Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 He ſeemed to ſtriue howe to paſſe his predeſ|ſour in all poyntes of wickedneſſe.A wicked Prince. Hee tooke no regarde at all to the gouernment of his Realme, but gaue himſelfe to exceſſiue gluttonie in de|uouring of delicate meates and drinks, and ther|with EEBO page image 157 kept ſuche a number of vile ſtrumpettes in houſe with him, whom hee vſed as concubines, that his wife was no better eſteemed than as an handmayde, or rather a kitchin mayde. Who being a woman of great modeſtie: and ſober ad|uiſedneſſe, coulde not yet but take ſore griefe and indignation hereat: and therefore ſundrie tymes aſſayed by waye of wholeſome perſwaſions to turne his minde from ſuch ſinfull vſages and fil|thie trade of liuing. Finally when ſhe ſaw there was no hope to conuert his deprauate minde, nor by any meanes to refourme him, but that the more ſhee laboured to doe good vppon him, the worſe he was, through verie diſpleaſure of ſuche iniuries as ſhee daylye ſuſteyned at the handes of his concubines,King Ferguſe the third ſtran|gled by his wife. ſhee founde meanes to ſtrangle him ſecretely one night as hee lay in his bed, chooſing rather to be without a huſband, than to haue one that ſhoulde deceyue hir of the right and dutie of mariage, and that in ſuch ſort, as ſhe muſt be faine to ſuffer the reproch dayly a|fore hir face, being miſvſed of them whom he kept as paramours in moſt diſpiteful maner.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The day after ſhe wrought this feate: the bo|die being founde deade, was apparayled in fune|rall wiſe, & brought forth into the place of iudge|ment, where inquiſition was ſtraightly made what they were that had done ſo heynous a deed. For though there were but few that lamented his death, yet ſome of his friends were verie earneſt to haue the matter tryed forth, that ſuch as had cõ|mitted the murther, might ſuffer due puniſh|ment.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Suſpicious perſons are racked.Many were apprehended and had to the rack, but yet could not be founde that would confeſſe it. The Queene was voyde of all ſuſpition, as ſhe that had bene taken for a woman at all times of great temperancie. But yet when ſhee hearde that a number of innocent perſons were tormen|ted without deſart, ſore lamenting (as ſhoulde appeare) theyr miſerable caſe, ſhe came haſtily in|to the Iudgement hall,The Queene confeſſed the murther. and getting hir aloft vpõ the bench, there in the preſence of al the company, ſhe had theſe or the like wordes vnto the whole aſſembly. I knowe not good people, I knowe not what God moueth me, or what diuine re|uengement vexeth me with ſundry thoughts and cogitations, that of all this daye and morning preceeding, I haue had neither reſt in bodie nor minde. And verely when I hearde that cer|taine guiltleſſe perſons were cruelly tormented here in your preſence, had not wrath giuen place, party vnto modeſtie, whereof I muſt confeſſe there is left but a ſmall portiõ in me, I had forth|with rid my ſelf out of the way. The kings death was mine act. Conſcience conſtrayneth me (ſet|ting apart mine owne ſafegarde) to confeſſe the truth, leaſt the guiltleſſe ſhoulde wrongfully pe|riſhe: Therefore vnderſtande yee for truth, that none of them whome ye haue examined are pri|uie to the offence. I verily am ſhe, that with theſe wicked handes haue ſtrangled this night laſt paſt Ferguſe, about whoſe death I ſee you in trouble, moued ſo to do with two as ſharpe pricks as may reſt in a woman, to wit, Impatient forbearing of carnall luſt, and yrefull wrath. Ferguſe by his continuall vſing of concubines, kept from me the due debt that the huſbande oweth to the wife: whereupon when there was no hope to reconcile him with often aduertiſementes, vehement force of anger ryſing in my heart, droue mee to doe ſo wicked a deed. I thought lieffer therefore to diſ|patch the Adulterer, then (being deſtitute of my huſbande, and defrauded of all Queenely honor) to liue ſtill ſubiect vnto the perpetuall iniuries of ſuch lewde women as hee kept and vſed in my ſteade.She giueth hir owne ſentence Looſe ye therefore thoſe that be accuſed of the kings death, and as for me ye ſhall not neede to proceede agaynſt me as guiltie of the crime by order of law, for I that was ſo bolde to commit ſo heynous an act, will accordingly do execution vpon my ſelfe euen here incontinently in preſence of you all: what honour is due to the deade, looke you to that.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Finallie, when she saw there was no hope to con|uert his depraued mind, nor by anie meanes to re|forme him, but that the more she laboured to doo good EEBO page image 119 vpon him, the woorse he was, through verie displea|sure of such iniuries as she dailie susteined at the [...]