that they were within the terms of the capitulation. Even now,
after the lapse of eight years, it might be possible, by
instituting a severe inquisition, and by giving proper
encouragement to informers, to prove that many Papists, who were
still permitted to enjoy their estates, had taken the side of
James during the civil war. There would thus be a new and
plentiful harvest of confiscations. The four bitterly complained
that their task had been made more difficult by the hostility of
persons who held office in Ireland, and by the secret influence
of great men who were interested in concealing the truth. These
grave charges were made in general terms. No name was mentioned;
no fact was specified; no evidence was tendered.

Had the report stopped here, those who drew it up might justly
have been blamed for the unfair and ill natured manner in which
they had discharged their functions; but they could not have been
accused of usurping functions which did not belong to them for
the purpose of insulting the Sovereign and exasperating the
nation. But these men well knew in what way and for what purpose
they might safely venture to exceed their commission. The Act of
Parliament from which they derived their powers authorised them
to report on estates forfeited during the late troubles. It
contained not a word which could be construed into an authority
to report on the old hereditary domain of the Crown. With that
domain they had as little to do as with the seignorage levied on
tin in the Duchy of Cornwall, or with the church patronage of the
Duchy of Lancaster. But they had discovered that a part of that
domain had been alienated by a grant which they could not deny
themselves the pleasure of publishing to the world. It was indeed
an unfortunate grant, a grant which could not be brought to light