Ifles: But their Fleet was difpers'd by a Tempeft, and no further Attempts were made. In the Twenty Third Year of his Reign, Charlemagne, being inform❜d, that there were feveral Perfons, in Scotland, well Seen in all the Languages and Sciences, and defigning to propagate Learning in his own Kingdom,fent over Ambaffadors to Achaius,defiring, t: that he would fend him over fome of his Learn'd Men;and that he would enter into a League with him, against the Saxons, who were Enemies to them both. Whereupon Achaius call'd his Nobility together, to ask their Advice about this important Affair. Culman, Chittain of Mar, was of the Opinion, That the King ought rather to entertain Friendship with the Saxons, than with the French; because they were on the fame Ifland with them: But he was fully answer'd by Albanus, Chiftain of the Iles; and a League was concluded betwixt the French and Scots. By this League, it was Agreed to, for them and their Pofterity, for all future Generations, I. That whatever Injury was done, by the Saxons, to either Nation, should be look'd upon, as done to them both. II. When the French are invaded by the Saxons, the Scots fhall fend an Army to affift them; which Army is to be maintain'd by the French King. III. That, when the Scots are invaded by the Saxons, the French King fhall fend an Army to their Affiftance, upon his own Expences. IV. That, if any of the People of either Nation, during the time of War, fhall harbour, fupport or protect any Saxon, they fhall be deem'd Guilty of Læfe Majefty, by them both. V. That, neither Peace fhould be concluded with, nor War declar'd againft, the Saxons, without the Confent of both Nations. VI. That an Authentic Copy of this League should be kept in both Kingdoms, subscribed by both Kings, and both their Seals appended to it.

After this League was Ratify'd by both Kings, Achaius declar'd War against the Saxons, and fent over his Brother, Guillerme, or William as others call him, to Charlemagne, with Four Thousand Men, to affist him, in his Wars. This Prince William, having acquir'd great Honour,by his Valorous Actions, in feveral Countries; at length, led a retir'd Religious Life, and Founded feveral Monafteries, for Scots Men, not only in Germany, fays Johannes Major, but likewife in feveral other Places. And when, by the Valour of his Soldiers, Charlemagne had overcome the Saxons,he made feverals of the Scots Men Governours and Magiftrates over the Saxons,as we Learn from Paulus Æmilius;whofe Words are these (0): Saxonibus victis ut eorum Nomen paulatim extingueretur, Honores, Magiftratus Gentibus alienigenis at imprimis Scotis mandabat, quorum egregia fide utebatur. That's to fay, The Saxons being overcome, that their Name, by little and little, might be extinguish'd, he bestow'd the Honours of Magiftracy upon Strangers, but principally upon the Scots, whom be made Use of for the great Fidelity that he found in them. In the mean time, Achaius Married Fergufiana, Daughter to Hungus,King of the Pics; by which means, the Old League, betwixt the Scots and Picts, was renew'd. Thereafter Hungus, being affifted by Ten Thousand Scots, made an Incurfion into Northumberland, and drove a great Prey away with him. Athelftane, a Valiant Saxon, being inform'd of this, rais'd a great Army, and march'd after Hungus, whom he overtook within two Miles of Halington. The Picts, being extremely furpriz'd at the sudden Arrival of Athelstane, run

() Vid. Paul. Emil, de Geft. Francor.

