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CHAPTER IIII.
* 1.1THis Province named by Giraldus Cambrensis Conachtia, and Conatia, by the Irish, Conaughty, and by Englishmen, Connaught: is bounded Eastward, with part of the Coun∣tie of Leinster; Northward, with part of Vlster; Westward, with the West maine Ocean; and on the South, it is confined with a part of the Province of Moun∣ster, closed in with the River Shennon, and butting against the Kingdom of Spain.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is long, and towards the North and South ends, thinne and narrow; but as it grows towards the middle, from either part it waxeth still bigger and big∣ger: exceeding in length from the River Shennon in her South, to Enis Kelling in her North, 126. miles, and the broadest part is from Tromer in her East, to Barragh-Bay in her West, containing above fourescore. The whole in cir∣cuit and compasse is above foure hundred miles.
* 1.3(3) The ayre is not altogether so pure and cleare, as in the other Provinces of Ireland, by reason of certaine moist places (covered over with grasse) which of their softnesse are usually termed Boghes, both dangerous, and full of va∣porous and foggy mists.
* 1.4(4) This Countie as it is divided into severall portions, so is every portion severally commended for the soyle, ac∣cording to the seasonable times of the yeare.* 1.5 Twomond or the Countie Clare, is said to be a Countrey so conveniently situated, that either from the Sea or Soyle there can be no∣thing wisht for more, then what it doth naturally afford of it selfe, were but the industry of the Inhabitants answerable to the rest.* 1.6 Galway is a land very thankfull to the painefull husbandman, and no lesse commodious and profitable to the Shepheard. Maio,* 1.7 in the Roman Provinciall called Mageo, is replenished both with pleasure and fertilitie, abundantly rich in Cattell,* 1.8 Deere, Hawkes, and plentie of Honey. Slego (coasting upon the Sea) is a plenteous Countrey for feed∣ing and raising of Cattell.* 1.9 Le-Trim (a place rising up thorowout with hills) is so full of ranke grasse and forrage, that (as Solinus reporteth) if cattell were not kept somtimes from grasing, their fulnesse would endanger them. And Roscomen is a Territorie,* 1.10 for the most part plaine and fruit∣full, feeding many Herdes of cattell, and with meane hus∣bandry and tillage, yeelding plenty of corne. As every par∣ticular part is thus severally profitable by in-bred commodi∣ties; so is it no lesse commended (in the generalitie) for the many accommodate and fit Bayes, Creekes, and navigable Rivers, lying upon her Sea-coasts, that after a sort invite and provoke the inhabitants to Navigation.
* 1.11(5) Such as in ancient time made their abode and habi∣tations in this Province, were the GANGANI, who were also called CONCANI, AVTERI, and NAGNA∣TA••. As the Luceni (that were next neighbours unto them) came from the Lucensii, (in Spaine) so those Ganga∣ni and Concani may seeme also to have fetcht their deriva∣tion from the Concani (a Nation of the self-same Countrey) both by the affinitie of name, and vicinitie of place. In Stra∣bo, according to the diversitie of reading, the same people are named Coniaci and Conisci: and Silius testifieth them at the first to have beene Scythians, and to have used ordinarily to drinke horses blood (a thing nothing strange among the wilde Irish even of late dayes.) And some may also hap∣pily suppose that the Irish name Conaughty, was compoun∣ded of Concani and Nagnatae: Howsoever, it is sure that these were the ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey, as is to be seen in Ptolemie.
* 1.12(6) The principall Citie of this Province, and which may worthily be accounted the third in Ireland, is Galway, in Irish, Gallive, built in manner much like to a Tower. It is dignified with a Bishops See, and is much frequented with Merchants, by reason whereof, and the benefit of the Road and Haven, it is gainefull to the Inhabitants through traffique and exchange of rich Commodities, both by Sea and Land. Not farre from which, neare the West-shoare that lies indented with small in-lets and out-lets, in a rew, are the Islands called Arran,* 1.13 of which many a foolish fable goes, as if they were the Islands of the living, wherein none dyed at any time, or were subject to mortalitie; which is as superstitious an observation, as that used in some other corners of the Countrey,* 1.14 where the people leave the right armes of their Infants males unchristned (as they terme it) to the end that at any time afterwards, they may give a more deadly and ungracious blow when they strike: which things doe not onely shew how palpably they are carried a∣way by traditious obscurities, but doe also intimate how full their hearts be of inveterate revenge.
