The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Now as the face of the politic State of the Country was quite altered and undone, so the condition of the Church also was much disordered, and the Culdees were constrained to withdraw, and seek shelter up and down, where they could find any; namely, they returned into the Isles, and into Ireland: At last the Picts perceiving by several attempts made by the exiled Scots, to return home, and re-establish their State (although with little success, as we have said) that the Scots were fully resolved to bestir themselves continually, till they were restored, and reestablished in their ancient Inheritances; the Picts themselves being moved with the groaning miseries of their neighbour poor people of Scotland, now under the Roman yoke, chiefly by their means; and taking to their consideration, how foolishly they had suffered themselves be so far circumvented and deluded by the Romans, as to contribute to the ruin of their old friends; by whom, mainly in former times, they had withstood the common enemy, did not only comfort the poor oppressed remainers of the Scots at home, but also did invite these that were in exile to return, promising unto them the Lands which they had of theirs, and to help them with all their strength and counsel, in the recovery of their whole State from the Roman Tyrants. The exiled Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second, son to Ethod, beyond Sea, gathered all they could, both of their own people, and of their friends, from the places of their exile, namely, from Scandie, and from Ireland likewise, and came into Scotland, from whence they chased away the Romans, by strong hand, with the help of the Picts, who made good their promise unto them, both in assisting them in the action of War, and in restoring unto them the Land that they had been possessed with by the Romans. The Auxiliaries from Ireland stayed still in Scotland, and had allowed unto them the Country of Galloway for their reward; and because they were of the ancient Brigants of Ireland, some of the late Writers have said, ⟨image 24⟩That the Brigantes of Albion had their abode in Galloway. No sooner is Fergus Crowned in the fatal Chair, and settled in his Kingdom, but he takes to his first care to restore the purity of Divine Service, which had been eclipsed in these bounds for several years;

Now as the face of the politique State of the Countrey was quite altered and undone, so the condition of the Church also was much disordered, and the Culdees were constrained to withdraw, and seek shelter up and down, where they could finde any; namely, they returned into the Isles, and into Ireland: At last the Picts perceiving by severall attempts made by the exiled Scots, to return home, and re-establish their State (although with little successe, as we have said) that the Scots were fully resolved to bestirre themselves continually, till they were restored, and reestablished in their ancient Inheritances; the Picts themselves being moved with the groaning miseries of their neighbour poor people of Scotland, now under the Roman yoak, chiefly by their means; and taking to their consideration, how foolishly they had suffered themselves be so farre circumvented and deluded by the Romans, as to contribute to the ruine of their old friends; by whom, mainly in former times, they had withstood the common enemy, did not onely comfort the poor oppressed remainers of the Scots at home, but also did invite these that were in exile to return, promising unto them the Lands which they had of theirs, and to help them with all their strength and counsell, in the recovery of their whole State from the Roman Tyrants. The exiled Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second, son to Ethod, beyond Sea, gathered all they could, both of their own people, and of their friends, from the places of their exile, namely, from Scandie, and from Ireland likewise, and came into Scotland, from whence they chased away the Romans, by strong hand, with the help of the Picts, who made good their promise unto them, both in assisting them in the action of Warre, and in restoring unto them the Land that they had been possessed with by the Romans. The Auxiliaries from Ireland stayed still in Scotland, and had allowed unto them the Countrey of Galloway for their reward; and because they were of the ancient Brigants of Ireland, some of the late Writers have said,