I can feel dark times ahead. The festival of Samhain has passed and along with our usual memories of the dead we have mourned the death of King Prasutagus. He was a good king, with good intentions but I doubt that his good intentions are matched by those of our Roman “friends”. Queen Boudicca will continue as our ruler but there can’t be anything but trouble when she comes up against Romans attitudes. They don’t like women to lead. It's said that King Prasutagus has left half of his fortune to the Emperor Nero in the hope that Boudicca can remain in his place, but the rumours are that it won’t be enough for the Romans and they’ll take it all. Boudicca is a formidable woman, I've seen her myself, tall as the tallest man and with an honourable nature that fills those around her with pride. Council will shortly be held and it feels like the whole tribe is holding its breath. My estates like those of my brothers are handed down from my ancestors, they are my fate. The very thought of the Romans deciding which share they’re going to take of it fills me with feelings of dread that I just can’t shake.

The Romans are on the move again. Paulinus Suetonius has taken many forces from our area and headed to the north west. Some say their goal is the Isle of Mona (modern day Anglesey)and that they are going to face the Druid priests. We all know that those who run from Rome head to the shelter of the Druids. so it could be true… But I have little time to give them more than a passing thought because life has got so bad for us. Centurions with a band of troops and old soldiers laid waste to the house of Boudicca. They have just destroyed the home and taken whatever they wanted. Boudicca was bound and beaten in public while her two daughters were raped. How can they bear that shame? How can we bear the shame of a queen who has been subjugated like this? A lesson to us all from Rome. But I have heard rumours of unrest stirring. Apparently Boudicca is travelling around tribe in secret holding council with local chiefs.

A legionary approached my farm today and declared across the fence that my lands now belonged to Rome and would be given to a retiring soldier. I opened my mouth to reply but he simply turned on his horse and headed off to the next farm where I gather he delivered the same news. What makes these people think they can act like that? All of the farmers are going to meet in secret tomorrow. Maybe Boudicca will be with us.

(later addition)
She is the strongest woman I have met. I am fully prepared to follow her Come Imbolc, the festival of the spring, we will march on the Romans.

An amazing day. The centurion came back today with an old soldier to look at my farm. They simply ignored my protest and debated which of my children would make good slaves right in front of me, as if I was not there! As they left I was a rage of despair, I felt so powerless. Then - great commotion. A band of our brave warriors attacked them at the end of the track and viciously killed them both in an instant. They deserved not better and when their leader came to the house and demanded my support I gave it without a second thought. We head to the Roman colony of Camulodunum (Colchester) today. Boudicca will be there with gathering forces. The Iceni will march and the Romans will get a chance to see how great their mistake has been!

The festival of Ostara approaches and it’s going to be a bloody summer! The fighting was so bitter in Camulodunum every trace of Roman life was destroyed by our war band. There was no mercy for those who have showed us no mercy. Even I have become skilful with the spear. I can’t count the number of women, men, horses I’ve killed now and I am glad that they are suffering at our hands. I’ve never seen so many warriors together as I do now. Our attack and victory has sealed our fate. If we fail we die. But if we win….if we win we will be free! Our lands free of Romans our children free of slavery, ourselves free of shame again. Camulodunum has been set on fire and it burns at our backs now that we are headed south to Londinium. Boudicca raced by me in her chariot this morning shouting her horses on, a bronze head of the Roman Claudius strapped across the axles. A massive cheer went up as she passed and I instantly felt alive again after all the trudging. Women and men are fired up just by a glimpse of her! Without Boudicca we would still be raging under despair and injustice.

Our numbers have swelled! We've been joined by the Trinovantes people. After our success I, like many, have sent word for my family to join me on the march.

These last two days we have wreaked havoc! We’re unstoppable! The Romans sent their IX Legion against us and we destroyed their foot soldiers as the cavalry turned tail like the cowards they are and ran away. I killed a Roman soldier. He looked scared and much younger than me. Had things been different I might have felt pity for him but I don’t have time for pitying a people who’s fate has come! I now have a legionary helmet as a prize, which I wore proudly as we sacked the port of Londinium. Boudicca gathered her leaders last night and the word is that we must now move north-west to meet the Roman counter attack which must surely come. Rumour has it that the legions in the north destroyed the Druids of Mona and now they come back for us. Some are uneasy, but no one can think about defeat when fate grants us every success! We’re going to be rich on the fruits of our freedom. Tomorrow we march north!

The Roman town of Verulamium stood in our path and all within it were killed or ran. New fighters are joining us all the time, which is a welcome relief, as I’m starting to get tired. And I’m not the only one. Some of us have been on the move, fighting, camping, facing every day the threat of death, early March. Thank the gods that my family has no joined me on the march to the north-west. When they arrived I couldn’t believe it was them, it has been so long away from them. And I suppose I must have changed. They certainly say I'm a different man and they didn't even recognise me when I ran up to them.

The battle to end all battles is coming. We all smell of the smoke from a thousand fires, hundreds of burning farms. Sometimes, at night I wonder if we will pay for the violence. But what's done is done. There is no going back and we always knew we were fighting for our lives.

More families have joined us and their being here has made the march feel more like a holiday as our families have tended our needs and fresh men have joined our war band.

Outriders have reported the Romans encamped around their fort at Mancetter (east of modern day Birmingham). Tomorrow we advance to the fields. Some of our have fled home after seeing the gathered Roman legions of the XIV and XX, but we heavily outnumber them with some 100,000 swords and news has reached us that the II Legion refuses to move from its home in the south west. The Roman leader Suetonius will lead his men to slaughter.

I can’t believe it’s all over, that our long march, our victories, our slaughter have come to this.

This morning Boudicca whipped us into a frenzy from her chariot with impassioned and powerful words. She reminded us that we were fighting as free men, for lives free from Roman slavery. There is nothing in between. We stepped forward into the valley with gritted teeth and bared weapons, our hearts beating hard as if we were being punched in the chests. Behind us our peoples drew up to the high ground to watch our victory.

The Romans withheld their troops until we were nearly upon them and then they unleashed their javelins. Hundreds of us fell, but under the warblindness we charged on. It was horrific. The battlefield turned into a confused nightmare. The Romans enveloped us in tight formation as they advanced on us. They were like a plough turning over the hopes of our freedom. As the wind of our fortune changed direction some began to run and were ruthlessly hunted down by their cavalry. As we pulled back towards our folk on the high ground the Romans released their reserves and began the massacre. It was only by chance I found my family in the turmoil and confusion.

Shouts have gone out that Boudicca has fallen, killed by her own hand rather than succumb to the Romans butchers. We fled to the east leaving tens of thousands dead and dying. I have no idea what we are returning to. My farm, my lands, must be lost but at least we have our lives. I did think about killing myself. as Boudicca did. She is – she was - our leader and she set us an example even in dying. But I can’t leave my family alone in this wretched country. I see no other option than to discard my weapons and helmet in a river and assume the posture of the broken slave, me and my family. If we are going to survive then it will have to be as slaves. But where will we live? What will do? Who will take us in and how can we live under someone complete control when we have been free men of the Iceni?

We have lost everything. But Rome’s province of Britain remains.