APPENDIX. 485 



tkm; Sigillum exempts jurifdiftionis de viridi ligno, alias 

 Newry and Mourne. It was a tradition of the natives, 

 that two large yew-trees formerly grew within the 

 precinfts of the abbey, from whence it was called in 

 the Latin of that age, Monajlerium de viridi ligno, and ia 

 Irifh Najur, of the yew trees; and in ancient writings 

 the appellation is for the mod part plurally, viz. the 

 Newries. It is faid that fbme Englifh foldiers, digging 

 a grave in the year 1688, difcovered the flumps of fome 

 trees of very fine wood, of a red colour, which took a 

 fine polifti, in the fouth-eafl part of this abbey. 



Black abbey, near Ballyhalbert in the Ards, was 

 founded by Sir John De Courcey, for Benedictine 

 monks j he died A. D. 1210. This abbey poflefled 

 three townlands, befides tithes, &c. The priory and 

 its appurtenances were feized by the O'Neils; on their 

 rebellion they were veiled in the crown, and by King 

 James I. granted to James Vifcount Claneboys, who 

 affigned them to the Lord Ardes, but in 1639 tne y 

 were awarded to the fee of Armagh. 



At Caftle-buy, or John's-town in the Ards, three 

 miles north of Portaferry, near Strangford lough, was 

 founded by Hugh De Lacy, in the twelfth century, a 

 commandery of St. John the Baptift. Nothing now 

 remains of the building but ruins-, foe family of Echlin 

 pofTefs feveral townlands and a manor court, formerly 

 belonging to this commandery. At Comber there was 

 an abbey of Ciflertian monks, founded in the latter end 



of 



