made them more pliable in their demands.[1] All the different parties came to see that compromise was necessary. The scheme finally adopted is said by Carte to have come from the Irish agents. By it the various Protestant interests gave up one-third of what they possessed in May, 1659, or of—in the case of the forty-nine officers, etc.—what arrears were due to them. This third was to provide for the necessary reprisals.
This scheme was adopted by the Privy Council, and in September, 1665, the Bill was transmitted to Ireland. After keen debates in both houses and much opposition from the adventurers it was passed and received the Royal Assent in December.
That the Act of Explanation failed to satisfy any of the contending parties is perhaps the best thing that can be said in its favour. It is sometimes contended that it was unfavourable to the Protestant interest, and the picturesque account to be found in the Calendar of State Papers, 1663—1665[2] of the final scene in the House of Commons, where members in the fading light confronted one another with half-drawn swords, proves that this was the view taken of it at the time by the more stalwart Cromwellians. But although they had to make substantial sacrifices, the detriment caused to their interests by this Act
- ↑ See the case of Blackwell. Cal. St. Paps., 1660—62. p. 433. He had got lands estimated to be worth £80,000, though he had never adventured or spent anything as far as the Lord Chancellor could find. See also the cases of Dick and Cunningham as set out in the Act of Explanation. They had got over 15,000 acres in Tipperary and Limerick although they had never "adventured" anything. Clause CLXIX. Also see Sir Wm. Domville on the frauds of Whaley and others. (Cal. St. Paps., 1663—65, p. 270).
- ↑ See the introduction and pp. 669 and 687.
