[Sidenote: Maximus.]
But now sith no mention is made of the Scots in our histories,
till the daies of Maximus the vsurper or tyrant, as some call him, who
began his reigne here in Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 383,
[Sidenote: 383.]
and that till after he had bereft the land of the chiefest forces
thereof, in taking the most part of the youth ouer with him: we find
not in the same histories of anie troubles wrought to the Britains by
that nation. Therefore we haue thought good héere to come backe to the
former times, that we may shew what is found mentioned in the Romane
histories, both before that time and after, as well concerning the
[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 20. The emperor Iulianius.]
Scots and Picts, as also the Saxons, and especiallie in Ammianus
Marcellinus, where in the beginning of his twentith booke intreating
of the doings of the emperour Iulianus, he saith as followeth.
In this state stood things in Illyricum or Slauonia, and in the east
parts, at what time Constantius bare the office of consull the tenth
time, and Iulianus the third time, that is to say, in the yéere
[Sidenote: 360.]
of our Lord 360, when in Britaine quietnesse being disturbed by roads
[Sidenote: Scots and Picts trouble the state of this Ile.]
made by the Scots and Picts, which are wild and sauage people,
the frontiers of the countrie were wasted, and feare oppressed the
prouinces wearied with the heape of passed losses. The emperor [he
meaneth Iulianus] as then remaining at Paris, and hauing his mind
troubled with manie cares, doubted to go to the aid of them beyond the
sea, as we haue shewed that Constantius did, least he should leaue
them in Gallia without a ruler, the Almains being euen then prouoked
and stirred vp to crueltie and warre.
[Sidenote: Lupicinus sent into Britaine.]
He thought good therefore to send Lupicinus vnto these places to
bring things into frame and order, which Lupicinus was at that time
master of the armorie, a warlike person and skilfull in all points of
chiualrie, but proud and high-minded beyond measure, and such one as
it was doubted long whether he was more couetous or cruell. Herevpon
[Sidenote: Bataui now Hollanders.]
the said Lupicinus setting forward the light armed men of the
Heruli and Bataui, with diuers companies also of the people of Mesia
now called Bulgarie; when winter was well entred and come on, he came
himselfe to Bulleine, and there prouiding ships, and imbarking his
[Sidenote: Rutupis.]
men, when the wind serued his purpose, he transported ouer vnto
Sandwich, and so marched foorth unto London, from thence purposing to
set forward, as vpon aduise taken according to the qualitie of his
businesse he should thinke méet and expedient.
[Sidenote: Of the displacing of these men the learned may sée more in
_Am. Mar._]
In the meane time, whilest Lupicinus was busie here in Britaine
to represse the enimies, the emperour Constantius displaced certeine
officers, and among other he depriued the same Lupicinus of the office
of the master of the armorie, appointing one Gumobarius to succéed him
in that roome, before anie such thing was knowen in these parties. And
where it was doubted least that Lupicinus (if he had vnderstood so
much whilest he was yet in Britaine) would haue attempted some new
trouble, as he was a man of a stout and loftie mind, he was called
backe from thence, and withall there was sent a notarie vnto Bulleine,
to watch that none should passe the seas ouer into Britaine till
Lupicinus were returned: and so returning ouer from thence yer he
had anie knowledge what was doone by the emperour, he could make no
sturre, hauing no such assistants in Gallia, as it was thought he
might haue had in Britaine, if he should haue mooued rebellion there.
[Sidenote: _Lib._ 26.]
The same Marcellinus speaking of the doings about the time that
[Sidenote: _Ammianus Marcellinus lib._ 26.]
Valentinianus, being elected emperour, had admitted his brother
Valens as fellow with him in gouernement, hath these words. In this
season as though trumpets had blowne the sound to battell through out
the whole Romane empire, most cruell nations being stirred vp, inuaded
[Sidenote: The Almans. The Sarmatians. The Quadi Picts and Saxons.
Austorians. The Goths.]
the borders next adioining, the Almans wasted and destroied the
parts of Gallia and Rhetia, as the Sarmatians and Quadi did Paunonia,
the Picts, the Saxons, the Scots, and the Attacots vexed the Britains
with continuall troubles, and gréeuous damages; the Austorians and the
people of the Moores ouerran the countrie of Affrike more sharpelie
than in time past they had done; the pilfring troops of the Goths
spoiled Thracia; the king of Persia set in hand to subdue the
Armenians, and sought to bring them vnder his obeisance, hasting with
all spéed toward Numonia, pretending (though vniustlie) that now after
the deceasse of Iouinius, with whome he had contracted a league and
bond of peace, there was no cause of let what he ought not to recouer
those things, which (as he alledged) did belong to his ancestors: and
so foorth.
