FROM THE ANGLO-NORMAN INVASION TO THE YEAR 1484.

Arrival of Strongbow accompanied by William Fitz-Andelm de Burgo, ancestor of the family of Clanricarde—Landing of Henry II.—Submission and subsequent revolt of the Irish Princes—Unsuccessful attempt of Roderic O'Conor, the monarch, on Dublin—Treaty between him and Henry II.—First hostile incursion of the Invaders into Connaught, and their defeat—Grant of the Province to De Burgo—Deposition and death of Roderic—Connor, his successor, defeats De Courcy—Cathal, who succeeds, joins with Meiler Fitz-Henry the Justiciary, and subdues De Burgo—Treaty between him and King John—Cathal dies, and Henry III. orders the Lord Justice to seize on all Connaught and deliver it to Richard De Burgo—Fedhlim, who succeeded Cathal, visits Henry in England, and obtains an order to be restored to his territory—The Castle of Galway fortified by O'Flaherty—Taken by De Burgo, who strengthens the Castle and protects and encourages the Town—Walls, great Gate, and Tower erected—Increase of Trade and Commerce—Church of St. Nicholas built—Dispute between the families of Blake and Athy—Death of William Earl of Ulster, and seizure of Galway by Mac William Eighter—Charters of Murage and of the Staple granted by Edward III.—Removal of the Staple—Merchants of Limerick jealous of the increasing trade and prosperity of Galway—Revolt and submission of the Town—Two Charters granted by Richard II.—Charter of Henry IV.—Mercantile Regulations—Establishment of a Mint—Charter of Edward IV. and Conflagration in the Town.

THE successful invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century, by a few enterprizing adventurers, is an event which has long astonished the world. The suddenness and insignificance of the expedition, the easy and unaccountable submission, almost without a struggle, of a numerous and warlike people to a foreign foe, and the vast importance of the acquisition to the crown and kingdom of England justly excited the admiration of mankind. The causes which led to this great and memorable revolution will be found fully detailed in the histories of the times; its effects, which still continue, and which will influence millions yet unborn, are too well ascertained to require any new description: and as neither properly come within the limits of a work of this nature the following pages will, therefore, be confined to the local and provincial transactions which afterwards took place, so far as they could be found to affect, or have any bearing on the history of Galway.

In the year 1171, Richard Earl Strongbow landed near Waterford, accompanied by William Fitz-Andelm de Burgo, a principal leader in the army, who, after the success of the invaders, was appointed to the chief government of Ireland. Henry II. soon afterwards arrived with an army of 4000 men, and having received the submission of some of the petty princes of Leinster and Munster, and of several of the bishops and clergy, he returned to England. Immediately on his departure, the princes and chieftains who had so recently submitted to his authority, as if on reflection they felt ashamed of the pusillanimity with which they bowed their necks to the yoke of servitude, revolted and commenced hostilities. Roderic O'Conor, king of Connaught and monarch of Ireland, who tamely permitted the encroachments of the English, now, when it was too late, roused from his lethargy, crossed the Shannon with a considerable army, and proceeded towards Dublin, which he invested: but in consequence of the unhappy dissensions which prevailed among his troops, and which, amongst the Irish, were at all times the causes of their ruin, he was defeated, obliged to retreat, and sue for peace. He accordingly dispatched deputies to England, who met the king at Windsor, and there a peace was most solemnly concluded between the two monarchs. Roderic consented to do homage, and pay tribute to the king of England; whereupon he was to hold his kingdom of Connaught, with the title of king, under him, Rex sub eo, and that in as ample a manner as he had done before the coming of the English. Our historians are unanimous in declaring that there never was any treaty more scrupulously adhered to than this by Roderic, while few were ever more flagrantly violated than it afterwards was, by Henry.

In the year 1178, the English first set a hostile foot in Connaught. Murrough, one of Roderic's sons, having received, or probably pretending to have received, some supposed injury, privately dispatched messengers to Milo de Cogan, who then lay in Dublin inviting him to march into Connaught, with a sufficient force, and promising, that he would be ready to assist him: holding forth, at the same time, great prospects of plunder. Milo, who only wanted the invitation, immediately set out, with upwards of 500 men, and soon arrived in Connaught; but having there met with a reception far different from what he expected, he was obliged to make a shameful retreat, with considerable loss.

The traitor Murrough, was deservedly sentenced to lose his eyes, and suffer perpetual imprisonment; but having been soon afterwards liberated, he became the guilty cause of the most lamentable dissensions.

William Fitz-Andelm de Burgo, who, during his government of Ireland, formed the plan of obtaining a grant of the entire province of Connaught, (where, he hoped, in consequence of its distracted state, to be able to establish himself,) was no sooner recalled, than he confidently applied to Henry on the subject; of course representing Roderic as only waiting for an opportunity to retrieve his ruined affairs. The king, who ought to have recoiled with indignation from such a request, on the contrary, in open violation of the treaty which he had so recently entered into, (and which, it could not even be alleged was infringed on in any one article by Roderic,) in the year 1179, made the desired grant to William Fitz-Andelm and his heirs; and although the grantee never, during his life, gained any benefit by the concession, the country, notwithstanding, became thenceforward, the melancholy theatre of war and confusion.

