The diligence of the souldiers was shewed
heere to be great, who with continuall toile droue foorth the heauie
ships, to keepe course with the gallies, & so at length they landed in
Britaine about noone on the next day, finding not one to resist his
comming ashore: for as he learned by certeine prisoners which were
taken after his comming to land, the Britains being assembled in
purpose to haue resisted him, through feare striken into their harts,
at the discouering of such an huge number of ships, they forsooke the
shore and got them vnto the mountaines. There were in deed of vessels
one and other, what with vittellers, & those which priuat men had
prouided and furnished foorth for their owne vse, being ioined to the
ordinarie number, at the least eight hundred saile, which appeering in
sight all at one time, made a wonderfull muster, and right terrible in
the eies of the Britains.
But to proceed: Cesar being got to land, incamped his armie in a place
conuenient: and after learning by the prisoners, into what part the
enimies were withdrawne, he appointed one Quintus Atrius to remaine
vpon the safegard of the nauie, with ten companies or cohorts of
footmen, and three hundred horssemen: and anon after midnight marched
foorth himselfe with the residue of his people toward the Britains,
and hauing made 12 miles of way, he got sight of his enimies host,
who sending downe their horssemen and charets vnto the riuer side,
skirmished with the Romans, meaning to beate them backe from the
higher ground: but being assailed of the Romane horssemen, they were
repelled, & tooke the woods for their refuge, wherein they had got a
place verie strong, both by nature and helpe of hand, which (as was to
be thought) had beene fortified before, in time of some ciuill warre
amongst them: for all the entries were closed with trees which had
beene cut downe for that purpose.
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