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the Western Ocean； but passing beyond the sea； imposed submission
upon our island without resistance； and entirely reduced to
obedience its unwarlike but faithless people； not so much by fire
and sword and warlike engines； like other nations； but threats
alone； and menaces of judgments frowning on their countenance；
whilst terror penetrated to their hearts。
6。 When afterwards they returned to Rome； for want of pay； as
is said； and had no suspicion of an approaching rebellion； that
deceitful lioness （Boadicea） put to death the rulers who had been
left among them； to unfold more fully and to confirm the enterprises
of the Romans。 When the report of these things reached the senate；
and they with a speedy army made haste to take vengeance on the
crafty foxes；* as they called them； there was no bold navy on
the sea to fight bravely for the country； by land there was no
marshalled army； no right wing of battle； nor other preparation
for resistance； but their backs were their shields against their
vanquishers； and they presented their necks to their swords； whilst
chill terror ran through every limb； and they stretched out their
hands to be bound； like women； so that it has become a proverb
far and wide； that the Britons are neither brave in war nor faithful
in time of peace。
* The Britons who fought under Boadicea were anything but 〃crafty
foxes。〃 〃Bold lions〃 is a much more appropriate appellation； they
would also have been victorious if they had half the military
advantages of the Romans。
7。 The Romans； therefore； having slain many of the rebels； and
reserved others for slaves； that the land might not be entirely
reduced to desolation； left the island； destitute as it was of
wine and oil； and returned to Italy； leaving behind them taskmasters；
to scourge the shoulders of the natives； to reduce their necks to
the yoke； and their soil to the vassalage of a Roman province；
to chastise the crafty race； not with warlike weapons； but with
rods； and if necessary to gird upon their sides the naked sword；
so that it was no longer thought to be Britain； but a Roman island；
and all their money； whether of copper； gold； or silver； was
stamped with Caesar's image。
8。 Meanwhile these islands； stiff with cold and frost； and in a
distant region of the world； remote from the visible sun； received
the beams of light； that is； the holy precepts of Christ； the true
Sun； showing to the whole world his splendour； not only from the
temporal firmament； but from the height of heaven； which surpasses
every thing temporal； at the latter part； as we know； of the reign
of Tiberius Caesar； by whom his religion was propagated without
impediment； and death threatened to those who interfered with its
professors。
9。 These rays of light were received with lukewarm minds by the
inhabitants； but they nevertheless took root among some of them
in a greater or less degree； until the nine years' persecution
of the tyrant Diocletian； when the churches throughout the whole
world were overthrown； all the copies of the Holy Scriptures
which could be found burned in the streets； and the chosen pastors
of God's flock butchered； together with their innocent sheep；
in order that not a vestige； if possible； might remain in some
provinces of Christ's religion。 What disgraceful flights then
took place…what slaughter and death inflicted by way of punishment
in divers shapes；what dreadful apostacies from religion； and
on the contrary； what glorious crowns of martyrdom then were won；
what raving fury was displayed by the persecutors； and patience
on the part of the suffering saints； ecclesiastical history informs
us； for the whole church were crowding in a body； to leave behind
them the dark things of this world； and to make the best of their
way to the happy mansions of heaven； as if to their proper home。
10。 God； therefore； who wishes all men to be saved； and who calls
sinners no less than those who think themselves righteous； magnified
his mercy towards us； and； as we know； during the above…named
persecution； that Britain might not totally be enveloped in the
dark shades of night； he； of his own free gift； kindled up among
us bright luminaries of holy martyrs； whose places of burial and
of martyrdom； had they not for our manifold crimes been interfered
with and destroyed by the barbarians； would have still kindled
in the minds of the beholders no small fire of divine charity。
Such were St。 Alban of Verulam； Aaron and Julius； citizens of
Carlisle； * and the rest； of both sexes； who in different places
stood their ground in the Christian contest。
* Or Caerleon。
11。 The first of these martyrs； St。 Alban； for charity's sake
saved another confessor who was pursued by his persecutors； and
was on the point of being seized； by hiding him in his house； and
then by changing clothes with him； imitating in this example of
Christ； who laid down his life for his sheep； and exposing himself
in the other's clothes to be pursued in his stead。 So pleasing
to God was this conduct； that between his confession and martyrdom；
he was honoured with the performance of wonderful miracles in
presence of the impious blasphemers who were carrying the Roman
standards； and like the Israelites of old； who trod dry…foot an
unfrequented path whilst the ark of the covenant stood some time
on the sands in the midst of Jordan； so also the martyr； with a
thousand others； opened a path across the noble river Thames；
whose waters stood abrupt like precipices on either side； and
seeing this； the first of his executors was stricken with awe；
and from a wolf became a lamb； so that he thirsted for martyrdom；
and boldly underwent that for which he thirsted。 The other holy
martyrs were tormented with divers sufferings； and their limbs
were racked in such unheard of ways； that they； without delay；
erected the trophies of their glorious martyrdom even in the gates
of the city of Jerusalem。 For those who survived； hid themselves
in woods and deserts； and secret caves； waiting until God； who
is the righteous judge of all； should reward their persecutors
with judgment； and themselves with protection of their lives。
12。 In less than ten years； therefore； of the above…named persecution；
and when these bloody decrees began to fail in consequence of the
death of their authors； all Christ's young disciples； after so
long and wintry a night； begin to behold the genial light of heaven。
They rebuild the churches； which had been levelled to the ground；
they found； erect； and finish churches to the holy martyrs； and
everywhere show their ensigns as token of their victory； festivals
are celebrated and sacraments received with clean hearts and lips；
and all the church's sons rejoice as it were in the fostering
bosom of a mother。 For this holy union remained between Christ
their head and the members of his church； until the Arian treason；
fatal as a serpent； and vomiting its poison from beyond the sea；
caused deadly dissension between brothers inhabiting the same house；
and thus； as if a road were made across the sea； like wild beasts
of all descriptions； and darting the poison of every heresy from
their jaws；