CHAP. XI.
The Britains make peace with Caesar, but breake it againe, vpon the losse of the Romain shipping.
THE Britaines being ouerthrowne in this battaile;* assoone as they had recouered their safety by flight, they presently dispat∣ched messengers to Caesar to intreate for peace, promising ho∣stages and obedience, in whatsoeuer he commanded. And with these ambassadors returned Comius of Arras, whom Caesar had sent before into Britanie. Caesar complained, that, whereas they sent vnto him into Gallia to desire peace, notwithstanding at his comming they made warre against him, without any cause or reason at all; but excusing it by their ignorance, he commanded hostages to be deliuered vnto him: which they presently performed in parte; and the rest being to bee fet further off, shoulde likewise be rendered within a short time; in the meane while, they comman∣ded their people to returne to their possessions, and their Rulers and Princes came out of all quarters to commende themselues and their states to Caesar. The peace be∣ing thus concluded; foure daies after that Caesar came into Britanie, the eighteen shippes which were appointed for the horsemen, put out to sea with a gentle winde, and approaching so neere the coast of Britanie, that they were within viewe of the Romaine campe: there arose such a sodaine tempest, that none of them were able to holde their course, but some of them returned to the porte from whence they came; othersome were cast vpon the lower part of the Ilande, which lieth to the West warde; and there casting anchor tooke in such seas, that they were forced to commit themselues againe to the sea, and direct their course to the coast of Gallia. The same night it happened, that the moone being in the full, the tides were verie high in those seas; whereof the Romaines being altogether ignorant, both the Gal∣lies which were drawne vp vpon the shore were filde with the tide, and the shippes of burthen that laie at anchor, were shaken with the tempest, neither was there anie helpe to be giuen vnto them: so that many of them were rent, and split in pee∣ces; and the rest lost both their anchors, Gables and other tackling: and by that meanes became altogether vnseruiceable. Whereat the whole armie was excee∣dinglie troubled; for there was no other shipping to recarrie them bcke againe: Neither had they anie necessaries to newe furnish the olde: and euerie man knew that they must needes winter in Gallia; for as much as there was no prouision of corn in those places where they were. Which thing beeing knowne to the Princes of Britanie, that were assembled to confer of such thinges as Caesar had comman∣ded them to performe, when they vnderstood that the Romaines wanted both their horsemen, shipping, and prouision of corne, and coniecturing of the paucitie of their forces, by the small circuit of their camp; and that which was more important then all the rest, that Caesar had transported his soldiours without such necessarie cari∣ages, as they vsed to take with them: they thought it their best course to rebell, and to keepe the Romaines from corne and conuoies of prouision, and so prolong the matter, vntil winter came on. For they thought that if these were once ouerthrown Page 156 and cut off from returning into Gallia, neuer any man would afterward aduenture to bring an army into Britanie: therefore they conspired againe the second time, and conuaied themselues by stealth out of the campe, and got their men priuily out of the fields, to make head in some conuenient place against the Romans.
THE FIRST OBSERVATION.
COncerning the ebbing and flowing of the sea, and the causes there∣of; it hath already beene handled in the second booke, to which I will adde this much, as may serue to shew, how the Romaines be∣came so ignorant of the spring tides, which happen in the full and new of the moone. It is obserued by experience, that the motion of this waterie element is altogither directed by the course of the moon, wherin she exerciseth her regency, according as shee findeth the matter qualified for her influence. And for asmuch as all mediterrean seas, and such gulfes as are inclosed in sinues and bosomes of the earth, are both abridged of the liberty of their course, and through the smallnes of their quantity, are not so capable of celestiall power; as the Ocean it selfe: it consequently followeth, that the Tuskane seas, wherwith the Romains were chiefly acquainted, were not so answerable in effect to the o∣peration of the moon, as the maine sea, whose bounds are ranged in a more spa∣cious circuit; and through the plenteous abundance of his parts, better answe∣reth the vertue of the moone. The Ocean therfore being thus obedient to the course of the celestial bodies, taking hir course of flowing from the North, falleth with such a currant between the Orcades, and the maine of Noruegia; that she filleth our channel between England and France, with great swelling tides; and maketh her motion more eminent in these quarters, then in any other partes of the world. And hence it happeneth, that our riuer of Thames, lying with her mouth so ready to receiue the tyde as it commeth, and hauing withall a plaine leuelled belly, and a very smal fresh currant, taketh the tide as far into the land, as any other known riuer of Europe. And for this cause the Romans were ignorant of the spring tides in the ful of the moone.
THE SECOND OBSERVATION.
SVch as either by their own experience, or otherwise by obseruation of that which history recordeth, are acquainted with the gouernment of common weales, are not ignorant with what difficulty a nation, that ei∣ther hath long liued in liberty, or bin gouerned by cōmanders of their own cho∣sing, is made subiect to the yoake of bondage, or reduced vnder the obediēce of a stranger. For as we are apt by a naturall inclination to ciuill societie; so by the same nature wee desire a free disposition of our selues and possessions, as the cheefest end of the saide society. And therefore in the gouernment of a subdu∣ed state, what losse or disaduantage happeneth to the victor, or how indirectlie Page 157 soeuer it concerneth the bond of their thraldome, the captiue people behold it as a part of their aduersaries ouerthrow; and conceiue thereupon such spirites, as answere the greatnes of their hope, and sort with the strength of their will, which alwaies maketh that seeme easie to be effected which it desireth. And this was the reason, that the Britaines altered their resolution of peace, vpon the losse which the Romans had receiued in their shipping.
