INDEX

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


The History And Antiquities Of
The County Of Carlow.

by John Ryan's  1833


CHAPTER XXV

Reign of James II A.D. 1685 to A.D. 1688

JAMES, Duke of York, succeeded his brother, the late king. Being a bigoted Roman Catholic, he, with a total disregard to his professions on accession to the throne, commenced and continued a series of tyrannical acts for the furtherance of his sect and the depression of his Protestant subjects. In Ireland, the Earl of Clarendon, as being too moderate, was recalled from the government, and Colonel Richard Talbot, created Earl of Tyrconnel, a furious papist, appointed in his place, one of his first steps was to disarm the Protestant militia, which, as has already been noticed, was established in each county. And not with standing, that the members of these corps had purchased their own arms; they were required, with an utter disregard of justice, to deposit them in the king's store.

Among other unjust and illegal devices for the complete prostration of the Protestant interest, it was resolved to dissolve the corporations ; but being well aware that the members of these bodies would never relinquish their charters unless compelled by law, Tyrconnel at first endeavoured to persuade them to admit Roman Catholics, in order thus to effect their subversion. The resolution, however, of Sir John Knox, then Lord mayor of Dublin, and of the board of aldermen, completely frustrated that project, and he was obliged to bring quo wananto auto inquiries against the corporations in order to effect their destruction.

To prevent the transfer of writs of error to. England, all these vexatious inquisitions or quo wananto, were brought in the Court of Exchequer; where in two terms judgments were obtained against most of the charters of Ireland. The chief baron, a creature of the government, hurried over the causes with the most indecent haste, and did not even allow sufficient time for reply from the defendants. While in no case was just ground of disfranchisement alleged, nor was forfeiture adjudged after a legal trial. On pitiful pretences and paltry grounds were one hundred corporations deprived of the title to their rights and privileges. King's State of the Protestants.

In some cases the ancient charter was superseded by the grant of a new one, by which Romanists were constituted masters and wardens; who, when installed in office, forthwith committed to prison all the old members who would not submit to them.

Among the rest, Carlow did not escape. The charter granted by the late king was abrogated, and another, of which the following is a copy, issued in its stead.

(Please note the spellings as well as the grammar are as seen from the printed copy of the book, the Charter of James II below is prime example of 17th century English).

 CHARTER GRANTED BY JAMES II TO THE BOROUGH OF CARLOW.

