Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	fish_n	great_a	sea_n	3,519	5	6.8793	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28496	Irelands naturall history being a true and ample description of its situation, greatness, shape, and nature, of its hills, woods, heaths, bogs, of its fruitfull parts, and profitable grounds : with the severall ways of manuring and improving the same : with its heads or promontories, harbours, roads, and bays, of its springs, and fountains, brooks, rivers, loghs, of its metalls, mineralls, free-stone, marble, sea-coal, turf, and other things that are taken out of the ground : and lastly of the nature and temperature of its air and season, and what diseases it is free from or subject unto : conducing to the advancement of navigation, husbandry, and other profitable arts and professions / written by Gerald Boate ; and now published by Samuell Hartlib for the common good of Ireland and more especially for the benefit of the adventurers and planters therein.	Boate, Gerard, 1604-1650.; Hartlib, Samuel, d. 1662.	1657 (1657)	Wing B3373; ESTC R27215	105,129	208

great massie stones there is in two or three places at no great distance a contin●all Rocky bulk reaching from one side to the other leaving but one or two narrow passages through which the stream runneth with a very strong current and a mighty noise but the third and last bulk like a Cataract hath the chanel close to it a great deal lower by far more than the other at least by seven or eight feet which is the cause that the stream doth not so much run swift here or passeth with a current through narrow channels as in the two first bulks but as soon as it is got over the Rock it falleth steep down with great violence the space of three or four paces in breadth where as the remainder of the main chanel is altogether stopped by the said Rock In winter and other very rainy seasons when the water doth increase much it passeth over all the said Rockes smoothly and without noise where the same is exceding great those times when the Liffie runneth with a small streame There is also a Cataract in a small tide River in the County of Cork in Munster the which falleth into the innermost corner of the great bay Bantrie and one in the Haven of Balle-shanon which haven being in effect nothing els but the mouth of Lough-Earne commonly is counted for a River and called by the name of Trowis Sect. 7. Of the Foards in the Rivers of Ireland a second impediment of their navigableness Concerning the Foardes it is to be observed that not every where where the high-wayes meet with great brooks or small Rivers bridges are found for to pass them but that in very many places one is constrained to ride through the water it self the which could not be done if the Rivers kept themselves every where inclosed between their bancks wherefore they are not only suffered in such places to spread themselves abroad but men help there to as much as they can to make the water so much the shallower and consequently the easier to be passed whereby it commeth many times to pass that a River which above and below the foard is deep enough to be portable of great boates through the shallowness of the foards lying between will bear none but of the very smallest or where otherwise the same would carry small boats is not portable at all this in most places might easily be remedied in raising of dikes or artificiall banks where the naturall ones failing doe minister opportunitie unto the Rivers fo● to spread themselves and making bridges to pass over Some Foards do not greatly impair the chanel of the Rivers but leave the same almost in her full depth especially in the midst but the same as they are more incommodious for the traveller so they are not very frequent but in far less number than the others Sect. 8. Of the Weres a third impediment of the Navigableness of the Rivers in Ireland The Weres a third ●et of the Navigation of the Irish Rivers are thus ordered They set up very big stones in the River close together from the one side of the River to the other leaving only one hole either in the midst or near one of the sides before which hole a Basket being layd they take therein a great quantity of fish for comming to the Weres and finding their way stopt by the stones they take their course to that place where they find an opening These rows of stones doe not directly cross the River from the one side to the other but doe go very much floaping that the stream with less force may beat against them and the same also doe stand but very little above the water to the end that when the flouds come the water may find a ready passage over them without which they would not be able to subsist against the force thereof but easily be thrown down and scattered Some Weres are set up not so much for the taking of fish as for Mils and that the course of the water thereby being in part stopped in the main chanel may be made to go into some little by-chanel cut expresly for to conveigh the water to the Mill many Weres serving for both these uses jointly Some Rivers have onely one of these impediments as the Shanon and the Band each a Fall or Cataract The Boine Weres having onely Foards many miles from the sea The grea●●st number have Weres and Foards and commonly each of them in severall places Some have all three as the Liffie by name which hath not only Weres and Foards in severall places but also a Cataract or Salmon-leap as hath been mentioned above CHAP. IX Of the Lakes or Loughs in Ireland Sect. 1. Of the little Loughs LOughs there is a very great number in Ireland especially in the Provinces of Ulster and Connaught we may distinguish them into three severall sorts Great Middle-sort and the Least Under this last we comprehend all such whose parts discover it self to the eye all over at one time This sort of Loughs are found in severall places of the other Provinces but nothing near so many as in Ulster Every one of these commonly sends forth a Brook and some more than one being all of them very deep the very least not excepted and well-stored with Fish So as they are not only delightfull especially such as are situated in some Dale or Valley or environed round about or on some sides with pleasant little Hils as it falleth out in the greatest part of them but also commodious and profitable affording good opportunity to build houses and Castles upon their borders which was done in ●any places by the English and Scotch who had made severall fair Plantations and would have done more if it had not been hindered by that horrible Rebellion of the bloody Irish in the beginning of which many of them which were already built have been destroyed by those Barbarians Many of these little Loughs have a little lland in the midst which is both commodious and pleasant Some wherein little llands doe float not keeping long any certain place but removing to and fro as the force of the wind doth drive them Sect. 2. Of the Middle-sort of Loughs The Middle-sort of Loughs we understand to be such as far exceeding the fore-mentioned in bigness nevertheless are not to be compared with the biggest sort of which we shall speak presently Of this kind are Lough-Fin and Lough-Dirg in the County of Donegal in Ulster Lough-Mugkney in the County of Monaghan and Lough Sillon in the County of Cavan both in the same Province Lough-Ranmore in Eastmeath besides several others in other Counties of Leinster especially in Queens-county Longford and Westmeath having little or nothing worthy of observation Sect. 3. Of the Great Loughs and first of those of salt-Salt-water The great Loughs are of two sorts either of sweet-Sweet-water as all the former and some of salt-Salt-water these last being such through the mixture of the sea the which

a great way at the end of which sand and in the innermost part of the Bay lyeth a litle Iland called in English Mutton-Iland and by the Irish Enis Kerrigh which hath the same signification at the East side whereof one may anchor in five or six fathomes of water but from thence Northwards untill the citty of Galloway which is the space of two or three miles none but litle vessels and barks can goe the Citie standing not on the Bay itself but on a broad water like a river the which not farre above Galloway comming out of a great Lake called Lough Corbes dischargeth it self into the Bay a litle above Mutton I le Sect. 7. The Havens of Limmerick Smerwick Dingle-bay Ventrie and Dingle-Icoush The next great Haven on the West side of Ireland to the South of Galloway is that of Limmerick which Haven divideth the Province of Connaught from Munster beeing of a huge length no less than fifty miles for so far it is from the mouth of the haven untill the Citty of Limmerick to whose walls great vessels may goe up without meeting with any thing els in all that way save a many little Iles but not any f●ul places Rocks or Sands This Harbour is nothing els but a great Lough halfe way its length growing somewhat narrow but immediatly enlarging it self again into a great breadth whereinto the River Shanon upon whose bank Limmerick is situated dischargeth it self a litle way below the said City although the English and the Irish both call it the Shanon all the way untill the Sea as it were not a Lough into which the River falleth but the River it self thus enlarged Comming out of this Harbour the Land on the left hand shooteth a huge way Westwards into the Sea on the side of which Fore-land ten o● twelve miles at this side of the uttermost point betwixt which and the Iles of Blaskes passeth the Sound of the same name is the Haven of Smerwick not very great deep but clean and well inclosed At the other side of this Fore-land and to the North-east from the Blaskes is a fair and very large Bay called Dingle-bay the which goeth very many miles into the land having in it divers good Havens one whereof called Ventry is four or five miles from the Sound of Blaskes Eastwards and three or four miles further is Dingle-Icoush before the mouth of which Harbour and at the West-side of it lyeth