The History of England ... to the Revolution in 1688 ... With notes and references exhibiting the most important differences between this author and Dr. Lingard

Front matter

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CÆSAR, TO THE REVOLUTION ' IN 1688. BY DAVID HUME, Esq. WITH NOTES AND REFERENCES, EXHIBITING THE MOST IMPORTANT DIFFE1V ENCES BETWEEN THIS AUTHOR AND DR. LINGARU IN TWO VOLUMES. VOK L PHILADELPHIA: M. POLOCK, No. 6 COMMERCE ST. 1856.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. In presenting to the American public this edition of " Hume's History of England," the publishers have endeavored to add to its value by affixing Notes explanatory of certain differences between that historian and Dr. Lingard. The latter writer, by his " History of England," has obtained a reputation, as well in Great Britain as in our own country, which fully entitles him to this distinction ; and although he may be regarded in some measure as the champion of the Roman Catholic Church, his opponents unite in awarding to him the praise of uncommon ability, extensive erudition, and deep research. The notes are designed to indicate the principal points of differ ence between the two historians; though occasionally a fact is ex tracted from Lingard, which does not conflict with, but merely forms an addition to, the text of Hume.

Appendix

I THE ANGLO-SAXON GOVERNMENT AND MANNEItS. First Saxon Government — Succession of the Kings — The Witlcnagemot — The Arislocracy — The several Orders of Men — Courts of Justice — Criminal Law — Rules of Proof — Military Force — Public Revenue — Value of Money — Manners 86 CHAP. IX. Slate os-rcland — Conquest oflhat Island — The King's Accommodation with ilie Court 01 Rome — Revolt of young Henry and his Brothers — Wars and Insurrections — War with Scotland — Penance of Henry for Becket's Murder— William King of Scotland defeated and taken Prisoner — The King's Accommodation with his Sons — The King's equitable Administration — Crusades — Revolt of Prince Richard — Death and Character of Henry — Miscellaneous Transactions of his Reign - 171 CHAP. IV. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. Consequences of the Battle of Hastings — Submission of the English — Settlement of the Government — King's return to Normandy — Discontents of the English — Their Insurrections — Rigors of the Norman Government- New Insurrections — New Rigors ofthe Government — Introduction of the feudal Law — Innovation in Ecclesiastical Government — Insurrection of the Norman Barons — Dispute about Investitures — Revolt of Prince Robert — Domesday Book — The New Forest —War with Spain — Death and Character of William the Conqueror 99 CHAP. X. RICHARD I. The King's Preparations for the Crusade — Sets out on the Crusade — Transactions in Sicily — King's Arrival in Palestine — State of Palestine — Disorders in England — The King's heroic Actions in Palestine — His Return from Palestine— Captivity in Germany — War with France — The King's Delivery — Return to England — War with France — Death and Character of the King — Miscellaneous Transactions of this Reign 189 CHAP. V. * WILLIAM RUFUS.

Accession of William Rufus — Conspiracy against the King — Invasion of Normandy — The Crusades — Acquisition of Normandy — Quarrel with Anselm (he Primate — Death, nnd Character of William Rufus 119 CHAP. XI. JOHN. Accession of the King— His Marriage — War with France — Murder of Arthur Duke of Brittany — The King expelled the French Provinces — The King's Quarrel with the Court of Rome — Cardinal Langton appointed Archbishop of Canterbury — Interdict of the Kingdom — Excommunication of the CHAP. VI. HENRY I. The Crusades — Accession of Henry — Marriage of the King — Invasion by Duke Robert — Accommodation with Robert — Attack of Normandy — Conquest of Normandy — Con- X osCrecy— War with Scotland— Captivity of the King os Scots— Calais taken 327 CHAP. XVI. Institution of the Garter— State of France— Batlle of Poicliers— Captivity of the King of France— Stale of that Kingdom — Invasion of France — Peace of Bretigni — State of France — Expedition into Caslile — Rupture with France — 111 success of the English — Death of the Prince of Wales— Death, and Character of the King — Miscellaneous Transactions in this Reign 355 King— The King's Submission to the Pope- Discontents of the Barons— Insurrection of the Barons — Magna Charta — Renewal of the Civil Wars— Prince Lewis called over — Death, and Character of the King 203

APPENDIX.

