lau'nus himself, weakened by so many desertions, resolved upon making what terms he was able, while he yet had power to keep the field. 14. The conditions offered by Cæsar, and accepted by him, were, that he should send to the Continent double the number of hostages at first demanded, and that he should acknowledge subjection to the Romans. Cæsar, however, was obliged to return once more to compel the Britons to complete their stipulated treaty". Questions for Examination. 1. Was Britain well known before the time of its invasion by the Romans? By whom were, at that time, the coasts opposite Gaul frequented? 2. Who introduced the practice of agriculture? 3, 4. Describe the inland inhabitants. 5. Of what did the government of the ancient Britons consist? 6. What was their chief force? 8. Who were the ministers of their religion? 9. Did they ever sacrifice human victims ? 10. What were the manners of the people? 11. Who first determined on the conquest of Britain? 12. Whom did the Britons choose for their leader? 14. What conditions were offered by Cæsar, and accepted by Cassivelaunus ? -[See the Map.] 12 England, including Wales, was, at the invasion of the Romans, divided into the following seventeen states;Called by the Romans. Consisting of. 1. THE DAMNONII..Cornwall and Devon. 2. DUROTRIGES .Dorsetshire. 3. BELGE ......... .Somersetshire, Wilts, and part of Hants. 4. ATTREBATII......Berkshire. 5. REGNI......... ...Surrey, Sussex, and remaining part of Hants. 6. CANTII ..........Kent. 7. DOBUNI.........Gloucester and Oxfordshire. 8. CATTIEUCHLANI.. Bucks, Bedford, and Herts. 9. TRINOBANTES.....Essex and Middlesex. 10. ICENI..... ......... ..Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon, and Cambridge. 11. CORITANI...................... Northampton, Leicester, Rutland, Lincoln, Not tingham, and Derby. 12. CORNAVI..................... Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, Chester, and Shropshire. 13. THE SILURES..... .Radnor, Brecon, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Hereford. 14. DEMETE...................... .Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen. 15. ORDOVICES... .Montgomery, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Flint, and 16. THE BRIGANTES.York, Durham, Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. 17. OTTADINI......... Northumberland to the Tweed. SECTION II. "Great BOADICEA, glory of thy race, And SUETONIUS' laurels droop with shame." 2. Extravagances, s. pl. irregular conduct; actions not confined within reasonable limits. Rapa'cious, a. greedy; given to plunder. 5. Procura'tor, s. a manager, DIBDIN. 9. Haran'gued, part. made a speech,. delivered an oration. Intrepi'dity, s. courage, boldness. 12. Friths, s. inlets of the sea, running a considerable distance into the land. 1. UPON the accession of Augus'tus', that emperor had formed a design of visiting Britain, but was diverted from it by the unexpected revolt of the Pannonians 2. Tiberius, wisely judging the empire already too extensive, made no attempt upon Britain. From that time the natives began to improve in all the arts which contribute to the advancement of human nature. 2. The wild extravagances of Calig'ula', by which he threatened Britain with an invasion, served rather to expose him to ridicule than the island to danger. At length, the Romans, in the reign of Claudius, began to think seriously of reducing them under their dominion. The expedition for this purpose was conducted in the beginning by Plau'tius and other commanders, with that success which usually attended the Roman arms. 3. Carac'tacus was the first who seemed willing, by a vigorous effort, to rescue his country, and repel its insulting and rapacious conquerors. This rude soldier, though with inferior forces, continued, for above nine years, to oppose and harass the Romans; till at length he was totally routed, and taken prisoner, by Osto'rius Scap'ula, who sent him in triumph to Rome. 4. While Carac'tacus was being led through Rome, he appeared no way dejected at the amazing concourse of spectators that were gathered upon this occasion; but, casting his eyes on the splendours that surrounded 1 Augus'tus was the son of Julius Cæsar's niece, adopted by Cæsar. He was the second emperor of Rome. 2 The people of Hungary, which country was formerly called Pannonia. The third emperor of Rome. 4 A Roman emperor, the successor of Tibe'rius. 5 The son of Dru'sus, and successor of Calig'ula. him, "Alas!" cried he, "how is it possible that a people possessed of such magnificence at home, could envy me an humble cottage in Britain ?" The emperor was affected by the British hero's misfortunes, and won by his address. He ordered him to be unchained on the spot, and set at liberty with the rest of the captives. 5. The cruel treatment of Boadicea, queen of the Ice'ni, drove the Britons once more into open rebellion. Prasat'agus, king of the Ice'ni, at his death had bequeathed one half his dominions to the Romans, and the other to his daughters, thus hoping, by the sacrifice of a part, to secure the rest to his family: but it had a different effect; for the Roman procurator immediately took possession of the whole and when Boadicea, the widow of the deceased, attempted to remonstrate, he ordered her to be scourged like a slave, and violated the chastity of her daughters. 