Skene (ed.), Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots (1867); MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 4628, from the Register of the Priory of St Andrews — translated from the Latin.

¹ In the year of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ 345, Constantius, the nephew of Constantine the son of Helena, gathered a great army to lay waste the city of Patras, in vengeance for the hanging of the blessed Andrew, Christ’s apostle, and to bear away his relics from there. But on the third night before the emperor with his army entered the city, the angel of God descending from heaven appeared to the holy men who kept the relics of Saint Andrew the apostle, and commanded the holy bishop Regulus that he with his clerks should go to the sarcophagus wherein the bones of the blessed Andrew were laid up, and take from there three fingers of the right hand, and the arm between the elbow and the shoulder, and the kneecap of his knee, and one of his teeth. And they, taking those parts from the relics as the angel had commanded them, laid them in a most secret place. On the following day after the laying up of those relics, at sunrise, the emperor Constantius came with his army and laid waste the city and the province; and carried away with him to Rome the shrine in which he found the rest of the bones of the holy apostle deposited. Coming there he plundered the island of Tiber and Colossae, and took from there with him the bones of Saint Luke the evangelist and of Timothy the disciple of the blessed apostle Paul, to Constantinople with the relics of the blessed Andrew.

² At that time Hungus son of Ferlon, a great king of the Picts, gathered his army against Athelstan king of the Saxons, and encamped at the mouth of the river Tyne. On the very night before the meeting of the two armies, the blessed Andrew appeared in a dream to Hungus king of the Picts, saying to him that he, the apostle, on the following day would so overthrow the enemy host that Hungus himself should triumph over his foes with few [losses]. To whom the king said: “Who are you, and from where come you?” The blessed Andrew answering said: “I am Andrew the apostle of Christ, and I am come now from heaven, sent by God to reveal to you that tomorrow I shall overthrow your enemies and subdue them to you; and having won a glad victory, you shall return with your army unharmed; and my relics shall be borne into your kingdom, and the place to which they shall be brought shall be renowned with all honour and veneration even to the last day of the world.” Now the king, waking from sleep, declared to all his people the things which the blessed Andrew had revealed to him sleeping. Whereupon the people of the Picts, rejoicing, affirmed upon oath that they would for ever render all diligent veneration to the blessed Andrew, if the things which he had shown to their king were brought to effect. And on the next day the Picts, gladdened by the apostle’s promise, prepared for battle; and dividing the army they set seven companies round their king. The Saxons likewise, dividing their army, thronged round their king Athelstan in twice seven companies. And when the battle was joined, the Saxons, deserted at once of all strength by the will of God, Saint Andrew the apostle interceding for the Picts, were turned to flight; and the head of Athelstan king of the Saxons being cut off, an innumerable slaughter of the Saxons was made. And King Hungus, having gained the victory, returning into his own land with no small army, commanded the head of Athelstan to be brought with him, and caused it to be affixed upon a stake in the place which is called Ardchinnecun, within the harbour which is now called Queen’s Ferry [Portus Reginae]. After this victory obtained by heavenly aid, the Saxons dared not again rise against the Picts.

³ Not many days after this happy victory of that war, the angel of God came again from heaven to the blessed bishop Regulus, and addressed him thus: “By the commandment of the most high God, tarry not to go to the northern parts, towards the rising sun, with the relics of Christ’s disciple Andrew, which you did long ago reserve by our admonition; and in whatever place the ship that shall bear you and your company over the sea shall be dashed to pieces, you and your companions being safe and whole, there in the name of the Lord and of his apostle Andrew lay the foundation of a church. For that place shall be your rest for ever, and there shall be the resurrection on the day of the last trial.” Now bishop Regulus, according to the angel’s command, attended by holy men, made sail northward with the relics of the holy apostle, and for the space of a year and a half, tossed by many storms of tempest, at whatever islands of the Grecian sea he was cast ashore, he set up an oratory in honour of Saint Andrew.

