ANTIQUITIES OF SEEBORNE. 380 



centuries and a half of Roman civilization, was at that time 

 highly prosperous. " Non mediocris," says Eumenius, "jac- 

 tura erat reipublica3 terra, tanto frugum ubere, tanto laeta 

 munere pastionum, tot metallorum fluens rivis, tot vectigali- 

 bus qusestuosa, tot accincta portubus, tanto hnmensa circuitu." 

 Carausius became a considerable potentate — in naval power, 

 especially, superior to the Romans, who, since their conquest 

 of all the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, had 

 neglected maritime warfare. Maximian in vain attempted an 

 expedition against him ; and in a.d. 289 terms of peace were 

 agreed to, by which that prince and Diocletian recognized 

 him as (in Britain) their partner in the empire. 



When, however (a.d. 292), Constantius and Galerius were 

 created " Cassars " (or presumptive successors to the empire), 

 Constantius, to whom the government of Gaul, Spain, and 

 Britain was assigned, lost no time in attacking Boulogne, and 

 reuniting to the empire that and the other continental posses- 

 sions which Carausius still held. But no invasion of Britain 

 appears to have been then apprehended. 



In a.d. 294 Carausius was assassinated by his friend and 

 minister Allectus, who himself assumed the purple in Britain. 

 Preparations were now made by the Roman emperors for an 

 invasion ; and in the third year of Allectus (a.d. 296), Con- 

 stantius, having collected two fleets of transports, one at 

 Boulogne and the other at the mouth of the Seine, set sail 

 with a considerable force from both ports simultaneously 

 (himself embarking at Boulogne), with contrary winds, and 

 in thick, foggy weather. Part of the expedition lost its way, 

 and eventually sailed up the Thames to London ; the main 

 body, with Constantius himself and his Praetorian prelect 

 Asclepiodotus, made for the British coast opposite the Isle of 

 Wight, near which the navy of Allectus was on the look-out 

 for them. Under cover of the fog, that part of the force 

 which was under the command of Asclepiodotus passed un- 

 seen by the British fleet, and effected a landing, setting tire 

 immediately afterwards to their ships. Allectus, who was in 

 possession of the neighbouring port (doubtless Portsmouth), 

 and encamped upon the shore, hastily abandoned hi.- position, 



