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. XI.

Caesar after three daies respite, followeth after the Heluetians: he taketh them to mercie, and sendeth them backe againe to the country.

CAESAR abode three daies in the place where the battell was fought,* 1.1 as well to burie the dead, as to refresh the wearied spirits of his ouerlaboured souldiers, that their woundes might the bet∣ter be cured: and in the meane time he sent letters to the* 1.2 Lin∣gones, not to furnish the Heluetians either with corne, or any o¦ther prouisions: for if they did, he would esteeme of them as of e∣nemies, and take them in the number of the vanquished Helueti∣ans; and at the three daies end, he made after them with all his forces. The Helueti∣ans constrained through penurie and want of necessarie supplements, sent embassadors to Caesar to intreat an acceptation of rendrie: who meeting him on the waie, threwe themselues at his feete, and with manie teares and supplications, they craued such fa∣uourable conditions of peace, as might best comfort a distressed people, and beseeme the glory of so famous a Conquest. Caesar first sent them word to attend his cōming in the place where they were: and at his comming he commanded them to deliuer vnto him a sufficient number of hostages and pledges, 2. to giue vp all the Armes and weapons they had, 3. and to deliuer vp the fugitiues that were fled vnto them in the time of the war. Whiles these thinges were a doing, part of the Heluetians to the number of 6000, stole out of the campe in the night, and tooke their iourney towardes the Rhene, and the Confines of the Germans: which when Caesar vnderstood, hee sent presently to those cities, through whose territories the Heluetians had passed; and commaunded them to bring them backe againe: which being diligently performed, he welcommed them with the entertainment of an enemy, and put them all to the sword. The rest he commanded to returne into their country from whence they came, and because they had neither corne nor any other sustenance, he caused the* 1.3 Allobroges to supply their necessities, and willed the Heluetians to reedifie their townes and citties which they had before destroied, and to inhabit in those friendly places which had giuen to their ancestors and themselues greater fortunes, then could elsewhere be afforded them: Wherein he was the more carefull, least if their country lying waste, the fertilitie of the soile might inuite the Germans from beyond the Rhene to tast the sweetnes which the Galles enioyed, and so the prouince should be sure of an vnquiet neighbour. In the campe of the Heluetians was found a register, containing the particular summes of all that were in that iourney, amounting to the number of 368000, whereof 92000 were fighting men: they that returned and saw the fortune of both their states, were 110000. And thus ended that warre.

THE OBSERVATION.

THe directions concerning their rendrie and returne, were very sound, and of good consequence. For first in that he commanded them to at∣tend his comming in the place where they were, he tooke away al mo∣tions

of new trouble which often remoues might haue caused, by the oportu∣nitie of some accident which might haue happened: assuring himselfe that their abode in that place would increase their miseries, and consequently ripen that desire of peace which they made shew of; considering that the Lingones in whose territories they were, durst not for feare of Caesars displeasure, furnish thē with any necessaries in that extremity. Touching the security which the Ro∣mans required of the loialty of such people as they conquered; their manner was, to take as hostages a sufficient number of the men children of the chiefest men of that nation, whose liues depended vpon their parentes fidelitie, and en∣ded with the first suspicion of their rebellion: which custome besides the present good, promised the like or better security to the next age, when as those chil∣dren by conuersation and acquaintance should be so affected to the Roman Empire, that returning to their owne country, their actions might rather tend to the aduancement thereof, then any way be preiudiciall to the same. And least the loue of liberty and freedome should preuaile more with them, then that affection which nature had inioyned them to beare to their children: he did what he could to take away the meanes and instruments of their rebellion, by causing them to deliuer vp such Armes and weapons as were there present: and so to become sutable to that petition of peace, which they had made. The sum of all is this. He corrected the insolencie of a furious people, & reduced them to a feeling of their owne madnes. He kept thē from sacking the possessions of ma∣nie thousandes, in the continent of Gallia; and sent them backe againe to con∣tinue their name and nation in the place, where they first inhabited; which con∣tinueth vnto this day. And thus we see, that there is no humour so headstrong, nor so backt with strength of circumstances, but it may meete with a remedie to qualifie the insolencie thereof, and make it subiect to correction and control∣ment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Langres.
• * 1.3

  Sauoyens.