A Brief description of Ireland: Made in this year, 1589.  
by Robert pain, unto xxv. of his partners for whom he is undertaker there.  
Truly published verbatim, according to his letters, by Nich. Gorsan one of the said partners, for that he would his countrymen should be partakers of the many good Notes therein contained. AT LONDON, Printed by Thomas Dawson.  
1589.   

To his very good friend M. Nicholas Gorsan of Trowel in the County of Nottingham, and the rest of his xxv. partners for Ireland, give these.  
LET not the reports of those that have spent all their own and what they could y any means get from others in England, discourage you from Ireland, although they and such others by bad dealings have wrought a general discredit to all English men, in that country which are to the Irish unknown.  
These men will say there is great danger in traveling the country, and much more to dwell or inhabit there: yet are they freed from three of the greatest dangers: first, they cannot meet in all that land any worse than themselves: secondly, they need not fear robbing for that they have not any thing to lose: lastly, they are not like to run in debt, for that there is none will trust them. The greatest matter which troubleth them is, they cannot get any thing there but by honest travel, which they are altogether ignorant of. These men cannot tell what good fruits England hath, the which Ireland wanteth, neither can they justly say, but that it lieth better for the vent of all commodities than England doth.  
What these men have reported or what the simple have credited, that would rather believe a runneagate then travel to see: I care not. But what I have discovered or learned in that country, I will herein recite unto you.  
First, the people are of three sorts, the better sort are very civil and honestly given: the most of them greatly inclined to husbandry, although as yet unskilful, notwithstanding, through their great travel many of them are rich in cattle, some one man there milketh one hundred kine, and two or three hundred yeawes and goats, and reareth yearly most of their breed.  
Their entertainment for your diet shallbe more welcome and plentiful, then cleanly and handsome, for although they did never see you before, they will make you the best cheer their country yieldeth for two or three days, & take not any thing therefore. Most of them speak good English and bring up their children to learning. I saw in a Grammar school in Limberick, one hundred, and threescore scholars, most of them speaking good and perfit English, for that they have used to construe the Latin into English. They keep their promise faithfully, and are more desirous of peace than our English men, for that in time of wars they are more charged: And also they are fatter preys for the enemy who respecteth no person. They are quick witted and of good constitution of body, they reform themselves daily more and more after the English manners: nothing is more pleasing unto them then to hear of good justices placed amongst them. They have a common saying which I am persuaded they speak unfeignedly, which is, Defend me, & spend me: meaning from the oppression of the worse sort of our countrymen: They are obedient to the laws, so that you may travel through all the land without any danger or injury offered of the very worst Irish, and be greatly relieved of the best.  
The second sort being least in number are called Kerns, they are warlike men: most of that sort were slain in the late wars.  
The third sort, are a very idle people, not unlike our English beggars, yet for the most part, of pure complexion and good constitution of body: one of the greatest oversights in the better sort is, for that they make not that idle sort give account of their life.  
They have the English laws and governors as is in England: First, there is a Lord deputy over the whole land, that representeth her Majesty, also a Lord Chancellor, a Lord Treasurer, a Lord chief justice, and all other Magistrates, Officers and Courts, in like manner as belongeth to Westminster.  
The land is divided into five great parts: that is to say. Munster, Lanster, Conath, Meath, and Ulster. In Munster, are these vit. great countries: Owrmwood, Deasmond, Cork, Waterford Typerare, Lymbericke, and Carrey: a great part of Munster, was forfeited to her Majesty by means of the Deasmondes late rebellion.  
There is two very rich countries called Kennory and Conelogh, both within the county of Lemereck: they are called the gardens of the land for the variety and great plenty of all grain and fruits, and also there is more plenty of venison, fish and fowl then else where in Ireland, although in every place there is great store. This land belonged sometime to the knight of the valley, who for high treason was executed at Lemerecke. Over every part is an Englishman lieutenant which hath authority as fully as the Marshal, to erecute marshal laws upon the Irish offenders at all times. Also there are judges of assize for every circuit, who keep their assizes as our judges do: if any matter be to be tried there between an English man and an Irish, the jury is half English and half Irish. There is a sheriff of every county, with undersheriffes, Arrant Bailiffs, & all other officers appertaining. Also there is a convenient number of justices of peace in every county with Constables and petty Constables, who keep their quarter sessions orderly.  
