Frasers of Philorth > Volume 2

PART V.
THE ABERNETHIES
OF ABERNETHY AND OF SALTOUN,
AND
LORDS SALTOUN.
rpHE origin of this family is veiled in the obscurity that shrouds all early
Scottish history ; but in the twelfth century its representatives occupied
the position of Lay Abbots of the Culdee Monastery of Abernethy, in Strathearn,
and it therefore may be concluded that they were not among the Saxon or
Norman immigrants who, at various periods, entered Scotland from the south,
but were descended from some ancient Pictish or Scottish source, or from
some adventurous early Scandinavian settler from the north.
There is also much doubt respecting the origin and character of the
Culdee establishments in Scotland, and very diverse opinions have been
advocated by authors who have touched upon the subject. The derivation
of the name has also been a matter of dispute, though, from its appearance
in old charters under the form Keledei, that from the Gaelic words " Celidhe
De" (servants of God), seems the most reasonable.
Accompanying translations of Fordun's History, and of the Life of St.
Columba by Adamnan, recently published, there are, however, some remarks
made by the editor, Mr. W. F. Skene, in the historical introductions and notes,
which, with the first volume of another work at present in course of publication
by him, 1 throw considerable light upon the early course of events in Scotland,
1 Historians nf Scotland, Fordun and Translation, edited by Mr. W. F. Skene; and "Celtic
Scotland," written by him.
VOL. II. A