Confusion, hesitation, and actual desertion reached the colonies and extended positively to the Roman legions.

Several towns, even Troves and Cologne, submitted or fell into the hands of the insurgents.

Several legions, yielding to bribery, persuasion, or intimidation, went over to them, some with a bad grace, others with the blood of their officers on their hands.

The gravity of the situation was not misunderstood at Rome.

Petilius Cerealis, a commander of renown for his campaigns on the Rhine, was sent off to Belgica with seven fresh legions.