1614.

Co. Sligo.

Co. Letrim.

Gallway city.

Athenry.

the Nangles called the McCoystillos; the D'Exetres called McJordans; the Stauntons called McYvilles; the Barretts called McPaddins; the Rochfords; the Burkes called McMeylers; the Burkes called McGibbons; the Burkes called McPhillippins, and some other inferior septs of the Burkes. Of new English there are John More, who has the country of Clanmaurice, and some of the Binghams; of English, transplanted out of the pale, the Earl of Ormond, who has Burresowle; Sir Theobald Dillon, who has the country of Clancoystillo; the Bowens, and some others. Of the Irishry, there are none but the O'Mayles, who possess the waste country of the Owles.

The county of Sligo has of ancient or new English none; of English transplanted out of the pale, Sir Willm. Taffe, who has the town and abbey of Sligo and the lordship of Ballimot, some of the Nugents, and others. Of the Irishry there is O'Conner Sligo, the McDonoghes, the O'Hares, and some of the McSwynies.

The county of Letrim has neither ancient nor new English, nor any transplanted from the pale; of Irishry, Orwrke and those that live under him, as the McRanells, the Clan Loghlins, the Clan Murries, the Clan Owens, and such others; and McGrannahie, who possesses the Dartrie, and is a lord of himself.

The province of Connaght has only two corporations, the ancient monuments of the English conquerors, and is inhabited only by English families and surnames; the one is Gallway, a walled town and port of the sea, lately made a county, and governed by a mayor and two sheriffs. The town is small, but has fair and stately buildings. The fronts of the houses (towards the streets) are all of hewed stone up to the top, garnished with fair battlements in a uniform course, as if the whole town had been built upon one model. The merchants are rich, and great adventurers at sea. Their commonalty is composed of the descendants of the ancient English founders of the town, and rarely admit any new English to have freedom or education among them, and never any of the Irish. They keep good hospitality and are kind to strangers; and in their manner of entertainment and in fashioning and apparelling themselves and their wives they preserve most the ancient manner and state, as much as any town that ever I saw. The town is built upon a rock, environed almost with the sea and the river, compassed with a strong wall and good defences, after the ancient manner, such as with a reasonable garrison may defend itself against an enemy.

The other is Athenry, eight miles from Gallway towards the land, and was (as it is said) elder than it; a town, as it seems, built by the English conquerors whilst they had their swords in their hands, and kept themselves there close in garrison

1614.

Gallway Bay.

against the attempts of the Irish. But after the English Lords had planted themselves in strong castles abroad, the town became to be abandoned and utterly decayed, and now has very small and poor habitation, yet the walls stand still, large in compass, and very strong and fair.

There are in this province many fair and commodious havens and inlets from the sea, whereof great use and profit may be made, whereas now they remain (for the most part) neglected and unprofitable, and open for any enemy or pirate to possess at his pleasure:

The first and southernmost is the bay of Gallway, an inlet of 30 or 40 miles into the land, and almost 20 or 30 miles broad at the entry, having in the midst thereof the isles of Between these islands and the road of Gallway, any ship may ride at 10 or 12 fathoms water; and if the wind blow hard at south or south-west, they must of necessity come to an anchor in the road of Gallway, where the greatest ship may ride in all weathers without any danger. Within this road there lies a small island called Mutton Island, where a platform with a few pieces of artillery may at pleasure sink any ship, or force her on the rocks. The fort of Gallway may (though farther off) likewise beat the road, and that fort is of excellent use, both for commanding the town and for giving annoyance or favour to such ships as shall rove there. Towards the north-west shore, between the road of Gallway and the isles of Arran, in the same bay, is a harbour called the Kylinge, the entry is so deep that the greatest of his Majesty's ships may come in at low water and run up three miles without any danger, and ride at 10 fathom water and good ground, and of capacity to receive 400 ships. From this harbour an enemy may, in six hours, march to the west gate of Gallway, and find nothing in his way to resist him. The harbour may be secured by making a fort on the west side of the entry, which may command any vessel that comes there, and all the harbour. Here is a great fishing for herring and salmon.