a rock called the Crow round about the which one may sail without danger it being alwayes above water but at spring tides at which time the Sea doth overflow it Sect. 8. Maire Bantrie and Beer-haven Against the South-east corner of Dingle-bay lyeth a great Iland called Valentia betwixt which and the Main is a very fair and safe Road. And a litle way beyond that Iland goeth in another huge Bay called Maire which shooteth into the Land a great deal further than Dingle-bay and somewhat further is a third Bay called Bantrie which equalleth Maire both in breadth and length in both which as well as in Dingle-bay there be severall good Harbours and Roads Maire hath in the mouth some fifty or five-and-forty fathomes of water entring in further there be six and twenty twenty and eighteen afterwards you come to ten and to six and in the innermost parts to three and two fathomes beeing throughout very clean and free from all kind of Rocks and Sands except in very few places As you enter into Bantrie side-ward upon the left hand lyeth a reasonable big I le called the Iland of Beer-haven betwixt which and the Main there goeth in a fair Sound being a great musket shot broad the which in its whole length from where it beginneth untill the place where it endeth at the further part of the Iland being the space of some miles se●veth for a very good and safe port wherefore also it beareth the name of a Hav●n being called Beer-haven A good way within the mouth●ly some Rocks in the midst of the chanel the which at high water are overflown you may sail of either side of them at the other side of this Sound where the same commeth out into the Bantrie there ly two great Rocks just in the mouth betwixt which the ships may pass as also betwixt the same and the land of either side All the rest of this Harbour or Sound is every where very clean and clear and very good anchor-ground ten twelve and thirteen fathoms deep Sect. 9. Whiddie-haven and Langerf In the innermost of the Bantrie lyeth an Iland about three miles long called Whiddie betwixt which and the Main is a very fair wide Bay being the uttermost end of the great Bay Bantrie where you may every where come to an anchor in three four five or six fathomes in as much or as litle water as you will according as you have a mind to ride neer the shore or further from it being every where clean ground Ships may enter into this Bay or Sound in two severall places at both ends of the Iland But the entrance at the South-end is very dangerous because that there betwixt the Iland Whiddie and the Main land it is in most places foul and Rockie But in the other entrance at the Northern end of the Iland is both room and depth enough it being much broader than that at the South-end and eight and nine fathomes deep and there is nothing that can doe hurt except only a row of Rocks a litle musket shot from the shoar the which being covered at high water doe not begin to appear but at half ●bb Right against this Iland at the other side of Bantrie is a Haven called Langerf in which is every where good anchoring and good ground only at the one side on the right hand close to the mouth ly some foul grounds the which fall dry at the ebb of a springtide From Beerhaven to the Northern corner of the Iland Whiddie the Bantrie tendeth East-North-East and North-East eighteen or twenty miles in length Over against Beerhaven in the midst of the fair water it is deep forty six and thirty and thirty fathoms beyond the Iland fifteen and sixteen but further in approaching the I le of Whiddie it is again twenty and five and twenty fathoms deep Sect. 10. Downams bay Baltimore-bay and Baltimore-haven Next to the Bantrie and only by a narrow neck of land divided from it is Downams bay being great and wide although no wayes comparable to any of those three already described a very commodious Road to save ships in and good anchor ground every where The land to the East of this Bay shooteth out very far to the Sea-ward the uttermost point thereof called Messan-head being the Southermost Cape of all Ireland For Cape de Clare being about twenty miles further to the East and somewhat more Southerly is not on the Main but in an Iland Beyond Messan-head is another Bay far greater than any of those

three forenamed but nothing like the same in shape nor in the same manner running with a long arm a huge way into the land but rather approaching to the figure of a half moon In this Bay is Crook-haven School-haven and severall other great Havens not only on the main land but also in some of the Ilands whereof there is a great number in this Bay The most Easterly of all these Ilands is Baltimore the which surpassing all the others in bigness giveth its name unto the Bay That part of the Bay which lyeth betwixt this Iland and the Main having a narrow entrance but within of a great largenes is a marvellous good Road where ships may come to an anchor on either side lye defended off all winds It is five and six fathoms deep on the sides six and 7. in the midst In the mouth of the Harbour next to the East-side lyeth a blind Rock in the midst of it another Rock which appeareth at low water There is nothing els that can do hurt This Haven being far the principallest of all this Bay hath its name as wel as the Bay it self of the Iland being called Baltimore-haven To the North of that Iland lieth another ●land called Spain-Iland where one may pass betwixt these two Ilands to the West and so out of Baltimore-haven goe into the Sea But onely with smaller vessells because half flood there is not aboue 12. or thiteen feet of water in all that channell Sect. 11 Castle-haven Rosse-haven Clandore Haven with the Havens of Kinsale and Cork Some miles beyond Baltimore-bay is Castle-haven where ships may come to an anchor in twelve fathoms of water being of a reasonable bigness and very clear and clean as well in the entrance as within Between Castle-haven and Kinsale are two other good Havens to wit that of Rosse and of Clandore in which there is water enough and very clean ground The Haven of Kinsale is one of the famousest of all Ireland ships may sail into it keeping in the midst of the channell without any danger either without or in the mouth of the Harbour except a blind Rock close to the East point Within the haven on the West-side lyeth a great shelf which shooteth a great way off from the land but leaving a very large passage along by the side of it in which as in all the rest of the Harbour it is many fathomes deep This Haven for some miles goeth in North-North-East but afterwards turneth West-ward untill the Kay of Kinsale where ships may ride in eight or nine fathoms of water being defended off all Winds Ten or twelve miles to the East of Kinsale is Cork-haven the which goeth in North-North-East being within large and wide running a great way into the land for the town of Cork untill whose Kay this Haven is very clean and deep is seated many miles from the Sea and from the mouth of the Harbour CHAP. III. Of the lesser Havens and the barred Havens of Ireland also of the Roads and Anchor-places upon the coast and in the little Ilands near the coast Sect. 1. Wexford-haven AFter the description of the principal Havens of Ireland we shall come to them of less moment in which number we put all those which either in their entrance or within have not water enough for the bigher sort of vessels as likewise those the which being deep enough are but very little and of a small pourprise and in this description we shall observe the same order as in the former beginning with Wexford and so going North-ward then West afterwards South-ward and lastly East and North-Eastward untill wee have gone about the whole Iland The Haven of Wexford runneth in West and by North and with her innermost part altogether Northward Just before this Haven lye two great shelves of Sands by the side one of the other of which that on the South-side is called Hanemans-path and the other North-grounds There goeth a chanel betwixt Hanemans-path and the land on the South-side of the Haven and another betwixt the North-side and the North-grounds but this last hath but six feet of water at full flood and in the other eight feet with the flood of ordinary tides and ten at spring-tides The chief chanel is that which goeth in betwixt the two Sands being four and five fathom deep Besides these Sands there is another Shelf in the mouth of the Harbour it self which kind of sandy-banks lying across in the mouth of Harbours and Rivers are usually called Bars and the Havens which have them Bared-havens With a high flood there is about sixteen feet of water Being past the Bar you have for some way three fathoms of water three and a half and four but afterwards for a great way but ten feet and ten a half with a high flood although under the Castle where the Ships come to an Anchor you have four fathoms and before the Town three but because of the forementioned shallows no vessels can go to Wexford that draw more than ten feet of water but must unlade and lade in a Creek near the mouth of the Haven on the South-side about three miles from the Town where is water enough but no shelter for the South-west winds the which do come over the land to this place Sect. 2. Dublin-haven Dublin Haven hath a Bar in the mouth upon which at high-flood and spring-tide there is fifteen and eighteen feet of water but at the ebbe and nep●-tide but six With an ordinary tide you cannot go to the Key of Dublin with a Ship that draws five feet of water but with a spring-tide you may go up with Ships that draw seven and eight feet Those that go deeper cannot go nearer Dublin than the Rings-end a place three miles distant from the Bar and one from Dublin This Haven almost all over falleth dry with the ebbe as well below Rings-end as above it so as you may go dry-foot round about the Ships which lye at an Anchor there except in two places one at the North-side half way betwixt Dublin and the Bar and the other at the South-side not far from it In these two little Creeks whereof the one is called the Pool of Clantarf and the other Poolebeg it never falleth dry but the Ships which ride at an Anchor remain ever afloat because at low water you have nine or ten feet of water there This Haven besides its shallownes hath yet another great incommodity that the Ships have hardly any shelter there for any winds not only such as come out of the sea but also those which come off from the land especially out of the South-west so as with a great South-west storm the Ships run great hazard to be carried away from their Anchors and driven into the sea which more than once hath come to pass and particularly in the beginning of November Anno 1637 when in one night ten or twelve Barks had that misfortune befaln them of the most

