96 STATE OF BRITAIN 



use again the language of Tacitus, * Seutonius 

 Paulinus obtained the governmeni of Britain : 

 a competitor with Corbulo in the science of war, 

 and in the voice of the populace, who to every 

 man of renown are sure to create a rival. He 

 (Seutonius) hoped too, by subduing that fierce 

 enemy, to reap equal glory to that which the 

 other derived from the recovery of Armenia. 

 He therefore prepared to fall upon the island of 

 Anglesea, powerful in inhabitants, and a common 

 refuge to the revolters and fugitives. He built 

 for that end boats with broad flat bottoms, the 

 easier to approach a shore full of shallows and 

 uncertain landings.' 



As usual, the Romans were successful in a 

 general battle, but it is worth while to observe, 

 that it took Seutonius three years to conquer the 

 island of Anglesea; for he landed in the year 

 58, and the island was taken in 61. While, 

 however, this was going on, the Icenians under 

 Boadicea, had revolted and destroyed seventy 

 thousand of the Roman troops and partizans, 

 and collected an army of the extraordinary 

 number of two hundred and thirty thousand 

 fighting men ! The historian, in speaking of 

 this army on the day of battle, says, * The 

 British army were every where exulting and 

 bounding in great separate bands, some of horse. 



