Cesar perceiuing this, commanded the gallies to depart from
the great ships, and to row hard to the shore, that being placed ouer
against the open sides of the Britains, they might with their shot
of arrows, darts, and slings, remoue the Britains, and cause them to
withdraw further off from the water side.
[Sidenote: The Britans astonied.]
This thing being put in execution (according to his commandement)
the Britains were not a little astonied at the strange sight of those
gallies, for that they were driuen with ores, which earst they had not
seene, and shrewdlie were they galled also with the artillerie which
the Romans discharged vpon them, so that they began to shrinke and
[Sidenote: The valiant courage of an ensigne bearer.]
retire somewhat backe. Herewith one that bare the ensigne of the
legion surnamed Decima, wherein the eagle was figured, as in that
which was the chiefe ensigne of the legion, when he saw his fellowes
nothing eager to make forward, first beseeching the gods that his
enterprise might turne to the weale, profit, and honor of the legion,
he spake with a lowd voice these words to his fellowes that were about
him; "Leape forth now euen you woorthie souldiers (saith he) if you
will not betraie your ensigne to the enimies: for surelie I will
acquit my selfe according to my duetie both towards the common wealth,
and my generall:" and therewith leaping forth into the water, he
marched with his ensigne streight vpon the enimies.
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