Cesar holdeth out his parlament stil and coÌ„maundeth the cities to find hym horsmen Hauing thus pacified thys parte of Gallia he applyed hymselfe wholye wyth thought and mind to the wars of the Treuires and of Ambiorix He commaunded Cauarine to accompany hym with the horsmen of the Senones least there shoulde ryse anye vprore in the country eyther throughe his irefulnes or for malice that they bare against him When he had set theis matters at a stay forasmuche as he knew certainly that Ambiorix wold not encounter with him in battell he forecast in hys minde how he might come to the knowledge of all hys other deuises There were the Menapians bordering vppon the Eburones fensed in wyth continuall fennes woodes round about them who only of al the people of Gallia had neuer sent ambassadors to Cesar to entreat for peace and he was sure that Ambiorix soiorned amoÌ„gst theym Also he had vnderstanding that by meanes of the Treuires he had entred in league wyth the Germanes He thought it mete to disappoint hym of theis helpes ere he assailed him by battel lest either being brought to vtter dispayre he myght hide himselfe among the MenapiaÌ„s or otherwyse he himselfe be compelled to feight wyth thinhabiters on the further side of the Rhine When he had determined vpon thys deuise he sent all the baggage of hys army to Labienus amonge the Treuires and bade two Legions go thyther to him Himself wyth fiue Legions hauing nothing to comber theÌ„ set forward agaynst the MenapiaÌ„s There hauing not raised any power bicause they trusted in the strengthe of the place they fled into the woodes and Marysses conueyed al theyr goods thyther Cesar deuyding hys armye wyth C. Fabius hys Lieuetenaunt Ma. Crassus hys Threasorer and quicklye makinge bridges assayled them on three parts at ones and setting their houses and villages a fier gate a great bootye of men and cattell By meanes whereof the Menapians were enforced to send Ambassadors vnto him to entreat for peace Receiuing theyr hostages he threatned to take them for hys enemyes if they receyued eyther Ambiorix or hys Ambassadors wythin theyr borders When he had set these thyngs at a stay he left Comius of Arras with a troope of horsemen as a Warden among the Menapians and him self went agaynst the Treuires Whyle Cesar was doyng theis thinges the Treuires hauing assembled a great host of horsmen and footemen were about to set vppon Labienus who with one LegioÌ„ had wintred in their borders And now they were not past a two dayes iorney from him when they vnderstoode that two Legions mo sent thither by Cesar were come vnto hym Wherfore encamping theÌ„ selues about xv miles of they determined to tary for the aid of the Germanes Labienus hauinge knoweledge what hys ennemyes purposed to do and hoping that through their rashnes some occasion of battel wold be geuen left fiue Cohorts to defend the stuffe and setting foorth toward his enemy wyth .xxv. Cohorts and a great power of horsmen encamped himself within a mile of him There was betwene Labienus and hys ennemyes a riuer wyth steepe bankes hard to be passed This riuer he neither purposed to passe himselfe neyther thought he that hys ennemies wold passe it Euerye day they were in greater hope than other of ayde Labienus sayd in an open assembly that forasmuche as it was reported that the Germanes were nere at hand he wold not put both his own goods the goods of hys army in hazard and therfore wold the next morning by break of the day dislodge his caÌ„p Theis things were sone reported to the enemy as it is commonlye seene that among so many Gallian horsemen as he had nature compelleth some of them to beare fauor to theyr countrye affayres Labienus in the night time callinge to hym the Tribunes and chief officers of his camp declared vnto them what he minded to do And to thintent the easâ—yer to bleare hys ennemyes eyes wyth suspicioÌ„ of fearfulnes he bade that they should remoue wyth more noise and hurlyburly than the custome of the Romanes was to do By thys meanes he made his remouing seme like a running away Theis things also as it happeneth where two armyes encampe so neere together were by spies before daylight caried to the enemy The rereward was scars out of the camp but that the Galles encouragyng one another not to lette their hoped pray slyppe out of theyr handes In asmuche as it wold be to long to waite lingaring for the ayd of the Germanes sith the Romanes were in such a fear and it stode not wyth their honor to be so cowardly that wyth so greate a power as they had they should be afrayd to assayle so small a handfull specially beyng troubled flying away boldly passed ouer the riuer in a place of disaduauÌ„tage gaue vs battel Labienus mistrustyng as much before to th entent to toll them all ouer the Riuer kept on his way softly with like pretence of feare as he had vsed before At length sending the stuffe and cariages somwhat before and settyng them vpon a littel hil ye haue ê™ he my Souldiers the occasion that ye wyshed for Ye hold your enemy in a place vnhandsome and of disaduauÌ„tage Nowe let vs peticapteines see lyke valiantnes in you as you haue oftentymes shewed before youre Graundcapteine think that he were now here and presently beheld your doyngs with his eyes Wyth theis words he commaunded the standerd to be turned toward the enemy and the battels to be aduaunced And seÌ„ding a few horsmen away for the defence of the Cariages he placed the rest on the sides of his battels Oure men raising a great showt quicklye discharged theyr darts at theyr enemyes When contrarye to theyr expectacion our enemyes saw vs whoÌ„ they beleued to haue ben fled return vpon them with force of armes they were not able to abide so much as the onset but at the fyrst meting taking themselues to their heles fled to the next woodes whom Labienus pursewyng wyth hys horsemen slew of them a great number and toke many mo and wythin fewe dayes after recouered the Citye For the Germanes that were comming to theyr ayde hearyng of the discomfiture of the Treuires retired home agayne The kinsfolk also of Induciomarus who were thauthors of thys rebellion departed out of the City and accompanied the Germanes And so the souereinty and rule of the countrye was betaken to Lingetorix who as we haue declared continued alwais faythull from the beginning After that Cesar was come from the Menapians among the Treuires he determined for two causes to passe the Rhine of the which one was bicause they had sent ayd to the Treuires agaynst him â–ª thother was to th entent that Ambâ—orix should not haue anye recourse vnto them Theis matters being determined vpon he purposed to make a bridge a littell aboue the same place where he had passed hys army before When the maner how he wold haue it done was ones
handsome horses he toke the horses froÌ„ the Marshals and Romane horsmen and from such as he had raised vpon the sodeine and distributed them among the Germanes In the meane time that theis things were a doing the fotemen out of Auuerne and the horsmen that were enioyned to all Gallia assembled together The number of theis men of war being very huge wheÌ„ they were come together at suche time as Cesar was passing toward the Sequanes by the vttermost borders of LaÌ„gres that he might the easlyer succor the Prouince Uercingetorix lodged in three campes about ten myles of froÌ„ the Romanes and calling to couÌ„sell the Capteines of hys horsemen he tolde them the time of victorye was come for the Romanes were flyinge into Prouince and glad to get them out of Gallia The whyche suffysed to obtein libertie for the preseÌ„t time but littel or nothing auailed to kepe peace and quietnes in time to come For they wold returne agayne with a greater power and neuer make an end of the warre And therfore nowe was time to set vppon them whyle they were troubled wyth their cariages For if the fotemen aduentured to rescow theyr goodes and made any tarience about it they coulde not continue on their iorney Againe yf forsakinge their cariages whyche he beleued wolde rather come to passe they had regard to theyr liues they must nedes be spoyled bothe of theyr furniture and of theyr honor For as touching his enemyes horsmen they myght well assure themselues that none of theÌ„ durst be so â—olde as ones to put hys head out of the battell The which thing to th entent they myght with better courage attempt he said he wold stand before his CaÌ„p in battel ray with al his whole power to put his enemies in feare The horsmen cryed out all at ones that a solemne othe ought to be taken of theÌ„ that he should not be receiued vnder anye roofe nor haue recourse to hys chyldren nor to hys parentes nor to hys wyfe that had not twyce at the least rode through the battell of his enemies When the matter was agreed vppon and euerye man put to hys othe the next day seuering their horsmen into three battels twoo of them shewed them selues on the two sides and the thyrd meeting vs face to face assaid to stop vs of our iorney The whych thyng when Cesar hard of deuiding hys horsemen likewyse into thre troopes he coÌ„maunded theÌ„ to procede agaynst theyr ennemies Al the thre battels fought at one instant Our battell of footemen stode close together and receiued the cariages in among the Legions Looke wheresoeuer our men semed to be in daunger or to sore layde at thyther Cesar wylled the standerdes to be aduaunced and the battel to be turned that waye The whiche thinge was both a stop to the ennemies that they could not pursew and aâ—so an encouragement to oure men wyth hope of succor At the length the Germanes on the right side gettinge the top of the hyll draue theyr enemies down and folowynge the chace vpon them hard to the riuer where Uercingetorix abode with his battel of fotemeÌ„ slew manye of them When the rest perceiued that fearinge to be enclosed about they tooke them to flight ThaÌ„ was there nothing but slaughter in al places Three of the chiefest of the nobility of the Heduanes were brought prysoners vnto Cesar Cottus the Lieuetenant of the horsmen who at the last election stode competitor agaynst Conuictolitane Cauarill who after the reuolting of Litauicus became capteyne of the footemen and Eporedorix who before the comming of Cesar had ben Captein Generall of the Heduanes in theyr warres against the Sequanes After that all hys horsemen were put to flight Uercingetorix retiring wyth hys armye in the same order that he had set theym before hys camp begaÌ„ forth wyth to take his iorney toward Aleria a towne of the Mandubians coÌ„maunding his stuffe to be brought out the campe wyth all speede and to folow after him Cesar bestowing hys cariages in the next hil and leauing there two Legions for the defence of them folowed after him as far as the time of the daye wold suffer and when he hadde slayne to the number of a three thousand or thereabouts of his enemies that were in the rereward the next day after he pitched hys Camp before Alexia When he had viewed the situacion of the town and put his enemies in feare bicause theyr horsmen in whyche part of the armye they put greatest truste were put to flyght encouraging hys souldiers to the woorke he began to cast a trenche about Alexia The towne itself stode vpon the top of an hyll in a very high place that it seemed not possible to be won but by continewance of siege At the fote of the sayde hil ran two riuers on two sides therof Before the towne was a playn of a thre miles long On al other parts the towne was enuironed wyth dyuers hyls all of a like heighth distaÌ„t a good pretye space one froÌ„ another Under the wall as much of the hyll as was toward the sunne rysing the Galles had whollye occupyed wyth theyr tentes had drawen a trench and a wall of stone wythout morter of six foote in heighth all the waye The compasse of that fortification whyche the Romanes were about was eleuen miles Their tents were pytched in places conuenient there were rered three and twenty castles in the whych men warded al the day time that there shuld not be any saly made out vpon the sodein and the same in the night season were kept with a strong watch and ward to defend them At the begynninge of the woorke there was an encounter of horsemen in the playne that wee spake of before of three miles longe betwene the hylles Great prowesse was shewed on bothe partes When our men were in anye daunger Cesar sent in the Germanes to theyr rescow and placed his footemen in battell ray before his camp least the footmen of hys enemies shuld sodenly breake out vpon them Oure men perceiuing that the Legions stoode readye to rescowe them tooke heart vnto them insomuch that oure enemies being put to flight did hynder one another wyth theyr multitude and pestred themselues in getting in at the narrow gates The Germanes chased them egrely eueÌ„ hard to theyr fortifications Great slaughter was made and many forsaking their horses went about to passe the dyche and to climbe ouer the wall Cesar commaunded his Legions whom he had set before the RaÌ„pyer to auauÌ„ce theÌ„selues somwhat forward Wherat the Galles that were within hold were no lesse troubled thaÌ„ they that were wythout For they thought that we had made toward them and therupon cryed by and by to harnes and diuers of theym for feare rushed into the towne Uercingetorix bade shet the gates that the Campe were not left naked The Germanes after they had slaine a greate number of men and taken a greate sort of horses retired Uercingetorix tooke aduice to
might haue bene shotte among the thyckest of hys ennemyes The Galles trustyng to thaduauntage of the place when they woulde neyther haue refused thencounter yf perchauÌ„ce the Romanes wold haue aduentured vp the hil against them nor yet durst by lyttell and littel diminish theyr battel by seuering them selues least when they had bene out of aray they might hap to haue ben troubled kept themselues still in order of battell Whose wilfulnes Cesar perceiuing kept .xx. Cohortes in a readinesse and pytching hys tents in the same place commaunded hys Camp should be fortified Assone as the workes were finished he set hys Legions in araye before the Rampier and appointed the horsemen to theyr standinges wyth theyr horses redy bridled When the Bellouacanes sawe the Romanes in a readynes to pursew them and that them selues coulde not wythout peryll eyther lodge that night or continue anye lengar in the same place where they were they deuised thys shift to recouer themselues In the place where they were set together for it is declared in Cesars former commentaries how the Galles are wont to sit downe in the battel they receiued from hand to hande one of another bundels of strawe and fagots whereof there was greate store in their Camp and cast it all on a heap before theyr battell and in the latter end of the day by a watchword that was geuen they set it on fire all at one instant by meanes whereof the continual flame sodeinly toke away the sight of all their armye from the Romanes and therwithall the sauage Galles fledde awaye as fast as theyr legges could beare them Albeit that Cesar could not perceyue the departing of hys enemies by reason of the flame that was betwyxt theym yet notwythstandinge forasmuch as â—e suspected it to be a practise wrought by them that they might the sauflier flye away he remoued hys footemen forwarde and sent hys horsemen to pursue theym Howbeit for feare of treason least perhaps hys ennemies should stay styl in the same place and egge vs foorth into a ground of disaduauntage he weÌ„t the slower pace His horsemen fearyng to enter into the smoke and thicke flame and if anye were so earnest as to enter in they could scarce see the formest partes of their owne horses for doubt to be betrapped gaue the Bellouacanes free libertye to recouer themselues whither they wold Thus our ennemies through their flight which was full both of feare and wilynesse escaping without any losse went but ten miles of and encamped themselues in a very strong grounde From whence by laying bushments oftentimes both of horsemen and fotemen in diuers places they did the Romanes great displeasures as they went a forraging After it had happened so many and sundry times Cesar learned of a certayne prisoner that Corbey Capteyne of the Bellouacanes had chosen out of hys whole host six thousand of the valeantest fotemen and a thousand horsmen the whyche he had laide in ambushe in the same place whither for the plentye of forrage and corne that was there he iudged the Romanes wolde send for forrage The whyche purpose beynge knowen Cesar brought forth mo legions than he was wont and sendeth before hys horsemen after the same maner he was wont to sende theym to saufconduct hys forragers Among theÌ„ he intermedled for their assistence a number of lighte armed footemen and himself wyth hys Legions foloweth as nere theym as he can His enemies that were layd in ambush hauing chosen a fielde for their purpose not passynge a myle wide accompting euery waye enuironed round about eyther wyth coÌ„bersome woodes or els a verye depe ryuer beset it with theyr bushment as it had bene wyth a toyle Our meÌ„ forasmuch as they were priuie to the deuise of their enemies before hand being readye both with heart hand to feight seing their Legions followed hard after them wold refuse no encounter but went ranke by ranke downe into the said place At the coÌ„ming of whom â–ª Corbey thinking an occasion of good lucke to be falne into hys handes is one of the first that showeth himselfe wyth a fewe and geueth charge vpoÌ„ the next troopes Our men stoutly withstaÌ„d the brunt of those that lay in wayt for theym and flocke not manye into one place at ones that which thing in skirmishes on horsbacke is wont commonlye to happen vppon some feare and theyr clustringe together turneth to their owne losse At suche time as setting themselues in seueral places bi their troopes they fought a fewe at ones by turnes and wold not suffer their fellowes to be assaulted on the sides the rest brake out of the woodes while Corbey was feighting Then was thencounter whote and diuers After it had continued indifferent a good space by littel and littell came their fotemen in aray out of the woodes whiche compelled oure horsemen to geue backe They were quickly resâ—owed agayne by the lyght armed fotemen which I told you were sent before our Legions who beinge intermedled amoÌ„g the horsmen fought boldlye Thencounter continued a good while indifferent Afterwarde as thorder of battell required they that had withstode the fyrst brunt of them that lay in ambush for theym had herby thaduauÌ„tage bicause they receiued not vnwares anye foyle at their hands that lay in wait for theÌ„ In the meane whyle oure Legions drew nerer hand and diuers messengers brought word both to our men and to our enemies at one time that the Graundcaptein was at haÌ„d with his hoste in battell ray The whyche thing being knowen oure horsemen trustyng to the help of the Cohorts layd their handes about them verye egerly least if they shoulde haue forslowed the matter they mighte seme to haue made the fotemen partakers of thonor of the victory Therwithal our enemies hartes began to quaile and they soughte to flye by diuers wayes but all was in vaine For by the disaduauntage of the same places in whych they wolde haue inclosed the Romanes were they themselues taken tardy and could not get out Notwythstandinge being vanquished and altogether discouraged when they had lost the greatest part of their companye like men amazed they gaue themselues to flight and some made toward the woodes and some towardes the riuer the whiche beyng ouertaken by oure men that folowed egerly vpon them were all slain when in the meane time Corbey whose heart could by no misfortune be ouercome neuer departed out of the battell nor made towarde the woodes neyther coulde by thentreatance of oure men be persuaded to yeld himselfe but that feightinge most valiantly and hurting many of our men he set the coÌ„querors in such an anger that he enforced theym to throw dartes at him When the matter was dispatched in thys wise Cesar entring into the place immediatlye after the battel was ended for asmuche as he thought that his enemies being discouraged wyth so greate a mysfortune would immediatlye vppon the newes therof forsake the place where they were encamped which was said to be not aboue eight miles
After he had spent many dayes therein and had lost many of hys people yet could not breake down any part of their fortificatioÌ„s he returned againe to besiege LemouicuÌ„ The same time C. Fabius receiueth many cities by composition and byndeth theym wyth hostages and is aduertised by Caninius letters of those things that were done among the Pictones Upon the knowlege wherof he setteth foorth to rescow Durace But DuÌ„nacus hauing vnderstanding of Fabius comming forasmuch as he thought he shoulde be in hazarde to lose all if at one instant he should be compelled both to abide the Romanes hys forrein enemies and also to haue an eye stand in feare of the townes men retyred sodeinlye wyth all hys power out of the same place he could not thinke himself to be sufficieÌ„tly in saufty before he had passed his army ouer the riuer Loyre which bicause of the greatnesse thereof was to be passed by a bridge and not otherwyse Although that Fabius was not yet come with in sight of hys enemies nor had ioyned himself wyth Caninius yet forasmuch as he was throughlie enformed by such as knew the coast of the countrye he beleued verely that hys enemies wold not goe to that place towarde the which they made theyr iorney Therfore he marcheth wyth his army too the same bridge where his enemies had passed and commaunded his horsemen to go no further before the battell of his fotemeÌ„ than they might when they were at the furthest retire into the same caÌ„p wythout tiring of their horses Our men of armes as was commaunded them ouertoke the hoste of Dumnacus and set vppon theÌ„ and assayling them flying and amazed vnder their fardelles as they iorneyed slewe a great nuÌ„ber and tooke a great pray and so wyth good successe retired into theyr camp The next nyght folowyng Fabius sent his horsmen before so furnished as that they might encounter and stay al the whole army vntill he might ouertake them Q. Titatius Uarus the LieuetenaÌ„t of the horsemen a man of singular courage and wisdome exhorted his company to follow thys hys couÌ„sel who ouertaking the host of hys enemies disposed certain of his troopes in places conuenient and wyth the rest of his horsmen gaue charge vpoÌ„ hys enemies The horsemen of the enemy fought wyth them so muche the more boldly bicause the fotemeÌ„ serued them by turnes who through the whole battell as often as theyr horsemen had occasion to staye did succor them against our men Thencounter was verye sharpe For our men despising theyr enemies whom they had vanquished the day before and remembring that the battell of their footemen folowed at hand for shame to geue grounde and for desier to dyspatche the battell before theyr comming fought verye valiantly against the footmen On thother side oure ennemies beleuinge that no greater power more had folowed after accordinge as they had sene the day before thought a meete opportunitye had bene offred them to destroye oure horsemen vtterlye When they hadde foughte a good whyle very egerly DuÌ„nacus made a battel to rescow his men of armes by turne But sodeinly our enemies espied our Legions come close together at the sight of whoÌ„ theyr horsmen were stricken in such a feare the footemen were so amazed that breaking through the aray of theyr cariages with a greate noyse and trampling they gaue themselues euery where to flight Then our men of armes who a littell before hadde theyr handes full being heartned with ioy of the victory raised a great shout on all sides and castinge them selues about theÌ„ as they gaue way made slaughter of them as farre as theyr horses breathes wold serue to pursue them and theyr armes wold serue to strike them Insomuch that hauing slayne aboue twelue thousaÌ„d of armed men and of such as for fear had cast away their armor they toke all theyr cariages as many as were of them Out of the whych chase for asmuch as it was certainly knoweÌ„ that there escaped Drapes the Senon who assone as Gallia fyrste began to râ—bell gathering to him the ruffions out of al places calling the bondmen to libertye and enterteyning the outlawes of all countryes had like a thief cut of the cariages victuals of the Romanes was going towarde the Prouince wyth a fyue thousand men and not aboue which he had gathered out of the chace and that Lucterius of Cahors alied hym selfe wyth him who in the former treatyse is knowen to haue made a voyage into Prouince at the first insurrection of Gallia Caninius the Lieuetenant with two LegioÌ„s pursued after them least to the disquietnesse and losse of the Prouince some great dishonor might be receiued by the theuery of those lewd vnthrifts C. Fabins with the rest of tharmy went agaynst the Caruntes and thother Cytyes whose power he knewe to be abated in the same battell that was fought agaynst Dumnacus For he doubted not but he should find theym more treatable to deale with by reasoÌ„ of the late ouerthrow wheras if he should geue theÌ„ time of respit by thinstigation of the sayd Dumnacus they might be raysed agayn In the whych enterprise Fabius had maruelous good lucke and spede to recouer the Cities For the Caruntes who had bene disquietted ofteÌ„times before and yet wold neuer make mention of peace nowe geâ—ing hostages came in subiection And the rest of the Cities whych are situate in the furthest partes of Gallia borderyng vpon the sea whyche are called Armorike folowing thexample of the Caruntes at the comming of Fabius wyth his Legions condescended to hys commaundemeÌ„tes without delay Dumnacus being driuen out of his owne country waÌ„dring and lurking in corners alone was compelled to seeke thuttermost countryes of al Gallia But Drapes and Lucterius wheÌ„ they vnderstode that Caninius approched wyth hys army perceyuing they could not wtout manifest peryll enter wythin the bounds of the Prouince considering how the army pursewed theÌ„ nor yet raunge abroade and go a theuinge at theyr pleasure stayed together in the country of the Cadurkes There Lucterius who in times past whyle he was in his prosperitye was able to wey greatlye wyth hys countrye men and had gotten great estimation amonge the rude people as one that was euer a practiser of new deuises he toke wyth hys owne power and the power of Drapes a Towne called Urellodunum whych had ben in hys tuicion a place excelleÌ„tly wel fortified by the situacion therof and causeth the townesmen to take part wyth him Unto the whyche towne when Caninius oute of hande was come perceyuinge that all partes of the same were fortified with cragged clyffes insomuch that though no maÌ„ were there to defend it yet were it a harde matter for men in harnesse to get vp and seing that the mouables of the townes men were great the whych if they shoulde goe about to steale priuely away wyth they could not only not escape theyr horsemen but also not escape theyr fotâ—men he deuided his Cohorts into thre
