Obseruations vpon the fiue first bookes of Cæsars commentaries setting fourth the practise of the art military in the time of the Roman Empire : wherein are handled all the chiefest point of their discipline, with the true reason of euery part, together with such instructions as may be drawn from their proceedings, for the better direction of our moderne warres / by Clement Edmunds.

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Title: Obseruations vpon the fiue first bookes of Cæsars commentaries setting fourth the practise of the art military in the time of the Roman Empire : wherein are handled all the chiefest point of their discipline, with the true reason of euery part, together with such instructions as may be drawn from their proceedings, for the better direction of our moderne warres / by Clement Edmunds.
Author: Edmondes, Clement, Sir, 1566 or 7-1622.
Publication: At London :: Printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Bredstreet hill at the signe of the Starre,; 1600.
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Subject terms: Caesar, Julius. -- De bello Gallico. -- English. -- Abridgments.; Military art and science -- Early works to 1800.; Rome -- History -- Republic, 265-30 B.C. -- Early works to 1800.; Gaul -- History -- Gallic Wars, 58-51 B.C. -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/a21131.0001.001
Cite this Item: "Obseruations vpon the fiue first bookes of Cæsars commentaries setting fourth the practise of the art military in the time of the Roman Empire : wherein are handled all the chiefest point of their discipline, with the true reason of euery part, together with such instructions as may be drawn from their proceedings, for the better direction of our moderne warres / by Clement Edmunds." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a21131.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.

Pages

OBSERVATIONS.

ANd thus haue we heard of the greatest losse, that euer fel at any one time vpon Caesar his Armie, from the time that hee was first Pro∣consull in Gallia, vnto the ende of his dictatorship. For in the two ouerthrowes at Dirrachium, he lost not aboue 1000 men, and in that at Gergouia not so manie: but here fifteene cohortes were cut in pieces, which amounted to the number of 7000 men, or thereabout. Which maketh cowardice, and ill direction the more hatefull, in regard that the great victorie, which his valour obtained in Pharsalia, cost him but the liues of two hundreth men. The resolution of such as returned to the campe, witnesseth the exceeding valour of the Roman souldier, if a valiant leader had had the managing thereof; or if Cotta alone had beene absolute commander, there had beene great hope of better fortune in the successe: but here it happened as it commonly doth, that where there are many that are equall sharers in the chiefe authoritie, the direction for the most part followeth him that is more violent in opinion then the rest: which being a propertie rather of passion then of iudicious discourse, forceth a consent against the temperat opposition of a true discerning vnder∣standing; and so consequently it falleth out, that one coward, hauing place and authoritie in the councel, doth either infect or annihilate the sound delibe∣rations of the rest of the leaders: for his timerousnesse flieth alwaies to extre∣mities, making him rash in consultation, peremptorie in opinion, and base in case of perill; all which are enemies to good direction, and the onely instru∣ments of mischieuing fortune.