Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/335

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OF IRELAND.
37

father, and they tooke parts, and made parts, set all in uproare with sword, and havocke.[1] To be short, they spent themselves one upon another so fiercely and furiously, that now they reckoned not what nation or what souldiour they received in, to keepe up or beate downe a side. By which occasion the Britaines also put in a foot, who discovering the state of the land to their Princes, opened a gappe for Brennus the brother of Belinus, to direct his course thither vvith the same Navy which he had furnished to serve Signimius then King of Lyons amid the Galles in France. But Brennus took small effect. Before him also divers Kings of Brittaine had scope in Ireland. Insomuch that Gurguntius the sonne of Beline, reputed the same by lineall descent among his owne Dominions. Notvvithstanding they never injoyed it longer then they could keepe possession perforce, and often were they repelled and wearyed vvith seeking after it, as wherein they found small fruite, and blovves enough. Lastly came the Spaniards from Biscaye, conducted by foure Captaines, of whose arryvall before I speake, I must repeate their originall somevvhat farther, and so give a light to the assoyling of a controversie, that is, whether the Irish came from Ægypt, or from Spaine. It shall appeare they came from both.

  1. Ann. mundi 2800.