Of whom he did great _Constantine_ beget, lx Who afterward was Emperour of _Rome_; To which whiles absent he his mind did set, _Octauius_ here lept into his roome, And it vsurped by vnrighteous doome: But he his title iustifide by might, Slaying _Traherne_, and hauing ouercome The _Romane_ legion in dreadfull fight: So settled he his kingdome, and confirmd his right. But wanting issew male, his daughter deare[799] lxi He gaue in wedlocke to _Maximian_, And him with her made of his kingdome heyre, Who soone by meanes thereof the Empire wan, Till murdred by the friends of _Gratian_; Then gan the Hunnes and Picts inuade this land, During the raigne of _Maximinian_; Who dying left none heire them to withstand, But that they ouerran all parts with easie hand. The weary _Britons_, whose war-hable youth lxii Was by _Maximian_ lately led away, With wretched miseries, and woefull ruth, Were to those Pagans made an open pray, And dayly spectacle of sad decay: Whom _Romane_ warres, which now foure hundred yeares, And more had wasted, could no whit dismay; Till by consent of Commons and of Peares, They crownd the second _Constantine_ with ioyous teares, Who hauing oft in battell vanquished lxiii Those spoilefull Picts, and swarming Easterlings, Long time in peace his Realme established, Yet oft annoyd with sundry bordragings Of neighbour Scots, and forrein Scatterlings, With which the world did in those dayes abound: Which to outbarre, with painefull pyonings From sea to sea he heapt a mightie mound, Which from _Alcluid_ to _Panwelt_ did that border bound. Three sonnes he dying left, all vnder age; lxiv By meanes whereof, their vncle _Vortigere_ Vsurpt the crowne, during their pupillage; Which th’Infants tutors gathering to feare, Them closely into _Armorick_ did beare: For dread of whom, and for those Picts annoyes, He sent to _Germanie_, straunge aid to reare, From whence eftsoones arriued here three hoyes Of _Saxons_, whom he for his safetie imployes. Two brethren were their Capitains[800], which hight lxv _Hengist_ and _Horsus_, well approu’d in warre, And both of them men of renowmed might; Who making vantage of their ciuill iarre, And of those forreiners, which came from farre, Grew great, and got large portions of land, That in the Realme ere long they stronger arre, Then they which sought at first their helping hand, And _Vortiger_ enforst[801] the kingdome to aband.