Full text of "Journal"
VOLUME IV. No,
ournAl of che
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CONTENTS.
Sir Richard Bingham's Government of Con?
aaught. (continued). By H. T. Knox.
The Sept of O'Maolale. By J. Mabtyn,
Fragment of Cross near Ballynew. By M,
Redington
V
The Knights Hospitallers in Co, Galway, By*
0 Litton Falkijser, . -
211
The French in Mayo, 1798.
D' Alton
By Rev, I<; , A ,
m
Will of Geofirey French. By Mabtin J. B:;, ca ; 226
Roland de Burgo, Bishop of Clonfert.
Mabtin J. Blak ..... 230
The Old Borough of Tuam. By Richaed J,
Kelly. - -"..'- - - - 233
Notes; Bibliography, etc. - - - - 210
List of Membees, etc, . - - 241
jy/fiyrumt.M/tJx
ilMMUHMI k!m$V fMBMNHMHIHI
[ 181 ]
JOURNAL
OF THE
dmitoau ^rtb^0l00ti:al atttr Htstarkal
VOL. IV. No. iv.
Sir Richard Bingham's
Government of Connaught.
By H. T. KNOX.
(Continued from p. 176.)
Taking the two declarations together it may be said that every
one of position in the area of rebellion, excepting Richard Bourke
the Devil's Hook's son, and excepting the Joys who were in
O'Flaherty's country, joined in giving evidence in Sir Richard's
favour. These declarations were made in answer to the set of
charges which Dillon and Barkley had lodged, which were coming
on for trial before the Lord Deputy and Council. They seem to
state the exact truth so far as we can ascertain it from contem-
porary or nearly contemporary records, and are not contradicted
upon any point,
We have not got the particulars of the course of trial, but
the final stage was on the 20th February 1587, when the Council
acquitted Sir Richard of the charges brought against him by
Theobald Dillon, finding that they were maliciously brought and
were not based on any probable just cause or matter, and Sir R's
L
182 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL 80CIETY.
"credit rather increased by defending so sufficiently and truly
(as they fell out) the malicious information of the said Theobald."
(CXXVIII, 50),
Thus ended the first set of charges. The Book of Dillon's
complaints is not extant, but the substance can be gathered from
the Declarations. The only breach of the composition which
was specified is that which was committed by Sir J, Perrott him-
self, regarding which Sir R, notes in his answer to a charge in
1596 that Sir J. is still in arrears for beeves taken up.
In May 1587 the Queen withdrew Sir Richard temporarily
for service in Flanders. Wallop wrote to Burghley that Bingham
kept Connaught in such peace and order that in these bad years
it yielded corn for the other provinces and plenty of cattle, and
that some from the Pale even settled there. The composition
rents were being paid in money, a matter which marked a period
of peace and prosperity.
Sir Richard left Ireland in July. His place was taken by
Sir Thomas Le Strange, and in September by his brother George
Bingham. The Bishops of Tuam, Clonfert, Elphin and Kilmac-
duagh, Lords Clanricard and Athenry, principal O'Briens and
MacNamaras, the chief O'Maddens, O'Kellys, O'Flahertys, O'Con-
nors, O'Rourk and Burkes, and Galway Merchants, a represent-
ative list of the great men of Connaught, signed a certificate
declaring the good government of Connaught by Sir R. and pray-
ing that he may return, (British Museum, Cotton MSS. Titus
B. XIII. p. 418, dated 14 Sept. and CLV. 22. i., dated 20 Oct..
both are copies). The Queen restored Sir R. to the Government
of Connaught in the spring of 1588. He reached Athlone in May.
When Sir Donnell O'Conor Sligo died on 31st Dec. 1587,
Donogh O'Conor claimed the succession, to which, if the legiti-
mate son of Cahal, he was entitled by the limitation in the grant
to Sir Donnell. Sir Richard was in England in the early part of
1588. He must have left the Court early in March as he was at
West Chester on the 13th, This is of some importance because
the first inquisition was taken on the 4th March. The Queen
had herself ordered him not to surrender the Manor to Donogh,
from which it may be inferred that her Councillors had already
some doubt of the honesty of purpose of Sir John Perrott, Com-
missioners appointed by Sir John held an inquisition on the 4th
March, which found that Donogh was legitimate. Sir Richard
called the attention of the Government to this finding, asserting
that it was improperly made. The Escheator of Connaught held
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OP CONNAUGHT. 183
a second inquisition, Ad Melius Inquirendum, which found that
Donogh was illegitimate, Under orders from England Sir W.
Fitzwilliam issued a special commission to Justice Gardener,
Justice Walsh, and Sir Richard Bingham, who held an inquisition
on the 8th June, which found that Donogh was illegitimate. By
Sir Richard's recommendation Donogh was given the Manor of
Sligo by grant, excepting the Castle and lands of Sligo, which
were retained for the Queen's service. This was in accordance
with the feelings of the Irish, who paid no attention to illegiti-
macy at this time.
By his exposure of the corrupt dealing of the first set of
commissioners Sir Richard made bitter enemies of the Bishop of
Meath and of Sir Robert Dillon who had been on that Commission.
The Government of England was satisfied that the first inquisi-
tion had been taken corruptly. It was a charge against Sir John
Perrott that he had not put the Governor or the Escheator of
Connaught on the first commission. Though Sir Richard in-
formed Perrott that the Queen had in person ordered him not to
deliver the Manor to Donogh, yet he was obliged to do so when
ordered peremptorily the third time, being authorised in deference
to his protest to retain only the Castle, as he explained to the
Queen on the 28th May. It is remarkable that the subsequent
proceedings, the finding of the fresh inquisition, which O'Donovan
cannot have been ignorant of, are ignored in the account of this
transaction given in pp. 201, 202, 203, of The 0' Conors of Con-
naught, which is based on his notes.. The opposite opinions
which prevailed at the time are ignored. (CXXXVI. 13, 14.
CXXXIX. 36, CXL. 56, CXLI. 53, 54, 55. Brit. Mus. Cotton MSS.
Titus. B. XIII. p. 420, 421, 423, 425).
During the month of September ships of the Armada were
wrecked on the coast or came in for shelter. The Armada caused
very great anxiety to the Government and excited the minds of
Irish chieftains. A proclamation was issued ordering all men to
bring in Spaniards under pain of death. It was generally obeyed
in Connaught and Thomond. O'Malleys in Clare Island, Bourkes
in Tirawley, slew many who were cast ashore. Many were sur-
rendered. In December it was reported that 1100 had been put
to the sword.
Don Alonso de Leyva and 600 Spaniards were reported to be
fortifying themselves in the Castle of Ballycroy, probably Doona
Castle, and afterwards to have joined 800 at Torrane Castle.
Sir R. went against them at once. On reaching Castlemacgarrett
184 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
on the 14th Sept. he heard that they had left again, but as 500
were reported to have landed at Broadhaven, he went on to
Donamona. Here Justin MacDonnell was hanged for treason,
for having conspired with the Devil's Hook to bring Don Alonso
and his men inland and having sent guides, having forbidden the
country people to supply food, and having incited the people to
collect in order to force Sir Richard, who had but a small
force, to retire. (CXXXVI. 41, vi., 43, ii. 58. CXXXVIL 1, L).
At the end of Sept. Sir Richard reported that all were quiet
but the Devil's Hook, Sir M. O'Flaherty, and O'Rourk, who
refused to give up their Spaniards. They held them as useful
fighting men.
The Devil's Hook had never come in or submitted at any
time. He lived out in the Isles and Erris, supported by the
O'Malleys and Bourkes. As long as he kept quiet no notice was
taken. But now he and others began to stir. The coming of the
Spaniards had raised hopes and excitement, and those who kept
any Spaniards thereby made themselves rebels by supporting the
Queen's enemies. A general rising was feared. About the 1st
of November Walter ne Mully, of the family of Oloonagashel, killed
one of John Browne's servants at night, but Browne procured
protection for him for that. This must he referred to by Sir
Richard in his answer to the 106 — 9 objections that Walter was
himself saved by Browne whose throat he cut. Walter's brother
John killed two men from the Pale, near Ballinrobe. About this
time Sir M. O'Flaherty met them and the Devil's Hook and the
Sliocht Ulick and the Joys on Inishmaine and in Partry. The
Devil's Hook, the Blind Abbot's sons and others collected 80 to
100 men and went about the country robbing and living on the
people, coming as far south as Lahinch and near Ballinrobe.
(CXLIII. 12. ii., CXLVIII. 41).
John Browne being Sheriff reported these outrages to Sir
Richard, who ordered him to get forces ready. This was about
the 1st of January, 1589. But it was not until the 13th Jan. that
he issued the order for action in the often quoted commission
which I give in full.
'« For as much as the protected Burkes in Mayo have not only broken
their protections but daily annoy and spoil Hor Majesty's subjects, Mr.
Browne is authorized to levy soldiers and to prosecute the said traitors and
disobedient persons with fire and sword, and to prey, burn, and spoil tlnir
maintainors and relievers ; also to take sufficient meat and drink for him s< If
and companies when and where necessary, paying such prices for the samo
as Her Majesty in like cases of sorvico is accustomed." (CXL— -20).
Sir RICHARD BINGHAM, Knt.
(From the Portrait in possession of the Earl of Lucan.)
SIR EICHAED BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OF CONNAUGHT. 185
Copy of Inscription on the Portrait of Bingham,
now at laleham.
^ir Utrljartr gingham, lUtigfrt,
of the ancient family of the Binghams of Bingham
Melcombe in the County of Dorset. He was from
his youth trained up in military affairs, served
in the time of Queen Mary at St. Quentin, in the
Western Isles of Scotland, in the Isle of Candia,
under the Venetians at Cabo, Chrio, and the famous
battle of Lepanto against the Turks, in the Civil
wars of France, in the Netherlands, and at Smer=
wick where the Romans and Irish were vanquished.
Afterwards he was made Governor of Connaught,
where he overthrew the Irish Scots, expelled the
traitrous O'Rourke, suppressed divers rebellions,
and that with small charges to Her Majesty, main =
tained the Province in a flourishing state for 13
years. Finally for his services he was made Mar=
shall of Ireland, Governor and General of Leinster.
When at Dublin he dyed January 19th, 1598.
Note. — January 1598 is January 1599 according to the present computation.
[In Thorns' Anecdotes and Traditions, p. 18, we read " Sir
Bichard Bingham was a man eminent both for spiritt and martiall
knowlege, but of a very small stature."]
186 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Though it was intended to keep the matter secret, the prep-
arations could not be made without observation, and, whether
the mere collection of forces was a sufficient warning or informa-
tion leaked out, the robber bands retired before Browne. When
he entered the Owles, Richard Bourke objected to his coming into
the country. Early in February Browne reached Carrickhowley
Castle. He thence sent the bulk of his force on towards Erris
and followed some ten miles behind with a party of about 25 men.
Richard the Devil's Hook's son and Walter ne Mully fell upon
them and killed them all. (Four Masters and Lough Ce and Cal.
Carew MSS. III. 18th Mar. 1589).
During January the conduct of Sir M. O'Flaberty and the
Joys had excited suspicion. (CXL. 1.— i. CXLVIII. 41). The
Blind Abbot and Sliocht Ulick, Sir M. O'Flaherty, the Joys, and
some MacDonnells went into open rebellion about the middle of
March and invaded the baronies of Clanmorris, Kilmaine and
Clare, Sir M. was said to make great account of the Spaniards he
had retained. The Sheriff W. Bowen and G. Comerford the
Attorney of Connaught had a conference with them to arrange a
truce. They insisted on having the Blind Abbot made MacWilliam
and on having the benefit of the composition, and refused a truce.
(CXLII. 34). They began robbing in those baronies, and a party
of about 500 under Sir M.'s eldest son Teig went into the barony
of Dunmore. Capt. Weekes and Lt. Bingham came up with
them near the castle of Carras in Kilmaine, slew Teig and two
other O'Flaherties and 100 of their men and rescued 300 head of
cattle and horses. (CXLIII. 12. vi. viii. FM. LC).
Fitzwilliam intervened and spread ruin over Mayo and Sligo
and great tracts in Roscommon. He forbad Sir Richard to pros-
ecute the rebels, and ordered him to withdraw all his forces from
Mayo, in order not to hinder a pacification. On the 5th April
he appointed the Bishops of Meath and Kilmore, Sir Nicholas
White, Justice Robert Dillon, Sir Thomas Le Strange, and Sir R.
Bingham commissioners to treat for peace, with instructions to
give protection to rebels and that the rebels shall not have a
MacWilliam and shall have sheriffs. (CXLIII. 2).
Up to this point the Septs engaged in rebellion were of less
importance than those of the second rising of 1586, being the
same without the O'Malleys and Clangibbons, but with Sir
Murrough and Walter Bourke of Cloonagashel. The disastrous
defeat of the O'Flaherties must have already lowered their spirits.
But now the Lord Deputy himself was humbly suing for peace
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OP CONNAUGHT. 187
CO W
3
188 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and submitting to their demand for a Mac William by surrender
of the Co. Mayo. Thus abandoned and subjected to the rebels
the old chieftain families of Mayo were forced to join the rebels
for their own safety.
The Commissioners reached Gal way on the 11th and left on
the 27th April. Some of the rebels met them, but most remained
away, robbing the countries of those who did not join them, or
whom they considered to be well affected to the Queen. O'Rourk
also invaded and robbed the Co. Sligo of great quantities of cattle,
and Bourkes did the same from the other side. The MacDermots
of the Curlews also rose during this conference. The few repre-
sentatives of the rebels made complaints to the Commissioners
and their demands, which the Commissioners found wholly inad-
missible, amounting to the withdrawal of the Queen's government
from Mayo. The Commissioners wanted some of them to come
to Dublin to show their grievances to the Lord Deputy, and
suggested a peace for a month. The rebels made impossible
conditions and in effect said that they could not answer for their
confederates observing the peace. The negotiation ended. The
rebels' demands were that Sir Richard should be removed and a
governor pleasing to them appointed, and that no Englishman
should dwell among them, and that they should have a Mac-
William — in short that the Queen's Government should be with-
drawn. These terms were incompatible with the instructions of
the Lord Deputy, they shall not have a Mac William and they
shall have sheriffs. (CXLIV. 5. 34. L).
Sir N. White the Master of the Rolls seems in these affairs
to have been an impartial and just man, but the majority of the
Commissioners made his influence small. On the 9th May he
wrote to Burghley that he sees no reason why peace should not
have been concluded, " if the desire of revenge in some of us to
condemn Sir Richard as author of the wars and hinderer of the
peace were not the cause."
On the 29th April the Lord Deputy ordered Sir Richard to
prosecute the rebels, and promised to send forces. The freedom
allowed to the rebels by the Lord Deputy's manifest fear of them,
suing for peace and not attacking them, had by this time forced
nearly all the O'Flaherties and most of the Bourkes, the Joys,
the MacDonnells, the MacJordans, the MacCostellos, the Mac-
Morrises, and the O'Malleys to join the rebels, as did some of
the MacDermots, O'Conor Roe's sons, Dualtagh O'Conor of
O'Conor Donn's family.
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OF CONNAUGHT. 189
Sir Eichard entered into action immediately. The Sheriff
drove O'Eourk out of Eoscommon, and he himself with such
forces as he had went against the Bourke rebels, who seem to
have been immediately deserted by their nominal allies in Mayo
who had submitted to them owing to being deserted by the Lord
Deputy. The Bourkes did not dare to face him. He went into
their fastnesses and through their mountains and killed some of
their men without loss of his own, but could not get their cattle
which had been driven off to the sea and islands. He came out
into the plains again to rest his men, and received at Cong the
order of the Lord Deputy made on the 10th May that he should
cease to prosecute the Bourkes, and should dismiss some of the
bands lately engaged. He was also informed that the Archbishop
of Armagh, late Bishop of Kilmore, Sir Eobert Dillon and Sir
Thomas Le Strange had been appointed Commissioners to treat
with the rebels until the Lord Deputy should come himself to
make peace with them. (CXLIIL 48. ii. to vi. and CXLIV.
5. 6. 34. 50. 55. 63). At this moment the rebellion was practically
over. In 10 days or a fortnight all the Mayo rebels would cer-
tainly have come in.
The cause of this sudden change was a letter from the Queen
desiring the Lord Deputy to adopt a more temperate course in
the inferior governments, especially in Connaught. Upon this he
determined to make peace at once and upon almost any terms
they would accept, as we may judge from his subsequent actions.
The report of the former Commissioners seems to have failed to
create an unfavourable impression in his mind as regards Sir
Eichard. Even Sir G. Fenton thought that no one matter had
more pushed the Connaught rebels to disobedience than the
spurning of their own minds against government. (CXLIV. Nos.
34, 53).
A difference is apparent in the tone of the Lord Deputy's
references to Sir Eichard Bingham from this time forth, and his
later conduct leads to the conclusion that he had made up his
mind to clear himself with the Queen's Government by imputing
to Sir Eichard such tyrannous conduct as raised up general dis-
content and drove the rebels into action, and to procure Sir
Eichard' s conviction upon such charges as might be brought
against him by whatever means would gain the end.
Up to this time the rebels had done little harm, except what
O'Eourk had done in Sligo. They had been defeated in Mayo
and Eoscommon and their preys rescued. Now the withdrawal
190 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of the Queen's forces put all the country at their mercy, and the
action of the Commissioners in issuing protections and begging
them to come to treat seemed to denote a great fear of them ;
their spirits rose and they broke out to rob all whom they did not
regard as their friends, or who were loyal to the Queen, even in
the neighbourhood of the Queen's soldiers, who were allowed
only to defend themselves.
As the Lord Deputy passed through Athlone on the 7th June
he forbad Sir Richard to accompany him and ordered him to
remain thereabouts. When he arrived in Galway the rebels were
ready to make their formal submission, which they did on the
11th June in St. Nicholas's Church. The submission was made
only by Sir M. O'Flaherty and the principal Mayo rebels, and by
O'Dowda and Dualtagh O'Conor on behalf of themselves and
their fellows. The submission was as humble and complete as
words artd promises could make it. They promised to give such
pledges as the Lord Deputy should nominate, to surrender all
Spaniards, to make good all spoils done since a certain day, and
to pay such fine as the Lord Deputy shall prescribe. Though the
Lord Deputy reported on the 30th June that they had given
hostages, this seems to have been only partly true, as we find
later on that some were being required to give pledges. In other
cases the pledges seem to have been worthless.
