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"Our difcontented counties do revolt;
Our people quarrel with obedience;
Swearing allegiance and the love of foul
To ftranger blood-to foreign royalty.
This inundation of mistempered humour
Refts by you only to be qualified.

Then paule not. For the prefent time's fo fick,
That prefent medicine must be minifter'd,

Or overthrow incurable enfues."

KING JOHN, act. v. fc. I.

YR OEN was now in hot rebellion. For, though he had obtained a pardon under the

Great Seal of Ireland, diffemblingly craving

the fame from the Earl of Ormonde, he now befieged at unawares the Fort at Blackwater. And having flain thirteen ftout captains, and fifteen hundred of the common fol

diers, and routed the whole army of Marshal Bagnal, he became puffed up with fiercenefs and pride beyond measure. Taking courage hence, forthwith all Munfter almost revolted; and this not fo much perhaps for this fuccefs of the Ulfter rebels, as for hatred against the English undertakers and farmers, which were brought into the lands confifcate after the Earl of Defmond's troubles. Now as an infectious sickness penetrates the whole body, bursting out in feveral parts at one time: fo this evil plague immediately tainted the whole country. They who before had been healthily obedient, now burning with a feverish defire for revolt; and they who were ever on the watch for ftirs, carrying as is their wont lighted turfs hither and thither, as blazing fignals of their uprifings, which from the heights were answered through the Island.

Now, to cherish these alarums, Tyr Oen fendeth into Munster a thousand men under Ouny Mac Rory Og O'More, and one Tyrrel, an Anglo-Irish and mortal enemy to the English nation: to these flocked together a great rabble of lewd fellows, fpoiling the country, gathering booty, facking and firing castles, houses, and farms, and most cruelly flaying the poor fettlers, men, women, and children.

The State of Ireland.

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And this without stay or stint: for by long continuance there was grown a mischievous custom in Ireland, that rebels and malefactors might, by giving money which they got by pillage, escape unpunished, yea, be protected.

Now was the state of Ireland in a manner desperate; for the whole nation almoft was broken forth into rebellion. Some by reafon of the injuries and military infolency of the garrifon foldiers; some out of fear of the adverse factions, which, through the iniquity of the times, were grown strong; fome for the happy success of the Rebels; fome because they were left undefended against the robberies of cruel thieves; fome feduced by perfuafion of Priests; and others led away with a false rumour, spread abroad by the principal plotter of these mischiefs, O'Nial to wit, that the Queen was determined to conquer the Irish race, and utterly to root them out. And there was an understanding with the Spaniards, moreover, that they should land upon the coast what time the English armies came; and every where was readiness to refift her Grace.

It was seriously confulted in the Privy Council what fit man should be found to quench this rebellion. My Lord Cobham vaunted that he should be the Deputy; and Henry

Brooke, his brother, noised the fame in the Taverns, Bear

gardens, and Cockpits. As was wished, the hint came to Effex his ears. The lion twitcheth his pelt when the fly becomes troublesome; and my Lord fhrugged his shoulders contemptuously. The Queen caft her eyes on Charles Blount (him of the chefs rook), now my Lord Mountjoye, and the Earl's very good friend.

Then craveth to honour my Lord Sir Walter Ralegh. 'Twas quite refreshing in the fick-room to welcome the ferene air of the great discoverer. In a fky-blue fuit of fine cloth, flashed and puffed and guarded with cloth of filver, a falling collar of fine needlework starch and clean, a hat of three pile crimson stuck with a jewel of turquoises and diamonds, and sporting a brave plume Eftridge feather, 'twas as good as a walk i' the sunshine; for he came gladfome and with a merry jeft, in the full bloom of health and fpirits.

"Go to, my Lord! Art not weary o' this ague yet?"

be."

Truly, Sir Walter, 'tis a burr I'd shake off an it might

""Tis a cowardly companion (my Lord) chatters within one's teeth."

Sir Walter cometh to Espye.

"Ay, and a fcurvy parafite burneth one's bones."

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"An one gat an alarum now, think you, my Lord, the valour would come again?"

"I doubt the blood's too white and liverous: Sir Walter, I fear me I should carry coals an it were put on me.”

"So!"

"I've a heart left in me but for the diet! fome weak drink to cool the fever; or, when the fit be past, a nourishing broth."

"The natives i' the Indies be much afflicted with this malady, my Lord. They drench it; and, though the fufferance be great, the cure is speedy."

"Have you the recipe, Sir Walter? I care not for the prefent pain fo I get fubfequent relief."

"'Tis a bitter bark, like your oak, steeped: they say 'tis a corrofive of the cold rheums, and purgeth the bile."

"Thanks, good Sir Walter! I'll experiment it anon." ""Twere well my Lord were stirring, for there be

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