FERGUSE.
AND Ferguse then being conueied with a right honorable companie of lords, gentlemen,
Ferguse is conueied into Argile, and there inuested king.
422. H. B.
396. Io. Ma.
The 18 yeare of the emperour Honorius. H. B.
755. H. B.
and cōmons into Argile, was there placed on the chaire of marble, and proclamed king with
all such accustomed pompe and ceremonies as to him apperteined. This was in the 45 yeare
after the Scots had béene driuen forth of Albanie, and after the birth of our sauiour 424, in
the yeare after the death of Honorius the emperour, and from the first erection of the Scotish
kingdome 750 yeares complet. All such castels also and fortresses as the Picts held within anie of those countries which belonged vnto the Scots, were surrendered into their hands in
peaceable wise; but the residue which the Romans kept were earnestlie defended for a while,
though at length through want of victuals and other necessaries, they likewise were deliuered.
¶ If I should here say what I thinke, and that mine opinion might passe for currant coine, I
When the Scots first got certeine seats here in this Ile of Britaine as some thinke.
would not sticke to affirme that either now first (or not long before their late supposed expulsion from hence) the Scots setled themselues to inhabit here within this Ile, and that they had
no certeine seats in the same till then: but that comming either forth of Ireland, or from the
westerne Iles, where they before inhabited, they vsed to make often inuasions into this land,
greatlie molesting as well the Britains, the ancient inhabitants thereof, as the Romans that
then held the Iles, vnder their subiection. For I can neither persuade my selfe, nor wish
others to beléeue, that there was anie such continuance in succession of kings, as their histories doo make mention; & as we haue here before set downe in following the same histories, because we will not willinglie séeme to offer iniurie to their nation, which peraduenture
are otherwise persuaded, and thinke the same succession to be most true, where other perchance may coniecture (and not mooued thereto without good reason) that such kings as in
their histories are auouched to reigne one after another here in this Ile, either reigned in Ireland, or in the out Iles, and that verelie not successiuelie, but diuerse of them at one season,
and in diuerse places. Which mistaking of the course of histories hath bred errors, not onelie amongs; the Scotish writers, but euen amongst some of the British and English writers
also, as to the learned and well aduised readers may plainclie appeare. And as for Gald, and
some other happilie which they take to be kings of Scots, although they reigned in that
part of this Ile which afterwards was possessed by Scots, and after them named Scotland, yet
were they méere Britains, and had little to doo with Scots; except perchance we may thinke
that they held the out Iles in subiection, where the Scots were then inhabiting, far longer time
perhaps (before their settling in Britaine) than their histories make mention.
But now to returne where we left. After that Victorine the Romane legat was aduertised
Victorine prepareth an armie to go against the Scots.
Victorine séeketh to persuade the Picts from taking part with the Scots.
Victorine incampeth néere vnto Camelō with 50000 men.
of all the fore-remembred dooings of the Scotishmen and Picts, he caused an armie to be le
uied with all spéed, and hasted foorth with the same vnto Yorke, where being arriued, he attempted by an herald at armes to persuade the Picts to forsake their confederacie latelie concluded with the Scots: but perceiuing he could not bring it to passe, he determined to pursue
both those nations with open warre: and so therevpon setting forward, he passed foorth till
he came néere Camelon, where he incamped with his whole armie, hauing therein (as the report went) about fiftie thousand persons at the least. Ferguse being aduertised hereof, &
hauing in like maner alreadie assembled a mightie huge host, both of Scotishmen and Picts,
came therwith ouer the Forth, & marched forth with all speed in the night season, in
Ferguse passeth the Forth. Ferguse purposeth to assaile his enimies in the dawning of the day.
purpose to haue set on his enimies verie earlie in the dawning of the next morning. But Victorine hauing knowledge thereof, commanded his men to be arranged and set in order of
battell by the third watch of the same night, so that being redie to receiue the Scots vpon
their first approch, there was fought a right sore and cruell battell, with such slaughter on
both parts, that the riuer of Carron (néere vnto the which their battels ioined) was well
The riuer of Carron runneth with bloud.
néere filled with dead bodies, and the water thereof so changed into a ruddie hue, that it
séemed as though it had run altogither with bloud.
