The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Benorth the Limits of the Empire in this Island, all people, beside the Picts, were called Brigantes, which importeth as much as In-dwellers of Mountains, or high hills: So you have the Brigantes near the Lake of Constance, in-dwelling Mountains. On the Alps in Daulphine you have Brigantium Brianson, the highest Town in Europe. The Brigantes of Spain, as those of Ireland, of old did inhabit Mountains; and so did our Brigantes in this Island mainly keep upon the Mountains. The name cometh from Briga, Brica, or Bria, as it is diversly written: It signifieth an high place, or Mountain: Our vulgar hath interpreted it Bray; hence we haply call our Brigantes ⟨image 17⟩Bray-men, whom we call otherwise High-landers, or High-land-men. Strabo tells us, That bria, amongst the Thracians, doth signify a Town, or City. And so the word Bria must needs come from the Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew] bira, Town or Palace, by the transposition of a letter; which is ordinary in the derivation of words, as we have said a little before. Here, for further proof of the transposition of a letter in a derivative word, take this example only, Dumbarton, for Dumbriton.

Benorth the Limits of the Empire in this Island, all people, beside the Picts, were called Brigantes, which importeth as much as In-dwellers of Mountains, or high hills: So you have the Brigantes neer the Lake of Constance, in-dwelling Mountains. On the Alps in Daulphine you have Brigantium Brianson, the highest Town in Europe. The Brigantes of Spain, as those of Ireland, of old did inhabite Mountains; and so did our Brigantes in this Island mainly keep upon the Mountains. The name cometh from Briga, Brica, or Bria, as it is diversly written: It signifieth an high place, or Mountain: Our vulgar hath interpreted it Bray; hence we haply call our Brigantes ⟨image 17⟩Bray-men, vvhom vve call othervvise High-landers, or High-land-men. Strabo tells us, That bria, amongst the Thracians, doth signifie a Tovvn, or City. And so the vvord Bria must needs come from the Hebrevv 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 bira, Tovvn or Palace, by the transposition of a letter; vvhich is ordinary in the derivation of vvords, as vve have said a little before. Here, for further proof of the transposition of a letter in a derivative vvord, take this example onely, Dumbarton, for Dumbriton.