On the 12th June they prayed for redress ; the important
demands were : — The removal of Sir Richard Bingham — Immu-
nity from martial law — One of themselves to be appointed collec-
tor of composition rents — Gentlemen of the country to be Sheriffs
— The part of the .profits of the MacWilliamship allotted to the
house of Castlebar to be given to the Blind Abbot. These de-
mands would have meant, if conceded, the withdrawal of the
Queen's Government from their countries. At the same time
the following Books of complaints were delivered to the Lord
Deputy. One by the Bourkes and one by Sir Murrough against
Sir Richard and his subordinates, and one by O'Dowda against
Sir George Bingham and Mr. Taaf Sheriff of Sligo, Copies of
these Books were sent to the Privy Council of England with the
remark — " We do not believe a great part is likely to be true."
(CLXV. 12. 22, 32. 48).
Thus these rebels had got all they wanted. While their
grievances were to be considered and their complaints were to
be enquired into, they were under colour of peace left to act as
they pleased, Sir Richard being restrained from taking any action
against them,
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OP CONNAUGHT. 191
On the same day that the Archbishop of Armagh, the
Bishop of Meath, Sir Robert Dillon and Sir Thomas Le Strange
were parleying with O'Eourk on the borders of his country,
O'Rourke's son Brian Og, sent out by Sir Brian with 300 or 400
men, attacked the Sheriff of Sligo in the Curlews, and killed 17
of his 40 soldiers and two gentlemen. (Egerton Papers, Camden
Society's vol. 12., p. 153. Charges against O'Rourke, Sir R. B.'s
deposition, also Annals Loch Ce, 1589). Soon after the rebels
broke down three of Dillon's castles, and so things went on in
Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and North Roscommon. The damage done
up to the end of August amounted to £15,800 according to claims
reported. Though they were no doubt exaggerated there must
have been much petty robbery, extortion and loss not reported.
The Lord Deputy himself had been a heavy weight on the town
of Gal way and the country around. He brought several council-
lors and an escort of 350 foot and 120 horse whom he could not
feed or pay. He desired the Privy Council to reprove the town
of Galway for not lending more than £200, all they could get by
fair speeches and afterwards " with harder speeches and threat-
ening." (CXLV. 48. 61, 63. 75. CXLVI. 5.) He had not yet
paid for beeves taken up for his journey in Connaught the year
before, but Sir Richard Bingham wrote that " he means to pay
for them." (CXLVIII. 43. Reply to objections 101 to 106).
Meanwhile there had been a good deal of correspondence
regarding the complaints against Sir Richard, in which the Lord
Deputy expressed very forcibly his opinion that Sir Richard had
been guilty of tyranny and extortion. Yet up to the 11th July
Sir Richard had not been made acquainted even with the terms
of the pacification or with one particular of the Books against
him which had been sent to England, in spite of his requests for
them. As late as the 14th Sept. he had received only extracts, in
defiance of the orders of the Privy Council to give copies of all
complaints. (CXLV. 61).
The conduct of the Bishop of Meath and of the Lord Deputy
made a very bad impression on the Queen's Government. On the
24th June Sir Francis Walsingham wrote thus to the Bishop of
Meath : —
" My Lord of Meath, I am sorry to write to a man of your calling in
such sort as I am justly occasioned by your illusage of Sir R. Bingham,
towards whom you have borne such malice ever since his good dealing in
the matter of the office for Sligo's lands, which by your means was corruptly
found against Her Majesty. It was told me what time you were in England
192 GALWAY ARCH.EOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
that I should in the end find you a hypocrite. And what better reckoning
can I make of you. If you had been so wise either in divinity or policy as
you would bo taken to be, you might easily have considered that such loose
persons as they are that broke out in Connaught could and should in no
better sort be repressed than by the sword, which was the course adopted
by Sir Richard Bingham. You and some others think by cunning dealing
to overthrow the gentleman, but this practice of yours, though not by Sir
Richard Bingham, is sufficiently discovered already from that realm, and
the gentleman I doubt not will stand upright there, in despite of all your
malice. I am sorry that a man of your profession should uudor the colour
of justico carry yourself so maliciously." (CXLV. No. 21.).
To Sir William Fitzwilliam he wrote on the 8th July (CXLV.
No. 55) :—
" You must give me leave as one that professoth to love you, to deal
plainly with you, touching the course of proceeding now held against Sir
Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught. I never saw in any cause so
strange, so hard, and so unjust a course taken, for first, as I am informed,
there are added to the former Commissioners (where of two before, viz., the
Bishop of Meath and Sir R. Dillon wore Sir Richard's mortal enemies in
respect of Sir Richard's discovery of their lewd and corrupt dealing in find-
ing an office for the benefit of O'Conor Sligo) other two, namely, Francis
Barkley and Fowle, men known to stand ill-affected towards him. Secondly
Sir Richard Bingham being an humble suitor unto your Lordship that he
might have gone to Gal way with you to have answered such matters as by
practice by some of the Commissioners themselves he was liked to be charged
with by certain rebels and traitors, your Lordship would in no sort be drawn
to yield thereunto, upon pretence that the name of tho Binghams was so
odious unto the said rebels, as if any of them should have been present ;it
Galway, they would not have come in to have submitted themselves.
Lastly, such libels as were exhibited against the said Governor by the said
traitors and rebels, were sent over hither without acquainting the Governor
therewithal, to the end he might have yieldod his answer thereunto, with
an opinion belike that the same should have wrought a condemnation of tho
said Governor before he should have been heard.
But, My Lord, we proceed here in a more just course, for we do not
condemn men here before they are heard, and as for the gentleman himself
(who desireth no favour but justice if he shall be found in any sort, by just
trial, culpable of those great crimes he standeth charged withal by the said
libels) I can assure you ho is not so weakly friended, nor hath deserved so
ill, both of this state, and of that too, as he shall be shaken out of his
government without good cause, and the same duly proved in a more upright
course than is now held there.
To appoint the enemies of a party complained of especially by rebels to
be his commissioners agreeth with no rules of justice, and to discountenance
a Governor of a province upon information given only by rebels before his
answer made thereunto sorteth with no policy, and it may fall out my Lord
Deputy to bo your own case, for it is no new thing in that realm to have
deputies accused. I have thought that for my sake, who have not deserved
the worst of you, the poor gentleman should have had at your hands though
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OP CONNAUGHT. 193
not favour yet justice. It hath been told me by some here of good quality
that the end of this prosecution tendeth to remove him out of his govern-
ment with an attempt to annex Athlone into the Deputyship, but I can
assure your Lordship it will never be won that way, neither do I think it
convenient that ever it should be separated from the Government of Con-
naught.
And as touching your Lordship's proceeding at Galway in treating with
the rebels, it standeth not with the Queen's honour that they should be
dandled in so dishonorable a sort as I hear they are, being base fellows. I
dare undertake that if the matter had been referred to the Governor it would
have been performed with great honour, and less extraordinary charges than
the diet of the Commissioners will amount to.
I write not this to have Sir R. Bingham's faults covered, if he may be
justly charged, for my favour towards him is not grounded upon any parti-
cular respect, being no ally or kinsman unto me, but for the worthiness and
honesty that I know to be in the gentleman , whom I assure your Lordship
I do not mean to abandon, but to favour with the best credit I have, until
by just proof he shall be convicted of those foul matters he is now sought
to be charged withal."
Before leaving Connaught the Lord Deputy forbad Sir Kichard
to use martial law or to hold any Sessions or Circuit of Assizes
until be himself goes through every county (CXLV. No. 48).
The device of trying Sir R. by a set of Commissioners who
would be ready to condemn him even unjustly having failed, the
Lord Deputy appears to have adopted another device to secure a
court on which he could rely to convict as the choice of jurors
among Sir R.'s enemies in Connaught would rest with him. The
following extract from a letter of the Privy Council to the Lord
Deputy dated the 27th July shows how it was brought to nought
by the determination of the Queen's Government that the trial
should be fair (CXLV. 82) :—
" Having considered report of your pacification at Galway, of which we
are very glad if it may continue, and that you purpose in August and Sept-
ember to hold Sessions of Oyer and Terminer in sundry counties for satis-
faction of subjects that find themselves aggrieved by Sir Richard Bingham
and inferior officers, and the great books of complaints, some certified by
the first Commissioners and others sent over by Sir Geoffry Fenton, in
which the Governor is charged with many extortions and hard dealings, in
which he should justify himself, and should be heard especially as they were
made by those who were in actual rebellion— you shall try the Governor
before yourself and Council except the Bishop of Meath and Sir Robert
Dillon — and we do not think it meet that any charges against Sir Richard
Bingham should be heard at General Sessions, but only against inferior
officers. If you condemn him report to us or the Queen. If not then for
his credit you shall make a public declaration in open Sessions in the
counties where he hath been accused of his innocency."
194 GALWAY ARCH2EOLOOICAL AND HISTORICAL 80CIETY.
During August Sir Richard was seeking trial. He was ready
for it anywhere so long as he had impartial judges. He observed
that he could bring his witnesses to Dublin, and that Sir M.
O* Flaherty and the rest would come easily as peace had been
made. This remark must have seemed a cruel sarcasm if Sir
Wm. Fitzwilliam saw it, as he must have known how little they
regarded the peace (CXLVI. 13). The Lord Deputy did not try
Sir Richard, but left all matters affecting him to stand over until
he should return from holding Sessions. He and his council
write that many books of extortions were presented and the
matters proved against the inferior officers at Ennis, and that they
purpose to make them an example. They make a similar remark
regarding the Sessions at Sligo, but it does not appear that any
one ever was punished. It is probable that these were only pre-
sentments, which they took to be true, and that no trials were
ever held.
Sir Richard met the Lord Deputy at Galway and was ordered
to leave. The Lord Deputy was there in the first week of Sept-
ember and thence moved to hold a Sessions at Kilmaine on the
8th September. Only six Bourkes of importance attended. The
Blind Abbot and the rest excused themselves as they had to go
against about 500 Scots who had landed in Erris, led by one of
Grace O'Malley's sons. These Scots probably expected to be
engaged by the Bourkes then in action. But the Bourkes did not
want them just then. Their interest at this moment was to get
the Lord Deputy safely out of Connaught and gather their harvest
before making open war. So there was a quarrel and fight, and
the Scots left, and so did the Lord Deputy. After Sessions at
Sligo and Roscommon he went out of the province. The object
of this tour was to gather evidence against Sir Richard and his
officers. Many presentments were made at these places of alleged
acts of cessing and taking cows without payment, and formal
complaints were lodged at Sligo against Sir George Bingham and
others.
But O'Rourk refused to appear and it was admitted that he
must be chastised. He also had lodged complaints against Sir
Richard some time before. This tour completed the tale of com-
plaints which will be dealt with together (CXLVI. 5, 13, 28, 30,
35, 36, 42, 43, 52, 64).
Having got rid of the Lord Deputy and having got in their
harvest, the Bourkes were ready for more important action than
petty robbery. Early in October the Blind Abbot was named
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OF CONNAUGHT. 195
Mac William on Rausakeera, a fort near Kilmaine, proclaimed by
MacTibbot in the usual form. Marcus Mac an Abb was pro-
claimed MacDonnell. The assumption oi the name of Mac William
was the most flagrant flouting of the Queen's authority and the
most open renunciation of submission and of previous engagement
that could be imagined. The Lord Deputy negotiated with the
usual result. The Blind Abbot used most submissive and loyal
language, but gave no other satisfaction. (CXLVII. 9, 23, 28, 41,
43. CXLVIII. 5, 19). The Queen intervened on the 20fch Novem-
ber by a letter to the Lord Deputy expressing her displeasure at
the Bourke rebellion and making a Mac William, and ordering him
to help Sir R. Bingham to suppress the new Mac William, and
the Clandonnells. (CXLVIII. No. 14).
Sir William was now forced to stop spinning out time to
avoid a trial. The Books of Complaints and Sir R.'s answers and
the charges of the Commissioners were read before the Council
Board and dealt with on the 8th November. This seems to have
been the beginning of the trial. No witnesses appeared against
Sir R. His witnesses were under examination on the 28th. He
was promised acquittal except on three reserved points. His
answer to these points was put in on the 3rd December. On the
4th December acquittal was formally recorded, and on the 5th
December proclamation thereof was ordered. (CXLVIII. 15, 19,
CXLIX. 6, 8, 10, 21). Before dealing with the charges and answers
it is convenient to note how the rebellion was suppressed.
Sir Richard was now ordered back to Connaught, but was
not yet allowed to handle the rebellion, though the rebels were
plundering as usual. The Lord Deputy arranged to leave for
Galway on the 16th, and ordered forces to meet him there, where
he had about 1,500 men at the end of the month, besides those
under the Earls of Clanricard and Thomond. On the 23rd Decem-
ber proclamation was made at Galway by the Lord Deputy in-
viting the rebels to come in by the 12th January, 1590, and submit
themselves. As it said nothing about their returning, many
suspected and did not come in. The Lord Deputy sent out his
officers to beg them to come in. Some said they would not come
because they could not give all the pledges required, and if the
best came in they would not get out again. The Blind Abbot and
the Bourkes said they could not control the country without a
chief, by whatever name. Of those who came in several were
arrested, demands made on them, and hostages required. None
of note came in except Sir M. O'Flaherty and David O'Dowda.
196 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Sir M. was detained because he would not give up his son
as a pledge. O'Dowda was detained to make him surrender
Castleconor and give good pledges.
On the 13th January Sir Richard was put in command of the
forces for prosecution of the rebels. The Lord Deputy and Coun-
cil put several persons under restraint upon suspicion. The Lord
Deputy went away. O'Flaherty and O'Dowda had not given the
pledges required, " and therefore we left them with their own con-
sents to the disposition of Sir Richard Bingham." (CL. 16, 23, 27.)
CASTLECONOR in Tireragh (O'Dowda'b).
Sir R. did not take the field till the 28th January, win m he
marched to Cong, where he mustered on the 1st February
soldiers and 228 kerne and Borne men under the two Earls. They
left Cong on the 3rd February and marched into Tirawley halting
at Newbrook and Castlebar. The rebels did nothing beyond firing
a few shots into the camp and a few trifling skirmishes until the
force entered Tirawley by the Barnagee pass, when 400 of bhem
made a feeble attack on the rere, but were driven off by a dis-
charge of shot, and did not meddle with liis forces again. Next
day the Blind Abbot on horseback chased and nearly overtook one
SIR RICHARD BINGHAM'S GOVERNMENT OP CONNAUGHT. 197
of Lord Thomond's kerne, who turned suddenly and struck at him
with a sword, which nearly cut off one of his feet at the ancle.
A surgeon afterwards cut it all off. The rebels now gave up
hope and dispersed to look after their own cattle. They began to
burn their own corn and houses in Tirawley. Sir Eichard did the
same. About 1,200 ricks were destroyed. On the 12th they
moved towards the mountains of Erris and reached Burrisool on
the 16th. Parties were sent out to search the fastnesses between
Newport and Castlebar and into Gallen. By the 21st February
Sir Bichard was at Newbrook again, and the leaders of the Bourkes
were suing for peace. (CLI. 4, i., 57, 81, 83).
On the 10th March he wrote from Eoscommon that the
Bourkes and Clandonnells had submitted wholly to the conditions
of peace which he required of them, that all the Septs of Mayo
which had been in rebellion had been received into the Queen's
peace and mercy, and that they were to bear all the charges of the
war. He was now ready to turn against O'Eourk, who had
invaded Sligo in March. (CLI. 32. ii. — v.) Illness prevented him
from taking the field himself for this duty. The forces were placed
under the command of Sir George Bingham. Within the month
O'Eourk and his sons had taken refuge in Ulster and all the Septs
of the County of Leitrim had submitted. (CLI. No. 57). Sir Brian
O'Eourk afterwards went to Scotland. The King surrendered
him to Queen Elizabeth. The principal men of his Sept came to
Sir Eichard in Athlone and he used them well. Leitrim gave no
trouble for some years.
Thus with small forces Sir Eichard reduced the rebellion
within two months of action. In January Walter Kittagh Bourke,
Edmund of Cong, Walter ne Mully, and other Bourkes and Clan-
donnells, met him at Galway, thereby testifying to a real submis-
sion. In September he reported that the costs of the war might
be charged upon the Bourkes and the countries which had joined
them, Iar Connacht, the Joys country, Tireragh, O'Conor Eoe's,
and O'Eourk's countries, and that the Bourkes had paid the com-
position rent as well as a fine for their revolt.
The costs of the rebellion were : —
War against the Scots and Bourkes in 1586 . . . £1476 : 3:4
„ Bourkes and others in 1589/90... 3296 : 17 : 6
(to be continued).
M
[ 198 ]
The Sept of O'Maolale
(or Lally) of Hy-Maine.
By MISS J, MARTYN.
Among the names which " illumine the pages " of Ireland's
military history those of the descendants of the chieftains of
Hy-Maine are well represented. We find the O'Kellys, the
O'Naghtens, the O'Maddens, the O'Maolalas, and others: but in
this sketch we are alone concerned with the sept of the O'Mullaly or
Lallys of the celebrated Clan Colla, Hy Fiachra Fin, which in the
10th century ruled in Moenmoy now Glanricarde. Teige O'Dugan,
whose ancestors had been bards and historians of the Hy-Many,
published, about 1750, a topographical poem in which he names
the O'Naghtens and O'Mullalys as the chiefs of Moenmagh.
These are his words : —
11 To whom the rich plain is hereditary
Two who have strengthened that side
O'Naghten and O'Mullally,
Thoir fight is heavy in the battles,
They possess the land as far as Hy-Fiachrach."
At the date of the publication of the poem it is believed that several
historical documents and traditions were extant in the territory
which have since been lost, and no doubt has been thrown upon
O'Dugan's accuracy. Dr. O'Donovan in his Tribes and Ciistonis
of Hy-Many tells us that the Irish Annals seldom make mention of
the O'Naghtens though that sept was " the senior of all the
Hy-Many ": the same silence seems to have been observed with
regard to the O'Mullallys.
