It is the third clause of the "Act for the Settling of Ireland" that must have appeared to that age the most extraordinary, and that may perhaps account in great measure for the reputation which Cromwell still enjoys in this country.
It condemned by name one hundred and five persons as specially marked out for the death penalty.
First on the list was the Lord Lieutenant, the Protestant Marquis of Ormond. Next came the English Catholic Earl of Castlehaven, and he was followed by the Lord Lieutenant's Deputy, the Irish Catholic Earl of Clanrickard. Number five on the list was the Irish Protestant Earl of Roscommon, number seven was the Irish Puritan Baron of Inchiquin, number twelve was the Scotch Presbyterian Viscount Montgomery.
Other names included Bramhal the Protestant Bishop of Derry, and Sir George Munroe, Sir James Montgomery and Sir Robert Steward, all leading Ulster Presbyterians, and ferocious opponents of the Irish Catholics.
Finally there was what one is tempted to call a job lot of Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Knights, Esquires and minor individuals dignified by no title of honour, but including practically all the chief Catholic landowners in the country.
Now it must be remarked that we have no means of knowing whether it was ever intended to carry out the death sentences pronounced in the first and third clauses. But it is certain that they were not carried out. Of the 105 leading men mentioned by name some escaped to the Continent. The others all came under a clause at the end of