to

to their Arms: But, it being towards the Evening, neither of the Armies durft Engage. The next Morning, a Meteor appear'd in the Air, in Form of a Crofs: Hungus, obferving his Army gazing at it, told them, That, that Night, he had been very earneft in his Prayers to God for them, and that he had begg'd the Affiftance of S. Andrew's Prayers; and that, when he fell asleep, the Apoftle appear'd to him, with a Cross in his Hand, and defir'd him to be no ways afraid of his Enemies; for he should obtain an Abfolute Victory over them; and that the Cross, which he faw in his Sleep, was exactly like that in the Air. This fo encourag'd his Men, that, tho' they were much inferior to their Enemies in Number, they fet upon them, with a great Shout, and with fuch Fury, that they obtain'd a complete Victory; and of the whole Saxon Army there were hardly Five Hundred Men Alive. Hungus afcrib'd this Victory to S. Andrew; for which, they, and the Scots, after their Acceffion to the Pitif Throne, carried always, in time of War, a Cross, upon their Standard, like to that which they had seen in the Air. Athelstane was kill'd in Battel; and from him, the Place,to this Day, is call'd Athelstane's-Foord. Not long after this, King Achaius Died in Peace, in the Thirty Second Year of his Reign, and in the Year of our Lord 819. In this King's Reign, liv'd the Famous Fobn Scot; S. Macarius, Abbot of Wirtzburg; Albin, Founder of the Univerfity of Pavia; Clement, Founder of the Public Schools at Paris; Rabanus Maurus, Arch-Bishop of Mentz; S. Virgil, Bishop of Saltzburg; Gildas, the Mathematician; and Bishop Stolbrand; whofe Lives, you have in the First Volume of this Work, Pages 49, 59, 63, 69, 81, 375, 377, 378.

To Achaius fucceeded his Brother's Son,CONVALLUS, who Reign'd Five Years in Peace, both at Home and Abroad; and Died in the Year of our Lord 824.

To Convallus fucceeded DONG ALLUS, Son to King Solvathius. This Prince was very Severe in his Government; whereupon fome of the Nobility got together in Arms, and endeavour'd to perfwade Alpin, King Achaius's Son, to take the Title of King upon him: But that Prince, being Young and Timorous, ftole fecretly away from them, and surrender'd himself up to Dongallus,laying the whole Blame upon the Nobility. They, on the other hand, faid, That Alpin had prompt them to take up Arms for him: But he, finding that his Party was too weak, had Deferted them. Dongallus,that he might the more ingratiate himself with the Young Prince, Alpin, was fo far from giving any Credit to what they faid for themselves, that he put feverals of them to Death. In the mean time, Hungus, King of the Picts, Died; and his Eldeft Son, Dorftologus, was flain by the Fraud of his Brother, Eganus, who died fhortly after. The Male Stock of Hungus being then extinct,his Sifter's Son, Alpin, as next Heir, both by an Ancient Law, and in Right of Blood,claim'd the Kingdom: But the Picts would not hear of it, because they look'd upon him, as a Foreigner. Whereupon Dongallus fent Ambaffadors to them, to expoftulate the Matter: Nevertheless they were fo far from complying with Dongallus's Defire, that they not only refus'd to give them Audience, but Commanded them to depart, out of their Dominions, in Four Days time. Upon this, Dongallus march'd with his Army against them, and paffing over the River of Spey, whofe Cur

rent

rent was very violent, the Veffel, in which he was, funk, and he was Drown'd, in the Sixth Year of his Reign, in the Year of our Lord 830, and was Bury'd at Colmkyl. In this King's Reign, Egbert, King of the Weft Saxons, fubdu'd the Saxon Heptarchy, and reduc'd it to his own Power. He was folemnly Crown'd King of South Britain, at Winchefter; and, by an Edict or Proclamation, commanded, That the whole Heptarchy should hereafter be call'd Engleland or England.

