Obseruations vpon the fiue first bookes of Cæsars commentaries setting fourth the practise of the art military in the time of the Roman Empire : wherein are handled all the chiefest point of their discipline, with the true reason of euery part, together with such instructions as may be drawn from their proceedings, for the better direction of our moderne warres / by Clement Edmunds.

CHAP. X.

The Romans call a councell vpon this aduertise∣ment, and resolue to depart, and ioyne them∣selues to some other of the legions.

THE Romans being troubled at the sodainnesse of the matter,* 1.1 albeit those thinges were spoken by an enemie, yet they thought them no way to be neglected; but especially it moued them, for that it was incredible that the Eburones, beeing base and of no reputation, durst of themselues make war against the people of Rome: and therefore they propounded the matter in a coun∣cell, wherein there grew a great controuersie among them: L. Arunculeius and most of the Tribunes, and Centurions of the first orders, thought it not good to conclude of any thing rashlie, nor to depart out of their wintering campes, without expresse commandment from Caesar; forasmuch as they were able to resist neuer so great a power, yea euen of their Germans, hauing the garizons wel fortified: an argument whereof was, that they had valiantly withstood the first as∣sault of the enemy, and giuen them many wounds. Neither wanted they anie victu∣als, and before that prouision which they had was spent, there would come succor frō other garizons and from Caesar. And to conclude, what was more dishonorable, or sauored of greater inconstancy, then to consult of their waightiest affaires, by the aduertisement of an enemy? Titurius vrged vehementlie to the contrarie, that it then would be too late for them to seeke a remedie, when a greater power of the e∣nemy, accompanied with the Germans, were assembled against them; or when anie blow were giuen to anie of the next wintering campes hee: tooke Caesar to be gone into Italie, for otherwise the Eburones, would not haue come so proudly to the camp. Let them not respect the authour, but the thing it selfe; the Rhene was not far off, and hee knewe well that the ouerthrow of Ariouistus, and their former victories, were greeuous to the Germans. The Galles were vexed with the contumelies they had receiued, being brought in subiection to the Romaine Empire, and hauing lost their former reputation in deedes of armes. And to conclude, who would imagine that Ambiorix should enterprise such a matter, without any ground, or certaintie thereof? but howsoeuer thinges stoode, his counsell was sure, and could bring no harme: for if there were no worse thing intended, they should but goe safelie to the next garizons; or otherwise, if the Galles conspired with the Germans, their onelie safetie consisted in celeritie. As for the counsell of Cotta, and such as were of the contrarie opinion, what expectation could be had thereof? wherein if there were not present danger; yet assuredly famine was to be feared by long siege. The dispu∣tation being thus continued on either part, and Cotta with the Centurions of the first orders, earnestly repugning it; doe as please you, since you will needes haue it so, saith Sabinus; and that he spake with a loud voice, that a great part of the sol∣diours might well heare him. For I am not he that most feareth death among you,

let these be wise: and if any mischance happen vnto them, they shall aske account thereof at thy hands, inasmuch as if thou wouldest let them, they might ioine them∣selues within 2. daies to the next garizons, & with them sustaine what chance soeuer their common destinie should allot them; and not perish with famine and sword, like a people cast off and abandoned from their fellowes. After these wordes, they began to rise out of the councell; but holde was laide vpon them both; entreatie was made that they would not obstinatelie bring all vnto a desperate hazard; the matter was all one whether they went or staied, so that they all agreed vpon one thing; wheras in disagreeing, there was no likelihood of well doing: the disputation was prolon∣ged vntill midnight; at length Cotta yeelded, and the sentence of Sabinus tooke place. And thereupon it was proclaimed, that they should set forth by the breake of day: the rest of the night was spent in watching, euery soldior sought out vvhat he had to carry with him, and what he should be constrained to leaue behind him of such necessaries, as he had prepared for winter: all things were disposed in such sort, to make the soldiours beleeue, that they could not stay without danger.

OBSERVATIONS.

