129 



The next proof is from Hector Boethius : 



" Some conjecture that in those times lived Finnanus, the son of Cselus, (in common 

 language Fyn-Mak-Coul,) a man, as they report, of an incredible stature, for they describe him 

 as being seven cubits in height ; he was of Scottish extraction, ( Scotici sanguinis,) remarkable for 

 the art of hunting, and in other exercises, to be dreaded, on account of the unusual size of his 

 body." 



This is an important quotation in this controversy. It lets us 

 see clearly the true nature of the traditions preserved in Scotland 

 respecting the Fenian chief. It demonstrates that he was not 

 I'egarded as a star of chivalry, by whose light the youth of Caledo- 

 nia might move to deeds of courtesy and feats of arms ; but a mighty 

 Nimrod (Scotici sanguinis) of Irish blood, for this is the proper 

 interpretation of the Latin phrase, as all antiquaries know,* who 

 was wont to pursue the game of the Highland woods and mountains 

 for his pastime, and whom the fears of the natives magnified into a 

 giant whose enormous stature might vie with that of Otus and 

 Ephialtes. 



The third proof from Bishop Leslie's History of Scotland corro- 

 borates this fact : 



" It is the opinion of many, that one Finnanus, the son of Ca;lus, (in our language 

 called Fynmacoul,) a man of a huge size, and sprung as it were from the race of the ancient 

 giants, at that time (namely in the reign of Eugenius II.) lived amongst us." 



knowledge to peruse the work of Macpherson, and are taught by nationality to support an 

 idle controversy." — Shaw, p. 65. 



There is not a word of Fingal in the Chronicon Scotorum, from which the list of Scottish 

 kings is taken. The other characters of Ossian are not at all known among the Highlanders. 

 They never heard of Swaran. More of him anon. 



* " From the eleventh to the fifteenth century, Usher deduces the words of writers who 

 have used Scotia and Scots for Hibemia and Hibernians, concluding, we have the suffrages 



VOL. XVI. S 



