The life of Merlin, sirnamed Ambrosius his prophesies and predictions interpreted, and their truth made good by our English Annalls : being a chronographicall history of all the kings, and memorable passages of this kingdome, from Brute to the reigne of our royall soveraigne King Charles ...

CHAP. 5.

Maximian made King of Britaine, and after Emperour: How Armorica came to be cal∣led Little Britaine, and this, Britaine the Great: Of Ursula, and the eleven thousand Virgins: Gratian the last Roman that was King of the Land: The great distresses of the Kingdome: the cessation of their Tribute paid to Rome: Constantine brother to Aldroenus made King of the Realm, his death, and issue.

MAximian the sonne of Leonine, and Cousin German to Constantine the great, was made King of Britaine in the yeare of Grace three hundred fourescore and two, who proved a valiant and victorious Prince, but somewhat proud, and withall a persecutor of the Christians. And first there was great strife betwixt him and Conan, with sundry Conflicts, in which they sped di∣versly, but at length they were reconciled and

made friends, so that he raigned for a time in great peace: in which interim, he gathered to∣gether much treasure and riches: At last he was accited to move warre against the Galls, and landed with a great Hoast in Armorica, now called Little Britaine, which after hee had subdued by the sword, hee gave it to Conon Meriadock to hold of him, and of the Kings of great Britaine for ever, commanding from that time, Armorica to be called Little Britain, and this Land Britaine the great: For which victory and others, his Knights proclaimed him Emperour, which increased both his pride and tyranny, so that he invaded the Lands of the Empire, and conquered a great part both of France and Germany, which was contrary to his Oath before sworne to the two Emperors, Gratian and Valentinian, to whom when ty∣dings was brought of this his invasion, Gratian prepared to resist him, but fearing his pow∣er and potency, fled to Lyons, where hee was slaine, and Valentinian compelled to forsake Rome and flie to Constantinople: Then Maxi∣mian made his sonne Victor fellow with him in the Empire.

During whose warres in Italy, Conon Meria∣dock not willing that hee or his people should marry with any of the French Nation, sent Messengers to Dionotus Duke of Cornwall, and governour of the Kingdome under Maximian, to send him his daughter Vrsula, with a certaine number of Virgins to bee coupled to him and

his Knights in marriage, who according to his request sent his daughter, with eleven thou∣sand maids towards Britaine to that purpose, who by the way were taken at Sea, and pi•…•…eous∣ly murdered: who so will know the manner thereof, I referre them to the Legend of Saints. Maximian thus tyrannizing in Italy, to great Commanders called Guanus and Melga were sent into Britaine to chastise all such as favou∣red the party of Maximian, who did here much outrage upon the Natives, afflicting them with great strage and massacre. Against whom, the Emperour sent a great Captaine called Gracianus or Gracian, with two Legions, who so knightly behaved himselfe, that hee chaced them in short space into Ireland, holding the land in peace for Maximian. In this interim, Ma∣ximinian continuing wars against the Empire to be absolute Caesar, Theodosius sirnamed the elder, then Emperour of the east part of the world, hearing the death of the first Gracian, and the chacing of Valentinian, he with a mighty hoast sped himselfe to meete with Maximian, and gave him battaile at Aquilea a great City in Italy, in which Maximians forces were utterly discomfited, and himselfe tooke prisoner, whose head Theodosius commanded to be cut off: of whose death Gracian his deputy in Bri∣tain, having knowledge, he seized the Land to his owne use, after that Maximian had go∣verned the same by the terme of eight yeares.

Gracian, who of some writers is called

Municeps (which word may bee diversly ta∣ken, either for an hired or waged Knight, or for a keeper of Presents and Gifts, or bea∣ring chiefe rule in a City or Province) be∣ganne his dominion over the Britaines in the yeare of grace three hundred fourescore and ten. Hee exercised great exaction and tyranny on his subjects, for which hee was very much hated and despised amongst them, so that they sundry wayes laboured his supplantation, and hourely insidiated his life: but after many dangers escaped, they with a common assent invaded his Palace, and slew him, when he had reigned, or rather usurped, for the space of foure yeares.

