AT THE CONQUEST. 9Sf^ 



* they surprised and carried off* two auxiliary 

 cohorts, who were, without due circumspection, 

 plundering the country, to satiate the avarice of 

 their officers ; and by distributing the spoil and 

 captives among the neighbouring nations, they 

 were drawing them also into the revolt, when 

 Ostorius, sinking under the weight of his anx- 

 ieties, expired/ 



These Iselwyr, (as the Britons called them, 

 or Silures, according to the Romans) it appears, 

 inhabited South Wales and some of the adjoin- 

 ing counties, and formed but a small part of the 

 whole British people. They had neighbouring 

 nations who did not assist them, but whom they 

 were only drawing into the revolt. And yet, 

 this small portion of the Britons, continued to 

 make head against formidable Roman armies, 

 for eleven years, that is, nine years under 

 Caractacus, and two years afterwards, when 

 Ostorius sunk under his anxieties. 



The Romans had now been eleven years in 

 attempting the conquest of the Island, without 

 having subdued one half of it ; and what they 

 held was preserved by the presence of an over- 

 awing military force. And four years after tliis, 

 it seems to have been thought necessary to send 

 a commander of superior reputation, when, to 



