The fourthe and last booke, intreateth of matters towching the Comon weale of the Countrie (and where it hath contynued in the beste sorte: and how decayed againe, withe other necessarie noates concerninge the recouery of the same: with a declaracion of voluntary rebelles startinge owt, who hath bene maynteigned by her maiesties purse, a longe tyme togither.
Silvyn
My verry good brother: (which pardonne craved) in respect I vndertake to be a begynner, and the last that spake, yet presvminge somuch vppon you zeale and affection towardes mee: I haue embouldened my self to begynne in this sorte.
Ffirste, that consideringe there hathe bene divers Parlyamentes, houlden in that Realme of Ireland, (by sundry wyse and discreete noble men there, governing, tendinge to the advauncement and furtherance of that Comon Wealth. The Actes of which; theire seuerall cessions before them houlden, I am suer appereth at Lardge; which no doubt if they had bene duly effected, ffrom tyme to tyme. (accordinge the makers good meaninges: the Realme of Ireland coulde neuer haue growne thus owt of fframe., wherfore I shall desyer you, if you haue harde, or canne by your small contynvance there, acquaynt me, with some efficient causes, that hath breadd these calamities, I wilbe verry well contented to give you the hearinge.
Peregryn
Truly brother those be matters, farre overeachinge my groase capacitie: but yet emongst my noates I will shewe you one, beinge the opinion of an oulde man of the English Pale, whose chaunce it was to come to myne hoastes house in Dublin, accompanied with three or fower of his neighbours; who after dynner, talking of theire greate hinderances in this broken tyme: and he beinge Cock of that comepany, beganne in this manner.,
I remember sayeth hee, that within these threescore yeares, it was not tollerable emongst vs of the English Pale, to permit or suffer, any of the O Neales, O donelles, maguyers, mc mahowndes, o realies or any other Irish borderer to Inhabit emongst vs: by which meanes, wee weare so fast tyed in Consanguintie, alliaunce and amitie, one to another that it was as harde a matter to snapp a shefe of Arrowes in pieces, beinge fast bownde togither at one Instant force; as to separate our generall resolucion, to attempt any daunger in the princes behalf whatsoeuer; I neede not to fetch our ensample so far, as Edwarde the Seconde tyme, (all Irelande yealdinge to the Scot Edwarde le Bruse (savinge our Awncestors of the Englishe Pale; which stuck to the Lorde Justice brimdgham in that manner (beinge the last carde in the buntch) that by theire meanes the prowde scot and his army was ouerthrowne, At Carickbraddogh not far from Dundalk, And also in the lord Leonarde Greaies tyme by Ardee, Against Oneale and all his power of the North: and diuers tymes sithence to longe to rehearse.
But now within these fewe yeares: by the Instigacion of the devill, the wicked & covetous personne: that had more reguarde of his owne private gayne, then respect to the comon wealth, his offspringe and neighbors, made fosteridge, gossipred and marriadges with the Irish aforesaid: which strange monsters (contrary to the statutes) and our Awncestors leaste meaninges, once crept in emongst vs) it became so generall, that glad was hee, that might first retayne them to Inhabit under themselues., but marke, what mischief hath ensued thereof; which wee and others of latter tymes, that haue bene here established by her maiestie, and her predecessors doe now to late repent the reasonnes whereof; accordinge to my groase skill are presentely as followeth.
Ffirst by reasonne of combynacion, with the Irish as aforesaide, in crept theire languadge to be allmoste generall emongst vs, & that within a shorte
Secondly when we were acquaynted, with the Irish reteigned emongst vs, as a nomeber of others, by reasonne of Intercourse into theire countries: And for that wee are nyer and better acquaynted with the estate, then they are., we must stand as advocates, ffor them, they prefer to foster vnto vs, where there sundry condicions in that league:
Fosterers
The ffirst is miltch nvrses, that fostereth vpp our children with theire breastes, and any chylde that is so taken with, must haue as good a porcion (landes excepted) as any of the fosterers children, and this Irish mylke: worketh such effect in our children, that are so fostered, that moste of them neuer careth for Englishmen, or English civilitie euer afterwardes, for they make so greate accompt of theire fosterfather, fostermother, fosterbrethern
The Seconde kynde of fosterers, are of the meaner sorte of people, and these beinge poore tenantes, cloaze in with theire landlordes, and to curry favour with them, take with one of the children, and promissieth him a chyldes porcion, and this is called a dry fosterer (of which sorte) one chylde may haue a dozen, theise looke also for some extraordynary kynde of favour, at theire landlord, and foster sonnes handes (but yet nothinge in measure, to the first fosterer., for theise kynde of people desyrethe help, but for petty matters.
