Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

¶Of Hibernia. Cap. 80.

IRelande is called Hibernia,* 1.1 and is an Ilande of the Occean in Eu∣rope, and is nigh to the lande of Bri∣tayne, and is more narrow and straight than Britaine, but it is a more plente∣ous place. This Iland stretcheth out of the South into the North, as Isidore sayth libro. 15. The first partes thereof are toward the sea that is called Hybe∣rum Cantabricum Occeanum. And al∣so this Iland hath that name Hibernia, of the sea that is called Hyberum Oc∣ceanum. In this lande is much plentie of Corne fieldes, of wells and of riuers, of fairs meades and woods, of mettall, and of precious stones: for there is gen∣dred, a sixe cornered stone, that is to say, Iris, that maketh a Raine bowe in the aire, if it be set in the Sunne. And also there is sound a stone that is called Ga∣gates. And there is Iet sound and white Margarites. And concerning the whol∣some aire, Irelande is a good temperate countrye. There is litle or none passing heat or cold. Ther be wonderfull lakes, pondes and wells, for there is a lake, in which if a staffe, or a pole of trée be pight, and tarieth long time therein, the part that is in the earth turneth into yron, & the part that is in the water, tourneth into stone, and the part that is aboue the water, abideth still in his kinde of trée. There is another lake, in which if that thou throwest roddes of hasill, it turneth those roddes into Ashe, and againe ward, if ye cast ashe roddes therin, they tourne into hasill. Therein be places, in which

dead Carrions neuer rot: hut abide there alway vncorrupt. Also in Ireland is a little Iland, in which men dye not•• but when they be ouercome with age, they be borne out of that Ilande to dye without.* 1.2 In Ireland is no Serpent, no Fragges, nor vencuious Spider, but all the land is so contrary to venemous beasts: that if the earth of that lande be brought into another lande, & sprong on the ground, it slayeth Serpenies and Toades. Also venemous beasts flieth I∣rish wooll, skinnes and fells: and if ser∣pents or Toades be brought into Ire∣land by shipping: they dye anone. Ma∣nye other wonders are in that land.

Solinus speaketh of Ireland and sai∣eth, that Irelande is nigh asmuch as Britaine, but the inhabitants thereof, be fierce, and lead an vnhumaine life. There is no Adder séene except it bée seldome. The people there vse to har∣bour no guests; they be warriours, and* 1.3 drinke mens bloud that they slay, and wash first their faces therewith: right and vnright they take for one. There be no Bées, for if men throwe power or stones that is brought out of Irelande, into hiues, the swarmes forsake the ho∣ny combes. The Sea Hybernicum to∣ward Britaine, is full of waues, & vn∣quiet, and is in all the yeare vnneth a∣ble to sayle in, except it be fewe dayes, it is an hundred and thirtie thousande paces broad, &c. Huc vs{que} Solinus, De Mirab. mundi.* 1.4 Men of Ireland are sin∣gularly cloathed, and vnseemely arayed, and scarcely fed, they be cruell of heart, fierte of chéere, angry of speach & sharpe. Neuerthelesse they be frée hearted and faire of speach, and goodly to their owne Nation, & namely those men that dwell in woodes, marreyses, and mountaines. These men are plesed with flesh, apples, and fruite for meate, and with milk for drinke, and giue them more to playes & to hunting, than to worke and trauell.

* 1.5As concerning Ireland, read Policro∣nicon lib. pri. cap. 32.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Additiō.
• * 1.2

  Althogh the land, be free from ver∣mine, the men are not free from lice, vvhich cō¦meth of sluttish & filthy vse.
• * 1.3

  They are more ci∣uill novv.
• * 1.4

  The Irish men lyue long, and be helthy of body: but stran∣gers are molested vvith the flixe, a deadly dis¦ease if they a∣bide ther.
• * 1.5

  Addition