of the Brigants or Yorkeshire men. This Cartimanda (as ye haue heard) had deliuered +Catarac into the Romans hands, thereby ministring matter for the emperour Claudius to +triumph, by which pleasure shewed to the Romans, she increased thorough their friendship +in power and wealth, whereof followed riotous lust to satisfie hir wanton appetite, so as she +<span class="leftnote">Vellocatus.</span> +falling at square with hir husband, married Vellocatus, one of his esquires, to whom she +gaue hir kingdome, and so dishonoured hir selfe. Héerevpon insued cruell warre, in so +much that in the end Venutius became enimie also to the Romans. But first they tugged +togither betwixt themselues, & the quéene by a craftie policie found meanes to catch the +brother and coosens of Venutius, but hir enimies nothing therewith discouraged, but kindled +the more in wrath against hir, ceassed not to go forward with their purpose.</p> +<p> +Manie of the Brigants disdaining to be subiect vnto a womans rule that had so reiected hir<span class="page"><a name="page493" id="page493"></a>[Page 493]</span> +husband, reuolted vnto Venutius: but yet the quéenes sensuall lust mixed with crueltie, +mainteined the adulterer. Venutius therefore calling to him such aid as he could get, and +strengthened now by the reuolting of the Brigants, brought Cartimanda to such a narrow +point, that she was in great danger to fall into the hands of hir enimies: which the Romans +forséeing, vpon suit made, sent certeine bands of horssemen and footmen to helpe hir. +They had diuerse incounters with the enimies at the first, with doubtfull successe: but at +<span class="rightnote">Venutius kéepeth the kingdome in despite of the Romans.</span> +length they preuailed, and so deliuered the quéene out of perill, but the kingdome remained +to Venutius: against whom the Romans were constreined still to mainteine warre.</p> +<p> +About the same time, the legion also which Cesius Nasica led, got the vpper hand of those +Britains against whom he was sent. For Didius being aged, and by victories past inough +renowmed, thought it sufficient for him to make warre by his capteins, so to staie and kéepe +off the enimie. Certeine castels and holds in déed he caused to be built and fortified, +further within the countrie than had béene afore attempted by anie of his predecessors, and +so thereby were the confines of the Romans in this Ile somewhat inlarged. Thus haue ye +heard with what successe the Britains mainteined warre in defense of their libertie against +the Romans, whilest Claudius ruled the empire (according to the report of the Romane +writers.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The error of <i>Hector Boetius.</i></span> +¶ But here you must note, that Hector Boetius, following the authoritie of one Veremond +a Spaniard, of Cornelius Hibernicus, & also of Campbell, remooueth the Silures, Brigants, +and Nouants, so farre northward, that he maketh them inhabitants of those countries which +the Scots haue now in possession, and were euen then inhabited (as he affirmeth) partlie by +the Scots, and partlie by the Picts (as in the Scotish historie ye may sée more at large) so that +what notable feat soeuer was atchiued by the old Britains against the Romans, the same by +him is ascribed to the Scots and Picts throughout his whole historie, whereas (in verie truth) +forsomuch as may be gathered by coniecture und presumption of that which is left in writing +by ancient authors, the Brigants inhabited Yorkshire, the Silures Wales and the Marches, +and the Nouants the countrie of Cumberland.</p> +<p> +But forsomuch as he hath diligentlie gathered in what maner the warres were mainteined by +those people against the Romans, and what valiant exploits were taken in hand and finished +thorough their stoutnesse and valiancie, ye may there read the same, and iudge at your +<span class="rightnote">A note to be considered in the reading of <i>Hect. Boetius.</i></span> +pleasure what people they were whome he so much praiseth: aduertising you hereof by +the way, that as we haue before expressed, none of the Romane writers mentioneth any +thing of the Scots, nor once nameth them, till the Romane empire began to decay, about +the time of the emperor Constantius, father of Constantine the great: so that if they had +béene in this Ile then so famous both in peace and warre, as they are reported by the same +Boetius; maruell might it séeme, that the Romane writers would so passe them ouer with +silence.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tac. lib. annal.</i> 15.</span> +After the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome, Claudius Domitianus Nero succéeded +him in gouernement of the empire. In the seuenth yéere of whose reigne, which was after +the incarnation 53, the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow in Britaine, where neither the lieutenant +A. Didius Gallus (whom in this place Cornelius Tacitus calleth Auitus) could during the +time of his rule doo no more but hold that which was alreadie gotten, beside the building of +certeine castels (as before ye haue heard) neither his successor Verannius, beating and forreieng +the woods, could atchiue anie further enterprise, for he was by death preuented, so +as he could not procéed forward with his purpose touching the warres which he had ment to +haue folowed, whose last words (in his testament expressed) detected him of manifest ambition: +for adding manie things by way of flatterie to content Neros mind, he wished to +haue liued but two yéeres longer, in which space he might haue subdued prouinces vnto his +dominion, meaning therby the whole Ile of Britaine. But this was a Romans brag, sauouring +rather of ambition than of truth or likelihood.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="ninth4" id="ninth4"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page494" id="page494"></a>[Page 494]</span> +<p> +<i>The gouernment of P. Suetonius in this Iland, he inuadeth Anglesey, and winneth it, a +strange kind of women, of the Druides, the Britains lament their miserie and seruitude, +and take aduise by weapon to redresse it against the Romans their enimies.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE NINTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">P. Suetonius lieutenant.</span> +But now when this great losse chanced to the Romans Paulinus Suetonius did gouerne +here as lieutenant, a man most plentifullie furnished with all gifts of fortune and vertue, +and therewith a right skilfull warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of +<span class="leftnote">Anglesey inuaded.</span> +the Britains as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a countrie full of inhabitants, +and a place of refuge for all outlawes and rebels. He builded certeine brigantins with flat +kéeles to serue for the ebbes and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie in the +straits which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in those vessels, the horssemen +following by the foords, and swimming when they came into the deepe, got likewise to the +shore, where stood in order of battell and huge number of armed men close togither, redie +to beat backe the Romans, and to staie them from comming to land. Amongst the men, +<span class="rightnote">A strange maner of women.</span> +a number of women were also running vp and downe as they had béene out of their wits, +in garments like to wild roges, with their haire hanging downe about their shoulders, and +bearing firebrands in their hands. There was also a companie of their priests or philosophers +<span class="leftnote">The Druids.</span> +called Druides, who with stretched forth hands towards heauen, thundered out curssings +against the Romans in most bitter wise.</p> +<p> +The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that (as men benummed +of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to be wounded and slaine like +senselesse creatures, till by the calling vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other +in no wise to feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder their ensignes, +bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with their owne fire smooldered and +burnt them to ashes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anglesey won by the Romans.</span> +To conclude, the Romane lieutenant got possession of the whole Ile, wherein he placed +garisons of men of warre to kéepe the people there in subiection. He also caused their +<span class="leftnote">Woods cut downe.</span> +woods to be cut downe, that were consecrated to their gods, within the which they were accustomed +to sacrifice sush as they tooke prisoners, and by the view of their intrailes, in dismembring +them, to learne of their gods some oracles and such other things as should come +to passe.</p> +<p> +But now in the meane time, whilest Paulinus was abroad about this enterprise, the Britains +began to conferre togither of they great and importable miseries, of their grieuous state of +seruitude, of their iniuries and wrongs, which they dailie susteined: how that by sufferance +they profited nothing, but still were oppressed with more heauie burthens. Ech countrie +<span class="rightnote">Lieutenant & procurator.</span> +in times past had onelie one king to rule them: now had they two, the lieutenant by his +capteins and souldiers spilling their bloud, and the procurator or receiuer (as we may call +him) bereauing them of their goods and substance. The concord or discord betwixt those +that were appointed to rule ouer them, was all alike hurtfull vnto the subiects, the lieutenant +oppressing them by his capteins and men of warre, and the procurator or receiuer by force +and reprochfull demeanours, polling them by insufferable exactions.</p> +<p> +There was nothing frée from the couetous extortion and filthie concupiscence of these +vnsatiable persons, for in these daies (say they) the greatest spoiler is the valiantest man, +and most commonlie our houses are robbed and ransacked by a sort of cowardlie raskals +that haue no knowledge of anie warlike feats at all. Our children are taken from us, we +are forced to go to the musters, and are set foorth to serue in forren parties, as those that +are ignorant which way to spend our liues in the quarell of our owne countrie. What a +number of souldiers haue beene transported ouer from hence to serue in other lands, if a +iust account were taken thereof: The Germans by manhood haue cast (said they) from<span class="page"><a name="page495" id="page495"></a>[Page 495]</span> +their shoulders the heauie yoke of bondage, and are not defended as we are with the +maine Ocean sea, but onelie with a riuer. Where the Britains haue their countrie, their +wiues and parents, as iust causes of war to fight for: the Romans haue none at all, but a +couetous desire to gaine by rapine, and to satisfie their excessiue lusts.</p> +<p> +They might easilie be compelled to depart the countrie, as Iulius Cesar was, if the Britains +would shew some proofe of the noble prowesse that was euidentlie found in their woorthie +ancestors, and not shrinke or quaile in courage for the misaduenture that should happilie +chance by fighting one battell or two. Greatest force and constancie alwaies remaineth +with those that séek to deliuer themselues from miserie. Now appeared it that the gods +had taken some pitie of the poore Britains, who by their diuine power did withhold the +chiefe capteine of the Romans with his armie, as it were banished in an other Iland. Let +<span class="rightnote">Occasion not be neglected.</span> +vs then (said they) take the oportunitie of time and good occasion offered, and foorthwith +procéed in our businesse: for lesse danger it is manfullie to aduenture, and to go forward +with our purpose, than to be bewraied and taken in these our consultations. Thus hauing +taken aduise togither, and wholie misliking their present state, they determined to take +weapon in hand, and so by force to seeke for reformation.</p> + + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="tenth4" id="tenth4"></a> +<p> +<i>A catalog of causes or greeuances inciting the Britains to rebell against the Romans, +wherein is shewed what iniuries they susteined: of diuers strange wonders and apparitions; +the chiefe cause of the Britains insurging against the Romans, they admitted as well +women as men to publike gouernement. A description of queene Voadicia, hir personage +and maner of attire.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tac. lib. 14.</i></span> +The Britains indeed were occasioned to doo as they purposed, thorough manie euill +parts practised by the Romans greatlie to their griefs and displeasures. For whereas Prasutagus +<span class="leftnote">Prasutagus.</span> +(who is supposed by Hector Boetius to be Aruiragus, king of the people called +<span class="rightnote">The Oxfordshire and Glocestershire men.</span> +Iceni) had made the emperour and two of his owne daughters his heires, supposing by that +meane to haue his kingdome and familie preserued from all iniurie: it happened quite contrarie +to that his expectation. For his kingdome was spoiled by the Romane capteins, his +<span class="leftnote">Voadicia alias Bunduica.</span> +wife named Voadicia beaten by the souldiers, his daughters rauished, the péeres of the +realme bereft of their goods, and the kings friends made and reputed as bondslaues.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +There was also an other great cause that stirred the Britains to this rebellion, which was +the confiscating of their goods: for whereas Claudius himselfe had pardoned the chiefest +persons of the forfeitures, Decianus Catus the procurator of that Ile mainteined that the +<span class="leftnote">Vsurie.</span> +same ought to be renewed againe. To this an other griefe was added, that where Seneca +had lent to the nobilitie of the Ile, foure hundred sestercies, ech hundred being 500000 +pounds starling, or thereabout, vpon great interest, he required the whole summe togither by +great rigor and violence, although he forced them at the first to take this monie to vsurie.</p> +<p> +Also such old souldiers as were placed by waie of a colonie, to inhabit the towne of +Camelodunum, expelled manie of the Britains out of their houses, droue them out of their +possessions and lands, and accounted the Britains as slaues, and as though they had bene +captiue prisoners or bondmen. Besides this, the temple there that was built in honor of +Claudius, as an altar of eternall rule and gouernment, was serued with préests, the which +vnder colour of religion did spoile, consume and deuoure the goods of all men.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, such strange sights and woonders as chanced about the same time, pricked the +Britains the rather forward. For the image of the goddesse Victoria in the temple at +Camelodunum, slipping downe, turned hir backe (as who should saie she gaue place as<span class="page"><a name="page496" id="page496"></a>[Page 496]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +vanquished) to the enimies. Also in the hall where the courts of iustice were kept, there +was a maruellous great noise heard, with much laughing, and a sturre in the theatre, with +<span class="leftnote">Strange woonders.</span> +great wéeping and lamentable howling, at such time as it was certeinlie knowne that there +was no creature there to make anie noise. The sea at a spring tide appeared of a bloudie +colour, and when the tide was gone backe, there were séene on the sands the shapes & +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +figures of mens bodies. Women also as rauished of their wits, and being as it were in a +furie, prophesied that destruction was at hand, so that the Britains were put greatlie in hope, +and the Romans in feare.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +But those things, whether they chanced by the craft of man, or illusion of the diuell; +or whether they procéeded of some naturall cause, which the common people oftentimes +taketh superstitiouslie, in place of strange woonders signifieng things to follow, we would +let passe, least we might be thought to offend religion; the which teaching all things to be +doone by the prouidence of God, despiseth the vaine predictions of haps to come, if the +order of an historie (saith Polydor Virgil) would so permit, the which requireth all things +to be written in maner as they fall out and come to passe.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tac. li. 15.</i> +Voadicia by Dion Cassius is called Bunuica.</span> +But the Britains were chiefelie mooued to rebellion by the iust complaint of Voadicia, declaring +how vnséemelie she had beene vsed and intreated at the hands of the Romans: and +because she was most earnestlie bent to séeke reuenge of their iniuries, and hated the name +of the Romans most of all other, they chose hir to be capteine (for they in rule and gouvernment +<span class="leftnote">The ancient Britains admitted as well women as men to publike gouernment.</span> +made no difference then of sex, whether they committed the same to man or +woman) and so by a generall conspiracie, the more part of the people hauing also allured +the Essex men vnto rebellion, rose and assembled themselues togither to make warre +against the Romans. There were of them a hundred and twentie thousand got togither in +one armie vnder the leading of the said Voadicia, or Bunduica (as some name hir.)</p> +<p> +She therefore to encourage hir people against the enimies, mounted vp into an high place +raised vp of turfes & sods made for the nonce, out of the which she made a long & verie +pithie oration. Hir mightie tall personage, comelie shape, seuere countenance, and sharpe +voice, with hir long and yellow tresses of heare reaching downe to hir thighes, hir braue +and gorgeous apparell also caused the people to haue hir in great reuerence. She ware a +chaine of gold, great and verie massie, and was clad in a lose kirtle of sundrie colours, and +aloft therevpon she had a thicke Irish mantell: hereto in hir hand (as hir custome was) she +bare a speare, to shew hirselfe the more dreadfull.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="eleuenth4" id="eleuenth4"></a> +<p> +<i>The oration of quéene Voadicia full of prudence and spirit to the Britains, for their encouragement +against the Romans, wherein she rippeth vp the vile seruitude and shamefull +wrongs which their enimies inflicted vpon them, with other matters verie motiue, +both concerning themselues and their enimies, hir supplication and praier for victorie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now Voadicia being prepared (as you heare) set foorth with such maiestie, that she greatlie +incouraged the Britains; vnto whome for their better animating and emboldening, she +vttered this gallant oration in manner and forme following.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The oration of Voadicia.</span> +"I doo suppose (my louers and friends) that there is no man here but dooth well vnderstand +how much libertie and fréedome is to be preferred before thraldome and bondage. +But if there haue bene anie of you so deceiued with the Romane persuasions, that ye did +not for a time see a difference betwéene them, and iudged whether of both is most to be +desired: now I hope that hauing tried what it is to be vnder both, ye will with me reforme<span class="page"><a name="page497" id="page497"></a>[Page 497]</span> +your iudgement, and by the harmes alreadie taken, acknowledge your ouersight, and forsake +your former error. Againe, in that a number of you haue rashlie preferred an externall +souereigntie before the customes and lawes of your owne countrie, you doo at this time +(I doubt not) perfectlie vnderstand how much free pouertie is to be preferred before great +riches, wherevnto seruitude is annexed; and much wealth in respect of captiuitie vnder +forren magistrats, wherevpon slauerie attendeth. For what thing (I beséech you) can there +be so vile & grieuous vnto the nature of man, that hath not happened vnto vs, sithens the +time that the Romans haue bene acquainted with this Iland?</p> +<p> +"Are we not all in manner bereaued of our riches & possessions? Doo not we (beside +other things that we giue, and the land that we till for their onelie profit) paie them all +kinds of tributs, yea for our owne carcases? How much better is it to be once aloft and +fortunate in deed, than vnder the forged and false title of libertie, continuallie to paie for +our redemption a fréedome? How much is it more commendable to lose our liues in defense +of our countrie, than to carie about not so much as our heads toll frée, but dailie +oppressed & laden with innumerable exactions? But to what end doo I remember and +speake of these things, since they will not suffer by death to become frée? For what and +how much we paie for them that are dead, there is not one here but he dooth well vnderstand. +Among other nations such as are brought into seruitude, are alwaies by death discharged +of their bondage: onelie to the Romans the dead doo still liue, and all to increaes +their commoditie and gaine.</p> +<p> +"If anie of vs be without monie (as I know not well how and which way we should +come by anie) then are we left naked, & spoiled of that which remaineth in our houses, +& we our selues as men left desolate & dead. How shall we looke for better dealing at +their hands hereafter, that in the beginning deale so vncourteouslie with vs: since there is no +man that taketh so much as a wild beast, but at the first he will cherish it, and with some +gentlenesse win it to familiaritie? But we ourselues (to saie the trueth) are authors of +our owne mischiefe, which suffered them at the first to set foot within our Iland, and did +not by and by driue them backe as we did Cesar, or slue them with our swords when they +were yet farre off, and that the aduenturing hither was dangerous: as we did sometime to +Augustus and Caligula.</p> +<p> +"We therefore that inhabit this Iland, which for the quantitie thereof maie well be called +a maine, although it be inuironed about with the Ocean sea, diuiding vs from other nations, +so that we séeme to liue vpon an other earth, & vnder a seuerall heauen: we, euen we (I +saie) whose name hath béene long kept hid from the wisest of them all, are now contemned +and troden vnder foot, of them who studie nothings else but how to become lords & haue +rule of other men. Wherefore my welbeloued citizens, friendes, and kinsfolkes (for I +thinke we are all of kin, since we were borne and dwell in this Ile, and haue one name +common to vs all) let vs now, euen now (I saie, because we haue not doone it heretofore, +and whilest the remembrance of our ancient libertie remaineth) sticke togither, and performe +that thing which dooth perteine to valiant and hardie courages, to the end we maie +inioie, not onelie the name of libertie, but also freédome it selfe, and thereby leaue our +force and valiant acts for an example to our posteritie: for if we which haue béene liberallie +and in honest maner brought vp, should vtterlie forget our pristinate felicitie: what may +we hope for in those that shall sucéed vs, and are like to be brought vp in miserie and +thraldome?</p> +<p> +"I doo not make rehearsall of these things vnfo you, to the end I would prouoke you +to mislike of this present estate of things (for well I know you abhorre it sufficientlie +alreadie) neither to put you in feare of those things that are likelie to fall hereafter (because +you doo feare and sée them verie well before hand) but to the end I maie giue +you heartie thankes and woorthie commendations, for that of your owne accord and +meanes you determine so well to prouide for things necessarie (thereby to helpe both me +and your selues with willing minds) as men that are nothing in doubt of all the Romane<span class="page"><a name="page498" id="page498"></a>[Page 498]</span> +puissance.</p> +<p> +"If you consider the number of your enimies, it is not greater than yours: if you regard +their strength, they are no stronger than you: and all this dooth easilie appéere by +the bassinets, habergeons, & greiues wherewith you be armed; and also by the walls, +ditches and trenches that you haue made for your own defense, to kéepe off their excursions, +who had rather fight with vs a farre off, than cope & deale with vs at hand strokes, +as our custome of the warres and martiall discipline dooth require. Wherefore we doo so +farre exceed them in force, that in mine opinion, our armie is more strong than stone walls, +and one of our targets woorth all the armour that they doo beare vpon them: by meanes +whereof, if the victorie be ours, we shall soone make them captiues: or if we lose the +field, we shall easilie escape the danger.</p> +<p> +"Furthermore, if after the flight we shall indeuour to méet anie where, we haue the +marishes héere beneath to hide vs in, and the hils round about to kéepe them off, so that +by no meanes they shall haue their purpose of vs, whereas they being ouercharged with +heavie armour, shall neither be able to follow, if we flée; nor escape out of our danger, if +they be put to flight: if they happen to breake out at anie time as desirous to make a rode, +they returne by and by to their appointed places, where we maie take them as birds alreadie +in cage. In all which things, as they are farre inferior to vs, so most of all in this, that +they can not indure hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and sunneshine, as we can doo.</p> +<p> +"In their houses also and tents, they make much account of their baked meates, wine, +oile, and abroad of the shadow, that if anie of these doo faile them, they either die foorthwith, +or else in time they languish and consume: whereas to vs euerie hearbe and root +is meat, euerie iuice an oile, all water pleasant wine, and euerie trée an house. Beside this, +there is no place of the land vnknowne to vs, neither yet vnfriendlie to succour vs at néed; +whereas to the Romans they are for the most part vnknowne and altogither dangerous, if +they should stand in néed: we can with ease swim ouer euerie riuer both naked and clad, +which they with their great ships are scarse able to performe. Wherefore with hope and +good lucke let vs set vpon them couragiouslie, and teach them to vnderstand, that since they +are no better than hares and foxes, they attempt a wrong match, when they indeuour to +subdue the grehounds and the woolues." With which words the quéene let an hare go out +of hir lap, as it were thereby to giue prognostication of hir successe, which comming well +to passe, all the companie showted, and cried out vpon such as not long before had doone +such violence to so noble a personage. Presentlie vpon this action, Voadicia calling them +togither againe, procéeded forward with hir praier, which she made before them all, holding +vp hir hands after this manner:</p> +<p> +"I giue thée thanks O Adraste, and call vpon thee thou woman of women, which +reignest not ouer the burthen-bearing Aegyptians, as Nitocris; neither ouer their merchants, +as dooth Semiramis, for these trifles we haue learned latelie of the Romans: neither ouer +the people of Rome, as a little héeretofore Messalina, then Agrippina, and now Nero, who +is called by the name of a man, but is in déed a verie woman, as dooth appéere by his +voice, his harpe, and his womans attire: but I call vpon thee as a goddesse which gouernest +the Britains, that haue learned not to till the field, nor to be handicrafts men, but to lead +their liues in the warres after the best manner: who also as they haue all other things, so +haue they likewise their wiues and children common, whereby the women haue the like +audacitie with the men, and no lesse boldnesse in the warres than they.</p> +<p> +"Therefore sithens I haue obteined a kingdome among such a mightie people, I beséech +thée to grant them victorie, health, and libertie, against these contentious, wicked, and vnsatiable +men (if they maie be called men, which vse warme bathings, delicate fare, hot +wines, swéet oiles, soft beds, fine musicke, and so vnkindlie lusts) who are altogither +giuen to couetousnesse and crueltie, as their dooings doo declare. Let not I beséech thée, +the Neronian or Domitian tyrannie anie more preuaile vpon me, or (to saie truth) vpon +thée, but let them rather serue thée, whose heauie oppression thou hast borne withall a long<span class="page"><a name="page499" id="page499"></a>[Page 499]</span> +season, and that thou wilt still be our helper onlie, our defender, our fauourer, and our +furtherer, O noble ladie, I hartilie beséech thée."</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="twelfe4" id="twelfe4"></a> +<p> +<i>Queene Voadicia marcheth against the Romans, to whom she giueth a shamefull and +bloudie ouerthrow without anie motion of mercie, dredfull examples of the Britains +crueltie indifferentlie executed without exception of age or sex.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TWELFE CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +When Voadicia had made an end of hir praier, she set forward against hir enimies, who +at that time were destitute in déed of their lieutenant Paulinus Suetonius, being as then in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Corn. Tacit.</i> Catus Decianus procurator.</span> +Anglesey (as before ye haue heard.) Wherefore the Romans that were in Camelodunum +sent for aid vnto Catus Decianus the procurator, that is, the emperours agent, treasurer, +or receiuer, for in that citie (although it were inhabited by Romans) there was no great +garrison of able men. Wherevpon the procurator sent them such aid as he thought he +might well spare, which was not past two hundred men, and those not sufficientlie furnished +either with weapon or armour.</p> +<p> +The citie was not compassed with anie rampire or ditch for defense, such as happilie were +priuie to the conspiracie, hauing put into the heads of the Romans that no fortification +néeded: neither were the aged men nor women sent awaie, whereby the yoong able personages +might without trouble of them the better attend to the defense of the citie: but euen +as they had béene in all suertie of peace, and frée from suspicion of anie warre, they were +suddenlie beset with the huge armie of the Britains, and so all went to spoile and fire that +could be found without the inclosure of the temple, into the which the Romane souldiers +(striken with sudden feare by this sudden comming of the enimies) had thronged themselues. +Where being assieged by the Britains, within the space of two daies the place was woonne, +and they that were found within it, slaine euerie mothers sonne.</p> +<p> +After this, the Britains incouraged with this victorie, went to méet with Petus Cerealis +lieutenant of the legion, surnamed the ninth, and boldlie incountering with the same legion, +gaue the Romans the ouerthrow and slue all the footmen, so that Cerealis with much adoo +escaped with his horssemen, and got him backe to the campe, and saued himselfe within +the trenches. Catus the procurator being put in feare with this ouerthrow, and perceiuing +what hatred the Britains bare towards him, hauing with his couetousnesse thus brought the +warre vpon the head of the Romans, got him ouer into Gallia.</p> +<p> +But Suetonius aduertised of these dooings, came backe out of Anglesey, and with maruellous +constancie marched through the middest of his enimies to London, being as then not +greatlie peopled with Romans, though there was a colonie of them, but full of merchants, +and well prouided of vittels: he was in great doubt at his comming thither, whether he +might best staie there as in a place most conuenient, or rather séeke some other more easie +to be defended. At length considering the small number of his men of warre, and remembring +how Cerealis had sped by his too much rashnesse, he thought better with the losing of +one towne to saue the whole, than to put all in danger of irrecouerable losse. And therewith +nothing mooued at the praier & teares of them which besought him of aid and succour, +he departed, and those that would go with him he receiued into his armie, those that +taried behind were oppressed by the enimies: and the like destruction happened to them +of Verolanium, a towne in those daies of great fame, situat néere to the place where the +towne of Saint Albons now standeth.</p> +<p> +The Britains leauing the castels and fortresses vnassaulted, followed their game in spoiling<span class="page"><a name="page500" id="page500"></a>[Page 500]</span> +of those places which were easie to get, and where great plentie of riches was to be found, +vsing their victorie with such crueltie, that they slue (as the report went) to the number of +<span class="rightnote">80000, saith <i>Dion</i>.</span> +70 thousand Romans, and such as tooke their part in the said places by the Britains thus +woon and conquered. For there was nothing with the Britains but slaughter, fire, gallowes, +and such like, so earnestlie were they set on reuenge. They spared neither age nor sex: +women of great nobilitie and woorthie fame they tooke and hanged vp naked, and cutting +off their paps, sowed them to their mouthes, that they might séeme as if they sucked and +fed on them, and some of their bodies they stretched out in length, and thrust them on +sharpe stakes. All these things they did in great despite whilest they sacrificed in their +temples, and made feasts, namelie in the wood consecrated to the honour of Andates, for so +they called the goddesse of victorie whom they worshipped most reuerentlie.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p> +<i>P. Suetonius the Romane with a fresh power assalteth the Britains, whose armie consisted +as well of women as men: queene Voadicia incourageth hir souldiers, so dooth Suetonius +his warriors, both armies haue a sharpe conflict, the Britains are discomfited and miserablie +slaine, the queene dieth, Penius Posthumus killeth himselfe, the Britains are +persecuted with fire, swoord, and famine, the grudge betweene Cassicianus and Suetonius, +whome Polycletus is sent to reconcile, of his traine, and how the Britains repined at him.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE <a name="xiij4" id="xiij4"></a>XIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In this meane time there came ouer to the aid of Suetonius, the legion surnamed the 14, +and other bands of souldiers and men of warre, to the number of ten thousand in the whole, +wherevpon (chieflie bicause vittels began to faile him) he prepared to giue battell to his +enimies, and chose out a plot of ground verie strong within straits, and backed with a wood, +so that the enimies could not assault his campe but on the front: yet by reason of their great +<span class="rightnote">The Britains were at that time 230000 men, (as <i>Dion</i> writeth.)</span> +multitude and hope of victorie conceiued by their late prosperous successe, the Britains +vnder the conduct of quéene Voadicia aduentured to giue battell, hauing their women there +to be witnesses of the victorie, whome they placed in charrets at the vttermost side of their +field.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Corn. Tacit. li. 15 <br />Dion Cassius.</i></span> +Voadicia, or Boudicia (for so we find hir written by some copies, and Bonuica also by +Dion) hauing hir daughters afore hir, being mounted into a charret, as she passed by the +souldiers of ech sundrie countrie, told them "it was a thing accustomed among the Britains +to go to the warres vnder the leading of women; but she was not now come foorth as one +borne of such noble ancestors as she was descended from, to fight for hir kingdome and +riches; but as one of the meaner sort, rather to defend hir lost libertie, and to reuenge hir +selfe of the enimie, for their crueltie shewed in scourging hir like a vagabond, and shamefull +deflouring of hir daughters: for the licentious lust of the Romans was so farre spred and +increased, that they spared neither the bodies of old nor yoong, but were readie most shamefullie +to abuse them, hauing whipped hir naked being an aged woman, and forced hir +daughters to satisfie their filthie concupiscence: but (saith she) the gods are at hand readie to +take iust reuenge.</p> +<p> +"The legion that presumed to incounter with vs is slaine and beaten downe. The residue +kéepe them close within their holds, or else séeke waies how to flée out of the countrie: +they shall not be once able so much as to abide the noise and clamor of so manie thousands +as we are héere assembled, much lesse the force of our great puissance and dreadfull hands. +If ye therefore (said she) would wey and consider with your selues your huge numbers of +men of warre, and the causes why ye haue mooued this warre, ye would surelie determine +either in this battell to die with honour, or else to vanquish the enimie by plaine force, for so<span class="page"><a name="page501" id="page501"></a>[Page 501]</span> +(quoth she) I being a woman am fullie resolued, as for you men ye maie (if ye list) liue and +be brought into bondage."</p> +<p> +"Neither did Suetonius ceasse to exhort his people: for though he trusted in their manhood, +yet as he had diuided his armie into three battels, so did he make vnto ech of them a +seuerall oration, willing them not to feare the shrill and vaine menacing threats of the +Britains, sith there was among them more women than men, they hauing no skill in warrelike +discipline, and heereto being naked without furniture of armour, would foorthwith giue +place when they should féele the sharpe points of the Romans weapons, and the force of +them by whom they had so often béene put to flight. In manie legions (saith he) the +number is small of them that win the battell. Their glorie therefore should be the more, +for that they being a small number should win the fame due to the whole armie, if they +would (thronging togither) bestow their weapons fréelie, and with their swoords and +targets preasse forward vpon their enimies, continuing the slaughter without regard to the +spoile, they might assure themselues when the victorie was once atchiued to haue all at +their pleasures."</p> +<p> +Such forwardnesse in the souldiers followed vpon this exhortation of the couragious +generall, that euerie one prepared himselfe so readilie to doo his dutie, and that with such a +shew of skill and experience, that Suetonius hauing conceiued an assured hope of good lucke +to follow, caused the trumpets to sound to the battell. The onset was giuen in the straits, +greatlie to the aduantage of the Romans, being but a handfull in comparison to their enimies. +The fight in the beginning was verie sharpe and cruell, but in the end the Britains being a +let one to another (by reason of the narrownesse of the place) were not able to susteine the +violent force of the Romans their enimies, so that they were constreind to giue backe, and +so being disordered were put to flight, and vtterlie discomfited.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">80000 Britains slaine.</span> +There were slaine of the Britains that day few lesse than 80000 thousand*<span class="leftnote">[*<i>sic</i>]</span>, as Tacitus +writeth. For the straits being stopped with the charrets, staied the flight of the Britains, so +as they could not easilie escape: and the Romans were so set on reuenge, that they spared +neither man nor woman, so that manie were slaine in the battell, manie amongst the charrets, +and a great number at the woods side, which way they made their flight, and manie were +taken prisoners. Those that escaped, would haue fought a new battell, but in the meane +time Voadicia, or Bonuica deceassed of a naturall infirmitie, as Dion Cassius writeth, but +other say that she poisoned hir selfe, and so died, because she would not come into the +hands of hir bloodthirstie enimies. There died of the Romans part in this most notable +battell 400, and about the like number were grieuouslie hurt and most pitifullie wounded.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Penius Posthumous sleieth himselfe.</span> +Penius Posthumous maister of the campe of the second legion, vnderstanding the prosperous +successe of the other Romane capteins, because he had defrauded his legion of the like +glorie, and had refused to obeie the commandements of the generall, contrarie to the vse of +warre, slue himselfe.</p> +<p> +After this all the Romane armie was brought into the field to make an end of the residue +of the warre. And the emperour caused a supplie to be sent out of Germanie being 2000 +legionarie souldiers, and 8 bands of aids, with 1000 horssemen, by whose comming the +bands of the ninth legion were supplied with legionarie souldiers, and those bands and wings +of horssemen were appointed to places where they might winter, and such people of the +Britains as were either enimies, or else stood in doubt whether to be friends or enimies in +déed, were persecuted with fire and sword.</p> +<p> +But nothing more afflicted them than famine, for whilest euerie man gaue himselfe to the +warre, and purposed to haue liued vpon the prouision of the Romans and other their enimies, +they applied not themselues to tillage, nor to anie husbanding of the ground, and long it +<span class="rightnote">Julius Cassickinus procurator.</span> +was yer they (being a fierce kind of people) fell to embrace peace, by reason that Iulius +Cassicianus, who was sent into Britaine as successor to Catus, fell at square with Suetonius, +and by his priuat grudge hindered the prosperous successe of publike affaires. He sticked +not to write to Rome, that except an other were sent to succéed in the roome that Suetonius<span class="page"><a name="page502" id="page502"></a>[Page 502]</span> +did beare, there would be no end of the warres. Herevpon one Polycletus, which sometime +had béene a bondman, was sent into Britaine, as a commissioner to surueie the state +of the countrie, to reconcile the legat and procurator, & also to pacifie all troubles within +the Ile.</p> +<p> + +The port which Polycletus bare was great, for he was furnished with no small traine that +attended vpon him, so that his presence seemed verie dreadfull to the Romans. But the +Britains that were not yet pacified, thought great scorne to see such honorable capteins and +men of warre as the Romans were, to submit themselues to the order of such a one as had +béene a bondslaue.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xiiij4" id="xiiij4"></a> +<p> +<i>In what state the Iland stood whiles Aruiragus reigned; the dissolute and loose gouernement +of Petronius Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus, and Victius Volanus, thrée lieutenants +in Brltaine for the Romane emperours, of Iulius Frontinus who vanquished the +Silures.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">PETRONIUS TURPILIANUS LIEUTENANT.</span> +In place of Suetonius, was Petronius Turpilianus (who had latelie béene consull) appointed +to haue gouernance of the armie in Britaine, the which neither troubling the enimie, nor +being of the enimie in anie wise troubled or prouoked, did colour slouthfull rest with the +honest name of peace and quietnesse, and so sat still without exploiting anie notable enterprise.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS LIEUTENANT.</span> +After Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus was made lieutenant of Britaine, who likewise +with courteous demeanour sought to kéepe the Britains in rest rather than by force to compell +them. And now began the people of the Ile to beare with pleasant faults and flattering +vices, so that the ciuill warres that chanced in those daies after the death of the emperour +Nero at home, might easilie excuse the slouthfulnesse of the Romane lieutenants.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, there rose dissention amongest their men of warre, which being vsed to lie +abroad in the field, could not agrée with the idle life; so that Trebellius Maximus was glad +to hide himselfe from the sight of the souldiers being in an vprore against him, till at length +humbling himselfe vnto them further than became his estate, he gouerned by waie of intreatie, +or rather at their courtesie. And so was the commotion staied without bloudshed, the armie +as it were hauing by couenant obtained to liue licentiouslie, and the capteine suertie to liue +without danger to be murthered.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VICTIUS VOLANUS LIEUTENAT.</span> +Neither Victius Volanus that succéeded Maximus whilest the time of the ciuill warres as +yet endured, did trouble the Britains, vsing the same slacknesse and slouth that the other +lieutenants had vsed before him, and permitted the like licence to the presumptuous souldiers: +but yet was Volanus innocent as touching himselfe, and not hated for anie notable crime or +vice: so that he purchased fauour, although authoritie wanted.</p> +<p> +But after that the emperour Vsepasianus had subdued his aduersaries, and atteined the imperiall +gouernment, as well ouer Britaine as ouer other parts of the world, there were sent +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus.</i></span> +hither right noble capteins, with diuers notable bands of souldiers, and Petilius Cerialis being +appointed lieutenant, put the Britains in great feare, by inuading the Brigants the mightiest +nation of all the whole Iland: and fighting manie battels, and some right bloudie with those +people, he subdued a great part of the countrie at the last.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">IULIUS FRONTINUS LIEUTENAT.</span> +After him succéeded as lieutenant of Britaine, one Iulius Frontinus, who vanquished +and brought to the Romane subiection by force of armes the people called Silures, striuing +not onelie against the stout resistance of the men, but also with the hardnesse & combersome<span class="page"><a name="page503" id="page503"></a>[Page 503]</span> +troubles of the places.</p> +<p> +¶Thus may you perceiue in what state this Ile stood in the time that Aruiragus reigned in +the same, as is supposed by the best histories of the old Britains: so that it may be thought +that he gouerned rather a part of this land, than the whole, and bare the name of a king, +the Romans not hauing so reduced the countrie into the forme of a prouince, but that the +Britains bare rule in diuerse parts thereof, and that by the permission of the Romans, which +neuerthelesse had their lieutenants and procuratours here, that bare the greatest rule vnder +the aforesaid emperours.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xv4" id="xv4"></a> +<p> +<i>The state of this Iland under Marius the sonne of Aruiragus, the comming in of the Picts +with Roderike their king, his death in the field, the Picts and Scots enter into mutuall +aliance, the monument of Marius, his victorie ouer the Picts, his death and interrement.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">MARIUS. <i>Hector Boetius</i> saith that his Marius was a Romane. 73.</span> +After the decease of Aruiragus, his sonne Marius succeeded him in the estate, and +began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 73. In the old English chronicle he is fondlie +called Westmer, & was a verie wise man, gouerning the Britains in great prosperitie, honour +and wealth.</p> +<p> +In the time of this mans reigne, the people called Picts inuaded this land, who are iudged +<span class="leftnote">Of these you maie reade more in pag. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +to be descended of the nation of the Scithians, neare kinsmen to the Goths, both by countrie +and maners, a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres. This people with their ringleader +Roderike, or (as some name him) Londorike, entering the Ocean sea after the maner +of rouers, arriued on the coasts of Ireland, where they required of the Scots new seats to +inhabit in: for the Scots which (as some thinke) were also descended of the Scithians, did as +then inhabit in Ireland: but doubting that it should not be for their profit to receiue so warlike +a nation into that Ile, feining as it were a friendship, and excusing the matter by the narrownesse +of the countrie, declared to the Picts, that the Ile of Britaine was not farre from thence, +being a large countrie and a plentifull, and not greatly inhabited: wherefore they counselled +them to go thither, promising vnto them all the aid that might be.</p> +<p> +The Picts more desirous of spoile than of rule or gouernment without delaie returned to +the sea, and sailed towards Britaine, where being arriued, they first inuaded the north +parts thereof, and finding there but few inhabiters, they began to wast and forrey the countrie: +whereof when king Marius was aduertised, with all speed he assembled his people, and made +<span class="rightnote">Roderike king of Picts slaine.</span> +towards his enimies, and giuing them battell, obtained the victorie, so that Roderike was +there slaine in the field, and his people vanquished.</p> +<p> +Vnto those that escaped with life, Marius granted licence that they might inhabit in the +north part of Scotland called Catnesse, being as then a countrie in maner desolate without +habitation: wherevpon they withdrew thither, and setled themselues in those parties. And +bicause the Britains disdained to grant vnto them their daughters in mariage, they sent vnto +the Scots into Ireland, requiring to haue wiues of their nation. The Scots agréed to their +request, with this condition, that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings linage to +succéed in the kingdome of the Picts, then should they name one of the womans side to be +their king: which ordinance was receiued and obserued euer after amongst the Picts, so long +as their kingdome endured.</p> +<p> +Thus the Picts next after the Romans were the first of anie strangers that came into this +land to inhabit as most writers affirme, although the Scotish chronicles auouch the Picts to be +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor. Matth. West.</i></span> +inhabiters here before the incarnation of our sauiour. But the victorie which Marius obteined +against their king Roderike, chanced in the yéere after the incarnation 87. In remembrance<span class="page"><a name="page504" id="page504"></a>[Page 504]</span> +of which victorie, Marius caused a stone to be erected in the same place where +the battell was fought, in which stone was grauen these words, <i>Marij victoria</i>. The English +chronicle saith that this stone was set vp on Stanesmoore, and that the whole countrie +thereabout taking name of this Marius, was Westmaria, now called Westmerland.</p> +<p> +King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies, and escaped the danger of their dreadfull +inuasion, gaue his mind to the good gouernement of his people, and the aduancement of the +common wealth of the realme, continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie, and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> Thus find we in the British and English histories touching this Marius.</span> +finallie departed this life, after he had reigned (as most writers say) 52, or 53 yéeres. Howbeit +there be that write, that he died in the yéere of our Lord 78, and so reigned not past +fiue or six yéeres at the most. He was buried at Caerleill, leauing a sonne behind him +called Coill.</p> +<p> +Humfrey Lhoyd séemeth to take this man and his father Aruiragus to be all one person, +whether mooued thereto by some catalog of kings which he saw, or otherwise, I cannot +affirme: but speaking of the time when the Picts and Scots should first come to settle themselues +in this land, he hath these words; Neither was there anie writers of name, that made +mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time, about the yeere of the incarnation +72: at what time Meurig or Maw, or Aruiragus reigned in Britaine, in which time our +annales doo report, that a certeine kind of people liuing by pirasie and rouing on the sea, +came foorth of Sueden, or Norwaie, vnder the guiding of one Rhithercus, who landed in +Albania, wasting all the countrie with robbing and spoiling so farre as Caerleill, where he +was vanquished in battell, and slaine by Muragus, with a great part of his people; the residue +that escaped by flight, fled to their ships, and so conueied themselues into the Iles of +Orkney and Scotland, where they abode quietlie a great while after.</p> +<p> +Thus farre haue I thought good to shew of the foresaid Lhoyds booke, for that it seemeth +to carie a great likelihood of truth with it, for the historie of the Picts, which vndoubtedlie +I thinke were not as yet inhabiting in Britaine, but rather first placing themselues in the Iles +of Orkney, made inuasion into the maine Ile of Britaine afterwards, as occasion was offred. +In the British toong they are called Pightiaid, that is Pightians, and so likewise were they +called in the Scotish, and in their owne toong. Now will we shew what chanced in this +Ile, during the time of the foresaid Marius his supposed reigne, as is found in the Romane +histories.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xvj4" id="xvj4"></a> +<p> +<i>Iulius Agricola is deputed by Vespasian to gouerne Britaine, he inuadeth the Ile of +Anglesey, the inhabitants yeeld vp them selues, the commendable gouernement of Agricola, +his worthie practises to traine the Britains to ciuilitie, his exploits fortunatelie atchiued +against diuerse people, as the Irish, &c.</i></p> + +<h3>THE 16. CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +After Iulius Frontinus, the emperor Vespasian sent Iulius Agricola to succéed in the +<span class="rightnote">Iulius Agricola lieutenant.</span> +gouernement of Britaine, who comming ouer about the midst of summer, found the men +of warre thorough want of a lieutenant negligent inough, so those that looking for no trouble, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Cor. Tacit. in uit. Agr.</i></span> +thought themselues out of all danger, where the enimies neuerthelesse watched vpon the +<span class="rightnote">The first yéere of Agricola his gouernment.</span> +next occasion to worke some displeasure, and were readie on ech hand to mooue rebellion, +For the people called Ordouices, that inhabited in the countrie of Chesshire, Lancashire and +part of Shropshire, had latelie before ouerthrowne, and in maner vtterlie destroied a wing +of such horssemen as soiourned in their parties, by reason whereof all the prouince was +brought almost into an assured hope to recouer libertie.</p> +<p> +Agricola vpon his comming ouer, though summer was now halfe past, and that the souldiers +lodging here & there abroad in the countrie, were more disposed to take rest, than to set<span class="page"><a name="page505" id="page505"></a>[Page 505]</span> +forward into the field against the enimies, determined yet to resist the present danger: and +therewith assembling the men of warre of the Romans, and such other aids as he might +make, he inuaded their countrie that had done this foresaid displeasure, and slue the most +part of all the inhabitants thereof. Not thus contented (for that he thought good to follow the +steps of fauourable fortune, and knowing that as the begining proued, so would the whole +sequele of his affaires by likelihood come to passe) he purposed to make a full conquest of +<span class="rightnote">The Ile of Anglesey.</span> +the Ile of Anglesey, from the conquest wherof the Romane lieutenant Paulinus was called +backe by the rebellion of other of the Britains, as before ye haue heard.</p> +<p> +But whereas he wanted ships for the furnishing of his enterprise, his wit and policie found +a shift to supplie that defect: for choosing out a piked number of such Britains as he had +there with him in aid, which knew the foords and shallow places of the streames there, and +withall were verie skilfull in swimming (as the maner of the countrie then was) he appointed +them to passe ouer on the sudden into the Ile, onelie with their horsses, armor, and weapon: +which enterprise they so spéedilie, and with so good successe atchiued, that the inhabitants +much amazed with that dooing (which looked for a nauie of ships to haue transported ouer +their enimies by sea, and therefore watched on the coast) began to thinke that nothing was +able to be defended against such kind of warriors that got ouer into the Ile after such sort +and maner.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anglesey yéelded to Agricola.</span> +And therefore making sute for peace, they deliuered the Ile into the hands of Agricola, +whose fame by these victories dailie much increased, as of one that tooke pleasure in trauell, +and attempting to atchiue dangerous enterprises, in stead whereof his predecessors had delighted, +to shew the maiesties of their office by vaine brags, statelie ports, and ambitious +pomps. For Agricola turned not the prosperous successe of his procéedings into vanitie, but +rather with neglecting his fame, increased it to the vttermost, among them that iudged what +hope was to be looked for of things by him to be atchiued, which with silence kept secret +these his so woorthie dooings.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, perceiuing the nature of the people in this Ile of Britaine, and sufficientlie +taught by other mens example, that armor should little auaile where iniuries followed to the +<span class="rightnote">Agricola his good gouernment.</span> +disquieting of the people, he thought best to take away and remooue all occasions of warre. +And first beginning with himselfe and his souldiers, tooke order for a reformation to be had +in his owne houshold, yéelding nothing to fauor, but altogither in respect of vertue, accounting +them most faithfull which therein most excelled. He sought to know all things, but not to +doo otherwise than reason mooued, pardoning small faults, and sharpelie punishing great +and heinous offenses, neither yet deliting alwaies in punishment, but oftentimes in repentance +of the offendor. Exactions and tributes he lessened, qualifieng the same by reasonable +equitie. And thus in reforming the state of things, he wan him great praise in time of +peace, the which either by negligence or sufferance of the former lieutenants, was euer +feared, and accounted woorse than open warre. This was his practise in the winter time of +his first yéere.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">His diligence.</span> +But when summer was come, he assembled his armie, and leading foorth the same, trained +his souldiers in all honest warlike discipline, commending the good, and reforming the bad +and vnrulie. He himselfe to giue example, tooke vpon him all dangers that came to hand, +and suffered not the enimies to liue in rest, but wasted their countries with sudden inuasions. +And when he had sufficientlie chastised them, and put them in feare by such manner of dealing, +he spared them, that they might againe conceiue some hope of peace. By which meanes +manie countries which vnto those daies had kept themselues out of bondage, laid rancor +aside, and deliuered pledges, and further were contented to suffer castels to be builded within +them, and to be kept with garrisons, so that no part of Britaine was frée from the Romane +power, but stood still in danger to be brought vnder more and more.</p> +<p><span class="rightnote">The woorthie practises of Agricola to traine the Britains to ciuilitie.</span> +<span class="leftnote">The second yéere of Agricola his gouernment.</span> +In the winter following, Agricola tooke paines to reduce the Britains from their rude +manners and customs, vnto a more ciuill sort and trade of liuing, that changing their naturall +fiercenesse and apt disposition to warre, they might through tasting pleasures be so inured<span class="page"><a name="page506" id="page506"></a>[Page 506]</span> +therewith, that they should desire to liue in rest and quietnesse: and therefore he exhorted +them priuilie, and holpe them publikelie to build temples, common halls where plées of +law might be kept, and other houses, commending them that were diligent in such dooings, +and blaming them that were negligent, so that of necessitie they were driuen to striue who +should preuent ech other in ciuilitie. He also procured that noble mens sonnes should learne +the liberall sciences, and praised the nature of the Britains more than the people of Gallia, +bicause they studied to atteine to the knowledge of the Romane eloquence. By which +meanes the Britains in short time were brought to the vse of good and commendable manners, +and sorted themselues to go in comelie apparell after the Romane fashion, and by little and +little fell to accustome themselues to fine fare and delicate pleasures, the readie prouokers of +vices, as to walke in galleries, to wash themselues in bathes, to vse banketting, and such +like, which amongst the vnskilfull was called humanitie or courtesie, but in verie deed it +might be accounted a part of thraldome and seruitude, namelie being too excessiuelie vsed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The third yéere.</span> +In the third yéere of Agricola his gouernment in Britaine, he inuaded the north parts +thereof (vnknowne till those daies of the Romans) being the same where the Scots now inhabit: +<span class="leftnote">The water of Tay.</span> +for he wasted the countrie vnto the water of Tay, in such wise putting the inhabitants +in feare, that they durst not once set vpon his armie, though it were so that the same was +verie sore disquieted and vexed by tempest and rage of weather. Wherevpon finding no +great let or hinderance by the enimies, he builded certeine castels and fortresses, which he +placed in such conuenient stéeds, that they greatlie annoied his aduersaries, and were so able +to be defended, that there was none of those castels which he builded, either woon by force +out of the Romans hands, or giuen ouer by composition, for feare to be taken: so that the +same beeing furnished with competent numbers of men of warre, were safelie kept from the +enimies, the which were dailie vexed by the often issues made foorth by the souldiers that laie +thus in garrison within them: so that where in times past the said enimies would recouer their +losses susteined in summer by the winters aduantage, now they were put to the woorse, and +kept backe as well in the winter as in the summer.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The fourth yéere of Agricola his gouernment. Clota Bodotria.</span> +In the fourth summer, after that Agricola was appointed vnto the rule of this land, he +went about to bring vnder subiection those people, the which before time he had by incursions +and forreies sore vexed and disquieted: and therevpon comming to the waters of Clide +and Loughleuen, he built certeine fortresses to defend the passages and entries there, driuing +the enimies beyond the same waters, as it had béene into a new Iland.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The fift yéere.</span> +In the fift summer, Agricola causing his ships to be brought about, and appointing them +to arriue on the north coasts of Scotland, he passed with his armie ouer the riuer of Clide; +and subdued such people as inhabited those further parts of Scotland, which till those daies +had not beene discouered by the Romans. And bicause he thought it should serue well to +purpose, for some conquest to be made of Ireland, if that part of Scotland which bordereth +on the Irish seas might be kept in due obedience, he placed garrisons of souldiers in those +parties, in hope verelie vpon occasion to passe ouer into Ireland, and for the more easie aduancement +of his purpose therein, he interteined with honourable prouision one of the kings +<span class="rightnote">An Irish king expelled out of his countrie.</span> +of Ireland, which by ciuill discord was expelled and driuen out of his countrie. In déed +Agricola perceiued, that with one legion of souldiers, and a small aid of other men of warre +it should be an easie matter to conquer Ireland, and to bring it vnder the dominion of the +Romans: which enterprise he iudged verie necessarie to be exploited, for better kéeping of +the Britains in obedience, if they should sée the iurisdiction of the Romans euerie where extended, +and the libertie of their neighbours suppressed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The sixt yéere of Agricola his government.</span> +In the sixt summer of Agricola his gouernment, he proceeded in subduing the furthermost +parts of Scotland northwards, causing his nauie to kéepe course against him by the coast as +he marched foorth by land, so that the Britains perceiuing how the secret hauens and créekes +of their countries were now discouered, and that all hope of refuge was in maner cut off +from them, were in maruellous feare. On the other part the Romans were sore troubled +with the rough mounteins and craggie rocks, by the which they were constreined to passe<span class="page"><a name="page507" id="page507"></a>[Page 507]</span> +beside the dangerous riuers, lakes, woods, streicts, and other combersome waies and passages.</p> +<p> +The danger also of them that were in the ships by sea was not small, by reason of winds +and tempests, and high spring tides, which tossed and turmoiled their vessels verie cruellie: +but by the painfull diligence of them that had béene brought vp and inured with continuall +trauell and hardnesse, all those discommodities were ouercome to their great reioising, when +they met and fell in talke of their passed perils. For oftentimes the armie by land incamped +so by the shore, that those which kept the sea came on land to make merrie in the campe, +and then ech one would recount to others the aduentures that had happened, as the manner +is in semblable cases.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xvij4" id="xvij4"></a> +<p> +<i>The Britains of Calenderwood assalt the Romans upon aduantage, bloudie battels fought +betwixt them, great numbers slaine on both sides, the villanous dealing of certeine Dutch +souldiers against their capteins and fellowes in armes, the miserie that they were driven +vnto by famine to eate one another, a sharpe conflict betweene the Romans and Britains, +with the losse of manie a mans life, and effusion of much bloud.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Calenderwood.</span> +The Britains that inhabited in those daies about the parts of Calenderwood, perceiuing +in what danger they were to be vtterlie subdued, assembled themselues togither, in purpose +to trie the fortune of battell: whereof Agricola being aduertised, marched foorth with his +armie diuided in three battels, so that the enimies doubting to trie the matter in open field, +espied their time in the night, and with all their whole puissance set vpon one of the Romane +legions, which they knew to be most féeble and weake, trusting by a camisado to distresse +the same: and first sleaing the watch, they entred the campe, where the said legion laie, +and finding the souldiers in great disorder, betwixt sléepe and feare, began the fight euen +within the campe.</p> +<p> +Agricola had knowledge of their purposed intent, and therefore with all speed hasted +foorth to come to the succours of his people, sending first his light horssemen, and certeine +light armed footmen to assaile the enimies on their backs, and shortlie after approched with +his whole puissance, so that the Romane standards beginning to appéere in sight by the +light of the daie that then began to spring, the Britains were sore discouraged, and the +Romans renewing their force, fiercelie preassed vpon them, so that euen in the entrie of the +campe, there was a sore conflict, till at length the Britains were put to flight and chased, so +that if the mareshes and woods had not saued them from the pursute of the Romans, there +had beene an end made of the whole warre euen by that one daies worke. But the Britains +escaping as well as they might, and reputing the victorie to haue chanced not by the +valiancie of the Romane soldiers, but by occasion, and the prudent policie of their capteine, +were nothing abashed with that their present losse, but prepared to put their youth +againe into armour: and therevpon they remooued their wiues and children into safe places, +and then assembling the chiefest gouernours togither, concluded a league amongst themselues, +ech to aid other, confirming their articles with dooing of sacrifice (as the manner +in those daies was.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The seuenth yéere.</span> +The same summer, a band of such Dutch or Germaine souldiers as had béene leuied in +Germanie & sent ouer into Britaine to the aid of the Romans, attempted a great and woonderfull +act, in sleaing their capteine, and such other of the Romane souldiers which were +appointed to haue the training and leading of them, as officers and instructors to them in +the feats of warre: and when they had committed that murther, they got into thrée pinesses, +and became rouers on the coasts of Britaine, and incountring with diuerse of the Britains<span class="page"><a name="page508" id="page508"></a>[Page 508]</span> +that were readie to defend their countrie from spoile, oftentimes they got the vpper hand of +them, and now and then they were chased awaie, insomuch that in the end they were brought +to such extremitie for want of vittels, that they did eate such amongst them as were the +weakest, and after, such as the lot touched, being indifferentlie cast amongst them: and +so being caried about the coasts of Britaine, & losing their vessels through want of skill to +gouerne them, they were reputed for robbers, and therevpon were apprehended, first by +the Suabeners, and shortlie after by the Frizers, the which sold diuerse of them to the +Romans and other, whereby the true vnderstanding of their aduentures came certeinlie to +light.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The eight yéere of Agricola his gouernment.</span> +In summer next following, Agricola with his armie came to the mounteine of Granziben, +where he vnderstood that his enimies were incamped, to the number of 30 thousand and +aboue, and dailie there came to them more companie of the British youth, and such aged +persons also as were lustie and in strength, able to weld weapon and beare armour. +<span class="leftnote">Galgagus whome the Scots name Gald and will néeds haue him a Scotish man.</span> +Amongst the capteins the chiefest was one Galgagus whom the Scotish chronicles name +Gald. This man as chiefteine and head capteine of all the Britains there assembled, made +to them a pithie oration, to incourage them to fight manfullie, and likewise did Agricola to +his people: which being ended, the armies on both sides were put in order of battell. +Agricola placed 8 thousand footmen of strangers which he had there in aid with him in +the midst, appointing thrée thousand horssemen to stand on the sides of them as wings. +The Romane legions stood at their backs in stéed of a bulworke. The Britains were imbattelled +in such order, that their fore ward stood in the plaine ground, and the other on +the side of an hill, as though they had risen on heigth one ranke aboue another. The +<span class="rightnote"><i>Corn. Tacit.</i></span> +midst of the field was couered with their charrets and horssemen. Agricola doubting by the +huge multitude of enimies, least his people should be assailed not onlie afront, but also +vpon euerie side the battels, he caused the ranks so to place themselues, as their battels +might stretch farre further in bredth than otherwise the order of warre required: but he +tooke this to be a good remedie against such inconuenience as might haue followed, if the +enimie by the narrownesse of the fronts of his battels should haue hemmed them in on ech +side.</p> +<p> +This done, and hauing conceiued good hope of victorie, he alighted on foot, and putting +his horsse from him, he stood before the standards as one not caring for anie danger that +might happen. At the first they bestowed their shot and darts fréelie on both sides. The +Britains aswell with constant manhood, as skilfull practise, with broad swords and little +round bucklers auoided and beat from them the arrowes and darts that came from their +enimies, and therewithall paid them home againe with their shot and darts, so that the +Romans were néere hand oppressed therewith, bicause they came so thicke in their faces, +<span class="rightnote">Betaui. Congri.</span> +till at length Agricola caused thrée cohorts of Hollanders, & two of Lukeners to presse +forward, & ioine with them at hand-strokes, so as the matter might come to be tried with +the edge of the swoord, which thing as to them (being inured with that kind of fight) it +stood greatlie with their aduantage, so to the Britains it was verie dangerous, that were to +defend themselues with their mightie huge swoords and small bucklers. Also by reason +their swoords were broad at the ends, and pointlesse, they auailed little to hurt the armed +enimie. Wherevpon when the Hollanders came to ioine with them, they made fowle worke +in sleaing and wounding them in most horrible wise.</p> +<p> +The horssemen also that made resistance they pulled from their horsses, and began to +clime the hill vpon the Britains. The other bands desirous to match their fellowes in helping +<span class="rightnote">Hollanders.</span> +to atchiue the victorie, followed the Hollanders, and beat downe the Britains where +they might approch to them: manie were ouerrun and left halfe dead, and some not once +touched with anie weapon, were likewise ouerpressed, such hast the Romans made to follow +vpon the Britains. Whilest the British horssemen fled, their charets ioined themselues +with their footmen, and restoring the battell, put the Romans in such feare, that they were +at a sudden stay: but the charets being troubled with prease of enimies, & vnéeuennesse of<span class="page"><a name="page509" id="page509"></a>[Page 509]</span> +the ground, they could not worke their feat to anie purpose, neither had that fight anie +resemblance of a battell of horssemen, when ech one so encumbred other, that they had no +roome to stirre themselues. The charets oftentimes wanting their guiders were caried +awaie with the horsses, that being put in feare with the noise and stur, ran hither and +thither, bearing downe one another, and whomsoeuer else they met withall.</p> +<p> +Now the Britains that kept the top of the hils, and had not yet fought at all, despising +the small number of the Romans, began to come downewards and to cast about, that they +might set vpon the backs of their enimies, in hope so to make an end of the battell, and to +win the victorie: but Agricola doubting no lesse, but that some such thing would come +to passe, had aforehand foreséene the danger, and hauing reserued foure wings of horssemen +for such sudden chances, sent them foorth against those Britains, the which horssemen +with full randon charging vpon them as they rashlie came forwards, quicklie disordered +them and put them all to flight, and so that purposed deuise and policie of the Britains +turned to their owne hinderance. For their horssemen by their capteins appointment trauersing +ouerthwart by the fronts of them that fought, set vpon that battell of the Britains which +they found before them. Then in those open and plaine places a greeuous & heauie sight +it was to behold, how they pursued, wounded, and tooke their enimies: and as they were +aduised of other to slea those that they had before taken, to the end they might ouertake +the other, there was nothing but fléeing, taking, and chasing, slaughter, spilling of bloud, +scattering of weapons, grunting and groning of men and horsses that lay on the ground, +gasping for breath, & readie to die.</p> +<p> +The Britains now and then as they saw their aduantage, namelie when they approched +néere to the woods, gathered themselues togither, and set vpon the Romans as they followed +vnaduisedlie, and further (through ignorance of the places) than stood with their +suertie, insomuch that if Agricola had not prouided remedie, and sent foorth mightie bands +of light armed men both on foot and horssebacke to close in the enimies, and also to beat +the wood, some greater losse would haue followed through too much boldnes of them that +too rashlie pursued vpon the Britains: who when they beheld the Romans thus to follow +them in whole troops and good order of battell, they slipt awaie and tooke them to flight, +ech one seeking to saue himselfe, and kept not togither in plumps as before they had doone. +The night made an end of the chase which the Romans had followed till they were +<span class="rightnote">Ten thousand Britains slaine. Aulus Atticus slaine.</span> +throughlie wearied. There were slaine of the Britains that day 10000, and of the Romans +340, among whom Aulus Atticus a capteine of one of the cohorts or bands of footmen +was one, who being mounted on horssebacke (through his owne too much youthfull courage, +and fierce vnrulines of his horsse) was caried into the middle throng of his enimies, and +there slaine.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xviij4" id="xviij4"></a> +<p> +<i>The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains after their ouerthrow, +Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, +and Cneus Trebellius surrogated in his roome.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +The night insuing the foresaid ouerthrow of the Britains was spent of the Romans in +<span class="rightnote">Britains, not Scots, neither yet Picts.</span> +great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But among the Britains there was nothing +else heard but mourning and lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togither, +some busie to beare away the wounded, to bind and dresse their hurts; other calling +for their sonnes, kinsfolkes and friends that were wanting. Manie of them forsooke their +houses, and in their desperate mood set them on fire, and choosing foorth places for their<span class="page"><a name="page510" id="page510"></a>[Page 510]</span> +better refuge and safegard, foorthwith misliking of the same, left them and sought others: +herewith diuerse of them tooke counsell togither what they were best to doo, one while +they were in hope, an other while they fainted, as people cast into vtter despaire: the beholding +of their wiues and children oftentimes mooued them to attempt some new enterprise +for the preseruation of their countrie and liberties. And certeine it is that some of +them slue their wiues and children, as mooued thereto with a certeine fond regard of pitie +to rid them out of further miserie and danger of thraldome.</p> +<p> +The next day the certeintie of the victorie more plainlie was disclosed, for all was quiet +about, and no noise heard anie where: the houses appeared burning on ech side, and such +as were sent foorth to discouer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature +stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off.</p> +<p> +When Agricola had thus ouerthrowne his enimies in a pitcht field at the mountaine of +Granziben, and that the countrie was quite rid of all appearance of enimies: bicause the +summer of this eight yéere of his gouernement was now almost spent, he brought his armie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +into the confines of the Horrestians, which inhabited the countries now called Angus & +<span class="leftnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus.</i></span> +Merne, and there intended to winter, and tooke hostages of the people for assurance of their +loialtie and subiection. This doone, he appointed the admirall of the nauie to saile about +<span class="rightnote">An hauen called Trutulensis, peraduenture Rutupensis.</span> +the Ile, which accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued, luckilie accomplished +his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into an hauen called Trutulensis.</p> +<p> +In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in Britaine, both the emperour +Vespasianus, and also his brother Titus that succéeded him, departed this life, and +Domitianus was elected emperor, who hearing of such prosperous successe as Agricola had +against the Britains, did not so much reioise for the thing well doone, as he enuied to consider +what glorie and renowme should redound to Agricola thereby, which he perceiued +should much darken the glasse of his fame, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in +woorthinesse of noble exploits atchiued, farre excelled his dooings.</p> +<p> +To find remedie therefore herein, he thought not good to vtter his malice as yet, whilest +Agricola remained in Britaine with an armie, which so much fauoured him, and that with +so good cause, sith by his policie and noble conduct the same had obteined so manie victories, +so much honor, and such plentie of spoiles and booties. Wherevpon to dissemble +his intent, he appointed to reuoke him foorth of Britaine, as it were to honor him, not +onelie with deserued triumphs, but also with the lieutenantship of Syria, which as then was +<span class="rightnote">Cneus Trebellius alias Salustius Lucullus as some thinke.</span> +void by the death of Aulius Rufus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome, +deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed thereto by the emperour +Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus may you sée in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king Marius, of whome +Tacitus maketh no mention at all. Some haue written, that the citie of Chester was builded +by this Marius, though other (as before I haue said) thinke rather that it was the worke of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i></span> +Ostorius Scapula their legat. Touching other the dooings of Agricola, in the Scotish +chronicle you maie find more at large set foorth: for that which I haue written héere, is +but to shew what in effect Cornelius Tacitus writeth of that which Agricola did here in +Britaine, without making mention either of Scots or Picts, onelie naming them Britains, +Horrestians, and Calidoneans, who inhabited in those daies a part of this Ile which now +we call Scotland, the originall of which countrie, and the inhabitants of the same, is greatlie +controuersed among writers; diuerse diuerslie descanting therevpon, some fetching their +reason from the etymon of the word which is Gréeke, some from the opening of their ancestors +as they find the same remaining in records; other some from comparing antiquities +togither, and aptlie collecting the truth as néere as they can. But to omit them, and returne +to the continuation of our owne historie.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xix4" id="xix4"></a> +<p><span class="page"><a name="page511" id="page511"></a>[Page 511]</span> +<i>Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his education in Rome, how long he reigned: of Lucius his</i> +<i>sonne and successor, what time he assumed the gouernment of this land, he was an +open professor of christian religion, he and his familie are baptised, Britaine receiueth +the faith, 3 archbishops and 28 bishops at that time in this Iland, Westminster church +and S. Peters in Cornehill builded, diuers opinions touching the time of Lucius his reigne, +of his death, and when the christian faith was receiued in this Iland.</i></p> + + + +<h3>THE 19. CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">COILLUS. 125.</span> +Coillus the sonne of Marius was after his fathers deceasse made king of Britaine, in +the yeare of our Lord 125. This Coillus or Coill was brought vp in his youth amongst the +Romans at Rome, where he spent his time not vnprofitablie, but applied himselfe to learning +& seruice in the warres, by reason whereof he was much honored of the Romans, and he +likewise honored and loued them, so that he paied his tribute truelie all the time of his +reigne, and therefore liued in peace and good quiet. He was also a prince of much bountie, +and verie liberall, whereby he obteined great loue both of his nobles and commons. Some +<span class="rightnote">Colchester built.</span> +saie, that he made the towne of Colchester in Essex, but others write, that Coill which +reigned next after Asclepiodotus was the first founder of that towne, but by other it should +séeme to be built long before, being called Camelodunum. Finallie when this Coill had +reigned the space of 54 yeares, he departed this life at Yorke, leauing after him a sonne +named Lucius, which succéeded in the kingdome.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">LUCIUS.</span> +Lucius the sonne of Coillus, whose surname (as saith William Harison) is not extant, +began his reigne ouer the Britains about the yeare of our Lord 180, as Fabian following +the authoritie of Peter Pictauiensis saith, although other writers seeme to disagrée in that +account, as by the same Fabian in the table before his booke partlie appeareth, wherevnto +Matthæus Westmonasteriensis affirmeth, that this Lucius was borne in the yeare of our Lord +115, and was crowned king in the yeare 124, as successor to his father Coillus, which died +the same yeare, being of great age yer the said Lucius was borne. It is noted by antiquaries, +<span class="rightnote">165.</span> +that his entrance was in the 4132 of the world, 916 after the building of Rome, +220 after the comming of Cesar into Britaine, and 165 after Christ, whose accounts I follow +in this treatise.</p> +<p> +This Lucius is highlie renowmed of the writers, for that he was the first king of the Britains +that receiued the faith of Iesus Christ: for being inspired by the spirit of grace and truth, +euen from the beginning of his reigne, he somewhat leaned to the fauoring of Christian +religion, being moued with the manifest miracles which the Christians dailie wrought in +witnesse and proofe of their sound and perfect doctrine. For euen from the daies of Ioseph +of Arimathia and his fellowes, or what other godlie men first taught the Britains the gospell +of our Sauiour there remained amongest the same Britains some christians which ceased +not to teach and preach the word of God most sincerelie vnto them: but yet no king +amongst them openlie professed that religion, till at length this Lucius perceiuing not onelie +some of the Romane lieutenants in Britaine as Trebellius and Pertinax, with others, to haue +submitted themselues to that profession, but also the emperour himselfe to begin to be +fauorable to them that professed it, he tooke occasion by their good example to giue eare +more attentiuelie vnto the gospell, and at length sent vnto Eleutherius bishop of Rome two +learned men of the British nation, Eluane and Meduine, requiring him to send some such +ministers as might instruct him and his people in the true faith more plentifullie, and to +baptise them according to the rules of christian religion.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Fol. 119.</span> +¶ The reuerend father Iohn Iewell, sometime bishop of Salisburie, writeth in his * replie +vnto Hardings answer, that the said Eleutherius, for generall order to be taken in the realme +and churches héere, wrote his aduice to Lucius in maner and forme following. "You<span class="page"><a name="page512" id="page512"></a>[Page 512]</span> +haue receiued in the kingdome of Britaine, by Gods mercie, both the law and faith of +Christ; ye haue both the new and the old testament, out of the same through Gods grace, +by the aduise of your realme make a law, and by the same through Gods sufferance rule +you your kingdome of Britaine, for in that kingdome you are Gods vicar."</p> +<p> +Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, the one named +Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the king with all his familie and people, +<span class="rightnote">Britaine receiueth the faith.</span> +and therewith remoued the worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right +meane and waie how to worship the true and immortall God. There were in those daies +within the bounds of Britaine 28 Flamines, & thrée Archflamines, which were as bishops +and archbishops, or superintendents of the pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they +being remoued) were instituted 28 bishops & thrée archbishops of the christian religion. +One of the which archbishops held his sée at London, another at Yorke, and the third at +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorganshire. Vnto the archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall, +and all the middle part of England, euen vnto Humber. To the archbishop of Yorke +all the north parts of Britaine from the riuer of Humber vnto the furthest partes of Scotland. +And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, within which countrie as +then were seuen bishops, where now there are but foure. The riuer of Seuern in those +daies diuided Wales (then called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine. Thus Britaine +<span class="rightnote">Iosephus of Arimathia.</span> +partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard before) & partlie +by the wholesome instructions & doctrines of Fugatius and Damianus, was the first of all +other regions that openlie receiued the gospell, and continued most stedfast in that profession, +till the cruell furie of Dioclesian persecuted the same, in such sort, that as well in Britaine +as in all other places of the world, the christian religion was in manner extinguished, and +vtterlie destroied.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> Westminster Church built.</span> +There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church of saint Peter at Westminster, +though manie attribute that act vnto Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write +how the place was then ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, +and was called Thorney. They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of London preached, +read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him. Howbeit by +the tables hanging in the reuestrie of saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime +hanging in saint Peters church in Cornehill, it should séeme that the said church of saint +Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded. But herein (saith Harison <i>anno mundi</i> +4174) dooth lie a scruple. Sure Cornell might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speciallie in +such old records, as time, age, & euill handling haue oftentimes defaced.</p> +<p> +But howsoeuer the case standeth, truth it is, that Lucius reioising much, in that he had +brought his people to the perfect light and vnderstanding of the true God, that they néeded +not to be deceiued anie longer with the craftie temptations and feigned miracles of wicked +spirits, he abolished all prophane worshippings of false gods, and conuerted all such temples +as had béene dedicated to their seruice, vnto the vse of christian religion: and thus +studieng onlie how to aduance the glorie of the immortall God, and the knowledge of his +word, without seeking the vaine glorie of worldlie triumph, which is got with slaughter and +bloudshed of manie a giltlesse person, he left his kingdome; though not inlarged with +broder dominion than he receiued it, yet greatlie augmented and inriched with quiet rest, +good ordinances, and (that which is more to be estéemed than all the rest) adorned with +Christes religion, and perfectlie instructed with his most holie word and doctrine. He +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor. Fabian. Iohn Hard.</i></span> +reigned (as some write) 21 yeares, though other affirme but twelue yeares. Againe, some +testifie that he reigned 77, others 54, and 43.</p> +<p> +Moreouer here is to be noted, that if he procured the faith of Christ to be planted within +this realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romane bishop, the same chanced in the daies of +the emperour Marcus Aurelius Antonius; and about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus +was ioined and made partaker of the empire with his father, which was seuen yéere +after the death of Lucius Aelius, Aurelius Verus, and in the 177 after the birth of our<span class="page"><a name="page513" id="page513"></a>[Page 513]</span> +Sauiour Iesus Christ, as by some chronologies is easie to be collected. For Eleutherius began +to gouerne the sée of Rome in the yéere 169, according to the opinion of the most diligent +chronographers of our time, and gouerned fiftéene yeeres and thirtéene daies. And yet there +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon. Matth. West.</i></span> +are that affirme, how Lucius died at Glocester in the yéere of our Lord 156. Other say that +he died in the yere 201, and other 208. So that the truth of this historie is brought into +doubt by the discord of writers, concerning the time and other circumstances, although they +all agrée that in this kings daies the christian faith was first by publike consent openlie receiued +and professed in this land, which as some affirme, should chance in the twelfe yéere +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor</i>.</span> +of his reigne, and in the yéere of our Lord 177. Other iudge that it came to passe in the +eight yeere of his regiment, and in the yéere of our Lord 188, where other (as before is +<span class="rightnote"><i>Nauclerus.</i></span> +said) alledge that it was in the yéere of the Lord 179. Nauclerus saith, that this happened +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Herf.</i></span> +about the yeare of our Lord 156. And Henricus de Herfordea supposeth, that it was in the +yéere of our Lord 169, and in the nintéenth yéere of the emperor Marcus Antonius Verus; +and after other, about the sixt yéere of the emperor Commodus.</p> +<p> +But to conclude, king Lucius died without issue, by reason whereof after his deceasse the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i></span> +Britains fell at variance, which continued about the space of fiftéene yéeres (as Fabian thinketh) +howbeit the old English chronicle affirmeth, that the contention betwixt them remained fiftie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Caxton. <br />Iohn Hard.</i></span> +yéeres, though Harding affirmeth but foure yéeres. And thus much of the Britains, and +their kings Coilus and Lucius. Now it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romans which +gouerned here in the meane while. After that Agricola was called backe to Rome, the +Britains (and namelie those that inhabited beyond Tweed) partlie being weakned of their +former strength, and partlie in consideration of their pledges, which they had deliuered to +the Romans, remained in peace certeine yéeres.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<p> +<i>The Britains after the deceasse of Lucius (who died without issue) rebell against the Romans, +the emperor Adrian comming in his owne person into Britaine appeaseth the +broile, they go about to recouer their libertie against the Romans, but are suppressed by +Lollius the Romane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and his +policie to keepe the souldiers waking, the Britains being ruled by certeine meane gentlemen +of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse him to the emperor Commodus, he is +mangled and murthered of his souldiers.</i></p> + +<h3>THE <a name="xx4" id="xx4"></a>XX. CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CNEUS TREBELLIUS LIEUTENANT.</span> +In the meane time the Romane lieutenant Cneus Trebellius that succéeded Iulius Agricola, +could not foresee all things so preciselie but that the souldiers waxing vnrulie by reason +of long rest, fell at variance among themselues, and would not in the end obey the lieutenant, +but disquieted the Britains beyond measure. Wherefore the Britains perceiuing themselues +sore oppressed with intollerable bondage, and that dailie the same incresed, they conspired +togither, vpon hope to recouer libertie, and to defend their countrie by all meanes +possible, and herewith they tooke weapon in hand against the Romans, and boldlie assailed +them: but this they did yet warilie, and so, that they might flie vnto the woods and bogs +for refuge vpon necessitie, according to the maner of their countrie. Herevpon diuers +slaughters were committed on both parties, and all the countrie was now readie to rebell: +whereof when the emperour Adrian was aduertised from Trebellius the lieutenant, with all +conuenient speed he passed ouer into Britaine, and quieted all the Ile, vsing great humanitie +towards the inhabitants; and making small account of that part where the Scots now inhabit, +either bicause of the barrennesse thereof, or for that by reason of the nature of the countrie +he thought it would be hard to be kept vnder subiection, he deuised to diuide it from the <span class="page"><a name="page514" id="page514"></a>[Page 514]</span> +<span class="rightnote">The wall of Adrian built. <i>Spartianus</i>.</span> +residue of Britaine, and so caused a wall to be made from the mouth of Tine vnto the water +of Eske, which wall contained in length 30 miles.</p> +<p> +After this, the Britains bearing a malicious hatred towards the Romane souldiers, and repining +to be kept vnder the bond of seruitude, eftsoones went about to recouer libertie againe. +<span class="rightnote">Lollius Vrbicus lieutenant.</span> +Whereof aduertisement being giuen, the emperour Pius Antoninus sent ouer Lollius Vrbicus +as lieutenant into Britaine, who by sundrie battels striken, constreined the Britains to remaine +<span class="leftnote"><i>Julius Capitol.</i> An other wall built.</span> +in quiet, and causing those that inhabited in the north parts to remooue further off from the +confines of the Romane prouince, raised another wall beyond that which the emperor Adrian +had made, as is to be supposed, for the more suertie of the Romane subiects against the inuasion +of the enimies. But yet Lollius did not so make an end of the warrs, but that the +Britains shortlie after attempted afresh, either to reduce their state into libertie, or to bring +the same into further danger.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CALPHURNIUS AGRICOLA. Of the doings of this Calphurnius +in Britaine ye may read more in the Scotish chronicle. <i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +Wherevpon Marcus Antonius that succéeded Pius, sent Calphurnius Agricola to succéed +Lollius in the gouernement of Britaine, the which easilie ouercame and subdued all his +enimies. After this there chanced some trouble in the daies of the emperour Commodus +the son of Marcus Antonius and his successor in the empire: for the Britans that dwelled +northwards, beyond Adrians wall, brake through the same, and spoiled a great part of the +countrie, against whom the Romane lieutenant for that time being come foorth, gaue them +battell: but both he and the Romane souldiers that were with him, were beaten downe and slaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Vlpius Marcellus lieutenant.</span> +With which newes Commodus being sore amazed, sent against the Britains one Vlpius +Marcellus, a man of great diligence and temperance, but therewith rough and nothing gentle. +He vsed the same kind of diet that the common souldiers did vse. He was a capteine much +watchfull, as one contented with verie little sléepe, and desirous to haue his souldiers also +vigilant and carefull to kéepe sure watch in the night season. Euerie euening he would +write twelue tables, such as they vsed to make on the lind trée, and deliuering them to one +of his seruants, appointed him to beare them at seuerall houres of the night to sundrie +souldiers, whereby supposing that their generall was still watching and not gone to bed, they +might be in doubt to sléepe.</p> +<p> +And although of nature he could well absteine from sléepe, yet to be the better able to +forbeare it, he vsed a maruellous spare kind of diet: for to the end that he would not fill +himselfe too much with bread, he would eat none but such as was brought to him from +Rome, so that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eat, by reason that the +stalenesse tooke awaie the pleasant tast thereof, and lesse prouoked his appetite. He was a +maruellous contemner of monie, so that bribes might not mooue him to doo otherwise than +dutie required. This Marcellus being of such disposition, sore afflicted the Britains, and put +them oftentimes to great losses: through fame wherof, Cōmodus enuieng his renowme was +after in mind to make him away, but yet spared him for a further purpose, and suffered him +to depart.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Perhennis capteine of the emperours gard.</span> +After he was remooued from the gouernment of Britaine, one Perhennis capteine of the +emperors gard (or pretorian souldiers as they were then called) bearing all the rule vnder the +emperor Commodus, appointed certeine gentlemen of meane calling to gouerne the armie in +Britaine. Which fond substituting of such petie officers to ouersée and ouerrule the people, +was to them an occasion of hartgrudge, and to him a meanes of finall mischéefe: both which +it is likelie he might haue auoided, had he béene prouident in his deputation. For the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Aelius Lampridius.</i></span> +souldiers in the same armie grudging and repining to be gouerned by men of base degree, in +respect of those that had borne rule ouer them before, being honorable personages, as senators, +and of the consular dignitie, they fell at square among themselues, and about fiftéene +hundred of them departed towards Rome to exhibit their complaint against Perhennis: for +whatsoeuer was amisse, the blame was still laid to him. They passed foorth without impeachment +at all, and comming to Rome, the emperour himselfe came foorth to vnderstand<span class="page"><a name="page515" id="page515"></a>[Page 515]</span> +what they meant by this their comming in such sort from the place where they were appointed +to serue. Their answer was, that they were come to informe him of the treason which +Perhennis had deuised to his destruction, that he might make his son emperor. To the +which accusation when Commodus too lightlie gaue eare, & beléeued it to be true, namelie, +through the setting on of one Cleander, who hated Perhennis, for that he brideled him from +dooing diuerse vnlawfull acts, which he went about vpon a wilfull mind (without all reason +and modestie) to practise; the matter was so handled in the end, that Perhennis was deliuered +to the souldiers, who cruellie mangled him, and presentlie put him to a pitifull death.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="xxj4" id="xxj4"></a> +<p> +<i>Pertinax is sent as lieutenant into Britaine, he is in danger to be slaine of the souldiers, +he riddeth himselfe of that perilous office: Albinus with an armie of Britains fighteth +against Seuerus and his power neere to Lions, Seuerus is slaine in a conflict against the +Picts, Geta and Bassianus two brethren make mutuall warre for the regiment of the +land, the one is slaine, the other ruleth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Pertinax lieutenant of Britaine.</span> +Now will we saie somewhat of the tumults in Britaine. It was thought néedfull to send +some sufficient capteine of autoritie thither; and therefore was one Pertinax that had béene +consull and ruler ouer foure seuerall consular prouinces, appointed by Commodus to go as +lieutenant into that Ile, both for that he was thought a man most méet for such a charge, +and also to satisfie his credit, for that he had béene discharged by Perhennis of bearing anie +rule, and sent home into Liguria where he was borne, and there appointed to remaine. This +Pertinax comming into Britaine, pacified the armie, but not without danger to haue béene +<span class="rightnote">The lieutenant in danger.</span> +slaine by a mutinie raised by one of the legions: for he was stricken downe, and left for +dead among the slaine carcasses. But he woorthilie reuenged himselfe of this iniurie. At +length, hauing chastised the rebels, and brought the Ile into méetelie good quiet, he sued +and obteined to be discharged of that roome, because as he alledged, the souldiers could +not brooke him, for that he kept them in dutifull obedience, by correcting such as offended +the lawes of armes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CLODIUS ALBINUS LIEUTENAT.</span> +Then was Clodius Albinus appointed to haue the rule of the Romane armie in Britaine: +whose destruction when Seuerus the emperour sought, Albinus perceiued it quicklie: and +therefore choosing foorth a great power of Britains, passed with the same ouer into France +to encounter with Seuerus, who was come thither towards him, so that néere to the citie of +Lions they ioined in battell and fought right sore, in so much that Seuerus was at point to +haue receiued the ouerthrow by the high prowesse and manhood of the Britains: but yet in +the end Albinus lost the field, and was slaine. Then Heraclitus as lieutenant began to gouerne +Britaine (as writeth Spartianus) being sent thither by Seuerus for that purpose before. +And such was the state of this Ile about the yeare of our Lord 195. In which season, because +that king Lucius was dead, and had left no issue to succéed him, the Britains (as before +ye haue heard) were at variance amongst themselues, and so continued till the comming +of Seuerus, whome the British chronographers affirme to reigne as king in this Ile, & that +by right of succession in bloud, as descended of Androgeus the Britaine, which went to +Rome with Iulius Cesar, as before ye haue heard.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SEUERUS</span> +This Seuerus as then emperour of Rome, began to rule this Ile (as authors affirme) in the +yeare of our Lord 207, and gouerned the same 4 yeares and od moneths. At length hearing +that one Fulgentius as then a leader of the Picts was entred into the borders of his countrie<span class="page"><a name="page516" id="page516"></a>[Page 516]</span> +on this side Durham, he raised an host of Britains and Romans, with the which he marched +towards his enimies: and méeting with the said Fulgentius in a place néere vnto Yorke, in +the end after sore fight Seuerus was slaine, when he had ruled this land for the space almost +of fiue yeares, as before is said, and was after buried at Yorke, leauing behind him two sonnes, +the one named Geta, and the other Bassianus. This Bassianus being borne of a British +woman, succéeded his father in the gouernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the incarnation +of our Lord 211. The Romans would haue had Geta created king of Britaine, bearing +more fauour to him because he had a Romane ladie to his mother: but the Britains moued +with the like respect, held with Bassianus. And thervpon warre was raised betwixt the two +brethren, who comming to trie their quarrell by battell, Geta was slaine, and Bassianus with +aid of the Britains remained victor, and so continued king, till at length he was slaine by +one Carausius a Britaine, borne but of low birth, howbeit right valiant in armes, and therefore +well estéemed. In somuch that obteining of the senat of Rome the kéeping of the coasts +of Britaine, that he might defend the same from the malice of strangers, as Picts and others, +he drew to him a great number of souldiers and speciallie of Britains, to whome he promised +that if they would make him king, he would cléerelie deliuer them from the oppression of +the Roman seruitude. Wherevpon the Britains rebelling against Bassianus, ioined themselues +to Carausius, who by their support vanquished and slue the said Bassianus, after he +had reigned 6 or (as some affirme) 30 yeares.</p> + +<p>¶ Thus farre out of the English and British writers, the which how farre they varie from +likelihood of truth, you shall heare in the next chapter what the approued historiographers, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Herodianus</i>.</span> +Gréekes and Latines, writing of these matters, haue recorded.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxij4" id="xxij4"></a> +<p> +<i>The ambitious mind of the old emperour Seuerus, he arriueth in Britaine with a mightie +power to suppresse the rebellious Britains, the emperours politike prouision for his souldiers +in the fens and bogs: the agilitie of the Britains, their nimblenesse, the painting +of their bodies with diuerse colours, their furniture, their great sufferance of hunger, +cold, &c: diuerse conflicts betweene the Romans and the Britains, their subtile traines +to deceiue their enimies, the Romans pitifullie distressed, Seuerus constreineth the Caledonians +to conclude a league with him; he falleth sicke, his owne sonne practiseth to +make him away: the Britains begin a new rebellion, the cruell commandement of Seuerus +to kill and slea all that came to hand without exception, his age, his death, and sepulchre: +Bassianus ambitiouslie vsurpeth the whole regiment, he killeth his brother Geta, +and is slaine himselfe by one of his owne souldiers.