Ex-Classics Home Page

The History Of Scotland

The History Of Scotland - Chap. Fourth

Chap. Fourth


How the Emperor Hadrian came to Britain; and built a strong wall, to save the Britons and Romans from the Scots and Picts. How he returned to France, and left Victorinus to be Governor of Britain.


            Now was the sun fast tending towards sunset, when the allied people, by the sound of a trumpet, collected the rest of their people from the chase, and passed the rest of that night with incredible blithness, singing, dancing, and caroling. At the dawn of the day, they gathered the rich spoils from the slain men.

            And in the meantime, when the two kings were taking consultation for the welfare of their army, it was seen that a company of the Romans who had escaped from this last battle, were within two miles to their army, going astray, and not knowing by what country or parts they might most easily fly. Immediately, a band of the Scots went to them, and left none of them alive; for they refused to be taken. On the following day, the allied kings made sacrifice, as the practice was in those days, to their Gods, for the victory falling to them: then made a diligent examination of what persons did most honour in this last battle, and rewarded them accordingly.

            Lucius Antonius, vanquished in this manner, sent to the Emperor Hadrian, saying what trouble was lately fallen in Britain by wars with the Scots and Picts, and desiring him to send, quickly, support to Britain; otherwise the Romans would be shamefully driven out of all parts thereof, or else subjected to servitude to barbarous people. Emperor Hadrian, to defeat this rebellion, came with a huge army to Albion. After his coming, he was informed how the Scots, with more cruelty than before, were coming to the Roman lands, ceasing from no manner of cruelty that might be devised on the inhabitants thereof. Hadrian, greatly moved, and very desirous to revenge these offences, came to York; where he remained, with the remaining army of the Britons, until he was provided with two months victuals, to advance on the Scots and Picts. Soon after, he raised his camp, and, with great difficulty, brought his army over the Tyne; and on the fourth day after, he came to the lands which were wasted by the Scots. And because he found everything that might nourish his army, destroyed, he began to inquire, of what life and condition these people were, that made such extortions in the Roman lands. It was said, they were a rude and fearless people, and lay outside all winter, notwithstanding the cold frosts and storms; and occupied such strongholds and moorlands, that they might not be pursued without extreme danger to the invaders. For these causes, he decided not to go on any further: and to keep themselves from all incursions of enemies in times coming, he built a huge wall of turfs and sods, very broad and high in the manner of a hill, from the mouth of Tyne, at the German Sea, to the flood of Esk, at the Irish Sea. This wall was 80 miles in length. It is said in our Chronicles, that this dike was begun by Hadrian, and ended by Severus, the Roman Emperor; and called The Wall of Severus. But we, following Veremond, call it The Wall of Hadrian, from its first foundation.

            Soon after, Hadrian went to Westmorland and Wales, where he was informed of a new rebellion made against him by the inhabitants of the said land: nonetheless, he behaved so prudently in this matter, that the principal movers thereof were punished, and the country restored to his rule. After this, he came to London and Kent, and rewarded the nobles of Britain, for their faith and obedience kept to the Romans. Such things done, he returned to France, with Lucius Antonius, who was then troubled with great infirmity; and left Victorinus in his place. This Victorinus, after the departing of Hadrian, filled all the castles and strongholds of Britain with new supplies and soldiers, to resist the violence of the Scots and Picts. There followed, many years after, great tranquillity among the Britons.

 

Prev Next

Back to Introduction