50 THE IRISH PEOPLB. 



Commentary on Ireland, presented to the Holy See, 

 says : " The Irish are strong, well-built, handsome, 

 of soft flesh, clear skin, marvellous agility, and 

 swiftness of foot ; very much inclined for war, and 

 as fit for it as any nation whatever able to endure 

 work and hunger, greedy of glory, and most capable 

 of learning the whole art of war, and the use of arms 

 of all kinds. They much love the sciences and 

 liberal arts, and very much honour men of learning." 



28. In 1601, Fynes Moryson, Secretary to Lord 

 Deputy Mountjoy in Ireland, writes : " The men 

 and greyhounds of Ireland are of great stature ; the 

 men are firmer on foot, and have a stronger push of 

 the spear than either English or Spaniard." 



29. In 1609, Cardinal Bentivoglio, the Papal 

 Nuncio in Flanders, writes to Cardinal Borghese in 

 Rome : " The people of Ireland are generally of 

 handsome appearance, of great stature, of blonde 

 hair, and of most clear colour and complexion (can- 

 didissima carnagione). Many Irishmen have served 

 for a long time in this country in the army of the 

 King of Spain, and have ever been esteemed valiant 

 soldiers (valerosi soldati)." 



. 30. In 1610, Captain Barnaby Rich, who had 

 served against them for forty years, writes : " I 

 can take no exceptions to their ability of body. To 

 speak the truth of the Irish, I say they are beholding 



