r was
discontinued: at this period also, St. Martin became celebrated for his
virtues and miracles, and held a conversation with him.

(1) This is an inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximianus
were one and the same person; or rather no such person as
Maximianus ever reigned in Britain. (2) Geoffrey of Monmouth
gives the title of consul to several British generals who
lived after this time. It is not unlikely that the town,
name, and dignity, still lingered in the provinces after the
Romans were gone, particularly as the cities of Britain
maintained for a time a species of independence.

27. The seventh emperor was Maximus. He withdrew from Britain with all
his military force, slew Gratian, the king of the Romans, and obtained
the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to send back his warlike
companions to their wives, children, and possessions in Britain, he
conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of
Mons Jovis, to the city called Cant Guic, and to the western Tumulus,
that is, to Cruc Occident.* These are the Armoric Britons, and they
remain there to the present day. In consequence of their absence,
Britain being overcome by foreign nations, the lawful heirs were cast
out, till God interposed with his assistance. We are informed by the
tradition of our ancestors that seven emperors went into Britain, though
the Romans affirm there were nine.

* This district, in modern language, extended from the great
St. Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy, and from
Picardy to the western coast of France.

28. Thus, aggreeably to the account given by the Britons, the Romans
governed them four hundred and nine years.

After this, the Britons despised the authority of the Romans, equally
refusing to pay them tribute, or to receive their kings; nor durst the
Romans any longer attempt the government of a country, the natives of
which massacred their deputies.

29. We must now return to the tyrant Maximus. Gratian, with his brother
Valentinian, reigned seven years. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, was then
eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics. Valentinianus
and Theodosius reigned eight years. At that time a synod was held at
Constantinople, attended by three hundred and fifty of the fathers,
and in which all heresies were condemned. Jerome, the presbyter of
Bethlehem, was then universally celebrated. Whilst Gratian exercised
supre