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. I.

Caesar hasteth to his Army, marcheth towards the Confines of the Belgae, and taketh in the men of Rheims.

WHile Caesar was in his winter quar∣ters in the hither Gallia, there came every day fresh rumours to him (the same thing being also certified by let∣ters from Labienus) that all the Belgae, being a third part of Gallia, had leagued together a∣gainst the people of Rome, and had given mutu∣all hostages one to another. The grounds of their confederacy were these: First, they were afraid that Caesar having setled all the rest of Gallia

in quiet, would bring his armies upon them. Secondly, they were sollicited to do it by some of the Galles, such namely who, as they did not de∣sire the company of the Germans longer in Gal∣lia, so they were very much troubled to think that the Roman army should winter and settle themselves there; and such again as levity and inconstancy prompted to seek new governments; lastly such as saw that it was an easy matter for those men that were powerfull and had the command of monies to seise upon kingdomes in Gallia, which they could not so easily do in those parts where the Romans bare sway. Caesar be∣ing moved with letters and other intelligence to this purpose, levied two new legions in the hi∣ther Gallia, and as soon as Summer came on sent them by Q. Pedius his Legate into the fur∣ther Gallia: and as soon as there was forrage in the fields he himself came to the army. He had before given charge to the Senones and other of the Galles that bordered upon the Belg••e, to learn every day what they could of their doings, & to give him an account thereof. These presently informed him that of a certainty there was no∣thing in Belgia but mustering of souldiers, and ga∣thering their forces into one head. He thought it not therefore safe to make any further delay; but having made provision of corn, he drew out his Army from their wintering camps, and within fifteen dayes he came to the borders of the Bel∣gae. Assoon as he was come thither, which was much sooner then was looked for, the men of Rhemes being the uttermost of the Belgae, next adjoyning to the Celtae, thought it best to enter∣tain a peaceable resolution, and sent Iccius and Antebrogius, two of the chief men of their State, unto Caesar, to submit themselves and all that they had to the mercy of the Roman Empire; affirming that they were innocent both of the counsell of the Belgae, and of their conspiracy a∣gainst the Romans. For proof whereof they were ready to give hostages, to receive them into their towns, and to furnish them with corn or what other thing they stood in need of. That the rest of the Belgae were all in Arms, and the Germans on the other side of the Rhene had promised to send them succour: yea their mad∣nesse was so great, that they themselves were not able to hold back the Suessones from that at∣tempt being their brethren and kinsmen in bloud, and using the same laws and customs as they did, having both one magistrate and one form of go∣vernment; but they would needs support the same quarrell which the rest of the Belgae had under∣taken.

OBSERVATION.

I Might here take occasion to speak somewhat of a particular revolt in a generall cause; and how a confederate State may in regard of their own safety forsake a common quarrell, or what∣soever the universall society hath enacted preju∣ciall to their common weal; but that I onely intend to discover warlike practices, leaving these questions of law and policy to men of great∣er judgement and better experience. Onely▪ I ob∣serve in the behalf of the Roman government, that such cities as yielded to the Empire, and be∣came tributary to their treasury (howsoever they were otherwise combined by confederacy) sel∣dome or never repented them of their fact, in re∣gard of the noble patronage which they found in that State, and of the due respect observed to∣wards them.

Notes

• Caesar.