II. THE FEUDAL AND ANGLO-NORMAN GOVERNMENT AND MANNERS. Origin of the Feudal La w— Its Progress— Feudal Government of England— The Feudal Parliament— The Commons— Judicial Power — Revenue of the Crown — Commerce — The Church— Civil Laws— Manners 226 CHAP. XVII. RICHARD II. CHAP. XII. HENRY III. Government during the Minority — Insurrection of the Common People — Discontents of the Barons — Civil Commotions — Expulsion or Execution of the King's Ministers— Cabals of the Duke of Gloucester— Murder of the Duke of Gloucester— Banishment of Henry Duke of Hereford— Return ofHenry — General Insurrection — Deposition of the King— His Murder— His Character— Miscellaneous Transactions during this Reign 375 Settlement of the Government — General Pacification — Death of the Protector— Some Commotions — Hubert de Burgh displaced — The Bishopof Winchester Minister — King's Partiality to Foreigners — Grievances — Ecclesiastical Grievances — Earl of Cormval elected King of the Romans — Discontent of the Barons— Simon de Mountfort Earl of Leicester — Provisions of Oxford — Usurpation of the Barons — Prince Edward — Civil Wars of the Barons — Reference lo the King of France — Renewal of the Civil Wars — • Battle of Lewes — House of Commons — Battle of Evesham and Death of Leicester — Settlement of the Government — Death, and Character of the King — Miscellaneous Transactions of this Reign 242 CHAP. XVIII.

HENRY IV. Title of the King — An Insurrection — An Insurrection in Wales — The Earl of Northumberland rebels — Battle of Shrewsbury — State of Scotland — Parliamentary Transactions—Death and Character of the King. . . 398 CHAP. XIII. EDWARD I. CHAP. XIX. HENRY V. Civil Administration of the King — Conquest of Wales — Affairsof Scotland — Competitors for the Crown of Scotland — Reference to Edward — Homage of Scotland — Award of Edward in Favor of Baliol — War with France — Digression concerning the Constitution of Parliament — War with Scotland — Scotland subdued — War with France — Dissensions with the Clergy — Arbitrary Measures — Peace with France — Revolt of Scotland — That Kingdom again subd ued — again revolts — is again subdued — Robert Bruce — Third Revolt ofScotland — Death, and Character of the King — Miscellaneous Transactions of this Reign 275 The King's former Disorders — His Reformation — The Lollards — Punishment of Lord Cobham — State of France — Invasion of that Kingdom — Battle of Azincour — State of France — New Invasion ofFrance — Assassination of the Duke of Burgundy — Treaty of Troye — Marriage of the King — His Death, and Character — Miscellaneous Transactions during this Reign 407 CHAP. XX.

HENRY VI. Government during the Minority — State of France — Military Opera lions — Battle of Verneuil — Siege of Orleans — The Maid of Orleans — The Siege of Orleans raised — The King of France crowned at Rheims — Prudence of the Duke of Bedford — Execution of the Maid of Orleans — Defection of the Duke of Burgundy — Deafh of the Duke of Bedford — Decline of the English in France — Truce with France — Marriage of the King with Margaret of Anjou — Murder of the Duke of Gloucester — State of France — Renewal of the War with France — The English expelled France 421 CHAP. XIV. EDWARD II. Weakness of the King — His passion for Favorites — Piers Gavaston — Discontent of the Barons — Murder of Gavaston — War with Scotland — Battle of Bannockburn — Hugh le Despenser — Civil Commotions — Execution of the Earl of Lancaster — Conspiracy against the King — Insurrection — The King dethroned — murdered — His Character — Miscellaneous Transactions in this Reign . . 310 CHAP. XXI.

