I thought this would be interesting....
Claudia was a British Born!
2 Timothy 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
CHAPTER XIX THE LADY CLAUDIA ^HE Lady Claudia was the first British Chris- 1 tian, if we are to accept the story which the Welsh tell of her; and the story is strongly con- firmed, in part, by the testimony of history and of literature. Claudia was a native of Britain, a famous beauty and social leader at the great world-capital, Rome, a personal friend of Saint Paul. The Christian world may never know how much its early growth in the West was due to the influence which she exerted. The story of Saint Paul, as related in the Bible, stops short with the last verses of the "Acts of the Apostles." He had come to Rome from the remote East, to make an appeal in his own behalf to the emperor. The arrival of such a prisoner, after his famous shipwreck on the island of Malta, must have caused something of a sensation in the imperial city. For two years, at least, he was allowed a great degree of freedom, while waiting for his appeal to be heard. He spent his time in active missionary work. The Bible narrative, in taking leave of him, says: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired i54 THE LADY CLAUDIA 155 house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Later information concerning the illustrious pris- oner may be gleaned from the "Epistles" which he wrote from Rome to various churches and individ- uals. It would seem that all classes of people "came in unto him." There was the runaway slave, Onesi- mus, whom Paul sent back to his master with a letter, known as the "Epistle of Paul to Philemon." Then there was Pudens, a high officer of the impe- rial household. Probably the latter became inter- ested in Paul for political reasons, at first; for the apostle could give the Government information of great value concerning the troublesome provinces of the East. The Lady Claudia was the daughter of a British prince named Cogidubnus, who became much attached to Claudius when the latter was in Britain. This prince added the name Claudius to his own, and gave the same name, in its feminine form, to his daughter. Pudens may have seen some service in Britain, and possibly he became acquainted with Claudia at her father's castle. Pudens and Claudia were married at Rome, and we may judge that the wed- ding was a brilliant social event, from the attention it received at the hands of the Latin poet Martial.
THE LADY CLAUDIA If; This witty writer of epigrams was called upon to celebrate in elegant verse the doings of Roman notables. In Book Eleven of his "Epigrams" that have come down to us, we find that the Fifty- fourth is in honor of the bride. It begins as fol- lows: Our Claudia see, true Roman, though she springs From a long line of painted British kings; Italia* s self might claim so fair a face, And Athens envy her her matchless grace. Another "Epigram" by the same author (the Thirteenth) is contained in Book Four, and relates to the wedding. It runs thus: Claudia, late from abroad, O Rufus, has wedded my Pudens. Let us cry, "Hail, all hail, to thy nuptial torches, O Hymen!" Happily are the nard and the delicate cinnamon mingled; Happily are the Thesean wines with the Massican honey; Nor mere happily are the elms with the grape-vines entangled. Like as the lotus loves the waters, the myrtle the borders, So may immaculate Concord dwell in happy duration! Ever may Venus thus be kind in her choice at a wedding! Time will, indeed, bring age to the hero; but as to the lady, Never to him will she seem to have aged, though an elderly matron. In still another "Epigram" (the First in Book Thirty-three) the same poet playfully refers to the 158 THE STORY OF THE BRITONS hair of Encolpus, a son of Pudens, who is likely to have been the child of Claudia also, and who may have inherited from her the famous brown tresses of British royalty. Pudens and Claudia, becoming acquainted with Saint Paul, were converted to his faith, and became prominent members of the early Christian Church at Rome. Paul, writing to Timothy — who had met with them at Rome, but had gone back to the East — tells him that these friends desire to be remembered. It is at the close of the "Second Epistle to Timothy." Here he says: Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The traditional story of Claudia is that she vis- ited her old home in Britain, and won her father to the new faith; that the latter wrote to Saint Paul, inviting him to visit Britain; and that the great Apostle to the Gentiles wrote an answer to the invitation, and, later, paid a visit to the British prince. This is by no means improbable, though it is not verified by written history. It is certain that Britain became Christianized in part at a very early day. Later, when the country was overrun by the heathen Saxons, and the Chris- tian Britons were driven into Wales, it was neces- sary to convert the country anew, though some churches still remained to tell of the early Chris- tians, THE LADY CLAUDIA 1 59 The father of Claudia was not king of the whole island. In fact, the land of Britain was ruled by a number of chieftains, in different parts, in the time of the Roman dominion; and it is probable that such had been the case in all preceding time, except- ing when, for limited periods, some rulers of supe- rior force may have extended their sway over neighboring tribes.
- From ''The story of the Britons 1903 Hubert M Skinner ''
"Claudia! Rose of the blue-eyed Britons! Capturer of hearts! How is it thou'rt such a Latin person? Such graceful form? It makes believe thou'rt Roman! Thou'rt fit to be Italian or Athenian maid."
