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Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Thus saint Colme hauing accomplished that which he came for, returned againe into the westerne I|les Saint Colme returned vnto the westerne Iles. vnto his woonted home, where he did by whole|some documents and vertuous examples instruct the seruants of God in the way of his lawes and com|mandements. In this meane time the Saxons ha|uing England di|uided into se|uen seuerall kingdoms. driuen and put backe the Britains into Wales, and occupieng all the residue of their lands and coun|tries, they diuided the same into seuen parts, ordei|ning seuen seuerall kings to gouerne the same as kingdomes. Ouer that of Northumberland, adioi|ning next vnto the Picts, one Edelfred reigned, a Edelfred K. of Northum|berland. man of excéeding desire to inlarge his dominion. He went by all means he could deuise, to persuade Bru|deus the Pictish king to renew the warres with the Scots, promising him all the aid he could make a|gainst them, not onelie for that he knew the Scots to haue béene euer enimies vnto the Saxons, but al|so for that he himselfe was descended of the nation called Agathyrses, of the which the Picts (as was thought) were also come. But the cause why he wi|shed that there might be warres raised betwixt the Scots and Picts, was not for anie good will he bare to the Picts, but onelie to the end that their power Edelfreds purpose. being weakened through the same, he might haue a more easie preie of their countrie, the which he purpo|sed vpon occasion to inuade, and ioine vnto his owne kingdome of Northumberland.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Brudeus at the first gaue no eare vnto his earnest motions and large offers, but at length through the counsell and procurement of some of his nobles, cor|rupted by bribes receiued at Edelfreds hands, and still putting into the kings head sundrie forged in|formations of the Scotishmens dailie attempts a|gainst the Pictish nation; he determined to ioine with the Saxons against them, and caused thervpon warre to be proclamed against the Scots, as those that had spoiled and robbed his subiects, contrarie to the league and all bonds of old friendship and former amitie betwixt them. The Scotish king Aidan per|ceiuing A l [...]ague con|cluded be|twixt the Scots & Bri|tains, with the articles of the same. the practise of the Saxons, and togither ther|with the vntruth of the Picts, the better to be able to resist their malice, ioineth in league with the Bri|tains: this article being the chiefest in the whole co|uenant: that if the enimies first inuaded the Bri|tains, then an armie of Scots should be sent with all speed into Britaine, to helpe to defend the coun|trie against such inuasions: but if the Scots were first inuaded, then should the Britains in semblable maner come ouer to their aid.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The Saxons hauing knowledge of this appoint|ment betwixt Scots & Britains; to draw the Scots foorth of their countrie, and so to haue them at more aduantage, procured the Picts to ioine with them: The Picts & Saxons en|ter into the land of the Britains. and so both their powers being vnited together, en|tred into the British confines. Aidan according to the couenant came streight vnto the aid of the Bri|tains. Edelfred and Brudeus refused to fight for certeine daies, as it were of purpose, therby to wea|rie the Scots with watch and trauell, being as then far from home. Also they looked dailie to haue Ceu|line king of the Westsaxons to come vnto their aid: Ceuline or Ceolin. but the Scots and Britains hauing knowledge ther|of, first thought it best to incounter with him, before he should ioine with the other, and thus vnderstan|ding The Scots and Britains put the Sax|ons to flight, and slue Cu|tha the sonne of Ceuline king of the westsaxons The trium|phant ioy made by the Scots and Britains vp|on their new victorie. that their onelie refuge remained in their ar|mor and weapons, gaue the onset so fiercelie vpon those Saxons, that at the first, sleaing Cutha Ceu|lines sonne, with a great number of other, they [...]ast|lie distressed and put the residue to flight.

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Compare 1587 edition: 1 Ouer that of Northumberland adioyning next vnto the Pictes, one Edelfrede reygned,Edelfred king of Northum|berland. a man of exceeding deſire to enlarge his dominion. He went about by all meanes he could deuiſe to perſwade Brudeus the Pictiſhe king to renew the warres with the Scottes, promiſing him all the ayde he could make againſt them, not onely for that he knewe the Scottes to haue bene euer enimies vnto the Saxons, but alſo for that hee himſelf was diſcended of the nation called Aga|thirſes, of the whiche the Pictes as was thought were alſo come. But the cauſe why he wiſhed that there might be warres rayſed betwixte the Scottes and Pictes, was not for any good will he bare to the Pictes, but onely to the ende that theyr power being weakened through the ſame,Edeldreds pur|poſe. he might haue a more eaſie pray of theyr coun|trey, the whiche he purpoſed vpon occaſion to in|uade and ioyne vnto his owne kingdome of Northumberlande.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Brudeus at the firſte gaue no eare vnto his EEBO page image 140 earneſt mocions and large offers, but at length through the councell and procurement of ſome of his nobles, corrupted by brybes receyued at Ethelfredes handes, and ſtill putting into the kings head ſundry forged informations of the Scottiſh mens daily attempts againſt the Pi|ctiſhe nation, hee determined to ioyne with the Saxons againſt them, and cauſed therevppon warre to be proclaymed againſt the Scottes, as thoſe that had ſpoyled and robbed his ſubiects, contrarie to the league & all bandes of old frend|ſhip and former amitie betwixt them.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 A league con|cluded be|twixt the Scots & Bry|tons, with the articles of the ſame.The Scottiſhe king Aydan perceyuing the practiſe of the Saxons, and togither therewith the vntruth of the Pictes, the better to be able to reſiſt theyr malice, ioyneth in league with the Brytons: This article beyng chiefeſt in the whole couenant: that if the enimies firſt inua|ded the Brytons, then an armie of Scots ſhould be ſent with all ſpeede into Brytaine, to helpe to defend the countrey againſt ſuch inuaſions: but if the Scottes were firſt inuaded, then ſhould the Brytons in ſemblable maner come ouer to their ayde.