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Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 These are also supposed to haue inuented the dis|tribution A cantred. of shires into cantreds, euerie cantred or baronie conteining one hundred towneships. At Desire of so|uereingtie cause of vari|ance. length desire of souereigntie set the fiue brethren at variance, & greatlie hindred their growing wealths. But Slanius getting the vpper hand, and bringing his foure brethren to a [...]owed, tooke on him as [...]heefs aboue his other brethren, incroching roun [...] about the midle stone for the space of certeine miles, which plot in time obteined the priuilege & name of one en|tier part, & now maketh vp the number of fiue parts (into the which Ireland is said to be diuided) and is called Meth, and in Latine Media, taking that [...] (as some haue gessed) for that in respect of the other, it conteined but the moitie of cantreds, that is, six|téene (where ech of the other comprehended two and thirtie a péece) or else for that it [...]th in the middest of the land. This part Slanius ioined as a surplusage ouer and aboue his inheritance, [...] the monarchie: which part notwithstanding grew in a seuerall king|dome. Thirtie yeares the monarchie yet continued in this order, but finallie Slanius departed this life, Slanius de|parted this life. and was buried in a mounteine of Meth, that bea|reth hitherto (as they saie) the name after him. Then the princes subiect to him, beg [...] stomach the matter, and denied their obeisance [...]o his successor: wherevpon insued continuall war [...] betwixt [...], falling still at debat for the land of Meth, which [...]ife A new [...] of Scythia [...] land in Ire|land. Parta|kings. of long time might: [...] appeased. In the necke of these troubles also there arriued in Ireland a new armie of Scythia [...]s, who made cla [...]e to the land by a title of right which they pretended from EEBO page image 49 their forefather Nemodus: and so taking & making parts, they set all in an vprore, that hauocke was made on each side with fire and sword in most mise|rable maner.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 To be short, they spent themselues in pursuing one an other with such outrage, that now they cared not what nation or what souldier they receiued to their aid, to kéepe vp or beat downe a side. By which Brennus cal|led into Ire|land [...]o aid one [...]act of the fa|ctious people. occasion the Britons also put in a foot among them, who procured Brennus the brother of Belinus to direct his course thither, with the same nauie which he had made readie to passe ouer into Gallia, now cal|led France, to the aid of Segwin then king of the Segwin. Allobroges. Allobroges that inhabited the countries called Sa|uoie and the Delphinat. But his enterprise into Ireland tooke small effect, though there were other kings of the Britons that gat dominion there, in so much that Gurguntius, or Gurgwintius, the sonne of Belinus, accompted Ireland among other his dominions to belong to him by lineall descent: not|withstanding the British princes neuer inioied the quiet possession thereof, longer than they held it by maine force, but were often repelled and put to the worsse with séeking after it, finding there small gaine other than stripes, whereof they bare awaie great plentie. But now to come to the Spaniards, that lastlie (vnder the conduct of foure capteins) pas|sed into Ireland from Biscaie, and inhabited that Iland, it shall not be impertinent in following the order which our author kéepeth, to speake some what of their originall, that it may appéere from whense the Irish nation had their first beginning.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the yeare of the world 2436, after the vniuer|sall floud 780, whilest the Israelits serued in Egypt, 2436 Gathelus the sonne of one Neale, a great lord in Grecia, was vpon disfauor exiled his countrie with a number of his factious adherents and friends. This noble gentleman being right wise, valiant, Sée more of this matter in the beginning of the Scotish historie. and well spoken, comming into Egypt, got honora|ble interteinment of Pharao surnamed Orus, as in the Scotish historie more plainelie appeereth. And af|terwards departing that countrie, trauersed the seas, and landing first in Portingall, after some bic|kering with the inhabitants; at length yet he got by their consent a portion of the countrie, lieng by the banks of the riuer ancientlie called Munda, & now The riuer of Munda, now Mondego. Brachara now Braga. Mondego, where shortlie after he began to build a citie first named Brachara, but now Barsalo, as Hector Boetius hath. After this, when Gathelus his people began to increase in power, through persua|sion of the Spaniards their neighbors, they remoo|ued into Galicia, where they also builded a citie na|med Brigantium, which is now called Coruna. Fi|nallie, Brigantium. Sée more her [...]ol in Scotland. Gathelus [...] into Ireland. when they grew into such an huge multitude, that Galicia was not able to susteine them, Gathe|lus with a certeine number of them passed ouer into Ireland, and there grew into such estimation with the barbarous people, that for his knowledge speci|allie in all languages, he was highlie honored: for he not onelie inriched and beautified the Irish toong, but also taught them letters, sought vp their anti|quities, practised their youth in warlike feats after the maner of the Greekes and Egyptians, from whense he descended.

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Compare 1587 edition: 1 Then the Princes ſubiecte to him, beganne to ſtomacke the matter, and denied their obeyſaunce to his ſucceſſour, wherevpon enſued continuall warres betwixte them, falling ſtill at debate for the lande of Methe, whiche ſtrife of long tyme might neuer fully be appeaſed.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the necke of theſe troubles alſo there arri|ued in Ireland a new armie of Scythians,A nevv armie of Scythians lande in Ire|lande. who made clayme to the land by a title of right which they pretended from their forfather Nemodus: & ſo taking and making partes,Parttakings. they ſet all in an vprore, that hauocke was made on eche ſide with fire and ſworde in moſte miſerable maner.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 To be ſhort, they ſpent themſelues in purſu|ing one an other with ſuche outrage, that nowe they cared not what nation or what Souldiour they receiued to theyr ayde, to keepe vp or beate downe a ſyde.