Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/317

lighted with Warres, great almes-givers, passing in hospitalitie: the lewder sort both Clarkes and Laymen, are sensuall and loose to leachery above measure. The same being vertuously bred up or reformed, are such mirrours of holinesse and austeritie, that other Nations retaine but a shewe or shadow of devotion in comparison of them. As for abstinence and fasting which these dayes make so dangerous, this is to them a familiar kinde of chastisement: In which vertue and diverse other, how farre the best excell, so farre in gluttonie and other hatefull crimes the vitious they are worse then too badde. They follow the dead corpes to the grave with howlings and barbarous out-cryes, pittyfull in apparance, whereof grew (as I suppose) the Proverbe, to weepe Irish. The uplandish are lightly abused to believe and avouche idle miracles and revelations vaine and childish, greedy of prayse they bee, and fearefull of dishonour. And to this end they esteeme their Poets who write Irish learnedly, and penne their sonnetts heroicall, for the which they are bountifully rewarded. But if they send out libells in disprayse, thereof the Gentlemen, especially the meere Irish, stand in great awe. They love tenderly their foster children, and bequeathe to them a childes portion, whereby they nourish sure friendshippe, so beneficiall every way, that commonly five hundredth kyne and better are given in reward to winne a noble mans childe to foster. They are sharpewitted, lovers of learning, capable of any studie