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Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) - The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England by Raphael Holinshed
page 31 of 176 (17%)
skilfull warrior. This Suetonius therefore wishing to tame such of
[Sidenote: Anglesey inuaded.]
the Britains as kept out, prepared to assaile the Ile of Anglesey, a
countrie full of inhabitants, and a place of refuge for all outlawes
and rebels. He builded certeine brigantins with flat kéeles to serue
for the ebbes and shallow shelues here and there, lieng vncerteinlie
in the straits which he had to passe. The footmen ferried ouer in
those vessels, the horssemen following by the foords, and swimming
when they came into the deepe, got likewise to the shore, where stood
in order of battell and huge number of armed men close togither, redie
to beat backe the Romans, and to staie them from comming to land.
[Sidenote: A strange maner of women.]
Amongst the men, a number of women were also running vp and downe
as they had béene out of their wits, in garments like to wild roges,
with their haire hanging downe about their shoulders, and bearing
firebrands in their hands. There was also a companie of their priests
[Sidenote: The Druids.]
or philosophers called Druides, who with stretched forth hands
towards heauen, thundered out curssings against the Romans in most
bitter wise.

The souldiers were so amazed with the strangenesse of this sight, that
(as men benummed of their lims and senses) they suffred themselues to
be wounded and slaine like senselesse creatures, till by the calling
vpon of their generall, and ech one incouraging other in no wise to
feare a sort of mad & distract women, they preassed forward vnder
their ensignes, bearing downe such as stood in their way, and with
their owne fire smooldered and burnt them to ashes.

[Sidenote: Anglesey won by the Romans.]
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