high
spirit. Their numbers were known, because, united by relationships and
affinities (_propinquitatibus ad finitatibusque conjuncti_), it could be
ascertained what numbers each chief could bring with him to the common
gathering for the war. The first in numbers, valour, and influence were
the Bellovaci. These could make up as many as 100,000 fighting men. Of
these they promised 40,000; for which they were to have the whole
management of the war. Their neighbours were the Suessiones, the owners
of a vast and fertile territory. Their king Divitiacus was yet
remembered as the greatest potentate of all Gaul, whose rule embraced a
part of Britain as well. Their present king was Gallus. Such was his
justice and prudence, that the whole conduct of the war was voluntarily
made over to him. Their cities were twelve in number; their contingent
50,000 soldiers. The Nervii, the fiercest and most distant of the
confederacy, would send as many; the Attrebates 15,000, the Ambiani
10,000, the Morini 22,000, the Menapii 9,000, the Caleti 10,000, the
Velocasses and Veromandui 10,000, the Aduatici 29,000; the Condrusi,
Eburones, Caerasi, and Paemani, who were collectively called _Germans_
(_qui uno nomine Germani appellantur_) might be laid at 40,000."--Bell.
Gall., ii. 4.

Let us consider this as evidence (to a certain extent) of the north of
Gaul having been German, without, at present, asking how far it is
conclusive. If we look to Caesar's description of Britain we shall find
the elements of a second proposition, viz., that "what is true of the
northern coast of Gaul, is true of the southern coast of Britain."[5]
So that if the Belgae were Germans in the time of Caesar, the populations
of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex were German also.

Caesar's statement is, "that the interior of Britain is inhabited by
those who are recorded to have been born in the island itself; whereas
the sea-coast is the occupancy of immigrants from the country of the
_Belgae_, brought over for the sake of either war or plunder. All these
are called by names nearly the same as those of the States they came
from, names which they have retained in the country upon which they made
war, and in the land whereon they settled."--B. G., v. 12.

I submit that these two statements would give us unexceptionable
evidence in favour of the Belgae being Germans, and the south-eastern
Britons being Belgae, in case they stood with no conflicting assertions
to set against them,