LET not the reportes of those that haue spent all their owne and what they could y any meanes get from others in England , discourage you from Ireland , although they and such others by bad dealinges haue wrought a generall discredite to all English men , in that countrie which are to the Irishe vnknowne .

These men will say there is great danger in trauelling the countrie , and much more to dwell or inhabite there : yet are they freed from three of the greatest dangers : first , they cannot meete in al that land any worsse then themselues : secondly , they need not feare robbing for that they haue not any thing to loose : lastly , they are not like to run in debt , for that there is none wil trust them . The greatest matter which troubleth them is , they cannot get any thing there but by honest trauell , which they are altogether ignorant of . These men cannot tel what good fruites England hath , the which Ireland wanteth , neyther can they iustly say , but that it lyeth better for the vent of all commodities then England doth .

What these men haue reported or what the simple haue credited , that woulde rather beleeue a runneagate then trauell to see : I care not . But what I haue discouered or learned in that countrey , I will herein recite vnto you .

First , the people are of three sortes , the better sort are very ciuill and honestly giuen : the most of them greatly inclined to husbandrie , although as yet vnskilfull , notwithstanding , through their great trauel many of them are rich in cattel , some one man there milketh one hundred kine , and two or three hundred yeawes and goates , and reareth yearely most of their breed .

Their entertainement for your dyet shal be more welcome and plentifull , then cleanly and handsome , for although they did neuer see you before , they will make you the best cheare their countrey yeeldeth for two or three daies , & take not any thing therefore . Moste of them speake good English and bring vp their children to learning . I sawe in a Grammer schoole in Limberick , one hundred , and threescore schollers , most of them speaking good and perfite English , for that they haue vsed to conster the Latine into English . They keepe their promise faythfully , and are more desirous of peace then our English men , for that in time of warres they are more charged : And also they are fatter praies for the enemie who respecteth no person . They are quicke witted and of good constitution of bodie , they reforme them selues dayly more and more after the English manners : nothing is more pleasing vnto them then to heare of good Iustices placed amongst them . They haue a common saying which I am perswaded they speake vnfaynedly , which is , Defend me , & spend me : meaning from the oppression of the worser sort of our countreymen : They are obedient to the lawes , so that you may trauell through all the land without any danger or iniurie offered of the very worst Irish , and be greatly releeued of the best .

The second sort being least in number are called Kernes , they are warlike men : most of that sorte were slayne in the late warres .

The third sort , are a very idle people , not vnlike our English beggers , yet for the moste part , of pure complexion and good constitution of body : one of the greatest ouersights in the better sort is , for that they make not that idle sort giue accompt of their life .

They haue the Englishe lawes and gouernours as is in England : First , there is a Lord deputy ouer the whole land , that representeth her Maiestie , also a Lord Chancellor , a Lord Treasurer , a Lord chiefe Iustice , and all other Magistrates , Officers and Courtes , in like maner as belongeth to Westminster .

The land is deuided into fiue great parts : that is to saye . Munster , Lanster , Conath , Meath , and Vlster . In Munster , are these vit. great countries : Owrmwood , Deasmond , Corke , Waterford Typerare , Lymbericke , and Carrey : a great part of Munster , was forfited to her Maiestie by meanes of the Deasmondes late rebellion .

There is two very riche countries called Kennory and Conelogh , both within the countie of Lemereck : they are called the gardens of the land for the varietie and great plentie of all graine and fruites , and also there is more plentie of venison , fish and fowle then els where in Ireland , although in euery place there is great store . This land belonged sometime to the knight of the valley , who for high treason was executed at Lemerecke . Ouer euery part is an Englishman liefetenant which hath authoritie as fully as the Marshall , to erecute Marshall lawes vpon the Irishe offenders at al times . Also there are Iudges of assize for euery circuit , who keepe their assises as our Iudges doe : if any matter be to be tryed there betweene an English man and an Irish , the Iury is half English and halfe Irish . There is a sheriffe of euery countie , with vndersheriffes , Arrant Bayliffes , & al other officers appertaining . Also there is a conuenient number of Iustices of peace in euery countie with Constables and pettie Constables , who keepe their quarter sessions orderly .

