The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAr. II] OF SCOTLAND 19
ad Montem
Atholl and Gouerin, as extending " a Spe usque
Bruinalban." The Bruinalban of this writer appears, from the
following circumstances, to have been synonymous with the
Drumalban of others ; for while Giraldus concludes his description
with the words, "
Fergus filius Ere ipse fuit primus qui de
semine Chonare suscepit regnum Albaniae a monte Bruinalban
usque ad mare Hibernian et ad Inche Gall," ^ the same passage
is found in other chronicles in the following words :
"
Fergus
filius Eric fuit primus qui de semine Chonare suscepit regnum
Albaniae ; i.e., a monte Drumalban usque ad mare Hiberniae et
ad Inche
"
2 Gall ; and "Fergus filius Erth primus in Scotia
regnavit tribus annis ultra Drumalban usque Sluaghmuner et
ad Inche Gall." 3
The name of Drumalban was known even at a much later
period than this, for it occurs in the Regiam Magistatem ;
and
also in the history of the Bishops of Dunkeld, in both of which
it appears as certainly applied to the same chain. The passage
in the Regiam Magistatem as translated by Sir John Skene is
as follows :— " 2. And gif he quha is accused of the cattell, or
anie other thing thifteously stolen or reft, alledges anie man for
his warant dwelling betwixt Forth and Drumalbane, he quha is
challenged sail have fifteen days to produce his warant before
the sheref; whilk warant dwells within the said bounds.—
3.
And gif anie dwell beyond thir places or bounds in Murray,
Ross, Caithness, Argyll, or in Kintyre, he sail have all the
fifteen days, and also ane moneth to bring and produce all his
warants."
He thus divides Scotland, which is afterwards defined as
"
the partes of the realme benorth the water of Forth," into two
parts, the one extending from the Forth to Drumalbane, and
the other lying beyond " thir bounds ;
" and containing Murra}',
Ross, Caithness, and Argyll. His Drumalbane, therefore, can
refer only to that chain of hills which forms the present eastern
boundary of Argyllshire. The history of the Bishops of Dunkeld
evidently places Drumalbane in the same place, for Atholl
and Drumalbane are mentioned as forming one of the decanatu
•of that bishopric.
'
Innes, A pij. Xo. 1.
Since, then, the name of Drumalbane existed,
- Innes, App. Xo. 4.
* Chron. San. Andrese.