A Continvance of Albions England :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Scots of long had held a law, to their no little harme,
That when their Kings should die, their heires nonage, next in blood
And meetest Man to rule should raigne: Then, not to be withstood,
The Issue of the Pre-Regnant, the Regnant dead, should raigne:
From Rewthar, Docuidellas sonne, so Nathak rule did gaine:
Who, eleuated, altered from vertuous to most vaine.
A wretch so vitious, insolent, tyrannicall and prowd,
That odiously his Gouernment of all was disallowd.
What Monarke, strong-Man, Valerous, what feature, who so wittie,
Whose life (if arrogant) finds loue, or death (though cruell) pittie.

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Yeat oft it haps, by how much more high Dignities preferre,
So much the more, though lesse secure, men liue irreguler:
But Insolencie hath a time aswell to fall as erre,
To which no Opportunities but doe Effects efferre:
Then, breathing Clods, from Actions ill let ill Euents deterre.
One Dowall, There then gratious, slew this Nathak at the last,
And Rewthar, wedded to the King of Penthlands daughter, plac't
In Scotlands Throne, howbeit in Minoritie: wherefore
One Ferquhard, for this law infring'd, brought all things in vprore.
Or rather vnder this pretex he drifted soueraigne Sway,
Whereto did this Occasion seeme to him a troden way:
And former Popularitie, whereto Ambition weads,
Had furnisht him of plebale Friends, a Beast of many heads.
On which, as if on Pegasus, ambitious Gallants ride,
Though it an euer-break-neck haue such forged Persees tride.
Vnhappie Popularitie, that like to Æsops Ape
With culling kils thy Darlings, whilst the lesser loued scape:
Senselesse Ambition, that forgets or not obserues at all
That, if not selfe-Straines, Policie must temporize thy fall:
Fond Vulgers, that a Phaëton a Phœbus vse to call:
For in bi-fronted Ianus is your Science none or small.
Well, howsoeuer, Ferquhard troupes the flower of Scotlands Prowse:
All Penthlands Chiualrie no lesse of Dowals act allowes.
Now either People had displaide their Onsets, and was fought
A Battell, dearer than the which no Souldiours euer bought,
For slaughter as perseuerent as may be said or thought.
Whereby their either Kingdome heere some following yeeres did faile:
For, in this Disaduantage, them the Britons did assaile,
And did the Scots to Ireland, and the Picts to Orkney chase:
Where either liued in Exile, till altred thus the case.

Impatiently they twice sixe yeeres Prescription Hence endure,
When with such Forces as they had, although but small year sure,
They (met of such forelorned Soules ye since their Countries wrack,

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Remote from Men, in Woods and Caues had liu'd in fearfull lack)
Returne, and with those despret Bands, incountering their foes,
Had now the better of the Field: Whence this Attonement groes:
That Scots and Picts their owne, as earst, should amplie reposseed
Till Iulius Cæsars Entrie, so of Warres this Isle was freed.

Him to resist, that out of Fraunce the Britons did inuaide,
Came Picts and Scots repelling Hence the Romaines by their aide.
Howbeit, in the following yeare he wonne a Tribute hence,
Which might haue faild him, had as earst concur'd the Picts defence.
As yet the Northern Regions search the Romaines did neglect,
Vntill (vnto whose Ruines none can certainly direct,
Though Penthlands pride for stately Towers & strength of walls pretended)
Vespasian wonne Camelon, still hild Romes, till Rome there ended.
Bellona seemed in this Ile her Residence to haue:
Where, of three Scepters, scarcely one it selfe afoote could saue.
The Romaines, vnder diuers of their Cæsars-selues, but still
The worthiest of their Generals this Ile with Armes did fill
At diuers times, with diuers change of good and bad euent,
But to it tackling euer found vndanted Penthland bent.
For when the Britons were subdewd, and Caratack the Scot,
That for his Courage and Conduct continued glorie got,
Euen then and neretheless the Picts did not in courage quaile,
But, oft Victorious, of themselues the Romaines did assaile:
Hence chacing some their Presidents, and some their Legions slue:
The Romaines would not giue thē peace, and could them not subdue.
Who, brauely breaking thus the Ise to Scots, their old Consorts,
Both twaine made hauock of their foes, demolishing their Forts,
Till Romaines now in either Land were dispossessed quite,
And, drifting oft Reentries, oft repented them of fight.
Heere only Brutaine hild for Rome, and many yeares from thence
Arm'd still against the Picts and Scots, with losse for recompence.
But leauing Romaines thrilled thence, and Brutes by Rome opprest,
What hapt meane while betwixt the Picts and Scots shall be digest.

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How Brutons chased hence the Picts and Scots it hath been said:
And toucht shal be how These thrald Those, for all their Romain aid.
Ensueth first how Picts draue hence the Scots, though Scots at last
Extirpt the Picts: for worser heere then Fortunes Lotterie past.