Chapter III

The second Invasion of Britain by the Romans, under Claudius, who conquers the Orchades; and, sending Vespasian to the Isle of Wright, brings it into subjection to the Roman Empire.

Claudius, who was the fourth Emperor from Augustus, was no sooner raised to the imperial dignity in the year, from the build- ing of Rome, 797, than he conceived an ardent desire to prove himself to be worthy of it; by performing such exploits as might promote greatly the interests of the empire. As war only could afford him opportunities of signalizing himself by his victories, he sought after it every where. Accordingly, he undertook an expedition into Britain, to repress the insurrection which had taken place there, on account of the Romans not having delivered up some deserters. He passed over into the island, which no one before or after Julius Caesar had dared to enter: and there, without either fighting or bloodshed, in a few days received the greatest part of it under his dominion. He also added the Orchades [Orkneys], situated beyond Britain, to the Roman Empire; and, returning to Rome the sixth month after he had departed from it, gave his son the name of Britannicus. This war he finished in the fourth year of his reign, and the 46th of Christ; when that most dreadful famine, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, as foretold by the prophet Agabus, happened in Syria.

Vespasian, who succeeded Nero in the imperial dignity, having been sent by Claudius into Britain, subdued also the Isle of Wight, which is situated not far to the South of Britain. From East to West it is about 30 miles, and about 12 from North to South, being six miles distant from the southern coast of Britain at the eastern end, and but three at the western extremity.

Nero, succeeding Claudius in the empire, had no courage sufficient to attempt any thing in martial affairs; and therefore, besides the great detriment he occasioned to the state in many other ways, he almost lost Britain; for under him two of the chief cities were then taken and destroyed.