4.26. The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting tyrant, of Al|ban the first that suffered martyrdome in Bri|taine, what miracles were wrought at his death, whereof Lichfield tooke the name; of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was maried to Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose. The xxvj. Chapter.

The state of this Iland vnder bloudie Dioclesian the persecuting tyrant, of Al|ban the first that suffered martyrdome in Bri|taine, what miracles were wrought at his death, whereof Lichfield tooke the name; of Coilus earle of Colchester, whose daughter Helen was maried to Constantius the emperour, as some authours suppose. The xxvj. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _AFter that Britaine was thus recouered by the Ro|mans, Dioclesian and Maxi|mian ruling the empire, the Iland tasted of the crueltie that Dioclesian exercised a|gainst the christians, in prese|cuting them with all extre|mities, continuallie for the space of ten yéeres. A|mongst EEBO page image 62 other, one Alban a citizen of Werlamche|ster, a towne now bearing his name, was the first that suffered here in Britaine in this persecution, be|ing conuerted to the faith by the zealous christian Amphibalus,Beda and Gyldas. whom he receiued into his house: in|somuch that when there came sergeants to séeke for the same Amphibalus, the foresaid Alban to preserue Amphibalus out of danger, presented himselfe in the apparell of the said Amphibalus, & so being apprehen|ded in his stead, was brought before the iudge and examined: and for that he refused to doo sacrifice to the false gods, he was beheaded on the top of an hill ouer against the towne of Werlamchester aforesaid where afterwards was builded a church and mona|sterie in remembrance of his martyrdome, inso|much that the towne there restored, after that Wer|lamchester was destroied, tooke name of him, and so is vnto this day called saint Albons.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 It is reported by writers, that diuers miracles were wrought at the time of his death, insomuch that one which was appointed to doo the execution, was conuerted, and refusing to doo that office, suffe|red also with him: but he that tooke vpon him to doo it, Beda. Sée the booke of acts and monuments set forth by master Fox. reioised nothing thereat, for his eies fell out of his head downe to the ground, togither with the head of that holie man which he had then cut off. There were also martyred about the same time two constant witnesses of Christ his religion, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerleon Arwiske. Iohn Rossus. Warwicens. in lib. de Wi|gorniens. epis. Lichfield whereof it tooke name. Moreouer, a great number of Christians which were assembled togither to heare the word of life, preached by that vertuous man Amphibalus, were slaine by the wicked pagans at Lichfield, whereof that towne tooke name, as you would say, The field of dead corpses.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To be briefe, this persecution was so great and greeuous, and thereto so vniuersall, that in maner the Christian religion was thereby destroied.Gyldas. The faith|full people were slaine, their bookes burnt, and chur|ches ouerthrowne.Ran. Cestren. Matth. West. Constantius. It is recorded that in one mo|neths space in diuers places of the world there were 17000 godlie men and women put to death, for pro|fessing the christian faith in the daies of that tyrant Dioclesian and his fellow Maximian.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 COelus earle of Colchester began his dominion ouer the Britains in the yeere of our Lord 262. This Coelus or Coell ruled the land for a certeine time,Coelus. so as the Britains were well content with his gouernement,262 Fabian. and liued the longer in rest from in|uasion of the Romans, bicause they were occupied in other places: but finallie they finding time for their purpose, appointed one Constantius to passe o|uer into this Ile with an armie, the which Constan|tius put Coelus in such dread, that immediatlie vp|on his arriuall Coelus sent to him an ambassage, and concluded a peace with him, couenanting to pay the accustomed tribute, & gaue to Constantius his daughter in mariage called Helen, a noble ladie and a learned. Shortlie after king Coell died,Gal. Mon. Fabian. Caxtoa. when he had reigned (as some write) 27 yéeres, or (as other haue) but 13 yeeres.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶But by the way touching this Coelus, I will not denie, but assuredly such a prince there was: howbeit that he had a daughter named Helen, whom he ma|ried vnto Constantius the Romane lieutenant that was after emperor, I leaue that to be decided of the learned. For if the whole course of the liues, as well of the father and the sonne Constantius and Con|stantine, as likewise of the mother Helen, be consi|deratelie marked from time to time, and yeere to yéere, as out of authors both Greeke and Latin the same may be gathered, I feare least such doubt maie rise in this matter, that it will be harder to prooue Helen a Britaine, than Constantine to be borne in Bithynia (as Nicephorus auoucheth.)Lib. 7. cap. 18. But forsomuch as I meane not to step from the course of our coun|trie writers in such points, where the receiued opi|nion may séeme to warrant the credit of the historie, I will with other admit both the mother and sonne to be Britains in the whole discourse of the historie following, as though I had forgot what in this place I haue said.

