A Metrical History of England :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Metrical History of England

Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin

Dibdin, Thomas (1771-1841)

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Such were our ancestors, or such I've sung 'em,
Till Veni, Vidi, Vici, came among 'em.
No Nelson on the well-defended main
Was there, to beat the Roman back again;

No Abercrombie—but—the countless names
Of heroes, who'd have wrapt their fleet in flames,
O'erpower the Muse: Ah! had the least of those
Been placed between Britannia and her foes;
Cæsar had prov'd a baffled, beaten, fool,
Had fled with foul dishonour from our shore;
Nor had I, and some thousand dunces more,
Been, through his Commentaries, whipt at school.

England, including Wales, was. at the invasion of the Romans, divided into the following seventeen states:

CALLED BY THE ROMANS, 1 The Danmonii; now, the counties of Cornwall and Devon. 2 Durotriges; Dorsetshire. 3 Belgæ; Somerset, Wilts, part of Hants. 4 Attrebatii; Berks. 5 Regni; Surrey, Sussex, and remaining part of Hants. 6 Cantii; Kent. 7 Dobuni; Gloucester and Oxon. 8 Cattieuchlani; Bucks, Bedford, and Herts. 9 Trinobantes; Essex, and Middlesex. 10 Iceni; Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon, and Cambridge. 11 Coritani; Northampton, Leicester, Rutland, Lincoln, Nottingham. and Derby. 12 Cornavi; Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, Chester, and Shropshire. 13 The Silures; Radnor, Brecon, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Hereford. 14 Demetœ; Pembroke, Cardigan, Caermarthen. 15 Ordovices; Montgomery, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Flint, and Denbigh. 16 The Brigantes; York, Durham, Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. 17 Ottadini; Northumberland to the Tweed.