stances thereunto belonging; King Richard, the more to ftrengthen this Bond of Amity betwixt him and King James, propos'd a Marriage, be twixt the Prince of Rothfay, Eldeft Son to King James, and the Lady Anne de la Pool, Daughter to John, Duke of Suffolk, King Richard's Niece: Wifely confidering, that, amongst all Bonds and Obligations of Love and Friendship, there is not a furer than that of Inter-marriage.

Marriage

Prince of

Richard's

King James willingly embraced this Offer likewife; and our Prelate He is fent to and feveral Noblemen were sent back again to Nottingham, to meet with clude a the English Noblemen, Commiffionate for that Effect: Which was done betwixt the with fo good Succefs, that Writings and Inftruments concerning the Scotland fame, were drawn, engrofs'd and feal'd; and Affiances made and taken and King up by Proctors and Deputies of both Parts. From henceforth, this Niece. young Lady was call'd Princefs of Rothfay; but, by the short Life and Reign of King Richard, her Uncle, (who, notwithstanding of all his Precautions, was Dethron'd and overthrown in Battel) fhe loft that Name and Title.

of Scotlands

After this, King James, to exprefs how much he was fatisfy'd, with He is madė our Prelate's Conduct, in both thefe Treaties, made him Chancellor of Chancellor Scotland in Place of the Earl of Argyle: But Bishop Lefly fays,that he was made only Lord Privy-Seal. Upon the expiring of the Peace with the English, in the Year 1487, King James, by the Advice of our Prelate, call'd a Parliament; in which, many Acts were made against Oppref fours; Juftices were appointed to pass thro' the whole Kingdom, and fee Malefactors defervedly Punith'd; and that no Convention of Friends fhould be fuffer'd to accompany the Criminals, as the Cuftom then was; but that every one Attainted fhould appear at the most with Six Proctors, that, if found Guilty, they fhould not be taken away by Strength of Hand. By our Prelate's Advice, likewife the King bestow'd feveral Sums of Money for Erecting and Repairing of Religious Houses and Chapels Amongit thefe, he Founded one in the Caftle of Stirling, which he call'd the Chapel-Royal. The Priory of Coldingham falling then Vacant into the King's Hands, he annex'd the fame to this Chapel; and procur'd an Act of Parliament, that none of the Lieges fhould attempt to do any thing contrary to this Union and Annexation; or to make any Impetration thereof at the Court of Rome, under the Pain of Treafon. The Priors of this Convent, having been, for many Years, of the Name of Hume, the Gentlemen of that Name complain'd, that they would be wrong'd in their Eftates, by reafon of the Tithes and other Cafualities belonging to this Benefice, if a Prior of any other Sirname were promoted to this Place: But the King continuing firm in his Refolution of annexing them to his Chapel, the Gentlemen of the Name of Hume made their Application to the Lord Hales and others of the Sirname of Hepburn, who had been conftant Friends, Allies and Neighbours to them; and they enter'd into a Combination, that they should mutually ftand by one another, and not suffer any Prior to be receiv'd for Coldingham, if he were not one of their two Sirnames. And, as very great Calamities often arife from fmall Beginnings, fo it hap pen'd in this Cafe; for,all the Discontented People in the Nation, knowing these two Sirnames to be Numerous, Active and Powerful, they laid hold of this Opportunity, and, having join'd them, rofe in open Rebellion against the King. Our Author did all, that he could, to bring

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thefe

He retires

to his Dio

cefs, and compofes

a Book of Ca

nons for his

Clergy.

and fent

thefe Rebels to a Sense of their Duty: But finding, that his Attempts were in vain, and that by no means they could be diffwaded from rifing up in Arms againft their lawful Sovereign, he retir'd himself to his Diocefs, being of the Opinion, that it was not futable to one of his CharaEter, to have any further Dealing in War, than to teach them, what the Prince of Peace had told them, of their Duty to their King and Country.

