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the general assent of all parties present interested in the business, Rowland Smart, Esq. the then sword-bearer of this city, was chosen and appointed, an indifferent man, to draw the said lots on behalf of the companies of this city, which was done in this manner: The lots of the figures before mentioned, referring to the proportion of lands specified in the several sheets, held by the governour as aforesaid, were opened and poured out of the box wherein they were, into a hat held for that purpose, in which hat they were shuffled together: and the lots of the companies names also before mentioned, and of their sums disbursed, were likewise opened and poured out of the box within which they were, and put into another hat held for that purpose, and also shuffled together by themselves; and the swordbearer standing in the midst between both hats, did with one hand draw the lot of figures, and with the other hand the lot of the companies' names and sums; and what figure each of the companies' lots did draw, the proportion of land whereunto that figure did refer and allude, was, together with the same lot, delivered openly in court by the said governour, to one of the wardens of the principal companies that first was named in the same lot; in which course and order all the said lots were drawn.

After all which was done, information was given to this court, by the governour and assistants appointed for the plantation in Ireland, that all the money formerly levied towards that charge was altogether issued and expended; and that notwithstanding the companies had their particular shares of land, which ought to be managed by themselves severally, yet the general work, for the building the rest of the towns and fortifications, was to be done at the general charge; and therefore that a further supply must of necessity, with all expedition, be made and provided, to proceed on in the business. It was therefore further enacted, granted, and agreed, by the authority aforesaid, that a present taxation should be made of the sum of five thousand pounds, over and above the forty thousand pounds, theretofore by former acts of common-council appointed to be taxed

and gathered, the same to be employed and expended in and about the said plantation in Ireland; and that the same five thousand pounds should forthwith be taxed, levied, and raised, upon all the several companies of this city, according to the late allotment and proportion, whereby the last sum of ten thousand pounds was levied, &c.

At a Common Council, held the 11th day of January, 1614.

Further information was given to this court, by the governour and assistants appointed for the plantation in Ireland, that all the monies formerly levied towards that charge, was altogether expended; and that towards the building and finishing of the rest of the towns and fortifications, a further supply must, of necessity, with all expedition be made, &c. It was therefore further enacted, granted, and agreed, by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, &c. that a present taxation should be made of the sum of seven thousand and five hundred pounds, over and above the sum of forty-five thousand pounds, heretofore taxed and gathered, &c. to be forthwith levied of all the several companies of this city, according to the late allotment, &c.

At a Common Council, held the 18th Day of October Anno Regni Jacobi Dei gra. Angl. &c. Decimo Tertio.

Further information was given to this court, that all the monies formerly levied by order of this court towards the charges of the plantation in Ireland, were issued out and expended, and that a great part of the walls of the city of Londonderry, &c. were then unfinished; it was therefore enacted, granted, and agreed, by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, &c. that towards finishing the said plantation the sum of five thousand pounds, over and above the sum of fifty-two thousand and five hundred pounds, theretofore taxed and gathered, should be forthwith levied of all the several companies of this city, according to the rate and proportion that the last seven thousand and five hundred pounds was taxed and levied, &c.

At a Common Council, held the 1st Day of October, Anno Regni Jacobi, Dei gra. Regis Angl. &c. Decimo Quarto.

Further information was given to this court, by the governour, deputy, and committees for this city's plantation in Ulster, that all the monies formerly levied towards the charge of that plantation were already issued and expended, and that the works of fortification of Londonderry, &c. were not then finished. It was therefore enacted, granted, and agreed by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, &c. that towards the finishing of the said plantation, the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, over and above the sum of fifty-seven thousand and five hundred pounds, theretofore taxed and gathered, should be forthwith levied of all the several companies of this city, proportionally according to former rates made, &c. The whole monies raised being sixty thousand pounds.

I have forborne from any recital of the litigations between the Star-Chamber and Sir Thomas Philips, on the one side, and the Society and Companies on the other. To wade through all the querulous minutiæ of unimportant transactions, would be to the reader an unavailing fatigue; I shall therefore hasten to recapitulate and subjoin the following series of events as concisely as possible, and in chronological order.

1515. The company of Londoners send a gilt sword to the mayor of London-Derry, with direction to name the county, formerly called of Coleraine, thenceforth that of London-Derry; the city to have the same title.

1531. Sir Odo O'Donnel, lord of Tyrconnel, being prevented by

sickness from personally renewing the oath of allegiance, appointed the abbot Conaght O'Frigil, of Derry, to perform it before Lord Deputy Skeffington at Tredagh.

1565. Sir Henry Sidney appointed viceroy; an encampment is made near L. Derry, under the command of Edward Randolph, an experienced officer, who arrives in the river Foyle with seven companies of foot and one troop of horse, to repress O'Neil, who had renounced allegiance to the English power during many years. A bloody engagement takes place, the Irish chieftain is defeated; but the English commander is slain shortly after.

The gunpowder, which had been deposited in the church of Derry, blew up with great damage to the garrison. O'Neil meditates a renewed attack, but is assassinated by his own people.

1595. The Earl of Tyrone revolting, gains the battle of Blackwater; sues for pardon, and receives it in 1603; is received with honour at the court of England, on the accession of James; is suspected of revolting again, in concert with O'Cathan and O'Donnel.

1599. Essex appointed Governor of Ireland, is charged to fortify and garrison Derry, which, from its situation, its neighbourhood to the harbour, and from the friendship of O'Dogherty, chief of Innishowen, had been long decided on as essential to the English interest, by keeping divided and in check the powers of O'Neil and O'Donnel :-this commission is neglected by Essex.

1600. Lord Mountjoy succeeding, sends Sir Henry Dockra to fortify Derry, whom he supports by various military movements against O'Neil.

1600. The fort of Culmore built.

1601. Innishowen, by the submission of O'Dogherty, is made obedient to the English power.

1602. The fortress of Derry betrayed to the Irish by their countrymen in the pay of the English; it is retaken, and the insurgents repressed.

Sir Henry Dockra receives intelligence of the Spanish Armada, at

Derry, from an Irish chief, by which means the English were prepared against the invasion.

At the invitation of Sir Henry Dockra, a number of colonists repair to Derry, which becomes not only an asylum to the English, but a resort for education to the natives.

1607. The Earls fly; the six counties of Ulster escheated; project for the division and plantation of these, 12th James.

1608. Sir Cahir O'Dogherty, the young chief of Innishowen, having invited Hart, the governor of Culmore, with his lady, to an entertainment at his castle, suddenly seizes his guest, and threatens him with death, unless he would give up the keys of the fort. This being rejected by the governor, his wife is prevailed on, to save her husband's life, to give such tokens, as succeeded in procuring admission to the Irish, who seized the fort after a resistance, in which the brother of the governor's wife, who commanded, with all the garrison, were slain. Immediately after this success, L. Derry is surprised by O'Dogherty, Sir George Paulet, with his soldiers, losing their lives in its defence; the inhabitants, who could escape, fly; the town is burned by O'Dogherty.

Orders and conditions issued, to be observed by the undertakers upon the distribution and plantation of the escheated lands.

1610. Commission for enquiring into the king's title to the forfeited lands (7th of James 1st.) with articles of instruction to the

commissioners.

1613. A survey made, and the committee for building the city of L. Derry rebuked.

1614. 11th of James 1st. Commission returned into the rolls office.

The walls of L. Derry built.

1618-19. The county surveyed by Nicholas Pynnar, Esq.

1625. Orders from the Privy Council to sequester the rents of the company of Londoners; not carried into execution; taken off in 1627.

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