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And still no help came from her cousin； the admiral。 But one day
a galley speeding up the Colne brought this unsigned message to
King Coel：
〃To Coel； Camalodunum； Greeting：
〃Save thyself。 Constantius the sallow…faced； prefect of the
Western praetorians； is even now on his way from Spain to crush
thy revolt。 Save thyself。 I wait。 justice will come。〃
〃Thou seest； O daughter；〃 said King Coel as Helena read the
craven missive； 〃the end cometh as I knew it would。 Well； man can
but die。〃 And with this philosophic reflection the 〃jolly old
soul〃 only dipped his red nose still deeper into his big bowl；
and bade his musicians play their loudest and merriest。
But Helena； 〃not deficient in statecraft；〃 thought for both。 She
would save her father； her country； and herself； and shame her
disloyal cousin。 Discretion is the better part of valor。 Let us
see how discreet a little lady was this fair young Princess
Helena。
The legions came to Camalodunum。 Across Gaul and over the choppy
channel they came； borne by the very galleys that were to have
succored the British king。 Up through the mouth of Thames they
sailed； and landing at Londinium； marched in close array along
the broad Roman road that led straight up to the gates of
Camalodunum。 Before the walls of Camalodunum was pitched the
Roman camp； and the British king was besieged in his own
palace…town。
The Roman trumpets sounded before the gate of the beleaguered
city； and the herald of the prefect； standing out from his circle
of guards； cried the summons to surrender：
Coel of Britain； traitor to the Roman people and to thy lord the
Emperor； hear thou！ I n the name of the Senate and People of
Rome； I； Constantius the prefect； charge thee to deliver up to
them ere this day's sun shall set； this； their City of
Camalodunum； and thine own rebel body as well。 Which done they
will in mercy pardon the crime of treason to the city； and will
work their will and punishment only upon theethe chief rebel。
And if this be not done within the appointed time； then will the
walls of this their town of Camalodunum be overthrown； and thou
and all thy people be given the certain death of traitors。〃
King Coel heard the summons； and some spark of that very
patriotism that had inspired and incited his valiant little
daughter flamed in his heart。 He would have returned an answer of
defiance。 〃I can at least die with my people；〃 he said； but young
Helena interposed。
〃Leave this to me； my father；〃 she said。 〃As I have been the
cause； so let me be the end of trouble。 Say to the prefect that
in three hours' time the British envoy will come to his camp with
the king's answer to his summons。〃
The old king would have replied otherwise； but his daughter's
entreaties and the counsels of his captains who knew the
hopelessness of resistance； forced him to assent； and his herald
made answer accordingly。
Constantius the prefecta manly； pleasant。 looking young
commander； called Chlorus or 〃the sallow；〃 from his pale
face；sat in his tent within the Roman camp。 The three hours'
grace allowed had scarcely expired when his sentry announced the
arrival of the envoy of Coel of Britain。
〃Bid him enter；〃 said the prefect。 Then； as the curtains of his
tent were drawn aside； the prefect started in surprise； for there
before him stood； not the rugged form of a British fighting man；
but a fair young girl； who bent her graceful head in reverent
obeisance to the youthful representative of the Imperial Caesars。
〃What would'st thou with me； maiden？〃 asked the prefect。
〃I am the daughter of Coel of Britain；〃 said the girl； 〃and I am
come to sue for pardon and for peace。〃
〃The Roman people have no quarrel with the girls of Britain；〃
said the prefect。 〃Hath then King Coel fallen so low in state
that a maiden must plead for him？〃
〃He hath not fallen at all； O Prefect；〃 replied the girl proudly；
〃the king； my father； would withstand thy force but that I； his
daughter； know the cause of this unequal strife； and seek to make
terms with the victors。〃
The girl's fearlessness pleased the prefect； for Constantius
Chlorus was a humane and gentle man； fierce enough in fight； but
seeking never to needlessly wound an enemy or lose a friend。
〃And what are thy terms； fair envoy of Britain？〃 he demanded。
〃These； O Prefect；〃 replied Helena； 〃If but thou wilt remove thy
