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

Romachus, The Thirty Sixth King.

AFter his Death, there was a great contest about the Kingdom, between Three Cousin-Germans, begot by the Three Brothers of Crathilinthus, their Names were r Romachus, Fethelmachus, and Augusianus, or rather Aen••anus. Romachus's Plea, was, that his Fa∣ther was the Eldest of the Three Brothers of Crathilinthus, and that his Mother was descended from the Blood-Royal of the Picts; as also, that he himself was of a stirring Disposition; and likely to procure Friends and Allys.

That which made for Augusianus, was, his Age and Experience in the World, as also his admirable Deportment; to which was ad∣ded the Favour of the People; and that which was the principal of all, Fethelmachus, who was, before, his Competitor, now voted for him. By reason of this Sedition, the matter being like to be decided by Arms, nothing could be concluded in the First Conven∣tion of the Estates, but That being dissolved, the whole Kingdom was divided into Two Factions; and Romachus, who was least in the favour of the People, called in the Picts Militia, for his assistance, that so he might strengthen himself by Foreign Aid.

Augusianus, being informed, that Ambushes were laid for him, judged it better, once for all, to try the shock of a Battel, than to live in perpetual solicitude and fear: Whereupon, gathering his

Party into a body, he fought with Romachus, but, being overcome by Him, He and Fethelmachus fled together into the Aebudae Islands.

But perceiving, he could not be safe there, because, on the ac∣count of his Victory, he was formidable to the Heads of the Factions, and that he was also amongst a people, naturally venal, and cor∣rupted by the promises of Romachus, he fled into Ireland with his Friends. s Romachus, having thus removed his Rival, and ob∣tained the Kingdom rather by force than the good will of the Peo∣ple, did exercise his Power very cruelly over his Enemies; and, to put a pretence of Law on the matter, when he went about the Country to keep Assizes, he took no Counsel of others, as was ac∣customed, but assumed all Capital causes to his own Arbitrement, so that he made great Execution amongst the People, and strook a general Terror into the hearts of all good Men. At length, when all were wearied with the present state of Affairs, the Nobility made a sudden combination against him; and, before he could gather his Forces together, he was taken, in his flight to the Picts, and t put to death in the Third year of his Reign. His Head was car∣ried up and down, fasten'd to the Top of a Pole, and afforded a joyful Spectacle to the People.

Notes

• r

  Dissension about Successi∣on to the Crown.
• s

  Romachus Reigns Tyran∣nically,
• t

  And is there∣fore slain.