THE ENGLISH POLICY ad. 



c 1437- 

 And marterns goode ben her marchandie, 



Hertes Hides, and other of *Venerie. * Or, hunting. 



Skinnes of Otter, Squirell and Irish hare, 

 Of sheepe, lambe, and Foxe, is her chaffare, 

 Felles of Kiddes, and Conies great plentie. 

 So that if Ireland helpe us to keepe the sea, 

 Because the King cleped is Rex Angliae, 

 And is Dominus also Hyberniae, 

 Old possessed by Progenitours : 

 The Irish men have cause like to ours 

 Our land and hers together to defend, 

 That no enemie should hurt ne offend, 

 Ireland ne us : but as one commontie 

 Should helpe well to keepe about the sea : 

 For they have havens great, and goodly bayes, 

 Sure, wyde and deepe, of good assayes, 

 At Waterford, and costes many one. 

 And as men sayne in England be there none 

 Better havens, ships in to ride, 

 No more sure for enemies to abide. 

 Why speake I thus so much of Ireland ? 

 For all so much as I can understand, 

 It is fertile for things that there doe growe 

 And multiplien, loke who lust to knowe, 

 So large, so good, and so commodious, 

 That to declare is strange and marvailous. 

 For of silver and golde there is the oore, Mynes of 



Among the wilde Irish though they be poore. silver and gold 



-n P , i i i -ii tn Ireland. 



b or they are rude and can thereon no skill : 



So that if we had their peace and good will 



To myne and fine, and metal for to pure, 



In wilde Irish might we finde the cure, 



As in London saith a Juellere, 



Which brought from thence golde oore to us here, 



Whereof was fyned mettal goode and clene, 



As they touch, no better could be seene. 



Nowe here beware and heartily take intent, 



As yee will answere at last judgement, 



i33 



