CHAP. I.

The Galles raise new troubles in divers places. Caesar scattereth and wasteth the Bituriges, and after that the Carnutes.

AFter that all Gallia was subdued, forasmuch as Caesar had rested no part of the former Summer from warre, he was desirous to refiesh his Souldiers after so great pains ta∣ken, the rest of the winter season; when news was brought him that many States at the self∣same time, did lay their heads together again about warre, and make conspiracies. Whereof there was reported a very likely cause; in that it was known to all the Galles, that there could not any power so great be assembled into one place, as should be able to withstand the Ro∣mans: neither if many States at once made war in divers places at one instant, could the army of the people of Rome have sufficient, either of aid, or of time, or of men of warre to pursue all at once: and there ought not any State to re∣fuse the lot of their misfortune, if by the respite thereof, the rest might set themselves at li∣berty.

The which opinion to the intent it should not settle in the minds of the Galles, Caesar leaving M. Antonius the Quaestor with charge of his winter garrisons, went with a strong com∣pany of horsemen the last day of December from Bibracte to his twelfth Legion, which he had placed not farre from the borders of the Hedui, in the countrey of the Bituriges, and ta∣keth thereunto the eleventh Legion which was next unto it. Leaving two Cohorts to defend his stuff and carriages, he led the rest of his ar∣my into the most plentifull fields of the Bituri∣ges: the which being a large countrey and full of towns, could not be kept in aw with the gar∣risoning of one Legion amongst them, but that they prepared for warre and made con∣spiracies.

By the sudden coming of Caesar, it came to passe (which must needs happen to such as are unprovided and scattered abroad) that such as were tilling the ground without fear, were sur∣prised in the fields by our horsemen, before they could get them into the Towns. For at that time, the common token of invasion which is wont to be perceived by burning of houses, was by Caesar's commandment forborn, lest they should either want forrage and corn if they were minded to make any further rode into the coun∣trey, or else, that their enemies for fear of the fires, should convey themselves out of the way.

After that many thousands of men had been taken, the Bituriges being sore afraid, such of them as could escape out of the Romans hands at their first coming, upon confidence either of the old acquaintance and familiarity that had been privately between them, by reason of re∣sorting as guests one to another, or of their mu∣tuall agreement and partaking in the same devi∣ces, fled into the next cities: but all was in vain. For Caesar by great journeys came so sudden∣ly upon all places, that he gave not any city lea∣sure, to think of the safeguard of other folks ra∣ther then of themselves. Through the which speed, he both kept his friends faithfull unto him, and put the wavering sort in such fear, that he compelled them to be glad to receive peace.

The matter standing in this case, when the Bituriges saw that through Caesar's gentlenesse there was yet a way for them to return into his favour again, and that the next States had deli∣vered him hostages, and were thereupon recei∣ved to mercy, without further punishment: they themselves did in like wise. Caesar, because his men had patiently endured so great travell in the Page  130 winter dayes, through most cumbersome wayes, in intolerable cold weather, and continued most resolutely in the same to the uttermost, promi∣sed to give to his souldiers two hundred sesterces apiece, and to the Captains 2000 apiece, in the name of a prey: & so sending his Legions again into their wintering places, he himself returned to Bibracte the fourtieth day after his setting forth. There as he was ministring of Justice, the Bituriges sent messengers unto him, desiring help against the Carnutes, whom they com∣plained to make warre upon them.

Upon the receit of this news, when he had not lain in garrison past eighteen dayes, he draweth the fourteenth and sixteenth Legions out of garrison from the river Arar, where he had placed them for the speedy purveiance of corn and victuall, as was shewed you in the last book: and with those two Legions went to pro∣secute the Carnutes.

When our enemies heard of the coming of our army, the Carnutes moved with the calami∣ty of others, left their towns and villages that they dwelt in, which they had made upon the sudden with little cottages for necessities sake to keep off the winter; (for since they were con∣quered of late, they had lo•• many of their wal∣led towns:) and fled scattering abroad. Caesar, forasmuch as he would not put his souldiers to the abiding of the unseasonable sharp storms which chiefly at that time fell, encamped himself within Genabum, a town of the Carnutes, and housed his souldiers partly in the buildings of the Galles, and partly in such buildings as being unfinished they thatched in haste with the straw that was brought in to cover their tents and cabines. Neverthelesse he sendeth abroad his horsemen and auxiliary footmen into all parts whither he heard his enemies resorted: and that was not in vain; for commonly our men re∣turned ever with a great booty.

The Carnutes being put to it with the hard∣nesse of the winter, and the terrour of the danger, being driven out of house and home, and not daring to stay any where any long time, the woods being not able to defend them from the bitternesse of the storms, were scattered abroad, and with the losse of a great part of them, disper∣sed into the next cities.