History of the Scottish Nation.

Vol. III.

FROM UNION OF SCOTS AND PICTS, A.D. 843, TO DEATH OF ALEXANDER III., A.D. 1286.

 

Contents

Chapter 1

UNION OF THE PICTS AND SCOTS —REIGN OF KENNETH MACALPIN.

Importance, of the Union,—Its Way prepared by great Battles,—The historic Career of the Picts closed,—Legends of their Massacre false,—Causes of permanence of Union, —Two Peoples, but one Faith,—After War comes Legislation,—The "Code Macalpin,"—Early Laws relating to Land,—Specimens of the Code Macalpin,—The Code the Compilation of several Ages,—Chair of Columba and Stone of Destiny placed at the Centre of the Kingdom,—Death of Kenneth Macalpin,—His Burial.

Chapter 2

DONALD —CONSTAINTIN —FIRST BATTLE WITH THE DANES.

With Kenneth Macalpin the Light departs,—Clearness of the Columban Age compared with following Centuries,—Scotland retrograding,—The Scots must be placed on the Anvil,—King Donald,—Two Portraits of him,—King Constantin,—Quells a Disturbance in Lochaber,—The Danes land on the Coast of Fife,—Battle and Defeat of the Danes on the Leven,—Danish Fleet in Balcombie Bay,—Bloody Battle at Crail, —Defeat of Scots and Death of King Constantin,—Burial of Constantin,—Contrasted Modes of Emigration in Ancient and Modern Times,—Shall Scotland be blotted out and Daneland substituted?

Chapter 3

ETH —GRIG —PICTISH PERSECUTION OF COLUMBAN CHURCH—TOLERATION.

Outlook after the Battle of Crail,—Accession of "Swiftfoot,"—A Shoal of "Sea Monks,"—Accession of Grig, or Gregory,—Gives Freedom to the Scottish Church, —First Use of the Term "Scottish Church,"—The "Pictish Bondage" of Scottish Church,—King Nectan and a new Easter Calendar,—Nectan's Clergy shorn in the Roman Fashion,—The Recalcitrants expelled,—Nectan's Edict revoked by Gregory, —Evils of Nectan's Policy,—Columbites recalled by Kenneth Macalpin—Nectan dies in a Monk's Cowl.

Chapter 4

GREGORY OF SCOTLAND AND ALFRED OF ENGLAND —NORSEMEN —THE FADING COLUMBAN LAMP.

A strong Hand at the Helm,—Treason among the Picts,—Gregory chastises them, —Gregory's Exploits on the Border,—His Conflicts with the Danes and the Britons, —Crosses to Ireland,—Ravages of Hardnute in North of England,—Expelled by Gregory,—Friendship betwixt Gregory and Alfred of England,—Beauty of Alfred's Character,—Adversities of his Youth,—Illustrious Labours of his riper Years, —Heads Army of Bible Translators,—A dying Lamp.

Chapter 5

DONALD —CONSTANTIN —LOST BATTLES AND THEIR LESSONS.

Accession of Donald,—Return of the Danes,—The Scottish Alliance with Alfred renewed,—The Danes repulsed,—A Danish Colony settled in Northumbria,—Donald fights two Battles in Moray,—His Death, —Accession of Constantin,—Under Constantin Scotland retrogrades,—A National Assembly at Scone for the Reformation of the Church,—Its Significance,—Civil Divisions of Scotland,—The Country known as Alban,—Boundaries of the Kingdom of Alban,—Out-lying Regions north and south of Alban,—Saxonia on the south and Norwegia on the north,—Divisions of the Kingdom of Alban,—Names and Boundaries of its five Provinces,—Subdivisions of the Province,—Constantin joins the Danes against England,—Is defeated in Battle, —Invades England a second time,—Stratagem of Anlaf,—Battle of Brouny,—Lesson of Defeat,—Retreat of Constantin pursued by Athelstan,—Scottish Boundary recedes to, the Forth,—Corivention at Abernethy,—Constantin abdicates and enters the Monastery of St. Andrews.

Chapter 6

SPECIAL MISSION OF SCOTLAND —SYNOD OF SCONE —A TENTH CENTURY REFORMATION

The Silent Forces the Mightier,—Power of Christianity is in the ratio of its simplicity,—Shown in the Power of Columba's Mission,—Sources of Scottish History,—Adamnan's Life of Columba; Book of Deer, &c.,—Dr. Johnson's eulogy, —General Assembly of the Scottish Church at Scone,—Independence of Scottish Church,—Reformation on the lines of the Bible,—Proceedings closed with an Oath to go forward in Reformation, —Delays the Triumph of Rome,—Revival,—Columban Church in Existence and Action in the Twelfth Century.