4.27. A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, hs regiment ouer this Iland, his behauiour and talke to his sonne and councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a de|uise that he put in practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, his commen|dable vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the christian faith is prooued. The xxvij. Chapter.

A further discourse of the forenamed Constantius and Helen, hs regiment ouer this Iland, his behauiour and talke to his sonne and councellors as he lay on his death-bed, a de|uise that he put in practise to vnderstand what true Christians he had in his court, his commen|dable vertues, that the Britains in his time imbraced the christian faith is prooued. The xxvij. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _COnstantius a senatour of Rome began to reigne ouer the Britains,Constan|tius. in the yeere of our Lord 289, as our histo|ries report.Matth. West. saith 302. 289 This Constan|tius (as before ye haue heard) had to wife Helen the daugh|ter of the foresaid king Coel, of whome he begat a sonne named Constantinus, which after was emperour, and for his woorthie doo|ings surnamed Constantine the great. S. Ambrose following the common report,Orofius. Beda. writeth that this He|len was a maid in an inne: and some againe write, that she was concubine to Constantius, and not his wife. But whatsoeuer she was, it appeareth by the writers of the Romane histories, that Constan|tius being the daughters sonne of one Crispus, that was brother to the emperour Claudius,Cuspin [...]an. came into Britaine, and quieted the troubles that were raised by the Britains,Fabian. and there (as some write) maried the foresaid Helen, being a woman of an excellent beautie, whom yet [after] he was constreined to for|sake, and to marrie The odora the daughter in law of Herculeus Maximianus, by whome he had six sonnes, and finallie was created emperour, togither with the said Galerius Maximianus, at what time Dioclesianus and his fellow Herculeus Maximia|nus renounced the rule of the empire, and commit|ted the same vnto them. The empire was then di|uided betwixt them, so that to Constantius the regi|ons of Italie, Affrike, France, Spaine and Bri|taine were assigned; & to Galerius, Illyricum, Gre|cia, and all the east parts. But Constantine being a man void of ambition, was contented to leaue Ita|lie and Affrike, supposing his charge to be great i|nough to haue the gouernement in his hands of France, Spaine, and Britaine (as Eutropius saith.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But as touching his reigne ouer the Britains, we haue not to say further than as we find in our owne writers recorded: as for his gouernement in the empire, it is to be considered, that first he was ad|mitted to rule as an assistant to Maximian vnder the title of Cesar: and so from that time if you shall account his reigne, it maie comprehend 11, 12, or 13 yeeres, yea more or lesse, according to the diuersitie found in writers. Howbeit, if we shall reckon his reigne from the time onelie that Dioclesian and Maximian resigned their title vnto the empire, we shall find that he reigned not fullie thrée yéeres. For whereas betwéene the slaughter of Alectus, and the comming of Constantius, are accounted 8 yéeres and od moneths, not onelie those eight yéeres, but al|so some space of time before maie be ascribed vnto EEBO page image 63 Constantius: for although before his comming ouer into Britaine now this last time (for he had béene here afore, as it well appéereth) Asclepiodotus gouer|ning as legat, albeit vnder Constantius, who had a great portion of the west parts of the empire vn|der his regiment, by the title, as I haue said, of Ce|sar, yet he was not said to reigne absolutelie, till Dioclesian and Maximian resigned. But now to conclude with the dooings of Constantius, at length he fell sicke at Yorke, and there died, about the yeere of our Lord 306.306.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This is not to be forgotten, that whilest he laie on his death-bed, somewhat before he departed this life, hearing that his sonne Constantine was come, and escaped from the emperours Dioclesian and Maxi|mian, with whom he remained as a pledge (as af|ter shall be partlie touched) he receiued him with all ioy, and raising himselfe vp in his bed, in presence of his other sonnes & counsellours, with a great num|ber of other people and strangers that were come to visit him, he set the crowne vpon his sonnes head, and adorned him with other imperiall robes and garments,Niceph. executing as it were him selfe the office of an herald, and withall spake these woords vnto his said sonne, and to his counsellours there about him: Now is my death to me more welcome, and my de|parture hence more pleasant;Tripartit. histo.

