Page:Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history.djvu/85

 PREFACE. Ixxvii one to the other, according to the prominence which the different settlements of the race assumed in the histoiy of the world ; and as the race of the Scots in Britain became more extended, and their power more formidable, the territorial name would have a tendency to fix itself where the race had become most conspicuous. The name, under its Saxon form of Scotland, passed from Ireland to Britain in the beginning of the tenth century, and was ap- plied by the Saxon historians to the kingdom of Constantino, king of the Scots of Britain, who reigned from the year 900 to 940.^ The name, in its Latin form of Scotia, was transferred from Ireland to Scotland in the reign of Malcolm the Second, who reigned from 1004 to 1034.^ It was thus in the beginning of the tenth century ^ According to the best autho- rities, that jiart of the ' ' Saxon " Chronicle " which precedes the death of King Alfred in 901 was compded in his reign, and in this part of the chronicle the name of Scotland is nowhere applied to North Britain ; while, in King Alfred's translation of " Orosius," he translates the passage " Hi- " hernia qni a gentibus Scotorum " call Scotland." Down to that period the name of Scotland was appUed to Ireland ; but in that part of the chronicle which ex- tends from 925 to 975, and which, if not contemporary, was at least compiled in the latter year, there is, in 93.3, "Her for Aethelstan " Cyning in on Scotland," plainly applying that name to North Bri- tain ; and in the contemporary poem on the battle of Brunan- burg, in 937, Coustantine's people are called Sceotta, and the name applied to Ireland is Yraland. 2 The "Pictish Chronicle," com- piled before 997, knows nothing of the name of Scotia as applied to North Britain ; but Marianus Scotus, who lived from 1028 to lOSl, calls Malcolm the .Second " rex Scot'.ce," and Brian, king of Ireland, " rex Hihe.rnice." The author of the " Life of St. " Cadroe," in the eleventh cen- tury, likewise applies the name of Scotia to North Britain.
 * cohtur," '* Igbernia, which ire