S i f t . g .
A b i r n e t h y .
of earth and ftones of a pyramidical form, called here Lawes. One
of a confiderable fize, near a gentleman’s feat, called Law-tom is
•fuppofed to have been that from which Macbeth adminifteredjuity
to his people. No prince ruled with more equity than he did in the!
beginning of his reign. He was the firft of .the Scottijh monarchs]
that formed a code of laws, which were duly obferved during hisj
government; but afterwards were neglefted or forgotten, as jJ
cbanan fays, much to the lofs of the kingdom in general.
Continue our ride weitward. Pafs through Perth. Reach M
plin, where we continue till next morning.
Crofs the river Earn, at Earn-bridge, near the houfe of Momiifi
keep on the fouth fide of Strathearn, and breakfaft in its eafteri
extremity, at the village o f
A b e r n e t h y , feated near the junction of the Earn an d" the %J
and once the capital of the Pittijh kingdom. The origin o f theli
people has been greatly litigated : fome fuppofe them to h ave been!
foreigners imported from Scandinavia *, or out of Saxony ; b u t appal
rently without any foundation. There is no reafon* to im a g in e then]
to have had any other origin than, from the Caledonians, the)
antient inhabitants, of the- country.. They were the unconqueredj
part, who on the death of Severus, recovered from his fo n s the con*]
quefts of the father, who harrafled the Romans and io u th e r n
with frequent excurfions, and who,, with their kindred Scots, on thJ
retreat of the Romans, forced their confinement, now called Grabm’ii
dike, and with irrefifiible fury extended their dominions a s fa r as thel
banks of the Humber.
* StillingJIeet, quoted by Mr. Macpbirfon, yg.
I 'Two kingdoms had been ere&ed: the one ftyled that o f the Pitts,
|e other that of the Scots. Each of them were new names : the firft
i t mentions the Pitts is Eumenius the panegyrift, who wrote in 3 0 9 ,
[ th e firft who fpeaks of the Scots is Amfnianus Marcellinus.
■ T h e words are of Celtic origin : Pitt is derived from Pitteich *, or
UBitb, a plunderer or thief: it was beftoweyl on them by their
Ifouthern neighbors, who probably experienced-the cruelty of their
ILurfions. The Caledonian■ offspring accepted the title,-as it con-
R y e d , in their idea, an addition of honor inftead of infamy; for the'
I Irthern nations, from the earlieft antiquity, held robbery to have-
Reen honorable, nor does that opinion feem to be worn out to this day
^ith fome of the northern- princes.
■The-kingdom of the Pitts was on the eaftern parts of North Bri-
L : that of the Scots on the weftern-. The laft derived their name
lom Scottan, a fmall flock f , or from Scuite, w-anderers J. The firft
[rhaps from their making inroads in fmall parties, the laft from-
[e ir acknowledged- way of life, r u n n i n g about feeking whom they
R i g h t devour. As foon as thefe two nations had eftabliihed a power,| -
R a r s , attended with various fuccefs, arofe between them : at length-
RieStm proved vidtorious ; they totally fubdued their Pittijh neigh--
Rors, cutoff multitudes, forced numbers to fly abroad for fecurity,
Rverturned their kingdom, incorporated the few which were left,
R n d made their very name to ceafe. ,
■ That the Romans might alfo give the name o f Pitti to the-
Rm//?> nations from the cuftom. of painting their bodies with-
Rioad and other dyes is inconteftible, notwithftanding it is denied.
1 Hittr/s Hift, Britain, I. 193. -f Doftor Macpherfen, 108. 1 Henry's Hift. Britain, 1. 193.
by,
P lC T S .