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

Reutherus, the Sixth King.

WHereupon, Reutherus was made King by the Dovalian Fa∣ction, without the Suffrages of the People: The Nobles, hearing of it, though they judged Nothatus worthy of the worst of Punishments, yet did not approve so bad an Example; and they took it in greater disdain, because a Publick Convention was not consulted, but the choice of the chief Magistrate devolved on the Pleasure and Arbitrement of one Man: Besides, that it was not to be thought an Obliging Act in him, thus to advance the young Man to the chief Power, who was, as yet, unfit to Rule. For such as look'd narrow∣ly into the matter, would find, That only the Name of King would be given to Reutherus, but the whole Power would reside in Dovalus. However, it did not much concern the Publick, whether Nothatus, or Dovalus were King, unless, perhaps, they did hope for a more To∣lerable Life under Him, who, being a private Man, durst adven∣ture to Murder his King; and so to deliver over the Scepter to ano∣ther private Man, than under one, who was not so extream or Cruel in his Government, until, by the Permission of the People, he was back'd with Power and with the Terrour of an Army. The Kin∣dred of Nothatus, hearing such things to be bruited abroad, insinua∣ting themselves into the Societies of those who did Regret such Evil Carriages, at last gain'd this Point, That War should be denounced against Dovalus; and that Ferchard, Nothatus his Son in Law, should be General of their Army. Neither did Dovalus refuse to give Battel: They fought twice in one and the same Day; the Dovalians,

though Superior in number, yet were beaten and put to flight, more of them being Slain in the pursuit, than in the Battel. For, besides c 1.1 Dovalus himself, and the chief of his Faction, there fell also Getus, the King of the Picts, with many of his Men. Reutherus, the new King, was taken Prisoner, and pardoned, out of respect to his tender Age, to the Memory of his Father, and to the Royal Blood which ran in his Veins. Neither was the Victory Un-bloody, even to the Conquerors themselves, almost all the chief of the Clans being Slain, with many common Souldiers also. This Conflict of the Scots and Picts, brought matters to that low ebb in Britain, that they who survived fled into Desert and Mountainous Places, and even into the Neighbour Islands, lest they should become a prey to the d 1.2 Brit∣tons; who, having now gotten that opportunity, which they long thirsted after, peirced into the Country, as far as Bodotria, (now called Forth) without any resistance. Afterwards, having made a little Settlement of Things there, they went forward against the Caledonians, and, having scattered those who were there gathered to∣gether to oppose them, they seized upon the Champion Countries of the Picts, and, placing Garisons there, thinking the War to be at an end, they return'd home with their Army. In the mean time, the remainders of the Scots and Picts, which had retired to the Mountains, Woods, and other inaccessible Places, did vex the Go∣vernors of Castles and Garisons, by Robbing them of their Cattle; upon which, they themselves also did Live; and, being increased by the accession of greater Forces from the Islands, they sometimes burnt Villages, and fetcht in Preys further off, so that the Ground was left without Tillage in many places. The Brittons, either being detained by home-bred Dissensions, or, not thinking it adviseable or safe, to lead their Army into such difficult and almost inaccessible Places, where they could meet their Enemies with no Forces more numerous than they had to oppose them, did by their slow Actings, increase the boldness of their Contrariants. The Scots and Picts being thus miserably afflicted for Twelve years, at length, a new Fry of Lusty Warlike Youths grew up, (who, in so great streights that they had undergone, were enured to Hardship,) those sent Messenger•• all about, and, mutually exhorting one another, they resolved to try their Fortunes. Whereupon, Reutherus sails out of Ireland into the Aebuaae, and from thence into Albium, and Landing his Forces at the Bay, now called Lough Brien, and there joyning with young Gethus, the Son of old Gethus who was slain, who was also his Wifes Bro∣ther, they Consulted together, concerning the Manage of the War. The Issue of their Consult, was, That it was best to draw towards the Enemy unawares, whilst he was unprepared; assoon as they met, the Service was so hot, and the Fight so sharp, that neither Army had reason to boast; so that Both of them, being wearied with Slaughter, made e 1.3 Peace for some years: Reuther, or (as Bede calls him) Reuda, returned to his ancient Seat of Argyle, and the Scots were, a long time after, from him, called * 1.4 Dalreudini; for Daal, in old Scotish, signifieth a * 1.5 Part, as some; or a Meadow or Plain, as others. From whence, he made a further Progress, and, in a short time, enlarged his Dominions even to their Ancient Bounds. After

he had Reigned Twenty Six Years, he died, leaving a Son behind him, named Thereus, begot upon the Daughter of Gethus.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Dovalus and Getus, King of the Picts, slain in Battel.
• d 1.2

  The Brittons enter Scotland.
• e 1.3

  But make Peace, at last, with the Scots and Picts.
• * 1.4

  Scots called Dalreudini, and Why?
• * 1.5

  'Tis Partem (a part) in the Copy, which, some think, is mistaken for Pratum.