that the time of victory was now come; for the
Romans left Gallia, and fled into the Province:
which was sufficient for the obtaining of their
present libertie, but availed little for the peace
and quiet of future time, forasmuch as the
Romans did not purpose to make an end of
the warre, but to return again with greater
forces. And therefore it was necessary to set up∣on
them in their march lad•••• with carriages.
If the foot did assist their horse, then they
were not able to make any way or proceed in
their journey. But if (which he hoped would
rather happen) forsaking their carriages every
man shifted for himself, they would depart both
robbed of their necessaries and of their honour:
for they need not doubt of the enemies horse, of
whom he was most assured that they durst not
go out from amongst the foot forces. And to the
end they might be the better incouraged, he
would draw all the forces in a readinesse out of
the camp, and place them so as they might be
a terror to the enemy. The horsemen cried out
all together, that this resolution might be
strengthened with an holy oath: Let him
never be received under any roof, or have ac∣cesse
to his wife, children, or parents, that did
not twice runne through the army of the ene∣my.
The thing being well lik••d of, and every
man forced to take that oath, the next day he
divided his cavalrie into three parts: two ar∣mies
shewed themselves on each side, and the
third began to make stay of the vauward. Which
being known, Caesar divided his horses likewise
into three parts, and sent them to make head
against the enemy. At the same time they
fought in all parts, the army stood still, the
carriages were received within the Legions: if
our men were overcharged any where, Caesar
bent the Legions that way, which did both
hinder the enemy from following them, and as∣sure
our men of hope of rescue. At length the
Germans having possest themselves of a hill on
the right side, did put the enemy from their
place, and followed them as they fled even to the
river, where Vercingetorix stayed with the foot
companies, and slew many of them. Whereupon
the rest fearing lest they should be encompassed
about, betook themselves to flight: execution
was done in all places. Three of the Nobilitie of
the Hedui were taken and brought to Caesar:
Cotus the Generall of the horse, who at the last
election of Magistrates stood in controversie
with Convictolitanis; and Cavarillus, who after
the revolt of Litavicus, commanded the foot
troups; and Eporedorix, under whose command,
before Caesars coming into Gallia, the Hedui
made warre with the Sequani. All the caval∣rie
being put to flight, Vercingetorix drew in
his forces which he had imbattelled before his
camp, and immediately after began to march
towards Alesia a town of the Mandubii, com∣manding
the baggage to be speedily brought out
of the camp and to follow him. Caesar having
conveyed his carriages to the next hill, under
the custody of two Legions, he followed the ene∣my
as long as the day would give him leave: and
having slain some three thousand of the rere∣ward,
the next day following he encamped at
Alesia.
OBSERVATIONS.
THe Galles were much stronger then the Ro∣mans
in Cavalry, both according to quantitie
and qualitie: but the Roman Infanterie was
greater in vertue and worth then any foot forces
of the Galles, notwithstanding their inequalitie in
number. Which sheweth that the Romans did
more rely upon their legionary souldiers, then
upon their Equites: and may serve for an argu∣ment
in the handling of that question, which is
so much debated amongst men of warre, whe∣ther
the horse or the foot companies be of greater
importance in the carriage of a warre. Which
indeed is a question à male d••visis: being both
so necessary for the perfect execution of martiall
purposes, as they cannot well be disjoyned. And
if we look particularly in the nature of their se∣verall
services, we shall easily discern the differen∣ces,
and be able to judge of the validitie of their
parts.
Wherein first it cannot be denied, but that
foot companies are serviceable to more purposes
then troups of horse: for the horsemen are of no
use, but in open and champain places; whereas
footmen are not only of importance in fielden
cou••treys, but are necessary also in mountainous
or woodie places, in valleys, in ditches, in sieges,
and in all other parts of what site or nature soe∣ver,
where the horsemen cannot shew themselves.
Whereby it appeareth, that the infanterie extend∣eth
its service to more purposes then the cavalrie,
and maketh the warre compleat, which otherwise
would prove lame and uneffectuall.
Touching the weight of the businesse when it
cometh to a day of battel, it resteth for the most
part upon the foot troups: for the horsemen are
profitable to the army wherein they serve, by ma∣king
discoveries, by harrying the enemies coun∣trey,
by giving succour or rescue upon a suddain,
by doing execution upon an overthrow, and by
confronting the enemies horse; but these are but
as second services, and fall short of the main
stroke, which for the most part is given by the
footmen. Neither doth a rout given to the caval∣rie
serving an army royall, concern the body of
that army further then the services before men∣tioned;
but the armie doth oftentimes go on not∣withstanding,
and may well atchieve a happy
victory: whereas upon the overthrow of the in∣fanterie,
the horsemen have nothing to do, but
to shift for themselves, and get away to their own