The O'Mullallys descend from one of the most ancient of the
noble families of Ireland. Amlaffe O'Mullala who gave his name
to his descendants is described as " just and valiant," a title which
has been adopted as their motto by his posterity. The use of sur-
names had been instituted by law in the reign of Brian of the
Tributes, and each family selected the name of some distinguished
ancestor which with the prefix 0 or Mac, grandson or son, was to
be henceforth the family name. Dr. O'Donovan says " The most
THE SEPT OP O'MAOLALE. 199
ancient account of this law is found in a fragment of a MS. in
Trinity College, Dublin, supposed to be part of Mac Liag's Life of
Brian Borumha, in which it is stated ■ it was during his time sur-
names were first given, and territories were allotted to the names,
and the boundaries of every territory and cantred was fixed.' "
Hence we may conclude that the septs of the O'Mullally, O'Kelly,
and others, were established in the territory of Hy-Many before
Canute began his Danish rule in England.
In 1169 the Norman settlers in Wales came over to Ireland.
Connaught seemed to become at once the prey of the De Burghs
who sought to obtain possession of the whole province. The chiefs
of Hy-Many resisted, and in 1200 Amlaffe II. was killed in a skir-
mish in defence of his territory of Moenmoy.
Donnell Mac Amlaffe O'Mullally was slain in battle in Con-
naught in 1397, when Walter Bermingham and Sir Thomas Burke
left six hundred of the Irish dead upon the field. His father-in-
law, 0' Donnell, perished also on that occasion.
Melachlen Macdonell O'Maolala, chief of his house, was
wedded to Mary, daughter of Teige O'Dowda, Lord of Tireragh
in Sligo. The sept of O'Dowd possessed a wide territory com-
prising much of the counties of Mayo and Sligo. Their annals
are fully displayed in Hardiman's Hy Fiacra. The territories of the
O'Dowds, O'Hara, and MacFirbis were seized by the De Burgos,
who subsequently became Lords of Connaught : their Portumna
estates came to them by marriage with the daughter of one of the
chieftains of Hy-Many, the Lady More O'Madden.
Melachlen O'Maolala was slain in battle in Hy-Many by
Lord William De Burgh in 1419. His wife died in 1430, leaving
two sons John and Connor O'Maolala. The latter became Bishop
of Clonfert and died in 1447.
We now come to John Melachlan O'Maolala, styled " happy
chieftain of his name," who married Moore or Merlin O'Byrn of
Tire-brien. The O'Byrns were the formidable chieftains of that
last subjugated district of Ireland now the county of Wicklow.
They were classed with the O'Tooles as the " Irishry south of the
Pale." John and Merlin his wife left two sons, Dermod and
Thomas O'Mullally, commonly called Lally. The latter became
Archbishop of Tuam, deceased 1536. The annals of Connaught
record the death of John O'Mullala at Tuam, anno 1480. The
castle of Tullock-na-dala near Tuam, was the place from which
Maolala derives one of his titles. And we may conclude that in
the everlasting feuds between the tanists of Hy-Maine and the
200 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Clanricard, his other possessions must have been wrested from
him, for we find the family resident in Tuam from the date of his
death. And now —
M O'er Maine's green sward, there rules no lord
Saving the Lord on high."
Her ancient chieftains O'Dalys, O'Naghtens, O'Kellys, were dis-
possessed and scattered by the De Burgos. It is curious to note
that one of the many titles borne by Ulick de Burgo, the first Earl
of Clanricard, was " Baron of Ui Maine (or Hy-Maine) and Dun-
kellin."
Dermod succeeded his father and married Brigide, daughter
of Tigue O'Kelly, Lord of Hy-Maine. He died at Tully Mullally
in 1577, leaving one son.
Melachlin McDermot O'Mullally married Margaret, daughter
of Cormack MacRoger MacDermot, chief of Moylurg. We learn
that the history of this powerful clan is detailed in the Book of
Lecan, and the more ancient Psalter of Casliel. The Book of Kil~
ronan compiled by their chief seanachie the O'Diugnan, has most
interesting particulars of their lineage.
This brings us to the troubled times when Sir Anthony
St. Leger was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland. He had pre-
viously been employed as chief of the Commission issued in 1537, to
survey land and inquire into titles, with power to confirm or cancel
them. In the three years spent in this commission, Sir Anthony
St. Leger had made himself thoroughly acquainted with Irish
affairs, and, consequently, on the first vacancy he was entrusted
with the supreme direction. The long and harrassing wars had re-
duced the chiefs and lords to a deplorable state. The whole country
had been wasted, and it was high time that there should be some
measure of submission on one side and concession on the other.
" At this time," say the Four Masters, " the power of the English
was great and immense in Ireland, so that the bondage in which
the people of Leath Mogha (the southern half) were, had scarcely
been equalled before that time." From all sides submissions
flowed in. O'Donnell and O'Neill in the north, O'Toole, O'More,
and others in Leinster, and in Connaught the chieftains O'Kelly,
O'Melaghlin, and O'Mullally, made submission, Lally signing terms
submitting himself, his vassals and lands by indentured articles of
agreement to Sir Anthony St. Leger the Lord Deputy. He deli-
vered his eldest son John Melaghlin O'Mullally, then 25 years old,
as a hostage for the performance of the articles. " Then at a
THE SEPT OF o'MAOLALE. 201
Parliament held in Dublin was witnessed a novel sight, Irish
chieftains sitting for the first time with English lords, the speeches
of the Speaker and Lord Chancellor being interpreted to them in
Irish by the Earl of Ormond." *
John Melaghlin styled Baron of Tullinadally, surnamed " the
warlike hostage," was the next chief of his sept. He married
Judith O'Madden, daughter of the chief of that name, Hugh
O'Madden, Lord of the territory of Silenchia. John distinguished
himself with his galloglasses, at the siege of Boulogne, 1544, of
which Lord Herbert of Cherbury gave a brilliant description in
his Life of King Henry VIII. In 1573 his brother William
O'Lally was consecrated Archbishop of Tuam. He was appointed
commissioner for the pacification of Connaught by Queen Elizabeth
in 1585, and died 1595. A third brother who had been dissatisfied
with his father's submission to the crown of England, and to the
supremacy of Henry VIII., went to Eomewith many companions
and warred for Octave Earnese in the struggle for his inheritance
of Parma and Placentia.
Dermod succeeded his father and is the second who was
styled Baron Tully-Mullalla. He married Mary, daughter of
William O'Naghten of Lisma, co. Eoscommon.
The Annals of Lough Ce tell us that " In the 13th century
the de Burgos established their power over the province of Con-
naught, and in the 16th century the descendants of EitzAdelm,
with the aid of the native Irish, endeavoured to shake off the
English supremacy." It would seem that not all the native Irish
were willing to forgive the harryings they had undergone at the
will of the de Burgos, for we find that several chieftains of the
old septs, amongst whom are named O'Kelly and O'Mullally,
marched to Ballinrobe and joined Sir Richard Bingham the Lord
Deputy against them. It seems almost incredible that any of the
Irish chiefs should join forces with this man, to whom, as Gover-
nor of Connaught, are attributed such cruelties and barbarities
against the native people. At the battle of Ardnary 3,000 of
the rebels were slain, 1585. Dermod died in 1590, as it appears
by an inquisition taken at Athenry in 1621, in which he is named
Principalis suix Nationis. Here we may mention that "chief of his
nation" meant " chief of his clan;" it was even applied to some of
the settlers in Ireland. For instance, " William Blake and the
rest of his nation."
* Haverty's History of Ireland.
202 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Isaac O'Mullally, of age at the time of his father's death,
married Mary, daughter of John Moore of Briess. His marriage
brings the Lally family into connection with their ancient enemy,
for Mary Moore's mother was the Lady Mary de Burgh, daughter
of Richard " Sassenagh " Earl of Clanricard. The Lady Jane
Burke, her sister, was wife of Sir Lucas Dillon of Laughlin, 2nd
son of Sir Theobald 1st Lord Viscount Dillon. Isaac died 12th
May 1624, leaving James his son and heir of full age, and two
younger sons, namely, Donal and William.
James Lally, Baron of Tolendal, married in 1623 Elizabeth,
daughter of Gerald Dillon of Traymore, co. Mayo, brother to
Theobald Lord Viscount Dillon. His brothers Donal and William
were outlawed having followed the fortunes of Charles II. Their
estates were forfeited, viz., Ranamary and Carrownalaghy in the
Barony of Dunmore, Ballibanebale and Gortagolloghe and Bally-
doogan in the Barony of Kilconnel. William married Prances
Butler and had one son, Edmond Lally, who married Eliza Bra-
bazon. James, too, forfeited a part of his estate to Cromwell in
1652, and died on the old soil of Tullynadaly in 1676.
Thomas inherited the real estate of his father, 7th June, 1677.
He married his cousin Jane Dillon, sister of Theobald, 7th Lord
Viscount Dillon of Costello-gallen (father of Arthur Count Dillon.
Lieutenant General in the French service). She had four sons,
The name of Dillon cannot be passed over lightly, for it was one
of great note, not only in Ireland but also in Spain, in Austria,
and especially in France. Dillon, says Voltaire in his Siecle de
Louis XIV. " nom celebre dans les troupes irlandaises." This
name is to be found engraved on the stones of the Arc de Triomphe
in Paris among " the glories of France." From the days of the
7th Viscount, Theobald Dillon, may be dated the long and glorious
connection of the name with the French service. He had as a
matter of course attached himself to the service of James II. his
legitimate King, and was in consequence outlawed in 1690. The
attainder was only reversed after his death in favour of his son
Arthur. Lord Dillon's sister Jane /Survived her husband Thomas
Lally, and took for her second John Burke, Esq. She was adjudg-
ed by the trustees for sale of Irish properties in Dublin in 1700, to
her dower on the land of Tullynadaly after the attainder of her
eldest son James Lally. Her second son was William, ancestor
to the Lally s of Miltown and of Grange. *' The present chief "
(1777) " of this branch is James Lally of Miltown, Esq., who by his
marriaga with a daughter of N. Kirwan of Ballygadaly, near Tullin-
THE SEPT OF O MAOLALE.
203
daly, has a son now six years old. This James has two brothers,
Thomas an old fryar, and Patrick father of two sons" (vide the
old MS. pedigree).
Col. James Lally, the 6th and last styled Baron of Tollindally,
was governor and sovereign of the noble corporation of Tuam for
the King, James II. in 1687, member of his last Parliament in
1689, outlawed in the same year. He was Colonel in the French
service and commandant of the Lally Battalion in Dillon's regi-
ment, June 1690. He was killed 1691 during the blockade of
Montmelian. He died unmarried. Besides his four brothers,
Gerald, William, Mark and Michael, he had four sisters, who
married, the first to Walter styled Baron Jourdan, chief of the
Barony of Gallen ; the 2nd to Nicholas Nangle, of one of the most
ancient Norman families, Baron of Costello ; the 3rd to N. O'Gara,
Esq., chief of the Barony of Coolavin, and the 4th to N. Betagh,
Esq., of Danish extraction, to be traced to Co. Meath.
In O'Connor's Military Memoirs of Ireland the name of James
Lally is given special mention : —
"The 2nd Article of the Treaty of Limerick consigned many illus-
trious Irishmen to poverty and perpetual exile. The names of a few
whose estates were thus sacrificed will excite the sympathy of the reader,
even after a lapse of 150 years. Richard Duke of Tyrconnel ; Donagh
Earl of Clancarty; Lords Claregalway, Galway, Enniskillen, Slane, Lucan,
Kilmallock, Mountcashel, Brittas ; Sir William Talbot, Sir Neal O'Neil,
Sir John Fitzgerald, Sir Patrick Trant, Sir Richard Nagle, Sir Luke
Dowdal, Sir Terrance McDermot, James Lally of Tullinadaly, Richard
Pagan of Feltrim, Nicholas Darcy, of Platten, besides many others of less
note — the Goolds, Galways, Murrougbs and Coppingers of Cork, the
Cheevers of Drogheda, the Savages of Down, the O'Haras of Antrim, the
Bagots of Carlow, the Barrets of Cork, the O'Plyns and O'Connors of Ros-
common, the Nugents of Dardistown, the O'Garas of Coolavin. They had
committed no offence, were guiltless of treason or rebellion. They had
fought for their legitimate King, and now suffered the penalties of treason
because they had not recognised the authority of an English convention
to substitute a foreign invader for him whom their principles taught them
to regard as the lawful sovereign of the British Islands."
" Dillon's Eegiment " in which Lally fought, was part of
Lord Mountcashel's Brigade. Lord Dillon appointed his son,
then not 20 years of age, Colonel, and conferred the rank of Colo-
nel as Commandant of the 2nd Battalion on his cousin, James Lally,
who, with his brothers, mainly contributed to form that 2nd Batta-
lion from several independent companies. When James died at
the siege of Montmelian he was succeeded by his brother Gerald,
who married Maria de Bressac and had one son the celebrated
204 QALWAY ARCH.BOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Thomas Arthur Baron de Tollendal, Count de Lally. Needless
to say Sir Gerald gave his son a military education and caused
him to spend his vacations with the regiment. At the age of eight
he " assisted," according to the history of those times, at the siege
of Giron, where he first " smelled powder." When but 12 years old
he mounted guard for the first time in the trenches before Barce-
lona. In 1732 young Lally distinguished himself at the siege of
Kehl during the war for the succession to the throne of Poland,
and at Philipsburg he saved the life of his father and gained the
rank of Major. His father died Brigadier General and Field
Marshal in 1737. In the same year he travelled to Russia
in the interests of the Jacobite cause. He went ostensibly
to seek service in the army in which his uncle General de Lacy
then held a command, but in reality as the bearer of a message
to the Empress from Cardinal Fleury the French minister of
foreign affairs, to further the project of placing the son of
James II. on the throne of England by means of an alliance
between France and Russia. The sentiment of the Russian court
was opposed to the plan and the project failed. We next find him
in the campaign of Flanders in the war upon the accession of
Maria Theresa to the Austrian throne. He took part in the battle
of Dettingen and in the sieges of Messin, Ypres and Fumes. In
1744 a new regiment was created for Lally, to be called by his
name, and in four months he had it so well organised that it dis-
tinguished itself at the siege of Tournoi. At Fontenoy Lally so
distinguished himself that Louis XV. named him Brigadier-General
on the battlefield. Marshal Saxe declared that the Irish Brigade
decided the victory on that day by dispersing " the terrible English
columns" that had successfully withstood the artillery of the
Due de Richelieu and the King's household cavalry. " The slopes
of Fontenoy proclaimed to all time that a better friend or a more
dangerous foe never swept a battlefield than the disciplined Irish-
men." Well did the soldiers and chiefs of the Irish Brigade
deserve the motto on their flag given them by the Bourbon King
11 Semper et ubique tidelis." O'Connor's Military History says —
11 In the great war of the Austrian succession tho deeds and fame of
the Irish troops were higher than ever. The profound and daring Saxe
was at the head of Louis's army, and often when defeat seemed inevitable
the shout of the Irish Brigade daunted the enemy, and their charge bore
back and shattered the exulting columns of the Allies."
We next find Lally in Scotland with Charles Edward. He
fought at Falkirk and after Culloden escaped to London, thence to
COEKIGENDA.
p. 205, 1. 11 from foot, for " He had .... words " read
" His policy was declared in six words."
1. 2 from foot, for "And Lally was one of the mildest " read " And
Lally was not one of the mildest."
THE SEPT OP O'MAOLALE. 205
Ireland, and back again to London where a price was put upon
his head. But, disguised as a sailor, he finally escaped to Dunkirk.
Passing over his hairbreadth escapes, his being taken prisoner,
passing over his adventures at Berg-op-Zoom and Maestricht, we
come to the period when he proposed to the French ministry a new
expedition to England for the young Pretender, urging, at the same
time a vigorous war upon the English in India.
His advice was not acted upon at the time, but later, in 1757,
when the French East Indian Company found itself unable to re-
press the steady advance of the English Company, it applied to
the home government for a supply of men and money with a
special request that Count Lally de Tolendal be sent in command
of the expedition. His military abilities as well as his hereditary
hatred of England recommended him for the post ; he was named
Lieutenant General, Grand Cross of St. Louis, King's Commis-
sioner, Syndic of the Compagnie des hides, and general commander
of all the French establishments in Eastern Asia. The directors
of the company specially charged him " to reform the abuses with-
out number, the extravagance and mismanagement that absorbed
their revenues." His destination was the Carnatic and Pondichery
would be his headquarters. Among the officers of his little army
were scions of the best families in France. He was to be second-
ed by the troops under the command of Bussy the commander in
in the Deccan, and above all he had his own Irish regiment.
History tells us what wonders he wrought, stranger as he was to
the country, and regarded with hostility by the whole French
establishment over whom he had been given almost the powers of
a dictator. With characteristic impetuosity he pushed his opera-
tions so vigorously that of the hostile posts that covered the
Carnatic two were carried by assault and the rest capitulated, so
that in the space of thirty-eight days there were no English left
along the south of the Coromandel coast. He had declared that
his policy was declared in six words " No more English in the
Peninsula." Sir Eyre Coote, an Irishman and his enemy, bears
testimony to his military genius : " There is certainly not a second
man in India who could have managed to keep on foot for so long
a period an army without pay, and without any kind of assistance."
Voltaire, alluding to his mission of reform of abuses among the
the officials of the French East Indian Company, declared " Had
he been the mildest of men under these conditions he would have
been hated." And Lally was one of the mildest. He has been
described as one who made no compromise with respect to discip-
206 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
line, one who had a horror of everything that was not straight-
forward, impatient of delay, and out-spoken to the point of rough-
ness against injustice or wrong of any kind. " I have not met the
shadow of an honest man in India," he wrote to a member of the
French ministry; "in the name of God recall me from this country
for I am not made for it."
