Their wives and children and dependants have been, and are, packing away after them apace, and all are to be gone by the 1st of March next.' In another letter the writer _naively_ remarks, 'It is the nature of this people to be rebellious, and they have been so much the more disposed to it, having been highly exasperated to it by the transplanting work.' The temper of the settlers towards the natives may be inferred from a petition to the lord deputy and council of Ireland, praying for the enforcement of the original order requiring the removal of all the Irish nation into Connaught, except boys of fourteen and girls of twelve.

'For we humbly conceive,' say the petitioners, 'that the proclamation for transplanting only the proprietors, and such as have been in arms, will neither answer the end of safety nor what else is aimed at thereby.

For the first purpose of the transplantation is to prevent those of natural principles' (i.e.of natural affections) 'becoming one with these Irish, as well in affinity as idolatry, as many thousands did who came over in Elizabeth's time, many of which have had a deep hand in all the late murders and massacres.

And shall we join in affinity,' they ask, 'with a people of these abominations?
Would not the Lord be angry with us till He consumes us, having said--"the land which ye go to possess is an unclean land, because of the filthiness of the people who dwell therein.

Ye shall not, therefore, give your sons to their daughters, nor take their daughters to your sons," as it is in Ezra ix.