hym But if he gate hym not away and withdrew hys power out of those countreis he wold take him no lengar for hys frende but for hys enemy And yf he could kyll hym he was sure he should do a great pleasure to manye of the noble men and Prynces of Rome The which thing he had perfect knowledge of by their messengers of all whome he coulde purchase the good wil and frendship by his death But if he wold depart and leaue vnto hym the free possession of Fraunce he wold reward him hyghly for hys labor and loke what warres soeuer he wolde haue made he wold dispatch them wythout puttyng hym to any trauell daunger Cesar replyed manye things to thys purpose why he myght not desyst from hys enterpryse alledgyng that it stoode not with hys custome nor wyth the custome of the people of Rome to abandon their Alies that had wel deserued of them Neither coulde he see why Ariouistus should haue more right to chalenge Fraūce than the Romanes For Q. Fabius Maximus had hertofore vanquished the men of Auuerne and the People about Rhodes Rutenes and yet the peple of Rome pitiyng them did neither make their country a prouince nor put them to any tribute But if so be that respect ought to be had to tyme of most antiquity then had the Romanes most iust cause to reygne ouer Fraunce Or if the iudgement of the Senate oughte to be obserued then ought Fraunce to be free for as much as it was decreed that beinge conquered by battell it should styll enioy their owne lawes and customes Whyle theis things were a debating in the treatye it was told Cesar that Ariouistus horsemen were comyng toward the banke and that riding agaynst our horsemen they began to throwe darts and stones at theym Wheruppon Cesar made an ende of talking and wythdrew hym selfe to hys men commaunding theym that they should not cast any thyng at all agayne at theyr enemies For albeit that wythout any perill of hys chosen Legion he sawe he myght haue encountred wyth the horsmen of his ennemies yet notwythstanding he wold not geue occasion by puttyng his enemies to flyght to haue it said that breakyng promis with them he had entrapped them vnder pretence of communication When it was reported to the common souldiers how arrogantly Ariouistus had behaued himselfe in the treatie forbidding the Romanes all Fraunce and that hys men of armes had made assault vpon ours insomuch that by meanes therof the communication was broken of oure army began to be far more cheerfull and farre more desyrous to feight Twoo dayes after Ariouistus sent Ambassadours to Cesar certifying him that he was desirous to entreat with hym concerning those thyngs that had bene begon to be talked of and not brought to conclusiō Wherfore he wold he shuld eyther appoint a day to confer again or yf he wolde not so do that he shoulde sende some men of his with commission to commune wyth him Cesar thought it not good to cōmune personally with him any more the rather bicause the Germanes the day before had no stay of them selues but that they threwe darts at our men Agayn he thought that whomsoeuer of hys men he sent commissioner vnto hym shuld go in great daunger and shuld be cast into the hands of most sauage persons It semed most expedient to send vnto hym M. Ualerius Procillus the sonne of C. Ualerius Caburus a yong gentilman of singular vertue and humanity whose father had ben made free of the Citye by C. Ualerius Flaccus bothe bycause he was trusty and could speake the French tung perfectly the which Ariouistus vsed much by reason of long conuersation among the Frenchmen and also bicause there was no cause why the Germanes shuld worke any euil agaynst hym And with him he sent also M. Titius who vsed to resort as a guest to Ariouistus To theis men he gaue in charge that they shoulde diligently mark and iustly report vnto him what Ariouistus said Assone as Ariouistus saw thē in his Camp he cried out to theym in the presence of hys army asking them what they had to doe there and whyther they came as spyes When they went about to make theyr aūswer he wold not suffer them but by and by commited them to ward The same daye he remoued encamped vnder a hils syde about a six myles from Cesars Camp The next day after he marched wyth all hys power euen in the face of Cesars camp and pitched his tents a twoo myles beyonde hym of purpose to cut of his graine and victuals that was to be brought to him out of Burgundye From that daye forwarde by the space of fyue dayes together Cesar brought oute hys men before his camp and had theym in order of battel to thintent the if Ariouistus lifted to geue battel he might haue liberty when he wold But Ariouistus al this while kept his fotemē wythin the Camp and sent out his horsemen dailye to skirmysh This was the kinde of feight wherein the Germanes wer wel practised They were of theym six thousande men of armes and as many footemen verye swift of foote and strong whom the horsmen hadde chosen out of all the whole hoste euery man one for hys faufgard Theis they had always at hand wyth them in battell and vnto theis they resorted for succour If the horsmen wer any thing ouercharged theis stept euer in If any of thē were sore wounded or vnhorsed theis garded him about If the matter requyred eyther to aduenture far forward or to retire quickly back their swiftnes was such through continual exercyse that hanging vpon the horse-manes by th one hand thei wold run as faste as the horses When Cesar perceiued that Ariouistus kept hym self within his Camp to thintent he wold not any lengar be stopped from his victuals beyond the same place where the Germanes abode aboute syxhundred paces from their Camp he chose a grounde mete to encamp in and came thyther in three battels Two of theis battels he caused to stand styll ready in araye and the thyrd he willed to fortify the Camp This place was as I sayde before sixhundred paces from the ennemy Thyther sent Ariouistus about syxtene thousande footemen light harnessed wyth all hys horsmen to put our men in feare to prohybit them frō fortifiyng their camp Neuertheles Cesar as he had before determined commaunded twoo battelles to wythstand the enemy and the thyrd to go through wyth the worke When he had fortifyed the Campe he lefte two legions there and parte of hys hyred Souldiors that were there for his ayde and ledde hys other fower legions back again into his greater campe The next daye Cesar as he had pourposed before brought hys whole power out of both his camps and marching somewhat from hys greater camp set his men in order profered to geue hys enemies battel if they wold Whē he perceiued that they woulde not then come foorth
that threw stones and Darts that no man was able to stand vpon the wall Assone as night had made an end of thassaulte Iccius of Rhemes a man of great byrth and fauor in his Countrye who at that tyme was Capteine of the Towne one of theym that came of ambassade vnto Cesar to entreat for peace sent vnto hym by messengers that if he dydde not reskew hym he was not able to hold out any lengar The same daye about midnyght Cesar vsynge for guydes the same persones that came of message from Iccius sent certain Numidians and archers of Now called Candye Creta and slingars of the Iles Now called maiorica minorica Baleares to succor the Townesmen By meanes of whose coming on th one syde the men of Rhemes in hope to make their part good became more earnest to abyde the pushe and on thother syde the enemyes for the same cause were out of all hope of winning the Towne Wherefore tarying there but a whyle when they had wasted the fields of the men of Rhemes and set on fyre all theyr villages buildings that they could come by they marched with al theyr whole power toward Cesars Campe and wythin lesse than two myles of hym pitched theyr tents the whyche as myght be perceyued by the smoke and fyres occupyed more than eight myles in bredth Cesar at the first both for the multitude of hys ennemyes and for the singular opinioÌ„ that was bruted of theyr manhoode determined not to be to hasty in geuing them battel Notwythstanding he daylye put in proofe by skirmishing with his horsmen both what hys ennemyes by their manhode coulde do and what hys owne men durst doe When he perceiued our men to be nothing inferior to theyr ennemyes then in a certayn place before hys camp of nature mere and conuenient to sette a battel in bicause the same hil where his tents were pitched rysing verye littell aboue the playn was no broder before than wolde suffice to set the forefront of a battel in and was steepe on bothe sydes and rysing a slope in the front by lyttel and littel came againe to a playne he drewe from th one syde of the hil to thother a dyche ouerthwart of a fower hundred paces or therabouts and at the ends of the diches rered vp bulwarkes and furnished theym wyth ordinance to thintent that when he had ordered his battels his ennemyes abounding in multitude should not on the sydes enclose his men as they were feighting Thys done he left in hys Camp the two Legions that he had last leuied that wheresoeuer shoulde be anye neede of succor they myght be led thither and set hys other six Legions in battel ray before hys Camp His ennemyes lykewyse bringing forth their power set them in order also Nowe there was betwene our army and the army of our enemyes a good prety marisse This our ennemyes looked euer when we shuld haue passed ouer And our man were ready wyth theyr weapons to assayle them being troubled if they had aduentured fyrst ouer it In the meane whyle the horsemen of bothe sydes encountred betwene the twoo battels After much streining of curtesy whyche part shoulde passe ouer first and none aduenturing to passe Cesar hauing gotten thupper hand of hys enemies horsemen conueyed al hys men agayn into their Camp From that place his enemies immediatlye toke theyr waye to the ryuer Nowe called Disne in Guien Arona the whych was shewed before to be behind our Camp There finding foordes they attempted to passe ouer part of their host of purpose if they coulde eyther to wynne the bulwarke that Q. Titurius Cesars Lieuetenant kept and to cutte downe the brydge Or at leastwyse if they could not so do to spoyle the fields of the men of Rhemes whych greatly furthered vs in our warres and to kepe our men from their vyctuals Cesar being aduertised herof by Titurius led ouer the brydge all his men of armes NumidiaÌ„s light harnessed hys slingars and archers and marched to them himself There was a sharp encounter in that place Our men setting vpoÌ„ theyr enemies troubled in the riuer slew a greate number of them The residew endeuoring like desperate personnes to passe ouer vpon their carkesses they repulsed with force of weapons and the horsemen enclosyng such as had fyrst passed slew theym euerichone When our enemyes perceyued that their hope deceyued theym bothe in wynning the Town and of passing the riuer and sawe our men wolde not aduenture into a place of dysaduauntage to feight wyth them and that theyr owne vyctuals began to fayle them they called a counsell by whych they determined that it was best for euery man to returne home to hys owne house and into whose borders so euer the Romanes should enter first with their army to resort thyther out of all partes to defende them to thyntent they myght rather trye the matter in their owne country than abrode and haue their own household prouision and store of victuals alwayes at hand to maintaine theim wyth To consent vppon thys poynt together with thother causes this reason also moued them bicause they vnderstood Diuitiacus and the Heduanes approched neere the borders of the People of Beawvoysâ— Bellouaâ—anes who wold not by any meanes be perswaded to tary any lengar but that thei wold go succor their owne When this thing was fully agreed vppon about the second watch wyth great tramplyng and noyse departing out of their Camp wythout any certain order or gouernement euerye man preasing to be formest on his iorney and making hast to be at home they demeaned them selues in such wyse as that theyr departure myght seme lyke a running away Cesar hauing forthwyth knowledge hereof by hys spyes and mystrustynge some treason bicause he perceyued not as yet what should be thoccasion why they departed kept hys army hys horsmen styll within his Camp By the dawning of the daye when he was better assured of the matter by hys skoults he sent all his horsemen before to stay their rereward and made Q. Pedius and L. Aurunculeius Cotta Lieuetenants ouer them commaunding his Lieuetenant T. Labienus to follow immediatlye after theym Theis ouertakynge the hyndermost and chasing them manye myles slew a great number of theym as they fled Whyle the rerewarde wherevnto we were by that time come stayd and valeantly with stood the force of our Souldiors the formest bicause they semed out of daunger and were not restreined by awe or commandement of any man assone as they heard the noyse brake theyr aray and tooke theym euerye man to hys heles to saue hymselfe So without anye daunger our men slew a great multitude of them and mo had slaine if the day had ben lengar About the sunne setting they retired from the chace and returned in to theyr Camp as was commaunded The next day folowyng before hys ennemyes coulde recouer theym selues from their feare and flight led hys army into the country of the
Ryuer * Sabis that we spake of before From the same riuer with lyke leuelnesse vpwarde rose another hyll directlye against this about two hundred fote the bottom whereof was open and thupper part so thycke wyth wood that it coulde not easlye be seene inward Within those woods our ennemyes kept them selues close and in the open grounde were to be sâ—ne a fewe stales of horsemen by the ryuers side and the riuer was aboute three foote depe Cesar sending hys horsmen before folowed after wyth all hys power But the manner and order of theyr araye was otherwyse than the Belgies had reported it to the Neruians For inasmuch as the enemy was at hande Cesar as hys rustome was to do ledde six legions alwayes in a readinesse vncombred wyth the cariage of any thing after theym he placed the stuffe of all the host and lastly the two legions that were last leuied were a rereward to the whole army garded the stuffe Our horsmen with the slingars and bowmen passing the riuer encountred wyth the horsemen of our ennemies While they receyled backe to their company in the woods from thence agayne issued out vpon oure men who durst not pursew them any further then the playne and open ground extended in the mean time the sixe Legions that went before hauing theyr woorke measured out vnto them began to fortifiye theyr Camp As sone as they that lay lurking in the woods espied the formest cariages of our armye which was the tyme agreed vpon among them selues to geue the onset vpon vs for the performance wherof they had set themselues in order of battel within the woods and encouraged one another before hande sodeinlye they came flying out with al their power and charged vpon our horsmen Hauing easly put them back disordred them with incredible swiftnes they came running down to the riuer insomuch that well nere all at one instant our enemies were in the woods in the Riuer and in hand with vs. Wyth lyke swyftnesse also they rose against the hil to our Camp against them that were occupied about their work Now was Cesar dryuen to do al thyngs at ones The banner was to be displayed whych was the tokeÌ„ when weapon was to bee taken in hand warninge was to be geuen by the sounding of a trumpet the souldiors were to be called backe from the worke such as were gone abrode to fetch turfe were to be sent for the battel was to be set in aray the souldiors were to be encoraged signe of battell was to be geuen Of the whych thyngs a great part was interrupted by shortnesse of the tyme and the hasty assault of our enemies Agaynst theis distresses two thyngs were a helpe Firste the knowledge and experience of the souldiors bycause that throughe theyr practise in former battels they coulde as good skyll to teache theym selues as be taughte of others what was to bee done and secondlye bycause Cesar had geuen commandement to euery Lieuetenant seuerally that none of them shoulde be so hardye to departe from the worke from their seueral legions vntil such time as the camp were fortified Theis men by reason of the hasty approch of their enemies looked for no commaundement from Cesar but ordred al things by them selues as seemed best by their owne discretions Cesar hauing commaunded such things as were nedeful ran encoraging hys souldiors what way soeuer chaunce led hym and came to the tenth Legion He made no lengar protestacion to his souldiors but that they should haue in remeÌ„brance theyr auncient prowesse and that they shoulde not be discouraged in theyr harts but valeantly wythstaÌ„d the brunt of theyr enemyes And bycause hys ennemies were no further of than a man might throw a Dart he gaue theÌ„ a signe of encountryng the whych done as he was goyng to another part to encourage them like wyse he found them feightyng alredy For the tyme was so short and the enemy so earnest to feight and so nere at hand that there wanted leysure not only to place theym vnder theyr antesignes but also to put on theyr skuls and to pul their tergats out of their cases Looke what part euerye man by chaunce lighted into from his worke and what antesigne he sawe fyrst there he stayed least in seking for hys owne companye he should lose the tyme whych was to be spent in feighting When he had set his men in aray rather according as the nature of the place and the fal of the hyl and the necessity of the tyme wold suffer than as the reasoÌ„ and order of battell required so that his legions in diuers places at ones were fayne to encounter their ennemies one in one part and another in another the perfect syght and view being also hindred by reason of thick hedges that were betwyxt theÌ„ there could not any certain rescow be placed any where neyther coulde it be sene what was nedeful to be done in euery part nether could any one maÌ„ see the order execution of all thinges And therefore in so great vncerteinty of things ensewed also diuers haps of fortune The Souldiors of the ninth and tenth legions as they stood in the ryght syde of the battel after the darts were throwen dydde quickly driue down from the higher ground into the riuer the * Atrebatians for they by chaunce were matched wyth them then out of breath wyth running and fortrauelled and sore wounded and preasyng after them slew a great part of them with their swordes as they were troubled in passing the water Moreouer they sticked not to passe the riuer wyth them but boldly aduenturing into a place of disaduauntage they renued the battell agayn against their enemyes that returned vpon them and made resistence whom finally they put to flyght Also in another part two other legions the eleuenth and the eyghth hauing driuen backe the * Ueromanduanes with whom thei encountred from the hygher ground fought harde vpon the banks of the ryuer And al our whole Camp wel nigh being left naked on the forefront and on the left side seing that in the right wing stood the .xii. legion and wythin a lyttell waye of it the .vii. legion All the Neruians in a verye thycke battell by the conduct of Boduognatus who was generall of the field made towarde the same place Of whom some began to assault our Legions on the open syde and some to get to the hyghest place of oure Campe. The same tyme our horsemen and oure light harnessed footemen and such as were with theym who as I tolde you were put to flyght at the first shocke of our ennemyes as they were retyring into their Camp met theyr ennemyes ful in the face and fledde agayne from them another way And the varlets and pages who from the highe gate of our Camp and the top of the hyll had seene oure men passe the Riuer with conquest going out to gather the spoyle when they looked backe and saw the enemies in our Camp tooke theim to
