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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 89
A.D. 978, which Maelseachlainn gained "over the BOOK n.
C|1AP' L
foreigners of Ath Cliath and of the islands," 1
and
was succeeded by his brother Godfrey. wber 7 !*^
In 979 Godfrey, son of Harald, devastated Llyn SIT *' '
2
and Mona ;" and again in 981 "Godfrey, son of
Harald, devastated Dyved and Menevia," 3 his services
having been "hired" by Constantin, son of lago,
against O his cousin Hovvel.
But the Isle of Man, although now under the
dominion of Scandinavians, was not exempted
from Viking ravages. The Sagas relate that Olafobflby***
Trygvesson, to dissipate grief for the loss of his A.D. 985 ;
queen, sailed on a Viking expedition,
and after
plundering in England, Scotland " and the Hebrides,
he sailed southwards to Man, where he also fought,
and thence steered to Bretland (Wales), which he
laid waste with fire and sword." 4
This expedition, which occupied Olaf four years,
is apparently confirmed by the agreement of Icelandic
chronicles and Irish and Welsh
Sagas with English
annals. The coincidence of dates and facts furnishes
strong grounds for supposing that the " three ships
of pirates" which, according to the Saxon chronicle,
landed in Dorset and ravaged Portland, in 982," was
the fleet of Olaf Trygvesson, and were " the three
"
ships of Danes which, according to the Annals of
Ulster, came to the coast of Dalriada in 9S6, 6 and also Daimda
sailing thence to the Scottish isles, plundered Hi-
Choluirn-chille, and in the following year, according
979.
* Ibid., A.D. 978 (=979).
Chron. Princes of Wales, A.D. xxxi.
3
Ibid., A.D. 981 .
Ann.
4 Olaf Trygvcsson's Saga, chap.
8 Anglo-Sax. Chron., A.D. 982.
4 Mast., A.D. 985, note ".