. Ferg [...] the third strangled by [...]s wife. hands of his concubines, shée found meanes to strangle him secretlie one night as he lay in bed, choosing rather to be without a husband, than to haue one that should deceiue hir of the right and dutie of mariage; and that in such sort, as she must be faine to suffer the reproch dailie before hir face, being mis|used of them whom he kept as paramours in most despitefull maner. The day after she wrought this feat, the bodie being found dead, was apparelied in funerail wise, and brought foorth vnto the place of iudgement, where inquisition was stre [...]ctlie made what they were that had done so heinous a déed. For though there were but few that lamented his death, yet some of his friends were verie earnest to haue the matter tried foorth, that such as had committed the murther might suffer due punishment.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Manie were apprehended and had to the racke, but yet could none be found that would confesse it. Suspicious persons are [...]cked. The quéene was void of all suspicion, as she that had béene taken for a woman at all times of great tem|perancie. But yet, when she heard that a num|ber of innocent persons were tormented without de|sert, sore lamenting (as should appeare) their misera|ble case, she came hastilie into the iudgement hall, and getting hir aloft vpon the bench, there, in the pre|sence The quéene confessed the [...]urther. of all the companie, she had these or the like words vnto the whole assemblie.

I know not (good people) I know not what god mooueth me, or what diuine reuengement vexeth mée with sundrie thoughts and cogitations; that of all this day and morning preceding, I haue had neither rest in bo|die nor mind. And verelie when I heard that cer|teine guiltlesse persons were cruellie tormented here in your presence; had not wrath giuen place, partlie vnto modestie, whereof I must confesse there is left but a small portion in me. I had foorthwith rid my selfe out of the way. The kings death was mine act. Conscience constreineth me (setting apart mine owne safegard) to confesse the truth, least the guiltlesse should wrongfullie perish: therfore vnder|stand ye for truth, that none of them whom ye haue examined are priuie to the offense. I verelie am she, that with these wicked hands haue strangled this night last past Ferguse, about whose death I sée you in trouble, moued so to doo with two as sharpe pricks as may re [...] in a woman, to wit, impatient forbea|ring of carnall lust, & irefull wrath. Ferguse by his continuall vsing of concubines, kept from me the due debt that the husband oweth to the wife: wherevpon when there was no hope to reconcile him with often aduertisements, vehement force of anger rising in my hart, droue me to doo so wicked a déed. I thought rather therefore to dispatch the adulterer, than (being destitute of my husband, & defrauded of all quéenelie honor) to liue still subiect to the perpetuall iniuries of such lewd women as he kept & vsed in my stead. She giueth hir owne sentence. Loose yée therefore those that be accused of the kings death, & as for me ye shall not néed to procéed against me as guiltie of the crime by order of law: for I that was so bold to commit so heinous an act, will accor|dingly doo execution vpon my selfe euen here incon|tinentlie in presence of you all: what honor is due to the dead, looke you to that.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 SOluathius the sonne of Eugenius the eight, was Solua|thius. Soluathius admitted king of Scotland. admitted to the rule of the Scotish estate next af|ter the death of [...]erguse: a prince suerlie borne to the accomplishment of high enterprises, if through hap of froward destinie he had not béene hindered. For in the third yéere of his reigne he began to bée vexed extréemelie with the gout, which ingendered by cold in lieng abroad in hunting; and so continu|ing Soluathius an impotent man. with him during his life, staied him from manie woorthie exercises, as well in peace at home, as a|broad in time of warres. Thus he being in maner impotent & lame of his lims, there were some com|motions and misorders the more boldly attempted: and first amongst them of the out Iles. For Bane A rebellion. Makedonald proclamed, king of the Iles. Makedonald, gouernor by the kings appointment of the Iland called Tire, got all the castels and for|tresses of the Iles into his owne hands, & strengthe|ned with a rout of vnrulie and mischefous youthfull persons, tooke possession of all the said Iles, causing himselfe to be proclamed king of the same.