Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A.D. 1397 (Concluded)

Ulster Archaeological Society

Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A.D. 1397 (Concluded)Source: Ulster Journal of Archaeology, First Series, Vol. 1 (1853), pp. 232-241Published by: Ulster Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20563466 .

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METEOPOLIM VISITATION OF THE DIOCESE OF DEEET, I.D. 1397

(Concluded from p. 197.)

In the Year, Indiction, and Pontificate aforesaid, and on the 16th, day of the month of October, the

aforesaid Yenerable father, Primate and Guardian as aforesaid, proceeded from Bannagher to the

priory of Canons Begular of Bungivena: and there at the supplication of the Prior and Convent, he

solemnly re-consecrated the church and cemetery of that place, polluted by the shedding of blood ; en

joining the inhabitants ofthat town that they should contribute, as was customary, towards the suffi

cient entertainment of himself, his men, and their horses, for that night ; and should transmit what

they had thus provided to the village of Bannagher, where he, the Yenerable Father aforesaid, was to

remain for that night. And this they cheerfully did. And the said Yenerable Father returning

again the same day, from the aforesaid Priory of Bungiven to Bannagher,b and there sitting on his

Tribunal in front of the High Altar, caused the Archdeacon of Berry, and all others of the Chapter of Berry, to be summoned before him by the crier ; who humbly appearing before the Yenerable

Father, the Archbishop, Primate and Guardian aforesaid, and the aforesaid Yenerable Father having himself declared and expounded unto them the cause of his coming to the aforesaid Diocese of Berry,

viz., that he came there in order to the free and plenary exercise of the Guardianship of the Spirituality and Temporality, and Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction of the Bishopriek of Berry, belonging, by an

cient custom, lawfully prescript, and heretofore uninterruptedly observed and used, unto himself and

the church of Armagh, the said Bishopriek of Berry being vacant, or otherwise deprived of

the benefit of its pastor?which, as he said in the presence of the same, then hearing and assenting,

he had exercised in various cases, and intended to exercise, as he and his predecessors, each in their

own times, had already exercised it, within the other Bioceses of the Province of Armagh when va

cant, and particularly within the Diocese and Bishopriek of Berry when vacant, YFhereupon the

Yenerable Father, Primate and Guardian aforesaid, admonished them all and every one, under pain of

* The full name of this Convent waa the "

House of the Blessed Virgin, for Canons Begular of the Order of St. Augustine, at Dungiven.'* The conventual church, now a ruin, was remarkable for a Tower fifty feet high, square at the hase, hut round from the spring of the roof up

wards, -which was incorporated with the building, Mr? Sampson gives three views of this church :?an exterior, representing the Round Tower, now fallen :?an interior view ;?and an elevation of a remarkahle monument erect ed to the memory of one of the O'Gahans, named in La tin Congahis: in Irish Cumoighe na Gall: ie. Gooey of the English. The church appears to belong to the twelfth century. Dr. Beeves has collected together all the early notices of this interesting ruin : Seepage 42, $c.

b This church, "

the old Church of Bannagher/* is still standing, and though a ruin, in a state of tolerable pre servation ; even the Buildings of the convent with which it was anciently connected, have not altogether disappear ed. The ruins stand on the right bank of the little river of Owenreagh, a short way from the road which now con ducts the traveller from Berry to Dungiven, not far from the modern Church and the Parsonage. The church yard is remarkahle for the Tomb of a Saint named O'Heney, by whom the convent and church are stated to have been, erected ; of which Mr. P?trie has given a drawing in his book on the Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland. The buildings appear to belong to the eleventh century.



233

law, that all and every one of them should, in all things, faithfully obey himself, and his successors, the

Archbishops of Armagh and Primates of Ireland, for the time being, as their Judge Ordinary, solely

and exclusively in lieu of the Bishop, by virtue of the Guardianship aforesaid; and that they should

recognise, confess, and effectively admit none other ; and that they, and each of them, should afford

to the aforesaid Yenerable Father full satisfaction for the rents, possessions, or emoluments, Spiritual

or Temporal of the aforesaid Bishopriek:, by them, or any of them, received : and that they should re

ceive from him canonical and lawful penance for their misdemeanours : and that neither they, nor

any of them should, at any time hereafter, claim, usurp, or in any manner exercise the Guardianship

of the Spirituality or of the Temporality, or any administration of the said Bishopriek, when vacant :

but should leave in peace, for themselves and their successors, the aforesaid Guardianship and all manner

of Episcopal Jurisdiction, Spiritual and Temporal, to the aforesaid Lord John, Archbishop of Armagh,

