the Countrey without fear, according to
the former freedome and safety of the wayes.
There were likewise many young men of good
rank, Senators sons, and knights of Rome; be∣sides
Embassadours from sundry States, and
divers of Caesar's Legates. All these were kept
back by the River.
Af••anius went out in the night time with three
legions, and all his horse, to cut off this party;
and sending his Cavalry before, set upon them
unawares. Howbeit, the Cavalry of the Galles
put themselves speedily in order, and buckled
with them. And as long as it stood upon indif∣ferent
termes, they being but a few, did with∣stand
a great number of the enemy: but as soon
as they discovered the Ensignes of the legions
coming towards them, some few of them being
slain, the rest betook themselves to the next
hills.
This small time of encounter was of great
consequence for the safety of our men: for by
this means they had opportunity to take the upper
ground. There were lost that day two hundred
Archers, a few horsemen, and no great num∣ber
of the souldiers boyes, together with the bag∣gage.
Victuals by reason of all these things
waxed very dear, as well in regard of the pre∣sent
want, as also for fear of future penury, as
commonly it happeneth in such cases; insomuch
as a bushell of Corn was worth fifty pence.
Whereby the souldiers grew weak for want of
sustenance: and the inconveniences thereof dai∣ly
more and more increased. For so great was the
alteration which hapned in a few dayes, that our
men were much afflicted with the extreme want
of all necessary provisions: whereas they on the
other side, having all things in abundance, were
held for victors. Caesar sent unto those States
which were of his party, and instead of Corn,
gave them order to furnish him with Cattell;
dismissed souldiers boyes, and sent them to towns
farther off; relieving the present scarcity by all
the means he could.
Afranius and Petreius, together with their
friends, inlarged these things in their letters to
Rome: rumour and report added much hereun∣to;
as that the warre was even almost at an end.
These Messengers and Letters being come to
Rome, there was great concourse from all parts
to Afranius house, much congratulation and re∣joycing
for these things: and thereupon many
went out of Italy to Pompey, some to be the first
messengers of the news; others, that they might
not seem to expect the event of the war, and so
prove the last that came to that party.
When the matter was brought to these diffi∣culties
and extremities, and all the wayes were
kept by Afranius souldiers and horsemen, and
no bridges could be made: Caesar gave order to
the souldiers, to make such Boats and Barks as
he had in former years taught them the use of
in the warre of Britain: the keels whereof were
built of light stuffe, and small timber, and the
upper parts made with wicker, and covered with
hides. Which being finished, he laded them up∣on
Carres, and carried them in the night some
twenty two miles from the Camp. And in those
Barks transporting his souldiers over the river,
upon a suddain he possest himself of a little hill,
which lay near unto the water side: which hill
he speedily fortified, before the enemy had no∣tice
thereof. Afterwards he brought over a
legion to that place, and made a bridge from side
to side in two dayes space: and so the convoies,
which had gone forth for provisions and forrage,
returned back in safety; whereby he began to
settle a course for provision of Corn.
The same day he passed over the the river
a great part of his Cavalry, who falling unlook∣ed
for upon the forragers (scattered here and
there without fear or suspicion) cut off a great
number of men and cattell. Whereupon the E∣nemy
sending certain Spanish troups, bearing
little round bucklers, to second and relieve the
forragers, they divided themselves of purpose
into two parts; the one to keep and defend the
booty which they had got, and the other to resist
and beat back the forces sent to charge them.
One of our cohorts, which had easily run out be∣fore
the Army, was intercepted, and cut off: the
rest returned by the bridge into the Camp in
safety with a great booty.
THE FIRST OBSERVATION.
THese Rutheni inhabited that part of Provence
where Rhodes now standeth: amongst whom
Caesar had ordinarily a legion or two in Garri∣son,
for the better keeping of the Countrey in obe∣dience,
being a stout and warlike people, and
using archery, as appeareth in this place. Which
howsoever the course of time hath brought into
utter contempt, yet let us not scorn to take notice,
that anciently it hath been used by such as perfor∣med
the greatest feats of Arms: For Hercules
had but two sorts of weapons to atchieve labours
of so much variety; a Club for such monsters as
would contest with his valour, and Bow and Ar∣rows
for others that kept farther off. And in the
old warre of Troy (if Homer may be believed)
Pindarus Duke of Lycia, having a stable of
gallant Coursers, left them all at home, lest he
should not find means at Troy to give them their
ordinary keeping; and came on foot with his
bow and arrows, with such reputation of his deeds
of Arms, that Aeneas sought him out in a con∣flict,
to resist the rage and extreme pressures of
Diomedes. And on the contrary part, Teucer
relieved the distressed Grecians from a hot and
desperate pursuit, by slaying with his bow eight
valiant Trojans before he stirred his foot.