The thirde is muche lyke the laste, but beinge of a better callinge (combyneth nor taketh with none) but with greate mens children, (Aswell for that hee must give a lardge porcion, with his fostersonne: And having his matters and suites (in courte as otherwyse, of greate effect, then the meaner fosterer hath (which must be followed ( ad omnia quare) by those he taketh with (be the cause good or bad (or els hee will slipp his headd forthe of the collor and cry. A new master, a New, for a nomeber of these cannot drinck of all water (yet verry bountyfull if you please theire humours (which happely may bringe theire patrones to play the barrysters.
The fourthe is a man, that by greate industrye and paynes, is growne to be wealthy, and willingly if he might, would be contented, to live honestly of his owne, withowt entermeddlinge, with other mens matters: but beinge so aspyred, and his name in no greate requeste, beinge
Here be a fifth kynde of fosterers: and they take not onely with one chylde: but with my master and all his whole houshould, and theise pay mr maynteigner, contynvally with the sweate of other mennes browes (and if any of theise kitchen fosterers come vnder coram (he mr maingtener will labour verry hard, but he will get them at liberty agayne: vpon easy bandes. And yet carieth not a poynte; to forfeict xxli, rather then a meane rascall of that coare, shoulde once come in daunger of the lawe. (there be of theise kynde of people, that bringeth in better stuffe then kitchin matters, and they take prisoners to rawnsome, for mony, apparell, victuall, and any other necessaryes, as powder, mvncion and such lyke, (of which ill gotten pelfe, mr maytneigner hath his childrens partes: And thus much ffor fosterers.
Gossipridde
Then to say somethinge of Gossepride a moste pestylent monster to a comon wealth, then fosteriidge is, (though that be bad enough: And of that there be fower kyndes
The first and moste tollerablst is at the fynt stoane., wherein is a shew of Christianytie and called Publique Gossiprid, and in great
The seconde gossipride is by breakinge of breade betwene partie and partie: and in this is concluded some smack of mischief intended, which; when any such matter falleth owt, we must doe our best endeavour to remedy the same: for entermedlinge with which sometymes wee are taken vp for halting, yet we neuer come in daunger as wee thinck, till venias mecum ?onceth?: and still for our paynes some salary cometh for playinge the bolsterers.
The thirde gossipride is, by seuerall oathes voluntarie taken, betwene partie and partie, for the fullfillinge of any covenant betwene them., though it smell as farre as felony, and then sometymes we bringe our selues in daunger to play the barristers.
The fourth and last poynte of Gossipride cannot be thoroughly effected, but by abusinge the holy sacrament of the comvnion: which all parties in that league combyned (most receaue the same to confirme any thinge, that is or shalbe from thence forth, agreed vppon, betwene them, yea though it smell of rebellion, murder, threasonne, burninges etc or any other capitall degree of what nature soeuer, so that by the illusion,
Then last of all. when we haue thoroughly performed, these ceremonies aforesaid, yet that cannot be thought sufficient unles we marry one with another, And there cometh in kinred, Allyance and affynitie of bludd, and then when this mixture hath taken thorough roote, we ffeare not any daunger whatsoeuer, but whylest we thinck our selues in greatest securitie, owt startes our fosterers, gossips and Allies, of the Irish pale into rebellion, and then some of vs, that haue traced these galliardes aforesaid, must adventure our selues in respect of the premisses, to be assistant vnto them, aswell private and publique, though we venture both lyfe, goodes, landes, and perpetuall Infamy besydes, yet you must vnderstand, I speake not this onely of the English Pale, but of all other partes of the Realme where Englishmen haue bene planted, Well accordinge to our tenvres, we are called to serve against the Enemy: and then not as we were wont to doe in proceedinge tymes (as formerly I repeated beinge compared to a sheafe of Arrowes of one makinge: but lyke a field of corne all overgrowne with wiedes: beinge so troubled in our myndes, how to make choyce of our enemies to fight with, many of them beinge our fosterers, gossips and Allies, so that
I had allmoste forgotten, the county of Ormonde which aboue all other places in Irelande, moste representeth the shew of a comon wealth, for therein; are many faier townes, the Inhabitantes whereof, are contynually exercysed, in makinge of Caddowes, blancketes, mantles of all sotes, rugges freises, and any other comoditie that the country doth yield, by reasonne whereof, the country men haue mony for theire comodities, youth trayned vpp to learne to live, when they come to ryper yeares; and for that both there; in the citty of Waterforde and other good townes, the weomen are the ouerseers and chiefest doers in these exercyses, the men traffick for England, ffraunce, Spaigne & flanders, and to other places where the comodities, are moste vendible, havinge many faiers in that country besides where much is vttered, And for that they are contynuall dealers, with merchantes and others of England, whereby groweth acquayntance.
