A47584:65
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Romans having settled themselves in the Island, they divided the whole into two parts: Their part, or the South ⟨image 15⟩part, they called Britannia major and superior; and their Provincials went most commonly under the name of Britons, although sometimes under the name of Britanni, but not so oft:1 and they were sub-divided into several Peoples. The other part of the Island without the Roman Province, that is, the northern part, was called Britannia minor, and inferior: Now all the inhabitants of this northern part, who were in continual Bickerings and War with the Romans and their Provincials, were called Scoti, sometime Transmarins, sometime Foreigners; and they did consist of two chief Peoples, to wit, Brigantes, and Picti; which both were sub-divided into several lesser Peoples, of which we forbear to speak at this time. So the name of Scoti was at first appellative, and given to more then to one People; but in success of time, appropriated to one. And this is not singular in this name, for the proper names of divers Peoples at first hath been appellative, and thereafter appropriate to one alone: I will instance only in one, for brevity sake, which is this; The name Franck or French, at first was common to all those that stood out together for Franchise and Liberty against the Romans about the Rhine, and other parts of Germany; But at length it became peculiar unto one people, as we see it is at this day. Moreover, that the name of Scoti was appellative, and given to more then one people, you may clearly see by the ordinary expression of ancient Writers in the plural number, thus, Scotorum gentes, Scoticae gentes; when otherwise all men ordinarily, both by word and writing, have ever used, and to this day use the singular number, speaking of one people; as gens, not gentes; populus, not populi; nation, not nations.
The Romans having setled themselves in the Island, they divided the whole into two parts: Their part, or the South ⟨image 15⟩part, they called Britannia major and superiour; and their Provincialls went most commonly under the name of Britones, although sometimes under the name of Britanni, but not so oft:1