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time procreatis, eandem hereditatem filiis Willielmi Blak do et lego. Item lego predicte filie mee, vidz. Anorine unum dolium vini. Item, lego germane mee Johanne Blak unam pipam vini. Item, lego Stephano Broun usum et habitacionem celarii ex opposito castri mei existentis in villa de Athnary, quod vocatur bowtha, ita quod ipsum habebit sine contradiccione et molestacione aliqua, durante vita sua; et hoc sibi varentizo. Item, domino Donato archiepiscopo Tuamensi togam meam meliorem lego. Item, lego Odoni O'Tyarna vicario de Galvy togam meam secundam meliorem. Item, Odoni O'Molilayn discipulo meo, alteram togam cum dubelet, et calciamentis viridis coloris. Item, lego Johanni Rys, presbitero, caputium meum et dubelet, et calciamenta greciei coloris. Item, lego cuilibet sacerdoti ecclesie parochialis ipsius ville de Galvy xiid. Item, unicuique fratrum de conventu supradicti monasterii de Galvy, promoto in sacerdocio, iiiid. Item, clamidem meam fratri Malachio O'Dubayn. Item, lego duobus alumpnis meis duas loricas, cum duobus scabularibus.

......

"Item, lego et imperpetuum relinquo usum, habitacionem et conduccionem terrarum mearum nuncupatarum Clogreayn, existencium in terris de Athnary, in longum et latum prout se extendit inter suos certos et antiquos confines, comunitati vici de Lathregh in Athnary, in feno et pastura quamdiu potuerunt et voluerunt redditus heredibus et assignatis meis solvere, et supportare arratura, tamen excepta, quam heredi meo reservo, pro cujus arratura eidem comunitati xxa. in antea remissi, quas quidem usum, habitacionem et conduccionem a me meis heredibus et assignatis, modo et forma predictis, eidem comunitati imperpetuum varentizo, ita tum quod nec heredes mei nec assignati easdem terras aliquibus nobilibus nec ignobilibus circumjacencium terrarum unde prejudicium eidem comunitati gravaretur, vendire, alienare, impignorare nec locare possunt ; set ipsa communitas in hiis omnibus pre ceteris aliis prefertur. Item, volo et concedo quod fiat justicia inter dictum meum filium et heredem ex una parte, et filios Willielmi yLachnayn de Athnary, de et super terris super quibus lis movetur inter me et ipsos, quarum vero judicii diffinicioni relinquo fieri judicialiter per dominum Donatum, Dei gratia archiepiscopum Tuamensem, et per alios quos sibi ad ipsum judicium faciendum eligerit et assumpsit. Super omnia et singula preinactitata, scripta, legata, relicta et disposita, rite et recte peragenda, ego Johannes, testator memoratus, Johannem filium Willielmi Blak, et Nicholaum Ffrench in meos veros et indubitatos executores constituo, ordino, pariter et deputo. Verum improvisores omnium et singulorum meorum bonorum, meique heredis et uxoris, in hoc testamento instituo, eligo, viz. Petrum lynche et robertum Ffrenche, et assumo. manus Dei omnipotentis vivi, et incommutabilis altissimi, apud quem vivunt spiritus mortuorum, et manent electorum anime, reposito carnis onere, plena felicitate letantur, commendo animam meam, Amen. Hoc testamentum est conditum Anno et die supra2 E dictis

IRISH ARCH. SOC. NO. 15.

In

dictis, Testibus protunc presentibus, Willielmo filio Alexandri Lynche tunc superiore ipsius ville de Galvy, Nicholao Ffrenche, Johanne filio Willielmi Blak dictis executoribus, Petro lynch, Roberto Ffrenche, memoratis provisoribus, Domino Odone O tyarny vicario dicte ville, magistro Valtero Lang notario, et Dominice filio Roberti lynche, et multis aliis."-Orig.

