"I'll tell you about Cromwell and the White Friars. There was a White
Friar at that time was known to have knowledge, and Cromwell sent word
to him to come see him. It was of a Saturday he did that, of an Easter
Saturday, but the Friar never came. On the Sunday Cromwell sent for him
again, and he didn't come. And on the Monday he sent for him the third
time, and he did come. 'Why is it you did not come to me when I sent
before?' said Cromwell. 'I'll tell you that,' said the White Friar. 'I
didn't come on Saturday,' he said, 'because your passion was on you. And
I didn't come on the Sunday,' he said, 'because your passion was not
gone down enough, and I thought you would not give me my steps. But I
came to-day,' he said, 'because your passion is cool.' When Cromwell
heard his answer, 'That is true,' he said, 'and tell me how long my law
will last in Ireland.' 'It will last,' says the White Friar, 'till
yesterday will come (that was Easter Sunday) the same day as our Lady
Day.' Cromwell was satisfied then, and he gave him a free leg, and he
went away. And so that law did last till now, and it's well it did, for
without that law in the country you wouldn't be safe walking the road
having so much as the price of a pint of porter in your pocket."