on his hands, he walked along just as proudly as if still a king in his own land.

9. Caractacus was very much surprised to see the great palaces and beautiful buildings in Rome, and wondered that the Romans should covet his humble cottage in Britain.

10. When he was taken before the emperor he did not appear to be at all afraid or downcast, but spoke boldly, and said, "If the Romans wished to rule over the whole world, that was no reason why other nations should not fight to prevent them."

11. When the emperor spoke of putting him to death, Caractacus said, "If you kill me I shall soon be forgotten, but if you think proper to spare my life I shall remain a lasting monument to your mercy!"

12. The emperor was so pleased with the boldness and noble spirit of the brave chieftain that he ordered his chains to be struck off, and gave him and his family their liberty. What afterwards became of Caractacus we do not know.

Cap'tives, prisoners.
Cap'ture, take prisoner.
Ca-rac'ta-cus was the name
given to him by the Romans.
The Britons called him Car'a-
doc.

Con'quer, overcome in battle.
Cov'et, wish very much for what

is not our own.

Mon'u-ment, anything that pre-
vents a person or event from
being forgotten. If the life of
Caractacus were spared, the

The Coming of the Romans,
Caractacus taken prisoner,

people who saw or heard of him would remember how merciful the emperor had been to him. Op-pose', to be against. Pre-vent', hinder.

Pro-ces'sion, a number of persons marching in a certain order. Rome, the chief city in Italy; the

home of the Romans. The Romans, a people whose

home was in Italy, a country in the south of Europe. Ut'ter-ly de-feat'ed, quite beaten.

B.C. 55.
A.D. 59.

DESTRUCTION OF THE DRUIDS.

SUMMARY.

11

The Romans first tried to conquer Britain 55 years before Christ was born. One of the best and bravest of the British chiefs who opposed them a hundred years later was called Caractacus. He was taken prisoner and sent to Rome. He was surprised to see the beautiful buildings, and wondered why the Romans had tried to take his poor home from him. He was not afraid when they spoke of putting him to death. The emperor was so pleased with the bold chief that he set him free.

III.-DESTRUCTION OF THE DRUIDS.

1. For many years after the defeat of Caractacus the Britons continued to fight against the Romans. Large numbers of those who were tired of fighting, yet did not wish to submit to the enemy, went to live in the Isle of Anglesey or Mona, as it was then called.

2. Mona was also the chief place of the Druids. Now the Druids were the worst enemies the Romans had to deal with, because they advised the Britons never to yield, and excited them to fight bravely in every battle.

3. The Roman general, therefore, determined to destroy the Druids. He marched his army through Wales until he came to the narrow strait which divides the island from the mainland. Those of his soldiers who had horses swam across with their animals. The foot soldiers crossed in boats.

4. As the Romans approached the shore they could see thousands of armed men drawn up in order ready for battle.

5. Rushing about amongst the soldiers were numbers of women in funeral robes, carrying flaming torches in their hands, and with their long hair

streaming in the wind. They were trying to make the Britons feel very fierce and bold. They implored them to fight bravely and to conquer or die.

6. There were also to be seen groups of the Druids, dressed in their long white robes, calling upon their gods to save them. Others were busily engaged in attending to immense fires that had been prepared to burn the prisoners taken in the battle.

STONEHENGE.

7. Altogether it was such a terrible sight that at first the Romans were afraid to advance. They very soon, however, regained their courage and went forward to attack the Britons.

8. In the battle which was fought the Romans gained a complete victory. They cast the Druids into the fires they had made, cut down the sacred groves in which they used to worship, and destroyed the altars on which they had offered sacrifice.

Ex-ci'ted, stirred up; roused.
Gen'e-ral, the head of the army.
Groves, woods, clumps of trees.
Im-plore', ask in an earnest

manner.

Isle of Angle'sey, an island near
the coast of Wales.

Strait, narrow piece of water.
The main'land, Wales.

Yield, submit; leave off fighting.

THE WARRIOR QUEEN.

SUMMARY.

13

Numbers of the Britons went to live in the Isle of Anglesey. Many Druids lived there also. The Roman general determined to destroy the Druids because they advised the Britons not to leave off fighting. A Roman army marched to Anglesey and defeated the Britons. Then they killed the Druids, and destroyed the sacred groves and altars.

IV. THE WARRIOR QUEEN.

1. While the Roman general was fighting in Anglesey another war broke out in the East of Britain.

2. Boadicea, the queen of one of the tribes there, and her two daughters, had been very cruelly treated by the Romans.

3. This made the Britons so angry that they raised a large army, and for a time defeated all the Roman forces who opposed them. They marched to Londinium or London, and killed every person, old and young, whom they found in it.

4. As soon as the Roman general heard of what was taking place he marched as quickly as he could to meet the Britons. He came up with them near London, and at once prepared for battle.

5. The Britons were led by their queen, and felt quite sure that they would win. They were so certain of it that they had taken their wives to the battle-field to see the Romans killed.

6. Before the fight began, Boadicea, mounted on a war chariot, drove through the army. She was dressed in her royal robes, and held a spear in her hand. Her two daughters were by her side.

7. As she passed along the ranks she reminded.

the Britons how shamefully she had been used, and urged them to fight bravely to drive the Romans from the country.

8. Boadicea said, "Although I am a woman I am determined to conquer or to die; the men, if they choose, may live and be slaves."

9. The Britons shouted and cheered while the queen was speaking, and when she had finished they advanced to meet the Roman army.

10. They went bounding along, shouting their loudest, and shooting their arrows and darts thick and fast amongst the enemy. It was all in vain! In spite of all their bravery they were utterly defeated, and thousands of them were slain.

11. When the brave queen saw that the battle was lost she took some poison, and thus put an end to her life, rather than be taken prisoner by the Romans.