Part 5

That, amongst the _Romans_ and _Britans_ both, _A. Ambrosius_ governing here, all Sciences were utterly perished, is evidently manifest. For, the _Goths_ had then invaded _Italy_; and that vast Empire drooping with extreme Age, by the fatall irruption of strange Nations, was not only torn in peeces, but _Barbarisme_ having trod learning under foot, and the sword bearing more sway then letters, or learned men, all Sciences were neglected; and particularly that of _Building_ fell into such decay, that till of late about the year one thousand five hundred and ten, it lay swallowed up, and (as I may so say) buried in oblivion. When one _Bramante_ of the Dutchy of _Urbin_, attaining admirable perfection in _Architecture_, restored to the world again, the true rules of building, according to those Orders, by the ancient _Romans_ in their most flourishing times observed. Furthermore, not onely liberall Sciences and _Architecture_, but _Art_ military also, about the time of _A. Ambrosius_, was so far lost amongst the _Romans_, that they were ignorant, yea, in the very rudiments of War. Insomuch, (as _Procopius_ in his second Book of the _Gothick_ Wars relate) _Barbarism_ had bereft them of the skill, even in what manner to sound a retreat.

[Sidenote: _W. Malmes. fol. 8._ _Camden fo. 87._]

With us here also, the _Saxons_ domineer’d over all, and _A. Ambrosius_ with the _Britans_ had enough to do, in endeavouring the recovery of their lost Countrey from a mighty prevailing Enemy, that in few years afterwards (maugre all the ways which force or policy could invent) conquered the whole Nation. Among other calamities attending that miserable Age, _Camden_ (from _William_ of _Malmsbury_) directly to the purpose in hand tels us. _Cum Tyranni nullum in agris præter semibarbaros, nullum in urbibus præter ventri deditos reliquissent_: Britannia _omni patrocinio juvenilis vigoris viduata, omni Artium exercitio exinanita, conterminarum gentium inhiationi diu obnoxia fuit. When the Tyrants_ (to wit, the _Romans_) _had left none in the Countrey but half Barbarians, none in the Cities and Towns, but such as wholly gave themselves to belly-cheer_; Britain, _destitute of all protection, by her vigorous young men, bereaved of_ all exercise, and practice of good Arts, _became exposed for a long time to the greedy, and gaping jaws of Nations confining upon her_.

[Sidenote: _Gildas._]

Here you have it from an Author, more ancient then _G. Monmouth_ a little, though both lived in one age, the times about _A. Ambrosius_ government, whether before, during his reign, or after, were so full of miseries, that he complains, none then employed, or exercised in any whatever works belonging to _Art_. They had somthing else (as appears by divers Writers) to think upon, all their abilities being insufficient to defend their Countrey from forein servitude, their Cities and Towns from ruine, and destruction, and their habitations from rage of cruell and insolent enemies, robbing, spoiling, burning, wasting, all before them: to which, plague, pestilence, and famine being joyned, the inland part of the _Island_, even to the Western _Ocean_ was welnear totally consumed.

Besides, the Countrey was so oppress’d, what with outward hostile miseries, what with intestine tumults and troubles: that, had they not lost the _practice of all Arts_ (as the former Historian saith they had) so far were they from erecting any work of this kind, that they were compelled to abandon their Towns, and houses, built in times foregoing by their Auncestors, and betake themselves to mountains, caves, and woods for shelter. Now, if the calamities of those times hung over the _Britans_ heads, in so generall manner, that not one amongst them had leisure to put pen to paper, (as from _Leyland_ before remembred) much lesse able were they, without all peradventure, to undertake so great a work as _Stoneheng_, wherein, as all rationall men must grant, numbers of men employed, and many years taken up, before brought to its absolute perfection.

[Sidenote: _Cam. fo. 228._]

