Compare 1587 edition: 1 Then one Albian, a man of great nobilitie, (whome the king had lately before inſtituted hys lieutenant in the Iles) ſpake in this maner:

Compare 1587 edition: 1 By this Oration Albian drew the multitude eaſily vnto his purpoſe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Then one Albian, a man of great nobilitie (whome the king had latelie before instituted his lieutenant in the Iles) spake in this manner.

If it were possi|ble Albian his O|ration. that there might be one sure and inuiolable con|sent amongst those foure people, which at this daie haue their habitations within the bounds of Albion, or that the Englishmen knew what it were to stand and abide by faith and promises made and giuen, we would not denie but that those considerations and aduises which Colman hath héere vttered, ought to be followed; bicause that then there should be no occasi|on at all, why we should conclude anie league with a|nie forren nation. But forsomuch as there was ne|uer man that found more vntruth and breach of pro|mise The English Saxons brea|kers of pro|mise. in anie nation, than hath béene found in these Saxons (the which hauing got the rule in Albion, are now called Englishmen) as the Scots, Picts, and Britains haue by triall sufficientlie prooued; I sup|pose it is euidentlie knowne vnto you, that either we must of necessitie fight and stand at defense against the Englishmen, readie to assaile vs both with open force and secret craft, either els linke our selues with such alies and confederats, as by their support we maie be the better able to withstand the malice of such vnfaithfull people. Call ye this faith, or treason, I praie you? The Saxons in times past being reque|sted of the Britains to aid them against their eni|mies, were most louinglie receiued, and highlie re|warded for their seruice: but they contrarilie in re|compense of such kindnesse, shewed themselues in stéed of aiders, enimies; in stéed of defenders, destroi|ers: turning their weapons points against the Bri|tains, by whome they had béene so sent for to their aid; and now haue not onelie destroied a great num|ber of them by fire and swoord, but also they haue spoi|led them of their kingdome & libertie. What league or truce haue they at anie time kept (you your selues are not ignorant of this which I speake) where either they saw occasion to vex their neighbors, or hoped to gaine anie thing by falsifieng their faiths, as they that haue neuer béene ashamed so to doo, where hope to haue commoditie (if I may so call it) hath at anie hand béene offered. Into what sundrie and most mi|serable calamities hath the trecherie of the Saxons brought the sillie Britains? How oftentimes haue they broken the peace established with vs, and also with the Picts; euen when we least thought vpon anie such thing? Yea and that more is, amongst them selues at this season the Englishmen warre one a|gainst another, more with craftie traines than with open force, in such wise that in Northumberland so manie kings, and so manie noble men haue béene traitorouslie murthered and made awaie, that scarse EEBO page image 122 may there be anie found that will take vpon him the supreme gouernement of that countrie. It is not To induce o|thers to his purpose, he ta|keth the ad|uantage of ca|suall haps, charging the whole nation with the fault of a few parti|cular persons. manie yéeres ago, since Oswin king of that coun|trie was rid out of the waie through treason of Os|wie that succeeded him in the kingdome, and was after depriued both of life and kingdome by Osrike, whome Egbert desirous to reigne in his place, found meanes by traitorous practise to dispatch. Egbert was slaine by Mollo, and Mollo by Alfred, which Al|fred was after slaine by the guilefull craft of Ethel|bert. Neither had Ethelbert anie better successe in the end, for now of late betraied by his owne sub|iects, he was by them shamefullie slaine and murthe|red. Neither with lesse traitorous shifts and deuises doo the Englishmen mainteine their warres in all places where they are inhabiting within Albion. The reuerend fathers of the spiritualtie, and other godlie men addicted to vertue, vnto whom the setting foorth of Gods woord hath béene committed, wearie of and abhorring this wood madnesse, rage and wicked mis|demeanor of that nation, haue left their bishoprikes, abbeies, monasteries, and cels, and from thence haue remooued into forren regions. Therefore where the Englishmen doo absteine at this present from ma|king vs warres, it is not to be imputed to anie reue|rence they haue vnto faith, equitie, or respect of the league, which they haue made with vs, but onelie vn|to such ciuill sedition and discord, as now dooth reigne amongst them. Neither ought anie of vs of right to doubt, but that when the same once ceasseth, they will immediatlie take weapon in hand against vs, not|withstanding all leagues or couenants of peace con|firmed to the contrarie. To represse therefore and a|bate their subtill practises, I can find no readier meane than to enter into friendship, and conclude