Galloway in the early period of the Scottish monarchy consisted of that tract of country which now comprehends the shire and stewarty of Galloway, Nithsdale, Carrick, and the western part of Airshire, with part of Lanerickshire. This extensive tract, appears to have been totally independent, both of the Scottish and Pictish kingdoms, and was governed by Reguli, or Princes. Bede informs us that in the year 412, St. Ninian was sent to the South Picts, and to Whithorn in Galloway, and he calls Candida Casa, or Whithorn in Galloway, one of the four Northumbrian bishopricks.