Note 13 — Chapter II · THE INNER HEBRIDES.
Reading edition
As shown in the following quotations from “Chronicles of the Picts and Scots.” In the “Irish Chronicle” of the twelfth century the story runs thus:—
“Nel was carried southward to Egypt
Heroes of dark blue weapons.
The daughter of Forann (Pharaoh) was given
Unto him afterwards.
The beauteous Scotia bare a son to Nel
After his arrival in Egypt.
A hero of a hundred fights,—Gaedhal Glass
Endowed with sovereign righteousness.
The Fein from Faenius (Father of Nel) are called,
Not small their renown.
The Gaedhil from Gaedhuil Glass are called,
The Scots from Scota....”
On the other hand, in the “Chronicle of the Scots,” preserved in the British Museum, and bearing date A.D. 1412, we read that—
“Ye nation of Scotts began in ye time of Moses, as is contained in ye Bibill; in quhilk time ye Ethiops warred all Egypt with cruell wars, for ye quhitk ye Egyptians called their ally in help, ye Greeks; that was allied then with them, as is now France allied with us Scots. Therefore ye King of Athens called Neolms [and?] his son Gayelglas (after whom our language called is, Gayelige) with a great power of men into Egypt, and discomfited ye Ethiops, and abandoned them aye, to the time that Moses rase; for ye quhilk victory ye King of Egypt gave his only daughter and heir called Scota to this Gayelglas in marriage, of ye quhilk Scotia, we after was callit Scottis, as ye custom was then, to call nations after women, and not after men.
“This aforesaid Scota and Gayelglas were maryite together in ye time yat ye bairnes of Israel passyt in ye Red Sea, and ye death of Pharaoh yat governed ye land of Egypt. And for they saw ye cruel plagues that came on Egypt, they decreed to pass with their folk that they brought of Greece, and many of Egypt, for to seek void lands and to inhabit them; they went with gret riches and many ships, and so they came to Spain.”