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.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.* 1.1

PEtreius and Afranius, in their Councell of war, resolved by all means to shun night en∣counters, as a thing full of hazard and uncer∣tainty, and apt for looseness and disobedience: for the night, being neither a discoverer of er∣rours, nor yet a distinguisher either of actions or persons, but wrapping up both the vertuous and the faultie in her Mantle of obscuritie, doth not admit of directions, to follow an opportunity, or to help a mistaking; but rather giving way to impunitie and licentious confusion, leaveth no hope of what is wished:* 1.2 Whereas the light is a witness of every mans demeanour, and hath both honour and rebuke to make dutie respected.

For which causes,* 1.3 Curio (as it followeth in the next Commentarie) in his harangue before that untimely expedition against king Juba, thus rejected their advice that would have had him set forward in the night; At etiam ut media nocte proficiscamur addunt: quo majorem cre∣do licentiam habeant qui peccare conantur: nam∣que hujusmodi res aut pudore aut metu tenen∣tur, quibus rebus nox maxim: adversaria est. Further then this, they advise us to set out in the middle of the night: that so (I think) those men who have a mind to do mischief may take the greater liberty: for in the day-time they would be restrain'd either through shame or fear, to both which the darkness of the night is a great adver∣sary.

And that the danger may appear as well by ef∣fect as by discourse, let the Reader take notice of that battell by night, between Antonius Primus on the behalf of Vespasian, and the Vitellian le∣gions, near unto Cremona; whereof Tacitus hath this description;* 1.4 Praelium tota nocte varium, anceps, atrox; his, rursus illis, exitiabile. Nihil animus aut manus, n•• oculi quidem provisu ju∣vabant, &c. The fight was doubtfull and bloudy the whole night, now this party going to the worse, by and by that. A stout heart or a valiant hand availed little, neither could the eyes see be∣fore them either advantage or disadvantage. And thus are all night-works condemned, wherein ei∣ther order or honour are of any moment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nocturna prael••a esse vit••nda, quod per∣territus mi∣les in civili dissensione, timori ma∣gis quam religion•• consulere consu••••••••it; at ••u••em multum per se pudorem, omnium o∣culis 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Neque in victoria decue, nec in foga fla∣gitium.
• * 1.3

  Tacit. Hist. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  2. Histor▪