their beles as fast as they could Therewithall was also heard a noise and a rose of them that came wyth the cariages and euerye man scattred awaye for feare some one way and some another All the which things strake such a feare into the harts of the horsemen of Triers who are reputed for men of singular prowesse among the Galles and were sent from their City to aid Cesar when they had sene that our Camp was replenished with a multitude of our enemies oure Legions sore layd at and in maner beset roūd about and that our pages our horsmen our slingars of Numidie fled scattring here and there euery way thinking there was no hope of recouery with vs toke theyr way home and reported to their Citie that the Romanes were put to flyght vanquyshed and that their enemies had wonne their Camp and all theyr cariages Cesar as he went from encouraging the tenth Legion to the ryght wyng when he perceyued his men to be sore pressed and the Antesignes gathered together into one place the souldyers of the .xii. Legion to be pestered so thycke together that one could not feight for another al the Centurions of the iiii Cohort slayne the antesigne bearer kylled and the antesigne lost the capteynes almost of all thother Cohorts eyther wounded or slain among the which number P. Sextus Baculus a verie valeant Gentilman chief captein of a band was hurt wyth so many and so sore wounds that he was now not able to stand on his legs the residue to wax somewhat faint and diuers forsaken of the hindermost to wythdrawe out the battell and eschewe feightyng hys enemyes geuing no entrance to such as came vp against the hyll on the forefronte from the lower grounde and laying sore to them on both sydes so that the matter was brought to a narrow yssue and no help that could be mynistred to releue theym toke a tergat from one of the hyndermost souldyors for he was come thither without a tergat and aduauncing hym selfe into the forefront of the battel called vppon the Centurions by name and encouraging the rest of the souldiors he commaunded the antesigne to be aduaunced and the bands to set them selues more at large to thintēt they might the easlyer wyeld their swords By his comming the souldiors being well chered and gathering courage agayne when euerye man for hys part in the syght of hys graund capteine euen at thuttermost extremitie endeuored to employ hys trauell the brunt of the enemye was a littell stayd Cesar perceyuing that the seuenth Legion whych stoode by hym was likewise sore ouerlaide by the enemy admonyshed the Tribunes that the Legions shuld by lyttel and littel knit them selues together and turnyng their antesignes aduaunce them toward the enemy By meanes wherof whē as one helped another and that they were out of feare of being enclosed of the ennemy behynd they begā to stand more boldly at defens to lay their hāds better about them In the meane season the souldiors of the two Legions whiche in the rereward were a defence to the cariages hearing of the battell ran thyther a pace were spyed by oure enemyes in the top of the hyll And Titus Labienus hauing wonne the tents of our enemyes and beholding frō the higher groūd what was done in our camp sent the tenth legion to the reskew of our men Who learning by the flyght of oure horsemen and pages in what case the matter stood and in how great daūger both the Camp and the Legions and the Captaine hym selfe was made as much hast as was possible Upon the comyng of them there ensewed such an alteration of thynges that euen such of our men as for griefe of theyr wounds were falne downe leaning vpon their shieldes began to feight againe a fresh the pages perceiuing their enemyes amased ran vpon thē armed being vnarmed themselues and the horsemen to th entent wyth valeātnes to wipe away the reproch of theyr former flyght did in al places put theym selues into the battell before the Legionary souldyors How beit the enemies euen in thuttermost perill of theyr lyues shewed suche manhode that as fast as the formest of them were ouerthrowen the next vnto them bestrid theym and fought vpon theyr bodyes the whych being lykewyse cast downe and the deade carkesses heaped one vpon another those that remayned standyng vpon thē as it had bene a hyl threw darts at our men and latchyng our Darts sent them agayn at vs so that there was good cause to deeme them men of so hault courage who durst passe so broade a ryuer clymb vp the high banks and march vp into a place of most disaduauntage for themselues all the whych thyngs the noblenesse of theyr courage of most hard hadde made very easy Thys battell beyng dispatched and the nation and name of the Neruians being brought almost to vtter destruction the elder sort who as we tolde you with the women and chyldren were gathered together into out Ilands fennes when they heard of this battel thinkyng that nothyng was able to stay the conquerors nor nothyng able to saue such as wer vanquished by the consent of all that were lefte alyue sent ambassadors vnto Cesar yelded them selues to hys mercy alledging in declaration of the great calamity of theyr country that of syx hūdred Senators they were brought to three and of threescore thousand men there were scarce fiue hundred left that were able to beare armor Whom Cesar to th entent it myght appeare he had shewed pity to wretches and such as submitted themselues vnto him preserued verye carefully graunting them to enioy styll theyr country towns and streightlye commaunding the borderers to restrein themselues and theyrs from doyng them any wrong or harme The Aduaticks of whom we haue written before commyng with al their power to aid the Neruians when newes was brought them of thys discomfiture brake of theyr iorney and returned home and abandoning vp all theyr Townes and Castels conueyed all their goods into one towne of nature excellently wel fortified the which on al parts roūd about hauing most high rockes and steepe fallings had left on one syde an ascent gentlye rising by littel and littel not passing two hundred fote brode This place they had fortified with a double wall of a very great heighth therupon had laid in a redines stones of a great masse logs of timber sharpened at both endes Them selues were the ofspryng of the Cimbriās and duchmen who at such time as they toke their voyage through our Prouince into Italye bestowed suche stuffe and cattell of theyrs as they coulde not carye and dryue wyth them on thys syde the riuer Rhyne and left syx thousand of their companye behind for the saufe kepyng defence of the same Theis after the death of their companions beyng many yeres together dysquietted by theyr neybors whyle they somtime inuaded and sometime defended concluding peace by general consent chose this place to inhabit
and guyde them and turne them in a short roome and runne vpon the Uergies and stand stedfastly vppon the beames and quicklye recouer them selues backe agayne into the wagons Wyth the whiche thinges whyle oure men were troubled for the straungenesses of the feight Cesar came in very good season to the rescow For at his coming the enemyes stood stil and our men toke hart to them Notwithstanding forasmuche as he thought the tyme serued not then for hys purpose to meddel wyth his enemies or to geue them battel he kept himselfe in hys place and anon after conueyed hys Legâ—ons into hys Camp agayne As theis things were a doing that al our men were occupyed the rest that were in the fields went theyr waye For many days after there folowed such coÌ„tinual stormes that we were fain to kepe our Camp and our enemyes could not come forth to battel In the mean time the Britons sent messengers abroad into al quarters publyshing euery where what small number was of vs and what oportunitye both of winning 〈◊〉 and setting themselues at libertye for euer was offred if they could turn the Romanes out of their camp Hâ—ruppon assebled a great power of â—orsemen and fotemen and came to oure Camp Albeit that Cesar perceyued that the same thyng was like to happen whych had come to passe a fewe dayes ago that if hys enemyes were put to flight yet should they by their quicknes scape dauÌ„ger yet notwythstanding forasmuch as he had gotteÌ„ a thirtie horsmeÌ„ which Comius of Arras whom we haue spoken of before had brought ouer with hym he sette his Legions in battel ray before his Campe. When the matter came to be tryed by the sworde our enemies were not able to stande any while agaynste the force of our Souldyers but turned their backes Whom we purse winge as farre as our strength wold geue vs leaue to run slew very many of them and after we had burned vp all the howses a greate waye aboute we retyred into our Campe. The same daye came ambassadours froÌ„ our enemies to Cesar to entreate for peace whom hee charged wyth double number of Hostages commaunded them to bring them to him into Gallia And forasmuche as the It is the tyme wheÌ„ the daye and night are all of one length which is twyce in the yere in March and September Equinoctial drew nere he thought the wynter season was not for hym to sayle in his ships being so weake as they were wherfore hauing gotten a mete weather somewhat after midnight he loosened from the shore with his shippes the which came eueryecheone of them safe to lande But that twoo of the shippes of burthen could not attaine to the same hauon that the rest dydde and were dryuen somewhat lower Out of the whych when as a threhundred souldiers beyng set a lande were going towarde their Camp the Morines whom Cesar at his setting forth into Britaine had left in quiet allured with hope of spoile came about them not with so greate a nomber to speak of at the firste and bad them put of their harnesse if they loued their liues When they on thother syde castynge theimselues in a ringe stode at defence sodenly at the cry that was made ther came together aboute sixe thousande men The whiche thinge Cesar hearing of sent all his horsemen out of his Campe to theyr rescowe In the meane whyle our men withstode the force of theyr enemyes feightyng verye valeantlye by the space of more then fower howers in the which time fewe of them beinge wounded they slew very many of them But assone as our horsemen came within sight our enemies casting away their weapons turned their backes and a great number of them were kylled The next day Cesar sent his lieuetenant T. Labienus with those Legions that he had brought ouer againe out of Brittaine agaynste the Morynes that had made insurrection Who hauing not any place to fly vnto for succour by reason their fennes were dryed which kind of refuge they had vsed the yere before came almost all in subiection to Labienus But Q. Titurius and. L. Cotta two other of Cesars Lieuetenantes which had led certeyne Legions against the Menapians hauing wasted al their fieldes cutte downe all their corne and burnt vp al their buildings bycause the Menapians had al hid theymselues in the thicke woodes returned vnto Cesar. Cesar appointed that al his Legions should winter amonge the Belgies Onelye two cities of Brittaine sent hostages thither the rest refused to do it After theis thinges were done vppon the sight of Cesars letters the Senate proclaimed a general supplication for twentye dayes FINIS THE FYFTH BOOKE of C. Iulius Caesars Commentaries of his warres in Gallia THe same yere that Lucius Domitius and Appyus Claudyus were Consulls Cesar departinge frome hys winter garisons into Italye as he was yerely wonte to do commaunded his Lieuetenantes in whose charge he had lefte hys Legions that they shoulde in the wynter season cause as manye news shippes to be buylded as they could and the olde to be mended declaring of what receite and fasshyon he wold haue them made For the more spedye loading and vnloading of them he made them somewhat lower than those that we are wonte to occupye in our Seas and that so much the rather bycause that through the often chaunge of the tydes he had perceyued that the Seas wente rougher there For the better carying ouer of thynges of greate weight and numbers of horses he made theym somewhat broader then those that we vse in other seas All theis he commaunded to be made in such wise that they might be spedelye driuen wyth ores whereunto their lowenesse did greatlye further Suche thynges as were necessarye for the arming out of the shippes he caused to be brought out of Spaine And after that he hadde helde a parliament of the hither Galia he tooke his iourney into Illyricum Now called Lumbardy because he harde saye that the marches of the Prouince were wasted by rodes made by the Pirustes Certain people of IlliricuÌ„ now called Sclaâ—ony When he came thither he commanded the Cityes to fynde hym men of warre and appoynted theym a place to mete all at together The whiche thing being blowen abroad the Pyrustes sent ambassadours to him declaryng that none of those thynges had bene done by the common coÌ„sent of their maiestrates and that neuerthelesse they were contente to make him amendes for the wronges that were done at hys pleasure Cesar accepting their profer charged theym with hostages and wylled theym to brynge them in by a certaine day declaring vnto them that vnlesse they did so he would persecute their City with the sworde When the hostages were brought in by the day limitted he appointed dayesmen betwene the Cities to consyder of the matter in variance and to â—esse the penalty Hauinge dispatched theis matters and held a counsel there he returned agayn into the hither Gallia from thence went to
is maruelously wel replenished with people and there be verye many buildings almost like in facion to the buildings of Gallia There is great store of cattell The coyne that they vse is eyther of brasse or els ringes of iron sysed at a certayne weight in stead of money In the inner partes of the Realme groweth tynne and in the sea coast groweth yron but hereof is small store The brasse that they occupye is brought in from beyond the sea There is timber of all kindes as is in Gallia sauing Beech and Fyrre They think it a heinous matter to tast of a hare and a hen and a goose Neuertheles they cherish theym for their mindes sake and for theyr pleasure The aire is more teÌ„perate in those places than in Fraunce and the cold lesser The Iland is in facioÌ„ threecornerd wherof one side is toward FrauÌ„ce Thone corner of thys syde which is in Kent where for the most part ships ariue out of Fraunce is toward the East and thother nethermore is towarde the South Thys syde conteyneth about fyue hundred myles Another side lyeth towarde Spaine the sun going downe on the whyche syde is Irland lesse then Britain as is supposed by th one half But the cut betwene theim is a lyke dystance as is the cut betwene Fraunce and Britaine In the middes of this course is an Iland called Man Also there are reported to be many mo lesse Iles about Britaine of the whyche Iles some haue writteÌ„ that in the winter season when the daies are shortest the nightes are a full mooneth long together We coulde learne nothinge therof by enquiry but we saw it tryed bi how reglasses of water that the nyghtes were shorter there then in the firme lande The length of thys side is according to thopinion of the inhabiters seueÌ„ hundred miles The thyrd side is northward and agaynst it lyeth no land but the point of that side butteth most toward Germany This they esteme to be eyght huÌ„dred myles long And so the circuit of the whole Iland is two thousand miles Of all the inhabitantes of thys I le the ciuilest are the Kentysh folke the whych country marcheth altogether vpon the sea and differeth not greatly from the maner of FrauÌ„ce Those that dwell more into the heart of the Realme for the moste part sowe no corne but liue by mylke and flesh clothe themselues in leather Al the Britons doe dye themselues wyth woade which setteth a blewish color vppon them and it maketh theÌ„ more terryble to beholde in battell They weare their heare long and shaue al partes of theyr bodyes sauing the head and the vpper lip They haue ten or twelue wyues a peece common among themselues specially brothers wyth brothers and Parentes wyth theyr children But the issue that cometh of them is accompted hys that first maryed the mother wheÌ„ she was a mayde The horsmen and wagoners of our enemyes gaue a whote skirmish to our men by the way but yet in suche wyse that our men were euerye way to good for them and draue theÌ„ into the woodes and hylles howbeit by folowing them euergredilye we lost diuers of our company But thei after takinge breath a whyle when our men thought of no such thyng as they were busy in fortifiing theyr Campe sodeinlye burst oute of the woodes and geuing a charge vpon them that were set to warde before our camp fought egrely with them insomuche that Cesar was fayne to send two Cohortes those the chief of twoo Legions to the rescow the whâ—ch being placed but a litle waye one from another When our men begaÌ„ to be discouraged at the strauÌ„ge kind of feight brake through the mids of oure enemies by fine force and recouered from thence sauf The same day was Quintus Laberius Durus the Tribune slaine and yet by sending many Cohorts to the rescowe our enemyes were put to the worse In al this kind of conflict forasmuch as it was fought in the syghte of all men and in the open face of our caÌ„p it was perceiued that our men by reason of the weight of theyr armor for that they could neither pursew them when they gaue backe nor durst depart from their antesignes were not mete inough to encounter wyth such a kind of enemy and that the men of armes could not feight but in great peril bicause our enemyes wold many a time and often lose grounde for the nonce and when they had egged our men a littel from the maine battel wold leape out of theyr chariots and feight a foote whych was an vnequall match And they kept such an order in their feighting on horsback that whither our men fled or chaced they were alwayes in lyke daunger For they neuer fought in great companyes together but scatterynge a great way of one from another and had stales lying in diuers places one to serue anothers turne and freshe lusty men came alwaies in the roumes of such as were weary The next day the enemies stood aloofe in the hils far from our camp and shewed themselues here a fewe and there a few and began to assaile our horsmen more faintly than they had done the daye before But about midday when Cesar had sent forth a Lieutenant of his called Caius Trebonius wyth three Legions and all his men of armes for forrage sodeÌ„ly they came flying vpon the forragers on all sides in suche sorte that they wold not from our Legions and our Antesignes Howbeit our men layde so sore to their charge that they put them to the foile and neuer left pursewyng them vntyll suche tyme as our horsemen taking courage vppon the ayde when they saw the fotemen at hande behind them draue their enemyes headlong and slew a greate number of them geuing them no respit either to gather themselues together or to stay any where or to leap out of their Chariots Immediatlye vpon this discomfiture such as were assembled from al quarters to ayd in this war departed neyther did oure enemyes at any time after that encounter wyth vs wyth theyr whole power Cesar hauing knowledge of theyr entent marched wyth hys army to the Tems into the Seniory of Cassibelan This riuer can be passed but only in one place a fote and that very hardly When he came thither he saw a great power of hys enemyes in battell raye on thother syde of the riuer Nowe was the banke sticked ful of stakes sharpned at the fore end and lykewyse other stakes of the same making were driueÌ„ in the channell and hidden wyth the water Cesar hauing vnderstanding hereof by hys prysoners and runawayes sent in his horsmen before and commauÌ„ded his footemen to folow immediatly after them But our souldiers weÌ„t with such spede and force hauing no more than only their heades aboue the water that the enemy being not able to withstand the violence of oure fotemen and men of armes forsooke the bankes and toke them to flyght Cassibelan as is aboue mencioned dispairyng of
Crassus the charge of Samarobrina and left one Legion with him bicause he had left there the cariages and baggage of his army thostages of the cityes the publick wrightings and al the graine that he had prouyded to sustayne the wynter wythal Fabius as was coÌ„maunded making no long tarience in hys iorney met hym with hys Legion Labienus hauing vnderstaÌ„ding of the death of Sabinus and the slaughter of the Cohorts forasmuch as all the power of the Treuires were assembled agaynst him fearing least if he shuld in such sort haue departed out of garryson as that he myghte seeme to be fled he shoulde not haue bene able to sustaine the force of hys enemyes specially whom he knewe to be puffed vp with theyr late victorye wrate againe vnto Cesar howe daungerous a matter it was to lead his Legion out of the place where he wintered Certifiyng hym moreouer what was done among the Eburones and declaring that all the whole power of the Treuires aswel horsmen as fotemen had encaÌ„ped themselues not passing thre myles of from hym Cesar allowing his couÌ„sel although he had no mo but two LegioÌ„s where he loked for three yet notwythstandyng perceyuing there was none other hope to saue al but only by making speede came by great iorneyes into the borders of the Neruians There he learned by hys prysoners how the world went wyth Cicero and in howe great peryll the matter stoode Then he persuaded one of the Gallian horsmen with great rewardes to conuey a letter vnto Cicero the whych he wrate in greke letters to thintent that if it shoulde happen to be takeÌ„ by the way our purposes should not be disclosed to the enemy And if he could not come at Cicero he aduised him to tie the letter to the thong of a Iaueling so to throw it into his camp The contents of the letter were that he was come foorth with hys Legions and would be shortlye wyth him exhorting him to perseuer in hys accustomed valiantnes The Gall for feare of daunger threw in the letter wyth a Dart as was commaunded hym The which by chauÌ„ce sticked in a towre for two days together was not perceiued of our meÌ„ vntil the third day yâ— a certain Souldier espied it taking it doun caried it to Cicero WheÌ„ he had red it ouer he rehersed it again in the open asseÌ„bly of hys souldiers to the great coÌ„fort and reioycement of them all Anon after they might se the smoke of our fiers a far of the whiche thyng put them clerely out of doubt of the approch of our legions The Galles hauing knowledge therof by theyr scoultes forsoke the siege and with al theyr power went to mete Cesar. They were to the number of threescore thousande armed men Cicero after leaue geuen requested of Uertiâ—o whom wee spake of before the foresayd Gall to cary letters againe vnto Cesar warning him to be very circumspect and diligent in makyng of his iorney He wrate in his letters howe theyr ennemies were departed from hys camp and were bent wholy towardes hym Cesar receyuinge theis letters about midnight aduertised his men therof and encouraged them to thencounter The next morning by the breake of the day he dislodged hys camp and proceding the mountenance of fower miles or ther abouts espyed a multitude of hys enemies on the further side of a great valley and a ryuer It was a matter of great peryl to encounter wyth so greate a power in a place of disaduauntage The whych considered in asmuch as he knew that Cicero was deliuered from beseging and that he had therefore the lesse nede to make hast he stayed and fortified hys camp in a place of as much aduauÌ„tage for him as he could choose The whyche albeit it were of it self very slender scarsly of seuen thousand men speciallie hauing no baggage yet he gathered them as close together as he coulde in the narrowe wayes of set purpose to bringe him selfe in most conteÌ„pt of his enemies In the mean tyme sending out hys scoults into al parts he serched what way he might beste take to passe the valley That day after certeine lyght skirmyshes betwene the horsmen at the waters side eche part kept stil their ground The Galles bycause they looked for a greater power whych was not yet come Cesar if perchance throughe the pretence of fearfulnes he myght allure hys enemies to adueÌ„ture ouer to hys side to the entent to encounter with them on the hyther side of the valley before his camp Or if he coulde not bringe that to passe than that he myght trye out the wayes wher he might with lesse peryl passe the Ualley and the Ryuer By the breake of the next day the horsemen of our enemyes came to our Camp and encountred wyth our horsemen Cesar of set purpose coÌ„maunded his horsmeÌ„ to geue back and retire into theyr camp Therewythall he bade that his Camp should be fortified on al sides with a higher Rampier and the gates to be daÌ„med vp in doing therof to make hasty thronging and heauing and shoouing wyth as muche pretence of feare as might bee Through all the whych thyngs the enemyes being entyced conueyed ouer theyr army and put them selues in battell ray in a place of disaduantage Also when they saw oure men wythdrawen from the RaÌ„pyer they began to approche nerer and threw Dartes into our fortifications on all sides Moreouer sending Heraultes about they made proclamation that if there were anye Gall or any Romane that would turne to them betwene that and three of the clock he should be taken to mercy but if they taryed after that howre they should haue no fauor shewed them Finally they set so light by vs that whereas our gates were daÌ„med vp but with single rowes of Turfe for a showe whiche they thought had bene done so substancially that it had not bene possible for them to breake throughe them some of them fel in hand with pulling downe the Rampier some wyth fillyng vp of the diches Then Cesar issuing forth at all the gates and sending out his horsemen didde quickly put hys ennemyes to flyght in such sort that none of them taryed to feight of whom he killed a great number made all the rest to throw away theyr weapons Notwithstanding he wold not pursew them ouer far for feare of the woodes and Marysses that were betwixt them wisely foreseyng that it wold be greatly to hys hinderaunce to forsake that place and so wythout anye losse or hurt of hys men he came the same day in saufty vnto Cicero He wondred to behold the Turrets vaults and fortifications that hys enemyes had made And when the legion was brought forth he fouÌ„d that the tenth souldier was not left aliue without a wound by all the whych thynges he might easly deme with how great peryll and wyth how great valiantnes thyngs had bene attempted and propulsed Wherfore he highly commended Cicero and his Legion according to theyr desert calling