The country is situated some what nearer the Equinoctial line than England, but yet for that it lieth more upon the Ocean seas & is full of Rivers & small brooks, it is not so hot in summer as England, neither is it so cold in winter, for that the seas fretteth away the Ice & snow there, much more than in England.  
The general Map of Ireland, which is joined with the old Map of England, is most false: The author (as it seemeth) drew them both by report, and the common computation of miles: and made his Scale after the English measure, that is one thousand paces, or five thousand foots to the mile: but therein he greatly deceived himself, for the shortest miles in England are much longer than that measure, and an Irish mile is longer than two of those miles, by which means he hath made the Map of England less by the half than it should be. Notwithstanding, he hath over reached in his number of parish Churches, and the Map of Ireland little more than one fourth of that it would be, if it were truly drawn. This seemeth strange, and hath deceived many ignorant in Geometry: but always take this for a principle, that the square of two miles containeth just four times so much as the square of one mile, and so of all proportions from the greatest to the least: wherefore as much may be said of the long mile which containeth two short miles.  
Some mistrust that the Spaniards will enter the land, & that the Irish will relieve them: no doubt there are some Traitors in Ireland, I would I could truly say there were none in England: but this I dare assure you the greater number, and all the better sort do deadly hate the Spaniards, & yet I think they bear them fair weather, for that they are the pope's champions, & a great part of the Irish (for want of good preaching & discipline) are greatly inclined to papistry.  
But their entertainment this last year amongst the Irish (notwithstanding they brought the pope's holy candles & pardons) showeth how they affect Spanish government. Most of the better sort of the Irish have read of their monstruous cruelties in the west Indians, where they most tyrannously have murdered many millions more of those simple creatures then now liveth in Ireland, even such as sought their favours by offering unto them all that they had, never resisting nor of fearing them any harm. Wherefore I doubt not that the Irish are so foolish to entertain such proud guests knowing their tyranny, & having not so well deserved at their hands as those simple souls whom they so cruelly murdered. Neither are the Spaniards so unwise to trust those irish, who so lately imbrued their hands in their blood, slaying them as dogs in such plentiful manner, that their garments went about the country to be sold, as good cheap as beasts skins. If you have not the said book of the Spanish cruelties, I pray you buy it, it is well worth the reading, I have for got the title, but it is of a small volume in quarto: it is written by a learned Bishop of their own country about forty years sithence in the Castalian tongue, and dedicated to their king for reformation of those cruelties: afterwards translated into English & divers other languages, to make their monstruous tyranny known to the world. When you have read the same, conunend it to our Catholics that will be saved by their works, and yet will not give God thanks at their meat, for that they will not once have in their mouth the prayer for our Queen, annexed to our usual thanks giving at meat. I pray God open the eyes of their upholders, and let them see what these men gape for, which is no doubt the ruin and overthrow of her highness, whom I pray God preserve. But none are so blind as they that will not see. The Catholics are borne with for their conscience sake, yet from such consciences spring all the Traitorous practices against her Majesty.  
Although some of small judgements (which think every soil good that beareth long grass) have failed of their erpected woad crops, by means of their unskilful choice of ground, yet assuredly the commodities of the country are many more than either the people can well use or I recite. Their soil for the most part is very fertile, and apt for Wheat, Rye, Barley, Peason, beans, Oats, Woade, Mather, Rape, Hops, Hemp, Flax and all other grains and fruits y England any wise doth yield. There is much good timber in many places & of the straightness and so good to reave, that a simple workman with a Brak axe will cleave a great Oak, to boards of less than one inch thick, xiiii. inches broad and xv. foots in length, such a board there is usuallysold for two. d. ob. There is very rich and great plenty of Iron stone, and one sort more than we have in England, which they call Bog mine, of the which a Smith there will make at his forge Iron presently. Also there is great store of Led over, & Wood sufficient to maintain divers Iron and lead works (with good husbandry) for ever. A barrel of Wheat or a barrel of bay Salt containing three bushels & a half of Winchester measure, is sold there for iiii. s. Malt, Peason, beans, for two. s. viii. d. Barley for two. s. iiii. d. Oats for xx. d. a fresh Salmon worth in London x. s. for vi. d. xxiiii. Herrings or vi. Mackerel, vi. sea breames, a fat hen xxx Eggs, a fat Pig, one pound of Butter, or two. gallons of new Milk for apenny. A red Dear without the skin, for two. s. vi. d. A fat Beef for xiii. s. iiii d. A fat Matton for xviii. d.  