A nomeber of theire children, are brought vp in diuers, citties and townes there, who scorneth not to get theire livinges, and so it is in many other places of the west besydes, as Limberick, Corck, Killmalock, Yoghall and others which follow the same order, that those of the townes of Ormonde dothe, but not so generall.
Now happely it may be said, why should not all other countries besydes, of that kingdome, be brought to the lyke stay that those westerne places are, to that I awnswere that as it shoulde seme, the Erles of Ormonde discending of English bloud, and noble from the first, brought ouer in theire comepanies many gentlemen, and others of meaner sorte, as merchantes, handycraftes men, and others: who not cominge ouer for a monethe; but for euer, first strengthened themselues by fortfyinge of many townes, which as I haue said before, are good stoare in that country, which was not onely a defence for theire personnes, if the Irish whom they cam to subdue (had bene able to kepe the field, but a succor for theire people and goodes., who might apply theire trades and craftes, withowt any impeachment of the enemy, which was an especial ocasion to abandon idlenes, the chiefest maistris, that attends vpon the meere Irish.
Ffor they for the moste parte, are all gentillmen and beggers: for they will say we may not worke, for that we are men of name and landes, In deede, many of them, haue verry greate lyvinges, for in most places emongst them they devyde their landes by gauell kynde; so that if a man haue twelve sonnes, and
There is a statute that the Irish lordes and gentillmen that houlde theire landes in this kynde, might appeale to the lord deputy and councell, and haue it graunted, vnder the broade seale, houldinge theire landes from her maiestie, as the manner of England is, from the father to the eldest sonne, and to his heire etc., which no doubt was enacted to a verry good purpose, that the rest of the bretheren or children, might apply themselues to live as in other good comon wealthes, but that as it falleth owt, did more hurt then good, except order had bene taken, that the terrytory lordes, shoulde haue bene forcid, to haue erected some stronge market townes in each of theire countries, accordinge to theire scoapes of landes, to haue trayned vpp theire youth as formerly is spoken of. In Ormond for now havinge neither landes, nor good educacion, they must needes follow theire oulde occupacions of filtchinge & stealinge: and from ii criminall factes into rebellion, to the which poynt it is now come to., there is neuer a one of these terrytory lordes. But if I were able to be harde, but should put in two principall pledges, aswell for the performance of her maiesties peace, quiet of all the well meaninge subiect, as the performinge and accomplishinge, of all the said market townes, for the purposes aforesaid, all which, if any of them did not performe, accordinge as it shoulde be laid downe, by the higher powers, I woulde hange vp one of his pledges, and take
Well now I caste at Monnsieur Tyroane, and then an ende; It is not vnknowne vnto vs all, that be here, how graciously and bountifully the noble Queene Elizabeth, hath delt with that Archtraitor, first raysinge him vp, from the dunghill, to the type and name of an Erle, the countenancinge him with horse and fote in pay, notwithstandinge he had livinge to much before, No honour was to much to bestowe, vppon this shameles companion. (who when ensample of most duty and thanckfullnes, should haue bene, expected, for her maiesties greate graces bestowed vppon him, he lyke an hippocriticall backslyder, havinge filled his cofers, with her maiesties coyne, stoared him self with furnyture, aswell forth of her maiesties office of ordynance, as from such creakers as served vnder him and Tirlagh Lenogh, in theire civill contencions, which kynde of freebootinge Capten with theire comepanies tollerated to reare and take vp Irish soldiers was the chiefest cause of martiall dyscyplyne emongst them, and then the castinge away of the Spannyardes vppon the coastes of Odonell country and
