ubi, mortua prima uxore, secundam sibi accepit dominam Dorotheam, illustrissimi domini O'Neillan filiam, ex qua filios et filias genuit, ita ut in magnum numerum ejus crevisset. Dominus Mac Thomas Joyce, filius secundus post filium maris natus, sibi loca varia assumens, simul cum hæreditate sibi a patre et fratre relicta, ex uxore sua altera principis O'Flaherty filia, habuit prolem, crevitque in gentem maximam clarissimorum virorum, qui præclaris suis virtutibus bellicis, ad hæc usque bella, qui plurimos Hibernos funditus delevêre, suas ditiones, suas hereditates et splendorem retinuere.

"3. Dominus Gulielmus Joyes, ex stirpe filii maris et primæ uxoris, oriundus, in oris Galviæ sese conferans, uxorem duxit Agnetam, ex nobilissima Moriceorum familia. Versus Italiam, Neapolim et Romam, deinde in Græciam navigans, captus est a Saracenis, et ductus in Africam. Ibi septem annos commoratus est. Deinde Barbarorum manus effugiens in Hispaniam impulsus fuit, ubi præclaræ ejus virtutes cælitus remunerabantur: nam monitus indicio aquile supervolantis et demonstrantis locum thesaurum invenit incredibilem. Domum inde reversus, mænia urbis Galviensis, ecclesias et alia ædificia extrui curavit. Demum cum ei dicta uxor Jacobum, Henricum et Robertum peperit, plenus meritis vitam cum morte commutavit; et sepultus est in monumento quod sibi et suis posteris erigendum curavit, in celebri fratrum minorum conventu Galviæ.

"4 Dominus Jacobus Joyes, præclaræ indolis vir, junctus in matrimonio fuit pernobili matronæ, dominæ Christianæ French; ex qua unum tantum filium, Johannem suscepit. Dominus Henricus Joyce, natu secundus, uxorem sibi assumpsit nobilissimam dominam Catherinam Browne eximii domini Thoma Browne, Athenriensis aliquando Vicecomitis, filiam. Ex qua, cum liberos non suscepisset, patriam curam supra fratris sui hæreditatem adhibuit, alias sibi atque alias hæreditates comparando maximas; quas postquam Vicetenentis Regis, et prætoris sive gubernatoris comitatûs Galviensis officio perfunctus est, instante morte, primo nepotum suorum, simul cum sua hæreditate quoad partem reliquit, reliquam hæreditatis partem alios inter nepotes divisam, et ad ecclesias reficiendas ornandasque testatus est, sepultusque est cum suis."

To the foregoing corruptions of history, and much more ejusdem farinæ, here omitted, the following high official testimonies are annexed. "Omnibus et singulis ad quos presentes pervenerint, Ego Chichester Fortescue Eques Auratus, Ulster Rex Armorum, et principalis Heraldus totius Hiberniæ, salutem: Sciatis quod Ego prædictus Rex Armorum potestate et authoritate a Regia Majestate, sub magno sigillo Hiberniæ, mihi concessâ, certiores vos facio, quod, &c. In cujus rei testimonium, nomen titulumque meum hisce adscripsi, et sigillum meum officiale apposui. Dublinii die decima IRISH ARCH. SOC. NO. 15. septima

2 K

septima mensis Decembris, anno Domini milesimo, septingentesimo nonagesimo. By the Lord Lieutenant and General Governor of His Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland. WESTMORELAND. At the humble request of Sir Chichester Fortescue Knt. &c. Given under our hand and seal of Arms at His Majesty's Castle of Dublin, the 1 day of January, 1791.

"[Signed] R. HOBART."

It may be necessary here to observe, that the family in question did not stand in need of this fabricated account of its origin and descent. These will be found faithfully detailed in Mac Firbis's great collection of Irish Genealogies, preserved in the library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. See also the "Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,” p. 325. To this day the Joyces retain some of the great characteristics of the ancient Irish. "Populus magnus sicut Gigantes, procera homines staturæ, et fortissimi."-Usser. in Primord. p. 726. See also Irish Minstrelsy, vol. I, p. 332; Lond. 1831.

On 29th Oct. A. D. 1327, this Edmond "Burk" or De Burgo (after the death of his father the Red Earl) and Walter, the son of William De Burgo (which Walter is not mentioned by Lodge) were appointed to the offices of justices of the peace in the counties of Connaught, Tipperary and Lymerick, with power to protect the lands of Richard late Earl of Ulster in those counties.-Rot. Pat. 20 Edw. II., for which see Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Ireland, p. 33, N° 13. And on 5 Sept. A. D. 1333, the same Edmond, three months after the murder of his nephew William third Earl of Ulster, at Carrickfergus, obtained a grant of all the lands and possessions of the said earl William, in Connaught, during the minority of his heir (Eliz. afterwards wife of Lionel Duke of Clarence) rendering therefore, to the Exchequer, £200 yearly. And a writ of liberari facias thereupon issued, directing Roger de Flete, Seneschal of Connaught, to deliver unto him the possession of the same.—Rot. Pat. 8 Edw. III. See the same Calendar of Patent Rolls, p. 40. N°. 119. This writ was the cause of his death, and also that of the Seneschal, de Flete, as related by our author.