 JAMES the SECOND, by the grace of GOD, king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Whereas the town of Gathering is an ancient town in the province of Leinster and county of Catherlagh, and populous, and that the sovereign free burgesses and commonaltye of the said towne had and used divers franchises, liberties, and priviledges, and to bee a bodie politique by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the towne of Catherlagh, all which franchises, liberties, and priviledges, by judgment of our court of Exchequer in Ireland, were seised into our hand; yett wee being willing that a certain order and method may be observed therefore, keeping the peace, and for the belter regulating and governing the said towne, and our people therein inhabiting and resorting to the same, and fore encouraging of trade and traffique within the said towne, know yee, that we of our spetiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved cousin and councellor, Richard, earl of Tyrconnell, and deputy generall and generall governor of our kingdome of Ireland, and according to the tenor and effect of our Ires under our Royall signett and signe manuell beareing date att our court at Windsor, the twentieth day of Sept., in the third yeare of our raigne, and inrolled in the rolls of our high court of chancery in our said kingdom of Ireland, have declared, ordained, and appointed, and wee doe by these presents for us, our heires and successors declare, ordaine, and appoint, that the aforesaid towne of Catherlagh and all and singular castles, messuages, tofts, mills, houses, edifices, buildings, curtilages, gardens, waters, rivere, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, whatsoever, with their appurtenances, lying or being in or within the same towne or village, or the precincts thereof, shall from hence forth for ever bee one intire and free burrough of ittselfe, and shall for ever hereafter bee called and knowne by the name of the burrough of Catherlagh; and all and singuler the aforesaid premisses into one intire and free burrough of ittselfe, by the name of the burrough of Catherlough, wee doe for us, our heires, and successors, erect,constitute, make and ordaine by these presents; and that the said burrough and the franchises ana liberties thereof, shall extend to the same mearea and bounds that the burrough of Catherlough and the precincts thereof did formerly extend themselves; and further, wee doe by these present?, will, ordaine, and appoint, that within the said borrough there bee one body corporate and politique, consisting of one soveraigne and twenty tour free burgesses and a commonaltie, and that all the inhabitants within the said towne and lands, aforesaid, bee and for ever hereafter shall bee by force and vertue of these presents one bodie corporate and politique, in matter, deed and name, by the mime of the soveraigne, free burgesses, and conmionaltio of the bin-rough of Catherlough, and them by the name of the soveraigne free burgesses and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlough, aforesaid, into one body corporate and politique, in. deed and name, really and fully, wee doe for us, our heires, and successors, by these presents erect, make, ordaine, and constitute, and that by the same name they shall have perpetual succession, and that they by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses, and comtnonaltie, of the said burrough of Catherlough, bee and for ever hereafter shall bee persons able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, and possesse, land, tenements, liberties, priviledges, jurisdictions, franchises, and hereditaments, whatsoever, of what nature or kinde soever they bee, to them and their successors, in fee and for ever, and alsoe goods and chatties, and all other things whatsoever, of whatsoever nature or kinde they bee, and alsoe to give, grant, demise, and assigne lands, tenements, and hereditaments., goods and chatties, and to doe and execute another matters and things by the name aforesaid, and that by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlagh, they may plead and bee impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and bee defended, before us, our heirs, arid successors, and before whatsoever justice and judges of us, our heires, and successors, in whatsoever courts of us, our heires, and succssors, and elsewhere, wheresover of and in all manner of actions, suites, pleas, quarrells, and demands, whatsoever, against them, or by them, in any manner to bee prosecuted, or obtained. And wee doe further for us, our heires. and successors, give and grant to the soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlough, and to their successors, and wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, ordaine, constitute, and declare, that they the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors for ever, shall have full power and authority to choose, returne, and send to discreete and fitt men to serve and attend in every parliament hereafter to bee held in our said kingdome of Ireland, and that such men from tyme to tyme be chosen, returned, and sent, may have full power and authority to debate and consult of such affairs and matters as shall bee, there declared and propounded to them, and others, and thereupon freely to give their votes, and to doe and execute all other things whatsoever, as fully and freely as any other burgesses of any other ancient burrough in our said kingdome of Ireland, or in our kingdome of England, in parliaments there have accustomed to doe and execute; wherefore wee will, and these presents for us, our heires, and successors, wee doe give and grant to the aforesaid soveraigne and burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors, and also wee doe for us, our heires, and successors, require and command all sheriffs, officers, and ministers whatsoever, of us, our heires, and successors, of our said county of Catherlough, for the tyme being, to whome any our writt