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.

OBSERVATIONS.

THis Chapter discovereth such sparkles of re∣volt, rising from the discontentment of the conquered Galles, as were like to break out into an universall burning; and within a while proved such a fire, as the like hath not been seen in the continent of Gallia. For this sommers work verified the saying of the Samnites,* 1.1 Quod pax servientibus gravior quam liberis bellum esset, That peace is more grievous to those that are in vassalage, then warre is to free men: and was carried on either part with such a resolu∣tion, as in respect of this service, neither the Galles did before that time ingage themselves se∣riously in their countries cause, nor did the Ro∣mans know the difficulty of their task. But as Epaminondas called the fields of Boeotia,* 1.2 Mars his scaffold where he kept his games; or as Xe∣nophon nameth the city of Ephesus the Armo∣rers shop: so might Gallia for this year be cal∣led the Theatre of war. The chiefest encourage∣ment of the Galles at this time, was the trouble and dissension at Rome about the death of Clo∣dius, and the accusation of Milo for killing Clodius.

This Clodius (as Plutarch reporteth) was a young man of a noble house,* 1.3 but wild and in∣solent, and much condemned for profaning a secret sacrifice, which the Ladies of Rome did celebrate in Caesars house, by coming amongst them disguised in the habit of a young singing wench, which he did for the love of Pompeia, Caesars wife: whereof being openly accused, he was quitted by secret means which he made to the Judges; and afterwards obtained the Tribuneship of the people, and caused Cicero to be banished, and did many outrages and inso∣lencies in his Tribuneship: which caused Milo to kill him, for which he was also accused. And the Senate fearing that this accusation of Milo,

being a bold-spirited man and of good quality, would move some uproar or sedition in the city, they gave commission to Pompey to see justice executed, as well in this cause, as for other of∣fences,* 1.4 that the city might be quiet, and the commonwealth suffer no detriment. Where∣upon Pompey possest the market-place, where the cause was to be heard with bands of souldi∣ers and troups of armed men. And these were the troubles in Rome upon the death of Clodius, which the Galles did take as an occasion of revolt, hoping thereby that Caesar (being in Gallia Cisalpina, which province was allotted to his government,* 1.5 as well as that Gallia North∣ward the Alpes,) would have been detained from his army.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Livie, lib 3.
• * 1.2

  Plutarch in the life of Marcellus.
• * 1.3

  Plutarch in the life of Cicero.
• * 1.4

  Ne quid resp. detri∣menti capi∣at.
• * 1.5

  Gallia Cis∣alpina & Trans••l∣pina.