Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066; Middle Ages -- Sources
"Cæsar attempting to pass a large river in Britain, Cassolaulus, king of
the Britons, obstructed him with many horsemen and chariots. Cæsar had
in his train a very large elephant, an animal hitherto unseen by the
Britons. Having armed him with scales of iron, and put a large tower
upon him, and placed therein archers and slingers, he ordered them to
enter the stream. The Britons were amazed at beholding a beast till then
unseen, and of an extraordinary nature. As to the horses, what need to
write of them! since even among the Greeks, horses fly on seeing
elephants even without harness, but thus towered and armed, and casting
darts and slinging, they could not endure even to look upon the sight.
The Britons therefore fled with their horses and chariots. Thus the
Romans passed the river without molestation, having terrified the enemy
by a single animal."]
CHAP. XI.--_Tenuantius is made king of Britain after Cassibellaun._
After seven years had expired, Cassibellaun died and was buried at York.
He was succeeded by Tenuantius, duke of Cornwall, and brother of
Androgeus: for Androgeus was gone to Rome with Cæsar. Tenuantius
therefore, now wearing the crown, governed the kingdom with diligence.
He was a warlike man, and a strict observer of justice. After him
Kymbelinus his son was advanced to the throne, being a great soldier,
and brought up by Augustus Cæsar. He had contracted so great a
friendship with the Romans, that he freely paid them tribute when he
might have very well refused it. In his days was born our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whose precious blood mankind was redeemed from the devil,
under whom they had been before enslaved.
CHAP. XII.--_Upon Guiderius's refusing to pay tribute to the Romans,
Claudius Cæsar invades Britain._
Kymbelinus, when he had governed Britain ten years, begat two sons, the
elder named Guiderius, the other Arviragus. After his death the
government fell to Guiderius. This prince refused to pay tribute to the
Romans; for which reason Claudius, who was now emperor, marched against
him. He was attended in this expedition by the commander of his army,
who was called in the British tongue, Leuis Hamo, by whose advice the
following war was to be carried on. This man, therefore, arriving at the
city of Portcester, [Portchester,] began to block up the gates with a
wall, and denied the citizens all liberty of passing out. For his design
was either to reduce them to subjection by famine, or kill them without
mercy.
CHAP. XIII.--_Leuis Hamo, a Roman, by wicked treachery kills Guiderius._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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