ard, until the persecution under the emperor
Dioclesian, in the beginning of the fourth century, there was a gradual
increase of the true knowledge of God and religion, that persecution
became so hot in the south parts of Britain, as to drive many, both
preachers and professors, into Scotland, where they were kindly
received, and had the Isle of Man (then in possession of the Scots)
given them for their residence, and a sufficient maintenance assigned
them. King Cratilinth built a church for them, which was called the
church of our SAVIOUR, in the Greek, {soter}, and is now by
corruption SODOR, in Icolumbkil, one of the western isles. They were not
employed, like the Druidical priests, in whose place they had come, in
settling the worldly affairs of men, but gave themselves wholly to
divine services, in instructing the ignorant, comforting the weak,
administering the sacraments, and training up disciples to the same
services.

Whether these Refugees were the ancient Culdees or a different set of
men, is not easily determined, nor would be very material, though it
could. The Culdees (from _cultores Dei_, worshippers of God) flourished
at this time, they were called {mona'choi}, or Monks, from the
retired religious lives which they led; the cells into which they had
retired, were, after their deaths, mostly converted into churches, and
to this day retain their names, as Cell or Kill or church of Marnock;
Kil-Patrick, Kil-Malcolm, &c. The Culdees chose superintendents from
among themselves, whose office obliged them to travel the country, in
order to see that every one discharged his duty properly: but they were
utter strangers to the lordly power of the modern Prelate, having no
proper diocese, and only a temporary superintendency, with which they
were vested by their brethren, and to whom they were accountable. It was
an institution, in the spirit of it, the same with the privy censures of
ministers among Presbyterians.

During the reigns of Cratilinth, and Fincormac his successor, the
Culdees were in a flourishing state: but after the death of the latter,
both the church and state of Scotland went into disorder. Maximus the
Roman Praefect, stirred up the Picts to aid him against the Scots, who
were totally defeated, their King Ewing, with most part of the nobility,
being slain. This overthrow was immediately succeeded by an edict
commanding all the Scots, without exception, to depart the kingdom
against a certain day,