Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England — John Shaqi
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Roman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D.
[Sidenote: Dioclesian and Maximian.]
"We trulie (O perpetuall parents and lords of mankind) require
this of the immortall gods with most earnest supplication and heartie
praier, that our children and their children, and such other as shall
come of them for euer hereafter, may be dedicated vnto you, and to
those whom you now bring vp, or shall bring vp hereafter. For what
better hap can we wish to them that shall succeed vs, than to be
enioiers of that felicitie which now we our selues enioy? The Romane
common wealth dooth now comprehend in one coniunction of peace, all
whatsoeuer at sundrie times haue belonged to the Romans, and that huge
power which with too great a burden was shroonke downe, and riuen in
sunder, is now brought to ioine againe in the assured ioints of the
imperiall gouernment. For there is no part of the earth nor region
vnder heauen, but that either it remaineth quiet through feare, or
subdued by force of armies, or at the lestwise bound by clemencie.
And is there anie other thing else in other parts, which if will and
reason should mooue men thereto, that might be obteined? Beyond the
Ocean, what is there more than Britaine, which is so recouered by
[Sidenote: Nations néere to Britaine obeie the emperours.]
you, that those nations which are nere adioining to the bounds of that
Ile, are obedient to your commandements? There is no occasion that may
mooue you to passe further, except the ends of the Ocean sea, which
nature forbiddeth should be sought for. All is yours (most inuincible
princes) which are accounted woorthie of you, and thereof commeth it,
that you may equallie prouide for euerie one, sith you haue the whole
in your maiesties hands. And therefore as heretofore (most excellent
emperour Dioclesian) by your commandement Asia did supplie the desert
places of Thracia with inhabitants transported thither, as afterward
(most excellent emperour Maximian) by your appointment, the Frankeners
at length brought to a pleasant subiection, and admitted to liue vnder
[Sidenote: The printed booke hath Heruij, but I take the H, to be
thrust in for N.]
lawes, hath peopled and manured the vacant fields of the Neruians,
and those about the citie of Trier. And so now by your victories
(inuincible Constantius Cesar) whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens,
Beauois, Trois, and Langres, beginneth to florish with inhabitants of
sundrie nations: yea and moreouer that your most obedient citie of
Autun, for whose sake I haue a peculiar cause to reioise, by meanes
of this triumphant victorie in Britaine, it hath receiued manie &
[Sidenote: Artificers foorth of Britaine.]
diuerse artificers, of whom those prouinces were ful, and now by their
workemanship the same citie riseth vp by repairing of ancient houses,
and restoring of publike buildings and temples, so that now it
accounteth that the old name of brotherlie incorporation to Rome, is
againe to hir restored, when she hath you eftsoones for hir founder. I
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