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1587

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Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now to returne to the Scotishmen. After the death of Ferguse, the nobles of the realme assem|bled togither, to take counsell whome they might The Scots consult about an other elec|tion of a king. choose to succéed in his place. Manie of them, in re|spect of the high benefits which their nation had re|ceiued by the politike gouernement of king Fer|guse, would not in anie wise that his sonnes, though yoong of yéeres, should be forgotten; but that accor|ding to reason and equitie, the eldest of them should be elected, sith they might not otherwise deliuer them selues of the note of ingratitude towards his fa|ther, vnto whome they were more bound than with toong can be well expressed.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Other hauing a speciall regard to the quiet of their commonwealth, doubted least if they crowned a child to their king, during his minoritie, it could not be but that there should follow strife, enuie, and contention for the gouernance of his person and realme amongst the nobles; and that in such wise, as the people being diuided into sundrie factions, the due administration of iustice should be neglected, the nobles bearing and bolstering vp all kinds of iniuries doone or committed by anie of their par|takers.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 And though it might so happen that they agréed vpon one speciall gouernor, as reason was they should; yet should be séeke to aduance his kinsfolks more than reason happilie required, and peraduen|ture doo things otherwaies much displeasant to no small number of them by that his priuate authori|tie. And againe, the king should no sooner come to yéeres of anie discretion, but one or other would put him in mind to take vpon him to rule the whole him selfe, before he vnderstood what charge he had in hand: and by reason of his fraile youth he lightlie would not follow the counsell of anie, but such as consented vnto him in his sensuall lusts and inordi|nate fansies, which commonlie reigne in such princes as take vpon them gouernance of realmes, before they know (through want of sufficient yéeres) how to gouerne themselues.

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