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. III.

Caesar passeth his Armie ouer the riuer* 1.1 Axona, leauing Titurius Sabinus incamped on the other side with sixe cohorts.

ASSOONE as Caesar vnderstood,* 1.2 as well by his discourers, as from the men of Rheimes, that all the power of the Belgae was as∣sembled together into one place, and was now making towardes him no great destance off; he made all the haste he could to passe his Armie ouer the riuer Axona, which deuided the men of Rheimes from the other Belgae. Wherby he brought to passe, that no enemie could come on the backe of him to worke any disad∣uantage: and that corne might be brought vnto him from Rheimes, and other cities without danger. And further, that he might command the passage backe againe, as occasion should serue to his best aduantage, he fortified a bridge which he found on the riuer, with a strong garrison of men, and caused Titurius Sabinus a Legate, to in∣campe himselfe on the other side of the riuer with sixe cohortes, commaunding him to fortifie his campe with a rampier of 12 foote in altitude, and a trench of 18 foote in breadth.

OBSERVATION.

IF it be demaunded, why Caesar did passe his Armie ouer the riuer, leauing it on his backe; and did not rather attend the enemie on the other side, and so take the aduantage of hindering him, if he should attempt to passe ouer? I will set downe the reasons in the sequell of this warre, as the occurrences shall fall out to make them more euident. In the meane time let vs enter into the particularitie of these sixe cohortes, that wee maie the better iudge of such troupes which were imploied in the seruices of this warre: but that wee may the better coniecture what number of souldiers

these sixe cohortes did containe, it seemeth expedient, a little to discourse of the companies and regiments, which the Romans vsed in their Armies.

And first we are to vnderstand,* 1.3 that the greatest and chiefest regiment in a Roman Armie, was tearmed by the name of Legio: as Varro saith, quod legun∣tur milites in delectu: or as Plutarch speaketh, quod lecti ex omnibus essent mili∣tares; so that it taketh the name Legio of the choise and selecting of the soldiers. Romulus is said to be the first author & founder of these legions, making euerie legion to containe 3000 soldiers: but shortly after they were augmented, as Fe∣stus recordeth vnto 4000: and afterward againe from 4000 to 4200. And that number was the common rate of a legion vntill Hanniball came into Italie,* 1.4 and then it was augmented to 5000, but that proportion continued onely for that time. And againe, when Scipio went into Africke, the legions were increased to 6200 footmen, and 300 horse. And shortly after the Macedonian warre, the legions that continued in Macedonie to keepe the Prouince from rebellion, consisted of 6000 footmen and 300 horse. Out of Caesar it cannot be gathered, that a legion in his time did exceede the number of 5000 men; but oftentimes it was short of that number: for he himselfe saith, that in this warre in Gallia his soldiers were so wasted, that he had scarce 7000 men in two legions. And if we examine that place out of the 3 of the ciuill war, where he saith, that in Pompei his Armie were 110 cohorts, which amounted to the nūber of 55000 men: And being manifest as well by these number of cohortes, as by the testimonie of di∣uers authors, that Pompei his Army consisted of 11 legions; if we deuide 55000 into 11 partes, we shall finde a legion to consist of 5000 men. Which number or thereabout, being generally knowne to be the vsuall rate of a legion, the Ro∣mans alwaies expressed the strength of their Armie by the number of legions that were therein: as in this warre it is said, that Caesar had eight legions, which by this account might arise to 40000 men, besides associates, and such as neces∣sarily attended the Armie. Further we are to vnderstand, that euery legion had his peculiar name, by which it was knowne and distinguished from the rest, and that it tooke either from their order of muster, or inrolment; as that legion which was first inrolled, was called the first legion; and that which was second in choice, the second legion; and so consequently of the rest; and so we reade in this historie, the seuenth, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleuenth and twelfth legion: or otherwise from the place of their warfare, and so we read of legiones Germanicae, Panonicae, Britannicae, and such others; and sometime of their Generall, as Augusta, Claudia, Vitellianae, legiones, and so forth. Or to conclude, from some accident or qualitie,* 1.5 as Rapax, Victrix, Fulminifera and such like. And this much of the name and number of a legion, which I must necessarilie distinguish into diuers kindes of souldiers, according to the first institution of the olde Romans, and the continuall obseruation thereof vnto the decay of the Empire, before I come to the description of these smaller partes, whereof a legi∣on was compounded.

