THE

HISTORY AND A N T I Q U I T I E S
OF THE

COUNTY OF CARLOW.

BY JOHN RYAN, ESQ., M.R.S.L.

Condo et compono quae mox depromere possim. Hor.
La docte ANTIQUITE fut toujours venerable: BOILEAU.
Nature has implanted in our breasts a lively impulse to extend the narrow
span of our existence, by the knowledge of the events that have happened
on the soil which we inhabit, of the characters and actions of those men
from whom our descent, as individuals or as a people, is derived. GIBBON,

DUBLIN:
RICHARD MOORE TIMS, GRAFTON-STREET:
GRANT AND BOLTON, DAME-STREET.
1833.

T. O'FLANAGAN, PRINTER, 26, BACHELOR'S-WALK, DUBLIN.

941.88
R95w

TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE,
THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY

DEDICATED:
BY THEIR MOST
OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.
T o the disadvantage and to the discredit of Ireland,
literature has heretofore been but little cultivated or encouraged by her inhabitants. To the disadvantage, because
mental culture is one of the most effectual agents in the
civilization and moral regeneration of any people:
Ingenuas didicisse fideliterartes
Emollit mores, nee sinit esse feros. OVID.

T o the discredit, because a neglect of the arts, sciences,
literature, betrays an absence of those noble, intellectual
aspirations which mainly distinguish man from the lower
orders of creation. These positions are incontrovertible,
and therefore, any elaborate support of them would be
superfluous.
1 shall now briefly advert to the past and present stato
of that branch of literature to which the following work
appertains.
The prospect in this case is far from cheering. While
in Great Britain, every county, and many baronies, parishes, cities, towns, villages, and even private houses,*
have had their historians and antiquaries, little, indeed,
has been done in Ireland. With the exception of S M I T H ' S
nistories of Cork, Waterford, and Kerry, published in
the last century, and others " few and far between," the
local records of the country yet remain to be collected, its
ancient structures are yet to be visited, explored, and
accurately pourtrayed.f It is not difficult to account for
the immediate cause of this circumstance: public support
has not been forthcoming; and even now, the attendant
difficulties are such as would, perhaps, deter most persona
from the pursuit: in fact, no small share of enthusiasm
is necessary to carry a work on antiquities, (or indeed on any
other subject), in Ireland, to a successful conclusion. The
example of our English and Scotch fellow subjects,
however, was striking; the deficiency existed; and the
author, feeling an interest in his native county, resolved at
all hazards, to collect its history and survey its antiquities. The present volume is the result of his determination.
Knowing that in too many instances writers have been
led into gross blunders by improperly attempting to des• The following are a few of these w o r k s , w i t h the prices marked in the bookseller'*
catalogue:
Hutchinson's Hist, of Dorsetshire, 2nd edit. 4 vols iol.Price 501. Os. Od.
Doctor Robert Plot's Natural History of Staflfoidshire 21. 10s. Od.
W r i g h t ' s History and .Antiquities of the county of Rutland J /. 15*. Od.
Dr. Leigh's Natural History and Antiquities of Lancashire 18*. Od.
Sir Peter Leycester's Historical Antiquities of ChesterO Ids. Od.
Allen's History of Lambeth, 8vo. \l. 15s. Od.
Faulkner's History of Chelsea, 2 vols. 8vo. new edit. 21. 2s.
Hist, and Antiquities of Hengrave-hall, in the county of Suffolk, by John Gage,Esq. F.S.A.
| T h e low price of 13*.6^. is placed onthepresentHistory and Antiquities of the county
of Carlow and its accompanying m a p , partly in order to enable individuals of all classes
to procure copies. The work may be fairly said to contain as much matter as wouM
iorm two octavos, printed in the manner now general with new publications.
•r The Statistical Surveys of (he Royal Dublin Society are chiefly agricultural; but one
f
short chapter being devoted to history and antiquities. Gazetteers, or topographical dictionaries, must be necessarily brief as to each particnlar district.

vi

PREFACE.

cribe places and structures which they had never seen,*
the author resolved on visiting every ancient place, or
building, in the district to which his work relates. H e
has, accordingly, traversed the shire from north to south,
and from east to west; from Rathvilly to St. Mullins*
and from Old Leighlin to Hacketstown have been attentively explored; and if he has failed in obtaining comprehensive information on the present state of the antiquities
of the county of Carlow, it has not been from deficiency
in physical exertion. Like Sir W A L T E R S C O T T , (in his
rambles through the border country, when collecting matter for his exquisite works), the author adopted the pedestrian mode in his survey; by far the best where minute
inquiry is the object; though he cannot say, that he has
often walked thirty (Scotch) miles a day, as Sir Walter is
stated by one of his biographers to have frequently performed.f Such, in short, was the ardour of the author's
search for information, that the humorous lines applied by
B U R N S to the facetious antiquary Captain G R O S E , might
with equal justice have been applied to him. A mass of
matter, however, has by this means been collected, relating not merely to the ancient structures, but to most of
the time-honoured burial-grounds of the county.
Regarding literary information, the most approved original works have been consulted ; manuscripts have been
inspected; the public records have been searched ; and
application has been made to every accessible source. As
relates to one authority, K E A T I N G , a word or two is necessary. The precise degree of credit due to him, it is
difficult to ascertain. O'Reilly styles him neither more nor
less than the " Herodotus of Ireland," while Sir R I C H A R D C o x says, " a s for the histories that treat of the
times before the English conquest, Doctor K E A T I N G ' S
is the best;" but an important qualification of this opinion
follows: " it is after all,'' says Cox, " but an ill-digested
heap of very silly fictions."
Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?

Certainly, we, ourselves, have detected very serious flaws in
K E A T I N G ' S chronology, and there is assuredly, a want of
verisimilitude in many of his statements ; but we conceive,
that we should not be justified in altogether rejecting
him as an authority ; which would, besides, be at variance
with the practice of several modern writers of judgment.
• Instances could be multiplied, but the following may be taken as a sample. Describing the column erected on the scene of the battle o f t h e Boyne, a late writer says: " T h e r e
are inscriptions in English on the four sides of it, stating the purposes for which i t was
erected, underneath one of which is a Latin inscription, mentioning that the first stone was
laid in 1736," & c . ~ The Northern Tourist. By P. D. Hardy, Esq. M.R.I.A. p. 17. Now what
is the fact ? There is but one inscription on the obelisk (as v>e can testify from personal
observation), and that is in English, stating tbe period of erection, &c. W e fear the tourist would place but little reliance on a guide, w h o , so early in the excursion, betrays
his incorrectness and incompetency.
T h e author has had far more pleasure in his excursions on foot, (which have not been
confined t o Ireland,) than he ever enjoyed with either coach, gig, jaunting-car, horseback,
or aDy other of the artificial modes of locomotion*

PREFACE.

vii

The fact seems to be, that his history of Ireland is a
compound of truth and error; from which the latter should,
if possible, be cautiously winnowed, while the grains of
valuable historical fact should be as carefully preserved.
Regarding the result of his applications to individuals
for local information, the author cannot complain. While
he certainly is not enabled to say that success was invariable, or that intelligence was, in all instances, freely
communicated, he is, assuredly, not compelled to make a
report so unfavourable as that of Mr. Dutton, author of
the Survey of the county of Clare, who thus writes in the
preface to that work: " Had I , " he says, " not considered
myself bound to fulfil my promise to the Dublin Society,
this survey of the county of Clare would never have
been published; that ungracious illiberal silence, with
regard both to the hundreds of letters I wrote, and to the
reiterated verbal applications I made, (and which to the
disgrace of Ireland, is complained of in almost every
survey that has been published), would otherwise have
urged me, at an early period, to decline all further progress. Some, to whom I applied, (whose rank in life
should have placed them above such gross ignorance),
asked me what a survey was, what it was about, &c.; and
soma, very wittily, wished to know, was it to take an account
of all the pigs inEnnis and Killaioe, with a multitude of
other remarks equally sagacious and liberal."—The author of the present work, unquestionably, did not, in all
cases, meet an enlightened disposition to afford useful or
interesting information ; but, to the credit of his native
county, he can with truth assert, that in no instance did
he encounter barbarism such as that related by Mr. Dutton. Let us hope that the day will speedily arrive, when
the gentry of Ireland, universally, will duly appreciate
the advantages of mental cultivation, and the benefits
arising from the diffusion of useful literature.
The history concludes at the year 1800, for the following reasons: firstly, it is usual to close every work of the
kind at some well-defined era; and secondly, the present
generation must be perfectly acquainted with the transactions of the last thirty years. The chief and important
feature in the history of our county since the Union, we
will, however, mention. I t consists of a recent effort on
the part of the Romish priests and the agitators to destroy
the ancient and salutary influence of the gentry over their
tenantry, aud to usurp the power of returning the county
members to parliament. In this latter, they completely
succeeded at the general election of 1831; and they have
since maintained their unjust and pernicious ascendancy
A detail of the causes which ensured their first success and
subsequent supremacy, is needless, and would occupy

viii

PREFACE.

more space than could be well afforded in this place. It
will suffice to observe, that the gentry themselves, are not
altogether blameless in the affair. This, in the spirit of
true friends, we think it our duty to state.
The author avows himself attached to Tory, Conservative, and Protestant principles, but he can safely say,
that truth and impartiality have been closely studied in
the following work. He was not ignorant of Cicero's
rules for the historian; the first of which he declares to be,
not to state any thing false, and the second, to dare to
publish the truth.* The author trusts, that his adherence
to these laws is obvious in the following pages.
Amicus
Plato, amicus Socrates, seel magis arnica Veritas.
I t is worthy of remark, that several of the ancient families
connected with our county, who formerly were by no means
distinguished for their loyalty to the throne, are now among
its firmest supporters. It is further a striking circumstance,
that so long as the members of these families remained
Romanists, so long did they continue disposed to rebellion*
but from the time of their adoption of the reformed religion,
their political conduct has been that of good subjects, it
has been steady, correct, and unimpeachable.
T o the various gentlemen who contributed information
to the work, the author returns his best thanks. The
D E A N ofSx. P A T R I C K ' S , W I L L I A M I I A R T Y , E s q . , M . D . ,
the Rev. H. K I N G S M I L L , F.T.C.D., S A M U E L L I T T O N ,

Esq.,M.D., and W. S H A W M A S O N , Esq., are entitled to
his particular acknowledgments, for facilities afforded by
them to the collection of valuable historical matter.
In imitation of the plan adopted by the Rev. Mr. Gordon and Dr. O'Halloran, in the publication of their histories of Ireland, subscribers names were received; and
the author has to express his thanks to the noblemen and
gentlemen who thus promoted the work, and thereby fostered the growth of literature in this much neglected land.
That imperfections do not exist in the following work,
the author is not so presumptuous as to suppose. The
defective state of our public records, and the occasional
difficulty of access to those which exist, will be remembered ; while the circumscribed limits of the county (the
smallest in Ireland excepting Louth) will not be forgotten.
And should the number, beauty, or interest of the ancient
works of art, be found not equal to that of some of the
neighbouring counties, the author confidently trusts, that
for such circumstance he will not be censured. Nor will
the reader be so unreasonable as to expect matter foreign
to the nature of the work, though, possibly, more absorbing, or exciting, in its specific properties.
Dublin, 12th July, 1833.
j.
R.
* De Orat. Lib. 2, cap. 15.

CONTENTS.
Page
DEDICATION
PREFACE

C H A P I.
Geographical Sketch of the county of Carlow
CHAP. II.
Hy Cabanagh and Hy Drone anterior to the English
invasion of the twelfth century.....
CHAP. III.
From the arrival of the English, A.D. 1169, to the
death of Henry II. A.D. 1189
C H A P . IV.
Reign of Richard I. A.D. 1189, to A.D. 1199
CHAP. V.
Reign of John. A.D. 1199, to A.D. 1216
CHAP. VI.
Reign of Henry III.
A.D. 1216, to A.D. 1272
CHAP. VII.
Reign of Edward I. A.D. 1272, to A.D. 1307
CHAP. VIII.
Reign of Edward II. A.D. 1307, to A.D. 1327
CHAP. IX.
Reign of Edward III.
A.D. 1327, to A.D. 1 3 7 7 . . .
CHAP. X.
Reign of Richard II. A.D. 1377, to A.D. 1399
CHAP. X I .
Reign of Henry IV. A.D. 1399, to A.D. 1412
CHAP. XII.
Reign of Henry V. A.D. 1412, to A.D. 1422
CHAP. XIII.
Reign of Henry VI. A.D. 1422, to A.D. 1460
CHAP. X I V .
Reign of Edward IV.
A.D. 1460, to A.D. 1483
CHAP. XV.
Reign of Edward V.and Riek III.
A.D. 1483, to
A.D. 1485.

iii.
v.

11

15

40
57
59
63
72
73
78
84
87
87
89
89

90

X

CONTENTS.

CHAP. XVI.
Page.
A.D. 1485, to A.D. 1509
90
CHAP. XVII.
Reign Henry VIII. A.D. 1509, to A.D. 1547
91
CHAP. X V I I I .
Reign of Edward VI. A.D. 1547, to A.D. 1553
100
CHAP. XIX.
Reign of Mary. A.D. 1553, to A.D. 1558
102
C H A P . XX.
Reign of Elizabeth
A.D. 1558, to A.D. 1603
103
CHAP. XXI,
Reign of James I. A.D. 1603, to A.D. 1625.
114
CHAP. X X I I .
Reign of Charles I. A.D. 1625, to A.D. 1649
149
CHAP. XXIII.
The interregnum. A.D. 1649, to A.D. 1660
183
CHAP. XXIV.
Reign of Charles II. A.D. 1660, to A.D.1685.....................187
CHAP. XXV,
Reign of James II. A.D. 1685, to A.D. 1688
221
CHAP. X X V I .
Reign of William III.
A.D. 1688, to A.D.1702....................232
CHAP X X V I I .
Reign of Anne. A.D. 1702, to A.D. 1714
254
CHAP. XXVIII.
Reign of George I. A.D. 1714, to A.D. 1727
262
CHAP XXIX
Reign of George II. A.D. 1727, to A.D. 1760
269
CHAP. XXX.
Reign of George III. A.D. 1760, to the year 1800...
286
CHAP. XXXI.
Present state of the Antiquities of the County of Car lota,
326
CHAP. XXXII.
Some account of the respectable families who have been
long resident in the county of Carlow, and who possess property in it
356
Reign of Henry

APPENDIX

VII.

376

The reader is requested to correct the following ERRATA with his pen: -Page 15, line 13—for country read county*
-—
19
28
is — —
it.
58
10
charter
chapter.
165
24
formed—
farmed.
169
47
Englishman— English*
375 —- 25
possesses
possess,

THE

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF THE

COUNTY OF CARLOW.

CHAPTER I.
Geographical Sketch of the County of Carlow :
PREVIOUSLY to entering upon a detail of the history and
antiquities of the county, it will be advisable to state its situation^
boundaries, extent and divisions. No great space will be required
for this purpose.
The county of Carlow, formerly termed Catherlogh, is situate
in the kingdom of Ireland, and province of Leinster. It is twentysix Irish miles in length, from north to south, and twenty-three in
breadth from east to west. It is bounded on the north and northwest by the Queen's county and the county of Kildare, on the
west by the county of Kilkenny, and on the east and south east
by the counties of Wicklow and Wexford. The number of baronies
in the county, is six, viz.: Carlow, Forth* Idrone East, Idrone
West, Rathvilly and Saint Mullins. The quantity of acres in
each, according to a survey made in 1789, is as follows :
Arable acres*
Mountain and bog*
Barony of Carlow
18,48T
.
Forth
21,601
1,937
Baronies of Idrone
38,615
7,109
Barony of Rathvilly
28,510
w.—St.Mullma
16,303
3,171
123,516

12,217
123,515
135,733.
Making a total of 135,733 acres in the whole county, or about
346 English square miles. The baronies are further divided into
parishes (all in the diocese of Leighlin), of which the civil distribution is as follows:
I. CARLOW BARONY :

Ballynacarrig,
Kernanatown,
Painstown* (part of)
Carlow,

Killerig,
Urglin,
Grangeforth,
Clonmulsh*
B

Clody, (part of)
Thumegurmt,
Kellystown.

12

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Observations.—The ecclesiastical parish of Ballycrogue appears
to be only a townland in Ballynacarrig parish, forming part of the
union of Staplestown. Kernanstown, for baronial purposes, is
considered a separate parish; but according to the ecclesiastical
divisions, it appertains to Carlow parish, excepting the bog of Kernanstown, which belongs to Urglin parish. The remainder of
Painstown parish is in ;the barony of Kilkea and Moone, county
Kildare. The town of Carlow is in the parish of that name.
The ecclesiastical parish of Aghade is only now known to exist as
a townland in Ardristin parish, which is in Rathvilly barony, but
for civil purposes is considered to be in Killerig parish.—The remainder of Clody alias Cloydah parish is in the barony of Idrone
West. Thumagurna is called in the ecclesiastical returns, Tuliowmaghymah.
II. FORTH BARONY":

Barragh, (part of)
Myshall, (part of)
Ballon,

Pubbledrum,
Templepeter,
Bendenstown.

Observations.—The remainder of Barragh parish is in the
barony of Saint Mullins. A part of Newtownbarry, formerly called
Bunclody village, is in Barragh parish. The remainder of the
village is in Newtownbarry parish, in the county of Wexford.—*
The village of Myshall is in the parish of that name. Three townlands of this parish are in the barony of Idrone East, and are included in Fenagh parish. The village of Ballon is in the parish of
that name. The parish of Pubbledrum, according to the ecclesiastical arrangements, is considered as belonging to the parish of
Barragh. Bendenstown is called in the ecclesiastical returns Gilbertstown.
III. IDRONE EAST BARONY :

Slyguff.
Kiltennell,
Clonagoose,
Dunleckny,
Ballyellen, (part of)

Nurney and Augha (part of)
Fenagh, (part of)
Lorum.

Observations.—A part of the town of Bagenalstown is in Dunleckny parish. The remainder of Ballyellen parish is in Saint
Mullens barony. The remainder of Fenagh parish is in the hail
barony of Shillelagh, county of Wicklow.
IV. IDRONE WEST BARONY :

Killenane,
Wells,
Old Leighlin,

Tullowcrine,
Clody, (part of)

V. RATHVILLY BARONY :

Rathvilly,
Rathmore,
Tankardstown,
Tullowpheltm,

Hacketstown, (part of)
Ardristin,
Clonmore,
Haroldstown.

Observations.—The

Benekery
Rahill and Broghillstowts.

town of Rathvilly is in the parish of that

name. The townjtand ofLady town, though surrounded by this parish,

Of THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

13

belongs to the parish of Baltinglass, in the barony of Upper Talbotstown and county of Wicklow. The ecclesiastical parish of Straboe
appears only to be a townland in Rathmore parish, according to the
civil divisions of the county. Tankardstown and Tullowphelim parish
appear to constitute the ecclesiastical parish of Tullow. The town
of Tullow is in the parish of Tullowphelim. The town of Hacketstown is in the parish of that name; the remainder of the parish
is in the barony of Ballynacor and county of Wicklow. The townland of Ballyshane in Clonmore parish, is, according to the ecclesiastical divisions, considered to belong to Cry cum parish, in the
county of Wicklow. In Haroldstown is the village of Coolmanagh.
Benkery is not noticed in the ecclesiastical returns j one half of it
pays tithe to the incumbent of Ballynacarrig parish, and the other
to the incumbent of Urglin parish ; this parish, though situated in
the centre of Carlow barony, is designated in the old county map»
as belonging to Rathvilly barony.
V. SAINT MULLINS BARONY:

Moyacomb, (part of)
Ballyellen (part of)
Barragh, (do.)
Ullard, (do.)
Saint Mullins, (do.)
Observations.—In this part of Moyacomb parish is the village
of Clonegal. The remainder of the parish, which, in the eccle?
siastical returns, is called Clonegal, from the church being situated
in that town, is in the counties of Wexford and Wicklow, Kildavin village is in Barragh parish. The remainder of Saint Mullins
parish, containing four townlands, is in the barony of Bantry,
county Wexford. Tinnehinch village is in Saint Mullins parish.
The remainder of Ballyellen parish is in Idrone East barony. The
remainder of Ullard parish is in the barony of Gowran, and county
of Kilkenny.*
The ecclesiastical divisions of the diocese of Leighlin (including
the entire county of Carlow) are as follows. Subjoined to each
parish is an initial indicative of its denomination, and figures
specify the number of livings.
1. Wells,
? R.
Ballynochen. > chap*
8. Surrey, R,
3. Killinane, R*
4. Shrule
) P . & R.
Slatey
f R.
Cloydah
TV.
Painstown. j ^mP» C»
5. Clonmore, R.
6. Tecolme, V.
7. Ullard,
£ R.
Graigue.
> R.

8.Aghold,

JR.

Mullinacuffe, f Imp. C.
Crycrim,
r l m p . C.
Liacoteman. i imp. C.

9. Tullowmagrimah, ]
Ballycrogue,
Ballynacarrig.
10. 01dLeighlin,£R.~
Tullowcrine. J Imp. C.
11. St Kill, R.
12. Powerstown. R. & V.
13. Lorum.
3 V.
Slygnff,
S-V.
Ballyellen.) R.
14. Grange Silv, R.
15. Kiltennei £V.
Clonagoose ^ V.
16. Kilmacahill, V.
17. Agha
? V.
Dunleckney > V.

* Returns under Pop. Act.—-1 cannot here avoid noticing a list of parishes
given in "The Traveller^ new Guide through Ireland," than which nothing
can be more incorrect,

14
18.
19.
50.
51.
22.

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Templepeter, R.
St. Mullins, Imp. C.
Old Leighlin. P.C.
Carlow, R.
Urglin,
f R.
Grangeforth,>R.
Killerick.
\ Imp. C.
S3. Killeshin, R. & V.
24. Fenagh, R.
25. Fenagb,
IV.
Gastlemore, f chap,
Ballybenard, £ chap.
Tullowbeg. J chap.
Drumphey, ? chap,
Ardowen.
£ chap,
26. Clonmulsk. R,
27. Grangemonk. V,
28. Kellystown. R.
29. Myshall. R. & V.
SO. Tullow. R. & V.
31. Gilbertstown, 1R,
Aghade,
f V.
Ardristan,
?" V.
Ballon.
)V.
32. Barragh, V.
33. Kiltegan,
? V.
Kilranelagh. 5 R. & V.
34. Baltinglasa. R.
35. Hacketstown, ? R.
Haroldstown. J V.

36. Ballimire. R.
37. Rathvilly, ^|R.
Rathmore, f R»
Straboe, f" R.
Rahill.
3 Imp. C.
38. Moyne, P. C.
39. Stratford-on-Sianey. P. C,
40. Corclone, ? R.
Killeany. JR.
41. Ballyroan, R. & V.
42. Maryborough, 7 R. & V,
Kilcolemanbane, > R. & V,
Straboe.
3 ^*
43. Abbeyleix, V.
44. Stradbally. V;
Moyanna. V.
45. Dysartgalen, R.
46. Ballyadams, > R. & V,
Ballintubber, J R. & V,
47. Rathasbeck, R. & V,
48. Timogue,
JR.
Tullomoy,
f R.
Killclonbrook, f* R.
49. Killeban, R.
50. Clonenagh, £ R,'
Clonagheen. $ R.
"
51. Dysartenos, / V.
Killteal.
$ v-#

T h e towns and villages of the county are : Carlow, Tullow f
Hacketstown, Leighlin-bridge, Bagenalstown, Borris, Clonegal,
Myshal, Nurney, Rathvilly, Fepagh, Ballon, Palatinetown, Kitdavin, Old Leighlin, Coohnanagh, Tinnehinch, and St. Mullins.
T h e principal rivers are the Barrow and Slaney, T h e former,
styled by the ancients Bergus, Brigus, or Bargus, rises in the
Slieve-bloom chain of hills, in the Queen's county, and passing
through Portarlington, Monastereven, Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, and Graiguenemanagh, forms a junction with the Nora
near N e w Ross. It is navigable for a distance of forty-three miles,
commencing at Monastereven.
T o dilate on the beauties or advantages of this noble river were needless. More than three cen«
turies since, it was thus noticed by SPENSER :
The first the gentle Shure, that making way,
By sweet Clonmel, adorns rich Waterford j
The next, the stubborn Newre, whose watera
By fair Kilkenny, and Ross-pont bound,
The third the goodly Barrow.
T h e Slaney is the Modonus of Ptolomy the geographer, and was
also formerly called the Slaneor Urrin; its name of Slane or Slaney
being derived, according to Keating, from Slany, king of Leinster.
It enters the county two miles north of Rathvilly, and leaves it at

Newtownbarry, after a course of about seventeen miles. The
•Eccles, Reg.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLQW.

15

Slaney is navigable firom Enniscorthy to Wexford, a distance of
thirteen miles. There is no lake in this district.
In general appearance, the county rather inclines to the level
and pleasing, than to the mountainous or romantic ; a course of
elevated ground, however, runs through part of its centre, while
Mount Leinster and the Black Stairs, the southern boundaries of
the county, are mountains of considerable height. The western
division has a hill called the ridge of Old Leighlin.
The county of Carlow forms what was anciently the territories
of the Hy Cabanagh and Hy Drone, being the northern part of the
principality of Hy Kinselagh. When the district became shire
ground, the old denominations fell into desuetude, together with
the divisions indicated by them. The population of the country
was stated in 1795 to be 44,000; in 1814, it was 69,566; in 1821,
it amounted to 78,952; while by the return of 1831, the number
of persons had increased to 81,649,*

CHAP. I I .
My Cabanagh and Hy Drone anterior to the English
of the Twelfth Century.

Invasion

T H E ancient history of Ireland Las been the subject of much
controversy. One class of writers has ventured boldly to present us
with the annals of the country from a period as early as the year
of the world, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight, or
about two thousand years before the birth of Christ; while others
maintain, that little credence is to be attached to the historic annals of Ireland until the arrival of St, Patrick, in the fifth century
of the christian era. The former, or Irish party, tell us, that in
the year A. M. 1978, Partholanus, a native of Greece, settled in
this island, of which he and his followers kept possession three
hundred years, when they were visited by a plague, which destroyed
the whole colony. Ireland is then said to have remained destitute
of inhabitants thirty years, till A. M. 2308, when Nemedius,
descended from a brother of Partholanus, arrived. In 2540, we
are told, the island was visited by a people called Tuatha de Danans,
who maintained their sway in it for the space of one hundred and
ninety-seven years, when the Milesians landed. These latter embarked at Galicia, (A.M. 2737), in thirty ships, for Ireland. W e
are further informed, that of the race of Milesius, king of Spain,
Ireland had one hundred and eighteen monarchs to the time of St.
• Further statistical information may be found in the Appendix, No. 1.—The references to the Appendix in the following pages, will be by figures.
Brewer, in his "Beauties of Ireland," incorrectly etates the population 6f
1821 at 81,287.

16

HISTORY AND ANTtQUfTIfi*

Patrick, A.D. 432; while fifty-one kings swayed the Irish tceptrt
from the days of Laogaire, A.D. 428, to those of Roderick
O'Connor, last Milesian monarch of the island.* On the opposite
side, the hardy Ledwich, and others, have openly declared theic
disbelief in, what they term, the monastic, fabulous legends of
ancient Ireland ; they deny the high literary cultivation claimed for
this kingdom by the aforementioned authors, and even seem disposed to maintain that the Irish, previously to their conversion to
Christianity, were plunged in rude and savage ignorance, equally
devoid of learning and civilization. Truth, we think, may lie between. To enter upon an investigation of the matter, would
occupy more space than could well be spared in this work, and,
indeed, would be foreign to its express object. Suffice it to say,
that it appears to us, that there exists abundant testimony from
contemporary writers and others, (testimony credited by the acutest
antiquaries), to justify us in the conclusion, that ancient Ireland
had much of social cultivation and scholastic knowledge, though,
perhaps, not in the high degree represented. It is our immediate
purpose to detail such occurrences as relate to that part of the
kingdom whose history and antiquities we have undertaken to
produce.
We have records of events and circumstances, of a very early
date, relating to the district which forms the subject of this work.
But we should first premise, as tending to remove obscurity from
the subsequent narrative, that, on the death of Milesius, above
mentioned, the kingdom was divided between his sons Heber and
Heremon ; the former choosing the southern half, the latter, the
northern. Besides the two just mentioned, Milesius had sons named
as follows: Don, Aireach, Amhargin, Ir, Colpa, and Aranann;
all of whom joined Heber and Heremon in the invasion of Ireland,
and among whom and their descendants subdivisions of the country
took place. The kingdom was governed by four provincial kings,
while the chief monarch had Meath as his particular domain.
Within the provinces were petty princes, who exercised the rights
of sovereignty over their own immediate people ; subject, however,
to the control of the powers above them. In short, the feudal
system was that adopted and followed by the Irish. The crown
was elective ; but none were eligible except members of the royal
stock.—The course of events now claims our attention.
We find that in A. M. 2786, Conmaol, the son of Heber, by a
victorious engagement, obtained the crown, and governed the
kingdom of Ireland thirty years. Continual warfare subsisted between him and the family of Heremon, against whom he fought
not less than twenty-five battles, with uniform success. Among
nine of the actions enumerated is to be found that of Lochlein,
otherwise Leighlin.t
In order to the due comprehension of the facts and allusions to
he found in a work of this nature, it is indispensable that the reader
f Plde Keating O'Flaherty, &e,

f Keating. Hist.Ir, p. 126, fol, ed»

OP TMB COUNTY OF CARLOW.

n

•hould be reminded of all general revolutions or remarkable departures from ancient custom. Some brief notice of all such cases
is necessary to illustrate the train of events. With this view, we
shall now mention, that it is stated, on the authority of the Psalter
of Cashel, that stone buildings were to be found in Ireland as early
as A. M. 3150.* About a century afterwards, in 3261, fortifications were first constructed. These latter appear to have been the
origin of the raths, which subsequently became very numerous.
However early the knowledge of masonry may have been, we are
fully aware, that until a very recent period, comparatively, it was
applied solely to great military and ecclesiastical structures; tho
dwellings of private individuals being framed of wood.—Would
that we could say anything in solution of that knotty subject, the
date and origin of the round towers of Ireland. Our satisfaction
in sucb case would be enhanced by the circumstance, that one of
these singular structures stood within our county till about twenty
years since; when it fell, not before the devouring tooth of Time^
but under the devastating hand of man.
In the year of the world 3952, or fifty-two years prior to
the birth of Christ, the practice of burying the dead in graves was
first introduced into Ireland. Previously to the time of Eochaidh,
surnamed Aireamb, who in this year ascended the throne of Ireland^
the Milesians covered their dead with great heaps of stones or
clay. Aireamb, in the Irish language, signifies a grave, and wa9
conferred as a second name upon this prince, because he introduced
the more approved mode of burial, adherence to which has since
subsisted, f
A.D. 122. Cathaoir More, surnamed the Great, descended
from Heremon, succeeded to the monarchy of Ireland. He bequeathed his kingdom of Leinster to his son Rosa Failge. From
Fiachadh Baiceada, one of the nine sons of the aforesaid Cathaoir,
descended the princely families of Mac Morrough Kavanagh, frequently kings of Leinster, of O'Toole, some time monarchs of
that province, of Byrne, in Irish O'Broin, lords of Wicklow for
a considerable period; likewise from the same monarch sprung the
noble families of Cinsealagh, of Ryan, in Irish O' Riain, and in
^ome chronicles of Ireland it is called O' Maoilrian, of O'Duffy,
Murphy, and others4 Some further remarks on this subject, by
Doctor Keating, will be found in the Appendix. (2)
Con, called of the Hundred Battles, ascended the throne of
Ireland in the year 125, or as stated by others, 153. In his reign
was confirmed, or instituted, a division of the kingdom into two
parts. The kingdom of Leinster extended from Inbher Colpa, now
c ailed Drogheda, to the confluence of the Suir, Nore, and Barrow.
It consisted of thirty-one territories, nine hundred and thirty towns
or villages, and eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty ploughlands. The royal palaces in Leinster, at the period, were those of
Dinrigh and the Naas. Keating (correcting Stanihurst) states
• O'Halloran, Hist. Ir. t Keating, p. 205, J Keating, p. 225.

18

U18T0W AND INTI^tJITlfii

that Duva Slany, Deen-ree, or Dinrigh, was so called from Slany*
one of the kings of Leinster, and was situate on the western bank
of the Barrow, between Carlow and Leighlin; in which fortified
palace he resided and died.* We are not aware that any traces of
this structure now remain: however, this cannot affect the credibility
of its having once existed, as we know that of fortresses inhabited
in this county only two centuries since, not a vestige is now to be
seen. That of Clonmullen (of which more anon) is an instance.—
It was perhaps at this period that the principality of Hy Kinselagh
was exactly defined; of which Hy Cabanagh and Hy Drone formed
the northern portion*
The country was reduced to great misery in the two hundred
and thirteenth year of the christian era, by the scarcity of provisions, and other distressing circumstances. The people of Deicies,
suffering under these calamities, consulted the most eminent Druids
as to the future hopes of the land; stating, that should their prospects here be gloomy, they would remove to a more propitious
region. The priests exhorted them to remain, and apply to Eana
Cinnsealach for his daughter, Eithne, whose husband should prove
most favourable to the people of Deicies, Eana granted their
request, and his daughter was allied, by the people of Deicies, to
Aongus, son of the king of Munster. A considerable period afterwards, Eneas and this lady Eithne were slain by the people of
Leinster in the battle of Ceallosnadh, four miles eastward of
Laithglin, or Leighlin.f—We cannot avoid here deploring the
melancholy recurrence of scenes of strife and bloodshed, commotion and contention, by which the Irish annals are disfigured.
Niall, of the Nine Hostages, succeeded to the throne of Ireland, A.D. 375. He was descended from Heremon, and reigned
twenty-seven years. During his government, a very singular
occurrence took place within the district on whose history we are
engaged. We shall relate it with as much brevity as may be con«
sistent with a due regard to perspicuity.
It seems that the ambitious feelings of Eochaidh, son of Eana
Cinselach, prompted him to reside at Tara, as monarch of the
kingdom, in express opposition to the command of Niall, the
rightful sovereign. The former was reprimanded for his unjustifiable conduct by a Druid of eminence, which caused him to withdraw
from Tara and relinquish his pretensions to the crown. Niall immediately established himself in the royal palace, to which he had
a legitimate right, and ultimately, Eochaidh was obliged to fly to
Scotland. Previously, however, to his forced departure, an untoward event happened, which further incensed the sovereign against
him. Having visited the house of Laidhgin, the son ot Bairceadha,
a Druid in great favour with the king of Ireland, he met with some
reproaches from him, whereupon he attacked Laidhgin and killed
him on the spot. The father was greatly enraged at this deed,
and hastened to lay his case before Niall, who engaged to reveng*
the death of Laidhgin on the prince and people of Leinster%
• Keating, Pref, f Ibid. p. 259,

OP THB COUNTY OF CARLOVf.

19

Nlall expeditiously prepared an army, and, in pursuance of his
promise, ravaged Leinster and much distressed its inhabitants.
The Druid, pitying the innocent, who thus suffered for the guilty,
proposed to check all hostilities provided Eochaidh were delivered
into his hands. The people, reduced to the last extremity, reluctantly acceded to the proposal and placed the prince at the dis*
posal of his enraged foe. The I )ruid resolviug to wreak ample
revenge on his prisoner, caused him to be chained to a large upright stone, with the view of exposing him to all the pains of a
lingering death. The unfortunate prince was compelled to maintain one position, with- his back to the stone, and subject to the
galling weight of the iron chain ; but after some time, the Druid
resolved on depriving him of existence by a more summary process.
For this purpose, he ordered nine soldiers to attack him ; not being
without a well-grounded apprehension that Eochaidh, being possessed
of great bravery and strength, would make formidable resistance.
Nor was he mistaken. Rendered desperate by the approach of hiss
executioners, the prince made a super-human effort to obtain hit
liberty, in which he succeeded by forcing one of the rivets of the
chain by which he was confined. He immediately attacked the soldiers, possessed himself of arms, slew some of them, and finally
effected his escape to Scotland, as already noticed.* Doctor Keating states, that the stone to which Eochaidh was chained, might
be seen in his time, " on the west side of the Slainey, between
Cill Brighde and Tullach O'' Feidhlin"
This is not correct, a»
the stone lies south of Tullach O'Feidhlin, or Tullow, and not
between it and Cill Brighde or Celbridge. A full description of
is may be found in a subsequent chapter*
We have now arrived at the era of a most important event in
the history of this country; one which must materially affect the
best interests of the people of any period or nation. We allude
to the revolution in religion which occurred in the fifth century ia
Ireland. The system which previously prevailed was that of the
Druids, the chief feature of it being, a belief in the immortality
and transmigration of the soul, after the notions of Pythagoras.
They conceived, that on death the immortal spirit passed from tha
defunct to a living being, and was thus continued for a series of
ages, till it became sufficiently purified to return to the great source
from whence it emanated. It was further understood, that the
transmigration took place among beings of like qualities ; thus the
ioul of the noble, brave, or generous, preserved a strict consistency of habitation, as did that of those characterised by opposite
qualities of a vicious nature. This system, however, though apparently calculated to regulate the passions, did not produce that
result; for, the admiration of ambition, the love of glory, and
thirst for revenge were frequent themes of the bards and annalisti,
who were among the officials or dispensators of this religion.
Those who failed to indulge in these patsions could hope for m
••Kontiofi -

M

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

euUo'gium from the bards, no flattering notice from the annalists of
the country. The consequence {was such as might be expected;
scenes of strife, of contention, and of bloodshed.
A new scene, however, opened upon Ireland by the introduction
of Christianity; a religion inculcating tenets the very reverse of
those of the system which it supplanted. Patience, forbearance,
forgiveness of injuries, contempt of this world, were the principles now inculcated; and the alteration effected was very considerable. It could not be expected that the passions inherent in
human nature, passions which were fostered by the Druid system,
would be eradicated by the mild doctrines of Christianity. They
might however be checked or softened; and such was the result,
though not in so great a degree as might be desired by the humane
or patriotic. Jarring interests, the love of power, the soarings of
ambition, continued to prevail. The philosopher must ever regret
the result thus produced in early days, while he cannot shut his
eyes to the fact, that even our own times present a very indifferent
exemplification of the behests of the religion of Christ. Human
nature, indeed, seems to be pretty much the same in all days and
in all countries; modified, (too slightly, however), by varieties of
religion. Similar passions, and similar effects are observable
whether we peruse the history of the Jews, the Persians, the
Oreeks, the Romans, the Mahometans, or of the modern Europeans.
It can therefore hardly be matter of wonder, that the heathen Irish
and their Christian successors should not afford any remarkable
contrast in the materials presented to the historian of their common country.
Some historians assert, that the Christian religion found footing
here immediately after the preaching of the apostles. They say
further, that missionaries not only preached, but founded churches
here in the fourth century, It was, however, reserved to the
fifth to become the era of any great or universal reception of Christianity in Ireland. We are told by the venerable Bede, that " in
the eighth year of the reign of the emperor Theodosius, (A.D. 431),
Palladius was sent by Celestine, bishop of the Roman church, to
the Scots (Irish) believing in Christ, to be their first bishop."*
He was attended by twelve Irish missionaries, but his success was
email, and after a sojourn of the brief space of three months,
he retired to Britain, where he died. Celestine lost no time in
looking for a successor, when the merits of Patrick pointed him
out as a person highly eligible to the office of missionary to the
Irish. When he reached the scene of his future labours, (in 432),
he found that the number of Christian teachers and disciples was
considerable. He conciliated them by the mildness of his deportment, and had great success in making converts among the princes,
nobility, and chief persons, to whom his attention was first directed ;
tnost of whom in a tew years he reckoned as members of his
f&ok. He seems to have first visited Meath, (which comprehended
• Fleury, Hfet. Ecslee. p. 433,

t ) f THE COtJXTYGF CARLOW.

21

Westmeath and the present Meath), and having made satisfactory
progress there, traversed successively the present county of W i c k ?
low, Maghliffe now called Kildare, Leix, a part of the Q u e e n ' s
county, and thence to the house of his friend the poet Dubtach,
who resided in Hy-Kinsellagh, otherwise the present county of
Carlow. Anxious to increase the number of his missionaries, St.
Patrick asked Dubtach if there was any individual in the district
suited to the office. T h e latter replied that he had a disciple named
Fiech., whom he thought highly qualified for the appointment.
Fiech was already a convert to Christianity, ( A . D . 4 4 4 ) , and St«
Patrick feeling satisfied of his fitness for the clerical profession,,
supplied him with the means of prosecuting his studies, in which
he made rapid progress.
H e became a bishop, after the lapse of
some time, and was the first Leinster man raised to the dignity.
Some say that Fiech superintended a monastery, called DomnacliFiech, stated to be situated on the east of the Barrow, county of
Carlow. St. Patrick, we are told, met with zealous assistance
from Crimthan, son of E n d a Kinsellagh, king of H y Kinsellagh,
who, although opposed to Fiech, is classed among the most pious
princes of his time, and stated to have been the founder of many
churches. T o Ossory, the apostle of Ireland next directed hi*
cteps, which being beyond our limits cannot be here alluded to more
particularly. St. Patrick died on the seventeenth day of March,
A . D . 4 9 3 , aged 121 years, having governed the Irish church during the latter half of a very active awl laborious life.*
Camden bears testimony to the great progress of the Irish in
literature during the fifth century.
I t is well worthy of notice, in this place, that archbishop U s h e r
shows, from the writings of ancient authors of this and other countries, that the doctrines taught by St. Patrick differed very trivially
from those now inculcated by Protestant churches, while they vary
materially from the tenets of the church of R o m e at the present
day. Harris gives a summary of U s h e r ' s work on this important
subject. T o enter here upon any theological controversy, would
be opposed to propriety and our own inclination.
A . D . 4 5 0 . About this time, a noble monastery was founded in
the territory of Idrone, now a barony in this county. T h e founder
is said to have been St. Fortchearn, who was smith to St. Patrick.
T h e monastery was called Kilfortchearn.f
N o trace of it now
remains. Among the monasteries founded by St. Patrick was that
of Galen, in the district now styled the county of Carlow. J
Brewer§ and others state, that an abbey was erected by S t .
Kieran near Carlow about 6 3 4 ;|| the former tells us, that it stood
•Usher, Harris, 0'Halloran,&c. Ledwich has gone so far as to questioivthe
existence of St. Patrick ; but we really cannot see what advantage can accrue
from thusflyingin the face of incontrovertible evidence; evidence, Protestant
as well as Catholic. A good cause requires not the aid of such defence, and
a bad one would not be bettered by it.
t Archdall, Monas. Hiber.
JO'Hal]oran } b. v'ri. c, 6.
§ Beauties of Ireland, vol. i.
|| Guthrit,

n

HISTORY AND ANTlQUlTUMt

upon the ground now occupied by the teat called Viewmount, and
that three towers of the abbey were standing about seventy years
since. He further informs us, that at the period of the suppression
of religious houses, it was granted to the earl of Thomond, This
may be very correct, but it is certainly not borne out in all its parts
by! Ware, one of the highest authorities. He states St. Kieran's
abbey to have been situate in the King's county, and not the county of Carlow. However, we are not prepared to contradict Brewer's representation as to the ruins of an abbey being in existence
at the time and place he mentions ; particularly as O'Halloran
states, in express terms, that, "the first monastery of females on
record in Ireland is that of Kill^Liadan, in the county of Carlow,
founded by St. Kieran, before the arrival of St. Patrick/'* If
before the arrival of St. Patrick, Mr. Guthrie must have made a
mistake of at least two centuries, as to the date of the foundation
of this structure. Lanigan agrees with O'Halloran in some particulars ; but he says, that there can be no doubt St. Kieran, of
Saigir, as he calls him, belonged to the sixth century, and became
first bishop of Ossory about A.D. 538. He further informs us,
that St. Kieran established a nunnery in the neighbourhood, (a
rather vague phrase), " for his mother Liadania and some pious
"virgins her companions, whence the name Kill-Iadhun which the
charch obtained." He died on the 5th of March, a day on which,
we are assured, his memory has been particularly revered in the
diocese of Ossory. Such are the materials we have been enabled
to collect on the subject of this abbey; a house which existed we
have little doubt, but the period of whose establishment remains
matter of conjecture.
A.D. 587. This year Hugh Slaine seized upon the government.
H e was born on the banks of the Slaney, and thus obtained his
name.t
The seventh century seems to have been a period at which the
religious zeal of the Irish had arrived at a very high pitch ; churches,
abbeys, and other religious structures accordingly multiplied, and,
were we to judge by this circumstance alone, we should say that
Ireland well merited the title of " the island of saints." And yet
this would be, on a full view of the matter, an unjust judgment;
as a brief notice of the civil events of the country will amply show.
A.D. 600, Aodh was elected monarch of Ireland. During his
reign, two " bloody battles" were fought, in the last of which he
was killed, which concluded a reign of but seven years. Maolcobha succeeded, and as some state, fell, at the end of three years, by
the sword of his successor, Suibhre-Mean, who was elected in 610.
Daniel, brother of Maolcobha, in a " bloody battle" for the crown,
was victorious, and slew Suibhre, whom he succeeded, A.D. 623.
There was no bloodshed during the reign of Daniel, which pro*
bably arose from the circumstance that for eighteen months of his
reign he was confined to his bed, Conall succeeded. " A great
• Hist. Ir. b, Tii. t.6,

f Keating,

O * THB COUNTY OF CARLOW.

23

battle" was fought during his reign, followed by another in which
Conall was slain* Dearmod and Blathmae succeeded as monarchs.
An invasion was made from Britain, when the invader and almost
the whole of his army were " put to the sword." Seachnasach
succeeded, A.D. 669. The Picts invaded Ulster, when a " bloody
battle" was fought, and they were expelled. Seachnasach fell by
the sword, and was succeeded by his brother, Ceanfoaladh. Mis
successor determined to dethrone him. Two armies met; " the
slaughter was dreadful on both sides." Ceanfoaladh was killed
by his opponent, which ended the contest.
Accordingly,
in 678, Fionaghta was proclaimed king. He fought " a great
battle,'' near Kells with the people of Leinster, and finally fell in
action after a turbulent reign of twenty years, which brings us to
the conclusion of the seventh century. This outline, (which, by
the way, includes very nearly all of which general history informs
us), speaks so completely for itself as, to the state of Ireland at
the period, that to dwell a moment on the matter would be equally
unpleasant and superfluous.
The reflecting mind cannot fail to observe the striking analogy
between those times and the present. Now, as then, while one
part of the population is busily engaged in the erection of chapels,
monasteries, and nunneries, another is freely indulging in bloodshed and spoliation. A state of things, which is about to induce a
suspension (we hope a temporary one) of the constitution in Ireland.
The history of our county during the seventh century has some
interest. In A. D. 616, St. Gobban founded a celebrated abbey
at Old Leighlin. This year, " the blessed Moel Patrick and
Munganus, the blessed Anachorite/' suffered martyrdom at the same
place.*
About the year 630, a synod of the clergy was held in St. Gobban's abbey at Old Leighlin, to debate on the proper time for the
celebration of Easter.f Some discrepancy had arisen between the
Irish and the Roman calculation on the subject, and Pope Honorius the first, desirous of bringing the clergy of this country into an
uniformity of discipline with his own, had addressed the Irish by
letter on the subject. He exhorted them " to reflect, how few
they were in number compared to the rest of the world, and that
they, who were placed in the extreme bounds of the earth, should
not consider themselves as wiser than all the ancient and modern
churches of Christ; and that they should not presume to celebrate
a different Easter from the rest of the churches, contrary to the
paschal calculation and synodal decrees of the whole world.":}:
This document evinces, pretty clearly, the tone of authority assumed by the bishop of Rome, at a very early period ; and must,
assuredly, strike all, as containing an unjustifiable degree of arrogance, coming, as it did, from a person who had no earthly or
heavenly authority, whatever, tq dictate to the Irish people on either
* Monait, Hib.

f Mona»t, Hib«r.

| Bcde, Ecclti, Hilt, lib. ii. e. 19.

54

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

spiritual or temporal affairs. This was the view taken, at least ia
effect, by many of the Irish clergy, as will be seen in the sequel.
It will be proper here to furnish some account of the nature of
the question which had arisen as to the celebration of Easter.
The Jrish church, we learn, had from its original formation adopted
a cycle of eighty-four years, and its paschal computation was the
same as the British church when Augustin was in Britain. It was
different from the Alexandrian method and nearly agreed with the
old one of the Romans. Owing to the inaccuracy of the cycle of
eighty-four years which prevailed at Rome, an egregious error had
fallen into the Roman mode of calculating the days of the month.
In the early part of the fifth century, it had increased to a miscalculation of two days. The first day being termed the third, and
the fourteenth the sixteenth. Sulpicius Severus corrected this error
by naming the latter the fourteenth; which reformed cycle and its
rules, St. Patrick brought to Ireland, where it was observed till the
arrival of the Roman missionaries in Britain, who considered the
celebration of Easter by the Britons and Irish a heresy. Some
authorities state, that the Irish merely adhered to the custom of
their ancestors, in this matter, and that they had derived their
rule from the Eastern churches.* However, many parts of the1
south of Ireland had altered their time of celebrating Easter to that
of the church of Rome, while the rest of the kingdom adhered to
the ancient traditions on the subject. Matters were in this position
when the letter of Pope Honorius arrived, A. D. 630, A synod
was convened, in pursuance of this letter, and the wishes of several
of the clergy, at St. Gobban's abbey of Old Leighlin,t (anciently
called Lethglin, or IVhitefield), which was attended by the heads
of most of the religious houses then existing in Ireland. St. Laserian, who, it is supposed, was the bearer of the letter of Honorius,
advocated the system of Rome, and was vehemently opposed by
St. Fintan Munnu of Taghmon. The majority of the higher
clergy seemed in favour of the view taken by Laserian, but, it is
stated, that an individual, perhaps St. Fintan, here interfered and
by intrigue rendered of no effect what had been already arranged.
Asa final remedy, it was proposed that a deputation should be sent
to Rome, in order, by personal inquiry and observation, to ascertain the general opinion on this important question. On arrival at
the ancient city, the deputies beheld people from many countries
manifesting an approval of the Roman system; and, at the end of
three years, they returned to Ireland, when they declared, that
the rite sanctioned by Pope Honorius was that universally received.
On the arrival of this information, the new system met with no
further opposition in the southern division of Ireland, which included
Munster and the greatest part of Leinster and Connaught. Curious
particulars regarding this celebrated controversy will be found in
the appendix. (3)
? Lanigan and others are at ieeue on this point, f Monast. Hiber.

0 ? THB COUNTY OF CARLOS.

is

Some account of the persons who took a leading part in the
adjustment of the question, will be appropriate in this place, particularly as they were connected in other ways with the history of
our district.
And first of St. Laserian, called otherwise Molissa. H e was,
it is stated, son of Cairel, a nobleman of Ulster, and of Gemma,
daughter of Aidan, king of the British Scots. The time of his
birth remains unknown ; and of the early part of his life we have
little or no account. One writer places him as a disciple of St.
Fintan Munnu, while another says he was scholar to an abbot
Murin. When arrived at maturity, he travelled to Rome, where
he sojourned fourteen years. There, we learn, he was ordained
priest by Gregory the Great, and shortly afterwards returned to
Ireland. About the yaer 630, he again visited Rome, probably as
head of the deputation, sent by the chiefs of the southern clergy
after the synod of Leighlin, when Pope Honorius I. consecrated
him bishop. Subsequently to his return to Ireland, A.D. 632, he
succeeded St. Gobban as abbot of Old Leighlin, and founded a
bishopric there.* A town of considerable extent was soon raised
on the spot. Previously to his death, which occurred on the
18th of April, 639, f he was a chief instrument in finally settling
the question of Easter, in the south of Ireland. He was buried
in the cathedral, which he himself had caused to be erected.
Fintan Munnu or Munna, the chief opponent of Laserian,
belonged to the Niall family, and was son of Tulcan and Feidelmia.
It seems probable that he was a native of the north of Ireland.
It is stated, that he was first placed at the school of Bangor under
St. Comgall, and to have subsequently studied in the school of
KilmoreDeathril, governed by Columbkill before his departure from
Ireland. He afterwards went as a disciple to Hy, from whence he
returned to Ireland in 597. It is very probable, that soon after
his arrival he founded the monastery called after his name Teachmunnu, the house of Munnu, now Taghmon, in the county of Wexford. He is stated to have founded other monasteries. His death
took place shortly after the controversy at Old Leighlin, before
which he gave in his concurrence to the prevailing opinions on the
subject St. Fintan died on the 21st of October, 6354
Cumian or Cumene the white, abbot of Hy, was born in the
territory of Tyrconnel, now the county of Donegal, and traced
his descent to the princes of that country. On the occasion of the
great question as to the celebration of Easter, Cumian continued
for a time neuter in the dispute, until he had first made himself accurately acquainted with all the bearings of the case. After a
year's investigation, he was one of those who persuaded the bishops
and abbots to assemble a synod at Leighlin, in order to decide the
point He favoured the Roman system, for which he was violently reproved by the monks of Hy, as a deserter from the tradiditions of his ancestors, and a heretic. He wrote thus to Segetiius on the subject: " [ beseech you consider this carefully, that
* Monast Hib, Ware.

t Lanigan,

| Lanigan, Eccief. Hist.

26

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES.

you may pardon me; or that either in words or writing you ffi&f
inform my understanding by more cogent reasons, if you have
them, to embrace the other side of the question, and I will thankfully receive them as I have done this. But if you have no such
reason to offer, be silent, and do not call us heretics/1 Archbishop
Usher published a work of his on the paschal controversy, which
is considered a learned performance. He afterwards governed tha
abbey of Hy twelve years, where his learning and sanctity were
held in such high esteem, that the furious indignation of the monks
soon faded away. He died according to Usher in 668.
In the year 632, St. Moling or Mullin founded a monastery at
Aghacainid, since called Teighmolin or St, Mullin's house, and
now bearing the name of St. Mullins. Archdall fixes the time of
the erection of this structure as above, while others say, it was
about the middle of the seventh century. The discrepancy here is
but small. St. Moling is said to have been otherwise called DayrchelL He was a native of Hy Kinsellagh, and seventh in descent
from a brother of Crimthan-cas, the first king of Leinster who received the Christian faith.* He governed his monastery many
years, sojourning occasionally at Glendalough, until 691, when;
he was consecrated bishop of Ferns. He was styled archbishop
of Ferns, as the right of precedency which king Brandulh had obtained for that see still continued in force. He succeeded in inducing Finnacta, monarch of Ireland, to remit the heavy tribute
of oxen, with which the province of Leinster had been burdened
for a considerable time. It is said, that St. Moling made some
remarkable prophecies relative to the kings and affairs of Ireland*
He died on the 17th of June, 697, and was buried in his own
monastery.f St. Moling has been esteemed one of the principle
saints of Leinster.
In the year 639, St. Gobban, founder of the abbey of Old
Leighlin, departed this life ; and the same year the abbot Delasse*
McWinge of that abbey died.
S t Dagan was a warm partizan of St. Fintan at the debat©
touching Easter. Bede alludes to him, and Bale says, that h@
wrote, " t Ad Britannorum Ecclesias, lib. i"
An abbey was founded at a place called Achadfinglass or Achadarglass, near Leighlin, on the east of the river Barrow, in the district of Idrone; but the date of its erection is not clearly defined.
Archdall says, that St. Fintan was one of its abbots and that he
died on the 17th of February, before the sixth century 4 Now it
is to be regretted, that the learned writer was not more precise, as
there were several saints named Fintan; one of whom was engaged, as has been just noticed, in the controversy respecting the
celebration of Easter. From other accounts we learn, that St,
Fintan of Clonenagh, in the present Queen's county, died on the
17th of February ; but he departed this life about the end of th&
* The Kavanagh pedigree, by Sir W. Betharo,
I Monast. Hib. p. 35. Lond. «d, 4to.

f Monast. Hik

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

n

sixth century. There is still some probability, that he k the person alluded to by Archdall, not only from the concurrence of the
day of decease, but from the general admission that he had occasional intercourse with the abbey of Achadfinglass. x\rchdall
adds, that St* Aid was also abbot here, but the date is doubtful.
His festival has been held on the 11th of April.
A brief notice of the life of St. Fintan of Clonenagh will be apposite in this place. He was born near Ross in the kingdom of
Leinster, and was son of Gabhen and Findath, both Christians.
W e are told, that on the eighth day after his birth he was baptized*
Of the year of his birth we are ignorant; but there can be no
doubt it occurred a few years subsequently to the year 520. H e
was educated by the clergy of his neighbourhood, and afterwards
placed himself under the guidance of St. Columbe, under whom
he continued until the saint recommended him to establish himself
at Clonenagh. He there (though still a young man,) laid the foundation of a monastery, about A.D. 518. The establishment soon
gained great celebrity, under his guidance, and numbers from all
parts of the kingdom became members of St. Fintan's abbey. The
discipline, fasting, and other particulars, were, wre are informed,
exceedingly severe. Brandubh, a holy bishop fromHy Kinsellagh,
is represented among the persons desirous of admission to the house
of Clonenagh. For this purpose he waited upon Fintan at the
abbey of Achadfinglass, where he was sojourning; when the latter
recommended him to remain at the abbey in which they then were,
where the discipline did not partake of so much austerity as at
Clonenagh. Brandubh followed the recommendation of Fintan on
this matter.t It is said, that this saint not only prophesied, but
worked miracles ; but the degree of credence given to this part of
the account, will depend on the quantum of faith professed by the
individual. He died on the 17th of February, as before stated,
biit the year is not mentioned,
A.D. 725. St. Mauchin of Lethglen or Leighlin, died this year;
and in 767, the abbot Ernagh M'Ehyn, of the same place, departed this life,*
The civil history of Ireland during the eighth century is extremely meagre. The usual course of commotion, dissension^and
carnage seems to have prevailed; and the general historian has
little more than the melancholy task of detailing scenes and occurrences which afford small instruction, and can never be productive
of satisfaction. But alas ! the history of mankind is little more
than a black record of rivalry, malignity, devastation and blood.
It appears that about A.D. 722, a war broke out between the monarch of Ireland and the people of Leinster. An engagement was
the consequence, when the monarch, one hundred and sixty select
knights, and many thousand men were slain. In 738, another
rupture occurred in Ireland, of which the cause is not stated.
However, a "bloody battle" ensued, in which the people of Mun•* Monast. Hib;

f Lanigan,

28

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ster vanquished their opponent, the king of Leinster. Three years
afterwards, the king of Ireland declared war against the people of
Leinster. A battle followed, when the king of Leinster, the choicest
of his knights and nobility, together with nine thousand of his best
troops, were slain. In 743, a battle was fought between the monarch of Ireland and the king of Leinster. About the same time
an engagement occurred between the people of Munster and those
of Leinster, in which the carnage was great, and a lake adjoining
the field of battle coloured with the blood. At the conclusion of
this century, an unfortunate event occurred, which was attended
with evil consequences of long continuance to unhappy Ireland.
This was the invasion of the Danes and Norwegians, who, under
the name of Ostmen, first invaded this island, anno 795. These
ferocious people were mere pirates, who infested many of the
northern nations of Europe at this period, and continued a deadiy
scourge to the Irish for a space of not less than three hundred
and seventy-seven years, when the English finally ejected them
from this island. We shall have frequent cause to notice their
proceedings.
It is stated, that about the early part of the eighth century, Pepin,
ancestor to the French king of that name, applied to the monarch
of Ireland for missionaries to convert the people of Ireland; and
Mr. G'Halloran* is of opinion, that the revival of literature in
Europe is more properly to be ascribed to the Irish, than to the
Arabians. He stated that universities were founded by Irishmen^
-under the patronage of Charlemagne, who flourished about anno.
800. Regarding the arts and sciences, his account is quite as
flattering. It only remains for us to express our regret, that literature and science had not their usual genial influence, and that
they failed in softening the manners, allaying the commotions, or
checking the turbulence of the ancient Irish.
A.D. 836. This year one of the most formidable of the Danish
leaders, named Turgesius, landed in Ireland. Leinster and most
part of the remainder of the kingdom was ravaged by this furious
leader and his attendant savages. The picture drawn of the misery to which he reduced the Irish, is dreadful in the extreme.
He placed a governor in every cantredf of land, and a captain
in every territory of the kingdom. He selected an abbot for every
church and monastery, fixed a petty officer in every village, and
billeted one of his inferior followers in every house in the kingdom.
A heavy tribute was likewise enforced on the subjugated Irish ;
every householder was obliged, under severe penalties, to pay one
ounce of gold annually. The Danes were imbued with the true
Gothic hatred of literature, and, therefore, resolved to suppress
all colleges and schools in the island ; the Irish were not permitted
to have their children taught any portion of scholastic knowledge,
and they destroyed all the books which came into their possession.
The churches were closed. All poets, historians, professors of
* Hist, Ir,

t A cantred contained thirty-two townlands.

m

THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

20

Hie liberal aits and sciences, or musicians, were banished, imprisoned, or forced into concealment. Nor did these men hesitate to
plunder the churches and monasteries, the plate and other valuables
of which they appropriated to their own use. At length, after a
blighting sway of thirty years, Turgesius was taken prisoner by
Malachie, monarch of Ireland, and put to death.* Thus the unfortunate Irish obtained an interval of peace, soon, however, to
be ruffled, by renewed efforts of their implacable tormentors, the
Danes, to regain their power and possessions in the island.
Archdall states, that another abbot named Mauchin died in 863
at Old Leighlin; but, very probably, this is a person (of the same
uame) who was, according to Ware,f bishop of Leighlin, and
died in 865. We have no record of the bishops from Laserian to
this period.
In the year 864, the Danes pillag*ed x\chadfinglass, then a rich
abbey, the foundation of which has already been noticed.^
Dungall, abbot of Old Leighlin, died in 876,
The year 908 was distinguished by a battle between the King
of Munster and the people of Leinster; the scene of which lay
within the present county of Carlow. In 901,§ Cormac MaG
Curllenan was called to the throne of Munster. During his reign,
we are told, the island remained in tranquillity, and began to recover from the dismal effects of internal discord and foreign invasion.
Agriculture received merited attention. The churches and other
religious houses underwent repair or were rebuilt; most of them
having experienced the sacrilegious devastations of the marauding
Danes. Learning again raised its venerable head, seminaries were
re-opened; and the reign of Cormac might have continued many
years, with glory to himself and advantage to his subjects, had not
evil counsel led him into a war little justifiable, it would seem, in
itself, and fatal in its consequences to the king of Munster. The
pretence for the declaration of hostilities appears to have been, the
revival of an old claim for tribute to which the people of Leinster
formerly submitted, but which had not been demanded for nearly
two centuries past. O'Halloran, however, on the authority of the
book of Lecan, states this account to be incorrect, and that the
real cause arose out of the forcible seizure of a monastery situate
at Monaster Evin, by Cearbhuil, the king of Leinster, on which
the expelled monks solicited the aid of Cormac, in order to obtain
a restoration of their establishment.il Be this as it may, we are
assured, that the enterprise was not in accordance with the personal
wishes of the king. In compliance, however, with the advice of
his council, and particularly that of the Abbot of Inis Catha, or
Scattery, he resolved to prosecute the war, for which purpose a
numerous army was forthwith called into action. H e advanced
towards Leinster, but before passing the boundaries of that terri• Keating—O'Halloran.
f Works, vol. I. p. 45&
t Monas*. Hiber.
§ Keating says A.D. 913, but Ware, O'Halloratr, and Lanigan are among
the dissenters on the point. || Hist, Ir. b. x» c. 5.

