Until late in the sixteenth century, the English knew as little of Iar-Connaught or its people, as did their forefathers, in the days of Sir John Maundevyle, of "the land of Prestre John or the men of Inde." Leonard Lord Gray, towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII., was the first Deputy of Ireland who deigned, or rather ventured, to approach these western regions. Thus he wrote to the King in A. D. 1538, "to the same towne (Galwey) cam to me Hugh Oflart chieff capitayne of his countre called Oyle, and submittyd"." This submission was expressed in the following curious indenture, between His Majesty and the Chieff," to which the latter affixed his seal, for he could not subscribe his name: 66 "Hec Indentura facta xiii die Julii, apud villam Regis de Galwey, a xxxmo Illustrissimi Regis Henrici VIII. inter dictum potentissimum Dominum nostrum, Henricum VIII. ex parte una, et Hugonem O'Flarte capitaneum patrie sue, ex parte altera; Testatum, concordatum, concessum, et conventum fore, inter dictum illustrissimum dominum Regem nostrum et prefatum O'Flarte, per presentes, et prefatus O'Flarte concedit pro se heredibus et successoribus suis, quod ipsi et eorum quilibet qui erunt capitanei patrie sue, solvant aut faciant predicto Domino Regi, heredibus et successoribus suis Regibus Anglie, per annum c. ster. et eosdem denarios, solvend. esse sub-thesaurario dicti domini Regis, regni sui Hiberniæ, ad usum dicti domini Regis, semel in anno, ad festum sancti Michaelis archangeli: Et preterea, prefatus Hugo O'Flarte concedit, pro se, heredibus et successoribus suis, quod ipsi et quilibet eorum qui erunt capitanei, invenire debent Regis deputato, pro tempore existente, ad omne commune viagium, quod erit constitutum per Regis deputatum, xl. turbarios bene ordinatos, secundum formam belli, sumptibus suis propriis. In cujus rei testimonium, prefatus capitaneus presentibus sigillum suum apposuit, die, loco, et anno supradictis."Irrot. in offic. Vice-thesaurar. Dub. 1415, 1422, 1439, 1503. One of our author's MS. At of Enachduin. But this is doubtful, for I have not found it verified by any other authority. This chief is No. 30 in Gen. Table, II. Morogh (31), son of Brien (30), died A. D. 1419.-Four Masters. Gilduff, his brother (31), died A. D. 1442.-Id. d From this it is evident that the Lord Deputy did not know even the name of Hugh O'Flaherty's country; but finding that a river called Aille, ran through it (which river is now called the Ally, abain na h-aille, see map, et ante p. 62, note 2), he gave the name of the river to the district. e State Papers, Lond. 1834, Vol. iii. p. iii. p. 61. At this time a young chief was growing up in the west, who was destined to perform a conspicuous part in the affairs of Iar-Connaught, for nearly the remainder of the sixteenth century. This was the celebrated and still remembered Morogh na d-tuadh [Murrough of the battle-axes] O'Flaherty, who was hereditary chieftain of the territory of Gnomore, which formed the northern portion of the present barony of Moycullen in the county of Galway. This individual became the most distinguished and powerful of his name, having been appointed by Queen Elizabeth chieftain or head of all the O'Flaherties, although he was not of the senior branch. On succeeding to his inheritance, he made the castle of Fuathaidh" (Fough) his principal residence; and from thence he made frequent incursions on the territory of Thomond, and on the possessions of the English in the vicinity of Lough Orbsen. At length, Conor O'Brien, the third Earl of Thomond, provoked by his aggressions, marched against him, in A. D. 1560, with an army. The Earl proceeded from Thomond through the territory of Clanrickard, until he came to the ford of Tir-oilean (Tirellan), now corruptly (Terryland), near Galway. Here he was opposed by some of the citizens, who endeavoured to prevent his passage, but, having been supported by others, he crossed the ford, and continued his course through the country of the Joyces, by the castle of Fuathaidh, and Bonbonan mountain. Morrough retreated before him towards the western mountains, and the Earl, unable to come up with him, was forced to return, without having achieved any action worthy of so perilous an expedition'. Soon after this, the Earl of Clanrickard undertook an expedition against Morrough, as well to prevent his incursions on the Earl's territory of Muintir Murchadha, (now the barony of Clare) as to put the country of Iar-Connaught under contribution. He accordingly, in A. D. 1564, dispatched a considerable body of troops to lar-Connaught. Morrough, as before, retired to his fastnesses; whereupon the Earl took the prey of the whole country, consisting of numerous herds of cattle, which his people drove on towards the pass at Galway, on their way to Clanrickard. These were pursued by Morrough with a chosen party, who overtook them at Trabane (the white strand), about two miles west of Galway; and an engagement took place, in which the Earl's troops were entirely defeated. An account of this occurence, written at the time, states, that "the Earl's people were forced to turn their backs, and the most part of them were According to tradition, he was so called from having obtained a great victory over a superior force, with a small body of galloglasses, armed only with battle-axes.