Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

THE COUNTIE OF DONEGALL OR TIR-CONELL.

[ F]

ALL that remaineth now behind in Ulster toward the North and South, was possessed in ancient times by the ROBOGDII and VENNICNII: but at this day it is called the County of DONEGALL or TIR-CONELL, that is, as some interpret it, The land of Cornelius, or as o∣thers, The Land of Conall, and in truth, Marianus plainly nameth it,

Conallea. The county is all in a maner champian and full of havens, as bounded with [ A] the sea on the North and West sides beating upon it, and dis-joined on the East from Tir-Oen with the river Liffer, and from Conaght with the Lake Erne. Liffer neere un∣to his spring head, enlargeth his stream, and spreadeth abroad into a Lake, wherein ap∣peareth above the water an Island, and in it hard by a little Monastery, a very nar∣row vault within the ground, much spoken of by reason of I wot not what fearefull walking spirits, and dreadfull apparitions, or rather some religious horrour: which cave, as some dreame ridiculously, was digged by Ulysses when hee went downe to parley with those in hell.

The inhabitants terme it in these daies Ellan u' Frugadory, that is, The Isle of Pur∣gatory, [ B] * 1.1 and Saint Patricks Purgatory. For some persons devoutly credulous, affirme that Patrick the Irishmens Apostle, or else some Abbat of the same name, obtained by most earnest praier at the hands of God, that the punishments and torments which the godlesse are to suffer after this life, might here bee presented to the eye: that so he might more easily root out the sinnes which stucke so fast to his Countrimen the Irish; and withall their heathenish errours. But seeing that this place is named in Saint Patricks life,* 1.2 Reglis, I would deeme it to be the other REGIA, that Ptolomee mentioneth: and the very situation of it in the Geographer implieth no lesse. Besides this Patrickes Purgatory, there was another Purgatorie also of Sir Brendan in this Island; but since I could not finde out the place, take here with you that only which I found, namely, Nechams Tetrastichon of it. [ C]

Asserit esse locum solennis fama dicatum Brendano, quo lux lucida saepe micat. Purgandas animas datur hic transire per ignes, Ut dignae facie Iudicis esse queant. If common fame say true, a place of Brendan taking name There is, and often times cleere lights doe shine within the same. The soules have licence here to passe through Purgatory fire, That worthily before that Judge, they may at length appeare.

[ D]

Where this river Liffer augmented by other waters comming unto it, approach∣eth neerer to the sea, it spreadeth out againe into a Lake, which Ptolomee called LO∣GIA, and now they usually terme it Logh Foile and Logh Der, whereupon Necham hath these verses.

Logh Der aquis dives Lacus est, Ultonia novit, Commodus indigenis utilitate placet. Logh Der a Lake in waters rich, this Ulster knoweth well, Commodious, and pleasing much those that about it dwell.

[ E]

* 1.3Hard by this, there flourished sometime Derry a Monasterie and Episcopall See; where in the yeere 1566. Edward Randolph, renowned for his long service in the warres, spent his life in the behalfe of his countrey to his everlasting fame, and gave Shan O-Neal (who had then assembled and armed all the power he could possibly a∣gainst the English) such an overthrow, as that he could never after recover the losse he then sustained. But now of late Sir Henry Docwra knight, who in the warres of Ireland quit him so well, that with great praise he hath approved his singular valour and martiall skill, brought hither first a garison, and afterward planted here a Co∣lony, to bridle the Earle of Tir-Oens insolent pride: and established and settled the same with so good orders, that it both standeth in good steed for helpe against the [ F] rebells,* 1.4 and also traineth the barbarous people to their duties. The ROBOGDII placed above LOGIA held all that Northren sea coast of Ireland, where O Dog∣herty an obscure Potentate had great sway. Amongst these, Robogh a little Episco∣pall towne retaineth the expresse footings of the old name Robogdii. * 1.5Which should be that promontory ROBOGDIUM, unlesse it be Faire Foreland, I know not From

[ A] hence the utmost shores all rockie bend backe againe by the mouth of Swilly Lake, which Ptolomee seemeth to call ARGITA.

Beyond these more Westward were the VENNICNII seated,* 1.6 where Mac Rwyn Faid, Mac Swyn Netoeth, and Mac Swyn Bannigh have great lands and large possessi∣ons. Among these Ptolomee placeth the river VIDUA,* 1.7 which now is called Crodagh, and the Promontory VENNICNIUM, which they now call Rams-head, and the Fore∣land BORAEUM, now S. Helens head.