- Roman poet Martial
Claudia was a British Born!
2 Timothy 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
CHAPTER XIX THE LADY CLAUDIA ^HE Lady Claudia was the first British Chris- 1 tian, if we are to accept the story which the Welsh tell of her; and the story is strongly con- firmed, in part, by the testimony of history and of literature. Claudia was a native of Britain, a famous beauty and social leader at the great world-capital, Rome, a personal friend of Saint Paul. The Christian world may never know how much its early growth in the West was due to the influence which she exerted. The story of Saint Paul, as related in the Bible, stops short with the last verses of the "Acts of the Apostles." He had come to Rome from the remote East, to make an appeal in his own behalf to the emperor. The arrival of such a prisoner, after his famous shipwreck on the island of Malta, must have caused something of a sensation in the imperial city. For two years, at least, he was allowed a great degree of freedom, while waiting for his appeal to be heard. He spent his time in active missionary work. The Bible narrative, in taking leave of him, says: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired i54 THE LADY CLAUDIA 155 house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Later information concerning the illustrious pris- oner may be gleaned from the "Epistles" which he wrote from Rome to various churches and individ- uals. It would seem that all classes of people "came in unto him." There was the runaway slave, Onesi- mus, whom Paul sent back to his master with a letter, known as the "Epistle of Paul to Philemon." Then there was Pudens, a high officer of the impe- rial household. Probably the latter became inter- ested in Paul for political reasons, at first; for the apostle could give the Government information of great value concerning the troublesome provinces of the East. The Lady Claudia was the daughter of a British prince named Cogidubnus, who became much attached to Claudius when the latter was in Britain. This prince added the name Claudius to his own, and gave the same name, in its feminine form, to his daughter. Pudens may have seen some service in Britain, and possibly he became acquainted with Claudia at her father's castle. Pudens and Claudia were married at Rome, and we may judge that the wed- ding was a brilliant social event, from the attention it received at the hands of the Latin poet Martial.
THE LADY CLAUDIA If; This witty writer of epigrams was called upon to celebrate in elegant verse the doings of Roman notables. In Book Eleven of his "Epigrams" that have come down to us, we find that the Fifty- fourth is in honor of the bride. It begins as fol- lows: Our Claudia see, true Roman, though she springs From a long line of painted British kings; Italia* s self might claim so fair a face, And Athens envy her her matchless grace. Another "Epigram" by the same author (the Thirteenth) is contained in Book Four, and relates to the wedding. It runs thus: Claudia, late from abroad, O Rufus, has wedded my Pudens. Let us cry, "Hail, all hail, to thy nuptial torches, O Hymen!" Happily are the nard and the delicate cinnamon mingled; Happily are the Thesean wines with the Massican honey; Nor mere happily are the elms with the grape-vines entangled. Like as the lotus loves the waters, the myrtle the borders, So may immaculate Concord dwell in happy duration! Ever may Venus thus be kind in her choice at a wedding! Time will, indeed, bring age to the hero; but as to the lady, Never to him will she seem to have aged, though an elderly matron. In still another "Epigram" (the First in Book Thirty-three) the same poet playfully refers to the 158 THE STORY OF THE BRITONS hair of Encolpus, a son of Pudens, who is likely to have been the child of Claudia also, and who may have inherited from her the famous brown tresses of British royalty. Pudens and Claudia, becoming acquainted with Saint Paul, were converted to his faith, and became prominent members of the early Christian Church at Rome. Paul, writing to Timothy — who had met with them at Rome, but had gone back to the East — tells him that these friends desire to be remembered. It is at the close of the "Second Epistle to Timothy." Here he says: Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The traditional story of Claudia is that she vis- ited her old home in Britain, and won her father to the new faith; that the latter wrote to Saint Paul, inviting him to visit Britain; and that the great Apostle to the Gentiles wrote an answer to the invitation, and, later, paid a visit to the British prince. This is by no means improbable, though it is not verified by written history. It is certain that Britain became Christianized in part at a very early day. Later, when the country was overrun by the heathen Saxons, and the Chris- tian Britons were driven into Wales, it was neces- sary to convert the country anew, though some churches still remained to tell of the early Chris- tians, THE LADY CLAUDIA 1 59 The father of Claudia was not king of the whole island. In fact, the land of Britain was ruled by a number of chieftains, in different parts, in the time of the Roman dominion; and it is probable that such had been the case in all preceding time, except- ing when, for limited periods, some rulers of supe- rior force may have extended their sway over neighboring tribes.
- From ''The story of the Britons 1903 Hubert M Skinner ''
"Claudia! Rose of the blue-eyed Britons! Capturer of hearts! How is it thou'rt such a Latin person? Such graceful form? It makes believe thou'rt Roman! Thou'rt fit to be Italian or Athenian maid."
- Roman poet Martial
