The principal aim of the Author in this first volume of Celtic Scotland has been to endeavour to ascertain the true facts of the early civil history. For this purpose the narratives of her early historians afford no available basis. The artificially-constructed system of history first brought into shape by John of Fordun, and elaborated in the more classical text of Hector Boece, must, for the Celtic period of our history, be entirely rejected. To attempt to found a consecutive historical narrative on the scattered notices in the Roman writers and in the Chronicles, which consist merely of lists of kings with the length of their respective reigns, and notices of a few isolated battles, would be merely to produce an unsatisfactory and unreadable book. On the other hand, a succession of general views of the early periods of its history, founded upon a superficial and uncritical use of authorities, or the too readily accepted conclusions of more painstaking writers, however lively and graphic they may be, might furnish very pleasant reading, but would be worthless as a work of authority.
The first thing to be done is to lay a sound foundation by ascertaining, as far as possible, the true facts of the early history, so far as they can be fairly extracted from the more trustworthy authorities. There is, unfortunately, no more difficult task than to substitute the correct ‘sumpsimus’ for the long-cherished and accepted ‘mumpsimus’ of popular historians. All that the Author has attempted in this volume is to show what the most reliable authorities do really tell us of the early annals of the country, divested of the spurious matter of supposititious authors, the fictitious narratives of our early historians, and the rash assumptions of later writers which have been imported into it.
The Author is glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging the valuable assistance which his excellent publisher, Mr. David Douglas, has freely and ungrudgingly given him in carefully revising the proof-sheets. They could have been submitted to no more intelligent supervision.
Edinburgh, 20 Inverleith Row,
1st May 1876.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
| PAGE | ||
| Name of Scotia, or Scotland | [1] | |
| Ancient extent of the kingdom | [2] | |
| Physical features of the country | [7] | |
| Mountain chains | [9] | |
| The Cheviots | [9] | |
| The Mounth | [10] | |
| Drumalban | [10] | |
| The Grampians | [11] | |
| The Debateable lands | [14] | |
| Periods of its history | [16] | |
| Celtic Scotland | [17] | |
| Critical examination of authorities necessary | [17] | |
| Spurious authorities | [21] | |
| Plan of the work | [26] | |
BOOK I.