During the time of his Retirement, he apply'd himself closely to his Paftoral Office, reforming all the Abuses that he had found amongst them; and compofing, for their Inftruction, a Book of Canos taken out of the Ancient Canons of the Primitive Church. But, the Lords of the Infurrection, as these Rebels were then call'd, having overthrown and kill'd their Prince in Battel, our Prelate was order'd to attend at a Par liament, which was to be held at Edinburgh, in the Month of October, in the Year 1488; which he accordingly did, and was Witness to the Crowning of the Young Prince, who had not then attain'd to the SixHe is call'd teenth Year of his Age. And, the Lords of the Infurrection, being afraid to Court; that he would not concur with them in approving of their Procedures, Ambaffador the First Thing, that they did, was to Vote him to be fent Ambaffador to the Em- to the Emperor Maximilian, with a Propofal of Marriage, betwixt their Young King James IV. and the Princess Margaret the Emperor's Daughter: But this Embaffy prov'd ineffectual, for, before he arriv'd at the Emperor's Court, that Princess was promis'd in Marriage to the Prince of Spain. Yet, tho' he fail'd in this, he refolv'd, that his Country should reap fome Profit by his Embaffy: So, in his Return, he concluded, in He makes his Mafter's Name, a Peace with the States of Holland; which was fo awat be acceptable to the whole Kingdom, they having been long at Variance with them to their great Lofs and Dammage, that it was look'd upon as a greater Piece of Service done to his Country, than if he had effe&tuated the Marriage, he was fent to Negotiate.

peror Maxi

milian.

a Peace be

land and · Holland.

the Univer

deen.

All the Commotions of State being now appeas'd, and every thing fettled in good Order, our Prelate wrote a Letter to Pope Alexander VI. defiring, that he would grant him a Bull for Erecting an Univerfity He Erects at Aberdeen; which was accordingly fent to him, in the Year 1494: fity of Aber. And in the Year 1500 he Founded the Old-Town-College in Aberdeen, which he caus'd call the King's College; because King James IV. took upon him and his Succeffors the fpecial Protection of it. By the Pope's Bull, this Univerfity is endow'd with as ample Privileges as any Univerfity in Christendom;and particularly the Foundation relates to the Privileges of the Universities of Paris and Bononia. The Perfons endow'd were,a Doctor of Theology Principal, a Doctor of the Canon Law, a Doctor of the Civil Law, a Doctor of Phyfic, a Profeffor of Humanity to teach Grammar, a Subprincipal to teach Philofophy, a Chantor, a Sacrift, Six Students of Divinity, Three Students of the Laws, Thirteen Students of Philofophy, an Organist, and Five Singing Boys who were Students of Humanity. About the fame time, that he was bufy'd in Founding of this UniHe writes verfity, he caus'd build a Magnificent Bridge over the River of Dee; and, the Scots all the spare Hours that he had from his Devotions and Acts of Charity, the Hiftory he imploy'd in writing the Lives of the Scots Saints, and the Hiftory of of Scotland. Scotland from its firft Rife to his own Time. The Hiftory of the Lives of the Saints he order'd to be read in Portions, at folemn Days, amongst

the Lives of

Saints and

his Clergy; but, this Work is entirely loft. His Hiftory of Scotland is ftill Extant amongft Sir Thomas Fairfax's MSS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford; and Bishop Stillingfleet tells us (b), That he had Eight Books of it, which go as far as the Thirteenth Century. In this Hiftory,our Author, for the most part, follows Fordon: But, in his Continuation, he is much more exact and full than any other Hiftorian that we have.

An Account

And, fince I am to give an Account of feveral Authors, that have written the Hiftory of our Nation,that I may avoid needlefs Repetitions, of this HiI shall here give the Reader an Abridgment of our Hiftory, from the ftory. First Foundation of our Monarchy to our Author's time, taken out of his Hiftory and the other Hiftorians, who are mention'd in their proper Places.

