Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Mar Lodge translation of the history of Scotland by Hector Boece

42 THE MAR LODGE TRANSLATION OF ‘ BOECE ’
Fo. III.
Hemeke
causit jje ile
now callit
Irland be
callit
Hibernia
eftir ge name
of his brodir
Iber
Eftir deceiB
of Hemek
divisioun
raifi betuix go
Scottis and ge
first inhabi-
t antis of
Irland
m.l.t. 37
Twa chiftanis
in Irland, ge
ane of game
of Scottis and
ge vger of ge
first inhabi-
tantis gairof
And gai haid
greit weris
Scottis
directit am-
bassadouris
to Spayne to
Met ellius quha
regnit abone
the Iber
Scottis for ge
tyme to send
support to
Irland
mater askis) salbe rememberit. Quhill in Spane3e thir premisfi 10
war done, Hemeke president of pe ile (of quham latelie is
rehersit), thinking pat of pe thankis resauit be his broder he
suld nocht be ingrate, in begynnyng of his dominacioun causit
the ile be callit Ibernia, eftir the name of his brodir Iber, sa
that to pe posterite his name suld be mare honorabill. Twa
pepill inhabit pe Ile—Scottis and the vthir wylde pepill. Sum
writis pat pis pepill quhilk Iber fand in the ile war generit
be gyantis, men of large and huge stature. Bot of pis mater
the verite amang the authouris is to be socht. Be mervellus
equite Hemek governit thir twa naciouns, having grete con-
sideracioun baith of tyme and caussis as pai occurit, beleiffing
na thing mare ganand to mak twa nacions to be incorporate
in ane pepill: nochttheles pat thay suld be baith of ane 20
mynde, he mycht nocht bring to purpoift, ffor eftir Hemeke
was deceissit amang pame raift debate. Scottis desirit of pair
nacioun ane chiftane, and pe first inhabitantis refusit to haue
ane strangeare to pare prince. Ffinalie athir of pare awne
nacioun create ane chiftane. Ffollowit hereapoun cruell were
and batell, quhilk nocht without distructioun of pe tane pepill
(as apperit) couth be fynyt, sa mekill war pare myndis gevin
on baith partyis to desire of domynacioun and authorite.
Sare and bludy in pe begynnyng was pis were, bot pare pus-
sance parethrow was sa brokin pat the partyis on nede behufit
agre and tak pece. Bot 3it eftir proceft of tyme quhen pare
strenthis increscit, be persute of batell ather wrocht on uthir
grete myscheif. In pis sorte mony 3eris, now in pece now in
wer£, thay duelt togidder. Scottis at the last to Metellius
in Spane3e direct ambassiatouris (for pe tyme apoun the Iber
Scottis regnyng) quhilk to pe king suld schaw thair complante, 30
and suld require supple in pe instant batell, to be strikkin agane
pe aid blude, and suld schaw how pat pepill was dispitefull