His warriors sometimes drive through the ranks of the enemy, sometimes fight from their chariots, and sometimes alight and maintain the combat on foot, while their chariots retire to the rear.
"This counsel pleased, the godlike Hector sprung
Swift from his seat; his clanging armour rung.
The chief's example follow'd by his train,
Each quits his car and issues on the plain;
By orders strict the charioteers enjoin'd
Compel the coursers to their ranks behind."
The Britons, however, appear to have devised an improvement in this mode of warfare, which was unknown to the Greeks. Their chariots seem to have been of two kinds, the covini or wains, heavy and armed with scythes, to break the thickest order of the enemy; and the essedæ, a lighter kind, adapted probably to situations and circumstances in which the covini could not act, and occasionally performing the duties of cavalry. The essedæ, with the cavalry, were pushed forward to oppose the first landing of Cæsar; and Cassivellaunus afterwards left 4000 essedæ as a corps of observation to watch his movements.—Cæsar. Comment. lib. 5, sec. 15.
[382] The government of the ancient Britons may be denominated patriarchal. Each community was governed by its elders; and every individual who could not prove his kindred to some community, through nine descents, and the same number of collateral affinities, was not considered as a freeman. Beyond this degree of kindred, they were formed into new communities. The elders of the different communities were subordinate to the elders of the tribes. But in times of public danger, as is recorded in the Triads, some chief of distinguished abilities was entrusted with the supreme authority over the tribes or communities, who united in common defence—Such were Caswallon (Cassivellaunus), Caradwg (Caractacus), and Owain, son of Macsen.
[383] This torques, chain, or rather wreath, is frequently alluded to by the early British bards.
"Yet in the battle of Arderydd I wore the golden torques"
Merddin Avellanaw.
"Four and twenty sons I have had
Wearing the golden wreath, leaders of armies."
Llywarch Hên.
"Of all who went to Cattraeth, wearing the golden torc or wreath."