minds than those thyngs that are sene Cesar hauing gotten a mete place for the purpose hadde woorde brought him what was done euerye where and seÌ„t succor to such as were in daunger Both partes did set before theyr myndes that that was thonlye time wherein it behoued to shewe most stoutnesse For the Galles knewe that theyr good dayes were past if they brake not through oure fortifications and the Romanes yf they gate thupper hand loked for an ende of all theyr trauels The greatest dauÌ„ger was at our vpper fortifications whyther we told you that Uergasillaunus was sent The grabbednes of the top of a place to a falling grounde hath in it great aduauntage Some threw dartes some cast theyr shieldes ouer their heades and preased vpward freshe men succeded in the roumes of theym that were tyred the Rampier being caste downe by them all into the trench did bothe make waye for the Galles to get vppe and also didde couer suche thinges as the Romanes hadde hidden in the grounde and nowe our men had neyther weapons nor strength to helpe themselues wyth Cesar hauing knowledge herof sent Labienus wyth syxe Cohortes to rescowe suche as were in peryll and commaunded that yf he were not able to susteyne hys ennemyes he shoulde issue out wyth his Cohortes and feyghte wyth theym abroade but he warned hym in any wyse not to doe so onlesse there were none other remedye He him selfe goeth to the reste and hartened theym that they shoulde not faynt in theyr trauell He tolde theym that the frute of all theyr former encounters consisted altogether in that daye and in that one howre Those that were wythin despayryng to do anye good at the champion places bicause of the hougenes of oure fortifications attempted to get vp to the stepe places and thither they caried all theyr prouision There wyth the multitude of dartes they beate the defendantes from the towres thei fil vp the dikes wyth earth and hurdles and wyth theyr hookes rend downe the Rampyer and the Uamure Cesar sent thither fyrst yonge Brutus wyth six Cohortes and afterward hys Lieuetenant C. Fabius wyth other vii and last of all When thencounter wared somewhat to whot he himselfe brought fresh men to their succor Whereby renewing the battell and driuing hys enemies backe he went thither as he had sent Labienus He toke wyth him iiii Cohorts out of the next bulwarke and commaunded part of hys horsemen to folowe him and part to fetch a circuit aboute the vttermost fortifications and to set vpon hys enemies behind When Labienus saw that neyther RaÌ„piers nor dikes were able to hold against the violence of hys enemies he assembled nyne thirty Cohortes whych he met by chaunce comming out of the next Bulwarks and sent woorde by a messenger vnto Cesar what he thoughte was to bee done Cesar herevpon made hast to be present at the feight Assone as he was perceyued to be come by the color of hys garment the whiche he vsed in battels as a mark to be knowen by and that the Cohortes and troopes of horsmen which he had commaunded to folow him were sene as they might easlie be perceyued from such highe groundes being so steepe and falling his enemies gaue him battell A greate shoute was raysed on bothe sides and lyke shoutinge was heard agayne from the Campe and from al our fortifications Our men discharginge theyr dartes came to hand strokes Sodeinly appeared our horsmen behind them and other Cohortes came vpon them Then oure enemyes turned theyr backes and our horsmen meting wyth theÌ„ made a great slaughter of them Sedulius Capteine and Prince of the Lemouikes was slaine Uergasillaunus of Auverne was taken aliue in the chase threescore and fowretene banners and antesâ—gnes were brought vnto Cesar few of that great number recouered sauf into their Campe. The Townesmen beholdinge oute of the Towne the flighte and slaughter of theyr companye castinge awaye all hope of welfare wythdrew theyr armye from our fortifications Immediatly vpon the receit of this heauye tidings the Galles fled out of theyr camp insomuch that if our souldiers had not bene fortrauelled wyth rescowing so many sundrye places and wyth the toyle of that daye all the whole power of our enemyes might haue ben distroied vtterly Our horsmen beyng sent out after midnight ouertoke theyr rerewarde and slewe and toke prysoners a great number of them the rest scaped out of the chase into the next Cityes The next daye Uercingetorix calling an assemblye declared vnto them how he had taken that war in hand not for anye necessitye that he was driuen to himselfe but for the liberty of the whole Realme and for asmuche as there was no shift but to geue place vnto fortune he offered himselfe vnto theÌ„ both waies choose whether they would satisfy the Romanes with hys death or yeld him into their handes aliue Hereupon were Commissioners sent vnto Cesar. He commauÌ„ded them to deliuer vp their armor and to bryng forth theyr noblemen He sate vpon the Rampyer before hys Camp and thyther were the Capteynes brought vnto hym Uercingetorix was yelded and the armor caste out before hym Reseruing the Heduanes and the men of Auverne to th eÌ„tent to recouer their countryes by them if it might be al the rest of the prysoners he dystrybuted among hys souldiers euery man one in name of a pray WheÌ„ he had dispatched theis matters he went amonge the Heduanes and recouered theyr Citye agayne Thyther came ambassadours to hym from the men of Auverne proferynge to be at hys commaundement He put them to a great number of hossages and sent hys Legions into garrison He deliuered about twenty thousand prisoners of the Heduanes and menne of Auverne without raunsome T. Labienns he commaunded to take hys iorney wyth twoo Legions and hys horsmen agaynst the Sequanes appointinge M. Sempronius Rutilus to assist hym He placed his Lieuetenant C. Fabius and Lu. Minutius Basilius with two Legions among the men of Rhemes to th enteÌ„t they should not take anye wronge at the handes of the Bellouacanes theyr next neyghbors He sent C. Antistius of Rhegium to the Ambiuarets Titus Sextiê° to the people of Berrey and Caninius Rebilus to the Ruthenes wyth ech of them a Legion He placed Q. Tullius Cicero and P. Sulpitius th one at Cabillon and thother at Matiscone amonge the Heduanes by the riuer of Soan to make prouision of corne and victuals and he hymselfe determined to wynter at Bibracte When theis things were knowen at Rome by hys letters common supplications were proclaymed for twentye dayes FINIS The preface of A. Hircius or Oppius vppon the last booke of the Commentaries of the warres in Gallia COMPELLED BY THY continuall calling vpon me my frend Balbus least through my daily refusal I might seme not so muche to excuse my self by the difficultie of the matter as to seke delaye for slouthfulnesse I haue taken in hand a right difficult matter I haue patched vp the CommeÌ„taries of our Caesar
of horsmen sent his fotemen into their wintering places by his LieuetenaÌ„ts Fower Legions he placed in Belgica vnder hys Lieuetenants M. Antonius C. Trebonius P. Uatinius Q. Tullius Two he set ouer the Heduans whoÌ„ he knewe to be of greatest authority in all Gallia Two mo he set ouer the Turones in the borders of the Caruntes to be a stay to al that country that lay vpon the sea coast The other two he placed in the borders of the Lemouikes not far froÌ„ Auverne to th eÌ„teÌ„t there shuld not be any part of Gallia without an army After he had taried a few days in Prouince there with spede perused al their Courtes sitting vpon publike controuersies awarding recompence to such as had deserued wel for he had great desier to vnderstaÌ„d how euery man had ben minded toward the coÌ„mon weale in the time of the general rebellioÌ„ of al Gallia the which he had born out through the faithfulnes assistence of the said Prouince assone as he had dispatched theis things he returned to his Legions into Belgicke wintred at Nemetocerna There he had knowledge geuen him how Comiê° of Arras had encountred with his men of armes For after that Anâ—ony was come into his wintergarrison that the city of Arras continued in obedience Comius who after his wouÌ„ding that we spake of before was wont euer to be ready at hand to his country men at euerye stir to th enteÌ„t that if they wold practise any new denâ—ses they should not want a head a captein for the wars as long as the city obeied the Romanes he with his horsmen found hym self his retinew by theuing and for laying the wayes cut of manye conueyes that were going wyth prouisioÌ„ to the Romane garrisoÌ„s There was appointed to Antony for LieuetenaÌ„t of his horsmeÌ„ C. Uolusenus Quadratus to winter in garrison with him him did Antony send to pursue yâ— horsmen of his enemies Uolusenus besides the singuler prowesse that was in him did also beare a great hatred toward Comiê° which was a cause that he so much the more willingly executed the thing that was commaunded him Wherfore laying diuers ambushes he oftentimes set vpon Comius horsemen and put them to the worse Last of al when the contencion grew more vehement that Uolusenus for desier to cut of Comius himself folowed him somwhat more egerly wyth a few that Comius on thother side fled the faster away to th eÌ„tent to draw him further froÌ„ his coÌ„pany at length espying his aduantage Comius sodeÌ„ly cried out vpon all his men that as they were true vnto him they should ayd him not suffer the wound that was geueÌ„ him vnder colour of frendship to be vnreuenged therwithall turning his hors soÌ„what vnaduisedly he letteth him run froÌ„ the rest of his coÌ„pany vpon Uolusenus Al his horsmeÌ„ did the like bicause there were but a few of our men they made them turn head pursued them Comiê° putting spurs to his horse encouÌ„tred the horse of Quadratus with his speare redy charged in the rest thrust Uolusenê° by great violence through the thigh WheÌ„ our horsmeÌ„ saw their captein wouÌ„ded they bestirred themselues turning their horses put their enemies backe After the which chauns many of our ennemies being amazed at the great force of oure men were wounded of whoÌ„ some were ouerthrowen in the chase some were taken prisoners The which misaduenture like as Comius escaped by the swiftnesse of hys horse so our capteine being by him in this prosperous battell sore wouÌ„ded was caried into the caÌ„p in such case as it was not likely he shuld haue liued And Comius whether it were that he thought his grief sufficiently reueÌ„ged or bicause he had lost a great part of his company sent messengers to Antony assuring him by hostages that he wold continue where it shuld please him to appoint do whatsoeuer he shuld coÌ„maund him Only one request he made wherin he besought him to bear with his fearfulnes that he might not come in the sight of any Romane The whiche request for asmuch as Antony iudged it to procede of feare in deede not without good cause he pardoned him accordinge to his desier and receiued hys hostages I know that Cesar made of euery yere by it self a seueral treatise the which thing I thought was not nede full for me to do bicause the yere folowing when L. Paulus C. Marcellus were Consuls there were no notable feates done in Gallia Neuertheles to th entent men may know in what places Cesar his armies were at the same time I haue thought good to wright yet a littel more and to annex it to this treatise During the time that Cesar wintred in Belgicke this one thing was hys chiefe purpose to kepe the Cities together in amitye to minister no hope nor cause of war for he mynded nothing lesse than to deale in such wise as he shuld he constreyned to haue warre at the tyme of his departure least when he wold wtdraw hys army there shuld be left any war behind the which all Gallia could willingly find in hart to enterpryse so it might be without present peril And therfore by entreating the Cities honorablye by rewarding the noble men highlye by burdening the country with no new impositions he easly kept in quiet vnder a better state of obedience all Gallia which nowe was wearied wyth so many vnfortunate battels WheÌ„ winter time was expired coÌ„trary to his custome he goeth into Italy with asmuch eâ—peditioÌ„ as might be to talke with the fraunchised newe inhabited townes and to commeÌ„d vnto them the sute of his Threasorer M. Antonius for the high Priesthod For he made al the frendship he could both gladly bicause the same Antony whoÌ„ he had sent before to sew for that promotioÌ„ was his very dere frend and also earnestly as in despight of the partaking and forcible working of a few meÌ„ who by serting Antonye beside his purpose sought meanes to disgrace Cesar now going oute of his offyce Albeit he had tydings by the way before he came nere Italye that Antonye was made Augur yet he thought he hadde as good cause as before to go vnto the fraunchised newe townes to th entent to geue them thankes for making theyr appearance and for theyr gentilnesse shewed in the behalfe of Antony and also to commend vnto them his own case for the honorable rouâ—â—e whiche he purposed to sew for the next yeare foâ—lowinge that the rather bicause hys aduersaryes proudly made theyr boast that L. Lentulus C. Marcellus were created Consuls to bereue Cesar of al honor and authority and that the Consulshyp was wrested froÌ„ Sergius Galba when he had more fauourable voyces on hys side bycause he had bene alyed to Cesar by familiarity frendship and had bene bound vnto hym as his Lieuetenant Cesar at his comming among the fraunchised newe townes was enterteyned
that it stode not with their honour to suffer theyr Landes to be destroyed theyr chyldren ledde into captiuitie theyr townes to be sacked in maner within the sighte of theyr armie The same tyme that the Heduanes made this complainte the People about Neuers Ambarries beyng neere friends and alies of the Heduanes aduertised Cesar that their fiâ—ides were already wasted that they had much a do to kepe their ennemies out of their walled Townes Furthermore the Allobrogians whiche had landes and possessions on thother syde of Rhone People of Sauoye and Dausphâ—ne came flyinge vnto Cesar tolde him that nothing was left them saue the bare grouÌ„de Caesar moued with theis matters thoughte it not good to forslowe the time vntyll the Heluetians hauinge spoyled his friendes were come among the SaÌ„tones People of Gascognie nere Tolouse There is a riuer nowe called Saone whiche through the bouÌ„des of the Heduanes and Sequanes entreth into Rhone so mildely and gently that it is not possyble to be discerned by sight whiche waye the streame runneth The Heluetians with boates and shallops ioyned together had passed the same whereof when Cesar was aduertised by his espialles at suche tyme as three partes of theyr armye were alreadie ferryed ouer the Ryuer and the fourthe parte was yet behynde Aboute the third watche of the night he set out of his campe with three LegioÌ„s and came vpon that parte that hadde not yet passed the Ryuer and settynge vppon them vnwares and out of order slewe a great number of theym the rest toke them to flyghte and hyd them selues in the next woods The Canton where this was doone was called Nowe called Zurich Tigurine For all the whole countrie of Heluetia is deuyded into iiii Cantons or shyres This same one Canton remouynge out of their Countrie in the tyme of our fathers slew Lucius Cassius the Consul and sent his army vnder a yoke So whether it were by chauÌ„ce or by the prouidence of the goddes immortal the selfe same parte of Heluetia whiche had brought so dishonorable a reproche vppon the Romaynes was the fyrst that suffred punishement for it Wherein Cesar reuenged not onely the displesure done to the whole state of his Countrie but also the displeasure done to hym selfe in priuate for as much as the Tigurines in the same battell that Cassius was slayne slew also his Lieuetenaunt Lucius Piso the grauÌ„dfather of Lucius Piso Cesars father in lawe After this discoÌ„fiture to thintent he might ouertake the rest of the Heluetian host he caused a bridge to be made vppon Arar and so passed ouer his armye The Heluetians abasshed at his sodeyne approche wheÌ„ they perceiued he had done as much in one day as they wer scarce able to do in twenty that is to saye passed the ryuer sent ambassadoures vnto hym whereof the chiefe was Diuico whoo in the battell agienste Cassius was captayne of the Heluetians The effect of his treatie was that if the people of Rome would be contented to make peace with the Heluetians they would departe into what quarter so euer Cesar woulde appointe them and there remaine at his pleasure But if he were purposed to pursewe theÌ„ with battell they willed him to cal to remembrance as well the domage that the Romaines had receyued by their nation in tyme past as also the auncient prowesse of the Heluetians And wher as he had assailed one CantoÌ„ vnbewares at suche time as the rest beinge passed the Ryuer coulde not reskewe their fellowes it was noo matter whye he should greatly glory in his own prowesse or despise the Heluetians who had ben in such sorte trained vppe by their fathers and auncestours before tyme as to contende rather by manhod than by deceyte or to couet conquest by suttletie Wherefore it was good for hym to be well aduised that throughe his ouersyghte the place of their preseÌ„t being toke not his name and were made famous by the destructioÌ„ of the people of Rome and thvtter slaughter of his armie To these thinges Cesar made answere in this wise That he had so muche the lesse nede to dowt what he shoulde do in that hee perfectely remembered the thinges which the Heluetian ambassadours hadde made mention of the which greued him so much the more as the people of Rome had lesse deserued them For if their conscience had accused theÌ„ of any wronge done it had ben noo harde matter to haue shonned thinconuenience But herin they were deceiued that neither they knewe them selues to haue committed any thinge why they should be afraide nor thoughte it meete to be afraid without cause But admitte he coulde be contented to forget the former reproche done vnto the Romaynes was it reason hee shoulde also winke at their wrongefull dealynge ageyne of newe in attemptynge to make theim selues passage throughe the Prouince by the sworde whether he wolde or no in that they had molested the Heduanes the Ambarrians and the Allobrogians their glorying so presumptuously in their former victorie and their vauntinge of escapinge so longe vnponnyshed for their wrongefull dealynges hadde brought them to the point they were at For the gods immortal are wont sometime to graunte greater prosperytie and longer respite from ponnyshement vnto suche as they are mynded to chastyse for their offences to th enteÌ„t that when the change came the griefe therof might touche them more nearer the heart Nowe albeit thynges were as they were yet notwithstanding if they wold geue hym pledges that he might perceiue they were willing to performe the things they promysed and moreouer make satisfaction aswel of the iniuries and displeasures done to the Heduanes their adherentes as also to the Allobrogians he was contented to make peace with theim Diuico replyinge saide that the Heluetians hadde bene taught of their auncestors to take and not to geue pledges wherof the people of Rome could beare witnesse them selues When he hadde geuen this aunswer he departed The next day they remoued their Campe from the place where they were and so did Cesar likewise who sent out all his horsemen to the number of .iiii. thousand whiche he had assembled out of all the Prouince and among the Heduanes and their adherentes to discouer towardes what part his ennemies were drawen They pursuinge ouer greedely the rerewarde of their enemies encountred with the Heluetian horsmen in a place of disaduantage and lost certayne of their company The Heluetians being puffed vp with the successe of this skirmish bycause that with fiue hundred horsemen they hadde geuen repulse to so many of our horsemen began to stay more boldely then they were wonte and sundrye tymes out of their rereward to prouoke our men to the encounter Howbeit Cesar restrayned his Souldiers thought it inoughe at that presente to prohibit his enemies from wasting and spoylinge of the Countrie So they continued on their iorney by the space of .xv dayes together in such sort that there was not paste a