In the end (whilest as yet it was doubtfull to whether side the victorie would incline)
The battell seuered by reason of a tempest.
there came such a sudden shower of raine, mixed with such great abundance of hailestones, that neither part was able to haue sight of other, so that by reason of the violent
rage of that huge storme and tempest, either side was faine to withdraw from the other.
There were slaine in this battell such great numbers of men, as well on the one side as the
other, that they had small lust to ioine in battell againe for certeine yéeres after. For the
The lieutenant furnishing diuerse holds, returneth into Kent.
The Scots & Picts breake vp their campe.
Roman lieutenant vnderstanding what losse of people he had susteined, without attempting
anie further exploit, appointed certeine of his companies to lie in garrison within sundrie
fortresses in Pictland, & with the residue he returned into Kent. In like sort the Scots
with their confederates the Picts, perceiuing themselues not able as then to make anie further
attempt against their enimies, brake vp their armie, and deuised onelie how they might defend that which they had alreadie in possession.
And forsomuch as the Pictish nation was increased vnto a greater multitude of people,
than those countries which they then held were able to find with sufficient sustenance (considering what a great portion of their ancient seates the Britains and Romans kept from
them) it was agréed by the Scots that they should inioy the countrie of Athole, with other
Athole assigned to the Picts.
lands bordering néere vnto the same, lieng without the compasse of the mounteine of
Granzeben. The Picts then being placed in Athole, increased there woonderfullie, and
builded manie faire castels and towers in those parties, to the great beautifieng of that countrie. In which meane while, Victorine the Romane lieutenant commanded the Britains to
The Britains by the appointment of Victorine make a wall.
make hast with the wall (whereof ye haue heard) made of turfe, and susteined with certeine
posts of timber passing ouerthwart the borders betwixt them and their enimies, begining
(as ye haue heard) at Abercorne, and so stretching foorth by Glasco, and Kirkpatrike, euen
vnto Aldcluch, now Dunbriton, 80 miles more northward than the other wall, which the
emperor Adrian caused (as is said) to be made.
Whereof the Scots and Picts being informed, they assembled themselues togither, & vnder
The Scotish men & Picts interrupt the making of that wall.
the leading of a noble man called Graime, they set vpon the Britains, as they were busie in
working about the same, and slue not onelie a great number of labourers and souldiers,
which were set to labour and defend the worke, but also entering into the British borders,
fetched from thence a great bootie of cattell and other riches, which they found dispersed
abroad in the countrie. This Graime (who as I said was chiefe in this enterprise) was
Graime, otherwise called Graham, and his linage.
brother vnto the Scotish quéene, the wife of king Ferguse. He was borne in Denmarke (as
some hold opinion) in the time of the Scotishmens banishment, and had a Scotishman to his
father descended of a noble house, and a Danish ladie to his mother. He himselfe also
maried a noble woman of that nation, and had by hir a daughter, whome Ferguse by the
Ferguse maried a daughter of Graime.
persuasion of the king of Denmarke tooke to wife, and had issue by hir (afore his comming
into Scotland) thrée sonnes, Eugenius, Dongarus, and Constantius, of whome hereafter in
their place mention shall be made, as occasion serueth. Other there be, that affirme how
Diuersitie of opinions touching the originall beginning of the Graimes.
this Graime was a Britaine borne, & that through hate which he bare towards the Romans
for their cruell gouernement, he fled foorth of his natiue countrie, and continued euer after
amongst the Scots, as first in Denmarke, and afterwards in Albion, euer readie to doo what
displeasures he could deuise against the Romans & other their friends or subiects. Of this
Graime those Scots, which vnto this day beare that surname, are said to be descended.
