355 



SECTION VI. 



Commerce, Customs, and General Habits. 



GiRALDUS is a witness of the continued commerce maintained 

 between Ireland and Gaul in his day, where he says that French 

 wine was sent into Ireland in abundance, and hides and skins re- 

 turned as the exports.* The Antiquitates Celt. Scand. furnish a more 

 full detail of imports as from England, where speaking of Swein's 

 expedition to Ireland in 1159,'t' and the inference thence deduced, 

 that Ireland maintained much commerce with England before Strong- 

 bow's invasion, is considerably strengthened by a passage in William 

 of Malmesbury, where, speaking of Murtough, King of Ireland, he 

 adds, that at one time, when he was disposed to hold himself too 

 arrogantly towards the English, his pride was checked by their 

 monarch, (Henry the First,) laying certain restraints upon com- 

 merce and navigation. — " For what would Ireland avail," exclaims 



• " Pictavia enim de plenitudine sua ei copiose vina transmittit, eui et animalium coria 

 et pecudum ferarumque lergora Hibernia non ingrata remittit." — Top. Hib. Dist. 1. c. 5. 



\ " Hinc occasum versus ad Hibemiam navigdrunt, ibique arma circumtulerunt ; verum 

 cum meridiem versus prope Dublinium delati essent, ex alto adnavigarunt cioli duo qui ex 

 Anglia venerant, Dublinium tendentes et pannis Anglicis atque multifariis rebus utilibus onusti. 

 Ad hos Sveinn cum suis naves applicat, et nautas ad proelium provocat. Anglos quippe nihil 

 fere se tueri potuerant, singulis qua; navibus inerant rebus spolidrunt, excepto quod vestes in 

 quotidianas usus et commeatum aliquantum retinentes ciolis adveherentur. * » ♦ • • 

 Pannis Anglicis se texerunt. • * * » * Sveinn spoliaverat ciolos vino hand exiguo et 

 mulso Anglico.". — ^Ant. Celt. Scand. p. 270-1. 



z z 2 