30

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

tbry, he despatched a herald to the king to demand a yearly tribute,
or hostages for the same.* The king and nobility of Leinster
proposed a treaty, in order to the satisfactory adjustment of the
quarrel. Cormac had every disposition to act amicably, but the
unrelenting abbot was not to be so easily appeased ; his influence
predominated. The king gave orders to his army to march, A.D.
908. They entered the country of the enemy, and reached the
bridge of Leithglin, otherwise Leighlih.f The spare horses and
baggage were, we are told, sent on before, and a portion of the
clergy waited at this bridge, till Cormac with his people reached
them. From hence they marched, with great pomp and circumstance, to a place called Mach Ailbe or Moyalbe, where they encamped and entrenched themselves, expecting the enemy. When
the engagement approached, the king of Munster formed his men
Into order of battle, and in three divisions; the king of Ossory and
the abbot Ma Jonmuinein commanded the first; Cormac, himself,
commanded the second, and the third was confided to the direction
of an experienced leader Mac Morhly, king of the Deieies. The
adverse parties agreed, it is said, to fight the battle in the plains
of Mach Ailbe, where the army of Munster lay encamped. These
latter, however, began to lose confidence before the engagement,
from accounts received of the great superiority in numbers, as well
as discipline, of their opponents.
The onset of the Leinster men decided the fate of the day. It
was irresistible. The Munster troops fled almost immediately;
when the havoc among them became dreadful. Cormac, himself,
many princes and nobles, numbers of officers, together with six
thousand of their choicest troops, were reckoned among the slain.
Thus ended the career of Cormac Mac Cuillenan, who, from the
accounts that have reached us, certainly deserved a better fate.
*( He was," says Ware, " knowing in the Irish antiquities, and
•writ the history called Psalter Cashel!' We have made enquiry
for the precise situation of the place called Moyalbe or Mach Ailbe,
but the name seems to have become obsolete. O'Halloran and
Lanigan state, that perhaps it was at Beallach Mughna (now
Ballymoon) that this battle was fought; but it seems somewhat
uncertain at which of the two places this remarkable event took
place. No material uncertainty exists, however, as to the situation;
both positions mentioned, being within the same district and at a
short distance from each other.
W e are informed, that the conduct of the abbot of Inis Catha
greatly incensed the clergy of Leinster, who attributed to him the
war and bloodshed which had occurred. He had been taken
prisoner at the engagement, and so long as the king of Leinster
lived was kept in close confinement, but on his decease Inis Catha
was enlarged. The monarch of Ireland, Flann Siona, espoused
the cause of the king of Leinster on the late occasion.
• Keating, p. 453. t Keating,—It was not till centuries after this, that w«
read of the erection of the present bridge at Lei^hlm ; but possibly it was
not the first placed theret

OF THE 'COUNTV OF CARLOW,

81

The early part of the tenth century was not a period of union or
happiness in Ireland ; private feuds and public contentions being
then rife in this devoted land. Instead of combining, in order to
present a compact front and concentration of purpose to the common
enemy, the Danes, the Irish people seemed resolved to follow the
dictates of their selfish passions. Devoid of patriotic feeling, and
reckless of consequences, they appear to have been more bent upon
mutual sacrifice, than opposition to the ruthless invaders of the
land. The natural result followed. The Danes continued their
system of plunder, and Leighlin was among the places which, in
1)16, was visited by the marauders.
A.D. 1)33. This year Moylmartin O'Skellan, the divinity
lecturer of the abbey of Old Leighlin, paid the great debt of nature.*
Condla Mac Dunecan, bishop of Leighlin, died in 9i3.-f- He
is called, in the Irish annals, prince, as well as bishop, of Leighlin.
In 951, the church of St. Mullins was plundered by the Danes.
Daniel, bishop of Leighlin, died in 969.
Leighlin was plundered by the people of Ossory, in 978, and
again in 9824
The year 1002§ was distinguished by being that on which, by
the concurrent testimony of all historians, one of the most able
and excellent of monarchs ascended the throne of Ireland, Brien
Boroimhe, or Boru, (of the line of Heber), in this year was justly
raised from the rank of provincial king of Munster to the higher one
of sovereign of the island. To one who anxiously desires to present
a favourable picture of the country of his ancestors, who would
fain represent it to the present and future times in a creditable
light, but, who will not deviate from strict truth in his narrative,
an opportunity, such as the present, of noticing in favourable terms
the conduct of an Irish monarch, is as an oasis in the desert, a
spring-well in the waste. Unlike other leaders, who, so far from
opposing the freebooting Danes, absolutely formed alliances with
them, Brien employed all his energies to bring them into subjection ;
and his efforts were crowned with deserved success.—Brien was,
however, eventually slain in a great engagement with these people,
at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the 23d of April, 1014, aged according to Ware 74, or, as stated by O'Flaherty, 80 years.||
It was in this reign, that surnames were extensively introduced
among the Irish. Brien perceived the confusion which arose from
the indefinite nature of the former designations, and, in order to
remedy the evil, passed a decree, that all the great families should
follow the name of some distinguished ancestor, having O, or Mac
prefixed; which would shew them to be descended from the person
whose name they bore, as O' Brien, the son or descendant of Brien.
This salutary custom had previously been partially in use, but
• Monast. Hiber. p. 36;
f Ware. vol. i. p. 453.
t Monast. Hiber,
§ O'Flaherty's Ogygia. Part. iii. chap. xcii. j| O'Halloran says Brien was
born in 926. If this be correct, he must have been 88 when he fell.
Q'Halloran, however, agrees with Ware and OTlaherty as to the time of
lib death.

32

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

under the auspices of Boru, it became general in the island.* It
was not until about the same period, that surnames appeared in
France, England, and Scotland.
It should also be observed,
that under the paternal care of Brien Boru, the cities, towns,
churches, and all public institutions, revived from the abasement
and decay into which they were sunk by previous commotion and
neglect. Piety and peace, plenty and prosperity, we are told,
abounded throughout the land. Even the savage Danes became
so much reformed by the moral as well as physical treatment of
Brien, combined with the exhortations of the clergy, that much
progress was made towards their final conversion to Christianity.
With the death of Brien, however, the country seemed to relapse
into its former miserable state of turbulence and disorder.
In the year 1017, Donagan, king of Leinster, with many of
his principal nobility, were barbarously murdered, at an entertainment, in the palace of Teige O'Ryan, king of Ondrona,t by
Donogh MacGiolla Patrick, prince of Ossory.J Malachie, the
monarch of Ireland, justly desirous of punishing so atrocious an
act, entered the territory of Patrick, whom he slew, with several
of his abettors, and then retired to Tara, bringing with him many
prisoners.
Cleiric O'Muinic, bishop of Leighlin, died in 1048.—In 1060,
the cathedral was totally consumed by fire. W e may fairly infer,
from the frequent occurrence of the destruction of buildings by
fire, that previously to the arrival of the English, most of the
edifices of the country were constructed of wood. Cox says, in
express terms: " The first pile of lime and stone that ever was
in Ireland was the castle of Tuam, built anno 1161, by Roderie
O'Connor, the monarch/'§ Were this the fact, we could have no
doubt, that the cathedral of Leighlin, a century previously to 1161,
must have been constructed of wood; but the statement of Cox
proves too much, as the mere mention of the round towers will
amply manifest. We have, in short, abundant evidence, that
stone buildings did exist in Ireland, anterior to 1161 ; but they
were comparatively few in number.
About A. D. 1060, the priory of St. Stephen, at Leighlin, was
founded or endowed by Burchard, (the son of Gurmund), a Danish
commander. The lands of this priory were afterwards annexed
to the deanery. Burchard was buried in the choir of the cathedral, under a marble monument, on which was placed his statue,
and underneath this inscription :
" Hie jacet humatus, dux fundator Leniae .
En Gormondi Burchardus, vir gratus eccle8iae."|j
No appearance of either tomb or inscription is now discoverable.
They might have been destroyed at the period of the fire just
noticed.
* Ware's Works, vol. ii. p. 51. t Now Idrone in the present Co. of Carlow.
f Keating, Hist, lr. p. 515, O'Halloran, Hist. Ir. b. xii. c. 2,
§ Apparatus, Hist, Ir,
1 Monast. Hiber. p, 30,
1

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

3»

Felix was prior of St. Stephen's, but the precise time cannot
be ascertained.
A.D. 1113. Condla O'Flain, bishop of Leighlin, died this year.
A.D. 1115, A general convention of the clergy was summoned
this year, by Giolla Easbuig, bishop of Limerick; who then held
the appointment of legate, and presided over the assembly. Among
other things, it was ordained, that the southern half of the island,
called Leath Modha, should have twelve episcopal sees, and that
the like number should be constituted in Leath Cuinn, or the northern division. The province 'of Leinster was divided into five
bishoprics, viz.: Kilcullen, Laighlin or Leighlin, Kildare, Giendalough, and Wexford, otherwise named Fearna.*
Archdall states, that in the year 1138, the abbey of S i Mullins
was destroyed ; I presume by fire. The Augustinians obtained a
settlement here, and erected a house, the remains of which, we
are told, continued at the end of the last century .f
A,D. 1144. Died, Sluagad O'Catan, bishop of Leighlin.
About the year 1151, an abbey was founded at a place called
Athaddy, within our county, for nuns of the order of St. Augustin,
by Dermod, the son of Murchad, king of Leinster. He appointed it to be a cell to the nunnery of St. Mary de Hoggis, in the
city of Dublin.
A.D. 1152. Dungal O'Cellaic, otherwise O'Caollaighe^ bishop
of Leighlin, died. The same year, on the 9th of March, a synod
met at Kells, in Meath, convened by cardinal Paparo. The names
of the prelates who attended this meeting, are handed down to us
in the following order: the bishop of Lismore, pope's legate;
the primate of Ireland, archbishop of Tuam, bishop of Dublin,
bishop of Glendalough, Dungall O'Caollaigh, bishop of Leighlin,%
who died shortly afterwards, as is above noticed. Judging from
the high place on the list, and the precedence given to Leighlin
over many others, it is clear, that its rank was great among the
Irish sees. The chief business of the synod seems to have been,
the creation of two additional archbishoprics ; Ulster and Munster
only, having heretofore possessed them. The instructions of cardinal Paparo from the pope, were to this effect; but, we learn
that the proposition met great opposition from the existing archbishops, who apprehended a diminution of their privileges and
authority. Their efforts, however, proved vain, and the four
archdioceses, Armagh, Dublin, Cashel and Tuam, with their respective suffragans, were established.§ Among the decrees of this
council, was one in condemnation of usury; and the cardinal
commanded, in virtue of apostolical authority, that tithes should
be rendered to the clergy. ||
A . D . 1158. This year, Donat succeeded to the see of Leighlin ; as appears from the foundation charter of canons of the
blessed Virgin at Ferns; he being a subscribing witness to that
• Keating, Hist. Ir. p. 520.
f Monast. Hiber. p. 39.
X Keat. Hist. Ir. p. .527. Keating incorrectly states the date of this
«ynod to be 1157. § O'Halloran.
|| Lanigan, Eccles. Hist, vol, iv.

34

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

document. Donat rebuilt the cathedral, which had been destroyed
by fire. He died at Leighlin in 1185, and was buried in the church
of that place.* A considerable space of time intervenes between
the period of his death and the mention of the next bishop. Either
the see remained vacant, or the name of its occupant has eluded
research.
In the year 1160, Roderic O'Connor, last Milesian monarch*
of Ireland, ascended the throne. During his eventful reign, tho
English power first became established in the island, the Danes
were expelled, and the dominion of the native princes was reduced
to a state of great insecurity, to be followed, in time, by complete
annihilation.
It appears, that Dermot Mac Morrough, king of Leinster, the
chief agent in effectuating this important revolution, was a man/
on whose conduct no great share of commendation canbe^bestowed.
The immediate cause of his disasters, as stated by some, was an
unlawful passion which he entertained for Dearbhorgil, daughter to
the king of Meath, and espoused to O'Rourke, prince of Breffny.
A private correspondence subsisted between Dermot and the lady,
who encouraged him so far, as to intimate, in express terms, her
wish, that he should avail himself of the convenient absence of
her husband, in order to secure the possession of her person. As
might be expected, Mac Morrough instantly complied, and had
the object of his irregular passion carried to the castle of Ferns,
W e further learn, that, on the discovery of the calamity which had
befallen him, O'Rourke communicated a statement of the affair to
Roderick O'Connor, who resolved on affording him instant aid in
an expedition against the king of Leinster. The forces of Roderic
marched into the district of Hy Kinsellagh. Mac Morrough at*
tempted to oppose their progress, but without success ; he retired
to his castle of Ferns and shortly afterwards was obliged to fly to
England, A.D. 1167. We are informed, that at this important
crisis, Mac Morrough found himself deserted by the nobility and
military, so shocked were they at his conversation with the wife of
O'Rourke.f We, however, may very fairly, and far more rationally, conclude, that motives of political hatred and private
pique were the true causes of this signal defalcation of the people
of Mac Morrough; and, indeed, of the invasion of the Irish
princes. For, we find that Dermot had been heretofore a formidable personage in Ireland. He invaded O'Neill and the king of
Meath, compelling them to give hostages; and O'Carroll, another
prince, had been necessitated to place his son in Dermot's hands
as a pledge for his good behaviour.^ This selfsame king of
Meath and O'Carroll were among the foremost in the subsequent
crusade against Dermot; and all men can judge, how far we are
justified in the inference, that these personages were spurred on
chiefly by a desire of revenge for public humiliations of no ordinary
nature. Then, as regards the desertion of Mac Morrough by his
• Ware. vol. i.

f O'Halloran.

J Regan.

OF TttE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

35

subjects ; a far more reasonable ground for this conduct, than that
already assigned, may be gathered from the fact, that he had been
an oppressor of his people, and a cruel tyrant over his nobility,*
who very naturally felt no great zeal in his service. These seem to be
the unquestionable motives, by which the princes of Ireland and the
people of Leinster were actuated on this momentous occasion ; and
we can only express our regret, that O'Halloran, should have so
far distorted the truth, as to place the matter in a very incorrect,
though perhaps a more creditable light. Besides, he is not borne
out in his representation by the general standard of morals in ancient
Ireland; for, independently of other matters, it is well known, that
illegitimate birth was considered so venial, that persons thus
situated enjoyed nearly all the prerogatives and advantages of
legitimacy;, as O'Halloran himselff and many others testify.
The designs of Henry II. king of England, upon the kingdom
of Ireland, had been entertained at a much earlier period than that
of which we are now treating. The dissensions by which the
kingdom was torn asunder, the propinquity of its situation, and the
superior skill in arms of his followers, presented Ireland to him as
an easy conquest. The more urgent affairs of England and France
had, however, hitherto caused a postponement of his intentions,
out now the opportunity seemed so inviting as to become irresistible.
He had been further furnished with the authority of the church for
this expedition, as may be collected from the following
BULL OP POPE ADRIAN IV.

" ADRIAN the bishop, the servant of the servants of God, to his
most dear son in Christ, the noble king of England, sendeth greeting, and apostolic benediction: Your magnificence hath been very
careful and studious how you might enlarge the church of God
here on earth, and increase the number of his saints and elect in
heaven; in that, as a good catholic king, you have and do, by all
means, labour and travail to enlarge and increase God's church,
by teaching the ignorant people the true and christian religion, and
in abolishing and rooting up the weeds of sin and wickedness. And
wherein you have, and do crave, for your better furtherance, the
help of the apostolic see, wherein more speedily and discreetly you
proceed, the better success, we hope, God will send, for all they
which of a fervent zeal and love in religion do begin and enterprise
any such thing, shall, no doubt, in the end, have a good and
prosperous success. And as for Ireland, and all other islands
where Christ is known, and the christian religion received, it is out
of all doubt, and your excellency well knoweth, they do all appertain and belong to the right of St. Peter, and of the church of
Rome, and we are so muchttre more ready, desirous and willing to
sow the acceptable seed of God's word, because we know the
same in the latter day will be most severely required at our hands,
* Giral, Cambren.

t Hist, Ir. b, iv, c, 7*

®§

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

You have (our well-beloved son in Christ) advertised and signified
unto us, that you will enter into the land and realm of Ireland;
to the end to bring them to obedience unto law, and under your
subjection, and to root out from among them their foul sins and
wickedness; as also to yield and pay yearly out of every house,
a yearly pension of one penny to St. Peter, and besides, also will
defend and keep the rites of these churches whole and inviolate.
We therefore, well allowing and favouring this your godly disposition, and commendable affection, do accept, ratify and assent untc*
this your petition; and do grant, that you (for the dilating of God's
church,, the punishment of sin, the reforming of manners, planting
©f virtue, and the increasing of christian religion) do enter to possess that land, and there to execute according to your wisdom,
whatsoever shall be for the honour of God, and the safety of the
realm. And further, also, we do strictly charge and require, that
all the people of that land do with all humbleness, dutifulness and
honour, receive and accept you as their liege lord and sovereign,,
reserving and excepting the right of holy church to. be inviolably
preserved ; as also the yearly pension of Peter-penee r out of every
house; which we require to be truly answered to St. Peter and the
church of Rome. If therefore you do mind to bring your godly
purpose to effect, endeavour to travail to reform the people to some
better order and trade of life, and that also by yourself, and by
such others as you shall think meet, true "and honest in their life,
manners and conversation, to the 'end the church of God may be
beautified, the true christian religion sowed and planted, and all
other things done, that by any means shall or may be to God's
honour, and salvation of men's souls, whereby you may in the end
receive of God's hands the reward of everlasting life ; and also, in
the mean time, and in this life, carry a glorious fame, and an
honourable report among all nations."*
This document was issued A.D. 1150, There are two points in
it worthy of particular notice. The first is, the characteristic assumption of authority manifested by pope Adrian, in bestowing a
country upon Henry II., which was not his to bestow, and to the
possession of which, he had not even a shadow of right. The
second remarkable feature, consists in the care with which his
holiness reserved to himself the tribute unjustifiably called " Peterpence," but which, most assuredly, St. Peter, himself, had he
been alive, would never have extorted. A worldly spirit had,
however, long previously crept into the church, and was fast advancing, in the twelfth century, to that high pitch which it afterwards attained. Of the existence of this spirit, the bull of pope
Adrian contains abundant internal evidence.
The proceedings of the king of Leinster, being intimately connected with the history of our district, it is proper that we should
trace them with somewhat of minuteness.
On his journey to the court ot the king of England, Dennof
* Gir, Camb,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLO W.

37

Was attended by a suite of sixty faithful adherents ; all of whom
arrived safely in Bristol, where the royal stranger was hospitably
entertained by Robert Fitzharding, at St. Austin's abbey. After
a brief stay there, he embarked for x\quitain, where Henry then
sojourned.
He appeared in the presence of his majesty (A.D. 1168) in
humble attire, suited to his present fortunes; and falling at the
king's feet, made an eloquent representation of his case. He depicted the malice of the neighbouring Irish princes, the treachery
of his pretended friends, and the rebellion of his subjects in glowing terms; he declared, that the fame of Henry's magnificence
and generosity had heen his inducement to call on him for assistance;
and concluded, by reminding his majesty; that the highest merit
of an earthly potentate, consists in a disposition to relieve the distressed and support the defenceless. The king, however, being
engaged in affairs of importance, could not aid him personally ;
but, moved to compassion by the forcible appeal of Dermot, (and
perhaps having ulterior views in contemplation,) he made him large
presents, and presented him with the following letter patent, having
first taken his oath of allegiance :
" H E N R Y , king of England, duke of Normandy and Aquitair^
earl of Anjou, &c. Unto all his subjects, English, Normans,
"Welsh, and Scots, and all nations and people, being his subjects, greeting.
Whereas Dermot, piince of Leinster, tnost wrongfully (as he
informeth) banished out of his own country, hath craved our aid;
therefore, forasmuch as we have received him into our protection,
grace and favour, who soever within our realm, subject to our
commands, will aid and help him (whom we have embraced as
our trusty friend) for the recovery of his land, let him be assured
of our favour and licence in that behalf."
Highly gratified at the result of his interview, MacMorrough
repaired to Bristol, where he published the king's letter repeatedly,
and ;made liberal offers of remuneration to all who would espouse
his cause at the present juncture. The person who seemed most
forward to assist him, and upon whom his chief reliance was placed,
was Richard, earl of Chepstow, surnamed Strongbow, a nobleman
of considerable influence in Wales, but of shattered fortune. He
obtained the additional name of Strongbow, from his great bodily
power, which enabled him to draw a bow of more than ordinary
strength; his arms were so long that, in an upright position, the
palm of his hands reached to his knees.* This enterprising earl
engaged to bring Dermot succour early in the following spring,
provided he could obtain the particular permission of his sovereign
to embark in the expedition. On the other hand, MacMorrough
promised Strongbow the hand of his daughter Eva, together with
the kingdom of Leinster, on his decease.
* Mills' Catalogue of Honour,

38

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Further to forward the object of his visit to Britain, Dermot
next proceeded to St. David's, in Wales, where he prevailed upon
Rhees, the prince of that country, to liberate Robert Fitz-Stephen,
who was then his prisoner, and who was afterwards to prove a
leader in the conquest of Ireland. The bishop of St. David's had
succeeded in inducing this knight, and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, to espouse the cause of the king of Leinster; who promised them in
return, a grant in fee, of Wexford and two cantreds of land
adjoining. Having thus completed his arrangements, having secured the desired aid, he departed for Ireland, in August, 1168,
landed at Glascarrig, and thence proceeded to Ferns. Here he
was cordially received by the clergy, to whom he gave a flattering
account of his mission, and of the power, number, and valour of
his newly acquired allies. Dermot preserved strict privacy at
Ferns during the winter ; a course, which the state of his affairs
rendered imperative.
Matters were now prepared to effect that invasion, which the
miserable state of affairs in Ireland had long provoked, but which
was now about being carried into execution. Writers, of all creeds
and parties, deplore the distracted condition of the island, for a
considerable time previously, and the utter recklessness with which
its princes sacrificed the public good to their own selfish purposes.
But now, to use the words of C. O'Conor,*" the measure of their
iniquity was full," and for the important consequences, they themselves, and they only, are responsible at the bar of posterity.
We shall conclude this chapter, by some brief notice of the laws,
learning, customs, and other matters in the economy of the ancient Irish.
A great reformation, we learn, took place in the laws of Ireland
under the auspices of Feidhlimidh, of the line of Heremon, monarch of Ireland, A.D. 141. The principle feature of his improvements was the abolition of the laws of Earc, or Fines, and in its
place the substitution of the lextolionis. The punishment of crime
by pecuniary mulct was totally abrogated. It was ordained, that
murder should be punished with death; and the minor offences of
maiming, became punishable by like treatment of the perpetrator.
Thus was the law of retaliation substituted for one whose deficiency
in efficacy had been amply proved-i* Others of their laws, however,
do not merit equal commendation ; that of tanistry for instance.
This system had the effect of conferring the inheritance of families
on the strongest member of them. For though there appeared to
be a protection of the rights of seniority, yet they were little consulted ; superiority in mental or bodily qualities generally substantiating a claim, without regard to the age of the individual. This
circumstance led to general rivalries, and, sometimes, to the most
disastrous consequences in families. From rendering succession
uncertain and possession precarious, improvement was checked and
peace was destroyed. This law was subsequently abolished by
* Dissertations on the History of Ireland, p. 259. f O'Halloran, Hist. Jr.

OF THE COUNTS' OF CARLOW\

30

judgment in the Irish court of King's Bench, at Hilary term, in
the third year of the reign of king James I. Gavel-kind was
equally objectionable. It ordained, that when an individual died,
his whole effects should be ascertained, and divided among the
members of his family. The distribution was effected by the chief
of the house, who admitted illegitimate males, but excluded
daughters and wives. This law also impeded the improvement of
the country, and checked industry in individuals. It was abolished
at the same time and place. The Brehons, or judges, of the ancient Irish, held their office by descent, or inheritance ; in which
respect, historians, physicians, bards, and harpers, were similarly
circumstanced. This rule was assuredly not judicious; inasmuch
as talent is not hereditary, and, therefore, the majority must have
been very incompetent to the performance of the duties annexed
to their station.
With regard to learning and mental cultivation, it is undeniable,
that much existed among the Milesian Irish.* From its insulated
situation, Ireland seemed a place where the learned might retire,
to pursue in peace their studies and researches ; and, accordingly,
we find that many individuals from Britain and the continent of
Europe, repaired to this island to cultivate the ample fields of literature. It is stated, that there were not less than seven thousand
students at Armagh at one time. Ledwich, himself, admits that
much learning existed in Ireland during the middle ages.-f Quite
clear, however, it is, that the learning of ancient Ireland was
chiefly confined to ecclesiastics; the majority of the laity being
quite as ignorant here, as in any of the surrounding nations.
Dress.—The clothing of the male part of the population, consisted of a mantle and a kind of trowsers or pantaloons, which
fitted close, and had stockings appended to them. That of the females was a mantle and petticoat. Both had thin pumps; the man
wore a small cap, and the woman a kerchief on her head. " Their
shifts/' says Sir Richard Cox, " were dyed in saffron to save washing, and contained thirteen or fourteen yards of cloth, so that a
law was made against that extravagancy4 It must be a matter
of regret to all, that a slovenly neglect of neatness is yet too obeervable among the peasantry of Ireland; and, that they present,
in this particular, a lamentable inferiority to the natives of Great
Britain.
It is worthy of notice, that orders of knighthood were introduced
at a very early period into this country.§ There were five classes
of knights ; the first of which was the Niagh-Nase, or knights of
the golden collar. This order was confined to members of the
royal family, none having a claim to the crown who had not been
invested with it. The knights of Ulster, or of the Red Branch,
took the second rank; and the members of the Minister order came
* Cox admits this. Fide Hibernia Anglicana, vol. i.
t Antiquities of Ireland, p, 160,
t Apparatus, Hib, Angl. vol, i.
• O'Halloran,
§

40

MISTORF A ^ D

ANTIQUITIES

next. Leinster and Coniiaught followed in order of precedency.
The Irish knights were superior in rank to all other classes, except
the members of the blood-royal or doctors in the different sciences ;
the privileges of which latter were very great. A regular course
of education and preparatory discipline, was, we are informed,
appointed for the aspirants to the honour of knighthood; and a
highly polished picture is drawn of the dignity and splendour of
the order; but it would much enhance the satisfaction of the inquirer on this subject, could he discover somewhat more of practical
proof, that Ireland anciently enjoyed the blessings of peace, civilization, and refinement.

CHAP. III.
from the arrival of the English, A.D. 1169, to the death of
Henry II. A.D. 1189.
In the month of May, 1169,* the expected succours of Dermot
Mac Morrough arrived. Robert Fitz-Stephen, Meiler Fitz-Henry,
Meiler Fitz- David, and Hervey de Montmorency, together with thirty
knights, sixty esquires, and three hundred archers, landed at the
Bann, in the county of Wexford. On the following day an additional
force of ten knights and two hundred archers, under Maurice de
Prendergast, reached the same place. Thus was the first effort to
conquer the kingdom commenced; an attempt, which Sir John Davies
terms " an adventure of a few private gentlemen."f They were,
however, men of no ordinary cast, as their subsequent successful
career fully proves. Their first care on landing, was to communicate the circumstance to the king of Leinster, which they did by
letter, dated the l l t h of May, 11694 Dermot immediately made
the contents of the epistle public, when his subjects, who formerly
had deserted him in utmost need, now flocked to his standard in
great numbers ; proving that fickleness and attachment to the power
of the day are prominent ingredients in the character of the multitude.
On the night of their arrival, the English encamped on the seashore, and on the following day marched towards Wexford; where
Donnell Kavanagh (natural son of the king of Leinster), brought
them a reinforcement of five hundred men. Mac Morrough, himself, joined his new allies soon afterwards, and renewed his former
compacts with them. They then determined on the attack of
Wexford.
* Regan.-—-Cox and several others say ] 170; but this mast be an error, as
a competent cotemporary writer (who on such a point must be the best
authority) states differently.
f Historical Relations, " t O'Flahcrty's Ogygia,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

41

The garrison of this town were rather vigorous in their defence.
Two thousand of them made a sally ; but the formidable array of
the English, the novel appearance of their armour, and their
martial bearing completely intimidated the Irish, and caused their
instant retreat; not, however, before they burned the suburbs of
the town. Fitz-Stephen then made his first attack, in which he
was repulsed, and eighteen of his men killed. This greatly incensed the invaders, and induced among them a full resolution to
obtain possession of the town or perish in the attempt. With this
view, they forthwith burned their ships, offered up public prayers
in the camp, and prepared for a second assault; but, at this critical
moment, some of the Irish clergy interposed, and the town surrendered upon articles, on the fourth day of the siege. Dermot
immediately conferred Wexford and two cantreds of land adjoining
on Fitz-Stephen and Fitz-Gerald, according to his former stipulation.
And, as a mark of his gratitude and favour to the Earl of Chepstow,
he granted two cantreds (situate between Wexford and Waterford)
to Herveyde Montmorency or Mountmaurice, who acted as a species
of envoy from Strongbow on this occasion. Thus was the first
settlement of the English made in this island; from which small
beginning, the final conquest of the entire kingdom was in time
effected.
Permot Mac Morrough, being naturally in high spirits at the
success which crowned this first essay of himself and auxiliaries,
invited the English to his castle of Ferns, where three weeks were
spent in festivity and rejoicing. The distinguished valour of his
new allies, was a favourite theme of Dermot, who now proposed
an expedition to Ossory, the territory of one of his implacable
enemies ; to which they cheerfully consented. This affair was also
decided in their favour; the prince of Ossory was defeated, obliged
to swear fealty, and give hostages to the king of Leinster. (4)
These proceedings of the invaders did not escape the attention
of Roderic, the monarch of Ireland. He immediately called a
general meeting or parliament of the princes of the island, who
unanimously resolved to expel the English, and for this purpose
raised a great army, with which they marched into Hy-Kinsellagh.
The king of Leinster, unable to oppose such superiority of
numbers, as well from the inequality of his troops as the unsteadiness of their attachment, (which, on the appearance of a reverse,
became again manifest), applied to Robert Fitz-Stephen, and stated
to him in plain terms, that unless they now made a signal effort,
their cause was hopeless, the kingdom of Leinster would be lost
irretrievably.* To this address, Fitz-Stephen boldly replied, that.
having left their country and connections in order to espouse his
quarrel, having destroyed their ships, and exposed their lives in
the cause, they would not now abandon it. " Be you true to us
(continued he) and we will never be false to you. Your royal
spirit should contemn these hostile efforts, which can be of no long
* Stanihurst.

42

HISTORY AND ANTlQIirTIEs

continuance, for either death or glorious victory must speedily deliver us from all our difficulties."
This speech much encouraged Dermot, who was naturally a
man of much bravery. He was, we are further informed, of large
stature; and in consequence of frequent commands or addresses to
his followers, his voice had become quite hoarse. It is added, that he
desired to be feared rather than to be loved ; while; he exhibited
true benevolence in raising and protecting the poor or defenceless;*
a trait, often the concomitant of a proud disposition.
By the advice of his faithful ally, Fitz-Stephen, the king of Leinster retired to an almost inaccessible fastness near Ferns; which,
by raising embankments and felling trees, he speedily rendered impregnable. Meanwhile, Roderic, conscious of the uncertainty of
war, was resolved first to try the effect of negociation ; and in
pursuance of this determination, addressed a letter to Fitz-Stephen,
which he accompanied by presents ; but in this application his failure was signal. The very curious epistle of Roderic, together
with its equally singular reply, may be found in the appendix. (5)
He next entreated Dermot to abandon the English, and combine
the forces of Leinster with those of the kingdom at large, in order
to effect the expulsion of the invaders; in which event, the king
of Leinster was guaranteed the peaceable possession of his territory
for the future. But MacMorrough, actuated by a sentiment of
honourable attachment to his confederates, and perhaps lacking confidence in the promises of Roderic and the other princes, rejected the
propositions of the monarch of Ireland.
Roderic had now no alternative. He prepared for the attack;
first addressing his followers in a speech of some length, in which
he virulently assailed Dermot, stating that he designed the extirpation of the Irish, and for that purpose had introduced their most
detested enemies; that no mercy could be expected from him, and
that the present engagement would decide the fate of their country
for ever.
MacMorrough spoke to his soldiery and people to the following
effect:—" Ye men of Leinster, the ties of kindred and the justice
of our cause have hitherto united us; let us not now fail in resolution, let us manfully make our defence. Roderic, that grasping
and wicked man, desirous of universal sovereignty and dominion,
now attempts to drive us from our country, or effect our destruction.
Surrounded by the multitude of his followers, he is inflated with
arrogance, and contemplates our speedy downfal; but often hath
it happened, that a small band of valiant and well-appointed men
have prevailed over superior numbers. If Roderic make claim to
the crown of Leinster, because some former king may have been
tributary to a sovereign of Connaught; then, by the same rule,
may we assert a right to the province of Connaught, as our ancestors have been the sole governors and monarchs, not only of that
district, but of the entire kingdom. But, in short, he seeks, not
*.,GiraU Cambren. 1. i. cap, 6,

OF THE "COUNTY OF CARLOS.

43

\o rule as a monarch, but to usurp and destroy as a tyrant, to e x !>e! os from our country, to possess himself of the inheritance of
every individual, and render himself master over -aH, Many boast
<of their great multitudes and place their confidence therein ; but
let them rest well assured, that we Leinster men, though few in
number, were never yet, nor are we now afraid to encounter with
the best and proudest. Because, victory is not obtained through
numbers, but by virtue and resolution, strength and courage.
W e have on our side, humility against pride ; against wrongs we
have equity * against arrogance, modesty; and to intemperance,
,
we oppose temperance and moderation ; these virtues will combat
for us on the day of trial. T h e laws of all nations permit us to
oppose force by force, and injury by strength ; and that cause is
j u s t which consists in a defence of our country and protection of
our patrimony. L e t us be of good courage, inasmuch as we but
defend our rights, while they contend for gain, O u r post is naturally one of strength, which we have increased by industry ; and
from its confined limits a small band will amply suffice for its defence."*
W e are further informed, that Dermo't reminded his followers
of the resolute and powerful auxiliaries they possessed in the E n glish, whose valour had been proved; he represented to them,
that Roderic had no pretensions to their respect from personal qualities; that, besides being a ruthless tyrant,-he had three wives,
then alive, and eleven bastards ; that he murdered his natural brother, with several others, and was guilty of numerous debaucheries ; and that, in fine, the only end of his specious pretences was
the lasting-subjugation of them and their children, f
W h e n the king of Leinster had concluded his oration, Robert
Fitz-Stephen addressed his companions in the following words :—
€(
Y e lusty young men and my companions in wars, who have
abiden with me in many perils, and yet still of noble minds and valiant courage : if we would now consider with ourselves, what we
are, under what captain, and wherefore we do adventure and attempt these great enterprises, no doubt we shall excel in our wonted
valiantness, and good fortune shall be on our side. W e first came
and descended from the Trojans, and since are of the French blood
and race : of the one we have these our noble and valiant minds,
and of the other the use and experience in feats of arms : wherefore
being thus descended of noble progeny by two manner of ways and
in two respects; as we be now well armed and appointed, so let us
also be of valiant minds and lusty courage : and then no doubt
this rascal and naked people shall never be able to resist nor withstand us. Besides you see and know how that at home, partly b y
the subtle and crafty dealings of our own cousins and kinsmen, and
partly the secret malice and devices of our familiars and acquaintances, we are bereft and spoiled both of our country and patrimony.
And now w e are come hither, not as greedy cravers for large sti* Gir. Camb. I. i, cap. 8.

t Cox, Hibcrnia Anglicana. vol, i, p. 16.
F

44

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

pends, nor yet as covetous prowlers for gain and lucre: but only
in respect and consideration to have and enjoy the lands and towns
to us, and to our heirs after us, offered and promised. We are
not come hither like pirates or thieves to rob and spoil, but as
faithful friends, to recover and to restore this noble and liberal gentleman to that his patrimony, whereof he is spoiled and dispossessed. He it is that hath allured and flocked us hither; he it is that
loveth our nation : and he it is who purposeth to plant and settle
us and our heirs in this isle. And perad venture by these means
the whole land, which is now divided into five provinces or portions,
may be deduced and brought into one, and the same in time be
wholly unto us and our heirs : if that by our valiantness and prowess the victory be gotten, and MacMorrough by our service,
means, and industry be restored, and then the whole dominion to
us and to our heirs for ever to be reserved.—O how great were
then our honor and glory ! yea so great, that with the perils of our
bodies, loss of our lives, and the danger of death, it is to be
wished for, sought and adventured. For why should wre be afraid ?
and what is death, I pray you ? Is it any other than a short delay
or distance of time, and as it were a short sleep between this transitory life and the life eternal to come ? What is death, I say, but a
short passage from vain and transitory things to perpetual and everlasting joys ? And certain it is we must all once die; for it is that inevitable destiny, which is common to all men, and can be eschewed of
no man: for be we idle, and do nothing worthy of perpetual fame and
memory ; or be we well occupied, whereof ensueth praise and honour;
yet die shall we. Then the matter being so, let them be afraid of
death, who when they die, all things die with them : but let not
them shrink or be dismayed, whose virtue and fame shall never die
but live for ever. Wherefore ye worthy men, who are ennobled
for your valiantness and famous for your virtues, let us with bold
minds and good courage give the onset upon our enemies, that in
us our noble race and progeny be not stained, but that either by a
glorious victory, or a famous death, we do achieve to perpetual
fame and honour."*
Notwithstanding all these preparations, no engagement ensued.
Roderic, having the fear of the English before his eyes, and continuing unwilling to risk the issue of a general action, entered into
negociations for peace ; to which MacMorrough, enjoined thereto
by his critical circumstances, without difficulty assented. The
terms agreed to were the following: First, that Dermod should
renew his homage and be recognised king of Leinster, Second,
that he should dismiss the English, when the state of his affairs
permitted. And third, that his natural son Cothurne (or Art as
some say) should be delivered as a hostage for the due performance
of the articles, f The second clause was secret. The hostage
was delivered, and the country at peace, when Maurice FitzGerald, (half-brother by the mother's side to Robert Fitz-Stephen),
* Girald Camb. 1. i, cap. 9.

f Girald Camb, Cox, O'Halloran.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

45

landed at Wexford with ten knights, thirty esquires, and one
hundred archers; with which force Dermot marched to Dublin, in
order to punish that rebellious city, in which he succeeded. The
inhabitants renewed their oaths of allegiance, and gave hostages
for their future good behaviour.
While these scenes were passing, Roderic had entered the
territory of Donnell, prince of Limerick, (son-in-law of Mac
Morrough), to demand chief rent, but he was defeated by FitzStephen, who had been despatched by the king of Leinster to the
assistance of his relation.
Encouraged by these successes, Dermot began to entertain
projects of a more important character. His ancestors had formerly
enjoyed the rank of monarchs of the kingdom, and he now aspired
to the dignity of being their successor. Fitz-Stephen and FitzGerald, to whom he first applied for aid in the prosecution of his
new design, declared themselves unable to render him any effectual
assistance in so extensive an undertaking; but recommended him
to state the matter to Strongbow, and again solicit his support. The
earl would, we are informed, have reached Ireland before this
period, had he not met with an unwillingness on the part of Henry
II. to grant him the desired license. This monarch had learned the
proceedings of Fitz-Stephen, and felt somewhat displeased at his
having engaged in the service of the king of Leinster, without his
express permission. After much importunity, Strongbow received
an equivocal expression of leave to depart for Ireland; on which
he commenced immediate preparation for the expedition. In which
task, the following letter of MacMorrough tended to accelerate
his movements : " Dermot MacMorrough, prince of Leinster, to
Richard, Earl of Chepstow, and son of Gilbert the Earl, sendeth
greeting. If you do well consider and mark the time as we do
which are in distress, then we do not complain without cause nor
out of time : for we have already seen the storks and swallows, as
also the summer birds are come, and with the westerly winds are
gone again; we have long looked and wished for your coming, and
albeit the winds have been at east and easterly, yet hitherto you
are not come unto us : wherefore now linger no longer, but hasten
yourself hither with speed, that it may thereby appear not want of
good will, nor forgetfulness of promise, but the injury of time hath
been hitherto the cause of your long stay. All Leinster is already
wholly yielded unto us : and if you will speedily come away with
some strong company and force, we doubt not but that the other
four portions will be recovered and adjoined to this the fifth portion.
Your coming therefore the more speedy it is, the more grateful ;
the more hasty, the more joyful; and the sooner, the better welcome : and then our mislike of your long lingering shall be recompensed by your soon coming, for friendship and good will is recovered and nourished by mutual offices, and by benefits it groweth
to a more assuredness/'*
* Gir, Cam. 1, i, cap, xii,

46

HISTORY AND ANTIQUiTIES

A,D. 1170. Previously to his own embarkation for Ireland^
Strongbow despatched Raymond, surnamed le Gross, with teis
knights and about one hundred archers, who landed in May, at the
rock of Dundonolfe, (since called Dundorogh), about six miles east
of Waterford. Raymond was nephew to Robert Fitz-Stephen and;
Maurice Fitz-Gerald, being son of their elder brother William, and
was a brave and expert commander.* He lost no time in securing^
his position at Dundonolfe, by raising entrenchments, and other
means ; the prudence of which step soon became visible. For the
citizens of Waterford, t naturally alarmed at the settlement of a
body of foreign military so near their town, took immediate steps
to repel the invaders, and together with O'Phelan and O'Ryan of
Ondrone, proceeded to attack them. The Irish amounted in number
to three thousand men, A force so superior to that of the English,
that their instant annihilation might be expected; but the invaders,
rendered desperate by their situation, performed prodigies of valour,,
and finding their enemies in disorder, slew five hundred of them;
and took seventy prisoners, who, by the advice of Hervey de
Mount-Maurice, (lately arrived from Wexford), were all drowned. J
<c
Our victory," said Hervey to his party, " is to be so used, that
the destruction of these few may be a terror to many; whereby all
others and this wild and rebellious nation may take an example,
and beware how they meddle and encounter with us." A system,
of policy, long after adopted by Oliver Cromwell, and upon which
each individual will make his own comment and form his owra
opinion^
In the month of September, A.D. I170> Strongbow, with two
hundred knights and one thousand soldiers, landed in the haven of
Waterford. He was immediately joined by the King of Leinster^,
Fitz-Stephen, Fitz-Gerald, and Raymond le Gross ; which last was
appointed general of the field. They decided on attacking Waterford forthwith, and on the next day, Raymond carried the resolution,
into effect. After two repulses Raymond succeeded in taking thecity; when every individual discovered within it (except O'Phelan,,
prince of Decks, and a person named Reginald) was put to the
eword.
Immediately afterr MacMorrough gave his daughter Eva
to Strongbow, when they were publicly married in the city, and
he acknowledged presumptive heir to the kingdom of Leinster, according to the original compact.
Brief? however, was the time devoted by Strongbow to the
softer offices of love. Ambition, and the state of public affairs*,
both called him into a state of activity. Orders were given for the
army to march to Dublin; which they reached through the defiles
of Glendalough, the direct route being impeded by the Dublinians^
who had again rebelled. Mac Morrough hated the people of Dublin
exceedingly; which is not surprising, as they had murdered hi&
* Gir. Cam. I. i. cap. xii. t Cox says Wexford, which is certainly an crrois
I Oir. Cum, cap, xjii, Regan,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

47

father, and treated his remains with great indignity. However, at
the intercession of St. Laurence O'Toole, archbishop of Dublin,
he listened to their proposals for peace ; but on the expiration of
the time allowed for the treaty, Raymond le Gross and Miles de
Cogan forced their way into the city, (2lst Sept. 1170*), sacked
it, and committed great slaughter. Hastulphus, the governor, with
some of the higher class of citizens, escaped by sea.f
Leaving Cogan governor of Dublin, Strongbow and Mac
Morrough then invaded east Meath, a territory of O'Rourke, in
which they committed great devastation. Roderic, the monarch,
becoming alarmed at the proceedings of Mac Morrough, wrote
him a letter of severe rebuke, threatening that unless he observed
the terms of the late treaty, his son's head must answer for the
infraction of them. Dermot, under excited feelings, replied that
lie would next proceed to the conquest of Connaught; when
Roderic cruelly ordered Art to be decapitated. It is stated, that
he at the same time ordered the execution of a son of Donneli
Kavanagh, who was also a hostage in his hands4
King Henry had become acquainted with the proceedings of
Strongbow, and felt no little jealousy and apprehension of the
possible consequences. He therefore issued a proclamation, forbidding the exportation of any article into Ireland, commanding
his subjects to return from thence previously to the next Easter,
and ordering them to cease from further proceedings there, on pain
of forfeiting their estates in England, The earl decided on despatching an envoy to Henry I I . who was then in Aquitain. Raymond le Gross was selected for this office, and became bearer of a
letter from Strongbow to the following effect: " My right honourable lord,—I came into this land with your leave and favour (as I
remember) for the aiding and helping of your servant Dermot Mac
Morrough. And whatever 1 have gotten and purchased, either by
him or by any others, as I confess and acknowledge the same from
and by means of your gracious goodness : So shall the same rest
and remain at your devotion and commandment/'§ The king treated
Raymond courteously, but made no concession to the adventurers.
A.D. 1171. About the month of May, Dermot Mac Morrough,
king of Leinster, died at Ferns, where he was buried. Immediately after, Strongbow proceeded to Dublin, in order to preserve
the possession of that turbulent city ; but being debarred of a supply of men or provisions, by the proclamation of king Henry, he
was reduced to great difficulties ; while the almost total defection
of the Irish from his standard, on the death of Mac Morrough,
did not lessen the ills by which he was surrounded. Donnell
Kavanagh, Mac Gely of Tir Rryn, (the territories of the O'Birnes,
of which he was chieftain,) and Auliffe O'Carvy, were the only
persons who adhered to his cause. || We are further informed,
that the earl, desirous of rewarding his faithful allies, granted ta
* O'Halloran.
vol, i. p. 48.

t Giral. Cambren. 1. i. cap. xvii.
§ Gir. Camb, 1. i, cap. xix,

% Leland. Hist. h\
H Regan.

48

HISTORY AXD ANTIQUITIES

Moriertagh the country of Kinsellagh, and to Donnell Kavanargf^
the plains of Leinster; of which districts they were immediately
called kings, the custom of the ancient Irish being to style every
lord of a country, king of the same.*
Roderic O'Connor, and the other Irish princes, now thought
they had a favourable opportunity to effect the complete extirpation
of the English settlers ; to which undertaking they were incited
by Lawrence, archbishop of Dublin. They accordingly made
formidable preparations for the siege of the city* Meanwhile,
Donnell Kavanagh, (called by Cambrensis MacDermot, or the
son of Dermot, and who seems to have been a man of much skilly
activity, and bravery), arrived in Dublin, having passed with great
difficulty through the enemy's possessions, and informed Strongbow,
that the people of Wexford and Kinsellagh, to the number of three
thousand, had besieged Fitz-Stephen in his castle of Carrick, near
Wexford, and that unless succour was offered within three days,
he must inevitably fall into the hands of his implacable enemies, f
Dublin was now invested by Roderic, and his subordinate
princes; among whom we notice an O'Kavanagh, appointed successor of MacMorrough in the kingdom of Leinster.J H e
was perhaps another illegitimate son of Dermot, (who left no
lawful male issue), and brother of Donnell, who adhered to the
cause of the English. But this is mere conjecture. A council of
war was called by Strongbow, at which Maurice FitzGerald and
Raymond le Gross delivered their sentiments, both expressing great
anxiety for the fate of Fitz-Stephen. They determined to make a
sally early on the following morning. At day-break, they carried
their intention into execution, with great gallantry ; when Roderic
narrowly escaped being made prisoner, and the defeat of his forceswas signal and complete.
Having made due arrangements for the security of the city..
Strongbow marched on the following day to the relief of his compatriots at Wexford. The opposition to which he was exposed on
his route was formidable in the extreme. Having reached the district
of Hy-Drone, in the present county of Carlow, he was assailed
by O'Ryan, lord of that country, and his followers. The Irish,
having waited till the invaders had arrived at a place bounded on
every direction by woods, hills, and morasses, seized the favourable opportunity, and suddenly attacked Strongbow and his army.
The unexpectedness and violence of the onset, the ferocious cries
of the assailants, combined with a disadvantageous situation, threw
the English into disorder, and rendered the utmost efforts of their
leaders necessary, in order to prevent a total defeat. The skill
and conduct of Meiler Fitz-Henry was conspicuous on this critical
occasion; he was bravely performing his duty, when he was
brought to the ground by a missile from the enemy, and was with
difficulty rescued. Animated by their first success, the Irish had
nearly obtained a complete victory, when Nicholas, an English
* Regan, f Gir. Camb. 1. i. cap. 22. • O'llalloran, Hist. Ir. b. xiii, c, 2,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

49

monk, who attended the army, slew O'Ryan, the leader of the
Irish, with an arrow, when his followers fled, and thus ensured to
the English a successful termination of the contest.* A very affecting incident occurred in connection with this engagement. It
is said, that Strongbow's only son, aged then about seventeen
years, dismayed by the number and savage demeanour of the Irish,
fled from the field of battle to Dublin ; but learning the favourable
result, returned to congratulate his friends on their victory ; when
Strongbow, having upbraided him with his cowardly conduct, ordered
him, with Roman severity, to be instantly executed, It is even
said, that he performed the office of executioner himself, by cutting the body of his son in two parts with his sword.-)* An act,
which, in a father, few will justify, and still fewer commend.—
The scene of this rencontre was afterwards called the Earl's pass.
Meanwhile, Fitz-Stephen had been assaulted by the Irish, and
having surrendered on articles, was, in direct infringement of them,
made prisoner, and many of his associates killed.:]: Strongbow
heard these melancholy tidings on his march to Wexford, and was
further informed, that if he proceeded to attack the town, the
Irish would immediately behead Fitz-Stephen and the other prisoners. With much reluctance he now changed his route, and, sojourning a short period at Ferns where he exercised the rights of
sovereignty, next proceeded to Waterford, where Hervey de Mont
Maurice handed him a letter from Henry II., commanding his instant attendance at court. In compliance with the wishes of his
sovereign, he repaired to England, and with the assistance of
Hervey, succeeded in appeasing the displeasure which Henry entertained on the subject of his proceedings in Ireland. The earl
yielded to Henry, Dublin and the other seaports, took an oath of
allegiance, and was permitted to retain the rest of Leinster, in
subjection to the king of England and his heirs.
A.D. 1172. Henry, having made extensive preparations, now
embarked at Milford Haven, and in a few hours, reached the
harbour of Waterford, on the 8th of October. His force consisted
of five hundred knights and four thousand men at arms. When
the king had landed, Strongbow did homage for his kingdom of
Leinster, and many of the Irish princes came forward, voluntarily
submitted to Henry, and acknowledged him as their monarch.
While, the people of Wexford immediately delivered Fitz-Stephen
into his hands. From Waterford, the king marched to Lismore,
and thence to Cashel, where he called a synod of the clergy, and
submitted to it the Bulls of Adrian IV., confirmed by one from his
successor Alexander III., by which the kingdom was transferred
to his jurisdiction. These documents were accepted by the synod,
and Henry became the acknowledged monarch of the islands
The king returned to Waterford from Cashel, and shortly afterwards marched to Dublin. On his route, several Irish princes,
*Regan. Gir. Cam. I. i. c. 28. Cox. Leland.
t Cox. Leland seems to suspect the correctness of this story.
t Gir, Cam, 1. i. c, 25.

50

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

and Roderic among the rest, made their obeisance, and did homage to him as monarch. Thus, says Giraldus, " was fulfilled
the old and vulgar prophecy of St. Molin: before him all the
princes shall fall down, and under a dissembled submission shall
obtain favour and grace.'7
Henry I I . observed the festival of Christmas, at the Irish metropolis, with as much splendour as the place permitted. There
being no buildings of sufficient extent in Dublin, a spacious one
was constructed of smooth wattles, according to the mode of the
country ; in which, by the introduction of a profusion of plate and
other costly articles, a degree of magnificence was exhibited
which astonished the Irish.*
According to one account, Henry during his stay created three
palatinates in Ireland, in imitation of the counties palatine of
Chester, Durham, and Lancaster; viz., Leinster, Meath, and
Ulster. Each palatinate had its writs, courts, seals, judges, officers, and every royal right.f Of Munster no notice is taken here.
Besides, we have reason to think, that the king not only made
grants of Leinster, Ulster, Meath, and parts of Munster, but
created counties within these territories, subject to the laws of England ; which he possessed full right and liberty to perform. For,,
it appears, that as the king's writs were sent into Ireland from the
time of the conquest, to hear and determine causes, there can be
no doubt that the English laws were given by Henry II. to this
country. It seems also to follow inevitably, that he must have
formed counties, sheriffs, and other officers ; for otherwise it would
be almost impossible to preserve his reservations in capite, or execute any portion of the law.:J
W e have further very strong presumptive proof, that the various
officers of justice usual in England, were appointed by Henry I I ;
arising from a patent granted by him of land in Ireland, which is
enrolled in a register of the reign of Edward III., and runs as
follows : Ilenricus, Dei gratia, Rex Anglice, dux Normannia,
et Comes Andegavia, ArcMepiseopis, Vicecomitibus,
Ministris,
Justiciar Us, fyc. salutem,—"Henry,
by the grace of God, king
of England, duke of Normandy, and earl of Anjou, to his archbishops, sheriffs, ministers, justices, &c. greeting."—Unless we
imagine that his majesty directed his patent to imaginary beings,
there must have been at this period, justices and sheriffs, and
consequently counties in Ireland.
The generally received opinion is, that counties were first erected
by king John in 1210, thirty-eight years subsequently; but a
high authority states, that he merely effected a resuscitation of the
institutions of his father, which had been set at nought by the Irish
"whenever they had sufficient power for the purpose.§ Cambrensis
despatches the matter in a few words, saying, that the king " s e t
his realms of Ireland in good order." Leland is of opinion that
Henry made a division of that part of the kingdom subject to him
* Cox. Hib. Ang. t Anthologia Hib, % Reply to Bolton's Declaration.
§ Harris' Ware, vp\, 2. p. 3o,

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

51

into shires or counties. Those who support a contrary view, and
fix 1210, as the date of the existing divisions^ are^Cox, Guthrie,
Seward, and many others.
It is important, however, that we should be fully aware, that,
although the English statutes were generally introduced at the tune
of the conquest, certain leading persons among the Irish had permission to hold possessions within the king's jurisdiction as feodaries, paying tribute, but not subject to the laws of England. Thus
some of the descendants of Dermot MacMorrough, and of some
inferior chiefs, though tributary to the king of England, continued
for many years to govern their septs according to the old Irish institutions.
From Dublin, Henry marched to Wexford, where he was detained by tempestuous weather for three months. At length he
departed on Easter Monday, 1173, and the same day at noon
landed at St. David's, in Wales; having left Hugh de Lacy [governor general or lord justice of Ireland.*
Lacy being unable to manage the kingdom, the sovereign appointed Strongbow in his stead, with Raymond Fitz-Maurice*
surnamed le Gross, whom we have had frequent occasion to notice,
and who was one of the most distinguished of the English knights,
as his assistant. At this period many of the Irish had revolted,
the army was mutinous^ and its generals at variance. Raymond
being appointed by Strongbow to the command of the army,
(A.D. 1174) immediately marches against the Irish and defeats
them; after which he departs for Wales, in consequence of the
death of his father. Hervey de Mont Maurice replaced him in
the command of the army, which caused much trouble to the earl, j
A.Di 1175. Hervey marches to attack the prince of Ossory^
and is defeated) while Strongbow is confined to the city of Waterford. This reverse of fortune was a signal to the disaffected Irish, to
shake off their allegiance; they openly proclaimed an utter disregard
of their former covenants and engagements. Even Donnell Kavanagh, son of the late king of Leinster, who had hitherto manifested a firm attachment to their cause, now joined the ranks of
the enemy, and asserted a claim to the throne of the province.
This could not have occurred without strong cause. Very possibly
Donnell had met with some unfair or ungenerous treatment in reference to his possessions, or perhaps the cruelty of Strongbow,
(who it is said caused a son of Donnell to be executed*)-^ might
have led to his defection.:£ Under these circumstances, Strongbow
wrote to Raymond, offering him the hand of his sister Basilia, and
entreating his speedy succour; with which request the latter
speedily complied, and reached Waterford very seasonably. Thence
Raymond and Strongbow marched to Wexford, where the proposed marriage was solemnized ; the bridegroom receiving as a
* Camden says, that till the time of Edward III. they Were called justices
of Ireland, and their lieutenants deputies,
t Lcland, Hist. Ir. vol. i. p. 63.
J Harris,
G

52

"HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

portion, Idrone, Glascarrig, Fethard, and the constabfeshfp of
Leinster. We here observe, that Idrone, formerly granted to
Donnell Kavanagh, was transferred from him to another; no
doubt, in consequence of his recent overt acts of disloyalty. Regan informs us, that Idrone was, at the period of the arrival of the
English, a territory belonging to the 0'Ryans> but they, in consequence of their unbending opposition to the invaders, were, of
course, deprived of their possessions ;* this district was afterwards
granted to Donnell Kavanagh, and after him to Raymond le Gross,
as just mentioned.
Scarcely had the marriage between Raymond and Basilia taken
place, when intelligence arrived, that Roderic had invaded Leinster, Strongbow and Raymond marched immediately to Dublin,
pursued the invader, and killed one hundred and fifty of his followers*
Among the slain was Donnell Kavanagh, who fell in contest with
a party of his own countrymen, who were in the service of the

English, f
A.D. 1176. In September, this year, Raymond marched
against the prince of Limerick, and defeated him. He then left
a garrison in Limerick ; but speedily heard from them, that they
were besieged by Daniel O'Brien ; on which Raymond, by desire
of Strongbow, proceeded to their relief. For this purpose he took
a force of eighty gentlemen, two hundred horse, and three hundred archers, with some Irish, under Morrough of Kinsellagh and
Donnell of Ossory. O'Brien retreated, and Raymond relieved
the garrison. Shortly afterwards, O'Brien gave hostages ; as did
also, Roderic, the monarch, who placed his son in the hands of
king Henry.
Richard de Clare, earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, prince of
Leinster, surnamed Strongbow, died on the 27th day of May^
1177. He was son of Gilbert, earl of Chepstow, and of Isabel,
aunt by the mother's side to kings Malcolm and William of Scotland. He enjoyed the rank of earl of Ogie, in Normandy, earl
marshal of England, and vicegerent of Normandy.% As already
stated, he married Eva, daughter of MaeMorrough, in whose
right he inherited the kingdom of Leinster, to which he was declared heir during the life of Dermot. He was the chief instrument
in effectuating the conquest of Ireland. About the year 1174, the
priory of Kilmainham was founded by him. He left but one
child, a daughter, named Isabel, who was immediately taken under
the guardianship of king Henry II. ; whose care she received until
the event of her marriage, twelve years afterwards. Giraldus
furnishes the following account of Strongbow's appearance and
personal qualities : " The earl was somewhat ruddy and of sanguine complexion and freckled face, his eyes grey, his face feminine, his voice small, and his neck little, but somewhat of a high
stature : he was very liberal, courteous and gentle: what he could
not compass and bring to pass in deed, he would win by good
* Harm.

t Leland, Hist, Ir, vol. i. p. 102,

% Borlase*

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

53

words and gentle speeches. I n time of peace he was more ready
t o yield and obey, than to rule and bear sway. O u t of the camp
he was more like to a soldier companion than a captain or ruler :
but in the camp and in wars he carried with him the state and
countenance of a valiant captain. Of himself he would not adventure any thing, but being advised and set on, he refused no
attempts : for of himself he would not rashly adventure, or presumptuously take any thing in hand. In the fight and battle he
was a most assured token and sign to the whole company, either
to stand valiantly to the fight, or for policy to retire. In all chances
of war he was still one and the same manner of man, being neither
dismayed with adversity, nor puffed up with prosperity.''
Basilia, the lady of Raymond, communicated the death of
Strongbow to him in an ambiguous letter, which displays much
ingenuity; conveying, as it does, her intelligence, in a manner
only to be understood by the person for whom it was intended*
This very creditable specimen of female tact, ran as follows:—
" T o Raymond her most loving lord and husband, his own Basilia
wisheth health as to herself. Know ye my dear lord, that my
great cheek-tooth, which was wont to ache so much, is now fallen
o u t ; wherefore, if ye have any care or regard of me, or of yourself come away with all speed."—Raymond having for a moment
weighed the contents of this letter, (written in a style which the
circumstances of the time rendered necessary), immediately perceived its meaning, and forthwith returned to the capital. O n his
arrival there, he was appointed lord deputy, by the council, A . D .
1177. T h e same year he was superseded by William Fitz-Adelm,
who treated Raymond, the Geraldines, and all the first settlers,
with great disfavour. H e created his nephew, Walter Almain,
seneschal of Wexford and W a t e r f o r d ; who was every way unworthy of the appointment, inasmuch as among other delinquencies,
he received bribes from MacMorrough of Kinsellagh, as an inducement to injure Raymond le Gross.* H e was recalled, and
replaced in 1179, by H u g h de Lacy, the grantee of Meath.
This very able man was sensible that in a strange country, and
surrounded by enemies, the English could only maintain possession
by superior skill and means of defence. H e therefore castellated
his own district of Meath, and a great part of Leinster. T h e
castles of Carlow, Leighlin-bridge, and Tullow were built by him.f
T h e erection of the former structure has been attributed to various
other persons ; among the rest to E v a , daughter of Dermot M a c
Morrough,i to Isabel, daughter of Strongbow, to king John, to,
H u g h le Bigod, fourth earl of Norfolk,§ and to Bellingham, lord
deputy of Ireland. |j W i t h regard to the first, we do not find that
the statement is supported by any ancient record ; E v a , or rather
Strongbow, her husband, was obviously so much engaged in p r e • Gir. Camb. 1. ii. c. xvi.
t Cox, Hib. Angl. vol. i. p. 28. Ledvrich,
Antiq. Ir. t Kavanagh pedigree. § Brewer
|j Camden:* Britannia,
vol, 3. p. 532.

