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.

I May not omit to insist a little upon this noise or shout which the souldiers took up in the in∣stant of the charge,* 1.1 and is related in this place as a materiall point in their carriage at this ser∣vice. A matter ancient and usuall in the Ro∣man armies, as well in the time of their first Kings, as their first Consuls. Fusi primo impe∣tu & clamore hostes, the enemies were over∣thrown at the first onset and shout,* 1.2 saith Livie concerning Romulus.* 1.3 And not long after, Consul nec promovit aciem, nec clamorem reddi passus, the Consul neither marched his army forward, nor suffered them at all to shout. Caesar in the censure which he g••ve concerning Pompey his direction for the battel at Pharsalia,* 1.4 doth expresse a double use of this clamour or shouting:* 1.5 first the terrour of the enemy, and se∣condly the encouragement or assurance of them∣selves: Est quaedam animi incitatio (saith he) atque alacritas naturaliter innata omnibus, quae stud••o pugnae incenditur; hanc non re∣primere sed augere impera••ores debent: ne∣que 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ant qu tus institutum est ut si∣gna und que concinerent, clamorem universi tollerent, quibus rebus & hostes terreri & su∣os incitari existimaverunt. There is a certain raising and chearfulnesse of the mind imbred naturally in all, which is stirred up by an eager∣nesse to fight: this a Generall should not crush but cherish. So that it was not without cause that in old times they had a custome that the whole army should make a noise and raise a ge∣nerall shout, whereby they supposed as the ene∣mies were affrighted, so their own men were in∣couraged. Two contrary effects proceeding from a cause, which to common sense carrieth no shew of any such efficacy: Vox & praeterea nihil, a bare voice and nothing more; as one said of the Nightingale in another sense. But such as do seriously look into the reasons there∣of, shall find the saying true which is ascribed to the elder and wiser Cato, Verba plus quam gladium, & voces quam manum hostes terri∣tare, & in fugam vertere; Words will do more then Swords, and Voices sooner then Hands may affright the enemy and put him to flight.* 1.6 The ear, as I have already noted, will sooner betray the soul to the distresse of fear, then any other of the five senses.* 1.7 Which Jose∣phus well understood, although peradventure he applyed not so fit a remedy, when he com∣manded his men to stop their ears at the accla∣mations of the Roman legions, lest they might be daunted and amazed thereat. The reason may be, for that our discourse (diligently atten∣ding upon a matter of that consequence which calleth the lives of both parties in question, and valuing every circumstance at the utmost) doth alwayes presuppose a cause answerable to such an effect of joy and assurance. For these shouts and acclamations are properly the consequents of joy, and are so availeable that they deceive both parties: for such as take up the shout by way of anticipation, do seem to conclude of that which is yet in question; and the enemy thereupon apprehendeth danger when there is

none at all, whereby it happeneth, Hostes terre∣ri, & suos incitari, that the enemies are af∣frighted, and our own men encouraged, as Cae∣sar noteth. Besides these examples I might al∣ledge the authority of Holy Writ, but that it might seem both unsavoury and unseasonable to make a commixture of such diversities. I will therefore content my self with a practice of our time at the battel of Newport, where after di∣vers retreats and pursuits, either side chasing the other as it were by turn and mutuall appoint∣ment, and as it often falleth out in such confrontments; at last commandement was given to the English to make head again, and after some pause to charge the enemy with a shout: which being accordingly performed, a man might have seen the enemy startle before they came to the stroak; and being charged home, were so routed, that they made not head again that day. For the prevention of such a disadvantage, there can be no better president then that which Plutarch noteth,* 1.8 touching the battel between the Romans and the Ambrons, a part of that deluge of people which came down into Italy with the Cimbri and Teutones; for these Ambrons coming out to give battel, to the end they might strike fear into the Romans, made an often repetition of their own name with a lowd sounding voice, Ambrons, Ambrons, Ambrons. The Italians on the other side that first came down to fight were the Ligurians, inhabiting the coast of Genoa, who hearing this noise, and plainly understanding them, made answer with the like cry, sounding out their own name, Ligurii, Ligurii, Ligurii. Where∣upon the Captains of both sides made their soul∣diers cry out altogether, contending for envy one against another who should cry it loudest: and so both sides were encouraged, and neither of them disadvantaged, Clamore utrinque sub∣lato, whilst both sides continued the cry.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The use and benefit of a sho••t took up in a charge or assault.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 1.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 2.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 3.
• * 1.5

  Civil.
• * 1.6

  Lib. 1.
• * 1.7

  Lib. 3. cap. 18.
• * 1.8

  In Marius life.