Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/126

 io6 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. ICH. 42. financial, and the report of 1559 closed with an earnest exhortation to Elizabeth to remember that the Irish were her subjects ; that it was her duty as their sove- reign 'to bring the poor ignorant people to better things/ ' and to recover so many thousand lost souls that were going headlong to the devil.' 1 Following close on the first survey, a more detailed account was furnished to Cecil of the social condition of the people. The common life of a chief and the rela- tions between any two adjoining tribes were but too familiar and intelligible. But there was a general organisation among the people themselves, extending wherever the Irish language was spoken, with a civiliz- ation of an Irish kind and an intellectual hierarchy. Besides the priests there were four classes of spiritual leaders and teachers, each with their subdivisions. ' The first/ wrote Cecil's correspondent, ' is called the Brehon, which in English is called f the judge ; ' and before they give judgment they take pawns of both the parties, and then they will judge according to their own discretion. These men be neuters, and the Irish- men will not prey them. They have great plenty of cattle, and they harbour many vagabonds and idle per- sons ; and if there be any rebels that move rebellion against the prince, of these people they are chiefly maintained ; and if the English army fortune to travel in that part where they be, they will flee to the moun- 1 Irish MSS. Rolls House.