valour. You are not to expect, that you should escape the ravage of the general plunderers of mankind by any sentiment of moderation in them. When the countries which are more accessible, come to be subdued, they will then force their way into those, which are harder to be overcome. And if they should conquer the dry land, over the whole world, they will then think of carrying their arms beyond the ocean, to see whether there be certain unknown regions, which they may attack, and reduce under subjection to the Roman Empire. For we see that if a country is thought to be powerful in arms, the Romans attack it, because the conquest will be glo. rious: if inconsiderable in the military art, because the victory will be easy; if rich, they are drawn thither by the hope of plunder; if poor, by the desire of fame. The east and the west, the south and the north, the face of the whole earth, is the scene of their military achievements; the world is too little for their ambition, and their avarice. They are the enly nation ever known to be equally desirous of conquering a poor kingdom as a rich one. Their supreme joy seems to be ravaging, fighting and shedding of blood; and when they have unpeopled a region, so that there are none left alive to bear arms, they say they have given peace to that country.

Nature itself has perpetually endeared, to all men, their wives and their children. But it is known to you, my countrymen, that the conquered youth are daily draughted off to supply the deficiencies in the Roman army. The wives, the sisters, and the daughters of the conquered are either exposed to the violence, or at least corrupted by the arts, of those cruel soldiers. The fruits of our industry are plundered, to make up the tributes imposed on us by oppressive avarice. Britons sow their fields; and the greedy Romans reap them. Our very bodies are worn out in carrying on their military works; and our toils are rewarded by them with abuse and stripes. Those who are born to slavery, are bought and maintained by their master. But this unhappy coun

try

try pays for being enslaved, and feeds those who en slave it. And our portion of disgrace is the bitterest, as the inhabitants of this island are the last who have fallen under the galling yoke. Our native hent against tyranny,is th offence which most sensibly irritates those lordly usurpers. Our distance from the seat of government, and our natural defence by the surrounding ocean, render as obnoxious to their suspicions; for they know that Britons are bornwith an instinctive love of liberty; and they conlude, that we must be naturally led to think of taking the advantage of our detached situation, to disengage ourselves, one time or other, from their oppression.

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Thus, my countrymen, and fellow soldiers, suspected and hated as we ever must be by the Romans, ... there is no prospect of our enjoying even a tolerable state of bondage under them Let us then, in the name of all that is sacred, and in detence of all that is dear to us, resolve to exert ourselves, if not for glory, at least for safety; if not in vindication of British honour, at least in defence of our lives. How near were the Brigantes to shake ff the yoke. led on too by a woman! they burnt, a Roman settlement: They attacked the dreaded Roman legions in their camp. Had not their partial success drawn them into a fatal security, the business had been com. pleted.. And shall not we, of the Caledonian region, whose territories are yet free, and whose strength.is entire, shall we not. my fellow soldiers, attempt somewhat, which may shew these foreign ravagers, that they have more to do than they think of, before they be masters of the whole island.

But, after ali, who are these mighty Romans? Are they gods; or mortal men, like ourselves? Do we not see, that they fail into the same errors, and weakness as others? Does not peace effeminate them? Does not abundance debauch them? Does not wantonness enervate them? Do they not evengo to excess in the most unmanly vices? And can you inaine, that they, who are remarkable for their vi

ces, are likewise remarkable for their valour? What then do we dread?-Shall I tell you the truth, my fellow-soldiers? It is by means of our intestine divisions, that the Romans have gained such great advantage over us. They turn the misconduct of their enemies to their own praise, They boast of what they have done, and say nothing of what we might have done, had we been so wise as to unite against them.

What is this formidable Roman army? Is it not composed of a mixture of people from different countries: some more, some less capable of bear. ing fatigue and hardship. They keep together, while they are successful. Attack them with vi gour distress them, you will see them more disunited among themselves, than we are now. Can any one imagine, that Gauls, Germans, and,-with shame 1 must add, Britons, who basely lend for a time, their limbs, and their lives, to build up a foreign tyranny; can one imagine, that these will be longer enemies than slaves? or that such an army is held together by sentiments of fidelity or affection? No: the only bond of union among them is. fear. And whenever terror ceases to work upon the minds of that mixed multitude, they who now fear, will then hate their tyrannical masters. On our side there is every possible incitement to valour. Roman courage is not, as ours, inflamed by the thoughts of wives and children in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. The Romans have not parents, as we have, to reproach them, if they should desert their infirm old age, I hey have no country here to fight for. They are a motley collection of fo. reigners, in a land wholly unknown to them, cut off from their native country, hemmed in by the surrounding ocean, and given, I hope, a prey into our hands, without all po si ility of escape. Let not the scund of the Roman name affright your ears. Nor let the glare of gold or silver, upon their armour, dazzle your eyes. It is not by gold or silver, that

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men are either wounded, or defended; though they are rendered a richer prey to the conquerors. Let us boldly attack this disunited rabble We shall find among themselves a reinforcement to our army. The degenerate Britons, who are incorporated into their forces, will through shame of their country's cause deserted by them, quickly leave the Romans, and come over to us. The Gauls, remembering their former liberty, and that it was the Romans who deprived them of it, will forsake their tyrants, and join the assertors of freedom, The Germans, who remain in their army, will follow the example of their countrymen, the Usipii, who so lately deserted. And what will there be then to fear? A few halfgarrisoned forts; a few municipal towns, inhabited by worn out old men; discord universally prevailing, occasioned by tyranny in those who command, and obstinacy in those who should obey On our side, an army united in the cause of their country, their wives, their children, their aged parents, their li berties, their lives. At the head of this army, I hope I do not offend against modesty in saying there is a General ready to exert all his abilities, such as they are, and to hazard his life in leading you to victory and to freedom.

I conclude, my countrymen, and fellow-soldiers, with putting you in mind, that on your behavi our this day depends your future enjoyment of peace and liberty, or your subjection to a tyrannical enemy, with all its grievous consequences. When therefore, you come to engage-think of your ancestors-and think of your posterity.

TACITUS.

THE EARL OF ARUNDEL's SPEECH, PROPOSING AN ACCOMMODATION BETWEEN HENRY II. AND

STEPHEN.

In the midst of a wide and open plain, Henry found Stephen encamped, and pitched his own tents within a quarter of 'a mile of him, preparing for battle with all the eagerness, that the disire of empire and glory could excite in a brave and youthful heart, elate with Access Stephen also muck wished to bring the contest between them to a speedy decision; but while he and Eustace were consulting with Wilteam of Ipres, in whose affection they most confided, and by whose private advice they took all their measures, the Earl of Arundel, having assembled the English nobility, and principal officers, spoke to this effect :

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IT is now above sixteen years, that, on a doubtful and disputed claim to the crown, the rage of civil war has almost continually infested this kingdom. During this melancholy period how much blood has been shed? What devastations and misery have been brought on the people? he laws have lost their force, the crown its authority: licentiousness and impunity have shaken all the foundations of publicsecurity. This great and noble nation has been delivered a prey to the beasest of foreigners, the abomi. nab e scum of Flanders, Brabant and Bretagne, robbers, rather than soldiers, restrained by no laws, divine or human, tied to no country, subject to no prince instruments of all tyranny, violence and op, pressio the same time, our cruel neighbours, the Welsh nd the Scotch, calling themselves allies or auxiliaries to the Empress, but in reality enemies and destroyers of England,have broken their bound, ravaged our orders, and taken from us whole | rovinces, which we can never hope to recover, while