part whereof never no news hath been heard since Sect. 3. The Havens of Drogheda and Dundalk The Haven of Drogheda or as the word is pronounced in common use Tredagh is very troublesom to be got into as having not only a Bar lying across before its mouth over the which vessels cannot pass but at high water but also very narrow in the mouth This Haven not being an Arm or Bay of the sea but onely a River which keepeth her own bigness untill the end without receiving any notable enlargement of the sea about her mouth as other Rivers use to do Upon this Bar is as much water as upon that of Dublin and the Ships which can pass the Bar may go up to the Key of Tredagh which Town is seated about two miles from the month of this River which is called the Boine Sixteen miles to the North of Tredagh standeth Dundalk where a wide open Bay made by the giving back and retiring of the coast growing narrow and receiving a little River which above Dundalk is but a small Brook maketh a kind of Haven where never is much water and with the ebbe may be passed over a foot wherefore and because there is not any shelter for the windes comming from the sea nor any usuall Trafique this Road is very little fr●quented Sect. 4. The Havens o● Dondrom Arglas Oldfleet Belletree and the Band. A few miles on this side of Strongford are the Havens of Dondrom and Arglas the one not far from the other both little and not very deep but safe And a little way beyond the Northern point of the Bay of Knockfergus is Oldfleet-haven a Harbour of the same sort as those two last mentioned Port Belletree six or seven miles to the West of Fair-foreland the North-Easterliest point of Ireland is as little as any of those three less defended of the winds and the ground sharp and foul Some miles further is the Haven of Colrain called Band-haven the which is nothing else but the mouth of the River Band the which here falleth into the sea keeping her own narrowness untill the end in the same manner as we said above of the Haven of Tredagh This River passing through Lough Neaugh the greatest Lake of all Ireland the which receiving severall Rivers hath no other out-let into the sea but the Band carrieth a mighty deal of water the which being inclosed in a narrow chanel powreth it self into the sea with great violence for which reason and because of the narrowness of the mouth this Haven is very hard to enter having also but little depth so as vessels which draw eight feet of water must at least have three quarters of the flood before they can enter Sect. 5. Tellin-haven Mackswins-bay the Havens of Balleshanon Slego Endrigo Moy and Niffadoy Upon the West coast of Ulster about half way between Cape Tellin and Kilbeg is Tellin-haven a round Bay with good sand ground which will contain about thirty Ships West and South-West winds blow directly into it but off all other winds one is there defended Two or three miles Eastwards from Kilbeg is Mackswins Bay where a Ship may ride safe without Cable and Anchor but the entrance being every where beset with Rocks it is dangerous to go into it Some miles to the South-West of Dungal-haven is Balleshanon being the mouth of that short River by which Lough-Earn one of the greatest Lakes of Ireland dischargeth it self into the sea which River runneth just on the borders of the two Provinces of Ulster and Connaught dividing the same this having a Bar before it by reason whereof no bigger vessels than of thirty or forty tuns can enter into it Slego and Endrigo are two little Harbours situated near the one to the other in the North part of Connaught very much encumbred with Rocks and Sands in the entrance but otherwise reasonably deep for a Ship of two hundred Tunnes may come and ride before the Town of Slego About half way between Slego and Broad-haven is Moy being the innermost of a great Bay divided from the rest by a little Iland somewhat long the which lyeth cross in that manner that onely one chanel remaineth whereby to go out of the great Bay into the lesser or the Haven which chanel is twelve feet deep but in the Haven it self being nothing else but two little Creeks divided asunder by some sands lying betwixt them it is about fifteen or sixteen feet deep but in the little channel which passeth into the inmost creek being nearest to the Village Moy there is but nine feet of water at full flood with an ordinary tide Some miles to the South-East of Sline-head a famous Cape in Connaught and situated about half way the length of that Province is Port Niffadoy a reasonable good Harbour but very dangerous to get into the sea there round abouts being full of Rocks both blind ones and others Sect. 6. The Havens of Trailie Youghall and Dungarvan item of Wickloe Arckloe Malahide c. At Trailie half way between Smerwick and the mouth of the Haven of Limmerick is a fair Haven but none of the biggest About the middle way between Cork and Waterford is the Haven of Youghall before the which lyeth a Bar not to be passed but at high water Twelve miles Eastwards from Youghall is Dungarvan being a narrow Tide-haven whose mouth is full of Rocks many of which do not appear and so more dangerous and at low water it falleth dry so as one must go into it at high flood and pass amidst the Rocks As for the Havens of Arckloe where with high water it is but six feet deep of Wickloe where at ful flood you have but ten feet of water Malahide a little to the North of the Bay of Dublin Coldach-haven and Red-haven the first betwixt Loughsoile and Loughsuillie and the other betwixt Loughsuillie and Sheeps-haven Milk-haven not far from Slego Mablin-haven betwixt Waterford and Wexford and some others of the same nature They are so little that they will hardly serve for other than Fisherboates and therefore scarce merit the name of Havens Sect. 7. Roads upon the Coast of Ireland from Waterford to Fair-Foreland Be●ides this great number of Havens in Ireland there are many good Roads where ships at need may save themselves and commodiously come to an anchor not only upon the coast of the Main land but also in the most part of the litle Ilands which ly round about Ireland To begin with those on the Main From the point of Waterford to Carnarord being the space of about twenty miles the coast is full of Bayes where one may come to an anchor Under Carnarord ships anchor in six and nine fathomes In St Margarets bay three miles from Carnarord it is good anckoring in five and six fathomes sand ground A litle further is the bay of Grenore where you may anchor as neer the land as you will in six five four or three fathomes Some miles from

my Brother and others being this The Lagon a little River or Brook which passeth by the Town of Dremore upon a certain time being greatly risen through a great and lasting rain and having carryed away the woodden-bridge whereby the same used to be passed at that Town a country fellow who was travelling that way having stayed three dayes in hope that the water would fall and seeing that the rain continued grew impatient of staying longer and resolved to pass the Brook whatever the danger was but to doe it with the less perill and the more steadiness he took a great heavy stone upon his shoulders whose weight giving him some firmness against the violence of the water he passed the same without harm and came safe to the other side to the wonderment of many people who had been looking on and given him all for a lost person Sect. 7. Of the Brooks of Dromconran and Rafernam by Dublin Of these dangerous Brooks there are two hard by Dublin both running into the Haven somewhat more than a mile from the Citie the one at the North-side thereof a little below the Village Dromconran which is seated upon the High-way from Dublin to Drogheda and the other at the South-side close by the Rings-end This called rafernam-Rafernam-water of the village by which it passeth two miles from the sea and the same distance from Dublin is far the worst of the two as taking its beginning out of those great Mountains South-wards from Dublin from whence after any great rain such abundance of water is descending to it that the same which at other times is of very little depth groweth thereby so deep and exceeding violent that many persons have lost their lives therein amongst others Mr. Iohn Vsher Father to Sir William Vsher that now is who was carryed by the current no body being able to succour him although many persons and of his nearest friends both afoot and horsback were by on both the sides Since that time a stone bridge hath been built over that brook as over Dromconran-water there hath been one from antient times upon the way betwixt Dublin and Rings-end which was hardly well accomplished when the Brook in one of those furious risings quite altered its chanel for a good way so as it did not pass under the Bridge as before but just before the foot of it letting the same stand upon the dry land and consequently making it altogether useless in which perverse course it continued untill perforce it was constrained to return to its old chanel and to keep within the same To go from Dublin to Rafernam one passeth this River upon a woodden-bridge the which although it be high and strong nevertheless hath severall times been quite broke and carryed away through the violence of sudden floods although at other times and when that Brook doth onely carry