Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/321

 either in contracts, unlawfull meetings, the Leviticall and Canonicall degrees of prohibition, or in divorcementes at pleasure, or in ommitting Sacramentall solemnities, or in retayning either Concubines or Harlots for Wiues. Yea even at this day, where the Cleargie is fainte, they can bee content to Marrie for a yeare and a day of probation, and at the yeares end, to returne her home uppon any light quarrells, if the Gentlewomans friendes bee weake and unable to avenge the injurie. Never heard I of so many dispensations for Marriage, as those men shewe, I pray God graunt they bee all authentiaue and buylded uppon sufficient warrant.

Goyenant and Indent with them never so warilie, never so preciselie, yet they have beene founde faithlesse and periured. Where they are joyned in colour of surest Amitie, there they intended to kill. This ceremonie reporteth Cambrensis. The parties to bee coupled in League, meete at Church, become Godseptes, or Allies, beare each other on his backe certaine paces in a Ring, kisse together holy reliquees, take blessing of the Bishoppe, offer each to other a droppe of his owne bloude, and drinke it up betweene them: Even in the doing hereof, they practise mutuall destruction.

They have beene used in solemne controversies, to protest and sweare by Saint Patrickes Staffe, called Bachal esu, which oath, because upon breach thereof