Catalogue description ULSTER.

The Description and present State of Ulster in 1586.

Its boundaries are described. It contains nine counties, that is to say, three of ancient making, and six made, or rather to be made, new: old--Lowth, Downe, Antrim; new--Manachan, Farnamagh, Tirone, Dungale, Colrane, Armagh.

Lowth is exposed to the often incursions of many lewd and disordered people. Names of its corporations, inhabitors, and principal surnames. Manacan contains these countries, Iriell, Dartrey, Lowghtie, and Irow. The chief captain there is Sir Rory McMahon, who has been some time contributory to Tur[lough] O'Neil, and now is left to the government of the Earl of Tyrone. He is able to make 100 horsemen and 400 footmen. Buildings in his country are none, save certain old defaced monasteries.

The county of Farnmanagh contains all Farnmanagh, Tyrmingrah, and Tirmin O'Mingan. Its captain is Sir Conohour McGwyre, under the rule of Tur. O'Neyle, but desirous to depend on the Queen. He is able to make 80 horsemen, 260 shot, and 300 kerne.

In the county of Tyrone the chief captain is Tir. O'Neyle. Of late the half thereof and more by a composition is let to the Earl of Tyrone. Turlough desires from her Majesty to his son the portion of Tyrone wherein he dwelleth. The O'Neales are all horsemen, and the Clandonelles all galloglas. The O'Doonells are much affected to Shan O'Neyle's sons. The whole force of this country is 300 horsemen and 1,500 footmen. Turlough most commonly dwelleth in the castle of Steaban. "The new castle upon the Earl's part is Dungannon, a defaced castle built by Shan O'Neyle upon the Blackwater, called Benburbe.

The county of Dunegall contains all Terconell and O'Dohertie's country. O'Donell is captain and governor of Tirconell, the chief strength of whom standeth most upon the O'Gallochells and McSwynes. He is able to make 200 horsemen and 1,300 footmen. Between him and O'Nell hath been continual wars for the castle of Liffa and the lands thereabouts. O'Doghertie's country is a promontory almost environed with the sea, namely, with Lough Swyly on the south, and Lough Foyle on the north. O'Doghertie is forced to contribute both to O'Neyle and O'Doonelle. "His country, lying upon the sea and open to the isles of Ila and Jura in Scotland, is almost yearly invaded by the Scots, who take the spoil of it at their pleasures, whereby O'Doghertie is forced always to be at their devotions." He is able to make 60 horsemen and 300 footmen. "Buildings in his countries are the Dery [and] Greencastle, which are wardable.

The county of Coleran contains all O'Cahan's country. Its captain is Rory O'Cahan, always left to the government of Turlough only. His nation is able to make 140 horsemen and 400 footmen; yet because he bordereth so near the Scots, he is much affected to them. His castles are Anagh and Lybenadye. Near the salmon fishing are the castle of Collran and Castle Rooe, where Turlogh O'Neale keeps a constable and a ward to preserve (?) his part of the fishing.

The county of Ardmache contains Oriragh, which is O'Hanlon's country, Clanbrasell, Clancan, Clanawll, Mucknee, Tiriacgh, Fues, and O'Nelan, of late made all contributories to the Earl of Tyrone. O'Hanlon's country is able to make 40 horsemen and 200 footmen. Clanbrasell has no horsemen, but 80 kearne. Clancan has no horsemen, but 100 kearne, who live upon stealth and robberies. Clanawlle appertains to the Archbishop of Armagh and his freeholders, containing the bridge and fort of Blackwater; and Tur. Brasolach holds his portion of land from the Earl of Tyrone. The said Tur. with his sons is able to make 30 horsemen and 80 footmen. Muckne and Tireawgh are now possessed by the Earl of Tyrone, who has placed there certain of his own waged followers. Fewes is peopled with certain of the Neyles, accustomed to live much upon spoil of the Pale. They are able to make 30 horsemen and 100 footmen. O'Neylan is claimed by the Earl of Tyrone. "He hath placed there some of the Quins and Flagans who fostered him, and sometimes he dwelleth himself amongst them there in a little island, Loch Coe." The fort at Blackwater should be repaired and better fortified. At Ardmach, a small village, the charge (church ?) and friaries are broken and defaced. [The extent, situation, &c. of these countries are defined.]

