WHereas by a Commission under the Great-Seal of England , and Instructions thereunto annexed , Entituled , A Commission and Instructions to Charles Fleetwood , Esq ; Lieutenant General of the Army in Ireland , Edmond Ludlow , Esq ; Lieutenant General of the Horse , Miles Corbet , Esq ; and John Jones , Esq ; Impowering them to cause all the Lands therein mentioned to be forfeited to the Commonwealth , to be forthwith surveyed , in order to the satisfying of Adventurers for Ireland , and Arrears of Officers and Souldiers , and for the Setling and Planting of Ireland , with security to the Inhabitants and such as shall Plant the same , the said Commissioners therein named , are thereby authorized to cause the said forfeited Lands to be surveyed accordingly : And whereas by further Instructions , Entituled , Further Instructions unto Charles Fleetwood , Esquire , Lieutenant General of the Army in IRELAND , Edmond Ludlow , Esquire , Lieutenant General of the Horse , Miles Corbet , Esquire , and John Jones , Esquire , the said Commissioners are thereby further authorized and required , for the better security of all those parts of Ireland which were to be planted with English Protestants ; And to the end that all persons in Ireland who had right to Articles , or to any Favor or Mercy held forth by any the Qualifications in an Act of Parliament , Entituled , An Act for the setling of Ireland , might enjoy the benefit intended unto them respectively , to publish and declare , That all and every the said persons which had such right to Articles , or to any Favor or Mercy held forth by any the said Qualifications , should before the first day of May , 1654. remove and transplant themselves into the Province of Connaught and County of Clare , or one of them , there to inhabit and abide , and to have set forth to them and every of them respectively , such Proportions of Land , and for such Estates and Terms , and under such Conditions , Reservations and Covenants , as should be answerable in value unto so much of his and their Estates , as by such Articles or Qualifications he or they were to enjoy in such place and manner , as the said Commissioners , or such as they should Authorize , should appoint and direct ; And to that end the said Commissioners were likewise authorized and impowered to nominate Commissioners under them , and to authorize them to allot to any such person or persons , who by Articles granted unto them , or by vertue of any the said Qualifications , were to enjoy any part of their Estates , a like proportion of Land by measure , or in value in the said Province of Connaught , or County of Clare , of like Estate of Inheritance , Free-hold , Term of Years , or number of Lives , to be by them held and enjoyed in lieu or satisfaction of such part of their Estate , which by such Articles or Qualifications he or they were to enjoy . And whereas by a late Act , Entituled , An Act for the speedy and effectual Satisfaction of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland , and of the Arrears due to the Soldiery there , and of other Publick Debts , and for the Encouragement of Protestants to plant and inhabit Ireland , It is Declared , That by the Blessing of God upon the Forces of the Common-wealth , the Rebels of Ireland are subdued , and the Rebellion there appeased and ended ; And that therefore , to the end all just Satisfaction might be made unto the Adventurers , Officers and Souldiers , and other persons in the said last recited Act mentioned , and that the Country of Ireland might be planted and setled with security unto such as should plant and inhabit the same , the said Commission and Instructions , and Further Instructions are ratified and confirmed ; And whereas by the said Act of Satisfaction , it is declared to whom , how , and in what manner , and at what Rates the forfeited Lands in Ireland shall be divided , allotted , given , granted , set out and distributed to the said Adventurers and Souldiers , and others in the said Act of Satisfaction expressed , and that for so much of the said Lands as should be assigned or set out to the said Officers and Souldiers in satisfaction of their Arrears for their Service there , and in England , by vertue of the said Act of Satisfaction , the Ordering , Allotting , Granting , Disposing and setling thereof unto , and upon such the said Officers and Souldiers should be mannaged by the then Commissioners of Parliament in Ireland , in such sort and manner as in and by the said Act of Satisfaction is declared ; And whereas by an Ordinance of his Highness the Lord Protector and his Council , dated the Twenty third of June , One thousand six hundred fifty four , Entituled , An Ordinance for the further Encouragement of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland , and of the Souldiers and other Planters there , It is thereby ( amongst other things ) Ordained , That for , and in consideration of every Rent , Service , Charge or Duty , issuing , reserved , charged , due or payable on , or out of the Lands , or other the Hereditaments granted or intended to and for the said Souldiers and Adventurers , or either of them , to any person or persons who have duely claimed the same , and according to this Ordinance , shall have the same allowed and ordered , Every such Adventurer and Souldier , on or out of whose Lands or Hereditaments the same shall be issuing , reserved , charged , due or payable , shall have set forth and enjoyed to him and his Heirs for ever , so much Land in the County of Kildare ( according to the Values of Adventurers , at such measure as was allowed to such person for his Adventure , in satisfaction whereof such Lands so charged were allotted unto them ) as would have been produced , or due for an Adventure of such certain sum of Money as the Purchase or buying out of such Rent , Service , Charge , or Duty shall be computed to amount unto , computation being thereof made and certified by such person and persons as shall be authorized by his Highnesse the Lord Protector , with the Consent of his Council ; And whereas in pursuance of all and every the said Commission and Instructions , further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , the