Across Gaul and over the choppy
channel they came, borne by the very galleys that were to have
succored the British king. Up through the mouth of Thames they
sailed, and landing at Londinium, marched in close array along
the broad Roman road that led straight up to the gates of
Camalodunum. Before the walls of Camalodunum was pitched the
Roman camp, and the British king was besieged in his own
palace-town.
The Roman trumpets sounded before the gate of the beleaguered
city, and the herald of the prefect, standing out from his circle
of guards, cried the summons to surrender:
Coel of Britain, traitor to the Roman people and to thy lord the
Emperor, hear thou! I n the name of the Senate and People of
Rome, I, Constantius the prefect, charge thee to deliver up to
them ere this day's sun shall set, this, their City of
Camalodunum, and thine own rebel body as well. Which done they
will in mercy pardon the crime of treason to the city, and will
work their will and punishment only upon thee--the chief rebel.
And if this be not done within the appointed time, then will the
walls of this their town of Camalodunum be overthrown, and thou
and all thy people be given the certain death of traitors.
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