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.