with great confidence but without good Discipline such was their vanity also that many of their Wives were brought and plac'd in a kind of Coaches on the Skirts of the Battail in confidence to see the Slaughter of the Romans The Queen her self passing up and down with her Daughters in a Chariot amongst the Forces discoursing to them to this purpose that now she did not contend for a Kingdome and Wealth but as one of the meanest to recover and defend their Liberties to revenge the barbarous Injuries committed upon her Body and the chastity of her Daughters That the Roman Lust was grown to such a pitch that they neither spared Virgins nor Matrons that the Gods who were Revengers of such horrible Impieties were present the Legion that durst give Battail was slain the others are either hid or secure themselves in Fortifications she puts them in mind also of their number and of the cause of the War and concludes with an Exhortation to die with honour rather than live in Slavery for her own part this was the Resolution of a Woman the Men might live if they pleased in the condition of Slaves On the other hand Suetonius uses all Art and mixes Exhortations with his good Conduct he puts them in mind that the Victory in most Battails takes its rise from a very few and therefore they should not be daunted at the apprehension of the smallness of their number compared to that of the Britains their glory would be the greater in a Victory by the mention of that odds but indeed many of the great number were Women and above all puts them in mind how well they were Armed how naked the Britains were and what their success had been heretofore upon such advantage desiring them first to throw their Piles which was a kind of heavy Dart peculiar to the Romans and carryed by the Legionaries and then to follow their work with their Swords and their Pikes in their Shields not regarding the Spoyl till the danger was over for where it falls there it will be found by them after the Victory The Britains could not forbear but must charge them rashly in this place of disadvantage which the Enemy received without motion while they were spending their missive Weapons but immediatly after they Sallied out and coming to a close Fight easily made the naked People give way and fly Their Battail was surrounded with Waggons so that they had great hinderance in the Flight whereby the Slaughter was encreast the insolent and barbarous among the Romans spared neither Sex nor Age Man nor Beast destroying neer eighty thousand People Boadicia upon the fight hereof with a courage mixt with the sense of a Calamity already come and to be expected put a period to her days by poyson and prevented the future Roman Cruelties And Paenius Posthumus Camp-master of the second Legion hearing of this Victory and being conscious to himself he had not done well in refusing to obey the Generals Order of being here at this Battail with that Legion fell upon his Sword and dyed After this the Army kept the Field and Nero who was now Emperour sent them as a recruit two thousand Legionary Souldiers out of Germany eight Cohorts of Auxiliaries and one thousand Horse The Nations which were either doubtful or Enemies were wasted with Fire and Sword but nothing did more afflict this distressed People than Famine the Romans having secured all that they could get and burnt and destroyed the rest Julius Classicianus was sent to supply the Office of Cato with whom Suctonius had some clashes and that did somewhat obstruct the Intendments of several Nations to submit to a Peace for he gave it out that a new Governor was to be sent who would treat the People with more moderation and sent word to Rome that nothing could be expected of good to the Roman affairs in Britain until a new Lieutenant was sent laying all the fault of ill success on the frowardness of Suetonius and all the good on the Roman fortune thereupon Polycletus a freed Man was sent into Britain from Rome to have an Inspection into affairs hereupon a great expectation from Nero that he would not only reconcile the discords among the Romans but also dispose the Britains to a Peace He came over with a great Army but it seemed very ridiculous to the Britains that a Slave should command those that had made so great a Conquest Not long after Suetonius was recall'd upon an accident of some loss at Sea which he had sustained and Petronius Turpulianus sent in his room a Man of an unactive spirit and in whose time all the care was to continue and encrease that peace which Suetonius had left the Country in Him Trebellius Maximus succeeded unexpert for War and unfit for action it fell out in the time of Peace after the late great Slaughter the Britains having a deep sense of it that the Romans in Britany being without an Enemy whereof they might be afraid began to disagree one with another Roscius Caelius Lieutenant of the Twentyeth Legion quarrelled with the Governor objecting to him his Covetousness and the other to him his Faction and by these Accidents the Legions grew mutinous and siding with Roscius Caelius drove Trebellius out of the Country and for some time the under Officers governed the Army wherein R. Caelius had the chiefest Interest as being of the boldest nature Vectius Bolanus was by Vitellius the Emperor sent some time after to succeed him a Man of whom it might be said that he was not hated for any Crime and being withall good natured he did procure to himself rather Love than Obedience Petilius Cerealis came next a Man of a more warlike disposition who gave a considerable disturbance to the Nation of the Brigantes and made some Conquests upon them Julius Frontinus did something of the like naure upon the Silures and him succeeded Agricola Agricola ' s Vndertakings and Conquests A Gricola past the Seas and came into Britain in the midst of Summer when he was here he found the Ordovices had lately cut almost wholly to peeces a party quartered in their Country Whereupon he summons in many of the Legionaries and some Auxiliaries scattered in their Quarters through the whole Province the Romans not before supposing there would be any Action that Summer the Winter drawing on and with a considerable Body marches into the Country of the Ordovices here he made great spoil revenging the Cruelty lately done upon the Romans with an extraordinary and Brutish severity to the greatest part of the Nation which Tacitus his Son in Law does not positively deny and I fear me not upon the valiant for they were unwilling to descend out of the Woods and Fastnesses into places where they were to Fight the Romans upon so great tearms of disadvantage as they had lately another fresh experiment but upon the Women Children and more tender People Paulinus as was said before was recall'd out of
