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 Bristol, and Nicholas Kent, Burgess of Galway in Ireland, and in as much as they have given surety that they would not presume to make war, or afford cause of making war, against any of the faithful Irish, or attempt any thing against the form of the truces entered into between us: we have granted and given licence to them, that they, with as many men at arms as they shall chuse to have and provide at their own expenses, may take their course for, and pass over to our said realm of Ireland, in four ships called the Christopher, the Trusty, the Nicholas and the May of Bristol, and there may make war against the rebels and enemies of us, being in the said town of Galway; which in times past was in our liegeance and obedience, until now of late, that by one Sir William Burgh, Knight, by the assent and treason of certain traitors therein, the said town was taken in war; and also the islands of Arons, which always lie full of gallies to ensnare, capture and plunder our liege English. To the end and • Id. de annis 4 and 5 Hen. IV. 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 10%. 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. Rot. Mem. 3 Hen. VI. • Cox. 1 Rot. Pat. 20 Hen. VI.---On 21st April, 1445, Alexander Lynch and Nicholas Skeret, merchants, were appointed collectors of the above customs, in the ports of Sligo and Galway.-Rot. Pat. 23 Hen. VI.-On 22d April, 1450, Edmund Lynche and William Allen (or Den) of Galway, were appointed to the same.-Rot. Mem. 28. Hen. VI. and on 21st April, 1455, James Bodikyn was appointed comptroller of the customs, in the same ports. Rot. Mem. 33 Hen. VI.-Soon after this period, the prisage of Galway was granted to Edmond Lord Dunboyne, during his life, for signal services against the Irish, and for taking Con O'Conor prisoner, and delivering him to the lord deputy.-Ware. Corporation Book. Liber A. 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 cure 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. m 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, i Unprinted Statute, Rolls Office. A Ware. * Cox. 1 Essay on Irish Coins. Rot. Pat. 4 Edw. IV. p. 11, m. 29. Tur. Lond. I 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. CHAP. IV. FROM 1484 TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE IRISH REBELLION IN 1641. Wardenship of Galway instituted by the archbishop of Tuam, and confirmed by Pope Innocent VIII.-Charter of Richard III.-Remarkable instance of inflexible justice Fortifications built-Great fire in the town--Battle of Knoc-Tuadh-Hospital built, and several improvements made-Disputes between Galway and Limerick-Prisage of wines claimed-Orders of Henry VIII. to the inhabitants—The lord deputy, Grey, honorably received in the town, and several Irish chiefs come in, and submitSir William de Burgh created earl of Clanrickard, and deprived of all power in Galway Charter of Henry VIII.-Mercantile bye-laws-Charters of Edward VI. -The earl of Sussex, chief governor, arrives in Galway, and is splendidly received -Sir Henry Sidney, his successor, arrives in town-Insurrection of the Mac-anEarlas-Their defeat-Charter of Elizabeth-The lord justice, Sir William Pelham, arrives in town, and confirms the charter-Sir John Perrot, lord deputy, comes to Galway-Prisage of wines in the town, established by the earl of Ormond-One of the vessels of the Spanish armada wrecked in the bay-The lord deputy, Sir William Fitzwilliams, arrives in town, puts several of the Spaniards to death-Sir William Russel, lord deputy, arrives and investigates the state of the town and provinceThe town besieged by Hugh Ruadh O'Donnel-Licentiousness of the inhabitants of the country-The chief governor, lord Mountjoy, visits the town-St. Augustine's fort built-Charter of James I.-The town erected into a separate jurisdiction -The lord deputy, Viscount Falkland, arrives in Galway-His munificence—Fort of Ballymanagh built-Several fortifications erected-Splendid entry into Galway and reception of Viscount Wentworth, lord deputy-His oppressive proceedings against a jury of the county-Concluding observations. THE town of Galway having considerably increased in wealth and opulence during the two last centuries, (by its constant and gradually extending commerce with the nations of Europe, but particularly with France and Spain, from whence its merchants annually imported vast quantities of wine,) and the principal part of the inhabitants being connected together by the ties of kindred, (which were daily augmenting by frequent intermarriages,) and by the more powerful influence of mutual interest; the great and continual object of their care and solicitude was, to prevent any intercourse with the native Irish of the surrounding country, from whose vindictive dispositions (according to the accounts of the |