CHAPTER II
THE PLANTATION OF ULSTER
With the death of Elizabeth, and the accession of the Stuarts, a new era opens in Ireland. To conquest by force of arms and accompanying confiscation succeeds confiscation based on legal subtleties.
At first matters seemed to go smoothly under James I. Earl Hugh O'Neill, who had submitted a few days after Elizabeth's death, was pardoned and restored to all his lands. Rory O'Donnell, brother and successor of Red Hugh, received an earldom together with a grant of all Tirconnell.[1]
In general all the Irish who had survived the rebellion were pardoned, and so secured in all their rights to land, whatever those might be. All the inhabitants of Ireland were admitted to the protection of the law, and made "denizens," thus sweeping away the old legal distinction between those of Irish and of English blood. Serfdom was abolished by a proclamation of the Deputy, Chichester, in March, 1605.[2] A commission for[3]
- ↑ Excluding Inishowen, which had been granted to O'Dogherty under Elizabeth: Fiant 5207; and also excluding certain lands to be given to satisfy the claims of Sir Neal Garve O'Donnell, and to supply certain English garrisons.
- ↑ This is quoted in part on p. 394 of Bonn's Englische Kolonisation.
- ↑ There were really two; one for strengthening of defective titles, the other for accepting surrenders from the Irish and "degenerate" English, and regranting estates under the Common Law.
