Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (2)Belgae
Divitiacus
Romans
Vespasian
Plautius
In the Time of the Britains this County was part of the Country inhabited by the Belgae, a People of Germany, who having passed over the Rhine, and possessed themselves of part of Gaul, sailed over into Britain to plunder and ravage the Inhabitants there; but finding their Lands pleasant and fruitful, expelled the Britains, and settled themselves there. It is not certain when these People came into this Island, but 'tis most probable it was, when Divitiacus, King of the Suessones, who flourished before Caesar made any attempt upon it, reigned; for he had the Government not only of great part of Gaul, but Britain. These People, possessed not only this County, but Somersetshire and Wiltshire, or at least the greatest Part of them.
Under the Romans this County is thought to be the first that submitted to them, for our Histories relate, thnt (sic) it was conquered by Vespasian; for Dio tells us, that Plautius and Vespasian were sent by the Emperor Claudius against the Britains; and Suetonius adds, that Vespasian in that Expedition engaged the Enemy thirty Times, and was in one of them so closely besieged by the Britains, that had not his Son Titus rescued him from eminent Danger, he had been lost; but at length he brought under the Roman Yoke, the Isle of Wight, and two other valiant People, of which the Belgae are most likely to be one, because their Country lies nearest and just opposite to it.
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