I haue heere a large e|pitaph and monument of buriall, to wit, mine owne sonne, and one whome in earth I leaue to be empe|rour in my place, which by Gods good helpe shall wipe away the teares of the Christians, and reuenge the crueltie exercised by tyrants. This I reckon to chance vnto me in stéed of most felicitie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 After this, turning himselfe to the multitude, he commanded them all to be of good comfort, meaning those that had not forsaken true vertue and godli|nesse in Christ, which Christ he vndertooke should con|tinue with his sonne Constantine in all enterprises, which in warres or otherwise he should take in hand. That deuise also is woorthie to be had in memorie, which he put in practise in his life time, to vnderstand what true and sincere Christians were remaining in his court. For whereas he had béene first a persecu|ter, and after was conuerted, it was a matter easie to persuade the world, that he was no earnest Chri|stian: and so the policie which he thought to worke, was the sooner brought to passe, which was this.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 He called togither all his officers and seruants, feining himselfe to choose out such as would doo sa|crifice to diuels, and that those onelie should remaine with him and kéepe their office, and the rest that re|fused so to doo, should be thrust out, and banished the court. Héervpon all the courtiers diuided themselues into companies: and when some offered willinglie to doo sacrifice, and other some boldlie refused: the emperour marking their dealings, sharpelie rebu|ked those which were so readie to dishonour the li|uing God, accounting them as traitours of his di|uine maiestie, and not woorthie to remaine within the court gates: but those that constantlie stood in the profession of the christian faith, he greatlie com|mended, as men woorthie to be about a prince: and withall declared, that from thencefoorth they should be as chiefe counsellours and defenders both of his person and kingdome, estéeming more of them than of all the treasure he had in his coffers.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To conclude, he was a graue prince, sober, vp|right, courteous and liberall, as he which kept his mind euer frée from couetous desire of great riches: insomuch that when he should make anie great feast to his friends, he was not ashamed to borow plate and siluer vessell to serue his turne,Pomponius Laetus. and to furnish his cupbord for the time, being contented for himselfe to be serued in cruses & earthen vessels. He was woont to haue this saieng in his mouth, that better it was that the subiects should haue store of monie and ri|ches, than the prince to kéepe if close in his treasurie, where it serued to no vse. By such courteous dealing the prouinces which were in his charge flourished in great wealth and quietnesse. He was a verie wise and politike prince in the ordering of all weightie matters, and verie skillfull in the practise of warres,He died in the yéere 306. as Matt. West. hath noted, and reigned ouer the Bri|tains but 11. yéeres as Galf. saith. so that he stood the Romane empire in great stéed, and was therefore highlie beloued of the souldiers, insomuch that immediatlie after his deceasse, they proclaimed his some Constantine emperour.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 That The christian faith was imbraced of the Bri|tains in this season, it maie appéere, in that Hilarius bishop of Poictiers writeth to his brethren in Bri|taine, and Constantine in an epistle (as Theodore|tus saith in his first booke and tenth chapter) maketh mtention of the churches in Britaine: which also So|zomenus dooth affirme. For the Britains after they had receiued the faith, defended the same euen with the shedding of their bloud, as Amphibalus, who in this Constantius daies being apprehended, suffered at Redburne neere to Werlamchester,291. Iohn Bale. about 15 yéeres after the martyrdome of his host S. Albane.

