^i6 A. D. 4*2. 



almofl four centuries of Roman inftrudion, would immediately have 

 ihone out a great and flourifhing people ; that the abundance of their 

 produce and manufad:ures would have fupplied the materials of a very 

 extenfive commerce ; and that they would have availed themfelves of 

 their infular fituation, and their knowlege of the Latin language, (then 

 generally underflood in the weftern parts of Europe) to carry on a great 

 adive trade to at leafl all the neighbouring countries *. The very re- 

 verfe was the truth. Weakened by many and great levies of Britifh 

 foldiers repeatedly drawn off, not only by the pretenders to the empire, 

 but alfo for regular garrifons in diftant provinces f ; accuftomed to look 

 up to Rome for prote6lion as well as government ; and probably de- 

 prived by death, or envy, of the fuperior talents which had given life 

 to their fpirited condudl in the year 410, they funk into dejedion and 

 inadivity. Finding themfelves incapable of conduding their own af- 

 fairs, they difpatched ambaffadors to the Roman court, begging permif- 

 lion to return to their former allegiance, and imploring afliftance againfl 

 their enemies. A legion was accordingly fent to their relief, the whole 

 Roman part of the ifland was recovered, and the wall of Lollius Urbi- 



cus was rebuilt, though in a very imperfed manner. [Gild. c. 12 



Bed. H'lft. cedes. L. i, c. 12. — Paul. Diacon. L. xiv.J 



The Roman legion being again withdrawn, the northern invaders, 

 without taking the trouble of attacking the ufelefs wall, croffed the firths 

 in their boats, and repeated their cuftomary ravages. A Roman legion 

 was again granted to the prayers of the Britons, and the invaders, who 

 were driving off their annual prey, were attacked, and repelled beyond 

 the firths (a", 426). But the Roman commander, exhorting the Britons 

 to apply to the art of war, and depend on their own valour for their 

 protedion, gave them notice that no more afliftance could be afforded 

 them in future. Before leaving them he gave them diredions and af- 

 fiftance in rebuilding the fouth wall in a fubflantial manner, whereby 

 the province of Valentia was abandoned, and it was immediately occu- 

 pied by the Pichts. The Romans alfo affifted in ereding watch-towers 

 along the fouth coafl of the ifland, to give notice of, and afford fome 

 defence againll, the incurfions of the Saxon rovers ; and having accom- 

 plifhed thefe works, they took leave of Britain for ever. [Gild. c. 14. — 

 Sigeherli Chi'on. ad an. 426.] 



441 — The attention of Theodofius to his marine has been already 

 obferved. In order to prevent the deflrudion of the weftern empire, 

 threatened by the formidable fleets ot Genleric, the Vandal fovereign 



• Glldas, in his florid dcfcription of Britain, fiiys th.it the hixurics (dclilijc) of foreign countries 

 were imported into the mouth* of tlie Thames and tlic iijcvern in timca preceding his own. [G'ddt 

 hift.c.u] 



f Sec the Notitia imperii for the ftationnry troops, or Camden {^Brllann. p. Co, cJ. 1607] for the 

 ttIioIc of them coUcited in one vicvr. 



