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* 1.1XX. CHAP.
1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Em∣perours Navy: his rapines: and rebel∣lion: he takes possession of Brittany.
4.5. Maximianus his preparations against him: without effect.
6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany; subdues the Caledonian Brit∣tains, A monument of his Victory.
1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Empe∣rours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge, by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brit∣tany.* 1.2 This was Carausius, who, saith Victor, drew his Originall from Menapia, a Belgick Pro∣vince in Gaule, confining on the Rhine. He is describ'd by the Roman Historians to have been a man vigilant and active both in counsell and execution: and was employ'd by the Emperour at Boloign in Gaule to have care of the Navy appointed to free the Seas on the coasts of Gaule and Brittany from the infestation of the Franks and Saxons,* 1.3 who most violently exercised Piracy in those quarters.
2. This Employment Carausius dischar∣ged more to the destruction then advance∣mēt of the Roman Commonwealth. For though he often vanquish'd and took prisoners many of those barbarous Pirates, yet all the spoyle he kep'd to himself, neither resto∣ring it to its former owners, nor consign∣ing it the Emperours treasure.
3. Such behaviour rendred Carausius sus∣pected of some ill design against the Empire, as if he had on purpose permitted the said Pirates to range freely, to the end he might either partake, or intercept them returning with their spoyles: with which he had rais'd to himself an immense wealth. Hereupon the Emperour Maximianus gave command that he should be put to death Which to avoyd, he assum'd the Emperiall purple, and possess'd himself of Brittany. A great en∣couragement and help to which design was afforded by a sedition and rebellion at the same time rais'd in Gaule by Amandus and Aelianus two Roman Generalls; Who notwith∣standing were quickly subdued by Maxi∣mianus: but after their defeat he was called by Diocletian into Italy, because another rebellion was then ••egan in Africk.
4. But Maximianus was presently after recalled into the West to oppose Carausius. For which purpose he made great prepara∣tion, especially of Shipping, to pursue the Tyrant into Brittany. Which gave occasion to the foremention'd Orat••ur Mamertinu•• to procounce before him his Panegyrick, wherein whith many flowers of Rhetorick he magnifies both the greatnes of the pre∣paration, and the wonderfull favour of their heathenish Gods in affording the Em∣perour so miraculous a calmnes and warmth of weather unusuall in so Northern a cli∣mat.
5. And though the Oratours flattery pro∣mis'd a happy successe to that expedition: yet it seems it fell out otherwise. For Eutro∣pius expressly declares that severall attempts by war had been in vain undertaken against Carausius, a man very skillfull in military affaires: so that in the end they were forced to make a peace, leaving him the posses∣sion of Brittany. A proof wherof is afforded us by Camden, who produces a Coyn, in the one side wherof was this Inscription, C. Carausius Emperour: and on the other, The peace of Augustus.
6. It seems Carausius being left in quiet possession of the Island employ'd well the power allow'd him, for he drove the Northern Caledonian Brittains beyond the wall rais'd by the Emperours Hadrianus and Severus: and rais'd a new rampire to en∣close them, more Northward then any had been before.* 1.4 For thus writes Nennius the Disciple of Elvodugus, Carausius, saith he, built a wall between the mouthes of the two rivers Cladus and Carunus, and fortified it with seaven Castles, adding withall a round house built of polish'd stones upon the bank of the River Carun: he likewise ere∣cted an Arch triumphall, on which he im∣pos'd his own Name, in memory of his Victo∣ry. This building remaines to this day, vulgarly call'd Iulius Hof, as if Iulius Agri∣cola had been the Authour of it.