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

410 THE MAR LODGE TRANSLATION OF ‘ BOECE '
cxxx. clamyt ane army suld be walit, without sparing of ony estate,
3ong or aid, abill for were, assignyng ane day of convencioun
and place, quharefra pai suld with al thare force move fordwart
apoun inemyis. At this decrete Conane murnyng and passing
fra pe co unsell, said : “I tak witnes of pe inmortall God
pat for lufe of pe commoun weill I consent nocht to this decrete,
bot detestis 3oure furiouft desire to weris, quharethrow I se 40
clerelie (how beit I may nocht expreme it without displesere)
pat fortune is drawand this ancient and honorabill kinrik of
Britouns, in thir oure dayis, to fynale rewyne.” Sum parte
of Britons, hering Conane speik in this sorte, vehementlie
contrare him commovit, cryit with terribill schowtis : “ Thy
authorite salbe litill or nane, to mak impediment to thir
weris,” and with knyiffis inflicting mony grevouft woundis,
stik kill him to dede. Throw pis suddand slauchter raift
debate be diuerft, impreving this innocent murthure, with
wapywnis tending persewe the committaris. The pepill in
twa factions dividit; mony war slane on athir partie, and
quhen this debate certane houris had lestit, to pe hurt of
mony, skantlie be pe authorite of pe barouns myc/d it be 50
stanchit. About the ilk tyme, be novellis of pe irrupcioun [of]
•t. 242 Scottis and Pichtis apoun the landis of Britan pai war certifyit
in London, quharethrow terroure and fere was throw all
the ciete. Ffor Graham, of quham before is rememberit, be
the kingis for his vassalage create chiftane to ane grete parte
of pe armye, (quhil Britouns be legaciouns and consultaciouns
spendit the tyme), with walit men kest down and distroyit
sua pe dyke, extendit betuix Abircorne and pe mouth of
Clide, pat na thing pareof remanis to pe posterite except
certane small signis and ruynis, to testify pe verite of pat
grete werk, as may be sene in oure dayis. Quharefore this
wall, fra Graham pat bet down pe samyn, is callit Gramys 60
Dike commonlie to this day. Ffra thyne dispule3eing all the
cuntre to pe Wall of Adriane, fra the Ireland seyis to pe Almane
seyis, he distroyit all castellis and strenthis salfit fra crudelite
of Scottis pe 3ere preceding, and made pame equale with pe
grund, pat Britouns suld haue na beleif to returne pareto in
tyme cuming. The ilk tyme the confederate kingis with