Page:Confiscation in Irish history.djvu/40

. It was estimated that 577,000 acres had fallen to the Crown. Even the great estates of Fitzgerald of Decies, who had rendered considerable services during the rebellion, were claimed on the ground of a flaw in the grant to his ancestor from one of the Earl's predecessors.

An extensive plan of colonisation was formed. Its details are so well known that we need not go into them. It is sufficient to say that over fiftygreat proprietors—all English and Protestant—were to be created, each of whom was within a given time to settle a specified number of English families, some as freeholders, some by lesser tenures, on his properties. Irish tenants, if allowed at all, were to be moved from the wilder and more inaccessible lands, and to be settled in the open country, where they would be less able to give trouble.

At once a chorus of protest arose from those freeholders of English descent, who saw themselves affected by the new project. It was claimed on behalf of the Crown that as these lands had yielded to the Earl all sorts of Irish exactions—cuddies, cosherings and refections, bonnaught, horses' meat, and dogs' meat, and all the long lists of "cuttings and spendings" which we find so often quoted in the State Papers, the occupants were merely tenants at will. But against this the occupants protested. The Cogans, Cantons, Supels alias Capels, Poers and Carews in Imokilly showed ancient charters proving their title to their lands before Desmond or any Geraldine had any footing in those parts. All uncertain charges