The history of Scotland written in Latin by George Buchanan ; faithfully rendered into English.

Crathilinthus, The Thirty Fourth King.

WHen the Death of the Tyrant was divulged, both the Fact itself, and the Authors thereof too, were entertained with a general Acclamation; so that Crathilinthus, upon the discovery and legal proof of his Stock, was made King, with more Unanimi∣ty and Applause, than ever any King had been before him; in re∣gard he had been the Author, not only of their Liberty, but of their Safety too. At the beginning of his Reign, by Publick Con∣sent, he caused the Children and Kindred of the Tyrant to be put to death, as if he would extirpate Tyranny from the very Root. Afterwards, he made a * 1.1 Progress over all his Kingdom, to Ad∣minister Justice, as accustomed; he repaired, as carefully as he could, what was damaged by Donaldus. Thus having established Peace at home and abroad, after the Custom of the Nation, he spent his

time in Hunting. In order to which Exercise, being on Mount Gram∣pius, near the Borders of the Picts, he Nobly entertained the young Gallants of the Picts that came to visit him; yea, he was not con∣tent with that Friendship, that had been anciently betwixt them, grounded on old Acquaintance, and strengthened by a mutual Peace, but he took them also into a nearer Courtship and Familiarity. But that Familiarity had almost proved his ruin. For the Picts, having stoln a Dog of the Scotish Kings, wherein he much delighted, the Keeper, having discovered the Place where he was conceal∣ed, in going thereto, and endeavouring to bring him back, was slain: Hereupon a great Outcry was presently made, and a Multi∣tude of both Parties were gathered together, between whom there was a sharp Combat, wherein many were slain, on both sides; a∣mongst whom, there were not a few of the young Nobility of both Nations; by which means, there were sown the Seeds of a most Cruel War m 1.2 betwixt them. For, from that Day forward, each Nation did vex the other with Hostile Incursions, and never gave over till they met together with full Armies: Neither could Peace be made up between them upon any Terms, though both Kings desired it. For although they were not ignorant, that it was to their Dis∣advantage to be at odds one another, the Romans and Brittons being their perpetual Enemies and Assailants; yet they were so madded by, and so set upon, the Desire of Revenge, that, whilst they were eager on that account, they neglected the Publick Calamity, im∣pending on them both; and unless * 1.3 Carantius, a Roman Exile, one of mean Descent, but a good Soldier, had interposed, they had fought it out to the last Man, even till both Nations had been destroyed. This Carantius, being sent to the Sea-Coasts of Bologn•• by Dioclesian, to defend Belgick Armorica from the Incursions of the Francs and Saxons, after he had taken many of the Barbarians, yet would nei∣ther restore the Prey to the Provincials, the Right Owners, nor yet send them to the Emperor; hereupon a suspicion arose, that he pur∣posely allowed the Barbarians to plunder, that so he might rob them at their return, and thereby enrich himself with the Spoil. For this Reason Maximianus commanded him to be slain; but he, taking Au∣thority upon him, seized upon Britany; and to strengthen his Party against * 1.4 Bassianus, the Roman Lieutenant-General, he reconciled the Discords betwixt the Scots and Picts, and entred into a firm League and Alliance with them Both. The Romans made many Attempts against him, but, by his Skill in Military Affairs, he defeated all their Designs: After he had restored the Scots and Picts into the pos∣session of those Lands, which they formerly held, he was slain by his Companion Allectus, after he had Reigned seven Years. Allectus, ha∣ving Reigned three Years, was slain by * 1.5 Asclepiodotus; and thus Bri∣tanny was restored to the Romans, in the Twelfth Year after its Re∣volt. But neither Asclepiodotus, nor, he who succeeded him, * 1.6 Con∣stantinus Chlorus, did any memorable thing in Britain; but that this later begat Constantin, afterwards Emperor, on Helena his Concu∣••bne. Amidst these Transactions, Crathilinthus died, after he had Reiigned 24 years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Scotish K••ng•• did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Travel all ove•• the whole King∣dom, in their own Persons, to Administer Justice.
• m 1.2

  A War like to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be∣tween the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉,
• * 1.3

  But compo∣sed by the Prudence of Carantius, a Roman.
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉, and Constanti∣nus Ch••o••us, three Roman Lieutenant-Generals in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suc∣••••••lively.
• * 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉, and Constanti∣nus Ch••o••us, three Roman Lieutenant-Generals in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suc∣••••••lively.
• * 1.6

  〈…〉〈…〉, and Constanti∣nus Ch••o••us, three Roman Lieutenant-Generals in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suc∣••••••lively.