The foregoing "last will," and that of A. D. 1420, [see p. 198] are the most curious and perfect specimens of ancient testamentary disposition which the Editor has here met with. The pious exordium and conclusion of the latter are worthy the attention of the reader. Both instruments shew the wealth and munificence of the opulent burghers by whom they were made. They also point out the nature, and, in some degree, the extent of the commerce carried on at that period in this western part of Ireland. This class of documents may, moreover, be considered useful as affording satisfactory evidence of the manners and customs of the times to which they relate, and they therefore become valuable for historical purposes. Thus, we read in the foregoing will of A. D. 1420, that the testator, who appears to have died in the habit of St. Francis, bequeathed for post mortem ceremonies 40s. and a pipe of wine; which, it must be confessed, was a liberal allowance to keep up the "merriment of an Irish wake." This serves to prove the long standing of a custom which still prevails but too much in Ireland. The Editor has seen a "will" made within the last forty years, wherein the testator, a Connaught gentleman, ordered that, after his death, he should be "waked" by his tenants, for three successive nights, in a large out-house or barn; that a hogshead of whiskey should be supplied each night; and that he should himself be placed in a sitting posture, with a bottle and glass before him, as if enjoying the festivity of the scene. This "old custom," which General Vallancey learnedly tells us the Irish derived from the Arabians, is now happily disappearing.

"Sententia lata inter Ric. et Nico. Blake, et stirpem Walteri Thome de Kyltulag-mor.

...

"A. D. 1543.

"In Dei nomine Amen. Nos Dominus Willielmus De Burgo miles, Ricardiorum dominus, ac Regis excellencie in Conacia capitaneus, Reverendissimi domini, Christopherus divina gratia Tuamensis archiepiscopus, ac Rolandus eadem Clonfertensis episcopus, necnon et Boecius McKeagayn arbiter secularis, Judices seu arbitri electi sub intercessione et. . . . . . . pena ducentarum vaccarum, de stando judicio et laudo nostro in causa mota super duabus quarteriis De Kyltulag-mor, inter honorabiles viros Richardum et Nicholaum Blake parte ex una, actores et generosos omnes et singulos de stirpe Walteri Thome de Silina Dorsi rubei ex altera, ut premissum est, invenimus sufficienter probatum, tam per instrumenta autentica, quam ex deposessione approborum

approborum et anticorum, atque ex solucione annualis pensionis, quod ille due quarterie de Kyltulagh-mor, jure hereditario spectant ad prefatos Ricardum et Nicholaum Blake. Quare antefato nomine invocato, non declinantes ad dextram neque ad senextram, sed Deum semper pre oculis habentes, easdem duas quarterias de Kyltulag-mor cum omnibus cummoditatibus et communibus, eisdem Richardo et Nicholao Blake, per hoc nostrum laudum sive sententiam, adjudicamus, imponentes omnibus et singulis de eadem stirpe Walteri Thome, perpetuum silencium, ut de cetero non inquietabunt nec perturbaberunt prefatos Richardum et Nicholaum, nec suos firmarios, subditos seu familiares, habitantes in eisdem duabus quarteriis de Kyltulag-mor. Et si qui vel quis de eadem stirpe Walteri Thome, contrarium facere presumpserint aut presumpserit, quod protunc ceteri alii et qualibet pro se de eadem stirpe Walteri Thome teneantur et tenetur eisdem Ricardo et Nicholao blake emendationem condignam facere, ac etiam solvere penam ducentarum vaccarum prescriptarum, eodem laudo nostro declaramus: reservata nobis potestate absolvendi vel condempnandi eosdem de stirpe Walteri Thome, in illis centum sextagenta quenque marchis in quibus cessarunt, in solucione debite pensionis tempore ferme, eaque finita secundum asseveracionem predictorum Ricardi et Nicholai. Actum, gestum, latum, et declaratum in Senobio Sancti Francisci ville Galvie, tercio die mensis Apprilis An° Domini M.CCCCC.XLIII. et regni invictissimi Henrice octavi, Regis Anglie Francie et Hibernie, fideique defensoris, ac sub Cristo supremi capitis ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernicane, Ano tricessimo quarto. Hiis testibus presentibus, viz. nobili viro Donaldo O'Flaharty-Jacobo Skeret, Johanne frenche, Thoma lynche burgens. ejusdem ville, ac dominis Abbate O Cormockayn et Davide Juveni custode dicti Senobii, Jonote Mc Thomas ac Thoma O Gyllorayn, cum pluribus aliis clericis et laycis. In fidem vero et testimonium omnium premissorum sigilla et signa nostra presentibus apposuimus.

