4.18. The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains after their o|uerthrow, Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, and Cneus Trebellius surrogated in his roome. The xviij. Chapter.

The lamentable distresse and pitifull perplexitie of the Britains after their o|uerthrow, Domitian enuieth Agricola the glorie of his victories, he is subtilie depriued of his deputiship, and Cneus Trebellius surrogated in his roome. The xviij. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _THe night insuing the fore|said ouerthrow of the Bri|tains was spent of the Ro|mans in great ioy & gladnes for the victorie atchiued. But among the Britains thereBritains [...] Scots, nei|ther yet Picts. was nothing else heard but mourning and lamentation, both of men and women that were mingled togi|ther, 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 misli|king of the same, left them and sought others: here|with 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 en|terprise for the preseruation of their countrie and li|berties. And certeine it is that some of them slue their wiues and children, as mooued thereto with a EEBO page image 51 certeine fond regard of pitie to rid them out of fur|ther miserie and danger of thraldome.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 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 bur|ning on ech side, and such as were sent foorth to disco|uer the countrie into euerie part thereof, saw not a creature stirring, for all the people were auoided and withdrawne a farre off.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 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 confines of the Horrestians,Hector Bo [...]t. which inhabited the countries now called Angus & Merne, and there intended to winter,Cot. Tacitus. and tooke hostages of the people for assurance of their loialtie and subiecti|on. This doone, he appointed the admirall of the na|uie to saile about the Ile, which accordinglie to his commission in that point receiued,An hauen cal|led Trutulen|s [...]s, perad|uenture Ru|tupensis. luckilie accom|plished his enterprise, and brought the nauie about againe into an hauen called Trutulensts.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In this meane time, whiles Iulius Agricola was thus occupied in Britaine, both the emperour Ues|pasianus, 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 con|sider what glorie and renowme should redound to A|gricola thereby, which he perceiued should much dar|ken the glasse of his same, hauing a priuate person vnder him, who in woorthinesse of noble exploits at|chiued, farre excelled his dooings.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 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 in|tent, 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 Atilius Ru|fus. Thus Agricola being countermanded home to Rome,Cneus Tre|bellius alias Salustius Lu|cullus as some thinke. deliuered his prouince vnto his successor Cneus Trebellius, appointed thereto by the em|perour Domitianus, in good quiet and safegard.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 ¶Thus may you sée in what state Britaine stood in the daies of king Marius, of whome Tacitus ma|keth 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 Scapula theirFabian. 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 Calido|neans, 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 great|lie 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 com|paring 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.

4.19. Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his e|ducation 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 fa|milie 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 tou|ching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the christian faith was receiued in this Iland. The 19. Chapter.

Of Coillus the sonne of Marius, his e|ducation 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 fa|milie 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 tou|ching the time of Lucius his reigne, of his death, and when the christian faith was receiued in this Iland. The 19. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _COillus the sonne of Ma|riusCoillus. was after his fathers deceasse made king of Bri|taine, in the yeare of our Lord 125.125 This Coillus or Coill was brought vp in his youth amongst the Romans at Rome, where he spent his time not vnprofitablie, but applied himselfe to learning & seruice in the warres, by reason whereof he was much honored of the Ro|mans, and he likewise honored and loued them, so that he paied his tribute truelie all the time of his reigne, and therefore liued in peace and good quiet. He was also a prince of much bountie, and verie li|berall, whereby he obteined great loue both of his nobles and commons. Some saie, that he made the towne of Colchester in Essex,Colchester built. but others write, that Coill which reigned next after Asclepiodotus was the first founder of that towne, but by other it should séeme to be built long before, being called Came|lodunum. Finallie when this Coill had reigned the space of 54 yeares, he departed this life at Yorke, leauing after him a sonne named Lucius, which suc|céeded in the kingdome.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 LUcius the sonne of Coillus,Lucius. whose surname (as saith William Harison) is not extant, began his reigne ouer the Britains about the yeare of our Lord 180, as Fabian following the authoritie of Pe|ter Pictauiensis saith, although other writers seeme to disagrée in that account, as by the same Fabian in the table before his booke partlie appeareth, where|vnto Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis affirmeth, that this Lucius was borne in the yeare of our Lord 115, and was crowned king in the yeare 124, as succes|sor to his father Coillus, which died the same yeare, being of great age yer the said Lucius was borne. It is noted by antiquaries, that his entrance was in the 4132 of the world, 916 after the building of Rome, 220 after the comming of Cesar into Bri|taine, and 165 after Christ,165 whose accounts I fol|low in this treatise.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Lucius is highlie renowmed of the writers, for that he was the first king of the Britains that receiued the faith of Iesus Christ: for being inspi|red by the spirit of grace and truth, euen from the beginning of his reigne, he somewhat leaned to the fauoring of Christian religion, being moued with the manifest miracles which the Christians dailie wrought in witnesse and proofe of their sound and perfect doctrine. For euen from the daies of Ioseph of Arimathia and his fellowes, or what other god|lie men first taught the Britains the gospell of our Sauiour, there remained amongest the same Bri|tains some christians which ceased not to teach and preach the word of God most sincerelie vnto them: but yet no king amongst them openlie professed that religion, till at length this Lucius perceiuing not onelie some of the Romane lieutenants in Britaine as Trebellius and Pertinax, with others, to haue EEBO page image 52 submitted themselues to that profession, but also the emperour himselfe to begin to be fauorable to them that professed it, he tooke occasion by their good ex|ample to giue eare more attentiuelie vnto the go|spell, and at length sent vnto Eleutherius bishop of Rome two learned men of the British nation, Elu|ane and Meduine, requiring him to send some such ministers as might instruct him and his people in the true faith more plentifullie, and to baptise them according to the rules of christian religion.