6. These outrages were sufficient to produce a revolt throughout the island. The Ice'ni, as being the most deeply interested in the quarrel, were the first to take arms; all the other states soon followed the example; and Boadicea, a woman of great beauty and masculine spirit, was appointed to head the common forces, which amounted to two hundred and thirty thousand fighting men. 7. These, exasperated by their wrongs, attacked several of the Roman settlements and colonies with success: Pauli'nus, who commanded the Roman forces, hastened to relieve London, which was already a flourishing colony; but found, on his arrival, that it would be requisite for the general safety to abandon that place to the merciless fury of the enemy. 8. London was soon, therefore, reduced to ashes; such of the inhabitants as remained in it were massacred; and the Romans, with all other strangers, to the number of seventy thousand, were cruelly put to the sword. Flushed with these successes, the Britons no longer sought to avoid the enemy, but boldly came to the place where Pauli'nus awaited their arrival, posted in a very advantageous manner with a body of ten thousand men. 9. The battle was obstinate and bloody. Boadicea herself appeared in a chariot with her two daughters, and harangued her army with masculine intrepidity; but the irregular and undisciplined bravery of her troops was unable to resist the cool intrepidity of the Romans. They were routed with great slaughter; eighty thousand perished in the field, and an infinite number were made prisoners; while Boadicea herself, fearing to fall into the hands of the enraged victor, put an end to her life by poison. 10. The general who firmly established the dominion of the Romans in this island was Ju'lius Agricola, who governed it during the reigns of Vespa'sian', Titus, and Domi"tian, and distinguished himself as well by his courage as humanity. For several years after the time of Agric'ola, a profound peace seems to have prevailed in Britain, and little mention is made of the affairs of the island by any historian. 11. At length, however, Rome, that had for ages given laws to nations, and diffused slavery and oppression over the known world, began to sink under her own magnificence. Mankind, as if by a general consent, rose up to vindicate their natural freedom; almost every nation asserting that independence, of which they had been long so unjustly deprived. 12. During these struggles the British youth were frequently drawn away into Gaul, to give ineffectual succour to the various contenders for the empire, who, failing in every attempt, only left the name of tyrants behind them 10. In the mean time, as the Roman forces decreased in Britain, the Picts and Scots 11 continued still more boldly to infest the northern parts; and crossing the friths, which the Romans could not guard, in little wicker boats, covered with leather, filled the country, wherever they came, with slaughter and consternation. 13. The Romans, therefore, finding it impossible to stand their ground in Britain, in the reign of the emperor 6 Julius Agricola was the father-in-law of Tacitus, the celebrated historian. 7 Vespa'sian was the tenth Roman emperor; he was valiant, but very avaricious. 8 Titus was the eleventh Roman emperor, the son of Vespasian; he was so good a man, that he was called "The Delight of Mankind." 9 Domitian was the twelfth Roman emperor, and brother to Titus; a great persecutor of the Christians, and of a most cruel disposition. 10 According to the "Notitia Imperii," no less than twelve British corps of infantry and cavalry were constantly dispersed in the distant provinces of the empire; while foreign soldiers were, according to the invariable policy of the Romans, stationed in Britain. 11 The names by which the inhabitants of Scotland were at that time distinguished. "The Picts, (so called from Pictich, a plunderer, and not from Picti, painted;) and the Scots from Scuite, a wanderer, in the Celtic tongue, were only different tribes of Caledonians."-Dr. Henry. Valentin'ian took their last leave of the island, after being masters of it for nearly four hundred years, and now left the natives to the choice of their own government and kings. They gave them the best instructions the calamitous times would permit, for exercising their arms, and repairing their ramparts; and helped them to erect a new wall of stone, built by the emperor Sev'erus, across the island, which they had not, at that time, artisans skilful enough among themselves to repair. KINGS OF ENGLAND. From the invasion of Julius Cæsar, to the departure of the Romans. From the departure of the Romans, till the introduction of the Saxons by Questions for Examination. 1. What prevented Augustus from visiting Britain? Did Tiberius make an attempt upon Britain? 2. What exposed Caligula to ridicule ? 3. Who was the first person that was willing to repel the invaders? How long did Caractacus harass the Romans? 4. What remarks did Caractacus make on witnessing the splendour of Rome? 5. What caused the Britons to rebel? Who commanded Boadicea to be ill treated? 6. What were the consequences? 7. Who commanded the Roman forces at that time? 8. What was the fate of London and its inhabitants? 9. Describe Boadicea's conduct, and the result of this battle. 10. At what time did peace prevail in Great Britain? 11. What was the situation of Rome at this time? 12. What were the nations that infested the northern parts? 13. When did the Romans take their leave of Britain? and how long had they been masters of it? |