Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/326

 portions of their glibbe, the nailes of their fingers and toes, their privie members; which they lose or redeeme at the curtesie of the winner.

Where they fancie and favour, they are wonderfull kinde, they exchange by commutation of wares for the most part, and have utterly no coyne stirring in any great Lords houses. Some of them be richly plated: their Ladies are trimmed rather with massie Iewels, then with garish apparell, it is counted a beautie in them to be tall, round and fat.

The inheritance descendeth not to the Sonne, but to the Brother, Nephew, or Cousin germaine eldest and most valiant: for the Childe being oftentimes left in nonage or otherwise young and unskillfull, were never able to defend his patrimonie, being his no longer then he can hold it by force of armes. But by that time he grow to a competent age, and have buryed an Vncle or two, he also taketh his turne, and leaveth it in like order to his Posterity. This custome breedeth among them continuall Warres and treasons.

CAP. VII.

The most auncient Inhabitants of Jreland.

honourable Historian Titus Livius, yeeldeth certaine priviledge to antiquitie, and will have it