¶The reuerend father Iohn Iewell, sometime bi|shop of Salisburie, writeth in hisFol. 119. replie vnto Har|dings answer, that the said Eleutherius, for ge|nerall order to be taken in the realme and churches héere, wrote his aduice to Lucius in maner and forme following.

You haue receiued in the king|dome of Britaine, by Gods mercie, both the law and faith of Christ; ye haue both the new and the old testament, out of the same through Gods grace, by the aduise of your realme make a law, and by the same through Gods sufferance rule you your king|dome of Britaine, for in that kingdome you are Gods vicar.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, the one named Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the king with all his familie and people,Britaine re|ceiueth the faith. and therewith re|moued the worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right meane and waie how to wor|ship the true and immortall God. There were in those daies within the bounds of Britaine 28 Fla|mines, & thrée Archflamines, which were as bishops and archbishops, or superintendents of the pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they being remo|ued) were instituted 28 bishops & thrée archbishops of the christian religion. One of the which archbi|shops held his sée at London, another at Yorke, and the third at Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorgan|shire. Unto the archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall,Matth. West. and all the middle part of England, euen vnto Humber. To the archbishop of Yorke all the north parts of Britaine from the riuer of Hum|ber vnto the furthest partes of Scotland. And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, within which countrie as then were seuen bishops, where now there are but foure. The riuer of Seuern in those daies diuided Wales (then called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine.Iosephus of Arimathia. Thus Britaine partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard before) & partlie by the whole|some instructions & doctrines of Fugatius and Da|mianus, was the first of all other regions that open|lie receiued the gospell, and continued most sted|fast in that profession, till the cruell furie of Dio|clesian persecuted the same, in such sort, that as well in Britaine as in all other places of the world, the christian religion was in manner extinguished, and vtterlie destroied.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church of saint Peter at Westminster, Polydor. Westminster Church built. though manie attribute that act vnto Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write how the place was then ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, and was called Thorney. They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of Lon|don preached, read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him. Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestrie of saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime hanging in saint Peters church in Cornehill, it should séeme that the said church of saitn Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded. But herein (saith Harison anno mundi 4174) dooth lie a scruple. Sure Cornell might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speci|allie in such old records, as time, age, & euill hand|ling haue oftentimes defaced.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But howsoeuer the case standeth, truth it is, that Lucius reioising much, in that he had brought his people to the perfect light and vnderstanding of the true God, that they néeded not to be deceiued anie longer with the craftie temptations and feigned mi|racles of wicked spirits, he abolished all prophane worshippings of false gods, and conuerted all such temples as had béene dedicated to their seruice, vn|to the vse of christian religion: and thus studieng onlie how to aduance the glorie of the immortall God, and the knowledge of his word, without see|king the vaine glorie of worldlie triumph, which is got with slaughter and bloudshed of manie a giltlesse person, he left his kingdome; though not inlarged with broder dominion than he receiued it, yet great|lie augmented and inriched with quiet rest, good or|dinances, and (that which is more to be estéemed than all the rest) adorned with Christes religion, and perfectlie instructed with his most holie word and doctrine. He reigned (as some write) 21 yeares, though other affirme but twelue yeares.Polydor. Fabian. Iohn Hard. Againe, some testifie that he reigned 77, others 54, and 43.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Moreouer here is to be noted, that if he procured the faith of Christ to be planted within this realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romane bishop, the same chanced in the daies of the emperour Marcus Aurelius Antonius; and about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus was ioined and made parta|ker of the empire with his father, which was seuen yéere after the death of Lucius Aelius, Aurelius Ue|rus, and in the 177 after the birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, as by some chronologies is easie to be collected. For Eleutherius began to gouerne the sée of Rome in the yéere 169, according to the opinion of the most diligent chronographers of our time, and gouerned fiftéene yeeres and thirtéene daies. And yet there are that affirme, how Lucius died at Gloce|ster in the yéere of our Lord 156.Gal. Mon. Matth. West. Other say that he died in the yere 201, and other 208. So that the truth of this historie is brought into doubt by the discord of writers, concerning the time and other circum|stances, although they all agrée that in this kings daies the christian faith was first by publike consent openlie receiued and professed in this land, which as some affirme,Polydor. should chance in the twelfe yéere of his reigne, and in the yéere of our Lord 177. Other iudge that it came to passe in the eight yeere of his regi|ment, and in the yéere of our Lord 188, where other (as before is said) alledge that it was in the yéere of the Lord 179. Nauclerus saith, that this happened a|bout the yeare of our Lord 156.Nauclerus. Hen. Herf. And Henricus de Herfordea supposeth, that it was in the yéere of our Lord 169, and in the nintéenth yéere of the emperor Marcus Anfonius Uerus: and after other, about the sixt yéere of the emperor Commodus.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But to conclude, king Lucius died without issue, by reason whereof after his deceasse the Britains fell at variance, which continued about the space of fiftéene yéeres (as Fabian thinketh)Fabian. howbeit the old English chronicle affirmeth, that the contention be|twixt them remained fiftie yéeres,Caxton. Iohn Hard. though Harding affirmeth but foure yéeres. And thus much of the Britains, and their kings Coilus and Lucius. Now it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romans which gouerned here in the meane while. After that Agri|cola was called backe to Rome, the Britains (and namelie those that inhabited beyond Tweed) partlie being weakned of their former strength, and partlie in consideration of their pledges, which they had de|liuered to the Romans, remained in peace certeine yéeres.