said Commissioners of Parliament , the Lord Deputy and Councill of Ireland , and his Highnesse Council for the Affairs of Ireland , or some of them , have caused the said forfeited Lands in Ireland , to be Surveyed , and have caused the Papist Proprietors in the Province of Leynster , Ulster , and Munster , ( Except those in the County of Clare ) who had any such Right to Articles , or who fell within any the Qualifications aforesaid , to remove and transplant themselves and Families into the said Province of Connaught , or County of Clare , and have likewise caused the Lands of all and every such person and person so transplanted , to be surveyed , and have likewise by their Commissioners thereunto by them deputed and appointed , caused to be allotted and given out unto such person and persons , so removed and transplanted , such proportions of Land in the said Province of Connaught , and County of Clare , or one of them , as are equall in measure or value to such Lands , and for such Estate and Estates , as the said person and persons so removed and transplanted , ought to have had and enjoyed in any other part of Ireland , by vertue of his , or their Articles or Qualifications .

And whereas the said Commissioners of Parliament , the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland , and his Highnesse said Council for the Affairs of Ireland , or some of them , in further pursuance of the said several aforementioned Powers and Authorities , have proceeded by themselves and their Commissioners , and others by them authorized , to allot , distribute , grant , assign , set out and deliver several parts , shares and proportions of the said forfeited , escheated and exchanged Lands of the said Rebels , Papist Proprietors , and Transplanted persons , unto several Officers and Souldiers , in full or part of their respective Debentures , for the Arrears for their respective Services there and in England , and to several other person and persons , comprised in the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Acts and Ordinances , or some of them , and have likewise ordered , made , granted , set out , distributed and delivered over , to several Officers and Souldiers and others , whose Lands so to them allotted , distributed , granted , assigned , set out and delivered as aforesaid , proved to be legally incumbred with any such Rent , Service , Charge or Duty , as in the said Ordinance of Encouragement is expressed , other Lands ( equal to the said Incumbrance ) by way of reprisal , out of the forfeited , escheated , or exchanged Lands in the said County of Kildare , according to the Tenor of the said Ordinance of Encouragement as aforesaid ; All and every which said person and persons , to whom such Allotments , Distributions , Grants , Assignments and Reprisals were , and have been made as aforesaid , their Lessees or Assigns have entred into their said several shares and proportions of Land , and have many of them disbursed severall great sums of Money in Buildings , Reparations and Improvements upon the said Lands so to them allotted , granted , assigned , distributed , set out , and delivered , or given in reprisal , as aforesaid , so that the securing and confirmation of the said Allotments , Distributions , Grants , Assignments , and Reprisals is now become of great use and necessity to the Plantation and Peace of Ireland ; Be it therefore Enacted and Declared by his Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and this present Parliament , and the Authority thereof , That all and every Act and Acts , Thing and Things which have been done by the late Commissioners of the Parliament , Commissioners of the Commonwealth , Lord Deputy and Council , or the Lords of his Highnesse Council there , or any of them , or by any other person or persons thereunto authorized by them , or any of them , upon , or in pursuance of the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them , for the surveying , allotting , setting forth , disposing and distributing of any of the said Rebels and Papists forfeited , escheated , or exchanged Lands , according to the true intent and meaning of the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them ; And all and every Commission and Commissions , or other Authority granted by the said Commissioners of Parliament , Commissioners of the Common-wealth , Lord Deputy and Council , or by his Highnesse said Council for the Affairs of Ireland , to any person or persons for the Adjudication of Claims , or for the Adjudication of the Qualifications of the Irish , or for setting forth of Lands unto them , And all and every Iudgment and Iudgments , Decree and Decrees , Disposition and Dispositions of Lands made by them , or any of them , in pursuance of their respective Commissions , And also all and every Division , Allotment , Grant , Assignment , Order , Act and Thing already done , made , executed and performed , or caused to be done , made , executed or performed by the said Commissioners of Parliament , Commissioners of the Commonwealth , Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland , or his Highnesse Council for the Affairs of Ireland , or any of them , or by any other person or persons by Commission or Authority from them , or any of them , upon , or in pursuance of the said Commission and Instructions , further Instructions , Act and Ordinance aforementioned , or any of them , for the disposing of the said Rebels and Papists forfeited , escheated or exchanged Lands , shall be , and are hereby adjudged , deemed and declared to be good , firm and effectual to all intents and purposes , and are hereby for ever ratified and confirmed . And be it further Enacted and Declared , and it is likewise further Enacted and Declared by the Authority aforesaid , That all and every such person and persons , their Heirs , Executors , Administrators and Assigns respectively , to whom any such forfeited , escheated or exchanged Mannors , Castles , Houses , Lands , Tenements , and Hereditaments have been so allotted , assigned , given , granted , distributed , set out , delivered or reprized by the said Commissioners of Parliament , or Commissioners