1542 First of January, the age of the Lord one thousand five hundred two score and two years.
O Domnaill made an expedition into Lower Connacht. His sons, Calbach and Aed, and O Dochartaig went ahead of the army to Ballymote, seized a prey and returned safely to their father. The nobles of Lower Connacht, and especially Mac Donnchada of Ballymote, came to meet O Domnaill after they had been plundered; and they paid their tributes to O Domnaill then.
O Conchobair Ruad, Toirrdelbach Ruad son of Tadc Buide, was this year taken prisoner by Ruaidri son of Tadc Mac Diarmata.
The Coarb of Termon Magrath died, namely Toirrdelbach son of Aindrias.
Calbach O Domnaill made a raid on the descendants of Aed Ballach son of Domnall.
Mac Con Mide, Brian Dorcha son of Solam, eminent in poetry and learning, a rich and prosperous man who kept a house of open hospitality, died about St. Columba's day.
Cormac son of Diarmait O Cleirigh, a Friar Minor, died.
O Domnaill and O Ruairc, that is Brian son of Eogan, made an expedition into the Route. On the brink of the Bann they divided their army into two or three parts and in this manner they crossed over the shallow places of the river, though Mac Uigilin with a great body of English was waiting for them on the other side. However, at great risk O Domnaill and O Ruairc crossed the Bann, disregarding Mac Uigilin and the English and the danger of drowning which they incurred; and they sent out two or three raiding-parties, one to the east, between their present position (?) and Knocklayd, and another along the Bann southwards. Great preys and much booty fell into their hands on all sides, and especially O Ruairc, Calbach O Domnaill and O Cathain obtained such immense booty and such a quantity of cattle that each of their armies encamped separately that night with its preys, and next day O Domnaill and O Ruairc decided to slaughter the greater part of them. Then Mac Uigilin came to O Domnaill and O Ruairc and bought them off with large numbers of horses and Cows, after which they made peace. O Domnaill with his army crossed the Bann in safety; but O Ruairc did not consider his own crossing as an unscathed withdrawal, since a noble horseman of his following was drowned in the Bann, namely Tadc son of Brian son of Magnus Mac Diarmata Ruaid, a humane and handsome man, who had the best acquaintance and understanding in the arts of any of his years and in his time among the posterity of Diarmait Dall.
Mac Uigilin, Rugraide son of Ualter, made a raiding expedition against O Cathain. He drove a large prey before him and O Cathain came after him in pursuit—this was Magnus son of Donnchad O Cathain—with a great many mercenaries of he Claim tSuibne whom he had by him at that time, the
Afterwards Mac Uigilin made an[other] expedition against O Cathain, being accompanied by the English Treasurer and a large body of English. They took O Cathain's castle of Limavady and slaughtered the whole garrison and Mac Uigilin returned safely and victoriously this time.
Shortly after this Mac Uigilin summoned a number of the Clann Suibne to take service with him as mercenaries: the descendants of Ruaidri Mac Suibne, the son of Donnchad son of Mac Suibne na Tuath, the son of Murchad Mac Suibne, the son of Mac Suibne Baghainech and many others of the young nobles of the Clann Suibne. These went to join Mac Uigilin and their leaders were in his residence, on a friendly and honourable standing, ratifying the terms of their agreement. But Mac Domnaill's son and some of the Scots who were there and the followers of Mac Uigilin concocted a deceitful, malicious plot to attack these Clann Suibne gallowglasses, in spite of all the agreements which had already been made with them. And this they did. After the Clann Suibne had left Mac Uigilin's residence they fell upon them secretly and suddenly, so that they killed most of them in one place, and notably the son of Mac Suibne Baghainech and the son of Murchad Mac Suibne; and few were those who returned in comparison with those who were killed there.
The crew of a long ship which came from West Connacht to seize a prey in Tir Conaill were killed by Toirrdelbach, the son of Mac Suibne Baghainech, so that none of them escaped to tell the tale except the gentleman who led them, namely the son of O Flaithbertaig, whom Mac Suibne's son protected. It was on Rathlin O Birne Island that these deeds were done by the son of Mac Suibne.
Duibgenn son of Dubthach son of Maelsechlainn son of Matha Glas O Duibgennain, a handsome and highly-skilled ollav in History and keeper of a guest-house, died this year.
O Domnaill made a hosting into Lower Connacht this autumn, and the chieftains thereof came to him in peaceful guise and submissively paid him his rent and lord's dues.
And shortly after the disbanding of O Domnaill's army Macwilliam of Clanrickard, namely Ulick na Cenn son of Richard, and Macwilliam Burke, namely David son of Ulick, led another great army into Lower Connacht. They took the residence of O Flannagain, Ballyoughter to wit, [on their way] and [then] went on, accompanied by Mac Diarmata and the sons of Tadc Mac Diarmata, into Lower Connacht. The nobles of the country came in to Macwilliam then and he took them prisoners and carried them into Clanrickard: O Dubda, Mac Donnchada of Corran, and some of the Clann Suibne Connachtach, for instance Maelmuire son of Colla Mac Suibne. This Maelmuire son of Colla died in captivity in the residence of Macwilliam of Clanrickard.
And within a week after this, Maelmuire son of Eogan Mac Suibne [Connachtach] was killed by the sons of Maelmuire son of Colla as he was convoying the sons of O Dubda; and within another three months they were themselves banished and their residences demolished, one of themselves and many of their followers being killed.
The son of Aed O Neill, namely Feidlim Dub, the only one living of the sons of Aed Meirgech, was killed this year.
O Domnaill's son, Calbach, went to meet the Justiciar and made peace for himself and for O Domnaill with him, returning safely afterwards.
Magnus O Domnaill gave Toorah and Lurg to Sean son of Cu Chonnacht Mag Uidir, against whom he had previously committed great depredations. In consideration of this re-grant, Mag Uidir acknowledged himself to be O Domnaill's vassal, surrendering to him his land and estate and undertaking to lead a levy of his followers on all O Domnaill's hostings, during his own life-time, or to pay a fine in lieu of such service not performed. He also granted to O Domnaill half the eric for manslaying throughout Fermanagh.
The son of O Neill, Feidlim Caech son of Conn son of Conn, a good prince of the Cenel Eogain, was unfortunately killed by Mac Domnaill Galloclach with one blow of a spear, and two other sons of O Neill died this year.
Brian son of Niall son of Art Oc O Neill, the most renowned young prince for nobility and bounty that had appeared in the Cenel Eogain for a long time, died in his bed in the Old Castle.
O Neill, Conn son of Conn, went to a meeting with the King of England this year, and the King named him an Earl and obliged him not to style himself O Neill from that time onwards. O Neill returned safely afterwards.