Upon the shore as it twineth backe from hence Southerly, Calebeg affordeth an Haven and commodious harbour for sailers: then appeare the ruins and rubbish of [ B] Sligah Castle,* 1.8 which Maurice Fitz-Girald Lord Justice of Ireland built about the yeere 1242. when he had made himselfe Lord of this country. But Iohn Fitz-Girald the first Earle of Kildare was dispossessed of this castle and a goodly inheritance in this tract, fined also in a great sum of money, for that hee had raised a civill and dange∣rous war against the Earle of Ulster.

Lower yet,* 1.9 and not far from the mouth of Logh Earne, Donegal, that is, the towne of the Gallicians of Spaine, with an Abby sheweth it selfe, whence this county when it was made a county tooke the name.

There have beene rulers over this territory for these many ages they of the house of O-Donel, and those extracted from the same stock that the family of O-Neals, nei∣ther [ C] had they any other title than O-Donel,* 1.10 and Lords of Tir-Conell. For the getting of which title, and that they might be by a certaine election of the people inaugura∣ted with their due complements at a stone beside Kilmacrenan, they were at deadly discord, and committed outrages one upon another, untill that King James not long since by his honourable Letters Patents conferred the honour, title, and stile of Earle Tir-Conell upon Rory O-Donell, the brother of that Hugh the rebell, who being fled out of his countrey died in Spaine; and this Rory his successour practising new trea∣son against King James his advancer, upon the terrour of a guilty conscience fled the realme in the yeere 1607. and died at Rome.

The ancient inhabitants of this Ulster, like as the rest of all Ireland throughout, [ D] were by one name in times past cleped SCOTI,* 1.11 and from hence carried they over with them the name of Scots into the North parts of Britain. For as Giraldus writeth, about the yeere of salvation foure hundred, six sons of Mured King of Ulster seized upon the North parts of Britain, whereupon it was by a speciall and peculiar name called SCO∣TIA. And yet it appeareth by the Scottish Annales that this happened long before. Also Ferguse the second, who re-established the kingdome of Scots in Britain, came from hence,* 1.12 unto whom Patrick had prophesied by way of divination or Soothsay∣ing, in these words: Although thou seemest at this day base and contemptible in the eies of thy brethren, thou shalt shortly be the Prince and Lord of them all. And to avow the credit and authority of this prediction, the said writer addeth moreover and saith: [ E] No long space of time after this, Fergus, according to the Holy mans prophesie, obtained the soveraignty in all that land, and his seed reigned for many generations together. From his stemme proceeded that most valerous King Edan, the sonne of Gabran, who subdued Scotland that is called Albanach, whose posterity in lineall descent and succession reign∣eth there still.

The first Englishman that in the reigne of King Henry the second attempted this countrey was Sir Iohn Curcy,* 1.13 who having by force won Downe and Armach, either by dint of sword conquered, or by surrender gat the whole into his owne hands, and was the first that was stiled Earle of Ulster: but when his great exploits and fortunate archievements had wrought him such envie, that through his owne vertues and o∣ther [ F] mens vices he was banished out of the Realme, Hugh Lacy, the second sonne of Hugh Lacy Lord of Meth, who had commandement to pursue him by force and armes, was by King John appointed his successour, being created Earle of Ulster, by the sword,* 1.14 of which honour notwithstanding the same King afterward deprived him for his tumultuous insolency: and hee was in the end received into favour againe. But for the sounder testimony hereof, it were good to exemplifie the same word