But now to the purpose. Ye shall vnderstand, that after that it was knowne in forrein
countries, how the Scots had got foot againe within those regions, in Albon which their
The Scotish men returne into their countrie.
Ferguse inuadeth the confines of the Britains.
elders in ancient time had possessed, there came dailie diuerse companies of that nation out
of Spaine, France, Germanie, and Italie (where during the time of their banishment they
had serued vnder sundrie capteins) vnto Ferguse to aid him, in recouerie of their countrie
and ancient seats, out of the which they had béene most cruellie expelled. So that Ferguse
now séeing his power thus not a little augmented by their comming, entereth into the borders of Kile, Carike, and Coningham, spoiling and harrieng those countries on euerie side:
but shortlie therevpon commeth the armie of the Romans, with whome the Scots
The Scots put to the woorse.
incountering in battell, receiued no lesse damage than they minded to haue doone vnto their aduersaries. Whervpon being forced to leaue that countrie, they drew backe into Argile, where
Ferguse wintered for that part of the yéere which yet remained.
When summer was come, he was counselled to haue eftsoones offered battell vnto Victorine, who as then was entered Gallowaie: and rather to trie the vttermost point of
Victorine inuadeth Galloway.
fortunes chance against him, than to susteine such displeasures and iniuries at the Romans
hands, as by them were dailie doone vnto him and his people. But there were other that
gaue other aduice, alledging how the danger was great to ieopard againe in battell with the
Romans, being men of such skill & practise in the feats of wars, considering what losse had
Ferguse is dissuaded to fight with the Romans.
chanced in the two former battels. Againe, there was great likelihood, that if he could be
contented to forbeare for a time, and seeke to defend the borders of his countrie, so well as
he might without giuing battell, it must needs come to passe that shortlie the Romane empire should be brought vnto such ruinous decaie, by reason of the multitude of enimies,
The Romane empire inuaded by barbarous nations.
which as then inuaded the same on each side, that in the end Victorine doubting his owne
suertie, would conueie himselfe with his men of warre out of the countrie, and then should
it be an easie matter for the Scots and Picts to recouer againe all such countries as ancientlie
belonged to their elders, and wholie to restore the estates of their common-wealths vnto their
former dignities.
This aduise was followed as the best and most likelie, so that making sundrie roads into
the borders of their enimies countries so to kéepe them still occupied, Ferguse and the Scots
refused vtterlie to come to anie foughten field with them. Shortlie after also it chanced,
that Victorine was accused vnto the emperor Honorius of some secret practise against his
Victorine accused vnto Honorius.
maiestie, as to be about to vsurpe the crowne of Britaine, wherevnto he was compelled in
déed by the souldiers (whose hearts he had woone through his bountious liberalitie sundrie
waies declared towards them) and vnderstanding at this present, that he was minded to
haue fled his waies for doubt of the said information made against him, they did mooue
him with such earnest persuasions to take vpon him the imperiall dignitie, promising euen
to liue and die with him in defense thereof, as well against Honorius, as all other, that in
Victorine taketh vpon him the name and authoritie of emperor in Britaine.
Heraclianus is sent against Victorine.
Victorine is deliuered into the hands of Heraclianus.
Heraclianus is sent into Affrike.
Placidus lieutenant of Britaine.
The warre renewd by the Scots.
the end he consented vnto their desires, and so was proclamed emperor, and clothed in
purpure, vsing thereto all the other imperiall ornaments, as if he had beene emperor indéed.
But afterwards when one Heraclianus was sent with an armie by Honorius into Britaine
against this Victorine, the most part of the souldiers, with those Britains which had acknowledged him for their supréeme gouernor, began to feare the sequele of the matter, and afterward requiring pardon for their offenses, they tooke Victorine, and deliuered him prisoner
vnto the same Heraclianus, with diuers other of his confederats, and so by this means was
the estate of Britaine recouered vnto the behoofe of Honorius, who shortlie after sent for
Heraclianus, minding to send him into Affrike against one Athalus, who vsurped there
against the Romane empire.
