91 
whereof was come by some assignment to the said William Ander- 
son during the residue of Sir Thomas Lestrange’s 50 years lease, 
being 36 years from the 13th August last, said Henry Lynch by this 
Indenture, for the sum of £50 English, and for the better assuring 
and confirming the said moiety to the said William Anderson, de- 
mised and assigned all the said moiety of the said thyee Islands to 
him, excepting great trees, mines, minerals, and great hawks, at 
the rent of £3 Irish, or a proportion of port corn, as therein men- 
tioned.’’* 
The Clan Teiges still claimed the islands, as their legitimate in- 
heritance. Taking advantage of the troubles in 1641, they pre- 
pared to attack the people of Aran, with the aid of a Gentleman 
of considerable property and influence in the county of Clare, 
Boetius Clancy, the younger. Their project, however, was frus- 
trated by the opposition of the Marquis of Clanricarde and the Earl 
of Thomond.+ 
In 1651, when the royal authority was fast declining, the Mar- 
quis of Clanricarde resolved to fortify these islands; where he placed 
200 musketeers, with officers and a gunner, under the command of 
Sir Robert Lynch. The fort of Ardkyn, in the great island, was 
soon after repaired and furnished with cannon ; and, by this means, 
held out against the parliamentary forces near a year after the sur- 
render of Galway. In December 1650, the Irish, routed in every 
other quarter, landed 700 men here, in boats from Iar-Connaught 
and Inis-Bophin. On the 9th of the following January, 1300 foot, 
with a battering piece, were shipped from the bay of Galway to at- 
tack them; and 600 foot more marched from the town to Iar-Con- 
naught, to be thence sent, if necessary, to the assistance of the as- 
* Patent Roll. i; Clanricarde’s Mem. p- 71. 
