As thou, O _Cæsar_, writste the Gods haue geuen to thee The west: so I replye, they gaue this Island[714] mee. Thou sayst you _Romaynes_ and thy selfe of Gods discend, And darst thou then to spoile our _Troian_ bloud pretend? Againe, though Gods haue giu’n thee all the world as thine, That’s parted from the world, thou getst no land of mine. And sith likewise of Gods wee came a Nation free, Wee owe no tribute, ayde, or pledge to _Rome_, or thee: Retracte thy will, or wage thy warre, as likes thee best: Wee are to fight, and rather then to frendship, prest. To saue our Countrye from the force of foraine strife, Eche _Britayne_ here is well content to venter life. Wee feare not of the end or daungers thou doest tell, But vse thy pleasure if thou maist, thus fare thou well. CASSIBELLANE. 18. When _Cæsar_ had receau’d his aunswere so, It vext him much hee thereupon decreede[715] To wage vs warre, and worke vs _Britaynes_ woe: Wherefore[716] hee hasted hitherwarde with speede. Wee _Britaynes_ eke preparde our selues[717] with heede To meete the _Romaynes_, all in warlike guise, With all the force, and speede wee[718] might deuise. 19. And here the wiser deemde[719] it meeter much T’assayle them first[720] at th’entry on this land, Then for to giue aryuall here[721] to such, Might with our victualls ayde[722] our selues withstand: ’Tis better far thy enmy to aband[723] Quite from thy borders, to a forayne[724] soyle, Then hee at home thee and thy Countrye spoile. 20. Wherefore wee met him at his entry in, And pitche our camps directly in his way: Wee minded sure to leese, or else to winne The praise, before wee past from thence away: So when that both the armies were in ray, And trumpets blaste on euery side was blowne, Our mindes to either eche were quickly knowne. 21. Wee ioyned battayle, fearcely both wee fought, The _Romaynes_ to enlarge their Empyre’s fame: And wee with all the force and might wee mought, To saue our Countrye and to keepe our name: O, worthy _Britaynes_! learne to doe the same: Wee brake the rayes of all the _Romayne_ hoast, And made the mighty _Cæsar_ leaue his boast. 22. Yet hee the worthyest Captaine euer was, Brought all in ray and fought agayne a new, His skilfull souldiers hee could bring to passe At once, for why his traynings all they knew: No sooner I his noble corps did vewe, But in I brake amongste the Captaynes band, And there I fought with _Cæsar_ hand to hand. 23.