[Introduction]
THE Scotish men, according to the maner of other nations, estéeming it a glorie to fetch
their begining of great anciencie, say that their originall descent cam frō the Gréeks
and Aegyptians: for there was (as the old Scotish historiographers haue left in writing) a
certeine noble man among the Gréeks, named Gathelus, the sonne of Cecrops, who builded
Gathelus.
the citie of Athens: or as some other would, he was the sonne of Argus Nealus, the fourth
king of the Argiues. This Gathelus plaieng in his youth manie wild and vnrulie parts in
Gathelus giuen to will and pleasure.
the countrie of Macedonia and Achaia, was diuers times sharplie rebuked by his father and
other of his friends: so that in fine disdaining their correction and wholsome admonitions,
he was banished by his father: after which he got togither a number of strong and lustie
yoong men, such as had vsed the like trade of liuing, and with them fled ouer into Aegypt;
Gathelus went into Aegypt, Anno mundi 2416.
Gathelus was interteined of Pharao.
Gathelus went against the enimies.
Moses capteine generall vnder Pharao.
Ios. lib. 2. cap. 7.
Gathelus his dooings aduanced.
Moses dooings not alowed.
and comming thither in the 33 yeare of Pharao Orus as then king of that countrie, was receiued of him in most gladsome wise, for that his seruice (as was thought) might stand in
great stead in those warres, which the Aegyptians held at that time with the Aethiopians
that had inuaded the realme of Aegypt, euen vnto Memphis. This Gathelus, to be short,
went forth with his bands against the same Aethiopians, vnder Moses the capteine generall
of the armie, chosen thereto by diuine oracle (as Iosephus writeth) which Moses obteined
the victorie, and conquered Saba by force being the chiefest and principall citie which stood
in the Ile Meroe.
For such tokens of valiancie and worthie prowesse as Gathelus shewed, both in this countrie, and in other places, he grew also into such estimation with Pharao, that he gaue him his
daughter in mariage. But Moses was rather enuied than honored for his dooing, because
the Aegyptians doubted least the Israelites should increase to such a puissant multitude, that
in the end they might vsurpe and challenge the gouernance of the whole realme, and bring
it by rebelling into their owne hands: wherefore diuers informations were made to the king
against him, so that when he once perceiued himselfe to be in danger of the lawe, and
looked for no mercie at their hands, he fled from thence out of the countrie, & gat him into
Moses fled.
The citie of Thebes was giuen vnto Gathelus.
Scota daughter to Pharao.
the land of Madian. Vnto Gathelus and his people there was giuen a citie called Thebes
[Aegyptiaca] béeing taken from the Israelites. ¶ Here you must vnderstand, that Pharaos
daughter which Gathelus thus maried, was called Scota, of whome such as came of the
posteritie of that nation were afterwards, and are at this present day called
Scoti, that is to
say Scotishmen, and the land where they inhabit
Scotia, that is to say, Scotland.
Gathelus thus being aduanced by such honorable mariage, liued all the daies of his father
The credit of this historie of Gathelus we leaue to the authors.
Israel oppressed.
in law Pharao Orus, in great honor. But after his deceasse, and in the third generation, an
other king named Pharao Chencres succeeded in his throne, who oppressed the people of
Israell then abiding in Aegypt, with more bondage than euer his father or grandfather had
doone before him. Neither was there hope of anie redresse, till Moses returned by Gods
appointment from amongst the Madianites (where he had remained in exile) into Aegypt,
Moses called out of Madian into Aegypt.
and there declared vnto this Pharao, Gods commandement, touching the deliuerance of his
people.
But forsomuch as his words were regarded, neither with the king, nor with his subjects,
Moses not regarded.
Exodus 5.
that land was plagued in most horrible maner; and moreouer it was signified vnto such as
sought to know what was meant by way of oracles, that sorer and more grieuous plagues
Gathelus leauing Aegypt, séeketh other countries.
should after follow, if remedie were not found the sooner. Gathelus therefore being certified hereof, and giuing credit to the oracles aforesaid, determined out of hand to forsake
the countrie, and séeke him a new place of abode in some other parties of the world.
Wherefore he caused a number of ships to be rigged, and all necessarie puruciance to be
prouided, and when the same was once readie, and all things set in order, he tooke with
him his wife and children, and a great multitude of people both Gréekes and Aegyptians,
Gathelus departing was, Anno mundi, 2453. W. H. 3643. II. B.
He was repelled from Barbarie.
He landed in Portingale.
whom he imbarked in those ships, and hoising vp sailes, departed out of the mouth of the
riuer Nilus, in the yeare of the worlds creation 2453, when he had dwelled in Aegypt 39
yeares and more. Being thus departed, after some trouble in the voiage, they arriued first
on the coasts of Numidia, which is one of the regions of Affrike, now called Barbarie: but
being put backe from thence by the stout resistance of the inhabitants, they tooke the seas
againe, and landed in a part of Spaine, which long after was called Lusitania.
There be that haue written how it should be cleped port Gathele of this Gathelus, and
certeine yeares after Lusitania, and eftsoones againe in a maner to haue got the former
name, being somewhat corruptlie called Portingale. But who is able in a matter of such
anciencie to auouch anie thing for truth?
Gathelus with his companie being thus come to land, sought abroad in the countrie for
victuals, and such other necessarie things as they wanted (for their long being on the seas
had wasted all their purueiance:) whose arriuall being once knowne in the countrie, the
people assembled togither, and fiercely incountring with the strangers, after sharpe and cruell
Theinhabitants resist Gathelus.
fight, in the end the Spaniards were put to the woorst and chased out of the field. This
victorie put Gathelus and his folks in hope of good successe to haue there a place for them
to inhabit in, and so to end their long wandering in strange and vncerteine places. And to
the intent they might bring their purpose the more easilie to passe, they found means by
way of communication to ioine in friendship with the Spaniards, and obteining of them a
A communication.
Gathelus buildeth the citie Bracchara.
plot where they might build a place for to inhabit in; shortlie after they began the foundation
of a citie néere to the banks of the riuer called of ancient time Mundus, and afterwards
Bracchara.
It chanced after this, that the Spaniards (perceiuing these strangers to increase further in
puissance than, as they thought, stood well with their securitie) sought diuerse occasions to
fall at debate with them, and to make warres vpon them: but when they vnderstood that
A communication.
Gathelus was as readie to defend, as they were to inuade, they eftsoones fell to a communication, & persuaded with Gathelus, that it should be best for him and his people, for the
auoiding of variance, to remooue vnto the northside of Spaine, lieng vpon the coasts of the
Cantabrian seas, now called Galitia (where he should find much void ground, by reason
of the small number of inhabitants) adding that if they would so doo, they would aid them
to the vttermost against all such as should attempt to disquiet their indeuours in anie maner
Gathelus left Po tingale, and went into Galitia.
He builded a citie called Brigantia, and now Compostella.
of wise. This offer Gathelus gladlie accepted, and causing publike sacrifice to be celebrated
in honor of the gods, he departed with all his people into Galitia, and there concluding a
league with the inhabitants, builded a citie which he named Brigantia, but after it was
named Nouium, and now Compostella
