OBSERVATIONS.
A Multitude is Bellua multorum capitum (as one saith) an unreasonable beast of many heads, apt to receive froward and perverse incitements, and hard to be drawn to better understanding, jealous, impatient, treacherous, unconstant, an instrument for a wicked spirit, and sooner moved to mischief by Thersites, then reclaimed to vertue by the authority of Aga∣memnon, or the eloquence of Ulysses, or the wisedome of Nestor, more turbulent then the raging either of the sea, or of a devouring fire. And therefore they may well go together to make a triplicity of evils, according to the say∣ing, Ignis, mare, populus, tria mala; Fire, the Sea, and the rabble multitude are three evils.
Vercingetorix had both his hands full in this service, for his care was no less to keep the Galles from being distasted, then to make his party good against Caesar. It is disputed touching the government of a multitude, whether it be fitter to be severe or obsequious. Tacitus saith peremp∣torily, that In multitudine regenda plus poena quam obsequium valet; foul means does more then fair to the governing of a multitude. But he understandeth such a multitude as are subject to their Commander, either by ancient service, or the interest of regall authority, whereby they are tied to obedience by hereditary duty, and cannot refuse that which custome prescribeth. For otherwise where the people stand free from such bonds, and have submitted themselves to government for some speciall service, there, cle∣mency or obsequious smoothing prevaileth more then the severity of command: according to the saying, Homines duci volunt, non cogi; Men will be led by fair means, not compelled. Upon a dissension which happened at Rome be∣tween the people and the Senate, the people were presently sent into the field under the leading of two Senators, Quintius and Appius Clau∣dius. Appius by reason of his cruelty and se∣verity, was not obeyed by his souldiers, but for∣sook his Province and returned non proficient, they will do nothing: Quintius being curteous and benigne, had an obedient army, and came home a Conquerour. In the like terms did Ver∣cingetorix stand with the Galles, who not long before were all of equall authority, and for the defence of the common cause had submitted themselves to order and government: and there∣fore he carried himself accordingly, but with some cunning too, for he made no scruple to abuse the beast, and to present them with a lesson of deceit, taught to servants and Roman slaves, as the confession of legionarie souldiers, which is a liberty that hath ever been allowed to such as had the managing of an unruly mul∣titude, who have made as much use of the false rein, as the bit or the spur, or any other help belonging to that art.