4.8. A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the trecherie and le|cherie of queene Cartimanda, Venutius kee|peth the kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what meanes their confines in this Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others touching the Siluers, Brigants, and Nouants noti|fied, the Britains giue the Ro|mans a shamefull ouer|throw. The eight Chapter.

A. Didius is sent to supplie Ostorius his roome in Britaine, the trecherie and le|cherie of queene Cartimanda, Venutius kee|peth the kingdome in spite of the Romans, by what meanes their confines in this Ile were inlarged; the error of Hector Boetius and others touching the Siluers, Brigants, and Nouants noti|fied, the Britains giue the Ro|mans a shamefull ouer|throw. The eight Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _AFter the deceasse of Osto|rius Scapula,A. Didius liuetenant. one A. Didius was sent to supplie his roome, but yer he could come, things were brought out of order, and the Britains had vanqui|shed the legion the whereof Man|lius Ualens had the conduct: this victorie was set foorth by the Britains to the vt|termost, that with the bruit thereof they might strike a feare into the lieutenants hart, now vpon his first comming ouer. And he himselfe reported it by let|ters to the emperour after the largest manner, to the end that if he appeased the matter, he might win the more praise; or if he were put to the woorst, and should not preuaile, that then his excuse might séeme the more reasonable and woorthie of pardon. The Si|luers were they that had atchiued this victorie, and kept a fowle stur ouer all the countries about them, till by the comming of Didius against them, they were driuen backe and repelled.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But héerewith began trouble to be raised in ano|ther part: for after that Caratac was taken, the chie|fest and most skillfull capteine which the Britains had,Uenutius ru|ler of the Iu|gants. was one Uenutius, a ruler of the people named Iugants, a man that remained a long time faith|full to the Romans, and by their power was defen|ded from his enimies,Cartimanda. who had married with Carti|manda queene of the Brigants or Yorkeshire men. This Cartimanda (as ye haue heard) had deliuered Caratac into the Romans hands, thereby mini|string matter for the emperour Claudius to tri|umph, by which pleasure shewed to the Romans, she increased thorough their friendship in power and wealth, whereof followed riotous lust to satisfie hir wanton appetite, so as she falling at square with hir husband, married Uellocatus, one of his esquires,Uellocatus. to whom she gaue hir kingdome, and so dishonoured hir selfe. Héere vpon insued cruell warre, in so much that in the end Uenutius became enimie also to the Ro|mans. But first they tugged togither betwixt them|selues, & the quéene by a craftie policie found meanes to catch the brother and coosens of Uenutius, but hir enimies nothing therewith discouraged, but kindled the more in wrath against hir, ceassed not to go for|ward with their purpose.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Manie of the Brigants disdaining to be subiect vnto a womans rule that had so reiected hir husband, reuolted vnto Uenutius: but yet the quéenes sensu|all lust mixed wich crueltie, mainteined the adulte|rer. Uenutius therefore calling to him such aid as he could get, and strengthened now by the reuolting of the Brigants, brought Cartimanda to such a narrow point, that she was in great danger to fall into the hands of hir enimies: which the Romans forséeing, vpon suit made, sent certeine bands of horssemen and footmen to helpe hir. They had diuerse incounters with the enimies at the first,Uenutius keepeth the kingdome in despite of the Romans. with doubt|full successe: but at length they preuailed, and so de|liuered the quéene out of perill, but the kingdome re|mained to Uenutius: against whom the Romans EEBO page image 41 were constreined still to mainteine warre.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 About the same time, the legion also which Cesius Nasicaled, got the vpper hand of those Britains a|gainst whom he was sent. For Didius being aged, and by victories past inough renowmed, thought it sufficient for him to make warre by his capteins, so to staie and kéepe off the enimie. Certeine castels and holds in déed he caused to be built and fortified, further within the countrie than had béene afore at|tempted by anie of his predecessors, and so thereby were the confines of the Romans in this Ile some|what inlarged. Thus haue ye heard with what suc|cesse the Britains mainteined warre in defense of their libertie against the Romans, whilest Claudius ruled the empire (according to the report of the Ro|mane writers.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶But here you must note,The error of Hector Boetius. that Hector Boetius, following the authoritie of one Veremond a Spa|niard, of Cornelius Hibernicus, & also of Campbell, remooueth the Silures, Brigants, and Nouants, so farre northward, that he maketh them inhabitants of those countries which the Scots haue now in pos|session, and were euen then inhabited (as he affir|meth) partlie by the Scots, and partlie by the Picts (as in the Scotish historie ye may sée more at large) so that what notable feat soeuer was atchiued by the old Britains against the Romans, the same by him is ascribed to the Scots and Picts throughout his whole historie, whereas (in verie truth) for somuch as may be gathered by coniecture and presumption of that which is left in writing by ancient authors, the Brigants inhabited Yorkshire, the Silures Wales and the Marches, and the Nouants the countrie of Cumberland.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But forsomuch as he hath diligentlie gathered in what maner the warres were mainteined by those people against the Romans, and what valiant ex|ploits were taken in hand and finished thorough their stoutnesse and valiancie, ye may there read the same,A note to be considered in the reading of Hect. Boetius and iudge at your pleasure what people they were whome he so much praiseth: aduertising you hereof by the way, that as we haue before expressed, none of the Romane writers mentioneth any thing of the Scots, nor once nameth them, till the Romane empire began to decay, about the time of the empe|ror Constantius, father of Constantine the great: so that if they had béene in this Ile then so famous both in peace and warre, as they are reported by the same Boetius; maruell might it séeme, that the Ro|mane writers would so passe them ouer with si|lence.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome,Cor. Tac. lib. annal. 15. Claudius Domitianus Nero succéeded him in go|uernement of the empire. In the seuenth yéere of whose reigne, which was after the incarnation 53, the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow in Bri|taine, where neither the lieutenant A. Didius Gal|lus (whom in this place Cornelius Tacitus calleth A|uitus) could during the time of his rule doo no more but hold that which was alreadie gotten, beside the building of certeine castels (as before ye haue heard) neither his successor Uerannius, beating and forrei|eng the woods, could atthiue anie further enterprise, for he was by death preuented, so as he could not pro|céed forward with his purpose touching the warres which he had ment to haue folowed, whose last words (in his testament expressed) detected him of manifest ambition: for adding manie things by way of flat|terie to content Neros mind, he wished to haue liued but two yéeres longer, in which space he might haue subdued prouinces vnto his dominion, mea|ning therby the whole Ile of Britaine. But this was a Romans brag, sauouring rather of ambition than of truth or likelihood.