54

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Serving the existing possessions during his very brief career, as to be
completely precluded from devoting time to the erection of extensive
structures. With regard to Isabel; she was conveyed to England on
the death of her father and remained there till her marriage in 118£>,
and we have no positive evidence, that she returned to Ireland,
The castle was certainly in existence previously to the connection
of the earl of Norfolk with this country. For we find, that William, Earl Marshal, in his charter to Carlow (as hereafter inserted)
mentions " the castle ;" and the earl of Norfolk first acquired his
property in Ireland, by marriage with the daughter of the said Earl
Marshal. Respecting Bellingham, the assertion is preposterous ;
as will at once appear, upon mention of the year of his deputyship,
which was 1548. Authority, collateral evidence and verisimilitude,
all fix upon de Lacy as the founder of the castle of Carlow.
Were further evidence necessary in reference to the founder of
the castle of Carlow, we could bring Hanmer into the field; who
states, that Lacy built those of Carlow and Leighlin. Though
lie observes, that some represent Eva, the lady of Strongbow, as
the founder; which he doubts, as he considers it evident, that all
the castles in Ireland were built by the Danes and English. Hooker
states, that, " by the course of history it is plain, that the castles
builded in Leinster, were done by the Englishmen only, and for
their defence and safety/' Hanmer informs us further, that Lacy
built a castle in Fotheret Onolan for Raymond, and another for
Griffin his brother, the sons of William Fitz-Gerald.
This
Fotheret Onolan must be the same district as Foert Onolan,
afterwards called the barony of Forth, in the county of Carlow,
Several notices of Foert Onolan will be found in a subsequent part
of this work.
The castle at Leighlin-bridge was anciently called the Black
Castle, and was of great strength. Robert Powre was appointed
to the charge of it by Henry I I . ; but relinquished his post through
cowardice.* Touching this person's conduct Cambrensis (a cotemporary) exclaims as follows : " O what worthy champions and
fit marchmen were this Powre and Fitz-Adelm (the late lord deputy), to be sent to dwell and rule in a nation, which is destituted
and wanteth noble and valiant men! But a man may see the course
of fortune, who when she is disposed to smile, how she advanceth
and raiseth up men from base estate to high degrees; for why
these two had more pleasure in chambering and playing the wanton
with young girls, and to play upon a harp, than to bear a shield,
or staff, or to wear armour. And truly it was to be marvelled,
that so noble a prince could send such cowards to bear rule, and
have authority in places of service/'—Roger le Powre, constable
of Leighlin, was a man of much fame and high credit about this
time.f
A. D. 1180. This year Laurence, otherwise St. Laurence
O'Toole, archbishop of Dublin, died at the castle of Angiers, in
* Gir. Camb»

f Ibid.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAIUOW.

55

Normandy ; about the month of December. He is said to have
been an illegitimate son of one Maurice. This latter being at
continual variance with Dermot MacMorrough, king of Leinster,
at length agreed to a treaty of peace, and delivered his youngest
son Laurence into Dermot's hands, as a hostage for the faithful performance of his part of the compact. Dermot sent him to a barren,
uncultivated part of the country as a sort of prisoner, where he was
in imminent danger of perishing by famine, Maurice being apprized of this fact, seized on twelve of MacMorrough's principal
followers, incarcerated them, and notified to the king of Leinster,
that he would behead them, unless he restored Laurence from his
miserable captivity and returned him to his father. Dermot released
the youth, and delivered him, not to his father, but into the hands
of the bishop of Glendalough, who entrusted the care of his
education to his chaplain. Laurence was brought up so carefully,
so perfectly was he trained to the practice of virtue, that, shortly
after, he was appointed to the high office of abbot of Glendalough;
and not long subsequently, was raised to the still higher post of
archbishop of Dublin. He was, we are informed, a just and a
good man. Henry II., however, held him in considerable suspicion, as he had attended the council of Lateran, and there inveighed much against the honour and conduct of the king of England. For which reason, on his return homewards, he was detained
in Normandy, and died there as above mentioned.*
In the month of July, 1184, John Comin, archbishop of Dublin, arrived in Ireland, to prepare for the reception of the king's
youngest son, John, earl of Moreton ; to whom the kingdom of
Ireland was assigned as his portion, at the parliament of Oxford
in 1177. John had but the subordinate rank of lord of Ireland ;
the great seal of that country having this inscription : Johannes
Films Regis Anglia, Domini Hibemia.
We also find that the
pope's legate had commission to exercise jurisdiction in Anglia,
Wallia, et illis Hibemice partibus, in quibus Johannes Comes
Moretonii potest atem hahet, et dominium.
On Wednesday, in easter-week, anno 1185, John, lord of
Ireland, (aged then about twelve years) embarked at Milford
Haven, accompanied by about four hundred gentlemen, including
Giraldus Cambrensis, and a numerous train of inferior attendants.
After a favourable passage he landed at Waterford, where the
Irish princes flocked to his court in great numbers; but from the
disrespectful treatment which they received from John's Norman
courtiers, they retired in disgust, and many others who were
preparing to attend and pay homage, relinquished their intention.
This circumstance contributed not a little to the want of success
attending John's visit to Ireland ; while the internal dissensions
among the settlers contributed considerably to the same result.
After a sojourn of eight months, he was recalled in September,
1185 ; and John de Courcy, earl of Ulster, appointed lord deputy.
* Hanmer—Gir, Camb, 1, ii. c, xxvi,

56

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

A . D . 1186, Roderic, last Milesian monarch of Ireland, voluntarily abdicated the throne.* H e died in 1198, and with his death
the sway of the native kings terminated, after a continuance of
about two thousand five hundred years. A class of historians,
who compose what may be termed the ultra Irish party, deplore
this event with much seeming earnestness, are outrageous at the
part taken by Dermot MacMorrough, and look on the commencement of a fresh era and the establishment of a novel dynasty with
dislike and dissatisfaction. But to the man who aifords the matter
impartial consideration, to him who dispassionately views the
conduct and proceedings of the Irish princes, and is cognizant of
the ancient state of this distracted country, little j u s t ground will
seem to attach to their sentiments. F o r what is, in brief, the
simple fact. W e find, that of a list handed down to us of one
hundred and sixty nine monarchs who reigned in Ireland from
Milesius to Roderic, not more than fifty one (the 1st. 4th. 18th.
20th. 21st. 22nd. 28th. 40th. 54th. 55th. 56th. 68th. 70th. 78th.
85th. 91st. 92nd. 93rd. 95th. 96th. 100th. 101st. 106tb. 107th.
112th. 116th. I I 8th. 119th. 122nd. 125th. 134th. 136th. 1 4 1 s t
145th. 147th. 148th. 149th. 151st. 154th. 155th. 156th, 158th.
160th. 161st. 163rd. 164th. 165th. 166th. 167th. 168th. 169th.)
appear to have died a natural d e a t h ; and even of this number,
some, perhaps, might be deducted, did we know the circumstances
of their exit, which appear to be uncertain. N o w most assuredly,
the evils entailed on Ireland by the English conquest, might, in
the opinion of the above writers be very great, the consequences to
the country might be most pernicious, their sway might prove most
detrimental; but the inevitable question here arises, could any
change, under such circumstances, be for the worse? Could the
invaders enact greater horrors, could they entail more of commotion,
anarchy, and bloodshed on this unhappy land, than that to which
she had been already subject ? Assuredly n o t ; and the result proves
the fact. O n the contrary, we cannot but consider it a happy
circumstance, a decided amelioration in the circumstances of this
country, that the miserable contentions of the native princes were
abolished, by the introduction of the sway of one monarch for the
kingdom in general.f
This topic would admit of further amplification, but in a local history, any lengthened discussion of a general
nature would be inappropriate.
K i n g H e n r y I I . died in Normandy, on the 6th of July, 1189.
So much satisfaction did the conquest of Ireland afford him, that,
in the list of his titles, he placed that of lord of Ireland, before
the introduction of the hereditary rank arising from Normandy and
Aquitain. H e n r y I I . was a generous, wise, and valiant prince.
H e may justly be classed among the most estimable monarchs of
the age in which he flourished.
• O'Flaherty's Ogygia. + According to Campion, the Irish are beholding
to God for being conquered.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW*

57

CHAP. IV.
Reign

of Richard

I.

A . D . 1189 to A . D . 1199.

R I C H A R D , in consequence of his great valour, surnamecf
Coeur de Lion, succeeded his father on the throne of England.
It seems, however, that his brother, J o h n , retained the government of Ireland, in pursuance of the donation of 1177, already
mentioned. During the reign of Richard, (long absent in the H o l y
Land), and part of that of J o h n , the country was plunged into*
continued commotion; confederacies were formed against the E n g lish, who suffered many reverses ; but disunion among the natives,
combined with skill and firmness on the part of the government,
at length restored a temporary peace.
I n the first year of this reign, Isabel, only daughter and heir of
Strongbow, by E v a , princess of Leinster, was married to William
Maxfield,* lord Maxfield, earl marshal of England. This nobleman descended thus : W a l t e r Maxfield accompanied William the
Conqueror to England, as his marshal; this Walter had issue
William, who had issue, Walter, whose son was John, whose
son was William, married to Isabel.f H e was greatly in favour
with king Richard, and at his coronation carried the royal sceptre,
on which was a cross of gold.
A . D . 1191. This year, the aforementioned William, earl marshal, was appointed lord justice, or governor of Ireland ; in which
office he continued for six y e a r s ; a long period in those unsettled
times. H e was a man of much personal valour, and from his
princely possessions in Ireland, was considered the most eligible
governor; at a time when the higher powers seemed to abandon
all care of the country. H e was also the third of the temporal coadjuters appointed by Richard to assist the bishop of Ely in the
administration of affairs in England.£
King Richard returned from the Crusades in 1194. One Fulco,
a priest, spoke very boldly to him on the vices of his court.
" Thou hast, O mighty king," said he, u three daughters of very
vicious and evil dispositions ; take good heed of them, and betimes provide them with good husbands ; I mean Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery." T h e king smiled, and calling his lords and
barons, said: " H e r e before you all, 1 do presently bestow my
three daughters. First, I give my daughter, swelling Pride, to
the proud Templars ; my greedy daughter, Avarice, to the covetous
order of the Cistercian monks; and my daughter, Lechery, to the
wanton prelates of the church."§ This dialogue, assuredly, presents no very flattering picture of the state of morals, either of
clergy or laity, in those d a y s . — T h e Knights Templars soon after* Hanrner. He is styled fFm. de Hampsted, by Sir W. Betham, in the
Kavanagh pedigree.
t Ibid,
% Cox. Borlase.
§ Hanrner. Goldsmith.

58

HISTORY Attn ANTIQUITIES

wards established themselve in our county ; the record of wticfc
event will be found in its proper place.
In the year 1197,* Hamo de Valoniis, or Hanno de Valois,
(a gentleman of an ancient family in Suffolk), succeeded William,
earl marshal, in the governorship of Ireland. This deputy, finding the Irish treasury nearly exhausted, did not hesitate attempting
to effect its replenishment, by an invasion of ecclesiastical property.
About the same period, John, a Cistercian monk, and abbot of the
monastery De Rosea F"a//ef otherwise Monasterevan, was appointed to the bishopric of Leighlin, by the charter of that diocese;
and, in consequence of the absence of the archbishop of Dublin*
John Comin, (who was either in England or Normandy), he was
duly confirmed by Mathew O'Heney, archbishop of Cashel, and
apostolic legate of Ireland. Hanno de Valois, however, opposed
the election of John, seized the temporalities of the cathedral of
Leighlin, and took possession of the property of the canons*
Under these circumstances, archbishop O'Heney was deterred
from consecrating John; who, finding he had no other resource,
proceeded to Rome, where he was well received by Innocent III.,
who immediately performed the ceremony of consecration. The pope
then handed the newly appointed bishop a letter, addressed to the
chapter, clergy, and people of the town and diocese of Leighlin ;
in which, among other matters, he mentions, that he has consecrated John, that he now sends him to his church, and commands
that he may be obeyed. Pope Innocent also wrote a very severe
letter to John, lord of Ireland, in which he complains of the
violent and unjustifiable proceedings of his deputy, Hanno, in
presuming to oppose the election of the canons, and taking possession of their goods. He censures John, for detaining the archbishop of Dublin in Normandy, and commands him not to molest
the bishop whom he had consecrated, in the performance of his
duty, nor permit him to be injured by any other person either in
spirituals or temporals. He further desires him to compel Hanno
to surrender to the church and canons of Leighlin, the property of
which they had been deprived; and threatens, that in case of refusal, certain wishes of his will not meet with compliance. By
another epistle, his holiness orders, that the bishop shall not be
subject to excommunication, except by the pope, unless for manifest and reasonable cause. These letters were written in September.,
1198, being the first year of the pontificate of Innocent III., and
are to be seen among the decretal epistles of that pontiff.—John,
bishop of Leighlin, enjoyed his new dignity but two years, having
died in 1201.f Hanno de Valois continued governor till the death
of Richard I., when he was recalled. At a subsequent period, he
granted twenty plough-lands to John Comin, archbishop of Dublin,
and his successors, as compensation for the detriment which the
metropolitan see had sustained at his hands4
Richard I. died at Chalons, in France, on the 6th of April, 1199,
•Incorrectly stated byLanigan. 1192. f Ware. Lanigan,

i Lanigan,

OF TOE COUNTY OP CA1U.OW,

59

CHAP. V.
Reign of King John. A.D. 1199, to A.D. 1216.
JOHN, who had been lord of Ireland since 1177, usurped the
crown of Great Britain, on the death of his brother Richard.
Arthur, nephew of John, was the rightful heir, but he was, it is
said, murdered, by order of his uncle, who by this nefarious deed
secured the succession to the throne. Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, Was a chief instrument in effecting this usurpation. The
pen of the bard of x\von, as well as that of the graver historian, have
done ample justice to the transactions of this dark period in our
annals.
William, earl marshal, was created earl of Pembroke, by the
king, on the 27th May, 1199.* Thus was he raised to the high
rank, as he already enjoyed the extensive possessions, of the late
Richard, earl of Pembroke, his father-in-law.
In this reign, Gilbert de Borard founded a preceptory at Killarge, in our county, under the invocation of St. John the Baptist,
for Knights Templars.f (6).
Herlewin succeeded John in the bishopric of Leighlin, in the
year 1201. He was, like his predecessor, a Cistercian monk.
The order of Cistercians was by far the most wealthy in the kingdom ; which circumstance will amply account for the advancement
which so frequently attended them. He bestowed on the burgesses
of Old Leighlin, their burgages or dwelling-houses, accompanied
by a grant of the franchises or free-laws of Bristol, (on the rules
of which corporation, many in Ireland were modelled); reserving
to his see a yearly rent of twelve-pence out of every ' burgage.
This was the first charter of Old Leighlin; but I cannot find that
any full copy of it is extant. We should observe, that the word
burgage, here used, is to be taken in a sense different from its
common acceptation. It is generally understood to mean, a socage
tenure, by which a citizen, burgher, or townsman, held his house
or lands within the city, borough, or town from the king or lord,
at a certain yearly rent; and was classed among the ignoble tenures,
which had no relation to knight's service. Here, however, it is to
be taken as implying, not the tenure, but the dwelling-house in a
borough town; or a burgess's house. A burgage in some places
is called a frank-house.£ The liberties of Old Leighlin extended
about a mile and a half round the town, and were defined by
large stones, inscribed Terminus, burgens. Lechlinen hie lapis
e$t.§
William, earl marshal, and earl of Pembroke arrived in Ireland, A.D. 1207. || Since his recal from the government of Ire* Mills' Catalogue of Honour.
t Monast. Hib. p. 36.
% Ware's Works, vol.1, p. 456. fol.ed. § Ledwich's Antiquities of Ir.
|| Hanmer, Cox, Hibejnia Anglicana. vol, i. p. 51,
II

00

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

land, he had been employed by John as ambassador to the Freneli
court, and in other offices of importance. He was much, and
justly, in great favour with the royal family; as is evidenced by
the repeated honours and splendid gifts conferred upon him.
The earl commenced the erection of his castle of Kilkenny,
immediately after his arrival, and in the following year (1208) was
presented by his sovereign with a renewal grant of the principality
of Leinster, which he enjoyed in right of his wife. This charter,
(which may be seen among the records preserved in the tower of
London, dated 9th John, 18th March,), appears to have contained
some exceptions as to royalties, which were not introduced into that
granted by Henry I I . to Strongbow. The following is an abstract'of its contents. . It confirms to earl William all his lands in
Leinster, with the appurtenances, to hold to him and his heirs by
the service of an hundred knight's fees: saving to the king and his
heirs, the city of Dublin, and two cantreds adjoining, and the
coinage of money, and suit and service of the county of Dublin,
as was heretofore customary. Saying also to the king and his
heirs, the pleas of the crown, as treasure, trove, rape, forstall,
burnings, and appeal for breach of peace, or felony between the
inhabitants of his territory. Saving likewise complaints for want
of justice in his courts, so that the complainant may prove the
default in the king's court, and that the plea should receive its final
determination by the, king's writ: saving also, that if any one
should complain of injury done him by earl William or his court>
arid the complainant gives recognizances and pledges in the king's
court to prosecute nis complaint, that the said plea be determined
fey t^e judgment of the kingV court. Finally, saving the collation
of bishoprics and dignities belonging to them.—Then the king
grants to earV William, the custodium of idiots of the lords of these
fees, which otherwise are held of the king in capite; saving the
marriages of the heirs of such fees.*
On the 8th day of November, 1208, John further granted to
William^ earl marshal and Pembroke, the marshalship of Ireland,,
in fee ; by patent dated at Woodstock.
About this period, the said earl marshal, incorporated the town
of Kilkenny, exempting it from toll, lastage, pontage, and all
other customs throughout Leinster ;f and there can be no doubt,
that it was at the same time he granted the following charter to*
Carlow, (being the first it received) as the privileges run in the
same terms.
CHARTER GRANTED TO TEtB BURGESSES OF CATHERLAGH BY
WILLIAM EARL MARSHAL AND EARL OF PEMBROKE.

(Translation.)
Be it known to all men, now and hereafter, that I, WILLIAM
MARSHAL, EARL OP PEMBROKE, have granted to my Burgesses

of Catherlagh all such liberties as Burgesses ought to have, and
* Harris's Ware;

t Cox. Hib. Ang,

OF THE • COUNTY OF CARXGW.

et-

as it is lawful for me to confer, to be held and enjoyed for ever of
me and my heirs by them and their heirs.
Imprimis, viz. That no Burgess sliall be drawn into any suit,
or answer any plea which shall arise within the bounds of the
Borough, in the castle, or elsewhere, than in the hundred court
of the town; except pleas which concern the men of my household or my bailiffs; but it shall be held in the hundred court of the
town. No homicide committed within the bounds of the manor
shall be esteemed a murder. Item, no Burgess shall be compelled
to single combat, or any appeal which may be made against him r
unless for the death of a man and for larceny, or any other plea
for which single combat can be reasonably awarded. Also the
said Burgesses shall be quit of toll, lastage, passage, pontage,
and all other customs throughout my whole territory and jurisdiction, except in my town of Pembroke and my town of Wexford.
No Burgess shall be amerced in any sum of money unless by the
adjudication of the hundred court, and that amerciment also to the
utmost shall not exceed ten shillings; the half of whMi shall be
excused and the other half rendered as an amerciment. But iri
minor pleas, such as of bread and beer, or other like forfeiture,
the amerciment shall not exceed two shillings; the half of wliiidh
shall in like manner be remitted, and the other half shall be
rendered as an amerciment; and if anyone for bread and beer, or
such like, shall have incurred an amerciment for the first time, it
shall not exceed two shillings, the half of which shall be remitted,
as has been before Said, and the other half rendered as ah amerciment. But if on second offence, he shall have incurred a like
penalty, he shall pay two shillings, and if on third offence he shall
have incurred like judgment, he shall pay half a mark, and the
hundred courts shall be held weekly. Item, no Burgess shall be
drawn into any suit by misnomers. Item, it shall be lawful for
every Burgess to plead without frequent motion; it shall be lawful
for the said Burgesses to distrain their debtors, by such distress as
shall be found in the town of Catherlagh, or if it happens that the
plea shall be of live stock or for distress taken and brought into
the hundred, and if perchance it shall' have happeried that toll shall
have been taken from any Burgess within my land, or jurisdiction,
if any one shall have taken it and have been required to restore it,
and shall have refused by seizure, if the goods of any orie; of the
same place from whence he is, shall be found at Catherlagh, they
shali be distrained to recompense them. It shall riot be lawful; for
any foreign merchant to sell cloth by retail, or to keep a wine
tavern in the town of Catherlagh, unless for forty days; and if
any one would have it for a longer period, what remains shall be
seized for the common profit of the Burgesses of the town. No
Burgess shall be driven or distrained within my land or jurisdiction
for another's debt, or?unless he be surety or principal debtor. No
Burgess shall be compelled to bail any one," even though he should
have holden from him unless by his own free will. I have also
granted to the said Burgesses of Catherlagh, that they may con-

62

HISTORY AND AXTIQUiTfES

tract marriage for themselves, their sons, daughters, and widows*
without leave of their lords, unless they hold foreign tenements outside the borough of me in chief; none of the lords of which
Burgesses of Catherlagh who held foreign tenements shall have
the custody or giving away of their sons, daughters, or widows;
but, nevertheless, they shall have the custody of their own tenants
until those who have been in their custody shall arrive at age,
unless they held of me in chief, as aforesaid, without the Borough.
It shall also be lawful for the said Burgesses to have a guild of
merchants and other guilds, and their freemen with every liberty
belonging to them, as is the custom of other good towns. It shall
be also lawful for the said Burgesses to dispose of their tenements
which they held in Burgage without prejudice or injury to their
neighbours, as they shall deem expedient, whether edifices, or
gardens, or enclosures, or other things. I have also granted to
them power to dispose of all their acquisitions, whether by gift,
sale, or mortgage, without my consent, saving the services which
are therefore due, except to religious men. It shall be lawful for
the said Burgesses outside my inclosures to have common of my
woods. Item, no Burgess shall be compelled to lend his chattels,
unless security be first given him of restoring them at a certain
day; and if any Burgess shall of his own accord lend his chattels
to the bailiffs of my castle, if they be not delivered up within forty
days, he shall be paid for their use beyond that time. And if
perchance there shall arise a change in my bailiffs, or my bailiffs
shall resign, I will compel the bailiff, so retiring, to restore his
due to them, as they shall be able reasonably to prove him indebted.
I have also granted to my said Burgesses to have the power of
making such of their tenants free as hold tenements of twenty feet
of land, that thus they may enjoy a common liberty with the Burgesses. It may be lawful for my said Burgesses to establish and
prove their debts by suit of lawful men. I have also granted to
them, that if any man shall have taken their chattels for another's
forfeited without the borough, they shall be restored to them without
question, if they shall be able reasonably to prove them their property. I have also granted to the said Burgesses a right to grind
their corn in my mills for a reasonable toll. I have besides granted
to the said Burgesses, that they and their heirs may have and hold
of my heirs freely and quietly for ever, their burgages with their
appurtenances for the rent of (
) Geoffry Fitz-Robert
first constituted, viz : Each burgage with its appurtenances for the
rent of twelve pence per annum, to be paid, half at the feast of
Easter, and the other half at the feast of St. Michael. 1 will,
also, that no assize of victuals shall be made in the borough unless
by joint consent of the Burgesses and my bailiffs, and, that this
.concession at all future times may continue firm and stable. I have
confirmed this charter with my seal. Witness, John Marshall,
Thomas Fitz-Winton\ then Seneschal of Leinster, Fulk FitzWarine, Walter Purcell, William Grasse,juti, Hamond Grasse,
Roger ITj/de? Rodolph de Ralegh, Robert de Crupt, Master

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

Henry, Master Hugh,
others.*

Ralph

and Robert,

63

clerks, and many

T h e situation of Ireland had become so deplorable, from the
turbulence and disloyalty of the natives, and other causes, that in
t h e year 1210, John found it necessary to embark for Ireland. H e
landed at Waterford on the 8th of J u n e ; when O'Neill and twenty
other aboriginal chieftains made their submission. T h e king then
diligently undertook the improvement of the circumstances of the
country. And first, he coined money and rendered it current in
both kingdoms, by his proclamation ; in the next place, he proceeded to establish the English laws in Ireland. H e n r y I I . had
done as much as time and the state of affairs permitted; but J o h n
made a more ample arrangement in all important matters. H e
erected or confirmed the division of that part of the country subject to him, into twelve counties,f among which Catherlagh, or
Carlow, was one. H e appointed sheriffs and other officers as in
England. H e caused an abstract of the English laws and customs
to be drawn up in writing ; to which he affixed his seal, and had it
deposited in the office of the Exchequer at Dublin. H e further,
with consent of parliament, ordained that said laws should be observed in Ireland, and erected courts of justice in the metropolis. J
I t is, however, to be observed, that the Irish continued generally
amenable to their own laws ; a practice, the permission of which,
was a deplorable error on the part of the government.
John returned to England on the 30th of August, 1 2 1 0 ; having
done much towards amending the miscarriages of his former visit
to Ireland. T h e country continued comparatively tranquil during
the six remaining years of his reign. King John died at Newark,
on the 19th day of October, 1216.

CHAP. VL
Reign

vf Henry

III.

A . D . 1216, to A . D . 1272.

H E N R Y I I I . succeeded his father in all his titles and estates,
ut the early age of nine years. H e was proclaimed king in the
presence of William, earl marshal and earl of Pembroke, & c ,
the pope's legate, and others. T h e said William, earl marshal,
had the command of the armies at the death of John, and was
now appointed to the high and dignified office of protector of the
* Enrolled A.D. 1296, 24th year reign Edward I.
t The term county originally signified the territory of a count or earl. Its
sense is now the same as that of the word shire ; the former being derived
from the French, the latter from the Saxon.
t Chronicles of Ireland, fol, cd. 1587. Cox. Lcland.

64

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

king, and director of the affairs of the kingdom ; which power,
says Plume, " could not have been entrusted into more able and
more faithful hands.'' He renewed the great charter granted by
John, and issued a proclamation addressed to the nobility, gentry,
and people in general, calling on them to be true and faithful to
their king, Henry III.; which they the more readily acceded to,
as Louis, prince of France, (a rival power) was at this time excommunicated, and began to decline much in authority. The appeal of the earl had much influence with the barons ; enforced, as
it was, by the character of honour and constancy which he had
ever supported.*
Herlewin, bishop of Leighlin, died in 1216, or 1217, according to the annals of St. Mary's abbey, near Dublin; and was
interred in the conventual church of Dunbrothy, a great part of
which he had built.f
He was succeeded by Richard, by some called Robert Fleming,
who was consecrated bishop of this see in the year 1217. H e
had a severe contest with the prior of Conall for some lands and
tithes belonging to his bishopric, in Lei-x, now a part of the Queen's
county. The suit, however, was terminated by composition; the
bishop resigned the lands and tithes to the prior, receiving an annual
pension of ten marks, payable to him and his successors at
Leighlin.J
A.D. 1219. On the 16th of March, in this year, William,
earl marshal, &c. & c , departed this life, and was buried in the
new Temple at London.§ He played a very distinguished part
during the reigns, of Richard I., John, and Henry III.; and is
much lauded by historians for his many virtues. His loyalty and
fidelity to his royal masters, merit our highest eulogium; and
Henry III. was clearly indebted to him for the stability of his
throne during the early part of his reign. The principles upon
which he acted, on the death of John, are thus set forth by Hume:
€i
This nobleman, who had maintained his loyalty unshaken to John
during the lowest fortune of that monarch, determined to support
the authority of the infant prince; nor was he dismayed at the
number and violence of his enemies." Which statement is fully
supported by the subsequent career of this eminent individual.—
By his wife Isabel, (who died anno 1221, and was buried at
Tintern abbey in Wales,) he had five sons and five daughters.
First, William married Eleanor, sister of Henry I I I . ; died the
6th of April, 1231, and was buried in the choir of the Friars
Preachers, at Kilkenny. Second, Richard, who was mortally
wounded at a battle on the Curragh of Kildare, against the O'Connors and other's. He died on the 12th of April, 1234 ; not without
just grounds for the opinion, that his death was caused by members of his own party. In fact, to atone for the death of Richard,
Maurice Fitz-Gerald (then lord justice) found it necessary to
enter into an explanation of his conduct before the king ; offering
* Hume.

Hariss'sAVarc.

I Ibid.

§'IIanmer.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

65

to erect and liberally endow an abbey, in which to provide for the
repetition of prayers for the repose of earl Richard's soul.* FitzGerald was dismissed from the justiceship; but, through the
mediation of the nobility, succeeded in appeasing the wrath of
Gilbert, the third son, who succeeded his brother Richard in his
titles and estates. He married Margaret, daughter of William
king of Scotland, in 1235; and died, in consequence of a fall from
his horse,f at a tournament, on the 28th of March 1242, Walter,
the fourth son, succeeded. He had some difficulty in obtaining the
king's permission to enjoy the possessions of the family; as he had
suggested and directed the tournament at which his brother was
killed. Walter died at Godrike castle near Monmouth, and was
buried at Tintern, A.D. 1245. Anselm, the fifth son of earl
marshal, became possessor of the patrimony on the death of Walter.
He had married Matilda, or Maud, daughter of the earl of Hertford, who survived him; but in consequence of Anselm having
neglected doing homage to the king, previously to his taking possession of his estate, she was debarred from the benefit of dowry.
Allusion is thus specially made to the case, in the English statutes:
" When any dieth and his heir entereth into the land, that his ancestors held of the king, the day that he dieth, before he hath done
homage to the king, and received seizin of the king, he shall give
no freehold thereby ; and if he died seized during that time, hi&
wife shall not be endowed of the same land, as came late in use,
by Maud, the daughter of the earl of Hertford, wife of Anselm, the
marshal. Who after the death of Walter, marshal of England, his
brother, took his seizin of the manor and castle of Strogul,
(Chepstow), and died in the same castle, before he had entered by
the king, and before he had done homage unto him ; whereupon
it was agreed, that his wife should not be endowed, because that
her husband had not entered by the king, but rather by trusion."$
Anselm died on the same month with his predecessor Walter;
none of the brothers leaving issue.
Previously to noticing the daughters of William, earl marshal
and of Pembroke, we shall state some further particulars which
have reached us relative to his male heirs.
William, the eldest son, was a person of considerable distinction
in his time, and enjoys a prominent place in the annals of his
country.§ On his accession to the possessions of his father, the
bishop of Ferns, (a Cistercian monk), made a formal complaint to
the king, that William, the late earl, had forcibly taken possession
of two manors, or lordships, belonging to his church, and held
them by the sword. Having frequently remonstrated with the earl,
but to no purpose, the bishop thundered against him the sentence
of excommunication; which the earl completely despised, and alleged his determination to retain the lordships by the law of arms.
• Cox, Hib. Angl. vol. i.
Hanmer.
Hanmer says he was "slain."
t Hanmer. Chron. of Ireland*

f Mills' Catalogue of Honour.
§ See Hume, Hist. England.

06

HISTORY A\f) ANTIQUITIES

On which decJaration, one Melckeria, we are told, wrote the*
following distich, personating the earl Marshal:
Sum quern Satumum sibi sensit Hibernia, soleln
Anglia^ Mer curium Normania, Gallia Mart em.
Thus anciently Englished:
I am whom Ireland Saturn hight, and England Sol me calls,
Amidst the Normans Mercury, and Mars among the Gauls.
But the satire had as little effect on the earl, as the threats of his
opponents, and he died in full possession of the disputed territory;
which consequently descended to his son William, earl marshal,
the younger. On the death of the earl,' the bishop journeyed to3
London, and, as already stated, laid his case before Henry ; entreating him, in regard to the earl's soul, to use his sovereign authority,
and issue his princely mandate for the restoration of the two
manors ; adding, that on their delivery to him, the earl might
though dead, obtain the benefit of absolution. The king, (then
about twelve years of age), was moved at this appeal of the bishop;
and desired that he would repair to the earl's tomb, at the Temple,
and absolve him ; when he would endeavour to have the matter
satisfactorily adjusted. The king, accompanied by the prelate,
proceeded to the tomb of earl marshal, when the latter, in a loud
voice, delivered himself as follows: " O William, that here liest
interred, and wrapped in the bonds of excommunication, if the thing
which thou hast injuriously taken away from my church be restored by the king, or by thine heir, or by some one of thy kindred
or friends, with competent satisfaction, I absolve thee ; otherwise
I do ratify the said sentence, that thou being ever wrapped in thy
sins, may remain damned in hell." The king was much incensed
at this language of the bishop, and sharply reproached him for his
immoderate rigour. The prelate answered, " My lord and dread
sovereign, marvel not, though I be out of patience, for he hath
spoiled my church to his great commodity."—The king then privately conferred with William, the eldest son of the deceased
earl, and some of his brethren, and urgently recommended them
to restore the manors unjustly obtained, and thereby deliver their
father's soul. To which William replied: " I do not believe;
neither is it to be credited, that my father took them injuriously,
for that which is gotten by the sword, may lawfully be enjoyed ;
for if that old and doting bishop hath given a wrong sentence, let
the curse light upon his own pate, I will not weaken my estate,
nor diminish the inheritance wherewith I am intrusted, my father
died seized of, and I have rightly entered." To these words all
the brothers yielded their concurrence. The king being then young,
and under the guardianship of a tutor, was not disposed to severity
against a personage of so much consequence as the earl; who was,
moreover, the son of his best friend. When the bishop perceived
that his suit was fruitless, and observed, the favour shown to the
sons of the late earl, he was greatly excited, and turning to the
king, confirmed his malediction in these words, which he spoke
aloud: " What I have said, I have said ; what I have written, I

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

m

liave w r i t t e n ; never to be blotted out," H«e then departed, prophesying all manner of ill success to earl William and his brothers.*
I n allusion to this affair, Jeoffry Keating s a y s ; " Out of five sons
n o t one survived to enjoy the cursed acquisitions of tbe father,
who died childless."f In these few words there is much of unbecoming acerbity of language, and much of untruth; for the five
«ons of the earl did survive and enjoy his estates, and so far was
lie from dying childless, that he had ten children on his decease ;
through the females of which, his possessions were handed down
t o succeeding generations. T h e priest might be excused for a little
violence in reference to the conduct of the earl, who certainly does
not appear to have been a very bigoted adherent of the church;
but nothing can excuse a writer, and particularly a reverend
doctor of divinity, for a barefaced deviation from truth.*
In the year 1 2 2 1 , William, Earl Marshal, had great contests
with Hugh de Lacy of Meath, in which the latter district suffered
|*reat detriment^ However, in 1224, when the *»arl was Lord
J u s t i c e , Lacy was compelled t o submission, and at the end of the
year was pardoned.[| Soon after the arrival of Geoffry de M arise©
*e Lord j u s t i c e , it is probable that the earl marshal repaired to
England, to render an account of his administration : the Irish
took immediate advantage of the absence of so formidable an opponent, and raised an army of 2 0 , 0 0 0 men, who, however, weve
speedily defeated by D e L a c y ^
A . D . 1239, This year king H e n r y celebrated Christmas a t
Winchester, with the usual festivity. T h e servants of Gilbert,
(at this time eafl marshal), were with their master in attendance
o n the occasion; and conceived that they had received offence, in
consequence of being prevented from entering the king's court
with their tipstaves. T h e earl complained to the king, from whom
lie unexpectedly received a short and unsatisfactory answer ; which
displeased him so much, that he immediately left the court, and
perhaps never returned to it.
W e now proceed to the co-heiresses of William, earl marshal;
a n d as full information on the subject must be interesting and
desirable, we shall give the accounts of four different authorities
on the subject; pointing out where discrepancies exist.
* Hanmer.—-€ox.
t Hist. Ir. p. 557- foL ed. Loud. 1:726.
X We may as well here notice another extraordinary error (or something.
«lse) which we have detected in Keating's history. In p. 18, of this work,
Is given a statement from him, referring to^.Z), 213, where he says, that a
considerable time afterwards, Kneas and Eithne were slain, &c. And when,
reader, think yon, did this " considerable time" arrive ? In the year 4731
not less than 260 years afterwards; when we find it expressly stated,—'* now
it was, that the battle of Cill Osnach was fought at Moigh Fea in the county
of Caharlo, four miles eastward of LeighHn. In this action Aongus, who hail
been king of Munster thirty-six years, lost his life; his wife also, whose
name was Eithne Uathach, was slain." (Hist. ir. p. 346 fol. ed. Lond. 1726.)
Of a verity, antediluvian lives were enjoyed to a later period than we had before conceived ! In sober sadness, we fear that the rigid critic might here remark, that a certain description of persons should have good memories.
§ Hanmer.
|j Cox* ff Cox.—Borlase, Reduction of Ireland.
I

68

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

1. The eldest daughter Maud married Hugh, Earl of Norfolk,
William, Earl of Warren, and Walter, Lord Dunstanvil.*
Maud was married to Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, who was
Earl Marshal of England in right of his wife : by whom he had
Balph Bigod, father of John Bigod, the son of the lady Bertha
Furnival; and Isabel Lacy, wife to John Lord Fitz-Geffery, by
whom after the death of Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, she had
John de Waren, Earl of Surrey, and his sister Elizabeth d'Albany,
countess of Arundell.f
The county of Carlow was alloted to the eldest4
Palatinate of Carlow.—Hugh le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, earl
marshal and lord of Carlow, jure uxoris, married Maud, daughter
and heir, lady of Carlow.—William Plantagenet, earl Warren and
Surrey was her second husband,—Walter, lord Dunstanville, third
husband, brother to Alan, ancestor to the present lord Dunstanville.
Issue by first husband.—Roger le Bigod, earl of Norfolk, lord of
Carlow, and marshal of England, who conveyed Carlow to the
crown. The county of Carlow and marshalship of England were
afterwards granted by king Edward I. to Thomas de Brotherton,
(first son by his second wife), from whom the lordship and county of
Carlow descended through the families of Howard, dukes of Norfolk, and lord of Carlow and Berkeley, who forfeited by reason of
the statute of absentees.§—Ralph Bigod, third son, who had issue
Isabel.-—John Fitz-Geffery, lord of Berkhamstead, married Isabel,
from whom John Fitz-John Fitz-GefTery, lord of Berkhamstead.
His issue ; Richard, John, Maud, first daughter and coheir, wife of
Gerard, lord Furnival. Isabel, wife of Robert, lord Vispont of
Westmoreland. Rolline, wife of Walter, earl of Ulster. Joan,
wife of Theobald, lord Butler of Ireland.—Thomas, lord Furnival,
i«sue of Maud, married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter de Montfort.
Thomas, lord Furnival, married Joan, daughter and coheir of
Theobald, lord Verdon.—William, lord Furnival, married Thomasine daughter of Sir —>.— Dagworth.—Joan, daughter and heir
of lady Furnival, married Sir Thomas Neville, lord Furnival,
jureuxoris.—Maud, daughter and coheir, married Sir John Talbot,
created earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford, lord of Wexford, jure
uxor is. Issue by second husband.—William, earl Warren and
Surrey, from whom the Duke of Norfolk descends. ||
It will be seen, that the statement of Mills, and the last, agree
precisely as to the connections of Matilda, or Maud, the eldest
daughter of William, earl marshal.
2. The second daughter of William, earl marshal, named Joan,
married Warren, lord Montchensy, the richest baron in England.^
Joan Marshal (whom Camden, or rather the annalist from
whom he copies, incorrectly styles the fourth sister) was married
* Mills' Cat. of Hon.
t Camden's Britannia, vol. 3. p. 670.
% Anthologia Hit), vol. i* p. 38.
§ Temp. Henry viii.
\\ The Kavanagh pedigree, by Sir W. Betham, Ulster King at Arms.
H Mills,

OF THE COUNTY Ofr CARLOW.

69

to the lord Guarin de Mountchensey, and had issue, Joan de
Valens.*
The county of Wexford was alloted to the second.t
Joan, second daughter and co-heir of William de Hantpsted.
She was lady of Wexford. Married Warine, lord Montchensey*
lord of Wext'ord,jtire uxoris.—Joan * daughter and sole heir, lady
of Wexford, married William de Valence, earl of Pembroke,
half brother to king Henry III., lord of Wexford, jure uxoris.
Issue: Aymer, earl of Pembroke, died without issue. Isabella,
wife of John, lord Hastings of Abergavenny, to whom she
brought Wexford as her share;—Agnes, wife of Maurice FitzGerald, to whom she brought Geshill and Ophaly, and was ancestor to the earls of Kildare and dukes of Leinster. She married, secondly, Hugh de Baliol^ brother to John, king of Scotland^
and thirdly, John de Avernes.—Joan, wife of John de Comyn of
Badenochj to whom she brought Gainsborough.—John Hastings,
lord of Abergavenny and Wexford, died 12th Edward II., married
Joan, daughter and heir of Thomas de Leybourne, lord of Eltham.
Laurence Hastings, lord of Abergavenny and Wexford, created
earl of Pembroke, 13th October, 13, Edward III., 1348; married Agnes, daughter of Roger Mortimer, earl of March, died
42 Edward III.—John Hastings, earl of Pembroke, lord of Abergavenny and Wexford, married Anne daughter of Sir Walter
Manning. Issue, John Hastings, who died without issue.—Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of the above John, lord Hastings and
Issabella, married Roger, lord Grey of Ruthyn. From whom,
Reginald, lord Grey, lord of Wexford, who married Mary,
daughter of John, lord Strange of Blackmore.—-Reginald, lord
Grey of Ruthyn, and lord of Wexford, married Joan, daughter
of William, lord Ashley*—Sir John Grey, K»G. died during the
life of his father; married Constance, daughter of John Holland*
duke of Exeter;—Edmond, lord Grey de Ruthyn, Hastings and
Wexford, eldest son and heir, created earl of Kent, whose descendant still enjoys the title of baroness Grey of Ruthyn. He
married Katharine, daughter of Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland.:!:
3. The third daughter, Isabella, married Gilbert, earl of Gloucester, and afterwards Richard; earl of Cornwall, king of the
Romans.§
Isabel was hiarried to Gilbert Clare, earl of Gloucester; she
had Richard de Clare^ earl of Gloucester, and the lady Anise,
countess of Averna, who was mother of Isabel, the mother of lord
Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick, in Scotland, afterwards king of
that nation.||
The county of Kilkenny was allotted to the third sister.%
Isabella, third daughter and co-heir of William de Hampsted,
* Camden. fAnthol. Hib.
J Kavanagh pedigree, 1817.
§ Mills.
II Camden. Chambers, in his History of Scotland, gives a copious ao
fount of this branch*
FAnthol. Hib.

7V

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

had Kilkenny as her share. Married first, Gilbert de Clare, eatf
of Gloucester and Hertfort; secondly. Richard Plantagenet, earl
of Cornwall, king of the Romans, and second son of king John,,
by whom she had no issue.—Issue by first husband : Richard de
Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertfort, lord of Kilkenny, married
Maud, daughter of John de Lacy, earl of Lkicoln.—Gilbert, earl
of Gloucester and Hertfort, died 1295. Married Joan, princess
of England, daughter of king Edward I. called Joan of Acre.
Issue : 1, Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, slain at Bannoekburny
1314, without issue. He married Joan, sister of Johnde Burgh,
son of Richard, earl of Ulster.—2, Elizabeth, eldest sister and
co-heir, married Theobald de Verdon, who got the honour of
Clare ; issue : Joan, daughter and co-heir, wife of Thomas, lord
Furnival, from whom the Talbots, earls of Shrewsbury and lords
of Wexford.—3, Margaret, wife of Piers Gaveston, earl of Cornwall, secondly of Hugh de Audley, earl of Gloucester, jure uxoris.—4, Elinor, wife of Hugh le Despenser, the younger, who
had Kilkenny with her, and sold it to Edmond, earl of Carriek,
ancestor to the Marquis of Ormonde.*
4. Sibilla, the fourth daughter of the earl marshal, married
William, earl Ferrers and Darby.f
Sybil, countess of Ferrars, had issue, seven daughters; the
eldest, called Agnes Vescie, mother of lord John and lord William Vescie ; the second, Isabel Basset; the third, Joan Mohun,
wife to lord John Mohun, son of lord Reginald; the fourth,.
Sybil Mohun, wife to lord Francis Mohun, lord of Midhurst; the
fifth, Eleanor Vaus, wife to the earl of Winchester; the sixth,,
Agas Mortimer, wife to lord Hugh Mortimer; the seventh, Maud
Hyme, lady of Carbry.J
The county of Kildare was given to the fourth daughter of
the earl.§
Sibilla, fourth daughter and co-heir of William de Hampsted,
whose share of Leinster was Kildare, married William de Ferrars,
earl of Derby. Issue: Agnes, wife of William de Vesey, lord
of Kildare, jure uxoris. \\
5. The fifth and youngest daughter, Eva, married William de
Breos, lord of Brecknock.^
From Eva de Breos, descended Maud, the mother of lord
Edmond Mortimer, mother of the lady Eva de Cauntelow, mother
of the lady Milsoud de Mohun, who was mother to lady Eleanor,
mother to the earl of Hereford.**
The palatinate of Leix, now part of the Queen's county, was
alloted to the fifth.ft
Eva, fifth daughter and co-heir. Her share was Leix or Dunmore in Ossory. She married William de Braose, lord of Brecknock and Leix, jure uxoris.—Issue: Maud, daughter and heir:
from this lady the royal families of Great Britain, France, Prussia,
* Kavanagh pedigree,
ji Kavanagh pedigree.

t Mills.
H Mills,

t Camden.
*• Camden.

§ Ant. Hib.
tfAnt.Hib*

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

71

Denmark, the Netherlands, Sardinia, Savaria, Saxony, and also
the imperial house of Austria, descend. She married Roger
Mortimer, lord of Wigmore and of Leix9ja?*e uxoris.*
Partition was made between the five co-heiresses at Woodstock,
on the 3rd of May, and thirty-first year of the reign of Henry
l l l . f It will be recollected, that these noble personages were
descendants of Dermot MacMorrough, last king of Leinster; who
had, also, numerous and distinguished posterity through his illegitimate son, Donnell; of which, the particulars will be found m
another part of this work.
A.D. 1226. Richard Fleming, bishop of Leighlin, died this
year, having governed the see about nine years.
He was succeeded in 1227, by William, archdeacon of Leighlin, who being elected bishop, obtained the royal assent on the
14th of November ; yet not without many applications and considerable delay, in consequence of the election having taken place
without the king's previous license. However, the informality
was at length excused, on account of the high character of the
bishop elect; but the chapter and clergy were obliged to sue out
letters patent, certifying that such a conge d'elire had issued, lest
at any future time the irregularity might be prejudicial to the prerogatives of the king or his successors. The manner of this election, (notwithstanding the endeavours made to remedy its first
illegality), afterwards proved a bad example to many chapters in
the kingdom, who, in several cases, proceeded to elect in the first
instance, and afterwards sought the necessary approval. Thus
showing the dangerous consequences attendant on the permission
of undue encroachments. In 1246, the bishop granted thirty
days' indulgence to such as would contribute to the building of St.
Paul's, London. He died in 1251, (having held the episcopal
office twenty-three years), and was buried in his own church.J
By virtue of a conge delire from the king, one Thomas was
elected by the chapter on the 22nd of April, 1252 ; and the same
year was consecrated bishop. He was the first prelate of this
see who bestowed prebends on his canons.§
It appears that Idrone, last granted to Raymond le Gross,
changed owner again in this reign; Raymond resting satisfied
probably with very extensive grants in other parts of the country ;
since enjoyed by his descendants the ancient families of Fitz-Maurice and Grace. Maud, countess of Norfolk, or perhaps her
husband, granted the barony of Idrone by certain services in fee to
the family of Carew.|| It seems, however, that the MacMorroughs, descendants of Donnell Kavanagh, remained by sufferance,
and under tribute, in the same district.^!
Towards the conclusion of the present reign, one of the Carews
founded a monastery for Carmelites, or White Friars, near the
* Kavanagh pedigree.
t Mills. Baron Finglaa informs us, that the daughters were all married
during the lifetime of their father and brothers.
% Harris's Ware, vol. i. p. 456.
§ Ibid.
|j Harris.
11 Finglafi,

7-2

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Black Castle, on the east bank of the river Barrow, at LeightifiH
bridge. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.*
King Henry III. died at London, on the 16th of November?
1272; after a protracted reign of fifty-six years;

CHAP.
Reign of Edward L

Vlh

A.D. 1272 to A.B. 1307.

EDWARD I., (from the shape of his person, styled LongS/ian/cs), succeeded his father.
We find two persons named William le Gras (or Graee) governors of Carlow, in the years 1268 and 1275. They served a&
deputies to the earls of Norfolk, lords palatine of the district.
Thomas, bishop of Leighlin, died on the 25th of April, 1275/
being twenty-three years since the period of his election.
He was followed by Nicholas Chevers, a Franciscan friar and
archdeacon of Leighlin, who was duly elected by the chapter, and
obtained the royal assent on the 16th November, 1275. He was
not, however, restored to the temporalities until the year 1277; the
reason of which delay is not exactly known. The circumstance
is conjectured to have arisen from the fact, that the see of Dublin
was then vacant and continued so for several years; so that the
bishop elect could not apply to his metropolitan for confirmation.
This cause is in some degree implied in a bull of pope John XXI J. y
dated 28th of October, 1276, and directed to John, bishop of
Clonfert* the pope's nuncio, and others : in which having noticed
the election, the vacant state of the see of Dublin, and the application of bishop Chevers to the court of Rome for confirmatian,
he authorizes his commissioners to make inquiry into the said
election, and the merits of the person elected, and to confirm him?
if no objection existed. His confirmation immediately ensued.f
A.D. 1281, The Irish were very turbulent at this period.
Mortagh MacMorrough Kavanagh and his brother Art, two o{
their leaders, were beheaded at Arklow,$
In the year 1296, William de Ross, prior of Kilmainham, was
appointed deputy on the departure of Sir John Wogan, late governor. The rule of a priest had no terrors in the eyes of the Irish ;
• Ware. Archdall. Ware mentions a nunnery founded at Graney, in 1200;
which Harris states, that he incorrectly places in the county of Kildare instead of county Carlow; but this generally accurate antiquary is here in error.
Graney is a parish in the barony of Kilkea and Moone, county Kildare—
there is no such townland or parish in the county Carlow ; and therefore Sir
James Ware is, right. Graney borders on the county Carlow, and hence,
probably, the mistake of Harris.
f Harris's Ware.
J Hanmer. Cox. Kavanagh pedigree,

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

73

wlio, finding a favourable opportunity, arising from this cause, as
well as the absence of most of the nobility and gentry, who were in
attendance on the king in Scotland, forthwith broke out into rebellion in various parts of the country. The insurgents of Slieumargy burnt Old Leighlin and other towns. This deed led to a
charter from the succeeding king, Edward II., empowering the
peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants of Leighlin to take effectual
steps for their protection against these marauders. This document
will be found in its proper place.
x\boutthe year 1300,* a preceptory was built at Ballymoon, in
our county, by the Knights Templars; who, however, did not long
enjoy the possession of it,
A.D. 1301. The Irish of Leinster were in a state of open insurrection at this period.
Felix was prior of St. Stephen's at Leighlin, but the time is not
known. In 1304, Philip was prior, and the year succeeding John
lield the office.f
On the 1st of April, 1307, Morrough Ballagh (probably one
of the Kavanaghs) was beheaded at Merton, by Sir David Caunton,
Knt.; who was afterwards hanged for it in Dublin, anno 13094
King Edward I. died on the 7th of July, 1307, in the thirty-fifth
year of his reign, and sixty-eighth of his age. During the period
he held the sceptre, the condition of Ireland was most deplorable.
Being himself actively engaged in the affairs of Great Britain, it
necessarily followed, that the government of Ireland should be entrusted to other hands. And unfortunately, the wise or benevolent
measures of the deputy of the day, met with little support from the
barons or clergy ; who seem to have indulged in the gratification
of their selfish passions, rather than in attachment to the course
which, duty dictated.

C H A P . VIII.
Reign of Edward II. A.D. 1307, to A.D. 1327.
Edward the second, son of the late king, succeeded his father*
In the year 1308, the king, having received the commands
of the pope, caused all the Knights Templars in Great Britain
mid Ireland to be made prisoners, and their property sequestrated. Being a formidable body of men, it was necessary that
much caution should be observed in the management of this
• Monast Hib. p. 36. Archdall erroneously states the place to be. Bally*
Mac William-Roe, He is also incorrect in stating it to be li near Clonegal j "
from which place it is distant at least twelve miles.
t Moaas. Hib,
f Cox.—Chron, of Ir. 1587*

74

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

affair. Accordingly, the king issued a precept to all sheriffs in
England, ordering them to cause a specified number of knights, or
persons on whom he could place reliance, to assemble at a place
named in the writ, on the Sunday next after Epiphany; and
commanding the said sheriffs not to fail in their attendance on the
occasion, in order to execute such matters as might then be communicated to them. This writ is dated at Westminster, 15th
December, and first year of the reign of Edward II.—The subsequent precept was conveyed to the sheriff, by a chaplain, who was
authorized to administer an oath to that officer, by which he was
bound to observe strict secresy as to the object of the assemblage,
until the same was carried into effect. The instructions delivered
to him were: that he should arrest all the Templars within his
district; for which purpose he had authority to command the aid of
as many of the knights, and others, as he deemed necessary. He
was further ordered, to seize all their lands, cattle, and goods, and
to cause an inventory of the same to be made in (presence of the
warden of the place, whether he were Templar or not, and in
presence of respectable persons of the neighbourhood; retaining
one copy of the inventory himself, and leaving the other in the
hands of the warden. And further, to place the said goods and
cattle in safe keeping, and to have the lands manured and cultivated
to the best advantage. He was prohibited from committing the
Templars to prison, or subjecting them to irons; but was ordered
to preserve them in safe custody in some convenient place. He
was ordered to preserve charge of the goods and chattels, till he
received the commandment of the king, as to their final disposal.
And lastly, he was to render an account of his proceedings under
the writ, to the court of Exchequer, on the morrow after thepurification. This last document was dated 20th December.*
There was likewise a writ directed to John Wogan, lord justsce
of Ireland, informing him of the proceedings adopted in England
for the apprehension of the Templars, and seizure of their goods,
and commanding him to proceed in a similar manner against those
in Ireland; but the time and place for the assembling of the sheriffs
and their followers, was left to the discretion of the said lord justice
and the treasurer of the exchequer.—It was, however, ordered
ihat the writ should be executed before the Templars could learn
the proceedings against the members of the order in England.
In pursuance of these commands, the establishments of the
knights Templars at Killarge and Ballymoon, in our county, were
suppressed.
In the fourth year of the reign of Edward II., a charter was
granted by him to the town of Old Leighlin, of which the following
is a translation. The privileges here granted were rendered imperatively necessary by the frequent incursions of the Irish, and
the unprotected state of the town.
* Chron. of Ireland,

t)¥

THE COUNTY OlT CARLOW.

il>

CHARTER GRANTED BY KING EDWARD H. TO THE BURGESSES OF
OLD LEIGHLJxY.

