Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Roman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D.
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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