478 



made preparations to revisit the conquered islands, and then 

 return to his native country. He had received a promise from 

 Murchart that on a certain day he should receive some herds 

 of cattle to provision the fleet ; but as they did not arrive at 

 the expected time, Magnus, who was stationed with his ships 

 somewhere probably on the shores of Down, resolved to land 

 with an armed force, to make a foray, and carry off whatever 

 spoil he could find. When he had advanced a considerable 

 distance into the country, he was suddenly attacked by the 

 natives, and after a desperate conflict, in which many were 

 slain, fell by the stroke of a battle-axe. 



It is stated in the notes to the Chronicle of Mann that this 

 event occurred on the 24th of August, 1103,* in the field of 



* Eighty-nine years after the battle of Clontarf. Neither the Irish nor the 

 Danish histories have mentioned the name of the locality where Magnus 

 landed ; nor of any other place which might enable us to trace the line of his 

 march, or ascertain the spot on which he fell. We have only two authori- 

 ties, as far as I have been able to learn, for saying that he fell in the field of 

 Cobha, and one of them is probably altogether dependent on the other. The 

 Annals of Boyle say he fell in the year a. d. 1104, in the field of Cobha ; and 

 Johnstone, the second authority, in an Appendix to the Chronicles of Mann, 

 states the same fact. Mr. John O'Donovan, the learned translator of the 

 Annals of the Four Masters, a work of which the notes are replete with his- 

 torical and topographical information, places the field of Cobha in the barony 

 of Upper Iveagh, in the county of Down, nearly midway between Newry and 

 Loughbrickland. From the frequent mention of this field in our Irish histo- 

 ries, it appears to have been a favourite spot for hostings, encampments, 

 skirmishes, and set battles ; and hence, from lack of more accurate informa- 

 tion, it might have been supposed the place most likely to have been the 

 scene of the Norse King's last conflict. But Magnus did not fall in a set battle, 

 nor is it probable that he could have advanced so far into the country as the 

 field of Cobha, before he was assailed by the vigilant enemy. Moreover, as 

 it is agreed that he was interred in or by Down Cathedral, it may not have 

 been at any great distance thence where he fell. As the spirit of archaeology 

 has gone forth, and is pursuing various inquiries in Ireland with success, it 

 might reward the labour of some of our antiquaries thoroughly to explore 

 the surrounding country, with a view to the discovery of weapons of war, 

 and other reliques of ancient times. The county of Down is rich in antiqui- 

 ties, cairns, cromleachs, giant's rings, circles of rude stone pillars, fosse- 



