Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/312

This page needs to be proofread.
14
CAMPION'S HISTORE

whereof they spinne notable rugge mantle. The country is very fruitefull both of corne and grasse, the grasse for default of Husbandrie (not for the cause alleaged in Polychronicon,) groweth so ranke in the north parts, that oft times it rotteth their Kyne. Eagles are well known e to breed heere, but neither so bigge nor so many as Bookes tell. Cambrensis reporteth of his owne knowledge, and I heare it averred by credible persons, that Barnacles, thousands at once, are noted along the shoares to hang by the beakes, about the edges of putrified timber, shippes, oares, anchor-holdes, and such like: which in processe taking lively heate of the Sunne, become water-foules, and at their time of ripenesse either fall into the sea, or fly abroad into the ayre. Æneas Sylvius (that after was Pope Pius the second) writeth himselfe, to have perceaved the like experiment in Scotland, where he learned the truth hereof, to be found in the Hands Orchades. Horses they have of pace easie, in running wonderfull swift. Therefore they make of them great store, as wherein at times of need they repose a great peice of safetie. This broode, Raphael Volateranus saith, to have come at first from Arturia the country of Spaine, betweene Gallicea and Portugall, whereof they were called Asturcones a name now properly applyed to the Spanish Iennet.

I heard it verified by Honourable to Honourable, that a Nobleman (offered and was refused) for one