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

326 THE MAR LODGE TRANSLATION OF ‘ BOECE ’
Fo. c. him ge noblis of Britouns nocht abone lx 3eris nor na left pan
xxts 3eris in plege of pare fidelite, suffering pe remanent departe.
Syne conforme to pe lawis of weremen deviding pe pray
amang Scottis, Pichtis and pe armye of Carance, moving his
ordinance to Londoun, quhare, ressaving pe towne and toure,
he tuke pe purpure and crowne of Britane, reiffing pe sene3eory
pareof fra Romanis in pe iijc xlvj 3ere eftir, be lulius Cesare,
it was to Romanis made tributare. Of Scottis and Pichtis
to pe nowmer of ijm remanit with Carance to awate on pe 30
sure keping of his persoun; the remanent, with copioft pray
and richeft departing to pare awne, togiddir with ambassi-
atouris of Carance to schew his ewroft fortune to pe twa
princis of Scottis and Pichtis, to quhaw he deliuerit West-
marland, Cumbirland, with all pe boundfs betuix 3ork and
pe Dyke of Adriane. Quharefore, nocht alanerlie to Romanis
bot als to Britouns, he Was odioft. Carance hereeftir be mony
m.l.t. 199 sare barganis of Romanis was persewit, bot in all he was victor
and be mervellus prudence stabillit to him the realme of
Britan. Ffinalie vnder coloure of amyte he was slane be tresson
of Alect, Romane legate, quhilk of subtile and wilye ingyne
come in Britane, fene3eing to be sociale with Carance in all 40
his affaris. Quhen in pis sorte he was betraissit, Alect, nocht
of pussance to restore Britane to Romanis—inhabitantis all
way refusing pare sene3eorie—to wyn the favours of pe
cuntre contempnyng pe Romane maieste, he attemptit
tyrannye and tuke pe crowne of Britane. He liffit noc/it
lang pareeftir, ffor in the thrid ^ere eftir he had slane Carance,
nocht onelie of domynion bot als of life he was dispule3ete,
be wayis of Asclepiadot, quhilk (as writis Eutropius) was
president in pe Romane ciete. Carance brukit pe crowne of
Britan vij 3eris, employing all his laubouris pat betuix Scottis
and Pichtis pece suld be obsemit. Alect iij 3eris onelie regnit. 50
Sua pe tent 3ere eftir Britan was occupijt be tyrannys, it
returnit to Romanis. In pis tyme Craithlinth, king, with
diligent cure did mony actis to pe vtilite of Scottis, and
obseming pece with Pichtis, conquest honorabill lawde and
name to pe posterite. During his regnne, the Emprioure
Diocleciane taking twa collegis, Constanc Maximiliane and