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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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—NOTES. 431Plots, were obliged to take refuge iti Ireland. Their residencein Ireland is variously stated at from 17 to 40 years. They returnedto Argyleshire under Loam and Fergus, <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Ere,about <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifth century.The Scots mentioned by St.Patrick were <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> identical Dalriads, or aboriginal Scots<strong>of</strong> Argyleshire. That St. Patrick converted this colony is clearfrom <strong>the</strong> Duan Albanach^ which says,Tri mic Eire, mhic Eachacli ait,Triar fuair beannachtain Phadraic—i. e. " The three sons <strong>of</strong> Ere, <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Eachach <strong>the</strong> Great, obtained<strong>the</strong> besediction <strong>of</strong> Patrick."Pinkarton, <strong>the</strong> grand ad-Tersary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scots, is as express to this point as words canmake it. Beda's Scots (says he, v. 2. p. 260.) in Britain werebut <strong>the</strong> inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Argyle, a petty district, and were convertmed to Christianity during <strong>the</strong>ir exile in Ireland, from 446 to 503.And again, (v. 2. p. 266.) in 460 Patrick converts <strong>the</strong> Dalreu.dim, or old British Scots <strong>of</strong> Argyle, <strong>the</strong>n exiled in Ireland, ashe does <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Irish; and prophesies that Fergus, <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong>Ere, shall he a king, andfa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>ki?igs. It is a matter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>extremest facility to identify <strong>the</strong> Scots <strong>of</strong> St. Patrick and <strong>the</strong>Scots <strong>of</strong> Argyle, by numerous and respectable authorities; butMr. Pinkarton has done it himself, and saved me <strong>the</strong> trouble.It is <strong>the</strong>reforehistoric truth that <strong>the</strong> inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Argyleshireare <strong>the</strong> aboriginal Scots—that <strong>the</strong>y are mentioned by Ammianusand Hieronymus as early as 360— that <strong>the</strong> name Scot was un.known in Ireland till 460, and when known, belonged not to<strong>the</strong> Irish, but solely and exclusively to <strong>the</strong> aboriginal Scots <strong>of</strong>Argyleshire, <strong>the</strong>n exiles in Ireland.Hence <strong>the</strong> extreme anxiety<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Irish to suppress all knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first colony underMiada, and to commence <strong>the</strong> Scottish name with <strong>the</strong> second colonyunder Loarn and Fergus, <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Ere. It is pitifuJit is- really distressing, to see Mr. Pinkarton flatly cont^-adicthimself so <strong>of</strong>ten.Having, as before stated, admitted in <strong>the</strong> mostunequivocal terms that <strong>the</strong> Scots <strong>of</strong> St. Patrick were <strong>the</strong> oldScots <strong>of</strong> Argyleshirej he totally forgets himself, and says (v. 2.3 i '2

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