of the Commonwealth , the said Lord Deputy and Council , or his Highnesse said Council for the Affairs of Ireland , or any of them , or by any other person or persons by Commission or Authority from them , or any of them , are and shall be , and are hereby respectively adjudged and declared to be in real and actual Seisin and Possession of all and every such Manors , Castles , Houses , Lands , Tenements and Hereditaments , so to him and them allotted , assigned , given , granted , distributed , set out , delivered or reprized respectively , as aforesaid ; And that all and every such person and persons , their Heirs and Assigns , shall , and may for ever hereafter have , hold , and enjoy the same to him and them respectively , and to his and their respective Heirs and Assigns in free and common Soccage , as of the Castle of Dublin , under such Rents , Services , Covenants , Conditions , Qualifications , Remittals , and Abatements , as in and by the said several Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them are expressed .

Provided , That neither this Act , nor any thing therein , nor in the said aforementioned Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them contained shall any wayes extend to the forfeiture , extinguishment , defeating , making void or prejudicing of any Contract , Bargain , Sale , Grant , Demise , Lease , Release , Rent , or Exchange , heretofore made or granted of , or out of any the said forfeited , escheated or exchanged Lands , by any the said Officers or Souldiers , or others to whom the same have been so formerly allotted , assigned , given , granted , distributed , set out , delivered or reprized as aforesaid , or of any Contract , Bargain , or Sale of any Debenture or Debentures , in satisfaction whereof any the said forfeited , escheated or exchanged Lands , Tenements or Hereditaments , are , have been , or shall be allotted , granted , given out , or distributed to any person or persons whatsoever , but that all and every such person and persons to whom any such Contract , Bargain , Sale , Grant , Demise , Lease , Release , Rent or Exchange , hath or have been so made or granted , and the Heirs , Executors , Administrators , and Assigns of all and every such person and persons respectively , shall and may at all times hereafter peaceably and quietly enjoy to his and their respective Vse and Vses , the benefit and advantage of every such Bargain and Contract , so to him and them respectively made as aforesaid , Any thing in this Act , or in the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them , contained to the contrary notwithstanding .

And to the end the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Settlement , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , may be further put in execution as to the said Officers and Souldiers , whose Arrears or any part thereof are yet to be satisfied in Ireland ; Be it further Enacted and Declared , and it is further Enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid , That the Lord Deputy and Council , or other chief Governor or Governors of Ireland , with the Council there for the time being , or the Council there in the absence of the chief Governor , shall be , and are hereby required and authorized at all and every time and times hereafter , to do and execute , or cause to be done and executed , all such further Act and Acts , thing and things necessary to be done in pursuance of , and according to the tenor of the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them , as the said Commissioners of Parliament could , might , or ought to have done thereupon , for the setting forth , allotting , distributing or assigning of the remainder of the said forfeited , escheated , or exchanged Lands , to such of the Officers , Souldiers , and others , in the said Act of Satisfaction mentioned , who have not yet received satisfaction of their respective Arrears ; All and every which said Act and Acts , thing and things hereafter so to be done , or caused to be done by the said Lord Deputy and Council , or the chief Governor or Governors of Ireland , with the Council there for the time being , or by the Council there in the absence of the chief Governor , according to , and in pursuance of the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance of Encouragement , or any of them , to the purposes aforesaid , shall be , and are hereby declared to be good , binding and effectual in Law to all intents and purposes . Provided , and it is hereby declared , That no such further Act or Acts , thing or things so to be done , or caused to be done by the said Lord Deputy and Council , or by the chief Governor or Governors of Ireland , with the Council there for the time being , or by the Council there in the absence of the chief Governor , or by any of them , or by any other person or persons whatsoever by Order , Commission , Authority or Direction of them , or any of them , shall any wayes alter , change , impeach , destroy , defeat , extinguish or make void all or any the said former Allotments , Assignments , Grants Distributions and Reprisals , or any of them , made to any the said Officers and Souldiers , or other persons afore-mentioned , by the said Commissioners of Parliament , Commissioners of the Commonwealth , Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland , and his Highnesse said Council there , or any of them , or by any other person or persons by Commission or Authority from them , or any of them as aforesaid ; saving nevertheless to the said Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland , and the chief Governor or Governors of Ireland , with the Councill there for the time being , all such Power and Authority of Resurveying any the said forfeited , escheated or exchanged Lands so already allotted , set out and disposed of to the Officers and Souldiers as aforesaid , as in and by the said Act of Satisfaction is expressed and contained ; And saving likewise to his Highness and the Commonwealth , all such benefits and advantages of the surplusage of Land which shall be found on the returns of the said Surveys , according to the tenor of the said Act of Satisfaction in that behalf .