CHAP. XV. EDWARD III. Claim of the Duke of York to the Crown — The Earl of Warwic — Impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk — His Banishment, and Death — Popular Insurrection — The Parties of York arid Lancaster — First Armament of the Duke of York — First Battle of St. Albans — Battle of Blore-heath — of Northampton — A Parliament — Battle of Wakefield — Death of the Duke of York — Battle of Mortimer's Cross — Second Battle of St. Albans — Ed- War with Scotland — Execution of the Earl of Kent — Execution ofMortimer Earl ofMarch — State of Scotland — War with that Kingdom — King's claim to the Crown ofFrance — Preparations for War with France — War — Naval Victory — Domestic Disturbances — Affairs of Brittany — Renewal of the War witb France — Invasion of France — Battle ward IV. assumes the Crown — Miscellane ous Transactions of this Keign , 442 Sicknessofthe King — His Death, and Char acter — His Laws 514 CHAP. XXII.

EDWARD IV. CHAP. XXVII. HENRY VIII. Popularity of the new King — His Ministers — Punishmentof Empsonand Dudley — King's Marriage — Foreign Affairs — Julius 11. — League of Cambray — War with France — Expedition to Foniaraba — Deceit of Ferdinand — Return of the English — Leo X. — A Parliament — War with Scoiland — Wolsey Minister — His Character — Invasion of France — Battle of Guinegate — Battle of Flouden — Peace with France Battle of Touton — Henry escapes into Scotland — A Parliament — Battle of Hexham — Henry taken Prisoner, and confined in the Tower — King's Marriage with Lady Elizabeth Gray — Warwic disgusted — Alliance with Burgundy — Insurrection in Yorkshire — Battle of Banbury — Warwic and Clarence banished — Warwic and Clarence return — Edward IV. expelled — Henry VI. restored — Edward IV. returns — Battle of Barnet, and Dealh of Warwic — Battle of Teukesbury, and Murder of Prince Edward — Deaih of Henry VI. — Invasion of France — Peace of Pecquigni — Trial and Execution of the Duke of Clarence — Death, and Character cf Edward IV 456 52H CHAP. XXVIII.

Wolsey 's Administration — Scotch Affaire — Progress of Francis 1. — Jealousy of Henry — Tournay delivered to France — Wolsey appoinied Legate — His Manner of exercising that Othce — Death of the Emperor Maximilian — Charles King of Spain chosen Emperor — Interview between Henry and Francis near Calais — The Emperor Charles arrives in England — Mediation of Henry — Trial and Condemnation of the Duke of Buckingham b-tZ CHAP. XXIII. EDWARD V. and RICHARD III. Edward V.— State of the Court— The Earl of Rivers arrested — Duke of Gloucester Protector — Execution of Lord Hastings — The Protector aims at the Crown — assumes the Crown — Murder of Edward V. and of the Duke of York— Richard III— Duke of Buckingham discontented — The Earl of Richmond — Buckingham executed — Inva sion by the Earl of Richmond — Battle of Bosworth — Deaih, and Character of Richaid III 475 CHAP. XXIX.

Digression concerning the Ecclesiastical Slate — Origin of the Reformation — Martin Luther— Henry receives the Title of Delender of the Faith — Causes of the Progress of the Reformation — War with France — Invasion of France — War with Scotland — A Parliament — Invasion ofFrance — Italian Wars — The King of France invades Italy — Battle of Pavia and Captivity of Francis — Francis recovers his Liberty — Sack of Rome — League with France 552 CHAP. XXIV. HENRY VII. Accession of Henry VII. — His Title to the Crown — King's Prejudice against the House of York — His joyful Reception in London — His Coronation — Sweating Sickness — A Parliament — Entail of the Crown — King's Marriage — An Insurrection — Discontents of the People — Lambert Simnel — Revolt of Ireland — Intrigues of the Dutchess of Burgundy — Lambert Simnel invades England -Battle of Stoke 490 CHAP. XXX.

