Ant.Ch.16.

ing them remifs in their fupplies, and untrue to their former profeffions, he once more prepared for the invasion of the country; but a well-timed embaffy again averted his indignation, and the fubmiffions he received feemed to fatisfy his refentment: upon his death-bed he appeared fenfible of the overgrown extent of the Roman empire, and he recommended it to his fucceffors never to enlarge their territories.

Tiberius followed the maxims of Auguftus, and wifely judging the empire already too extensive, made no attempt upon Britain. Some Roman foldiers having been wrecked on the British coaft, the inhabitants not only affifted them with the greatest humanity, but fent them in fafety back to their general. In confequence of these friendly difpofitions, a conftant intercourse of good offices fubfifted between the two nations; the principal British nobility reforted to Rome, and many received their education there.

From that time the Britons began to improve in all the arts which contribute to the advancement of human nature. The first art which a favage people is generally taught by their politer neighbours is that of war. The Britons, thenceforward, though not wholly

wholly addicted to the Roman method of fighting, nevertheless adopted feveral of their improvements, as well in their arms as in their arrangement in the field. Their ferocity to ftrangers, for which they had been always remarkable, was mitigated; and they began to permit an intercourse of commerce even in the internal parts of the country. They ftill, however, continued to live as herdsmen and hunters, a manifeft proof that the country was as yet but thinly inhabited. A nation of hunters can never be populous, as their subfiftence is neceffarily diffused over a large tract of country, while the hufbandman converts every part of nature to human use, and flourishes moft by the vicinity of those whom he is to fupport.

The wild extravagancies of Caligula, by which he threatened Britain with an invafion, served rather to expofe him to ridicule than the ifland to danger. The Britons therefore, for almost a century, enjoyed their liberty unmolefted, till at length the Romans, in the reign of Claudius, began to think feriously of reducing them under their dominion. The expedition for this purpofe was conducted in the beginning by Plautius and other command

A. D. 43.

ers, with that success which usually attended the Roman arms.

Claudius himself finding affairs fufficiently prepared for his reception, made a journey thither, and received the fubmiffion of such states as, living by commerce, were willing to purchafe tranquillity at the expence of freedom. It is true that many of the inland provinces preferred their native fimplicity to imported elegance, and, rather than bow their necks to the Roman yoke, offered their bofoms to the fword. But the fouthern coaft, with all the adjacent inland country, was feized by the conquerors, who secured the poffeffion by fortifying camps, building fortreffes, and planting colonies. The other parts of the country either thought themselves in no danger, or continued patient fpectators of the approaching devastation.

Caractacus was the first who seemed willing, by a vigorous effort, to rescue his country and repel its infulting and rapacious conquerors. The venality and corruption of the Roman prætors and officers who were appointed to levy the contributions in Britain ferved to excite the indignation of the natives, and give spirit to his attempts. This rude foldier, though with inferior

inferior forces, continued, for above the space of nine years, to oppofe and harrass the Romans; fo that at length Oftorius Scapula was fent over to command their armies. He was

more successful than his predeceffors.

He advanced the Roman conquests over Britain,

pierced the country of the Silures, a warlike A. D. 50. nation along the banks of the Severn, and at length came up with Caractacus, who had taken poffeffion of a very advantageous poft upon an inacceffible mountain, washed by a deep and rapid ftream. The unfortunate British general, when he faw the enemy approaching, drew up his army, composed of different tribes, and going from rank to rank, exhorted them to ftrike the last blow, for liberty, fafety, and life. To thefe exhortations his foldiers replied with fhouts of determined valour. But what could undisciplined bravery avail against the attack of an army skilled in all the arts of war, and inspired by a long train of conquefts. The Britons were, after an obftinate refiftance, totally routed; and a few days after Caractacus himfelf was delivered up to the conquerors by Cartifmandua, queen of the Brigantes, with whom he had taken refuge. The capture of this general was received with fuch joy at Rome, that Claudius commanded that he

fhould be brought from Britain, in order to be exhibited as a spectacle to the Roman people. Accordingly, on the day appointed for that purpose, the Emperor afcending his throne, ordered the captives, and Caractacus among the number, to be brought into his prefence. The vaffals of the British king, with the fpoils taken in war, were firft brought forward; these were followed by his family, who, with abject lamentations, were feen to implore for mercy. Last of all came Caractacus himself, with an undaunted air and a dignified afpect. He appeared no way dejected at the amazing concourfe of 'fpectators that were gathered upon this occafion, but cafting his eyes on the fplendours that furrounded him, “Alas, cried he, how is it poffible that a people poffeffed of fuch magnificence at home could envy me an humble cottage in Britain!" When brought into the Emperor's prefence, he is faid to have addreffed him in the following manner: "Had my moderation been equal to my birth and fortune, I had arrived in this city not as a captive but as a friend. But my present misfortunes redound as much to your honour as to my difgrace, and the obftinacy of my oppofition ferves to increase the splendours of your victory. Had I furrendered myself in the begin