Romans knew not otherwise than by report.  The chiefest cause that mooued him to take in hand that enterprise, was for that he did vnderstand, that there dailie came great succours out of that Ile to those Galles that were enimies vnto the Romans.  And [Sidenote:  Cesar de bello Gall. lib. 4.  Causes of the warre.  Cesars purpose.] though the season of that yeere to make warre was farre spent (for summer was almost at an end) yet he thought it would be to good purpose, if he might but passe ouer thither, and learne what maner of people did inhabit there, and discouer the places, hauens, and entries apperteining to that Ile.

Heerevpon calling togither such merchants as he knew to haue had traffike thither with some trade of wares, he diligentlie inquired of them the state of the Ile:  but he could not be throughlie satisfied in anie of those things that he coueted to know.  Therefore thinking it good to vnderstand all things by view that might apperteine to the vse of that warre which he purposed to follow:  before he attempted the [Sidenote:  Caius Volusenus sent ouer into Britaine.] same, he sent one Caius Volusenus with a gallie or light pinesse to surueie the coasts of the Ile, commanding him (after diligent search made) to returne with speed to him againe.  He him selfe also drew downewards towards Bullenois, from whence the shortest cut lieth to passe ouer into Britaine.

[Sidenote:  Iohn Leland.  Polydor.] In that part of Gallia there was in those daies an hauen called Itius Portus (which some take to be Calice) and so the word importeth, an harbourgh as then able to receiue a great number of ships.  Vnto this hauen got Cesar all the ships he could out of the next borders & parties, and those speciallie which he had prouided and put in a readinesse the last yeare for the warres (against them of Vannes in Armorica, now called Britaine in France) he caused to be brought thither, there to lie till they should heare further.  In the [Sidenote:  Vannes in Britane.] meane time (his indeuour being knowne, and by merchants reported in Britaine) all such as were able to beare armour, were commanded and appointed to repaire to the sea side, that they might be readie to defend their countrie in time of so great danger of inuasion.

¶ Cesar in his commentaries agreeth not with our historiographers:  for he writeth that immediatlie vpon knowledge had that he would inuade Britaine, there came to him ambassadours from diuers cities of the Ile to offer themselues to be subiects to the Romans, and to deliuer hostages.  Whome after he had exhorted to continue in their good mind, [Sidenote:  Comius.] he sent home againe, and with them also one Comius gouernor of Artois, commanding him to repaire vnto as manie cities in Britaine as he might, and to exhort them to submit themselues to the Romans.  He maketh no mention of Cassibellane, till the second iournie that he made into the Ile, at what time the said Cassibelane was chosen (as ye