places they sought by main weight of Horses to break and bear down one another The wandring Waggons also and masterless Horses afrighted as it hapned them by fear to be guided overbare many which met them or thwarted their way Now the Britains which stood a loof from the Battel on the height of the Hi'ls and at their good leasure disdaining our fewness began to come down by little and little and to compass about the backs of our men which were now in probable expectation of winning the Field But Agricola suspecting as much opposed against them four Wings of Horsemen purposely retained about him for sudden dispatches chances of War and repulsed them back as sharply as fiercely they ran to assail So the Counsel of the Britains turned upon their own heads and the Wings were commanded to forsake the Battel and follow the flight Then might you have seen in the open fields a great horrid spectacle pursuing wounding taking and killing of them which were taken when others came in the way Now whole Regiments of the Enemies according to their several dispositions though Armed and more in number turned their backs to the fewer others unarmed and sought their own death offering themselves voluntarily to the slaughter Every where Weapons lay scattered and Bodies and mangled Limbs the Ground every where imbrued with Blood and sometimes even in them which were overcome appeared now at their end both Anger and Valour When they approached the Woods uniting themselves they entraped unawares some of the foremost of our men which unadvisedly followed not knowing the Countrey And unless Agricola had with his presence every where assisted at need setting about them of his bravest and most ready foot-men as it were in form of a Toyl and commanding some of his Cavalry to leave their Horses where the passages were narrow and others where the Woods were thin to ride up and down mounted no doubt sayes he we had taken some blow by our overmuch boldness But after they did see our men again in strong array to follow the chase in good order they fled not in Troops as before and attending each other but utterly disbanded and single eschewing all company toward the Desart and far distant places The night and our fulness of blood made an end of the chase Of the Enemies side Ten thousand were slain Three hundred and forty of ours amongst whom was Aulus Atticus Commander in chief of a Cohort upon a youthful heat and through the fierceness of Horse being carried into the middle of his Enemies That night the Winners for their parts solaced themselves with the Victory and Spoil and the Britains being utterly broken crying out and howling men and women together take and draw with them their hurt persons call not hurt forsake their own Houses and in despite also set them on fire themselves choose out Holes for to lurk in and streightwayes forsook them communicate some Counsels together and then have some glimmering of hope sometimes at the sight of their dearest beloved they are moved to pitty more often stirred to rage and certain it is that some as by way of compassion and mercy slew their own Children and Wives The day following discovered more plainly the greatness of the Victory every where desolation and silence no stirring in the Mountains the Houses fired and smoaking far off no man to meet with our Scouts who being sent abroad into all the Quarters found by their footsteps the flight was uncertain and that they were no where in Companies together Hereupon Agricola because the Summer was spent and the War could not conveniently be divided bringing his Army into the Borders of the Horrestians supposed in Eskdale where receiving Hostages he commanded the Admiral of the Navie to Sail about Britain lending him Souldiers and strength for that purpose and the terror of the Roman Name was gone before already and he with easie and gentle Journeys to terrifie the new conquered Nations with the very stay of his passage disposed his Footmen and Horsemen into their Wintering Places and withall the Navy with prosperous Wind and success arrived at the Port Trutulensis from whence it departed and coasting along the neerest side of Britain returned thither again having invaded in its passage the Isles of Orkney After this Domitian the Emperor envying his Glory sent for him home when he had compleated the Conquest of so much of Britain as was formed into a Roman Province from the two Arms of Glota and Bodotria before mentioned to the Southward inclusive of that part of the Island more doubtless he did design to invade and possess and like enough he had effected it upon all the North and Ireland also if Domitian's apprehensions had not recall'd and prevented him The Conclusion of the Roman Conquests in this Island THus all on the Southern part of Glota and Bodotria about the year of Grace eighty six was by degrees brought under subjection to the Romans and formed into a Province or rather three the Trent and Severne making the Divisions that part next Rome being called Britania prima the Capital place London from which Canterbury took after the dignity of the Seat to the Arch-Bishop of that Province for the Divisions of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction did follow those of the Temporal in their first appointments That which was beyond Severne was called Secunda Caer Leon upon Vske in Monmouthshire being then the principal place and Arch-Bishops Seat Maxima Caesariensis was that beyond Trent York being the chief Residence and See Hence it might be that when Wales was in the Princes of their Country and disunited that which remained in England was divided betwixt the Justices in Eyre by the River Trent in affairs concerning the Forrest and the Heralds in their proper business Hence it might be that in the piece of Money expos'd to view by Mr. Cambden where on one side was this Inscription Hadrianus