The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

SPEECH TO SIR JOHN DENHAM. 477
causes of the court, I will lead you the short justice, as if it were in England, but under the
journey by examples, and not the long by king and the deputy you are to be a master-builder,
precepts. and a master-planter, and reducer of Ireland. To
The place that you shall now serve in, hath which end, I will trouble you at this time but
been fortunate to be well served in four succes- with three directions.
sions before you: do but take unto you the con- The first is, that you have special care of the
stancy and integrity of Sir Robert Gardiner; the three plantations. That of the north, which is in
gravity, temper, and direction of Sir James Lea; part acted; that of Wexford, which is now in disthe quickness, industry, and despatch of Sir tribution; and that of Longford and Letrim,
Hlumphry Winch; the care and affection to the which is now in survey. And take this from me,
commonwealth, and the prudent and politic ad- that the bane of a plantation is, when the underministration of Sir John Denham, and you shall takers or planters make such haste to a little
need no other lessons. They were all Lincoln's mechanical present profit, as disturbeth the whole
Inn men, as you are; you have known them as frame and nobleness of the work for times to
well in their beginnings, as in their advancement. come. Therefore hold them to their covenants,
But because you are to be there not only chief and the strict ordinances of plantation.
justice, but a counsellor of estate, I will put you The second is, that you be careful of the king's
in mind of the great work now in hand, that you revenue, and by little and little constitute him a
may raise your thoughts according unto it. Ire- good demesne, if it may be, which hitherto is
land is the last sc ex filiis Europa," which hath little or none. For the king's case is hard, when
been reclaimed from desolation, and desert, in every man's land shall be improved in value with
many parts, to population and plantation; and increase manifold, and the king shall be tied to
from savage and barbarous customs to humanity his dry rent.
and civility. This is the king's work in chief: My last direction, though first in weight, is,
it is his garland of heroical virtue and felicity, that you do all good endearvours to proceed resodenied to his progenitors, and reserved to his lutely and constantly, and yet with due tempertimes. The work is not yet conducted to perfec- ance and equality, in matters of religion; lest
tion, but is in fair advance: and this I will say Ireland civil become more dangerous to us than
confidently, that if God bless this kingdom with Ireland savage. So God give you comfort of
peace and justice, no usurer is so sure in seven your place.
years' space to double his principal with interest,
and interest upon interest, as that kingdom is After Sir William Jones's speech:
within the same time to double the stock both I had forgotten one thing, which was this. You
of wealth and people. So as that kingdom, may take exceeding great comfort, that you shall
which once within these twenty years wise men serve with such a deputy; one that, I think, is a
were wont to doubt whether they should wish it man ordained of God to do great good to that
to be in a pool, is like now to become almost a kingdom. And this I think good to say to you,
garden, and younger sister to Great Britain. that the true temper of a chief justice towards a
And, therefore, you must set down with yourself deputy is, neither servilely to second him, nor
to be not only a just governor, and a good chief factiously to oppose him.
THE LORD KEEPER'S SPEECH,
IN THE EXCHEQUER,
rO SIR JOHN DENHAM
WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO BE ONE OF THE BARONS OF THE EXCHEQUER, IN 1617.
SIR JOHN DENHAM upon credit, but proof, and great proof of your
THE king, of his grace and favour, hath made former service: and that in both those kinds
choice of you to be one of the barons of the exche- wherein you are now to serve: for, as you have
quer, to succeed to one of the gravest and most showed yourself a good judge between party andi
reverend judges of this kingdom; for so I hold party, so you have showed yourself a good adnm;Baron Altham was. The king takes you not nister of the revenue, both when you were chiet