Moreover, the said villains “had no reverence, veneration, or respect, or mercy for God or man, for church or for sanctuary; they were cruel, ferocious, plundering, hard-hearted, wonderful Dannarbrians, selling and hiring themselves for gold and silver, and other treasure as well.”  Gormflaith was evidently “head centre” on the occasion; for we find wonderful accounts of her zeal and efforts in collecting forces.  “Other treasure” may possibly be referred to that lady’s heart and hand, of which she appears to have been very liberal on this occasion.  She despatched her son, Sitric, to Siguard, Earl of the Orkneys, who promised his assistance, but he required the hand of Gormflaith as payment for his services, and that he should be made King of Ireland.  Sitric gave the required promise, and found, on his return to Dublin, that it met with his mother’s entire approbation.  She then despatched him to the Isle of Man, where there were two Vikings, who had thirty ships, and she desired him to obtain their co-operation “at any price.”  They were the brothers Ospak and Brodir.  The latter demanded the same conditions as the Earl Siguard, which were promised quite as readily by Sitric, only he charged the Viking to keep the agreement secret, and above all not to mention it to Siguard.

Brodir,[221] according to the Saga, was an apostate Christian, who had “thrown off his faith, and become God’s dastard.”  He was both tall and strong, and had such long black hair that he tucked it under his belt; he had also the reputation of being a magician.  The Viking Ospak refused to fight against “the good King Brian,” and, touched by some prodigies, became a convert to Christianity, joined the Irish monarch at Kincora, on the Shannon, and received holy baptism.[222] The author of the Wars of the Gaedhil gives a formidable list of the other auxiliaries who were invited by the Dublin Danes.  The Annals of Loch Ce also give an account of the fleet he assembled, and its “chosen braves.”  Maelmordha had mustered a large army also; indeed, he was too near the restless and revengeful Larmflaith to have taken matters quietly, even had he been so inclined.

Meanwhile Brian had been scarcely less successful, and probably not less active.  He now marched towards Dublin, “with all that obeyed him of the men of Ireland.”  These were the provincial troops of Munster and Connaught and the men of Meath.  His march is thus described in the Wars of the Gaedhil:—­“Brian looked out behind him, and beheld the battle phalanx—­compact, huge, disciplined, moving in silence, mutely, bravely, haughtily, unitedly, with one mind, traversing the plain towards them; threescore and ten banners over them—­of red, and of yellow, and of green, and of all kinds of colours; together with the everlasting, variegated, lucky, fortunate banner, that had gained the victory in every battle, and in every conflict, and in every combat."[223] The portion of the narrative containing this account is believed to be an interpolation,