First therefore we are to vnderstand, that after the Consuls had made a gene∣nerall choise and sworne the souldiers,* 1.6 the Tribunes chose out the youngest and poorest of all the rest, and called them by the name of Velites. Their place

in regard of the other souldiers was both base & dishonorable: not only because they fought a farre off, and were lightly armed; but also in regard they were commonly exposed to the enemy, as our forelorne hopes are. Hauing chosen out a competent number for this kinde, they proceeded to the choise of them which they called Hastati,* 1.7 a degree aboue the Velites, both in age and wealth, and tearmed them by the name of Hastati; forasmuch as at their first institution they fought with a kind of Iauelin, which the Romaines called Hasta: but be∣fore Polybius his time they vsed Piles; notwithstanding their ancient name con∣tinued vnto the latter time of the Empire.* 1.8 The third choise which they made was of the strongest and lustiest bodied men, who for the prime of their age were called Principes; the rest that remained were named Triarij, as Varro saith, Quod tertio ordine extremis subsidio deponuntur: These were alwaies the eldest and best experienced men, and were placed in the third diuision of the battell, as the last helpe and refuge in all extremity.* 1.9 Polybius saith, that in his time the Velites, Hastati, and Principes, did consist of 1200 men a peece; and the Tri∣arij neuer exceeded the number of 600. although the generall number of a le∣gion were augmented:* 1.10 whereof Lypsius allegeth these reasons. First bicause these Triarij consisted of the best of the soldiors, and so might counteruaile a greater number in good worth and valour. Secondly, it seldome came to buckle with the enemy, but when the controuersie grewe very doubtfull. Lastly, wee may well coniecture that the voluntaries and extraordinarie folowers, ranged them∣selues amongst these Triaries, and so made the third battel equal to either of the former; but howsoeuer, they neuer exceeded the number of 600. And by this it appeareth, that in Polybius his time the common rate of a legion was 4200.

In this diuision of their men consisted the ground of that well ordered dis∣cipline; for in that they distinguished them according to their yeeres and abili∣tie, they reduced their whole strength into seueral classes; & so disposed of these different parts,* 1.11 that in the generall cōposition of their whole bodie euery part might be fitted with place and office, according as his worth vvas answerable to the same: & so they made not only a number in grosse, but a number distinct by parts and properties, that from euery accident which met with any part of the armie, the iudgement might determine how much or howe little it imported the whole bodie: besides the great vse vvhich they made of this distinction in their degrees of honour and preferment; a matter of no smal consequence, in the excellencie of their gouernment.

The soldiours,* 1.12 at their inrolement beeing thus deuided according to their yeeres and abilitie, they then reduced them into smaller companies, to make them fitter for command and fight: and so they deuided the Hastati, Principes, and Triarii, each of them into 10 companies, making of those 3. sortes of sol∣diours 30. small regiments, vvhich they called Manipuli: And againe, they sub∣deuided euerie maniple into two equall parts,* 1.13 and called them Ordo, vvhich was the least companie in a legion; and according to the rate set down by Polybius, contained 60. soldiours. In euerie Ordo there was a Centurion, or Captaine, and a Lieuetenant, whom they named Optio or Tergiductor. The maniples of the Triarii were much lesser then the maniples of either the Hastati or the Prin∣cipes;

for as much as their whole band consisted but of 600. men. The Velites were put into no such companies, but were equally distributed amongst the o∣ther Maniples; and therefore the Hastati, Principes, and Triarij were called sub∣signanos milites, to make a difference between them and the Velites, which were not deuided into bandes; and so consequently had no ensigne of their own, but were distributed amongst the other companies: so that euery Maniple had 40. Velites attending vpon it. And now I come to the description of a cohort, which the history heere mentioneth.

The worde Cohors in latine doth signifie that part of grounde which is com∣monly inclosed before the gate of a house,* 1.14 which from the same word we call a court: and Varro giueth this reason of the metaphor. As in a farme house, saith he, many out-buildings ioined together make one inclosure; so a cohort consis∣teth of seuerall maniples ioined together in one body. This cohort consisted of three maniples; for euerie legion had ten cohorts, which must necessarily com∣prehend those thirty maniples: but these 3. maniples were not al of one and the same kind of soldiors, as three maniples of the Hastati, 3. of the Principes, and 3. of the Triarij, as Patricius in his Paralleli seemeth to affirme; for so there would haue remained an odde maniple in euery kind, that could not haue been brought into any cohort: But a cohort contained a maniple of the Hastati, a maniple of the Principes, and a maniple of the Triarij; and so al the 30. maniples were included into 10. cohorts; & euery cohort was as a little legion; forasmuch as it consisted of al those sortes of soldiours that were in a legion. So that ma∣king a legion to containe 5000. men; a cohort had 500. and so these 6. cohorts, which he incamped on the other side of the riuer, vnder the command of Titu∣rius Sabinus, contayned 3000. soldiours: but if you make a legion to consist but of 4200. which was the more vsuall rate, there were 2520. soldiours in these sixe cohortes.

By this therefore it may appeare, that a legion consisted of foure sorts of sol∣diours, which were reduced into ten cohorts, and euery cohort contained 3. ma∣niples; & euery maniple 2. orders; and euery order had his Centurion marching in the head of the troupe; and euery Centurion had his optionem, or Lieutenāt, that stood in the taile of the troupe.

