On July 21, 1609, a commission was issued by the crown to make inquisition concerning the forfeited lands in Ulster after the flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel.  The commissioners included the Lord-Deputy Chichester, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, Sir John Davis, attorney-general; Sir William Parsons, surveyor-general, and several other public functionaries.  This work done, King James, acting on the advice of his prime minister, the Earl of Salisbury, took measures for the plantation of Ulster, a project earnestly recommended by statesmen connected with Ireland, and for which the flight of O’Neill and O’Donel furnished the desired opportunity.  The city of London was thought to be the best quarter to look to for funds to carry on the plantation.  Accordingly, Lord Salisbury had a conference with the lord mayor, Humphry Weld, Sir John Jolles, and Sir W. Cockaine, who were well acquainted with Irish affairs.  The result was the publication of ’Motives and Reasons to induce the City of London to undertake the Plantation in the North of Ireland.’

The inducements were of the most tempting character.  It is customary to speak of Ulster, before the plantation, as something like a desert, out of which the planters created an Eden.  But the picture presented to the Londoners was more like the land which the Israelitish spies found beyond Jordan—­a land flowing with milk and honey.  Among ‘the land commodities which the North of Ireland produceth’ were these:—­the country was well watered generally by abundance of springs, brooks, and rivers.  There was plenty of fuel—­either wood, or ‘good and wholesome turf.’  The land yielded ’store of all necessary for man’s sustenance, in such a measure as may not only maintain itself, but also furnish the city of London yearly with manifold provision, especially for their fleets—­namely, with beef, pork, fish, rye, bere, peas, and beans.’  It was not only fit for all sorts of husbandry, but it excelled for the breeding of mares and the increase of cattle; whence the Londoners might expect ’plenty of butter, cheese, hides, and tallow,’ while English sheep would breed abundantly there.  It was also held to be good in many places for madder, hops, and woad.  It afforded ’fells of all sorts in great quantity, red deer, foxes, sheep, lambs, rabbits, martins and squirrels,’ &c.  Hemp and flax grew more naturally there than elsewhere, which, being well regarded, would give provision for canvas, cables, cording, besides thread, linen cloth, and all stuffs made of linen yarn, ’which are more fine and plentiful there than in all the rest of the kingdom.’  Then there were the best materials of all sorts for building, with ’the goodliest and largest timber, that might compare with any in his majesty’s dominions;’ and, moreover, the country was ’very plentiful in honey and wax.’

The sea and the rivers vied with the land in the richness of their produce.  ’The sea fishing of that coast was very plentiful of all manner of usual sea fish—­there being yearly, after Michaelmas, for taking of herrings, above seven or eight score sail of his majesty’s subjects and strangers for lading, besides an infinite number of boats for fishing and killing.’