[Sidenote: _Lib._ 27.]
Moreouer, the same Marcellinus in another place writeth in this
wise, where he speaketh of the said Valentinianus. Departing therefore
from Amiens, and hasting to Trier, he was troubled with gréeuous newes
that were brought him, giuing him to vnderstand, that Britaine by
[Sidenote: Comes maritimi tractus.]
a conspiracie of the barbarous nations was brought to vtter pouertie,
that Nectaridus one of the emperours house earle of the sea coast,
hauing charge of the parties towards the sea, was slaine, and that
the generall Bulchobaudes was circumuented by traines of the enimies.
These things with great horrour being knowne, he sent Seuerus as then
[Sidenote: Comes domesticorum.]
erle, or (as I may call him lord steward of his houshold) to
reforme things that were amisse, if hap would so permit, who being
shortlie called backe, Iouinius going thither, and with spéed hasting
forward, sent for more aid and a great power of men, as the instant
necessitie then required. At length, for manie causes, and the same
greatlie to be feared, the which were reported and aduertised out
[Sidenote: Theodosius sent into Britaine.]
of that Ile, Theodosius was elected and appointed to go thither, a man
of approoued skill in warlike affaires, and calling togither an hardie
youthfull number of the legions and cohorts of men of warre, he went
foorth, no small hope being conceiued of his good spéed; the fame
wherof spred and went afore him.
A litle after, Marcellinus adding what people they were that troubled
[Sidenote: Picts diuided into two nations. Attacotti.]
the Britains in this wise, saith thus. This shall suffice to
be said, that in this season the Picts diuided into two nations
Dicalidones, and Victuriones, and in like maner the Attacotti a right
warlike nation, and the Scots wandering here and there, made fowle
woorke in places where they came. The confines of France were
disquieted by the Frankeners and Saxons borderers vnto them, euerie
one as they could breaking foorth, & dooing great harme by cruell
spoile, fire, and taking of prisoners. To withstand those dooings if
good fortune would giue him leaue, that most able capteine going
[Sidenote: Theodosius passeth ouer into Britaine.]
vnto the vttermost bounds of the earth, when he came to the coast of
Bullen which is seuered from the contrarie coast on the other side by
the sea, with a narrow streight, where sometime the water goeth verie
high and rough, & shortlie after becommeth calme & pleasant, without
hurt to those that passe the same, transporting ouer at leasure, he
arriued at Sandwich (or rather Richburrow) where there is a quiet road
[Sidenote: Bataui Hollanders.]
for vessels to lie at anchor. Wherevpon the Bataui and Heruli,
with the souldiers of the legions called Iouij, and Victores, being
companies that trusted well to their owne strength, marched foorth
[Sidenote: London called Augusta.]
& drew towards London, an ancient citie, which now of late hath bin
called Augusta. Herewith diuiding his armie into sundrie parts, he
set vpon the troops of his enimies as they were abroad to forrey the
countrie, pestered with burdens of their spoiles and pillage, and
spéedilie putting them to flight, as they were leading away those
prisoners which they had taken, with their booties of cattell, he
bereft them of their preie, the which the poore Britains that were
tributaries had lost. To be briefe, restoring the whole, except a
small portion bestowed amongst the wearie souldiers, he entred the
citie which before was opprest with troubles, but now suddenlie
refreshed, bicause there was hope of reliefe and assured preseruation.
After this, when Theodosius was comforted with prosperous successe to
attempt things of greater importance, and searching waies how with
good aduise to woorke suerlie: whilest he remained doubtfull what
would insue, he learned as well by the confession of prisoners taken,
as also by the information of such as were fled from the enimies, that
the scattered people of sundrie nations which with practise of great
crueltie were become fierce and vndanted, could not be subdued but by
policie secretlie practised, and sudden inuasions. At length therefore
setting foorth his proclamations, and promising pardon to those that
were gone awaie from their capteins or charge, he called them backe
againe to serue: and also those that by licence were departed and laie
scattered here and there in places abroad. By this meanes, when manie
were returned, he being on the one side earnestlie prouoked, and
[Sidenote: Theodosius requireth to haue Ciuilis sent to him.]
on the other holden backe with thoughtfull cares, required to haue
one Ciuilis by name sent to him to haue the rule of the prouinces in
Britaine in steed of the other gouernours, a man of sharpe wit,
[Sidenote: Dulcitius.]
and an earnest mainteiner of iustice. He likewise required that one
Dulcitius a capteine renowmed in knowledge of warlike affaires might
be sent ouer to him for his better asistance. These things were doone
in Britaine.
