Old English Chronicles Part 56

[Footnote 586: Bertha, or Old Perth.]

[Footnote 587: South Esk.]

[Footnote 588: Tine.]

[Footnote 589: The Taixali held the eastern coast of Aberdeen, apparently as far as Kinnaird Head.]

[Footnote 590: Probably Old Aberdeen.]

[Footnote 591: Dee.]

[Footnote 592: Ithan.]

[Footnote 593: Kinnaird Head.]

[Footnote 594: The Vacomagi were spread over an extensive region west of the Taixali and north of the Grampians, comprising a considerable part of Aberdeen, all Banff, Murray, Elgin, and Nairn, with the north-east of Inverness.]

[Footnote 595: On the Spey.]

[Footnote 596: Brae Mar Castle.]

[Footnote 597: Uncertain, but near the Ness; perhaps Inverness or Bonness.]

[Footnote 598: Burgh Head.]

[Footnote 599: Murray Frith.]

[Footnote 600: Spey.]

[Footnote 601: Dovern.]

[Footnote 602: The d.a.m.nii Albani may have been a remnant of the d.a.m.nii, who, after the erection of the wall, being cut off from the rest of their tribe, were gradually circ.u.mscribed by the neighbouring people, to Braidalbane, and a small part of the west of Perth and east of Argyle.]

[Footnote 603: The Attacotti occupied a considerable part of Argyle, as far as Lochfyn.]

[Footnote 604: Loch Lomond.]

[Footnote 605: Dumbarton. It was afterwards called Theodosia.]

[Footnote 606: It must be confessed that the information preserved by Richard, in regard to this remote part of our island, is extremely obscure, and that his descriptions will only a.s.sist us in guessing at the situation of the different tribes. Perhaps this can scarcely be deemed extraordinary, when we consider how imperfectly the interior of this country is known even at present.]

[Footnote 607: The country of the proper Caledonians was the central part of Inverness and Ross.]

[Footnote 608: The Cantae seem to have held Cromarty and East Ross.]

[Footnote 609: Frith of Cromartie, _Stukeley_. Loth R. _Roy._]

[Footnote 610: Tarbet Ness, _Stukeley_. Ord Head, Caithness, _Roy_.]

[Footnote 611: Frith of Dornoch, _Stukeley_.]

[Footnote 612: The Logi seem to have held the south-east of Strathnavern, and north-east of Sutherland.]

[Footnote 613: All, _Stukeley_. Shiel, _Roy_.]

[Footnote 614: The Carnabii inhabited part of Caithness, the north of Ross, and central part of Sutherland.]

[Footnote 615: Ness or Noss Head, _Stukeley_.]

[Footnote 616: The Catini held part of Caithness and the east of Sutherland.]

[Footnote 617: The Mertae held the country comprised between the Catini and Carnabii.]

[Footnote 618: Dunnet Head, _Stukeley_. Duncansby Head, _Roy_.]

[Footnote 619: Navern.]

[Footnote 620: The Carnonacae seem to have held the detached portion of Cromarty, situated near Loch Broom, and a small part on the border of Sutherland.]

[Footnote 621: Cape Wrath.]

[Footnote 622: Loch Broom.]

[Footnote 623: The Cerones held the north-west part of Ross;--the Creones south-west of Ross and Inverness, and a part of Argyle.]

[Footnote 624: Shiel, _Roy_.]

[Footnote 625: Loch Loch, _Stukeley_. Linnhe Loch, _Roy_.]

[Footnote 626: Lochfyn.]

[Footnote 627: The Epidii probably occupied the Western part of Argyle, as far as the Mull of Cantyr, and were bounded on one side by the sea and on the other by Lochfyn.]

CHAP. VII.

The different parts of Britain having been cursorily examined according to my original design, it seems necessary, before I proceed to a description of the islands, to attend to a doubt suggested by a certain person.[628] "Where," asks he, "are the vestiges of those cities and names which you commemorate? There are none." This question may be answered by another: Where are now the a.s.syrians, Parthians, Sarmatians, Celtiberians? None will be bold enough to deny the existence of those nations. Are there not also at this time many countries and cities bearing the same names as they did two or three thousand years ago?

Judea, Italy, Gaul, Britain, are as clearly known now as in former times; Londinium is still styled in the common language, with a slight change of sound, London. The negligence and inattention of our ancestors in omitting to collect and preserve such doc.u.ments as might have been serviceable in this particular, are not deserving of heavy censure, for scarcely any but those in holy orders employed themselves in writing books, and such even esteemed it inconsistent with their sacred office to engage in such profane labours. I rather think I may without danger, and without offence, transmit to posterity that information which I have drawn from a careful examination and accurate scrutiny of ancient records concerning the state of this kingdom in former periods. The good abbat, indeed, had nearly inspired me with other sentiments, by thus seeming to address me: Are you ignorant how short a time is allotted us in this world; that the greatest exertions cannot exempt us from the appellation of unprofitable servants; and that all our studies should be directed to the purpose of being useful to others? Of what service are these things, but to delude the world with unmeaning trifles? To these remarks I answer with propriety. Is then every honest gratification forbidden? Do not such narratives exhibit proofs of Divine Providence?

Does it not hence appear, that an evangelical sermon concerning the death and merits of Christ enlightened and subdued a world overrun with Gentile superst.i.tions? To the reply, that such things are properly treated of in systems of chronology, I rejoin: Nor is it too much to know that our ancestors were not, as some a.s.sert, Autochthones, sprung from the earth; but that G.o.d opened the book of nature to display his omnipotence, such as it is described in the writings of Moses. When the abbat answered, that works which were intended merely to acquire reputation for their authors from posterity, should be committed to the flames, I confess with grat.i.tude that I repented of this undertaking.

The remainder of the work is therefore only a chronological abridgment, which I present to the reader, whom I commend to the goodness and protection of G.o.d; and at the same time request, that he will pray for me to our holy Father, who is merciful and inclined to forgiveness.

The following Itinerary is collected from certain fragments left by a Roman general. The order is changed in some instances, according to Ptolemy and others, and it is hoped, with improvement.

Among the Britons were formerly ninety-two cities, of which thirty-three were more celebrated and conspicuous. Two munic.i.p.al,[629]