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.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

QUintus Curtius speaking of Alexander, saith,* 1.1 Nullam virtutem Regis istius ma∣gis quam celeritatem laudaverim, I can com∣mend no vertue in this King before his speed & celerity: whereof this might be a ground, that he followed Darius with such speed after the se∣cond battell he gave him, that in eleven dayes he marched with his army six hundred miles, which was a chase well fitting Alexander the Great, and might rest unexampled: notwithstanding Suetonius giveth this generall report of Caesar, that in matter military, aut aequavit praestan∣tissimorum gloriam, aut excessit, he either equal∣led or exceeded the glory of the best: and for this particular he saith, quod persaepe nuntius de se praevenit, that he was very often the messen∣ger of his own success. And to speak truly, he seemeth to challenge to himself expedition and speed as his peculiar commendation, grounding himself upon the danger which lingering and foreslowing of time doth usually bring to well advised resolutions: according to that of Lucan the Poet,

—Nocuit semper differre paratis.

Delay did alwayes hurt those that were ready.

For by this speedy execution of well-digested di∣rections, he gained two main advantages. First, the prevention of such helps and means as the enemy would otherwise have had, to make the war dangerous and the event doubtfull. And secondly, the confusion and fear, which doth consequently follow such main disappointments, being the most dangerous accidents that can happen to any party, and the chiefest points to be endeavoured to be cast upon an enemy by him that would make an easie conquest.

For proof whereof, amongst many other ex∣amples, I will onely alledge his expedition to Rome, when he first came against Pompey, ac∣cording to Plutarchs relation.* 1.2 In the mean time (saith he) news came to Rome, that Caesar had won Ariminum, a great city in Italy, and that he came directly to Rome with a great power, which was not true: for he came but with 3000. horse and 5000. foot, and would not tarry for the rest of his armie, being on the other side of the Alpes in Gallia, but made hast rather to surprize his enemies upon the sudden, being afraid and in garboile, not looking for him so soon, then to give them time to be provided, and so to fight with them in the best of their strength,

which fell out accordingly. For this sudden and unexpected approach of his, put all Italy and Rome it self into such a tumult and confusion, that no man knew what way to take for his safe∣tie: for such as were out of Rome came flying thither from all parts, and those on the other side that were in Rome, went out as fast, and forsook the citie. And the amazement was such, that Pompey and the Senate fled into Greece, where∣by it happened that Caesar in threescore dayes, was Lord of all Italy without any bloud∣shed.

Besides this manner of prevention by sud∣den surprize, we may see the like expedition in the very carriage and form of his wars.* 1.3 For if the enemy had taken the field, he laboured by all means to bring him to sight; or other∣wise if he refused to take the field, he then en∣deavoured with the like speed to besiege him or block him up in some hold, to the end he might bring the matter to a speedy upshot, as he did with Vercingetorix at Alesia. But that which is most memorable touching this point, at the first taking in of Spain in the garboil of the ci∣vile wars,* 1.4 he defeated two armies, overthrew two Generals, and took in two Provinces in the space of fourty dayes. Neither did he make use of expedition only in his carriage of a war, but also in the action and execution of battel: for he never forsook an enemy overthrown and discomfited, untill he had taken their camp, and defeated them of their chiefest helps, which Pompey felt to his utter overthrow; for the same day he routed him at Pharsalia, he took his camp, and inclosed a hill with a ditch and a rampler, where 25000. Romans were fled for their safety, and brought them to yield them∣selves unto him: and so making use (as he saith) of the benefit of fortune, and the terrour and amazement of the enemy, he performed three notable services in one day.

And this he used with such dexterity and depth of wisdome, that commonly the first vi∣ctory ended the war: as by this at Pharsalia he made himself Commander of the East, and by that at ••apso he made himself Lord of A∣frick, and by the battel at Monda he got all Spain.

To conclude this point, I may not forget the like speed and expedition in his works. In fifteen dayes he cast a ditch and a rampier of fifteen foot in height, between the lake at Gene∣va and S. Claudes hill,* 1.5 containing nineteen miles. He made his bridge over the Rhene in ten dayes. At the siege of Marseilles he made twelve gallies, and furnished them out to sea within thirty dayes after the timber was cut down. And the rest of his works with the like expedition.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Celerity & expedition.
• * 1.2

  Plutarch in the life of Pompey.
• * 1.3

  Veni, Vidi, Vici.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 2. bell. civil.
• * 1.5

  Lib. 1. bell. civil.