Ossian Collection > Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael

324
The kingdom of Northumberland, which is
said to have extended to Edinburgh Frith, is
computed to have been estabhshed a. d. 547.
The Saxons treated their enemies with great
cruelty, and it is said, that the prisoners they
took in war they immolated to their gods.
During the latter times of the Roman govern-
ment in Britain, the Romans seemed to have re-
linquished the idea of conquering the northern
Britons of Caledonia. They were satisfied with
the defence afforded by walls, in the lines of
which, at certain intervals, Roman soldiers were
stationed, to repress the incursions of the Picti
Britanni, afterwards distinguished by the names
of Deucaledones, Vecturiones, Maati, Scoti, and
ultimately by the names of Picti and Scoti ; by
which last names the whole inhabitants of the
northern division of the island of Britain, to the
north of the Friths of Clyde and Forth, came to
be distinguished by the provincial Britons.
In whatever manner those latterly called Picti
and Scoti, or Picts and Sects, had been govern-
ed during the prevalence of the Roman govern-
ment in Britain, it came to be a measure of high
prudence, if not of urgent necessity, for them to
act with concert against those barbarous enemies,
whose invasions and incursions were frequent,
and must have become horrible to the inhabi-
tants of the island of Britain throughout its whole
extent. The southern Britons, although they