CAP. XI.
Howe that Maximus the tyrant through wiles sle••e the Emperour Gratian. And howe that Iustina the Empresse the mother of Ʋalentinianus the yonger left persecutinge of Ambrose Bishop of Myllain•• because she feared Maximus the tyrant.
WHen the councell was helde at Constantinople we haue learned such a broyle as follo∣weth to haue bene in the Weste partes of the worlde. Maximus a Brittaine tooke ar∣mour* 1.1 against the Empire of Rome and conspired the death of Gratian who nowe was weakened together with his power by reason of the battail he waged with the Germanes. Pro∣bus sometimes a Consul was chiefe gouernour of Italy during the nonage of Valentinianus who wt great prudence ruled the common weale. Iustina Valentinianus the Emperours mother being in∣fected with the silch of Arianisme while her husbande liued coulde no kinde of way molest such as embraced the faith of one substāce: yet after his deseasse remouing to Mediolanum and her sonne being of tender yeares she raised such tumults against Ambrose the Bishop that in the end he was exiled. But when the people for the singuler loue and affection they bare vnto Ambrose with stoode her act and hindred their force that went about to conueye him to exile: tydings came y• Gratianus through the wiles & sleight of Maximus the tyrāt was put to death. Andragathius the captaine of Maximus hidinge himselfe in a chariot resemblinge the forme of a licter borne of mules gaue his souldiers charge to signifie vnto the Emperours gard y• the Empresse rode therein & wēt to meet y• Emperour who passed ouer Rhodanus a flood y• runneth by Lions a citie of Fraunce. The Em∣perour thinkinge verily that his wife was there in deede aboyded not the conspiracie but fell vn∣awares into the enemies hand as a blind mā falleth into y• ditch. For Andragathius lighted downe out of y• chariot & slewe Gratianus presently. He died in the Consulship of Merogandus & Saturni∣nus* 1.2 after he had raigned fifteen yeares & liued foure & twenty. The which newes cooled y• heat of y• Emperours mother kindled agayust Ambrose. Wherefore Valentinianus y• time constrayu••ng him thereunto receaued Maximus with unwilling mind to be his fellowe Emperour. Probus y• gouer∣nour of Italy fearing y• power of Maximus determined with himselfe to remoue into y• East. with all speed he left Italy and hasteninge towardes Illyrium, made his abode at Thessalonica a citie of Macedonia.