ALL The whole countrey of Fraunce GALLIA IS deuided into thre partes : Of the whiche , one is inhabited by the Belgies . An other by the Aquitanes , and the .iii. by them who in their toung are called Celtes , and in our Galles . All theis dyffer eache from other in Language , Customes , and Lawes . The ryuer of Geronde deuideth the Celtes from the Aquitanes : and the riuers of Seane and Marne do deuide them from the Belgies . Of all theis , the Belgies be moste puissante , as they whiche are furthest distant from the delycatenes and ciuilitie of the Prouince , and vnto whom is little or no resort of marchauntes , to bringe in thynges that might effeminate their mindes . Besides that , they border vpon the Germanes , inhabitinge beyonde the Riuer of Rhyne , with whom they be at continuall warre . The same thyng also is a cause why the Now called Swiszers . Heluetians hauing dayly conflict with the Germanes eyther in their owne defence , or by the way of inuasion , do in prowesse excell the reste of the Galles . That parte which is sayde to be possessed of the Celtes a countri of Fraunce lying betwen Gascognie & the countries of Germany . Celtes , taketh his beginning at the Riuer of Rhone , & is enclosed with the water of Gerownd , with the Ocean Sea , and with the bowndes of the Belgies : bordering also vpon the Rhyne in the countryes of the Sequanes and Heluetians , & it bendeth towardes the North. The Belgia the low countries of Germany , from Treuorse & Mens to Flaunders & those partes . Aquitane the countries of Gascognie & Guien . Belgies begynne at the vttermost bowndes of Gallia , and extende to the neathermost parte of the Rhyne , and they lye North and East . Aquitane stretcheth from the ryuer Gerownde to the mountaines Pyrenes and the Spanishe sea , betweene the north & the west . There was among the Heluetians one Orgetorixa man of the greattest nobilitie and wealth in all the countrie . Hee in the tyme that Two chiefe honors of the state yerely chaunged . Marcus Messala and Marcus Piso were Consuls of Rome , blynded with desyre of souerayntie , conspired with the nobilitie , and perswaded the Citie whereof he was , to remoue out of their countrye with all the power they coulde make : Alledging that it was an easye matter for them to conquere all Gallia , in asmuch as they excelled al the rest in prowesse . It was the easyer for him to brynge them hereunto , bicause the Swiszers . Heluetians dwell in suche a countrie as on all sides is by nature fortyfied . For on the one side they ar enclosed with the riuer of the Rhyne a very broade and deepe water , which deuideth them from the Germanes : on an other side with the highe mountayne Mount saint Claude or mount Iou. Bourgomōs Iura , whiche is betweene theym and the Mount saint Claude or mount Iou. Bourgomōs Sequanes , and on the thirde syde with the lake Leman and the Ryuer Rhone , whiche deuydeth them from our prouynce . By meanes hereof it came to passe , that they cowlde not raunge verye farre abrode , nor with their ease make rodes agaynste their neyghboures : whiche was a greate griefe vnto them , beinge a people desirous of warre . For in respecte of their multitude , and of the renowne of their puissaunce & force in armes , they thought them seluis enclosed in a streight , as whose Countrie passed not . CCxl . miles in length , and an hundred & foure score miles in bredth . Perswaded with theis reasons , and moued with the Authoritie of Orgetorix , they determyned to make prouysion of all thynges meete for their voyage : As namely in byinge of all the cartes and caryage beastes they could come by , in employing al their growndes to tyllage , to the intent to furnyshe theim selues abundantely with corne in their iourneye : and in confirmyng peace and aliaunce with the cities adioynyng . For the performance of theis thinges they thought twoo yeeres to be sufficyent : decreeinge by lawe to sette forwarde the thirde yeere . To brynge theis matters to effect was Orgetorix chosen : And he tooke vppon hym to goe in ambassade to the Cities . Hee in that iourney perswaded Casticus a A Bourgonion . Sequane , the sonne of Catamantalis , ( whose father had reigned many yeres amonge the Sequanes , and was accompted a frend to the Senate and people of Rome ) to take vppon him the soueraintie in his own countrie , the which his father had helde before him . Also be perswaded Dumnorix the Heduan the brother of Diuitiacus ( who at that time bare chief aucthoritie in his countrie , and was in greatest fauoure with the commonaltie , ) to attempt the like , and therevpon gaue hym his dawghter in mariage . He proued that it was an easie matter for theym to brynge their enterprises to passe , for as muche as he shoulde obteyne the gouernement of his owne Citie , and it was not to be dowted but that the Swiszers were able to do more than all Fraunce besyde , wherfore he shulde be able with his power and with his army to warrant them kyngedomes . Perswaded with this Oration , they gaue their faith one to an other , and confirmed it with an othe : Hopynge assuredly that seinge three of the strongest and puissanteste nations of all Fraunce had bent their force together , it could none otherwyse come to passe , but that they must nedes be Lordes of all the whole countrie . When