She was dressed in a gaudy coat, wrought of various colors, with a sort of mantle buttoned over it.

She wore a great gold chain about her neck, and held an ornamented spear in her hand.

Thus equipped, she appeared at the head of an army of a hundred thousand men, and gathering them around her, she ascended a mound of earth and harangued them--that is, as many as could stand within reach of her voice--arousing them to sentiments of revenge against their hated oppressors, and urging them to the highest pitch of determination and courage for the approaching struggle.

Boadicea had reason to deem the Romans her implacable foes.

They had robbed her of her treasures, deprived her of her kingdom, imprisoned her, scourged her, and inflicted the worst possible injuries upon her daughters.