The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

258 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ii
give a title which was, in that age, territorial ?" and in this
remark he has been followed by all subsequent historians.
The following notices will shew, not only that there was such
a title as abthane in Scotland, but even that that very title of
Abthane of Dull existed to a late period, and consequently that
Pinkerton, in denying its existence, only betrays his gross
ignorance, and want of real research into the minuter parts of
Scottish history :—
Charter.— William the Lyon to the Bishop of Dunkeld, of
terra de Abbethayn de ^
Kilntichael, in Strathardolf
Charter.—
Hugh, Bishop of Dunkeld, of reditu viginti
solidorum
deDull.2
qui nos et clericos nostros contingit de Abthania
Charter.—William the Lion to Gilbert, Earl of Stratherne,
of Madderty, and confirmation by Galfridus, Bishop of Dunkeld,
of the said grant to the church of Madderty, et super terra qui
AhtJien de Madderdj'n dicitur et super quieta clamatione de Can
et Conneck qui clerici Dunkelden antiquitus ah eadetti Abthen
perceperunt. 3
Charter by David H. to John Drummond, of the office of
Baillierie, of the AbtJiain of Dull^ in Athol 4 ; and
Charter by the same king to Donald Macnayre,
Ester Fossache, in Abthania de Dull, in vie de Perth. 5
terre de
These notices establish the existence of Abthanes and
Abthainries in Scotland, and also of the particular Abthainry of
Dull in Atholl. As it is very plain, however, that I^'ordun
neither knew what it meant, nor of the existence of the
Abthainrie of Dull, independent of Crinan, it appears evident
that he must have drawn his information from some authentic
document, for it is impossible to suppose that he would invent
a title which he could not explain, or if he had been aware
of the actual existence of the Abthainrie of Dull in after times,
that he would have given the absurd explanation which he did.
Crinan is the first person who can be traced of that race which
to Scotland frvjm Duncan to Alexander
gave so many kings
^
Chartulary of Dunfermline. * Robertson's Index.
-
Chartulary of St. Andrews. *
Ibid.
•"
Chartulary of Inchaffray.