126 ROMAN WAREHAM AND THE CLAUDIAN INVASION. 



where all these conditions are fulfilled to perfection. Dion Cassius 

 tells us they divided into three bodies. If one legion took South- 

 ampton, and another Portsmouth, the third would most naturally 

 proceed to Poole, on the ebb of the tide from the Solent. Poole 

 harbour, within sight of the Isle of Wight, admitted of prompt 

 signalling, and afforded full shelter for the vessels, and Wareham 

 between the two rivers at the head of the harbour admitted of 

 secure entrenchments. The three bodies of men so placed would 

 be as near to each other as possible, ready to converge on one spot 

 to march inland at the proper moment. This, it may be objected, 

 is only theory. But we find all the conditions of the narrative are 

 met by it, and we further find in the walls and streets of Wareham 

 the lines of a Roman camp of the period in question, and of area 

 large enough to accommodate a full legion with all its auxiliaries and 

 stores for such an expedition, and abundant pasture for the cavalry 

 regiments we know to have accompanied the German legions. 



It will be in the remembrance of the reader of Josephus that 

 he speaks of four legions as serving in Britain ; and an inscription 

 found at Winchester (given by Hiibner) confirms this. How, then, 

 is this to be reconciled with Dion Cassius' statement that the 

 Roman army was landed in three divisions 1 for each division 

 would most naturally be a complete army corps, or legion, with its 

 auxiliaries and artillery. 



There is further the fact that the Second, Fourteenth, and 

 Twentieth legions all came from the Rhine, where they had 

 been stationed ; while we have no certainty that the remaining 

 one, the Ninth, which we afterwards find in Britain, was at this 

 period on the Rhine at all. 



The key to the matter is this. Claudius was very anxious to 

 take part in this conquest of Britain, and his orders to the General 

 in command, Plautius, were that if any difficulty arose he was to 

 send for the Emperor himself. This was done, of course, to 

 humour the Sovereign ; and after the battles of the summer of 43 

 Claudius was communicated with, and came over on the verge of 

 the autumn of 44. 



