Page:Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history.djvu/178

clxx PREFACE. of the country, and had divided it among his three sons, Locrinus, Camber, and Albanactus. The forcible argument derived from it was that the kings of England represented the eldest son, Locrinus, and that the early kings of Scotland, representing the younger son, Albanactus, must have been in subjec- tion to them. This fable, in some shape or another, had hitherto been accepted by the Scotch, as we find it in the " Albanic Duan," and it is likewise alluded to in the " Metrical Prophecy" in the Colbertine MS. ; but as the controversy grew hotter, its bearing upon the discussion became more distasteful to the pleaders of the Scottish side. It was felt, as the " Metrical Prophecy" expresses it, — " Candidus Albanus, patriotis causa ruine, Traditione sua Scotia regna premet ;" and it was resolved, apparently, to get quit of it altogether. Accordingly, the " Cronica Brevis," which bears to be compiled in the year 1187, com- mences with this statement, " Summa annorum pri- " morum Scotorura, qui ante Pictos regnaverunt " cclx. annis et iij mensibus." In the " Albanic " Duan," Albanus had first settled in Scotland, and was succeeded by the seventy kings of the Picts, who in their turn were succeeded by Kenneth Mac Alpin, the first of the Scots. The tradition of Albanus or Albanactus was now put aside altogether, and a Scottish kingdom was placed before the Picts. They are said to have lasted for 260 years, which is as nearly as possible the duration of the Scottish