Soon after this grant was obtained, Hugo de Lacy, one of the boldest of the adventurers, entered Connaught for the purpose of plundering, but being resolutely opposed, he saved himself and his men by a precipitate flight. The province is described as particularly disturbed in 1181, and these disturbances seem to have continued for the five succeeding years. In 1186, the rebellious sons of the unfortunate Roderic were the first to dethrone their unhappy father; they abstained, it is true, from the heinous crime of parricide, but they obliged him (perhaps to prevent it,) to fly and take refuge in the venerable abbey of Cong, in the present County of Mayo, where he found an asylum for the remainder of his life. Connor, one of his sons, placed himself on the throne, and soon signalized himself by routing, with great slaughter, John de Courcy, who, in 1186, taking advantage of the existing broils, made an incursion into Connaught. Connor did not long enjoy his usurped dignity, he was killed by one of his brothers, who, in return was slain by his nephew, one of Connor's sons, whereupon Cathal, or Charles, surnamed Crowdearg, or the bloody handed, succeeded, and, soon after his succession, gained a victory over De Courcy, whom he defeated with the loss of 200 foot and 30 horse; in commemoration of which, he founded the abbey of Collis Victoria, now called Knockmoy in the County of Galway.

Roderic O'Conor, the last of the Irish monarchs, died in Cong, where he had lived in retirement for the last twelve years of his life. Immediately on his death, William Fitz-Andelm made every preparation to assert his claim to Connaught, and with an intention of making Cathal Carragh O'Conor, who had views on the throne, subservient to his designs, he joined with him, routed Crovdearg, and the confederate troops of Ulster and Meath, and established Carragh: but not finding him so obedient to his wishes as he had expected, he soon after

declared against him, and joining with Crovdearg, they defeated Carragh, who was slain in the field, and his death led to the restoration of his more fortunate rival. The power and fame of De Burgo now became so extensive, that he openly declared himself independent of the crown of England; made Limerick the seat of his power, determined on war and peace at pleasure, and was both feared and hated as well by the English as by the Irish chieftains. Cathal Crovdearg, who experienced his changeable disposition, was obliged again to have recourse to arms for his protection; and joining with Meiler Fitz-Henry, the Justiciary, they marched towards Limerick, where they soon forced that powerful chief to surrender and return to his allegiance. He appears to have remained quiet the remainder of his life. In the year 1200 he founded the famous abbey of Athassell in the county of Tipperary; and having died in 1204, he was there interred, leaving Richard, Lord of Connaught, his heir and successor. It is observed by our historians, that the foregoing expedition of Cathal and the Justiciary, was the first instance in which an Englishman was ever seen at the head of the native troops of Ireland.

The death of William Fitz-Andelm did not retrieve the affairs of Cathal, but rather opened upon him more dangerous foes; to avoid whom, he wisely determined to enter into a treaty with king John, and if possible to depend upon him for safety and protection. Accordingly in the year 1206, he surrendered two parts of Connaught, and agreed to pay one hundred marks yearly for the third part, which he was to hold in vassalage; but notwithstanding this treaty, it appears that this proverbially perfidious English monarch, on 12th September 1215, granted to Richard de Burgo, the entire of Connaught, which was stated to have been held by his father, at the yearly rent of three hundred marks. This grant was confirmed in 1218, by Henry III. who, for the fine of a thousand marks, granted "the whole kingdom of Connaught" to Richard de Burgo and his heirs; but in this concession it was provided that it should not take effect until after the death of Cathal, who still maintained some shadow of rule and dignity, which he preserved until 1223, when he died. Tirlough, his brother, succeeded, but he was soon after expelled by Geoffry de Maurisco, the Justiciary, and Hugh, a son of Cathal, was established; who, soon after endeavouring to

render himself independant, was assassinated by order of Geoffry, and Tirlough was once more restored.

Such was the gloomy picture of affairs in Connaught, and the melancholy state to which its native princes were reduced, when a mandate, dated 12th June, 1225, arrived from England, directing William Earl Marshall, the Lord Justice, to seize on the whole country of Connaught, (stated to have been forfeited by O'Conor,) and to deliver it to Richard de Burgo, at the yearly rent of three hundred marks, for the first five years, and after that period, of five hundred marks, for ever: excepting however five choice cantreds of lands near Athlone, which were supposed to have been reserved for the use of that garrison. This unprincipled grant was obtained through the influence of the famous Hubert de Burgo, Justiciary of England, in favour of his kinsman, it was finally confirmed at Westminster, 21st December, 1226, and in the year following Richard de Burgo was appointed to the government of Ireland.