When a legion stoode ranged in battell ready to confront the enemy,* 1.15 the least body or squadron that it contained was a maniple; wherein the two orders were ioined together, making iointly ten in front, and twelue in file: and so eue∣rie fiue files had their Centurion in front, and Lieutenant in the rereward, to direct them in all aduentures. In the time of the Emperours, their battai∣lions consisted of a cohort, and neuer exceeded that number how great soeuer the army were.

Polybius distinguishing a maniple into two centuries or orders,* 1.16 saith, that the Centurion first chosen by the Tribunes, commanded the right order, which was that order which stoode on the right hand, knowne by the name of Primus ordo: and the Centurion elected in the second course, commanded the left or∣der; and in the absence of either of them, hee that was present of them two, commaunded the whole maniple. And so wee finde that the Centurion of the

first place was called Prior Centurio: in which sense Caesar is to be vnderstood, where hee saith,* 1.17 that all the Centurions of the first cohorte were slaine, praeter principem priorem. From whence we gather two specialities, first; the prioritie betweene the Centurions of the same maniple: for a cohorte consisting of 3. maniples, vvhereof the first maniple vvere Triarij, the second Principes, and the thirde Hastati; and euerie maniple containing two orders; and euerie order a Centurion: he saith, that all the Centurions of this cohort vvere slaine; sauing the first or vpper Centurion of the Principes.* 1.18 The second thing vvhich I ob∣serue, is the title of the first cohort: for these 10. cohortes, vvhereof a legion consisted, vvere distinguished by degrees of worthinesse; and that vvhich vvas held the vvorthiest in the censure of the Electors, tooke the prioritie both of place and name, and vvas called the first cohort: the next, the second cohort; & so consequently vnto the tenth and last.

Neither did the legions want their degrees of preheminēce, both in imbattai∣ling & in incāping, according either to the seniority of their inrolement, or their fauor of their General, or their own vertue: And so we read that in these vvars in Gallia, the tenth legion had the first place in Caesars army. And thus much concerning the diuisions, and seuerall companies of a legion, and the degrees of honour which they held in the same.

Vpon this description it shall not be amisse, briefelie to laie open the most apparant commodities depending vpon this discipline;* 1.19 the excellency vvhere∣of more plainely appeareth, bein compared to that order, vvhich nature hath obserued in the frame of her vvorthiest creatures: for it is euident, that such workes of nature come neerest to perfect excellencie, vvhose material sub∣stance is most particularlie distinguished into parts, and hath euery part indued vvith that propertie, which best agreeth to his peculiar seruice. For beeing thus furnished with diuersitie of instruments, and these directed vvith fitting a∣bilities; the creature must needs expresse many admirable effects, and discouer the vvorth of an excellent nature: vvhereas those other bodies, that are but slen∣derly laboured, and find lesse fauour in natures forge, being as abortiues, or bar∣barously composed, vvanting the diuersitie both of partes and faculties; are no vvay capable of such excellent vses, nor fit for such distinct seruices, as the for∣mer that are directed vvith so many properties, and inabled vvith the power of so wel distinguished faculties. Which better works of nature the Romains imitated in the Architecture of their army, deuiding it into such necessary & seruiceable partes, as were best fitting all vses and imploiments: as first into legions, and le∣gions into cohorts, and cohorts into maniples, and maniples into centuries or orders, and these into files; wherein euery man knewe his place, and kept the same without exchange or confusion. And thus the vniuersall multitude was by order disposed into partes, vntill it came vnto a vnitie: for it cannot bee denied, but that these centuries were in themselues so sensiblie distinguished, that euerie Soldiour caried in his minde the particular Mappe of his whole centurie: for in imbtttailing, euerie centurie was disposed into 5. files, con∣tayning twelue in a file, whereof the leaders were alwayes certaine, and neuer changed but by death or some other especiall occasion: and euerie

leader knew his follower, and euerie second knewe the third man, and so conse∣quently vnto the last.