Chapter 7

DESTRUCTION OF EARLY SCOTTISH LITERATURE —THE COLUMBITES METAMORPHOSED —WAS IONA A ROMAN OR A PROTESTANT CHURCH.

Causes of the Destruction of Early Scottish Literature,—The Columbites claimed in our day by Romanists,—This a Hallucination,—Iona and Rome contrasted in their Foundation-stone,—Bede's testimony to the Columbites,—Testimony of Columbanus, —Iona and Rome contrasted in their Top-stone,—The Columban Eucharist and the Romish Mass,—Extraordinary Statement of Father Innes,—Testimony of Claudius Scotus,—The use of the terms body and blood of Christ, Altar, Sacrifice, etc., no proof that the Church of Columba believed in Transubstantiation and the Mass,—Cave on the Communion Tables of the Early Church,—Or Lindsay Alexander on the Columbite Supper,— Footnote—Wooden Communion Tables in Early Irish Church, —The Mass of the Primitive Church, —What the phrase means and how it came into use,—Still used in Eastern Church,—No witness from the dead needed.

Chapter 8

REIGNS OF MALCOLM I.—INDULF —DUFF —CULLEEN—SCOTLAND'S ONE TALENT.

 Disorders repressed,—Malcolm assassinated,—Tndulf ascends the Throne,—The Danes in Firth of Forth,—Battle at Cullen in which Indulf falls,—Edinburgh,—Duff the Black, —Change in Office of Abbot,—Vigour of Duff,—He is assassinated,—Cullen King, —His Profligacy and Death,—Scotland's one Talent, Bible Christianity, —Scotland trading with its one Talent,—The rich harvest it Yields it,—The Scots burying their Talent in the Earth.

Chapter 9

REIGN OF KENNETH —BATTLE OF LUNCARTY —HOUSE OF HAY-ALTERATION OF LAW OF SUCCESSION.

Mission of the Norsemen,—Kenneth III.,—State of the Hebrides,—A Norse Flotilla on the East Coast,—Battle of Luncarty,—The Scots flee,—Arrested by Hay and his two Sons,—Defeat turned into Victory,—Historic Proofs of the Incident,—Revival of Arts and Agriculture,—Succession to the Crown: the Fittest chosen,—Law of Succession changed,—Death of Prince Malcolm,—Story of King's Death.

Chapter 10

MALCOLM II.—CESSION OF LOTHIAN TO SCOTS —BATTLES OF MURTLACH AND BARRY —KINGDOM OF SCOTIA.

Evil Years,—Claimants to the Throne,—Malcolm II. mounts it,—His Character, by Fordun,—Battle of Carham,—Lothian ceded to Scotland,—Danish Fleet off the Spey, —Devastations,—Spread of the Danish Power in Scotland,—Battle of Murtlach, —Growth of the Danish Power,—The Danes aim at Subjugation of all Scotland,—A Danish Fleet at the Red Head,—Danish Ravages,—The Scots Muster at Barry,—Battle of Barry,—Death of Camus,—"Kingdom of Alban" dropped, and "Kingdom of Scotia" substituted,—Last of Male Line of Fergus,—Malcolm II. dies by the Dagger,—The Laurel entwined with Cypress.

Chapter 11

DUNCAN AND MACBETH.

This Era in itself trivial,—Lighted up by a great Genius,—Who was Macbeth?—His Genealogy and History, according to Scottish Chroniclers,—According to the Orkneyinga Saga,—Grandeur of Shakespeare's Drama,—We accept the Fiction of the Poet in place of the real History of the Time,—Macbeth a good Ruler,—His Gifts to the Culdees,—Nevertheless Nemesis follows,—Return of Malcolm, Son of Duncan, —War for the Throne—Macbeth is slain, —Malcolm ascends the Throne.

Chapter 12

MALCOLM CANMORE AND WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

With Malcolm Canmore a new Age,—Invaders in Frock and Cowl,—Battle of Hastings,—William of Normandy,—England receives a New Master,—War betwixt Malcolm Canmore and William the Conqueror,—William invades Scotland, —William at Abernethy,—Terrible Devastations,—Williain fails to conquer Scotland, —His Failure a Blessing to both Countries.

Chapter 13

QUEEN MARGARET —CONFERENCE WITH CULDEE PASTORS.

A Royal Closet,—Malcolm Tower at Dunfermline,—Arrival of Edgar Aetheling and his Sister Margaret at Queensferry,—Character of Margaret's piety,—Her Fastings, Charities, and Religious Acts,—Her Church Reforms,—Conference with Culdee Pastors,—Bishop Turgot—Scottish Church of Eleventh Century, Anti-Papal, —Points debated in the Conference: Ist, Uniformity of Rite,—2nd, The Lenten Fast,—3rd, The Lord's Day,—4th, The Question of Marriage,—5th, The Question of the Eucharist, —Culdee "Lord's Supper,"—Irish Culdees and the Supper,"—The "Hour of Temptation to Scotland."

