Definition of "fewness"

They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain.

1670, John Milton, The History of Britain, that Part especially now called England; from the first traditional Beginning, continued to the Norman Conquest. Collected out of the antientest and best Authours thereof, The Second Book

There are, says the Irish triad, 'three fewnesses that are better than plenty: a fewness of fine words; a fewness of cows on grass; a fewness of good friends around good ale'. As an Ulsterman I would agree.

2000, David Pierce, Irish Writing in the Twentieth Century: A Reader, page 625