WHITE BOYS. 103 



was heard of till 1760, which was long after 

 the landing of Thurot, or the intended ex- 

 pedition of M. Conflans. That no foreign 

 coin was ever feen among them, though re- 

 ports to the contrary were circulated ; and in 

 all the evidence that was taken during ten or 

 twelve years, in which time there appeared a 

 variety of informers, none was ever taken, 

 whofe tefhmony could be relied on, that ever 

 proved any foreign interpofition. Thofe very 

 few, who attempted to favour it, were of the 

 inofl: infamous and perjured characters. All 

 the reft, whofe intereft it was to make the 

 difcovery, if they had known it, and who 

 concealed nothing elfe, pretended to no fuch 

 knowledge. No foreign money appeared ; 

 no arms of foreign conftruclion ; no preemp- 

 tive proof whatever of fuch a connection. 

 They began in Tipperary, and were owing 

 to fome inclofures of commons, which they 

 threw down, levelling the ditches ; and were 

 firft known by the name of levellers. After 

 that, they be^un with the tythe-proctors, 

 (who are men that hire tythes of the rectors) 

 and thefe pro&ors either fcrewed the cotters 

 up to the utmoft milling, or re-let the tythe-: 

 to fuch as did it. It was a common practice 

 with them to go in parties about the country, 

 fwearing many to be true to them, and for- 

 cing them to join, by menaces, which they 

 very often carried into execution. At laii 

 they fet up to be general redrelTcrs of grievan- 

 ces — punifhcd all obnoxious perfons who ad 

 vanced the value of lands, or hind farms pi 1 1 



their 