this matter was bewrayed to the reste of the Heluetians , accordynge to their custome they commytted Orgetorix to prison to answere to his complaynt . If he were caste , the lawe condempned hym to be burned with fire . At the daye appointed for the pleadinge of his case , Orgetorix called to the Sessions all his kynred and alyance , to the number of ten thousande men , together with all his reteynours and dettours , of whom he had a great company . By them he so wrought , that he came not to aunswere his enditement . When the Citie beynge stirred herewithall , sowghte to maynteyne th execution of their lawes by the sworde , and that the magistrates were raysinge a power of men out of the countries for the same purpose , Orgetorix dyed : not without suspition ( as the Heluetians thinke ) of killing hym selfe . After his deathe , the Heluetians neuerthelesse proceded with their fore determined purpose of departinge out of their countrie . And when they thought them selues in a sufficiente readinesse for the matter , they sette on fyre all their Cities , to the numbre of twelue , and all their villages , which were about iiii . hundred , together with the reste of their priuate buyldinges . Likewyse they burned all their corne , sauinge that which they ment to cary with them , to th intent that al hope of returning home being taken away , they shuld more willingly aduenture them selues to abyde all perilles . Commaundemente was geuen that euery man should cary with him so much meale as woulde serue hym for three monthes . Moreouer they perswaded the People about Basil. Rawracians , People about Basil. Tulingians and People about Basil. Latobrigians their nexte neyghboures , to followe the same trade in burnyng their townes and villages , and to accompany them in this their voiage , receiuynge also into league and confederacie the People of Toule in Loraine . People of Losanne . People of Burbone , Bauier or Boeme in Almaine . Boyans , who not longe ago had inhabyted on the further syde of the Rhyne , and were nowe lately come ouer into the coast of Noricum , and had there beseeged the Citie Norinberg . Noreia . There were but onely twoo wayes for theym to passe at oute of their countrie , the one by the Burgonions . Sequanes narrowe and vneasy betweene the mountayne Iura and the riuer of Rhone , scarce so broade as that a cart might well be dryuen through it , so ouerhanged with the highe mountaine that a verye fewe had bene able to stoppe them of their passage : Thother throughe our prouince , far more easy and readier , bycause that the riuer of Rhone which runneth betweene the borders of the Heluetians and the Nowe the people of Sauoye & Delphinoyes . Allobrogians ( who were lately come vnder the Romaine Empire ) hath diuerse foordes and shallowe places to passe at . The vttermost towne of thAllobrogians and next to the borders of Heluetia is Geneua , out of the whiche towne is a bridge into Swiszerlande . They thought verely they shuld either entreate the Allobrogians bicause they seemed not as yet to loue the people of Rome from the harte , or else they wolde compell them by force to geue them passage throughe their countries . When all thinges were in a ful readines for their iorney , they appoyneted a daye when their whole numbre shoulde meete all together at the Riuer of Rhone , the which day was about the .xxviii. of Marche , Lucius Piso , and Aulus Gabinius , beinge then Consuls of Rome : When tydinges hereof was brought vnto Cesar , that they wente aboute to passe through our Prouince , he made haste to departe from the Citie , and with all spede possible went into the The countries of Fraunce at the foote of the Alpes . further gallia to Geneua , wher he gaue order for the musteryng and leuying of as manye souldyers as coulde be made through all the Prouince , ( for there was but one legion at that time in the further Gallia ) and commaunded the bridge at Geneua to be hewen downe . Alegion . Assoone as the Heluetians were aduertised of his comming , they sente of the greateste princes of their countrie in ambassade to him , among whom the chiefe were Numeius and Ueredoctius , who had in commission to saye vnto hym that the Heluetians were minded to passe through the prouince without any harme doing , bicause they had none other way to go : desyringe hym to geue theym leaue to passe with his fauour . Cesar remembryng how Lucius Cassius the Consull had heretofore by the Heluetians bene slayne , and his armie vanquished & compelled dishonorably to crepe vnder a yoke , thought it not conuenient to graunt their requeste For it coulde not sinke in his head that men bearinge a rooted enmitie in their harts ageinst the people of Rome , woulde after libertie ones giuen them to passe through the prouince , absteyne from iniurie and euyll doynge : Notwithstandynge to th intente to haue respite to assemble his souldiers that he had appointed to be leuied , he answered the Ambasssadours that he wold take a further time to brethe vpon the matter : and that if they were mynded to commune any further with hym , they shoulde returne to him agein at the vi . day of Aprill next following . In the meane whyle , with that legion that he had about him and with suche souldyers as were assembled out of Prouince , he drewe a diche and