At his departure forth of Britaine, he left one Placidus as lieutenant and generall of the
Romane armie in those parties: a man of no great courage, and lesse skill, which being
perceiued of the Scots, gaue occasion to Ferguse their king to renew the warre. And first
he procured Durstus king of the Picts, being the third of that name, to ioine with him in
that enterprise, according to the articles of the league. Who consenting therevnto, when
their powers were once assembled, they entered into the marches of their enimies,
ouerrunning the most part of Kile, Carrike, and Conningham, and after they had taken their
The Scots and Picts inuade the borders of their enimies.
pleasure there, they entered into Galloway, destroieng all before them, which way soeuer
they passed. Then turning into Pictland, they subdue the whole region, and expell all
such Romans and Britains as inhabit the same.
Placidus being aduertised hereof, gathered a great power, and commeth forward towards
Placidus gathereth a power.
He incountereth with his enimies.
Placidus receiueth the ouerthrow.
He fléeth to Yorke.
them, with whom incountering in battell, after long fight, his horssemen chanced to be
put to flight, so that the legions of his footmen being left naked on the sides, were so sore
beaten with the shot of arrowes, and hurling of darts, that in the end they were forced to
breake their araie, & so being chased left to the Scots and Picts a great and ioifull victorie.
Placidus himselfe escapeth vnto Yorke, whither the Scots were minded to haue pursued
him, had not the want of such numbers as they had lost at the battell, somewhat abated
their couragious intents. In the meane time Placidus not onelie mooued with this ouerthrowe, but also weieng with himselfe after what sort the Romane empire was afficted,
with the inuasion of the barbarous nations in Germanie, France, Spaine, Italie, and Affrike,
thought it good to conclude some peace with the Scots and Picts, for doubt of further
Placidus séeketh to haue peace.
A league concluded betwixt Scots, Picts, and Romans.
mishaps that might insue. And so by such meanes as he made, shortlie after a league was
concluded betwixt the Scots, Picts, and Romans, with these conditions: that the Scots and
Picts should inioy and kéepe their ancient seates and regions, which they had now recouered, & hereafter not to make anie rodes or forreies into the prouince belonging to the
Romans, and that the same Romans contenting themselues with the British confines,
should not mooue anie warre or hostilitie towards the Scots or Picts.
This league being thus concluded and ratified, the Scotishmen and Picts indeuoured themselues to reduce the state of their common-wealth into the ancient forme and order. Ferguse
Ferguse diuideth the land in parts.
made partition of lands and grounds throughout all his kingdome, and assigned the same
foorth vnto his subiects the Scotishmen, and to such other strangers as were come into Albion,
to serue him in the wars against his enimies, and were minded now to remaine there. The
other that were desirous to depart againe into their countries, he gaue them honorable rewards, with safe conducts to passe their waies at their owne pleasures. At this time also
were the names of diuerse countries & people changed in the parties of Scotland, vpon
The names of diuers places in Scotland changed.
Cathnesse, whereof it is so named.
Rosse.
sundrie considerations: as Cornana a part of Scotland, lieng in the furthest end of all the
countrie, tooke a new name of one Cathus a valiant capteine, and of the promontorie there
shooting foorth into the sea called Nesse: so that being compound togither, that countrie
was cleped Cathnesse. Also of certeine Irishmen called Rossians, the countrie of Rosse
tooke that name, being afore named Lugia.
That part of the countrie ancientlie called Thezalia, which lieth on the sea coast, began
to be called Buthquhane, of the tribute vsed to be paied there for shéepe, of the which kind
Buthquhane.
of cattell there is great store in that prouince. For Quhane in the old Scotish toong signified
The signification of the name of Buthquhane.
Bogdale.
Louchquhaber.
tribute: and Buth, a flocke of sheepe. The other part of Thezalia, lieng into the landward,
was called Bogdale, of the riuer named Bog, which runneth through the middest of it.