Primate of Ireland, and his successors ; which declaration, protestation, and monition, having been put forth by the said Yenerable Father?the Bean, the Archdeacon of Berry, and the others, all and every

one, of the Chapter of Berry, there present and constituting the Chapter, unanimously answered, purely and freely, and judicially confessed, that all manner of Episcopal Jurisdiction, Spiritual and Temporal,

voluntary and compulsory, of the Bishopriek of Berry, the same being vacant or destitute of the benefit

of its Pastor?as also the G-uardianship of the Spirituality and Temporality, and of both the Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction, and also the collection of the rents, fruits, and emoluments Spiritual and

Temporal, pertaining to the said Bishopriek, had belonged, now belonged, and ought to belong solely and

exclusively to the said Yenerable Father, the Lord John Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland, and

to his predecessors and successors for the time being, and to none other whatever. And therefore, the

Bean and the Archdeacon, and all and every one of the Chapter there present, promised that they will

hereafter be faithful and obedient to the aforesaid Lord John, Archbishop and Primate, and to his succes

sors, for the time being, as?what he is in truth?Guardian of the Spirituality and Temporality, and of

the Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction of the Bishopriek of Berry, when vacant, andas their Bishop and

Judge Ordinary, during the vacancy of the said Bishopriek ; and to do, fulfil, and faithfully observe these

things and every one of them, the aforesaid Bean and Archdeacon, and the rest of the Chapter of Berry there present and every one of them, gave their corporal oath, touching the Holy G-ospels ? whose names

here follow:?Boctor William M^Camayll, Bean of Berry; Boctor William O'Cahan, Archdeacon

of Berry, Boctor John MGKaig, Boctor Bonald M?Loughlin, Boctor Bavid O'Moryson, Sir

Laurence McCullimore, Boctor Maurice O'Kinlay, Boctor Rogger O'Boyle, Boctor Simon

O'Feenaghty, Boctor Hugh MeKaigj Boctor Maurice O'Cahan, Boctor John O'Cushely. Which

promises and oaths being made and taken, the said Capitulars earnestly prayed the Lord Pri

mate aforesaid not to grant to farm, to any powerful layman, any possessions Spiritual or Tem

poral, of the Bishopriek of Berry, lest such laymen, having obtained a colourable pretext, should

afterwards detain them to the detriment of the church, contrary to the will of those who

are interested in the matter, To which the aforesaid Father willingly assented, And the



2U

said Capitulars prayed the said Venerable Father, secondly, to depute certain of the Chapter of Berry, as his sub-guardians, commissaries, and collectors of the rents and episcopal rights

for the use of him, the said Primate, in the said Diocese, Which. Yenerabie Father having held some

deliberation on this matter, and express renunciation having been made by the Dean, Archdeacon, and

Capitulars aforesaid, for themselves and their successors, purely, freely, and absolutely, of all right or

title in what manner soever belonging ?r to belong to them, or any of them, in the Guardianship of

the Spirituality and Temporality, and of the Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction of the Bishoprick of

Derry, when vacant or deprived of the benefit of its Pastor ; and a horse having been given to the

aforesaid Lord Archbishop, by the aforesaid Dean of Berry, and another horse hy the Archdeacon of

Derry, on account and in part payment of the rents and other episcopal emoluments, by them or any

of them received during the vacancy of the See,?the same not being to them due and payable ;?the

aforesaid Father deputed, under a certain form, the Lord Bean of Armagh, the Dean of Derry, the

Archdeacon of Berry, Boctor Thomas O'Loughran, Canon of Armagh, and Maurice O'Cahan, Canon

of Berry, as his sub-guardians, commissaries, and collectors of rents and episcopal emoluments in the

