BEFORE THE CONQUEST 



The Veneti had copied their ships originally from those of the Cartha- 

 ginians, but they had adapted them to their own requirements and 

 Csesar was full of admiration for them. They were somewhat flatter in 

 the floor than the Romans' in order to adapt them better for work in the 

 shallows, and for taking the ground even on that inhospitable shore 

 without sustaining any great damage. There was a very considerable 

 sheer both forward and aft, and the hulls were very stoutly built of oak. 

 They were iron fastened, had chains for their cables instead of hemp, 

 and although they had oars they depended principally on their sails of 

 tanned hide. Their decks were a foot thick, and so strongly were they 

 constructed that they resisted all the efforts of the Romans to ram them, 

 which more than compensated for the handicap that they had in their 

 unhandiness. Even when the Romans built turrets they found that they 

 could not reach their decks without difhculty, and finally the victory 

 was gained by the Romans fitting hooked knives on poles and cutting 

 their standing rigging. They appear, however, to have inspired in 

 Cjesar a good deal of admiration for their ability. 

 Caesar's First Expedition. 



Having conquered Gaul, Julius Caesar found time to consider his 

 next operations and, unfortunately, the Britons had reminded him of 

 their existence by the assistance they rendered the Veneti, with the 

 result that he soon determined to punish them. Two legions were told 

 off for the purpose in the year 55 B.C., and a reconnoitring expedition 

 of light craft was sent ahead to find out good landing places. CfEsar 

 followed with his troops as soon as he got the required information. The 

 embarkation was done by night, and the point on the French coast is 

 believed to be the modern Wyssant Bay. At ten o'clock next morning 

 he found himself under high cliflFs which were held in force by the 

 Britons with only a portion of his command at hand. From his descrip- 

 tion it would appear that his first land-fall was between Dover and the 

 South Foreland. He anchored until the whole of his fleet had arrived, 

 and then made north-east with wind and tide. His actual landing-place 

 was probably the present site of Walmer Castle, where the coast was 

 ideal for his purpose but where the defenders had already arrived in 

 force. He then discovered that in his ignorance of shipping matters his 

 transports had far too great a draught. The heavily-armed legionaries 

 had to jump into deep water, where many of them were drowned 

 while the Britons harassed them with their cavalr^^ C^sar had with 

 him, however, some light galleys, which attacked the British flank with 

 slings and catapults until eventually they wavered and gave the Romans 

 a chance of landing. While he was encamped near the shore a storm 

 destroyed a number of the transports that he had anchored too close 

 inshore. The Britons took advantage of this disaster to attack him, but 

 they were beaten of?, and soon after Ctesar returned to Gaul. 



Cesar's Second Expedition. 



Although he had taken with him a number of British hostages Ccesar 

 was not by any means satisfied with the punishment that he had meted 



5 



