Mac Mahon’s Black Rent

The first of January was on Saturday this year of our Lord 1425. The King of England came to Ireland, and this was the reason of his coming: a great war being waged against his people by the Irish, namely O Neill, Domhnall, son of Enri Aimhreidh, and Mac Mahon, Ardgail, son of Brian Mor.

The reason for that war was the rent which O Neill and Mac Mahon claimed from the foreigners. Another reason was the killing by the foreigners of Brian Mor Mac Mahon, son of Aodh, son of Roalbh, the high-king of Oriel without opposition from any man from the Boyne to Derry (all obeying him), and from Gleann Righe to Bearamha in Breifne.

This is how he was slain: a big bribe was given to his own bodyguard, a gallowglass, and he took that bribe. When he got Mac Mahon alone, he slew him and decamped thereafter. That was truly the greatest killing that was done either of English or Irish of his own time, and the saddest and most hateful treachery wrought in Ireland in that period.

Cuchonnacht Mor O Birn was the name of that soldier. The King of England made peace in Ireland at that time, and he confirmed their rent to O Neill and Mac Mahon on the English King’s part. In return, they were to receive ward and protection.

Three quarters of a year the King remained in Ireland, and he returned to England after making peace in Ireland. Not long thereafter he died, leaving his kingdom to his heir, a boy of five years old.

This heir had a good foster father; Mortimer was his name, Earl of March. The warding of England and the greater part of France, and the foreign settlements in Ireland, were in his hands.

He came to see and visit Ireland, and many of the nobles of Ireland made submission to him and returned from him with joy and great honour. Mac Mahon likewise came, Ardgail, son of Brian Mor, and the Earl granted him rent to O Neill and Mac Mahon just as it was in the time of the King of England before him, in accordance with the peace he had made with the Irish.

Brian Mor Mac Mahon, High King of Oriel, was the one who fixed the rent on the foreigners in respect of that portion of his land which they held.

Hereunder is a detail of that rent:

(a) Forty yards of superfine cloth from Betagh (of Moynalty) and two ounces of silver with every yard per annum.

(b) Twelve years of cloth and four pecks of malt on the parish of Siddan.

(c) Twelve yards of superfine cloth and twelve pecks of malt from Dromconrath per annum.

(d) Fourteen pecks of malt and the fodder of four steeds, with their grooms and dogs, also with their boys, on Cremartin.

(e) Twelve pecks of malt and the fodder of horses with their grooms and hounds with boys on Rathruskin.

(f) The clothing of Mac Mahon and his wife of superfine cloth and the fodder of four horses and their grooms on Mellifont Abbey per annum.

(g) Fourteen pecks of malt and twelve yards of superfine cloth on the town of Ardee per annum.

(h) Twelve pecks of malt and the feeding of six horses with their grooms, hounds, and hawks on Louth per annum.

(i) The rent of Mac Mahon on Taaffe of Braganstown: eight yards of superfine cloth, eight pecks of malt, and five marks of silver per annum.

(j) Mac Mahon’s rent on Babe of Darvor: eight pecks of malt and fourteen yards of kersey.

(k) Mac Mahon’s rent on White of Richardstown: four pecks of malt and eight yards of broadcloth.

(l) Mac Mahon’s rent on Clinton of the Water: four pecks of malt and four yards of superfine cloth.

(m) Mac Mahon’s rent on Drumbilla of the Roche: four pecks of malt and four yards of superfine cloth.

(n) Mac Mahon’s rent on Moore of Barmeath: six pecks of malt, eight yards of broadcloth, and twelve geese every Christmas.

(o) Mac Mahon’s rent of Dundalk: eight pecks of malt and twelve yards of superfine cloth per annum.

(p) Mac Mahon’s rent of Priesttown: four pecks of malt and twelve yards of superfine cloth per annum.

There is not a ploughland or a tate in possession of the Plunketts, Gernons, Bellews, Taaffes, Dowdals, Whites, or indeed any newcomer, without a “rent of defence” due to Mac Mahon by them each year in accordance with what we have written above.

For it was to Brian Mor, the son of Ardgail, that rent was first granted, and every king who succeeded him maintained that rent.

Ruaidhri, son of Ardgail, and Manus Mor, who held the hostages of the foreigners as pledge for the rent in his own town, Lurgan, forced them to construct the Bawn in Lurgan in addition to the exaction of the rent.

Eoghan, son of Ruaidhri, and Feilim of the Wine (who was called by this name because instead of malt he would take nothing but wine, silver, and fine cloth in their own shape) likewise maintained this practice.

The same continued with every king descended from Feilimy to Ros Buidhe, and finally to Brian, son of Aodh Og (inaugurated 1589, died 1622).

Three chieftains of Oriel in the time of Brian Mor, son of Ardgail, namely:

• O Buighellan of Dartry,

• Mac Kenna of Truagh,

• O Duffy of Teallach Gealagain,

were by right the stewards of the country.

O Connallaigh was the Chief Marshall of all Oriel. Whenever Mac Mahon was being inaugurated, he was to give a knight’s accoutrements to each of these chieftains, or twenty marks in old silver coinage in lieu thereof.

These three chieftains, together with O Connallaigh and the ecclesiastical superior of Clones, had the right to form the Council of Oriel.

There is a certain amount of loss (falling off) inflicted on Mac Mahon in respect of each profit that has been enumerated above. Every harm that befalls the country places the burden of payment or collection upon these chieftains.

These chieftains give coshery for two days and nights in the winter after Christmas and one day and a night after Easter. The same is due by O Connallaigh.

To O Connallaigh belong the good steed, the unknown item mentioned in the text, the word, the helmet, and the great spear at the time of inauguration.

It is not proper to violate the right of sanctuary of any one of the men of Oriel at any time.

Here is the portion of the profits of the chieftains of Oriel which is due to them from Mac Mahon:

The accoutrements of a knight to each chieftain, and a costume from Mac Mahon’s wife to each of their wives.

It was Brian Mor who gave them bounties, and the chieftains increased them in honour of Mac Mahon by as much as an ounce of gold for each tate of their patrimony each year, as an honour, token of lordship, and submission.

Therefore, it is said that money impost is on the clans from that time down to the time of Ruaidhri, son of Ardgail.

It was that same Ruaidhri who remitted half his rent to these chieftains for their stipend, the other half remaining due to himself and his successors.