Old England: A Pictorial Museum (page 13/52)

81.—Captive wearing the Torque.

“Torques, or gold and bronze necklaces composed of flexible bars, were peculiar to the people of this country.” (p. 22) [more...] [$]

82.—Roman General, Standard Bearers, etc.

Here are some Roman soldiers in suitable effeminate poses as they reach the shore by crossing a bridge supported by their boats. [more...] [$]

83.—Julias Cæsar. From a Copper Coin in the British Museum.

In the latter part of the summer of the year 55 B. C. (Halley, the astronomer, has gone far to prove that the exact day was the 26th of August), a Roman fleet crossed the Channel, bearing the infantry of two legions, about ten thousand men. This army was collected at the Portus Itius (Witsand), between Calais and Boulogne. Eighty galleys (Fig. 86) bore [...] [more...] [$]

84.—Julias Cæsar.

The laurelled conqueror (Figs. 83, 84)

Julias Cæsar (Caesar, Cesar), the Roman Emperor. [$]

85.—Roman Eagle.

The cavalry and the war-chariots of the active Britons met the invader on the beach; and whilst the soldiers hesitated to leave the ships, the standard-bearer of the tenth legion leaped into the water, exclaiming, as Cæsar has recorded, “Follow me, my fellow-soldiers, unless you will give up your eagle to the enemy! I, at least, will do my duty to [...] [more...] [$]

86.—Prow of a Roman Galley.

“In the latter part of the summer of the year 55 B. C. (Halley, the astronomer, has gone far to prove that the exact day was the 26th of August), a Roman fleet crossed the Channel, bearing the infantry of two legions, about ten thousand men. This army was collected at the Portus Itius (Witsand), between Calais and Boulogne. Eighty galleys (Fig. 86) bore the invaders across the narrow seas. As they neared the white cliffs, which frowned upon their enterprise (Figs. 87, 88, 90), Cæsar beheld them covered with armed natives, ready to dispute his landing. The laurelled conqueror (Figs. 83, 84), who, according to Suetonius, only experienced three reverses during nine years’ command in Gaul, would not risk the Roman discipline against the British courage, on a coast thus girt with natural defences.” (p. 26)

Here we see the front of a boat (the prow of a ship), carved complete with a lizard or dragon at water-height. It is a galley, with a single row of oars. We cannot see the rowers: [more...] [$]

87.—Country near Dover.

“In the latter part of the summer of the year 55 B. C. (Halley, the astronomer, has gone far to prove that the exact day was the 26th of August), a Roman fleet crossed the Channel, bearing the infantry of two legions, about ten thousand men. This army was collected at the Portus Itius (Witsand), between Calais and Boulogne. Eighty galleys (Fig. 86) [...] [more...] [$]

88.—Dover Cliffs.

The white cliffs of dover, complete with fishing boats. The plate is signed “SIBLY” but that could be the original artist or the engraver (or both). [more...] [$]