T H E king to his well-beloved Adam le Bretoun health.
Whereas, at the supplication of certain nobles of dur realm of
Ireland, and gentlemen of the town of Leighlin, We, for the public gdod and to resist the xvickedness of the Irish living in the
neighbourhood of Leighlin, have granted to the said meti, a nlutagiurn (i\ e. grant for building walls) for enclosing their town aforesaid—and whereas the said men have come before our beloved and
faithful (
) Wogan,* our lord justice of Ireland, on the
Lord's day next following the feast of St. Valentine the ttiartyr
last past, supplicating at his throne the aforesaid muragiutti which,
we had so granted to them, we are pleased to grant unto you who
have taken (
) a certain stone tower near the aforesaid
town, between the said town and the Irish aforesaid (
)
to complete the said tower (
) and the aforesaid
town become better fortified against the said Irish, to the great
advantage of the said town and country, and especially because
the niuragium aforesaid amounteth to so small a sum of money.
(
) time allowed them because the said town canriot
thereby be enclosed and the said tower may be erected with less
expense than the said town could be surrounded with a stone wall.
And whereas it is found by enquiry made before our lord justice
aforesaid, that it would be more for the advantage of the Whole
country aforesaid at the rate of ten marks per ann., and likewise of
the said town at forty shillings per aim. if the said mufagium were
granted to you for building the tower aforesaid, than for enclosing
the aforesaid town, if you maintain for ever three men of arms
and two hobillers for the defence of the aforesaid town and country,
as you have engaged to keep and maintain before our said lord
justice : we therefore grant unto you for the support of the aforesaid men at arms and hobillers, from the day of the completion of
these presents, for the five years next following, to enjoy in the
aforesaid town the customs hereafter recited—(then follovvs a long
enumeratidh of tolls and customs with market privileges &c.)
and therefore we permit you to exact these customs aforesaid in
the said town, as well from burgesses of the said town as from
others, to the end of the aforesaid term of years, after which period the said customs shall utterly cease and be extinct. In testimony whereof we, &c. Witness our lord justice aforesaid, in
Waterford, this 4th day of March, in the fourth year Of Our
reign, f
The unsettled state of our district, may further be collected from
•Sir John.
f 4. Mar. 1310. An. 4. Echv. II. E Rot. Par. 3, 4, Edw. II. in. 7d.
The blanks, as above, are to be found in the original document. It should
tze observed, that Sir Jolm Wogan was lord deputy at two different periods,
K

7f>

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

a patent, dated third year of the reign of Edward II., 26th
January, which notices the many robberies, depredations, <fec.
lately committed in the county of Carlow, and in order to check
same, appoints J . de Bonevill, in his majesty's castle of Carlow,
seneschal of Carlow and Kildare.
Nicholas Cherers, bishop of Leighlin, died at a very advanced
age, on the 20th of July, 1309; having directed this see for a
period of thirty-two years from the time of his restitution to the
temporalities. After his death, John Chevers, dean; and Ralph
le Brun, chancellor of Leighlin, forged various grants, to which
they affixed the episcopal seal. But the fraud was subsequently
discovered, and the delinquents underwent suitable punishment*
Maurice of Blanchvill, canon of Leighlin, being lawfully elected,
was duly confirmed on the 13th November, 1309. He governed
this see during a period of nearly eleven years, and departed this
life in the year 1320.
Miler le Poer succeeded. The king having issued his license
to the dean and chapter, they proceeded to an election, when
this individual, who held the office of chanter of Leighlin, was
the object of their choice; on the 5th November, 1326. He
was descended of a noble family. On the 29th January following,
lie was duly confirmed by his metropolitan, Alexander Bickner,
archbishop of Dublin. He was afterwards (as Friar Clynn says,)
consecrated at Waterford, on Palm-Sunday, 1321, and held the
direction of the see of Leighlin for upwards of twenty years.-)*
It appears that the noble lords who possessed the palatinate of
Carlow, having large estates in England, directed but a small
portion of their attention to the care of their Irish territory, and
did not even, in some cases, visit this country. They, for a time,
collected, in an irregular and imperfect manner, the issues and
profits of their principality, until, at length, they observed that
these revenues daily decreased in amount; and were convinced,
th,at some effectual steps must be taken to secure their rights, if the
total loss of them would be averted. But, unfortunately, the
remedy adopted proved worse than the disease. They retained
one of the JCavanaghs, as a kind of military agent, who might
employ the law of the land, or the sword, as circumstances would
require. Kavanagh was thus placed in a situation peculiarly
tempting to a man of turbulent and ambitious character ; and we
should not feel much surprise, that in about twenty years after his
appointment, (and commencement of the present reign), he seized
upon a great portion of the counties of Carlow and Wexford, of
which he declared he was the rightful owner. (7) He further assumed the title of MacMoiTough, and speedily acquired much power;
to which he added, by an alliance with the Byrnes and Tooles. Their
combined forces were shortly afterwards found sufficient to secure
a great portion of the district situate between Carlow and the Irish
channel, by which the authority of the English was much weakened
lox centuries afterwards.%
•Harris'? Ware.

t J bid,

\ Fingia^

Ofc THE COUNTY OF 0ARt,O\Y.

r?

In the sixth year of this reign, Simon Lombard and Hugh
Tallon granted to the eremites following the rule of St. Augustin,
(commonly called x\ustin Friars) a house and three acres of land in
the village of St. John, near Tullow.*
A.D. 1314. The knights hospitallers, Or of St. John, Were this
year invested with the lands of the suppressed order of Templars.
The king had before received four hundred pounds, (a large sum
in those days), being the produce of their goods.
A.D. 1315. Adam was prior of the Carmelite monastery at
Leighlin-bridge.f
The lord justice, Sir Edmund le Butler, was created earl of
Carrick, (A.D. 1316*),+ and John Fitz-Thomas was raised to the
dignity of earl of Kildare. Selden remarks, that the earl of Kildare's patent is the most ancient form of creation he had seen.
The said lord justice, earl of Carrick, defeated MacMorrough
in an engagement at Ballylethan.
About this period Edward Bruce, brother of the king of Scotland
invaded this country, and with his army passed through Castledermot and Gowran, laying waste the country in his progress.§
It is probable that the county of Carlow suffered on this occasion,
though no specific mention is made of the circumstance.
The bridge of Leighlin was built in the year 1320, by Maurice
Jake, or Jakis, canon of Kildare. || Would that we had more
deeds of this useful and praiseworthy character to record! It is the
most pleasing part of the historian's task, to hand down an account
of the actions of good men, to a posterity, who we hope are not
ungrateful.
A. D. 1323. This year Donnell, son of Arthur MacMorrough,
" a slip of the royal family,'' (as Campion calls him,) raised forces,
-and displayed his banner within two miles of the city of Dublin.
He was speedily taken prisoner by Sir Henry Traherne and Walter
de Valle, who received one hundred and ten pounds for this service.
DonneJl paid Traherne two hundred pounds sterling, to save his
life; after which, he was conveyed a prisoner to the castle of
Dublin. O'Nolan, and twenty-five of his followers, were killed on
the occasion. The O' Nolans seem to have laid claim to the barony
of Forth, in our county.**
It is worthy of note here, that Pope John XXII. relieved the
king's dominions in Ireland from the tribute of Peter-pence, which
had been enforced from the time of the conquest to the present
year.
Cox states, that the barony of Idrone, (the property of a
member of the family of Carew) was in this reign seized by one
of the Kavanaghs. But this, I think, is an error. The Kavanaghs
might, and probably did take forcible possession of a portion of
the county, as already stated; but regarding Idrone, the legal
* Ware. Arehdall.
f Monast. Hiber*
I Cox.- Marleburrough. Monast. Hib. p. 39,
f
** Campion. Camden,

J Borlase.

§ Cox»

£8

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

owner seems, on the best evidence, to have possessed it, till the
reign of Edward I I I , ; under which period we shall recur to the
subject.
We Jearn, that the sabbath was very negligently observed in
Ireland at this period ; the markets, in several places, being held
on Sunday; but, at Car low, the market was now fixed for another
day of the week.*
A.D. 1326. This year, Friar William de Tisudelm was preceptor of the establishment of knights hospitallers at Killarge, or
Killergy, in our county. And the same year, Friar William de
Fyndrum was preceptor.—Ballymoon seems to have been deserted
on the suppression already noticed*

CHAP. IX.
Reign of King Edward III. A.D. 1327, to A.D. 1377.
On the resignation of his father, Edward III. was proclaimed
King, the 25th day of January, 1327 ; being then but fifteen years
of age.t
Friar William de Wall was preceptor of Killarge at this period.^
In 1329, Donnell MacMorrough, who had been some time in
prison, contrived to make his escape, by means of a rope, conveyed
to him through the instrumentality of Adam Nangle, or Mangle;
for which deed the latter was afterwards executed. ||
A.D. 1331. The Irish of Leinster, at this period, plundered
the English and burned their churches. One outrage of the latter
description was attended with circumstances of peculiar atrocity.
The savages attacked the priest and congregation at the church of
Freineston, set fire to the building, and burned its inmates, consisting of about eighty persons. The priest, attired in his vestments, and bearing the host in his hands, attempted to escape, but
thes« barbarous assailants, with an utter, and, it would seem, extraordinary disregard of the circumstances, forced him back with their
javelins into the flames, where, with the entire congregation, he
was consumed. When the pope heard of this diabolical act, he
remitted a bull to the archbishop of Dublin, commanding him to
excommunicate the persons engaged in the affair, together with all
their adherents and followers, and to lay their lands under interdict;
with which order the archbishop immediately complied. But it
would seem, that the Irish despised the excommunication, interdict,
and chastisement of the church, again assembled in great numbers,
and invaded the county of Wexford. However, Richard White
and Richard Fitz-Henry, with the burghers of Wexford, and
'* Cox.
t Ibid,
II Campion. Cox,

% Archdall, Monas. Hib.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

79

others of th# English, attacked and defeated them; four hundred
of the Irish being killed, and many drowned in the river Slaney.*
The situation of Freinestown is not exactly denned; but from the
context and collateral circumstances, I think it not improbable, that
it may have been the present Friarstown, a townland in the county
of Carlow. For the honour of our country, we could wish that
the reader of the above horrible massacre, were not thus reminded
of a similar event, which occurred in a neighbouring county, in
the year 1798; most persons will know, that we refer to the
dreadful scenes at*the barn of Scullabogue.
The depredations of the Irish had become so formidable about
this time, that decisive steps were necessary in order to check
them. It was, however, deemed advisable, in the first instance,
to summon the prelates and nobles of most distinguished rank in
Ireland to a council, or parliament in England ; there to debate on
the meaures to be adopted. The colonists of the Irish settlements
regarded this requisition as a grievance; and in few, if any instances, complied with it. The return of the writ to the county of
Carlow says : "Having by virtue of this writ called before me the
commons of the county, they unanimonsly allege, that there is no
layman able, by reason of poverty, from the frequent robberies and
depredations of the Irish enemies, to meet our sovereign lord the
king in his parliament in England," &c.—-We further learn, that
so degrading was the situation of the government, and so weak
and defenceless were the English settlers, that they became tributary to the Irish chieftains, and paid them regularly for their proection or cessation of hostilities, what was called the Black Rent.f
In the year 1332, the castle of Clonmore was taken by the
English,J We cannot say whether this is the castle of Clonmore,
the ruins of which now stand in our county. There is certainly
no record of its erection previously to the above period.
The lord justice, Sir John Darcy, not being invested with power
sufficient to oppose the great number of Irish now in rebellion,
invited Maurice (afterwards earl of Desmond) to his assistance,
(A.D. 1332) with a promise of pecuniary remuneration from the
treasury. With this proposition, Maurice complied ; and advancing against the O'Nolans and O'Morroughs, routed them, burned
their district, and compelled them to submit and give hostages §
Finding himself unable to pay an army so numerous as that now
collected, (which amounted to ten thousand men), the lord justice
connived at the extortion of coin and livery, now first practised
by the English ; the evils of which custom are justly deplored by
all historians of the country. Sir John Davies thus alludes to this
practice: " But the most wicked and mischievous custom of all
others was that of coygne and livery, often before mentioned;
which consisted in taking man's-meat horse-meat, and money, of
all the inhabitants of the country at the will and pleasure of the
* Camden's Britannia, vol. in, p. 670. + Camd. Brit. 1 Chron. of Ir,
§ Cox.

80

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITI'Si

soldie^ who, as the phrase of Scripture is, did eat up the people
as it were bread, for that he had no other entertainment. This
extortion was originally Irish, for they used to lay bonaght* upon
the people, and never gave their soldiers any pay. But when the
English had learned it, they used it with more insolency and made
it more intolerable; for this oppression was not temporary, or
limited either to place or time : but because there was every where
a continual war, either offensive or defensive, and every lord of a
country, and every marcher made war and peace at his pleasure*
it became universal and perpetual; and was indeed the most heavy
oppression that ever was used in any Christian or heathen kingdom/'
In the year 1331, John de Kell held the rank of prior of the
Augustinian monastery near Tullow; when king Edward III. confirmed the grant, which was made by Lombard and Tallon in the
last reign +
A.D. 1335. Friar Ralph de Bradley was preceptor of Killarge
this year; which office he continued to hold in 1337. In 1339,
Friar John de Wassingle was preceptor of the same establishment 4
A.D. 1339. At this time Edward III. revoked, under his signet royal, all the franchises, liberties, and grants, which had been
made to the kingdom of Ireland, or to any individuals thereof.
This rash exercise of the prerogative justly created universal dissatisfaction, and caused great discord among the English of the
pale. They laid a remonstrance before the king, which produced
a restoration of their possessions.
In this year the Irish were again in arms. The earl of Kildare
pursued the O'Dempsys, many of whom in their flight were
drowned in the river Barrow; and the greatest booty ever seized in
the country was now (February) brought from Idrone, in the county
of Carlow, by the lord justice (the bishop of Hertford) and the
English army.§
William St. Leger succeeded to the see of Leighlin, in 1341 ;
and died at Avignon, about the beginning of May, 1348.||
Thomas of Brackenberg next filled the episcopal office of this
diocese. He was a Franciscan friar. Pope Clement VI. by abull, (dated the 18th of March, and 7th year of his pontificate),
advanced him to this dignity. He was restored to the temporalities
on the 5th of August, 1349. It is thought, that he died in July,
1360, in the eleventh year after his consecration; and that the seecontinued vacant three years.
John Young, treasurer of Leighlin, succeeded as bishop of this
see. Like his predecessor, he owed his advancement to an exercise of the pope's prerogative, and was restored to the temporalities by king Edward III., on the 21st of September, 1363.
In the twentieth year of his reign, Edward III. granted to
Thomas de Brotherton, earl of Norfolk and marshal of England,his•Billets.
. f Archdall, Monas. .Hib.
f| Harris's Ware. vol. i. p. 458.

J Ibid.

§Camd. Cox,

OV THE COUNTY OF CAR LOW,

*SI

^ncle, licence to hold the county of Catherlough and all castles,
islands, manors, towns, lands and tenements in capite.
Donald Oge MacMorrough, called prince of Leinster, was
most perfidiously murdered by his own followers, on the 5th day
of June, 1347.*
A.D. 1358. About this time, the castle of Kilbelle> in our
country, the property of Sir John de Cornwalle, knt., was destroyed by the O'Nolans and their accomplices.—Two fortalices at
Galbarrstown and Rathlyn near Leighlin, suffered the same fate at
the hands of the MacMorroughs and O'Birnes.
In the year 1359, the king ordered a proclamation to be issued
in Ireland, to the effect, that no mere Irishman should be mayor,
bailiff, or officer of any town within the English dominion, (i. e.
the pale), nor be eligible to any ecclesiastical office. In the following year, the severity of the regulation was somewhat diminished by a provision, that it should not extend to such clerks as
had preserved their loyalty, or rendered service to the king.—
Resolving to effect some reformation in the unhappy state of Ireland, Edward determined on appointing his son Lionel, duke of
Clarence, lord lieutenant; of that country. The king had, however,
sufficient sagacity to perceive, that, let the rank of the individual
be what it might, unless he had efficient and powerful support, his
mission must prove fruitless, his labours be nugatory. With a
view to the prevention of this inevitable result, he summoned all
the great proprietors of land in Ireland (among whom we find the
duchess of Norfolk) to appear in person, or by proxy, before him
and the council, in order to consult upon the defence of their possessions in Ireland. They were further required, to repair to that
kingdom in person, (or send a sufficient deputy), with all the forces
they could raise, by a certain day.
On the 8th of September, 1361, Lionel, arrived in Ireland,
with a large army. In the list of the officers who attended him,
we find the name of Sir John Carew, Banneret, who was allowed
four shillings per diem for himself, two shillings for one knight,
twelve pence each for eight esquires, and six pence a day each for
ten archers on horseback.f These allowances may seem exceedingly small to those who are unacquainted with the exact value of
money in those days; but when we inform them, that the price of
a cow was but ten groats,i <>r three shillings and four pence, they
will be of a different opinion.
The new lord deputy immediately issued a proclamation commanding all holders of land in Ireland, who might be absent from
the country, to return to it forthwith on pain of forfeiture. He
prohibited all persons of Irish birth, (without discrimination,) from
approaching his camp; but the impolicy of this decree becoming
soon apparent, from the deficiency in numbers of his army, he relaxed it soon afterwards; by which his affairs were much benefited.
* Camden. -Cox.
.•vol, u

i Chron. of Ireland, fol. 1587,—Cox, Hib. Aug,
t Cox,

82

HISTORY AN J) ANTIQUITIES

Lionel soon marched against O'Brien of Minister and defeated
him; on which occasion, he created many knights among the
English of blood and of birth.—Not long subsequently, he removed the exchequer to Carlow, and expended a sum of five
hundred pounds in walling that town.* He performed many other
acts of a beneficial character, by which the clergy and laity of the
time were so much gratified that they presented him with two years
profit of their lands and tithes, to enable him more vigorously to
prosecute the war in Ireland. Indeed one feels somewhat of satisliiction, on meeting the records of a chief governor, who seems to
have acted with judgment, energy, decision, and promptitude,
in which many of his predecessors appear to have been lamentably
deficient. But men of the high endowments of Edward III., and
of his son, are not often to be encountered.—The duke of Clarence
proceeded to England on the 22nd of April, 1364, and returned
to his government on the 8th of December following."!"
The evils of Ireland, the neglect of the English government,
the intestine feuds of the settlers, had been of long continuance;
and no individual, however gifted, could, in a short space of time,
check the current of events, or heal the disorders of the country.
In short, to such a height had the power of the Irish (MacMorrough Kavanaghs, and others) arisen, in the thirty-seventh year
of Edward III., that the more distant districts of the pale were in
some instances relinquished, and in the rest, with difficulty retained.
An order appears in our records of that year—Pro barrio amovendo
a Catherlogh usque ad Dublin—for removing the barrier from
Carlow to Dublin4 Thus the works erected by Lionel, duke of
Clarence, at Carlow, proved totally useless ; inasmuch as the retention of that place was no longer possible.
A.D. 1367. This year, being the fortieth of the king's reign, a
famous parliament was assembled at Kilkenny, by Lionel, duke of
Clarence. This distinguished personage perceived, that the lords
and gentlemen of the king's territories in many instances began to
degenerate, and adopt the Irish laws and customs ; and, in order
to remedy the disastrous consequences, already apparent, of this
inclination of the settlers, and prevent its further continuance, he
caused certain laws to be enacted, which have been since styled the
statutes of Kilkenny* W e notice this important event, as it fully
declares the state of our district at the time; on which subject,
much evidence of its unhappy circumstances has been already adduced.—" In the fortieth year of his reign," says Sir John Davies,
" king Edward held that famous parliament at Kilkenny, wherein
many notable laws were enacted, which do show and lay open (for
the law doth best discover enormities) how much the English
colonies were corrupted at that time, and do infallibly prove that
which is laid down before: that they were wholly degenerate, and
fallen away from their obedience. For first it appeareth by the
preamble of these laws, that the English of this realm, before the
* Chron. of Ir. Cox.
v. 2. p . 393,

t Borlasc,

* Groses Antiq,—> Anthol. Hib.

OP THE COUNTY i)V CARLOW,

S3

coming over of Lionel, duke of Clarence, were at that time become
mere Irish in their language, names, apparel, and all their manner
of living, and had rejected the English laws and submitted themselves to the Irish, with whom they had made many marriages and
alliances, which tended to the utter ruin and destruction of the
commonwealth."
The statutes enacted on this occasion were to the following purport : that the Brehon (or old Irish) law is an evil custom, and the
use of it be deemed treason : that marriage, nursing, and gossipred
with the Irish, be treason: that the use of Irish names, apparel, or
language, be punished with forfeiture of lands or imprisonment,
until the party give security to conform to English customs;
that the settlers should not make war upon the Irish without the
order of the state: that the English should not permit the Irish to
graze upon their land : nor present an Irishman to an ecclesiastical benefice : nor receive them into monasteries or religious houses :
nor entertain any of their minstrels, rhymers, or news-tellers: nor
cess horse or foot upon the English subject on pain of felony : and
that sheriffs might enter any liberty or franchise to apprehend felons,
or traitors : and that four wardens of the peace should be appointed
in every county, to assess every man's equal proportion of the
public charge for men and armour.—These laws may seem severe,
but we should first consider the circumstances which extorted them.
In short, the very existenoe of this country as an appendage to
the English crown, seemed the matter in question. So long as
those enactments were observed, a visible amelioration of the
country took place ; but shortly after the departure of the duke of
Clarence, an infraction of some of them, by the great lords,
(Kildare, Ormonde, and Desmond), was unceremoniously made.*
As regards the Irish, the statutes of Kilkenny were a mere
nullity ; for they were governed by their own laws till the reign of
James I.
In 1369, the rebels of Leinster were vigorously opposed by
Sir William de Windsor, lord deputy.
On the 3rd day of December, 1371, king Edward III. granted
to the prior of the Carmelite monastery at Leighlin-bridge, the
sum of ten marks yearly, for the repairing and rebuilding of their
house. In 1375, Alan was prior of this establishment. A renewal of the grant of ten marks per annum was made in 1377.f
The priory of St. Stephen, at Old Leighlin, being situated in
a depopulated and wasted country, and the prior having given
refuge and succour to the king's good subjects in this neighbourhood, and intending to pursue that laudable practice, Edward I I I .
therefore, granted them a concordat'um on the 1st of May, 1372.J
A.D. 1376. James, earl of Ormond, lord justice. During his
administration, the counties, cities, and boroughs of Ireland sent
commissioners to the king to represent the state of that kingdom,
and consult on the means of its improvement. Edward III. sub•Finglas,

t Archdall, Monas. Hib.
L

t Monas, HiK

84

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

sequently issued a writ to the lord justice and chancellor, ordering
them to levy the reasonable expenses of these commissioners on
the respective places from which they were chosen.
,( King Edward III. died at Shene in Surrey, on the 21st day of
June, 1377 ; in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and fifty-first of
his reign. He ranks among the wisest and most powerful kings
that have ruled the British dominions. His career was, generally
speaking, one of great glory and brilliancy ; but when we turn to
Ireland, we are warned, that, no unmixed eulogium can be bestowed upon his government. The details of the local history
just recounted, sufficiently evince the melancholy state of the kingdom ; while the simple fact, that the revenue derived from Ireland
did not exceed i? 10,000 per annum, more fully evidences the
feeble, ill-supported and defective condition of the king's authority
in this country.

CHAP. X .
Reign of Richard II.

A.D. 1377, to A.D. 1399.

RICHARD II,, only son of Edward, (commonly called the Black
Prince), eldest son of Edward III., was declared heir to the throne
by his grand-father. The age of the young king, (being but eleven
years), rendered assistance indispensable; the protection of the
crown and kingdom was entrusted to his uncles.
Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, was director of public affairs in
the early part of this reign; when a severe tax was levied on all Irish
absentees, except such as had reasonable cause for non-residence.
This statute was revived in 1392.
A.D. 1378. In consideration of the great labour, burden, and
expense, which the friars of the Carmelite monastery of Leighlinbridge had previously, and did at this time sustain in supporting
their house, and the bridge contiguous thereto, against the king's
enemies ; he did, on the 13th of March, in this year, grant to the
priors thereof, an annual pension of twenty marks out of the rents
of the town of Newcastle of Lyons. This grant was again confirmed by the king, February 2(Jth, 1394.*
John Young, bishop of Leighlin, expended a large sum in repairs of the episcopal houses in his manors; but in 1376, eight
years before his death, he was plundered of all his goods by the
rebels. He died towards the close of the year 1384, having
governed the see upwards of twenty-one years; during which
time he was made deputy to Alexander Balscot, bishop of Meath?
•Monas. Ilib*

OF THE COUNTY GF CARLOW.

85

treasurer of Ireland; as he had been before in the year 1366, to
John Troy, who was also treasurer of this kingdom
John Griffin was advanced from the chancellorship of Limerick
to the bishopric of Leighlin, in 1385 ; which he directed for a period
of thirteen years, and was then by the pope translated to the see
of Ossory; having been before, (viz. in 1391) made chancellor of
the exchequer by the king. He enjoyed the bishopric of Ossory
only a short time. While he held the see of Leighlin, Richard II.
issued a writ in his favour, dated the 25th August, 1389, to this
effect i that the diocese of Leighlin being so much devastated by
the Irish enemies, as to render it impossible for the bishop to reside
within it, he, therefore, granted him the village of Galroestown, in
the county of Dublin, near the marches of O'Toole, an Irish
enemy, with all its appurtenances, (being then part of the temporalities of the see of Kill aloe, and then in the king's hands, during
the vacancy by the death of the late bishop, predecessor to the
present, who is a mere Irishman, abiding among the Irish enemies,
and not amenable to law or government) ; to hold by the said bishop
of Leighlin, as long as from that cause, the said village should
continue in the king's hands. Under this custodiam he held
Galroestown until September, 1391 ; when Mathew MacCragh
was restored to the temporalities of Killaloe, having been deprived
of them upwards of two years from the time of his advancement.*
Being taunted by foreign powers with the weakness of his
authority and government in Ireland, Richard resolved to proceed
to that country, in person, and effect the complete conquest of it.
On the 2nd day of October, 1394, he landed at Waterford, with
a large military force. The Irish, unable to oppose so formidable
an army in the field, resolved on ready submission to the king.
Thomas Mowbray, earl of Nottingham, and earl marshal of
England, was, in consequence, appointed to receive their homage
and oaths of fidelity. An open field at Ballygorey, near Carlow,
was the place selected for this purpose; when Malachias O'MorToagh, Arthur Mac Morrough, Girald O'Birne, Donald O'Nolan,
and others, swore fealty before the earl marshal, laying aside their
girdles, skeins, and caps, and falling on bended knee. The
ceremony being concluded, the marshal gave each of them the
osculum pact's. In addition to the foregoing, they were bound in
great penalties, (O'Nolan, for instance, in ten thousand pounds,)
not only to continue loyal subjects, but that on a prescribed day,
they and all their followers should relinquish all the lands and
possessions held by them in Leinster into the king's hands ; and,
reserving their moveable goods, should serve him in the field against
the other rebels. In consideration of which, the king agreed to
grant them pay and pensions during life, and full possession of all
such lands as they should seize from his enemies in any other part
of the realm. A pension of eighty marcs per annum was then
betowed on Art MacMorrotigb, chief of the Kavanaghs; which
* Harris's Wart,

86

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

was continued to his family till the time of Henry VIII., although,
ft has been observed, that they performed but very few services
for it.*
Hardly, however, had the king departed from Ireland, when
the Irish threw away the mask of humility, and assumed as bold a
tone of independence as if none of the late arrangements had been
effected.
By an inquisition taken in the eighteenth year of this king, it
appears, that Sir John Carew died seized of the barony of Idrone,
anno 36 Edward III., and that, Sir Leonard Carew at his decease,
43rd year of that king, had possession of it; but that upon the
death of Sir Leonard, MacMorrough, otherwise Kavanagh, chief
of his name, possessed himself of the said barony, and (as the inquisition declares) held it manuforti, by a strong hand.f Thus
it would seem, that at this period the English land-owners were
almost totally dispossessed in our county; a circumstance which
can excite no surprise, when we consider the small share of personal attention paid by them to their estates, and the general im«
becility of the government.
It is stated by a writer in the Anthologia Hibernica,%) that in
1397, the castle of Carlow was seized by Donald Mac Art Kavanagh, chief of the Mac Morroughs ; but I cannot find this substantiated by any ancient writer.
Richard Rocomb, or, as some style him, Bokum, a Dominican
friar, was consecrated bishop of Leighlin in 1399; though Bernard
Jonghe states that he was not advanced to the see till the year 1400.
During his government, the town of Old Leighlin was inhabited
by eighty-six burgesses ; but was subsequently so much harrassed
and plundered by the Irish, that in the seventeenth century, this
flourishing town was reduced to the state of " a very sorry village,"
containing nothing worthy of notice excepting the cathedral and
episcopal house. $
Determined now to effect a perfect subjugation of the kingdom
and punish the delinquent Irish, Richard again embarked for Ireland, and landed at Waterford on the 1st of June, 1399. He
inarched to Dublin through the districts possessed by the Morroughs,
Kavanaghs, Birnes and Tools; but, his army being much distressed for provisions and means of conveyance through the uncultivated country, he performed no action worthy particular notice,
with the exception of the very useful labour of felling timber and
clearing the highways in Kavanagh's country. It is worthy of
note, that Henry, son of the duke of Lancaster, (afterwards the
distinguished Henry V.), was now knighted by Richard for his
services against the Irish.—The state of affairs in England
compelled the speedy return of the king.
Richard II. resigned the crown on Michaelmas day, 1399. j
• Cox. Hib, Ang. vol, i.
f Ware.

t Harris*! Hibemica.

• Vol. 2. p. $03*

W

TllK

COUNTY OP CAKLOW.

87

CHAP. X I .
Reign of Henry W.

A.D. 1399, to A.D. 1412.

HENRY IV., duke of Lancaster, seized upon the crown, on the
deposition of Richard I I .
In the first year of his reign, the king confirmed the annual
grant of twenty marcs which had been made to the priors of the
Carmelite monastery at Leighlin-bridge, by Richard II.*
A.D. 1407. Sir Stephen Scroope, lord deputy, accompanied
by the earl of Ormonde and others, invaded the territory of Mac
Morrough. An engagement ensued, in which the Irish had at first
the advantage, but the constancy and resolution of the English
ultimately prevailed. O'Nolan and his son, with others, were
taken prisoners, f
It is stated by Playfair, that Gerald, fifth earl of Kildare, assisted Scroope on this occasion, and that in 1408, he built the
White Cmtle in New Leighlin, or Leighlin-bridge.$ This seems
somewhat improbable, as the earls of Kildare do not appear to
have possessed property in the barony of Idrone, in which Leighlin-bridge is situate.
A.D. 1410. In a parliament which sat at Dublin in June, it was
made treason to take " coin and livery."
King Henry IV. died on the 14th March, 1412; and so impoverished were his circumstances, that his executors refused to
administer.

CHAP. XII.
Reign of Henry V. A.D. 1412 to A.D. 1422.
Henry V. succeeded his father.
The year of his accession, he confirmed the grant of twenty
marcs to the priors of the Carmelite monastery at Leighlin-bridge,
which had been allowed by Richard II. and Henry IV., and ordered, that all the arrears then due should be discharged.§
A.D. 1414. Sir John Talbot, lord Furnival, was this year appointed lord deputy, and immediately after his arrival commenced
a regular military progress through the pale. He began with the
Kavanagbe, Birnes, and others in the south, and compelled them
to sue for peace. Having, however, brought no forces with him
from England, he was not possessed of strength sufficient to make
* Monas. Hib. t Chron. of Ir. cd* i£87« I British Family Antiquity,
vol. 4. p. 8,
§ Monas, Hib.

SB

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

any approach towards a perfect conquest of the Irish; indeed, this
continued inadequacy of the military department fully accounts for
the narrow limits of the pale, and the prolonged prowess of the
Irish. That the services of the lord deputy were, under the circumstances, very considerable, may be collected from the fact, that
the lords and gentlemen of the pale caused a certificate declaratory
of his merits to be laid before the king. Nevertheless, such was
the inability of the government to maintain the military, that the
English subjects suffered more from the expenditure on their support, than they derived advantage by their services on the occasion.
For a considerable period afterwards, this circumstance continued
in operation; the extortion of coin and livery was necessarily, and
by degrees, revived; nor did the penalty of treason prevent a recurrence of the practice.*
A.D. 1419. In May, the lord lieutenant succeeded in making
prisoner of Mac Morrough, the chief captain ot his nation and of
all the Irish in Leinster.
In 1420, James, earl of Ormonde, lord lieutenant, summoned a
parliament, which met on the 7th June. It granted two subsidies
to the king, amounting to one thousand marcs. The proportion
paid by the commons of Carlow was four marcs, one shilling, and
fourpence; while the county of Louth, a district of nearly the
same extent, paid twenty-five marcs, twelve shillings and five
pence.f But the comparative peace and prosperity which attended
the latter county, will sufficiently explain the superior amount of
its contribution. Kilkenny, a much more extensive territory than
Louth, furnished but eighteen marcs, five shillings, and eleven
pence on this occasion. W e need only add, that Kilkenny was
frequently in a state of disturbance.
It appears that a prelate named Richard, bishop of LeigMin,
resigned in the year 1420 ; but whether it was Richard Rocomb,
or some other, is matter of doubt. The see continued afterwards
vacant for two years.
John Mulgan, rector of the church of Lin, in the diocese of
Meath, succeeded, in pursuance of a bull of Pope Martin V.
directed to Henry V. He was restored to the temporalities on the
1st of September, 1422. He instituted four petty canons in his
church.
Henry V , died on the 81st of August, 1422.
* Dsvieso

f Cox. Hib. Ang.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

89

CHAP. X I I I .
Reign of Henri/ VL A.D. 1422, to A.D. 1460.
Henry VL, being but nine months old, was proclaimed king^
on the death of his father.
John Mulgan, bishop of Leighlin, died in 1431, having governed the see nine years. He was buried in his own church, near
the tomb of Gurmund, the Dane.*
Thomas Fleming, bachelor of divinity, and a Franciscan friar,
was advanced to the see, by a bull from the pope, on the 18th of
April, 1432. Dowling states, that he was an Augustin canon of
St. John the Evangelist at Kilkenny, and that he died at Leighlin.
His body was conveyed to Kilkenny, as he had ordered by his
will, and interred there in a monastery of his own order. Soon
after he was raised to the bishopric, the ancient priory of St.
Stephen, at Old Leighlin, was dissolved, by authority of pope
Eugene IV., at the desire of Nicholas Cloal, dean of Leighlin,
and the lands of it annexed to the deanery. Bishop Fleming governed this see till the year 1458. r
In 1449, Richard, duke of York, was appointed lord lieutenant
of Ireland, and in J 450, he held a parliament at Dublin. The
bishop of Leighlin was fined for not attending it.
A.D. 1458. Milo Roch, or de Rupe, descended of a noble
family, obtained the rank of bishop of the diocese of Leighlin, by
a provision from the pope. We learn, that this prelate was more
attached to the study of music and poetry than accorded with his
station. Many contests arose between him and the clergy of his
diocese ; in which, however, the latter triumphed.
Henry VL was deposed in 1460.

CHAP. X I V .
Reign of Edward IV. A.D. 1460, to A.D. 1483.
Edward IV. was proclaimed king on the 4th of March, 1460.
A parliament was held at Trim in 1465. Among the statutes
there enacted are the following : That English, and Irish speaking
English, and living with the English, shall be provided with an
English bow and arrows, on pain of two pence. That the Irish
within the pale shall wear the English habit, take English names,
and swear allegiance, on pain of forfeiture of goods. That there
be a constable and butts in every town.
Ireland was much neglected by king Edward IV. He died on
the 9th April, 1483.
* Harries Ware. vol. 1*

f Ware. ArchdalL

90

HISTO R Y A \ D A STl QC IT I £.*

CHAP. XV.
Reigns of Edw. K and Richard III. A.D. 1483, to A.D. 1485,
Edward V. succeeded his father, the late king, but being'of tender
years, he was conveyed to prison, and there, it is stated, murdered
by the orders of his uncle, Richard III., who seized upon the crown.
Richard was killed at the great battle of Bosworth on the 22nd of
August, 1485.
During the three last reigns the portion of interest attached to
the general history of Ireland is but small. It will not, therefore,
be surprising, that as regards our county, we should be deficient m
memorials of any particular value.

C H A P . XVI.
Reign of Henry VII.

A.D. 1485, to A.D. 1509/

Henry VII., of the house of Lancaster, obtained the crown by
the victory of Bosworth.
Miio Roch, bishop of Leighlin, died in 1489, and was buried
in his own cathedral, before the image of St. Laserian.*
In 1490, Nicholas xMaguire was advanced to the government of
this see. He was born in Idrone, (a barony in the county of Carlow), but was educated at the university of Oxford. On his return to Ireland he was made prebendery of Hillard, or Ullard, in
the diocese of Leighlin, and stood in high esteem for his learning,
(then rather a rare attribute), as well as for his assiduity in preaching.
He was advanced to the see by a papal provision on the 30th of
April, 1490, being at the time not thirty-one years of age. He
commenced many literary works, but death prevented the completion
of any of them, except his " Chronicle/' Dowling acknowledges
the great information he received from this work in the compilation
of his annals. Bishop Maguire drew up a minute account of the
several divisions effected of the territories inherited in Ireland by
the five co-heiresses of William, earl Marshal.f
A.D. 1494. The celebrated Sir Edward Poynings, knight of
the Garter, was appointed lord deputy.
The earl of Kildare was at this time suspected of treasonable
designs ; but on investigation before the king he was acquitted.£
However, his brother James seized on the castle of Carlow.
The lord deputy, resolving to repossess so strong a position,
marched immediately against the earl's brother. After a siege of
* Harris's Ware.

t Ware. Hanmer.

t Cox.

or THE COUNTY OF CARI.OW.

91

fen days, the castle was surrendered to him.* And yet, Dennis
Taaffe, who published, what he calls, an Impartial History of
Ireland, states of Sir Edward Poynings: " He first marched
against O'Hanlon, where he was disappointed of his expected
glory. His next essay was in the county of Carlow, where he
fared no better/' But this strange disregard of truth is not very
surprising in a work, which can only be designated an ill-written,
intemperate, frantic tissue of invective and declamation ; a production, calculated to work pure unmitigated mischief among the
unthinking and ignorant.
In the same year (1494) Sir Edward Poynings called a parliament, which passed the law called Poynings Act, regulating
the mode in which new laws should be introduced. Other enactments were passed to the following purport: that the statutes
of Kilkenny be confirmed and executed, excepting those about the
Irish language, and riding on saddles : that no man take money,
Or horse money, by colour of gift, reward, or otherwise by reason
of any menace ; and, if he do, the giver is to forfeit one hundred
shillings, unless he complain seasonably, and the receiver is to
suffer the punishment appointed for the takers of coin and livery :
that the soldier shall pay three halfpence a meal, and his man a
penny, and a penny for six field-sheaves of oats, and litter accordingly ; and whoever refuses to quarter soldiers at this rate,
forfeits twelve pence each time, unless he be a man of twenty
marcs estate per annum, and excepting cities and corporate towns.
There was also an act passed in favour of the knights of St. John
of Jerusalem, (who had an establishment at Killarge or Killergy,
and probably now Killerig, in our county), enabling them to resume
all their possessions alienated by prior Keating, or his predecessor,
Thomas Talbot; to effect the restoration of their jewels and relics,
which they had pawned ; and to depose the preceptors placed by
them in the commanderies ; with an additional clause, that none
but Englishmen should hold the office of prior in future.f
A.D. 1499. A parliament this year enacted, that the nobility
should ride on saddles according to the English custom.^
Henry VII. died on the 22nd of April, 1509.

CHAP. X V I I .
Reign of Henry

VIIL

A.D. 1509, to A.D. 1547.

HENRY the eighth succeeded his father, at the age of eighteen
years.
Nicholas Maguire, bishop of Leighlin, died in J 512. His life
was written by Thomas Brown, a secular priest, who was his chaplain. He himself wrote the life of his predecessor, Milo Roch.§
• Cox.

f Ibid.

\ Ibid.
M

§ Harris's Ware,

m

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Thomas Halsay, doctor ol the civil and canon laws, (whirls
degree he obtained in a foreign university), a native of England*
but the pope's prothonotory for Ireland, succeeded Maguire. H e
was promoted to the bishopric by pope Julius II., at the instance
of Christopher Bambridge, cardinal archbishop of York, and then
resident ambassador at Rome from king Henry VIII. He assisted
at the Lateran council in the years L515 and 1516 ; his vicar general *
Charles Kavanagh, abbot of Duisk, governing the diocese in his
absence. It seems, that Halsay never saw his diocese ; having
died in England in the year 1521. On the 3rd of February in
that year Hazard, prior of Christ-church, as custos spirit ualium
of the see of Dublin, granted to Cornelius, dean, and Charles de
Wyche, chancellor of Leighlin, the spiritual jurisdiction of that
diocese during the vacancy. H e was buried in the church of the
Savoy hospital, wbere the following inscription was to be seen
on his monument: Hie jacet Thomas Halsay,
heghlinensis
Episcopus, in Basilica S. Petri Roma, Nationis
Anglican*
pcenitentiarius, summed probitatis vir; qui hoc solum post se
reltquit, vixit, dum vixit bene. " Here lieth Thomas Halsay,
bishop of Leighlin, penitentiary* to the English nation at St. Peter's
in Rome, a man of great probity, who left only this character behindhim: he lived, while he lived, well." Under the same tomb
lies the body of Gavin Douglas, bishop of Dunkeld, in Scotland,
who died of the plague in 1521.
Maurice Doran, or O'Deoran, was the next bishop of Leighlin;
he succeeded in 1523. He was either a Franciscan or Dominican
friar, was born in Leix, in the Queen's county, and was distinguished by the probity of his principles and the power of his eloquence as a preacher. His answer to those who advised him tc*
replace the expenses of his election, by the imposition of double
subsidies on his clergy, is worth recording : Se velle suos, dum
tondeantur, non deglubi—that he would have his flock shorn, not
flayed. He governed this see but one year and eight months ; at
the end of which time (in 1525) he was barbarously murdered by
his archdeacon, Maurice Kavanagh, on the nigh road, near GlenReynold. The bishop had reproved Kavanagh for insolent obstinacy and other misconduct, and threatened him with further correction ; on which the resentment of the latter led to the bloody
deed. The murderer was afterwards apprehended, and, by command of the lord deputy, Gerald Fitz-Gerald, earl of Kildare>
was hanged on a gallows erected at the spot where he had committed the atrocious act. His bowels were afterwards taken out
and burned.f
* There is a difference between a penitentiary and a confessor. The latter
is every parish priest who hears ordinary confessions ; but a penitentiary wa»
originally an officer appointed by the bishop to go through the towns and
villages of his diocese in Lent, and to absolve the weak, impotent, and poor
from such cases as were reserved only to his own absolution. The council
of Trent, sess. 14, ch. 7? less. 24, ch. 8, appointe a penitentiary in cathedral churches, with power to absolve in cases reserved to the bishop.—
Ware*
f Harris's Ware,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLoW.

93

Mathew Sanders follows in the list of bishops of this see. He
was born near Drogheda, and was consecrated bishop of Leighlin,
In 1527, in consequence of a provision of Pope Clement VIL,
dated 11th April in that year. He rebuilt the choir of the cathedral
of St. Laserian, and erected and glazed the south window.
A.D. 1524. The patent of Gerald, earl of Kildare, at this time
lord deputy, declares, that he shall support the government of
Ireland with the revenue of the country; that he shall not take
coin and livery, except at hostings ; that his soldiers shall be con«
tent with flesh, bread, and ale on flesh days, or two pence in lieu
of it, and fish or butter on fish days, or two pence in lieu of it;
the foot soldiers shall be content with three half-pence per diem in
lieu of said allowance : boys shall be content with what they can
get, or a penny instead, and each trooper shall take but twelve
sheaves of oats per night, or two pence in lieu thereof.*
About the year 1532, John Allen, formerly clerk of the council,
and then master of the rolls, was sent on a mission to the king by
the government in Ireland. H e had instructions to acquaint the
king with the weak state of the settlers, the limited dominion of the
king, and the chief causes of the unhappy circumstances of the
British interest. We shall give his representation, as it embraces
an account of the condition of our district at the time. He states to
his majesty, that, neither the English order, tongue, or habit, nor
the king's law, are used or observed beyond a distance of twenty
miles from the capital. The causes of this state of things were,
he said, as follows : the extorting of coin and livery, and accepting
of cudcliesf for remission of the punishment due to murder, assaults,
and felonies : the want of English inhabitants, such as those who
formerly had arms and servants to defend the country : the expulsion
of the English tenants, and, of late, taking the Irish instead,
who can live without bread or good victuals; but who will agree
to pay a higher rent, and become vassals,, which the English cannot
bear: the overgrown jurisdiction of the nobility : the black rent
extorted by the Irish. These were the grievances submitted by
the master of the rolls, and it is a remarkable fact, that some of
them remain grievances at the present day.
Baron Finglas, who wrote in this reign, has some observations
and suggestions on the state of the country, to which we fehall
give a place here, as they contain matter pertinent to our subject.
" The four saints, that is to say, St. Patrick, St. Colomb, S t
Braghane, and St. Moling,$ which many hundred years agone
made prophecy, that Englishmen should have conquered Ireland ;
and said, that the said Englishmen should keep their own laws,
and as soon as they should leave, and fall to Irish order, then they
should decay; the experience whereof is proved true.
" First, our sovereign lord the king should extend his gracious
* Cox.
f Cuddy is a supper, or entertainment for a night, or an
equivalent for it in money, aquavitce, or honey.
% An account of hira has been given, page 26*

94

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

power, for the reformation of Leinster, which is the key and high"
way for reformation of the remanent; and it is situated in an angle
betwixt Waterford and Dublin, wherein no mere Irishmen dwell, but
the Kavanaghs, of whom MacMorrough is captain, which cannot
make horsemen pass two hundred, and the Byrnes and Tooles,
which cannot make one hundred horsemen, besides the Irish inhabitants of their country, which be but naked men, as Kerne9
which were not in this hundred years more feeble to be conquered,
than they are now.
" To alleviate the king his charges to the reformation of Leinster,
there be divers abbeys adjoining to these Irishmen, which do give
more aid and supportation to these Irishmen, than to the king or
his subjects, part against their wills,—which may be suppressed
and given by our sovereign lord the king to young lords, knights,
and gentlemen out of England, which shall dwell upon the same>
besides other divers manors, piles, and castles upon the borders,
as hereafter following. First the king's grace to give to one good
English captain the abbey of • »
" To another the castle of Leighlin, with the lands adjoining.
To another the castle of Catherlogh, with a barony adjoining.
To another the manors of Rathville and Clonemore,* with a
barony to the same."
The baron continues his suggestions for the amelioration of the
country, in the following terms :
" The shire of Uriell (Louth) to cess forty Kerne, the counties of
Kildare and Catherlogh six score Kerne, and their captains to be
dected, and every captain to have their little guidon.f
" That no Englishman of the land wear overslip Irish coat and
hood on pain of an hundred shillings toties quoties.
" Whensoever the deputy with his guard or other retinue come
within any of the four shires,^ then the livered in the country and
in the borough towns by the king's harbinger shall be paid for every
yeoman, horse and Kerne's meal, two pence, and for every boy a
penny a meal, and for every six sheaves of oats a penny, every
peck of oats six pence, a gallon two pence; and that they shall
have such meat and drink as the husbandman hath, on whom he is
Jivered, and to take one manner of flesh sodden without waste,
neither to drivt him to buy none, or other victuals; and that they
play no riot or evil order on pain of their lives.
ie
That every husbandman having a plough within the English
pale, shall set by the year twelve ashes in the ditches and closes
of his farm, on pain of two shillings.
" That no man having a plough of his own buy any corn upon
pain of forfeit twelve pence against every peck that he so buy, until
his own corn be all spent.
* The baron makes no mention of a castle at Clonmore. He introduces
those of Carlow and Leighlin, and we may fairly infer, that did one exist at
Clonmore, he would have introduced it. The Rathville above, is the present
Rathvilly. f Ensign or standard. J Dublin, Kildare, Carlow and Louth,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

95

" That no Irish minstrels, rhymers, shannaghs, or bards, be
messengers to derive any goods of any man dwelling within the
English pale, upon pain of forfeiture of all their goods, and their
bodies to be imprisoned at the king's will.
" That no merchant buy no corn in sheaf upon pain of forfeiture
of the same.
" That no merchant's wife use any tavern of ale upon pain of
twenty shillings, toties quoties, as often as any of them do the
contrary ; but let them be occupied in making of woollen cloth and
linen.
" That no ale be sold above two pence the gallon, upon pain of
eight pence, toties quoties.
" That all borough towns have good lodging to lodge the king's
subjects therein ; and that the king's officers of the same town see
that the people be well lodged, and that they shall have victuals
plentiful for their money, and good cheap, and that they shall have
six sheaves of oats for a penny, and a peck of oats for six pence.
" That the borough towns be made sure and fast, and the customs
yearly be well bestowed upon the walls and ditches of the said
towns on their proper costs, six days in the month of March every
year from henceforward, to repair and make fast their walls and
ditches.
" That there be but one maker of aquavita (or whiskey) in every
borough town, upon pain of six shillings and eight pence, toties
guoties, as many as do the contrary."
These suggestions of the baron throw considerable light on the
state and circumstances of our district, and of the country in general, in the reign of Henry V I I I .
In 1534, Lord Thomas Fitz-Gerald and others rose in rebellion.
He had at one time in his possession six of the chief castles in the
kingdom, of which that of Carlow was one. H e was finally made
prisoner and beheaded, A.D. 1537.
A parliament was held on the 1st of May, 1537, at which the
important Act of Absentees was passed, by which Thomas Howard,
duke of Norfolk, and lord Berkeley, his co-partner, were deprived of
the county of Carlow, which they inherited from Thomas de Brotherton, to whom allusion has been already made.(8) We shall give
an abstract of this document, which closely affected the county of
Carlow. The act commences thus :*
" For as much as it is notorious and manifest, that the king's
land of Ireland heretofore being inhabited, and in due obedience
and subjection to the king's most noble progenitors, kings of England, who in those days in the right of the crown of England, had
great possessions, rents, and profits within the same land, hath
principally grown into ruin, desolation, rebellion and decay, by
occasion that great dominions, lands, and possessions, within the
same land, as well by the king's grants, as by course of inheritance,
and otherwise descended to noblemen of the realm of England, and
• Statutes at large. Vol* 1, p. 48,

m

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

especially the lands and dominions of the earldoms in Ulster and
Leinster, who having the same both they and their heirs by process
of time, demoring within the said realm of England, and not providing for the good order and surety of the same their possessions
there, in their absence and by their negligences suffered those of
the wild Irishry, being mortal and natural enemies to the kings of
England, and English dominion, to enter and hold the same without resistance, the conquest and winning whereof in the beginning,
not only cost the king's said noble progenitors charges inestimable,
but also those to whom the said land was given, then and many
years after abiding within the said land, nobly and valiantly defended
the same against all the king's said enemies, and also kept the
same in such tranquillity and good order, as the kings of England
had due subjection of the inhabitants there, the laws obeyed, and
of their revenues and regality were duly answered, as is any other
where within the realm of England, and after the gift or descent of
the said lands, possessions, and dominions, to the persons aforesaid,
they and their heirs absented themselves out of the said land of
Ireland, demoring within the realm of England, not pondering nor
regarding the preservation thereof, the towns, castles, and garrisons
appertaining to them fell into ruin and decay, and the English inhabitants there in default of defence and justice, and by compulsion
of those of the Irishry were exiled, whereby the said king's progenitors lost as well their dominion and subjection there, as also all
their revenues and profits, and the said enemies by readopting or
attaining the said lands, dominions, or possessions, were elevated
into great dominion, power, strength, and puissance, for the suppressing of the residue of the king's subjects of this land, which
they daily ever since have attempted, whereby they from time to
time usurped, and encroached upon the king's dominions, which
liath been the principal cause of the miserable estate, wherein it is
at this present time, and those lands and dominions by negligence,
and in default of the very inheritors, after this manner lost, may be
good example to the king's majesty now being, intending the reformation of the said land, to foresee and prevent, that the like shall
tiot ensue hereafter, for when the noble prince Thomas Howard,
duke of Norfolk, and the lord Berkeley, his coparcioner, claim and
tiold as their ancient inheritance, the seignories and lordships of
Catherlagh, (here other persons and their possessions are named),
every of the several lands and possessions within the said land,
which both they and their antecessors and predecessors, in semblable
wise, not regarding the defence nor good order of the same, divers
times not only have suffered the king;s enemies to encroach and
enter into their dominions and possessions; so as for the recovery
thereof, the king's highness that now is, his father and grandfather, at divers and several seasons, have been put to inestimable
charges, and the same so by them attainted, the said inheritors and
possessionem have entered again into the said lands and possessions,
taking the profits thereof for a season, without provision making
for any defence or keeping thereof in good order, but making leases

OF THE COUNTY OF CAKLOW.

m

of divers their holds and manors, to the late earl of Kildare—
(allusion is here made to Kildare's rebellion, and the expense attendant on the recovery of the castle of Carlow, and other places
from him)—and also considering that the persons aforesaid, having
heretofore the same lands and possessions at their own disposition
and order, perceived little profit thereby, and yet by their negligence
and misorder thereof, and especially with the counties of Catherlagh and Wexford, being places privileged by the king's said most
noble progenitors, that the lords thereof may keep and hold all
manor pleas with the same, by occasion and under pretence and
colour whereof, the king's laws, writs, or other processes be not
obeyed, neither any other law or justice there used or administered
for the quieting and good order of the king's subjects, inhabitants
within the same, was in default, as well thereof as of a governor
to rule, order, and guide them, the king's enemies have therein
sewadge, all murders, robberies, thefts, treasons and other
offences, remain there unpunished, the king's wards, reliefs^
escheats, and all other his profits and revenues, being withdrawn, and the service, strength, and assistance of the said subjects is greatly minished, and for these and other divers hurts
and enormities which been like to ensue to the common weal
of the said land, to the prejudice of our sovereign lord the
king and his heirs, by the misorder of :"the lands and possessions
belonging to any of the persons aforesaid, and in respect of the
inestimable charges which the king our sovereign lord hath sustained, and apparently hath occasion to sustain, for and about the
conquest and recontinuance of the same out of his enemies' possessions, by authority and reason wherof, albeit that his grace
hath lawful and sufficient right to all the said seignories, lands, and
possessions, and that if his grace would take of the inheritors and
possessionem of the same, the arrearages of the two parts of the
yearly profits thereof, by reason of their absence out of the said
land, contrary to the statutes thereof provided, the same would countervail the purchase thereof: yet for corroboration of the right and
title of our said sovereign lord the king, and his heirs which he
hath to all the said lands, dominions and possessions ; be it enacted,
established, and ordered by the king our sovereign lord, the lords
spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament
assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the king, his
heirs, and assigns, shall have, hold, and enjoy, as in the right of
the crown of England, all honours, manors, castles, seigniories,
hundreds, franchises, liberties, county palatines, jurisdictions,
annuities, knight's fees, advowsons, patronages, lands, tenements,
woods, meadows, pastures, reversions, remainders, rents services,
parsonages, vicarages, dismes, tithes, oblations, pensions, and all
and singular other possessions, hereditaments, and all other profits as
well spiritual as temporal whatsoever they be, which the said duke
and his comparcioner—(and others named)—all such right, title,
interest, use, possession, leases, rents, annuities, offices, and fees,
as they have in or to the premises or any parcel thereof, as if this;

m

HISTORY AND

AXTrQUPTfES

act had never been made." Then follows a proviso, preventing
prejudice to particular persons named ; and a clause, enacting that
obligation, & c , for the payment of rent out of the premises, be
void.—Thus was the county of Carlow drawn from the possession
of the duke of Norfolk. Great part of it was afterwards granted
to the Ormonde family, as will hereafter more fully appear.
It has frequently happened, that great events have arisen from
very trifling causes. Of this, the Act of Absentees is an instance.
Its origin is thus handed down to us. The king was about promoting
Aylmer, chief justice of the common pleas, to the rank
of lord chief justice of the king's bench, when the earl of Shrewsbury (at the request of his tenants in Waterford or Wexford) opposed the appointment, alleging, that Aylmer was a silly, frivolous
fellow, and unfit for such an office. The king on hearing this, reprimanded lord Cromwell for recommending such a coxcomb to
him. Cromwell, in reply, begged of the king to speak to Aylmer,
assuring his majesty, that he was misinformed. The king consented,
and Aylmer having appeared, he asked him the cause of the decay
of his dominions in Ireland. Aylmer answered, " that it was because the estated men, who used to reside and defend their own
estates and countenance their tenants, did now generally dwell in
England, and left Ireland a prey to the natives: but that if his
majesty would oblige the estated men to residence, or seize their
estates to his own use, he would soon find a reformation." The
king, pleased with this advice, thanked Aylmer, and assured him
the matter should be attended to in the next parliament.
At the same period the following laws were enacted : I, That the
clergy shall pay annates or first fruits ; that is, a year's profit, and
shall pay or compound before possession. 2, An act to suppress
all tributes, pensions, and Irish exactions, claimed by the Irish
from towns or persons, for protection. 3, An act for the suppression of abbeys. 4, An act for destroying the weirs on the river
Barrow, &c. 4, That no subject shall be shaved above his ears,
or wear glibs,(9) or crommeals (moustaches), or linen died in saffron, or above seven yards of linen in their shifts ; and that no
woman wear any kirtle, or coat tucked up, or embroidered, or
garnished with silk, nor laid with usker after the Irish fashion ;
and that no person wear mantles, coats, or hoods after the Irish
fashion, (except women, horse-boys, cow-boys, and soldiers, at
the rising out and hostings, all which may wear mantles); and
that every body shall endeavour to learn the English language and
conform to the English fashion, & c *
On the 12th of May, 1537, the lord deputy (Leonard, lord
Gray) attacked the Kavanaghs, and compelled MacMorrough,
their chief, to submit and give hostages.
At a parliament held on the 5th February, 1541, it was enacted, that electors in counties must have a freehold worth clear
forty shillings per annum, on pain of one hundred shillings -? that
*Cox.

« F t l l E COUNTY OF C.ARUW.

ffl

the elected in counties, cities, and towns must be resident; and
that the sheriff shall forfeit one hundred pounds if he make a
return contrary to this act, and the party returned one hundred
pounds more.
A . D . 1542.
T h e lord deputy and council established the
following temporary regulations by proclamation, on the 12th J u l y .
T h a t no horseman shall keep more garsons or boys than horses, on
pain of twenty shillings. T h a t there be no more exactions to
maintain horse, foot, or kernes, or for the purpose of waging
internal war ; and that coin and livery be no more taken, unless by
the deputy's order at a general hosting ; that, nevertheless, the captain of the county must have the usual contribution of the county,
for his own defence, and that of the public. T h a t noblemen shall
have but twenty cubits or bandies of linen in their shirts ; horsemen,
eighteen; footmen, s i x t e e n ; garsons, twelve; clowns, t e n ; and
that none of their shirts shall be dyed with saffron, on pain of
twenty shillings.
N o histrions, mummers, or players to be
permitted at Christmas, or Easter.
This year, the O'Birnes of Wicklow submitted to the lord
deputy, and covenanted to find one hundred and twenty gallowglasses (10) and their servants for three months, when the counties
of Carlow and Kildare do so.
T h e act passed in 1537 for the suppression of religious houses,
did not remain a dead letter on the statute book. T h e government
actively engaged in the work of carrying its provisions into effect.
There seem to have been but three monastic establishments in our
county at this period, viz., Killarge, Tullow, and Leighlin-bridge*
It is now for us to notice the proceedings relative to them.
Nicholas Plunket was the last commendator, or preceptor of
Killarge. An inquisition taken on the Wednesday next after the
feast of St. Brandan, 33rd king H e n r y V I I I . , finds him seized of
a castle and three messuages in Frereton,* with two messuages,
one hundred acres of arable land, and fifty-six of pasture and
underwood in Courtown, annual value, besides reprises, five
pounds sterling; one hundred and sixy acres in the said town of
Husselstown, and sixteen acres in Tullowphelim, annual value,
besides reprises, four shillings ; also the following rectories appropriated to the said preceptor, Killarge, which extendeth into
Killarge, Frereton, and Courtown of Killarge, Russelstown, Bestherestown, Curdinheth, and Ballyurayn, annual value, besides r e prises, eight pounds sterling; Kylmakhill, which extendeth into
Kylmakill, Carydagh, Castlecoyle, Grangewelt, Poleston, Ballyshordan, and Ballynewaly, annual value, besides reprises, seven
* There can be very little doubt, that this is the Freineston, at which the
priest and congregation were burned, as lately noticed; and from the subsequent details, I am quite convinced, that it is the present Friarstown, and
that Killarge (also called Killergy) is the present Killerig. Very probably,
the priest and church above alluded to, belonged to the preceptory of Killarge. The various ways of writing the name of the same place observable
in the Irish annals, leads to great confusion and obscurity, and is much %o
be regretted.
N

100

HISTORY AND ANTrqUlTlfiS

pounds sterling; also Powerston, in O'Ryan's country, annual
value, besides reprises, twenty shillings. And another inquisition
taken in March, same year, finds, that the said commendator was
seized of fourteen acres of land in Miganne; all the said lands
and rectories lie and are situated in the county of Carlow. The
estate of this establishment was granted to Sir Gerald Aylmer.*
William was the last prior of the Carmelite monastery at Leighlin-bridge. By an inquisition taken on the Friday next after the
feast of conception of the blessed Virgin, 34th king Henry VIII. r
the said William was found seized of a church and belfry, dormitory, hall, two chambers and a kitchen, with a cemetery and a
garden, containing one acre ; also twenty-four acres of pasture,
and an eel-weir in Leighlin, annual value, besides reprises, two
pounds, six shillings, and eight pence.—An inquisition, 3rd,,
Edward VI., finds, that the prior was also seized of four acres
of arable land near Clowe's orchard, in this county, annual value?
besides reprises, sixteen pence. This house seems to have been
converted to military purposes. More of it presently.
x\n inquisition taken on the Friday next after the feast of the
conception of the Virgin Mary, 34th, king Henry VIII., finds the
possessions of the friary of Tullo v/ to be as follows, viz., a church
and belfry, dormitory, hall, three chambers, a kitchen, & c , fortyfour acres of arable land of the small measure in Tullowphelim^
and sixty acres of arable in Mallardiston, all in this county, annual
value, besides reprises, twenty-six shillings and eight pence.
The estate of this establishment was granted to Thomas earl of
Ormonde, f
A.D. 1545. This year, Cahir or Charles MacArt Kavanagh
of Polmonty, and Gerald MacCahir Cavanagh of Garryhill, had
fierce contentions about their territory, A pitched battle ensued,
when one hundred on each side were killed, but Cahir MacArt
finally prevailed and secured possession of the disputed estate.
We learn, that at the close of this reign, MacMorrough was
granted compensation for his black rent in the shape of a pension
Jrom the king.:]:
King Henry V I I I . died on the 28th January, 1547, in the
thirty-eighth year of his reign and fifty-sixth of his age.