Well to be shorte those Northerne miscreantes, within these fewe yeares, knew not what the due order of fighting was and now it is a professed arte emongst the cowheardes of Vlster, God send some Good man to vnarme these roages (and put them to cow kepinge againe, for any other worke that is good they canne doe none., hemb them in with stronge townes at Collrane, the dirry, Duneluce, Clonarne, Olderfleete, and other necessary places, that the traffick that the scot hath with them may to turned to our profittes, doe the same at balleyshannon, and other necessarie places in Odonnelles country, and when the intercourse of strangers is taken from them, front them with stronge garrysonnes ffrom dundalk to the edge of Orowrkes country, and cut of the intercourse that theire kinsmen the merchantes (black and grey) that dwelleth emongst ourselues haue with them, for they are the master Badgers that help them at a pinch, with wyne, aquavitie, salt weapones, mvnicion, powder, apparrell, and other necessaries (and so doth the scot to, all which beinge but a small tyme
Peregryn
Now brother, how lyke you this oulde fellow of the English Pale.
Silvyn
I promis you I lyke him well for his playne dealinge; for he hath shewed many good reasons, that hath bene the overthrowe of that country, and some meanes presently how it may be remedied if matters were put in execucion: which nowe cannot easely be effected, withowt greate chardges of men victualles and mony. And sufficient personnes to mannadge the services with uprightnes, aswell forseinge that euery man haue his due., accordinge to equitie and justice: as on the contrary receavinge the same in that measure, faiele not to acomplish any thinge, that is beseeminge; vpon payne of extreame pvnishment, by the law to be
Peregryn
Even savinge a litle, towchinge the soldier revolted to the enemy and so an ende.
Silvyn
I pray you say on; for I longe to here what they canne say for themselues.
Peregryn
It is was my chaunce to be at an ordinary in Phillipstowne, where some of the owt start Oconnors and others, that had served longe tyme in her maiesties Garrysonne bandes (beinge then protected (came in for some refreashing for theire mony, at which tyme there chaunced to be two strangers & myself: yet they were well acquaynted with them., and emongst other talk the elder of the two, demaunded of them why they had forsaken theire alledgiances to her maiesty,
With that; one emongst the rest made awnswer; in the excurse of himself and companions, & said, that theire officers misvsed them, theire Captens stole theire pay, and if they chaunced to get a ticket in a yeare or two, it was a greate favour, as they thought, but beinge so obteigned they were driven to sell them to some clarke or merchant for half stake, and how those two kynde of petty foggers, shift for the other moitye, I referre to such, that hath better skill therein then I haue, but we all that haue served in bandes are assured the Quenes maiesty payeth the whole: Also we were kept shorte for our victuallinge mony, so that lyinge
Then falles he in hand with a younglinge, that had bene a merchantes mans servaunt, what ocasion he had to follow that course of lyfe; to whom he made awnswere, that he thought it a better gaine to be clarke to CC men, and to haue two shillinges a meale, and three shillinges for wrytinge of a letter, then to follow tadey maley his horse heeles. 9
Then the younger of the two, strangers fell in hande with a principall vyper emongst them, that had served longe in her maiesties pay in some reputacion, and demaunded of him why of all men: he would forsake her maiestie having bene so well delt with him.
Tush, quoth he; when the Capten hath a shorte band, and hath poasted away his Englishmen, he must needes of necessitie make vp his nomeber, what shift soeuer he makes, and then he sendes forth his scowtes, to harken where any of our sorte are, to be enterteigned who at length cvninge in that faculty, understandes of some xx or thirty of our sorte, whose behaviour hath bene such, that they may not come in withowt a protection; for the present, and after theire pardonnes (which matter is perfourmed with all expedicion, neither serchinge after any of bringing vp, either of our parentes or
Silvyn
Now I ensuer you brother, there is some groase kynde of dealinge in that land, in whom soeuerr the fault is, to suffer her maiesties ffourceis, to be chosen owt of so wicked a people (whose country beinge the verry picture of Idlenes it self (except in few places) there canne be neither an ende of warrs: nor meanes to reduce that state to civilitie, as longe as they are suffered to remayne armed. But what saith the muster master to it for he is a man of greate experience.
