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CHAPTER 3
ROMANS COME AGAIN
CSAR must have felt that he had not really conquered
Britons for, as soon as he arrived safely in France, he began to gather together another army. In
spring of
following year, he again sailed over to Britain. He came now not with eighty, but with eight hundred ships and many thousands of men. But this time there was no one to meet him when he landed.
Britons indeed had heard of his coming, and had gathered in great force to resist him. But, when they saw such
huge number of ships, their hearts were filled with fear, and they fled into
forests and hills to hide.
It must have been
wonderful sight, in
eyes of
ancient Britons, to see so many ships sailing on
sea all at once. They knew scarcely anything of
great lands which lay beyond
blue sea surrounding their little island. They had not even dreamed that
whole world contained as many ships as they now saw. So it was not surprising that at first they were afraid and fled. But they did not lose courage for long. They soon returned and many battles were fought.
Romans seemed to think that they won all these battles, but
Britons were not at all sure of it. Certainly
great many people on both sides were killed. If
Britons had been less brave than they were, they would have been very badly beaten, for
Romans wore strong armor and carried shields made of steel, while
Britons had little armor, if any at all, and their
shields were made of wood covered with skins of animals.
Roman swords too were strong and sharp, while those of
Britons were made of copper. Copper is
very soft metal, and swords made of it are easily bent and so made useless.
Britons at this time were divided into many tribes, each following their own chief. They often used to quarrel among themselves. Now, however, they joined together against their great enemy and chose
brave man, called Cassivellaunus, to be their leader.