Of whose death Guanus and Melga having knowledge they returned out of Ireland, and with fire and sword made great havocke in the Land: of which the Romans understanding, because the Realme was then under their Tri∣bute and tuition, they sent one Constantine to have the rule of the Land, and the Regions a∣bout: but being found to bee an enemy to the Empire for divers outrages done by him during his Regency in France, therefore by the com∣mandement of Honorius (then Caesar) they sent against him a valiant Captaine named Con∣stantius, who slew him, neare to a Towne cal∣led Arelat: after which the Britaines were much distressed by the Picts, the Scots, and o∣ther strange Nations, by reason whereof they were againe constrained to send to Rome for

aide, with a covenant that they would all con∣tinue subjects and servants to the Senate. Upon which request and promise, the Emperour Ho∣norius himselfe came hither in person, and cha∣ced hence all their forraigne enemies, and lea∣ving the Land in peace, returned to his greater affaires in Italy.

Who was no sooner departed, but the same enemies againe invaded them, to whom Hono∣rius sent a second deliverance, exhorting them withall to be manly and couragious: But in re∣gard of the remotenesse of the place, and the great troubles the Empire was then in, to trust to their owne valour and fortune, but to ex∣pect no more supplyes either from Caesar or Se∣nate; the Roman supplyes being then took out of the Land to maintaine the Imperiall warres, the Natives were worse distressed than be∣fore, for the Picts and Scots came out of their Dens and Caves where they had concealed themselves, and invaded them by multitudes: insomuch that by the enemies spoyles and rob∣beries, they were brought to that extremity of poverty and misery, that they were inforced to pilfer and steale one from another; in which, sundry murthers were also committed, so that the ground lay unsowed, or manured, upon which great Dearth and hunger immediatly insued.

Which to prevent, and withall to rid them from these great extremities, the best amongst them petitioned unto Aetius, (who was Ma∣ster

of the Chivalry of Honorius the Empe∣rour, and at that time governed France) to commiserate their estate, which to him they most passionatly expressed, but all was to no purpose, for hee slightly put them off with a peremptory denyall to lend them any succour at all: still their calamities augmented and the famine increased: so that lastly the noblest and discreetest amongst them, especially the Arch-bishop of London, whose name was Guethelinus, whom our English Chronicles call Gosseline, con∣cluded to send an Embassy to the King of little Britaine, whose name was Aldroenus: which this Arch-bishop beeing learned and well spo∣ken in person undertooke, who delivered their calamities and distresses with such passionate ef∣ficacy that it wrought great commiseration and compassion in the King, who after advice ta∣ken of his Lords, granted them a supply of suf∣ficient forces to recover their Franchises, and li∣berties, upon condition, that if God, who is the Lord of Hoasis gave them victory, they should Crown his brother Constantine King of Great Britaine, acknowledging him their Liege and Soveraigne, which conditions they gladly accepted, and swore to performe with all truth and fidelity.

Now it appeareth from the time of Gratian the last Roman that was King of the L•…•…nd, the Nation of the Britaines during their multiplici∣ty of miseries, were without a Monarch or sole Soveraigne for the space of thirty nine yeares,

till the comming in of the forenamed Constan∣tine brother to Aldroenus, King of Litle Bri∣tain.

It is further to bee observed, that here ended the Tribute and Dominion of the Romans: neither had any of that Nation any rule over the Land after that time, which Tribute lasted and was paid to Rome, from the ninth yeare of King Cassibelan, to the dayes of the Emperour Severus, amounting to two hundred and fifty five yeeres. And from the Reigne of Severus to the first yeere of Gratian one huadred fourscore and three, and from the first of Gratian to the last yeare of their great misery (before expressed) forty three yeeres; so that from the time that Iulius Caesar made this Isle of Britaine first tri∣butary to the Roman Empire, to the comming in of Constantine, amounteth to foure hundred and one and thirty yeares: after this small di∣gression, and yet worthy observation, I returne to the passages and proceeding in this Land of Britaine, and how it was governed.

