Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Ferguse, vnto whom amongest other this message was chieflie directed, reioised greatlie of the newes; Ferguse sent vnto the Scots disper|sed. and first conferring with the king of Denmarke, of whose aid he knew himselfe assured, by his aduise he sent letters abroad forthwith into Norwaie, Ork|nie, the westerne Iles, and into Ireland, vnto such of the Scotishmen as dwelt in those places, to vn|derstand their minds herein. And being certified that they were vniuersailie agréed, not onelie to Ferguse pre|pared himselfe to warre. trie their chance for recouerie of their former state and kingdome; but also had chosen him to be gouer|nour and generall capteine in that enterprise; he prepared partlie at his owne costs, and partlie at the charges of the king of Denmarke and other of his friends and alies there, a great multitude both of men of warre and ships, in purpose to passe ouer in|to Albanie to recouer his grandfathers estate, which as it was thought might now be the more easilie brought to passe, sith the Picts would aid him there|to, vpon an earnest desire which they had to reuenge their owne iniuries receiued at the Romans hands, and to deliuer themselues from such thraldome as they dailie felt themselues oppressed with, doubting withall shortlie to be quite expelled out of their whole countrie, as they had béene forced to forgo a great and the better part thereof alreadie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In this meane time, one Gratian descended of the British bloud, by consent of the Romane legat Gratian vsur|ped the gouer|nance of Bri|taine. Martius (both of them going against their allegi|ance) vsurped the gouernance of Britaine by his owne priuat authoritie; but shortlie after, they two falling at variance togither, the one of them slue the other. And then the souldiers not staieng till they vn|derstood Marius slaine. the pleasure of Honorius the emperour, chose one Constantine to succéed in the place of Martius, who passing ouer into France, was slaine Constantine succéedeth Marius. Constantine is slaine. The lieute|nant of the north com|meth to Lon|don. there by Constantius one of the capteins of the said Honorius. Uictorine the other of the Romane le|gats hearing of the death both of Martius and Con|stantine, remooued from Yorke vnto London, the better to prouide for the safe kéeping of the land to the emperour Honorius his vse; for that he doubted sundrie dangers which might chance, by reason the countrie was as then vnprouided of men of warre, the most part of them being transported ouer into France with the fornamed Constantine, and not a|gaine returned.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 EEBO page image 82 The Picts informed of these things, sent word with all spéed vnto Ferguse, requiring him to make The Picts send spéedilie vnto Fer|guse. hast, sith if he should haue wished for a conuenient time, a better could not be deuised; considering the present state of things as well in Britaine, as in o|ther parts of the Romane empire, the people euerie where being readie to moue rebellion. Ferguse vn|derstanding the whole, by such messengers as still came one after another vnto him from the Picts, he hasted to depart with all diligence; and when all things were readie, he tooke the sea with his armie, and within eight daies after, he arriued in safetie within the firth of Murrey land with all his vessels Ferguse arri|ued with his ships in Mur|rey firth. and people; where taking land, & word thereof being brought into Ireland, into Orkenie, and into the westerne Iles, all such of the Scotish linage as li|ued in those parties in exile, came with their wiues, children, and whole families in most spéedie wise vn|to him, as though the countrie had béene alreadie recouered out of the enimies hands, without all doubts of further perill or businesse.