90 
by some inquest found in her Majesty’s favour. They add—* we say 
moreover, that the Sept of Mac Teige O’Brien of Aran, since the 
foundation of this city and town, were aiding and assisting to our- 
selves and our predecessors against her Majesty’s and her prede- 
cessor’s enemies, in all times and places whereunto they were called, 
as true, faithful, and liege people to the crown of England, to 
maintain, succour, and assist the town.” 
All was in vain: Elizabeth continued inexorable. It is more’ 
than probable, that the O’Briens had to ascribe, at least remotely, 
this alienation of their inheritance to their own domestic feuds. At 
the north extremity of the larger Aran, not far from port Murvey, 
the islanders shew a field, where human bones and sculls are fre- 
quently dug up, and for which reason it is called Faran-na-ccan, 
“ the field of sculls.” Here the O’Briens are said to have, at some 
remote period, slaughtered each other almost to extermination. 
This sort of self-destruction is the largest and impurest blot on the 
page of Irish history: it always has been, and alas! continues to 
be, Treland’s sad and inalienable inheritance. 
Not long after this transfer made by the Queen, Sir Robuck 
Lynch of Galway became proprietor of the Islands. The follow- 
ing instrument is dated the 20th June, 1618. “ Indenture between 
Henry Lynch of Galway Esq. and William Anderson of Aran, 
county of Galway, Gent.—Whereas Queen Elizabeth, 21st Nov. 
1586 (29”) demised to Sir Thomas Lestrange Knt. in reversion af- 
ter the determination of a lease made to Robert Harrison for 50 
years, all those 3 Islands late parcel of the possessions of the late 
religious houses of Finbour, Anaghcoyne, Kylseanye, and Corcos 
more, whereof the Ist is called Aranmore, containing by estima- 
tion 16 acres, the 2d called Innyshmany alias Inishmain, and the 
3d called Inisharye alias Inisserre. or Inisharry, the one moiety 