4.28. Constantine created emperour in Bri|taine, he is sollicited to take vpon him the regiment of those countries that his father go|uerned, he is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping tyrant, Maximianus his father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by the said Maxi|mianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daugh|ter of Maximianus & wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie to hir husand, Maximianus is strangled at Constan|tines commandement, league and alliance betweene him and Licinius, he is sl [...]ine, the empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with the inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the nailes wherewith Christ was crucifi|ed, Constantine commended, the state of Britaine in his time. The xxviij Chapter.

Constantine created emperour in Bri|taine, he is sollicited to take vpon him the regiment of those countries that his father go|uerned, he is requested to subdue Maxentius the vsurping tyrant, Maximianus his father seeketh to depose him, Constantines death is purposed by the said Maxi|mianus the father & his sonne Maxentius, Fausta the daugh|ter of Maximianus & wife to Constantine detecteth hir fathers trecherie to hir husand, Maximianus is strangled at Constan|tines commandement, league and alliance betweene him and Licinius, he is sl [...]ine, the empresse Helen commended, the crosse of Christ found with the inscription of the same, what miracles were wrought thereby, of the nailes wherewith Christ was crucifi|ed, Constantine commended, the state of Britaine in his time. The xxviij Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _COnstantine being the son of the forenamed Constanti|us,Constan|tine. 306 begot of his first wife He|len, the daughter (as some affirme) of Coell late king of the Britains, began to reigne in the yéere of our Lord 306. This worthie prince begotten of a British woman, & borne of hir in Britaine (as our writers doo affirme) and created certeinlie em|perour in Britaine, did doubtlesse make his natiue countrie partaker of his high glorie and renowme, which by his great prowes, politike wisedome, woor|thie gouernment, and other his princelie qualities most abundantlie planted in his noble person, he purchased and got thorough the circuit of the whole earth, insomuch that for the high enterprises and no|ble acts by him happilie brought to passe and atchiued, he was surnamed (as before is said) the great Con|stantine. Whilest this Constantine remained at Rome in manner as he had béene a pledge with Ga|lerius in his fathers life time, he being then but yoond, fled from thence, and with all post hast retur|ned to his father into Britaine, killing or howghing by the waie all such horsses as were appointed to stand at innes readie for such as should ride in post, least being pursued,Eutropius. Sextus Aureli|us Victor. he should haue béene ouerta|ken, and brought backe againe by such as might be sent to pursue him.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 At his comming into Britaine, he found his fa|ther EEBO page image 64 sore vexed with sicknesse, whereof shortlie after he died, and then was he by helpe of such as were a|bout him, incouraged, to take vpon him as empe|rour:Erocus king of the Al|mains. and namclie one Erocus king of the Al|mains, which had accompanied his father thither, as|sisted him thereto, so that being prclaimed empe|rour, he tooke vpon him the rule of those countries which his father had in gouernment,Maxentius the tyrant. that is to saie, France, Spaine, the Alpes, and Britaine, with o|ther prouinces héere in the west: and ruling the same with great equitie and wisdome, he greatly wan the fauour of the people, insomuch that the fame of his politike gouernment and courteous dealing being spred abroad, when Maxentius the tyrant that occu|pied the rule of the empire at Rome, and in Italie by wrongfull vsurping & abusing the same was grown into the hatred of the Romans and other Italians, Constantine was earnestlie by them requested to come into Italie, and to helpe to subdue Maxentius, that he might reforme the state of things there.