-See Ware's Antiq. by Harris, ch. xxi., for the use of this formidable weapon amongst the ancient Irish. Gen. Table, II. No. 36. This castle was situate near the present town of Oughterard.-See ante, p. 53, note b Four Masters. were drowned in the sea and river of Galway;" derisively adding, that " some got over the river, but such was their apprehension of death, that they knew not how. Timor pedibus addidit alas." This affair was of too serious a nature to be overlooked by the Government. It was debated whether the turbulent chieftain should be overcome by force, which, considering the difficulty of access to his country, would be attended with considerable trouble; or whether he ought not to be gained over by conciliation, and be thereby made a fitting instrument to keep the remainder of his name and kindred in subjection. Happily for Morrough and his descendants, the latter course was determined on. He was proffered a free and general pardon for all his offences; and that he should, moreover, be appointed by the Queen to the rule or chieftainship of the whole country of Iar-Connaught. He accepted the terms; and, accordingly, a pardon issued under the great seal, to "Morgho ne doo O'Flarte of Mogh (Fough) in the province of Connaght, gent., for all murders, homicides, killings, &c by him at any time heretofore committed;" in consideration whereof, he promised to "observe the Queen's peace, to appear and answer at all sessions within the province whenever called upon, and to satisfy the demands of all the Queen's subjects, according to justice and equity." This pardon was accompanied by letters patent, constituting him chieftain of Iar-Connaught. The curious instrument by which that mere Irish jurisdiction was, through necessity, countenanced and legalized by the Queen, is here given from the original: "Elizabetha Dei gratia, Anglie, Francie et Hibernie Regina, fidei defensor, &c. omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, salutem. Sciatis quod nos, de vera obe diencia drinke until he died by famyn." These malefactors were at the time branded with the name of 66 murderers." Their avowed object was to wrest the territory of Gnobeg from the descendants of Gilduff, (Id. No. 31), by cutting off the entire race; but in that they failed, for an infant child of Mortagh, viz. Rory or Roderic (Id. No. 35), was preserved, and succeeded to the inheritance. It will be seen in the Geneaological Table, that this Rory was grandfather of our author (Id. No. 37). It does not appear that Morrough of the battle-axes had any hand in this transaction; but that he had formed designs on Gnobeg will appear in the sequel. See p. 60, ante; also Dutton's Statistical Survey co. Galway, p. 241. About this time a horrible scene of outrage occurred in Iar-Connaught among the O'Flaherties. Hugh og (Gen. Table, II. No. 33), chief of the territory of Gnobeg, which comprised the southern portion of the present barony of Moycullen), being old and infirm, his son, Mortagh (Id. No. 34), assumed the chieftainship. Some differences having arisen between him and Donall Crone (Id. No. 34), then chief of all the O'Flaherties, and the septs of Edmond O'Flaherty (Id. No. 34), and of Moriertagh reagh; these all conspired against Mortagh of Gnobeg, and murdered him and four of his children. They then took the old chief, Hugh, and him they imprisoned in his castle of Moycullen, where they "detained him without meat or IRISH ARCH. SOC. 15. 3 D k Original Fiant of Queen Elizabeth, preserved in the Rolls' Office, Dublin, File xvii. No. 1134. diencia Moroghe ne do Mc Teige O'Flartye erga nos et successores nostros, qui se ad capitaneatum patrie de Ehyrconaght humiliter petiit per nos admitti; propterea quod Donaldus Crone O'Flarty, nunc capitaneus patrie predicte, non est sufficiens nec idoneus ad officium illud exercendum, nec in ullo regimine et gubernatione expertus, ad illam patriam gubernandam, minusque habilis ad capitaneatum illud exequendum, tum etiam propter disobedienciam suam : nos igitur plurimum confidentes, eundem Morogh ne do M: Teige O'Fflartie, de gratia nostra speciali, ac ex certa scientia et mero motu nostris, ex assensu predilecti et fidelis consiliarii nostri Henrici Sidney, &c. deputati nostri generalis regni nostri Hibernie, capitaneum patrie predicte nominamus, ordinamus, preficimus et deputamus, per presentes; habendum, tenendum et occupandum dictum officium capitaneatus patrie predicte, cum omnibus et singulis