Page:History of Manchester (1771), Volume 1, by John Whitaker.djvu/494

 Chap. XIL OP MANCHESTER. 45* weftern coaft. And nothing lcfs could have been the caufc of fo remarkable an invalion than the equally remarkable revolution in the interior hiftory of Britain, the general defertion of the ftationary lines, and the general retirement of the troops from the weftern counties. By the new arrangement of the forces, the whole weftern extent of the ifland from the fouth of Weft- moreland to the fhorc of Cornwall was left expofed and defence* lefs 56. Had the Irifh infulted the weftern coaft with any arma- ment before, the Romans would certainly have left fome forces encamped upon it at prefent. And therefore, if the Romans had not withdrawn all the ftationary garrifons from the coaft, the Irifh would certainly not have infulted it now. But, apprized of the new military arrangements, willing to make a diverfion for their brethren of Caledonia, and ftimulated with the inviting profpeft of plunder and conqueft ST, they jefolved upon an inva- fion of the whole weftern fhore of England. This invalion was .certainly made in the year 395. It was made and repelled after the death of Theodofius in the January of 395, and during the minority of Honorius and the regency of Stilicho 3 It was made and repelled one hundred and forty- fix years before Maelgun Guinedh began to reign over the Ordo* vices Jp ; and the commencement of his reign was certainly before- the death of Arthur and the year 542 *°. The former date re- duces the fa& to the year 39$ or fome immediately fucceeding one. And the latter date carries it back to the year 395 in par- ticular, the commencement of Maelgun' $ feign 1>eing to be reckoned from 541 at the loweft, and the deduction of one hun- dred and forty-fix from five hundred and forty-one leaving us precifely three hundred and ninety-five. Neil Na-Gaillac was now monarch of the Irifli 4 the Neal or chief of the Gadidc or Gauls 4 He raifed the whole united power of the ifland, and embarked them upon his fmall craft 4 The Britifh fea-boats were furniftied with marts and fails. Bat they were frequently worked with oars, the rowers finging to the chime of their ©ar6 and the mufic of the harp 44 ,. And N n n 2 the