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Maxentius was sonne to Herculeus Maxi|mianus, and Constantine had married Fausta the daughter of the said Maximianus. Now so it was, that Maximianus, immediatlie after that his sonne Maxentius had taken the rule vpon him, sought meanes to haue deposed him, and to haue resumed and taken eftsoones into his owne hands the gouern|ment of the empire. But solliciting Dioclesian to doo the like, he was much reprooued of him for his vnrea|sonable and ambitious purpose: so that when he per|ceiued that neither Dioclesian would be thereto a|greeable, nor induce the souldiers to admit him, they hauing alreadie established his sonne, began to de|uise waies how to assure the state more stronglie to his said sonne. And hearing that his sonne in law Constantine was minded to come into Italie a|gainst him, he purposed to practise Constantines destruction, insomuch that it was iudged by this which followed,Dissimulati|on. that Herculeus Maximianus did but for a colour séeme to mislike that which his said son Maxentius had doone, to the end he might the sooner accomplish his intent for the dispatching of Con|stantine out of the waie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Héerevpon (as it were) fléeing out of Italie, he came to Constantine,Ranulphus Cestrensis. who as then hauing appointed lieutenants vnder him in Britaine, remained in France, and with all ioy and honour that might be, receiued his father in law: the which being earnest|lie bent to compasse his purpose, made his daughter Fausta priuie thereto:Fausta the daughter of Maximianus and wife to Constantine. which ladie (either for feare least the concealing thereof might turne hir to dis|pleasure, either else for the entire loue which she bare to hir husband) reuealed hir fathers wicked purpose. Wherevpon whilest Constantine went about to be reuenged of such a traitorous practise, Herculeus fled to Marsiles,Marsiles. purposing there to take the sea, and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italie. But yer he could get awaie from thence, he was stran|gled by commandement of his sonne in law Con|stantine,Maximianus slaine. Ann. Chri. 322. and so ended his life, which he had spotted with manie cruell acts, as well in persecuting the professours of the christian name, as others.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In this meane time had Maximianus adopted one Licinius to assist him in gouernance of the empire,Licinius cho|sen fellow with Maxi|mianus in the empire. proclaiming him Cesar. So that now at one selfe time Constantine gouerned France and the west parts of the empire, Maxentius held Italie, Affrike, and Aegypt: and Maximianus which likewise had beene elected Cesar, ruled the east parts, and Licini|us Illyrium and Grecia. But shortlie after, the em|perour Constantine ioined in league with Licini|us, and gaue to him his sister in marriage, named Constantia, for more suertie of faithfull friendship to indure betwixt them. He sent him also against Maximianus, who gouerning in the cast part of the empire, purposed the destruction of Constantine and all his partakers: but being vanquished by Licini|us at Tarsus, he shortlie after died, being eaten with lice. Constantine after this was called into Italie, to deliuer the Romans and Italians from the ty|rannie of Maxentius, which occasion so offered, Con|stantine gladlie accepting, passed into Italie, and af|ter certeine victories got against Maxentius, at length slue him.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After this, when Maximianus was dead, who pre|pared to make warre against Licinius, that had married Constantia the sister of Constantine, he fi|nallie made warre against his brother in law the said Licinius, by reson of such quarrels as fell out betwixt them. In the which warre Licinius was put to the woorse, and at length comming into the hands of Constantine, was put to death, so that Constan|tine by this meanes got the whole empire vnder his rule and subiection. He was a great fauourer of the Christian religion, insomuch that to aduance the same, he tooke order for the conuerting of the tem|ples dedicated to the honour of idols, vnto the ser|uice of the true and almightie God. He commanded also, that none should be admitted to serue as a soul|dier in the warres,Christians honoured and cherished. except he were a christian, nor yet to haue rule of anie countrie or armie. He also or|deined, the weeke before Easter, and that which fol|lowed to be keptas holie, and no person to doo anie bodilie woorks during the same.