Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/143

 wrought; for to them doe commonly resort all the scumme of the people, where they may meete and conferre of what they list, which else they could not doe without suspition or knowledge of others. Besides at these meetings I have knowne divers times, that many Englishmen, and good Irish suhjects, have bin villanously murdered by moving one quarrell or another against them. For the Irish never come to those raths but armed, whether on horse or on foot, which the English nothing suspecting, are then commonly taken at advantage like sheep in the pin-folde.

Eudox. It may be (Irseneus) that abuse may be in those meetings. But these round hills and square bawnes, which you see so strongly trenched and throwne up, were (they say) at first ordained for the same purpose, that people might assemble themselves therein, and therefore aunciently they were called Folkmotes, that is, a place of people, to meete or talke of any thing that concerned any difference betweene parties and towneships, which seemeth yet to me very requisite.

Iren. You say very true, Eudoxus, the first making of these high hils, were at first indeed to very good purpose for people to meet; but howsoever the times