The county of Downe contains the lordship of the Newry and the lordship of Mowrne, Evagh, otherwise called Maginis country, Kilulto, Kilwarlin, Kinalewrty, Clanbrasell McGoolechan, Lechahull, Diffringe, Little Ardes, Great Ardes, and South Clandeboy. Newry and Mowrne are the inheritance of Sir Nicholas Bagnoll, "who, at his coming thither, found them altogether waste, and Shane O'Neyle dwelling within a mile to the Newry at a place called Fedom, suffering no subject to travel from Dundalk northward; but since the fortifications and buildings made there by the said Sir Nicholas Bagnall, all the passages are made free, and much of the countries next adjacent reduced to reasonable civility." Evagh is governed by Sir Hugh MacEnys, the civilest of all the Irishry in those parts. He was brought by Sir N. B. from the bonaghe of the O'Neyles to contribute to the Queen. In this place only amongst the Irish of Ulster is the rude custom of tanistship put away. Maginis is able to make 60 horsemen and 80 footmen. Every festival day he wears English garments. The captain of Kilultoe is Cormack McNeyl, who likewise was brought by Sir N. B. from the bondage of the O'Neyles. "This country afore the Barons' wars in England was possessed and inhabited by Englishmen, and there doth yet remain there an old defaced castle, which still beareth the name of one Sir Miles Tracy." The captain of Kilwarlin is a McGenys, called Ever McRorye, and sometimes did contribute and yield to Clandeboy, but now depends only upon the Queen. In Kinalewrty, or McCartan's country, some interest was given to Sir Nicholas Malbey, but never by him quietly enjoyed. Its captain is Acolie McCartan. Clanbrasell McGoolecham is inhabited by the Kelleys, a very savage and barbarous people, well affected to the Scots, whom they often draw into their country for the spoiling of the subjects. They do contribute, but at their own pleasures, to the captain of South Clandeboy. Lecahul is the inheritance of the Earl of Kildare, given to his father and his mother by Queen Mary. "In it is the bishop's see called Downe, fast built, and inhabited by one Sir John Cowrsy, who brought thither with him sundry English gentlemen, and planted them in this country, where some of them yet remain, though somewhat degenerate and in poor estate, yet they hold still their freeholds. Their names are Savadges, Russells, Fitzimons, Awdleys, Jordans, and Bensons." Diffrin, sometime the inheritance of the Mandevills, and now appertaining to one White, who is not of power sufficient to defend and manure the same; therefore it is usurped and inhabited for the most part by a bastard sort of Scots, who yield to the said White some small rent at their pleasure. Little Ardes is the inheritance of the Lord Savage, who has farmed the same to Captain Peerce. Here are certain ancient freeholders of the Savages and Smithes, who are often harrowed and spoiled by them of Clandeboy. Great Ardes was undertaken by Mr. Smith, and is now possessed by Sir Con MacNeyle Oge, who hath planted there Neyle McBrian Ferto; but the ancient dwellers there are the O'Gilmars [or O'Gilivars ?], a rich and strong sept, always followers of the Neyles of Clandeboy. Of South Clandeboy the captain is Sir Con McNeile Oge, "who, in the time that th' Earl of Essex attempted this country, was prisoner in the castle of Dublin, together with his nephew Hugh McPhelim, captain of North Clandeboy, by mean whereof Sir Brian McPhelim, younger brother to the said Hugh, did then possess both the countries.

