An Island Story | Page 6

and said that the shells should be placed in the temples of
Rome in remembrance of it. Then he rewarded them richly and they
marched home again.
That was how Caligula conquered Britain.
After the death of Caligula, another Roman called Claudius tried to
conquer Britain. He sent generals and came himself, but he could not
thoroughly subdue the Britons. A few chiefs indeed owned themselves
beaten, but others would not. They would rather die than be slaves of
Rome, they said.
Among those who would not yield was a brave man called Caractacus.
A great many of the Britons joined him and fought under his orders.
Caractacus and his men fought well and bravely, but in the end the
Romans defeated them.
After many battles Caractacus chose for his camp a place on the top of
a hill on the borders of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire. There he
made a very strong fortress surrounded by three walls and a deep ditch.
The walls were so well built that after all these long years they can still
be seen quite plainly to-day.

When the Roman soldiers came to the foot of the hill, Caractacus
prepared for battle. He called his soldiers together and made a speech to
them. "Show yourselves to be men," he said. "To-day is either the
beginning of Liberty or of eternal bondage. Remember how your
forefathers fought against Julius C¾sar, and fight now for your homes,
as they did for theirs."
Then all the Britons called out, "We will die for our country." The
noise of their shouts was carried by the wind to the camp of the
Romans. It sounded to them as if the Britons were rejoicing. The
Romans feared Caractacus. They knew how brave he and his men were.
They knew that it would be very difficult to take his strong fortress. Yet
they felt quite sure of taking it in the end, and they wondered what
cause the Britons had for rejoicing.
And it happened as the Romans expected. After fierce fighting and
great slaughter on both sides the camp was taken. Caractacus, his wife
and daughter, and all his brothers were made prisoner and led in chains
to Rome, and there was great sorrow in Britain.
Whenever a Roman emperor returned from battle and victory, he used
to have what was called a Triumph. Every one in Rome had a holiday;
the streets were gay with flowers and green wreaths. The conqueror,
dressed in beautiful robes and wearing a crown of bay leaves, rode
through the streets. He was followed by his soldiers, servants, and
friends. Then came a long train of the captives he had made during the
war, with the armor, weapons, jewels, and other riches he had taken
from the conquered people.
After the war with Britain was over Claudius had a Triumph. The fame
of Caractacus had already reached Rome, and when it became known
that he had been taken prisoner and would walk in the Triumph there
was great excitement. The people crowded into the streets eager to see
this brave warrior. And although in chains he looked so proud and
noble that many even of the Romans were sorry for him.
When he was brought before the Emperor and Empress, Claudius and
Agrippina, he did not behave like a slave or a captive, but like the

freeborn king and Briton he was.
"I am as nobly born as you," he said proudly to Claudius. "I had men
and horses, lands and great riches. Was it wonderful that I wished to
keep them? You fight to gain possession of the whole world and make
all men your slaves, but I fought for my own land and for freedom. Kill
me now and people will think little of you: but if you grant me my life,
all men will know that you are not only powerful but merciful."
Instead of being angry, Claudius was pleased with the proud words of
Caractacus. He was so pleased that he set him at liberty with his wife
and all his family. But whether Caractacus ever returned to his dear
country, or whether he died in that far-off land, we do not know. We do
not hear anything more about him.

CHAPTER 5
THE STORY OF A WARRIOR QUEEN
ALTHOUGH the Britons had lost their great general Caractacus, still
they would not yield to the Roman tyrants.
Soon another brave leader arose. This leader was a woman. Her name
was Boadicea, and she was a queen. She ruled over that part of the
country which is now called Norfolk and Suffolk.
As I said before, the Romans were a very greedy people. They wanted
to take away the freedom of Britain and make the island into a Roman
province. They also wanted