4.20. The Britains after the deceasse of Lu|cius (who died without issue) rebell a|gainst the Romans, the emperor Adrian com|ming in his owne person into Britaine appeaseth the broile, they go about to recouer their libertie a|gainst the Romans, but are suppressed by Lollius the Ro|mane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and his policie to keepe the soul|diers waking, the Britains being ruled by cer|taine meane gentlemen of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse him to the emperor Commodus, he is mangled and murthered of his souldiers. The xx. Chapter.

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The Britains after the deceasse of Lu|cius (who died without issue) rebell a|gainst the Romans, the emperor Adrian com|ming in his owne person into Britaine appeaseth the broile, they go about to recouer their libertie a|gainst the Romans, but are suppressed by Lollius the Ro|mane lieutenant; the vigilantnesse or wakefulnesie of Marcellus, and his policie to keepe the soul|diers waking, the Britains being ruled by cer|taine meane gentlemen of Perhennis appointing doo falselie accuse him to the emperor Commodus, he is mangled and murthered of his souldiers. The xx. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _IN the meane time the Romane lieutenant Cneus Trebellius that succéeded Iulius Agricola,Cneus Trebelli|us lieute|nant. could no, foresee all things so preciselie but that the souldiers waxing vnrulie by reason of long rest, fell at variance among themselues, and would not in the end obey the lieu|tenant, but disquieted the Britains beyond measure. Wherefore the Britains perceiuing themselues sore oppressed with intollerable bondage, and that dailie the same incresed, they conspired togither, vpon hope to recouer libertie, and to defend their countrie by all meanes possible, and herewith they tooke weapon in hand against the Romans, and boldlie assailed them: but this they did yet warilie, and so, that they might flie vnto the woods and bogs for refuge vpon neces|sitie, according to the maner of their countrie. Here|vpon diuers slaughters were commited on both par|ties, and all the countrie was now readie to rebell: whereof when the emperour Adrian was aduertised from Trebellius the lieutenant, with all conuenient speed he passed ouer into Britaine, and quieted all the Ile, vsing great humanitie towards the inhabi|tants; and making small account of that part where the Scots now inhabit, either bicause of the barren|nesse thereof, or for that by reason of the nature of the countrie he thought it would be hard to be kept vnder subiection, he deuised to diuide it from the re|sidue of Britaine,The wall of Adrian built. Spartianus. and so caused a wall to be made from the mouth of Tine vnto the water of Eske, which wall conteined in length 30 miles.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After this, the Britains bearing a malicious ha|tred towards the Romane souldiers, and repining to be kept vnder the bond of seruitude, eftsoones went a|bout to recouer libertie againe. Whereof aduertise|ment being giuen,Lollius Ur|bicus lieute|nant. the emperour Pius Antoninus sent ouer Lollius Urbicus as lieutenant into Britaine, who by sundrie battels striken, constreined the Britains to remaine in quiet, and causing those that inhabited in the north parts to remooue further off from the confines of the Romane prouince, Iulius Capitol. Another wall built. caised another wall beyond that which the emperor Adrian had made, as is to be supposed, for the more suertie of the Romane subiects against the inuasion of the eni|mies. But yet Lollius did not so make, an end of the warrs, but that the Britains shortlie after attemp|ted afresh,Calphur|nius A|gricola. either to reduce their state into libertie, or to bring the same into further danger.