Obliged to surrender Pondichery, having held out against a
siege of ten months, Lally, half mad with disappointment and dis-
gusted with the treachery of the Indian officials, was carried
prisoner to England. Released on parole he returned to Paris,
only to find himself accused of corruption and treason, crimes
alien to his chivalrous nature. Warned by a false friend to fly, he, in-
stead, proceeded to Fontainbleau and surrendered himself prisoner,
only desiring an inquiry. He was thrown into the Bastille and
thence wrote to the minister " I stake my head upon my inno-
cence of those charges. I await your orders."
For fifteen months this turbulent soul, this "hero of a hundred
fights," pined in prison. Meantime his enemies so wrought against
him that he was refused counsel, and when the charges were made
known to him no time would be granted him to prepare for his
defence. History tells us that " nothing whatsoever was proved
against him, except that his conduct did not come up to the per-
fection of prudence and wisdom, and that it did display the greatest
ardour in the service, the greatest disinterestedness, fidelity and
perseverance, with no common share of military talent, and of
mental resources." He was condemned to death, and, his request
for a private execution being refused he was gagged and drawn in
a common tumbril to the place of execution. " Such," in his
words, " was the reward of long years of service in the armies of
France." " So," says Voltaire, " was a murder committed with
the sword of justice." The chronicles of the time record that so
surprised and indignant was " the brave Lally " at the charge of
having " betrayed the interests of the King," that in a fury he
plunged the only weapon within reach, a pair of compasses, into his
breast, crying " Betray my King ! never, never ! " The wound
was, though serious, not mortal, but it hastened his execution.
His confessor, the Abbe Aubry, wrote to his (Lally's) friends " He
struck himself like a hero of old, but he died like a Christian."
Felicite, Countess de Lally (nee Crofton) was probably de-
ceased at the time of her husband's death, for we find no mention
of her in the family annals beyond the record of her marriage.
Their only son, Trophimus Gerard de Lally Tolendal, accordin
THE SEPT OP O'MAOLALE. 207
to family tradition, was summoned by his father to an interview
in his prison cell on the night before his execution, and there
sworn by all he held sacred to leave nothing undone that could
establish the fact of his father's innocence. He, accordingly,
made it the one object of his life, and it was only after twelve
years, during which he pleaded in court after court with pathetic
eloquence, that the sentence was reversed, and the son restored
by King Louis XVI. to all the honours of his family. Of him it
was said that " his filial piety made of him a juris-consult and an
orator, and gained him the esteem of all honest men."
Count Trophimus afterwards became Marquis. He married
Elizabeth Charlotte Wedderburn Halkett, whose first cousin was
Lord Loughborough, Lord High Chancellor of England and Earl
of Eosslyn. They left an only daughter, Elizabeth Felicity Claude
de Lally-Tolendal, who married the Comte d'Aux.
Madame d'Arbley in one of her " Johnsonian" letters, dated
April 1822, mentions " the good, the wise, the eloquent M. de
Lally": —
" My son who has just returned from Paris, has frequently seen this
excellent statesman and accomplished orator, who is now in peculiar good
health, and he has enclosed for me, in a letter written with all the warmth
of heart that so singularly endears as well as embellishes his genius, sun-
dry of his latest and most admirable speeches."
Between 1823 and 1825 Thomas Lally of Tuam visited the
Marquis in Paris. He received an enthusiastic welcome and re-
turned to Ireland laden with rich presents and family memorials
— silver cups and flagons, etc., an engraving of the coat of arms of
the Lallys, and a portrait of the Marquis.
From a letter now before the writer, bearing date 4th Septem-
ber, 1837, from the representative of the English branch, the Eev.
Dr.W. M. Lally, Drayton Eectory, Tarn worth, Staffordshire, it would
seem that he also went to France, in 1826, to visit his illustrious-
relative, and learned from him that the Irish branch still existed
on the old soil of Ireland. Dr. Lally writes that he " enjoyed the
friendship of the Marquis de Lally Tolendal to the day of his
death, and of his daughter and grandson to the present day."
(1837). He " obtained permission to make a complete copy of the
Lally Pedigree from ' Conn of the Hundred Battles ' to himself."
He engaged Sir William Betham, English King at Arms, to
examine the pedigree with the object of finding his own diverging
ancestor." His grandfather's name was Michael, he seeks to
know " whose son he was," and has reason to think it was Edward
208 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ARMS OF
" Trophimc, Gerard, Comto ct Marquis
DE LALLY-TOLENPAL, Pair de Prance. Ministre
d'Etat et Conseiller prive dc S. M., Mcmbre hcnorairc
du Bureau des Colleges Britanniques, L'un des quarante
de l'Academie Franoaise, &c."
THE SEPT OP O'MAOLALE. 209
as he finds an Edward living in London in 1707-8, and having a
son Michael then and there baptised. He believes that his great-
grandfather, who may have been Mark Lally, finding himself
neglected in France " (probably at the time when the Brigade were
divided and scattered through other regiments, and reduced to
French pay) "came over to England where he married a Miss
Bushill and about 1707 or 1708 had a son, my grandfather
Michael." My great-grandfather had, I understand, 22 children."
About the year 1840 Dr. Lally came to Ireland and visited
Galway. He stayed at Eyre Square with his relatives, Anthony
Martyn and Very Eev. Andrew Henry Martyn, P.P. of Carra-
brown and Vicar of Galway, sons of Henry Martyn, Windsor,
Castlebar, and of his wife Bridget Lally of the old Tullinadaly
stock. From information obtained from the Marquis, Dr. Lally
and the Rev. Andrew Henry Martyn visited the ancient Franciscan
cemetery attached to the Abbey, Galway, and there identified the
Lally tomb.
The New York Critic for July 1906 makes it appear that
Count de Lally Tolendal was not only a soldier but also a poet,
and in fact that he was the real author of the Lines on the Burial
of Sir John Moore. The statement is as follows :— " In 1749 a
Colonel de Beaumanoir, a native of Brittany, raised a regiment in
his neighbourhood, and with it accompanied Lally's ill-fated
expedition to India. This Colonel was killed in defending Pondi-
chery, the last stronghold of the French, against the forces of
Coote. He was buried at dead of night by a few faithful followers
on the north bastion of the fortress, and the next day the French
fleet set sail for Europe with the remnants of the garrison. Lally
Tolendal was executed, but a worthy son made noble efforts to
rehabilitate his father's memory. The memoirs published by his
son were widely circulated, and must have fallen into the hands
of the Eev. Charles Wolfe. The original French lines of the poem
are given in the appendix matter of the book."
[EDITOR'S NOTE.]
[The genealogical particulars in the above account of the Lallys are deri-
ved mainly from a MS. pedigree in the hand of the Marquis, which was a
copy of a portion of the pedigree compiled " from the old Irish Manuscript
Books of Pedigrees, as well as from the Records preserved in the Exchequer,
Auditor General, and Rolls Offices" by William Hawkins, Ulster King of
Arms. At the foot of the Marquis's MS. is written " I warrant the Exactness
of these Extracts and summary accounts of our family. Paris 29 of October
1817. Lally Tolendal, Peer of France, Minister of State, &c, &c." His
seal is affixed : and though the impression is defective, there is enough to
show that it consists of an eagle displayed, within a riband containing the
210 OALWAY ABCHJSOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
motto Just and Valiant.
These extracts were written out by the Marquis for the benefit of Thomas
Lally of Tuam, who died in 1837. The MS. is now in the possession of Miss
Mart vn. 0' Donovan had access to it in 1843, and printed it in TVibes and
Customs of Hy-Many, p. 178 — 182. O'Donovan says he is convinced that the
pedigree "contains much spurious matter," and appends footnotes pointing
out alleged inaccuracies or fabrications.
Unfortunately Sir William Hawkins, who is responsible for the compi-
lation, is known to be inaccurate, as indeed we had occasion to state before
(p. 109). He was Ulster King of Arms, not (as O'Donovan has it, perhaps
by a misprint) in 1709, but from 17G5 to 1787. There was another Hawkins
who was Ulster King of Arms in the second quarter of the century.
The most important error is one not noticed by O'Donovan. Isaac Lally,
above, who "tf. 1624" (really 1631), had Tullaghnadaly granted to him in
1618. But he was son, not of Dermod, but of William the Protestant Arch-
bishop of Tuam, And his wife Mary, or rather Marian, was daughter, not of
"John Moore of Briess" but of Nehemiah Donellan, likewise Archbishop of
Tuam (1595 — 1599), and Fellow of Trinity College. These facts are made
clear by the funeral certificate, as was pointed out by Mr. G. D. Burtchaell
in Notes and Queries for 1902 (9th S. X. p. 453). The remorseless Hawkins
appears to have so manipulated the pedigree as to get rid of both the episcopal
ancestors of his French client, because episcopal descents would not appear
respectable in France.
It may be of interest to point out that the proper form of Tullaghnadaly
appears to be UulAC r\& *04La, the hillock of the meeting.
In the illustration of the coat-of-arms of the Marquis, it may be seen
that the dexter supporter holds a banner on which is a strange-looking
inscription. The characters are meant for Irish characters, and the inscrip-
tion is meant to read Usagur al>oo. "Usagur" is stated by Hawkins to
signify ** just and valiant,' and to have boon applied to the original U maol-
lalla" who " flourished about anno 940," after which it became " the motto
of the family." But I do not suppose that the word will bo recognised by
any Gaelic scholar, nor that it existed before the time of the remorseless
Hawkins. " Aboo " is of-course the well-known word ,at)U which occurs in
various family mottoes and means something like "to victory." To further
emphasize the Irish origin, the colour of the banner is green, as is indicated
heraldically by the sloping lines from left to right.
The New York Critic in making Count Lally author of the " original " of
Wolfe's famous poem is only in all innocence taking seriously what was
originally one of " Father Prout's " excellent jests. This clever linc-for-linc
rendering in French of Wolfe's verses first appeared in Bentley's Miscellany
for 1837, the account there of their origin corresponding with the account
given by the N. Y. Critic. " Col. de Beaumanoir " is presumably fictitious ;
nor (it is to be presumed) did the Marquis publish any memoir of his father
as alleged. " Father Prout " amusingly closod his account of the poem with
the words Fides sit penes lectorcm, which may bo translated " May Die reader
be gifted with credulity ; " and some American readers were.
Ed.]
[ 211 ]
Note on the
Fragment of a Cross
Near Ballynew, Connemara,
By MISS M. REDINGTON {Hon. Sec).
This cross was of simple form, but was ornamented on back
and front. The design still visible, and here illustrated, is on
the thickness of the upper side of the arms. The back and front
of the cross appear to have been intentionally damaged, and
212 GALWAY ARCH-EOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the ends of the arms may have been broken off at the same
time; for in the fragment that remains the arms are only five
inches long, and they were most probably longer originally. This
mutilated fragment lies on a heap of stones placed on what
would appear to have been the old foundation of the cross. It
marks the spot where St. Cananagh, an early Christian missionary,
was put to death, and stands close to the village of Bally new, in
the parish of Ballinakill, Connemara. The style of the ornament
here shown would seem to suggest the existence of a religious
house in this neighbourhood in late medieval times, and such a
one did exist about a mile to the east, where the ruined church of
Ballinakill still stands on the hill side over-looking Lough Cartran.
Some foundations of the monastic buildings still remain, the rest
must have been defaced by the makers of the present high road
from Cleggan to Letterfrack. The church itself is not of parti-
cular interest. The altar must have stood under the west gable,
the window in which is partly filled by a piece of roughly exe-
cuted plate-tracery, probably re-erected by unskilled hands at a
much later date than that of the church.
St. Cananagh's holy well, about half a mile further east, is
still much resorted to, especially on the feast day of the Saint.
Like many another early Saint, St. Cananagh seems to have
started on his missionary journeys from Aran. A very early church
in almost perfect preservation is dedicated to him on the middle
island, and his name, curiously translated into "Gregory," has been
given to the sound between the greater and the middle island.
[ 213 ]
The Knights Hospitallers in
Co. Galway.
C, LITTON FALKINEB, M.A., M.B.I.A.
Having recently had occasion, in connection with a paper I
have had the honour to read before the Koyal Irish Academy on
"The Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Ireland,"* to consider
the extent and location of the possessions of the Knights Hos-
pitallers throughout Ireland, my attention has been directed
to the evidence of the association of that great military order with
Connaught and more particularly with the County of Galway.
The subject is one which has not hitherto been examined with
much care, and most antiquaries have been in the habit of
accepting without further inquiry the statements on this subject
contained in Harris' "Ware", and in Archdall's "Monasticon
Hibernicum." Both of these important authorities are entitled
to the greatest respect, but inasmuch as their accounts of the
possessions of the Knights Hospitallers in Ireland are neither ex-
haustive nor in all respects accurate, I have had occasion to
inquire with some minuteness into the statements they contain.
Among the minor difficulties of this investigation not the least
troublesome has been the identification of the place called
Kinalekin by Ware in his account of the Monasteries of Ireland
in the twenty- sixth chapter of his " Antiquities of Ireland," and
stated to have been the seat of a Preceptory of the Order of
Knights Hospitallers. It has occurred to me that it may be of
some interest to the members of the Galway Archaeological
Society to present the results of my researches under this head
in somewhat greater detail than was appropriate to the pro-
ceedings of the Koyal Irish Academy.
In Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum " it is stated that "a
commandery for Knights Hospitallers was founded in the 13th
century under the invocation of St. John the Baptist, "f at Kin-
alekin in the County Galway. Archdall, on the authority of
Allemand, attributes the foundation to an O'Flaherty, and,
accepting this assertion as accurate, founds upon it the con-
* See Royal Irish Academy Proceedings, Vol. xxvi., Section C.
f Card. Moran's edition vol. ii., p 221. See Appendix (1).
N
214 GAI.W AY AHCH^OLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
jeotore that "Kinalekin is probably in Iar-Connaught, of which
(>" Flaherty was dynast." Examination, however, revealed the
fact that not only was there no authority for this conjecture, but
that the name could not be reasonably identified with that of any
existing townland in West Connaught. It accordingly became
necessary to look elsewhere. A document printed in "Blake Family
Records," 1st Ser. p. 66,* provided me with the required clue. In
a power of attorney given in the year 1529, by Sir John Rawson,
the last Prior of the Hospital of Kilmainham (which was for more
than three centuries the chief seat of the Order of St. John of
Jerusalem in Ireland) to Stephen Fitzjames Lynch of Galway,
mention is made among other property of this Order, of "the
tithes of Kcnalagheyi in the Diocese of Clonfert." In a note to this
document Mr. Blake cites from the Haliday Papers t a letter
dated Nov. 18, 1560, from the Lord Deputy, the Earl of Sussex,
and Privy Council of Ireland to the Earl of Clanricard, O' Kelly
"captain of his country" and others, directing that a grant be made
to one Walter Hope of a lease for a term of years "of certain
parcelles of landes lying in Connaughta, belonging to the house of
Kvhnaynan." Among the property to be comprised in the lease
"the parsonage of Kynneleghane" is included. A search in the
Elizabethan " Fiants" published in the Reports of the Deputy
Keeper of the Records showed that the Lease so directed to be
given was in fact executed \ in 1570, when Walter Hope was
given a lease of "the rectories of Kifnnelegkane, Ballenclare,
Kyltaraughta, and Kylvechana in Connaught, of the possessions
of the late priory of St. John of Jerusalem ;|| while a Further
fiant dated 5th Dec, 1578, recited a grant, pursuant to a Queen's
Letter of 27 Sept., 1575, to the Provost, burgesses and com-
monalty of Athenry in Connaught" of " the rectory of Kynnclcij-
Ikiiic, Co. Galway, with the tithes of Kinnelcghanc and Barnaboye
(the altarages and one cople of the tithes for the curate and for
repairing the church excepted)-' '§
The mention of Clanricarde and O'Kelly's country in the
letter from Sussex, coupled with the grant to the borough <>f
Athenry in the fiant just quoted, led me to the conclusion that
• See Appendix (2).
t Hist. MSS. Comm., 15th Report, App. Pari HI.p 1 13. See Appendix (3).
Letter of the English Privy Council to Sir Henry Sydney. Appen-
dix (4)
|| Fiant Elizabeth, No. 1680. See Appendix (6),
§ Fiant Elisabeth, No. 3419. See Appendix (G).
THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS IN CO. GALWAY. 215
it was in East rather than in West Galway that the original
of the Knights Hospitallers house was to be sought, and that
the Kinalekin of Ware and Archdall would prove to be identical
with the Kynneleighane of their various Elizabethan documents.
I accordingly had recourse to O'Donovan's "Tribes and Customs
of the District of Hy-Many commonly called O'Kelly's Country."
From the map of the territory given in that work, and from
a note at p. 15, I found the origin of the reference to the
O' Flaherty foundation of Kinalekin on which Archdall has
built his mistaken inference. For it appeared from O'Donovan's
admirable map that the original O'Flaherty country ran very close
to the town of Athenry in days long prior to the coming of the
Bourkes. Further though the Townland Index made no mention
of Kynnaleighane, it gave three townlands of Barnaboy, the
name which is bracketed with Kynnaleighane in the Athenry
grant ; and of these one containing 299 acres, 1 rood and 35
perches was given as lying in the Barony of Clare and Parish of
Athenry. The reference in O'Donovan's " Hy-Many" having
given me the Irish original of Kynneleghane as "Kinal Ffeighin"
I next looked up the same scholars " Annals of the Four Masters"
under that place name, where I was rewarded by finding the
results of my inquiries and conjectures confirmed by the express
statement of that really omniscient topographer. For at p. 2230
O'Donovan notes as follows: — " Kinal Ffeighin from Kinal-
Eghin — this is the Monastery called Kinalekin by Archdall, who
erroneously places it in O'Flaherty's country. It is more correctly
called Kinaleghin in an inquisition dated 22 April, 1636, which
places it in Clanricarde. The ruins of the Abbey which are of
considerable extent are situated in the parish of Ballinakill, barony
of Leitrim, and County of Galway, about 3$ miles to the north-
east of the village of Woodford (near Eagle Hill). The Abbey
Church measures 124 feet in length. There are within it many
curious monuments to members of the Bourke family." A detailed
description of these remains, and a fuller statement of the facts
upon which O'Donovan's note is founded are given in the
Ordnance Survey Papers preserved in the Eoyal Irish Academy,
vol. ii., p. 504.* The identification of Kinalekin with Kinal
♦O'Donovan's description of the place and its remains is in full agree-
ment with a careful inspection of the ruins recently made by Mr. J. M.
