CHAP. XVII.
The treatie betweene Caesar and Ariouistus.
THE rest of the legions in like manner dealt with their Tribunes and chiefest Centurions,* 1.1 to satisfie Caesar of their obedience, affir∣ming that they neuer doubted nor feared, no nor so much as thought that it belonged to them, to determine any thing concer∣ning the course of the warre, but that it was onely left to their Emperour; their purgation accepted, and good instructions being taken by Diuitiacus, in the fourth watch he marched forward ac∣cording to the purport of his former speech. The seuenth day as he continued on his iourney, his espialles brought him word, that Ariouistus with all his forces was within 24 miles of that place: who assoone as he vnderstood of Caesars comming, sent embas∣sadours vnto him, declaring that forasmuch as he was come somewhat nearer, and that he might doe it without danger, he was content to admit of a parlee, vpon this condi∣tion, that Caesar would bring no footmen to the meeting (for he feared to be surprised by treacherie) but onely horsemen, and in that sort he would meete him. Caesar accep∣ted of the condition, hoping at length that he would harken to reason and desist from wilfull obstinacie: and because he durst not commit himselfe to the French horsemen, he thought it best to take their horses, and to set the souldiers of the tenth legion vpon them, that if he stood in neede he might haue a faithfull guard of his friendes about him. There was a great and open plaine, and in the middest thereof a rising mount, and thither they came to the parlee: the legion which Caesar had brought with him on horsebacke, he placed 200 paces from the said mount; and likewise the horsemen of Ariouistus stood in the same distance: Ariouistus requested that they might talke on horsebacke, and bring each of them ten persons to the parlee. Their expostulations were the same in effect, with those messages which were carried betweene them by embas∣sadours. Much vnkindnes tooke by Caesar, considering the friendship which the Romans had shewed vnto Ariouistus, that he would not vouchsafe to treate with them: and on the other side as great iniurie conceiued by him, forasmuch as the law of nations gaue no such prerogatiue to any one people that they should challenge in other countries by