Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 Druskene king ouer the Pictes.After whoſe deceaſſe the Pictes choſe his bro|ther named Druſken, to ſucceede in gouerne|mente of the kingdome, who applied his whole endeuour vpon his firſt entring into the aſtate, to appeaſe the ciuile diſcord amongeſt his ſubiects. But whileſt he was thus bu [...]ly occupied about the ſame,The heade of king Alpine is falne, and ſo|lemnly buried with the body. there were certain Scottes, which ſore diſdained to vnderſtand y^e the head of theyr late king ſhuld remain vnburied in ſuche reprochful ſort amongſt their enimies, whervpon hauyng perfecte knowledge of the Pictiſhe toung, they fayned themſelues to be merchaunt men of that countrey, and comming vnto Camelon, wat|ched their tyme till they founde meanes in the night ſeaſon, to ſteale to the walles, and ſecretly taking awaye the heade, eſcaped with the ſame home into their owne countreye. This acte of theirs was not a little commended: and ſo now the head of king Alpin being recouered, was clo|ſed in a leaden coffin, and Kenneth himſelfe, ha|uing in his companie a great number of his no|bles, went with it ouer into Colmkill, where he buryed it in the abbey, amongſt the ſepultures of his elders, together with the reſidue of the bodye in ryght ſolemne wyſe, as aperteyned. And fur|ther thoſe perſons that had put their lyues in ad|uenture to fetche the ſame head from the walles of Camelon, wer by Kẽneth rewarded with rich gifts and lands in perpetuitie to remayn to them and to their heires for euer.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After this,Keneth fortifi|ed the realem. Kenneth deuiſing for the ſuretie of his ſubiectes, furniſhed all the holdes and caſtels on the frontiers of his enimies with men & mu|nition, according as he thought expedient. And moreouer tooke order, that all the youth of the realme ſhould be in a readineſſe vpon an houres warning, to goe forth againſt the Pictes, if they attempted any new inuaſions.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But the Scottiſh lordes had no great luſt to take any enterpriſe in hand eftſoones againſt the Pictes, remembring how infortunatly they had ſped the laſt time: ſo that for the ſpace of .iij. yea|res there was no great exployte atchieued, ſaue certaine roades and incurſions, whiche both the nations cõtinually vſed to make one vpon an o|ther, as tyme and occaſion ſerued.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This act of theirs was not a little commended: and so now the head of king Alpine being recoue|red, was closed in a ledden coffin, and Kenneth him|selfe, hauing in his companie a great number of his nobles, went with it ouer into Colmekill, where he buried it in the abbeie, amongst the sepultures of his elders, togither with the residue of the bodie in verie solemne wise, as apperteined. And further, those per|sons that had put their liues in aduenture to fetch the same head from the wals of Camelon, were by Kenneth rewarded with rich gifts and lands in per|petuitie, to remaine to them and to their heires for e|uer. After this, Kenneth deuising for the suertie of his Kenneth for|tified the realme. subiects, furnished all the holds and castels on the frontiers of his enimies with men and munition, according as he thought expedient: and moreouer tooke order, that all the youth of the realme should be in a readinesse vpon an houres warning, to go foorth against the Picts, if they attempted anie new inua|sions.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 But the Scotish lords had no great lust to take a|nie enterprise in hand e [...]soones against the Picts, re|membring how infortunatelie they had sped the last time: so that for the space of thrée yéeres there was no great exploit atchiued, saue certeine roads and incursions, which both the nations continuallie vsed to make one vpon an other, as time and occasion ser|ued. At length king Kenneth being verie desirous Kenneth cal|led his nobles to reuenge his fathers death. to be reuenged of the Picts, for the death of his father king Alpine, and other iniuries by them doone and attempted against the Scotish nation, in the fourth yéere of his reigne, he assembled the peeres and chie|fest nobles of his realme, trusting to persuade them to aid him in all such enterprises as he ment to take in hand against the Picts, whome he purposed to pursue with open warres, till he had them at his pleasure. But calling his lords and peeres thus as|sembled on a day before him, and going earnestlie a|bout to mooue them to the warres, he could stir them no more to his purpose, than if he had beene in hand to haue counselled them vnto that which in no wise had apperteined vnto their duties: which their lacke of stomach, Kenneth perceiuing, he began to deuise a pretie shift, whereby to induce them to his accord.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 First therefore, breaking vp the assemblie for the same day, he commanded that they should come to|gither againe on the next morow, to consult further A pretie shift deuised by the king to per|suade the no|bilitie. for the state of the realme; as they should sée cause. The same euening also he had them all to supper, which being prolonged till farre in the night, it was late before they went to bed, so that being ouerwat|ched, when they were once gotten to rest, they were soone brought into a sound sléepe. Now had the king appointed for euerie one of their chambers one man apparelled in garments pretilie deuised and made of fish skins vnskaled, bearing in one of their hands a staffe of such rotten wood as shineth in the night, and in their other hand a great oxehorne, to the end that vttering their woords through the same, the sound of their voices should séeme farre differing from the v|suall spéech of man.