then wel that they come to anye mysfortune eyther they take part wyth them in theyr aduersitye or elles kyll theym selues In somuche that wythin the compasse of mans remembraÌ„ce there hath not any of theÌ„ bene found that wheÌ„ his frend to whoÌ„ he had sworn himselfe was slaine wold refuse to dye entended to make a saly vppon vs. But our souldiors warned bi the great shout that was raysed by such of our company as warded on that syde resorted to their weapons after a sharp encouÌ„ter draue him back into the towne and yet neuertheles he obteyned of Crassus the lyke benefyt of submyssion as other of the Townesmen had done After that Crassus had receyued their armor hostages he toke hys waye into the Marches of the * Uocatians * Tarusatians Then the sauage people agreued that wythin so few days after oure coming thyther we had won a town both by situacion and mans hand so wel fortified sent out ambassades on all sydes confedered themselues together gaue hostages one to another and prepared men of war Furthermore ambassadors were sent to the Cities of the hythermost part of Spain next vnto Aquitaine and ayd of Souldyors and Capteines were waged from thence At whose comming they began to set forwarde the war with great authority and great multitude of people Those wer chosen to be Capteines that had serued all theyr tyme wyth Q. Sertorius and therfore were demed to be men of singular knowledge in feates of armes Theis according to the custome of the people of Rome practysed to take places of aduauntage to fortify theyr Camp and to cut oure victuals of froÌ„ vs. The whych thing when Crassus perceyued considering that his owne armye by reason of the slender number therof coulde not conuenientlye bee sent diuers wayes abroad and that hys enemye might both raunge abroad at pleasure and also forlay the wayes yet leaue sufficient defence in hys camp besydes whyche was a cause that grayne and victual could not wel be conueyed vnto hym and moreouer that the number of hys ennemyes daily encreased he thought it best to trie the matter by battel wythout any further lingering Hauing propounded thys matter in counsel when he perceyued al of them to be of the same opinion he appoynted the next daye to geue battel in As sone as the day began to breake he brought foorth his army and orderyng them in two battels placed hys aydes in the middle ward waiting what his enemies entended to do They albeit that in consideration of their multitude and theyr auncyent renowne in cheualry and the small number of oure men thought they might haue geueÌ„ vs battell sauflye yet notwithstanding they thought it a surer way by forlaying the wayes and cuttyng of our victuals to get the vyctory wyth out bloudshed And if the Romanes for penury of corne and vyctuals began to retyre they determyned to assayle them cowardly as they were troubled in marchyng wyth theyr burthens on their necks The Capteines lyked thys counsell so well that as often as the Romanes brought their men into the fielde they kept them selues wythin theyr Campe. Crassus perceyuyng that when he by his prolonging of tyme and hys enemyes by pretending such feare had made our Souldiors more couragious to feyght insomuche that it was hard at euery mans mouth that they wold to their ennemies campe wythout any further delay after he had geuen encouragement vnto theÌ„ led them thither with willing harts There while some filled vp the diches some by throwyng darts thick draue the defendantes downe from theyr Rampyres and fortifications and that the straunge souldiors whome Crassus trusted not greatly vnto to feyght in mynystrynge stones and weapons vnto others and in brynging turfe to make the mount made a showe as though they had fought in dede and whyle on the contrarye part our enemies fought sloutly and vnfearfullye and that the weapons whych came â—â—om aboue lighted not any where in vaine oure horsemen raunging about the Camp of our enemyes brought Crassus word that theyr camp was not so strongly garded at the chief gate and that it was easye to enter at it Crassus exhortyng the capteines of the men of armes to encourage theyr men wyth promis of greate rewardes declared vnto them what he wold haue done They according to theyr commission taking foorth fower Cohorts which beyng left to defende the Camp had not ben wearyed wyth labour and leadyng them a great way about bicause theyr enemyes should not spye theym from theyr Camp whyle all theyr mynds and eyes were occupyed earnestly in feighting came quickly to that side of the fortificatioÌ„ that we spake of before And breaking it downe were entered all wythin the camp of theyr ennemies before they could be perfectly discerned by them or that it could be knoweÌ„ what they were a doyng Then was hearde a great noyse from that part wherewith our men recoueryng strength which commonly happeneth in hope of victory begaÌ„ to assault them more fiercely Our enemyes being besette on all sydes and past hope of all recouery cast themselues downe from their fortificatioÌ„s intending to saue themselues by flyght Whom oure horsmen ouertakyng in the champioÌ„ fields made such a slaughter of theÌ„ that of fiftye thousande which were knowen to be assembled thither out of Aquitaine and from among the The peoples of Byscay Cantabres scarce the fowrth parte was leâ—te aliue and so when it was far in the night he returned into his Camp When thys discomfiture was heard of the most part of Aquitaine yelded vnto Crassus and of theyr owne accord sent him pledges in the whych nuÌ„ber were the People of Tarbes Tarbelles the People of Tarbes Bigerrons the People of Bierne Precianes the People of Bierne Uocats the People about Turâ—e Tarusats the People about Turfe Flustats the People of Agenoys Garits the People of Agenoys Auscians the People of Aux Garumnes the People of Aux Sibuzats and the People of Aux Cocosats A fewe of the Cities that were furthest of vpon confideÌ„ce in the time of the yere bycause wynter was at hand draue of from dooyng so The same time almost Cesar albeit that the soÌ„mer was nygh spent neuertheles forasmuch as when all Gallia was brought to peaceable obedience the People of Tyrwyn Morines and Guelders Cleues Menapians only remayned that bare armor against him and had neuer sent ambassadors to hym for peace thynkyng that war might soone be dyspatched ledde his hoste thither But they determined to make war wyth hym far after another sort than the rest of the Galles had done For in asmuch as they vnderstood how the greatest nations that had geuen him battell in the field had bene vanquished and put to flyght and perceyued theÌ„ selues to haue mayne woods and marisgrounds they conueyed themselues and all that they had into the same To the entrance of which woods when Cesar was come
and mistrusting the infirmity of the Galles bicause in taking of counsel they be variable for the most part are desyrous of alteration thought it not expedient to put them in trust with any thing Thys is a common custome among the Galles to compell euen wayfairyng menne to stay whether they will or no and to enquire what euery of them hath hard or knoweth of euery matter And for the common people to come flocking about merchantmen in Cities and to constreine them to tel out of what countryes they come what things they know of there And being moued with theis light reports and here sayes they fal to counsel oftentimes euen of most weighty matters wher of they must nedes repent them by and by after seing they are so fondly led by vncertaine rumors and that diuers persons tell theÌ„ forged newes to fede their fancyes wythall The whych custome when Cesar vnderstood to thintent he might not mete with some worse match than he had made alredy he went sooner to hys army than he was wont When he came thither those things that he mystrusted wolde come to passe he found done in dede That is howe ambassades were sent from manye Cities to the Germanes that they were entreated with to depart from the Rhine the which don they shuld haue at their hands whatsoeuer thei wold demaund With hope whereof the Germanes being moued raunged now further abrode were come into the borders of the People of Liege or Lukeland Eburones and People about Aix betwene Utreight and Iuliers Condrusians whyche are reteiners to the Treuires Cesar calling before him the Princes of Gallia thought it conuenient to dissemble those things that he knew and therupon appeasyng theyr courages wyth fayre language and quickning their spirits wyth comfortable wordes he commaunded theym to finde hym a number of men of armes in purpose to make war wyth the Germanes When he had made prouision of corne and taken muster of hys horsemen he marched toward those places in the which he heard that the Germanes were Assone as he came wythin a few dayes iorney of them there came ambassadors from them theffect of whose oration was That the Germanes wolde neyther begin to quarrell first wyth the people of Rome nor yet refuse to cope wyth them if they were assayled It was the custome of the Germanes deliuered froÌ„ theyr auncesors that who soeuer made war vpon them to make resistence by force and not by entretance Neuerthelesse they had thus much to say for theÌ„ selues that they were come agaynst theyr wils as meÌ„ cast out of house and home If the Romanes wold take theim inâ—o fauor they might be profitable frends vnto them wherefore they required either to assigne them laÌ„ds or els to suffer them to enioy such as they had alreadye gotten by conquest to the Sweuians onelye they gaue place whom not euen the Goddes immortall were able to match For in all the earth besyde there was not anye maÌ„ whom they could not ouercome Cesar replyed hereunto as he thought good But the conclusion of his oration was That there coulde be no frendshippe betwene him and them as long as they abode in Gallia And that it coulde not be trew that they which were not able to defend their owne country should kepe possession of an other mannes and though they coulde yet were there not in Gallia any lands that coulde be geuen specially to such a multitude wythout doing wrong vnto others But it shoulde be lawfull for them if they woulde to settle them selues in the borders of the Ubians whose ambassadors were then wyth hym to complayne of the iniuries done by the Sweuians and to desyre help of him the which thing he promysed to obteyne of the Ubians for them Thambassadors said they wold make report herof to their company and vpon good aduyce taken in the matter returne againe to him after the thyrd day desiring that he wold not in the meane tyme approch any nerer to them with hys camp Cesar aunswered that they myght not obtaine so muche as that at hys hand For he knewe that they had sent a great part of their horsmen certaine daies afore ouer the Maze to the Brabanderâ— Ambiuarits to fetch in prayes forage The returne of which horsmen they loked for therfore as he thought sought to haue delayes in the matter The ryuer Maze spryngeth oute of the mountâ—ine People of Langres Uosegus whych is in the borders of the People of Langres Lingones and receyuing an arine of the Rhine to it whych is called walin Uacalos maketh the Iland of the Hollanders Batauians and not passing lxxx myles fro theÌ„ce runneth into the Ocean Now the Rhyne ryseth among the People of Granpunter Lepontians who inhabit the Alpes and from thence runneth swift a long race by the borders of the People of Uawd Nantuats HelnetiaÌ„s Sequanes People of Meâ—z Mediomatrikâ— People of Strawsoorg Triboks and Treuires and when it commeth nere the Ocean it deuydeth it self into many streames making many great Ilands whereof a great sort are inhabited by wyld and sauage peoples of the which some are thought to liue by fyshe and birdes egges and lastly falleth wyth many heads into the Ocean At such time as Cesar was come wythin twelue myles of hys ennemyes thambassadors according to appointment returned vnto hym Who meting hym in hys iorney entreated him verye earnestlye that he shoulde procede no further When they coulde not get graunt thereof they requested hym to sende out of hand to hys horsmen that were the foreryders of hys host to commaund them that they shuld not seight and that he wold geue them leaue to send ambassadors to the Ubians whose Noblemen couÌ„sellers if they made them assurance by othe vpon suche condicion as Cesar should prescribe they were contented to stand to it To bring theis things to passe they desyred three dayes respit All theis things Cesar thought tended to this one end that by dryuing of of those three days theyr horsmen that were then absent might returne Notwithstandyng he promysed to go no further forward but fower myles that day to haue fresh water for hys Camp willing theym to repayre to him the next Morning betymes to knowe further of hys pleasure touchyng theyr demaunds In the mean time he sent to the Capteines of his horsmen that were rydden before to warne them that they shoulde not make any assault vpon theyr enemies and that if any assault wer made vpon them that they should forbeare them vntill he might come nerer to theym wyth his whole power But our enemies assoone as oure horsemen came wythin theyr syght of whom there was the number of fiue thousaÌ„d wheras they had not aboue eyght hundred horsemen in all bycause those that were gone ouer the Maze for forrage were not yet returned whyle our men feared nothing bycause theyr ambassadors were but newly before departed from
Cesar and that they had entreated hym for a truce gaue a quycke charge vpon our men and put them out of aray And when our men returned agayn to theyr defence they according to their custome lyghted a fote and goring our horses and dismoūting many of their maisters put the rest to flyght and in such wyse chaced them in their feare that they neuer ceased flying vntyll they came in the sight of our army In that encounter wer slayne of our horsmen threescore and fowertene among whome was one Piso of Aquitaine a verye valeant Gentilman borne of a noble house whose Graundfather had obteined the Souereinty of hys owne Citye and was proclaymed friend of oure Senate Thys Piso reskowing hys brother beset wyth enemyes delyuered him out of daunger he hymself being cast from hys horse that was wounded resisted valeantly as long as he could But at length being enclosed after he had receyued manye wounds he fell downe The whyche hys brother who nowe was gotten out of the battell perceyuing a farre of put spurres to hys horse and dasshyng in among hys ennemyes was slain also After that this battel was fought Cesar determined neyther to heare thambassadors nor to accept any of the profers of such as deceitfully and traiterously desiring peace had wilfully moued war Againe to tary vntyll the power of hys enemies were encreased and their horsmen returned he thought it the point of extreme madnesse and consideryng the infirmity of the Galles among whom he perceyued howe much authority hys enemies had gotten by that one skyrmish he thought it not good to geue them respit to practise new deuises When he had determined vpon theis matters and made hys Lieuetenants and Threasoror priuy to his purpose to the entent he should not haue any mo dayes of delay in encoūtring with his enemies there happened the best oportunity that could be deuised for his purpose whiche was this the next day folowing earlye in the morning the Germanes vsing the like dyssemblyng falshod that they had done before came to our Camp in great number accompanyed wyth all theyr nobles and auncient men both as thei said to purge themselues of that contrarye to the former treaty and contrary to theyr owne sute there had bene a battell fought the day before also to haue wroght some new fetch to haue gotten a truce if they could haue cōpassed it by wile Cesar being glad that they were falne into his hands commaunded them to be put in sauf kepyng And thervppon he led all hys power out of hys camp commaunding hys horsmen to folow after his host bycause he thought them discoraged wyth their late conflict Thus with his men in thre battels he marched the space of eyght myles wyth such spede that he came to the camp of the Germanes before they coulde vnderstande what was done Who being dismayed in all things vppon the sodein both for our hasty approch and for the departure of their owne men hauing leysure neyther to take counsel nor yet to arme themselues were so troubled that they wyst not whether it were best for them to go forth wyth theyr power against the enemy or to tary and defende theyr Camp or els to saue themselues by flight Our men vnderstanding their feare by the rore and shuffling that was amōg them and prouoked with their traiterous dealing the day before dashed into their Camp In the which place such as could quicklye arme them selues resisted our men a whyle and mayntayned the battell amonge their stuffe and cariages But the rest of the multitude of women and children for thei came from home and passed the Rhine tag and rag beganne to flie here and there euerye way after whom Cesar sent his horsmen to ouertake them The Germanes hearing the crye behinde them when they saw their company murthered threw away theyr harnesse and forsaking their standerds fled out of their camp and whē they came to the metyng of the Maze and Rhine being past hope of fliyng any further after that a great number of them were slaine the rest cast themselues into the streame there being oppressed with feare wearynes and the force of the water perished Our cōpany wythout the losse of any one man sauyng that a fewe were wounded wheras there was to the number of fower hundred and thirty thousand of our enemyes one and other returned out of this dread full battell into their Camp And there Cesar gaue lycence to depart to such as he had deteined But they fearing that the Galles whose fields they had wasted wold punish theym and deale cruelly with theym sayde they wold tarye still with him and Cesar being content therwith graūted them theyr liberty After that this battell against the Germanes was dispatched Cesar thought it expedient to passe the Rhyne for many causes wherof this was the iustest that forasmuch as he saw the Germanes so easly persuaded to come into Gallia he wolde haue theym stande in some feare of theyr owne thinges at home also when they should perceyue that the people of Rome both could and durst passe the Rhine wyth an army And to further thys matter withall that company of horsmen of the Usipits and Teucthers which I said before were gone a forragyng and to fetch booties on thother side of the Maze and were not at the battel after the dyscomfyture of their company had retired ouer the Rhyne into the borders of the The people about Nassaw Hessen in Germany Sicambers and ioyned themselues wyth them Unto whom when Cesar sent ambassadors desyryng them to deliuer into hys hands such as had moued war against him and the realme of Gallia they made aunswer that the people of Rome had nothyng to do beyond the Rhine For if he thought the Germanes did him wrōg to come into Gallia with out his leaue why should he chalēge any souereinty or authority at all on thother syde of the Rhyne Moreouer the People about Colon on the further side of the Rhyne Ubians who alonly of the people beyond the Rhyne sending Ambassadors vnto Cesar had entred in Leage wyth him and geuen him hostages made earnest sute to him that he wold succor thē agaynst the Sweuians who sore oppressed them Or yf he could not so do being occupyed about other weighty affaires of the people of Rome they desyred that he wold do no more but only bryng his army ouer the Rhine for in so doing he should pleasure them as much as yf he had succored theym and also put them in good hope for euer after For they said that the name and estimation of the Romaine army was so great synce Ariouistus was chaced and now of late this other ouerthrow geuen that the fame frendshyp of the people of Rome might be a protection to them euen among the furthest Nations of Germanye wherfore yf he wold come they profered a great number of Boates to ferrye ouer his armye in Cesar for theis causes whych
shyppe and commit hymselfe to the barbarous people returned the fyfth day vnto Cesar and made report vnto him what he had sene Whyle Cesar taryed there for the furnishing of his nauie there came ambassadors from a great part of the * Morines to excuse theym of their foly hertofore vsed in that they being rude people and vnskilfull of our custome had moued war against the people of Rome promising to do whatsoeuer he wold commaund theÌ„ Cesar thinking that theis thyngs fell luckelye on hys side bycause he wold neither leaue an enemy behind hys backe nor could well make war bycause the tyme of the yere was so far spent nor demed theys tryflyng busynesses worthy to be preferred before that weighty affayres of Britaine charged them wyth a great nuÌ„ber of hostages The which being brought he receyued their submissioÌ„ Hauing assembled together about fowerscore hulkes and as manye as he thought suffycient to conuey ouer two Legions he distributed all the Bailyes that he had to the Threasoror hys Lieuetenants and the chief officers of hys Camp There were also besides theis eightene mo hulks whiche were held by the wynd an eyght myles froÌ„ that place that they could not come al into one haue Theis he assigned to his meÌ„ of armes The rest of his army he coÌ„mitted to his Lieueteuants Q. Titurius Sabinus L. Aurunculeius Cotta to lead against the Menapians and such townes of the Morines from whence there had come no ambassadors vnto him And he commaunded P. Sulpitius Rufus another Lieuetenant of hys to kepe the hauon wyth such a crew as he thought sufficieÌ„t for the purpose When he had thus set thyngs in order hauing gotten a seasonable wether to saile in he loosed from the shore almost about the thyrd watch commaunding hys horsemen to goe to the further hauon and there to take shippyng and folow after hym Which charge being by them executed somewhat slowly he hymselfe about fower of the clock arriued with hys formest shyps in Brâ—taine and there he sawe all the hylles couered wyth armed men The nature of the whych place was such and the Sea was so enclosed wyth narrow hyls that a Dart might be throwen from the hygher groundes vnto the ryuage Thinking this to be no mete place to take land at he rode at anchor vntil it was nine of the clocke awayting the comming of the rest of hys shyps In the meane season callyng his Lieuetenants Tribunes together he declared to them what he had vnderstoode by Uolusenus and what he wold haue done warning them as the order of war and specially sea matters required that forasmuch as they should haue a sodeine and vncerteyne remouing all thyngs should be done by them at a becke as the tyme wold serue WheÌ„ he had dismissed them hauing gotteÌ„ both wynde and tyde wyth hym at ones he gaue them signe to way vp theyr anchors and goyng forwarde about an eyght myles from thence arryued at an open and playn shore But the Britons hauing knowledge of Cesars meanyng sent theyr horsmen and wagoners before the whiche kynd of furniture they commonly vse in battell and folowyng after wyth al the rest of theyr power prohibited oure men to take lande By meanes herof we were in great perplexity for as much as our shyps by reason of their greatnesse coulde not come nere the shore for waÌ„t of water so that it behoued oure souldiors in vnknowen places wyth troubled hands ouerladen wyth the great weightye burthen of their harnesse both to leape out of their ships and to stand in the waues and to feight with theyr enemies wheras they on the contrary part standing vpon the drye grounde or wading but a littel way into the water hauing al their limbes at liberty in places throughly knowen to theym might boldlye cast Dartes at vs and ouercome vs wyth theyr horses whych were inured to the purpose Our men somewhat abashed at theis thynges as thei that were altogether vnacquainted with thys kind of feight shewed not the like courage and chierfulnes that they were wont to vse in pytched fyelds The whych thing when Cesar perceyued he commaunded that the Galleyes wherof the facion was more straunge to the sauage Britons and the mouing more redy and wieldsome should be remoued a lyttell from the shyps of Burthen and rowed forth and set agaynst the open side of his ennemies and there wyth slyngs shot of arrowes and other artillery to disorder theym and send them further of whyche thinge did greatly aduantage our men For the rude people abashed at the facion of the Galleyes the rowing of them wyth ores and the straunge kind of artillery that was in them stood stil on a heape and a littell gaue backe But when our men staied and semed to make curtsy chiefly for the depenes of the water the chief standerd-bearer of the .x. Legion making earnest protestacion to the Goddes that the thing whych he purposed to doe might happen luckely to the legion sayd leap downe my fellowes onles you wyll betray our standerd to the enemy surely I wyll do my dutye to thuttermost for my common wealth and for my graundcapteine When he had spokeÌ„ this with a loud voice he threw hymself out of the shyppe and began to carrye the standerd against the ennemies Then our men encouragynge one another not to suffer such a foile leaped euerichone of them out of the vessel Those that were in thother formest ships seyng them do so followed after them and approched to theyr enemies Thencounter was sharpe on bothe sides Howbeit our men for as muche as they were able neither to kepe aray nor to take sure foting nor to folow theyr standerds inasmuche as some comming out of one shypp and some out of another they were fayne to cluster themselues vnder that standerd that came next to hande were muche troubled But our ennemies being perfect in al the flete and shallow places assone as they espyed froÌ„ the shore any of our companye commyng out of theyr shyps one by one alone put spurres to their horses and ran vppon them being troubled in the water and where they sawe few there wold they come by companies and enclose them other some from the open side threw darts at the whole rout of vs. The whych when Cesar perceyued he commaunded the Cockbotes Brigantines to be furnished with souldiors sent them to succor such as he saw in dauÌ„ger Assoone as oure men were gotten to drye land the rest of theyr companye folowed hard after them and charging fiercely vpon the enemies put theym to flyght but they coulde not chase them far bicause our horsmen could not kepe theyr course and attaine to the Ilande the whyche one only thyng Cesar myssed of hys accustomed good fortune Our enemyes ouercome in thys battell assone as they had recouered themselues froÌ„ the chase sent Ambassadors by by vnto Cesar for peace proferyng to geue hym hostages to do whatsoeuer he wold commauÌ„d
