The Leading Facts of English History | Page 9

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executioner who struck "the wicked stroke | MISSING | rejoice over the
deed, for his eyes dropped | | together with the blessed martyr's head | |
later the magnificent abbey of St. Albans | | commemorate him who had
fallen there. \________________/
[2] Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of Britain," completed about the year
731. [3] St. Albans: twenty miles northwest of London. (See map
facing p. 16.)
26. Agricola builds a Line of Forts (7 [END OF LINE MISSING]
When Agricola, a wise and equitable Roman ruler, became governor of
Britain he explored the coast, and first discovered Britain to be an
island. He gradually extended the limits of the government, and, in
order to prevent invasion from the north, he built a line of forts
(completed by Antoninus) across Scotland, from the mouth of the river
Forth to the Clyde. (See map facing p. 14.)
From this date the power of Rome was finally fixed. During the three
hundred years which followed, the surface of the country underwent a
change. The Romans cut down forests, drained marshes, reclaimed
waste land, and bridged rivers. Furthermore they made the soil so
productive that Britain became known in Rome as the most important
grain-producing and grain-exporting province in the Empire.

27. Roman Cities; London; York.
Where the Britons had once had a humble village enclosed by a ditch
and protected by a stockade, the Romans built the cities of Chester,
Lincoln, London, York, and other towns, protected by massive walls
and towers of stone. These places have continued to be centers of
population ever since.
London early became the Roman commercial metropolis, while the city
of York in the north was made the military and civil capital of the
country. (See map facing p. 14). There the Sixth Legion was stationed.
It was the most noted body of troops in the Roman army, and was
called the "Victorious Legion." It remained there for upwards of three
centuries. There, too, the governor resided and administered justice. For
these reasons York got the name of "another Rome."
The city had numerous temples and public buildings, such as befitted
the Roman capital of Britain. There an event occurred in the fourth
century which made an indelible mark on the history of mankind.
Constantine, the subsequent founder of Constantinople, was proclaimed
Emperor at York, and through his influence Christianity became the
established religion of the entire Roman Empire.[1]
[1] Constantine was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. The
preceding emperors had generally persecuted the Christians.
28. Roman System of Government; Roads.
During the Roman possession of Britain the country was differently
governed at different periods, but eventually it was divided into five
provinces. These were intersected by a magnificent system of paved
roads running in direct lines from city to city, and having London as a
common center. (See map facing p. 14.)
Over these road bodies of troops could march rapidly to any required
point. By them, and by similar roads, leading through France, Spain,
and Italy, officers of state, mounted on relays of fleet horses, could pass
from one end of the Empire to the other in a few days' time. (See map

below, and that facing p. 14.)
So skillfully and substantially were these highways constructed, that
modern engineers have been glad to adopt them as a basis for their
work. The four chief Roman roads[1] continue to be the foundation, not
only of numerous turnpikes in different parts of England, but also of
several of the great railway lines, especially those from London to
Chester and from London to York.
[1] The four chief roads were: (1) Watling Street; (2) Icknield Street; (3)
Irmin Street; and (4) The Fosse Way. (See map facing p. 14.)
29. Roman Forts and Walls Defenses against Saxon Pirates.
Next in importance to the roads were the fortifications. In addition to
those which Agricola had built (S26), either Hadrian or Severus
constructed a wall of solid masonry across the country from the shore
of the North Sea to the Irish Sea. This wall, which was about
seventy-five miles south of Agricola's work, was strengthened by a
deep ditch and a rampart of earth. (See map facing p. 14.)
It was furthur defended by square stone castles built at regular intervals
of one mile. Between them were stone watchtowers, used as sentry
boxes; while at every fourth mile there was a stone fort, covering
several acres and occupied by a large body of troops.
But the northern tribes were not the only ones to be guarded against;
bands of pirates prowled along the east and south coasts, burning,
plundering, and kidnaping. These marauders came from Denmark and
the adjacent countries (S37).
The Britons and Romans called them Saxons, a most significant name
if it refers to the