Aug. Consul iij. Pater Patriae and on the other Exercitus Britanicus three Souldiers being Pourtrayed on this and the Emperors Effigies on the other side which the same Author would have to signify the three Legions that served here about his time that is to say Secunda Augusta Sexta Victrix and Vicessima Victrix like enough it is they had particular Relation to the three several Provinces And hence it might be that Geoffry of Monmouth did feigne the Division of the Country into Loegria Cambria and Albania to come from the three Sons of Brute Locrine Camber and Albanact because he thought it necessary to deliver Fathers to the several Divisions of the Country he found here The Provinces continued for some hundreds of years under the Roman Jurisdiction the Limits a little varyed and drawn back and some Disturbances falling out but neither very considerable And now was founded that Government as I take it here in England which has continued in the bulk and gross thereof through many Ages to this day or at least not extinguish't at any time though not without certain addings and substraction and now and then somekind of interruptions but yet did they never so far proceed as utterly to discontinue that Series which had its root even in the very time of Romulus at the Foundation of Rome And upon the coming in of the Romans here was also introduced one other form of Government which having its Rise in the dayes of Moses among the Israelites with a fortune not unlike the other first insinuating it self into the Roman Veins upon the Conquest of Jury and then spreading into all the parts thereof came hither also being a Member of it and did so incorporate into that Body varying frequently in outward appearance by divers Factions but continuing in a great part the same to this day among us both being alike cut off from the main Body the first many Ages agoe the last in the dayes of Henry the Eighth and united in the Person of one single Monarch both still retaining a great Portion of the same Nature they had originally though in some particulars altered as in such antient things it cannot be otherwise expected But because much of this many do not think of and our Historiographers do generally give a much later Original to certain Laws and Customs and Divisions of our Countrey in the Civil Government yet reprehended some of them in the times they are positive in by my Lord Cook Mr. Camden Mr. Selden Sir H. Spelman and other eminent Antiquaries We will leave this Argument at present and close with certain words of Doctor HEYLIN an Excellent and Judicious Geographer of the like Nature He having Discoursed some time of EVROPE upon the whole comes at last to begin his particular Description in these words And this shall serve for Europe in the general Notion Descend we now to the particular Kingdoms Regions Islands of it beginning first of all with Italy contrary to the usage of most Geographers who commonly begin with Spain or Ireland as being the farthest Countreys Westward and consequently nearest to the first Meridian from whence the Longitude was reckoned Which we shall do by reason of that great influence which the Romans had in most parts of Europe and many parts of the World besides in matters as well Civil as Ecclesiastical which much depended on the Power of that Empire formerly and on the usurpation of that Church in the latter dayes Courteous Reader BEsides some Errors in pointing you are desired to Correct these underwritten which have escaped the Press by reason of the Authors absence In the Introduction PAge 26 Line 32 adde in P. 32. L. 18. for sereral r. several P. 33. L. 31. for presence r. Bosome P. 35. L. 27. r. to him who In the History P. 3. L. 17. after the word and r. is P. 5. L. 6. for druids r. denotes L. 12. Leave out the word was P. 8. L. 25. for Moni r. Mons. P. 20. L. 5. before the word confederated r. their P. 31. L. 3. for Donaries r. Denaries P. 34. L. 33. r. with other bounds at the Sea P. 42. L. 28. for upon r. up to
he sent them over first who falling upon the Britains unexpectedly did them much mischief especially by wounding their Horses that drew their Chariots which in their encountrings they did chiefly aime at Flavius Vespasian and Sabinus also followed and kill'd many not apprehensive thereof till it was too late But this notwithstanding they rallied together and by the benefit of the night got into some order and gave them Battail the next day with great courage which was for some time doubtful But the few and naked Britains by their divisions less able did yield to the heavy Armed united and well disciplined Romans though like enough they were equal if not superiour to them in personal resolutions Upon their flight they pass over the River of Thames being acquainted with it better than the Romans at a place not far from that where it delivers it self into the Sea The Romans followed and the Germans again take the Water others go over at a Bridge somewhat higher and encompassing the Britains give them a great slaughter which was yet in some measure repaid by the Britains who having kept their Courage though they lost the Battail destroyed many of their Enemies following the Chase too far among the Bogs but Togodumnus was slain But this is said rather to inflame than abate the Britain resolutions for they now having got some time to consider of their affairs put themselves as is reported seriously to work to defend their Liberties in a more formidable manner than heretofore they had done whereupon Plautius according to his Instructions if any thing of danger should happen as Dion delivers it endeavours the security of what he had got and sends to Claudius for his direction in the danger approaching He upon this news puts the affairs he had at Rome in order and comes partly by Land and a considerable way by Sea where he was in great danger by Tempests to his Army expecting him at the River of Thames Soon after he was with them he passes the River gives the Britains Battail and vanquisheth them takes the City Camalodunum supposed to be the now Maldon in Essex the then regal Seat of Cunobeline others upon their submission he receives to mercy disarms many and leaves Plautius to subdue more with these doubts also behind him to after Ages whether he came thither upon a vanity affecting a