But, nothing can better expresse the ignorance of that Age, then the barbarous manner of inscription upon the Tomb of the _British Hector_ King _Arthur_, nephew to _A. Ambrosius_, found long since in the Churchyard of the Abbey at _Glastenbury_, the letters whereof, being exactly represented to our view by _Camden_, do, as by demonstration, fully discover to us the Barbarism of those times. As, barbarous in those characters, so were they ignorant in, and had lost the use of all other _Arts_. _Nor exercise nor practice of good Arts, was then amongst them_, saith the Historiographer of _Malmsbury_. And well he might so deliver himself, not withstanding _Matthew Westminster_ tels us, _A. Ambrosius_ repaired _Churches_, which the rage of _Saxons_, enemies to _Christian Religion_, spoiled. For, besides, the vast difference betwixt such works as _Stoneheng_, where _Art_ overmasters the common skill of man, and making up the decaies of ruinated buildings, is apprehensive even to the meanest capacities: _Gildas_ and _Bede_ (whose Antiquity and learning the greater it is, the more is their authority acceptable) affirm, the _Britans_ in those times knew not in what manner to bring up bare wals of stone. When, the _Roman_ Legion sent to aid the _Britans_ by _Valentinian_ the third, under the conduct of _Gallio_ of _Ravenna_, was remanded hence, for defence of _France_; before departing, they exhorted the _Britans_ to make a wall overthwart the _Island_, to secure themselves from the _Barbarians_, _Picts_, and _Scots_: which wall, _Bede_ tels us, _was made not so much with stone, as turffes, considering they had no workmen to bring up such works of stone; and so_, (saith the venerable Historian) _they did set up one, good for nothing. ’Twas made by the rude, and unskilfull common multitude, not so much of stone, as turffes_ (saith _Gildas_ also) _none being found able to give direction for building works of stone_. This was about thirty six years preceding _A. Ambrosius_ government. In which time, the _Romans_ abandoning _Britain_, _Vortigern_ usurped; call’d in the _Saxons_ to his aid; was deposed by his Nobility; and _Vortimer_ his son set up. Whom _Rowena_ having made away; _Vortigern_ was re-enthronis’d. Him _A. Ambrosius_ invades, and having burnt him, together with _Rowena_ in _Wales_, assumes the Crown as his; holding continuall war with the _Saxons_, untill poysoned by _Pascentius_ as aforesaid.

It being thus, that nothing but universall confusion, and destructive broyls of war, appeared then in all parts; more ancient, and far more propitious times, must be sought out for designing a structure, so exquisite in the composure as this: even such a flourishing Age, as when _Architecture_ in rare perfection, and such _People_ lookt upon, as by continuall successe, attaining unto the sole power over _Arts_, as well as _Empires_, commanded all. I say, such _Times_, and _Persons_, because those things, which accord not with the course of time, which by a generall consent of Authors agree not; which by the approved customes of ancient Ages, and votes of learned men, are not received and allowed, and consequently no ways probable; I easily admit not of.

Another fiction there is concerning _Stoneheng_, not to be past over; and though the cause upon which it’s grounded, be far more ancient then the government of _Ambrosius_, or aforesaid slaughter of the _Britains_: neverthelesse, in respect it is a new conceit, not thirty years being past since hatch’t, I suppose this the most proper place to discourse thereof, having ended with _Geffrey Monmouth_, _Polydore Virgill_, and their followers.

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 181._]

The Author thereof is _Anonymus_, unlesse known in being Translator of _Lucius Florus_. His opinion, (in his _Nero Cæsar_) _Stoneheng_ the Tomb of _Boadicia_ (formerly remembred) Queen of the _Iceni_. His reasons, first, because that memorable battell betwixt her, and _Suetonius Paulinus_ fought upon a Plain. Secondly, in respect the _Britans_ buried her magnificently. For confirming this, he tels us, _Had the pretieus volumes of the_ Cornelian _Annals, and_ Dio Cassius, _and_ John Xiphiline _been within the spheare of_ Geffrey Monmouths _studies, not_ Aurelus Ambrosius, _nor those four hundred and sixty Noblemen of_ Britain, _murthered in_ Vortigerns _reign, should have carried away with him the fame of this materiall wonder, but magnanimous_ Boadicia. It seems, he would not be behinde-hand with _Monmouth_; for, as the one finding no story more famous then of _A. Ambrosius_ and the slaughtered _Britans_, fathered _Stoneheng_ upon them: so, to make the inventive faculty, as apparently predominant in himself; this other, respecting _Boadicia’s_ heroicall actions, would as willingly make the world beleeve this _Antiquity_ her Monument.

