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.

THE THIRD OBSERVATION.

THirdly we may obserue, how carefully Caesar prouided for the safe∣tie of such succours, as he sent vnto Bibrax: for hee commanded the same messengers to direct them that came from the towne, as the best and surest guides in that iourney, least peraduenture through ig∣norance of the way, they might fall into inconueniences or dangers: a matter of no small consequence in managing a warre, but deserueth an extraordinarie importunitie, to persuade the necessitie of this diligence. For a Generall that hath perfectlie discouered the nature of the countrey, through which he is to march, and knoweth the true distances of places, the qualitie of the waies, the compendiousnesse of turnings, the nature of the hils and the course of the ri∣uers, hath all these particularities as maine aduantages, to giue meanes of so many seuerall attempts vpon an enemy: And in this point Hanniball had a sin∣gular dexterity, and excelled all the commanders of his time in making vse of the way, by which he was to passe. But he that leadeth an army, by an vnknown and vndiscouered way, and marcheth blindfold vpon vncertaine aduentures, is subiect to as many casualties and disaduantages, as the other hath opportuni∣tie of good fortune. Let euery man therefore persuade himselfe, that good disco∣uerers are as the eyes of an army, and serue for lights in the darkenesse of igno∣rance, to direct the resolutions of good prouidence, and make the path of sa∣fetie so manifest, that we neede not stumble vpon casualties. Caesar in his iour∣ney to Ariouistus vsed the helpe of Diuitiacus the Heduan, in whome amongst all the Galles, he reposed greatest confidence to discouer the waie, and acquaint him with the passages; and before hee would vndertake his voyage vnto Bri∣tanie, he well enformed himselfe by marchants and trauailers, of the quantity of the Iland, the quality of the people, their vse of warre, and the oportunitie of their hauens: Neither was he satisfied with their relations, but hee sent Cai∣us Volusenus in a ship of warre, to see what hee could further discouer, con∣cerning these points. Suetonius addeth moreouer, that hee neuer caried his army, per insidiosa itinera, vnlesse he had first well discouered the places.

Concerning the order, which skilfull leaders haue obserued in discoueries, we are to knowe that this point consisteth of two partes: the one in vnderstan∣ding the perfect description of the countrey; and the second in obseruing the motions of the enemy. Touching the first, we finde as well by this as other hi∣stories, that the Romains vsed the inhabitants of the country for guides, as best acquainted with their natiue places, that they might not erre in so important a matter; prouided alwaies, that their owne scoutes were euer abroad to vnder∣stand what they could of themselues, that they might not altogither relie vpon a strangers direction. The motions of the enemy were obserued by the horse∣men, and these for the most part were Veterani, well experienced in the matter

of warre, and so the generall receiued sound aduertisements: and yet they were not too forward vpon any new motion, vnlesse they found it confirmed by di∣uers waies: for some espials may erre, either through passion or affection, as it happened in the Heluetian warre. If therefore the vse and benefit, which pru∣dent and wise commanders made of this diligence, or the misfortune which the want of this knowledge brought vpon the ignorant, haue any authoritie to per∣swade a circumspect care herein, this little that hath beene spoken may be suffi∣cient, for this point.

Notes

• The necessitie of good disco∣uerie.
• Now Eng∣land.
• The order which is to be obserued in discouery.