46 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



Therefore my advice is, in all humbleness, that this 

 hazardous course of proceeding to tender the oath to the 

 magistrates of towns, proceed not, but die by degrees. And 

 yet to preserve the authority and reputation of the former 

 council, I would have somewhat done, which is, that there 

 be a proceeding to seizure of liberties, but not by any act of 

 power, but by &quot; quo warranto,&quot; or &quot; scire facias,&quot; which is 

 a legal course, and will be the work of three or four terms ; 

 by which time the matter will be somewhat cool. 



But I would not (in no case) that the proceeding should 

 be with both the towns which stand now in contempt, but 

 with one of them only, chusing that which shall be most fit. 

 For, if his majesty proceed with both, then all the towns that 

 are in the like case will think it a common cause, and that 

 it is but their case to day, and their own to morrow. But if 

 his majesty proceed but with one, the apprehension and 

 terror will not be so strong: for, they may think, it may 

 be their case to be spared, as well as prosecuted. And this 

 is the best advice that I can give to his majesty, in this 

 strait; and of this opinion seemed my lord chancellor 

 to be. 



The second proposition is this, it may be, his majesty 

 will be moved to reduce the number of his council of 

 Ireland, (which is now almost fifty) to twenty, or the like 

 number, in respect that the greatness of the number doth 

 both imbase the authority of the council, and divulge the 

 business. Nevertheless, I hold this proposition to be rather 

 specious, and solemn, than needful at this time; for cer 

 tainly, it will fill the state full of discontentment, which/ in a 

 growing and unsettled state, ought not to be. This I could 

 wish, that his majesty would appoint a select number of 

 counsellors there, which might deal in the improvement of 

 his revenue, (being a thing not to pass through too many 

 hands,) and the said selected number should have days of 

 sitting by themselves, at which the rest of the council should 