BY the resolution in this disputation, it appeareth how little a graue and wise deliberation auaileth, when it is impugned with the vio∣lence of passion, according to the truth of my former obseruati∣on; for the matter was well reasoned by Cotta, and his positions were grounded vpon thinges certaine, and well knowne to the whole councell: and yet the feare of Sabinus was such, that it caried the conclusion by such sup∣posed assertions, as the qualitie of his passion had ratified for true principles; being grounded altogether vpon that which the enemy had suggested, and not vpon any certaine knowledge of the truth: neither is it often seene, when a Councell disputeth vpon matters of such consequence, that their deliberati∣ons are altogether cleere from such troublesome motions, but that it will som∣what incline to the partialitie of a strong affection; so powerfull is passion in the gouernment of the soule, and so interessed in the other faculties. And this is one cause of the vncertainty of mans iudgement, from whence all con∣trarie and different opinions do arise. Neither is this so strange a matter, that a councell of warre should so much varie in case of deliberation, when as many especiall points of military discipline remaine yet vndecided; hauing the au∣thoritie of the great Commaunders of all ages, to ratifie the trueth on either parte; whereof I coulde alleage many examples. But concerning the issue and euent of our deliberations, what can bee more truelie saide then that of the Poet?

Et malè consultis pretium est, prudentia fallax, Nec fortuna probat causas, sequiturque merentes; Sed vaga per cunctos nullo discrimine fertur: Scilicet est aliuà quod nos cogatque regatque Maius, & in proprias ducat mortalia leges.

Notwithstanding, forasmuch as our wisdome is not so subiect to fortune, but that it may comprehend within it selfe, the good direction of most of the oc∣currences, which fall within the course of our businesse; or if we must needes miscarrie, yet it somwhat helpeth our ill fortune to thinke, that we went vpon best probabilities; it shall not be amisse to set down some rules for the better directing of a mature consultation. Wherein we are to vnderstand, that as all our knowledge ariseth from some of our senses, and our senses comprehende onely particularities, which being caried vnto the apprehension, are disposed into formes and degrees, according as they either concur or disagree in their seuerall properties: from whence there arise intellectual notions, and rules of Arte; wherein the science of the said particulars consisteth: so hee that inten∣deth to debate a matter, with sound deliberation, must descend from confused conceptions and a knowledge in generall, to the exact distinction of particu∣lar parts, which are the occurrences to be directed, and the materiall substance of euery action: he therfore that can giue best direction, either by experience, or iudicious discourse, concerning such particularities as are incident to the matter propounded, can best aduise which is the safest way to auoid the oppo∣sition of contradicting natures. But to make this somewhat plainer, I will al∣leage 2. examples: the one moderne in case of consultation; the other ancient, and may seeme not so pertinent to this matter, in regard it is a meere Apology, yet forasmuch as it freely censureth the quality of particular circumstances, it may giue great light to that which we seeke after.

The moderne example is taken out of Guicherdin,* 1.2 from the warres which Lewis the French King had with the Pope and the Venetians, concerning the state of Ferrara and the Duchie of Milan: wherein there arose a controuersie among the French captaines, whether it were better to go directlie to seeke the enemy, who albeit were lodged in a strong and secure place, yet there was hope, that with the virtue of armes and importunitie of artillerie, they might bee dislodged and driuen to a retreit: or otherwise, to take the way either of Modi∣na or Bolognia, that so the enemy for feare of loosing either of those townes, might quit their holde, and by that meanes Ferrara should bee freed from the warre. Monsieur Chaumont the Generall of the French, inclined to the for∣mer aduise: But Triuulce, a man of great authoritie and experience, hauing beene an executioner in 18. battailes, reasoned thus in particulars to the con∣trary. We debate (saith he) to go seeke the enemy to fight with him; and I haue alwaies heard great captaines holde this as a firme principle: Not to attempt the fortune of a battell, vnlesse there be either an offer of an especiall aduan∣tage, or otherwise, compulsion by necessitie. The rules of warre giue it to the enemy that is the inuader, and hath vndertaken the conquest of Ferrar, to seeke to assaile and charge vs; but to vs, to whom it is sufficient to defende our selues, it cannot be but impertinent to vndertake an action, contrary to all di∣rection and discipline of war. I am of opinion, which is confirmed by euident reason, that there is no possibility to execute that deuise, but to our harmes and disaduantage: for we cannot go to their campe but by the side of a hill, a streight and narrowe way, where all our forces cannot be imploied; and yet

