Britannia: or a Geographical description of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Isles and Territories thereto belonging.
Blome, Richard
1687
A DESCRIPTION OF IRELAND
environed on all sides by the and next to great may claim priority of all others in It is a generally of a fertile and plentifully stored with and but is mountainous, woody, waterish, and full of unprofitable or which oft- times prove dangerous (especially to new ) and occasion and for the cure of which they drink a sort of hot water called | |
It is blest with a mild and healthful its being not so hot, nor its so cold as in but more inclined to foggy mysts and rains, which makes it more unfit for then the being not very favourable for ripening of or but beareth such great aboundance of long and sweet grass, that the (which are the chiefest wealth) are soon sat, and sit for slaughter therewith: And it is surther observed, That the is so pure, that it neither breedeth, nor suffereth any venemous or being brought out of other Countries, long to retein their life. | |
Many have been the names (according to Tradition) that this hath been known by, and named it and or and the the and the | |
303 | |
Some there be that will have it called from that is, from its others from a and others from the ancient River whilst some strive to have it so called from the Irish word which signifieth West, or Western Coast; whence may seem to fetch its derivation. calleth this Island the for that the are soon drawn thereunto, witness the many that it hath produced. | |
If you will take for truth what the report, this Island hath been exceeding long inhabited; for according to 'tis said that it was possessed by Niece to before the floud: that a arrived here near 300 years after the that many years after with his four Sons, arived here, but was soon forced hence by the Gyant-like sort of of the race here inhabiting; that after this the five seized this Island; and that soon after (being about the time of the departure out of ) with his Wife daughter to King of landed here, and called the Island from his Wives name. And further, the saith that some Ages after and Sons of King of by permission of the here planted after that the Country had been wasted by a Pestilence, and from the eldest Son was called Nor is it much to be doubted, but that the setled themselves here, seeing there is so great affinity betwixt them and the Irish in their and | |
This Island conteins in length about 240 and in breadth about 120; 'tis scituate under the tenth and twelfth the longest day making about 16 hours; It is a near Neighbour to from which it is separated by an of about seven but far more remote, being from its Metropolitan City, to in the Isle of (the usual place for taking of landing) about 50. | |
It is an Island of great strength, as well by Nature as Art, by reason of its scituation in such tempestious and dangerous Seas, and the several and that the have built since they became Masters thereof. | |
It is a Country well watered, having several great Rivers, the chief amongst which are those of being about 60 miles navigable, and after its course of about 200 miles looseth it self into the and And besides these there are several amongst which that of most note is about 30 miles in length, and 15 in breadth, in which are several small | |
The that this Island affordeth, are great abundance of of which they make course also and and its Seas likewise afford great plenty of | |
Its native were extreamly rude and barbarous, they made use of women in common, without any difference of other mens they were much addicted to fantastical conceits, as holding it ominous to give their neighbours fire on a with many the like they are much inclined to as worshipping the after her change; about their they hung the beginning of St. a piece of Wolves-skin, or a crooked of a which they thought preserved them from danger; the of dead they held sacred, with many such like ridiculous Fancies. They accounted | |
304 | and their greatest and not coveting worldly possessions, contenting themselves with mean or nor were they profuse in their or being well satisfied if they had wherewith to keep them warm, and to fill their their chief food being and the like. For their dying, they hired to who expostulated why they would dye, telling them that they had such and such things; and the were accompanied to the Grave with howlings, clapping of hands, and such like sorrowful actions. But many of these ridiculous and absurd customs, since the are set led amongst them, are forgotten. |
The was here first planted by St. this (according to Writers) was the Son of by St. Sister, and born at in who in his Youth was taken Captive by the and sold for six years as a slave in the meanest condition to yet in this dejected condition he much desired the conversion of this Nation from their extream idolatrous wayes, to the true serving of the living insomuch that he dreamed, that the unborn cryed unto him for and being at length redeemed from his bondage, by a piece of which he found in the field, (that was rooted up by some Swine) he left the but still having his thoughts on these people, in his aged years he again returned, (and in better state then before) preached the converted the became of and when dead, was received or canonized as their | |
These having civil dissentions amongst them, prompted the in the Reign of King the to attempt the Conquest of this who in . landed his Army there, and obteined the Regal Dominion thereof, which being passed over unto him by their Nobles and Commonalty, their Charter so signed, was transmitted to and was confirmed by a Patent of Pope by a ring delivered unto him in token of his investure; and was farthere confirmed by the authority of certain and ever since that time it hath remained in the possessions of the Kings of | |
The since the became thereof hath most commonly been by one Supream sent over by the Kings of and called or who for Majesty, State, and Power, is not inferiour to any in Christendome; living in great grandure, and having ample and Royal Power and Authority granted unto him; and as Assistant unto him in so weighty a concern, he hath his being a select number of Honorable and prudent persons chosen out of the and of for their of and of they are the same with those of already treated of. The present is the Right Noble his Excellency Earl of Viscount Baron of | |
The of this have correspondency with those of and have likewise there several of as the but above all the High of There are likewise in each County of the for the quiet governing and well ordering the as in | |
As to the of this it is committed to the care of four under whom are divers whose names are as followeth. Under the of who is Primate of are the of or | |
305 | or or and Under the of those of and Under the of those of or the of or and or And under the of those of or and or |
According to the Temporal Government of this Kingdom, it is severed into four to wit, and which are again subdivided into several which comprehend several in which are seated several And of these in order. | |
Footnotes: [] Its scituation. [] Fertility. [] Its Air and temperature. [] Its names. [] Why so called. [] Ireland long ago inhabited [] Its Exten, Scituation [] Its strength. [] Its chief Rivers. [] Its commodities. [] Its inhabitants. [] The Christian Faith first planted by St. Patrick. [] The English become Masters of Ireland. [] The Temporal Government of Ireland. [] Its Laws and Courts of Judicature. [] The Archbishops and Bishops. |