⁴ Having endured therefore innumerable labours, the holy men, God guiding them, directed their sails along the sea-coasts to the north, and put in to the land of the Picts at the place which had been named Muckross but is now called Kilrymont [St Andrews], on the night of Saint Michael. Now Muckross is called “the wood of swine.” Their ship being dashed upon the rocks, they fixed in the ground a certain cross which they had brought with them from Patras, their tents being there set up, in token that they had brought sacred things, and for a safe-guard against the schemes of demons; and there they remained seven days and as many nights. There leaving the elders Saint Damian and his brother Merinach to keep that place, Regulus and the rest of the men with the holy relics of the most holy apostle Andrew went to Forteviot, and there found the king’s three sons, namely, Owen, and Nechtan, and Finguine; and because their father was at that time on an expedition in the parts of Argyll, for whose life his sons were much anxious, they gave to God and Saint Andrew a tenth part of the city of Forteviot. And a cross being there set up, they blessed the place and the king’s sons, the dwellers in the place. From there they went to Moneclatu, which is now called Monichi [Monikie], and there Queen Finchem bore a daughter to King Hungus, who was called Mouren. The body of that maiden Mouren is buried at Kilrymont, none having been buried there before. And Queen Finchem gave to God and Saint Andrew the house wherein she had borne her daughter Mouren, and the whole royal hall for ever. From there they passed over the mountains, that is, the Mounth, and came to the lake which was called Doldencha, but is now named Chondrochedalvan. There King Hungus the exalted, returning from his expedition, met the holy men, and before the relics of Saint Andrew the apostle that were shown to him prostrated himself with all humility and reverence; all the Pictish nobles that were with him likewise, with the humble king, prostrating themselves before the relics. Now the king gave that place, Doldaucha, to God and Saint Andrew the apostle, and built a church there where the relics had been shown to him. From there the king, passing over the mountains, the Mounth, with the holy men, came as far as Monichi. There likewise he built a church in honour of God and the blessed apostle; and so the king came with the holy men to Forteviot, and there built a basilica to God and the apostle. And afterwards King Hungus came with the holy men to Kilrymont, and going round a great part of that place, offered it to God and Saint Andrew the apostle for the building there of basilicas and oratories. And they went round the place itself, marked out by an evident sign, with great devotion seven times: King Hungus, and bishop Regulus himself, and the rest of the men — the circuit and procession being thus ordered in sevens — bishop Regulus went first, bearing the relics of the holy apostle upon his head with all veneration, his holy convent following the bishop with humble companions. And them King Hungus followed devoutly on foot, pouring forth inmost prayers and thanksgivings to God. And the king was followed by the noblest men of the whole realm. Thus they commended that place to God, and fenced it with the king’s peace. And in token of the royal commendation, the holy men set up twelve stone crosses, divided about the circuit of the place; and they humbly besought the God of heaven that all who in that place should pray with devout mind and pure intention should obtain the effect of their petition.

⁵ Afterwards King Hungus gave to the basilica of the holy apostle for its parish whatever land lies between the sea which was called Ishundenema and the sea which was called Sletheuma; and in the neighbouring province round about from Largaw to Sireis Canum; and from Sireis to Hyliatnouhten Machehirb, which land is now called Hadnachten. And the king gave this place, Kilrymont, to God and Saint Andrew his apostle, with its waters, meadow, fields, pastures, moors and woods, in alms for ever; and with such freedom did he endow that place that its inhabitants should ever be free and quit of army-service and of the works of castles and bridges, and of the vexation of all secular exactions. And bishop Regulus sang to God the prayer Alleluia, that God would protect for ever and keep that place given in alms to the honour of the apostle. In memorial of the freedom given, King Hungus, seizing a sod of turf, bore it before the Pictish nobles, his men, even to the altar of Saint Andrew, and offered the same turf upon it. This was done in the presence of these witnesses: Talarg son of Ytherubuthib, Nactan son of Chelturan, Garnach son of Dosnach, Drust son of Wrthi-osst, Nachtalluch son of Gighert, Shinah son of Lutheren, Anegus son of Forchete, Pheradach son of Finleich, Phiachan his son, Bolge, Glunmerach son of Taran, Demene son of Aunganena, Duptalaich son of Bergib. These witnesses were born of royal stock.

⁶ Afterwards in Kilrymont the holy men built seven churches: one in honour of Saint Regulus; the second in honour of Saint Aneglas the deacon; the third in honour of Saint Michael the archangel; the fourth in honour of Saint Mary the virgin; the fifth in honour of Saint Damian; the sixth in honour of Saint Brigid the virgin; the seventh in honour of a certain virgin Muren — and in that church there were fifty virgins, sprung of the royal seed, all dedicated to God and veiled for eleven years, and they were all buried in the east part of that church.

⁷ These are the names of those holy men who brought the sacred relics of Saint Andrew the apostle into Scotland: Saint Regulus himself; Gelasius the deacon; Maltheus the hermit; Saint Damian the priest, and Merinach his brother; Nervius and Crisenius of the island of Nola; Mirenus, and Thuluculus the deacon; Nathabeus, and Silvius his brother; seven hermits of the isle of Tiber — Felix, Juranus, Mauritius, Madianus, Philippus, Eugenius, Lunus; and three virgins of Colossae, namely Triduana, Potentia, and Cineria. These virgins are buried at the church of Saint Aneglas.

⁸ Thana son of Dulabrach wrote this monument for King Pherath son of Bergs, in the town of Migdele.