There be great store of wild Swans, Cranes, pheasants, Partridges, Heathcocks, Plovers green & grey, Curlewes Woodcocks, Rails, Quails, & all other fowls much more plentiful then in Engand. You may buy a dozen of quails for iii. d. a dozen of Woodcocks for iiii. d. & all other fowls ratablie. Oysters, muskels, cockles and Samphiere about the sea coasts are to be had for gathering great plenty: the Physicians there hold, that Samphier is a present remedy against the stone: you may buy the best Heifers there with Calves at their feet. for xx. s. a piece, the which are nothing inferior to the better sort of Lincolnshire breed. Their chief horses are of as great price as in England, but carthorsses mares, and little hackneys are of very small price, the meanest Irish man disdaineth to ride on a mare. You may keep a better house in Ireland for L. li. a year, then in England for CC. li a year. Al your commodities you may transport from the sea side in the county of Cork (where I have provided for each of us four hundred Acres of land) to England for viii. d. the hundred weight, so that you make the same ready about S. Andrew's tide, when the herring fishers go home from Ireland. The charge of which carriage for so much as you barrel, you may save a great part through Cheapness of the cask, & then will the most of your commodities, viz. Butter, Cheese. Bacon, Beef, Honey, Ware, Tallow, Corn, and Herring with divers other Merchandise be ready for the market.  
The worsser sort of undertakers which have signories of her Majesty, have done much hurt in the country, and discouraged many from the voyage: for they have enticed many honest men over. promising them much and performing nothing, no not so much as to pay their servants, & workmen wages. They will not let any term, above xxi. years or three lives, and the demand for rent xii. d. the Acre: this is so far from the meaning of her Majesty, as appeareth by her highness grant, y● as I think they have, or shortly will make all their estates void. They find such profit from the Irish tenants, who give them the fourth sheaf of all their corn, and xvi. d. ●earel● for a beasts grass, besides divers other Irish accustomed duties. So that they care not although they never place any English man there. But the better sort of under takers being many good knights & gentlemen of great worship, do seek by all means possible to plant their lands with Englishmen according to the meaning of her majesties grant: they offer to any man either three hundredth acres of land in fee-farm or four hundred acres by lease for one hundred years, for vi. d. the acre without any fine.  
Sir Richard Greenefield taketh a very good order for artificers & labourers: he will let any poor man of honest behaviour a house, xl. acres of land & vi. milche kine for xl. s. the year, for the term of three lives, and if any of these men after they have bread on the same stock a sufficient number of cattle to store their ground, do deliver their stock again, then shall they pay but xx. s. rend for the rest of their terms. And if any of the said Kine be stolen, and the owner do tract which way they were driven from has ground, the said sir Richard will deliver him so many kine for them, for that the law is there, if you track any stolen goods into any man's land, he must track them from him, or answer them within xl. days, so where the tract ceaseth, the goods must be answered.  
A man may be aswell and cleanly tabled at an English house in Ireland for the profit of five kine and fifty sheep, all which will be bought for seven. li. x. s. & for the rend of so much land as will keep them, which is xx. s. the year, as at the best ordinary in England for vi. d. a meal: all which amounteth but to xxxv. s. vi. d. a year, accounting two. s. in the pound for interest of the stock. Wonen may be boarded for the prest●e of four kine, xl. sheep, and xvi. s. rent. Servants for three kine. thirty. sheep, and xii. s. rent. Children, for two. kine, xx. sheep and viii. s. rent. Thus may a man that is xii. in household, viz. Himself, his wife, two. servants, and viii. children be very well tabled a year for the profit of xxxi. kine, iii. C. and x. sheep, & vi. li. x. s. rend: all which stock will be bought for less than lx. li. The use whereof being vi. li. the whole charge of a year for xii. persons is xii. li. x. s. which is xx. s. x. d. a piece. This hath not been long used there, but now the Englishman thinketh himself happy that can make such a bargain with an honest man: for although that which is not every way to the guess above xii. li. x. s. may make the host with good husbandry more than a hundred marks.  
