[ 68 9 ] 
peices of lead. However from his defcription of 
them, as imperfedt as it is (for he neither gives ug 
their weight, nor dimenfions) it feems highly pro- 
bable, that they were of the fame kind, and defigned 
for the fame ufe, with thofe reprefented by this 
draught. But as Camden confidered them only as 
a monument of a vidtory, I fhall now proceed to 
offer my reafons for differing from that learned writer 
in this particular. 
At the time thefe peices of lead were caff, Britain 
was a Roman province, and had been fo from the 
reign of Claudius. For Caefar , as Tacitus fais, was 
the firft Roman, who invaded Britain but did little 
more, than fhow it to his fucceffors. After which 
the civil wars, and diffentions in the Roman date, 
diverted them from any thoughts of Britain ; fo that 
no attempts were made againd it during the three 
following reigns (4). But Claudius , who fucceeded 
next to the empire, being ambitious of a triumph, 
was prevailed on to undertake an expedition againd 
Britain. For thispurpofe he fcnt hither a large body 
% of Roman Forces, and not long after coming over 
himfelf landed in Kent. The Britons were then go- 
verned by feveral independent princes, who not be- 
ing able 10 withdand the Romans, fome of them 
fubmited ; and Claudius in a fhort time returning 
again to Rome, was honoured with afplendid triumph. 
And the army, which he left behind him, not only 
maintained what they had gotten, but advancing far- 
ther into the country inlarged their conqueds j fo 
that during the reign of Claudius , as Tacitus informs 
us. 
( 5 ) Vit. Agricol. cap. 13 . 
