168 Spencer's Account of Irish Bards. 



Wilton, and who published a state of the coun- 

 try, gives the following account of Irish bards : 

 " There are amongst the Irish a certain kind 

 of people called bards, which are to them in- 

 stead of poets, whose profession it is to set forth 

 the praise or dispraise of men, in their poems 

 or rhymes ; the which are had in so high regard 

 and estimation amongst them, that none dare 

 displease them, for fear to run into reproach 

 through their offences, and to be made infamous 

 in the mouths of all men ; for their verses are 

 taken up with a general applause, and usually 

 sung at all feasts and meetings, by certain other 

 persons whose proper function that is ; who also 

 receive for the same great reward and reputa- 

 tion among them." 



The acquirement of knowledge, and conse- 

 quent improvement of taste, in the higher ranks 

 of life, have abolished the profession of the bard. 

 Their rude and marvellous stories are no longer 

 calculated to please in elevated circles ; but this 

 degradation of the calling has not descended to 

 the lower orders, whose passion for the tales of 

 old times remains undiminished, though the 

 opportunities of gratifying it do not so fre^ 

 quently occur. 



The most interesting object to every state is. 



