whose first commers of those Nations had lesse right a thousand to one, the a the English
had in Ireland, if we looke the claim for 400 years past.
12 Quere, Whether the English would not doe as the Irish have, if the English should
dispossesse and tyrannize over them?
Answer, The answer to the former answers this, yet farther, the English in being at the
last rebellion, had done no hurt, but the Irish in being have, and upon them the revenge
seems just, That he that sheds bloud by man his bloud should be shed, they burnt and killed so,
as by Letters last week, the English did, yet with order to spare women and children, which
they did not.
13 Quere. Whether it be not Englands duty to repent of he Oppressions and usurpations
over the Irish Nation, by their Kings and Force fathers.
Answer, The reducing Ireland to civility was no oppression, for the wrongs done by
Kings and their Ministers, they were but in revenge of murther, rapine, and rebellion, after
agreements perfidiously broken over and over, if other, they are to repent who did the wrong:
What obligation lies upon the people of England to repent for the unjust wayes taken before
these Wars against them: repentance ought to be with restitution, &c. If the English who
are lineally descended from the Danes, Saxons and Normans restore what their forefathers
had of the naturall English, to whom shall they make satisfaction, and what will be left?
14 Quere, If the War against the Irish be continued, whether it will not be lasting, and
over chargeable to England, be a strong and large footing for the enemies of Englands peace,
render the Nation no lovers of peace but domination, give occasion to the enemy to blaspheme,
make our religion odious, spoyle the English trade by piracie, be at last Englands
ruine, and whether a perfect conquest over them will equipoise the charge and bloud that
will be spent, which is uncertain, especially considering their eternall losse who die in so
unjust a quarrell.
Answer, This Query seems to have more weight in it then all the rest; and first, If a going
on in war it may be lasting and chargeable: for that, it's chiefly the fault of the managers,
if so, for all agree, England may with 20000 Horse and Foot, well commanded, paid,
and provided for, make and end of the Warre in Ireland in nine monthes, there being
not above three strong Townes in the Kingdom, and those rather by nature then art so: it's
true, in former times the War was expensive and wasting to Englishmen, and hath been so
in this hither to, and to do it hath been done, were better to let it alone, but, a War well
managed, will have in probability no such inconvenience: for Ireland's being a large and
strong footing for the Enemies of Englands peace to stand upon, it's answered, Leave the
Irish unconquered, it will be larger and stronger, and so much as it grows stronger in the
Popish religion, whose professors can when they please obtain from the Pope a power to invade
and conquer any other Countrey which they not the least claime unto, and upon
which ground alone, a War were fit to be commenced against such a pretender, to the rooting
but his power, of what nature soever, from the earth: for rendring England no true Lovers of
freedome, but domination, it may as well be said, if the Jury finde a 100 or a 1000 not guiley,
who have to bed and murthered, or a Judge pardon such, that they are true lovers of freedome,
and for domination: there's no great felicity in ruling over such wilde people, only
for preventing the mischiefe such would doe to them more civill, what content is there to
hare Foxes. or Wolves, or Bears, in chains, unlesse in this, that the came and usefull Beasts
are preserved there by from danger? and considering the pains and cost England hath been
at that way, and the little fruit, it will be discretion, to destroy such game, that which by art &
industry cannot be made usefull to it selfe, not others, is fit for destruction: as for Enemies
blaspheming, it's to be considered as to the justice of the undertaking, keeping promise, &c.
to execute a murtherer or robber, gives no occasion: though indifferent things are to be