The new governor with a view of promoting his views, and advancing his interest in Connaught, stirred up the usual cause of dissension in this unhappy province. He deposed Tirlough from the sovereignty, and established Fedhlim O'Conor, another son of Cathal, who afterwards proved himself the bravest and most politic of Roderic's descendants, and the only one who for any time retained the appearance of power. This prince, after acquiring his independance, resolutely resisted De Burgo's claims on his territory, and fortunately for him, his adversary's great friend, the Justiciary of England, having, at the very time, fallen into disgrace, the former was removed from the government here; and the Irish prince profiting by the temporary embarrassment of his rival, considerably augmented his power. But still apprehensive that he could not long support himself in Connaught by his own exertions, he suddenly passed over to England, attended by the Lord Justice, and there laid a long detail of his grievances and complaints against De Burgo before the monarch. Henry received his royal visitor in a manner worthy of his rank and dignity, and seemed so fully persuaded of the justice of his cause that he commanded the Lord Justice and nobility of Ireland to afford him every assistance, and use all their efforts to establish him in his territory.

About this time the town and castle of Galway (which the reader was necessarily obliged so long to lose sight of,) became of importance to the parties contending for the sovereignty of Connaught. After the invasion, in 1170, the castle was strongly fortified, and the town was put into a state of defence. It then consisted of a small community, composed of a few families of fishermen

and merchants; (many of whose names have been already given in the first chapter,) and was principally under the protection of the O'Flahertys, who held the castle and surrounding territory, as feudal lords from the kings of Connaught. Upon the return of Fedhlim from England, Hugh O'Flaherty, chief of his name, declared in his favour, and in 1230 fortified himself in the castle of Galway." He was besieged on the east side of the river by Richard de Burgo, but being effectually relieved from the west by Hugh O'Conor, De Burgo, after several ineffectual endeavours to take the castle, was obliged to raise the siege. Irritated at the spirited resistance of Fedhlim and his adherents, he at length, summoned all his forces, and in 1232, succeeded in driving that unfortunate prince from the province; and, continuing his success, he finally took him prisoner, and established Hugh O'Conor in his place. The town and castle of Galway, on this occasion, fell into his hands, and having then discovered the great importance of the place, he, in the same year, built several considerable additions to the castle. Fedhlim, having immediately after, regained his liberty and kingdom, by the death of Hugh, which took place in 1233; laid siege to Galway, and having succeeded in taking the castle, he demolished all the new works: but his powerful antagonist, Richard de Burgo, soon after recovered the town; and thenceforth it became the principal residence of himself and his descendants," and finally the capital of the province, which it still continues to be. He then fortified it against the incursions of the Irish, and appointed a magistrate, who was indiscriminately called a provost or bailiff, and who governed the inhabitants by established laws.

Fedhlim O'Conor preserved his ideal title, and with it, a scanty remnant of the kingdom of his ancestors, until the year 1265, ^x when he died, leaving his son Hugh to succeed him. The latter on his accession, having asserted and supported his claim to the royal name and dignity, Walter de Burgo levied a body of forces,

and marched against him. Hugh, on his side, made every preparation to meet the foe, and a battle took place, in which he was completely victorious. De Burgo did not long survive this defeat; he died in the castle of Galway, in 1271; leaving Richard, commonly called the Red Earl of Ulster, his heir and successor. Hugh himself was afterwards slain, with 2000 men, by M'Dermott of Moylurg, who was another rival; and thenceforth, until the total destruction of the house of O'Conor in 1316, Connaught exhibited a horrid scene of blood and confusion.

Amidst these troubles, the crowded town of Galway was sheltered under the powerful protection of the De Burgos. In the time of Walter and Richard, the first and second earls of Ulster, it increased considerably in trade and population, owing principally to their presence, and consequent protection against Fedhlim O'Conor, his successors, and the surrounding Irish. It was, however, found necessary, in order effectually to prevent their incursions, which were frequent and destructive, to fortify the town, and surround it with walls. This work was accordingly commenced about the year 1270; and there is still extant, on the great roll of the pipe, 6 Edw. I.—the account of Stephen Annery and Adam Albus, collectors of the murage of the town of Galvy, in Connaught, from the festival of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 56 Hen. III. until the same festival, 8 Edw. I. in which they account for 29l. 7s. 6d. received for customs of wine, salt, cloth, leather and divers other merchandize, whereout they expended 29l. 4s. 5d. in

masons and carpenters wages, and expenses of workmen assisting them in the wood and stone work during that time. On the same roll, there also appears the account of Robert Bayon, collector of the murage of Galway, from the Sunday next after the festival of St. Martin, 6 Edw. I. until Tuesday on the morrow of St. Simon and Jude, 8 Edw. I. wherein he accounts for 27l.13s.113d. customs of wine, salt, wool, cloth, leather, skins of all lambs and goats, fish, herrings, and other divers and minute merchandize, at the same place coming in during that time, whereout he expended, in making a large fire to burn lime, and for wood carried to the same, and for the wages of masons and other workmen employed for breaking stone, and conveying it to the same place during the same time, and for the wages of workmen and others assisting the masons to make walls on the side towards the sea, and to build a tower beyond the great gate, and in buying iron for fabricating crows, pickaxes, nails, and other tools, 5l.17s.4d.: and further, for wages of carpenters working about the tower, and for carriage of timber and carpenters work at the gate, and for various other necessary works, 11l.5s.7d. The contents of this ancient record are thus particularly specified, as they recount the first considerable improvements which were made in the town after it was possessed by the English settlers; and, trifling as the amount of the sums expended on these works may appear in modern times, they will be found, upon a comparative calculation of the then value of money, to have been very considerable.

