Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 171 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 171 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

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In what state the Iland stood whiles Aruiragus reigned; the dissolute and loose gouernement of Petronius Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus, and Victius Volanus, three lieutenants in Brltaine for the Romane emperours, of Iulius Frontinus who vanquished the Silures.

THE XIIIJ.  CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  PETRONIUS TURPILIANUS LIEUTENANT.] In place of Suetonius, was Petronius Turpilianus (who had latelie beene consull) appointed to haue gouernance of the armie in Britaine, the which neither troubling the enimie, nor being of the enimie in anie wise troubled or prouoked, did colour slouthfull rest with the honest name of peace and quietnesse, and so sat still without exploiting anie notable enterprise.

[Sidenote:  TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS LIEUTENANT.] After Turpilianus, Trebellius Maximus was made lieutenant of Britaine, who likewise with courteous demeanour sought to keepe the Britains in rest rather than by force to compell them.  And now began the people of the Ile to beare with pleasant faults and flattering vices, so that the ciuill warres that chanced in those daies after the death of the emperour Nero at home, might easilie excuse the slouthfulnesse of the Romane lieutenants.

Moreouer, there rose dissention amongest their men of warre, which being vsed to lie abroad in the field, could not agree with the idle life; so that Trebellius Maximus was glad to hide himselfe from the sight of the souldiers being in an vprore against him, till at length humbling himselfe vnto them further than became his estate, he gouerned by waie of intreatie, or rather at their courtesie.  And so was the commotion staied without bloudshed, the armie as it were hauing by couenant obtained to liue licentiouslie, and the capteine suertie to liue without danger to be murthered.

[Sidenote:  VICTIUS VOLANUS LIEUTENAT.] Neither Victius Volanus that succeeded Maximus whilest the time of the ciuill warres as yet endured, did trouble the Britains, vsing the same slacknesse and slouth that the other lieutenants had vsed before him, and permitted the like licence to the presumptuous souldiers:  but yet was Volanus innocent as touching himselfe, and not hated for anie notable crime or vice:  so that he purchased fauour, although authoritie wanted.

But after that the emperour Vsepasianus had subdued his aduersaries, and atteined the imperiall gouernment, as well ouer Britaine as ouer other parts of the world, there were sent hither right noble [Sidenote:  Cor.  Tacitus.] capteins, with diuers notable bands of souldiers, and Petilius Cerialis being appointed lieutenant, put the Britains in great feare, by inuading the Brigants the mightiest nation of all the whole Iland:  and fighting manie battels, and some right bloudie with those people, he subdued a great part of the countrie at the last.

[Sidenote:  IULIUS FRONTINUS LIEUTENAT.] After him succeeded as lieutenant of Britaine, one Iulius Frontinus, who vanquished and brought to the Romane subiection by force of armes the people called Silures, striuing not onelie against the stout resistance of the men, but also with the hardnesse & combersome troubles of the places.

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Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.