Chapter 14

GLIMPSES OF THE COLUMBAN CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES —EASTER CONTROVERSY —FALL OF IONA.

Continuity of Columban Church,—Glimpses of it in Middle Ages,—Its Golden Age, —Its first Ebb,—Marked Decadence in Eighth Century,—Expulsion of Columbite Clergy from Pictish Territory, —An Eighth Century Exodus,—Persecutions and Sufferings of the Exiles, —War follows betwixt Pict and Scot,—The Easter Controversy, —Difference betwixt the Eastern and Western Observance of Easter, —Council of Nicea,—The Moons do not revolve in accordance with the Council's Decree,—The Nineteen Years' Cycle,—The "Elders" rebel against the Easter Decree, —In 717 Iona submits,—The Material Iona falls, the Spiritual Iona flourishes, —Monastery burned and Monks slain.

Chapter 15

TRANSLATIONS OF THE CHAIR OF COLUMBA —THE ONE BISHOP OF ALBAN—A GREAT TEMPEST IN WHICH SCOTLAND DOES NOT SINK.

Service rendered by Sword of Dane,—Continued Organisation and Vigour of Columban Church,—Proofs furnished by Rome herself,—Roman Synods at Chalons-sur-Soane and Celcyth,—Translations of Columba's Chair to Dunkeld, Abernethy, St Andrews,—Boundaries of Alban in Tenth Century,—Wreck of Kingdoms and Peoples,—Scotland escapes.

Chapter 16

EPOCHS OF REVIVAL IN COLUMBAN CHURCH.

Alban's one Bishop,—Who consecrated Cellach?—Rome includes Bishop and Presbyter in the same Order of Clergy —Re-establishment of Columban Clergy in East of Scotland,—Enlargement of Liberties of Scottish Church,—Synod of Mote Hill, —The Columban Church comes again into view in Queen Margaret's Days,—Her success with the Scots small,—They are still outside the Pope's Church.

Chapter 17

THE CULDEES —THEIR ORIGIN —THEIR FUNCTIONS —THEIR DIFFUSION.

Dissolution of Columban Brotherhoods,—Rise of the Ascetic or Anchorite System, —The Culdees or Keledei,—Name signifies "the Servants of God,—Two Theories of their Origin, —First, that they are sprung from the Roman Church,—Proofs: Legend of St. Serf,—First Pope, next Abbot of Lochleven,—Another form of this Legend, —Legend of St Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland,—Legend of founding of St Andrews,—The first Ceile De,—This Theory inconsistent with the Fact that the Culdees were persecuted by Romanists,—Inconsistent with the Fact that they were the Evangelisers of the Continent,—The Culdees a Continuation of the Columban Church, —Great historic Proofs of this,—Culdees Pioneers of the Reformation.

Chapter 18

NORWEGIAN KINGDOM OF ORKNEY —MARGARET REVOLUTIONISES SCOTLAND —DEATH OF MALCOLM AND MARGARET —ESTIMATE OF MARGARET’S CHARACTER AND SERVICES.

Bye Drama in Orkney and Shetland,—Their early Religion Druidism,—Christianised by Missionaries from Iona,—Norwegian Kingdom in Orkney,—Heathenism returns, —Christianised a second time under Olave Tryggvosson,—From A.D. 1014 the Norwegian Power in Scotland begins to decline,—Crinan, Abbot of Dunkeld, —Margaret changes her Tactics,—Builds a magnificent Church at Dunfermline, —Pomps and Ceremonials,—Margaret's Ideal of Worship,—Tendency of dying Churches to effloresce into Rites and Ceremonies,—Last Days of Malcolm and Margaret,—Death of Malcolm Canmore,—Margaret's Illness,—Her Death,—Estimate of her Character and Services to Scotland.

Chapter 19

DONALD BANE —KING EADGAR —ALEXANDER’S BATTLE WITH THE BISHOPS — ALEXANDER’S VOW AND MONASTERY OF INCHCOLM.

A double vacancy,—Unpopularity of the Reigning House,—Donald Bane,—Eadgar Ascends the Throne,—Introduction of Lowland Scotch,—Alexander the "Fierce, his zeal for the "Church,"—His religious benefactions,—Turgot becomes Bishop of St Andrews, Quarrel over his Consecration,—Another vacancy in See of St. Andrews, —Eadmer elected,—Battle of Jurisdiction betwixt the Bishop and the King,—Eadmer leaves the Kingdom,—The "Fatal" Chair of St. Andrews,—Alexander makes more Bishops,—Scotland changing its appearance,—The Storm,—Alexander's Vow, —Founding of Inchcolm,—Career of the Monastery,—Walter Bower and Thomas Forret.

