Among his visitors in 56 B.C. came Pompey and Crassus, to renew the Triumvirate.
It was agreed that Pompey and Crassus should be Consuls the following year, while Cæsar should hold Gaul as his province for five years longer, from 53 B.C. to 48 B.C.
Toward the end of that time he was to stand for the consulship and be permitted to do so, without, in the usual way, first entering the city.
CHAPTER CIX
CÆSAR INVADES BRITAIN
In 55 B.C. Cæsar resolved to invade our own island home. He knew little about Britain, save that she was on good terms with the Gauls, and carried on trade with them.
When he questioned the traders, they told him that he would find tin and lead in the ground, as well as precious stones scattered over the land.
Curiosity, the desire for booty, as well as the wish to punish all who aided the Gauls, drove Cæsar to the adventure, and he ordered a fleet to be prepared for the great enterprise.
It was autumn when he set sail for Britain, with eighty vessels and an army of 12,000 men. He had not taken a larger fleet, as he thought that he would have little trouble in conquering the barbarians of the island.
Rumours had reached Britain of the coming of the great Roman general with a fleet, and the natives crowded to the shore, eager to keep the strangers from landing in their country.