non desistit, teneat quandam terram nostram in Conacia que appellatur Scilmorthy [Siol Muiredhaigh], dictam terram ipsius comitis ibidem contigua, de nobis ad firmam; velimus dictam terram de Scilmorthy eidem comiti, vel alicui altero Anglico, concedere; habendum pro tanto nobis inde annuatim reddendo, quantum dictus Hibernicus nobis inde hactenus reddere consuevit, vel in excambium pro tantis terris et tanti valoris per extentum, nobis per eundem comitem in terra pacis pro predicta terra de Scilmorthy danda et concedenda: Nos, igitur, volentes petitionem ipsius comitis, quatenus sine nostri incomodo poterimus, condescendere in hac parte; Vobis mandamus, quod per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum de partibus illis, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligentur inquiratis, si nos, absque injuria vel prejuditio nobis vel alteri facienda, feoffare possumus prefatum comitem vel alium Anglicum quem voluerimus, de dictis terris de Scilmorthy, habendis in forma superius annotata, et quantum dicta terra de Scilmorthy, valeat per annum, in omnibus exitibus, juxts verum valorem ejusdem: et inquisicionem inde distincte et aperte factam, nobis sub sigillo vestro et sigillis eorum per quos facta fuit, sine dilatione mittatis et hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Wymlyngwelde, decimo tercio die Julii, anno regni nostri tricesimo tertio.

"Pretextu cujus mandati justiciarius hic processit ad inquisicionem inde faciendam, per juratos subscriptos, in hunc modum.

"Inquisitio capta apud Tristledermod, coram Johanne Wogan, justiciario Hibernie, a die Sancti Michaelis in quindecim dies, anno regni Regis Edwardi, XXXIII. per subscriptos, viz.: Robertum Gent.; Matheum Dreu; Stephanum Tallry; Johannem Ffleming; Nicholaum Foleramb, de dicta terra de Scilmorthy; Jordanum de Exon; Johannem de Staunton; Richardum Dulyt; Willielmum Gaynard, militem, de comitatu Conacie; Walterum de Riddlesford; Michaelem de Kerdiffe; Adam le Poer; Phillipum filium Ade; Stephanum le Prond de eadem comitatu; Walterum le Brett; Willielmum de Sancto Leodegario; Richardum de Walleis, militem, de comitatu Tipperary; Johannem filium Ryrteth; Willielmum de Grafton; Johannem de Lowth; Willielmum Serle; Rodolphum Serle; Petrum Muriet; Johannem le Ken de eodem comitatu; Richardum Gernoun; Henricum de Crus, de comitatu Midie; Richardum de Valle, militem, de comitatu Tipperary; et Johannem Coterel, de comitatu Midie: Qui Jurati, dicunt super sacramentum suum, quod postquam terra de Scilmorthy, que continet quinque cantredras, devenit ad manus Domini Regis, post conquestum quem Willielmus de Burgo fecit de Conacia, quidam Hibernicus nomine Ffeylym O'Conoghur, qui se appellavit Regem Conacie, tenuit predictas quinque cantredras de Domino Henrico Rege, patre Domini Regis nunc, reddendo inde, singulis annis, Domino Regi quingentas marcas. Et ipse Feylim, tota vita sua, tenuit bonam pacem et fideliter