And for the better and more perfect Execution of all and every the former Branches of this Act , Be it Enacted and Declared , and it is likewise Enacted and Declared by the Authority aforesaid , That the said Lord Deputy and Council , or the chief Governor or Governors of Ireland , with the Council there for the time being , or the Council there in the absence of such chief Governor or Governors , shall be , and are hereby further authorized and required at all times hereafter ( upon request to them to be made ) to cause Letters Patents , under the Great-Seal of Ireland , to be made unto such of the Grand Allottees , or other persons to whom the said Allotments , Assignments , Grants , Distributions or Reprisals of the said forfeited , escheated , or exchanged Lands in Ireland , have been , or shall be respectively made as aforesaid , or to the respective Heir or Heirs of such Grand Allottees , or other persons aforesaid , in case of his or their Decease , or to so many of them as shall desire the same , for the better , more perfect , and effectual Conveyance and Assurance of all and every such Manors , Castles , Houses , Lands , Tenements and Hereditaments , to every such person and persons , his and their Heirs and Assigns , to be held by such Tenures , and under such Rents , Services , Conditions , Qualifications , Indulgences , Remittals and Abatements , as in and by the said severall Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , are expressed and declared ; and in and by the said Letters Patents to create such Manors , constituted and made up of such proportion and number of Acres in the several Provinces of Ireland , and with such Iurisdictions , Liberties , Priviledges and Immunities , as in and by the said Commission and Instructions , Further Instructions , Act of Satisfaction , and Ordinance for Encouragement , or any of them , is declared : And , that the said Grand Allottee or Allottees , or other the said Patentee or Patentees , in case of his or their decease , shall for so much of the said forfeited , escheated , or exchanged Manors , Castles , Houses , Lands , Tenements and Hereditaments to him and them so allotted , granted , assigned , set out , distributed and delivered , as shall justly belong to any other person or persons , whose shares and proportions were comprehended within the General Lot of every such Grand Allottee , shall after the perfection of the said Letters Patents , upon Thirty dayes warning to him or them in that behalf respectively given by the said person or persons so concerned , or any other person for their use as aforesaid , and at the Costs and Charges of him or them so concerned , make , execute and perfect any such Assurance or Conveyance in the Law by Deed , Fine , Feoffment , Release , Confirmation , or otherwise , for the sure granting , assuring , and conveying of all and every the said share and proportion of such several person and persons so concerned , in all and every the said respective Grand Lots , to all and every the said person and persons so concerned , and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever , with Warranty against every such Patentee and Patentees , and his and their Heirs , and all and every person and persons lawfully claiming by , from , or under him and them respectively , as by the said several person and persons concerned , his or their Heirs and Assigns , or by his or their Counsel learned in the Law , shall be reasonably devised , advised or required ; And that all and every the said person or persons to whom such Assurance or Assurances shall be so made as aforesaid , and his and their Heirs and Assigns shall and may , and are hereby declared , immediately from and after such the said Assurance so to him or them perfected by the said Patentee or Patentees , or his or their Heirs as aforesaid , to stand and be seized of all and every such share and proportion of the said forfeited , escheated and exchanged Lands so to him and them granted and conveyed as aforesaid , to the several use and uses of every such Grantee , and of his and their Heirs , freed and discharged of and from all former Gifts , Grants , Bargains , Sales , Leases , Ioyntures , Dowers , Charges , Debts , Statutes , Iudgments , Extents , Executions and Incumbrances whatsoever , for , or by reason of being so vested as aforesaid , in the said Patentee or Patentees , or any of them , and shall accordingly hold and enjoy the same for ever freed and discharged of and from all and every the said incumbrances .