CHAP, X V I I I .
Reign of Edward VI.

A.D. 1547, to A.D. 1553.

EDWARD V I . succeeded his father; having then attained but
his tenth year. Edward Seymour, the king's maternal uncle,
(afterwards created duke of Somerset), was appointed protector.
* Ware, Archdalh

t Ibid.

} Camden's Britannia, vol. iii. p,48I>

O F THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

101

Mathew Sanders, bishop of Leighlin, died on the 24th December, 1549, and was buried in the cathedral under a marble monument. He was reckoned a promoter of the reformation, both under
Henry VIII. and Edward VI., although indebted for his advancement to the pope.
Robert Travers succeeded. He was consecrated in 1550.
In this reign Gerald, eleventh earl of Kildare, was empowered
by several commissions to preserve the peace, and govern the
counties of Carlow, Kildare, and Dublin, in the lord deputy's
absence.*
Sir Edward Bellingham was appointed lord deputy by Edward
VI. He appears to have been a man of much judgment, intelligence, and valour. He introduced several regulations for the better management of military affairs in the kingdom, and, in order
to the more prompt execution of important concerns, established
stables of horses at various places, among the rest at Leighlinbridge. Having matters to transact with the earl of Desmond,
he sent a courier to that nobleman requiring his presence; but the
earl did not attend. Bellingham, without communicating his route,
ordered an escort and rode to Leighlin-bridge. He caused the
suppressed monastery there to be surrounded with a wall, and he
erected a fort at the same place. H e had in the monastery a
stable of twenty or thirty horses. From Leighlin-bridge he proceeded to the south and took the earl of Desmond prisoner. The
eminent merits of this distinguished chief governor, did not shield
liim from calumny ; he was maligned by some members of the
council, and, in consequence, received a recal. On investigation,
Lis innocence became apparent, and it was intended to entrust the
deputyship of Ireland again into his hands ; but death frustrated
the execution of this design, f
A.D. 1549. February the 2nd. Sir William Brabazon (ancestor of the earls of Meath) was appointed lord deputy. H e
indefatigably pursued Charles Maci\rt Kavanagh, (alias MacMorrough), again in rebellion, declared him traitor and killed many of
his followers. He also burned his country, which obliged him to
snake formal submission, to renounce the name of MacMorrough,
and part with his usurped jurisdiction and territory. He received
a general pardon by letters patent, dated 25th of May, 1552. The
following noblemen were present, (4th November, 1550), when
Charles MacArt made his submission : the earls of Desmond,
Thomond, Clanrickarde, and Tyrone, lords Mountgarrett, Dunboyne, Cahir, and Ibracan.J
A.D. 1551. One of the Kavanaghs was this year executed
at Cork. It is not known for what crime he suffered.§
Edward V I . died on the 6th July, 1553.
* Playfair's Brit. Family. Antiq, vol. iv. p. 17. t Hooker,
| Cox. Hib. Ang.
§ Ibid.

Borlase.

102

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES.

CHAP. XIX.
Reign of Queen Mary, A.D. 1553, to A.D. 1558,
MARY, eldest sister of the deceased king, ascended the throne.
In 1554, Travers, bishop of Leighlin was deprived of his
gee by George Dowdal, archbishop of Armagh, William Walsh,
bishop of Meath, and Thomas Leverous, bishop of Kildare, because he was a married man. The term of his life, or the place
of his residence after deprivation, are not known; but Sir James
Ware believes, that he died in the reign of queen Mary. Thady
Dowling, chancellor of Leighlin, gives him the character of a
cruel, avaricious man, and an oppressor of his clergy.
Thomas Field, or O'Fihel, a Franciscan friar, and a native of
the county of Cork, was appointed in the place of bishop Travers
by a papal provision.
By an inquisition taken the first year of queen Mary, it was
found that, the abbey of Abbington, county Limerick, (of which
John O'Mul-Ryan was the last abbot), possessed the rectory of
Tullowphelim, in-the county of Carlow, annual value, besides
reprises, four pounds sterling, Irish money.*
On the 9th of February, 1555, Charles Mac Art Kavanagh
was created baron of Balian for life. After his death, his brother
Dermot had the same title. It is worthy of note, that Charles
MacArt was also nominated captain of his sept or nation ; thus
giving him all the ancient jurisdiction of a chieftain, after he became
lord of parliament.
The honours bestowed on the chief did not, however, ensure
the loyalty of the clan. In May, the Kavanaghs, and others,
invaded the northern part of the county of Dublin; but the citizens of the metropolis, after great slaughter of the rebels, drove
one hundred and forty of them to Powerscourt castle, which they
made an attempt to defend. On the appearance, however, of
Sir George Stanley, with a military force, they surrendered at
discretion, when seventy-five of them were hanged in Dublin,
and the remainder pardoned, f
On the 19th June, 1557, a parliament enacted, that nobody
shall make aquavits (whiskey) without licence under the great
seal, excepting noblemen, gentlemen, and freemen of towns that
send members to parliament. This was designed to spare corn,
and prevent dearth.
Queen Mary died on the 17th November, 1558,
* Archdal), Monast. Ilib, p. 809.

t CQX,

*» F TIIK C 0 U X T V O F C A R L 0 W ,
"

J 03

CHAP. XX.
Reign of Queen Elizabeth, A D. 1558, to A.D. 1603.
Elizabeth, only surviving child of Henry VIII., succeeded her
sister, in the twenty-fifth year of her age.
By an inquisition taken at Carlow, in the month of March, and
fifth year of the present reign, it was found, that Gerald, earl of
Kildare, father of Gerald then earl, was seized of several messuages,
lands, and hereditaments, viz., town and lands of Drorneroo,
Powerstown, Gurtyne, and Garrane, vulgarly called the land of
Theobald Butler ; Mirtellestown, &c. All these premises reverted
to the hands of Henry VIII.
A.D. 1565. Sir Henry Sydney, K.G., appointed lord deputy.
The state of the country is represented as most deplorable at this
time. The people reduced to the greatest poverty, the soldiery
licentious and unpaid; the Kavanaghs, Birnes, and others, domineering and devastating at will. In short, it appears, that at this
time neither life nor property of the well-disposed subject was
secure.*
At this period, Gerald, eleventh earl of Kildare, was joined in
commission with the earl of Ormonde, Field, bishop of Leighlin,
and others, for the reformation of religion.
Thomas Field, bishop of Leighlin, died the Friday before PalmSunday, 1567 ; having governed this see twelve years.—He was
buried in the same tomb with his predecessor Sanders.f
Daniel or Donald Kavanagh was advanced to the see in the
year of the decease of bishop Field. The letters patent by which
he was appointed bore date the 7th May, and ninth year of the
reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was consecrated at St. Patrick's,
cathedral, by Hugh Curwin, archbishop of Dublin. He made
long leases of many parts of his diocese, reserving only small rents
to his successors ; and died on the 4th April, 1587. On the 6th
June following the death of this prelate, the queen granted the see
of Leighlin in com?nendam, during the vacancy, to Peter Corse,
archdeacon of Leighlin.
The diocese remained vacant for two years after the death of
bishop Kavanagh, being reduced by him so much in income as to
be no longer an object worthy of acquisition. At length, in April,
1589, Richard Meredyth, a native of Wales, and master of arts
in the university of Oxford, was appointed to the see of Leighlin.
He was at the time dean of St. Patrick's, and rector of Loughrea,
in the diocese of Clonfert. The queen's letters patent for his promotion, and for holding the deanery of St. Patrick's in commendatn, bear date the 30th April, and thirty-first year of her reign ;
the poverty of the see being the cause of annexing the deanery to
it. He was chaplain to Sir John Perot, lord deputy of Ireland;
* Hooker, f Harris* War*,

104

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

on whose account he suffered greatly. In 1589, the year of hk
advancement, he was committed prisoner to the tower of London,
and fined about the same time 2000/. in the star chamber; but the
particulars of his offence are not known. In 1592, he assigned
to the queen three hundred marcs* per annum out of the issues of
his deanery, for ten years, in commutation of the fine. He repaired the episcopal house of Leighlin; and died in Dublin, on the
3rd of August, 1597; where he was buried on the north side of
St. Patrick's church, under a marble monument, near the steeple.
This monument being decayed by time, three of his descendants,
viz., Richard Meredyth of Shrowland, in the county of Kildare,
Esq. ; Charles Meredyth, dean of x\rdfert, and Arthur Francis
Meredyth, of Dollardstown, in the county of Meath, in the year
1734, erected a new monument to his memory, at their joint expense. (11)
Another vacancy of nearly three years occurred on the death of
the preceding bishop. In the year 1600, Robert Grave, dean of
Cork, was advanced to the bishoprics of Leighlin and Ferns, the
latter being at that time unfilled. Bishop Grave was, in the year of
his elevation, shipwrecked in the harbour of Dublin. From this
period, the sees of Leighlin and Ferns have been always conferred
on the same person. A step suggested, no doubt, by the detriment
lately done to the revenues of the former diocese.
Nicholas Stafford, chancellor of Ferns, succeeded Grave in
both bishoprics, by letters patent, dated the 19th July, in the
forty-third year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was consecrated on the 18th of March, 1600, and the same day restored
to the temporalities.
A.D. 1567. This year, Sir Peter Carew, of Mohonesotreie, in
the county of Devon, knight, descended of a noble family, laid
claim to large estates in Ireland. The ancestors of this personage
had been barons of Carew in England; marquises of Cork,
barons of Idrone, and lords of Maston Twete, and of other seigniories in Ireland. Having ascertained the strength and justice of
his title to the property as above stated, he acquainted the queen
and council with his claim, and prayed that he might have their
permission to follow and recover the same. His request was
granted, together with letters from her majesty and the council to
the authorities in Ireland, desiring them to aid and assist him, by
access to the records in Dublin castle, and every other means within
their power. Sir Peter Carew then repaired to Ireland, and after
satisfactory search, exhibited a statement of his claim, (before the
lord deputy and council,) to the barony of Idrone, then in the
possession of five of the Kavanaghs, who pretended a right to it,
derived from their ancestors both before and since the conquest.
The case was fully examined by lord chancellor Weston, the three
chief judges, and several others of the council, when a decree
* The value of a marc, or mark, was two-thirds of a pound sterling—
thirteen shillings and four pence.

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLGW,

105

passed in favour of Sir Peter Carew; not merely upon evidence of
the inquisition taken 18th Richard II. (already noticed), but upon
several other records, by which it was fully manifest, that the
Carews answered in the court of exchequer for the rents and royal
services due for the said barony, till they were dispossessed in time
of common rebellion by the MacMorroughs alias Kavanaghs, who
pretended a title to it by descent from Dermot MacMorrough, last
king of Leinster; of which title they offered no proof. The decree, indeed, observes, that such pretended title could not be true;
inasmuch as Dermot had but one daughter and heir, who was
married to Strongbow, of whom the said Kavanaghs were not descendants.*
A.D. 1568. This year, Sir Edmund Butler, seneschal to his
brother, the earl of Ormonde, joined the earl of Desmond and
others in rebellion. He was urged to this course by the appointment of a commission to make inquiry concerning several illegal
acts charged against him, and partly from attachment to the Irish,
and to the Roman Catholic cause. The lord deputy proclaimed
him and his confederates, traitors, and transmitted orders to Sir
Peter Carew, knt.,(then resident at his castle of Leighlin-bridge,
of which he was governor), to march against the rebels. Sir
Peter promptly obeyed, and first assaulted the castle of Cloghgrenan, in our county, (belonging at that time to Sir Edmund
Butler), which he speedily seized, and distributed the booty, there
found, to his soldiers. He then marched to Kilkenny, attacked
a body of two thousand rebels, killed four hundred of them, and
thus concluded the war there. He was assisted in these proceedings by Captain Henry Davells, to whom we shall again have occasion to make allusion.
The Kavanaghs resident on the boundaries of Sir Peter Carew's
district were united with the Butlers in this rebellion; but so completely were they harassed by this able and active commander,
that they were reduced to submit themselves at discretion to her
majesty's mercy, and give hostages for their future peaceable
conduct.*}*
In 1569, Sir Edmund Butler of Cloghgrenan obtained pardon
from the lord deputy, through the intercession of his brother, the
earl of Ormonde. It appears, however, that considerable obstruction was thrown in the way of this amnesty, by the choleric temper and violent demeanour of Sir Edmund himself. For, when
brought before the lord deputy, (on the 16th October), he cast
many reflections on that personage, charging him with partiality,
with refusing justice, and, in short, attributing the late rebellion to
his misgovernment. As might be expected, this language led to
his committal as a prisoner in the castle of Dublin; from which,
however, he shortly afterwards effected his escape, by means of
a small rope, which unfortunately broke when he was three yards
from the ground. So much disabled was Sir Edmund by the fall,
* Hooker, Harris,

f Hooker.

106

HISTORY AX0

AKTiqVlTiFS

that he could proceed but a short distance, and was obliged to remain all the ensuing night immersed to his chin in water, in order
to elude his pursuers.* I n about three month s afterwards, theearl
of Ormonde again brought him, and the rest of his brothers,
before the lord deputy and council at Dublin, when they were all
pardoned after a brief confinement. This clemency was owing to
the favourable feeling entertained towards the earl by the government, and perhaps in some degree to the partiality of the queen,
who by her mother was related to the Butler family, and frequently
boasted of the loyalty of that noble house.
A . D . 1571. Sir William Fitz-William was appointed lord deputy this year. H e framed many salutary regulations for the
government of the country ; which not being relished by the Irish,
they again " b e g a n , " as Hooker says, " t o play their pagents.^
And first in this insurrectionary movement, was Bryan MacCahir
Kavanagh, of Knocking, in the county of Carlow, who, having,
as he stated, suffered certain injuries from Robert Browne, of
Malkenram, immediately commenced a series of tyrannical acts,
outrages, and devastations in the country ; among the rest, several
towns were burned by him. Robert Browne, it seems, lost his
life. T h e gentlemen of the county of Wexford, being grieved
at the death of Browne, and Sir Nicholas Devereux, knight, his
uncle, feeling particularly indignant at this circumstance, they all
rose in arms against the Kavanaghs, and collected as great a force
as lay within their power. T h e same was done by Bryan Mac
Cahir, and thus the country was reduced to a state of ferment and
insecurity, to which no issue appeared but a pitched battle. A n
engagement, in effect, soon afterwards occurred; when Bryan
MacCahir, with fewer numbers, contrived, by superior skill and
generalship, to overthrow his opponents. Thirty county of W e x ford gentlemen of rank were, on this occasion, killed. An Englishman of rank, afterwards seneschal of Wexford, narrowly escaped
by mounting a horse behind another man. T h e Wexford gentry
made some subsequent efforts at retaliation, but, by degrees the
difference died away.
About two years afterwards, Bryan MacCahir made humble
suit to the lord deputy for pardon, submitted himself fully, and
confessed in writing the disorders he had caused, and the outrage*
he had committed : adding, however, that the quarrel was not caused
or commenced by him. Pardon was granted to him by the governm e n t ; and his subsequent peaceable and proper conduct fully
manifested that it was not improperly bestow r ed. Bryan MacCahir
was son of Charles, the son of Arthur, which Arthur was by king
Henry V I I I . made a baron for the term of his life.f H e was a man
of great power in the counties of Carlow and Wexford.
The
said Bryan MacCahir was a younger son of Charles, but distinguished for his superior judgment and bravery; so much so, that
although there were many able men in the sept of Kavanagh ?
• Cox. Hib. Ang. vol. i. p. 335.

f Hooker, Chron. of lr 4

OF THE COUNTY OF C A R L O S .

107

none of them could claim equality with him. He thus became a
person of great power and influence in Leinster. He afterwards
attached himself to Sir Peter Carew, proprietor of the barony of
1 drone, with whom he never broke his promise, but to whom he was
of much service, both in matters of counsel, and subsequent execution in that part of the country. His friendship towards Sir Peter
seems to have been ardent and sincere; as we learn, that on his
death Bryan pined away and died.*
On the 27th November, 1575, Sir Peter Carew, knight, departed this life. From his close connection with our county, and
residence in it, any particulars relating to him, or his proceedings,
must be interesting and appropriate. Hooker, an agent of Sir
Peter, writes as follows : " This foresaid Sir Peter was of stature
mean, but very strongly and well compacted; of complexion
choleric, from his childhood upwards bent and given to an honest
disposition, and in his tender years, he served under and was page
to the prince of Orange beyond the seas, and by that means had
the greater delight and skill in martial aifairs, wherein he had good
knowledge, as did well appear in the manifold services he did
under king Henry VIII., king Edward VJ., and queen Elizabeth,
in sundry places beyond as also on this side the seas. He was in
his younger years a great traveller, and had been at Constantinople
in the Turk's court, at Vienna in the emperor's palace, at Venice,
and in the French king's court, and in the houses of the most of
all Christian princes ; in every of which places he left some tokens
of his value. He wras blessed of God with many singular good
gifts, as well of the mind as of the body, being virtuously disposed even from his very infancy, sincere in religion (and for which
he was partly an exiled man in the Marian days), dutiful to his
prince, and faithful to his country, upright in justice, politic in
government, and valiant in arms, skilful in the Italian and French
tongues, and a great student in such books as these tongues did
yield ; and by that means some knowledge joined with his pregnancy of wit, he would discourse very substantially in any matter
concerning policy or religion, peace or wars ; good to every man,
hurtful to no man; bountiful and liberal, abhorring covetousness
and whoredom: a great housekeeper, and of great hospitality.
And if any fault were in him, it was rather of too much spending,
than in reasonable saving ; he would be soon warm, but without
gall, and against his enemy most stout and valiant: finally such
was his upright dealing, honest conversation, and zeal to the
commonwealth, as no man was more honoured nor universally beloved than was he.
Ct
Being put once in possession, (of Idrone), he dealt in such
good order with them, (the Kavanaghs), and s© honourably used
himself, that they all voluntarily yielded up their lands, and submitted themselves to his devotion ; and finding him to be a very
rare man m many and sundry respects, as of the like they had not
* Hooker.
o

108

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

heard nor known, they much rejoiced of him, and counted themselves happy and blest to be under his government. A t his first
coming, he resumed the whole barony into his own hands, and
thereof he gave some pieces in freehold, to such gentlemen as he
thought good ; and for the residue every of them what he had
before, he took it again under writing by lease. H e divided the
barony into certain manors and lordships, and in every one he did
erect a court-baron, and there all matters in variance between them
w e r e ended and determined after the English manner, according to
justice and truth. H e would not suiFer any wrong to be done unto
them, neither would he bear with any of them doing wrong.
T h e i r complaints he would hear, and with indifference he would
determine them : he dwelled among them, and kept a very liberal
and bountiful house, and such hospitality as had not been before
known among them ; and for which he was marvellously beloved,
and his fame spread throughout that land.
" H e kept continually of his own private family, above or near one
hundred persons in house, he had always in readiness forty horsemen,
well appointed beside footmen, and commonly one hundred kerns, and
all the country at commandment; by which means he chased and pursued such as lay upon the frontiers of his country, that they if any
had offended, would come and submit themselves simply to his s w a y :
and the residue willing to serve him at all needs. If any nobleman or others did pass by his house, there he first stayed and was
entertained according to his calling, for his cellar door was never
shut, and his buttery always open, to all comers of any credit.
If any garrison either came to assist and attend him, or passed
through his country, he gave them entertainment, and victualled
them all at his own charges, and paid ready money both for it, and
for all things taken of the country; for without present payment
he would have nothing: which was a rare thing and not heard of
in that land. And as concerning her majesty's service, it was so
honourable for her highness, and so profitable to the country, and
accomplished with such a disposition and good will, as all and
every the governors in his time thought themselves happy to be
assisted with such a man. In matters of counsel he was very grave
and considerate, in matters of policy very wise and circumspect,
and in martial affairs very valiant and noble, and in all of great
knowledge and experience : in every of which (as occasion served)
his service was ready and at-commandment, so long as his abode
was in that land.
" T h e fame and report of this noble gentleman, for his wisdom,
valiantness, experience, uprightness, housekeeping, bountifulness,
liberality, and his just dealings with every man, were spread throughout that nation, and he favoured and beloved of all m e n . " T h e
holders of the lands in Munster, claimed by him, offered voluntarily
to relinquish them into his hands, and become his tenants ; his agent
had therefore prepared a house in Kinsale and another in Cork
for his reception. W h e n , Hooker continues, " the said Sir Peter
did set the house of Leighlin to his kinsman and cousin Peter
Carewj who afterwards was his heir and prepared his ship to

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

109

pass himself with his household stuff to Cork. And being in
readiness for the same, it pleased God to call him to another passage; for falling sick at the town of Ross, he died, and was
buried very honourably and in a warlike manner at Waterford, the
15th December (1575) in the cathedral church, with all such ensigns of honour as to his degree appertained, there being then
present, Sir Henry Sydney, lord deputy, and the council. And
thus much concerning that worthy knight, Sir Peter Carew."
It is worthy of note, that much contention had subsisted between
the towns of Waterford and Ross regarding their respective boundaries on the river Barrow. The people of Ross claimed privileges on that river, as a gift and grant of Hugh le Bigod, who
married the eldest daughter of William, earl Marshal, and in her
right was lord of Ross and of the river Barrow. Inquisitions
were made on this matter in the reigns of Edward III. and
Richard IL9 and afterwards a verdict was found for Waterford by
a sworn jury of six knights and eighteen esquires.
In the year 1577, Rory Oge O'Moore, a chieftain of the
Queen's county, rose in rebellion; and together with other depredations, burned part of the town of Leighlin-bridge. He was not,
however, to remain unopposed in his career at this place; for
George Carew, relative of the late Sir Peter, and then constable of the fort and town, though having but the very slender force
of seven horse, charged the rebels, who numbered two hundred
and forty. He, however, made this sally at night; and such was
the energy of the assailants and the surprise of the Irish, that
some of them were killed, and the remainder fled. But having
discovered the extremely small force of Carew's party, they in
turn became the assailants, and pursued his men to the gates of
Leighlin-bridge castle. Some of them even penetrated within the
walls, but by the undaunted and continued bravery of the garrison
were expelled. Captain Carew had two men and one horse killed,
and every man of his party was wounded. The rebels lost sixteen
men, among whom was one of their leaders; which so completely
discomfited them, that they retired, leaving one half of the town
uninjured.*
Rory Oge shortly after took Captain Harrington and iUexander
Cosbie prisoners. The lord deputy immediately planned means
for their deliverance, but before they were fully perfected, Robert
Harpoole, constable of Carlow, resolved on making O'Moore
prisoner. He had previously learned his haunts, and, accompanied by Captain Furse and fifty of his men, together with Lieutenant Parker, he marched in the night to the spot where Rory lay,
and surrounded the house. O'Moore hearing the bustle created
by the arrival of his pursuers, and suspecting the worst, resolved
on despatching his captives, Harrington and Cosbie, and with that
view made his way in the dark to where they lay and stabbed
* Hooker. Mr. Brewer \& clearly in error, where he states, that Rory
took the castle and burned the town of Leighlm,

110

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Harrington several times, but did not wound him mortally. Harpoole had by this time broken open the door, where he captured all
persons found within the house: but the chief object of their search
O'Moore, contrived to escape. Labouring under vexation for the
Joss of his prisoners, and thirsting for revenge, Rory Oge repaired
with some forces early on a subsequent morning, to Carlow, where
he burned some haggards of corn and houses, after which he retired. Constable Harpoole, on learning this audacious attack,
forthwith pursued O' Moore with ten or twelve horses which he
had in readiness. He overtook the retreating Irish at a ford not
far distant, and killed sixteen or seventeen of them ; their leaders
having had a narrow escape. (12) This bold rebel was finally
taken and executed in the following year.
A.D. 1578. One Thomas Stukeley, an Englishman, was
commissioned by the pope to invade the territories of queen Elizabeth. His first essay was to be made in Ireland. He was created
by his holiness, a knight, baron of Idrone and Ross, viscount of
Morrough and Kinsellagh, earl of Carlow and Wexford, marquis
of Leinster, and general of the most holy father, Gregory .VII.
The career of this individual, of many spurious titles, was very
brief and very inglorious.
The Kavanaghs, O'Birns, and other septs in Leinster were
now subjugated by the excellent chief governor, Sir Henry Sydney,
and compelled to swear allegiance.
Respecting the O'Rians, or O'Ryans, Hooker writes as follows :
" I find it to be noted of the O'Rians, who are now (reign of
queen Elizabeth) dwelling in the barony of Idrone, and had a
seat there by gift of the Kavanaghs, but since resisting against
them and denying to pay their accustomable cheverie, yielded
themselves unto the earl of Ormonde, paying unto him a certain
black rent to be their defender against the said Kavanaghs; but
in right they are tenants to the barons of Idrone/'*
In 1579, Captain Henry Da veils was murdered by the rebellious
John of Desmond, the earl's brother. He served with Sir Peter
Carew, as already noticed, and was also actively engaged under
Sir Nicholas Heme, knight, constable of Leighlin, and seneschal of Wexford. In which posts he acquitted himself most
creditably.-]This year Sir William Drury, lord deputy, marched against
the earl of Desmond, accompanied by Sir Nicholas Bagenal,
knight marshal, and several other men of rank. At this time a
force of six hundred men landed at Waterford, under the command of Captains Peter and George Carew. The honour of
knighthood was now conferred on the former by the lord deputy.J
In August, 1580, the lord deputy, (lord Gray, baron of Wilton,
K.G.) entered the defiles of the county of Wicklow and attacked
the O'Birnes and others at Glendalough. He sustained a complete defeat; as might, indeed, be anticipated from the temerity of
*Notes to Giral, Cambren,

f Hooker.

i Ibid.

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

Ill

the undertaking; the Irish having an immense advantage in point
of situation and intimate knowledge of the country. Sir Peter
Carew and Sir Henry Bagenal were chief commanders of the
English. The former, unfortunately, was slain. " Sir Peter,
says Hooker, " was very well armed, and with running in his
armour, which he could not put off, he was half smothered and
enforced to lie down : whom when the rebels had taken, they disarmed him and the most part would have saved him, and made
request for him, they thinking that more profit would grow among
them by his life than benefit by his death. Notwithstanding, one
villain most butcherly, as soon as he was disarmed, with his sword
slaughtered and killed him; who in time after was also killed.
Before the entry into this service, James Wingfield being acquainted
with this kind of bold and rash hardiness, and foreseeing the evil
success which was feared would ensue, persuaded with his two
nephews, Sir Peter and Captain George Carew, to stay and to
forbear to adventure into the woods. But Sir Peter could not listen
thereunto, nor be persuaded; but would needs go in. His brother
would have done the like, but his uncle perforce kept him, saying;
if I lose one, yet I will keep the other; and so by that means he
was by God's goodness saved and preserved.''—Thus died Sir
Peter Carew, proprietor of the barony of Idrone, when we presume the estate descended to his brother, Captain George Carew.
The Spaniards who invaded Ireland were defeated this year; but
at the same time James Eustace, viscount Baltinglass, together
with the Kavanaghs, O'Birnes, and others, rose in open rebellion.
Lord Baltinglass was shortly afterwards defeated, and obliged to
leave the country. He died in Spain.
In 1584, Sir John Perot, Knt., was lord deputy. At this
period Marshal Bagenal was a member of the privy council.
A.D. 1587. The Kavanaghs, who had murdered Sir Dudley
Bagenal (probably in revenge for an inroad made on their territories
by Sir Nicholas Bagenal in the early part of this reign*), and one
Heron (perhaps the constable of Leighlin lately mentioned), now
came forward and alleging many plausible pretences for their insurrectionary proceedings, formally submitted and craved pardon,
which was granted to them.t
The pope at this period, and, indeed, throughout the whole
course of the reign of queen Elizabeth, intermeddled very much
in the aifairs of Ireland; instigated by hatred of the " heretical"
queen, encouraged by the blind attachment of the ignorant Irish to
the Romish religion, and resting, no doubt, assured of the truth of
the old adage:
" He that will England win, must with Ireland first begin."J
Nor was he feebly seconded by the Irish chieftains, who maintained
one continued series of turbulence and rebellion, with occasional
feigned submission, during the latter part of the sixteenth century.
About 1590, we learn, that Jhe Leinster Irish began to gather
* Brewer*

f Cox. Hib, Ang. vol, 1,

% Moryson,

112
eat strength.

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Donnell Spaniagh

(or the Spaniard) of th@

who
our county,
Eavanaghs, were resided at the castle of Clonmullin itin might have
and others,
not effectually subjugated when
been done with facility; and, consequently, became most formidable
from recruited strength and resources. In September, 1590, such
was their prowess, and such their audacity, that they made prey of
the entire country from the borders of Wexford to the gates of
Dublin. Feagh Mac Hugh, chief of the O'Birnes, was joined
with Kavanagh in the prosecution of this predatory warfare. They
now demanded a restoration of their ancient titles of O and Mac,
together with certain lands to which they asserted the right of
ownership. The government had not strength sufficient to make
any effectual effort towards checking their proceedings; this task
was reserved to the celebrated lord Mountjoy, who arrived as lord
deputy a few years afterwards.*
On the 15th of April, 1598, the unhappy earl of Essex was
sworn lord lieutenant. From a statement laid before him by the
council, it appeared, that the county of Carlow was laid completely waste, and that the Kavanaghs were in open rebellion.
The queen's wardens, however, held possession of the castles of
Carlow and Leighlin-bridge, and six castles belonging to the earl
of Ormonde were garrisoned for her majesty.f The force of the
rebels (Kavanaghs, under Donnell Spaniag/i, and others) in the
counties of Carlow and Wexford, now numbered seven hundred
and fifty foot and fifty horse. £
Sir Charles Blount, lord Mountjoy, K.G., arrived in Ireland as
lord lieutenant, on the 24th February, 1600.§ At the time of his
accession to this office, it was found that the horse of the Carlow
and Wexford rebels had increased to one hundred.
Sir Oliver Lambert now marched into Donnell Spaniagh's
country, where he took one thousand cows, five hundred garrans,||
and a great quantity of sheep. H e besides killed twenty of Kavanagh's followers who opposed his entry, and many more who
maintained a sort of irregular action during the day and part of the
night.
The lord deputy took Phelim Mac Hugh O'Birne's wife and son
prisoners, and stationed a strong garrison on the east and west of
his district. The former at Wicklow, the latter at Tullow.
On the 23rd of April, 1601, lord Mountjoy celebrated St.
George's day with great pomp and magnificence. He assumed
kingly state on this occasion, and was waited on by the colonels
and captains of his army. Very probably, motives of policy partly
led to this unusual display ; for Donnell Spam'agk, Phelim Mac
Hugh, and other rebel chieftains having previously submitted, were
* Moryson.
t Cloghgrenan, Clonmore, and Tullow were, no doubt,
three of these castles.
X Moryson.
§ Borlase.
|j Garran is an Erse word ; still retained in Scotland, says Dr. Johnson. It
means a strong or hackney horse : see Shaw's Gaelic dictionary. TODD.—
The phrase is now used in Ireland to imply, a broken down, or valueless
horse.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

113

invited to be present at the feast on this occasion. They were entertained with much kindness by the lord lieutenant, who assured
them, that as he had been a stern opponent when they were in rebellion, so now, when they had returned to their duty as good
subjects, he would be their mediator to the queen. The former
vigorous proceedings of Mountjoy, combined with his present
conciliatory demeanour, and the splendour of his court, made a
strong impression on the minds of the Irish chieftains, and tended
much to produce their subsequent obedience.*
A.D. 1601. The Kavanaghs afterwards raised twelve horse and
thirty kernes for the service of her majesty ; all the Irish subjects
being required to furnish a supply in order to prosecute the war
against O'Neill, earl of Tyrone.
On the 3rd September, 1601, the lord lieutenant and council
addressed a letter to the lords in England, in which they entered
into an explanation of the causes which produced a yearly expenditure of more than six thousand pounds, sterling; it being the sum
allocated for extraordinaries in Ireland. They stated, that this
sum was much too small for the transportation of victuals, carriage
of munition, repairing of castles, houses, bridges, &c.; in which
last particulars, they had not been able to properly repair the castles
and bridges of Carlow, Leighlin, and other places ; " being,"
they said, " of great consequence to curb the traitors, and assure
the subjects, and the decay whereof would give the rebels free
passage into many countries, besides our dishonour to neglect those
places, which the wisdom of former times with great policy planted;
the great charge of repairing whereof appeared by the transmitted
certificates of commissioners appointed to view those places. And
for these reasons they besought her majesty's warrant, to leave
this charge to their direction for a time, without any limitation,
promising not to enlarge the same in any thing, which might be
spared, without apparent prejudice to her service, and giving their
opinion, that in this time of the new coin, these places might be
repaired with small charge."
Lord Mountjoy wrote from Kilkenny to Sir Robert Cecil, secretary of state. From this letter, bearing date the 14th September,
1601, the following is an extract:
" Myself purpose to return presently to Carlow, whether
I will draw as many of the forces as I can, to employ them in the
mean time, and to be ready to answer such occasions as shall fall
out in Munster, that being as things stand, the place best to give
directions to all parts, and to assure the most dangerous."
His lordship accordingly returned to Carlow, and made such a
disposition of the troops as he deemed expedient for the security
of the surrounding districts. He then wrote to the lord president
of Munster, Sir George Carew,t appointing to meet him at Kil* Moryson.
t Probably the captain George Carew, who has been lately noticed, and
who perhaps at thin time held the barony of Jdrone. Of this personage,
Harris gives the following account; _ He wag constituted lord president of
*
'

HISTORY AND

114

ANTIQUITIES

kenny. In a few days afterwards, hearing that the lord president
was on his j o u r n e y , he departed from Carlow, and met him at
Leighlin-bridge, from whence they rode together to Kilkenny.
In 1602, lord Mountjoy wrote to the lords in England as
follows :
" I undertook with an army no greater than a reasonable
garrison, to make the war of Leinster in the depth of winter. And
first I fell into the glens, the fastest country of Ireland, and till
now of all the parts of Leinster only untouched, when I first
spoiled all the country, and made Donnell Spaniag/i,
whom before I had received to her majesty's mercy, to join with me therein,
and after forced Phelim MacFeagh, and all the Tooles (the most
pestilent infesters of the pale) to submission/'
Queen Elizabeth died on the 24th March, 1 6 0 3 ; in the seventieth year of her age, and forty-fifth of her glorious reign. Some
account of the manners and customs of the Irish at this period
will be found in the appendix (13)

CHAP.
Reign

of James

L

XXL

A . D . 1 6 0 3 , to A . D .

1625,

J A M B S V I . of Scotland succeeded to the crown on the death of
Elizabeth.
Lord Mountjoy returned to England on the 28th M a y , 1 6 0 3 ;
when honours and wealth were abundantly showered on him, in
requital for his brilliant and important services.
Much was done in this reign for ameliorating the condition of
Ireland : the particular attention of government was justly directed
to a clear arrangement of the rights of property. Sir J o h n Davies
gives us the following information as to the mode adopted in this case:
" Since his majesty came to the crown, two special commissions
have been sent out of England, for the settling and quieting of all
the possessions in Ireland; the one for accepting surrenders of the
Irish and degenerate English, and for re-granting estates unto
them, according to the course of the common l a w ; the other for
Minister by queen Elizabeth, and for his faithful services against the rebels
in Ireland, was by James I. created baron Carew of Clopton, and afterwards
by king Charles I., earl of Totness in Devonshire, and made master of the
ordnance in England. Mr. Camden mentions this nobleman with high
respect, 4 on account of his great love for antiquities, and for the light he gave
him into some of the affairs of Ireland.' But we must acknowledge ourselves
infinitely indebted to him for the preservation of these two treatises (in the
Hibemica) and the memoirs out of which the accurate history called Paeata
Hiberniawas composed."

OF THE COUNTY OB' CARLOW.

115

strengthening of defective titles. In the execution of which commissions, there hath ever been had a special care to settle and
secure the under tenants ; to the end, there might be a repose and
establishment of every subject's estate, lord and tenant, free-holder
and farmer, throughout the kingdom.
" Upon surrenders, this course hath been held from the beginning : when an Irish lord doth oiler to surrender his country, his
surrender is not immediately accepted, but a commission is first
awarded, to inquire of three special points. First, of the quantity
and limits of the land whereof he is the reputed owner. Next,
how much he himself doth hold in demesne, and how much is possessed by his tenants and followers. And thirdly, what customs,
duties, and services, he doth yearly receive out of those lands.
This inquisition being made and returned, the lands which are
found to be the lord's proper possessions in demesne are drawn
into a particular; and his Irish duties, as coshering, sessings, rents
of butter and oatmeal, and the like, are reasonably valued and reduced into certain sums of money, to be paid yearly in lieu thereof.
This being done, the surrender is accepted; and thereupon a grant
passed, not of the whole country, as was used in former times,
but of those lands only, which are found in the lord's possession,
and of those certain sums of money, as rents issuing out of the
rest. But the lands which are found to be possessed by the tenants,
are left unto them, respectively charged with their certain rents
only, in lieu of all uncertain Irish exactions.—In like manner upon
all grants, which have passed by virtue of the commission for de»
fective titles, the commissioners have taken special caution, for
preservation of the estates of all particular tenants."*
The foregoing explanatory observations will throw much light
on the proceedings relative to property and other matters in our
county, which we shall now introduce, and which will be found
most interesting. This information has been collected from the
most authentic source, namely, the public records of the kingdom.
By inquisition taken at Carlow, 16th September, 1607, it was
found that Theobald, viscount Butler, of Tullowphelin, was seized
of several castles, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, in Carlow
county, viz., Cloghgrenan, Garry more, &c.f (The remainder
will be found in grant, dated 20th December, 1607.)
GRANTS, &C. in this reign 4
King's letter for grant of pension to Bryan M'Donough Kavanagh, six warders, at eight pence per day each, fof his castle of
Ballylorgane.§—4th September, 1st year of James I.
Grant by the king to Theobald Butler, son of Sir Edmund
Butler, knt., second son of James Butler, late earl of Ormonde
and Ossory, of the title and dignity of viscount Butler of Tulleophelim|| in the county of Carlow, with remainder to his heirs
male.—4th August, 1st year of James I.
* A Discovery of the True Cause, &c.
t Inquisitionum in officio rotulorum cancellariae Hibernian asservatarum,
fepertorium. J Calendar, Pat. Roll. § Now called Ballylaughan. ||Tullow.
P

H6

HISTORY AXD

ANTIQUITIES

Grant from the king to John Eustace, gent.— Car low and KiU
dare Counties. The tithes of the rectory, church or chapel of
Donnaghamocke, and Ballaghmore, and of the rectories, churches
and chapels of Straboe, Rathmore, and Mohacon or Moyacon, the
estates of St. Thomas Court, near Dublin; rent 2 1 / . 16s. 8d.
Irish.— Wexford County, Darbie's island, parcel of the estate
of the late earl of Salop; rent 2s. 6d.—Kildare County. The
castle and village of Harreston, and also the site, circuit, and
precinct of the chief house, containing two castles, a wall, one
garden, the orchard, the haggard-place, one chapel upon a vault,
one church yard, with certain other buildings, containing by estimation three acres and more; rent 21. 13s. 4d. Irish—two messuages, five cottages; rent 1/. 12s. Irish.—Arable one hundred
acres, small measure ; rent 51. Irish—pasture forty acres, with
liberty of the moor for digging of turf; rent 10/. 13s. 4d.—a
watermill with the watercourse, rent 2L 13s. 4d.; the estate of
James Eustace, late viscount Baltinglass, attainted—the altarages,
oblations, and profits of the parish church or rectory of St. Bride,
near Osbertstown, rent 21.; parcel of the estate of the late hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.—Dublin County. Three small closes
or parks in Kilmainham, rent 8s., the estate of said hospital;
total rent 457. 19s. 2d. To hold for twenty-one years at the rent
above stated, together with sixty-five pecks of port-corn, of half
wheat and bere malt, and the other half oat malt, for the said rectories, for which he is to be allowed 2d. per peck yearly in his
account. Not to lease any part of the premises, except to Englishmen, without the lord deputy's consent.— 15th May, 1st year
of James I.
Grant from the king to the earl of Ormonde,—Car low County.
Two parts of the tithes of the rectory of Killeston or Kellystoune.—1st December, 1st.
Grant from the king to John Simberbe, or St. Barbe, gent.—
Carlow Comity. The rectory of Cloydagh, in the Dollough,
extending into the towns, &c. of Cloughgrenan, Ballinabrenagh,
Ballitrolly, Garromore, Ballybrin, Stradnefusboke, Clogheristick
and Cloughna; parcel of the possessions of the Blessed Virgin
Mary of Conell, Kildare County; rent four pounds six shillings
and eight pence Irish.—To hold for twenty one years (with other
grants) at a rent of thirty-five pounds three shillings and six pence
Irish, in consideration of his good and faithful service.—18th
May, 1st.
General pardon to Katherine Cavanagh McDonnell Reagh of
Clonmullin, <fec.
Letter from the Privy Council of England in favour of Donell
Cavanaghe or Spanniagh and his kinsmen, notifying the king's
pleasure, that he should be entered in the cheque roll as a pensioner,
to have ten shillings sterling English per day, till he recover his
rights or be better provided for.—22nd August, 1st.
O It may be advisable here to state, that each acre of great country
measure, containedfifteenacres of the small measure.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

117

Grant to Thomas Tedder, clerk, of the deanery of the cathedral
church of Laughlin, now vacant by the death of Moses Powell,
and in the king's gift of full right.—22nd, Feb. 1st.
General pardon to Conleigh M'Gillpatrick O'Birne, of Catherlogh county, yeoman, & c , 25th Nov. 1st.
Grant of the office of general cessor and collector of Catherlogh,
Wexford/ Kilkenny, King's and Queen's counties, to Sir JefFerie
F'enton, Knt., chief secretary of state for Ireland.—-22nd Sept. 1st
Grant from the king to Sir Oliver Lambert, Knt., and privy
counsellor. After others, Carlow County.—The fourth part of
the town and fields of Kilgreny, in Foert O'Nolan,* containing
five acres small county measure ; the lands of Callough M'Edm.
O'Nolan of the same, gent, slain in rebellion ; rent two shillingsone third part of Ballykenny in Foert, containing six acres small
measure; the lands of Donel Enass M'Dermot O'Nolan of the
same, gent, slain in rebellion ; rent two shillings and three pence,
Killinclonboly in Foert containing 9 acres small measure ; the lands
of Gerald Killin of the same, attainted of felony, rent three
shillings—the moiety of Killmoglish in Foert, containing seven
acres small measure—two-third parts of Lisgra in Foert, containing
six acres in like measure, and the moiety of Templepedder in
Foert, containing ten acres like measure; the lands of Gerald
M'Donough Duffe O'Nolan of Killmoglish ; rent six shillings and
eight pence—two-third parts of Ballyvendon in Foert, containing
four acres small measure, and two-third parts of Balliochill in
Foert, containing eleven acres like measure, and two-third parts
of Ballivickfinn in Foert, containing six acres like measure ; the
lands of James Eustace, late viscount Baltinglass, attainted; rent
six shillings—the third part of Kilbride in Foert, containing twentysix acres small measure; the estate of Roderick O'Nolan of the
same, gent, slain in rebellion; rent six shillings—another third
part of Kilbride, containing twenty-six acres small measure; the
estate of Marrogh Ny Dowry O'Nolan of the same, gent., attainted of felony ; rent six shillings and four pence—the old castle
of Ballytrarney in Foert, and two-third parts of the following
towns, Ballytrarney twenty acres, Rahin seven acres, Killean six
acres, Aghclare five acres, and Ballivoige six acres, containing in
all forty-four acres small measure; the lands of Cahir M'Donogh
O'Nolan of Ballytrarney, gent., dead without heirs; rent ten
shillings and eight pence—in Ballykely in Foert, a messuage and
four acres; the lands ot Donogh M'Lisagh O'Nolan of the same,
gent., dead in rebellion ; rent one shilling and two pence—twothird parts of Balligilbert in Foert, containing forty acres small
measure; the lands of Terence or Tirlagh Ballagh O'Nolan of
the same, attainted of felony ; rent nine pence; together with all
their appurtenances of what kind soever.—To hold for ever in
free and common soccage, by fealty only, for all rents, services,
and demands whatever; in consideration of his good, true, and
* The barony of Forth,

118

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

acceptable service to Queen Elizabeth.*—22nd Feb. 2nd year of
James I.
Grant from the king to Sir Henry Broncar, Knt., lord president
of Munster.— Car low County—Certain lands called a marte-lande
in the towns and fields of Polmoatie, Balliowniloure, Ballinebarne,
Coranroe, Dromyne, and Clonagh—a marte-lande in Rathphandinbry, Ballydonbeg, Monenemogh, Ballindounemore, and Askarny—a marte-lande in Cloneleigh. Downe-Rone otherwise
Doronarde, Ballibirne, Ballygalgirt, and Rathsillagh—a martelande in Templeowtegan and Balliwilliam—two parts in three of a
marte-lande in Rahinmore, Ballinvege, Ballingobban—a martelande in Ballileigh, Ballinecowlagh, Owlard, Mastine, Pollraghbegg, Ballinknockcrompane, Glancon, Crompane, and Ballinekillee
—a marte-lande in Balliane, Ballinebanogee, Cowlebacke> and
Rathgirrock—a marte-lande in Ballycromegannecarlane and Dorronagh—a marte-lande in Behanagh, Ballylinge, Timolirge and
Ballegilligan,—a marte-lande in Ballyhegan, Ballimickevlieke,
Ballinowlarde, Skehanagh and Ballineclogh—a third part of a
marte-lande called Carrigleod—a marte-lande in Kilcharry, Barreduffe, Moyneachrin, Owlordfyan, Balliredmonde, Loginch, Killclonegell, the bounds of Knockaffa and the sixth part of Dromganow and Alleknockegh—a marte-lande in Baliihometly, Glanmcollitan and Torragh—a marte-lande in Ballinebrannagh, Rathgeirin and Killorian—a marte-lande in Ballihimocke, Ballicrome,
Gameskegh, Ballicromeganbeg, Newton and Corvalty—a martelande in Cowlelehone, Knockduffe, Knockynalud Ballinegreeny—
a marte land in Cowlenemare and Ardagh—the sixth part of a
marte-lande called Ballyeine—a marte-lande in Balliroughan,
Tynecargy, Killecolena and Siskenrath—a marte-lande in Ballibrack, Kilrathginney and Lasaluan—a marte-lande in Ballibane,
Monemolinge and Tomeneyre, all being the lands of Thomas, late
duke of Norfolk, and of the lord Barkley ; each marte-lande being
valued at five shillings and four pence by the year; total five
pounds.—(Several grants in other counties.) To hold for ever,
as of* the castle of Dublin, in free and common soccage, by fealty
only, in consideration of his faithful service to Queen Elizabeth.—
29th Aug. 2nd.
Grant from the king to Thomas earl of Ormonde.— Carlow
County. Certain lands in the lordship of Foert otherwise Foert
O'Nolan, viz.—in the quarter of the said lordship called SleightShean, the third part of Kilbride, viz., twenty acres arable, six
and a half pasture—the third part of Garrincoilcoil-wood, five acres
— the third part of Kilbrenie or Kilgrenye, six and a half acres
arable, pasture and mountain, one acre wood—the third part of
Ballemolin, containing six acres arable—the like of B'allybohell,
containing six acres arable—the like of Carrickenislane, containing
three and a half acres arable, and one and a half acre moor, and
one stang of wrood—the like of Kilnocke, containing twenty acres
arable, and ten acres pasture; thirty acres—the like of Balligilberfc,
containing seven acres arable; the third part of Ballivendon, other* An account of his service in the county of Carlow has been given,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

119

wise Garrinlyne, containing two acres arable—the like of Ballekillie, viz. six and a half acres—the like of Barragh, viz., one
and half acre pasture, and one and a half acre wood ; three acres
—in the quarter of the said lordship called Sleighmorrogho, the
third part of Ballynowric and Killmorric, viz. thirteen acres arable ;
the moiety of Grange-Snyddocke otherwise Graigneshiddock or
Granges-peddocke, viz., four acres arable—the moiety of Grangeluge otherwise Graiglug, viz. one and a half acre wood—the
third part of Templered and Cloghmaghronin, viz., eleven and a
half acres arable—the like of Ballemore otherwise Ballemoge, viz.
three acres and a half arable—the like of Ballitrahin and Kilbrickan, viz. ten and a half arable, four acres pasture, and three
acres wood; seventeen and a half acres; the like of Kilbea
otherwise Kilkaa, viz., two acres arable, and one acre moor;
five acres—the like of Killean, viz. three acres arable, and two
moor; the like of Ollard, viz. two acres arable, and one acre and
a stang of wood ; the moiety of Kilinogles otherwise Kilnoghglesh,
live acres arable, two acres moor, and one acre wood, eight acres ;
the third part of Kilshegaroen, viz. two acres arable, and one and
a half wood; three and a half acres ; in the quarter of the said
lordship called Slightcoyne, the town of Rathtoroth, viz. twenty
acres arable ; the third part of Ballevalden and Balligodenan, viz.
four acres arable; the like of Radowgin, viz. three arable; the
like of Rathbrege and Rathragh, viz. four acres arable; the like of
Ballin, viz. five acres arable, and four acres mountain, nine acres ;
the like of Keppagh, viz. two acres arable, and one acre and a
stang of wood; the like of Mornex otherwise Morney, viz. two
acres arable, and three stangs of wood ; the like of Ballelion, viz.
two acres arable, one acre and a half wood, and two and a half
acres mountain, six acres ; in the quarter of the said lordship called
Publedrome, the third part of Ballefright, otherwise Ballefirish,
and Balledonnogh, viz. four acres arable; the moiety of Balletemple, viz. six acres arable ; the third part of Balleclaneboy otherwise Killinclonboy, viz. two acres arable and one and a half wood,
three and a half acres ; the moiety of Ballyenowe, viz. six acres
arable; the like of Sliraghsellie otherwise Straighshelle, viz. six
acres arable; the like of Ballinhombin otherwise Ballihomilin, viz
six acres arable; in the quarter of the said lordship called Breeklagh otherwise Bresklagh, the moiety of Ballinbeale, viz. fifteen
acres arable ; the third part of Mogishell and Birragh, viz. two
acres arable ; a stang of wood, and one acre and a half mountain;
the moiety of Ballinruish, viz. three acres arable, and two of wood,
live acres ; the third part of Rossecloie, viz. two acres arable, and
one acre and a half wood, three and a half acres; the moiety of
Kilavy, and Shanganie, viz. six acres arable ; the like of Kileere
otherwise Killeor and Tyroline, viz. six acres arable; the third part
of Tontancaple, viz. five acres arable; the like of Lisnecielce and
Tecoline otherwise Teycolne, viz. four acres arable ; the like of
Shian, viz. two acres arable, and one acre and a half of wood,
three acres and a half; the like of Cowldonnogh, Kittagh, Coilte-

120

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Henrie, and Garrin-pursin, and the town of Cowlwilliam M'Donnogh otherwise M'Onogh, and Boghan Oniell, otherwise Donill,
viz., six acres arable, and three acres pasture, nine acres;
granted to him and his heirs male, by patent dated 13th September, (or December), in the 5th and 6th of Philip and Mary,
to hold by the 20th part of a knight's fee, and the rent of
forty-nine pounds three shillings and nine pence Irish, which rent
by patent, dated 8th March, 5th Elizabeth was remitted to the earl
—{with other grants in different farts of the kingdom).
To
hold for ever, by the 20th part of a knight's fee, for all other rents,
services, and demands whatever.—26th November, 2nd.
Grant from the king to Theobald Bourke, baron Burgh of
Connell, otherwise Castieconnell.— Carlow County. Knockine,
Balliclogh, and Inchenephooke, containing about four acres great
measure; parcel of the estate of Moriertagh M'Cahir M'Arte
Kavanagh of Knockine, attainted ; rent four shillings—(together
with grants in other counties).
To hold for ever, by fealty
only, inj^ee and common soccage.—22nd March, 2nd.
Grant from the king to Donatus, earl of Thomond.—The
manor of Catherlogh or Catherlagh; the old castle with four turrets
on the east of the Barrow, with the precinct and buildings thereto
belonging, excepted—the custom of a salmon yearly, out of every
net used in taking salmon in the Barrow, running by the bounds
of said castle—the demesne lands, within the site and circuit of
said manor, viz. Queens County. In Barniglasse, besides the
Barrow in the Queen's county, three acres great measure, each
acre containing four small measure, twelve acres; in Ardconran
otherwise Arconeryan or Archonyrian, three and a half acres great
measure ; in Rathmore, one and a half acres; in Carnmore, otherwise Coranmore or Carramore or Cranmore, Ferrancloghhelagh
or Ferreneclogh, and Heyclogh, arable three acres; in Moneshill
or Monesnekille, arable two acres; in Skemrath or Sheghnaragh
or Shenrirath, and Rathvill or Rathirllie, arable three acres ; in
Corranbegg, arable one acre, all great measure.—Carlow County.
In Burlow, on this side the Barrow, arable three acres; in Knockanreogh otherwise Knockancroigh, arable two acres; the earl's
meadow, one and a half acre, all great measure; a water mill
there, all of the demesne lands ; in Carlow twenty-two messuages,
and arable eighty-four acres great measure, parcel of said manor,
with thirty-one cottages there, which lands were lately held by
Dermot M'Teige, Edward M'Rorie and others, with nine plows,
paying yearly for each plow a carcase and a half of beef and seventy-two gallons "lagena" of beer, and eighteen loaves " tortus"
of bread; also nineteen of the tenants of the said cottages paid a
rent of one pound thirteen shillings and four pence, and the rest
paid nothing but labour and customs—several yearly customs, viz.,
all the farmers and tenants of said messuages and cottages to
render one sheep out of every flock exceeding seven in number,
and one penny for every sheep under that number ; a hen at Christmas ; a dish of butter in May, and another in autumn, every

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

121

dish containing three and a half parts of one gallon " l a g e n a " ;
from every tenant keeping cows, and from every cottager making
butter, a dish of butter in May ; four gallons of ale out of every
brewing by every dealer in beer ; for every cow killed within the
town for sale, the hide, or in lieu thereof fourteen pence, and for
a smaller cow's hide six or eight pence ; in all works made within
the castle, the inhabitants of Carlow to find six workmen or labourers daily, during the said work, at their own expense; also
each tenant and cottager to weed the demesne corn yearly for three
days, and a woman out of every house in Carlow to bind the
sheaves for one day; each tenant and cottager to cut wood for the
use of the castle for three days in summer, and each of them having a draught horse to draw the wood to the castle for three days;
also to draw the corn out of the fields to the area of the said
castle for three days; to give one cart-load of wood, and one
truss of straw at Christmas and Easter ; and each cottager one
truss of rushes at the said feasts; the said tenants to plough with
their said nine ploughs in the said demesne lands, viz., for the
sowing of wheat three days, and of oats three days, and to carry
the sheaves of corn in their waggons for sale at the yearly fairs in
Carlow, viz., on the feast of the Assumption of the B, V. Mary;
which profits are collected as follows; out of every shop and booth,
four pence, for every horse sold two pence, for every cow sold
one penny, for every horse load of goods set upon the ground, one
penny, for every whole piece of woollen cloth sold one penny, for
every lesser piece one halfpenny, for every sack of salt one penny";
also the following customs in the name of herriot, collected in
Carlow, viz., after the death of every tenant and cottager inhabiting
within the said town, the lord shall have the second best beast,
and if there be but one living animal the same to be appraised by
the neighbours, and the lord to have the third part of the price,
and if no animal, then his other goods to be appraised, and the
lord to have six shillings and eight pence if they amount to twenty
shillings, but if less, nothing—in Martelston, three acres; in
Dowganston, four cottages and four acres arable; in Ballinragh'or
Ballinrath, five acres arable; in Ahate or Athroe, four acres
arable; in Killienmore, Killynowre or Killemore one acre ; eight
messuages, four cottages and twenty-six acres arable, pasture, bog
and wood in Carlow county, all great measure, with certain customs from the tenants of the manor there, viz.,.every messuage
and cottage to find a horse to draw wood and corn, as before, to
the castle of Carlow, for one day each ; and every tenant and cottager to weed and reap for one day, and a woman out of every
two houses to bind corn for one day ; the inhabitants of Kellieston, Dowganston, Painston, Johnston, and Pollardston, (except
the free tenants), having ploughs and carts, to plough the demesne
lands for one day in wheat and oat sowing; and every house having
a draught horse, to draw wood and corn to the castle of Carlow
for one day, as before, and all others customs and services
accruing out of the lands of Johnston, Unythlin, BalHkethlan,

122

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Killerick or Killericket, and Ballihewitt or Ballihead, Frompstoii
or Frompelston, and in Carlow county, Killerick, Knockane, Pollardston, Kingston or Caslanreddery, the baronies of Tillagh or
Tully, Donleck or Dowlekeney, in Idrone and Obergie, GlasCastle, Ballilonan, Killesa or Killehawe otherwise Killossan, G u r tinewacan, Ardneheue, Painston, Dowganston, Typerynthio or
Typeratheo orTypynthokergie, Okergey, Arthebeston, Ardenheath,
Ardneketh, or Aherd, Kilborgh, or Kilbroth, Kenlis in Frothered,
Ballymorkill, or Ballivorgill, Balliscanden, and certain lands opposite to the castle of C a r l o w ; all the perquisites of the manor
courts, liberty to hold courts leet within t h e said manor, and certain lands and tenements at Fothrie otherwise Foherthric, Forthrecl,
or Forthre, in Kavanagh's country, among the I r i s h ; parcel of
said manor; demised31st October, 30th Elizabeth, to Robert and
William Harpoole for twenty-one years, at twenty-three pounds
three shillings and one penny Irish, and in reversion, 17th August,
41st Elizabeth, to Sir Robert Napper, k n t , for forty years, at the
same rent—(ivith grants in other counties).
T o hold for ever
in fee simple, as of the castle of Dublin, by fealty only, for all
other rents and demands whatever.—30th J u l y 2nd.— Note.—
This grant was made as part of one hundred pounds a year, of
crown lands in fee simple, in consideration of his surrender to the
crown, made 14th J u l y , 1604, of lands, castles, & c , in the counties
of Limerick and Tipperary.
Grant of the office of constable of Carlow castle, to Donogh,
earl of Thomond, and Brian O'Brien his son.—30th July, 2nd.
Presentation of Thadeus Curren otherwise T a n k a r d , clerk, to
Balliline vicarage, Leighlin diocese, vacant by the death of Maurice or Murtagh Cavanagh, and in the kings gift of full right —
30th J u l y , 2nd.
Grant from the king to Sir Garret Moore of Mellefount, Louth
county, knt., privy counsellor.—Leighlin
diocese.—Arbistell,
Ruskogh, Templemoric, and Rathcough ; rent sixteen shillings and
eight pence Irish ; demised 28th December, 22nd Elizabeth, to
Sir Edward Moore, for forty-one years, at a rent of sixteen shillings and eight pence Irish, after a grant to Sir William Brabazon,
knight, for twenty-one years from Easter 1558—{with grants in
other counties and dioceses).
T o hold for sixty years after the
expiration of his former leases respectively ; to pay all synodals,
proxies and stipends of curates; to keep up all chancels, castles,
houses, cottages, fences and ditches—23rd April, 3rd.
Grant of the office of Clerk of the Peace and of the Crown, in
Carlow, Kildare, King's and Queen's counties, to Eusebius
Andrews, gent.—4 th J u n e , 3rd.
Grant of the office of Lieutenant of Carlow county, to Theobald,
lord Butler, viscount of Tullie*—-18th J u n e , 3rd.
Grant from the king to George Tutchett, knt., lord Awdeley—
Carlow County.
T h e site, &c. of the castle called Blackcastle,
* Tullow,

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

123

within the precinct of the friary of Laughlin-bridge; rent thirteen
shillings and four pence ; the site, &c. of the late monastery or
Carmelite friary of Laughlin-bridge, with all its messuages, cottages, lands, customs, and hereditaments, spiritual and temporal;
rent two pounds eight shillings and eight pence Irish, parcel of the
estate of Pierce, earl of Ormonde, grandfather of Thomas, now
earl of Ormonde, who surrendered the same to the crown—{with
grants in other counties), To hold for ever, in common soccage—20th July, 3rd.
Grant from the king to James Hamilton, Esq. Carlow County.
In or near the town of Laughlin, a water mill and thirty-one
tenements; parcel of the estate of Pierce, late earl of Ormonde ;
rent five pounds one shilling and five pence farthing ; a castle and
a mart-lande, otherwise a plough land, in Clonmullin, Kiltranish,
and Tavickeshonicke, parcel of the estate of the late duke of Norfolk and the earl of Shrewsbury;-rent nine shillings; (with grants
in other counties). To hold in fee farm, as assignee to Thomas
Ireland of London, merchant, as of the castle of Dublin, by fealty
only, and in common soccage.—14th February, 3rd.
Livery of Seisin to Nicholas Bagnoll, son and heir of Dudley
Bagnoll, late of Idrone in Carlow county Esq. deceased, for a
fine of six pounds sterling.—26th November, 3rd.
The king's letter to promote Thomas Rame, dean of Cork, to
the bishopric of Leighlin and Ferns, vacant by the death of Nicholas Stafford, permitting him to retain the parsonage of St. Mary's
in Wexford, the deanery of Ferns, the chantorship of Christ
Church, and Balrothery vicarage, in commendam.—6th Feb. 2nd.
Letters patent for the consecration of same.—25th April, 3rd.
Letters patent for the restitution of temporalities to same.-—25th
April, 3rd.
General pardon to Rrene M'Donogh Kavanagh of Ballenloghan in Carlow county, Esq., Morrogh McDonnell Kavanagh of
Carlead, Donnogh M'Brien O'Birne of Old Laughlin, Dowlinge
M'Murtagh O'Birne of Balliteigleigh, Morragh M'Morrice Kavanagh of Rathvilla, Philip M'Hugh O'Kena of the same, Doneli
Ower M'Shane O'Birne of Ballenloghan, Richard Folan of the
same, Brene O'Bolger of Rathbindine, Brene M'Donell Kavanagh of Carglead, Edmond M'Tirlagh Kavanagh of Raherin,
Mortagh M'Tylagh Kavanagh of the same, Peirs M'Melaughlin
O'Rian of Ballengarie, Edward M'Gilpatrick O'Dowran, Morrice M'Gerrald Kavanagh of Ballelih, Thomas Butler of Clonemore, Owen M'Tirlagh O'Birne of Balli-Rian, Morragh Roe of
Clorouske, Feige M'Morrice O'Doyle of Knockroa, Morrice
M'Teige O'Doyle, Cilpatricke More O'Doyle of Knockroa,
Walter Butler of Knockin, Foris M'Cavell of Killgrene. Edward
M'Tirlagh O'Birne of Binecherie, Thaddeus Dowlinge of Old
Laughlin, Morragh M'Mortagh Kavanagh of Ballilin, Thaddeus
O'Rian of Balliclere, Uiick Wale M'William of Urchlin, Teige
M'Shane O'Nowlan of Boerduffe, Art M'Caher Kavanagh of
Balleshane-Carragh, Gerrald M'Brene Kavanagh of Killenerlie/

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*

124

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Redmond M'Mortagh O'Rian of Bellingarie, Donell Kav&mgh
otherwise Spaniagh of Clonmullin, Caher Kavanagh of the same,
Chriffon Kavanagh of Kilbreanies, Ellenor Kavanagh of Clonmullin, Hugh M'Donell of Polmonte, Brian M'Edmond G'Doneli
of Kilkern, Dan. Folam of Balliloghan, Donell Glas M'Tiege
Owre of Rathirke, Bran M'Owen O'Brian of the Ceskran, David
M'Donogh O'Rian of Ballilien, Walter O'Bolger of Ballihomulty,
Cahir M'Edward Kavanagh of the Bunes, Brian M'Tirlagh, piper^
of Ballipiers, James M'William Butler of Gortamore, Fardoragh
M< William O'Maccaghes otherwise Donell O'Maccaghes or
O'Managhes of the Bournes, all in Carlow county.—5th December, 3rd.*
Grant from the king to Theobald lord viscount Butler of TuJIeophelim, of the lands, &c. granted to the earl of Qrmonde and
Ossory, 1st December, 1st James I.—13th September, 4th.
Livery of seisin and pardon of intrusion to Robert Sentleger,
son and heir of Thomas Sentleger, late of Doughaneston in Carlow county, gent, deceased, without fine.— 1 lth July, 4th.
Grant from the king to Theobald viscount Butler of Tulleopheimi—Carlow County. The castle, towns, and lands of Cloghgrenan and Garrimore, and half a marte-land of the country measure; Clodagh, half marte-land, Ballnarolly or Ballintrolly, and
Rathynydorane, containing half marte-land ; Ballinebranagh, BalKgowne, and Coranloskie, two marte-lands; Tullaghcroyne and
Tomard, half marte-land ; Rathooran and Curraghfyan, one marteland ; Rathvinden, Cowlenekiske, and Lauglea, one marte-land;
Cloughroaske and Ballikavale, half marte-land; Cloughcristicke,
one marte-land; the moiety of Mortelston, quarter marte-land;
Lenin, half marte-land; Castlegrace, the same; Ardistin and
Clognemony, one marte-land; Castlemore, three fourths marteland—The moiety of Tomdarragh and Cloughwouny, quarter
marte-land; Newston, seven acres country measure ; Kilbride,.
Kilkele, and Killgreny, half marte-land; Ballinvury and Killinurry, quarter marte-land; Kappagh, twelfth marte-land; Bowlinekrehe, two acres county measure; all the lands that belonged
to certain persons called Owencloghes in Ballinesragh. Boledonogho, and Kilballinoe, and every where in Pobbledrome; rent
for all the aforesaid premises, four pounds nine shillings and four
pence Irish.—Ballivare, Clonemulske, Carrickebroughan, otherwise Garriehondon, (Chappelston) and Powerston, viz. a ruinous
castle, a messuage, six cottages, sixty-seven acres arable, three
acres under wood, forty-two acres pasture and bog in Ballivare ;
a castje, four cottages, sixty-two acres arable, and forty-four pasture, in Clonemulskye ; six cottages, thirty-eight acres arable, and
twenty-three pasture, in Carrickebroughan otherwise Garriehondon;
a castle, six cottages, one hundred and twenty-two acres arable and
thirty-eight acres pasture, in Chappeleston; sixty-six acres pasture
• There are many other deeds of " general pardon" to various persons;
but their insertion would occupy too much space.

t ) F T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

125

In Fowerston, and the customs of the tenants of Ballivare, and
the aforesaid towns—{with grants in other counties). To hold
for ever, by several tenures, viz., the lands in Cariow county,
except those hereafter specified, as of the castle of Dublin, by the
twentieth part of a knight's fee, and nor in eapite; Ballivare,
Clonemulske, Carrickebroughan or Garrihondon, Chappelton, and
Powerston, in Cariow county, and others by the fortieth part of a
knight's fee ; for the fine of six pounds thirteen shillings and five
pence Irish.—20th December, 1607.
Power of Attorney from Henry Davells* of Laughlenbridge in
Cariow county, Esq., to Richard Barry of Dublin city, merchant,
to make a surrender of the rectories of Bananeough, & c , in the
county of Kilkenny.—24th May, (>th.
Presentation of James Waddinge to Barragh, Ballielin, and
Kiltennille vicarages, Leighlin diocese, vacant and in the king's
gift of full right, and united, for this turn only, on account of the
smallness of their incomes.—10th May, 6th.
Grant to Sir Adam Loftus, knight, of a daily pension of nine
shillings English for life, being the amount of a daily pension of
three shillings surrendered by Gerald M'Murtagh Kavanagh of
Ballintraine, in Cariow county, gent., and another of six shillings
surrendered by Thomas Perrott, gent.—25th June, 6th.
General pardon to Edmond M'Brien Kavanagh of Tenerana,
gent., Richard Fitz-Patricke of Clonmollen, gent., Teigeboy
M^Deirmodof Kurenellan, yeoman, Neale M'Arte of Clonegall,
yeoman, James M'Teige O'Dowell of Knockroe, yeoman, Mori-ogli O'Rian of Clonmullen, Gerald M'Cahirre Kavanagh of
Clonmullen, gent, James O'Rian of Cureynylan, all in Cariow
county—(with others).— 19th March, 6th. v
Grant from the king to Gerald earl of Kildare.—Cariow County*
In Kinnagh, forty acres arable, twenty acres pasture, and half a
wood containing one and a half acre, in Tomnegroghe, the moiety
of forty acres arable, and twenty acres pasture : being the lands
of Donogh Moynagh Kavanagh, attainted ; rent two pounds six
shillings and eight pence Irish; an old castle, six messuages, two
hundred and forty acres arable, twenty acres pasture, twenty acres
wood, and the moiety of the seventh part of a water mill in Garkbill, and a castle, six messuages, and one hundred and twenty
acres arable, ten acres pasture, and ten acres wood in ..Ballicaslane ;
being the lands of Gerald M'Cahir, late of Garkhill, attainted;
rent five pounds; the moiety of Dowganstown, containing nine
acres county measure ; except four acres late demised to Sir Anthony St. Leger, for a term of years ; parcel of the estate of the
late earl of Marche ; rent ten shillings—{with grants in other
counties). To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage, in lieu of such pensions as he enjoyed from the
crown, and in consideration of his services.—31st May, 1609.
Pardon of alienation to Thomas Butler, knight of the order of
* Probably son of Captain Henry Davells, already mentioned.

