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. 2.

Of the temperature of the Ayre, and the fertilitie of the soyle vniuersallie through Ireland.

MY meaning is not to make any Cos∣mographicall description of Ireland, I haue nothing to do with Longitude, with Latitude, nor with Altitude: I will not speake of the Countrey how it stretcheth it selfe towards the East, or towardes the west, nor how it is deuided into Prouinces, in∣to Shires, nor into Countries; nor how the coun∣trey is replenished with Citties, with Towns, and Villages: but to speake something of the tempe∣rature of the Climate, vnder the which it is adia∣cent. I say, we do not find Ireland to be cold in the winter, nor so hot in the Summer, as it is in Eng∣land. The frosts in Ireland, are neither so harde nor of that continuance as they be in England, and yet

the Countrey is verie cold, with a kind of rawish moisture, but not so nipping, nor dureable, as the dry cold that commonly coms with frosts.

Ireland is wonderfully inclined to fogs & mists, and giuen to very much raine, aswell in summer as in winter, and the Countrey is full of springs, and great currants of water that fals from the moun∣taines, which with a shewer of raine will rise verie suddenly, and will fall againe as quickly when the weather cleareth vp.

Ireland is full of great Riuers, and mightie huge Loughes, such as we call Meeres in England, where∣in are many large and spacious Islands, where the Irish haue many times fortified themselues against the Prince, but are still ferreted and drawne out by the eares, though other whiles with great difficul∣ty. To speake of Ireland generally, it is replenished with Riuers, with Woods, with Bogs, and with as good lande, both for corne and pasture, as any Europe affoords; but not so well manvred, nor so well husbanded: for the Farmers of Ireland, are far to seeke in many pointes of good husbandry, and the women (for the most part) haue as little skill of huswifery.

From hence I might affirme, and confidentlie conclude, that throughout the whole Realme of Ireland, what betweene the ill husbandrie of that which is inhabited, and so much of the Countrey againe lying wast for want of Inhabitants, there is not the third part of that profit raised, that Irelaud would affoord.

For fish, for foule, for Conies, they are very plen∣tiful

throughout all the partes of Ireland, and for red-Deare, they haue them vpon the mountayns, but not in such plenty as I my selfe haue knowne. Fallow deare are not so common, vnlesse it bee in some few Parkes.

To be short, there is nothing wanting in Ireland that is behouefull for the sustinance of man, yet I dare not stretch so far as M. Stanihurst, that would haue Ireland the Treasure-house of the world, as he hath published in his Booke, I will not say how vainely or how vnwisely. Let other men iudge of that, but I thinke he meaneth of hidden Treasures that are not yet discouered. It is truth, there are some small store of Pearle now and then found, chopt vppon by chance, but not in such abundance that they bee worthy to be so spoken of, nor those few that be found, are neither so oryent, so praise worthy, nor of such price and estimation, as those that are brought from other places, both from the East and West Indies, and yet I once saw an Irish Pearle that was sould for xv. poūd. I neuer heard of any Mines either of Gold, or Siluer, or Copper, or Tinne, or Leade, or of any other Minerall matter that was found in the Countrey, that would quit the charge in refining; but to speake truly, the Irish are so malicious that they wil not suffer men of art and skill to make search for them: One of the best Mines that is knowne to bee in Ireland, is that of Iron, which is very rich (indeed) if it would hold out, or that there were any store of the Oore to be found, as like enough it would do if the Irish would giue men leaue to seeke for it. It is many

yeares agoe since I heard talke of an Allum Mine that was found, and great hope was had of profit and commodity, but how it was left, I know not, I thinke by the vnwillingnesse of the bad disposed people of that Countrey, that will neuer (by their good willes) suffer men to worke with their heades vppon their shoulders. Ireland (without doubt) is a fruitfull Countrey, and it yeildeth in most abun∣dant maner, all conuenient necessaries that is be∣houefull for humaine sustinance, but to hope after Mines and Minerals in Ireland, I thinke there is no such likeli-hood, for those are euermore to bee sought after, in those Countries that are warme, or at the least very dry, but not in those places that are so ouercharged with raine, and so much giuen to moisture as Ireland.