The Vortigern’s army arrived to the southest of Verulamium in the late afternoon. Rather than pitch the troops into battle immediately, Agricola and Hengest agreed between them that it was wisest to rest the men so that they could pitch into the fray afresh. The Vortigern acceded to this idea, on condition that scouts were sent into the city to determine the state of play between the two sides.

Upon hearing the news from the scouts, Hengest urged the Vortigern to send the whole of his forces into Verulamium to finish off the job. Agricola, to the others’ surprise, advised caution, proposing that only half the army be deployed at this stage, arguing that, because the forces commanded by Lupus were so outnumbered and nearing defeat, that it was pointless to use all the available resources on what would, in ef...

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