the
seven sons of Ailill and Medb, each of whom was called "Mane." And each
Mane had a nickname, to wit, Mane Fatherlike and Mane Motherlike, and
Mane otherlike, and Mane Gentle-pious, Mane Very-pious, Mane Unslow, and
Mane Honeyworded, Mane Grasp-them-all, and Mane the Loquacious. Rapine
was wrought by them. As to Mane Motherlike and Mane Unslow there were
fourteen score in the body of their marauders. Mane Fatherlike had three
hundred and fifty. Mane Honeyworded had five hundred. Mane
Grasp-them-all had seven hundred. Mane the Loquacious had seven hundred.
Each of the others had five hundred in the body of his marauders.

There was a valiant trio of the men of Cualu of Leinster, namely, the
three Red Hounds of Cualu, called Cethach and Clothach and Conall. Now
rapine was wrought by them, and twelve score were in the body of their
marauders, and they had a troop of madmen. In Conaire's reign a third of
the men of Ireland were reavers. He was of sufficient strength and power
to drive them out of the land of Erin so as to transfer their marauding
to the other side (Great Britain), but after this transfer they returned
to their country.

When they had reached the shoulder of the sea, they meet Ingcel the
One-eyed and Eiccel and Tulchinne, three great-grandsons of Conmac of
Britain, on the raging of the sea. A man ungentle, huge, fearful,
uncouth was Ingcel. A single eye in his head, as broad as an oxhide, as
black as a chafer, with three pupils therein. Thirteen hundred were in
the body of his marauders. The marauders of the men of Erin were more
numerous then they.

They go for a sea-encounter on the main. "Ye should not do this," says
Ingcel: "do not break the truth of men (fair play) upon us, for ye are
more in number than I."

"Nought but a combat on equal terms shall befall thee," say the reavers
of Erin.

"There is somewhat better for you," quoth Ingcel. "Let us make peace
since ye have been cast out of the land of Erin, and we have been cast
out of the land of Alba and Britain. Let us make an agreement between
us. Come ye and wreak your rapine in my country, and I will go with you
and wreak my rapine in your country."

They follow this counsel, and they gave pledges therefor from this side
and from that. There are the sureties that were given to Ingcel by the
men of Erin, namely, Fer gair and Gabur (or Fer lee) and Fer rogain, for
the destruction that Ingcel should choose to cause in Ireland and for
the des