The Archbishop with the Lords of this Realme, having sealed to the Covenants before named, they returned with a sufficient army under the conduct and command of Duke Constantius, and safely arrived at Totnesse in Devonshire, (the place where Brute landed, the first Prince and Planter of this Island) whither assembled all the flower of the Nation who be∣fore were compeld to hide themselves in Dens and Caves: and to seeke shelter amongst Rocks

and Mountaines: by whose power and martiall prowesse, all the enemies of the Land were rowted and chaced, not one daring to shew his head. After which victory the Land being a∣gaine setled in peace and quietnesse, they con∣veighed their Captain Constantine, to the tower of Kaercegent, now called Cicester, and ac∣cording to their former Covenants made with Aldroenus, saluted him as their Chiefe Lord So∣vereigne, and there crowned, him King, in the yeare of our blessed Saviours Incarnation, foure hundred and three and thirty.

This Constantine governed the Realme with great manhood and policie, so that he was not more beloved at home, then dreaded abroad: notwithstanding, of any forreign atchievement done by Him, the English Annals make no men∣tion, neither of any memorable thing perfor∣med by Him in His owne Kingdome, save that He kept it in great tranquillity and rest, and that He received by His Wife three sonnes, the eldest named Constant or Constantius, the second Aurelius Ambrofius, the third Vterpendragon, all which in processe succeeded Him in the Sove∣reignty: But for Constance the eldest, being som∣what heavy and dull witted, thinking Him not able to take upon Him any Regall Soveraignty, especially to govern so noble a Nation, He cau∣sed Him to be shorne a Monke, and put him in∣to the Monastery of Saint Amphiable, after cald Saint Swithins at Winchester, and the other two being then but yong children, Hee committed

to Guardianship of the before-remembred Gosselin Archbishop of London: In the Court of this Constantine was a certain Pict or Scot, much favoured by the King, and on whom hee had conferd many graces and Honours, making him of His Closet Counsell, and a partaker with Him in all his secrets, which perfidious and in∣gratefull traitour, watching his opportunity, slue Him in his Chamber when he had ten years ruled the Land.

There lived at that time in the Land a potent Duke called Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, who was a man wondrously politick and exceeding∣ly ambitious, who taking the advantage of the time, knowing the stupidity of the eldest sonne, and the inability of the two yonger (in regard of their minority) to reigne, He coloured his a∣spiring to the Crown by a notable project, for hee pretending the right of the eldest brother, had it as a matter of conscience to make Him King: and therefore tooke him out of the for∣mer Monastery and invested him in the Throne, in the year of Grace, foure hundred forty three; by which means he had the sole management of the whole Kingdome, and Constantine the name only: whom after hee in short time supplanted, and reigned in his stead: in whose dayes Ambrosius Merlinus the subject of our discourse was born and utte∣red his predictions, &c.

Notes

• Maximian K. of Britaine.
• Armorica first called Litle Britaine.
• Maximian breaketh his oath, which was to be true to the Empire.
• Urfula with e∣leven thousand Virgins.
• The death of the tyrant Maximian.
• Gracian King of Britaine.
• The death of Gracian.
• Guanus and Melga.
• Constantine.
• Constantius.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Honorius.
• The Britaines for saken of the Romans.
• The great di∣st•…•…esse of the Britaines.
• Aetius denies them succour.
• Guethelinus Arch-bishop of London.
• Aldroenus commiserates the Britaines.
• How lo•…•…g Bri∣tain w•…•…s with∣out a K•…•…ng
• The end of the tribute and go∣vernment of the Romans.
• An exact com∣putation of the times.
• Constantine King of the Britaines.
• Constantines Royall Issue.
• How he dispo∣sed of his chil∣dren.
• The death of K. Constantine
• Vortiger, or Vortigern.
• Constantius made K. of Britain.