ster; but after the defeat of the Spaniards at Kinsale, Morogh na maor retreated to his native fastnesses in Iar-Connaught, where he peaceably spent the remainder of his life. By Inquisition taken, durante vita, 15th September, 1607, it was found that "Morogh na Moyre O'Flaherty is seized of the castles of Bonowen, Ballinahinchy, and Renvyle. That Donell ne Cogge, father of the said Morogh, and whose heir he is, was, at the time he died, seized of several chief rents in the baronie of Ballinehinch. That O'Flaherty had and held the fines and customs following, in and through the whole baronie of Ballinehinch." [This shews that he usurped "by strong hand" the power of the chieftain.] "Imprimis, quandocunque aliquis furatus erat unam vaccam, fur solvebat predicto O'Flaherty, septem vaccas pro qualibet vacca sic furata, et sic de aliis catallis. Et quandocunque O'Flaherty se contulerat ad generalem sessinam, quod inhabitantes solebant elargire illi quandam mensuram sacci [Anglicè, a bott of sack], toties quoties. Preterea, debuit habere quotannis ex qualibet quarteria terre infra baroniam predictam, quasdam mensuras farine Hibernicè vocatas sruans, cum sufficiente butiro. Et preterea, consuetus erat, quod quandocunque aliquis capiebat aliquod wreccum maris vel ambergreese, sine noticia inde data O'Flaherty vel suis. servientibus [Anglicè, his serjeants], quod quilibet sic faciens finem fecerat ipsi O'Flaherty ad septem vaccas, toties quoties. Et quandocunque O'Flaherty dederat aliquam filiaram suaram in matrimonio, consuevit habere unam sterilem vaccam duorum annorum, ex qualibet quarteria inhabitata, infra baroniam predictam3.” fuerunt Torlogh Mc Morogh O'Brien, O'Conor Sligo, et Morogh na maor O'Flaherty." "See Pacat. Hib., A. D. 1601. "The O'Maylies and O'Flagherties had a purpose with six hundred men (which they had already furnished) to invade Kerry." In that work, c. viii., there appears a letter to Sir George Carew, dated 3rd July, 1600, and signed "William Burke, Morogh ni Moe [na maor?] O'Flarty." In that letter the following passage occurs: "So that your Honour consider us with a peece of money." This passage has all the appearance of an interpolation. "My faithful George" (see the Queen's letter to Carew, c. xiv.) is charged with not having been a faithful narrator; but the "Pacata" was written for him, and not by him. He is also charged with having destroyed many old Irish books and records. See Roth's Ana Morogh lecta, p. 559, quoted in Gratianus Lucius, p. 41. Sir George Carew was "Presbyteri filius." The late Sir Francis Burdett, who was well acquainted with Irish history, once observed to the Editor, that "Carew was created Earl of Totness, in England, for his atrocities in Ireland." See * Original Inquisition, Rolls Office, Dublin. in the same Repository, Rot. Pat. 15° Jac. I. fac. 54, for an instrument perfected by the gentry and "freeholders" of Conamara, empowering Morogh na maor O'Flaherty of Bonowen, in the county of Galway, Esq., to procure grants to himself, as trustee for them, of their lands, then recently surrendered to the Crown. Among these parties, the present "old stock" of Conamara, viz. the Mac Conroys (Kings), Clan Conors, Mac Donoughs, O'Duans, O'Lees, Mac Coneelys, &c., may trace their ancestors, who all Morogh na maor died A. D. 1626. The following abstract of his last will has been made from the Inquisition, post mortem, taken on that occasion: "IN THE NAME of God, Amen, I, MURROUGH ne moyre O'Flahertie, of Bonowen, in the baronie of Ballinahinch, within the countie of Galway, esquire, beinge weake and sicke of bodie, but perfect in minde and memorie God be praised, do make my testament and last will in manner and forme followinge: Firste, I bequeathe my soule to God almightie, and my bodie to the grave to be buried amongst my ancestors in Sainct Fraunces' abbey neere Gallway. I bequeath, and my will is, that all my castles, manors, lands, heretofore estated to my eldest sonne and heire, Murrough na marte O'Flahertie, shall be absolutelie in the said Murrough his heires and assigns, for ever; and all the castles and lands heretofore estated to my second sonne, Edmond O'Flahertie, shall be absolutelie to him his heires and assigns, for ever. ITEM, that my third sonne Bryen O'Flahertie and his heires shall have the Cleggan', excepting only the aiery of hawkes upon Barnanoran reserved to the said Murrough na marte. ITEM, that my married wife Onora Flahertie alias Bourke, shall have three q" and a half of Ballindoone whereupon the castle and towne of Bonown stands, and the q' of Bally M Eniely thereunto adjoinninge, without rente, and after her decease, to be and remayne to the said Morrough na marte. ITEM, that mee fourthe sonne Teige O'Flahertie shall have to him and his heires the q' of Kilkieran and Inniscrevar of the landes allotted to Morroughe, he himself redeeminge them from Geoffrie Martin and others who may challendge anie mortgadge thereupon; and that Teige shall have noe power to alienate or mortgadge the said lande, without the license of the said Morrough na marte. ITEM, that my seconde sonne Edmonde shall passe an estate unto my sixt son Hughe and his heires of the quarter of Ballinikill, with a provisoe that Hugh shall not alienate, imortgadge, or sell withoute the lycense of Edmonde or his heires. Mee will is, that my said children, Edmond, Brian, Teige, and Hugh and their