This bishop seems to have been greatly impressed with the ‘commodities’ of O’Cahan’s country, which he describes with much unction in a letter to the Earl of Salisbury.  He said that the country was ’large, pleasant, and fruitful; twenty-four miles in length between Lough Foyle and the Bann; and in breadth, from the sea-coast towards the lower parts of Tyrone, 14 miles.’  He states that O’Cahan was able to assist the Earl of Tyrone, during his war, with 1,200 foot and 300 horse, the ablest men that Ulster yielded; and, by the confession of gentlemen of the first plantation, had oftener put them to their defence than any enemy they had to do with, not suffering them to cut a bough or build a cabin without blows.  When Tyrone was driven to his fastness, Glenconkeine, O’Cahan sent him 100 horse and 300 foot, and yet made good his own country against the army lying round about him, adding, that his defection ’did undo the earl, who, as he had his country sure behind him, cared little for anything the army could do to him.’  The bishop was, therefore, very anxious that Tyrone should not have any estate in O’Cahan’s country, ’since he was of great power to offend or benefit the poor infant city of Derry, its new bishop and people, cast out far from the heart and head into the remotest part of Ireland, where life would be unsafe until the whole region was well settled with civil subjects.  If this be not brought to pass, we may say:  “fuimus Troes,—­fuit Ilium."’[1]

[Footnote 1:  Meehan, p.79.]

The defection of O’Cahan was, no doubt, a very serious matter to O’Neill.  Their case was referred for adjudication to the lord deputy, Chichester, before whom they personally pleaded.  Their contradictory statements, and the eagerness of each for the support of a ruler whom they regarded as a common enemy, accounts for the facility with which their power was ultimately destroyed.  They at the same time throw much light on the condition of Ulster before the confiscation of James I., proving that it was by no means so poor and wild and barren a region as it is generally represented by modern writers.  The two chiefs had a personal altercation at the council table, and O’Neill so far lost his temper as to snatch a paper out of the hand of O’Cahan.  Whereupon Sir John Davis remarked:  ’I rest assured, in my own conceit, that I shall live to see Ulster the best reformed province in this kingdom; and as for yourself, my lord, I hope to live to see you the best reformed subject in Ireland.’  To this the haughty chief replied with warmth, that he hoped ’the attorney-general would never see the day when injustice should be done him by transferring his lands to the Crown, and thence to the bishop, who was intent on converting the whole territory into his own pocket.’