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 1587 edition: 1 At length king Kenneth beeing very deſirous to be reuenged of the Pictes,Keneth cal|led his nobles to reuenge his fathers death. for the death of his father king Alpine, and other iniuries by them done and attempted againſt the Scottiſh natiõ, in the fourth yeare of his reigne, he aſſembled the peeres and chiefeſt nobles of his realme, truſting to perſuade them to ayd him in al ſuch enterpri|ſes as he mente to take in hand againſt the Pic|tes, whom he purpoſed to purſue with opẽ war|res, till he had them at his pleaſure.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But calling his lordes and peeres thus aſ|ſembled one day before him, and going earneſtly about to moue them to the warres, he could ſtir them no more to his purpoſe, than if he had ben in hand to haue coũſelled them vnto that which in no wyſe had appertained vnto their dueties: which their lacke of ſtomacks, Kenneth percey|uing, he began to deuiſe a pretie ſhift, wherby to induce them to his accorde.

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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus appointed in the dead of the night, they en|ter the chambers to ech of them assigned, where (as is said) the lords laie fast asléepe, who being at the first as it were halfe awakened, were woonderfullie amazed at the strangenesse of the sight (doubting whether it were but a dreame, or some true and vnfei|ned vision.) Héerewith also were heard certeine se|uerall voices, far greater than those of men, decla|ring that they were messengers sent from almightie God vnto the Scotish nobilitie, to command them to obeie their king, for his request was iust: the Pic|tish Of such sights there were manie in those daies: and oftentims no doubt estée|med to be hea|uenlie visions in déed: kingdome due vnto him by rightfull heritage, & ought to be recouered from that people, which for their great offenses and sins towards almightie God, should shortlie come to vtter destruction: such was the determinate pleasure of his diuine maie|iestie, EEBO page image 129 against the which might neither counsell nor puissance of man be able to resist.