Beyond Loch Lomond, and the western part of Lennox, near Dunbarton Firth, Argyll lays out itself, called in Latin Argathelia and Arogadia, commonly Argyll, but more truly Argathel, and Ar-Gwithil, that is, near to the Irish, or as some old records have it, the brink or edge of Ireland; for it lies towards Ireland, whose inhabitants the Britons called Gwithil and Gaothel. A country much running out in length and breadth, all mangled with lakes well stocked with fish, and rising in some places into mountains very commodious for feeding of cattle; wherein also wild cows and deer range up and down. But along the coast, what with rocks, and what with blackish barren mountains, it makes a horrid appearance. In this tract, (as Bede observes) Britain received, (after the Britons and Picts) a 3rd nation, the Scots, into the Picts' territories; who coming out of Ireland with Reuda their leader, got either by force or friendship the habitation, which they still keep; of which leader they are to this day called Dalreudini, for in their language dal signifies a part. And a little after, Ireland (says he) is the proper country of the Scots, for being departed out of it, they added unto the Britons and Picts a 3rd nation in Britain. And there is a very good arm of the sea, or a bay, that anciently divided the nation of the Britons from the Picts; which from the West breaketh a great way into the land; and there to this day standeth the strongest city of the Britons, called Alcluith. In the northern part of which bay the Scots (whom I now mentioned) when they came, got themselves room to settle in. Of that name Dalreudin, there are now extant no remains that I know of, nor any mention of it in writers, unless it be the same with Dalriata. For in an old little book of the division of Albany, we read of one Kinnadius, (who 'tis certain was a King of Scotland, and subdued the Picts) in these very words, Kinnadius, two years before he came into Pictavia, (so it calls the country of the Picts) entered upon the government of Dalriata. Also there is mention made, in a more modern history of Dalrea hereabouts, where King Robert Bruce fought a battle with ill success.

            K. James the 4 with consent of the states of the kingdom, enacted, that justice should be administered to this province by the justices itinerant at Perth, whensoever the King should think convenient. But the earls themselves have in some cases their jura regalia;<491> who are persons of very great authority, and of a mighty interest, deriving their pedigree from the ancient petty kings of Argyll, through an infinite series of ancestors, and taking their surname from their castle Campbell. But they are obliged to King James the 2 for the honour and title of Earl; who (as it is recorded) created Colin Lord Campbell Earl of Argyll, in regard to his own virtue, and the dignity of his family. Whose posterity, by the favour of their kings, have been a good while general justices of the kingdom of Scotland, or (according to their way of expressing it) justices generally constitute, and great masters of the King's household.

Prev Next