Againe, in his eight and twentith booke, the same Marcellinus reciting
further what the same Theodosius atchiued in Britaine, hath in effect
these words: Thedosius verelie a capteine of woorthie fame, taking
[Sidenote: London called Augusta.]
a valiant courage to him, and departing from Augusta, which men of old
time called London, with souldiers assembled by great diligence, did
succour and reléeue greatlie the decaied and troubled state of the
Britains, preuenting euerie conuenient place where the barbarous
people might lie in wait to doo mischiefe: and nothing he commanded
the meane souldiers to doo, but that whereof he with a chéerefull
mind would first take in hand to shew them an example. By this meanes
accomplishing the roome of a valiant souldier, and fulfilling the
charge of a noble capteine, he discomfited and put to flight sundrie
nations, whome presumption (nourished by securitie) emboldened to
inuade the Romane prouinces: and so the cities and castels that
had béene sore endamaged by manifold losses and displeasures, were
restored to their former state of wealth, the foundation of rest and
quietnesse being laid for a long season after to insue.
But as these things were a dooing, one wicked practise was in hand &
like to haue burst foorth, to the gréeuous danger of setting things in
broile, if it had not béene staied euen in the beginning of the
[Sidenote: Valentinus. Valeria now Stiermarke.]
first attempt. For there was one Valentinus, borne in the parties of
Valeria adioining to Pannonia, now called Stiermarke, a man of a proud
and loftie stomach, brother to the wife of Maximinus, which Valentinus
for some notable offense had béene banished into Britaine, where
the naughtie man that could not rest in quiet, deuised how by some
commotion he might destroy Theodosius, who as he saw was onelie able
to resist his wicked purposes. And going about manie things both
priuilie and apertlie, the force of his vnmeasurable desire to
mischiefe still increasing, he sought to procure aswell other that
were in semblable wise banished men, & inclined to mischiefe like him
selfe, as also diuers of the souldiers, alluring them (as the time
serued) with large promises of great wealth, if they would ioine with
him in that enterprise. But euen now in the verie nicke, when they
shuld haue gone in hand with their vngratious exploit, Theodosius
warned of their intent, boldlie aduanced himselfe to sée due
punishment executed on the offendors that were foorthwith taken and
knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie.
[Sidenote: Dulcitius is appointed to put Valentinus to death.]
Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie
complices vnto the capteine Dulcitius, commanding him to see them put
to death: but coniecturing by his warlike skill (wherein he passed all
other in those daies) what might follow, he would not in anie wise
haue anie further inquirie made of the other conspirators, least
through feare that might be spread abroad in manie, the troubles of
the prouinces now well quieted, should be againe reuiued. After
this, Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse manie things as néed
required, all danger was quite remooued: so that it was most apparent,
that fortune fauored him in such wise, that she left him not destitute
of hir furtherance in anie one of all his attempts. He therefore
restored the cities & castels that were appointed to be kept with
garrisons, and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with
sufficient numbers to keépe watch and ward in places necessarie. And
hauing recouered the prouince which the enimies had gotten into their
possession, he so restored it to the former state, that vpon his
[Sidenote: A part of Britaine called Valentia.]
motion to haue it so, a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it,
and the name was changed, so as from thencefoorth it should be called
Valentia for the princes pleasure.
The Areani, a kind of men ordeined in times past by our elders (of
whome somewhat we haue spoken in the acts of the emperour Constance)
being now by little and little fallen into vices, he remooued from
their places of abiding, being openlie conuicted, that allured with
bribes and faire promises, they had oftentimes bewraied vnto the
barbarous nations what was doone among the Romans: for this was their
charge, to runne vp and downe by long iournies, and to giue warning to
our captains, what sturre the people of the next confines were about
to make.
[Sidenote: The praise of Theodosius.]
Theodosius therefore hauing ordered these & other like things,
most woorthilie & to his high fame, was called home to the emperours
court, who leauing the prouinces in most triumphant state, was highlie
renowmed for his often and most profitable victories, as if he had
béene an other Camillus or Cursor Papirius, and with the fauor and
loue of all men was conueied vnto the sea side; and passing ouer with
a gentle wind, came to the court, where he was receiued with great
gladnesse and commendation, being immediatlie appointed to succéed
in the roome of Valence Iouinus that was maister of the horsses.
