Chains, with other conceits made of Glafs and Amber. And as their Merchandize was mean, so was their Shipping alfo; the Keels and Ribs whereof were of light Wood covered over with Leather. Their Coin was either of Brass, or elfe of Iron rings fixed at a certain weight, which they used for their Money, but as Times grew more civil, and Traffick more frequent, they ftamped both Gold and Silver. Their Armour were Shields and fhort Spears, in the lower end of which Spears was faftned a round Bell of Brafs, which at the beginning of a Fight they fhook with a great Courage, conceiting that fuch a ratling Noife did difmay the Enemy. In the beginning of a Battle they fought in Chariots, but when they had wound them→ felves in amongst their Enemies, they fought on Foot, upon Occa fion retiring to their Chariots, which in the mean fpace that they fought on Foot, were drawn all together. They were fo expert in managing their Chariot-Horfes, that running them forceably downa fteep Hill, they could ftop and turn them in the mid-way. Julius Cafar found the Island- of Britain, not in a Monarchical Eftate under one King; but divided into feveral Provinces or petty Kingdoms. The Names of which Provinces were, 1. Cantii, The Inhabitants of Kent 2. Regni, Suffex and Surrey 3. Durothriges, Dorfetfire. 4. Danmonii, Devon and Cornwall. 5. Belga, Somerfet, Wiltshire and Hampfire 6. Attrebatii, Berkshire. 7. Dobuni, Oxford and Glocefterfhire. 8. Caticuchlani, Warwick, Bucks and Bedford. 9. Trinobantes, Hartford, Effex, Middlefex. 10. Iceni, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge. 11. Coritani, Northampton, Lincoln, Leicester, Rutland, Derby, Nottingham. 12. Cornavin, Stafford, Worcester, Chefhire and Shropfire. 13. Brigantes, Parifi, Lancashire, York, Richmond, Durham, Westmoreland and Cumberland. 14. Ordovices, Flint, Denbigh,Merioneth, Carnarvan and Montgomery. 15. Silures, Hereford, Radnor, Brecknock, Monmouth and Glamorgan. 16. Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarden called Dimeta. 17, Ottadini, Northumberland, Teifidale, Twedale, Merch and Lonthien. 18. Selgovai, Lidefdale, Eufdale, Efkdale, Annandale and Niddifdale. 19. Novantes, Kile, Carick, Galloway, and Cunningham. 20, Fife, Renfraw, Cluydfdale, Lennox, Striveling, Menteth, called Damnii. 21. Caledonii, Gadini, Perth, Strathern, Albin, Argile and Lorne. 22. Epedii, Cantine. 23. Vicemagi, Murray. 24. Venricones, Merina, Anguis, Mar. 25. Tazali, Buqubane. 26. Cama, 26 Cataa, Creones, Cerontes, Roffe, Southerland. The moft Memorable Kings of the Britains, in the Times of the Romans. Omius Coming King of the Atrebatinobantes, who as the most worthy or British Kings, was chofen by general Confent to withstand the Roman Invafion; which he did with very great prowefs, twice repulfing their Legions from the British Shore. His chief City was Verolam, near where St. Albanes now ftandeth. Cingetorix, Caruil, Taximagul, and Segonax, Kings reigning together in Kent. Mandubrace a Prince of the Trinobantes, who, after that he was beaten out of his Country by Cafibelan, fted unto Cafar into Gallia, and was a great Incendiary againit his Native Land, perfwading Cafar to make a fecond Expedition into Britain. Cunobeline, Grandfon of King Lud, the chief City for whofe Refidence was Camalodunum, now called Malden in Effex, which was the principal Seat of the Kingdom. Adminius, Catracratus and Togodumus Sons of Cunobeline, the laft whereof made gallant Refiftance against the Romans. Cogidunus, who received in pure Gift at the Hands of the Romans, certain Cities, over which he peaceably reigned King. Caractacus, a most renowned Prince of the Silures, who in nine Years Refiftance, waded through many Adventures against the Romans, but at last was betrayed and carried to Rome, where being led in Triumph, was for the bravenefs of his Spirit, released of his Bonds, and accepted into Claudius Cafar's Favour. Venutius a famous King of the Brigantes, Voadicea, or Boadicea, Queen to Prafutagus, after her Husband's Death, receiving incivilities from the Romans, oppofed her felf against them, and in one Battel flew Eighty Thousand of them, Those two strong Cities, Verolamium, and Camalodunum, fhe took and facked. Petillius Lieutenant of the Ninth Legion fhe difcomfited: Catus the Procurator the forced to fly beyond the Seas. All feared the Heroick prowess of this Princefs; but at length the was vanquifhed in Battel, when rather than live fubject to her Foes the poiloned her