therefore in this manner rather difcovered than fubdued the southern parts of the island, Cæfar returned into Gaul with his forces, and left the Britons to enjoy their customs, religion, and laws. But the inhabitants, thus relieved from the terror of his arms, neglected the performance of their ftipulations, and only two of their states fent over hoftages, according to the treaty. Cæfar, it is likely, was not much displeafed at the omiffion, as it furnifhed him with a pretext of vifiting the island once more, and completing a conqueft which he had only begun.

Accordingly, the enfuing fpring, he fet fail for Britain with eight hundred fhips; and, arriving at the place of his former defcent, he landed without oppofition. The iflanders being ap prized of his invafion, had affembled an army, and marched down to the fea-fide to oppofe him; but feeing the number of his forces, and the whole fea as it were covered with his fhipping, they were ftruck with confternation, and retired to their places of fecurity. The Romans, however, purfued them to their retreats, until at laft common danger induced thefe poor barbarians to forget their former diffenfions, and to unite their whole ftrength for the mutual defence of their liberty and poffeffions. Caffibe

launus

launus was chofen to conduct the common caufe; and for fome time he harraffed the Romans in their march, and revived the defponding hopes of his countrymen. But no oppofition that undifciplined ftrength could make was able to reprefs the vigour and intrepidity of Cæfar. He difcomfited the Britons in every action; he advanced into the country, paffed the Thames in the face of the enemy, took and burned the capital city of Caffibelaunus, eftablished his ally Mandrubatius as sovereign of the Trinobantes; and having obliged the inhabitants to make him new fubmiffions, he again returned with his army into Gaul, having made himself rather the nominal than the real poffeffor of the island.

Whatever the ftipulated tribute might have been, it is more than probable, as there was no authority left to exact it, that it was but indifferently paid. Upon the acceffion of Auguftus, that emperor had formed a defign of vifiting Britain, but was diverted from it by an unexpected revolt of the Pannonians. Some years after he refumed his defign; but being met in his way by the Britifh ambaffadors, who promised the accustomed tribute, and made the ufual fubmiffions, he defifted from his intentions. The year following, finding

them

Aat.Ch.16.

them remifs in their fupplies, and untrue to their former profeffions, he once more prepared for the invafion 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 extenfive, 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 sent them in fafety back to their general. In confequence of thefe 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

3

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 intercourfe of commerce even in the internal parts of the country. They ftill, however, continued to live as herdfmen and hunters, a manifeft proof that the country was as yet but thinly inhabited. A nation of hunters can never be populous, as their fubfiftence 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 thofe whom he is to fupport.

The wild extravagancies of Caligula, by which he threatened Britain with an invasion, ferved rather to expofe him to ridicule than the island 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

ers,

A. D. 43.

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

Claudius himself finding affairs fufficiently prepared for his reception, made a journey thither, and received the fubmiffion of fuch ftates as, living by commerce, were willing to purchase tranquillity at the expence of freedom. It is true that many of the inland provinces preferred their native fimplicity to ime ported 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 seized by the conquerors, who fecured 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 firft who feemed willing, by a vigorous effort, to refcue 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 fpirit to his attempts. This rude foldier, though with

inferior