The countrey is scituated some what neerer the Equinoctiall lyne then England , but yet for that it lyeth more vpon the Ocean seas & is full of Riuers & smal brookes , it is not so hote in summer as England , neyther is it so cold in winter , for that the seas fretteth away the Ice & Snowe there , much more then in England .

The general Map of Ireland , which is ioyned with the olde Map of England , is moste false : The authour ( as it seemeth ) drew them both by report , and the common computation of myles : and made his Scale after the English measure , that is one thousand paces , or fiue thousand footes to the myle : but therein he greatly deceiued himselfe , for the shortest myles in England are much longer then that measure , and an Irish myle is longer then two of those myles , by which meanes he hath made the Map of England lesse by the halfe then it should be . Notwithstanding , he hath ouer reached in his number of parish Churches , and the Map of Ireland littell more then one fourth of that it would be , if it were truely drawen . This seemeth strange , and hath deceiued many ignorant in Geometrie : but alwayes take this for a principle , that the square of two myles contayneth iust foure tymes so much as the square of one myle , and so of al proportions from the greatest to the least : wherefore as much may be sayd of the long myle which containeth two short myles .

Some mistrust that the Spaniardes will enter the land , & that the Irish wil releeue them : no doubt there are some Traytors in Ireland , I would I could truely say there were none in England : but this I dare assure you the greater number , and al the better sort doe deadly hate the Spaniardes , & yet I thinke they beare them fayre weather , for that they are the popes champions , & a great part of the Irish ( for want of good preaching & discipline ) are greatly inclined to papistrie .

But their intertainement this last yeare amongst the Irish ( notwithstanding they brought the popes holy candles & pardons ) sheweth how they affect Spāish gouernement . Most of the better sort of the Irish haue read of their monsterous cruelties in the west Indians , where they most tiranously haue murthered many millions moe of those simple creatures then now liueth in Ireland , euen such as sought their fauours by offering vnto them al that they had , neuer resisting nor of fering them any harme . Wherfore I doubt not that the Irish are so foolish to entertain such proud guestes knowing their tyrannie , & hauing not so well deserued at their hands as those simple soules whom they so cruelly murdered . Neyther are the Spaniardes so vnwise to trust those irish , who so lately imbrued their hands in their bloud , slaying them as doggs in such plentifull maner , that their garments went about the countrey to be sold , as good cheape as beastes skins . If you haue not the sayd booke of the Spanishe cruelties , I pray you buy it , it is wel worth the reading , I haue for got the title , but it is of a small volume in quarto : it is written by a learned Bishop of their owne countrey about forty yeares sithens in the Castalian toonge , and dedicated to their king for reformation of those cruelties : afterwardes translated into English & diuers other languages , to make their monsterous tyrannie knowne to the worlde . When you haue read the same , conunend it to our Catholickes that wil be saued by their workes , and yet will not giue God thankes at their meate , for that they will not once haue in their mouth the praier for our Queene , annexed to our vsual thanks giuing at meate . I pray God open the eies of their vpholders , and let them see what these men gape for , which is no doubt the ruine and ouerthrow of her highnesse , whome I pray God preserue . But none are so blind as they that will not se . The Catholikes are borne with for their conscience sake , yet from such consciences spring all the Traiterous practises agaynst her Maiestie .