obteining a mete season he commanded all his power both of horsmen and fotemen to go a boord Whyle all mens mindes were busyed heraboutes Dumnorix wyth the Heduan horsmen began to depart homewarde out of the camp wythout Cesars leaue When Cesar heard tidinges therof staying hys vyage and setting al other thinges asyde he sent a great part of his horsemen after him to pursew hym cōmaunding to fet him backe again and if he made any resistence wold not be ruled he bade kyll him for he thought he would not deale like an aduysed person in hys absence that durste disobey hym in hys presence Dumnorix being called backe made resistence and began to defende himselfe wyth hys sword callyng vppon his men for helpe and crying oftentimes out that he was a free man of a free Citye Notwythstandinge they as was commaunded them beset hym about and slew him and so all the Heduan men of armes returned vnto Cesar. After that this matter was dispatched leauynge Labienus in the maine land wyth thre Legions and twoo thousand horsmen to kepe the hauēs and prouyde graine to learn what was done in Gallia and to deale aduisedly as tyme and occasion should require Cesar hymselfe with fyue Legions like number of horsemen as he left in the mayne land at the sunne going downe loosened frō the shore and beinge dryuen wyth a soft Southwest wind the which also about midnight fell could not kepe hys course but beyng caryed further wyth the tyde about the dawnynge of the day beheld Britaine left a litle on the left hand Then folowing again the chaunge of the tyde he endeuoured by force of Ores to attaine to that part of the Ilande where he had found to be best landing the last sommer before Wherin the courage of our souldyers was much to be cōmended in that wyth their shyps of burthen being heauy loden through continual rowyng without ceasing they made away as fast as the Galleyes So wee arryued in Britayne wyth all our ships euen about hygh noone neither was there any enemy sene in that place Howbeit as Cesar vnderstode afterward by hys prisoners there was a great power assembled thither the whych beyng abashed at the number of oure shyps wherof together with the victailers shyppes and suche as euery man had made for hys owne occupying were aboue eyght hundred in syght all at one tyme withdrew them selues frō the riuage and hid them in the higher groundes Cesar after he had set his army a lande and taken a place mete to encamp in whē he had learned of hys prisoners in what place the power of his enemies abode left ten Cohortes thre hūdred horsmen at the seas side to kepe his ships and immediatly after the thyrde watche marched to warde hys ennemyes so much the lesse fearing hys shyps bicause he had left them ryding at anchor in an woosye and opē shore and he appoynted Q. Atrius to see to the sauf keping of his ships Himself after he had gone about a twelue miles in the nyght time discouered the host of his enemyes They comming with theyr horsmen chariots to a ryuers side began to beat vs backe frō the hygher ground and to encounter with vs. But in the end being put to repulse by our horsmen they hyd thē selues in the woods where they had gotten a plot excellently wel fortified both by nature and mans hande the which place as it should appere they had prepared before hande as a hold for their own ciuil warres For by cutting downe the trees euerye where they had foreclosed al the entrances in and they themselues issuing out of the woodes here some and there some a few in a cōpany made defēce and wold not suffer our men to come wythin theyr fortifications Neuertheles the souldiers of the vii legion making a shed and casting vp a banke to theyr fortifications won the place and draue theim out of the woodes wyth the receyte of a fewe wounds Howbeit Cesar forbade his men to pursue them ouer farre both bycause he knewe not the nature of the place also bicause the greater part of the day beyng now spent he wold haue some time left for the fortifying of hys camp The next day folowing early in the morning he sent hys horsmen fotemen forth in thre battels to pursue them that were fled They had not gone but a littel way insomuch y◠the hindermost were yet in fight whē certaine horsmen came from Q. Atrius to Cesar bringing him word that the last night there arose a marueylous tempest whyche had shaken almost all hys ships and cast them a land so that neyther anchor nor Cable could holde nor the shipmen gouernors endure against the violens of the storme by meanes of the whych beating together of his shyps much hurt was done When Cesar heard theis newes he whylled hys Legions and horsmen to be called back and to cease of their iorney and he himself returned to his ships where he sawe as muche in manner wyth hys eyes as was reported to him by messages and letters so that wyth the losse of a forty shyppes the rest might with much a doe be mended And therefore he chose suche as were Shypwryghtes out of his Legions and cōmaunded others to bee sent for out of the mayne lande Also he wrate vnto Labienus that he should make as many shyppes as he could wyth the help of those Legiōs that he had Moreouer althoughe it were a worke of great toyle and labor yet notwithstanding he thought it most for hys behoofe to haue all hys ships drawen a land and ioyned in one fortification with hys Camp In doyng herof he spent ten dayes not respityng hys souldiers frō their labour so muche as the nyght tyme. When he had drawen hys shippes a land throughly fortified his camp he left the same power to garde hys ships that was there before and returned himselfe to the place he came fro At hys comming thither a greater power of the Britons was assembled out of all coastes into the same place The chief gouernement of the Realme and ordering of the warres was by common aduyce commytted to Cassibelan whose Seniorie is seuered from the Cityes towarde the sea coast by a ryuer whyche is called Tems about fowerscore miles of frō the Sea Thys Cassibelan in tymes past had contynuall warre wyth the Cities adioyninge but the Britons being moued wyth our coming had chosen him to be their souereine and made him General of the warres The inner part of Britaine is inhabited of suche as by wytnesse of their auncient recordes were borne and bred in the I le and the sea coast by such as haue passed thither out of Belgicke to fetch bootyes to make war Al the whych wel nere are called by the same names that the Cities are where they were borne and from whence they first came remayning there styl when the warre was done and tillinge the grounde The country
furtherance And therfore being enformed by Cingetorix his alies of the oracion that Induciomarus had in the counsell he sent Messengers to the cities nere hand called the horsmen about hym from al partes appoynting them a certayn day to mete together In the meane while Induciomarus wyth all hys horsemen went vp and down almost euery day before hys camp sometime to vew the situacion of the Camp and somtyme to commune wyth them or to put them in feare and diuers tymes he wold cause hys horsemen to throw theyr Dartes all at ones into the Trench Labienus held his men styll wythin the fortification and by all meanes he could deuise gaue his enemyes occasion to thynke that he stoode in feare of theym Now when Induciomarê° euery day more proudly and disdeinfully then other came before hys Campe Labienus one night taking in the horsemen of all the cities therabout which he had seÌ„t for layd so narrow watch for the keping of all his meÌ„ wtihin the camp that the matter coulde not by anye meanes be horne abrode or bee bewrayed to the Treuires In the mean season Induciomarus accordinge to hys daylye custome resorted to the Camp and there ê‘sent a great part of the day His horsmen threw theyr dartes wyth most spightful words prouoked our men to come foorth to feyght with them When they sawe that our men gaue them none aunswer at theyr pleasure about the Euening they brake their aray departed wythout order Then Labienus sending out sodenly al his horsmen at two gates gaue them commaundement and expressly charged them that when their enemies were dyscomfited and put to flyght the which he foresaw wold come to passe as it did in dede they should al set vpon Induciomarus and that they should not hurt anye other man before they saw hym deade bycause he wold not that he shuld haue leysure to escape while they were occupyed about thothers He promysed great rewards to them that slew hym and he sent his fotemen after to the ayd and succor of hys horsmen Fortune fauored the deuice of the man For inasmuch as all made assault vppon hym alone Induciomarus was taken tardie euen in the foord of the riuer and there slayne and hys heade carâ—ed into our Camp The horsemeÌ„ in theyr retire slew as many as they coulde come by When this thyng was ones knowen all the hostes of the Eburones and Neruians that were assembled together departed and so by thys meanes for a while after Cesar had all Gallia in better quyetnes FINIS THE SYXTH BOKE of C. Iulius Caesars Commentaries of his warres in Gallia CESAR FOR MANY consideratioÌ„s loking for a greater broile in Gallia determyned to make musters by hys Lieuetenantes M. Sillanus C. Antistius of RhegiuÌ„ and T. Sestius Moreouer he requested of Cn. Pompeius the Proconsull that for asmuch as he abode wyth authority about the Citie for defencs of the coÌ„mon weale he should commaund to repayre to theyr standerdes and to come vnto hym all suche as beynge bound by othe to the Consul he had leuyed in Callia Cisalpina For he thought it should be greatly auayleable herafter to make al Gallia staÌ„d in awe if it might appeare to theym that Italy was of such power and abilitye as that it could not only repayre and amend in short space anye losse receiued by the warres but also make it self stronger than it was before The whych thyng when Pompey both for the coÌ„mon weales sake and for frendships sake had grauÌ„ted vnto hauing spedelye made muster by hys Capteines and not only raised but also conueyed thither as hee was three Legions before wynter was done and also hauing dowbled the number of those Cohortes that he had lost with Q. Titurius through hys celerity and power he gaue to vnderstand what the disciplyne and ryches of the Romanes were able to doe After that Induciomarus was slayn as I tould ye before the Treuires coÌ„mitted the souereinty to hys next kinsmen who ceased not to sollicit their neighbors the Germanes and to promis theym monye When they could not obteine theyr purpose of theyr neyghbours they sought to them that were further of At the last hauing found some cityes plyable to theyr desyer they bounde the one to another by othe and wrought sure wyth hostages and mony They entred society and aliance wth Ambiorix The whych thinges when Cesar vnderstode and sawe moreouer that on all sides warre was rered against hym that the Neruians Aduatickes and Menapians with thassistance of all the Germanes on thys syde the Rhine were in armes that the Senones came not at hys commaundement but toke counsel with the Caruntes and other borderers agaynst hym and that the Treuires with often ambassades went about to rayse the Germanes he thought it stode him in hand to lay for the warres betymes And therfore ere wynter was fully speÌ„t he brought together fowre Legions that were nerest to hym sodenlye inuaded the borders of the NeruiaÌ„s and there before they could eyther assemble to resist hym or flye to saue themselues â–ª hauing taken a great bootye of men and cattell the whych he gaue to his souldyers for a pray and wasted their fieldes he coÌ„pelled them to submit themselues to hym and to geue hym hostages Hauing quicklye thus dyspatched thys busines he conueyed hys Legions agayne into theyr winteryng places In the beginning of the spring sommoning a counsell of al Gallia wheÌ„ as all thother came sauing the Senones Caruntes and Treuires coÌ„iecturing thys to bee a beginning of war rebellioÌ„ to thintent he might seeme to set al other things a part he adiourned the parlament to Lutetia of the Parisians They were next neyghbors to the Senones and had priuileged ech other in theyr cities within mans remembrance but it was thought they were no partakers of thys counsell Thys matter being openlye pronounced from the bench he went the same daye wyth hys Legions agaynst the Senones and by great iorneyes came thither Acco Prince of the contrarye faction hauing knowledge of his comming commaunded the common people to get them into the Townes As they wer about to do so before they could dyspatch tidings came that the Romanes were at hande by meanes whereof constreyned of necessitye to cease from theyr enterprise they sent messengers to Cesar to entreat with him They made theyr accesse vnto him by the Heduanes whose countrye had continued faythfull from of olde time Cesar at the sute of the Heduanes was the wyllynger to beare wyth them and accepted their excuse for as muche as he thought that the sommer tyme was rather to be employed aboute the warre that was at hand then about examination of matters And so he commauÌ„ded theym to geue him a hundred hostages the whyche he deliuered to the Heduanes to be kept Thither also the Caruntes sent Ambassadors and hostages vsing for theyr intercessors the men of Rhemes vnto whoÌ„ they were as it were reteyners and they receiued like aunswer
burthen whych had abiden in the Campe folowed after The very same time by chauÌ„ce came the Germane horsemen betweene them and home and wythoute tariaunce with like pace as they had ridden all the way endeuored to breake into the camp at the chiefe gate and they were not espied by reason of the woodes that were on that side which letted the view before they were so nere our Camp that the Merchant-men whiche laye in hales vnder the Rampyer side had no leysure to recouer themselues wythin saufgarde Oure men being taken vnprouided vppon the sodein were so troubled that the Cohorte was scars able to wythstand the fyrst brunt Our enemyes spred theim selues on all sides about to see if they could finde anye entryng place in so muche that our men had much a do to defeÌ„d the gates for the place was otherwyse so stroÌ„g of it self and so wel fortified that it neded no defence Al the whole camp was in a feare and euery one demauÌ„ded of another the cause of the tumult in so much that they wyst not which waye eyther to aduaunce their banners or whither they should assemble themselues One reportes for a certeinty that the Camp was alredy taken another holdes opinion that the Graundcapteine and hys armye being vtterly destroyed the barbarous were come thither as coÌ„querors many deuised new supersticioÌ„s to them selues by reason of the place setting before theyr eyes the mischaunce of Cotta Titurius who were slaine in the same Castell Throughe thys feare wherewyth all oure men were strycken the rude Germanes were confirmed in their opinion whyche they had conceyued vppon the report of a prysoner that there was no strength wythin Wherupon endeuoring to breake in perforce they encouraged one another not to let so good fortune scape out of theyr handes There was lefte behynde in the garrison sick one P. Sestius Baculus who had had the leading of one of the chyef bandes vnder Cesar of whom we haue made meÌ„tion in the former battels he had fasted nowe fiue dayes He being in despaire both of hys owne lyfe and of the liues of al his company came out of his tent vnarmed and perceiuing hys enemies to preace sore vpoÌ„ them and that the matter stode in vtter peryll toke weapon from such as stode next him and set him self in the gate After him folowed the Centurions of that Cohort whych warded in the Campe for a whyle endured the conflict with hym But at the length Sestius was so sore wounded that hys courage fayled him and he sanke downe that much a doe there was to drawe him out of the preace and to saue his life Duryng the time of this leysure the rest toke heart to theym in somuche that they durst set them selues vpon the Rampiers and make a showe of defence In the meane whyle our souldiers that went out for forrage hauing dispatched that they went for in their returne heard the noise whervpon the horsemen came a false gallop before perceyued in how great daunger the matter stode But now was there not any place of defence whereunto they might recouer them selues in thys theyr feare Suche as were but newly reteyned and therfore were not skilfull in matters of war retired backe to the Tribunes and Centurions looking to receyue commaundement at theyr handes what they shuld do There was not any of them so stout of stomack that was not amased at the sodeinnes of the matter The barbarous people perceiuing the banners a far of ceased froÌ„ thassault At the first they beleued that our legioÌ„s had bene returned which thei had learned by their prisoners to haue ben gone a great way further of Afterward disdeining the smal nuÌ„ber of them they set vpoÌ„ them on all sides The varlets ran vp to the next hill from whence being easly driuen downe they thrust theym selues among the souldyers that were vnder their standerds and therby put them in greater feare then they were before Some thought it best to cast theÌ„ selues in a wedge to break through their ennemyes quicklye affirming that forasmuch as their Campe was so nere at hande althoughe some of them were cut of by the way slain yet the rest should saue themselues Other some thoughte it best to get them to the top of the hyll and there to take what soeuer shuld betide theÌ„ all together Thys deuyse liked not the olde souldiers that went out vnder the standerd wyth them as wee told you before Wherupon encouraging themselues and folowinge Capteine C. Trebonius a knight of Rome who had the charge of them they brake throughe the myddes of their enemies and came al sauf into the campe wythout the losse of anye one man The Uarlets and horsmen folowing after them with like force were by the valiantnes of the souldyers likewyse preserued But they which had gotten themselues to the top of the hyl hauing no vnderstanding at al how to demeane themselues had neither the wyt to perseuer in the deuice which they first allowed in standing styll to their defence vppon the hygher grounde nor yet to vse the lyke force and celerity whych they saw doe good to theyr felowes but for desier to recouer to their caÌ„p they caste themselues into a place of disaduauntage The Centurious of whom many for theyr prowesse and manhod had from lower roumes of the other Legions bene promooted to the hygher roumes of this legioÌ„ least they shoulde forgo the honor in armes which they had gotten before feighting most valiantly spent their liues together The enemyes bring by their force driuen aside it came to passe that some contrary to all hope and expectation came saufe into the Campe and some enuironed by the Germanes were vtterly destroyed The Germanes beynge nowe paste hope of winning our caÌ„p by assault forasmuch as they saw our men placed vppon the Rampyres with that pray which they had bestowed in the woodes gaâ—e them selues ouer the Rhine againe Howbeit when oure enemies were â—â—â—ght gone there remained such a feare among our meÌ„ that the same nyght when C. Uolusenus sent thither wyth the horsmeÌ„ came to the camp he could not make them beleue that Cesar was at hand wyth the army in saufgard So sore were al their mindes rauished wyth feare that in maner half beside them selues they said plainlye all the army was put to the sworde and that the horsemen had saued themselues by flyght for it was not lyke that whyle tharmy was in good case the Germanes durst adueture to assault our camp Thys feare the comming of Cesar toke away Uppon hys returne being not ignorant how the world went he found fault at the seÌ„ding out of the Cohorts out of their fort garrison affyrming that there ought no gap though neuer so smal to be opened vnto fortune forasmuch as fortune by the sodein approche of the enemy had bene able to haue done muche yea and muche the more in that thei had repulsed the barbarous people wel
to put on armor for the liberty of their couÌ„trye and so hauinge gotten a great power he dryueth hys aduersaries out of the city by whom he had bene driuen out a littel before Then they proclaimed him king and he sending foorth Ambassadors euery waye besought them to continue faythful in that they had promysed It was not long ere he had alied vnto him the Senones the Parisians the Pictones the Cadurkes the Turones the Aulerkes the Lemonikes the Andies and all the residewe that lye vppon the Ocean By generall consent the gouernement was put into hys handes vpon the offer of which authority he demaunded hostages of all the sayd Cities and commaunded a certayne number of men of warre to be leuyed and brought vnto him out of haÌ„d He appointed how much armor euery Citye should haue in a readynes at home and what they shoulde do before the time Chieflye he made prouision for horsmeÌ„ And as he was very diligent in laying for thynges before hand so did he wyth great seuerity execute hys authority with extremity of punishment compelled such as were newters For if there were any offence committed he put them to death wyth fier and all kindes of tormentes and for light faultes he sent them home agayne wyth theyr eares cutte of or wyth one of theyr eyes put out to th entent they should be an example to the rest and make them afrayd wyth the greatnes of their punishment Hauing by meanes of theis punishments soone gathered a great power he sent one Lucterius of Cahors a man of synguler audacitie with part of hys army amoÌ„g the Ruthenes and he him self went agaynst the people of Bourges At his coming the meÌ„ of Bourges sent messengers to the Heduans vnder whose tuicion they were to desier succor to thintent they might be the better able to wythstande the power of theyr enemies The Heduanes by thaduice of the Liuetenants which Cesar had left with the army sent succor both of horsmen and fotemen to the men of Bourges who when they came to the ryuer of Loyre whych deuideth the Heduanes from them of Bourges taried there a few dais and bicause they durst not passe the riuer returned home agayne declaring to theyr Lieuetenantes that the cause why they did so was by reason they feared that the meÌ„ of Bourges wolde betraye them whom they knewe to haue fullye determined among theÌ„selues that if they had passed the Riuer they themselues shuld haue beset them on th one side the men of Auverne on thother Whether they told our Lieuetenants this tale bicause it was so in deede or of trechery and falshod for asmuche as the trueth is not knowen I can not affirme it for a certeinty Immediatly after their departure the men of Bourges ioyned them selues wyth the menne of Auverne When theis things were reported to Cesar in Italye after the time he vnderstoode that the matters about the city were through the wise valiant demeanor of Cn. Pompeius brought to a good poynt he toke hys iorney into Gallia beyond the Alpes At suche tyme as he was come thyther he was in great distresse by what meanes he might come to hys armye For if he should sende for hys Legions to him into Prouince he was assured that they shoulde be encountred wyth by the way and he could not be thereto assyst them And if he should aduenture to go to his army he saw manifestly that it was not wythout peryl for hym to commyt his life into the hands no not euen of such as semed to bee at that time most in quiet In the meane whyle Lucterius of Cahors who was sent agaynst the Ruthenes reconciled that Citye to the men of Auverne From thens continuing his voyage against the Nitiobriges and Gabales he tooke hostages of them bothe and assembling a greate power purposed to make a rode into Prouince towarde Narbone When Cesar hearde tidinges therof all other deuises set a side he thought it most expedient to preuent him in going to Narbone When he came thither he chered such as were fearefull set garrisons amonge the Ruthenes in Prouince the Uolces the Arecomikes the men of Tholous and about Narbone whyche places bordered vpon our enemies and commauÌ„ded part of hys power that was in Prouince and the supplye whiche he had brought with him out of Italy to assemble in the countrye of the Heluians whych borders vppon the country of Auverne Theis thinges being thus set in order and hauyng repressed Lucterius yea and remoued him as who thought it to daungerous an enterprise for him to enter among oure garrisons he tooke hys iorney against the Heluians Nowe albeit that vpon the mountain The mountaine of Geneua or of Auverne Gebenua which disseuereth the men of Auverne from the Heluians the snow lay so deepe in that dead time of the wynter that it was hard for him to passe yet notwythstanding casting a side the snowe sixe foote depe and so making waye wyth great paine of his souldiers he came to the borders of Auverne and oppressing them vnbewares bicause they thought them selues as surelye defended with the mountaine Gebenua as if it had ben wyth a wal in asmuch neuer erst any one man alone had found passage ouer it at that time of the yeare he commaunded hys horsmen that they shuld dispers theÌ„selues as far abrode as they could put their enemies in asmuch feare as might be Quyckâ—y were theis things by fame and messengers brought vnto Uercingetorix about whom flocked all the men of Auverne amazed beseching him to prouide some remedie agaynst theyr misfortune and not to suffer them to be spoyled of their enemye specially seing he perceiued that all the brunt of the war was turned vppon theyr necks Moued with their entreataÌ„ce he remoued his camp from Bourges towards Auverne But Cesar after he had taryed twoo dayes in those quarters forasmuche as hys minde mysgaue him before that Uercingetorix wold do some such thynge vppon excuse to rayse a newe supplement and to get mo horsmen he departed from hys armye and left a yonge Gentylman named Brutus to be Capteine in his stead Him he warned to let the horsemen scowre the Countrye euerye waye as farre as might be promising so to vse the matter that he wold not be past thre dayes from the camp When he had ordered theis thinges in thys wise none of hys meÌ„ witting whereabout he went by as greate iorneyes as could be he came to Uienna There hauing gotten a fresh crew of horsemen which he had sent thither many dayes before wythout ceasing hys trauel day or night he went through the countrye of the Heduanes vnto the Lingones where two of hys Legions wintered to th entent that yf the Heduanes also shoulde conspyre anye thing otherwyse than well against him he might by celerity preuent them When he came thyther he sent to thother Legions and assembled them all together into one place before that any tidings of hys