In Hibernia Dominicana, p. 224, the following entry is given from the archives of Athenry. Obitus Domini Edmundi de Burgo, Mac an Iarla, qui in Saccum immissus fuit in Claustro Fratrum de Roba, & submersus in Lacu Mask per Mac-Padin, & alios de Roba, Anno Domini 1337." Brief as this entry is, it varies in three points from the account given by our author. It is moreover stated, note (e) that the victim was called "Edmundus na Fiesoga, i. e. Barbatus." Archdall has here added error to error.-Monast. p. 495. See the annals of Clonmacnoise, and those of the Four Masters, for their accounts of the transaction, A. D. 1338.

Of

Of the "Fryer's House of Balinrobe," mentioned by our author, p. 47, Ware is silent; wherefore Archdall, in Monast. p. 495, says of it, "when or by whom founded is not recorded." But, in a description of the County of Mayo by Robert Downing, A. D. 1684, preserved in MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, it appears, that in "the now Shire Town called Ballinrobe, taking its name from the River or Rivillett, (the Robe, in Irish, Rodhba) is the ruins of an auncient Augustinian Mindicant Friery or Priory, built by Tutallus [Tuażal] O'Maly, lord of the Owles, in the Reigne of Brianus Boruvius King of Ireland, about the beginning of the Eleventh Century. There was likewise a small abbey or cell of the Joanitar, called Taghown or St. John's House, now altogether gone to ruine; and a small cell called Kilcrava, it was a small House of Nunns." Their possessions appear to have been few. On 2nd July, 1608, Thomas Nolan of Ballinrobe, gent. obtained a grant by patent, of the four quarters of land in Ballinrobe, for ever.-Rot. Pat. 15o. Jac. I. p. 1.

This Thomas Nolan, before the date of the above grant, resided at "the Crevaghe," now called Creagh, in the barony of Kilmain and Co. Mayo. In the Indenture of Composition for that county, A. D. 1585, which see, Appendix I., it was provided that he should have the castle of the Crevaghe, and 3 quarters of land thereto adjoining, free from the Composition rent, "in respecte of his sufficiencie to act as a Clerke in the said Countrey." This provision may be taken as a proof of the low state even of elementary education in the West of Ireland, at that period. To this may be added, as a matter merely coincident, that the next grantee of those very lands in the succeeding century, under the Act of Settlement, was Mr. James Cuff, ancestor of the late Baron Tyrawley, and of the present proprietor of the Crevaghe, whose first appearance here was in the capacity of clerk or secretary to Cromwell's Commissioners of Transplantation to Connaught, as appears by the following order: "By the lo. Deputy and Councill. It is ordered that Mr. James Cuff be and is hereby appointed secretary to Sir Charles Coote, and the rest of the Commissioners appointed and nominated in a commission bearing date this day, for the setting out of lands to the transplanted Irish and inhabitants of Connaught and Clare. Dated at Athlone, the 16th June, 1655. T. H. C. C.”—Orig. Council Book, Dublin Castle. On 12th April following, Mr. Cuff was himself appointed a Commissioner of assessment for Mayo, (Id.) where he afterwards acquired considerable grants of forfeited lands, and among others, of the town and manor of Ballinrobe, forfeited by the descendants of Thomas Nolan.

The above Thomas Nolan was one of the first " English Tavern" Keepers in Connaught. When the old Irish Biataghs (see Stat. Kilkenny, p. 4,) and "houses of hospitality" ceased, they were succeeded by "English inns" or taverns. On 21st December, A. D. 1616, a license was granted to "John Coman of Athlone, merchant, and 2 K 2 Thomas

Thomas Nolan of Ballinrobe, esq. to keep taverns, and sell wines and spirituous liquors. The former in Loughrea and all Galway co. except the town and parish of Athenrie, the town of Galway, and the barony of Kilconnell; also, in the town of Burrysowle, and in the baronies of Moriske, Burrysowle, Irrus, Costellagh, and Gallen in Mayo co., in Athlone, in Roscommon and Westmeath co., in Ballymote and all Sligo co. except the town of Sligo, in Ballintobber and all Roscommon co. except the baronies of Athlone and Boyle, and the towns of Ardcarne and Elffin. To the latter in the town of Callow, and in the whole barony of Kilconnell, and in the town and barony of Kilmaine in Mayo co. during their own lives, and those of Barnaby Coman brother of John, of John Nolan son of Thomas, of Peter Nolan, son of Richard Nolan late of Athlone, merchant, deceased, and of Jane or Jennet Coman daughter of the said John.”—Rot. Pat. 14° Jac. I. p. 2. d. N°. 58. This was one of the extensive Monopolies granted at that period, for more of which see ante, p. 240.

