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. XXXII.

The Galles raise an army of 248000▪ to raise the siege at Alesia.

WHile these things were a doing at A∣lesia, the Galles having summoned a Councell of the Princes and chief∣est men of each State,* 1.1 they thought it not convenient to take all that were able to bear arms, according to Vercingetorix di∣rection; but to proportion out a certain number for every State; lest that of such a confused multitude there would be no government, being not able to know their souldiers, or to martiall them in any good order, or to make provision of victuall for so great a bodie. The Hedui and their clients, the Segusiani, Ambivareti, Aulerci Brannovices, and Brannovii, were commanded to send out five and thirty thousand: the Arver∣ni with their clients, the Heleuteri Cadurci, Ga∣balli, Velauni, as many: the Senones, Sequani, Bituriges, Santones, Rutheni, Carnutes, twelve thousand: the Bellovaci, ten thousand: the Le∣movices as many: the Pictones, Turones, Parisii, Heleuteri Suessiones, 8000: the Ambiani, Me∣diomatrices, Petrocorii, Nervii, Morini, Niti∣obriges, 5000: the Aulerci Cenomani, as many: the Atrebates, 4000. the Bello∣cassi, Lexovii, Aulerci Eburones, 3000: the Rauraci and Boii 30000: the States bor∣dering upon the Ocean, whom by the custome of Gallia they call Aremoricae, such as are the Curiosolites, Rhedones, Ambibarri, Cadetes, O∣sismii, Lemovices, Veneti, Unelli, six thousand. Of these the Bellovaci refused to give their number, saying, that they would make warre with the Romans in their own name, and accor∣ding to their own directions, neither would they

serve under any mans command. Notwithstan∣ding being intreated by Comius, for his sake they sent two thousand. Caesar as we have heretofore delivered, had used the help of this Comius the years before in Britain, being both faithfull and serviceable: in recompense of which service he had freed his State of all duties to the Roman Empire, and restored unto them their ancient lawes and customes; and to himself he had gi∣ven the Mor••••i. Notwithstand••ng such was the universall consent of all Gallia, to redeem their liberty and their ancient honour in matter of warre, as neither friendship, nor the memory of former benefits could any way move them, every man intending that warre as farre as either the power of his mind or the possibilitie of his means would reach unto: and having drawn together eight thousand horse, and two hundred and fourty thousand foot, they muster∣ed their forces in the confines of the Hedui, where they appointed captains; and the chief command was given to Comius of Arras, and to Viridomarus and Eporedorix, Hedui, and to Ver∣gasilaunus of the Arverni, cousin-germa••n to Vercingetorix. To these there were certain chosen out of every State to give assistance in councell of warre: and all of them went jocund∣ly and full of hope to Alesia. Neither was there any man that did think, that the very sight of such a multitude was able to be endured, espe∣cially when the fight would grew doubtfu••l by sallies made out of the town, and so great forces of horse and foot should be seen without.

OBSERVATIONS.

VErcingetorix desire was to have had as ma∣ny of the Galles sent to his rescue as were a∣ble to bear arms, grounding himself upon that maxime; Where the whole State is in question, there the whole forces of that State are to be em∣ployed. But the other Princes of Gallia thought it not expedient to raise so great a number: for they would have accrewed to such a multitude of people, as could not have been contained within the rules of government▪ which may bring to our consideration that which the course of these times doth not often bring into dispute:* 1.2 What number of men well martialled and with good discipline, are a competent proportion for any service. Xerxes army which he carried into Greece, was famous for two respects: First, in regard of the multitude, which was so great, that when he himself returned back into Asia, he left behind him three hundred thousand of the best souldiers chosen out of the whole army, under the conduct of one Mardonius. Secondly, that of so many fighting men, there were two hun∣dred and threescore thousand slain in one battell, with the losse of one thousand and three hundred Grecians. Whereby it appeareth, that the con∣quest of a kingdome doth not necessarily follow the multitude of souldiers in an army; for either Xerxes army was too few in number to conquer Greece, or too many to be well martialled.

Marius with fifty thousand men defeated the Cimbri that were so many in number,* 1.3 as they made a battell of thirtie furlong square, and of them he slue a hundred and twenty thousand, and took threescore thousand prisoners. And for that I do remember of that which I have read, the greatest conquests that ever were made, were at∣chieved with armies under fifty thousand fighting men. The great Alexander subdued all Asia, and fet the Monarchy from the Persian into Greece with thirty thousand men.

The Romans had very seldome ten legions in an army, which was about that rate, but common∣ly their conquering armies were farre under that proportion.* 1.4 Paulus Aemilius only had a hun∣dred thousand in his army against Perseus, and wonne the battell in an hour. The condition of our times requireth no dispute touching this point, for we seldome see an army of fifty thousand men in the field, unlesse it be the Turke or some such Monarch.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  What num∣ber of men are a com∣petent pro∣portion for any service.
• * 1.3

  Plutarch in the life of Marius.
• * 1.4

  Plutarch in the life of Paulus Ae∣milius.