Although some of smal iudgements ( which thinke euery soile good that beareth long grasse ) haue fayled of their erpected woad crops , by meanes of their vnskilfull choyse of ground , yet assuredly the commodities of the countrie are many moe then eyther the people can well vse or I recite . Their soyle for the most part is very fertile , and apt for Wheate , Rye , Barly , Peason , Beanes , Oates , Woade , Mather , Rape , Hoppes , Hempe , Flaxe and al other graines and fruites y England any wise doth yeeld . There is much good timber in many places & of the straightnesse and so good to reaue , that a simple workeman with a Brak axe wil cleaue a great Oke , to boards of lesse then one ynche thicke , xiiii . ynches broad and xv . footes in length , such a board there is vsuallysold for ii . d. ob . There is very riche and great plentie of Iron stone , and one sort more then we haue in England , which they call Bogge myne , of the which a Smith there wil make at his forge Iron presently . Also there is great store of Lead Ore , & Wood sufficient to mayntayne diuers Iron and lead workes ( with good husbandrie ) for euer . A barrel of Wheat or a barrell of bay Salt contayning three bushels & a halfe of Winchester measure , is sold there for iiii . s. Malt , Peason , Beanes , for ii . s. viii . d. Barly for ii . s. iiii . d. Oates for xx . d. a freth Sāmon worth in London x. s. for vi . d. xxiiii . Herrings or vi . Makerels , vi . sea breames , a fat hen .xxx. Egges , a fat Pigge , one pound of Butter , or ii . gallons of new Milke for apenny . A redde Deare without the skinne , for ii . s. vi . d. A fat Beefe for xiii . s. iiii d. A fat Matton for xviii . d.

There be great store of wild Swannes , Cranes , Phesantes , Partriges , Heathcocks , Plouers green & gray , Curlewes Woodcockes , Rayles , Quailes , & al other fowles much more plentiful then in Engand . You may buy a dosen of Quayles for iii. d. a dosen of Woodcocks for iiii . d. & all other fowls ratablie . Oysters , muskels , cockles and Samphiere about the sea coastes are to be had for gathering great plentie : the Phisitions there hold , that Samphier is a present remedie agaynst the stone : you may buy the best Heafers there with Calues at their feet . for xx . s. a peece , the which are nothing inferiour to the better sorte of Lyncolnshire breed . Their chiefe horsses are of as great price as in England , but carthorsses mares , and little hackneyes are of very small price , the meāest Irish man disdayneth to ryde on a mare . You may keepe a better house in Ireland for L. li. a yeare , then in England for CC. li a yeare . Al your commodities you may transport from the sea side in the countie of Corke ( where I haue prouided for eache of vs foure hundred Acres of land ) to England for viii . d. the hundred waight , so that you make the same ready about S. Andrewes tide , when the herring fishers goe home from Ireland . The charg of which carriage for so much as you barrell , you may saue a great part through Cheapenes of the caske , & then wil the most of your commodities , viz. Butter , Cheese . Bacon , Beefe , Honny , Ware , Tallowe , Corne , and Herring with diuers other Marchandize bee readie for the market .

The worsser sorte of vndertakers which haue seignories of her Maiestie , haue done much hurt in the countrie , and discouraged many from the voyage : for they haue entyced many honest men ouer . promising them much and performing nothing , no not so much as to paie their seruantes , & workmen wages . They wil not let any terme , aboue xxi . yeres or three liues , and the demaund for rent xii . d. the Acre : this is so farre from the meaning of her Maiestie , as appeareth by her highnes graunt , y● as I think they haue , or shortly will make all their estates voyde . They finde such profite from the Irishe tenantes , who giue them the fourth sheafe of al their corne , and xvi . d. ●earel● for a beastes grasse , besides diuers other Irish accustomed duties . So that they care not although they neuer place any English man there . But the better sort of vnder takers being many good knights & gentlemen of great worship , do seek by al meanes possible to plant their landes with Englishmen according to the meaning of her Maiesties graunt : they offer to any man either three hundreth acres of land in fee-farme or foure hundred acres by lease for one hundred yeares , for vi . d. the acre without any fine .

