The historie of Great Britannie declaring the successe of times and affaires in that iland, from the Romans first entrance, vntill the raigne of Egbert, the West-Saxon prince; who reduced the severall principalities of the Saxons and English, into a monarchie, and changed the name of Britannie into England.

CHAP. XV.

Constantine the Great is declared Emperour at Yorke. He subdueth Maxentius and Licinius, the one vsur∣ping the West Empire, and the other the East. He establi∣sheth a new forme of governement in Britannie, appoin∣ting Pacatianus to rule the Province there, as Deputie to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia. He translateth the seate of the Empire from Rome to Bizantium. His three sonnes, Constantinus, Constans, and Constan∣tius, raigne successively after his death. Gratianus Fu∣narius hath the charge of the Armie in Britannie, when Constans the Emperor is staine by Magnentius. Mar∣tinus Deputie in Britannie vnder Constantius. Pau∣lus Catena a Commissioner, to enquire of Magnenti∣us confederates.

THen Constantine residing at Yorke, although he see∣med at the first vnwilling to accept the Imperiall Title, and protested openly against it: yet when the Senate had confirmed the election, he tooke vpon him the government of those Provinces, which his fa∣ther had held in the West parts, and with an Armie of Britans and other Nations, he first setled France and Germany, being then in Armes against him, and after∣wards subdued Maxentius, Maximians sonne that vsur∣ped the Empire in Italy. Then, with like successe, he made war vpon Licinius his Associate, who persecuted the professors of Christianitie in the East parts of the world. By which meanes, Constantine alone enjoyed the Empire, and for his many and glorious conquests, was worthily surnamed the Great. In his time the forme of government in Britannie, both for Civill and

Martiall causes, was altered, and new lawes established. The civill governement of the Province there, he com∣mitted to Pacatianus, who ordered the same as Deputy to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia, (an Officer institu∣ted by him) with a limitation of place and restriction of that power, which the antient Praefectus Praetorio had vnder the first Emperors.

Then Constantine intending to make war in Persia, ei∣ther to defend, or enlarge the limits of the East Empire, removed the Imperiall seate from Rome, to the Citie Bizantium, (which he reedified, and caused the same to be called of his owne name Constantinopolis:) drawing thither the Legions in Germany, that garded the fron∣tires of the Westerne Empire, which was thereby laid open to the incursions of those barbarous people, that afterwards assailed it, and in the end, possessed the grea∣test part thereof. The borders also of the Province in Britannie were weakened, by removing the Garrisons there into other Cities and Townes, which being pe∣stered with Souldiers, (for the most part vnruly guests) were abandoned by the antient inhabitants.

After the death of Constantine the Great, Constantinus his eldest sonne, enjoyed Britannie as a portion of his dominion, till making some attempts vpon his brother Constans, for the enlarging of it, he was by him slaine. Then was the Empire divided betweene Constans and Constantius, the two younger brethren. Constans seised vpon the Provinces which Constantinus his brother had held, and made a voyage into Britannie, where Gra∣tianus an Hungarian by birth, had then charge of the Armie. This Gratianus was surnamed Funarius, for that, being a young man, he was able (as it is written of him) to holde a rope in his hand against the force of five Souldiers, assaying to pull it from him. But Constans af∣terwads

following ill counsell, (the ready way to Princes ruines) and giving himselfe over to all kinds of vice, was slaine by Magnentius Taporus, (the sonne of a Britan) who then invaded the Empire, vsurping the go∣vernement of Gallia and Britannie, till (after three years warre with Constantius, the successour of Constans his brother) finding himselfe vnable any longer to vphold his greatnesse, he murdered himselfe.

Then was Martinus (an aged man) made Deputy of Britannie, when Paulus a Spaniard, surnamed Catêna, (a name well sorting with nature) was sent thither as a commissioner, to inquire of such as had conspired with Magnentius; But vnder colour of his authoritie, he cal∣led in question such as were not faulty, either vpon false information, or private displeasure, & sometimes, to make a gaine of those that were accused: which course Martinus the Deputy disliking, intreated him, That such as had been no actors in rebellion, might be no partners in punishment with offenders. Whereu∣pon Paulus, charging the Deputy himselfe as a favou∣rer of Traytors, and privie to the conspiracie, did so far forth incense Martinus, that (being either impatient of reproches, or perhaps not altogether giltlesse) he strook at Paulus with his sword, intending to have killed him, but failing in the execution, hee presently thrust the sword into his owne bodie. Gratianus Funarius, though he were not specially bound by oth to the Emperor, as some others had beene: yet, for that he had received Magnentius into his house, was adjudged to forfeit all his goods: the rest of the accused persons being fet∣tered, and presented to the Emperour, were condem∣ned, some to death, and some to exile.