Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/371

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OF IRELAND.
73

too good to be at your commandement: Onely my request is, that if any other presume upon your leavings, your Majestie will remember whose fathers childe shee is. This liberall proffer was accepted of him, whose desire was insatiable, with many faire promises and thankes. To bee short, the same day O-malaghlien attired Princelike his owne Daughter, and with her sixteene beautifull striplings, which presented to the King in his privy Chamber, accompanied onely with certaine wantons of the Nobility, drew foorth from under their woman-like garments, their skeanes, and valiantly bestirred themselves, stabbing first the Tyrant, next the youth present that prepared but small resistance, surely fitt mates to supply the office they tooke in hand, of Paris, not of Hector.

Out flew the fame thereof into all quarters of Ireland, and the Princes nothing dull to catche holde of such advantage, vvith one assent, rose ready to pursue their liberty. All Meth and Leinster were soone gathered to O-malaghlien, the father of this practise, vvho lightly leapt to horse, and commaunding their forvvardnesse in so naturall a quarrell, sayde, Lordings and friendes, this case neither admitteth delay, nor asketh policie, heart and haste is all in all, vvhile the feate is young and strong, that of our enemies some sleepe, some sorrovv, some curse, some consult, all dismayed, let us anticipate their furye, dismember their force, cut off their flight, occupie their places of refuge and succour. It is no mastery to plucke their feathers, but their