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.

OBSERVATIONS.

SVch as haue spent their time in the contemplation of nature, and haue made diligent search of the temperature & quality of climates and nations, haue all with one consent made choler the regent of the French complexion; distinguishing the people, with such attri∣butes, as the saide humour vsually breedeth. Neither haue these conditions, which Caesar so long agoe obserued in the ancient Galles, anie disresemblance from that, which the learned of this age haue deliuered, concerning the nature of the said inhabitants: but that irresolute constitution, which breedes such no∣uelties and contrarieties of actions, continueth the same vnto these times, in the inhabitants of that country, notwithstanding the alteration of customes, and people, or what els so long a time hath changed; which argueth the vnresistable power of celestiall influence, establishing an vniformitie of nature, according as the site of the place lieth capable of their powerfull aspect.

The cause of the diuersity in the temperature of nations, which are differenced

by North and south, is not without apparant cause, attributed to their propin∣quitie, or distance from the course of the sunne, which distinguisheth by heate and cold the Northren and Southerne climates of the earth; and separateth the inhabitants thereof, by the dominion of their actiue qualities. But the reason whie two nations which are both in the same climate, and vnder the same pa∣rallel, receiuing the virtue of the celestial bodies, by the same downefal and re∣bound of their beames, being differenced only by East and West; are so much disunited in nature, and so vnlike in disposition, is not so apparant: whether it be as some haue imagined, for asmuch as the all inclosing spheare, which remai∣neth quiet and immoueable aboue the circuit of the first motor, hath his parts diuersly distinguished with varietie of properties; which by continuall refe∣rence and mutuall aspect, are imprinted in the correspondent quarters of the earth; and so keepe a perpetuall residency of one and the same quality, in one and the same place; and make also the varietie of fashions in such partes, as o∣therwise are equall fauorites of the heauens maiestie, by receiuing an equall measure of light, heat and vertue; or whether the saide quarters of the earth are in themselues diuersly noted, with seuerall qualities, which appropriate the selfe same influence to their particular nature, and so alter it into many fashi∣ons; or whether there be some other vnknown cause: I wil leaue euery man to sa∣tisfie himselfe with that which seemeth most probable vnto him, and proceed to the discouerie of this cholericke passion. Wherein I will indeuor to shew how impatiencie, sodaine resolution, and desire of noueltie, are naturall adiuncts of this humor: And if Caesar made vse of this philosophie in the managing of that warre, let it not be thought impertinent to the knowledge of a Generall, to enter into the consideration of this learning. Wherein first, I must laie for a maxime that which long experience hath made authenticall, that the motions of the minde are either quicke or slow, according as the complexion is tempe∣red, either with heat or cold: for as the flegmaticall humor, is of a moist, cold and heauy nature, begetting weake and grosse spirits, and benumming the in∣struments with a liueles disability; so is the motion of the internall faculties, proceeding likewise after a slow maner, according to the qualitie of the instru∣ments, whereby it moueth: and therefore men of this watrish constitution, are no way apt to receiue an impression, nor to entertaine any sensible apprehen∣sion, vnles it be beaten into them, with often and strong repetitions; and then also they proceede as slowlie in discoursing of the consequence, and linger in the choise of their resolutions. On the contrary part, this flaua bilis, being of a hote piercing nature, and resembling the actiue vertue of the fire, doth so puri∣fie the instruments of sense, and quicken the spirits with the viuacity of motion, that they take the first impression as perfectly, as if it had beene oftentimes pre∣sented vnto them, with many strong circumstances. And thence it happeneth, that inasmuch as the Species is so readily receiued, and possesseth the apprehen∣ding facultie, with such facility of entrance, that it moueth the other powers of the soule, with as great efficacie at the first conception, as if it had beene brought in with troupes of probabilities, and strengthened with manifest argu∣ments of vndoubted truth: It followeth therefore (by reason of the subtile and

fit disposition of the instrumentes, which proceedeth from heate the chiefest qualitie in choler) that the obiect is at the first moment so strongly setteled, in the first receiuing facultie, that the other powers of the minde, with as great speede manifest their offices, concerning the apprehension; and deliuer a sen∣tence answerable to the strength of the first conception: which maketh them so impatient of delaie, and so sodainly to alter their former resolutions, not suffe∣ring the discoursiue power to examine the substance thereof, by conference of circumstances; nor to giue iudgment according to the course of our intellectu∣al court. It behooueth therefore euery man, in that vnsteady disposition, espe∣cially in matter of moment, to be suspicious of his owne credulity, and not to giue place to resolution, before his iudgement be informed, by discourse of the strength or weakenes of the conceiued opinion.

