the faith receiued here in Britaine, where he writing of these times
saith: Those places of the Britains, to the which the Romans could
not approch, were subiect vnto Christ, as were also the countries
of Sarmatia, Dacia, Germania, Scithia, and others. ¶ Thus it maie
appeare, that the christian religion was planted here in this land
shortlie after Christes time, although it certeinlie appeareth not who
were the first that preached the gospell to the Britains, nor whether
they were Gréeks or Latins.

Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Romane emperours in this season
[Sidenote: Treasurers or receiuers.]
gouerned this land by lieutenants and treasurers, the which were
called by the name of legats and procurators, thereby to kéepe the
vnrulie inhabitants the better in order.

[Sidenote: Aulus Plautius.]
And Aulus Plautius a noble man of Rome of the order of consuls, was
[Sidenote: Ostorius Scapula.]
sent hither as the first legat or lieutenant (in maner as before ye
haue heard) & after him Ostorius Scapula, who at his comming found the
Ile in trouble, the enimies hauing made inuasion into the countrie of
those that were friends to the Romans, the more presumptuouslie,
[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus lib. 12_.]
for that they thought a new lieutenant, with an armie to him
vnacquainted and come ouer now in the beginning of winter, would not
be hastie to march foorth against them. But Ostorius vnderstanding
that by the first successe and chance of warre, feare or hope is bred
and augmented, hasted forward to encounter with them, and such as he
found abroad in the countrie he slue out right on euerie side, and
pursued such as fled, to the end they should not come togither againe.