Catalogue description ESCHEATED LANDS in ULSTER.

"I have in the book before written set down all the particulars of Escheated lands in Ulster now to stand."

1. By particulars there are in British families 6,215 men, and upon occasion, 8,000 men, of British birth and descent for defence, though the fourth part of the lands is not fully inhabited.

2. By particulars there are now built upon the counties of Ardmagh, Tirone, Donagall, Fermanagh, Cavan, and Londonderrie, 107 castles with bawns, 19 castles without bawns, 42 bawns without castles or houses, 1,897 dwelling-houses of stone and timber, after the English manner, in townredes, besides very many such houses in several which I saw not, and yet there is great want of buildings both for townredes and otherwise.

Many English do not yet plough nor use husbandry, being fearful to stock themselves with cattle or servants for those labours. Neither do the Irish use tillage, for they are also uncertain of their stay. So by these means the Irish, using grazing only, and the English very little, and were it not for the Scottish, who plough in many places, the rest of the country, might starve. By reason of this the British, who are forced to take their lands at great rates, live at the greater rents paid to them by Irish tenants who graze.

If the Irish pack away with their cattle, the British must either forsake their dwellings or endure great distress on the sudden; yet the cohabitation of the Irish is dangerous. The greatest number of Irish dwell upon the lands granted to the city of London, which happens two ways:

First, there are 5 proportions assigned to the several companies, not yet estated to any man, in the hands of agents, who finding Irish more profitable than British, are unwilling to draw on the British, persuading the companies that the lands are mountainous and unprofitable, not regarding the future security of the whole.

Secondly, the other 7 of the proportions are leased for 61 years, and the lessees affirm that they are not bound to plant English, but with what people they list. Neither is the city of London bound to do it, by their patents as they say. And by these two occasions the British now here, who have built houses at their own charges have no estates, which is such a discouragement that they are minded to depart; and without better settlement will go elsewhere. Wherein it is fit the city have direction to take a present course, that they may receive their assurances. These are the inconveniences, which in this service I have observed further than was set down formerly by Sir John Bodley.

Signed: Nicholas Pynnar.

Copy.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. V, document 212.