Diocese of Derry, the Bishoprick being vacant : and commanded and caused Ms letters thereupon

to be made patent, the tenor of which appears in the Begister.c Which things being thus transacted, there appeared before the said Yenerabie Father a certain per

son, constituted in my presence, and that of the witnesses underwritten, proctor of Magnus MeGilli

gan, in the cause matrimonial above-mentioned in this Ptecord of Proceedings, before the Yenerabie

Father; and judicially propounded before him, that if it should happen that the said Catharine should

prove that she had ever contracted matrimony with his lord, Magnus McG-illigan, (which he does not

admit,) or if it should happen that she shall prove the said adjudication, of which mention is made

above/1?the said proctor offers that he will prove, that before ever the said Catharine contracted in

c Although this Record is too well authenticated by the dates of time and place, and the names of parties and -flatnesses, to justify the slightest suspicion of untruth as

applying to any of its statements,?we may very well sup pose that in some of the cases which came before the Archbi?hop there were circumstances, which, either be cause they were not urged in open court, or for other rea sons, may not have found a place in the Register of pro ceedings. Some of them, however, may not be beyond the reach of conjecture ; and among the rest, the reader

will, no doubt, feel himself prompted to ask, what could have been the motive which induced the Archdeacon and Chapter of Derry to decline appearing, in the first in stance, on the Archbishop's summons ; and yet to submit so promptly to his sentence ? To me it appears that in their refusal they acted under constraint or terror of O'Dogherty, O'Cahan, and other lay chieftains of the re

gion : who probably looked upon a vacancy of the See of

Serry as a iitting opportunity for making an inroad on its vast possessions ; and conceived that the Chapter

might be made an instrument for effecting this purpose. It was perhaps for the purpose of checking their usurpa

tion that the Primate entered the Diocese of Derry. By launching the sentence of excommunication against the recuisant Chapter, he gave to its members the pretext

which they desired, for casting off the usurped authority of their local chieftains :?they at once succumbed to the authority of their spiritual superior :?he promptly ac cepted their submission.:?and although he admonished them of his powers and their duty, and exacted from them an oath to yield obedience in future, heseemsto have im posed upon them neither penalty nor penance : being, as it seems to me, aware that, until his arrival, they had not been free agents.?1 may add that Bishop Montgo mery's letter, already quoted, and the Ulster Inquisi tions published by the Commissioners of Reeords, afford

many instances of the native Irish Chieftains in the North attempting to raise their own revenues by exac tions upon the estates of the Church.

a In translating this sentence I have assumed that the words from "vel sicontingat (p. 48 1.17) to

" quod non

faUtur" (1.20.) incl. are repeated by accident, in the roll, or in copying from it; also that "probaret" in line IG is a mistake for "probare."



235

any manner whatsoever with his lord Magnus McG-illigan, the said Magnus, his lord, had lawfully con

tracted matrimony with another woman, namely, with Mary MGCloskey ; which matter he prayed

might be let in, and right be done. Whereupon the aforesaid Lord Primate, not being able to give

sufficient time to the discussion of this cause, on the advice and petition of the Bean, Archdeacon,

and Chapter of Berry, committed viv? voce the examination and determination of this cause to Wil

liam, Archdeacon of Berry, and John McKaig ; and entered his lodging. And the Herenachs and

inhabitants of the village provided, at their own expense, the needful requisites and night-watch.

In the Year, Indiction, and Pontificate aforesaid, and on the 17th day of the month of October, af

ter early mass heard in the church of Bannagher, in the diocese of Berry, the Bean of Berry, and others

of the Chapter of Berry, came to the Yenerable Father aforesaid, then being in his lodging ; asking

that he should leave in writing his Befinitions and Ordinances concerning the state and discipline of the

monastery at Berry, which is called the Black Abbey of Berry, and should depute certain executors

for the more perfect observance of the said Befinitions. And the said Yenerable Father delivered in

writing unto the aforesaid Bean of Berry, certain Befinitions and Ordinances, sealed with his authentic

seal ; and the said Bean delivered the said Ordinances unto Brother Hugh, the Abbot of the same

place, there personally present, of which Befinitions the tenor is contained elsewhere, in the Register.

