The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

As all the northern people of the main Land, or Continent, both in Europe and Asia, ¹went anciently under the name of Scythae, witness Strabo, in these words, The ancients commonly called the northern people Scythes. And in another place he saith, The ancients did call by one name of Scythes all the known places towards the North. He means, in the Continent, or main Land. So the northern people of Britain, which is another little world, were of old, and to this day ⟨image 16⟩are called Scoti. The two names Scytha and Scotus do signify one and the same thing, to wit, an Archer, or Bow-man; in Latin, Arcuarius; in Greek, [Greek or Hebrew]. The ancient Writers tell us, That the Scythes were much given to Archery, and to Hunting; so were anciently, and to this day are the old Scots Bow-men; In Hebrew, [Greek or Hebrew] Keshut, from [Greek or Hebrew] Keshet, Bow. And so you have the signification of Scytha and Scotus; which are truly one and the same, with little change, more in Latin then in Greek; for the one is written [Greek or Hebrew], so at first the other was written [Greek or Hebrew], which afterward they turned into [Greek or Hebrew]. This is the true origin of the name Scotus: It comes neither then from the fabulous Scota, neither from the foolishly-invented [Greek or Hebrew], darkness; For if the days be as long in summer, as the nights are in winter, Why should the Country be called Scotia, from [Greek or Hebrew], rather then Photia, from [Greek or Hebrew], light? Also the Britain Writers use one and and the same word, when they speak of Scyth and Scot, to wit, y Scot; as likewise the Low German calleth them both Schutten: From the Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew] Keshet, we have the vulgar schut and schot. Now this Etymology of Scot, as it is true, so it is easy, by the transposition of a letter; to wit, by putting [Greek or Hebrew] behind [Greek or Hebrew]; which is ordinary, not only in the derivation of words from one Language into another, but also obvious in one and the same Language, in common discourse. Let this one Example satisfy for all, to be short, Is not one and the same word both written and pronounced, according to the writing thirty and thirty, in our vulgar Tongue? As the names of Scyth and Scot do signify one thing; so the people, in many things, may be said to be like one another; as for Example;

As all the northern people of the main Land, or Continent, both in Europe and Asia,