The Gaulish horse pursued, but
did not know the country, and suffered more harm than they inflicted. Thus
the British gave Caesar considerable trouble, which he recorded to their
credit. Not a word can be found in his Commentaries to the disparagement
of brave and open adversaries. At length he forced them into a battle,
where their best warriors were killed. The confederacy of tribes dissolved
and never rallied again, and he pursued his march thenceforward with
little molestation. He crossed the Medway, and reached the Thames
seemingly at Sunbury. There was a ford there, but the river was still
deep, the ground was staked, and Cassibelaunus with his own people was on
the other side. The legions, however, paid small attention to
Cassibelaunus; they plunged through with the water at their necks. The
Britons dispersed, driving off their cattle, and watching his march from a
distance. The tribes from the eastern counties made their submission, and
at Caesar's orders supplied him with corn. Caesar marched on to St. Albans
itself, then lying in the midst of forests and marshes, where the cattle,
the Cassi's only wealth, had been collected for security. St. Albans and
the cattle were taken; Cassibelaunus sued for peace; the days were drawing
in; and Caesar, having no intention of wintering in Britain, considered he
had done enough and need go no farther.
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