ary Dissertation in Keith's "Bishops," iv.

[3] See Crawford's "Officers of State," vi.

[4] II. 404.

[5] Reeves' "British Culdees," Evidences, S., 141.

[6] "Hist. Scenes in Perthshire," 346.

[7] Ibid., 343.

[8] R=Rectory.

NEAR THE PICTISH CAPITAL

By Rev. P. THOMSON, B.D., Dunning

The title is retained as it was given. But it would be more correct to
say, "Near a Pictish Capital," for, as is well known, of such capitals
there were more than one. Nobody, however, who keeps in mind the origin
and range of the present volume will need to be told that "The Pictish
Capital" here meant is Forteviot--or, as it is often otherwise spelt in
legends, and chronicles, and charters--_Fertebeith, Ferteuioth,
Fertenyoth, Ferthevioth, Fetherthauethn, Fethirthant, Fothuirtabaicht,
Fortewyot, Fetherteviot_.

When Forteviot attained the dignity of being a royal abode cannot be
definitely ascertained. Dr Stuart gives it as his opinion that the royal
residence is to be identified with the "Dun Fothir" mentioned in the
Irish annals, which is recorded to have been twice besieged--in 681 and
694 A.D.; and it has been suggested by the same authority that probably
the name means "the dun of the district, or of the men, or of the King of
Fortren," which term latterly meant the kingdom of the Southern Picts.

Whatever probability there may be in the above suggestion, when we refer
to the Legend of S. Andrew, we find what appears to be corroborative
evidence that Forteviot was the residence of Pictish kings from a very
early period. According to this legend, it was to Forteviot, in the hope
of seeing the King there, that S. Regulus and certain of his followers
made their way with the relics of the most holy Apostle Andrew, after
their landing at Muckros or Kylrimont (now Saint Andrews). It so
happened that the King (Hungus, or Ungus, or Angus, who died A.D. 761)
was not at home, having gone on an expedition into Argyle (Argathelia).
But they found his three sons[1] residing at Forteviot, and these princes
gave the tenth part of the town[2] to God and S. Andrew, the holy men
blessing the place and the royal family who abode there. They then went
in further search of the King himself, and having met him at Kindrochet,
in Braemar, and subsequently at Monichi (Monikie), they returned in
company with him to Forteviot, where he built a church ("basilica"[3]) to
God and S. Andrew.

But these are not the only references tha