IV.

[ioy'd,

"Why sighst! faire boy!" (sayd she) dost thou repent thee

Thy narrow wish in such straight bonds to stay?"
Well may I sigh" (sayd he)" and well lament me,
That never such a debt may hope to pay."
"A kisse," (sayd she) a kisse will back repay."

"Wilt thou" (reply'd the boy, too much delighted,)
Content thee with such pay to be requited?"
She grants; and he his lips, heart, soule, to pay-
ment cited.

V.

Look as a ward, long from his lands detain'd,
And subiect to his guardians cruel lore,
Now spends the more, the more he was restrain'd;
So he; yet though in laying out his store
He doubly takes, yet finds himself grow poore;
With that he markes, and tels her out a score,
And doubles them, and trebles all before.

Fond boy the more thou paist, thy debt still grows the more.

VI.

At length, whether these favours so had fir'd Lim
With kindly beate, inflaming his desiring,
Or whether those sweete kisses had inspir'd him,
He thinkes that something wants for his requiring,
And still aspires, yet knows not his aspiring;

But yet though that hee knoweth so she gave,
That he presents himselfe her bounden slave
Still his more wishing face seem'd somewhat else
to crave.

VII.

And, boldned with successe and many graces,
His hand, chain'd up in feare, he now releast,
And asking leave, courag'd with her imbraces,
Againe it prison'd in her tender breast:
Ah, blessed prison! prisners too much blest!
There with those sisters long time doth he play,
And now full boldly enters loves highway,
While downe the pleasant vale his creeping hend
doth stray.

VIII.

She, not displeas'd with this his wanton play,
Hiding his blushing with a sugred kisse,
With such sweete heat his rudenesse doth allay,
That now he perfect knowes whatever blisse
Elder Love taught, and he before did misse;

That moult with ioy, in such untri'd ioyes trying
He gladly dies; and, death new life applying.
Gladly againe he dyes, that oft he may be dying.

EUDOX. But if that country of Ireland, whence vou lately came, be of so goodly and commodious a soil, as you report, I wonder that no course is taken for the turning thereof to good uses, and reducing hat nation to better government and civility.

IREN. Marry, so there have been divers good plots devised, and wise counsels cast already about reformation of that realm; but they say, it is the fatal destiny of that land, that no purposes whatsoever which are meant for her good, will prosper or take good effect which, whether it proceed from the very genius of the soil or influence of the stars, or that Almighty God hath not yet appointed the time of her reformation, or that he reserveth her in this anquiet state still, for some secret scourge, which shall by her come unto England, it is hard to be known, but yet much to be feared.

EUDOX. Surely I suppose this but a vain conceit of simple men, which judge things by their effects, and not by their causes; for I would rather think the cause of this evil which hangeth upon that country, to proceed rather of the unsoundness of the counsels, and plots which you say have been oftentimes laid for the reformatien, or of faintness in following and effecting the same, than of any such fatal course appointed of God as you misdeem: out it is the manner of men, that when they are fallen into any absurdity, or their actions succeed not as they would, they are always ready to impute the blame thereof unto the heavens, so to excuse their own follies and imperfections. So have I heard it often wished also (even of some whose great wisdoms in opinion should seem to judge more soundly of so weighty a consideration) that all that land were a sea-pool: which kind of speech, is the manner rather of desperate men far driven, to wish the utter ruin of that which they cannot redress, than of grave counsellors, which ought to think nothing so hard, but that through wisdom it may be mastered and subdued; since the poet saith, that "the wise man shall rule even over the stars," much more over the earth: for were it not the part of a desperate physician, to wish his diseased patient dead, rather than

to apply the best endeavour of his skil' for his reco very? but since we are so far entered, let us. I pray you, a little devise of those evils, by which that country is held in this wretched case, that it cannot (as you say) be recured. And if it be not painful to you, tell us what things during your late continuance there, you observed to be most offensive, and greatest impeachment to the good rule ani government thereof.

