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.

CHAP. XXI.

Caesar spieth an occasion to advance the service at Gergovia.

CAesar suspecting a greater revolt of the Galles,* 1.1 lest he might be hem∣med in with the strength of all the States of Gallia, he entred into de∣liberation how he might leave Ger∣govia, and get all his army together again, that his departure might not seem to rise from the fear of their revolt, and thereby be thought ••••string away. And as he thought upon these things, he seemed to spy an occasion of doing somewhat to purpose: for coming into the lesser camp to view the works, he observed a knoll which was kept by the enemy to be bare of men, which the day before could scarce be dis∣cerned by reason of the multitude of people: and wondering at it, be enquired the cause of the runawaies which came daily in great numbers unto him. They all agreed of that which Cae∣sar had before understood by the discoverers, that the back of that hill was almost levell, but narrow and woody where it gave passage to the other part of the town. The Galles did much fear that place, for the Romans having took one knoll, if they should possesse themselves of a∣nother, the Galles were almost block in round about, and cut off from forraging, or any other issuing out of the town: and therefore Vercin∣getorix had called them all to fortify that place. This being known, Caesar sent many troups of horse to that place about midnight, comman∣ding them to ride up and down all thereabout somewhat tumultuously. And early in the morning he caused many horses and mules for carriage to be taken out of the camp with horse-keepers upon them, having casks upon their heads the better to resemble horsemen, and to be carried round about the hills. And to them he added a few horsemen, to the end they might spur out the more freely, and so make a better shew, commanding them all to go to the same place by a long circuit ••bout. These things were done in view of the town; for Gergovia so stood, that they might from thence see into the camp; but yet in so great a distance they could not certainly perceive what was done. He sent likewise one Legion to the same hill, and appointed them to go a little way, and then to make a stand in a dale, and to hide themselves in the woods. The Galles began more to sus∣pect that place, and all their forces were drawn thither for the strengthening of it. Caesar perceiving the enemies camps to be void of men, hiding his ensigns and colours, he drew the souldiers by little and little out of the greater into the lesser camp, and acquainted the legates to whom he had given the severall legions in charge, what he would have done; warning them especially to keep in the souldiers, lest they should be carried out either with a desire of sighting, or in hope of booty. He propounded unto them the incommodities of the disadvan∣tage of place, which must only be avoided by expedition, the matter consisting rather in occa∣sion and opportunity,* 1.2 then in fighting.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

IT is an easy matter to begin a businesse, and to make work for many hands; but to put it off again, and to quit it without prejudice of o∣ther

important respects, is no small labour. Caesar being ingaged in the siege of Gergovia, and fea∣ring a generall revolt throughout all Gallia, was not a little troubled how he might clear himself of that businesse, without suspicion of fear or flight, and gather all his forces into one body again, which he had before divided into two armies:* 1.3 for as Marcellus said to Fabius touching the siege of Casselium, Multa magnis ducibus sicut non aggred••enda, ita semel ag∣gressis non dimittenda esse, quia magna famae momenta in utramque partem fiunt; Many things as they are not to be attempted by great Captains; so when they are once attempted they must not be left unatchieved: for in either their reputation is much concerned. An enemy will conceive greater hopes from such a retreat, then from a greater advantage. And therefore a Generall ought to have as speciall a regard to the opinion which he desireth to be held of his proceedings, as of any part belonging to his charge: for fame is the spirit of great actions, and maketh them memorable or unworthy by re∣port. Caeteris mortalibus in co••stare consilia quid sibi conducere putent; Principum (saith Tacitus) diversam esse sortem, quibus prae∣cipua rerum ad famam dirigenda; Other mens consultations tend only to what may most advantage themselves: Princes have more to do; to look in their management of things princi∣pally at their honour and reputation. Wherein there cannot be a better rule for the avoiding of that inconvenience, then that which Lucretius observed, of whom Livie saith; Id prudenter ut in temere suscepta re Romanus fecit, quod circumspectis difficultatibus, ne frustra rem∣pus tereret, celeriter abstitit incepto: He did thus far prudently in a businesse rashly under∣taken; that when he saw what difficulties atten∣ded the enterprise, rather then spend time in vain, he forthwith desisted from his purpose. For the speedy leaving of any such enterprise, doth ex∣cuse the rashnesse which might be imputed to the beginning; and men are not so much blamed for making triall of an ill-digested project, as they are for obstinate continuing in the same.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

SOme services (saith Caesar) are Res occasio∣nis,* 1.4 non praelii, businesses of opportunity, not of war: whereof I have already disputed. Not∣withstanding give me leave to add the mistake, which often falleth out in matter of opportunity. For in viewing the occurrences of the wars of these later times, we may find that some hot-spur commanders, having tasted of the good successe when occasion affordeth, have thought of no∣thing but of services assided with opportunity, in such manner as at length they forgot that occa∣sion came but seldome, and carried their men up∣on such desperate attempts, as proved the business to be a matter scarce affording means to fight for their lives, but were often swallowed up with devouring danger: wherein they did mistake the condition of the service, and fell short of Caesars example. For albeit he sent out his men to struggle with the height of the hill, and the disad∣vantage of well-fortified camps; yet he knew they should find little resistance by the enemy, being drawn away upon other occasions, if they made that expedition as was requisite in this ser∣vice; whereby he left them not without means to over••way those difficulties, and so made it Rem occasionis, non praelii, a businesse of oppor∣tunity, not of war.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  It is an ea∣sier matter to begin a work, then to quit it a∣gain with r••edit.
• * 1.3

  Livie.
• * 1.4

  Some servi∣ces are Res occasionis, non praelii.