[15] There is a curious instance of a ceremony not unlike this in a fragment of an ancient Runic history, which it may not be disagreeable to compare with this part of the British manners. "Ne vero regent ex improviso adoriretur Ulafus, admoto sacculo suo, eundem quatere cœpit, carmen simul magicum obmurmurans, hac verborum formula: Duriter increpetur cum tonitru; stringant Cyclopia tela; injiciant manum Parcæ; ... acriter excipient monticolæ genii plurimi, atque gigantes ... contundent; quatient; procellæ ..., disrumpent lapides navigium ejus...."--Hickesii Thesaur. Vol. II. p. 140. [16] Inhabitants of Norfolk and Suffolk. [17] Rem Romanam huc satietate gloriæ provectam, ut externis quoque gentibus quietem velit.--Tacit. Annal. XII. 11. [18] Nam duces, ubi impetrando triumphalium insigni sufficere res suas crediderant, hostam omittebant.--Tacit. Annal. IV. 23. [19] Sigonii de Antiquo Jure Provinciarum, Lib. 1 and 2. [20] Cic. in Verrem, I. [21] Duobus insuper inserviendum tyrannis; quorum legatus in sanguinem, procurator in bona sæviret--Tacit. Annal. XII. 60. [22] Ne vim principatus resolveret cuncta ad senatum vocando, eam conditionem esse imperandi, ut non aliter ratio constet, quam si uni reddatur.--Tacit. Annal. I. 6. [23] Tacit. Annal. XV. 21, 22. [24] The four roads they called Watling Street, Ikenild Street, Ermin Street, and the Fosseway. [25] Cod. lib. XII. Tit. lxii. CHAPTER IV. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN POWER IN BRITAIN. [Sidenote: A.D. 117.] After the period which we have just closed, no mention is made of the affairs of Britain until the reign of Adrian. At that time was wrought the first remarkable change in the exterior policy of Rome. Although some of the emperors contented themselves with those limits which they found at their accession, none before this prince had actually contracted the bounds of the Empire: for, being more perfectly acquainted with all the countries that composed it than any of his predecessors, what was strong and what weak, and having formed to himself a plan wholly defensive, he purposely abandoned several large tracts of territory, that he might render what remained more solid and compact. [Sidenote: A.D. 121.] [Sidenote: A.D. 140.]