Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)Holinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 55 B.C.
In all this maner of skirmishing and fight which chanced before the
campe, euen in the sight and view of all men, it was perceiued that
[Sidenote: The Romans heauie armor.]
the Romans, by reason of their heauie armour (being not able
either to follow the Britains as they retired, or so bold as to depart
from their ensignes, except they would runne into danger of casting
themselues awaie) were nothing méete to match with such kind of
enimies: and as for their horssemen, they fought likewise in great
hazard, bicause the Britains would oftentimes of purpose retire, and
when they had trained the Romane horssemen a litle from their legions
of footmen, they would leape out of their charrets and incounter with
them on foot. And so the battell of horssemen was dangerous, and like
in all points whether they pursued or retired.
[Sidenote: The manner of Britains in the warres.]
This also was the maner of the Britains: they fought not close
togither, but in sunder, and diuided into companies one separated from
another by a good distance, and had their the troopes standing in
places conuenient, to the which they might retire, and so reléeue one
another with sending new fresh men to supplie the roomes of them that
were hurt or wearie. The next day after they had thus fought before
the campe of the Romans, they shewed themselues aloft on the hills,
and began to skirmish with the Romane horssemen, but not so hotlie as
they had doone the day before. But about noone, when Cesar had sent
foorth thrée legions of footemen and all his horssemen vnder the
[Sidenote: Caius Trebonius.]
leading of his lieutenant Caius Trebonius to fetch in forrage,
they suddenlie brake out on euerie side, and vpon the forragers. The
[Sidenote: _Dion Cassius_ saith, that the Britains vanquished
the Roman footmen at this time, but were put to the worst by the
horssemen.]
Romans so far foorth as they might, not breaking their arraie, nor
going from their ensignes or guidons, gaue the charge on them, and
fiercelie repelled them, so that the horssemen hauing the legions of
footemen at their backs, followed the Britains so long as they might
haue the said legions in sight readie to succour them of néed were: by
reason whereof, they slue a great number of the Britains, not giuing
them leasure to recouer themselues, nor to staie that they might haue
time to get out of their charrets. After this chase and discomfiture,
all such as were come from other parties to the aid of their fellowes
departed home, & after that day the Britains aduentured to fight
against Cesar with their maine power; and withdrawing beyond the riuer
[Sidenote: *(which is to be supposed was at Kingston) or not far from
thence.]
of *Thames, determined to stop the enimies from passing the same, if
by anie meanes they might: and whereas there was but one foord by the
which they might come ouer, Cassibellane caused the same to be set
full of sharpe stakes, not onlie in the middest of the water, but also
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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