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 FIRST OBSERVATION.

THis circumstance doth afford us two obser∣vable points. The one, how much an old experienced souldier, hat hath the use and know∣ledge of service, exceedeth the rawness of such as are newly inrolled. The second, which depend∣eth upon the former, that valour and military vertue is a consequent of use and practise, rather then any inherent gift of nature. Camillus being sent with an army against the Thuscans, the Roman souldier was much affrighted at the great∣ness of the hoast which the enemy had put on foot: which Camillus perceiving, he used no other motives of perswasion to strengthen their weakned minds, and to assure them of a happy day, but this; Quod quisque d••dic••t aut con∣suev••t, faciat, Let every man do that which he hath been taught, and used to; as well knowing where to rouze their valour, and in what part their greatest strength rested. For as men can∣not prevail in that wherein they are unexperi∣enced, but will ••e wanting in the supplies of their own particular, and miscarry even under the directions of another Ann••bal: so a known and beaten track is quickly taken, and the dif∣ficulties of a businesse are made easy by acquain∣tance. Use maketh Masteries, saith our En∣glish Proverb, and Practice and Art do far exceed Nature. Which continuall exercise and use of arms amongst the Romans, attained to such perfection, as made militum sine rectore stabi∣lem virtutem, the valour of the souldiery firm without their Commander, as L••v••e witnesseth: And as Antiochus confessed to Scip••o; Quod si v••ncuntur, non minuuntur animis tamen, though they were overcome, yet their courage abated not. Caesar in all his battels had a speci∣all respect to the inexperience of the new inrolled bands, placing them either behind the army for a guard to their carriages, as he did in the Hel∣vet••an action, or leaving them as a defence to the camp, or shewing them aloof off; signifying thereby, as Livie saith of the Sidicini, Quod magis nomen quam vires ad praesidium adfe∣rebant, that they made more noise of an army, then they did good. Whereby it consequently followeth, that military vertue proceedeth not so much from nature, or any originall habit, as it doth from exercise and practise of arms. I grant there is a disposition in nature, and a particular inclination to this or that

Art; according to that line of the Poet;

Fortes creantur fortibus & bonis. Stout men are got by stout and good.

But this disposition must be perfected by use, and falleth short of valour or military vertue, which consisteth of two parts. The first, in knowledge of the discipline of warre, and the rules of ser∣vice: whereby they may understand the course of things, and be able to judge of particular re∣solutions. The second is the faithfull endeavour in executing such projects, as the rules of warre do propound for their safety. Both which parts are gotten onely by use. For as the knowledge of Military discipline is best learned by practise; so the often repetition thereof begetteth assurance in action, which is nothing else but that which we call Valour. In which two parts these new enrolled bands had small understanding; for they were as ignorant what course to take in that extremity, as they were unassured in their wor∣ser resolutions.