they were to receive in return for their labour.  His next inducement is the immense sale (and profit) they might expect by growing corn; and he concludes by relieving their fears as to any objections which the inhabitants of this country might make to being dispossessed from their homes and lands, or any resistance they might offer.  He considers it immaterial, “for the country of Lecale [which had been taken in a similar manner from Savage] was some time kept by Brereton with a hundred horses, and Lieutenant Burrows kept Castle Rean [Castlereagh], and went daily one quarter of a mile to fetch his water, against five hundred Irish that lay again him.”

Smith concludes with “an offer and order” for those who wished to join in the enterprise.  Each footman to have a pike,[433] or halberd, or caliver, and a convenient livery cloak, of red colour or carnation, with black facings.  Each horseman to have a staffe[434] and a case of dagges,[435] and his livery[436] to be of the colour aforesaid.

Strype wrote a life of Sir Thomas Smith, Bart., Oxford, 1620.  He mentions this attempt at colonizing Ulster, having this good design therein:  “that those half-barbarous people might be taught some civility.”  He speaks of “the hopeful gentleman,” Sir Thomas Smith’s son and concludes with stating how the expedition terminated:  “But when matters went on thus fairly, Mr. Smith was intercepted and slain by a wild Irishman.”

Before his assassination Smith had written an account of his proceedings to his father, in which he says that “envy had hindered him more than the enemy,” and that he had been ill-handled by some of his own soldiers, ten of whom he had punished.  He also expresses some fear of the native Irish, whom he had tried to drive out of their lands, as he says they sometimes “lay wait to intrap and murther the maister himself.”

I have given details of this attempted plantation in Ulster, because it illustrates the subject; and each plantation which will be recorded afterwards, was carried out on the same plan.  The object of the Englishman was to obtain a home and a fortune; to do this he was obliged to drive, the natives out of their homes, and to deprive them of their wealth, whether greater or less.  The object of the Irishman was to keep out the intruder; and, if he could not be kept out, to get rid of him by fair means or foul.

It is probable that the attempt of Smith was intended by Government principally as an experiment to ascertain whether the plantation could be carried out on a larger scale.  The next attempt was made by Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, who received part of the signories of Clannaboy and Ferney, provided he could expel the “rebels” who dwelt there.  Essex mortgaged his estates to the Queen to obtain funds for the enterprise.  He was accompanied by Sir Henry Kenlis, Lord Dacres, and Lord Norris’ three sons.