83 ing. Under Gordian the Emperour we find by the Inscription 80 of an Altar stone, that Nonius Philippus govern'd heer [A. D. 242]. Under Galienus we read there was a strong and general revolt from the Roman Legat [A. D. 259]. Of the 30 Tyrants which not long after took upon them the style of Emperor,81 by many Coins found among us, Lollianus, Victorinus, Pofthumus, the Tetrici and Marius are conjectured to have ris'n or born great sway in this Iland [A. D. 267]. 82 Whence Porphyrius a Philofopher then living, faid that Britain was a foil fruitful of Tyrants; and is noted to be the first Author that makes mention of the Scottish Nation. [A. D. 282] While Probus was Emperor, Bonofus the Son of a Rhetorician, bred up a Spanyard, though by descent a Britan, and a matchlefs drinker, nor much to be blamed, if, as they write, he were still wifeft in his cups, having attained in warfare to high honours, and lastly in his charge over the German shipping, willingly, as was thought, miscarried, trusting on his power with the Western Armies, and join'd with Proculus, bore himself a while for Emperor; but after a long and bloodie fight at Cullen, vanquish't by Probus he hang'd himself, and gave occafion of a ready jeft made on him for his much drinking; Heer hangs a Tankard, not a man. After this,84 Probus with much wisdom prevented a new rifing heer in Britain by the fevere loyaltie of Victorinus a Moor, at whofe entreatie he had plac't heer that Governour which rebell'd. For the Emperor upbraiding him for the disloyaltie of whom he had commended, Victorinus undertaking to fet all right again, haftes hither, and finding indeed the Governour to intend fedition, by fom contrivance not mention'd in the storie, flew him, whose name85 som 80 Camd. Cumber. 82 Camden, Gildas, Hieronym. 81 Eumen. Paneg. Conft. 83 85 Camd. imagin to be Cornelius Lelianus. They write also that Probus gave leave to the Spanyards, Gauls, and Britans to plant Vines, and to make Wine; and having fubdu'd the Vandals, and Burgundians in a great Battail,86 fent over many of them hither to inhabit, where they did good service to the Romans when any infurrection happen'd in the Ile. After whom Carus Emperor going against the Perfians, left Carinus 87 one of his Sons to govern among other Western Provinces this Iland with imperial authority [A. D. 283]; but him Dioclefian faluted Emperor by the Eastern Armies overcame and flew. About which time Caraufius88 a man of low parentage [A. D. 284], born in Menapia, about the parts of Cleves and Juliers, who through all militarie degrees was made at length Admiral of the Belgic and Armoric Seas, then much infested by the Franks and Saxons, what he took from the Pyrats [A. D. 285], neither restoring to the owners, nor accounting to the Publick, but enriching himself, and yet not scowring the Seas, but conniving rather at thofe Sea Robbers, was grown at length too great a Delinquent to be less than an Emperor: 89 for fear and guiltinefs in those days made Emperors ofter than merit: And understanding that Maximianus Herculius,90 Dioclefians adopted Son, was com against him into Gallia, pafs'd over with the Navie which he had made his own, into Britain, and poffefs'd the Iland. Where he built a new Fleet after the Roman fashion [A. D. 286], got into his power the Legion that was left heer in Garrifon, other outlandish Cohorts detain'd, lifted the very Merchants and Factors of Gallia, and with the allurement of spoile invited great numbers of other barbarous Nations to his part, and train'd them to Sea fervice, wherein the 86 Zozimus. 89 Eutrop. Orof. 87 Vopifc. in Carin. 88 Aurel. victor. de Cæfar. 90 Eumen. Paneg. 2. Romans at that time were grown fo out of skill, that Caraufus with his Navie did at Sea what he lifted, robbing on every Coaft; whereby Maximian, able to come no neerer than the shoar of Boloigne, was forc't to conclude a Peace with Caraufius, and yeild him Britain;91 as one fitteft to guard the Province there against inroads from the North. But not long after [A. D. 291] having affum'd Conftantius Chlorus to the dignity of Cafar, sent him against Caraufius; who in the mean while had made himself strong both within the Land and without.92 Galfred of Monmouth writes that he made the Picts his confederates; to whom lately com out of Scythia he gave Albany to dwell in and it is obferv'd that before his time the Picts are not known to have bin any where mentioned, and then first by Eumenius a Rhetorician.95 He repair'd and fortifi'd the Wall of Severus with 7 Castles, and a round House of smooth stone