Britain was almost the only province of the Empire where Rome died into a vague tradition of the past.

The whole organization of government and society disappeared with the people who used it.

Roman roads indeed still led to desolate cities.
Roman camps still crowned hill and down.

The old divisions of the land remained to furnish bounds of field and farm for the new settlers.

The Roman church, the Roman country-house, was left standing, though reft of priest and lord.