4.  The commencement of his reign, however, as had been the case with all the bad emperors, gave the most promising hopes.  It began by an act of oblivion for all former words and actions, and by disannulling all the cruel edicts of Calig’ula. 5.  He showed himself more moderate than his predecessors with regard to titles and honours.  He forbade all persons, under severe penalties, to sacrifice to him, as they had done to Calig’ula.  He was assiduous in hearing and examining complaints; and frequently administered justice in person with great mildness.  To his solicitude for the internal advantages of the state, he added that of a watchful guardianship over the provinces.  He restored Jude’a to Her’od Agrip’pa,[22] which Calig’ula had taken from Her’od Antipas, his uncle, the man who had put John the Baptist to death, and who was banished by order of the present emperor.[23]

[Illustration:  Triumph of Claudius.]

6.  He even undertook to gratify the people by foreign conquest.  The Britons, who had for nearly a hundred years been left in quiet possession of their own island, began to seek the mediation of Rome, to quell their intestine commotions. 7.  The principal man who desired to subject his native country to the Roman dominion, was one Ber’icus, who persuaded the emperor to make a descent upon the island, magnifying the advantages that would attend the conquest of it. 8.  In pursuance of his advice, therefore, Plau’tius, the praetor, was ordered to go into Gaul, and make preparations for this great expedition.  At first, indeed, his soldiers seemed backward to embark, declaring that they were unwilling to make war beyond the limits of the world; for so they judged Britain to be.  However, they were at last persuaded to go, and the Britons were several times overthrown.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 46.]

9.  These successes soon after induced Claud’ius to go into Britain in person, under pretence that the natives were still seditious, and had not delivered up some Roman fugitives, who had taken shelter among them. 10.  However, this exhibition seemed rather calculated for show than service:  the time he continued in Britain, which was in all but sixteen days, was more taken up in receiving homage than extending his conquests. 11.  Great rejoicings were made upon his return to Rome:  the senate decreed him a splendid triumph; triumphal arches were erected to his honour, and annual games instituted to commemorate his victories. 12.  In the mean time the war was vigorously prosecuted by Plau’tius, and his lieutenant Vespasian, who, according to Sueto’nius, fought thirty battles, and reduced a part of the island into the form of a Roman province.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 51]