Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/160

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VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND.

that land. The which (me thinkes) you have so thoroughly touched, as that nothing more remaineth to be spoken thereof.

Iren. Not so thoroughly as you suppose, that nothing can remaine, but so generally as I purposed, that is, to lay open the generall evills of that realme, which doe hinder the good reformation thereof; for, to count the particular faults of private men, should be a worke too infinite; vet some there be of that nature, that though they be in private men, yet their evill reach eth to a generall hurt, as the extortion of sheriffs, and their sub-sheriffs, and bayliffes, the corruption of victuallers, cessors, and purveyors, the disorders of [o 1] seneschalls, captaines, and their souldiers, and many such like: All which I will onely name here, that their reformation may bee mended in place where it most concerneth. But there is one very foule abuse, which by the way I may not omit, and that is in captaines, who notwithstanding that they are specially imployed to make peace thorough strong execution of warre, yet they doe so dandle their doings, and dallie in the service to them committed, as if they would not have the enemy subdued, or utterly beaten downe, for feare lest afterwardes they should need imployment, and so be discharged of pay: for which cause some of them that are layde in garrison, doe so handle the matter, that they will

  1. the disorders of seneschalls,] Governours, See F. Q. iv. i. 12, v, x, 30, vi. i. 15, 25. Todd