The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And Claudian, many hundred years before this our Poet, speaking of the Legion which then was called from its Garrison on the aforesaid walls, saith thus, The Legion came, which was placed before the utmost Britons, and which bridled the fierce Scot.

And Claudian, many hundred yeers before this our Poet, speaking of the Legion which then was called from its Garrison on the aforesaid walls, saith thus, The Legion came, which was placed before the utmost Britans, and which bridled the fierce Scot.

Lucius Florus, many years before Claudian, who wrote towards the later end of the fourth Age, to wit, in the beginning of the second Age; and Spartianus, who allegeth Florus, writ towards the later end of the third Age. Lucius Florus the Poet (is the same with the Historian, who writ the short History of the Romans, as judgeth Salmasius) is brought in by Aelius Spartianus, in the History of the Life of Adrian the Emperor,¹ saying these words, I would not be Caesar, to walk among the Britons, and suffer the Scots morning hoar Frosts. The word pruina, which the Author useth, doth signify so much; for it is quasi [Greek or Hebrew] a [Greek or Hebrew], morning. What Florus, in these words here alleged, calleth in his Language Scoticas pruinas: Claudian calleth Caledonias pruinas, ²speaking of another Roman, in these words, And he placed his Camp in the middle of the Caledonian morning •oar Frosts. I know that commonly in Spartian, of whom we have these Verses of Florus, it is read, Scythicas, for Scoticas, but wrong, notwithstanding that the great Critics have not corrected it: For how, I pray you, can Adrian be said to suffer Scythicas pruinas, who never was in the Country which then went under the name of Scythia? yea, the Romans had never any War with the Scythes; for albeit the Scythes heard of the Romans Arms,³ yet they never felt them: Besides, what sense had it been in Florus to say unto Adrian, That he would not be Caesar, to walk in Britany, and endure the morning hoary Frosts of Scythia? For although the Romans heard say, That Scythia was a cold Country; yet they more perfectly knew Scotland to be cold, having been upon the place. Now it was very easy to those who copied Books of old, and hardly understood what they writ, to change one letter for another, namely, when two letters are so like one to another, as these two Vowels O, O; for O not being Initial or Capital, was written formerly without the draught under it, which hath been written for distinction sake, as we see it commonly now, thus [Greek or Hebrew], This change of these two Vowels, hath been found elsewhere then in this place of Florus, by the Critics, in the same words; who seeing the name of the Sea upon the Coast of Scotland written Scythicum, presently mended it, and made it Scoticum.