Antrim contains North Clandeboy, Island Magy, Brian Caragh's country, Glines, and the Rowte. North Clandeboy is given by letters patents to Sir Brian McPhelim's sons, the Queen's pensioners; notwithstanding, by a new division lately made by the now Lord Deputy, the one moiety thereof is allotted to the rule of Hugh McPhelim's sons, whereby great dissension doth depend between them, and great slaughters on both parties are often committed. The principal followers in this country are the McGyes, McO'Nulles, O'Machalons, Durnans, and Turtures. Island McGye is almost all waste, and contains the McGyes, who contribute to the Lord of Clande boy, but of right belong to the Queen's castle of Knockfergus. "Brian Caragh's country was a portion of North Clandeboy, won from it by a bastard kind of Scots of the sept of the Clandonels, who entered the same and do yet hold it." Brian Caragh contributes to O'Neyle, and to them of Clandeboy.

By reason of the fastness and strength of his country it is very hard to harm him, which maketh him so obstinate and careless, as he never yet would appear before my [Lord] Deputy, but yields relief to the Scots. The Glins, so called because it is full of rocky and woody dales, "is backed with a very steep and boggy mountain, and on the other part with the sea, on which side there are very small creeks between rocks and thickets, where the Scottish galley[s] do commonly land." It lies opposite to Cantier in Scotland. Names of its seven baronies. "These were sometimes the inheritance of the Baron Missett, from whom it descended to a daughter who was married to one of the Clandonells in Scotland, by whom the Scots now make their claim to the whole, and did quietly possess the same many years, till now of late, being spoiled of their goods, they were totally banished into Scotland ; but again the country, by instructions from her Majesty, is given to be held from her Highness to Agnus McConnill, Lo. of Cantier in Scotland, and to his uncle Sorleboy. The force of this country is uncertain, for they are supplied as need requireth from Scotland with what numbers they list to call, by making of fires upon certain steep rocks hanging over the sea." The ancient followers of the country are the Missetts, the Mc Y Gills, the McAwnles, the McCarm[a]cks, and the Clanalsters. The Rowte "was sometimes inhabited with English, for there remaineth [in] it certain defaced castles and monasteries of their buildings. The now captain that maketh claim thereto is called McGwillyn, but the Scot[s] hath well near expulsed him from the whole, and driven him to a small corner near the Bann, which he defendeth rather by maintenance of Turloch O'Neile than his own forces; and the said Scots did inhabit the rest, which is the best part, till likewise they were by her Majesty's forces banished as aforesaid, but now come back, and possess all in usurped manner as before. The chief ancient followers of this country are the O'Haries and the O'Quins.

It may be easily perceived by this description of Ulster what are the reasons why this province has been more chargeable than any other; as, namely, the want of good towns and fortified places, the sufferance of the O'Neyles to usurp the government of the several captains and freeholders, the confining so near to the isles of Scotland, and the want of religion, justice, and civil instructions.

The following remedies are proposed:--

(1.) Such revenues as this province may be made to yield to be employed upon fortifications in places most needful for certain years.

(2.) "To apportionate both to Tur. Lenoghe and the Earl of Tyrone, being both of one surname, lands on the north side of Black Water to them and their heirs males indifferently, bounded by some well acquainted with those countries, where with they should only deal, and meddle no further, but leave the government of the rest for her Majesty to the Chief Commissioner or other her Highness' officers in that province.

(3.) "The people which most annoy Ulster from Scotland are the Clandonells, who are ever in continual wars with another sept of the people of the Isles, named McAlanes ; and if on McAlan her Majesty would bestow some convenient pension, he will (I think) undertake to keep the Clandonells so continually occupied as they shall be able to send none of their people to disturb her Highness' subjects in Ulster.

(4.) These counties to be as well brought to the nature as well as to the names of shires; that is, the shires to be perfectly bounded, and the sheriffs of English education. There should be some preachers and free schools; and for the whole province a council to be established.

Since the writing of the premises, I do perceive, by letters lately received out of Ireland, that the Earl of Tyrone hath taken upon him the rule of Sir Hugh Mc[Genis?] and Sir Con McNeyle Oge, the captain of Kilwarlin and sundry others, who at my coming thence depended only upon the Queen.

Copy.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. II, document 623.