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 approved thereof, the same was published by the Privy Council, in the following terms. 1608. “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 B 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 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 6s. 8d. 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 there. abouts, 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 same by knight service, as of the castle of Dublin; and every undertaker of so much land as shall amount to the least proportion of 1000 acres, or thereabouts, shall hold the same in common socage, and there shall be no wardship upon the two first descents of that land. "Fourth. Every undertaker of the greatest proportion of 2000 acres, shall, within two years after the date of his letters patent, build thereupon a castle, with a strong court or bawn about it; and every undertaker of the second, or middle proportion of 1500 acres, shall, within the same time, build a stone or brick house thereupon, with a strong court or bawn about it; and every undertaker of the least proportion of 1000 acres, shall, within the same time, make thereupon a strong court or bawn, at least. And all the said undertakers shall draw their tenants to build houses for themselves and their families, near the principal Castle House or Bawn, for their mutual defence and strength; and they shall have sufficient timber, by the assignment of such officers as the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland shall appoint, out of his Majesty's woods in that province, for the same buildings, without paying any thing for the same, during the said two years; and to that end there shall be a present inhibition to restrain the felling or destruction of the said woods, in the meantime, for what cause soever. "Fifth. The said undertakers, their heirs and assigns, shall have ready in their houses at all times, a convenient store of arms, wherewith they may furnish a competent number of able men for their defence, which may be viewed and mustered every half year, according to the manner of England. "Sixth. Every of the said undertakers, English or Scottish, before the ensealing of his letters patent, shall take the oath of supremacy, either in the chancery of England or Ireland, or before the commissioners to be appointed for establishing of the Plantation; and shall also conform themselves in religion, according to his Majesty's laws. در |