Before the erection of these walls and works of defence, the town, though it was, even then, the principal mart and most distinguished place in Connaught, was little superior, either in extent or form, to a considerable modern village: but after these works and improvements were completed, it presented the appearance of a regularly fortified town; and, by thus insuring additional security and protection, in those turbulent times, to the lives and properties of the people, it continued gradually to increase. Several new settlers, from time to time, added to its wealth and trade, and considerably augmented the number of its inhabitants; but particularly about this period the families of Blake, Bodkin, Ffont, Joyes, Lynch, Martin and Skerrett, settled in the town, and principally laid the foundation of its subsequent prosperity. The walls erected towards the sea were intended to prevent any descent from the western parts of Munster and Connaught; and the tower, beyond the great gate, was erected as a defence against any incursions from the interior of the country, and particularly by Lough Corrib, which it seems to have been particularly designed to guard against. The building of the walls was continued at intervals during the succeeding century, at the termination of which the town was entirely inclosed.

After these fortifications were erected, the foreign trade of Galway improved considerably. Dermod More O'Brien, grandson of Soan Tiege or Tiege Aluinn, who resided at Tromra in Clare in 1277, received 12 tuns of wine yearly, as a tribute from the merchants of the town, in consideration of protecting the

harbour and trade from all pirates and privateers, by maintaining a suitable maritime force for the purpose. The commercial duties also, which in these times were payable in the town, sufficiently evince its increasing consequence. In the year 1303, the revenue called the new customs (being an impost of three pence in the pound, due from merchant strangers only, for all commodities imported or exported,) was first granted to the crown, and in the same year these customs at Galway were farmed out to Richard le Blake, for one year, for 32l. In 1306 Thomas Sage and Simon Long were appointed collectors of the same duties, and also of the custom of two shillings for every hogshead of wine imported; and in 1307 they were granted for one year to Thomas Dolfyn, on the security of Edmund Husee, Philip Purcel, Richard le Blake, and William Seman. In October of the same year, the great customs of the town, viz. those payable on wool, sheepskins, or woolfells, and leather exported, were granted to Crucheus Hubert; and the new customs were, at the same time, farmed to Crucheus Delpas, for the sum of 24l. These extracts, of which many more could be produced, sufficiently point out the extent and gradual increase of the commerce of Galway at this period. It was not, however, entirely uninterrupted, but had to contend against many difficulties and disadvantages, occasioned by those animosities which always subsisted between the English settlers and the original inhabitants of the country. About the time last alluded to, violent contentions broke out between the Lords of the Pale and the native Irish, and particularly between the Earl of Ulster, O'Brien, and the Geraldines in Thomond; by which the trade of the town was so much impeded, that Andrew Gerard, a Florentine merchant, who was keeper of the customs in 1310, had a considerable abatement: "for that it appears that the customs in Galvy were worth less in that year than theretofore,

by reason of the war lately raised and carried on between Richard de Burgo and Richard de Clare in Tothemond," in the year following he had a regrant of the customs, paying yearly into the Exchequer fifty marks, for so long as he should thenceforth hold the same. These impediments, however, appear to have been but temporary; they were generally of short duration, and were finally overcome by the perseverance and industry of the inhabitants. The improvement of the town was also a constant object of their attention, and in the year 1312 they added considerably to its strength, by the addition of the great gate and the adjoining works, which were erected under the superintendence of Nicholas Lynch, surnamed the "Black Marshall."

In 1315, Ireland was invaded by Edward Bruce. Richard Earl of Ulster, joined by Fedhlim O'Conor, then the chief of his name, marched against him, but was

defeated. On their return, Roderic O'Conor, who in the absence of Fedhlim made pretensions to his territory, was taken prisoner and put to death; but the latter, soon after driven to desperation, declared for Bruce; and, though he made several incursions on the English settlers in Connaught, he never was able to do any injury to Galway. Sir William Leigh de Burgh (who, in 1296, founded the Franciscan friary in Saint Stephen's island, outside the north gate of the town,) and Richard de Bermingham, the fourth baron of Athenry, were sent against him. Fedhlim met them with a numerous army, and the most sanguinary engagement recorded in our history since the invasion was fought near Athenry, in the County of Galway, in which the native troops were signally defeated. Fedhlim, the last of his name who assumed sovereignty, fell in the field, and with him (as is stated) 8000 men. The walls of Athenry are said to have been built from the spoils of the battle; and the power of the O'Conors, which here received its final blow, was totally destroyed.

