The night insuing the foresaid ouerthrow of the Britains was spent of
the Romans in great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But among
[Sidenote: Britains, not Scots, neither yet Picts.]
the Britains there was nothing else heard but mourning and
lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togither, some
busie to beare away the wounded, to bind and dresse their hurts; other
calling for their sonnes, kinsfolkes and friends that were wanting.
Manie of them forsooke their houses, and in their desperate mood set
them on fire, and choosing foorth places for their better refuge and
safegard, foorthwith misliking of the same, left them and sought
others: herewith diuerse of them tooke counsell togither what they
were best to doo, one while they were in hope, an other while they
fainted, as people cast into vtter despaire: the beholding of their
wiues and children oftentimes mooued them to attempt some new
enterprise for the preseruation of their countrie and liberties. And
certeine it is that some of them slue their wiues and children, as
mooued thereto with a certeine fond regard of pitie to rid them out of
further miserie and danger of thraldome.
The next day the certeintie of the victorie more plainlie was
disclosed, for all was quiet about, and no noise heard anie where: the
houses appeared burning on ech side, and such as were sent foorth to
discouer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature
stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off.
When Agricola had thus ouerthrowne his enimies in a pitcht field at
the mountaine of Granziben, and that the countrie was quite rid of all
appearance of enimies: bicause the summer of this eight yéere of his
gouernement was now almost spent, he brought his armie into the
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
confines of the Horrestians, which inhabited the countries now called
[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus._]
Angus & Merne, and there intended to winter, and tooke hostages of the
people for assurance of their loialtie and subiection. This doone, he
appointed the admirall of the nauie to saile about the Ile, which
accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued, luckilie
accomplished his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into
[Sidenote: An hauen called Trutulensis, peraduenture Rutupensis.]
an hauen called Trutulensis.
In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in
Britaine, both the emperour Vespasianus, and also his brother Titus
that succéeded him, departed this life, and Domitianus was elected
emperor, who hearing of such prosperous successe as Agricola had
against the Britains, did not so much reioise for the thing well
doone, as he enuied to consider what glorie and renowme should redound
to Agricola thereby, which he perceiued should much darken the glasse
of his fame, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in woorthinesse of
noble exploits atchiued, farre excelled his dooings.
To find remedie therefore herein, he thought not good to vtter his
malice as yet, whilest Agricola remained in Britaine with an armie,
which so much fauoured him, and that with so good cause, sith by his
policie and noble conduct the same had obteined so manie victories, so
much honor, and such plentie of spoiles and booties. Wherevpon to
dissemble his intent, he appointed to reuoke him foorth of Britaine,
as it were to honor him, not onelie with deserued triumphs, but also
with the lieutenantship of Syria, which as then was void by the death
of Aulius Rufus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome,
[Sidenote: Cneus Trebellius alias Salustius Lucullus as some thinke.]
deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed
thereto by the emperour Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard.
¶ Thus may you sée in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king
Marius, of whome Tacitus maketh no mention at all. Some haue written,
that the citie of Chester was builded by this Marius, though other (as
before I haue said) thinke rather that it was the worke of Ostorius
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
Scapula their legat. Touching other the dooings of Agricola, in the
Scotish chronicle you maie find more at large set foorth: for that
which I haue written héere, is but to shew what in effect Cornelius
Tacitus writeth of that which Agricola did here in Britaine, without
making mention either of Scots or Picts, onelie naming them Britains,
Horrestians, and Calidoneans, who inhabited in those daies a part of
this Ile which now we call Scotland, the originall of which countrie,
and the inhabitants of the same, is greatlie controuersed among
writers; diuerse diuerslie descanting therevpon, some fetching their
reason from the etymon of the word which is Gréeke, some from the
opening of their ancestors as they find the same remaining in records;
other some from comparing antiquities togither, and aptlie collecting
the truth as néere as they can. But to omit them, and returne to the
continuation of our owne historie.
* * * * *
_Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his education in Rome, how long he
reigned: of Lucius his sonne and successor, what time he assumed the
gouernment of this land, he was an open professor of christian
religion, he and his familie are baptised, Britaine receiueth the
faith, 3 archbishops and 28 bishops at that time in this Iland,
Westminster church and S. Peters in Cornehill builded, diuers opinions
touching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the
christian faith was receiued in this Iland._