Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)Holinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 55 B.C.
Neuerthelesse, how generall soeuer the name of Scots then was, sure
it is, that no speciall mention of them is made by anie writer, till
about 300 yeares after the birth of our sauiour. And yet the Romans,
which ruled this land, and had so much adoo with the people thereof,
make mention of diuerse other people, nothing so famous as Boetius
would make his Scotish men euen then to be. But to leaue to the Scots
the antiquitie of their originall beginning, as they and other must
doo vnto vs our descent from Brute and the other Troians, sith the
[Sidenote: More certeintie from hence forth appeareth in the historie.]
contrarie dooth not plainelie appeare, vnlesse we shall leane vnto
presumptions: now are we come to the time in the which what actes were
atchiued, there remaineth more certeine record, and therefore may we
the more boldlie procéed in this our historie.
[Sidenote: Iulius Cesar.]
In this season that Cassibellane had roiall gouernment héere in
Britaine, Caius Iulius Cesar being appointed by the senat of Rome to
conquer Gallia, was for that purpose created consull, and sent with
a mightie army into the countrie, where after he had brought the
[Sidenote: _Cesar de bello Gal. lib 4_. Britains unknowne to the
Romans.]
Galles vnto some frame, he determined to assaie the winning of
Britaine, which as yet the Romans knew not otherwise than by report.
The chiefest cause that mooued him to take in hand that enterprise,
was for that he did vnderstand, that there dailie came great succours
out of that Ile to those Galles that were enimies vnto the Romans. And
[Sidenote: _Cesar de bello Gall. lib. 4_. Causes of the warre.
Cesars purpose.]
though the season of that yéere to make warre was farre spent
(for summer was almost at an end) yet he thought it would be to good
purpose, if he might but passe ouer thither, and learne what maner of
people did inhabit there, and discouer the places, hauens, and entries
apperteining to that Ile.
Héerevpon calling togither such merchants as he knew to haue had
traffike thither with some trade of wares, he diligentlie inquired of
them the state of the Ile: but he could not be throughlie satisfied in
anie of those things that he coueted to know. Therefore thinking it
good to vnderstand all things by view that might apperteine to the vse
of that warre which he purposed to follow: before he attempted the
[Sidenote: Caius Volusenus sent ouer into Britaine.]
same, he sent one Caius Volusenus with a gallie or light pinesse
to surueie the coasts of the Ile, commanding him (after diligent
search made) to returne with spéed to him againe. He him selfe also
drew downewards towards Bullenois, from whence the shortest cut lieth
to passe ouer into Britaine.
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