374 Proceedings of the Rojjal Irish Academy. 



and the Raouios, which Mr. Orpen inclines to identify as the Eas Euaith, 

 or Erne, the later Eas Aedha Eua.idJi or Asheroe. 



Turning to native tradition, full of sea expeditions and invasions, we 

 may record the raids of the great King Xiall of the Nine Hostages, who, 

 on the border-line of legend and history (379 to 405), invaded Britain. His 

 bold attempt put it-s mark even on late Eoman literature. Claudian, in 

 396, sang how " the Scot " lashed the northern waves with daring oars, 

 how he "moved all leme, and the deep foamed with hostile oar."' The 

 invasion was repelled, and " ley Erin wept the heaps " (or tumuli) of her 

 slain sons.' "Whatever lies behind the legend of Niall's successor, Dathi, 

 and his raid into Gaul, it is e\'ident that the Irish (like the Veneti in Caesar's 

 day) had a powerful fleet. 



Patrick, one of Xiall's British captives at the close of the fom-th century, 

 revolutionized Ireland, and in so doing brought her into closer touch with 

 Gaul. He himself, in his escape from slavery, found a ship with a crew of 

 heathens,' presumably Irish from that fact, bringing Irish hounds to Gaul. 

 In A.D. 433 (if his earliest Life be accurate) he found the High King Loegaire 

 (Niall's son), his sub-kings, and druids, drinking wine at Tara.^ If so, trade with 

 Gaul was already established. The early laws, probably as early as or earlier 

 than St. Patrick's time, at least in their main features, made full provision 

 for the protection and treatment of foreigners. '"' Parties from the sea " were 

 cared and watched in a fort after theii- arrival, their food was to be provided, 

 and the owner of the jport was to preserve the vessel, and divide its cargo, as 

 the case might be. Should they be cast on the shore, the owner of the port 

 had also to protect, feed, and make general provision for them. Foreign 

 mercenajies, quaintly described as "headless pei-sons," having no chief or 

 natural head, were also protected; there was also an eric fine for a free 

 foreigner, though the lowest of such fines. 



The section embodied in the Book of AicUl, about a,d. 640, dealt with 

 trading ships.* " Sed " of 6 " screpalls " due from a ship running aground, 

 " where she (the ship) came consigned to a certain person, and it was not 

 unto Ms land they happened to be driven." If she be foreign, the owner of 



_ > Claudian, "de tertio eonsulatu Honorii Augusti," 396; " de quarto eons. Honorii," 398, and 

 'in primum cons. StiUchonis," 400, Lib. ii, v. 247. The legion that gnarded Britain against the 

 Scou enjoyed such high repute that it was summoned by StiKcho to defend Kome against the Goths. 

 - Journal Eoy. Soc. Autt. Ir. xxiv, p. 118. 

 ^St. Patrick's "Confession" and "Lebar Breac Homily." The latter says plainly "a crew 

 of heathens," which is impUed in the older document, where' they address Patrick as " Christian," 

 and chaUenge him to pray to his great God, haU in contempt. 



. vu* ■'■'"^^'^"''^ ■^™°'^^™° (Tripartite Life, Rolls Series, ed. W. Stokes, vol. ii, p. 282, 

 bibentibua -nnum in palaiio Temoriae." 



Book of Aicill" (Ancient Laws of Ireland Commission, toI. ii, p. 427). 



