The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTERS RELATING TO IRELAND. 191
solicitor's place, if the new solicitor shall go up, into matter of conscience. Also, that his majesty
a gentleman of mine own breeding and framing, will, out of the depth of his excellent wisdom and
Mr. Edward W7yrthington, of Gray's-Inn; he is providence, think, and, as it were, calculate with
born to eight hundred pounds a year; he is the himself, whether time will maie more for the
eldest son of a most severe justicer, amongst the cause of religion in Ireland, and be still more and
recusants of Lancashire, and a man most able more propitious; or whether deferring remedies
for law and speech, and by me trained in the will not make the case more difficult. For, if
king's causes. My lord deputy, by my descrip- time give his majesty advantage, what needeth
tion, is much in love with the man. I hear my precipitation to extreme remedies l But if time
Lord of Canterbury, and Sir Thomas Laque, will make the case more desperate, then his
should name one Sir John Beare, and some other majesty cannot begin too soon. Now, in my
mean men. This man I commend upon my opinion, time will open and facilitate things for
credit, for the good of his majesty's service. Cod reformation of religion there, and not shut up and
ever preserve and prosper you. I rest lock out the same. For, first, the plantations
Your most devoted going on, and being principally of Protestants,
and most bounden servant, cannot but mate the other party in time; also his
Fn. BACON. majesty's care in placing good bishops and
2 July, 16165 divines, in amplifying the college there, and in
looking to the education of wards and the like;
as they are the most natural means, so are they
TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS, ABOUT IRISH AFFAIRS. like to be the most effectual and happy for the
SIR,~~~,. ~~weeding out of popery, without using the temBECAUSE I am uncertain whether his majestyo
BcAs I am uncertain whether his majesty poral sword; so that, I think, I may truly conwill put to a point some resolutions touching p s X I v I
will pat to a point some resol utions touching elude, that the ripeness of time is not yet come.
Ireland, now at indsor; thought it my duty Therefore my advice in all humbleness is, that
to attend his majesty by my letter, and thereby this hazardous course of proceeding, to tender the
to supply my absence, for the renewing of some oath to the magistrates of towns, proceed not, but
former commissions for Ireland, and the framing die by degrees. And yet, to preserve the authorof a new commission for the wards and the aliena-
tions which appertain properly to me as his ity and reputation of the former council, I would
tionS, which appertain properly to me as his have somewhat done; which is, that there be a
majesty's attorney, and have been accordingly
majesty's a tt or ney, and have been a cordinly proceeding to seizure of liberties; but not by any
referred by the lords. I will undertake that they act of power, but by "' Quo warranto," or ", Scire
are prepared with a greater care, and better appli- facias;" which is a legal course; and will be the
cation to his majesty's service in that kingdom, work of three or four terms; by which time the
than heretofore they have been; and therefore of matter will somewhat cool.
that I say no more. And for the instructions of
But I would not, in any case, that the proceedthe new deputy, they have been set down by the ing should be with both the towns, which stand
two secretaries, and read to the board; and beinrg
an ordinary naturenow in contempt, but with one of them only,
things of an ordinary nature, I do not see but choosing that which shall be thought most fit.
they may pass. For if his majesty proceed with both, then all the
But there have been three propositions and towns that are in the like case will think it a
counsels which have been stirred, which seem to
me of very great importance; wherein I think common cause; and that it is but their case to
day, and their own to-morrow. But if his majesty
myself bound to deliver to his majesty my advice d j
myself boun d o to deliver to his majesty my advie proceed with one, the apprehension and terror will
and opinion. if they should now come in ques- not be so strong; for they will think it may be
their case as well to be spared as prosecuted; and
fThe first is touching the recusant magistrates this is the best advice that I can give to his maof the towns of Ireland, and the commonalties
the wnselves their electors, what shall be done. jesty in this strait; and of this opinion seemed
themselves their electors, what shall be donect b
t~~hich consultation ariseth from the late adver- my lord chancellor to be.
Which consultation offrom the late lordsjuster- The second proposition is this: It may be his
tisements of the two lords justices, upon the majesty will be moved to reduce the number of
instance of the two towns, Limerick and Kil- his council of Ireland, which is now almost fifty,
kenny; in which advertisements they represent to twenty, or the like number; in respect the
the danger only, without giving any light for the greatness of the number doth both embase the
remedy; rather warily for themselves, than agree- authority of the council, and divulge the busiably to their duties and places.
ably* t r. ness. Nevertheless, I do hold this propositionto
In this point I humbly pray his majesty to be rather specious and solemn, than needful at
remember, that the refusal is not of the oath of... a
remeaber, that the refusal is no t of the oath of this time; for certainly it will fill the state full of
allegiance, which is not enacted in Ireland, but discontentment; which in a growing and unsetof the oath of supremacy, which cutteth deeper tled estate ought not to be o
* Stephens's Second Collection, p. 5. This I could wish; that his majesty would