This Hiftory of Bishop Elphinston's was given in to the Bodleian Library, by General Fairfax, who got it from James Drummond, Brother to William Drummond of Hawthornden, the 14th of December, in the Year 1650. 'Tis divided into XI Books, and confifts of 384 Pages in Folio, and in a small Hand full of Contractions. In the First Book, he gives us the fame Account, that Fordon gives as to the Original of the Scots Nation; which the Reader will find, in the First Volume of this Work, in that Author's Life. But, whatever Truth be in this, all our Hiftorians are agreed, that our First Monarch was FERGUS, the Son of Ferchard, who was Crown'd in the 4869 Year of the World, and 330 Years before the Incarnation of our Bleffed Lord and Saviour. Some time before this, a German or a Scythian Fleet, as Bede calls them, were driven upon the Coaft of Ireland; and, being advi'sd to go over to Britain, they Landed upon the Coafts of this Ifland bordering upon the German Sea; and, having expell'd the Inhabitants, which were but few, they brought a great Part of that District under their Subjection. But 'tis more probable, that this Colony (which were afterwards call'd Picts by the Romans and their Neighbour Nations) came First to the Ebude or Western Islands from Scandinavia; and that they had the fame Original with the Scots, who had fettled in the North of Britain, fome time before them. For we find, by all the Accounts that are given of them, that, immediately upon their Landing, they enter'd into a League with the Scots, who had the fame Language and Customs, that they had. The Ancient Inhabitants of Britain being afraid, that, by this mutual League of Friendship betwixt these Two New Colonies, they might become too powerful for them, upon all Opportunities they endeavour'd to create Jealoufies and Animofities amongst them. They, finding this, United both their Forces together against the Britains, under the Command of Fergus, who gave them a Signal Overthrow nigh to the Banks of the River of Down or Don, where Coilus, King of the Britains, was flain with moft of his Army; and, from this Overthrow of the British King, that Country was afterwards call'd Coil or Kyle. The Scots were fo fenfible of the Service, that their Prince had done them, by his great Conduct and Valour in this Action, that they unanimously, by a Solemn Oath, bound themselves and their Pofterity to pay an inviolable Allegiance to Fergus and his Pofterity for ever. All Matters being thus settled in Scotland, it is faid, that Fergus went over to Ireland to quell fome Seditions amongst his Subjects there; and, in the returning Home,

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(a) Vid. Orig. Brit. Præf. Pag. 52.

Home,a Tempeft arifing fuddenly,he was Drown'd,not far from the Port call'd from him, Knock-Fergus or Craig-Fergus, in the Twenty Fifth Year of his Reign. In this King's Reign, it is faid, that the City of Camelon, the Principal Seat of the Pictish Kings, and Edinburgh were Founded; the Firft by Chruthmeus, and the other by Etho, both Kings of the Picts.

Fergus Dying, left Two Sons behind him, Ferlegus and Mainus, neither of them able to manage the Government,by reason of their Nonage; upon which, FERITHARIS, King Fergus's Brother, was made King, contrary to the Oath that they had taken to Fergus and his Pofterity; and a Law was made, Ordaining, That whilft the Children of their Kings were Infants, one of their Kindred, who was judg'd most accomplish'd for the Government, should fway the Scepter in their Bebalf; and, if he Dy'd, then the Succeffion of the Kingdom foull Defcend to the former King's Sons. This Law was the lasting Ground of a Civil War, for almoft 1025 Years, till it was abrogated by Kenneth III. which might have been eafily prevented, if they had made the next in Blood Governors of the Realm, till the King's Son were of a fufficient Age for Governing himfelf, as it will appear by the Sequel of this Hiftory. Feritharis, as I have faid, was Crown'd King: But Ferlegus was no fooner come to Age, than he claim'd the Crown, as of Right belonging to him. Feritharis, by this time, had fo gain'd the Affections of the People, by his Mild and Peaceable Government,that he was not much afraid of any Faction, that the young Prince, his Nephew, could make against him: So, calling together the Heads of the Clans, he made a grave Speech to them, wherein he greatly commended the young Prince, and offer'd to refign the Kingdom to him. Yet fuch was their Love to Feritbaris,that they would not hear of it; but order'd the young Prince to be taken into Custody, with his Followers, in order to prevent his making of any Attempts upon the Throne for the future. Nevertheless he found a way, how to bribe his Keepers; and, with a few others privy to his Defign, he made his Escape, and fled to the Pics: But, they refufing to affift him, he went to the Britains, who gave him no other Encouragement but their Protection. At length, fome of the young Prince's Friends came in upon Feritbaris in the Night time, and ftob'd him in his Bed; which so incens'd the People againft him, that they would never hear of him, but made Choice of his Brother Mainus, for their King; and Ferlegus Died amongst the Britains, leaving his Brother in the Peaceable Poffeffion of his Throne. Feritharis was kill'd in the 15th Year of his Reign, and Mainus begun his Reign in the Year 290. before the Birth of Chrift.

