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

382 THE MAR LODGE TRANSLATION OF ‘ BOECE ’
Fo. cxx. be pe king of Denmark, parte of his awne substance, and als
his gudeschir, maist opulent baroun of pat realme, making
supple, he contractit grete nowmer of weremen and schippis
to recovir in Albioun pe kinrik of his progenitouris. About
pis tyme Graciane, of Britan blude, be consent of Marcius,
Romane legate, contrare pe tenoure of his aith, vsurpit tyrannye
in Britane. Bot pis brule3e was sone repressit, athir of pame
be suddane debate slaying vthir. The Romane armye, weyand
hevily pis infortunate chance, pat pai suld noc/zt want ane
chiftane in Britane, nocht tarying pe authorite of Honorius,
emprioure, create Constantine legate in place of Marcius.
Constantine, nowder extemyt in nobilite of blude nor in 10
weris, having na vertewe except onelie ane fare name, tuke
pe purpure and salit with pe armye to Gallia, for the tyme
patent to iniuris of Vandalis and Sweschis, tending to occupie
the province gif he mycht be ony way; quhare be nobill and
stout Constance, faithful colleig of Honorius, emprioure, he
was discumfist and slane. Victorine, the vthir legate of Britane,
eftir distraction of Marcius and Constantine tyrannys, departing
fra 3ork, movit to Londoun, employing all his cure at fidelite
of pe emprioure to contene, and fra invasiouns of barbarzs,
preserve Britan, almaist denwde of garnisoun, becaus latelie
afore the army was past with Constantyne to Gallia, and
pe Romane sene3eorie in all partis for the tyme was infestit. 20
Herethrow Pichtis erectit in esperance of bettir fortune,
thinking, sen Britane be extreme and exact circumspectioun
of Victorine with grete pyne mycht be consmiit obeysant
to the empriozzr, that be supple of Scottis pai mycht mare
eselie recouer pare liberte, be frequent legaciouns pai certifijt
Ffergus in quhat state stude pe kinrik of Britan ; how Marcius,
m.l.t. 2276 legate, for his falset was slane ; Constantine, of obscure origine,
create in place of Marcius and, takin the purpure, with stark
power of Romanis departing to Gallia, for tyrannye be
Constance, colleig to pe empnoar, was pare brocht to dede ;
Victorine had left 3ork and wzt/z grete parte of pe armye
remanit at Londoun, quhare with grete pane he kepit Britouns
trew to Romanis ; sua pe tyme was convenient to recovir
the realme of Scottis without grete impediment ; praying 30