Finallie, he was called by the emperour Gratianus, to be associated
with him in the imperiail estate, after the death of Valence,
[Sidenote: 379.]
in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauior 379, and reigned
emperour, surnamed Thodosius the great, about 16 yeares and 2 daies.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Har._]
Hereto also maie that be applied which the foresaid Marcellinus
[Sidenote: _Walf. Lazi._]
writeth in the same booke, touching the inuasion of the Saxons,
the which (as Wolf. Lazius taketh it) entred then first into great
Britaine, but were repelled of the emperour Valentinianus the first,
[Sidenote: Seuerus.]
by the conduct and guiding of Seuerus. The same yéere (saith he)
that the emperours were the third time consuls, there brake forth a
multitude of Saxons, & passing the seas, entred stronglie into the
Romane confines: a nation fed oftentimes with the slaughter of our
[Sidenote: Nonneus Comes.]
people, the brunt of whose first inuasion earle Nonneus sustained,
one which was appointed to defend those parties, an approoued
capteine, & with continuall trauell in warres verie expert. But then
incountring with desperate and forlorne people, when he perceiued some
of his souldiers to be ouerthrowne and beaten downe, and himselfe
wounded, not able to abide the often assaults of his enimies, he
obteined this by informing the emperour what was necessarie and
[Sidenote: Seuerus coronell of the footmen.]
ought to be doone, insomuch that Seuerus, maister or (as I maie call
him) coronell of the footmen, was sent to helpe and reléeue things
that stood in danger: the which bringing a sufficient power with him
for the state of that businesse, when he came to those places, he
diuiding his armie into parts, put the Saxons in such feare and
trouble before they fought, that they did not so much as take weapon
in hand to make resistance, but being amazed with the sight of the
glittering ensignes, & the eagles figured in the Romane standards,
they streight made sute for peace, and at length after the matter
was debated in sundrie wise (because it was judged that it should be
profitable for the Romane commonwealth) truce was granted vnto them,
and manie yoong men (able for seruice in the warres) deliuered to the
Romans according to the couenants concluded.
After this the Saxons were permitted to depart without impeachment, &
so to returne from whence they came, who being now out of all feare,
and preparing to go their waies, diuers bands of footmen were sent
to lie priuilie in a certeine hid vallie so ambushed, as they might
easilie breake foorth vpon the enimies as they passed by them. But
it chanced far otherwise than they supposed, for certeine of those
footmen stirred with the noise of them as they were comming, brake
foorth out of time, and being suddenlie discouered whilest they hasted
to vnite and knit themselues togither, by the hideous crie and shout
of the Saxons they were put to flight. Yet by and by closing togither
againe, they staied, and the extremitie of the chance ministring to
them force (though not sufficient) they were driuen to fight it out,
and being beaten downe with great slaughter, had died euerie mothers
sonne, if a troope of horssemen armed at all points (being in like
maner placed in an other side at the entring of the waie to assaile
the enimies as they should passe) aduertised by the dolefull noise
of them that fought, had not spéedilie come to the succour of their
fellowes.
Then ran they togither more cruellie than before, and the Romans
bending themselues towards their enimies, compassed them in on each
side, and with drawne swords slue them downe right, so that there was
not one of them left to returne home to their natiue countrie to bring
newes how they had sped, nor one suffered to liue after anothers
death, either to reuenge their ruine, or to lament their losse.
Thus were the limits of the Romane empire preserued at that time in
Britaine, which should séeme to be about the yéere of our Lord 399.
[Sidenote: 399.]
¶ Thus were the Romans, as commonlie in all their martiall affaires,
so in this incounter verie fortunate, the happie issue of the conflict
falling out on their side. And strange it is to consider and marke,
how these people by a celestiall kind of influence were begotten and
borne as it were to prowesse and renowme; the course of their dealings
in the field most [Page 548] aptlie answering to their name. For (as
some suppose) the Romans were called of the Gréeke word [Greek: rhomae],
[Sidenote: _Solinus. Adr. Iun._]
signifieng power and mightinesse: and in old time they were called
Valentians, _A valendo_, of preuailing: so that it was no maruell though
they were victorious subduers of forren people, sithens they were by
nature created and appointed to be conquerors, and thereof had their
denomination.
* * * * *
_What the poet Claudianus saith of the state of Britaine in the decaie
of the Romane empire, of the Scots and Picts cruellie vexing the
Britains, they are afflicted by inuasion of barbarous nations, the
practise of the Saxons, of the Scots first comming into this Iland,
and from whence, the Scotish chonographers noted for curiositie and
vanitie_.