Tryumph and other memories of honour or that in truth Plautius was hard laid to and withall no less disputable whether so much as any considerable Battail was fought the Britains like enough yielding upon the extraordinary preparations of the Romans and good tearms offered them for the confiscation of their goods was remitted Caesar staid here about sixteen days what was done after his return by Plautius is not much taken notice of but I should think the Conquest of the West about Cornwall Somersetshire and Devonshire was now perfected sithence mention is made of his Inroads there toward the Isle of Wight and I remember not any particular other discourse of their yielding For the spoils and acquisitions here taken upon his return to Rome Claudius did him publick honour And now is the first time that the Romans may have been said to have taken any possession of this Country which was about the Year of Grace 44 or 5. P. Ostorius succeeds Plautius OStorius was the next that succeeded A. Plautius for ought we know of any account in authentick History to the contrary At his coming he found those Britains who had conspired with the Romans to the destruction of their Country or had made any League or submission to them over-run by such who were faithful to their Native Soile and had not submitted and much waste made in their Fields not being apprehensive of the Roman Forces the rather because their General was not acquainted as yet with his business and in this colder Climate Winter being begun they suspected not much action Ostorius observing this takes with him certain Cohorts which were most expedite and ready for his purpose and sets upon the Britains unexpectedly routing those that resist and chasing them that flie It should seem that the Romans from the former War had confederacy with or possession of so much Land as lay from the River Sabrine and Anton with bounds from the Ocean to the Sea These two Rivers do almost meet and within their compass Southward lies a very wealthy and rich part of the Island Now it appears Ostorius intending to secure what was gain'd rather than to inlarge the Roman Conquests designed to Fortifie and close them as it were with Garrisons The words of Tacitus are Cinctosque castris Antonam Sabrinam fluvids cohibere parat c. The Sabrine is well known to be the River Severn but this Anton is much doubted of Mr. Cambden would have it be the River Nen and that in Tacitus it is transcribed amiss and should be Aufonam the Avon upon a supposition that the Britains call all Rivers Avon and so Northampton should stand on the North of the Avon but I doubt thereof because it seems not much probable if that River had been ever us'd to have been call'd the Avon as I finde not and at this day Men I fear think not of such a name the word Northampton seeming rather to infer that it is a Town on the North side of a Ham or Hame the word Ham signifying generally a hook from Hamus and applicable frequently to hooks of Water so this Town standing on the North side of a hook of water may have thence its name as Southampton from a hook of Water in the South of the Town I take it that by Anton is meant the River Trent because it is a more considerable River and fit to bear a name of note without particular distinction as did that of Severne it is accounted the third River of England and proper to joyn hands with the other for a boundary to a Roman Province as it was after upon the division betwixt the North and South Nor is the name now utterly lost for there is a River to this day flowing into the Head thereof called Derwent there is a House of considerable regard called Trentum and several Towns upon it ending in Anton and of a sound little differing now Dwr or Dour in British signifies Water and so by vulgar contraction it might be Dwrent or Trent that is the Water of Ent for Anton. These are but conjectures and we may have mistaken because the evidence is not perspicuous and I should not have made so many words hereof but for the former some reasons following and that it agrees better likewise with the History it self of the transactions upon these parts But I will pursue this no further it being not very much material which it was The Iceni being within this Line did doubtless suspect they might be subjected at last after the Romans were at leasure to conquer them as well as they had the rest who
were within that compass To which purpose those Rivers and Fortifications might be of great disadvantage by hindering succours that might come from the North to their Aide being all equally concerned at the Bondage now putting on them Upon this they Arm and oppose their Fortifying exciting several of their Neighbours to joyn with them and choose a place to Incamp in Behind there was a rude defence and a strait passage was before it But Ostorius with those Cohorts only the benefit of his Allies and his Horse fell in on their fortified side which being made in hast and without good direction they easily pluck't down Here the Britains also fought valiantly but with ill success and this their loss confirmed such to the Roman Peace which before stood doubtful From these he brings his Army to the Cangi I guess they were a People that lived within the Line and like enough were the Inhabitants betwixt the Iceni and the Humber these he plunders and wasts their Fields It is likely they had been assisting to the Iceni or had made former Inroads upon the Roman Quarters and their Allies Meeting no considerable opposition from them he turns upon the back of the Severne toward the Silures a People that Inhabited about South Wales with whom he would fain have had a Peace using all gentle and cruel means to that purpose but they partly trusting to the conduct of Caractacus a Prince grown famous for his skill in martial affairs and partly to their own courage refused it In his Marches there appeared against him no considerable opposition sometimes in small Parties the Britains would charge the Body or some Wing of his Army where loss was on both sides but chiefly to the Britains He had not passed far but the Brigantes a People about Lancashire and the North of Trent took Arms upon which suspecting what Inconvenience might be in leaving an Enemy behind him in Arms to disturb him or his new Conquests he turns and before they could become