Page:Chronicles of the Picts, chronicles of the Scots, and other early memorials of Scottish history.djvu/30

xxu PEEFACE. troup ; and alhidosorum is thus an attempt to translate na_fli]inndisi. Fodresach, now Fetteresso, is also mentioned as being in Glaideom, and this, appears also to be an Irish word, as Fetteresso is in the district of the Mems, known to the Irish by the name of Maghcircin, or the plain of Circin ; and in two of the Irish legends of the Picts, they are said to have occupied this district as their Claideam- tir, or sword land/ Several other instances might be noted ; but it wiU suffice to add that the Irish word Dun appears to be translated by oppidum, " oppidum Fother" being a rendering of Dunfotlier, and " oppidum Eden" of Duneden; and that the chronicle concludes under the reim of Ken- neth, son of Malcolm, " Hie est qui tribuit magnam " civitatem Brechne Domino." Brechne is in Irish the form for the genitive case of the word Brechin. The chronicle is evidently connected with this part of the country, for, under the reign of the later kings, it records the deaths of the Maormors of Angus, and in giving the names of the seven sons of Cruithne, who are mythically supposed to have reigned after their father, but who represent seven districts of Scotland, whde all other editions of this part of the chronicle commence the series with Fibh • See Nos. sLii. and XLiv. M'Firbis, in his smaller genealo- gical work, states that there were six classes of Daer-chlanna, or servile tribes, among the ancient Irish. The third were the race of Saer-clilaiina, or free tribes, whose land was converted into Fearann ■ doidhimh, or sword- land, in their own territory, and who remained in it, in bondage, under the power of their enemies.