126

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

the garter, earl of Ormonde and Ossory, viscount Thurles, as
to the following lands.—Car low County. Rathvilly, Tullaghophelim, Clonmore,* Cruffm, Kilasny, Powerston and Fortonsland.
— Wicktow late Carlow County, The manor of Arcloe.—(with
several others).—31st May, 7th.
Grant from the king to Theobald, viscount Butler of Tullyophelim.— Carlow County. Licence to hold for ever a Saturday
market, and two fairs on the vigils and feasts of St. Peter the
apostle and St. Luke, at Tullyophelime.f—8th December, 7th.
Grant from the king to Donogh, earl of Thomond.— Carlow
County. The manor of Carlow, and all the lands granted by
patent, dated 30th July, 2nd James I. (With grants in other
counties).
To hold to him and his heirs for ever, except where
otherwise mentioned, as of the castle of Dublin, by fealty, in
common soccage, for a fine of thirty pounds Irish, and in virtue of
the commission for remedy of defective titles.—8th March, 7th
King's letter to receive surrenders from Thomas earl of Ormonde and Ossory, high treasurer of Ireland, and from Theobald,
lord viscount Butler of Tulleophelim, and their feoifees—of the
castle of Kilkenny, and the lordships of Arcloe and Tulleophelim,
and all other of their and either of their temporal and spiritual possessions ; and to make a grant under the great seal to them or either
of them, of the said premises, for ever.—3rd April, 8th.
King's letter for a grant to Captain Dennyes Dale, of a yearly
pension of thirty pounds, a ward of six men, with eight pence
daily for each, also two shillings and eight pence daily for himself,
as constable of a fort, built by him on the confines of Wicklow,
Wexford and Carlow counties; also twenty pounds towards the
building of the said fort,—19th April, 8th.
Deed, dated 1st June, 1610, whereby George, lord Audley,
in consideration of an annuity or rent charge of five hundred pounds
English for life, assigned to Sir Maurice Tutchet, knight, his son
and heir apparent, his whole estate in Ireland, to hold to him, his
heirs and assigns for ever; together with all his stock of cattle
and corn, and all other goods and chatties in Ireland ; reserving
to his lordship all his utensils and household stuff, a coach, and all
harness or furniture for horses, muskets, callivers, powder, arms,
and other ammunition, a brown bay horse, lately bought by him
of Sir James Marving, knight, two colts, lately brought out of
England, a hunting gelding, a pyed mare, bought of Henry
Gynes, and a black gelding, with certain cattle lately bought of
Edward Blount, Esq. Sir Marving paying also to Sir Ferdinando
Tutchet, knight, second son of the said lord Audley, an annuity of
one hundred marks English, in the Middle Temple Hall, London,
and after his lordship's death, to convey and make over to the said
Sir Ferdinando, his heirs and assigns, land in England or Ireland, to
the clear yearly value of one hundred pounds sterling.
* Further particulars regarding the disposal of the great Clonmore estate
will be found in the next reign;
t Tullow.

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

127

Grant from the king to Jenico Preston, viscount Gormanston,
Sir Christopher Plunket, Knt., Thomas Aylmer, Pat. Barnevall,
Esq., and Christopher Barnewall, Gent. Carlow County. One
castle and three houses in Frerton; in Court-Killargan otherwise
Killerge,* two mesmages, nine acres arable, and five acres pasture
and underwood, of the great country measure; in Frereton and
Russelston, fifteen acres of the like measure; in Tullaghphell, one
acre of the like measure, containing sixteen acres of the small
measure; half the town of Mygaune or Myganue, containing
seven and a half acres of the great measure ; the rectory of Killargye otherwise Killerge, which extends in the towns of Killerge,
Russelston, Bossenton, Ardinheath, and Ballymakitme otherwise
Ballinrahine, with all the tithes, & c , thereto belonging; all which
premises were the estate of the late preceptory of Killarge, and
were parcel of the possessions of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem ; rent two pounds six shillings and nine pence, Ir.
{With
grants in other counties?) To hold in capite, by the twentieth
part of a knight's fee for a fine of twelve pounds Ir. 24th July, 9th.
General pardon for Thomas, bishop of Leighlin and Ferns.
20th January, 9th.
Grant from the king to Christopher Olivers, Esq. Carlow
county. The manor, mansion house, castle, and lands of Graungeforth, and thirty-six acres ; the tithes of the said manor, issuing
out of Littleton, Ballygorie, Glenocke, Rathveon, otherwise
Ravrehon and Clinclogh. (With grants i?i other counties.)
To
hold the lands in Meath county as of the castle of Dublin, in
common soccage, and all the rest in capite, by the twentieth part
of a knight's fee, and for a fine of ten pounds Ir. 10th Oct. 9th.
Grant from the king to Dowlin M'Brien Kavanagh of Toomecurry, and Dowlin M'Morough Kavanagh of Balligobbin, gent.
Carlow County. Ballilene, Forraghbegg, Balligillegan, half of
Behamagh-wood, and the sixth part of Timoling otherwise St.
Moling, containing half marte-land; Bailivickvalaka and Ballihegan,
containing the third of marte-land—Ballycruneganecaslane, half
marte-land—two third parts of Ballickunckerrompane and Glannecorry, and a sixth part of Timoling otherwise St. Moling, one
third marte-land; except all lands, advowsons of churches, & c ,
formerly granted to John de Bellomonte by patent, dated 28th April,
18th Richard II.—{with grants in other counties.) To hold for
ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage, and for a
fine of twenty pounds. 21st December, 9th.
Grant from the king to William Brounckar, Esq.—Carlow
County. One quarter of the town of Castlemore, containing six
acres, great country measure, each containing fifteen acres of the
small measure ; parcel of the estate of the late monastery of
Thomas-court; rent, sixteen shillings and eight-pence,
{With
grants in other comities). To hold for ever, as of the castle of
Dublin, in common soccage; 20th July, 9th.
* These formerly belonged to the knights Hospitalers*

128

HISTORY AND

ANTIQUITIES

Grant from the king to Nicholas Netterville of Dowth in Meath
county, Esq. Carlow County, In Symolin bar. Tinehinche
and Toneran otherwise Cowlan-island, 1 caruc. Ballyhenrie, six
marte-lands ; rent, eight pounds ten shillings, (with grants in other
counties.) To hold for ever, in common soccage, for a fine of fifty
pounds Ir. J 6th Dec. 9th.
King's letter for the plantation of Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow counties. 7th May, 9th.
Grant from the king to George Bagnall of Ballymone, Esq.
Carlow County, The entire barony of Odrone otherwise I drone,
and all the hereditaments called or known by the name of Idrone;*
the manor, castle, town, and lands of Ballymone ; the town and
lands of Ballymone, containing by estimation one martland; Ballylowe, Old-town, Barduffue or BordufFue, a half martland each;
Castlebury or Castlebuy and Donlickney or Donlackney, one and
a half martland; Sleaduffe, Killcrutt, Rath, Ballyfollan, and
Knockballynerahine, two martlands and one sixth martland, commonly called a " solidum" (shilling) of land ; Agha, one martland ;
Rathwheate, two-thirds martland; Kilknock, one martland ; Orchard, one half martland; Killcarrigg, one and a half martland;
Ballyfoyninge or Ballyfynninge, two solid, or two-sixth parts of a
martland; Killinolappoge, half martland; Ballikillen, one martland ; Ballytarsna, one martland; Teghanrelan, one solid. Ballynalter, Rathellin, one martland; Ballywilliamore or Bally wihiamroe,
one solid. Parkvespane, half martland; Seskinryan otherwise
Seskyn, containing eighteen pence of land or three-twelfths of a
martland; Ballinesillioge, the same; Ballinecarrige, four solid.
Ballycarroge, half martland; Kelloge, one solid. Ballystapleoake,
two solid. Bailyshane. In Clonen, half martland; in Ballyreigh
or Ballinrighe, four solid. In Ballycormocke, one martland; in
Cloghwalter, the same; in Ballyclantomacke, five solid. In Kilcalalrim, five martlands; in Uttermosk-Seskin or UppermostSeskin de Downcroe, in Cloghcantwell, seven groat's land, or
seven-eighteenth parts of a martland Corremore ; in Killoghternan,
one martland; Oldbegge or Olebegge, Clonelevett, Bowleria,
Cowlanacappoge, Ballygowne, Clonagostle, Garmonagh, Knocksquore, two solid. Knockbower, Killedmond, Rahindarragh, Ballinvallac, Bowliecullen, Kiltenell, Golegglowne, Knockroe, Balbobromell or Ballibromell, Kilconer or Kilconnor, Ballirian, Kilrye
and Corbegge, Killin-Earle, Downcore, half martland, Kilcomeney,
two solid. Kilshanclone, the same. Orney, one martland ; Ratheaden or Rathesilen, Balliteige, Kildrinagh, half martland; Lomclone, one martland; Clantomen's land, one martland; Ballentomane, Fennough and Killvidine or Killmaclyne, five solid. Bally* We have traced the descent of this barony through its different owners
down to the last Sir Peter Carew, who, as already stated, was killed in 1580.
We should then have supposed, that his brother George would inherit the
property ; but if he was the Sir George Carew, who held the office of president
of Munster, he was well provided for in England; in consideration of which he
perhaps relinquished his Irish property. This, however, ia mere conjecture,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

129

loghan, Ballyrean, half martland each; all the manors, castles,
lands and hereditaments whatever within the means or precinct of
the barony of Idrone, specified in a certificate, made at Leighlinbridge, 3rd October, 14th Elizabeth, and returned into chancery^
called or known by the several names of Fennough otherwise Fynnagh or Fynnaghty, Monibegge, Bohermore, Knockmullen, Rathduff, Newtown, Ballinemeur, Balliderrinne, Ballihobogge, Tartanowle, Balliknockan, Ballibegge, Ballitomen, Cowlenesopp,
Carrigbegge, Balliloe, Rathphillibin, Sereatrim, Glanhery, Farrenlaghan, Kenog, Knockenecrogh, Crannagh, Carrigbracke, Rosdilge, Moyvalla, Rahinquoile, Toamduffe, Banogebegge, Kiivearie,
Kilgarran, Achavick, Ballyduey, Ballinegran, Knocknegondon,
Killedame, Killgreanie, Ballinatten, Rahanna, Ballinlinckard, and
Raherkan.—Rent free ; except the royal composition, and risings
out.—To hold two fairs annually at Knockmullin, one on St. Bartholemew's day, and the other on the feast day of St. George the
martyr and the day after each, unless when the said feast days or
either of them fall on Saturday or Sunday, then the said fairs respectively to commence on the following Monday; also two fairs at
Orchard, viz. the one on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the
feast of Pentecost, and the other on the feast of St. Mathew and
the day after, unless when the said feast day falls on Saturday or
Sunday, then the said fair to commence on the following Monday;
with courts of pie-powder, and the usual tolls.—Rent one pound six
shillings and eight pence; courts leet and baron, waifs, strays,
&c.—To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common
soccage.—11th June, 10th.
Grant from the king to Sir Nicholas White, knight.—Late Carlow now Wicklow county.
The rectory of Baltinglass, the
Grange, Killmurre, Hiitonstown, Sclerath, Newgrange, Cargen,
Tenawrin, Rathenne, Redetown, Rathbran, Hockeston, Grange
with Griffinston and Borranston.— Carlow county. Chappelston and Clonagh in Idrone, Ladyton near Rathville and Greatcastle—{with grants in other counties)—8th April, 10th.
Lease from the king to John Eustace, gent.—Carlow, Kildare
and Wexford comities. The tithes of the rectory, church, or
chapel of Donnahannock and Ballaghmone; the tithes of the rectories of Strabo, or Srughboe, Rathmore, and Moyacon; parcel
of the estate of Thomas-court; rent, twenty-one pounds sixteen
shillings and eight pence ; sixty-five pecks of port corn out of all
these rectories, at the purification in Carlow, to be allowed two
shillings per peck—(with grants in other
counties).—28th
October, 10th.
King's letter for a surrender and re-grant of lands to George
Bagnall of Ballymone in Idrone barony and Carlow county Esq.
—6th May, 8th.
King's letter to call to the house of lords, by writ, lord Audley,
and others.—31st March, 11th.
Surrender by George Bagenall of Ballymone in Carlow county,

130

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

of lands in the same county—7th June, 10th—Note. These
lands were regranted to him, 11th June, 10th.
Charter of Carlow.*—19th April, 11th year of James I.
Grant from the king to alderman Nicholas Weston of Dublin.—
Carloiv county.
Half of Dowganston, containing nine acres
great measure; except four cottages, and four acres of like measure^
demised to Sir Anthony St. Leger, knight, and afterwards granted
in fee to Donogh, earl of Thomond ; parcel of the estate of the
earl of March; rent, one pound—{with grants in other counties). To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common
soccage.—7th January, 11th.
Grant from the king to Edward Southworth, gent.— Carlow
County. The parcel or precinct called the martland of Rathnegeragh, with its hamlets of Rathnegeragh, Knockenarraen, Rahenlagh, Dromeown, Dromefoy, Knocktompene, and Ballimorough ; the marte land of Carranrany, with its hamlets of Carranrany, Ballimertin, Kil ugh tern an, and Ballihave ; the marte-lancl
of Lowrein, with its hamlets of Lowren, Balligennill, and Barrogebegga; the marte-land of Mohiil, with its hamlets ofMohill, Kilballaghkie, Balliverran, Cargin, and half of Templepedder ; the
marte-land of Shian, with its hamlets of Shian, Knocktian, Rosslie, Cloanfeart, Closgany, half of Kilmaglise, Bolyreay, and
Owlardmore; the marte-land of Lavienesway, with its hamlets of
Lavieneswey, Ballinekilly, Knockulard, Gurtingravogy, and Cloneglass; the half marte-land of Ballintample, with its hamlets viz.
two-third parts of each of the denominations following, Ballintample, Ballinowe, Ballineshragh, Ballyonoge, Ballidonogh, Ballyhemlin, Collomormore, Collomorebegg, Kilenclonboly, Raheny,
Ravarrin, Aghcon, Ardattin, and Shraghkilly, lately in the occupation of Gerald M'Murtagh Kavanagh, gent, rent, four pounds
six shillings and eight pence/—In Garrinfine otherwise Flaxgarden, eight acres; in Ullevogh, eight acres ; in Knockgrout,
fifteen acres ; in Turtane, eight acres ; in Kilbreckan, twenty-five
acres; rent, five shillings—{with grants in other counties),
To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage. —26th January, 11th.
Deed, dated 4th October, 1612, whereby Christopher Payton,
Esq. demised to Francis Blundell, Esq.—Carloiv County. The
town, village, or hamlet of Castlemore—{with other property.)
Grant from the king to Sir Charles Wilmott, knight.— Carlow
County. The castle and bawn of Carlow, with the site thereof
and the buildings therein ; value, six shillings and eight pence.—
The castle, town, and lands of Chappelstown, containing six cottages, one hundred and twenty two acres arable, and thirty-eight
acres pasture, with the customs of the tenants; Ballibare, containing a ruinous castle, a house, six cottages, sixty-seven acres
arable, three acres underwood, and forty-twro acres pasture and
bog ; Clomulskie, containing a castle, four cottages, sixty-two acres
• For this document, in full, see a few pages forward,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

131

arable, and forty-four acres pasture ; Carrickbroghan, containing six
cottages, eighty-three acres arable, and twenty-three pasture;
Powerstone, containing sixty-six acres pasture; the customs ofsaid
towns ; all parcel of the estates of the abbey of Baltinglass.
King's letter to accept a surrender from Donell Kavanagh
otherwise Spaniagh, of a daily pension of ten shillings ; and to
grant the same pension to Sir Roger Jones, knight, during life.—8th August, 13th.
Surrender by Donell Kavanagh, otherwise Spaniagh, of Clonmullin in Carlow county, Esq. of a daily pension of ten shillings
English.—5th November, 13th.
Pardon of intrusion and alienation for Christopher Cheivers and
his feoffees, for a fine of eighty pounds.—23rd November, 13th.
Grant to George Tutchet, lord Audlay of Heleighcastle in Stafford county, and his heirs male, of the title and dignity of baron
of Audelay of Orier in Armagh county, and earl of Castlehaven
in Cork county, with an annual fee of twenty pounds sterling to
him and his heirs male, in consideration of his military services in
the Netherlands, France, and Ireland, and more particularly at
the siege of Kinsale, where he was severely wounded.—6th September, 14th.
King's letter to restore to Thomas, earl of Ormond and Ossory,
any lands which may have been wrongfully granted to others to his
prejudice; also, to protect the rights of his wife, dame Ellen, and
of his daughter, the lady Elizabeth; also, to receive a surrender
and make him a re-grant of the castle and manors of Kilkenny
and Gowran, the lordships of Tulleophelim and of Arklow, and
the manor of CarrickmagrifFen, with rights and privileges which
are specified, to hold to the earl for life, and after him, to his
nephew, Sir Walter Butler, and his heirs male for ever, who is
heir to the earl in consequence of the death of the viscount
Butler.—29th June, 12th.
Grant from the king to Sir John Davys, knight, attorney
general.*—Carlow county.
The castle, town, and lands of
Cloghna, Rathaskert, Ballibrien, and Ballyvannen, with their
hamlets, containing twenty-seven acres country measure ; rent,
thirteen shillings and four pence—(with grants in other counties).
To hold for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage.
—27th February, 14th.
Grant from the king to Sir Arthur Savage, knight, privy counsellor.— Carlow county. In Carigneslane, seven acres ; in Ballienoioge or Ballimoyoge, and Boggan, twelve acres ; in Ballienvalley and Lanaghteige, twelve acres ; rent, ten shillings Irish ;
in Ballellin, thirteen acres ; in Cloghmony, two and a half acres ;
in Tomdarragh, two and a half acres ; in Rathmoyle, two and a
half acres; lately in the tenure of Donell M'Teige of Tomdarragh ; rent, seven shillings Irish; in Templeneboegh, six acres ;
in Ballon-Iskine, two and a half acres; in Ballicloiro, two and
a half acres, besides the seven acres lately granted to Terence
* Author of the valuable work on Ireland,
R

132

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Birne; in Ballinegreney, one and a half acre, besides the four
acres lately granted to the said Birne, lately in the tenure of Morgan M'Brian Kavanagh, gent.; rent, six shillings and eight pence
Irish ; in the same one and a half acre; parcel of the estate of
Melaghlin O'Rian, attainted ; rent, nine pence Irish ; Bohermore,
Brenshaghbegg, and Lackeran, in the town and fields of Ballinlintie, quarter caruc; rent, two shillings and six pence Irish; in
Balligibbon, three half quarters of a plough land, viz. in Lissneleyn, one quarter, and in Garranekkinardae, half quarter; parcel
of the estate of Morrogh Ivoreh, slain in rebellion; in Cloneogliffin or Cloneoglissin, Lacknyvamey, and Shaereghnrenagh,
quarter caruc, parcel of the estate of Mahowne M c Edmond O'Kenedy, slain in rebellion; in Fidanebegg and Ballinkinashe, half
caruc, parcel of the estate of Owen M'Connor CVClery, slain in
rebellion; in Fedanemore and Ballinkinashe, quarter and eighth
caruc, parcel of the estate of Edmond M'Donogh O'Kery, slain
in rebellion ; in the same, and in Glahasken, quarter caruc, parcel
of the estate of Dermot Roe O'Clery, slain in rebellion; rent,
fifteen shillings Irish—{with grants in other counties). To hold
for ever, as of the castle of Dublin, in common soccage.—21st
February, 12th.
Grant from the king to John Bathe, Esq.—Carlow county.
The tithes of the rectory of Finagh in Idrone; the tithes of the
rectories of Drombaragh, of Killrossenaren, Ballykelly, and Tullaghnebraer, and of Dromphe, two parts of the tithes of the town
of Castlemore; the tithes and altarages due to the vicar and curates,
and the advowsons, knight's fees, & c , and other casualties are
excepted—(with grants in other counties).
To hold from
Michaelmas, 1616, for the term of forty-three years.—24th
April, 15th.
Grant from the king to Sir Anthony Savage, knight, vice-treasurer of Ireland, and privy counsellor.—Carlow county. Ballikeallie, twenty-eight acres country measure ; Bellar or Ballen six
acres, except the glebe lands; Ballewer and Coranpursin, twentyfour acres; Tormene and Ardbirne, twelve acres; Rabeggan,
eight acres; Rathrushe, Ballyvalden, Brishtowne, Balliowdernan,
and Rathbrege, sixty acres ; Ballelion and Ballinvalley, eighteen
acres ; Cappagh, twelve acres ; Corrigan, fifteen acres; Killane,
six acres; Graigloge, twelve acres: the castle, town, and lands
of Graignespeddocke, twelve and a half acres; Bollibrin, five
acres ; Kilcowle, sixteen and a half acres; Srahe, twelve and a
half acres; Ballymullen and Kilpatricke, thirty acres; Ballakerrin, six acres ; Bogandonill, seven acres; Moynicrogh, ten acres ;
Meshell, twenty acres; Locklin, twenty-five acres; Knocknyeny,
five acres; Shanegarry and Killavy, twenty acres; Ballinruish,
twenty acres; Tecollome, eight acres; Lisseconly or Lissenconelly, eight acres ; Cappwater, eight acres ; Ballaghmore, BallyJl edmond, and Killeine, fifteen acres; half of Lessegarvine,
eight acres; Owerney and Nicholston, eight acres, all country
measure; rent, ten poundi Irish ; Grangwatt, seven acres; rent,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

138

three shillings and four pence Irish ; and the tithes of said lands,
being parcel of the estate of the late abbey of Duske—{with
grants in other counties). To hold forever, as of the castle of
Dublin, in common soccage.—20th August, 15th.
Surrender by Dowlinge M*Brian Kavanagh, of a daily pensioii
of two shillings and six pence, Irish*—29th October, 14th.
Grant to Dermot M'Dowlinge Kavanagh of the daily pension
of two shillings and six pence Irish, so long- as he continued to be
a loyal subject, surrendered by his father, as in the preceding
article.—11 th November, 14th,
King's letter for a grant of land in Carlow, Kilkenny, and
Wexford counties, to Edward Butler of the Low Grange in Kilkenny county, Esq.—13th November, 15th.
Grant from the king to Patrick Barnwall of Shankill in l>ublin
county, Esq.—Carlow and Wicklow counties. The tithes of
the towns, villages, hamlets, and lands of Rathville,* Ballyvett,
Walterston, Tobinston, otherwise Ballytobin, Ballywilliam, Knockoye, Lissenevy, and Killranalagh otherwise Killranelogh; the small
tithes, offerings, and all other duties belonging to the vicar excepted; parcel of the estate of David Sutton, late of Castletown,
Kildrought in Kildare county, attainted.—Total rent, ten pounds
Irish. To hold for twenty-one years from last Easter, for a fine
of ten pounds English.—25th July, 15th.
Licence to the following persons to keep taverns, and make
and sell wine and ardent spirits, during life in the following places:
—to Sir Barnaby Brian and Dame Mary his wife,f in the town
and liberty of Carlow.—22nd December, 15th.
Licence to the following persons to keep taverns and sell wine
and ardent spirits, at the following places:—to Nicholas Caffoie of
Laghlin-bridge in Carlow county, and Joane his wife, during
their joint lives, in Laghlin-bridge and two miles round:—to
James Knowles of Carlow, merchant, and Rose his wife, during
their lives, within the town of Tullaghphelim, and two miles
round.—1st April, 16th.
Grant to John Parker of the deanery of the cathedral of
Laghlin or Leighlin, vacant and in the king's gift of full right
with a stall in the choir, and a voice in the chapter.—6th July, 16th.
In order to ascertain the best mode of improving the state of
the country, it was necessary to collect the opinions of intelligent
persons by means of a parliament. The privilege of returning,
members being, however, confined with narrow limits at the accession of James I., an extension of the franchise was desirable.
Accordingly many boroughs were now empowered to send their representatives to parliament, and among the rest we find Carlow,
* Rathvilly.
f This species of grant seems to have been frequently bestowed on persons
of rank; as another instance, Sir William Cole, and dame Susan his wife,
received a similar license for Enniakillen, duriflg the present reign. Very
probably the privilege was rendered lucrative by conferring the power of
granting licences to all other persons.

134

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

the people of which place are indebted to James I. for this second
charter, which was granted in the eleventh year of his reign.
Some information relative to the creation of boroughs at this
period may be collected from the following extract from a letter of
lord deputy Chichester to Sir John Davies, bearing date at Dublin,
14th Aug. 1612 : " In making of the borough towns, I find more
and more difficulties and uncertainties ; some return that they are
but tenants at will and pleasure to certain gentlemen, who have the
fee-farm, or by lease for a few years, so as they are doubtful to
name themselves for burgesses without the landlord's consent; and
the landlord is of the church of Rome, and will return none but
recusants; of which kind of men we have no need, and shall have
less use. Some other towns have few others to return than recusants, and others none but soldiers; so as my advice in that
point is, that you bring direction and authority to make such towns
boroughs only as we think fit and behoveful for the service; and to
omit such as are named, if they be like to be against us ; and to
enable others by charter, if we can find them answerable to our
expectation, albeit they be not in the list sent thither by the lord
Carew, nor returned as allowed there/'
CHARTER. GRANTED BY KING JAMES T H E FIRST TO T H E
INHABITANTS OF CARLOW.

(Translation;)
JAMES the FIRST, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland,

France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, and soforth,
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye,
that as well at the humble request of the inhabitants of the town
of Carlow in the county of Carlow in our Province of Leinster
and Kingdom of Ireland, as also for the purpose of cultivating
and planting those parts in our said kingdom which were depopulated
and laid waste according to the form of our government in our
kingdom of England so happily established of our special knowledge and mere motion with the consent of our right well-beloved
and trusty counsellor, Arthur, lord Chichester of Belfast, our
deputy general of our said kingdom of Ireland, and also according
to the tenor and effect of certain letters under our royal signet and
sign manual, dated at our palace at Hampton Court, the twentyninth day of September, in the tenth year of our reign of England,
France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the forty-sixth, and now
enrolled in the rolls of our chancery of our said kingdom of Ireland,
do decree, declare, and ordain by these presents that the said town
of Carlow, and all and singular, castles, messuages, tolls, mills,
houses, edifices, structures, cortilages, gardens, wastes, soils,
waters, rivulets, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever,
with their appurtenances lying or being in or within the said town
or village or precincts thereof for ever hereafter shall be one entire
and free borough of Carlow, for ever shall be called and named and
all and singular the premises into one entire and free borough of
itself by the name of the borough of Carlow we do erect, constitute,.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

135

make, and ordain by these presents. And further, we will, ordain,
and decree, by these presents, that within said borough of Carlow
there be one body corporate and politique, consisting of one portrieve, twelve free burgesses, and the commonalty, and that all the
inhabitants within the said town and lands for ever hereafter shall
be by virtue of these presents, one body corporate and politique in
deed, fact, and name, by the name of portrieve, free burgesses,
and commonalty of the borough of Carlow, one body corporate
and politique in deed, fact, and name, really and fully for us, our
heirs, and successors ; and that they by the name of the portrieve,
free burgesses, and commonalty of the borough of Carlow shall be
at all times hereafter persons fit and capable in law to have, acquire, receive, and possess lands, tenements, liberties, privileges,
jurisdictions, franchises, and hereditaments whatsoever of whatsoever nature, kind, or species they may be, to them and their
successors in fee and perpetuity : and also goods and chattels, and
all other things of whatsoever kind, nature, or species they be :
and also to give, grant, assign, and demise lands, tenements, and
hereditaments; goods and chattels, to do and execute all and
singular other acts and things by the name aforesaid. And that by
the name of the portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of the
borough of Carlow they may plead and be impleaded, answer and
be answered, defend and be defended, before us, our heirs and
successors, and before any the justices and judges of us, our heirs,
and successors, and others whomsoever, in all the courts of us, our
heirs, and successors, and elsewhere, wheresoever, of and in all and
all manner of actions, suits, pleas, quarrels, complaints and demands whatsoever against them or by them in any manner to be
prosecuted or obtained : and that the said portrieve and free burgesses of the said borough and their successors, for ever may have
full power and authority to elect and return two discreet and proper
men to serve and attend in every parliament in our said kingdom
of Ireland hereafter to be held and that the men so elected, sent,
and returned, shall have full power and authority to consult and
treat of those matters and things which to them and others shall be
declared or expounded, and therefore freely to give their votes and
suifrages and to do and execute all other things as fully as any
other burgess of any other ancient borough in our said kingdom of
Ireland or in our said kingdom of England in the parliament there
have been used to do or execute. Wherefore, we will, and by
these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, we do give and
grant to the said portrieve and free burgesses of the said borough
and their successors, and also order and firmly for us, our heirs,
and successors, command all the sheriffs, officers, ministers of us,
our heirs, and successors whomsoever of our said county of Carlow
for the time being to whom any of our writ or writs for the election of burgesses of parliament within our said county of Carlow
at any time shall be directed, that every such sheriff, officer, or
minister to whom any such writ or writs as aforesaid shall be directed, shall make his precept to the portrieve and free burgesses

136

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

of the said borough of Carlow for the time being for the election
and return of such two burgesses according to the form and effect
of such writ or writs : And these our letters patents or the inrollment thereof shall be as well to the said portrieve and free
burgesses of the said borough and to their successors as to all and
singular the sheriffs, officers, and ministers of us, our heirs, and
successors, whomsoever, a sufficient warrant and discharge in this
behalf. And intending that hereafter it may appear that this new
corporation was first composed of good and honest men, WE do
make, constitute, and name, John Kerton, gent., the first and
modern portrieve of said borough, to continue in the said office
until the feast of St. Michael the archangel next after the date of
these presents; and we do likewise make, constitute, and name,
John Bare, Esq., our serjeant at law, in our said kingdom of Ireland, Sir Robert Jacob, knight, Sir Adam Loftus of Rathfarnham,
Anthony St. Ledger, Peter Wright, William Greatrake, Nicholas
Harman, John Bromfield, John Ely, Robert Whitacre, Robert
Sutton, and Richard Keating, to be the first and modern twelve
free burgesses of the said borough to continue in the said office of
free burgesses of the said borough during their several lives, unless
in the mean time, for misconduct or any reasonable cause they or
any of them be removed from the said offices, and that all the inhabitants of the said town and such and so many other men as the
portrieve and free burgesses of the said towns for the time being
shall admit to the freedom of the same borough we will constitute
and ordain shall be the commonalty of the said borough. And
further we will, that the said John Kerton, whom by these presents
we have made portrieve of the said borough, shall come before our
justices at the next general assizes after the date of these presents,
to be held within our said county of Carlow, and shall in due
manner take as well the oath commonly called the oath of supremacy as also his corporal oath well and faithfully to execute his
office of portrieve of the said borough until the feast of St. Michael
the archangel then next following, as aforesaid; and that the
portrieve of the said borough be annual and elective, and therefore
we will, and by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors DO
GRANT to the said portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of
the said borough and their successors, that the said portrieve and
free burgesses of the said borough for the time being, for ever,
every year at the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist can
and may assemble themselves in any convenient place within the
said borough, and that the said portrieve and free burgesses so assembled or the major part of them before they depart may there
elect one of the more discreet free burgesses of the said borough to
exercise the office of the portrieve for one year from the feast
of St, Michael then next following, and until another of the
burgesses of that said borough into that office shall be in
due manner elected, perfected, and sworn, and that every
portrieve so elected before he be admitted to exercise that or be
considered as portrieve shall take as well the oath commonly cal-

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

137

led the oath of supremacy, as also his corporal oath well and truly
to execute the office of portrieve of the said borough, at the feast
of St. Michael the archangel, next after such his election, before
the portrieve, who the year before had preceded him in that
office. AND WE GRANT full power and authority to every last
predecessor of every portrieve of said borough for the time being
to take the said oath from every such portrieve to be newly elected.
And moreover, of our like special grace, certain knowledge, and
mere motion, we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs,
and successors, do grant to the said portrieve, free burgesses and
commonalty of the said borough and their successors, that if, and
whenever it shall happen that the portrieve of the said borough for
the time being within one year after he be elected and sworn into
the office of portrieve of the said borough as aforesaid shall die,
or in any manner vacate said office, that then, and so often the
free burgesses and commonalty of the said borough and their
successors can and may within the space of fifteen days next after
such vacancy, elect another fit person out of the said number of
free burgesses to be portrieve of the said borough for the remainder of that year to rule and govern said borough, and that every
person or persons so elected to the office of portrieve of the said
borough can and may execute the office of portrieve of the said
borough until the feast of St. Michael the archangel next following
such his election, first taking the oath called the oath of supremacy, and also the oath for the due execution of his office of
portrieve. And further of our special grace, certain knowledge,
and mere motion, we will and by these presents for us, our heirs,
and successors do grant to the said portrieve, free burgesses, and
commonalty of said borough and their successors, that if any of
the said free burgesses of the said borough as aforesaid in these
presents named, or any of the free burgesses of the said borough
hereafter to be elected shall die or be removed from that office
while free burgesses, and every of them for misconduct in that
office, we will shall be amoveable at pleasure of the portrieve,
and the major part of the free burgesses of the said borough for
the time being, that then the portrieve, and the remaining free
burgesses of the said borough for the time being, within seven
days next after the death or removal of such free burgesses can
and may assemble themselves in any convenient place within the
said borough, and that the said portrieve and free burgesses, so
assembled, or the major part of them, before they depart can
and may elect one, or so many as shall be wanting of the said
number of twelve free burgesses, out of the better and more
honest inhabitants of the said borough, into the place or places of
such free burgess or free burgesses, so dead or removed from that
office, to continue in the said office during their natural lives,
unless in the meantime for misconduct, or ill-government, in that
behalf they or any of them be removed, and that every person so
elected into office of a free burgess of the said borough before he
be admitted to execute that office, shall take his corporal oath> well

138

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

and truly to execute his office of a. free burgess of the said borough, within seven days after such his election, before the portrieve of the said borough for the time being, or before the remaining free burgesses of the said borough, then surviving and
remaining in that office, or the major part of them, to which portrieve for the time being, or to which free burgesses or the major
part of them, for the time being, we do give and grant full power
and authority to take the said oath, from every such free burgess
to be newly elected, and so often as the case shall happen. And
further of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion,
we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors,
DO GRANT to the said portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty
of the said borough, and their successors, that they and their
successors, for ever, can and may have hold one court in any
convenient and open place within the said borough, to be held before the portrieve of the said borough, for the time being, and in
the said court to hold pleas on every Monday, from week to week,
of all and singular actions of debt, covenant, trespass, detenue,
contract and personal demands whatsoever, not exceeding the sum
of five marks sterling, which shall arise or happen within the said
borough, or the liberties thereof, and that said court be reputed and
held a court of record for ever. We will also, and of our more
abundant special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by
these presents for us, our heirs, and successors do grant to the
said portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of the said borough and their successors, for ever, that they and their successors, from time to time, as often as they shall think expedient,
can and may meet and assemble themselves in any convenient
place within the said borough and in their meetings there, make,
decree, ordain, and establish, such and the like acts, ordinances,
and by-laws for the good rule and sound government of the said
borough, and the inhabitants thereof, as to them or the major part
of them shall think necessary ; and that they shall have power and
authority by fines and pecuniary mulcts to punish, chastise, and
correct, any persons breaking through such acts, ordinances, and
by-laws, provided said acts, ordinances, and by-laws, fines and
mulcts be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the laws
and statutes of our said kingdom of Ireland. And further, we
will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors,
do grant to the said portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of
the said borough, and their successors, for ever, that they may
have a guild mercatory within the said borough, and one common
seal, engraven with such form and device as to them shall seem
fit, to serve for ever for the affairs of the said borough, and that
they can and may, from time to time, as often as need shall require, out of themselves elect, constitute, and ordain two Serjeants at mace, and the other inferior officers and ministers necessary for the better government of the said borough and the inhabitants thereof, and every person, so from time to time elected,
constituted, and ordained, WE do make, constitute, and ordain to

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

139

be the serjeant at mace and other officers and ministers of the said
borough respectively, and to continue in their offices during their
good behaviour, or at the will arid pleasure of the portrieve, free
burgesses, and commonalty of the said borough ; and that every
such serjeant, officer, and minister before he be permitted to exercise his office, shall take before the portrieve of the said borough,
for the time being, his corporal oath well and truly to exercise his
office. And further of our special grace, certain knowledge, and
mere motion, we will, and by these present for us, our heirs, and
successors, do give and grant to the said portrieve, free burgesses,
and commonalty of the said borough, for ever, that the portrieve
of the said borough for the time being, for ever, shall be the clerk
of the market within the said borough and the liberties thereof, and
shall from time to time have full power and authority to do and
execute all things to the office of clerk of the market within the
said borough belonging or appertaining; so that no other clerk of
the market of us, our heirs, and successors, shall enter into the
borough aforesaid, or the franchises thereof, to do or execute the
office of clerk of the market or any thing to the said office belonging or appertaining, or in any manner interfere with any thing
touching the office of clerk of the market within the said borough,
or the liberties thereof. And further, of our more ample special
grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, WE grant to the
portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of the said borough and
their successors, for ever, that these our letters patent and every
article and clause therein contained, or the enrollment thereof, shall
be construed, interpreted, and adjudged to the best advantage,
benefit, and favour of the said portrieve, free burgesses, and commonalty of the said borough and their successors against us, our
heirs, and successors, as well in all the courts of us within our
said ldngdom of Ireland, or elsewhere, wheresoever, without any
confirmation, licence, or toleration hereafter to be procured or obtained ; notwithstanding that our writ of ad quod damnum hath
not issued to inquire of the premises before the making of these
our letters patents; and notwithstanding any other defect or any
other thing, cause, or matter whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. Because &c. we will also &c. without fine in the Hamper
&c. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be
made patent. Witness our aforesaid deputy general of our kingdom of Ireland, at Dublin, the nineteenth day of April in the
eleventh year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and
of Scotland the forty-sixth,
Nicholas Stafford, bishop of Leighlin and Ferns, governed
these sees three years and eight months, and died on the 15th
November, 1604. He was buried in St. Mary's church Wexford.
His successor was Thomas Ram, born at Windsor, in Berkshire,
and educated firstly at Eton, and afterwards at King's College,
Cambridge; where he took his degree of master of arts. On the
appointment of Robert, earl of Essex, as lord lieutenant of Ireland,
s

140

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Mr. Ram attended his lordship as chaplain, which office he
filled in 1599. In 1601, he became chaplain to Charles, lord
Mountjoy (who succeeded the earl of Essex), by whom he was
presented to the deanery of Cork, and afterwards to that of Ferns.
He also held the offices of rector of St Mary's, Wexford, vicar
of Balrothery, in the diocese of Dublin, and chantor of Christchurch ; which preferments, together with the deanery and chantorship of Ferns, he held with the sees of Leighlin and Ferns.
H e was consecrated bishop of these dioceses at Christ church, Dublin, ori the 2nd of May, 1605, by Henry Ussher, archbishop of
Armagh, (assisted by the archbishop of Cashel and the bishop of
Kildare), the see of Dublin being at that time vacant. It would
seem, that the appointment could not have fallen on a more diligent, pains-taking person, as will fully appear on perusal of the
following minute and interesting report of the state of his ecclesiastical charge, made seven years after his elevation to the superintendence of these sees. It is matter of great regret, that much
of this curious document is defaced, and a great part of it totally
destroyed.
" A TRUE ACCOMPT of t h e BISHOP OF L E I G H L I N AND F E R N S ,

how he hath performed those duties which the right reverend father
in God, the archbishop of Dublin, being his metropolitan, undertook unto his majesty for him and the rest of his suffragans; made
this 1st of September, 1612.*
" Concerning the order and course which I have holden for the
suppression of popery and planting the truth of religion in each
of my dioceses, it hath been of two sorts—-first being advised by
some in authority (unto whom his majesty's pleasure and the state
of those times were better known than unto me) to carry myself
in all mild and gentle manner toward my diocesans and circuits, I
never (till of late) proceeded to the excommunication of any for
matter of religion, but contented myself only to confer with divers
of each diocese both-poor and rich, and that in the most familiar
and kind manner that I could, confirming our doctrines and confuting their assertions by the touchstone of all truth, the holy Scriptures. And for the poorer sorts, some of them have not only discovered unto me privately their dislike of popery and the mass, in
regard they understood not what is said or done therein, but also
groaned under the burthen of the many priests in respect of the
double tithes and offerings, the one paid by them unto us and the
other unto them.
Being then demanded of me why they did not
forsake the mass, and come to our church, their answer hath been
(which I know to be true in some) that if they should be of our
religion, no popish merchant would employ them being sailors, no
popish landlords would let them any land being husbandmen, nor
set them houses in tenantry being artificers, and therefore they
must either starve or do as they do. As for the gentlemen and
those of the richer sort I have always found them very obstinate,
which hath proceeded from the priests resorting unto their houses
* Regal Vis, book in Prerog. off.

Of THE COUNTY OF CARLOw.

141

and company, and continual hammering of them upon their superstitious anvil. Touching the second course, since the time that
his majesty signified his express pleasure that the censures of the
church should be by us practised against recusants after often... .
.
. . . . (torn)
plain and mild manner, but all to no purpose, I
[torn)
.to repair unto their parish church on d a y s . . . .
(remainder of the sheet
destroyed)...........
Sheriff, I caused to be brought before me, hoping then that my
persuasion and reasons, together with their apparent and present
danger, would make them relent; myself prevailing nothing with
them, I entreated their landlord, Sir Henry Wallop, to try what he
could do with them, but all in vain: this done 1 singled them out
one by one and offered each of them this favour to give them any
reasonable time to bethink themselves, upon these conditions, first,
that they would repair to their curate's house twice or thrice a week,
and hear our service privately in his chamber read unto them, next,
that they would put me in good security'for the delivery of their
bodies unto the sheriff, at the end of the time to be granted, if they
conformed not themselves; but they jumped all in one answer as
if they had known before hand what offer I would tender unto
them, and had been catechised by some priest, what answer to
make, viz. ' that they were resolved to live and die in that religion, and that they knew that they must be imprisoned at length,
and therefore, (say they), as good now as hereafter/
" 2. I have continually resided either in the diocese of Ferns or
of Leighlin, sometimes in the one, sometimes in the other, and in
whichsoever myself have been I have exercised the ecclesiastical
jurisdiction in person, when I was not, mine official supplied my
room.
" 3 . Having been about seven years bishop, I have every year
once visited each of my dioceses in person, and have called before
me my clergy in each deanery, and two at least of the laity out of
every parish for sidesmen upon their oaths to detect all the offences and defects of ecclesiastical cognizance committed within their
several parishes, and have accordingly proceeded therein.
" 4. If I be authorized under the seal to tender the oath of allegiance to every man of sort within my dioceses, I am most ready
and willing to put it in execution, to persuade them in the best and
serious manner that I canto take that oath, and duly and truly to
certify the lord deputy from time to time the names both of the
takers and refusers thereof.
" 5. There was never any yet admitted by me or mine official
unto any spiritual living within either of my dioceses, but he did
distinctly with his mouth pronounce and (I doubt not) but truly
and willingly with his heart embrace and take the oath of
supremacy.
i6
6. Having as diligently as I can inquired what priest, &c. resort each of my dioceses, and who are the ordinary harbourers of
them, I . . . . . . . .
«<t • • , • » • • • , • » • , « • • • • • • • • ,

. . » , . . . . . . » . . . .followeth*

142

HISTORY AMJ ANTIQUITIES

In the diocese of Leighlin.*
1. Sir Laghlin Oge, keeping for the most part either at the
house of John Browne in the town of Carlow, or at the house of
Margaret Archer, widow, or at the house of Walter Butler of
Carlow, merchant.
" 2. Sir Murtogh O'Dowling, a vicar general of the diocese of
Kildare coming by starts, harboured at the house of William Dun
of Binnekerry, near Carlow.
" 3. Luke Archer, vicar general for the diocese of Leighlin,
keeping for the most part in Kilkenny; at his coming into the
county of Carlow resorting unto the house of Edmond M'Tirielogh of Ravilly.
" 4. Sir Christopher Priest, sometimes keeping at the house of
Nicholas Caffory of near Leighlin, but I heard not of his resort
thither of late.
" 5. Sir Thomas Reugh, priest, keeping about a twelvemonth
since at the house of Garret M'Teg of Ratellick in the parish of
Killabban : where (his arm being broken) he lay at cure, but since
I have not heard of him.
" 6. Sir Murtogh Dun, priest, coming by starts into this diocese,
but residing ordinarily with his brother James Dun of Dunmannock in the diocese of Kildare.
" 7. One G illoduff, a young priest, roaming hither and thither.
" 8. Sir Patrick Oge, keeping here and there in about the
parish of Tulleghfelim.
" 9 . Sir Thomas Oge O'Hinnagan, frequenting the house of
Garret M'Kilpatrick in the Rahen in the parish of Clonmore.
" 10. Sir Molrony M'Grew, priest, keeping in the parish of
Raville in no certain place that I can yet learn, bnt as his occasions lead him,
" N o popish priest hath ever been admitted either to church
living or cure within either of my dioceses during mine incumbency;
neither (God willing) during my time ever shall.
" All the churches within both my dioceses are builded according to the country fashion, or bonds taken for the building of those
few that are unbuilded, except some few parishes, wherein there
is yet little or no habitation
*
*
. *
6i
Lastly, though I have used my best endeavour according to my
simple skill to reform recusants, yet have I come far short of what
I ought to have done; and I must needs acknowledge myself to
be an unprofitable servant. But by the grace of God, I am what
I am, and by the said grace assisting me, I will endeavour myself daily more and more to root out popery and to sow the seed
of true religion in the hearts of all the people committed to my
charge; which, though I have no hope to effect as I would, yet,
est aliquid prodtre tenus, cum non datur ultra.
" The humble answer of Thomas bishop of Ferns and Leighlin,
to his majesty's instructions and interrogations lately sent unto
the archbishops and bishops of this realm,
4i

• The diocese of Ferns, not pertaining to our subject* is omitted*

143

UF TH*J COUNTY OF CARJL.OW.

"' 1. Touching the first article, I have answered particularly
unto each branch .thereof in my former certificate.
61
2. Concerning the true value of the benefices of each diocese
aforesaid, and the names and qualities of the present incumbents,
they are (so near as I can learn) worth communibus annis as
followeth.*
<c
The bishopric of Leighlin.
" The present incumbent thereof Thomas ilam, holding it by
union with the bishopric of Ferns durante vita, by virtue of his
majesty's letters patent. The annual rent thereof is twentyfour pounds sterling besides the demesnes, which are very large, if
the bishop might enjoy his right. But in respect they are almost
all mountainy grounds, andmuch of them is withholden by the
neighbours thereof, yield very little profit. The detainers of the
demesnes of Old Leighlin are, Sir Richard Butler of Poleston,
knight, Richard Comberford of Ballerloghna, Esq., William Fannynge of Ballecloghna, gent., who taking advantage of rebellion
in these parts, and of the often and long vacancy of this poor bishopric, have detained (and still so do) almost three miles of land
belonging unto it. The encroachers of the manor of Shanecourt
alias Woodstocke in the Queen's county, are, Sir Richard Greame
of Ballelehan, knight, and Piers Ovington of Amorstown, Esq.
who have the one of the one side and the other of the other side,
so encroached upon the said manor, that whereas it consisted of
eight score acres arable land in the fifth year of Edward I. as by
the exchequer then being, his accompt appeareth in the king's rolls,
and so much hath been in possession with the bishop of Leighlin his
tenant within fifty years last past: the^r have left with the house but
one acre of land. If I hoped that these lands could be recovered
in law by any reasonable charge . o
. . . . . . . . . . . (the remainder of this sheet destroyed?) . . . . . . . .
Names
of
Benefices.

Names of the Incumbents.

Annual Annual val.
value in during late
peace. rebellion.
"j6~SterT "UrSterT

Robert Cleere, a reading minister born
in Ireland, having the English, Irish
and Latin tongues
7
V. of Cymolii^The same Cleere holding the same with
the treasurership by union during his
life, according to the ancient custom
of this diocese
10
V. of Sleguffe Ditto,
ditto,..
5
Piers Gorse, an ancient minister born
Archdeacon
in Ireland, skilful in the English, Irish
and Latin tongues, keeping hospitaI lity according to his means
10
V. of Lowron The same Gorse holding the same by
union for life
6
V. of Tullogh Ditto
..
..
.•
—
5 10s.
Preb.oflllard David Ready, a reading minister of Irish
birth, having the English, Irish, and
1 Latin tongues . .
8
V.ofDujileckny jThe same Ready
, 6
Treasurer

* We^omit Ferns*

3

5

%
4
. •

mm

**
..

144
Names
of
Benefices.

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Names of the Incumbents.

Preb. of Tul-[John Parker, bachelor of arts, and a
magymah
I preacher, who was lately admitted
thereunto residing yet at Dublin
Preb. of AholdjRichard Thompson, bachelor of arts,
J and student in Trinity College nearl
[ Dublin
V. of Balleronj Thomas Manly, a reading minister of
I English birth, having the English
I and Latin tongues
V. of Gallen The same Manly, holding it by union,
V. of Berragh James Waddinge, a reading minister of
English birth
V. of Balleelin The same Waddinge, united for life ;
residing within the parish of Balleellin
V. of Kiltinnill Ditto,
ditto, . .
V. of Rathmore John Bradish, residing in Munster . .
{decayed) The same Bradish
V. Temohoe The bishop of Kerry holding it in commendiim
V.ofFontstown Arthur Bladesmith, an English minister, shaving some skill in the Latin
tongue, residing therein
V.Ballyaquillan The same Bladesmith
V. Rahaspeke Ditto, . .
V. of Cloidagh Oliver Keatinge, an ancient reading
minister of Irish birth, skilful in
the English and Irish tongues, residing therein
V. of Killeshin The same Keatinge, holding it by union!
V. of Nowghall Willy am Hilton, a reading minister of
English birth, having some skill in
I the Irish tongue, residing thereon
V. of Monner The same Hilton, holding them by union
V. of Corclone John Mooren, a reading minister of
Irish birth, very ready in the English
and Irish tongues
V. of Killabban The same Mooren, holding it by union
and residing thereon
R. of Temogi Walter Fullan, an ancient reading mi-1
nister of Irish birth, having the English, Irish, and Latin tongues, residing thereon
R . of Tullomoy The same Fullan, holding it by union
R.of Killana Barnabee Ashton, a reading minister!
I of English birth, residing thereon,]
Rectbry of
and teaching school there •
Kilclonebrocke Vacant . ..
{decayed) Walter Skelton .•
I (The remainder of the sheet decayed.)
V. of Shankill JTege O'Curren, a reading minister ofl
I Irish birth, having the English, Irish)
I and Latin tongues . . . .
V. CatherloghjPiers White, a reading minister of Irish
birth, having the English, Irish andi
Latin tongues, residing in same living in Munster by dispensation out]
of the office of faculties ».

Annual I Annual val
value in during late
peace. I rebellion
£ Ster.j £ Ster.
12
7 10*.

5
2
4
12

7
3
2 10*.

9
18

10
2

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLO W.
Names
of
Benefices.

Names of the Incumbents.

145

I Annual ; Annual val.|
value in (during late
I peace. rebellion.

