THE COUNTIE OF [ B] COLRAN.
BEyond the Glynnes West, standeth Krine, which now they call the county COLRAN, of the principall towne therein. It lieth between the river Ban and Lough-foile, and confineth South upon the county of Tir-Oen. This Ban, a passing faire river, as Giraldus saith (which the name also witnesseth) rising out of the mountaines of Mourn in the county of Downe, carrieth himselfe and his name into Lough E∣augh, [ C] or Lough-Sidney, a large Lake: which name for all that, after thirty miles or thereabout (for of so great length that Lake is esteemed to be) at his going forth in the end he resumeth againe at Tome castle, and being beset and shadowed along the sides with woods, by Glancolkein, where by reason of thick woods, and unpassable bogges there is the safest place of refuge for the Scottish Ilanders and the rebels (and which the English felt, who pursued Surley Boy whiles hee lurked here) carrying a proud streame, entreth into the sea, breeding Salmons in abundance above any other river in all Europe: because, as some think, it passeth all the rest for cleerenesse, in the which kinde of water Salmons take speciall delight. In this part the O Cahans were of grea∣test authoritie; the principall person of which family O Cahan is thought to be one [ D] of the greatest of those Potentates, or Uraights as they terme them, that ought ser∣vice unto O Neal the Tyrant of Ulster: as who in that barbarous election of O Neal, which with as barbarous ceremonies is solemnized in the open aire upon an high hill, performeth this honourable service forsooth, as to fling a shooe over the head of the elected O Neal. Howbeit he is not of power sufficient to restrain the Scottish Ilan∣ders, who to save charges at home, every yeere in Summer time flocke hither out of those hungry and barren Ilands (where is nothing but beggery) to get their living; ready upon every occasion and opportunity to maintain rebellions; insomuch as pro∣vided it hath been by law, under paine of high treason, that no person call them into Ireland, nor give them lodging or entertainment. [ E]
But this county with other confining is escheated to the King, who gratiously purposing a civill plantation of those unreformed and waste parts, is pleased to distri∣bute the said lands to his civill subjects, and the city of London hath undertaken to plant Colonies here.