felf. Arviragus ftoutly withflood Claudius, Gulgacus a rightly valiant Prince of the Caledonians in the time of Domitian, These were the Qppugners of Roman Power for above an Hundred Years, nor were the Britains then fubdued without themselves; for their own divifions made way for the Romans to become their Ma¬ iters, and to poffefs their Country. B 3 About Tulius Cofar A. M. 3925. A. M. 3980. About the Year of the World's Creation 3913, and before the Birth of Chrift Fifty Four Years, the fortunate Romans, under the Conduct of Julius Cafar, first took Footing in Britain about Deal; and fo welcome was the News of Cafar's landing in Britain to the Roman Senate, that they decreed unto his Honour a general Thanksgiving for Twenty Days, which was the firit fo great Honour ever granted; the former greatest Victories having had but five, or at moft but ten Days affigned them. CA Emperors of Rome commanding in Britain. Aius Julius Cafar was General of the Roman Forces in Gallia, when he invaded this Ifland of Britain; in fhort time after which, he affumed the Title and Authority of perpetual Dictator,about A. M. 3925. He was very fuccefsful in War, and of a moft undaunted Spirit upon all Occafions. In Fifty feveral Battels by him fought, he always prevailed, one only accepted. Four times was he created Conful, and five times entred Rome in Triumph. Once entring into a Boat in Tempestuous Weather, and the Waterman afraid to put forth from Shore, he thus animated him, Proceed couragiously against the Storms, for thou carrieft Cæfar, and Cæfar's Fortunes. And when he was for warn'd of the Confpiracy made against him in the Senate Houfe, and diffwaded from going thither at that time, he anfwered, That he had rather die, than admit Fear into his Breaft: So refolutely going to the Place, was by Brutus, Caffius, and other Confpirators murthered in the Senate-Houfe, receiving in his Body Twenty three Wounds. He was bald-headed, therefore to cover it, he always wore the Triumphant Laurel-Garland. Some report that the Baths by the City of Bath were first found out by him; others fay by an Ancient British King called Bladus. For Twenty Years after Cafar's coming into Britain, the Britains retained their own Kings and Laws, having no Roman Prefects over them. Auguftus, Clavian Auguftus Cafar was Julius Cafar's Sisters Son, and his adopted and declared Heir. In the Forty fecond Year of his Reign, the Prince of Peace, Jefus Chrift was Born, when was univerfal Peace. This wife Emperor's Motto was, Feftina Lenté. And he uled to lay, That is peedily or foon enough done, that is well enough done and that to get fome Small Profit with great Danger, is like thofe, that fifbing with a Golden Hook, hazard more than the Fish is worth. He died in the Embraces of his Wife Livia, of whom he took this Farewell; Livia, Noftri Conjugii memor, vive, & vale. Tiberius. A. D. 17. ; Laudius Tiberius Nero was ordained by Auguflus for his Succeffor. Such an Impudent Letcher he was, that he caufed naked Women and Maidens to bring in, and attend him at Supper. Such a notorious Drunkard, that caufed the People, instead of Claudius Tiberius Nero, to call him Caldus Biberius Mero, a Wine Bibber, In his time the World's Saviour was Crucified, about Five Years after which time, the Gofpel was planted in Britain, as faith old Gildar, This Emperor, as is conjectured, was fmothered to Death by Caligula, Aius Caligula, Nephew to Tiberius, was at fome times exceeding Caligula, CA's t fordidly covetous, always cruel, proud, and libidinous: He would force Rich Men to make their Wills, and therein to declare him their Heir, which when they had done, he would prefently cause them to be Poifoned, fcoffing at them, and faying, That when Men had once made their Wills, it was fit they should die. His own Mother he defamed to be incestuously begot; his Grandmother he poifoned, his Brother Tiberius he murthered, his three natural Sitters incestuously polluted. He made himfelf a God, conimanding that Men fhould worthip him as fuch, and ordained, his great Horse for his Prieft; but as Decius faith, Truly, a fit Prieft for fuch a God, and a fit God for fucb a Prieft. Howbeit, though he would be a God, yet when the true God fent his Thunder, he would cover his Eyes with his Hat, and hide himself under the Table, He was fo exceeding hairy of Body, that during his regality, it was next to High Treafon, but to name a Goat. He often lamented, that fome rare and unufual difafter happened not