State of Britain after the departure of Cæsar--Landing of Plautius--His skirmishes with the Britons in the marshes beside the Thames--Arrival of the Roman emperor Claudius--Ostorius conquers and disarms the Britons--Rise of Caractacus--British encampment in Wales--Caractacus defeated, betrayed by his step-mother, and carried captive to Rome--Death of the Roman general Ostorius--Retreat of the Druids to the Isle of Anglesey --Suetonius attacks the island--Consternation of the Roman soldiers on landing--Massacre of the Druids, and destruction of their groves and altars--Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, assumes the command of the Britons--Her sufferings--She prepares for battle, attacks the Roman colony of Camaladonum--Her terrible vengeance--Her march into London, and destruction of the Romans--Picturesque description of Boadicea and her daughters in her ancient British war-chariot--Harangues her soldiers --Is defeated by Suetonius, and destroys herself--Agricola lands in Britain--His mild measures--Instructs the islanders in agriculture and architecture--Leads the Roman legions into Caledonia, and attacks the men of the woods--Bravery of Galgacus, the Caledonian chief--Agricola sails round the coast of Scotland--Erects a Roman rampart to prevent the Caledonians from invading Britain p. 40 CHAPTER VI. DEPARTURE OF THE ROMANS. Adrian strengthens and extends the Roman fortifications-- Description of these ancient barriers, and the combats that took place before them--Wall erected by the emperor Severus--He marches into Caledonia, reaches the Frith of Moray--Great mortality amongst the Roman legions--Severus dies at York-- Picturesque description of the Roman sentinels guarding the ancient fortresses--Attack of the northern barbarians--Peace of Britain under the government of Caracalla--Arrival of the Saxon and Scandinavian pirates--The British Channel protected by the naval commander, Carausius--His assassination at York --Constantine the Great--Theodosius conquers the Saxons-- Rebellion of the Roman soldiers; they elect their own general --Alaric, the Goth, overruns the Roman territories--British soldiers sent abroad to strengthen the Roman ranks--Decline of the Roman power in Britain--Ravages of the Picts, Scots, and Saxons--The Britons apply in vain for assistance from Rome --Miserable condition in which they are left on the departure of the Romans--War between the Britons and the remnant of the invaders--Vortigern, king of the Britons--A league with the Saxons p. 50 CHAPTER VII. BRITAIN AFTER THE ROMAN PERIOD.