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 OBSERVATION.

FRom hence I may take occasion,* 1.1 briefely to touch the reuerent opi∣nion, which all nations, howe barbarous soeuer, haue generally conceiued of the qualitie and condition of ambassadours: and what the groundes are of this vniuersall receiued custome, which in all a∣ges, and times hath held Authenticall. And first we are to vnderstand, that all man kinde (as indued with the same nature and properties) are so linked toge∣ther in the strict alliance of humane society; that, albeit their turbulent and dis∣agreeing passions (which in themselues are vnnaturall, as proceeding from cor∣ruption and defect) driue them into extreme discord and disunion of spirit, and breake the bonds of ciuill conuersation, which otherwise we do naturally affect:

yet without a necessarie entercourse and trafficke of societie, we are not able to keepe on foote the very discord it selfe, in tearmes of reason and orderly pro∣ceeding, but all parts will be blended with disordered confusion, & go to wrack, for want of these mutuall offices performed by messengers: so streight are the bondes of nature, and so powerfull are the lawes which she enacteth. And ther∣fore if it were for no other end, which might sort to the benefit of either partie, (as there are many good vses thereof) yet to holde vp the quarrell and keepe it from falling, making war, according to the grounds of reason, the entercourse of messengers is not to be interrupted, nor their persons to be touched with hateful violence: but that which the common reason of nations hath made a law, ought as religiously to be obserued, as an Oracle of our owne beliefe. Secondly, for as much as the ende of warre is, or at the least should be, peace: which by trea∣tie of mutuall messengers is principally to be confirmed, to the end that no peo∣ple may seeme so barbarous, as to maintaine a warre; which onelie intendeth bloud, and proposeth as the chiefest obiect, the death and mortality of mankind, no way respecting peace and ciuill gouernment: such as refuse the entercourse of messengers, as the meanes of amitie and concord, are iustly condemned in the iudgment of all nations, as vnworthie of humane societie. Last of all, it is an iniurie of great dishonour, and deserueth the reward of extreme infamie, to reuenge the master his quarrell vpon a seruant, and punish ambassadours for the faults of their state: considering that their chiefest dutie consisteth in the faith∣full relation of such mandates, as they haue receiued, which may as well tende to the aduancement and honour of that cittie, to which they are sent; as to the dishonour and ruine of the same, whereof the messengers take no notice. And therefore whether we desire warre or peace; the free libertie, and holy order of ambassadours, is reuerently to be respected, and defended from brutish and vn∣naturall violence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The groundes of that reue∣rent opinion which is held of ambassa∣dors.