28 The same summer a Usipian
cohort, which had been levied in Germany
and transported into Britain,
ventured on a great and memorable exploit. Having killed a centurion and some
soldiers, who, to impart military discipline, had been incorporated with their
ranks and were employed at once to instruct and command them, they embarked on
board three swift galleys with pilots pressed into their service. Under the
direction of one of them—for two of the three they suspected and consequently
put to death—they sailed past the coast in the strangest way before any rumour
about them was in circulation. After a while, dispersing in search of water and
provisions, they encountered many of the Britons, who sought to defend their property.
Often victorious, though now and then beaten, they were at last reduced to such
an extremity of want as to be compelled to eat, at first the feeblest of their
number, and then victims selected by lot. Having sailed around Britain and
lost their vessels from not knowing how to manage them, they were looked upon
as pirates and were intercepted, first by the Suevi and then by the Frisii.
Some who were sold as slaves in the way of trade and were brought through the
process of barter as far as our side of the Rhine,
gained notoriety by the disclosure of this extraordinary adventure.
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