The Reason for which he invaded this Island was, as he says, because the Britons assisted the Gauls by Land and Sea.  Their Naval Power must have been very considerable, when Vincula dare Oceano, and Britannos subjugare, were convertible Terms.[rr] Had not the British Naval Power been then formidable, this would not have been said.

[Footnote rr:  Caesar says that the Britons assisted the Gauls with Ships.  Hence we may infer that their Ships were of the same Construction with those of the Gauls, which Caesar says were built of Oak so strong that they were impenetrable to the Beaks of the Roman Ships, and so high that they could not be annoyed by the Darts of the Roman Soldiers.  To the 9th Century, Alfred the great had a very formidable fleet.]

Their Maritme Force, it is true, was much weakened by Caesar; yet in no long Time it seems to have been considerably restored, as appears from the Conduct of later Emperors.  Had their Navy, as hath been asserted by some Writers, consisted only of small Fishing Boats, now, in the Principality called, Coracles, they could not have afforded such assistance to the Gauls, as to bring upon them the Roman power.  As to unskilfulness, it doth not appear from History, that this, with truth, could be said of them.

I know not upon what Authority, it is said by his Lordship that the Britons were less expert Mariners than any other in Europe; for they seem to have had Connections in the way of Commerce, with very distant Nations, before Julius Caesar; indeed, a very considerable and extensive Trade with the Phoenicians, and others.

For these Reasons, I am inclined to believe that the Naval power of the Britons was considerable before the coming of the Romans.  As to succeeding Times, when the Britons were driven into Wales, a Country with an extensive Sea Coast, they had little to subsist upon, but a scanty Agriculture, and rich Fisheries; so that very great Numbers of them were compelled by necessity to pursue a Seafaring Life.

The strongest objection to the Truth of this Event, which is urged by his Lordship and by others, is the great Improbability that such a Voyage could be performed without the assistance of the Mariner’s Compass, not then discovered.  This Discovery was made about the Year, 1300; others say, by Behain above mentioned, above 100 Years later.  In answer to this Objection, it may be observed that previously to Madog’s Voyage we read of several others, which appear to me full as improbable.  It is generally understood that the Phoenicians, Grecians, &c. were acquainted with, and sailed to Britain, and other Countries, for Tin and Lead, and unto the Baltic Sea for Amber; Voyages which seen as difficult as that of Madog’s, and a longer Navigation.  It was hardly possible for the Britons, not to learn how to navigate Ships, when they saw how it was done by others.

The return of our Prince to North Wales, and back again to his Colony, is the most difficult to be accounted for, in the whole Story:  However, I apprehend, that this is not altogether impossible.