claimed Breffny O'Rourke, or most of it, in virtue of their descent from one Nangle to whom that territory had been granted by an early lord of Meath.[1]
Hence the O'Rourke title under the Composition of Connaught was not very secure. By the execution at Tyburn of Brian O'Rourke for having aided the ship-wrecked Spaniards of the Armada, the lands attached to the chieftainship had come to the Crown. But, as Bingham had pointed out to Burghley, his attainder had not affected the rights of the clansmen, for as to the rest of the country "every acre of land is properly ownered by one or other." But the clansmen themselvss were not secure. Many had been in rebellion; others had not fulfilled the conditions of the Composition.
In 1611 Chichester had noted that Leitrim was never well sub-divided, nor disposed to freeholders, but was left for the most part to the power and greatness of the chief of the O'Rourkes.[2]
So now, in 1615, designs were formed to remedy this by a resettlement of the country, involving a partial confiscation. The inhabitants seem to have made but little opposition. Young Brian, Sir Teig's son, and reputed heir, was the King's ward; but this was no protection to him. The Gormanston claims were found very useful in order to defeat the title of the O'Rourkes; but as against the King they were strongly resisted; and