made a wall of xvi . foote hie , ninetene myles longe from the lake Leman , whiche falleth into the riuer of Rhone , vnto the moūntaine Iura , which deuideth the borders of the Borgonions from the Swiszers . Assone as this worke was fully fynished , he raysed towres vppon the wall and put men of warre in them , to the intente the better to resiste the Heluetians , if they attempted to passe ageinst hys wyll . When the day appoynted to the Ambassadoures was come , and th ambassadours returned , He made them aunswere that without breaking the custome and exaumple of the people of Rome , he coulde not giue any man leaue to passe thorough the Prouince : which thing if they attempted by force , he told them he woulde withstande theim . The Heluetians disapointed of this their hope , assaied to get ouer the Ryuer , some in barges ioyned together , and som in boates , wherof they had made great store before hande , and othersome at the foordes where the water was shallowest : and this dydde they often times by daye , but oftener by nighte . Howbeit beinge repulsed by the strength of our fortification , and the continuall resort of our souldiers whiche helde theim euer at the swordes point , they left of their enterprise . There was yet one waye left by the Bourgonions Sequanes , the whiche nathelesse they coulde not passe ageinst the Sequanes willes by reason of the streightes . Whom when they coulde not of them selues entreate , they sent messengers to Dumnorix the Hedui people of Burgundie about Autum Heduane that by his intercession they myghte preuaile in their suite . Dūnorix was very wel beloued , and for his liberalitie was able to do muche with the Sequanes , and he bare good wyll to the Heluetians , because he had maryed the daughter of Orgetorix out of that countrie . Moreouer being led with desyre of soueraintie , he sought innouation of thinges , endeuoringe by his benefytes to make manye Cities beholden vnto hym . And therefore he toke the matter vppon hym , and obteined leaue of the Sequanes for the Heluetians to passe throughe their countrie , causynge hostages to be gyuen on bothe sydes , the Sequanes that they shoulde not trouble the Heluetians in theyr passage , and the Heluetians that they should go quietly without offringe iniurie or euyll doinge . Anon worde was broughte vnto Cesar that the Heluetians were minded to passe through the countries of the They are nowe bothe namid Burgonious . Sequanes & They are nowe bothe namid Burgonious . Heduanes into the borders of Santow which is not farre from Tholouse a Citie in Prouince . If that were suffered , he knew well it wolde be greately to the noyaunce of the Prouince , to haue suche warrelike people auncient ennemies of the Romaynes , so neere neyghbours vnto it in Champion and corne countries . For theis considerations , he lefte his lieuetenaunt Titus Labienus behinde hym to the defence of the fortification alreadye made , and he him selfe with all speede returned into Italy , where he leuied two Legions a newe & drewe out of the garrysons aboute Aquileia three other that wyntered there , and with those fiue legyons tooke his neereste waye ouer the Alpes towarde the further Gallia . There the People of Tarantaise in Sauoie . Centrones , the People of Tarantaise in Sauoie . Caroceles , & the People of Tarantaise in Sauoie . Caturiges hauing taken the higher places before , went about to stoppe hym from passinge with his armye . But in many of theise battelles they wente by the worst , and so Cesar in seuen dayes marched from Ocelum whiche is the furthest towne of the hithermost prouynce , vnto the borders of the * Uocontians whiche are in the further Prouynce . From thens he conducted his army among the A people borderinge vpon Tarantaise Delphine & Sauoye . Allobrogians , and from the Allobrogians to the Secusianes , whiche are the firste people oute of Prouince beyonde the ryuer Rhone . By that tyme had the Heluetians with all theyr hoste passed the streyghtes and the countrie of the People of Sauoye and Daulphine . Bourgonions Sequanes , and beynge entred the borders of the People of Sauoye and Daulphine . Bourgonions Heduanes wasted their fieldes . The Heduanes feeling them selues to weake to make defence ageinst theym , sente messengers to Cesar to desyre succour : alledgyngs that their desertes towards the people of Rome had alwaies ben suche , 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 fi●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 Dausph●ne . came flyinge vnto Cesar & tolde him that nothing was left them saue the bare grounde . Caesar moued with theis matters , thoughte it not good to forslowe the time vntyll the Heluetians hauinge spoyled his friendes , were come among the Santones . People of Gascognie & nere Tolouse There is a riuer nowe called Saone , whiche through the boundes 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 Legions , 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 chaunce 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 graundfather of Lucius Piso , Cesars father in lawe . After this discomfiture , to th intent 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 , when 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 them 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 Cantō 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 present being toke not his name and were made famous by the destruction 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 them of any wronge done , it had ben noo harde matter to haue shonned th inconuenience . 