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 having punished Guturvatus for the revolt of the Carnutes, joyneth with Caninius and Fabius before Ʋxellodunum. Upon his depriving them of water the town yieldeth. Caesar cutteth off their right hands.

IN the mean time, Caesar left M. An∣tonius the Quaestor with fifteen Cohorts among the Bellovaci, to prevent any new confederacies a∣mong them for the future: and he himself visited the other States, charging them

with mo hostages, and with comfortable words raising the fearfull hearts of them all.

When he came amongst the Carnutes, in whose countrey (as Caesar hath declared in his former Commentary) the warre first of all began, inasmuch as he perceived them to be chief∣ly afraid, as being conscious to themselves of their fault, to the intent he might the more speedily deliver the rest of the State from fear, he de∣manded Guturvatus, the ring-leader of that mischief, and raiser of the rebellion, to be deli∣vered unto him to be punished: who albeit he trusted not himself with his own countrey∣men, yet all men made so diligent search for him, that he was soon found out and brought to the Camp. Caesar, contrary to his own nature, was compelled to punish him whether he would or no, by the importunity of his souldiers, who imputed all the dangers and losses that they had sustained by this warre, unto Guturvatus: in∣somuch that his body after it was in a manner whipped to death, was beheaded.

While Caesar ••arried here, he was advertised by severall letters from Caninius, what was done to Drapes and Luterius, and how the townsmen persevered in their resolution: the small number of whom although he despised, yet he deemed their wilfulnesse worthy of severe punishment; lest they might give occasion to all Gallia, to think that they wanted not strength, but constancy and resolution to with∣stand the Romans; or le•••• by their example, o∣ther cities of Gallia trusting to the advantage and strength of places, should attempt to reco∣ver their liberty: especially seeing he was sure that all the Galles knew his commission lasted but one summer longer, which if they could hold out, they should need to fear no danger after. And therefore leaving Q. Calenus the Legate behind with two legions to follow leasurely af∣ter him by easy marches, he himself with all his Cavalry made haste to Caninius.

When Caesar, contrary to all mens expecta∣tion, was come to Uxellodunum, and saw the town environed with fortifications, perceiving that it was not for him to break up his siege on any condition, and learning moreover by run∣awayes that the town had great abundance of victuals: he assaied to cut of the water from his enemies.

There was a river that ran through the bottom of the valley, which environed well-near all the hill whereon the town stood, from whence the descent was rough and steep on all sides. The nature of the place would not suffer this stream to be turned any other way. For it ran in such sort at the very foot of the hill, that there could be no ditch cut low enough to drain it. The townsmen had hard and very steep coming down to it, insomuch that if our men withstood them, they could not without wounds or danger of their lives, either come down to the river, or get up the steep hill again. Which distresse of theirs Caesar well knowing, placed archers and slingers, and other artillery also, against such places where the easiest coming down was, to keep the townsmen from the water of the river: who afterward came for water all to one place. For under the very walles of the town there gushed out a great spring of water, on that side where there was a space almost of three hundred foot not encompassed with the river.

Now whilst all the rest wished, and only Cae∣sar perceived, that this spring might be taken from the town, though not, without great da∣mage; he began to raise Vines directly against it toward the hill, and to make mounts, with great labour and continuall fighting. For the towns∣men came running down from the higher ground, and fought with our men at a distance without danger, wounding many of them that pressed up too forwardly. Notwithstanding our men were nothing deterred from bringing forward their Vines, endeavouring to overcome the crabbednesse of the place, with their labour and works. At the same time they drew privy mines to the head of the spring, which kind of work they might do without any danger or mistrust of their enemies. A mount was cast up six foot high, and thereupon was raised a tower of ten stories; not such a one as might equall the height of the walles, (for that was not possible to be done any way) but such a one as might exceed the top of the spring. From which conveying darts with engines to the brim of the spring, so that the townsmen could not fetch water without danger, not only all sorts of cattel, but also a great number of men died for thirst.

The townsmen greatly astonished hereat, fil∣led barrels with grease, pitch, and shingles, and setting them on fire rolled them down upon our works, and at the same time also fought very desperately, with the perill of fighting to keep the Romans from quenching the fire. Suddenly there was a great flame in our works. For whatsoever was thrown down from that steep place, the same staying against the Vines and rampier, took hold upon the things that stayed them. On the other side, our Souldiers, albeit they were hindred both with the dangerousnesse of the encounter, and with the disadvantage of the place, yet they bare out all things with a stout courage. For the thing was done both in an eminent place, and also in the sight of our army: and a great cry was raised on both sides. So that every man as farre as he could, especially the most daring, (to the intent his valour might the better be known and testified) ventured him∣self upon the fire, & the weapons of his enemies.

Caesar when he saw many of his men wound∣ed, commanded his Cohorts to climbe up the hill on all sides of the town, and to raise a shout as if they purposed to scale the walles. Where∣with the townsmen being frighted, forasmuch as they knew not what was doing in other pla∣ces, called back their men from assaulting our works, and placed them upon the walls. So our men having respite from fighting, did quick∣ly either quench the works that were on fire, or else cut them off from the rest.

The townsmen stubbornly standing out, though they had lost a great part of their men by thirst, and continuing still unanimously re∣solved, at length the veins of the spring were cut off within the ground by mines, and turned another way: by means whereof the fountain of running water was presently dried up. Which so daunted the hearts of the defendants, who believed it could not be done by the wit of man, but came to passe by the will of the gods; that when they saw there was no other remedy, they yielded themselves.

Caesar being assured that his clemency was sufficiently known to all people, and therefore he needed not to fear that it would be imputed to the cruelty of his nature, if he dealt something harshly with them; and besides that, consider∣ing with himself, that it might well be thought he little regarded the good successe of his coun∣sells and undertakings, if by suffering such things unpunished, others should be encouraged to re∣bell in divers places: he thought it requisite to hold the rest in aw by the punishment of these. And therefore he cut off the hands of as many of them as were able to bear arms, and let them live still, that the punishment of such wicked men might be more manifest to the world.