Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A Briefe description of Ireland: made in this year, 1589, By Robert Payne (Author: Robert Payne)

section 3

There is on master Phane Beecher hath a greate parte of a proper country called Kenallmechie, about three myles from Tymoleague, and vi. miles from Kinsall, both market and hauen towns the farthest not a myle from the maine sea: through this country runneth a goodly riuer called Bandon wherein is great store of fishes of sundry sortes, especially Sammons, Troutes, Eales, and oft times seales. In this countrie is greate woodes the trees of wonderfull length which sheeweth the exelent fruitfulnesse of the soyle. This master Beecher (by meanes of his honest and plaine dealing, rather seeking to replenish his countrie with people according to her Maiesties graunt, then esteming any great gain to himself) hath gotten more sufficient tennauntes into his said countrie then any other two that do attempt the like within the prouince of Munster. So wel do our countrie men esteeme of his word that of my knowledge, a dossen gentelmen of good acompt haue dealte with him for v. hundreth Acres a peece onely vpon his report, none of the which neuer sawe the same, but there is no hope of any more land to be had of him, for he hath already to plesure his countriemen? mstraightned his demeanes, which I suppose he would haue done if he had had halfe the Desmondes lande. So many are desirous to Inhabbite with him: but he hath couenaunted with euery of his said tennauntes to place others vnder them, by which meanes there are many small perselles of 50. 60. or some a hundred acres to be had as good cheape and vnder as good conditions as the best, for his speciall care is that euery Inhabbiter there should haue as much libertie as a free-holder in England. He also hath ordained for his countrie a learned preacher, a free schoole and a good yeerely stypend for the releeuing of maimed souldiers, impotent, and poore aged persons, and for perpetuall continuance therof he hath abated euery of his tenauntes at the least ii. d. rent for euery acre for euer, which others take & hath charged his owne demeanes with no lesse: so that yerfew yeeres be ended (if God blesse his proceedings) those partes will be more like a ciuell citie in England, then a rude countrie (as late it was) in Ireland.

Although the name of the Irishe amongst the ignorant is odious, yet how many haue any of you seene executed in England for treason, murder, or felonye and yet knowe their cases are scarse so wel fauored as others our nerer neighbours which dayly pester our prisones and moonthly decke our gallouses, I canot denie but in the Desmondes warres were many Irish traitors, yet herein iudge

p.12

charitably: for such was the miserye of that time that manye weere driuen to this bad choice viz. That whether they would be spoiled as well by the enemie as the worser sort of souldiers at home, or go out to the rebelles and be hanged which is the fairest end of a traitour. But as touching their gouernment in their corporations where they beare rule, is doon with such wisdome, equity and iustice, as demerits worthy commendations. For I my self diuers times haue seene in seuerall places within their iurisdictions wel near twenty causes discided at one sitting, with such indifferencie that for the most parte both plaintife and defendant hath departed contented: yet manye that make shewe of peace and desireth to liue by blood doe vtterly mislike this or any good thing that the poore Irishe man dothe. wherfore let vs daily pray vnto almighty God to put into the heart of our dread soueraigne Elizabeth, that as her highnes is queene of so greate and fruitfull a countrie wherin her maiestie hath a great number of loyall and dutieful subiectes, to haue especiall care that they be not numbred nor gathered vp with traiterous rebells, neither that her maiesty wil vochsafe to tollerat traiterous subiectes to stand vpon any condition but only her gratious mercie: then would the hope of the rebells be soone cut off, and the good subiectes imbouldened to fech them in which now dare not so to doe for feare of after harmes.

With the eies of your minde you cannot viewe her maiesties able subiectes lesse then sixe millions of men, and one of them in his countrie is good innough for three wetherbeaten spainerds whom a fewe of our frostie nightes will make shrinke like rotten sheepe. yet thus much I must say for them, if almightie God for our contempt of his holye worde hath giuen them power against vs, as hee did the frogges against the Egiptianes, Then is there no forch able to resiste them: (without that) I see no cause why we either in England or Ireland should feare them: but yet there is a foolish rumoure, that sir William Standly with the spanish Kinges force wil enter Ireland, and that the Irish people who loued him wil take his part. No doubt he was welbeloued there: but I thinke rather for his Iustice and good dealing amongst them before he was suspected of trechery, then for any matter of false consperacie either to prince or cuntrie I doe thinke that Sir william then knewe not ten traitours in all Ireland: for howe durst any rebell make his villanous intent knowen, to a man so famous for true seruice as in those daies he was accounted? But suppose that hee doe come, what is hee to the last greate Earell of Desmonde, who had greater followers then Sir Willam is, and the King of Spayne his purse more plentifull

p.13

then he can haue it? yet did not the said Desmonde bring his countrie to that meserie that one did eate another for hunger, and himselfe with all his posteritie and followers to vtter ruinne. Can the Irish so soon forget such great distrease, and be drawen into the like action with a meaner man? surely no. For the better sort will bring in their owne brothers if they bee traitrours, and therefore vnlike to ioyne with a stranger, although they loued him for his vertues. He is a simple Irish man that cannot tel you that the spanyardes loue treason, but deadly hateth traitours. I thinke it be true the Irish would gladlye haue their publike masse agiane: but they had rather continewe it in corners, then to heere it openlye in fetters and chaines as the poore Indianes do. The Irish is as wise as the spaniard is proud, and there is no grife more to the wise man then to liue in bondage to the proud man: the very name of the spaniard in respect of his pride and tirannie, is odious to many nations whom they neuer hurte, but in Irelend they seemed to doe some harme, or els the Irish did them wrong to take so many of their heads for recompence. An humbler nation then the spaniardes would not so quickly forget such measure as they receiued this other yeere in Ireland: and that the Irish (who can be warned by others mens harmes) know right wel. For vntill the spaniardes tiranie in the west Indians bee wrapped vp in obliuion, the Irish will speake them faire, but trust them nothing at all, vntill their heades be off.

I find by experience that a man may store 1000. acres of wood land there for thirtie poundes bestowed in swine, which being wel husbanded wil yeld more profite then so much like ground in England of x. s. the acre and fiue hundred pound, stocke. for in the Irish wood landes there is great store of very good pasture and their mast doth not lightlye fayl, their swine wil feede very fat without any meate by hand. 30. li. will buy 30. bores and 200. sowes with piggs, the increase of which wil bee sufficient for 1000. acres accounting but ii. litters in the yeere and v. pigges to the litter, which is littell more then halfe the increase that swine commonly bring forth. Swine will not be full growen before they be two yeeres old: so the first yeere you can kill but your old store and after according to the aforesaide rates 2000. euery yeere very neare two yeeres old a peece, the fliches whereof cannot be so little worth as iii. s. iiii. d. a peece in England which amounteth vnto 1000. markes per An. besid the offel, suet & grease, which we esteeme the one third parte of the value, which wil discharge rent, salt and boord, and the charges of three persones to tend them, and the shipping

p.14

with warranties into England. you may haue the carkeyses of fat biefes for their grasse, so you buy them in winter when the price is aboute xii. s. a peece, which their hides and tallowe when they are fatte are well worth, you may haue connies vi. for iiii. d. sterling, which their skines are well worth, this plentie is onely by the meanes of their small priced land. But if they should deduct x. s. for euery acres rent, then could not these commodities be aforded better cheape then the like are worth in England. There is not that place in Ireland where anye venomous thinge will liue. There is neither mol, pye, nor carren crow: there is neither sheepe dieth on the rot nor beast on the murraine.