Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/172

 countries, such as Ireland is, where there cannot be many eyes to prevent such crimes; and where what is stolen is easily hidden and eaten, and where 'tis easy to burn the house, or violate the persons of those who prosecute these crimes; and where thin-peopled countries are governed by the laws that were made and first fitted to thick-peopled countries; and where matters of small moment and value must be tried with all the formalities which belong to the highest causes. In this case there must be thieving, where there is neither encouragement, nor method, nor means for labouring, nor provision for impotents.

'As for the interest of these poorer Irish, it is manifestly to be transmuted into English, so to reform and qualify their housing, as that English women may be content to be their wives; to decline their language, which continues a sensible distinction, being not now necessary; which makes those who do not understand it, suspect, that what is spoken in it, is to their prejudice. It is their interest to deal with the English for leases for time and upon clear conditions, which being performed they are absolute freemen, rather than to stand always liable to the humour and caprice of their landlords, and to have everything taken from them, which he pleases to fancy. It is their interest, that he is well-pleased with their obedience to them, when they see and know upon whose care and conduct their well-being depends, who have power over their lands and estates, than to believe a man at Rome has power in all these last particulars in this world, and can make them eternally happy or miserable hereafter. 'Tis their interest to join with them, and follow their example, who have brought arts, civility and freedom into their country.

'On the contrary, what did they ever get by accompanying their lords into rebellion against the English? what should they have gotten if the late rebellion had absolutely succeeded, but a more absolute servitude? and when it failed, these poor people have lost all their estates, and their leaders increased theirs and enjoyed the very land which their leaders caused them to lose. The poorest now in Ireland ride on horseback, when heretofore the best ran on foot like animals.