Note 655 — Chapter VIII · THE SCOTTISH CHURCH.
Reading edition
See vol. iii. p. 261#, and Fordun’s Chronicle, vol. ii. p. 413, for an account of these Abthainries. From this word Abthania Fordun formed his fictitious office of Abthanus, and from its apparent resemblance to the word Thanus, with which it has no real connection, made him supreme over the Thanes.