considerable some few that were up being slain the rest upon his willingness to remit the Commotion laid down their Arms and went to their Homes Whereupon he prosecutes again his Journey to the Silures sending in the mean time to the Colony at Camalodunum to come to him whom he planted amongst the lately Conquered to the intent to restrain the attempts of those and of such as were confederated with him whom he had reason notwithstanding to suspect Caractacus finding himself weak in the number of his Forces compared to those of the Romans and knowing he was in his own Country bounded on many sides by the Sea and Severne and so consequently less apt to be relieved if he should be straitned while time served takes his March into North Wales called then the Country of the Ordovices a Place less subject to these Inconveniencies in respect it had more spacious Room of retreat or flight in adverse fortune and more capacious as the Roman Conquests then were of joyning his Arms with thosE of his Confederates which accordingly afterwards he effected Ostorius follows him and when he overtook him found him resolved and prepared for Battail having to that purpose chosen a spacious piece of Ground of advantage The scite of the Place was a declining Hill upon the Skirts thereof were Rocks and unpassable places with some open at the bottom a River cross't it within this he drew his Army up in Battalia stopping the Avennes on the sides with Stones in the nature of a Rampart and drawing a Line before it of the same Materials and in like fashion suspecting the Foard of the River Before his main Battail he places a Body of choice Men in this Order expecting the Enemy In the mean time the chief Commanders of the several Nations pass't up and down amongst their Forces setting before them the advantages of a Victory the miseries of a Battail lost lessening the causes of fear and encreasing those of hopes beyond a just measure to the intent their minds might be fortified against the apprehension of danger and with other Arts that Generals in the like cases use And Caractacus especially passing with quick motion up and down the Army did excellently perform that part of a General being brief but very eloquent in his Language and of undaunted resolutions This he told them was the day and this the Battail that must either recover or determine their Liberties calling frequently upon the names of their noble Progenitors who had driven Caesar their Dictator out of their Country thereby delivering them in their Lives their Estates Wives and Children from the violence of the Roman servitude With these Speeches the Army was much encouraged and to testifie and encrease their resolutions they make solemn Vows and Oaths not to yield to wounds or Darts On the other side the Roman General by the report of Tacitus was somewhat apprehensive of the Scite of the place to him of great disadvantage but the Souldiery and chief Officers knowing the difficulty was greatest in coming to the naked Britains and that inconsiderable despised their rude fortifications and a River fordable in many places and thereupon quicking the General they pass the River by his Command approaching to the fortification at which place the Britains had the advantage in the Fight at a distance for the Romans throwing heavy Piles up the Hill and those lighter down it might follow that these had the greater slaughter though their Bodies were exceeding well armed especially such doubtless who made the first assault But the Romans making a Testudo which was a defence of Tarquets hanging over one another like Tiles on a House toward the Enemy under the protection thereof they approacht the works and pluckt down the ill-built Wall and so entred And now the Britains coming to fight hand to hand having neither Helmet nor Arms on their Bodies were forc'd to retire which they did upwards to the top of the Hill but the Romans following had also the better there several flying away and others being taken amongst which was the Wife and Daughter of Caractacus and his Brethren also yielded themselves but Caractacus himself escaped and fled to Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes who afterwards betrayed him unworthily to the Romans who frequently made use of such treacherous dealings and Tacitus himself though in advantageous language to the Roman glory does acknowledge by this kinde of means and by exasperating and provoking one Prince against another they had no small advantage of these Nations Whereas if they had been unanimous in their Councels had chosen the right way of managing this War under a prudent General which was that which the famous Cassibelan intended on his experience with a flying Army to which their way of living on Cattle was advantageous they might have rendered the Roman Conquests vain But it fell out other ways as it might reasonably be expected from distracted Counsels for trusting to the nature of the ground
the Shoar The Britains had placed their Battail and were numerous the Women their Hair hanging loose with Fire-brands in their Hands passing up and down and the Druids with their Hands lifted up to Heaven did pour forth many bitter execrations At this Novelty the Roman Souldiery at first seemed to have had some Consternation but after a while the Commander in Chief encouraging them and they also animating one another with Exhortations to this purpose That they should not be daunted at the sight of Women and Phanatick Men they advanc't and charged the Britains who not appointed with an equal advantage to resist them suddenly fled of whom they threw divers into certain Fires made hard by This done he plants Garrisons amongst them and to the intent they might be less subject to sudden Incursions causes their Woods to be cut down As Suetonius was in the Island about setling his Conquests there was News brought to him of a revolt of the Province the occasion that then offered it self was this Prasutagus Prince of the Iceni dyed leaving behind him great store of wealth and intending to secure his House makes Caesar his heir with his two daughters But this would not prevent the barbarous Lust and Covetousness of the Romans for they plundered his House ravished his two Daughters whipt his Wife Boadicia The chiefest of the Nobility were turned out of their