NOTE S. See page 52, note.

Moycullin barony-Gnomore, Gnobeg."

In the document before referred to, p. 44, note, preserved in the British Museum, and entitled the "Division of Connaught, A. D. 1586,” Titus B. xiii. fo. 399, this barony is described as follows: "The barony of Muckullen, containing Cosarg [Cois-fairge], Gnovore, Gnobeg, Loghcurb and Keildromedirge, 20 myles long, 20 broad; and is, after this rate, plowlands 5. Murrogh ne doe chief in the same.-Parishes 6, viz. Vicarages of Rahune, Killaen, Galway, Muckullin, Kylcumayne, Killinkelogh.—Gentlemen and castles (20) viz. Rory O'Flahairte of Muykullen; Murrogh ne doe of Nowghe and of Achneuir (Aghnenure) Thomas Colman, Mynlagh(Menlo); Jonick O'Halorane, O'hery; Owen O'Halorane, Bearne; (Barna) Domynick Lynche, Tyrellan; Rollond Skeret, Short Castle; (Castlegar) Donell oge O'Hologhan, Qwarown Brown (Carrowbrown); WTM. & Redmond Mc Wm. Ffiegh, Kellyn; Redmond Mc Thomas, Ballymuritty; Redmond Reogh, Ballindully; Richard Beg, Cloynecanyn; Darby Augny, Lysacowly; John Blake fitz-Ricard, Kiltullagh; John Blake fitz-Ricard, Kiltorog; Thomas Blake, Ballemicro; Thomas and John Blake, Turlagh ne sheamon; Muriertagh O'Conor, Tullekyhan; Martyn Lynch, New Castle."-Much of the topographical information contained in the foregoing document, could not be procured elsewhere, at the present day. All the castles, with the exception of that of Menlo, the residence of Sir Valentine Blake, baronet, are now in ruins.

The barony of Moycullen was created A. D. 1585; and it was so called from the castle, which was itself named from Magh, a plain or field, and Ullinn, mentioned ante, p. 52, note (z). It was formed of the two ancient territories of Gnomore and

Gnobeg,

Gnobeg, for the origin of which, see Ogyg. p. 387, "Gnomore et Gnobeg duo filii Lugadie," &c., and Mac Firbis's Book of Irish Pedigrees, dona dealbnuib,” 7c. O'Dugan, in his topographical poem before referred to, p. 143, states, that in the twelfth century, Mac Conraoi was chief of Gnomore, and O'Heyny chief of Gnobeg.

"Meg Conraoi reid do gabar Ar Gnó mór na míoncallad,

Mac Conry, meek, you shall find Over Gnomore of smooth callows, O'h aonais ar Gnó m-beag m-buan, O'Heyny over Gnobeg, lasting, Nead naċ daidbir is nać diombuɑn. A nest not poor, not transient." See, likewise, Cambrensis Evers, p. 27. After that period, the O'Flaherties seized upon this territory, after having been driven from their own ancient inheritance, on the east side of Lough Corrib, by the De Burgos. The latter afterwards pursued them across the lake; and, in A. D. 1256, Mac William Burke plundered Gnomore and Gnobeg, and possessed himself of all Lough Orbsen (Corrib).-Four Masters. In A. D. 1584, Morogh na doe (na d-tuagh, i. e. of the battle-axes) O'Flaherty, who had been previously appointed by Queen Elizabeth chief of all the O'Flaherties, was hereditary chieftain of Gnomore, and resided in the castle of Aghnanure. Rory (Roderic or Roger) O'Flaherty, our author's grandfather, was hereditary chieftain of Gnobeg, and resided in the castle of Moycullen. Between these kindred chiefs there long subsisted violent territorial disputes, of which a curious detail will be found in Appendix II.

The MS. fragment in Trin. Coll. Lib., H. 2, 17, here referred to for this ancient family, states that "O Halloran is the chief of the twenty-four townlands of Clan Fergail; and of these are the O'Antuiles and O'Fergus of Roscam." “Oh-Allmuran taiseać cetri m-baile ficet cloindi fergaili, agus disein hi Antuili agus hi Fergusa Rosa-caim." See also the Book of Ballymote for same, fo. 54. This document refers to the twelfth century. These twenty-four townlands of Clan Fergail lay east of the river Gallimh, or Galway. The name Clan Fergail is now obsolete; but Roscam, on which are the remains of a round tower, is still well known. It lies about two miles S. E. of Galway. Mac Firbis, in his Book of Irish Genealogies, gives the pedigree of the O'Halloran family for twenty-five generations, as follows: