History of the Britons | Page 8

Thames, where he renewed

hostilities. In this attempt many of his soldiers and horses were killed;
for the same consul had placed iron pikes in the shallow part of the
river, and this having been effected with so much skill and secrecy as to
escape the notice of the Roman soldiers, did them considerable injury;
thus Caesar was once more compelled to return without peace or
victory. The Romans were, therefore, a third time sent against the
Britons; and under the command of Julius, defeated them near a place
called Trinovantum [London], forty-seven years before the birth of
Christ, and five thousand two hundred and twelve years from the
creation.
Julius was the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who
invaded Britain: in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month
to be called after his name. He was assassinated in the Curia, in the ides
of March, and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire of the world.
He was the only emperor who received tribute from the Britons,
according to the following verse of Virgil: "Purpurea intexti tollunt
aulaea Britanni."
21. The second after him, who came into Britain, was the emperor
Claudius, who reigned forty-seven years after the birth of Christ. He
carried with him war and devastation; and, though not without loss of
men, he at length conquered Britain. He next sailed to the Orkneys,
which he likewise conquered, and afterwards rendered tributary. No
tribute was in his time received from the Britons; but it was paid to
British emperors. He reigned thirteen years and eight months. His
monument is to be seen at Moguntia (among the Lombards), where he
died in his way to Rome.
22. After the birth of Christ, one hundred and sixty-seven years, king
Lucius, with all the chiefs of the British people, received baptism, in
consequence of a legation sent by the Roman emperors and pope
Evaristus.* * V.R. Eucharistus. A marginal note in the Arundel MS.
adds, "He is wrong, because the first year of Evaristus was A.D. 79,
whereas the first year of Eleutherius, whom he ought to have named,
was A.D. 161." Usher says, that in one MS. of Nennius he found the
name of Eleutherius.

23. Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain, where,
to protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions, he ordered
a wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons, the Scots, and the
Picts, extending across the island from sea to sea, in length one hundred
and thirty-three miles: and it is called in the British language Gwal.*
Moreover, he ordered it to be made between the Britons, and the Picts
and Scots; for the Scots from the west, and the Picts from the north,
unanimously made war against the Britons; but were at peace among
themselves. Not long after Severus dies in Britain. *Or, the Wall. One
MS. here adds, "The above-mentioned Severus constructed it of rude
workmanship in length 132 miles; i.e. from Penguaul, which village is
called in Scottish Cenail, in English Peneltun, to the mouth of the river
Cluth and Cairpentaloch, where this wall terminates; but it was of no
avail. The emperor Carausius afterwards rebuilt it, and fortified it with
seven castles between the two mouths: he built also a round house of
polished stones on the banks of the river Carun [Carron]: he likewise
erected a triumphal arch, on which he inscribed his own name in
memory of his victory.
24. The fourth was the emperor and tyrant, Carausius, who, incensed at
the murder of Severus, passed into Britain, and attended by the leaders
of the Roman people, severely avenged upon the chiefs and rulers of
the Britons, the cause of Severus.* * This passage is corrupt, the
meaning is briefly given in the translation.
25. The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great. He
died in Britain; his sepulchre, as it appears by the inscription on his
tomb, is still seen near the city named Cair segont (near Carnarvon).
Upon the pavement of the above-mentioned city he sowed three seeds
of gold, silver and brass, that no poor person might ever be found in it.
It is also called Minmanton.* * V.R. Mirmantum, Mirmantun,
Minmanto, Minimantone. The Segontium of Antoninus, situated on a
small river named Seiont, near Carnarvon.
26. Maximianus[1] was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain. It was in
his time that consuls[2] began, and that the appellation of Caesar was
discontinued: at this period also, St. Martin became celebrated for his

virtues and miracles, and held a conversation with him. [1] This is an
inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximianus were one and the
same person; or rather no such person as Maximianus ever reigned in
Britain. [2] Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul