exact Skill in one of the commonest Works of Nature. This he himself relates in his second Passage into Britain; when his Army was so dismay'd at the ebbing of the Sea from their Fleet, believing it to be a Stratagem of their Enemies, that scarce the Courage and Conduct of Cæsar, could hinder them from being terrify'd to their own Overthrow, which had been a fatal Misfortune to the Britains, as well as Romans; because from his victorious Arms, we first received the dawn of Civil Arts. The next instance of this kind, is the Mischance which befel the Christian Army in Egypt, in the time of the Holy Wars: Their Strength was great and irresistible, if they had only understood, that which every Egyptian could have taught them, the Course, and the Time of the overflowing of the Nile. For the want of that slender Knowledge, the bravest Men of all Christendom were led up to the Neck in the River, and were forc'd to yield to their Enemies Conditions without striking a Stroke. This was occasion'd by the Stupidity of the Cardinal who commanded them; if he had been less skilful in the Schoolmen, and more in Nature, that dreadful Disaster had never happen'd. My third Example of this kind is to be found in the Roman History: The Roman Army was just ready to join Battle with one of their Enemies; the Sign was given for their Onset; their Force was equal; a terrible Combat had like to have ensu'd; when on a sudden the Sun was Eclips'd; of this the Romans were warn'd the Day before. But this surpriz'd the other with so great Affright, that they were immediately vanquish'd. So that not the bravest Men, nor the greatest Army, nor the best Provisions of War got the Victory; but that Party which had the best natural Philosopher on its side.