Upon the Death of Dongallus, ALPIN, King Achaius's Son, was declar'd King. He march'd his Army ftraight into Angus, and laid Siege to the Castle of Forfar. Upon this, Feredech, King of the Picts, came, with his Army, to Reftenoth, where they fought a Bloody Battel. In the Beginning of this Battel,the Right Wing of the Scots Army had been entirely cut off, had they not been timely supported by Four Hundred fresh Men, under the Command of Fidenoth, Thane of Athol. Feredech, feeing this, broke into the Heart of the Scots Army, with a Company of Refolute Young Men: But, by this rafh Act of his, he was cut off from the Main Body of his own Army, and he himself kill'd, with all his Followers. Yet notwithstanding of this great Advantage, that the Scots had obtain'd, the Picts continued refolutely Fighting, till Night feparated both Armies. The next Day, Alpin, finding that about the Third Part of his Army was cut off, refolv'd to retire Home with the Remnant of them. Yet, before he remov'd his Camp, he fent out Spies to fee in what Condition, the Enemy was; and having learn'd by them, that they had quit their Camp, and march'd towards Camalodunum, he led his Army into their Camp, where they seiz'd upon all, that was left behind them; and then return'd Home, in great Triumph. After this, the Picts made Choice of Brudus, the Son of Feredech, for their King. But, he proving a dull and lazy Prince, they put him quickly to Death; and made Choice of his Brother, Kenneth, in his Place, who, being a Prince likewise of a Cowardly and Daftardly Spirit, had the like Fate. Thereafter another Brudus was chofen, who, being a Prince of a fierce and warlike Temper, rais'd a great Ármy, with which he march'd as far as the Caledonian Wood. Whereupon King Alpin call'd out all the Fencible Men he could get together, upon fuch an unexpected Alarm, and went with them towards Dundee. Here, upon a Plain lying to the North of the Town, the Two Armies encounter'd, with their ufual Fury and Valour. Brudus, finding that they were like to be worsted, upon a Signal given,brought out of a Wood a great Body of Men and Women, who were attending the Army, whom he had purposely conceal'd for this Stratagem. This Unarm'd Mob moving in a Warlike Pofture towards the Rear of the Scots Army; the Scots, thinking it a fresh Supply of Men coming to attack them in the Rear, fled in great Confufion. In this Battel, King Alpin was taken Prifoner, and brought, with his Hands bound behind him, to a small Village, where Brudus, Order'd to cut off his Head, and carry it in Triumph to Camelon, where he caus'd fix it upon a Pole, in the highest Part of the Walls of the City. The Village, where King Alpin was flain, was, from that, call'd Pafalpine; which Name it retains to this Day. This King was Beheaded in the Fourth Year of his Reign, and in the Year of our Lord 834.

To

To Alpin fucceeded his Son, KENNETH. This Prince was a Perfon of Extraordinary Merit; and on what fide foever we confider the Kings his Predeceffors, we'll find,that none of them excell'd him, in any of the Accomplishments that are requir'd to make a Great Prince. In the Beginning of his Reign, Brudus defign'd to have invaded his Dominions, with a Powerful Army: But, as they were upon their March, a Mutiny arofe in his Army, which not only oblig'd him to march back again, with them; but gall'd him fo to the Heart, that he Died of Grief. His Succeffor and Brother, Durskenus, having no defign to renew the War against the Scots, apply'd himself to compofe the Factions and Animofities, that had rifen amongft his Nobility, at Home. In the mean time, fome Scots Gentlemen, having got into the City of Camelon, under the Difguife of Pictifb Merchants, ftole away King Alpin's Head, and brought it to his Son; for which,he Nobly rewarded them, and fent it to Colmkyl, where it was Bury'd amongst his Predeceffors.

After this, King Kenneth rais'd a Powerful Army; with which, he gave the Picts an entire Overthrow, in Stirling-Shire; and purfu'd their Army to the Water of Forth, in which feverals of them were Drown'd: But their King, Durskenus, made his Escape, by the Means of a swift Horfe.

The next Year, another pitch'd Battel was fought, betwixt these Two Kings, at Scone. The Right Wing of the Scots Army was Commanded by a Noble Chiftain, call'd Bar; the Left Wing, by another Chiftain, call'd Dongallus; the Body of the Army, by Donald, the King's Brother; and a Referve Body of Horfe, by the King himself. Kenneth, having told his Army of the Valour of their Ancestors, the juft Claim that he had to the Pictish Throne, and the unworthy Treatment of his Father, Alpin, concluded, that he had no more to fay, but to remember Alpin. This was no fooner faid, than the Scots rufh'd upon their Enemies, with an incredible Fury; and, having met with as brave a Refiftance on the other hand, a Number of People were flain. For our Hiftorians tell us, That, that Day, the Picts renew'd the Fight, Seven times, and were as often beat. Their King, Durskenus, was purfu'd to the Brink of the River of Tay, where he was kill'd, with his whole Re tinue, and ftript of his Armour, which was fent to Colmkyl, to remain there as a Monument of this Signal Victory. After this, Kenneth march'd straight with his Army, and laid Siege to the City of Camelon, whither the remnant of the Pictish Army had fled, who defended this City, for a long time, with the utmoft Bravery: But at length, being reduced to great Straits, they defir'd a Truce, for Three Days, till they consulted what they fhould do. The Scots, no ways fufpecting their Treachery, agreed to what they propos'd: But, during the time of the Truce, the Picts made a Sally upon the Scots, in the Night-time, and kill'd more than Six Hundred of them. Upon this, Kenneth renew'd the Siege, with greater Vigour than ever: And at laft, being Master of the City, put the whole Inhabitants to the Sword. After this, fome fay, That he put to Death, and Banifh'd, the whole Pictish Nation: But others, with more Probability, fay, That it was only those, who did not fubmit to him. Whatever Truth be in this, 'tis Certain, that hereafter the Picts were no more heard of; and that Kenneth and his Heirs have