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +The emperour Seuerus receiuing aduertisment from the lieutenant of Britaine, that the +people there mooued rebellion, & wasted the countrie with roads and forraies, so that it was +néedful to haue the prince himselfe to come thither with a great power to resist the enimies, +he of an ambitious mind reioised not a little for those newes, bicause he saw occasion offered +to aduance his renowne and fame with increase of new victories now in the west, after so +manie triumphs purchased and got by him in the east and north parts of the world. Héerevpon +though he was of great age, yet the desire that he had still to win honour, caused him +to take in hand to make a iournie into this land, and so being furnished of all things necessarie, +he set forwards, being carried for the more part in a litter for his more ease: for that +beside his féeblenesse of age, he was also troubled with the gout. He tooke with him his +<span class="rightnote">Antoninus and Geta.</span> +two sonnes, Antoninus Bassianus and Geta, vpon purpose as was thought, to auoid occasions<span class="page"><a name="page517" id="page517"></a>[Page 517]</span> +of such inconuenience as he perceiued might grow by discord mooued betwixt them +through flatterers and malicious sycophants, which sought to set them at variance: which +to bring to passe, he perceiued there should want no meane whilest they continued in +Rome, amidst such pleasures & idle pastimes as were dailie there frequented: and therefore +he caused them to attend him in this iournie into Britaine, that they might learne to +liue soberlie, and after the manner of men of warre.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The emperor Seuerus arriueth in Britaine.</span> +Seuerus being thus on his iournie towards Britaine, staied not by the waie, but with all +diligence sped him foorth, and passing the sea verie swiftlie, entred this Ile, and assembled +a mightie power togither, meaning to assaile his enimies, and to pursue the warre against +them to the vttermost. The Britains greatlie amazed with this sudden arriuall of the emperour, +and hearing that such preparation was made against them, sent ambassadours to him +to intreat of peace, and to excuse their rebellious dooings. But Seuerus delaieng time for +answere, as he that was desirous to atchiue some high enterprise against the Britains, for +the which he might deserue the surname of Britannicus, which he greatlie coueted, still was +busie to prepare all things necessarie for the warre; and namelie, caused a great number of +bridges to be made to lay ouer the bogs and mareshes, so that his souldiers might haue place +to stand vpon, and not to be incumbered for lacke of firme ground when they should cope with +their enimies: for the more part of Britaine in those daies (as Herodianus writeth) was full +<span class="leftnote"><i>Herodianus</i>.</span> +of fens & maresh ground, by reason of the often flowings and washings of the sea tides: +<span class="rightnote">He meaneth of the north Britains or sauage Britains as we may call them.</span> +by the which maresh grounds the enimies being thereto accustomed, would run and swim +in the waters, and wade vp to the middle at their pleasure, going for the more part naked, +so that they passed not on the mud and mires, for they knew not the vse or wearing cloths, +but ware hoopes of iron about their middles and necks, esteeming the same as an ornament +token of riches, as other barbarous people did gold.</p> +<p> +Moreouer they marked, or (as it were) painted their bodies in diuerse sorts and with +sundrie shapes and figures of beasts and fowles, and therefore they vsed not to weare anie +garments, that such painting of their bodies might the more apparantlie be séene, which they +estéemed a great brauerie.</p> +<p> +They were as the same Herodianus writeth, a people giuen much to war, and delighted in +<span class="rightnote">The furniture of the sauage Britains.</span> +slaughter and bloudshed, vsing none other weapons or armour but a slender buckler, a +iaueline, and a swoord tied to their naked bodies: as for headpéece or habergeon, they +estéemed not, bicause they thought the same should be an hinderance to them when they +should passe ouer anie maresh, or be driuen to swim anie waters, or flée to the bogs.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, to suffer hunger, cold, and trauell, they were so vsed and inured therewith, +that they would not passe to lie in the bogs and mires couered vp to the chin, without caring +for meate for the space of diuerse daies togither: and in the woods they would liue vpon +roots and barks of trées. Also they vsed to prepare for themselues a certeine kind of meate, +of the which if they receiued but so much as amounted to the quantitie of a beane, they would +thinke themselues satisfied, and féele neither hunger nor thirst. The one halfe of the Ile or +little lesse was subiect vnto the Romans, the other was gouerned of themselues, the people +for the most part hauing the rule in their hands.</p> +<p> +Seuerus therefore meaning to subdue the whole, and vnderstanding their nature, and the +manner of their making warre, prouided him selfe of all things expedient for the annoiance of +them and helpe of his owne souldiers, and appointing his sonne Geta to remaine in that part +of the Ile which was subiect to the Romans, he tooke with him his other sonne Antoninus, +and with his armie marched foorth, and entred into the confines of the enimies, and there +began to waste and forrey the countrie, whereby there insued diuerse conflicts and skirmishes +betwixt the Romans and the inhabitants, the victorie still remaining on the Romans side: +but the enimies easilie escaped without anie great losse vnto the woods, mountains, bogs, +and such other places of refuge as they knew to be at hand, whither the Romans durst not +follow, nor once approch, for feare to be intrapped and inclosed by the Britains that were +readie to returne and assaile their enimies vpon euerie occasion of aduantage that might be<span class="page"><a name="page518" id="page518"></a>[Page 518]</span> +offered.</p> +<p> +This maner of dealing sore troubled the Romans, and so hindered them in their procéedings, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +that no spéedie end could be made of that warre. The Britains would oftentimes of +purpose laie their cattell, as oxen, kine, shéepe, and such like, in places conuenient, to be +as a stale to the Romans; and when the Romans should make to them to fetch the same +awaie, being distant from the residue of the armie a good space, they would fall vpon them +and distresse them. Beside this, the Romans were much annoied with the vnwholesomnesse +of the waters which they were forced to drinke, and if they chanced to straie abroad, they +were snapped vp by ambushes which the Caledonians laid for them, and when they were so +féeble that they could not through want of strength kéepe pace with their fellowes as they +marched in order of battell, they were slaine by their owne fellowes, least they should be +left behind for a prey to the enimies. Héereby there died in this iournie of the Romane +armie, at the point of fiftie thousand men: but yet would not Seuerus returne, till he had +gone through the whole Ile, and so came to the vttermost parts of all the countrie now called +Scotland, and at last backe againe to the other part of the Ile subiect to the Romans, the inhabitants +whereof are named (by Dion Cassius) <i>Meatæ</i>. But first he forced the other, whom +the same Dion nameth Caledonij, to conclude a league with him, vpon such conditions, as +they were compelled to depart with no small portion of the countrie, and to deliuer vnto +him their armour and weapons.</p> +<p> +In the meane time, the emperour Seuerus being worne with age fell sicke, so that he was +constreined to abide at home within that part of the Ile which obeied the Romans, and to +appoint his sonne Antoninus to take charge of the armie abroad. But Antoninus not regarding +the enimies, attempted little or nothing against them, but sought waies how to win the +fauour of the souldiers and men of warre, that after his fathers death (for which he dailie +looked) he might haue their aid and assistance to be admitted emperour in his place. Now +when he saw that his father bare out his sicknesse longer time than he would haue wished, +he practised with physicians and other of his fathers seruants to dispatch him by one meane +or other.</p> +<p> +Whilest Antoninus thus negligentlie looked to his charge, the Britains began a new rebellion, +not onlie those that were latelie ioined in league with the emperour, but the other also +which were subjects to the Romane empire. Seuerus tooke such displeasure, that he called +togither the souldiers, and commanded them to inuade the countrie, and to kill all such as +they might méet within anie place without respect, and that his cruell commandement he +expressed in these verses taken out of Homer: +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iliados. 3.</i></span></p> + +<p class="indent"> +Nemo manus fugiat vestras, cædémque cruentam,<br /> +Non foetus grauida mater quern gessit in aluo<br /> +Horrendam effugiat cædem. +</p> +<p> +But while he was thus disquieted with the rebellion of the Britains, and the disloiall practises +of his sonne Antoninus, which to him were not vnknowne, (for the wicked sonne had +by diuers attempts discouered his traitorous and vnnaturall meanings) at length, rather +<span class="rightnote">Heriodianus. Dion Cassius. Eutropius. <br />Dion Cassius.</span> +through sorrow and griefe, than by force of sicknesse, he wasted awaie, and departed this +life at Yorke, the third daie before the nones of Februarie, after he had gouerned the empire +by the space of 17 yeares, 8 moneths, & 33 daies. He liued 65 yeres, 9 moneths, & 13 +daies: he was borne the third ides of April. By that which before is recited out of Herodian +and Dion Cassius, of the maners & vsages of those people, against whome Seuerus held +warre here in Britaine, it maie be coniectured, that they were the Picts, the which possessed +in those daies a great part of Scotland, and with continuall incursions and rodes wasted and +<span class="rightnote">Eutropius. Orosius.</span> +destroyed the borders of those countries which were subiect to the Romans. To kéepe them +backe therefore and to represse their inuasions, Seuerus (as some write) either restored the +<span class="leftnote"><i>Dion Cassius.</i></span> +former wall made by Adrian, or else newlie built an other ouerthwart the Ile, from the east +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +sea to the west, conteining in length 232 miles. This wall was not made of stone, but of<span class="page"><a name="page519" id="page519"></a>[Page 519]</span> +turfe and earth supported with stakes and piles of wood, and defended on the backe with a +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boetius</i></span> +déepe trench or ditch, and also fortified with diuerse towers and turrets built & erected vpon +the same wall or rampire so néere togither, that the sound of trumpets being placed in the +same, might be heard betwixt, and so warning giuen from one to another vpon the first descrieng +of the enimies.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydorus. Herodianus.</i> 211.</span> +Seuerus being departed out of this life in the yere of our Lord 211, his son Antoninus +otherwise called also Bassianus, would faine haue vsurped the whole gouernment into his +owne hands, attempting with bribes and large promises to corrupt the minds of the souldiers: +but when he perceiued that his purpose would not forward as he wished in that behalfe, he +concluded a league with the enimies, and making peace with them, returned backe towards +Yorke, and came to his mother and brother Geta, with whome he tooke order for the buriall +of his father. And first his bodie being burnt (as the maner was) the ashes were put into a +vessell of gold, and so conueied to Rome by the two brethren and the empresse Iulia, who +was mother to Geta the yonger brother, and mother in law to the elder, Antoninus Bassianus, +& by all meanes possible sought to maintaine loue and concord betwixt the brethren, which +now at the first tooke vpon them to rule the empire equallie togither. But the ambition of +Bassianus was such, that finallie vpon desire to haue the whole rule himselfe, he found meanes +to dispatch his brother Geta, breaking one daie into his chamber, and slaieng him euen in his +mothers lap, and so possessed the gouernment alone, till at length he was slaine at Edessa a +citie in Mesopotamia by one of his owne souldiers, as he was about to vntrusse his points to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sextus Aurelius.</i></span> +doo the office of nature, after he had reigned the space of 6 yeares, as is aforesaid. Where +we are to note Gods judgment, prouiding that he which had shed mans bloud, should also +die by the sword.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiij4" id="xxiij4"></a> +<p> +<i>Of Carausius an obscure Britaine, what countries he gaue the Picts, and wherevpon, his +death by Alectus his successor, the Romans foiled by Asclepiodotus duke of Cornewall, +whereof Walbrooke had the name, the couetous practise of Carausius the usurper.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CARAUSIUS. 218.</span> +Carausius a Britan of vnknowne birth, as witnesseth the British histories, after he +had vanquisht & slaine Bassianus (as the same histories make mention) was of the Britains +made king and ruler ouer them, in the yeare of our Lord 218, as Galfridus saith: but +<span class="leftnote"><i>Galfrid. Polychron. Fabian.</i></span> +W.H. noteth it to be in the yeare 286. This Carausius either to haue the aid & support of +the Picts, as in the British historic is conteined, either else to be at quietnesse with them, +being not otherwise able to resist them, gaue to them the countries in the south parts of Scotland, +which ioine to England on the east marshes, as Mers, Louthian, and others.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfridus.</i></span> +¶ But here is to be noted, that the British writers affirme, that these Picts which were +thus placed in the south parts of Scotland at this time, were brought ouer out of Scithia +by Fulgentius, to aid him against Seuerus, and that after the death of Seuerus, and Fulgentius, +which both died of hurts receiued in the batell fought betwixt them at Yorke: +the Picts tooke part with Bassianus, and at length betraied him in the battell which he +fought against Carausius: for he corrupting them by such subtile practises as he vsed, they +turned to his side, to the ouerthrow and vtter destruction of Bassianus: for the which traitorous +part they had those south countries of Scotland giuen vnto them for their habitation. +But by the Scotish writers it should appeare, that those Picts which aided Fulgentius +and also Carausius, were the same that long before had inhabited the north parts of +Britaine, now called Scotland. But whatsoeuer they were, truth it is (as the British +histories record) that at length one Alectus was sent from Rome by the senat with 3 legions<span class="page"><a name="page520" id="page520"></a>[Page 520]</span> +of souldiers to subdue Carausius, which he did, and slue him in the field, as the same histories +make mention, after he had reigned the space of 7, or 8, yeares: and in the yeare of our +saluation two hundred, ninetie, three.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ALECTUS. Of whom our British histories doo write after their maner. 293.</span> +Alectus in hauing vanquished and slaine Carausius tooke vpon him the rule and gouernment +of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 293. This Alectus, when he had restored +the land to the subiection of the Romans, did vse great crueltie against such Britains as had +maintained the part of Carausius, by reason whereof he purchased much euill will of the +Britains, the which at length conspired against him, and purposing to chase the Romans +altogither out of their countrie, they procured one Asclepiodotus (whome the British chronicles +name duke of Cornewall) to take vpon him as chiefe captaine that enterprise. Wherevpon +the same Asclepiodotus assembling a great armie, made such sharpe warres on the +Romans, that they being chased from place to place, at length withdrew to the citie of +London, and there held them till Asclepiodotus came thither, and prouoked Alectus and his +Romans so much, that in the end they issued foorth of the citie, and gaue battell to the +Britans, in the which much people on both parts were slaine, but the greatest number died +on the Romans side: and amongst others, Alectus himselfe was slaine, the residue of the +Romans that were left aliue, retired backe into the citie with a capteine of theirs named +Liuius Gallus, and defended themselues within the walles for a time right valiantlie. Thus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian. <br />Matth. West.</i></span> +was Alectus slaine of the Britains, after he had reigned (as some suppose) about the terme +of six yeares, or (as some other write) thrée yeares.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ASCLEPIODOTUS. <i>Gal. Mon. <br />Matt. West.</i></span> +Asclepiodotus, duke of Cornewall, began his reigne ouer the Britains in the yeare of +our Lord 232. After he had vanquished the Romans in battell, as before is recited, he +laid his siege about the citie of London, and finallie by knightlie force entred the same, and +slue the forenamed Liuius Gallus néere vnto a brooke, which in those daies ran through the +citie, & threw him into the same brooke: by reason whereof long after it was called Gallus +<span class="rightnote">Walbrooke.</span> +or Wallus brooke. And at this present the streete where the same brooke did run, is +called Walbrooke.</p> +<p> +Then after Asclepiodotus had ouercome all his enimies, he held this land a certeine space +in good rest and quiet, and ministred iustice vprightlie, in rewarding the good, and punishing +the euill. Till at length, through slanderous toongs of malicious persons, discord was +raised betwixt the king and one Coill or Coilus, that was gouernour of Colchester: the +occasion whereof appeareth not by writers. But whatsoeuer the matter was, there insued +such hatred betwixt them, that on both parts great armies were raised, and meeting in the +<span class="rightnote">Asclepiodotus slaine. <i>Matt. West.</i> hath x. years.</span> +field, they fought a sore and mightie battell, in the which Asclepiodotus was slaine, after he +had reigned 30 yeares. Thus haue Geffrey of Monmouth and our common chroniclers +written of Carausius, Alectus, and Asclepiodotus, which gouerned héere in Britaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Eutropius</i>.</span> +But Eutropius the famous writer of the Romane histories, in the acts of Dioclesian hath +in effect these woords. "About the same time Carausius, the which being borne of most +base ofspring, attained to high honour and dignitie by order of renowmed chiualrie & +seruice in the warres, receiued charge at Bolein, to kéepe the seas quiet alongst the coasts +of Britaine, France, and Flanders, and other countries thereabouts, bicause the Frenchmen, +which yet inhabited within the bounds of Germanie, and the Saxons sore troubled those +<span class="rightnote">The couetous practising of Carausius.</span> +seas. Carausius taking oftentimes manie of the enimies, neither restored the goods to them +of the countrie from whome the enimies had bereft the same, nor yet sent anie part therof +to the emperours, but kept the whole to his owne use. Whervpon when suspicion arose, +that he should of purpose suffer the enimies to passe by him, till they had taken some prises, +that in their returne with the same he might incounter with them, and take that from them +which they had gotten (by which subtile practise he was thought greatly to haue inriched +him selfe) Maximianus that was fellow in gouernment of the empire with Dioclesianus, remaining +<span class="rightnote">Maximianus purposeth to slea Carusius.</span> +then in Gallia, and aduertised of these dooings, commanded that Carausius should<span class="page"><a name="page521" id="page521"></a>[Page 521]</span> +be slaine, but he hauing warning thereof rebelled, and vsurping the imperiall ornaments and +title, got possession of Britaine, against whom (being a man of great experience in all warlike +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +knowledge) when warres had béene attempted and folowed in vaine, at length a peace +was concluded with him, and so he enioied the possession of Britaine by the space of seuen +<span class="rightnote"><i>Eutropius.</i></span> +yéeres, & then was slaine by his companion Alectus, the which after him ruled Britaine for +the space of thrée yéeres, and was in the end oppressed by the guile of Asclepiodotus gouernour +of the pretorie, or (as I maie call him) lord lieutenant of some precinct and iurisdiction +perteining to the Romane empire." And so was Britaine recouered by the foresaid +Asclepiodotus about ten yeeres after that Carausius had first vsurped the gouernment there, +<span class="rightnote">300.</span> +and about the yéere of our Lord 300, as Polydor iudgeth, wherein he varieth much from Fabian +and others.</p> +<p> +¶But to shew what we find further written of the subduing of Alectus, I thinke it not +<span class="rightnote"><i>Mamertinus.</i></span> +amisse to set downe what Mamertinus in his oration written in praise of Maximianus dooth +report of this matter, which shall be performed in the chapter following.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiiij4" id="xxiiij4"></a> +<p> +<i>The substance of that which is written touching Britaine in a panegyrike oration ascribed +to Mamertinus, which he set foorth in praise of the emperors Dioclesian and Maximian: +it is intituled onelie to Maximian, whereas neuerthelesse both the emperors are praised; +and likewise (as ye may perceiue) Constantius who was father to Constantine the +great is here spoken of, being chosen by the two foresaid emperors, to assist them by the +name of Cæsar in rule of the empire: of whom hereafter more shall be said.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +"All the compasse of the earth (most victorious emperor) being now recouered +through your noble prowesse, not onelie so farre as the limits of the Romane empire had +before extended, but also the enimies borders beeing subdued, when Almaine had beene so +often vanquished, and Sarmatia so often restrained & brought vnder, the people called +<span class="rightnote">Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi, and people of Germanie and Polonie.</span> +Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi so often put to flight, the Goth submitting himselfe, the king of +Persia by offering gifts suing for peace: one despitefull reproch of so mightie an empire +and gouernement ouer the whole greeued vs to the heart, as now at length we will not +sticke to confesse, and to vs it seemed the more intollerable, bicause it onlie remained to the +accomplishing of your perfect renowme and glorie. And verilie as there is but one name +of Britaine, so was the losse to be esteemed smal to the common wealth of a land so plentifull +of corne, so abundant with store of pastures, so flowing with veines of mettall, so gainfull +with reuenues rising of customs and tributes, so enuironed with hauens, so huge in circuit, +the which when Cesar, the founder of this your honourable title, being the first that entered +into it, writ that he had found an other world, supposing it to be so big, that it was +not compassed with the sea, but that rather by resemblance the great Ocean was compassed +with it. Now at that time Britaine was nothing furnished with ships of warre; so that the +Romans, soone after the warres of Carthage and Asia, had latelie beene exercised by sea +against pirats, and afterwards by reason of the warres against Mithridates, were practised as +well to fight by sea as land; besides this, the British nation then alone was accustomed +<span class="rightnote">Picts and Irishmen.</span> +but onelie to the Picts and Irishmen, enimies halfe naked as yet & not vsed to weare armor, +so that the Britains for lacke of skill, easilie gaue place to the Romane puissance, insomuch +that Cesar might by that voiage onelie glorie in this, that he had sailed and passed ouer the +Ocean sea.</p> +<p> +"But in this wicked rebellious robberie, first the nauie that in times past defended the<span class="page"><a name="page522" id="page522"></a>[Page 522]</span> +coasts of Gallia, was led away by the pirat when he fled his waies: and beside this, a great +number of other ships were built after the mould of ours, the legion of Romane souldiers +was woon, and brought to take part with the enimie, and diuers bands of strangers that +were also souldiers were shut vp in the ships to serue also against vs. The merchants of +the parties of Gallia were assembled and brought togither to the musters, and no small +numbers of barbarous nations procured to come in aid of the rebels, trusting to inrich +themselues by the spoile of the prouinces: and all these were trained in the wars by sea, +through the instruction of the first attemptors of this mischieuous practise.</p> +<p> +"And although our armies were inuincible in force and manhood, yet were they raw +and not accustomed to the seas, so that the fame of a greeuous and great trouble by warre +that was toward by this shamefull rebellious robberie was blowne and sounded in ech mans +<span class="rightnote">Long sufferance of euill increaseth boldnesse in the authors.</span> +eare, although we hoped well of the end. Vnto the enimies forces was added a long sufferance +of their wicked practises without punishment, which had puffed vp the presumptuous +boldnesse of desperate people, that they bragged of our stay, as it had bene for feare of +them, whereas the disaduantage which we had by sea, seemed as it were by a fatall necessitie +to deferre our victorie: neither did they beleeue that the warre was put off for a time +by aduise and counsell, but rather to be omitted through despaire of dooing anie good +against them, insomuch that now the feare of common punishment being laid aside, one of +<span class="rightnote">Carausius slaine.</span> +the mates slue the archpirat or capteine rouer as I may call him, hoping in reward of so great +an exploit, to obteine the whole gouernement into his hands.</p> +<p> +"This warre then being both so necessarie, so hard to enter vpon, so growne in time to a +stubborne stiffenesse, and so well prouided for of the enimies part, you noble emperour did +so take it in hand, that so soone as you bent the thundering force of your imperiall maiestie +against that enimie, ech man made account that the enterprise was alreadie atchiued. For +first of all, to the end that your diuine power being absent, the barbarous nations should +not attempt anie new trouble (a thing chieflie to be foreseene) it was prouided for aforehand +by intercession made vnto your maiestie: for you your selfe, you (I say) mightie lord +Maximian eternall emperour, vouchedsafe to aduance the comming of your diuine excellence +by the neerest way that might be, which to you was not vnknowne. You therefore suddenlie +came to the Rhine, and not with anie armie of horssemen or footmen, but with the +terrour of your presence did preserue and defend all that frontire: for Maximian once +being there vpon the riuage, counteruailed anie the greatest armies that were to be found. +For you (most inuincible emperour) furnishing and arming diuers nauies, made the enimie +so vncerteine of his owne dooing and void of counsell, that then at length he might perceiue +that he was not defended, but rather inclosed with the Ocean sea.</p> +<p> +"Here commeth to mind how pleasant and easefull the good lucke of those princes in +gouerning the common wealth with praise was, which sitting still in Rome had triumphs +<span class="rightnote">Fronto counted Ciceros match.</span> +and surnames appointed them of such nations as their capteins did vanquish. Fronto therefore, +not the second, but match with the first honor of the Romane eloquence, when he +yeelded vnto the emperor Antoninus the renowme of the warre brought to end in Britaine, +although he sitting at home in his palace within the citie, had committed the conduct and +successe of that warre ouer vnto the same Fronto, it was confessed by him, that the emperour +sitting as it were at the helme of the ship, deserued the praise, by giuing of perfect +order to the full accomplishing of the enterprise. But you (most inuincible emperour) +haue bene not onlie the appointer foorth how all this voiage by sea, and prosecuting the +warre by land should bee demeaned, as apperteined to you by vertue of your imperiall +rule and dignitie, but also you haue beene an exhorter and setter forward in the things themselues, +and through example of your assured constancie, the victorie was atchiued. For +you taking the sea at Sluice, did put an irreuocable desire into their hearts that were readie +to take ship at the same time in the mouth of the riuer of Saine, insomuch that when the +capteins of that armie did linger out the time, by reason the seas and aire was troubled, they +cried to haue the sailes hoised vp, and signe giuen to lanch foorth, that they might passe<span class="page"><a name="page523" id="page523"></a>[Page 523]</span> +forward on their iournie, despising certeine tokens which threatened their wrecke, and so +set forward on a rainie and tempestuous day, sailing with a crosse wind, for no forewind +might serue their turne.</p> +<p> +"But what was he that durst not commit himselfe vnto the sea, were the same neuer so +vnquiet, when you were once vnder saile, and set forward? One voice and exhortation +was among them all (as report hath gone thereof) when they heard that you were once +got forth vpon the water, What doo we dout? what mean we to staie? He is now loosed +from land, he is forward on his waie, and peraduenture is alreadie got ouer: Let vs put +all things in proofe, let vs venter through anie dangers of sea whatsoeuer. What is there +that we may stand in feare of? we follow the emperour. Neither did the opinion of your +good hap deceiue them: for as by report of them selues we doo vnderstand, at that selfe +time there fell such a mist and thicke fog vpon the seas, that the enimies nauie laid at the +Ile of wight watching for their aduersaries, and lurking as it were in await, these your ships +passed by, and were not once perceiued, neither did the enimie then staie although he could +not resist.</p> +<p> +"But now as concerning that the same vnuanquishable army fighting vnder your ensignes +and name, streightwaies after it came to land, set fire on their ships; what mooued them so +to doo, except the admonitions of your diuine motion? Or what other reason persuaded +them to reserue no furtherance for their flight, if need were, nor to feare the doubtfull +chances of war, nor (as the prouerbe saith) to thinke the hazard of martiall dealings to be +common, but that by contemplation of your prosperous hap, it was verie certeine that +there needed no doubt to be cast for victorie to be obteined? There were no sufficient +forces at that present among them, no mightie or puissant strength of the Romans, but +they had onelie consideration of your vnspeakable fortunate successe comming from the +heauens aboue. For whatsoeuer battell dooth chance to be offered, to make full account +<span class="rightnote">The good lucke in a capteine.</span> +of victorie, resteth not so much in the assurance of the souldiers, as in the good lucke +and felicitie of the capteine generall.</p> +<p> +"That same ringleader of the vngratious faction, what ment he to depart from that +shore which he possessed? Why did he forsake both his nauie and the hauen? But that +(most inuincible emperour) he stood in feare of your comming, whose sailes he beheld +readie to approch towards him, how soeuer the matter should fall out, he chose rather to +trie his fortune with your capteins, than to abide the present force of your highnes. Ah +mad man! that vnderstood not, that whither so euer he fled, the power of your diuine +maiestie to be present in all places where your countenance & banners are had in reuerence. +But he fleeing from your presence, fell into the hands of your people, of you was he ouercome, +of your armies was he oppressed.</p> +<p> +"To be short, he was brought into such feare, and as it were still looking behind him, +for doubt of your comming after him, that as one out of his wits and amazed, he wist not +what to doo, he hasted forward to his death, so that he neither set his men in order of +battell, nor marshalled such power as he had about him, but onlie with the old authors of +that conspiracie, and the hired bands of the barbarous nations, as one forgetfull of so great +preparation which he had made, ran headlong forwards to his destruction, insomuch (noble +emperour) your felicitie yeeldeth this good hap to the common wealth, that the victorie being +atchiued in the behalfe of the Romane empire, there almost died not one Romane: for +as I heare, all those fields and hills lay couered with none but onelie with the bodies of +most wicked enimies, the same being of the barbarous nations, or at the leastwise apparelled +in the counterfet shapes of barbarous garments, glistering with their long yellow haires, +but now with gashes of wounds and bloud all deformed, and lieng in sundrie manners, as +the pangs of death occasioned by their wounds had caused them to stretch foorth or draw +in their maimed lims and mangled parts of their dieng bodies. And among these, the +<span class="rightnote">Alectus found dead.</span> +chiefe ringleader of the theeues was found, who had put off those robes which in his life<span class="page"><a name="page524" id="page524"></a>[Page 524]</span> +time he had vsurped and dishonoured, so as scarse was he couered with one peece of apparell +<span class="rightnote">He had despoiled himselfe of the imperiall robes, bicause he would not be +knowne if he chanced to be slaine.</span> +whereby he might be knowne, so neere were his words true, vttered at the houre of +his death, which he saw at hand, that he would not haue it vnderstood how he was slaine.</p> +<p> +"Thus verelie (most inuincible emperour) so great a victorie was appointed to you by +consent of the immortall gods ouer all the enimies whome you assailed, but namelie the +slaughter of the Frankeners and those your souldiers also, which (as before I haue said) +<span class="leftnote">Francones slue Franci.</span> +through missing their course by reason of the mist that lay on the seas, were now come +to the citie of London, where they slue downe right in ech part of the same citie, what +multitude soeuer remained of those hired barbarous people, which escaping from the battell, +ment (after they had spoiled the citie) to haue got awaie by flight. But now being thus +slaine by your souldiers, the subiects of your prouince were both preserued from further +danger, and tooke pleasure to behold the slaughter of such cruell enimies. O what a manifold +victorie was this, worthie vndoubtedlie of innumerable triumphes! by which victorie +Britaine is restored to the empire, by which victorie the nation of the Frankeners is vtterlie +destroied, & by which manie other nations found accessaries in the conspiracie of that +wicked practise, are compelled to obedience. To conclude, the seas are purged and brought +to perpetuall quietnesse.</p> +<p> +"Glorie you therefore, inuincible emperour, for that you haue as it were got an other +world, & in restoring to the Romane puissance the glory of conquest by sea, haue added +to the Romane empire an element greater than all the compasse of the earth, that is, the +mightie maine ocean. You haue made an end of the warre (inuincible emperour) that +seemed as present to threaten all prouinces, and might haue spred abroad and burst out in +a flame, euen so largelie as the ocean seas stretch, and the mediterrane gulfs doo reach. +Neither are we ignorant, although through feare of you that infection did fester within the +bowels of Britaine onelie, and proceeded no further, with what furie it would haue aduanced +it selfe else where, if it might haue beene assured of means to haue ranged abroad +so far as it wished. For it was bounded in with no border of mounteine, nor riuer, which +garrisons appointed were garded and defended but euen so as the ships, although we had +your martiall prowes and prosperous fortune redie to releeue vs, & was still at our elbowes +to put vs in feare, so farre as either sea reacheth or wind bloweth.</p> +<p> +"For that incredible boldnesse and vnwoorthie good hap of a few sillie captiues of the +<span class="rightnote">The piracie of the Frankeners called <i>Franci</i> or <i>Francones</i>.</span> +Frankeners in time of the emperour Probus came to our remembrance, which Frankeners +in that season, conueieng awaie certeine vessels from the coasts of Pontus, wasted both +Grecia and Asia, and not without great hurt and damage, ariuing vpon diuers parts of the +shore of Libia, at length tooke the citie of Saragose in Sicile (an hauen towne in times +past highlie renowmed for victories gotten by sea:) & after this passing thorough the +streicts of Giberalterra, came into the Ocean, and so with the fortunate successe of their +rash presumptuous attempt, shewed how nothing is shut vp in safetie from the desperate +boldnesse of pirats, where ships maie come and haue accesse. And so therefore by this +your victorie, not Britaine alone is deliuered from bondage, but vnto all nations is safetie restored, +which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of warre, as to +gaine of commodities in time of peace.</p> +<p> +"Now Spaine (to let passe the coasts of Gallia) with hir shores almost in sight is in +suertie: now Italie, now Afrike, now all nations euen vnto the fens of Meotis are void of +perpetuall cares. Neither are they lesse ioifull, the feare of danger being taken awaie, which +to feele as yet the necessitie had not brought them: but they reioise so much the more for +this, that both in the guiding of your prouidence, and also furtherance of fortune, so great +a force of rebellion by seamen is calmed, vpon the entring into their borders, and Britaine +it selfe which had giuen harbour to so long a mischiefe, is euidentlie knowne to haue tasted +<span class="leftnote">Britains restored to quietnes.</span> +of your victorie, with hir onelie restitution to quietnesse. Not without good cause therfore +immediatlie, when you hir long wished reuenger and deliuerer were once arriued, your +maiestie was met with great triumph, & the Britains replenished with all inward gladnesse, +<span class="rightnote">The Britains receiue Maximian with great ioy and humblenesse.</span><span class="page"><a name="page525" id="page525"></a>[Page 525]</span> +came foorth and offered themselues to your presence, with their wiues and children, reuerencing +not onlie your selfe (on whom they set their eies, as on one descended downe to +them from heauen) but also euen the sailes and tackling of that ship which had brought +your diuine presence vnto their coasts: and when you should set foot on land, they were +readie to lie downe at your feet, that you might (as it were) march ouer them, so desirous +were they of you.</p> +<p> +"Neither was it anie maruell if they shewed them selues so ioifull, sith after their +miserable captiuitie so manie yeeres continued, after so long abusing of their wiues, and +filthie bondage of their children, at length yet were they now restored to libertie, at length +made Romans, at length refreshed with the true light of the imperiall rule and gouernement: +for beside the fame of your clemencie and pitie, which was set forth by the report +of all nations, in your countenance (Cesar) they perceiued the tokens of all vertues, in +your face grauitie, in your eies mildnesse, in your ruddie cheekes bashfulnesse, in your +words iustice: all which things as by regard they acknowledged, so with voices of gladnesse +they signified on high. To you they bound themselues by vow, to you they bound their +children: yea and to your children they vowed all the posteritie of their race and ofspring.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Dioclesian and Maximian.</span> +"We trulie (O perpetuall parents and lords of mankind) require this of the immortall +gods with most earnest supplication and heartie praier, that our children and their children, +and such other as shall come of them for euer hereafter, may be dedicated vnto you, and to +those whom you now bring vp, or shall bring vp hereafter. For what better hap can we +wish to them that shall succeed vs, than to be enioiers of that felicitie which now we our +selues enioy? The Romane common wealth dooth now comprehend in one coniunction of +peace, all whatsoeuer at sundrie times haue belonged to the Romans, and that huge power +which with too great a burden was shroonke downe, and riuen in sunder, is now brought +to ioine againe in the assured ioints of the imperiall gouernment. For there is no part of +the earth nor region vnder heauen, but that either it remaineth quiet through feare, or subdued +by force of armies, or at the lestwise bound by clemencie. And is there anie other +thing else in other parts, which if will and reason should mooue men thereto, that might +be obteined? Beyond the Ocean, what is there more than Britaine, which is so recouered +<span class="rightnote">Nations néere to Britaine obeie the emperours.</span> +by you, that those nations which are nere adioining to the bounds of that Ile, are obedient +to your commandements? There is no occasion that may mooue you to passe further, except +the ends of the Ocean sea, which nature forbiddeth should be sought for. All is yours +(most inuincible princes) which are accounted woorthie of you, and thereof commeth it, +that you may equallie prouide for euerie one, sith you haue the whole in your maiesties +hands. And therefore as heretofore (most excellent emperour Dioclesian) by your commandement +Asia did supplie the desert places of Thracia with inhabitants transported thither, +as afterward (most excellent emperour Maximian) by your appointment, the Frankeners at +length brought to a pleasant subiection, and admitted to liue vnder lawes, hath peopled and +<span class="rightnote">The printed booke hath Heruij, but I take the H, to be thrust in for N.</span> +manured the vacant fields of the Neruians, and those about the citie of Trier. And so now +by your victories (inuincible Constantius Cesar) whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens, +Beauois, Trois, and Langres, beginneth to florish with inhabitants of sundrie nations: yea +and moreouer that your most obedient citie of Autun, for whose sake I haue a peculiar +cause to reioise, by meanes of this triumphant victorie in Britaine, it hath receiued manie +<span class="leftnote">Artificers foorth of Britaine.</span> +& diuerse artificers, of whom those prouinces were ful, and now by their workemanship +the same citie riseth vp by repairing of ancient houses, and restoring of publike buildings +and temples, so that now it accounteth that the old name of brotherlie incorporation to +Rome, is againe to hir restored, when she hath you eftsoones for hir founder. I haue said +(inuincible emperour) almost more than I haue beene able, & not so much as I ought, that +I may haue most iust cause by your clemencies licence, both now to end, & often hereafter +to speake: and thus I ceasse."</p> +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxv4" id="xxv4"></a> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page526" id="page526"></a>[Page 526]</span> +<i>What is to be observed and noted out of the panegyrike oration of Mamertinus afore remembred, +with necessarie collections out of other Antiquaries.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now let vs consider what is to be noted out of this part of the foresaid oration. +It should seeme that when the emperour Maximian was sent into Gallia by appointment +taken betwixt him and Dioclesian, after he had quieted things there, he set his mind foorthwith +to reduce Britaine vnder the obedience of the empire, which was at that present kept +vnder subiection of such princes as mainteined their state, by the mightie forces of such +number of ships as they had got togither, furnished with all things necessarie, & namelie of +<span class="rightnote">Franci, or Frankeneres, people of Germanie.</span> +able seamen, as well Britains as strangers, among whome the Frankeners were chiefe, a nation +of Germanie, as then highly renowmed for their puissance by sea, néere to the which they +inhabited, so that there were no rouers comparable to them.</p> +<p> +But because none durst stirre on these our seas for feare of the British fléet that passed +to and fro at pleasure, to the great annoiance of the Romane subiects inhabiting alongst the +coasts of Gallia, Maximian both to recouer againe so wealthie and profitable a land vnto the +obeisance of the empire, as Britaine then was, and also to deliuer the people of Gallia +subiect to the Romans, from danger of being dailie spoiled by those rouers that were mainteined +here in Britaine, he prouided with all diligence such numbers of ships as were thought +requisite for so great an enterprise, and rigging them in sundrie places, tooke order for their +setting forward to his most aduantage for the easie atchiuing of his enterprise. He appointed +to passe himselfe from the coasts of Flanders, at what time other of capteines with +their fleets from other parts should likewise make saile towards Britaine. By this meanes +Alectus that had vsurped the title & dignitie of king or rather emperour ouer the Britains, +knew not where to take héed, but yet vnderstanding of the nauie that was made readie in +the mouth of Saine, he ment by that which maie be coniectured, to intercept that fléet, as +it should come foorth and make saile forwards: and so for that purpose he laie with a great +number of ships about the Ile of Wight.</p> +<p> +But whether Asclepiodotus came ouer with that nauie which was rigged on the coasts of +Flanders, or with some other, I will not presume to affirme either to or fro, because in déed +Mamertinus maketh no expresse mention either of Alectus or Asclepiodotus: but notwithstanding +it is euident by that which is conteined in his oration, that not Maximian, but some +other of his capteins gouerned the armie, which slue Alectus, so that we maie suppose that +Asclepiodotus was chiefteine ouer some number of ships directed by Maximians appointment +to passe ouer into this Ile against the same Alectus: and so maie this, which Mamertinus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Eutropius.</i></span> +writeth, agrée with the truth of that which we doo find in Eutropius.</p> +<p> +Héere is to be remembred, that after Maximians had thus recouered Britaine out of their +hands that vsurped the rule thereof from the Romans, it should séeme that not onelie great +numbers of artificers & other people were conueied ouer into Gallia, there to inhabit and +furnish such cities as were run into decaie, but also a power of warlike youths was transported +thither to defend the countrie from the inuasion of barbarous nations. For we find that in +the daies of this Maximian, the Britains expelling the Neruians out of the citie of Mons in +Henaud, held a castell there, which was called Bretaimons after them, wherevpon the citie +was afterward called Mons, retaining the last syllable onlie, as in such cases it hath often +happened.</p> +<p> +Moreouer this is not to be forgotten, that as Humfrey Lhoyd hath very well noted in his +booke intituled "Fragmenta historiæ Britannicæ," Mamertinus in this parcell of his panegyrike +oration dooth make first mention of the nation of Picts, of all other the ancient Romane +writers: so that not one before his time once nameth Picts or Scots. But now to returne +where we left.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> + +<a name="xxvj4" id="xxvj4"></a> + +<p><span class="page"><a name="page527" id="page527"></a>[Page 527]</span> +<i>The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting tyrant, of Alban the first +that suffered martyrdome in Britaine, what miracles were wrought at his death, whereof +Lichfield tooke the name; of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was +maried to Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +After that Britaine was thus recouered by the Romans, Dioclesian and Maximian +ruling the empire, the Iland tasted of the crueltie that Dioclesian exercised against the +christians, in persecuting them with all extremities, continuallie for the space of ten yéeres. +Amongst other, one Alban a citizen of Werlamchester, a towne now bearing his name, was +the first that suffered here in Britaine in this persecution, being conuerted to the faith by the +zealous christian Amphibalus, whom he receiued into his house: insomuch that when there +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda and Gyldas.</i></span> +came sergeants to séeke for the same Amphibalus, the foresaid Alban to preserue Amphibalus +out of danger, presented himselfe in the apparell of the said Amphibalus, & so being +apprehended in his stead, was brought before the iudge and examined: and for that he refused +to doo sacrifice to the false gods, he was beheaded on the top of an hill ouer against +the towne of Werlamchester aforesaid where afterwards was builded a church and monasterie +in remembrance of his martyrdome, insomuch that the towne there restored, after that Werlamchester +was destroied, tooke name of him, and so is vnto this day called saint Albons.</p> +<p> +It is reported by writers, that diuers miracles were wrought at the time of his death, insomuch +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda.</i> Sée the booke of acts and monuments set forth by master Fox.</span> +that one which was appointed to doo the execution, was conuerted, and refusing to +doo that office, suffered also with him: but he that tooke vpon him to doo it, reioised +nothing thereat, for his eies fell out of his head downe to the ground, togither with the head +of that holie man which he had then cut off. There were also martyred about the same +time two constant witnesses of Christ his religion, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerleon +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Rossus. Warwicens. in lib. de Wigorniens. epis.</i></span> +Arwiske. Moreouer, a great number of Christians which were assembled togither to heare +the word of life, preached by that vertuous man Amphibalus, were slaine by the wicked +<span class="leftnote">Lichfield whereof it tooke name.</span> +pagans at Lichfield, whereof that towne tooke name, as you would say, The field of dead +corpses.</p> +<p> +To be briefe, this persecution was so great and greeuous, and thereto so vniuersall, that +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas</i>.</span> +in maner the Christian religion was thereby destroied. The faithfull people were slaine, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ran. Cestren.</i></span> +their bookes burnt, and churches ouerthrowne. It is recorded that in one moneths space +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West. Constantius.</i></span> +in diuers places of the world there were 17000 godlie men and women put to death, for +professing the christian faith in the daies of that tyrant Dioclesian and his fellow Maximian.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">COELUS. 262.</span> +Coelus earle of Colchester began his dominion ouer the Britains in the yeere of our +Lord 262. This Coelus or Coell ruled the land for a certeine time, so as the Britains were +well content with his gouernement, and liued the longer in rest from inuasion of the Romans, +bicause they were occupied in other places: but finallie they finding time for their +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i></span> +purpose, appointed one Constantius to passe ouer into this Ile with an armie, the which Constantius +put Coelus in such dread, that immediatlie vpon his arriuall Coelus sent to him an +ambassage, and concluded a peace with him, couenanting to pay the accustomed tribute, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i> <i>Fabian.</i> <i>Caxton.</i></span> +& gaue to Constantius his daughter in mariage called Helen, a noble ladie and a learned. +Shortlie after king Coell died, when he had reigned (as some write) 27 yeeres or (as other +haue) but 13 yeeres.</p> +<p> +¶ But by the way touching this Coelus, I will not denie, but assuredly such a prince +there was: howbeit that he had a daughter named Helen, whom he maried vnto Constantius +the Romane lieutenant that was after emperor, I leaue that to be decided of the learned. +For if the whole course of the liues, as well of the father and the sonne Constantius and +Constantine, as likewise of the mother Helen, be consideratelie marked from time to time,<span class="page"><a name="page528" id="page528"></a>[Page 528]</span> +and yeere to yéere, as out of authors both Greeke and Latine the same may be gathered, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Lib. 7. cap. 18.</i></span> +I feare least such doubt maie rise in this matter, that it will be harder to prooue Helen a Britane, +than Constantine to be borne in Bithynia (as Nicephorus auoucheth.) But forsomuch +as I meane not to step from the course of our countrie writers in such points, where the +receiued opinion may séeme to warrant the credit of the historie, I will with other admit both +the mother and sonne to be Britains in the whole discourse of the historie following, as +though I had forgot what in this place I haue said.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxvij4" id="xxvij4"></a> +<p> +<i>A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, his regiment ouer this Iland, +his behauiour and talke to his sonne and councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a deuise +that he put in practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, his commendable +vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the christian faith is prooued.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIJ CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTIUS. <i>Matth. West.</i> saith 302. 289.</span> +Constantius a senatour of Rome began to reigne ouer the Britains, in the yeere +of our Lord 289, as our histories report. This Constantius (as before ye haue heard) had +to wife Helen the daughter of the foresaid king Coel, of whome he begat a sonne named +Constantinus, which after was emperour, and for his woorthie dooings surnamed Constantine +the great. S. Ambrose following the common report, writeth that this Helen was a maid +<span class="leftnote"><i>Orosius. Beda.</i></span> +in an inne: and some againe write, that she was concubine to Constantius, and not his wife. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cuspinian.</i></span> +But whatsoeuer she was, it appeareth by the writers of the Romane histories, that Constantius +<span class="leftnote"><i>Fabian.</i></span> +being the daughters sonne of one Crispus, that was brother to the emperour Claudius, came +into Britaine, and quieted the troubles that were raised by the Britains, and there (as some +write) maried the foresaid Helen, being a woman of an excellent beautie, whom yet [after +he was constreined to forsake, and to marrie Theodora the daughter in law of Herculeus +Maximianus, by whome he had six sonnes, and finallie was created emperour, togither with +the said Galerius Maximianus, at what time Dioclesianus and his fellow Herculeus Maximianus +renounced the rule of the empire, and committed the same vnto them. The empire +was then diuided betwixt them, so that to Constantius the regions of Italie, Affrike, +France Spaine and Britaine were assigned; & to Galerius, Illyricum, Grecia, and all the +east parts. But Constantine being a man void of ambition, was contented to leaue Italie and +Affrike, supposing his charge to be great inough to haue the gouernement in his hands of +France, Spaine, and Britaine (as Eutropius saith.)</p> +<p> +But as touching his reigne ouer the Britains, we haue not to say further than as we find in +our owne writers recorded: as for his gouernement in the empire, it is to be considered, that +first he was admitted to rule as an assistant to Maximian vnder the title of Cesar: and so +from that time if you shall account his reigne, it maie comprehend 11, 12, or 13 yeeres, +yea more or lesse, according to the diuersitie found in writers. Howbeit, if we shall reckon +his reigne from the time onelie that Dioclesian and Maximian resigned their title vnto the +empire, we shall find that he reigned not fullie thrée yéeres. For whereas betwéene the +slaughter of Alectus, and the comming of Constantius, are accounted 8 yéeres and od +moneths, not onelie those eight yéeres, but also some space of time before maie be ascribed +vnto Constantius: for although before his comming ouer into Britaine now this last time +(for he had béene here afore, as it well appéereth) Asclepiodotus gouerning as legat, albeit +vnder Constantius, who had a great portion of the west parts of the empire vnder his regiment, +by the title, as I haue said, of Cesar, yet he was not said to reigne absolutelie till +Dioclesian and Maximian resigned. But now to conclude with the dooings of Constantius, +<span class="rightnote">306.</span> +at length he fell sicke at Yorke, and there died, about the yéere of our Lord 306.</p> + +<p> +This is not to be forgotten, that whilest he laie on his death-bed, somewhat before he departed<span class="page"><a name="page529" id="page529"></a>[Page 529]</span> +this life, hearing that his sonne Constantine was come, and escaped from the emperours +Dioclesian and Maximian, with whom he remained as a pledge (as after shall be +partlie touched) he receiued him with all ioy, and raising himselfe vp in his bed, in presence +of his other sonnes & counsellours, with a great number of other people and strangers that +were come to visit him, he set the crowne vpon his sonnes head, and adorned him with other +<span class="leftnote"><i>Niceph.</i></span> +imperiall robes and garments, executing as it were him selfe the office of an herald, and +withall spake these woords vnto his said sonne, and to his counsellours there about him: +<span class="rightnote"><i>Tripartit. histo.</i></span> +"Now is my death to me more welcome, and my departure hence more pleasant; I haue +héere a large epitaph and monument of buriall, to wit, mine owne sonne, and one whome +in earth I leaue to be emperour in my place, which by Gods good helpe shall wipe away +the teares of the Christians, and reuenge the crueltie exercised by tyrants. This I reckon +to chance vnto me in stéed of most felicitie."</p> +<p> +After this, turning himselfe to the multitude, he commanded them all to be of good comfort, +meaning those that had not forsaken true vertue and godlinesse in Christ, which Christ +he vndertooke should continue with his sonne Constantine in all enterprises, which in warres +or otherwise he should take in hand. That deuise also is woorthie to be had in memorie, +which he put in practise in his life time, to vnderstand what true and sincere Christians +were remaining in his court. For whereas he had béene first a persecuter, and after was +conuerted, it was a matter easie to persuade the world, that he was no earnest Christian: +and so the policie which he thought to worke, was the sooner brought to passe, which +was this.</p> +<p> +He called togither all his officers and seruants, feining himselfe to choose out such as +would doo sacrifice to diuels, and that those onelie should remaine with him and kéepe their +office, and the rest that refused so to doo, should be thrust out, and banished the court. +Héervpon all the courtiers diuided themselues into companies: and when some offered willinglie +to doo sacrifice, and other some boldlie refused: the emperour marking their dealings, +sharpelie rebuked those which were so readie to dishonour the liuing God, accounting them +as treitours to his diuine maiestie, and not woorthie to remaine within the court gates: but +those that constantlie stood in the profession of the christian faith, he greatlie commended, +as men woorthie to be about a prince: and withall declared, that from thencefoorth they +should be as chiefe counsellours and defenders both of his person and kingdome, estéeming +more of them than of all the treasure he had in his coffers.</p> +<p> +To conclude, he was a graue prince, sober, vpright, courteous and liberall, as he which +kept his mind euer frée from couetous desire of great riches: insomuch that when he should +make anie great feast to his friends, he was not ashamed to borow plate and siluer vessell to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Pomponius Lænis.</i></span> +serue his turne, and to furnish his cupbord for the time, being contented for himselfe to be +serued in cruses & earthen vessels. He was woont to haue this saieng in his mouth, that +better it was that the subiects should haue store of monie and riches, than the prince to kéepe +it close in his treasurie, where it serued to no vse. By such courteous dealing the prouinces +which were in his charge flourished in great wealth and quietnesse. He was a verie wise +<span class="rightnote">He died in the yéere 306. as <i>Matt. West.</i> hath noted, and reigned +over the Britains but 11. yéeres as <i>Galf.</i> saith.</span> +and politike prince in the ordering of all weightie matters, and verie skillfull in the practise +of warres, so that he stood the Romane empire in great stéed, and was therefore highlie beloued +of the souldiers, insomuch that immediatlie after his deceasse, they proclaimed his +sonne Constantine emperour.</p> +<p> +That the Christian faith was imbraced of the Britains in this season, it maie appéere, in +that Hilarias bishop of Poictiers writeth to his brethren in Britaine, and Constantine in an +epistle (as Theodoretus saith in his first booke and tenth chapter) maketh mention of the +churches in Britaine: which also Sozomenus dooth affirme. For the Britains after they had +receiued the faith, defended the same euen with the shedding of their bloud, as Amphibalus, +<span class="rightnote">291. <i>Iohn Bale.</i></span> +who in this Constantius daies being apprehended, suffered at Redburne neere to Werlamchester, +about 15 yéeres after the martyrdome of his host S. Albane.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxviij4" id="xxviij4"></a> +<p><span class="page"><a name="page530" id="page530"></a>[Page 530]</span> +<i>Constantine created emperour in Britaine, he is sollicited to take vpon him the regiment of +those countries that his father gouerned, he is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping +tyrant, Maximianus his father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by +the said Maximianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daughter of Maximianus +& wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie to hir husband, Maximianus +is strangled at Constantines commandement, lèague and alliance betweene him and +Licinius, he is slaine, the empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with +the inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the nailes wherewith +Christ was crucified, Constantine commended, the state of Britaine in his time.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTINE. 306.</span> +Constantine being the son of the forenamed Constantius, begot of his first wife +Helen, the daughter (as some affirme) of Coell late king of the Britains, began to reigne in +the yéere of our Lord 306. This worthie prince begotten of a British woman, & borne of +hir in Britaine (as our writers doo affirme) and created certeinlie emperour in Britaine, did +doubtlesse make his natiue countrie partaker of his high glorie and renowme, which by his +great prowes, politike wisedome, woorthie gouernment, and other his princelie qualities most +abundantlie planted in his noble person, he purchased and got thorough the circuit of the +whole earth, insomuch that for the high enterprises and noble acts by him happilie brought +to passe and atchiued, he was surnamed (as before is said) the great Constantine. Whilest +this Constantine remained at Rome in manner as he had béene a pledge with Galerius in his +fathers life time, he being then but yoong, fled from thence, and with all post hast returned +to his father into Britaine, killing or howghing by the waie all such horsses as were appointed +<span class="rightnote">Eutropius. Sextus Aurelius Victor.</span> +to stand at innes readie for such as should ride in post, least being pursued, he should haue +béene ouertaken, and brought backe againe by such as might be sent to pursue him.</p> +<p> +At his comming into Britaine, he found his father sore vexed with sicknesse, whereof +shortlie after he died, and then was he by helpe of such as were about him, incouraged to +<span class="rightnote">Erocus king of the Almains.</span> +take vpon him as emperour: and namelie one Erocus king of the Almains, which had accompanied +his father thither, assisted him thereto, so that being proclaimed emperour, he +tooke vpon him the rule of those countries which his father had in gouernment, that is to +saie, France, Spaine, the Alpes, and Britaine, with other prouinces héere in the west: and +ruling the same with great equitie and wisdome, he greatly wan the fauour of the people, +insomuch that the fame of his politike gouernment and courteous dealing being spred abroad, +<span class="rightnote">Maxentius the tyrant.</span> +when Maxentius the tyrant that occupied the rule of the empire at Rome, and in Italie by +wrongfull vsurping & abusing the same, was grown into the hatred of the Romans and other +Italians, Constantine was earnestlie by them requested to come into Italie, and to helpe to +subdue Maxentius, that he might reforme the state of things there.</p> +<p> +This Maxentius was sonne to Herculeus Maximianus, and Constantine had married Fausta +the daughter of the said Maximianus. Now so it was, that Maximianus, immediatlie after +that his sonne Maxentius had taken the rule vpon him, sought meanes to haue deposed him, +and to haue resumed and taken eftsoones into his owne hands the gouernment of the empire. +But solliciting Dioclesian to doo the like, he was much reprooued of him for his vnreasonable +and ambitious purpose: so that when he perceiued that neither Dioclesian would be thereto +agreeable, nor induce the souldiers to admit him, they hauing alreadie established his sonne, +began to deuise waies how to assure the state more stronglie to his said sonne. And hearing +that his sonne in law Constantine was minded to come into Italie against him, he purposed to +practise Constantines destruction, insomuch that it was iudged by this which followed, that +<span class="rightnote">Dissimulation.</span> +Herculeus Maximianus did but for a colour séeme to mislike that which his said son Maxentius +had doone, to the end he might the sooner accomplish his intent for the dispatching of<span class="page"><a name="page531" id="page531"></a>[Page 531]</span> +Constantine out of the waie.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ranulphus Cestrensis.</i></span> +Heerevpon (as it were) fléeing out of Italie, he came to Constantine, who as then hauing +appointed lieutenants vnder him in Britaine, remained in France, and with all ioy and honour +that might be, receiued his father in law: the which being earnestlie bent to compasse his +<span class="rightnote">Fausta the daughter of Maximianas and wife to Constantine.</span> +purpose, made his daughter Fausta priuie thereto: which ladie (either for feare least the concealing +thereof might turne hir to displeasure, either else for the entire loue which she bare +to hir husband) reuealed hir fathers wicked purpose. Wherevpon whilest Constantine went +<span class="leftnote">Marsiles.</span> +about to be reuenged of such a traitorous practise, Herculeus fled to Marsiles, purposing there +to take the sea, and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italie. But yer he could get +<span class="rightnote">Maximianus slaine. <i>Ann. Chri. 322.</i></span> +awaie from thence, he was strangled by commandement of his sonne in law Constantine, and +so ended his life, which he had spotted with manie cruell acts, as well in persecuting the professours +of the christian name, as others.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Licinius chosen fellow with Maximianus in the empire.</span> +In this meane time had Maximianus adopted one Licinius to assist him in gouernance of the +empire, proclaiming him Cesar. So that now at one selfe time Constantine gouerned France +and the west parts of the empire, Maxentius held Italie, Affrike, and Aegypt: and Maximianus +which likewise had beene elected Cesar, ruled the east parts, and Licinius Illyrium +and Grecia. But shortlie after, the emperour Constantine ioined in league with Licinius, +and gaue to him his sister in marriage, named Constantia, for more suertie of faithfull +friendship to indure betwixt them. He sent him also against Maximianus who gouerning in +the east part of the empire, purposed the destruction of Constantine and all his partakers: +but being vanquished by Licinius at Tarsus, he shortlie after died, being eaten with lice. +Constantine after this was called into Italie, to deliuer the Romans and Italians from the +tyrannie of Maxentius, which occasion so offered, Constantine gladlie accepting, passed into +Italie, and after certeine victories got against Maxentius, at length slue him.</p> +<p> +After this, when Maximianus was dead, who prepared to make warre against Licinius, +that had married Constantia the sister of Constantine, he finallie made warre against his +brother in law the said Licinius, by reason of such quarrels as fell out betwixt them. In +the which warre Licinius was put to the woorse, and at length comming into the hands of +Constantine, was put to death, so that Constantine by this meanes got the whole empire vnder +his rule and subiection. He was a great fauourer of the Christian religion, insomuch that to +aduance the same, he tooke order for the conuerting of the temples dedicated to the honour +of idols, vnto the seruice of the true and almightie God. He commanded also, that none +<span class="rightnote">Christians honoured and cherished.</span> +should be admitted to serue as a souldier in the warres, except he were a christian, nor yet +to haue rule of anie countrie or armie. He also ordeined, the wéeke before Easter, and +that which followed to be kept as holie, and no person to doo anie bodilie woorks during +the same.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i> The praise of the empresse Helen. 328.</span> +He was much counselled by that noble and most vertuous ladie his mother, the empresse +Helen, who being a godlie and deuout woman, did what in hir laie, to mooue him to the +setting foorth of Gods honour and increase of the christian faith, wherein as yet he was not +fullie instructed. ¶ Some writers alledge, that she being at Ierusalem, made diligent search +to find out the place of the sepulchre of our Lord, and at length found it, though with +much adoo: for the infidels had stopped it vp, and couered it with a heape of filthie earth, +and builded aloft vpon the place, a chappell dedicated to Venus, where yoong women vsed +to sing songs in honour of that vnchast goddesse. Helen caused the same to be ouerthrowne, +the earth to be remooued, and the place cleansed, so that at length the sepulchre appéered, +and fast by were found there buried in the earth thrée crosses and the nailes. But the crosse +wherevpon our Sauiour was crucified, was knowne by the title written vpon it, though almost +worne out, in letters of Hebrew, Gréeke, and Latine: the inscription was this, <i>Iesus Nazarenus +rex Iudæorum.</i> It was also perceiued which was that crosse by a miracle (as it is +reported, but how trulie I can not tell) that should be wrought thereby: for being laid to a +sicke woman, onlie with the touching thereof she was healed. It was also said, that a dead +man was raised from death to life, his bodie onlie being touched therewith. Wherevpon<span class="page"><a name="page532" id="page532"></a>[Page 532]</span> +Constantine mooued with these things, forbad that from thencefoorth anie should be put to +death on the crosse, to the end that the thing which afore time was accounted infamous and +reprochfull, might now be had in honour and reuerence.</p> +<p> +The empresse Helen hauing thus found the crosse, builded a temple there,& taking with hir +the nailes, returned with the same to hir sonne Constantine, who set one of them in the crest of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +his helmet, an other in the bridle of his horsse, and the third he cast into the sea, to asswage +and pacifie the furious tempests and rage thereof. She also brought with hir a parcell of that +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +holie crosse, and gaue it to hir sonne the said Constantine, the which he caused to be closed +within an image that represented his person, standing vpon a piller in the market place of +Constantine, or (as some late writers haue) he caused it to be inclosed in a coffer of gold, +adorned with rich stones and pearls, placing it in a church called Sessoriana, the which +church he indued with manie great gifts and precious ornaments. Manie works of great +zeale and vertue are remembered by writers to haue béene doone by this Constantine and his +mother Helen, to the setting foorth of Gods glorie, and the aduancing of the faith of Christ.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The commendation of Constantine.</span> +But to be briefe, he was a man in whome manie excellent vertues and good qualities both of +mind and bodie manifestlie appéered, chieflie he was a prince of great knowledge and experience +in warre, and therewith verie fortunate, an earnest louer of iustice, and to conclude, +borne to all honour.</p> +<p> +But now to speake somewhat of the state of Britaine in his time, ye shall vnderstand, +that as before is recorded, at his going ouer into France, after that he was proclaimed emperour, +he left behind him in Britaine certeine gouernours to rule the land, and amongst +other one Maximinus a right valiant capteine. He tooke with him a great part of the youth +of Britaine, and diuerse of the chiefe men amongst the nobilitie, in whose approoued manhood, +loialtie, and constancie, he conceiued a great hope to go thorough with all his enterprises, +as with the which being accompanied and compassed about, he passed ouer into Gallia, +entred into Italie, and in euerie place ouercame his enimies.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gulielmus Malmes.</i> Britains seruing in the warres vnder Constantine.</span> +Some write that Constantine thus conueieng ouer sea with him a great armie of Britains, +and by their industrie obteining victorie as he wished, he placed a great number of such as +were discharged out of wages, and licenced to giue ouer the warre, in a part of Gallia +towards the west sea coast, where their posteritie remaine vnto this daie, maruellouslie increased +afterwards, and somewhat differing from our Britains, the Welshmen, in manners +and language. Amongst those noble men which he tooke with him when he departed out +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfridus. Matt. West.</i></span> +of this land (as our writers doo testifie) were thrée vncles of his mother Helen, that is to +say Hoelmus, Trahernus, and Marius, whome he made senators of Rome.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxix4" id="xxix4"></a> +<p> +<i>Of Octauius a British lord, his reigne ouer the Britains, he incountereth with Traherne +first néere Winchester, and afterwards in Westmerland: Octauius being discomfited +fléeth into Norway, Traherne is slaine, Octauius sendeth for Maximianus, on whom he +bestoweth his daughter and the kingdome of Britaine: the death of Octauius, Helena +builded the wals of Colchester and London, she dieth and is buried, Constantine departeth +this life, Britaine reckoned among the prouinces that reteined the christian faith, Paulus +a Spaniard is sent into Britaine, he dealeth roughlie with the people, Martinus the lieutenant +excuseth them as innocent, his vnluckie end, Paulus returneth into Italie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now in the meane time that Constantine had obteined and ruled the whole empire, +Britaine as it were hauing recouered libertie, in that one of hir children being hir king, had +<span class="rightnote">Octauius. <i>Caxton.</i> Gewisses inhabited the countrie which the west Saxons after held. +The name of Gewisses came in with the Saxons of Guuy, &c.</span> +got the gouernment of the whole earth, remained in better quiet than afore time she had<span class="page"><a name="page533" id="page533"></a>[Page 533]</span> +doone. But yet in the meane season, if we shall credit the British chronicle and Geffrey of +Monmouth the interpretor thereof; there was a British lord, named Octauius or Octauian, +as the old English chronicle nameth him, that was duke of the Gewisses, and appointed by +Constantine to be ruler of the land in his absence, the which Octauius (after that Constantine +had recouered Rome and Italie, and was so busied in the affaires of the empire in those parts, +that as was thought, he could not returne backe into Britaine) seized into his hands the whole +dominion of Britaine, and held himselfe for king.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OCTAUIUS. <i>Galfridus</i>.329.</span> +This Octauius then beginning his reigne ouer the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 329, + +prouoked Constantine to send against him one of his mothers vncles, the foresaid Traherne. +This Trahernus, or as some name him Traherne, entred this land with three legions of souldiers, +& in a field néere vnto Winchester, was incountered by Octauius and his Britains, by +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian</i>. <i>Galfridus</i>. This agréeth not altogither with that which +<i>Hector Boetius</i> writeth, as in the Scotish chronicle appéereth.</span> +whome after a sore battell there striken betwixt them, in the end Traherne was put to flight +and chased, insomuch that he was constreined to forsake that part of the land, and to draw +towards Scotland. Octauius hauing knowledge of his passage, followed him, & in the countrie +of Westmerland eftsoones gaue him battell, but in that battell Octauius was put to the woorsse, +and constreined to forsake the land, fled into Norway, there to purchase aid: and being readie +with such power as he there gathered, what of Britains and Norwegians, to returne into +Britaine. Before his landing he was aduertised that an earle of Britaine which bare him +<span class="leftnote">Traherne slaine. See in the Scotish chronicles more of these matters. <i>Matth. West.</i> saith 316.</span> +heartie good will, had by treason slaine Traherne. Octauius then comming to land, eftsoones +got possession of Britaine, which should be (as Fabian gathereth) about the yéere of our +Lord 329, in the 20 yéere of the reigne of the emperour Constantine, and about two yéeres +after that the said Octauius first tooke vpon him to rule as king. </p> +<p> +After this (as the British chronicle affirmeth) Octauius gouerned the land right noblie, and +greatlie to the contentation of the Britains. At length when he was fallen in age, and had +<span class="rightnote">Maximianus is sent for. Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall. This agréeth not with +that which is found in the Scotish chronicles.</span> +no issue but one daughter, he was counselled to send vnto Rome for one Maximianus, a +noble yoong man, coosine to the emperour Constantine, on the part of his mother Helena, +to come into Britaine, and to take to his wife the said daughter of Octauius, and so with +hir to haue the kingdome. Octauius at the first meant to haue giuen hir in mariage vnto +one Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall, which was his nephue: but when the lords would +not thereto agrée, at the length he appointed one Maurice sonne to the said Conan to go to +Rome to fetch the forenamed Maximianus.</p> +<p> +Maurice according to his commission and instruction in that behalfe receiued, came to +<span class="leftnote">Maximianus commeth into Britaine.</span> +Rome, and declared his message in such effectuall sort, that Maximianus consented to go +with him into Britaine, and so taking with him a conuenient number, set forward, and did so +much by his iournies, that finallie he landed here in Britaine. And notwithstanding that +Conan Meridoc past not so much to haue béene dooing with him, for malice that he conceiued +towards him, because he saw that by his meanes he should be put beside the crowne, +yet at length was Maximianus safelie brought to the kings presence, and of him honorablie +receiued, and finallie the mariage was knit vp, and solemnized in all princelie maner. +<span class="rightnote">Octauius departeth this life.</span> +Shortlie after, Octauius departed out of this life, after he had reigned the terme of fiftie and +foure yeares, as Fabian gathereth by that which diuers authors doo write, how he reigned +till the daies that Gratian and Valentinian ruled the Roman empire which began to gouerne +<span class="leftnote">382.</span> +in the yeare of our Lord (as he saith) 382, which is to be vnderstood of Gratian his reigne +after the deceasse of his vncle Valens, for otherwise a doubt maie rise, because Valentine +the father of Gratian admitted the said Gratian to the title of Augustus in the yeare of our +Lord 351.</p> +<p> +But to leaue the credit of the long reigne of Octauius, with all his and others gouernement +and rule ouer the Britains since the time of Constantius, vnto our British and Scotish writers, +let vs make an end with the gouernement of that noble emperour Constantine, and assured +branch of the Britains race, as borne of that worthie ladie the empresse Helen, daughter to +Coell earle of Colchester, and after king of Britaine (as our histories doo witnesse.) Vnto<span class="page"><a name="page534" id="page534"></a>[Page 534]</span> +the which empresse Constantine bare such dutifull reuerence, that he did not onelie honour +hir with the name of empresse, but also made hir as it were partaker with him of all his +wealth, and in manie things was led and ruled by hir vertuous and godlie admonitions, to +the aduancement of Gods honour, and maintenance of those that professed the true christian +religion. For the loue that she bare vnto Colchester and London, she walled them about, +and caused great bricke and huge tiles to be made for the performance of the same, whereof +there is great store to be séene euen yet to this present, both in the walls of the towne and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Nicephorus</i>. The empresse Helen departeth this life.</span> +castell of Colchester, as a testimonie of the woorkemanship of those daies. She liued 79 +yeares, and then departed this life about the 21 yeare of hir sonnes reigne. First she was +buried at Rome without the walls of the citie with all funerall pompe, as to hir estate apperteined: +<span class="leftnote">340. The deceasse of the emperour Constantine.</span> +but after hir corps was remoued and brought to Constantinople, where it was +eftsoones interred. Hir sonne the emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ +340, and then deceassed at Nicomedia in Asia, after he had ruled the empire 32 yeares and +od moneths.</p> +<p> +We find not in the Romane writers of anie great stur here in Britaine during his reigne +more than the British and Scotish writers haue recorded: so that after Traherne had reduced +this land to quietnesse, it maie be supposed, that the Britains liued in rest vnder his gouernement, +and likewise after vnder his sonnes that succéeded him in the empire, till about the +<span class="rightnote">360.</span> +yeare 360, at what time the Picts and Scots inuaded the south parts of the land.</p> +<p> +But now to end with Octauius, that the christian faith remained still in Britaine, during +the supposed time of this pretended kings reigne, it maie appeare, in that amongst the 36 +prouinces, out of the which there were assembled aboue 300 bishops in the citie of Sardica +<span class="rightnote"><i>Synodus anno.</i> 354</span> +in Dacia, at a synod held there against the Eusebians, Britaine is numbred by Athanasius in +his second apologie to be one. And againe, the said Athanasius in an epistle which he +writeth to the emperour Iouinianus reciteth, that the churches in Britaine did consent with +the churches of other nations in the confession of faith articuled in the Nicene councell. +Also mention is made by writers of certeine godlie & learned men, which liued in offices in +the church in those daies, as Restitutus bishop of London, which went ouer to the synod +held at Arles in France, and also one Kibius Corinnius sonne to Salomon duke of Cornewall, +and bishop of Anglesey, who instructed the people that inhabited the parts now called Northwales, +and them of Anglesey aforesaid verie diligentlie.</p> +<p> +But now to speake somewhat of things chancing in Britaine about this season (as we find +recorded by the Romane writers) some trouble was likelie to haue growne vnto the Britains +by receiuing certeine men of warre that fled out of Italie into Britaine, whome the emperour +<span class="rightnote"><i>Marcellinus. lib.</i> 14.</span> +Constantius would haue punished, because they had taken part with Maxentius his aduersarie. +<span class="leftnote">Paulus a notarie.</span> +Paulus a Spaniard and notarie was sent ouer by him, with commission to make inquirie of +them, and to sée them brought to light to answere their transgressions: which Paulus began +to deale roughlie in the matter, whereof he was called Catera, and to rage against the +Britains and partakers with the fugitiues, in that they had receiued and mainteined them, as +<span class="rightnote">Martinus lieutenant.</span> +he alledged: but in the end being certified by Martinus the lieutenant of their innocencie, +and fearing least his extreame rigour might alienate the hearts of the inhabitants altogither, +and cause them to withdraw their obedience from the Romane empire, he turned the execution +of his furie from them vnto the Romans, and made hauocke of those that he suspected, +till the said Martinus fell at square with him, & thinking on a time to kill him, he drew his +sword and smote at him. But such was his age and weakenesse, that he was not able to kill +him or giue him anie deadlie wound: wherefore he turned the point of his sword against +himselfe, and so ended his life, being contented rather to die than sée his countriemen and +subiects of the empire so to be abused. After this the said Paulus returned backe againe +into Italie from whence he came, after whose departure, it was not long yer he also was slaine, +and then all the Scots and Picts sore disquieted the Romane subiects, for the suppressing of +whose attempts Lupicinus was sent ouer out of Gallia by Iulianus, as shall be declared out of +Amianus Marcellinus, after we haue first shewed what we find written in our owne writers<span class="page"><a name="page535" id="page535"></a>[Page 535]</span> +concerning the Scots and Picts, who now began to rob and spoile the British inhabitants +within the Romane prouinces here in this Ile, and that euen in most outragious maner.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxx4" id="xxx4"></a> +<p> +<i>Maximianus or Maximus gouerneth this Ile, why writers speake ill of him, strife betwixt +him and Conan duke of Cornewall, Maximus is proclaimed emperour in Britaine, he +transporteth the British youth seruiceable for warres into France, little Britaine in +France why so called, eleuen thousand maids sent thither to match with Conans people, +whereof some were drowned, and other some murthered in the way by Guanius king of +Hunnes and Melga king of Picts, they flie into Ireland, murther requited with murther, +the words of Gyldas concerning Maximus.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">MAXIMIANUS OR MAXIMUS. 383.</span> +After the deceasse of Octauius or Octauian (as the old English chronicle nameth him) +Maximianus or Maximus (as the Romane writers call him) began to rule the Britains in the +yéere of our Lord 383, he was the sonne of one Leonine, and coosen germane to Constantine +the great, a valiant personage, & hardie of stomach: but yet because he was cruell of +nature, and (as Fabian saith) somewhat persecuted the christians, he was infamed by writers: +but the chiefe cause why he was euil reported, was for that he slue his souereigne lord the emperour +Gratianus, as after shall appeare, for otherwise he is supposed woorthie to haue had +the rule of the empire committed to his hands in ech respect. Betwixt him and the aboue-named +Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall, chanced strife and debate, so that Conan got +him into Scotland, and there purchasing aid, returned, and comming ouer Humber, wasted +the countrie on ech side. Maximianus thereof hauing aduertisement, raised his power and +went against him, and so fighting with him diuers battels, sometime departed awaie with +victorie, and sometime with losse. At length through mediation of friends, a peace was +made betwixt them. Finallie this Maximianus, or (as the Romane histories say) Maximus, +was by the souldiers chosen and proclaimed emperour here in Britaine: although some write +that this was doone in Spaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon. Fabian. Caxton. Matth. West.</i> The British youth led forth of the +realme by Maximianus. Britaine in France.</span> +After he had taken vpon him the imperiall dignitie, vpon desire to haue inlarged his dominion, +he assembled togither all the chosen youth of this land méet to doo seruice in the +warres, with the which he passed ouer into France, & there (as our writers record) he first +subdued the countrie ancientlie called Armorica, and slue in battell the king thereof called +Imball. This doone he gaue the countrie vnto Conan Meridoc, which was there with him, +to hold the same of him, and of the kings of great Britaine for euer. He also commanded +that the said countrie from thencefoorth should be called litle Britaine, and so was the name +changed. What people soeuer inhabited there before, the ancient name argueth that they +were rather Britains than anie other: for Armorica in the British toong signifieth as much as +a countrie lieng vpon the sea.</p> +<p> +Conan then placing himselfe and his Britains in that quarter of Gallia, auoided all the old +inhabitants, peopling that countrie onelie with Britains, which abhorring to ioine themselues +with women borne in Gallia, Conan was counselled to send into Britaine for maids to be +<span class="rightnote">Dionethius duke of Cornwall.</span> +coupled with his people in mariage. Herevpon a messenger was dispatched vnto Dionethus +at that time duke of Cornwall, and gouernour of Britaine vnder Maximianus, requiring him +<span class="leftnote">Maids sent foorth.</span> +to send ouer into little Britaine 11000 maids, that is to say, 8000 to be bestowed vpon the +meaner sort of Conans people, and 3000 to be ioined in mariage with the nobles and gentlemen. +Dionethus at Conans request, assembled the appointed number of maids, and +amongst them he also appointed his daughter Vrsula, a ladie of excellent beautie, to go ouer +and to be giuen in mariage to the foresaid Conan Meridoc, as he had earnestlie requested.,</p> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page536" id="page536"></a>[Page 536]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Vrsula the daughter of Dionethus.</span> +These number of maids were shipped in Thames, and passing forward toward Britaine, +were by force of weather and rage of wind scattered abroad, and part of them drowned, +and the residue (among whom was the foresaid Vrsula) were slaine by Guanius king of the +Hunnes, and Melga king of the Picts, into whose hands they fell, the which Guanius and +Melga were sent by the emperour Gracian to the sea coasts of Germanie, to oppresse and +subdue all such as were friends and mainteiners of the part of Maximianus. We find in +some bookes, that there were sent ouer at that time 51000 maids, that is to say, 11000 +gentlewomen, and 40000 other.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Guanius and Melga.</span> +After that Guanius and Melga had murthered the foresaid virgins, they entred into the +north parts of Britaine, where the Scots now inhabit, and began to make sore warre on the +Britains, whereof when Maximus was aduertised, he sent into Britaine one Gratianus with +thrée legions of souldiers, who bare himselfe so manfullie against the enimies, that he constreined +the said Guanius and Melga to flie out of the land, and to withdraw into Ireland. In +this meane while, Maximus hauing slaine the emperor Gratian at Lions in France, and after +entring into Italie, was slaine himselfe at Aquilia (after he had gouerned the Britains eight +yéeres) by the emperour Theodosius, who came in aid of Valentinian, brother to the said +emperor Gratian, as ye may find in the abridgement of the histories of Italie.</p> +<p> +¶ But here yet before we make an end with this Maximus or Maximianus, I haue thought +good to set downe the words which we find in Gyldas, where he writeth of the same Maximus, +<span class="rightnote">Consobrinus Helenæ imperatricis.</span> +vndoubtedlie a Britaine borne, nephue to the empresse Helen, and begotten by a +Romane. "At length (saith Gyldas) the spring of tyrants budding vp, and now increasing +into an huge wood, the Ile being called after the name of Rome, but holding neither maners +nor lawes according to that name, but rather casting the same from it, sendeth foorth a +branch of hir most bitter planting, to wit Maximus, accompanied with a great number of +warriors to gard him, and apparelled in the imperiall robes which he neuer ware as became +him, nor put them on in lawfull wise, but (after the custome of tyrants) was put into them +by the mutining souldiers: which Maximus at the first by craftie policie rather than by true +manhood winding in (as nets of his periurie and false suggestion) vnto his wicked gouernement +the countries & prouinces next adioining, against the imperiall state of Rome, stretching +one of his wings into Spaine, and the other into Italie, placed the throne of his most +vniust empire at Trier, and shewed such rage in his wood dealing against his souereigne +lords, that the one of the lawfull emperours he expelled out of Rome, and the other he +bereft of his most religious and godlie life. Now without long tariance, compassed about +with such a furious and bold gard as he had got togither, at the citie of Aquilia he loseth his +wicked head, which had cast downe the most honourable heads of all the world from their +kingdome and empire.</p> +<p> +"From thencefoorth Britaine being depriued of all hir warlike souldiers and armies, of +hir gouernors also (though cruell) and of an huge number of hir youth (the which following +the steps of the foresaid tyrant, neuer returned home againe) such as remained being vtterlie +vnskilfull in feats of warre, were troden downe by two nations of beyond the seas, the Scots +<span class="rightnote">Scotorum à circio, Pictorum ab aquilone.</span> +from the west, and the Picts from the north, and as men thus quite dismaid, lament their +miserable case, not knowing what else to doo for the space of manie yéeres togither. By +reason of whose gréeuous inuasion and cruell oppression wherewith she was miserablie disquieted, +she sendeth hir ambassadors vnto Rome, making lamentable sute euen with teares +to haue some power of men of warre sent to defend hir against the enimies, promising to be +true subiects with all faithfulnes of mind, if the enimie might be kept off and remooued."</p> +<p> +¶ Thus farre Gyldas, and more, as in place hereafter you shall find recited.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxj4" id="xxxj4"></a> +<p><span class="page"><a name="page537" id="page537"></a>[Page 537]</span> +<i>What Gratianus it was that was sent ouer from Rome into Britaine by Maximus, in what +estimation the British souldiers haue béene, the priuie treason of Andragatius whereby +Gratian came to his end: Maximus and his sonne Victor doo succéed him in the empire, +they are both slaine, Marcus the Romane lieutenant sucéeding them is murthered, Gratianus +also his successour hath the same end, the election of Constantine a Britaine borne, +his praise and dispraise reported by writers, he goeth into France, maketh his sonne +Constance partaker with him of the empire, a sharpe incounter betwixt his power and +two brethrens that had the kéeping of the Pyrenine hils, the issue of the battell.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +But now where the British histories, and such of our English writers as follow them, +make mention of one Gratianus a Romane, sent ouer with thrée legions of souldiers by +Maximus, as before ye haue heard: we maie suppose that it was Gratianus the Britaine, that +afterwards vsurped the imperiall dignitie héere in Britaine, in the daies of the emperour +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sextus Aurelius</i></span> +Honorius. For it standeth neither with the concurrence of time nor yet with reason of the +historie, that it should be Gratianus, surnamed Funarius, father to Valentinian, and grandfather +to the emperour Gratianus, against whome Maximus rebelled. And yet I remember +not that anie of the Romane writers maketh mention of anie other Gratianus, being a stranger, +that should be sent hither as lieutenant to gouerne the Romane armie, except of the foresaid +<span class="rightnote"><i>Lib. 30.</i></span> +Gratianus Funarius, who (as appéereth by Amian. Marcellinus) was generall of the +Romane armie héere in this Ile, and at length being discharged, returned home into Hungarie +(where he was borne) with honour, and there remaining in rest, was at length spoiled +of his goods by the emperour Constantius as confiscate, for that in time of the ciuill warres +he had receiued Maxentius, as he past thorough his countrie.</p> +<p> +But let vs grant, that either Gratianus the Britaine, or some other of that name, was sent +ouer into Britaine (as before is said) by Maximus, least otherwise some errour may be doubted +in the writers of the British histories, as hauing happilie mistaken the time and matter, bringing +Gratianus Funarius to serue vnder Maximus, where peraduenture that which they haue +read or heard of him, chanced long before that time by them suppposed: and so thorough +mistaking the thing, haue made a wrong report, where neuerthelesse it standeth with great +likelihood of truth, that some notable seruice of chiualrie was atchiued by the same Gratianus +Funarius whilest he remained héere in this Ile, if the truth might be knowne of that +which hath béene written by authors, and happilie by the same Am. Marcellinus, if his first +thirtéene bookes might once come to light and be extant.</p> +<p> +But now to end with Maximus. William of Malmesburie (as ye haue heard) writeth, that +not Maximus, but rather Constantine the great first peopled Armorica: but yet he agréeth, +that both Maximus, and also Constantinus the vsurper, of whome after ye shall heare, led +with them a great number of the Britains out of this land, the which Maximus or Maximianus +and Constantinus afterwards being slaine, the one by Theodosius, and the other by Honorius, +the Britains that followed them to the warres, part of them were killed, and the +residue escaping by flight, withdrew vnto the other Britains which Constantine the great had +first placed in Armorica. And so when the tyrants had left none in the countrie but rude +people, nor anie in the townes but such as were giuen to slouth and gluttonie, Britaine +being void of all aid of hir valiant youth, became a prey to hir next neighbours the Scots +and Picts.</p> +<p> +Héere is yet to be considered, in what price the souldiers of the British nation were had in +those daies, with whose onelie puissance Maximus durst take vpon him to go against all other +the forces of the whole Romane empire: and how he prospered in that dangerous aduenture, +it is expressed sufficientlie in the Romane histories, by whose report it appéereth, that +<span class="rightnote"><i>W.H.</i> out of <i>Paulus Diaco. lib. 12. & alijs.</i></span><span class="page"><a name="page538" id="page538"></a>[Page 538]</span> +he did not onlie conquer all the hither parts of France and Germanie, namelie on this side +the Rhine, but also found meanes to intrap the emperour Gratian by this kind of policie. +He had a faithfull friend called Andragatius, who was admirall of the seas perteining to the +empire. It was therefore agréed betwixt them, that this Andragatius (with a chosen companie +of the armie) should be carried in secret wise in a coch toward Lions, as if it had béene +<span class="rightnote"><i>Tripart. hist. lib. 9. cap. 21.</i></span> +Constantia Posthumia the empresse, wife to the emperour Gratian, bruting abroad there +withall, that the said empresse was comming forwards on hir waie to Lions, there to méet +with hir husband, for that vpon occasion she was verie desirous to commune with him about +certeine earnest businesse.</p> +<p> +When Gratian heard héereof, as one mistrusting no such dissimulation, he made hast to +meete his wife, and comming at length without anie great gard about him, as one not in +doubt of anie treason, approched the coch, where supposing to find his wife, he found those +that streightwaies murthered him: & so was he there dispatched quite of life by the said +Andragatius, who leapt foorth of the coch to woorke that feate when he had him once within +his danger.</p> +<p> +Thus did the emperour Gratian finish his life in the 29 yéere of his age, on the 25 of +<span class="rightnote">383.</span> +August, in the yéere of Christ 383, and then died. Maximus succéeded him (making his +<span class="rightnote">This Flauius Victor he begat of his wife Helen the daughter of Eudes. <i>H. Lhoyd.</i></span> +sonne Flauius Victor Nobilissimus his assistant in the empire) reigning fiue yéeres and two +daies. In the beginning of his reigne Valentinian the yoonger made great suit to him to +haue his fathers bodie, but it would not be granted. Afterwards also Maximus was earnestlie +requested to come to an enteruiew with the same Valentinian, who promised him not onelie a +safe conduct, but also manie other beneficiall good turnes beside. Howbeit Maximus durst +not put himselfe in anie such hazard, but rather ment to pursue Valentinian as an vsurper, +and so at length chased him into Slauonie, where he was driuen to such a streight, that if +<span class="rightnote">Valentinian put in danger by Maximus.</span> +Theodosius had not come to releeue him, Maximus had driuen him thence also, or else by +slaughter rid him out of the waie.</p> +<p> +But when Maximus thought himselfe most assured, and so established in the empire, as he +doubted no perils, he liued carelesse of his owne safegard, and therfore dismissed his British +souldiers, who retiring into the northwest parts of Gallia, placed themselues there among +their countriemen, which were brought ouer by the emperour Constantius, whilest Maximus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Eutropius</i>. 388.</span> +passing the residue of his time in delights and pleasures, was surprised in the end and slaine +by Theodosius néere vnto Aquilia, the 27 of August, in the yéere of Grace 388, and in the +beginning of the sixt yéere of his reigne, or rather vsurpation, as more rightlie it maie be +tearmed. His sonne Flauius Victor surnamed Nobilissimus was also dispatched and brought +to his end, not farre from the place where his father was slaine, by the practise of one Arbogastes +<span class="rightnote">Arbogastes.</span> +a Goth, which Flauius Victor was by the said Maximus made regent of the Frankeners, +and partaker (as before is said) with him in the empire.</p> +<p> +After this, the Ile of Britaine remained in méetlie good quiet by the space of twentie yéeres, +till one Marcus (that was then legat, or as we maie call him lord lieutenant or deputie of +Britaine for the Romans) was by the souldiers héere proclaimed emperour against Honorius, +which Marcus was soone after killed in a tumult raised among the people within few daies +<span class="rightnote">Gratianus a Britaine. He reigned foure yéeres if we shal beléeue the British historie.</span> +after his vsurpation began. Then one Gratianus a Britaine borne succéeded in his place, +who was also slaine in the fourth moneth, after he had taken vpon him the imperiall ornaments. +The souldiers not yet heerewith pacified, procéeded to the election of an other emperour, +or rather vsurper, and so pronounced a noble gentleman called Constantine, borne +<span class="leftnote">409.</span> +also in Britaine, to be emperour, who tooke that honour vpon him in the 409 yéere after the +birth of our Sauiour, continuing his reigne by the space of two yéeres and od moneths, as +the Romane histories make mention. Some report this Constantine to be of no great towardlie +disposition woorthie to gouerne an empire, and that the souldiers chose him rather +for the name sake, bicause they would haue another Constantine, more than for anie vertues +or sufficient qualities found in his person. But other commend him both for manhood and +wisedome, wherein to speake a truth, he deserued singular commendation, if this one note +of vsurpation of the imperiall dignitie had not stained his other noble qualities. But heerein<span class="page"><a name="page539" id="page539"></a>[Page 539]</span> +he did no more than manie other would haue doone, neither yet after his inuesture did so +much as was looked for at his hands.</p> +<p> +Constantine being placed in the imperiall throne, gathered an armie with all possible indeuour, +purposing out of hand to go ouer therwith into France, and so did, thinking thereby +to win the possession of that countrie out of the hands of Honorius, or at the least to worke +so, as he should not haue the souldiers and people there to be against him, if he missed to +ioine in league with the Suabeiners, Alanes, and Vandales, which he sought to performe. +But in the end, when neither of these his deuises could take place, he sent ouer for his +sonne Constans (whome in his absence his aduersaries had shorne a moonke) & making him +partaker with him in the empire, caused him to bring ouer with him another armie, which +vnder the conduct of the same Constans he sent into Spaine to bring that countrie vnder his +obeisance.</p> +<p> +This Constans therefore comming vnder the passages that lead ouer the Pyrenine mountains, +Dindimus and Verianianus two brethren, vnto whome the keeping of those passages +<span class="rightnote">His souldiers were Picts, and placed among other men of warre that serued vnder +the ensignes of the empire, and named after Honorius, Honoriciani. <i>Blondus.</i></span> +was committed to defend the same against the Vandals, and all other enimies of the empire, +were readie to resist him with their seruants and countriemen that inhabited therabouts, +giuing him a verie sharpe incounter, and at the first putting him in great danger of an ouerthrow, +but yet at length by the valiant prowes of his British souldiers, Constans put his +aduersaries to flight, and killed the two capteins, with diuers other men of name, that were +partakers with him in the necessarie defense of that countrie against the enimies. When +Constans had thus repelled those that resisted him, the custodie of the passages in the Pyrenine +mounteins was committed vnto such bands of Picts and other, as were appointed to +go with him about the atchiuing of this enterprise, who hauing the possession of those streicts +or passages in their hands, gaue entrie vnto other barbarous nations to inuade Spaine, who +being once entered, pursued the former inhabitants with fire and swoord, setled them selues +in that countrie, and droue out the Romans.