A nevv description of Ireland vvherein is described the disposition of the Irish whereunto they are inclined. No lesse admirable to be perused then credible to be beleeued: neither vnprofitable nor vnpleasant to bee read and vnderstood, by those worthy cittizens of London that be now vndertakers in Ireland: by Barnabe Rich, Gent:

CAP. XVI.

Of some defects in the gouernment of Dubline.

THis inclination to Popery, whereunto the greatest number of the Cittizens of Dubline are so much adicted, is not onely preiudiciall to things appertaining to piety and godlinesse, but it is hurtfull to matters that are belonging to ciuill gouernment; for this diuersity in Religion, causeth opposition, and that the Maiestracy of the towne beeing principally swayed by those of the Popish crew (that doth far exceed the rest in number) brin∣geth a tolleration of Popish inormities.

First, where it is the vse and custome of euery well gouerned Citty or Towne, that on the Sab∣baoth day, during the time of the diuine Seruice, there is a generall restraint to all Inne-keepers, Ta∣uerners, Alehouse-keepers, and to all sortes of vi∣ctualers to shut vp their doores, & not so hardie as to retaine any guests within the house, or to serue either Wine, Beere, or Ale, without the house, till the Seruice and the Sermon both bee ended: and that this might be the better performed and seene vnto, they haue certaine sworne men to make

search, and to present all such as shall bee found to offend in the premisses: the which offenders, by all Officers that be of worth, bee they Maiors, Bay∣lifes, or Sheriffes, are euermore seuerely and sharp∣ly punished.

But in Dublin, then in the time of diuine seruice, and in the time of the Sermon, as well in the fore∣noone as in the afternoone, euen then (I say) euery filthy Ale-house is thronged full of company, that as it were in despight of our Religion, do sit drun∣kening and quaffing, and sometimes defiling them∣selues with more abhominable exercises: so that the Sabbaoth day, which God hath commaunded to be sanctified and kept holy, is of all other dayes most prophaned and polluted, without any repre∣hension or any manner of rebuke. And although many godly Preachers, and some other of the bet∣ter sort of the Cleargy, hath indeuoured a refor∣mation, so farre as their Commission doth war∣rant them, the which (indeede) is but by the way of exhortation to admonish and perswade: but those that haue authority to punnish and correct, and doth challenge to themselues a special prero∣gatiue, to mannage all affaires whatsoeuer with∣in their Citty, are for the most part of them so blinded with Popery, that they can neither see, nor be perswaded that this dishonoring of the Sabba∣oth day is any offence at all.

I cannot tell from whence it should proceede, whither of ignorance or despight, that they shold keepe so many Popish holy daies in Dubline (more then euer were heard on in England) the which be∣cause

they are allowed by the Pope, are therefore kept, as it were in contempt of his Maiesties pro∣ceedings.

There be some that are numbred in the Beadrole of Saints, and haue their Feasts solemnly celebra∣ted amongst the Irish (especially at Dubline) that of my conscience are damned Deuils in Hell.

I know this will bee grieuously taken, and our Papists will say my censure is very vncharitable, & more then becommeth a Christian to auouch, but blind men can iudge no colours. And if our Catho∣liques of Dublin, could duely conceiue how horri∣ble a sinne it is, for a Subiect to become a conspira∣tor, a Rebell, or a Traytor to his Prince, they wold sooner pronounce Thomas Becket to bee a damned villaine in the pit of Hell, then euery yeare to cele∣brate his feast with such solemnity as they are ac∣customed. I might speake of some other such like holy ones, that bee inrouled in the Popes Calen∣der: And there is scarcely one weeke in a yeare, but we haue one Popish holy-day or other solem∣nized at Dubline, more then they haue at London, and yet I thinke there be as wise men in London, as any be in Dubline, and as true, and as loyall to their Prince, but the vidimus of the matter is, our Lon∣doners are neither vowed nor sworne to the Pope. Can there bee a more daungerous matter, then where impiety becommeth to bee lawfull, and by the Magistrates leaue and liking, to take the cloake of vertue. I might speake heare of Fryers, Iesuites, and other of the pole-shorne order, well knowne to be his Maiesties vowed and protested enemies,

that are yet entertained, vpholden and maintained in Dublin, not without great contributions allowed vn∣to them, by the Papisticall sort of the Cittizens, that will grudge and murmure to giue a Souldier a nights lodging, that is drawne in by the Lord Deputy, but for the guard of himselfe, and of his Maiesties Ca∣stle, and for the preuention of trayterous practises.

This harbouring and vpholding of Traytors, must necessarily either put his Maiesty to a charge for his owne security, or leaue his estate in a desperate con∣dition, euermore subiect to the plots and practises of his capitall enemies. And I can see no reason why his Maiesty should be drawne to an expence, by the mis∣demeanors of his false hearted Subiects, but that they themselues should be made to feele the penalty of it, if not in their persons, yet in their purses.