its ordinary water a child of five yeares may easily and without danger wade through it and a tall man on horsback riding underneath it not being able to reach it in the great floods the water many times riseth so high as that it doth not onely touch but floweth quite over the bridge CHAP. VIII Of the Rivers of Ireland Sect. 1. Of the Shanon BEsides the excessive number of Brooks wherwith Ireland is watered it hath a good many Rivers the which being broader and deeper than the Brooks are consequently navigable although the major part are not portable of any great ships nor barks but only of small vessels and boats The principallest of all is the Shanon who taking his originall out of Lough-Allen and in his course dividing the Province of Connaught from Leinster and afterwards also from Munster passeth through two other great Loughs to wit Lough-Ree whereout she cometh just above Atlone a mean Market-town but adorned with a stately and strong Castle the ordinary residence of the Presidents of Connaught and Lough-Dergh about half way betwixt Atlone and Limmerick and a little below the said Town shee dischargeth her self again into another Lough by far the biggest of all the which extending it self from Limmerick unto the sea and above fifty miles long it is held by the Irish as well as the English not for a Lough but for the Shanon it self and consequently called with that name whereof hath been spoken in the second Chapter This River is wide and deep every where so as she would be navigable in her whole length not only with Boats of all sorts but with reasonable big Ships to the great commodity of them that inhabit near it were it not for the impediment of a certain Rock some six miles above Limmerick the which standing across in the chanel and the River with great violence falling downwards over it all communication of Navigation betwixt the upper and the lower parts of it is thereby absolutely hindred Sir Thomas Wentworth Lord Wentworth and afterwards Earl of Strafford he that in in the beginning of this present Parliament was beheaded having been Governour of Ireland many yeares first in the quality of Lord Deputy and afterwards of Lord Lieutenant had a design to take away that let in causing of a new channel to be digged for a little way whereby the River being made to alter her course should have avoyded that Rock and to that purpose sent certain skilfull men thither to view those parts and carefully to examine whether it were feasible who made report that it might be done and would not cost above seven or eight thousand pounds sterling a sum not very considerable in comparison of the great profit which afterwards would have been reaped from that work Nevertheless it was never taken in hand the intents of publick utility having been diverted and smothered by those of private profit as commonly it falleth out Sect. 2. The Rivers Suck Sure Oure Broad-water Barrow and Slane There are several other Rivers in the Province of Connaught but none of them is any waye comparable with the Shanon for length bredth or depth and little to be said of them but that the Suck the which falleth into the Shanon a little way below Atlone is the principallest of all The two chief Rivers of Munster are Sure and broad-Broad-water the City of Waterford being situated upon the first of those two the which close by it dischargeth her self into that arm of the sea which is known by the name of Waterford-haven The other passeth by Lismore and falleth into the sea by Youghall where it maketh a Tide-haven Next to those two is the River of Cork and then that of Kinsale the which is but of small moment as also are the rest of the Rivers of this Province In Leinster is the Nure or Oure the Barrow the Slane the Liffie and the Boine besides some others of less moment The Oure and Barrow do mingle their waters at the Town of Ross from whence having past a little way together they discharge themselves into the right arm of the Haven of Waterford and

so in a manner doe meet the Sure who falleth into the other arm For which consideration these three Rivers were wont to be called the three Sisters as Giraldus witnesseth Both the Oure and the Barrow are portable many miles into the country the Oure onely with little Boats and with Cots they call in Ireland Cots things like Boats but very unshapely being nothing but square peeces of timber made hollow but the Barrow with good big Boats The Slane falleth into the Haven of VVexford being like unto the Oure for length and bigness Sect. 3. Of the Liffie and the Boine The Liffie is the Princess of the Irish-Rivers not for her bigness for not only the Shanon but the Boine Barrow and severall others do far surpass her therein but because Dublin the chief City of all Ireland is seated upon her banks a mile below which City at a place called Rings-end she loseth her self in a Bay of the Sea which is called Dublin-haven With the help of the Flood ships of fifty and threescore tuns can make a shift to come up to the Key of Dublin but when the Tide is out and at the lowest the smallest boats find hardly water enough to go between Dublin and Rings-end because the chanel being very broad there the water spreadeth it self too much and by reason thereof groweth very shallow But in the City it self where she is inclosed betwixt the Keys on both sides and from the bridge of Dublin untill the bridge of Kilmanan and a little further being somewhat more than a mile in which space she runneth between her own banks great boates may goe upon her at any time She would be navigable with boats some three or four miles further but the Weres made in her a little way above the bridge of Kilmanan doe hinder that This River taketh her beginning in the mountaines lying to the South of Dublin not above ten miles from it but fetcheth such a compass bending her coast first to the West afterwards to the North and lastly for seven or eight miles Eastward that from her originall to her mouth is the space of no less than forty or fifty miles The Boine the River where-on Tredagh is seated hath her beginning in Kings County close by the originall of the Barrow although the place where the Barrow falleth into the haven of Waterford is above fourscore miles distant from the mouth of the Boine This River is almost of an equall bigness in farre the greatest part of her course and would be portable of good bigg boates very many miles into the land if that were not hindred by the Weres Sect. 4. Of the Band and Blackwater The principall River in Vlster of those that fall directly into the Sea is the Band the which as in her mouth she is incumbred with severall inconvenients as wee have declared above in the third chapter so she is portable but a few miles from the Sea because of a certain Rock the which running across the chanel from the one bank to the other stoppeth all manner of passage not only of bigger vessels and barks but of the smallest boates which dare not come neer the same Rock because it being somewhat high and the water from it falling downwards with great violence it goeth for some space with a mighty current This Rock or Cataract called vulgarly the Salmon-leap for a reason hereafter to be declared and the Fall because of the falling down of the water is not above four miles from the Sea hindring all manner of communication between the same and Lough Neaugh from the which this Cataract is distant about three miles whereas otherwise if the passage of this River from the sea to the Lough were open ships might by that meanes goe a great way into the land not only the whole length and breadth of Lough Neaugh which every where is very deep and navigable even for great ships but even a good many miles farther with good big boates by meanes of some Rivers that fall into it especially the Black-water which is the principallest of them all For the Band although she giveth the name to the River going out of the Lough is not comparable to the Black-water for breadth nor depth beeing rather a brook than a River the which being very shallow at other times doth rise so excessively upon the falling of much rain that it is one of the most dangerous and terrible brookes of all Ireland in the which therefore from time to time many men and horses have been drowned at the passing of it Sect. 5. Of the Lagon and nury-Nury-water tide-rivers Besides the Band and the Black-water there is scarce any other River in Vlster but that which passing by Strebane and London-derrie dischargeth it self into Lough-foile For the Lagon hereto●ore mentioned by us which by Belfast falleth into the Sea the nury-Nury-water whereof wee have spoken in the description of Carlingford-haven and some others of that nature are properly brooks and not portable by reason of their own water but of that which out of the Sea floweth into them as appeareth clearly when the tide is out For then they are as small and as little portable in those places where the boates and bigger vessels doe pass at high water as are they at all times in those places unto which the tide doth never reach which kind of Tide-rivers or brooks which only by the comming in of the tide are made navigable for a little way are to be found in all the Provinces of Ireland Sect. 6. Of the Cataracts in the Irish Rivers Besides that the navigable Rivers are but rare in Ireland and that the most part of them are only portable of very small vessels and boats not of any bigger ships or barks as appeareth by the former relation there be very few rivers who have not some impediment or other in them whereby it commeth that they are not portable so farre as otherwise they would be These impediments are chiefly three in number Cataracts Weres and Foards whereof the last two doe only concern the lesser Rivers The first to wit the Cataracts are incident to the greatest Rivers as well as to others as may appear by what wee have said concerning them in the description of the Shanon and the Band whereby also fully may be conceived the manner and nature of the said Cataracts so as it is needless here again to delineate them Such a Cataract or Fall there is found in the Liffie seven miles from Dublin and about a quarter of a mile above the village and Castle of Leslip the description of which as holding it not improper for this place wee shall here set down as it came to our hands from those who have observed it very exactly The said River running there abouts along a narrow and deep valley being hemmed in at both sides with high hils of a long continuance hath a very Rockie chanel and besides that the bottom is overspread in severall parts with

