Compare 1587 edition: 1 But now to returne to the Pictes.The doubt of the tyme of the cõming of Picts & Scots into Britayne. It may be that they came at ſeuerall tymes in like manner as the Scottes didde out of Irelande, of whome the fyrſte is remembred to be Ferguſe, the ſonne EEBO page image 8 of Ferquhard,Ferguſe kyng of Scots. a man right ſkilful in blaſon of armorie, hee himſelfe bare a Lion gules in a field of gold.The marble ſtone. The marble ſtone wherof in the Scottiſhe hiſtorie is mencioned, brought into Ireland by Symon Brechus, and kepte tyll thoſe dayes as a precious iewell, this Ferguſe obteyned towardes the proſpering of his iour|ney, for that it was thoughte, who ſo had the ſame in poſſeſſion, coulde not but obteyne ſo|uerayntie and rule ouer others as a king, na|mely thoſe of the Scottiſhe nation.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This ſtone Ferguſe brynging into Scot|land left it there. But although that Ferguſe be put in ranke among thoſe Scottiſhe kings that ſhuld reigne in Britayn, yet he bare ſmal rule there, and was diuers tymes beaten back into Irelande, where finally he was drowned by myſfortune within the creeke of Knock|fergus.Knockfergus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 That hee encountred with Coilus king of Britons (as the Scots write) is not poſſible, as oure author hathe verie well noted, excepte they myſtake the name of Coilus for Cailus, with whome the age of Ferguſe mighte well meete: the rather for that in the firſte yeare of Cailus reigne the Pictes entred, Ferguſe im|mediately after them .330. yeeres ere Chriſte was borne, where Coilus reigned in the yeare after the incarnation .124.124. about whiche tyme befell the ſecond arriuall of the Pictes in Bri|tayne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 And verelie I thinke we may more safelie beléeue that which he auoucheth in this behalfe, than that which Hector Boetius setteth downe, sith for anie thing I can perceiue, his authorities bring no such warrant with them, but we may with good reason suspect them. But for the man himselfe, euen as he hath verie orderlie, and with no lesse cunning than eloquence set downe diuerse things incredible, and reported some other contrarie to the truth of the hi|storie for the glorie of his nation, as we may take it; so in his excuse it may be alledged, that he was not the author of those matters, but wrote what he found in Cambell, Veremound, Cornelius Hibernensis, Gefferie Mon|mouth the translator not the author of the British historie. and such other, in like case as Gefferie of Monmouth wrote what he found in old ancient British monu|ments, & was not the deuiser himselfe (as some haue suspected) of such things as in his booke are by him ex|pressed. But now to returne to the Picts. It may be that they came at seuerall times in like manner as The doubt of the time of the comming of Picts and Scots into Britaine. Ferguse king of Scots. The marble stone. the Scots did out of Ireland, of whome the first is remembred to be Ferguse, the son of Ferqubard, a man right skilfull in blasoning of armorie, himselfe bare a lion gules in a field of gold. The marble stone wherof in the Scotish historie is mentioned, brought into Ireland by Simon Brechus, and kept till those daies as a pretious iewell, this Ferguse obteined towards the prospering of his iourneie: for that it was thought, who so had the same in possession, could not but obteine souereigntie and rule ouer others as a king, namelie those of the Scotish nation. This stone Ferguse bringing into Scotland, left it there. But although that Ferguse be put in ranke among those Scotish kings that should reigne in Britaine, yet he bare small rule there, & was diuers times bea|ten backe into Ireland, where finallie he was drow|ned by misfortune in the créeke of Knockfergus.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 That he incountred with Coilus king of the Bri|tons Knockfergus as the Scots write) is not possible, as our au|thor hath verie well noted; except they mistake the name of Coilus for Cailus, with whome the age of Ferguse might well méet: the rather, for that in the first yeare of Cailus reigne the Picts entered, Fer|guse immediatlie after them, 330 yeares yer Christ was borne; where Coilus reigned in the yeare after the incarnation 124, about which time befell the se|cond arriuall of the Picts in Britaine. And thus it 124 may be they mistake, by errour of the name, Coilus for Cailus, and the second arriuall of the Picts for the first. But now to the course of the historie. Whi|lest the Picts were seated in the north of Britaine, and grew to a great multitude; the Irish made sun|drie errands ouer to visit their daughters, nephues, and kinsfolks, and by their often comming and go|ing they were aware of certeine wasie corners, and small Ilands void of inhabitants, as that which see|med rather neglected and suffered to lie waste.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Hereof they aduertised their princes, namelie Reuther or Reuda, who being descended of Fer|guse, Reuther or Reuda. determined to inuest himselfe in certeine por|tions of land beside the Picts. He therefore well ap|pointed passed ouer, and partlie by composition, and partlie by force, got possession of those quarters which were desolate, & began to erect a kingdome there, by little and little increasing his limits: and finallie got betwixt the Picts and Britons, possessing that countrie which tooke the name of him called Reu|dersdahall, and now Riddesdale (as you would saie) Rheudas part; for Dahall in the Scotish toong signi|fieth a part. In these quarters he could not setle him|selfe, but that he was oftentimes assailed by the Bri|tons that bordered next vnto him, and at length his chance was to be slaine, but the kingdome continu|ed still in the hands of his successors: and the Picts The amitie betwixt Scots and Picts. and Scots grew in friendship togither, permitting ech other to liue in quiet.