23 



illustration of the fact, from the affinity which exists between the 

 language of Ireland and that of Biscay, (" I'affinitie qui se trouve 

 entre la langue Irlandoise et celle de Biscaye,"*) an affinity, which, 

 according to the best observation, is reciprocated in the figures, 

 complexions, countenances, and even dress of some of the Munster 

 peasantry. -f- Indeed the least credulous in the ancient traditions of 

 Ireland, find themselves so embarrassed by the evidences of this 

 descent from Spain, as Skinner confesses in his Ecclesiastical History 

 of Scotland,^ that they are sure to bring in Spain as a resting-place, 

 even when they would fain people Ireland from Gaul or other 

 " officinae " of their theories. Thus, Buchanan, when he speaks§ of 

 colonies going from Gaul to Ireland, carries them first to Spain, and 

 then assigns some plausible reasons for their migrating to Ireland. So 

 Camden, in tracing the Scots from the Scythians, is at no small pains 

 to find Scythians in Spain. 



Ireland was in truth the obvious country to which the advancing 

 colony should emigrate. Gaul must have been then thickly peopled ; 

 so, probably, was Britain ; Ireland alone would seem to have been 

 comparatively waste. The traditions of Scotland coincide with these 

 accounts, those of Wales|| are equally confirmatory ; and in a highly 

 ancient treatise, on the antiquities and origin of Cambridge, preserved 

 by Hearne, it is stated, in singular accordance with the above men- 

 tioned account from Mexia, that in the year of the world, 432 1 , a 

 British prince, the son of Gurgimtius or Gurmund, having crossed 

 over to Denmark, to enforce tribute from a Danish king, was returning 

 victorious off the Orcades, when he encountered thirty ships full of 

 men and women; on his inquiring into the occasion of their voyage, 



* Bibl. Angloise, vol. 15. p. 409. f Mason's Stat. Survey, v. 2. p. 493. 



X Vol. I. pt. 1. p. 19. § Rer. Scot. Hist. lib. 2. |1 Vail. Collect. Hib. vol. 4. 