IREN. Surely, Eudoxus, the evils which you desire to be recounted are very many, and almost countable with those which were hidden in the basket of Pandora. But since you please, I will out of that infinite number, reckon but some that are most capital, and commonly occurrent both in the life and conditions of private men; as also in the managing of public affairs and policy, the which you shall understand to be of divers natures, as I observed them: For some of them are of very great antiquity and continuance; others more late and of less indurance; others daily growing and increasing continually by their evil occasions, which are every day offered.

EUDOX.-Tell me, then, I pray you, in the same order that you have now rehearsed them; for there can be no better method than this which the very matter itself offereth. And when you have reckoned all the evils, let us hear your opinion for the redressing of them: after which, there will perhaps of itself appear some reasonable way to settle a sound and perfect rule of government, by shunning the former evils, and following the offered good. The which method we may learn of the wise physicians, which first require that the malady be known thoroughly and discovered; afterwards to teach how to cure and redress it; and, lastly, do prescribe a diet, with straight rule and orders to be daily observed, for fear of relapse into the former disease, or falling into some other more dangerous than it.

IREN. I will then, according to your advisement, begin to declare the evils which seem to me most hurtful to the commonweal of that land; and, first, those (I say) which were most ancient and long

grown and they also are of three sorts: the first in the laws, the second in customs, and the last in religion.

EUDOX.-Why, Ireneus, can there be any evil in the laws? Can things which are ordained for the good and safety of all, turn to the evil and hurt of them? This well I wot, both in that state and in all other, that were they not contained in duty with fear of law, which restraineth offences, and inflicteth sharp punishment to misdoers, no man should enjoy any thing; every man's hand would be against another. Therefore, in finding fault with the laws, I doubt me, you shall much over-shoot yourself, and make me the more dislike your other dislikes of that government.

IREN. The laws, Eudoxus, I do not blame for themselves, knowing right well that all laws are ordained for the good of the commonweal, and for repressing of licentiousness and vice. But it falleth out in laws, no otherwise than it doth in physic, which was at first devised, and is yet daily meant, and ministered for the health of the patient. But nevertheless, we often see, that either through ignorance of the disease, or through unseasonableness of the time, or other accidents coming between, instead of good, it worketh hurt, and out of one evil throweth the patient into many miseries. So the laws were at first intended for the reformation of abuses, and peaceable continuance of the subject; but are sithence either disannulled, or quite prevaricated through change and alteration of times, yet are they good still in themselves but in that commonwealth which is ruled by them they work not that good which they should, and sometimes also that evil which they would not.

EUDOX.-Whether do you mean this by the common laws of that realm, or by the statute laws, and acts of parliaments?

IREN. Surely, by them both; for even the common law, being that which William of Normandy brought in with his conquest, and laid upon the neck of England, though perhaps it fitted well with the state of England then being, and was readily obeyed through the power of the commander, which had before subdued the people unto him, and made easy way to the settling of his will; yet with the state of Ireland, peradventure, it doth not so well agree, being a people very stubborn and untamed; or if it were ever tamed, yet now lately having quite shooken off their yoke, and broken the bonds of their bedience. For England (before the entrance of the conqueror) was a peaceable kingdom, and but lately inured to the mild and goodly government of Edward, sirnamed the Confessor; besides now lately grown into a loathing and detestation of the unjust and tyrannous rule of Harold, an usurper, which made them the more willing to accept of any reasonable conditions and order of the new victor, thinking surely that it could be no worse than the latter, and hoping well it would be as good as the former: yet what the proof of first bringing in and establishing of those laws was, was to many full bitterly made known. But with Ireland it is far otherwise, for it is a nation ever acquainted with wars, though but amongst themselves, and in their own kind of military discipline, trained up ever from their youths; which they have never yet been taught to lay aside, nor made to learn obedience unto laws, scarcely to know the name of law, but instead thereof have always preserved and kept their own law, which is the Brehon law.

EUDOX. What is that which you call the Brehon law? it is a word unto us altogether unknown.

