Page:Confiscation in Irish history.djvu/133

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THE CROMWELLIAN CONFISCATION
121

of horror through Europe. The French Protestant clergy thought it necessary to publish a manifesto expressing their horror of the deed; the Dutch Calvinists broke off all relations with England; Scotland proclaimed Charles II. as King. The effect in Ireland was immense. The Ulster Presbyterians one and all declared for Charles II. Ormond and Inchiquin entered Kilkenny and joined their forces with those of the Confederate Catholics.

For a moment, however, the Ulster Irish stood aloof, and even united with the Puritans. But they, too, rallied to the Royal cause; and soon the three nations and the three religions in Ireland stood side by side in arms for the King. Outside Dublin, Drogheda and Derry the Royal flag waved over the whole of Ireland.

There followed the invasion of Cromwell, and the complete conquest of the island, into the details of which we need not enter. In August, 1652, before the war was fully ended, the parliament in London passed an Act called "An Act for the Settling of Ireland."

This is one of the most extraordinary documents ever produced by any body of legislators. It divided up into categories the whole population of Ireland, condemning some to death, others to banishment, others to loss of all or some of their estates, pardoning others.

By it, as Mr. Dunlop puts it, "not one single person of whatever nationality he was—Irish, Scottish or English—was exempted from the consequences of participation in the rebellion, either by having to lose his life or his property, partially