The Land-War In Ireland (1870) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 533 pages of information about The Land-War In Ireland (1870).

The Land-War In Ireland (1870) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 533 pages of information about The Land-War In Ireland (1870).

Tyrconnel killed some rebels, and captured their chief, whom his men carried to Sir H. Folliott to be executed.  Sir Henry offered to spare his life if he could accuse the earl of any crime that might work his overthrow.  He could not, and he was hanged.  In order to settle a dispute between the earl and Sir Nial, the English protege and pretender to the chieftainship, twelve tenants of each were summoned to be examined by the king’s officers in the neighbourhood.  ’The earl’s men were not examined, but locked up in a room; and the vice-governor, upon the false deposition of Sir Nial’s men, directed warrants, and sent soldiers to the number of 300, to bring all the earl’s tenants unto Sir Nial, to the number of 340 persons, who paid half-a-crown a piece, and 12 d. for every cow and garron, as a fee unto the captains, whereby they lost their ploughing for the space of twenty-eight days, the soldiers being in the country all the while.  One Captain Henry Vaughan, being sheriff in the year 1605, got a warrant to levy 150 l. to build a sessions house.  He built the house of timber and wattles.  It was not worth 10_l_, and it fell in three months.  Nevertheless he levied every penny of the money, and the people had to meet a similar demand the next year, to build another house.  It was a rule with the governors of the local garrisons to offer his life to every convict about to be executed, and also a large reward, if he could accuse the earl of some detestable crime.  No less than twenty-seven persons hanged in Connaught and Tyrone were offered pardon on this condition.  He was at the same sessions called to the bar for hanging some wood-kerne, although he had authority from the king to execute martial law.  Shortly after, by the lord deputy’s orders, the horse and foot soldiers under Docwra and Folliott were cessed upon the country, where they for four months remained, and paid nothing for their charges of horse-meat or man’s meat.’  In the year 1606 the lord deputy came to Ballyshannon, where, being at supper, he demanded of the earl what right he had to the several territories he claimed.  He replied that his ancestors had possessed them for 1,300 years, and that the duties, rents, and homages were duly paid during that time.  Whereupon the lord deputy said, ’the earl was unworthy to have them, he should never enjoy them, the State was sorry to have left so much in his possession, and he should take heed to himself or else the deputy would make his pate ache.’  The matters in dispute between him and Sir Nial being referred on that occasion to the lord deputy, both parties having submitted their papers for examination, every case was decided against Tyrconnel, all his challenges frustrated, 300 l. damages imposed, and his papers burned; while Sir Nial’s papers were privately given back to him.  The result was that at the next sessions Sir Nial had the benefit of all his papers, his opponent having nothing to show to the contrary.  The fishery of Killybegs, worth 500 l. a season, had

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Land-War In Ireland (1870) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.