called Fionn ua Baifene, a character drawn from the Persian Roftum and Asfendyar of which in its proper place.

In the Annals of Inisfallen belonging to Trinity College, is the following Note, "Clanna Baisgine "i. e. Filii Bafgneorum vocabantur, Phenicia "cenfendi funt origines: nec etiam a primogeni"tore quodam Baoifgne nominato ita dictos exif"timo, fed potius a Vafconibus Cantabria (ex qua "regione Milefium noftrum Hispanum in hanc "infulam cum fuis antiquitus tranfmigraffe tra"ditum eft) nominatas & progenitas fuiffe noftras "ejufmodi Cohortes Bafgineas."

There was another ancient Tribe in Ireland, called Hui Tarfi, that is, the Clan of Tarft, which must be a Corruption of Tarfis, which we have fhewn from good Authority was Tarteffus. Thefe are faid not to have been Gadelians, but the Aborigines of Spain, who accompanied them to Ireland. Tarfis is faid to be the Grandfon of Japhet, whom others named Tubal. See Note (a) at the beginning of this Chapter.

Finally, from Roman History we draw another proof of a Spanish Colony coming to the Britannic İfles in the time of Julius Cæfar it was probably the laft expedition from Spain to Ireland. Dion Caffius (e) informs us, "that when Cæfar came "Prætor into Hifpania veterior, he made war on "the Hermini a people of Lufitania, and in a short "time he defeated and conquered them. The "deftruction of this people fo terrified their neigh"bours, that they determined to leave their habi

(e) Edit. Stephand. L. 37. p. 5, &c.

"tations

"tations and cities, and retire with their families beyond the Douro.

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"But Cæfar having notice of this refolution, "prevented their putting it into execution, for he "fell on them before they fet out on their journey, defeated them and took their cities. At "the fame time news came that the Hermini had "revolted, and had laid an ambufcade with an "intent to cut him off in his return. Hereupon "Cæfar took a different route, attacked the Her"mini again, defeated them and drove those that "fled into an Island, not far diftant from the "Continent, and then manning fome barks, he "attacked them in the Island, but, the Hermini "repulfed the Romans with great flaughter, and "forced them to retreat back to the main land. "This obliged Cæfar to fend to Cadiz for larger Ships, with which he paffed over to the Island, τσ deftroyed fome of the Hermini, and drove the

"reft out of the Island.

"The Island into which the Hermini fled, being "reduced, Cæfar stood out to Sea with his fleet, "cruised along the Coafts of the Bracari and Gal"licia, and doubling Cape Finisterre, failed along "the northern Coafts of Gallicia (in the bay of "Biscay,) and made a defcent on the City of Corunna, the inhabitants whereof, terrified at the fight of the Roman Fleet, immediately furren"dered to him."

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From this minute detail of Cæfar's tranfactions in pursuing the Hermini, it is evident they did not attempt to land again on the Spanish Coaft, or to turn into the Bay of Bifcay, where Cæfar's fleet would have again purfued them. The Wind must

have been Southerly, to have carried Cæfar clear of Nerium or Cape Finifter, the direct route to Ireland. We hear nothing of the Hermini in Gaul or in Britain, but we find the Clanna Heremon in Ireland. Can there be a doubt of these people having been the Hermini of Spain, especially if we confider that Cæfar followed them at Sea, half the way from Spain to Ireland. This tribe I think was originally of Armenia, defcended from Herman Son of Gelam, who defcended the Euphrates, and formed the Phænicians of the Red Sea. (f)

Extract of a Letter from J. TALBOT DILLON, ESQ to the Author.

"Agreeable to your defire of communicating any information that might occur in the course of my reading, relating to the peopling of Ireland from Spain, I herewith send you an extract from a writer ex profeffo on the Subject, Don Francifco Huerta, member of the Spanish Academy, and Author of a Treatife entitled Efpana Primitiva, which I have lately received from Madrid; This work is in two vols. 12mo (g); and as it may not be easily obtained in Ireland, I am to request your acceptance of it.

The Author informs us, that after twelve years close application to his fubject, he luckily difcovered feveral ancient Manufcripts, amongst others, the valuable Chronicle of Petrus Cæfarauguftus, which he promises to publifh, and to give full infor

(f) See my Irish Grammar firft Edit. Preface p. xliiii. for a more particular account of the Hermini.

(g) Printed at Madrid, 1738.

C

mation how it fell into his hands, adding, it once belonged to the celebrated Arias Montanus.

"In the course of this work he means to prove, that the ancient Colonies of Spain peopled England, Scotland, and Ireland, conquered Africa, and gave Kings to the Celtic nation; poffeffed Sicily, laid the foundation of Rome, and extended themfelves univerfally over the Western Empire.

"Thefe are the outlines of his great undertaking, in which the writer, as far as I can pretend to offer an opinion, proceeds with all the candour and coolness of a judicious critick, added to the information and temper requifite to an antiquary.

I fhall close this with a tranflation of what he offers on the Subject; for this purpose I have tranthe whole Chapter.

Tharfis fends Colonies from Spain, who people England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The colonies of Tharfis increasing every day, they extended themselves not only over the peninfula of Spain, but to the neighbouring provinces, amongst others to Britain and to Ireland.

That the Spaniards peopled England appears undoubtedly from the people fettled there, named Siluri, of whom mention is made by Pliny, Solinus and Ptolemy; moreover, Tacitus, fpeaking of them, exprefsly fays, (in vita Agr.) that the ruddy complexion of the Siluri and their hair frequently braided, added to their situation opposite to Spain, gives teftimony and conviction, that the ancient Iberians croffed the Sea and poffeffed that

lfland.

Iland. The Hiftorian Jornandes is of the fame opinion, concluding Scotland to have been peopled from Gaul and Spain. "Calidoniam vero incolentibus rutila comæ, corpora magna, fed fluida, qui Gallis five Hifpanis, quibufque attenduntur fimiles, unde conjectavere nonnulli, quod ea ex his accolas continuo acceperit." (Hift. Gothor.)

Of these Colonies of the Siluri yet remain those iflands, which by alteration the English name Scilly in the Virginian Ocean.

That the Spaniards peopled England, we are convinced by the Brigantes of that Ifland, mentioned by Tacitus, Seneca, and Ptolemy, derived without doubt from the Brigantes of Galicia.

That Ireland was peopled by Spaniards, may be proved from Dionyfius and Prifcian, and by modern writers: the natives themselves acknowledge the fame, and this we fhall speak of hereafter.

Petrus of Zaragofa, writes thus on this head, in his Chronicle An. M. 2870. Tharfis Colonias & claffem mittit ad Oceanum Septentrionalem, quæ Albionem & Hiberniam populaverunt; infulas magnas, & Romanis inacceffas. This Author alfo relates the Heber in the year of the world 2919, fent Colonies to the Septentrional Ocean, who landed in Ireland; and hence probably its name Hybernia, from their Chieftan Heber."

CHAP.