CHAPTER III THE BRITAIN OF THE ANCIENTS 11. First Mention of the Islands afterwards called British Herodotus HERODOTUS (b. circa 484 B.C.; d. 408 B.C.?) was the earliest Grecian historian. His History contains the first authentic allusion to the British Islands. The form of the reference indicates that definite knowledge of the "Tin Islands," the Cassiterides, generally believed to be the British Islands, was current among the trading countries of the Mediterranean at a period somewhat earlier than that of Herodotus. Of the extremities of Europe towards the west I cannot speak with certainty, . . . nor am I acquainted with the islands Cassiterides, from which tin is brought to us. (Herodoti Historiarum libro III § 115, ed. Abicht-Kallenberg, Teubner Text Leipsic, 1890.) 12. First Mention of the Islands by Name Aristotle ARISTOTLE (b. circa 384 B.C.; d. 322 B.C.?) Controversies have more than shaken the belief that The Universe was written by Aristotle; yet the undoubted antiquity of the work justifies the insertion of the excerpt given below. If we accept the attribution of The Universe to the great Stagirite we may confidently assert that therein is contained the earliest recorded allusion by name to the British Islands. Without which [the Pillars of Hercules] the ocean flows round the earth; in this ocean, however, are two islands, and those very large, called Bretannic, Albion and Ierne, which are larger than those before mentioned and lie beyond the Celti; and other two not less than these, Taprobane, beyond the Indians, lying obliquely in respect of the main land, and that called Phebol, situate over against the Arabic Gulf; moreover not a few small islands, around the Bretannic Isles and Iberia, encircle as with a diadem this earth, which we have already said to be an island. (Aristoteles de Mundo capite iii, Prussian Royal Academy. Ed., Berlin, 1831-70.). 13. Evidence of increasing Interest in the British Islands Polybius The great History of POLYBIUS (b. cir a 204 B.C.; d. 122 B.C.?) is chiefly devoted to the affairs of Greece, but it contains many allusions to the contemporaneous history of other countries. From the excerpt given, the increasing interest in and knowledge of the British Islands are apparent. Not only are these islands mentioned by name, but their connection with the tin trade is definitely stated. Perhaps indeed some will enquire why, having made so long a discourse concerning places in Lybia and Iberia, we have not spoken more fully of the outlet at the Pillars of Hercules, nor of the exterior sea, and of the peculiarities which occur therein, nor yet indeed of the Bretannic Isles, and the working of tin; nor again, of the gold and silver mines of Iberia; concerning which writers, controverting each other, have discoursed very largely. Polybii Historiarum libro III. c. 57, ed. Buttner-Wobst and Dindorf, Teubner 14. First Roman Invasion of Britain Cæsar In the Commentaries on the Gallic War, by JULIUS CÆSAR (b. 100 B.C.; d. 44 B.C.) we possess an invaluable source of contemporary information concerning the first two invasions of Britain. Cæsar could speak not only authoritatively as being the leader of the Roman armies, but with clearness and accuracy as being an observant scholar. These matters being arranged, finding the weather favourable for his voyage, he set sail about the third watch, and ordered the horse to march forward to the farther port, and there embark and follow him. As this was performed rather tardily by them, he himself reached Britain with the first squadron of ships, about the fourth hour of the day, and there saw the forces of the enemy drawn up in arms on all the hills. The nature of the place was this: the sea was confined by mountains so close to it that a dart could be thrown from their summit upon the shore. Considering this by no means a fit place for disembarking, he remained at anchor till the ninth hour, for the other ships to arrive there. Having in the meantime assembled the lieutenants and military tribunes, he told them both what he had learnt from Volusenus, and what he wished to be done; and enjoined them (as the principle of military matters, and especially as maritime affairs, which have a precipitate and uncertain action, required) that all things should be performed by them at a nod and at the instant. Having dismissed them, meeting both with wind and tide favourable at the time, the signal being given and the anchor weighed, he advanced about seven miles from that place, and stationed his fleet over against an open and level shore. But the barbarians, upon perceiving the design of the Romans, sent forward their cavalry and charioteers, a class of warriors of whom it is their practice to make great use in their battles, and following with the rest of their forces, endeavoured to prevent our men landing. In this was the greatest difficulty, for the following reasons, namely, because our ships, on account of their great size, could be stationed only in deep water; and our soldiers, in places unknown to them, with their hands embarrassed, oppressed with a large and heavy weight of armour, had at the same time to leap from the ships, stand amidst the waves, and encounter the enemy; whereas they, either on dry ground, or advancing a little way into the water, free in all their limbs, in places thoroughly known to them, could confidently throw their weapons and spur on their horses, which were accustomed to this kind of service. Dismayed by these circumstances and altogether untrained in their mode of battle, our men did not all exert the same vigour and eagerness which they had been wont to exert in engagements on dry land. When Cæsar observed this, he ordered the ships of war, the appearance of which was somewhat strange to the barbarians and the motion more ready for service, to be withdrawn a little from the transport vessels, and to be propelled by their oars, and to be stationed a little toward the open flank of the enemy, and the enemy to be beaten off and driven away, with slings, arrows, and engines: which plan was of great service to our men: for the barbarians being startled by the form of our ships and the motions of our oars and the nature of our engines, which was strange to them, stopped, and shortly after retreated a little. And while our men were hesitating [whether they should advance to the shore], chiefly on account of the depth of the sea, he who carried the eagle of the tenth legion, after supplicating the gods that the matter might turn out favourably to the legion, exclaimed, "Leap, fellow-soldiers, unless you wish to betray your eagle to the enemy. I, for my part, will perform my duty to the commonwealth and my general." When he had said this with a loud voice, he leaped from the ship and proceeded to bear the eagle toward the enemy. Then our men, exhorting one another that so great a disgrace should not be incurred, all leaped from the ship. When those in the nearest vessels saw them, they speedily followed and approached the enemy. The battle was maintained vigorously on both sides. Our men, however, as they could neither keep their ranks, nor get firm footing, nor follow their standards, and as one from one ship and another from another assembled around whatever standards they met, were thrown into great confusion. But the enemy, who were acquainted with all the shallows, when from the shore they saw any coming from a ship one by one, spurred on their horses, and attacked them while embarrassed; many surrounded a few, others threw their weapons upon our collected forces on their exposed flank. When Cæsar observed this, he ordered the boats of the ships of war and the spy sloops to be filled with soldiers, and sent them up to the succour of those whom he had observed in distress. Our men, as soon as they made good their footing on dry ground, and all their comrades had joined them, made an attack upon the enemy, and put them to flight, but could not pursue them very far, because the horse had not been able to maintain their course at sea and reach the island. This alone was wanting to Cæsar's accustomed success. (Cæsar's Commentaries on the Gallic War, book IV, c. 23-26.) 15. A Description of the Britons Casar The characteristics of the Britons and their country are well described by CESAR. He possessed keen perception and cool judgment, and he was accustomed to impartially record all which personal interests did not tempt him to colour. The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island itself: the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the country of the Belgæ for the purpose of plunder and making war; almost all of whom are called by the names of those states from which being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part very like those of the Gauls: the number of cattle is great. They use either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; but the quantity of it |