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. IIII.

Caesar having advertisement of these new troubles, hasteth into Gallia, and prepareth for the warre.

ALL the maritime States being by this means drawn into the same conspira∣cy,* 1.1 they sent an embassage unto Crassus in the name of them all, that if he would have his men again, he must deliver up the hostages which he had taken from them. Whereof Caesar being certified by Crassus, inas∣much as he was then a great way distant from his Army, he commanded Gallies and ships of warre to be built upon the river* 1.2 Loire, which runneth into the Ocean, and that Gallie-men, Mariners, and ship-masters should be mustered in the Province: which being speedily dispatch∣ed, as soon as the time of the year would permit him, he came into Gallia. The Veneti and the rest of the confederacy understanding of Caesars arrivall, and considering how hainous a fact they had committed, in detaining the Ambassadours and casting them into irons, whose name is held sacred and inviolable amongst all nations; pre∣pared accordingly to answer so eminent a danger, and especially such necessaries as pertained to shipping and sea-fights.

THE OBSERVATION.

FRom hence I may take occasion briefly to touch the reverent opinion which all nations,* 1.3 how barbarous soever, have generally conceived of the quality and condition of Embassadours: and what the grounds are of this universally re∣ceived custome, which in all ages and times hath held authenticall. And first we are to under∣stand that all mankind (as indued with the same nature and properties) are so linked together in the strict alliance of humane society, that albeit their turbulent and disagreeing passions (which in themselves are unnaturall, as proceeding from corruption and defect) drive them into extream

discord and disunion of spirit, and break the bonds of civile conversation, which otherwise we do naturally affect; yet without a necessary entercourse and traffick of society, we are not a∣ble to keep on foot the very discord it self in terms of reason and orderly proceeding, but all parts will be blended with disordered confusion and go to wrack, for want of these mutuall offi∣ces performed by messengers: so streight are the bonds of Nature, and so powerfull are the laws which she enacteth. And therefore if it were for no other end which might sort to the benefit of either party, (as there are many good uses thereof) yet to hold up the quarrell and keep it from falling, making war according to the grounds of reason, the entercourse of messen∣gers is not to be interrupted, nor their persons to be touched with hatefull violence: but that which the common reason of nations hath mad•• a law, ought as religiously to be observed as an Oracle of our own belief. Secondly, forasmuch as the end of war is, or at the least should be, peace, which by treaty of mutuall messenge••s is principally to be confirmed, to the end that no people may seem so barbarous as to maintain a war which onely intendeth bloud, and proposeth as the chiefest object the death and mortality of mankind, no way respecting peace and civile go∣vernment; such as refuse the entercourse of mes∣sengers, as the means of amity and concord, are justly condemned in the judgement of all nations as unworthy of humane society. Last of all, it is an injury of great dishonour, and deserveth the reward of extream infamy, to revenge the master his quarrell upon a servant, and punish Embassa∣dours for the faults of their State: considering that their chiefest duty consisteth in the faithfull relation of such mandates as they have received; which may as well tend to the advancement and honour of that City to which they are sent, as to the dishonour and ruine of the same, whereof the messengers take no notice. And therefore whether we desire war or peace, the free liberty & holy order of Embassadours is reverently to be respected, and defended from brutish and unnaturall violence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Lig••ris.
• * 1.3

  The grounds of that re∣verent opi∣nion which is held of Embassa∣dours.