Peregryn
I had neuer any conference with him my self nor with any of his officers, but I haue sene some that hath had speeches, with some of his new fraternitie of commissaries towchinge the allowinge of so many Irishmen: theire awnswere was that they did nothinge but by warrant which was bothe sufficient for their master and themselues, for you must thinck that they haue a care of themselues
Silvyn
As I haue said before: I am right hartely sorry, that the Good Quene shoulde be delt with in this manner, And grieued I am to here, that which I haue harde, I pray god shall (sic) amended for I perceaue these fellowes in rebellion (nor many of these miscreantes in pay neither, wilbe driven to throwe away their weapons, for the sight of our whips, as the Scithians made theire bondsmen doe, at their cominge forthe of Asia, for they beinge longe abroade in the warrs, (moste of theire wyues thinking they had bene slaigne or dead, marryed themselues
Peregryn
No I warrant you., for these fellow will not be scared with weaponnes, much lesse with whipps, and as for their peces, murrions, and swordes, they farr passe our mens for the moste parte, bothe in goodnes and well kepinge, I pray God loke vppon our deere bretheren there if it be his pleasure, And suffer them not to fall into theire handes, as our predeccessors did in ffraunce, in Henry the VIth tyme, after that diuers provinces there, had remayned many yeares in our handes, some by inheritance, and others got with the sworde, with the losse of many a mans lyfe, and yet all gon ffrom vs in a moment, And in the same manner went Callice too. In Quene Maries tymes; after it remaygned Ccxxtie yeares in our possession, being a yeare agettinge, by the renowned Kinge Edward the thirde, and lost againe in eight daies, I pray God those may serve for ensamples, towchinge the better keepinge of Irelande, beinge the parte (allthough chardgeable) that doth serve for a back armour to England.
Silvyn
It is verry certaine, that if that back parte of the Armour should miscarry and be cut of from England (as God forbid it should) it would make the ould
Peregryn
Well Brother I haue deteigned you a greate whyle, with this my Ireland newes. And now will ende with this one ensample.
A chief piller of myne sometymes, havinge had good experience, aswell by travaiele as otherwyse to give a sownde Judgement, concerninge matters of estate, havinge one other in his comepany besydes my self., fortvned emongst other matters (then fittinge for the tyme, to discourse of certaine services effected in the Ile of Creete alias Candie. I served sometymes saieth he: vnder Counte Peter, and Counte Sebastian Generalles, at suerall tymes of the Venecians Armyes, both by sea and lande, for the space of six yeares, against the enemies of that estate, beinge chiefly the Turke, but emongst all theire warrs, they were moste troubled with the Cretans (a province belonginge to the said Venecians; for they a greate tyme togither, had waged the country people there, (as we vse in Ireland now) aswell to warre against forreigne Enemies, as otherwyse against some of that nacion which did rebell. the chieftains of which comotion, were certaine Bishops of beinge nobly borne of the Greeke and Latyne churches, who many tymes bickeringe with the venecians deputies there, sometymes to theire gayne, sometymes to theire losse, At length not prevaylinge to theire expectacion, drew in the turkes, who burned one of theire chiefest citties called Rethimo, but made no longe stay there, after the doinge thereof. For which fact, emongst others by them comitted, they loked for no mercy, if they were subdued by the deputy there: And therefore as a people disparringe, gaue out by way of proclamacion, liberty to all cretans, that would take parte
Silvyn
ffor your greate paynes taken, herein, I doubt not, but the honest subiect, will give you your due, and as for my self, havinge receaued the first taste thereof, I yield you a thowsandes thanckes, and so Adieu., but yet could I wish that the rebell of necessitie (that haue bene drawne forcibly into accion, by the voluntary rebell (shoulde be assisted vppon his Inocency, & maynteigned to serve against the other.