MAINUS was Crown'd at the Castle of Dunftaffage, in Argyle-Shire, and Reign'd 29 Years in great Peace and Quietnefs; and, being a Prince of a Religious Temper,he caus'd erect feveral Pyramids of Stone,whereon he offer'd Sacrifices to the Gods. He inftituted likewise a New Sacrifice to Diana, and went once every Year thro' his Kingdom executing Juftice impartially wherever he came.

Mainus left Two Children behind him,Dornadilla and Nothatus. DORNADILLA fucceeded to his Father,and was no fooner Crown'd,but he renew'd the League with the Picts. Being extremely addicted to Hunting, he Order'd, I. That every Nobleman or Baron fhould keep and maintain Two Raches and a Hound. II. That every one, that kill'd a

Wolf

Wolf, fhould have an Ox for his Reward. III. That he, whofe Dog Firft tooth'd a Deer, fhould have the Deer's Hide; and he, whofe Dog next tooth'd him, fhould have the Head and the Horns; the Body was to be Difpos'd of, as the Master of the Game thought fit; and the Reft, or the Entrails were to be giv'n to the Hounds. IV. If any Debate arofe amongst them, they were to make Choice, by Plurality of Votes, of one to be their Judge, in the Temple of Diana; and from him there was no Appeal. These Laws were, for a long Time, observ❜d amongst the Highlanders.

Dornadilla Died in Peace in the 28th Year of his Reign, and, in the Year 233 before the Incarnation, at Berigone. He left one Son behind him, call'd Reutherus,or Reuda as Bede calls him: Who being of Nonage, his Uncle, NOTHATUS, claim'd the Crown by vertue of the Law, that was made in Feritharis's Time; and he was accordingly Crown'd, and acknowledg'd King by a great many of the Clans. But Dovalus, Chiftain of the Brigantie, or those who inhabited the Country of Galloway, having got the young Prince into his Hands, rais'd all his Vaffals and Followers, who were join'd by Reuther's Friends; and, having plac'd this young Prince upon the Head of this Army, and acknowledg'd him Chief Commander, he went,and demanded the Crown from Notbatus, as belonging of Right to Prince Reuther. The Propofal being rejected with Contempt and Derifion, a Battel immediately enfu'd, wherein Nothatus was flain, in the Twentieth Year of his Reign, as fome fay; but,in the Second, as others conjecture,with more Probability. After this Battel, REUTHER was immediately Crown'd, and acknowledg'd King: But Notbatus's Friends refolv'd to try the Fortune of another Battel, before they would fubmit to their lawful Prince; and, having met to concert Matters amongst themfelves, they made Choice of Ferchard Captain of Kintyre and Lorn, and Nothatus's Son-in-Law, to be General of their Army: Dovalus, being inform'd of the Place where they were affembl'd, got together fome of the King's Forces; and, coming upon them ere they were aware of themfelves, kill'd fe verals of them; and Ferchard hardly efcap'd with his Life, being forely wounded.

Thereafter, the young King Marry'd the Daughter of Getus, King of the Pics; by which, his Party was confiderably ftrengthned: But Ferchard, having got a Numerous Army out of Cathness, Argyle, Murray and the Illes, was anxious to be Reveng'd upon Dovalus: On the other Hand, Dovalus was no lefs earneft to encounter him. At length, they met at Berigone, where a moft Bloody Battel was Fought betwixt them, wherein Dovalus was overcome, and Seven Thousand of his Army flain. Yet, the next Day, Dovalus having gather'd together the Remnants of his Army, they Fought it anew with greater Fury than ever; in fo much, that there remain'd but a very few of both their Armies. In this unhappy Battel, Getus, King of the Picts, was kill'd, and a great Number of Pictish Nobility; the Two Chiftains, Dovalus and Ferchard, were likewise kill'd; and, in a word, fo great was the Slaughter, that there only remain'd Eight Hundred Men of both the Armies. The young King was taken Prifoner, but immediately fet at Liberty; for, the Scots and Pics, that remain'd, were glad to fly to the Deferts and Mountaneous Places, for fear of being made a Prey to the Britains;

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who,

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