The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

188 LETTER RELATING TO IRELAND.
larity, that the riches of any occasion, or the tide my letter, I do think much letting blood, ",in
of any opportunity, can possibly minister or offer; declinatione morbi," is against method of cure:
and that is the causes of Ireland, if they be taken and that it will but induce necessity, and exaspeby the right handle. For if the wound be not rate despair: and percase discover the hollowness
ripped up again, and come to a recrudency by of that which is done already, which now blazeth
new foreign succours, I think that no physician to the best show. For Iaglia's and proscriptions
will go on much with letting of blood, 6" in decli- of two or three of the principal rebels, they are, no
natione morbi;" but will intend to purge and cor- doubt, 6,jure gentium," lawful: in Italy usually
roborate. To which purpose I send you mine practised upon the banditti; best in season when
opinion, withoutlabour of words, in the enclosed; a side goeth down: and may do good in two
and sure I am, that if you shall enter into the kinds; the one, if they take effect: the other, in
matter according to the vivacity of your own the distrust which may follow amongst the rebels
spirit, nothing can make unto you a more gainful themselves. But of all other points, to my
return. For you shall make the queen's felicity understanding, the most effectual is, the well
complete, which now, as it is, is incomparable: expressing or impressing the design of this state,
and for yourself, you shall show yourself as good upon that miserable and desolate kingdom; cona patriot as you are thought a politic, and make taining the same, between these two lists or
the world perceive you have not less generous boundaries; the one, that the queen seeketh not
ends, than dexterous delivery of yourself towards an extirpation of that people, but a reduction;
your ends; and that you have as well true arts and that, now she hath chastised them by her
and grounds of government, as the facility of royal power and arms, according to the necessity
practice and negotiation; and that you are as of the occasion, her majesty taketh no pleasure in
well seen in the periods and tides of estates, as effusion of blood, or displanting of ancient generain your own circle and way: than the which, I tions. The other, that her majesty's princely care
suppose, nothing can be a better addition and ac- is principally and intentionally bent upon the
cumulation of honour unto you. This, I hope, I action of Ireland; and that she seeketh not so
may in privateness write, either as a kinsman, much the-ease of charge, as the royal performance
that may be bold: or as a scholar, that hath liberty of the office of protection, and reclaim of those
of discourse, without committing any absurdity. her subjects: and, in a word, that the case is
But if it seemeth any error in me thus to intromit altered so far as may stand with the honour of the
myself, I pray your honour to believe, I ever time past: which it is easy to reconcile, as in my
loved her majesty and the state, and now love last note I showed. And, again, I do repeat, that
yourself; and there is never any vehement love if her majesty's design be " ex professo" to reduce
without some absurdity, as the Spaniard well wild and barbarous people to civility and jussays: ", desuario con la calentura." So, desiring tice, as well as to reduce rebels to obedience, it
your honour's pardon, I ever continue. makes weakness turn Christianity, and conditions
graces; and so hath a fineness in turning utility
CONSIDERATIONS TOUCHING THE QUEEN'S upon point of honour, which is agreeable to the
SERVICE IN IRELAND. $ humour of these times. And, besides, if her
majesty shall suddenly abate the lists of her
The reduction of that country, as well to civility forces, and shall do nothing to countervail it in
and justice, as to obedience and peace, which point of reputation, of a politic proceeding, I
things, as affairs now stand, I hold to be insepa- doubt things may too soon fall back into the state
rable, consisteth in four points: they were in. Next to this; adding reputation to
1. The extinguishing of the relics of the war. the cause, by imprinting an opinion of her majesty's
2. The recovery of the hearts of the people. care and intention upon this action, is the taking
3. The removing of the root and occasions of away of reputation from the contrary side, by
new troubles. cutting off the opinion and expectation of foreign
4. Plantations and buildings. succours; to which purpose this enterprise of AlFor the first; concerning the places and times, giers, if it hold according to the advertisement,
and particularities of farther prosecution, in fact, I and if it be not wrapped up in the period of this
leave it to the opinion of men of war; only the summer, seemeth to be an opportunity "cclitus
difficulty is, to distinguish and discern the pro- demissa." And to the same purpose nothing can
positions, which shall be according to the ends be more fit than a treaty or a shadow of a treaty
of the state here, that is, final and summary of a peace with Spain, which methinks should
towards the extirpation of the troubles, from those, be in our power to fasten at least " rurnore
which, though they pretend public ends, yet may tenus," to the deluding of as wise people as
refer indeed to the more private and compendious the Irish. Lastly, for this point; that which
ends of the council there: or of the particular the ancients called "(potestas facta redeundi ad
governors or captains. But still, as I touched in sanitatem;" and which is but a mockery when
* Resuscitatio, 264. the enemy is strong, or proud, but effectual