Vpon these particularities it plainly appeareth, how easie a matter it was, to reduce their troupes into any order of a march or a battell, to make the front the flanke, or flanke front, when they were broken and disrankt to rallie them into any forme, when euery man knew both his owne and his fellowes station. If any companies were to be imploied vpon sudden seruice, the generall Idea of the Armie being so deepely imprinted in the minde of the commanders, would not suffer them to erre in taking out such conuenient troupes, both for number and quality, as might best agree with the safetie of the Armie, or nature of the action: At all occasions and oportunities, these principles of aduantage offe∣red themselues, as readie meanes, to put in execution any dessigne, or strata∣gem whatsoeuer; the proiect was no sooner resolued of, but euerie man could readily point out the companies that were fit to execute the intention. And which is more important, in regard of the life and spirit of euerie such part, their sodalitie was sweetned, or rather strengthened with the mutuall acquain∣tance, and friendshippe one of another, the captaine marching alwaies in the head of the troupe, the ensigne in the middest, and the lieutenant in the rere∣ward, and euerie man accompanied with his neighbour and his friend; which bred a true and vnfained courage, both in regard of themselues, and of their followers. Besides these specialities, the places of title and dignity depending vpon this order, were no small meanes to cutte off all matter of ciuill discorde, and intestine dissention: for here euerie man knew his place in the file, and eue∣rie file knewe his place in the Centurie, and euerie Centurie in the Maniple, and euerie Maniple in the Cohort, and euerie Cohort in the Legion, and eue∣rie Legion in the Armie; and so euerie souldier had his place, according to his vertue; and euerie place gaue honour to the man, according as their discipline had determined thereof.

The vvant of this discipline hath dishonoured the martiall gouernment of this age, with bloudshed and murthers; whereof France is too true a wit∣nesse, as well in regard of the French themselues, as of our English forces that haue beene sent thither to appease their tumults: for through defect of this or∣der, which allotteth to euerie man his due place, the controuersie grew between Sir William Drurie and Sir Iohn Bowrowes, the issue whereof is too well known to the world: wherein as our commanders in France haue been negligent, so I may not forget to giue due commēdation to the care which is had of this point amongst the English troups, in the seruice of the states in the vnited prouinces, where they are very curious in appointing euerie man his place in the file, and euerie file in the troupe, and find much benefit thereby, besides the honour of reuiuing the Roman discipline.

To conclude this point,* 1.20 I will onely touch in a word the benefite, which the Romans found in their small battailions, and the disaduantage, which we haue in making great squadrons. And first it cannot be denied, but that such troupes stand best appointed for disposition and array of battell, which standing strong to receiue a shocke, bring most men to fight with the enemie: for the principall

thinges which are required in setting of a battell, are so to order the troupes, that the depth in flanke may serue conueniently to withstand the assault, taking vp no more men then may well serue for that purpose; and giuing meanes to the rest to fight with the enemie; and in these two points, were both their defensiue and offensiue considerations comprehended. But smaller troupes and battailons af∣forde this conueniencie better then great squadrons, which drowne vp manie able men in the depth of their flankes, and neuer suffer them to appeare, but when the breaking of the squadron doth present them to the butcherie of the e∣nemie. The Macedonian Phalanx, as I haue noted in the first booke, neuer ca∣ried aboue 16 in flanke, and brought 500 to fight in front. And these little bat∣tailons (considering them as they stood in battell ray) made as great a front or greater, then that of the Phalanx, keeping a depth answerable to the same; be∣sides the 2 and 3 battell, which alwaies were to succour them, which the Phalanx wanted: neither would their thicke and close imbattailing admit any such suc∣cour behind them. Now if we cōpare the aduantages & discommodities, which by place and accident were incident to either of these, we shall find great ods betweene them. These great squadrons are not faisable, but in plaine and open places, where they may either stand immoueable, or make easie and slow moti∣ons without shaking, or disordering their bodie: but the lesser are a scantling for all places, champion or wooddie, leuell or vneuen, or of what site or quality soeuer. And to conclude, if two or three rankes of these great battailons chance to be broken and disordered, the whole body is as much interessed in the disor∣der, as the said rankes are; and hath lesse meanes to rally it selfe, then any other lesser companie: but if any violence chance to rout a maniple, it proceedeth no further in the Armie, then that part which it taketh: Neither can the disranking of any one part, betraie the safetie of the Armie to disorder and confusion; for as much as their distinction serued to cut off such inconueniences, and yet no waie hindered the generall vniting of their strength into one body. More may be said concerning this matter, but I onely point at it, and leaue the due consi∣deration thereof, to the iudgment of our commanders, & returne to our history.

Notes

• * 1.1

  La disne.
• * 1.2

  Caesar.
• * 1.3

  A legion what it was. Lib. 4. De vita Ro∣muli.
• * 1.4

  Liu. lib. 22.
• * 1.5

  Tacitus 3. hist.
• * 1.6

  Velites.
• * 1.7

  Hastati.
• * 1.8

  Principes.
• * 1.9

  Lib. 6.
• * 1.10

  Lib. 1. de mil. Rom.
• * 1.11

  The vse of this diuision.
• * 1.12

  The distincti∣on of their companies. Manipuli.
• * 1.13

  Ordo.
• * 1.14

  Cohors. Lib. 3. de re rust.
• * 1.15

  Alegion ran∣ged in battell.
• * 1.16

  The first order
• * 1.17

  3. De bello ciuili.
• * 1.18

  Prima cohors
• * 1.19

  The benefit of this discipline
• * 1.20

  The benefit of small battai¦lions: and the disaduantage of great squa¦drons▪