1

1

ever fince poffess'd their Throne and Dominions, as, of Right, belonging

to them.

The War being thus at an End, this Excellent Prince's next Care was, to cause all the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom to be Collected into one Body; and he added several other New Laws to them, amongft which, were the following, I. That, in every Shire of the Kingdom, there should be a Judge, for Deciding of Controverfies, well Seen in the Laws; and that their Sons fhould be brought up in the Study of the Laws. II. That the Laws of the Kingdom fhall be kept by them; and, if any of them fhall be Convicted of Læfe Majefty, or wrongous Judgment, they fhall be Hang'd. III. He, that is Convicted of Theft, fhall be Hang'd; and he, that is Guilty of Slaughter, Beheaded. IV. Any Woman, Convict of a Capital Crime, fhall be either Drown'd or Buried Alive. V. He, that Blasphemes God, or fpeaks disrespectfully of his Saints, of the King, or of his Chiftain, fhall have his Tongue cut out. VI. He, that makes a Lye to his Neighbour's Prejudice, fhall Forfault his Sword, and be excluded the Company of all Honeft Men. VII. All Perfons, fufpected of any Crime, fhall fuffer the Inqueft of Seven Wife and Judicious Men, or of any Number of Perfons above that, providing the Number be odd. VIII. All Oppreffors, Robbers and Invaders of other People's Properties, fhall be Beheaded. IX. All Vagabonds, Sturdy Beggers and other Idle Perfons, that may, and do not gain their Livelyhood by fome Honeft Calling, shall be Burnt upon the Cheek, and Whipt with Rods. X. The Wife, fhall not be punish'd for her Husband's Fault: But the Man fhall be punish'd for his Wife's Fault, if he know of it; and, if he be not his Wife, but his Concu bine, the shall be punish'd with the fame Punishment, that the Man deferveth for his Crime. XI. He, that Ravisheth a Virgin,_unless she defire him in Marriage, shall be Beheaded. XII. He, that Defiles another Man's Bed, fhall be put to Death, with the Woman; unless she has been Ravithed. XIII. He, that Ravisheth a Woman,shall be Beheaded; and the Woman declar'd Innocent. XIV. He, that is injurious to his Father by any Member of his Body, fhall have that Member cut off, then Hang'd and remain Unburied above Ground. XV. He, that is a Manflayer, Born Dumb, or Unthankful to his Father, fhall fucceed to no Heritage. XVI. All Witches, Juglars and others that have any Paction with the Devil, fhall be burnt Alive. XVII. No Seed shall be fowen, till it be firft well cleans'd from all noxious Grains. XVIII. He, who fuffers his Land to be overrun with Poisonous and Hurtful Weeds, fhall pay, for the Firft Fault, an Ox to the Common Good; for the Second, Ten; and, for the Third, he fhall be Forfaulted of his Lands. XIX. If you find your Comrade and Friend kill'd in the Field, bury him; but, if he be an Enemy, you are not bound to do it. XX. If any Beaft be found ftraying in the Fields, restore him, either to the Owner, the Tocioderach or Searcher after Thieves, or to the Priest of the Parish; and who ever keeps him up for Three Days, fhall be punish'd, as a Thief. XXI. He,who finds any Thing that is loft, shall caufe it to be Proclaim'd Publickly,that it may be reftor'd to the Owner; otherwise he shall be Punish'd as a Thief. XXII. He, who beats his Adverfary before a Judge, fhall lose his Plea; and the Perfon beat shall be Abfolv'd. XXIII. If your Neighbour's Kine fall a fighting with

yours