Furthermore, _Suetonius Paulinus_ was too well skilled in the discipline of war, to make the seat thereof in a Countrey so absolutely _Roman_, as betwixt the _British_ Ocean and the River _Thames_. He had it’s true (being return’d from _Anglesey_) abandoned _London_, no colony. But upon what result? finding his accesse of strength disproportionable to the War in hand, and therefore _determined with the losse of one Town to preserve the rest whole_, (whether _London_ or _Camalodunum_ is not to the purpose) and, by attending the motions of the enemy, wait all fair occasions to give _Boadicia_ battell, _being unwilling to try his fortune too suddenly, multitude and successe making the_ Britans _outrageously daring_. In the interim neverthelesse, raising what forces, the exigency of so important affairs would permit.
Which way _Suetonius_ marched from _London_ is altogether omitted, yet if lawfull to conjecture, why not? to draw off the Forces of _Catus Decianus_ Procurator, (not long before fled into _Gaul_, for fear of this War) together with the remains of _Petilius Cerealis_ troops; quartered, as _Anonymus_ confesseth, in those very camps yet appearing about _Gildsbrough_ and _Daintry_ in _Northamptonshire_, then, confining the _Icenian_ Dominion to the Westward. Which Troops therefore, lay doubtlesse, in very great danger if not timely relieved; especially in case _Boadicia_ should conduct her Army that way; as, ere long afterwards she did so far as _Verulam_; this course being taken by her, not improbably, in pursuit of _Suetonius_. Neither was it very dangerous for the _Roman_ Generall to lead his Forces that way, the Enemies main strength lying about _Camalodunum_. Howsoever, whether he marched up to them or no, concluded it is, he made his retreat towards _Pœnius Posthumus_ encamped with the _second Legion_ in the borders of the _Silures_, (now _Herefordshire_, _Radnorshire_ &c.) for which _Legion_, _Suetonius_ sending to have it brought up to his Rendezvouz, his commands being slighted, that strength failed him. _The way which_ Suetonius _took, after his departure, was in mine opinion_ (saith _Anonymus_) _towards_ Severn, _where_ Pœnius Posthumus _encamped with the second Legion among the_ Silures. So also _Spencer_ our famous _English_ Poet finds it. Whereby it appears, _Suetonius_ retreat was not Westward to _Salisbury_ Plains, but Northerly towards that _second Legion_. In this retreat, I may not omit, _Anonymus_ conducts him over the _Thames_ at _London_; which if granted, and, _that he kept the river upon his right hand still_, untill engaging _Boadicia_, as _Anonymus_ saith he did: then was _Suetonius_ march _far away_ indeed from _Salisbury_ Plain. The course of that River winding, as we all know, through _Barkshire_ out of _Oxfordshire_, where _Tame_ from the County _Buckingham_, and _Isis_ from the edge of _Glocester_ Province, make their conjunction a little beneath _Dorchester_. And, if keeping this course _still_ by the Rivers side, _Suetonius_ marcht alongst the banks of _Cherwell_ also, then must _Anonymus_, whether he will or no, bring him up close to _Gildsbrough_ and _Daintry_, as aforesaid; and thereby (for it is admitted _Cerealis_ horse-troops were at the fight) reconciling all opinions, upon his direct way towards the _second Legion_.