SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO 1660 21 
plant >; but it was not the view taken by those in 
authority for mote than two hundred years after he 
died, and, had it been taken, we ask ourselves whether 
Australia would have been secured for the Empire. 
In the letter ¢ schismatics ” ate added to ‘ outlaws or 
criminals > as © not fit to lay the foundation of a new 
colony,” and in thus barring the entry of nonconform- 
ists as well as in the provision that the colonists should 
not only be governed according to the laws of the 
realm, whose subjects they must continue to be, but 
must also be under © the same discipline for Church 
government,’ he seems to have been modifying his 
liberal views to suit King James. On the other hand, 
provisions that planting religion should not be made 
a pretext for extirpating natives, and that merchants 
should not be allowed under colour of promoting 
trade with the plantation to © work upon the planters’ 
necessities,” bear witness to the writer’s breadth of 
outlook.? Still stronger witness is contained in the 
following words from the essay : ° Let there be free- 
doms from custom till the plantation be of strength ; 
and not only freedom from custom, but freedom to 
carry their commodities where they may make their 
best of them, except there be some special cause of 
caution.” Evidently he would not have approved of 
navigation acts in the case of infant colonies. 
We have seen that, while little was done, though not 
a little was said, in the direction of converting the 
heathen by the English of the sixteenth century, on 
1 Essay, * Of Plantations,” #2 sup. 
2 Letters and Life of Francis Bacon, ut sup., vol. vi, pp. 21-2, and 
PP. 49-52.