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ARGATHELIA, OR ARGILE.
[ B] BEyond the Lake Lomund and the West part of Lennox, there spreadeth it selfe neere unto Dunbriton Forth the large countrey called Argathelia, & Argadia in Latin, but commonly ARGILE, more truely Argathel, and Ar-Gwithil, that is, Neere unto the I∣rish; or, as old writings have it, The edge or border of Ireland: For it lyeth toward Ireland, the inhabitants whereof, the Bri∣tans tearme Gwithil and Gaothel. The countrey runneth out in length and breadth, all mangled with fishfull pooles, and in some places with ri∣sing mountaines, very commodious for feeding of cattell; in which also there range up and downe wilde kine and red Deere: but along the shore it is more unpleasant in sight, what with rockes, and what with blackish barraine mountaines. In this part, as Bede writeth, Britain received after the Britans and Picts, a third nation of Scots, in [ C] that countrey where the Picts inhabited: who comming out of Ireland under the leading of Reuda, either through friendship, or by dint of sword, planted here their seat amongst them,* 1.1 which they still hold. Of which their leader they are to this very day called Dal∣reudini: for in their language Dal signifieth (a part). And a little after, Ireland (saith hee) is the proper Countrey of the Scots, for, being departed out of it, they added unto the Britans and Picts a third nation in Britaine. And there is a very great Bay or arme of the sea, that in old time severed the nation of the Britans from the Picts, which from the West breaketh a great way into the land, where standeth the strongest Citie of all the Britans even to this day, called Alchith. In the North part of which Bay, the Scots a∣foresaid when they came, got themselves a place to inhabite. Of that name Dalreudin, [ D] no remaines at all, to my knowledge, are now extant; neither finde wee any thing thereof in Writers,* 1.2 unlesse it bee the same that Dalrieta. For, in an old Pamphlet, touching the division of Albanie,* 1.3 wee read of one Kinnadie (who for certaine was a King of Scots, and subdued the Picts) these very words; Kinnadie two yeeres before hee came into Pictavia (for so it calleth the countrey of the Picts) entred upon the Kingdome of Dalrieta. Also in an historie of later time there is mention made of Dalrea in some place of this tract, where King Robert Brus fought a field unfortu∣nately.
That Justice should be ministred unto this Province by Justices Itinerant at Perth, whensoever it pleased the King, King James the fourth by authoritie of the States of [ E] the Kingdome enacted a law. But the Earles themselves have in some cases their roi∣alties, as being men of very great command and authoritie, followed with a mightie traine of retainers and dependants: who derive their race from the ancient Princes and Potentates of Argile, by an infinite descent of Ancestours, and from their castle Cambell tooke their surname: but the honour and title of Earle was given unto them by King James the second, who, as it is recorded, invested Colin Lord Cambell, Earle of Argile, in regard of his owne vertue, and the worth of his family. Whose heires and successours standing in the gracious favour of the Kings, have bin Lords of Lorn, and a good while Generall Justices of the Kingdome of Scotland,* 1.4 or, as they use to speake, Iustices ordained in Generall, and Great Masters of the Kings royall house∣hold.
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