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 He was much counselled by that noble and most vertuous ladie his mother,Polydor. the empresse Helen,The praise of the empresse Helen. who being a godlie and deuout woman, did what in hir laie, to mooue him to the setting foorth of Gods ho|nour and increase of the christian faith, wherein as yet he was not fullie instructed. ¶Some writers al|ledge,328 that she being at Ierusalem, made diligent search to find out the place of the sepulchre of our Lord, and at length found it, though with much adoo: for the infidels had stopped it vp, and couered it with a heape of filthie earth, and builded aloft vpon the place, a chappell dedicated to Uenus, where yoong wo|men vsed to sing songs in honour of that vnchast goddesse. Helen caused the same to be ouerthrowne, the earth to be remooued, and the place cleansed, so that at length the sepulchre appéered, and fast by were found there buried in the earth thrée crosses and the nailes. But the crosse wherevpon our Sauiour was crucified, was knowne by the title written vpon it, though almost worne out, in letters of Hebrew, Gréeke, and Latine: the inscription was this, Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudaeorum. It was also perceiued which was that crosse by a miracle (as it is reported, but how trulie I can not tell) that should be wrought thereby: for being laid to a sicke woman, onlie with the touching thereof she was healed. It was also said, that a dead man was raised from death to life, his bodie onlie being touched therewith. Wherevpon Constantine mooued with these things, forbad that from thencefoorth anie should be put to death on the crosse, to the end that the thing which afore time was accounted infamous and reprochfull, might now be had in honour and reuerence.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The empresse Helen hauing thus found the crosse, builded a temple there, & taking with hir the nailes, returned with the same to hir sonne Constantine, who set one of them in the crest of his helmet, an o|ther in the bridle of his horsse,Polydor. and the third he cast in|to the sea, to asswage and pacifie the furious tempests and rage thereof. She also brought with hir a parcell of that holie crosse,Polydor. and gaue it to hir sonne the said Constantine, the which he caused to be closed within an image that represented his person, standing vpon a piller in the market place of Constantine, or (as EEBO page image 65 some late writers haue) he caused it to be inclosed in a coffer of gold, adorned with rich stones and pearls, placing it in a church called Sessortana, the which church he indued with manie great gifts and preci|ous ornaments. Manie woorks of great [...]eale and vertue are remembered by writers to haue béene doone by this Constantine and his mother Helen, to the setting foorth of Gods glorie, and the aduan|cing of the faith of Christ.The commen|dation of Constantine. But to be briefe, he was a man in whome manie excellent vertues and good qualities both of mind and bodie manifestlie appée|red, chieflie he was a prince of great knowledge and experience in warre, and therewith verie fortunate, an earnest louer of iustice, and to conclude, borne to all honour.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now to speake somewhat of the state of Bri|taine in his time, ye shall vnderstand, that as before is recorded, at his going ouer into France, after that he was proclaimed emperour, he left behind him in Britaine certeine gouernours to rule the land, and almongst other one Maximinus a right va|liant capteine. He tooke with him a great part of the youth of Britaine, and diuerse of the chiefe men a|mongst the nobilitie, in whose approoued manhood, loi|altie, and constancie, he conceiued a great hope to go thorough with all his enterprises, as with the which being accompanied and compassed about, he passed ouer into Gallia, entred into Italie, and in euerie place ouercame his enimies.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Some write that Constantine thus conueieng ouer sea with him a great armie of Britains, Gulielmus Malmes. Britains ser|uing in the warres vnder Constantine. and by their industrie obteining victorie as he wished, he placed a great number of such as were discharged out of wages, and licenced to giue ouer the warre, in a part of Gallia towards the west sea coast, where their posteritie remaine vnto this daie, maruellou|slie increased afterwards, and somewhat differing from our Britains, the Welshmen, in manners and language. Amongst those noble men which he tooke with him when he departed out of this land (as our writers doo testifie) were thrée vncles of his mother Helen,Galfridus. Matt. West. that is to say, Hoelmus, Traherinus, and Marius, whome he made senators of Rome.