362 THE president's address. 



But the war with the Goths in 400-408 led to the recall 

 of Stilicho's legions, and the Irish again seeing their advantage 

 invaded Britain under their King Niall, who fell by the dagger 

 of an assassin near the Muir-n-Icht, the Ictian sea — the English 

 Channel. 



The Eoman legions appear to have been finally withdrawn in 

 410 ; and the last great invasion by the Irish-Scots was led by 

 Dathi, nephew and successor of Niall. He not only traversed 

 Britain but also entered Gaul, and died by lightning on the Alps. 

 His son, Amalgaidh or Awley, brought his body back to 

 Ireland, fighting a succession of battles on the way. 



It must have been about this time that S. Patrick, then a 

 boy, was carried away captive to Ireland. 



Dathi is described as King of Erin, Alba, Britain, and 

 ruling as far as the Alps.* 



Wales — at all events the coast from Anglesea to Carmarthen 

 — was in the hands of the Irish, and Brecknock was possessed by 

 them, conquered possibly by that very Awleyf who was the 

 successor of NiaU. 



But now Cunedda, a British chief in Strathclyde, unable to 

 maintain himself against the Scots pressing into Argyle from 

 Ireland, and the Picts and Saxons from north and east, turned 

 south, and he and his sons drove out the Irish from Gwynedd, 

 Anglesea, and Cardigan. This is said to have taken place one 

 hundred and fifty six years before the death of Maelgwn 

 Gwynedd, about 547, that is to say, sometime between 390 and 401. 

 But this would land us in the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages, 

 and it is more probable that it took place after the death of his 

 successor, when the Scotic power undoubtedly declined, and 

 ultimately ceased altogether in South Britain. 



*" The Genealogies of Hy Fiachraoh," E. O'Donovan, Dublin, 1844, p. 14. 

 To this probably refers the passage in the life of S. Carantoc : — "In istis temporibus 

 Scotti superaverunt Brittaniam ; nomina ducum quorum Briscus, Thuthaius 

 (Dathi), Macheleius, Anpachus, xxx annis." 



f Aulac Goronog is difficult to identify. There was another raid headed by 

 Murtogh Mac-Erca between 470-480. See what I have said on Brychan in my 

 Catalogue of the Cornish Saints ; and especially on S. Carantoc. 



