Oliver Cromwell dies 1658. Charles II. confirms lease to Clotworthy 15th November, 1660. Charles II. grants reversion of Clotworthy’s lease to Lord Donegall 28th February, 1661. Patent to Lord Donegall of reversion of Bann and Lough Neagh 3rd July, 1661. Charter of Charles II. restores estate to Londoners 10th April, 1662. Chichester Patent of 1640 “enrolled” 1665. Clotworthy’s lease expires 14th August, 1755. Lord Donegall’s litigation with Londoners 1781-1801. Londoners’ ejectment claims Bann from Lord Donegall 1868. Londoners accept lease of Bann under Lord Donegall 1872. Public right in Lough Neagh challenged 1873-1878. Public right in Lough Neagh annulled 1908-1910. THE GREAT FRAUD OF ULSTER CHAPTER I. THE MEN OF DEVON. When Elizabethan England blazed with glory, martial and poetic, when the booty of the Spaniard enriched her adventurers, and the genius of her minstrels charmed every heart, the hills and valleys of the “sister island” echoed with horror, and her pleasant places were filled with the groans of wounded men. A group of Devon captains waged there a fearful war, led by the Queen’s Deputy, Lord Mountjoy. Reckless of their own lives, their deeds of valour scarcely noted by their countrymen, they ended their stubborn task, after a nine years’ death-grapple, by the levelling of every hostile stronghold and the reduction of the clansmen and their shielings into “carcases and ashes.” At the moment when the victors expected to reap their reward and take possession of the domains of their enemies the course of history was changed by the death of Queen Elizabeth. As her successor the Privy Council selected the King of Scots, who had at times been the secret ally of the Irish chieftains. This choice baulked many a warrior’s hope of prey. James I. forgave O’Neill and O’Donnell (who, indeed, had never offended him), summoned them to London to receive pardon, and restored them to their honours and estates. They had rebelled, as he knew, to save their possessions from covetous officials who, by inventing charges of treason against them, deceived Elizabeth in order to make confiscation a virtue in her eyes.