Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/338

leastwise in the raigne of Gurguntius the Brittaine, then chiefe Lord of Bayon, foure brethren Spaniards, whereof two are noted, Hiberus and Hirimon, not the sonnes of Gathelus (as writeth Boethius) but his off-spring, understanding that divers Western Hands were empty, desirous to live in ease and elbovv-room, sayled Westward with a great retinue of men,^[1] women and babes, hovering long about the Hands Orchades in 60. great ships, untill by good hap they met with Gurguntius, then returning from the conquest of Denmarke, ^[2] who had refused to pay him the tribute, which Belinus his father wan, him they besought ^[3] (considering their want of victuals, unable any longer to dwell in their ships, accumbred vvith carriage of vvomen & children) to direct & further them to some place of habitation, proffering to become his liege people to hold the same of him & his heires for ever. The King advising himselfe, remembred with vvhat difficultie he kept the Irish in subjection, & conceived hope that these strangers would endeavor either to stub out that unruly generation, or to nurture them, & so taking their oathes and hostages,^[4] he mann'd their ships, stored them vvith victuall & munition, & seated them in Ireland. Thus

1. The head Captaine was Bartholomew, as many Authors affirme.
2. Fab. part. 2.
3. Grafton, p. 60.
4. Ann. mundi 3592.