Page:Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history.djvu/120

cxu PEEFACE. of Dalriada and Scotland should no longer be subject to tbe kings of Irish Dalriada, as the mother state, but should in future be independent monarchs. It is clear that after the defeat of 5 6 0, a part of the Scots remained in Britain, but it is probable that a part also returned to Ireland, and that Aedan brought a fresh colony over, as the old Irish lives of St. Patrick refer to him as the first who established a monarchy in Britain, and the " Prophecy of St. Berchan " takes the same view. Aedan reigned thirty-seven years, and appears to have thoroughly estabUshed the kingdom of Dalriada. He is recorded as having fought four battles, — the battle of Manann in 582 or 583 ; that of Leithrig in 590 ; that of Circhind in 596 ; and finally, the battle with EtheUred, king of Bernicia, in 600, which is obviously the same battle as that recorded by Bede in the year 603, in which Aedan appears to have led an army of Britons and Scots into Northumbria. He died in the year 606. We have the authority of Adomnan for the fact that he was succeeded by his son Eochodius or Eocha Buidhe, and he by his sons. These were Conadh Cerr, who reigned but three months after him, and Donald Brec, who was king of Dalriada at the time that Oswald ruled over Northumbria.^ ^ The chronicles insert Ferchar, son of ConacUi Cerr, between him and Donald Brec, and give him a reign of sixteen years. The "Irish " Annals" do not mention him. If he reigned, he must either have reigned in conjunction with Donald Brec, or have followed him. The latter is most pro- bable, as in the "Annals of " Ulster" the death of Ferchar, son of Conadh Cerr, is misplaced in 694, after the last of the equally misplaced notices of Donald Brec.