Whilest these things were a dooing, it chanced that as one of the
Romane legions named the seuenth, was sent to fetch in corne out of
the countrie adioining (as their custome was) no warre at that time
being suspected, or once looked for, when part of the people remained
abroad in the field, and part repaired to the campe: those that warded
before the campe, informed Cesar, that there appeared a dust greater
than was accustomed from that quarter, into the which the legion was
gone to fetch in corne. Cesar iudging therof what the matter might
meane, commanded those bands that warded to go with him that way
foorth, and appointed other two bands to come into their roomes, and
the residue of his people to get them to armor, and to follow quicklie
after him.
He was not gone anie great way from the campe, when he might sée where
his people were ouermatched by the enimies, and had much a doo to
beare out the brunt: for the legion being thronged together, the
Britains pelted them sore with arrowes and darts on ech side: for
sithens there was no forrage left in anie part of the countrie about,
but onelie in this place, the Britains iudged that the Romans would
come thither for it: therefore hauing lodged themselues within the
woods in ambushes the night before; on the morrowe after when they saw
the Romans dispersed here & there, and busie to cut downe the corne,
they set vpon them on a sudden, and sleaing some few of them, brought
the residue out of order, compassing them about with their horssemen
and charets, so that they were in great distresse.
The maner of fight with these charets was such, that in the beginning
of a battell they would ride about the sides and skirts of the enimies
host, and bestow their darts as they sate in those charets, so that
oftentimes with the braieng of the horsses, and craking noise of the
charet whéeles they disordered their enimies, and after that they had
woond themselues in amongst the troops of horssemen, they would leape
out of the charets and fight on foot. In the meane time those that
guided the charets would withdraw them selues out of the battell,
placing themselues so, that if their people were ouermatched with the
multitude of enimies, they might easilie withdraw to their charets,
and mount vpon the same againe, by meanes wherof they were as readie
to remooue as the horssemen, and as stedfast to stand in the battell
as the footmen, and so to supplie both duties in one. And those
charetmen by exercise and custome were so cunning in their feat, that
although their horsses were put to run and gallop, yet could they stay
them and hold them backe at their pleasures, and turne and wind them
to and fro in a moment, notwithstanding that the place were verie
stéepe and dangerous: and againe they would run vp and downe verie
nimblie vpon the cops, and stand vpon the beame, and conuey themselues
quicklie againe into the charet.
Cesar thus finding his people in great distresse and readie to be
destroied, came in good time, and deliuered them out of that danger:
for the Britains vpon his approch with new succors, gaue ouer to
assaile their enimies any further, & the Romans were deliuered out of
the feare wherein they stood before his comming. Furthermore, Cesar
considering the time serued not to assaile his enimies, kept his
ground, and shortlie after brought backe his legions into the campe.
While these things were thus a dooing, & all the Romans occupied, the
rest that were abroad in the fields got them away. After this there
followed a sore season of raine and fowle weather, which kept the
Romans within their campe, and staid the Britains from offering
battell. But in the meane time they sent messengers abroad into all
parts of the countrie, to giue knowledge of the small number of the
Romans, and what hope there was both of great spoile to be gotten, and
occasion to deliuer themselues from further danger for euer, if they
might once expell the Romans out of their campe. Herevpon a great
multitude both of horssemen and footmen of the Britains were spéedilie
got togither, and approched the Romane campe.
Cesar although he saw that the same would come to passe which had
chanced before, that if the enimies were put to the repulse, they
would easilie escape the danger with swiftnesse of foot; yet hauing
now with him thirtie horssemen (which Comius of Arras had brought ouer
with him, when he was sent from Cesar as an ambassador vnto the
Britains) he placed his legions in order of battell before his campe,
and so comming to ioine with the Britains, they were not able to
susteine the violent impression of the armed men, and so fled. The
Romans pursued them so farre as they were able to ouertake anie of
them, and so slaieng manie of them, & burning vp all their houses all
about, came backe againe to their campe. Immediatlie wherevpon, euen
the same day, they sent ambassadors to Cesar to sue for peace, who
gladlie accepting their offer, commanded them to send ouer into
Gallia, after he should be returned thither, hostages in number duble
to those that were agréed vpon at the first. After that these things
were thus ordered, Cesar because the moneth of September was
well-neare halfe spent, and that winter hasted on (a season not méet
for his weake and bruised ships to brooke the seas) determined not to
staie anie longer, but hauing wind and weather for his purpose, got
himselfe aboord with his people, and returned into Gallia.
[Sidenote: _Cæsar de bello Gallico. lib._ 4.]
¶ Thus writeth Cesar touching his first iournie made into Britaine.
