The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts
1577

Previous | Next

Compare 1587 edition: 1

Fer|quhard.

Ferquhard the ſeconde of that parte treated king of Scot|lande.

Ferquhard be|ing king was [...] he was [...], he ſhew|eth libera| [...]tie.

AFter the deceſſe of Donwalde, his nephewe Ferquhard the ſonne of his brother, the other Ferquhard, ſucceeded in gouernemente of the Realme, a man of quicke & liuely ſpirit, but en|clined neuertheleſſe rather vnto euill than vnto good, ſpecially after he had atteyned the crowne, in ſomuch as it was commonly ſpoken of him, that from a liberal and moſt gentle humane per|ſon, he was ſodenly changed into an inſatiable & moſt cruell monſter. Before he came to ye crown he was liberall beyonde meaſure. There was no gentleman yt wanted money, eyther to redeeme his lands engaged, or to beſtow in dower for the mariage of his daughter, but if he had wherwith to helpe him, hee might accompte him ſelfe ſure thereof.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Prieſts and other deuoute perſons, ſpecially ſuch as were poore and in any neceſſitie, he often|times moſt bountifully releeued to their greate eaſe and comfort. To be briefe, ſuche a readineſſe was in him to help al mẽ, that (as was thought) he could better be contented to want himſelf, thã to ſee other men haue neede of any thing yt was in his poſſeſſion, ſo that al men iudged him moſt worthy of all princely authoritie. But after he was once placed in the kingly ſeate, he ſo altered his conditions, that men coulde not but wonder muche therat. Where, before he was knowne to be liberal, wel diſpoſed, righteous, ſober, and a re|former of offẽces, he was now forthwith become couetous, wicked towards god, a tormentor of the iuſt & righteous people, and inſatiable in all vnlauful affections. That which before time he had giuen vnto any of ye nobilitie,Giftes are re|quired as a loan. he now with|out al ſhame moſt vncurteouſly demaunded to be to him reſtored, alledging that he did but lend it for the time. And ſuch as went about to delay reſtitution pretẽding any excuſe,Loe, what a pretence coue|touſnes hath. he cauſed their goodes to be confiſcate, and alſo their bodies to be cõmitted to priſon: Now and then he found meanes without cauſe or matter to put ſome of them to cruel death.For their goo|des ſake pre|lates are trou|bled. Suche of the Prelates as he vnderſtode to be wealthy, he reſted not till he had piked one mater or other vnto them, wherby they were ſure to forfaite all their treaſure vnto his coffers, that neuer myght be filled.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The biſhops of the realme,The kyng is excommu|nicated. namely thoſe two reuerend fathers, Colman & Fynnan, perceyuing ſuch wickednes in the prince, blamed him ſharp|ly ſundry times for the ſame: & at length bicauſe they ſaw howe he regarded not their admoniſh|ments, he was by them excõmunicate: whereof he ſo little paſſed,The king is hunting. that when other wente vnto the church to heare diuine ſeruice, he woulde get him to the woodes & forreſts to hunt the harte, or ſome other game. Neither were ſuche wanting as were willing to keepe him companie:He was a glut|ton. ſo redy is the nature of man at all tymes to follow licẽ|tious libertie. He vſed alſo, contrary to the cu|ſtome of his countrey, to eate .iij. meales a day, hauing ſuch number of diſhes and abundance of delicate fare, as the like had not bene vſed at any tyme before thoſe dayes in that realme: and all to ſerue his greedy appetit, together with theyrs that followed his companie.

Previous | Next