breaking out into open rebellion. This led to a forfeiture to the Crown of all the estates of the O'Neills and the O'Dohertys.

To entitle the Crown to possession of the forfeited lands, it became necessary to inquire before a jury of twelve men of the county in which the lands were situate, and to define what had been the possessions of the traitors, and what had been their rights and privileges.

Accordingly a commission was issued by the Crown in the year 1602, and another in the year 1609. The commissioners thus appointed were directed to inquire into the title of the Crown to the several escheated and forfeited lands in Ulster, and, by virtue of the commission, inquisitions were duly held in the different counties, the several escheated lands, rights and privileges and fisheries were ascertained and defined, and proper returns were made into the Rolls Office.

The Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer to King James the First, suggested to the King a project for establishing a Protestant colony on the forfeited estates, and the King approved the scheme. Certain conditions were thereupon laid down by the Privy Council for observance, and these were published under the title, "Conditions to be observed by the British Undertakers of the escheated Lands in Ulster."

The publication of these conditions did not induce the public to take up the matter, so his Majesty, conceiving the City of London to be the ablest body to undertake so important a work, directed the Earl of

Salisbury to write a letter to Sir Clement Edmonds, the City Remembrancer, desiring him to acquaint the Lord Mayor (Humphrey Weld), that the earl desired a conference should be had with him on the subject. Accordingly, on or about the 30th of July, 1609, the Lord Mayor sent to Sir John Jolles and Sir William Cockaine, who were well aquainted with Irish affairs, and thereupon a meeting was appointed to be held at Sir John Jolles's house, where certain propositions, made by his Majesty to the City, were considered.

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After a few days had elapsed, the Lords of the Privy Council and the Corporation of the City of London came to an understanding on the subject; and the latter expressed their willingness to undertake the plantation, provided the representation of its advantage and practicability, which formed the basis of their determination, should, upon investigation, appear to be correct. cordingly, to determine this point, a Court of Common Council was convened (1st Aug., 1609), when it was agreed that four wise, grave and discreet citizens should be immediately sent to view the situation proposed for the new colony, who should make a report to the Court on their return from thence, of their proceedings and opinions. And thereupon John Broad, Goldsmith, Robert Treswell, Painter-Stainer, John Rowley, Draper, and John Munns, Mercer, were appointed as the deputation; who, being furnished with written instructions, proceeded on their mission to Ireland. On their return, they presented a report of their various transactions to

the Court of Common Council, which was openly read. The Court then appointed various of their members a Committee for proceeding in their negociations with the Privy Council; and prescribed the times and place for their meetings at Guildhall. The Committee soon afterwards made their report to the Common Council of the several things intended to be demanded from the Crown, as necessary to the final adjustment of the affairs in question; in which report they expressed their opi nion, "that a Company should be constituted in London, of persons to be selected for that purpose, and corporations to be settled in Derry and Coleraine" but in all things concerning the plantation, "the same to be managed and performed in Ireland by advice and direction of the Company of London." The report being approved by the Court of Common Council, it was ordered to be presented to the Privy Council; and, after some further negociation, articles of agreement were at length entered into (28th January, 1609), between the Right Honourable the Lords of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council on the King's Majesty's behalf, of the one part, and the Committees appointed by Act of Common Council on the behalf of the Mayor and Commonalty of the city of London, of the other part.

THE HEADS OF AGREEMENT.

"First. It was agreed by the City that the sum of £20,000 should be levied; whereof £15,000 was to be expended on the intended plantation, and £5,000 for

the clearing of private men's interests in the things demanded.

"Second. Also that, at the Derry, two hundred houses should be built, and room to be left for three hundred more; and that four thousand acres, lying on the Derry side, next adjacent to the Derry, should be laid thereunto, bog and barren mountain to be no part thereof; the same to be done by indifferent commissioners.

"Third. Also, that the Bishop and Dean of Derry should have convenient plots of ground for the scite of their houses at Derry.

"Fourth. Also, that Coleraine* should be situated and built on the abbey side; and that one hundred houses should be built thereon, and room left for two hundred more; and that three thousand acres of land should be laid thereunto, viz., one thousand acres to be taken on the abbey side, next adjacent to the town : and that, if it should please the King's Majesty, at his charges, after some good proceeding in the plantation, to erect and maintain a bridge in perpetuity for a common passage over the river, between the town and county of Coleraine, then it was agreed the other two thousand acres to be taken on the other side of the river; otherwise the whole three thousand acres were agreed to

* Coleraine, ancient Cual-rathaine-pronounced in modern times Cooleraine-possessed formerly an abbey and a castle, probably that of De Courcey. It is mentioned by the Four Masters as having been built in 1197, but it derived its importance under the charter of James.

be taken on the abbey side, next adjacent to the town of Coleraine.

"Fifth. That the measure and account of land should be after the balliboes, according to the King's

last survey.

"Sixth. That the rest of the territory and entire county of Coleraine, estimated at one thousand acres, more or less, undertaken by the City, be cleared from all particular interests, except the Bishop and Dean of Derry's inheritance; and except certain portions of land to be assigned unto three or more Irish gentlemen at the most, then dwelling and settled in the county of Coleraine, who were to be freeholders to the City, and to pay them some small rent; the same portions and rent to be limited by commissioners to be indifferently chosen between his Majesty and the City.

"Seventh. That the woods and the ground and soil of Glanconkene and Killetrough, extending from the county of Coleraine to Ballinderry, be wholly to the City in perpetuity.

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Eighth. That the soil of so much land within and amongst the woods of Glanconkene and Killetrough, which stood charged as surveyed lands, to be undertaken in like form as the county of Coleraine

"Ninth. That the City should have the patronage of all the churches, as well within the said city of the Derry and town of Coleraine, as in all lands to be undertaken by them.