Bradshaw on my behalf. Mr. Bradshaw writes as follows : — 'About eight
miles west of Portumna you will see printed on the one inch map (Survey)
a place called "Abbey" with " Friary" beside it. This is the place. I visited
216 OALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Ffeighin is accordingly complete. I give in an Appendix the
documents referred to above, iu the hope that some member of
the Society may be able to supply information concerning various
rectories and other property enumerated as having been among
the possessions of the Knights Hospitallers.
It is somewhat curious that Hardiman in his " History of
Galway" makes no direct mention of the Hospitallers as con-
nected with the city. But in a reference to the Templars he
writes as follows: — "This famous order had a convent here
beyond the east gate, but it was suppressed in 1312, and its
possessions granted by Edward II to the Hospitallers of St. John
of Jerusalem. The circular foundation of this ancient building
may be seen marked on the old map of the town, at the S. W.
corner of the Green. "t The house thus described by Hardiman as
a "convent" was evidently one of the "guest houses" or inns which
both Templars and Hospitallers were licensed to establish in the
principal cities, and which formed an interesting feature in the
social life of mediseval Ireland.
APPENDIX.
(1). " Kinalekin ; Commandery : A commandery for Knights Hospitallers was
founded here in the 13th century under the invocation of St. John the
Baptist by O'Flaherty ; Kinalekin is probably in Iar-Connaught, of which
O'Flaherty was dynast.
We find that John was prior in the year 1310; when Joan, the widow of
John de Burgh, sued him as custos of his lands, etc., for her dower thereof.
John de Blohely was prior ; he was succeeded by a third John, who sued
John de Burgh for a townland in Tullagh Mc Roskyn, of which John O'Lean
who was consecrated Bishop of Clonfert in the year 1322, and died A.D.
had unlawfully diseized John de Blohely, predecessor of John the
present prior.
A Franciscan friary was founded here before the year 1825."
(Archdall's Monasticon llibemicnm. Ed. Card. Moran, ii p. 221.)
them to-day, and called at the adjoining National School, over which is the
inscription ''Abbey of Kilnalahan," and so the people pronounce the name,
but far off are the ruins of a smaller monastery called " Lab in" and I believe
there is a holy well (St. Brigid's). The ruins are oxtonsive and in a very fair
state of preservation, — several Churches or Shrines, in one of which is a
striking tomb with original altar. I was informed that one of the Irish
princes is buried in this corner, and that the graveyard is still used for
purposes of burial. I should have noted that it is the burial place of tho
Bourkes."
f Hardiman's History of the Town of Galway, p. 274.
THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS IN CO. GALWAY. 217
(2). "Power of Attorney given by Sir John Rawson, Knight, Prior of the
Hospital of Kylmaynan, near Dublin, of St. John of Jerusalem, in Ireland,
to Stephen Fitz James Lynch, of Galway, merchant. The donor thereby
gave said attorney power to grant leases of all the lands, tithes, oblations and
altarages belonging to the said Hospital in any part whatsoever of Connaught,
and especially the tithes of the ecclesiastical parishes of Ballyclare and
Kiltarragh in the Diocese of Tuam, the town of Clonmakany near Ballyclare,
the tithes of Kenaleghen in the Diocese of Clonfert, and the chapel and house
of St. John the Baptist of Ballyne-robe, with a carucate of land and one mill
there ; with power to collect the rents and profits thereof, and hold the same
to the use of the said Prior and Hospital, the power to continue for the period
of two years from the date thereof. Attested under the writing and signature
of the underwritten public notary. Dated at the chief house of Kilmaynan
near Dublin, of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Ireland, July 22,
A.D. 1529. Witnesses: Father Richard Ellercare, Prebendary of Castro-
knoke, and Steward of Kilmaynan, and Robert North. Attestation of Nicholas
Bennett of the Diocese of Ferus, public notary. Signed Nicholas Bennett,
notary."
Blake Family Records, 1st Series p 66, Record No 86.
(3) "By the lorde lieutenant and counsaill
T. Sussex.
We grete you well ; and whereas upon sute made to the quenes majastie
by Walter Hope, it was her highnes pleasure that he shulde have in lease for
terme of years certain parceiles of landes lyeing in Connaughta, belonging to
the house of Kylmaynan, nowe annexed to her majasties crowne imperiall,
videlicit, the toune of St. John's of Randone with the appurtenances ; the par-
sonage of Ballanclare, the house of Cloune Machanyn, the parsonage of Kynne-
leghin, the parsonage of Kyltaraughta and Kilvekena, the house of St. John's
in Gallwaye, with all their appurtenances, in consideracion that he hath
revealed and brought to light the saide landes heretofore concealed and not
aunswered to her highnes or her progenitoures.
We lett you witt that because presently we cannot take ordre for the
survey thereof, we are contented and pleased that the said Walter Hope shall
have holde and enjoye the saide parceiles of landes with their appurtenances
with all profittes and commodities belonging to the same during our further
pleasure for the which he shall answere rent to her majestie according to
suche survey as shal be made thereof.
Wherefore we chardge and commannd as well all such as be occupiers
and inhabiters of the saide landes to permitt and suffre him quietly without
any your lettes or impedimentes peasibly to enjoye the same ; as also all
other her highnes officers mynisters and loving subjects to be aiding and
assisting to put him in possession thereof and to maynetayne him therein
till our further pleasure be known.
Given at Laughlin, the xviiith 1560.
H. Dublin, cane. — W. Fitzwilliams — John Plunket — James Bathe —
John Travers — Thomas Lokwood, dean — Francis Agarde— John Chaloner.
To our verie good lorde the Erie of Clanricarde; O'Kelle, capitain of his
countrey ; the Mayor of Galwaye, and all other her majesties officers,
mynisters, and loving subjects, to whom it shall appertayne." Haliday MSS.
15th Report of Hist. MSS. Commission, App. Part II, p. 113.
218 GALWAY ARCH^OLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
(4) Letter of English Privy Council to Sir Henry Sydney.
"After our right heartie commendacions : We have received your
lttttrres of the 26th of May, fourth of June, touching two severall sutes made
unto you there by Walter Hope of Dublin, the one for the obtaining of a
pencion granted unto him of late years by Oswald Mass higher do, late pryor of
Kylmayneham, for service done unto the said pryor and house, as he alleagath
For answer unto bothe which sutes you shall understande that
like as in the fyrste we think it very resaonable yf in the acte of parlyament
made for the uniting of the landes and possessions of the said house of
Kylmayneham [to] the crowne there bo any suche clause or provision as he
alleagath for the allowing of all these grauntes that passu] bona fide from
the said pryor before the dyssolucion of the said house, and that it shall also
appere unto you that the graunt passed unto him for his said pencion ys of
that nature, and made bona fide, without fraude or covyn, and further that
the landes granted unto him in Connaght by a concordatum of our very good
lorde the earl of Sussex, and the counsell then being, were not allotted unto
him in recompence of his said pencion, but for other respectes and consydera-
cions, that then he be allowed his pencion according to equitie and justice,
together with the arrerages due unto him uppon the same
And so we byd you right hartily well to fare. From St. James, the secondo
of July, 1566."
Holiday MSS. loc. cit. p. 189.
(5) Lease under commission 26 Sept ix to Walter Hoppe, of Molynger, Co.
Westmeath, of the rectories of Kynnaleighen, Ballenclare, Kyltara^hta. and
Kylveckana in Connaught, of the possessions of the late priory oi S. John of
Jerusalem. To hold for 21 years, rent 28*4. Not to alien without License.
Fine 28 4— 5 Dec. xiii. Fiant Elizabeth No. 16S9. App. to 12th Report of
Deputy Keeper of Irish Records p 21.
6 Grant (under Queen's letter 27 Sept., xvii) to tho provost burgesses and
commonalty of Athenry in Connaught of the rectory of
Kynnaleighane, Co. Gaiway, with the tithes of Kinnaleighane and Hame-
l)oye (the altarages and one cople of the tithes for the curate and for repairing
the church excepted) the rectory of Ballenclare, same co., with the tithes of
I'.iillcnclare, Lisharroll, and Lydeacan (the altarages and two copies of grain
for the curate and for repairing the church excepted), the rectory of Kil-
taraghta, same co (the altarages and one cople of tithes for the curate and
for repairing the church excepted) the rectory of Kilveckana, same co., (the
altarages and one cople of tithes for the curate and for repairing the ehunli
excepted) possessions of the late hospital of S. John of JerUfftlem in Inland.
To hold for ever, in free socage. Rent (of them and all other lands) £96 12 0.
20 Aug, xx.
Fi>mt Mi-abeth, No. 3419. (Appendix to 13th Report of Deputy Keeper
of Irish Records, p 94.)
[ 219 ]
The French in Mayo, 1798.
By Rev. E. A. D' ALTON, C.C., M.R.I A A
In three of the Irish provinces out of four rebellion broke
out in the summer of 1798. In Munster the outbreak was unim-
portant and was easily suppressed, In Ulster only Antrim and
Down rose to arms, and even in these counties the strength of
the rebels was not great. In Leinster, and especially in Wexford,
a graver state of things arose ; but Wexford unaided was unable
to hold its own when the government put forth its strength, and
by the end of June the rebellion might be said to be over. So far
Connaught had remained quiet, and only when peace had come
to the other provinces did the Western province become for a
brief period agitated by war. This change was effected, not by
any sudden outbreak on the part of the people, but by the land-
ing of a French invading force at Killala, on the evening of the
22nd of August.
Nearly two years before this date, a powerful French expedi-
tion had been sent to Ireland under Hoche, but it had failed
owing to the unfriendly winds, and in the next year Admiral
Duncan had shattered the Dutch invading force off Camperdown.
Early in 1798, the French Directory proposed to send a fresh
and powerful expedition ; but the glamour of the East attracted
Bonaparte, and owing to his advice the strength of France was
diverted to Egypt, and during the fierce struggle in Wexford not
a man and not a gun came from France. It did not however
suit France that Ireland should be at peace, and towards the end
of July it was determined to send several small expeditions.
They were to sail from different French ports and land at different
parts of Ireland. They were to stir up anew the almost extinct
fires of rebellion ; they might perhaps lead to great results ; at least
they would tie England's hands at home, and prevent her interfer-
ence with French designs abroad. One of these expeditions was
f Author of A History of Ireland from the Earliest Times to the Present
Day. Vols. I. and II. Kegan Paul, 1906.
220 GALWAY ABCH^JOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL 80CIETY.
THE FRENCH IN MAYO, 1798, 221
placed under General Humbert, sailed from Rochelle on the 6th of
August, and 16 days later landed at Killala. The whole strength of
the invaders, officers and men, was 1,036. As the French vessels
sailed into the Bay with the English flag flying at their mastheads,
they were taken to be friends, and as such allowed peacefully to
land. But in any case there was no force at Killala able to
encounter a French army of more than a thousand men, under an
experienced officer like Humbert. Some yeomen and fencibles
did make a feeble resistance ; but, on the other hand, 53 of the
Longford Militia turned traitors to their own side and went over
to the enemy.
Humbert set up his headquarters at the palace of the Protes-
tant Bishop of Killala, Dr. Stock, a cultured, kindly man who
spoke French well, lived on good terms with the French officers,
and has left us an interesting account both of officers and men.*
Humbert who had risen from the ranks and had served with
Hoche in La Vendee, is described by the Bishop as of good height
and shape, in the full vigour of life, a good officer but of a forbid-
ding physiognomy. His eye was small and sleepy, " the eye of a
cat preparing to spring on her prey. For learning he scarcely
had enough to enable him to write his name." Colonel Charost
was born in a higher position in life and was a man of some educa-
tion, " with a plain good understanding." Captain Baudet was a
big man, more than six feet high, always boasting of his prowess.
Captain Ponson, on the contrary, was a little man, volatile, rest-
less, impatient, always in good humour, and so inured to hardship,
that a continual watching for five days and nights " did not
appear to sink his spirits in the smallest degree." Of the soldiers,
some had fought on the Rhine and some had shared the glories of
Bonaparte in Italy ; all had seen service, and were familiar with
all the privations and horrors of war ; and some of them told the
Bishop that at the siege of Mayence in the preceding winter they
had slept on the ground in holes made four feet deep under the
snow. Not having ready money in Ireland Humbert paid for
what he took by drafts on the future Irish Directory. The French
however had a good supply of arms, sufficient for 5.500 of the
Irish, who hastened to join them. They were very proud of their
new French uniforms and of the arms which they got, though
they knew so little how to use the latter that in many cases they
* " Narrative of what passed at Killala and the parts adjacent during
the French invasion in the summer of 1798." By an Eye Witness.
222 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
put the cartridges in at the wrong end of the barrel. The French
held them in contempt, as they did the priests, declaring that
they themselves had just driven " Mr. Pope out of Italy and did
not expect to find him again so suddenly in Ireland."
After a short stay in Killala, the French general, leaving 200
of his troops to garrison the place, pushed on to Ballina, which
he also took and garrisoned, and then, advancing to Castlebar.
appeared there on the morning of the 27th of August. General
Lake, who had arrived from Dublin the previous evening, was in
command of the English, his second in command being Major-
General Hutchinson. The latter had been hurriedly sent on lie mi
Galway with reinforcements, and reached Castlebar on the 25th.
and pending the arrival of Lake had made preparation? to meet
the invaders. Quite satisfied that, on their march from Ballina,
they would take the Foxford road, he had sent General Taylor
with a strong force to Foxford to intercept them; but Humbert
turned west of Lough Conn, and advanced by the mountain road
which passed through Barnagee, or Windy Gap. A yeoman look-
ing after his cattle at three o'clock in the morning saw a column
of soldiers in blue marching rapidly towards the Gap, and mount-
ing his horse rode into Castlebar and alarmed the garrison.
General Trench was then sent forward, but being fired on by the
French about a mile from the town he hurriedly fell back, and
the whole English force at Castlebar was drawn out to meet the
enemy.
There is a conflict of testimony as to the numbers engaged
on both sides. Plowden puts the number engaged on the English
side at 6,000, so also docs (iuillon, the French historian, as docs
Teeling, whose brother was an officer under Humbert." The
estimate of Hutchinson is 1,700 on the English side, and on the
other side 700 French aided by 500 rebels. If allowance he made
for Taylor's force, which was at Foxford, the Larger estimate of
Plowden mast be considerably reduced, and perhaps Hutchinson
is near the truth, though he certainly does not overstate the
number on his own side. t There is less difficulty m accepting
• Historical Review; Guillon's La France et UlrlmuL pnulant In Ilrro-
lution; Maxwell' s History of the In*h IhhtUum ; Teeling's Ptrxmal A
tiir.
f Cornwall 'is Correspondence, vol ii. "Statement by thfl Bon. Ifajoc
General Hutchinson with reference to the Action at Castlebar. Hutchinson
was severely censured by Cornwallis, and in consequence resigned hil po
on the Staff in Ireland.
THE FRENCH IN MAYO, 1798. 223
his estimate of the French, for it must be remembered that only
1,000 landed at Killala, and that garrisons had been left both at
Killala and Ballina. As to the rebels their number was of little
consequence. They had scarcely any knowledge of the use of
arms and no experience of actual war, and it is easy to believe
that Humbert placed them in the front merely to draw the fire of
the enemy, and that at the first discharge of the English guns
they broke and fled.
Even assuming the correctness of Hutchinson's estimate, the
odds against the French were heavy. They had less than half
the number of the English ; they had but 40 mounted men, while
the English had cavalry and infantry in the usual proportions ;
the French had but two small four-pounder guns, the English
had twelve pieces of cannon and one howitzer ; they had also the
advantage of position. They were drawn up in two lines in front
of the town. The Kilkenny Militia and the Prince of Wales
Fencibles were in the front line, the Frazer Fencibles and the
Galway Yeomanry in the second. A little in advance, at the
right wing, on the high ground between Staball and the Turlough
road, was Captain Shortall with a battery of three guns. As the
French descended the hill beyond the Workhouse. Shortall opened
fire, and with such effect that the French fell back. A second time
under shelter of some houses they advanced, but again Shortall's
guns were well handled, and the French sustained some loss,
after which they again advanced, driving some cattle before them.
Finding that their formation in close column exposed them too
much to the enemy's guns, they deployed to right and left and
advanced tirailleur fashion. General Sarazin at the head of the
grenadiers leading the attack by the Ross road, drove back the
English right, and captured Shortall's guns at the point of the
bayonet. The attack on the English left was led by Ardouin, chef
de battailion. The Longford and Kilkenny Militia at this point
fired at long range, and without effect, and then fled, panic-stricken,
into the town. The artillery and Lord Roden's cavalry showed
more courage than the militia, and a stand was made at the
bridge which spans the north end of the Main street.* But
such resistance as was offered was speedily overcome by the
victorious French. The fugitives could not be rallied. Some
were shot down as they ran; many of the Longford and Kilkenny
men deserted to the enemy, or simply delivered themselves up as
* Bridge St. on the map.
224 OALWAY ABCHJ20LOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
prisoners; the remainder in a disordered mass took to flight.
The infantry threw away their arms so as to rim the better ; the
cavalry galloped through the town to Hollymount and Tuam.
Nor did some of them consider themselves safe at the latter place,
but with all haste rode on to Athlone, where they arrived early
on the 29th, having covered a distance of 63 miles in 27 hours.
The easy victory of the French and the precipitate retreat of
their enemies caused the battle to be called the Races of Castle-
bar. There was a tradition in the town, which has still survived,
that early in the fight a party of French, guided by their Irish
allies, outflanking the English left, crossed the Newport road and
the river near the present graveyard, and coming out on the
Westport road, took possession of the high ground near the
present county prison, and from this fired into the English ranks
in the town. The English, it was said, feared that a second army
was advancing from Westport, and becoming demoralized, at
once took to flight. But I can find no trace of any such move-
ment in the despatches of Humbert or Hutchinson, and think the
tradition, like a good many others, has no foundation in fact.
