While those things are carried on at
Alesia , the
Gauls, having convened a council of their chief nobility, determine that all who could bear arms should not be called out, which was the opinion of
Vercingetorix, but that a fixed number should be levied from each state; lest, when so great a multitude assembled together, they could neither govern nor distinguish their men, nor have the means of supplying them with corn. They demand thirty-five thousand men from the
Aedui and their dependents, the
Segusiani,
Ambivareti, and
Aulerci Brannovices; an equal number from the
Arverni in conjunction with the
Eleuteti Cadurci,
Gabali, and
Velauni, who were accustomed to be under the command of the
Arverni; twelve thousand each from the
Senones ,
Sequani,
Bituriges,
Sentones,
Ruteni, and
Carnutes; ten thousand from the
Bellovaci; the same number from the
Lemovici; eight thousand each from the
Pictones, and
Turoni , and
Parisii , and
Helvii; five thousand each from the
Suessiones,
Ambiani,
Mediomatrici,
Petrocorii,
Nervii,
Morini, and
Nitiobriges; the same number from the
Aulerci Cenomani; four thousand from the
Atrebates; three thousand each from the
Bellocassi,
Lexovii, and
Aulerci Eburovices; thirty thousand from the
Rauraci, and
Boii; six thousand from all the states together, which border on the
Atlantic, and which in their dialect are called
Armoricae (in which number are comprehended the
Curisolites,
Rhedones,
Ambibari,
Caltes,
Osismii,
Lemovices ,
Veneti, and
Unelli). Of these the
Bellovaci did not contribute their number, as they said that they would wage war against the
Romans on their own account, and at their own discretion, and would not obey the order of any one: however, at the request of
Commius, they sent two thousand, in consideration of a tie of hospitality which subsisted between him and them.