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxij4" id="xxxij4"></a> +<p> +<i>Honorius sendeth earle Constantius to expell Constantine out of Gallia, the end of Constantinus +the father and Constans the sonne, the valure and prowesse of the British +souldiers, the British writers reprooued of necligences for that they haue inserted fables +into their woorkes, whereas they might haue deposed matters of truth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +The emperour Honorius, perceiuing the réeling state of the empire, determined, foorthwith +to recouer it, before it fell altogither into ruine: and therefore sent one Constantius an +earle to driue Constantine out of Gallia, which he accordinglie performed: for after certeine +bickerings, he slue the said Constantine at Arles, although not without great bloudshed. +He pursued also the residue of the Britains, driuing them to the verie sea coasts, where they +shrowded themselues among the other Britains, that before were setled in the countrie there, +ancientlie called (as before we said) Armorica, that is, a region lieng on the sea coast: for +<i>Ar</i> in the British toong signifieth vpon; and <i>Moure</i>, perteining to the sea. And as this +Constantine the father was slaine by Constantius, so was Constans the sonne killed at Vienna +by one of his owne capteines named Gerontius. Whereby it came to passe, that Honorius +shortlie after, hauing thus obteined the victorie of both these vsurpers, recouered the Ile, +but yet not till the yeare next following, and that by the high industrie and great diligence +of that valiant gentleman earle Constantius. The slaughter of Constantine & his sonne happened +in the 1 yeare of the 297 Olympiad, 465 after the comming of Cesar, 1162 after the +building of Rome, the dominicall letter being A, and the golden number 13, so that the<span class="page"><a name="page540" id="page540"></a>[Page 540]</span> +<span class="rightnote">411.</span> +recouering of the Iland fell in the yeare of our Lord 411.</p> +<p> +Here also is eftsoones to be considered the valure of the British souldiers, who following +this last remembred Constantine the vsurper, did put the Romane state in great danger, and +by force brake through into Spaine, vanquishing those that kept the streicts of the mounteins +betwixt Spaine and Gallia, now called France, an exploit of no small consequence, sith +thereby the number of barbarous nations got frée passage to enter into Spaine, whereof +insued manie battels, sacking of cities and townes, and wasting of the countries, accordinglie +as the furious rage of those fierce people was mooued to put their crueltie in practise.</p> +<p> +¶ If therefore the Britaine writers had considered and marked the valiant exploits and +noble enterprisee which the Brittish aids, armies and legions atchiued in seruice of the Romane +emperours (by whome whilest they had the gouernement ouer this Ile, there were at +sundrie times notable numbers conueied foorth into the parties of beyond the seas, as by +Albinus and Constantius, also by his sonne Constantine the great, by Maximus, and by this +Constantine, both of them vsurpers) if (I saie) the British writers had taken good note of +the numbers of the British youth thus conueied ouer from hence, & what notable exploits +they boldlie attempted, & no lesse manfullie atchiued, they néeded not to haue giuen eare +vnto the fabulous reports forged by their Bards, of Arthur and other their princes, woorthie +in déed of verie high commendation.</p> +<p> +And pitie it is, that their fame should be brought by such meanes out of credit, by the +incredible and fond fables which haue béene deuised of their acts so vnlike to be true, as the +tales of Robin Hood, or the gests written by Ariost the Italian in his booke intituled +"Orlando furioso," sith the same writers had otherwise true matter inough to write of +concerning the worthie feats by their countriemen in those daies in forren parts boldlie enterprised, +and no lesse valiantlie accomplished, as also the warres which now and then they +mainteined against the Romans here at home, in times when they felt themselues oppressed +by their tyrannicall gouernment, as by that which is written before of Caratacus, Voadicia, +Cartimandua, Venusius, Galgagus, or Galdus (as some name him) and diuers other, who +for their noble valiancies deserue as much praise, as by toong or pen is able to be expressed. +But now to returne vnto the British historie: we will procéed in order with their kings as +we find them in the same mentioned, and therefore we haue thought good to speake somewhat +further of Gratian, from whome we haue digressed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxiij4" id="xxxiij4"></a> +<p> +<i>Gratians rough regiment procureth his owne destruction, the comming of his two brethren +Guanius and Melga with their armies, the Scots and Picts plague the Britains, they +send for aid to Rome, Valentinian sendeth Gallio Rauenna to reléeue them, the Romans +refuse anie longer to succour the Britains, whom they taught how to make armour and +weapons, the Scots and Picts enter afresh into Britaine and preuaile, the Britains are +brought to extreme miserie, ciuill warres among them, and what mischiefe dooth follow +therevpon, their lamentable letter to Actius for succour against their enimies, their sute +is denied, at what time the Britains ceased to be tributaries to the Romans, they send ambassadors +to the K. of Britaine in France, and obteine their sute.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">GRATIANUS.</span> +Gratianus then, whome Maximus or Maximinus had sent into Britaine (as before +ye haue heard) hearing that his maister was slaine, tooke vpon him the rule of this our +<span class="leftnote">390.</span> +Britaine, and made himselfe king therof, in the yeare 390. He was a Britaine borne, as +Polydor writeth, coniecturing so, by that he is named of authors to be Municeps, that is to +<span class="rightnote">Of the Romane souldiers as <i>Blondus</i> saith.</span><span class="page"><a name="page541" id="page541"></a>[Page 541]</span> +saie, a frée man of the countrie or citie where he inhabited. For his sternenesse and rough +gouernement, he was of the Britains (as the histories alledge) slaine and dispatched out of +the waie, after he had reigned the space of foure yeares, or rather foure moneths, as should +séeme by that which is found in autentike writers. Then the forenamed kings Guantius and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Galfrid. Caxton.</i></span> +Melga, which (as some write) were brethren, returned into this land with their armies increased +with new supplies of men of warre, as Scots, Danes, the Norwegians, and destroied +the countrie from side to side. For the Britains in this season were sore inféebled, and were +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid. Matth. West. Caxton.</i></span> +not able to make anie great numbers of souldiers, by reason that Maximus had led foorth +of the land the floure and chiefest choise of all the British youth into Gallia, as before ye +haue heard.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +Gyldas maketh no mention of these two kings Guanius and Melga of the Hunnes, but +rehearsing this great destruction of the land, declareth (as before ye haue heard) that the +Scots and Picts were the same that did all the mischiefe, whome he calleth two nations of +beyond the seas, the Scots comming out of the northwest, and the Picts out of the northeast, +by whome (as he saith) the land was ouerrun, and brought vnder foot manie yeares after. +Therefore the Britains being thus vexed, spoiled, and cruellie persecuted by the Scots and +Picts (if we shall so take them) sent messengers with all spéed vnto Rome to make sute for +some aid of men of war to be sent into Britaine. Wherevpon immediatlie a legion of +<span class="rightnote">414.</span> +souldiers was sent thither in the yéere 414, which easilie repelled the enimies, and chased +them backe with great slaughter, to the great comfort of the Britains, the which by this +meanes were deliuered from danger of vtter destruction, as they thought.</p> +<p> +But the Romans being occasioned to depart againe out of the land, appointed the Britains +to make a wall (as had béene aforetime by the emperours Adrian, Antoninus and Seuerus) +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i> and <i>Polychron.</i></span> +ouerthwart the countrie from sea to sea, stretching from Penuelton vnto the citie of Aclud, +whereby the enimies might be staid from entring the land: but this wall being made of turfs +and sods, rather than with stones, after the departure of the Romans was easilie ouerthrowne +by the Scots and Picts, which eftsoones returned to inuade the confines of the Britains, and +so entring the countrie, wasted and destroied the places before them, according to their +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas. Polychron. Beda. Matth. West.</i></span> +former custome. Herevpon were messengers with most lamentable letters againe dispatched +towards Rome for new aid against those cruell enimies, with promise, that if the Romans +would now in this great necessitie helpe to deliuer the land, they should be assured to find +the Britains euermore obedient subiects, and redie at their commandement. Valentinianus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Blondus.</i> Gallio Ravenna sent into Brittaine.</span> +(pitieng the case of the poore Britains) appointed another legion of souldiers (of the which +one Gallio of Rauenna had the leading) to go to their succours, the which arriuing in Britaine +set on the enimies, and giuing them the ouerthrow, slue a great number of them, and chased +the residue out of the countrie.</p> +<p> +The Romans thus hauing obteined the victorie, declared to the Britains, that from thencefoorth +they would not take vpon them for euerie light occasion so painefull a iournie, alledging +how there was no reason why the Romane ensignes, with such a number of men +of warre, should be put to trauell so far by sea and land, for the repelling and beating backe +of a sort of scattering rouers and pilfring théeues. Wherfore they aduised the Britains to +looke to their dueties, and like men to indeuour themselues to defend their countrie by their +owne force from the enimies inuasions. And because they iudged it might be an helpe to +the Britains, they set in hand to build a wall yet once againe ouerthwart the Ile, in the same +<span class="rightnote">A wall built overthwart the Iland. <i>Beda</i>.</span> +place where the emperour Seuerus caused his trench and rampire to be cast. This wall +which the Romans now built with helpe of the Britains, was 8 foot in bredth and 12 in +length, trauersing the land from east to west, & was made of stone. </p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas and Beda.</i></span> +After that this wall was finished, the Romans exhorted the Britains to plaie the men, and +shewed them the way how to make armor & weapons. Besides this, on the coast of the +east sea where their ships lay at rode, & where it was douted that the enimies would land, +they caused towers to be erected, with spaces betwixt, out of the which the seas might be +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +discouered. These things ordered, the Romans bad the Britains farewell, not minding to +returne thither againe. The Romans then being gon out of the land, the Scots and Picts<span class="page"><a name="page542" id="page542"></a>[Page 542]</span> +knowing thereof, by & by came againe by sea, & being more emboldened than before, bicause +of the deniall made by the Romans to come any more to the succor of the Britains, +they tooke into possession all the north and vttermost bounds of the Ile, euen vnto the foresaid +<span class="rightnote">This chanced in the yere 43. as <i>M. W.</i> saith.</span> +wall, therein to remaine as inhabitants. And wheras the Britains got them to their +wall to defend the same, that the enimies should not passe further into the countrie, they +were in the end beaten from it, and diuers of them slaine, so that the Scots and Picts entred +vpon them and pursued them in more cruell maner than before, so that the Britains being +chased out of their cities, townes, and dwelling houses, were constreined to flie into desert +places, and there to remaine and liue after the maner of sauage people, and in the +end began to rob and spoile one another, so to auoid the danger of staruing for lacke of +food: and thus at the last the countrie was so destroied and wasted, that there was no other +shift for them that was left aliue to liue by, except onelie by hunting and taking of wild +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i> Rebellion.</span> +beasts and foules. And to augment their miserie, the commons imputing the fault to rest +in the lords and gouernors, arose against them in armes, but were vanquished and easilie +put to flight at two seuerall times, being beaten downe and slaine (through lacke of skill) +in such numbers, especiallie the latter time, that the residue which escaped, withdrew into +the craggie mounteins, where within the bushes and caues they kept themselues close, +sometimes comming downe and fetching away from the heards of beasts and flocks of shéepe +which belonged to the nobles and gentlemen of the countrie, great booties to relieue them +withall. But at length oppressed with extreme famine, when neither part could long remaine +in this state, as néeding one anothers helpe, necessitie made peace betwixt the lords +<span class="rightnote">Ciuill warre decaied the force of the Britains. What mischiefe follow of ciuill warres.</span> +and commons of the land, all iniuries being pardoned and cléerelie forgiuen. This ciuill +warre decaied the force of the Britains, little lesse than the tyrannicall practises of Maximus, +for by the auoiding of the commons thus out of their houses, the ground laie vntilled, whereof +insued such famine for the space of thrée yéeres togither, that a woonderfull number of +people died for want of sustenance.</p> +<p> +Thus the Britains being brought generallie into such extreame miserie, they thought good +<span class="rightnote">Actius.</span> +to trie if they might purchase some aid of that noble man Actius, which at that time remained +in France as yet called Gallia, gouerning the same as lieutenant vnder the emperor +Honorius: and herevpon taking counsell togither, they wrote a letter to him, the tenor +whereof insueth.</p> +<p> +<i>To Actius thrise consull.</i></p> +<p> +"The lamentable request of vs the Britains, beseeching you of aid to bee ministred vnto +the prouince of the Romane empire, vnto our countrie, vnto our wiues and children at +this present, which stand in most extreame perill. For the barbarous people driue vs to the +sea, and the sea driueth vs backe vnto them againe. Hereof rise two kinds of death, for +either we are slaine, or drowned, and against such euils haue we no remedie nor helpe at +all. Therefore in respect of your clemencie, succor your owne we most instantlie require +you, &c."</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding the Britains thus sought for aid at Actius hands as then the emperours +<span class="rightnote">The Britains could get no aid frō the Romans.</span> +lieutenant, yet could they get none; either for that Actius would not, as he that passed +litle how things went, bicause he bare displeasure in his mind against Valentinian as then +emperor; or else for that he could not, being otherwise constreined to imploie all his +forces in other places against such barbarous nations as then inuaded the Romane empire. +And so by that means was Britaine lost, and the tribute which the Britains were accustomed +to pay to the Romans ceassed, iust fiue hundred yéeres after that Iulius Cesar first +entred the Ile.</p> +<p> +The Britains being thus put to their shifts, manie of them as hunger-starued were constrained +to yéeld themselues into the griping hands of their enimies, whereas other yet +kéeping within the mounteins, woods and caues, brake out as occasion serued vpon their<span class="page"><a name="page543" id="page543"></a>[Page 543]</span> +aduersaries, and then first (saith Gyldas) did the Britains not putting their trust in man but +in God (according to the saieng of Philo, Where mans helpe faileth, it is needfull that Gods +helpe be present) make slaughter of their enimies that had béene accustomed manie yéeres +<span class="rightnote">Punishment ceaseth, but sin increaseth.</span> +to rob and spoile them in maner as before is recited, and so the bold attempts of the enimies +ceassed for a time, but the wickednesse of the British people ceassed not at all. The enimies +departed out of the land, but the inhabitants departed not from their naughtie dooings, being +not so readie to put backe the common enimies, as to exercise ciuill warre and discord +among themselues. The wicked Irish people departed home, to make returne againe within +a while after. But the Picts settled themselues first at that season in the vttermost bounds +of the Ile, and there continued, making insurrections oftentimes vpon their neighbours, and +spoiling them of their goods.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfridus. Gyldas</i> his words are to be considered.</span> +This with more also hath Gyldas, and likewise Beda written of this great desolation of +the British people: wherein if the words of Gyldas be well weighed and considered, it +maie lead vs to thinke, that the Scots had no habitations here in Britaine, but onelie in +Ireland, till after this season, and that at this present time the Picts, which before inhabited +within the Iles of Orkenie, now placed themselues in the north parts of Scotland, and after +by processe of time came and nestled themselues in Louthian, in the Mers, and other +countries more neere to our borders. But to procéed.</p> +<p> +The British histories affirme, that whilest the Britains were thus persecuted by these two +most cruell and fierce nations the Scots and Picts, the noble and chiefest men amongst them +<span class="rightnote">An ambassage sent from the Britains vnto Aldroenus king of Britaine in France.</span> +consulted togither, & concluded to send an honorable ambassage vnto Aldroenus as then +king of little Britaine in Gallia, which Aldroenus was the fourth from Conan Meridoc the first +king there of the British nation. Of this ambassage the archbishop of London named +Guetheline or Gosseline was appointed the chiefe and principall, who passing ouer into little +Britaine, and comming before the presence of Aldroenus, so declared the effect of his message, +<span class="leftnote">Constantine the brother of Aldroenus</span> +that his suit was granted. For Aldroenus agréed to send his brother Constantine +ouer into great Britaine with a conuenient power, vpon condition, that the victorie being obteined +against the enimies, the Britains should make him king of great Britaine.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus it is apparent, that this land of Britaine was without anie certeine gouernour +(after that Gratian the vsurper was dispatched) a number of yéeres togither, but how manie, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i></span> +writers in their account do varie. Fabian deposeth by diuers coniecturs that the space betwixt +the death of Gratian, and the beginning of the reigne of the said Constantine, brother +to Aldroenus, continued nine and thirtie yéeres, during which time the Britains were sore +and miserablie afflicted by the inuasions of the Scots and Picts, as before ye haue heard by +testimonies taken out of Beda, Gyldas, Geffrey of Monmouth, and other writers both British +and English.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxiiij4" id="xxxiiij4"></a> +<p> +<i>What the Roman historiographer Marcellinus reporteth of the Scots, Picts, and Britains +vnder the emperour Iulianus, Valentinianus and Valens, they send their vicegerents into +Britaine, the disquietnesse of that time, London called Augusta, the worthie exploits of +Theodosius in this Iland against the enimie, Valentinus a banished malefactor deuiseth +his destruction, he is taken and executed, he reformeth manie disorders and inconueniences, +the first entring of the Saxons into Britaine, they are dawnted at the verie sight of the +Romane ensignes, the Saxons lieng in wait for their enimies are slaine euerie mothers +sonne.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Maximus. 383.</span> +But now sith no mention is made of the Scots in our histories, till the daies of Maximus +the vsurper or tyrant, as some call him, who began his reigne here in Britaine about the +<span class="page"><a name="page544" id="page544"></a>[Page 544]</span> +yéere of our Lord 383, and that till after he had bereft the land of the chiefest forces thereof, +in taking the most part of the youth ouer with him: we find not in the same histories of +anie troubles wrought to the Britains by that nation. Therefore we haue thought good +héere to come backe to the former times, that we may shew what is found mentioned in +the Romane histories, both before that time and after, as well concerning the Scots and Picts, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ammianus Marcellinus lib.</i> 20. The emperor Iulianius.</span> +as also the Saxons, and especiallie in Ammianus Marcellinus, where in the beginning of his +twentith booke intreating of the doings of the emperour Iulianus, he saith as followeth.</p> +<p> +In this state stood things in Illyricum or Slauonia, and in the east parts, at what time +Constantius bare the office of consull the tenth time, and Iulianus the third time, that is to +<span class="leftnote">360.</span> +say, in the yéere of our Lord 360, when in Britaine quietnesse being disturbed by roads made +<span class="rightnote">Scots and Picts trouble the state of this Ile.</span> +by the Scots and Picts, which are wild and sauage people, the frontiers of the countrie were +wasted, and feare oppressed the prouinces wearied with the heape of passed losses. The +emperor [he meaneth Iulianus as then remaining at Paris, and hauing his mind troubled +with manie cares, doubted to go to the aid of them beyond the sea, as we haue shewed +that Constantius did, least he should leaue them in Gallia without a ruler, the Almains +being euen then prouoked and stirred vp to crueltie and warre.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Lupicinus sent into Britaine.</span> +He thought good therefore to send Lupicinus vnto these places to bring things into frame +and order, which Lupicinus was at that time master of the armorie, a warlike person and +skilfull in all points of chiualrie, but proud and high-minded beyond measure, and such +one as it was doubted long whether he was more couetous or cruell. Herevpon the said +<span class="rightnote">Bataui now Hollanders.</span> +Lupicinus setting forward the light armed men of the Heruli and Bataui, with diuers companies +also of the people of Mesia now called Bulgarie; when winter was well entred and +come on, he came himselfe to Bulleine, and there prouiding ships, and imbarking his men, +<span class="leftnote">Rutupis.</span> +when the wind serued his purpose, he transported ouer vnto Sandwich, and so marched foorth +unto London, from thence purposing to set forward, as vpon aduise taken according to the +qualitie of his businesse he should thinke méet and expedient.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Of the displacing of these men the learned +may sée more in <i>Am. Mar.</i></span> +In the meane time, whilest Lupicinus was busie here in Britaine to represse the enimies, +the emperour Constantius displaced certeine officers, and among other he depriued the same +Lupicinus of the office of the master of the armorie, appointing one Gumobarius to succéed +him in that roome, before anie such thing was knowen in these parties. And where it was +doubted least that Lupicinus (if he had vnderstood so much whilest he was yet in Britaine) +would haue attempted some new trouble, as he was a man of a stout and loftie mind, he +was called backe from thence, and withall there was sent a notarie vnto Bulleine, to watch +that none should passe the seas ouer into Britaine till Lupicinus were returned: and so returning +ouer from thence yer he had anie knowledge what was doone by the emperour, he +could make no sturre, hauing no such assistants in Gallia, as it was thought he might haue +had in Britaine, if he should haue mooued rebellion there.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Lib.</i> 26.</span> +The same Marcellinus speaking of the doings about the time that Valentinianus, being +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ammianus Marcellinus lib.</i> 26.</span> +elected emperour, had admitted his brother Valens as fellow with him in gouernement, hath +these words. In this season as though trumpets had blowne the sound to battell through +out the whole Romane empire, most cruell nations being stirred vp, inuaded the borders +<span class="rightnote">The Almans. The Sarmatians. The Quadi Picts and Saxons. Austorians. The Goths.</span> +next adioining, the Almans wasted and destroied the parts of Gallia and Rhetia, as the +Sarmatians and Quadi did Paunonia, the Picts, the Saxons, the Scots, and the Attacots vexed +the Britains with continuall troubles, and gréeuous damages; the Austorians and the people +of the Moores ouerran the countrie of Affrike more sharpelie than in time past they had +done; the pilfring troops of the Goths spoiled Thracia; the king of Persia set in hand to +subdue the Armenians, and sought to bring them vnder his obeisance, hasting with all spéed +toward Numonia, pretending (though vniustlie) that now after the deceasse of Iouinius, +with whome he had contracted a league and bond of peace, there was no cause of let what +he ought not to recouer those things, which (as he alledged) did belong to his ancestors: +and so foorth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Lib.</i> 27.</span> +Moreouer, the same Marcellinus in another place writeth in this wise, where he speaketh +of the said Valentinianus. Departing therefore from Amiens, and hasting to Trier, he was<span class="page"><a name="page545" id="page545"></a>[Page 545]</span> +troubled with gréeuous newes that were brought him, giuing him to vnderstand, that Britaine +<span class="rightnote">Comes maritimi tractus.</span> +by a conspiracie of the barbarous nations was brought to vtter pouertie, that Nectaridus one +of the emperours house earle of the sea coast, hauing charge of the parties towards the sea, +was slaine, and that the generall Bulchobaudes was circumuented by traines of the enimies. +These things with great horrour being knowne, he sent Seuerus as then erle, or (as I may +<span class="rightnote">Comes domesticorum.</span> +call him lord steward of his houshold) to reforme things that were amisse, if hap would +so permit, who being shortlie called backe, Iouinius going thither, and with spéed hasting +forward, sent for more aid and a great power of men, as the instant necessitie then required. +At length, for manie causes, and the same greatlie to be feared, the which were reported and +<span class="rightnote">Theodosius sent into Britaine.</span> +aduertised out of that Ile, Theodosius was elected and appointed to go thither, a man of +approoued skill in warlike affaires, and calling togither an hardie youthfull number of the +legions and cohorts of men of warre, he went foorth, no small hope being conceiued of +his good spéed; the fame wherof spred and went afore him.</p> +<p> +A litle after, Marcellinus adding what people they were that troubled the Britains in this +<span class="rightnote">Picts diuided into two nations. Attacotti.</span> +wise, saith thus. This shall suffice to be said, that in this season the Picts diuided into two +nations Dicalidones, and Victuriones, and in like maner the Attacotti a right warlike nation, +and the Scots wandering here and there, made fowle woorke in places where they came. +The confines of France were disquieted by the Frankeners and Saxons borderers vnto them, +euerie one as they could breaking foorth, & dooing great harme by cruell spoile, fire, and +taking of prisoners. To withstand those dooings if good fortune would giue him leaue, +<span class="rightnote">Theodosius passeth ouer into Britaine.</span> +that most able capteine going vnto the vttermost bounds of the earth, when he came to the +coast of Bullen which is seuered from the contrarie coast on the other side by the sea, with +a narrow streight, where sometime the water goeth verie high and rough, & shortlie after +becommeth calme & pleasant, without hurt to those that passe the same, transporting ouer +at leasure, he arriued at Sandwich (or rather Richburrow) where there is a quiet road for +<span class="rightnote">Bataui Hollanders.</span> +vessels to lie at anchor. Wherevpon the Bataui and Heruli, with the souldiers of the legions +called Iouij, and Victores, being companies that trusted well to their owne strength, marched +<span class="leftnote">London called Augusta.</span> +foorth & drew towards London, an ancient citie, which now of late hath bin called Augusta. +Herewith diuiding his armie into sundrie parts, he set vpon the troops of his enimies as +they were abroad to forrey the countrie, pestered with burdens of their spoiles and pillage, +and spéedilie putting them to flight, as they were leading away those prisoners which they +had taken, with their booties of cattell, he bereft them of their preie, the which the poore +Britains that were tributaries had lost. To be briefe, restoring the whole, except a small +portion bestowed amongst the wearie souldiers, he entred the citie which before was opprest +with troubles, but now suddenlie refreshed, bicause there was hope of reliefe and assured +preseruation.</p> +<p> +After this, when Theodosius was comforted with prosperous successe to attempt things of +greater importance, and searching waies how with good aduise to woorke suerlie: whilest +he remained doubtfull what would insue, he learned as well by the confession of prisoners +taken, as also by the information of such as were fled from the enimies, that the scattered +people of sundrie nations which with practise of great crueltie were become fierce and vndanted, +could not be subdued but by policie secretlie practised, and sudden inuasions. At +length therefore setting foorth his proclamations, and promising pardon to those that were +gone awaie from their capteins or charge, he called them backe againe to serue: and also +those that by licence were departed and laie scattered here and there in places abroad. By +this meanes, when manie were returned, he being on the one side earnestlie prouoked, and +<span class="rightnote">Theodosius requireth to haue Ciuilis sent to him.</span> +on the other holden backe with thoughtfull cares, required to haue one Ciuilis by name sent +to him to haue the rule of the prouinces in Britaine in steed of the other gouernours, a man +<span class="leftnote">Dulcitius.</span> +of sharpe wit, and an earnest mainteiner of iustice. He likewise required that one Dulcitius +a capteine renowmed in knowledge of warlike affaires might be sent ouer to him for +his better asistance. These things were doone in Britaine.</p> +<p> +Againe, in his eight and twentith booke, the same Marcellinus reciting further what the<span class="page"><a name="page546" id="page546"></a>[Page 546]</span> +same Theodosius atchiued in Britaine, hath in effect these words: Thedosius verelie a capteine +<span class="rightnote">London called Augusta.</span> +of woorthie fame, taking a valiant courage to him, and departing from Augusta, which +men of old time called London, with souldiers assembled by great diligence, did succour +and reléeue greatlie the decaied and troubled state of the Britains, preuenting euerie conuenient +place where the barbarous people might lie in wait to doo mischiefe: and nothing +he commanded the meane souldiers to doo, but that whereof he with a chéerefull mind +would first take in hand to shew them an example. By this meanes accomplishing the roome +of a valiant souldier, and fulfilling the charge of a noble capteine, he discomfited and put +to flight sundrie nations, whome presumption (nourished by securitie) emboldened to inuade +the Romane prouinces: and so the cities and castels that had béene sore endamaged by manifold +losses and displeasures, were restored to their former state of wealth, the foundation of +rest and quietnesse being laid for a long season after to insue.</p> +<p> +But as these things were a dooing, one wicked practise was in hand & like to haue burst +foorth, to the gréeuous danger of setting things in broile, if it had not béene staied euen in +<span class="rightnote">Valentinus. Valeria now Stiermarke.</span> +the beginning of the first attempt. For there was one Valentinus, borne in the parties of +Valeria adioining to Pannonia, now called Stiermarke, a man of a proud and loftie stomach, +brother to the wife of Maximinus, which Valentinus for some notable offense had béene +banished into Britaine, where the naughtie man that could not rest in quiet, deuised how by +some commotion he might destroy Theodosius, who as he saw was onelie able to resist his +wicked purposes. And going about manie things both priuilie and apertlie, the force of his +vnmeasurable desire to mischiefe still increasing, he sought to procure aswell other that were +in semblable wise banished men, & inclined to mischiefe like him selfe, as also diuers of the +souldiers, alluring them (as the time serued) with large promises of great wealth, if they +would ioine with him in that enterprise. But euen now in the verie nicke, when they shuld +haue gone in hand with their vngratious exploit, Theodosius warned of their intent, boldlie +aduanced himselfe to sée due punishment executed on the offendors that were foorthwith +taken and knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Dulcitius is appointed to put Valentinus to death.</span> +Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie complices vnto the capteine +Dulcitius, commanding him to see them put to death: but coniecturing by his warlike skill +(wherein he passed all other in those daies) what might follow, he would not in anie wise +haue anie further inquirie made of the other conspirators, least through feare that might +be spread abroad in manie, the troubles of the prouinces now well quieted, should be +againe reuiued. After this, Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse manie things as néed +required, all danger was quite remooued: so that it was most apparent, that fortune fauored +him in such wise, that she left him not destitute of hir furtherance in anie one of all his +attempts. He therefore restored the cities & castels that were appointed to be kept with +garrisons, and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with sufficient numbers to +keépe watch and ward in places necessarie. And hauing recouered the prouince which the +enimies had gotten into their possession, he so restored it to the former state, that vpon +<span class="rightnote">A part of Britaine called Valentia.</span> +his motion to haue it so, a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it, and the name was +changed, so as from thencefoorth it should be called Valentia for the princes pleasure.</p> +<p> +The Areani, a kind of men ordeined in times past by our elders (of whome somewhat +we haue spoken in the acts of the emperour Constance) being now by little and little fallen +into vices, he remooued from their places of abiding, being openlie conuicted, that allured +with bribes and faire promises, they had oftentimes bewraied vnto the barbarous nations +what was doone among the Romans: for this was their charge, to runne vp and downe by +long iournies, and to giue warning to our captains, what sturre the people of the next +confines were about to make.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The praise of Theodosius.</span> +Theodosius therefore hauing ordered these & other like things, most woorthilie & to his +high fame, was called home to the emperours court, who leauing the prouinces in most +triumphant state, was highlie renowmed for his often and most profitable victories, as if he +had béene an other Camillus or Cursor Papirius, and with the fauor and loue of all men<span class="page"><a name="page547" id="page547"></a>[Page 547]</span> +was conueied vnto the sea side; and passing ouer with a gentle wind, came to the court, +where he was receiued with great gladnesse and commendation, being immediatlie appointed +to succéed in the roome of Valence Iouinus that was maister of the horsses. Finallie, he +was called by the emperour Gratianus, to be associated with him in the imperiail estate, after +<span class="rightnote">379.</span> +the death of Valence, in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauior 379, and reigned emperour, +surnamed Thodosius the great, about 16 yeares and 2 daies.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Har.</i></span> +Hereto also maie that be applied which the foresaid Marcellinus writeth in the same booke, +<span class="leftnote"><i> Walf. Lazi.</i></span> +touching the inuasion of the Saxons, the which (as Wolf. Lazius taketh it) entred then first +into great Britaine, but were repelled of the emperour Valentinianus the first, by the conduct +<span class="rightnote">Seuerus.</span> +and guiding of Seuerus. The same yéere (saith he) that the emperours were the third time +consuls, there brake forth a multitude of Saxons, & passing the seas, entred stronglie into +the Romane confines: a nation fed oftentimes with the slaughter of our people, the brunt +<span class="rightnote">Nonneus Comes.</span> +of whose first inuasion earle Nonneus sustained, one which was appointed to defend those +parties, an approoued capteine, & with continuall trauell in warres verie expert. But then +incountring with desperate and forlorne people, when he perceiued some of his souldiers to +be ouerthrowne and beaten downe, and himselfe wounded, not able to abide the often assaults +of his enimies, he obteined this by informing the emperour what was necessarie and +<span class="rightnote">Seuerus coronell of the footmen.</span> +ought to be doone, insomuch that Seuerus, maister or (as I maie call him) coronell of the +footmen, was sent to helpe and reléeue things that stood in danger: the which bringing a +sufficient power with him for the state of that businesse, when he came to those places, he +diuiding his armie into parts, put the Saxons in such feare and trouble before they fought, +that they did not so much as take weapon in hand to make resistance, but being amazed +with the sight of the glittering ensignes, & the eagles figured in the Romane standards, they +streight made sute for peace, and at length after the matter was debated in sundrie wise +(because it was judged that it should be profitable for the Romane commonwealth) truce +was granted vnto them, and manie yoong men (able for seruice in the warres) deliuered to +the Romans according to the couenants concluded.</p> +<p> +After this the Saxons were permitted to depart without impeachment, & so to returne +from whence they came, who being now out of all feare, and preparing to go their waies, +diuers bands of footmen were sent to lie priuilie in a certeine hid vallie so ambushed, as +they might easilie breake foorth vpon the enimies as they passed by them. But it chanced +far otherwise than they supposed, for certeine of those footmen stirred with the noise of +them as they were comming, brake foorth out of time, and being suddenlie discouered +whilest they hasted to vnite and knit themselues togither, by the hideous crie and shout of +the Saxons they were put to flight. Yet by and by closing togither againe, they staied, and +the extremitie of the chance ministring to them force (though not sufficient) they were +driuen to fight it out, and being beaten downe with great slaughter, had died euerie mothers +sonne, if a troope of horssemen armed at all points (being in like maner placed in an other +side at the entring of the waie to assaile the enimies as they should passe) aduertised by +the dolefull noise of them that fought, had not spéedilie come to the succour of their +fellowes.</p> +<p> +Then ran they togither more cruellie than before, and the Romans bending themselues +towards their enimies, compassed them in on each side, and with drawne swords slue them +downe right, so that there was not one of them left to returne home to their natiue countrie +to bring newes how they had sped, nor one suffered to liue after anothers death, either to +reuenge their ruine, or to lament their losse. Thus were the limits of the Romane empire +preserued at that time in Britaine, which should séeme to be about the yéere of our Lord +<span class="rightnote">399.</span> +399.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus were the Romans, as commonlie in all their martiall affaires, so in this incounter +verie fortunate, the happie issue of the conflict falling out on their side. And strange it is +to consider and marke, how these people by a celestiall kind of influence were begotten and +borne as it were to prowesse and renowme; the course of their dealings in the field most<span class="page"><a name="page548" id="page548"></a>[Page 548]</span> +aptlie answering to their name. For (as some suppose) the Romans were called of the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Solinus. Adr. Iun.</i></span> +Gréeke word ´ρώμη, signifieng power and mightinesse: and in old time they were called +Valentians, <i>A valendo</i>, of preuailing: so that it was no maruell though they were victorious +subduers of forren people, sithens they were by nature created and appointed to be conquerors, +and thereof had their denomination.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxv4" id="xxxv4"></a> +<p> +<i>What the poet Claudianus saith of the state of Britaine in the decaie of the Romane empire, +of the Scots and Picts cruellie vexing the Britains, they are afflicted by inuasion +of barbarous nations, the practise of the Saxons, of the Scots first comming into this +Iland, and from whence, the Scotish chonographers noted for curiositie and vanitie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Honorius the emperour.</span> +After this, in the time of the emperour Honorius, the Scots, Picts, and Saxons, did eftsoones +inuade the frontiers of the Romane prouince in Britaine, as appéereth by that which +the poet Claudianus writeth, in attributing the honour of preseruing the same frontiers vnto +<span class="leftnote">396. <i>Claudianus.</i></span> +the said emperour, in his booke intituled "Panegerycus tertij consulatus" (which fell in the +yéere 396) as thus:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +Ille leues Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos<br /> +Edomuit, Scotúmq; vago mucrone secutus,<br /> +Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus vndas,<br /> +Et geminis fulgens vtróq; sub axe tropheis,<br /> +Tethyos alternae refluas calcauit arenas.<br /><br /> + +The nimble Mores and Picts by right<br /> +<span class="indent1">so cald, he hath subdude,</span><br /> +And with his wandring swoord likewise<br /> +<span class="indent1">the Scots he hath pursude:</span><br /> +He brake with bold couragious oare<br /> +<span class="indent1">the Hyperborean waue,</span><br /> +And shining vnder both the poles<br /> +<span class="indent1">with double trophies braue,</span><br /> +He marcht vpon the bubling sands<br /> +<span class="indent1">of either swelling seas.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +The same Claudianus vpon the fourth consulship of Honorius, saith in a tetrastichon as +followeth:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +Quid rigor æternus cæli? quid frigora prosunt?<br /> +Ignotúmq; fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso<br /> +Orcades, incaluit Pictonum sanguine Thule,<br /> +Scotorum cumulos fleuit glacialis Hyberne.<br /><br /> + +What lasting cold? what did to them<br /> +<span class="indent1">the frostie climats gaine?</span><br /> +And sea vnknowne? bemoisted all<br /> +<span class="indent1">with bloud of Saxons slaine</span><br /> +The Orknies were: with bloud of Picts<br /> +<span class="rightnote">Thule some take to be Iseland, some Scotland.</span> +<span class="indent1">hath Thule waxed warme,</span><br /> +And ysie Ireland hath bewaild<br /> +<span class="indent1">the heaps of Scotish harme.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +The same praise giueth he to Stilico the sonne in law of Honorius, and maketh mention<span class="page"><a name="page549" id="page549"></a>[Page 549]</span> +of a legion of souldiers sent for out of Britaine in the periphrasis or circumlocution of the +Gotish bloudie warres:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +Venit & extremis legio prætenta Britannis,<br /> +Quas Scoto dat fræna truci, ferróq; notatas<br /> +Perleget exanimes Picto moriente figuras.<br /><br /> + +A legion eke there came from out<br /> +<span class="indent1">the farthest Britains bent,</span><br /> +Which brideled hath the Scots so sterne:<br /> +<span class="indent1">and marks with iron brent</span><br /> +Vpon their liuelesse lims dooth read,<br /> +<span class="indent1">whiles Picts their liues relent.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +He rehearseth the like in his second "Panegerycus" of Stilico, in most ample and pithie +manner insuing:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +Inde Calidonio velata Britannia monstro,<br /> +Ferro Picta genas, cuius vestigia verrit<br /> +Cærulus, Oceaniq; æstum mentitur amictus,<br /> +Me quoq; vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit,<br /> +Muniuit Stilico, totam quum Scotus Hybernam<br /> +Mouit, & infesto spumauit remige Thetis,<br /> +Illius effectum curis, ne bella timerem<br /> +Scotica, ne Pictum tremerem, ne littore toto<br /> +Prospicerem dubijs venturum Saxona ventis.<br /><br /> + +Then Britaine whom the monsters did<br /> +<span class="indent1">of Calidone surround,</span><br /> +Whose cheekes were pearst with scorching steele,<br /> +<span class="indent1">whose garments swept the ground,</span><br /> +Resembling much the marble hew<br /> +<span class="indent1">of ocean seas that boile,</span><br /> +Said, She whom neighbour nations did<br /> +<span class="indent1">conspire to bring to spoile,</span><br /> +Hath Stilico munited strong, when<br /> +<span class="indent1">raised by Scots entice</span><br /> +All Ireland was, and enimies ores<br /> +<span class="indent1">the salt sea fome did slice,</span><br /> +His care hath causd, that I all feare<br /> +<span class="indent1">of Scotish broiles haue bard,</span><br /> +Ne doo I dread the Picts, ne looke<br /> +<span class="indent1">my countrie coasts to gard</span><br /> +Gainst Saxon troops, whom changing winds<br /> +<span class="indent1">sent sailing hitherward.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Britaine afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations.</span> +Thus maie it appéere, that in the time when the Romane empire began to decaie, in like manner +as other parts of the same empire were inuaded by barbarous nations, so was that +part of Britaine which was subiect to the Romane emperors grieuouslie assailed by the +Scots and Picts, and also by the Saxons, the which in those daies inhabiting all alongst the +sea coasts of low Germanie, euen from the Elbe vnto the Rhine, did not onelie trouble the +sea by continuall rouing, but also vsed to come on land into diuerse parts of Britaine and +Gallia, inuading the countries, and robbing the same with great rage and crueltie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sidon. <br />Apol. li. 8. Epist.</i></span><span class="page"><a name="page550" id="page550"></a>[Page 550]</span> +To the which Sidonius Apollinaris thus alludeth, writing to Namatius. "The messenger +did assuredlie affirme, that latelie ye blew the trumpet to warre in your nation, and betwixt +the office one while of a mariner, and another while of a souldier, wafted about the +<span class="leftnote">The pirasie of the Saxons.</span> +crooked shores of the ocean sea against the fléet of the Saxons, of whome as manie rouers +as ye behold, so manie archpirats ye suppose to sée: so doo they altogither with one accord +command, obeie, teach, and learne to plaie the parts of rouers, that euen now there is good +occasion to warne you to beware. This enimie is more cruell than all other enimies. He +assaileth at vnwares, he escapeth by forseeing the danger afore hand, he despiseth those that +stand against him, he throweth downe the vnwarie: if he be followed he snappeth them +vp that pursue him, if he flée he escapeth."</p> +<p> +Of like effect for proofe héereof be those verses which he wrote vnto Maiorianus his +panegyrike oration, following in Latine and in English verse.</p> + +<p class="indent"> +Tot maria intraui duce te, longéq; remotas<br /> +Sole sub occiduo gentes, victricia Cæsar<br /> +Signa Calidonios transuexit ad vsq; Britannos,<br /> +Fuderit & quanquam Scotum, & cum Saxone Pictum,<br /> +Hostes quæsiuit quem iam natura vetabat,<br /> +Quærere plus homines, &c.<br /><br /> + +So manie seas I entred haue,<br /> +<span class="indent1">and nations farre by west,</span><br /> +By thy conduct, and Cæsar hath<br /> +<span class="indent1">his banners borne full prest</span><br /> +Vnto the furthest British coast,<br /> +<span class="indent1">where Calidonians dwell,</span><br /> +The Scot and Pict with Saxons eke,<br /> +<span class="indent1">though he subdued fell,</span><br /> +Yet would he enimies seeke vnknowne<br /> +<span class="indent1">whom nature had forbid, &c.</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +¶ Thus much haue we thought good to gather out of the Romane and other writers, that +ye might perceiue the state of Britaine the better in that time of the decaie of the Romane +empire, and that ye might haue occasion to marke by the waie, how not onelie the Scots, +but also the Saxons had attempted to inuade the Britains, before anie mention is made of +the same their attempts by the British and English writers. But whether the Scots had anie +habitation within the bounds of Britaine, till the time supposed by the Britaine writers, we +leaue that point to the iudgement of others that be trauelled in the search of such antiquities, +onelie admonishing you, that in the Scotish chronicle you shall find the opinion which their +writers haue conceiued of this matter, and also manie things touching the acts of the Romans +doone against diuerse of the Britains, which they presume to be doone against their +nation, though shadowed vnder the generall name of Britains, or of other particular names, +at this daie to most men vnknowne. But whensoeuer the Scots came into this Ile, they made +the third nation that inhabited the same, comming first out of Scithia, or rather out of Spaine +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor</i>.</span> +(as some suppose) into Ireland, and from thence into Britaine; next after the Picts, though +their writers fetch a farre more ancient beginning (as in their chronicles at large appéereth) referring +them to the reading thereof, that desire to vnderstand that matter as they set it foorth.</p> +<br /> +<p class="center"> +<i>Thus farre the dominion and tribute of the Romans ouer this land of Britaine,<br /> +which had continued (by the collection of some chronographers)<br /> + the space of 483. yeeres. And heere we thinke it<br /> + conuenient to end this fourth booke</i>.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16536-h.htm or 16536-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/3/16536/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4455626 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #16536 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16536) diff --git a/old/16536-8.txt b/old/16536-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c35687 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16536-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5661 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) + The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 16, 2005 [EBook #16536] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE FOVRTH BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains discomfited, sore wounded, slaine, and disabled by +Plautius and his power, Claudius the Romane taketh the chiefe citie +of Cymbeline the king of Britaine, he bereaueth the Britains of +their armour, and by vertue of his conquest ouer part of the land is +surnamed Britannicus_. + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Now Plautius had much adoo to find out the Britains in their lurking +holes and couerts; howbeit when he had traced them out, first +he vanquished Cataratacus, and after Togodumnus the sonnes of +Cynobellinus: for their father was dead not verie long before. These +therefore fléeing their waies, Plautus receiued part of the people +[Sidenote: Bodumni Catuellani] +called Bodumni (which were subiects vnto them that were called +Catuellani) into the obeisance of the Romans: and so leauing there a +garrison of souldiors, passed further till he came to a riuer which +could not well be passed without a bridge: wherevpon the Britains +tooke small regard to defend the passage, as though they had béene +sure inough. But Plautius appointed a certeine number of Germans which +he had there with him (being vsed to swim ouer riuers although neuer +so swift) to get ouer, which they did, sleaing and wounding the +Britains horsses, which were fastened to their wagons or chariots, so +that the Britains were not able to doo anie péece of their accustomed +seruice with the same. + +Herewithall was Flauius Vespasianus (that afterwards was emperour) +with his brother Sabinus sent ouer that riuer, which being got to the +further side, slue a great number of the enimies. The residue of the +Britains fled, but the next day proffered a new battell, in the which +they fought so stoutlie, that the victorie depended long in doubtfull +balance, till Caius Sidius Geta being almost at point to be taken, did +so handle the matter, that the Britains finallie were put to flight: +for the which his valiant dooings, triumphant honors were bestowed +vpon him, although he was no consull. + +The Britains after this battell, withdrew to the riuer of Thames, +néere to the place where it falleth into the sea, and knowing the +shallowes and firme places thereof, easilie passed ouer to the further +side, whom the Romans following, through lacke of knowledge in the +nature of the places, they fell into the marish grounds, and so came +to lose manie of their men, namelie of the Germans, which were the +first that passed ouer the riuer to follow the Britains, partlie by a +bridge which lay within the countrie ouer the said riuer, and partlie +by swimming, and other such shift as they presentlie made. + +[Sidenote: _Togodumnus_] +The Britains hauing lost one of their rulers, namelie Togodumnus +(of whom ye haue heard before) were nothing discouraged, but rather +more egerlie set on reuenge. Plautius perceiuing their fiercenesse, +went no further, but staid and placed garrisons in stéeds where néed +required, to kéepe those places which he had gotten, and with all +spéed sent aduertisement vnto Claudius, according to that he had in +commandement, if anie vrgent necessitie should so mooue him. Claudius +therefore hauing all things before hand in a readinesse, straightwaies +vpon the receiuing of the aduertisement, departed from Rome, and came +by water vnto Ostia, and from thence vnto Massilia, and so through +France sped his iournies till he came to the side of the Ocean +sea, and then imbarking himselfe with his people, passed ouer into +Britaine, and came to his armie which abode his comming néere the +Thames side, where being ioined, they passed the riuer againe, fought +with the Britains in a pitcht field, and getting the victorie, tooke +the towne of Camelodunum (which some count to be Colchester) being the +chiefest citie apperteining vnto Cynobelinus. He reduced also +manie other people into his subiection, some by force, and some by +surrender, whereof he was called oftentimes by the name of emperour, +which was against the ordinance of the Romans: for it was not lawfull +for anie to take that name vpon him oftener than once in anie one +voiage. Moreouer, Claudius tooke from the Britains their armor +and weapons, and committed the gouernment of them vnto Plautius, +commanding him to endeuour himselfe to subdue the residue. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_] +Thus hauing brought vnder a part of Britaine, and hauing made his +abode therin not past a sixtene daies, he departed and came backe +againe to Rome with victorie in the sixt month after his setting +[Sidenote: _Suetonius_] +foorth from thence, giuing after his returne, to his sonne, the +surname of Britannicus. This warre he finished in maner as before is +said, in the fourth yéere of his reigne, which fell in the yéere of +the world 4011, after the birth of our Sauiour 44, and after the +building of Rome 797. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The diuerse opinions and variable reports of writers touching the +partile conquest of this Iland by the Romans, the death of Guiderius_. + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +There be that write, how Claudius subdued and added to the Romane +empire, the Iles of Orknie situate in the north Ocean beyond Britaine: +which might well be accomplished either by Plautius, or some other his +lieutenant: for Plautius indéed for his noble prowesse and valiant +acts atchieued in Britaine, afterwards triumphed. Titus the sonne of +Vespasian also wan no small praise for deliuering his father out of +danger in his time, being beset with a companie of Britains, which the +said Titus bare downe, and put to flight with great slaughter. Beda +following the authoritie of Suetonius, writeth bréeflie of this +matter, and saith, that Claudius passing ouer into this Ile, to the +which neither before Iulius Cesar, neither after him anie stranger +durst come, within few daies receiued the most part of the countrie +into his subiection without battell or bloudshed. + +Gyldas also writing of this reuolting of the Britains, saith thus: +"When information thereof was giuen to the senate, and that hast was +made with a spéedie armie to reuenge the same, there was no warlike +nauie prepared in the sea to fight valiantlie for the defense of the +countrie, no square battell, no right wing, nor anie other prouision +appointed on the shore to be séene, but the backes of the Britains +in stead of a shield are shewed to the persecutors, and their necks +readie to be cut off with the sword through cold feare running through +their bones, which stretched foorth their hands to be bound like +womanlie creatures; so that a common prouerbe followed thereof, to +wit, That the Britains were neither valiant in warre, nor faithfull in +peace: and so the Romans sleaing manie of the rebels, reseruing some, +and bringing them to bondage, that the land should not lie altogither +vntilled and desert, returned into Italie out of that land which was +void of wine and oile, leauing some of their men there for gouernors +to chastise the people, not so much with an armie of men, as with +scourge and whip, and if the matter so required, to applie the naked +sword vnto their sides: so that it might be accounted Rome and not +Britaine. And what coine either of brasse, siluer or gold there was, +the same to be stamped with the image of the emperour." Thus farre +Gildas. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +In the British historie we find other report as thus, that Claudius +at his comming aland at Porchester, besieged that towne, to the rescue +whereof came Guiderius, and giuing battell to the Romans, put them to +the woorse, till at length one Hamo, being on the Romans side, changed +his shield and armour, apparelling himselfe like a Britaine, and so +entring into the thickest prease of the British host, came at length +where the king was, and there slue him. But Aruiragus perceiuing +this mischiefe, to the end the Britains should not be discouraged +therewith, caused himselfe to be adorned with the kings cote-armor, +and other abiliments, and so as king continued the fight with such +manhood, that the Romans were put to flight. Claudius retired backe to +his ships, and Hamo to the next woods, whom Aruiragus pursued, and at +length droue him vnto the sea side, and there slue him yer he could +take the hauen which was there at hand; so that the same tooke name of +him, and was called a long time after, Hamons hauen, and at length by +[Sidenote: Hampton, why so called.] +corruption of speach it was called Hampton, and so continueth vnto +this day, commonlie called by the name of Southhampton. Thus haue you +heard how Guiderius or Guinderius (whether you will) came to his end, +which chanced (as some write) in the 28 yéere of his reigne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus the Britaine & Claudius the Romane with their armies doo +incounter, a composition concerning mariage concluded betweene them, +Claudius returneth to Rome_. + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ARUIRAGUS. _Hector Boet._] +Aruiragus the yoongest son of Kymbeline, and brother to Guinderius +(bicause the same Guinderius left no issue to succéed him) was +admitted king of Britaine in the yeere of our Lord 45, or rather 46. + +This Aruiragus, otherwise called by the Britains Meuricus or Mauus, of +[Sidenote: _Caxton_.] +Tacitus Prasutagus, is also named Armiger in the English chronicle, +by which chronicle (as appéereth) he bare himselfe right manfullie +against Claudius and his Romans in the war which they made against +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon_.] +him: in so much that when Claudius had renewed his force and woone +Porchester, and after came to besiege Winchester (in the which +Aruiragus as then was inclosed) Aruiragus assembling his power, was +readie to come foorth and giue Claudius battell: wherevpon Claudius +doubting the sequele of the thing, sent messengers vnto Aruiragus to +treat of concord, and so by composition the matter was taken vp, with +condition, that Claudius should giue his daughter Genissa in marriage +vnto Aruiragus, & Aruiragus should acknowledge to hold his kingdome of +the Romans. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulfus Cestrensis_.] +Some write that Claudius in fauour of the valiant prowesse which he +saw & found in Aruiragus, honored not onlie him with the mariage of +his daughter the said Genissa, but also to the end to make the towne +more famous where this marriage was solemnized, he therefore called +it Claudiocestria, after his name, the which in the British toong was +called before that daie Caerleon, and after Glouernia, of a duke that +ruled in Demetia that hight Glunie, but now it is called Glocester. + +Other there be that write, how Claudius being vanquished in battell by +Aruiragus, was compelled by the said Aruiragus to giue vnto him his +said daughter to wife, with condition as before is mentioned: and that +then Aruiragus was crowned king of Britaine. But Suetonius maie +[Sidenote: _Sueton._] +séeme to reprooue this part of the British historie, which in the +life of Claudius witnesseth, that he had by thrée wiues onlie three +daughters, that is to saie, Claudia, Antonia, and Octauia: and +further, that reputing Claudia not to be his, caused hir to be cast +downe at the doore of his wife Herculanilla, whome he had forsaken by +waie of diuorcement: & that he bestowed his daughter Antonia first +on C. Pompeius Magnus, and after on Faustus Silla, verie noble yoong +gentlemen; and Octauia he matched with Nero his wiues son. Whereby it +should appéere, that this supposed marriage betwixt Aruiragus and the +daughter of Claudius is but a feined tale. + +¶ And héere to speake my fansie also what I thinke of this Aruiragus, +and other the kings (whome Galfrid and such as haue followed him doo +register in order, to succéed one after another) I will not denie but +such persons there were, and the same happilie bearing verie great +rule in the land, but that they reigned as absolute kings ouer the +whole, or that they succéeded one after another in manner as is +auouched by the same writers, it seemeth most vnlike to be true: for +rather it maie be gessed by that, which as well Gyldas as the old +approoued Romane writers haue written, that diuerse of these kings +liued about one time, or in times greatlie differing from those times +which in our writers we find noted. As for example, Iuuenal maketh +this Aruiragus, of whom we now intreat, to reigne about Domitians +time. For my part therefore, sith this order of the British kinglie +succession in this place is more easie to be flatlie denied and +vtterlie reprooued, than either wiselie defended or trulie amended, I +will referre the reforming therof vnto those that haue perhaps séene +more than I haue, or more déepelie considered the thing, to trie out +an vndoubted truth: in the meane time, I haue thought good, both to +shew what I find in our histories, and likewise in forren writers, +to the which we thinke (namelie in this behalfe, whilest the Romans +gouerned there) we maie safelie giue most credit, doo we otherwise +neuer so much content our selues with other vaine and fond conceits. + +To procéed yet with the historie as we find it by our writers set +foorth: it is reported, that after the solemnization of this marriage, +which was doone with all honour that might be deuised, Claudius +[Sidenote: Legions of souldiers sent into Ireland.] +sent certeine legions of souldiers foorth to go into Ireland to subdue +that countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus denieth subiection to the Romans, Vespasian is sent to +represse him and his power, the Romane host is kept backe from +landing, queene Genissa pacifieth them after a sharpe conflict: & what +the Romane writers say of Vespasians being in Britaine, the end of +Aruiragus_. + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +Then did king Aruiragus ride about to view the state of his realme, +repairing cities and townes decaied by the warre of the Romans, and +saw his people gouerned with such iustice and good order, that he was +both feared and greatlie beloued: so that in tract of time he grew +verie welthie, and by reason thereof fell into pride, so that he +[Sidenote: Vespasian in Britaine. _Cornel. Tacit. in uit. Agr. lib. +3 & li. 6. Gal. Mon. Rutupium_.] +denied his subiection to the Romans. Wherevpon Claudius appointed +Vespasian with an armie to go as lieutenant into Britaine. This +iournie was to him the beginning of his advancement to that honour, +which after to him most luckilie befell. But if we shall credit our +Britaine writers, he gained not much at Aruiragus hands, for where he +would haue landed at Sandwich or Richborough, Aruiragus was readie to +resist him, so as he durst not once enter the hauen: for Aruiragus had +there such a puissant number of armed men, that the Romans were afraid +to approach the land. + +Vespasian therefore withdrew from thence, and coasting westward, +landed at Totnesse, and comming to Excester, besieged that citie: but +about the seuenth day after he had planted his siege, came Aruiragus, +and gaue him battell, in the which both the armies sustained great +losse of men, and neither part got anie aduantage of the other. On +the morrow after quéene Genissa made them friends, and so the warres +ceassed for that time, by hir good mediation. + +¶ But séeing (as before I haue said) the truth of this historie maie +be greatlie mistrusted, ye shall heare what the Romane writers saie +of Vespasianus being héere in Britaine, beside that which we haue +alreadie recited out of Dion in the life of Guiderius. +[Sidenote: Vespasian. _Suetonius. Salcellicus_.] +In the daies of the emperor Claudius, through fauour of Narcissus +(one that might doo all with Claudius) the said Vespasian was sent as +coronell or lieutenant of a legion of souldiers into Germanie, and +being remooued from thence into Britaine, he fought thirtie seuerall +times with the enimies, and brought vnto the Romane obeisance two most +mightie nations, and aboue twentie townes, togither with the Ile of +Wight; and these exploits he atchiued, partlie vnder the conduct of +Aulus Plautius ruler of Britaine for the emperor Claudius, and partlie +vnder the same emperor himselfe. For as it is euident by writers of +good credit, he came first ouer into Britaine with the said Aulus +Plautius, and serued verie valiantlie vnder him, as before in place we +haue partlie touched. By Tacitus it appeareth, that he was called to +be partener in the gouernment of things in Britaine with Claudius, +and had such successe, as it appéered to what estate of honour he was +predestinate, hauing conquered nations, and taken kings prisoners. But +now to make an end with Aruiragus: when he perceiued that his force +was too weake to preuaile against the Romane empire, and that he +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +should striue but in vaine to shake the yoke of subiection from the +necks of the Britains, he made a finall peace with them in his old +age, and so continued in quiet the residue of his reigne, which he +lastlie ended by death, after he had gouerned the land by the space +[Sidenote: 73.] +of thirtie yéeres, or but eight and twentie, as some other imagine. He +died in the yéere of Grace 73, as one author affirmeth, and was buried +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +at Glocester. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ioseph of Aramathia came into Britaine and Simon Zelotes, the +antiquitie of christian religion, Britaine gouerned by Lieutenants and +treasurers of the Romane emperors, the exploits of Ostorius Scapula +and the men of Oxfordshire, he vanquisheth the Welshmen, appeaseth the +Yorkshiremen, and brideleth the rage of the Silures_. + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +In the daies of the said Aruiragus, about the yeare of Christ 53, +Ioseph of Arimathia, who buried the bodie of our sauiour, being sent +by Philip the Apostle (as Iohn Bale following the authoritie of Gildas +and other British writers reciteth) after that the Christians were +dispersed out of Gallia, came into Britaine with diuers other godlie +[Sidenote: _Polydorus_.] +christian men, & preaching the gospell there amongst the Britains, +& instructing them in the faith and lawes of Christ, conuerted manie +to the true beliefe, and baptised them in the wholsome water of +regeneration, & there continued all the residue of his life, obteining +of the king a plot of ground where to inhabit, not past a foure miles +from Wells, and there with his fellowes began to laie the first +foundation of the true and perfect religion, in which place (or néere +thereinto) was afterward erected the abbeie of Glastenburie. + +Nicephorus writeth in his second booke and fourth chapter, that one +Simon Zelotes came likewise into Britaine. And Theodoretus in his 9. +booke "De curandis Græcorum affectibus," sheweth that Paule being +released of his second imprisonment, and suffered to depart from Rome, +preached the gospell to the Britains and to other nations in the west. +The same thing in manner dooth Sophronius the patriarch of Ierusalem +witnesse, Tertullian also maie be a witnesse of the ancientnes of +the faith receiued here in Britaine, where he writing of these times +saith: Those places of the Britains, to the which the Romans could +not approch, were subiect vnto Christ, as were also the countries +of Sarmatia, Dacia, Germania, Scithia, and others. ¶ Thus it maie +appeare, that the christian religion was planted here in this land +shortlie after Christes time, although it certeinlie appeareth not who +were the first that preached the gospell to the Britains, nor whether +they were Gréeks or Latins. + +Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Romane emperours in this season +[Sidenote: Treasurers or receiuers.] +gouerned this land by lieutenants and treasurers, the which were +called by the name of legats and procurators, thereby to kéepe the +vnrulie inhabitants the better in order. + +[Sidenote: Aulus Plautius.] +And Aulus Plautius a noble man of Rome of the order of consuls, was +[Sidenote: Ostorius Scapula.] +sent hither as the first legat or lieutenant (in maner as before ye +haue heard) & after him Ostorius Scapula, who at his comming found the +Ile in trouble, the enimies hauing made inuasion into the countrie of +those that were friends to the Romans, the more presumptuouslie, +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus lib. 12_.] +for that they thought a new lieutenant, with an armie to him +vnacquainted and come ouer now in the beginning of winter, would not +be hastie to march foorth against them. But Ostorius vnderstanding +that by the first successe and chance of warre, feare or hope is bred +and augmented, hasted forward to encounter with them, and such as he +found abroad in the countrie he slue out right on euerie side, and +pursued such as fled, to the end they should not come togither againe. +Now for that a displeasing and a doubtfull peace was not like to bring +quietnesse either to him or to his armie, he tooke from such as he +suspected, their armour. And after this, he went about to defend +the riuers of Auon & Seuerne, with placing his souldiers in camps +fortified néere to the same. But the Oxfordshire men and other of +those parties would not suffer him to accomplish his purpose in anie +quiet sort, being a puissant kind of people, and not hitherto weakened +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12.] +by warres: for they willinglie at the first had ioined in amitie +with the Romans. The countries adjoining also being induced by their +procurement, came to them, & so they chose forth a plot of ground, +fensed with a mightie ditch, vnto the which there was no waie to enter +but one, & the same verie narrow, so as the horssemen could not haue +anie easie passage to breake in vpon them. Ostorius, although he had +no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids, marched foorth +towards the place within the which the Britains were lodged, and +assaulting them in the same, brake through into their campe, where the +Britains being impeached with their owne inclosures which they had +raised for defense of the place, knowing how that for their rebellion +they were like to find small mercie at the Romans hands, when they saw +now no waie to escape, laid about them manfullie, and shewed great +proofe of their valiant stomachs. + +In this battell, the sonne of Ostorius the lieutenant deserued the +[Sidenote: which was a certaine crowne, to be set on his head called +_ciuica corona_.] +price and commendation of preseruing a citizen out of the cruell +enimies hands. But now with this slaughter of the Oxfordshire men, +diuers of the Britains that stood doubtfull what waie to take, either +to rest in quiet, or to moue warres, were contented to be conformable +[Sidenote: Cangi.] +vnto a reasonable order of peace, in so much that Ostorius lead +his armie against the people called Cangi, who inhabited that part of +Wales now called Denbighshire, which countrie he spoiled on euerie +side, no enimie once daring to encounter him: & if anie of them +aduentured priuilie to set vpon those which they found behind, or on +the outsids of his armie, they were cut short yer they could escape +out of danger. Wherevpon he marched straight to their campe and giuing +them battell, vanquished them: and vsing the victorie as reason moued +him, he lead his armie against those that inhabited the inner parts +of Wales, spoiling the countrie on euerie side. And thus sharplie +pursuing the rebels, he approched néere vnto the sea side, which lieth +ouer against Ireland. While this Romane capteine was thus occupied, +he was called backe by the rebellion of the Yorkshire men, whome +forthwith vpon his comming vnto them, he appeased, punishing the first +authors of that tumult with death. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus. lib_. 12] +In the meane time, the people called Silures, being a verie fierce +kind of men, and valiant, prepared to make warre against the Romans, +for they might not be bowed neither with roughnesse, nor yet with +any courteous handling, so that they were to be tamed by an armie of +legionarie souldiers to be brought among them. + +Therefore to restraine the furious rage of those people and their +neighbours, Ostorious peopled a towne néere to their borders, called +Camelodunum with certeine bands of old souldiers, there to inhabit +with their wiues and children, according to such maner as was vsed in +like cases of placing naturall Romans in anie towne or citie, for the +more suertie and defense of the same. Here also was a temple builded +in the honor of Claudius the emperour, where were two images erected, +one of the goddesse Victoria, and an other of Claudius himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The coniectures of writers touching the situation of Camelodunum +supposed to be Colchester, of the Silures a people spoken of in the +former chapter, a foughten field betwene Caratacus the British prince, +and Ostorius the Romaine, in the confines of Shropshire; the Britains +go miserablie to wracke, Caratacus is deliuered to the Romans, his +wife and daughter are taken prisoners, his brethren yeeld themselues +to their enimies_. + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +But now there resteth a great doubt among writers, where this citie +or towne called Camelodunum did stand, of some (and not without good +ground of probable coniectures gathered vpon the aduised consideration +of the circumstances of that which in old authors is found written +[Sidenote: Camelodunum, Colchester.] +of this place) it is thought to be Colchester. But verelie by this +place of Tacitus it maie rather seeme to be some other towne, situat +more westward than Colchester, sith a colonie of Romane souldiers were +planted there to be at hand, for the repressing of the vnquiet +[Sidenote: Silures where they inhabited.] +Silures, which by consent of most writers inhabited in Southwales, or +néere the Welsh marshes. + +There was a castell of great fame in times past that hight Camaletum, +or in British Caermalet, which stood in the marshes of Summersetshire; +but sith there is none that hath so written before this time, I will +not saie that happilie some error hath growne by mistaking the name of +Camelodunum for this Camaletum, by such as haue copied out the booke +of Cornelius Tacitus; and yet so it might be doon by such as found it +short or vnperfectlie written, namelie, by such strangers or others, +to whom onelie the name of Camelodunum was onelie knowne, and +Camaletum peraduenture neuer séene nor heard of. As for example, +an Englishman that hath heard of Waterford in Ireland, and not of +Wexford, might in taking foorth a copie of some writing easilie commit +a fault in noting the one for the other. We find in Ptolomie Camedolon +to be a citie belonging to the Trinobants, and he maketh mention also +of Camelodunum, but Humfrey Lhoyd thinketh that he meaneth all one +citie. + +Notwithstanding Polydor Virgil is of a contrarie opinion, supposing +the one to be Colchester in déed, and the other that is Camelodunum +to be Doncaster or Pontfret. Leland esteeming it to be certeinelie +Colchester taketh the Iceni men also to be the Northfolke men. But +howsoeuer we shall take this place of Tacitus, it is euident inough +that Camelodunum stood not farre from the Thames. And therefore to +séeke it with Hector Boetius in Scotland, or with Polydor Virgil so +far as Doncaster or Pontfret, it maie be thought a plaine error. + +But to leaue each man to his owne iudgement in a matter so doubtfull, +we will procéed with the historie as touching the warres betwixt the +Romans and the Silurians, against whome (trusting not onelie vpon +their owne manhood, but also vpon the high prowesse & valiancie of +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacitus lib. Anna. 12_.] +Caratacus) Ostorius set forward. Caratacus excelled in fame aboue all +other the princes of Britaine, aduanced thereto by manie doubtfull +aduentures and manie prosperous exploits, which in his time he had +atchiued: but as he was in policie and aduantage of place better +prouided than the Romans: so in power of souldiers he was ouermatched. +[Sidenote: _Hu. Lhoyd_.] +And therefore he remoued the battell into the parts of that +countrie where the Ordouices inhabited, which are thought to haue +dwelled in the borders of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, which +people together with other that misliked of the Romane gouernment, +he ioined in one, and chose a plot of ground for his aduantage, +determining there to trie the vttermost hazard of battell. + +The place which he thus chose was such, as the entries, the backwaies, +and the whole situation thereof made for the Britains aduantage, and +cleane contrarie to the Romans, as inclosed among high hils. And if +there were anie easie passage to enter it vpon anie side, the same was +shut vp with mightie huge stones in manner of a rampire, and afore it +there ran a riuer without anie certeine foord to passe ouer it. This +place is supposed to lie in the confines of Shropshire aloft vpon the +top of an high hill there, enuironed with a triple rampire and ditch +of great depth, hauing thrée entries into it, not directlie one +against an other, but aslope. It is also (they saie) compassed about +with two riuers, to wit, on the left hand with the riuer called Clun, +& on the right hand with an other called Teuid. On thrée sides thereof +the clime is verie stéepe and headlong, and no waie easie to come or +reach vnto it, but onelie one. + +Caratac hauing thus fortified himselfe within this place, and brought +his armie into it: to encourage his people, he exhorted them to shew +their manhood, affirming that to be the day, and that armie to be the +same wherein should appeare the beginning either of libertie then to +be recouered, or else of perpetuall bondage for euer to be susteined. +He rehersed also speciallie by name those their elders, which had +resisted Iulius Cesar, by whose high valiancie they liued free from +the bloudie thraldome and tributes of the Romans, and enioied their +wiues and children safe and vndefiled. Thus discoursing of manie +things with them, in such hope of assured victorie, that they began to +raise their cries, each one for him selfe, declaring that he was bound +by the dutie he owght to the gods of his countrie, not to shrinke +for feare of anie wounds or hurts that might chance vnto them by the +enimies weapon. + +This chéerefulnesse of the Britains greatlie astonished the Romane +lieutenant. The hideous course also of the riuer before his face, the +fortifications and craggie higth of the hils, all set full of enimies +readie to beat him backe, put him in great feare: for nothing he +saw afore him, but that which séemed dreadfull to those that should +assaile. But the souldiers yet séemed to be verie desirous of battell, +requesting him to bring them to it, protesting that nothing was +able to resist the force of noble prowes. Herewith the capteins and +tribunes discoursing the like, pricked forward the earnest willes +which their souldiers had to fight. + +Ostorius perceiuing such courage and readie wils in the men of warre, +as well souldiers as capteins, began to bestirre himselfe, and left +nothing vndone that might serue to set forward their earnest desire to +battell. And hauing aduisedlie considered which waies were hard and +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacitus Annal. lib. 12.] +vnpossible to be entered vpon, and which were most easie for his +people to find passage by, he led them foorth, being most earnestlie +bent to cope with the enimie. + +Now hauing passed the water without any great difficultie, but comming +to the rampire, he lost manie of his people, so long as the fight was +continued with shot and casting of darts: but after that the Romans +couering themselues with their targets, came once close togither, and +approched vnder the rampire, they remooued away the stones which the +Britains had roughlie couched togither, and so came to ioine with them +at handblowes. The Britains being vnarmed, and not able to abide the +force of the armed men, withdrew to the top of the hilles, but as well +their enimies that were light armed, as the other with heauie armour, +followed and brake in among them, so as the Britains could not turne +them anie way to escape, for the light armed men with shot a farre +off, and the heauie armed with weapons at hand, sought to make +slaughter and wracke of them on ech side, so that this was a verie +dolefull day to the Britains. + +The wife and daughter of Caratake were taken prisoners, and his +brethren also yéelded themselues. He himselfe escaped, and committing +his person vnto the assurance & trust of Cartemandua queene of the +Brigants, was by hir deliuered into the hands of the Romans. All this +happened about nine yeres after the warres in Britaine first began. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The name of Caratacus famous in Italie, the maner how he and his +alies were led captiues by the Romans in triumph, his courage and +manlie speech to the emperour Claudius, whereby he and his obteine +mercie and pardon: the Britains vndertake a new reuenge against the +Romans; the cause why the Silures hated the Romans, Ostorius Scapula +dieth, the citie of Chester builded_. + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12_. Carataks name renowmed.] +The name of Caratacus being brought out of the Iles was alreadie +spred ouer the prouinces adioining, and began now to grow famous +through Italie. Men therefore were desirous to sée what maner of man +he was that had so manie yéeres set at naught the puissant force of +the empire. For in Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of, +insomuch that the emperour whilest he went about to preferre his owne +honour, aduanced the glorie of him also that was vanquished: for +the people were called foorth as vnto some great notable sight or +spectacle. The pretorian bands stood in order of battell armed in the +field that laie before their lodgings, through which field Caratake +shuld come. Then passed by the traine of his friends and seruants; and +such armor, riches, iewels, and other things as had béene gotten in +those warres, were borne forward, and openlie shewed, that all men +might behold the same. + +After these followed his brethren, wife, and daughters: and last of +all came Caratacus himselfe, whose countenance was nothing like to +theirs that went afore him. For whereas they fearing punishment for +their rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercie, he neither +by countenance nor words shewd anie token of a discouraged mind, but +being presented before the emperour Claudius sitting in his tribunall +seat, he vttered this speach as followeth. + +"If there had béene in me so much moderation in time of prosperitie, +[Sidenote: _* Sic_.] +as there was nobilitie of birth and puissance, I had come to this +citie rather as a friend than as a capteine *: neither should I haue +thought scorne, being borne of most noble parents, and ruling ouer +many people, to haue accepted peace by waie of ioining with you in +league. My present estate as it is to me reprochfull, so to you it +is honorable. I had at commandement, horsses, men, armor, and great +riches; what maruell is it if I were loth to forgo the same? For if +you shall looke to gouerne all men, it must néeds follow that all men +must be your slaues. If I had at the first yéelded my selfe, neither +my power nor your glorie had béene set foorth to the world, & vpon +mine execution I should straight haue béene forgotten. But if you +now grant me life, I shall be a witnesse for euer of your mercifull +clemencie." + +The emperour with these words being pacified, granted life both to +Caratake, and also to his wife and brethren, who being loosed from +their bands, went also to the place where the empresse Agrippina sat +(not farre off) in a chaire of estate, whom they reuerenced with the +like praise and thanks as they had doone before to the emperour. After +this the senat was called togither, who discoursed of manie things +touching this honourable victorie atchiued by the taking of Caratake, +estéeming the same no lesse glorious, than when P. Scipio shewed in +[Sidenote: Siphax. L. Paulus.] +triumph Siphax king of the Numidians, or L. Paulus the Macedonian +king Perses, or other Romane capteins anie such king whom they had +vanquished. + +Héerevpon it was determined, that Ostorius should enter the citie of +Rome with triumph like a conqueror, for such prosperous successe as +hitherto had followed him: but afterwards his procéedings were not so +luckie, either for that after Caratake was remooued out of the waie, +or bicause the Romans (as though the warre had béene finished) looked +negligentlie to themselues, either else for that the Britains taking +compassion of the miserable state of Caratake, being so worthie a +prince, through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie, were more +earnestlie set to reuenge his quarrell. Héerevpon they incompassed the +maister of the campe, and those legionarie bands of souldiers which +were left amongst the Silures to fortifie a place there for the armie +to lodge in: and if succour had not come out of the next towns and +castels, the Romans had béene destroied by siege. The head capteine +yet, and eight centurions, and euerie one else of the companies being +most forward, were slaine. Shortlie after they set vpon the Romane +forragers, and put them to flight, and also such companies of +horssemen as were appointed to gard them. Héerevpon Ostorius set +foorth certeine bands of light horssemen, but neither could he staie +the flight by that meanes, till finallie the legions entred the +battell, by whose force they were staid, and at length the Romans +obteined the better: but the Britains escaped by flight without great +losse, by reason the daie was spent. + +After this, manie bickerings chanced betwixt the Britains and Romans, +& oftentimes they wrought their feats more like the trade of them that +vse to rob by the high waies, than of those that make open warre, +taking their enimies at some aduantage in woods and bogs, as hap or +force ministred occasion vpon malice conceiued, or in hope of prey, +sometimes by commandement, and sometimes without either commandement +or knowledge of capteine or officer. + +At one time the Britains surprised two bands of footmen that were with +the Romans in aid, and sent foorth to forreie abroad vnaduisedlie, +through couetousnesse of the capteins. This feat was atchiued by the +Silures also, the which in bestowing prisoners and part of the spoile +vpon other of their neighbours, procured them likewise to rebell +against the Romans, and to take part with them. The Silures were the +more earnestlie set against the Romans, by occasion of words which the +emperor Claudius had vttered in their disfauour, as thus: that euen +as the Sicambres were destroied and remooued into Gallia, so likewise +must the Silures be dealt with, and the whole nation of them +extinguished. These words being blowne abroad, and knowne ouer all, +caused the Silures to conceiue a woonderfull hatred against the +Romans, so that they were fullie bent, either to reteine their +libertie, or to die in defense thereof vpon the enimies swoord. + +In the meane time Ostorius Scapula departed this life, a right noble +warrior, and one who by litle & litle insuing the steps of Aulus +Plautius his predecessor, did what he could to bring the Ile into the +forme of a prouince, which in part he accomplished. + +[Sidenote: W.H. in his chronologie.] +There be some led by coniecture grounded vpon good aduised +considerations, that suppose this Ostorius Scapula began to build the +citie of Chester after the ouerthrow of Caratacus: for in those parties +he fortified sundrie holds, and placed a number of old souldiers either +there in that selfe place, or in some other néere therevnto by waie of +a colonie. And for somuch (saie they) as we read of none other of anie +name thereabouts, it is to be thought that he planted the same in Chester, +where his successors did afterwards vse to harbour their legions for the +winter season, and in time of rest from iournies which they haue to make +against their common enimies. + +In déed it is a common opinion among the people there vnto this daie, +that the Romans built those vaults or tauerns (which in that citie are +vnder the ground) with some part of the castell. And verelie as +[Sidenote: _Ran. Hig._ alias _Cestrensis_.] +Ranulfe Higden saith, a man that shall view and well consider those +buildings, maie thinke the same to be the woorke of Romans rather than +of anie other people. That the Romane legions did make their abode +there, no man séene in antiquities can doubt thereof, for the ancient +name _Caer leon ardour deuy_, that is, The citie of legions vpon the +water of Dée, proueth it sufficientlie enough. + +[Sidenote: Corn. Tacit.] +But to returne vnto Ostorius Scapula, we find in Corn. Tacitus, that +during his time of being lieutenant in this Ile, there were certeine +[Sidenote: Cogidune a king in Britane.] +cities giuen vnto one Cogidune a king of the Britains, who continued +faithfull to the Romans vnto the daies of the remembrance of men +liuing in the time of the said Cornelius Tacitus, who liued and wrote +in the emperor Domitianus time. This was doone after an old receiued +custom of the people of Rome, to haue both subiects and kings vnder +their rule and dominion, as who so shall note the acts and déeds of +the Roman emperours from C. Iulius Cesar (who chased Pompeie out of +Italie, and was the first that obteined the Romane empire to +himselfe; of whom also the princes and emperours succéeding him were +called Cesars) to Octauian, Tiberius, Caligula, &c: maie easilie marke +and obserue. For they were a people of singular magnanimitie, of an +ambitious spirit, gréedie of honour and renowme, and not vnaptlie +termed "Romani rerum domini, &c." + + * * * * * + + + + +_ A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the +trecherie and lecherie of queene Cartimanda, Venutius keepeth the +kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what meanes their confines in this +Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others touching the +Silures, Brigants, and Nouants notified, the Britains giue the Romans +a shamefull ouerthrow_. + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: A. Didius lieutenant.] +After the deceasse of Ostorius Scapula, one A. Didius was sent to +supplie his roome, but yer he could come, things were brought out of +order, and the Britains had vanquished the legion whereof Manlius +Valens had the conduct: this victorie was set foorth by the Britains +to the vttermost, that with the bruit thereof they might strike a +feare into the lieutenants hart, now vpon his first comming ouer. And +he himselfe reported it by letters to the emperour after the largest +manner, to the end that if he appeased the matter, he might win the +more praise; or if he were put to the woorst, and should not preuaile, +that then his excuse might séeme the more reasonable and woorthie of +pardon. The Silures were they that had atchiued this victorie, and +kept a fowle stur ouer all the countries about them, till by the +comming of Didius against them, they were driuen backe and repelled. + +But héerewith began trouble to be raised in another part: for after +[Sidenote: Venutius ruler of the Iugants.] +that Caratac was taken, the chiefest and most skillfull capteine +which the Britains had, was one Venutius, a ruler of the people named +Iugants, a man that remained a long time faithfull to the Romans, and +[Sidenote: Cartimanda.] +by their power was defended from his enimies, who had married with +Cartimanda queene of the Brigants or Yorkeshire men. This Cartimanda +(as ye haue heard) had deliuered Catarac into the Romans hands, +thereby ministring matter for the emperour Claudius to triumph, by +which pleasure shewed to the Romans, she increased thorough their +friendship in power and wealth, whereof followed riotous lust to +satisfie hir wanton appetite, so as she falling at square with hir +[Sidenote: Vellocatus.] +husband, married Vellocatus, one of his esquires, to whom she gaue hir +kingdome, and so dishonoured hir selfe. Héerevpon insued cruell warre, +in so much that in the end Venutius became enimie also to the Romans. +But first they tugged togither betwixt themselues, & the quéene by +a craftie policie found meanes to catch the brother and coosens of +Venutius, but hir enimies nothing therewith discouraged, but kindled +the more in wrath against hir, ceassed not to go forward with their +purpose. + +Manie of the Brigants disdaining to be subiect vnto a womans rule +that had so reiected hir husband, reuolted vnto Venutius: but yet the +quéenes sensuall lust mixed with crueltie, mainteined the adulterer. +Venutius therefore calling to him such aid as he could get, and +strengthened now by the reuolting of the Brigants, brought Cartimanda +to such a narrow point, that she was in great danger to fall into the +hands of hir enimies: which the Romans forséeing, vpon suit made, sent +certeine bands of horssemen and footmen to helpe hir. They had diuerse +incounters with the enimies at the first, with doubtfull successe: +[Sidenote: Venutius keepeth the kingdome in despite of the Romans.] +but at length they preuailed, and so deliuered the quéene out of +perill, but the kingdome remained to Venutius: against whom the Romans +were constreined still to mainteine warre. + +About the same time, the legion also which Cesius Nasica led, got the +vpper hand of those Britains against whom he was sent. For Didius +being aged, and by victories past inough renowmed, thought it +sufficient for him to make warre by his capteins, so to staie and +kéepe off the enimie. Certeine castels and holds in déed he caused to +be built and fortified, further within the countrie than had béene +afore attempted by anie of his predecessors, and so thereby were the +confines of the Romans in this Ile somewhat inlarged. Thus haue ye +heard with what successe the Britains mainteined warre in defense of +their libertie against the Romans, whilest Claudius ruled the empire +(according to the report of the Romane writers.) + +[Sidenote: The error of _Hector Boetius_.] +¶ But here you must note, that Hector Boetius, following the +authoritie of one Veremond a Spaniard, of Cornelius Hibernicus, & also +of Campbell, remooueth the Silures, Brigants, and Nouants, so farre +northward, that he maketh them inhabitants of those countries which +the Scots haue now in possession, and were euen then inhabited (as he +affirmeth) partlie by the Scots, and partlie by the Picts (as in the +Scotish historie ye may sée more at large) so that what notable feat +soeuer was atchiued by the old Britains against the Romans, the +same by him is ascribed to the Scots and Picts throughout his whole +historie, whereas (in verie truth) forsomuch as may be gathered by +coniecture und presumption of that which is left in writing by ancient +authors, the Brigants inhabited Yorkshire, the Silures Wales and the +Marches, and the Nouants the countrie of Cumberland. + +But forsomuch as he hath diligentlie gathered in what maner the warres +were mainteined by those people against the Romans, and what valiant +exploits were taken in hand and finished thorough their stoutnesse +and valiancie, ye may there read the same, and iudge at your pleasure +[Sidenote: A note to be considered in the reading of _Hect. Boetius_.] +what people they were whome he so much praiseth: aduertising you +hereof by the way, that as we haue before expressed, none of the +Romane writers mentioneth any thing of the Scots, nor once nameth +them, till the Romane empire began to decay, about the time of the +emperor Constantius, father of Constantine the great: so that if they +had béene in this Ile then so famous both in peace and warre, as they +are reported by the same Boetius; maruell might it séeme, that the +Romane writers would so passe them ouer with silence. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. annal._ 15.] +After the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome, Claudius +Domitianus Nero succéeded him in gouernement of the empire. In the +seuenth yéere of whose reigne, which was after the incarnation 53, +the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow in Britaine, where neither the +lieutenant A. Didius Gallus (whom in this place Cornelius Tacitus +calleth Auitus) could during the time of his rule doo no more but +hold that which was alreadie gotten, beside the building of certeine +castels (as before ye haue heard) neither his successor Verannius, +beating and forreieng the woods, could atchiue anie further +enterprise, for he was by death preuented, so as he could not procéed +forward with his purpose touching the warres which he had ment to haue +folowed, whose last words (in his testament expressed) detected him +of manifest ambition: for adding manie things by way of flatterie to +content Neros mind, he wished to haue liued but two yéeres longer, in +which space he might haue subdued prouinces vnto his dominion, +meaning therby the whole Ile of Britaine. But this was a Romans brag, +sauouring rather of ambition than of truth or likelihood. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The gouernment of P. Suetonius in this Iland, he inuadeth Anglesey, +and winneth it, a strange kind of women, of the Druides, the Britains +lament their miserie and seruitude, and take aduise by weapon to +redresse it against the Romans their enimies_. + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: P. Suetonius lieutenant.] +But now when this great losse chanced to the Romans Paulinus +Suetonius did gouerne here as lieutenant, a man most plentifullie +furnished with all gifts of fortune and vertue, and therewith a right +skilfull warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of +[Sidenote: Anglesey inuaded.] +the Britains as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a +countrie full of inhabitants, and a place of refuge for all outlawes +and rebels. He builded certeine brigantins with flat kéeles to serue +for the ebbes and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie +in the straits which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in +those vessels, the horssemen following by the foords, and swimming +when they came into the deepe, got likewise to the shore, where stood +in order of battell and huge number of armed men close togither, redie +to beat backe the Romans, and to staie them from comming to land. +[Sidenote: A strange maner of women.] +Amongst the men, a number of women were also running vp and downe +as they had béene out of their wits, in garments like to wild roges, +with their haire hanging downe about their shoulders, and bearing +firebrands in their hands. There was also a companie of their priests +[Sidenote: The Druids.] +or philosophers called Druides, who with stretched forth hands +towards heauen, thundered out curssings against the Romans in most +bitter wise. + +The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that +(as men benummed of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to +be wounded and slaine like senselesse creatures, till by the calling +vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other in no wise to +feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder +their ensignes, bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with +their owne fire smooldered and burnt them to ashes. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey won by the Romans.] +To conclude, the Romane lieutenant got possession of the whole Ile, +wherein he placed garisons of men of warre to kéepe the people there +in subiection. He also caused their woods to be cut downe, that +[Sidenote: Woods cut downe.] +were consecrated to their gods, within the which they were accustomed +to sacrifice sush as they tooke prisoners, and by the view of their +intrailes, in dismembring them, to learne of their gods some oracles +and such other things as should come to passe. + +But now in the meane time, whilest Paulinus was abroad about this +enterprise, the Britains began to conferre togither of they great and +importable miseries, of their grieuous state of seruitude, of their +iniuries and wrongs, which they dailie susteined: how that by +sufferance they profited nothing, but still were oppressed with more +[Sidenote: Lieutenant & procurator.] +heauie burthens. Ech countrie in times past had onelie one king +to rule them: now had they two, the lieutenant by his capteins and +souldiers spilling their bloud, and the procurator or receiuer (as we +may call him) bereauing them of their goods and substance. The concord +or discord betwixt those that were appointed to rule ouer them, was +all alike hurtfull vnto the subiects, the lieutenant oppressing them +by his capteins and men of warre, and the procurator or receiuer +by force and reprochfull demeanours, polling them by insufferable +exactions. + +There was nothing frée from the couetous extortion and filthie +concupiscence of these vnsatiable persons, for in these daies (say +they) the greatest spoiler is the valiantest man, and most commonlie +our houses are robbed and ransacked by a sort of cowardlie raskals +that haue no knowledge of anie warlike feats at all. Our children are +taken from us, we are forced to go to the musters, and are set foorth +to serue in forren parties, as those that are ignorant which way to +spend our liues in the quarell of our owne countrie. What a number of +souldiers haue beene transported ouer from hence to serue in other +lands, if a iust account were taken thereof: The Germans by manhood +haue cast (said they) from their shoulders the heauie yoke of bondage, +and are not defended as we are with the maine Ocean sea, but onelie +with a riuer. Where the Britains haue their countrie, their wiues and +parents, as iust causes of war to fight for: the Romans haue none at +all, but a couetous desire to gaine by rapine, and to satisfie their +excessiue lusts. + +They might easilie be compelled to depart the countrie, as Iulius +Cesar was, if the Britains would shew some proofe of the noble +prowesse that was euidentlie found in their woorthie ancestors, and +not shrinke or quaile in courage for the misaduenture that should +happilie chance by fighting one battell or two. Greatest force +and constancie alwaies remaineth with those that séek to deliuer +themselues from miserie. Now appeared it that the gods had taken some +pitie of the poore Britains, who by their diuine power did withhold +the chiefe capteine of the Romans with his armie, as it were banished +[Sidenote: Occasion not be neglected.] +in an other Iland. Let vs then (said they) take the oportunitie +of time and good occasion offered, and foorthwith procéed in our +businesse: for lesse danger it is manfullie to aduenture, and to go +forward with our purpose, than to be bewraied and taken in these our +consultations. Thus hauing taken aduise togither, and wholie misliking +their present state, they determined to take weapon in hand, and so by +force to seeke for reformation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A catalog of causes or greeuances inciting the Britains to rebell +against the Romans, wherein is shewed what iniuries they susteined: +of diuers strange wonders and apparitions; the chiefe cause of the +Britains insurging against the Romans, they admitted as well women +as men to publike gouernement. A description of queene Voadicia, hir +personage and maner of attire_. + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. 14_.] +The Britains indeed were occasioned to doo as they purposed, +thorough manie euill parts practised by the Romans greatlie to their +griefs and displeasures. For whereas Prasutagus (who is supposed +[Sidenote: Prasutagus.] +by Hector Boetius to be Aruiragus, king of the people called +[Sidenote: The Oxfordshire and Glocestershire men.] +Iceni) had made the emperour and two of his owne daughters his heires, +supposing by that meane to haue his kingdome and familie preserued +from all iniurie: it happened quite contrarie to that his expectation. +For his kingdome was spoiled by the Romane capteins, his wife +[Sidenote: Voadicia alias Bunduica.] +named Voadicia beaten by the souldiers, his daughters rauished, the +péeres of the realme bereft of their goods, and the kings friends made +and reputed as bondslaues. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +There was also an other great cause that stirred the Britains to +this rebellion, which was the confiscating of their goods: for +whereas Claudius himselfe had pardoned the chiefest persons of the +forfeitures, Decianus Catus the procurator of that Ile mainteined that +[Sidenote: Vsurie.] +the same ought to be renewed againe. To this an other griefe was +added, that where Seneca had lent to the nobilitie of the Ile, foure +hundred sestercies, ech hundred being 500000 pounds starling, or +thereabout, vpon great interest, he required the whole summe togither +by great rigor and violence, although he forced them at the first to +take this monie to vsurie. + +Also such old souldiers as were placed by waie of a colonie, to +inhabit the towne of Camelodunum, expelled manie of the Britains out +of their houses, droue them out of their possessions and lands, and +accounted the Britains as slaues, and as though they had bene captiue +prisoners or bondmen. Besides this, the temple there that was built in +honor of Claudius, as an altar of eternall rule and gouernment, was +serued with préests, the which vnder colour of religion did spoile, +consume and deuoure the goods of all men. + +Moreouer, such strange sights and woonders as chanced about the same +time, pricked the Britains the rather forward. For the image of the +goddesse Victoria in the temple at Camelodunum, slipping downe, turned +hir backe (as who should saie she gaue place as vanquished) to the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +enimies. Also in the hall where the courts of iustice were kept, there +was a maruellous great noise heard, with much laughing, and a sturre +[Sidenote: Strange woonders.] +in the theatre, with great wéeping and lamentable howling, at such +time as it was certeinlie knowne that there was no creature there +to make anie noise. The sea at a spring tide appeared of a bloudie +colour, and when the tide was gone backe, there were séene on the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +sands the shapes & figures of mens bodies. Women also as rauished +of their wits, and being as it were in a furie, prophesied that +destruction was at hand, so that the Britains were put greatlie in +hope, and the Romans in feare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +But those things, whether they chanced by the craft of man, or +illusion of the diuell; or whether they procéeded of some naturall +cause, which the common people oftentimes taketh superstitiouslie, in +place of strange woonders signifieng things to follow, we would +let passe, least we might be thought to offend religion; the which +teaching all things to be doone by the prouidence of God, despiseth +the vaine predictions of haps to come, if the order of an historie +(saith Polydor Virgil) would so permit, the which requireth all things +to be written in maner as they fall out and come to passe. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. li. 15_. Voadicia by Dion Cassius is called +Bunuica.] +But the Britains were chiefelie mooued to rebellion by the iust +complaint of Voadicia, declaring how vnséemelie she had beene vsed +and intreated at the hands of the Romans: and because she was most +earnestlie bent to séeke reuenge of their iniuries, and hated the name +of the Romans most of all other, they chose hir to be capteine (for +[Sidenote: The ancient Britains admitted as well women as men to +publike gouernment.] +they in rule and gouvernment made no difference then of sex, +whether they committed the same to man or woman) and so by a generall +conspiracie, the more part of the people hauing also allured the Essex +men vnto rebellion, rose and assembled themselues togither to make +warre against the Romans. There were of them a hundred and twentie +thousand got togither in one armie vnder the leading of the said +Voadicia, or Bunduica (as some name hir.) + +She therefore to encourage hir people against the enimies, mounted vp +into an high place raised vp of turfes & sods made for the nonce, out +of the which she made a long & verie pithie oration. Hir mightie tall +personage, comelie shape, seuere countenance, and sharpe voice, with +hir long and yellow tresses of heare reaching downe to hir thighes, +hir braue and gorgeous apparell also caused the people to haue hir in +great reuerence. She ware a chaine of gold, great and verie massie, +and was clad in a lose kirtle of sundrie colours, and aloft therevpon +she had a thicke Irish mantell: hereto in hir hand (as hir custome +was) she bare a speare, to shew hirselfe the more dreadfull. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The oration of queene Voadicia full of prudence and spirit to the +Britains, for their encouragement against the Romans, wherein she +rippeth vp the vile seruitude and shamefull wrongs which their enimies +inflicted vpon them, with other matters verie motiue, both concerning +themselues and their enimies, hir supplication and praier for +victorie_. + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now Voadicia being prepared (as you heare) set foorth with such +maiestie, that she greatlie incouraged the Britains; vnto whome for +their better animating and emboldening, she vttered this gallant +oration in manner and forme following. + +[Sidenote: The oration of Voadicia.] +"I doo suppose (my louers and friends) that there is no man here +but dooth well vnderstand how much libertie and fréedome is to be +preferred before thraldome and bondage. But if there haue bene anie +of you so deceiued with the Romane persuasions, that ye did not for +a time see a difference betwéene them, and iudged whether of both is +most to be desired: now I hope that hauing tried what it is to be +vnder both, ye will with me reforme your iudgement, and by the harmes +alreadie taken, acknowledge your ouersight, and forsake your former +error. Againe, in that a number of you haue rashlie preferred an +externall souereigntie before the customes and lawes of your owne +countrie, you doo at this time (I doubt not) perfectlie vnderstand how +much free pouertie is to be preferred before great riches, wherevnto +seruitude is annexed; and much wealth in respect of captiuitie vnder +forren magistrats, wherevpon slauerie attendeth. For what thing (I +beséech you) can there be so vile & grieuous vnto the nature of man, +that hath not happened vnto vs, sithens the time that the Romans haue +bene acquainted with this Iland? + +"Are we not all in manner bereaued of our riches & possessions? Doo +not we (beside other things that we giue, and the land that we till +for their onelie profit) paie them all kinds of tributs, yea for our +owne carcases? How much better is it to be once aloft and fortunate in +deed, than vnder the forged and false title of libertie, continuallie +to paie for our redemption a fréedome? How much is it more commendable +to lose our liues in defense of our countrie, than to carie about not +so much as our heads toll frée, but dailie oppressed & laden with +innumerable exactions? But to what end doo I remember and speake of +these things, since they will not suffer by death to become frée? For +what and how much we paie for them that are dead, there is not one +here but he dooth well vnderstand. Among other nations such as are +brought into seruitude, are alwaies by death discharged of their +bondage: onelie to the Romans the dead doo still liue, and all to +increaes their commoditie and gaine. + +"If anie of vs be without monie (as I know not well how and which way +we should come by anie) then are we left naked, & spoiled of that +which remaineth in our houses, & we our selues as men left desolate & +dead. How shall we looke for better dealing at their hands hereafter, +that in the beginning deale so vncourteouslie with vs: since there is +no man that taketh so much as a wild beast, but at the first he will +cherish it, and with some gentlenesse win it to familiaritie? But we +ourselues (to saie the trueth) are authors of our owne mischiefe, +which suffered them at the first to set foot within our Iland, and did +not by and by driue them backe as we did Cesar, or slue them with our +swords when they were yet farre off, and that the aduenturing hither +was dangerous: as we did sometime to Augustus and Caligula. + +"We therefore that inhabit this Iland, which for the quantitie thereof +maie well be called a maine, although it be inuironed about with the +Ocean sea, diuiding vs from other nations, so that we séeme to liue +vpon an other earth, & vnder a seuerall heauen: we, euen we (I saie) +whose name hath béene long kept hid from the wisest of them all, are +now contemned and troden vnder foot, of them who studie nothings +else but how to become lords & haue rule of other men. Wherefore my +welbeloued citizens, friendes, and kinsfolkes (for I thinke we are all +of kin, since we were borne and dwell in this Ile, and haue one name +common to vs all) let vs now, euen now (I saie, because we haue not +doone it heretofore, and whilest the remembrance of our ancient +libertie remaineth) sticke togither, and performe that thing which +dooth perteine to valiant and hardie courages, to the end we maie +inioie, not onelie the name of libertie, but also freédome it selfe, +and thereby leaue our force and valiant acts for an example to our +posteritie: for if we which haue béene liberallie and in honest maner +brought vp, should vtterlie forget our pristinate felicitie: what may +we hope for in those that shall sucéed vs, and are like to be brought +vp in miserie and thraldome? + +"I doo not make rehearsall of these things vnfo you, to the end I +would prouoke you to mislike of this present estate of things (for +well I know you abhorre it sufficientlie alreadie) neither to put you +in feare of those things that are likelie to fall hereafter (because +you doo feare and sée them verie well before hand) but to the end I +maie giue you heartie thankes and woorthie commendations, for that +of your owne accord and meanes you determine so well to prouide for +things necessarie (thereby to helpe both me and your selues with +willing minds) as men that are nothing in doubt of all the Romane +puissance. + +"If you consider the number of your enimies, it is not greater than +yours: if you regard their strength, they are no stronger than you: +and all this dooth easilie appéere by the bassinets, habergeons, & +greiues wherewith you be armed; and also by the walls, ditches and +trenches that you haue made for your own defense, to kéepe off their +excursions, who had rather fight with vs a farre off, than cope & +deale with vs at hand strokes, as our custome of the warres and +martiall discipline dooth require. Wherefore we doo so farre exceed +them in force, that in mine opinion, our armie is more strong than +stone walls, and one of our targets woorth all the armour that they +doo beare vpon them: by meanes whereof, if the victorie be ours, we +shall soone make them captiues: or if we lose the field, we shall +easilie escape the danger. + +"Furthermore, if after the flight we shall indeuour to méet anie +where, we haue the marishes héere beneath to hide vs in, and the hils +round about to kéepe them off, so that by no meanes they shall haue +their purpose of vs, whereas they being ouercharged with heavie +armour, shall neither be able to follow, if we flée; nor escape out of +our danger, if they be put to flight: if they happen to breake out at +anie time as desirous to make a rode, they returne by and by to their +appointed places, where we maie take them as birds alreadie in cage. +In all which things, as they are farre inferior to vs, so most of all +in this, that they can not indure hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and +sunneshine, as we can doo. + +"In their houses also and tents, they make much account of their baked +meates, wine, oile, and abroad of the shadow, that if anie of these +doo faile them, they either die foorthwith, or else in time they +languish and consume: whereas to vs euerie hearbe and root is meat, +euerie iuice an oile, all water pleasant wine, and euerie trée an +house. Beside this, there is no place of the land vnknowne to vs, +neither yet vnfriendlie to succour vs at néed; whereas to the Romans +they are for the most part vnknowne and altogither dangerous, if they +should stand in néed: we can with ease swim ouer euerie riuer both +naked and clad, which they with their great ships are scarse able to +performe. Wherefore with hope and good lucke let vs set vpon them +couragiouslie, and teach them to vnderstand, that since they are no +better than hares and foxes, they attempt a wrong match, when they +indeuour to subdue the grehounds and the woolues." With which words +the quéene let an hare go out of hir lap, as it were thereby to giue +prognostication of hir successe, which comming well to passe, all the +companie showted, and cried out vpon such as not long before had doone +such violence to so noble a personage. Presentlie vpon this action, +Voadicia calling them togither againe, procéeded forward with hir +praier, which she made before them all, holding vp hir hands after +this manner: + +"I giue thée thanks O Adraste, and call vpon thee thou woman of women, +which reignest not ouer the burthen-bearing Aegyptians, as Nitocris; +neither ouer their merchants, as dooth Semiramis, for these trifles we +haue learned latelie of the Romans: neither ouer the people of Rome, +as a little héeretofore Messalina, then Agrippina, and now Nero, who +is called by the name of a man, but is in déed a verie woman, as dooth +appéere by his voice, his harpe, and his womans attire: but I call +vpon thee as a goddesse which gouernest the Britains, that haue +learned not to till the field, nor to be handicrafts men, but to lead +their liues in the warres after the best manner: who also as they +haue all other things, so haue they likewise their wiues and children +common, whereby the women haue the like audacitie with the men, and no +lesse boldnesse in the warres than they. + +"Therefore sithens I haue obteined a kingdome among such a mightie +people, I beséech thée to grant them victorie, health, and libertie, +against these contentious, wicked, and vnsatiable men (if they maie be +called men, which vse warme bathings, delicate fare, hot wines, swéet +oiles, soft beds, fine musicke, and so vnkindlie lusts) who are +altogither giuen to couetousnesse and crueltie, as their dooings doo +declare. Let not I beséech thée, the Neronian or Domitian tyrannie +anie more preuaile vpon me, or (to saie truth) vpon thée, but let them +rather serue thée, whose heauie oppression thou hast borne withall +a long season, and that thou wilt still be our helper onlie, our +defender, our fauourer, and our furtherer, O noble ladie, I hartilie +beséech thée." + + * * * * * + + + + +_Queene Voadicia marcheth against the Romans, to whom she giueth +a shamefull and bloudie ouerthrow without anie motion of mercie, +dredfull examples of the Britains crueltie indifferentlie executed +without exception of age or sex_. + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +When Voadicia had made an end of hir praier, she set forward against +hir enimies, who at that time were destitute in déed of their +lieutenant Paulinus Suetonius, being as then in Anglesey (as before +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._ Catus Decianus procurator.] +ye haue heard.) Wherefore the Romans that were in Camelodunum sent for +aid vnto Catus Decianus the procurator, that is, the emperours agent, +treasurer, or receiuer, for in that citie (although it were inhabited +by Romans) there was no great garrison of able men. Wherevpon the +procurator sent them such aid as he thought he might well spare, which +was not past two hundred men, and those not sufficientlie furnished +either with weapon or armour. + +The citie was not compassed with anie rampire or ditch for defense, +such as happilie were priuie to the conspiracie, hauing put into the +heads of the Romans that no fortification néeded: neither were the +aged men nor women sent awaie, whereby the yoong able personages might +without trouble of them the better attend to the defense of the citie: +but euen as they had béene in all suertie of peace, and frée from +suspicion of anie warre, they were suddenlie beset with the huge armie +of the Britains, and so all went to spoile and fire that could be +found without the inclosure of the temple, into the which the Romane +souldiers (striken with sudden feare by this sudden comming of +the enimies) had thronged themselues. Where being assieged by the +Britains, within the space of two daies the place was woonne, and they +that were found within it, slaine euerie mothers sonne. + +After this, the Britains incouraged with this victorie, went to méet +with Petus Cerealis lieutenant of the legion, surnamed the ninth, +and boldlie incountering with the same legion, gaue the Romans the +ouerthrow and slue all the footmen, so that Cerealis with much adoo +escaped with his horssemen, and got him backe to the campe, and saued +himselfe within the trenches. Catus the procurator being put in feare +with this ouerthrow, and perceiuing what hatred the Britains bare +towards him, hauing with his couetousnesse thus brought the warre vpon +the head of the Romans, got him ouer into Gallia. + +But Suetonius aduertised of these dooings, came backe out of Anglesey, +and with maruellous constancie marched through the middest of his +enimies to London, being as then not greatlie peopled with Romans, +though there was a colonie of them, but full of merchants, and well +prouided of vittels: he was in great doubt at his comming thither, +whether he might best staie there as in a place most conuenient, +or rather séeke some other more easie to be defended. At length +considering the small number of his men of warre, and remembring how +Cerealis had sped by his too much rashnesse, he thought better with +the losing of one towne to saue the whole, than to put all in danger +of irrecouerable losse. And therewith nothing mooued at the praier & +teares of them which besought him of aid and succour, he departed, and +those that would go with him he receiued into his armie, those that +taried behind were oppressed by the enimies: and the like destruction +happened to them of Verolanium, a towne in those daies of great +fame, situat néere to the place where the towne of Saint Albons now +standeth. + +The Britains leauing the castels and fortresses vnassaulted, followed +their game in spoiling of those places which were easie to get, and +where great plentie of riches was to be found, vsing their victorie +with such crueltie, that they slue (as the report went) to the number +[Sidenote: 80000, saith _Dion_.] +of 70 thousand Romans, and such as tooke their part in the said +places by the Britains thus woon and conquered. For there was nothing +with the Britains but slaughter, fire, gallowes, and such like, so +earnestlie were they set on reuenge. They spared neither age nor sex: +women of great nobilitie and woorthie fame they tooke and hanged vp +naked, and cutting off their paps, sowed them to their mouthes, that +they might séeme as if they sucked and fed on them, and some of their +bodies they stretched out in length, and thrust them on sharpe stakes. +All these things they did in great despite whilest they sacrificed in +their temples, and made feasts, namelie in the wood consecrated to the +honour of Andates, for so they called the goddesse of victorie whom +they worshipped most reuerentlie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_P. Suetonius the Romane with a fresh power assalteth the Britains, +whose armie consisted as well of women as men: queene Voadicia +incourageth hir souldiers, so dooth Suetonius his warriors, both +armies haue a sharpe conflict, the Britains are discomfited and +miserablie slaine, the queene dieth, Penius Posthumus killeth +himselfe, the Britains are persecuted with fire, swoord, and famine, +the grudge betweene Cassicianus and Suetonius, whome Polycletus is +sent to reconcile, of his traine, and how the Britains repined at +him_. + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +In this meane time there came ouer to the aid of Suetonius, the legion +surnamed the 14, and other bands of souldiers and men of warre, to +the number of ten thousand in the whole, wherevpon (chieflie bicause +vittels began to faile him) he prepared to giue battell to his +enimies, and chose out a plot of ground verie strong within straits, +and backed with a wood, so that the enimies could not assault his +campe but on the front: yet by reason of their great multitude and +[Sidenote: The Britains were at that time 230000 men, (as _Dion_ +writeth.)] +hope of victorie conceiued by their late prosperous successe, the +Britains vnder the conduct of quéene Voadicia aduentured to giue +battell, hauing their women there to be witnesses of the victorie, +whome they placed in charrets at the vttermost side of their field. + +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit. li. 15 Dion Cassius_.] +Voadicia, or Boudicia (for so we find hir written by some copies, +and Bonuica also by Dion) hauing hir daughters afore hir, being +mounted into a charret, as she passed by the souldiers of ech sundrie +countrie, told them "it was a thing accustomed among the Britains to +go to the warres vnder the leading of women; but she was not now come +foorth as one borne of such noble ancestors as she was descended from, +to fight for hir kingdome and riches; but as one of the meaner sort, +rather to defend hir lost libertie, and to reuenge hir selfe of the +enimie, for their crueltie shewed in scourging hir like a vagabond, +and shamefull deflouring of hir daughters: for the licentious lust of +the Romans was so farre spred and increased, that they spared neither +the bodies of old nor yoong, but were readie most shamefullie to abuse +them, hauing whipped hir naked being an aged woman, and forced hir +daughters to satisfie their filthie concupiscence: but (saith she) the +gods are at hand readie to take iust reuenge. + +"The legion that presumed to incounter with vs is slaine and beaten +downe. The residue kéepe them close within their holds, or else séeke +waies how to flée out of the countrie: they shall not be once able so +much as to abide the noise and clamor of so manie thousands as we +are héere assembled, much lesse the force of our great puissance and +dreadfull hands. If ye therefore (said she) would wey and consider +with your selues your huge numbers of men of warre, and the causes why +ye haue mooued this warre, ye would surelie determine either in this +battell to die with honour, or else to vanquish the enimie by plaine +force, for so (quoth she) I being a woman am fullie resolued, as for +you men ye maie (if ye list) liue and be brought into bondage." + +"Neither did Suetonius ceasse to exhort his people: for though he +trusted in their manhood, yet as he had diuided his armie into three +battels, so did he make vnto ech of them a seuerall oration, willing +them not to feare the shrill and vaine menacing threats of the +Britains, sith there was among them more women than men, they hauing +no skill in warrelike discipline, and heereto being naked without +furniture of armour, would foorthwith giue place when they should +féele the sharpe points of the Romans weapons, and the force of them +by whom they had so often béene put to flight. In manie legions (saith +he) the number is small of them that win the battell. Their glorie +therefore should be the more, for that they being a small number +should win the fame due to the whole armie, if they would (thronging +togither) bestow their weapons fréelie, and with their swoords and +targets preasse forward vpon their enimies, continuing the slaughter +without regard to the spoile, they might assure themselues when the +victorie was once atchiued to haue all at their pleasures." + +Such forwardnesse in the souldiers followed vpon this exhortation of +the couragious generall, that euerie one prepared himselfe so readilie +to doo his dutie, and that with such a shew of skill and experience, +that Suetonius hauing conceiued an assured hope of good lucke to +follow, caused the trumpets to sound to the battell. The onset was +giuen in the straits, greatlie to the aduantage of the Romans, being +but a handfull in comparison to their enimies. The fight in the +beginning was verie sharpe and cruell, but in the end the Britains +being a let one to another (by reason of the narrownesse of the place) +were not able to susteine the violent force of the Romans their +enimies, so that they were constreind to giue backe, and so being +disordered were put to flight, and vtterlie discomfited. + +[Sidenote: 80000 Britains slaine.] +There were slaine of the Britains that day few lesse than 80000 +[*_sic_] +thousand*, as Tacitus writeth. For the straits being stopped with +the charrets, staied the flight of the Britains, so as they could +not easilie escape: and the Romans were so set on reuenge, that +they spared neither man nor woman, so that manie were slaine in the +battell, manie amongst the charrets, and a great number at the +woods side, which way they made their flight, and manie were taken +prisoners. Those that escaped, would haue fought a new battell, but +in the meane time Voadicia, or Bonuica deceassed of a naturall +infirmitie, as Dion Cassius writeth, but other say that she poisoned +hir selfe, and so died, because she would not come into the hands of +hir bloodthirstie enimies. There died of the Romans part in this most +notable battell 400, and about the like number were grieuouslie hurt +and most pitifullie wounded. + +[Sidenote: Penius Posthumous sleieth himselfe.] +Penius Posthumous maister of the campe of the second legion, +vnderstanding the prosperous successe of the other Romane capteins, +because he had defrauded his legion of the like glorie, and had +refused to obeie the commandements of the generall, contrarie to the +vse of warre, slue himselfe. + +After this all the Romane armie was brought into the field to make an +end of the residue of the warre. And the emperour caused a supplie to +be sent out of Germanie being 2000 legionarie souldiers, and 8 bands +of aids, with 1000 horssemen, by whose comming the bands of the ninth +legion were supplied with legionarie souldiers, and those bands and +wings of horssemen were appointed to places where they might winter, +and such people of the Britains as were either enimies, or else stood +in doubt whether to be friends or enimies in déed, were persecuted +with fire and sword. + +But nothing more afflicted them than famine, for whilest euerie man +gaue himselfe to the warre, and purposed to haue liued vpon the +prouision of the Romans and other their enimies, they applied not +themselues to tillage, nor to anie husbanding of the ground, and long +[Sidenote: Julius Cassickinus procurator.] +it was yer they (being a fierce kind of people) fell to embrace +peace, by reason that Iulius Cassicianus, who was sent into Britaine +as successor to Catus, fell at square with Suetonius, and by his +priuat grudge hindered the prosperous successe of publike affaires. +He sticked not to write to Rome, that except an other were sent to +succéed in the roome that Suetonius did beare, there would be no end +of the warres. Herevpon one Polycletus, which sometime had béene a +bondman, was sent into Britaine, as a commissioner to surueie the +state of the countrie, to reconcile the legat and procurator, & also +to pacifie all troubles within the Ile. The port which Polycletus +bare was great, for he was furnished with no small traine that +attended vpon him, so that his presence seemed verie dreadfull to the +Romans. But the Britains that were not yet pacified, thought great +scorne to see such honorable capteins and men of warre as the Romans +were, to submit themselues to the order of such a one as had béene a +bondslaue. + + * * * * * + + + + +_In what state the Iland stood whiles Aruiragus reigned; the dissolute +and loose gouernement of Petronius Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus, +and Victius Volanus, thrée lieutenants in Brltaine for the Romane +emperours, of Iulius Frontinus who vanquished the Silures_. + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: PETRONIUS TURPILIANUS LIEUTENANT.] +In place of Suetonius, was Petronius Turpilianus (who had latelie +béene consull) appointed to haue gouernance of the armie in Britaine, +the which neither troubling the enimie, nor being of the enimie in +anie wise troubled or prouoked, did colour slouthfull rest with +the honest name of peace and quietnesse, and so sat still without +exploiting anie notable enterprise. + +[Sidenote: TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS LIEUTENANT.] +After Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus was made lieutenant of +Britaine, who likewise with courteous demeanour sought to kéepe the +Britains in rest rather than by force to compell them. And now began +the people of the Ile to beare with pleasant faults and flattering +vices, so that the ciuill warres that chanced in those daies after +the death of the emperour Nero at home, might easilie excuse the +slouthfulnesse of the Romane lieutenants. + +Moreouer, there rose dissention amongest their men of warre, which +being vsed to lie abroad in the field, could not agrée with the idle +life; so that Trebellius Maximus was glad to hide himselfe from the +sight of the souldiers being in an vprore against him, till at length +humbling himselfe vnto them further than became his estate, he +gouerned by waie of intreatie, or rather at their courtesie. And so +was the commotion staied without bloudshed, the armie as it were +hauing by couenant obtained to liue licentiouslie, and the capteine +suertie to liue without danger to be murthered. + +[Sidenote: VICTIUS VOLANUS LIEUTENAT.] +Neither Victius Volanus that succéeded Maximus whilest the time of +the ciuill warres as yet endured, did trouble the Britains, vsing the +same slacknesse and slouth that the other lieutenants had vsed before +him, and permitted the like licence to the presumptuous souldiers: but +yet was Volanus innocent as touching himselfe, and not hated for +anie notable crime or vice: so that he purchased fauour, although +authoritie wanted. + +But after that the emperour Vsepasianus had subdued his aduersaries, +and atteined the imperiall gouernment, as well ouer Britaine as ouer +other parts of the world, there were sent hither right noble +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +capteins, with diuers notable bands of souldiers, and Petilius +Cerialis being appointed lieutenant, put the Britains in great feare, +by inuading the Brigants the mightiest nation of all the whole Iland: +and fighting manie battels, and some right bloudie with those people, +he subdued a great part of the countrie at the last. + +[Sidenote: IULIUS FRONTINUS LIEUTENAT.] +After him succéeded as lieutenant of Britaine, one Iulius +Frontinus, who vanquished and brought to the Romane subiection by +force of armes the people called Silures, striuing not onelie against +the stout resistance of the men, but also with the hardnesse & +combersome troubles of the places. + +¶ Thus may you perceiue in what state this Ile stood in the time that +Aruiragus reigned in the same, as is supposed by the best histories of +the old Britains: so that it may be thought that he gouerned rather a +part of this land, than the whole, and bare the name of a king, +the Romans not hauing so reduced the countrie into the forme of a +prouince, but that the Britains bare rule in diuerse parts thereof, +and that by the permission of the Romans, which neuerthelesse had +their lieutenants and procuratours here, that bare the greatest rule +vnder the aforesaid emperours. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland under Marius the sonne of Aruiragus, the +comming in of the Picts with Roderike their king, his death in the +field, the Picts and Scots enter into mutuall aliance, the monument of +Marius, his victorie ouer the Picts, his death and interrement_. + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MARIUS. _Hector Boetius_ saith that his Marius was a +Romane. 73.] +After the decease of Aruiragus, this sonne Marius succeeded him in +the estate, and began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 73. In the +old English chronicle he is fondlie called Westmer, & was a verie wise +man, gouerning the Britains in great prosperitie, honour and wealth. + +In the time of this mans reigne, the people called Picts inuaded +[Sidenote: Of these you maie reade more in pag. _Matth. West._] +this land, who are iudged to be descended of the nation of the +Scithians, neare kinsmen to the Goths, both by countrie and maners, +a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres. This people with +their ringleader Roderike, or (as some name him) Londorike, entering +the Ocean sea after the maner of rouers, arriued on the coasts of +Ireland, where they required of the Scots new seats to inhabit in: for +the Scots which (as some thinke) were also descended of the Scithians, +did as then inhabit in Ireland: but doubting that it should not be for +their profit to receiue so warlike a nation into that Ile, feining as +it were a friendship, and excusing the matter by the narrownesse of +the countrie, declared to the Picts, that the Ile of Britaine was not +farre from thence, being a large countrie and a plentifull, and not +greatly inhabited: wherefore they counselled them to go thither, +promising vnto them all the aid that might be. + +The Picts more desirous of spoile than of rule or gouernment without +delaie returned to the sea, and sailed towards Britaine, where being +arriued, they first inuaded the north parts thereof, and finding +there but few inhabiters, they began to wast and forrey the countrie: +whereof when king Marius was aduertised, with all speed he assembled +[Sidenote: Roderike king of Picts slaine.] +his people, and made towards his enimies, and giuing them battell, +obtained the victorie, so that Roderike was there slaine in the field, +and his people vanquished. + +Vnto those that escaped with life, Marius granted licence that they +might inhabit in the north part of Scotland called Catnesse, being as +then a countrie in maner desolate without habitation: wherevpon they +withdrew thither, and setled themselues in those parties. And bicause +the Britains disdained to grant vnto them their daughters in mariage, +they sent vnto the Scots into Ireland, requiring to haue wiues of +their nation. The Scots agréed to their request, with this condition, +that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings linage to succéed +in the kingdome of the Picts, then should they name one of the womans +side to be their king: which ordinance was receiued and obserued euer +after amongst the Picts, so long as their kingdome endured. + +Thus the Picts next after the Romans were the first of anie strangers +that came into this land to inhabit as most writers affirme, although +the Scotish chronicles auouch the Picts to be inhabiters here before +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Matth. West._] +the incarnation of our sauiour. But the victorie which Marius obteined +against their king Roderike, chanced in the yéere after the +incarnation 87. In remembrance of which victorie, Marius caused a +stone to be erected in the same place where the battell was fought, in +which stone was grauen these words, _Marij victoria_. The English +chronicle saith that this stone was set vp on Stanesmoore, and that +the whole countrie thereabout taking name of this Marius, was +Westmaria, now called Westmerland. + +King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies, and escaped the danger of +their dreadfull inuasion, gaue his mind to the good gouernement of +his people, and the aduancement of the common wealth of the realme, +continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie, and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Thus find we in the British and English +histories touching this Marius.] +finallie departed this life, after he had reigned (as most writers +say) 52, or 53 yéeres. Howbeit there be that write, that he died in +the yéere of our Lord 78, and so reigned not past fiue or six yéeres +at the most. He was buried at Caerleill, leauing a sonne behind him +called Coill. + +Humfrey Lhoyd séemeth to take this man and his father Aruiragus to be +all one person, whether mooued thereto by some catalog of kings which +he saw, or otherwise, I cannot affirme: but speaking of the time when +the Picts and Scots should first come to settle themselues in this +land, he hath these words; Neither was there anie writers of name, +that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time, +about the yeere of the incarnation 72: at what time Meurig or Maw, or +Aruiragus reigned in Britaine, in which time our annales doo report, +that a certeine kind of people liuing by pirasie and rouing on the +sea, came foorth of Sueden, or Norwaie, vnder the guiding of one +Rhithercus, who landed in Albania, wasting all the countrie with +robbing and spoiling so farre as Caerleill, where he was vanquished in +battell, and slaine by Muragus, with a great part of his people; the +residue that escaped by flight, fled to their ships, and so conueied +themselues into the Iles of Orkney and Scotland, where they abode +quietlie a great while after. + +Thus farre haue I thought good to shew of the foresaid Lhoyds booke, +for that it seemeth to carie a great likelihood of truth with it, for +the historie of the Picts, which vndoubtedlie I thinke were not as yet +inhabiting in Britaine, but rather first placing themselues in +the Iles of Orkney, made inuasion into the maine Ile of Britaine +afterwards, as occasion was offred. In the British toong they are +called Pightiaid, that is Pightians, and so likewise were they called +in the Scotish, and in their owne toong. Now will we shew what chanced +in this Ile, during the time of the foresaid Marius his supposed +reigne, as is found in the Romane histories. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Iulius Agricola is deputed by Vespasian to gouerne Britaine, he +inuadeth the Ile of Anglesey, the inhabitants yeeld vp them selues, +the commendable gouernement of Agricola, his worthie practises to +traine the Britains to ciuilitie, his exploits fortunatelie atchiued +against diuerse people, as the Irish, &c._ + +THE 16. CHAPTER. + + +After Iulius Frontinus, the emperor Vespasian sent Iulius Agricola to +[Sidenote: Iulius Agricola lieutenant.] +succéed in the gouernement of Britaine, who comming ouer about the +midst of summer, found the men of warre thorough want of a lieutenant +negligent inough, so those that looking for no trouble, thought +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacit in uit. Agr._] +themselues out of all danger, where the enimies neuerthelesse watched +[Sidenote: The first yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +vpon the next occasion to worke some displeasure, and were readie +on ech hand to mooue rebellion, For the people called Ordouices, +that inhabited in the countrie of Chesshire, Lancashire and part of +Shropshire, had latelie before ouerthrowne, and in maner vtterlie +destroied a wing of such horssemen as soiourned in their parties, by +reason whereof all the prouince was brought almost into an assured +hope to recouer libertie. + +Agricola vpon his comming ouer, though summer was now halfe past, and +that the souldiers lodging here & there abroad in the countrie, were +more disposed to take rest, than to set forward into the field +against the enimies, determined yet to resist the present danger: and +therewith assembling the men of warre of the Romans, and such other +aids as he might make, he inuaded their countrie that had done this +foresaid displeasure, and slue the most part of all the inhabitants +thereof. Not thus contented (for that he thought good to follow the +steps of fauourable fortune, and knowing that as the begining proued, +so would the whole sequele of his affaires by likelihood come to +passe) he purposed to make a full conquest of the Ile of Anglesey, +[Sidenote: The Ile of Anglesey.] +from the conquest wherof the Romane lieutenant Paulinus was called +backe by the rebellion of other of the Britains, as before ye haue +heard. + +But whereas he wanted ships for the furnishing of his enterprise, his +wit and policie found a shift to supplie that defect: for choosing out +a piked number of such Britains as he had there with him in aid, which +knew the foords and shallow places of the streames there, and withall +were verie skilfull in swimming (as the maner of the countrie then +was) he appointed them to passe ouer on the sudden into the Ile, +onelie with their horsses, armor, and weapon: which enterprise they so +spéedilie, and with so good successe atchiued, that the inhabitants +much amazed with that dooing (which looked for a nauie of ships to +haue transported ouer their enimies by sea, and therefore watched +on the coast) began to thinke that nothing was able to be defended +against such kind of warriors that got ouer into the Ile after such +sort and maner. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey yéelded to Agricola.] +And therefore making sute for peace, they deliuered the Ile into +the hands of Agricola, whose fame by these victories dailie much +increased, as of one that tooke pleasure in trauell, and attempting to +atchiue dangerous enterprises, in stead whereof his predecessors had +delighted, to shew the maiesties of their office by vaine brags, +statelie ports, and ambitious pomps. For Agricola turned not the +prosperous successe of his procéedings into vanitie, but rather with +neglecting his fame, increased it to the vttermost, among them that +iudged what hope was to be looked for of things by him to be atchiued, +which with silence kept secret these his so woorthie dooings. + +Moreouer, perceiuing the nature of the people in this Ile of Britaine, +and sufficientlie taught by other mens example, that armor should +little auaile where iniuries followed to the disquieting of the +[Sidenote: Agricola his good gouernment.] +people, he thought best to take away and remooue all occasions of +warre. And first beginning with himselfe and his souldiers, tooke +order for a reformation to be had in his owne houshold, yéelding +nothing to fauor, but altogither in respect of vertue, accounting them +most faithfull which therein most excelled. He sought to know all +things, but not to doo otherwise than reason mooued, pardoning small +faults, and sharpelie punishing great and heinous offenses, neither +yet deliting alwaies in punishment, but oftentimes in repentance of +the offendor. Exactions and tributes he lessened, qualifieng the same +by reasonable equitie. And thus in reforming the state of things, he +wan him great praise in time of peace, the which either by negligence +or sufferance of the former lieutenants, was euer feared, and +accounted woorse than open warre. This was his practise in the winter +time of his first yéere. + +[Sidenote: His diligence.] +But when summer was come, he assembled his armie, and leading +foorth the same, trained his souldiers in all honest warlike +discipline, commending the good, and reforming the bad and vnrulie. +He himselfe to giue example, tooke vpon him all dangers that came to +hand, and suffered not the enimies to liue in rest, but wasted their +countries with sudden inuasions. And when he had sufficientlie +chastised them, and put them in feare by such manner of dealing, he +spared them, that they might againe conceiue some hope of peace. +By which meanes manie countries which vnto those daies had kept +themselues out of bondage, laid rancor aside, and deliuered pledges, +and further were contented to suffer castels to be builded within +them, and to be kept with garrisons, so that no part of Britaine was +frée from the Romane power, but stood still in danger to be brought +vnder more and more. + +[Sidenote: The second yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In the winter following, Agricola tooke paines to reduce the +Britains from their rude manners and customs, vnto a more ciuill sort +and trade of liuing, that changing their naturall fiercenesse and +[Sidenote: The woorthie practises of Agricola to traine the Britains +to ciuilitie.] +apt disposition to warre, they might through tasting pleasures be +so inured therewith, that they should desire to liue in rest and +quietnesse: and therefore he exhorted them priuilie, and holpe them +publikelie to build temples, common halls where plées of law might be +kept, and other houses, commending them that were diligent in such +dooings, and blaming them that were negligent, so that of necessitie +they were driuen to striue who should preuent ech other in ciuilitie. +He also procured that noble mens sonnes should learne the liberall +sciences, and praised the nature of the Britains more than the people +of Gallia, bicause they studied to atteine to the knowledge of the +Romane eloquence. By which meanes the Britains in short time were +brought to the vse of good and commendable manners, and sorted +themselues to go in comelie apparell after the Romane fashion, and +by little and little fell to accustome themselues to fine fare and +delicate pleasures, the readie prouokers of vices, as to walke in +galleries, to wash themselues in bathes, to vse banketting, and such +like, which amongst the vnskilfull was called humanitie or courtesie, +but in verie deed it might be accounted a part of thraldome and +seruitude, namelie being too excessiuelie vsed. + +[Sidenote: The third yéere.] +In the third yéere of Agricola his gouernment in Britaine, he +inuaded the north parts thereof (vnknowne till those daies of the +Romans) being the same where the Scots now inhabit: for he +[Sidenote: The water of Tay.] +wasted the countrie vnto the water of Tay, in such wise putting the +inhabitants in feare, that they durst not once set vpon his armie, +though it were so that the same was verie sore disquieted and vexed +by tempest and rage of weather. Wherevpon finding no great let or +hinderance by the enimies, he builded certeine castels and fortresses, +which he placed in such conuenient stéeds, that they greatlie annoied +his aduersaries, and were so able to be defended, that there was none +of those castels which he builded, either woon by force out of the +Romans hands, or giuen ouer by composition, for feare to be taken: so +that the same beeing furnished with competent numbers of men of warre, +were safelie kept from the enimies, the which were dailie vexed by the +often issues made foorth by the souldiers that laie thus in garrison +within them: so that where in times past the said enimies would +recouer their losses susteined in summer by the winters aduantage, now +they were put to the woorse, and kept backe as well in the winter as +in the summer. + +[Sidenote: The fourth yéere of Agricola his gouernment. Clota +Bodotria.] +In the fourth summer, after that Agricola was appointed vnto the +rule of this land, he went about to bring vnder subiection those +people, the which before time he had by incursions and forreies sore +vexed and disquieted: and therevpon comming to the waters of Clide and +Loughleuen, he built certeine fortresses to defend the passages and +entries there, driuing the enimies beyond the same waters, as it had +béene into a new Iland. + +[Sidenote: The fift yéere.] +In the fift summer, Agricola causing his ships to be brought +about, and appointing them to arriue on the north coasts of Scotland, +he passed with his armie ouer the riuer of Clide; and subdued such +people as inhabited those further parts of Scotland, which till those +daies had not beene discouered by the Romans. And bicause he thought +it should serue well to purpose, for some conquest to be made of +Ireland, if that part of Scotland which bordereth on the Irish seas +might be kept in due obedience, he placed garrisons of souldiers +in those parties, in hope verelie vpon occasion to passe ouer into +Ireland, and for the more easie aduancement of his purpose therein, he +interteined with honourable prouision one of the kings of Ireland, +[Sidenote: An Irish king expelled out of his countrie.] +which by ciuill discord was expelled and driuen out of his countrie. +In déed Agricola perceiued, that with one legion of souldiers, and +a small aid of other men of warre it should be an easie matter to +conquer Ireland, and to bring it vnder the dominion of the Romans: +which enterprise he iudged verie necessarie to be exploited, for +better kéeping of the Britains in obedience, if they should sée the +iurisdiction of the Romans euerie where extended, and the libertie of +their neighbours suppressed. + +[Sidenote: The sixt yéere of Agricola his government.] +In the sixt summer of Agricola his gouernment, he proceeded in +subduing the furthermost parts of Scotland northwards, causing his +nauie to kéepe course against him by the coast as he marched foorth +by land, so that the Britains perceiuing how the secret hauens and +créekes of their countries were now discouered, and that all hope of +refuge was in maner cut off from them, were in maruellous feare. On +the other part the Romans were sore troubled with the rough mounteins +and craggie rocks, by the which they were constreined to passe beside +the dangerous riuers, lakes, woods, streicts, and other combersome +waies and passages. + +The danger also of them that were in the ships by sea was not small, +by reason of winds and tempests, and high spring tides, which tossed +and turmoiled their vessels verie cruellie: but by the painfull +diligence of them that had béene brought vp and inured with continuall +trauell and hardnesse, all those discommodities were ouercome to their +great reioising, when they met and fell in talke of their passed +perils. For oftentimes the armie by land incamped so by the shore, +that those which kept the sea came on land to make merrie in the +campe, and then ech one would recount to others the aduentures that +had happened, as the manner is in semblable cases. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains of Calenderwood assalt the Romans upon aduantage, +bloudie battels fought betwixt them, great numbers slaine on both +sides, the villanous dealing of certeine Dutch souldiers against their +capteins and fellowes in armes, the miserie that they were driven vnto +by famine to eate one another, a sharpe conflict betweene the Romans +and Britains, with the losse of manie a mans life, and effusion of +much bloud_. + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Calenderwood.] +The Britains that inhabited in those daies about the parts of +Calenderwood, perceiuing in what danger they were to be vtterlie +subdued, assembled themselues togither, in purpose to trie the fortune +of battell: whereof Agricola being aduertised, marched foorth with his +armie diuided in three battels, so that the enimies doubting to trie +the matter in open field, espied their time in the night, and with all +their whole puissance set vpon one of the Romane legions, which they +knew to be most féeble and weake, trusting by a camisado to distresse +the same: and first sleaing the watch, they entred the campe, where +the said legion laie, and finding the souldiers in great disorder, +betwixt sléepe and feare, began the fight euen within the campe. + +Agricola had knowledge of their purposed intent, and therefore with +all speed hasted foorth to come to the succours of his people, sending +first his light horssemen, and certeine light armed footmen to assaile +the enimies on their backs, and shortlie after approched with his +whole puissance, so that the Romane standards beginning to appéere in +sight by the light of the daie that then began to spring, the Britains +were sore discouraged, and the Romans renewing their force, fiercelie +preassed vpon them, so that euen in the entrie of the campe, there was +a sore conflict, till at length the Britains were put to flight and +chased, so that if the mareshes and woods had not saued them from the +pursute of the Romans, there had beene an end made of the whole warre +euen by that one daies worke. But the Britains escaping as well as +they might, and reputing the victorie to haue chanced not by the +valiancie of the Romane soldiers, but by occasion, and the prudent +policie of their capteine, were nothing abashed with that their +present losse, but prepared to put their youth againe into armour: and +therevpon they remooued their wiues and children into safe places, and +then assembling the chiefest gouernours togither, concluded a league +amongst themselues, ech to aid other, confirming their articles with +dooing of sacrifice (as the manner in those daies was.) + +[Sidenote: The seuenth yéere.] +The same summer, a band of such Dutch or Germaine souldiers as had +béene leuied in Germanie & sent ouer into Britaine to the aid of +the Romans, attempted a great and woonderfull act, in sleaing their +capteine, and such other of the Romane souldiers which were appointed +to haue the training and leading of them, as officers and instructors +to them in the feats of warre: and when they had committed that +murther, they got into thrée pinesses, and became rouers on the coasts +of Britaine, and incountring with diuerse of the Britains that were +readie to defend their countrie from spoile, oftentimes they got the +vpper hand of them, and now and then they were chased awaie, insomuch +that in the end they were brought to such extremitie for want of +vittels, that they did eate such amongst them as were the weakest, +and after, such as the lot touched, being indifferentlie cast amongst +them: and so being caried about the coasts of Britaine, & losing their +vessels through want of skill to gouerne them, they were reputed for +robbers, and therevpon were apprehended, first by the Suabeners, and +shortlie after by the Frizers, the which sold diuerse of them to the +Romans and other, whereby the true vnderstanding of their aduentures +came certeinlie to light. + +[Sidenote: The eight yéere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In summer next following, Agricola with his armie came to the +mounteine of Granziben, where he vnderstood that his enimies were +incamped, to the number of 30 thousand and aboue, and dailie there +came to them more companie of the British youth, and such aged persons +also as were lustie and in strength, able to weld weapon and beare +[Sidenote: Galgagus whome the Scots name Gald and will néeds haue +him a Scotish man.] +armour. Amongst the capteins the chiefest was one Galgagus whom the +Scotish chronicles name Gald. This man as chiefteine and head capteine +of all the Britains there assembled, made to them a pithie oration, to +incourage them to fight manfullie, and likewise did Agricola to his +people: which being ended, the armies on both sides were put in order +of battell. Agricola placed 8 thousand footmen of strangers which he +had there in aid with him in the midst, appointing thrée thousand +horssemen to stand on the sides of them as wings. The Romane legions +stood at their backs in stéed of a bulworke. The Britains were +imbattelled in such order, that their fore ward stood in the plaine +ground, and the other on the side of an hill, as though they had risen +on heigth one ranke aboue another. The midst of the field was +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._] +couered with their charrets and horssemen. Agricola doubting by the +huge multitude of enimies, least his people should be assailed not +onlie afront, but also vpon euerie side the battels, he caused the +ranks so to place themselues, as their battels might stretch farre +further in bredth than otherwise the order of warre required: but he +tooke this to be a good remedie against such inconuenience as might +haue followed, if the enimie by the narrownesse of the fronts of his +battels should haue hemmed them in on ech side. + +This done, and hauing conceiued good hope of victorie, he alighted on +foot, and putting his horsse from him, he stood before the standards +as one not caring for anie danger that might happen. At the first they +bestowed their shot and darts fréelie on both sides. The Britains +aswell with constant manhood, as skilfull practise, with broad swords +and little round bucklers auoided and beat from them the arrowes and +darts that came from their enimies, and therewithall paid them home +againe with their shot and darts, so that the Romans were néere hand +oppressed therewith, bicause they came so thicke in their faces, +[Sidenote: Betaui. Congri.] +till at length Agricola caused thrée cohorts of Hollanders, & two of +Lukeners to presse forward, & ioine with them at hand-strokes, so as +the matter might come to be tried with the edge of the swoord, which +thing as to them (being inured with that kind of fight) it stood +greatlie with their aduantage, so to the Britains it was verie +dangerous, that were to defend themselues with their mightie huge +swoords and small bucklers. Also by reason their swoords were broad +at the ends, and pointlesse, they auailed little to hurt the armed +enimie. Wherevpon when the Hollanders came to ioine with them, they +made fowle worke in sleaing and wounding them in most horrible wise. + +The horssemen also that made resistance they pulled from their +horsses, and began to clime the hill vpon the Britains. The other +bands desirous to match their fellowes in helping to atchiue the +[Sidenote: Hollanders.] +victorie, followed the Hollanders, and beat downe the Britains where +they might approch to them: manie were ouerrun and left halfe dead, +and some not once touched with anie weapon, were likewise ouerpressed, +such hast the Romans made to follow vpon the Britains. Whilest the +British horssemen fled, their charets ioined themselues with their +footmen, and restoring the battell, put the Romans in such feare, that +they were at a sudden stay: but the charets being troubled with prease +of enimies, & vnéeuennesse of the ground, they could not worke their +feat to anie purpose, neither had that fight anie resemblance of a +battell of horssemen, when ech one so encumbred other, that they had +no roome to stirre themselues. The charets oftentimes wanting their +guiders were caried awaie with the horsses, that being put in feare +with the noise and stur, ran hither and thither, bearing downe one +another, and whomsoeuer else they met withall. + +Now the Britains that kept the top of the hils, and had not yet fought +at all, despising the small number of the Romans, began to come +downewards and to cast about, that they might set vpon the backs of +their enimies, in hope so to make an end of the battell, and to win +the victorie: but Agricola doubting no lesse, but that some such thing +would come to passe, had aforehand foreséene the danger, and hauing +reserued foure wings of horssemen for such sudden chances, sent them +foorth against those Britains, the which horssemen with full randon +charging vpon them as they rashlie came forwards, quicklie disordered +them and put them all to flight, and so that purposed deuise and +policie of the Britains turned to their owne hinderance. For their +horssemen by their capteins appointment trauersing ouerthwart by the +fronts of them that fought, set vpon that battell of the Britains +which they found before them. Then in those open and plaine places a +greeuous & heauie sight it was to behold, how they pursued, wounded, +and tooke their enimies: and as they were aduised of other to slea +those that they had before taken, to the end they might ouertake the +other, there was nothing but fléeing, taking, and chasing, slaughter, +spilling of bloud, scattering of weapons, grunting and groning of men +and horsses that lay on the ground, gasping for breath, & readie to +die. + +The Britains now and then as they saw their aduantage, namelie when +they approched néere to the woods, gathered themselues togither, +and set vpon the Romans as they followed vnaduisedlie, and further +(through ignorance of the places) than stood with their suertie, +insomuch that if Agricola had not prouided remedie, and sent foorth +mightie bands of light armed men both on foot and horssebacke to close +in the enimies, and also to beat the wood, some greater losse would +haue followed through too much boldnes of them that too rashlie +pursued vpon the Britains: who when they beheld the Romans thus to +follow them in whole troops and good order of battell, they slipt +awaie and tooke them to flight, ech one seeking to saue himselfe, and +kept not togither in plumps as before they had doone. The night made +an end of the chase which the Romans had followed till they were +[Sidenote: Ten thousand Britains slaine. Aulus Atticus slaine.] +throughlie wearied. There were slaine of the Britains that day 10000, +and of the Romans 340, among whom Aulus Atticus a capteine of one +of the cohorts or bands of footmen was one, who being mounted on +horssebacke (through his owne too much youthfull courage, and fierce +vnrulines of his horsse) was caried into the middle throng of his +enimies, and there slaine. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains +after their ouerthrow, Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his +victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, and Cneus +Trebellius surrogated in his roome_. + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The night insuing the foresaid ouerthrow of the Britains was spent of +[Sidenote: Britains, not Scots, neither yet Picts.] +the Romans in great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But +among the Britains there was nothing else heard but mourning and +lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togither, some +busie to beare away the wounded, to bind and dresse their hurts; other +calling for their sonnes, kinsfolkes and friends that were wanting. +Manie of them forsooke their houses, and in their desperate mood set +them on fire, and choosing foorth places for their better refuge and +safegard, foorthwith misliking of the same, left them and sought +others: herewith diuerse of them tooke counsell togither what they +were best to doo, one while they were in hope, an other while they +fainted, as people cast into vtter despaire: the beholding of their +wiues and children oftentimes mooued them to attempt some new +enterprise for the preseruation of their countrie and liberties. And +certeine it is that some of them slue their wiues and children, as +mooued thereto with a certeine fond regard of pitie to rid them out of +further miserie and danger of thraldome. + +The next day the certeintie of the victorie more plainlie was +disclosed, for all was quiet about, and no noise heard anie where: the +houses appeared burning on ech side, and such as were sent foorth to +discouer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature +stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off. + +When Agricola had thus ouerthrowne his enimies in a pitcht field at +the mountaine of Granziben, and that the countrie was quite rid of all +appearance of enimies: bicause the summer of this eight yéere of his +gouernement was now almost spent, he brought his armie into the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +confines of the Horrestians, which inhabited the countries now called +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +Angus & Merne, and there intended to winter, and tooke hostages of +the people for assurance of their loialtie and subiection. This doone, +he appointed the admirall of the nauie to saile about the Ile, +[Sidenote: An hauen called Trutulensis, peraduenture Rutupensis.] +which accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued, luckilie +accomplished his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into +an hauen called Trutulensis. + +In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in +Britaine, both the emperour Vespasianus, and also his brother Titus +that succéeded him, departed this life, and Domitianus was elected +emperor, who hearing of such prosperous successe as Agricola had +against the Britains, did not so much reioise for the thing well +doone, as he enuied to consider what glorie and renowme should redound +to Agricola thereby, which he perceiued should much darken the glasse +of his fame, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in woorthinesse of +noble exploits atchiued, farre excelled his dooings. + +To find remedie therefore herein, he thought not good to vtter his +malice as yet, whilest Agricola remained in Britaine with an armie, +which so much fauoured him, and that with so good cause, sith by his +policie and noble conduct the same had obteined so manie victories, +so much honor, and such plentie of spoiles and booties. Wherevpon to +dissemble his intent, he appointed to reuoke him foorth of Britaine, +as it were to honor him, not onelie with deserued triumphs, but also +with the lieutenantship of Syria, which as then was void by the +[Sidenote: Cneus Trebellius alias Salustius Lucullus as some thinke.] +death of Aulius Rufus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome, +deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed +thereto by the emperour Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard. + +¶ Thus may you sée in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king +Marius, of whome Tacitus maketh no mention at all. Some haue written, +that the citie of Chester was builded by this Marius, though other +(as before I haue said) thinke rather that it was the worke of +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +Ostorius Scapula their legat. Touching other the dooings of Agricola, +in the Scotish chronicle you maie find more at large set foorth: +for that which I haue written héere, is but to shew what in effect +Cornelius Tacitus writeth of that which Agricola did here in Britaine, +without making mention either of Scots or Picts, onelie naming them +Britains, Horrestians, and Calidoneans, who inhabited in those daies +a part of this Ile which now we call Scotland, the originall of which +countrie, and the inhabitants of the same, is greatlie controuersed +among writers; diuerse diuerslie descanting therevpon, some fetching +their reason from the etymon of the word which is Gréeke, some from +the opening of their ancestors as they find the same remaining in +records; other some from comparing antiquities togither, and aptlie +collecting the truth as néere as they can. But to omit them, and +returne to the continuation of our owne historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his education in Rome, how long he +reigned: of Lucius his sonne and successor, what time he assumed +the gouernment of this land, he was an open professor of christian +religion, he and his familie are baptised, Britaine receiueth the +faith, 3 archbishops and 28 bishops at that time in this Iland, +Westminster church and S. Peters in Cornehill builded, diuers opinions +touching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the +christian faith was receiued in this Iland_. + +THE 19. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: COILLUS. 125.] +Coillus the sonne of Marius was after his fathers deceasse made +king of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 125. This Coillus or Coill +was brought vp in his youth amongst the Romans at Rome, where he spent +his time not vnprofitablie, but applied himselfe to learning & seruice +in the warres, by reason whereof he was much honored of the Romans, +and he likewise honored and loued them, so that he paied his tribute +truelie all the time of his reigne, and therefore liued in peace and +good quiet. He was also a prince of much bountie, and verie liberall, +whereby he obteined great loue both of his nobles and commons. Some +[Sidenote: Colchester built.] +saie, that he made the towne of Colchester in Essex, but others write, +that Coill which reigned next after Asclepiodotus was the first +founder of that towne, but by other it should séeme to be built long +before, being called Camelodunum. Finallie when this Coill had reigned +the space of 54 yeares, he departed this life at Yorke, leauing after +him a sonne named Lucius, which succéeded in the kingdome. + +[Sidenote: LUCIUS.] +Lucius the sonne of Coillus, whose surname (as saith William +Harison) is not extant, began his reigne ouer the Britains about the +yeare of our Lord 180, as Fabian following the authoritie of Peter +Pictauiensis saith, although other writers seeme to disagrée in that +account, as by the same Fabian in the table before his booke partlie +appeareth, wherevnto Matthæus Westmonasteriensis affirmeth, that this +Lucius was borne in the yeare of our Lord 115, and was crowned king in +the yeare 124, as successor to his father Coillus, which died the same +yeare, being of great age yer the said Lucius was borne. It is noted +[Sidenote: 165.] +by antiquaries, that his entrance was in the 4132 of the world, +916 after the building of Rome, 220 after the comming of Cesar into +Britaine, and 165 after Christ, whose accounts I follow in this +treatise. + +This Lucius is highlie renowmed of the writers, for that he was the +first king of the Britains that receiued the faith of Iesus Christ: +for being inspired by the spirit of grace and truth, euen from the +beginning of his reigne, he somewhat leaned to the fauoring of +Christian religion, being moued with the manifest miracles which the +Christians dailie wrought in witnesse and proofe of their sound and +perfect doctrine. For euen from the daies of Ioseph of Arimathia and +his fellowes, or what other godlie men first taught the Britains the +gospell of our Sauiour there remained amongest the same Britains some +christians which ceased not to teach and preach the word of God most +sincerelie vnto them: but yet no king amongst them openlie professed +that religion, till at length this Lucius perceiuing not onelie some +of the Romane lieutenants in Britaine as Trebellius and Pertinax, with +others, to haue submitted themselues to that profession, but also the +emperour himselfe to begin to be fauorable to them that professed it, +he tooke occasion by their good example to giue eare more attentiuelie +vnto the gospell, and at length sent vnto Eleutherius bishop of Rome +two learned men of the British nation, Eluane and Meduine, requiring +him to send some such ministers as might instruct him and his people +in the true faith more plentifullie, and to baptise them according to +the rules of christian religion. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 119. (*)] +¶ The reuerend father Iohn Iewell, sometime bishop of Salisburie, +writeth in his * replie vnto Hardings answer, that the said +Eleutherius, for generall order to be taken in the realme and churches +héere, wrote his aduice to Lucius in maner and forme following. "You +haue receiued in the kingdome of Britaine, by Gods mercie, both the +law and faith of Christ; ye haue both the new and the old testament, +out of the same through Gods grace, by the aduise of your realme make +a law, and by the same through Gods sufferance rule you your kingdome +of Britaine, for in that kingdome you are Gods vicar." + +Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, +the one named Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the +king with all his familie and people, and therewith remoued the +[Sidenote: Britaine receiueth the faith.] +worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right meane and +waie how to worship the true and immortall God. There were in those +daies within the bounds of Britaine 28 Flamines, & thrée Archflamines, +which were as bishops and archbishops, or superintendents of the +pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they being remoued) were +instituted 28 bishops & thrée archbishops of the christian religion. +One of the which archbishops held his sée at London, another at Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and the third at Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorganshire. Vnto the +archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall, and all the middle part of +England, euen vnto Humber. To the archbishop of Yorke all the north +parts of Britaine from the riuer of Humber vnto the furthest partes +of Scotland. And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, +within which countrie as then were seuen bishops, where now there are +but foure. The riuer of Seuern in those daies diuided Wales (then +called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine. Thus Britaine +[Sidenote: Iosephus of Arimathia.] +partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard +before) & partlie by the wholesome instructions & doctrines of +Fugatius and Damianus, was the first of all other regions that openlie +receiued the gospell, and continued most stedfast in that profession, +till the cruell furie of Dioclesian persecuted the same, in such sort, +that as well in Britaine as in all other places of the world, the +christian religion was in manner extinguished, and vtterlie destroied. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Westminster Church built.] +There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church +of saint Peter at Westminster, though manie attribute that act vnto +Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write how the place was then +ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, and +was called Thorney. They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of London +preached, read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made +resort vnto him. Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestrie of +saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime hanging in saint +Peters church in Cornehill, it should séeme that the said church of +saint Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded. But herein +(saith Harison _anno mundi_ 4174) dooth lie a scruple. Sure Cornell +might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speciallie in such old records, +as time, age, & euill handling haue oftentimes defaced. + +But howsoeuer the case standeth, truth it is, that Lucius reioising +much, in that he had brought his people to the perfect light and +vnderstanding of the true God, that they néeded not to be deceiued +anie longer with the craftie temptations and feigned miracles of +wicked spirits, he abolished all prophane worshippings of false +gods, and conuerted all such temples as had béene dedicated to their +seruice, vnto the vse of christian religion: and thus studieng onlie +how to aduance the glorie of the immortall God, and the knowledge of +his word, without seeking the vaine glorie of worldlie triumph, which +is got with slaughter and bloudshed of manie a giltlesse person, he +left his kingdome; though not inlarged with broder dominion than he +receiued it, yet greatlie augmented and inriched with quiet rest, good +ordinances, and (that which is more to be estéemed than all the rest) +adorned with Christes religion, and perfectlie instructed with his +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Fabian. Iohn Hard._] +most holie word and doctrine. He reigned (as some write) 21 +yeares, though other affirme but twelue yeares. Againe, some testifie +that he reigned 77, others 54, and 43. + +Moreouer here is to be noted, that if he procured the faith of Christ +to be planted within this realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romane +bishop, the same chanced in the daies of the emperour Marcus Aurelius +Antonius; and about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus was ioined +and made partaker of the empire with his father, which was seuen yéere +after the death of Lucius Aelius, Aurelius Verus, and in the 177 after +the birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, as by some chronologies is +easie to be collected. For Eleutherius began to gouerne the sée of +Rome in the yéere 169, according to the opinion of the most diligent +chronographers of our time, and gouerned fiftéene yeeres and thirtéene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +daies. And yet there are that affirme, how Lucius died at +Glocester in the yéere of our Lord 156. Other say that he died in the +yere 201, and other 208. So that the truth of this historie is brought +into doubt by the discord of writers, concerning the time and other +circumstances, although they all agrée that in this kings daies the +christian faith was first by publike consent openlie receiued and +professed in this land, which as some affirme, should chance in the +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +twelfe yéere of his reigne, and in the yéere of our Lord 177. +Other iudge that it came to passe in the eight yeere of his regiment, +and in the yéere of our Lord 188, where other (as before is said) +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_.] +alledge that it was in the yéere of the Lord 179. Nauclerus saith, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Herf._] +that this happened about the yeare of our Lord 156. And Henricus +de Herfordea supposeth, that it was in the yéere of our Lord 169, and +in the nintéenth yéere of the emperor Marcus Antonius Verus; and after +other, about the sixt yéere of the emperor Commodus. + +But to conclude, king Lucius died without issue, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +after his deceasse the Britains fell at variance, which continued +about the space of fiftéene yéeres (as Fabian thinketh) howbeit the +old English chronicle affirmeth, that the contention betwixt them +[Sidenote: _Caxton. Iohn Hard._] +remained fiftie yéeres, though Harding affirmeth but foure yéeres. +And thus much of the Britains, and their kings Coilus and Lucius. Now +it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romans which gouerned here in +the meane while. After that Agricola was called backe to Rome, the +Britains (and namelie those that inhabited beyond Tweed) partlie being +weakned of their former strength, and partlie in consideration of +their pledges, which they had deliuered to the Romans, remained in +peace certeine yéeres. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains after the deceasse of Lucius (who died without issue) +rebell against the Romans, the emperor Adrian comming in his owne +person into Britaine appeaseth the broile, they go about to recouer +their libertie against the Romans, but are suppressed by Lollius the +Romane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and +his policie to keepe the souldiers waking, the Britains being ruled by +certeine meane gentlemen of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse +him to the emperor Commodus, he is mangled and murthered of his +souldiers_. + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CNEUS TREBELLIUS LIEUTENANT.] +In the meane time the Romane lieutenant Cneus Trebellius that +succéeded Iulius Agricola, could not foresee all things so preciselie +but that the souldiers waxing vnrulie by reason of long rest, fell +at variance among themselues, and would not in the end obey the +lieutenant, but disquieted the Britains beyond measure. Wherefore +the Britains perceiuing themselues sore oppressed with intollerable +bondage, and that dailie the same incresed, they conspired togither, +vpon hope to recouer libertie, and to defend their countrie by all +meanes possible, and herewith they tooke weapon in hand against the +Romans, and boldlie assailed them: but this they did yet warilie, +and so, that they might flie vnto the woods and bogs for refuge vpon +necessitie, according to the maner of their countrie. Herevpon diuers +slaughters were committed on both parties, and all the countrie was +now readie to rebell: whereof when the emperour Adrian was aduertised +from Trebellius the lieutenant, with all conuenient speed he passed +ouer into Britaine, and quieted all the Ile, vsing great humanitie +towards the inhabitants; and making small account of that part where +the Scots now inhabit, either bicause of the barrennesse thereof, or +for that by reason of the nature of the countrie he thought it would +be hard to be kept vnder subiection, he deuised to diuide it from the +[Sidenote: The wall of Adrian built. _Spartianus_.] +residue of Britaine, and so caused a wall to be made from the +mouth of Tine vnto the water of Eske, which wall contained in length +30 miles. + +After this, the Britains bearing a malicious hatred towards the Romane +souldiers, and repining to be kept vnder the bond of seruitude, +eftsoones went about to recouer libertie againe. Whereof +[Sidenote: Lollius Vrbicus lieutenant.] +aduertisement being giuen, the emperour Pius Antoninus sent ouer +Lollius Vrbicus as lieutenant into Britaine, who by sundrie battels +striken, constreined the Britains to remaine in quiet, and causing +[Sidenote: _Julius Capitol_. An other wall built.] +those that inhabited in the north parts to remooue further off from +the confines of the Romane prouince, raised another wall beyond that +which the emperor Adrian had made, as is to be supposed, for the more +suertie of the Romane subiects against the inuasion of the enimies. +But yet Lollius did not so make an end of the warrs, but that the +Britains shortlie after attempted afresh, either to reduce their state +into libertie, or to bring the same into further danger. + +[Sidenote: CALPHURNIUS AGRICOLA. Of the doings of this Calphurnius in +Britaine ye may read more in the Scotish chronicle. _Dion Cassius_.] +Wherevpon Marcus Antonius that succéeded Pius, sent Calphurnius +Agricola to succéed Lollius in the gouernement of Britaine, the which +easilie ouercame and subdued all his enimies. After this there chanced +some trouble in the daies of the emperour Commodus the son of Marcus +Antonius and his successor in the empire: for the Britans that dwelled +northwards, beyond Adrians wall, brake through the same, and spoiled +a great part of the countrie, against whom the Romane lieutenant for +that time being come foorth, gaue them battell: but both he and the +Romane souldiers that were with him, were beaten downe and slaine. + +[Sidenote: Vlpius Marcellus lieutenant.] +With which newes Commodus being sore amazed, sent against +the Britains one Vlpius Marcellus, a man of great diligence and +temperance, but therewith rough and nothing gentle. He vsed the same +kind of diet that the common souldiers did vse. He was a capteine much +watchfull, as one contented with verie little sléepe, and desirous to +haue his souldiers also vigilant and carefull to kéepe sure watch in +the night season. Euerie euening he would write twelue tables, such as +they vsed to make on the lind trée, and deliuering them to one of his +seruants, appointed him to beare them at seuerall houres of the night +to sundrie souldiers, whereby supposing that their generall was still +watching and not gone to bed, they might be in doubt to sléepe. + +And although of nature he could well absteine from sléepe, yet to be +the better able to forbeare it, he vsed a maruellous spare kind of +diet: for to the end that he would not fill himselfe too much with +bread, he would eat none but such as was brought to him from Rome, so +that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eat, by reason +that the stalenesse tooke awaie the pleasant tast thereof, and lesse +prouoked his appetite. He was a maruellous contemner of monie, so that +bribes might not mooue him to doo otherwise than dutie required. This +Marcellus being of such disposition, sore afflicted the Britains, and +put them oftentimes to great losses: through fame wherof, C[=o]modus +enuieng his renowme was after in mind to make him away, but yet spared +him for a further purpose, and suffered him to depart. + +[Sidenote: Perhennis capteine of the emperours gard.] +After he was remooued from the gouernment of Britaine, one +Perhennis capteine of the emperors gard (or pretorian souldiers +as they were then called) bearing all the rule vnder the emperor +Commodus, appointed certeine gentlemen of meane calling to gouerne the +armie in Britaine. Which fond substituting of such petie officers +to ouersée and ouerrule the people, was to them an occasion of +hartgrudge, and to him a meanes of finall mischéefe: both which it +is likelie he might haue auoided, had he béene prouident in his +[Sidenote: _Aelius Lampridius_.] +deputation. For the souldiers in the same armie grudging and +repining to be gouerned by men of base degree, in respect of those +that had borne rule ouer them before, being honorable personages, as +senators, and of the consular dignitie, they fell at square among +themselues, and about fiftéene hundred of them departed towards Rome +to exhibit their complaint against Perhennis: for whatsoeuer was +amisse, the blame was still laid to him. They passed foorth without +impeachment at all, and comming to Rome, the emperour himselfe came +foorth to vnderstand what they meant by this their comming in such +sort from the place where they were appointed to serue. Their answer +was, that they were come to informe him of the treason which Perhennis +had deuised to his destruction, that he might make his son emperor. To +the which accusation when Commodus too lightlie gaue eare, & beléeued +it to be true, namelie, through the setting on of one Cleander, +who hated Perhennis, for that he brideled him from dooing diuerse +vnlawfull acts, which he went about vpon a wilfull mind (without all +reason and modestie) to practise; the matter was so handled in the +end, that Perhennis was deliuered to the souldiers, who cruellie +mangled him, and presentlie put him to a pitifull death. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Pertinax is sent as lieutenant into Britaine, he is in danger to be +slaine of the souldiers, he riddeth himselfe of that perilous office: +Albinus with an armie of Britains fighteth against Seuerus and his +power neere to Lions, Seuerus is slaine in a conflict against the +Picts, Geta and Bassianus two brethren make mutuall warre for the +regiment of the land, the one is slaine, the other ruleth_. + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Pertinax lieutenant of Britaine.] +Now will we saie somewhat of the tumults in Britaine. It was +thought néedfull to send some sufficient capteine of autoritie +thither; and therefore was one Pertinax that had béene consull and +ruler ouer foure seuerall consular prouinces, appointed by Commodus +to go as lieutenant into that Ile, both for that he was thought a man +most méet for such a charge, and also to satisfie his credit, for that +he had béene discharged by Perhennis of bearing anie rule, and sent +home into Liguria where he was borne, and there appointed to remaine. +This Pertinax comming into Britaine, pacified the armie, but not +[Sidenote: The lieutenant in danger.] +without danger to haue béene slaine by a mutinie raised by one of +the legions: for he was stricken downe, and left for dead among the +slaine carcasses. But he woorthilie reuenged himselfe of this iniurie. +At length, hauing chastised the rebels, and brought the Ile into +méetelie good quiet, he sued and obteined to be discharged of that +roome, because as he alledged, the souldiers could not brooke him, +for that he kept them in dutifull obedience, by correcting such as +offended the lawes of armes. + +[Sidenote: CLODIUS ALBINUS LIEUTENAT.] +Then was Clodius Albinus appointed to haue the rule of the Romane +armie in Britaine: whose destruction when Seuerus the emperour sought, +Albinus perceiued it quicklie: and therefore choosing foorth a great +power of Britains, passed with the same ouer into France to encounter +with Seuerus, who was come thither towards him, so that néere to the +citie of Lions they ioined in battell and fought right sore, in so +much that Seuerus was at point to haue receiued the ouerthrow by the +high prowesse and manhood of the Britains: but yet in the end Albinus +lost the field, and was slaine. Then Heraclitus as lieutenant began to +gouerne Britaine (as writeth Spartianus) being sent thither by Seuerus +for that purpose before. And such was the state of this Ile about the +yeare of our Lord 195. In which season, because that king Lucius was +dead, and had left no issue to succéed him, the Britains (as before ye +haue heard) were at variance amongst themselues, and so continued till +the comming of Seuerus, whome the British chronographers affirme to +reigne as king in this Ile, & that by right of succession in bloud, as +descended of Androgeus the Britaine, which went to Rome with Iulius +Cesar, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: SEUERUS] +This Seuerus as then emperour of Rome, began to rule this Ile (as +authors affirme) in the yeare of our Lord 207, and gouerned the same 4 +yeares and od moneths. At length hearing that one Fulgentius as then +a leader of the Picts was entred into the borders of his countrie on +this side Durham, he raised an host of Britains and Romans, with +the which he marched towards his enimies: and méeting with the said +Fulgentius in a place néere vnto Yorke, in the end after sore fight +Seuerus was slaine, when he had ruled this land for the space almost +of fiue yeares, as before is said, and was after buried at Yorke, +leauing behind him two sonnes, the one named Geta, and the other +Bassianus. This Bassianus being borne of a British woman, succéeded +his father in the gouernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the +incarnation of our Lord 211. The Romans would haue had Geta created +king of Britaine, bearing more fauour to him because he had a Romane +ladie to his mother: but the Britains moued with the like respect, +held with Bassianus. And thervpon warre was raised betwixt the two +brethren, who comming to trie their quarrell by battell, Geta was +slaine, and Bassianus with aid of the Britains remained victor, and +so continued king, till at length he was slaine by one Carausius a +Britaine, borne but of low birth, howbeit right valiant in armes, and +therefore well estéemed. In somuch that obteining of the senat of Rome +the kéeping of the coasts of Britaine, that he might defend the same +from the malice of strangers, as Picts and others, he drew to him a +great number of souldiers and speciallie of Britains, to whome he +promised that if they would make him king, he would cléerelie deliuer +them from the oppression of the Roman seruitude. Wherevpon the +Britains rebelling against Bassianus, ioined themselues to Carausius, +who by their support vanquished and slue the said Bassianus, after he +had reigned 6 or (as some affirme) 30 yeares. + +¶ Thus farre out of the English and British writers, the which how +farre they varie from likelihood of truth, you shall heare in the next +chapter what the approued historiographers, Gréekes and Latines, +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +writing of these matters, haue recorded. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The ambitious mind of the old emperour Seuerus, he arriueth in +Britaine with a mightie power to suppresse the rebellious Britains, +the emperours politike prouision for his souldiers in the fens and +bogs: the agilitie of the Britains, their nimblenesse, the painting +of their bodies with diuerse colours, their furniture, their great +sufferance of hunger, cold, &c: diuerse conflicts betweene the Romans +and the Britains, their subtile traines to deceiue their enimies, the +Romans pitifullie distressed, Seuerus constreineth the Caledonians +to conclude a league with him; he falleth sicke, his owne sonne +practiseth to make him away: the Britains begin a new rebellion, the +cruell commandement of Seuerus to kill and slea all that came to +hand without exception, his age, his death, and sepulchre: Bassianus +ambitiouslie vsurpeth the whole regiment, he killeth his brother Geta, +and is slaine himselfe by one of his owne souldiers_. + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Seuerus receiuing aduertisment from the lieutenant +of Britaine, that the people there mooued rebellion, & wasted the +countrie with roads and forraies, so that it was néedful to haue the +prince himselfe to come thither with a great power to resist the +enimies, he of an ambitious mind reioised not a little for those +newes, bicause he saw occasion offered to aduance his renowne and +fame with increase of new victories now in the west, after so manie +triumphs purchased and got by him in the east and north parts of the +world. Héerevpon though he was of great age, yet the desire that he +had still to win honour, caused him to take in hand to make a iournie +into this land, and so being furnished of all things necessarie, he +set forwards, being carried for the more part in a litter for his more +ease: for that beside his féeblenesse of age, he was also troubled +with the gout. He tooke with him his two sonnes, Antoninus +[Sidenote: Antoninus and Geta.] +Bassianus and Geta, vpon purpose as was thought, to auoid occasions +of such inconuenience as he perceiued might grow by discord mooued +betwixt them through flatterers and malicious sycophants, which sought +to set them at variance: which to bring to passe, he perceiued there +should want no meane whilest they continued in Rome, amidst such +pleasures & idle pastimes as were dailie there frequented: and +therefore he caused them to attend him in this iournie into Britaine, +that they might learne to liue soberlie, and after the manner of men +of warre. + +[Sidenote: The emperor Seuerus arriueth in Britaine.] +Seuerus being thus on his iournie towards Britaine, staied not by +the waie, but with all diligence sped him foorth, and passing the +sea verie swiftlie, entred this Ile, and assembled a mightie power +togither, meaning to assaile his enimies, and to pursue the warre +against them to the vttermost. The Britains greatlie amazed with this +sudden arriuall of the emperour, and hearing that such preparation was +made against them, sent ambassadours to him to intreat of peace, and +to excuse their rebellious dooings. But Seuerus delaieng time for +answere, as he that was desirous to atchiue some high enterprise +against the Britains, for the which he might deserue the surname of +Britannicus, which he greatlie coueted, still was busie to prepare all +things necessarie for the warre; and namelie, caused a great number +of bridges to be made to lay ouer the bogs and mareshes, so that his +souldiers might haue place to stand vpon, and not to be incumbered for +lacke of firme ground when they should cope with their enimies: for +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +the more part of Britaine in those daies (as Herodianus writeth) was +full of fens & maresh ground, by reason of the often flowings and +[Sidenote: He meaneth of the north Britains or sauage Britains as we +may call them.] +washings of the sea tides: by the which maresh grounds the enimies +being thereto accustomed, would run and swim in the waters, and wade +vp to the middle at their pleasure, going for the more part naked, so +that they passed not on the mud and mires, for they knew not the vse +or wearing cloths, but ware hoopes of iron about their middles and +necks, esteeming the same as an ornament token of riches, as other +barbarous people did gold. + +Moreouer they marked, or (as it were) painted their bodies in diuerse +sorts and with sundrie shapes and figures of beasts and fowles, and +therefore they vsed not to weare anie garments, that such painting of +their bodies might the more apparantlie be séene, which they estéemed +a great brauerie. + +They were as the same Herodianus writeth, a people giuen much to war, +[Sidenote: The furniture of the sauage Britains.] +and delighted in slaughter and bloudshed, vsing none other weapons +or armour but a slender buckler, a iaueline, and a swoord tied to +their naked bodies: as for headpéece or habergeon, they estéemed not, +bicause they thought the same should be an hinderance to them when +they should passe ouer anie maresh, or be driuen to swim anie waters, +or flée to the bogs. + +Moreouer, to suffer hunger, cold, and trauell, they were so vsed and +inured therewith, that they would not passe to lie in the bogs and +mires couered vp to the chin, without caring for meate for the space +of diuerse daies togither: and in the woods they would liue vpon +roots and barks of trées. Also they vsed to prepare for themselues a +certeine kind of meate, of the which if they receiued but so much as +amounted to the quantitie of a beane, they would thinke themselues +satisfied, and féele neither hunger nor thirst. The one halfe of +the Ile or little lesse was subiect vnto the Romans, the other was +gouerned of themselues, the people for the most part hauing the rule +in their hands. + +Seuerus therefore meaning to subdue the whole, and vnderstanding their +nature, and the manner of their making warre, prouided him selfe of +all things expedient for the annoiance of them and helpe of his owne +souldiers, and appointing his sonne Geta to remaine in that part of +the Ile which was subiect to the Romans, he tooke with him his other +sonne Antoninus, and with his armie marched foorth, and entred into +the confines of the enimies, and there began to waste and forrey +the countrie, whereby there insued diuerse conflicts and skirmishes +betwixt the Romans and the inhabitants, the victorie still remaining +on the Romans side: but the enimies easilie escaped without anie great +losse vnto the woods, mountains, bogs, and such other places of refuge +as they knew to be at hand, whither the Romans durst not follow, nor +once approch, for feare to be intrapped and inclosed by the Britains +that were readie to returne and assaile their enimies vpon euerie +occasion of aduantage that might be offered. + +This maner of dealing sore troubled the Romans, and so hindered them +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +in their procéedings, that no spéedie end could be made of that +warre. The Britains would oftentimes of purpose laie their cattell, as +oxen, kine, shéepe, and such like, in places conuenient, to be as a +stale to the Romans; and when the Romans should make to them to fetch +the same awaie, being distant from the residue of the armie a good +space, they would fall vpon them and distresse them. Beside this, the +Romans were much annoied with the vnwholesomnesse of the waters which +they were forced to drinke, and if they chanced to straie abroad, they +were snapped vp by ambushes which the Caledonians laid for them, and +when they were so féeble that they could not through want of strength +kéepe pace with their fellowes as they marched in order of battell, +they were slaine by their owne fellowes, least they should be left +behind for a prey to the enimies. Héereby there died in this iournie +of the Romane armie, at the point of fiftie thousand men: but yet +would not Seuerus returne, till he had gone through the whole Ile, +and so came to the vttermost parts of all the countrie now called +Scotland, and at last backe againe to the other part of the Ile +subiect to the Romans, the inhabitants whereof are named (by Dion +Cassius) _Meatæ_. But first he forced the other, whom the same Dion +nameth Caledonij, to conclude a league with him, vpon such conditions, +as they were compelled to depart with no small portion of the +countrie, and to deliuer vnto him their armour and weapons. + +In the meane time, the emperour Seuerus being worne with age fell +sicke, so that he was constreined to abide at home within that part of +the Ile which obeied the Romans, and to appoint his sonne Antoninus +to take charge of the armie abroad. But Antoninus not regarding the +enimies, attempted little or nothing against them, but sought waies +how to win the fauour of the souldiers and men of warre, that after +his fathers death (for which he dailie looked) he might haue their aid +and assistance to be admitted emperour in his place. Now when he saw +that his father bare out his sicknesse longer time than he would haue +wished, he practised with physicians and other of his fathers seruants +to dispatch him by one meane or other. + +Whilest Antoninus thus negligentlie looked to his charge, the Britains +began a new rebellion, not onlie those that were latelie ioined in +league with the emperour, but the other also which were subjects to +the Romane empire. Seuerus tooke such displeasure, that he called +togither the souldiers, and commanded them to inuade the countrie, and +to kill all such as they might méet within anie place without respect, +and that his cruell commandement he expressed in these verses taken +out of Homer: +[Sidenote: _Iliados. 3_.] + + Nemo manus fugiat vestras, cædémque cruentam, + Non foetus grauida mater quern gessit in aluo + Horrendam effugiat cædem. + +But while he was thus disquieted with the rebellion of the Britains, +and the disloiall practises of his sonne Antoninus, which to him were +not vnknowne, (for the wicked sonne had by diuers attempts discouered +his traitorous and vnnaturall meanings) at length, rather through +[Sidenote: Heriodianus. Dion Cassius. Eutropius. Dion Cassius.] +sorrow and griefe, than by force of sicknesse, he wasted awaie, and +departed this life at Yorke, the third daie before the nones of +Februarie, after he had gouerned the empire by the space of 17 yeares, +8 moneths, & 33 daies. He liued 65 yeres, 9 moneths, & 13 daies: he +was borne the third ides of April. By that which before is recited out +of Herodian and Dion Cassius, of the maners & vsages of those people, +against whome Seuerus held warre here in Britaine, it maie be +coniectured, that they were the Picts, the which possessed in those +daies a great part of Scotland, and with continuall incursions and +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Orosius.] +rodes wasted and destroyed the borders of those countries which +were subiect to the Romans. To kéepe them backe therefore and to +represse their inuasions, Seuerus (as some write) either restored +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +the former wall made by Adrian, or else newlie built an other +ouerthwart the Ile, from the east sea to the west, conteining in +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +length 232 miles. This wall was not made of stone, but of turfe and +earth supported with stakes and piles of wood, and defended on the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boetius_] +backe with a déepe trench or ditch, and also fortified with +diuerse towers and turrets built & erected vpon the same wall or +rampire so néere togither, that the sound of trumpets being placed in +the same, might be heard betwixt, and so warning giuen from one to +another vpon the first descrieng of the enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Polydorus. Herodianus_. 211.] +Seuerus being departed out of this life in the yere of our Lord +211, his son Antoninus otherwise called also Bassianus, would faine +haue vsurped the whole gouernment into his owne hands, attempting with +bribes and large promises to corrupt the minds of the souldiers: but +when he perceiued that his purpose would not forward as he wished in +that behalfe, he concluded a league with the enimies, and making peace +with them, returned backe towards Yorke, and came to his mother and +brother Geta, with whome he tooke order for the buriall of his father. +And first his bodie being burnt (as the maner was) the ashes were put +into a vessell of gold, and so conueied to Rome by the two brethren +and the empresse Iulia, who was mother to Geta the yonger brother, +and mother in law to the elder, Antoninus Bassianus, & by all meanes +possible sought to maintaine loue and concord betwixt the brethren, +which now at the first tooke vpon them to rule the empire equallie +togither. But the ambition of Bassianus was such, that finallie vpon +desire to haue the whole rule himselfe, he found meanes to dispatch +his brother Geta, breaking one daie into his chamber, and slaieng him +euen in his mothers lap, and so possessed the gouernment alone, till +at length he was slaine at Edessa a citie in Mesopotamia by one of his +owne souldiers, as he was about to vntrusse his points to doo the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_.] +office of nature, after he had reigned the space of 6 yeares, as is +aforesaid. Where we are to note Gods judgment, prouiding that he which +had shed mans bloud, should also die by the sword. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Carausius an obscure Britaine, what countries he gaue the Picts, +and wherevpon, his death by Alectus his successor, the Romans foiled +by Asclepiodotus duke of Cornewall, whereof Walbrooke had the name, +the couetous practise of Carausius the usurper_. + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CARAUSIUS. 218.] +Carausius a Britan of vnknowne birth, as witnesseth the British +histories, after he had vanquisht & slaine Bassianus (as the same +histories make mention) was of the Britains made king and ruler ouer +them, in the yeare of our Lord 218, as Galfridus saith: but W.H. +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Polychron. Fabian_.] +noteth it to be in the yeare 286. This Carausius either to haue the +aid & support of the Picts, as in the British historic is conteined, +either else to be at quietnesse with them, being not otherwise able +to resist them, gaue to them the countries in the south parts of +Scotland, which ioine to England on the east marshes, as Mers, +Louthian, and others. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_.] +¶ But here is to be noted, that the British writers affirme, that +these Picts which were thus placed in the south parts of Scotland at +this time, were brought ouer out of Scithia by Fulgentius, to aid him +against Seuerus, and that after the death of Seuerus, and Fulgentius, +which both died of hurts receiued in the batell fought betwixt them at +Yorke: the Picts tooke part with Bassianus, and at length betraied him +in the battell which he fought against Carausius: for he corrupting +them by such subtile practises as he vsed, they turned to his side, +to the ouerthrow and vtter destruction of Bassianus: for the which +traitorous part they had those south countries of Scotland giuen +vnto them for their habitation. But by the Scotish writers it should +appeare, that those Picts which aided Fulgentius and also Carausius, +were the same that long before had inhabited the north parts of +Britaine, now called Scotland. But whatsoeuer they were, truth it is +(as the British histories record) that at length one Alectus was +sent from Rome by the senat with 3 legions of souldiers to subdue +Carausius, which he did, and slue him in the field, as the same +histories make mention, after he had reigned the space of 7, or 8, +yeares: and in the yeare of our saluation two hundred, ninetie, three. + +[Sidenote: ALECTUS. Of whom our British histories doo write after their +maner. 