Moreover, on the requisition of the Bean, Archdeacon, and other members of the Chapter of Berry,

the said Yenerable Father handed over and delivered to the Bean of Berry letters addressed to di

vers persons, of monitions, suspensions, excommunications, and interdict, against O'Bonnell, O'Bogh

erty, O'Cahan, O'Gormely, Bonald and Brian Mor, sons of Henry O'Neill, on account of their us

urpation of the Episcopal Rights of the Church of Berry.6 Afterwards the same Yenerable Father

e Theselettersandadmonitions, which undoubtedly were

not expedited without sufficient cause3 and the petition of the Chapter that the administration of the See estates

might not he given to any lay chieftain, lest they should he held over to the detriment of the church and its officers, strengthen the conjecture which I have already hazarded, as to the motives of the Chapter and the Archbishop in these transactions. The chieftains here enumerated were among the most powerful lords in this part of Ireland.-? The sept of O'Donnell was co-ordinate mhirth and rank with the great family of O'Neill; it held the sovereignty of Tyreonnell, a territory nearly corresponding with the

modern counties of Donegal and Sligo. Its last chief tain was Red Hugh, Earl of Tyreonnell, who was the firm ally of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, in his wars against Queen Elizabeth : with him Tyreonnell submit ted and was pardoned ;?was involved with him in the "

rebellion" of the anonymous letter ??-fled with his asso ciate, beyond sea ^?was attainted by Act of Parliament, and stripped of his estates.?The O'JDoghertys were the chieftains of the peninsula ly^ing between Loughs Foyle and Swilly, now called Ennishowen- The last of their line was Sir Cahir O'Dogherty ; who, having received a personal insult from the Governor of the City of London derry, recently erected upon his borders, insanely rushed

into insurrection, conducted it with treachery and cruel ty, and was slain in rebellion on the 18th of July, 1608. His estates were confiscated, and the greater part of them granted to the Lord Deputy Chichester.?The family of O'Cahan and its fate have been already men tioned in these notes.?The O'Gormely was another off shoot of the O'Neills of Cinel-Eoghain. Its territory in cluded the Barony of Raphoe, in the County of Donegal. and some of the adjoining parishes in the County of Tyrone. The O'G-ormolys early fell under the sway of the O'Donnells, and had disappeared from history be fore the time when so many of their kindred chieftains

were banished, forfeited, &c?-The Donald O'Neill, son of Henry, who is spoken of in the text, became chief of the house of O'Neill, by Tanistry, about six years after the Primate's Visitation : he was slain in 1482, by the grandsons of Magnus O'Cahan, already mentioned, against whom he was waging war in their territory of Ciannachta, or Kenaght. His brother, Brian Mor, wag slain in 1401, by the O'Donnell spoken of above.?It is

melancholy to peruse a list of so many princely and no ble houses, once the sovereigns of spacious territories, and leaders of brave and faithful followers,?now dis appeared,?-leaving no representatives, or none but per sons in a very lowly rank,?peasants, labourers, or me



236

on the requisition of the Dean, Archdeacon, and Chapter of Berry, there present, judicially and defini

tively settled a certain dissension between two inhabitants of the village of Bannagher aforesaid, re

specting the herenachship of the said village. Then on the requisition of the Dean, Archdeacon and

Chapter of Derry, then presentj the same Yenerabie Father then conferred, by his ordinary authority, the Beetory of the church of Droniogarraii, in the Diocese of Derry, in law and fact vacant, and in

the gift of the Bishop of Derry whilst he lived,f bat now in the gift of the said lord Archbishops by

virtue of the Guardianship aforesaid, upon a certain Dermot O'Mulligan. Presbyter: and authorita

tively instituted the said Dermot into the said Rectory of Dromogarvan, and by delivery of his ring

invested him with the same ; commanding the Archdeacon of Berry, there present, to induct the said

Dermot into corporal possession of the said Beetory, and defend him when so inducted.

These affairs being settled, having taken with him certain horses from the village of Bannagher, to

the number of are or thereabouts, for his own baggage and that of his retinue, at the common expense

of the Herenaehs and inhabitants of the village of Bannagher aforesaid, the said Yenerabie Father

returned towards the Diocese of Armagh ; the Dean, Archdeacon, and other members of the Chapter

of Derry accompanying him for the space of two miles or thereabouts; to whom having bidden fare

well, and having dismissed theai in peace, tha said Yenerabie Father, proceeding with his retinue

through the trackless mountains of Grlenelly, came in peace to the church of Desertcreat. in the [rural]

Deanery of Tullyhog, within the Diocese of Armagh.