cohorts to Londinium； I pledge my father's faith and mine； that
he will； within five days； deliver to thee as hostage for his
fealty； myself and twenty children of his councillors and
captains。 And further； I； Helena the princess； will bind myself
to deliver up to thee； with the hostages； the chief rebel in this
revolt； and the one to whose counselling this strife with Rome is
due。〃
Both the matter and the manner of the offered terms still further
pleased the prefect； and he said： 〃Be it so； Princess。〃 Then
summoning his lieutenant； he said： 〃Conduct the envoy of Coel of
Britain with all courtesy to the gates of the the city；〃 and with
a herald's escort the girl returned to her father。
Again the old king rebelled at the terms his daughter had made。
〃I know the ways of Rome；〃 he said。 〃I know what their mercy
meaneth。 Thou shalt never go as hostage for my faith； O daughter；
nor carry out this hazardous plan。〃
〃I have pledged my word and thine； O King；〃 said Helena。 〃Surely
a Briton's pledge should be as binding as a Roman's。〃
So she carried her point； and； in five days' time； she； with
twenty of the boys and girls of Camalodunum； went as hostages to
the Roman camp in London。
〃Here be thy hostages； fair Princess；〃 said Constantius the
prefect as he received the children； 〃and this is well。 But
remember the rest of thy compact。 Deliver to me now； according to
thy promise； the chief rebel against Rome。〃
〃She is here； O Prefect；〃said the intrepid girl。 I am that
rebelHelena of Britain！〃
The smile upon the prefect's face changed to sudden sternness。
〃Trifle not with Roman justice； girl；〃 he said； 〃I demand the
keeping of thy word。〃
〃It is kept；〃 replied the princess。 〃Helena of Britain is the
cause and motive of this revolt against Rome。 If it be rebellion
for a free prince to claim his own； if it be rebellion for a
prince to withstand for the sake of his people the unjust demands
of the conqueror； if it be rebellion for one who loveth her
father to urge that father to valiant deeds in defence of the
liberties of the land over which he ruleth as king； then am I a
rebel； for I have done all these； and only because of my words
did the king； my father； take up arms against the might and power
of Rome。 I am the chief rebel。 Do with me as thou wilt。〃
And now the prefect saw that the girl spoke the truth； and that
she had indeed kept her pledge。
〃Thy father and his city are pardoned；〃 he announced after a few
moments of deliberation。 〃Remain thou here； thou and thy
companions； as hostages for Britain； until such time as I shall
determine upon the punishment due to one who is so fierce a rebel
against the power of Rome。〃
So the siege of Camalodunum was raised； and the bloodless
rebellion ended。 Constantius the prefect took up his residence
for a while within King Coel's city； and at last returned to his
command in Gaul and Spain； well pleased with the spirit of the
little maiden whom； so he claimed； he still held in his power as
the prisoner of Rome。
Constantius the prefect came again to Britain； and with a greater
following； fully ten years after King Coel's revolt； for now；
again； rebellion was afoot in the island province。
Carausius the admiral； biding his time； sought at last to carry
out his scheme of sole supremacy。 Sailing with his entire
war…fleet to Britain； he won the legions to his side； proclaimed
himself Emperor of Britain； and defied the power of Rome。
So daring and successful was his move that Rome for a time was
powerless。 Carausius was recognized as 〃associate〃 emperor by
Rome； until such time as she should be ready to punish his
rebellion； and for seven years he reigned as emperor of Britain。
But ere this came to pass； Helena the princess had gone over to
Gaul； and had become the wife of Constantius the prefect；〃Since
only thus；〃 said he； 〃may I keep in safe custody this prisoner of
Rome。〃
The imperial power of Carausius was but short…lived。 Crafty
himself； he fell a victim to the craft of others； and the sword
of Allectus； his chief minister and most trusted confidant； ended
his life when once again the power of Rome seemed closing about
the little kingdom of Britain。
Constantius became governor of Britain； and finally caesar and
emperor。 But； long before that day arrived； the Princess Helena
had grown into a loyal Roman wife and mother； dearly loving her
little son Constantine； who； in after years； became