There are abundant other proofs, but they are too long. I am sorry, however, to say, that whatever their ancient civilisation might be, there are too good proofs of their degeneracy at the time of which we are now about to treat. For it appears that the people were in a servile state, and that they had one principal king, four or five inferior ones, and in all sixty, who had sovereign authority When we think of their long torment under one king, sixty seems an intolerable number!

Character of the Irish, from English Historians.

Ir is a hard law upon every Irishman who would treat of his own country affairs, that in order to gain belief, he must say only what an Englishman has said before him. That is, he must speak with the tongue of the enemy. A simple author, speaking of one of the rebellions, uses this pathetic observation: "Every Englishman who fell, died with twenty tongues in his mouth. But when the Irishman fell, he never spake more."

This way of writing, like Lazarus begging the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, is not to my mind; yet I shall adopt it rather than expose myself to be set down for an enthusiast. Cambden, in his Britannia, p. 680, says of the Irish,* that " 'they

*

Bellicosi sunt, ingeniosi, corporum lineamentis conspicui, mirifica carnis mollitie, et propter musculorum teneritudinem agilitate incredibili." And (p. 789) " In universum

are courageous, ingenious, remarkable for the beauty of their persons, of wonderfully fine complexion; and owing to the flexibility of their muscles, of great agility." And in p. 789: "These people are all endowed with vigour of body, strong and lofty minds, and acute genius. They are warlike, dauntless, patient of fatigue, cold and hunger, amorous, benevolently hospitable, constant in love, implacable in hatred, unsuspecting, passionate for glory, and ardent in all their pursuits."

Finglass, chief-baron of the exchequer, in the time of Henry VIII, says, "That the English statutes, passed in Ireland, are not observed eight days after passing them; whereas those laws and statutes made by the Irish on their hills, they keep firm and stable without breaking them for any favor or reward."

Sir John Davies, who, as Mr. Plowden observes, had still better opportunity of knowing the Irish, being the first justice that ventured on circuits out o the English pale, says, "That there is no nation under the sun that love equal and indifferent justice better than the Irish; or will rest better satisfied with the execution thereof, when upon a just cause they do desire it, although it be against themselves."— Now, this from an English enemy, for so he was

gens hæc corpore valida et imprimis agilis, animo forti et elato, ingenio acri, bellicosa, vitæ prodiga, laboris frigoris et inediæ patiens, veneri indulgens, hospitibus perbenigna, amore constans, inimicitiis implacabilis, credulitate levis, gloriæ avi da, contumelia et injuriæ impatiens, et ut inquit ille olim, in omnes actus vehementissima."

at the end of a bloody war of fifteen years, is pretty strong testimony. Yet, this same author, who had been attorney-general in Ireland, in James's reign, says, that the multitude were " brayed as it were in a mortar." And it was he who went so far as to recommend "the maistering the Irish by the sword, and breaking them by warre, in order to make them capable of obedience and good seede." Now, what could be the use of braying the multitude in a mortar, maistering them by the sword, or breaking them by warre, if they were so contented with equal and indifferent justice, even when it was against themselves? Would they not have been as capable of good seede, if they had not been brayed in the mortar, but favored with indifferent justice against themselves? But then they would have been content! And it shall be my business to shew you, that that never was the wish of the English, or of the Anglo-Irish. And since we are upon the subject of this attorney-general, it may be as well to quote him now to this purpose, though we shall have occasion presently to refer to him again for another. In his discovery of the true causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued, part 1st. he says, "During the time of my service in Ireland (which began in the first year of his majesty's raigne) I have visited all the provinces of that kingdome, in sundry journies and circuits: wherein I have observed the good temperature of the ayre; the fruitfulness of the soyle; the pleasant and commodious seats for habitation; the safe and large ports and havens, lying open for trafficke into all west parts of the world; the long

inlets of many navigable rivers; and so many great lakes and fresh ponds within the lands, as the like are not to be seene in any part of Europe; the rich fishings, and wilde fowle of all kinds; and, lastly, the bodies and minds of the people, endued with extraordinary abilities of nature."

Now, in this fruitfulness of the soil, these fishing and hunting grounds, and "these commodious seats for habitations," lay the whole mystery, why "the multitude were brayed in the mortar," maistered by the sword, and broken by warre, and deprived of every benefit of justice, save her sword: for of that attribute, justice has not been niggardly towards them. Now, my friend, keep these "commodious seats for habitations," in your eye, and you will have the master-key of the history, and understand the whole.

I shall just subjoin the testimony of the learned Sir Edward Cooke, 4 Inst. 349.

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For," says he, "I have been informed, by maof them that have had judicial places there, and partly of mine own knowledge, that there is no nation of the Christian world that are greater lovers of justice than they are, which virtue must of necessity be accompanied with many others."

So much for the country and character of the Irish. Such a country, and such a people, ought to constitute an earthly Paradise. Yet has it been, for six or seven centuries, the pre-eminent abode of misery.Before we enter upon the unfortunate epoch of English invasion, and all the curses entailed by our English ancestors upon our Irish ancestors, let us make

ourselves a little acquainted with our English ancestors-it will not be tedious-there is little in any author concerning them before Cæsar, who, in his history, de Bello Gallico, describes them thus:-After excepting the men of Kent, whom he states to be more civilised, he continues-* Those of the interior sow no corn, but live on milk and flesh, and cover themselves with skins, and dye themselves with woad, which gives them a sky-blue colour—(“ ceruleum colorem") and makes them more horrible in battle.They wear their hair about their cars, and shave all but the head and the upper lip. Ten or twelve of them take their wives in common, and generally brothers go with brothers, and children with their parents; and those who have had most to do with the virgins, are reputed the fathers of the children !!! Now what do you say to our sky-blue ancestors? Were they painted for war, or not?

And may not this be the reason that their descendants, notwithstanding their mixture with Danes, Saxons and Normans, have never got rid of this blue

* Interios plerique frumenta non sérunt, sed lacte & carne vivunt: pellibusque sunt vestiti. Omnes vero se Britanni vitro inficiunt, quod cæruleum efficit colorem ; atque hoc horribiliore sunt in pugna adspectu: capilloque sunt promisso; atque omni parte corporis rasa, præter caput & labrum superius. Uxores habent deni duodenique inter se communes ; & maxime fratres cum fratribus, & parentes cum liberis: sed si qui sunt ex his nati, eorum habentur liberi, a quibus plurimum virgines quæque ductæ sunt.

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