IREN.-It is a rule of right unwritten, but delivered by tradition from one to another, in which oftentimes there appeareth great shew of equity, in determining the right between party and party, but in many things repugning quite both to God's law and man's: as for example, in the case of murder, the Brehon, that is their judge, will compound be tween the murderer and the friends of the party murdered, which prosecute the action, that the ma lefactor shall give unto them, or to the child or wife of him that is slain, a recompense, which they call an Eriach; by which vile law of theirs, many murders amongst them are made up and smothered And this judge being (as he is called) the Lord's Brehon, adjudgeth for the most part a better share unto his lord, that is the lord of toe soil, or the head of that sept, and also unto himself, for his judgment, a greater portion than unto the plaintiffs or parties aggrieved.

EUDOX.-This is a most wicked law indeed; but I trust it is not now used in Ireland since the kings of England have had the absolute dominion thereof, and establish their own laws there.

IREN.

Yes, truly, for there be many wide countries in Ireland which the laws of England were never established in, nor any acknowledgment of subjection made; and also even in those which are subdued, and seem to acknowledge subjection, yet the same Brehon law is practised among themselves, by reason, that dwelling as they do, whole nations and septs of the Irish together, without any Englishman among them, they may do what they list, and compound or altogether conceal amongst themselves their own crimes, of which no notice can be had by them which would and might amend the same, by the rule of the laws of England.

EUDOX.-What is this which you say? And is there any part of that realm or any nation therein, which have not yet been subdued to the crown of England? Did not the whole realm universally accept and acknowledge our late prince of famous me mory, Henry VIII., for their only king and liege lord? IREN.-Yes, verily in a Parliament holden in the time of Sir Anthony Saint-Leger, then Lord Deputy, all the Irish lords and principal men came in, and being by fair means wrought thereunto, acknow ledged King Henry for their sovereign lord, reserving yet (as some say) unto themselves all their own former privileges and seigniories inviolate.

:

EUDOX.-Then by that acceptance of his sovereignty they also accepted of his laws. Why then should any other laws be now used amongst them?

IREN.-True it is that thereby they bound themselves to his laws and obedience, and in case it had been followed upon them, as it should have been, and a government thereupon settled among them agreeable thereunto, they should have been reduced to perpetual civility, and contained in continual duty. But what boots it to break a colt and to let him straight run loose at random! So were these people at first well handled, and wisely brought to acknowledge allegiance to the kings of England. but being straight left unto themselves and their own inordinate life and manners, they eftsoons forgot what before they were taught, and so soon as they were out of sight, by themselves shook off their bridles, and began to colt anew, more licentiously

than before.

EUDOX. It is a great pity, that so good an opportunity was omitted, and so happy an occasion foreslacked, that might have been the eternal good of the land. But do they not still acknowledge that submission?

IREN. No, they do not for now the heirs and posterity of them which yielded the same, are (as they say) either ignorant thereof, or do wilfully deny, or stedfastly disavow it.

EUDOX.-How can they so do justly? Doth not the act of the parent, in any lawful grant or convey. ance, bind their heirs for ever thereunto? Sith then the ancestors of those, that now live, yielded themselves then subjects and liegemen, shall it not tie their children to the same subjection?

IREN. They say no: for their ancestors had no estate in any their lands, seigniories, or hereditaments, longer than during their own lives, as they allege; for all the Irish do hold their land by Tanistry; which is (say they) no more but a personal estate for his life time, that is, Tunist, by reason that he is admitted thereunto by election of the country.

EUDOX. What is this which you call Tanist and Tanistry? They be names and terms never heard of nor known to us.

IREN. It is a custom amongst all the Irish, that presently after the death of any of their chief lords or captains, they do presently assemble themselves to a place generally appointed and known unto them, to choose another in his stead, where they do nominate and elect, for the most part, not the eldest son. nor any of the children of the lord deceased, but the next to him of blood, that is, the eldest and worthiest; as commonly the next brother unto him, if he have any, or the next cousin, or so forth, as any is elder in that kindred or sept: and then next to him do they choose the next of the blood to be Tanist, who shall next succeed him in the said captainry, if he live thereunto.