finding an open entrance and twice a day with the Tide fully flowing into them maketh the water so salt And it would be no great error to take all those Loughs wherein that happeneth viz. Lough Cone in the County of Down Lough-Foile in the County of Colrain Lough-suille in Tirconnell and the Lough of Cork rather for Inlets of the Sea than for Lakes although the Inhabitants hold them all to be Loughs and give them the name of Loughs And in this number is also to be put that great Lough betwixt Limmerick and the sea through which the Shanon dischargeth it self into the sea of the which we have already spoke once or twice heretofore Sect. 4. Of Lough-Earne Lough-Neaugh and the rest of the great Loughs Amongst the great Loughs of Sweet-water are far the principallest Lough-Earne Lough-Neaugh the first of which is situated in the confines of Ulster and Connaught being in effect two different Loughs joyned together onely by a short and narrow chanel of which two that which lyeth farthest within the land doth extend it self in a manner directly North and South but the second which is next to the sea doth lye East and West so that both together they have the fashion of a bended elbow being both very broad in the midst growing by degrees narrower towards both the ends Lough-Neaugh lyeth in the North-Easterly part of Ulster bordering upon the Counties of Tirone Armagh Down Antrim and Colrain being of a round or rather somwhat ovall figure Next in bigness to these two is Lough-Corbes the same on whose neather-end the City Galloway is seated The two Loughs thorough which the Shanon passeth Lough-Ree and Lough-Dirg item Lough-Fingarrow in Connaught betwixt the Counties of Maio and Roscomen In the last place as the least of this sort are Lough-Allen out of which the Shanon taketh his originall being nine miles long and three miles broad Lough-Me●ke situated betwixt Lough-Fingarrow and the Lough of Galloway And Lough-Larne in the County of Kerry in Munster not far from the upper-end of those two famous Bayes Dingle and Maire The least of these is some miles long and broad and many miles in circuit but the biggest are of so vast a compass that they are more like a Sea than a Lough Sect. 5. Of the Ilands in the Loughs Most of these great Loughs are very full of little Ilands and above all Lough-Earne in which the same are numberless In Lough-Cone also there is so great a number that those who inhabit about it affirm them to bee two hundred and threescore Lough-Ree and Lough-Dirg are likewise very full of them And there is also a good many in Lough-Fingarrow Lough-Larne and Suille But Lough-Foile is very free from them and in the Lough of Cork there is not above one or two as likewise in Lough-Neaugh in which they lye near to the ●ides leaving the midst altogether free Very few of these Ilands are inhabited or planted but the most part being plentifully cloathed with very sweet Grass serve for pastures to sheep and other cattle the which doe thrive wonderfully well in them and the same befalleth also in the middle sort of Loughs amongst which likewise there be very few that have not some of these little Ilands in them In some few of these Ilands especially of Lough-Earne and Lough-Ree are some dwellings whereunto persons who love solitariness were wont to retire themselves and might live there with much contentment as finding there not only privacy and quietness with opportunity for studies and contemplations but there besides great delightfulness in the place it self with variety of very sweet pastimes in fowling fishing planting and gardening In one of the greatest Ilands of Lough-Earne Sir Henry Spotteswood had a fine seat with goodly Buildings Gardens Orchards and a pretty little Village with a Church and Steeple belonging to it which whither it is in being yet or destroyed by the Barbarians and bloody Rebels I am not informed In Lough Sillon in the County of Cavan in a Iland not far from the bank where the River Nanne● runneth into it is a Castle built of form four square which covereth the whole I le much after the manner of the Fort Eneskellin in Lough-Earne and so many more to long to be rehearsed Sect. 6. Of St Patriks Purgatory One of these little Ilands situated in Lough-Dirg one of the middle-sort of Loughs hath been very famous for the space of some ages over almost all Christendome because the world was made to beleeve that there was the suburbs of Purgatorie into which whoso had the courage to goe and remaine there the appointed time did see and suffer very strange and terrible things which perswasion having lasted untill our times the matter hath been discovered with in these few yeares and found to be a meer illusion This discoverie was made during the goverment of Richard Boile Earle of Cork and Adam Lostus Vicount of Elie and Lord Chancellour of Ireland which two being Lords Iustices of that Kingdome in the last yeares of King Iames desirous to know the truth of the business sent some persons of qualitie to the place to inquire exactly into the truth of the whole matter These did find that that miraculous and fearfull cave descending down to the very Purgatorie and Hell was nothing els but a little cell digged or hewen out of the Rockie ground without any windowes or holes so as the doore beeing shut one could not see a jot within it beeing of so little depth that a tall man could but just stand upright in it and of no greater capacity than to contain six or seven persons Now when that any person desirous to goe that Pilgrimage to Purgatory was come into the Iland the Friars some small number whereof made their constant aboad there for that purpose made him watch and fast excessively whereby and through the recounting of strange and horrible apparitions and ●antasmes which he would meet withall in that subterranean pilgrimage being well preepared they did shut him up in that little dark hole and beeing drawn out again from thence after some houres altogether astonished and in a maze he would be a good while before he came again to himself and afterwards the poor man would tell wonderfull stories as if in very deed he had gone a great way under the ground and seen and suffered all those things which his weak imagination altogether corrupted by the concurrence and sequel of so many causes to weaken the braine did figure unto him To prevent this delusion in future times the said Lords Iustices caused the Friars to depart from thence their dwelling quite to be demolished and the hole or cell to be broke open and altogether exposed to the open aire in which state it hath lyen ever since whereby that Pilgrimage to Purgatory is quite come to nothing and never hath bin undertaken since by any To beget the greater reputation to this sictitious Purgatory the people

IRELANDS NATURALL HISTORY Being a true and ample Description of its Situation Greatness Shape and Nature Of its Hills Woods Heaths Bogs Of its Fruitfull Parts and profitable Grounds with the severall ways of Manuring and Improving the same With its Heads or Promontories Harbours Roads and Bays Of its Springs and Fountains Brooks Rivers Loghs Of its Metalls Mineralls Free-stone Marble Sea-coal Turf and other things that are taken out of the ground And lastly of the Nature and temperature of its Air and Season and what diseases it is free from or subject unto Conducing to the Advancement of Navigation Husbandry and other profitable Arts and Professions Written by Gerard Boate late Doctor of Physick to the State in Ireland And now Published by SAMUELL HARTLIB Esq For the Common Good of Ireland and more especially for the benefit of the Adventurers and Planters therein Imprinted at London for Iohn Wright at the Kings Head in the Old Baily 1657. To His Excellency OLIVER CROMWEL Captain Generall of the Common-wealths Army in England Scotland and Ireland and Chancellor of the University of OXFORD AND To the Right Honorable CHARLES FLEETWOOD Commander in Chief under the Lord Generall Cromwell of all the Forces in IRELAND Right Honorable IT is a very great and signal Truth that all the works of God are both wonderfull and precious much sought out by all those that love him and it is the guilt of the wicked that as they regard not the Lord so they consider not the Operation of his hands for the Lord hath revealed his Truth even his Godhead and his Eternall Power by his Workes that such as respect him not in the Creation of the World and in the wayes of his Providence may be without excuse Now it se●ms to mee that the end for which God hath not left himself without a Testimony in Nature is not onely that we should in our spirit glorifie him as God and be thankfull but that also our Outward Man should bee made sensible of his goodness and partake of that supply of life which by his appointment the Creature can yeeld unto us if happily wee may feel after him and find him therein So that such as respect him not in his wayes of Nature being careless to seek them out do make themselves also incapable of the blessings of Nature through their ignorance and neglect of the good things which God hath provided for them thereby for all things are Ours things present and things to come and Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is aswell as of that which is to come for as by the act of Faith we are made capable of the good things of the life to come because by the truth of God as it is the Object of our Faith they have a spirituall being and Subsistence in us so by the act of Reason rightly ordered we are made partakers