James I. and shall receive new patents at half fees" … furthermore an Act should be passed finally confirming their tenures.[1]
It is asserted by Leland (Book IV. Chap. 8) that the inhabitants actually had paid £3,000 to have their patents enrolled, and that it was due to the neglect of the clerks of the Court of Chancery that this had not been done.
From time to time we come across hints at a possible plantation of Connaught. And from about 1625 on we hear of a project of confiscation and plantation in the Irish districts in north Tipperary and Limerick.[2] It was reserved for Strafford, as I have said, to bring both projects into the sphere of reality with his usual thoroughness.
The Parliament of 1634 had passed an Act confirming all compositions made or to be made by Strafford's new Commission for remedying defective titles.[3] It had asked for an Act under
- ↑ Cal. St. Paps., 1628, p. 330.Leland says: "The surrenders were made, their patents received the great seal, but by the neglect of the officers neither was enrolled in Chancery."In Cal. St. Paps., 1647—60, Addenda, under 1635, Sir C. Coote is said to have been the person who neglected to enrol the surrenders, p. 213.
- ↑ Cal. St. Paps., 1625, p. 73: suggestion to plant Lower Ormond. Ibid., 1629, p. 536. "People talk of planting the territories of Ormond, Arra, Owneymulrian, Ikerrin and Kilnamanagh. The King's title is good, and the gentry there are ready for a plantation." Lord Esmonde to Lord Dorchester. There are many other allusions to the project.A possible plantation of Connaught is spoken of in Cal. St. Paps., 1631, p. 612; also p. 639: it was proposed to deduct one-fourth from all who had over 200 acres, "but that all that have less, the said fourth being deducted, shall have all taken from them."
- ↑ This commission differed very much from that set up by James. It aimed at raising revenue by finding flaws in titles, and compelling the owners to pay fines for new titles, or increased quit rents.