But to leaue these speculatiue meditations, to Philosophers of learned con∣ceit: for as much as the right vse of passions is either true wisdome, or commeth neerest to the same; I will onely touch in a worde what degree of choler best be∣fitteth a soldier; or howe it auaileth, or disaduantageth in matter of warre. And first it cannot bee denied, that there is almost no passion, that doth more eclips the light of reason, or sooner corrupteth the sinceritie of a good iudge∣ment, then this of anger, which we now speake of: Neither is there any motion that more pleaseth it selfe in his owne actions, or followeth them with greater heate in the execution. And if the trueth chance to shewe it selfe, and con∣uince a false pretended cause, as the authour of that passion, it oftentimes re∣doubleth the rage euen against truth and innocency. Piso condemned a soldi∣er for returning from forraging, without his companion, being persuaded that he had slaine him: but at the instant of the execution, the other that was mis∣sing, returned, and with great ioy of the whole army, they were caried to the ge∣nerall, thinking to haue much gratified him, with the manifestation of the truth: but hee through shame and despight, being yet in the torture of his wrath, re∣doubled his anger, and by a subtilty which his passion furnished him withall, he made three culpable for that he found one innocent; the first, because the sen∣tence of death was past against him, and was not to bee recalled without the breach of law: the second, for that hee was the cause of the death of his compa∣nion: and thirdly, the executioner, for not obeying his commandement.

Concerning matter of warre, as it consisteth of differenced partes; so hath choler diuers effectes. In case of discourse and consultation, when as the pow∣ers of the minde ought to bee cleere of all violent affections, it greatly darke∣neth the vnderstanding, and troubleth the sincerity of a good iudgement, as Caesar noted in his speech to the senate concerning Cateline: and therefore a commander must, by al meanes indeuor to auoid, euen the least motions of so hurtfull a passion; and season his affections, with that grauity and constancy of spirit, that no turbulent disposition may, either hinder his vnderstanding, or with-hold his will from following that course, which reason appointeth, as the best means to a fortunate successe: alwaies remembring, that al his actions are presented vpon a stage, and passe the censure of many curious beholders, which applaud graue and patient motions, as the greatest proofe of true wisdom;

and disallow of passionate, and headstrong affection, as derogating from the sin∣cere cariage of an action, how iust soeuer otherwise it seemeth.

Concerning execution and furie of battaile, I take anger to be a necessa∣rie instrument to set valour on foote, and to ouerwage the difficulties of ter∣rour, with a furious resolution: for considering that the noblest actions of the minde, stande in neede of the impulsions of passions, I take anger to bee the fittest meanes, to aduance the valiant carriage of a battaile: for as feare is trecherous and vnsafe; so anger is confident and of an vnquenchable heate; and therefore a Commaunder ought by all meanes, to suggest matter of an∣ger against an enemie, that his men may behold them with a wrathfull regard, and thirst after the daie of battell, to satisfie their furie with the bloud of their aduersaries. If any vrge that it hath beene heretofore obserued of the Galles, that in the beginning of a battel they were more then men, and in the latter end they were lesse then women; and therfore a cholerick disposition is not so fit for seruice, as we seem to make it. I answere, that there is a difference between a dis∣position to choler, such as was obserued in the Galles, and the passion of anger, wel kindled in the minde: for the first is subiect to alteration and contrarietie of actions; but the other is furious, inuincible, neuer satisfied but with reuenge. And so that of Aristotle is proued true, that anger serueth oftentimes as a wea∣pon to vertue; whereunto some answere very pleasantly, saying, it is a weapon of a strange nature: for wee doe manage other weapons, and this doeth ma∣nage vs; our hande guideth not it, but it guideth our hande; it possesseth vs, and not wee it, as it happened in the raigne of Tyberius, amongst the muti∣nous legions at Vetera: and therefore a Commaunder ought to take greate heede, whome he maketh the obiect of that anger, which kindleth in his army: for as it is a passion of terrible execution, and therefore needeth to bee wiselie directed; so is it dangerous in regarde of obedience, which was the only thing which Caesar required in his soldiors.

But to leaue this hastie matter, and fall neerer that which we seeke after. I may not omit the prognostication, which Caesar made of the consequence of this accident, by the naturall disposition of the people; the euent whereof proued the trueth of his predictions; which sheweth what aduantage a learned general that hath bin somwhat instructed in the schoole of nature, hath gained of him, whom only experience hath taught the actiue rudiments of the war, & thin∣keth of no further lesson in that art, then that which the office of a ser∣iant or lanceprizado containeth.

Notes

• Salust.
• Tacit. 1. Anal.