or writts of election of burgesses of parliament within our said county of Catherlough att any tyme, or tymes, hereafter shall be directed, that every such sheriffe, officer, or minister to whome any such our writt, or writts, shall be directed, shall make their precepts to the soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors for the electing and returneing two burgesses to serve in parliament according to the forme and effect of the same writt or writts, and these our letters patents or the inrollment thereof shall bee as well to the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough and their successors to all and singular the sheriffes, officers, and minister?, whatsoever, of us, our heires, and successors, a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe. And to the intent that it may appeare to after times, that this new corporation was att first composed of honest and discreet men, wee doe for us, our heires, and successors, make, nominate, and constitute, Garrett Quigley, merchant, to be the first and moderne soveraigne of the said burrough, to continue in the same office untill the feast of St. Michaell the Archangell, next after the date of these presents, and afterwards untill another bee elected and sworne, if in the interim hee bee not- removed, whome and every other soveraigne hereafter to be named, within the said burrough, wee will shall bee remove- able for misbehaviour in their said office, att ye. will and pleasure of ye- burgesses of ye- said burrough for the tyme being, or ye. maior parte of them, and we doe by these presents constitute, ordaine, and appointe, that ye- said Garret Quigley, before hee take uponiimto execute the said office of soveraigne of the said burrough, by vertue of these presents, doe take the usual oath of duely and faithfully executing the said office, and alsoe the oathes ensueing, viz. I doe hereby acknowledge, professe, testifie, and declare, in my conscience before God and the world, that our soveraigne lord, king James, is lawfull and rightfull king of this realme and other his majesties dominions and countries, and I will beare faith and true allegiance to his majestie, his heires, and successors, and him and them will defend to the utmost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts, whatsoever, which shall be made against his or their crowne and dignity, and doe my best endeavour to disclose and make knowne unto his majestie, his heires, and successors, or to the lord deputy, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdome for the tyme being, all treasons, all treaterous conspiracies, which I shall know or heere to bee intended against his majestie, his heires, and successors, or any of them, and I doe make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily, willingly and truely, upon the true faith of a Christian, soe helpe mee God, &c., and I doe also declare and believe, that itt is not lawfull upon any pretence whatsoever, to take armes against the king, and that I doe abbor that traytorous position of taking armes by his authority against his person, or against those that are commissioned by him, doe helpe me God, &c. The said oathes to be taken before the last soveraigne, or some justice of peace within the said county of Catherlough, whome we doe hereby impower and authorize to administer to the said Garret Quigley the said oathes. And wee doe likewise for us, our heires, and successors, make, nominate, and constitute, our trusty and well beloved Sir Laurence Esmond, baronet, Henry Berkeley, Esq., John Warren, Esq., Pierce Bryan, Esq. Maior Charles Cavanagh, Insigne Callaghane McCallaghan, Francis Eustace, Esq. John Baggott, Esq , Patrick Wall, Esq., Hubert Kplly, Esq., Marcus Baggott, Esq., Edmond Jones, Esq., William Cooke, Esq., Oliver Grace, Esq., John Dwyer, Esq., John Grace, gent., Pierce Byrne, gent., Edmond Dwyer, apothecary, John Browne, gent., Edmond Carrell, merchant, Thomas Koegan, merchant, Henry Webber, merchant, Thomas Chanders, nayler, and Samuoll Barrett, gent., to bee the first and moderne twentie-four free burgesses of the said burrough, to continue in the said office of free burgesses of the said burrough during their severall lives, unlesse that they or any of them in the mean time by reason of some provision in these presents, or for misbehaviour, or other reasonable cause, shall be removed from the said office, or offices, and wee doe likewise by these presents constitute, ordaine, and appoint, that the said burgesses and all and every burgesse or burgesses hereafter to bee named, shall before they or any of them bee admitted to execute the said place, or places of free burgesses of the said burrough by value of these presents, doe take the usual oathe of duely and faithfully executing the place of a burgesse, and the other oathe of fidelitie aforesaid, the said oathes to hee taken before the soveraigne of the said towne or burrough for the tyme being, whome wee, our heirs, and successors, doe hereby impower and authorize to administer the said oathes. And wee doe likewise make, constitute,' and appoint the inhabitants of the said towne and soe many other persons as the soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being shall admitt into the freedome of the said burrough, to bee of the communitie of the said burrough, and wee doe, further, by these presents ordain, constitute, and appointe, that noe person or persons that shall hereafter bee elected soveraigne or burgesse of the said burrough of Catherlough shall hee capable of holding, enioying, or executing any the said offices, places, or employments, untill he or they (hall have taken the aforesaid oathes before the last soveraigne, or before some justice of the peace of the said county, or before two or more of the said burgesses whome respectively wee for us, our heirs, and successors, doe impower to administer the same. And our will and pleasure further is, and wee doe by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, grant