the Roman Catholics of Ireland. Of these manuscripts the most extensive is that entitled "A Light to the Blind, whereby they may see the dethronement of James the Second, King of England, with a brief narrative of his war in Ireland, and "of the war between the Emperor and the King of France "for the Crown of Spain, A.D. 1711." This work has been ascribed to Nicholas Plunket, member of a family related to that of the Earls of Fingall. It is written in English, and is divided into books, chapters, and sections. Commencing with observations on the change of religion in England and its results, the author, after a retrospect of Irish affairs, describes the career of James II. and narrates various transactions of the times. These include notices of the siege of Londonderry, the state of affairs in different parts of Ireland, the visit of James II. to that country, the battle of the Boyne, the successful defence of Limerick against William III., the battle of Aughrim in 1691, and the subsequent capitulation at Limerick. The author writes as a devoted adherent of James II. and his family, and supplies many details relative to him in France. He also gives a circumstantial account of that King's last illness and death at Saint Germain's in 1701. The work furnishes particulars not given by other authors, and is especially valuable as exhibiting the views and hopes entertained by English and Irish adherents of the family of James II. The work does not appear to have been examined by any English historic investigator except Sir James Mackintosh, who intended to have used it in his projected History of the Revolution of 1688 in England, which remained incomplete on his death in 1832. The extracts which Mackintosh made from the manuscript were inspected by Lord Macaulay, who alluded to them in his History. In addition to "Light to the Blind" and the account of the war of the Spanish succession, there are in the collection of Lord Fingall writings in relation to the restoration of the Stuarts, the enactment of penal laws, and other subjects concerning the interests of the Roman Catholics of Ireland. An account in detail of "Light to the Blind," and particulars of other manuscripts in the collection, will be found in the report made on them to the Commission. Archives of the See of Dublin.-The most ancient extant collection of documents connected with the see of Dublin is that styled "Crede Mihi." It contains writings which range in date from 1178 to the latter part of the thirteenth century, at which period the collection appears to have been made. In addition to instruments specially connected with ecclesiastical affairs, the manuscript contains a considerable number of documents executed by John before he became King of England, and by his successor, Henry III., which are not elsewhere extant. These, and other writings in the collection, afford the most authentic information on the arrangements and relations existing between the Archbishops of Dublin and the Kings of England, in the early stages of the Anglo-Norman settlement in Ireland. The collection also contains the only copies extant of documents of high interest in relation to Henri, Archbishop of Dublin. He, it may be observed, had been Archdeacon of Stafford, and, while Archbishop of Dublin, took an active part in the affairs of England during the reign of King John. In the "Magna Charta," his name appears next to that of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. Hitherto this archiepiscopal collection has been comparatively unknown, except through references to it in the works of Primate Ussher and Sir James Ware, in the seventeenth century. By these erudite investigators it was regarded as the most ancient of its class connected with Ireland. Its contents are now, for the first time, made accessible to the public through the calendar which has been completed for the Commission. Archives of the See of Ossory.-Next in importance to the records of the archiepiscopal see of Dublin are those of the ancient diocese of Ossory. The chief of these documents which have survived are extant in the "Red Book of Ossory." This manuscript derives additional interest from its association with Richard de Lederede, or Ledred, Bishop of Ossory, who was prominently engaged in the prosecution of Dame Alice Kiteler and others for witchcraft and sorcery in 1324. The "Red Book" contains the acts of the synod held by Bishop de Lederede for the regulation of his diocese. In it is also a series of Latin verses, or hymns, composed by the Bishop. These, according to the manuscript, were intended by him to be substituted by ecclesiastics for songs then in use. In addition to the writings especially connected with Bishop de Lederede, the "Red Book contains taxations of the diocese of Ossory and other documents relating to that see; acts of Dublin synods; ordinances by Parliaments in England and Ireland; verses in French; a treatise on aqua-vitæ, its virtues, and effects. The "Red Book of Ossory" was referred to by Sir James Ware as one of the chief authorities consulted by him in the preparation of some of his works. An account of the manuscript and its contents will now appear for the first time. Archives of Jesuits in Ireland.-The documents reported on, extending from 1576 to 1698, consist of original letters and papers, mostly in Latin. The earliest letter is that written in 1576 by James Fitz Maurice, who fell in an abortive movement in Ireland against Queen Elizabeth. The next in point of date is that from Cardinal Bellarmine in 1600. The letters of the first half of the seventeenth century in this collection are addressed to Generals of the Jesuits by Roman Catholic prelates of Ireland, by O'Donnell, Earl of Tirconnell; the Earl of Glamorgan; and the Supreme Council of the Irish Confederation. In the second half of the seventeenth century, the letters include those of Peter Talbot, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, from Cologne and Paris; of Oliver Plunket, Roman Catholic Primate of Ireland, written in Italian; and of James II., in French, relative to the Irish College at Rome. Among the papers are addresses to Popes Clement VIII. and Innocent X. from Irish Roman Catholics; narrations of affairs in Ireland; a treatise addressed to James I. by Peter Lombard, Roman Catholic Primate of Ireland; and a code of rules for the Irish College at Salamanca. Municipal Archives of Waterford.-These muniments extend from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Waterford is known to have been a port of considerable importance before 1171, when it was selected by Henry II. as his landing-place in Ireland. During succeeding centuries it was one of the chief trade centres in the west of Europe, and its citizens were noted for their adherence to the government of England, from which they received many valuable concessions. An unique and most important series of the Waterford records is that now reported on, in which are comprised acts and statutes made by the Mayors and commonalty of Waterford from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century. There are, in addition, particulars of ancient customs, continued within the city and its franchises "time out of mind;" regulations for elections of Mayors and officials; tables of court fees and port duties; incorporations of trade-guilds; and details of transactions between Waterford and the representatives of the English government in Ireland. The collection also contains a series of acts of Mayors and Bailiffs of Waterford, with the names of persons admitted to the freedom of the city. These records will be found of the highest value for illustrating social and commercial history, throwing light on the system of administration of municipal affairs, as well as on the regulations under which the operations of commerce, domestic and foreign, were carried on in past ages. The Waterford Archives have never been used for historical purposes, and until now no calendar has been published to any portion of them. Municipal Archives of Galway. These documents, although analogous to those of Waterford, differ from them in most points. They commence in the fifteenth century, and are the sole surviving writings which supply authentic information on the civic, commercial, and social arrangements in past times of the chief town in the western province of Ireland. The arrange ments were the more peculiar as, owing to the geographical position of Galway, the internal administration of the town was, to a great extent, beyond the immediate control of the English government at Dublin. These records exhibit details of the arrangements by which the Galway authorities legislated for the civic community within their walls, and regulated transactions with the occasionally hostile people of the adjacent districts as well as with traders from England and the continent. The only calendar which has ever been prepared to any portion of these interesting archives is that executed for the Commission. In addition to the preceding, there are other reports in progress on important collections in Ireland, of which particulars will be given hereafter. LONDON: Printed by EYRE and SPOTTIS WOODE, For Her Majesty's Stationery Office. REPORTS ON THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE EARL OF EGLINTON, SIR J. STIRLING MAXWELL, BART., C. S. H. DRUMMOND MORAY, ESQ., C. F. WESTON UNDERWOOD, ESQ., AND G. WINGFIELD DIGBY, ESQ. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, EAST HARDING STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C., and 32, ABINGDON STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.; or JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH, and TODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., LIMITED, 104, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. 1885. [C-4575] |