Chapter 20

DAVID 1. AND NEW AGE OF EUROPE —DAVID'S PERSONAL QUALITIES AND HABITS —WAR TO RESTORE THE ANGLO-SAXON LINE IN ENGLAND —BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

Battle betwixt the Spiritual and the Temporal Powers,—The Spiritual conquers, —Scotland brought within the sphere of this Conflict,—Personal qualities of David, —Painstaking in Administration of Justice,—A lover of the Chase,—His peregrinations,: Stirling, Perth, Jedburgh, Edinburgh,—His efforts to raise his Niece to the English Throne,—Treaty at Durham,—Second Invasion of England,—The two Armies at Cutton Moor,—Battle of the Standard,—Subsequent negotiations,—The Norman keeps the English Throne.

Chapter 21

KING DAVID'S ECCLESIASTICAL POLICY —ERECTION OF FIVE NEWBISHOPRICS —SUPPRESSION OF THE CULDEES.

David's two projects: Restoration of Saxon Line in England and substitution of the Roman for the Columban Church in Scotland,—Alexander I. leaves four Bishoprics, —David's new Bishoprics,— Rossemarkie,—Aberdeen,—Caithness,—Suppression of the Culdees,—At Dornoch,—At Lochleven,—Continuity of Culdees in Lochleven Monastery,—Legend of Servanus,—Culdees of Monimusk,—Culdees of St. Andrews, —Their Firmness and Fidelity,—Their Battle of Two Hundred Years,—Their Existence traced till the Reformation.

Chapter 22

FOUNDING AND ENDOWING OF HOLYROOD.

Abbey of Holyrood,—Edinburgh in King David's Days,—David and the Wild Boar, —The King's Vow,—Building of Abbey,—Its Monks Augustinian,—Its Endowments, —Numerous Benefactors,—Its Chapels, and Altars,—The Monks at Breakfast, Dinner, Supper,—Evening Recreations.

Chapter 23

INTERIOR OF ABBEY-ROUTINE OF DAILY SERVICES —DUTIES OF THE SEVERAL FUNCTIONARIES —BENEFIT TO SOCIETY?

Divisions of the Monastic Day,—Monastic Discipline,—Tierce,—Sext, Nones, Prime, Compline,—Officers of Abbey: Abbot, Prior, etc.,—Cellarer, Treasurer, Refectioner, etc.,—Question of Benefits flowing from the Abbey.

Chapter 24

FOUNDING OF ABBEYS CONTINUED —ABBEYS NORTH OF THE GRAMPIANS IN VALLEY OF THE TWEED, MELROSE KELSO) ETC., —VARIOUS ORDERS OF FRIARS —OUTLOOK OF SCOTLAND.

Scotland's Aspect changing,—Incheolm, Buildings,—Rich Endowments,—Drowning and Miracle,—Turned into a Lazaretto, etc.,—Fertile and picturesque spots selected by Monks,—Build on Columban Foundations,—Monimusk, etc.,—Abbey of Melrose, —Jedburgh,—Kelso,—Its Regalities,—Right of Sanctuary,—More Friars,—Houses for Women,—Rural Deaneries,—Worship of New Church,—Sermons of the Friars, —Examples,—Outlook of the Scots,—Coming purification.

Chapter 25

DEATH OF DAVID —HIS CHARACTER.

His latter Days darkened,—Death of his only Son, Prince Henry,—Arrangements for the Succession,—His Death,—His Character,—Difficult to estimate accurately,—His Character as a Ruler tested by Time,—His great Error his Ecclesiastical Policy,—Its Influence most Disastrous,—Scottish Patriotism benumbed.

Chapter 26

REIGNS OF MALCOLM IV.—WILLIAM THE LION —ALEXANDER III.—BATTLE OF LARGS.

Malcolm IV.,—Gathering Clouds,—Why called the "Maiden," Malcolm's Softness with Henry of England,—Moro Religious Houses,—Accession of William the Lion, —Why styled "The Lion,"—Taken Captive by the English Barons,—Buys his Liberty with the Surrender of the Independence of his Kingdom,—A great Price for one Man, —Abbey of Arbroath,—Scotland under Interdict,—Richard Coeur de Lion gives Scotland back its Independence,—More Priests,—Independence of Scottish Papal Church,—Alexander II.,—His Troubled Reign,—More Friars,—Alexander III., His Coronation,—The Comyns,—Alexander's Marriage,—Founding of Abbey of Sweetheart,—Translation of Queen Margaret's Relics,—Last Appearance of the Vikings,—Haco's Armada,—Destructive Storm,—Battle of Largs,—an Epoch in Scottish History,—Death of Alexander III.


End of Vol. III.


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