to the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough and their successors, that the said soveraigne and free burgesses, of the said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors, shall and may,on the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist, yearly, for ever, if it bee not Sunday, and if itt bee Sunday, then the next day following, assemblethemselves, in some convenient place within the said burrough, and that the said sovoraigne and free burgesses, so assembled, or the maior part of them, before they depart may there elect one of the more discreet free burgesses of the said burrough, to the office of sovcraigne of the said burrough, who having taken the aforesaid several oathes in manner as aforesaid, may enter upon, execution of the said office for one year, from the feast of St. Michaell the archangell, then next following, and from thenceforth untill another of the free burgesses of the said burrough bee duely chosen and sworn to that office, in manner as aforesaid. And. further of our like special' grace, certain knowledge, and meere nwcon, wee will, and by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors, that if and as often as it shall happen that the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being after election and before hee is sworn, or within the yeare after hee is chosen and sworn to the office of soveraigne of the said burrough, as aforesaid, shall dye, or his office any wayes become voide, that then, and soe often the soveraigne and ffree burgesses of the said burrough and their successors, or the maior part of them, as the case shall happen, shall and may, within ten dayes after such vacancye, choose another fitt person of the said .number of the free burgesses to the scrveraigneshipp of the said burrough for the governing of the said towne, for one whole yeare from the feast of St. Michaell the archangel), then next following, or during the residue of the said years, as the case shall happen, and that every person or persons to the soveraigneeshipp of the said burrough soe as aforesaid chosen, shall and may execute the office of soveraigne of the said burrough for one whole yeare, from the feast of St. Michaell the archangell then next following, or for the residue of the said year as the case shall happen, and from thence forth, untill another bee chosen and sworn to the said office, in manner aforesaid, hee first taking the aforesaid severall oathes in such manner as in these presents is sett forth. And further, because the soveraigne for the tyme being may many tymes have just occasion to bee absent from the said burrough of Catherlough, either for the publique affairs thereof, or on hw own urgent occasions, wee doe therefore, for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie and their successors, that the said Garret Quigley, and his successors, soveraignes of the said burrough for the tyme being, and every of them shall have full power and authority from tyme to tyme, during his or their tyme of government, with the consent of the free burgesses of the said towne for the tyme being, or the maior part of them, to substitute in his absence some discreet and substantiall person, being one of the number of the burgesses of the said towne and burrough, to be the deputy soveraigne during the absence or will and pleasure of such soveraigne for the tyrne being ; wee doe, by these presents, fully and absolutely, authorize the said deputy eoveraigne to doe and execute all things whatsoever belonging to tho said office or place of soveraigne, during the absence, or will and pleasure of such soveraigne, in as large and ample manner as if the said soveraigne himself were personally present ; such deputy soveraigne, before hoe enter upon the said office, first taking the aforesaid severall and respective oathes before the said soveraigne then present, whome wee doe hereby authorize duely to administer the same. And further, our will and pleasure is, and wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, make, ordaine, and appoint the soveraigne of the burrough of Catherlough, for the tyme being, to bee a justice of the peace within the said county of Catherlough, and within the bounds and limitts of the said burrough, during the tyme bee shall bee soveraigne; and wee doe hereby give full power and authoritie unto the soveraigne of the said bur- rough for the tyme being, to doe and execute, all and every act and acts, thing and things, whatsoever, within the said bounds and limits of the said county of Catherlough, in as ample manner as any justice of the peace within our said county of Catherlough may or ought to doe by the laws and statutes of this realme; hefe taking the usuall oathe of duely and faithfully executing the place of a justice before any two of the burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or before the last soveraigne, or before some justice of the peace of the said county, to whome by these presents wee give power respectively to administer the said oathes. And of our more especiall grace, certain knowledge, and mere mocon, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, wee will, and by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors, that if any of the free burgesses of the saidburrough in these presents named, or hereafter to bee chosen, shall dya or bee removed from their office, every of which burgesses herein as aforesaid named, and of the burgesses hereafter named, misbehaving themselves in that office, our will is, that they be removeable art the pleasure of the soveraigne and burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior part of them, within seven days after the death or removall of such free burgesse, or free burgesses, shall and may assemble themselves in some convenient place within the said burrough, and that the said soveraigne and free burgesses being so assembled, or the maior part of them before they depart, shall and may elect one or soe many as