they with small numbers will make resistance, hauing the oportunitie of the place fauourable to their vertues: wee must march by the rising of a hill, one horse after another; neither haue we anie other waie to draw our Artillerie, our baggage, our cartes and bridges, but by the streight of the hill: and who doub∣teth not but in a waie so narrowe and combrous, euerie artillerie, euerie carte, or euery wheele that shall breake, will not stay the Armie a whole houre at the least? By which impediments euerie contrarie accident may put vs to disorder. The enemie is lodged in couert, prouided of victuals and forrage; and wee must incampe all bare and naked, not carying with vs that which should serue for our necessarie nouriture, but expect the things to come after; which in rea∣son ought to go with vs. To attempt newe enterprises, whereof the victorie is lesse certaine then the perill, is contrarie to the grauitie and reputation of a lea∣der; and in actions of the warre, those enterprises are put to aduenture, that are done by will and not by reason. Many difficulties may compell vs to make our aboade there, two or three daies; yea the snowes and raines ioyned with the ex∣tremitie of the season, may suffice to detaine vs: how shall we then doe for vic∣tuals and forrages? What shall we be able to doe in the warres, wanting the thinges that should giue vs strength and sustenance? What is he that conside∣reth not, how dangerous it is to go seeke the enemie in a strong campe, and to be driuen at one time to fight against them, and against the discommoditie of the place? If we compell them not to abandon their campe, wee cannot but be inforced to retire; a matter of great difficultie in a countrey so wholy against vs, and where euerie little disfauour will turne to our great disaduantage, &c.

And thus proceeded that graue discourse, in the discouerie of the particular occurrences, incident to that enterprise; which being laied open to their confu∣sed iudgments, did manifestly point at the great disaduantages, which were to be vndergone, by that attempt.

The other example is of more antiquitie,* 1.3 taken out of Tacitus, and concer∣neth the araignment of certaine senatours, for the friendship that had past be∣tweene Scianus and them. Amongst whom M. Terentius thus answered for himselfe; according as it hath of late been published by translation.

It would be peraduenture lesse behoouefull for my estate to acknowledge, then to denie the crime I am charged with: but happe what happe maie, I will confesse that I haue beene Seianus friend, and that I desired so to bee, and that after I had obtained his friendship, I was glad of it. I had seene him ioint officer with my father, in the gouernment of the pretorian cohort; and not long after in managing the cittie affaires, and matters of warre: his kinsemen and allies were aduanced to honour, as euerie man was inward with Seianus, so he was graced by Caesar: and contrariwise, such as were not in his fauour, liued in feare, and distressed with pouertie. Neither doe I alleadge any man for an ex∣ample of this; all of vs who were not priuie to his last attempts, with the dan∣ger of my onely estate I will defend: not Seianus the Vulsiniensis, but a part of the Claudian and Iulian familie, which by alliance hee had entered into; thy sonne in law Caesar, thy companion in the Consulship, and him, who tooke vp∣on him thy charge of administring the common-wealth, wee did reuerence

and honor. It is not our part to iudge of him, whom thou doest exalt aboue the rest, nor for what considerations: to thee the highest iudgement of thinges the gods haue giuen; and to vs the glory of obedience is left. We looke into those thinges which we see before our eies, whom thou doest inrich, whome thou doest aduance to honours, who haue greatest power of hurting or helping, which Seianus to haue had, no man will denie. The Princes hidden thoughts, or if he go about any secret drift, it is not lawful to sound, and dangerous; nei∣ther shalt thou in the ende reach vnto them. Thinke not onely Lordes of the senate, of Seianus last daie; but of sixteene yeeres, in which wee did likewise fawne vppon and court Satrius, and Pomponius; and to be knowne vnto his freed men and partners, was reckoned for a high fauour. What then? shall this defence bee generall, and not distinguished, but a confusion made of times past, and his latter actions? no, but let it by iust boundes and tearmes be deuided: let the treasons against the common wealth, the inten∣tions of murdering the Emperour bee punished; but as for the friendships, dueties, pleasures and good turnes, the same ende shall discharge and quit thee, O Caesar, and vs! The constancie of this Oration preualled so much, that his Accusers were punished with exile. And thus wee see howe particularities decide the controuersie, and make the waie plaine to good direction.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 9.
• * 1.3

  Anal. 6.