LIFE IN IRELAND 247 



pounds in Dick Martin's notes, that he had screwed 

 from the boys. Three of the mortgages were upon his 

 own account, and he gladly gave up the deeds ; so 

 that Brian, barring a few hundreds, has a clear estate 

 again. 



' I had a mighty fancy to picket him, or bring him to 

 the halberts ; but on his promising never to come into 

 the County again, I sent him to the borders, and put 

 him on board a King's ship, with a slight recommenda- 

 tion that he should be well flogged every Saturday 

 night for the good of his health. 



' I have raised the tenants' rents, and to their satis- 

 faction, so that the estate is now clear six thousand 

 per annum. I have given all the people a treat, and 

 danced a wooden legged hornpipe with three couple 

 on each side of me : and, in truth, am very happy. 

 All of this you may tell Brian, aye, and more too. 

 One Lady Macanatty was introduced to me by the 

 parish priest ) I don't much like parish priests^ or any 

 pie in which they have had a finger; but Lady is a 

 pretty girl, and an old favourite of Brian Boru's. I 

 had heard her often spoken of with tender infection by 

 our friend, so I put a good face on the matter — told a 

 lie to sarve a friend — who would not. I in fact told 

 her that Brian had not time to write, as he had broke 

 his left arm, but that he had sent her ten poimds, and 

 gave it in Dublin ?wtes, to make my tale appear true. 

 By my soul she cried beautifully, and seems so nice a 

 tit bit, that if I were thirty years less advanced in 

 years than I now am, by my wooden leg I would 

 become a rival of friend Brian's. 



' I mean setting off in the space of a day or two ', 



