under him of their severall Countryes, reserving to himselfe but one fourth part, and the portion of Meth allotted to the Monarchic for the better maintenance of his part.
These afterward clambered into five Kingdomes incompatible, Leinster, Connaght, Vlster, Mounster in two portions, and sometimes to more by usurpations and compositions, but ever one was elected the Monarch over all.
An hundred and thirtie chiefe Kings are reckoned of this Nation from Hirimon to Laigirus the sonne of Nealus magnus, in whose time the blessed Bishop Patricius converted them to Christianity.
CAP. X.
The comming of the Picts into Ireland.[1]
Now lived the Irish in tollerable order under their sundry Kings, [2] and applyed themselves to peace and gathering of wealth, when suddainely Rodericke a Red-shank of Scythia fled thither with a small company of Galleyes, and winde-driven in compassing round about the British coast, were happely blowne
