OBSERVATION.
IT hath been an old rule amongst souldiers, That a great and negligent errour committed by an enemy, is to be suspected as a pretence to treachery. We read of Fulvius a Legate in the Roman Armie lying in Tusc••nie; The Consul being gone to Rome to perform some publick duty, the Tuscans took occasion by his absence to try whether they could draw the Romans into any inconvenience; and placing an ambuscado near unto their camp, sent certain souldiers atti∣red like shepherds, with droves of cattell to passe in view of the Roman Army: who handled the matter so, that they came even to the rampier of the camp. Whereat the Legate wondering as at a thing void of reason, kept himself quiet untill he had discovered their treachery, and so made frustrate their intent. In like manner Caesar not perswaded that men should be so heedlesse, to carry a retreat in that disorderly and tumultuous manner, would not discamp his men to take the opportunity of that advantage, untill he had found that to be true, which in all reason was unlikely. And thus 308000 Belgae were chased and slaughtered by three legions of the Romans, for want of government and order in their depar∣ture.