But being most secure of future chance, My thoughts to meete the foes being set on wing, Who did ordaine, that Augustence in France Should be the place for each assistant king, Vnto the Romane aid their powers to bring: With warre’s loud trumpe from all parts of the land, I call’d my Britaines downe vnto the strand. 72. Where our blacke barkes all readie furnish’t lay, In which departing from the barren shore, Wing’d with full gale, the ships did force their way, So swiftly with their bending bulkes before, That 'bout their brests the giuing waues did rore, Through which we kept our course without mischance, And did at Harflew safe arriue in France. 73. Where thousands troop’t in armes the shoares did show Sent from those princes by alleageance bound, T’assist vs in our warres against the foe, Who when our feet did presse the sandie ground, Did welcome our approch with shouts loud sound: In euery place _Bellona_ loud did sing, Of horse and foot the countrie round did ring. 74. Our powers being ioyn’d and euerie seuerall band Digested for the fight, without delay We marched from the salt sea’s slimie strand, And sent our scouts before vs in the way, To know where _Lucius_ host encamped lay: But hearing nought we forward did aduance, Vntill we came to Augustence in France. 75. And there vpon a chosen plot of ground The Roman host with their especiall aides Arm’d in strong steele for fight prepar’d we found, The blaze of whose bright shields and glittering blades, Did cast a sunshine in the darkest shades: With whom we thought t’haue then begun the fight, Had setting sun not shew’d approching night. 76. But when from vnderneath the siluer vaile Of Thetis lap Apollo did arise, And to the batlements of heau’n exhale Night’s dewie drops, which fell before from skies, Our bands t’applie for fight we did deuise, And euerie one did buckle to the field, Thirsting to bloodie fight their strength to yeild. 77. Then did the trumpet shrill sound out alowd To bring them bold to the insatiate field, And on the plaine both parts in thickest crowd Opposing sword to sword and shield to shield, Not fear’d with death, but with stout courage fild, Began the fight, and none their backs did turne, In euerie place the skirmish hot did burne. 78.