Louchquhaber tooke the name of a great meare or water, into the which the riuer of Quhaber falleth, and passeth through the same, notable by reason of the great plentie of samons
taken therein. Some other countries there be, which kéepe their ancient names euen vnto
this day, as Athole, and Murrey land. And some names remaine a little changed by length
Athole, Murrey land.
Argile, for Argathile; and Mar, for Marthea.
Ferguse repareth churches, and prouideth liuings for religious persons.
The first foundation of the abbeie within the Ile of Iona now Colmekill.
of time, as Argile for Argathile; Mar, for Marthea; and such like.
Ferguse also repared such temples and churches as the warres had defaced, and restored
againe churchmen vnto their former liuings: and further increased the same where he saw
cause, and builded certeine celles and chappels for religious persons to inhabit in, assigning
vnto them large reuenues for their finding. He also laid the foundation of that famous
abbeie within the Ile of Iona, now Colmekill, appointing the same for the buriall of kings,
with certeine ordinances and customes to be vsed about the same. Moreouer, in the time
of peace hee was not negligent in prouiding for the defense of his realme. Such castels
as were decaied and ouerthrowne by the enimies in the warre time, he repared; and in those
which stood towards the borders of the British countries, he placed sundrie garrisons of
Ferguse repareth his castels.
such souldiers as wanted trades to get their liuing now in the time of peace, assigning them
sufficient stipends to liue vpon.
In this meane time, Honorius the emperor being dead, and the estate of the Romane empire dailie falling into decaie, it chanced also that Placidus the lieutenant of Britaine departed
Placidus the lieutenant of Britain dieth.
The Scots & Picts renew the warre.
The crueltie of the Scots and Picts.
out of this life, by reason whereof the Scotishmen and Picts tooke occasion to renew the
warres, making as it were a claime vnto the countries of Westmerland & Cumberland,
which their elders in times past had held and possessed. Entering therefore into those
countries, they take, spoile, and destroie all such of the British nation as went about to
destroie them; neither spared they impotent, aged, or others, but shewed great crueltie
against all such as came in their waies. Manie an honest woman they rauished and misused
after a most villainous maner. The Romane souldiers, after the deceasse of Placidus, ordeined one Castius to succeed in his roome, who being aduertised of this enterprise of the
Castius ordeined lieutenant of Britaine.
Dionethus, or Dionotus, as some books haue.
Castius sendeth vnto Ferguse.
Scotishmen and Picts, doubted least (as the truth was) that Dionethus the sonne of Octauius
sometime king of the Britains, in hope to atteine the crowne of Britaine, as due to him
by inheritance, would now séeke to aid the Scotish king Ferguse, whose sister he had in
mariage. Castius therefore more desirous of peace than of warres, sent foorth a messenger
at armes vnto king Ferguse, requiring him to remember the league made betwixt him and
the Romans, and to withdraw his power foorth of the prouinces, which were subiect vnto
the same Romans, without procéeding anie further in that vnlawfull attempt, either else he
should be sure to feele the puissant force of those people readie bent against him, by whom
his elders had béene driuen out of their countries, and banished quite foorth of all their
dwellings and places of habitation in Albion.
But herevnto was answer made with great indignation, that as for the league thus
The answer of king Ferguse.
alledged, ceassed by the death of Placidus; and as for peace, there was no cause why he
should looke for anie, vntill the whole prouinces, both of Westmerland and Cumberland,
were restored againe into the hands of the Scotishmen and Picts, according as of reason
they ought to be. The like answer also was made by Durstus king of the Picts, vnto
whom Castius had sent a like message. Wherewithall the said Castius being not a little
Castius raiseth an armie.
mooued, assembleth an armie, and with all spéed marcheth foorth toward his enimies: but
before his entering into Westmerland, where they were as thèn lodged in campe, he had
perfect knowledge how Dionethus with his Welshmen (for his lands laie in Wales) was
Dionethus ioineth with the Scots against the Romans.
alreadie ioined with the Scots.
