ADVICES for the Establishment of the county of Longford.

That the inhabitants of that county be freed from the distresses and dependency of any but the King, and that the 200l. per annum claimed by the assignees of Sir Nicholas Malby's and Sir Francis Shane's rents and Irish chiefries be compounded for and extinguished.

The means to accomplish this:--

(1.) First, that the patent granted to O'Farroll Boy be surrendered or avoided, and the freeholders give up their estates, whereby the whole country may be in the King['s hand] of which so many cartrons may be assigned to Sir Francis Shane and his heirs as may countervail his yearly rent of one hundred pounds English per annum of clear yearly value (ultra reprisas), to be indifferently set forth out of both the O'Farroll's parts, the same to be laid in the most convenient places for Granard and the Abbey of Longford, and then granted to Sir Francis in fee farm.

(2.) Secondly, that all the rest of these possessions (except for so much as is hereafter otherwise appointed) be re-granted in fee simple from the King to the chiefest men and the ancientest inhabitants and their heirs, with reservation of so many particular rents as shall amount to 150l. English per annum, in satisfaction of Malbie's rent being the King's composition out of that county, in which reservation regard may be had of the chief Irish lords, that their rents may be small in regard they lose their chiefries.

(3.) That the fort of Balleleig with 300 acres be granted in fee simple to some good servitor to be appointed by the Lo. Deputy, who will be bound to the inhabitants there and maintain the fort at his own charge, Sir Patrick Barnwell having built as fair and strong fort and house on the other side, the passage against this fort, as is able to command the fort by the same, [it] is unmeet to be kept as the King's fort.

(4.) The impediment to this settlement is the patent of O'Farrall Boy, which is thought to be void in law, but, if it were good, that part is chargeable with all these rents, and therefore it is likely that they will surrender, if they may be eased of their charge in passing this new assurance, and well dealt with in these tenures, for the effecting whereof commissions may be granted to-- Mr. Baron Hase; Mr. Baron Eliott; Mr. Beere, the King's serjeant; Sir Patrick Barnwell; Sir Christopher Nugent; William Parsons; Edward Beecher; Pierce Dillon FitzRichard, of Demonlaig, in the county of Longford; James Magauley, of Ballighlow, in the county of Westmeath; Edward Pond; or any five or more of them, whereof Baron Hasett, Baron Eliott, Mr. Beere, Sir Patrick Barnwell, Sir Christopher Nugent to be three, all of whom may attend this affair without extraordinary charge to the King. These commissioners are to take the surrenders of all people who pretend title; and their names and general holdings may be entered into a book and so surrendered. These commissioners are to impannell one or more juries of the better sort of inhabitants of every barony, who are to present how many cartrons of land in that county were subject to those charges, and who were reported to be the ancient tenants of those lands, and what other lands are not charged in that county, and who are the reputed owners of them, what lands are in the county that are the King's and by what title, and what church land is in that county, and by whom the same is enjoyed, and by what title. And then the commissioners are to proportion out for Sir Francis Shane so much of those lands aforesaid as may well countervail his 100l. per annum for ever hereafter, and so much land as may recompence his arrearages, and plot and rate the King's rent upon the rest of the land to be granted to the natives.

(5.) For passing the general patents one book may be agreed on by the King's Council, for which there may be given some reasonable fee, and all the rest pass without fee, the differences being only in the rents and lands granted. And many small parcels may be granted by one patent, good regard being had to the King's rent. The King may be pleased to ease them in the charge of the Great Seal. The surveyor is not to have above 3s. 4d. Irish for a particular, and the clerk 10s. Irish for the engrossing and drawing of books.

(6.) For the tenures, such as have portions under 1,000 acres, are to hold by common socage and rent; such as have 1,000 acres or above, to hold by knight's service of the King. The chief of the country who claim freedom are to pay some rent to the King for settlement of their estates and clearing those tenures which are now in chief.

(7.) Where small parcels are claimed by many by colour of "gavel kind," the grant may be made to the eldest, worthiest, or best deserving in every cartron, and he to grant estates to others (if need be); yet they are to consider the multitude of small freeholders beggars [in] the country, wherefore none is to have less than one cartron.

(8.) If the people be agreed to this settlement, they are to be freed from all pretence of titles to be derived from the King to any of the lands in that country (except abbey and church lands) and from intrusions, which will much further this service, from the which if the people be freed, they may increase 50l. more rent, and so pay to the King 200l. per annum for this whole charge.

(9.) Sir Francis Shane is to have the castle of Granard, and also other the land and hereditaments mentioned in the King's letter of the 13th of July, in the sixth year of his reign, with such privileges and benefits as are therein contained, and upon such rent and tenure as is likewise therein mentioned, wherein it is thought fit that the said castle and land thereto belonging, and to be laid to the same, be of the tenure of knight service in capite, and all the rest to be of the tenure of socage as of the castle of Dublin. And the lands which are to be granted to him as before in lieu of this 100l. English, and of the arrearages accrued until the date of his patent, are to be holden in socage as of the castle of Dublin, and subject to the rent mentioned in he King's letter, without reservation of any further rent or service. If the O'Farrolls and other inhabitants of the county of Longford shall not consent to surrender, and accept of this project, then Malbie's rent and Sir Francis Shane's beoves [So in the original; apparently some words are wanting.] with the arrearages to be imposed upon them, and satisfaction to be given to Sir Francis Shane according to this project."

(10.) Certificate to be made at or before Allhollantide [Sic.] next of all the proceedings.

(11.) The Lo. Deputy to grant the commission with choice and such other instructions for due execution thereof as to him and the Council shall be thought meet.

(12.) Provided if the instructions aforesaid concerning Sir Francis Shane be not effectually accomplished to him before Allhollantide next, then he may proceed for his arrearages of rent and passing his letters patent.

(13.) And if the project proceed, care is to be taken by the Lo. Deputy that Sir Francis Shane be secured, both for his rent and arrearages, according as is here expressed, the rather for that he has paid the King a good sum of money for the same, and has been ever ready to do the State faithful service.

Copy.