Maxwell thinks that treachery had a share, and a good share, in
the defeat, and points to the desertions from the militia." But
a sufficient explanation of the defeat is that the military licence
of the time had demoralized the army, Only six months before,
Abercromby had described the army as dangerous to everyone
but the enemy; the language of Cornwallis after he came to
Ireland is equally strong ; t and the disgraceful cowardice at
Castlebar shows how well these condemnations were deserved.
In his despatches to the French Directory Humbert gives
the number of killed and wounded at 600, the number of prisoners
at 1,200, an obvious exaggeration if we accept Hutchinson's
estimate of the combatants. { It is significant however that the
number of their losses is not given either by Hutchinson or Lake.
As for Maxwell's estimate of 87 killed and wounded and 376
prisoners, it is mere guess-work, and equally unreliable is his
statement that the loss of the French in killed and wounded was
• Maxwell is a strong partisan, and therefore not very reliable, but he
had the advantage of knowing the ground, and he gives notes taken by an
English officer who was serving with General Taylor at ^oxford.
f " The Irish Militia are totally without discipline, contemptible before
the enemy when any serious resistance is made to them." Cornwallis to
Portland, July 8th, 1798.
I Le General Humbert au Directoire Executif, 1c II Fructidor (Guillon).
THE FRENCH IN MAYO, 1798. 225
much greater than that sustained by their opponents. It is how-
ever admitted on all hands that the French captured all the guns
and military stores, with large numbers of prisoners. Nor would
a man have escaped them if they had horses enough to continue
the pursuit. A few Frenchmen, only ten in number, more daring
and reckless than the rest, followed the English for two miles.
At that point Lord Roden faced about and opened fire, killing five
of tbem and driving away the others. The dead Frenchmen were
buried by the peasantry where they fell, and in memory of the
event the place has ever since been called French-hill. In 1876
a monument was raised to their memory on the spot where their
bones were laid to rest. In digging for the foundation the work-
men came upon the skeletons from one of which rolled out three
silver coins, a five franc piece, one of two francs and a one franc
piece. I have seen the five franc piece, which is in a good state
of preservation. On one side is the inscription " Union et Force,"
on the reverse side " Republique Francaise, 5 francs, L'An 6; "
round the rim are the words " garantie nationale."*
Humbert set up a provincial government at Castlebar with
Mr. John Moore of Moorehall as President. He hoped that the
peasantry would flock to his standards, but they kept away;
even very many of those who had French uniforms and guns
went to their homes and stayed there. As a result Humbert had
to abandon Castlebar, and marching through Swinford and Cool-
ooney, he was, on the 9th of September, compelled to surrender
to Lord Cornwallis, who had with him an army of 20,000. Castle-
bar was soon reoccupied by the English, as was Ballina and
Killala ; Mr-. Moore was arrested and died in prison, and the
provincial government of Connaught was at an end.
* The coin is at present in the possession of Mr. James Daly of Castlebar
who kindly gave it to me to examine.
Will of Geoffrey French
of Galway, A.D. 1528.
By MARTIN J. BLAKE.
The original Will of Geoffrey French of Galway, merchant,
of which a photographic reproduction (now first published) is
here given, has been preserved in the collection of the Blake
Family Records now in my possession. I have given a summary
of it in the first volume of the Blake Family Records (published
in 1902) at page 65, under " Record No 85."
The Public Record Office, Ireland, does not contain the pro-
bates of any wills proved in the ecclesiastical Court of the Arch-
diocese of Tuam prior to the Reformation. Consequently this
original document which bears date the 11th of October 1528 is
now the only existing record of this Will. Before the Reformation
it was not necessary nor customary that the Will itself should be
signed by the testator ; it was written by a notary either from the
verbal instructions or written memoranda of the testator, and
then read over to the testator ; and was sufficiently authenticated
by the signatures of the notary and the Bishop of the diocese or
his representative. This Will bears the autograph signatures of
"Thomas Tuamen" (Thomas, Archbishop of Tuam) and "Marcus
Morony, Notary." Thomas O'Mullaly was Archbishop of Tuam
from 1513 to 1536 ; he was previously (1508 to 1513) Bishop of
Clonmacnois (Thiener, Monumenta Hibernorum historiam illus-
trantia, at p. 515) ; this fact was not known to Sir Jame8 Ware
the historian (see Harris* edition of Ware's works, vol. I., at p,
174) ; and has even escaped the notice of that careful and accurate
modern historian Mr. Hubert Knox in his Notes on the Diocese
of Tuam.
I have not definitely ascertained what particular branch of
French family is descended from this testator Geoffrey French;
but I am strongly inclined to think that he was an ancestor of
the branch known in the 17th and 18th centuries as French of
Tyrone, County Galway, which later on assumed the surname of
WILL OF GEOFFREY FRENCH.
227
St. George. On the 6th April 1677, Arthur French was certified
to be in possession of the lands of " Tirone " previously held by
his father Christopher French (who died in 1676) whose eldest
son and heir he was (Connaught Certificates Roll IV., skin 46),
The patent granted under the Acts of Settlement in pursuance of
this certificate was, however, made out (in trust probably) in the
name of Jeffery French who was second brother of said Arthur
French (Patent enrolled 10 January 1678). This Arthur French
of Tyrone was Mayor of the Town of Galway in 1691 when the
Town was surrendered to the army of King William under Gen-
eral Ginckle. He died in 1712, having married twice. He was
succeeded in the Tyrone estate by his only son by his first wife
(Mary), namely Christopher French; and by his second wife,
Sarah widow of Iriell Farrell of Cloonyquin, Co. Eoscommon,
Arthur French left issue five sons, of whom the eldest, Arthur
French succeeded to the Cloonyquin estate and is ancestor of the
present family of French of Cloonyquin. The above mentioned
Christopher French of Tyrone died circa 1718 (will dated 31 July
1718) and was succeeded by his eldest son Arthur French of
Tyrone, who married (23 January 1736) Olivia eldest daughter of
John Usher by his wife Mary St. George, only daughter and
heiress of George St. George 1st Baron St. George of Hatley.
Arthur French of Tyrone died 8th May 1779 and was succeeded
228 OALWAY ARCH^OLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL 80CIETY.
by his eldest son, Christopher French of Tyrone, who in 1774
assumed the surname of St. George in pursuance of a direction
contained in a settlement made by his mother's father, Baron St.
George. This Christopher French St. George's grandson, Chris-
topher St. George of Tyrone, died on 12 November 1877, without
male issue, and was succeeded by his two daughters as co-heir-
esses, namely Josephine St. George who married Andrew Browne
of Carnacregg and Katherine St. George who married Kobert
Kerr St. George of Woodsgift, Kilkenny.
I append a transcript of the Latin original of the Will of
Geoffrey French, together with a translation into English.
In Dei Nomine Amen. Ego Galfridus Prenishe do Oalvia mercator compos
mente licet eger corpore condo testamentum meum In hunc modum. In
primis, lego animam meam omnipotent deo patri et filio et spiritu sancto,
beate Marie virgini ac matri Sancto Michale Archangelo omnibusque Sanctis
ac civibus celestis curie, corpusque meum cumulandumin monasterio fratrum
minorum de observantia juxta Galviam cum predecessoribus meis. Item
do et lego Arthuro meo seniori filio et principali heredi domum meam in
qua nunc inhabito cum coquina et pavimento usque ad coquinam Marci
Frenishe. Item lego dicto Arthuro omnes terras meas michi jure hereditario
spectantes apud Athenry. Item lego dicto Arthuro unam ullam magnam
eream. Item lego dicto Arthuro meum librum rationium cum omnibus
debitis in se contentis, et si fratros ejus adjuvarent eum in recuperationem
prefatorum aut aliqua parcella inde quod tunc devidatur inter eos do recu-
peratoribus. Item super prefato Arthuro lego annuatim pro capitali domino
et pro pelve beate marie apud monasterium. Item lego meo filio Marco
Frenishe domum in qua nunc inhabitat et occupat cum suis edificiis et
coquina sibi annexa. Ita quod dictus Marcus fabricaret sibi aliam viam ad
introitum intus et extra parte magnam portam. Item lego super dictum
Marcum viii°d vizt. sex pro domino et ii°» d pro pelve. Item lego super
dictis Arthuro et Marco Frenishe Anniversarium meum et parentum meo-
rum annuatim, unum annum super dictum Arthurum et unum annum BUpeK
dictum Marcum, et sic do anno in annum durante vita eorum. Item lego
meo filio Edwardo omnes terras meas quas emi et perquisivi in Ireconnaght
vocatur Letteragh et unum cacabum magnum que vocatur chitill, post
decessum sue matris. Item lego dicto Edwardo meum ciphum argentum
quod Nicholaus Laghnan de Athenry habet in pignoro xiii" et iiii°' denariis.
Item lego meo filio Cristofor Frenishe meum ciphum quod Stephinus
Frenishe habet in accommodatione. Item lego quod nullus meorum filiorum
alienaret sou impignoraret aliquam parcellam sue partis nisi habita liccntia
prius a seniore et principalc horede. Item lego meo uxori Agnesie Skirrct
prefatas terras de Letteragh in Ireconnaght durante vita sua, et omnes
vaccas meus tam parvas quam magnas. Item lego dicte Agnesie omnia
utensilia vasa domus, et duos ciphos argenti, praeter illud quod legavi, et
post decessum ejus fiat devisio inter suos filios prout sibi videtur. Item
ordino et const ituo prefatam Agnesiam meam uxorem meum verum execu-
WILL OF GEOFFREY FRENCH. 229
tricem ad disponendam pro anima mea prout sibi videbitur. Hi sunt
debita que debeo. In primis debeo Jonoco Kyrwane unam pipam vini
solvendo sibi in dicta villa, libere ab omne onere ac duarias vaccinias.
Item debeo Mc y Dowane de Connemara unam patenam valentem ad quin-
que uncias et xiim denarios. Datum Galvie xi° die mensis Octobris Anno
Domini MDXXVIII.
Marcus Morony Thomas Tuamen
Notarius manu propria
TEANSLATION.
In the Name of God, Amen. I Geoffrey Frenche of Galway
merchant, of sound mind, though sick in body, make my testa-
ment in this manner. In the first place I leave my soul to
almighty God, the father son and holy ghost, to blessed Mary
virgin and mother, to St Michael the Archangel and to all the
Saints and citizens of the celestial court ; and my body to be
buried in the monastery of the Friars Minor " de observantia"
near Galway, with my predecessors. I leave to my eldest son
and principal heir Arthur, the house where I live, with the
kitchen and courtyard as far as the kitchen of Marcus Frenche.
I leave to said Arthur all the lands belonging to me by hereditary
right at Athenry. I leave to said Arthur one large bronze Jar.
I leave to said Arthur my book of accounts with all the debts
therein contained, and if his brothers help him to recover the
aforesaid or any part thereof, then the same to be divided equally
between them. I put upon the said Arthur an annual (payment)
for the head father, and for the almsdish of blessed Mary at the
monastery. I leave to my son Marcus Frenche the house in
which he now lives and occupies, together with the buildings and
the kitchen annexed thereto ; upon condition that he construct
another way to go in and out by way of the great gate. I put
upon the said Marcus eightpence — viz., six for the Father, and
two for the almsdish. I put upon the said Arthur and Marcus
annually my anniversary and that of my ancestors, one year
upon the said Arthur, and one year upon the said Marcus, and so
from year to year during their lives. I leave to my son Edward
all the lands which I bought and acquired in Ire-Connaught
called Letterach ; and a large kettle which is called • chitill,' after
his mother's death. I leave to said Edward my silver bowl
which Nicholas Lachnayn of Athenry has in pledge for 13 shil-
lings and 4 pence. I leave to my son Christofor Frenche my
bowl which Stephen French has in pledge. I direct that none of
o
230 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
my sons shall alienate or mortgage any part of his portion with-
out the previous consent of the eldest and principal heir. I leave
to my wife, Agnes Skirrett, the said lands of Letterach in Ire-
Connaught during her life, and all my kine, great and sin nil ;
I leave to said Agnes all my household utensils and vessels, and
two silver bowls except that which I have already bequeathed,
and after her death to be divided amongst her sons as she may
direct. I appoint and constitute my said wife Agnes my true
executor to dispense for my soul as shall seemeth her. List of
my debts : I owe to Jonock Kyrwan one pipe of wine, to be paid
to him in the said town free of all charge and custom duties (?).
I owe to the son of O'Duane of Connemara one dish worth 5
ounces and 12 pence. Dated at Galway the 11th day of the
month of October, A.D. 1528."
44 Marcus Morony "Thomas Tuamen
Notary" with his own hand."
A Note on
Roland de Burgo
alias Burke, Bishop of Clonfert ; and the
Monastery " De Portu Puro " at Clonfert.
By MAliTIN J. BLAKE.
Roland de Burgo alias Burke was appointed Bishop of Clon-
fert diocese by Pope Clement VIII. in 1534. In 1541 Roland
acknowledged King Henry VIII. as Supreme Head of the Church,
and by a fiant dated 24th October 1541 he was appointed by
King Henry VIII. Bishop of Clonfert, upon hia undertaking to
surrender the Papal Bull for the same. By a fiant dated 24
November 1543, Roland was granted " the site and possessions of
the Monastery, of Regular Canons of the Order of St. Augustine,
• De Portu Puro,' in Clonfert, to be united to the Bishopric of
A NOTE ON ROLAND DE BURGO. 231
Clonfert for ever — without account — " He died on 20th June
1580 as appears from the following Inquisition :
" Exchequer Inquisition : Co. Galway : 15th Elizabeth :
Eolandus deBurgo alias Burke, late Bishop of Clonfert."
" Inquisition taken at the town of Athenry, 1st October 1584, before John
Crofton and a Jury, who find : That Roland de Burgo alias Burke late
Bishop of Clonfert, closed his last day on the 20th of June 1580 : and was
seized in fee of the Castle called Tynagh and two quarters of land adjoin-
ing the Castle : and that he held the aforesaid of the Lord Archbishop of
Tuam at a certain annual rent and at certain other services of which the
Jury are ignorant : That the aforesaid Roland left no son I1) or other
issue born in matrimony who could be his heir : But that Lord Ulick de
Burgo now Earl of Clanricard as kinsman and next heir of the aforesaid
Roland (namely son of Richard de Burgo, who was son of Ulick, who was
son of Richard, brother of Redmund late of Tynagh who was father of
the aforesaid Roland who died without heir of his body lawfully begotten)
entered and seized into his hands the aforesaid Castle and lands of Tynagh
and now possesseth them."
Pedigree Illustrating above Inquisition.
Ulick de Burgo (Burke) of Knocktoo : died 1509.
Richard de Burgo (Burke) d. 1530. Redmund de Burgo (Burke) of Tynagh
Ulick de Burgo (Burke) 1st Earl Roland de Burgo (Burke) Bishop of
Clanricarde d. 1544. Clonfert, d. 20 June 1580,
Richard de Burgo (Burke) 2nd Earl
Clanricarde d. 1582,
Ulick de Burgo (Burke) 3rd Earl Clanricarde
referred to in above Inquisition
of 1584.
The Monastery " De Portu Puro " at Clonfert.
The first monastic establishment at Clonfert was founded by
St. Brendan in A.D. 553 or A.D. 562. In the latter part of the
12th century St. Brendan's establishment was refounded for the
Canons Eegular of St. Augustine, and the Monastery then became
known by the name " De Portu Puro " — " of the clear Harbour "
(l) Bishop Roland de Burgo left an illegitimate son, Redmund Burke, referred to
later on.
232 QALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
— in reference, I presume, to the harbour on the Shannon at
Clonfert, which lies on the river Shannon.
It is far more probable that Morrogh O'Fihely, Archbishop of
Tuam (1506-1513), derived his appellation " De Portu " from his
being a native of Clonfert where this Monastery of " De Portu
Puro " was, rather than from being a native of Baltimore, co. Cork,
a far fetched suggestion put forward by Sir James Ware without
any authority for it.
The following Inquisition relating to this Monastery is on
record at the Public Becord Office, Dublin :
Exchequer Inquisition : Co. Gal way : 17 James I. : " Mon-
asterium de Clonferte " :
" Inquisition taken at Gal way the 7th August 1607, before a Jury, who
find : That the Monastery of Clonfert formerly called the Monastery M De
Portu Puro" was never surrendered to the King: That said Monastery
was granted by a fiant of King Henry VIII. to Roland Burke late Bishop
of Clonfert in which fiant it is recited that the Abbey was annexed to the
See of Clonfert : That Henry O'Cormacan was Abbot and died seized of
the lands and the temporalities and spiritualities of said Abbey . That
after the death of said Henry O'Cormacan, Bishop Burke and others
were in dispute about the profits of the Abbey for five or six years : That
William O'Cormacan then (1567) betook himself to Rome and obtained
the Abbey from the Pope : That an agreement was then come to between
said William and Bishop Burke that the temporalities and spiritualities
should be divided between them: That on the death of said William
O'Cormacan in 1571, Bishop Burke received the whole until his death:
That (Stephen) Kirwan was appointed Bishop of Clonfert after the death
of Roland Burke, and came to an agreement with Redmund Burke son of
Roland, and gave to him a moiety of the profits : That after tbe death of
said Redmund Burke, said Bishop Kirwan took the whole of the mesne
profits: That the total quantity of land amounts to 6 quarters, and the
annual rent of the quarter of Down McMearan : That after the death of
said Bishop Kirwan, the mesne profits came to the hands of the Bishop
of Clonfert that now is " (Roland Lynch).
Stephen Kirwan was appointed Bishop of Clonfert, in succes-
sion to Roland de Burgh, by Queen Elizabeth, on 30th March 1581.
Roland Lynch was, on 20th October 1602, granted, by Queen
Elizabeth, the See of Clonfert, to hold in commcndam : he had
previously (in 1587) been appointed by the Queen, Bishop of Kil
macduagh.
[ 233 ]
The Old Borough of Tuam
Its Laws, Privileges, and Constitution.
By RICHARD J. KELLY, Barrister --at-Law, Vice-President.
