The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

Chap. XII.

The States of Gallia congratulate Caesars victorie: they call a councell, and discover their inward grief concerning Ariovistus and his forces.

THe Helvetian war being thus ended,* 1.1 the Princes and chief men of all the States of Gallia came to Caesar, to congratulate the happinesse of this victory; insomuch as they well understood, that albeit the people of Rome had by the course of this war revenged the injuries which heretofore they had done unto them: yet neverthelesse the issue thereof did redound no lesse profita∣ble to the peace of Gallia, then to the Roman Empire; forasmuch as the Helvetians left their houses and Country abounding with all plenty and prosperity, for no other purpose but to invade the whole Country of Gallia, and to bring it in sub∣jection to themselves; and choosing out of that large Continent some fit and fruitfull place of habitation, to make the rest of the States their Tributaries. They required further, that with his good leave they might call a generall assem∣bly at a day prefixed, of all the States of Gallia, forasmuch as they had matters of great impor∣tance to be handled, which they desired (with a common consent) to preferr to his consideration. Which being granted, and the day of meeting ap∣pointed, they bound themselves by oath not to re∣veal the causes of their assembly, but to such as should be designed by common counsel.

The Parliament being broken up, the same Princes returned to Caesar, and desired that they might in secret treat with him of the safety of themselves, and all the rest: which being granted, they cast themselves in lamentable manner at his feet, contending with a great ear∣nestnesse

that those things which they delivered might not be revealed, as they did to have their petition granted: forasmuch as they saw that the discovery of such declarations as they propoun∣ded, would necessarily pull upon them most grie∣vous afflictions.

Divitiacus the Heduan, in the name of the rest, delivered, That Gallia was divided into two factions: the Hedui were the head of the one, and the Arverni of the other. These two States contending many years for the principali∣ty, the Arverni with the Sequans their Clients, hired the Germans to take their part; of whom at first there passed over the Rhene some fifteen thousand: but afterwards, these barbarous peo∣ple having tasted the plenty and civility of the Galles, drew over many more, that now there were no lesse then one hundred and twenty thou∣sand. With these the Hedui and their Clients had once or oftener fought; but the successe sorted to their own calamity, and the utter over∣throw of their Nobility and Senate: with which losses they were so broken and decayed, that whereas heretofore as well by their own credit, as by the favour of the people of Rome, they struck a great stroke throughout all Gallia; they were now driven to deliver the chiefest of their State as pledges to the Sequans, and to bind themselves by oath never to seek their release or freedome, nor to implore the aid of the people of Rome, nor to seek means to free themselves from their soveraignty; onely himself of all the He∣duans could not be brought to take that oath, or to give his children as hostages: for which cause he fled to Rome, and besought help of the Senate, being no way obliged to the contrary either by oath or hostages.

But it so fell out, that the victory became more grievous to the Sequans then to the Heduans: for that Ariovistus king of the Germans was planted in their territories; and being already possest of a third part of their Country, which was the best part of all Gallia, did now require the Sequans to forgo another third part, for that a few months before there were come unto him twenty four thousand Harudes, to whom lands and possessions were to be allotted. Whereby it would come to passe within a few years that all the Galles would be driven out of their dwel∣lings, and all the Germans would come over the Rhene; for there was no comparison between Gallia and Germany, either in richnesse of soil or fashion of life.

Concerning Ariovistus, after he had once de∣feated the Galles in a battel near Amageto∣brig, he carried himself very cruelly and inso∣lently, requiring the children of all the Nobility for hostages, and shewing strange examples of torture upon them. If any thing were done not according to his command or desire, he would easily shew himself to be a barbarous, fierce and hasty man, whose tyranny they could no longer endure: and unlesse there were help to be found in Caesar and the people of Rome, all the Galles must, as the Helvetians did, forsake their Country, and seek new houses and seats of habi∣tation, far remote from the Germans, and try their fortunes, whatever befell them. If these things should haply be discovered to Ariovistus, he would doubtlesse take a severe revenge of all the pledges in his custody. Caesar might by his own authority, or the presence of his Army, or by the renown of his late victory, or by the coun∣tenance of the people of Rome, keep the Germans from transporting any more Colonies into Gallia, and defend it from the injuries of Ariovistus. This speech being delivered by Divitiacus, all that were present with much weeping besought Caesar to give them relief.

Caesar observed that onely the Sequans of all the rest did no such matter, or were so affected as the others were; but with their heads hang∣ing down, looked mournfully upon the ground: and wondering at it, asked them the cause there∣of. To which they made no reply, but stood si∣lent, with the same countenance of sorrow. And having oftentimes iterated his demand, with∣out gaining any word of answer; Divitiacus the Heduan replied that the state of the Sequans was herein more miserable and grievous then the rest; that they of all others durst not complain, or implore aid, although it were in secret, as having before their eyes the crueltie of Ariovi∣stus being absent, no lesse then if he were present. And the rather, for that other men had safe means of flying away; but the Sequans, having received Ariovistus into their Countrey, and made him Master of their townes, were necessa∣rily to undergo all miseries.

These things being known, Caesar incouraged the Galles with good words, and promised them to have a care of that matter, as having great hope, that by his meanes and power Ariovistus should be forced to offer no further injuries. And thereupon dismissed the Councell.

OBSERVATIONS.

IN this relation there are divers points worthily recommended to the discretion of such as are

willing to be directed by other mens misadven∣tures. As first, into what extremities ambition doth drive her thirsty favourites, by suppressing the better faculties of the soul, and setting such unbridled motions on foot, as carry men head∣long into most desperate attempts. For as it had deserved commendation in either faction, so to have carried their emulation, that by their own means and strength applied to the rule of good government, their authority might wholly have swayed the inclination of the weaker states: so was it most odious in the Sequani to call in for∣raign forces, to satisfy the appetite of their un∣tempered humour; and in the end they were ac∣cordingly rewarded.

Secondly, it appeareth how dangerous a thing it is to make a stranger a stickler in a quarrel which civile dissension hath broached, when the party that called him in shall not be as able to refuse his assistance upon occasion, as he was willing to entertain it for advantage.

Lastly, the often discontents of these States shew the force of a present evil, which possesseth so vehemently the powers of the soul, that any other calamity, either already past, or yet to come, how great soever, seemeth tolerable and easy, in regard of that smart which the present grief inflicteth.

So the Sequani chose rather to captivate their liberty to the Barbarisme of a savage Nation, then to indure the Hedui to take the hand of them. And again, to make themselves vassals to the Romans, rather then indure the usurping cru∣elty of the Germans. And finally (as the sequele of the history will discover) to hazard the losse of life and Country, then to suffer the taxes and impositions of the Romans. So predominant is the present evil in mens affections, and so it pre∣vaileth at the seat of our judgement.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.