Compare 1577 edition: 1 The newes of this infortunate incounter being brought into Ireland, put the king and his nobles there in such feare of the Romans, that they thought it best with all spéed to send ambassadors vnto Maxi|mus to sue vnto him for peace. They that were sent The king of Ireland sée|keth for peace. Maximus granteth peace to the Irishmen. Maximus séeketh by his bountious liberalitie to win the peo|ples fauour. at the first were sore blamed and checked by Maxi|mus, for that they had aided the Scotishmen in the last inuasion made into Albion: but at length accep|ting their excuse, he granted a peace vpon certeine conditions, whereof the most principall article was, that in no wise they should receiue aid, or succor any enimie to the Romane empire. This Maximus, ha|uing got a quiet peace on each side, vsed all meanes EEBO page image 80 possible how to procure the loue of his souldsors and men of war, shewing himselfe not onelie gentle, courteous and meeke towards them, but also so libe|rall and frée, that his bounteous gifts passed all vn|derstanding: insomuch that (as is reported by wri|ters) he bestowed in one daie neere hand as much in rewards, as the reuenues of Britaine yeelded to the empire in a whole yéere.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 This franke liberalitie and courteous behauior he vsed not onelie towards the Romans, and his o|ther men of warre, but also towards the Britains and Picts, conforming himselfe so néere vnto their maners & fashions, that at his comming into Pict|land, he laid awaie his Romane apparell, and araied himselfe in garments after the Pictish guise. By this maner of meanes therefore he wan him such loue and fauor, as well amongst his souldiors, as al|so amongst the Picts and Britains, that in the end by common consent they chose him for emperor, in the 383 yeere after Christ, protesting generallie, that Maximus is chosen empe|ror in Bri|taine. they would owe onelie their obeisance vnto him as to their supreme gouernor. ¶ Here the Scotish chroni|cles somwhat varie from other writers, who affirme that Maximus was thus aduanced to the imperiall dignitie, rather by constraint of his men of warre, than by anie meanes which he of himselfe vsed to at|teine vnto the same. Where the said chronicles [...]|uerthelesse shew, that it came chieflie to passe by his owne seeking, procuring certeine persons to woorke for him as instruments to frame other to this his purposed intent. He held the dominion of the empire Maximus ru|led the estate of Britaine 17 yéeres. being thus preferred to the imperiall state, the space of fiue yéeres, all the countries and people of Albion being at his commandement without contradicti|on: which had not chanced vnto anie one man before his time, since the Ile was first inhabited. At length desirous of more empire, he passed ouer into France with a great armie, in purpose to subdue all France and Italie, with such other countries as were obedi|ent vnto Gratian as then emperor of Rome. But how prosperouslie he sped in the beginning, and how The emperor Gratian is slaine by Maximus. at length he was slaine at Aquilia in Italie, ye shall find in the historie of England a great deale more at large.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 By reason of such trouble in the estate of the Ro|mane empire, Octauius the sonne of Octauius late king of the Britains, the which (as before is said) fled into the Ile of Man, & after departing from thence, got ouer into France, returned now into Britaine, and did so much there, that the Britains receiued him to their king: but shortlie after he was constreined to agrée with the Romane emperor Theodosius, so that the Britains should paie their woonted tribute, and liue vnder such lawes as by the emperor should be to them prescribed. In all other respects, Octauius should be reputed during his life for king. Immedi|atlie héerevpon two lieutenants were sent from Theodosius, of whome the one named Martius soior|ned at London, and the other called Uictorine at Yorke. And with all expedition they began to put the Romane lawes in practise, abolishing the old British lawes, to the great offense of manie that could not well brooke strange ordinances; & namelie the Picts repined sore therat, and vsed most an end their owne lawes and constitutions, greatlie to the contempt of the Romane estate. Whereof Uictorine, the one of the Romane lieutenants hauing knowledge, gaue streight commandement vnto Heirgust the Pictish king, that in no wise he should suffer the old lawes and rude ordinances of his countrie, to be vsed anie longer amongst his subiects, vpon paine that might insue for disobedience shewed towards the maiestie of the Romane empire.