The ancient and historic Borough of Tuam was incorporated
by a Charter of the 13th of James I., (1613) enrolled in Chancery
(Part 2., Jac. L, p. 1 to 20). The constitution then and thereby
granted was similar to other bodies of like character that were in
Ireland at the time. The limits of the borough extended about
two miles around the town, but were not fixed by Charter or ascer-
tained by perambulation. James II. granted a Charter also to the
borough in the fourth year of his reign, and it will be found en-
rolled in Chancery (P. 4, James II., p. 1 to 41). Under the first
Jacobite Charter the corporation consisted of a sovereign, 12 free
burgesses, and a commonalty, with the title "The Sovereign, Free
Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Borough of Tuam." The
following officers were named in the Charter: — A Sovereign ; Twelve
Free Burgesses; Two Sergeants-at-Mace; and also: A Town
Clerk; Kecorder; Treasurer; Constables; Scavengers; Inspectors
of Markets; Bellman; and Weighmaster. The freemen were not
regularly admitted at the time of their abolition, but one honorary
freeman, the Marquis of Anglesea, was admitted as such about
that time. The inhabitants of late years were admitted to act as
commonalty on those occasions, in which the body had by Charter
a right to interfere.
On the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the ' Sovereign '
formerly called the Superior was elected annually by a majority of
the assembly consisting of the free burgesses. He must be a free
burgess and he held office for one year dating from the Feast of
St. Michael and until his successor was duly elected and sworn in.
His oath of office was on that day administered by his predecessor,
and power to elect a successor during a vacancy was given to the
burgesses and commonalty. The same person had been of late
re-elected and at the time of the dissolution Eichard Savage the
last sovereign was sovereign for six years successively.
In 1699 a resolution against the practice of re-election was
passed by the Corporation but repealed in 1736, revived in
1818, but again repealed in 1823. In 1822 an election of the
234 GALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
sovereign by the free burgesses alone took place, the sovereign
having refused to attend. There was no power under the Charter
to appoint a Deputy Sovereign, but in 1812 such an appointment
was made ' agreeably to antient usage and a bye-law of the cor-
poration. The Sovereign was the Chief officer of the corporation,
who presided at all its meetings and was Judge of the Borough
Court. He acted as clerk of the markets under the Charter and
exercised a discretionary power to fine persons for committing
nuisances or violating the regulations of the markets. Although
nominally chief magistrate of the town he was not a Justice of the
Peace. In 1828 he was appointed a county magistrate on a peti-
tion of the burgesses, but was superseded on a representation
being made that he acted as a proctor in the Consistorial Court of
the Archbishop of Tuam. The Sovereign had a salary of £50 a
year from the revenues of the corporation and in the eighteenth
century he seems to have received the entire of the revenues
subject to the payment of the other officers and the expenses of
the entertainment of the corporation. In 1725 a salary of £30
was allowed and in 1726 he was to have two-thirds of the revenue
or about £40; in 1818 his salary was to be a fourth of the tolls and
henceforth a fixed salary was appointed. Certain fees were payable
to him in all proceedings of the Borough Court but the court had
been of late discontinued. He also had fees for affixing the seal
of the corporation to documents to be used abroad. The annual
corporation dinner was abolished in 1819 and since that date
there were no expenses incidental to the position.
The Free Burgesses were elected by the sovereign and free
burgesses, and held office until death, removal, or resignation.
Vacancies could be supplied within seven days and in 1701 a bye-
law was passed that no election should take place but at a court
of seven burgesses at least. This was altered in 1713 to five and
in 1716 to six and the sovereign, and in 1717 to a majority of those
present, and on the nineteenth day after a vacancy. There were
originally 13 free burgesses including the sovereign and the num-
ber increased to 20 by the Charter of Jamas II. The names of the
burgesses were entered in the books of the corporation, but many
afterwards appear in 1691 attending merely as freemen. A
practice arose of receiving the resignation of a free burgess accom-
panied by a recommendation " about his successor. There was
no property qualification." The Charter directed that he be
elected " out of the better and more honest inhabitants of the
borough." The residence qualification was latterly insisted on
THE OLD BOEOUGH OF TUAM. 235
but it did not prevail formerly. Care was taken to ensure
punctual and regular attendance and several instances of dis-
franchisement for non-attendance occur. On the 26th of April
1817, a meeting was held for the purpose " of electing burgesses
out of the resident inhabitants of the town in room of the burgessss
who are non-resident." On that day one of the burgesses was
disfranchised for swearing in two persons to collect the tolls and
customs in opposition to the sovereign and three for not attending.
Subsequent meetings were held for a similar purpose. In 1835
the burgesses were : Mayor Wm. Burke (23rd June 1815) ; Charles.
Blake (17th December 1816); Paul Mannion (26th April 1817);
John Francis Brown (same date) ; John Martin (23rd Jan. 1822) ;
Myles Egan (23rd September 1822) ; Thomas Browne (14th Oct.
1822) ; Doctor Madden (7th July 1823) ; James Henderson (12th
January 1824) ; Eichard Savage (11th September 1826) ; Thomas
Keary (14th February 1829); Denis Kirwan (5th August 1831);
and Patrick S. Keary (7th August 1832).
At the time of the Union the borough was under the patronage
of the Hon. Walter Yelverton, and John Lord Clanmorris, and a
sum of £1000 was paid to the former, and £14,000 to the trustees of
the latter for loss of the privilege of sending a member to Parlia-
ment. The corporation then became independant, and in 1811
the entire body was changed — on the 30th September seven bur-
gesses having resigned their places were filled. In 1818 a
resolution was passed that no two members of the same family
be elected, but in 1822 this resolution was rescinded. The sove-
reign and burgesses at the time of the dissolution were all, but
one,Eoman Catholics, but no religious or political differences ever
entered into the matter of election. The burgesses were exempt
from the tolls and customs — some took advantage of the privilege
others did not. Before the Union they voted for the two members
of parliament at the election. The sergeants-at-mace were elected
by the sovereign and burgesses and held office during good beha-
viour. They acted as bailiffs and constables having a salary of
five pounds a year and a suit of clothes, and they were permitted
to reside in the town house. They summoned the burgesse's to the
meetings and were bound to serve and execute the processes of
the Borough Court — their scale of fees being 5d. for service
of a summons, and Is. Id. for executing attachment, and Is.
Id. for executing a decree. The Town Clerk was elected
by the sovereign and burgesses and held office for life. He
was to act as registrar of the Borough Court and of the cor-
236 GALWAY ARCH2EOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
poration meetings and had formerly £3 a year, in 1743 with fees
on the proceedings of the court. The election of a Recorder was
by the sovereign and burgesses, was annual and among the bur-
gesses— the last election was in 1811. A man holding that office
was disfranchised in 1817 for swearing in a toll collector in oppo-
sition to the sovereign and he was the last to hold that office.
His salary varied from £2 to £4 and in 1811 he had £5. One of
the burgesses was treasurer and the last appointment was in 1818
but he seems to have had no salary or emoluments. Latterly the
sovereign acted as treasurer. Constables and scavengers were
appointed by the Grand Jury and small sums applotted for their
salaries. The bellman had £3 a year, and the weighmaster was
sworn in under the 4th Anne, c. 14 and 53, and in 1706 a public
crane was established. In 1817 three persons were sworn in as
weighmasters. Inspectors of the markets were appointed by the
Grand Jury and originally up to 1745 a clerk of markets. Free-
men were admitted under the Charter who should be of the com-
monalty, and the old books contain entries of admittance and
tines for quarterage on those who traded in the borough who were
not free. Freemen were exempt from tolls and had no other
privileges. None of the officers under the corporation exercised
exclusive or criminal jurisdiction. A court was held for the
borough by the sovereign or his deputy at which a grand jury was
sworn who were freemen. They prevented nuisances on the roads
and streets, forestalling persons exercising trades not being free,
and issued writs for the recovery of stolen goods, appointed scaven-
gers, constables, inspectors of markets, overseers of roads and
bridges and watchmen, and passed presentments for paying salaries
for officers, providing arms for the watchmen, purchasing weights
and measures, repairing roads and bridges, providing a public
pound, and regulating trades, and they tried cases for assaults, and
tin y acted as a jury in civil actions. The jury varied from 12 to
18 and the foreman was always a burgess, and they were all pro-
bably freemen as it is described as "a court of freemen." Subse-
quently to 1758 the jury did not meet, at least there is no record
of any such. They tried cases for assaults and freemen were
sworn in before them.
The Court of Record was created by the Charter empowering
the corporation to hold such before the sovereign every Wednes-
day " from week to week for all actions of debts, covenants, tres-
pass, detinue, contracts and personal deiminds whatsoever, not
exceeding the sum of five marks sterling, which shall arise or
happen within the said borough of Tuam or its liberties thereof."
This court was held down to about 1826. The proceeding was bj
plaint, summons and attachment against the goods of the defen-
dant. A power of an M formerly to have existed. In
actions against a stranger indebted to an inhabitant of Tuam the
attachment was issued without previous summons on an affidavit
of debt, and that the debtor was about to leave the town. In all
THE OLD BOROUGH OF TUAM. 237
other cases attachment did not issue unless the party defaulted in
appearance. By consent cases could be summarily disposed of on
the summons, but otherwise the attachment issue and the return
being made to the parties appearing they proceeded by regular
pleadings to an issue tried before a jury. The sovereign was
Judge and taxed the costs. Goods taken on attachment were
released on bail, but if not bailed they remained with the sergeant-
at-mace until judgment was had in the cause when they were
sold for payment of the debt and costs. Execution issued against
the goods. Only five or six weeks intervened in a litigated cause
between its commencement and conclusion and the costs averaged
about £30. There appears to have been from 300 to 400 causes in
a year. A few summonses appear to have been issued in 1829 but
there is no record of any such after 1830. The sovereign in 1829 who
held the office successively for six years, and whose father held it
before him for two years, gave as his reason for discontinuing the
court that vexatious actions were brought against him by an
enterprising and unscrupulous attorney acting for pauper clients.
This individual was the son of a burgess and was disfranchised in
1817, and in revenge he declared he would make it hot for the
corporation, and became an attorney on purpose to carry out his
vendetta. The sovereign was cast in costs and he looked to the
corporation to indemnify him. Great public inconvenience re-
sulted from the discontinuance and numerous applications were
made to continue the court, but Mr. Savage declined to be made
a butt for the adventurous attorney's attacks.
There was no Manor Court in Tuam. The last sovereign was
a proctor in the Consistorial Court of the Protestant Archbishop,
and he writes that the Archbishop had a patent for a Manor Court.
In 1716 a burgess was censured for replevying, as seneschal of the
Archbishop, a distress taken by the deputy sovereign, and the
burgess and sovereign resolved " to proceed according to law in
defence of their Charter and the liberties thereby granted, against
any person not a member of the corporation who should, as
seneschal of any person, grant or execute any such replevins
within the corporation."
The Assistant Barrister of the County of Galway sat twice a
year in Tuam, and the inhabitants complained of having to go to
Galway. The area was 20 stat. miles and the petty sessions court
was held in Tuam by County Magistrates of whom five resided in
the borough. There was no local police save so far as the ser-
geants-at-mace acted as such in reference to the markets. A
portion of the county constabulary were stationed in the town,
but not under the orders of the sovereign. The town was not up
to 1829 lighted, flagged or watched, and the streets were repaired
by county presentment. We notice charges for paving the north
street (?) in 1702. There was no borough gaol but there was an
old guardhouse, and there was a county gaol.
The revenues of the corporation were derived solely from the
238 QALWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
charges collected under tolls and customs at fairs and markets.
The Charter gave the corporation a right to hold a free market
on every Thursday, and :i yearly fair on the Feast of St. John and
the day following, and grants them the tolls and customs belonging
thereto. The market was subsequently changed to Saturday, and
this led often to trouble, as litigious persons refused to pay the
toll. The corporation claimed to hold fairs on 10th of May, 4th
of July, 10th of October, and 15th December. The tolls were let
annually by sovereign and burgesses, by public cant or advertise-
ment. The sovereign got the proceeds on condition of paying
expenses. In 1700 the sovereign gave up the surplus after paying
an officer to build a market house, and in 1713 a sum of £200 was
in hands and so expended. In 1716 the building of the old market
house was completed at a cost of £478 16s. 0£d. In 1827 the
customs were let for five years to the committee of the new Roman
Catholic Cathedral as a contribution to the building fund. The tolls
were let as follows:— In 1703, £25; 1715, £41; 1717, £45; 1718,
for seven years, £9 6s; 1725, £49; 1730, £76; 1741, £80; 1746,
(cranage excepted) £86; 1751, (with cranage) £105; 1780, £130;
1785. £140; and from 1785 to 1819 no record of a letting. In
1819, £230; 1820, £210; 1821, £200; 1827, lease to chapel com-
mittee, £250. It was stated they were worth £400, and let for £300.
From 1700 to 1725, the erection of the market house was the
principal expenditure. In 1820 a sum of £122 was paid for putting
up a town clock, and a sum of £308 for repairing the building.
The sovereign then was Charles Blake, and in 1820 a balance of
£325 was due him by the corporation. The corporation also
erected a crane and purchased weights and measures. From 1725
to 1819 the revenue was devoted to the payment of the sovereign
and salaries of officers, and the expenses of the annual entertain-
ment given on Michaelmas Day, which was abolished in 1819.
In 1824 the sovereign was Thomas Savage, and the Toll Farmer
Peter Ryan.
The accounts of the corporation in 1819 are interesting. We
find William Merrick paid £19 for a livery for the sergeant-at-
mace; £7 paid for a dung cart; 10s. to Michael Higgins for
repairing the bridge, and Laurence Higgins 15s. 3d; £7 was paid
for paving Chapel lane; £8 to Simon Hackett for stone cutting,
and 18s. paid for repairing Kitty, the cripple's house ; £1 2s. 9d.
p:ii<l to Doctor Kelly fov dressing the persons whipt; Laurence
Higgins, bellman, got £3. Soma of the old names as debtors are
interesting: Breheny Smith, John Dillon, Michael Concannon
(mason); McLoughlin (glazier); John Connolly, Thomas Kenny,
Terence Joyce, Thomas Hicks, Mrs. Dean Burton, John Elwood,
Pat Neland, Stephen Boh an, Pat Gany (turner) ; Mrs. Carroll,
Mrs. Douay, Patrick Egan (attorney). In 1821 one John Burke
was sovereign, and he claimed a debt as due him by the corpora-
tion, and his attorney retained the books of the body as a lien.
An interesting case arose out of it — Burke v. Burke. It was a
THE OLD BOROUGH OF TUAM. 239
prosecution for criminal information between these two gentlemen,
and it arose out of the detention of the town house by Mr. Burke,
and his refusal to attend the corporation meetings. There was a
collateral case subsequently of Larkin v. Savage against the
sovereign by the caretaker of the house under Mr. Burke. Both
cases were unsuccessful against the corporation. There was a
case of Cosgrave v. Savage instituted to demand a sum of £62, of
which £8 10s was for paying for his commission of the peace
(which was afterwards superseded).
In 1831 the Town of Tuam comprised 1,127 inhabited houses;
9 building and 61 uninhabited. It comprised 97 families chiefly
employed in agriculture, and 547 families engaged in trade and
handicraft, and 554 not comprised in these two last. There were
3,153 males, and 3,730 females, or 6,883. Employed in retail or
handicraft were 701 persons; capitalists, bankers, professional and
other educated men 150. In 1821 the persons were 4,571 and
showed an increase of 2,313. A Government Commission consist-
ing of Maziere Brady and John E. Corballis visited Tuam in
September 1833, and they reported concerning the condition of
the town, its finances and its corporation. In the course of that
interesting report we read : — " No particular individual can be
pointed out as exercising paramount influence in the corporation
since the change of its members in 1811, and the proceedings of
the sovereign and free burgesses are of a more popular character
than those of any other corporate body we have visited. The
admission of the commonalty to some share in the corporate
proceedings and the perfect freedom from religious distinction
between the free burgesses and the great majority of the com-
munity are strongly calculated to prevent the dissension which
too commonly prevails in other places between the corporations
so called and the inhabitants. But without evincing that marked
hostility to be found elsewhere the inhabitants of Tuam are far
from being satisfied with the present constitution of the municipal
body, and they naturally object to the power of self election vested
in the free burgesses which in practice leads to the exclusion of
the commonalty from all control over the details of corporate
business and the application of the corporate revenues. It seems
to be considered that the number of free burgesses is too small,
and it has been suggested as an improvement that they be in-
creased to 24. We found no objection on the part of any member
of the corporation to its being constituted on more popular
principles."
Appended are some extracts from the old Corporation Re-
cords of 1823-7, the oldest now extant.
(to be continued).
[ 240 ]
Notes.
Bibliography.— Mr. E. R. McC. Dix writes: ' I have acquired a little
Galway Chapbook, printed in 1801, by Geo. Connolly, describing himself as
Bookseller & Army Stationer. It is " The Sugar-Plumb or Sweet Amuse-
ment for Leisure Hours," Ac, Ac, and has a rude woodcut as frontispiece.
It contains short Btories for children. It is a 19mo. of 110 pp. This carries
back Connolly's printing 2 years earlier than hitherto known.' (See p. 178.)
County Roscommon Archaeological Society.— An Archaeological
Society for Co. Roscommon is, we are glad to say, in process of formation,
an organizing committee having been appointed with Mrs. Crofton (Mote
Park) and Mr. George A. P. Kelly (Cloonglasnymore, Strokestown) as Hon-
orary Secretaries ; and the number of those who have already signified their
intention of joining the Society is sufficient for a satisfactory start to be
made. All who are anxious for the spread of intelligent interest in local
history, for the preservation of the memorials of the past, and for the public-
ation of all manner of records that will form material for history, must
rejoice at the rise of new archaeological societies. And as the members of
the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society are particularly concerned
with the Province of Connaught, they will be particularly interested in the
formation of this second archaeological society in this Province. We hopo
ere long to be able to record the progress and increasing influence of the
Roscommon Society.
Kerry Archaeological Association.— It is pleasant also to record
the starting of another new society, the Kerry Archaeological Association.
