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He adopted a system of warfare similar to that by which Cassivellaunus had saved the insular Celts. The Roman infantry was not to be vanquished; but Caesar's cavalry consisted almost exclusively of the contingent of the Celtic nobility, and was practically dissolved by the general revolt.
The submission of the confederacy of central Gaul without having struck even a blow; the submission of the Belgic confederacy without having done more than merely shown a wish to strike; the heroic fall on the other hand of the Nervii and the Veneti, the sagacious and successful resistance of the Morini, and of the Britons under Cassivellaunus all that in each case had been done or neglected, had failed or had succeeded spurred the minds of the patriots to new attempts, if possible, more united and more successful.
What as completely successful with Cassivellaunus in Britain and partially successful with Vercingetorix in Gaul what was to a certain degree attempted even by Mithradates Eupator the vizier of Orodes carried out only on a larger scale and more completely.
The danger increased with every onward step, and the attack, which the princes of Kent by the orders of Cassivellaunus made on the Roman naval camp, although it was repulsed, was an urgent warning to turn back.
V. VII. Cassivellaunus V. VII. The Carnutes ff. V. II. Renewal of the War V. IV. Difficulty with the Parthians IV. I. War against Aristonicus V. VII. Insurrection V. VIII. Humiliation of the Republicans V. VIII. Changes in the Arrangement of Magistrates and the Jury-System V. VIII. Humiliation of the Republicans V. VIII. The Aristocracy Submits ff.
However, brave CASSIVELLAUNUS had the worst of it, on the whole; though he and his men always fought like lions. As the other British chiefs were jealous of him, and were always quarrelling with him, and with one another, he gave up, and proposed peace. Julius Caesar was very glad to grant peace easily, and to go away again with all his remaining ships and men.
"They are neither brave in war, nor faithful in peace." But when Julius Caesar, great as the world itself, "Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis," were they not brave under their leader Cassivellaunus? And when Belinus and Brennus added the Roman empire to their conquests? What were they in the time of Constantine, son of our Helen?
But Cassivellaunus had sent messengers to the four kings who reigned over Kent and the districts by the sea, Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximaquilus, and Segonax, commanding them to collect all their forces and assail the naval camp. In the battle which ensued the Romans were victorious, and when Cassivellaunus heard of this disaster he sent ambassadors to Cæsar to treat about a surrender.
The brave and cautious prince Cassivellaunus, who ruled in what is now Middlesex and the surrounding district formerly the terror of the Celts to the south of the Thames, but now the protector and champion of the whole nation had headed the defence of the land.
Caesar returned to his army to find "very great forces of the Britons already assembled" to oppose him, and the chief command and management of the war entrusted to Cassivellaunus, who, though he had been at war with the men of Kent, was now placed, so great was the general alarm, in command of the whole war.
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