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 WHerevpon Marcus Antonius that succée|ded Pius,Of the doings of this Cal|phurnius in Britaine ye may read more in the Scotish chronicle. sent Calphurnius Agricola to succéed Lollius in the gouernement of Britaine, the which easilie ouercame and subdued all his enimies. After this there chanced some trouble in the daies of the emperour Commodus the son of Marcus Anto|nius and his successor in the empire: for the Britans that dwelled northwards, beyond Adrians wall, brake through the same, and spoiled a great part of the countrie, against whom the Romane lieutenant for that time being come foorth,Dion Cassius. gaue them battell: but both he and the Romane souldiers that were with him, were beaten downe and slaine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 With which newes Commodus being sore amazed, sent against the Britains one Ulpius Marcellus,Ulpius Mar|cellus lieu|tenant. a man of great diligence and temperance, but there|with rough and nothing gentle. He vsed the same kind of diet that the common souldiers did vse. He was a captaine much watchfull, as one contented with verie little sléepe, and desirous to haue his soul|diers also vigilant and carefull to kéepe sure watch in the night season. Euerie euening he would write twelue tables, such as they vsed to make on the lind trée, and deliuering them to one of his seruants, ap|pointed him to beare them at seuerall houres of the night to sundrie souldiers, whereby supposing that their generall was still watching and not gone to bed, they might be in doubt to sléepe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 And although of nature he could well absteine from sléepe, yet to be the better able to forbeare it, he vsed a maruellous spare kind of diet: for to the end that he would not fill himselfe too much with bread, he would eat none but such as was brought to him from Rome, so that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eat, by reason that the stalenesse tooke awaie the pleasant tast thereof, and lesse pro|uoked his appetite. He was a maruellous contem|ner of monie, so that bribes might not mooue him to doo otherwise than dutie required. This Marcellus being of such disposition, sore afflicted the Britains, and put them oftentimes to great losses: through fame wherof, Cõmodus enuieng his renowme was after in mind to make him away, but yet spared him for a further purpose, and suffered him to depart.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After he was remooued from the gouernment of Britaine,Perhennis capteine of the emperours gard. one Perhennis capteine of the emperors gard (or pretorian souldiers as they were then called) bearing all the rule vnder the emperor Commodus, appointed certeine gentlemen of meane calling to gouerne the armie in Britaine. Which fond substitu|ting of such petie officers to ouersée and ouerrule the people, was to them an occasion of hartgrudge, and to him a meanes of finall mischeefe: both which it is likelie he might haue auoided, had he béene proui|dent in his deputation. For the souldiers in the same armie grudging and repining to be gouerned by men of base degrée,Aelius L [...]|pridius. in respect of those that had borne rule ouer them before, being honorable personages, as senators, and of the consular dignitie, they fell at square among themselues, and about fiftéene hun|dred of them departed towards Rome to exhibit their complaint against Perhennis: for what soeuer was amisse, the blame was still laid to him. They pas|sed foorth without impeachment at all, and comming in to Rome, the emperour himselfe came foorth to vn|derstand what they meant by this their comming in such sort from the place where they were appointed to serue. Their answer was, that they were come to informe him of the treason which Perhennis had de|uised to his destruction, that he might make his son emperor. To the which accusation when Commodus too lightlie gaue eare, & beléeued it to be true, name|lie, through the setting on of one Cleander, who hated Perhennis, for that he brideled him from dooing di|uerse vnlawfull acts, which he went about vpon a wilfull mind (without all reason and modestie) to practise; the matter was so handled in the end, that Perhennis was deliuered to the souldiers, who cruellie mangled him, and presentlie put him to a pitifull death.