542 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Since my first paper was written I have fortunately discovered in the 

 Library of Trinity College, Dublin, a MS. dated December 1st, 1707, among 

 others addressed to Mr. Samuel Molyneux, which describes a great ditch 

 running through the townland of Dorsey, " that begins at Tyrones ditches at 

 the Glenbogg in the county of Armagh, eight miles distant' from this place 

 (as the people that pretende to know most of it stated) runs through this 

 county into the county of ilonaghan, and so into the county of Cavan. 

 Where it ends is uncertain. In many places it only remains visible on the 

 tops of hills, not the least footsteps of it anywhere to be seen in the bogs of 

 this place (the Dorsey Camp), which lies directly on the road hetween 

 Dundalk and Ardmagh, eight- miles distant from the former, sixteen^ from 

 the latter. There seems to have been a gate, as may be easily concluded 

 from its name. The Irish call it Dorras Puyee COo]!]!^]- 1."'"^"'^'o)> that is the 

 Gate of the Fews, though they commonly interpret it in a larger sense, viz., 

 the Gate or Inlet of Ulster. About forty paces eastward of the road at this 

 place there begins a new ditch, out of and of the same form with the main 

 work, of about half a mile, which, with part of the great ditch, encloses a 

 piece of this land. Within this enclosure, ten years since, there were dug up 

 sword-blades, skeans, wood cinders, and a cannon ball (at least it was of the 

 same metal and figure as one) at the depth of two feet from the surface." 



Canon Lett in his valuable description of the Dorsey* quotes (p. 9) a 

 passage from Sir Charles Coote's Survey of the Co. Armagh. " Near to this 

 place (Newtownhamiltonj are yet to be seen the lines of circumvallation of 

 an encampment above a mile and a half in circumference, where it is said the 

 Irish army hemmed in a large detachment of Cromwell's forces and beseiged 

 them an entire winter." Possibly the relics dug up here are thus explicaljle. 



A rough diagram is sketched iu pen and ink on the MS. suggesting the 

 enclosui'e referred to, traversed by the road and ending at the bog. 



The main interest of this document Ues iu its testimony that in 1707 

 " the Great Ditch " in question ran from " O'Neill's ditches " (now obliterated, 

 except a trace south of Drumbauagher demesne), at " the Glen bog " (now 

 known as the " Glen meadow," quite near the Glen Chapel, not far from 

 Goragh Wood Station), and thence south-west for twelve statute miles or 

 thereabouts to the Dorsey, and on through the counties of Armagh and 

 Monaghan to " Cavan " (i.e., about liedhills and Belturbet). The great 

 encampment of the Dorsey is alluded to as having been formed by a similar 



• I.e. Irish measurement, that is 10] miles statute, actual distance about 12 miles. 



- I.e. lOj miles statute, actual distance about 10| miles. 



■^ I.e. -O4 miles statute, actual distance 20 miles statute. 



■• Joum. R. Soc. Antiquaries, Irel., vol. xxviii. March, 1898. 



