the matter, and in 1631 obtained a grant of all the King's rights in the district. He had, however, to promise to settle the freeholders at a moderate rent and on just terms. But nothing seems to have come of this. In 1628 directions had been given that the freeholders were to surrender and have their lands back; and a letter from Lord Esmond to Lord Dorchester in 1631 says that by the former's means the Byrnes had passed their lands.[1]
In 1634 we have a draft from the King regarding a plantation. In this it is said that King James in 1611 had signified his pleasure that surrenders should be accepted and regrants made to the freeholders; but that the revenue secured had been too small. "We believed at the time" (possibly in 1628) "that the persons settled had good estates to surrender to us, whereas it now appears by report from the Irish Council that the property should belong to the Crown."[2]
Directions were given for a plantation. "Persons who hold by our former letters shall not be displaced when the Commission (to find the King's title) reports; but shall submit to our title and receive a portion of their lands, at the rent which you may think fit." The rest was to be divided among fitting persons, which probably means English Protestants. The Earl of Carlisle and others who had got letters patent were to be dealt with to surrender their lands.
It was probably in pursuance of this scheme that in April, 1638, an Inquisition was taken and
