The Protestants described with contemptuous disgust the strange gluttony of their newly liberated slaves.

The carcasses, half raw and half burned to cinders, sometimes still bleeding, sometimes in a state of loathsome decay, were torn to pieces and swallowed without salt, bread, or herbs.
Those marauders who preferred boiled meat, being often in want of kettles, contrived to boil the steer in his own skin.

An absurd tragicomedy is still extant, which was acted in this and the following year at some low theatre for the amusement of the English populace.

A crowd of half naked savages appeared on the stage, howling a Celtic song and dancing round an ox.

They then proceeded to cut steaks out of the animal while still alive and to fling the bleeding flesh on the coals.
In truth the barbarity and filthiness of the banquets of the Rapparees was such as the dramatists of Grub Street could scarcely caricature.
When Lent began, the plunderers generally ceased to devour, but continued to destroy.