THE KINGS OF MAN ad. 



1098. 



most beautifull Island, it pleased him exceeding well, and 

 therefore hee made choice to inhabite therein his owne 

 selfe, and built forts there which are at this day called by 

 his owne name. He had the people of Galway in such 

 awe, that he constrained them to cut downe their owne 

 timber, and to bring it unto his shore for the building of 

 his fortes. Hee sailed on further unto the Isle of Anglesey 

 neere unto Wales, and finding two Earles therein (either 

 of them being called by the name of Hugo) he slue the 

 one, and the other hee put to flight, and so subdued the 

 Island. But the Welshmen presented many gifts unto 

 him, and so bidding them farewell he returned unto Man. 

 Unto Murecard king of Irland he sent his shooes, com- 

 maunding him that he should cary them on his shoulders, 

 upon the birth-day of our Lord through the midst of his 

 Palace, in the sight of his Embassadours, that thereby it 

 might appeare unto them, that he was subject unto king 

 Magnus. Which when the Irishmen heard, they tooke 

 it grievously and disdeined much thereat. But the King 

 being better advised, I had rather (said he) not only 

 beare his shooes, but eate his shooes, then that king 

 Magnus should destroy any one province in Irland. 

 Wherefore he fulfilied his commaundement, and 

 honourably enterteined his Embassadours. Many gifts 

 also he sent unto king Magnus by them, and concluded 

 a league. But the messengers returning unto their lord, 

 tolde him of the situation of Irland, of the beautie thereof, 

 of the fruitfulnesse of the soile, and of the holesomnesse 

 of the aire. Magnus hearing these things was fully re- 

 solved to conquer all Irland unto himselfe. And for 

 the same purpose he commaunded that a Fleet should 

 be made ready. But he taking his voyage with sixteene 

 ships, & being desirous to view the land, when he had 

 undiscreetly departed from his Navie, he was suddenly 

 invironed by the Irish, and was himselfe slaine, together 

 with all that were with him almost. Hee was interred 

 neere unto the Church of S. Patric in Armagh. Hee 

 reigned sixe yeeres. After his death the Princes of the 



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