A court was established under an act of parliament in Dublin, to try the claims of 'nocent' and 'innocent' proprietors.

The judges, who were Englishmen, declared in their first session that 168 were innocent to 19 nocent.

The Protestant interest was alarmed; and, through the influence of Ormond, then lord lieutenant, the duration of the court was limited, and when it was compelled to close its labours, only 800 out of 3,000 cases had been decided.

If the proportions of nocent and innocent were the same, an immense number of innocent persons were deprived of their property.

In 1675, fifteen years after the Restoration, the English settlers were in possession of 4,500,000 acres, while the old owners retained 2,250,000 acres.