174 
MIDLAND UNION OP NATUEAL HISTOEY SOCIETIES. 
when Vespasian confided the Government of Britain to Agricola, a 
man of great intelligence and determination, able and accomplished 
both as a warrior and statesman. 
Agricola marched straight along the Watling Street to Anglesea, 
conquering or conciliating as proved necessary, as well as teaching the 
civilisation enjoyed by Borne. Under his administration the condition 
of Britain, much as it had improved during the past century, made 
vast onward strides. He it was who planned the chain of forts on the 
Watling Street (two of which you will inspect on your excursions to¬ 
morrow), established garrisons throughout the country, and built 
many of the substantial stone houses, the solid foundations and 
tesselated pavements of which are so often discovered beneath the 
level of the ground in many parts of the country. 
In 180 Christianity was, at the instigation of the British King 
Lucius, introduced into Britain by Pope Eleutherius. 
A century later, in the year 300, Emmenius describes “ Britannia 
as fortunate and happier than all other lands, enriched with the 
choicest blessings of heaven and earth.” 
The year 418 saw the last of the Bomans in Britain, and we learn 
a singular fact from the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, which is corroborated 
by the constant finds of coins and pottery in this neighbourhood and 
elsewhere. “That this year the Bomans collected all the treasures that 
were in Britain, and some they hid in the earth, so that no one has 
since been able to find them, and some they carried with them into 
Gaul.” 
Before leaving the Bomans I would especially call your attention 
to the bold and skilful manner in which they planted their stations 
and camps in the very midst of those belonging to the Britons, and 
how occasionally they invested particularly strong positions such as 
Seckingtou, with a camp, at Thorpe Constantine, Oldbury, with one 
at Park Place, and Tamworth with another at Wigginton. 
In 450, Hengist and Horsa, two Saxon chiefs, commenced the 
invasion of Britain that led to its subjugation by the Saxons, and we 
pass over another 135 years, until in 585 Creoda led his followers into 
the district of Arden, overran the Midland Counties, and founded the 
Kingdom of Mercia, which comprised all the territories south of the 
Humber, east of the Severn, north of the Thames, and west of a 
line drawn through the counties Herts, Beds, Cambridge, Hants, and 
Lincoln. 
The next great historical event was the coming of Augustine 
in 597. 
In 627 the terrible heathen Penda began to reign, and conquered in 
succession two of his Northumbrian rivals ; but in 655 was at the age 
of eighty finally slain in battle by Oswin, of Northumberland, who 
thus obtaining Mercia converted it to Christianity, and it was at once 
put under the spiritual charge of a bishop. In 667 Ceadda (St. Chad), 
fifth Mercian Bishop, fixed his See at Lichfield. 
Mercia soon after this regained her military supremacy. 
