of their own lewde libertye,' that had troubled Spenser in his time.

Here are some verses from his '_Cuis da ple_,' 'cause to plead,'
composed at the time of the Tithe War:--

'The two provinces of Munster are afoot, and will not stop till
tithes are overthrown, and rents accordingly; and if help were
given them, and we to stand by Ireland, the English guard would be
feeble, and every gap made easy. The Gall (English) will be on
their back without ever returning again; and the Orangemen bruised
in the borders of every town, a judge and jury in the courthouse
for the Catholics, England dead, and the crown upon the Gael....

'There is many a fine man at this time sentenced, from Cork to
Ennis and the town of Roscrea, and fair-haired boys wandering and
departing from the streets of Kilkenny to Bantry Bay. But the cards
will turn, and we'll have a good hand: the trump shall stand on the
board we play at.... Let ye have courage. It is a fine story I
have. Ye shall gain the day in every quarter from the Sassanach.
Strike ye the board, and the cards will be coming to you. Drink out
of hand now a health to Raftery: it is he would put success for you
on the _Cuis da ple_.'

This is part of another song:--

'I have a hope in Christ that a gap will be opened again for us....
The day is not far off, the Gall will be stretched without anyone
to cry after them; but with us there will be a bonfire lighted up
on high.... The music of the world entirely, and Orpheus playing
along with it. I'd sooner than all that, the Sassanach to be cut