293.] +Alectus in hauing vanquished and slaine Carausius tooke vpon him +the rule and gouernment of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 293. +This Alectus, when he had restored the land to the subiection of the +Romans, did vse great crueltie against such Britains as had maintained +the part of Carausius, by reason whereof he purchased much euill +will of the Britains, the which at length conspired against him, and +purposing to chase the Romans altogither out of their countrie, they +procured one Asclepiodotus (whome the British chronicles name duke +of Cornewall) to take vpon him as chiefe captaine that enterprise. +Wherevpon the same Asclepiodotus assembling a great armie, made such +sharpe warres on the Romans, that they being chased from place to +place, at length withdrew to the citie of London, and there held them +till Asclepiodotus came thither, and prouoked Alectus and his Romans +so much, that in the end they issued foorth of the citie, and gaue +battell to the Britans, in the which much people on both parts were +slaine, but the greatest number died on the Romans side: and amongst +others, Alectus himselfe was slaine, the residue of the Romans that +were left aliue, retired backe into the citie with a capteine of +theirs named Liuius Gallus, and defended themselues within the walles +for a time right valiantlie. Thus was Alectus slaine of the +[Sidenote: _Fabian. Matth. West._] +Britains, after he had reigned (as some suppose) about the terme of +six yeares, or (as some other write) thrée yeares. + +[Sidenote: ASCLEPIODOTUS. _Gal. Mon. Matt. West._] +Asclepiodotus, duke of Cornewall, began his reigne ouer the +Britains in the yeare of our Lord 232. After he had vanquished the +Romans in battell, as before is recited, he laid his siege about the +citie of London, and finallie by knightlie force entred the same, and +slue the forenamed Liuius Gallus néere vnto a brooke, which in those +daies ran through the citie, & threw him into the same brooke: by +reason whereof long after it was called Gallus or Wallus brooke. +[Sidenote: Walbrooke.] +And at this present the streete where the same brooke did run, is +called Walbrooke. + +Then after Asclepiodotus had ouercome all his enimies, he held this +land a certeine space in good rest and quiet, and ministred iustice +vprightlie, in rewarding the good, and punishing the euill. Till at +length, through slanderous toongs of malicious persons, discord was +raised betwixt the king and one Coill or Coilus, that was gouernour +of Colchester: the occasion whereof appeareth not by writers. But +whatsoeuer the matter was, there insued such hatred betwixt them, that +on both parts great armies were raised, and meeting in the field, +[Sidenote: Asclepiodotus slaine. _Matt. West._ hath x. years.] +they fought a sore and mightie battell, in the which Asclepiodotus was +slaine, after he had reigned 30 yeares. Thus haue Geffrey of Monmouth +and our common chroniclers written of Carausius, Alectus, and +Asclepiodotus, which gouerned héere in Britaine. + +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +But Eutropius the famous writer of the Romane histories, in the +acts of Dioclesian hath in effect these woords. "About the same time +Carausius, the which being borne of most base ofspring, attained to +high honour and dignitie by order of renowmed chiualrie & seruice in +the warres, receiued charge at Bolein, to kéepe the seas quiet alongst +the coasts of Britaine, France, and Flanders, and other countries +thereabouts, bicause the Frenchmen, which yet inhabited within the +bounds of Germanie, and the Saxons sore troubled those seas. +[Sidenote: The couetous practising of Carausius.] +Carausius taking oftentimes manie of the enimies, neither restored the +goods to them of the countrie from whome the enimies had bereft the +same, nor yet sent anie part therof to the emperours, but kept the +whole to his owne use. Whervpon when suspicion arose, that he should +of purpose suffer the enimies to passe by him, till they had taken +some prises, that in their returne with the same he might incounter +with them, and take that from them which they had gotten (by which +subtile practise he was thought greatly to haue inriched him +selfe) Maximianus that was fellow in gouernment of the empire with +[Sidenote: Maximianus purposeth to slea Carusius.] +Dioclesianus, remaining then in Gallia, and aduertised of these +dooings, commanded that Carausius should be slaine, but he hauing +warning thereof rebelled, and vsurping the imperiall ornaments and +title, got possession of Britaine, against whom (being a man of +great experience in all warlike knowledge) when warres had béene +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +attempted and folowed in vaine, at length a peace was concluded with +him, and so he enioied the possession of Britaine by the space of +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +seuen yéeres, & then was slaine by his companion Alectus, the +which after him ruled Britaine for the space of thrée yéeres, and was +in the end oppressed by the guile of Asclepiodotus gouernour of the +pretorie, or (as I maie call him) lord lieutenant of some precinct +and iurisdiction perteining to the Romane empire." And so was Britaine +recouered by the foresaid Asclepiodotus about ten yeeres after that +Carausius had first vsurped the gouernment there, and about the +[Sidenote: 300.] +yéere of our Lord 300, as Polydor iudgeth, wherein he varieth much +from Fabian and others. + +¶But to shew what we find further written of the subduing of Alectus, +[Sidenote: _Mamertinus_.] +I thinke it not amisse to set downe what Mamertinus in his oration +written in praise of Maximianus dooth report of this matter, which +shall be performed in the chapter following. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The substance of that which is written touching Britaine in a +panegyrike oration ascribed to Mamertinus, which he set foorth in +praise of the emperors Dioclesian and Maximian: it is intituled onelie +to Maximian, whereas neuerthelesse both the emperors are praised; +and likewise (as ye may perceiue) Constantius who was father to +Constantine the great is here spoken of, being chosen by the two +foresaid emperors, to assist them by the name of Cæsar in rule of the +empire: of whom hereafter more shall be said_. + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +"All the compasse of the earth (most victorious emperor) being now +recouered through your noble prowesse, not onelie so farre as the +limits of the Romane empire had before extended, but also the enimies +borders beeing subdued, when Almaine had beene so often vanquished, +and Sarmatia so often restrained & brought vnder, the people called +[Sidenote: Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi, and people of Germanie and Polonie.] +Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi so often put to flight, the Goth submitting +himselfe, the king of Persia by offering gifts suing for peace: one +despitefull reproch of so mightie an empire and gouernement ouer the +whole greeued vs to the heart, as now at length we will not sticke to +confesse, and to vs it seemed the more intollerable, bicause it onlie +remained to the accomplishing of your perfect renowme and glorie. And +verilie as there is but one name of Britaine, so was the losse to be +esteemed smal to the common wealth of a land so plentifull of corne, +so abundant with store of pastures, so flowing with veines of mettall, +so gainfull with reuenues rising of customs and tributes, so enuironed +with hauens, so huge in circuit, the which when Cesar, the founder of +this your honourable title, being the first that entered into it, writ +that he had found an other world, supposing it to be so big, that it +was not compassed with the sea, but that rather by resemblance the +great Ocean was compassed with it. Now at that time Britaine was +nothing furnished with ships of warre; so that the Romans, soone after +the warres of Carthage and Asia, had latelie beene exercised by +sea against pirats, and afterwards by reason of the warres against +Mithridates, were practised as well to fight by sea as land; besides +this, the British nation then alone was accustomed but onelie to +[Sidenote: Picts and Irishmen.] +the Picts and Irishmen, enimies halfe naked as yet & not vsed to weare +armor, so that the Britains for lacke of skill, easilie gaue place to +the Romane puissance, insomuch that Cesar might by that voiage onelie +glorie in this, that he had sailed and passed ouer the Ocean sea. + +"But in this wicked rebellious robberie, first the nauie that in times +past defended the coasts of Gallia, was led away by the pirat when he +fled his waies: and beside this, a great number of other ships were +built after the mould of ours, the legion of Romane souldiers was +woon, and brought to take part with the enimie, and diuers bands of +strangers that were also souldiers were shut vp in the ships to serue +also against vs. The merchants of the parties of Gallia were assembled +and brought togither to the musters, and no small numbers of barbarous +nations procured to come in aid of the rebels, trusting to inrich +themselues by the spoile of the prouinces: and all these were trained +in the wars by sea, through the instruction of the first attemptors of +this mischieuous practise. + +"And although our armies were inuincible in force and manhood, yet +were they raw and not accustomed to the seas, so that the fame of a +greeuous and great trouble by warre that was toward by this shamefull +rebellious robberie was blowne and sounded in ech mans eare, +[Sidenote: Long sufferance of euill increaseth boldnesse in the +authors.] +although we hoped well of the end. Vnto the enimies forces was added +a long sufferance of their wicked practises without punishment, which +had puffed vp the presumptuous boldnesse of desperate people, that +they bragged of our stay, as it had bene for feare of them, whereas +the disaduantage which we had by sea, seemed as it were by a fatall +necessitie to deferre our victorie: neither did they beleeue that the +warre was put off for a time by aduise and counsell, but rather to be +omitted through despaire of dooing anie good against them, insomuch +that now the feare of common punishment being laid aside, one of +[Sidenote: Carausius slaine.] +the mates slue the archpirat or capteine rouer as I may call him, +hoping in reward of so great an exploit, to obteine the whole +gouernement into his hands. + +"This warre then being both so necessarie, so hard to enter vpon, so +growne in time to a stubborne stiffenesse, and so well prouided for of +the enimies part, you noble emperour did so take it in hand, that so +soone as you bent the thundering force of your imperiall maiestie +against that enimie, ech man made account that the enterprise was +alreadie atchiued. For first of all, to the end that your diuine +power being absent, the barbarous nations should not attempt anie +new trouble (a thing chieflie to be foreseene) it was prouided for +aforehand by intercession made vnto your maiestie: for you your selfe, +you (I say) mightie lord Maximian eternall emperour, vouchedsafe to +aduance the comming of your diuine excellence by the neerest way that +might be, which to you was not vnknowne. You therefore suddenlie came +to the Rhine, and not with anie armie of horssemen or footmen, but +with the terrour of your presence did preserue and defend all that +frontire: for Maximian once being there vpon the riuage, counteruailed +anie the greatest armies that were to be found. For you (most +inuincible emperour) furnishing and arming diuers nauies, made the +enimie so vncerteine of his owne dooing and void of counsell, that +then at length he might perceiue that he was not defended, but rather +inclosed with the Ocean sea. + +"Here commeth to mind how pleasant and easefull the good lucke of +those princes in gouerning the common wealth with praise was, which +sitting still in Rome had triumphs and surnames appointed them of +[Sidenote: Fronto counted Ciceros match.]such nations as their +capteins did vanquish. Fronto therefore, not the second, but match +with the first honor of the Romane eloquence, when he yeelded vnto +the emperor Antoninus the renowme of the warre brought the citie, +had committed the conduct and successe of that warre ouer vnto the +same Fronto, it was confessed by him, that the emperour sitting as +it were at the helme of the ship, deserued the praise, by giuing of +perfect order to the full accomplishing of the enterprise. But you +(most inuincible emperour) haue bene not onlie the appointer foorth +how all this voiage by sea, and prosecuting the warre by land should +bee demeaned, as apperteined to you by vertue of your imperiall rule +and dignitie, but also you haue beene an exhorter and setter forward +in the things themselues, and through example of your assured +constancie, the victorie was atchiued. For you taking the sea at +Sluice, did put an irreuocable desire into their hearts that were +readie to take ship at the same time in the mouth of the riuer of +Saine, insomuch that when the capteins of that armie did linger out +the time, by reason the seas and aire was troubled, they cried to haue +the sailes hoised vp, and signe giuen to lanch foorth, that they +might passe forward on their iournie, despising certeine tokens +which threatened their wrecke, and so set forward on a rainie and +tempestuous day, sailing with a crosse wind, for no forewind might +serue their turne. + +"But what was he that durst not commit himselfe vnto the sea, were +the same neuer so vnquiet, when you were once vnder saile, and set +forward? One voice and exhortation was among them all (as report hath +gone thereof) when they heard that you were once got forth vpon the +water, What doo we dout? what mean we to staie? He is now loosed from +land, he is forward on his waie, and peraduenture is alreadie got +ouer: Let vs put all things in proofe, let vs venter through anie +dangers of sea whatsoeuer. What is there that we may stand in feare +of? we follow the emperour. Neither did the opinion of your good hap +deceiue them: for as by report of them selues we doo vnderstand, at +that selfe time there fell such a mist and thicke fog vpon the seas, +that the enimies nauie laid at the Ile of wight watching for their +aduersaries, and lurking as it were in await, these your ships passed +by, and were not once perceiued, neither did the enimie then staie +although he could not resist. + +"But now as concerning that the same vnuanquishable army fighting +vnder your ensignes and name, streightwaies after it came to land, +set fire on their ships; what mooued them so to doo, except the +admonitions of your diuine motion? Or what other reason persuaded them +to reserue no furtherance for their flight, if need were, nor to feare +the doubtfull chances of war, nor (as the prouerbe saith) to +thinke the hazard of martiall dealings to be common, but that by +contemplation of your prosperous hap, it was verie certeine that there +needed no doubt to be cast for victorie to be obteined? There were no +sufficient forces at that present among them, no mightie or puissant +strength of the Romans, but they had onelie consideration of your +vnspeakable fortunate successe comming from the heauens aboue. For +whatsoeuer battell dooth chance to be offered, to make full account +[Sidenote: The good lucke in a capteine.] +of victorie, resteth not so much in the assurance of the +souldiers, as in the good lucke and felicitie of the capteine +generall. + +"That same ringleader of the vngratious faction, what ment he to +depart from that shore which he possessed? Why did he forsake both his +nauie and the hauen? But that (most inuincible emperour) he stood +in feare of your comming, whose sailes he beheld readie to approch +towards him, how soeuer the matter should fall out, he chose rather to +trie his fortune with your capteins, than to abide the present force +of your highnes. Ah mad man! that vnderstood not, that whither so euer +he fled, the power of your diuine maiestie to be present in all places +where your countenance & banners are had in reuerence. But he fleeing +from your presence, fell into the hands of your people, of you was he +ouercome, of your armies was he oppressed. + +"To be short, he was brought into such feare, and as it were still +looking behind him, for doubt of your comming after him, that as one +out of his wits and amazed, he wist not what to doo, he hasted forward +to his death, so that he neither set his men in order of battell, nor +marshalled such power as he had about him, but onlie with the old +authors of that conspiracie, and the hired bands of the barbarous +nations, as one forgetfull of so great preparation which he had made, +ran headlong forwards to his destruction, insomuch (noble emperour) +your felicitie yeeldeth this good hap to the common wealth, that the +victorie being atchiued in the behalfe of the Romane empire, there +almost died not one Romane: for as I heare, all those fields and +hills lay couered with none but onelie with the bodies of most wicked +enimies, the same being of the barbarous nations, or at the leastwise +apparelled in the counterfet shapes of barbarous garments, glistering +with their long yellow haires, but now with gashes of wounds and bloud +all deformed, and lieng in sundrie manners, as the pangs of death +occasioned by their wounds had caused them to stretch foorth or draw +in their maimed lims and mangled parts of their dieng bodies. And +[Sidenote: Alectus found dead.] +among these, the chiefe ringleader of the theeues was found, who +had put off those robes which in his life time he had vsurped and +[Sidenote: He had despoiled himselfe of the imperiall robes, bicause +he would not be knowne if he chanced to be slaine.] +dishonoured, so as scarse was he couered with one peece of apparell +whereby he might be knowne, so neere were his words true, vttered at +the houre of his death, which he saw at hand, that he would not haue +it vnderstood how he was slaine. + +"Thus verelie (most inuincible emperour) so great a victorie was +appointed to you by consent of the immortall gods ouer all the enimies +whome you assailed, but namelie the slaughter of the Frankeners and +those your souldiers also, which (as before I haue said) 24 through +[Sidenote Francones slue Franci.] +missing their course by reason of the mist that lay on the seas, were +now come to the citie of London, where they slue downe right in ech +part of the same citie, what multitude soeuer remained of those hired +barbarous people, which escaping from the battell, ment (after they +had spoiled the citie) to haue got awaie by flight. But now being thus +slaine by your souldiers, the subiects of your prouince were both +preserued from further danger, and tooke pleasure to behold the +slaughter of such cruell enimies. O what a manifold victorie was this, +worthie vndoubtedlie of innumerable triumphes! by which victorie +Britaine is restored to the empire, by which victorie the nation of +the Frankeners is vtterlie destroied, & by which manie other nations +found accessaries in the conspiracie of that wicked practise, are +compelled to obedience. To conclude, the seas are purged and brought +to perpetuall quietnesse. + +"Glorie you therefore, inuincible emperour, for that you haue as it +were got an other world, & in restoring to the Romane puissance the +glory of conquest by sea, haue added to the Romane empire an element +greater than all the compasse of the earth, that is, the mightie maine +ocean. You haue made an end of the warre (inuincible emperour) that +seemed as present to threaten all prouinces, and might haue spred +abroad and burst out in a flame, euen so largelie as the ocean seas +stretch, and the mediterrane gulfs doo reach. Neither are we ignorant, +although through feare of you that infection did fester within the +bowels of Britaine onelie, and proceeded no further, with what furie +it would haue aduanced it selfe else where, if it might haue beene +assured of means to haue ranged abroad so far as it wished. For it was +bounded in with no border of mounteine, nor riuer, which garrisons +appointed were garded and defended but euen so as the ships, although +we had your martiall prowes and prosperous fortune redie to releeue +vs, & was still at our elbowes to put vs in feare, so farre as either +sea reacheth or wind bloweth. + +"For that incredible boldnesse and vnwoorthie good hap of a few sillie +[Sidenote: The piracie of the Frankeners called _Franci_ or _Francones_.] +captiues of the Frankeners in time of the emperour Probus came to our +remembrance, which Frankeners in that season, conueieng awaie certeine +vessels from the coasts of Pontus, wasted both Grecia and Asia, and +not without great hurt and damage, ariuing vpon diuers parts of the +shore of Libia, at length tooke the citie of Saragose in Sicile (an +hauen towne in times past highlie renowmed for victories gotten by +sea:) & after this passing thorough the streicts of Giberalterra, +came into the Ocean, and so with the fortunate successe of their rash +presumptuous attempt, shewed how nothing is shut vp in safetie from +the desperate boldnesse of pirats, where ships maie come and haue +accesse. And so therefore by this your victorie, not Britaine alone +is deliuered from bondage, but vnto all nations is safetie restored, +which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of +warre, as to gaine of commodities in time of peace. + +"Now Spaine (to let passe the coasts of Gallia) with hir shores almost +in sight is in suertie: now Italie, now Afrike, now all nations euen +vnto the fens of Meotis are void of perpetuall cares. Neither are they +lesse ioifull, the feare of danger being taken awaie, which to feele +as yet the necessitie had not brought them: but they reioise so much +the more for this, that both in the guiding of your prouidence, and +also furtherance of fortune, so great a force of rebellion by seamen +is calmed, vpon the entring into their borders, and Britaine it selfe +which had giuen harbour to so long a mischiefe, is euidentlie knowne +[Sidenote: Britains restored to quietnes.] +to haue tasted of your victorie, with hir onelie restitution to +quietnesse. Not without good cause therfore immediatlie, when you hir +long wished reuenger and deliuerer were once arriued, your maiestie +was met with great triumph, & the Britains replenished with all inward +[Sidenote: The Britains receiue Maximian with great ioy and +humblenesse.] +gladnesse, came foorth and offered themselues to your presence, +with their wiues and children, reuerencing not onlie your selfe (on +whom they set their eies, as on one descended downe to them from +heauen) but also euen the sailes and tackling of that ship which had +brought your diuine presence vnto their coasts: and when you should +set foot on land, they were readie to lie downe at your feet, that you +might (as it were) march ouer them, so desirous were they of you. + +"Neither was it anie maruell if they shewed them selues so ioifull, +sith after their miserable captiuitie so manie yeeres continued, after +so long abusing of their wiues, and filthie bondage of their children, +at length yet were they now restored to libertie, at length made +Romans, at length refreshed with the true light of the imperiall rule +and gouernement: for beside the fame of your clemencie and pitie, +which was set forth by the report of all nations, in your countenance +(Cesar) they perceiued the tokens of all vertues, in your face +grauitie, in your eies mildnesse, in your ruddie cheekes bashfulnesse, +in your words iustice: all which things as by regard they +acknowledged, so with voices of gladnesse they signified on high. To +you they bound themselues by vow, to you they bound their children: +yea and to your children they vowed all the posteritie of their race +and ofspring. + +[Sidenote: Dioclesian and Maximian.] +"We trulie (O perpetuall parents and lords of mankind) require +this of the immortall gods with most earnest supplication and heartie +praier, that our children and their children, and such other as shall +come of them for euer hereafter, may be dedicated vnto you, and to +those whom you now bring vp, or shall bring vp hereafter. For what +better hap can we wish to them that shall succeed vs, than to be +enioiers of that felicitie which now we our selues enioy? The Romane +common wealth dooth now comprehend in one coniunction of peace, all +whatsoeuer at sundrie times haue belonged to the Romans, and that huge +power which with too great a burden was shroonke downe, and riuen in +sunder, is now brought to ioine againe in the assured ioints of the +imperiall gouernment. For there is no part of the earth nor region +vnder heauen, but that either it remaineth quiet through feare, or +subdued by force of armies, or at the lestwise bound by clemencie. +And is there anie other thing else in other parts, which if will and +reason should mooue men thereto, that might be obteined? Beyond the +Ocean, what is there more than Britaine, which is so recouered by +[Sidenote: Nations néere to Britaine obeie the emperours.] +you, that those nations which are nere adioining to the bounds of that +Ile, are obedient to your commandements? There is no occasion that may +mooue you to passe further, except the ends of the Ocean sea, which +nature forbiddeth should be sought for. All is yours (most inuincible +princes) which are accounted woorthie of you, and thereof commeth it, +that you may equallie prouide for euerie one, sith you haue the whole +in your maiesties hands. And therefore as heretofore (most excellent +emperour Dioclesian) by your commandement Asia did supplie the desert +places of Thracia with inhabitants transported thither, as afterward +(most excellent emperour Maximian) by your appointment, the Frankeners +at length brought to a pleasant subiection, and admitted to liue vnder +[Sidenote: The printed booke hath Heruij, but I take the H, to be +thrust in for N.] +lawes, hath peopled and manured the vacant fields of the Neruians, +and those about the citie of Trier. And so now by your victories +(inuincible Constantius Cesar) whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens, +Beauois, Trois, and Langres, beginneth to florish with inhabitants of +sundrie nations: yea and moreouer that your most obedient citie of +Autun, for whose sake I haue a peculiar cause to reioise, by meanes +of this triumphant victorie in Britaine, it hath receiued manie & +[Sidenote: Artificers foorth of Britaine.] +diuerse artificers, of whom those prouinces were ful, and now by their +workemanship the same citie riseth vp by repairing of ancient houses, +and restoring of publike buildings and temples, so that now it +accounteth that the old name of brotherlie incorporation to Rome, is +againe to hir restored, when she hath you eftsoones for hir founder. I +haue said (inuincible emperour) almost more than I haue beene able, +& not so much as I ought, that I may haue most iust cause by your +clemencies licence, both now to end, & often hereafter to speake: and +thus I ceasse." + + * * * * * + + + + +_What is to be observed and noted out of the panegyrike oration of +Mamertinus afore remembred, with necessarie collections out of other +Antiquaries_. + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Now let vs consider what is to be noted out of this part of the +foresaid oration. It should seeme that when the emperour Maximian was +sent into Gallia by appointment taken betwixt him and Dioclesian, +after he had quieted things there, he set his mind foorthwith to +reduce Britaine vnder the obedience of the empire, which was at that +present kept vnder subiection of such princes as mainteined their +state, by the mightie forces of such number of ships as they had got +togither, furnished with all things necessarie, & namelie of able +[Sidenote: Franci, or Frankeneres, people of Germanie.] +seamen, as well Britains as strangers, among whome the Frankeners +were chiefe, a nation of Germanie, as then highly renowmed for their +puissance by sea, néere to the which they inhabited, so that there +were no rouers comparable to them. + +But because none durst stirre on these our seas for feare of the +British fléet that passed to and fro at pleasure, to the great +annoiance of the Romane subiects inhabiting alongst the coasts of +Gallia, Maximian both to recouer againe so wealthie and profitable a +land vnto the obeisance of the empire, as Britaine then was, and also +to deliuer the people of Gallia subiect to the Romans, from danger +of being dailie spoiled by those rouers that were mainteined here in +Britaine, he prouided with all diligence such numbers of ships as were +thought requisite for so great an enterprise, and rigging them in +sundrie places, tooke order for their setting forward to his most +aduantage for the easie atchiuing of his enterprise. He appointed to +passe himselfe from the coasts of Flanders, at what time other of +capteines with their fleets from other parts should likewise make +saile towards Britaine. By this meanes Alectus that had vsurped the +title & dignitie of king or rather emperour ouer the Britains, knew +not where to take héed, but yet vnderstanding of the nauie that was +made readie in the mouth of Saine, he ment by that which maie be +coniectured, to intercept that fléet, as it should come foorth and +make saile forwards: and so for that purpose he laie with a great +number of ships about the Ile of Wight. + +But whether Asclepiodotus came ouer with that nauie which was rigged +on the coasts of Flanders, or with some other, I will not presume +to affirme either to or fro, because in déed Mamertinus maketh +no expresse mention either of Alectus or Asclepiodotus: but +notwithstanding it is euident by that which is conteined in his +oration, that not Maximian, but some other of his capteins gouerned +the armie, which slue Alectus, so that we maie suppose that +Asclepiodotus was chiefteine ouer some number of ships directed by +Maximians appointment to passe ouer into this Ile against the same +Alectus: and so maie this, which Mamertinus writeth, agrée with the +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +truth of that which we doo find in Eutropius. + +Héere is to be remembred, that after Maximians had thus recouered +Britaine out of their hands that vsurped the rule thereof from the +Romans, it should séeme that not onelie great numbers of artificers +& other people were conueied ouer into Gallia, there to inhabit and +furnish such cities as were run into decaie, but also a power of +warlike youths was transported thither to defend the countrie from the +inuasion of barbarous nations. For we find that in the daies of this +Maximian, the Britains expelling the Neruians out of the citie of Mons +in Henaud, held a castell there, which was called Bretaimons after +them, wherevpon the citie was afterward called Mons, retaining the +last syllable onlie, as in such cases it hath often happened. + +Moreouer this is not to be forgotten, that as Humfrey Lhoyd hath very +well noted in his booke intituled "Fragmenta historiæ Britannicæ," +Mamertinus in this parcell of his panegyrike oration dooth make first +mention of the nation of Picts, of all other the ancient Romane +writers: so that not one before his time once nameth Picts or Scots. +But now to returne where we left. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting +tyrant, of Alban the first that suffered martyrdome in Britaine, what +miracles were wrought at his death, whereof Lichfield tooke the name; +of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was maried to +Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose_. + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that Britaine was thus recouered by the Romans, Dioclesian and +Maximian ruling the empire, the Iland tasted of the crueltie that +Dioclesian exercised against the christians, in persecuting them with +all extremities, continuallie for the space of ten yéeres. Amongst +other, one Alban a citizen of Werlamchester, a towne now bearing +his name, was the first that suffered here in Britaine in this +persecution, being conuerted to the faith by the zealous christian +Amphibalus, whom he receiued into his house: insomuch that when there +[Sidenote: _Beda and Gyldas_.] +came sergeants to séeke for the same Amphibalus, the foresaid +Alban to preserue Amphibalus out of danger, presented himselfe in the +apparell of the said Amphibalus, & so being apprehended in his stead, +was brought before the iudge and examined: and for that he refused to +doo sacrifice to the false gods, he was beheaded on the top of an hill +ouer against the towne of Werlamchester aforesaid where afterwards +was builded a church and monasterie in remembrance of his martyrdome, +insomuch that the towne there restored, after that Werlamchester was +destroied, tooke name of him, and so is vnto this day called saint +Albons. + +It is reported by writers, that diuers miracles were wrought at the +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Sée the booke of acts and monuments set forth +by master Fox.] +time of his death, insomuch that one which was appointed to doo the +execution, was conuerted, and refusing to doo that office, suffered +also with him: but he that tooke vpon him to doo it, reioised nothing +thereat, for his eies fell out of his head downe to the ground, +togither with the head of that holie man which he had then cut off. +There were also martyred about the same time two constant witnesses +of Christ his religion, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerleon +[Sidenote:_Iohn Rossus. Warwicens. in lib. de Wigorniens. epis._] +Arwiske. Moreouer, a great number of Christians which were assembled +togither to heare the word of life, preached by that vertuous man +Amphibalus, were slaine by the wicked pagans at Lichfield, whereof +[Sidenote: Lichfield whereof it tooke name.] +that towne tooke name, as you would say, The field of dead corpses. + +To be briefe, this persecution was so great and greeuous, and thereto +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +so vniuersall, that in maner the Christian religion was thereby +destroied. The faithfull people were slaine, their bookes burnt, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +and churches ouerthrowne. It is recorded that in one moneths space +[Sidenote: _Matth. West. Constantius_.] +in diuers places of the world there were 17000 godlie men and women +put to death, for professing the christian faith in the daies of that +tyrant Dioclesian and his fellow Maximian. + +[Sidenote: COELUS. 262.] +Coelus earle of Colchester began his dominion ouer the Britains in +the yeere of our Lord 262. This Coelus or Coell ruled the land for +a certeine time, so as the Britains were well content with his +gouernement, and liued the longer in rest from inuasion of the Romans, +bicause they were occupied in other places: but finallie they finding +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +time for their purpose, appointed one Constantius to passe ouer +into this Ile with an armie, the which Constantius put Coelus in +such dread, that immediatlie vpon his arriuall Coelus sent to him an +ambassage, and concluded a peace with him, couenanting to pay the +[Sidenote:_Gal. Mon._ _Fabian_. _Caxton_.] +accustomed tribute, & gaue to Constantius his daughter in mariage +called Helen, a noble ladie and a learned. Shortlie after king Coell +died, when he had reigned (as some write) 27 yeeres or (as other haue) +but 13 yeeres. + +¶ But by the way touching this Coelus, I will not denie, but assuredly +such a prince there was: howbeit that he had a daughter named Helen, +whom he maried vnto Constantius the Romane lieutenant that was after +emperor, I leaue that to be decided of the learned. For if the whole +course of the liues, as well of the father and the sonne Constantius +and Constantine, as likewise of the mother Helen, be consideratelie +marked from time to time, and yeere to yéere, as out of authors both +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7. cap. 18_.] +Greeke and Latine the same may be gathered, I feare least such +doubt maie rise in this matter, that it will be harder to prooue Helen +a Britane, than Constantine to be borne in Bithynia (as Nicephorus +auoucheth.) But forsomuch as I meane not to step from the course of +our countrie writers in such points, where the receiued opinion may +séeme to warrant the credit of the historie, I will with other admit +both the mother and sonne to be Britains in the whole discourse of the +historie following, as though I had forgot what in this place I haue +said. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, his +regiment ouer this Iland, his behauiour and talke to his sonne and +councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a deuise that he put in +practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, +his commendable vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the +christian faith is prooued_. + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matth. West._ saith 302. 289.] +Constantius a senatour of Rome began to reigne ouer the Britains, +in the yeere of our Lord 289, as our histories report. This +Constantius (as before ye haue heard) had to wife Helen the +daughter of the foresaid king Coel, of whome he begat a sonne named +Constantinus, which after was emperour, and for his woorthie dooings +surnamed Constantine the great. S. Ambrose following the common +[Sidenote: _Orosius. Beda_.] +report, writeth that this Helen was a maid in an inne: and some +againe write, that she was concubine to Constantius, and not his wife. +[Sidenote: _Cuspinian_.] +But whatsoeuer she was, it appeareth by the writers of the Romane +[Sidenote: _Fabian._] +histories, that Constantius being the daughters sonne of one +Crispus, that was brother to the emperour Claudius, came into +Britaine, and quieted the troubles that were raised by the Britains, +and there (as some write) maried the foresaid Helen, being a woman of +an excellent beautie, whom yet [after] he was constreined to forsake, +and to marrie Theodora the daughter in law of Herculeus Maximianus, by +whome he had six sonnes, and finallie was created emperour, togither +with the said Galerius Maximianus, at what time Dioclesianus and his +fellow Herculeus Maximianus renounced the rule of the empire, and +committed the same vnto them. The empire was then diuided betwixt +them, so that to Constantius the regions of Italie, Affrike, France +Spaine and Britaine were assigned; & to Galerius, Illyricum, Grecia, +and all the east parts. But Constantine being a man void of ambition, +was contented to leaue Italie and Affrike, supposing his charge to be +great inough to haue the gouernement in his hands of France, Spaine, +and Britaine (as Eutropius saith.) + +But as touching his reigne ouer the Britains, we haue not to say +further than as we find in our owne writers recorded: as for his +gouernement in the empire, it is to be considered, that first he was +admitted to rule as an assistant to Maximian vnder the title of +Cesar: and so from that time if you shall account his reigne, it maie +comprehend 11, 12, or 13 yeeres, yea more or lesse, according to the +diuersitie found in writers. Howbeit, if we shall reckon his reigne +from the time onelie that Dioclesian and Maximian resigned their +title vnto the empire, we shall find that he reigned not fullie thrée +yéeres. For whereas betwéene the slaughter of Alectus, and the comming +of Constantius, are accounted 8 yéeres and od moneths, not onelie +those eight yéeres, but also some space of time before maie be +ascribed vnto Constantius: for although before his comming ouer into +Britaine now this last time (for he had béene here afore, as it well +appéereth) Asclepiodotus gouerning as legat, albeit vnder Constantius, +who had a great portion of the west parts of the empire vnder his +regiment, by the title, as I haue said, of Cesar, yet he was not said +to reigne absolutelie till Dioclesian and Maximian resigned. But now +to conclude with the dooings of Constantius, at length he fell +[Sidenote: 306.] +sicke at Yorke, and there died, about the yéere of our Lord 306. + +This is not to be forgotten, that whilest he laie on his death-bed, +somewhat before he departed this life, hearing that his sonne +Constantine was come, and escaped from the emperours Dioclesian and +Maximian, with whom he remained as a pledge (as after shall be partlie +touched) he receiued him with all ioy, and raising himselfe vp in his +bed, in presence of his other sonnes & counsellours, with a great +number of other people and strangers that were come to visit him, he +set the crowne vpon his sonnes head, and adorned him with other +[Sidenote: _Niceph._] +imperiall robes and garments, executing as it were him selfe the +office of an herald, and withall spake these woords vnto his said +sonne, and to his counsellours there about him: "Now is my death to +[Sidenote: _Tripartit. histo._] +me more welcome, and my departure hence more pleasant; I haue héere a +large epitaph and monument of buriall, to wit, mine owne sonne, and +one whome in earth I leaue to be emperour in my place, which by Gods +good helpe shall wipe away the teares of the Christians, and reuenge +the crueltie exercised by tyrants. This I reckon to chance vnto me in +stéed of most felicitie." + +After this, turning himselfe to the multitude, he commanded them all +to be of good comfort, meaning those that had not forsaken true vertue +and godlinesse in Christ, which Christ he vndertooke should continue +with his sonne Constantine in all enterprises, which in warres or +otherwise he should take in hand. That deuise also is woorthie to +be had in memorie, which he put in practise in his life time, to +vnderstand what true and sincere Christians were remaining in his +court. For whereas he had béene first a persecuter, and after was +conuerted, it was a matter easie to persuade the world, that he was no +earnest Christian: and so the policie which he thought to worke, was +the sooner brought to passe, which was this. + +He called togither all his officers and seruants, feining himselfe +to choose out such as would doo sacrifice to diuels, and that those +onelie should remaine with him and kéepe their office, and the rest +that refused so to doo, should be thrust out, and banished the court. +Héervpon all the courtiers diuided themselues into companies: and +when some offered willinglie to doo sacrifice, and other some boldlie +refused: the emperour marking their dealings, sharpelie rebuked those +which were so readie to dishonour the liuing God, accounting them as +treitours to his diuine maiestie, and not woorthie to remaine within +the court gates: but those that constantlie stood in the profession +of the christian faith, he greatlie commended, as men woorthie to be +about a prince: and withall declared, that from thencefoorth they +should be as chiefe counsellours and defenders both of his person and +kingdome, estéeming more of them than of all the treasure he had in +his coffers. + +To conclude, he was a graue prince, sober, vpright, courteous and +liberall, as he which kept his mind euer frée from couetous desire of +great riches: insomuch that when he should make anie great feast to +his friends, he was not ashamed to borow plate and siluer vessell to +[Sidenote: _Pomponius Lænis_.] +serue his turne, and to furnish his cupbord for the time, being +contented for himselfe to be serued in cruses & earthen vessels. He +was woont to haue this saieng in his mouth, that better it was that +the subiects should haue store of monie and riches, than the prince to +kéepe it close in his treasurie, where it serued to no vse. By such +courteous dealing the prouinces which were in his charge flourished +in great wealth and quietnesse. He was a verie wise and politike +[Sidenote: He died in the yéere 306. as _Matt. West._ hath noted, +and reigned over the Britains but 11. yéeres as _Galf._ saith.] +prince in the ordering of all weightie matters, and verie skillfull in +the practise of warres, so that he stood the Romane empire in great +stéed, and was therefore highlie beloued of the souldiers, insomuch +that immediatlie after his deceasse, they proclaimed his sonne +Constantine emperour. + +That the Christian faith was imbraced of the Britains in this season, +it maie appéere, in that Hilarias bishop of Poictiers writeth to his +brethren in Britaine, and Constantine in an epistle (as Theodoretus +saith in his first booke and tenth chapter) maketh mention of the +churches in Britaine: which also Sozomenus dooth affirme. For the +Britains after they had receiued the faith, defended the same euen +with the shedding of their bloud, as Amphibalus, who in this +[Sidenote: 291. _Iohn Bale_.] +Constantius daies being apprehended, suffered at Redburne neere to +Werlamchester, about 15 yéeres after the martyrdome of his host S. +Albane. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantine created emperour in Britaine, he is sollicited to take +vpon him the regiment of those countries that his father gouerned, he +is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping tyrant, Maximianus his +father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by the +said Maximianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daughter +of Maximianus & wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie +to hir husband, Maximianus is strangled at Constantines commandement, +lèague and alliance betweene him and Licinius, he is slaine, the +empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with the +inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the +nailes wherewith Christ was crucified, Constantine commended, the +state of Britaine in his time_. + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE. 306.] +Constantine being the son of the forenamed Constantius, begot of +his first wife Helen, the daughter (as some affirme) of Coell late +king of the Britains, began to reigne in the yéere of our Lord 306. +This worthie prince begotten of a British woman, & borne of hir in +Britaine (as our writers doo affirme) and created certeinlie emperour +in Britaine, did doubtlesse make his natiue countrie partaker of his +high glorie and renowme, which by his great prowes, politike +wisedome, woorthie gouernment, and other his princelie qualities most +abundantlie planted in his noble person, he purchased and got thorough +the circuit of the whole earth, insomuch that for the high enterprises +and noble acts by him happilie brought to passe and atchiued, he was +surnamed (as before is said) the great Constantine. Whilest this +Constantine remained at Rome in manner as he had béene a pledge with +Galerius in his fathers life time, he being then but yoong, fled from +thence, and with all post hast returned to his father into Britaine, +killing or howghing by the waie all such horsses as were appointed +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Sextus Aurelius Victor.] +to stand at innes readie for such as should ride in post, least being +pursued, he should haue béene ouertaken, and brought backe againe by +such as might be sent to pursue him. + +At his comming into Britaine, he found his father sore vexed with +sicknesse, whereof shortlie after he died, and then was he by helpe of +such as were about him, incouraged to take vpon him as emperour: +[Sidenote: Erocus king of the Almains.] +and namelie one Erocus king of the Almains, which had accompanied +his father thither, assisted him thereto, so that being proclaimed +emperour, he tooke vpon him the rule of those countries which his +father had in gouernment, that is to saie, France, Spaine, the Alpes, +and Britaine, with other prouinces héere in the west: and ruling the +same with great equitie and wisdome, he greatly wan the fauour of +the people, insomuch that the fame of his politike gouernment and +courteous dealing being spred abroad, when Maxentius the tyrant +[Sidenote: Maxentius the tyrant.] +that occupied the rule of the empire at Rome, and in Italie by +wrongfull vsurping & abusing the same, was grown into the hatred of +the Romans and other Italians, Constantine was earnestlie by them +requested to come into Italie, and to helpe to subdue Maxentius, that +he might reforme the state of things there. + +This Maxentius was sonne to Herculeus Maximianus, and Constantine had +married Fausta the daughter of the said Maximianus. Now so it was, +that Maximianus, immediatlie after that his sonne Maxentius had taken +the rule vpon him, sought meanes to haue deposed him, and to haue +resumed and taken eftsoones into his owne hands the gouernment of +the empire. But solliciting Dioclesian to doo the like, he was much +reprooued of him for his vnreasonable and ambitious purpose: so that +when he perceiued that neither Dioclesian would be thereto agreeable, +nor induce the souldiers to admit him, they hauing alreadie +established his sonne, began to deuise waies how to assure the state +more stronglie to his said sonne. And hearing that his sonne in law +Constantine was minded to come into Italie against him, he purposed to +practise Constantines destruction, insomuch that it was iudged by this +[Sidenote: Dissimulation.] +which followed, that Herculeus Maximianus did but for a colour +séeme to mislike that which his said son Maxentius had doone, to the +end he might the sooner accomplish his intent for the dispatching of +Constantine out of the waie. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulphus Cestrensis_.] +Heerevpon (as it were) fléeing out of Italie, he came to +Constantine, who as then hauing appointed lieutenants vnder him in +Britaine, remained in France, and with all ioy and honour that might +be, receiued his father in law: the which being earnestlie bent to +[Sidenote: Fausta the daughter of Maximianas and wife to Constantine.] +compasse his purpose, made his daughter Fausta priuie thereto: +which ladie (either for feare least the concealing thereof might turne +hir to displeasure, either else for the entire loue which she bare to +hir husband) reuealed hir fathers wicked purpose. Wherevpon whilest +[Sidenote: Marsiles.] +Constantine went about to be reuenged of such a traitorous +practise, Herculeus fled to Marsiles, purposing there to take the sea, +and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italie. But yer he could +[Sidenote: Maximianus slaine. _Ann. Chri. 322_.] +get awaie from thence, he was strangled by commandement of his +sonne in law Constantine, and so ended his life, which he had spotted +with manie cruell acts, as well in persecuting the professours of the +christian name, as others. + +[Sidenote: Licinius chosen fellow with Maximianus in the empire.] +In this meane time had Maximianus adopted one Licinius to assist +him in gouernance of the empire, proclaiming him Cesar. So that now at +one selfe time Constantine gouerned France and the west parts of the +empire, Maxentius held Italie, Affrike, and Aegypt: and Maximianus +which likewise had beene elected Cesar, ruled the east parts, and +Licinius Illyrium and Grecia. But shortlie after, the emperour +Constantine ioined in league with Licinius, and gaue to him his +sister in marriage, named Constantia, for more suertie of faithfull +friendship to indure betwixt them. He sent him also against Maximianus +who gouerning in the east part of the empire, purposed the destruction +of Constantine and all his partakers: but being vanquished by Licinius +at Tarsus, he shortlie after died, being eaten with lice. Constantine +after this was called into Italie, to deliuer the Romans and Italians +from the tyrannie of Maxentius, which occasion so offered, Constantine +gladlie accepting, passed into Italie, and after certeine victories +got against Maxentius, at length slue him. + +After this, when Maximianus was dead, who prepared to make warre +against Licinius, that had married Constantia the sister of +Constantine, he finallie made warre against his brother in law the +said Licinius, by reason of such quarrels as fell out betwixt them. In +the which warre Licinius was put to the woorse, and at length comming +into the hands of Constantine, was put to death, so that Constantine +by this meanes got the whole empire vnder his rule and subiection. +He was a great fauourer of the Christian religion, insomuch that to +aduance the same, he tooke order for the conuerting of the temples +dedicated to the honour of idols, vnto the seruice of the true and +almightie God. He commanded also, that none should be admitted to +[Sidenote: Christians honoured and cherished.] +serue as a souldier in the warres, except he were a christian, nor yet +to haue rule of anie countrie or armie. He also ordeined, the wéeke +before Easter, and that which followed to be kept as holie, and no +person to doo anie bodilie woorks during the same. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The praise of the empresse Helen. 328.] +He was much counselled by that noble and most vertuous ladie his +mother, the empresse Helen, who being a godlie and deuout woman, did +what in hir laie, to mooue him to the setting foorth of Gods honour +and increase of the christian faith, wherein as yet he was not fullie +instructed. ¶ Some writers alledge, that she being at Ierusalem, made +diligent search to find out the place of the sepulchre of our Lord, +and at length found it, though with much adoo: for the infidels had +stopped it vp, and couered it with a heape of filthie earth, and +builded aloft vpon the place, a chappell dedicated to Venus, where +yoong women vsed to sing songs in honour of that vnchast goddesse. +Helen caused the same to be ouerthrowne, the earth to be remooued, and +the place cleansed, so that at length the sepulchre appéered, and fast +by were found there buried in the earth thrée crosses and the nailes. +But the crosse wherevpon our Sauiour was crucified, was knowne by the +title written vpon it, though almost worne out, in letters of Hebrew, +Gréeke, and Latine: the inscription was this, _Iesus Nazarenus rex +Iudæorum_. It was also perceiued which was that crosse by a miracle +(as it is reported, but how trulie I can not tell) that should be +wrought thereby: for being laid to a sicke woman, onlie with the +touching thereof she was healed. It was also said, that a dead man was +raised from death to life, his bodie onlie being touched therewith. +Wherevpon Constantine mooued with these things, forbad that from +thencefoorth anie should be put to death on the crosse, to the +end that the thing which afore time was accounted infamous and +reprochfull, might now be had in honour and reuerence. + +The empresse Helen hauing thus found the crosse, builded a temple +there,& taking with hir the nailes, returned with the same to hir +sonne Constantine, who set one of them in the crest of his helmet, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +an other in the bridle of his horsse, and the third he cast into the +sea, to asswage and pacifie the furious tempests and rage thereof. She +also brought with hir a parcell of that holie crosse, and gaue it +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +to hir sonne the said Constantine, the which he caused to be closed +within an image that represented his person, standing vpon a piller +in the market place of Constantine, or (as some late writers haue) he +caused it to be inclosed in a coffer of gold, adorned with rich stones +and pearls, placing it in a church called Sessoriana, the which church +he indued with manie great gifts and precious ornaments. Manie works +of great zeale and vertue are remembered by writers to haue béene +doone by this Constantine and his mother Helen, to the setting foorth +of Gods glorie, and the aduancing of the faith of Christ. But to be +[Sidenote: The commendation of Constantine.] +briefe, he was a man in whome manie excellent vertues and good +qualities both of mind and bodie manifestlie appéered, chieflie he was +a prince of great knowledge and experience in warre, and therewith +verie fortunate, an earnest louer of iustice, and to conclude, borne +to all honour. + +But now to speake somewhat of the state of Britaine in his time, ye +shall vnderstand, that as before is recorded, at his going ouer into +France, after that he was proclaimed emperour, he left behind him in +Britaine certeine gouernours to rule the land, and amongst other one +Maximinus a right valiant capteine. He tooke with him a great part +of the youth of Britaine, and diuerse of the chiefe men amongst the +nobilitie, in whose approoued manhood, loialtie, and constancie, he +conceiued a great hope to go thorough with all his enterprises, as +with the which being accompanied and compassed about, he passed ouer +into Gallia, entred into Italie, and in euerie place ouercame his +enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Gulielmus Malmes._ Britains seruing in the warres vnder +Constantine.] +Some write that Constantine thus conueieng ouer sea with him a +great armie of Britains, and by their industrie obteining victorie as +he wished, he placed a great number of such as were discharged out +of wages, and licenced to giue ouer the warre, in a part of Gallia +towards the west sea coast, where their posteritie remaine vnto this +daie, maruellouslie increased afterwards, and somewhat differing from +our Britains, the Welshmen, in manners and language. Amongst those +noble men which he tooke with him when he departed out of this +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Matt. West._] +land (as our writers doo testifie) were thrée vncles of his mother +Helen, that is to say Hoelmus, Trahernus, and Marius, whome he made +senators of Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Octauius a British lord, his reigne ouer the Britains, he +incountereth with Traherne first neere Winchester, and afterwards in +Westmerland: Octauius being discomfited fleeth into Norway, Traherne +is slaine, Octauius sendeth for Maximianus, on whom he bestoweth his +daughter and the kingdome of Britaine: the death of Octauius, Helena +builded the wals of Colchester and London, she dieth and is buried, +Constantine departeth this life, Britaine reckoned among the prouinces +that reteined the christian faith, Paulus a Spaniard is sent into +Britaine, he dealeth roughlie with the people, Martinus the lieutenant +excuseth them as innocent, his vnluckie end, Paulus returneth into +Italie_. + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now in the meane time that Constantine had obteined and ruled the +whole empire, Britaine as it were hauing recouered libertie, in that +one of hir children being hir king, had got the gouernment of the +[Sidenote: Octauius. _Caxton_. Gewisses inhabited the countrie +which the west Saxons after held. The name of Gewisses came in with +the Saxons of Guuy, &c.] +whole earth, remained in better quiet than afore time she had doone. +But yet in the meane season, if we shall credit the British chronicle +and Geffrey of Monmouth the interpretor thereof; there was a British +lord, named Octauius or Octauian, as the old English chronicle nameth +him, that was duke of the Gewisses, and appointed by Constantine to +be ruler of the land in his absence, the which Octauius (after that +Constantine had recouered Rome and Italie, and was so busied in the +affaires of the empire in those parts, that as was thought, he could +not returne backe into Britaine) seized into his hands the whole +dominion of Britaine, and held himselfe for king. + +[Sidenote: OCTAUIUS.] +This Octauius then beginning his reigne ouer the Britains in the +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_. Sidenote: 329.] +yéere of our Lord 329, prouoked Constantine to send against him one +of his mothers vncles, the foresaid Traherne. This Trahernus, or +as some name him Traherne, entred this land with three legions of +souldiers, & in a field néere vnto Winchester, was incountered by +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Galfridus_. This agréeth not +altogither with that which _Hector Boetius_ writeth, as in the +Scotish chronicle appéereth.] +Octauius and his Britains, by whome after a sore battell there +striken betwixt them, in the end Traherne was put to flight and +chased, insomuch that he was constreined to forsake that part of the +land, and to draw towards Scotland. Octauius hauing knowledge of his +passage, followed him, & in the countrie of Westmerland eftsoones gaue +him battell, but in that battell Octauius was put to the woorsse, and +constreined to forsake the land, fled into Norway, there to purchase +aid: and being readie with such power as he there gathered, what of +Britains and Norwegians, to returne into Britaine. Before his landing +he was aduertised that an earle of Britaine which bare him heartie +[Sidenote: Traherne slaine. See in the Scotish chronicles more of +these matters. _Matth. West._ saith 316.] +good will, had by treason slaine Traherne. Octauius then comming to +land, eftsoones got possession of Britaine, which should be (as Fabian +gathereth) about the yéere of our Lord 329, in the 20 yéere of the +reigne of the emperour Constantine, and about two yéeres after that +the said Octauius first tooke vpon him to rule as king. + +After this (as the British chronicle affirmeth) Octauius gouerned the +land right noblie, and greatlie to the contentation of the Britains. +At length when he was fallen in age, and had no issue but one +[Sidenote: Maximianus is sent for. Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall. +This agréeth not with that which is found in the Scotish chronicles.] +daughter, he was counselled to send vnto Rome for one Maximianus, a +noble yoong man, coosine to the emperour Constantine, on the part of +his mother Helena, to come into Britaine, and to take to his wife +the said daughter of Octauius, and so with hir to haue the kingdome. +Octauius at the first meant to haue giuen hir in mariage vnto one +Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall, which was his nephue: but when the +lords would not thereto agrée, at the length he appointed one +Maurice sonne to the said Conan to go to Rome to fetch the forenamed +Maximianus. + +Maurice according to his commission and instruction in that behalfe +[Sidenote: Maximianus commeth into Britaine.] +receiued, came to Rome, and declared his message in such +effectuall sort, that Maximianus consented to go with him into +Britaine, and so taking with him a conuenient number, set forward, and +did so much by his iournies, that finallie he landed here in Britaine. +And notwithstanding that Conan Meridoc past not so much to haue béene +dooing with him, for malice that he conceiued towards him, because +he saw that by his meanes he should be put beside the crowne, yet at +length was Maximianus safelie brought to the kings presence, and of +him honorablie receiued, and finallie the mariage was knit vp, and +solemnized in all princelie maner. Shortlie after, Octauius +[Sidenote: Octauius departeth this life.] +departed out of this life, after he had reigned the terme of fiftie +and foure yeares, as Fabian gathereth by that which diuers authors +doo write, how he reigned till the daies that Gratian and Valentinian +ruled the Roman empire which began to gouerne in the yeare of +[Sidenote: 382.] +our Lord (as he saith) 382, which is to be vnderstood of Gratian his +reigne after the deceasse of his vncle Valens, for otherwise a doubt +maie rise, because Valentine the father of Gratian admitted the said +Gratian to the title of Augustus in the yeare of our Lord 351. + +But to leaue the credit of the long reigne of Octauius, with all his +and others gouernement and rule ouer the Britains since the time of +Constantius, vnto our British and Scotish writers, let vs make an end +with the gouernement of that noble emperour Constantine, and assured +branch of the Britains race, as borne of that worthie ladie the +empresse Helen, daughter to Coell earle of Colchester, and after king +of Britaine (as our histories doo witnesse.) Vnto the which empresse +Constantine bare such dutifull reuerence, that he did not onelie +honour hir with the name of empresse, but also made hir as it were +partaker with him of all his wealth, and in manie things was led and +ruled by hir vertuous and godlie admonitions, to the aduancement +of Gods honour, and maintenance of those that professed the true +christian religion. For the loue that she bare vnto Colchester and +London, she walled them about, and caused great bricke and huge tiles +to be made for the performance of the same, whereof there is great +store to be séene euen yet to this present, both in the walls of +[Sidenote: _Nicephorus_. The empresse Helen departeth this life.] +the towne and castell of Colchester, as a testimonie of the +woorkemanship of those daies. She liued 79 yeares, and then departed +this life about the 21 yeare of hir sonnes reigne. First she was +buried at Rome without the walls of the citie with all funerall pompe, +[Sidenote: 340.] +as to hir estate apperteined: but after hir corps was remoued and +brought to Constantinople, where it was eftsoones interred. Hir +[Sidenote: The deceasse of the emperour Constantine.] +sonne the emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ +340, and then deceassed at Nicomedia in Asia, after he had ruled the +empire 32 yeares and od moneths. + +We find not in the Romane writers of anie great stur here in Britaine +during his reigne more than the British and Scotish writers haue +recorded: so that after Traherne had reduced this land to quietnesse, +it maie be supposed, that the Britains liued in rest vnder his +gouernement, and likewise after vnder his sonnes that succéeded him in +[Sidenote: 360.] +the empire, till about the yeare 360, at what time the Picts and +Scots inuaded the south parts of the land. + +But now to end with Octauius, that the christian faith remained still +in Britaine, during the supposed time of this pretended kings reigne, +it maie appeare, in that amongst the 36 prouinces, out of the which +there were assembled aboue 300 bishops in the citie of Sardica +[Sidenote: _Synodus anno_. 354] +in Dacia, at a synod held there against the Eusebians, Britaine is +numbred by Athanasius in his second apologie to be one. And againe, +the said Athanasius in an epistle which he writeth to the emperour +Iouinianus reciteth, that the churches in Britaine did consent with +the churches of other nations in the confession of faith articuled +in the Nicene councell. Also mention is made by writers of certeine +godlie & learned men, which liued in offices in the church in those +daies, as Restitutus bishop of London, which went ouer to the synod +held at Arles in France, and also one Kibius Corinnius sonne to +Salomon duke of Cornewall, and bishop of Anglesey, who instructed the +people that inhabited the parts now called Northwales, and them of +Anglesey aforesaid verie diligentlie. + +But now to speake somewhat of things chancing in Britaine about this +season (as we find recorded by the Romane writers) some trouble was +likelie to haue growne vnto the Britains by receiuing certeine men of +warre that fled out of Italie into Britaine, whome the emperour +[Sidenote: _Marcellinus. lib._ 14.] +Constantius would haue punished, because they had taken part with +[Sidenote: Paulus a notarie.] +Maxentius his aduersarie. Paulus a Spaniard and notarie was sent +ouer by him, with commission to make inquirie of them, and to sée them +brought to light to answere their transgressions: which Paulus began +to deale roughlie in the matter, whereof he was called Catera, and to +rage against the Britains and partakers with the fugitiues, in that +they had receiued and mainteined them, as he alledged: but in the +[Sidenote: Martinus lieutenant.] +end being certified by Martinus the lieutenant of their innocencie, +and fearing least his extreame rigour might alienate the hearts of the +inhabitants altogither, and cause them to withdraw their obedience +from the Romane empire, he turned the execution of his furie from them +vnto the Romans, and made hauocke of those that he suspected, till the +said Martinus fell at square with him, & thinking on a time to kill +him, he drew his sword and smote at him. But such was his age and +weakenesse, that he was not able to kill him or giue him anie deadlie +wound: wherefore he turned the point of his sword against himselfe, +and so ended his life, being contented rather to die than sée his +countriemen and subiects of the empire so to be abused. After this the +said Paulus returned backe againe into Italie from whence he came, +after whose departure, it was not long yer he also was slaine, and +then all the Scots and Picts sore disquieted the Romane subiects, +for the suppressing of whose attempts Lupicinus was sent ouer out of +Gallia by Iulianus, as shall be declared out of Amianus Marcellinus, +after we haue first shewed what we find written in our owne writers +concerning the Scots and Picts, who now began to rob and spoile the +British inhabitants within the Romane prouinces here in this Ile, and +that euen in most outragious maner. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Maximianus or Maximus gouerneth this Ile, why writers speake ill +of him, strife betwixt him and Conan duke of Cornewall, Maximus is +proclaimed emperour in Britaine, he transporteth the British youth +seruiceable for warres into France, little Britaine in France why +so called, eleuen thousand maids sent thither to match with Conans +people, whereof some were drowned, and other some murthered in the +way by Guanius king of Hunnes and Melga king of Picts, they flie into +Ireland, murther requited with murther, the words of Gyldas concerning +Maximus_. + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MAXIMIANUS OR MAXIMUS. 383.] +After the deceasse of Octauius or Octauian (as the old English +chronicle nameth him) Maximianus or Maximus (as the Romane writers +call him) began to rule the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 383, he +was the sonne of one Leonine, and coosen germane to Constantine the +great, a valiant personage, & hardie of stomach: but yet because he +was cruell of nature, and (as Fabian saith) somewhat persecuted the +christians, he was infamed by writers: but the chiefe cause why he was +euil reported, was for that he slue his souereigne lord the emperour +Gratianus, as after shall appeare, for otherwise he is supposed +woorthie to haue had the rule of the empire committed to his hands in +ech respect. Betwixt him and the aboue-named Conan Meridoc duke of +Cornewall, chanced strife and debate, so that Conan got him into +Scotland, and there purchasing aid, returned, and comming ouer +Humber, wasted the countrie on ech side. Maximianus thereof hauing +aduertisement, raised his power and went against him, and so fighting +with him diuers battels, sometime departed awaie with victorie, and +sometime with losse. At length through mediation of friends, a peace +was made betwixt them. Finallie this Maximianus, or (as the Romane +histories say) Maximus, was by the souldiers chosen and proclaimed +emperour here in Britaine: although some write that this was doone in +Spaine. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Fabian. Caxton. Matth. West._ The British youth +led forth of the realme by Maximianus. Britaine in France.] +After he had taken vpon him the imperiall dignitie, vpon desire to +haue inlarged his dominion, he assembled togither all the chosen youth +of this land méet to doo seruice in the warres, with the which he +passed ouer into France, & there (as our writers record) he first +subdued the countrie ancientlie called Armorica, and slue in battell +the king thereof called Imball. This doone he gaue the countrie vnto +Conan Meridoc, which was there with him, to hold the same of him, and +of the kings of great Britaine for euer. He also commanded that the +said countrie from thencefoorth should be called litle Britaine, and +so was the name changed. What people soeuer inhabited there before, +the ancient name argueth that they were rather Britains than anie +other: for Armorica in the British toong signifieth as much as a +countrie lieng vpon the sea. + +Conan then placing himselfe and his Britains in that quarter of +Gallia, auoided all the old inhabitants, peopling that countrie onelie +with Britains, which abhorring to ioine themselues with women borne in +Gallia, Conan was counselled to send into Britaine for maids to be +[Sidenote: Dionethius duke of Cornwall.] +coupled with his people in mariage. Herevpon a messenger was +dispatched vnto Dionethus at that time duke of Cornwall, and gouernour +of Britaine vnder Maximianus, requiring him to send ouer into +[Sidenote: Maids sent foorth.] +little Britaine 11000 maids, that is to say, 8000 to be bestowed vpon +the meaner sort of Conans people, and 3000 to be ioined in mariage +with the nobles and gentlemen. Dionethus at Conans request, assembled +the appointed number of maids, and amongst them he also appointed his +daughter Vrsula, a ladie of excellent beautie, to go ouer and to be +giuen in mariage to the foresaid Conan Meridoc, as he had earnestlie +requested. + +[Sidenote: Vrsula the daughter of Dionethus.] +These number of maids were shipped in Thames, and passing forward +toward Britaine, were by force of weather and rage of wind scattered +abroad, and part of them drowned, and the residue (among whom was the +foresaid Vrsula) were slaine by Guanius king of the Hunnes, and Melga +king of the Picts, into whose hands they fell, the which Guanius and +Melga were sent by the emperour Gracian to the sea coasts of Germanie, +to oppresse and subdue all such as were friends and mainteiners of the +part of Maximianus. We find in some bookes, that there were sent ouer +at that time 51000 maids, that is to say, 11000 gentlewomen, and 40000 +other. + +[Sidenote: Guanius and Melga.] +After that Guanius and Melga had murthered the foresaid virgins, +they entred into the north parts of Britaine, where the Scots now +inhabit, and began to make sore warre on the Britains, whereof when +Maximus was aduertised, he sent into Britaine one Gratianus with thrée +legions of souldiers, who bare himselfe so manfullie against the +enimies, that he constreined the said Guanius and Melga to flie out of +the land, and to withdraw into Ireland. In this meane while, Maximus +hauing slaine the emperor Gratian at Lions in France, and after +entring into Italie, was slaine himselfe at Aquilia (after he had +gouerned the Britains eight yéeres) by the emperour Theodosius, who +came in aid of Valentinian, brother to the said emperor Gratian, as ye +may find in the abridgement of the histories of Italie. + +¶ But here yet before we make an end with this Maximus or Maximianus, +I haue thought good to set downe the words which we find in Gyldas, +where he writeth of the same Maximus, vndoubtedlie a Britaine +[Sidenote: Consobrinus Helenæ imperatricis.] +borne, nephue to the empresse Helen, and begotten by a Romane. "At +length (saith Gyldas) the spring of tyrants budding vp, and now +increasing into an huge wood, the Ile being called after the name of +Rome, but holding neither maners nor lawes according to that name, but +rather casting the same from it, sendeth foorth a branch of hir most +bitter planting, to wit Maximus, accompanied with a great number of +warriors to gard him, and apparelled in the imperiall robes which he +neuer ware as became him, nor put them on in lawfull wise, but (after +the custome of tyrants) was put into them by the mutining souldiers: +which Maximus at the first by craftie policie rather than by true +manhood winding in (as nets of his periurie and false suggestion) +vnto his wicked gouernement the countries & prouinces next adioining, +against the imperiall state of Rome, stretching one of his wings into +Spaine, and the other into Italie, placed the throne of his most +vniust empire at Trier, and shewed such rage in his wood dealing +against his souereigne lords, that the one of the lawfull emperours he +expelled out of Rome, and the other he bereft of his most religious +and godlie life. Now without long tariance, compassed about with +such a furious and bold gard as he had got togither, at the citie +of Aquilia he loseth his wicked head, which had cast downe the most +honourable heads of all the world from their kingdome and empire. + +"From thencefoorth Britaine being depriued of all hir warlike +souldiers and armies, of hir gouernors also (though cruell) and of +an huge number of hir youth (the which following the steps of the +foresaid tyrant, neuer returned home againe) such as remained being +vtterlie vnskilfull in feats of warre, were troden downe by two +nations of beyond the seas, the Scots from the west, and the Picts +[Sidenote: Scotorum à circio, Pictorum ab aquilone.] +from the north, and as men thus quite dismaid, lament their miserable +case, not knowing what else to doo for the space of manie yéeres +togither. By reason of whose gréeuous inuasion and cruell oppression +wherewith she was miserablie disquieted, she sendeth hir ambassadors +vnto Rome, making lamentable sute euen with teares to haue some power +of men of warre sent to defend hir against the enimies, promising to +be true subiects with all faithfulnes of mind, if the enimie might be +kept off and remooued." + +¶ Thus farre Gyldas, and more, as in place hereafter you shall find +recited. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What Gratianus it was that was sent ouer from Rome into Britaine by +Maximus, in what estimation the British souldiers haue beene, the +priuie treason of Andragatius whereby Gratian came to his end: Maximus +and his sonne Victor doo succeed him in the empire, they are both +slaine, Marcus the Romane lieutenant sucéeding them is murthered, +Gratianus also his successour hath the same end, the election of +Constantine a Britaine borne, his praise and dispraise reported by +writers, he goeth into France, maketh his sonne Constance partaker +with him of the empire, a sharpe incounter betwixt his power and two +brethrens that had the keeping of the Pyrenine hils, the issue of the +battell_. + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +But now where the British histories, and such of our English writers +as follow them, make mention of one Gratianus a Romane, sent ouer with +thrée legions of souldiers by Maximus, as before ye haue heard: we +maie suppose that it was Gratianus the Britaine, that afterwards +vsurped the imperiall dignitie héere in Britaine, in the daies of the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_] +emperour Honorius. For it standeth neither with the concurrence of +time nor yet with reason of the historie, that it should be Gratianus, +surnamed Funarius, father to Valentinian, and grandfather to the +emperour Gratianus, against whome Maximus rebelled. And yet I remember +not that anie of the Romane writers maketh mention of anie other +Gratianus, being a stranger, that should be sent hither as lieutenant +to gouerne the Romane armie, except of the foresaid Gratianus +[Sidenote: _Lib. 30_.] +Funarius, who (as appéereth by Amian. Marcellinus) was generall of +the Romane armie héere in this Ile, and at length being discharged, +returned home into Hungarie (where he was borne) with honour, and +there remaining in rest, was at length spoiled of his goods by the +emperour Constantius as confiscate, for that in time of the ciuill +warres he had receiued Maxentius, as he past thorough his countrie. + +But let vs grant, that either Gratianus the Britaine, or some other of +that name, was sent ouer into Britaine (as before is said) by Maximus, +least otherwise some errour may be doubted in the writers of the +British histories, as hauing happilie mistaken the time and matter, +bringing Gratianus Funarius to serue vnder Maximus, where peraduenture +that which they haue read or heard of him, chanced long before that +time by them suppposed: and so thorough mistaking the thing, haue made +a wrong report, where neuerthelesse it standeth with great likelihood +of truth, that some notable seruice of chiualrie was atchiued by the +same Gratianus Funarius whilest he remained héere in this Ile, if the +truth might be knowne of that which hath béene written by authors, and +happilie by the same Am. Marcellinus, if his first thirtéene bookes +might once come to light and be extant. + +But now to end with Maximus. William of Malmesburie (as ye haue heard) +writeth, that not Maximus, but rather Constantine the great first +peopled Armorica: but yet he agréeth, that both Maximus, and also +Constantinus the vsurper, of whome after ye shall heare, led with them +a great number of the Britains out of this land, the which Maximus +or Maximianus and Constantinus afterwards being slaine, the one by +Theodosius, and the other by Honorius, the Britains that followed them +to the warres, part of them were killed, and the residue escaping by +flight, withdrew vnto the other Britains which Constantine the great +had first placed in Armorica. And so when the tyrants had left none in +the countrie but rude people, nor anie in the townes but such as were +giuen to slouth and gluttonie, Britaine being void of all aid of hir +valiant youth, became a prey to hir next neighbours the Scots and +Picts. + +Héere is yet to be considered, in what price the souldiers of the +British nation were had in those daies, with whose onelie puissance +Maximus durst take vpon him to go against all other the forces of the +whole Romane empire: and how he prospered in that dangerous aduenture, +it is expressed sufficientlie in the Romane histories, by whose report +[Sidenote: _W.H._ out of _Paulus Diaco. lib. 12. & alijs_.] +it appéereth, that he did not onlie conquer all the hither parts of +France and Germanie, namelie on this side the Rhine, but also found +meanes to intrap the emperour Gratian by this kind of policie. He had +a faithfull friend called Andragatius, who was admirall of the seas +perteining to the empire. It was therefore agréed betwixt them, that +this Andragatius (with a chosen companie of the armie) should be +carried in secret wise in a coch toward Lions, as if it had béene +[Sidenote: _Tripart. hist. lib. 9. cap. 21_.] +Constantia Posthumia the empresse, wife to the emperour Gratian, +bruting abroad there withall, that the said empresse was comming +forwards on hir waie to Lions, there to méet with hir husband, for +that vpon occasion she was verie desirous to commune with him about +certeine earnest businesse. + +When Gratian heard héereof, as one mistrusting no such dissimulation, +he made hast to meete his wife, and comming at length without anie +great gard about him, as one not in doubt of anie treason, approched +the coch, where supposing to find his wife, he found those that +streightwaies murthered him: & so was he there dispatched quite of +life by the said Andragatius, who leapt foorth of the coch to woorke +that feate when he had him once within his danger. + +Thus did the emperour Gratian finish his life in the 29 yéere of his +[Sidenote: 383.] +age, on the 25 of August, in the yéere of Christ 383, and then +died. Maximus succéeded him (making his sonne Flauius Victor +[Sidenote: This Flauius Victor he begat of his wife Helen the daughter +of Eudes. _H. Lhoyd_.] +Nobilissimus his assistant in the empire) reigning fiue yéeres and two +daies. In the beginning of his reigne Valentinian the yoonger made +great suit to him to haue his fathers bodie, but it would not be +granted. Afterwards also Maximus was earnestlie requested to come to +an enteruiew with the same Valentinian, who promised him not onelie +a safe conduct, but also manie other beneficiall good turnes beside. +Howbeit Maximus durst not put himselfe in anie such hazard, but rather +ment to pursue Valentinian as an vsurper, and so at length chased him +into Slauonie, where he was driuen to such a streight, that if +[Sidenote: Valentinian put in danger by Maximus.] +Theodosius had not come to releeue him, Maximus had driuen him thence +also, or else by slaughter rid him out of the waie. + +But when Maximus thought himselfe most assured, and so established in +the empire, as he doubted no perils, he liued carelesse of his owne +safegard, and therfore dismissed his British souldiers, who retiring +into the northwest parts of Gallia, placed themselues there +among their countriemen, which were brought ouer by the emperour +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_. 388.] +Constantius, whilest Maximus passing the residue of his time +in delights and pleasures, was surprised in the end and slaine by +Theodosius néere vnto Aquilia, the 27 of August, in the yéere of Grace +388, and in the beginning of the sixt yéere of his reigne, or rather +vsurpation, as more rightlie it maie be tearmed. His sonne Flauius +Victor surnamed Nobilissimus was also dispatched and brought to his +end, not farre from the place where his father was slaine, by the +[Sidenote: Arbogastes.] +practise of one Arbogastes a Goth, which Flauius Victor was by the +said Maximus made regent of the Frankeners, and partaker (as before is +said) with him in the empire. + +After this, the Ile of Britaine remained in méetlie good quiet by the +space of twentie yéeres, till one Marcus (that was then legat, or +as we maie call him lord lieutenant or deputie of Britaine for the +Romans) was by the souldiers héere proclaimed emperour against +Honorius, which Marcus was soone after killed in a tumult raised among +[Sidenote: Gratianus a Britaine. He reigned foure yéeres if we shal +beléeue the British historie.] +the people within few daies after his vsurpation began. Then one +Gratianus a Britaine borne succéeded in his place, who was also slaine +in the fourth moneth, after he had taken vpon him the imperiall +ornaments. The souldiers not yet heerewith pacified, procéeded to the +election of an other emperour, or rather vsurper, and so pronounced a +noble gentleman called Constantine, borne also in Britaine, to be +[Sidenote: 409.] +emperour, who tooke that honour vpon him in the 409 yéere after the +birth of our Sauiour, continuing his reigne by the space of two yéeres +and od moneths, as the Romane histories make mention. Some report +this Constantine to be of no great towardlie disposition woorthie to +gouerne an empire, and that the souldiers chose him rather for the +name sake, bicause they would haue another Constantine, more than for +anie vertues or sufficient qualities found in his person. But other +commend him both for manhood and wisedome, wherein to speake a truth, +he deserued singular commendation, if this one note of vsurpation of +the imperiall dignitie had not stained his other noble qualities. But +heerein he did no more than manie other would haue doone, neither yet +after his inuesture did so much as was looked for at his hands. + +Constantine being placed in the imperiall throne, gathered an armie +with all possible indeuour, purposing out of hand to go ouer therwith +into France, and so did, thinking thereby to win the possession of +that countrie out of the hands of Honorius, or at the least to worke +so, as he should not haue the souldiers and people there to be against +him, if he missed to ioine in league with the Suabeiners, Alanes, and +Vandales, which he sought to performe. But in the end, when neither +of these his deuises could take place, he sent ouer for his sonne +Constans (whome in his absence his aduersaries had shorne a moonke) & +making him partaker with him in the empire, caused him to bring ouer +with him another armie, which vnder the conduct of the same Constans +he sent into Spaine to bring that countrie vnder his obeisance. + +This Constans therefore comming vnder the passages that lead ouer the +Pyrenine mountains, Dindimus and Verianianus two brethren, vnto whome +[Sidenote: His souldiers were Picts, and placed among other men of +warre that serued vnder the ensignes of the empire, and named after +Honorius, Honoriciani. _Blondus_.] +the keeping of those passages was committed to defend the same +against the Vandals, and all other enimies of the empire, were readie +to resist him with their seruants and countriemen that inhabited +therabouts, giuing him a verie sharpe incounter, and at the first +putting him in great danger of an ouerthrow, but yet at length by the +valiant prowes of his British souldiers, Constans put his aduersaries +to flight, and killed the two capteins, with diuers other men of +name, that were partakers with him in the necessarie defense of that +countrie against the enimies. When Constans had thus repelled those +that resisted him, the custodie of the passages in the Pyrenine +mounteins was committed vnto such bands of Picts and other, as were +appointed to go with him about the atchiuing of this enterprise, who +hauing the possession of those streicts or passages in their hands, +gaue entrie vnto other barbarous nations to inuade Spaine, who being +once entered, pursued the former inhabitants with fire and swoord, +setled them selues in that countrie, and droue out the Romans. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Honorius sendeth earle Constantius to expell Constantine out of +Gallia, the end of Constantinus the father and Constans the sonne, +the valure and prowesse of the British souldiers, the British writers +reprooued of necligences for that they haue inserted fables +into their woorkes, whereas they might haue deposed matters of truth_. + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Honorius, perceiuing the réeling state of the empire, +determined, foorthwith to recouer it, before it fell altogither +into ruine: and therefore sent one Constantius an earle to driue +Constantine out of Gallia, which he accordinglie performed: for after +certeine bickerings, he slue the said Constantine at Arles, although +not without great bloudshed. He pursued also the residue of the +Britains, driuing them to the verie sea coasts, where they shrowded +themselues among the other Britains, that before were setled in the +countrie there, ancientlie called (as before we said) Armorica, that +is, a region lieng on the sea coast: for _Ar_ in the British toong +signifieth vpon; and _Moure_, perteining to the sea. And as this +Constantine the father was slaine by Constantius, so was Constans the +sonne killed at Vienna by one of his owne capteines named Gerontius. +Whereby it came to passe, that Honorius shortlie after, hauing thus +obteined the victorie of both these vsurpers, recouered the Ile, but +yet not till the yeare next following, and that by the high industrie +and great diligence of that valiant gentleman earle Constantius. The +slaughter of Constantine & his sonne happened in the 1 yeare of the +297 Olympiad, 465 after the comming of Cesar, 1162 after the building +of Rome, the dominicall letter being A, and the golden number 13, so +[Sidenote: 411.] +that the recouering of the Iland fell in the yeare of our Lord +411. + +Here also is eftsoones to be considered the valure of the British +souldiers, who following this last remembred Constantine the vsurper, +did put the Romane state in great danger, and by force brake through +into Spaine, vanquishing those that kept the streicts of the mounteins +betwixt Spaine and Gallia, now called France, an exploit of no small +consequence, sith thereby the number of barbarous nations got frée +passage to enter into Spaine, whereof insued manie battels, sacking of +cities and townes, and wasting of the countries, accordinglie as the +furious rage of those fierce people was mooued to put their crueltie +in practise. + +¶ If therefore the Britaine writers had considered and marked the +valiant exploits and noble enterprisee which the Brittish aids, armies +and legions atchiued in seruice of the Romane emperours (by whome +whilest they had the gouernement ouer this Ile, there were at sundrie +times notable numbers conueied foorth into the parties of beyond the +seas, as by Albinus and Constantius, also by his sonne Constantine the +great, by Maximus, and by this Constantine, both of them vsurpers) if +(I saie) the British writers had taken good note of the numbers of the +British youth thus conueied ouer from hence, & what notable exploits +they boldlie attempted, & no lesse manfullie atchiued, they néeded not +to haue giuen eare vnto the fabulous reports forged by their Bards, +of Arthur and other their princes, woorthie in déed of verie high +commendation. + +And pitie it is, that their fame should be brought by such meanes out +of credit, by the incredible and fond fables which haue béene deuised +of their acts so vnlike to be true, as the tales of Robin Hood, or the +gests written by Ariost the Italian in his booke intituled "Orlando +furioso," sith the same writers had otherwise true matter inough to +write of concerning the worthie feats by their countriemen in those +daies in forren parts boldlie enterprised, and no lesse valiantlie +accomplished, as also the warres which now and then they mainteined +against the Romans here at home, in times when they felt themselues +oppressed by their tyrannicall gouernment, as by that which is written +before of Caratacus, Voadicia, Cartimandua, Venusius, Galgagus, or +Galdus (as some name him) and diuers other, who for their noble +valiancies deserue as much praise, as by toong or pen is able to be +expressed. But now to returne vnto the British historie: we will +procéed in order with their kings as we find them in the same +mentioned, and therefore we haue thought good to speake somewhat +further of Gratian, from whome we haue digressed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Gratians rough regiment procureth his owne destruction, the comming +of his two brethren Guanius and Melga with their armies, the Scots +and Picts plague the Britains, they send for aid to Rome, Valentinian +sendeth Gallio Rauenna to releeue them, the Romans refuse anie longer +to succour the Britains, whom they taught how to make armour and +weapons, the Scots and Picts enter afresh into Britaine and preuaile, +the Britains are brought to extreme miserie, ciuill warres among them, +and what mischiefe dooth follow therevpon, their lamentable letter to +Actius for succour against their enimies, their sute is denied, at +what time the Britains ceased to be tributaries to the Romans, they +send ambassadors to the K. of Britaine in France, and obteine their +sute._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: GRATIANUS.] +Gratianus then, whome Maximus or Maximinus had sent into Britaine +(as before ye haue heard) hearing that his maister was slaine, tooke +[Sidenote: 390.] +vpon him the rule of this our Britaine, and made himselfe king +therof, in the yeare 390. He was a Britaine borne, as Polydor writeth, +coniecturing so, by that he is named of authors to be Municeps, that +[Sidenote: Of the Romane souldiers as _Blondus_ saith.] +is to saie, a frée man of the countrie or citie where he inhabited. +For his sternenesse and rough gouernement, he was of the Britains (as +the histories alledge) slaine and dispatched out of the waie, after +he had reigned the space of foure yeares, or rather foure moneths, as +should séeme by that which is found in autentike writers. Then the +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Caxton_.] +forenamed kings Guantius and Melga, which (as some write) were +brethren, returned into this land with their armies increased with +new supplies of men of warre, as Scots, Danes, the Norwegians, and +destroied the countrie from side to side. For the Britains in this +season were sore inféebled, and were not able to make anie great +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Matth. West. Caxton_.] +numbers of souldiers, by reason that Maximus had led foorth of the +land the floure and chiefest choise of all the British youth into +Gallia, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +Gyldas maketh no mention of these two kings Guanius and Melga +of the Hunnes, but rehearsing this great destruction of the land, +declareth (as before ye haue heard) that the Scots and Picts were +the same that did all the mischiefe, whome he calleth two nations of +beyond the seas, the Scots comming out of the northwest, and the Picts +out of the northeast, by whome (as he saith) the land was ouerrun, and +brought vnder foot manie yeares after. Therefore the Britains being +thus vexed, spoiled, and cruellie persecuted by the Scots and Picts +(if we shall so take them) sent messengers with all spéed vnto Rome +to make sute for some aid of men of war to be sent into Britaine. +Wherevpon immediatlie a legion of souldiers was sent thither in the +[Sidenote: 414.] +yéere 414, which easilie repelled the enimies, and chased them backe +with great slaughter, to the great comfort of the Britains, the which +by this meanes were deliuered from danger of vtter destruction, as +they thought. + +But the Romans being occasioned to depart againe out of the land, +appointed the Britains to make a wall (as had béene aforetime by the +emperours Adrian, Antoninus and Seuerus) ouerthwart the countrie +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +from sea to sea, stretching from Penuelton vnto the citie of Aclud, +whereby the enimies might be staid from entring the land: but this +wall being made of turfs and sods, rather than with stones, after +the departure of the Romans was easilie ouerthrowne by the Scots +and Picts, which eftsoones returned to inuade the confines of the +Britains, and so entring the countrie, wasted and destroied the places +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +before them, according to their former custome. Herevpon were +messengers with most lamentable letters againe dispatched towards Rome +for new aid against those cruell enimies, with promise, that if the +Romans would now in this great necessitie helpe to deliuer the +land, they should be assured to find the Britains euermore obedient +subiects, and redie at their commandement. Valentinianus (pitieng +[Sidenote: _Blondus_. Gallio Ravenna sent into Brittaine.] +the case of the poore Britains) appointed another legion of souldiers +(of the which one Gallio of Rauenna had the leading) to go to their +succours, the which arriuing in Britaine set on the enimies, and +giuing them the ouerthrow, slue a great number of them, and chased the +residue out of the countrie. + +The Romans thus hauing obteined the victorie, declared to the +Britains, that from thencefoorth they would not take vpon them for +euerie light occasion so painefull a iournie, alledging how there was +no reason why the Romane ensignes, with such a number of men of warre, +should be put to trauell so far by sea and land, for the repelling and +beating backe of a sort of scattering rouers and pilfring théeues. +Wherfore they aduised the Britains to looke to their dueties, and like +men to indeuour themselues to defend their countrie by their owne +force from the enimies innasions. And because they iudged it might be +an helpe to the Britains, they set in hand to build a wall yet once +againe ouerthwart the Ile, in the same place where the emperour +[Sidenote: A wall built overthwart the Iland. _Beda_.] +Seuerus caused his trench and rampire to be cast. This wall which the +Romans now built with helpe of the Britains, was 8 foot in bredth and +12 in length, trauersing the land from east to west, & was made of +stone. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas and Beda_.] +After that this wall was finished, the Romans exhorted the +Britains to plaie the men, and shewed them the way how to make armor & +weapons. Besides this, on the coast of the east sea where their ships +lay at rode, & where it was douted that the enimies would land, they +caused towers to be erected, with spaces betwixt, out of the which the +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +seas might be discouered. These things ordered, the Romans bad the +Britains farewell, not minding to returne thither againe. The Romans +then being gon out of the land, the Scots and Picts knowing thereof, +by & by came againe by sea, & being more emboldened than before, +bicause of the deniall made by the Romans to come any more to the +succor of the Britains, they tooke into possession all the north and +vttermost bounds of the Ile, euen vnto the foresaid wall, therein +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yere 43. as _M. W._ saith.] +to remaine as inhabitants. And wheras the Britains got them to their +wall to defend the same, that the enimies should not passe further +into the countrie, they were in the end beaten from it, and diuers of +them slaine, so that the Scots and Picts entred vpon them and pursued +them in more cruell maner than before, so that the Britains being +chased out of their cities, townes, and dwelling houses, were +constreined to flie into desert places, and there to remaine and liue +after the maner of sauage people, and in the end began to rob and +spoile one another, so to auoid the danger of staruing for lacke of +food: and thus at the last the countrie was so destroied and wasted, +that there was no other shift for them that was left aliue to liue by, +except onelie by hunting and taking of wild beasts and foules. And +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._ Rebellion.] +to augment their miserie, the commons imputing the fault to rest in +the lords and gouernors, arose against them in armes, but were +vanquished and easilie put to flight at two seuerall times, being +beaten downe and slaine (through lacke of skill) in such numbers, +especiallie the latter time, that the residue which escaped, withdrew +into the craggie mounteins, where within the bushes and caues they +kept themselues close, sometimes comming downe and fetching away from +the heards of beasts and flocks of shéepe which belonged to the nobles +and gentlemen of the countrie, great booties to relieue them withall. +But at length oppressed with extreme famine, when neither part could +long remaine in this state, as néeding one anothers helpe, necessitie +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre decaied the force of the Britains. What +mischiefe follow of ciuill warres.] +made peace betwixt the lords and commons of the land, all iniuries +being pardoned and cléerelie forgiuen. This ciuill warre decaied the +force of the Britains, little lesse than the tyrannicall practises of +Maximus, for by the auoiding of the commons thus out of their houses, +the ground laie vntilled, whereof insued such famine for the space of +thrée yéeres togither, that a woonderfull number of people died for +want of sustenance. + +Thus the Britains being brought generallie into such extreame miserie, +[Sidenote: Actius.] +they thought good to trie if they might purchase some aid of that +noble man Actius, which at that time remained in France as yet called +Gallia, gouerning the same as lieutenant vnder the emperor Honorius: +and herevpon taking counsell togither, they wrote a letter to him, the +tenor whereof insueth. + +_To Actius thrise consull_. + +"The lamentable request of vs the Britains, beseeching you of aid +to bee ministred vnto the prouince of the Romane empire, vnto our +countrie, vnto our wiues and children at this present, which stand in +most extreame perill. For the barbarous people driue vs to the sea, +and the sea driueth vs backe vnto them againe. Hereof rise two kinds +of death, for either we are slaine, or drowned, and against such euils +haue we no remedie nor helpe at all. Therefore in respect of your +clemencie, succor your owne we most instantlie require you, &c." + +Notwithstanding the Britains thus sought for aid at Actius hands as +[Sidenote: The Britains could get no aid fr[=o] the Romans.] +then the emperours lieutenant, yet could they get none; either +for that Actius would not, as he that passed litle how things went, +bicause he bare displeasure in his mind against Valentinian as then +emperor; or else for that he could not, being otherwise constreined to +imploie all his forces in other places against such barbarous nations +as then inuaded the Romane empire. And so by that means was Britaine +lost, and the tribute which the Britains were accustomed to pay to the +Romans ceassed, iust fiue hundred yéeres after that Iulius Cesar first +entred the Ile. + +The Britains being thus put to their shifts, manie of them as +hunger-starued were constrained to yéeld themselues into the griping +hands of their enimies, whereas other yet kéeping within the +mounteins, woods and caues, brake out as occasion serued vpon their +aduersaries, and then first (saith Gyldas) did the Britains not +putting their trust in man but in God (according to the saieng of +Philo, Where mans helpe faileth, it is needfull that Gods helpe be +present) make slaughter of their enimies that had béene accustomed +[Sidenote: Punishment ceaseth, but sin increaseth.] +manie yéeres to rob and spoile them in maner as before is recited, +and so the bold attempts of the enimies ceassed for a time, but the +wickednesse of the British people ceassed not at all. The enimies +departed out of the land, but the inhabitants departed not from their +naughtie dooings, being not so readie to put backe the common enimies, +as to exercise ciuill warre and discord among themselues. The wicked +Irish people departed home, to make returne againe within a while +after. But the Picts settled themselues first at that season in the +vttermost bounds of the Ile, and there continued, making insurrections +oftentimes vpon their neighbours, and spoiling them of their goods. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Gyldas_ his words are to be considered.] +This with more also hath Gyldas, and likewise Beda written of this +great desolation of the British people: wherein if the words of Gyldas +be well weighed and considered, it maie lead vs to thinke, that the +Scots had no habitations here in Britaine, but onelie in Ireland, till +after this season, and that at this present time the Picts, which +before inhabited within the Iles of Orkenie, now placed themselues in +the north parts of Scotland, and after by processe of time came and +nestled themselues in Louthian, in the Mers, and other countries more +neere to our borders. But to procéed. + +The British histories affirme, that whilest the Britains were thus +persecuted by these two most cruell and fierce nations the Scots and +Picts, the noble and chiefest men amongst them consulted togither, +[Sidenote: An ambassage sent from the Britains vnto Aldroenus king of +Britaine in France.] +& concluded to send an honorable ambassage vnto Aldroenus as then king +of little Britaine in Gallia, which Aldroenus was the fourth from +Conan Meridoc the first king there of the British nation. Of this +ambassage the archbishop of London named Guetheline or Gosseline was +appointed the chiefe and principall, who passing ouer into little +Britaine, and comming before the presence of Aldroenus, so declared +[Sidenote: Constantine the brother of Aldroenus] +the effect of his message, that his suit was granted. For +Aldroenus agréed to send his brother Constantine ouer into great +Britaine with a conuenient power, vpon condition, that the victorie +being obteined against the enimies, the Britains should make him king +of great Britaine. + +¶ Thus it is apparent, that this land of Britaine was without anie +certeine gouernour (after that Gratian the vsurper was dispatched) a +number of yéeres togither, but how manie, writers in their account +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +do varie. Fabian deposeth by diuers coniecturs that the space betwixt +the death of Gratian, and the beginning of the reigne of the said +Constantine, brother to Aldroenus, continued nine and thirtie yéeres, +during which time the Britains were sore and miserablie afflicted +by the inuasions of the Scots and Picts, as before ye haue heard by +testimonies taken out of Beda, Gyldas, Geffrey of Monmouth, and other +writers both British and English. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the Roman historiographer Marcellinus reporteth of the Scots, +Picts, and Britains vnder the emperour Iulianus, Valentinianus and +Valens, they send their vicegerents into Britaine, the disquietnesse +of that time, London called Augusta, the worthie exploits of +Theodosius in this Iland against the enimie, Valentinus a banished +malefactor deuiseth his destruction, he is taken and executed, he +reformeth manie disorders and inconueniences, the first entring of +the Saxons into Britaine, they are dawnted at the verie sight of the +Romane ensignes, the Saxons lieng in wait for their enimies are slaine +euerie mothers sonne_. + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Maximus.] +But now sith no mention is made of the Scots in our histories, +till the daies of Maximus the vsurper or tyrant, as some call him, who +began his reigne here in Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 383, +[Sidenote: 383.] +and that till after he had bereft the land of the chiefest forces +thereof, in taking the most part of the youth ouer with him: we find +not in the same histories of anie troubles wrought to the Britains by +that nation. Therefore we haue thought good héere to come backe to the +former times, that we may shew what is found mentioned in the Romane +histories, both before that time and after, as well concerning the +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 20. The emperor Iulianius.] +Scots and Picts, as also the Saxons, and especiallie in Ammianus +Marcellinus, where in the beginning of his twentith booke intreating +of the doings of the emperour Iulianus, he saith as followeth. + +In this state stood things in Illyricum or Slauonia, and in the east +parts, at what time Constantius bare the office of consull the tenth +time, and Iulianus the third time, that is to say, in the yéere +[Sidenote: 360.] +of our Lord 360, when in Britaine quietnesse being disturbed by roads +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts trouble the state of this Ile.] +made by the Scots and Picts, which are wild and sauage people, +the frontiers of the countrie were wasted, and feare oppressed the +prouinces wearied with the heape of passed losses. The emperor [he +meaneth Iulianus] as then remaining at Paris, and hauing his mind +troubled with manie cares, doubted to go to the aid of them beyond the +sea, as we haue shewed that Constantius did, least he should leaue +them in Gallia without a ruler, the Almains being euen then prouoked +and stirred vp to crueltie and warre. + +[Sidenote: Lupicinus sent into Britaine.] +He thought good therefore to send Lupicinus vnto these places to +bring things into frame and order, which Lupicinus was at that time +master of the armorie, a warlike person and skilfull in all points of +chiualrie, but proud and high-minded beyond measure, and such one as +it was doubted long whether he was more couetous or cruell. Herevpon +[Sidenote: Bataui now Hollanders.] +the said Lupicinus setting forward the light armed men of the +Heruli and Bataui, with diuers companies also of the people of Mesia +now called Bulgarie; when winter was well entred and come on, he came +himselfe to Bulleine, and there prouiding ships, and imbarking his +[Sidenote: Rutupis.] +men, when the wind serued his purpose, he transported ouer vnto +Sandwich, and so marched foorth unto London, from thence purposing to +set forward, as vpon aduise taken according to the qualitie of his +businesse he should thinke méet and expedient. + +[Sidenote: Of the displacing of these men the learned may sée more in +_Am. Mar._] +In the meane time, whilest Lupicinus was busie here in Britaine +to represse the enimies, the emperour Constantius displaced certeine +officers, and among other he depriued the same Lupicinus of the office +of the master of the armorie, appointing one Gumobarius to succéed him +in that roome, before anie such thing was knowen in these parties. And +where it was doubted least that Lupicinus (if he had vnderstood so +much whilest he was yet in Britaine) would haue attempted some new +trouble, as he was a man of a stout and loftie mind, he was called +backe from thence, and withall there was sent a notarie vnto Bulleine, +to watch that none should passe the seas ouer into Britaine till +Lupicinus were returned: and so returning ouer from thence yer he +had anie knowledge what was doone by the emperour, he could make no +sturre, hauing no such assistants in Gallia, as it was thought he +might haue had in Britaine, if he should haue mooued rebellion there. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 26.] +The same Marcellinus speaking of the doings about the time that +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 26.] +Valentinianus, being elected emperour, had admitted his brother +Valens as fellow with him in gouernement, hath these words. In this +season as though trumpets had blowne the sound to battell through out +the whole Romane empire, most cruell nations being stirred vp, inuaded +[Sidenote: The Almans. The Sarmatians. The Quadi Picts and Saxons. +Austorians. The Goths.] +the borders next adioining, the Almans wasted and destroied the +parts of Gallia and Rhetia, as the Sarmatians and Quadi did Paunonia, +the Picts, the Saxons, the Scots, and the Attacots vexed the Britains +with continuall troubles, and gréeuous damages; the Austorians and the +people of the Moores ouerran the countrie of Affrike more sharpelie +than in time past they had done; the pilfring troops of the Goths +spoiled Thracia; the king of Persia set in hand to subdue the +Armenians, and sought to bring them vnder his obeisance, hasting with +all spéed toward Numonia, pretending (though vniustlie) that now after +the deceasse of Iouinius, with whome he had contracted a league and +bond of peace, there was no cause of let what he ought not to recouer +those things, which (as he alledged) did belong to his ancestors: and +so foorth. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 27.] +Moreouer, the same Marcellinus in another place writeth in this +wise, where he speaketh of the said Valentinianus. Departing therefore +from Amiens, and hasting to Trier, he was troubled with gréeuous newes +that were brought him, giuing him to vnderstand, that Britaine by +[Sidenote: Comes maritimi tractus.] +a conspiracie of the barbarous nations was brought to vtter pouertie, +that Nectaridus one of the emperours house earle of the sea coast, +hauing charge of the parties towards the sea, was slaine, and that +the generall Bulchobaudes was circumuented by traines of the enimies. +These things with great horrour being knowne, he sent Seuerus as then +[Sidenote: Comes domesticorum.] +erle, or (as I may call him lord steward of his houshold) to +reforme things that were amisse, if hap would so permit, who being +shortlie called backe, Iouinius going thither, and with spéed hasting +forward, sent for more aid and a great power of men, as the instant +necessitie then required. At length, for manie causes, and the same +greatlie to be feared, the which were reported and aduertised out +[Sidenote: Theodosius sent into Britaine.] +of that Ile, Theodosius was elected and appointed to go thither, a man +of approoued skill in warlike affaires, and calling togither an hardie +youthfull number of the legions and cohorts of men of warre, he went +foorth, no small hope being conceiued of his good spéed; the fame +wherof spred and went afore him. + +A litle after, Marcellinus adding what people they were that troubled +[Sidenote: Picts diuided into two nations. Attacotti.] +the Britains in this wise, saith thus. This shall suffice to +be said, that in this season the Picts diuided into two nations +Dicalidones, and Victuriones, and in like maner the Attacotti a right +warlike nation, and the Scots wandering here and there, made fowle +woorke in places where they came. The confines of France were +disquieted by the Frankeners and Saxons borderers vnto them, euerie +one as they could breaking foorth, & dooing great harme by cruell +spoile, fire, and taking of prisoners. To withstand those dooings if +good fortune would giue him leaue, that most able capteine going +[Sidenote: Theodosius passeth ouer into Britaine.] +vnto the vttermost bounds of the earth, when he came to the coast of +Bullen which is seuered from the contrarie coast on the other side by +the sea, with a narrow streight, where sometime the water goeth verie +high and rough, & shortlie after becommeth calme & pleasant, without +hurt to those that passe the same, transporting ouer at leasure, he +arriued at Sandwich (or rather Richburrow) where there is a quiet road +[Sidenote: Bataui Hollanders.] +for vessels to lie at anchor. Wherevpon the Bataui and Heruli, +with the souldiers of the legions called Iouij, and Victores, being +companies that trusted well to their owne strength, marched foorth +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +& drew towards London, an ancient citie, which now of late hath bin +called Augusta. Herewith diuiding his armie into sundrie parts, he +set vpon the troops of his enimies as they were abroad to forrey the +countrie, pestered with burdens of their spoiles and pillage, and +spéedilie putting them to flight, as they were leading away those +prisoners which they had taken, with their booties of cattell, he +bereft them of their preie, the which the poore Britains that were +tributaries had lost. To be briefe, restoring the whole, except a +small portion bestowed amongst the wearie souldiers, he entred the +citie which before was opprest with troubles, but now suddenlie +refreshed, bicause there was hope of reliefe and assured preseruation. + +After this, when Theodosius was comforted with prosperous successe to +attempt things of greater importance, and searching waies how with +good aduise to woorke suerlie: whilest he remained doubtfull what +would insue, he learned as well by the confession of prisoners taken, +as also by the information of such as were fled from the enimies, that +the scattered people of sundrie nations which with practise of great +crueltie were become fierce and vndanted, could not be subdued but by +policie secretlie practised, and sudden inuasions. At length therefore +setting foorth his proclamations, and promising pardon to those that +were gone awaie from their capteins or charge, he called them backe +againe to serue: and also those that by licence were departed and laie +scattered here and there in places abroad. By this meanes, when manie +were returned, he being on the one side earnestlie prouoked, and +[Sidenote: Theodosius requireth to haue Ciuilis sent to him.] +on the other holden backe with thoughtfull cares, required to haue +one Ciuilis by name sent to him to haue the rule of the prouinces in +Britaine in steed of the other gouernours, a man of sharpe wit, +[Sidenote: Dulcitius.] +and an earnest mainteiner of iustice. He likewise required that one +Dulcitius a capteine renowmed in knowledge of warlike affaires might +be sent ouer to him for his better asistance. These things were doone +in Britaine. + +Againe, in his eight and twentith booke, the same Marcellinus reciting +further what the same Theodosius atchiued in Britaine, hath in effect +these words: Thedosius verelie a capteine of woorthie fame, taking +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +a valiant courage to him, and departing from Augusta, which men of old +time called London, with souldiers assembled by great diligence, did +succour and reléeue greatlie the decaied and troubled state of the +Britains, preuenting euerie conuenient place where the barbarous +people might lie in wait to doo mischiefe: and nothing he commanded +the meane souldiers to doo, but that whereof he with a chéerefull +mind would first take in hand to shew them an example. By this meanes +accomplishing the roome of a valiant souldier, and fulfilling the +charge of a noble capteine, he discomfited and put to flight sundrie +nations, whome presumption (nourished by securitie) emboldened to +inuade the Romane prouinces: and so the cities and castels that +had béene sore endamaged by manifold losses and displeasures, were +restored to their former state of wealth, the foundation of rest and +quietnesse being laid for a long season after to insue. + +But as these things were a dooing, one wicked practise was in hand & +like to haue burst foorth, to the gréeuous danger of setting things in +broile, if it had not béene staied euen in the beginning of the +[Sidenote: Valentinus. Valeria now Stiermarke.] +first attempt. For there was one Valentinus, borne in the parties of +Valeria adioining to Pannonia, now called Stiermarke, a man of a proud +and loftie stomach, brother to the wife of Maximinus, which Valentinus +for some notable offense had béene banished into Britaine, where +the naughtie man that could not rest in quiet, deuised how by some +commotion he might destroy Theodosius, who as he saw was onelie able +to resist his wicked purposes. And going about manie things both +priuilie and apertlie, the force of his vnmeasurable desire to +mischiefe still increasing, he sought to procure aswell other that +were in semblable wise banished men, & inclined to mischiefe like him +selfe, as also diuers of the souldiers, alluring them (as the time +serued) with large promises of great wealth, if they would ioine with +him in that enterprise. But euen now in the verie nicke, when they +shuld haue gone in hand with their vngratious exploit, Theodosius +warned of their intent, boldlie aduanced himselfe to sée due +punishment executed on the offendors that were foorthwith taken and +knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie. + +[Sidenote: Dulcitius is appointed to put Valentinus to death.] +Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie +complices vnto the capteine Dulcitius, commanding him to see them put +to death: but coniecturing by his warlike skill (wherein he passed all +other in those daies) what might follow, he would not in anie wise +haue anie further inquirie made of the other conspirators, least +through feare that might be spread abroad in manie, the troubles of +the prouinces now well quieted, should be againe reuiued. After +this, Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse manie things as néed +required, all danger was quite remooued: so that it was most apparent, +that fortune fauored him in such wise, that she left him not destitute +of hir furtherance in anie one of all his attempts. He therefore +restored the cities & castels that were appointed to be kept with +garrisons, and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with +sufficient numbers to keépe watch and ward in places necessarie. And +hauing recouered the prouince which the enimies had gotten into their +possession, he so restored it to the former state, that vpon his +[Sidenote: A part of Britaine called Valentia.] +motion to haue it so, a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it, +and the name was changed, so as from thencefoorth it should be called +Valentia for the princes pleasure. + +The Areani, a kind of men ordeined in times past by our elders (of +whome somewhat we haue spoken in the acts of the emperour Constance) +being now by little and little fallen into vices, he remooued from +their places of abiding, being openlie conuicted, that allured with +bribes and faire promises, they had oftentimes bewraied vnto the +barbarous nations what was doone among the Romans: for this was their +charge, to runne vp and downe by long iournies, and to giue warning to +our captains, what sturre the people of the next confines were about +to make. + +[Sidenote: The praise of Theodosius.] +Theodosius therefore hauing ordered these & other like things, +most woorthilie & to his high fame, was called home to the emperours +court, who leauing the prouinces in most triumphant state, was highlie +renowmed for his often and most profitable victories, as if he had +béene an other Camillus or Cursor Papirius, and with the fauor and +loue of all men was conueied vnto the sea side; and passing ouer with +a gentle wind, came to the court, where he was receiued with great +gladnesse and commendation, being immediatlie appointed to succéed +in the roome of Valence Iouinus that was maister of the horsses. +Finallie, he was called by the emperour Gratianus, to be associated +with him in the imperiail estate, after the death of Valence, +[Sidenote: 379.] +in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauior 379, and reigned +emperour, surnamed Thodosius the great, about 16 yeares and 2 daies. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Har._] +Hereto also maie that be applied which the foresaid Marcellinus +[Sidenote: _Walf. Lazi._] +writeth in the same booke, touching the inuasion of the Saxons, +the which (as Wolf. Lazius taketh it) entred then first into great +Britaine, but were repelled of the emperour Valentinianus the first, +[Sidenote: Seuerus.] +by the conduct and guiding of Seuerus. The same yéere (saith he) +that the emperours were the third time consuls, there brake forth a +multitude of Saxons, & passing the seas, entred stronglie into the +Romane confines: a nation fed oftentimes with the slaughter of our +[Sidenote: Nonneus Comes.] +people, the brunt of whose first inuasion earle Nonneus sustained, +one which was appointed to defend those parties, an approoued +capteine, & with continuall trauell in warres verie expert. But then +incountring with desperate and forlorne people, when he perceiued some +of his souldiers to be ouerthrowne and beaten downe, and himselfe +wounded, not able to abide the often assaults of his enimies, he +obteined this by informing the emperour what was necessarie and +[Sidenote: Seuerus coronell of the footmen.] +ought to be doone, insomuch that Seuerus, maister or (as I maie call +him) coronell of the footmen, was sent to helpe and reléeue things +that stood in danger: the which bringing a sufficient power with him +for the state of that businesse, when he came to those places, he +diuiding his armie into parts, put the Saxons in such feare and +trouble before they fought, that they did not so much as take weapon +in hand to make resistance, but being amazed with the sight of the +glittering ensignes, & the eagles figured in the Romane standards, +they streight made sute for peace, and at length after the matter +was debated in sundrie wise (because it was judged that it should be +profitable for the Romane commonwealth) truce was granted vnto them, +and manie yoong men (able for seruice in the warres) deliuered to the +Romans according to the couenants concluded. + +After this the Saxons were permitted to depart without impeachment, & +so to returne from whence they came, who being now out of all feare, +and preparing to go their waies, diuers bands of footmen were sent +to lie priuilie in a certeine hid vallie so ambushed, as they might +easilie breake foorth vpon the enimies as they passed by them. But +it chanced far otherwise than they supposed, for certeine of those +footmen stirred with the noise of them as they were comming, brake +foorth out of time, and being suddenlie discouered whilest they hasted +to vnite and knit themselues togither, by the hideous crie and shout +of the Saxons they were put to flight. Yet by and by closing togither +againe, they staied, and the extremitie of the chance ministring to +them force (though not sufficient) they were driuen to fight it out, +and being beaten downe with great slaughter, had died euerie mothers +sonne, if a troope of horssemen armed at all points (being in like +maner placed in an other side at the entring of the waie to assaile +the enimies as they should passe) aduertised by the dolefull noise +of them that fought, had not spéedilie come to the succour of their +fellowes. + +Then ran they togither more cruellie than before, and the Romans +bending themselues towards their enimies, compassed them in on each +side, and with drawne swords slue them downe right, so that there was +not one of them left to returne home to their natiue countrie to bring +newes how they had sped, nor one suffered to liue after anothers +death, either to reuenge their ruine, or to lament their losse. +Thus were the limits of the Romane empire preserued at that time in +Britaine, which should séeme to be about the yéere of our Lord 399. +[Sidenote: 399.] + +¶ Thus were the Romans, as commonlie in all their martiall affaires, +so in this incounter verie fortunate, the happie issue of the conflict +falling out on their side. And strange it is to consider and marke, +how these people by a celestiall kind of influence were begotten and +borne as it were to prowesse and renowme; the course of their dealings +in the field most [Page 548] aptlie answering to their name. For (as +some suppose) the Romans were called of the Gréeke word [Greek: rhomae], +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +signifieng power and mightinesse: and in old time they were called +Valentians, _A valendo_, of preuailing: so that it was no maruell though +they were victorious subduers of forren people, sithens they were by +nature created and appointed to be conquerors, and thereof had their +denomination. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the poet Claudianus saith of the state of Britaine in the decaie +of the Romane empire, of the Scots and Picts cruellie vexing the +Britains, they are afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations, the +practise of the Saxons, of the Scots first comming into this Iland, +and from whence, the Scotish chonographers noted for curiositie and +vanitie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER + + +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +After this, in the time of the emperour Honorius, the Scots, +Picts, and Saxons, did eftsoones inuade the frontiers of the Romane +prouince in Britaine, as appéereth by that which the poet Claudianus +writeth, in attributing the honour of preseruing the same frontiers +[Sidenote: 396. _Claudianus_.] +vnto the said emperour, in his booke intituled "Panegerycus tertij +consulatus" (which fell in the yéere 396) as thus: + + Ille leues Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos + Edomuit, Scotúmq; vago mucrone secutus, + Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus vndas, + Et geminis fulgens vtróq; sub axe tropheis, + Tethyos alternae refluas calcauit arenas. + + The nimble Mores and Picts by right + so cald, he hath subdude, + And with his wandring swoord likewise + the Scots he hath pursude: + He brake with bold couragious oare + the Hyperborean waue, + And shining vnder both the poles + with double trophies braue, + He marcht vpon the bubling sands + of either swelling seas. + +The same Claudianus vpon the fourth consulship of Honorius, saith in a +tetrastichon as followeth: + + Quid rigor æternus cæli? quid frigora prosunt? + Ignotúmq; fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso + Orcades, incaluit Pictonum sanguine Thule, + Scotorum cumulos fleuit glacialis Hyberne. + + What lasting cold? what did to them + the frostie climats gaine? + And sea vnknowne? bemoisted all + with bloud of Saxons slaine + The Orknies were: with bloud of Picts + [Sidenote: Thule some take to be Iseland, some Scotland.] + hath Thule waxed warme, + And ysie Ireland hath bewaild + the heaps of Scotish harme. + +The same praise giueth he to Stilico the sonne in law of Honorius, and +maketh mention of a legion of souldiers sent for out of Britaine in +the periphrasis or circumlocution of the Gotish bloudie warres: + + Venit & extremis legio prætenta Britannis, + Quas Scoto dat fræna truci, ferróq; notatas + Perleget exanimes Picto moriente figuras. + + A legion eke there came from out + the farthest Britains bent, + Which brideled hath the Scots so sterne: + and marks with iron brent + Vpon their liuelesse lims dooth read, + whiles Picts their liues relent. + +He rehearseth the like in his second "Panegerycus" of Stilico, in most +ample and pithie manner insuing: + + Inde Calidonio velata Britannia monstro, + Ferro Picta genas, cuius vestigia verrit + Cærulus, Oceaniq; æstum mentitur amictus, + Me quoq; vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit, + Muniuit Stilico, totam quum Scotus Hybernam + Mouit, & infesto spumauit remige Thetis, + Illius effectum curis, ne bella timerem + Scotica, ne Pictum tremerem, ne littore toto + Prospicerem dubijs venturum Saxona ventis. + + Then Britaine whom the monsters did + of Calidone surround, + Whose cheekes were pearst with scorching steele, + whose garments swept the ground, + Resembling much the marble hew + of ocean seas that boile, + Said, She whom neighbour nations did + conspire to bring to spoile, + Hath Stilico munited strong, when + raised by Scots entice + All Ireland was, and enimies ores + the salt sea fome did slice, + His care hath causd, that I all feare + of Scotish broiles haue bard, + Ne doo I dread the Picts, ne looke + my countrie coasts to gard + Gainst Saxon troops, whom changing winds + sent sailing hitherward. + +[Sidenote: Britaine afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations.] +Thus maie it appéere, that in the time when the Romane empire began to +decaie, in like manner as other parts of the same empire were inuaded +by barbarous nations, so was that part of Britaine which was subiect +to the Romane emperors grieuouslie assailed by the Scots and Picts, +and also by the Saxons, the which in those daies inhabiting all +alongst the sea coasts of low Germanie, euen from the Elbe vnto the +Rhine, did not onelie trouble the sea by continuall rouing, but also +vsed to come on land into diuerse parts of Britaine and Gallia, +inuading the countries, and robbing the same with great rage and +crueltie. + +[Sidenote: _Sidon. Apol. li. 8. Epist._] +To the which Sidonius Apollinaris thus alludeth, writing to Namatius. +"The messenger did assuredlie affirme, that latelie ye blew the +trumpet to warre in your nation, and betwixt the office one while of +a mariner, and another while of a souldier, wafted about the +[Sidenote: The pirasie of the Saxons.] +crooked shores of the ocean sea against the fléet of the Saxons, of +whome as manie rouer as ye behold, so manie archpirats ye suppose to +sée: so doo they altogither with one accord command, obeie, teach, +and learne to plaie the parts of rouers, that euen now there is good +occasion to warne you to beware. This enimie is more cruell than all +other enimies. He assaileth at vnwares, he escapeth by forseeing the +danger afore hand, he despiseth those that stand against him, he +throweth downe the vnwarie: if he be followed he snappeth them vp that +pursue him, if he flée he escapeth." + +Of like effect for proofe héereof be those verses which he wrote vnto +Maiorianus his panegyrike oration, following in Latine and in English +verse. + + Tot maria intraui duce te, longéq; remotas + Sole sub occiduo gentes, victricia Cæsar + Signa Calidonios transuexit ad vsq; Britannos, + Fuderit & quanquam Scotum, & cum Saxone Pictum, + Hostes quæsiuit quem iam natura vetabat, + Quærere plus homines, &c. + + So manie seas I entred haue, + and nations farre by west, + By thy conduct, and Cæsar hath + his banners borne full prest + Vnto the furthest British coast, + where Calidonians dwell, + The Scot and Pict with Saxons eke, + though he subdued fell, + Yet would he enimies seeke vnknowne + whom nature had forbid, &c. + +¶ Thus much haue we thought good to gather out of the Romane and other +writers, that ye might perceiue the state of Britaine the better in +that time of the decaie of the Romane empire, and that ye might haue +occasion to marke by the waie, how not onelie the Scots, but also the +Saxons had attempted to inuade the Britains, before anie mention is +made of the same their attempts by the British and English writers. +But whether the Scots had anie habitation within the bounds of +Britaine, till the time supposed by the Britaine writers, we leaue +that point to the iudgement of others that be trauelled in the search +of such antiquities, onelie admonishing you, that in the Scotish +chronicle you shall find the opinion which their writers haue +conceiued of this matter, and also manie things touching the acts of +the Romans doone against diuerse of the Britains, which they presume +to be doone against their nation, though shadowed vnder the generall +name of Britains, or of other particular names, at this daie to most +men vnknowne. But whensoeuer the Scots came into this Ile, they +made the third nation that inhabited the same, comming first out of +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Scithia, or rather out of Spaine (as some suppose) into Ireland, +and from thence into Britaine; next after the Picts, though their +writers fetch a farre more ancient beginning (as in their chronicles +at large appéereth) referring them to the reading thereof, that desire +to vnderstand that matter as they set it foorth. + +_Thus farre the dominion and tribute of the Romans ouer this land +of Britaine, which had continued (by the collection of some +chronographers) the space of 483. yeeres. And héere we thinke it +conuenient to end this fourth booke._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16536-8.txt or 16536-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/3/16536/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) + The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 16, 2005 [EBook #16536] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE FOVRTH BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains discomfited, sore wounded, slaine, and disabled by +Plautius and his power, Claudius the Romane taketh the chiefe citie +of Cymbeline the king of Britaine, he bereaueth the Britains of +their armour, and by vertue of his conquest ouer part of the land is +surnamed Britannicus_. + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Now Plautius had much adoo to find out the Britains in their lurking +holes and couerts; howbeit when he had traced them out, first +he vanquished Cataratacus, and after Togodumnus the sonnes of +Cynobellinus: for their father was dead not verie long before. These +therefore fleeing their waies, Plautus receiued part of the people +[Sidenote: Bodumni Catuellani] +called Bodumni (which were subiects vnto them that were called +Catuellani) into the obeisance of the Romans: and so leauing there a +garrison of souldiors, passed further till he came to a riuer which +could not well be passed without a bridge: wherevpon the Britains +tooke small regard to defend the passage, as though they had beene +sure inough. But Plautius appointed a certeine number of Germans which +he had there with him (being vsed to swim ouer riuers although neuer +so swift) to get ouer, which they did, sleaing and wounding the +Britains horsses, which were fastened to their wagons or chariots, so +that the Britains were not able to doo anie peece of their accustomed +seruice with the same. + +Herewithall was Flauius Vespasianus (that afterwards was emperour) +with his brother Sabinus sent ouer that riuer, which being got to the +further side, slue a great number of the enimies. The residue of the +Britains fled, but the next day proffered a new battell, in the which +they fought so stoutlie, that the victorie depended long in doubtfull +balance, till Caius Sidius Geta being almost at point to be taken, did +so handle the matter, that the Britains finallie were put to flight: +for the which his valiant dooings, triumphant honors were bestowed +vpon him, although he was no consull. + +The Britains after this battell, withdrew to the riuer of Thames, +neere to the place where it falleth into the sea, and knowing the +shallowes and firme places thereof, easilie passed ouer to the further +side, whom the Romans following, through lacke of knowledge in the +nature of the places, they fell into the marish grounds, and so came +to lose manie of their men, namelie of the Germans, which were the +first that passed ouer the riuer to follow the Britains, partlie by a +bridge which lay within the countrie ouer the said riuer, and partlie +by swimming, and other such shift as they presentlie made. + +[Sidenote: _Togodumnus_] +The Britains hauing lost one of their rulers, namelie Togodumnus +(of whom ye haue heard before) were nothing discouraged, but rather +more egerlie set on reuenge. Plautius perceiuing their fiercenesse, +went no further, but staid and placed garrisons in steeds where need +required, to keepe those places which he had gotten, and with all +speed sent aduertisement vnto Claudius, according to that he had in +commandement, if anie vrgent necessitie should so mooue him. Claudius +therefore hauing all things before hand in a readinesse, straightwaies +vpon the receiuing of the aduertisement, departed from Rome, and came +by water vnto Ostia, and from thence vnto Massilia, and so through +France sped his iournies till he came to the side of the Ocean +sea, and then imbarking himselfe with his people, passed ouer into +Britaine, and came to his armie which abode his comming neere the +Thames side, where being ioined, they passed the riuer againe, fought +with the Britains in a pitcht field, and getting the victorie, tooke +the towne of Camelodunum (which some count to be Colchester) being the +chiefest citie apperteining vnto Cynobelinus. He reduced also +manie other people into his subiection, some by force, and some by +surrender, whereof he was called oftentimes by the name of emperour, +which was against the ordinance of the Romans: for it was not lawfull +for anie to take that name vpon him oftener than once in anie one +voiage. Moreouer, Claudius tooke from the Britains their armor +and weapons, and committed the gouernment of them vnto Plautius, +commanding him to endeuour himselfe to subdue the residue. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_] +Thus hauing brought vnder a part of Britaine, and hauing made his +abode therin not past a sixtene daies, he departed and came backe +againe to Rome with victorie in the sixt month after his setting +[Sidenote: _Suetonius_] +foorth from thence, giuing after his returne, to his sonne, the +surname of Britannicus. This warre he finished in maner as before is +said, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, which fell in the yeere of +the world 4011, after the birth of our Sauiour 44, and after the +building of Rome 797. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The diuerse opinions and variable reports of writers touching the +partile conquest of this Iland by the Romans, the death of Guiderius_. + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +There be that write, how Claudius subdued and added to the Romane +empire, the Iles of Orknie situate in the north Ocean beyond Britaine: +which might well be accomplished either by Plautius, or some other his +lieutenant: for Plautius indeed for his noble prowesse and valiant +acts atchieued in Britaine, afterwards triumphed. Titus the sonne of +Vespasian also wan no small praise for deliuering his father out of +danger in his time, being beset with a companie of Britains, which the +said Titus bare downe, and put to flight with great slaughter. Beda +following the authoritie of Suetonius, writeth breeflie of this +matter, and saith, that Claudius passing ouer into this Ile, to the +which neither before Iulius Cesar, neither after him anie stranger +durst come, within few daies receiued the most part of the countrie +into his subiection without battell or bloudshed. + +Gyldas also writing of this reuolting of the Britains, saith thus: +"When information thereof was giuen to the senate, and that hast was +made with a speedie armie to reuenge the same, there was no warlike +nauie prepared in the sea to fight valiantlie for the defense of the +countrie, no square battell, no right wing, nor anie other prouision +appointed on the shore to be seene, but the backes of the Britains +in stead of a shield are shewed to the persecutors, and their necks +readie to be cut off with the sword through cold feare running through +their bones, which stretched foorth their hands to be bound like +womanlie creatures; so that a common prouerbe followed thereof, to +wit, That the Britains were neither valiant in warre, nor faithfull in +peace: and so the Romans sleaing manie of the rebels, reseruing some, +and bringing them to bondage, that the land should not lie altogither +vntilled and desert, returned into Italie out of that land which was +void of wine and oile, leauing some of their men there for gouernors +to chastise the people, not so much with an armie of men, as with +scourge and whip, and if the matter so required, to applie the naked +sword vnto their sides: so that it might be accounted Rome and not +Britaine. And what coine either of brasse, siluer or gold there was, +the same to be stamped with the image of the emperour." Thus farre +Gildas. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +In the British historie we find other report as thus, that Claudius +at his comming aland at Porchester, besieged that towne, to the rescue +whereof came Guiderius, and giuing battell to the Romans, put them to +the woorse, till at length one Hamo, being on the Romans side, changed +his shield and armour, apparelling himselfe like a Britaine, and so +entring into the thickest prease of the British host, came at length +where the king was, and there slue him. But Aruiragus perceiuing +this mischiefe, to the end the Britains should not be discouraged +therewith, caused himselfe to be adorned with the kings cote-armor, +and other abiliments, and so as king continued the fight with such +manhood, that the Romans were put to flight. Claudius retired backe to +his ships, and Hamo to the next woods, whom Aruiragus pursued, and at +length droue him vnto the sea side, and there slue him yer he could +take the hauen which was there at hand; so that the same tooke name of +him, and was called a long time after, Hamons hauen, and at length by +[Sidenote: Hampton, why so called.] +corruption of speach it was called Hampton, and so continueth vnto +this day, commonlie called by the name of Southhampton. Thus haue you +heard how Guiderius or Guinderius (whether you will) came to his end, +which chanced (as some write) in the 28 yeere of his reigne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus the Britaine & Claudius the Romane with their armies doo +incounter, a composition concerning mariage concluded betweene them, +Claudius returneth to Rome_. + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ARUIRAGUS. _Hector Boet._] +Aruiragus the yoongest son of Kymbeline, and brother to Guinderius +(bicause the same Guinderius left no issue to succeed him) was +admitted king of Britaine in the yeere of our Lord 45, or rather 46. + +This Aruiragus, otherwise called by the Britains Meuricus or Mauus, of +[Sidenote: _Caxton_.] +Tacitus Prasutagus, is also named Armiger in the English chronicle, +by which chronicle (as appeereth) he bare himselfe right manfullie +against Claudius and his Romans in the war which they made against +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon_.] +him: in so much that when Claudius had renewed his force and woone +Porchester, and after came to besiege Winchester (in the which +Aruiragus as then was inclosed) Aruiragus assembling his power, was +readie to come foorth and giue Claudius battell: wherevpon Claudius +doubting the sequele of the thing, sent messengers vnto Aruiragus to +treat of concord, and so by composition the matter was taken vp, with +condition, that Claudius should giue his daughter Genissa in marriage +vnto Aruiragus, & Aruiragus should acknowledge to hold his kingdome of +the Romans. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulfus Cestrensis_.] +Some write that Claudius in fauour of the valiant prowesse which he +saw & found in Aruiragus, honored not onlie him with the mariage of +his daughter the said Genissa, but also to the end to make the towne +more famous where this marriage was solemnized, he therefore called +it Claudiocestria, after his name, the which in the British toong was +called before that daie Caerleon, and after Glouernia, of a duke that +ruled in Demetia that hight Glunie, but now it is called Glocester. + +Other there be that write, how Claudius being vanquished in battell by +Aruiragus, was compelled by the said Aruiragus to giue vnto him his +said daughter to wife, with condition as before is mentioned: and that +then Aruiragus was crowned king of Britaine. But Suetonius maie +[Sidenote: _Sueton._] +seeme to reprooue this part of the British historie, which in the +life of Claudius witnesseth, that he had by three wiues onlie three +daughters, that is to saie, Claudia, Antonia, and Octauia: and +further, that reputing Claudia not to be his, caused hir to be cast +downe at the doore of his wife Herculanilla, whome he had forsaken by +waie of diuorcement: & that he bestowed his daughter Antonia first +on C. Pompeius Magnus, and after on Faustus Silla, verie noble yoong +gentlemen; and Octauia he matched with Nero his wiues son. Whereby it +should appeere, that this supposed marriage betwixt Aruiragus and the +daughter of Claudius is but a feined tale. + +¶ And heere to speake my fansie also what I thinke of this Aruiragus, +and other the kings (whome Galfrid and such as haue followed him doo +register in order, to succeed one after another) I will not denie but +such persons there were, and the same happilie bearing verie great +rule in the land, but that they reigned as absolute kings ouer the +whole, or that they succeeded one after another in manner as is +auouched by the same writers, it seemeth most vnlike to be true: for +rather it maie be gessed by that, which as well Gyldas as the old +approoued Romane writers haue written, that diuerse of these kings +liued about one time, or in times greatlie differing from those times +which in our writers we find noted. As for example, Iuuenal maketh +this Aruiragus, of whom we now intreat, to reigne about Domitians +time. For my part therefore, sith this order of the British kinglie +succession in this place is more easie to be flatlie denied and +vtterlie reprooued, than either wiselie defended or trulie amended, I +will referre the reforming therof vnto those that haue perhaps seene +more than I haue, or more deepelie considered the thing, to trie out +an vndoubted truth: in the meane time, I haue thought good, both to +shew what I find in our histories, and likewise in forren writers, +to the which we thinke (namelie in this behalfe, whilest the Romans +gouerned there) we maie safelie giue most credit, doo we otherwise +neuer so much content our selues with other vaine and fond conceits. + +To proceed yet with the historie as we find it by our writers set +foorth: it is reported, that after the solemnization of this marriage, +which was doone with all honour that might be deuised, Claudius +[Sidenote: Legions of souldiers sent into Ireland.] +sent certeine legions of souldiers foorth to go into Ireland to subdue +that countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aruiragus denieth subiection to the Romans, Vespasian is sent to +represse him and his power, the Romane host is kept backe from +landing, queene Genissa pacifieth them after a sharpe conflict: & what +the Romane writers say of Vespasians being in Britaine, the end of +Aruiragus_. + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +Then did king Aruiragus ride about to view the state of his realme, +repairing cities and townes decaied by the warre of the Romans, and +saw his people gouerned with such iustice and good order, that he was +both feared and greatlie beloued: so that in tract of time he grew +verie welthie, and by reason thereof fell into pride, so that he +[Sidenote: Vespasian in Britaine. _Cornel. Tacit. in uit. Agr. lib. +3 & li. 6. Gal. Mon. Rutupium_.] +denied his subiection to the Romans. Wherevpon Claudius appointed +Vespasian with an armie to go as lieutenant into Britaine. This +iournie was to him the beginning of his advancement to that honour, +which after to him most luckilie befell. But if we shall credit our +Britaine writers, he gained not much at Aruiragus hands, for where he +would haue landed at Sandwich or Richborough, Aruiragus was readie to +resist him, so as he durst not once enter the hauen: for Aruiragus had +there such a puissant number of armed men, that the Romans were afraid +to approach the land. + +Vespasian therefore withdrew from thence, and coasting westward, +landed at Totnesse, and comming to Excester, besieged that citie: but +about the seuenth day after he had planted his siege, came Aruiragus, +and gaue him battell, in the which both the armies sustained great +losse of men, and neither part got anie aduantage of the other. On +the morrow after queene Genissa made them friends, and so the warres +ceassed for that time, by hir good mediation. + +¶ But seeing (as before I haue said) the truth of this historie maie +be greatlie mistrusted, ye shall heare what the Romane writers saie +of Vespasianus being heere in Britaine, beside that which we haue +alreadie recited out of Dion in the life of Guiderius. +[Sidenote: Vespasian. _Suetonius. Salcellicus_.] +In the daies of the emperor Claudius, through fauour of Narcissus +(one that might doo all with Claudius) the said Vespasian was sent as +coronell or lieutenant of a legion of souldiers into Germanie, and +being remooued from thence into Britaine, he fought thirtie seuerall +times with the enimies, and brought vnto the Romane obeisance two most +mightie nations, and aboue twentie townes, togither with the Ile of +Wight; and these exploits he atchiued, partlie vnder the conduct of +Aulus Plautius ruler of Britaine for the emperor Claudius, and partlie +vnder the same emperor himselfe. For as it is euident by writers of +good credit, he came first ouer into Britaine with the said Aulus +Plautius, and serued verie valiantlie vnder him, as before in place we +haue partlie touched. By Tacitus it appeareth, that he was called to +be partener in the gouernment of things in Britaine with Claudius, +and had such successe, as it appeered to what estate of honour he was +predestinate, hauing conquered nations, and taken kings prisoners. But +now to make an end with Aruiragus: when he perceiued that his force +was too weake to preuaile against the Romane empire, and that he +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +should striue but in vaine to shake the yoke of subiection from the +necks of the Britains, he made a finall peace with them in his old +age, and so continued in quiet the residue of his reigne, which he +lastlie ended by death, after he had gouerned the land by the space +[Sidenote: 73.] +of thirtie yeeres, or but eight and twentie, as some other imagine. He +died in the yeere of Grace 73, as one author affirmeth, and was buried +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +at Glocester. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ioseph of Aramathia came into Britaine and Simon Zelotes, the +antiquitie of christian religion, Britaine gouerned by Lieutenants and +treasurers of the Romane emperors, the exploits of Ostorius Scapula +and the men of Oxfordshire, he vanquisheth the Welshmen, appeaseth the +Yorkshiremen, and brideleth the rage of the Silures_. + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +In the daies of the said Aruiragus, about the yeare of Christ 53, +Ioseph of Arimathia, who buried the bodie of our sauiour, being sent +by Philip the Apostle (as Iohn Bale following the authoritie of Gildas +and other British writers reciteth) after that the Christians were +dispersed out of Gallia, came into Britaine with diuers other godlie +[Sidenote: _Polydorus_.] +christian men, & preaching the gospell there amongst the Britains, +& instructing them in the faith and lawes of Christ, conuerted manie +to the true beliefe, and baptised them in the wholsome water of +regeneration, & there continued all the residue of his life, obteining +of the king a plot of ground where to inhabit, not past a foure miles +from Wells, and there with his fellowes began to laie the first +foundation of the true and perfect religion, in which place (or neere +thereinto) was afterward erected the abbeie of Glastenburie. + +Nicephorus writeth in his second booke and fourth chapter, that one +Simon Zelotes came likewise into Britaine. And Theodoretus in his 9. +booke "De curandis Graecorum affectibus," sheweth that Paule being +released of his second imprisonment, and suffered to depart from Rome, +preached the gospell to the Britains and to other nations in the west. +The same thing in manner dooth Sophronius the patriarch of Ierusalem +witnesse, Tertullian also maie be a witnesse of the ancientnes of +the faith receiued here in Britaine, where he writing of these times +saith: Those places of the Britains, to the which the Romans could +not approch, were subiect vnto Christ, as were also the countries +of Sarmatia, Dacia, Germania, Scithia, and others. ¶ Thus it maie +appeare, that the christian religion was planted here in this land +shortlie after Christes time, although it certeinlie appeareth not who +were the first that preached the gospell to the Britains, nor whether +they were Greeks or Latins. + +Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Romane emperours in this season +[Sidenote: Treasurers or receiuers.] +gouerned this land by lieutenants and treasurers, the which were +called by the name of legats and procurators, thereby to keepe the +vnrulie inhabitants the better in order. + +[Sidenote: Aulus Plautius.] +And Aulus Plautius a noble man of Rome of the order of consuls, was +[Sidenote: Ostorius Scapula.] +sent hither as the first legat or lieutenant (in maner as before ye +haue heard) & after him Ostorius Scapula, who at his comming found the +Ile in trouble, the enimies hauing made inuasion into the countrie of +those that were friends to the Romans, the more presumptuouslie, +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus lib. 12_.] +for that they thought a new lieutenant, with an armie to him +vnacquainted and come ouer now in the beginning of winter, would not +be hastie to march foorth against them. But Ostorius vnderstanding +that by the first successe and chance of warre, feare or hope is bred +and augmented, hasted forward to encounter with them, and such as he +found abroad in the countrie he slue out right on euerie side, and +pursued such as fled, to the end they should not come togither againe. +Now for that a displeasing and a doubtfull peace was not like to bring +quietnesse either to him or to his armie, he tooke from such as he +suspected, their armour. And after this, he went about to defend +the riuers of Auon & Seuerne, with placing his souldiers in camps +fortified neere to the same. But the Oxfordshire men and other of +those parties would not suffer him to accomplish his purpose in anie +quiet sort, being a puissant kind of people, and not hitherto weakened +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12.] +by warres: for they willinglie at the first had ioined in amitie +with the Romans. The countries adjoining also being induced by their +procurement, came to them, & so they chose forth a plot of ground, +fensed with a mightie ditch, vnto the which there was no waie to enter +but one, & the same verie narrow, so as the horssemen could not haue +anie easie passage to breake in vpon them. Ostorius, although he had +no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids, marched foorth +towards the place within the which the Britains were lodged, and +assaulting them in the same, brake through into their campe, where the +Britains being impeached with their owne inclosures which they had +raised for defense of the place, knowing how that for their rebellion +they were like to find small mercie at the Romans hands, when they saw +now no waie to escape, laid about them manfullie, and shewed great +proofe of their valiant stomachs. + +In this battell, the sonne of Ostorius the lieutenant deserued the +[Sidenote: which was a certaine crowne, to be set on his head called +_ciuica corona_.] +price and commendation of preseruing a citizen out of the cruell +enimies hands. But now with this slaughter of the Oxfordshire men, +diuers of the Britains that stood doubtfull what waie to take, either +to rest in quiet, or to moue warres, were contented to be conformable +[Sidenote: Cangi.] +vnto a reasonable order of peace, in so much that Ostorius lead +his armie against the people called Cangi, who inhabited that part of +Wales now called Denbighshire, which countrie he spoiled on euerie +side, no enimie once daring to encounter him: & if anie of them +aduentured priuilie to set vpon those which they found behind, or on +the outsids of his armie, they were cut short yer they could escape +out of danger. Wherevpon he marched straight to their campe and giuing +them battell, vanquished them: and vsing the victorie as reason moued +him, he lead his armie against those that inhabited the inner parts +of Wales, spoiling the countrie on euerie side. And thus sharplie +pursuing the rebels, he approched neere vnto the sea side, which lieth +ouer against Ireland. While this Romane capteine was thus occupied, +he was called backe by the rebellion of the Yorkshire men, whome +forthwith vpon his comming vnto them, he appeased, punishing the first +authors of that tumult with death. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus. lib_. 12] +In the meane time, the people called Silures, being a verie fierce +kind of men, and valiant, prepared to make warre against the Romans, +for they might not be bowed neither with roughnesse, nor yet with +any courteous handling, so that they were to be tamed by an armie of +legionarie souldiers to be brought among them. + +Therefore to restraine the furious rage of those people and their +neighbours, Ostorious peopled a towne neere to their borders, called +Camelodunum with certeine bands of old souldiers, there to inhabit +with their wiues and children, according to such maner as was vsed in +like cases of placing naturall Romans in anie towne or citie, for the +more suertie and defense of the same. Here also was a temple builded +in the honor of Claudius the emperour, where were two images erected, +one of the goddesse Victoria, and an other of Claudius himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The coniectures of writers touching the situation of Camelodunum +supposed to be Colchester, of the Silures a people spoken of in the +former chapter, a foughten field betwene Caratacus the British prince, +and Ostorius the Romaine, in the confines of Shropshire; the Britains +go miserablie to wracke, Caratacus is deliuered to the Romans, his +wife and daughter are taken prisoners, his brethren yeeld themselues +to their enimies_. + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +But now there resteth a great doubt among writers, where this citie +or towne called Camelodunum did stand, of some (and not without good +ground of probable coniectures gathered vpon the aduised consideration +of the circumstances of that which in old authors is found written +[Sidenote: Camelodunum, Colchester.] +of this place) it is thought to be Colchester. But verelie by this +place of Tacitus it maie rather seeme to be some other towne, situat +more westward than Colchester, sith a colonie of Romane souldiers were +planted there to be at hand, for the repressing of the vnquiet +[Sidenote: Silures where they inhabited.] +Silures, which by consent of most writers inhabited in Southwales, or +neere the Welsh marshes. + +There was a castell of great fame in times past that hight Camaletum, +or in British Caermalet, which stood in the marshes of Summersetshire; +but sith there is none that hath so written before this time, I will +not saie that happilie some error hath growne by mistaking the name of +Camelodunum for this Camaletum, by such as haue copied out the booke +of Cornelius Tacitus; and yet so it might be doon by such as found it +short or vnperfectlie written, namelie, by such strangers or others, +to whom onelie the name of Camelodunum was onelie knowne, and +Camaletum peraduenture neuer seene nor heard of. As for example, +an Englishman that hath heard of Waterford in Ireland, and not of +Wexford, might in taking foorth a copie of some writing easilie commit +a fault in noting the one for the other. We find in Ptolomie Camedolon +to be a citie belonging to the Trinobants, and he maketh mention also +of Camelodunum, but Humfrey Lhoyd thinketh that he meaneth all one +citie. + +Notwithstanding Polydor Virgil is of a contrarie opinion, supposing +the one to be Colchester in deed, and the other that is Camelodunum +to be Doncaster or Pontfret. Leland esteeming it to be certeinelie +Colchester taketh the Iceni men also to be the Northfolke men. But +howsoeuer we shall take this place of Tacitus, it is euident inough +that Camelodunum stood not farre from the Thames. And therefore to +seeke it with Hector Boetius in Scotland, or with Polydor Virgil so +far as Doncaster or Pontfret, it maie be thought a plaine error. + +But to leaue each man to his owne iudgement in a matter so doubtfull, +we will proceed with the historie as touching the warres betwixt the +Romans and the Silurians, against whome (trusting not onelie vpon +their owne manhood, but also vpon the high prowesse & valiancie of +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacitus lib. Anna. 12_.] +Caratacus) Ostorius set forward. Caratacus excelled in fame aboue all +other the princes of Britaine, aduanced thereto by manie doubtfull +aduentures and manie prosperous exploits, which in his time he had +atchiued: but as he was in policie and aduantage of place better +prouided than the Romans: so in power of souldiers he was ouermatched. +[Sidenote: _Hu. Lhoyd_.] +And therefore he remoued the battell into the parts of that +countrie where the Ordouices inhabited, which are thought to haue +dwelled in the borders of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, which +people together with other that misliked of the Romane gouernment, +he ioined in one, and chose a plot of ground for his aduantage, +determining there to trie the vttermost hazard of battell. + +The place which he thus chose was such, as the entries, the backwaies, +and the whole situation thereof made for the Britains aduantage, and +cleane contrarie to the Romans, as inclosed among high hils. And if +there were anie easie passage to enter it vpon anie side, the same was +shut vp with mightie huge stones in manner of a rampire, and afore it +there ran a riuer without anie certeine foord to passe ouer it. This +place is supposed to lie in the confines of Shropshire aloft vpon the +top of an high hill there, enuironed with a triple rampire and ditch +of great depth, hauing three entries into it, not directlie one +against an other, but aslope. It is also (they saie) compassed about +with two riuers, to wit, on the left hand with the riuer called Clun, +& on the right hand with an other called Teuid. On three sides thereof +the clime is verie steepe and headlong, and no waie easie to come or +reach vnto it, but onelie one. + +Caratac hauing thus fortified himselfe within this place, and brought +his armie into it: to encourage his people, he exhorted them to shew +their manhood, affirming that to be the day, and that armie to be the +same wherein should appeare the beginning either of libertie then to +be recouered, or else of perpetuall bondage for euer to be susteined. +He rehersed also speciallie by name those their elders, which had +resisted Iulius Cesar, by whose high valiancie they liued free from +the bloudie thraldome and tributes of the Romans, and enioied their +wiues and children safe and vndefiled. Thus discoursing of manie +things with them, in such hope of assured victorie, that they began to +raise their cries, each one for him selfe, declaring that he was bound +by the dutie he owght to the gods of his countrie, not to shrinke +for feare of anie wounds or hurts that might chance vnto them by the +enimies weapon. + +This cheerefulnesse of the Britains greatlie astonished the Romane +lieutenant. The hideous course also of the riuer before his face, the +fortifications and craggie higth of the hils, all set full of enimies +readie to beat him backe, put him in great feare: for nothing he +saw afore him, but that which seemed dreadfull to those that should +assaile. But the souldiers yet seemed to be verie desirous of battell, +requesting him to bring them to it, protesting that nothing was +able to resist the force of noble prowes. Herewith the capteins and +tribunes discoursing the like, pricked forward the earnest willes +which their souldiers had to fight. + +Ostorius perceiuing such courage and readie wils in the men of warre, +as well souldiers as capteins, began to bestirre himselfe, and left +nothing vndone that might serue to set forward their earnest desire to +battell. And hauing aduisedlie considered which waies were hard and +[Sidenote: Cornelius Tacitus Annal. lib. 12.] +vnpossible to be entered vpon, and which were most easie for his +people to find passage by, he led them foorth, being most earnestlie +bent to cope with the enimie. + +Now hauing passed the water without any great difficultie, but comming +to the rampire, he lost manie of his people, so long as the fight was +continued with shot and casting of darts: but after that the Romans +couering themselues with their targets, came once close togither, and +approched vnder the rampire, they remooued away the stones which the +Britains had roughlie couched togither, and so came to ioine with them +at handblowes. The Britains being vnarmed, and not able to abide the +force of the armed men, withdrew to the top of the hilles, but as well +their enimies that were light armed, as the other with heauie armour, +followed and brake in among them, so as the Britains could not turne +them anie way to escape, for the light armed men with shot a farre +off, and the heauie armed with weapons at hand, sought to make +slaughter and wracke of them on ech side, so that this was a verie +dolefull day to the Britains. + +The wife and daughter of Caratake were taken prisoners, and his +brethren also yeelded themselues. He himselfe escaped, and committing +his person vnto the assurance & trust of Cartemandua queene of the +Brigants, was by hir deliuered into the hands of the Romans. All this +happened about nine yeres after the warres in Britaine first began. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The name of Caratacus famous in Italie, the maner how he and his +alies were led captiues by the Romans in triumph, his courage and +manlie speech to the emperour Claudius, whereby he and his obteine +mercie and pardon: the Britains vndertake a new reuenge against the +Romans; the cause why the Silures hated the Romans, Ostorius Scapula +dieth, the citie of Chester builded_. + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12_. Carataks name renowmed.] +The name of Caratacus being brought out of the Iles was alreadie +spred ouer the prouinces adioining, and began now to grow famous +through Italie. Men therefore were desirous to see what maner of man +he was that had so manie yeeres set at naught the puissant force of +the empire. For in Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of, +insomuch that the emperour whilest he went about to preferre his owne +honour, aduanced the glorie of him also that was vanquished: for +the people were called foorth as vnto some great notable sight or +spectacle. The pretorian bands stood in order of battell armed in the +field that laie before their lodgings, through which field Caratake +shuld come. Then passed by the traine of his friends and seruants; and +such armor, riches, iewels, and other things as had beene gotten in +those warres, were borne forward, and openlie shewed, that all men +might behold the same. + +After these followed his brethren, wife, and daughters: and last of +all came Caratacus himselfe, whose countenance was nothing like to +theirs that went afore him. For whereas they fearing punishment for +their rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercie, he neither +by countenance nor words shewd anie token of a discouraged mind, but +being presented before the emperour Claudius sitting in his tribunall +seat, he vttered this speach as followeth. + +"If there had beene in me so much moderation in time of prosperitie, +[Sidenote: _* Sic_.] +as there was nobilitie of birth and puissance, I had come to this +citie rather as a friend than as a capteine *: neither should I haue +thought scorne, being borne of most noble parents, and ruling ouer +many people, to haue accepted peace by waie of ioining with you in +league. My present estate as it is to me reprochfull, so to you it +is honorable. I had at commandement, horsses, men, armor, and great +riches; what maruell is it if I were loth to forgo the same? For if +you shall looke to gouerne all men, it must needs follow that all men +must be your slaues. If I had at the first yeelded my selfe, neither +my power nor your glorie had beene set foorth to the world, & vpon +mine execution I should straight haue beene forgotten. But if you +now grant me life, I shall be a witnesse for euer of your mercifull +clemencie." + +The emperour with these words being pacified, granted life both to +Caratake, and also to his wife and brethren, who being loosed from +their bands, went also to the place where the empresse Agrippina sat +(not farre off) in a chaire of estate, whom they reuerenced with the +like praise and thanks as they had doone before to the emperour. After +this the senat was called togither, who discoursed of manie things +touching this honourable victorie atchiued by the taking of Caratake, +esteeming the same no lesse glorious, than when P. Scipio shewed in +[Sidenote: Siphax. L. Paulus.] +triumph Siphax king of the Numidians, or L. Paulus the Macedonian +king Perses, or other Romane capteins anie such king whom they had +vanquished. + +Heerevpon it was determined, that Ostorius should enter the citie of +Rome with triumph like a conqueror, for such prosperous successe as +hitherto had followed him: but afterwards his proceedings were not so +luckie, either for that after Caratake was remooued out of the waie, +or bicause the Romans (as though the warre had beene finished) looked +negligentlie to themselues, either else for that the Britains taking +compassion of the miserable state of Caratake, being so worthie a +prince, through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie, were more +earnestlie set to reuenge his quarrell. Heerevpon they incompassed the +maister of the campe, and those legionarie bands of souldiers which +were left amongst the Silures to fortifie a place there for the armie +to lodge in: and if succour had not come out of the next towns and +castels, the Romans had beene destroied by siege. The head capteine +yet, and eight centurions, and euerie one else of the companies being +most forward, were slaine. Shortlie after they set vpon the Romane +forragers, and put them to flight, and also such companies of +horssemen as were appointed to gard them. Heerevpon Ostorius set +foorth certeine bands of light horssemen, but neither could he staie +the flight by that meanes, till finallie the legions entred the +battell, by whose force they were staid, and at length the Romans +obteined the better: but the Britains escaped by flight without great +losse, by reason the daie was spent. + +After this, manie bickerings chanced betwixt the Britains and Romans, +& oftentimes they wrought their feats more like the trade of them that +vse to rob by the high waies, than of those that make open warre, +taking their enimies at some aduantage in woods and bogs, as hap or +force ministred occasion vpon malice conceiued, or in hope of prey, +sometimes by commandement, and sometimes without either commandement +or knowledge of capteine or officer. + +At one time the Britains surprised two bands of footmen that were with +the Romans in aid, and sent foorth to forreie abroad vnaduisedlie, +through couetousnesse of the capteins. This feat was atchiued by the +Silures also, the which in bestowing prisoners and part of the spoile +vpon other of their neighbours, procured them likewise to rebell +against the Romans, and to take part with them. The Silures were the +more earnestlie set against the Romans, by occasion of words which the +emperor Claudius had vttered in their disfauour, as thus: that euen +as the Sicambres were destroied and remooued into Gallia, so likewise +must the Silures be dealt with, and the whole nation of them +extinguished. These words being blowne abroad, and knowne ouer all, +caused the Silures to conceiue a woonderfull hatred against the +Romans, so that they were fullie bent, either to reteine their +libertie, or to die in defense thereof vpon the enimies swoord. + +In the meane time Ostorius Scapula departed this life, a right noble +warrior, and one who by litle & litle insuing the steps of Aulus +Plautius his predecessor, did what he could to bring the Ile into the +forme of a prouince, which in part he accomplished. + +[Sidenote: W.H. in his chronologie.] +There be some led by coniecture grounded vpon good aduised +considerations, that suppose this Ostorius Scapula began to build the +citie of Chester after the ouerthrow of Caratacus: for in those parties +he fortified sundrie holds, and placed a number of old souldiers either +there in that selfe place, or in some other neere therevnto by waie of +a colonie. And for somuch (saie they) as we read of none other of anie +name thereabouts, it is to be thought that he planted the same in Chester, +where his successors did afterwards vse to harbour their legions for the +winter season, and in time of rest from iournies which they haue to make +against their common enimies. + +In deed it is a common opinion among the people there vnto this daie, +that the Romans built those vaults or tauerns (which in that citie are +vnder the ground) with some part of the castell. And verelie as +[Sidenote: _Ran. Hig._ alias _Cestrensis_.] +Ranulfe Higden saith, a man that shall view and well consider those +buildings, maie thinke the same to be the woorke of Romans rather than +of anie other people. That the Romane legions did make their abode +there, no man seene in antiquities can doubt thereof, for the ancient +name _Caer leon ardour deuy_, that is, The citie of legions vpon the +water of Dee, proueth it sufficientlie enough. + +[Sidenote: Corn. Tacit.] +But to returne vnto Ostorius Scapula, we find in Corn. Tacitus, that +during his time of being lieutenant in this Ile, there were certeine +[Sidenote: Cogidune a king in Britane.] +cities giuen vnto one Cogidune a king of the Britains, who continued +faithfull to the Romans vnto the daies of the remembrance of men +liuing in the time of the said Cornelius Tacitus, who liued and wrote +in the emperor Domitianus time. This was doone after an old receiued +custom of the people of Rome, to haue both subiects and kings vnder +their rule and dominion, as who so shall note the acts and deeds of +the Roman emperours from C. Iulius Cesar (who chased Pompeie out of +Italie, and was the first that obteined the Romane empire to +himselfe; of whom also the princes and emperours succeeding him were +called Cesars) to Octauian, Tiberius, Caligula, &c: maie easilie marke +and obserue. For they were a people of singular magnanimitie, of an +ambitious spirit, greedie of honour and renowme, and not vnaptlie +termed "Romani rerum domini, &c." + + * * * * * + + + + +_ A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the +trecherie and lecherie of queene Cartimanda, Venutius keepeth the +kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what meanes their confines in this +Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others touching the +Silures, Brigants, and Nouants notified, the Britains giue the Romans +a shamefull ouerthrow_. + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: A. Didius lieutenant.] +After the deceasse of Ostorius Scapula, one A. Didius was sent to +supplie his roome, but yer he could come, things were brought out of +order, and the Britains had vanquished the legion whereof Manlius +Valens had the conduct: this victorie was set foorth by the Britains +to the vttermost, that with the bruit thereof they might strike a +feare into the lieutenants hart, now vpon his first comming ouer. And +he himselfe reported it by letters to the emperour after the largest +manner, to the end that if he appeased the matter, he might win the +more praise; or if he were put to the woorst, and should not preuaile, +that then his excuse might seeme the more reasonable and woorthie of +pardon. The Silures were they that had atchiued this victorie, and +kept a fowle stur ouer all the countries about them, till by the +comming of Didius against them, they were driuen backe and repelled. + +But heerewith began trouble to be raised in another part: for after +[Sidenote: Venutius ruler of the Iugants.] +that Caratac was taken, the chiefest and most skillfull capteine +which the Britains had, was one Venutius, a ruler of the people named +Iugants, a man that remained a long time faithfull to the Romans, and +[Sidenote: Cartimanda.] +by their power was defended from his enimies, who had married with +Cartimanda queene of the Brigants or Yorkeshire men. This Cartimanda +(as ye haue heard) had deliuered Catarac into the Romans hands, +thereby ministring matter for the emperour Claudius to triumph, by +which pleasure shewed to the Romans, she increased thorough their +friendship in power and wealth, whereof followed riotous lust to +satisfie hir wanton appetite, so as she falling at square with hir +[Sidenote: Vellocatus.] +husband, married Vellocatus, one of his esquires, to whom she gaue hir +kingdome, and so dishonoured hir selfe. Heerevpon insued cruell warre, +in so much that in the end Venutius became enimie also to the Romans. +But first they tugged togither betwixt themselues, & the queene by +a craftie policie found meanes to catch the brother and coosens of +Venutius, but hir enimies nothing therewith discouraged, but kindled +the more in wrath against hir, ceassed not to go forward with their +purpose. + +Manie of the Brigants disdaining to be subiect vnto a womans rule +that had so reiected hir husband, reuolted vnto Venutius: but yet the +queenes sensuall lust mixed with crueltie, mainteined the adulterer. +Venutius therefore calling to him such aid as he could get, and +strengthened now by the reuolting of the Brigants, brought Cartimanda +to such a narrow point, that she was in great danger to fall into the +hands of hir enimies: which the Romans forseeing, vpon suit made, sent +certeine bands of horssemen and footmen to helpe hir. They had diuerse +incounters with the enimies at the first, with doubtfull successe: +[Sidenote: Venutius keepeth the kingdome in despite of the Romans.] +but at length they preuailed, and so deliuered the queene out of +perill, but the kingdome remained to Venutius: against whom the Romans +were constreined still to mainteine warre. + +About the same time, the legion also which Cesius Nasica led, got the +vpper hand of those Britains against whom he was sent. For Didius +being aged, and by victories past inough renowmed, thought it +sufficient for him to make warre by his capteins, so to staie and +keepe off the enimie. Certeine castels and holds in deed he caused to +be built and fortified, further within the countrie than had beene +afore attempted by anie of his predecessors, and so thereby were the +confines of the Romans in this Ile somewhat inlarged. Thus haue ye +heard with what successe the Britains mainteined warre in defense of +their libertie against the Romans, whilest Claudius ruled the empire +(according to the report of the Romane writers.) + +[Sidenote: The error of _Hector Boetius_.] +¶ But here you must note, that Hector Boetius, following the +authoritie of one Veremond a Spaniard, of Cornelius Hibernicus, & also +of Campbell, remooueth the Silures, Brigants, and Nouants, so farre +northward, that he maketh them inhabitants of those countries which +the Scots haue now in possession, and were euen then inhabited (as he +affirmeth) partlie by the Scots, and partlie by the Picts (as in the +Scotish historie ye may see more at large) so that what notable feat +soeuer was atchiued by the old Britains against the Romans, the +same by him is ascribed to the Scots and Picts throughout his whole +historie, whereas (in verie truth) forsomuch as may be gathered by +coniecture und presumption of that which is left in writing by ancient +authors, the Brigants inhabited Yorkshire, the Silures Wales and the +Marches, and the Nouants the countrie of Cumberland. + +But forsomuch as he hath diligentlie gathered in what maner the warres +were mainteined by those people against the Romans, and what valiant +exploits were taken in hand and finished thorough their stoutnesse +and valiancie, ye may there read the same, and iudge at your pleasure +[Sidenote: A note to be considered in the reading of _Hect. Boetius_.] +what people they were whome he so much praiseth: aduertising you +hereof by the way, that as we haue before expressed, none of the +Romane writers mentioneth any thing of the Scots, nor once nameth +them, till the Romane empire began to decay, about the time of the +emperor Constantius, father of Constantine the great: so that if they +had beene in this Ile then so famous both in peace and warre, as they +are reported by the same Boetius; maruell might it seeme, that the +Romane writers would so passe them ouer with silence. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. annal._ 15.] +After the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome, Claudius +Domitianus Nero succeeded him in gouernement of the empire. In the +seuenth yeere of whose reigne, which was after the incarnation 53, +the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow in Britaine, where neither the +lieutenant A. Didius Gallus (whom in this place Cornelius Tacitus +calleth Auitus) could during the time of his rule doo no more but +hold that which was alreadie gotten, beside the building of certeine +castels (as before ye haue heard) neither his successor Verannius, +beating and forreieng the woods, could atchiue anie further +enterprise, for he was by death preuented, so as he could not proceed +forward with his purpose touching the warres which he had ment to haue +folowed, whose last words (in his testament expressed) detected him +of manifest ambition: for adding manie things by way of flatterie to +content Neros mind, he wished to haue liued but two yeeres longer, in +which space he might haue subdued prouinces vnto his dominion, +meaning therby the whole Ile of Britaine. But this was a Romans brag, +sauouring rather of ambition than of truth or likelihood. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The gouernment of P. Suetonius in this Iland, he inuadeth Anglesey, +and winneth it, a strange kind of women, of the Druides, the Britains +lament their miserie and seruitude, and take aduise by weapon to +redresse it against the Romans their enimies_. + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: P. Suetonius lieutenant.] +But now when this great losse chanced to the Romans Paulinus +Suetonius did gouerne here as lieutenant, a man most plentifullie +furnished with all gifts of fortune and vertue, and therewith a right +skilfull warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of +[Sidenote: Anglesey inuaded.] +the Britains as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a +countrie full of inhabitants, and a place of refuge for all outlawes +and rebels. He builded certeine brigantins with flat keeles to serue +for the ebbes and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie +in the straits which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in +those vessels, the horssemen following by the foords, and swimming +when they came into the deepe, got likewise to the shore, where stood +in order of battell and huge number of armed men close togither, redie +to beat backe the Romans, and to staie them from comming to land. +[Sidenote: A strange maner of women.] +Amongst the men, a number of women were also running vp and downe +as they had beene out of their wits, in garments like to wild roges, +with their haire hanging downe about their shoulders, and bearing +firebrands in their hands. There was also a companie of their priests +[Sidenote: The Druids.] +or philosophers called Druides, who with stretched forth hands +towards heauen, thundered out curssings against the Romans in most +bitter wise. + +The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that +(as men benummed of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to +be wounded and slaine like senselesse creatures, till by the calling +vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other in no wise to +feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder +their ensignes, bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with +their owne fire smooldered and burnt them to ashes. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey won by the Romans.] +To conclude, the Romane lieutenant got possession of the whole Ile, +wherein he placed garisons of men of warre to keepe the people there +in subiection. He also caused their woods to be cut downe, that +[Sidenote: Woods cut downe.] +were consecrated to their gods, within the which they were accustomed +to sacrifice sush as they tooke prisoners, and by the view of their +intrailes, in dismembring them, to learne of their gods some oracles +and such other things as should come to passe. + +But now in the meane time, whilest Paulinus was abroad about this +enterprise, the Britains began to conferre togither of they great and +importable miseries, of their grieuous state of seruitude, of their +iniuries and wrongs, which they dailie susteined: how that by +sufferance they profited nothing, but still were oppressed with more +[Sidenote: Lieutenant & procurator.] +heauie burthens. Ech countrie in times past had onelie one king +to rule them: now had they two, the lieutenant by his capteins and +souldiers spilling their bloud, and the procurator or receiuer (as we +may call him) bereauing them of their goods and substance. The concord +or discord betwixt those that were appointed to rule ouer them, was +all alike hurtfull vnto the subiects, the lieutenant oppressing them +by his capteins and men of warre, and the procurator or receiuer +by force and reprochfull demeanours, polling them by insufferable +exactions. + +There was nothing free from the couetous extortion and filthie +concupiscence of these vnsatiable persons, for in these daies (say +they) the greatest spoiler is the valiantest man, and most commonlie +our houses are robbed and ransacked by a sort of cowardlie raskals +that haue no knowledge of anie warlike feats at all. Our children are +taken from us, we are forced to go to the musters, and are set foorth +to serue in forren parties, as those that are ignorant which way to +spend our liues in the quarell of our owne countrie. What a number of +souldiers haue beene transported ouer from hence to serue in other +lands, if a iust account were taken thereof: The Germans by manhood +haue cast (said they) from their shoulders the heauie yoke of bondage, +and are not defended as we are with the maine Ocean sea, but onelie +with a riuer. Where the Britains haue their countrie, their wiues and +parents, as iust causes of war to fight for: the Romans haue none at +all, but a couetous desire to gaine by rapine, and to satisfie their +excessiue lusts. + +They might easilie be compelled to depart the countrie, as Iulius +Cesar was, if the Britains would shew some proofe of the noble +prowesse that was euidentlie found in their woorthie ancestors, and +not shrinke or quaile in courage for the misaduenture that should +happilie chance by fighting one battell or two. Greatest force +and constancie alwaies remaineth with those that seek to deliuer +themselues from miserie. Now appeared it that the gods had taken some +pitie of the poore Britains, who by their diuine power did withhold +the chiefe capteine of the Romans with his armie, as it were banished +[Sidenote: Occasion not be neglected.] +in an other Iland. Let vs then (said they) take the oportunitie +of time and good occasion offered, and foorthwith proceed in our +businesse: for lesse danger it is manfullie to aduenture, and to go +forward with our purpose, than to be bewraied and taken in these our +consultations. Thus hauing taken aduise togither, and wholie misliking +their present state, they determined to take weapon in hand, and so by +force to seeke for reformation. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A catalog of causes or greeuances inciting the Britains to rebell +against the Romans, wherein is shewed what iniuries they susteined: +of diuers strange wonders and apparitions; the chiefe cause of the +Britains insurging against the Romans, they admitted as well women +as men to publike gouernement. A description of queene Voadicia, hir +personage and maner of attire_. + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. lib. 14_.] +The Britains indeed were occasioned to doo as they purposed, +thorough manie euill parts practised by the Romans greatlie to their +griefs and displeasures. For whereas Prasutagus (who is supposed +[Sidenote: Prasutagus.] +by Hector Boetius to be Aruiragus, king of the people called +[Sidenote: The Oxfordshire and Glocestershire men.] +Iceni) had made the emperour and two of his owne daughters his heires, +supposing by that meane to haue his kingdome and familie preserued +from all iniurie: it happened quite contrarie to that his expectation. +For his kingdome was spoiled by the Romane capteins, his wife +[Sidenote: Voadicia alias Bunduica.] +named Voadicia beaten by the souldiers, his daughters rauished, the +peeres of the realme bereft of their goods, and the kings friends made +and reputed as bondslaues. + +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +There was also an other great cause that stirred the Britains to +this rebellion, which was the confiscating of their goods: for +whereas Claudius himselfe had pardoned the chiefest persons of the +forfeitures, Decianus Catus the procurator of that Ile mainteined that +[Sidenote: Vsurie.] +the same ought to be renewed againe. To this an other griefe was +added, that where Seneca had lent to the nobilitie of the Ile, foure +hundred sestercies, ech hundred being 500000 pounds starling, or +thereabout, vpon great interest, he required the whole summe togither +by great rigor and violence, although he forced them at the first to +take this monie to vsurie. + +Also such old souldiers as were placed by waie of a colonie, to +inhabit the towne of Camelodunum, expelled manie of the Britains out +of their houses, droue them out of their possessions and lands, and +accounted the Britains as slaues, and as though they had bene captiue +prisoners or bondmen. Besides this, the temple there that was built in +honor of Claudius, as an altar of eternall rule and gouernment, was +serued with preests, the which vnder colour of religion did spoile, +consume and deuoure the goods of all men. + +Moreouer, such strange sights and woonders as chanced about the same +time, pricked the Britains the rather forward. For the image of the +goddesse Victoria in the temple at Camelodunum, slipping downe, turned +hir backe (as who should saie she gaue place as vanquished) to the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +enimies. Also in the hall where the courts of iustice were kept, there +was a maruellous great noise heard, with much laughing, and a sturre +[Sidenote: Strange woonders.] +in the theatre, with great weeping and lamentable howling, at such +time as it was certeinlie knowne that there was no creature there +to make anie noise. The sea at a spring tide appeared of a bloudie +colour, and when the tide was gone backe, there were seene on the +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +sands the shapes & figures of mens bodies. Women also as rauished +of their wits, and being as it were in a furie, prophesied that +destruction was at hand, so that the Britains were put greatlie in +hope, and the Romans in feare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +But those things, whether they chanced by the craft of man, or +illusion of the diuell; or whether they proceeded of some naturall +cause, which the common people oftentimes taketh superstitiouslie, in +place of strange woonders signifieng things to follow, we would +let passe, least we might be thought to offend religion; the which +teaching all things to be doone by the prouidence of God, despiseth +the vaine predictions of haps to come, if the order of an historie +(saith Polydor Virgil) would so permit, the which requireth all things +to be written in maner as they fall out and come to passe. + +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tac. li. 15_. Voadicia by Dion Cassius is called +Bunuica.] +But the Britains were chiefelie mooued to rebellion by the iust +complaint of Voadicia, declaring how vnseemelie she had beene vsed +and intreated at the hands of the Romans: and because she was most +earnestlie bent to seeke reuenge of their iniuries, and hated the name +of the Romans most of all other, they chose hir to be capteine (for +[Sidenote: The ancient Britains admitted as well women as men to +publike gouernment.] +they in rule and gouvernment made no difference then of sex, +whether they committed the same to man or woman) and so by a generall +conspiracie, the more part of the people hauing also allured the Essex +men vnto rebellion, rose and assembled themselues togither to make +warre against the Romans. There were of them a hundred and twentie +thousand got togither in one armie vnder the leading of the said +Voadicia, or Bunduica (as some name hir.) + +She therefore to encourage hir people against the enimies, mounted vp +into an high place raised vp of turfes & sods made for the nonce, out +of the which she made a long & verie pithie oration. Hir mightie tall +personage, comelie shape, seuere countenance, and sharpe voice, with +hir long and yellow tresses of heare reaching downe to hir thighes, +hir braue and gorgeous apparell also caused the people to haue hir in +great reuerence. She ware a chaine of gold, great and verie massie, +and was clad in a lose kirtle of sundrie colours, and aloft therevpon +she had a thicke Irish mantell: hereto in hir hand (as hir custome +was) she bare a speare, to shew hirselfe the more dreadfull. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The oration of queene Voadicia full of prudence and spirit to the +Britains, for their encouragement against the Romans, wherein she +rippeth vp the vile seruitude and shamefull wrongs which their enimies +inflicted vpon them, with other matters verie motiue, both concerning +themselues and their enimies, hir supplication and praier for +victorie_. + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now Voadicia being prepared (as you heare) set foorth with such +maiestie, that she greatlie incouraged the Britains; vnto whome for +their better animating and emboldening, she vttered this gallant +oration in manner and forme following. + +[Sidenote: The oration of Voadicia.] +"I doo suppose (my louers and friends) that there is no man here +but dooth well vnderstand how much libertie and freedome is to be +preferred before thraldome and bondage. But if there haue bene anie +of you so deceiued with the Romane persuasions, that ye did not for +a time see a difference betweene them, and iudged whether of both is +most to be desired: now I hope that hauing tried what it is to be +vnder both, ye will with me reforme your iudgement, and by the harmes +alreadie taken, acknowledge your ouersight, and forsake your former +error. Againe, in that a number of you haue rashlie preferred an +externall souereigntie before the customes and lawes of your owne +countrie, you doo at this time (I doubt not) perfectlie vnderstand how +much free pouertie is to be preferred before great riches, wherevnto +seruitude is annexed; and much wealth in respect of captiuitie vnder +forren magistrats, wherevpon slauerie attendeth. For what thing (I +beseech you) can there be so vile & grieuous vnto the nature of man, +that hath not happened vnto vs, sithens the time that the Romans haue +bene acquainted with this Iland? + +"Are we not all in manner bereaued of our riches & possessions? Doo +not we (beside other things that we giue, and the land that we till +for their onelie profit) paie them all kinds of tributs, yea for our +owne carcases? How much better is it to be once aloft and fortunate in +deed, than vnder the forged and false title of libertie, continuallie +to paie for our redemption a freedome? How much is it more commendable +to lose our liues in defense of our countrie, than to carie about not +so much as our heads toll free, but dailie oppressed & laden with +innumerable exactions? But to what end doo I remember and speake of +these things, since they will not suffer by death to become free? For +what and how much we paie for them that are dead, there is not one +here but he dooth well vnderstand. Among other nations such as are +brought into seruitude, are alwaies by death discharged of their +bondage: onelie to the Romans the dead doo still liue, and all to +increaes their commoditie and gaine. + +"If anie of vs be without monie (as I know not well how and which way +we should come by anie) then are we left naked, & spoiled of that +which remaineth in our houses, & we our selues as men left desolate & +dead. How shall we looke for better dealing at their hands hereafter, +that in the beginning deale so vncourteouslie with vs: since there is +no man that taketh so much as a wild beast, but at the first he will +cherish it, and with some gentlenesse win it to familiaritie? But we +ourselues (to saie the trueth) are authors of our owne mischiefe, +which suffered them at the first to set foot within our Iland, and did +not by and by driue them backe as we did Cesar, or slue them with our +swords when they were yet farre off, and that the aduenturing hither +was dangerous: as we did sometime to Augustus and Caligula. + +"We therefore that inhabit this Iland, which for the quantitie thereof +maie well be called a maine, although it be inuironed about with the +Ocean sea, diuiding vs from other nations, so that we seeme to liue +vpon an other earth, & vnder a seuerall heauen: we, euen we (I saie) +whose name hath beene long kept hid from the wisest of them all, are +now contemned and troden vnder foot, of them who studie nothings +else but how to become lords & haue rule of other men. Wherefore my +welbeloued citizens, friendes, and kinsfolkes (for I thinke we are all +of kin, since we were borne and dwell in this Ile, and haue one name +common to vs all) let vs now, euen now (I saie, because we haue not +doone it heretofore, and whilest the remembrance of our ancient +libertie remaineth) sticke togither, and performe that thing which +dooth perteine to valiant and hardie courages, to the end we maie +inioie, not onelie the name of libertie, but also freedome it selfe, +and thereby leaue our force and valiant acts for an example to our +posteritie: for if we which haue beene liberallie and in honest maner +brought vp, should vtterlie forget our pristinate felicitie: what may +we hope for in those that shall suceed vs, and are like to be brought +vp in miserie and thraldome? + +"I doo not make rehearsall of these things vnfo you, to the end I +would prouoke you to mislike of this present estate of things (for +well I know you abhorre it sufficientlie alreadie) neither to put you +in feare of those things that are likelie to fall hereafter (because +you doo feare and see them verie well before hand) but to the end I +maie giue you heartie thankes and woorthie commendations, for that +of your owne accord and meanes you determine so well to prouide for +things necessarie (thereby to helpe both me and your selues with +willing minds) as men that are nothing in doubt of all the Romane +puissance. + +"If you consider the number of your enimies, it is not greater than +yours: if you regard their strength, they are no stronger than you: +and all this dooth easilie appeere by the bassinets, habergeons, & +greiues wherewith you be armed; and also by the walls, ditches and +trenches that you haue made for your own defense, to keepe off their +excursions, who had rather fight with vs a farre off, than cope & +deale with vs at hand strokes, as our custome of the warres and +martiall discipline dooth require. Wherefore we doo so farre exceed +them in force, that in mine opinion, our armie is more strong than +stone walls, and one of our targets woorth all the armour that they +doo beare vpon them: by meanes whereof, if the victorie be ours, we +shall soone make them captiues: or if we lose the field, we shall +easilie escape the danger. + +"Furthermore, if after the flight we shall indeuour to meet anie +where, we haue the marishes heere beneath to hide vs in, and the hils +round about to keepe them off, so that by no meanes they shall haue +their purpose of vs, whereas they being ouercharged with heavie +armour, shall neither be able to follow, if we flee; nor escape out of +our danger, if they be put to flight: if they happen to breake out at +anie time as desirous to make a rode, they returne by and by to their +appointed places, where we maie take them as birds alreadie in cage. +In all which things, as they are farre inferior to vs, so most of all +in this, that they can not indure hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and +sunneshine, as we can doo. + +"In their houses also and tents, they make much account of their baked +meates, wine, oile, and abroad of the shadow, that if anie of these +doo faile them, they either die foorthwith, or else in time they +languish and consume: whereas to vs euerie hearbe and root is meat, +euerie iuice an oile, all water pleasant wine, and euerie tree an +house. Beside this, there is no place of the land vnknowne to vs, +neither yet vnfriendlie to succour vs at need; whereas to the Romans +they are for the most part vnknowne and altogither dangerous, if they +should stand in need: we can with ease swim ouer euerie riuer both +naked and clad, which they with their great ships are scarse able to +performe. Wherefore with hope and good lucke let vs set vpon them +couragiouslie, and teach them to vnderstand, that since they are no +better than hares and foxes, they attempt a wrong match, when they +indeuour to subdue the grehounds and the woolues." With which words +the queene let an hare go out of hir lap, as it were thereby to giue +prognostication of hir successe, which comming well to passe, all the +companie showted, and cried out vpon such as not long before had doone +such violence to so noble a personage. Presentlie vpon this action, +Voadicia calling them togither againe, proceeded forward with hir +praier, which she made before them all, holding vp hir hands after +this manner: + +"I giue thee thanks O Adraste, and call vpon thee thou woman of women, +which reignest not ouer the burthen-bearing Aegyptians, as Nitocris; +neither ouer their merchants, as dooth Semiramis, for these trifles we +haue learned latelie of the Romans: neither ouer the people of Rome, +as a little heeretofore Messalina, then Agrippina, and now Nero, who +is called by the name of a man, but is in deed a verie woman, as dooth +appeere by his voice, his harpe, and his womans attire: but I call +vpon thee as a goddesse which gouernest the Britains, that haue +learned not to till the field, nor to be handicrafts men, but to lead +their liues in the warres after the best manner: who also as they +haue all other things, so haue they likewise their wiues and children +common, whereby the women haue the like audacitie with the men, and no +lesse boldnesse in the warres than they. + +"Therefore sithens I haue obteined a kingdome among such a mightie +people, I beseech thee to grant them victorie, health, and libertie, +against these contentious, wicked, and vnsatiable men (if they maie be +called men, which vse warme bathings, delicate fare, hot wines, sweet +oiles, soft beds, fine musicke, and so vnkindlie lusts) who are +altogither giuen to couetousnesse and crueltie, as their dooings doo +declare. Let not I beseech thee, the Neronian or Domitian tyrannie +anie more preuaile vpon me, or (to saie truth) vpon thee, but let them +rather serue thee, whose heauie oppression thou hast borne withall +a long season, and that thou wilt still be our helper onlie, our +defender, our fauourer, and our furtherer, O noble ladie, I hartilie +beseech thee." + + * * * * * + + + + +_Queene Voadicia marcheth against the Romans, to whom she giueth +a shamefull and bloudie ouerthrow without anie motion of mercie, +dredfull examples of the Britains crueltie indifferentlie executed +without exception of age or sex_. + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +When Voadicia had made an end of hir praier, she set forward against +hir enimies, who at that time were destitute in deed of their +lieutenant Paulinus Suetonius, being as then in Anglesey (as before +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._ Catus Decianus procurator.] +ye haue heard.) Wherefore the Romans that were in Camelodunum sent for +aid vnto Catus Decianus the procurator, that is, the emperours agent, +treasurer, or receiuer, for in that citie (although it were inhabited +by Romans) there was no great garrison of able men. Wherevpon the +procurator sent them such aid as he thought he might well spare, which +was not past two hundred men, and those not sufficientlie furnished +either with weapon or armour. + +The citie was not compassed with anie rampire or ditch for defense, +such as happilie were priuie to the conspiracie, hauing put into the +heads of the Romans that no fortification needed: neither were the +aged men nor women sent awaie, whereby the yoong able personages might +without trouble of them the better attend to the defense of the citie: +but euen as they had beene in all suertie of peace, and free from +suspicion of anie warre, they were suddenlie beset with the huge armie +of the Britains, and so all went to spoile and fire that could be +found without the inclosure of the temple, into the which the Romane +souldiers (striken with sudden feare by this sudden comming of +the enimies) had thronged themselues. Where being assieged by the +Britains, within the space of two daies the place was woonne, and they +that were found within it, slaine euerie mothers sonne. + +After this, the Britains incouraged with this victorie, went to meet +with Petus Cerealis lieutenant of the legion, surnamed the ninth, +and boldlie incountering with the same legion, gaue the Romans the +ouerthrow and slue all the footmen, so that Cerealis with much adoo +escaped with his horssemen, and got him backe to the campe, and saued +himselfe within the trenches. Catus the procurator being put in feare +with this ouerthrow, and perceiuing what hatred the Britains bare +towards him, hauing with his couetousnesse thus brought the warre vpon +the head of the Romans, got him ouer into Gallia. + +But Suetonius aduertised of these dooings, came backe out of Anglesey, +and with maruellous constancie marched through the middest of his +enimies to London, being as then not greatlie peopled with Romans, +though there was a colonie of them, but full of merchants, and well +prouided of vittels: he was in great doubt at his comming thither, +whether he might best staie there as in a place most conuenient, +or rather seeke some other more easie to be defended. At length +considering the small number of his men of warre, and remembring how +Cerealis had sped by his too much rashnesse, he thought better with +the losing of one towne to saue the whole, than to put all in danger +of irrecouerable losse. And therewith nothing mooued at the praier & +teares of them which besought him of aid and succour, he departed, and +those that would go with him he receiued into his armie, those that +taried behind were oppressed by the enimies: and the like destruction +happened to them of Verolanium, a towne in those daies of great +fame, situat neere to the place where the towne of Saint Albons now +standeth. + +The Britains leauing the castels and fortresses vnassaulted, followed +their game in spoiling of those places which were easie to get, and +where great plentie of riches was to be found, vsing their victorie +with such crueltie, that they slue (as the report went) to the number +[Sidenote: 80000, saith _Dion_.] +of 70 thousand Romans, and such as tooke their part in the said +places by the Britains thus woon and conquered. For there was nothing +with the Britains but slaughter, fire, gallowes, and such like, so +earnestlie were they set on reuenge. They spared neither age nor sex: +women of great nobilitie and woorthie fame they tooke and hanged vp +naked, and cutting off their paps, sowed them to their mouthes, that +they might seeme as if they sucked and fed on them, and some of their +bodies they stretched out in length, and thrust them on sharpe stakes. +All these things they did in great despite whilest they sacrificed in +their temples, and made feasts, namelie in the wood consecrated to the +honour of Andates, for so they called the goddesse of victorie whom +they worshipped most reuerentlie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_P. Suetonius the Romane with a fresh power assalteth the Britains, +whose armie consisted as well of women as men: queene Voadicia +incourageth hir souldiers, so dooth Suetonius his warriors, both +armies haue a sharpe conflict, the Britains are discomfited and +miserablie slaine, the queene dieth, Penius Posthumus killeth +himselfe, the Britains are persecuted with fire, swoord, and famine, +the grudge betweene Cassicianus and Suetonius, whome Polycletus is +sent to reconcile, of his traine, and how the Britains repined at +him_. + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +In this meane time there came ouer to the aid of Suetonius, the legion +surnamed the 14, and other bands of souldiers and men of warre, to +the number of ten thousand in the whole, wherevpon (chieflie bicause +vittels began to faile him) he prepared to giue battell to his +enimies, and chose out a plot of ground verie strong within straits, +and backed with a wood, so that the enimies could not assault his +campe but on the front: yet by reason of their great multitude and +[Sidenote: The Britains were at that time 230000 men, (as _Dion_ +writeth.)] +hope of victorie conceiued by their late prosperous successe, the +Britains vnder the conduct of queene Voadicia aduentured to giue +battell, hauing their women there to be witnesses of the victorie, +whome they placed in charrets at the vttermost side of their field. + +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit. li. 15 Dion Cassius_.] +Voadicia, or Boudicia (for so we find hir written by some copies, +and Bonuica also by Dion) hauing hir daughters afore hir, being +mounted into a charret, as she passed by the souldiers of ech sundrie +countrie, told them "it was a thing accustomed among the Britains to +go to the warres vnder the leading of women; but she was not now come +foorth as one borne of such noble ancestors as she was descended from, +to fight for hir kingdome and riches; but as one of the meaner sort, +rather to defend hir lost libertie, and to reuenge hir selfe of the +enimie, for their crueltie shewed in scourging hir like a vagabond, +and shamefull deflouring of hir daughters: for the licentious lust of +the Romans was so farre spred and increased, that they spared neither +the bodies of old nor yoong, but were readie most shamefullie to abuse +them, hauing whipped hir naked being an aged woman, and forced hir +daughters to satisfie their filthie concupiscence: but (saith she) the +gods are at hand readie to take iust reuenge. + +"The legion that presumed to incounter with vs is slaine and beaten +downe. The residue keepe them close within their holds, or else seeke +waies how to flee out of the countrie: they shall not be once able so +much as to abide the noise and clamor of so manie thousands as we +are heere assembled, much lesse the force of our great puissance and +dreadfull hands. If ye therefore (said she) would wey and consider +with your selues your huge numbers of men of warre, and the causes why +ye haue mooued this warre, ye would surelie determine either in this +battell to die with honour, or else to vanquish the enimie by plaine +force, for so (quoth she) I being a woman am fullie resolued, as for +you men ye maie (if ye list) liue and be brought into bondage." + +"Neither did Suetonius ceasse to exhort his people: for though he +trusted in their manhood, yet as he had diuided his armie into three +battels, so did he make vnto ech of them a seuerall oration, willing +them not to feare the shrill and vaine menacing threats of the +Britains, sith there was among them more women than men, they hauing +no skill in warrelike discipline, and heereto being naked without +furniture of armour, would foorthwith giue place when they should +feele the sharpe points of the Romans weapons, and the force of them +by whom they had so often beene put to flight. In manie legions (saith +he) the number is small of them that win the battell. Their glorie +therefore should be the more, for that they being a small number +should win the fame due to the whole armie, if they would (thronging +togither) bestow their weapons freelie, and with their swoords and +targets preasse forward vpon their enimies, continuing the slaughter +without regard to the spoile, they might assure themselues when the +victorie was once atchiued to haue all at their pleasures." + +Such forwardnesse in the souldiers followed vpon this exhortation of +the couragious generall, that euerie one prepared himselfe so readilie +to doo his dutie, and that with such a shew of skill and experience, +that Suetonius hauing conceiued an assured hope of good lucke to +follow, caused the trumpets to sound to the battell. The onset was +giuen in the straits, greatlie to the aduantage of the Romans, being +but a handfull in comparison to their enimies. The fight in the +beginning was verie sharpe and cruell, but in the end the Britains +being a let one to another (by reason of the narrownesse of the place) +were not able to susteine the violent force of the Romans their +enimies, so that they were constreind to giue backe, and so being +disordered were put to flight, and vtterlie discomfited. + +[Sidenote: 80000 Britains slaine.] +There were slaine of the Britains that day few lesse than 80000 +[*_sic_] +thousand*, as Tacitus writeth. For the straits being stopped with +the charrets, staied the flight of the Britains, so as they could +not easilie escape: and the Romans were so set on reuenge, that +they spared neither man nor woman, so that manie were slaine in the +battell, manie amongst the charrets, and a great number at the +woods side, which way they made their flight, and manie were taken +prisoners. Those that escaped, would haue fought a new battell, but +in the meane time Voadicia, or Bonuica deceassed of a naturall +infirmitie, as Dion Cassius writeth, but other say that she poisoned +hir selfe, and so died, because she would not come into the hands of +hir bloodthirstie enimies. There died of the Romans part in this most +notable battell 400, and about the like number were grieuouslie hurt +and most pitifullie wounded. + +[Sidenote: Penius Posthumous sleieth himselfe.] +Penius Posthumous maister of the campe of the second legion, +vnderstanding the prosperous successe of the other Romane capteins, +because he had defrauded his legion of the like glorie, and had +refused to obeie the commandements of the generall, contrarie to the +vse of warre, slue himselfe. + +After this all the Romane armie was brought into the field to make an +end of the residue of the warre. And the emperour caused a supplie to +be sent out of Germanie being 2000 legionarie souldiers, and 8 bands +of aids, with 1000 horssemen, by whose comming the bands of the ninth +legion were supplied with legionarie souldiers, and those bands and +wings of horssemen were appointed to places where they might winter, +and such people of the Britains as were either enimies, or else stood +in doubt whether to be friends or enimies in deed, were persecuted +with fire and sword. + +But nothing more afflicted them than famine, for whilest euerie man +gaue himselfe to the warre, and purposed to haue liued vpon the +prouision of the Romans and other their enimies, they applied not +themselues to tillage, nor to anie husbanding of the ground, and long +[Sidenote: Julius Cassickinus procurator.] +it was yer they (being a fierce kind of people) fell to embrace +peace, by reason that Iulius Cassicianus, who was sent into Britaine +as successor to Catus, fell at square with Suetonius, and by his +priuat grudge hindered the prosperous successe of publike affaires. +He sticked not to write to Rome, that except an other were sent to +succeed in the roome that Suetonius did beare, there would be no end +of the warres. Herevpon one Polycletus, which sometime had beene a +bondman, was sent into Britaine, as a commissioner to surueie the +state of the countrie, to reconcile the legat and procurator, & also +to pacifie all troubles within the Ile. The port which Polycletus +bare was great, for he was furnished with no small traine that +attended vpon him, so that his presence seemed verie dreadfull to the +Romans. But the Britains that were not yet pacified, thought great +scorne to see such honorable capteins and men of warre as the Romans +were, to submit themselues to the order of such a one as had beene a +bondslaue. + + * * * * * + + + + +_In what state the Iland stood whiles Aruiragus reigned; the dissolute +and loose gouernement of Petronius Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus, +and Victius Volanus, three lieutenants in Brltaine for the Romane +emperours, of Iulius Frontinus who vanquished the Silures_. + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: PETRONIUS TURPILIANUS LIEUTENANT.] +In place of Suetonius, was Petronius Turpilianus (who had latelie +beene consull) appointed to haue gouernance of the armie in Britaine, +the which neither troubling the enimie, nor being of the enimie in +anie wise troubled or prouoked, did colour slouthfull rest with +the honest name of peace and quietnesse, and so sat still without +exploiting anie notable enterprise. + +[Sidenote: TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS LIEUTENANT.] +After Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus was made lieutenant of +Britaine, who likewise with courteous demeanour sought to keepe the +Britains in rest rather than by force to compell them. And now began +the people of the Ile to beare with pleasant faults and flattering +vices, so that the ciuill warres that chanced in those daies after +the death of the emperour Nero at home, might easilie excuse the +slouthfulnesse of the Romane lieutenants. + +Moreouer, there rose dissention amongest their men of warre, which +being vsed to lie abroad in the field, could not agree with the idle +life; so that Trebellius Maximus was glad to hide himselfe from the +sight of the souldiers being in an vprore against him, till at length +humbling himselfe vnto them further than became his estate, he +gouerned by waie of intreatie, or rather at their courtesie. And so +was the commotion staied without bloudshed, the armie as it were +hauing by couenant obtained to liue licentiouslie, and the capteine +suertie to liue without danger to be murthered. + +[Sidenote: VICTIUS VOLANUS LIEUTENAT.] +Neither Victius Volanus that succeeded Maximus whilest the time of +the ciuill warres as yet endured, did trouble the Britains, vsing the +same slacknesse and slouth that the other lieutenants had vsed before +him, and permitted the like licence to the presumptuous souldiers: but +yet was Volanus innocent as touching himselfe, and not hated for +anie notable crime or vice: so that he purchased fauour, although +authoritie wanted. + +But after that the emperour Vsepasianus had subdued his aduersaries, +and atteined the imperiall gouernment, as well ouer Britaine as ouer +other parts of the world, there were sent hither right noble +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +capteins, with diuers notable bands of souldiers, and Petilius +Cerialis being appointed lieutenant, put the Britains in great feare, +by inuading the Brigants the mightiest nation of all the whole Iland: +and fighting manie battels, and some right bloudie with those people, +he subdued a great part of the countrie at the last. + +[Sidenote: IULIUS FRONTINUS LIEUTENAT.] +After him succeeded as lieutenant of Britaine, one Iulius +Frontinus, who vanquished and brought to the Romane subiection by +force of armes the people called Silures, striuing not onelie against +the stout resistance of the men, but also with the hardnesse & +combersome troubles of the places. + +¶ Thus may you perceiue in what state this Ile stood in the time that +Aruiragus reigned in the same, as is supposed by the best histories of +the old Britains: so that it may be thought that he gouerned rather a +part of this land, than the whole, and bare the name of a king, +the Romans not hauing so reduced the countrie into the forme of a +prouince, but that the Britains bare rule in diuerse parts thereof, +and that by the permission of the Romans, which neuerthelesse had +their lieutenants and procuratours here, that bare the greatest rule +vnder the aforesaid emperours. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland under Marius the sonne of Aruiragus, the +comming in of the Picts with Roderike their king, his death in the +field, the Picts and Scots enter into mutuall aliance, the monument of +Marius, his victorie ouer the Picts, his death and interrement_. + +THE XV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MARIUS. _Hector Boetius_ saith that his Marius was a +Romane. 73.] +After the decease of Aruiragus, this sonne Marius succeeded him in +the estate, and began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 73. In the +old English chronicle he is fondlie called Westmer, & was a verie wise +man, gouerning the Britains in great prosperitie, honour and wealth. + +In the time of this mans reigne, the people called Picts inuaded +[Sidenote: Of these you maie reade more in pag. _Matth. West._] +this land, who are iudged to be descended of the nation of the +Scithians, neare kinsmen to the Goths, both by countrie and maners, +a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres. This people with +their ringleader Roderike, or (as some name him) Londorike, entering +the Ocean sea after the maner of rouers, arriued on the coasts of +Ireland, where they required of the Scots new seats to inhabit in: for +the Scots which (as some thinke) were also descended of the Scithians, +did as then inhabit in Ireland: but doubting that it should not be for +their profit to receiue so warlike a nation into that Ile, feining as +it were a friendship, and excusing the matter by the narrownesse of +the countrie, declared to the Picts, that the Ile of Britaine was not +farre from thence, being a large countrie and a plentifull, and not +greatly inhabited: wherefore they counselled them to go thither, +promising vnto them all the aid that might be. + +The Picts more desirous of spoile than of rule or gouernment without +delaie returned to the sea, and sailed towards Britaine, where being +arriued, they first inuaded the north parts thereof, and finding +there but few inhabiters, they began to wast and forrey the countrie: +whereof when king Marius was aduertised, with all speed he assembled +[Sidenote: Roderike king of Picts slaine.] +his people, and made towards his enimies, and giuing them battell, +obtained the victorie, so that Roderike was there slaine in the field, +and his people vanquished. + +Vnto those that escaped with life, Marius granted licence that they +might inhabit in the north part of Scotland called Catnesse, being as +then a countrie in maner desolate without habitation: wherevpon they +withdrew thither, and setled themselues in those parties. And bicause +the Britains disdained to grant vnto them their daughters in mariage, +they sent vnto the Scots into Ireland, requiring to haue wiues of +their nation. The Scots agreed to their request, with this condition, +that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings linage to succeed +in the kingdome of the Picts, then should they name one of the womans +side to be their king: which ordinance was receiued and obserued euer +after amongst the Picts, so long as their kingdome endured. + +Thus the Picts next after the Romans were the first of anie strangers +that came into this land to inhabit as most writers affirme, although +the Scotish chronicles auouch the Picts to be inhabiters here before +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Matth. West._] +the incarnation of our sauiour. But the victorie which Marius obteined +against their king Roderike, chanced in the yeere after the +incarnation 87. In remembrance of which victorie, Marius caused a +stone to be erected in the same place where the battell was fought, in +which stone was grauen these words, _Marij victoria_. The English +chronicle saith that this stone was set vp on Stanesmoore, and that +the whole countrie thereabout taking name of this Marius, was +Westmaria, now called Westmerland. + +King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies, and escaped the danger of +their dreadfull inuasion, gaue his mind to the good gouernement of +his people, and the aduancement of the common wealth of the realme, +continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie, and +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ Thus find we in the British and English +histories touching this Marius.] +finallie departed this life, after he had reigned (as most writers +say) 52, or 53 yeeres. Howbeit there be that write, that he died in +the yeere of our Lord 78, and so reigned not past fiue or six yeeres +at the most. He was buried at Caerleill, leauing a sonne behind him +called Coill. + +Humfrey Lhoyd seemeth to take this man and his father Aruiragus to be +all one person, whether mooued thereto by some catalog of kings which +he saw, or otherwise, I cannot affirme: but speaking of the time when +the Picts and Scots should first come to settle themselues in this +land, he hath these words; Neither was there anie writers of name, +that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time, +about the yeere of the incarnation 72: at what time Meurig or Maw, or +Aruiragus reigned in Britaine, in which time our annales doo report, +that a certeine kind of people liuing by pirasie and rouing on the +sea, came foorth of Sueden, or Norwaie, vnder the guiding of one +Rhithercus, who landed in Albania, wasting all the countrie with +robbing and spoiling so farre as Caerleill, where he was vanquished in +battell, and slaine by Muragus, with a great part of his people; the +residue that escaped by flight, fled to their ships, and so conueied +themselues into the Iles of Orkney and Scotland, where they abode +quietlie a great while after. + +Thus farre haue I thought good to shew of the foresaid Lhoyds booke, +for that it seemeth to carie a great likelihood of truth with it, for +the historie of the Picts, which vndoubtedlie I thinke were not as yet +inhabiting in Britaine, but rather first placing themselues in +the Iles of Orkney, made inuasion into the maine Ile of Britaine +afterwards, as occasion was offred. In the British toong they are +called Pightiaid, that is Pightians, and so likewise were they called +in the Scotish, and in their owne toong. Now will we shew what chanced +in this Ile, during the time of the foresaid Marius his supposed +reigne, as is found in the Romane histories. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Iulius Agricola is deputed by Vespasian to gouerne Britaine, he +inuadeth the Ile of Anglesey, the inhabitants yeeld vp them selues, +the commendable gouernement of Agricola, his worthie practises to +traine the Britains to ciuilitie, his exploits fortunatelie atchiued +against diuerse people, as the Irish, &c._ + +THE 16. CHAPTER. + + +After Iulius Frontinus, the emperor Vespasian sent Iulius Agricola to +[Sidenote: Iulius Agricola lieutenant.] +succeed in the gouernement of Britaine, who comming ouer about the +midst of summer, found the men of warre thorough want of a lieutenant +negligent inough, so those that looking for no trouble, thought +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacit in uit. Agr._] +themselues out of all danger, where the enimies neuerthelesse watched +[Sidenote: The first yeere of Agricola his gouernment.] +vpon the next occasion to worke some displeasure, and were readie +on ech hand to mooue rebellion, For the people called Ordouices, +that inhabited in the countrie of Chesshire, Lancashire and part of +Shropshire, had latelie before ouerthrowne, and in maner vtterlie +destroied a wing of such horssemen as soiourned in their parties, by +reason whereof all the prouince was brought almost into an assured +hope to recouer libertie. + +Agricola vpon his comming ouer, though summer was now halfe past, and +that the souldiers lodging here & there abroad in the countrie, were +more disposed to take rest, than to set forward into the field +against the enimies, determined yet to resist the present danger: and +therewith assembling the men of warre of the Romans, and such other +aids as he might make, he inuaded their countrie that had done this +foresaid displeasure, and slue the most part of all the inhabitants +thereof. Not thus contented (for that he thought good to follow the +steps of fauourable fortune, and knowing that as the begining proued, +so would the whole sequele of his affaires by likelihood come to +passe) he purposed to make a full conquest of the Ile of Anglesey, +[Sidenote: The Ile of Anglesey.] +from the conquest wherof the Romane lieutenant Paulinus was called +backe by the rebellion of other of the Britains, as before ye haue +heard. + +But whereas he wanted ships for the furnishing of his enterprise, his +wit and policie found a shift to supplie that defect: for choosing out +a piked number of such Britains as he had there with him in aid, which +knew the foords and shallow places of the streames there, and withall +were verie skilfull in swimming (as the maner of the countrie then +was) he appointed them to passe ouer on the sudden into the Ile, +onelie with their horsses, armor, and weapon: which enterprise they so +speedilie, and with so good successe atchiued, that the inhabitants +much amazed with that dooing (which looked for a nauie of ships to +haue transported ouer their enimies by sea, and therefore watched +on the coast) began to thinke that nothing was able to be defended +against such kind of warriors that got ouer into the Ile after such +sort and maner. + +[Sidenote: Anglesey yeelded to Agricola.] +And therefore making sute for peace, they deliuered the Ile into +the hands of Agricola, whose fame by these victories dailie much +increased, as of one that tooke pleasure in trauell, and attempting to +atchiue dangerous enterprises, in stead whereof his predecessors had +delighted, to shew the maiesties of their office by vaine brags, +statelie ports, and ambitious pomps. For Agricola turned not the +prosperous successe of his proceedings into vanitie, but rather with +neglecting his fame, increased it to the vttermost, among them that +iudged what hope was to be looked for of things by him to be atchiued, +which with silence kept secret these his so woorthie dooings. + +Moreouer, perceiuing the nature of the people in this Ile of Britaine, +and sufficientlie taught by other mens example, that armor should +little auaile where iniuries followed to the disquieting of the +[Sidenote: Agricola his good gouernment.] +people, he thought best to take away and remooue all occasions of +warre. And first beginning with himselfe and his souldiers, tooke +order for a reformation to be had in his owne houshold, yeelding +nothing to fauor, but altogither in respect of vertue, accounting them +most faithfull which therein most excelled. He sought to know all +things, but not to doo otherwise than reason mooued, pardoning small +faults, and sharpelie punishing great and heinous offenses, neither +yet deliting alwaies in punishment, but oftentimes in repentance of +the offendor. Exactions and tributes he lessened, qualifieng the same +by reasonable equitie. And thus in reforming the state of things, he +wan him great praise in time of peace, the which either by negligence +or sufferance of the former lieutenants, was euer feared, and +accounted woorse than open warre. This was his practise in the winter +time of his first yeere. + +[Sidenote: His diligence.] +But when summer was come, he assembled his armie, and leading +foorth the same, trained his souldiers in all honest warlike +discipline, commending the good, and reforming the bad and vnrulie. +He himselfe to giue example, tooke vpon him all dangers that came to +hand, and suffered not the enimies to liue in rest, but wasted their +countries with sudden inuasions. And when he had sufficientlie +chastised them, and put them in feare by such manner of dealing, he +spared them, that they might againe conceiue some hope of peace. +By which meanes manie countries which vnto those daies had kept +themselues out of bondage, laid rancor aside, and deliuered pledges, +and further were contented to suffer castels to be builded within +them, and to be kept with garrisons, so that no part of Britaine was +free from the Romane power, but stood still in danger to be brought +vnder more and more. + +[Sidenote: The second yeere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In the winter following, Agricola tooke paines to reduce the +Britains from their rude manners and customs, vnto a more ciuill sort +and trade of liuing, that changing their naturall fiercenesse and +[Sidenote: The woorthie practises of Agricola to traine the Britains +to ciuilitie.] +apt disposition to warre, they might through tasting pleasures be +so inured therewith, that they should desire to liue in rest and +quietnesse: and therefore he exhorted them priuilie, and holpe them +publikelie to build temples, common halls where plees of law might be +kept, and other houses, commending them that were diligent in such +dooings, and blaming them that were negligent, so that of necessitie +they were driuen to striue who should preuent ech other in ciuilitie. +He also procured that noble mens sonnes should learne the liberall +sciences, and praised the nature of the Britains more than the people +of Gallia, bicause they studied to atteine to the knowledge of the +Romane eloquence. By which meanes the Britains in short time were +brought to the vse of good and commendable manners, and sorted +themselues to go in comelie apparell after the Romane fashion, and +by little and little fell to accustome themselues to fine fare and +delicate pleasures, the readie prouokers of vices, as to walke in +galleries, to wash themselues in bathes, to vse banketting, and such +like, which amongst the vnskilfull was called humanitie or courtesie, +but in verie deed it might be accounted a part of thraldome and +seruitude, namelie being too excessiuelie vsed. + +[Sidenote: The third yeere.] +In the third yeere of Agricola his gouernment in Britaine, he +inuaded the north parts thereof (vnknowne till those daies of the +Romans) being the same where the Scots now inhabit: for he +[Sidenote: The water of Tay.] +wasted the countrie vnto the water of Tay, in such wise putting the +inhabitants in feare, that they durst not once set vpon his armie, +though it were so that the same was verie sore disquieted and vexed +by tempest and rage of weather. Wherevpon finding no great let or +hinderance by the enimies, he builded certeine castels and fortresses, +which he placed in such conuenient steeds, that they greatlie annoied +his aduersaries, and were so able to be defended, that there was none +of those castels which he builded, either woon by force out of the +Romans hands, or giuen ouer by composition, for feare to be taken: so +that the same beeing furnished with competent numbers of men of warre, +were safelie kept from the enimies, the which were dailie vexed by the +often issues made foorth by the souldiers that laie thus in garrison +within them: so that where in times past the said enimies would +recouer their losses susteined in summer by the winters aduantage, now +they were put to the woorse, and kept backe as well in the winter as +in the summer. + +[Sidenote: The fourth yeere of Agricola his gouernment. Clota +Bodotria.] +In the fourth summer, after that Agricola was appointed vnto the +rule of this land, he went about to bring vnder subiection those +people, the which before time he had by incursions and forreies sore +vexed and disquieted: and therevpon comming to the waters of Clide and +Loughleuen, he built certeine fortresses to defend the passages and +entries there, driuing the enimies beyond the same waters, as it had +beene into a new Iland. + +[Sidenote: The fift yeere.] +In the fift summer, Agricola causing his ships to be brought +about, and appointing them to arriue on the north coasts of Scotland, +he passed with his armie ouer the riuer of Clide; and subdued such +people as inhabited those further parts of Scotland, which till those +daies had not beene discouered by the Romans. And bicause he thought +it should serue well to purpose, for some conquest to be made of +Ireland, if that part of Scotland which bordereth on the Irish seas +might be kept in due obedience, he placed garrisons of souldiers +in those parties, in hope verelie vpon occasion to passe ouer into +Ireland, and for the more easie aduancement of his purpose therein, he +interteined with honourable prouision one of the kings of Ireland, +[Sidenote: An Irish king expelled out of his countrie.] +which by ciuill discord was expelled and driuen out of his countrie. +In deed Agricola perceiued, that with one legion of souldiers, and +a small aid of other men of warre it should be an easie matter to +conquer Ireland, and to bring it vnder the dominion of the Romans: +which enterprise he iudged verie necessarie to be exploited, for +better keeping of the Britains in obedience, if they should see the +iurisdiction of the Romans euerie where extended, and the libertie of +their neighbours suppressed. + +[Sidenote: The sixt yeere of Agricola his government.] +In the sixt summer of Agricola his gouernment, he proceeded in +subduing the furthermost parts of Scotland northwards, causing his +nauie to keepe course against him by the coast as he marched foorth +by land, so that the Britains perceiuing how the secret hauens and +creekes of their countries were now discouered, and that all hope of +refuge was in maner cut off from them, were in maruellous feare. On +the other part the Romans were sore troubled with the rough mounteins +and craggie rocks, by the which they were constreined to passe beside +the dangerous riuers, lakes, woods, streicts, and other combersome +waies and passages. + +The danger also of them that were in the ships by sea was not small, +by reason of winds and tempests, and high spring tides, which tossed +and turmoiled their vessels verie cruellie: but by the painfull +diligence of them that had beene brought vp and inured with continuall +trauell and hardnesse, all those discommodities were ouercome to their +great reioising, when they met and fell in talke of their passed +perils. For oftentimes the armie by land incamped so by the shore, +that those which kept the sea came on land to make merrie in the +campe, and then ech one would recount to others the aduentures that +had happened, as the manner is in semblable cases. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains of Calenderwood assalt the Romans upon aduantage, +bloudie battels fought betwixt them, great numbers slaine on both +sides, the villanous dealing of certeine Dutch souldiers against their +capteins and fellowes in armes, the miserie that they were driven vnto +by famine to eate one another, a sharpe conflict betweene the Romans +and Britains, with the losse of manie a mans life, and effusion of +much bloud_. + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Calenderwood.] +The Britains that inhabited in those daies about the parts of +Calenderwood, perceiuing in what danger they were to be vtterlie +subdued, assembled themselues togither, in purpose to trie the fortune +of battell: whereof Agricola being aduertised, marched foorth with his +armie diuided in three battels, so that the enimies doubting to trie +the matter in open field, espied their time in the night, and with all +their whole puissance set vpon one of the Romane legions, which they +knew to be most feeble and weake, trusting by a camisado to distresse +the same: and first sleaing the watch, they entred the campe, where +the said legion laie, and finding the souldiers in great disorder, +betwixt sleepe and feare, began the fight euen within the campe. + +Agricola had knowledge of their purposed intent, and therefore with +all speed hasted foorth to come to the succours of his people, sending +first his light horssemen, and certeine light armed footmen to assaile +the enimies on their backs, and shortlie after approched with his +whole puissance, so that the Romane standards beginning to appeere in +sight by the light of the daie that then began to spring, the Britains +were sore discouraged, and the Romans renewing their force, fiercelie +preassed vpon them, so that euen in the entrie of the campe, there was +a sore conflict, till at length the Britains were put to flight and +chased, so that if the mareshes and woods had not saued them from the +pursute of the Romans, there had beene an end made of the whole warre +euen by that one daies worke. But the Britains escaping as well as +they might, and reputing the victorie to haue chanced not by the +valiancie of the Romane soldiers, but by occasion, and the prudent +policie of their capteine, were nothing abashed with that their +present losse, but prepared to put their youth againe into armour: and +therevpon they remooued their wiues and children into safe places, and +then assembling the chiefest gouernours togither, concluded a league +amongst themselues, ech to aid other, confirming their articles with +dooing of sacrifice (as the manner in those daies was.) + +[Sidenote: The seuenth yeere.] +The same summer, a band of such Dutch or Germaine souldiers as had +beene leuied in Germanie & sent ouer into Britaine to the aid of +the Romans, attempted a great and woonderfull act, in sleaing their +capteine, and such other of the Romane souldiers which were appointed +to haue the training and leading of them, as officers and instructors +to them in the feats of warre: and when they had committed that +murther, they got into three pinesses, and became rouers on the coasts +of Britaine, and incountring with diuerse of the Britains that were +readie to defend their countrie from spoile, oftentimes they got the +vpper hand of them, and now and then they were chased awaie, insomuch +that in the end they were brought to such extremitie for want of +vittels, that they did eate such amongst them as were the weakest, +and after, such as the lot touched, being indifferentlie cast amongst +them: and so being caried about the coasts of Britaine, & losing their +vessels through want of skill to gouerne them, they were reputed for +robbers, and therevpon were apprehended, first by the Suabeners, and +shortlie after by the Frizers, the which sold diuerse of them to the +Romans and other, whereby the true vnderstanding of their aduentures +came certeinlie to light. + +[Sidenote: The eight yeere of Agricola his gouernment.] +In summer next following, Agricola with his armie came to the +mounteine of Granziben, where he vnderstood that his enimies were +incamped, to the number of 30 thousand and aboue, and dailie there +came to them more companie of the British youth, and such aged persons +also as were lustie and in strength, able to weld weapon and beare +[Sidenote: Galgagus whome the Scots name Gald and will needs haue +him a Scotish man.] +armour. Amongst the capteins the chiefest was one Galgagus whom the +Scotish chronicles name Gald. This man as chiefteine and head capteine +of all the Britains there assembled, made to them a pithie oration, to +incourage them to fight manfullie, and likewise did Agricola to his +people: which being ended, the armies on both sides were put in order +of battell. Agricola placed 8 thousand footmen of strangers which he +had there in aid with him in the midst, appointing three thousand +horssemen to stand on the sides of them as wings. The Romane legions +stood at their backs in steed of a bulworke. The Britains were +imbattelled in such order, that their fore ward stood in the plaine +ground, and the other on the side of an hill, as though they had risen +on heigth one ranke aboue another. The midst of the field was +[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._] +couered with their charrets and horssemen. Agricola doubting by the +huge multitude of enimies, least his people should be assailed not +onlie afront, but also vpon euerie side the battels, he caused the +ranks so to place themselues, as their battels might stretch farre +further in bredth than otherwise the order of warre required: but he +tooke this to be a good remedie against such inconuenience as might +haue followed, if the enimie by the narrownesse of the fronts of his +battels should haue hemmed them in on ech side. + +This done, and hauing conceiued good hope of victorie, he alighted on +foot, and putting his horsse from him, he stood before the standards +as one not caring for anie danger that might happen. At the first they +bestowed their shot and darts freelie on both sides. The Britains +aswell with constant manhood, as skilfull practise, with broad swords +and little round bucklers auoided and beat from them the arrowes and +darts that came from their enimies, and therewithall paid them home +againe with their shot and darts, so that the Romans were neere hand +oppressed therewith, bicause they came so thicke in their faces, +[Sidenote: Betaui. Congri.] +till at length Agricola caused three cohorts of Hollanders, & two of +Lukeners to presse forward, & ioine with them at hand-strokes, so as +the matter might come to be tried with the edge of the swoord, which +thing as to them (being inured with that kind of fight) it stood +greatlie with their aduantage, so to the Britains it was verie +dangerous, that were to defend themselues with their mightie huge +swoords and small bucklers. Also by reason their swoords were broad +at the ends, and pointlesse, they auailed little to hurt the armed +enimie. Wherevpon when the Hollanders came to ioine with them, they +made fowle worke in sleaing and wounding them in most horrible wise. + +The horssemen also that made resistance they pulled from their +horsses, and began to clime the hill vpon the Britains. The other +bands desirous to match their fellowes in helping to atchiue the +[Sidenote: Hollanders.] +victorie, followed the Hollanders, and beat downe the Britains where +they might approch to them: manie were ouerrun and left halfe dead, +and some not once touched with anie weapon, were likewise ouerpressed, +such hast the Romans made to follow vpon the Britains. Whilest the +British horssemen fled, their charets ioined themselues with their +footmen, and restoring the battell, put the Romans in such feare, that +they were at a sudden stay: but the charets being troubled with prease +of enimies, & vneeuennesse of the ground, they could not worke their +feat to anie purpose, neither had that fight anie resemblance of a +battell of horssemen, when ech one so encumbred other, that they had +no roome to stirre themselues. The charets oftentimes wanting their +guiders were caried awaie with the horsses, that being put in feare +with the noise and stur, ran hither and thither, bearing downe one +another, and whomsoeuer else they met withall. + +Now the Britains that kept the top of the hils, and had not yet fought +at all, despising the small number of the Romans, began to come +downewards and to cast about, that they might set vpon the backs of +their enimies, in hope so to make an end of the battell, and to win +the victorie: but Agricola doubting no lesse, but that some such thing +would come to passe, had aforehand foreseene the danger, and hauing +reserued foure wings of horssemen for such sudden chances, sent them +foorth against those Britains, the which horssemen with full randon +charging vpon them as they rashlie came forwards, quicklie disordered +them and put them all to flight, and so that purposed deuise and +policie of the Britains turned to their owne hinderance. For their +horssemen by their capteins appointment trauersing ouerthwart by the +fronts of them that fought, set vpon that battell of the Britains +which they found before them. Then in those open and plaine places a +greeuous & heauie sight it was to behold, how they pursued, wounded, +and tooke their enimies: and as they were aduised of other to slea +those that they had before taken, to the end they might ouertake the +other, there was nothing but fleeing, taking, and chasing, slaughter, +spilling of bloud, scattering of weapons, grunting and groning of men +and horsses that lay on the ground, gasping for breath, & readie to +die. + +The Britains now and then as they saw their aduantage, namelie when +they approched neere to the woods, gathered themselues togither, +and set vpon the Romans as they followed vnaduisedlie, and further +(through ignorance of the places) than stood with their suertie, +insomuch that if Agricola had not prouided remedie, and sent foorth +mightie bands of light armed men both on foot and horssebacke to close +in the enimies, and also to beat the wood, some greater losse would +haue followed through too much boldnes of them that too rashlie +pursued vpon the Britains: who when they beheld the Romans thus to +follow them in whole troops and good order of battell, they slipt +awaie and tooke them to flight, ech one seeking to saue himselfe, and +kept not togither in plumps as before they had doone. The night made +an end of the chase which the Romans had followed till they were +[Sidenote: Ten thousand Britains slaine. Aulus Atticus slaine.] +throughlie wearied. There were slaine of the Britains that day 10000, +and of the Romans 340, among whom Aulus Atticus a capteine of one +of the cohorts or bands of footmen was one, who being mounted on +horssebacke (through his owne too much youthfull courage, and fierce +vnrulines of his horsse) was caried into the middle throng of his +enimies, and there slaine. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains +after their ouerthrow, Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his +victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, and Cneus +Trebellius surrogated in his roome_. + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The night insuing the foresaid ouerthrow of the Britains was spent of +[Sidenote: Britains, not Scots, neither yet Picts.] +the Romans in great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But +among the Britains there was nothing else heard but mourning and +lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togither, some +busie to beare away the wounded, to bind and dresse their hurts; other +calling for their sonnes, kinsfolkes and friends that were wanting. +Manie of them forsooke their houses, and in their desperate mood set +them on fire, and choosing foorth places for their better refuge and +safegard, foorthwith misliking of the same, left them and sought +others: herewith diuerse of them tooke counsell togither what they +were best to doo, one while they were in hope, an other while they +fainted, as people cast into vtter despaire: the beholding of their +wiues and children oftentimes mooued them to attempt some new +enterprise for the preseruation of their countrie and liberties. And +certeine it is that some of them slue their wiues and children, as +mooued thereto with a certeine fond regard of pitie to rid them out of +further miserie and danger of thraldome. + +The next day the certeintie of the victorie more plainlie was +disclosed, for all was quiet about, and no noise heard anie where: the +houses appeared burning on ech side, and such as were sent foorth to +discouer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature +stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off. + +When Agricola had thus ouerthrowne his enimies in a pitcht field at +the mountaine of Granziben, and that the countrie was quite rid of all +appearance of enimies: bicause the summer of this eight yeere of his +gouernement was now almost spent, he brought his armie into the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +confines of the Horrestians, which inhabited the countries now called +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +Angus & Merne, and there intended to winter, and tooke hostages of +the people for assurance of their loialtie and subiection. This doone, +he appointed the admirall of the nauie to saile about the Ile, +[Sidenote: An hauen called Trutulensis, peraduenture Rutupensis.] +which accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued, luckilie +accomplished his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into +an hauen called Trutulensis. + +In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in +Britaine, both the emperour Vespasianus, and also his brother Titus +that succeeded him, departed this life, and Domitianus was elected +emperor, who hearing of such prosperous successe as Agricola had +against the Britains, did not so much reioise for the thing well +doone, as he enuied to consider what glorie and renowme should redound +to Agricola thereby, which he perceiued should much darken the glasse +of his fame, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in woorthinesse of +noble exploits atchiued, farre excelled his dooings. + +To find remedie therefore herein, he thought not good to vtter his +malice as yet, whilest Agricola remained in Britaine with an armie, +which so much fauoured him, and that with so good cause, sith by his +policie and noble conduct the same had obteined so manie victories, +so much honor, and such plentie of spoiles and booties. Wherevpon to +dissemble his intent, he appointed to reuoke him foorth of Britaine, +as it were to honor him, not onelie with deserued triumphs, but also +with the lieutenantship of Syria, which as then was void by the +[Sidenote: Cneus Trebellius alias Salustius Lucullus as some thinke.] +death of Aulius Rufus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome, +deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed +thereto by the emperour Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard. + +¶ Thus may you see in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king +Marius, of whome Tacitus maketh no mention at all. Some haue written, +that the citie of Chester was builded by this Marius, though other +(as before I haue said) thinke rather that it was the worke of +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +Ostorius Scapula their legat. Touching other the dooings of Agricola, +in the Scotish chronicle you maie find more at large set foorth: +for that which I haue written heere, is but to shew what in effect +Cornelius Tacitus writeth of that which Agricola did here in Britaine, +without making mention either of Scots or Picts, onelie naming them +Britains, Horrestians, and Calidoneans, who inhabited in those daies +a part of this Ile which now we call Scotland, the originall of which +countrie, and the inhabitants of the same, is greatlie controuersed +among writers; diuerse diuerslie descanting therevpon, some fetching +their reason from the etymon of the word which is Greeke, some from +the opening of their ancestors as they find the same remaining in +records; other some from comparing antiquities togither, and aptlie +collecting the truth as neere as they can. But to omit them, and +returne to the continuation of our owne historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his education in Rome, how long he +reigned: of Lucius his sonne and successor, what time he assumed +the gouernment of this land, he was an open professor of christian +religion, he and his familie are baptised, Britaine receiueth the +faith, 3 archbishops and 28 bishops at that time in this Iland, +Westminster church and S. Peters in Cornehill builded, diuers opinions +touching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the +christian faith was receiued in this Iland_. + +THE 19. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: COILLUS. 125.] +Coillus the sonne of Marius was after his fathers deceasse made +king of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 125. This Coillus or Coill +was brought vp in his youth amongst the Romans at Rome, where he spent +his time not vnprofitablie, but applied himselfe to learning & seruice +in the warres, by reason whereof he was much honored of the Romans, +and he likewise honored and loued them, so that he paied his tribute +truelie all the time of his reigne, and therefore liued in peace and +good quiet. He was also a prince of much bountie, and verie liberall, +whereby he obteined great loue both of his nobles and commons. Some +[Sidenote: Colchester built.] +saie, that he made the towne of Colchester in Essex, but others write, +that Coill which reigned next after Asclepiodotus was the first +founder of that towne, but by other it should seeme to be built long +before, being called Camelodunum. Finallie when this Coill had reigned +the space of 54 yeares, he departed this life at Yorke, leauing after +him a sonne named Lucius, which succeeded in the kingdome. + +[Sidenote: LUCIUS.] +Lucius the sonne of Coillus, whose surname (as saith William +Harison) is not extant, began his reigne ouer the Britains about the +yeare of our Lord 180, as Fabian following the authoritie of Peter +Pictauiensis saith, although other writers seeme to disagree in that +account, as by the same Fabian in the table before his booke partlie +appeareth, wherevnto Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis affirmeth, that this +Lucius was borne in the yeare of our Lord 115, and was crowned king in +the yeare 124, as successor to his father Coillus, which died the same +yeare, being of great age yer the said Lucius was borne. It is noted +[Sidenote: 165.] +by antiquaries, that his entrance was in the 4132 of the world, +916 after the building of Rome, 220 after the comming of Cesar into +Britaine, and 165 after Christ, whose accounts I follow in this +treatise. + +This Lucius is highlie renowmed of the writers, for that he was the +first king of the Britains that receiued the faith of Iesus Christ: +for being inspired by the spirit of grace and truth, euen from the +beginning of his reigne, he somewhat leaned to the fauoring of +Christian religion, being moued with the manifest miracles which the +Christians dailie wrought in witnesse and proofe of their sound and +perfect doctrine. For euen from the daies of Ioseph of Arimathia and +his fellowes, or what other godlie men first taught the Britains the +gospell of our Sauiour there remained amongest the same Britains some +christians which ceased not to teach and preach the word of God most +sincerelie vnto them: but yet no king amongst them openlie professed +that religion, till at length this Lucius perceiuing not onelie some +of the Romane lieutenants in Britaine as Trebellius and Pertinax, with +others, to haue submitted themselues to that profession, but also the +emperour himselfe to begin to be fauorable to them that professed it, +he tooke occasion by their good example to giue eare more attentiuelie +vnto the gospell, and at length sent vnto Eleutherius bishop of Rome +two learned men of the British nation, Eluane and Meduine, requiring +him to send some such ministers as might instruct him and his people +in the true faith more plentifullie, and to baptise them according to +the rules of christian religion. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 119. (*)] +¶ The reuerend father Iohn Iewell, sometime bishop of Salisburie, +writeth in his * replie vnto Hardings answer, that the said +Eleutherius, for generall order to be taken in the realme and churches +heere, wrote his aduice to Lucius in maner and forme following. "You +haue receiued in the kingdome of Britaine, by Gods mercie, both the +law and faith of Christ; ye haue both the new and the old testament, +out of the same through Gods grace, by the aduise of your realme make +a law, and by the same through Gods sufferance rule you your kingdome +of Britaine, for in that kingdome you are Gods vicar." + +Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, +the one named Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the +king with all his familie and people, and therewith remoued the +[Sidenote: Britaine receiueth the faith.] +worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right meane and +waie how to worship the true and immortall God. There were in those +daies within the bounds of Britaine 28 Flamines, & three Archflamines, +which were as bishops and archbishops, or superintendents of the +pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they being remoued) were +instituted 28 bishops & three archbishops of the christian religion. +One of the which archbishops held his see at London, another at Yorke, +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +and the third at Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorganshire. Vnto the +archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall, and all the middle part of +England, euen vnto Humber. To the archbishop of Yorke all the north +parts of Britaine from the riuer of Humber vnto the furthest partes +of Scotland. And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, +within which countrie as then were seuen bishops, where now there are +but foure. The riuer of Seuern in those daies diuided Wales (then +called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine. Thus Britaine +[Sidenote: Iosephus of Arimathia.] +partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard +before) & partlie by the wholesome instructions & doctrines of +Fugatius and Damianus, was the first of all other regions that openlie +receiued the gospell, and continued most stedfast in that profession, +till the cruell furie of Dioclesian persecuted the same, in such sort, +that as well in Britaine as in all other places of the world, the +christian religion was in manner extinguished, and vtterlie destroied. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Westminster Church built.] +There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church +of saint Peter at Westminster, though manie attribute that act vnto +Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write how the place was then +ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, and +was called Thorney. They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of London +preached, read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made +resort vnto him. Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestrie of +saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime hanging in saint +Peters church in Cornehill, it should seeme that the said church of +saint Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded. But herein +(saith Harison _anno mundi_ 4174) dooth lie a scruple. Sure Cornell +might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speciallie in such old records, +as time, age, & euill handling haue oftentimes defaced. + +But howsoeuer the case standeth, truth it is, that Lucius reioising +much, in that he had brought his people to the perfect light and +vnderstanding of the true God, that they needed not to be deceiued +anie longer with the craftie temptations and feigned miracles of +wicked spirits, he abolished all prophane worshippings of false +gods, and conuerted all such temples as had beene dedicated to their +seruice, vnto the vse of christian religion: and thus studieng onlie +how to aduance the glorie of the immortall God, and the knowledge of +his word, without seeking the vaine glorie of worldlie triumph, which +is got with slaughter and bloudshed of manie a giltlesse person, he +left his kingdome; though not inlarged with broder dominion than he +receiued it, yet greatlie augmented and inriched with quiet rest, good +ordinances, and (that which is more to be esteemed than all the rest) +adorned with Christes religion, and perfectlie instructed with his +[Sidenote: _Polydor. Fabian. Iohn Hard._] +most holie word and doctrine. He reigned (as some write) 21 +yeares, though other affirme but twelue yeares. Againe, some testifie +that he reigned 77, others 54, and 43. + +Moreouer here is to be noted, that if he procured the faith of Christ +to be planted within this realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romane +bishop, the same chanced in the daies of the emperour Marcus Aurelius +Antonius; and about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus was ioined +and made partaker of the empire with his father, which was seuen yeere +after the death of Lucius Aelius, Aurelius Verus, and in the 177 after +the birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, as by some chronologies is +easie to be collected. For Eleutherius began to gouerne the see of +Rome in the yeere 169, according to the opinion of the most diligent +chronographers of our time, and gouerned fifteene yeeres and thirteene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Matth. West._] +daies. And yet there are that affirme, how Lucius died at +Glocester in the yeere of our Lord 156. Other say that he died in the +yere 201, and other 208. So that the truth of this historie is brought +into doubt by the discord of writers, concerning the time and other +circumstances, although they all agree that in this kings daies the +christian faith was first by publike consent openlie receiued and +professed in this land, which as some affirme, should chance in the +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +twelfe yeere of his reigne, and in the yeere of our Lord 177. +Other iudge that it came to passe in the eight yeere of his regiment, +and in the yeere of our Lord 188, where other (as before is said) +[Sidenote: _Nauclerus_.] +alledge that it was in the yeere of the Lord 179. Nauclerus saith, +[Sidenote: _Hen. Herf._] +that this happened about the yeare of our Lord 156. And Henricus +de Herfordea supposeth, that it was in the yeere of our Lord 169, and +in the ninteenth yeere of the emperor Marcus Antonius Verus; and after +other, about the sixt yeere of the emperor Commodus. + +But to conclude, king Lucius died without issue, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +after his deceasse the Britains fell at variance, which continued +about the space of fifteene yeeres (as Fabian thinketh) howbeit the +old English chronicle affirmeth, that the contention betwixt them +[Sidenote: _Caxton. Iohn Hard._] +remained fiftie yeeres, though Harding affirmeth but foure yeeres. +And thus much of the Britains, and their kings Coilus and Lucius. Now +it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romans which gouerned here in +the meane while. After that Agricola was called backe to Rome, the +Britains (and namelie those that inhabited beyond Tweed) partlie being +weakned of their former strength, and partlie in consideration of +their pledges, which they had deliuered to the Romans, remained in +peace certeine yeeres. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The Britains after the deceasse of Lucius (who died without issue) +rebell against the Romans, the emperor Adrian comming in his owne +person into Britaine appeaseth the broile, they go about to recouer +their libertie against the Romans, but are suppressed by Lollius the +Romane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and +his policie to keepe the souldiers waking, the Britains being ruled by +certeine meane gentlemen of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse +him to the emperor Commodus, he is mangled and murthered of his +souldiers_. + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CNEUS TREBELLIUS LIEUTENANT.] +In the meane time the Romane lieutenant Cneus Trebellius that +succeeded Iulius Agricola, could not foresee all things so preciselie +but that the souldiers waxing vnrulie by reason of long rest, fell +at variance among themselues, and would not in the end obey the +lieutenant, but disquieted the Britains beyond measure. Wherefore +the Britains perceiuing themselues sore oppressed with intollerable +bondage, and that dailie the same incresed, they conspired togither, +vpon hope to recouer libertie, and to defend their countrie by all +meanes possible, and herewith they tooke weapon in hand against the +Romans, and boldlie assailed them: but this they did yet warilie, +and so, that they might flie vnto the woods and bogs for refuge vpon +necessitie, according to the maner of their countrie. Herevpon diuers +slaughters were committed on both parties, and all the countrie was +now readie to rebell: whereof when the emperour Adrian was aduertised +from Trebellius the lieutenant, with all conuenient speed he passed +ouer into Britaine, and quieted all the Ile, vsing great humanitie +towards the inhabitants; and making small account of that part where +the Scots now inhabit, either bicause of the barrennesse thereof, or +for that by reason of the nature of the countrie he thought it would +be hard to be kept vnder subiection, he deuised to diuide it from the +[Sidenote: The wall of Adrian built. _Spartianus_.] +residue of Britaine, and so caused a wall to be made from the +mouth of Tine vnto the water of Eske, which wall contained in length +30 miles. + +After this, the Britains bearing a malicious hatred towards the Romane +souldiers, and repining to be kept vnder the bond of seruitude, +eftsoones went about to recouer libertie againe. Whereof +[Sidenote: Lollius Vrbicus lieutenant.] +aduertisement being giuen, the emperour Pius Antoninus sent ouer +Lollius Vrbicus as lieutenant into Britaine, who by sundrie battels +striken, constreined the Britains to remaine in quiet, and causing +[Sidenote: _Julius Capitol_. An other wall built.] +those that inhabited in the north parts to remooue further off from +the confines of the Romane prouince, raised another wall beyond that +which the emperor Adrian had made, as is to be supposed, for the more +suertie of the Romane subiects against the inuasion of the enimies. +But yet Lollius did not so make an end of the warrs, but that the +Britains shortlie after attempted afresh, either to reduce their state +into libertie, or to bring the same into further danger. + +[Sidenote: CALPHURNIUS AGRICOLA. Of the doings of this Calphurnius in +Britaine ye may read more in the Scotish chronicle. _Dion Cassius_.] +Wherevpon Marcus Antonius that succeeded Pius, sent Calphurnius +Agricola to succeed Lollius in the gouernement of Britaine, the which +easilie ouercame and subdued all his enimies. After this there chanced +some trouble in the daies of the emperour Commodus the son of Marcus +Antonius and his successor in the empire: for the Britans that dwelled +northwards, beyond Adrians wall, brake through the same, and spoiled +a great part of the countrie, against whom the Romane lieutenant for +that time being come foorth, gaue them battell: but both he and the +Romane souldiers that were with him, were beaten downe and slaine. + +[Sidenote: Vlpius Marcellus lieutenant.] +With which newes Commodus being sore amazed, sent against +the Britains one Vlpius Marcellus, a man of great diligence and +temperance, but therewith rough and nothing gentle. He vsed the same +kind of diet that the common souldiers did vse. He was a capteine much +watchfull, as one contented with verie little sleepe, and desirous to +haue his souldiers also vigilant and carefull to keepe sure watch in +the night season. Euerie euening he would write twelue tables, such as +they vsed to make on the lind tree, and deliuering them to one of his +seruants, appointed him to beare them at seuerall houres of the night +to sundrie souldiers, whereby supposing that their generall was still +watching and not gone to bed, they might be in doubt to sleepe. + +And although of nature he could well absteine from sleepe, yet to be +the better able to forbeare it, he vsed a maruellous spare kind of +diet: for to the end that he would not fill himselfe too much with +bread, he would eat none but such as was brought to him from Rome, so +that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eat, by reason +that the stalenesse tooke awaie the pleasant tast thereof, and lesse +prouoked his appetite. He was a maruellous contemner of monie, so that +bribes might not mooue him to doo otherwise than dutie required. This +Marcellus being of such disposition, sore afflicted the Britains, and +put them oftentimes to great losses: through fame wherof, C[=o]modus +enuieng his renowme was after in mind to make him away, but yet spared +him for a further purpose, and suffered him to depart. + +[Sidenote: Perhennis capteine of the emperours gard.] +After he was remooued from the gouernment of Britaine, one +Perhennis capteine of the emperors gard (or pretorian souldiers +as they were then called) bearing all the rule vnder the emperor +Commodus, appointed certeine gentlemen of meane calling to gouerne the +armie in Britaine. Which fond substituting of such petie officers +to ouersee and ouerrule the people, was to them an occasion of +hartgrudge, and to him a meanes of finall mischeefe: both which it +is likelie he might haue auoided, had he beene prouident in his +[Sidenote: _Aelius Lampridius_.] +deputation. For the souldiers in the same armie grudging and +repining to be gouerned by men of base degree, in respect of those +that had borne rule ouer them before, being honorable personages, as +senators, and of the consular dignitie, they fell at square among +themselues, and about fifteene hundred of them departed towards Rome +to exhibit their complaint against Perhennis: for whatsoeuer was +amisse, the blame was still laid to him. They passed foorth without +impeachment at all, and comming to Rome, the emperour himselfe came +foorth to vnderstand what they meant by this their comming in such +sort from the place where they were appointed to serue. Their answer +was, that they were come to informe him of the treason which Perhennis +had deuised to his destruction, that he might make his son emperor. To +the which accusation when Commodus too lightlie gaue eare, & beleeued +it to be true, namelie, through the setting on of one Cleander, +who hated Perhennis, for that he brideled him from dooing diuerse +vnlawfull acts, which he went about vpon a wilfull mind (without all +reason and modestie) to practise; the matter was so handled in the +end, that Perhennis was deliuered to the souldiers, who cruellie +mangled him, and presentlie put him to a pitifull death. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Pertinax is sent as lieutenant into Britaine, he is in danger to be +slaine of the souldiers, he riddeth himselfe of that perilous office: +Albinus with an armie of Britains fighteth against Seuerus and his +power neere to Lions, Seuerus is slaine in a conflict against the +Picts, Geta and Bassianus two brethren make mutuall warre for the +regiment of the land, the one is slaine, the other ruleth_. + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Pertinax lieutenant of Britaine.] +Now will we saie somewhat of the tumults in Britaine. It was +thought needfull to send some sufficient capteine of autoritie +thither; and therefore was one Pertinax that had beene consull and +ruler ouer foure seuerall consular prouinces, appointed by Commodus +to go as lieutenant into that Ile, both for that he was thought a man +most meet for such a charge, and also to satisfie his credit, for that +he had beene discharged by Perhennis of bearing anie rule, and sent +home into Liguria where he was borne, and there appointed to remaine. +This Pertinax comming into Britaine, pacified the armie, but not +[Sidenote: The lieutenant in danger.] +without danger to haue beene slaine by a mutinie raised by one of +the legions: for he was stricken downe, and left for dead among the +slaine carcasses. But he woorthilie reuenged himselfe of this iniurie. +At length, hauing chastised the rebels, and brought the Ile into +meetelie good quiet, he sued and obteined to be discharged of that +roome, because as he alledged, the souldiers could not brooke him, +for that he kept them in dutifull obedience, by correcting such as +offended the lawes of armes. + +[Sidenote: CLODIUS ALBINUS LIEUTENAT.] +Then was Clodius Albinus appointed to haue the rule of the Romane +armie in Britaine: whose destruction when Seuerus the emperour sought, +Albinus perceiued it quicklie: and therefore choosing foorth a great +power of Britains, passed with the same ouer into France to encounter +with Seuerus, who was come thither towards him, so that neere to the +citie of Lions they ioined in battell and fought right sore, in so +much that Seuerus was at point to haue receiued the ouerthrow by the +high prowesse and manhood of the Britains: but yet in the end Albinus +lost the field, and was slaine. Then Heraclitus as lieutenant began to +gouerne Britaine (as writeth Spartianus) being sent thither by Seuerus +for that purpose before. And such was the state of this Ile about the +yeare of our Lord 195. In which season, because that king Lucius was +dead, and had left no issue to succeed him, the Britains (as before ye +haue heard) were at variance amongst themselues, and so continued till +the comming of Seuerus, whome the British chronographers affirme to +reigne as king in this Ile, & that by right of succession in bloud, as +descended of Androgeus the Britaine, which went to Rome with Iulius +Cesar, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: SEUERUS] +This Seuerus as then emperour of Rome, began to rule this Ile (as +authors affirme) in the yeare of our Lord 207, and gouerned the same 4 +yeares and od moneths. At length hearing that one Fulgentius as then +a leader of the Picts was entred into the borders of his countrie on +this side Durham, he raised an host of Britains and Romans, with +the which he marched towards his enimies: and meeting with the said +Fulgentius in a place neere vnto Yorke, in the end after sore fight +Seuerus was slaine, when he had ruled this land for the space almost +of fiue yeares, as before is said, and was after buried at Yorke, +leauing behind him two sonnes, the one named Geta, and the other +Bassianus. This Bassianus being borne of a British woman, succeeded +his father in the gouernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the +incarnation of our Lord 211. The Romans would haue had Geta created +king of Britaine, bearing more fauour to him because he had a Romane +ladie to his mother: but the Britains moued with the like respect, +held with Bassianus. And thervpon warre was raised betwixt the two +brethren, who comming to trie their quarrell by battell, Geta was +slaine, and Bassianus with aid of the Britains remained victor, and +so continued king, till at length he was slaine by one Carausius a +Britaine, borne but of low birth, howbeit right valiant in armes, and +therefore well esteemed. In somuch that obteining of the senat of Rome +the keeping of the coasts of Britaine, that he might defend the same +from the malice of strangers, as Picts and others, he drew to him a +great number of souldiers and speciallie of Britains, to whome he +promised that if they would make him king, he would cleerelie deliuer +them from the oppression of the Roman seruitude. Wherevpon the +Britains rebelling against Bassianus, ioined themselues to Carausius, +who by their support vanquished and slue the said Bassianus, after he +had reigned 6 or (as some affirme) 30 yeares. + +¶ Thus farre out of the English and British writers, the which how +farre they varie from likelihood of truth, you shall heare in the next +chapter what the approued historiographers, Greekes and Latines, +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +writing of these matters, haue recorded. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The ambitious mind of the old emperour Seuerus, he arriueth in +Britaine with a mightie power to suppresse the rebellious Britains, +the emperours politike prouision for his souldiers in the fens and +bogs: the agilitie of the Britains, their nimblenesse, the painting +of their bodies with diuerse colours, their furniture, their great +sufferance of hunger, cold, &c: diuerse conflicts betweene the Romans +and the Britains, their subtile traines to deceiue their enimies, the +Romans pitifullie distressed, Seuerus constreineth the Caledonians +to conclude a league with him; he falleth sicke, his owne sonne +practiseth to make him away: the Britains begin a new rebellion, the +cruell commandement of Seuerus to kill and slea all that came to +hand without exception, his age, his death, and sepulchre: Bassianus +ambitiouslie vsurpeth the whole regiment, he killeth his brother Geta, +and is slaine himselfe by one of his owne souldiers_. + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Seuerus receiuing aduertisment from the lieutenant +of Britaine, that the people there mooued rebellion, & wasted the +countrie with roads and forraies, so that it was needful to haue the +prince himselfe to come thither with a great power to resist the +enimies, he of an ambitious mind reioised not a little for those +newes, bicause he saw occasion offered to aduance his renowne and +fame with increase of new victories now in the west, after so manie +triumphs purchased and got by him in the east and north parts of the +world. Heerevpon though he was of great age, yet the desire that he +had still to win honour, caused him to take in hand to make a iournie +into this land, and so being furnished of all things necessarie, he +set forwards, being carried for the more part in a litter for his more +ease: for that beside his feeblenesse of age, he was also troubled +with the gout. He tooke with him his two sonnes, Antoninus +[Sidenote: Antoninus and Geta.] +Bassianus and Geta, vpon purpose as was thought, to auoid occasions +of such inconuenience as he perceiued might grow by discord mooued +betwixt them through flatterers and malicious sycophants, which sought +to set them at variance: which to bring to passe, he perceiued there +should want no meane whilest they continued in Rome, amidst such +pleasures & idle pastimes as were dailie there frequented: and +therefore he caused them to attend him in this iournie into Britaine, +that they might learne to liue soberlie, and after the manner of men +of warre. + +[Sidenote: The emperor Seuerus arriueth in Britaine.] +Seuerus being thus on his iournie towards Britaine, staied not by +the waie, but with all diligence sped him foorth, and passing the +sea verie swiftlie, entred this Ile, and assembled a mightie power +togither, meaning to assaile his enimies, and to pursue the warre +against them to the vttermost. The Britains greatlie amazed with this +sudden arriuall of the emperour, and hearing that such preparation was +made against them, sent ambassadours to him to intreat of peace, and +to excuse their rebellious dooings. But Seuerus delaieng time for +answere, as he that was desirous to atchiue some high enterprise +against the Britains, for the which he might deserue the surname of +Britannicus, which he greatlie coueted, still was busie to prepare all +things necessarie for the warre; and namelie, caused a great number +of bridges to be made to lay ouer the bogs and mareshes, so that his +souldiers might haue place to stand vpon, and not to be incumbered for +lacke of firme ground when they should cope with their enimies: for +[Sidenote: _Herodianus_.] +the more part of Britaine in those daies (as Herodianus writeth) was +full of fens & maresh ground, by reason of the often flowings and +[Sidenote: He meaneth of the north Britains or sauage Britains as we +may call them.] +washings of the sea tides: by the which maresh grounds the enimies +being thereto accustomed, would run and swim in the waters, and wade +vp to the middle at their pleasure, going for the more part naked, so +that they passed not on the mud and mires, for they knew not the vse +or wearing cloths, but ware hoopes of iron about their middles and +necks, esteeming the same as an ornament token of riches, as other +barbarous people did gold. + +Moreouer they marked, or (as it were) painted their bodies in diuerse +sorts and with sundrie shapes and figures of beasts and fowles, and +therefore they vsed not to weare anie garments, that such painting of +their bodies might the more apparantlie be seene, which they esteemed +a great brauerie. + +They were as the same Herodianus writeth, a people giuen much to war, +[Sidenote: The furniture of the sauage Britains.] +and delighted in slaughter and bloudshed, vsing none other weapons +or armour but a slender buckler, a iaueline, and a swoord tied to +their naked bodies: as for headpeece or habergeon, they esteemed not, +bicause they thought the same should be an hinderance to them when +they should passe ouer anie maresh, or be driuen to swim anie waters, +or flee to the bogs. + +Moreouer, to suffer hunger, cold, and trauell, they were so vsed and +inured therewith, that they would not passe to lie in the bogs and +mires couered vp to the chin, without caring for meate for the space +of diuerse daies togither: and in the woods they would liue vpon +roots and barks of trees. Also they vsed to prepare for themselues a +certeine kind of meate, of the which if they receiued but so much as +amounted to the quantitie of a beane, they would thinke themselues +satisfied, and feele neither hunger nor thirst. The one halfe of +the Ile or little lesse was subiect vnto the Romans, the other was +gouerned of themselues, the people for the most part hauing the rule +in their hands. + +Seuerus therefore meaning to subdue the whole, and vnderstanding their +nature, and the manner of their making warre, prouided him selfe of +all things expedient for the annoiance of them and helpe of his owne +souldiers, and appointing his sonne Geta to remaine in that part of +the Ile which was subiect to the Romans, he tooke with him his other +sonne Antoninus, and with his armie marched foorth, and entred into +the confines of the enimies, and there began to waste and forrey +the countrie, whereby there insued diuerse conflicts and skirmishes +betwixt the Romans and the inhabitants, the victorie still remaining +on the Romans side: but the enimies easilie escaped without anie great +losse vnto the woods, mountains, bogs, and such other places of refuge +as they knew to be at hand, whither the Romans durst not follow, nor +once approch, for feare to be intrapped and inclosed by the Britains +that were readie to returne and assaile their enimies vpon euerie +occasion of aduantage that might be offered. + +This maner of dealing sore troubled the Romans, and so hindered them +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +in their proceedings, that no speedie end could be made of that +warre. The Britains would oftentimes of purpose laie their cattell, as +oxen, kine, sheepe, and such like, in places conuenient, to be as a +stale to the Romans; and when the Romans should make to them to fetch +the same awaie, being distant from the residue of the armie a good +space, they would fall vpon them and distresse them. Beside this, the +Romans were much annoied with the vnwholesomnesse of the waters which +they were forced to drinke, and if they chanced to straie abroad, they +were snapped vp by ambushes which the Caledonians laid for them, and +when they were so feeble that they could not through want of strength +keepe pace with their fellowes as they marched in order of battell, +they were slaine by their owne fellowes, least they should be left +behind for a prey to the enimies. Heereby there died in this iournie +of the Romane armie, at the point of fiftie thousand men: but yet +would not Seuerus returne, till he had gone through the whole Ile, +and so came to the vttermost parts of all the countrie now called +Scotland, and at last backe againe to the other part of the Ile +subiect to the Romans, the inhabitants whereof are named (by Dion +Cassius) _Meatae_. But first he forced the other, whom the same Dion +nameth Caledonij, to conclude a league with him, vpon such conditions, +as they were compelled to depart with no small portion of the +countrie, and to deliuer vnto him their armour and weapons. + +In the meane time, the emperour Seuerus being worne with age fell +sicke, so that he was constreined to abide at home within that part of +the Ile which obeied the Romans, and to appoint his sonne Antoninus +to take charge of the armie abroad. But Antoninus not regarding the +enimies, attempted little or nothing against them, but sought waies +how to win the fauour of the souldiers and men of warre, that after +his fathers death (for which he dailie looked) he might haue their aid +and assistance to be admitted emperour in his place. Now when he saw +that his father bare out his sicknesse longer time than he would haue +wished, he practised with physicians and other of his fathers seruants +to dispatch him by one meane or other. + +Whilest Antoninus thus negligentlie looked to his charge, the Britains +began a new rebellion, not onlie those that were latelie ioined in +league with the emperour, but the other also which were subjects to +the Romane empire. Seuerus tooke such displeasure, that he called +togither the souldiers, and commanded them to inuade the countrie, and +to kill all such as they might meet within anie place without respect, +and that his cruell commandement he expressed in these verses taken +out of Homer: +[Sidenote: _Iliados. 3_.] + + Nemo manus fugiat vestras, caedemque cruentam, + Non foetus grauida mater quern gessit in aluo + Horrendam effugiat caedem. + +But while he was thus disquieted with the rebellion of the Britains, +and the disloiall practises of his sonne Antoninus, which to him were +not vnknowne, (for the wicked sonne had by diuers attempts discouered +his traitorous and vnnaturall meanings) at length, rather through +[Sidenote: Heriodianus. Dion Cassius. Eutropius. Dion Cassius.] +sorrow and griefe, than by force of sicknesse, he wasted awaie, and +departed this life at Yorke, the third daie before the nones of +Februarie, after he had gouerned the empire by the space of 17 yeares, +8 moneths, & 33 daies. He liued 65 yeres, 9 moneths, & 13 daies: he +was borne the third ides of April. By that which before is recited out +of Herodian and Dion Cassius, of the maners & vsages of those people, +against whome Seuerus held warre here in Britaine, it maie be +coniectured, that they were the Picts, the which possessed in those +daies a great part of Scotland, and with continuall incursions and +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Orosius.] +rodes wasted and destroyed the borders of those countries which +were subiect to the Romans. To keepe them backe therefore and to +represse their inuasions, Seuerus (as some write) either restored +[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_.] +the former wall made by Adrian, or else newlie built an other +ouerthwart the Ile, from the east sea to the west, conteining in +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +length 232 miles. This wall was not made of stone, but of turfe and +earth supported with stakes and piles of wood, and defended on the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boetius_] +backe with a deepe trench or ditch, and also fortified with +diuerse towers and turrets built & erected vpon the same wall or +rampire so neere togither, that the sound of trumpets being placed in +the same, might be heard betwixt, and so warning giuen from one to +another vpon the first descrieng of the enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Polydorus. Herodianus_. 211.] +Seuerus being departed out of this life in the yere of our Lord +211, his son Antoninus otherwise called also Bassianus, would faine +haue vsurped the whole gouernment into his owne hands, attempting with +bribes and large promises to corrupt the minds of the souldiers: but +when he perceiued that his purpose would not forward as he wished in +that behalfe, he concluded a league with the enimies, and making peace +with them, returned backe towards Yorke, and came to his mother and +brother Geta, with whome he tooke order for the buriall of his father. +And first his bodie being burnt (as the maner was) the ashes were put +into a vessell of gold, and so conueied to Rome by the two brethren +and the empresse Iulia, who was mother to Geta the yonger brother, +and mother in law to the elder, Antoninus Bassianus, & by all meanes +possible sought to maintaine loue and concord betwixt the brethren, +which now at the first tooke vpon them to rule the empire equallie +togither. But the ambition of Bassianus was such, that finallie vpon +desire to haue the whole rule himselfe, he found meanes to dispatch +his brother Geta, breaking one daie into his chamber, and slaieng him +euen in his mothers lap, and so possessed the gouernment alone, till +at length he was slaine at Edessa a citie in Mesopotamia by one of his +owne souldiers, as he was about to vntrusse his points to doo the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_.] +office of nature, after he had reigned the space of 6 yeares, as is +aforesaid. Where we are to note Gods judgment, prouiding that he which +had shed mans bloud, should also die by the sword. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Carausius an obscure Britaine, what countries he gaue the Picts, +and wherevpon, his death by Alectus his successor, the Romans foiled +by Asclepiodotus duke of Cornewall, whereof Walbrooke had the name, +the couetous practise of Carausius the usurper_. + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CARAUSIUS. 218.] +Carausius a Britan of vnknowne birth, as witnesseth the British +histories, after he had vanquisht & slaine Bassianus (as the same +histories make mention) was of the Britains made king and ruler ouer +them, in the yeare of our Lord 218, as Galfridus saith: but W.H. +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Polychron. Fabian_.] +noteth it to be in the yeare 286. This Carausius either to haue the +aid & support of the Picts, as in the British historic is conteined, +either else to be at quietnesse with them, being not otherwise able +to resist them, gaue to them the countries in the south parts of +Scotland, which ioine to England on the east marshes, as Mers, +Louthian, and others. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_.] +¶ But here is to be noted, that the British writers affirme, that +these Picts which were thus placed in the south parts of Scotland at +this time, were brought ouer out of Scithia by Fulgentius, to aid him +against Seuerus, and that after the death of Seuerus, and Fulgentius, +which both died of hurts receiued in the batell fought betwixt them at +Yorke: the Picts tooke part with Bassianus, and at length betraied him +in the battell which he fought against Carausius: for he corrupting +them by such subtile practises as he vsed, they turned to his side, +to the ouerthrow and vtter destruction of Bassianus: for the which +traitorous part they had those south countries of Scotland giuen +vnto them for their habitation. But by the Scotish writers it should +appeare, that those Picts which aided Fulgentius and also Carausius, +were the same that long before had inhabited the north parts of +Britaine, now called Scotland. But whatsoeuer they were, truth it is +(as the British histories record) that at length one Alectus was +sent from Rome by the senat with 3 legions of souldiers to subdue +Carausius, which he did, and slue him in the field, as the same +histories make mention, after he had reigned the space of 7, or 8, +yeares: and in the yeare of our saluation two hundred, ninetie, three. + +[Sidenote: ALECTUS. Of whom our British histories doo write after their +maner. 293.] +Alectus in hauing vanquished and slaine Carausius tooke vpon him +the rule and gouernment of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 293. +This Alectus, when he had restored the land to the subiection of the +Romans, did vse great crueltie against such Britains as had maintained +the part of Carausius, by reason whereof he purchased much euill +will of the Britains, the which at length conspired against him, and +purposing to chase the Romans altogither out of their countrie, they +procured one Asclepiodotus (whome the British chronicles name duke +of Cornewall) to take vpon him as chiefe captaine that enterprise. +Wherevpon the same Asclepiodotus assembling a great armie, made such +sharpe warres on the Romans, that they being chased from place to +place, at length withdrew to the citie of London, and there held them +till Asclepiodotus came thither, and prouoked Alectus and his Romans +so much, that in the end they issued foorth of the citie, and gaue +battell to the Britans, in the which much people on both parts were +slaine, but the greatest number died on the Romans side: and amongst +others, Alectus himselfe was slaine, the residue of the Romans that +were left aliue, retired backe into the citie with a capteine of +theirs named Liuius Gallus, and defended themselues within the walles +for a time right valiantlie. Thus was Alectus slaine of the +[Sidenote: _Fabian. Matth. West._] +Britains, after he had reigned (as some suppose) about the terme of +six yeares, or (as some other write) three yeares. + +[Sidenote: ASCLEPIODOTUS. _Gal. Mon. Matt. West._] +Asclepiodotus, duke of Cornewall, began his reigne ouer the +Britains in the yeare of our Lord 232. After he had vanquished the +Romans in battell, as before is recited, he laid his siege about the +citie of London, and finallie by knightlie force entred the same, and +slue the forenamed Liuius Gallus neere vnto a brooke, which in those +daies ran through the citie, & threw him into the same brooke: by +reason whereof long after it was called Gallus or Wallus brooke. +[Sidenote: Walbrooke.] +And at this present the streete where the same brooke did run, is +called Walbrooke. + +Then after Asclepiodotus had ouercome all his enimies, he held this +land a certeine space in good rest and quiet, and ministred iustice +vprightlie, in rewarding the good, and punishing the euill. Till at +length, through slanderous toongs of malicious persons, discord was +raised betwixt the king and one Coill or Coilus, that was gouernour +of Colchester: the occasion whereof appeareth not by writers. But +whatsoeuer the matter was, there insued such hatred betwixt them, that +on both parts great armies were raised, and meeting in the field, +[Sidenote: Asclepiodotus slaine. _Matt. West._ hath x. years.] +they fought a sore and mightie battell, in the which Asclepiodotus was +slaine, after he had reigned 30 yeares. Thus haue Geffrey of Monmouth +and our common chroniclers written of Carausius, Alectus, and +Asclepiodotus, which gouerned heere in Britaine. + +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +But Eutropius the famous writer of the Romane histories, in the +acts of Dioclesian hath in effect these woords. "About the same time +Carausius, the which being borne of most base ofspring, attained to +high honour and dignitie by order of renowmed chiualrie & seruice in +the warres, receiued charge at Bolein, to keepe the seas quiet alongst +the coasts of Britaine, France, and Flanders, and other countries +thereabouts, bicause the Frenchmen, which yet inhabited within the +bounds of Germanie, and the Saxons sore troubled those seas. +[Sidenote: The couetous practising of Carausius.] +Carausius taking oftentimes manie of the enimies, neither restored the +goods to them of the countrie from whome the enimies had bereft the +same, nor yet sent anie part therof to the emperours, but kept the +whole to his owne use. Whervpon when suspicion arose, that he should +of purpose suffer the enimies to passe by him, till they had taken +some prises, that in their returne with the same he might incounter +with them, and take that from them which they had gotten (by which +subtile practise he was thought greatly to haue inriched him +selfe) Maximianus that was fellow in gouernment of the empire with +[Sidenote: Maximianus purposeth to slea Carusius.] +Dioclesianus, remaining then in Gallia, and aduertised of these +dooings, commanded that Carausius should be slaine, but he hauing +warning thereof rebelled, and vsurping the imperiall ornaments and +title, got possession of Britaine, against whom (being a man of +great experience in all warlike knowledge) when warres had beene +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +attempted and folowed in vaine, at length a peace was concluded with +him, and so he enioied the possession of Britaine by the space of +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +seuen yeeres, & then was slaine by his companion Alectus, the +which after him ruled Britaine for the space of three yeeres, and was +in the end oppressed by the guile of Asclepiodotus gouernour of the +pretorie, or (as I maie call him) lord lieutenant of some precinct +and iurisdiction perteining to the Romane empire." And so was Britaine +recouered by the foresaid Asclepiodotus about ten yeeres after that +Carausius had first vsurped the gouernment there, and about the +[Sidenote: 300.] +yeere of our Lord 300, as Polydor iudgeth, wherein he varieth much +from Fabian and others. + +¶But to shew what we find further written of the subduing of Alectus, +[Sidenote: _Mamertinus_.] +I thinke it not amisse to set downe what Mamertinus in his oration +written in praise of Maximianus dooth report of this matter, which +shall be performed in the chapter following. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The substance of that which is written touching Britaine in a +panegyrike oration ascribed to Mamertinus, which he set foorth in +praise of the emperors Dioclesian and Maximian: it is intituled onelie +to Maximian, whereas neuerthelesse both the emperors are praised; +and likewise (as ye may perceiue) Constantius who was father to +Constantine the great is here spoken of, being chosen by the two +foresaid emperors, to assist them by the name of Caesar in rule of the +empire: of whom hereafter more shall be said_. + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +"All the compasse of the earth (most victorious emperor) being now +recouered through your noble prowesse, not onelie so farre as the +limits of the Romane empire had before extended, but also the enimies +borders beeing subdued, when Almaine had beene so often vanquished, +and Sarmatia so often restrained & brought vnder, the people called +[Sidenote: Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi, and people of Germanie and Polonie.] +Vitungi, Quadi, Carpi so often put to flight, the Goth submitting +himselfe, the king of Persia by offering gifts suing for peace: one +despitefull reproch of so mightie an empire and gouernement ouer the +whole greeued vs to the heart, as now at length we will not sticke to +confesse, and to vs it seemed the more intollerable, bicause it onlie +remained to the accomplishing of your perfect renowme and glorie. And +verilie as there is but one name of Britaine, so was the losse to be +esteemed smal to the common wealth of a land so plentifull of corne, +so abundant with store of pastures, so flowing with veines of mettall, +so gainfull with reuenues rising of customs and tributes, so enuironed +with hauens, so huge in circuit, the which when Cesar, the founder of +this your honourable title, being the first that entered into it, writ +that he had found an other world, supposing it to be so big, that it +was not compassed with the sea, but that rather by resemblance the +great Ocean was compassed with it. Now at that time Britaine was +nothing furnished with ships of warre; so that the Romans, soone after +the warres of Carthage and Asia, had latelie beene exercised by +sea against pirats, and afterwards by reason of the warres against +Mithridates, were practised as well to fight by sea as land; besides +this, the British nation then alone was accustomed but onelie to +[Sidenote: Picts and Irishmen.] +the Picts and Irishmen, enimies halfe naked as yet & not vsed to weare +armor, so that the Britains for lacke of skill, easilie gaue place to +the Romane puissance, insomuch that Cesar might by that voiage onelie +glorie in this, that he had sailed and passed ouer the Ocean sea. + +"But in this wicked rebellious robberie, first the nauie that in times +past defended the coasts of Gallia, was led away by the pirat when he +fled his waies: and beside this, a great number of other ships were +built after the mould of ours, the legion of Romane souldiers was +woon, and brought to take part with the enimie, and diuers bands of +strangers that were also souldiers were shut vp in the ships to serue +also against vs. The merchants of the parties of Gallia were assembled +and brought togither to the musters, and no small numbers of barbarous +nations procured to come in aid of the rebels, trusting to inrich +themselues by the spoile of the prouinces: and all these were trained +in the wars by sea, through the instruction of the first attemptors of +this mischieuous practise. + +"And although our armies were inuincible in force and manhood, yet +were they raw and not accustomed to the seas, so that the fame of a +greeuous and great trouble by warre that was toward by this shamefull +rebellious robberie was blowne and sounded in ech mans eare, +[Sidenote: Long sufferance of euill increaseth boldnesse in the +authors.] +although we hoped well of the end. Vnto the enimies forces was added +a long sufferance of their wicked practises without punishment, which +had puffed vp the presumptuous boldnesse of desperate people, that +they bragged of our stay, as it had bene for feare of them, whereas +the disaduantage which we had by sea, seemed as it were by a fatall +necessitie to deferre our victorie: neither did they beleeue that the +warre was put off for a time by aduise and counsell, but rather to be +omitted through despaire of dooing anie good against them, insomuch +that now the feare of common punishment being laid aside, one of +[Sidenote: Carausius slaine.] +the mates slue the archpirat or capteine rouer as I may call him, +hoping in reward of so great an exploit, to obteine the whole +gouernement into his hands. + +"This warre then being both so necessarie, so hard to enter vpon, so +growne in time to a stubborne stiffenesse, and so well prouided for of +the enimies part, you noble emperour did so take it in hand, that so +soone as you bent the thundering force of your imperiall maiestie +against that enimie, ech man made account that the enterprise was +alreadie atchiued. For first of all, to the end that your diuine +power being absent, the barbarous nations should not attempt anie +new trouble (a thing chieflie to be foreseene) it was prouided for +aforehand by intercession made vnto your maiestie: for you your selfe, +you (I say) mightie lord Maximian eternall emperour, vouchedsafe to +aduance the comming of your diuine excellence by the neerest way that +might be, which to you was not vnknowne. You therefore suddenlie came +to the Rhine, and not with anie armie of horssemen or footmen, but +with the terrour of your presence did preserue and defend all that +frontire: for Maximian once being there vpon the riuage, counteruailed +anie the greatest armies that were to be found. For you (most +inuincible emperour) furnishing and arming diuers nauies, made the +enimie so vncerteine of his owne dooing and void of counsell, that +then at length he might perceiue that he was not defended, but rather +inclosed with the Ocean sea. + +"Here commeth to mind how pleasant and easefull the good lucke of +those princes in gouerning the common wealth with praise was, which +sitting still in Rome had triumphs and surnames appointed them of +[Sidenote: Fronto counted Ciceros match.]such nations as their +capteins did vanquish. Fronto therefore, not the second, but match +with the first honor of the Romane eloquence, when he yeelded vnto +the emperor Antoninus the renowme of the warre brought the citie, +had committed the conduct and successe of that warre ouer vnto the +same Fronto, it was confessed by him, that the emperour sitting as +it were at the helme of the ship, deserued the praise, by giuing of +perfect order to the full accomplishing of the enterprise. But you +(most inuincible emperour) haue bene not onlie the appointer foorth +how all this voiage by sea, and prosecuting the warre by land should +bee demeaned, as apperteined to you by vertue of your imperiall rule +and dignitie, but also you haue beene an exhorter and setter forward +in the things themselues, and through example of your assured +constancie, the victorie was atchiued. For you taking the sea at +Sluice, did put an irreuocable desire into their hearts that were +readie to take ship at the same time in the mouth of the riuer of +Saine, insomuch that when the capteins of that armie did linger out +the time, by reason the seas and aire was troubled, they cried to haue +the sailes hoised vp, and signe giuen to lanch foorth, that they +might passe forward on their iournie, despising certeine tokens +which threatened their wrecke, and so set forward on a rainie and +tempestuous day, sailing with a crosse wind, for no forewind might +serue their turne. + +"But what was he that durst not commit himselfe vnto the sea, were +the same neuer so vnquiet, when you were once vnder saile, and set +forward? One voice and exhortation was among them all (as report hath +gone thereof) when they heard that you were once got forth vpon the +water, What doo we dout? what mean we to staie? He is now loosed from +land, he is forward on his waie, and peraduenture is alreadie got +ouer: Let vs put all things in proofe, let vs venter through anie +dangers of sea whatsoeuer. What is there that we may stand in feare +of? we follow the emperour. Neither did the opinion of your good hap +deceiue them: for as by report of them selues we doo vnderstand, at +that selfe time there fell such a mist and thicke fog vpon the seas, +that the enimies nauie laid at the Ile of wight watching for their +aduersaries, and lurking as it were in await, these your ships passed +by, and were not once perceiued, neither did the enimie then staie +although he could not resist. + +"But now as concerning that the same vnuanquishable army fighting +vnder your ensignes and name, streightwaies after it came to land, +set fire on their ships; what mooued them so to doo, except the +admonitions of your diuine motion? Or what other reason persuaded them +to reserue no furtherance for their flight, if need were, nor to feare +the doubtfull chances of war, nor (as the prouerbe saith) to +thinke the hazard of martiall dealings to be common, but that by +contemplation of your prosperous hap, it was verie certeine that there +needed no doubt to be cast for victorie to be obteined? There were no +sufficient forces at that present among them, no mightie or puissant +strength of the Romans, but they had onelie consideration of your +vnspeakable fortunate successe comming from the heauens aboue. For +whatsoeuer battell dooth chance to be offered, to make full account +[Sidenote: The good lucke in a capteine.] +of victorie, resteth not so much in the assurance of the +souldiers, as in the good lucke and felicitie of the capteine +generall. + +"That same ringleader of the vngratious faction, what ment he to +depart from that shore which he possessed? Why did he forsake both his +nauie and the hauen? But that (most inuincible emperour) he stood +in feare of your comming, whose sailes he beheld readie to approch +towards him, how soeuer the matter should fall out, he chose rather to +trie his fortune with your capteins, than to abide the present force +of your highnes. Ah mad man! that vnderstood not, that whither so euer +he fled, the power of your diuine maiestie to be present in all places +where your countenance & banners are had in reuerence. But he fleeing +from your presence, fell into the hands of your people, of you was he +ouercome, of your armies was he oppressed. + +"To be short, he was brought into such feare, and as it were still +looking behind him, for doubt of your comming after him, that as one +out of his wits and amazed, he wist not what to doo, he hasted forward +to his death, so that he neither set his men in order of battell, nor +marshalled such power as he had about him, but onlie with the old +authors of that conspiracie, and the hired bands of the barbarous +nations, as one forgetfull of so great preparation which he had made, +ran headlong forwards to his destruction, insomuch (noble emperour) +your felicitie yeeldeth this good hap to the common wealth, that the +victorie being atchiued in the behalfe of the Romane empire, there +almost died not one Romane: for as I heare, all those fields and +hills lay couered with none but onelie with the bodies of most wicked +enimies, the same being of the barbarous nations, or at the leastwise +apparelled in the counterfet shapes of barbarous garments, glistering +with their long yellow haires, but now with gashes of wounds and bloud +all deformed, and lieng in sundrie manners, as the pangs of death +occasioned by their wounds had caused them to stretch foorth or draw +in their maimed lims and mangled parts of their dieng bodies. And +[Sidenote: Alectus found dead.] +among these, the chiefe ringleader of the theeues was found, who +had put off those robes which in his life time he had vsurped and +[Sidenote: He had despoiled himselfe of the imperiall robes, bicause +he would not be knowne if he chanced to be slaine.] +dishonoured, so as scarse was he couered with one peece of apparell +whereby he might be knowne, so neere were his words true, vttered at +the houre of his death, which he saw at hand, that he would not haue +it vnderstood how he was slaine. + +"Thus verelie (most inuincible emperour) so great a victorie was +appointed to you by consent of the immortall gods ouer all the enimies +whome you assailed, but namelie the slaughter of the Frankeners and +those your souldiers also, which (as before I haue said) 24 through +[Sidenote Francones slue Franci.] +missing their course by reason of the mist that lay on the seas, were +now come to the citie of London, where they slue downe right in ech +part of the same citie, what multitude soeuer remained of those hired +barbarous people, which escaping from the battell, ment (after they +had spoiled the citie) to haue got awaie by flight. But now being thus +slaine by your souldiers, the subiects of your prouince were both +preserued from further danger, and tooke pleasure to behold the +slaughter of such cruell enimies. O what a manifold victorie was this, +worthie vndoubtedlie of innumerable triumphes! by which victorie +Britaine is restored to the empire, by which victorie the nation of +the Frankeners is vtterlie destroied, & by which manie other nations +found accessaries in the conspiracie of that wicked practise, are +compelled to obedience. To conclude, the seas are purged and brought +to perpetuall quietnesse. + +"Glorie you therefore, inuincible emperour, for that you haue as it +were got an other world, & in restoring to the Romane puissance the +glory of conquest by sea, haue added to the Romane empire an element +greater than all the compasse of the earth, that is, the mightie maine +ocean. You haue made an end of the warre (inuincible emperour) that +seemed as present to threaten all prouinces, and might haue spred +abroad and burst out in a flame, euen so largelie as the ocean seas +stretch, and the mediterrane gulfs doo reach. Neither are we ignorant, +although through feare of you that infection did fester within the +bowels of Britaine onelie, and proceeded no further, with what furie +it would haue aduanced it selfe else where, if it might haue beene +assured of means to haue ranged abroad so far as it wished. For it was +bounded in with no border of mounteine, nor riuer, which garrisons +appointed were garded and defended but euen so as the ships, although +we had your martiall prowes and prosperous fortune redie to releeue +vs, & was still at our elbowes to put vs in feare, so farre as either +sea reacheth or wind bloweth. + +"For that incredible boldnesse and vnwoorthie good hap of a few sillie +[Sidenote: The piracie of the Frankeners called _Franci_ or _Francones_.] +captiues of the Frankeners in time of the emperour Probus came to our +remembrance, which Frankeners in that season, conueieng awaie certeine +vessels from the coasts of Pontus, wasted both Grecia and Asia, and +not without great hurt and damage, ariuing vpon diuers parts of the +shore of Libia, at length tooke the citie of Saragose in Sicile (an +hauen towne in times past highlie renowmed for victories gotten by +sea:) & after this passing thorough the streicts of Giberalterra, +came into the Ocean, and so with the fortunate successe of their rash +presumptuous attempt, shewed how nothing is shut vp in safetie from +the desperate boldnesse of pirats, where ships maie come and haue +accesse. And so therefore by this your victorie, not Britaine alone +is deliuered from bondage, but vnto all nations is safetie restored, +which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of +warre, as to gaine of commodities in time of peace. + +"Now Spaine (to let passe the coasts of Gallia) with hir shores almost +in sight is in suertie: now Italie, now Afrike, now all nations euen +vnto the fens of Meotis are void of perpetuall cares. Neither are they +lesse ioifull, the feare of danger being taken awaie, which to feele +as yet the necessitie had not brought them: but they reioise so much +the more for this, that both in the guiding of your prouidence, and +also furtherance of fortune, so great a force of rebellion by seamen +is calmed, vpon the entring into their borders, and Britaine it selfe +which had giuen harbour to so long a mischiefe, is euidentlie knowne +[Sidenote: Britains restored to quietnes.] +to haue tasted of your victorie, with hir onelie restitution to +quietnesse. Not without good cause therfore immediatlie, when you hir +long wished reuenger and deliuerer were once arriued, your maiestie +was met with great triumph, & the Britains replenished with all inward +[Sidenote: The Britains receiue Maximian with great ioy and +humblenesse.] +gladnesse, came foorth and offered themselues to your presence, +with their wiues and children, reuerencing not onlie your selfe (on +whom they set their eies, as on one descended downe to them from +heauen) but also euen the sailes and tackling of that ship which had +brought your diuine presence vnto their coasts: and when you should +set foot on land, they were readie to lie downe at your feet, that you +might (as it were) march ouer them, so desirous were they of you. + +"Neither was it anie maruell if they shewed them selues so ioifull, +sith after their miserable captiuitie so manie yeeres continued, after +so long abusing of their wiues, and filthie bondage of their children, +at length yet were they now restored to libertie, at length made +Romans, at length refreshed with the true light of the imperiall rule +and gouernement: for beside the fame of your clemencie and pitie, +which was set forth by the report of all nations, in your countenance +(Cesar) they perceiued the tokens of all vertues, in your face +grauitie, in your eies mildnesse, in your ruddie cheekes bashfulnesse, +in your words iustice: all which things as by regard they +acknowledged, so with voices of gladnesse they signified on high. To +you they bound themselues by vow, to you they bound their children: +yea and to your children they vowed all the posteritie of their race +and ofspring. + +[Sidenote: Dioclesian and Maximian.] +"We trulie (O perpetuall parents and lords of mankind) require +this of the immortall gods with most earnest supplication and heartie +praier, that our children and their children, and such other as shall +come of them for euer hereafter, may be dedicated vnto you, and to +those whom you now bring vp, or shall bring vp hereafter. For what +better hap can we wish to them that shall succeed vs, than to be +enioiers of that felicitie which now we our selues enioy? The Romane +common wealth dooth now comprehend in one coniunction of peace, all +whatsoeuer at sundrie times haue belonged to the Romans, and that huge +power which with too great a burden was shroonke downe, and riuen in +sunder, is now brought to ioine againe in the assured ioints of the +imperiall gouernment. For there is no part of the earth nor region +vnder heauen, but that either it remaineth quiet through feare, or +subdued by force of armies, or at the lestwise bound by clemencie. +And is there anie other thing else in other parts, which if will and +reason should mooue men thereto, that might be obteined? Beyond the +Ocean, what is there more than Britaine, which is so recouered by +[Sidenote: Nations neere to Britaine obeie the emperours.] +you, that those nations which are nere adioining to the bounds of that +Ile, are obedient to your commandements? There is no occasion that may +mooue you to passe further, except the ends of the Ocean sea, which +nature forbiddeth should be sought for. All is yours (most inuincible +princes) which are accounted woorthie of you, and thereof commeth it, +that you may equallie prouide for euerie one, sith you haue the whole +in your maiesties hands. And therefore as heretofore (most excellent +emperour Dioclesian) by your commandement Asia did supplie the desert +places of Thracia with inhabitants transported thither, as afterward +(most excellent emperour Maximian) by your appointment, the Frankeners +at length brought to a pleasant subiection, and admitted to liue vnder +[Sidenote: The printed booke hath Heruij, but I take the H, to be +thrust in for N.] +lawes, hath peopled and manured the vacant fields of the Neruians, +and those about the citie of Trier. And so now by your victories +(inuincible Constantius Cesar) whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens, +Beauois, Trois, and Langres, beginneth to florish with inhabitants of +sundrie nations: yea and moreouer that your most obedient citie of +Autun, for whose sake I haue a peculiar cause to reioise, by meanes +of this triumphant victorie in Britaine, it hath receiued manie & +[Sidenote: Artificers foorth of Britaine.] +diuerse artificers, of whom those prouinces were ful, and now by their +workemanship the same citie riseth vp by repairing of ancient houses, +and restoring of publike buildings and temples, so that now it +accounteth that the old name of brotherlie incorporation to Rome, is +againe to hir restored, when she hath you eftsoones for hir founder. I +haue said (inuincible emperour) almost more than I haue beene able, +& not so much as I ought, that I may haue most iust cause by your +clemencies licence, both now to end, & often hereafter to speake: and +thus I ceasse." + + * * * * * + + + + +_What is to be observed and noted out of the panegyrike oration of +Mamertinus afore remembred, with necessarie collections out of other +Antiquaries_. + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Now let vs consider what is to be noted out of this part of the +foresaid oration. It should seeme that when the emperour Maximian was +sent into Gallia by appointment taken betwixt him and Dioclesian, +after he had quieted things there, he set his mind foorthwith to +reduce Britaine vnder the obedience of the empire, which was at that +present kept vnder subiection of such princes as mainteined their +state, by the mightie forces of such number of ships as they had got +togither, furnished with all things necessarie, & namelie of able +[Sidenote: Franci, or Frankeneres, people of Germanie.] +seamen, as well Britains as strangers, among whome the Frankeners +were chiefe, a nation of Germanie, as then highly renowmed for their +puissance by sea, neere to the which they inhabited, so that there +were no rouers comparable to them. + +But because none durst stirre on these our seas for feare of the +British fleet that passed to and fro at pleasure, to the great +annoiance of the Romane subiects inhabiting alongst the coasts of +Gallia, Maximian both to recouer againe so wealthie and profitable a +land vnto the obeisance of the empire, as Britaine then was, and also +to deliuer the people of Gallia subiect to the Romans, from danger +of being dailie spoiled by those rouers that were mainteined here in +Britaine, he prouided with all diligence such numbers of ships as were +thought requisite for so great an enterprise, and rigging them in +sundrie places, tooke order for their setting forward to his most +aduantage for the easie atchiuing of his enterprise. He appointed to +passe himselfe from the coasts of Flanders, at what time other of +capteines with their fleets from other parts should likewise make +saile towards Britaine. By this meanes Alectus that had vsurped the +title & dignitie of king or rather emperour ouer the Britains, knew +not where to take heed, but yet vnderstanding of the nauie that was +made readie in the mouth of Saine, he ment by that which maie be +coniectured, to intercept that fleet, as it should come foorth and +make saile forwards: and so for that purpose he laie with a great +number of ships about the Ile of Wight. + +But whether Asclepiodotus came ouer with that nauie which was rigged +on the coasts of Flanders, or with some other, I will not presume +to affirme either to or fro, because in deed Mamertinus maketh +no expresse mention either of Alectus or Asclepiodotus: but +notwithstanding it is euident by that which is conteined in his +oration, that not Maximian, but some other of his capteins gouerned +the armie, which slue Alectus, so that we maie suppose that +Asclepiodotus was chiefteine ouer some number of ships directed by +Maximians appointment to passe ouer into this Ile against the same +Alectus: and so maie this, which Mamertinus writeth, agree with the +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_.] +truth of that which we doo find in Eutropius. + +Heere is to be remembred, that after Maximians had thus recouered +Britaine out of their hands that vsurped the rule thereof from the +Romans, it should seeme that not onelie great numbers of artificers +& other people were conueied ouer into Gallia, there to inhabit and +furnish such cities as were run into decaie, but also a power of +warlike youths was transported thither to defend the countrie from the +inuasion of barbarous nations. For we find that in the daies of this +Maximian, the Britains expelling the Neruians out of the citie of Mons +in Henaud, held a castell there, which was called Bretaimons after +them, wherevpon the citie was afterward called Mons, retaining the +last syllable onlie, as in such cases it hath often happened. + +Moreouer this is not to be forgotten, that as Humfrey Lhoyd hath very +well noted in his booke intituled "Fragmenta historiae Britannicae," +Mamertinus in this parcell of his panegyrike oration dooth make first +mention of the nation of Picts, of all other the ancient Romane +writers: so that not one before his time once nameth Picts or Scots. +But now to returne where we left. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting +tyrant, of Alban the first that suffered martyrdome in Britaine, what +miracles were wrought at his death, whereof Lichfield tooke the name; +of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was maried to +Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose_. + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that Britaine was thus recouered by the Romans, Dioclesian and +Maximian ruling the empire, the Iland tasted of the crueltie that +Dioclesian exercised against the christians, in persecuting them with +all extremities, continuallie for the space of ten yeeres. Amongst +other, one Alban a citizen of Werlamchester, a towne now bearing +his name, was the first that suffered here in Britaine in this +persecution, being conuerted to the faith by the zealous christian +Amphibalus, whom he receiued into his house: insomuch that when there +[Sidenote: _Beda and Gyldas_.] +came sergeants to seeke for the same Amphibalus, the foresaid +Alban to preserue Amphibalus out of danger, presented himselfe in the +apparell of the said Amphibalus, & so being apprehended in his stead, +was brought before the iudge and examined: and for that he refused to +doo sacrifice to the false gods, he was beheaded on the top of an hill +ouer against the towne of Werlamchester aforesaid where afterwards +was builded a church and monasterie in remembrance of his martyrdome, +insomuch that the towne there restored, after that Werlamchester was +destroied, tooke name of him, and so is vnto this day called saint +Albons. + +It is reported by writers, that diuers miracles were wrought at the +[Sidenote: _Beda_. See the booke of acts and monuments set forth +by master Fox.] +time of his death, insomuch that one which was appointed to doo the +execution, was conuerted, and refusing to doo that office, suffered +also with him: but he that tooke vpon him to doo it, reioised nothing +thereat, for his eies fell out of his head downe to the ground, +togither with the head of that holie man which he had then cut off. +There were also martyred about the same time two constant witnesses +of Christ his religion, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerleon +[Sidenote:_Iohn Rossus. Warwicens. in lib. de Wigorniens. epis._] +Arwiske. Moreouer, a great number of Christians which were assembled +togither to heare the word of life, preached by that vertuous man +Amphibalus, were slaine by the wicked pagans at Lichfield, whereof +[Sidenote: Lichfield whereof it tooke name.] +that towne tooke name, as you would say, The field of dead corpses. + +To be briefe, this persecution was so great and greeuous, and thereto +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +so vniuersall, that in maner the Christian religion was thereby +destroied. The faithfull people were slaine, their bookes burnt, +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +and churches ouerthrowne. It is recorded that in one moneths space +[Sidenote: _Matth. West. Constantius_.] +in diuers places of the world there were 17000 godlie men and women +put to death, for professing the christian faith in the daies of that +tyrant Dioclesian and his fellow Maximian. + +[Sidenote: COELUS. 262.] +Coelus earle of Colchester began his dominion ouer the Britains in +the yeere of our Lord 262. This Coelus or Coell ruled the land for +a certeine time, so as the Britains were well content with his +gouernement, and liued the longer in rest from inuasion of the Romans, +bicause they were occupied in other places: but finallie they finding +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +time for their purpose, appointed one Constantius to passe ouer +into this Ile with an armie, the which Constantius put Coelus in +such dread, that immediatlie vpon his arriuall Coelus sent to him an +ambassage, and concluded a peace with him, couenanting to pay the +[Sidenote:_Gal. Mon._ _Fabian_. _Caxton_.] +accustomed tribute, & gaue to Constantius his daughter in mariage +called Helen, a noble ladie and a learned. Shortlie after king Coell +died, when he had reigned (as some write) 27 yeeres or (as other haue) +but 13 yeeres. + +¶ But by the way touching this Coelus, I will not denie, but assuredly +such a prince there was: howbeit that he had a daughter named Helen, +whom he maried vnto Constantius the Romane lieutenant that was after +emperor, I leaue that to be decided of the learned. For if the whole +course of the liues, as well of the father and the sonne Constantius +and Constantine, as likewise of the mother Helen, be consideratelie +marked from time to time, and yeere to yeere, as out of authors both +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7. cap. 18_.] +Greeke and Latine the same may be gathered, I feare least such +doubt maie rise in this matter, that it will be harder to prooue Helen +a Britane, than Constantine to be borne in Bithynia (as Nicephorus +auoucheth.) But forsomuch as I meane not to step from the course of +our countrie writers in such points, where the receiued opinion may +seeme to warrant the credit of the historie, I will with other admit +both the mother and sonne to be Britains in the whole discourse of the +historie following, as though I had forgot what in this place I haue +said. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, his +regiment ouer this Iland, his behauiour and talke to his sonne and +councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a deuise that he put in +practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, +his commendable vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the +christian faith is prooued_. + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matth. West._ saith 302. 289.] +Constantius a senatour of Rome began to reigne ouer the Britains, +in the yeere of our Lord 289, as our histories report. This +Constantius (as before ye haue heard) had to wife Helen the +daughter of the foresaid king Coel, of whome he begat a sonne named +Constantinus, which after was emperour, and for his woorthie dooings +surnamed Constantine the great. S. Ambrose following the common +[Sidenote: _Orosius. Beda_.] +report, writeth that this Helen was a maid in an inne: and some +againe write, that she was concubine to Constantius, and not his wife. +[Sidenote: _Cuspinian_.] +But whatsoeuer she was, it appeareth by the writers of the Romane +[Sidenote: _Fabian._] +histories, that Constantius being the daughters sonne of one +Crispus, that was brother to the emperour Claudius, came into +Britaine, and quieted the troubles that were raised by the Britains, +and there (as some write) maried the foresaid Helen, being a woman of +an excellent beautie, whom yet [after] he was constreined to forsake, +and to marrie Theodora the daughter in law of Herculeus Maximianus, by +whome he had six sonnes, and finallie was created emperour, togither +with the said Galerius Maximianus, at what time Dioclesianus and his +fellow Herculeus Maximianus renounced the rule of the empire, and +committed the same vnto them. The empire was then diuided betwixt +them, so that to Constantius the regions of Italie, Affrike, France +Spaine and Britaine were assigned; & to Galerius, Illyricum, Grecia, +and all the east parts. But Constantine being a man void of ambition, +was contented to leaue Italie and Affrike, supposing his charge to be +great inough to haue the gouernement in his hands of France, Spaine, +and Britaine (as Eutropius saith.) + +But as touching his reigne ouer the Britains, we haue not to say +further than as we find in our owne writers recorded: as for his +gouernement in the empire, it is to be considered, that first he was +admitted to rule as an assistant to Maximian vnder the title of +Cesar: and so from that time if you shall account his reigne, it maie +comprehend 11, 12, or 13 yeeres, yea more or lesse, according to the +diuersitie found in writers. Howbeit, if we shall reckon his reigne +from the time onelie that Dioclesian and Maximian resigned their +title vnto the empire, we shall find that he reigned not fullie three +yeeres. For whereas betweene the slaughter of Alectus, and the comming +of Constantius, are accounted 8 yeeres and od moneths, not onelie +those eight yeeres, but also some space of time before maie be +ascribed vnto Constantius: for although before his comming ouer into +Britaine now this last time (for he had beene here afore, as it well +appeereth) Asclepiodotus gouerning as legat, albeit vnder Constantius, +who had a great portion of the west parts of the empire vnder his +regiment, by the title, as I haue said, of Cesar, yet he was not said +to reigne absolutelie till Dioclesian and Maximian resigned. But now +to conclude with the dooings of Constantius, at length he fell +[Sidenote: 306.] +sicke at Yorke, and there died, about the yeere of our Lord 306. + +This is not to be forgotten, that whilest he laie on his death-bed, +somewhat before he departed this life, hearing that his sonne +Constantine was come, and escaped from the emperours Dioclesian and +Maximian, with whom he remained as a pledge (as after shall be partlie +touched) he receiued him with all ioy, and raising himselfe vp in his +bed, in presence of his other sonnes & counsellours, with a great +number of other people and strangers that were come to visit him, he +set the crowne vpon his sonnes head, and adorned him with other +[Sidenote: _Niceph._] +imperiall robes and garments, executing as it were him selfe the +office of an herald, and withall spake these woords vnto his said +sonne, and to his counsellours there about him: "Now is my death to +[Sidenote: _Tripartit. histo._] +me more welcome, and my departure hence more pleasant; I haue heere a +large epitaph and monument of buriall, to wit, mine owne sonne, and +one whome in earth I leaue to be emperour in my place, which by Gods +good helpe shall wipe away the teares of the Christians, and reuenge +the crueltie exercised by tyrants. This I reckon to chance vnto me in +steed of most felicitie." + +After this, turning himselfe to the multitude, he commanded them all +to be of good comfort, meaning those that had not forsaken true vertue +and godlinesse in Christ, which Christ he vndertooke should continue +with his sonne Constantine in all enterprises, which in warres or +otherwise he should take in hand. That deuise also is woorthie to +be had in memorie, which he put in practise in his life time, to +vnderstand what true and sincere Christians were remaining in his +court. For whereas he had beene first a persecuter, and after was +conuerted, it was a matter easie to persuade the world, that he was no +earnest Christian: and so the policie which he thought to worke, was +the sooner brought to passe, which was this. + +He called togither all his officers and seruants, feining himselfe +to choose out such as would doo sacrifice to diuels, and that those +onelie should remaine with him and keepe their office, and the rest +that refused so to doo, should be thrust out, and banished the court. +Heervpon all the courtiers diuided themselues into companies: and +when some offered willinglie to doo sacrifice, and other some boldlie +refused: the emperour marking their dealings, sharpelie rebuked those +which were so readie to dishonour the liuing God, accounting them as +treitours to his diuine maiestie, and not woorthie to remaine within +the court gates: but those that constantlie stood in the profession +of the christian faith, he greatlie commended, as men woorthie to be +about a prince: and withall declared, that from thencefoorth they +should be as chiefe counsellours and defenders both of his person and +kingdome, esteeming more of them than of all the treasure he had in +his coffers. + +To conclude, he was a graue prince, sober, vpright, courteous and +liberall, as he which kept his mind euer free from couetous desire of +great riches: insomuch that when he should make anie great feast to +his friends, he was not ashamed to borow plate and siluer vessell to +[Sidenote: _Pomponius Laenis_.] +serue his turne, and to furnish his cupbord for the time, being +contented for himselfe to be serued in cruses & earthen vessels. He +was woont to haue this saieng in his mouth, that better it was that +the subiects should haue store of monie and riches, than the prince to +keepe it close in his treasurie, where it serued to no vse. By such +courteous dealing the prouinces which were in his charge flourished +in great wealth and quietnesse. He was a verie wise and politike +[Sidenote: He died in the yeere 306. as _Matt. West._ hath noted, +and reigned over the Britains but 11. yeeres as _Galf._ saith.] +prince in the ordering of all weightie matters, and verie skillfull in +the practise of warres, so that he stood the Romane empire in great +steed, and was therefore highlie beloued of the souldiers, insomuch +that immediatlie after his deceasse, they proclaimed his sonne +Constantine emperour. + +That the Christian faith was imbraced of the Britains in this season, +it maie appeere, in that Hilarias bishop of Poictiers writeth to his +brethren in Britaine, and Constantine in an epistle (as Theodoretus +saith in his first booke and tenth chapter) maketh mention of the +churches in Britaine: which also Sozomenus dooth affirme. For the +Britains after they had receiued the faith, defended the same euen +with the shedding of their bloud, as Amphibalus, who in this +[Sidenote: 291. _Iohn Bale_.] +Constantius daies being apprehended, suffered at Redburne neere to +Werlamchester, about 15 yeeres after the martyrdome of his host S. +Albane. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantine created emperour in Britaine, he is sollicited to take +vpon him the regiment of those countries that his father gouerned, he +is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping tyrant, Maximianus his +father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by the +said Maximianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daughter +of Maximianus & wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie +to hir husband, Maximianus is strangled at Constantines commandement, +league and alliance betweene him and Licinius, he is slaine, the +empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with the +inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the +nailes wherewith Christ was crucified, Constantine commended, the +state of Britaine in his time_. + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE. 306.] +Constantine being the son of the forenamed Constantius, begot of +his first wife Helen, the daughter (as some affirme) of Coell late +king of the Britains, began to reigne in the yeere of our Lord 306. +This worthie prince begotten of a British woman, & borne of hir in +Britaine (as our writers doo affirme) and created certeinlie emperour +in Britaine, did doubtlesse make his natiue countrie partaker of his +high glorie and renowme, which by his great prowes, politike +wisedome, woorthie gouernment, and other his princelie qualities most +abundantlie planted in his noble person, he purchased and got thorough +the circuit of the whole earth, insomuch that for the high enterprises +and noble acts by him happilie brought to passe and atchiued, he was +surnamed (as before is said) the great Constantine. Whilest this +Constantine remained at Rome in manner as he had beene a pledge with +Galerius in his fathers life time, he being then but yoong, fled from +thence, and with all post hast returned to his father into Britaine, +killing or howghing by the waie all such horsses as were appointed +[Sidenote: Eutropius. Sextus Aurelius Victor.] +to stand at innes readie for such as should ride in post, least being +pursued, he should haue beene ouertaken, and brought backe againe by +such as might be sent to pursue him. + +At his comming into Britaine, he found his father sore vexed with +sicknesse, whereof shortlie after he died, and then was he by helpe of +such as were about him, incouraged to take vpon him as emperour: +[Sidenote: Erocus king of the Almains.] +and namelie one Erocus king of the Almains, which had accompanied +his father thither, assisted him thereto, so that being proclaimed +emperour, he tooke vpon him the rule of those countries which his +father had in gouernment, that is to saie, France, Spaine, the Alpes, +and Britaine, with other prouinces heere in the west: and ruling the +same with great equitie and wisdome, he greatly wan the fauour of +the people, insomuch that the fame of his politike gouernment and +courteous dealing being spred abroad, when Maxentius the tyrant +[Sidenote: Maxentius the tyrant.] +that occupied the rule of the empire at Rome, and in Italie by +wrongfull vsurping & abusing the same, was grown into the hatred of +the Romans and other Italians, Constantine was earnestlie by them +requested to come into Italie, and to helpe to subdue Maxentius, that +he might reforme the state of things there. + +This Maxentius was sonne to Herculeus Maximianus, and Constantine had +married Fausta the daughter of the said Maximianus. Now so it was, +that Maximianus, immediatlie after that his sonne Maxentius had taken +the rule vpon him, sought meanes to haue deposed him, and to haue +resumed and taken eftsoones into his owne hands the gouernment of +the empire. But solliciting Dioclesian to doo the like, he was much +reprooued of him for his vnreasonable and ambitious purpose: so that +when he perceiued that neither Dioclesian would be thereto agreeable, +nor induce the souldiers to admit him, they hauing alreadie +established his sonne, began to deuise waies how to assure the state +more stronglie to his said sonne. And hearing that his sonne in law +Constantine was minded to come into Italie against him, he purposed to +practise Constantines destruction, insomuch that it was iudged by this +[Sidenote: Dissimulation.] +which followed, that Herculeus Maximianus did but for a colour +seeme to mislike that which his said son Maxentius had doone, to the +end he might the sooner accomplish his intent for the dispatching of +Constantine out of the waie. + +[Sidenote: _Ranulphus Cestrensis_.] +Heerevpon (as it were) fleeing out of Italie, he came to +Constantine, who as then hauing appointed lieutenants vnder him in +Britaine, remained in France, and with all ioy and honour that might +be, receiued his father in law: the which being earnestlie bent to +[Sidenote: Fausta the daughter of Maximianas and wife to Constantine.] +compasse his purpose, made his daughter Fausta priuie thereto: +which ladie (either for feare least the concealing thereof might turne +hir to displeasure, either else for the entire loue which she bare to +hir husband) reuealed hir fathers wicked purpose. Wherevpon whilest +[Sidenote: Marsiles.] +Constantine went about to be reuenged of such a traitorous +practise, Herculeus fled to Marsiles, purposing there to take the sea, +and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italie. But yer he could +[Sidenote: Maximianus slaine. _Ann. Chri. 322_.] +get awaie from thence, he was strangled by commandement of his +sonne in law Constantine, and so ended his life, which he had spotted +with manie cruell acts, as well in persecuting the professours of the +christian name, as others. + +[Sidenote: Licinius chosen fellow with Maximianus in the empire.] +In this meane time had Maximianus adopted one Licinius to assist +him in gouernance of the empire, proclaiming him Cesar. So that now at +one selfe time Constantine gouerned France and the west parts of the +empire, Maxentius held Italie, Affrike, and Aegypt: and Maximianus +which likewise had beene elected Cesar, ruled the east parts, and +Licinius Illyrium and Grecia. But shortlie after, the emperour +Constantine ioined in league with Licinius, and gaue to him his +sister in marriage, named Constantia, for more suertie of faithfull +friendship to indure betwixt them. He sent him also against Maximianus +who gouerning in the east part of the empire, purposed the destruction +of Constantine and all his partakers: but being vanquished by Licinius +at Tarsus, he shortlie after died, being eaten with lice. Constantine +after this was called into Italie, to deliuer the Romans and Italians +from the tyrannie of Maxentius, which occasion so offered, Constantine +gladlie accepting, passed into Italie, and after certeine victories +got against Maxentius, at length slue him. + +After this, when Maximianus was dead, who prepared to make warre +against Licinius, that had married Constantia the sister of +Constantine, he finallie made warre against his brother in law the +said Licinius, by reason of such quarrels as fell out betwixt them. In +the which warre Licinius was put to the woorse, and at length comming +into the hands of Constantine, was put to death, so that Constantine +by this meanes got the whole empire vnder his rule and subiection. +He was a great fauourer of the Christian religion, insomuch that to +aduance the same, he tooke order for the conuerting of the temples +dedicated to the honour of idols, vnto the seruice of the true and +almightie God. He commanded also, that none should be admitted to +[Sidenote: Christians honoured and cherished.] +serue as a souldier in the warres, except he were a christian, nor yet +to haue rule of anie countrie or armie. He also ordeined, the weeke +before Easter, and that which followed to be kept as holie, and no +person to doo anie bodilie woorks during the same. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. The praise of the empresse Helen. 328.] +He was much counselled by that noble and most vertuous ladie his +mother, the empresse Helen, who being a godlie and deuout woman, did +what in hir laie, to mooue him to the setting foorth of Gods honour +and increase of the christian faith, wherein as yet he was not fullie +instructed. ¶ Some writers alledge, that she being at Ierusalem, made +diligent search to find out the place of the sepulchre of our Lord, +and at length found it, though with much adoo: for the infidels had +stopped it vp, and couered it with a heape of filthie earth, and +builded aloft vpon the place, a chappell dedicated to Venus, where +yoong women vsed to sing songs in honour of that vnchast goddesse. +Helen caused the same to be ouerthrowne, the earth to be remooued, and +the place cleansed, so that at length the sepulchre appeered, and fast +by were found there buried in the earth three crosses and the nailes. +But the crosse wherevpon our Sauiour was crucified, was knowne by the +title written vpon it, though almost worne out, in letters of Hebrew, +Greeke, and Latine: the inscription was this, _Iesus Nazarenus rex +Iudaeorum_. It was also perceiued which was that crosse by a miracle +(as it is reported, but how trulie I can not tell) that should be +wrought thereby: for being laid to a sicke woman, onlie with the +touching thereof she was healed. It was also said, that a dead man was +raised from death to life, his bodie onlie being touched therewith. +Wherevpon Constantine mooued with these things, forbad that from +thencefoorth anie should be put to death on the crosse, to the +end that the thing which afore time was accounted infamous and +reprochfull, might now be had in honour and reuerence. + +The empresse Helen hauing thus found the crosse, builded a temple +there,& taking with hir the nailes, returned with the same to hir +sonne Constantine, who set one of them in the crest of his helmet, +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +an other in the bridle of his horsse, and the third he cast into the +sea, to asswage and pacifie the furious tempests and rage thereof. She +also brought with hir a parcell of that holie crosse, and gaue it +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +to hir sonne the said Constantine, the which he caused to be closed +within an image that represented his person, standing vpon a piller +in the market place of Constantine, or (as some late writers haue) he +caused it to be inclosed in a coffer of gold, adorned with rich stones +and pearls, placing it in a church called Sessoriana, the which church +he indued with manie great gifts and precious ornaments. Manie works +of great zeale and vertue are remembered by writers to haue beene +doone by this Constantine and his mother Helen, to the setting foorth +of Gods glorie, and the aduancing of the faith of Christ. But to be +[Sidenote: The commendation of Constantine.] +briefe, he was a man in whome manie excellent vertues and good +qualities both of mind and bodie manifestlie appeered, chieflie he was +a prince of great knowledge and experience in warre, and therewith +verie fortunate, an earnest louer of iustice, and to conclude, borne +to all honour. + +But now to speake somewhat of the state of Britaine in his time, ye +shall vnderstand, that as before is recorded, at his going ouer into +France, after that he was proclaimed emperour, he left behind him in +Britaine certeine gouernours to rule the land, and amongst other one +Maximinus a right valiant capteine. He tooke with him a great part +of the youth of Britaine, and diuerse of the chiefe men amongst the +nobilitie, in whose approoued manhood, loialtie, and constancie, he +conceiued a great hope to go thorough with all his enterprises, as +with the which being accompanied and compassed about, he passed ouer +into Gallia, entred into Italie, and in euerie place ouercame his +enimies. + +[Sidenote: _Gulielmus Malmes._ Britains seruing in the warres vnder +Constantine.] +Some write that Constantine thus conueieng ouer sea with him a +great armie of Britains, and by their industrie obteining victorie as +he wished, he placed a great number of such as were discharged out +of wages, and licenced to giue ouer the warre, in a part of Gallia +towards the west sea coast, where their posteritie remaine vnto this +daie, maruellouslie increased afterwards, and somewhat differing from +our Britains, the Welshmen, in manners and language. Amongst those +noble men which he tooke with him when he departed out of this +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Matt. West._] +land (as our writers doo testifie) were three vncles of his mother +Helen, that is to say Hoelmus, Trahernus, and Marius, whome he made +senators of Rome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Octauius a British lord, his reigne ouer the Britains, he +incountereth with Traherne first neere Winchester, and afterwards in +Westmerland: Octauius being discomfited fleeth into Norway, Traherne +is slaine, Octauius sendeth for Maximianus, on whom he bestoweth his +daughter and the kingdome of Britaine: the death of Octauius, Helena +builded the wals of Colchester and London, she dieth and is buried, +Constantine departeth this life, Britaine reckoned among the prouinces +that reteined the christian faith, Paulus a Spaniard is sent into +Britaine, he dealeth roughlie with the people, Martinus the lieutenant +excuseth them as innocent, his vnluckie end, Paulus returneth into +Italie_. + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now in the meane time that Constantine had obteined and ruled the +whole empire, Britaine as it were hauing recouered libertie, in that +one of hir children being hir king, had got the gouernment of the +[Sidenote: Octauius. _Caxton_. Gewisses inhabited the countrie +which the west Saxons after held. The name of Gewisses came in with +the Saxons of Guuy, &c.] +whole earth, remained in better quiet than afore time she had doone. +But yet in the meane season, if we shall credit the British chronicle +and Geffrey of Monmouth the interpretor thereof; there was a British +lord, named Octauius or Octauian, as the old English chronicle nameth +him, that was duke of the Gewisses, and appointed by Constantine to +be ruler of the land in his absence, the which Octauius (after that +Constantine had recouered Rome and Italie, and was so busied in the +affaires of the empire in those parts, that as was thought, he could +not returne backe into Britaine) seized into his hands the whole +dominion of Britaine, and held himselfe for king. + +[Sidenote: OCTAUIUS.] +This Octauius then beginning his reigne ouer the Britains in the +[Sidenote: _Galfridus_. Sidenote: 329.] +yeere of our Lord 329, prouoked Constantine to send against him one +of his mothers vncles, the foresaid Traherne. This Trahernus, or +as some name him Traherne, entred this land with three legions of +souldiers, & in a field neere vnto Winchester, was incountered by +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Galfridus_. This agreeth not +altogither with that which _Hector Boetius_ writeth, as in the +Scotish chronicle appeereth.] +Octauius and his Britains, by whome after a sore battell there +striken betwixt them, in the end Traherne was put to flight and +chased, insomuch that he was constreined to forsake that part of the +land, and to draw towards Scotland. Octauius hauing knowledge of his +passage, followed him, & in the countrie of Westmerland eftsoones gaue +him battell, but in that battell Octauius was put to the woorsse, and +constreined to forsake the land, fled into Norway, there to purchase +aid: and being readie with such power as he there gathered, what of +Britains and Norwegians, to returne into Britaine. Before his landing +he was aduertised that an earle of Britaine which bare him heartie +[Sidenote: Traherne slaine. See in the Scotish chronicles more of +these matters. _Matth. West._ saith 316.] +good will, had by treason slaine Traherne. Octauius then comming to +land, eftsoones got possession of Britaine, which should be (as Fabian +gathereth) about the yeere of our Lord 329, in the 20 yeere of the +reigne of the emperour Constantine, and about two yeeres after that +the said Octauius first tooke vpon him to rule as king. + +After this (as the British chronicle affirmeth) Octauius gouerned the +land right noblie, and greatlie to the contentation of the Britains. +At length when he was fallen in age, and had no issue but one +[Sidenote: Maximianus is sent for. Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall. +This agreeth not with that which is found in the Scotish chronicles.] +daughter, he was counselled to send vnto Rome for one Maximianus, a +noble yoong man, coosine to the emperour Constantine, on the part of +his mother Helena, to come into Britaine, and to take to his wife +the said daughter of Octauius, and so with hir to haue the kingdome. +Octauius at the first meant to haue giuen hir in mariage vnto one +Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall, which was his nephue: but when the +lords would not thereto agree, at the length he appointed one +Maurice sonne to the said Conan to go to Rome to fetch the forenamed +Maximianus. + +Maurice according to his commission and instruction in that behalfe +[Sidenote: Maximianus commeth into Britaine.] +receiued, came to Rome, and declared his message in such +effectuall sort, that Maximianus consented to go with him into +Britaine, and so taking with him a conuenient number, set forward, and +did so much by his iournies, that finallie he landed here in Britaine. +And notwithstanding that Conan Meridoc past not so much to haue beene +dooing with him, for malice that he conceiued towards him, because +he saw that by his meanes he should be put beside the crowne, yet at +length was Maximianus safelie brought to the kings presence, and of +him honorablie receiued, and finallie the mariage was knit vp, and +solemnized in all princelie maner. Shortlie after, Octauius +[Sidenote: Octauius departeth this life.] +departed out of this life, after he had reigned the terme of fiftie +and foure yeares, as Fabian gathereth by that which diuers authors +doo write, how he reigned till the daies that Gratian and Valentinian +ruled the Roman empire which began to gouerne in the yeare of +[Sidenote: 382.] +our Lord (as he saith) 382, which is to be vnderstood of Gratian his +reigne after the deceasse of his vncle Valens, for otherwise a doubt +maie rise, because Valentine the father of Gratian admitted the said +Gratian to the title of Augustus in the yeare of our Lord 351. + +But to leaue the credit of the long reigne of Octauius, with all his +and others gouernement and rule ouer the Britains since the time of +Constantius, vnto our British and Scotish writers, let vs make an end +with the gouernement of that noble emperour Constantine, and assured +branch of the Britains race, as borne of that worthie ladie the +empresse Helen, daughter to Coell earle of Colchester, and after king +of Britaine (as our histories doo witnesse.) Vnto the which empresse +Constantine bare such dutifull reuerence, that he did not onelie +honour hir with the name of empresse, but also made hir as it were +partaker with him of all his wealth, and in manie things was led and +ruled by hir vertuous and godlie admonitions, to the aduancement +of Gods honour, and maintenance of those that professed the true +christian religion. For the loue that she bare vnto Colchester and +London, she walled them about, and caused great bricke and huge tiles +to be made for the performance of the same, whereof there is great +store to be seene euen yet to this present, both in the walls of +[Sidenote: _Nicephorus_. The empresse Helen departeth this life.] +the towne and castell of Colchester, as a testimonie of the +woorkemanship of those daies. She liued 79 yeares, and then departed +this life about the 21 yeare of hir sonnes reigne. First she was +buried at Rome without the walls of the citie with all funerall pompe, +[Sidenote: 340.] +as to hir estate apperteined: but after hir corps was remoued and +brought to Constantinople, where it was eftsoones interred. Hir +[Sidenote: The deceasse of the emperour Constantine.] +sonne the emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ +340, and then deceassed at Nicomedia in Asia, after he had ruled the +empire 32 yeares and od moneths. + +We find not in the Romane writers of anie great stur here in Britaine +during his reigne more than the British and Scotish writers haue +recorded: so that after Traherne had reduced this land to quietnesse, +it maie be supposed, that the Britains liued in rest vnder his +gouernement, and likewise after vnder his sonnes that succeeded him in +[Sidenote: 360.] +the empire, till about the yeare 360, at what time the Picts and +Scots inuaded the south parts of the land. + +But now to end with Octauius, that the christian faith remained still +in Britaine, during the supposed time of this pretended kings reigne, +it maie appeare, in that amongst the 36 prouinces, out of the which +there were assembled aboue 300 bishops in the citie of Sardica +[Sidenote: _Synodus anno_. 354] +in Dacia, at a synod held there against the Eusebians, Britaine is +numbred by Athanasius in his second apologie to be one. And againe, +the said Athanasius in an epistle which he writeth to the emperour +Iouinianus reciteth, that the churches in Britaine did consent with +the churches of other nations in the confession of faith articuled +in the Nicene councell. Also mention is made by writers of certeine +godlie & learned men, which liued in offices in the church in those +daies, as Restitutus bishop of London, which went ouer to the synod +held at Arles in France, and also one Kibius Corinnius sonne to +Salomon duke of Cornewall, and bishop of Anglesey, who instructed the +people that inhabited the parts now called Northwales, and them of +Anglesey aforesaid verie diligentlie. + +But now to speake somewhat of things chancing in Britaine about this +season (as we find recorded by the Romane writers) some trouble was +likelie to haue growne vnto the Britains by receiuing certeine men of +warre that fled out of Italie into Britaine, whome the emperour +[Sidenote: _Marcellinus. lib._ 14.] +Constantius would haue punished, because they had taken part with +[Sidenote: Paulus a notarie.] +Maxentius his aduersarie. Paulus a Spaniard and notarie was sent +ouer by him, with commission to make inquirie of them, and to see them +brought to light to answere their transgressions: which Paulus began +to deale roughlie in the matter, whereof he was called Catera, and to +rage against the Britains and partakers with the fugitiues, in that +they had receiued and mainteined them, as he alledged: but in the +[Sidenote: Martinus lieutenant.] +end being certified by Martinus the lieutenant of their innocencie, +and fearing least his extreame rigour might alienate the hearts of the +inhabitants altogither, and cause them to withdraw their obedience +from the Romane empire, he turned the execution of his furie from them +vnto the Romans, and made hauocke of those that he suspected, till the +said Martinus fell at square with him, & thinking on a time to kill +him, he drew his sword and smote at him. But such was his age and +weakenesse, that he was not able to kill him or giue him anie deadlie +wound: wherefore he turned the point of his sword against himselfe, +and so ended his life, being contented rather to die than see his +countriemen and subiects of the empire so to be abused. After this the +said Paulus returned backe againe into Italie from whence he came, +after whose departure, it was not long yer he also was slaine, and +then all the Scots and Picts sore disquieted the Romane subiects, +for the suppressing of whose attempts Lupicinus was sent ouer out of +Gallia by Iulianus, as shall be declared out of Amianus Marcellinus, +after we haue first shewed what we find written in our owne writers +concerning the Scots and Picts, who now began to rob and spoile the +British inhabitants within the Romane prouinces here in this Ile, and +that euen in most outragious maner. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Maximianus or Maximus gouerneth this Ile, why writers speake ill +of him, strife betwixt him and Conan duke of Cornewall, Maximus is +proclaimed emperour in Britaine, he transporteth the British youth +seruiceable for warres into France, little Britaine in France why +so called, eleuen thousand maids sent thither to match with Conans +people, whereof some were drowned, and other some murthered in the +way by Guanius king of Hunnes and Melga king of Picts, they flie into +Ireland, murther requited with murther, the words of Gyldas concerning +Maximus_. + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MAXIMIANUS OR MAXIMUS. 383.] +After the deceasse of Octauius or Octauian (as the old English +chronicle nameth him) Maximianus or Maximus (as the Romane writers +call him) began to rule the Britains in the yeere of our Lord 383, he +was the sonne of one Leonine, and coosen germane to Constantine the +great, a valiant personage, & hardie of stomach: but yet because he +was cruell of nature, and (as Fabian saith) somewhat persecuted the +christians, he was infamed by writers: but the chiefe cause why he was +euil reported, was for that he slue his souereigne lord the emperour +Gratianus, as after shall appeare, for otherwise he is supposed +woorthie to haue had the rule of the empire committed to his hands in +ech respect. Betwixt him and the aboue-named Conan Meridoc duke of +Cornewall, chanced strife and debate, so that Conan got him into +Scotland, and there purchasing aid, returned, and comming ouer +Humber, wasted the countrie on ech side. Maximianus thereof hauing +aduertisement, raised his power and went against him, and so fighting +with him diuers battels, sometime departed awaie with victorie, and +sometime with losse. At length through mediation of friends, a peace +was made betwixt them. Finallie this Maximianus, or (as the Romane +histories say) Maximus, was by the souldiers chosen and proclaimed +emperour here in Britaine: although some write that this was doone in +Spaine. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon. Fabian. Caxton. Matth. West._ The British youth +led forth of the realme by Maximianus. Britaine in France.] +After he had taken vpon him the imperiall dignitie, vpon desire to +haue inlarged his dominion, he assembled togither all the chosen youth +of this land meet to doo seruice in the warres, with the which he +passed ouer into France, & there (as our writers record) he first +subdued the countrie ancientlie called Armorica, and slue in battell +the king thereof called Imball. This doone he gaue the countrie vnto +Conan Meridoc, which was there with him, to hold the same of him, and +of the kings of great Britaine for euer. He also commanded that the +said countrie from thencefoorth should be called litle Britaine, and +so was the name changed. What people soeuer inhabited there before, +the ancient name argueth that they were rather Britains than anie +other: for Armorica in the British toong signifieth as much as a +countrie lieng vpon the sea. + +Conan then placing himselfe and his Britains in that quarter of +Gallia, auoided all the old inhabitants, peopling that countrie onelie +with Britains, which abhorring to ioine themselues with women borne in +Gallia, Conan was counselled to send into Britaine for maids to be +[Sidenote: Dionethius duke of Cornwall.] +coupled with his people in mariage. Herevpon a messenger was +dispatched vnto Dionethus at that time duke of Cornwall, and gouernour +of Britaine vnder Maximianus, requiring him to send ouer into +[Sidenote: Maids sent foorth.] +little Britaine 11000 maids, that is to say, 8000 to be bestowed vpon +the meaner sort of Conans people, and 3000 to be ioined in mariage +with the nobles and gentlemen. Dionethus at Conans request, assembled +the appointed number of maids, and amongst them he also appointed his +daughter Vrsula, a ladie of excellent beautie, to go ouer and to be +giuen in mariage to the foresaid Conan Meridoc, as he had earnestlie +requested. + +[Sidenote: Vrsula the daughter of Dionethus.] +These number of maids were shipped in Thames, and passing forward +toward Britaine, were by force of weather and rage of wind scattered +abroad, and part of them drowned, and the residue (among whom was the +foresaid Vrsula) were slaine by Guanius king of the Hunnes, and Melga +king of the Picts, into whose hands they fell, the which Guanius and +Melga were sent by the emperour Gracian to the sea coasts of Germanie, +to oppresse and subdue all such as were friends and mainteiners of the +part of Maximianus. We find in some bookes, that there were sent ouer +at that time 51000 maids, that is to say, 11000 gentlewomen, and 40000 +other. + +[Sidenote: Guanius and Melga.] +After that Guanius and Melga had murthered the foresaid virgins, +they entred into the north parts of Britaine, where the Scots now +inhabit, and began to make sore warre on the Britains, whereof when +Maximus was aduertised, he sent into Britaine one Gratianus with three +legions of souldiers, who bare himselfe so manfullie against the +enimies, that he constreined the said Guanius and Melga to flie out of +the land, and to withdraw into Ireland. In this meane while, Maximus +hauing slaine the emperor Gratian at Lions in France, and after +entring into Italie, was slaine himselfe at Aquilia (after he had +gouerned the Britains eight yeeres) by the emperour Theodosius, who +came in aid of Valentinian, brother to the said emperor Gratian, as ye +may find in the abridgement of the histories of Italie. + +¶ But here yet before we make an end with this Maximus or Maximianus, +I haue thought good to set downe the words which we find in Gyldas, +where he writeth of the same Maximus, vndoubtedlie a Britaine +[Sidenote: Consobrinus Helenae imperatricis.] +borne, nephue to the empresse Helen, and begotten by a Romane. "At +length (saith Gyldas) the spring of tyrants budding vp, and now +increasing into an huge wood, the Ile being called after the name of +Rome, but holding neither maners nor lawes according to that name, but +rather casting the same from it, sendeth foorth a branch of hir most +bitter planting, to wit Maximus, accompanied with a great number of +warriors to gard him, and apparelled in the imperiall robes which he +neuer ware as became him, nor put them on in lawfull wise, but (after +the custome of tyrants) was put into them by the mutining souldiers: +which Maximus at the first by craftie policie rather than by true +manhood winding in (as nets of his periurie and false suggestion) +vnto his wicked gouernement the countries & prouinces next adioining, +against the imperiall state of Rome, stretching one of his wings into +Spaine, and the other into Italie, placed the throne of his most +vniust empire at Trier, and shewed such rage in his wood dealing +against his souereigne lords, that the one of the lawfull emperours he +expelled out of Rome, and the other he bereft of his most religious +and godlie life. Now without long tariance, compassed about with +such a furious and bold gard as he had got togither, at the citie +of Aquilia he loseth his wicked head, which had cast downe the most +honourable heads of all the world from their kingdome and empire. + +"From thencefoorth Britaine being depriued of all hir warlike +souldiers and armies, of hir gouernors also (though cruell) and of +an huge number of hir youth (the which following the steps of the +foresaid tyrant, neuer returned home againe) such as remained being +vtterlie vnskilfull in feats of warre, were troden downe by two +nations of beyond the seas, the Scots from the west, and the Picts +[Sidenote: Scotorum a circio, Pictorum ab aquilone.] +from the north, and as men thus quite dismaid, lament their miserable +case, not knowing what else to doo for the space of manie yeeres +togither. By reason of whose greeuous inuasion and cruell oppression +wherewith she was miserablie disquieted, she sendeth hir ambassadors +vnto Rome, making lamentable sute euen with teares to haue some power +of men of warre sent to defend hir against the enimies, promising to +be true subiects with all faithfulnes of mind, if the enimie might be +kept off and remooued." + +¶ Thus farre Gyldas, and more, as in place hereafter you shall find +recited. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What Gratianus it was that was sent ouer from Rome into Britaine by +Maximus, in what estimation the British souldiers haue beene, the +priuie treason of Andragatius whereby Gratian came to his end: Maximus +and his sonne Victor doo succeed him in the empire, they are both +slaine, Marcus the Romane lieutenant suceeding them is murthered, +Gratianus also his successour hath the same end, the election of +Constantine a Britaine borne, his praise and dispraise reported by +writers, he goeth into France, maketh his sonne Constance partaker +with him of the empire, a sharpe incounter betwixt his power and two +brethrens that had the keeping of the Pyrenine hils, the issue of the +battell_. + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +But now where the British histories, and such of our English writers +as follow them, make mention of one Gratianus a Romane, sent ouer with +three legions of souldiers by Maximus, as before ye haue heard: we +maie suppose that it was Gratianus the Britaine, that afterwards +vsurped the imperiall dignitie heere in Britaine, in the daies of the +[Sidenote: _Sextus Aurelius_] +emperour Honorius. For it standeth neither with the concurrence of +time nor yet with reason of the historie, that it should be Gratianus, +surnamed Funarius, father to Valentinian, and grandfather to the +emperour Gratianus, against whome Maximus rebelled. And yet I remember +not that anie of the Romane writers maketh mention of anie other +Gratianus, being a stranger, that should be sent hither as lieutenant +to gouerne the Romane armie, except of the foresaid Gratianus +[Sidenote: _Lib. 30_.] +Funarius, who (as appeereth by Amian. Marcellinus) was generall of +the Romane armie heere in this Ile, and at length being discharged, +returned home into Hungarie (where he was borne) with honour, and +there remaining in rest, was at length spoiled of his goods by the +emperour Constantius as confiscate, for that in time of the ciuill +warres he had receiued Maxentius, as he past thorough his countrie. + +But let vs grant, that either Gratianus the Britaine, or some other of +that name, was sent ouer into Britaine (as before is said) by Maximus, +least otherwise some errour may be doubted in the writers of the +British histories, as hauing happilie mistaken the time and matter, +bringing Gratianus Funarius to serue vnder Maximus, where peraduenture +that which they haue read or heard of him, chanced long before that +time by them suppposed: and so thorough mistaking the thing, haue made +a wrong report, where neuerthelesse it standeth with great likelihood +of truth, that some notable seruice of chiualrie was atchiued by the +same Gratianus Funarius whilest he remained heere in this Ile, if the +truth might be knowne of that which hath beene written by authors, and +happilie by the same Am. Marcellinus, if his first thirteene bookes +might once come to light and be extant. + +But now to end with Maximus. William of Malmesburie (as ye haue heard) +writeth, that not Maximus, but rather Constantine the great first +peopled Armorica: but yet he agreeth, that both Maximus, and also +Constantinus the vsurper, of whome after ye shall heare, led with them +a great number of the Britains out of this land, the which Maximus +or Maximianus and Constantinus afterwards being slaine, the one by +Theodosius, and the other by Honorius, the Britains that followed them +to the warres, part of them were killed, and the residue escaping by +flight, withdrew vnto the other Britains which Constantine the great +had first placed in Armorica. And so when the tyrants had left none in +the countrie but rude people, nor anie in the townes but such as were +giuen to slouth and gluttonie, Britaine being void of all aid of hir +valiant youth, became a prey to hir next neighbours the Scots and +Picts. + +Heere is yet to be considered, in what price the souldiers of the +British nation were had in those daies, with whose onelie puissance +Maximus durst take vpon him to go against all other the forces of the +whole Romane empire: and how he prospered in that dangerous aduenture, +it is expressed sufficientlie in the Romane histories, by whose report +[Sidenote: _W.H._ out of _Paulus Diaco. lib. 12. & alijs_.] +it appeereth, that he did not onlie conquer all the hither parts of +France and Germanie, namelie on this side the Rhine, but also found +meanes to intrap the emperour Gratian by this kind of policie. He had +a faithfull friend called Andragatius, who was admirall of the seas +perteining to the empire. It was therefore agreed betwixt them, that +this Andragatius (with a chosen companie of the armie) should be +carried in secret wise in a coch toward Lions, as if it had beene +[Sidenote: _Tripart. hist. lib. 9. cap. 21_.] +Constantia Posthumia the empresse, wife to the emperour Gratian, +bruting abroad there withall, that the said empresse was comming +forwards on hir waie to Lions, there to meet with hir husband, for +that vpon occasion she was verie desirous to commune with him about +certeine earnest businesse. + +When Gratian heard heereof, as one mistrusting no such dissimulation, +he made hast to meete his wife, and comming at length without anie +great gard about him, as one not in doubt of anie treason, approched +the coch, where supposing to find his wife, he found those that +streightwaies murthered him: & so was he there dispatched quite of +life by the said Andragatius, who leapt foorth of the coch to woorke +that feate when he had him once within his danger. + +Thus did the emperour Gratian finish his life in the 29 yeere of his +[Sidenote: 383.] +age, on the 25 of August, in the yeere of Christ 383, and then +died. Maximus succeeded him (making his sonne Flauius Victor +[Sidenote: This Flauius Victor he begat of his wife Helen the daughter +of Eudes. _H. Lhoyd_.] +Nobilissimus his assistant in the empire) reigning fiue yeeres and two +daies. In the beginning of his reigne Valentinian the yoonger made +great suit to him to haue his fathers bodie, but it would not be +granted. Afterwards also Maximus was earnestlie requested to come to +an enteruiew with the same Valentinian, who promised him not onelie +a safe conduct, but also manie other beneficiall good turnes beside. +Howbeit Maximus durst not put himselfe in anie such hazard, but rather +ment to pursue Valentinian as an vsurper, and so at length chased him +into Slauonie, where he was driuen to such a streight, that if +[Sidenote: Valentinian put in danger by Maximus.] +Theodosius had not come to releeue him, Maximus had driuen him thence +also, or else by slaughter rid him out of the waie. + +But when Maximus thought himselfe most assured, and so established in +the empire, as he doubted no perils, he liued carelesse of his owne +safegard, and therfore dismissed his British souldiers, who retiring +into the northwest parts of Gallia, placed themselues there +among their countriemen, which were brought ouer by the emperour +[Sidenote: _Eutropius_. 388.] +Constantius, whilest Maximus passing the residue of his time +in delights and pleasures, was surprised in the end and slaine by +Theodosius neere vnto Aquilia, the 27 of August, in the yeere of Grace +388, and in the beginning of the sixt yeere of his reigne, or rather +vsurpation, as more rightlie it maie be tearmed. His sonne Flauius +Victor surnamed Nobilissimus was also dispatched and brought to his +end, not farre from the place where his father was slaine, by the +[Sidenote: Arbogastes.] +practise of one Arbogastes a Goth, which Flauius Victor was by the +said Maximus made regent of the Frankeners, and partaker (as before is +said) with him in the empire. + +After this, the Ile of Britaine remained in meetlie good quiet by the +space of twentie yeeres, till one Marcus (that was then legat, or +as we maie call him lord lieutenant or deputie of Britaine for the +Romans) was by the souldiers heere proclaimed emperour against +Honorius, which Marcus was soone after killed in a tumult raised among +[Sidenote: Gratianus a Britaine. He reigned foure yeeres if we shal +beleeue the British historie.] +the people within few daies after his vsurpation began. Then one +Gratianus a Britaine borne succeeded in his place, who was also slaine +in the fourth moneth, after he had taken vpon him the imperiall +ornaments. The souldiers not yet heerewith pacified, proceeded to the +election of an other emperour, or rather vsurper, and so pronounced a +noble gentleman called Constantine, borne also in Britaine, to be +[Sidenote: 409.] +emperour, who tooke that honour vpon him in the 409 yeere after the +birth of our Sauiour, continuing his reigne by the space of two yeeres +and od moneths, as the Romane histories make mention. Some report +this Constantine to be of no great towardlie disposition woorthie to +gouerne an empire, and that the souldiers chose him rather for the +name sake, bicause they would haue another Constantine, more than for +anie vertues or sufficient qualities found in his person. But other +commend him both for manhood and wisedome, wherein to speake a truth, +he deserued singular commendation, if this one note of vsurpation of +the imperiall dignitie had not stained his other noble qualities. But +heerein he did no more than manie other would haue doone, neither yet +after his inuesture did so much as was looked for at his hands. + +Constantine being placed in the imperiall throne, gathered an armie +with all possible indeuour, purposing out of hand to go ouer therwith +into France, and so did, thinking thereby to win the possession of +that countrie out of the hands of Honorius, or at the least to worke +so, as he should not haue the souldiers and people there to be against +him, if he missed to ioine in league with the Suabeiners, Alanes, and +Vandales, which he sought to performe. But in the end, when neither +of these his deuises could take place, he sent ouer for his sonne +Constans (whome in his absence his aduersaries had shorne a moonke) & +making him partaker with him in the empire, caused him to bring ouer +with him another armie, which vnder the conduct of the same Constans +he sent into Spaine to bring that countrie vnder his obeisance. + +This Constans therefore comming vnder the passages that lead ouer the +Pyrenine mountains, Dindimus and Verianianus two brethren, vnto whome +[Sidenote: His souldiers were Picts, and placed among other men of +warre that serued vnder the ensignes of the empire, and named after +Honorius, Honoriciani. _Blondus_.] +the keeping of those passages was committed to defend the same +against the Vandals, and all other enimies of the empire, were readie +to resist him with their seruants and countriemen that inhabited +therabouts, giuing him a verie sharpe incounter, and at the first +putting him in great danger of an ouerthrow, but yet at length by the +valiant prowes of his British souldiers, Constans put his aduersaries +to flight, and killed the two capteins, with diuers other men of +name, that were partakers with him in the necessarie defense of that +countrie against the enimies. When Constans had thus repelled those +that resisted him, the custodie of the passages in the Pyrenine +mounteins was committed vnto such bands of Picts and other, as were +appointed to go with him about the atchiuing of this enterprise, who +hauing the possession of those streicts or passages in their hands, +gaue entrie vnto other barbarous nations to inuade Spaine, who being +once entered, pursued the former inhabitants with fire and swoord, +setled them selues in that countrie, and droue out the Romans. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Honorius sendeth earle Constantius to expell Constantine out of +Gallia, the end of Constantinus the father and Constans the sonne, +the valure and prowesse of the British souldiers, the British writers +reprooued of necligences for that they haue inserted fables +into their woorkes, whereas they might haue deposed matters of truth_. + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The emperour Honorius, perceiuing the reeling state of the empire, +determined, foorthwith to recouer it, before it fell altogither +into ruine: and therefore sent one Constantius an earle to driue +Constantine out of Gallia, which he accordinglie performed: for after +certeine bickerings, he slue the said Constantine at Arles, although +not without great bloudshed. He pursued also the residue of the +Britains, driuing them to the verie sea coasts, where they shrowded +themselues among the other Britains, that before were setled in the +countrie there, ancientlie called (as before we said) Armorica, that +is, a region lieng on the sea coast: for _Ar_ in the British toong +signifieth vpon; and _Moure_, perteining to the sea. And as this +Constantine the father was slaine by Constantius, so was Constans the +sonne killed at Vienna by one of his owne capteines named Gerontius. +Whereby it came to passe, that Honorius shortlie after, hauing thus +obteined the victorie of both these vsurpers, recouered the Ile, but +yet not till the yeare next following, and that by the high industrie +and great diligence of that valiant gentleman earle Constantius. The +slaughter of Constantine & his sonne happened in the 1 yeare of the +297 Olympiad, 465 after the comming of Cesar, 1162 after the building +of Rome, the dominicall letter being A, and the golden number 13, so +[Sidenote: 411.] +that the recouering of the Iland fell in the yeare of our Lord +411. + +Here also is eftsoones to be considered the valure of the British +souldiers, who following this last remembred Constantine the vsurper, +did put the Romane state in great danger, and by force brake through +into Spaine, vanquishing those that kept the streicts of the mounteins +betwixt Spaine and Gallia, now called France, an exploit of no small +consequence, sith thereby the number of barbarous nations got free +passage to enter into Spaine, whereof insued manie battels, sacking of +cities and townes, and wasting of the countries, accordinglie as the +furious rage of those fierce people was mooued to put their crueltie +in practise. + +¶ If therefore the Britaine writers had considered and marked the +valiant exploits and noble enterprisee which the Brittish aids, armies +and legions atchiued in seruice of the Romane emperours (by whome +whilest they had the gouernement ouer this Ile, there were at sundrie +times notable numbers conueied foorth into the parties of beyond the +seas, as by Albinus and Constantius, also by his sonne Constantine the +great, by Maximus, and by this Constantine, both of them vsurpers) if +(I saie) the British writers had taken good note of the numbers of the +British youth thus conueied ouer from hence, & what notable exploits +they boldlie attempted, & no lesse manfullie atchiued, they needed not +to haue giuen eare vnto the fabulous reports forged by their Bards, +of Arthur and other their princes, woorthie in deed of verie high +commendation. + +And pitie it is, that their fame should be brought by such meanes out +of credit, by the incredible and fond fables which haue beene deuised +of their acts so vnlike to be true, as the tales of Robin Hood, or the +gests written by Ariost the Italian in his booke intituled "Orlando +furioso," sith the same writers had otherwise true matter inough to +write of concerning the worthie feats by their countriemen in those +daies in forren parts boldlie enterprised, and no lesse valiantlie +accomplished, as also the warres which now and then they mainteined +against the Romans here at home, in times when they felt themselues +oppressed by their tyrannicall gouernment, as by that which is written +before of Caratacus, Voadicia, Cartimandua, Venusius, Galgagus, or +Galdus (as some name him) and diuers other, who for their noble +valiancies deserue as much praise, as by toong or pen is able to be +expressed. But now to returne vnto the British historie: we will +proceed in order with their kings as we find them in the same +mentioned, and therefore we haue thought good to speake somewhat +further of Gratian, from whome we haue digressed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Gratians rough regiment procureth his owne destruction, the comming +of his two brethren Guanius and Melga with their armies, the Scots +and Picts plague the Britains, they send for aid to Rome, Valentinian +sendeth Gallio Rauenna to releeue them, the Romans refuse anie longer +to succour the Britains, whom they taught how to make armour and +weapons, the Scots and Picts enter afresh into Britaine and preuaile, +the Britains are brought to extreme miserie, ciuill warres among them, +and what mischiefe dooth follow therevpon, their lamentable letter to +Actius for succour against their enimies, their sute is denied, at +what time the Britains ceased to be tributaries to the Romans, they +send ambassadors to the K. of Britaine in France, and obteine their +sute._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: GRATIANUS.] +Gratianus then, whome Maximus or Maximinus had sent into Britaine +(as before ye haue heard) hearing that his maister was slaine, tooke +[Sidenote: 390.] +vpon him the rule of this our Britaine, and made himselfe king +therof, in the yeare 390. He was a Britaine borne, as Polydor writeth, +coniecturing so, by that he is named of authors to be Municeps, that +[Sidenote: Of the Romane souldiers as _Blondus_ saith.] +is to saie, a free man of the countrie or citie where he inhabited. +For his sternenesse and rough gouernement, he was of the Britains (as +the histories alledge) slaine and dispatched out of the waie, after +he had reigned the space of foure yeares, or rather foure moneths, as +should seeme by that which is found in autentike writers. Then the +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Caxton_.] +forenamed kings Guantius and Melga, which (as some write) were +brethren, returned into this land with their armies increased with +new supplies of men of warre, as Scots, Danes, the Norwegians, and +destroied the countrie from side to side. For the Britains in this +season were sore infeebled, and were not able to make anie great +[Sidenote: _Galfrid. Matth. West. Caxton_.] +numbers of souldiers, by reason that Maximus had led foorth of the +land the floure and chiefest choise of all the British youth into +Gallia, as before ye haue heard. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +Gyldas maketh no mention of these two kings Guanius and Melga +of the Hunnes, but rehearsing this great destruction of the land, +declareth (as before ye haue heard) that the Scots and Picts were +the same that did all the mischiefe, whome he calleth two nations of +beyond the seas, the Scots comming out of the northwest, and the Picts +out of the northeast, by whome (as he saith) the land was ouerrun, and +brought vnder foot manie yeares after. Therefore the Britains being +thus vexed, spoiled, and cruellie persecuted by the Scots and Picts +(if we shall so take them) sent messengers with all speed vnto Rome +to make sute for some aid of men of war to be sent into Britaine. +Wherevpon immediatlie a legion of souldiers was sent thither in the +[Sidenote: 414.] +yeere 414, which easilie repelled the enimies, and chased them backe +with great slaughter, to the great comfort of the Britains, the which +by this meanes were deliuered from danger of vtter destruction, as +they thought. + +But the Romans being occasioned to depart againe out of the land, +appointed the Britains to make a wall (as had beene aforetime by the +emperours Adrian, Antoninus and Seuerus) ouerthwart the countrie +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +from sea to sea, stretching from Penuelton vnto the citie of Aclud, +whereby the enimies might be staid from entring the land: but this +wall being made of turfs and sods, rather than with stones, after +the departure of the Romans was easilie ouerthrowne by the Scots +and Picts, which eftsoones returned to inuade the confines of the +Britains, and so entring the countrie, wasted and destroied the places +[Sidenote: _Beda_ and _Polychron._] +before them, according to their former custome. Herevpon were +messengers with most lamentable letters againe dispatched towards Rome +for new aid against those cruell enimies, with promise, that if the +Romans would now in this great necessitie helpe to deliuer the +land, they should be assured to find the Britains euermore obedient +subiects, and redie at their commandement. Valentinianus (pitieng +[Sidenote: _Blondus_. Gallio Ravenna sent into Brittaine.] +the case of the poore Britains) appointed another legion of souldiers +(of the which one Gallio of Rauenna had the leading) to go to their +succours, the which arriuing in Britaine set on the enimies, and +giuing them the ouerthrow, slue a great number of them, and chased the +residue out of the countrie. + +The Romans thus hauing obteined the victorie, declared to the +Britains, that from thencefoorth they would not take vpon them for +euerie light occasion so painefull a iournie, alledging how there was +no reason why the Romane ensignes, with such a number of men of warre, +should be put to trauell so far by sea and land, for the repelling and +beating backe of a sort of scattering rouers and pilfring theeues. +Wherfore they aduised the Britains to looke to their dueties, and like +men to indeuour themselues to defend their countrie by their owne +force from the enimies innasions. And because they iudged it might be +an helpe to the Britains, they set in hand to build a wall yet once +againe ouerthwart the Ile, in the same place where the emperour +[Sidenote: A wall built overthwart the Iland. _Beda_.] +Seuerus caused his trench and rampire to be cast. This wall which the +Romans now built with helpe of the Britains, was 8 foot in bredth and +12 in length, trauersing the land from east to west, & was made of +stone. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas and Beda_.] +After that this wall was finished, the Romans exhorted the +Britains to plaie the men, and shewed them the way how to make armor & +weapons. Besides this, on the coast of the east sea where their ships +lay at rode, & where it was douted that the enimies would land, they +caused towers to be erected, with spaces betwixt, out of the which the +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +seas might be discouered. These things ordered, the Romans bad the +Britains farewell, not minding to returne thither againe. The Romans +then being gon out of the land, the Scots and Picts knowing thereof, +by & by came againe by sea, & being more emboldened than before, +bicause of the deniall made by the Romans to come any more to the +succor of the Britains, they tooke into possession all the north and +vttermost bounds of the Ile, euen vnto the foresaid wall, therein +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yere 43. as _M. W._ saith.] +to remaine as inhabitants. And wheras the Britains got them to their +wall to defend the same, that the enimies should not passe further +into the countrie, they were in the end beaten from it, and diuers of +them slaine, so that the Scots and Picts entred vpon them and pursued +them in more cruell maner than before, so that the Britains being +chased out of their cities, townes, and dwelling houses, were +constreined to flie into desert places, and there to remaine and liue +after the maner of sauage people, and in the end began to rob and +spoile one another, so to auoid the danger of staruing for lacke of +food: and thus at the last the countrie was so destroied and wasted, +that there was no other shift for them that was left aliue to liue by, +except onelie by hunting and taking of wild beasts and foules. And +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._ Rebellion.] +to augment their miserie, the commons imputing the fault to rest in +the lords and gouernors, arose against them in armes, but were +vanquished and easilie put to flight at two seuerall times, being +beaten downe and slaine (through lacke of skill) in such numbers, +especiallie the latter time, that the residue which escaped, withdrew +into the craggie mounteins, where within the bushes and caues they +kept themselues close, sometimes comming downe and fetching away from +the heards of beasts and flocks of sheepe which belonged to the nobles +and gentlemen of the countrie, great booties to relieue them withall. +But at length oppressed with extreme famine, when neither part could +long remaine in this state, as needing one anothers helpe, necessitie +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre decaied the force of the Britains. What +mischiefe follow of ciuill warres.] +made peace betwixt the lords and commons of the land, all iniuries +being pardoned and cleerelie forgiuen. This ciuill warre decaied the +force of the Britains, little lesse than the tyrannicall practises of +Maximus, for by the auoiding of the commons thus out of their houses, +the ground laie vntilled, whereof insued such famine for the space of +three yeeres togither, that a woonderfull number of people died for +want of sustenance. + +Thus the Britains being brought generallie into such extreame miserie, +[Sidenote: Actius.] +they thought good to trie if they might purchase some aid of that +noble man Actius, which at that time remained in France as yet called +Gallia, gouerning the same as lieutenant vnder the emperor Honorius: +and herevpon taking counsell togither, they wrote a letter to him, the +tenor whereof insueth. + +_To Actius thrise consull_. + +"The lamentable request of vs the Britains, beseeching you of aid +to bee ministred vnto the prouince of the Romane empire, vnto our +countrie, vnto our wiues and children at this present, which stand in +most extreame perill. For the barbarous people driue vs to the sea, +and the sea driueth vs backe vnto them againe. Hereof rise two kinds +of death, for either we are slaine, or drowned, and against such euils +haue we no remedie nor helpe at all. Therefore in respect of your +clemencie, succor your owne we most instantlie require you, &c." + +Notwithstanding the Britains thus sought for aid at Actius hands as +[Sidenote: The Britains could get no aid fr[=o] the Romans.] +then the emperours lieutenant, yet could they get none; either +for that Actius would not, as he that passed litle how things went, +bicause he bare displeasure in his mind against Valentinian as then +emperor; or else for that he could not, being otherwise constreined to +imploie all his forces in other places against such barbarous nations +as then inuaded the Romane empire. And so by that means was Britaine +lost, and the tribute which the Britains were accustomed to pay to the +Romans ceassed, iust fiue hundred yeeres after that Iulius Cesar first +entred the Ile. + +The Britains being thus put to their shifts, manie of them as +hunger-starued were constrained to yeeld themselues into the griping +hands of their enimies, whereas other yet keeping within the +mounteins, woods and caues, brake out as occasion serued vpon their +aduersaries, and then first (saith Gyldas) did the Britains not +putting their trust in man but in God (according to the saieng of +Philo, Where mans helpe faileth, it is needfull that Gods helpe be +present) make slaughter of their enimies that had beene accustomed +[Sidenote: Punishment ceaseth, but sin increaseth.] +manie yeeres to rob and spoile them in maner as before is recited, +and so the bold attempts of the enimies ceassed for a time, but the +wickednesse of the British people ceassed not at all. The enimies +departed out of the land, but the inhabitants departed not from their +naughtie dooings, being not so readie to put backe the common enimies, +as to exercise ciuill warre and discord among themselues. The wicked +Irish people departed home, to make returne againe within a while +after. But the Picts settled themselues first at that season in the +vttermost bounds of the Ile, and there continued, making insurrections +oftentimes vpon their neighbours, and spoiling them of their goods. + +[Sidenote: _Galfridus. Gyldas_ his words are to be considered.] +This with more also hath Gyldas, and likewise Beda written of this +great desolation of the British people: wherein if the words of Gyldas +be well weighed and considered, it maie lead vs to thinke, that the +Scots had no habitations here in Britaine, but onelie in Ireland, till +after this season, and that at this present time the Picts, which +before inhabited within the Iles of Orkenie, now placed themselues in +the north parts of Scotland, and after by processe of time came and +nestled themselues in Louthian, in the Mers, and other countries more +neere to our borders. But to proceed. + +The British histories affirme, that whilest the Britains were thus +persecuted by these two most cruell and fierce nations the Scots and +Picts, the noble and chiefest men amongst them consulted togither, +[Sidenote: An ambassage sent from the Britains vnto Aldroenus king of +Britaine in France.] +& concluded to send an honorable ambassage vnto Aldroenus as then king +of little Britaine in Gallia, which Aldroenus was the fourth from +Conan Meridoc the first king there of the British nation. Of this +ambassage the archbishop of London named Guetheline or Gosseline was +appointed the chiefe and principall, who passing ouer into little +Britaine, and comming before the presence of Aldroenus, so declared +[Sidenote: Constantine the brother of Aldroenus] +the effect of his message, that his suit was granted. For +Aldroenus agreed to send his brother Constantine ouer into great +Britaine with a conuenient power, vpon condition, that the victorie +being obteined against the enimies, the Britains should make him king +of great Britaine. + +¶ Thus it is apparent, that this land of Britaine was without anie +certeine gouernour (after that Gratian the vsurper was dispatched) a +number of yeeres togither, but how manie, writers in their account +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +do varie. Fabian deposeth by diuers coniecturs that the space betwixt +the death of Gratian, and the beginning of the reigne of the said +Constantine, brother to Aldroenus, continued nine and thirtie yeeres, +during which time the Britains were sore and miserablie afflicted +by the inuasions of the Scots and Picts, as before ye haue heard by +testimonies taken out of Beda, Gyldas, Geffrey of Monmouth, and other +writers both British and English. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the Roman historiographer Marcellinus reporteth of the Scots, +Picts, and Britains vnder the emperour Iulianus, Valentinianus and +Valens, they send their vicegerents into Britaine, the disquietnesse +of that time, London called Augusta, the worthie exploits of +Theodosius in this Iland against the enimie, Valentinus a banished +malefactor deuiseth his destruction, he is taken and executed, he +reformeth manie disorders and inconueniences, the first entring of +the Saxons into Britaine, they are dawnted at the verie sight of the +Romane ensignes, the Saxons lieng in wait for their enimies are slaine +euerie mothers sonne_. + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Maximus.] +But now sith no mention is made of the Scots in our histories, +till the daies of Maximus the vsurper or tyrant, as some call him, who +began his reigne here in Britaine about the yeere of our Lord 383, +[Sidenote: 383.] +and that till after he had bereft the land of the chiefest forces +thereof, in taking the most part of the youth ouer with him: we find +not in the same histories of anie troubles wrought to the Britains by +that nation. Therefore we haue thought good heere to come backe to the +former times, that we may shew what is found mentioned in the Romane +histories, both before that time and after, as well concerning the +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 20. The emperor Iulianius.] +Scots and Picts, as also the Saxons, and especiallie in Ammianus +Marcellinus, where in the beginning of his twentith booke intreating +of the doings of the emperour Iulianus, he saith as followeth. + +In this state stood things in Illyricum or Slauonia, and in the east +parts, at what time Constantius bare the office of consull the tenth +time, and Iulianus the third time, that is to say, in the yeere +[Sidenote: 360.] +of our Lord 360, when in Britaine quietnesse being disturbed by roads +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts trouble the state of this Ile.] +made by the Scots and Picts, which are wild and sauage people, +the frontiers of the countrie were wasted, and feare oppressed the +prouinces wearied with the heape of passed losses. The emperor [he +meaneth Iulianus] as then remaining at Paris, and hauing his mind +troubled with manie cares, doubted to go to the aid of them beyond the +sea, as we haue shewed that Constantius did, least he should leaue +them in Gallia without a ruler, the Almains being euen then prouoked +and stirred vp to crueltie and warre. + +[Sidenote: Lupicinus sent into Britaine.] +He thought good therefore to send Lupicinus vnto these places to +bring things into frame and order, which Lupicinus was at that time +master of the armorie, a warlike person and skilfull in all points of +chiualrie, but proud and high-minded beyond measure, and such one as +it was doubted long whether he was more couetous or cruell. Herevpon +[Sidenote: Bataui now Hollanders.] +the said Lupicinus setting forward the light armed men of the +Heruli and Bataui, with diuers companies also of the people of Mesia +now called Bulgarie; when winter was well entred and come on, he came +himselfe to Bulleine, and there prouiding ships, and imbarking his +[Sidenote: Rutupis.] +men, when the wind serued his purpose, he transported ouer vnto +Sandwich, and so marched foorth unto London, from thence purposing to +set forward, as vpon aduise taken according to the qualitie of his +businesse he should thinke meet and expedient. + +[Sidenote: Of the displacing of these men the learned may see more in +_Am. Mar._] +In the meane time, whilest Lupicinus was busie here in Britaine +to represse the enimies, the emperour Constantius displaced certeine +officers, and among other he depriued the same Lupicinus of the office +of the master of the armorie, appointing one Gumobarius to succeed him +in that roome, before anie such thing was knowen in these parties. And +where it was doubted least that Lupicinus (if he had vnderstood so +much whilest he was yet in Britaine) would haue attempted some new +trouble, as he was a man of a stout and loftie mind, he was called +backe from thence, and withall there was sent a notarie vnto Bulleine, +to watch that none should passe the seas ouer into Britaine till +Lupicinus were returned: and so returning ouer from thence yer he +had anie knowledge what was doone by the emperour, he could make no +sturre, hauing no such assistants in Gallia, as it was thought he +might haue had in Britaine, if he should haue mooued rebellion there. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 26.] +The same Marcellinus speaking of the doings about the time that +[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 26.] +Valentinianus, being elected emperour, had admitted his brother +Valens as fellow with him in gouernement, hath these words. In this +season as though trumpets had blowne the sound to battell through out +the whole Romane empire, most cruell nations being stirred vp, inuaded +[Sidenote: The Almans. The Sarmatians. The Quadi Picts and Saxons. +Austorians. The Goths.] +the borders next adioining, the Almans wasted and destroied the +parts of Gallia and Rhetia, as the Sarmatians and Quadi did Paunonia, +the Picts, the Saxons, the Scots, and the Attacots vexed the Britains +with continuall troubles, and greeuous damages; the Austorians and the +people of the Moores ouerran the countrie of Affrike more sharpelie +than in time past they had done; the pilfring troops of the Goths +spoiled Thracia; the king of Persia set in hand to subdue the +Armenians, and sought to bring them vnder his obeisance, hasting with +all speed toward Numonia, pretending (though vniustlie) that now after +the deceasse of Iouinius, with whome he had contracted a league and +bond of peace, there was no cause of let what he ought not to recouer +those things, which (as he alledged) did belong to his ancestors: and +so foorth. + +[Sidenote: _Lib._ 27.] +Moreouer, the same Marcellinus in another place writeth in this +wise, where he speaketh of the said Valentinianus. Departing therefore +from Amiens, and hasting to Trier, he was troubled with greeuous newes +that were brought him, giuing him to vnderstand, that Britaine by +[Sidenote: Comes maritimi tractus.] +a conspiracie of the barbarous nations was brought to vtter pouertie, +that Nectaridus one of the emperours house earle of the sea coast, +hauing charge of the parties towards the sea, was slaine, and that +the generall Bulchobaudes was circumuented by traines of the enimies. +These things with great horrour being knowne, he sent Seuerus as then +[Sidenote: Comes domesticorum.] +erle, or (as I may call him lord steward of his houshold) to +reforme things that were amisse, if hap would so permit, who being +shortlie called backe, Iouinius going thither, and with speed hasting +forward, sent for more aid and a great power of men, as the instant +necessitie then required. At length, for manie causes, and the same +greatlie to be feared, the which were reported and aduertised out +[Sidenote: Theodosius sent into Britaine.] +of that Ile, Theodosius was elected and appointed to go thither, a man +of approoued skill in warlike affaires, and calling togither an hardie +youthfull number of the legions and cohorts of men of warre, he went +foorth, no small hope being conceiued of his good speed; the fame +wherof spred and went afore him. + +A litle after, Marcellinus adding what people they were that troubled +[Sidenote: Picts diuided into two nations. Attacotti.] +the Britains in this wise, saith thus. This shall suffice to +be said, that in this season the Picts diuided into two nations +Dicalidones, and Victuriones, and in like maner the Attacotti a right +warlike nation, and the Scots wandering here and there, made fowle +woorke in places where they came. The confines of France were +disquieted by the Frankeners and Saxons borderers vnto them, euerie +one as they could breaking foorth, & dooing great harme by cruell +spoile, fire, and taking of prisoners. To withstand those dooings if +good fortune would giue him leaue, that most able capteine going +[Sidenote: Theodosius passeth ouer into Britaine.] +vnto the vttermost bounds of the earth, when he came to the coast of +Bullen which is seuered from the contrarie coast on the other side by +the sea, with a narrow streight, where sometime the water goeth verie +high and rough, & shortlie after becommeth calme & pleasant, without +hurt to those that passe the same, transporting ouer at leasure, he +arriued at Sandwich (or rather Richburrow) where there is a quiet road +[Sidenote: Bataui Hollanders.] +for vessels to lie at anchor. Wherevpon the Bataui and Heruli, +with the souldiers of the legions called Iouij, and Victores, being +companies that trusted well to their owne strength, marched foorth +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +& drew towards London, an ancient citie, which now of late hath bin +called Augusta. Herewith diuiding his armie into sundrie parts, he +set vpon the troops of his enimies as they were abroad to forrey the +countrie, pestered with burdens of their spoiles and pillage, and +speedilie putting them to flight, as they were leading away those +prisoners which they had taken, with their booties of cattell, he +bereft them of their preie, the which the poore Britains that were +tributaries had lost. To be briefe, restoring the whole, except a +small portion bestowed amongst the wearie souldiers, he entred the +citie which before was opprest with troubles, but now suddenlie +refreshed, bicause there was hope of reliefe and assured preseruation. + +After this, when Theodosius was comforted with prosperous successe to +attempt things of greater importance, and searching waies how with +good aduise to woorke suerlie: whilest he remained doubtfull what +would insue, he learned as well by the confession of prisoners taken, +as also by the information of such as were fled from the enimies, that +the scattered people of sundrie nations which with practise of great +crueltie were become fierce and vndanted, could not be subdued but by +policie secretlie practised, and sudden inuasions. At length therefore +setting foorth his proclamations, and promising pardon to those that +were gone awaie from their capteins or charge, he called them backe +againe to serue: and also those that by licence were departed and laie +scattered here and there in places abroad. By this meanes, when manie +were returned, he being on the one side earnestlie prouoked, and +[Sidenote: Theodosius requireth to haue Ciuilis sent to him.] +on the other holden backe with thoughtfull cares, required to haue +one Ciuilis by name sent to him to haue the rule of the prouinces in +Britaine in steed of the other gouernours, a man of sharpe wit, +[Sidenote: Dulcitius.] +and an earnest mainteiner of iustice. He likewise required that one +Dulcitius a capteine renowmed in knowledge of warlike affaires might +be sent ouer to him for his better asistance. These things were doone +in Britaine. + +Againe, in his eight and twentith booke, the same Marcellinus reciting +further what the same Theodosius atchiued in Britaine, hath in effect +these words: Thedosius verelie a capteine of woorthie fame, taking +[Sidenote: London called Augusta.] +a valiant courage to him, and departing from Augusta, which men of old +time called London, with souldiers assembled by great diligence, did +succour and releeue greatlie the decaied and troubled state of the +Britains, preuenting euerie conuenient place where the barbarous +people might lie in wait to doo mischiefe: and nothing he commanded +the meane souldiers to doo, but that whereof he with a cheerefull +mind would first take in hand to shew them an example. By this meanes +accomplishing the roome of a valiant souldier, and fulfilling the +charge of a noble capteine, he discomfited and put to flight sundrie +nations, whome presumption (nourished by securitie) emboldened to +inuade the Romane prouinces: and so the cities and castels that +had beene sore endamaged by manifold losses and displeasures, were +restored to their former state of wealth, the foundation of rest and +quietnesse being laid for a long season after to insue. + +But as these things were a dooing, one wicked practise was in hand & +like to haue burst foorth, to the greeuous danger of setting things in +broile, if it had not beene staied euen in the beginning of the +[Sidenote: Valentinus. Valeria now Stiermarke.] +first attempt. For there was one Valentinus, borne in the parties of +Valeria adioining to Pannonia, now called Stiermarke, a man of a proud +and loftie stomach, brother to the wife of Maximinus, which Valentinus +for some notable offense had beene banished into Britaine, where +the naughtie man that could not rest in quiet, deuised how by some +commotion he might destroy Theodosius, who as he saw was onelie able +to resist his wicked purposes. And going about manie things both +priuilie and apertlie, the force of his vnmeasurable desire to +mischiefe still increasing, he sought to procure aswell other that +were in semblable wise banished men, & inclined to mischiefe like him +selfe, as also diuers of the souldiers, alluring them (as the time +serued) with large promises of great wealth, if they would ioine with +him in that enterprise. But euen now in the verie nicke, when they +shuld haue gone in hand with their vngratious exploit, Theodosius +warned of their intent, boldlie aduanced himselfe to see due +punishment executed on the offendors that were foorthwith taken and +knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie. + +[Sidenote: Dulcitius is appointed to put Valentinus to death.] +Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie +complices vnto the capteine Dulcitius, commanding him to see them put +to death: but coniecturing by his warlike skill (wherein he passed all +other in those daies) what might follow, he would not in anie wise +haue anie further inquirie made of the other conspirators, least +through feare that might be spread abroad in manie, the troubles of +the prouinces now well quieted, should be againe reuiued. After +this, Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse manie things as need +required, all danger was quite remooued: so that it was most apparent, +that fortune fauored him in such wise, that she left him not destitute +of hir furtherance in anie one of all his attempts. He therefore +restored the cities & castels that were appointed to be kept with +garrisons, and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with +sufficient numbers to keepe watch and ward in places necessarie. And +hauing recouered the prouince which the enimies had gotten into their +possession, he so restored it to the former state, that vpon his +[Sidenote: A part of Britaine called Valentia.] +motion to haue it so, a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it, +and the name was changed, so as from thencefoorth it should be called +Valentia for the princes pleasure. + +The Areani, a kind of men ordeined in times past by our elders (of +whome somewhat we haue spoken in the acts of the emperour Constance) +being now by little and little fallen into vices, he remooued from +their places of abiding, being openlie conuicted, that allured with +bribes and faire promises, they had oftentimes bewraied vnto the +barbarous nations what was doone among the Romans: for this was their +charge, to runne vp and downe by long iournies, and to giue warning to +our captains, what sturre the people of the next confines were about +to make. + +[Sidenote: The praise of Theodosius.] +Theodosius therefore hauing ordered these & other like things, +most woorthilie & to his high fame, was called home to the emperours +court, who leauing the prouinces in most triumphant state, was highlie +renowmed for his often and most profitable victories, as if he had +beene an other Camillus or Cursor Papirius, and with the fauor and +loue of all men was conueied vnto the sea side; and passing ouer with +a gentle wind, came to the court, where he was receiued with great +gladnesse and commendation, being immediatlie appointed to succeed +in the roome of Valence Iouinus that was maister of the horsses. +Finallie, he was called by the emperour Gratianus, to be associated +with him in the imperiail estate, after the death of Valence, +[Sidenote: 379.] +in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauior 379, and reigned +emperour, surnamed Thodosius the great, about 16 yeares and 2 daies. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Har._] +Hereto also maie that be applied which the foresaid Marcellinus +[Sidenote: _Walf. Lazi._] +writeth in the same booke, touching the inuasion of the Saxons, +the which (as Wolf. Lazius taketh it) entred then first into great +Britaine, but were repelled of the emperour Valentinianus the first, +[Sidenote: Seuerus.] +by the conduct and guiding of Seuerus. The same yeere (saith he) +that the emperours were the third time consuls, there brake forth a +multitude of Saxons, & passing the seas, entred stronglie into the +Romane confines: a nation fed oftentimes with the slaughter of our +[Sidenote: Nonneus Comes.] +people, the brunt of whose first inuasion earle Nonneus sustained, +one which was appointed to defend those parties, an approoued +capteine, & with continuall trauell in warres verie expert. But then +incountring with desperate and forlorne people, when he perceiued some +of his souldiers to be ouerthrowne and beaten downe, and himselfe +wounded, not able to abide the often assaults of his enimies, he +obteined this by informing the emperour what was necessarie and +[Sidenote: Seuerus coronell of the footmen.] +ought to be doone, insomuch that Seuerus, maister or (as I maie call +him) coronell of the footmen, was sent to helpe and releeue things +that stood in danger: the which bringing a sufficient power with him +for the state of that businesse, when he came to those places, he +diuiding his armie into parts, put the Saxons in such feare and +trouble before they fought, that they did not so much as take weapon +in hand to make resistance, but being amazed with the sight of the +glittering ensignes, & the eagles figured in the Romane standards, +they streight made sute for peace, and at length after the matter +was debated in sundrie wise (because it was judged that it should be +profitable for the Romane commonwealth) truce was granted vnto them, +and manie yoong men (able for seruice in the warres) deliuered to the +Romans according to the couenants concluded. + +After this the Saxons were permitted to depart without impeachment, & +so to returne from whence they came, who being now out of all feare, +and preparing to go their waies, diuers bands of footmen were sent +to lie priuilie in a certeine hid vallie so ambushed, as they might +easilie breake foorth vpon the enimies as they passed by them. But +it chanced far otherwise than they supposed, for certeine of those +footmen stirred with the noise of them as they were comming, brake +foorth out of time, and being suddenlie discouered whilest they hasted +to vnite and knit themselues togither, by the hideous crie and shout +of the Saxons they were put to flight. Yet by and by closing togither +againe, they staied, and the extremitie of the chance ministring to +them force (though not sufficient) they were driuen to fight it out, +and being beaten downe with great slaughter, had died euerie mothers +sonne, if a troope of horssemen armed at all points (being in like +maner placed in an other side at the entring of the waie to assaile +the enimies as they should passe) aduertised by the dolefull noise +of them that fought, had not speedilie come to the succour of their +fellowes. + +Then ran they togither more cruellie than before, and the Romans +bending themselues towards their enimies, compassed them in on each +side, and with drawne swords slue them downe right, so that there was +not one of them left to returne home to their natiue countrie to bring +newes how they had sped, nor one suffered to liue after anothers +death, either to reuenge their ruine, or to lament their losse. +Thus were the limits of the Romane empire preserued at that time in +Britaine, which should seeme to be about the yeere of our Lord 399. +[Sidenote: 399.] + +¶ Thus were the Romans, as commonlie in all their martiall affaires, +so in this incounter verie fortunate, the happie issue of the conflict +falling out on their side. And strange it is to consider and marke, +how these people by a celestiall kind of influence were begotten and +borne as it were to prowesse and renowme; the course of their dealings +in the field most [Page 548] aptlie answering to their name. For (as +some suppose) the Romans were called of the Greeke word [Greek: rhomae], +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +signifieng power and mightinesse: and in old time they were called +Valentians, _A valendo_, of preuailing: so that it was no maruell though +they were victorious subduers of forren people, sithens they were by +nature created and appointed to be conquerors, and thereof had their +denomination. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What the poet Claudianus saith of the state of Britaine in the decaie +of the Romane empire, of the Scots and Picts cruellie vexing the +Britains, they are afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations, the +practise of the Saxons, of the Scots first comming into this Iland, +and from whence, the Scotish chonographers noted for curiositie and +vanitie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER + + +[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._] +After this, in the time of the emperour Honorius, the Scots, +Picts, and Saxons, did eftsoones inuade the frontiers of the Romane +prouince in Britaine, as appeereth by that which the poet Claudianus +writeth, in attributing the honour of preseruing the same frontiers +[Sidenote: 396. _Claudianus_.] +vnto the said emperour, in his booke intituled "Panegerycus tertij +consulatus" (which fell in the yeere 396) as thus: + + Ille leues Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos + Edomuit, Scotumq; vago mucrone secutus, + Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus vndas, + Et geminis fulgens vtroq; sub axe tropheis, + Tethyos alternae refluas calcauit arenas. + + The nimble Mores and Picts by right + so cald, he hath subdude, + And with his wandring swoord likewise + the Scots he hath pursude: + He brake with bold couragious oare + the Hyperborean waue, + And shining vnder both the poles + with double trophies braue, + He marcht vpon the bubling sands + of either swelling seas. + +The same Claudianus vpon the fourth consulship of Honorius, saith in a +tetrastichon as followeth: + + Quid rigor aeternus caeli? quid frigora prosunt? + Ignotumq; fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso + Orcades, incaluit Pictonum sanguine Thule, + Scotorum cumulos fleuit glacialis Hyberne. + + What lasting cold? what did to them + the frostie climats gaine? + And sea vnknowne? bemoisted all + with bloud of Saxons slaine + The Orknies were: with bloud of Picts + [Sidenote: Thule some take to be Iseland, some Scotland.] + hath Thule waxed warme, + And ysie Ireland hath bewaild + the heaps of Scotish harme. + +The same praise giueth he to Stilico the sonne in law of Honorius, and +maketh mention of a legion of souldiers sent for out of Britaine in +the periphrasis or circumlocution of the Gotish bloudie warres: + + Venit & extremis legio praetenta Britannis, + Quas Scoto dat fraena truci, ferroq; notatas + Perleget exanimes Picto moriente figuras. + + A legion eke there came from out + the farthest Britains bent, + Which brideled hath the Scots so sterne: + and marks with iron brent + Vpon their liuelesse lims dooth read, + whiles Picts their liues relent. + +He rehearseth the like in his second "Panegerycus" of Stilico, in most +ample and pithie manner insuing: + + Inde Calidonio velata Britannia monstro, + Ferro Picta genas, cuius vestigia verrit + Caerulus, Oceaniq; aestum mentitur amictus, + Me quoq; vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit, + Muniuit Stilico, totam quum Scotus Hybernam + Mouit, & infesto spumauit remige Thetis, + Illius effectum curis, ne bella timerem + Scotica, ne Pictum tremerem, ne littore toto + Prospicerem dubijs venturum Saxona ventis. + + Then Britaine whom the monsters did + of Calidone surround, + Whose cheekes were pearst with scorching steele, + whose garments swept the ground, + Resembling much the marble hew + of ocean seas that boile, + Said, She whom neighbour nations did + conspire to bring to spoile, + Hath Stilico munited strong, when + raised by Scots entice + All Ireland was, and enimies ores + the salt sea fome did slice, + His care hath causd, that I all feare + of Scotish broiles haue bard, + Ne doo I dread the Picts, ne looke + my countrie coasts to gard + Gainst Saxon troops, whom changing winds + sent sailing hitherward. + +[Sidenote: Britaine afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations.] +Thus maie it appeere, that in the time when the Romane empire began to +decaie, in like manner as other parts of the same empire were inuaded +by barbarous nations, so was that part of Britaine which was subiect +to the Romane emperors grieuouslie assailed by the Scots and Picts, +and also by the Saxons, the which in those daies inhabiting all +alongst the sea coasts of low Germanie, euen from the Elbe vnto the +Rhine, did not onelie trouble the sea by continuall rouing, but also +vsed to come on land into diuerse parts of Britaine and Gallia, +inuading the countries, and robbing the same with great rage and +crueltie. + +[Sidenote: _Sidon. Apol. li. 8. Epist._] +To the which Sidonius Apollinaris thus alludeth, writing to Namatius. +"The messenger did assuredlie affirme, that latelie ye blew the +trumpet to warre in your nation, and betwixt the office one while of +a mariner, and another while of a souldier, wafted about the +[Sidenote: The pirasie of the Saxons.] +crooked shores of the ocean sea against the fleet of the Saxons, of +whome as manie rouer as ye behold, so manie archpirats ye suppose to +see: so doo they altogither with one accord command, obeie, teach, +and learne to plaie the parts of rouers, that euen now there is good +occasion to warne you to beware. This enimie is more cruell than all +other enimies. He assaileth at vnwares, he escapeth by forseeing the +danger afore hand, he despiseth those that stand against him, he +throweth downe the vnwarie: if he be followed he snappeth them vp that +pursue him, if he flee he escapeth." + +Of like effect for proofe heereof be those verses which he wrote vnto +Maiorianus his panegyrike oration, following in Latine and in English +verse. + + Tot maria intraui duce te, longeq; remotas + Sole sub occiduo gentes, victricia Caesar + Signa Calidonios transuexit ad vsq; Britannos, + Fuderit & quanquam Scotum, & cum Saxone Pictum, + Hostes quaesiuit quem iam natura vetabat, + Quaerere plus homines, &c. + + So manie seas I entred haue, + and nations farre by west, + By thy conduct, and Caesar hath + his banners borne full prest + Vnto the furthest British coast, + where Calidonians dwell, + The Scot and Pict with Saxons eke, + though he subdued fell, + Yet would he enimies seeke vnknowne + whom nature had forbid, &c. + +¶ Thus much haue we thought good to gather out of the Romane and other +writers, that ye might perceiue the state of Britaine the better in +that time of the decaie of the Romane empire, and that ye might haue +occasion to marke by the waie, how not onelie the Scots, but also the +Saxons had attempted to inuade the Britains, before anie mention is +made of the same their attempts by the British and English writers. +But whether the Scots had anie habitation within the bounds of +Britaine, till the time supposed by the Britaine writers, we leaue +that point to the iudgement of others that be trauelled in the search +of such antiquities, onelie admonishing you, that in the Scotish +chronicle you shall find the opinion which their writers haue +conceiued of this matter, and also manie things touching the acts of +the Romans doone against diuerse of the Britains, which they presume +to be doone against their nation, though shadowed vnder the generall +name of Britains, or of other particular names, at this daie to most +men vnknowne. But whensoeuer the Scots came into this Ile, they +made the third nation that inhabited the same, comming first out of +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Scithia, or rather out of Spaine (as some suppose) into Ireland, +and from thence into Britaine; next after the Picts, though their +writers fetch a farre more ancient beginning (as in their chronicles +at large appeereth) referring them to the reading thereof, that desire +to vnderstand that matter as they set it foorth. + +_Thus farre the dominion and tribute of the Romans ouer this land +of Britaine, which had continued (by the collection of some +chronographers) the space of 483. yeeres. And heere we thinke it +conuenient to end this fourth booke._ + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of +England (4 of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16536.txt or 16536.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/3/16536/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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