More inwardly, amongst the high and craggy ridges of the mountain Grampius, where they begin a little to slope, and settle downwards, lies Breadalbane , that is, the highest part of Scotland. For they that are the true and genuine Scots, call Scotland in their mother-tongue Albin; as that part where it rises up highest, Drum-Albin, that is the ridge of Scotland. But in a certain old book it is read Brun-Albin, where we find it thus written, Fergus the son of Eric was the first of the seed of Chonare, that entered upon the kingdom of Albany, from Brun-Albain to the Irish Sea, and Inchgall. And after him the kings of the race of Fergus reigned in Brun-Albain or Brunhere, unto Alpinus the son of Eochal. But this Albany is better known for its dukes than the fruits of its ground. The first Duke of Albany that I read of, was Robert Earl of Fife, advanced to that honour by his brother K. Robert the 3 of that name; yet he, spurred on by ambition, most ungratefully starved to death David this very brother's son, and next heir to the crown. But the punishment, due to this wicked fact, which himself by the forbearance of God felt not, came heavy upon his son Murdoch [or Murdo] second Duke of Albany, who was condemned for treason and beheaded, after he had seen his two sons executed in like manner, the day before. The third Duke of Albany was Alexander 2, son of King James 2, who being regent of the kingdom, Earl of March, Marr, and Garioth, Lord of Annandale and Man, was outlawed by his brother James the 3; and after many strugglings with the world and its troubles, in the end, as he stood by to see a tournament at Paris, he happened to be wounded by a splinter of a broken lance, and so died. His son John, the 4th Duke of Albany, regent likewise, and made guardian to K. James the 5, being charmed with the pleasures of the French court, as having married a daughter and coheir of John Earl of Auvergne and Lauragueze, died there without issue. Whom, out of respect and deference to the blood royal of Scotland, Francis the 1, King of France, honoured so far, as to allow him a place in France, between the Archbishop of Langres, and the Duke of Alençon, peers of the realm. After his death there was no Duke of Albany, till Queen Mary conferred this honour upon Henry Lord Darley, whom some few days after she made her husband; and K. James the granted the same to his second son, Charles, an infant, now Duke of York.

            These parts are inhabited by a sort of people, barbarous, warlike, and very mischievous, commonly called Highlandmen; who being the true race of the ancient Scots, speak Irish, and call themselves Albinnich. People they are of firm and compact bodies, of great strength, swift of foot, high minded, born as it were for the exercises of war, or rather of robberies; and desperately bent upon revenge. They wear, after the manner of the Irish, striped mantles of divers colours, with their hair thick and long; living by hunting, fishing, fowling, and stealing. In war, their armour is an iron head-piece, and a coat of mail; their arms, a bow, barbed arrows, and a broad back-sword. And being divided into families, which they call clans, what with plundering and murdering, they commit such barbarous outrages, that their savage cruelty hath made this law necessary, that if one of any clan hath committed a trespass, whoever of that clan chances to be taken, shall repair the damage, or suffer death.

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