further conqueft of Britain, to the direction of Plautius. The name of Britannicus which Claudius affumed, on his return into Italy, and the fplendour of his triumph, mark the formidable idea, which had been conceived of the British arms, by the Roman people.' DURING the remainder of the government of Plautius, no confiderable advances were made in the conqueft of the country; and he foon after returned to Rome, and was fucceeded by Oftorius Scapula. 50. THIS general found the affairs of his province in the greatest A. D. confufion. The winter had already commenced: the Iceni,* the Brigantes,+ and other nations, thinking they had little to dread from a new general who was unknown to the army, revolted and had recourfe to arms. After several bloody encounters, these nations were reduced to obedience, and Oftorius carried his arms into many parts of Britain, which had been hitherto unknown. In this expedition he forced his way through the Cangi," who opposed him, in whom the principal ftrength of each nation ■ Dion Caffius, Leuncl. lib. LX. p. 679. Ucbcyniaid, Upper fettlers. + Brigyntwys, First-comers. 2 Goeangiaid. Each nation or tribe had numbers of stout young men, called Cangi, whose business was to protect the cattle, and remove them from one pasture to another. Baxter's Gloffary, p. 73. con confifted; and, continuing his march, he penetrated as far as the coaft which lies upon the Irish sea.' 2 In the course of this war, the fate of Britain depended upon the virtues and military talents of Caractacus.* This prince was fovereign of the territory inhabited by the Ordovices and the Silures, and was the son of the late king Cunobeline.' Having with infinite resources, and with variety of fortunes, opposed, nine years, the Roman arms, he was at length obliged to retire among the Silures. the Silures. And this brave people, whom neither mildness nor severity had fubdued, eagerly ranged under his conduct. In order to preserve their territories from being made the feat of war, Caractacus marched into the country of the Ordovices, where he stationed his army in a fituation, chosen with great military skill. At this place, he was oppofed by Oftorius with the legionary troops. The few moments which preceded this important action, were employed by Caractacus in animating his foldiers. But their valour was unequally opposed to the force of discipline; and the British camp was ftormed with great • Taciti Annales, Antwerp edit. lib. XII. p. 195, 196. *Caradog. 2 Humfrey Lhuyd's Breviary, p. 32, 33. Arddyfieich, the inhabitants who had fettled beyond or north of the Dyfi. Ifelayr, Lowlanders, being the inhabitants of the lower part of Wales, between the Severn and Wye. L. Morris. Baxter's Gloffary, p. 67. 4 Humfrey Lhuyd's Brev. p. 32. 5 Humfrey Lhuyd's Brev. p. 33, 34, called Caer Caradog, an eminence fituated between the rivers Clue and Clevidia in Shropshire. flaughter, 52. flaughter, though not without confiderable refiftance. In this A. D. battle, the wife and daughter of the British king were taken prifoners; and his brothers, foon after, furrendered themselves. Caractacus himself furvived this misfortune, to experience a more cruel destiny. After his defeat, retiring to the country of the Brigantes, Cartifmandua, the queen of that territory, with a view of gaining the friendship of the Romans, or afraid of their refentment, betrayed him into the hands of Oftorius; and he was sent to Rome as a prifoner of the utmost importance. A general curiofity was excited in Italy, to behold the figure of this extraordinary man, whose superior talents and virtue had been fo long, and fo ably employed in oppofing the Roman power. The magnanimity of this prince, when he was exhibited a public spectacle at Rome, has been a frequent fubject of encomium.* Taciti Ann. lib. XII. p. 196, 197. *THE fpeech of Caractacus to the Emperor Claudius. Tacit. Annal. lib. XII. "If the moderation of my mind in prosperity had been anfwerable to my quality "and fortune, I might have come a friend rather than a captive into this city; and you without dishonour might have entered into league with me, royally defcended, "and then at the head of many nations. As my ftate at present is disgraceful; so 66 yours is honourable and glorious. I had horses, men, arms and riches; why then "is it ftrange I should be loath to part with them? But fince your power and "empire must be univerfal, we of course among all others must be fubject. If I "had immediately yielded, neither my fortune nor your glory had been fo eminent "in the world. My grave would have buried the memory of it as well as me : "whereas if you fuffer me to live now, your clemency will live in me for ever, as an example to after ages." |