Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/50

 would remain, which they could in that case claim for themselves, and their eyes specially turned to the rich lands of the County Louth, part of which they hoped would ultimately fall to their share. Meanwhile, like the adventurers, the army proceeded to draw a first 'lot,' in order to decide in which province each regiment was to receive their share of the 'satisfaction.'

The amount of army arrears being ascertained and the amount of acres they represented, partial attempts had been made in 1653 to distribute lands amongst some of the regiments, but an accurate method for identifying each lot drawn with any particular parcel of land on the spot was wanting. Quartermaster-General Goulding, for example, might have a debt of 232l. 14s. 9d., which, calculated at the army rates in Connaught, was worth in the County of Sligo 465 a. 1 r. 24 p.; but how was Quartermaster-General Goulding to know where his particular 465 a. 1 r. 24 p. exactly lay, and prove his title against all comers to enter on those lands and no others, and keep them on a secure title; and how was he, on the other hand, to prove that he had not obtained a great deal more than he was entitled to by force and impudence, or by fraudulent or incompetent measurements?

Owing largely to the weakness of Fleetwood, the violence of the officers of the army in Ireland, stimulated by personal greed and cloaked by religious pretensions, had reached such a point by the end of 1653, that the Protector determined on a complete change of administration, and sent over Henry Cromwell on a mission of inquiry, intending that he should ultimately replace Fleetwood, who was under the influence of the military and fanatical party. It was also determined to institute a general scheme of survey and apportionment as the Act directed. The first plan set on foot was to make what was termed a 'Grosse Survey,' or list of forfeited lands in each barony, with brief descriptive notes. Maps were directed to accompany this survey, and some undoubtedly were made. But the work, which was commenced in August 1653, proceeded very slowly, and when the results