This signal defeat of the Irish, which effectually established the dominion of the English settlers in Connaught, was followed by a short interval of peace, the happiest effects of which were experienced by the town of Galway. The victorious De Burgos, who had now no enemy able to contend against them, ruled the entire province from the Shannon to the sea: they made Galway the chief point wherein all their power centered, and in which the principal heads of the family resided; in consequence of which, its trade, buildings and inhabitants, continued rapidly to increase. The church of Saint Nicholas was founded in 1320, and many other useful improvements were made; but the peace of the town was, about that time, disturbed by some deadly disputes which arose between the rival families of Blake and Athy; and, in the commotions occasioned by them, several of the latter were slain. The church of Saint John of Jerusalem, which belonged to the knights templars, and stood contiguous to the chapel of Saint Nicholas, was suppressed in 1324. In the same year Sir William Leigh de Burgh died, and was interred in the abbey of Saint Francis, founded by himself. He left seven sons; the eldest of whom, Sir William or Ulick, called Ulicus de

Anaghkeen, was the first Mac William Eighter. He had a son named Rickard, (from whom the name Clan-Rickard originated,) whose three sons, Sir William or Ulick, (the progenitor of the earls of Clanricarde,) Thomas and John, were founders of several branches of this powerful and widely extended family.

William, the third earl of Ulster, survived his grandfather Richard but seven years. He was basely assassinated by his own attendants, at his castle of Carrickfergus, in 1333; leaving an only daughter, Elizabeth, to inherit his vast possessions. This circumstance occasioned a revolution, memorable, not only

as it related to this family in particular, but also as it concerned our town and the entire province. The De Burgos, though hitherto generally stedfast in their allegiance to the crown of England, while the heads of the name frequently filled the highest offices of the state, were henceforth, for a period of nearly three centuries, at continual variance with the government, frequently rising in arms, and openly setting its authority at defiance. Immediately upon the outrageous and premature death of the earl of Ulster, the chiefs of the junior branches of the family, then residing in Connaught, and principally in the extensive districts comprehending the present counties of Galway and Mayo, dreading that all his possessions would fall into the hands of some stranger, through a marriage with the heiress, took advantage of the favorable opportunity that offered for seizing on his estates. Accordingly, Sir William or Ulick, before alluded to, and Sir Edmund Albanach, or the Scot, (ancestor of the earls of Mayo,) being the two most powerful of the family, entered into a confederacy, declared themselves independent, and then took possession of the entire territory; on the division of which the town of Galway, with the country to the Shannon, fell to the lot of Sir William. Aware, however, that by the course of the laws of England they would be deprived of their illegal acquisitions, they at once shook off obedience to those laws, renounced their allegiance to the crown, and came to a determination of protecting their newly acquired possessions, if necessary, by force. Their next care was to conciliate the natives in their favor; to effect which, they discontinued the use of the English language, threw off their English dress, and adopted both the language and apparel of the Irish. They next changed their names: Sir William adopted the title of Mac William Eighter, and Sir Edmund that of Mac William Oughter: they then embraced the Irish laws, transmitted their possessions in the course of tanistry and gavelkind; and Mac William Eighter, having taken possession of Galway, thenceforward took the title of lord of the town.

That so daring and successful an encroachment upon hereditary right should be permitted by the government, would appear unaccountable, were it not known

to have been, at the time, too deeply embroiled with the native Irish: and perhaps, as the possessors were of English descent, it was the less inclined to proceed with rigour against them; and might have also been influenced by an apprehension, similar to that which at first agitated the De Burgos, that, by the marriage of the heiress, the property might fall into more dangerous hands. This, however, was not the case, for she afterwards intermarried with Lionel, duke of Clarence, third son of Edw. III. who, in her right, became earl of Ulster; and from her descended Edward, the fourth of that name, afterwards king of England. ^m Lionel, in right of his wife, laid claim to the usurped possessions of the De Burgos, and amongst the rest to Galway; ⁿ but his claims, however founded in justice and right, were unattended to, or ineffectual: either from the policy of government, not wishing to embroil the country in his cause; or, as is much more likely, from the turbulent state of the times.

The De Burgos, for some time after their revolt, retained possession of Galway, but it soon returned to its allegiance. During the troubles which took place, its improvement appears not to have been unattended to. In the year 1342 the great west bridge was built, under the direction of Edmond Lynch Fitz-Thomas, who was commonly called Emon-a-Tuane, from the great quantity of foreign wines which he annually imported. The trade and revenues of the town, however, were considerably diminished, for on 3d December, 1346, a commission ^\circ was issued by the treasurer of Ireland, to Walter Blake, for the custody of the great custom of Galway and elsewhere in Connaught, he paying into the Exchequer, for the entire, only 221. yearly; and the sheriff of Connaught was commanded that taking from him sufficient security, and the usual oaths that he would faithfully serve the king, he should deliver to him the letters patent: and John Lawles, son of John of Portraghery, late keeper of the customs, was ordered to deliver him the seal of office. This depression of trade was of short duration, for in the year 1361, soon after the accession of Edw. IV. the countess of Ulster applied to the king on behalf of the town, and obtained a murage charter for the purpose of

effectually inclosing it with walls. The subjoined extract from this instrument will give the reader a view of the several articles of traffic and commerce, which in these times were prevalent in this part of Ireland. The beneficial effects of the charter, and the subsequent encouragements which were given to trade, were so great, that even so early as 1375, the town was esteemed of sufficient importance to have the king's staple established in it, for the sale of wool, sheepskins or woolfells, and leather. Before this time the staple for the sale of these commodities was confined to two places in Ireland, viz. Cork and Drogheda; a circumstance which was found, by experience, to have been attended with most serious evils, exposing to continual danger the lives of those who were obliged to sail from the other parts of the kingdom to pay their duties at these ports, and which, being frequently evaded, occasioned considerable loss to the public revenue.

