also as were lustie and in strength, able to weld weapon and beare
[Sidenote: Galgagus whome the Scots name Gald and will néeds haue
him a Scotish man.]
armour. Amongst the capteins the chiefest was one Galgagus whom the
Scotish chronicles name Gald. This man as chiefteine and head capteine
of all the Britains there assembled, made to them a pithie oration, to
incourage them to fight manfullie, and likewise did Agricola to his
people: which being ended, the armies on both sides were put in order
of battell. Agricola placed 8 thousand footmen of strangers which he
had there in aid with him in the midst, appointing thrée thousand
horssemen to stand on the sides of them as wings. The Romane legions
stood at their backs in stéed of a bulworke. The Britains were
imbattelled in such order, that their fore ward stood in the plaine
ground, and the other on the side of an hill, as though they had risen
on heigth one ranke aboue another. The midst of the field was
[Sidenote: _Corn. Tacit._]
couered with their charrets and horssemen. Agricola doubting by the
huge multitude of enimies, least his people should be assailed not
onlie afront, but also vpon euerie side the battels, he caused the
ranks so to place themselues, as their battels might stretch farre
further in bredth than otherwise the order of warre required: but he
tooke this to be a good remedie against such inconuenience as might
haue followed, if the enimie by the narrownesse of the fronts of his
battels should haue hemmed them in on ech side.

This done, and hauing conceiued good hope of victorie, he alighted on
foot, and putting his horsse from him, he stood before the standards
as one not caring for anie danger that might happen. At the first they
bestowed their shot and darts fréelie on both sides. The Britains
aswell with constant manhood, as skilfull practise, with broad swords