Compare 1577 edition: 1 Herevpon therefore returning to his campe, he called his councell afore him, declaring the sub|stance The king of the Picts cal|led his coun|cell and com|mons. of the communication which had beene be|twixt king Ferguse and him, which was in effect ten|ding to this end. First considering the present deui|ses of the Britains, there was nothing more expedi|ent than a peace to be agréed vpon, as well for the commoditie of the Picts as Scots, if they would yeeld withall to auoid the imminent perill of their vtter ruine and common destruction intended by the Britains.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Herevpon also he required their aduise what they thought good to be doone; declaring that according as they counselled him, he would worke therein. This matter being thus proposed, as there were diuerse heads, so were there sundrie opinions. Some iud|ged that in no case they could enter frendship againe with the Scots, who had so cruellie slaine and mur|thered a great number of the Pictish nation; and had shewed such tokens of a beastlie furious nature, that there was no hope to continue long in amitie with such a raging kind of people: and hereto they held that it was not vnknowne how the prophesie went, that the Scots should in the end destroie all A prophesie. the Pictish progenie. So that it were wisdome to kéepe their power vnder, so long as was possible, and not to increase the same by ioining with them in friendship.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Other were of a contrarie mind, esteeming that in no wise the Scotish mens friendship ought to be refused, vnlesse they would determine to séeke new dwellings in some other forraine parties; sith the Britains would not faile, but vpon occasion také what vantage they could to expell them both, as well Scots as Picts, out of the countries now by them possessed. And as for that, which was alledged tou|ching the prophesie, if the gods had so determined, then might no policie of man preuent it: and if there were no such thing appointed by the same gods, what follie then were it to cast such dreadfull doubts where no cause was? Ouer and besides this, they had taken them wiues of the Scotish nation, and thereby ingraffed their séed (the hope of their poste|ritie) in that stocke, which is the néerest meane and foreablest occasion to nourish friendship amongest people, that is or may be deuised; therefore it should not be onelie profitable but necessarie also to haue peace with the Scots, to renew againe with them the former league, to the perpetuall strengthening and aduancement of both the nations.