Chapter 2

THE JULIAN INVASION

B.C. 55, 54

§ A.--Caesar and Britain--Breakdown of Roman Republican institutions--Corruption abroad and at home--Rise of Caesar--Conquest of Gaul ... _p_. 73

§ B.--Sea-fight with Veneti and Britons--Pretexts for invading Britain--British dominion of Divitiacus--Gallic tribes in Britain--Atrebates--Commius ... _p_. 79

§ C.--Defeat of Germans--Bridge over Rhine--Caesar's army--Dread of ocean--Fleet at Boulogne--Commius sent to Britain--Channel crossed--Attempt on Dover--Landing at Deal--Legionary sentiment--British army dispersed ... _p_. 83

§ D.--Wreck of fleet--Fresh British levy--Fight in corn-field--British chariots--Attack on camp--Romans driven into sea ... _p_. 94

§ E.--Caesar worsted--New fleet built--Caesar at Rome--Cicero--Expedition of 54 B.C.--Unopposed landing--Pro-Roman Britons--Trinobantes--Mandubratius--British army surprised--"Old England's Hole" ... _p_. 102

§ F.--Fleet again wrecked--Britons rally under Caswallon--Battle of Barham Down--Britons fly to London--Origin of London--Patriot army dispersed ... _p_. 112

§ G.--Passage of Thames--Submission of clans--Storm of Verulam--Last patriot effort in Kent--Submission of Caswallon--Romans leave Britain--"Caesar Divus" ... _p_. 118