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. VI.

Caesar taketh divers Municipall Towns.

FOr which regard,* 1.1 he sent M. Anto∣nius with five cohorts to Aretium:* 1.2 but he himself stayed at Ariminum with two legions, and there intended to in∣roll new troups;* 1.3 and with severall cohorts took Pisaurum, Fanum, and Ancona. In the mean while, being advertised that Thermus the Praetor did hold Tignium with five cohorts, and fortified the place, and that all the inhabi∣tants were well inclined towards him; he sent Curio thither with three cohorts, which he had at Pisaurum and Ariminum. Upon notice of whose coming, Thermus (doubting of the affection of the town) drew his cohorts forth of the City, and fled. The souldiers by the way went from him, and repaired homeward. Curio was there received with the great contentment and satisfaction of all men. Upon notice where∣of, Caesar conceiving hope of the favourable af∣fections of the Municipall towns, brought the cohorts of the thirteenth legion out of their gar∣risons,* 1.4 and marched towards Auximum; a town held by Actius, with certain cohorts which he had brought thither with him, who having sent out divers Senatours,* 1.5 made a levie of men throughout all the Countrey of Picenum.

Caesar's coming being known, the Decuriones of Auximum repaired to Actius Varus, accom∣panied with great troups of people: and told him that the matter concerned not him at all; for neither themselves, nor the rest of the Muni∣cipall towns, would shut their gates against such a Commander as Caesar was, that by great and worthy service had so well deserved of the Com∣monwealth: and therefore advised him to consi∣der what might ensue thereof, and the danger which might befall him in particular. Varus being throughly wakened at this warning, drew out the garrison which he had brought in, and so fled away: and being overtaken by a few of Caesar's first troups, was compelled to make a stand; and there giving battel, was forsaken of his men. Some of the souldiers went home, and the rest came to Caesar.* 1.6 Amongst them was taken L. Pupius, Centurion of a Primipile order, which place he had formerly held in Pompey's Army. Caesar commended Actius souldiers; sent Pupius away; gave thanks to them of Auxi∣mum; and assured them of a mindfull acknow∣ledgement on his behalf for this service.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

AMongst other things which serve to inable our judgements, and do make men wise to good fortune, that which is gathered from simili∣tude or likenesse of quality, is not the unsurest ground of our discourse; but oftentimes giveth more light to guide our passage through the doubt∣fulnesse of great enterprises, then any other help of reason. For he that will attend an overture from every particular, and tarry for circumstan∣ces to accomplish all his purposes, and make no use of instances to better his advantage, shall never wade farre in businesses of moment, nor atchieve that which he desireth, Which Caesar well observed: for upon the accidentall disco∣very of the disposition of one town, he there∣by took occasion to make triall how the rest

stood affected; and either found them or made them answerable to his hopes.

Concerning these places taken by Caesar,* 1.7 it is to be understood, that Pisaurum is sited on the Adriatick sea, and belongeth to the Dutchie of Urbine: a town famous of old, by reason of the prodigious opening of the earth, and swal∣lowing up the inhabitants before the battell of Actium, some few yeares after it was thus taken by Caesar.

Fanum was so called of a fair Temple which was there built to Fortune.* 1.8 Tacit. Annal. 10. Exercitus Vespasiani ad Fanum Fortunae iter sistit; The Army of Vespasian made a halt at the Temple of Fortune. It is a small town on the same sea, and belongeth to the Pope.

Ancona is a famous town upon the Adriatick sea,* 1.9 sited upon a bow-like promontorie, which taketh in the sea between two fore-lands; and so maketh one of the fairest Havens of all Italy, as well for largenesse as for safety. From whence riseth that common saying, expressing the rare∣nesse and singularity of three things; Unus Petrus in Roma, One Peter in Rome; noting the beauty of Saint Peter's Church: Una Turris in Cremo∣na, One tower in Cremona; the excellent work∣manship of a Steeple there: And unus Portus in Ancona, One Haven in Ancona; which is this Haven. The Emperour Trajan, to give it more shelter, and keep it from the fury of the wind, raised the top of the Promontorie in fashion of a half moon, with a mount made of great Marble stones; and made it Theatre-wise, with descents and degrees to go to the sea; together with an Ark triumphall in memory thereof. The town is now under the Pope.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

THis word Decurio hath a double understan∣ding:* 1.10 for Romulus having 3000 foot and 300 horse, divided them into three Tribes, and every Tribe into ten Curies, containing a hun∣dred footmen and ten horsemen. Whereby Mar∣cellinus concludeth, that Decuriones & Centu∣riones à numero cui in Militia praeerant d••ce∣bantur; they were called Decurions and Centu∣rions from the number they commanded in the warres.* 1.11 But Vegetius is more particular in this point. A Company of footmen (saith he) was called a Century or Maniple: and a Troup of horse was called Turma, of Ter-denos, contain∣ing thirty men, whereof the Captain was named Decurio.* 1.12 In which sense Caesar speaketh; Ea res per fugitivos L. Aemili•• Decurionis equi∣tum Gallorum hostibus nunciatur: This busi∣nesse was bewrayed to the enemy by the fugi∣tives of L. Aemilius a Decurion of the French horse. But in this place it hath another significa∣tion: for the Romans, when they sent any Citi∣zens to people and inhabite a place, chose out every tenth man; such as were found most able, and of best sufficiency to make and establish a publick Councell; whom they called Decuriones; according as Pomponius and other Civilians un∣derstand it. So that these Decuriones were the Senate of that place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Half a le∣gion, being about 2500 men.
• * 1.3

  Pisaurum, Pesarò Ital. Fanum. Ancona. Tignium.
• * 1.4

  Auximum, Actius Va∣rus.
• * 1.5

  Picenum.
• * 1.6

  L. Pupius.
• * 1.7

  Pesarò Ital. Plut. Anto.
• * 1.8

  Fanò Ital.
• * 1.9

  Ancona.
• * 1.10

  Decuriones.
• * 1.11

  Lib. ••. cap. 14.
• * 1.12

  Lib. ••. d•• bell. Gall.