His principall argument I delivered before; to wit, the battell betwixt Her and the _Romans_, wherein _Boadicia_ utterly overthrown too, being fought upon a Plain. Was there in old time (did he think) no Plain in _Britain_ to fight a battell on but _Salisbury_ Plain? How came _Boadicia_ and her Army thither? I find indeed, _Boadicia_ leading one hundred and twenty thousand fighting men out of the _Icenian_ Countries, and like a terrible tempest, falling upon _Camalodunum_, that famous _Roman_ Colony of old, (where the first fury of the War was felt) she surprised it and razed it to the ground; _Suetonius Paulinus_ then in _Anglesey_: Intercepting _Petilius Cerealis_, who advanced with the ninth legion to relieve that Colony, she cut all his Infantry in peeces: Putting to the sword all those, which imbecillity of sex, tediousnesse of age, or pleasure of the place detained from following _Suetonius_ in his march from _London_: And taking _Verulamium_, sackt and burnt it down to ashes. But, how she marcht from thence to _Salisbury_ Plain is neither apparent nor probable; not the least inkling being left in the world, what hostile acts she committed, which way she moved, or what done by her, after the ruine of _Verulam_, till utterly overthrown.

[Sidenote: _Tacit. Ann. lib. 14._]

[Sidenote: _Dion. Cas. lib. 62._]

Can it be imagined, she that destroyed so great a Colony, together with a free-borough of the _Romans_, slain seventy or eighty thousand persons in such horrid manner as scarce credible; reserving not one Prisoner alive, but killing, hanging, crucifying, and burning whatsoever _Romane_, or to that party enclined: that was yet victorious, and her Army encreasing daily; can it be imagined, I say, she marcht to _Salisbury_ Plain with so huge an Army invisibly? or stole from _Verulam_ thither by night, lest notice should be taken of her proceedings? _Anonymus_ self cannot think so unworthily of his _Boadicia_, yet certainly after such manner she went, if ever went thither at all: Otherwise, _Boadicia_ marching in the height of glory, and bearing down all before her till rancountred by _Suetonius_. Those faithfull Historians _Tacitus_, and _Dion_, (both so sedulous in delivering her Fame to posterity) would never have omitted so notable a march, through such a large tract of enemies Countrey, as of necessity she was to make from _Verulam_, to _Salisbury_ Plain; but would have prosecuted her War, by recording the spoyls, rapines, burnings, and devastations made therein; as particularly, as from the first fomenting the rebellion, till her advance to _Verulam_, they have done. Upon which Town, and the aforementioned places only, the aforesaid Historians directly tell us the whole burden of the War fell. _Ad Septuaginta millia civium & sociorum iis quæ memoravi locis occidisse constitit_, saith _Tacitus_. _It was manifest, there were slain in the places, I have remembred, the number of seventy thousand Citizens and Allies._ Bunduica _duas urbes_ (saith _Xiphilines Dion_ also) _populi_ Romani _expugnavit atque diripuit, in iísque cædem infinitam, ut supradixi, fecit._ Bunduica _took and razed to the ground two Towns of the_ Romans, _and in them made that infinite slaughter, I have mentioned before, of fourscore thousand persons_. At _Verulam_ then, it fully appears, the course of her Victories stopt, the inhumane butchery of the _Romans_, and their confederates, ended with the massacre in that Town; which could not possibly have hapned, if with such a firm resolution to extirpate the _Roman_ name in _Britain_, and such a numerous Army to effect it, she had gone on victoriously unfought with, so far as where this _Antiquity_ stands. And therefore the Plain of _Salisbury_ could not be the place of battell, as _Anonymus_ would fain enforce it. Who having so largely, and with so good advice, discoursed the motions, and actions of this rebellion, with all the circumstances thereof, from the first rise, till she destroyed _Verulam_, should either have found some warrantable authority for _Boadicia’s_ so great an undertaking afterwards, else never engaged her so far within the _Roman_ Province; otherwise, some may imagine, he framed it, only out of ambition for a meer pretence, rather, then stated it, from a reall endeavour, to make discovery for what cause _Stoneheng_ at first erected.

[Sidenote: _Tacit. Ann. lib. 14._]

[Sidenote: _Dion. Cass. lib. 62._]

Furthermore, _Suetonius Paulinus_ was too well skilled in the discipline of war, to make the seat thereof in a Countrey so absolutely _Roman_, as betwixt the _British_ Ocean and the River _Thames_. He had it’s true (being return’d from _Anglesey_) abandoned _London_, no colony. But upon what result? finding his accesse of strength disproportionable to the War in hand, and therefore _determined with the losse of one Town to preserve the rest whole_, (whether _London_ or _Camalodunum_ is not to the purpose) and, by attending the motions of the enemy, wait all fair occasions to give _Boadicia_ battell, _being unwilling to try his fortune too suddenly, multitude and successe making the_ Britans _outrageously daring_. In the interim neverthelesse, raising what forces, the exigency of so important affairs would permit.

