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. IX.

Caesar's supplies passe over into Greece, and take landing.

CAesar troubled at these things,* 1.1 writ very sharply to them at Brundusi∣um, not to omit the opportunity of the next good wind, but to put to Sea, and to shape their course to Oricum, or to the Coast of Apollonia; because there they might run their ships on ground: and these places were freest from Guards, by reason they could not ride far from the Ports.

They, according to their accustomed cou∣rage and valour (Marcus Antonius and Fu∣sius Calenus directing the businesse, and the Souldiers themselves being forward thereun∣to, as refusing no danger for Caesar's sake) having got a South wind, weighed Anchour, and the next day passed by Apollonia and Dyr∣rachium: but being discovered from the Conti∣nent, Quintus Coponius, Admirall of the Rho∣dian Navy, lying at Dyrrachium, brought his ships out of the Haven. And as he had almost (upon a slack wind) overtaken our men, the same South wind began at length to blow stiff, by which means they escaped. Yet did not he desist from pursuing them; but was in hope, by the labour and industry of the Mariners, to o∣verweigh the force of the tempest, and followed them, notwithstanding they were past Dyrra∣chium, with a large wind. Our men using the favour of Fortune, were neverthelesse afraid of the Enemies Navy, if the wind should chance to slack: and having got the Port called Nymphaeum, three miles beyond Lissus, they put in with their ships.

This Port lay sheltered from the South-west wind; but was not safe from a South wind; howsoever, they accounted an ill road lesse dangerous then the Enemies fleet: and yet they were no sooner put in, but the wind (which had blown southerly for two dayes together) did now most happily come about to the South-west.

And here a man may see the suddain al∣teration of Fortune; for they which of late stood in fear of a dangerous Road, were now by that occasion, received into a safe harbour: and those which threatened danger to them, were forced to bethink themselves of their own safety. So that the time thus changing, the tempest saved our Party, and sunk theirs. Insomuch as sixteen of the Rhodian ships were all shaken in pieces, and perished with shipwrack; and of the great number of oar∣men and souldiers, part were dashed against the Rocks and slain, and part were taken up by our men: all which Caesar sent home in safety. Two of our ships coming short, and overtaken with the night, and not knowing where the rest had taken shore, stood at Anchour right over against Lissus. Them did Ot••ci∣lius Crassus, Governour of Lissus, go about to take with Skiffs, and other little ships, which he had prepared for that purpose; and with∣all, treated with them of yielding them∣selves, promising life and safety upon that condition.

One of the ships carried two hundred and twenty men, of the legion made of young soul∣diers; in the other were lesse then two hundred old Souldiers. And here a man may see, what assurance and safety consisteth in courage and valour of mind; for the new made souldiers, terrified with the multitude of ships that came against them, and spent with Sea-sicknesse, upon oath made not to receive any hurt, did yield themselves to Otacilius: who being brought all unto him, were contrary to his oath, most cruelly slain in his sight. But the souldiers of the old Legions (howso∣ever afflicted with the inconvenience of the tempest, and noisomnesse of the Pump) did not slack any thing of their ancient valour: for having drawn out the first part of the night in conditions of treaty, as though they meant to yield themselves, they compelled the Master to run his ship a-shore; and having got a convenient place, they there spent the rest of the night.

As soon as it was day, Otacilius sent four hundred horse, which had the guard of that part of the coast, with others of the garrison, to assault and take them: but they valiantly defending themselves, slew divers of them; and so got to our men in safety. Whereupon, the Roman Citizens residing in Lissus, (which town Caesar had formerly given them to be kept and guarded) received in Antonius, and assisted him with all things needfull. Otacilius, fearing himself, fled out of the town, and came to Pompey.

Antonius sent back the greatest part of the ships that had brought over his troups (which were three legions of old souldiers, one of new souldiers, and eight hundred horse) to trans∣port the rest of the souldiers and horse, that remained at Brundusium: leaving the Pon∣tones, which are a kind of French shipping, at Lissus; to this end, that if haply Pompey, think∣ing Italy to be empty and unfurnished, should carry over his Army thither, Caesar might have means to follow him: and withall sent Messengers speedily to Caesar, to let him know where the Army was landed, and what men he had brought over.

THE FIRST OBSERVATION.