of the benefit of this life because by the effect of Gods Wisedom and Power in Nature as they are the Objects of our Reasonable facultie they have a bodily being and subsistence in us and as the Wisdom of God doth many wayes manifest it self not only in Spirituall but also in Outward and Bodily things so there are many parts of Humane Learning some wherof are subservient to the Private life of a single man some to the comforts and Publick Use of a Societie and amongst all these parts of Learning which relate to a Society I can conceive none more profitable in Nature than that of Husbandry For whether we reflect upon the first settlement of a Plantation to prosper it or upon the wealth of a Natiō that is planted to increase it this is the Head spring of al the native Commerce Trading which may bee set afoot therein by any way whatsoever Now to advance Husbandry either in the production and perfectiō of earthly benefits or in the management thereof by way of Trading I know nothing more usefull than to have the knowledg of the Natural History of each Nation advanced perfected For as it is evident that except the benefits which God by Nature hath bestowed upon each Country bee known there can be no Industrie used towards the improvement and Husbandry thereof so except Husbandry be improved the industrie of Trading whereof a Nation is capable can neither be advanced or profitably upheld There is a twofold body and a twofold life in man which God hath created the one is Naturall the other Spiritual the Apostle tells us that the Spirituall is not first but the Naturall and afterward that which is Spirituall as the Bodies and lives of men are ordered by God so we must conceive of the frames of their Societies that the Naturall is before that which is Spirituall that in Gods aime it is a preparatory thereunto although in the use which men make thereof this aime is not obtained for seeing in the wisdom of God the world by wisdome hath not known God therefore God is pleased by another way which to the World doth seem foolishness to manifest his Power and his Wisdome unto salvation namely by the Preaching of the Gospel in the name of Iesus Christ and him crucified and although hitherto since the death of Christ the dispensation of wisdome hath not yet opened the conduit pipes of Natural Knowledge to cause the souls of men flow forth partake of the life of God therein by reason of the prevalencie of Sensuall inclinations of the want of due reflection upon Christ in whom alone the perfect use of Nature is brought home to the glory of the Father by the Spirit yet when the time of the Restauration of all things shall come from the presence of him who will come shortly and will not tarry then the works of the Devill whereby he hath brought us the whole Creation under the bondage of Corruption shall be destroied when the Nature right use of the Creature by his meanes obscured shall be revealed then also the properties and application of the Creature in the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God shall be subjected unto Grace These great and mighty Changes which God is making in the Earth do tend to break the yokes of Vanity and to weaken the Power which hath wreathed the same upon the necks of the Nations these Changes seem to me to presage the neer approaches of this Liberty and the advancement of the ways of Learning whereby the Intellectuall Cabinets of Nature are opened and the effects therof discovered more fully to us than to former Ages seem in like manner to prepare a plainer Address unto the right use thereof for us than our forefathers have had which will be effectuall to the manifestation of Gods Wisdome Power and Goodness when the great promises shall be accomplished that the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea that we shall be taught

Sands or Grounds as any in all the world not alone upon the other sides where the same is wide and open far distant from all other lands but upon the East-side where the same is inclosed betwixt Ireland and Great-Britain in which whole space it hath not any other Sands than those situated along the coast between Dublin and Wexford These indeed are of a huge extent but not turning and winding as most part of the Grounds in other places but in a streight line North-North-East South-South-West being farthest from the land with their North-end and as they go Southward so they do come nearer to the land and near the Tuskar a Rock right against the point of Greenore in which place they end they are not much more than two miles distant from the land whereas the distance betwixt the North-end near the Iland Dalkee which Iland as before we have shewed lyeth at the entrance of Dublin-bay about threescore miles from the Tuskar is above eight miles They are all of a Stoney-ground in some places but one fathom deep and a fathom and a half but in the North-end two fathoms and a half and three fathoms Betwixt these Grounds and the land lye two or three little Sands besides those which lye in and before the mouth of the Bay of Wexford one betwixt the South-end and Greenore another to the South of the Head of Glascarick a good mile from the land called Rush and Ram and a third one mile to the South of Arcklohead called Glaskermen somewhat more than half a mile from the land and about two miles long Sect. 2. Of the Chanel betwixt the Land and the forenamed Grounds The Chanel betwixt the great Grounds and the land is very deep all over so that the biggest vessels may pass through it from Dublin to Wexford and from Wexford to Dublin taking care only that they doe not come too neer the Grounds the which being very steep on the inside as they are also without or on the East-side where ships may not come neerer to them than in 24. and 25. fathoms because that in twenty fathomes one is close by them it is requisite not to goe further off from the land than in seven or eight fathoms in which depth ships may within a cabels length sail all along the coast the which here every where is very clean and free from all danger And even between the land and the forenamed small Grounds Glaskermen and Rush and Ram the Sea is very clean and deep so as most ships doe passe betwixt them and the land and not about by the out side of them These Sands in four severall places are cut thorough with fair broad and deep chanells whereof the one is over against the Bay of Wexford the other against Glascarick beeing no less than fifteen or sixteen fathoms deep the third right against Arckloe in which chanel it is about seven or eight fathoms deep and the fourth is directly against Wickloe Sect. 3. Blind Rocks upon the coast of Ireland from the Saltees unto Wickloe There are some blind Rock in this Sea but lye for the most part close under the land or neer some of the litle Ilands or high Rocks so as they may easily be shunned the rather because most of them doe at low water appear either in part or altogether To speak a litle of these in order the Saltees two litle Ilands situated half way between the Haven of Waterford and and the head of Carnarord of the which hath been spoken heretofore have both at the North-side some blind Rocks whereof those which ly neer the bigger and Southermost Iland fall dry at low water About three miles to the South of the same bigger Iland lyeth a blind Rock called Kinmore of the bignes of a ship at half ebbe it cometh above water and is so steep that with the side of a ship one may ly close against it and have fourteen fathomes of water so as without any danger one may sail very close by it To the South-East of the fore named bigger Iland doe also lye some blind Rocks called the Frailes the which may be seen at low water and ships may passe through the midst of them About half a mile from Blackrock a noted Rock whereof shall be spoken anon lyeth a blind Rock called the Barrell of the which one must take heed very carefully A little to the West of Carnarord lyeth a small Rocky foul close under the land Betwixt Carnarord and St Margarets Bay it is foul and Rocky but the foul grounds doe not reach far into the Sea South-South-East from St Margarets Bay lyeth a blind Rock called Caliogh the which at low water falleth dry From the point of Greenore a riffe of blind Rocks and Stones runneth almost the length of a mile into the Sea the which at low water falleth dry a good way from the land At the North-side of the Head of Arcklo lyeth a litle Stony row the which is shunned very carefully by the ships not daring to come neerer to it than in five fathoms of water Sect. 4. The rest of the blind Rocks upon the coast of Ireland Iust to the South of the head of Wickloe a little way from the land lyeth a Rocky sand called Horse-shoe betwixt which and the land ships may sail thorough if need be but that being full of danger it is done very seldome and a little further to the South lyeth a little blind Rock close by the land called the Wolfe the which at half ebb cometh above water betwixt which and the land fishers boats doe passe The like blind Rocks Rockie sands lye upon the coast betwixt Tredagh and Dundalk as also betwixt Dundalk and Carlingford in both places close under the land at both the points of the Havens of Carlingford Strangford under St Iohns point situated half way between those two Havens on both sides of those two great Rocks a litle way beyond Strangford Haven called Southrock and Northrock between the Ilands of Copland Iles and the land at the South-point of the bay of Knockfergus round about those great Rocks over against Oldfleet called the nine maids to the West of the little Iland called Sheeps-Iland betwixt Port Belletree and Skires Portrush which Rocks are called the Chickens half-way betwixt Lough-Suillie and Sheeps-Haven a mile or two from the land which Rocks the flood doth cover but at ebbe they come above water in severall other places upon the West-coast the South-coast the which it would be tedious all to particularise wherfore we will conclude this rehearsall of the Blind Rocks with that which to the West of St Iohns point a point situated three or four mile Southwards from Kilbeg-haven doth lye somwhat more than a mile off from the land upon which the Sea breaketh with great noise and nevertheless one may freely and without any danger sail between the same and the land Sect. 5. Rocks in the Irish Sea upon the