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 105._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 154._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 155._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 166._]

Which way _Suetonius_ marched from _London_ is altogether omitted, yet if lawfull to conjecture, why not? to draw off the Forces of _Catus Decianus_ Procurator, (not long before fled into _Gaul_, for fear of this War) together with the remains of _Petilius Cerealis_ troops; quartered, as _Anonymus_ confesseth, in those very camps yet appearing about _Gildsbrough_ and _Daintry_ in _Northamptonshire_, then, confining the _Icenian_ Dominion to the Westward. Which Troops therefore, lay doubtlesse, in very great danger if not timely relieved; especially in case _Boadicia_ should conduct her Army that way; as, ere long afterwards she did so far as _Verulam_; this course being taken by her, not improbably, in pursuit of _Suetonius_. Neither was it very dangerous for the _Roman_ Generall to lead his Forces that way, the Enemies main strength lying about _Camalodunum_. Howsoever, whether he marched up to them or no, concluded it is, he made his retreat towards _Pœnius Posthumus_ encamped with the _second Legion_ in the borders of the _Silures_, (now _Herefordshire_, _Radnorshire_ &c.) for which _Legion_, _Suetonius_ sending to have it brought up to his Rendezvouz, his commands being slighted, that strength failed him. _The way which_ Suetonius _took, after his departure, was in mine opinion_ (saith _Anonymus_) _towards_ Severn, _where_ Pœnius Posthumus _encamped with the second Legion among the_ Silures. So also _Spencer_ our famous _English_ Poet finds it. Whereby it appears, _Suetonius_ retreat was not Westward to _Salisbury_ Plains, but Northerly towards that _second Legion_. In this retreat, I may not omit, _Anonymus_ conducts him over the _Thames_ at _London_; which if granted, and, _that he kept the river upon his right hand still_, untill engaging _Boadicia_, as _Anonymus_ saith he did: then was _Suetonius_ march _far away_ indeed from _Salisbury_ Plain. The course of that River winding, as we all know, through _Barkshire_ out of _Oxfordshire_, where _Tame_ from the County _Buckingham_, and _Isis_ from the edge of _Glocester_ Province, make their conjunction a little beneath _Dorchester_. And, if keeping this course _still_ by the Rivers side, _Suetonius_ marcht alongst the banks of _Cherwell_ also, then must _Anonymus_, whether he will or no, bring him up close to _Gildsbrough_ and _Daintry_, as aforesaid; and thereby (for it is admitted _Cerealis_ horse-troops were at the fight) reconciling all opinions, upon his direct way towards the _second Legion_.

How far on, neverthelesse, toward _Pœnius Posthumus_ Camp _Suetonius_ advanced is uncertain; but, that the battell might be fought in some Plain about _Verulam_, or upon that rode, is not altogether improbable. (Especially considering part of _Suetonius_ strength consisted of _Londoners_, who, as _Auxiliaries_ followed him in this War, and would not stay behind). For, the _Roman_ Generall when marshalling his Army for fight, had with him (saith _Tacitus_) _the aids of the places adjoyning_. What places were these? the last _place_ named by him was _Verulam_, the next place before it _London_; and, if the Historian intends either of these two, by the _places adjoyning_ to the field, where the battell fought; then, may _Anonymus_ prove the desarts in _Africa_, as soon as the Plains of _Salisbury_, to be the place of Battell.

[Sidenote: _Cant. 10._]

_Spencer_ saith, the battell was fought near _Severn_:

_Which seeing stout_ Bunduca _up arose, And taking arms, the_ Britons _to her drew; With whom she marched straight against her foes, And them vnwares besides the_ Seuerne _did enclose_.

[Sidenote: _Tacit. Ann. lib. 14._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 179._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 178._]

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 161._]

