CHAP. I.
The Galles raise new troubles in divers places. Caesar scattereth and wasteth the Bituriges, and after that the Carnutes.
AFter that all Gallia was subdued, forasmuch as Caesar had rested no part of the former Summer from warre, he was desirous to refiesh his Souldiers after so great pains ta∣ken, the rest of the winter season; when news was brought him that many States at the self∣same time, did lay their heads together again about warre, and make conspiracies. Whereof there was reported a very likely cause; in that it was known to all the Galles, that there could not any power so great be assembled into one place, as should be able to withstand the Ro∣mans: neither if many States at once made war in divers places at one instant, could the army of the people of Rome have sufficient, either of aid, or of time, or of men of warre to pursue all at once: and there ought not any State to re∣fuse the lot of their misfortune, if by the respite thereof, the rest might set themselves at li∣berty.
The which opinion to the intent it should not settle in the minds of the Galles, Caesar leaving M. Antonius the Quaestor with charge of his winter garrisons, went with a strong com∣pany of horsemen the last day of December from Bibracte to his twelfth Legion, which he had placed not farre from the borders of the Hedui, in the countrey of the Bituriges, and ta∣keth thereunto the eleventh Legion which was next unto it. Leaving two Cohorts to defend his stuff and carriages, he led the rest of his ar∣my into the most plentifull fields of the Bituri∣ges: the which being a large countrey and full of towns, could not be kept in aw with the gar∣risoning of one Legion amongst them, but that they prepared for warre and made con∣spiracies.
By the sudden coming of Caesar, it came to passe (which must needs happen to such as are unprovided and scattered abroad) that such as were tilling the ground without fear, were sur∣prised in the fields by our horsemen, before they could get them into the Towns. For at that time, the common token of invasion which is wont to be perceived by burning of houses, was by Caesar's commandment forborn, lest they should either want forrage and corn if they were minded to make any further rode into the coun∣trey, or else, that their enemies for fear of the fires, should convey themselves out of the way.
After that many thousands of men had been taken, the Bituriges being sore afraid, such of them as could escape out of the Romans hands at their first coming, upon confidence either of the old acquaintance and familiarity that had been privately between them, by reason of re∣sorting as guests one to another, or of their mu∣tuall agreement and partaking in the same devi∣ces, fled into the next cities: but all was in vain. For Caesar by great journeys came so sudden∣ly upon all places, that he gave not any city lea∣sure, to think of the safeguard of other folks ra∣ther then of themselves. Through the which speed, he both kept his friends faithfull unto him, and put the wavering sort in such fear, that he compelled them to be glad to receive peace.
The matter standing in this case, when the Bituriges saw that through Caesar's gentlenesse there was yet a way for them to return into his favour again, and that the next States had deli∣vered him hostages, and were thereupon recei∣ved to mercy, without further punishment: they themselves did in like wise. Caesar, because his men had patiently endured so great travell in the