Julius Caesar subdued[1] Britain. The Romans had settled its southern region within the wall built by Severus, as the remains of their cities, bridges, watch-towers, and roads, testify to this day. They also claimed the dominion of the parts of Britain beyond the wall, and the neighbouring islands. The Roman forces being thus withdrawn from Britain, with the flower of her youth, who principally followed the tyrant Maximus, the rest being exhausted by the expedition of Constantine just before named, the province lay open to the incursion of those barbarous tribes the Scots and Picts. It was separated from them by two friths, or arms of the sea, one entering from the east, the other from the west, which approach each other very nearly without forming a junction. About the middle of the eastern frith lies this city of Guidi; the western frith has on its further, i.e. its right shore, the city called Alcluith,[2] which in their language signifies the rock Cluith, and near it is a river of the same name.[3] Terrified by the inroads of these fierce tribes, the Britons sent messengers to Rome bearing letters imploring assistance. One legion was marched to their aid, which, after slaughtering vast numbers of the enemy, drove the rest beyond the border, and retired in great triumph. It was recommended to the Britons to build a wall of stone on the rampart of Severus, so that they might be defended by it where the protection of the friths failed. But as they constructed it with turf instead of stone, it answered no good purpose. The remains of this wall, which was of great height and well as breadth, may be seen at the present time. It commences about two miles from a place called Peneltune,[4] and terminates westwards near the city of Alcluith. As soon as the enemy heard that the Romans were withdrawn, they embarked in boats and made a still more fierce irruption. Again the Romans returned
- ↑ Henry of Huntingdon, who is following Bede, changes the expression of his author, which runs, "after Julius Caesar entered the island." Bede adds, "from this time the Romans ceased to rule in Britain."
- ↑ Alcluith is now Dumbarton. The situation of Guidi is not exactly known; but from the description it must be somewhere about Leith or Queenferry.
- ↑ The Clyde.
- ↑ Near Abercorn (Abercurnig), a village on the south bank of the Frith of Forth, where formerly was a monastery.
