Sing, sing, ye Druids ~ Boudicca's domain

Boadicea and her daughters, Westminster Pier, London, by Thomas Thornycroft, late 19th century

The joined up rivers and fenland around the houseboat were once the domain of Boudicca (30AD ~ 61AD), Queen of the Iceni tribe at the time of the Roman occupation of most of the lower portion of the British Isles. Boudicca was the fierce leader of legend who endeavoured to defend the territory, later to become Norfolk and Suffolk (and surrounding area), from the tyranny of Rome.

A few years before the rebuilding of Wroxham bridge 400 years ago, during the reign of James I, a tragi~comic stage production Bonduca, or the British Heroine was written by John Fletcher. So began a romantic rediscovery of the long story of these islands. Henry Purcell, the masterful composer adapted the play with music in autumn 1695. Sing, sing, ye Druids is a powerful song in Act 3, set at at the temple of the Druids (mystic religious and judicial elders), when the Iceni general Caratach rallies Boudicca's army.

Chris