V. of Kelles-lHenry Welsh, a reading minister of] £ Ster.
towne
I Irish birth, having the English, Irish,
and Latin tongues, resident in thei
diocese of Dublin by dispensation
9
out of the office of faculties
V. Clonekine (Thomas Smyth, master of arts and ai
preacher, residing within half a milej
9
of the same
V. of CionekinelDerby O'Horraghan, an old reading!
minister of Irish birth, having the!
English, Irish, and Latin tongues
7
V. of Clonenah |The same Horraghan, holding themj
both by union
V. ofBurroes (David Goode, an ancient reading mi-]
nister of English birth, skilful in the
Irish tongue
The same Goode, holding vthem by
union
{decayed)
Preb. of Cross- Robert Ram, a bachelor of arts
patricke
student at Trinity College near Dub.
V. of Kilcowan]Patrick Kelly, an ancient churchman
of Irish birth, skilful in the English
and Irish tongues, residing therein 10
V. Ramacknee] The same Kelly, holding it by dispen
sation out of the office of faculties.. 15
V. of Maglors James Stafford, an ancient reading mi
nister, residing in the same, and
having the English and Latin tongues 9
R. Kilscowran Adam Hay, as yat but deacon residing
20
thereon
R. ofRoslare Thomas Gallamore, a master of arts and
preacher, residing thereon and keep
30
ing good hospitality
R. of Shanboe||The same Gallamore, holding by dis-l
pensation out of the office of faculties 20
V. of Roslare Richard Reigh, an ancient churchman,]
15
keeping residence and hospitality
{decayed)
Murtogh Mackaparsons, a reading miV.of Millenoch|
nister of Irish birth, having the!
English, Irish, and Latin tongues
R.of Kiltennill James Lee, a master of arts and a]
preacher, lately admitted thereunto,
and to reside thereon very shortly
12
R, of Kilcoman Vacant—it was leased long since with a]
reservation only of
1
R. of Ambrose-! Willyam Underwood, a scholar of six-!
teen years of age or thereabouts
5
towne
1
R. of Kilgarvan John Batison, a scholar aged seventeen
years or thereabouts.
5
{decayed)

" At my first preferment unto these bishoprics, and finding such
want of clergymen within both my dioceses, especially of Leighlin,
that some of the parishioners being by me blamed for carrying
their children to popish priests to be christened; answered (though

146

iJtISTORV AND ANTIQUITIES

rather for excuse, as I found afterwards in that they reformed not
themselves, then for conscience sake) that they were compelled so
to do, in regard that they had no curate of our religion near unto
them; in imitation of th# reverend bishops living in the beginning
of the reign of our late queen of happy memory, I entreated three
or four men of English birth of staid carriage and good report,
being well able to give an account of their faith in the English
tongue, and to instruct the people by reading, to enter orders of the
church, and provided for them first cures among the English parishes, afterward small vicarages which they enjoyed at this time,
and reside upon them. And whereas two or three of the natives
of this country being well able to speak and read Irish unto their
countrymen, sought unto me for holy orders, I thought likewise
fit in the great scarcity of men of that quality to admit them thereunto (being likewise of honest life and well reported of among their
neighbours) and to provide them some small competency of living
in the Irish parts ; furthermore being desirous, severe alteri seculo, by providing a learned ministry which shall be able to preach
nuto the people hereafter, I have also according to the ancient custom of my diocese dispensed with three or four youths of fifteen or
sixteen years of age to hold each of them a church living under
ten pounds in true value, studii gratia, having taken order with the
churchmen adjoining to discharge the cures of the same, and having had a watchful eye over these young men that they did and
do bond fide follow
•'
4
(rest of the sheet mutilated).
may be dealt withal to authorize one or two of the bishop's choice
and nomination for the executing of the writs de excommunicato
capiendo* Next that none be suffered to be gaolers or inferior officers unto them, but such as resort unto our church... .without the
former the excommunicats for matter of religion will hardly be attached ; without the latter they being attached and committed will be
encouraged to continue in their obstinacy.
"Secondly, there being divers impropriations within my dioceses
which have no vicars endowed, whose possessionem are bound by
their leases or fee farms to find sufficient curates; mine earnest
request is that a competent stipend may be raised out of every able
impropriation whereby the curate thereof may be maintained: and
that 'two or three of the impropriations of small value may be
united amongst themselves, if they be together; and a competency raised out of them all so united for an incumbent, but if they
be asunder, that then they may be united to the next parsonage or
vicarage adjoining and contribute towards the bettering thereof:
provided always, that in whichsoever of the united churches divine
service is celebrated, thither all the parishoners of the churches
united be compelled every Sabbath and holyday to repair in their
course and turn. Now the competency which I conceive will be
fittest for the improprietaries to yield, and of the curates to receive^
is the small tithes of every such parish.
T H O . FERNESS AND LEIGHLIN."

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

147

A parliament met at 4&e Castle of Dublin, on the 18th of May,
1613. Among the members, there were one hundred and one
Roman Catholics. The representatives returned from our district
were the following :—
For the county of Carlow: George Bagenal, and Morgan Kavanagh, Esqrg.
For tne borough -of Carlow: John Bere, Esq., serjeant at law,
and Sir Robert Jacob, knt, solicitor general.
The two latter persons were among the first twelve burgesses
of the borough of Carlow.
We take the following report of the proceedings from the
Journals of the House of Commons.
October, 11th, 1614. iThe greater part of the knights, citizens,
and burgesses of the Commons House of parliament being this
day assembled by eight of the clock in the morning, public thanks
were given to God, by Sir John Davies, knight, speaker of the
said house of commons.
October 29th 1014. Mr. George Bagenal moved, that Mr.
Johnson, one of the attornies in the court of Common Pleas,
might be brought into the house, to be punished for arresting him
in Easter term last.
Sir Oliver St. John spoke touching the privilege of the house
for forty days before and forty days after; doubtful of too large.
Sir John Everard, that it is fit to be punished.
Dr. Reeves, with Sir Oliver St. John.
Mr. Fernham, touching his knowledge of the arrest.
Mr. Sherlock, to have the statute pursued.
Mr. Waddinge, the like.
Mr. Crewe, to make a difference between a prorogation and
adjournment.
Sir Charles Nugent, to follow the statute, and that Johnson be
sent for.
Mr. Treasurer, that the statute helps the privilege of the house,
and is to be followed.
It is ordered, that if Johnson can be had here this sitting,
then the serjeant is to bring him in, and the officer that made the
arrest also; but if he be not in town, the warrant to issue for
bringing him in on Monday next.
October 31st, 1614. Mr. Johnson being brought to the bar,
was by the speaker charged for arresting Mr. George Bagenal, a
member of this house, which he confessed, but stuck at the expounding of the statute here, and yet submitted.
Agreed by the house, that Mr. Johnson shall be imprisoned in
the castle during the pleasure of the house, and shall, for his offence, pay unto Mr. George Bagenal the sum of nine and thirty
pounds, ten shillings, sterling; before he be enlarged, or admitted
to his petition for his release.
November 3rd, 1614. Mr. John Johnson's petition was motioned by Mr. Disney, but the speaker acquainted the house with
the former order, that satisfaction must be made before the petition
T

148

HISTORY AND ANTIQfUITIBS

be read, and thereupon Mr. Bagenal acknowledged satisfaction,
and so his petition was read, and the house gave order for his enlargement, but with caution, that before he be discharged, it shall
appear that the said Johnson had either paid unto Mr. Richard
Hadsor the thirty pounds, which Mr. Bagenal paid upon the arrest
unto the said Johnson, in discharge of so much due by him to the
said Mr. Hadsor, or else shall give good security for the said
Mr. Richard Hadsor's satisfaction in that behalf.
November 7th, 1614. In a conference between the lords and
commons, the bishop of Leighlin and Ferns was one of those
who acted for the former.
The second session met on the 18th April, 1615.
May 1st, 1615. Mr. George Bagenal, upon the beginning of
the reading of the bill of Scots, desired that the bill of the natives
might have the precedency in reading.
Sir James Hamilton condescended that the bill for the natives
should have the precedency, and that in old time, Ireland was called Scotia major, and Scotland Scotia minor ; therefore amity to
be betwixt both.
Mr. Justice Sibthorp. That both English, Irish, and Scots
being under one God and one king should be equally capable of
preferment.
.Mr. Annesly. The bills are not denied, therefore he desired
that the blemish should be taken away ; therefore, both to be read
and committed, and the house to be an humble suitor to the king
for repeal of any statute that shall disable any native to be capable of any office in this realm.
2nd May, 1615. In a difference between lord Howth and Mr.
L*utterel, the house agreed that Sir Laurence Esmonde, Sir Adam
Loftus, and Mr. Bagenal,* shall repair to the lord Howth, and
give his lordship notice of the committee's next sitting, and that
bis lordship should there bring all his proofs.
8, May, 1615. The house was this day called, when some of the
members being absent, were fined," and others to lose their wages."
The bishop of Leighlin and Ferns was an active member of this
parliament It was dissolved on the 24th October, 1615. (14).
As already noticed, inquisitions were frequently taken in these
times, in order to ascertain the nature and extent of property appertaining to individuals or corporate bodies. The following inquisitions, taken in this reign, are preserved in the chief remembrancer's office of his Majesty's court of Exchequer, Dublin,
COUNTY OP CATHERLAGH.—JAMES 1
.
Place where taken.
Names of persons, &c.
|
Date.
Thomas,.duke of Norfolk . . .. I 7th June, anno 2 1 Catherlagh.
2 Rathvilly.
tbnoghM^iaaaghCNolane.. .. J3th Sep.
4 Catherlagh.
JofenDongan ..
.. I 28th July
12 I ditto,
EdmondfSt. Leger ..
| 6th May
James Fitz-Pierce
j 16th Jan. 1617 I ditto,
9th June 1617
ditto,
Daniel O'Noland
ditto. .
Maurice Leaghe M'Cahir Cavanaghe 21, Mar. anno. 18
24th Oct. -—20 j The sessions house*
fronat O'Nolane .. .. .. .. |
* Wefindthis name occasionally spetted Bagenal and sometimes BagnalL

OF Tttfc COtJNTY OP CAfcLOW.

149

In 1622, Robert Grace, baron of Courtstown, in the county of
Kilkenny, was the feoffee of the lady Elizabeth Butler, wife of
Richard, earl of Desmond, and daughter and sole heir of Thomas,
earl of Qrmonde and Ossory, K.G. A great number of manors
and other lands in the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, and elsewhere,
were thus assigned to him; forming, altogether, the largest estate then enjoyed by any subject of the united kingdom.*
In reference to the county of Carlow estates of the Ormonde
family, it may be proper to advertise the reader, that in consideration of the eminent services of Peter, earl of Ormond and Ossory^
and of his son James, lord Butler, treasurer of Ireland, in opposing the Geraldines when in rebellion, Henry VIII., by letters
patent dated at Westminister, 23rd October, and 29th year of his
reign, granted to the said Peter and James, the manors, castles,
and towns of Rathvile, Clonmore, Calleghniefelleyne, Kallasne,
Powerstown, and Leighlin, in the county 6f Carlow, for their
lives, or to the longest liver, and the heirs male of the body of the
said Peter for ever, by the service of one knight's fee. This £**ant
was made in the year following the enactment of the statute of
absentees, by which the possession of the county of Carlow was
resumed by the crown.
During this reign, the frequent inquiries regarding the titles to
property gave great dissatisfaction to the generality of the country
gentlemen. This circumstance is not very surprising, as the
tenure of property was thus rendered extremely precarious* Where
no grant, or no inheritance by descent or conveyance in pursuance
of such grant could be produced, the estate was immediately
pronounced the property of the crown. These inquisitions, though
afterwards more extensively called into operation, were at first
applied to cases in which it was obvious the parties had no legal
title to their lands; such as those of the various Irish septs in the
county of Carlow who had intruded on the estates of the duke of
Norfolk
James I. died on the 27th day of March, 1625.

CHAP. XXII.
Retgn of Charles L

A.D. 1625, to A.D. 1649.

Charles, only surviving son of J ames L, succeeded his father.
A case of great injustice and oppression occurred at the commencement of this reign, of which we shall give an account, a*
some of the parties and transactions were connected with our
county. It appears that Phelim MacPheagh Byrne and Bryan*
•Memoirs of the family of Grace. By S. Grace, Esq., F.S.A,

150

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

his son and heir, were seized of certain lands in the county of
Wicklow, of which some individuals of rank wished to become
possessed. Regarding the territory of the father, they were partly
successful, but Bryan the son, defending his property, he and his
brother Turlogh were, by the contrivances of their enemies, committed prisoners to Dublin castle, on the 13th of March, 1625, on
the information of Thomas Archer, Dermot Mac Greffin Kavanagh,
Cahir MacEdmond MacArt Kavanagh, and Turlogh DufFe Kavanagh. The latter person had at a former period plundered the house
and seized the cattle of one of Phelim's tenants; on which Phelim,
who was a justice of the peace and quorum, issued a warrant to
apprehend Turlogh Duffe, who fled into the county of Carlow,
and thence to Kilkenny, where he was apprehended. Through
revenge* and in order to save his life, he then accused Bryan and
his brother Turlogh. Archer did not become informer with so
much readiness. The conspirators against the Byrnes found it
necessary to put him to the torture, by placing him naked on a burningrjridiron, with other cruelties, before they could compel him
to become accuser. On compliance, he obtained his pardon.
Dermot MacGriffin and Cahir Macx\rt, were subsequently executed at Kilkenny; both of whom declared before death,, that
they had falsely accused Bryan and Turlogh Byrne. Such was
the testimony, and such the witnesses against these persecuted men,
and upon this infamous basis' two bills were framed against them,
which bills were creditably rejected by two several grand juries at
Carlow; for which they were prosecuted in the star-chamber and
fined I The Byrnes finally obtained their liberty, but lost a considerable part of their estate.*
In 1626, lord viscount Falkland, (the lord deputy), convoked
an assembly of the nation, for the purpose of granting a more
open toleration of the exercise of the Roman Catholic religion,
with a view to engage its professors in a liberal support of the
state, and in consideration of a large sum of money to be paid to
the king. The Protestant hierarchy, however, firmly opposed
this project^ which they considered dishonourable to the government and detrimental to the interests of religion. They assembled
at the house of the primate, on the 26th of November, 1626,
and drew up the following protest:
" T H E religion of the papists is superstitious and idolatrous,
their faith and doctrine erroneous and heretical; their church, in
respect of both, apostatical: to give them therefore a toleration,
or to consent that they may freely exercise their religion, and profess their faith and doctrine, is a grievous sin, and that in two
respects: for,
<
;
"First, it is to make ourselves accessary not only to their superstitions, idolatries, and heresies, and, in a word, to all the abominations of popery; but also (which is a consequent, of the
former) to the perdition of the seduced (people, which perish in ths
deluge of the Catholic apostacy.
Carte'tf life of Ormonde, vol, i. p, 28,

OF THE COUNTY OF CAR&OW,

151

w

Secondly, to grant them a toleration in respect of any money
to be given, or contribution to be made by them, is to set religion
to sale, and with it the souls of the people, whom Christ our
Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood. And as it is
a great sin, so it is also a matter of most dangerous consequence;
the consideration whereof we commit to the wise and judicious,
beseeching the God of truth to make them who are in authority
zealous of God's glory, and of the advancement of true religion ;
zealous, resolute, and courageous against all popery, superstition,
and idolatry. Amen."
This document was signed by Thomas, bishop of Leighlin and
Ferns, and eleven others. The English house of commons zealously seconded the views of the Irish prelates. A remonstrance
was presented by it to the king, containing sentiments to the following effect: "that the popish religion was publicly professed in
every part of Ireland, and that monasteries and nunneries were
there newly erected, and replenished with votaries of both sexes,
which would be of evil consequence, unless seasonably repressed/'
A period was thus put, at that time, to any extension of the toleration granted to the exercise of the Roman Catholic religion.
But what would the members of the British house of commons of
1626 say, could they now rise out of their graves, and behold
the inhabitants of Ireland, two hundred years afterwards, and
amidst all the light of the nineteenth century still clinging, superstitiously, to their religion, and still erecting ic monasteries, and
nunneries" for its nurture, promotion, and propagation ?
A.D. 1627. On the 8th of February, this year, Edward
Brabazon, baron of Ardee, was granted the title of earl of Carlow; but for some reason, not generally known, Meath was the
place from which his earldom was derived.*
INQUISITIONS IN THIS REIGN.

At Carlow, September, 1625.—Richard late bishop of Leighlin
was seized of Killenu and Garrebrit in county Carlow, and with
the assent and consent of the dean and chapter of the cathedral of
St. Lazarian of Leighlin, by deed dated 8th December, 1589,
granted them to Henry Sheinelde of Fennors-court in said county,
his heirs and assigns for ever.—said Henry, by deed dated 1st
May, 1601, in consideration of a sum of money, conveyed same
lands to Mortagh M'Thlagh Birne of Cloughrousk, and Fferdorrogh O'Gormogane of Grangefort in county of carlow; and aforesaid Mortagh and Fferdorrogh, by writing dated 2nd May, 1602,
granted to Edmond Birne of Cloughrouske, all and singular the
said lands.-r-Held of the king by knight's service.
Symedqy and 'place.—Brien M'Donnogh Kavanagh was seized
of the towns of Ballynlogban, Cowlenaguppog, Aghebick, Corrybegg, and Corrymore, containing two martelands and six pence
land, which premises were in the late reigns, and are now held in
* Cox, Hib. Ang, vol. ii.

152

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

capite, by knight's service, and by four pounds annual rent to
George Bagnoll and his heirs for ever.—He died April, 1619, and
Art Kavanagh his son and heir was of age and married at the
time of his death.
Same day and place.—Morgan Kavanagh was seized of the
castle, town, & c , of Loaram, eighteen acres great country measure,* Kilballyhugh, ten acres, &c.—Said Morgan died 20th
March, 1592, and Gerald Kavanagh, his son and heir, was of
full age and married, at the time of his death.
Same day and place.—Oliver Blaunchvill, son and heir of
Edmund Blaunchvill, late of Milltown, gent., deceased, was seized
of the town of Rathmoell, containing two acres great measure.
Same day and place.—Theobald, viscount Butler of Tulleophelim, was seized of the castle, town, lands of Cloaghgrena,
Garrymore, Mortellestown, Clodagh, Ballytrolle, Rahinordane,
Ballynebrenagh, Ballingowne, Tomard, Tullaghcroyn, Rathorna,
Corraghfin, Conlenekisshye, Langley, Rathbindin, Cloaghkrystig,
Cloghermiske, Ballykevan, Corranloske, Newstonae alias CJoghnoa, Lyehin, Kilbride alias Killinbride, Castlegrace, Ballyrownrye,
and Kilmurry.—William Birne of Oldtown claimed the towns of
Ballynebrennaghe, and Thadeus Nolan of Ballykelly, claimed
the third part of the town of Kilbride.
Same day and place.—Nicholas, viscount Netterville of Dowth,
was seized of the town of Clonegall, Ballypiers, Kildowan, and
BaJJyshearcarraghe, containing one and a half carucate of land, and
granted the premises to Laurence, baron of Lymericke, his heirs
and assigns.
Car low, I2tk March, 1626.—Brien M'Donnoghe Kavanagh
was seized of the rents of Ballynrusshinmore and Ballynrusshinhegg, containing twenty acres of land great measure, and seized
of the town of Ballyteiglieghe, containing eighteen pence land
measure, and one third part of Ballynegreany, containing three
pence land,—Died April, 1619, and Art Kavanagh, his son and
heir, was of full age and married at the time of his death.
Same day and place.— Murrough O'Birne was seized of the
town of Sragh, twelve acres great measure—died the end of
March, 1625.
Same day and place.—Teige O'Rian was seized of a moiety
of Cloghmoonney and Tomdarraghe, containing seven and a half
acres, great measure,+ and thirteen acres same measure in Ballyellin.—Died 23rd November, 1618. Donell O'Rian, son and
heir, was of full age and married, at the time of his death. Held
of the king.
Carlow, 20tk March, 1626—Thomas Colclough, late of Tinterne in county Wexford, knight, James Stanihurst, late of Corduffe in county Dublin, John Allen, late of Fitherd in county
Wexford, and William Campion, late archdeacon of the cathedral
* Each containingfifteenacres of the common measure.
f See preceding note.

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

153

church of Ferns, were seized to the use of Nicholas Bagnall, late
of Donlecknye, in county Carlow, Esq., of the manor of Donlecknye, and town of Donlecknye otherwise Castleboy, Knock mullin, and Moneybegg, containing one marteland; Staplestowne,
Killvenny and Ballykeroge, one mart, Tinrylane and Ballynecarrigg, one mart, Newtowne and Ballynock, half mart, Loncloane,
Ffinnagh and Ballydardane, one mart, Rathortane otherwise Ballyntortane, Ballybegg and Killmacklyn, one mart, Rathcroage, one
sixth mart, Ballybrin, one third mart, Ballybrebbrack,one sixth mart,
Killgreny and Killedane, one fifth mart, Ballyclonetemoge, one
mart, Cloghwalter, one sixth mart, Ballynkillin, one marte, Upperseskin, one third mart, Knockskurr, onethird mart, Domneroe, one
third mart, Clonegidd, one half mart, Rath, one half mart, Ballymoew
and Cannibegg, one half mart, annual rent ten pounds ; of the
town and land of Agha, Boherduffe, and Clonyne, held by Oliver
Eustace, gent., Bohermore and Ballysheane, one mart, Killdrinagh,
half mart, Ballywilliamroe, one mart, annual rent, twenty-two
shillings and eight pence ; of the town and land of Ballygdernyn,
twenty-three shillings, of Ballyhobback, twenty-five shillings,
Tartamwell and Ballybegg, twenty-five shillings, of Ballyknockbane, lands of Ballytomin, one third mart, five pounds, of Shaskenrean, Garramonagh and Ballydowde, land of Killarrigg, one
mart, Killmalapoge, one third mart, thirty shillings, out of Killeny, Donowre, half mart, reversion of Rathvallyvillaine, Killcruitt and Sleguth alias Slyguh, containing two marts on expiration of a lease of years granted to Robert Evers ; five pounds out
of Rathellyn, RaduiFe, one mart, two third lands of Raheden
containing two thirds mart, Ballylowe, Ballygowen, Ballytarsue,
Kijlconnor and Ballybramell, four marts, in expectation on death of
Gerald M'Murtagh Kavanagh, and Joan his wife, reversion of
Killcomyn, half mart, on death of Donat M'Morrough, reversion
of Killshaneclone and Ballyfayne, half mart, on death of Dermot
M'Moriris, Cloncurgwoase, Knocknegowndonagh, Ballynesillagh,
Ballynattin, and Ballynegrann, one onethird mart; forty shillings out of Ballykoppygin and Killcallatrum; forty pence out of
Knockneganough, Kiltennell, Ballymellin, Ballynvally, Keanoga
and Canygbrake, one mart, held byjPatrick Fitzgerald ; Rossedillig,
Keylenarle, Moyvally, Knockroe, Rathannow, Crannagh, Rahindarragh, Killedmond, Rahinquill, and Tomduffe, one mart; reversion of Baflynloghan, Cowlenegappoge, Corribegg, Corrimore,
and Agherick, on death of Art M'Bryan Kavanagh and his heirs
male; Orchard, half mart, Oldtown, half mart, reversion of Parkevespane, and Ballyconnocke, one mart, on death of Cahir Kavanagh and Bryan Kavanagh; reversion on the death of Owen
Byrne, of the lands of Ballyryan, one mart; reversion of Tomgunny, Bohillagh, Walterstown, and Lynkardstown, on death of
Henry Davells and his heirs ; and reversion of Ballyrie, on death
of Bryan M'Griffin.—Aforesaid Nicholas Bagnall by his last will
devised these premises to his brother George Bagnall, and then
died.—Ann Colclough alias Bagnall, was wife of the said Nicholas

154

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

and now lives.—Aforesaid George Bagnall, by grant dated 12th
February, 1607, demised to Tadeo M'Donogh Reagh, Tadeo
M'Morris Leogh, Dermot M'Ffergananym, Roe and Murtagh
M^Teige, the lands of Rahindarragh, Cnochroe, Killedmond, Rathanan, Rahincoill and Killinorba, for the term of eighty-one years.
By another grant, dated 1st July, 1619, demised John Bernard
the lands of Tinrilan, for the term of thirty-one years, annual
rent, fourteen pounds.—By another deed dated 5th March, 1620,
demised to Henry Walrond, the lands of Staplestown, Kilmeyny
and Ballicroage, for the term of one hundred and one years, at the
annual rent of thirty-one pounds six shillings and eight pence.—
By another deed dated 25th March, 1622, demised to Humphry
Cory, the lands of Ballincarrigg, for the term of one hundred and
one years, at the annual rent of thirty pounds.—Aforesaid Thomas
Colclough, John Allen, and William Campion, made a deed,
dated 26th July, 1623, assigning to the aforesaid George all the
premises ; and the said George, by deed dated 20th May, 1624,
conceded the premises to Sir Peter Butler, knight, Patrick Sarsefield, James Butler Fitz-Pears, and Michael Cowly, Esquires,
their heirs and assigns.—Said George made his last will 21st
May, 1624, and died 17th September, 1625.—Walter Bagnall
is his son and heir, and was aged ten years at the death of said
George, and not married.—Held of the king in capite, by
knight's service.
At Catherlogh, 18M October, anno 2.—Walter Archer was
seized of the rectory, parsonage, &c. of Tullephelim, Killkroughaghe, and Rathvill, and by writing dated 22nd March, 1613,
granted Robert Archer Fitz-Walter, of the city of Kilkenny, and
Therlagh Fitz-Thomas Loghlin, of Downemore in the county
Kilkenny, their heirs and assigns of the premises, for the uses contained in the last will of the aforesaid Walter.—Aforesaid Walter
made his last will, 18th July, 1619, and had at the time of his
death, Henry, Archer, Thomas, James, John, Patrick and Catherine, who were all unmarried at the death of their father.—Said
Walter died 4th January, 1625, and said Henry is his son and heir,
of age and married.—Held of the king in capite by knight's
service.
At Catherlogh,20th January, an. 2.—Murtagh Kavanagh was
seized of the castle and town of Lowrame, eighteen acres great
measure, Kilballyhughe, ten acres; and an annual rent of four
pounds out of Rahinenegearaghe, Knockenarran, Dromfeaghe,
Cullintraghe, and other lands in Rahinenegearaghe.—Died 20th
March, 1592.—Gerald Kavanagh was his son and heir, and was
of age at death of said Murtogh, and married.—Held of the king.
At Catherlogh, 3rd September, an. 3.—Murrogh Bifne of the
Sragh was seized of twelve acres of land in the barony of Ffort
O'Nolan in the Sragh and Conamora, and sixteen acres of land in
Killculle, Ballybeg and Monnemolane.—Died March, 1624.—
Held of the king by military service.—Dallagh Birne was his son
and heir, of age and married at the death of aforesaid Murrogh.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAEJiQW.

155

. Same day and place.—Morrogh O' Nolan late of Carrampurcen,
gent, defunct, was seized of twelve acres of land in the barony of
Ffbrt O'Nolan in Carrampurcen. Died 13th September, 1624.-—
Held of the king by knight's service.—Patrick O'Nolan is his son
and heir, of age, and married.—Earl of Ormond has an annual
rent of eight pence from each acre of land of barony of Ffort
O'Nolan:
Same day and place.—Caher O'Nolan late of Ballykelly, was
seized of twenty-five acres of arable land in Ballykelly.—Died
loth-January, 1592.—Held of the king by knight's service.—
Teige O'Nolan is his son and heir, and was of age, and married
at the death of the aforesaid Caher.
At Catherlogh, 22nd April, an. A.—Peter Carew of Leightin, in his lifetime was seized of the town and lands of Aghe, containing half martland, Corbally, half mart, Boherduffe, half mart,
and Cionyne, containing four shillings land.—Per deed dated Dec*
1578, granted all and singular to William Tallan of Agha, and his
heirs male.—Said William died seized of the said premises, 20th
August, 1584.—James Tallan was his son and heir, of age at the
death of the said William, and married ; and by deed dated 10th
August, 1604, granted all and singular the premises, to Oliver
Eustace of Castlemore, his heirs and assigns. Held of the king
by knight's service.
Same day and place.—Brian O'Nolan was seized of the town
and lands of Lauraghteige, containing fifteen acres of arable land,
in the barony of Ffort, and so died, 23rd March, 1626.—Tadeus
O'Nolan is his son and heir, and was aged twenty and a half years
at his father's death, and married. Held of the king by knight's
service.
At Catherlogh, 24th October, an. 6.—Edmond Birne was
seized of the town and land of Sheskinryan, containing one quarter
of a martland, Ballydowde one fourth of a martland, Garmalagh
one fourth of a martland, and Coolroe one half of a martland, and
so died.—Edmond Oge Birne, his son and heir, was of age at the
time of the death of his father, and married.—All the premises held
of the late queen Elizabeth in capite, by knight's service.—Aforesaid Edmond Oge M'Birne, seized of the premises, by deed dated
May, 1622, alienated said premises (with others) to James
M'Owen Bryne, of Sheskinryan in the county of Catherlogh;
•which deed recites alienation to said James, lands of Sheskinryan,
Garmanagh, Ballybody, Cowlroe, Rosmore, Ballyrea, Carrigbegg,
Killinclonebally, Raheragh, and Ballinesragh in county Catherlogh,
Town and lands of Sheskinryan, Ballydowde, Garmalagh, and
Couleroe, held of the late king in capita, by knight's service.
At Wclls.2\si
December, 1631.—Gerrald M'Murtagh Kavanagh in his lifetime was seized of the castle of Rathnegiragh in
county Catherlogh, and of town and lands of Rathnegiragh,
Knocketempan, Ballyvolbrough, Cooletriaghtie, and Dromone,
Drorafeigh, Knockenarran, Corrunrane, Ballyheu, Billoghternane,
and Baliimartine, containing one fourth martland) Lobmeswye, one
u

106

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

half a martland, in town and land of Lowrane, Balligeniell, other*
wise Balligenirly and Banogebeggy, one mart land, in town and
lands of Cloyne and Rahinclony, viz. Ballydonoghie and Clash ganny one fourth of a martland, and in town and lands of KilballykeJly and Carrigin, one half of a marteland; and so seized, by deed
dated 27th October, 39th Elizabeth, granted William Wall and
Edmond O'Doyne, and their heirs, the premises, for certain uses;
which deed states that Gerald conceded to the aforesaid William
Wall of Urchyllin, and Edmund O'Doyne of Catherlogh, all
castles, messuages, &c. in town of Ranigeregh, Ballymorrough,
Knocketompan, DrumfFea, Knockenarran, Corranranee, Killoghternane, Ballymartine, Knockulart, Lyryn, Lobinesuy, Rahin-Cloney, Clonye, Kill vail aghkeh, Mohill, Ballyturne, Ballynvyoke, Raghen, Kyllane, and Aghe-Clare, and rent service, &e.
Aforesaid Gerald was similarly seized in fee, of the town and
lands of Garrichill and Ballyvullen, otherwise Miltown, containing
one fourth of a martland, Castletoune and Ballynockane, one half
of a martland, Shyane, Knocketyane, Rosley, otherwise Rosly,
Vullardmore and Knock-Dromagh, one half of a martland; in
town and lands of Rahinleigh, Beallala, and Tubbergurtim, one
sixth of a martland, in town and lands of Garreightragh, otherwise
Garryart, and twenty acres of the bawn of Ballintrane ; Ballyvogh
twelve and a half acres, moiety of town and lands of Tamplepedder, eight acres, Ballinekelly, one sixth of a martland, five acres
of land in Ffort O' Nolan, called Acranaskahuydy, Acranskeboell,
Acranphiery, Acracat-leaghie and Accranclassaghmore, and in
town and lands of Knockullert and Inshinore, one half of a martland.—Aforesaid Gerald by his deed dated 12th January, 1623,
possessed Walter Sinnott and Dermot M'Dowlin Kavanagh, and
their heirs of all the premises; and said Walter Sinnott and Dermot
Kavanagh, by their deed dated 3rd September, 1630, possessed
said Gerald and his heirs of the premises.—Arthur Kavanagh of
Ballyteigleigh, gentleman, claims the lands of Garrehill, Castletown, and all and singular all manors, castles, lands, &c. of which
aforesaid Gerald M'Murtagh died seized, as next heir to the
aforesaid Gerald.
Same day and place.—Gerrald Murphy was seized of the
town and lands of Knocknecrogh, Kiltennell, Ballincullin, Ballinvally, Kennoge and Carrigleagh, containing one martland, out
of which is paid forty shillings annual rent, to Walter Bagnall of
Dunleekny.—Patrick Murphy is his son and heir, and was of age
at the death of aforesaid Gerald, and married. Held of the king,
by knight's service.
(
) 17//* July, 1632.—-Robert Harpoole of Catherlogh, was seized of the town and lands of Cloghnal, Rathaskart,
Ballybrine, and Ballybannine, containing one and one third of a
mart land, and so seized, the said Robert, by writing dated 9th
June, 1597, conceded the premises to Robert Bowen, John Hovendon, John George alias Barington, and others, for the use of
William Harpoole, son and heir of said Robert, and the heirs

OF T H E C O U t f T Y QF CARLOW.

157

male of his body lawfully begotten, and for defect of issue, for
the use of George Harpoole, his second son, &c.—Aforesaid
William Harpoole, by deed dated 6th April, 2nd year of late king,
demised the premises to Christopher Iverson for a term of three
hundred years. Aforesaid William, by deed dated the 15th November, 1611, demised premises to Robert Ivers for a term of
three hundred years.—Aforesaid William Harpoole died without
heirs male.—Aforesaid George Harpoole and Edward Hunt, by
deed dated 11th August, 1618, conceded premises to
Talbot of Mallahide, Henry Chievers of Mountain, Stephen Luttrell
of Luttrelstown, James Hovington, alias Hovinten, and George
Hovinston, and their heirs*—Aforesaid George Harpoole, by his
beed dated 28th March, 1628, in consideration of forty pounds,
conceded premises to Richard Purcell of Garduffe and his heirs,
with clause of redemption ; and afterwards died 26th February,
16— Robert Harpoole is his son and heir, and was of age at the
death of his father, and married.-—Held of the king by knight's
service.
Catherloghy 2oth October, an. 8.—Dermit O'Curren was
seized of a moiety of the town and lands of Lysmaconly, five
acres, measurement of Ffort O'Nolan.—Died 10th year reign
late king James.—Murrogh O'Curren is his son and heir, and was
of age at the death of said Dermit, and married.—Said Murrogh
after death of said Dermit, was similarly seized of the other moiety of Lysmaconly, five acres, and by his writing dated, 12th
April, 13th of late king, alienated last mentioned moiety of
Lysmaconly, to Thomas Butler, knight and baronet, his heirs and
assigns.— Held of the king by knight's service.
Catherlogh, 22 nd June, 1633.—Pierce Butler and Richard
Comerford Fitz-Thomas were seized, (for the use of the late right
honourable Thomas, earl of Ormonde, his heirs and assigns), of
the town and lands of Tullaghbegg, otherwise Tullaghnemragher,
in county Carlow, containing one dwelling house, monastery,
church, and other edifices, within the precincts of the monastery,
six cottages, and eighty acres of land in the town and lands of
Mallardstown, otherwise Ballirainorte, three great acres parcel of the
monastery aforesaid ; a moiety of Tamplepeder, eight acres, moiety
of Killmaglish, eight acres, in town and lands of Rathdowgin,
twenty acres, of Rathtoath, forty acres, and moiety of Lisgarvan
ten acres.—Thomas, late earl of Ormonde, and Eleanor, countess
of Ormonde his wife, by deed, dated 8th September, 1614, granted
Michael Walsh, (defunct) and others, of these premises and others.
Aforesaid Thomas died 20th November, 1624, without male heirs,
and Elizabeth Preston, countess of Ormonde and Ossory is his
next heir, viz, daughter and heir of Elizabeth Butler, late countess
of Desmond deceased, sole daughter and heir of aforesaid Thomas
late earl of Ormonde and Ossory, who was of age and married.
Died 10th October, 1628.—Elizabeth, the countess, was aged
thirteen years at the time of the death of her mother, and not
married.

158

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Catherlogh, 21st October, 1683.—Henry O'Rian and William O'Rian were seized of the fourth part of one acre of land in
Balliellin, and by deed dated the 10th of June, 1(118, conceded
the premises to Edward Butler of Lowgrange, in the county of
Kilkenny, knight, his heirs and assigns,—Donat M'Murtagh
O'Rian was seized of one acre in Balliellin, and by deed dated
the 24th February, 1623, granted the premises to the aforesaid
Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns.—Cahir M'Murrogh O'Rian
and Donat O'Rian, were seized of one acre and the fourth part
of one acre in Balliellin, and by deed, dated 4th July, 1625,
granted the premises to the aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs
and assigns.—Murragh M'Teige O'Rian was seized of one acre
and the fourth part of one acre in Balliellin, and by deed, dated
31st May, 1632, granted the premises to the aforesaid Edward
Butler, his heirs and assigns.—Daniel M'Melaghlin was seized of
one messuage, one garden and three acres in Balliellin, and by
deed, dated 9th June, 1625, granted the premises to the aforesaid
Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns.—John O'Rian was seized of
five acres in Tomquile, and by his deed, dated the 2nd March,
1628, granted the premises to the said Edward Butler, his heirs
and assigns.—Murrogh O'Mackesie and Elizabeth Mackesie, otherwise Rian, his wife, were seized of one messuage, one garden and
three acres, and by deed, dated 19th July, 1623, granted the
premises to the aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns.—
Thadeus M'Henry O'Rian was seized of the fourth part of one
acre, in Tomdarragh, and by deed, dated 22nd February, 1627,
granted the premises to the aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs and
assigns.—Thomas Butler, baronet, was seized of nine acres of
land in Balliellin, and by deed, dated 1st November, 1630, granted
the premises to the aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns.
Walter, late earl of Ormonde and Ossory, deceased, was seized
of four acres of land in Cloghvony, Balliellin and Tomdarragh,
and by deed granted the premises to Thomas, a younger son of the
aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns.—Moriertagh
M'Walter O'Rian was seized of two acres of land in Balliellin,
and by deed, dated the 20th February, 1632, granted the premises
to the aforesaid Edward Butler, his heirs and assigns. Held
of the king in capite, by knight's service.
Same day and 'place.—Daniel Kavanagh, alias Spaineagh, was
seized of one third of the town'and land of Barragh and Knockbracke, one fifth of Carigue (
) and town and lands of
Monygrogh in county Catherlogn, containing one half of a martand, and by deed, dated 9th July, 1622, granted the premises(with others) to Maurice Kavanagh and Richard Browne, their
heirs and assigns, for certain uses in said indenture specified. He
Was similarly seized of the manor, castle, town and lands of Clonexnullin, Kilboanish, and Tamshomicke, alias Tomshomicke, alias
Cariduffe, containing one martland.—Died 12th March; 1631.—
Morgan Kavanagh, knt., is his son and heir, of age and married.
Eleanor Kavanagh, late wife of said Daniel, now lives.—Held of
the king.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

159

Same day and'place,—James the late king, was seized of one
hundred and four acres arable and pasture land, in the town of
Laghlin, and of two hundred and sixteen acres arable and pasture, in the town of Ballyknockan, and by his letters patent, dated
19th June, in the 19th year of his reign, granted the premises
(with others) to Edmond Medhoppe, Esq. his heirs and assigns.
Aforesaid Edmond, by deed dated 20th June, year aforesaid,
granted the premises to Arthur Savage, late of Castle Kevan
in the county Kildare, knight, his heirs and assigns.—The aforesaid ^late king was similarly seized of thirty-one tenements, one
garden, and one water-mill in Balliknockaw, in or near the town
of Leighlin; and 25th September, year aforesaid, granted the
premises (with others) to Robert Kennedy, his heirs and assigns,
and said Robert, by deed, dated 26th September, year aforesaid,
granted the premises aforesaid to Arthur Savage knt., his heirs and
assigns.—Aforesaid Arthur, by deed, dated 10th December, 1st
year of the present king, granted all the premises to Edward
Bolton, Esq, solicitor general, Robert Weldon, Erasmus Burrows and Maurice Eustace, their heirs and assigns, for certain
uses in said deed specified.—Said Arthur died 13th March last
past. Thomas Savage, knight, is his son and heir, was of age at
time of his father's death, and is married.—To hold of the king.
Catherlogh, 81st October, 1634.—George Bagnall, late of
Dunleckny, in county of Catherlogh, was seized of the town and
lands of Urny, otherwise Nurny, Ballymorrish and Ballyally in
county aforesaid, containing one martland, and by his deed, dated
31st May, 10th year of the late king, feoffed the premises to
Robert Ivers of Cloghna, his heirs and assigns.—Walter Bagnall,
son and heir of George, was aged twelve years at death of his father, and not married.—Held of the king in capite, by knight's
service.
Catherlogh, \%th January, 1636.—The earl of Ormond and
Ossory, lady Elizabeth his wife, and Thomas Comerford, were
seized of the castle of Clonmore, with appurtenances, two hundred
messuages, two hundred cottages, two hundred tofts, five hundred
gardens, one orchard, three thousand acres of meadow, two thousand
acres of pasture, three thousand acres of other descriptions in
Clonmore, Killmacartan, Hacketstown, Ballynefunshage, alias
Constablehill, Ballycullane, Croneskeagh, Ballygallduffe, Ballynekilly, Ballyduffe, Killongford, Raheen, Crewcrim, Tombeigh,
t)romgome and Coolemanagh.—So seized, in the tenth year of
the present king, alienated the premises aforesaid to David Booth,
Patrick Weymes, Gerrald Fennell, M.D. Edward Comerford, and
their heirs and assigns.—Premises held of the king, by knight's
service.
Catherlogh, \5th September, 1637.—Morgan Kavanagh, late
of Borres, was seized of the castle, town and lands of Borres,
with a watermill, Bailyneskin, Ballynegreeng, Ballycloyse, Ballighnegreeng, Downasse, Ballygargg, except portion of Arthur
Kavanagt* in Ballynegreeny, and Ballyngargg, one and one sixth

1(30

HISTORY AND

ANTIQUmES

mart land; Inshinsowkie, Gowlee, Ballyneniong, Gragenedurloge,
Moycullin, Rahineshepeder, Ballyglassin, and Ballyeine one mart,
Cowlenemarre, Ardagh and Ballykeynane, one mart, Nowtown,
Ballyhimucke, Corbally, Baliyowlart, Skehanigh, Knocknesegart,
Knockduffe, Ballyrickevlakee, and Aglebrackan with Ballyhegan
two mart, Knockine, Ballyneclohy, Ballynegreeny, and CarrigJeod one mart, Behanigh, Ballyhumultie, Glannemaccolitan, Tower
and Torragh, one mart, Ballycrunegauneskeagh and Slewdurdee
one half of a mart, Dranagh, Dromyn, Cowlternigh, Ballylevane
and Clownigh, one mart, Polmontie, Glancharry, Rowanmore
and mill of Polmontie, one half of a mart, moiety of St. Moling,
and two parts of Ballyrochan in three parts divided, one third mart;
an annual rent of twenty shillings out of Ballyteigleigh one fourth
of a mart; ten shillings of Rathgrin, Kilmissan, Ballinbranigh,
Ballymurchoe and Knockvalgerine, five shillings of Ballybracke,
Lissulican, and Killmackinnee; ten shillings of Tynecarrigg,
Ballybegge, Tynekille, Killcolynne, Knockbane and Sheskin, and
three shillings and four pence from the third part of Ballyrowchan,
in possession of Melaghlin O'Colitane.—Aforesaid Morgan Kavanagh, so seized, died 19
, 1636. Bryan Kavanagh is his
son and heir, and was of age at the time of his father's death.
On the 25th of July, 1633, the celebrated, highly gifted, but
unfortunate Thomas, lord viscount Wentworth, was sworn lord
deputy of Ireland. t( One whose vast abilities/' says Borlase,
*' the king had had due experience of, therefore constituted him in
this place.''
Parliament met at Dublin, on the 14th July 1634. It was summoned by lord Wentworth, lord deputy.
3rd, December, 1634.— It is ordered upon question by the
House, that the election of Sir Morgan Kavanagh, knight, is held
void, and so adjudged, and that a new writ shall forthwith issue to
the sheriff of the county of Catherlogh for a new election, in lieu
and stead o£ the said Sir Morgan Kavanagh.
5th, March, 1635.—It is ordered that the burgesses of Old
Leighlin and others, shall attend the committee of privileges upon
Wednesday next, to show by what charters or prescriptions they
come to this present parliament.
20th March, 1635.—In the sub-division of the subsidies to the
king by the lord deputy, the county of Carlow was set down at five
hundred and twenty-five pounds, which was this day confirmed by
the house, &c.
10th, April 1635.—It is ordered upon question, that Patrick
Byrne, Callagh Byrne, and Daniel Kavanagh, shall be forthwith
sent for by the serjeant at arms, to answer the wrongs done against
the privileges of this house, complained of by Sir Thomas Butler,
baronet.
16th, April 1635.—It is ordered, upon question, that the witnesses for clearing of the differences between the earl of Ormonde,
and Sir Thomas Butler shall be heard and examined in this house
to-morrow morning, and at the same tinie the serjeant at arms to
bring Edmond M'Shane Butler.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAR LOW.

161

Anew parliament was called by the earl of Strafford, lord lieutenant.
It sat on the 16th March, 1639.
MEMBERS.

Catherlogh—Sir Thomas Butler, Baronet. Oliver Eustace,
Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh—Robert Hartpoole, Esq., Thomas
Harman, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin—Roger
Brereton, Esq. James
Cusake, Esq.
1st Oct. 1640.—Memorandum. This day the knights, citizens
and burgesses of this present parliament again met and assembled
together in the said Commons House; and, after prayers ended,
Sir Maurice Eustace, knight, speaker, ascended the chair.
12th Nov. 1640.—It is ordered, upon question, that the committee or agents appointed by this house to go to England, to
represent the grievances of this kingdom to his most sacred majesty,
shall go at the charge of the country.
26th Jan. 1641.—It is ordered, upon question, that five thousand
and eighty-six pounds is now agreed upon to be levied in the
several provinces of this kingdom, for the supply of the committee
or [agents in England, and that the said five thousand and eightysix pounds shall be levied in the manner following, viz. out of the
county of Catherlogh, sixty-five pounds ten shillings, &c. &c.
4th March, 1641.—Whereas it was ordered by the Commons in
this present parliament assembled, that the sum of five thousand
and eighty-six pounds should be forthwith collected for the charges
of the committee appointed by this house to attend his majesty for
redress of their grievances, and that the said sum should be equally
levied off the lands and rents of the lords spiritual and temporal
and the commons of this kingdom, by consent of the lords' house of
parliament; and also that the charges of messengers to be sent
with despatches into England should be likewise equally borne by
the said lords and commons of this kingdom : now upon report made
of the conference with the lords, it is agreed, and accordingly this
day ordered by this house, that the sum of two thousand four
hundred pounds taxed for the committee of the lords' house, shall
be also equally borne in like manner by the lords spiritual and
temporal and the commons of this kingdom.
An applotment by the second committees for the several provinces of this kingdom, for the levying of two thousand four
hundred pounds allowed to the committee of the lords in England
to be entered amongst the orders of this house, and to be sent
down into the several counties, &c. viz.
County of Catherlogh twenty-five pounds, &c0
25th May 1641.—Upon the humble petition of Sir Thomas
Butler, knight, a member of this house, it is ordered, that the
heir and executor of Ulicke Walle, Esq. late high Sheriff of the
county of Catherlogh, and David Lea, now sub-sheriff of the said
county, are forthwith to give the said Sir Thomas full and present

162

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

satisfaction of his just demands, or else personally to appear here,
and answer in writing unto the said petition.
29th July, 1641.—It is ordered that the petition of Sir Thomas
Butler, plaintiff, and the answer of Edward Walle, son, heir and
executor of Ulicke Walle, late high sheriff of the county of Catherlogh, and Edward Butler, now high sheriff of the said county,
shall be referred to the consideration of a committee, who are- to
report to this house what they conceive fit to be done therein.
And a committee was appointed accordingly.
17th Nov. 1641.—Levying of Forces.
It is ordered, upon question, that the order now read and agreed
upon concerning the levying of forces in every county in this kingdom, & c , shall be entered as an ordinance of this present parliament, and be published, and put in print.
The order for the levying of forces.
Whereas the present condition and danger of this kingdom doth
require from all his majesty's good and faithful subjects of the same
a speedy levy of forces, as well for the defence of his majesty's
crown and dignity, and the persons and estates of his majesty's
faithful people of this realm, as for the opposing and suppressing
of the now disturbers of the general peace and quiet of this land ;
it is therefore this day ordered by the lords spiritual and temporal,
and commons in this present parliament assembled, that it shall and
may be lawful for each county of this kingdom, such as his most excellent majesty or the governor or governors and council of this realm
shall appoint, to raise and continue a convenient number of armed
men of horse and foot, during the present troubles and distresses of
this realm. And that it shall be lawful for any such county to provide
arms and ammunition for the said men, and to appoint commanders
over them for the defence of each of the said counties; and for
his majesty's further service in this kingdom, to assess, collect and
levy as equal as they can such competent maintenance for the support of the said horse and foot in every of* the said counties respectively, and in such manner and form as every of the said coun»
ties, in their discretion, shall respectively think fit. And it is further ordered that the sheriffs of every such county shall assemble
the lords, gentlemen and freeholders thereof, after timely and convenient notice unto them given of the time and place of meeting,
for the speedy accomplishment of the premises, and of all other
things thereunto conducing, as often as the service shall require
the same*
22nd June, 1642.—Memorandum. Forasmuch as it appears
unto this house that persons hereafter named, who were members
of this house, are either in open rebellion or stand indicted of high
treason, so as the said persons are conceived and adjudged to be
rotten and unprofitable members, fit to be cut off, and not worthy
any longer to be esteemed as members of this honorable house; it
is therefore now ordered that all the said undernamed persons shall
stand expelled and excluded from this house, and to be no longer
reputed any member of the same; and it is further ordered, that

GP THE COUNTY OF CARLO W,

163

Mr. Speaker shall issue out warrants to the clerk of the crown of
his majesty's high court of chancery, to issue forth writs for new
elections to be made in the rooms and places of the said under
named persons.
la this list are
" Indicted persons."
Robert Harpoole, B. Catherlogh.
Thomas Davills, B. Old Leighlin.
15th August, 1042.—The house taking into serious consideration the great fidelity, pains, care and expenses of Sir Maurice
Eustace, knight, and speaker of this house, in the service of this
house, and his exceeding great loss by reason of the damnable
rebellion in this kingdom, do order that Mr. Richard Parsons, &c.
are appointed a select committee to go unto the right honourable
the lords justices and council, and present unto their lordships the
humble petition of Sir Maurice Eustace, knight, and speaker of
this house, and humbly desire, in the name of this house, their
lordships' assistance and furtherance therein, according to the request of the said petition, in the most effectual and convenient
way as their lordships shall think fit.
30th March, 1647.—In committee—
That his excellency would command copies of the three letters
from Dundaik, concerning the Lecale regiments, and of Major
Harman's letter, concerning Catherlogh, to be given.
That Captain Plunket hath condescended to send one thousand
pounds towards the relief of this city and other garrisons, and for
the relief of the Lecale men, now at Dundaik * of which sum sixty
,
pounds is paid already for the use of the garrison at Catherlogh.
9th April, 1647.—x\fter prayers read, a letter from Major
Harman was this day read, directed unto the speaker.
It is ordered that the letter of Major Parnian be communicated
unto the committee of security.
14th June, 1647.—Mr. Lewis's report concerning the business
of Mr. Speaker.
And it was the opinion of the house, nullo contradicente, to
be entered amongst the acts and orders of this house, which followeth in his verbis scilicet:
The house understanding that there is a resolution to prorogue
the parliament for some long time> and not knowing when they shall
meet again, did take into their consideration the many good services performed by Sir Maurice Eustace, knight, their speaker,
unto the house, his singular affections to the English nation and
public service, his earnest endeavours for the advancement of the
Protestant religion, the inveterate hatred and malice of the detestable rebels, many ways declared and acted against him, and the
great expenses which he hath been formerly at for the honour and
service 6f the house ; and having at the present no better way of
requital than to convey the memory thereof to posterity, do think
fit, in manifestation of their high esteem thereof, to declare, and
do hereby declare the same to be such as in all times ought tobe

x

1S4

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

remembered for his advantage; and do therefore order that this be
entered amongst the acts and orders of this house.
Parliament adjourned on the 15th June, to the 27th of the
March following.
We have thought it more conducive to clearness, to dispose of
the proceedings of parliament in reference to our county, in a
•connected series. Other interesting and important matter now
claims our attention.
Thomas Ram, bishop of Leighlin and Ferns, died of an apoplexy aj J&ublin, on the 24th November, 1634, in the seventieth,
yej§r of his age* He was interred at Newborough, otherwise
$orey, in the county of Wexford, in a chapel which he] had
greeted on an estate of his own acquisition; which estate, his descendants at present enjoy. He erected the episcopal house at Old
Jpeighlm, and bequeathed a library for the use of his clergy, which
was afterwards totally destroyed in the rebellion of 1641.
Cieorge Andrew, or Andrews, succeeded. He was bora at
P&ventry, in Northamptonshire, was educated at Magdalen college,
^^ford, and afterwards was appointed rector of Dromcliffe, otherwise Ecormack, (in the diocese of Killaloe,) dean of Limerick,
and chantor of St. Patrick's, Dublin. He was consecrated bishop
Q£ Leighlin and Ferns, in S t Patrick's Cathedral, on the 11th
May, 1635, by Launcelot, archbishop of Dublin, assisted by the
bishops of Dromore, Kilniore, and Ardagh. Rarely has it occurred that the. displeasure of persons in power has caused the
promotion of an individual. Such, however, was the fact, in the
case of oishop Andrews. He, it seems, was chairman of the
committee appointed by a convocation of the clergy to consider the
question of the introduction of an exact conformity between the
English and Irish established churches ; and having made some
opposition to the proposed assimilation, he thereby incurred the
severe disfavour of the lord deputy Wentworth, who wrote thus
%the: archbishop of Canterbury, on the 16th December, 1634:—4€
I instantly sent for dean Andrews, that reverend clerk who sat
forsooth in the chair of this committee, requiring him to bring along
the aforesaid book of canons so noted in the margin, together with
the draft he was to present that afternoon to the house. This he
obeyed, and herewith 1 send your grace both the one and the other.
jfot when I came to open the book and run over their deliberandum? in the margin—I confess, I was not so much moved since I
came into Ireland. I told him, certainly not a dean of Limerick,
qui Aijanias had sat in the chair of that committee; however, sure
Lwas, Ananias had been there in spirit, if not in body, with all
th£ fraternities and conventicles of Amsterdam; that I was ashamed
and scandalized with it above measure. J therefore said, he should
leave th^.oppk and draught with me; and that I did command hira
uppn his allegiance, he should report nothing to the house from the
committee, till he heard again from me.—If your lordship think
dean Andrews hath been to blame, and that you would chastise him
for it, make him bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, (Doctor Ramme,

OP THE COtfNTY OF CARLOW.

165

the last bishop, being lately dead), to have it without any other
commendams ; and then I assure you; he shall leave better behind
him, than will be recompensed out of that bishopric, which is one*
of the meanest of the whole kingdom."—The promotion of dfeaii
Andrews immediately ensued. When the rebellion of t€f41 broke:
out, he was obliged to fly to England for safety, where he lived?
obscurely for several years. He died at London, in 104%. and
was buried in St. Clement's church. During his occupancy pf th&
sees, the manor of Fethard, which had been recovered by bishop
Ram, was, in pursuance of an act of parliament, exchanged for
other lands situate nearer to Ferns. On the death of bishop* Andrews, the dioceses of Leighlin and Ferns remained vacant until
the restoration of 1660.*
A melancholy picture is drawn of the state of decay into whicE
the established church had fallen, about the period of the accession
of bishop Andrews. " The church of Ireland/' says> Carte, u was
at this time in a deplorable condition, the cathedrals in many place*
destroyed, the parish churches generally ruined, unroofed or unrepaired, the houses of the clergy left desolate, and their possessions
alienated during the wars and confusions of former times. Most of
the tithes had been appropriated to monasteries and religious houses,
and afterwards vested in the crown, or sold id private persons
and made lay fees. In some dioceses, as in Ferns and Leighlin^.
there was scarce a living left that was not formed out to the patron,
or to some person for his use, at two, three, four or five pounds a
L
year for a long time, three lives, or a hundred years,
The
bishoprics themselves, though many in number, yet but of smalt
revenue, having the greatest part of them been depauperated n*
the change of religion by absolute grants and long leased, (made
generally by the popish bishops that conformed), som£ of them not
able to maintain a bishop, and no good benefice near them to be held
in cofhmendam. Several of them were by these means reduced
to fifty pounds a year."—Wentworth applied himself to the correction and remedy of these evils, and with some success.
A.D. 1639. Richard, second son of the first duke of Ormonde,
was this year created baron of Cloghgrenan, viscount Tulfew, and
earl of Arran. He died without male issue in 1685.
A. D. 1641. It is now our painful task to notice oneof the most
disastrous periods in our annals, when from a state of profound'
peace, and apparent amity, the country was suddenly plunged into all
the horrors of bloodshed and massacre. W e allude to the great rebellion, which broke out on the 23d of October, 1641:. On a primary
view, the dreadful scenes enacted on this occasion seem wholly unaccountable. The Roman Catholics exercised their religion With
nearly as much freedom as was enjoyed by the established church;
the king had exhibited the kindest dispositions towards them, by
concessions recently granted; they were eligible to the oflices of
sheriff of counties, officers of corporations, & c , without being.
•• Harris's Ware. Garte's life of Ormonde*

166

HISTOHY AND ANTIQUITIES

obliged to take the oath of supremacy; and further, the Romisli
part of the population were allied to the English, or Protestants, by
the ties of marriage, friendship, and daily personal intercourse.—
Is it then wonderful, that the cause of the inhuman violence with,
which the former, (under such circumstances), massacred their
unsuspecting, unprepared neighbours, should seem impossible of
divination ? The page of history, however, furnishes a solution \
we there learn the immediate, positive cause; but the man of liberal feeling, who cannot comprehend the blighting, distorting, withering influence of a dark superstition on the human mind, will
always feel unable to conceive, by what process such causes could
have led to such results. Would that we could, with truth, omit allaccounts of the dreadful deeds of these times! Would that we
could blot out atrocities, which are discreditable equally to human
nature, to the country in which they were enacted, and to the people by whom they were perpetrated.
The concocters of this rebellion were the Roman Catholic priests*
and the members of their flock. The former desired to behold
their church ascendant in Ireland, they wished to obtain the tithes,
and other advantages enjoyed by the established clergy, and, in
a word, to raise their religion to its former rank, and themselves,
as its ministers, to their pristine wealth and authority. The laity
had, in consequence of rebellion, been very extensively deprived
of their estates, and now thought they had a favorable opportunity
of effecting a restoration of them.* For the accomplishment of
their objects, both parties deliberately planned a universal massacre of the Protestant inhabitants of the country; thinking that
by a complete extermination of the settlers, they should secure
the kingdom to themselves. And so effectually did they carry their
designs into execution, that according to some authorities, the
number of Protestant men, women, and children, massacred iri
the first three months of the rebellion,, amounted to 154,000 !+—
What must be the principles of a system which leads to such results ? But so long as the dogma, extra ecsJesiam nulla sa/usest,
out of the chureh there is no salvation, with others of like tendency are inculcated, very little value can be placed on the lives of
" heretics." It is matter of great regret, that a people naturally
of many good qualities, should be subject to a system* proved to
be so pernicious to the best interests of mankind.
A leading individual in the rebellion was colonel Richard Plunket, a younger son of Sir Christopher Plunket, of Dunsoghly, who
had married the fourth daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenal, knt.,
marshal of Ulster. He had extensive connections in Leinster,
and had sufficient address to induce not a few of them to join in
the enterprise.
On the 22nd of October, a general meeting of the conspirators
was held, at which were present, lord Maguire, colonels Plunket
and Byrne, Mr. More, and some others, They here made ar* Carte's life of Ormonde, Vol. 1. p, 154.

t Cox. Teaople. IJorlaee*

OF THE COUNTY OF CARL0W.

