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.

OBSERVATION.

CAesar inserteth▪ this accident of the two Centurions, as worthy to be related amongst the deeds of Armes contained in these Commen∣taries. Wherein we are first to observe the grounds of this quar••ell, which was their conti∣nuall strife for place of preferment, which they sought after, by shewing their valour in time of danger, and approving their worth by the great∣nesse of their desert: a contention worthy the Roman discipline, & may serve for a pattern of true honour full of courage, accomplished with vertue. For these Simultates which desire of ho∣nour had cast between them, brought forth emu∣lation, which is the spurr of vertue, far from en∣mitie or hatefull contention: for the difference between these two qualities is, that enmitie hunt∣eth after destruction, & only rejoyceth in that which bringeth to our adversary utter ruine, dis∣honour, or ill atchievement; but emulation contendeth only by well deserving to gain the advantage of another mans fame, that useth the same ••eans to attain to the like end; and is alwayes mixed with love, in regard of the affinity of their affections, and the sympathy of their desires, not seeking the overthrow of their Competitour, but succouring him in time of danger, and defending him from foul and unfortunate calamity, that he may still con∣tinue to shew the greatnesse of his worth, by the opposition of inferiour actions, which are as a lesser scantling of desert to measure the estimati∣on of the others honour.

A vertue rare and unknown in these dayes, and would hardly find subjects to be resident in, if she should offer her help in the course of our affairs, or sue to be entertained by the crooked dispositions of our times: For we can no sooner conceive the thoughts that breed emu∣lation, but it turneth presently to hatred, which is followed to the uttermost of our malice, and resteth better satisfied with the miserable end of our opposed partner, then with thousand of Trophies deservedly erected to our honour. Which maketh me wonder, when I look into the difference of these and those ages, whether it were the discipline of that time which brought forth such honest effects of vertue, to their glory and our ignominy, having learned better rules then were known unto them; or whether the world weakened with age, want strength in these times to bring forth her creatures in that perfection as it did in those dayes; or what other cause hath made our worst affections so violent, and our better faculties so remisse and negligent, that vertue hath no part in us but words of praise, our whole practice being consecrated to actions of reproach. The injuries, murthers, scandalous carriages of one towards another, which in these dayes are so readily offered and so impa∣tiently digested, will admit no satisfaction but private combate; which in the first Monarchies was granted only against strangers & forreign enemies, as the only objects of Arms and wrath, and capable of that justice which the private sword should execute: for they well perceived that these single battels were as sparkles of ci∣vile discord, and intestine wars; although not so apparent in the generall view of their State, yet as odious in particular, and as disho∣nourable to good government. And if there were a true record of such as have been either slain or wounded within these fourty years, ei∣ther in this kingdome, or in France, or in Ger∣many, by this licentious and brutish custom••, I make no question but they would amount to a number capable of that fearfull stile which is at∣tributed to Civile wars.

Neither is there any law, how rigorous or hard soever, that can give reliefe to this

disorder, but the restraint will draw on as great enormities, and as intolerable in a good govern∣men••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of the Lumbards for••ade his subj••••ts this manner of combate: but short∣ly afte•• he was constrained to recall the Edict for the avoiding of greater evils; although he protested the thing to be both inhumane and barbarous. The like Edict was published in France by Philip the Fair; but was within two years revoked again at the instant request of his Su••jects, in regard of the murthers and assasi∣nats committed in that kingdome.

The onely remedy that I find to take effect in this case, was that of late time which the Prince of Melphe in Pi••mo••t invented to pre∣vent this evill: for perceiving how ordinary quarrels and bloud-shed were in his camp, he assigned a place between two bridges for the per∣formance of the Du••ilum, with this charge, that he that had the w••••st should alwaies be slain, & cast from the bridge into the water. The danger joyned with dishonour (which by this Decree attended such as undertook private combate) made the souldiers wiser in their carriage, and put an end to their sedition and civile discords. But that which is yet worst of all is, that custome hath now made it so fa∣miliar, that every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seemeth sufficient to call the matter to a private combate: a crosse look calleth another mans honour in question; but the word Lye is of as great consequence as any stab or villany whatsoever. Whereat we may well wonder, how it happeneth that we feel our selves so much exasperated at the re∣proach of that vice which we so ordinarily com∣mit: for in the custome of these times, to cast upon us the Lye is the greatest in jury that words can do unto us; and yet there is nothing more frequent in our mouth. It may be a property in our nature, to stand chiefly in the defence of that corruption unto which we are most subject.

I speak not this to qualifie the foulnesse of this vice; for I hold a Lyer to be a monster in nature, one that contemneth GOD, and fea∣reth man, as an ancient Father saith: but to shew the crookednesse of our disposition, in disdaining to acknowledge that fault which we so commonly commit. But I would fain learn when honour first came to be measureD with words: for from the beginning it was not so. Caesar was often called to his face thief and drunkard, without any further matter: and the liberty of invectives which great personages u∣sed one against another, as it began, so it ended with words. And so I think our Lie might too; for I take him that returneth the Lie, and so let∣teth it rest untill further proof, to have as great advantage in the reputation of honour as the former that first gave the disgrace.