Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Thus in effect haue the Irish writers reported of Turgesius a Norwegian, whether he did reigne be|fore the supposed time of Gurmond, or whether that he came thither as lieutenant to him: which if it shuld be true, no doubt the same Gurmond was some king of the Danes, or Norwegians, and not of the Affricans (as some of our countrimen name him.) Which error is soone committed, in taking one hea|thenish Gurmond. nation for another, as those men haue doone that haue named the Hungarians (when they did inuade Gallia before they were christians) Sara|cens. And so likewise might that author (whosoeuer he was) whome Geffreie of Monmouth followeth, finding Gurmond written to be a king of the mis|creants, mistake the Norwegians for Affricans, be|cause EEBO page image 57 both those nations were infidels: and therfore sith happilie the Affricans in the daies when that au|thor liued, bare all the brute aboue other heathenish nations then, as the Turks doo now, he named them Affricans. Howsoeuer it was, certeine it is that the Danes or Norwegians made sundrie inuasions into Ireland, and that at seuerall times. But for Turgesius, whether he were an absolute king, or but a lieutenant of some armie, vnder some other king named Gurmound, or peraduenture Gormo, (as such names are soon corrupted) I cannot affirme, bicause that no certeine time is set downe in the chronicles which are written of those nations, where|by they may be so reconciled togither, as sufficeth to warrant anie likelie coniecture in this behalfe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But if I should saie (with the readers licence) what I thinke, this Gurmound whatsoeuer he was, made no such conquest of Ireland, nor of this our Ile of Britaine (as by some writers is supposed) but yet might he peraduenture land in Wales, and either in fauor of the Saxons then enimies to the Britons, or in hatred of the christian name persecute by cruell wars the British nation, and vse such crueltie as the heathenish nations then were accustomed to practise against the christians in all places where they came, and chanced to haue the vpper hand. The chiefest cause that mooueth me to doubt thereof, is for that I find not in anie of our approoued ancient English writers, as Beda, Malmesburie, Huntington, Houe|den, or such like, anie plaine mention made of him; whereby I may be throughlie induced to credit that which I find in Geffrie Monmouth and others recor|ded of him, except his name be mistaken, and so thereby some error crept in, which I am not able to resolue.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But sith we are entred to speake thus farre of the Norwegians, here by the waie I haue thought it not impertinent to the purpose of this Irish histo|rie, to write what we find recorded in the chronicles of those northernlie regions, Denmarke, Norweie, and Sweden, written by Saxo Grammaticus, Al|bertus Saxo Gram. Alber. Crantz. Crantz, and others, concerning the sundrie in|uasions made by the Danes, Norwegians, or Nor|mans (whether we list to call them) into Ireland. Fridleie or Fridlenus king of Denmarke that suc|ceeded Fridlenus. Dan the third of that name, surnamed the Swift, arriuing in Ireland, besieged the citie of Dublin, & perceiuing by the strength of the walles, Dublin be|sieged. that it would be an hard matter to win it by plaine force of hand without some cunning policie, he deui|sed to catch a sort of swallowes that had made their nests in the houses within the towne, tied wild fier to their wings, and therewith cast them vp, and suf|fered them to flie their waies, wherevpon they com|ming to their nests, set the houses on fier, which whiles Dublin set an fire, and won by the Danes. the citizens went about to quench, the Danes entred the citie and wan it.