QUEEN S SERVICE IN IRELAND. 189 



but a reduction ; and that, now she hath chastised 

 them by her royal power and arms, according to the 

 necessity of the occasion, her majesty taketh no 

 pleasure in effusion of blood, or displanting of an 

 cient generations. The other, that her majesty s 

 princely care is principally and intentionally bent 

 upon the action of Ireland ; and that she seeketh 

 not so much the ease of charge, as the royal per 

 formance of the office of protection, and reclaim of 

 those her subjects : and in a word, that the case is 

 altered so far as may stand with the honour of the 

 time past : which it is easy to reconcile, as in my 

 last note I shewed. And again, I do repeat, that if 

 her majesty s design be &quot; ex professo&quot; to reduce wild 

 and barbarous people to civility and justice, as well 

 as to reduce rebels to obedience, it makes weakness 

 turn Christianity, and conditions graces ; and so 

 hath a fineness in turning utility upon point of 

 honour, which is agreeable to the humour of these 

 times. And besides, if her majesty shall suddenly 

 abate the lists of her forces, and shall do nothing to 

 countervail it in point of reputation, of a politic pro 

 ceeding, I doubt things may too soon fall back into 

 the state they were in. Next to this ; adding repu 

 tation to the cause, by imprinting an opinion of her 

 majesty s care and intention upon this action, is the 

 taking away of reputation from the contrary side, by 

 cutting off the opinion and expectation of foreign 

 succours ; to which purpose this enterprise of Al 

 giers, if it hold according to the advertisement, and 

 if it be not wrapped up in the period of this summer, 



