Boadicea was the queen of the Iken and other British tribes.
She led a rebellion against the Roman occupiers in Britain in 60 and 61 during the reign of Emperor Nero, in which 70,000 Romans were killed. However, the rebellion was still crushed, and Boadicea committed suicide.
The author compares the greats of the church's past with stars. The message he wants to convey with this collection of examples of saints and church fathers is useful and current.