Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/345

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OF IRELAND.
47

CAP. XI.

How the Jrish setled themselves in Scotland.

Returne wee now to the course of our Historie, while the Picts were bestowed in the north of Brittaine and waxed populous,[1] the Irish made sundry arrands over to visite their Daughters, Nephewes, and kindred. In often comming and going, they noted waste places, and little Hands not replenished, but rather neglected and suffered to grow wilde. Hereof in Ireland they advertised their Prince, namely Reuther or Rheuda, who being the Issue of Fergusius, bethought himselfe of his interest to certaine peeces of land beside the nation of the Picts. Hee therefore well appointed, partly by composition, and some deale perforce stepped into those hamlets which no man occupied, & proceeded handsomely to reare his kingdome. By little and little he edged forward, and got betweene the Picts and Brittaines on this side the Scottish banke, which he possessed but a season. The place was thereof named Rheudisdale, now Riddesdale, (asmuch to say, as the part of Rheuda) for dahal in their language, signifieth part. In those quarters after sundry conflicts with the borderers, hee was by them slaine, but the kingdome lasted in his successours still, and the two nations the Picts and the Irish lovingly suffered each other to thrive. The Scotts caught up the Islands &

  1. An. Dom. 160. Ioh. Major. 1. 1. cap. 11. Bed. 1. 1. c. 1.