farre off, and were annoyed by the Germans; in
respect they were absent from that warre, and
remained neutrall. The Hedui were much grie∣ved
that they were put by the principalitie, they
complain of the change of their fortune, and
wished for Caesars former indulgence; neither
yet durst they disjoyn themselves again from
the rest, the warre being already undertaken;
but Eporedorix and Viridomarus, two young men
of great hope, were constrained, though unwil∣ling,
to obey Vercingetorix. He commanded
pledges to be delivered by the rest of the States,
and appointed a day for that businesse. He com∣manded
fifteen thousand horse to be speedily
brought together: touching foot forces, he would
content himself with those which he had; for
his purpose was not to wage battell, but whereas
he was very strong in horse, he made no doubt
to keep the Romans from corn and forrage: on∣ly
th••y must patiently endure to have their corn
spoiled, and their houses burnt; which particu∣lar
losse would quickly be recompensed with li∣bertie
and perpetuall sovereignty. These things
being ordered, he commanded ten thousand foot
to be raised by the Hedui and Segusiani border∣ing
upon the Province; and to them he added
eight hundred horse, and sent them under the
command of Eporedorix his brother, to make
warre against the Allobroges. And on the o∣ther
side he caused the Gabali and the nearest
villages of the Arverni to set upon the Helvii, the
Rutheni, and the Cadurci, and to depopulate
their countrey. Notwithstanding by secret mes∣sages
he dealt with the Allobroges, whose minds
he thought to be scarce settled from the former
warre the promised money to their chiefest men,
and to give the government of all the Roman
Province to their State. To answer all these
chances, there were provided but two and twen∣ty
cohorts, which being raised out of the Pro∣vince,
were disposed by L. Caesar a Legate to
prevent these mischiefs. The Hedui of their
own accord giving battell to their borderers,
were beaten out of the field, and were driven in∣to
their towns with the slaughter of C. Valerius
Donotaurus, the sonne of Caburus the chief man
of their State, and of many other. The Allo∣broges
having set many watches and garrisons
upon the river Rhene, did with great care and
diligence defend their borders. Caesar under∣standing
the enemy to be stronger in horse then
he himself was, and the passages being shut
that he could not send either into the Province
or into Italy for any supplies, he sent over
the Rhene into Germany, and got horse from
such States as he had quieted the year be∣fore,
with such light-armed footmen as were
accustomed to sight amongst the horse. At
their arrivall, forasmuch as they were not
well fitted with horse, he took the horses
from the Tribunes, the Roman Knights,
and the Evocati, and distributed them amongst
the Germans.
OBSERVATIONS.
THere are three principall means to draw a
State into a partie which of it self standeth
neutrall, or to win the minds of men, when
they carrie equall or indifferent affections. The
first is, by favour or friendship; the second, by
authoritie; and the third, by money.
Friendship relieth upon former respects, and
the exchange of precedent courtesies. Authority
concludeth from future dangers, and the incon∣veniences
which may follow the refusall. Mo∣ney
doth govern the present occasion, and is
more generall then either favour or authoritie.
The Galles were not wanting to make their par∣tie
good in any of these three perswading mo∣tives:
but, as Caesar saith, Quantum gratia, au∣thoritate,
pecunia valent, ad sollicitandas civi∣tates
n••tuntur: they sollicited the neighbour
States, as farre as friendship, authority, and mo∣ney
would go.
Wherein as they went about to lay the stock
upon it, so they left themselves but one triall for
the right of their cause, and joyned issue for all
upon the fortune of that action: for when they
should see their best possibilities too weak, and
their uttermost endeavours profit nothing against
a mighty prevailing enemy, the greater their hopes
were which they had in the means, the greater
would be their despair when such means were
spent; for it is a shrewd thing for men to be out
of means, and not to drive a hope before them.
It is usuall upon such main occasions to imploy
the chiefest man in a State, in whom the souldi∣ers
may have most assurance, and to accom∣pany
him with such means as the strength of the
Commonweal may afford him: but if their great∣est
hopes die in his ill successe, or wax faint
through cold fortune, the kingdome receiveth
losse, and the enemy getteth advantage, as may
appear by the sequele of this great preparation.