comming into Britanie; he imbattailed his legions before his campe; and so gaue them
battell. The enemie not being able to beare the assault of the Roman souldiers, turned
their backes and fled: the Romans followed them, as farre as they could by running on
foote; and after a great slaughter, with the burning of their townes farre and neare,
they returned to their campe. The same daie the Britaines sent messengers to Caesar,
to intreat for peace; whom he commanded to double their number of hostages, which
he commanded to be carried into Gallia. And forasmuch as the Aequinoctium was at
hand; he thought it not safe to put himselfe to the winter sea, with such weake ship∣ping:
and therefore hauing got a conuenient time, he hoised saile a little after mid∣night,
and brought all his ships safe vnto the continent. Two of these ships of burthen,
not being able to reach the same hauen, put in somewhat lower into the land: the sol∣diers
that were in them being about 300, being set on shore, and marching towardes
their campe: the Morini, with whom Caesar at his going into Britany had made peace,
in hope of a bootie, first with a few of their men stood about them, commanding them
vpon paine of death to laie downe their weapons; and as the Romans, by casting them∣selues
into an Orbe, began to make defence, at the noise and clamour amongst them,
there were suddenly gathered together about 6000 of the enemy. Which thing being
knowen, Caesar sent out all the horsemen to relieue them: in the meane time the Ro∣mans
sustained the force of the enemie, and fought valiantly the space of foure houres;
and receiuing themselues some few woundes, they slew many of the enemie. After the
Roman horsemen came in sight, the enemie cast awaie their weapons and fled, and a
great number of them fell by the horsemen.
OBSERVATIONS.
OF al the figures which the Tactici haue chosen to make vse of in mili∣tarie
affaires; the circle hath euer beene taken for the fittest, to be ap∣plied
in the defensiue part, as inclosing with an equall circuit on all
partes whatsoeuer is contained within the circumference of that
Area: and therefore Geometrie tearmeth a circumference a simple line, for as
much as if you alter the site of the parts, and transport one arch into the place
of another; the figure notwithstanding will remaine the same, because of the e∣quall
bending of the line, throughout the whole circumference. Which proper∣tie,
as it proueth an vniformitie of strength in the whole circuit, so that it can∣not
be said that this is the beginning, or this is the end; this is front, or this is
flanke. So doth that, which Euclide doth demonstrate in the 3 of his Elements,
concerning the small affinitie betweene a right line, and a circle (which being
drawen to touch the circumference, doth touch it but in a point only) shew the
greatnes of this strength in regard of any other line, by which it may be broken.
Which, howsoeuer they seeme, as speculatiue qualities, conceiued rather by in∣tellectuall
discourse, then manifested to sensible apprehension; yet forasmuch
as experience hath proued the strength of this figure, in a defensiue part, aboue
any other maner of imbattailing; let vs not neglect the knowledge of these na∣turall
properties, which discouer the causes of this effect: neither let vs neglect