The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF [ D] THE PROVINCE OF MEATH, DIVI∣DED INTO THREE COVNTIES.

* 1.1THe prouince of Meath hath his name of Medium, or the middle part of the land, for it is placed in the middest of the other foure Prouinces: and at the first it contained but one shire or countie, commonly called by the name of Meath: but in the time of K. Henrie the eight (to the end that justice [ E] might with more facilitie be ministred, and for that this countrie was too large to be go∣••erned by one Shirife (it was diuided into two counties, namely the countie of East-••••ath, and the countie of West Meath: and now also the countie of Longford is repu∣•••••• par••••ll thereof.

¶ The first Countie.

EA•••••• ••••th containeth all the land between Balrothery in the countie of Dublin, & the 〈…〉〈…〉 Boyne, nee••e Dro••g••ad, then not far from thence it extendeth it selfe from that riue•• ••••d containeth all the land to the border of Cauon, and from thence in breadth to the King countie, and to the countie of Kildare: so that it hath the sea to the [ F] East: the countie of ••••uan to the West: West-Meath, Kildare, and the kings countie ••o the Southa••d South••••••st, and the countie of Louth to the North.

* 1.2There are in this coun•••••• the townes of Trim, Nouan, Athbuy or Abbey, Kellis, D••••••ghada, and Calicke.

[ A] The Castles of this countie are many, that is, that of Trim, Kelline, Donsany,* 1.3 Ar∣moham, Stane, Goltrim, Castle Ricard, Dullerston, Gormanston, Donimore, Crixton, Cellcarne, Trimbleston, Rathmore, Molingar, Bedlowes towne, Stackallon, Riuerston, Castle Iorden, Arberchane, Gilliaston, Colpe, Veste, Moynaltie, Dooth, Maylaugh, New Castle, Castleton of Athbuy, Moynet, Dingan, Bellebogan, Culmolen, Murmu∣dry, Platten, Castle Twerby, Bectiue, and many others.

The lords and chiefest gentlemen are, the Bishop of Meath,* 1.4 the Vicount of Gorman∣ston, the Baron of Donsany, the Baron of Kilny, the Baron of Trimbleston, the Baron of Stane: Barnewells, Haspenies, Darricotts, Segraues, Missets, Drakes, Bathes, Wessels, Fle∣mings, [ B] Eeuers, Roch••erts, Polnkets, Cheuers, Whites, Prouefoote, Ecostaces, Casackes, Newter∣uiles, Hills, Darceys, Prestons, Mores, Bethanghes, and others.

¶ The second Countie.

THe second countie in the prouince of Meath is called West-Meath, this countie containes all the land from the Red more beyond Athbuy to the Shenin & Deluin Mac Coughlan, and in breadth from the kings countie to the countie of Longford. It hath for bounds vpon the East, the kings countie: vpon the South, the Shenin: vpon the West, the countie of Longford: and the countie of Cauon and a part of East-Meath [ C] vpon the North.

The chiefe ••ownes of this countie are, the towne of Molingar, Athlone, Ballimore,* 1.5 Fower, Deluin, and Kelkenny West.

The Castlesof this countie are those of Killucan, Castleton of Deluin, Waterstone,* 1.6 Tutestone, and others of lesse importance, as Ruwier, Tristermaugh, and Robstone and others.

The lords and gentlemen of greatest reputation in this countie are,* 1.7 the Baron of Del∣uin, Nugents, Delamers, Sir Thomas le Strange, Darcyes, Tyrrells, Daltons, Tuts, Diltons, Lac∣cis alias Pettits, Hopes, and the heires of Sir George Stanley, and others.

[ D] ¶ The third Countie.

THe third countie of this prouince is Longford, and it is a large quantitie of ground possessed by a people called Offarolls. It is bounded on the West by the riuer of Shenin, and a part of the countie of Latrim; on the North by the countie of Cauon; and on the East, and South, by the countie of West-Meath.

There is not any towne nor Castle of importance in this countie, but the towne and Castle of Longford.* 1.8

The names of the gentlemen of greatest note in this countie are, Off••r all buy,* 1.9 Offar all bane, Nugents, Eirgus Offarall, and diuers of the same name, and Dillons, and some others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The •••• Pro∣ui••ce.
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  Castles.
• * 1.4

  Lords and Gentlemen.
• * 1.5

  Townes.
• * 1.6

  Castles.
• * 1.7

  Lords and Gentlemen.
• * 1.8

  Towne and Castle.
• * 1.9

  Gentleme••.