In order, therefore, to obviate these inconveniencies, and also, as the charter expresses it, "for the relief of the burgesses and merchants of the town of Galvy, and that they and the other merchants of Connaught might no longer incur the dangers of shipwrecks, and other losses as they had theretofore suffered, by going towards the city of Cork to pay their customs," the staple was extended to Galway. ^a

The revenues of Ireland were so reduced at this period, that the king (Edw. III.) found it necessary to send an agent (Sir Nicholas Dagworth,) from England, to ascertain and report the real cause of these distresses. One of the consequences of his mission appears to have been the removal of the staple so lately established in Galway, for the charter was soon after revoked by letters patent under the great seal of England; and by writ of the lord justice of Ireland, dated 13th May 1377, the sovereign, provost, burgesses and merchants of the town, were enjoined, that on market days, when the greater part of the people were assembled within the town, they should cause proclamation to be made that all merchants, who had theretofore paid their customs at Galway, should thenceforth pay them at the city of Cork. This measure, however it originated, appears to have materially injured the trade of this part of the kingdom; and affords another proof of the impolicy of the general system with which Edward III. conducted the affairs of Ireland.

A few pages back, the reader was presented with a comparative view of the customs paid in Limerick and Galway, for several years previous to 1300; which proved the great superiority of the trade of Galway. This superiority was preserved for several centuries by our merchants, and was a continual source of jealousy to their southern neighbours. In the year 1377, David Botiller, one of the citizens of Limerick, complained to the lord justice against the provosts and bailiffs of Galway and Athenry, stating, that notwithstanding, amongst other charter liberties granted to that city, it was particularly provided that the citizens and their successors should, for ever, be free of all customs for their goods and

merchandizes in any place either in England or Ireland, where they should bring them for sale; yet those magistrates, from time to time, exacted divers heavy customs from him and his merchants, who frequently came with goods and merchandize for sale to the said towns. They were commanded by letters of the lord justice, dated at Tristledermot, 18th May, 1877, to desist, under heavy penalties, from making those exactions for the future; and thus was thrown open to the inhabitants of Limerick a freedom of trade in the port of Galway, which those of the latter were not entitled to in that city. The mercantile jealousies, above alluded to, occasioned several contentions between those rival communities, which, in another place, there will be occasion to mention.

About this time Thomas Alwyne was seneschal and receiver of the town: he was succeeded, on 4th July, 1385, by Thomas O'Casy, who, in addition to those offices, was also appointed receiver of all the king's lordships in Connaught; was invested with power to hold the king's courts, appoint officers and sub-receivers, levy the king's rents and the issues of his lordships, constitute portrieves and other officers, and receive their oaths; superintend and collect all the fishings and other profits, and set them to farm yearly for the king's benefit; take the accomplts, upon oath, of master Thomas Alwyne, the late officer, and receiver, and return the same into Chancery; and, finally, to collect all debts due to the king, and return accounts thereof into the Exchequer. For the better execution of all these extensive trusts, he was invested with ample powers of distress and imprisonment. "The many important duties which appear to have been thus concentred in one person, were soon afterwards divided amongst several; and those which related to the town devolved principally on its chief magistrates, by the force of subsequent grants and charters from the crown.

Sir William De Burgh, who was the then Mac William Eighter, and consequently lord of Galway, having, after repeated provocations, revolted against the weak and vacillating government of the day, once more involved the town in those rebellious proceedings. Amongst the plea rolls preserved in Bermingham tower, there is still extant the record of a pardon, pleaded by one Henry Blake against an indictment for high treason, for joining Sir William on that occasion. This process was held before Milo, bishop of Cloyne, and Thomas Hill, justices in the Connaught Districts, at the town of Robe, (now Ballinrobe,) on the Wednesday next after the festival of Saint Barnaby the Apostle, 1890, when it was presented, that Henry Blake of Galvy, with other burgesses of the town, and also all the commonalty, by common agreement, in Nov. 1888, rang the common bell, and paid the fealty, which they owed the king, unto William, son of Rickard de

Burgo, the king's enemy; who, in the name of dominion, received from them the said fealty, fishing weirs, fisheries, mills, rents, services, and all other emoluments in the said town belonging to the king: that they aided the said William to resist the king and his ministers, and afterwards rang the common bell, and delivered to him all the keys of the gates of the town, to resist and prevent the entrance of the king and his ministers. Sir William de Burgh having afterwards submitted and obtained pardon, the town returned to its allegiance, and peace and tranquility were once more restored.

