Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/246

 oath would sure contayne them greatly, or the breach of it bring them to shorther vengeance, for God useth to punish perjurie sharpely: So I reade, that there was a corporall oath taken in the raignes of Edward the Second, and of Henry the Seventh, (when the times were very broken) of all the lords and best gentle-men, of fealtie to the Kings, which now is no lesse needfull, because many of them are suspected to have taken an other oath privily to some bad purposes, and thereupon to have received the Sacrament, and beene sworne to a priest, which they thinke bindeth them more then their alleagiance to their Prince, or love of their countrey.

Eudox. This tything to the common-people, and taking sureties of lords and gentlemen, I like very well, but that it wilbe very troublesome; should it not be as well for to have them all booked, and the lords and gentle-men to take all the meaner sort upon themselves? for they are best able to bring them in, whensoever any of them sarteth out.

Iren. This indeed (Eudoxus) hath beene hitherto, and yet is a common order amongst them, to have