they should haue lesse libertye to pursew them And he himself remouing a littel forward with his legioÌ„ out of the place where he stode abode to see what end theÌ„couÌ„ter wold come vnto At such time as the feight was sharpest and that the ennemyes trusted to the place and their multitude and our men in theyr manhode and prowesse sodeinly on the open side of our menne appeared the Heduanes whoÌ„ Cesar had sent vp on the ryght â—ide by another waye to th entent to stay the power of oure enemies from comming thither Theis by reason of the likenesse of theyr armor did greatly abash our men albeit they were knowen what they were by showing theyr right shoulders bare whych is wont to be a token of them that are at peace wyth vs yet notwithstanding our souldiers thought it had ben done by their enemies to th eÌ„tent to deceiue them withal The same time L. Fabius the CenturioÌ„ such as had attained the wal wyth him were enclosed and slain and cast downe from the wall M. Petreius another Centurion of the same Legion as he was about to break open the gates being oppressed of the multitude and despairinge in himselfe and besides that sore wounded in diuers places said to his companions that folowed him Forasmuche as I cannot saue my selfe and you too I wyll at leaste wyse prouyde for the saufgard of you whom I being blinded wyth desier of vaine glorye haue brought in daunger Sirs saue your selues whyle you may Therewythal he thrusteth into the middes of his enemyes and sleaing a couple out of hand driueth the rest somwhat from the gate As hys men went about to helpe him it is but follye for you ê™ he to goe about to saue my lyfe in whom both bloud and strength fayleth and therfore get you heÌ„ce while you may and recouer your selues to the Legion Feighting in this wise within a whyle after he fell downe and wyth hys owne death saued the liues of hys men Oure men beinge ouerlayd on all sides wyth the losse of .xlvi. Centurions were throwen downe from the place Neuerthelesse the tenth Legion whyche stode for a stale in a ground somwhat more indifferent stopped the Galles as they folowed the chace verye whotlye At the receit of them againe stoode the Cohortes of the .xiii. Legion whych T. Sextius the Lieuetenaunt had brought out of the lesser Camp and placed in a higher ground Assone as the Legions came vpon plaine grouÌ„d they turned their faces with displaid banners vpon theyr ennemies And Uercingetorix wythdrewe hys men from the fote of the mountaine into theyr fortifications The same dayâ— we lost littel lesse then seueÌ„ hundred of our souldiers The next day Cesar calling hys army before hym reproued the rashnesse and gredines of his souldiers in that they toke vpon theÌ„ to be theyr owne maisters howe far they should go or what they had to doe and in that they would neyther stay themselues wheÌ„ the retreit was blowen nor suffer theymselues to be kept in order by theyr Marshals and Lieuetenants He declared vnto theÌ„ what the disaduauntage of a place might do and what he had counselled theÌ„ at Auaricum where findinge hys ennemyes wythout a Captayne and without horsemen he had let an assured victory slip out of hys hands and all for doubt least neuer so littel losse might happen in thencounter by meanes of the dysaduauntage of the ground As much as he commended the hault courages of them whoÌ„ not the fortifications of the campes not the heighth of the Mountaine nor the wall of the towne was able to stay so much agayn he disallowed theyr disorder and arrogancye that they thought theÌ„selues able to foresee more as concerninge the victorye and the sequele of things than their Graundcaptein for he thought that modestye and obediens was no lesse requisite in a souldier than manhod or haultnes of courage WheÌ„ he had made this oration vnto them and in the latter end encouraged them that they should not for this occasion bee disquyetted in minde nor attribute that to the manhod of thenemy which had happened through the â—â—saduauÌ„tage of the place being of the same opinion for his setting forth that he was of before he led his legioÌ„s out of the caÌ„p set them in order of battel in a mete place When he sawe he could neuer themore thereby allure Uercingetorix into the indifferent grounde he made a light skirmish with his horsmen but that prosperously and conueyed his armye into theyr Camp agayne Hauinge done as muche the next day deming it sufficieÌ„t to abate the braggyng of the Galles and to harten his souldiers againe he dislodged from thence agaynst the Heduanes and yet wold not hys ennemyes euen then pursewe him The thirde daye he repayred the Bridges vpon the riuer Elauer and passed ouer his army There falling in communication wyth Uiridomarus and Eporedorix Heduans he vnderstode howe Litauicns wyth all his horsemen was gone to styr the Heduanes to rebellion Wherfore it was nedefull that they went before to keepe the Citye in obedience Cesar albeit that by many ways he perfectly now vnderstode the falsehod of the Heduanes and that by the departure of those that were with him he thought the whole City wold make the more hast to rebell yet notwythstandinge he thought it not good to kepe them styl least he should eyther seme to do them wrong or geue them cause to thinke he stoode in feare of them At theyr departure he brieflye rehersed vnto them hys desertes towarde the Heduanes as namely at howe lowe an ebbe he had found them pestered vp in theyr Townes amerced wyth the losse of their landes bereft of all theyr men of warre charged with a tribute constreined to geue hostages with as much shame as could be and to what good fortune and to howe great preferment he had aduaunced theÌ„ insomuch that they had not only recouered their auÌ„cient estate but also as it wel appeared had aspired to suche dignitye and estimation as they neuer knewe of in times past Wyth this lessoÌ„ he gaue them leaue to depart There was a town of the Heduanes called Noyoune that stode vppon the riuer of Loyre in a conuenient place Hyther had Cesar conueyed al the hostages of Gallia grain common threasure and a great part of the furniture as well of hymselfe as of hys army Hither had he sent a greate number of horses bought before in Spaine and Italy purposely for this warre When Eporedorir and Uiridomarus came thither and vnderstode the state of the City how the Heduanes had receyued Litauicus at Benwin Bibracte whych is a towne of chiefe authority among them and that Conuictolitane the Magistrate and a great part of the Senate were come thyther to hym and that ambassadors by publike asseÌ„t were sent to Uercingetorix to conclude peace and freÌ„dship with him they thought that such an oportunitye was not to be let slippe And therfore sleaing the kepers of Nouiodunum
and al such as came thither to bye and sell they parted the horses and threasure among them thei caused the hostages of the Cityes to be conueyed to the Magistrate to Bibracte the town it self bicause thei thought themselues not able to kepe it they set on fier to th enteÌ„t the Romanes shuld haue no good of it asmuch of the grain as could be shipped vpon the sodeine they caried a way the rest they either threw into the Riuer or els burned it they themselues leuied men out of the next Prouinces and set garrisons and wardes alonge the Riuer of Loyre and sent forth horsmen to raunge ouer all the coast to th entent to cause vs to be afraid if peraduenture they might kepe the Romanes from victuals or els bring them to so low an ebbe throughe penurye as that they might be able to driue theym out of the Countrye The whiche hope of theirs was greatly furthered in that the riuer of Loyre was rysen so high wyth snow that there was not any foord to passe at When Cesar knew of theis thinges he thought it mete to make spede to attempt to make Bridges to th entent he might encounter with them before any greater power were thyther assembled For as to alter hys purpose and to turne hys iorney into Prouince he thoght it behoued him not at the time so to do partlye bicause the infamye and dishonor of the dede the mountayne Gebenua whych was betwixt him and the couÌ„try and the crabbednes of the wayes were a let to hym but inespecially for that he was sore afraid for Labienus who was disseuered from him and for the Legions that he had sent foorth vnder hym Wherefore takynge vnmeasurable great iourneyes night and day contrary to thopinion of all meÌ„ he came to the riuer of Loyre finding there a foord by hys horsmen such a one as wold serue the turne in such a tyme of necessitye for they could haue no more but theyr shoulders and armes free aboue the water to wielde their harnesse and weapons wythall placing his horsmeÌ„ on ech side to breake the force of the streame he so abasshed hys ennemies at the firste sight that he passed hys army sauflye and finding plenty of corne and cattel in the fieldes he furnyshed hys armye therewyth and tooke hys iorney toward the Senones While theis thinges were in doyng wyth Cesar Labienus leauinge at Agendicum the supplement of Souldiers that came lately out of Italy to th entent they should be a defence to the caryages went wyth fowre Legions to Lutetia whych is a towne of the Parisians situate in an Iland of the Riuer of Seane Whos 's comminge beinge knoweÌ„ to the enemy a great power resorted thither out of the Cities therabout The gouernment of the whole host was committed to Camulogenus an Aulerk who albeit he were almost wythered for age yet for his singuler knowledge in feats of war he was called to that honor He perceiuing that the Lake which falleth into Seane was neuer drye but kept alwayes at one heighth and that it greatly anoied al that quarter setled himself there intending to kepe our men from passing ouer At the fyrst Labienus weÌ„t about to make Uinets to fil vp the lake with hurdles and turfe to force away to passe saufly ouer but wheÌ„ he perceyued it was to difficult a matter to bring to passe he went secretly out of hys camp in the thyrde watche and came to Melune the same way that he had gone thence It is a town of the People of Sens. Senones staÌ„ding in an Iland of Seane as we sayde a littell before of Lutetia There taking about fiftye Barges and fastening them quickly together and putting his souldiers in theym he so amazed the Townesmen wyth the straungenes of the matter of whom the greater part had bene alredy called out to the warres that he tooke the Towne wythout resistence and repayring the bridge which hys enemies had broken certayne dayes before conueyed ouer hys â—â—my kept on his iorney downe the streame toward Lutetia His enemies hauyng knowledge of the matter by such as fled from Melune commaunded Lutetia to be burned and the brydges of the towne to be cut downe they themselues remouing from the lake that was vpon the bank of the riuer of Seane encamped directly ouer agaynst Lutetia in the face of Labienus Camp By this time they heard that Cesar was dislodged from Gergouia and rumors were brought of the rebelling of the Heduanes and of the prosperous insurrectioÌ„ of Gallia And nowe the Galles in theyr talke assured themselues for a troth that Cesar beinge stopped of his iorney and of passage ouer Loyre was driuen for want of corne to make towarde Prouynce The people of Beawuoys also who of themselues had before times bene disloyall hearynge that the Heduanes had rebelled began to rayse men and prepare for the war openly Then Labienus in so great alteration of things perceyued that it behoued hym to work far otherwyse thaÌ„ he had heretofore done Neyther studied he nowe anye more how to conquer anye thing or howe he might egge his enemies to encounter but how he might conuey again hys army sauf to Agendicum For on th one side the meÌ„ of Beawnoys which City is reputed in Gallia to be of very great force were redy to sit on hys skyrtes and agayne Camulogenus held thotherside with â—ys army redye and well furnyshed Moreouer there was a great Ryuer betwene him and home so that hys army could neyther recouer to theyr garrisoÌ„ nor come by their stuffe and cariages Being beset vppon the sodein with so many distresses he saw there was no helpe to be sought but by valiantnes of courage Hereupon he called a counsel toward the Euening and exhorting theym to put in execution diligently and polletiquely suche thynges as he shoulde commaund them he appoynted the Romane horsemen to take the Barges single that he had brought from Melune and assoone as the first watche were ended to go theyr wayes wyth them a fowre miles down the streame wythout any noyse and there to abide hys comming Fiue Cohortes which he thought lest able to endure the bruÌ„t of battel he left behind him to kepe his Campe. Thother fiue of the same legion he commaunded to go vp the streame about midnight wyth al the stuffe and cariages with a great noyse Also he gate together botes and caused them to be rowed vp the streame wyth muche noyse of beating wyth the ores He hymself a littel while after went forth secretly wyth thre Legions toward the same place where hee commaunded the Barges to ariue WheÌ„ he came thither it fortuned by means of a great storme whych rose sodenlye that the scoult watch of our enemyes as they were placed aloÌ„g the bankes on both sides of the Riuer were surprysed vnwares by our men and both oure fotemen and horsmen by the seruyce of the Romane horsemen whom he had appointed to haue
the dooing of the matter were quickly ferrried ouer Almost at one instant a littel be fore day light tidings was brought to the enemy that contrary to theyr custome the Romanes made an vprore in their camp and that a great company was going vp the streame and a great noise of Ores heard that way and that a littell beneath men of warre were ferrying ouer in Barges When they had heard this forasmuch as they thought that the Legions were passing in three places and that al of theÌ„ troubled wyth the rebellion of the Heduanes prepared themselues to flyght they also deuided their army into thre partes For leauing a conuenient number for defence against oure camp they sent a small bande toward Corbeit Metiosedum which should procede no further thaÌ„ they saw the Botes go and with all the rest of their power they went against Labienus By the breake of day bothe all our men were ferried ouer and the battell of our enemyes appered wythin sight Labienus hauing encouraged his souldiers to be mindfull of their auncient prowesse and of so manye prosperous fieldes that they had fought and to thynke wyth themselues that Cesar vnder whose banner they had many a time and often foiled their enemies was there present he bade blow vp to the battell At the first encounter on the right wing where the seuenth Legion stode oure ennemies were driuen backe and put to flighte on the lefte wyng whyche place the xv Legion held albeit that the fyrst rankes of our enemyes were striken throughe wyth Dartes and fell downe deade yet neuertheles the rest stode earnestly at defence and there was not any man that made countenance to run his way The Capteine Camulogenus himselfe was euer at hande and encouraged them While the victory hung yet in doubtfull ballance The Marshals of the vii Legion hearing what was done in the lefte wynge shewed the Legion at the backe of theyr enemies and aduaunced their banners agaynst theym Yet for all that there was not anye man euen at that time that forsoke his ground but were all enclosed rounde about and slaine euerychone Camulogenus also tooke suche fortune as hys souldiers did Nowe they that were lefte for defence agaynste Labienus camp when they heard that the battell was ioyned went to succor their fellowes and tooke a hill but they were not able to wythstand the force of our souldiers specially being conquerors So intermedling theÌ„selues wyth the rest of theyr company that fled al such forasmuch as there were neyther woodes nor mountaynes to hyde them they were al slaine WheÌ„ Labienus had dispatched this matter he returned to AgeÌ„dicum where the stuffe of the whole army was left and from thence he came with al his power vnto Cesar. UpoÌ„ knowledge that the Heduanes rebelled the war was encreased Ambassades were dispatched into all partes as far as eyther theyr fauor authority or mony was able to stretch they streined themselues to sollicit the Cityes Hauinge gotten into theyr handes the hostages that Cesar had bestowed among them they put the neuters in feare that they would put them to death The Heduanes requested Uercingetorix that he wold come to theÌ„ and consult wyth them for thorder of the warre When they had obteined theyr request they sewed to haue the chief doing coÌ„mitted to themselues and they brought the matter so farre in controuersy that a counsell of all Gallia was called at Beawâ—â—e Bibracte to the which place resorted great numbers of people from al quarters and the matter was putte to voyces by which it was concluded generallye that Uercingetorix shuld be GrauÌ„dcapteine styll From thys counsell were absent the men of Rhemes the Lingones and the Treuires The men of Rhemes and the Lingones were awaye bycause they cleaued to the frendshippe of the Romanes the Treuires by reason they were farre distant and were infested by the Germanes whyche was the cause that they came not of all the tyme of the warre nor sent anye ayde to anye of bothe partyes The Heduanes tooke the matter verye heauilye that they were set beside the souereintye they lamented the chauÌ„ge of theyr estate wyshinge that Cesar would pardon them And yet hauing enterprysed the warre already they durst not wythdraw theÌ„selues to take counsel alone from the rest Eporedorix and Uiridomarus yong gentelmen of greate towardnes coulde ill abide to be at the commaundement of Uercingetorix Howbeit hee commaunded all thother Cities to geue him pledges and wylled them to bringe them in by a day Ouermore he bade that all theyr horsmen to the number of .xv. thousand should wyth all spede possible resort hither to him As for fotemen he sayd he wold content himself wyth those that he had alreadye for he wold neyther try the courtesye of fortune nor put the matter to a pytched field But forasmuch as he had so good store of horsemen it was an easy matter to compasse to prohibit the Romanes from fetchinge corne and forrage so that they could finde in theyr hearts to abide the destroying of theyr owne corne and the burning of theyr owne houses through losse of which their priuate goodes they sawe they shoulde attaine souereinty and liberty for euer When he had set thyngs thus at a stay he commaunded the Heduanes and Secusianes whych were borderers vppon the Prouince to find him ten thousand footemen and for an ouerplus eyght hundred horsmen ouer whom he made captein the brother of Eporedorix commaunding him to make war vppon the people of Allobrogians On thother side he sent the Gabales together wyth the nexte hundreds of Auverne against the Heluians and the Ruthenes Cadurkes to wast the borders of the Uolces in Arminacke Neuerthelesse by secret messages and ambassages he solliciteth the Allobrogians whose mindes he hoped were not yet quietted syns the last war Unto their noble men he promised monye and to the City the superiority of al the whole countrye For a defence agaynst all theis chauÌ„ces were prouided before hand two twentye Cohortes The whych being raysed out of the verye Prouince were by the Lieuetenant L. Cesar in all places set as a Bulwarke against the enemy The Heluians of their owne head encounteryng wyth their borderers were put to the worse and wyth the losse of the Prince of their Citye C. Ualerius Denotaurê° the son of Caburus and manye other that were slayne in the field were driuen to take their walled Townes The Allobrogians placing diuers garrisons vpoÌ„ the Riuer of Rhone defended their borders wyth great care and diligens Cesar bicause he perceyued hys enemies to be better furnished of horsmen than himself and that all the wayes were so forlayd that he could not be relieued wyth any thing out of Prouince or Italye sent ouer the Rhine into Germanye vnto those Cities which thother yeres before he had pacified and demauÌ„ded of them horsmen and fotemen light harnessed which were wont to feight amongest them At theyr comming forasmuche as they had not so