(7) This Province presents no matter more worthy of memorie,* 1.15 then the Battell of Knoc-toe (that is) The hill of axes, under which, the greatest rabble of Rebels, that were ever seene before in Ireland, (raised and gathered together by the Arch-Rebels of that time,* 1.16 William Burk O-Brien, Mac-Nemare, and O-Carrol) were after a bloody over∣throw discomfited and put to flight by the noble service of Girald-Fitz Girald Earle of Gildare. And the suppression of certaine Irish (the posteritie of Mac-William) who usur∣ping a tyranny in these parts,* 1.17 raged sometimes upon them∣selves, with mutuall injuries, and oppressed the poor people a long time with extorting, pilling, and spoiling; so as they left scarce one house in the countrey unrifled, or unrased; but were bridled and repressed (even in our remembrance) by the severitie and resolution of the Commissioner of those times,* 1.18 who in his wisedome and policie well under∣stood that their excessive insolence, and those their un∣just doings, would be a meanes to draw the people away from the due obedien•• to their Prince: such therefore as refused to obey the Lawes,* 1.19 and sided with the tumul∣tuous, with all care and diligence hee soone scattered, for∣cing their Forts, and driving them into woods and lur∣king-holes, (for troubling the blessed estate of tranquillitie) till the Lord Deputie, who tooke pitie of them, upon their humble supplication,* 1.20 commanded by his missives, that they should be received upon tearmes of peace. But they being a stiffenecked people, tooke Armes againe, entred a∣fresh into actuall rebellion, drave away booties, made foule uprores, and upon faire promises procured the aide of the Scottish Ilanders, from out of the Hebrides: whereupon the Governour assembled an Armie, and pursued them with such powerfull violence through the Woods and For∣rests,* 1.21 that after sixe or seven weekes, being grievously hun∣ger-bitten, they submitted themselves in all humilitie. The Auxiliary Forces also of the Scots, he by day and night af∣fronted so neere, and followed so hardly, that hee put them to flight, after he had killed and drowned about 3. thousand of them in the River Moin.
(8) About the yeare 1316. there was such a great slaughter made of the Irish in this Province of Connaught,* 1.22 through a quarrell that arose there betweene two Lords or Princes, that there were slaine on both sides about 4000. men; and so great a tribulation at that time came upon the people, that they did devoure and eat one another, so as of ten thousand there remained not above three hundred li∣ving. And it is reported for truth, that the people were then so hunger-starved, that in Church-yards they took the dead bodies out of their graves, and in their sculs boyled the flesh, and fed upon it: yea, and that women did eat their owne children. Thus appeared the ire and anger of God, in pu∣nishing their sins, and seeking their conversion.
(9) Places memorable,* 1.23 are, Inis Ceath, well known by the Monasterie of Colman (a devout Saint) founded for Scots and Englishmen; and Inis Bovind, which Bede calleth White Calfe Isle.* 1.24 Also Maio, a Monasterie built (as Bede writeth) for thirtie men of the English Nation. Likewise the Baronie of Boile, under Curlew hilles, where in times past was a famous Abbey built, together with the Abbey of Beatitude,* 1.25 in the yeare of Grace 1152. These Abbeyes and Monasteries erected at the first for religious services, and through ignorance and other obscurities diverted since unto superstitious uses, are now made the ruines of time.
(10) The Province of Connaught is at this day strength∣ned with 14. Castles,* 1.26 traded with 9. Market-Townes, and divided as ensueth.
| Counties, | Clare, | Maio. |
| or | Slego. | |
| Twomond, | Letrim. | |
| Galway. | Rescomen. |