Sith that the Gods haue giuen vs all the West, As subiects to our _Romayne_ Empire hie, By warre, or as it seemed _Ioue_ the best, Of whom wee _Romaynes_ came, and chiefly I: Therefore to you which in the _Ocean_ dwell, (As yet not vnderneath subiection due) Wee send our letters greeting: wete yee well In warlike cases thus wee deale with you, First, that you, as the other regions, pay Vs tribute yearely, _Romaynes_ wee require: Then, that you will with all the force you may Withstand our foes as yours, with sword and fire: And thirdly, that by these you hostage[710] send T’assure the couenaunts once agreed by you: So with your daunger lesse our warres may end Else bid wee warre. _Cassibellane_ adieu. CÆSAR. 15. No sooner were these[711] _Cæsar’s_ letters seene, But straight the King for all his nobles sent, Hee shewde them what their auncestours had beene, And prayde them tell in this their whole intent: Hee told them whereabout the _Romaynes_ went, And what subiection was, how seruile they Should bee if _Cæsar_ bare their pompe away. 16. And all the _Britaynes_ euen as set on fire, (My selfe not least enflamed was to fight) Did humbly him in ioyfull wise desire,[712] That hee his letters would to _Cæsar_ write, And tell him playne wee past not of his spite: Wee past as litle of the _Romaynes_, wee, And lesse then they of vs, if lesse might bee. 17. Wherefore the ioyfull King agayne replide, Through counsaile wise of all the nobles had: By letters hee the _Romaynes_ hests denide, Which made the _Britaynes_ hauty harts full glad: And eke the _Romayne_ Consull proude as mad[713] To heare these letters written: thus they went, Which hee agayne to mighty _Cæsar_ sent. CASSIBELLANE King of Britayne to C. Iulius Cæsar Consull of Rome.