95 



shall require of me to appear to have these presents put into legal 

 form, as the Earl's lawyer shall order, from time to time that I shall 

 so appear. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal 

 the day of the month above written. 



her 

 Honor + O'Donnell, 

 mark. 

 The witnesses present at the writing of this assignment, and of 

 Honor's setting her hand and seal hereunto are 

 Daniel Mac Sweeny, witness. 

 John Coony, witness. 

 Donnell Conry. 

 Morish O'Mulconry. 



Having now concluded this collection of Irish Deeds, I may, to the more ancient of them, 

 apply the description given of Saxon instruments of a similar nature, by the celebrated English 

 Antiquary, Sir Henry Spellman. — " The Saxons, in their deeds, observed no set forme, but used 

 honest and perspicuous words to express the thing intended with all brevity, yet not wanting the 

 essential parts of a deed ; as the names of the donor and donee, the consideration, the certainty 

 of the thing given, the limitation of the estate, the reservation, if any were, and the names of 

 the witnesses, which always were many, some for the one part and some for the other. — As for 

 dating, it was not usual amongst them. Seals they used not at aU, other than (the common seal 

 of Christianity) the sign of the Cross, which they, and all nations following the Greek and Roman 

 Church, accompted the most solemn and inviolable manner of confirming." — The Irish deeds of 

 more recent dates generally come within the description of those commonly in use in the lime of 

 Hen. III. of England and afterwards, as given by the same Author — " I observe in the deeds of 

 that time a very absolute and methodicall composition, which therefore hath ever since been re- 

 ceived, and conteyneth in a manner to this day ; consisting upon the parts here following :— 

 1 . The Direction. 2. The Parties. 3. The Consideration. 4. The Words of Grant or Donation. 

 5. The thing granted. 6. The Estate of the Granter. 7. The Habendum or Estate granted. 

 8. The Use whereto. 9. The Reservation, if any were. 10. The Tenure. 11. The War- 

 ranty. 12. The Sealing and Delivery. 13. The Date. 14. The Witnesses." — Spellman 

 ♦' of Ancient Deeds and Charters." — Vide his English Works, folio, London, 1723. p. 234.235_ 