W. B. "CHRISTOPHORUS TUAMEN. ROLANDUS Mire baergalach mac
"M—propria.
CLONFERTEN. domnaill tamaoc.
Manu pro.

les in breit seo ¿uas
mar ta sí scribta.”

"The Order taken betywxt Joh. Wak Wlleg &y Blaks by ye lord Chaunseler.

“A. D. 1553.

Memorand. that whereas Johnn M'Welycke complayned be for the Right honorable St Thomas Cusake kinght, the kinges Majestes Lord Chaunceller of Irelande, againste Richarde Blake and Nichas Blake of Galwy, for to have recompence of suche buldinges and charges as his auncetores was at, for the buldinge of the castell of Kyltullaghmore in the counte of Connaght, supposinge the same to be ther inheri2 E 2

taunce

taunce. Whereas trouthe they had nothinge therein But for the terme of foure score yeres, yeldinge ther for yerlie xxvI. VIII. sterlinge as by a deade thereof shoued forthe by the said Richarde and Nichas made by the auncetors of the said Richard and Nichas unto the grauntfather of the said John more playnler did appere: Yet for as myche as the said parties of ther own free willis submytted them selvys to the order arbytterment and judgment of the said Lorde Chauncellor whiche toke the charge thereof upon hym. Ffyrste did adwarde that the said parties sholde performe all former arbittermentes and judgementes yevine betwixt the said parties for and concerninge the premisses, And alsoe consideringe the powertie of the said John, and that the said Richarde and Nichas shall take the comodyte of the said buldinge done uppon ther inheritaunce, ther for the said Lorde Chaunceller doo adwarde and judge that the said Richard and Nichas shall paye yerlye unto the said John and his assignes duerynge his naturall lyfe and no furdher,.... shillinges foure pence sterlinge abowe the thre shillinges foure pence affor adwarded, Whiche som amountithe to sixe shillinges eight pence sterlinge yerlye: And alsoe shall yelde and paye fyve markes sterling unto the said John, be for this unto hyme adwarded, unles the said Richarde and Nichas do prowe the said sum to be satisfied unto the said John. The hiring thereof by the said L. Channcllor ys appoyntede to the Archebusshoppe of Thombe and to the maior of Galwy. And if it appere unto them that the said fyve markes or any parte therof to be dwe, then the said Richard and Nichas to paye the same within thre monithes after. ffurder the said L. Channcllor doo adward, Judge and decre, then when soe ever the saide John be lafully required by the said Richard or Nichas ther heyres or assignes, shall release to them ther heyres and assignes all the right, title, intreste, possession and demand that he hathe, or of right he oght to have, in or uppon the said towne lordshippe and inheritaunce of Kyltullaghmore, for ever.-In Wittnes whereof, the said L. Chauncller unto this presents hath subscribed his name. Yevyne at Galvy, the VIII. of Apriell Ao. r. r. Edwardi sexti septimo.

"THOMAS CUSAKE CANCEL.

"R. CLANRYCARD.

"CRISTOPHER. TUAMEN.
"ROBERT DYLLON, Attorn.
"ROLANDUS CLONFERTEN."

The following fragment is all that now remains of the "Pettegree," which accompanied the petition of John Blake to the commissioners of the Plantation, in A. D. 1640 (see ante, p. 192). The commencement, which connected some of the early branches with the main stock, is lost.

John

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The said Andrew had three sons, William, now living, descended of the first; Henry Fitz-P., now living, descended of the second; and Marcuse and Sir Richard now living, descended of the third.

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