Scruples concerning the King's Marriage — The King enters into these Scruples — Anne Boleyn — Henry applies to the Pope for a Divorce — The Pope lavorable — The Emperor threatens him — The Pope's ambiguous Conduct — The Cause evoked to Rome — Wulsey's Fail — Commencement of the Reformation in England — Foreign Atiairs — Wolsey's Deaih — A Parliament — Progress of the Reformation — A Parliament — King's final Breach with Rome — A Parliament.. . 50W CHAP. XXV. Kiate of Foreign Affairs — Stale of Scotland — of Spain — of the Low Countries — ofFrance — of Brittany — French Invasion of Brittany —French Embassy lo England— Dissimulation of the French Court— An Insurrection in the North — suppressed — King semis Forces into Brittany — Annexation of Brittany to France — A Parliament — War with France — Invasion of France — Peace with France — Perkin Warbec — His Imposture — He is avowed by the Dutchess of Burgundy, and by many o'f the English Nobility — Trial and Execution of Stanley— A Parliament 500 CHAP. XXXI.

Religious Principles of the people — of the King — of the Ministers — Farther Progress of the Reformalion — Sir Thomas More — The Maid us Kent — Trial and Execution of Fisher, Bishop of Rochester — of Si r Thomatj Mure — King excommunicated — Death of ■Queen Catharine — Suppression oi the leSMer Monasteries — A Parliament — A Convocation — Translation of the Bible— Disgrace of Queen Anne — Her Trial, and Execulion — A Parliament — A Convucalion — Discontents among the People — Insurrection — Birth of Prince Ed ward, and Deaih oi Queen Jane — Suppression of the greater Moftastenes— Cardinal Pole CHAP. XXVI. Perkin retires to Scotland — Insurrection in the West — Battle of Blackheath — Truce wilb Scotland — Perkin taken Prisoner — Perkin executed — The Earl of Warwic executed — Marriage -of Prince Arthur with Catharine of Arragon — His Death — Marriage of the Princess Margaret with the King of Scotland — Oppressions of the People A° Parliament — Arrival of the King of Castile — Intrigues of the Earl of Suffolk — . « CHAP. XXXII- Disputation with Lambert — A Parliament Law of the Six Articles — Proclamations made equal to Laws — Settlement of the Succession — King's Projects of Marriage — He marries Anne of Cleves — He dislikes her — A Parliament — Fall of Cromwel — His Execution — King's Divorce from Anne of Cleves — His Marriage with Catharine How ard—State of Affairs in Scotland— Discovery of the Queen's dissolute Life — AParliamenC — Ecclesiastical Affairs 611 CHAP. XXXVI.

MAJRY. Lady Jane Gray proclaimed Queen — Deserted by the People — The Queen proclaimed and acknowledged — Northumberland executed — Catholic Religion restored — A Parliament — Deliberations with regard lo the Queen's Marriage with Philip — Wyat's Insurrection — suppressed — Execution of Lady Jane Gray — A Parliament — Philip's Arrival in England CHAP. XXXIII. War with Scotland— Victory at Solway — Death of James V.— Treaty with Scotland — New Rupture — Rupture with France — A Parliament— Affairs of Scotland — A Parliament — Campaign in France — A Parliament — Peace with France and Scotland — Persecutions — Execution of the Earl of Surrey — Attainder of the Duke of Norfolk — Death of the King — His Character — Miscellaneous Transactions 626 C78 CHAP. XXXVII. Reasons for and against Toleration — Persecutions — A Parliament — The Queen's Extortions — The Emperor resigns. his Crown — Execution of Cranmer — War with France — Battle of St. Quintin— Calais taken by the French — Affairs of Scotland — Marriage of the Dauphin and the Queen of Scots — A Parliament— Death of the Queen 693 CHAP. XXXIV.

