THE THIRD OBSERVATION.
AS Necessity maketh men constant in their sufferings,* 1.1 so Custome giveth easinesse and means of deliverance: according as may ap∣pear by this direction of Caesar, which was wholly drawn from former experience. For first the Boats here prescribed, were such as he used in the warre of Britany; and as farre as may be gathered out of the former Commenta∣ries,* 1.2 were those he commanded to be built for his second journey: which he would now imi∣tate in regard of the flatnesse of their bottomes, and not otherwise. For it is not to be suppo∣sed, that those Barks were covered with skinnes; unless peradventure he used some such as these up∣on occasion in that war, not expressed in the story.
Herodotus in his Clio, describeth the like; The boats (saith he) which come from Babylon, down the River Euphrates, are made by the Heardsmen of Armenia, of light Timber, in a round fashion, without beak or poup, & are co∣vered with skinne, the hiry side inward; and in these they take their passage. Such as fish for Salmon in the River of Sever••••, use the like boats in all respects,* 1.3 which they call Corracles of Co∣rium; being all covered with horse-skins tanned.
Secondly, the means he used to passe over with∣out impeachment from the Enemy, by carrying those boats in the night-time up the River to a place of security, was such, the like whereof he had formerly practised in Gallia, to passe the Ri∣ver Loire, being then guard don the other side by the Enemy. Whereby we see how much use and continuance doth inable men, beyond others of smaller experience: according to that, Dies Di∣em docet, One day teacheth another; or, Older and wiser.