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 entent 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 fiue or six miles distaunce betweene the rerewarde of our enemies , & our foreward . In the meane while Cesar called dayely vppon the Heduans , for the grain that they had promised him by their common consent . For by reason of the colde ( for asmuche as Gallia as is saide before is situate vnder the north clime ) not onely the corne was not rype in the fieldes , but also there was not sufficient forrage to be gotten . As for that corne whiche he had broughte with hym by the Ryuer Arar , coulde not handsomely serue his turne , bicause the Heluetians had withdrawen them selues another waye , from whom he was not minded to depart . The Heduans made delaies from day to day , saying it was a gatheringe , it was a bringinge , it woulde be there out of hande . When Cesar perceiued hym self to be dalyed withall to long , and that the daye was at hande that it shoulde be measured and deuided vnto his souldiours , callinge vnto him their chiefe noblemen and Prynces , of whom he had a great company in his Campe , and amonges other , Diuitiacus & Liscus who at that tyme held the principall office , which they call Uergobret , whiche is an offyce that lasteth but from yere to yere , and for the tyme hath absolute power of life and deathe , he sharpely blamed theim that wheras there was not any corne to be bought , nor to be gotten in the fieldes , in suche a time of necessitie , his enemies being so neere at hand , he was not succored nor relieued by them , specially considering that for the most part at their entretance he had taken this war in hand . Wherfore so muche the iuster cause he had to complaine , in that he was disappointed by them . Then at the lengthe Liscus prouoked thereto by Cesars wordes , disclosed that which hitherto he hadde concealed : Howe there were certaine persons of great aucthoritie among the common people , that could do more than the magistrates . Who with their lewd and sedicious talke did put the people in suche feare , that they delyuered no● the corne , as they ought to haue done by promis . Alledgynge that if they could not nowe atteine the souerein●tie of Gallia theim selues , it wer● more reason to preferre therunto th● Galles rather than the Romaines . For out of all doubt , might the Romaines ones get the maystrye of the Heluetians , they would bringe the Heduanes vnder coram as wel as al the rest of the Galles . By these persons our counselles and all that was done in our camp were bewrayed to the ennemy . Whose doinges it laye not in their hande to bridell : for albeit that vtter necessitye compelled hym to declare thus much vnto Cesar , yet was he not ignorante what perill he procured hym selfe in doing therof , whiche was the onely cause whye he hadde concealed the matter as longe as he could . Cesar perceyued by these wordes of Liscus , that Dumnorix the brother of Diuitiacus was noted . But because he woulde not haue those matters debated in the presence of many , he soone dismissed the counsell , kepyng Liscus stil with him . When he had him alone , he required those thinges of hym that hee had towched in the counsell : and he vttred theim more at large and more boldely . Cesar made pryuie enquirie for the same thinges at other mennes handes , and founde them to be true in dede : as that Dumnorix him selfe was a man of singular audacitie , and in great fauoure with the commonaltie for his liberalitie , desyrous of alteration , & that he had taken to ferm for many yeres to come at a small pryce as well the customes for all thynges that were conueyed in and out of the Realme , as all other taxes & impositions of the Heduanes , bycause that when he had ones beaten the pryce no man durst set in his fote ageinst him . By meanes wherof he had not onely his owne pryuate substance , but also gotten abundantely wherewith to shewe him selfe lyberall abrode , in so much that he founde a great number of horsemenne alwaies at his owne charges and kept theim about hym , and that he was able to deale lyberally not onely with his owne countrie , but also among the Cities that were his neighbours . By meanes of whiche aucthoritie he had bestowed his mother in maryage to a man of the greatest linage and power in all Berrey , taken a wife from amonge the Heluetians , and had maried his suster by the mother syde and diuerse other of his kynneswomen into other Cities , the whiche affinitie was an occasion that hee fauoured and wysshed wel to the Heluetians , and bare ill wyll to the Romayns , whom naturally he hated in his harte , bycause that by their coming his power was abated , and his brother Diuitiacus restored to as muche fauour and estimation as euer he hadde before . For might the Romains haue il successe , he was in good hope throughe helpe of the Heluetians to be made kinge : where as if the Romaynes obteyned the superioritie , hee was oute of all hope , not onely of being kinge , but also of that estimation the he then had .