in his Time,whereby his Reign might be made memorable to Pofterity. He wished that all the People had but one Neck, that so he might have the Glory of giving the braveit blow that ever was ftruck; but himself was murthered, receiving Thirty Wounds of the Confpirators.. A. D. 390 Laudius Drufus, the Grandfon of Livia, Auguftus's Wife, was Claudius, Clay the Prettian Band chofen Emperor, county to Mind 4, of the Senate, who had determined to reduce the City into her ancient Liberty, without admiffion of any Cafar, He came into Britain; where for his Clemency, the Britains erected a Temple and Altar in his Name, giving him Divine Honour, His first Wife Meffali, na, befides all her private Lecheries, went often to the common Stews to fatiate her Luft; but the for her impudence being put to Death, Claudius Married Julia Agrippina, who, to make way for her, Son Nero to the Empire, procured the difinheriting of Britannicus, the Emperor's Son, and by Poifon tempered in a Mufhrome, the ended Claudius's days, Omitius Nero was elected Emperor by the Soldiers, His own Nero, 4. Father he Poisoned, upon his Mother he first committed In-P. 56. cent, then Murther; he deflowered the Veftals, flew his Brother Germanicus, and Siller Antchia, his Wives Poppea and Qapia, his Aunt Domitia, his Son-in-law Rufinus, and his famous Tutor Seneca, with many of the Roman Nobility, and railed the first Perfecution Pirft Pre against the Christians. He fet the City of Rome on fire, charging capion. the innocent Chriftians with the Fact, and tormenting them for it.. He caufed St. Peter and St. Paul to be put to Death, the first by hated Crucifiing, the other by Beheading. But this Tyrant was grown for B Galba, A.D. 70. Otho, A. D.71. Vitellius, A. D. 73. Vefpafian, hated, that the Senate adjudg'd him fhamefully to be whipt to Death; which he hearing of run himself upon his own Sword. In the first five Years of his Reign he was very compaffionate, infomuch, as being requested to fign a Writ for Execution of a Malefactor, he faid, Would God I had never learnt to Write. In the year of our Redemption, 67, Jofeph of Arimathea, was fent by Philip the Apoftle to plant the Golpel in Britain, who laid the foundation of the Chriftian Faith at a place then called Avalon, afterward Inismitren, now Glaftenbury, where he died and was buried. In Nero the Progeny of Cafars ended. SE Ergius Sulpitius Galba was elected Emperor by the Soldiers and Senate, who when he had Reigned only Seven Months, was by the procurement of Otho, flain by a Troop of Horsemen. 2 Alvius Otho being chofen Emperor, Vitellius a Roman General marcheth against him, and at Brixellium won the day; and to fave the fhedding of Roman Blood, Otho refufed to engage any farther with him, though much importuned by his Soldiers to reinforce the Battle, but he thus anfwered them. To hazard your Virtues ⚫ and Valours for one Man's Eftate, I hold it dangerous; and needlefs it is, that my Life fhould be prized at fo dear a rate. These Civil Wars Vitellius begun, which for my part I purpose not to continue. And hereby let Pofterity efteem of Otho, that others have kept the Empire longer; but never any that left it more valiantly. You for your parts would have died for my Sake, but I to fave your Lives, do die voluntarily and unvanquished: I blame not the Gods, nor envy I Vitellius his rifing Glory; fufficient to me it is, that my Houfe hath touched the highest itrain of Honour, and my felf to be left upon Record, the Sovereign Monarch, of the World. And thereupon, with a folemn farewell to the whole Army, he went into his Tent, and with his Dagger gave himself bis Death's Wound.. Ulus Vitellius was fo Gluttonous and Prodigal, that Two Thou fand Dishes of Fish, and Seven Thousand of Fowls, were ferved to his Table at one Supper. In thofe few Months he Reigned, he wafted Seven Millions, thirty one thousand two hundred and fifty. pound Sterling; but was ignominioufly flain after the manner of a cominon Malefactor, when he had Reigned only eight Months and five Days. P Lavius Vefpafian was chofen Emperor by the Mefian Legions: He was a great Enemy and Scourge to the Jews, but a great favou Yer of Learning; Valiant, Juit, and Wife, yet it may be too cove Tous; for he impofed a Tax upon every Family, according to the quantity of Urine that was made in it, which his Son Titus blaming him for, as dishonourable to fo great an Emperor, he bad Titus Imell to the Gold brought for Tribute Money, asking him what ill |