other times of the year some furious storm arising the ships are dashed against the Rocks against the rocky Shoares or against those Grounds which extend themselves betwixt the Tuskar and the Bay of Dublin whilst the Steer-men and Pilots by reason of the darkness not being able to discern the land or any of their wonted marks do not know which way to steer to shun those dangerous places and to keep themselves in the open sea Sect. 3. Nature of the ground of the Irish-sea The ground of the Irish-sea as well in the midst as under the land is almost every where clear sand but in some places black and muddy or oasi●-earth In very few places rough and sharp and scarce any where else but in the Bay of Wickloe so hard and stifly compacted that the Anchors can take no hold of it Sect. 4. Of the Tides in the Irish-sea What concerneth the Ebbing and Flowing in this sea which invironeth Ireland upon all the West-side it floweth against the land and the Ebbe falleth back from it into the sea the Flood from and the Ebbe towards the West for which reason very great Tides as well of Ebbe as Flood go upon all this coast not onely the open shoares but in the bayes and inlets even those which go a great way into the land as the Haven of Limmerick so as those who have been at Galloway do assure us that it doth so mightily ebbe and flow there that at high-water great vessels may sayl over those Rocks the which with the Ebbe come above water Upon the other side of Ireland it ebbeth and floweth along the land for upon the North-side of Ireland the Ebbe and Flood falleth in the same manner as upon the West-side flowing from and ebbing towards the West But upon the East-side from Fair-Foreland unto Carlingford the Flood commeth from and the Ebbe falleth to the North As upon the rest of this East-side to wit from Carlingford to Carnarord it floweth from the South and ebbeth from the North. For although upon all this side the Flood runneth along the land yet doth it not take its beginning from one and the same but two contrary points the which two floods comming the one out of the Main-sea in the North and the other out of the Main-sea in the South do meet and stop one another before the Haven of Carlingford From Tuskar and Carnarord as far as to the Head of Clare being the whole South-Eastcoast of Munster the Flood falleth along the coast East-North-East and the Ebbe West-South-West But upon the rest of the coast of Munster beyond the Head of Clare Westward which coast lyeth West and by South the Flood falleth East-ward and the Ebbe to the West Sect. 5. Strong Tides in the Sounds Strange proprietie of the Bay of Wexford in the matter of Tides That which the Sea-faring men do witness that in the Sound of Blaskes of Dalkee and in that of Lambey as also in some other narrow chanels of this sea there goeth a very strong Tide as well of the Ebbe as Flood is no other than may be observed almost every where else in places of the like nature But it is much to be wondered what the same do relate of the chanel or entrance of the Haven of Wexford to wit that it ebbeth and floweth there three houres sooner than without in the open sea so as when it is high water in the chanel of that Haven and upon the bar of the same the Flood doth still for half a Tide or three hours after strongly run by it to the North whereby it cometh to pass that the end of Hanemans-path a great Sand lying just before the Haven of VVexford is cast up more and more to the North and that the chanel which passeth by the North-side of that Sand being the entrance of the Haven is now more to the North than it hath been formerly And as it floweth three houres longer in the open sea than upon the Bar and in the chanel of this Haven in the like manner also the Ebbe in the sea falleth to the South three houres after that it is low water in the same place but not so strongly as the Flood Sect. 6. Some other strange particulars about the Tides in the i●ish-I●ish-sea related by Giraldus but found not to be true More strange it is what Giraldus writeth of the Havens of Wickloe and Arckloe to wit that in VVickloe-haven it ever floweth when in the sea it ebbeth and that it ebbeth there when it floweth in the sea And that in the same River this Haven being nothing else but the mouth of a little River the water is salt as well when the ebbe is at the lowest as at the flowing and high-high-water And that to the contrary in that Riveler which at Arcklo dischargeth it self into the sea the water keepeth its sweetness at all times never receiving the mixture of any saltness as well with the flood and high-water as with the ebbe But experience sheweth these things to be repugnant to the truth as also what he writeth of a Rock not far from Arcklo at the one side wherof he saith that it alwayes ebbeth when it doth flow on the other and to the contrary Also that in Milford-haven situated in the Southernmost part of Wales in a manner over against Waterford and upon the next coasts it ebbeth and floweth at quite contrary times to what it doth at Dublin and the coast thereabouts so that it should begin to ebbe in Milford-haven when in the Bay of Dublin it beginneth to flow and to flow in Milford-haven when it beginneth to ebbe at Dublin Which how untrue it is all those can witnes who having bin in both places have had the curiosity to observe the times and houres at what age of the Moon soever wherein it doth begin to ebbe and to flow there CHAP. VII Of the Springs and Fountains item of the Brooks and Rivelets of Ireland Sect. 1. Of the Springs and Fountains HAving sufficiently spoke of the Sea wherin Ireland lyeth and of whatsoever belongeth thereunto we shall now before we come to treat of the Land it self speak of the Waters within the Land first of the Springs and Brooks afterwards of the Rivers and lastly of the Loughs or Lakes As for the first to wit Fountains and Springs Ireland is very full of them every where not only in the mountainous and hilly parts but even in the flat and Champain countries Which Springs for the most part are all of one and the same fashion being like unto a small pit full of water up to the brim at the lower ●ide whereof the water doth run forth without making any noise or bubling For that kind of Fountains which forcibly burst out of the side of a Rock or spout their water on high are very rarely to be found in this Kingdom The water of these Well-springs is for the most part cool clear and pure free from all strange smell and

tast in which properties nevertheless and in the wholsomness of the water the same differences are found and for the same causes as in other countries For those which spring out of a gravelly or sandy ground are purer than those that spring out of earth or clay those that rise out of a stony or Rocky ground cooler than any of the former those that are exposed to the Sun and freely receive the Bea●● thereof especially of the morning sun have lighter and wholsomer water although less cool than those which are contrarily seated and so for the rest Sect. 2. Spaes and Holy-wels in Ireland A few yeares since some Fountains have been discovered in Ireland some of them not far from Dublin and others in other parts whose veines running through certain Minerals and washing off the vertue of the same yeeld a Medicinall water apt to open the obstructions of mans body and to cure other accidents thereof which kind of Fountains are commonly called Spaes a name borrowed of a certain village in the country of Liege in which there is a Spring of that sort absolutely the principallest and the most effectuall of all those of the same kind and therefore of very great renown in near and in far countries Besides these Spaes there are also a great number of other Fountains throughout all the Land called Holy-wels by the inhabitants whose water not differing from that of other Wels in smell tast or in any other sensible quality neverthelese is beleeved to be effectuall for the curing of severall diseases But experience doth shew that those vertues are not found in the Springs themselves but onely in the vain imagination of the superstitious people the which also having dedicated every one of those to some particular Saint do expect the supposed vertue rather from the power of them than from any naturall efficaciousness inherent in the water it self Sect. 3. Of the fabulous Fountains of Giraldus Cambrensis As for those wonderfull Springs mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis One in Munster whose water presently maketh them gray that wash their head or beard therewith One in Ulster of quite contrary vertue so that the persons washed therewith never come to be gray One in Connaught whose water good and commodious for the drinking and other uses of men is hurtfull yea deadly to cattle sheep horses and all other sorts of beasts And yet another in the same Province the which being on the top of a high hill far from the sea side ebbeth and floweth twice a day in the same manner as the sea I could not hitherto come to the speech of any who in our times had seen those Fountains or observed any such thing in them Which maketh mee doubt that that good man hath been deceived herein by his credulity as in innumerable other things the which being evidently untrue and fictitious are by him related for certain truths As in this matter who seeth not the idleness of that fiction concerning a certain Fountain in Munster whereof he writeth that as soon as any body doth touch it or but look at it it beginneth presently to rain most heavily over all the Province and continueth so to do untill a certain Priest appointed for that purpose and who hath never lost his Maiden-head do appease the Fountain in singing a Mass in a Chappel standing not far from thence and