This landmark volume by Raymond Gillespie reconstructs the society of east Ulster – the counties of Antrim and Down – in the early seventeenth century. These counties formed a distinct region within Ulster and were excluded from the official scheme for the Ulster plantation. In remarkable detail – all the more impressive due to the loss of so many records of this era – the author explores demographic and economic developments, the emergence of rural and urban communities, and the tension between central government and local interests. In doing so, he reveals a fascinating picture of the strivings of both settlers and natives to establish a modus vivendi during a period of rapid change.