Inheritances and the Royal Family accounted as Slaves These Villanies committed in a Licentious and Insolent manner did move very much not only the Iceni but their Neighbours the Trinobantes as yet not having lost their ancient courage though they had been reduc't into the form of a Province and thereupon they hold secret Counsels with an intent to revenge themselves and if it were possible to put off that Yoak which the greedy Romans had Imposed Their hatred was most bitter against the Veterans at Camalodunum in the Colony there this Camalodunum was the now Maldon in Essex as is supposed because they had thrust the ancient Inhabitants out of their Houses and Inheritances calling them Captives and Slaves There was a Temple built and dedicated therein to Claudius to the Solemn Rites belonging thereunto were divers Priests appointed who under Colour of Religion did most greedily devour the Substance of the Neighbouring Britains to their Aggravations was added an opportune Season to wit the Roman General was absent with a considerable part of the Army and the Town was but ill fortified by the carelesness of the Roman Officers These accidents fell out a little before the Attempt the Image of Victory at Camalodunum fell down and turned backwards Women did sing of Destruction as if they had been Inspired Howling and Noises were heard in the Theatre and Court in the Arm of the Sea not far distant was seen a strange Apparition and upon the ebbe the Bodies of dead Men on the Shoar which occasioned a great terror to the Romans and comfortable expectations to the Britains The Veterans because Suetonius was far absent sent to C. Decianus a Procurator for Ayde but he furnish't them with only two hundred and those ill appointed So there being not many Souldiers in the Town the Chief of their dependance was on the strength of their Temple In this their distraction Boadicia Commander in Chief of the design valiantly sets upon them repaying their cruelty in a just retribution of fury and revenge Most of the Souldiery were got into the Temple where for two Days they continue and then it was forced with great Slaughter The Britains in the current of their Success march out and meet P. Cerealis with the ninth Legion and certain Horse coming to the Succour of the Veterans and fight them routing all and destroying the Foot but the Horse fly with Cerealis into the Camp and there secure themselves within the Fortifications Catus a Procurator hearing of this Slaughter and his Avarice in the Province which had caused him to be hated coming fresh into his mind he thought it convenient for himself to fly and accordingly pass't into Gallia as a Place of greater safety for such a hatefull memory as he had Suetonius hearing of these things hastens his return and with an honourable resolution Marches through the Britain Quarters to London a Place then famous for Merchandise and plenty of Provisions Here he consults whether it were good for him to make that the Seat of War or not but considering among other Reasons his Number was not great he resolved to march out and could not be perswaded to stay by the Importunacy Cries and Prayers of such as either Age or Weakness of Sex or a delight to the Place had urged to a stay resolving rather to adventure this Town though of Concernment then to put a general hazard on the whole Roman Interest whereupon he marches out several going with him the rest staying behind who without mercy were after by the Enemy put to the Sword The same fate fell upon Verulam a Town favoured by the Romans in their Liberties in this heat of revenge they destroyed in the places before mentioned and thereabouts at the least seventy thousand Romans and their Confederates giving no quarter but executing them with various deaths giving a full draught of vengeance for their barbarous covetousness and savage Lust Suetonius having with him about ten thousand Men which consisted of Legionaries Auxiliaries and Horse and observing the Resolutions of the Enemy and that he could not long avoid a Battail if they would force him to it very prudently takes in good time the advantage of an excellent place to his purpose and waits the coming of the Britains In the entrance it was strait and encompassed with Woods and he knew the Enemy was before upon a Plain where they could lay no Embascodo His Legionaries upon expectation of a Battail were close set together on each Wing were the Horse and the light Armed with missive Weapons placed round about The Britains transported with their late success and not enough aware of the disadvantage of a set-Battail though they had formerly and their Ancestors sad experience of it would notwithstanding fight them upon these unequal tearms for too great joy and a passion of revenge do equally as well as fear betray the Reason Suetonius as was said had chosen an excellent Place and put his Men in admirable Order considering the quality of his own Souldiers and those of the Britains for the Legionaries being close plac'd uncapable of being surrounded could meet with no more Enemies at one time then they themselves were in number and then being well Armed the other naked without some extraordinary contingency these must yield nor could a Victory be expected other ways to the Britains then either by some Stratagem great Error by the Romans or having a vast number of Men by such an opposition and slaughter of themselves as can hardly be imagined any Men can endure Boadicia did appear in the Head of a vast Army