thabiding of thunreasonable sharpe stormes whych chieflye at that time fell encamped hymself wythin Genabum a town of the Caruntes and housed hys souldiers partlye in the buildings of the Galles and partlye in such buildinges as beynge vnfinyshed they thatched in haste wyth the straw that was brought in to couer theyr tentes and Cabanes Neuertheles he sendeth abrode his horsmen and fotemen straungers into al coastes whyther he heard hys ennemies resorted and that was not in vayne For commonly oure men returned euer wyth a greate bootye The Carunts being oppressed with the hardnes of the wynter and the terror of the daunger beinge driuen out of house and home and daringe not stay any where anye long time the woodes being not able to defend them from the cruelnesse of the stormes were scattred abrode and with the losse of a great part of them dispersed into the next Cities Cesar in that hardest time of the yeare thynking it inough to disperse the powers that were assembling to th entent no beginning of war might spring vp forasmuch as he could not perceyue so far as reason was able to reache that anye great warre of the whole countrye coulde bee rered in the beginning of the next sommer he placed C. Trebonius in garrisō at Genabū wyth those two Legions that he had there about him and for asmuche as he was by often messages certified from the men of Rhemes that the Bellouacanes who excelled all the Galles and the Belgies also in the renowne of cheualrye and the Cities adioyning vnto them by the conduct of Corbey of Beawvoys and Comius of Arras leuied men of war and assembled them into one place to th entent with theyr whole power to inuade the marches of Soyssons whych was an appurtenance of the men of Rhemes thynkinge it stoode not only vpon his honor but also vpon hys good successe hereafter to saue hys alies whiche had deserued wel of the common weale from displeasure and domage he called the eleuenth Legion agayn out of garrison Moreouer he wrate to C. Fabius to bring the two Legions that he had into the marches of Soyssons and sent for one of those two Legions that were wyth T. Labienus So according as his garrisons laye for the purpose and as the state of the war required to his owne continual payne he put sometime one sorte of hys Legions and somtime another to make voyages by turnes Wyth thys power that he had assembled he went against the Bellouacanes and pitching hys camp in theyr country sent abroade hys horsemen into all quarters to licke vp some of theym by whose meanes he myght learne what hys enemies purposed to doe His horsemen doynge theyr dutye brought word how few were found in the houses and those not of suche as had abidden behinde to tyll the ground for they were aduisedlye remoued out of al places but of suche as had ben sent backe agian to spie Of whom Cesar enquiring in what place the power of the Bellouacanes were what was theyr intent founde that all the Bellouacanes were gathered together into one place and that the Ambianes Aulerkes Caletanes Uelocassiās and Atrebatians had chosen a very high ground to encamp in enclosed with a troublesome marris and had conueyed all theyr stuffe into woodes that were further of of the whyche war there were many noblemē that were ringleaders but the multitude obeyed Corbey most bicause they vnderstode that he hated most the name of the people of Rome And that Comius of Arras was a fewe dayes before gone to fetch ayd of the Germanes who were their next neighbors and swarmed in multitude of people He learned moreouer at theyr handes that the Bellouacanes by the consent of all the noblemen at the earnest instance of the commons were determined if Cesar came as it was sayd he woulde but wyth thre legions to offer him battel least afterward to more disaduauntage and hinderance they should be compelled to encounter wyth hys whole hoste And yf he brought a greater power wyth him then to kepe themselues styll in the same grounde that they had chosen and to lay ambushes to kepe the Romanes frō forrage whiche by reason of the time of the yeare was scarce and also laye scattering and from corne and other victualles and thinges necessary for theyr host The whych things when Cesar vnderstoode by the agreable reporte of many considering how the deuice of them was full of wysdome and farre from the rashnesse that barbarous people are wont to vse he determyned to take oportunity in al things to th entent his enemies disdayning hys smal company should make the more hast to come into the field For he had three olde practised Legions the vii.viii and .ix. of singuler manhod and prowesse and the .xi. whych was of chosen yonge men of greate hope and towardnes the whych hauinge at that tyme receyued eyghte yeres wages was notwithstanding in comparison of thothers not yet come to the like worshyp of continuance and prowesse Wherefore sommoning an assemblye and there declaring all things that had bene reported vnto him he strengthned the heartes of the common souldiers yf peraduenture wyth the number of three Legions he might tol out hys ennemies to feight wyth him in the field He set his battelles in such order that the vii.viii and .ix. Legions went before al the cariages and that the xi closed in the araye of all the cariages the which notwithstāding was but meane as is wont to be in rodes least the enemies myght thinke they sawe a greater number than they required themselues By thys meanes in a square battell almost he broughte hys hoste in sight of hys enemyes sooner than they loked for him The whych Legions so sodenly set in order whē the Galles behelde marchyng towarde them a measurable pace as it had bene in a pitched field whereas it was reported to Cesar that they had purposed matters before of a stout courage whether it were for the perill of thēcounter or the sodeinnesse of oure comming or that they looked to see what we entended to do they set thē selues in order of battell before their camp and wold not discend from the higher groūd Albeit that Cesar was desyrous to haue fought with them yet bicause he maruelled at the greate number of hys ennemies he pitched hys campe directlye ouer agaynste theirs on thother side of a valley whych was more in depenes downward than in wydenesse any way in the bottome Thys Camp he commaūded to be fortified wyth a Rampier of .xii. foote and an opē gallery to be builded vppon it accordinge to the measure of the same heighth and a double dike to be made of xv foote a peece wyth sides plomme downe and manye turrettes to bee rered of three storyes heyghth and to be ioyned together wyth draw brydges to let downe at pleasure the frontes wherof were fenced wyth grates of wicker ▪ to th entent the enemy might be repulsed with double rowes of defendantes
of the whyche th one from the bridges the more out of daunger they were by reason of the heyghth so much the boldlier and the further of myght they send theyr dartes thother the nearer they were placed to theyr enemy vppon the Rampier so much the better should they be couered aloft frō thartillerye that might fall downe vpon them and ouer the gates he made hyghe towres Thys kind of fortificatiō was to two good purposes for by the greatnesse of his workes and hys pretence of feare he hoped to set the barbarous Galles in a greate pride and whensoeuer he should haue occasion to send out any thynge far for forrage or victuals he sawe that the camp might be defended wyth a smal power the strength of the fortificatiōs was so great In the meane while diuers times a few of bothe sides wold go out and skirmish in the marris that was betwene our two campes the whych oftentimes eyther the Galles Germanes that were of our host wold passe and egrely pursew theyr enemyes or els in like maner our enemyes passyng ouer it did send our men further of It happened in our dayly forraging as there was none other shyft forasmuche as we were fayne to fetche forrage at houses that stoode scattering far a sunder that our forragers being disseuered in vnhandsome places were entrapped The whyche thinge as it was some losse to vs of our beastes of cariage and slaues so it kindled the foolish courages of the barbarous Galles and that so much the more bicause Comius of Arras whome we declared before to haue bene gone to fetche ayde of the Germanes was come wyth horsemen of whom although there was not aboue the number of fiue hundred yet the Galles were puffed vp at the cōming of the Germanes When Cesar perceyued howe hys enemies held themselues manye dayes together wythin theyr camp whyche was fortified bothe wyth a marris and also with aduauntage of the ground and that he coulde neyther assault them wythout manifest peryll nor inclose the place where they were wyth anye fortifications wythout a greater army he directed hys letters to Trebonius that he shoulde wyth all haste possible sende for the xiii Legion whyche wintred in Berrey vnder T. Sextius hys Lieuetenant and so with thre Legions make longe iorneyes to come to him In the meane season he sent out euer by turnes the horsmen of Rhemes and Langres and of other Cityes of whom he had called foorth a great number to saufconduct the forragers and to wythstande the sodein assaultes of the enemy The whyche being done day by day and our men takinge nowe lesse hede bicause it was an ordinary matter with them whiche thing for the most part commeth to passe by dailye custome the Bellouacanes wyth a band of chosē fotemen knowing the places where our horsemen dailye kept theyr standinges layd ambushes in woody places and the next day they sēt thither their horsemen first to toll out oure men into the daunger of theyr bushmentes and than to assayle them as they were enclosed The lot of thys euill lucke lighted vpon the men of Rhemes whose turne it was to supply that roume that daye For they when they had espied the horsmen of theyr enemyes vpon the sodein dyspising them bicause they were not of like number to them folowed them ouer gredelye and were enclosed by the fotemen Wherby being put out of araye they retired more hastelye than horsmen are accustomed to doe in battell wyth the losse of Uertisco the Prince of their Citye and Captayne of theyr horsmen Who being scarce able to sit vpon a horse by reason of hys age would notwythstanding according to the custome of the Galles neyther seeke to disburden hymself of the Capteinship by excuse of hys age nor suffer thencounter to be fought wythout hym Wyth this luckye battell wherein they slew the Prince and Capteyne of the men of Rhemes the courages of our ennemyes were inflamed and quickened and our men were taught by theyr owne harme to serch the places better where they shoulde kepe theyr standinges and to folowe theyr enemye more aduisedly when he fled In the meane while ceased not the daily skirmishes in the sight of both our campes which were made at the foordes and passages of the marris In the whych kind of exercise when as the Germanes whom Cesar had for the same purpose fet ouer the Rhine that they should feyght intermedled wyth hys horsemen in the battell had al stoutly passed the marris and sleaing a fewe in making resistence folowed egrely vppon the rest of the multitude not onlye they that were ouerthrowen at hand or wounded aloof but also they that were wonte to succor a farre of were so strycken wyth feare that they ranne awaye shamefullye and neuer left fliynge from higher ground to higher which they oftentimes lost before they eyther recouered into theyr Campe or as some did for very shame fled further of Wyth the daunger of whom the rest of the host was so sore troubled that it can scarslye he iudged whether good successe were it neuer so smal wold make them more arrogant or a misfortune were it neuer so meane would make theym more fearefull After they had lurked many dais in the same Campe when the Capteynes of the Bellouacanes vnderstode that C. Trebonius one of Cesars Lieuetenants was at hād with mo Legions fearinge the like siege as was at Alexia they sent away in the night all suche as by reason of yeres or otherwise wanted strength and all such as wanted armor amōg them and with them thei sent away also theyr cariages of whom whyle they were setting forth the troubled and confused cōpany for the Galles euen whē they go lightest are wont to haue a great multitude of Cartes folowing them daylight came vpon them and therfore they set theyr mē in battel ray in theyr camp least the Romanes should pursewe them before the companye of their cariages could get any thyng forwarde But Cesar thought it not good to assaile them being ready at defence hauing so hygh a hyl to mount vp vnto thē and yet he thoughte to come so nere them wyth hys host as that our enemies might not departe oute of the place where they were wythout daūger our men being hard at hand redye to fall vppon them Wherefore wheras he perceiued that the troublesome marris parted Camp frō camp the vnhandsome passage whereof might hynder the spedye pursewt of our enemies and that the same ridge of the hyll which went from the further side of the marris almost to the Camp of hys enemyes was parted from theyr sayd Camp wyth a mean valley He made bridges ouer the marris and passing ouer his armye gate quicklye into the plaine of the saide ridge the whych on two sydes was fortified wyth a stepe fallinge There settinge hys men in aray he came to the furthest end of the ridge and ordered hys battelles in suche a place from whence wyth an engine artillery
from the same place where the slaughter was made although he saw it woulde be some trouble to him to passe the riuer yet passed he hys army marched towardes them But the Bellouacanes and thother Cities vpon the sodeine retire of a few and those wounded out of tâ—e chase whych had scaped the mischaunce by benefit of the woodes vnderstaÌ„ding by them theyr owne great misfortune and misery as by the deathe of Corbey the losse of theyr horsmen and the slaughter of theyr stoutest footemen and mistrustinge that the Romanes woulde out of hand come vpon them immediatly called an assembly by the souÌ„d of a Trumpet and cried al with one voice to send ambassadors and hostages to Cesar. When Comius of Arras perceyued that thys deuise shuld take place he fled to those Germanes of whom he had borowed ayd to that war The rest sent ambassadors out of haÌ„d vnto Cesar desiring him to content himself with that punishment of hys enemyes the whych yf he might haue layd vpon them with out battell in theyr chief prosperity they were well assured that of hys gentelnes and courtesy he wold not The Bellouacanes said their power was abated by the losse of their horsmen many thousandes of their chosen footemen were perished scarce escaped anye to bryng tidings of the slaughter and yet considering theyr greate misfortune they had by that battell receyued a great good turne for that Corbey the author of the warre and rayser of the multitude was slaine For as longe as he was aliue the Senate could neuer beare so great sway in the City as the vnskilfull commonalty As thambassadors were speakinge theis thinges Cesar put them in remembraÌ„ce that about the same time the last yere before the Bellouacanes and thother Cities of Gallia rered war and that they aboue al others stode most stifly in their opinion and would not be brought to conformitye by the submission of the rest He told theym he knew and vnderstode it was an easy matter to laye the fault of theyr offence vpoÌ„ them that were dead And he was sure that there was no man of so greate power that agaynst the noblemens wylles the Senate resisting him and all good men wythstanding him coulde wyth a weake handfull of the commonaltye rayse war and go through with it Neuerthelesse he was contented wyth that punishment which they had brought vpon themselues The nyght followynge thambassadors brought answere to their heades and made hostages Then also thambassadors of thother Cities whych lay in the wind to see what successe the Bellouacanes shuld haue came thither a pace deliuering hostages and executinge his commaundement sauing Comius who durste not for feare commit hys life into any mans handes For the yere before Titus Labienus perceiuing howe whyle Cesar was ministring iustice in the hither Gallia Comius stirred vppe the Cities and made conspiracies againste Cesar thought he might wythout any spot of vnfaythfulnes reuenge his traiterous demeanor And thereuppon bycause he thought he wold not at his sending come into the campe â–ª to th eÌ„tent he would not by tempting him make hym more ware he sent C. Uolusenus Quadratus to murther him vnder pretence of communycation with him and for the performance of the matter he appointed him certain chose peticapteines for the purpose When they came to communicatioÌ„ and that Uolusenus as was agreed vpoÌ„ had caught Comius by the right hande one of the peticapteines as yf he had bene moued at some straunge matter gaue Comius a sore blowe on the head with hys sword howbeit he could not kill him out of hand bicause hys friendes stept in and saued hym By and by was drawyng of swordes on bothe sides yet none of both partes minded to feight but to flye awaye our men bicause they beleued that Comius had had hys deathes wouÌ„d the Galles bicause perceiuing there was treason wrought they feared there had bene more behind than they saw Upon the which fact it is reported that Comiê° vowed he wold neuer come in the sight of any Romane When Cesar had subdued the NatioÌ„s that were most warlike perceiuing there was now no City that prepared war to stand against him but that many to eschue the present yoke of the Romane Empier fleted out of theyr townes and fled oute of the fields be determined to send his armye abrode into diuers quarters M. Antonius hys Threasorer wyth the xii Legion he tooke to himselfe C. Fabius hys Lieuetenant wyth xxv Cohorts he sendeth into the furthest parte of all Gallia bicause he heard say that certaine Cityes were there in armes and that he thought his Lieuetenant C. Caninius Rebilus had not a sufficient strengthe of those two Legions that were wyth him already T. Labienus he called from the place where he was vnto him and the xii Legion which wintered vnder him he sent into Togata Gallia to defend the townes that the Romanes had newlye peopled wyth their owne Citizens least any like harme shoulde happen to them by inuasion of the barbarous people as had happened the sommer before to the Their Citye is now called Triest Tergestines who were surprised and spoiled of theyr goodes by theyr sodeine inuasions He himselfe set forward to wast and spoyle the borders of Ambiorix whom flyinge for feare from place to place when he sawe there was no hope to get into hys handes he thought it was most for his honor in such wise to spoile his country of people buildings and cattell that his countrymen might so hate him if fortune reserued anye countrye men for hym that for the calamities he had brought vppon his countrye he might neuer haue accesse thyther agayne After he had sent abrode his hoste into all partes of Ambiorixes countrye and wasted all places wyth slaughter fier and rauishing hauing slain and taken prisoners a greate number of men he sent Labienus wyth two legions amonge the Treuires whose countrye by reason of the nerenessâ— therof vnto Germany being daylye inured to the warres is not much vnlike to the Germanes in rude trade of liuing and sauagenes neither did they obey the commaundementes of Cesar at anye tyme lengar than we had an army in their country to compell them In the meanâ— season Ca. Caninius the Lieuetenant vnderstanding by the messengers and letters of Durace who had continuallye perisisted in the frendship of the people of Rome that a great number of enemies were assembled in the borders of the Pictones forasmuch as a piece of that Citye hadde renounced theyr obedience went to the towne of Lemouicum When he came nere the town and had vnderstode by his prisoners how that Dumnacus captaine of the Andians with manye thousandes of men had enclosed Durace and that Lemouicum was besieged he durst not wyth his weake Legions aduenture vppon his ennemies but pytched his Campe in a strong ground Dumnacus hearyng of the approche of Caninius turned all hys power againste the Romane host determining to assault them in their Camp
parts and made three Camps vpon a very high ground from the whych by littel littel as much as hys host was able he determined to cast a Rāpier round about the town The townes men perceyuinge that and remembringe the miserable case of Alexia feared the like chaunce and that aboue all others Lucterius who had tasted the smarte of that misfortune warned them to lay for corne before hande they determined by generall consent that leauing a part of tharmy there for the defence of the town Lucterius and Drapes wyth the best furnished should go forth to fetch in corne Thys counsel being allowed the next nyght Drapes and Lucterius leauing two thousand armed mē behind theym led the rest out of the towne They after a fewe dayes tariaunce brought in a great masse of grayne out of the country of the Cadurkes who partly were wylling to help them therwith and partly durst not gainsaye theyr takinge of it bycause they were not able to make their part good against them Often times also they wold make rodes in the night and assault the castles of our camp For the whych consideration C. Caninius stayed in making fortifications roūd about the towne for doubt lest he shuld not be able either to defend the whole work whē it was finished or els shuld make him selfe weake by settinge his men towarde in so manye places at ones When they had brought together a great masse of grayne Drapes and Lucterius tooke vp theyr standinges not passing tenne miles from the towne to th entent by littell littell to conuey it in and they parted the charge betwene them Drapes taryed behinde wyth parte of tharmye to kepe the Camp Lucterius draue the beastes wyth theyr cariages toward the towne and settinge stales there for his defēce about ten of the clocke in the nyght purposed by narrowe wayes through the woodes to conuey the corne into the Towne The trampling of whose feete the watch men of our Campe hearyng and the scoultes beinge sent out reportinge what was a doynge Caninius caused his Cohorts to arme them quickly and about the breake of day made assault out of the next castles vppon the forragers Who beynge feared wyth the sodeinnesse of the mischief fled to theyr stales The whyche assone as our men perceiued they flew more fiercely vppon the armed men and suffered none to be taken aliue Luccerius fledde from thence wyth a few but he returned not to his Cāp After thys good successe Caninius vnderstoode by hys prisoners that part of the army was behinde in the Camp wyth Drapes not past a xii miles of The whych thing when he had learned by many to be of truth perceyuinge that one of the Capteynes being alredye put to flyght the remnant of the companye aflighted might easly be oppressed he thought it a token of great good lucke that none escaped from the slaughter into the Campe to carye tidinges of the mishap vnto Drapes And forasmuche as he saw there was no daunger in puttinge the matter in proofe he sent all hys horsemen and the Germane fotemen swyft and nimble fellowes before to the Campe of hys enemies One of hys Legions he distributed in hys campe and thother disburdened of all cariages he tooke wyth hym When he came nere hys enemies hys scoultes that he had sēt before him brought him worde that as the custome of the barbarous nations commonlye is they had abandoned the hygher ground and encāped themselues by the Riuer side that our horsmē and the Germanes had flewen vppon them sodenly ere they were aware and geuen charge vpon them Assone as he knew that he hasted forward wyth hys Legion well armed and well appointed and so geuing sodeinly a token on all sides the higher places were taken At the doing wherof the Germanes and our men of armes seing the standerdes of our Legiō fought very vehemently and by and by all our Cohortes gaue charge vpon them roūd about so that in conclusion al were eyther staine or caught prisoners a great booty taken Drapes himself was also taken in the same conflict Caninius hauing accomplished hys matter most luckely wythout almost any hurt at al to his souldiers returned to besiege the townes men and now hauing destroied his forreine enemye for feare of whō he durst not heretofore deuide hys garrisons nor enuiron the towne wyth fortifications he commaundeth the workes to be gone forwarde wyth round about the town The next day came thither C. Fabius with his power and toke another part of the town to besiege In the meane time Cesar left M. Antonius hys Threasorer wyth xv Cohortes amonge the Bellouanes to th entent the Belgies shoulde not haue any liberty to practise new deuises agayne and he himself went vnto thother Cities and there chargeth them with mo hostages with comfortable words healeth the fearfull hartes of thē al. When he came among the Caruntes in whose coūtrye as Cesar hath declared in hys former treatise the war first of al begon forasmuche as he perceyued thē to be chiefly afrayd for remembrance of theyr cryme to th entent he might the more spedely deliuer the country from feare he required to haue Guturnate the chief worker of that mischief raiser of the rebellion deliuered vnto him to be punished who albeit he betoke not himself euē to hys owne country men yet al men made so diligēt search for him that he was soone found out and brought to the camp Cesar contrarye to hys owne nature was compelled to punnishe him whether he would or no by the importunatenesse of hys souldyers who imputed al the perils and losses that they toke by this war vnto Guturnate insomuch that hys body after it astonied wyth whipping was beheaded There by many letters frō Caninius he was aduertised what was done about Drapes and Lucterius and in what minde the townes men perseuered the smal number of whō although he despised yet he demed their wilfulnesse worthye grieuous punishment leaste they might geue occasion to all Gallia to think that they wanted not strength but constancie to withstand the Romanes or least by their example other cities of Gallia trusting to thopportunity of the places shoulde attempt to set themselues at liberty specially seing he was sure that all the Galles knew howe his commission lasted but one sommer longar the whyche if they could holde out they should nede to feare no daūger hereafter And therfore leauing his Lieuetenant C. Calenus behind with hys footemen to folowe leysurely after him by reasonable iorneyes he himselfe with all hys men of armes went in al hast to Caninius When Cesar cōtrary to al mens expectacion was come to Uxellodunum and saw the towne enuironed with fortifications perceyuing that it was not for him to breake vp his siege for any condicion and lerning moreouer by runneawayes that the townes men had great abundance of victuals he assayed to cut of the water from his enemy Now there was a riuer that