The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

witness the high hills betwixt France and Italy, which, by reason of their highness above other mountains, are named particularly Alps. The Island, when it had given unto it the name of Britannia, by little and little left off the old name of Albon, which continued in the North part of the Island, benorth the limits of the Empire; and so the whole Country beneath the Humber was called; and Albion in this second sense, in following times was called Britannia minor, as we have heard; but as the Romans did gain ground upon the in-dwellers of Albion, or Britannia minor, beating them Northward, they lessened Albion, or Britannia minor, so far, till they brought them to keep North Bodotria, or Forth, and Glotta, or Clyde.

witnesse the high hills betwixt France and Italy, which, by reason of their highnesse above other mountains, are named particularly Alps. The Island, when it had given unto it the name of Britannia, by little and little left off the old name of Albon, which continued in the North part of the Island, benorth the limits of the Empire; and so the whole Countrey beneath the Humber was called; and Albion in this second sense, in following times was called Britannia minor, as we have heard; but as the Romans did gain ground upon the in-dwellers of Albion, or Britannia minor, beating them Northward, they lessened Albion, or Britannia minor, so far, till they brought them to keep North Bodotria, or Forth, and Glotta, or Clyde.

Last of all, the Romans having by their cunning divided the Brigantes and Picts; and having drawn the Picts on their side against the Brigantes, Albion was taken for that part of Britannia minor, beyond Clyde and Forth, which did not belong to the Picts; that is, the Northwest side of that hilly Continent, with the hilly Islands adjacent, where to this day dwelleth our Highlandmen, or Highlanders, who are the remnant ⟨image 19⟩of the ancient Brigantes. That the ancient name of a whole great Country, as this Island is, should be conserved in one corner, or a little portion thereof, may not seem strange, I have thought fit to tell you, That you have the like in our neighbour Country, of old called Gaul, now France; where the ancient name of Gaul, among the vulgar, is only conserved in a little Country lying about Sens, of old, Senones: this little Country is called Pays Gaulois, and is divided in Haute, & bass Gaule. So it was judiciously said by the Historiographer, The name of the Isle Albion is derived from Albe, and remains in Scotland, as it were in its Native Soil.