One hundred pounds will buy lx. milk kine, CCC. yeawes, xx. swine, and a good team: the ground to keep these cattle, & use this teane on, will be CCCC. acres at x. pound rend so your yearly charge will be with interest of your money, xx. li. for the which you may have yearly upon good security with warrant of your stock, xl. sirkins of butter, and forty great ways of cheese, of the milk gathered betwirt May, and Michaelmas, which at x. s. the firkin, and xxv. s. the way, is threescore & ten pounds, and the wool and lamb of your sheep. cannot be so little worth as thirty. li. a year, all which amounteth to one hundred pounds: so may you declare besides your interest and rent, eighty pounds a year.  
To husband this farm, your tenant must keep viii. persons, which may be well done with the profit of the swine, winter milk, calves and the crop which he should get upon your land with your team.  
Most of the coin in Ireland, and that which the people generally desire there, is base money made of copper or brass, they will not change you an angel into that money without iiii. d. gains: I would to God her Majesty would coin four hundred thousand marks of the same, and lend it to the English merchants gratis for two years, to be employed there in mather, woade, rape, hops, hemp, flare and such other commodities, as might set some great number of our English men to work by which means (in my judgement) the land might be very well peopled her Majesty disburdened of a great part of her charge there, the merchants made great gainers, and yet at the two years end pay her Majesty her full sum in currant English money for that base metal, whereby her Majesty might gain at least CC. thousand pounds without hurt to any, & good to many thousands. I have sent you herein closed an instruction how you shall make a warren for coneyes of two acres of ground, ● shallbe sufficient for a gentleman's house in which warren, you may also make an Orchard, and the coneyes shall not bark your trees nor make their berries under the roots, neither shall the said coneyes go forth of two acres. Thus with my hearty commendations, I bid you hearty farewell. From my house at Pains end, this xxv. of june. 1589.  
Your loving friend Robert pain.   

The copy of an instruction for a Warraine.  
FIrst, you must choose two acres of very dry ground, and compass it with a ditch as round as a circle, five foots deep and seven foots wide, let the slope side of your ditch be towards your warren, and that ways throw up all your earth, let the outsid be plum upright, which you must presently pail otherwise the earth will fall in: then plant your trees not above viii. inches deep, and at the least xxiiii foot asunder, lay at every root close about the tree, as much pease straw as a man will carry under his arm, the which will keep the root moist in summer, & warm from frosts in winter. The best time to set your trees is shortly after Michaelmas: which verefieth an old proverb in Kent if thou wilt a good tree have, let him carry a green lease to his grave. In the very midst of your ground you must make a little lodge, in the which you must have eight several hutches, so placed that they may be always open into the warren, in every hutch you must tie with a little chain a tame buck coney of the best kind: then store your warren with 64. of the better sort of tame female coneyes, which is for every buck viii. does, every week the first quarter: & then monthly you must wash your trees with water, so high as a coney can reach wherein you must burst the garbage of a coney. Also every week you must draw a piece of carrion at the foot of your pail in the bottom of your ditch round about your warren, by which means your coneys will never offer to touch your trees, nor come near the pail to scrap themselves out. You must feed your coneyes with the shortest and sweetest hay you can get: you may give them grass, mallows, coal wortes sow thistles, the, tops of carrats, scarrates, and any yeaths or weeds, they will eat four days in a week in summer, and two days in winter, but not above for fear of the rot: yet let them have hay enough at all times, you may fat them with grains mixed with oats, bran, or French wheat: you must give your coneys every day one oat sheaf, which will always keep them hearty, sound, & fair skinned. I do account your charges in keeping your coneys to be xx. marks a year, that is your warrainers' board and wages, viii. li. and the coneys meat v. li. vi. s. viii. d. the increase at an indifferent reckoning, will be seven litters a year: every conie of the best kind will bring vi. Rabbits at a litter, where one of that sort bringeth fewer, two will bring more, some will bring ix. litters in ayeare: & that do is not worth the keeping, that bringeth not seven. litters a year. The value of this increase after the foresaid rates, and at viii. d. the couple, (which ● very skins with good husbandry of most of them will be worth,) amounteth unto the sum of xliiii. li. xvi. s. a year. But for fear you should fail in your reckoning, as the woman did that supposed all the eggs in her basket were capons: I would have you allow for casualties, xi. li. ix. s. iiii. d. so resteth above all charges of the warrainer, and their meat, xx. li. by year declaro, which I think being welused can yield no less: although this kind being bred in houses do not eat sweet, yet being bred after this manner, they are both the biggest, fattest, and sweetest coneys that are.