pacavit

pacavit redditum suum. Et post ejus mortem, surrexit filius ejus, et devenit felo Domini Regis et ligeos Anglicos Domini Regis de partibus suis interfecit, et movit communem guerram contra dominum Regem qui nunc est, et prostravit castra sua de Roscoman, et Randon; Quodquidam castrum de Roscomon, Robertus Dufford, primo tempore quo fuit justiciarius domini Regis nunc, firmaverat per custagia quasi inestimabilia, proper quod, utlagatus fuit, et obiit felo domini Regis, ita quod a tempore mortis Ffelym O'Conoghur, usque ad tempus quo predictus Robertus Dufford iterato venit justiciarius, dominus Rex parum vel nihil cepit de predicta terra, preterquam de una cantreda que vocatur O'Many, quam Dominus Rex nunc dederat Ricardo de la Rokele ad feodum firmum, et predictus Robertus, in secundo suo adventu, per magnos exercitus et custos quasi inestimabiles, iterato firmavit castrum de Roscomon in predicta terra, et ipse dimisit cuidam O'Conaghur duas cantredas et dimidium de predicta terra, que sunt versus magnam Iretheriam Conacie et Ultonie, ad firmum, viz. cantredam de Maylurg et Tyrelele, et cantredam de Tothes, excepta una villata terre que vocatur Cloinnagganenan, que fuit Richardi de Calne, que nunc est in manibus Domini Regis per minorem etatem heredis ipsius, et dimidium cantredi de Moyhe, reddendo inde domino Regi, singulis annis, centum marcas. Et sic postea diversi justiciarii diversis Hibernicis consanguinitatis et cognominis illius, per consimilem firmam illas duas cantredas et dimidium dimiserunt, sed Hibernici illi raro totam firmam, et sepe parte per annum, et sepius nihil inde solverunt. Et dicunt quod predicte due cantrede et dimidium valent, communioribus annis, tempore pacis in omnibus exitibus, centum marcas. Et dicunt quod si Hibernici fuissent fugati de partibus illis, et terra fuisset assessa fidelibus hominibus ille duo cantrede et dimidium valerent, per annum, ducenti et quinquaginta marcas, sicut predictus Felym pro eis reddit: sed dicunt hoc non posse fieri sine magno posse ipsius domini Regis, et sumptibus inestimabilibus, valorem dicte terre excedentibus, maxime cum predictus O'Conoghur sit unus de quinque capitaneis hibernicis Hibernie. Et dicunt quod dominus Rex, sine prejudicio vel injuria sibi vel alteri faciendo, potest feoffare predictum comitem, vel alium quem voluerit, de predictis duobus cantredis et dimidium, quas O'Conoghur modo tenet, preter predictas villatas terre. Et dicunt quod erit ad commodum domini Regis et fidelium suorum de partibus illis, si dominus Rex det terram illam predicto comiti in escambium pro centum mercatis terre, vel redditibus in terra pacis, maxime cum predictus comes habeat terras suas in Conacia et Ultonia, et magnum posse Anglicorum et Hibernicorum contiguum terre ille per quod melius poterit hibernicos terre illius castigare quam alius. In cujus rei testimonium, predicti juratores sigilla sua apposuerunt huic Inquisitioni, die et anno supradictis."

The foregoing extraordinary record has been transcribed by the editor from the original

original Exemplification under the Great Seal of Charles I., which exemplification was produced by the Earl of Strafford to the memorable jury impannelled at Portumna, in A. D. 1635, to try the King's title to Connaught. For an account of that trial see Carte's Life of the Duke of Ormonde, vol. i. p. 82. Some of the proceedings of Walter de Burgo, the father of this "Red earl," against Felim O'Conor, King of Connaught, and which are alluded to in this document, will be found detailed in the Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the venerable Charles O'Conor, p. 41.

The Blakes of Galway.

Richard Caddle, dictus niger or the Black, a quo Blake, was the "common ancestor" of all the present families of this name in the west of Ireland. He was sheriff of Connaught in A. D. 1306; and as our author informs us, p. 32, was "bailiffe of Galway under Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl of Ulster," in A. D. 1312. The extract from Debrett given in the History of Galway, p. 7, is altogether fabulous. But the following remarkable petition of John Blake, alias Caddle (the eldest lineal descendant of the above Richard Caddle, dictus niger), to the Commissioners of the Plantation of Connaught, in A. D. 1640; and the other original instruments which accompany it, satisfactorily prove the origin and descent of this old family. These curious documents have been providently saved, and kindly communicated to the Editor, by his respected friend, Michael Joseph Browne, Esq., of Moyne, in the county of Galway; who is himself maternally descended from the same stock, and whose public and private virtues reflect honour on the ancient race from which he is sprung.

"The humble Peticon of John Blake, alias Caddle.

"To the honble his Mats Commissioners for the Plantacon of the Countie of Gallway.

"Humbly sheweing, that the peticioner and his auncestors, whose heire male he is by lyneall descent, as he is reddy to make it appere by many auncient and authentick records and evidences, for eleaven descents, is and have ben respectively seised, as of their auncient inheritaunce, of the Castle and two water mills of Kiltorroge, and of the moiety of the two quarters of land thereunto belonging; and of two quarters and an halfe of land in Slewclare, parcell of Kiltorroge aforesaid, in the barrony of Clare, and of the moiety of the Castle and fowre quarters of land of Balli me croe; and of the moiety of the Castle and fowre quarters of land of Kiltullagh in the barony of Dunkellin, and of divers messuadges and lands within the auncient liberties

of

of Gallway and Athenry, within which all the premisses doe lie, as apperes by severall matters of record. And that the peticioner and his said auncestors did plant thereabouts, being an auncient English familie, and there continued without chandge of languadge, manners, or habit, and without once matching with any Irish familie, since the ninth yeare of King Edward the Second.