From this period Galway continued gradually to increase. Its situation, trade, and rising population, soon attracted the attention of government; and it was at length resolved to give the town every encouragement, and render it a place of permanent defence and security. Accordingly on 8th Nov. 1396, a new and perpetual murage charter was granted to the inhabitants by Richard the Second. The preamble to this grant states, that the king, as well in aid of the town of Galvy, (which is described as being situate in the marches, between divers his enemies and rebels, as well English as Irish, and by their daily incursions very much impoverished,) and, for the preservation of his faithful people therein, to be inclosed with a stone wall, as of the parts adjacent, and in aid of the paving of the town, granted to the provost, bailiffs and commonalty, and their successors, that, for all saleable things coming to the town by land or water, or passing from the same, they might take the several customs and tolls therein specified: and he commanded that they should cause the same, from day to day, to be levied, collected, received and had. Provided always, that the produce thereof should be faithfully expended towards the walling and paving of the town. The various commodities comprised in this charter prove the foreign and inland trade of the town, at this period, to have been very considerable; and, by comparing them with the articles contained in the charter of 1361, commerce will be found to have increased very considerably between both periods.

Previously to this grant the town was a corporation, by what the law terms prescription, and was governed by magistrates appointed by the family of De Burgo, or by those deriving under them. But provision being now made for perpetual defence and security, it was deemed necessary, for its greater encouragement and future preservation, to establish a corporate body, by royal grant, and to bestow upon it such privileges and immunities as other chartered towns in Ireland enjoyed. The king accordingly granted a second charter, dated 26th January, 1396, the recitals of which give rather a melancholy description

of the then exposed and defenceless state of the town; but it is such an account, however, as reflects considerable credit on its inhabitants. It states that the town was the key of those parts of the king's land in Ireland, in which all his faithful and liege people, as well strangers as others resorting thereto, were received, protected, comforted and relieved; but that it was then daily encompassed on all sides, as well by Irish enemies as English rebels, so that the burgesses and others, residing in and resorting to the same, dared not, without a considerable guard, either by land or water, come to the town, or go out of it, for the purpose of traffic and transacting their necessary business: and that the burgesses, for the safe custody of the town against the malice of the said enemies and rebels, continually, day and night, provided and maintained divers men at arms, at their own charges, to the evident impoverishment of their estate. The king, therefore, towards the relief and encouragement of the town, and that merchants and others might be the more induced and encouraged to reside and dwell in it, for the better resisting the said enemies and rebels, granted and gave license to the provost and burgesses, their heirs and successors for ever, yearly to elect among themselves a sovereign; and he also granted that no merchants or other persons whomsoever, stranger or native, of whatever state or condition he might be, who should not be continually resident in the town, and sworn a burgess, should buy or sell any merchandize or victuals within the town, except by wholesale or in gross: and further granted, that they might thenceforth for ever enjoy all the privileges used and enjoyed by the town of Drogheda; saving to the lord of the town and his heirs, the rents, services, fines, ameriaments, issues and profits to him and them, from the town and the courts thereof, belonging, and as they and their ancestors, lords of the town, were accustomed to receive. Such were the leading municipal regulations which were made at this period, and the beneficial effects of which the town soon afterwards began to experience. The privileges granted, though not particularly expressed, were very extensive, as appears by inspection of the ancient charters of Drogheda; and the progress of the town must, at the time, have been very considerable, when, in its first charter of incorporation, it obtained all the privileges enjoyed by one of the most ancient and respectable corporate towns in the kingdom.

Galway, having thus experienced the royal favour and protection, entirely fulfilled all the expectations of government, and henceforth became the principal support of the English interest in this part of Ireland. From a document, however, found on record in the tower of London, entitled "A license to make war against the Irish enemies," and dated in the year 1400, it would seem as if the town, even after obtaining these charters, had revolted from its allegiance, and again raised the standard of rebellion. ^a This, however, was not the case, and

the instrument alluded to originated as follows. On the defection of Sir William De Burgh and the town in 1388, Nicholas Kent, one of the burgesses, who refused to join them, departed privately for England; and prevailed on some merchants of Bristol, under great promises of plunder, to fit out a predatory expedition against the town and the islands of Arran, which were then in the hands of the common enemy. To sanction, however, a proceeding of that kind by private individuals, the king's licence was necessary; but before this could be obtained, or the other necessary preparations made, the town returned to its allegiance, and this nefarious project having consequently fallen to the ground, it enjoyed, from the time of its incorporation, a long and uninterrupted state of peace and tranquillity. On 12th March, 1402, Henry IV. granted a charter of confirmation, whereby he accepted, approved and ratified, and to the provost, bailiffs and commonalty, granted and confirmed, the liberties, franchises, jurisdictions, privileges, cognizances, tolls and customs, contained in their former charters. Sir Stephen Lescrop was appointed to the government of the county of Connaught, and receiver of the customs of Galway and Athenry; with all the profits as well of the custom of the cocket, as the little custom within both towns, for one year, reserving the salmon fishery in Galway. The year following, Sir William de Burgh, John Lyverpull, William Mirreson and John Mirreson, were appointed justices in the lordship and county of Connaught; the town of Galway, which was under the rule of its own magistrates, only excepted. Sir William was soon afterwards (5th December, 1403,) constituted deputy of Connaught, at the fee of 80 marks; with power to grant and receive all the revenues, issues and profits of the town of Galway, appertaining to the king by reason of the minority of Edmund, son of Roger late earl of March, and also of the great new customs in the port of Galway.