a league with that people, which being ioined with vs, may chastise such outragious furie of this wicked nation, as cause and oportunitie shall require. For|tune hath offred vnto vs a conuenient meane and oc|casion héerevnto. For héere be at this present the French kings ambassadors, offering that vnto vs, which (being so great a benefit) we might scarse wish for. That is, they require to haue vs to ioine in league against the Englishmen, with their king, whome France, Spaine, and no small part of Ger|manie The French|men in those daies possessed not onelie that part of Gallia, which we now call France, but also the most part of the countries now inhabited by the Dutch|men or Ger|mans, name|lie on this side the riuer Rhene. doo acknowledge for their souereigue. Ought this to be despised of men that haue their perfect sen|ses? Ought the societie of the French nation to be refused of vs, inhabiting here in the vttermost parts of the earth, the same being fréelie offered by them, vnto whom for their sincere faith both towards God and man, the large empire of the world is granted? So that if we shall thankfullie receiue this most no|table benefit, the same shall purchase vnto vs the friendship of the Spaniards, Frenchmen, Ger|mans, and all those nations which acknowledge king Charles for their head and souereigne lord. Héere vp|on also frée passage for merchants shall be open, to passe to and fro vnto vs, with all kind of merchan|dize and wares of traffike. I trust therefore that eue|rie one of you (so that he weie the thing with him|selfe throughlie) will easilie iudge that the friendship and societie of the Frenchmen (verie puissant both by sea and land) and thereto of approoued faith and stedfastnesse in promise, ought more to be estéemed, and is more beneficiall to the Scotish common|wealth, than the vnstedfast promises and great disloi|altie of the Saxons. To which of you is it vnknowne that the English nation studieth no lesse to bring vs vnder the yoke of seruitude, than they doo the Welsh|men, if their force might answer directlie to their wils? Therefore if we desire to auoid the violent power of most cruell enimies, if we meane to a|uoid their craftie practises, if we regard the christian religion, for the which the Frenchmen are continu|allie in armor, if we set more by vertue and constan|cie than by vnfaithfulnesse and breach of couenants and promises, if we labor for the glorie and honor of our nation, if we couet to aduance our countrie, our owne rest, and quietnesse; and to be briefe, if we passe vpon life and libertie, the most déerest things that may happen to man, let vs with ioifull harts esta|blish this league with the Frenchmen, and firmelie continue in the same, vpon assured trust and confi|dence that it shall bring perpetuall commoditie and renowme to vs, both for the safegard of our realme, & restreint of the Englishmens vnlawfull attempts and wrongfull iniuries, which héereafter they either shall or may at any time enterprise against vs.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Then Achaius vnderstanding how the minds of all his subiects were in manner wholie inclined to the league, commanded all the companie to be there in the same place againe the next day. And so brea|king vp their assemblie for that time, the king made the French ambassadors that night a costlie supper with a banket, and after hauing conference with his The league with the Frenchmen agréed vpon. nobles and lords of the councell, it was agréed by ge|nerall consent amongst them, that for the solemne ratifieng of this league with king Charles, accor|ding as he had required, there should go with his am|bassadors at their returne the lord William the brother of king Achaius, with foure other honorable and learned personages, being men of perfect know|ledge and skill, and such as were estéemed most meet for such a purpose. Also, that they should take foure thousand men ouer with them to serue against the infidels and enimies of the christian religion, where and in such sort as king Charles should appoint them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Héere vpon the next day going first to church, and The league is concluded. there making their common supplications vnto al|mightie God, according to the rites and ancient cu|stomes, they after resorted vnto the councell cham|ber, where Achaius opened and declared vnto the French ambassadors all that was concluded by him, and other the estates of his realme, touching the mes|sage which they had brought from king Charles. Who reioising (as should appéere) greatlie héereat, gaue most hartie thanks vnto him, and to all the residue for their beneuolent wils héerein shewed towards king Charles their maister, and all the French nati|on. After this, remaining certeine daies with Achai|us, who made them all the chéere that might be ima|gined, they departed towards Hungus king of the Hungus king of the Picts. Picts, vnto whome at their comming to his presence they made the like request on their maisters behalfe, which they had made before vnto Achaius.