Chap: XII. OF MANCHESTE FT. 447 The firft entrance of the Scots into Britain was in the year .320 ; and a considerable body of them then fettled in Caledonia 7< V in the country of the Deucaledones,. and in the dominions of the Creones ". They came not upon any hoftile expedition* This the great connexion that had* fubfifted betwixt the Scots and the Creones, this the frequent reinforcements that had been- fent by the latter to the former, this the near alliance of the Scottiftv and the Creonian monarchy muft have effectually for- bidden. They came not merely upon an invitation from the Caledonians and only wkh a defign to engage in the wars with* them. Had they come only with this defign, they would have regularly lent their affiftance, and they would never have re- ceived any Settlements. They muft therefore have crofted the fea from Ireland upon another defign; And it was in all probab- ility this. The kings of Ireland being equally with the mo- Barchs of the Creones defcended from Trenmor, and the elder' -Hne of Trenmor undoubtedly failing in Offian, "the laftof the -** race of Fingal 7 %" the- crown of the Creones muft have de*- volved to the younger line, the family of Conar, and the mo- narchs of Ireland. Offian lived long after the reft* of the family, long after Fingal had " fallen afleep with his race of battle," as he had feen a new race a rife that " marked no years with their - "deeds 75 ." He muft have died therefore in air advanced- old age^ and about the year 320. The monarch of Ireland^ would immediately take poffeffion of the kingdom, and would naturally give it as an appenage to one of his fons. The monarch of Ireland accordingly fent Fergus with a body'of troops and : the authority of a fovereign 7 And' he landed, took pofleflion* of the crown, and fettlfcd his Scots in the country 7 V Thus fixed in Caledonia, agreeably to the laws of the country arid ' with the full confent of the natives, the Scots readily joined ^ the Pi£s in their incurfrons into the Roman provinces/ Ih 368' "the Pi As -in general, the Attacotti in particular, and the Scots- confederated with both, harraffed Valfentia with perpetual ' in- roads 75 . And thus they continued to aft ever afterwards, jointly erofling the Cluyd in their curroghs, jointly overrunning Valentia
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