A n R 



A G R 



of manners. Here he manlfollcd the vigour of his niinJ, 

 by an alTiduous application to tlif ihuiy of philofophy ; but 

 his mother, conceiving this kind of fcience to be inconlif. 

 tent with the adivc life to which he was dellined, mode- 

 rated the ardour with which he puilucd it. The fcene of 

 tiie firll military ferviee in which he engaged was Britain ; 

 and the Genei-al, to whofe immediate care he was entrulkd, 

 was Suetonius Paulinus, who was then employed in the 

 arduous bufmefs of recovering the provinces that had revolted 

 from their fubjedion to tlie Roman power. His conduti 

 fecured the eileem and patronage of tliis diilinguifhed com- 

 mander; and the office of tribune of a legion, to which he 

 was appointed, afforded him an opportunity of gaining that 

 knowledge of his profcllion, and that acquaintance with 

 the countiy, which laid the foundation of iiis future cele- 

 brity. On his return to Rome, in purfuit of the honours 

 that belonged to his rank, he married Domitla Decidiana, a 

 lady eminently dilUngHidied by her virtues, as well as by 

 her noble birth ; and this domeflic conneftion was a fource 

 of uninterrupted felicity. Having difcharged the office of 

 quiellor, in the rich province of Afia, under Salvius 

 Titianus, brother to Otho, who was afterwards emperor, 

 with a probity which no temptation could corrupt, he fpent 

 feveral years in tliat Hate of inaftivity, which was moil 

 fccure and moft eligible under a prince fo fufpicious and 

 cruel as Nero. In the mean while, he performed the duties 

 of praetor and tribune of the people, with a degree of pru- 

 dence, wliieh led him to avoid both the extremes of parli- 

 mony and prodigality. 



On the acccflion of Galba, Agricola was charged with a 

 commiffion to take an account of the property belonging to 

 the temples, which Nero had purloined ; and in the execu- 

 tion of this bufmefs he recovered what was attainable, and 

 prevented farther depredations. In the commotions that 

 lucceeded the death of Galba, he feems to have taken no 

 part. At this time (A,D. 69), he was much diftreffed by 

 the news of his mother's deatli, who had been miudered at 

 Intemelii, in Liguria, by the troops belonging to the em- 

 peror Otho's fleet, and whofe eilates they had plundered. 

 Whilil he was preparing to pay the laft tribute of refpeft to 

 an honoured parent, and to redrefs the injury which his 

 patrimony had fuftained, he received information that Vef- 

 pafian had affumed the empire, and immediately deter- 

 mined to attach himfelf to his caufe. From Liguria, he 

 probably haftened to Rome ; and he was appointed, by Mu- 

 cianus, to the command of the 20th legion in Britain, which 

 had manifelled fome figns of difaffeftion and mutiny. Having, 

 by his wife and moderate condutt, fecured the obedience of 

 the legion, he continued for fome time in the country, under 

 the government, firft of Veftius Bolanus, and afterwards of 

 Petilius Ceriali,;. Under the fomier governor, who was 

 meek and peaceable, he iupprefled his martial ardour, and 

 renounced what was fpecious for that which was really ufe- 

 ful ; and under the latter, who was aftive and enterprifing, 

 he was prompt in executing the orders he received, and yet 

 modeft in relating his fucceffcs ; fo that he thus acquired 

 fame without envy. When he returned to Rome, Vefpa- 

 fian created him a patrician, and invefted him with the 

 government of Aquitania, in Gaul, which then compre- 

 hended the whole countr)' between the river Loire, and the 

 Pyrencean mountains. Here he perfoi-med the duties of a 

 civil governor for three years, in a manner which commanded 

 univerfal efteem. He was recalled by Vefpalian, A. D. 77, 

 and made conful with Domitian. During the year of his 

 confuKhip, he contrafted his daughter to Tacitus, the hif- 

 torian, who has furnifhed the memoirs of his life ; and at 



the expiration of his office, he was admitted into tlie 

 college of pontiffs, and appointed governor of Britain, 

 whitlicr he repaiied, in order to compoie the tumults of thi? 

 dvllraded province. Julius Frontinus, his predccclTor, was 

 a man of abilities, and had conquered the warlike nation of 

 the iSilures. 



On the arrival of Agricola, he found the Ordovices, or 

 inliabitants of North Wales, in a Hate of infurreftion. At 

 a late feafon of the year, and in oppoiition to the timi^ 

 counfel of fome of his principal officers, he marched againll. 

 them, by a fignal defeat almoll e.-itirpated the natiiin, and 

 then reduced Mona, or the i(le of Anglcfey. His next 

 obje.'it was to corretl thofe abufes which had occafioned lIic 

 liollilities of the Britons, and to concihate their attachment 

 by equitable and humane meafures. He alfo foftened their 

 manners by inducing them to cultivate the arts of peace, by 

 providmg for the liberal education of the fons of their 

 chieftains, and by promoting the ufc of the Roman habit 

 and language. In return for their liberty, of which tliey 

 were deprived, he endeavoured to eftabliih amongft themi 

 tranquillity. Luxuiy, fays Tacitus, foon followed ; and 

 the Britons called thofe qualities politenefs and good breed- 

 ing, which were, in faft, the Ihackle and badge of their 

 fervitude. 



Agricola, having fecured the fouthern part of the 

 ifland, prepared, in the third year of his government, to 

 extend his arms northwards ; and having fpread the ravages- 

 of war as far as tlie Frith of Tay, he proceeded to fecure 

 his conquefts by a chain of fortrefles, in the arrangement of 

 which his mihtary ikill was eminently dilplayed. This 

 chain extended from the Clyde to the Frith of Forth ; and 

 he thus leparated the conquered part of the ifland from the 

 fierce and unfubdued tribes of the north. His lift hi cam- 

 paign was devoted to the conqueft and Security of thofe 

 parts of Scotland which lie over againil Ireland, to which 

 idand he directed his views, and which, after his return, to 

 Rom.e, he avowed his purpofe of iubduing and retaining. 

 The operations of the lixth campaign were principally di.. 

 refted againft thofe who inhabit the eaftern parts beyond the 

 Frith of Forth ; and in thefe, the army was accompanied 

 by the fleet, which explored the inlets and harbours, and 

 enclofed the natives on all fides. Agricola was the firll 

 Roman general that ever employed a fleet againil the Bri- 

 tons, who had always looked upon the fea as their laft re- 

 fource, if ever they fliould be conquered by land. That 

 refource was now taken from them ; and they no longer 

 knew what- defence to make againil an enemy, who was 

 mafter of both elements. However, the Caledonians affem- 

 bled in great numbers, and made a fierce attack on one of 

 the Roman camps ; but after a temporary fuceefs, they 

 were repulfed with great lofs. But they determined to pei-- 

 fevere, and thought of nothing but renewing the war. 

 Accordingly, they clofed this campaign with arming their 

 youth, providing places of fafety for their wives and chil- 

 dren, and forming alliances for their future iuccour. For 

 the feventh campaign, Agricola, as well as the Caledonians, 

 made great preparation. The Grampian hills were the 

 fcene of a decifive engagement. Here the natives, forming 

 an army of more than 30,000 men, under the command of 

 Galgacus, made their lland ; and here alfo Agricola, having' 

 difpofed his troops in the moft advantageous pofition, waited 

 the defcent of the enemy from the hills. 



Each General addrefled his array previoufly to the battle, 

 and their fpeeches, which are recorded by Tacitus, wei« 

 re-echoed with fhouts of applaufe. For a long time the 

 vidloiy was difputed, but at lall the Romans prevailed, and 



witU 



