Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Intelligences for her Majesty's services in the Province of Leinster in Ireland (Author: Hugh Collier(?))

paragraph 11

11

It is to be noted howe daungerous it may be to suffer this Barron and Crossan, to frequent highest places and personages in Courte from whence (in an overbeleevinge of their pretended seruiceable myndes and meanes of seruice doinge in an vndermyndinge or circumventinge sorte of the best natures of English Attendants on her princelie Majestie,) they maie so muche learne by pryenge into the secrettes of both goverments and forreyn as neither Englishe can or for modesties sake will desier to knowe, whereby (as spyders comonlie make their webs faster and salfer over the chaire of State then vnder) they retorne better enhabled to lay a foundacion of their Rebellions in the Courte yt selfe, or before their home beinges, then ever before they could haue bene. ffor seldome or never is the naturall Irishe (especyally formerlie charmed and stronge in conscience by the Popes Legattes) better affected after his beinge in the Courte of Englande, then before, but of manie tryalls (a malo in peins) is everie of theire intencions and progressions. And all good tornes don to them by the Prince and States men, are but strengtheninge of their malevolent myndes to actions of rebellion, and conceaved or taken by them, as done, for feare they should rebell, and for peace offereinges, thereby takinge occasion the more of rebellinge; which worde (feare) vsed heretofore over publicklie by waye of instruccions for savinge of her Majesty's purse, hath emboldened the Irishry the more to rebell, Like vnto vypers, which often doe endaunger theire forsterers, and whose ill natures are not wonne with anie good tornes haue done; ffor that improbitas nullo flectitur obsequio. In thinckinge also, that one Irishman will faithfully for his pay serve vpon an other, (where blood hath not bene formerlie drawne in factions by one vpon another), and the greater parte englishe in mixture vnder an englishe leader, is as straunge, as to see one wolfe to hunte another, when the sheepe are in way: for Corvus non Corvum vellicat.