EUDOX.-Do they not use any ceremony in this election? for all barbarous nations are commonly great observers of ceremonies and superstitious rites.

IREN. They used to place him that shall be their captain, upon a stone always reserved for that purpose, and placed commonly upon a hill: in some of which I have seen formed and engraven a foot, which they say was the measure of their first captain's foot, whereon he standing, received an oath to preserve all the ancient former customs of the country inviolable, and to deliver up the succession peaceably to his Tanist; and then hath a wand delivered unto him by some whose proper office that is: after which, descending from the stone, he turneth himself round, thrice forward, and thrice backward.

EUDOX. But how is the Tanist chosen?

IREN. They say he setteth but one foot upon the stone, and receiveth the like oath that the captain did.

EUDOX.-Have you ever heard what was the occasion and first beginning of this custom? for it is good to know the same, and may perhaps discover some secret meaning and intent therein, very material to the state of that government.

IREN. I have heard that the beginning and cause of this ordinance amongst the Irish, was specially for the defence and maintenance of their lands In their posterity, and for excluding all innovation or alienation thereof unto strangers, and specially to

the English. For when their captain dieth, if the seigniorie should descend to his child, and he perbaps an infant, another, peradventure, would step in between, or thrust him out by strong hand, being then unable to defend his right, or to withstand the force of a foreigner; and therefore they do appoint the eldest of the kin to have the seigniorie, for that he commonly is a man of stronger years, and better experience to maintain the inheri ́ance, and to defend the country, either against the next bordering lords, which use commonly to encroach one upon another, as one is stronger; or against the English, which they think lie still in wait to wipe them out of their lands and territories. And to this end, the Tanist is always ready known, if it should happen the captain suddenly to die, or to be slain in battle, or to be out of the country, to defend and keep it from all such doubts and dangers. For which cause the Tanist hath also a share of the country allotted unto him, and certain cuttings and spendings upon all the inhabitants under the lord.

EUDOX. When I heard this word Tanist, it bringeth to my remembrance what I have read of Tania, that it should signify a province or seigniorie, as Aquitania, Lusitania, and Britannia, the which some think to be derived of Dania, that is, from the Danes; but, I think, amiss. But sure it seemeth, that it came anciently from those barbarous nations that over-ran the world, which possessed those dominions, whereof they are now so called. And so it may well be, that from thence the first criginal of this word Tanist and Tanistry came, and the custom thereof hath sithence, as many others else, been continued. But to that general subjection of the land, whereof we formerly spake, meseems that this custom or tenure can be no bar nor impeachment, seeing that in open parliament by their said acknowledgment they waved the benefit thereof, and submitted themselves to the benefit of their new sovereign.

IREN. Yea, but they say, as I erst told you, that they reserved their titles, tenures, and seigniories whole and sound to themselves; and for proof allege, that they have ever sithence remained to them untouched, so as now to alter them, should (say they) be a great wrong.

EUDOX. What remedy is there, then, or means, to avoid this inconveniency? for, without first cutting off this dangerous custom, it seemeth hard to plant any sound ordinance, or reduce them to a civil government, since all their ill customs are permitted unto them.

IREN. Surely nothing hard: for by this act of parliament whereof we speak, nothing was given to king Henry which he had not before from his ancestors, but only the bare name of a king; for all other absolute power of principality he had in himself before derived from many former kings, his famous progenitors and worthy conquerors of that land. The which sithence they first conquered and by force subdued unto them, what needed afterwards to enter into any such idle terms with them to be called their king, when it is in the power of the conqueror to take upon himself what title he will, over his dominions conquered? For all is the conqueror's, as Tully to Brutus saith. Therefore (meseems) instead of so great and meritorious a service as they boast they performed to the king, in bringing all the Irish to acknowledge him for their liege, they did great hurt unto his title, and have