shall bee wanting of the aforesaid number of twentie-foure free burgesses, of the better and more discrette inhabitants and commonaltie of the said burrough, unto the. place or places of that free burgesse, or those free burgesses soe dead or removed from their aforesaid offices to continue in the same office or offices during their naturall lives, unless for misgovernment or mis Behaviour in that behalfe, they or anyone of them shall bee removed;and that every person soe chosen to the office of a free burguess of the said burrough, before hee bee admitted to execute that office, before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, or before the residue of the free burgesses of the said burrough then surviving, or the maior parte of them, shall take the usuall oath, well and faithfully to exercise the office of a free burgesse of the said burrough, and the oathes of fidelity aforesaid, to which said soveraigne for the tyme being, or the free burgesses or the maior part of them, for the tyme being, wee doe by these presents give full power and authority to administer the aforesaid severall oathes to such free burgesses and soe as often as the like case shall happen. Andfurther of our more especial grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that they and their successors shall and may have and hold a court in some convenient place within the said burrough, to bee held before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, and to hold pleas in the said court every Tuesday, from weeke to weeke, of all and singular actions of debt, covenant trespasse, detinue, contract, and personal demands, whatsoever, happening or arrising, in or within, the said borough or the liberties thereof, not exceeding the sum of five marks sterling, and that that court be reputed and accounted a court of record for ever. And our further will and pleasure is, and wee doe by these presents of our like speciall grace, certain knowledge, and meer mocon, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, for us, our heires, and successors, grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and coramonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that they and their successors from tyme to tyme as often as they shall thinke fitt, shall and may congregate and assemble themselves in some convenient place within the said burrough, and in their assemble there to make, appoint, and establish such acts, ordinances, and by laws for the good and wholesome government of the said burrough and of the inhabitants thereof, as they or the maior part of them/shall think fitt and necessary, and that they may have power and authority to punish, chastise, and correct by fines and pecuniary mulcts, whatsoever, such persons as are offenders against such ordinances and by lawes, soe that the said acts, ordinances and by lawes, fines and mulcts bee reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the lawes and statutes of our said kingdom of Ireland. And further wee will, and by these presents, for us, our heires and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that they may have a guild mercatory within the said burrough, and the same or the like common seale, which the soveraigne, free burgesses, and commoualtie of the said towne lately had, to bee engraven with such forme and inscription as they shall thinke best to serve for the affairs of the aid burrough, tor ever, and that they may from tyme to tyme, for ever, as often as occasion shall require, erect, constitute and ordaine of themselves two serjants att mace and other inferior officers, and necessary for the better government of the said burrough respectively, and to continue in their office during their good behaviour, or att the will and pleasure of the said sovereigns and free burgesses of the said burrough, or the maior part of them, and that every such serjant, officer, and minister before hee bee admitted to execute his office, doe take hia corporall oathe, and tieutly used before the soveraigne of the said burrongh, for ins tyme being, well and faithfully to execute his place and behave himself, and the other oathes of fidelitye aforesaid. And further wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant to the said soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie and their successors, that they and their successors shall and may have within the said burrough, for ever hereafter, a towne clerke  and wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, ordaine, constitute, and make John Quigley to bee the first and moderne towne clerke of the said burrough, to continue in that office during his naturall life, unless in the mean time hee bee removed by virtue of some provision in these presents, or for misbehaviour, whome and all others hereafter succeeding him in the said office in such case, wee will to bee removeable by the soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior part of them; the said office of towne clerke to bee exercised by himself or his sufficient deputy; and that as often as the said office shall become vacant by death, or removall, thatt then the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior part of them, shall and may choose another fitt person to bee towne clerke of the said burrough, to continue in that office during his naturall life, unless hee bee removed as aforesaid, and that the said modern towne elerke, and all others hereafter succeeding him in the said office, shall, before they or any of them be admitted to execute the said office, take the usuall oathe of well and faithfully executing the said office, and the oaths of fidelity aforesaidbefore the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, whome wee doe always for us, our heires, and successors, impower and authorize to administer the said oathes. And further, of our speciall grace, certain knowledge, and mere mocon, wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie of the said burrough and their successors, for