Next to the Kylinge southward, is the road in the isles of Arran, called St. Gregory's Sound, wherein 100 ships of good burden may ride at any time. An enemy possessing this sound may be master of all the isles of Arran (which are well inhabited), and command all the bay. It may be secured by building a fort in the great island, and be of great use and importance. It was heretofore projected, and the late Queen gave a liberal allowance of land and command for the doing of it; but, according to the usual fate of this kingdom, it was not looked after, and so cast away. The English, Bretons and Portugalls (in times past) had a great trade of fishing here for cod, ling, hake, and conger, which would continue still if it were undertaken.

1614.

Inishpuffin or
Black Rock.

Roe Island.

Ballicroan Bay.

Innishkaye Island.

Inver or Broad
Haven.

Moyne Bay.

Sligo.

The next harbour north-west from the isles of Arran is Inishpuffin, commonly called the Black Rock, a small entry, and dangerous for a ship above 100 tons, but being in, 100 ships may ride quietly from 12 to 3 fathoms. A small fort will secure and command the whole road. Here is a good fishing for cod and ling, and it is much frequented by his Majesty's subjects and others.

The next harbour where any shipping may come in is an island called Roe Island, north from the Black Rock, an ill place to adventure upon without a pilot from the Black Rock. Under this island a ship may ride from 20 to 23 fathoms, and a fort there will command and secure the road. Here is good fishing for cod, ling, &c., and it is much haunted by the English and Dutch.

The next towards the north is the bay of Ballicronan, in Irris, great and spacious, but no shipping will willingly come there if it can get any other barbour. The bay is so broad, as no force from land can forbid any ship to ride there. The fishing here is very good, but they must be forced still to keep the deep, and anchor at no less than 10 fathom water, because the shoals on both sides are foul and rocky.

North-west from that bay lies the island of Innishkaye, where good numbers of small ships may ride at three fathoms water. A small fort in this island may secure and command all the road, and it is the best and most plentiful fishing of all the west of Ireland.

Next to that, northward, is Inver, commonly called the Broad Haven. It is broad within, but the entry such as a fort with artillery on the south side of the harbour may sink any vessel. 300 sail may ride without annoying each other. They may anchor from 20 to 24 fathoms. The fishing is good, and plentiful for cod, linge, herring, &c.

The next harbour northward is Moyne, in Tirreawlye, where ships of burden cannot enter farther than the bay without, whereas, on the west side, good store of shipping may ride in a large and safe road from 20 to 26 fathoms, and no wind (but from the north-west) to wrong them, with which they may safely go to sea, if the wind do not overblow. This bay is so wide as no fortification can secure or defend it. Here is a great fishing of salmon and herring, &c.

The next and last towards the north is that of Sligo, where a ship of 200 tons may enter, so that she bring her side with her. The road is between a small island and the main, and eight fathoms water. A small fort in the island will command this road, and it has an excellent fishing for cod and linge without, and salmon within.

1614. Shenan River.

Curra Drum.
Ruske.
Balleleag.

Athlone.

Aghacroghe.

Mellicke.
Portumna.
Burghe.

The government of Connaght.

For the wars.

Civil government.

Entertainment.

The river of Shenan (dividing most of the province of Connaght from the Irish countries of Leinster) has many fords and passages which are needful to be known and cared for, for the better ordering of it in all times of trouble and rebellion. There are from Curradrumruske, towards the head of the Shenan, between the county of Roscoman (where his Majesty has a fort and ward) unto Porttumna, and between the county of Gallway and Ormond, almost 30 fords, and almost all of them, saving Portumna and one or two more, are still passable in the summer.

The most to be respected are Curra Drumruske, which is already secured by his Majesty's fort; next to that Balleleag which was intended to be secured and a ward placed there, and money allowed for the rebuilding of an ancient fort built by the first conquerors, but Sir Patrick Barnwell's works (over against it) has devoured the King's fort and so it is now quitted.

