tons gaunacum, the origin, as some suppose, of the modern term gown.

A thick wood, surrounded with a ditch and rampire of earth, constituted a British town, within which they built huts, or cottages, for themselves, and stalls for their cattle. The walls of the former consisted of hurdles, plastered over with mud, and the roof was thatched with reeds or straw.

The boats of the Britons were of a very slight construction: the keels and ribs were made of some light wood, covered over with leather. In these, and similar vessels, they would venture out to sea, and even undertake the rough and boisterous passage to Ireland. As they took no provision with them, but fasted all the time they were out, it is evident they could not hazard any long voyages.

The Phoenicians and Greeks traded with them; and in return for their tin and lead, brought earthen pots, brazen ware, &c. They had no coined money, but used pieces of brass and iron tallies, of a certain weight.

The arms of the Britons consisted of a dart, or javelin, which they threw from their war chariots, and a short spear used by those who fought on foot; the latter had a bell at its lower end, which was shaken with great violence at the onset of the battle, to intimidate the enemy. Besides these, they also used large swords, and small bucklers. But their greatest peculiarity lay in their war chariots, which, however, were not universal in Britain; certain tribes, or clans, only using them. Some of these were armed with hooks and scythes, set into the extremities of the axletrees; and when driven furiously among the enemy, they frequently broke their ranks; though by an expert manœuvre of opening the ranks suddenly as they approached, they were sometimes allowed to pass into the rear, and in such cases the drivers were generally cap

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tured or slain. Yet this was not very common; for, by constant practice, they were so expert in the management of these chariots, that they could stop their horses when at full speed down a steep hill, or check and turn them in the narrowest compass. The chieftain managed the reins, while his dependents fought from the chariots, discharging his darts as he drove along, running along the pole to assail an adversary, and returning to his place with incredible celerity.

Such were the Britons, when the Romans first invaded Britain, who, notwithstanding their renown for military exploits, their knowledge of the art of war, and the superiority of their weapons and means of defence, found in these rude islanders no despicable foe; many battles were fought, and much treachery was resorted to, before they could obtain the

mastery. During the four hundred and fifty years that the Romans kept them in subjection, the Britons, in learning the arts of civilization became so enervated, that, when left to themselves, they could not withstand the fierce attacks of their northern neighbours: the Romans had abandoned them and those very people, whom their forefathers had bravely opposed, they entreated to return for their defence. The affairs of the Romans would not admit of this; and the Britons, in despair, invited over the Saxons from Germany. The Saxons came; they quickly made the northern tribes retire within their own borders; and now the Britons expected to live at ease. But they soon found themselves despised and oppressed by their new friends as much as they could have been by their former enemies. The Saxons resolved to have the country for