A.t>. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1066. 



And in the midst of the skirmish, the foresaid 300. men 

 rising out of their ambush, and comming upon the backes 

 of the Mannians, molested them so sore, that they were 

 enforced to flie. But when they saw y* they were over- 

 come and had no place of refuge to retire unto (for the 

 tide of the sea had filled the chanel of the river of Ramsa) 

 and seeing the enemie so fiercely pursuing them on the 

 other side, they which remained, with lamentable outcries 

 beseeched Godred to spare their lives. Then hee being 

 mooved with compassion, and pitying their extreme 

 calamitie, because hee had bene of late sustained and 

 nourished among them, sounded a retreat and forbad his 

 souldiers to make any longer pursuit. The day following 

 Godred put his souldiers to their choice, whether they 

 would divide Man among themselves and inhabite it, or 

 whether they would take the wealth of the countrey, and 

 so returne unto their owne home. Howbeit, it pleased 

 them better to waste the whole Island and to enrich them- 

 selves with the commodities thereof, and so to returne 

 from whence they came. Nowe Godred himselfe with a 

 fewe Islanders which had remained with him, tooke 

 possession of the South part of the Island, and unto the 

 remnant of the Mannians he granted the North part 

 thereof, upon condition, that none of them should at any 

 time afterward dare once to chalenge any parcell of the 

 said ground by title of inheritance. Whereupon it com- 

 meth to passe, that unto this day the whole Island is the 

 kings owne Fee-simple, and that all the revenues thereof 

 pertaine unto him. Also Godredus subdued Dublin unto 

 himselfe & a great part of Lainestir. And he so tamed the 

 Boats having Scots, that none of them durst build a ship or a boate, 

 not past three ^-^j^ above three yron nailes in it. Hee reigned 16. 

 '^theni^^^^^ ^" yeeres and died in the Island called Yle. He left behinde 

 him three sonnes, Lagman, Harald, and Olavus. Lagman 

 being the eldest chalenged the kingdome and reigned 

 seven yeeres. Howbeit Harald his brother rebelled 

 against him a long time, but being at length taken by 

 Lagman, hee was gelt and had his eyes put out. After- 



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