In the yere 1237. vpon the 12. of the kalends of Iune, Olauus sonne of
Godred king of Man deceased in the isle of S. Patric, and was interred in
the abbey of Russin. He reigned 11. yeres, two while his brother was aliue,
and nine after his death.
Haraldus his sonne being of the age of 14. yeres, succeeded, and he reigned
12. yeeres. The first yere of his reigne taking his iourney vnto the
islands, he appointed one Loglen his kinsman to be his deputie in Man. The
Autumne folowing Haraldus sent the three sonnes of Nel, namely Dufgaldus,
Torquellus, & Molmore, and his friend Ioseph vnto Man, that they might
enter into cosultation together. Wherefore the 25. day they assembled
themselues at Tingualla: and malice growing betweene the sonnes of Nel, and
Loglen they fel to blowes and skirmished sore on both parts, Molmore,
Dufgald, and the foresaid Ioseph being all slaine in the fray. The Spring
folowing, king Harald came into the Isle of Man, and Loglen fleeing into
Wales, was himselfe, together with Godred the sonne of Olauus his pupil,
and 40. others, drowned by shipwracke.
In the yere 1238. Gospatricius and Gillescrist sonne of Mac-Kerthac came
from the king of Norway vnto Man, expelling Harald out of the said island,
and taking tribute on the behalfe of the Noruegian king, because the said
Harald refused to come vnto his Court.
In the yere 1240. Gospatricius deceased and was buried in the abbey of
Russin.
In the yere 1239. Haraldus went vnto the king of Norway who within two
yeres confirmed vnto him, his heires and successors, vnder seale, all the
islands which his predecessors enioyed.
In the yeere 1242. Haraldus returned out of Norway vnto Man and being
honorably receiued by the inhabitants he liued in peace with the kings of
England and Scotland.
In the yere 1247. Haraldus (like as his father also before him) was
knighted by the king of England, and so being rewarded with many gifts he
returned home. The same yere he was sent for by the king of Norway, and he
maried his daughter. And in the yere 1249. as he was returning home with
his wife, with Laurence the elect of Man, and with many other nobles, neere
vnto the confines of Radland, he was drowned in a tempest.
In the yere 1249. Reginald the sonne of Olauus and brother vnto Harald
began to reigne the day next before the nones of May: and vpon the 30. day
of the same moneth he was slaine by Yuarus a souldier, and other of his
complices in the South part of a certaine medow neere vnto the Church of
the holy Trinitie, and he was buried at the Church of S. Marie at Russin.
The same yere Alexander king of Scots prouided a great nauie of ships that
he might conquere the islands vnto himselfe, howbeit falling into an ague
at the isle of Kenwary [Footnote: Query, Kerrera.] he deceased.
Then Haraldus the sonne of Godred Don vsurped the name of a king ouer the
islands, hee banished also all the princes of Harald the sonne of Olauus
and ordeined his fugitiues to bee princes and nobles in their stead.
In the yere 1250. Haraldus the son of Godred Don being summoned by letters
went vnto the king of Norway who deteined him in prison because he had
vniustly possessed the kingdome. The same yeere Magnus the sonne of Olauus,
and Iohn the sonne of Dugalt arriued at Roghalwhat, which Iohn named
himselfe king, but the Mannians taking it grieuously, that Magnus was not
nominated, draue them from their shoare, and many of the company perished
by shipwracke.
In the yeere 1252. came Magnus the sonne of Olauus vnto Man, and was
ordained king. The yere folowing he tooke his iourney vnto the king of
Norway & there he remained one whole yere.
In the yeere 1254. Haco king of Norway ordeined Magnus the sonne of Olauus
king of the islands, confirming them to him and to his heires, and by name
vnto Harald his brother.
In the yere 1256. Magnus tooke his iourney into England, and was by the
king of England created knight.
In the yere 1257. the Church of S. Maries of Russin was dedicated by
Richard bishop of Soder.
In the yeere 1260. Haco king of Norway came into the parts of Scotland, and
without atchieuing ought, turning his course towards the Orcades he there
deceased at Kirwas, [Footnote: Kirkwall. The date is an error Hacos
expedition took place in 1263. He sailed from Herdle-Voer on the 5th of
July, and died Saturday, 15th December (Det Norske Folks Historie, by P.
A. Munch.)] and was buried at Bergen.
In the yeere 1265. Magnus the sonne of Olauus king of Man and of the
Islands died at the castle of Russin, and was buried at the Church of St.
Mary at Russin.
In the yere 1266. the kingdome of the Islands was translated vnto Alexander
king of Scots.
* * * * *
That which followeth was written in a new character or letter, and of a
diuers kinde from the former.
In the yeere 1270. vpon the seuenth day of October the Fleete of Alexander
king of Scots arriued at Roghalwath, and the next day before the sunne
rising there was a battell fought betweene the Mannians and the Scots, in
the which conflict there were slaine 535. Mannians: whereupon a certaine
versifier writeth to this effect:
Fiue hundreth fourtie men are slaine:
against ill haps,
Yee Mannians arme your selues, for feare
of afterclaps.
In the yeere 1313. Robert king of Scots beseiged the castle of Russin,
which Dingaway Dowil held against him howbeit at the last the king tooke
the castle.