Here followeth the tenor of the Ordinance and Commission of which mention is made above ; that is

to say? "

Siifllt, by Divine Permission, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland, Guardian of the Spiritu

ality and Temporality, and of the Spiritual Jurisdiction of the Bishoprick of Derry, said Bishoprick

being deprived of the benefit of its Pastor, to his beloved brethren, Hugh McGillivray O'Bogherty, the Abbot, and to the Convent of the Black Abbey of Derry, Health, Grace, and Benediction.

" Whereas, we have judged it right and proper, to make certain Constitutions and Definitions, concern

ing the state and government, as well of your persons as your place aforesaid,?we now transmit the

same unto you, here expressed, firmly enjoining upon you, in virtue of your obedience sworn unto us,

chanics. That their fall was accelerated by the cupidity of those Tho "were eager to seize upon their possessions cannot be doubted ; as little doubt, I conceive, can there be, that it could not have occurred, with unvarying uni formity of result, if not of detail, had there not been on their own side great faults committed, which rendered

possible a ruin which could not otherwise have been ac complished. Of these the most glaring was their obsti nate adherence to the Brehon Code, with its dazzling but fatal pretensions to independent sovereignty, in the face of a power mightier than theirs, and sure in the end, if resisted, to crush them to the earth :?with those unli

mited exactions, "

cuttings and eosherings" upon the infe rior people, which effectually separated their interests, and must in the end have separated their affections, from their chiefs. To this must be added, the same want of

confidence in the power of right, and the same prone neas to have recourse to favour," force, or art, in prefer ence to law, which unfortunately characterize the Irish people to the present hour. Had it not been for these great faults, the O'Neill, the O'DonneB, the O'Dogh?rty, and the O'Cahan, might still, for auidit that appears in history, have been in possession of their princely domains. Dis aliter risum !

f Ad crillaiionem Mpiscopi Derensis* dum visit? spec taniem.?The words dum vix? clearly imply that the See

was now vacant by the death of the last Occupant ; but as this is contrary to the well ascertained fact, I suppose the Notary who drew up this Keeord to have introduced them, inadvertently, from some customary form of pre sentation by the Archbishop sede vacante, not happening to observe their inapplicability.



237

that ye observe them in and through all things entirely and faithfully, under pain of the greater ex

communication which we intend to launch against each one of you, if ye do not effectually obey our

mandates. In the first place, we ordain, define, and command, that thou, brother Hugh, Abbot afore

said, within the space of three days after notification of these presents made unto thee, dismiss and

send away from thy precincts, cohabitation, and care, never again to take her back, that Catherine

O'Bogherty, whom thou art said lately to have taken unto thee in concubinage.?Item, we ordain, de

fine, and at the same time command, that thou, the Abbot aforesaid, altogether desist from all manner

of promise whatsoever made for the superinduction of the aforesaid Catherine :?and that thou make

no promise, nor give any donation for any other woman whatsoever^ to be as concubine taken unto thee

(which God forbid 1) but that thou do rather violate (all such promises) in future.?Item, we ordain, de

fine, and at the same time command, that within the space of ten days, thou revoke, and fully and effec

tually restore to the said house, whatsoever goods, moveabie or immovable, belonging to the said

house, have been by thee, whilst thou wast guardian of the said house, alienated ; so that neither thou,

nor any other Canon whatsoever of the said house, mayest or may give out, expend, or promise, any

of the goods of the said house for the keeping of any woman.?Item, we ordain, as aforesaid, that no

suspected woman be, by thee or any Canon of the aforesaid house, introduced within the precincts of

the said house, or sleep or rest within the precincts aforesaid.?Item, we ordain, that thou, and each

and every one of the Canons of the said house, eat together in the common Refectory, keeping up holy

and devout reading during the time of refection, and that ye sleep together in one dormitory, within

the house aforesaid.?Item, we ordain, define, and at the same time command, that on every Lord's