But in Dubline, his Maiesty should haue little neede of Souldiers, or of any other martiall men to put him to charges, were it not for the contemptuous demeanor of the Popish sort of the Cittizens: but if vpon any vrgent occasion, there bee but one hundred of Souldiers to bee ceased amongst them, the which they themselues by their obstinate impugning his Maiesties proceedings, doth many times inforce, they will impose the charge (as much as in them lyeth) vp∣on those that they know to be best affected to Religi∣on, and that do stand most assured to his maiesty, both in duty and obedience; and would not onely drawe contributions from Forrainers and Strangers, such as haue neither Trade nor Traffique in the Towne, but would likewise inforce it from his Maiesties Pencio∣ners, and other Gentlemen, that are there attendant vpon the State, if they haue but a house or a chamber

within their Liberties.

And they do not onely shew an vnwillingnesse to his Maiestie in these trifling matters, but they do like∣wise make manifest their ingratitude by many other meanes. And whereas their Corporation hath been dignified by seuerall Kings and Princes of England, with many large priuiledges, and that they haue the whole trade and traffique amongst themselues, no man to buy or sell within their liberties, vnlesse he bee a free∣man, yet vpon any imposition, though it dooth pro∣perly belong vnto the Citty, and not so much but for an annuall rent, which they are to pay to his Maiesty for those lands and liberties that they doe hold from his Highnes, yet they would exact it from strangers, that are neither free, nor haue any manner dealing in the Citty, but to spend their money, which only the Cittizens doth gaine by; & there is neither merchan∣dize, nor any manner of commodity that is brought from Spaine, from France, from Flanders, or from any other part of England or Scotland, but they will haue the whole bargaine to themselues, not suffering any man that is not free, to buy for his owne prouision, no, not so much as a drinking glasse, but it must bee had from them, and by that meanes he shall be infor∣ced to pay double the price.

Thus the freemen, by vertue of their Priuiledges, will reap the whole commodity among themselues, and they would make the Forraigners to pay theyr rent, and to become contributors to any impositions whatsoeuer it shall please them to assigne, and yet in their demaundes, they haue neither certaine summes set downe, what any man ought to pay, nor whoe they be that should pay, but the Sheriffes of Dublyn

are the men that do ceasse at their pleasure whome they list, and doth impose vpon euery man what they list; so that if the Sheriffes of Dublin be a little stuft in the head with a Pope (the disease being so com∣mon amongst them, that there are very few that do∣eth escape it) where they ceasse a Papist at sixe pence, they will aske a Protestant tenne shillings, the which if the party denaies to pay (or at the least to satisfie them to their owne content) they will breake open a doore, contrary to Lawe and equitie (and I be∣leeue farther then their Charter will reach vnto, if it were well ouerlooked) they will carry away with them any goodes whatsoeuer they be, that they can finde.

I could speak of many other mattres, and I could speake by experience: for although I bee not a Free∣man of Dublyn, yet I was thus much behoulding to the two late Shcriffes, that because I would not giue them tenne shillinges which they had imposed vpon me, at their owne will and pleasure, (I know not why nor wherefore, vnlesse it were for writing a Booke against the Pope) but they verie kindly drew me out of mine owne house and carried me to prison, where they kept me forth-comming for one night, & this (I hope) be very well knowne, by the same token, that the verie next Sunday after, I coulde haue met with one of them, in Hang-mannes Lane at an Idolatrous Masse.

But I cannot blame them, though they bee some∣what sparing of their purses vnto the Prince, for with out doubt, they are at greater expences with the pope; but if they coulde drawe in his Maiesties Pencioners, and those Gentlemen that are to attend his Highnes

seruice, to bee contributers with them to those pay∣ments it pleased them to impose, I would more com∣mend their wisedomes, then I can do their honesties.

This description of the gouernment of Dublin, can∣not be a generall reproach to the Cittizens vniuersal∣ly: for as I haue saide before, so I say still, that Dubline is replenished with many worthy Townes-men of all sorts; and amongst the Aldermen themselues, there are are some few that are well knowne to be assuredly confirmed, both to God and to his Maiesty, and that doth hate and detest this Iesuited generation of the Popes Riffe-Raffe: but they are ouerswaied with the multitude, the Papists do farre exceede them in num∣ber; and doe they not impugne the Prince himselfe? then alasse what can they doe, in a matter that could yet neuer be redressed, neither by the prescript of law, nor by the intimation of loue.

But were not this contemptuous disobedience of Subiects, enough to bereaue his Maiestie of his roy∣all disposition: but I confesse, it is not good to put a Prince into any iealousie, or to bring him into any doubt or suspition of his Subiectes; for these are meanes, not onely to trouble a Princes mind, but al∣so many times to betake himselfe to those extraordi∣nary resolutions as might be offenciue. But it is very expedient for a Prince to haue due intelligence, aswel of his enemies as of his doubtfull friendes, in what e∣state they remaine, what determinations they hould, and to haue knowledge of their enterprises, what courses they vndertake, and what purposes they pre∣tend, but especially those Princes that are incertaine and vnassured of the loue of their Cittizens and Sub∣iects.