ever, that the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, for ever, shall bee elerke of the markett within the said burrough and the liberties thereof, and thatt hee shall have from tyme to tyme full power and authority to doe and execute all and every thing and things to the office of the said elerke of the markett within the said burrough belonging, or in any wise appertaining, soe that no other elerke of the matkett of us, our heires, and successors, shall enter into or intermeddle therein. And further, of our speciall grace, certain knowledge, and meere mocon, for us, our heires, and successors, for the better suppor of the said towne and for carrying on the public workes thereof, wee have given and by these presents doe give and grant unto the aid soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough of Catherlough and to their successors all and singular the castles, messuages, houses, tofts, gardens, orchards, curtilages, lands and tenements, reversions, remainders and all such and so many the same and the like incomes, services, customes, petty duties, pavements, gattagca, feares, markette, usuages, authorities, jurisdictions, franchises, liberties, and priviledges, and all other hereditaments whatsoever which the soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlough aforesaid, att any time before the said judgment was given against the said burrough had possessed, occupied, used or enioyed by reason of any charters, letters patents, grants, prescriptions, antient customes, or any other lawfull tytle whatsoever or which they or any of them were accustomed to have, possesse, occupie, use or enioy; to bee held of us, our heires, and successors as of our castle of Dublin in free and common soccage. SAVEINO alwayes, and out of this charter or grant, itt is excepted and reserved for us, our heires, and successors, all titles, rightes, rents, services, customes, subsidies, poundage, excize, priviledges, and demands whatsoever, which wee before the said judgment was given had held or occupied in right of our crowne in or within the said burrough, liberties and franchises thereof, otherwise then by reason of discontinuance, forfeitures, or dissolution of the liberties and franchises soe seised unto our hands as aforesaid; saveing and reserving to the chiefe governor or governors of us, our heires, and successors of our said kingdome of Ireland, power to approve of any recorder or towne clerke, hereafterto bee elected within the said burrough, and that now suchrecorder or towne clerke shall exercise any such office untill ee bee approved of bysuch chiefe governor or governors, in writing, under his or their hand. Provided alwayes, and by these presents for us, our heires, and successors wee reserve andgive to our deputy generall and other chiefe governor, or governors, of us, our heiresand successors of our kingdome of Ireland for the tyme being full power and authorityby order of the privy councell of us, our heires, and successors, in our said kingdomeof Ireland, written under their hands as well the soveraigne as any of the burgessesand other officers of the said burrough of Catherlough, by these presents named andconstituted, or that shall hereafter be chosen and constituted, at the will and pleasureof our deputy generall or other chief governor or governors of us, our heires, andsuccessors of our said kingdome of Ireland by any such order of our privye councell ofIreland from tyme to tyme will remove the soveraigne, or any of such burgesses andofficers, or will declare them to bee amoved from thence forth from their officesrespectively, that all such person and persons, is, are, and will bee if so facto amoved,and removed, without any further processe, soe as often as the like case shallhappen, any thing in these presents to the contrary notwithstanding. And further, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, wee doe by these present! for us, our heires, and successors, grant unto the said eoveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie of the said Inn.rough of Catherlough and all theire successors, for ever, that the soveraigne, free burgesses for the tyme being shall have power to admitt persons to bee free of the said burrough, they takeing the usuall oath of a freeman, and the oathes of tidelitie aforesaid, before the soveraigne lor the tyme being, to whome wee give power to administer tha Mime ; and that these our letters patents or the enrollment thereof and every clause and article therein conteyned shall bee construed, interpreted and adiudged to the greatest advantage, benefit!, and favour of the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors against us, our heires, and successors, as well in all our courts, and else where, in our said kingdome of Ireland as else where, wheresoever, without any other confirmation, lycence or toleration here after to bee procured or obtained; notwithstanding that our writt of ad quod damnum, hath not issued, to enquire of the premisses before the makeing of these our letters patents, and notwithstanding the statute of mortmaine, or the statute made at Limerick in the three and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight for lands given by the king; and notwithstanding, any other defect, or any other cause, matter, or thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof although noe expresse mention, &c. PROVIDED ALWAYES, that these our letters patents bee inrolled in the rolls of our high court of Chancery in our said kingdome of Ireland, within the space of six months next ensueing the date of these presents, any statute, &c. IN WITNESSES whereof wee have caused these our letters to bee made patents. Witnesse our aforesaid deputy generall, and generall governor of our said kingdome of Ireland. Dublin, the foure and twentieth day of February in the fourth yeare of our raigne.                                                                                                                          END