for word out of the records of Ireland. Hugh de Lacy sometime Earle of Ulster, held all [ A] Ulster (exempt and separate from all other counties whatsoever) of the Kings of England in chiefe by service of three Knights so often as the Kings service was proclaimed: and be held all Pleas in his owne Court, that pertaine to a Iustice and Sheriffe, and held a Court of Chancery of his own, &c. And afterward all Ulster came into the hands of our Soveraigne Lord K. Iohn, by the forfeiture of the foresaid Hugh: unto whom after that K. Henry the third demised it for terme of the said Hughs life. And when Hugh was de∣ceased, Walter de Burgo did that service unto Lord Edward K. Henries son, Lord of Ire∣land before he was King. And the same Lord Edward feoffed the aforesaid Walter in the said land of Ulster, to have and to hold unto the same Walter and to his heires, by the ser∣vice [ B] aforesaid, as freely and wholly as the above named Hugh de Lacy held it, excepting the advowsons of Cathedrall Churches and the demesne of the same, also the Pleas of the Crowne, to wit, Rape, Forstall, Firing, and Treasure Trouve, which our sove∣raigne Lord K. Edward retained to himselfe and his heires. This Walter de Burgo, who was Lord of Conaght, and Earle of Ulster, begat of the only daughter of Hugh de La∣cy, Richard Earle of Ulster, who after hee had endured many troubles and calamities died in the yeere 1326. Richard had issue Iohn de Burgo, who departed this life be∣fore his father, having begotten upon Elizabeth, sister and one of the heires of Gil∣bert Clare Earle of Glocester, William, who succeeded after his grandfather. This Wil∣liam being slain by his own men when he was young, left behind him a little daughter [ C] his only child,* 1.15 who being married unto Leonell Duke of Clarence bare one daughter likewise, the wife of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March, by whom the Earledome of Ulster and Seigniory of Conaght came unto the Mortimers, and from them together with the kingdome of England unto the house of Yorke: and afterward Edward the fourth King of England adjoined it unto the Kings Domaine or Crowne land.

And when as at the same time England was divided into sides and factions, whiles the civill warre grew hot, and the English that abode here returned out of Ulster into England to follow the factions, O-Neal and others of Irish blood seized these coun∣tries into their own hands, and brought them to such wildnesse and savage barbarisme, as it exceeded: In so much as this province which in times past paied a mighty masse [ D] of money unto their Earles, scarcely ever since yeelded any coin at all unto the Kings of England.

* 1.16And verily in no one thing whatsoever (pardon this my over-boldnesse) have the Kings of England beene more defective in piety and policie, than that they have for these so many ages seen so slightly to this Province, yea and to all Ireland, in the pro∣pagation of religion, establishing the weale publike, and reducing the life of the inha∣bitants to civility: whether it was for carelesse neglect, sparing, or a fore-cast of dammage, or some reason of state, I am not able to say. But that the same may be no longer thus neglected, it seemeth of it selfe by good right to importune most earnest∣ly, being an Iland so great, so neere a neigbour, so fruitfull in soile, so rich in pastures [ E] more than credible, beset with so many woods, enriched with so many mineralls (if they were searched) watered with so many rivers, environed with so many havens, lying so fit and commodious for failing into most wealthy countries, and thereby like to bee for impost and custome very profitable: and to conclude, breeding and rearing men so abundantly as it doth, who considering either their mindes or their bodies might be of singular emploiment for all duties and functions as well of warre as of peace, if they were wrought and conformed to orderly civility.

[ A]

I Intimated even now, that I would speak touching the O-Neals, who carri∣ed themselves as Lords of Ulster; and I promised not long since a friend of mine, that I would write of their rebellions raised in our age. And verily I will performe my promise to his Manes, whom whiles he lived I observed with all respect, and being now in heaven I will not forget. Thus much onely I will promise by way of Preface, that I have compendiously collected these matters out of my Annales, and here conjoined them, which there are severed and divi∣ded [ B] according to their severall times: and withall, that whatsoever I shall write, is not upon uncertaine rumours, but gathered summarily from out o•• their owne hand writings who managed those affaires, and were present in the actions: And this will I doe with so sincere an affection to the truth, and so uncorrupt fidelity, that I doubt not but I shall have thanks at their hands who love the truth, and desire to understand the late affaires of Ireland, and not in∣curre the blame of any, unlesse they be such as having done ill, take it not well if themselves be accordingly censured.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Patricks Pur∣gatory.
• * 1.2

  Regia. Reglis.
• * 1.3

  Derry.
• * 1.4

  Robogdii.
• * 1.5

  Robogdium Promontory.
• * 1.6

  Vennicnii.
• * 1.7

  River Vidua. Boreum Pro∣montory.
• * 1.8

  Sligah. ••
• * 1.9

  Donegall.
• * 1.10

  O-donell.
• * 1.11

  Scoti.
• * 1.12

  In the life of S. Patrick.
• * 1.13

  Earles of Ul∣ster.
• * 1.14

  An. 7. Ioannis.
• * 1.15

  See pag. 624. and 725.
• * 1.16

  Ireland negle∣cted.