The work of transplanting was slow, difficult, and intensely painful to the Irish, for Connaught was bleak, sterile, and desolate, and the weather was inclement.  The natural protectors of many families had been killed or banished, and the women and children clung with frantic fondness to their old homes.  But for the feelings of such afflicted ones the conquerors had no sympathy.  On the contrary, they believed that God, angry at their lingering, sent his judgments as a punishment.  Mr. Prendergast has published a number of letters, written at the time by the English authorities and others, from which some interesting matters may be gleaned.  The town of Cashel had got a dispensation to remain.  ‘But,’ says the writer, ’the Lord, who is a jealous God, and more knowing of, as well as jealous against their iniquity than we, by a fire on the 23rd inst. hath burned down the whole town in little less than a quarter of an hour, except a few houses that a few English lived in,’ &c.  In consequence of the delay, the Irish began to break into ‘torying’ (plundering).  ’The tories fly out and increase.  What strange people, not to starve in peace.’  To be inclined to plunder under such circumstances, with so gracious a Government, must be held to be a proof of great natural depravity, as well as of a peculiar incapacity to respect, or even to understand, the rights of property.

At length, however, the land was ready for the enjoyment of the officers and soldiers.  On August 20, 1655, the lord deputy, Fleetwood, thus addressed one of the officers:—­

’Sir,—­In pursuance of his highness’s command, the council here with myself and chief officers of the army having concluded about disbanding part of the army, in order to lessening the present charge, it is fit that your troope be one.  And, accordingly, I desire you would march such as are willing to plant of them into the barony of Shelmaliere, in the county of Wexford, at or before the first day of September, where you shall be put into possession of your lands, for your arrears, according to the rates agreed on by the committee and agents.  As also you shall have, upon the place wherein you are, so much money as shall answer the present three months’ arrear due to you and your men, but to continue no longer the pay of the army than upon the muster of this August.  The sooner you march your men the better; thereby you will be enabled to make provision for the winter.’  After some sweetening hints that they will be perhaps paid hereafter as a militia he concludes:—­

’And great is your mercy, that after all your hardships and difficulties you may sit down, and, if the Lord give His blessing, may reape some fruits of your past services.  Do not think it a blemish or underrating of your past services, that you are now disbanded; but look upon it as of the Lord’s appointing, and with cheerfulness submit thereunto; and the blessing of the Lord be upon you all, and keep you in His fear, and give you hearts to observe your past experience of signal appearances.  And that this fear may be seen in your hearts, and that you may be kept from the sins and pollutions which God hath so eminently witnessed against in those whose possessions you are to take up, is the desire of him who is