The Life of King Arthur; From Ancient Historians and Authentic Documents (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1825. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE LIFE OF KING ARTHUR. CHAP. I. Of the Britons. The most ancient author, from whom we have any account of the Britons is, unquestionably, Julius Cesar, who, in the year of Rome 698, being the 55th before the vulgar sera, invaded Britain, for the first time, and, in the following year, repeated the attempt; having, on both occasions, had many severe, though, in some measure, successful, engagements with the natives; but, assuredly, not succeeding in his project to subjugate the island to the Roman dominion: since, as the historical poet, Lucan, makes Pompey observe: '* Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis ?"* The energy, in fact, and vigour of their attacks or repulses, their military manoeuvres and pecu L. f, v. srt. liar methods of war, many of which are described by Cesar, sufficiently prove them to have been, at this period, a brave, resolute and war.like nation;.;."T: he Britons themselves," according to Tacitus'; f'-diligently performed the levy arjd- tfrb'Utes and-'the enjoined taxes of the empire, ifinjuries we're absent" these they bore grievously, now subdued, that they should obey, not yet, that they should be slaves. Therefore, when the deified Julius, first of all the Romans, having entered Britain with an army, although he affrighted the inhabitants by a prosperous battle and may have obtained the coast, may be thought to have shewn it to posterity, not delivered it."* "The interior part of Britain," says Cesar, "was inhabited by those, whom born in the island itself they said to be deduced from memory; the maritime part by those, who, for the sake of carrying on plunder and war, had passed over from the Belgs. ... Of all these, by far the most humane, were those who inhabited Kent: which country was all maritime nor differ...