Puritan
rule under Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, had been extremely
harsh. Cromwell died in 1658 and was succeeded as Lord Protector
by his son Richard. In order 
to
raise money and settle such differences, Richard was forced to
dissolve the Protectorate and reinstate the Rump Parliament in
January 1659. Bitter arguments between the Parliament and the
military resulted in an Army Council which would break away, taking
Richard into their power and forcing him to dissolve the Rump
in May. The Army Council then agreed with a reassembled Long Parliament
upon the Lord Protector's dismissal. Richard submitted to Parliament's
decision on 25th May 1659
Charles
II was restored to the throne in May of 1660 to the great joy
of the majority of the people. Catholics and others were again
allowed to practice their religion in peace.
The
Duke of Ormonde was made Viceroy of Ireland in 1661, and in 1662
the Act of Settlement was passed by the Irish Parliament as part
of the Restoration land settlement.
Under
the Act of Settlement people who could prove they were innocent
of any part in the rebellion were to be restored and compensated
with lands elsewhere.
A
court of claims was convened in January 1663 to hear the pleas.
The court heard 829 cases and awarded decrees of innocence to
more than 550 Catholics and about 150 Protestants. With hundreds
of cases yet to be heard, the court was disbanded on August 21,
1663. It took so long for the Plantation to actually get under
way that by the time of the Restoration many people had not moved
and were restored to their old lands.
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