heires, shall yearlie paie to said Morrough na marte and his heires thre shillinges sterling, oute of everie quarter for ever; and that they and theire heires shall auns were all suites and services due the mannors of Bonowne and Ballenehinse, and from henceforth shall be obedient to the said Morroughe". ITEM, if anie of the said sonnes die without issue male lawfully begotten, then all the portions of lands of him or them shall retorne to the said Morrough na marte, paieinge to the daughter or daughters of hym soe dieinge a proportion of marryage goods towards preferment, as to the dyscretion of fower of the principallest of theire indifferentest kindred of each side, shall be thought fytt. ITEM, that my said sonne and heyre Morrough, and the rest of my sonnes for Edmond and Bryan, and my sayd wife Onora, shall, in one intire paiement satisfie and paie to my fift sonne, Patricke, who is become a schollera, 20 sterling when he is readie and determined to go beyond seas to studie, together with 10" sterling everie yeare duringe his continuance beyond the seas. ITEM, that my three eldest sonnes shall paie proportionably oute of the lands allotted to each of them all the debtes which I doe owe. ITEM, that both my daughters, Soragh ni Flahertie and Owna ni Flahertie, shall have suche portions for their preferment in marriadge, oute of all the lands allotted to my said three eldest sonnes, proportionable as to the dyscretyon of Sir Tybbott Bourke, knight, or his sonne and heire Myles Bourke, and Sir John Bourke, knight", calling to their assistance two or more of my neerest friends in Gallway, as shall be thought fitt. ITEM, that mee said three eldest sonnes shall paie oute of their several proporcons of lands, all chardges that will be laid oute about my funeral expenses, devotions, and legaties. ITEM, my will is, that my saide children shall remayne loveing brothers henceforward; whereupon I give them my blessing, to give them that grace for to continue and if anie ambiguitie, doubt, or question should differ or arise betwixte them in the misconstring the premisses, my will is that the said Sir Tybbott Bourke, or his sonne Miles Bourke, and Sir John Bourke, together with two of my neerest friends in Galway, shall decide that controversy, and settle them friends and loveing brothers, soe often as anie such doubte shall arise betwixt them. And the rather that they have been formerly acquainted with the contentes of this my last wyll, and were all contented I should soe distribute it, to avoyde all further dissension. ITEM, I give to my said wife Onora, all my plate, cowes, garrans, and sheep, with my household stuffe, besids her third of all my lands. IN WITNESS, I have hereunto putt mee hand and seale the 13th day of April, in the yeare of our Lord God, 1626. "MORROGH na Moyre O'FLAHERtied.” The only sons of Morogh na maor, of whom any certain accounts remain, were Morogh na mart (Morogh of the beeves), the eldest, and Edmond, the second, still a He became an Augustine friar; but that it was considered dangerous to state. b Of Derrymacloughny, brother-in-law of the testator, and cousin of the Marquis of Clanricarde. Sir Tibbott Bourke (who was soon after created Viscount Mayo), was the testator's half-brother. remembered Myles Bourke, the testator's nephew by the halfblood, was the second viscount of that name. e See the will before referred to, p. 399. d Inquis. Rolls Off. 23 Oct. 1627. e Gen. Table, II. No. 38. See ante, p. 108, note in. On 1st March, 1633, livery of seisin was remembered by the name of Emuinn mac Morogha na maor. In the troubles which followed, A. D. 1641, these brothers, unfortunately for themselves and their posterity, took a prominent part'. The former fitted out his long-boats or galleys, with which he commanded the western coasts of Ireland during the hostilities. In A. D. 1642, they both joined their kinsman, Morough ne doe of Aghnenure, and marched with a force of 1800 men to besiege the fort at Galway. On that occasion their men, who were called by the Marquis of Clanricarde "the rude kearns of Irr-Conaght" (Memoirs, pa. 176), were charged with having committed several outrages, and some murders, in the town". Pending the hostilities there, Edmond O'Flaherty proceeded, granted to him for the sum of £40 Irish.-Rot. Pat. 8 Car. I. 2. p. d. The Memoirs of the Marquis of Clanricarde, and Carte's Life of Lord Ormonde, detail many of the proceedings of the O'Flaherties of Iar-Connaught during the troubles. The most active of the leaders were, Lieut.-Col. Morrough na doe (Gen. Table, II. No. 39), of Corr or Lemonfield, near Aghenure, (great-grandson of Sir Murrough na d-tuadh), Sir Morogh na mart, and Col. Edmund, his brother. Of the proceedings of the latter some particulars are given above and in the ensuing notes; from curious original documents, of which some notice will be found in the sequel. The following extracts, taken from the famous Depositions relating to the rebellion, A. D. 1641, preserved in the MS. Library of Trinity College, Dublin (F. 2, 3), have reference to those outrages: "THOMAS SCOTT, 23rd Dec. 1653, saith, That at the beginning of the rebellion, he saw in the street of Galway one Morrogh O'Flaherty, stiled colonel, of Eer-Connagh (being a tall, swarthy young man), marching down the street, with about 300 Irish rebels following him: that they broke into a house, and five of the soldiers stabbed, with their skenes, Mrs. Collins."