During this century the town extended considerably in trade and population. On 16th May 1425, William Botiller and John Rede were appointed to inquire

of all and singular merchants, as well foreigners as natives, and as well those who came to the ports of the town of Galway and Sligagh, as to all other ports of the county of Connaught, with wine, oil, honey, wool, skins, hides, lead or other articles whatsoever, liable to custom or king's duty, and also of all those who shipped any such merchandizes. On 20th May, 1427, Sir Ulick de Burgo (son of Sir William,) and his brother received an order for twenty marks and forty pounds out of the customs of the town, which were paid to his brother on 24th October following, to enable him to reduce the Irish, and on 14th February, 1442, William, son of Sir William Bourke, Knight, was granted 10l. to be paid out of the treasury of Ireland, in consideration of his laudable services in enabling the king's collectors to collect the customs in the port of Galway. The records of this period abound with entries, relative to the collection of the revenues of the town, and their application; but as they do not impart any thing otherwise materially interesting, they are, for that reason, and also to avoid prolixity, omitted.

The increase of trade rendered commercial regulations necessary, and several useful mercantile laws were accordingly, from time to time, devised and established. Amongst these, however, some are to be found of a different tendency; and particularly in the year 1460, during the magistracy of William Dubh Lynche, then sovereign of the town, it was enacted by the corporation, "that ne merchant, ne maryner, ne shipman, should unlade, ne transport over the seas, unfremens goods, but only fremens, upon paine to lesse the said goods or the just value thereof, and to forfayte 100 shillings; which goods, forfayte, to be divided into three parts, one part to be to the reparations and building of the town walls and works, the second part to the reparations of the church, and the third part to the officers, for the time being." This bye-law, which was evidently intended to support the monopoly of the corporation, however it might serve to benefit that body, and tend to enrich a few individuals, does not seem to have been calculated to advance the general interests of trade: nor could the following enactment, which was framed in the same year, add to the strength or increase the population of the town, viz. "That no dweller should set or sell land or tenement, within the same town of Galway, to no Irishman, without licence from the council for the time being, on payn of forfaiting said lands and tenements, and one hundredth shillings to be divided as above written." These bye-laws, however, were confirmed in several years after, by Pierse Lynche, the first mayor of the town.

Were any further proof requisite to indicate the consequence of the town at this period, that of the establishment of a mint, for the coinage of the king's monies, in a part of the kingdom so distant from the seat of government, would be sufficient. In the year 1461, King Edward IV. by letters patent, dated at Westminster, on the 6th of August, constituted "Germyn Lynch wardeyn and maister worker of oure monies and coignes within oure castle of Dyvelin (Dublin), in our land of Ireland, and within the castle of Trim; and also, we have granted and gyve full power and auctorite to the said Germyn, and to his depute, or deputees, duryng his said lyf, to make all oure monies and coignes, and to do all things that shall nede or long thereto, within the town of Galway, within oure said land of Ireland." This patent was confirmed by an act of the succeeding Irish parliament, in which the impressions, inscriptions, weight and value, of the several coins, in silver, brass and copper, were particularly specified. Not long afterwards it was ordered, that English money should advance a fourth part more in value in Ireland, than it was current for in England; viz. that nine pence English should pass for a shilling in Ireland, a shilling for sixteen pence, &c. which was the first time that any difference was made in the value of money between the two countries. Mr. Simon says, that he never met with any of the coins, struck in Galway, under the foregoing patent.

This grant was followed by a charter, dated 28th August 1464, whereby the King, for the better enabling the town more strongly to resist his enemies and rebels, confirmed all the preceding charters, regranted the right to levy the tolls and customs, but to be expended about walling and paving, and not otherwise; and, for the greater security and safeguard of the town, he ordained, that no person, of whatsoever estate, degree or condition he should be, (the lieutenant and chancellor of Ireland wholly excepted,) should in any wise enter the town, unless by the licence, assent and superintendence of the sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty for the time being. This prohibition was the first effectual step taken to get rid of the control and interference of the De Burgos within the town, which was soon afterwards effected.

The annals of Connaught, and those of the four masters, record a terrible conflagration which took place in Galway, on Friday, the 2d day of June, 1473; by which the town was nearly destroyed, and incalculable damage sustained by the inhabitants. This heavy misfortune was, however, soon overcome by the exertions of an industrious and already opulent community. During the long reign of Henry VI. and that of his successor, Edw. IV. several families settled in the town, among whom those of Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Morris, Butler, Fallon,

Nolan, Port, Coine or Quin, and Tully, are particularly noticed. At the period to which our narrative is now arrived, it was esteemed one of the most populous towns in Ireland: trade kept pace with the increase of population, and a spirit of industry pervaded the minds of the people; but their energies were now more particularly called forth, by the melancholy accident which had just taken place, and the damages occasioned by the fire were not only quickly repaired, but the town itself was materially improved, and soon after took its rank amongst the most considerable places in the kingdom. The relation of its affairs having been thus far continued through periods of which almost every local record and monument has been long and irrecoverably lost, an era now approaches, from which the memory of its transactions was better preserved; and, consequently, the future helps, for the elucidation of its history, will be found much more abundant and satisfactory, as in the following chapter.