This society has Lord Kenmare, H.M.L , as its President, and Miss Hussey
(Aghadoe House, Killarney) is the very active Honorary Secretary. A some-
what novel plan is to have both members and associates ; the members to
pay £1 annually, and the associates 10s., both classes of subscribers to
receive the Journal of the Society, but only the former class to receive any
extra publications and to exercise tho rights of membership. Fifty havo
already, at the moment of writing, signified their intention of being full
members. This looks very hopeful. And Kerry is a fruitful field for
archaeologists' work.
The Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of
the Dead for Ireland if anxious to secure tho co-operation in its labours
of the members of all archaeological societies in the country. Tho President
and Editor (Lord Walter Fitzgerald) and the Honorary Treasurer (Mr. E. R.
McC. Dix) are both members of our own Society, and are both well known
as among the most zealous and able workers in Ireland in tho cause of
archaeology and local history. The importance of recording in print any
specially interesting obituary inscriptions is obvious ; but complete lists of
the early monuments in any graveyard are also of value for genealogical work
and because so many are becoming effaced through age and the effects of
weather. This Association publishes inscriptions down to as lato a date as
1860 in some cases.
[ 241 ]
(Saltoa^ jlrcbajologiral ana historical ^oriettr.
List of Membees, corrected to 31st December, 1906.
President: The Most Rev. J. Healy, d.d., m.r.i.a.
Vice-Presidents : Hon. R. E. Dillon, Ex-President ; Richard J. Kelly ;
Lord Killanin,
Editor : W. P. Trench. | Hon. Treasurer : T. D. Lawson.
Hon. Secretary : Miss M. Redington.
Executive Committee : The Officers of the Society, and T. B. Costello,
A. Eraut, Monsignor Pahey, C. Litton Palkiner, J. A. Glynn, Colonel Nolan,
W. S. Waithman.
[Life Members in small capitals, (a) prefixed signifies a member of "Council"
i.e., an original member of the Society (1900) ; \ signifies subscription
for 1905 and 1906 still unpaid.}
Alcorn, J. G., J. P. ; Kilroe, Drumgriffin.
aAnderson, His Honour Judge William H. M., k.c, Recorder of Gal way ; 22
Upper FitzWilliam Street, Dublin.
Ardilaun, Lady: Ashford, Cong.
Berridge, R. ; Ballinahinch Castle, Co. Galway.
Bigger, Francis J., m.r.i.a. ; Ardrie, Belfast.
Blake, Hon. E., m.p. ; 20 Kensington Gate, London, W.
Blake, James W.; Revagh, Galway.
Blake, Colonel LI., d.l. ; Cloghballymore, Kilcolgan.
Blake, Martin J. ; 13 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, London.
Blake, Colonel Maurice, c.b., d.l. ; Tower Hill, Ballyglass.
Blake-de-Burgh, Charles 0. ; Windham Club, St. James's Square, London.
Boland, P. J. ; Glenard, Galway.
Boothman, C. T. ; 14 Clarinda Park, Kingstown.
aBurke, Sir Henry G., Bart., d.l. ; Marble Hill, Loughrea.
Burke, Rev. Thomas, p.p. ; Kinvara.
Burke, William Lambert ; 26 Leeson Park, Dublin.
Byrne, Rev. W., s.J. ; St. Ignatius' College, Galway.
Canton, Very Rev. Canon, p.p. ; Athenry.
Carr, Most Rev. J., d.d, ; Archbishop of Melbourne.
fCarrigan, Rev. William, CO., m.r.i.a. ; Durrow.
f Carter, Joseph S. ; Galway.
aClonbrock, Lord, k.p., h.m.l. ; Clonbrock, Ahascragh.
<xClonbrock, Lady, Clonbrock, Ahascragh.
Cochrane, Robert, i.s.o., p.s.a., m.r.i.a., Hon. Sec. R. S.A.I. ; 17 Highfield
Road, Rathgar, Dublin.
fColohan, Nicholas W., m.d. ; The Villa, Galway.
242 LI8T OP MEMBERS.
non. H. J. ; Grove House, Tuam.
Concanon, J. B. ; Annagh, Ballyglunin.
Conroy, J. C. ; Francis Street, Galway.
Cooke, John, m.a. ; 66 Morehampton Road, Dublin.
Corcoran, P. ; Abbeygate Street, Galway.
Costello, T. B., m.d. ; Tuam.
Curran, Rev. Thomas, p.p. ; Moycullen.
D'Alton, Rev. E. A., m.r.i.a. ; Athenry.
aDaly, Colonel J. A., d.l., Raford, Loughrea.
aDaly, William, d.l. ; Dunsandle, Athenry.
Davies, M. Blako ; Castleturvin, Athenry.
Davies, Surg.-Lt.-Col. J. N. ; Clondarragh, Foxrock, Co. Dublin.
Davy, P. J., J.p. ; Killaghbeg, Ballinasloe.
aDillon, Hon. R. E., d.l., (Vice-President) ; Clonbrock, Ahascragh.
Dillon, Thomas; Galway.
Dix, E. R. McC. ; 17 Kildare Street, Dublin.
Donelan, D. O'Conor, j.p. ; Sylan, Tuam.
Duffy, M. J. ; Mainguard Street, Galway,
Edwards, Rev. Bro., o.s.f. ; Franciscan Monastery, Roundstone.
aEraut, Alexander, m.a. ; Grammar School, Galway.
fExon, Charles, m.a. ; Queen's College, Galway.
aFahey, Very Rev. Mpnsignor, d.d., v.g. ; Gort.
Falkiner, C. Litton, m.a., m.r.i.a. ; Mount Mapas, Killiney.
Faller, S. ; Williamsgate Street, Galway.
Fitzgerald, Lord Waltku, m.r.i.a. ; Kilkea Castle, Mageney.
Fitzmaurice, Rev. E. B., o.s.f. ; Drogheda.
Fogerty, G. J., R.n. ; 67 George Street, Limerick.
( liinly, Rev. \V., p.p. ; c/o W. P. Linehan, 809 Little Collins-St., Melbourne.
Gardiner, J. C, r.m. ; Galway.
Garetin, J. Ribton, d.l., f.s.a., m.r.i.a. ; Braganstown, Castlebellingham.
Gaussen, Mrs. D. ; Thornhill, Smithborough, Co. Monaghan.
Geraghty, Rev. B., p.p. ; Kilbegnet.
aGlynn, J. A. ; Beech House, Tuam.
Golding, Patrick S. ; Ballinasloe.
Gough, Viscount ; Lough Cutra Castle, Gort.
Grealy, Dr. Nicholas ; Galway.
aGrogory, Lady ; Coole Park, Gort.
Hallctt, T. G. P. ; Weil House, Galway.
Hallett. Mrs. ; Weir House, Galway.
Hamilton, Thomas T. ; 7 University Road, Galway.
Hargrove, Mrs. ; Shelley Court, Tite Street, London, S.W.
oHealy, Most Rev. John, d.d., m.r.i.a., Archbishop of Tuam (President).
H.nnelly, Very Rev. Canon, p.p. ; Cong.
Hodgson, C. Mortimer ; Currarevagh, Oughterard.
aHunt, Rev. H. De Vere ; The Rectory, Ahascragh.
Joyce, Mrs. F. ; Isercleran, Craughwell.
LIST OP MEMBERS. 243
Kelly, E. Festus ; Lyndhurst, Hants.
Kelly, Rev. James, c.c. ; St. Columba's, Inishbofin.
aKelly, Richard J., j.p. (Vice-President); 10 Mountjoy Square, Dublin.
Kelly, T Aliaga ; 1 Westmoreland Street, Dublin.
Kelly, William Edward, d.l. ; St. Helen's, Westport.
Kenny, Thomas M. ; Galway.
Killanin, Lord, d.l. (Vice-President) ; Spiddal.
Knox, H. T., m.r.i. a. ; Westover House, Bitton, Bristol.
aLawson, T. Dillon (Hon. Treasurer) ; Bank of Ireland, Galway.
Longworth, E. Dames, d.l. ; Glynwood, Athlone.
Lopdell, Colonel J. R., j.p. ; Rockmore, Athenry.
Lynch, Major J. Wilson, d.l ; Belvoir, Sixmilebridge.
Lynch, P. J. ; Upper Mallow Street,, Limerick.
aMcCormack, Most Rev. P. J., d.d. ; Bishop of Galway.
McDonogh, Martin ; Flood Street, Galway.
McDonogh, T. C. ; Flood Street, Galway.
McDonnell, James ; Waterslade, Tuam.
f McDonnell, John C. ; Dominick Street, Galway.
faMcHugh, Very Rev. M. J., s.J.; Crossboyne, Castlerea.
Macken, Rev. T. F. ; St. Jarlath's, Tuam.
Madden, Right Hon. Mr. Justice, p.c. ; Nutley, Booterstown, Co. Dublin.
Martin, Hon. Mr. Justice ; Ballinahinch, British Columbia.
Martyn, Edward ; Tullyra Castle, Ardrahan.
Martyn, Colonel Oliver ; 89 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.
Miller, Ormsby B., d.l. ; Blindwell, Tuam.
Mills, Dr. J. ; District Asylum, Ballinasloe.
Moffett, Sir Thomas, ll.d. ; 49 Mespil Road, Dublin.
Moloney, A. ; 9 Charing Cross London.
Monahan, Miss A. ; Herga, Harrow-on-the-Hill.
aMorris, Sir George ; 48 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin.
fMurphy, H. M. A. ; 3 Francis Street, Galway.
Murphy, Patrick ; Tuam.
aMurray, J. W. Brady, j.p. ; Northampton, Kinvara.
aNolan, Colonel, j.p. : Ballinderry, Tuam
O'Dea, Right Rev. T., d.d., Bishop of Clonfert; St. Brendan's, Loughrea.
O'Farrell, Charles ; Dalyston, Loughrea.
fO 'Flanagan, E. P. ; Ballinrobe.
O'Gorman, Philip ; Printinghouse, Galway.
aOrmsby, C. C, c.e. ; Galway.
Oranmore and Browne, Lord, d.l. ; Castle Macgarrett, Claremorris.
Potter, R. E. ; Furbough, Galway.
Power, B. O'Neill ; Ryehill, Athenry.
Roe, Rev. Radcliffe P. ; Athenry.
Redington, Miss M., (Hon. Secretary) ; Kilcornan, Oranmore.
Roche, Thomas Redington ; 15 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.
244 LIST OP MEMBERS.
Sandys, W. A., m.d. ; Palmyra Crescent, Galway.
Senior, A., ph.d. ; Queen's College, Galway.
Simmons, R. W. ; Dominick Street, Galway.
Stacpoole, The Duchess de ; Mount Hazel, Ballinasloe.
Stopford, E. A. ; 7 Trebovis Road, London, S.W.
Teeling, Mrs. Luke ; 32 Upper Mount Street, Dublin.
Tighe, M. J. ; Merville, Galway.
Tivy, R. B. ; Provincial Bank, Galway.
aTrench, W. FitzJohn, m.a., m.r.i.a. (Editor) ; Ardmore, Galway.
Tulloch. Mrs. F. Lushington ; Shanbolard, Moyard, Letterfrack.
Upton, Henry A. S„ m.b.i.a., f.r s.a.i. ; Coolatore, Moate.
aWaithman, W. S., d.l. ; Merlin Park, Galway.
Wardell, J. H., m.a., m.b.i.a. ; Trinity College, Dublin.
Woollcombe, R. Lloyd, ll.d., m.r.i.a. ; 14 Waterloo Road, Dublin.
Wright, E. Percival, m.d., m.r.i.a. ; 5 Trinity College. Dublin.
Candidate for Election at Next Meeting.
Gwynn, Stephen, m.p. ; Raheny Park, Raheny, Dublin.
Libraries which Subscribe to the Journal.
British Museum, London.
King's Inn, Dublin.
National Library, Dublin.
Queen's College, Galway.
Trinity College, Dublin.
Catholic Temperance Society, Tuam.
And the following branches of the City of Dublin Public Library : Capel
Street, Thomas Street, Charleville Mall, Lower Kevin Street.
Tiotert fflaedona/d,
Established 1862. Established 1862
«3 REGISTERED PLUMBER, >
%€eating & &anitary Engineer
AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
To be added to List of Members.
Reidy, Rev. T., c.c. ; Moore, Ballinasloe.
Electric Bells a Speciality, &&■
Accessories always kept in Stock.
Acetyline Gas Instalations Estimated for, and all in-
formation relative to same furnished on application.
High and Low Pressure Hot
Water Heating Apparatus .
For Churches, Public Buildings, Mansion Houses, and
Buildings of every Description.
CITY PLUMBING AND SANITAEY WOEKS :
SbominicA &treet, &aiu)ay>
Registered Telegraphic Address:—1' Plumbus, Gal way."
244 LIST OP MEMBERS.
Sandys, W. A., m.d. ; Palmyra Croscont, Galway.
Senior, A., ph.d. ; Queen's College, Galway.
Simmons, R. W. ; Dominick Street, Galway.
Stacpoole, The Duchess de ; Mount Hazel, Ballinasloe.
Stopford, E. A. ; 7 Trebovis Road, London, S.W.
Teeling, Mrs. Luke ; 32 Upper Mount Street, Dublin.
Tighe, M. J. ; Merville, Galway.
Tivy, R. B. ; Provincial Bank, Galway.
aTrench, W. FitzJohn, m.a., m.u.i.a. (Editor) ; Ardmore, Galway.
Tulloch. Mrs. F. Lushington ; Shanbolard, Moyard, Letterfrack.
Upton, Henry A. S„ m.b.i.a., f.r.s.a.i. ; Coolatore, Moate.
National Library, Dublin.
Queen's College, Galway.
Trinity College, Dublin.
Catholic Temperance Society, Tuam.
And the following branches of the City of Dublin Public Library : Capel
Street, Thomas Street, Charleville Mall, Lower Kevin Street.
Tlofart Tftacctonafd,
Established 1862. Established 1862^
< REGISTERED PLUMBER, O
%€eating & &anitary Engineer
AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
ESTIMATES FURNISHED
For Internal Household Plumbing, including — Baths,
W.C 's, Wash Basins, Domestic Hot Water Circulation,
and Kitchen Kanges fitted up in every manner con-
sistent with the most recent and approved Modern
Principles.
Electric Bells a Speciality, &»-
Accessories always kept in Stock.
Acetyline Gas Instalations Estimated for, and all in-
formation relative to same furnished on application.
High and Low Pressure Hot
Water Heating Apparatus .
For Churches, Public Buildings, Mansion Houses, and
Buildings or every Description.
CITY PLUMBING AND SANITARY WOEKS :
SbominieA &treet, jgaiuOay,
Registered Telegraphic Address: — " Plumbus, Galway."
C0AL5. COALS.
IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC.
Messrs. BEHAN
Beg to inform the Public generally
that they have been appointed -
Sole Agents in the West of Ireland
For the Sale of the Celebrated
WHITEHAVEN COALS
Which they will be prepared to dispose of at their
STORES in MIDDLE STREET
At the Lowest Possible Price.
These Coals are received by the Agents direct from
tlie Colliery, of which the Whitehaven Company are
Sole Lessees, and therefore are in a position to dispose
of their Coals without compelling Purchasers to pay
Middleman's Profits.
CliADDAGH
RINGS.
-
OKIGINAL MAKERS OF
GLADDAGH BROOCHES, BANGLES, SCARF PINS, ETC.
AS SUPPLIED BY US TO
H. M. King Edward VII. H. E. H. The Princess of Wales
Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. H. E. The Countess of Cadogan
H. R. H. The Prince of Wales. H. E. The Countess of Dudley.
H. E. The Countess of Aberdeen.
And many other persons of the highest distinction.
'history of ring free.
^
T. DILLON & S0NS,GfluWflY
Established by J. Dillon, 1750. Registered in the Goldsmiths H 1 JlLiUjN fc.
Hall, Dublin, 1784.
MERCHANT TAILOR AND
WAREHOUSEMAN,
A. MOON,
EG-LINTON BUILDINGS, GAL WAY.
SPECIALITIES— Galway Hand-Spun Tweeds
Galway Hand-Spun Nap Flannels
The Celebrated Claddagh Cloaks
Genuine Old Cottage-made Bawneen Flannel in Cream
Tailoring for Gentlemen. Dressmaking for Ladies
Boots and Shoes
Agent for the SUNBEAM CYCLES.
Agent for " K
A. MOON holds the largest stock of Irish-made Goods in
the Provinces, which he strongly recommends.
Telegrams: " Moon, Galway."
gent's size. \s\l Jim/ ladies size
THE CLADDAGH EKOOCH.
Rkgd. No. i:
MAKER OF THE CLADDAGH RINGS,
BROOCHES, HAT PINS, &c, AND CONNEMARA MARBLE
JEWELLERY AND ORNAMENTS.
If you ever want to send a token to a friend in other parts bearing a
local interest, what could be better than a novelty in Claddagh
Jewellery or Connemara Marble.
S. FALLER, WATCHMAKER, JEWELLER & SILVERSMITH
Williamsgate St, Galway, and Main Street, Ballinasloe-
O'GORMAN & COMPANY,
PRINTINGBOUSE, GALWAY.
BOOKSELLERS,
WHOLESALE & RETAIL STATIONERS,
ACCOUNT BOOK,
ENVELOPE, AND PAPER BAG MAKERS.
PLATES ENGRAVED FOR VISITING CARDS.
NOTEPAPER STAMPING WITH ADDRESS IN RELIEF.
IN-MEMORIAM CARDS,
BALL PROGRAMME CARDS, INVITATION WEDDING
CARDS, TURNED OUT IN THE MOST
UP-TO-DATE MANNER.
BOOK-BINDING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES.
GREALY'S MEDICAL HALL
GALWAY.
Prescriptions carefully Compounded with Pure Drugs.
Large Variety of Patent Medicines always in Stock-
N.B. — When communicating with Advertisers, please
mention the Journal of t\)t (Salhrai) JUrb&ologiad
attft Ijiatortral %omt)i,
Charges tor Advertisements.— Page 15s. Half-page 8s. Quarter-page 5s.
Application for spaces in next issue to be addressed to O'Gorman & Company,
Printinghouse, Galway.