very useful the one to the other Agricola suspecting the Britains might have advantage upon him in number divided his Army into three Parts making his March with some Considerable distances thereby thinking to prevent his being encompassed with a multitude a manifest errour doubtless against a new Enemy whose valour he had not yet try'd as appeared by the Consequence though he might guess shewdly at them by what he had found in the rest for which Tacitus makes an excuse that he had heard the Britains were divided into Parties and did intend so to set upon him They taking this advantage in the dead of the Night set upon the Ninth Legion being somewhat weak of it self and with good success for they kill the Watch enter the Camp and therein Fight it manfully with the Romans and had in all probability cut them off if Agricola having notice of this accidentally by his Scouts had not sent the lighter-Armed with all expedition before hand to their succour and followed himself with the Legions When the Battail was at last before and behind the Britains after a bloody Fight in the entrance of the Camp the Day appearing and the Legions also fled into the Woods Tacitus tells us that at the beginning of the Summer several of his Officers upon a report of the Power of the Enemy did advise him to retreat within the bounds of the formerly intended Province for his security suspecting very much the danger but after this Victory the very same did chiefly arrogate to themselves the glory of that battle an infirmity common to many Men of that disposition to this day The Britains with a noble resolution did attribute the loss of this day not to the valour but craft and fortune of the Roman General With this conceit they make very much greater Preparations confederate themselves by Solemn Rites and convey their Wives and Children into places of safety intending in a Field to try their fortune again with their new-rais'd Forces The Britains had thirty thousand Men designed for the main Battail besides many young and old Voluntiers who out of an honourable resolution came to partake in the fortune of a Day over whom Galgacus of great descent and virtue to be mentioned not without honour to his name commanded in Chief They took up their ground upon the declining of the Hill Grampius now Grantzbain the first Battalion stood upon the Plain the Chariots and Horse passing up and down with great noise before the Battail expecting the Romans The Romans having sent their Fleet before by frequent and uncertain Landings as they did some other mischief so they could not but make some distraction upon the Britains but at last Agricola takes his March directly to them that were prepar'd to receive him having with him certain of the Country whose faith and courage was a long time known to be truer to the Romans than to their own Nation His Battail he orders thus eight thousand Auxiliaries were placed in a Body and in the Van on each Wing three thousand Horse were divided in the Rear his Legionaries were the whole Front being extended beyond a just and usual proportion Agricola thinking thereby to prevent surrounding by the Enemy which over-numbered him The Speech of Galgacus as it is delivered by Tacitus is to this purpose When I consider the cause of this War and our necessary I am greatly confident this day and this your consent will give a happy beginning to the freedome of the whole Island We all have hitherto lived in Liberty and moreover no Land remaineth beyond and no Sea for our safety the Roman Navy thus as you see hanging on our Coasts So that Arms which Men of virtue desire for honour the faint-hearted must also use for his security The former Battails which have with divers events been fought against the Romans had their hope and reserves in our hands For we the choice of the British Nobility and seated in the furthermost recesses never yet had view of the enslaved shoares nor were our eyes offended with the sight of subjection This inward bosome hath defended us the boundary of Land and Liberty for this Day of Glory Now the uttermost point of the Country is laid open and things the less they have been within knowledge the greater the glory is to atchieve them What Nation is there now beyond us what else but Water and Rocks and the Romans Lords of all within whose intollerable pride in vain shall you seek to avoid by service or submiss demeanour Robbers of the World that having now left no Land to plunder search also the Sea it self If the Enemy be rich they are greedy of his wealth if poor they covet glory whom not the East nor West have satisfied they only of all Men with equal lust affecting riches and vanity To rob kill and commit rapine falsly they terme Empire and when they have brought desolation to a Country they call it Peace Children and neer Relations every Man by nature holdeth most dear and those are pressed for Souldiers and carryed away to serve in a slavish condition Sisters and Wives though they may escape an open ravishment are notwithstanding frequently prostituted when they come as Guests and pretend friendship The goods and substance of the Conquered they exhaust with Tributes and rob them of their Corn to supply their Garrisons wearying out their Hands and Bodies in preparing Woods and Fenny places for their purposes with a thousand stripes and indignities Slaves which are born to bondage when they are once sold are after maintained at their Masters expences but Britain daily buyeth her own bondage and is at the charge of continuing it Now as in a private retinue the fresh man and last comer is most abused by his very fellow-servants So in this old servitude of the World our destruction is sought being the latest and is most vile in account We have no Fields to manure no Mines to be digged no Ports to trade in and to what purpose then should they reserve us alive Moreover the man-hood and fierce courage of the Subject pleaseth not much the jealous Soveraign and this corner being so secret and out of the way the more security it yieldeth to us in them it works the greater suspicion So seeing all hope of pardon is past at length all of you take courage as well these to whom safety as such to whom glory is in greatest esteem The Britains led by a Woman fired the Colony forced the Castles and if such a lucky beginning had not ended in sloath and security they might have with ease shak't off the Yoak We as yet never touched never subdued and born to be free not to be Slaves to the Romans let us shew streight in the first joyning what manner of Men Caledonia reserved in store for her self Or do you think the Romans to be as valiant in War as they are wanton in Peace No not by their virtue but by our discords
