27.
The enemy being thus vanquished in battle, as soon as they recovered after their
flight, instantly sent embassadors to Caesar to
negotiate about peace. They promised to give hostages and perform what he should
command. Together with these embassadors came Commius the
Altrebatian, who, as I have above said, had been sent by Caesar into Britain. Him
they had seized upon when leaving his ship, although in the character of
embassador he bore the general's commission to them, and thrown into chains:
then after the battle was fought, they sent him back, and in suing for peace
cast the blame of that act upon the common people, and entreated that it might
be pardoned on account of their indiscretion. Caesar,
complaining, that after they had sued for peace, and had voluntarily sent
embassadors into the continent for that purpose, they had made war without a
reason, said that he would pardon their indiscretion, and imposed hostages, a
part of whom they gave immediately; the rest they said they would give in a few
days, since they were sent for from remote places. In the mean time they ordered
their people to return to the country parts, and the chiefs assembled from all
quarter, and proceeded to surrender themselves and their states to Caesar.
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