Which newes sore appalled the hearts of the Britains, but yet being incouraged with comfortable words of their capteins to procéed, forward they go togither with the Romans, and
within thrée daies after, they came within sight of their enimies, béeing ranged in battell
readie to receiue them, so that streightwaies buckeling togither, there was a right fierce and
The armies ioine in battle.
cruell battell fought betwixt them, till finallie the multitude of the Scotish archers and kernes
so compassed in the battels of the Romans on each side, and speciallie on the backes, that
in the end, and by reason of the losse of their generall Castius (who was slaine there
amongst them) those of the middle ward being discomfited, brake their arraie and fled.
The Romans giue backe.
The Scots follow in the chase too rashlie.
Wherevpon the residue likewise followed: the Scots, Picts, and Welshmen, pursuing so
egerlie without all order, that there was no small number of them distressed by the Romans,
the which in their giuing backe, kept themselues close togither, readie to defend themselues,
and to beat downe such of their enimies as followed more rashlie than warilie in the chase,
not once regarding to kéepe any order of battell; but yet by other companies that pursued
more orderlie togither for their most aduantage, there was great slaughter made both of
Romans and Britains.
After this victorie thus atchiued, Dionethus was proclamed king of Britaine, and sore
Dionethus proclamed king of Britaine.
Etius lieutenant of the Romans in France or Gallia.
warres continued in the land by the pursuit of the Welshmen, Scots, & Picts, to the great
hazard of the prouince, and likelie expelling of all the Romans quite out of the same.
About this time also there remained in France, one Etius lieutenant to the emperour
Valentinianus, who vnderstanding all these things by letters and messengers sent from the capteins
which yet remained aliue in Britaine, appointed one Maximianus being of kin to the
Maximianus sent ouer into Britaine.
emperor, to passe with an armie in all hast ouer into Britaine, to aid and succor the Romans,
and such Britains there, as still continued in their allegiance which they had promised vnto
the Romane empire.
This Maximianus at his arriuall in the Iland was most ioifullie receiued by the soldiors and
subiects of the foresaid empire. All the lords and nobles of the countrie resorted also vnto
him, shewing themselues most glad of his comming, & promising with what aid soeuer they
were able to make, to go with him against their enimies. Wherevpon, procuring them to
Maximianus causeth the Britains to ioins with him to go against the Scots.
The Scots and Picts assembled against the Romans.
assemble their powers, and to ioine the same with his, which he had brought ouer with him,
he passed through the countrie vnto Yorke, and so from thence marched foorth towards the
Scots, being alreadie assembled in campe to defend the countrie of Westmerland against
him. There were both the kings of Scots and Picts, Ferguse and Durstus, with Dionethus,
naming himselfe king of the Britains, who had brought with him, beside the Welshmen, a
great number of those Britains that inhabited in the countries now accounted the marches
of Wales, the which onelie amongst all other the Britains acknowledged him for king.
When both the armies were come néere togither, they camped for that night the one in sight
The armies prepare to battell.
Ferguse exhorteth his people to doo valiantlie.
Right ministreth hope of good successe.
of the other, and in the morning following they prepared themselues to battell. Ferguse
first making an earnest oration vnto his people, to incourage them the more boldlie to giue
the onset, declared amongst other things how the right was on their sides, which alwaies
ought to minister hope of good successe in them that enterprise anie thing in defense thereof;
where contrarilie all such as attempted to disquiet other by iniurie and wrong dooing, could
not but looke for an euill conclusion of their malicious intents and purposes. Neither were
other of his capteins negligent in their duties, but that both in exhorting their bands, they
vsed most comfortable woords, and in disposing them in good order of battell, they shewed
most readie and earnest diligence.
On the other side, Maximianus with his capteins and officers of bands were as busie on
their side to array their battels most for their aduantage, as they saw cause and occasion, so
that both the armies being readie to fight, the onset was giuen, and that in most furious wise,
The onset is giuen.
the Romans being at the first sore annoied with arrowes and darts, which flue so thicke
from ech side, that their sight was in manner taken from them, the skie séeming as it had
béen couered ouer with a pentise. So that Maximianus perceiuing this disaduantage, he
Maximianus perceiuing the disaduantage, prouideth to remedie the same.