EDWARD VI. CHAP. XXXVIII. ELIZABETH. State of the Regency — Innovations in the Regency — Hertford Protector — Reformation completed — Gardiner's Opposition — Foreign Affairs — Progressofthe Resormationin Scotland — Assassination of Cardinal Beaton — Conduct of the War with Scotland — Battle of Pinkey — A Parliament — Farther Progress of the Reformation — Affairs of Scotland — Young Queen of Scots sent into France — Cabals of Lord Seymour — Dudley Earl of Warwic. — A Parliament— Attainder of Lord Seymour — His Execution — Ecclesiastical Affairs 646 Queen's Popularity — Re-establishment of the Protestant Religion — A Parliament — Peace with France — Disgust between the Queen and Mary Queen of Scots — Affairs of Scotland — Reformation in Scotland — Civil Wars in Scotland — Interposal of the Queen in the Affairs of Scotland — Settlement of Scotland — French Affairs — Arrival of Mary in Scotland — Bigotry of the Scotch Reformers — Wise Government of Elizabeth 710 CHAP. XXXV.

CHAP. XXXIX. Discontents of the People — Insurrections — Conduct of the War with Scotland — with France — Factions in the Council — Conspiracy against Somerset — Somerset resigns the Protectorship — A Parliament — Peace with France and Scotland — Bologne surrendered — Persecution of Gardiner — Warwic created Duke of Northumberland — His Ambition — Trial of Somerset — His Execution — A Parliament — A new Parliament — Succession changed — The King's Sickness and Death -. State of Europe — Civil Ware of France — Havre-de-Grace put in possession of the English — A Parliament — Havre lost — Affairs of Scotland — The Queen of Scots marries the Earl of Darnley — Confederacy against the Protestants — Murder of Rizzio — A Parliament — Murder of Darnley — Queen of Scots marries Bolhwel — Insurrections in Scotland — Imprisonment of Mary — ■ Mary flies into England — Conferences at York and Hampton-Court . .. 73? THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

Chapter I

The Britons — The Romans — The Saxons — The Heptarchtj — The Kingdom of Keni of Northumberland — of East-Anglia — ofMercia — of Essex — of Sussex — ofWessex. THE BRITONS. times when the truth is both so well ascertained and so complete as to promise entertainment and instruction to the reader. All ancient writers agree in representing the first inhabitants of Britain as a tribe of the Gauls or Celtæ, who peopled that island from the neighboring continent. Their language was the same, — their manners, their government, their superstition ; — varied only by those small differences, which time, or a communication with the bordering nations, must necessarily introduce. The inhabitants of Gaul, especially in those parts which lie contiguous to Italy, had acquired, from a commerce with their southern neighbors, some refinement in the arts, which gradually diffused themselves northwards, and spread but a very faint light over this island.

The Greek and Roman navigators or merchants, (for there were scarcely any other travellers in those ages,) brought back the most shocking accounts of the ferocity of the people, which they magnified, as usual, in order to excite the admiration of their countrymen. The south-east parts, however, of Britain, had already, before the age of Cæsar, made the first and most requisite step towards a civil settlement; and the Britons, by tillage and agriculture, had there increased to a great multitude (1). The other inhabitants of the island still maintained themselves by pasture : they were clothed with skins of beasts: they dwelt in huts which they reared in the forests and marshes, with which the country was covered : they shifted easily their habitation, when actuated either by the hopes of plunder, or the fear of an enemy -. the convenience of feeding their cattle was even a sufficient motive for removing their seats; and, as they were ignorant of all the refinements of life, their wants and their possessions were equally scanty and limited.

The Britons were divided into many small nations, or tribes ; and, being a military people, whose sole property was their arms and their cattle, it was impossible. after they had acquired a relish of liberty, for their princes or chieftains to establish any despotic authority over them. Their governments, though monarchial (2), were THE curiosity entertained by all civilized nations, of inquiring into the exploits and adventures of their ancestors, commonly excites a regret, that the history of remote ages should always be so much involved in obscurity, uncertainty, and contradiction. Ingenious men, possessed of leisure, are apt to push their researches beyond the period in which literary monuments are framed or preserved ; — without reflecting, that the history of past events is immediately lost, or disfigured, when intrusted to memory and oral tradition; and that the adventures of barbarous nations, even if they were recorded, could afford little or no entertainment to men born in a more cultivated age.

The convulsions of a civilized state usually compose the most instructive and most interesting part of its history; but the sudden, violent and unprepared revolutions incident to barbarians, are so much guided by caprice, and terminate so often in cruelty, that they disgust us by the uniformity of their appearance ; and it is rather fortunate for letters that they are buried in silence and oblivion. The only certain means by which nations can indulge their curiosity in researches concerning their remote origin, is to consider the language, manners and customs of their ancestors, and to compare them with those of the neighboring nations. The fables which are commonly employed to supply the place of true history, ought entirely to be disregarded ; or if any exception be admitted to this general rule, it can only be in favor of the ancient Grecian fictions, which are so celebrated, and so agreeable, that they will ever be the objects of the attention of mankind.

Neglecting, therefore, all traditions, or rather tales, concerning the more early history of Britain, we shall only consider the state of the inhabitants as it appeared to the Romans on their invasion of this country : we shall briefly run over the events which attended the conquest made by that empire, as be longing more to Roman than British stois : we shall hasten through the obscure and uninteresting period of Saxon annals ; and shall reserve a more full narration for those Vol. I. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. free, as well as those of all the Celtic nations ; and the common people seem even to have enjoyed more liberty among them (3), than among the nations of Gaul (4), from whom they were descended. Each state was divided into factions within itself (5); it was agitated with jealousy or animosity against the neighboring states : and while the arts of peace were yet unknown, wars were the chief occupation, and form ed the chief object of ambition among the people.

The religion of the Britons was one of the most considerable parts of their gov ernment; and the Druids, who were their priests, possessed great authority among them. Besides ministering at the altar, and directing all religious duties, they pre sided over the education of youth : they enjoyed an immunity from wars and taxes : they possessed both the civil and criminal jurisdiction : they decided all controversies among states, as well as among private persons : and whoever refused to submit to their decree, was exposed to the most severe penalties ; the sentence of excom munication was pronounced against him ; he was forbidden access to the sacrifices of public worship; he was debarred all in tercourse with his fellow-citizens even in the common affairs of life ; his company was universally shunned, as profane and dangerous ; he was refused the protection of law (6) ; and death itself became an acceptable relief from the misery and in famy to which he was exposed.

Thus, the bands of government, which were naturally loose among that rude and turbulent people, were happily corroborated by the terrors of their superstition. No species of superstition was ever more terrible than that of the Druids. Besides the severe penalties which it was in the power of the ecclesiastics to inflict in this world, they inculcated the eternal transmi gration of souls, and thereby extended their authoncy as far as the fears of their timorous votaries. They practised their rites in dark groves, or other secret recesses (7) ; and, in order to throw a greater mystery overtheirreligion,they communicated their doctrines only to the initiated, and strictly lbrbad the committing of them to writing, lest they should at any time be exposed to the examination of the profane vulgar.

Human sacrifices were practised among them ; the spoils of war were often devoted to their divinities ; and they punished with the severest tortures whoever dared to secrete any part of the consecrated of fering : these treasures they kept in woods and forests, secured by no other guard than the terrors of their religion (8) ; and this steady conquest over human avidity may be regarded as more signal than their prompting men to the most extraordinary and most violent efforts. No idolatrous worship ever attained such an ascendant over mankind as that of the ancient Gauls and Britons : and the Romans, after their conquest, finding it impossible to reconcile those nations to the laws and institutions of their masters while it maintained its authority, were at last obliged to abolish it by penal statutes ; a violence which had never, in any other instance, been practis ed by those tolerating conquerors (9).

THE ROMANS. The Britons had long remained in this rude but independent state, when Cæsar, having overrun all Gaul by his victories, first cast his eye on their island. He was not allured either by its riches or its renown ; but being ambitious of carrying the Roman arms into a new world, then mostly unknown, he took advantage of a short interval in his Gaulic wars, and made an invasion on Britain. The natives, informed of his intention, were sensible of the unequal contest, and endeavored to appease him by submissions ; which, however, retarded not the execution of his design. After some resistance, he landed, as is supposed, at Deal [A. C. 55.] ; and having obtained several advantages over the Britons, and obliged them to promise hostages for their future obedience, he was constrained, by the necessity of his affairs, and the approach of winter, to withdraw his forces into Gaul, (a) The Britons, relieved from the terror of his arms, neglected the performance of their stipulations; and that haughty conqueror resolved next summer to chastise them for this breach of treaty.

He landed with a greater force ; and though he found a more regular resistance from the Britons, who had united under Cassivelaunus, one us their petty princes, he discomfited them in every action. He advanced into the country; passed the Thames in the face of the enemy ; took and burned the capital of Cassivelaunus ; established his ally, Mandubratius, in the sovereignty of the Trinobantes ; and having obliged 'the inhabitants to make him new submissions, he again returned with his army into Gaul, and lest the authority of the Romans more nominal than real in this island. The civil wars which ensued, and which prepared the way for the establishment of monarchy in Rome, saved the Britons from (a) To save 1ns reputation, he gladly accepted an illusory promise of submission from a few of the na tives, and hastened hack with his army to Gaul after a short absence of three weeks.

It is manifest that he*a_ little reason to boast of the success of this ex pedition ; and on that account he affects, in his Com mentaries, to represent it as undertaken for the sole purpose of discovery."_._,-n|»_.ra\ Vol. I. 27, 28. Amer edit. 1827. THE BRITONS. 15 that yoke which was ready to be imposed upon them. Augustus, the successor of Cæsar, content with the victory obtained over the lioerties of his own country, was little ambitious of acquiring fame by for eign wars ; and being apprehensive lest the same unlimited extent of dominion which had subverted the republic, might also overwhelm the empire, he recommend ed it to his successors never to enlarge the territories of the Romans. Tiberius, jealous of the fame which might be acquired by his generals, made this advice of Augustus a pretence for his inactivity (10).

The mad sallies of Caligula, in which he menaced Britain with an invasion, served only to expose himself and the empire to ridicule : and the Britons had now, during almost a century, enjoyed their liberty unmolested; when the Romans, in the reign of Claudius, began to think seriously of reducing them under their dominion. Without seeking any more justifiable reasons of hostility than were employed by the late Europeans in subjecting the Africans and Americans, they sent over an army [A. D. 43.] under the command of Plautius, an able general, who gained some victories, and made a considerable progress in subduing the in habitants. Claudius himself, finding mat ters sufficiently prepared for his reception, made a journey into Britain, and received the submission of several British states, the Cantii, Atrebates, Regni, and Trino bantes, who inhabited the south-east parts of the island, and whom their possessions and more cultivated manner of life rendered willing to purchase peace at the expense of their liberty.

The other Britons, under the command of Caractacus, still main tained an obstinate resistance ; and the Romans made little progress against them, till Ostorius Scapula was sent over to com mand their armies. This general [A. D. 50.] advanced the Roman conquests over the Britons ; pierced into the country of the Silures, a warlike nation, who inhabit ed the banks of the Severn ; defeated Ca ractacus in a great battle ; took him prisoner, and sent him to Rome, where his magnanimous behavior procured him bet ter treatment than those conquerors usually bestowed on captive princes (11). (6) Notwithstanding these misfortunes, the Britons were not subdued ; and this island was regarded by the ambitious Romans as a field in which military honor might still be acquired. Under the reign of Nero [A. D. 59.]