&quot;200 LETTER ON IRELAND. 



up and lock out the same. For, first, the plantations 

 Soing on, and being principally of protestants, canno^ 

 but mate the other party in time ; also his majesty s 

 care in placing good bishops and divines, in ampli 

 fying the college there, and in looking to the edu 

 cation of wards and the like ; as they are the most 

 natural means, so are they like to be the most effectual 

 and happy for the weeding out of popery, without 

 using the temporal sword ; so that, I think, I may 

 truly conclude, that the ripeness of time is not yet 

 come. 



Therefore my advice in all humbleness is, 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 pro 

 ceeding 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 

 somewhat cool. 



But I would not, in any case, that the proceeding 

 should be with both the towns, which stand now in 

 contempt, but with one of them only, choosing that 

 which shall be thought 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 with one, the appre 

 hension and terror will not be so strong ; for they 