they are grown into fame and the faults of their Enemies they abuse to the glory of their own Army composed of most divers Nations and therefore as by the present prosperity holden together so if fortune do frown it doubtless dissolveth them unless you suppose the Galls and Germans and to our shame be it spoken many of our own Nation which now lend their lives to establish forreign Usurpation yet have been Enemies longer than Servants to be led and induced with any true faith and affection No it is terror and fear weak procurers of love which if you remove those which shall have ceased to be afraid will strait begin to hate All things that do incite to the Victory are on our side No Wife to encourage the Romans no Parents to upbraid them if they flee most have either no Country at all or some other a few fearfull Persons trembling and gazing at the strangeness of the Heaven it self the Sea and the Woods whom the Gods have delivered mewed up and as it were fettered into our hands Let not the vain shew and glittering of Gold and Silver terrify us which neither defends nor offendeth amongst the Enemies We shall finde assistance on our side The Britains will own their own cause the Galls will remember their former freedome the rest of the Germans will leave and forsake them as of late the Vsipians did And what else have we then to fear The Castles are empty the Colonies peopled with Aged and impotent Persons the free Cities discontent and in factions whilst those which are under obey with ill-will and they which do Govern rule against right Here is the General and here the Army there Tributes and Mines and other miseries inseparably following them who live under subjection of others which whether we are to continue for ever or straight to revenge it lyeth this day in this Field Wherefore going to Battail bear in your minds I beseech you both your Ancestors and your Posterity Which whether it be the Production only of the Authors brain or that much of it was said it matters not however I think the memory of it is not remembred here amiss The Speech was received by a various noise of Songs and Acclamations Agricola's is thus delivered fellow Souldiers and Companions in Arms your service and diligence these eight years so painfully shew'd by the virtue and fortune of the Roman Empire hath Conquered Britain In so many Battails we had of necessity to shew our selves either valiant against the Enemy or patient and laborious almost against Nature it self In which exploits we have born us both hitherto so that neither did I desire better Souldiers nor you other Captain We have exceeded the limits I of my Predecessors and you likewise of yours The end of Britain is found not by fame and report but we are with our Arms and Pavilions really invested thereof Britany is found and subdued In Marching when the passing of Boggs or Mountains and Rivers troubled and tired you out how oft have I heard the valiant Souldier say When will the Enemy shew himself when shall we Fight see now they are before you you have here your wishes and a place for your virtue to be shewn in and all things to follow in an easie and expedite course if you win if you loose all against you For as to have gone so much ground escaped the Woods passed over the Firthes is honourable forward so if we do flee the vantages we have this day will become our chief hurt For we are not skilled so well in the Countrys we have not the like store of Provision but Hands we have and Weapons and therein all things included For my part I have been long since resolved that to shew their backs is neither safety for Souldier nor General and therefore a commendable death is better than life with reproach and surety and honour are commonly dwelling together or if ought should mishappen even this will be a glory to have died in the uttermost end of the World and nature If new Nations and Souldiers unknown were in the Field I would by the examples of other Arms put you in courage now recount you your own victorious exploits and ask your own eyes These are the same Men which the last year assailed one Legion by stealth in the night and were with small work overthrown These of all other Britains have been the most nimble in running away and therefore have escaped the longest alive For as in Forrests and Woods the strongest Beasts are chased away by main force the cowardly and fearfull are frighted by the noise of the Hunters So the valiant of the British Nation we have already dispatched the timerous and most inconsiderable only remain whom at length you have found not as having intended to stay and make Head but at last overtaken and by extream passion of fear standing as stocks presenting occasion to us in this place of a worthy and memorable Victory Make an end therfore of your warfare and to fifty years travels let this day impose a glorious conclusion approve to your Country that the Army could never justly be charged either with protracting the War or pretences for not accomplishing the Conquest This was received with great Alacrity The Battail it self also because it does consummate the Conquest of this Island and is by Tacitus not only excellently but very indifferently described take also from him Agricola leaving his Horse advanced himself before the Ensigns of Foot In the first encounter before joyning both sides discharged and threw their missive Weapons wherein the Britains employing both Art and Valour with their great Swords and little Targets avoided our throws or shook them off darting withall great store of theirs against us till at length Agricola spying his advantage exhorted three Batavian Cohorts and two of the Tungrians to press forward and bring the matter to a close Fight a thing which they in respect of long service were able readily to perform and contrarily to the Enemies prejudicial and hurtful by reason of their little Bucklers and huge Swords for the Swords of the Britains being blunt pointed were no way fit for close or open Fight Now as the Batavians began to strike with their Swords and thrust with the Pikes of their Bucklers to mangle their Faces and having over-born in the Plain all that resisted them to March up the Mountains the rest of the Cohorts gathering courage upon emulation violently beat down all about them and many half dead or wholly untouched were left for hast of winning the Field In the mean time the Chariots mingled themselves with the Battel of the Footmen and the Troops of the Horsemen began to flee who albeit they had lately terrified others were now distressed themselves by the unevenness of the ground and thick Forces of their Enemies Neither was the form of the Fight like a loose Skirmish of Horsemen to and fro but standing still and maintaining their