79 



rented lands, according to Spencer, ' from yeare to yeare, and 

 some as long as they list themselfes.'^'"- Those, who held mider 

 kings or toparchs, were bound to provide them, at stated times, 

 with food and lodging; according to the tenour of the tax called 

 Coisir.^°^- The tenants of knights, and of those who held in fee,^°^- 

 were four times in the year, according to Ware, obnoxious to that 

 called Sraithin; but once in the forthnight, according to Sir R. 

 Cox. The knight, squire, or uasal mor, and tenants, obeyed the 

 summons of war.^°' The last were divided into clans, called after 

 the nannes of their chiefs ; and each acknowledged the authority 

 of its proper lord.^°* 



200. View of the state of Iiel. p. 133. 



201. Sir R. Cox, p. 183, has given us two remarkable laconic notes written by two Irish 

 chiefs. ' In 1491, O'Neal wrote to Hugh Roe O'Donel, demanding chief rent; ' Cwir chu- 



cham mo chois, nu mana ccoirir ;' send me my rent, or, if you do not To which O'Do- 



nel answered ; ' Nil aon chios agad orm, agas da mbeadh' ; I owe you no rent, and if I 



did.' . Antiq. Hib. cap. 13. 



202. Antiq. Hib. cap. 13. 



203. Hist, of Manch. v. 1. p. 351. &c. 

 204. p. 274. 



