[Sidenote: P. Suetonius lieutenant.]
But now when this great losse chanced to the Romans Paulinus Suetonius
did gouerne here as lieutenant, a man most plentifullie furnished with
all gifts of fortune and vertue, and therewith a right skilfull
warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of the Britains
[Sidenote: Anglesey inuaded.]
as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a countrie full
of inhabitants, and a place of refuge for all outlawes and rebels. He
builded certeine brigantins with flat kéeles to serue for the ebbes
and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie in the straits
which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in those vessels, the
horssemen following by the foords, and swimming when they came into
the deepe, got likewise to the shore, where stood in order of battell
and huge number of armed men close togither, redie to beat backe the
Romans, and to staie them from comming to land. Amongst the men, a
[Sidenote: A strange maner of women.]
number of women were also running vp and downe as they had béene out
of their wits, in garments like to wild roges, with their haire
hanging downe about their shoulders, and bearing firebrands in their
hands. There was also a companie of their priests or philosophers
[Sidenote: The Druids.]
called Druides, who with stretched forth hands towards heauen,
thundered out curssings against the Romans in most bitter wise.
The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that
(as men benummed of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to
be wounded and slaine like senselesse creatures, till by the calling
vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other in no wise to
feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder
their ensignes, bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with
their owne fire smooldered and burnt them to ashes.
[Sidenote: Anglesey won by the Romans.]
To conclude, the Romane lieutenant got possession of the whole Ile,
wherein he placed garisons of men of warre to kéepe the people there
[Sidenote: Woods cut downe.]
in subiection. He also caused their woods to be cut downe, that were
consecrated to their gods, within the which they were accustomed to
sacrifice such as they tooke prisoners, and by the view of their
intrailes, in dismembring them, to learne of their gods some oracles
and such other things as should come to passe.
But now in the meane time, whilest Paulinus was abroad about this
enterprise, the Britains began to conferre togither of they great and
importable miseries, of their grieuous state of seruitude, of their
iniuries and wrongs, which they dailie susteined: how that by
sufferance they profited nothing, but still were oppressed with more
heauie burthens. Ech countrie in times past had onelie one king to
[Sidenote: Lieutenant & procurator.]
rule them: now had they two, the lieutenant by his capteins and
souldiers spilling their bloud, and the procurator or receiuer (as we
may call him) bereauing them of their goods and substance. The concord
or discord betwixt those that were appointed to rule ouer them, was
all alike hurtfull vnto the subiects, the lieutenant oppressing them
by his capteins and men of warre, and the procurator or receiuer by
force and reprochfull demeanours, polling them by insufferable
exactions.
There was nothing frée from the couetous extortion and filthie
concupiscence of these vnsatiable persons, for in these daies (say
they) the greatest spoiler is the valiantest man, and most commonlie
our houses are robbed and ransacked by a sort of cowardlie raskals
that haue no knowledge of anie warlike feats at all. Our children are
taken from us, we are forced to go to the musters, and are set foorth
to serue in forren parties, as those that are ignorant which way to
spend our liues in the quarell of our owne countrie. What a number of
souldiers haue beene transported ouer from hence to serue in other
lands, if a iust account were taken thereof: The Germans by manhood
haue cast (said they) from their shoulders the heauie yoke of bondage,
and are not defended as we are with the maine Ocean sea, but onelie
with a riuer. Where the Britains haue their countrie, their wiues and
parents, as iust causes of war to fight for: the Romans haue none at
all, but a couetous desire to gaine by rapine, and to satisfie their
excessiue lusts.
They might easilie be compelled to depart the countrie, as Iulius
Cesar was, if the Britains would shew some proofe of the noble
prowesse that was euidentlie found in their woorthie ancestors, and
not shrinke or quaile in courage for the misaduenture that should
happilie chance by fighting one battell or two. Greatest force and
constancie alwaies remaineth with those that séek to deliuer
themselues from miserie. Now appeared it that the gods had taken some
pitie of the poore Britains, who by their diuine power did withhold
the chiefe capteine of the Romans with his armie, as it were banished
[Sidenote: Occasion not be neglected.]
in an other Iland. Let vs then (said they) take the oportunitie of
time and good occasion offered, and foorthwith procéed in our
businesse: for lesse danger it is manfullie to aduenture, and to go
forward with our purpose, than to be bewraied and taken in these our
consultations. Thus hauing taken aduise togither, and wholie misliking
their present state, they determined to take weapon in hand, and so by
force to seeke for reformation.
* * * * *
_A catalog of causes or greeuances inciting the Britains to rebell
against the Romans, wherein is shewed what iniuries they susteined: of
diuers strange wonders and apparitions; the chiefe cause of the
Britains insurging against the Romans, they admitted as well women as
men to publike gouernement. A description of queene Voadicia, hir
personage and maner of attire._