But the British historie (which Polydor calleth the new historie)
declareth that Cesar in a pitcht field was vanquished at the first
encounter, and so withdrew backe into France. Beda also writeth, that
Cesar comming into the countrie of Gallia, where the people then
called Morini inhabited (which are at this day the same that inhabit
the diocesse of Terwine) from whence lieth the shortest passage ouer
into Britaine, now called England, got togither 80 saile of great
ships and row gallies, wherewith he passed ouer into Britaine, & there
at the first being wearied with sharpe and sore fight, and after taken
with a grieuous tempest, he lost the greater part of his nauie, with
no small number of his souldiers, and almost all his horssemen: and
therwith being returned into Gallia, placed his souldiers in stéeds to
soiourne there for the winter season. Thus saith Bede. The British
historie moreouer maketh mention of thrée vnder-kings that aided
Cassibellane in this first battell fought with Cesar, as Cridiorus
alias Ederus, king of Albania, now called Scotland: Guitethus king of
Venedocia, that is Northwales: and Britaell king of Demetia, at this
day called Southwales.
The same historie also maketh mention of one Belinus that was generall
of Cassibellanes armie, and likewise of Nenius brother to
Cassibellane, who in fight happened to get Cesars swoord fastened in
his shield by a blow which Cesar stroke at him. Androgeus also and
Tenancius were at the battell in aid of Cassibellane. But Nenius died
within 15 daies after the battell of the hurt receiued at Cesars hand,
although after he was so hurt, he slue Labienus one of the Romane
tribunes: all which may well be true, sith Cesar either maketh the
best of things for his owne honour, or else coueting to write but
commentaries, maketh no account to declare the néedeles circumstances,
or anie more of the matter, than the chiefe points of his dealing.
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
Againe, the Scotish historiographers write, that when it was first
knowne to the Britains, that Cesar would inuade them, there came from
Cassibellane king of Britaine an ambassador vnto Ederus king of Scots,
who in the name of king Cassibellane required aid against the common
enimies the Romains, which request was granted, and 10 thousand Scots
sent to the aid of Cassibellane. At their comming to London, they were
most ioifullie receiued of Cassibellane, who at the same time had
knowledge that the Romans were come on land, and had beaten such
Britains backe as were appointed to resist their landing. Wherevpon
Cassibellane with all his whole puissance mightilie augmented, not
onlie with the succours of the Scots, but also of the Picts (which in
that common cause had sent also of their people to aid the Britains)
set forward towards the place where he vnderstood the enimies to be.
At their first approch togither, Cassibellane sent foorth his
horssemen and charets called _Esseda_, by the which he thought to
disorder the araie of the enimies. Twice they incountred togither with
doubtfull victorie. At length they ioined puissance against puissance,
and fought a verie sore and cruell battell, till finally at the sudden
comming of the Welshmen and Cornishmen, so huge a noise was raised by
the sound of bels hanging at their trappers and charets, that the
Romans astonied therewith, were more easilie put to flight. The
Britains, Scots, and Picts following the chase without order or araie,
so that by reason the Romans kept themselues close togither, the
Britains, Scots, & Picts did scarse so much harme to the enimies as
they themselues receiued. But yet they followed on still vpon the
Romans till it was darke night.
Cesar after he had perceiued them once withdrawne, did what he could
to assemble his companies togither, minding the next morning to séeke
his reuenge of the former daies disaduantage. But forsomuch as
knowledge was giuen him that his ships (by reason of a sore tempest)
were so beaten and rent, that manie of them were past seruice, he
doubted least such newes would incourage his enimies, and bring his
people into despaire. Wherfore he determined not to fight till time
more conuenient, sending all his wounded folks vnto the ships, which
he commanded to be newlie rigged and trimmed. After this, kéeping his
armie for a time within the place where he was incamped without
issuing foorth, he shortlie drew to the sea side, where his ships laie
at anchor, and there within a strong place fortified for the purpose
he lodged his host, and finallie without hope to atchieue anie other
exploit auaileable for that time, he tooke the sea with such ships as
were apt for sailing, and so repassed into Gallia, leauing behind him
all the spoile and baggage for want of vessels and leisure to conueie
it ouer. ¶ Thus haue the Scots in their chronicles framed the matter,
more to the conformitie of the Romane histories, than according to the
report of our British and English writers: and therefore we haue
thought good to shew it héere, that the diuersitie of writers and
their affections may the better appéere.
Of this sudden departing also, or rather fléeing of Iulius Cesar out
of Britaine, Lucanus the poet maketh mention, reciting the saieng of
Pompeius in an oration made by him vnto his souldiers, wherin he
reprochfullie and disdainfullie reprooued the dooings of Cesar in
Britaine, saieng:
Territa quæsitis ostendit terga Britannis.
* * * * *
_Cæsar taketh a new occasion to make warre against the Britains, he
arriueth on the coast without resistance, the number of his ships,
both armies incounter, why Cæsar forbad the Romans to pursue the
discomfited Britains, he repaireth his nauie, the Britains choose
Cassibellane their cheefe gouernour, and skirmish afresh with their
enimies, but haue the repulse in the end._