Sir Richard Greenefield taketh a verie good order for artificers & labourers : he wil let any poore man of honest behauiour a house , xl . acres of land & vi . milche Kyne for xl . s. the yeare , for the terme of three liues , and if any of these men after they haue bread on the same stocke a sufficient number of cattell to store their ground , doe deliuer their stocke agayne , then shal they pay but xx . s. rent for the rest of their termes . And if any of the said Kine be stolne , and the owner doe track which way they were driuen from has ground , the sayd sir Richard will deliuer him so many Kyne for them , for that the law is there , if you tracke any stolne goodes into any mans land , hee must tracke them from him , or aunswere them within xl . daies , so where the track ceaseth , the goodes must be answered .

A man may be aswell and cleanely tabled at an English house in Ireland for the profit of fiue Kyne and fiftie sheepe , all which will be bought for vii . li. x. s. & for the rent of so much land as wil keep them , which is xx . s. the yeare , as at the best ordinarie in England for vi . d. a meale : all which amounteth but to xxxv . s. vi . d. a yeare , accounting ii . s. in the pound for interest of the stocke . Wōen may be borded for the prest●e of foure Kyne , xl . sheepe , and xvi . s. rent . Seruants for iii. Kyne . xxx . sheepe , and xii . s. rent . Children , for ii . kine , xx . sheepe and viii . s. rent . Thus may a man that is xii . in houshold , viz. Himselfe , his wife , ii . seruauntes , and viii . children be very wel tabled a yeare for the profite of xxxi . Kyne , iii. C. and x. sheep , & vi . li. x. s. rent : al which stocke wil be bought for lesse then lx. li. The vse wherof being vi . li. the whole charge of a yeare for xii . persons is xii . li. x. s. which is xx . s. x. d. a peece . This hath not bene long vsed there , but nowe the Englishman thinketh himselfe happie that can make such a bargayne with an honest man : for although that which is not euery way to the gesse aboue xii . li. x. s. may make the host with good husbandrie more then a hundred markes .

One hundred pounds wil buy lx. milch kine , CCC . yeawes , xx . swyne , and a good teame : the ground to keep these cattell , & vse this teāe on , wil be CCCC . acres at x. pound rent so your yearely charg will be with interest of your mony , xx . li. for the which you may haue yeerely vpon good security with warrant of your stocke , xl . sirkins of butter , and fortie great ways of cheese , of the milke gathered betwirt May , and Michaelmas , which at x. s. the firkin , and xxv . s. the waie , is threescore & ten pounds , and the wooll and lamb of your sheepe . cannot be so litle worth as xxx . li. a yeare , all which amounteth to one hundred poundes : so may you declare besides your interest and rent , eightie pounds a yeere .

To husband this farme , your tenant must keepe viii . persons , which may be well done with the profite of the swyne , wynter milke , calues and the crop which he should get vpon your land with your teame .

Most of the coyne in Ireland , and that which the people generally desire there , is base mony made of copper or brasse , they will not change you an angell into that money without iiii . d. gaines : I would to God her Maiestie would coyne foure hundred thousand markes of the same , and lend it to the English marchantes gratis for two yeares , to be imployed there in mather , woade , rape , hoppes , hempe , flare and such other commodities , as might set some great number of our English men to work by which meanes ( in my iudgement ) the land might be very wel peopled her Maiestie disburthened of a great part of her charge there , the marchantes made great gayners , and yet at the two yeares end paie her Maiestie her full summe in currant English money for that base mettell , whereby her Maiestie might gayne at least CC. thousand poundes without hurt to any , & good to many thousandes . I haue sent you heerein closed an instruction how you shal make a warraine for connies of two acres of ground , ● shal be sufficient for a gentlemans house in which warraine , you may also make an Orchard , and the connies shall not barke your trees nor make their berries vnder the rootes , neither shal the sayd connies go foorth of two acres . Thus with my heartie commendations , I bid you heartily farewell . From my house at Paynes end , this xxv . of Iune . 1589.