DOlus an virtus quis in hoste requirat,* 1.2 It is no matter whether the enemy does his businesse by Valour, or subtilty; is not so justi∣fiable by the laws of true Vertue, as that of Achilles,* 1.3 who professed to hate that man more then the gates of hell,* 1.4 that promised one thing, and purposed another. Neither do the Jurists conclude otherwise; having, for the more appa∣rency of truth, drawn it to a Question, An perfidia in perfidum uti, Jus sit, whether it be lawfull to break faith with a faith-breaker;* 1.5 al∣ledging Labienus practise against Comius of Arras, together with that which admitteth no Answer, that their example standeth as a presi∣dent, to deal with them as they deal with others. But to falsifie religion, as Otacilius did, and to make an oath the Broaker of unworthy ends, is abhorred by God and Man, and accordingly succeedeth.

The most remarkable instance in this kind, is that (which is to be wished were forgotten) of Lewis King of Hungaria;* 1.6 who having conclu∣ded the honourablest peace, that ever Christian Prince had before that time made with any of the Turkish Sultans, and confirmed the same by an oath, taken upon the holy Evangelist; did neverthelesse, at the perswasion of Julian, a Cardinall (who took upon him, by power from the Pope, to disannull the league, and absolve him from the oath) break the peace, and gave battel to Amurath at Varna (where the Infi∣dell took occasion impiously to blaspheme, in calling for vengeance on such, as in their deeds had denied the Godhead of their most sacred & blessed Lord) and was there slain, to the utter ru∣ine of his kingdome, and the reproch of Christi∣an Name. Neither did the Cardinall escape the vengeance, which his treachery had drawn upon that royall Army: but being there wounded un∣to death, was found lying in the high way, by Gregory Sanose, ready to give up the ghost; and seemed but to stay to take with him the bitter cur∣ses of such as passed by, flying from the battel, as the due reward of his perfidious absolution.

THE SECOND OBSERVATION.

IN case of difficulty and hazard (as Caesar no∣teth) there is alwayes great help in a good courage.* 1.7 For, whether it be that good hap atten∣deth a valourous carriage, or that vertue be a∣ble to remove all opposition,* 1.8 or what other cause there is besides; but thus it falleth out, that such as entertain a noble resolution, are ever safest in extremity of perill; and instead of losse, get honour and renown.

Brasidas found a Mouse amongst dried figs,* 1.9 which bit him so that he let her go, & thereupon said to those that stood by, That there was no∣thing so little, that could not save it self, if it had a heart to defend it self against such as assaulted it.

And herein we may observe that to be true, which the Poet hath delivered;* 1.10 Seris venit u∣sus ab annis, Time and Practise do much avail to perfect this courage in the minds of Men of War; as knowing aforehand the weight of such labours, and having incountered the like dangers, even to the redeeming of them∣selves

from the jaws of death.* 1.11 Whence it is that the Comick saith, No man can possibly come so well furnished to any course of life, but that time and experience do alwaies teach him what he knew not before: whereas others that go rawly to work, are so daunted with the unu∣suall looks of war, as they (forgetting the pro∣fession of Arms) do run headlong into the danger they seek to avoid; being able to give no other account of their service,* 1.12 but that they marched many Bodies,* 1.13 and but a few Men.

THE THIRD OBSERVATION.* 1.14

Plutarch, Valerius Maximus, Appian, Suetonius, & Lucan, do all write, that Cae∣sar, impatient of the slay of his forces at Brun∣du sium, imbarked himself in a small Frigat of twelve oares,* 1.15 disguised in the habit of a slave, and put to sea to fetch his Legions; not∣withstanding all the Coast swarmed with the Enemies shipping: but meeting with a con∣trary wind, which would not suffer him to get out of the River Anius, the Master com∣manded the Mariners to cast about, and get to shore. Whereupon Caesar discovering himself, incouraged him to go forward, for that he carried Caesar and his fortunes.

The Master forgetting all danger, made out again to get to sea; but was by force of the tempest driven to return, to Caesar's great grief. And albeit there is no mention made hereof in these Commentaries, yet the authority of so many grave Authours is not to be con∣temned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  Aeneid. 2.
• * 1.3

  Homer 9.
• * 1.4

  Iliad.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 lib. 8. de bello Gallico.
• * 1.6

  Uladislaus.
• * 1.7

  Audaces fortuna iu∣vat. Virtus omnia po∣test.
• * 1.8

  Virtute fa∣ciendum est, quicquid in rebus belli∣cis est ge∣rendum.
• * 1.9

  Plutarch.
• * 1.10

  6 Metam••••.
• * 1.11

  Nunquam ita quil∣quam bene subducta ratione ad vitam fait quin res, ae∣tas, usus, sen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ali∣quid 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  T••ren.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Multi ho∣mines, pau∣••i vi••i.
• * 1.14

  Herod. lib. 7.
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith, that the Romans 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the siege of Ve••ente, being out of humane hope, tur∣ned their eies to Fate, and the hope they had in Destiny.