Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/318

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
20
CAMPION'S HISTORE

whereunto they bend themselves, constant in travaile, adventerous, intractable, kinde-hearted, secret in displeasure.

Hitherto the Irish of both sortes meere, and English, are affected much indifferently, saving that in these, by good order, and breaking the same, vertues are farre more pregnant. In those others, by licentious and evill custome, the same faults are more extreame and odious, I say, by licentious and evill custome, for that there is day lie try all of good natures among them. How soone they bee reclaymed, and to what rare gifts of grace and wisedome, they doe and have aspired. Againe, the very English of birth, conversant with the brutish sort of that people, become degenerate in short space, and are quite altered into the worst ranke of Irish Rogues, such a force hath education to make or marre. It is further to bee knowne, that the simple Irish are utterly another people then our Englishe in Ireland, whome they call despitefully boddai Sassoni's, and boddai Ghalt, that is, English and Saxon churles, because of their English auncestors planted heere with the Conquest, and sithence with descent hath lasted now 400. yeares. Of this people therefore severally by themselves I must intreate. Yet none otherwise then as they stand unfiled, and serve their accustomed humours, with whom I joyne all such as either by living neere them, or by liking their trade are transformed into them.