FERITHARIS.
BUT now to my purpose. After Feritharis with the full consent of all the people was
thus elected king, he was inthronized with all solemnitie in receiuing his kinglie ornaments,
as his two edged sword, his scepter roiall, and his crowne of gold fashioned in forme of a
A two edged sword.
rampire made for defense of a towne or fortresse, signifieng that he tooke vpon him to preserue the libertie of his countrie, to sée offendors dulie punished, and the execution of lawes
with equall punishment trulie ministred.
These ornaments of inuesture remained vnto the Scotish kings, without being in anie
point changed, till the daies of Achaius king of Scotland, who establishing a perpetuall league
with Charles the great, emperour and king of France, to indure for euer betwéene the Scots
and Frenchmen, added vnto the crowne foure flower de lices, togither with foure croslets,
The crowne changed,
diuided in sunder with equall spaces, rising somewhat higher than the flower de lices: that
thereby the obseruing of the christian religion and sincere faith, mainteined by the Scotish
nation, might be the more euident to all men that beheld it. But now as touching Feritharis,
The league with the Picts confirmed.
shordie after he was thus inuested king, he came to an interuiew with the king of the Picts,
where manie things being communed of touching the wealth of both nations, the league
was in solemne wise confirmed, and such punished as had doone anie thing sounding to the
breach of the same.
After this, being returned home, he ordered himselfe in the administration of his charge
verie vprightlie, without giuing iust occasion vnto anie to find himselfe gréeued: and thus
continued he certeine yéeres in such loue of all the estates of the realme, that afterwards
when his nephue Ferlegus the eldest sonne of king Ferguse, being now come to full age,
through instigation of some insolent persons, and such as by alteration hoped for aduancement, required (contrarie to the ordinance before established) to haue of him the crowne:
the matter was taken in such ill part, that where before the same Ferlegus was highlie beloued and honored of all the people, they were now readie (if Feritharis had not with
authoritie and gentle persuasions staied them) to haue torne him all in peeces: but although their rage was somewhat appeased by Feritharis, as is said, yet would they not be
pacified throughlie, till that all such as had béene of counsell with him in that practise, had
suffered death, and new gouernors appointed to haue the ouersight of him.
Feritharis liued not passing thrée moneths after this businesse, but died suddenlie in the
Feritharis suddenly died.
night, the truth not being knowne whether by naturall death, or through treason of Ferlegus
and certeine of his complices (whereof there was no small suspicion) for that he togither
with them found meanes to flée first to the Picts, and after to the Britains, where he passed
Ferlegus exiled.
the residue of his life in great shame and ignominie. Feritharis being thus dead in the 15
yéere of his reigne, the nobles assembled togither for the election of a new king, and in
An election of a new king.
the end they agréed vpon Mainus the yoonger sonne of king Ferguse, as then being about
24 yéeres of age.