⁹ These things, as we have said before, we have transcribed as we found them written in the ancient books of the Picts. Very many of the Scots affirm that the blessed apostle Andrew was there in the body while he lived, taking this for the ground of their assertion: that he received for his lot of preaching the land of the Picts, that is, Scythia; and that he therefore held that place dear above all other places, and that what he could not fulfil while living he fulfils now that he is loosed from the flesh. But because we have not found this written, we incline to neither side, neither denying nor affirming overmuch: but since mention has been made of the virtues and miracles which God both wrought and works through his holy apostle, from which also occasion offered itself of writing some of them, which either we found written, or heard from truthful relaters, or even ourselves saw — these we have purposed, God granting, to write; and this the brethren have not asked of us. Meanwhile however we deferred it until we should finish what was begun.

¹⁰ When therefore the kingdom of the Picts had been utterly destroyed and taken by the Scots, the goods and possessions of the church in their turn increased or decreased according as kings and princes had devotion toward the holy apostle. Of whom there is no need now to speak severally, but we must treat briefly of what concerns us. Now the royal city was Rymont, called the King’s Mount, which the aforementioned King Hungus gave to God and the holy apostle. But when the saints above mentioned who had come with the relics of the blessed apostle had been taken out of this present life, and their disciples and imitators also, religious worship there perished, as the people also was barbarous and rude. There were however in the church of Saint Andrew, such as it then was, thirteen by carnal succession whom they call Keledei [Culdees], who lived after their own manner and the tradition of men rather than according to the statutes of the holy fathers. No, and they still live in like manner; and they have certain things in common, fewer and meaner, but certain things of their own, more and better; according as each can obtain from his friends bound to him by some tie — his kinsmen and in-laws — or from those whose souls are dear to him, that is, the friends of his friends, or by any other means whatever. After they have been made Keledei, it is not lawful for them to have their wives in their houses, nor other women of whom evil suspicion might arise. There were nevertheless seven personae, dividing the oblations of the altar between them; of which seven portions the bishop had but one and the hospital one; the remaining five were divided among the other five, who rendered no service at all to altar or church, save that they received pilgrims and guests in their own fashion when more than six came, casting lots which of them should receive whom and how many. The hospital indeed always took six and under. That which is now six — God granting — since it came into the hands of the canons, has received all that come there. The canons also ordained that if any man should come there sick, or fall sick there, care should be taken of him in all necessaries according to the means of the house, until he recover or die; and if he have anything, let him do with it what he will, and dispose of it at his pleasure, since nothing is required of him in that house. A chaplain is also appointed by the canons to take care both of the sick and of the dying; and two brethren who keep the house and receive guests and minister to the sick, who yet neither eat nor drink nor are clothed there. To this end the canons also granted the tithes of their own labours and the remains of their food. And if there be anything necessary for the sick or the whole in their cellar which cannot be had from the hospital, let it be given without contradiction.

¹¹ Now the aforementioned personae had revenues and possessions of their own, which, when they departed this life, their wives whom they publicly kept, and their sons or daughters, kinsfolk or sons-in-law, divided between them. They likewise took the oblations of the altar to which they did not minister — a thing they would have been ashamed to do had it not been lawful to them. Nor could so great an evil be removed even to the time of King Alexander of happy memory, the special lover of God’s holy church; who also enlarged the church of the blessed apostle Andrew with possessions and revenues, heaped it with many and great gifts, and endowed it with the liberties and customs that were of his royal bounty, with the royal possession.

¹² Also the land which is called the Boar’s Chase [Cursus Apri], which King Hungus, of whom we have made mention above, gave to God and Saint Andrew the apostle when the relics of the blessed apostle Andrew had been brought — and which had afterwards been granted away — he restored entire; on this ground, namely, and condition, that religion should be established in that church for the service of God. For there was none to minister at the blessed apostle’s altar, nor was mass celebrated there save when the king or the bishop came there, which seldom happened. For the Keledei celebrated their office after their own fashion in a certain corner of the church, which was very small. Of which royal donation there are many witnesses yet surviving. Which donation Earl David his brother also confirmed, whom the king had appointed his heir and successor in the kingdom, as he is this day. And in memorial of this donation the king commanded his royal Arabian horse to be led to the altar with its own bridle and saddle and shield and silver lance, covered with a great and precious cloth, and therewith he invested the church with the aforementioned gifts, liberties and all royal customs; and he gave also Turkish arms of various sorts, which with the shield and saddle are kept even to this day in the church of Saint Andrew in memory of the royal munificence — which are shown to peoples coming there from every quarter, lest what is so often recalled to memory should in anywise be blotted out by oblivion. Now in the days of this King Alexander, near the end of his temporal life, the Lord Robert, first prior of the church of Scone (which the same king had given to the canons and enriched with many gifts and possessions), was elected bishop of the Scots. For so from of old are the bishops of Saint Andrew called, and in writings both ancient and modern they are found styled the High Archbishops or High Bishops of the Scots. From where also Fothet the bishop, a man of the greatest authority, caused these verses to be inscribed upon the gospel-case [the theca Evangelii]:

¹³ This case of the Gospel Fothet built for his forebear,
Fothet who is to the Scots the High Bishop.