THEIR HEIGHT, FORM, AND STRENGTH. 45 



for these pages, and may be read at page 33 of the 

 first volume of the English in Ireland, by Froude, 

 who, reckless writer though he was, introduced it 

 with the words : " If Fynes Moryson may be be- 

 lieved. . . ." 



17. In 1589, Robert Payne, an English undertaker, 

 who, with his twenty-five partners, got 10,400 Irish 

 acres of forfeited land in Cork, wrote a description 

 of Ireland, in which he says : " Some Englishmen 

 will say that there is great danger in travelling the 

 country (of Ireland) ; yet they cannot meet in all 

 that land any worse than themselves. The people 

 here are of three sorts. The better sort are very 

 civil and honestly given, the most of them greatly 

 inclined to husbandry ; although as yet unskilful, 

 many, through their great labour, are rich in cattle, 

 some one man here milketh 100 kine, and 200 or 

 300 ewes and goats, and reareth yearly much of the 

 breed. Their entertainment for your diet shall be 

 more welcome and plentiful than cleanly and hand- 

 some ; for, although they did never see you before, 

 they will make you the best cheer their country 

 yieldeth for two or three days, and take not any- 

 thing therefor. They keep their promise faithfully, 

 and are more desirous of peace than our Englishmen, 

 for that in time of wars they are more charged and 

 also are fatter preys for the enemy, who respecteth 



