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A CONCISE VIEW

OF THE

IRISH SOCIETY.

1607. IN the beginning of the reign of King James the First, a considerable part of the province of Ulster, in Ireland, was vested in the crown, by an act of attainder of certain Roman Catholics of distinction, who had rebelled against the state; and soon afterwards a project was suggested by the Earl of Salisbury (Lord High Treasurer) to the King, for establishing a Protestant colony on the forfeited estates, who, having 1608. approved thereof, the same was published by the Privy. Council, in the following terms.

" A COLLECTION of such Orders and Conditions as are to be observed by the Undertakers upon the distribution and plantation of the escheated Lands in Ulster.

"WHEREAS the greatest part of six counties, in the province of Ulster, within the realm of Ireland, named Armagh, Tyrone, Coleraine, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Cavan, being escheated and come to the crown, hath lately been surveyed, and

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the survey thereof transmitted and presented unto his Majesty; upon view whereof, his Majesty, of his princely bounty, not respecting his own profit, but the public peace and welfare of that kingdom, by the civil Plantation of those unreformed and waste countries, is graciously pleased to distribute the said lands to such of his subjects, as well of Great Britain as of Ireland, as being of merit and ability shall seek the same, with a mind not only to benefit themselves, but to do service to the crown and commonwealth: and forasmuch as many, persons being ignorant of the conditions whereupon his Majesty is pleased to grant the said lands, are importunate suitors for greater portions than they are able to plant, intending their private profit only, and not the advancement of the public service, it is thought convenient to declare and publish to all his Majesty's subjects, the several quantities of the proportions which shall be distributed, the several sorts of undertakers, the manner of allotment, the estates, the rents, the tenures, with other articles, to be observed, as well on his Majesty's behalf, as on the behalf of the undertakers, in manner and form following:

"First. The proportions of land to be distributed to undertakers, shall be of three different quantities; consisting of sundry parcels or precincts of land, called by Irish names, used and known in the several counties, viz. Ballibetaghs, Quarters, Balliboes, Tathes, and Polls. The first and least proportion to contain such and so many of the said parcels as shall make up 1000 English acres at the least; and the second, or middle proportion, to contain such or so many the said parcels as shall make up 1500 English acres at the least; and the last, or greatest proportion, to contain such or so many of the said parcels as shall make up 2000 English acres at the least; to every of which proportion shall be allowed such quantity of bog or wood as the country shall conveniently afford.

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"Second. The persons of the undertakers of the several

proportions, shall be of three sorts, viz.-1st. English or Scottish, as well servitors as others, who are to plant their portions with English or inland Scottish inhabitants.2d. Servitors in the Kingdom of Ireland, who may take mere Irish, English, or inland Scottish tenants, at their choice.3d. Natives of Ireland, who are to be made freeholders.

"Third. His Majesty will reserve unto himself the appointment in what county every undertaker shall have his 'portion. But to avoid emulation and controversy, which would arise among them if every man should choose the place where he would be planted, his Majesty's pleasure is, that the scites or places of their portions in every county shall be distributed by lot.

"Lastly. The several articles ensuing are to be observed, as well on his Majesty's behalf, as of the several undertakers respectively."

"ARTICLES concerning the English and Scottish Undertakers, who are to plant their portions with English and inland Scottish Tenants.

"First. His Majesty is pleased to grant estates in fee farm to them and their heirs.

"Second. They shall yearly yield unto his Majesty, for every proportion of 1000 acres, £5. 6s. 8d. English; and so rateably, for the greater proportions, which is after the rate of 68. Sd. for every sixty English acres. But none of the said undertakers shall pay any rent until the expiration of the first two years, except the natives of Ireland, who are not subject to the charge of transportation.

"Third. Every undertaker of so much land as shall amount to the greatest proportion of 2000 acres, or thereabouts, shall hold the same by knight's service, in capite; and every undertaker of so much land as shall amount to the middle proportion of 1500 acres, or thereabouts, shall hold

the survey thereof transmitted and presented unto his Majesty; upon view whereof, his Majesty, of his princely bounty, not respecting his own profit, but the public peace and welfare of that kingdom, by the civil Plantation of those unreformed and waste countries, is graciously pleased to distribute the said lands to such of his subjects, as well of Great Britain as of Ireland, as being of merit and ability shall seek the same, with a mind not only to benefit themselves, but to do service to the crown and commonwealth: and forasmuch as many, persons being ignorant of the conditions whereupon his Majesty is pleased to grant the said lands, are importunate suitors for greater portions than they are able to plant, intending their private profit only, and not the advancement of the public service, it is thought convenient to declare and publish to all his Majesty's subjects, the several quantities of the proportions which shall be distributed, the several sorts of undertakers, the manner of allotment, the estates, the rents, the tenures, with other articles, to be observed, as well on his Majesty's behalf, as on the behalf of the undertakers, in manner and form following:

"First. The proportions of land to be distributed to undertakers, shall be of three different quantities; consisting of sundry parcels or precincts of land, called by Irish names, used and known in the several counties, viz. Ballibetaghs, Quarters, Balliboes, Tathes, and Polls. The first and least proportion to contain such and so many of the said parcels as shall make up 1000 English acres at the least; and the second, or middle proportion, to contain such or so many of the said parcels as shall make up 1500 English acres at the least; and the last, or greatest proportion, to contain such or so many of the said parcels as shall make up 2000 English acres at the least; to every of which proportion shall be allowed such quantity of bog or wood as the country shall conveniently afford.

"Second. The persons of the undertakers of the several,

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