The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1I. CHAP.

1.2. Constantin succeeds his Father.

3. &c. At first refuses the Title of Emperour.

1. CONSTANTIVS dying left behind him severall children of both sexes: for besides his eldest son Constantin born to him by Helena, he had by Theodora daughter in Law to the Emperour Maximianus Hercu∣lius three Sons, Constantius (the Father of Gallus and Iulian) Dalmatius and Annibalius; to whom some adde a second Constantin; and two daughters, Constantia maried to Licinius, and Eutropia.

2. Notwithstanding Constantius at his death, passing by all these his sons, though born to him by a Wife of the Imperiall family and then present with him, he left the Em∣pire to his eldest son Constantin only. Which is an undoubted argument that he acknow∣ledged him for his legitimate Son.* 1.2 Whence it is that Eusebius writes, that Constantius at his death did by the common Law of Nature leave the inheritance of the Empire to that Son who in age went before the rest: and that this disposall was ratified by the suffrages and accla∣mations of the Army.

3. Notwithstanding Constantin not so much out of moderation, as prudent caution contented himself with the Title of Caesar, refusing that of Augustus or Emperour: in so much saith the Panegyrist,* 1.3 as when the soldiers with great affection and ardour would have cast on him the Imperiall Purple, he sett spurs to his horse and fled from them.

4. There may be supposed more then one Motive to induce Constantin to this modest refusall. For Diocletian and Maximianus, though they had relinqush'd the admini∣stration of the Empire, were yet alive, and by their counsells and authority had a great influence on the state, by whom Galerius Maximinus and Severus were chosen Caesars and Successours, who had the posses∣sion of the Eastern Empire and Italy. Ther∣fore Constantin being young and at so great a distance from the Imperiall Citty, had reason to think it dangerous without their consent to assume the Supreme Au∣thority. Wherfore his first attempt was to gain the affection and consent of Maximia∣nus Herculeus, from whom his Father Con∣stantius had received the Purple robe, and who having then a daughter mariageable, called Fausta, Constantin demanded her for his wife, presuming the Empire should be her dowry.

5. That such was the mind and intention of Constantin,* 1.4 a Panegyrist of that time hath well express'd, Such was thy prudent modera∣tion (saith he) O Constantin, that whereas thy Father had bequeathed the Empire to thee, thou thoughtst fitt to content thy self with the Title

of Caesar,* 1.5 expecting till the same Maximianus who had before declared thy Father Emperour, should doe the same to thee: for thou esteemedst it more glorious by thy vertues to deserve the Empire as a reward, then to enioy it as an inheri∣tance by succession. Neither was it to be doubted but that he would conferr on thee supreme Power, who had destind thee for his Son in Law, before thou couldst request it.

6. Hence appears the mistake of those Writers who affirm that Constantin was crea∣ted Emperour in Brittany immediatly after the death of his Father. For it certainly ap∣peares that he took not that Title till the year after, when he pass'd out of Brittany ••nto Gaule. In the mean time he finish'd his Fathers Victories in Brittany aganist the Picts and Caledonians who rebelled, and were re∣pulsed by him beyond the Wall. In which expedition he was assisted by a barbarous King of the Alamanni, called Erocus: by whose counsell likewise and endeavours he assum'd the Title of Emperour the year fol∣lowing, as Aurelius Victor testifies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  Euseb. in vit. Const. l. •• cap. 16.
• * 1.3

  Eumen. Pa∣neg.
• * 1.4

  Panegyr.
• * 1.5

  A. D. 307.