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. V.

The proceedings of either party in the enterance of this warre.

THe Veneti conceived great hope of their enterprise,* 1.1 by reason of the strength of their situation: foras∣much as all the passages by land were broken and cut off with armes and creeks of the sea; and on the other side navigation and entrance by sea was so troublesome and dange∣rous, in that the Romans were altogether unac∣quainted with the channels and shelves of the coast, and there were so few ports. Neither did they think that the Roman Army could long continue there without corn, which was not to be had in those quarters. And if it happened that the course of things were carried contrary to this probable expectation, yet they themselves were strong in shipping, whereas the Romans had none at all: Neither had they knowledge of the flats and shallows, Ports and Islands of that coast where they were to fight. And to conclude, they should find the use of Navigation in that narrow sea to be far different from that which they were accustomed unto in the vast and open Ocean. In this resolution they fortified their townes,* 1.2 stored them with provision,* 1.3 and brought all their ship∣ping to Vannes,* 1.4 against whom Caesar (as it was reported) would begin to make war,* 1.5 taking the Osismi,* 1.6 Lexovii,* 1.7 Nannetes, Ambialites, Mo∣rini, Menapii, Diablintres, as consorts and par∣takers in this quarrell. Notwithstanding these difficulties, many motives stirred up Caesar to un∣dertake this war: as namely the violent detain∣ing of the Roman knights; their rebellion after they had yielded themselves by rendry, and given hostages of their loyalty; the conspiracy of so ma∣ny Cities, which being now neglected, might af∣terward incite other nations and States to the like insolency. And therefore understanding that al∣most all the Galles were inclining to novelty and alteration, and of their own nature were quick and ready to undertake a war; and further, con∣sidering that all men by nature desired liberty, and hated the servile condition of bondage, he prevented all further insurrections of the other States with the presence of the Roman forces in severall places at once; and sent Titus Labienus with the Cavalry unto the* 1.8 Treviri, that bor∣dered upon the Rhene: to him he gave in charge to visit the men of Rhemes and the rest of the Belgae, to keep them in obedience; and to hinder such forces as might peradventure be transported over the river by the Germans, to further this re∣bellious humour of the Galles. He commanded likewise Pub. Crassus with twelve legionary co∣horts and a great part of the horse to go into A∣quitane, least there might come any aid from those nations, & such considerable forces joyn toge∣ther. He sent also Q. Titurius Sabinus with three legions unto the Lexovii, Curiosolitae, and Unelli, to disappoint any practice which rebellioks minds might intend. And making D. Brutus chief Ad∣mirall of the navy, & of those French ships which he had got together from the Pictones, Santo∣nes, & other provinces which continued quiet & obedient, he gave him in charge to make towards Vannes with what speed he could: and he him∣self marched thitherward with the foot forces.

THE OBSERVATION.

IN the first book I observed the authority which the Roman Leaders had to undertake a war, without further acquainting the Senate with the consequence thereof: in this place let us observe the care and circumspection which the Generals had, who did not undertake a troublesome and dangerous war upon a humour, or any other flender motion; but diligently weighing the cir∣cumstances thereof, and measuring the perill and hazard of the war, with the good and consequence of the effect, informed their judgements of the importance of that action, and so tried whether the benefit would answer their labour. And thus we find the reasons particularly delivered that moved Caesar first to undertake the Helvetian war; and then the causes which drew him on to the quarrell with Ariovistus; then followeth the necessity of that war with the Belgae; and now the motives which induced him to this with the ma••itime Cities of Bretagne; and so conse∣quently of his passage into Germany, or what o∣ther enterprise he attempted: which he layeth down as the grounds and occasions of those wars, and could not be avoyded but with the losse and dishonour of the Roman Empire.

Further, let us observe the means he used to prevent the inclination of the Galles, and to keep them in subjection and peaceable obedience, by sending his men into divers quarters of that Con∣tinent, and so setling the wavering disposition of the further skirts with the weight of his Army, and the presence of his legionary souldiers, which he sent ready to stifle all motions of rebellion in the beginning, that they might not break out to the prejudice and diminution of the Roman Em∣pire, and the good successe of his proceedings: besides the advantage which he gained in the o∣pinion of the Enemy; whom he so little feared concerning the upshot of that quarrell, that he had dispersed t••e greatest part of his Army upon other services, the rest being sufficient to end that war.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Lendriguer.
• * 1.3

  Lisieux.
• * 1.4

  Nantes.
• * 1.5

  Auren be.
• * 1.6

  Le••••do••••.
• * 1.7

  Cities in Little Bri∣tain.
• * 1.8

  Triers.