as applied to the Castle, one of the most important fortresses of other times. In the course of that investigation it was made apparent, that the name by which it is at present designated is but of modern appellation, and that its ancient name was undoubtedly derived from the Celtic, the primary language of the inhabitants of Caledonia. At that remote era of our history, when the Saxons of Deira and Bernicia rushed, with victorious arms, to the shores of Glotta and Bodotria, the Clyde and Forth, this boasted capital of our country seems to have been merely a town of secondary consideration, deriving both its celebrity and name from its vicinity to the celebrated Cambrian Fortress Caer Edyn, or the Castle of Eiddyn, and which appears to have been erected in ages vastly prior to the town which was to seek shelter under its venerable protection. This is manifest from various chronicles and charters of that remote period, preserved in the public archives of the nation, and which tend to throw no small degree of light over the otherwise impenetrable wilds of ancient Caledonia. The earliest account we have of this city is to be found in a MS. history of the Cambrian Kingdom of Strathcluyd, Scotland, denominated "Hist. Gest. Res. Angl. et Wall," and which is generally supposed, by a comparison of MSS., to have been written about the latter end of the eighth century. It is there related, that the Anglo-Saxons were in possession of that immense tract of country stretching from Eforwie (York) to the great Scottis watyr, or sea of Edinbare" quod disterminat terras Porumque Anglorum."--which divides the country of the Angli (Saxons) from the Picti. This town is also mentioned by Wallingford, in his Hist. De Reg. Angl. et Scott." Magna Scotto watyr que dividit Regna Scot

Deser. Alb. a Gale penes.--Bib. Bod. Bede Eccles. Hist. Lib Iv. c. 26.

torum et Anglorum juxta Edwinesburchum"-the great Scottish sea which divides the kingdoms of the Scotti and the Angli, nigh to Edinburgh*. In another part of the same history express mention is made of this city, in the following manner :"Athelstane Rex Anglorum dedit Sightric, Rex Danorum, in perpetua possessione," &c. Athelstane, King of the Saxons, bestowed in perpetual possession upon Sightrich the Dane, in marriage portion with his daughter, the whole of that beautiful territory, stretching from the shores on the confines of Peychtland, to the borders of the warlike kingdom of the Deirians and Beruicians, and from the town of Edwinsburgh, on the one hand, to Albanford and Hagulstadt, Norham and Hexham, on the other +. The most authentic and circumstantial account of this important capital is to be found in the various chronicles and chartularies of that remote periodbut especially in those of that munificent monarch David I. of pious memory. In the foundation charter of the monastery of Sancta Crucis, or Holyrood, preserved in the archives of the college of Senators in Edin

bargh,

* Walling. Hist. Angl. ap. Gale et Burton. + Wall. ut Supra. Appen. Decem. Scriptores. Sim. Dunelm. Hist. Angl. ad 800. Charter of Alex. I. mentions Edinesburg juxta Custrum Puellarum Chron. of Mailrose, Edwinesburch. Chro. Lanner Cost. Castrum

Puellarum vel oppidum quod dicitur Edensburg. Hemingsford & Polychronicon, Ednysberg, Edinesburgh, Dun- Edyn, Gaelic.

In the Pictish Chronicle, mention is made of Edyn, a town given up to the Scots, in the reign of King Indulfus, by the Brettes (Britons).-Cambden's Remains.

In the Annals of Ister, A.D. 637, menton is made of Edinburgh at this remote era, in the following words:-“ Bellum Gline Muresan et obsessio Edin," which passage, if properly authenticated as to the topography of this disputed Edin, would certainly be the earliest account of Edinburgh by several centuries--but which undoubtedly rests upon as good authority as the Chronica Picte

rum.'