Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 8

of the Brigants, was by hir deliuered into the hands of the
Romans. All this happened about nine yeres after the warres in Britaine
first began.
* * * * *

_The name of Caratacus famous in Italie, the maner how he and his
alies were led captiues by the Romans in triumph, his courage and
manlie speech to the emperour Claudius, whereby he and his obteine
mercie and pardon: the Britains vndertake a new reuenge against the
Romans; the cause why the Silures hated the Romans, Ostorius Scapula
dieth, the citie of Chester builded_.

THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: _Cornelius Tacit. lib. 12_. Carataks name renowmed.] The
name of Caratacus being brought out of the Iles was alreadie spred ouer
the prouinces adioining, and began now to grow famous through Italie.
Men therefore were desirous to sée what maner of man he was that had
so manie yéeres set at naught the puissant force of the empire. For in
Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of, insomuch that the
emperour whilest he went about to preferre his owne honour, aduanced
the glorie of him also that was vanquished: for the people were called
foorth as vnto some great notable sight or spectacle. The pretorian
bands stood in order of battell armed in the field that laie before their
lodgings, through which field Caratake shuld come. Then passed by the
traine of his friends and seruants; and such armor, riches, iewels, and
other things as had béene gotten in those warres, were borne forward,
and openlie shewed, that all men might behold the same.
After these followed his brethren, wife, and daughters: and last of all
came Caratacus himselfe, whose countenance was nothing like to theirs
that went afore him. For whereas they fearing punishment for their
rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercie, he neither by
countenance nor words shewd anie token of a discouraged mind, but
being presented before the emperour Claudius sitting in his tribunall
seat, he vttered this speach as followeth.
"If there had béene in me so much moderation in time of prosperitie,
[Sidenote: _* Sic_.] as there was nobilitie of birth and puissance, I had
come to this citie rather as a friend than as a capteine *: neither should I
haue thought scorne, being borne of most noble parents, and ruling
ouer many people, to haue accepted peace by waie of ioining with you
in league. My present estate as it is to me reprochfull, so to you it is
honorable. I had at commandement, horsses, men, armor, and great
riches; what maruell is it if I were loth to forgo the same? For if you
shall looke to gouerne all men, it must néeds follow that all men must
be your slaues. If I had at the first yéelded my selfe, neither my power
nor your glorie had béene set foorth to the world, & vpon mine
execution I should straight haue béene forgotten. But if you now grant

me life, I shall be a witnesse for euer of your mercifull clemencie."
The emperour with these words being pacified, granted life both to
Caratake, and also to his wife and brethren, who being loosed from
their bands, went also to the place where the empresse Agrippina sat
(not farre off) in a chaire of estate, whom they reuerenced with the like
praise and thanks as they had doone before to the emperour. After this
the senat was called togither, who discoursed of manie things touching
this honourable victorie atchiued by the taking of Caratake, estéeming
the same no lesse glorious, than when P. Scipio shewed in [Sidenote:
Siphax. L. Paulus.] triumph Siphax king of the Numidians, or L. Paulus
the Macedonian king Perses, or other Romane capteins anie such king
whom they had vanquished.
Héerevpon it was determined, that Ostorius should enter the citie of
Rome with triumph like a conqueror, for such prosperous successe as
hitherto had followed him: but afterwards his procéedings were not so
luckie, either for that after Caratake was remooued out of the waie, or
bicause the Romans (as though the warre had béene finished) looked
negligentlie to themselues, either else for that the Britains taking
compassion of the miserable state of Caratake, being so worthie a
prince, through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie, were more
earnestlie set to reuenge his quarrell. Héerevpon they incompassed the
maister of the campe, and those legionarie bands of souldiers which
were left amongst the Silures to fortifie a place there for the armie to
lodge in: and if succour had not come out of the next towns and castels,
the Romans had béene destroied by siege. The head capteine yet, and
eight centurions, and euerie one else of the companies being most
forward, were slaine. Shortlie after they set vpon