This is the deed of gift of the two[1] Mac Ranalds; to wit, Cahal,
son of Conachar Mac Ranald, Toraylach and Gerald Magranal, heads
and chiefs of their kindred, with the consent of their brethren
and followers in Munterolish, to John Magranal, of Claduff, in the
King's county, and to his heirs:--
[1] The preamble speaks of _two_ Mac Ranalds, (chiefs,) and then
enumerates _three_. It is probable there were two families who
had been usually elected to the chieftaincy, and that Cahal, the
son of Conachar, represented one family, Toraylach and Gerald
the other. I give this, however, only as a conjecture. Perhaps
the safest way will be to set it down as an _Irish bull_, the
earliest upon record.
Know all men, now and in the time that is yet to come, that we,
Cahal, son of Conachar Magranal, of the Hill of Innis Morrin, in the
county of Leitrim; Toraylach Magranal, of Drumard, _chiefs of our
kindred_; Ferdorcha Magranal, of Drumsna, and of Lochdaw; Melachlin,
son of Hubert Magranal, of Corsparrow; Moroch, son of Teig, of
Cloondaa; Ir, son of Donal, of Dulach; Teig, son of William, of
Screbach; Toraylach Magranal, of Loch Connow; Owen Magranal, of Loch
Scur; Toraylach O'Mulvey, of Loch Crew, _chief of his kindred_;
Teig, son of John, of Acha Cashel; Dermid Magranal, of Cool Cadarna;
Cormac Magranal, of Loch Cool da 'Iach; Dermid Magranal, of
Mongoarsach; Edmond Magranal, of Mohill; Jeffrey, son of Conachar,
of Anagh Kinca; Toraylach Magranal, of Loch Irill; Brian Gruama, the
son of Hugh, of Drumlara; Farrell Duff, the son of Hugh, of Corleih;
Donacha Grana, son of Giolla Gruama, of Stookisha; Conachar, son of
Giolla Gruama, of Duffcarrick; Rurie Og O'Moran, of Ty Rurie;
Toraylach O'Beirne, of Mullanmoy; Gerald, son of Moylan Magranal, of
Clooncalry; Melachlin, son of Conachar Magranal, of Cloonclyfa;
Cahal, son of Dermid Magranal, of Rusc, _alias_ Gort an Yure; Ir,
son of Edmond, of Rathbeh; Melachlin Modara Magranal, of the Point;
Edmond Mac Shanly, of Drumode Mac Shanly; Moroch, son of Melachlin,
of Drumkeely; Dermid, son of the Prior, of Clonee and of Innis Rusc;
Moroch Magranal, of Drumherk; Teig O'Histellan, of Drumeen; Teig Roe
Magarry, of Towlag; with the consent of our kinsmen and followers in
Munterolish, for many reasons, for ourselves and our heirs, HAVE
GIVEN to John Magranal, of Claduff, in the King's county, and to his
heirs for ever, the yearly sum of forty-two pounds, money of
England, to be raised and levied upon our aforesaid lands in
Munterolish, and upon any other lands claimed by us, or in our
occupation, to be paid at two terms in the year, to wit, one half on
the first of May, _(Beiltin,)_ and the other half at All
Hallowntide, _(Samhan;)_ and in case of any delay occurring as to
the full payment of the aforesaid sum at the time specified, then
this is our agreement with the said John, for ourselves and our
heirs, with John and his heirs, that he and they, or the attorneys
sent by them, shall have power to enter into our said country of
Munterolish, and into our aforesaid lands, and to levy a distress,
(pledge,) and to take the same with them, and to keep it until full
payment is made, to wit, of forty-two pounds, and of arrears, if any
such should be--ON CONDITION, that he, the said John, shall be our
protector _and chieftain over us;_ and also that he shall repair
from time to time to Dublin, to advocate our cause before the lords
justices and council, at our sole charge, over and above the
aforesaid sum, which we give him on account of his services; and on
condition that the said John shall not put any of us out of our
lands; and we promise to behave ourselves most dutifully to him, and
_not to adhere to any of the O'Rourkes_. In witness whereof we have
put our hands and seals to this writing the 5th day of December.
1556.