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. XVII.

Caesar brought into great extremity by overflowing of two Rivers.

THe enemy fortified the Mount for which they contended,* 1.1 with great and strong works, and there put a Garrison. In the space of those two dayes that these things were in doing, there fell out upon a suddain a great in∣convenience: for such a tempest happened, that the like waters were never seen in those places. And further besides, the snow came down so a∣bundantly from the Hills, that it overflowed the banks of the River; and in one day brake down both the bridges which Fabius had made: and thereby brought Caesar into great extremity. For, as it is formerly related, the Camp lay between two Rivers,* 1.2 Sicoris and Cinga; and within thirty miles neither of these Rivers were passable, so that all the Army were of necessity couped up in that straightnesse: neither could the Cities which had formerly ranged them∣selves with Caesar's party, furnish any supplies of victuall and provision; nor such of the Ar∣my as had gone far for forrage, being hindred by the rivers, could return to the Camp; nor yet the great convotes and reenforcements, co∣ming to him out of Italy and Gallia, could get to the Camp.

The time of year was very hard; for there was neither old corn left of their winter provi∣sions, nor that on the ground was as yet ripe. The cities and towns near about were all empti∣ed: for Afranius before Caesar's coming, had caused all the Corn to be brought into Ilerda; and that which remained, was since Caesar's co∣ming all spent. And for Cattell (which might have relieved this necessity) by reason of the warre, they were removed by the border∣ing towns, and carried farther off. Such as were gone out to forrage, and to seek Corn, were by the light-armed Portugalls, and the Buckler-bearers of the hither Spain, much troubled and molested: for these men could easily passe the river, forasmuch as none of them used to go to warre, without bladders for that purpose. On the contrary part, Afranius abounded with all necessary provisions: great quantity of Corn was formerly provided and stored up, much was brought in from all the Provinces round about, there was also great plenty of forrage in his Camp: for the bridge at Ilerda afforded means of all these things without danger, and the Countrey beyond the river was whole and un∣touched, which Caesar could not come unto by

any means. The waters continued for many dayes together. Caesar used all means to re-edifie the Bridges; but neither the swelling of the Ri∣ver would permit him, nor yet the cohorts of the Enemy, placed on the banks of the other side, suffer him to go forwards with it: which they might easily hinder, both in regard of the nature of the river, and the greatnesse of the water, as also for that they might easily cast their wea∣pons from along the bank, unto one place or point. Whereby it was very hard, at one and the same time (the river running so violently as it did) to do the work, and to shun the weapons.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

FIrst, we may observe, that the strength of a multitude is not priviledged from such casu∣alties as betide the weaknesses of particular persons; but doth oftentimes undergo extremi∣ties, which can neither by providence be pre∣vented, nor removed by industry: and are such as proceed not from the endeavour of an enemy, but out of the circumstances of time and place; together with such accidents as are interlaced with the same. In respect whereof it was, that Cambyses told Cyrus,* 1.3 That in the course of warre he should meet with some occasions, wherein he was not to labour and contend with men, but with chances and things; which were not to be overcome with lesse difficulty then an enemy; and are the more dangerous, according as they give way to scarcity and lack of victu∣al. For as it is said in the same place; Scis brevi finem habiturum imperium, si commeatu exer∣citus careat:* 1.4 You know that if your Army be once starved, your Empire can be but short∣lived.

The remedies whereof are first, Patience: which is as requisite in a souldier, as either courage or any other ability; and in such cases keepeth an Army from discontentment and disorder, untill means of better fortune. And secondly, Good endeavour,* 1.5 which availeth much in such chan∣ces; the effect whereof will appear by that which Caesar wrought, to redeem his Army from these inconveniences.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

COncerning that which is here noted of the Spaniards,* 1.6 that made nothing of passing a River with the help of bladders, which the Ro∣mans were readier to wonder at then to imitate; it is observed, that as people exquisitely fashioned to a civile life, by a firm and settled policie of go∣vernment, are firm and reall in the whole course of their proceedings, and accordingly do shew their punctuality, as well in their solemnities and private carriages, as in their magnificent and state∣ly buildings: so on the other side, barbarous and rude Nations, that live under generall and slight lawes, are as slight and rude in their actions; as amongst other things, may appear in that the Spaniards thought it no scorn to use the help of bladders in passing over a River, as a device co∣ming next to hand; which the people of a wise and potent State would not have done, but by a sure and substantiall bridge.

The use of which bladders, as it hath been an∣cient amongst people of that nature, so it is conti∣nued in the same manner by the Savages inhabiting Groenland, and the North parts of America; as appeareth by discoveries made of late by the Moscovy Merchants, about the North-west pas∣sage: from whence such as are imployed in those voiages, have brought great and large bladders or bagges, made of Seal-skins, ingeniously devised to be filled and blowed with wind, and tied behind at their girdle, and at their coller, to help them∣selves in swimming. And after the same easy fa∣shion,* 1.7 the Indians of Peru, as Josephus Acosta writeth (instead of wood and stone) made their bridges over great Rivers of plaited Reeds, which they fastened to the banks on each side with stakes: or otherwise of bundles of straw and weeds, by which, men and beasts (if there be any credit in his story) passe over with ease. Howbeit, as when the ancient Greeks would note a man of extreme insufficiency, they would say, he could neither read nor swim: so Caesar seemed of the same opinion, by commending the skill of swimming, as a thing of much consequence in the use of Armes. Whereof he made good ex∣perience in Egypt: where he cast himself into a small boat, for his better safety; and finding it over-charged, and ready to sink, he leapt into the sea, and swam to his Fleet, which was two hundred paces off, holding certain papers in his left hand a∣bove the water, and trailing his coat of Armes in his teeth, that it might not be left to the enemy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Cinga ra∣pidus magis quam mag∣nus.
• * 1.3

  Sunt quae∣dam in qui∣bus non ad∣versus ho∣minus cer∣tamen est, sed cum ip∣sis rebus: quas supe∣rare perdif∣fi••••e est.
• * 1.4

  Xenoph. lib. 1. de Inst. Cyri.
• * 1.5

  Diligentia in omnibus rebus pl••∣rimum va∣let.
• * 1.6

  Bladders used by the Spaniards, ••••••aim∣ming over Rivers.
• * 1.7

  Lib. 6. cap. 14.