Beric the Briton

Beric the Briton

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Title: Beric the Briton A Story of the Roman Invasion
Author: G. A. Henty
Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7037] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 26,
2003]
Edition: 10

Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERIC THE
BRITON ***

This eBook was produced by Martin Robb

Beric the Briton A Story of the Roman Invasion by G. A. Henty
PREFACE.
MY DEAR LADS,
My series of stories dealing with the wars of England would be
altogether incomplete did it not include the period when the Romans
were the masters of the country. The valour with which the natives of
this island defended themselves was acknowledged by the Roman
historians, and it was only the superior discipline of the invaders that
enabled them finally to triumph over the bravery and the superior
physical strength of the Britons. The Roman conquest for the time was
undoubtedly of immense advantage to the people--who had previously
wasted their energies in perpetual tribal wars-- as it introduced among
them the civilization of Rome. In the end, however, it proved disastrous
to the islanders, who lost all their military virtues. Having been
defended from the savages of the north by the soldiers of Rome, the
Britons were, when the legions were recalled, unable to offer any
effectual resistance to the Saxons, who, coming under the guise of
friendship, speedily became their masters, imposing a yoke infinitely
more burdensome than that of Rome, and erasing almost every sign of
the civilization that had been engrafted upon them. How far the British
population disappeared under the subsequent invasion and the still
more oppressive yoke of the Danes is uncertain; but as the invaders
would naturally desire to retain the people to cultivate the land for them,
it is probable that the great mass of the Britons were not exterminated.
It is at any rate pleasant to believe that with the Saxon, Danish, and
Norman blood in our veins, there is still a large admixture of that of the
valiant warriors who fought so bravely against Caesar, and who rose

under Boadicea in a desperate effort to shake off the oppressive rule of
Rome.
Yours truly,
G. A. Henty

CHAPTER I
: A HOSTAGE
"It is a fair sight."
"It may be a fair sight in a Roman's eyes, Beric, but nought could be
fouler to those of a Briton. To me every one of those blocks of brick
and stone weighs down and helps to hold in bondage this land of ours;
while that temple they have dared to rear to their gods, in celebration of
their having conquered Britain, is an insult and a lie. We are not
conquered yet, as they will some day know to their cost. We are silent,
we wait, but we do not admit that we are conquered."
"I agree with you there. We have never fairly tried our strength against
them. These wretched divisions have always prevented our making an
effort to gather; Cassivelaunus and some of the Kentish tribes alone
opposed them at their first landing, and he was betrayed and abandoned
by the tribes on the north of the Thames. It has been the same thing
ever since. We fight piecemeal; and while the Romans hurl their whole
strength against one tribe the others look on with folded hands. Who
aided the Trinobantes when the Romans defeated them and established
themselves on that hill? No one. They will eat Britain up bit by bit."
"Then you like them no better for having lived among them, Beric?"
"I like them more, but I fear them more. One cannot be four years
among them, as I was, without seeing that in many respects