Bay, and on every solemn feast, all the Sorce Ganonicce, and one solemn Mass with singing, and another

without singing, be devoutly recited in the Choir of the church aforesaid, and that on every other

day one Mass at least be devoutly celebrated in the said church, and the Sorce Canonic be recited

in the Choir, at least without music. Provided always that each brother, who is to celebrate, ap

proach the Lord's altar, contrite for his sins, and after confession in true penitence.?Given under our

seal at Bannagher in the Biocese of Berry, on the 15th day of this month of October, in the year of

our Lord, one thousand three hundred and ninety seven, and of our consecration the fourteenth. u Moreover, we give and grant to the Bean of the Cathedral Church of Berry, by the tenor of these

presents, the power of compelling you and each of you, if necessary, to the observance of the Ordi

nances aforesaid, by all ecclesiastical censures ; and,?if it happen, (which God forbid)?that any con

travene them,?the power of punishing you, and each of you, eanonically. " g

s It would he superfluous to make any remark on the dreadful state of conventual discipline and morals which must have existed in a monastery where such an Ordi nance was deemed requisite. It may, however, be ne

cessary to reinind the reader, that the same Hugh McGrillivray O'Dogherty, who is here solemnly charged with incontinence, and with applying the property of the monastery in payment of the scandalous services

specified, had been, a few days before, unanimously chosen as their Abbot by the brethren of the Monastery of Canons Regular, in the Black Abbey of St. Columb kille, at Derry ; and had been accepted, instituted, and solemnly blessed, by the Primate himself. It seems that these his offences,?though, if persevered in, they would incur excommunication,?were not held sufficient to stop his preferment. Yet his elevation to the Abbacy may



238

"Staun* by Divine Permission, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland, Guardian of the Spir

ituality and Temporality of the Bishoprick of Derry, said Bishoprick being deprived of the benefit of its Pastor, to our dearly beloved sons, Doctor Maurice O'Gorry, Dean of our Church of Armagh, Doc

tors William McCamayll and William O'Cahan, Dean and Archdeacon of Derry, also to Doctors

Thomas O'Loughran and Maurice O'Cahan, Canons of the Churches of Armagh and Derry, Health,

Grace, and Benediction. We, by these presents, commit unto you, or any three of you, our authority, with the power of all manner of coercion, civil and canonical, to exercise in our name, stead, and au

thority, all manner of Episcopal Jurisdiction in the Diocese of Derry; also, to receive, levy, and exact

all rents, incomes, and other profits to the said Bishoprick belonging, in consideration ofafaithfq account to be unto us hereafter rendered j excepting, nevertheless, and unto ourselves reserving, the

presentations of benefices and the leasing of lands. In testimony whereof, we have caused our seal to

be appended to these presents. Given at Bannagher, in the Diocese of Derry, on the 14th day of the

month of October, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-seven, and of

our consecration the fourteenth/'

The things above-written were transacted in the Year, Indiction, Pontificate, Month, Days, and

Places above-stated, in presence of the reverend and discreet men, Doctors Maurice O'Corry, Dean

of Armagh, Brother Nicholas O'Loughran, Abbot of the Monastery of the Apostles Peter and Paul,

at Armagh; Doctor Thomas O'Loughran, Canon of Armagh ; Sirs Bobert Notyngham, Cross-bear

er to the Archbishop and Primate aforesaid, Bector of the Parish Ohurch of Ardmaeash, p.e. Slanes']

in the Diocese of Down ; Bichard Waspayne, Bector of Balsoon in the Diocese of Meath ; Brother

John \_Broim,~] a Brother of the House of St. John of Ardee; and William Botyller, Presbyters ; of

Masters Thomas Talbot, Bichard Bagot and Bichard Whyte ; of John Wolf, John Sandale and Bi

chard de la Foe Tour, [de la Vautour f] Clerics of the Dioceses of Armagh, Dublin, Meath and Derry ;

Sir Lawrence O'Mulvany, Bector of the Parish Church of Donaghmore ; Sir Lawrence O'Boyle, Per

petual Vicar of Ardstraw, Sir Philip Q'Carolan, Bector of Clonleigh, and Donald O'Carolan, Clerk,

Bector of IJrney, in the Diocese of Derry ; and many others, as well clerks as laymen, specially sum

moned and invited as witnesses to the premises..

