172 OF THE PLANTATIONS IN IRELAND. 



stand about him, as in a theatre ; forgetting their 

 affections of fierceness, of lust, and of prey ; and 

 listening to the tunes and harmonies of the harp ; 

 and soon after called likewise the stones and woods 

 to remove, and stand in order about him : which 

 fable was anciently interpreted of the reducing and 

 plantation of kingdoms ; when people of barbarous 

 manners are brought to give over and discontinue 

 their customs of revenge and blood, and of dissolute 

 life, and of theft, and of rapine; and to give ear to 

 the wisdom of laws and governments ; whereupon 

 immediately followeth the calling of stones for 

 building and habitation ; and of trees for the seats 

 of houses, orchards, inclosures, and the like. This 

 work therefore, of all other most memorable and 

 honourable, your majesty hath now in hand ; espe 

 cially, if your majesty join the harp of David, in 

 casting out the evil spirit of superstition, with the 

 harp of Orpheus, in casting out desolation and 

 barbarism. 



The second consequence of this enterprise, is the 

 avoiding of an inconvenience, which commonly at- 

 tendeth upon happy times, and is an evil effect of a 

 good cause. The revolution of this present age 

 seemeth to incline to peace, almost generally in these 

 parts; and your majesty s most Christian and vir 

 tuous affections do promise the same more especially 

 to these your kingdoms. An effect of peace in 

 fruitful kingdoms, where the stock of people re 

 ceiving no consumption nor diminution by war, doth 

 continually multiply and increase, must in the end 



