midday
The beams of the ceiling and roof soon ignited and the flames shot up high into the air . All day the Trinobantes had been pouring in , and a perfect frenzy of delight reigned among the great crowd looking on at the destruction of the temple that had been raised to signify and celebrate the subjugation of Britain . Women with flowing hair performed wild dances of triumph ; some rushed about as if possessed with madness , uttering prophecies of the total destruction of the Romans ; others foamed at the mouth and fell in convulsions , while the men were scarcely less excited over their success . Messengers had already brought in news that at midday Cerealis had learned that Camalodunum had been attacked , and that the legion was to start on the following morning to relieve the town . The news had been taken to him by one of the Trinobantes , who had received his instructions from Aska . He was to say that the town had suddenly been attacked and that many had fallen ; but the greater portion of the population had escaped to the temple , which had been vainly attacked by the Iceni . The object of this news was to induce Cerealis to move out from his fortified camp .