on the Bank of Carron, which River, faith Ninnius, was of his Name fo call'd; he built also a triumphal Arch in remembrance of fome Victory there obtain'd.94 In France he held Gefforiacum, or Boloigne; and all the Franks which had by his permiffion seated themfelves in Belgia, were at his devotion. But Conftantius hafting into Gallia, befieges Boloigne, and with Stones and Timber obstructing the Port, keeps out all relief that could be sent in by Caraufius. Who ere Conftantius with the great Fleet which he had prepar'd, could arrive hither, was flain treacherously by Alectus one of his Friends, who long'd to step into his place [A. D. 292]; when he 7 years, and worthily, as fom fay, as others, tyrannically, had rul'd the Iland. So much the more did Conftantius prosecute that opportunity, before Alectus could well strengthen his Af 91 Victor. Eutrop. 92 Buchanan. fairs :95 and though in ill weather, putting to Sea with all urgency from several Hav'ns to spread the terror of his landing, and the doubt where to expect him, in a Mist passing the British Fleet unseen, that lay fcouting neer the Ile of Wight, no fooner got a shoar, but fires his own Ships, to leave no hope of refuge but in Victory. Alectus alfo, though now much difmaid, transfers his fortune to a Battel on the shoar; but encountred by Afclepiodotus Captain of the Pratorian Bands, and desperately rushing on, unmindful both of ordering his men, or bringing them all to fight, fave the acceffories of his Treason, and his outlandish hirelings, is overthrown, and flain with little or no lofs to the Romans, but great execution on the Franks. His Body was found almost naked in the field, for his Purple Robe he had thrown aside, lest it should defcry him, unwilling to be found. The reft taking flight to London, and purposing with the pillage of that City to escape by Sea, are met by another part of the Roman Armie, whom the Mist at Sea disjoining had by chance brought thither, and with a new flaughter chas'd through all the Streets. The Britans, thir Wives also and Children, with great joy go out to meet Conftantius, as one whom they acknowledge their deliverer from bondage and infolence. All this seems by Eumenius,9% who then liv'd, and was of Conftantius houfhold, to have bin don in the course of one continu'd action; fo alfo thinks Sigonius a learned Writer: though all others allow three years to the tyranny of Alectus. In thefe days were great store of Workmen, and excellent Builders in this Iland, whom after the alteration of things heer, the Æduans in Burgundie entertain'd to build thir Temples and publick Edifices. Dioclefian having hitherto successfully us'd his valour against the 95 Camd. ex Nin. Eumen. Pan. 3. 96 Eumen. Enemies of his Empire, ufes now his rage in a bloodie perfecution against his obedient and harmless Christian Subjects: from the feeling whereof neither was this Iland, though most remote, far anough remov'd. Among them heer who fuffer'd gloriously, Aron, and Julius of Caer leon upon Usk, but chiefly Alban of Verulam, were most renown'd: The story of whofe Martyrdom foil'd, and worse martyr'd with the fabling zeal of fome idle fancies, more fond of Miracles, than apprehenfive of Truth, deferves not longer digreffion. Conftantius after Dioclefian, dividing the Empire with Galerius, had Britain among his other Provinces; where either preparing or returning with victorie from an 'expedition against the Caledonians, he di'd at York.98 His Son Conftantine, who happily came Poft from Rome to Boloigne just about the time, faith Eumenius [A. D. 306], that his Father was setting fail his last time hither, and not long before his death, was by him on his deathbed nam'd, and after his Funeral, by the whole Army faluted Emperor. There goes a fame, and that feconded by most of our own Hiftorians, though not those the ancientest, that Conftantine was born in this Iland, his Mother Helena the Daughter of Coilus a British Prince, not sure the Father of King Lucius, whose Sister she must then be, for that would detect her too old by an hunderd years to be the Mother of Conftantine. But to falve this incoherence, another Coilus is feign'd to be then Earl of Colchester. To this therefore the Roman Authors give no teftimony, except a paffage or two in the Panegyrics, about the fense whereof much is argu'd: others 99 neerest to those times clear the doubt, and write him certainly born of Helena, a mean Woman at Naifus in Dar 97 Gildas. 98 Author ignot. poft Marcellin. valesti Eutrop. Eumen. idem Auth. ignot. 99 Idem vit. Auth. Ignot. Eufeb. Conft. |