24 MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



which once enclosed the Roman capital of Southern Britain. 

 Verulamium was 190 acres in extent, Pompeii was 160 acres, 

 so that the former rivalled the latter in size as well as grandeur. 

 Close to this block of w r all the Pageant of 1907 was held, when 

 my old science master, Mr Charles H. Ashdown, mapped out for 

 presentation eight of the chief episodes connected with Verulam 

 and St Albans. It will be interesting to have a permanent 



FIG. 9. ST ALBANS ABBEY PROM THE SITE OP VERULAM. 



record here of these episodes in the order in which they were 

 presented, thus : 



I. Julius Caesar and Cassivelaunus. Monday, September 10, 54 B.C. 



II. Boadicea. A.D. 61. 



III. The Martyrdom of Saint Alban. Sunday, June 22, A.D. 303. 



IV. King Off a founding the Monastery. August 1, A.D. 793. 

 V. The Queen Eleanor Procession. December 13, A.D. 1290. 



VI. The Peasants' Revolt. 1381. 



VII. The Second Battle of St Albans. February 17, 1461. 

 VIII. Queen Elizabeth at Gorhambury. July, 1572. 



Standing upon the central site of Verulam to-day, where corn 

 crops will soon be hastening towards the harvest, it is difficult 

 for the infrequent visitor to conjecture these great episodes of 

 bygone times. It is, however, to the student a continuous story 



