Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/332

 one yeares: which is above twice the age of Methusalem. Had it beene my chaunce in Ireland, to meete & conferre with this noble Antiquarie, hee might have eased me of much travell. These things I note for no Other purpose, but that the simple stumbling upon such blinde legends should be warned to esteeme them as they are, idle fantasies, wherewith some of their Poets, dallyed at the first, and after through error and rudenes it was taken up for a sad matter.

CAP. VIII.

The several Inhabitants of Ireland from Bastolenus.

an infinite number of Gyants slaine, certaine hid families lurked and escaped the common mischiefe, whom at length penury constrayned to forsake their dennes, and to pilfer for meate, when they perceived the murraine of men and beasts, and that none gave them resistance, they waxed hardie, & searching the land, found it wel-nigh desolate, wherefore they harboured themselves in the clearest coast: and easily subduing the poore soules remaining, revived their blood, and became Lords of the whole Hand 60. yeares.

Among the Sonnes of Iapheth, Genesis recounteth Magog who had now planted his people in Scithia within Tanaris, from whom at this day the Turkes are descended. They hearing the hard happe of their