The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts
1587

Previous | Next

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The bond of peace begun betwixt the kings, was the more stronglie confirmed by meanes of aliance, Spontana the daughter of king Garnard being coo|pled in mariage with Eugenius: she in the yéere following being great with child, was murthered The quéene slaine in stéed of hir husband one night within the kings bed-chamber, in stéed of the king himselfe, by two brethren of the countrie of Athole, who mooued to displeasure for their fathers death, had conspired to murther the king, and had slaine him in deed, had he not through his good hap laien foorth of his owne chamber the same night. Eugenius being suspected of the murther, and euill spoken of for the same amongst his subiects, was at length with great danger of life and honor inforced The king is suspected of the murther. to make answer by waie of arrainment for clearing of himselfe, before the nobles of his realme, appoin|ted as competent iudges in that case: so greatlie be|loued was Spontana amongst all the degrées of the Scotish nation. But in the end being found gilt|lesse of the crime (for at the time that iudgement should haue passed, the offendors were apprehended and brought in) he was acquit, to the great reioising of all honest men. Those that had doone the déed, were condemned and hanged vp naked on gibbets by the héeles, togither with certeine cruell mastiue dogs, The murthe|rers are han|ged. the which might so deuoure them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 But Eugenius being thus cleared of all former suspicion, minded to haue béene reuenged on those that had falslie accused him. Howbeit through the godlie admonishments of that reuerend father A|dannan, An example of [...] good prince. he qualified his displeasure. After this, gi|uing his mind to the aduancement of religion and politike gouernement of his subiects, he ordeined that the histories of his ancestors should be written The king causeth his ancestors hi|stories to be written. in bookes and volumes, that posteritie might haue to read the same for example sake. These monuments he also appointed to be kept and reserued in the ab|beie of Iona, now called Colmekill, for a perpetuall memorie: and such as should write the same, to re|maine and haue liuings there in the abbeie. Moreo|uer, such spirituall promotions as he perceiued to be too meane and slender for the maintenance of the mi|nister that should serue the cure, he caused to be aug|mented in such wise as was thought sufficient. He concluded a league with the Saxons and Picts, and Eugenius the seuenth depar|teth out of this life. 716. H. B. obserued the same during his life, which he ended at Abernethie, when he had reigned about 17 yéeres, whereof the last fell in the yéere after the incarnation of our Sauior 717, the 15 indiction. His death was greatlie lamented, both of his lords and commons, as they that intierlie loued him for his noble and most princelie qualities.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 A Little before his death, he betooke the possession Mordack. Mordacke succeedeth Eugenius the seuenth. of his kingdome vnto Mordacke that succéeded him. This Mordacke was the nephue of Eugenius the seuenth, by his brother Ambirkeleth: who as he was knowne to be of a gentle, meeke, and liberall nature, before his aduancement to the crowne; so he shewed himselfe to be the verie same man during the whole course of all his naturall life, after he had atteined to the same. Aboue all things he wished a A louer of peace. generall peace to continue amongst all the princes of Albion, and therevpon for his part establishing a peace with the Picts, Britains, and all the English kings, he firmelie kept euerie article therein contei|ned. In those daies (as S. Beda dooth testifie) foure Peace tho|rough out all the land of Albion. seuerall people liued in peace and quietnesse within the bounds of Albion, though differing in manners, language, lawes, and ordinances: Saxons whome be called Englishmen, Britains, Scots, and Picts. His woords are these that follow.

Previous | Next