* 1.1V. CHAP.
1. Tumults in Brittany: neglected by Tra∣jan.
2 3. Of King Coellus raigning there: his Character.
4. The Emperour Hadrian quiets Brittany: as his Coyns testify.
5. This he did, not in person, but by his Officers.
1. TOward the latter end of Traians raign,* 1.2 among other Nations which rebelled against the Roman Empire, Brittany is reckoned for one by Spartianus: But the Emperour finding a greater necessity to turn his arms against the Africans and Sarmatians, neglected the Brittains.
2. Now what particular Provinces in Brittany those were which at this time at∣tempted to shake off the Roman Yoke, it does not appeare. Coellus was yet alive, who is by our Historiographers call'd King of the Brittains, not as if he were the only King in the Island, but because he was the most considerable in power and wealth, to whom the rest yeilded both honour, and some kind of subjection, as in Caesars time we read the severall Brittish Princes then raigning in their respective Dominions did to Cassibelin: and afterward in the Saxon Heptarchy, he that was called [Rex Anglo∣rum] King of the English, had a superemi∣nence over the rest.
3. Now as touching King Coellus,* 1.3 he is described by our Histories to be a Prince of so benign and peaceable a nature, and withall so affectionat to the Romans, having had his breeding at Rome it selfe,* 1.4 where, as Polidor Virgil says, he spent his younger years in the disciplin of war and civill literature, and during his raign he shewd all respectfull submission to the Majesty of that Imperiall Citty, restraining his Subjects from all de∣signs and attempts against it: So that it can∣not be conceived that he ioyned in the said Rebellion.
4. Now though Traian by greater con∣cernments was hindred from reducing the tumultuous Brittains to obedience,* 1.5 yet his Successour Adrian in the beginning of his raign neglected them not: For there are yet extant ancient Coyns made by a Decree of the Roman Senat, wherin is imprinted the Brit∣tish Army with the figures of three Roman soldiers on one side, and on the other the Emperour Adrians face, denoting likewise his third Consulship, which fell in the first year of his raign. Such Coyns were framed and dispersed among the Soldiours as a gratuity, to conciliate their affections to the Emperour: And the figures of the three soldiers imported the three Legions then guarding this Island: the Titles of which were the Second call'd Augusta, the fourteenth cal∣led Victrix, and the Twentieth Legion call'd also Victrix and Britannica.
5. Notwithstanding these Coyns are no proof either of the Emperours coming then into Brittany, or of any battell or Victory gained then upon the Brittains: being only a ceremony of Adrians assumption to the Empire, partly to oblige the Roman sol∣diers to him, and likewise to admonish the Brittains, that the New Emperour was mind∣full of their disorders, which if they con∣tinued, he would, as he effectually did three years after, come himselfe to chastise them.