[78] The Brigantes inhabited Yorkshire, Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham. [79] The date of his arrival in Britain is uncertain. This Frontinus is the author of the work on "Stratagems," and, at the time of his appointment to the lieutenancy of Britain, he was _curator aquarum_ at Rome. This, probably, it was that induced him to write his other work on the aqueducts of Rome. [80] This seems to relate to his having been curtailed in his military operations by the parsimony of Vespasian, who refused him permission to attack other people than the Silures. See c. 11. [81] Where these people inhabited is mentioned in p. 355, note 5. [82] This was in the year of Rome 831, of Christ 78. [83] Inhabitants of North Wales, exclusive of the Isle of Anglesey. [84] _I.e._ Some were for immediate action, others for delay. Instead of _et quibus_, we read with Dr. Smith's edition (London, 1850), _ut quibus_. [85] _Vexilla_ is here used for _vexillarii_. "Under the Empire the name of Vexillarii was given to a distinct body of soldiers supposed to have been composed of veterans, who were released from the military oath and regular service, but kept embodied under a separate flag (_vexillum_), to render assistance to the army if required, guard the frontier, and garrison recently conquered provinces; a certain number of these supernumeraries being attached to each legion. (Tac. Hist. ii. 83, 100; Ann. i. 36.)"--Rich, Comp. to Dict. and Lex. s. v. Vexillum. [86] A pass into the vale of Clwyd, in the parish of Llanarmon, is still called Bwlch Agrikle, probably from having been occupied by Agricola, in his road to Mona.--_Mr. Pennant_. [87] From this circumstance it would appear that these auxiliaries were Batavians, whose skill in this practice is related by Tacitus, Hist. iv. 12. [88] It was customary for the Roman generals to decorate with sprigs of laurel the letters in which they sent home the news of any remarkable success. Thus Pliny, xv. 30: "The laurel, the principal messenger of joy and victory among the Romans, is affixed to letters, and to the spears and javelins of the soldiers." The _laurus_ of the ancients was probably the baytree, and not what we now call laurel. [89] _Ascire_, al. _accire_, "To receive into regular service." The reference is to the transfer of soldiers from the supernumeraries to the legions. So Walch, followed by Dronke, Both, and Walther. The next clause implies, that he took care to receive into the service none but the best men (_optimum quemque_), who, he was confident, would prove faithful (_fidelissimum_). [90] In like manner Suetonius says of Julius Caesar, "He neither noticed nor punished every crime; but while he strictly inquired into and rigorously punished desertion and mutiny, he connived at other delinquencies."--Life of Julius Caesar, s. 67.