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HISTORY OF SCOTLAND.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY.

You have already learnt from your English History how Britain was known to the Romans, by whom it was governed for so many years. It was formerly divided into Britannia, on the south; Caledonia, or Scotland, on the north; and Cambria, or Wales, on the west. If you look at your map, you will find that Scotland is divided from England by the Tweed, the Cheviots, and the Esk and Solway. Connected also with our history, are the Hebrides, or Western Islands, which lie over against Ireland, and formerly belonged to the Scots, but were given by Donald to the King of Norway, and, as you will learn, subsequently recovered; and the Orcades, or Orkney Islands, which

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were taken in the ninth century by some Norwegian pirates, who planted a government there.

The original inhabitants were called Caledonians (dwellers in forests,) from the woody nature of the country, and also Picts. A colony from Ireland came over in the fifth century, and planted itself in the west of Scotland. These were called Scots, and Scoto-Irish, and brought with them many of their customs; being divided into clans, ruled over by chiefs. They occupied the western, and the Picts the eastern parts. Bede calls the former the "Scotiæ gentes," and the latter, "Provincia Pictorum."

Like all barbarous nations, they were a wild and rude people. Ignorant of arts, and of few wants, they could endure labour and fatigue. They lived in huts, or the native caves, and were clothed with skins, or a dress of rough woollen. The uncovered parts of their skin were painted, and hence Claudian calls them

"Nec falso nomine Pictos."

They had their bards, and their worship was that of the Druids. When Christianity was first introduced among the Scots is not clear. Some writers tell us that in the second century it had made great advances, and that a provision from the first-fruits of the land was made for

the Clergy. It is, however, certain, that early in the fifth century Palladius was sent over by Pope Celestine to confute the Pelagian heresy, which had corrupted the primitive faith in many parts of Britain. There was at this time a good number of Christians: nor need we be surprised at this, when we remember the labours of S. Ninian, Apostle of Scotland. He was nobly born, and early showed devotion to GOD. He went to Rome, where he applied himself with great affection to the Word of GOD, and like the dili. gent bee gathering the honey of wisdom from the several sentences of the holy Doctors, as from flowers of various kinds, laid it up in the hive of his breast, to serve for the nourishment of the interior man, and to be brought forth in due time for the comfort and benefit of many. On his return from Rome, he began his apostolic labours, and fixed his seat near Galloway, where he built a church of stone, dedicated to S. Martin. This the people called "Candida casa," or White house. To tell of his great success, is only to repeat the wonders of the Cross. He rested from his labours on the 16th September, 432, and was buried in his church of S. Martin. One word also of another great and shining light.

In the sixth century, S. Columba came over

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