And I, Bichard Kenmore, clerk of the Diocese of Meath, by apostolical authority, Notary Public,

was personally present, together with the witnesses afore-named, at all and every one of the premises,

whilst they were acted and done as is premised ; and I saw and heard them every one so done : and

being occupied with other important matters, I caused them to be written down by another hand: and

being asked and required for faith and evidence of all the premises, I have made them public and

reduced them to this public form, and signed them with my common seal and customary sign/ Nor

have "been, with the Archbishop, matter of necessity ra- i? Signoque [not sigui?,] meo s?lito et as&ueto signam. ther than of choice: for it would appear from the Ordi- ?" There is no seal attached to the roll, nor does there nance and Monition ahove recited, that the whole of appear ever to have been. There is, however, at the . the Canons in this Convent were chargeable with simi- foot, a eurious device drawn with the pen, surmounted hy

l&r irregularities, a double cross. A smaller, but similar, pattern, is drawn



289

let it impede [the authenticity of these presents,,] that the word "predicto" is interlined between the

56th and 57th lines; nor that the word "

Ipsag/ue" is erased between the 58 th and 59th lines count

ing from the beginning of this Instrument; nor the word "eo" between the 97th and 98th lines,

counting from the end of this Instrument : which words, the scribe aforesaid negligently omitted, and

I, Bichard, the Notary aforesaid, have supplied, before affixing my sign, and hereby ratify.

SCHEDULE APPENDED TO THE POEEGOIM BOLL.

Bental of the Most Beverend Bather and Lord in Christ, the Lord John, by Bivine Permission,

Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland, Guardian of the Spirituality and Temporality of the

Bishopriek of Berry, its see being vacant; made in the City of Berry, on the 8th day of the month of

October, in the year of our Lord, MCCCXCVH.

DEANERY OF rNSTlSHOWEN.

[The modern names of the Parishes are given in parenthesis.] Parishes. Bents. Episcopal Thirds.

Bents in the City of Berry ... ... ... ... 10s. Od. 80s. Od.

Paynwor (Fahan,) . 40 0 26 8

Bisertegny, (Beserteigny,) ... ... ... ... 5 4 6 8

Clonmane, (Clonmany) .... 5 4 13 4

Townach-glyntachyr, (Bonagh,) . 10 0 10 0

Cluancha, (Clonca,) ... ... ,. 26 8 26 8

Gryllagh [now included in Culdaff;] . 10 0 6 8

Norborgh, (MovilJe,). ... 26 8}

Coldochaa, (Culdaff,). ... 10 Oj DEANERY OF MAHYA.

Bownaghmore, (Bonaghmore,) . 40 0 40

40 0

Furny, (Urney) ?... 26 8 26 8

Taghnegomeryfc, [now in Clonleigh J ... T. 13 4 13 4

Clanlege, (Clonleigh,). * - 20 0 13 4

over each of the two seams, where the membranes of the name ; hence our expression to sign a paper, instead of rollarestitchedtogether,asaseeurityagamstalteration."? to subscribe it. In this case the double cross may have

Dr. Reeves?Signum, in the mediaeval Xatinity, generally been used in allusion to the crosses of the two apostles, means the sign of the cross, which was often placed as a St. Peter and St. Paul, mark at the foot of documents, instead of the writer's



240

Ardsraa, (Ardstraw,) ...

Kappagh, (Cappagh,). Bromeraa, (Dromrath, or Brumragh,)

Kylchyrryll, (Termonamongan)

Lawchyll, (Longfield E. and W.)

Bownaghgede, (Bonaghedy,).

Botowny, (Badoney,).

Kylpatriek, (Leckpatriek) .

DEANERY 01

Aehedoffy, (Aghadoey,) .

Bysert Otwachyll, (BisertochilL) Aregylyll, (Erigal,)

... ...

Tawlaght McNinagh; (Tamlaght O'Crffly,) .

Bromogaruan, (Brumagarner, now included inth

Kylrey, (Kilrea.) ... ., ;

Bathlowry, (Maghera,)

Ecanegea, (Termoneeny,) .

Kyllagh, (Killelagh,) .

Kyleronechan, (Kileronaghan,) .