commoditatibus, proficuis, advantagiis, pertinenciis, et emolumentis quibuscunque eidem officio quomodolibet spectantibus, eidem Moroghe ne do M. Teige O'Fflartie, quamdiu se bene gesserit ut noster fidelis subditus, ac patriam predictam et nostros bonos subditos in eadem rite tuerit et gubernaverit; accedatque ad nostrum deputatum, seu alium vel alios dicti regni nostri gubernatorem sive gubernatores pro tempore existentes, et ad concilium regni nostri predicti, quandocunque et quotiescunque sic ad eos accedere habuerit in mandatis. Ac insuper volumus et concedimus, quod predictus Morogh ne do M: Teig O'Fflartie solvet prefato deputato nostro, pro fine nominationis ejusdem Morogh ne do M. Teig O'Fflartie, ac admissione sua ad capitaneatum predictum, quadraginta pingues vaccas, et eas liberet apud Galwey, secundum placitum et voluntatem deputati nostri predicti; reservatis semper nobis et successoribus nostris, omnibus et singulis talibus juribus, servitiis, oneribus et demandis, que extra patriam predictam, de antiquo, exeunt et nobis sunt debita; et idem Morogh ne do M Teig O'Fflartie, ratione capitaneatus sui predicti, prestare et solvere tenetur. Eo quod expressa mentio, &c. In cujus rei, &c. Teste &c. Datum 20° die Octobris, anno regni undecimo'," A. D. 1569. In the interesting account of the battle of Shruel, given by the Four Masters, A. D. 1570, it is stated, that Morrough of the battle-axes was present with the Bourkes of Mayo, and fought in that battle against the Queen's forces. This appears somewhat unaccountable, particularly after his recent adhesion and appointment. But it may be possible that he was mistaken by the Annalists for some other chief of the name". Rot. Pat. de anno 12o Eliz. fac. This is merely conjectural. The Four Masters are seldom wrong. It is a singular fact, that there are on record, no less than five general pardons, for ᎪᎥᎥ treasons, murders, &c., granted under the great seal to Murrough of the battle-axes, by Queen Elizabeth. But these political indulgences were encouraged as sources of revenue, from the fines which they produced. All the O'Flaherties, particularly those of Conmaicne-mara and Gnobeg, became incensed at Murrough for "joining the Queen of the English;" but above all, for presuming, under pretence of her authority, which they despised, to claim any jurisdiction to the disparagement of Donell Crone (the mighty or valiant) O'Flaherty", the legitimate chief whom they all acknowledged. To the same Annalists the reader is again referred for subsequent transactions; particularly in A. D. 1572, by the Mac an Iarlas, the sons of the earl of Clanrickard. These "graceless impes," as they are termed by Holinshed, levied an army and broke out into open rebellion against the Cailleac gránoa, "the ugly hag," as they themselves commonly called the Queen. Amongst other projects, they resolved to penetrate into Iar-Connaught, and seize and fortify the strongholds there, as ultimate places of retreat, to enable them to hold out the longer against the government. Morrough of the battle-axes communicated their plan to the president of the Province, who immediately proceeded, with his disposable force and cannon, to Iar-Connaught; and laid seige to the strong castle of Achadh na n-Iubhar (Aghnanure), then held by the descendants of Donell O'Flaherty, who were disaffected to the State, and ready to join the Mac an Iarlas. The President having taken the castle, delivered it to Morrough, by whom it was soon after re-fitted and fortified; and it thenceforth became the principal residence of himself and his descendants. After this, he rapidly increased in power and possessions, or, as described by one of his contemporaries, he "waxed stronge." The Queen had it in contemplation to raise him to the dignity of the peerage", by creating him a baron, but that intention was not carried into effect. Although, in general, he preserved his "loialtie to the State," more through policy than inclination, yet he was guilty of frequent and violent acts of injustice against his less powerful kindred and neighbours. Of those outrages, I select one, which shall be told in the words of the parties concerned; and will be found to present a curious picture of the state of society at this period in IarConnaught. "To the right honorable Sir John Perrott, knight, lo: deputy of her Majesties realm of Ireland. A.D. 1584. "Complaynninge sheweth unto your honnorable good lordshipp, your poore and dayly orator Roger Fflahartie of Moycullin' in the county of Gallwaie, that wher he " Gen. Table, II. No. 34. • About this period several of the Irish chiefs built and repaired castles in various parts of the kingdom. Thus we find that the castle of Leitrim was built by O'Rourke in A. D. 1540, and the castle hath of Banagher was rebuilt by O'Carroll in A. D. 1544. -Four Masters. P See ante, p. 307, note, par. 10. 9 Our Author's grandfather. See ante, p 309, note d |