-"JOHN TURNER,.... 1612, saith, That the Irish people of Ere-Connaught robbed the English inhabitants, and killed and murthered several of them; amongst which, they cut off the heads of one John Fox and his wife, and murthered a Mrs. Collins, as she was kneeling at her prayers, with and tumbled the heads of Fox and his wife about the streets; yet the mayor or aldermen did not in any way punish the offenders."-"JOHN SHEELY, of Galway, baker, 25 May, 1644, saith, That in Galway the very children, according to their powers, exceeded the men, insomuch as their very frie, or young children, would with skeanes, wherewith generally they were armed, come to the English women, and say, with their skeanes presented, 'You English jades, or doggs, I will cut your throats! and none durst so much as contradict any of those graceles impes."-"Lieut. JOHN GELL, 7 March, 1658, saith, That it was commonly spoken in Galway, that the O'Flaherties of Ire-Connaught were brought into the towne purposely to murther all the English; and he believeth they would have murthered them all accordingly, had not some priests hindered them, by going out in their vestments, with tapers and a crucifix carryed before them, commanding the said murtherers to surcease. And where some goods had been plundered, they commanded restitution to be made, as the examinant, being then in the Fort of Galway, was credibly informed."—"MARY BOWLER, spinster, aged 21 years, servant to Lieut. John Gell, 7th March, 1653, saith, That she heard by seve ral of the towne-people that it was the Maior and council of the town that had brought in the said Ire-Connaught people to kill and murther all the English Protestants, because their own hands should not be embrued in their blood. That she herself saw the priests of the towne, and other priests, being with a company of one hundred men, to the islands of Aran, and from thence he directed his course to the west of the County of Clare. There he laid siege to a castle called Tromra, which was situated close to the sea-shore, in the barony of Ibrickan. This castle was inhabited by an Englishman of the name of Ward and his family. After a desperate defence of nearly four days the place was carried by storm. The brave owner and the principal part of his family were slain, and the castle was plundered and burned to the ground. After this exploit, the perpetrator returned home with his booty. He afterwards joined the confederate forces of Connaught, and continued in action during the remainder of the war. In the beginning of May, 1653, John Browne, of the isles of Aran, came before the magistrates in Galway, and gave information on oath against Colonel Edmond O'Flaherty and others, for the murder of Peter Ward of Tromragh, in the County of Clare". A party of soldiers was accordingly dispatched to Iar-Connaught in pursuit of the accused. After a long and fruitless search, the party was returning, and passing beside a small dark wood near Renvile, their attention was attracted by about eight in number, going about the towne in their vestments, with tapers burning, and the sacrament borne before them, and earnestly exhorting the said Murrough na mart, and his company, for Christ's sake, and our Lady's, and St. Patrick's, that they would shed no more blood, and if they did they would never have mercy. That the said Murrough and one Edmond O'Flahertie were at the committing of the said murthers, and aiding and abetting the same; and that she doth verily believe, that had it not bene for the said priests, the said O'Flahertyes and their company had killed all the English Protestants they had found in Galway."-" MARTHA LOVE, wife of Capt. Highgate Love, 23rd Feb. 1653, saith, That the town was full of Ireconnaught rogues, in their trowses and broages, all armed with pikes, skeans, and swords." -Pity it is that Mrs. Love did not tell us if these trowses fitted close to the limbs, like those of the old Irish, described by Ware, Ant. cap. xi. : "Defemoralibus illis arctissimis, Trowses vulgo dictis."—" Close britches, commonly called trowses."-Harris. For at the present day the Iar-Connaught "rogues" all wear their trowsers loose and ample, which gives the their lower limbs nearly as much liberty as the Highlanders of Scotland enjoy in the kilt. But this latter curious article of dress itself requires some explanation. The late Major Duff, of Muirtown, near Inverness, editor of the Culloden Papers, a volume of curious and valuable letters, from the year 1624 to 1745, published from the originals in Culloden House, astonished some of his Northern friends by stating, in a note to one of the letters, that the kilt, or philabeg ("feile bheag," Armstrong's Dict.) was not the ancient Highland garb, but was introduced into the Highlands about 1720, by one Thomas Rawlinson an Englishman, who was overseer to a company carrying on Iron Works in Glengarry's country. The convenience of the dress, he added, soon caused it to be universally adopted in the Highlands. Surely some patriotic Highlander will here rush to the rescue of the martial philabeg from this bold assertion of its mean and modern origin. Pinkerton says, it "quite unknown."-Hist. Scot. part iv. c. vi. See also Whitaker's Hist. Manchester, book I. c. vii. § v. was h This information will be found in the Depositions of A. D. 1641, T. C. D. vol. xxi. |