_Suetonius_, when resolving for fight, _deligit locum artis faucibus, & à tergo silvâ clausum, satis cognito, nihil hostium nisi in fronte, & apertam planitiem esse sine metu insidiarum. Choosed a place with a narrow entrance, enclosed behind with a wood, being well assured, he had no enemies but before him, and the Plain being open was without fear of Ambush._ Thus _Tacitus_ describes the field, the _Roman_ Army consisting of scarce ten thousand armed men. In what part of _Britan_ soever this Plain lay, it was, for certain, of no great extent, being hardly able to contain the vast multitudes of _Boadicia’s_ Army; computed two hundred and thirty thousand fighting men, by _Dion_, and therefore could not possibly be _Salisbury_ Plain. For, the _Britans_ placing their carts and wagons _supra extremum ambitium campi, in the utmost borders of the field_, had so environed their Army therewith, that upon the rout given, they could hardly flee away, _quia circumjecta vehicula sepserant abitus, by reason the carts_ (saith _Tacitus_) _hedged in the passages on every side_, and (to use _Anonymus_ own words) _were like a wall against evasion_. Now, if the _Britans_ had so surrounded the utmost borders of _Salisbury_ Plain, and in such manner barricado’d up all the passages thereof, their numbers should rather have been millions then thousands, as every man knowing those Plains must needs confesse. Besides, _Anonymus_ self tels us, _after the_ Britans _in the head of their battel began to shrink and turn, that alone was a blow to all behind, who being many score of thousands, remain’d untoucht, during the fight, because they could never come up to handy-strokes, for_ want of room _in the narrowings of the field_. He told us even now there was scope enough. _Whereabout in these parts of_ Britain, (saith he) _that very place was, unlesse it were upon_ Salisbury _Plain, where there is a black heath, and_ scope enough, _is not for me to imagine_. Now, on the contrary, when coming to the issue, he tels us the Plain was narrow, and they _wanted room_. Did the _Britans_ want room in the field, and were on _Salisbury_ Plain? Surely, in the heat of his describing the Battel _Anonymus_ forgot his own invention; the fury of the _Romans_, in beating down the _British_ squadrons, therewith dasht the main force of his conceit to peeces. Suspicious and jealous men had need of good memories. Upon the aforesaid situation he might rather have observed, the great experience of the _Romane Generall_ in martiall affairs, then from thence suggested, the _Britans_ in point of honour erected _Stoneheng_ to the memory of _Boadicia_, _Suetonius_ not onely choosing to make good a straight enclosed behinde with a wood, for securing his own small Troops, but such a straight also, where the Plain, or field before it, was not of sufficient extent for _Boadicia_ to marshall her great Army in. Furthermore, _Anonymus_ determining (it seems) to parcell out his ground proportionable to the numbers, undertakes to give posterity an exact survey of this Plain, telling us, it _was a Plain of five or six miles over_: This makes it more apparent ’twas not _Salisbury_ Plain, which far and wide so expatiates it self through the middle of _Wiltshire_, that it is not onely _five or six miles_, but (as I may say) five times six miles over. This famous battell then, being struck upon a Plain hardly capable of _Boadicia’s_ Army, was not fought upon _Salisbury_ Plain; but, on some other, which _Suetonius Paulinus_ found best for his own advantage, and therefore _Stoneheng_ (as _Anonymus_ would fain have it) could not be the Sepulchre of _Boadicia_.

[Sidenote: _Dion. Cass. lib. 62._]

Concerning _Boadicia’s_ magnificent obsequies; a mighty Prince may be buried with great solemnity, yet no materiall Monument dedicated to his memory. Examples of this kinde are so frequent, there needs no mention of them. _Humaverunt magnificè_, (they are _Dions_ words) the _Britans_ laid her into the earth magnificently, with as much pomp, happily, and honour, attending her to the grave, as their barbarous customs for their glorious Chieftain would admit; but, that they raised any Monument, or erected whatsoever kinde of Sepulchre for her, much lesse so notable a structure as _Stoneheng_, he no where tels us. Which had the _Britans_ done, the Historian could not avoid, taking more knowledge thereof, then of her bare enterment, and would undoubtedly have recorded it. Again, grant _Salisbury_ Plain the place of Battell, yet, _Dion_ saith not, they buried her magnificently where the battell fought, only, _Humaverunt magnificè_: adding withall, those, that escaped the field, prepared to re-enforce themselves for a new triall, in the mean while a disease seizing on _Bunduica_, she died. Now then, after so terrible an overthrow, wherein ’tis reported she lost fourscore thousand _Britans_; _Boadicia_, in all likelihood, endevoured to recover the _Icenian_ Countreys, her principall strength; having in her speech before the Battell insinuated the fenny parts thereof, as a refuge if the worst should happen. In what Countreys else could they recruit? where falling sick she died, (whether by violent or naturall death is not materiall) and as ever observed among all Nations, was, no doubt, buried in her own territories, among the graves of her renowned Ancestors.

[Sidenote: _Ner. Cæs. fo. 117._]

[Sidenote: _Sueton. in Ner._]

[Sidenote: _Dion. Cas. lib. 62._]