The Scots disordered.
caused a fresh legion of his soldiors to aduance forward to the succour of their fellowes; by
reason whereof the battell was foorthwith most cruellie renewed, the hindermost wings of the
Romans sore preasing vpon their enimies: so that in the end passing quite through their
battels, they caused a great disorder and feare amongest those Scots and other their confederats, which were placed in the hindermost ranks. But yet casting themselues in a ring,
they made great & stout resistance for a space, and at length a great number euen of the
most valiant personages of the whole host, closed themselues togither, and with maine force
assaied to haue broken through the thickest prease of their enimies, but being inuironed
about on ech part, they were there slaine ech mothers sonne. Whilest the Romans drew
togither to resist on that side, other of the Scotishmen, Picts, Britains, & Welshmen, found
a waie to get foorth through their enimies on the other side, and so being gotten past them,
made awaie as fast as their féet might beare them: but a great number being notwithstanding
ouertaken, were slaine and beaten downe right pitifullie.
Ferguse the Scotish king, and Durstus king of the Picts were slaine in this mortall battell
The two kings Ferguse and Durstus are slaine.
Dionethus escapeth.
Maximianus pursueth the victorie.
togither, with the most part of all their nobilitie. Dionethus being sore wounded escaped to
the sea side, and there getting a ship, passed ouer into Wales. This ouerthrow sore dismaied both the Scotish and Pictish nations, who looked for nothing more than present expulsion out of their countries, for Maximianus pursuing the victorie, burst into Galloway,
most cruellie wasting and spoiling the same. And when he had made an end there, he
entred into Anandale, and into the Pictish confines, destroieng all before him with fire and
swoord. Camelon was besieged, taken by force, and miserablie put to sacke and spoile,
Camelon taken by force.
with diuerse other notable townes and places, as well belonging to the Picts as Scots.
Neither was there anie end of these cruell dooings, till both the Scots & Picts for their
The Scots and Picts withdraw beyond the wall of Abircorne.
refuge were generallie constreined to withdraw themselues beyond the wall of Abircorne,
which (as before is said) a few yeeres passed was begun by the Britains, and stretched from
Abircorne aforesaid, ouerthwart the land vnto Alcluth now Dunbreton.
Maximianus hauing thus driuen his enimies beyond this wall, caused them to make assurance by their oth of couenant, neuer to passe the same againe by waie of hostilitie, either
against the Britains or Romans. There were that counselled Maximianus either vtterlie to
haue destroied both the Scots and Picts, either els to haue driuen them out of the whole
Ile. But he being satisfied with that which was alreadie doone, thought good to returne
vnto Yorke, and there to winter, that in the beginning of the next spring he might go into
Wales, to chastise Dionethus and other of that countrie for their rebellion, in aiding the
enimies of the empire. But when the time came that he should haue set forward on that
iournie, he heard such newes from the parties of beyond the seas, into what ruinous decaie
the empire was fallen, without anie likelihood of recouerie, that changing his purpose, he
minded to vsurpe the crowne of Britaine as absolute king thereof himselfe. And to haue
Maximianus taketh vpon him the absolute gouernance of Britaine, with the imperiall title.
He marrieth Othilia the daughter of Dionethus.
Dionethus reputed for second person of the realme.
the more fauor of the British nation without anie impeachment in the beginning of his
reigne, he tooke to wife one of the daughters of Dionethus, being the elder of those two,
which he onelie had without issue male, by the sister of king Ferguse. She that was thus
coopled in mariage with Maximianus was called Othilia, & the other daughter named Vrsula
was professed a nun in an house of religion, to the intent that the whole right which Dionethus pretended to the realme, might remaine to the wife of Maximianus. Then was
Dionethus made second person of the realme, aswell in degree of honor, as in publike
gouernment.