Ballenescrine, Ballynascreen,)... Balle O'Skullyn, (Ballyscullion,) Bisertmartyn, (Besertmartin,)

Cammys, (Macosquin or Camos-juxta-Bann,) ..

Bonboo, (Bunboe,) ... .

Bunchrun, (now included in Magil??gan.) Ta wlaghtard, (Magiliigan,)

... ...

Balleuescrene de Ardo, (included in preceding^

Athlouge, (Aghanloo,) Tawlaghtinlan, (TamlaghtfmlaganJ

...

Fochwayll, (Faughanvale,) ... ...

Bomawe, (Boveva,)

Bangoria, (Bannagher,). Commyr, (Comber.)

... .

40

10

10

10

10

13

10

... 100

10

10

10

foregoing.) 10

....

'

26

40

10

10

10

... 40

18

10

18

40

20 13

t?

13

... 26

m

10

20

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

o

o

o

o

s

o

o

o

o

o

4

o

4

0

?) 4

?) 4

8

8

0

0

26

10

10

13

10

IB

10

13

26

13

13

13

10

18

26

13

00

26

13

13

ia

26

8

0

0

4

0

4

0

4

8

4

4

4

0

8

4

4

4

8

40 0

10 0 13 4 20 0

?41 17 4 ??36 6 8



241

The Bishop's Grange contains two Plough-lands and a half; and the Archdeacon hath held it for

seven years.

The sum total is ?78 3s 4d.*

1 The true sum is ?78 4 0, if the figures be correctly copied.?It will have been remarked that, in the Rental? the Episcopal Thirds of four of the enumerated Parishes, are omitted :?and vrhat appears more strange, no less than six Parishes, which unquestionably belonged to the Diocese, (some of them are mentioned in the Visitation Roll,) are left out altogether;?viz.; Camus-juxta Moume, Killowen, Drumachose, Baltea&h, Cloiidermot, and Dungiven. The date of the Schedule shews that it was written, probably at Derry, on the very day that Archbishop Colton entered the Diocese : and, perhaps, it may have been fraudulently made out, or else it may have been a rough draught, intended merely to serve as a foundation forTurther inquiries. Its happening- to be attached to the Record of the Visitation, is no proof that it was accepted by the Archbishop, or his officers, as a

full and satisfactory account of the income of the See.? Dr.'Reeves states that "in the Report on Ecclesiastical Revenue and Patronage, 1833, the Income of the ?ee of Derry, arfeimr from Bents, Tras ?2.503 14 2?, and from Renewal Fines, ?9,007 18 7 ; in all ?12,201 12 9V' From this is to be deducted, in conformity with the pro visions of the recent Church Property Act, the annual sum of ?4.160, payable to the .Ecclesiastical Commission-' ers during the incumbency of the present Bishop ; after which the deduction will be ?0,160 per annum. I should add that, in copying this Schedule, ? have, to save fepace. thiwn the Rents and Thirds into the form of

separate columns in the same table : in the Eoll they form distinct Tables for each Deanery. In the Table of the Bishop's Thirds, in the Deanery of Tnysowyn, the first entry is Rector?a et Tertia Episcopalis de Civitate

Derensi extmdmit se ad vi. marc. [Here and elsewhere 1 have reduced marks to shillings and pence.] The Bishop was in fact parson of the parish of Derry, and as such, was entitled to one-third part of the tithe: another third was paid to the Dean as Vicar : the remaining third to the Herenaehs, (who were the sept of O'Deery now called

Deery :) but out of this the Herenach had to pay a cer tain sum yearly to the Bishop.?I should also mention that in the Table of Rents in the same Deanery, another hand has inserted after the entry respecting iNorburgh, <:

Mtiydbylly, if mare" But this says Dr. Reeves, "seems to have been added by some one who was not aware that the preceding entry is an alias for it. It is not added in the corresponding list under the Tertia. Movilte is in tended by either name." For this reason I have not taken this item into the computation. I may add, in closing this paper, that there will be found in Dr. Reeve's notes upon the original, a great amount and variety of information concerning the churches and parishes of the

Diocese of Deny, which, though in the handsomest manner placed at my disposal, I have not thought myself justified in copying. The Map given at p. 183 of this Journal will show the situation of the parish churches as they existed in A.D. 1397.



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Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A.D. 1397 (Concluded)

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