built expresly for that end and in be sprinkling the same Fountain with Holy-water and with the Milk of a Cow of one colour Sect. 4. Of the Brooks in Ireland No country in the world is fuller of Brooks than Ireland where the same be numberless water all the parts of the land on all sides They take their beginning three severall manner of waies Some have their source of Fountains the which for the most part are very small not only those who carry the water but of one spring most of which are rather like unto a gutter than a brook but even those into which the water of severall fountains doth flow together Others rise out of Bogs the which besides their own universall wetness being full of springs and by reason thereof gathering in them more water than they are able to drink in or contain doe necessarily send out the same in convenient places and so give a beginning unto Rivelets and Brooks The third sort take their beginning out of certain small Loughs which brooks ordinarily are of a reasonable bignes and farre surpasse the other two sorts although there doe not want some even of this kind which are very little And there is very few of any of these kinds who come to any notable bignes as long as they continue to be solitary and untill having received the water of severall other Brooks doe thereby grow more considerable than they were in their first originall These Brooks besids the great good they do the land in watering the same besides the commodity they afford of drenching the Cattle other Beasts do also greatly serve the inhabitants for another good use to wit the grinding of their corn wherunto the Windmils are very little used in Ireland because they have the conveniency through the great number of Brooks to erect watermills in every quarter where it is necessary which bring a great profit to the owners being kept and maintained with less cost and labour Sect. 5. Of the swelling and overflowing of the Brooks Some of the Brooks doe flow in an equall bigness all the year long without receiving any notable increase or diminishing but far the major part doe change according to the wet or dry seasons of the ye●r and as many of them as come out of the mountaines or run thorough hilly countries swell so excessively when any great rain doth fall that they not only overflow the next low grounds doing many times great damage in them but also bring the wafering men into great distresse for it cometh to passe very oft that a brook which ordinarily is very shallow and still riseth so mightily through the multitude of the rain water which from the next mountains and hills descendeth into it that a good horse cannot passe without swimming where at other times a child easily may wade over and with that adundance of water is commonly joined so strong and impetuous a current that man and horse are often caried away with it to their extreme danger and what soever wee say here-in of the Brooks is much more to bee understood of the Rivers the which otherwise in convenient places or foards may be passed over wherein the aforesaid danger is greater yet so that few yeares passe in Ireland in the which some persons are not drowned in that fashion Sect. 6. Strange invention of a man to pass a Brook greatly risen by the abundance of rain It shall not be improper to insert here a particular observed by a very credible and reverend person Theophilus Buckwort Bishop of Dremore the which he hath severall times related to

of God from the least to the greatest and although the Father hath reserved in his own hand the times and seasons wherin these promises are to be fulfilled yet as by the dawning of the day we can know that the Sun is neer rising so by the breaking of yoakes the breaking forth of the meanes of more perfect knowledge both in Natural and Spiritual things wee may see the drawing neer of the promises which will in their own times Constitute the day of Salvation unto all the Earth wherein all flesh shall see the glory of the Lord together The expectation of this day is the hope of Israel and those that wait for the Lord and his appearance therein shall find a plentious redemption namely such as having this hope purifie themselves that they may be found in peace at his appearing and such as being solicitous to bestow their Talents in their way and generation to the advancement of his approaching Kingdom shall approve themselves as faithfull servants to him in that day Of this Number I am perswaded your Honours are in these Nations as Leading Men therefore I have made bold thus to address my self unto you and to inscribe this Work unto your Names that it may see the light under your joint patronage God hath made You very eminent Instruments to set forward one part of the preparatives of his great Work the Breaking of our yokes the other part which is the Advancement of Spirituall and Natural sanctified Knowledge your Zeal I am sure will carry you to countenance by the wayes which Providence shall open unto You. Therefore I hope it wil not be without acceptance what in this kind though but a mean beginning I have here offered Your influence upon it to set forward Learned Endeavours of this Nature for a Publick Good may be a blessing unto Posteritie and your Relations of Eminent note unto Ireland to watch for the good therof and to the Universities of Oxford and Dublin to countenance all the Meanes of profitable Learning have encouraged me to make this Dedication besides the expressions of your Honours willingness to favour me in my undertakings which I knew no way so well to resent as by offering to your Generous Inclinations the Objects which are worthy of being considered and set forward in order to a common good I lookt also somewhat upon the hopefull appearance of Replanting Ireland shortly not only by the Adventurers but happily by the calling in of exiled Bohemians and other Protestants also and happily by the invitation of some well affected out of the Low Countries which to advance are thoughts suitable to your noble genius and to further the setlement thereof the Naturall History of that Countrie will not bee unfit but very subservient Thus beseeching the Lord to prosper all your undertakings to the glory of the Kingdom of Christ I take my leave and rest unfeignedly Your Honours most humble servant SAMUEL HARTLIB To the Reader Gentle Reader SOme particulars there are concerning this following Work of which I think it sit you should be advertised and for as much as I can tell you no more of them than what was written to me by the Authors most Loving and Learned Brother give me leave in stead of mine own Words to present you with his said Letter on that subject being such as doth follow Sir I Am very glad to understand by you that my Brothers work of the Naturall History of Ireland is not only not lost as I greatly feared i● was and that you have found it in perusing those books and papers of his which he had left behind him at London but that you are a going to print it and have already contracted about it by the doing whereof I am fully perswaded that you will gain both credit and contentment and that those shall no wayes be losers who will bee at the charges of doing the same For though I say it the work is excellent in it's kind as not only full of truth and certainty but written with much judgment order exactness so as it is to be preferred before most Naturall Histories of particular Countries and may well be equalled to the very best for as much as there is done of it For to make it a compleat Naturall History there should be joyned to that which my Brother hath gone through two Books more the one of all kind of Plants and the other of all sorts of living Creatures which also might have been expected of him if God had given him longer life For he intended assoon as he had published this part to have fallen also to the rest if he had found that he had not lost his labour on what was done already that it had met with a gratefull acceptance abroad such as might have incouraged him to take further paines ●bout the perfecting of it in which case he was resolved to have also joined a Fourth book to those other Three concerning the Natives of Ireland and their old Fashions Lawes and Customes as likewise the great paines taken by the English ever since the Conquest for to civilize them and to improve the Countrie You say you wonder others may justly concurre with you in that your wonderment how a Countrie could bee so accurately described by one who never was in it For although my Brother hath been in Ireland and that he hath ended his dayes there yet he had both begun and finished this First Book of his Naturall History of Ireland some yeares before he went thither or had any thoughts of doing so seeing that he begun to write that work in the beginning of the year of our Lord 1645. and made an end of it long before the end of the same year wheras he went not to Ireland untill the latter end of the year 1649. dyed at Dublin within a very short while after he was arrived there viz. on the 19th of Ianuary 16 ●0 49. Now to answer that difficulty moved by you be pleased to know that I being come from Dublin to London in the beginning of May 1644. and having stayed there untill the latter end of October great part of that conversation which he and I had together during those six months was spent in reasoning about Ireland and about all manner of particulars concerning the Morall and Civill but chiesly the Naturall History of the same my Brother beeing very carefull to inform himself of me about all things appertaining thereunto For besides that his curiositie which was very great for to enrich his mind with all manner of laudable knowledge was of it self alone capable enough for to make him inquisitive in that kind he was there-besides led thereto by his own interest having ventured great part of his estate upon the escheated lands there according to the severall Acts made by the King and Parliament in that behalf And having set down in writing what he had so heard of me he conferred afterwards about the same