Page 110
CHAP. IX.
Caesar disposeth his legions into their wintering Camp, and quieteth the Carnutes.
AFter he had put his ships in harbour,* 1.1 and held a Councell of the Galles at* 1.2 Samarobrina; forasmuch as that year, by reason of the drought, there was some scarcity of corn in Gallia, he was constrained to garrison his Ar∣my, and to disperse them into more cities then he had done the years before. And first he gave one legion to Caius Fabius, to be led among the Morim; another to Quintus Cicero, to be carried to the Nervii; another to L. Roscius, to be conducted to the Essui; a fourth he com∣manded to winter amongst the men of Rhemes, in the marches of the Treviri, under T. Labie∣nus; three he placed in Belgium, with whom he sent Mar. Crassus his Questor, L. Munatius Plancus and C. Trebonius, Legates; he sent one legion, that which he had last inrolled beyond the river Po in Italy, with five cohorts, unto the Eburones, the greatest part of whose coun∣try lyeth between the Mase and the Rhene, and was under the command of Ambiorix and Cati∣vulcus; with them he sent Q. Titurius Sabinus and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta. By distribu∣ting his legions in this manner, he thought to remedy the scarcity of corn; and yet the garri∣sons of all these legions, excepting that which Roscius carried into a quiet and peaceable part, were contained within the space of one hundred miles. And untill his legions were setled, and their wintering camps fortified, he determined to abide in Gallia.
There was amongst the Carnutes a man of great birth called Tasgetius, whose ancestours had born the chief rule in their State. This man, for his singular prowesse and good will to∣wards him, for he had done him very good ser∣vice in all his wars, Caesar restored to the dig∣nity of his forefathers. Before he had reign∣ed three years, his enemies with the complot∣ment of divers of his citizens kill'd him in the open streets: which thing was complained of to Caesar. Who fearing in regard so many men had a hand in it, lest that the city should by their instigation revolt, commanded L. Plan∣cus immediately to march with his legion thi∣ther from his quarters in Belgium, and there to winter: and whomsoever he could learn to be the ring-leaders in the death of Tasgetius, he should take hold of them, and send them to him. Mean while Caesar had notice from all his Legates and Quaestors to whom he had de∣livered his legions, that they were setled in win∣ter garrisons, and their garrisons fortified.
THE FIRST OBSERVATION.
I Have heard it oftentimes contradicted by some that understand not the weight of a multitude, when it was said, that an Army kee∣ping head continually in one part of a king∣dome, was more burthensome to the Common-wealth in regard of the expence of victuals, then when it was dispersed into particular Cities and Families, before the time of the master and in∣rollment: for, say they, in the general account of the publick weale it differeth nothing, whether a multitude of 30000. men be maintained with necessary provisions in one intire body together, or dispersed particularly throughout every part of the Countrey; forasmuch as every man hath but a competent quantity allotted unto him, which he cannot want in what sort or conditi∣on of life soever he be ranged: neither doth the charge of a multitude grow in regard they are united together, but in regard they amount to such a multitude wheresoever. But such as look into the difference with judgement, shall find a marvellous inequality, both in regard of the por∣tion of victualls which is spent, and the means whereby it is provided: for first we must un∣derstand, that an Army lying continually in one place, falleth so heavy upon that part that it quickly consumeth both the fat and the flesh, (as they say) and leaveth nothing unspent, which that part can afford them; and without further supply of provisions would in a small time come to utter destruction. This want then must be relieved by taking from the plenty of other bor∣dering quarters, to furnish the wants of so great a multitude: wherein there cannot be observed that proportion of moderate taking, to victuall the Army with a sufficient competency, but the partiall respect which the purveiours and victu∣allers will have to their private commodity, will quickly make an inconvenience either in the countrey from whence it is taken, or in the Ar∣my for which it is provided, according as the errour may best advantage their particular, what discipline soever be established in that behalf. Whereas on the contrary part, when every par∣ticular man of that multitude shall be billetted in a severall family, throughout all parts of the kingdome, the charge will be so insensible in re∣gard of the expence of the said families, that the country will never feel any inconvenience. And if every housholder that had received into his house one of the said Army, should give a true account of that which riseth above his ordinary expence by the addition of one man, it would fall far short of that treasure which is necessari∣ly required to maintain the said number of men united together into one body.
Neither doth the difference consist in the quantity of victualls which every man hath for