Athlone has his Majesty's castle and a bridge which was rebuilt in the government of Sir Henry Sydney. The next to that of importance is Aghacroghe upon McCoghlin's country, which lies open, and is noisome to that part of the province. There are two more at Bellicke and Portumna, both the Earl of Clanrickard's, and commanded by his castles. The rest though they be at some times passable, yet are less used, and nothing so hurtful to the province.

The ordinary government of Connaght is conformable to other parts of the kingdom by the common laws and statutes, reporting to the chancery and other courts at Dublin, and to the justices of assize and gaol delivery.

The Extraordinary is in the hands of a President and VicePresident in his absence. These have absolute martial power within the province, and command of the wars (unless the Lo. Deputy come in person).

Civil, a body of Councillors, who with the President are authorised to hear and order civil complaints after the order and manner of the presidencies of Wales. They have for assistants a justice, an attorney, and a clerk of the Council to order the pleading, a serjeant-at-arms to attend him and to execute his commandments, and a gentleman porter to keep the prisoners.

Of the Lo. President and retinue, his diet, etc., is, per annum, 900l.; justices fee, 100l.; King's attorney, 201.; clerk of the Councils, 201.; serjeant-at-arms and gentleman porter, one man, 201.; clerk of the assize and peace, one man, 20l.; provost marshal, 100l.; commissary for the victuals, 120l.; clerk of the munition, 40%. ; commissary for the musters, 40l. ; two gunners at 40l.

1614.

His Majesty's

revenue.

6th August. 153. Vol. 617, p. 113.

Whole charge together with the horse and foot companies, constables, and warders, 4,5401.

His Majesty's revenue within the province (besides casualties), consists of ancient revenue composition in lieu of cess, customs, and impost of wines. The ancient revenue, with the rents of abbeys, is 400l.

Composition in lieu of cess 10s. a quarter, chargeable and inhabited, 2,6007.

Customs of the 20th-part in Gallway and other parts, 6001. Impost of wines, 600l.; casualties, 2007.; whole revenue, 4,4007.; whereby it appears that his Majesty stands charged above the revenues (by this estimate) 1407.

Copy. Pp. 17.

ORDERS to be observed in the Plantation of the escheated lands in the county of Wexford.

1. That all the natives of the territories of Kinselaghe, Kilegeele, McVadox country, McDa-Mores country, the Bragknaghes, Kilcoolnelein otherwise McMaurices country, Ferrmhamon, Clanhenrike, Kilhobucke, and the O'Moroghes, as well such as hold only by Irish gavelkind, or pretence of descent as such, or pretend to have former patents, shall forthwith make authentic surrenders to his Majesty of all the holdings of estates in any of the said territories. And all new patents as well of undertakers as others to do the like, that so the lands may be entirely in his Majesty's hands by general consent.

2. That the Lo. Deputy (Chichester) and such of the Council there as are hereunder mentioned shall be joined with him as assistants for this service, do cause to be laid out 16,500 acres, arable, meadow, and pasture, besides barren mountain and boggy or unpasturable woods, to be by his Lp. bestowed upon 11 of such of the former new patentees, or such other fit men, as will accept the same, if the said patentees shall refuse to take it; viz., 1,500 acres a man. The said lands are to be laid out of the parts of the above territories bordering next upon the Irish counties of the Duffrin, Treenoncale, Shilelaghe, Cosha, and the lordship of Arklow, which is the most remote, barren, and least valuable part of all the said territory.

3. That such natives and inhabitants, as well old pretended patentees and other possessors as now hold the said 16,500 acres, be forthwith competently satisfied by the residue of the inhabitants of the said territories, for the lands to be taken from them, as the Deputy and Council shall think fit; viz., such as dwelt formerly there to be again re-settled elsewhere among the natives, and such as had holdings there and dwelt elsewhere to have considerations in money or land promiscuously among the other natives and inhabitants, as the country can best agree and shall be thought fit by the Lo. Deputy and assistants.