THE "TOWN" OF CASWALLON.

27

against all straggling. All that he could do was to inflict as much damage on the country as possible by ravaging and burning along the line of march.

Disunion and jealousy among the British tribes now began to help the invader. Caswallon in former days had waged many wars against his neighbours. He had put to death the king of the Trinobantes (inhabiting Essex and the southern part of Suffolk), and driven the heir to the throne into exile. This tribe now sent envoys to Cæsar, begging for the restoration of the banished prince, and offering their submission. The young man, who was in Cæsar's camp, was immediately sent home, and the tribe was enjoined to furnish forty hostages and a supply of corn. This requisition was immediately obeyed.

The example of the Trinobantes, whose country was now, of course, protected from injury, was followed by other tribes. From some of their envoys Cæsar learnt that the "town" of Caswallon was not far from the place to which he had advanced. A

town" in the British language, Cæsar explains, was nothing more than a piece of forest fortified by a rampart and ditch, by way of protection for themselves and their cattle against sudden attacks. He at once marched to the spot. He found that the position, besides being naturally strong, had been carefully fortified. But the Britons could not resist the assault which was promptly delivered on two sides of their fortress. They evacuated the place, leaving behind them a great quantity of cattle.

I The situation of this "town" is doubtful. St. Albans has been suggested as a possible locality.

(Supposed British Town.

From "Transactions of the Essex

Field Club.")

HOSTAGES AND YEARLY TRIBUTE.

29

Meanwhile Caswallon attempted a diversion by suggesting to the chiefs of Cantium (Kent) an attack on the camp which Cæsar had constructed by the shore: The attack was made, but without success, and the Britons suffered greatly from a sally of the garrison.

The British king now sent envoys to treat for peace, using the good offices of Commius to obtain a hearing from Cæsar. The Roman general was ready enough to listen. He had no desire to stay in the island. He had received disquieting news from Gaul, and the summer was fast passing. (It was now about the middle of September.) He was well aware that the Britons might, if they chose, protract the contest in a very inconvenient way. Accordingly he demanded a number of hostages (insisting, this time, on their being put into his hands at once), fixed the amount of yearly tribute which was to be paid to Rome, and finally enjoined Caswallon not to attack the tribes which had made friends with Rome.

He then marched back to the coast. There he found the damaged ships repaired. Some, however, had been altogether lost, and, as he had a great number of prisoners with him, it would be impossible, he saw, to transport the whole body at once. A part he sent over immediately, and this reached Gaul without any mishap. But when the ships were returning empty only a few reached their destination. Cæsar, however, would not wait. He crowded his troops on board such vessels as he had, and took them across without losing a single ship.

This marvellous good fortune-the Channel four times crossed by large armaments in perfect safetywas the fitting close of a brilliant exploit. Still, as Tacitus says, Cæsar pointed out the country to those that came after him, rather than conquered it.

BRITAIN AND THE SUCCESSORS OF CESAR.

I

WE may be sure that the tribute promised by King Caswallon was not regularly paid, if it was paid at all. Cæsar had plenty to occupy him during the remainder of his stay in Gaul in consolidating his conquest of that country, and, after he had left it, in making himself master of Rome. Anyhow, no mention of Britain occurs in Roman history till we find the name in the Marmor Ancyranum a record of achievements which Augustus caused to be executed towards the end of his reign. The Marmor is unfortunately imperfect, but we can gather from it that certain British chiefs paid tribute to Rome. It is likely enough that the Emperor, after he found himself firmly established on the throne, would claim some acknowledgment of his sovereignty, and that the British chiefs would give it rather than incur the risk of another invasion. We may safely reject a statement, doubtfully ascribed to Livy, that Augustus himself landed on the island on the strength of Suetonius's positive assertion that no Roman had ventured thither in the interval (89 years) between the departure of Cæsar and the expedition of

A tablet found at Ancyra (now Angora) the Roman capital of Galatia.