History of the Reed family in Europe and America

AND HISTORY OP THE CLANS. 17
Ballyreda, which is in the county of Westmeath, and, in
English, means Reedstown : the capital of the other kingdom
was Regia Altera (now Limerick). These invaders were
called Gadelians by the Romans, because they came upon
the Roman frontier through the gates of the infernal regions,
and were believed to be the subjects of old Pluto.
The figure drawn by St. Paul, in describing the armor
of God necessary to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked,
may have had reference to these fillibusters, as it describes
their weapons and mode of warfare. Their most ancient
coat-of-arms also had upon it the poisoned or bloody dart.
The Romans, also having a nation of Rhedarians on their
frontier in Italy, were under the necessity of distinguishing
them by different names ; and the name of Gadelian was a
very proper phrase to express the character of the people
referred to. The inhabitants of ancient Erin called them
Dalredas, or Dalredhas. The Caledonians called them Dal-
raids. On account of their intruding themselves upon the
ancient inhabitants, and taking possession of their estates,
they were called Scuits, or " wanderers," — a phrase which
gave name to Scotland. Surnames were not in use till
about the year 1170 ; but clans had appropriate names,
which some retained ; and others took such names as had
reference to their location, occupation, or some peculiarity
or achievement.
The Dalraids crossed over from Ireland to Caledonia,
and so annoyed the Caledonians and the Romans, that, in
order to keep them back, the latter built the wall called
Agricola's, running from the Frith of Forth to the Clyde.
Prince Reda and his knights scaled the wall, and put the
Romans to flight, A.D. 180. After he had got possession
of that part of England and Caledonia, the Romans (A.D.
210) built the wall, running from Newcastle to Carlisle,
called Adrian's.
3