"And that the premisses ever since were and now are free English land, exempted from the Jurisdiccion and yoke of the Irishries, and of all maner of Chieffries and Irish exaccon, ordinary or extraordinary, as being independent of any whatsoever, but only of the Crowne, as free as any free land in the English Pale, or in any other parte or place of this kingdom, as may appere by the said auncient Records and evidences.

"The premisses tenderly considered, and for that the Petitioner is the eleaventh masculin English descent, lineally descended from father to the sonn, in the possession of the said lands, from Richard Caddle, dicto nigro, whose heire male the Peticioner is, whoe purchased the same from one Thomas Hobridge, in the 9th yeare of K. Edw. the 24. And that although the peticioner, after so long a tracte of time, be called Blacke or niger, yet in the offices taken post mortem of his auncestors they were called Blake, alias Caddle. That your honours will be graciously pleased to take the antiquity of the peticioner's estate into your consideracion, by shewing him your honours' speciall favor uppon the distribucion, and the peticioner shall ever pray."

The Prooffe of John Blake, alias Caddle, his Pettegree.

1. That the said John is son to Nicholas apperes by an office taken post mortem of the said N. 28° August, 1629, and by a livery sued by the said John.

2. That Nicholas was son to John apperes by a lease under the greate seale made by the Com" of the wardes, of the wardshippe of the boddy and lands of the said Nicholas, dated the 17th of 7ber, in the 28th yeare of Q. Eliz., and by a livery sued by the said Nicholas.

3. That John was son to Nicholas apperes by a decree made by the Lo. President and Councell of Conaght, dated the 6th of March, 1571, and afterwards confirmed by the Lord Deputy and Councell.

4. That Nicholas was son to John apperes by the said Nicholas his last will and testament, dated the 18th of 7ber, 1564.

5. That John was son to Valentyne apperes by the said Valentyne his last will and testament, dated the 12th of July, 1499. 2 C

IRISH ARCH. SOC. 15

6.

6. That Valentyne was son to John apperes by the said John his last will and testament, dated in March, 1468.

7. That John was son to Henry apperes by the said last-mentioned will of John, wherein it is set forth, "John fitz Henry."

8. That Henry was son to John apperes by a deed dated the 6th of 8ber, in the 2d yeare of King H. the 6th, viz., in the yeare of our Lo. 1423.

9. That John was son to Walter apperes by divers remaynders over to the said Henry fitz John fitz Walter; and by a deed dated the 15th yeare of K. Richard the 2d. 10. That Walter was son to Richard apperes by a will of the said John, dated 1420, wherein is subscribed, "William fitz Walter fitz Richard."

That Richard is the comon auncestor, apperes by the deed made to him by Thomas de Hobrigge, in the 9th yeare of King Edward the 2d.

All which the said John Blake, alias Caddle, is reddy to produce, and to make it appere.

Report on the Petition of John Blake, alias Caddle.

JOHN BLAKE.

Wee have seriously considered of the annexed peticon of John Blake, alias Caddle, of Gallway, gentl.; and doe fynd by ancient evidences, som without date, by the auncient characters whereof wee conceave the same to have ben made in the reigne of King Henry the Third, or in the begining of the reigne of King Edward the First, and some others beareing date in the sixt yeare of the reigne of King Edward the First, that the mannor and lands of Kiltorroge, whereof the castle, two mills, and one quarter of land in Kiltorroge, and two quarters and a halfe of Kewclare, adioineing to Kiltorroge, are parcells, now in the possession of the said John Blake, alias Caddle; and that the towne and lands of Ballymacroe, alias Homolorkan and Donegall, whereof two quarters are now in the possession of the said John Blake, alias Caddle, were then graunted unto Richard Caddle, dicto nigro, and his heirs. And wee doe further find that the castle, mannor, and lands of Kiltullagh and Monidone, whereof the said John Blake, alias Caddle, is in possession of two quarters, and of the moiety of the said castle, were graunted unto the said Richard Caddle, dicto nigro, and his heires, by deed dated in the 9th yeare of Kinge Edward the Second. And wee further finde that the parcells of land of Parke, Clunine, Gortenecormock, Gortnagusta, Carrinteige, Cnockaneglass, Clorone, Blencheneghane, Ffarrin-I-blake, Clonagownae, Rahine, Gortgare, and divers tenements within the liberties of Athenri, were graunted unto John Blake, alias Caddle, and his heires, and to Henry Blake, alias Caddle, and his heires respectively, by deeds dated on the 15th yeare of the raigne of King Richard the Second

and