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.

The Marseillians taking advantage of the Truce, consu••e with fire all the Roman works: which are after∣wards re-edified.

AFter a few dayes,* 1.1 when our men were grown remisse and carelesse, sud∣denly about high noon, as some were gone one way some another, and o∣thers wearied with continuall la∣bour had given themselves to rest, the weapons being cased and laid up; they rushed out of their gates, and coming with the wind that then blew hard, they set our works on fire: which was so carried and dispersed with the wind, that the Mount, the Mantelets, the Testudo, the Tower and the Engines, were all on fire at once, and were burned down and consumed, before it could be known how it came.

Our men astonished at so suddain and un∣thought-of an accident, caught up such weapons as were next at hand; and others running speedi∣ly from the Camp, set upon the Enemy, but were hindered from following them as they fled, by Engines and Arrows from the town wall. They, on the other side, being retired under the prote∣ction of the wall, did at their ease burn down the Mouse and the brick-tower: and so many moneths labour was, through the perfidiousnesse of the Enemy, and the force of the tempest, con∣sumed and brought to nothing in a moment of time. The Marseillians attempted the like the next day after, having opportunity of the like tempest; and with greater confidence sallied out, and threw much fire upon the other mount and the tower. But as our men the day before (ex∣pecting nothing lesse then to be surprized in that sort) had neglected more then ordinary their u∣suall guards; so being now made wiser by that which had happened, they had made all things ready for defence: by which means, having slain a great number, they drave the rest back into the town, without effecting any thing.

Trebonius began again to re-edifie such works as were ruinated and consumed with fire, and that with greater ••alacritie of the souldier then before.* 1.2 For when they saw their great labours and endeavours sort to no better suc∣cesse, and the truce broke by the treachery of the Enemy, it was a great gall unto them to have their valour thus derided. And forasmuch as there was nothing left in all the Countrey for the raising of a Mount, all the trees being already cut down, and brought far and near to make the first Mount, they began a Mount of a strange and unheard-of fashion, raised with two side-walls of brick being six foot thick a piece,* 1.3 and joyned to∣gether with floors. The walls were of equall di∣stance, to the latitude of the former Mount, which was all of solid matter: and where the space between the walls, or the weaknesse of the work did require it, there were piles driven be∣tween, and beams and planks laid athwart for the strengthening thereof. The floors, made be∣tween those walls, were laid with Hurdles, and the Hurdles were covered with clay.

The souldiers being thus sheltered on both sides with a wall, and defended in front by Mantelets and Gab••ons, did safely, without danger, bring whatsoever was necessary for that building; whereby the work was carried on with great speed: and the losse of their former conti∣nuall labour was in a short time recovered again, through the admirable dexterity and valour of the souldier. To conclude, they left gates in the walls, in such places as were fittest for sal∣lies.

When the enemy perceived, that what they hoped could not be repaired again in a long time, was with a few daies labour re-edified and fi∣nished, whereby there was no place left to practise deceit, or to sallie out with advantage, neither was there any means left by which they could prevail, either by force of Armes to hurt our souldiers, or by fire to consume our works; and understanding likewise, that by the same man∣ner of fortification, all that part of the town which had passage and accesse from the firm land, might be encompassed with a wall and with towers, that their souldiers should not be able to stand upon their works; and perceiving withall,

that our Army had raised a counter-mure, a∣gainst the wall of their town, and that weapons might be cast by hand unto them; that the use of their Engines (wherein they much trusted) was by the nearness of space quite taken away; and lastly, that they were not able to confront our men (upon equall terms) from their walls, and from their turrets; they descended to the same Articles of rendry and submission, as were for∣merly agreed upon.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

HEnce we may observe, that a Generall cannot be too secure of an Enemie, that stands upon terms to render up a place. For the action being but voluntary by constraint, if haply the con∣straining force be removed, then that doth cease which is voluntary; and so it cometh by conse∣quent to a refusall. As appeareth by this passage of the Marseillians; who being brought into hard terms, as well by their two overthrows at Sea, (whence they expected no further succour,) as also by the siege laid so close by land, (where they were so violently assaulted, that their towers of defence made passage for the Romans to en∣ter upon them;) did neverthelesse (upon cessation of those inforcements) alter their purpose, and en∣tertained new hopes: which maketh good that saying;

—Tim••o Danaos & dona ferentes, I fear the Greeks, even when they bring their gifts.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

SEcondly,* 1.4 we may observe that a will, forward to undergo labour, doth never stick at any difficulty, nor is at all dismaied with the losse of any pains: but is rather redoubled in courage and industrie; especially being edged on with a desire of revenge.* 1.5 Which (if Homer may have credit) doth alwaies adde a third part to a mans strength; as appeared by Diomedes,* 1.6 being hurt in the shoulder with one of Pindarus arrows: for revenge whereof, he exceeded himself in a sesqui∣terce proportion of valour, and slew more Tro∣jans by a third part then otherwise he could.

Howsoever,* 1.7 as there is nothing so hard, but is subject to the endeavour of the mind: so there is nothing so easie, as to disposses our selves of that intent care which is requisite in these imploy∣ments. For these Romans, that through the greatness of their spirits had made such first and second works,* 1.8 as the memorie thereof will last with the world, were surprised when they lay in the Interim, as it were unbent, in as great re∣misness and neglect (howsoever drawn unto it by deceit) as if they had been able to do no such matter as is here reported. And therefore it be∣hoveth a Commander, to keep his Armie al∣waies seasoned with labour;* 1.9 forasmuch as Exer∣citus labore proficit, otio consenescit, An ar∣my thrives by employment, but grows old by idleness.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Est ita na∣tu••a com∣para 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ut 〈…〉〈…〉, su∣p••a quam di••i possi••, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, si vide••nt ••••rum even∣tus virtuti non respon∣de••••.
• * 1.3

  Paus. in Messe.
• * 1.4

  Volu••tas ad laborem propensa, cuncta vin∣cere & su∣pera••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Polyaenus.
• * 1.6

  Iliad. 5.
• * 1.7

  Nihil tam arduum, quod animi fortitudine supera••i non possit.
• * 1.8

  Appi••n. de bello Hispanico.
• * 1.9

  Vegetius.