* 1.1II. CHAP.
1. Constantius overcoms two German Prin∣ces.
2 Treats with Maxentius, and is refused.
3. Marries Maximians daughter, Fausta, and receives the Title of Em∣perour.
4 &c. Maximians treachery, and punishment.
1. THough Constantin at first refus'd the Title of Emperour, yet he kepd a re∣solution to aspire to it either by agreement or force: For which purpose he pass'd over with a great army into France: Where his first exploit was to represse two barbarous Princes,* 1.2 who fill'd the Countrey with fa∣ctions, inciting the Gaules to rebellion. Their names were Ascaricus and Gaisus, or Regaisus, call'd his Comes: Whom having overcome in battell, for a terrour to others, he expos'd them to be devoured by wild beasts. This Victory of Constantin is celebra∣ted by Eusebius in generall terms,* 1.3 but with a notable errour in Chronology, being placed by him before his voyage into Brittany.
2. A firm peace being hereby restored to Gaule, Constantin began to treat a league with Maxentius, who the year before hauing been inform'd of the death of Constantius, had possess'd himselfe of Rome, and usurped the Title of Emperour, being assisted by the Pretorian soldiers, and hoping that Maxi∣mianus Herculius whose daughter he had maried,* 1.4 would favour him in his ambition. With which successe being puff'd up▪ he re∣jected the motion of concord offred by Constantin, whom he would not admitt into fellowship in the Empire.
3. But Maximianus Herculius having heard the late glorious victory obtain'd by Con∣stantin over the fore-mention'd barbarous Princes, voluntarily bestow'd on him his daughter Fausta, and with her the Imperiall Purple. This is testified by a nameles Pane∣gyrist of those times,* 1.5 who expressly affirms that at this mariage the name of Emperour was given him, and added to that of Caesar.
4. But presently after this mariage was ce∣lebrated, Maximianus began to discover his treacherous mind and intention, again to possesse himself of the Empire, which he had voluntarily resigned, and bound himself by a Solemne oath in the Capitol never to re∣sume it. This intention he had made known to his daughter Fausta before the mariage:* 1.6 and for the execution of it he sent letters to solicite the armies, and with promises of great rewards attempted the fidelity of the soldiers. All these designs Fausta (bearing a greater affection to her husband, then her Father) discovered to Constantin, informing him that the Mariage was intended only to make him secure, and that her Fathers pur∣pose was to deprive him of the Empire and perhaps his life too.
5. Hereupon Constantin found it neces∣sary to prevent such treacherous designs of his Father in Law: who presently after pu∣blickly resumed the Name and Authority of Emperour at Arles: from whence retiring himself to Marseilles, he was there beseiged by Constantin, and afterwards made prisoner. Whereupon he executed on himself the just vengeance of his perjury and treason by the most ignominious kind of death, strangling himself with a halter. Such a deserved end had this Tyrant, who defiled the Western Em∣pire with the blood of so many Christians: Thus did Constantin a Brittish Emperour ex∣piate the death of those glorious Martyrs S. Albanus and his companions who suffred in Brittany.* 1.7 In which action Eumenius the Oratour, though a Heathen, elegantly frees him from all suspicion of cruelty.
6. Constantin having composed affaires in Gaule, prosecuted after ward his Victories into Germany, into which he pass'd his army upon a bridge which he built over the Rhene about Triers. There he subdued severall Nations, especially the Bructeri which re∣belled. The Belgick Historians write that in Constantins army were many noble Brittains, among which they name three Vncles of his Mother Helena, Iohelin, Traër, and Marius: Which gave occasion to the Panegyrist Eu∣menius to expatiate upon the praises of Brit∣tany,* 1.8 which he concludes thus, O fortunate Brittany, now happy beyond all other countreyes, inasmuch as thou wast the first which didst