The sovereign and burgesses thus appointed were, with scarcely a single exception, Roman Catholics. It will also be observed, that the new corporation were rendered complete slaves of the government by the absolute power over them reserved to it. Thus were exertions made to propagate tyranny as well as Romanism. Protestants could never submit to such thraldom, and accordingly, many of them now removed to England.

It is worthy of remark, that in 1687, every sheriff appointed in the kingdom was a Romanist, with the exception of one, who was admitted by mistake. Sir Laurence Esmond was sheriff of the county of Carlow.

A.D. 1688. On the 4th of July, a charter was granted to Old Leighlin, empowering it to send members to parliament. As usual the officers seem to have been Roman Catholics. The following is a list of their names:

Sovereign — Nicholas Keally.

Burgesses — 28.

Pierce, lord Viscount Galmoy,    Nicholas Archdekin, gent.
Dudley Bagnal, Esq.    Gilbert Wall, gent.
Morgan Kavanagh, Esq.    Michael Wall, gent.
Patrick Nash, Esq.    Hugh Fagan, gent.
Theobald Denn, Esq.    Thomas Purcell, gent.
Patrick Wall, Esq.    Richard Keally, merchant.
William Cooke, Esq.    Theobald Purcell, gent.
Patrick Lambert, Esq.    Pierce Hagherin, gent.
Edward Wall, Esq.    Henry Rickens, gent.
Thomas Keally, Esq.    Ferdinand Brent, gent.
Richard Keally, gent.    Pierce Poor, merchant.
William Kearney, gent.    William Reddy, gent.
Ignatius Nash, gent.    Richard Butler, gent.
James Keally, gent.    Nicholas Nash, gent.
Jas. Hackett, Esq. Town Clerk.    

The new magistrates thus appointed acted with little or no regard to justice. When a difference occurred between a Protestant and a Roman Catholic, it required but the complaint of the latter to obtain the committal of his opponent to prison; and the magistrates, flushed with their unaccustomed authority, had no hesitation in issuing warrants for the arrest of persons of the highest rank. To enter into any detail of the misgovernment, oppressive acts, or tyrannical proceedings of James II. or of his instruments, would be inappropriate in a local work. Suffice it to say, that the Protestants, who formed the majority of his subjects, unable to endure the unrelenting persecution under which they now groaned, applied for aid to William, prince of Orange, who, at the head of the kingdom of Holland, had made himself feared and respected by the highest powers in Europe. On the 5th November, 1688, he landed on the British shores; which event virtually terminated the brief reign of the bigotted, despotic, and ill-fated James II.

 ("Spelling are as seen in the book")


CHAPTER XXVI


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