167

rangements for the execution of their scheme; but colonel Byrne
had observed the absence of Sir Morgan Kavanagh, who had engaged to be present; he, however, assured the rest, that he had no
doubt Sir Morgan would be in attendance on that night, or early
the following morning. In all, there were but eighty of the conspirators present at this meeting ; but the paucity of their numbers
did not deter them from proceeding. They resolved to commence
their work on the next day ; and with this resolution they departed;
but the discovery of the plot obliged them to fly from the metropolis, though it did not check their proceedings in the provinces.
The lords justices (sir William Parsons and sir John Borlase)
seem to have used considerable exertion for the defence of the
state, on being apprised of the intended rebellion. They issued
commissions to the chief persons in each county, authorising them
to levy troops, and attack the rebels; and in order to prove to
the Roman Catholics that confidence was reposed in them, the government issued these commissions to several noblemen and gentlemen of that communion. This act was not, however, productive of any beneficial result, as many, if not all of the Roman
Catholics of rank who were thus honoured, afterwards joined the
rebels.* The following is the form of the commissions thus issued; one of which was addressed to Walter Bagnall, Esq., of
the county of Carlow:—
BY

THE LORDS JUSTICES AND COUNCIL*

W. Parsons.
John Borlase.
" Right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas
divers most disloyal and malignant persons within this kingdom
have traitorously conspired against his majesty, his peace, crown,
and dignity ; and many of them in execution of this conspiracy,
are traitorously assembled together in a warlike manner, and have
most inhumanely made destruction and devastation of the persons
and estates of divers of his majesty's good and loyal subjects of
this kingdom, and taken, slain, and imprisoned great numbers of
them. We out of our care and zeal for the common good, being
desirous by all means to suppress the said treasons and traitors, and
to conserve the persons and fortunes of his majesty's loving subjects here in safety; and to prevent the further spoil and devastation of his majesty's good people here; do, therefore, hereby require and authorise you to levy, raise, and assemble, all, every, or
any the forces, as well footmen as horsemen within the county ot
, giving you hereby, the command in chief of all the said
forces; and hereby further requiring, and authorising you, as commander of them in chief, to arm, array, divide, distribute, dispose, conduct, lead, and govern in chief the said forces, according to your best
discretion; and according to your conscience and discretion to proceed
against them, or any of them, by martial law, by hanging them, or any of
them, till they be dead, according as it hath been accustomed in time of
• Borlase's History of the execrable Irish Rebellion. Lond, 1680. Temple.
Hist, Reb. 6th Edit. Dub. 1724,

168

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

open rebellion; and also to take, waste, and spoil their, or any of
their castles, forts, houses, holds, goods, and territories aforementioned, according to your discretion ; further hereby requiring
and authorising you to do, execute, and perform all, and singular*
such other things for examination of persons suspected, discovery
of traitors and their adherents, parleying with, and granting protection to them, or any of them, taking up of carts, carriages,
and other conveniencies, sending and retaining espials, victualling
the said forces, and other things whatsoever conducing to the purpose aforementioned, as you in your discretion shall thinkfit,and
the necessity of the service require ; further hereby requiring and
authorising you, as commander-in-chief, to constitute and appoint
such officers and ministers respectively, for the better performance
and execution of all and singular the premises, as you in your discretion shall think fit. And we do hereby require, and command,
all and singular his majesty's sheriffs, officers, and ministers, and
loving subjects, of and in this the county of
, and the borders
thereof, upon their faith and allegiance to his majesty, and to his
crown, to be aiding, helping, and assisting to you, in the doing,
and executing of all and singular, the premises ; this our commission to continue during our pleasure only, and for the so doing,
this sball|be your sufficient warrant,
" Given at his majesty's castle of Dublin, Nov. 1641.
" R . DILLON,
To our very good——

J O . TBMPLE.

" J A . W A R E , ROB. MEREDITH."

The earl of Ormonde was appointed lieutenant-general of the
army.
Gn the 21st Nov. 1641, the Kavanaghs of the counties of Cark*w and Wexford, together with the Byrnes and Tooles of the
county of Wicklow, appeared openly in rebellion. Having taken
a fort in the county of Wicklow, they extended their devastations
through the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny.* They next proceeded to the county of Waterford; but were there defeated by
Sir William Sellenger, lord president of Munster.f
The rebels of the north approached to Drogheda, and defeated
the King's forces at Julian's-town on the 29th November, 1641.
TEe disaffected noblemen and gentlemen now conceived that the time
had arrived, when they should take an open and decided course.—
They had long contemplated a defection, and now the favorable
crisis seemed at hand. Lord Gormanston called a meeting of
the county of Meath, and from this meeting may be dated their
evert rebellion ; as their proceedings on the occasion led theni into
violent contact with the government.
And now a general defection took place. " Several gentlemen,"
says Temple^ " who in the several counties of the pale were made
captains, and had received arms from the state for the companies,
departed frdm thei* obedience, and addressed themselves atid thri*
* Borlasc.

t Carte.

m THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

169

companies wholly to the service of the rebels, Nicholas White,
esq., son and heir of sir Nicholas White,* of Leixlip, was the
first that gave the example about the second of December : but he
carried the matter so handsomely, as his company ran away to the
rebels, as he pretended, without his consent, or even his knowledge, any longer time before their departure, than to give him opportunity to come and acquaint the state therewith, and his own
disability to hinder the same; but before it was possible to use any
means of prevention, the men were all gone with their arms and
munition to the rebels; many of the other captains desired nc* such
fine cover for their intentions, but delivered themselves and their
arms up ta be disposed as they should direct, without any farther
scruple or compliment to the state: whereupon the lords finding
how notoriously they were abused by the very great confidence re*
posed in such gentlemen of the pale, as being made captains, had
received arms from them, and perceiving what course they began
now to steer, and how they were resolved to employ their own
arms against them, they took such order, and with such celerity
and diligence, made stay of several of those arms, which were
delivered out for the use of the pale, as of the 1,700 arms distributed among the several counties thereof they recovered again into
their hands, 950."
A commission dated the 23rd December, and seventeenth year
of Charles I., was issued to certain individuals empowering them
to collect evidence on oath touching the murders , outrages, and
depredations committed by the rebels, since the 23rd October,, 1641.
The following persons were appointed commissioners: Henry Jones,
dean of Kilmore, Roger Puttock, Randal Adams, William Muthoek,
John Sterne, William Aldrich, Henry Brereton, and John Watson, clerks*
A considerable mass of evidence was collected in relation to
the county of Carlow under this commission. We make the following extracts:-—
*f Anne Hill, wife of Arthur Hill, in the county of Catherlogb,
deposeth, that as she passed through the county of Wicklow, William the plaisterer, with nine or ten rebels more, pulled off her
back a young child of one year and a quarter old, threw it on the
ground, and trod on it that it died; stripped herself and four small
children, who, by the cold they thereby got, since died.-~$#?0j?ra.
*' The wife of Jonathan Linn and his daughter, weue seized
upon by the rebels near the town of Catherlogh^ carried by them
intoalittle wood called Staple town-wood, and there the mother'was
hanged, and the daughter hanged in thehair of her mother's head, as
is deposed by James Shaw, vicar of Old Leighlin, Jan. 8, 1640.
" James of Hacketstown, in the county of* Catherlogh, deposeth
that an Irish gentleman told him and others, that he turned an
Englishman woman away that was his servant, and had a child,
and that before the poor woman and child were gone half a mile,
•i He received a grant in Carlow co. in the reign of James 1. See p, 129.

170

HISTORY AXD ANTIQUITIES

divers Irish women slew them with stones.—Sworn. April 21 ,
1643.
James Shaw, a minister, deposeth, that after the cessation made
with the Irish, divers of them confessed, the priests had given
them the sacrament, upon condition they would not spare man,
woman, or child, that were Protestants ; and that he heard divers
of these say in a bragging manner, that it did them much good to
wash their hands in the blood of the Protestants which they had
slain.—Sworn. Jan 7, 1643.
u
The examination of Dame Anne Butler, wife unto sir Thomas
Butler, of Rathealin, in the county of Catherlogh, knt. duly
sworn, deposeth,—That after Walter Bagnal, of Dunlickny, in
the county of Catherlogh, Esq., and Walter Butler, with a great
number of men, had in a violent manner entered this deponent's
house, they not able to resist, they set strict guard over this deponent, her husband and family, and brought them from their
settled dwelling unto Loghlin-bridge, where they kept herself,
her husband, and children, in restraint, for two weeks; and from
thence conveyed them, with a strict guard, to Kilkenny, and
there they were brought before the lord Mountgarrot; where
Walter Bagnal and James Butler, brothers to the lord Mount
garrot, did use all means possible to move the said lord to put
this deponent, her husband, and family to death and torture; alleging, that they were rank puritan Protestants, and desperately
provoking, and these words, saying, " there's but one way, we
or they/' meaning Papists or Protestants must perish. To which
malicious provocation the said lord did not hearken. And this
deponent further deposeth, that Walter Bagnal, with his rebellious
company, apprehended Richard Lake, an English Protestant, and
his servant, with his wife and four children, and one Richard
Taylor, of Loghlin-bridge, his wife and children ; Samuel Hatter
of the same, his wife and children; an English woman called Jone,
and her daughter, and was credibly informed by Dorothy Renals,
who had been several times an eye-witness of these lamentable
spectacles, that she had seen to the number of five and thirty
English going to execution; and that she had seen them when they
were executed, their bodies exposed to devouring ravens, and
not afforded so mucl| as burial. Another English woman, who
was newly delivered of two children in one birth, they violently
compelled her in her great pain and sickness, to run from her
child-bed, and took the infant that was left alive, and dashed his
brains against the stones, and after threw him into the river of
the Barrow: and having a piece of salmon to dinner, Mr. Brian
Kavanagh's wife being with her, she, the said Mrs. Kavauagh>
refused to eat any part of the salmon; and being demanded the
reason, she said she would never eat any fish that came out of the
Barrow, because she had seen several infants' bodies, and other
carcasses of the English taken up in the weir.—And this deponent
saith, that sir Edward Butler did credibly inform her, that Jamas
Butler, of Tinyhinch, had hanged and put to death all the English

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

171

that were at Gowran and Wells, and all thereabouts. And further
deposeth, that she being in Kilkenny, a prisoner in restraint, and
having intelligence that some of her own cattle were br-ought thither
by Walter Bagnal, she [petitioned (being in great extremity) to
the lord of Mountgarrot, to procure her some of her own cattle
for her relief; whereupon he recommended her suit to the mayor
and corporation' of Kilkenny; who concluded, because she and
her family were Protestants, and would not turn to mass, they
should have no relief. Jane Jones, servant to the deponent, did see
the English formerly specified, going to their execution; and as
she conceived were about the number of thirty-five ; and was told
by Elizabeth Homes, that there were forty gone to execution,
•• Sworn, 7th September, 1642.

A N N E BUTLER.

6

'John
Watson.
" Patrick Maxwell, of Graige, county of Kilkenny, gent, sworn
and examined, deposeth,—That there were taken out of Graige
by the rebels, and hanged to death, one John Stone and his wife,
and his son; William Valentine; Robert Pym and his wife, one
of their children of a year and a half old, and Thomas White, a
merchant, and his wife, who, being great with child, had her
belly ripped up, after she was hanged, so as the child fell out of
the cawl alive; Walter Sherly; Mrs. Ivan Salter, an ancient
widow; one John, a servant to Stone aforenamed. The rebels
that hanged them were Garret Forrestal, of Knockive, and Gibbon
Forrestal, of Tynyhinch, and the eldest son of Richard Barrow,
alias Fitz- Gerald in, of Knockeen, and divers others whom he
cannot name, all of the county of Catherlogh ; which said Robert
Pym, after he was hanged up twice, proved alive in his grave,
and struck his hand upon his breast, saying, " Christ receive my
soul," and with these words in his mouth was, then and there,
buried quick.*
"George Allibone, late of the town and parish of Hacketstown,
in the county of Catherlogh, gent, now examined, deposeth :—That
about or upon the 22d of November, last, about Ten o' Clock at
night, Edmund M'Dowling, of Killevane, in the county of Wicklow, and Maurice Bane, of Kilkelonah, and Coll M'Gerald Birne,
of Bordhill, both in the said county of Wicklow, with about sixty
persons more, in their company, came to this deponent's house
in Hacketstown, above said, and his said house forcibly entered,
and took away goods belonging to this defendant, viz*, household
provision, butter and cheese, bedding, linen, wearing-apparel,
brass, and other household goods, with about one hundred
pounds. This deponent further saith, that upon or about the 23d
day of the said month of November, a son of Brian M'Phelim of
Carriggerrow, (whose christian name this deponent knoweth not)
of the county of Wicklow, John Ashpoole, of the Tuckmill near
Baltinglass, in the said county, and two of the sons of William
Cooke, of Poddermanagh, in the county of Catherlogh, (whose
christian names this deponent knoweth not), with many others,
* Temple's History of the Irish Rebellion*
Y

172

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

assaulted this deponent upon the high way near Baltinglass above
said, and first disarmed him of his sword and pistol, and then
forcibly took from this deponent cattle worth two hundred and
fifty pounds, alleging that they would and must have them for the
king's soldiers. This deponent further saith, that at his farm of
Killelongford in the county of Catherlogh he left cattle worth fifty
pounds, which by reason of this rebellion he could not bring away,
but yet knoweth not who took them. This deponent further saith,
that he had justly due and owing to him of good debts almost sixty
pounds, part due from such as are now in rebellion, and the rest
being the greater part, from Protestants by the rebels despoiled
and unable to make satisfaction. This deponent further saitb, that
he left behind him at his farm in Hacketstown above said, cattle
worth five pounds, which he is credibly informed were seized upon
by Bran McOwen Birneof Hacketstown above said. This deponent further deposeth, that at the mill of Hacketstown he left and
was despoiled of corn and malt, tools and bedding worth fifteen
pounds, upon which mill he is informed that Peter Wickham of
Talbotstown in the county of Wicklow above said hath entered,
and in it placed a miller. This deponent further saith, that he
was by the said rebellion dispossessed of and driven from one
farm whereon he dwelt, his estate in the farm being worth forty
pounds, and hay and fuel worth twenty pounds—and of one lease,
in Hacketstown above said, which he had let out to two several
tenants, worth eighty pounds, and of one lease at Killclony worth
about one hundred pounds, for that this deponent hath lost in all
by the rebels against our sovereign lord the king, the sum of six
hundred and twenty pounds, besides what he lost by the undue
sale of such cattle as he brought to Dublin, twenty pounds, the
benefit of an increase of rent in a farm near Dublin, worth twenty
pounds. In all lost six hundred and sixty pounds. And further
this deponent cannot say.— Sworn, March, 1st, 1642.
GEORGE

ALLIBONE."*

"John Watson.
Roger Vutiocke."
A. D. 1642. The army being badly provided for in Dublin,
and it being desirable to relieve some forts and towns which had
been seized by the rebels, the earl of Ormonde, lieutenant general,
marched from the metropolis on the 2nd of April, 1642, at the
head of a force of five hundred horse, and eight thousand foot.
Qn the 5th he re-took Athy, and on the following day, Sir Patrick
Wemys was despatched with a detachment to relieve the castle of
Carlow; but on his approach, the rebels, whose force amounted
to seven hundred men, burned the town and fled, fifty of them
being killed in the pursuit- Wemys then succoured the castle,
within which he found nearly five hundred English and Protestants
almost starved. He also relieved the neighbouring castle of Clogh•MSS.inLib. T.C.D.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

173

iprenam Captain Harman afforded valuable aid to Wemys in these
affairs.*
On the 15th of April, an engagement occurred at Blackhaleheath, about twenty miles from Dublin, between the king's forces
under the earl of Ormonde, and those of the confederate Catholics
commanded by lord Mountgarrett, Sir Morgan Kavanagh, colonel
Bagnall, &c. The latter were completely defeated, and Colonel
Kavanagh's head was brought to lord Ormonde after the battle.
16th November. The confederate Catholics ordered thirty-one
thousand seven hundred men to be raised for their service. The
number to be levied in the eounty of Carlow was two thousand
four hundred; of which, forty horse and four hundred foot were
ordered to attend the general army, the remainder to da duty
within the county.
A.D. 1643. Among the various stratagems made use of by the
rebels to embarrass the loyalists, they adopted one for which the
latter were quite unprepared, namely, an order issued to all their
party not to sell provisions to the English even for ready money.
Against this diabolical device, there was at the time no defence ;
and, therefore, many places of strength were deserted by their
wardens. Among the rest, Carlow suffered much in this particular.
In March, the earl of Ormonde and an army of five hundred
horse and two thousand five hundred foot marched from Dublin,
to oppose the rebels who had possessed themselves of the considerable town of New Ross, and other places. Orders were previously given, that provisions for the army should be sent by sea to
Duncannon, and thence by water to Ross ; a step which was rendered necessary by the want of horses and waggons, as well as
the " stony and uneven" state of the roads in the counties of Carlow and Wexford tjirough which they should pass.f On the 4th
the earl took the town of Timolin, with a slaughter of one hundred
of the rebels, and from thence marched to Leighlin-bridge, as if
with the intention to pass the river Barrow; when suddenly turning to the left, and passing through Newtown and the mountainous
parts of the county of Carlow, he crossed the river Slaney, and
reached Ross on the 11th March. J
The rebels having desired that a new parliament might be called,
the judges delivered the following reasons (on the 13th September
1643) against compliance with that request. The melancholy state
of each county is fully depicted in this document:
"

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS,

" According to your lordship's order of the eleventh of Septenv
tember, 1643, we have considered of such inconveniencies, as we
conceive may arise to his majesty, and his service, as affairs now
stand, if this present parliament should be determined, and have
•Cox. Borlase. t Desiderata Curioea Hibernica. Dub. 1772. | Ibid*

174

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

reduced the same to writing, which we humbly present to you?
lordships' further consideration.
" The greater part of the freeholders of this kingdom are now in
actual rebellion, whereby his majesty ought to be justly entitled to
all their estates, both real and personal; this cannot be done but
by their conviction and attainder, either by course of common law,
or by act of parliament. By course of common law it will be very
difficult to be eifected, for these reasons following.
" First, those who are indicted in most of the counties of this
kingdom cannot be attainted by outlawry, by reason that the
sheriffs of those counties, by occasion of the present rebellion,
cannot keep their county-courts, to proclaim, and make due return of the exigence: nor can they be attainted by verdict for
want of jurors, most of all the freeholders in the kingdom being
now in rebellion.
" Secondly, those that are not indicted, or those that are already
indicted, and in prison, or upon bonds, cannot be proceeded against
legally at the common law for want of jurors ; because, as aforesaid, most of the freeholders are in rebellion.
" Therefore of necessity, those persons must either not be attainted at all, or only by act of parliament, which is scarce possible
to be effected, if this present parliament be dissolved, or discontinued ; for that upon a new parliament to be summoned, the knights
and burgesses must be elected by the freeholders and inhabitants
respectively, most whereof are in rebellion. And yet the present
parliament will be discontinued, unless a commission under the
great seal of England to the now lords justices, or other the chief
governor or governors for the time being, be here before the 13th
of November next, being the day of prorogation, for the beginning of the next session of parliament, to enable them to continue
this present parliament; the last commission for the continuance
thereof being only to the lords justices, one whereof is since removed,
4* Unless the parties now in rebellion, being legally attainted,
which cannot be here, as is aforesaid, as the case now stands, but
by act of parliament, his majesty cannot have power to dispose of
their estates, as in his wisdom he shall think fit, either for the
increasing of his revenues, or for the peaceable establishment
of this commonwealth, and indifferent administration of justice
therein.
" R I C H . BOLTON Cancel. G E O . SHURLY, GERRARD LOWTHER,

JA. DONNALON, S A . MAYARD."*

The rebels had at this time gained very considerable advantages.
The earl of Castlehaven had taken Ballenanry and Cloghgrenan,
in our county; the soldiers of the king were badly paid, mutinous,
and oppressive to the people. Under these unfavourable circtrmstances, the marquis of Ormonde thought it prudent to concludes
<jessa€e% of arms; which was accordingly signed on the 15th September, 1643. The lords justices and council ratified the compact;
* Borlase's Hist, of Reb, p. 131.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLO W.

175

they " considering the unsupportable wants and miseries of the
army, the great distress of many of his majesty's principal forts,
the imminent danger of the whole kingdom, and the impossibility of
prosecuting the war without large supplies, whereof they could
not apprehend either hope or possibility in due time, did for those
reasons conceive it necessary for his majesty's honour and service,
that the cessation should be agreed to upon the articles then drawn
up and perfected." The following is one of the articles of cessation : " that the several counties of Catherlogh, & c , shall,
during the said cessation, remain in the hands of the said Roman
Catholic subjects now in arms, & c , and their party, except such
castles, towns, lands, territories, and the lands and hereditaments
thereunto belonging, which upon the said 15th day of September,
1643, at the hour aforesaid, are possessed within the said county,
by his majesty's Protestant subjects, and their adherents, respectively."*
This temporary peace was not satisfactory to all parties among
the rebels. The Romish clergy, the old Irish, and the impoverished portion of the Romanists descended from the English, were
particularly averse to it; as they could never hope to accomplish
their various objects while peace and order prevailed. These parties would, therefore, have gladly broken the cessation immediately
after its consummation. They continued to exclaim loudly against
it; knowing, that should the estated gentlemen of English descent
once lay down their arms, it would probably be difficult to induce
them to embark again in the enterprise ; particularly, if they could
entertain any hope, that their lives and estates would remain secure and untouched, j*
A. D. 1644. The -marquis of Antrim having proposed to raise
a body of troops for the service of the king, arrived in Kilkenny,
on the 23rd February, and made his plan known to the Roman
Catholic council. Upon Antrim's undertaking to raise three thousand men to assist the marquis of Montrose in Scotland, they " resolved to assist him with two thousand muskets, two thousand
four hundred pounds weight of powder, proportionable match, and
two hundred barrels of oatmeal, by the first of May following;
upon knowledge first, that all other accommodations be concurring,
and a safe and convenient port be provided in Ulster, for receiving
the said arms, ammunition, and victual; and upon this further provision, that the said port be commanded by Walter Bagnall, and
the men there to be by him appointed, such as in his judgment
should be thought faithful and observant of just commands/'^ The
marquis of Ormonde, on the part of the king, entertained fsome
suspicions relative to the reservation in the latter clause of this
article, and, therefore, he returned an answer in general terms;
stating, that when their supplies were prepared, a proper place
for their reception would be procured. Considerable ground for
the apprehensions of the marquis arose from the fact, that colonel
• Cox. t Carte's life of Ormonde, Vol. .1. p. 479. J Carte.

176

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Bagnall had some private pretensions to territories at Newry,
and other places in the north. " Bagnall," says Carte, " was
undoubtedly a man of honour, was cousin-german to the marquis
of Ormonde, and had given strong appearances, that he would be
for the king with all his power in case of a rupture with the Irish ;
but it would have been a great prejudice to the king's affairs in
Ulster, to put those parts into the hands of a Roman Catholic,
nor was it prudent to confide them to any one who had such particular pretensions."—The scheme was not acceded to by the
government.
A.D. 1645. John Battista Rinuccini, archbishop of Firmano,
nuncio of the pope, arrived here on the 22nd of October. Well
would it have been for the Roman Catholic laity, had this bigotted,
intolerant, reckless priest never set his foot on the shores of Ireland.
Peace was at this period in contemplation between the belligerents ;
but the nuncio proceeded to Kilkenny, where the Romish council
sat, and used all his influence to prevent a cessation of hostilities;
in which laudable work he was assisted by the clergy of his persuasion. Their efforts, however, were unsuccessful; peace was
concluded. On the 28th of March, 1646, the treaty was signed
by the marquis of Ormonde, on the part of the king, and lord
Muskerry, Sir Robert Talbot, John Dillon, & c , for the confederates ; in the presence of the marquis of Clanricarde, lord Digby,
Sir Maurice Eustace, and Doctor Gerard Fennell.*
The nuncio and the Romish clergy, however, persisted in their
opposition. Their views had been overlooked, their ambitious
desires unattained, their projects unaccomplished; and eager to
realize their objects, without any great regard to the consequences
which must ensue to the laity, these men formally met at Waterford, and issued a most violent manifesto against such of their
flock as had assisted in restoring peace to this unfortunate land.
The following is the document.
f BY THE ASSEMBLY ECCLESIASTICAL OP THE SUPERIOR AND I N FERIOR IRISH CLERGY, MET IN T H E HOLY GHOST AT WATERFORD, BEFORE T H E MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD, THE ARCHBISHOP OF FIRMANO, APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN IRELAND.

*' Upon the question moved among us, and debated for many
days, whether they are to be declared as perjured who do receive
the peace contained in the thirty articles transmitted to us by the
supreme council, and if they be to be excommunicated as perjured
persons ? The reasons and opinions df every one being first heard,
and the writings of some doctors of sacred theology read, it is
decreed nemine contradicente, that all and every one of the confederate catholics, who shall adhere to the like peace, or shall
consent to the maintainers thereof, or otherwise embrace the same,
• One of these articles strongly exhibits the uncivilized state of the
country: " 19; That acts, prohibiting ploughing by horse-tails, and burning
of oata in the itraw, be repealed,"

OF THE COUNTY OP CAHLOW.

177

be held absolutely perjured, especially for this cause, that in those
articles there is no mention made of the catholic religion and the
security thereof, nor any care had for the conservation of the
privileges of the country; as is found promised in the oath; but
rather all things are referred to the pleasure of the most renowned
king, from whom in his present state nothing of certainty can be
had, and the armies, and arms, and forts, and even the supreme
council of the confederate catholics, are subjected to the authority
and rule of state and protestant officers of his majesty, from whom
that we might be secure we took that oath,
" For which, and many other causes, we being moved only in our
consciences, and having God only before our eyes, that it may be
known to all and singular, as well Irish as foreigners, that we have
neither given nor shall give consent to such a peace, unless secure
conditions may be added for religion, and for the king, and for the
country, according to our oath; and that our flocks and all confederate catholics (who in general assemblies sometimes desired our
sentence in this spiritual affair, as only belonging to the ecclesiastical judge) may assuredly know, what hath been by us determined,
that in that sense, they as pious and faithful catholics may concur,
we have demanded this decree to be written, and in all places
published in the English and Irish tongues, and have firmed it
with our hands and seals ; but the other question of excommunication we have reserved to the next session; dated at Waterford the
12th of August, 1646."*
This document is signed by Francis Edmund, Romish bishop
of Leighlin, (who seems to have been a most violent clerical agitator), and several others.
A decree of excommunication (dated at Kilkenny, 5th October,
1646) followed. It was issued by Rinuccini and the ecclesiastical
congregation of both clergies of the kingdom of Ireland ; and was
fulminated against all such as should adhere to the late peace, or
should bear arms for the heretics of Ireland, or aid and assist them.
The marquis of Ormonde left Dublin, for Kilkenny, on the
28th Aug. 1646. On approaching Cashel, on the 10th Sept., he
was informed, that Owen O'Neale, commander of the Ulster
rebels, (who adhered to the nuncio's party and rejected the peace),
was marching towards him. This intelligence was further confirmed, by a letter from Sir Robert Talbot, who advised the marquis to take precautions for securing the ford of Moygany, the
only pass where, without a long march through the counties of
Carlow and Kildare, to Monasterevan, O'Neale's forces could pass
the Barrow in order to join the Kavanaghs, Byrnes and Tooles,
on whom the latter commander relied for much assistance.
While the marquis was considering what course he should adopt,
the earl of Castlehaven came and informed him, that it was the
intention of O'Neale and Preston, the rebel generals, to cut off
his retreat, and that not a moment was to be lost; that he should
Cox. Hib. Ang. vol. ii. Appendix.

173

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

immediately march for Leighlin-bridge, and having there crossed
the Barrow, hasten by forced marches to Dublin, The marquis
despatched orders to major general Sir Francis WilJoughby, at
Gowran, to march with all his forces to Leighlin-bridge, and possess himself of that place. When Willoughby had advanced to
within three miles of Leighlin, he was informed, that colonel
Walter Bagnall, with one hundred men, had secured the castle at
the foot of the bridge. He, therefore, sent two officers to Bagnall,
to learn whether he was to consider him as a friend or an enemy.
Bagnall courteously replied, that the passage over the bridge should
be free, and that he might command any accommodation that the
castle could afford. The major general found the promise fulfilled,
and having crossed the bridge, bivouacked his men in an open
field, where he remained until evening; when, learning that the
marquis of Ormonde had approached near Leighlin, with his horse,
he despatched a courier to inform him, that his men had lain in the
field a considerable portion of the day, that there was not accommodation for them and for the horse by which he was accompanied,
and suggesting, that he should march to Carlow with the foot, and
leave the horse in their present quarters. To this proposition, the
marquis assented, and Sir Francis proceeded late in the evening to
Carlow, where he learned, that Owen O'Neale was marching to
Kilcullen in order to obstruct his progress. Orders were in consequence given, that the troops should march an hour before day
on the following morning, in order to pass that place before
O'Neale could reach i t Sir Francis and his force arrived in Dublin, on the 13th September, 1646.*
The nuncio made a public entry into Kilkenny, on the 18th
September. His first step was to imprison lord Muskerry, and
most of the members of the supreme Catholic council. Other
gentlemen who had been advocates for the peace, underwent similar punishment. Colonel Bagnall was among the number. " The
clergy/' says Carte, ( i delighted with power, assumed the government to themselves : and on the 26th, by a solemn decree, appointed
a new council, consisting of four bishops and eight laymen, ordering all the generals to be subject to their orders, and investing
them with the same power as the former council. The nuncio
took upon himself to be president of this new conncil, and to act
as supreme moderator in temporals as well as spirituals.""
On the 2nd of November, the nuncio, with generals Preston
and O'Neale, 1 made propositions to the marquis^of Ormonde, the
third of which was as follows :
u
That Catherlogh, & c , and all the garrisons within the Protestant quarters, be garrisoned by the confederate Catholics, to
maintain and keep the said cities and places for the use of our
sovereign lord, king Charles, and his lawful successors, and for
the defence of the said kingdom of Ireland/'f
* Carte's life of Ormonde, vol. i,

fDesid. Cur. Hiber.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

i?il

As might be expected, these propositions did not meet concurrence from the lord lieutenant.
General O'Neale having rallied part of his forces, advanced to
support the confederates at Kilkenny, in their rejection of the peace.
General Preston, who now affected loyalty, wrote to the marquis
of Clanricarde, on learning this movement of O'Neale, requesting
that full faith should be reposed in the contents of a letter written
that day, the 10th December, to the lord lieutenant. The substance of this communication was, that general Preston was on his
march to encounter the van of the northern army, and desiring the
lord lieutenant to meet him with bis forces at a certain place.
With which request his lordship complied ; when instead of Preston, he found a letter from him to the marquis of Clanricarde,
stating, " that his officers, not being excommunication proof, were
fallen from him to the nuncio's party, and therefore he advised him
to proceed no farther, but to expect the issue of a general assembly,
that was to be at Kilkenny, on the 10th of January following,
when he doubted not but things would be set right by the consent
of the whole kingdom, which would be much more for his majesty's
service, than to attempt the forcing of a peace upon those that
were averse to it." The marquis resolved to await the issue of
the assembly.
On the 10th of January, 1047, the Roman Catholic assembly
met at Kilkenny. The debates were carried on for three weeks
with great violence, between the advocates of peace and their opponents. The nuncio loudly and dictatorially inveighed against
the peace, last year concluded. " T h e bishop of Leighlin," says
Bel lings, " who always sat upon an eminent bench at the uppei?
end of the house, could, with waving his hat, raise such a storm
from the middle seats, and towards the door, that nothing could
be heard for a long time after, but the repeated thunder of I, or
No, or that name which he first dictated to them."*
Those who advocated the maintenance of the peace, urged the
impossibility of raising supplies to carry on a war; they reminded
the assembly of the great power of the English parliament, with
the navy at its command; and declared their firm conviction,
that no resource was left for their safety but a junction with the
forces of the king, then rapidly declining in power. " There was
a miraculous answer given," says Sellings, " by the same bishop
of Leighlin, who citing that text of Scripture, where Christ raised
Lazarus from the dead, removete lapidem, wished them to observe,
that when our Saviour came to perform that stupendous work, he
gave his disciples no other share in it, than of removing the stone;
so, said he, perform you that which is within your power, remove
the stone, reject the peace, proceed on vigorously, and God will do
the rest, This was the reply given to the premeditated and prudent discourses of many gentlemen, who thought the weight of
the subject deserved more particular satisfaction to the arguments
* Desiderata Cur. Hiber. Bub* 1772.
z

180

HISTORY AXD ANTIQUITIES

concerning it, and those sacred words a more rational interprets
tion; yet you must not wonder if it was cried up, since he spoke
it, who might command applauses with waving his hat."*
An order was made by the assembly, that a declaration might
be drawn up, stating that no culpability attached to those who
concluded the late peace; while the peace, itself, was declared
invalid and of no force to all intents and purposes. Before the
declaration was engrossed, colonel Waiter Bagnall, " a young
man," says Bellings, " who to the nobleness of his birth, and the
plentifulness of his fortune, had added a great stock of valour, and
many excellent parts, took occasion to speak after this manner:—
M B . PLUNKET,

When I consider the weight and importance of the matter now
agitated, I do not wonder that we have spent so many days in the
debate of it, for the house may then be thought to have satisfied
her own wisdom, when all objections are laid open and cleared:
but when I observed men's reasons are rather cried down than
convinced, and that it is an impetuous storm, not a natural tide,
that raises the sea of our passions to so exorbitant an height, I
must confess, I look upon it as a sad presage of the many miseries
(if God prevent them not) which will befai us and our posterity ;
for I appeal to the consciences of all that hear me, if when we
were first compelled (for compelled we were) for safety of our lives
and fortunes, and the defence of our religion, and our king's rights,
to take up arms, we had then, while yet his majesty was in
power, able to dispute his cause with probability of success, with
his rebel subjects of England, been offered less advantageous concessions, we had not joyfully accepted them with a thankful submission to his gracious pleasure : and truly I cannot see that improvement in our condition, if we shall prudently weigh all circumstances, which should make us now less willing to acquiesce.
We have plenty of arms, you will say, which we then wanted;
our armies are formed, and our affairs directed by a constant way
of government; certainly, it cannot be denied, if the comparison
extend no farther than between us and ourselves, and if we make
our inference without having a prospect upon our enemy, and
judging at the same time of the change of his condition, the then
tumults with the new confederate catholics, we have manifold advantages, which we then wanted: but when we shall consider,
that the party in the parliament of England, which hath vowed the
extirpation of our religion, and was then seconded but by the
confused clamours of the multitude at London, hath armies at
present, and the royal fleet at their command; that they who then
were in their dens, and scarce would adventure to hop out of
their nests, do now fly all England over, and that of the two concurrent parties, whose conflict gave us respite to advance thus far
in our work; that party is ready to prevail which threatens our
destruction; when I say we shall maturely weigh this charge to the
* Desiderata Cur, Hiber. Pub, 1772,

0 F THE COUNTY OF CAItLOW.

181

better in our enemies, we cannot be so partial to ourselves, as to
think our state so much improved beyond theirs, that we should
now, upon consideration of that inequality reject those conditions
which we would cheerfully have embraced at first; and it is visibly
manifest, that if we should have inclined to such resolutions at a
time when our king was in a posture to keep the parliament forces
employed, and so to divert this storm from falling upon us, both
our own interest, and the dutiful compassion of our sovereign's
present condition, ought now, in all reason, to move us, by endeavouring to redeem his majesty from his heavy pressures, to lay
everlasting obligations of gratitude upon him, and by assisting his
party in England, to lift up a shield for our defence, which can no
other ways be done, than by accepting this peace, concluded and
published by authority of the kingdom, and by avoiding those
severe punishments which never fail to attend the breach of public
faith. The bitter vengeance which was exacted of the king of
Hungary, for breaking, at the instance of Cardinal Julian, the
pope's legate, that peace which he had newly concluded with
Amurath, the great Turk, ought still to be before our eyes, wherein
the memorable circumstances make it evident, how that crime was
the object of God's indignation, for Amurath had no sooner lifted
up those articles to heaven, saying, Christ, if thou be'est a God,
as the christians do make thee, revenge the violation of thy name,
and this perjury : but the young king who before had so far prevailed, as he believed himself in the possession of the victory, was
instantly repelled, his army entirely defeated, himself overcharged
with armour, drowned in a morass, and his evil counsellor miserably butchered. But now, Mr. Plimket, I shall beg the leave of
the house to recede from the ordinary custom, and to apply my
spirit to the prelates. My lords, there was a time, when our
ancestors, at the peril of their fortunes, and with the danger of
their persons, sheltered some of yon and your predecessors from
the severity of the laws. They were no niggardly sharers with
you in your wants ; and it cannot be said that the splendour of
your present condition hath added any thing to the sincere and
filial reverence which was then shewed you. W e their posterity,
have with our blood, and the expense of our substance, asserted
this advantage you have over them, and reduced the exercise of
your function from the penalties of the law, and your persons from
the persecution to which they were subject. W e are upon the
brink of a formidable precipice, reach forth your hand to pull us
back; your zeal for the honour of God will be thought no way
the less fervent, that you preserve the Irish nation; and your
judgments will not suffer for the attempt, when you give over upon
better information. Rescue us, we beseech you, from those imminent miseries that environ us visibly ; grant somewhat to the memory of our forefathers, and to the affection we bear you ourselves;
let this request find favour with you, made to prevent the violation
of public faith, and to keep the devouring sword from the throatt
of our wives and our children/'

182

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

This sensible address obviously affected some of the bishops, but
their resolutions were too firmly fixed to admit of change. The
peace was accordingly rejected; and thus the lives and properties
of the Romish laity were placed in jeopardy, and eventually, to
a great extent, lost, by the reckless violence and insatiable ambition of their priests.
During the sitting of the assembly, the clergy laid their wishes
before it in writing. They proposed an establishment of popery
all over Ireland, not only in their own, but the Protestant quarters,
the possession of all churches, benefices, and dignities ecclesiastical ; the repeal of the common law so far as it gave the crown
any ecclesiastical power, liberty to erect universities and schools
under their own regulations, to appoint provisions to bishoprics,
dignities, and livings as they had done since the beginning of the
war, and to exercise their ecclesiastical jurisdiction in its full extent. They also demanded a restoration of all the lands formerly
belonging to abbeys, and other religious houses in the kingdom.*
A.D. 1647. Such was now the state of the government in
Ireland, surrounded by enemies ; attacked by the Irish rebels on
the one hand, and in expectation of hostile proceedings from the
English parliamentary forces on the other, that the marquis of
Ormonde, of two evils, chose that of delivering Dublin into the
hands of the latter. Meanwhile the Irish proposed an accommodation, which the marquis rejected, on account of their absurd,
indeed, under the circumstances, we may almost say insane, requirements. Time was, however, thus gained to obtain a supply
of ammunition for the defence of Dublin ; but he received no supplies for the other garrisons 0/ the kingdom. The castle of Car16w was among those most exposed to the enemy; and for its
relief, the marquis borrowed sixty pounds, which he forwarded to
Major Harman for that purpose. A party of fifty men, however,
whom he ordered to the place as a reinforcement, could not obtain
entrance, in consequence ot it having been invested on the night
of April 10th, the very day of the termination of a cessation
which had been agreed on between the parties. The castle resisted the attacks of the enemy till the 2nd of May, when it was
surrendered.t
On the 28th July, the marquis of Ormonde delivered Dublin
to the parliamentary commissioners, and embarked for Bristol,
where he arrived on the 2nd August; but his return being desired
by the military and Protestants, he landed in Ireland on the 30th
September, 1648.
On the 17th January, 1649, the marquis of Ormonde concluded a peace with the Roman Catholics at Kilkenny. This event
however had no salutary influence on the proceedings of the republicans in England; who, on the 30th January, beheaded their
king. Thus ended the unhappy reign of Charles I.
* Carte.

t Ibid,

OF T H E COUNTY OF GARl^OW.

183

CHAP, XXIII.
The interregnum,

A.D. 1649, to A.D. 1660.

T H E republican party, with Oliver Cromwell at their head,
were now triumphant in England. The marquis of Ormonde, in
quality of lord lieutenant of Charles II., continued his exertions in
Ireland for the royal cause.
In this year, Preston, the late rebel general, wished to obtain
the title of earl of Catherlogh, as he had already received that of
viscount Taragh. To this latter distinction, was added a grant of
land to the value of eight hundred pounds per annum, in order to
enable him to support the dignity.
Dublin was held by the republicans, to which it had been delivered by lord Ormonde in 1647. He now resolved to attack that
city, and for that purpose collected all his forces at Leighlin-bridge,
from whence he marched them to Cloghgrenan, where he had a
fortified house. Considerable delay occurred here, from deficiency
in funds ; but the marquis having at length borrowed eight hundred
pounds from Sir James Preston, he was enabled to prevent the
disbanding of his forces.
It seems that a person named Rochfort at this time held a correspondence with Jones, the governor of Dublin; to whom he appears
to have communicated a report of the state and circumstances of
the royal party. In a letter dated 4th June, from Carlow, he
says, that " the soldiers of the army were so secured to Ormonde,
far beyond their expectation, that nothing but a sudden attempt
could prevail against him. None hath been made privy to our
proceedings, but general Preston, his son colonel Warren, and
a few other leading men so far embarked in the work, as a syllable
hath not dropped from any of them. This I gather by Ormonde's
being friendly invited hither to dine on Thursday last, though he
would not (as we suppose, by reason of the caution thence given
him) commit his person to us, without his own guards of horse and
foot; by which advertisement we missed of our last opportunity."*
It appears, that a plan was at this time formed to assassinate the
marquis of Ormonde. Early in June, he departed for Dublin,
where he was defeated by colonel Jones at Rathmines, on the 2nd
of August.
Oliver Cromwell landed at Dublin, on the 15th August
In October, he besieged Wexford. The marquis of Ormonde
endeavoured in vain to succour the place. Perceiving that he could
entertain no hope of success in a battle with Cromwell, he crossed
the Wicklow mountains and rested at Leighlin-bridge. Here he
was informed of the success of the republicans at Wexford.
The Romish clergy met at Clonmacnois, on the 4th of December; when they issued formal acts and declaratipns; all of
• Carte,

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

m

which are signed by Francis Edmund, bishop of Leighlin. But
their acts and declarations were now of no avail; an invincible
force having made its appearance in the land, which finally deprived both royalists and Romanists of the possession of the country.
A.D. 1650. An attack on Kilkenny being meditated by Cromwell, he ordered colonel Hewson, governor of Dublin, to his aid.
In March, the latter left Dublin and took Leighlin-bridge on his
route.
The deputy, general Ireton, now marched with part of the
English army and encamped near Leighlin, where they remained
for a time, finding good quarters for the men and grass for their
horses. They continued to sojourn in this neighbourhood, removing every week or fortnight a mile or two for fresh quarters,
without the occurrence of any remarkable event. About this time,
they drew near to Carlow castle, which was then well fortified,
and had a strong garrison, commanded by captain Bellew, from
whom the deputy frequently received Tetters relating to exchange
of prisoners, and several other concerns. No hostile proceedings
had, however, occurred, nor had any summons been sent to the
governor of the castle. But on receiving intelligence of the success
of the parliamentary force in Scotland, Ireton resolved on more active
service here ; believing that under these favourable circumstances
no forces would be required by the parliament from Ireland. He
immediately forwarded a summons to his neighbour the governor
of Carlow castle, and at the same time constructed a bridge over
the Barrow near the town, over which he conducted part of
the army, and invested the castle. The following is a copy of the
characteristic summons:—
" To the Governor of Carlow Castle,
".SIR,

" W e have been your gentle neighbour hitherto, doing little
more than looking upon you. But the time being come now that
we are like to deal in earnest with your garrison, as effectually and
speedily as God shall enable us. That I may not be wanting in
my part to save any of the blood which may be spilled therein, I
am willing, upon a timely surrender, to give terms to so fair an
enemy, (especially if I find you inclinable to a more peaceable
disposition for the future). I thought good, therefore, to send
you this summons, requiring you to surrender the castle of Carlow,
with the furniture of^ war therein, into my hands, for the use of the
parliament and commonwealth of England, to which I expect your
present answer.
"July the 2nd, 1650,
Your humble servant,
H.

IRETON.''

185

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

To which the Governor returned this answer:
" For the Lord Deputy and Commander of the Parliament
Forces.
" M Y LORD,

" This being your first summons, I am not at this instant prepared to give any answer to it. I desire three days, time
to acquaint the lord bishop of Dromore with your lordship's de^
mands, and in the meantime, that no acts of hostility be committed by your lordship's army, the like being observed by the garrison ; by that time your lordship shall receive the resolution of
Your lordship's servant,
M.

BELLEW."

« Carlow Castle, 3rd of July, 1650.
To this request Ireton acceded ; and then proceeded to Waterford, leaving Sir Hardress Waller, major general of the foot, with
a sufficient force to prosecute the siege of Carlow. Sir Hardress
shortly after drew out two cannon, battered a tower belonging to
the castle, which much discomfited the garrison; after which he
cannonaded the town and took it; when Bellew surrendered and
agreed to the following articles :
t(
T H E ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made and concluded by HENRY
JONES, lord of Clougher, major ANTHONY MORGAN, and lieut.

colonel PHiLrp FERNSLY, for and on behalf of the right honourable
the lord deputy of Ireland, of the one part; and major JOHN
DUNGAN, captain GEORGE DARCY and captain J O H N WODISSON,

on the part and behalf of captain BELLEW, governor of Carlow
castle, on the other part, dated the 24th of July, 1650.
I. That the castle of Carlow, with the artillery, provision, arms,
and ammunition, and all other furniture of war, (except hereafter
excepted) shall be delivered to Sir Hardress Waller, or to whom
he shall appoint, within twenty-four hours after the signing hereof,
major John Dungan and captain George Darcy shall remain as
hostages.
II. That all officers and soldiers within the garrison shall march
with their horses, and marching arms, &c. and have a safe convoy
to Lea castle, and a pass for ten days to march to Athlone, and
carriages allowed them for their goods to said castle, and that the
said carriages be delivered at Lea castle to said convoy.
III. That all the musquets within said town shall be allowed to
march, with each of them one pound of powder, bullet, and match
proportionable.
I V . That the inhabitants of the said town shall have liberty to
live in said town, and enjoy their corn, paying such contributions
as others in their condition.
V". That all manner of persons now in the castle of Carlow
shall have one month's time allowed them for the removal of their
goods, and passes to carry them to what places they shall desire.
VL That George
, servant to colonel Preston, shall have

186

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

liberty to stay in the quarters about Carlow for two months, to
transact his said master's affairs, and have a pass to carry to Waterford such goods, debts, or money as belongs to his said master.
VII. That all manner of persons now in the castle of Carlow,
shall have quarters for their lives and goods.
VTH. That no person shall be arrested, or stay the goods, or
molest the person of any now in the said castle upon any pretence
whatsoever.
•IX. For the full performance of all and every the above articles,
and the article under-written, the parties above mentioned have
hereunto set their hands and seals at the hour of seven in the
morning, July 25th, 1650.
X. That the said carnages and convoy shall be provided within
forty-eight hours after delivering up the castle to such as shall
be appointed by Sir Hardress Waller.
(Signed)
George Darcy, John Dungan,
J oh n Wodisson." *
Cromwell was, as usual successful at Kilkenny, where he was
considerably aided by a party in the town. " This treachery,"
says Carte, " w a s now grown universal, arising sometimes from
the fears of the inhabitants, and sometimes from the corruption,
avarice or cowardice' of the garrisons of the towns; and was the
cause of the loss of the castle of Catherlogh," &c.
The following ^passage appears in a letter of the marquis
of Ormonde in reply to the Romish archbishops of Dublin and
Tuam :—" The rebels have without any considerable resistance
from abroad, taken Catherlogh, &c. The loss of these places
and the want of any visible power to protect them, have
doubtlessly induced many to contribute their substance, and
personal assistance to the rebels ; from which, whether they might
have been withheld by church censures we know not, but have not
heard of any such which issued against them.—From Roscommon^
the 2nd of August, 1650.

ORMONDE."

The castle of Tullow, commanded by colonel Butler, was this
year taken by colonels Reynolds and Hewson.
The Romish congregation at James's-town now levied troops ;
among tbe rest, some horse under Daniel Kavanagh.
The marquis of Ormonde having appointed the marquis of
Clanricarde lord deputy, departed for France, on the l l t h
December.
A.D. 1651. The Romish clergy, still busy in political affairs,
now endeavoured to renew the old confederacy ; and as a preliminary step excommunicated the marquis of Clanricarde, and all his
adherents! to which they added a strict prohibition to their flock
from serving in his army. " The main view/' says Carte, " of
the clergy had always been to cast off the English government,
and to subject the kingdom to some foreign Roman Catholic
* Borlase's Hist. Reb, fol. ed. Dub, 1743, Appendix, p. 26,

18T

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW^

prince."* In pursuance of this policy, the acts against the lord
deputy were confirmed at a synod of the clergy, assembled on the
1 st September, by requisition of the bishop of Leighlin, as senior
bishop of Leinster. He was the only Romish prelate at the meeting, which took place at Balledrohid; but the deficiency was corrected by the admission of fourteen officers of wandering troops,
to the honour of signing their papers. On the 23rd of September,
they appointed an envoy to invite the duke of Lorraine, (a Roman
Catholic), to accept of the office of protector of the kingdom.
This project was confirmed at a subsequent meeting of the clergy
held at James's-town.f As if the duke of Lorraine, even with
the assistance of " the church/' could contend against the immense
power of Great Britain!
In February, 1652, the marquis of Clanricard found it advisable
to retire to England.
Ireland being now completely subjugated by the parliament, its
next step was the appointment of a high court of justice, in order
to bring to trial the perpetrators of the murders and outrages committed in the early stages of the rebellion. Colonel Walter Bagnall
was condemned by this tribunal; " on slight pretences and small
evidence," says Carte. Such was the fatal issue of the barbarous
and inhuman rebellion of 1641, of the fierce contentions in the
land, the reckless, violent proceedings of the Romish clergy, and
the perverse disposition of the rebels.

CHAP. X X I V .
Reign of Charles II.

A.D. 1660, to A.D, 1685.

O N the 8th of May, 1660, Charles II. was proclaimed king.
In affixing the date to all public documents, the years of his reign
were reckoned from that of the death of his father, the late
sovereign.
Parliament sat at Chichester house, Dublin, on the 8th of May,
1661.
MEMBERS.

Catherlogh—Sir J ohn Temple, knt., Master of the Roll?, and
one of the Privy Council.
Borough of Catherlogh—John Temple, Esq., afterwards
knight, Solicitor General.
Thomas Burdett, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin—Sir Francis Butler, knt.
Charles Meredith, Esq.
* Life of Ormonde, vol, ii. p. 126=
2 A

f Ibid.

188
1

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITfES

2nd July, 1661.—Ordered—That this house shall send the
number of eight persons into England, to be agents to attend
upon his majesty, and that the election and nomination of such
persons to be employed shall be by balloting.
12th July, 1661.—Upon consideration had of a'report made from
the committee, appointed to consider of the best expedients for
raising money for supply of the agents to be sent into England, it
is ordered, upon question, that the sum of three thousand three
hundred pounds be forthwith raised towards the present supply of
the agents to be sent into England, and that the members serving
lor each particular county, including the cities and boroughs within
the same, do provide the sum of one hundred pounds; as also the
cities serving in this house for the county of the city of Dublin the
gum of one hundred pounds ; making in all, there being thirty-two
counties, besides the county of the said city, three thousand three
hundred pounds
13th July, 1661.—Memorandum. That the house being called
over, according to the order made yesterday, the members serving
for the county of Armagh, and cities and boroughs within the same,
declared unto the house that they would have the sum of one
hundred pounds in readiness by Monday next being the 15th inst.
The members within the county of Catherlogh did the like for
®m hundred pounds more.
30th July, 1661.—Instructions given to the members of the
house of commons that are appointed to attend upon his sacred
majesty in England, by order of this house.
1. That they do forthwith repair into England, and humbly
present unto his majesty the humble and unanimous address of the
lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in the parliament of
Ireland assembled.
2. That they do represent to his majesty the impoverished and
contemptible revenue of the bishoprics of Kildare, Leighlin and
Ferns, and of Clonfert, and in the name of this house humbly
desire his majesty will be pleased, upon the settlement of this
kingdom, to authorize and command the lords justices of this
kingdom, and other chief governor or governors for the time being,
to make further additional provision out of such forfeited lands as
are excepted out of, or are not intended to be confirmed by his
majesty's declaration, or otherwise, as his majesty shall think fit,
so as the bishopric of Leighlin and Ferns, formerly and now
united, and the bishopric of Clonfert may be severally, worth six
hundred pounds per annum; and that Kildare being the second
bishopric of the kingdom, may have such an addition out of the
provision aforesaid as may make it worth eight hundred pounds
per annum; whereby their maintenance may in some measure be
suitable to that double honour which the law of God gives that
office, and to that dignity which the law of the land and his majesty's grace superaddeth to it; and that the said bishops may renew the patents of those bishoprics with the said additions respectively ; and that the said members further supplicate his majesty

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

189

that all such other bishoprics as are already united may be so
continued ; and also that the said members shall countenance and
assist the agents from the convocation in those matters which relate to the good settlement of the church, the advancement of religion, and in such other particulars as may conduce thereunto.
5. That they render his majesty humble thanks for his gracious
and provident care in securing cities, and all other corporate and
walled towns, in the hands of Protestants; and to supplicate his
majesty that the same, viz, Dublin, Cork, Youghall, Kinsale,
Limerick, Gal way, Waterford, and all other cities, towns corporate,,
walled towns, and all other seaports within this kingdom whatsoever, may be so continued in the hands of and be inhabited by
such who shall manifest their communion with the church of England, by their taking the oath of supremacy ; provided that this do
not invalidate any mercy or favour intended in his majesty's declaration, or any part thereof, to any particular person or persons
included in the said declaration.
31st July, 1661.—Further instructions for the members*to attend upon his majesty.
Ordered, upon question, that the members of this house appointed to attend upon his majesty in England, be impowered to
represent unto his majesty the condition of those persons whose
lots are already fixed, or may hereafter fall upon such unprofitable
lands as are not worth the quit-rents payable thereout unto his majesty, and to recommend the same unto his most gracious consideration, for such remedy and relief as in his great wisdom shall be
thought meet; as also that they do represent unto his majesty the
condition of those persons that took leases from the late usurped
powers, of any houses, lands, tenements or hereditaments whatsoever, from which they are or shall be removed by lawful authority, and that they may have equal satisfaction for their disbursements, in like manner and form as the adventurers and soldiers
are to have by his majesty's late gracious declaration of the 30th
of November last; and the said members are further appointed
humbly to recommend and submit it unto his majesty's consi*
deration, that when all the forfeited lands in the county of Catherlogh are set out to adventurers and soldiers that are removed from
his grace the duke of Ormonde's lands, if any adventurer or soldier,
so removed, shall, through the deficiency of forfeited lands in that
county, remain unsatisfied, according to the said declaration, that
they may be reprized in such way and manner as his majesty shall
think fit.
7th December, 166L—Proposals of both houses to the lords
justices about the Irish, and for preserving the public peace.
To return the thanks of both houses to the right honorable the
lords justices, for that their lordships have been pleased to take
such care of the public peace of this kingdom, and that their
lordships were pleased to acquaint the house with the papers of Jntelligence come into their lordships' hands.
That their lordships would be pleased to take a strict course for

190

6'lSTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

the prohibiting any persons to live in any of the cities, walled
towns, or garrisons of this kingdom, who have been in the late rebellion, or lived in the Irish quarters, except such who are declared
innocent, or otherwise excepted in his majesty's declarations, or
such as their lordships shall license.
That in regard priests, Jesuits, and friars have been the constant
incendiaries of the rebellion in this kingdom, that therefore they,
and those who have been the chief heads of the rebellion, together
with other ill-affected persons, be secured, except such as their
lordships shall think fit to dispense withal.
That trained-bands be established in the respective counties of
this kingdom, and that they may consist only of such Protestants
as are well affected to the present government.
Parliament was dissolved, 8th August, 1666.
Robert Price was appointed to the bishopric of Leighlin and
Ferns in 1661. H e was son of Colonel William Price of Rhewlas,
Merionethshire. He successively obtained the offices of vicar of
Towyn, Merioneth, chancellor of the church of Bangor, dean of
Connor, and chaplain to Thomas, earl of Strafford, lord lieutenant
of Ireland. He held the rank of doctor of laws in the university
of Dublin ; having been educated at Christ-church college, Oxford,
where he took his degree of master of arts. Doctor Price was
consecrated bishop of Leighlin and Ferns at St. Patrick's, Dublin,
on the 27th January, 1661, the letters patent for his creation,
mandate for consecration, and writ of restitution to the temporalities,
bearing date the 15th of the same month. He was permitted to
hold the rectory of Killeban in commen&am> and was granted the
mesne profits from the death of bishop Andrews, He suffered
much for the royal cause, while dean of Connor; by which he had
claims sufficiently strong to procure him promotion. W e are told
by Bishop Dopping, that had he lived, he would have been advanced
to the see of Bangor; but Carte states, that it was St. David's to
which he would have been appointed. He died at Dublin on the
26th May, 1666, and was interred in St, Patrick's cathedral.
Neither monument or inscription was placed over his remains.*
Richard Boyle, doctor of divinity, dean of Limerick, (to which
office he was presented on the 5th February, 1661), succeeded
Doctor Price. He was indebted for his advancement to the favour
of the duke of Ormonde, then lord lieutenant of Ireland. His
promotion took place by letters patent, dated the 7th of June, 1666;
with the rectory of Killeban in commen&am. He was consecrated
in Christ-church, Dublin, on the 10th January following, by
Michael, archbishop of Dublin, and other assisting prelates. H e
died of a palsy at Leighlin in 1682, and was buried in the cathedral
there.
In the important act of settlement and the act of explanatien we
find references to our county. In " His MAJESTY'S GRACIOUS
DECLARATION FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SEVERAL INTER* Harris's Ware.

Willis;

o r THE COUNTY OP CARLQW.
ESTS OF ADVENTURERS, SOLDIERS, AND OTHER

191
HIS SUBJECTS

THERE,"* we read as follows :
" And that such adventurer, soldier, or other persons, who
have been, or shall be removed from the estate of Jame3, lord
marquess of Ormonde, lord steward of our household, for what
he possest thereof, for adventure or arrears, shall be reprized in
the county of Catherlough for the same; every person so to be
removed shall not be accomptable for the profits he received, whilst
he or they enjoyed such estates,
" Given at our court at Whitehall the 30th day of
Nov. 1660. In the twelfth year of our reign.'*
In " INSTRUCTIONS TO

COMMISSIONERS/'

" And to the end you may the more readily proceed in reprizing such as in our said declaration are to be reprized, being to
be removed from off the estate of any person or persons to be
restored to their former estates, you are forthwith to make up books
of all the forfeited undisposed lands in Ireland, and not before
assigned for satisfaction of the deficient adventurers, or reprizing
the adventurers and soldiers, the incumbrances on their estates, in
which you are carefully to set down all the forfeited lands in the
county of CATHERLAGH by themselves, and all the forfeited lands
in the baronies of Barrimore and Muskry by themselves ; the one
being appointed for the reprizal of such as are removed from off
the estate of James, lord marquess of Ormonde, lord steward of
our household, and the other to satisfy decrees of the innocent
papists inhabitants of Cork, Youghal, and Kinsale; in the doing
whereof, you are to appoint what quarter or point of the said
county of CATHERLAGH, and the said baronies of Barrimore and
Muskry to begin withal, and accordingly to make up the said book
or catalogue of the said lands by way of contiguity, with as much
indifference and impartiality as may be.
" You are to prepare an exact list of the respective adventurers,
soldiers, and others, removed from oif the estate of James, lord
marquess of Ormonde, lord steward of our household, by themselves ;
and accordingly, so much of the lands in the said
county of Catherlagh as will suffice, shall be set out to the said
adventurers and soldiers removed from off the lord marquess of
Ormonde's estate, as aforesaid."
From the Act itself:
" And be it also enacted, that all adventurers, soldiers, their
heirs and assigns, whose adventures and lots were set out of the
lands of James, duke of Ormonde, and who have not been yet
reprized, shall be satisfied out of the remaining forfeited lands in the
county of Catherlogh, and also out of the respective moieties of
the ten counties appointed for satisfaction of adventurers and
soldiers:
" And be it further enacted, that those adventurers and soldiers,
their heirs or assigns, whose adventures or lots were set out of the
* Printed 1662.

192

HISTORY AXD ANTIQUITIES

lands of James, duke of Ormonde, and have been since removed
from the same, and have had by his majesty's commissioners for
executing his gracious declaration, other lands set out, ordered or
appointed in the county of Catherlogh, towards their reprisal and
satisfaction, be and are hereby confirmed in so much of the said
lands in their respective orders named, as shall be equal in value,
worth and purchase with those from which they have been removed,
as aforesaid, and shall hold and enjoy the same to them, their heirs
and assigns for ever, which said lands shall be immediately put out
of charge in his majesty's court of exchequer in Ireland, reserving
the chief rents according to his majesty's declaration, any thing in
this present act contained or otherwise to the contrary thereof in
anywise notwithstanding."
In the " Act explanatory of the act of settlement," we find as
follows:
" And it is likewise declared, that the adventurers and
soldiers, their heirs, executors, and assigns, who have voluntarily
relinquished or been removed from the estate of James, duke of
Ormonde, and put into possession of any other lands in the county
of Catherlagh, not since decreed away from them, and all others
who have relinquished any lands whereof they were possessed the
seventh day of May, one thousand six hundred, fifty and nine, in
obedience to his majesty's letters, and have since been removed to
other lands not decreed away from them, shall have like liberty of
retaining the lands whereof they are now possessed, or so much
thereof as shall be adjudged to amount to his or their full two third
parts, as he or they might have had if they had been so possessed
upon the seventh day of May, one thousand six hundred, fifty and
nine, and what is wanting of two third parts shall be made up and
supplied by the commissioners out of some other forfeited lands by
them to be allotted.
In the " Act of settlement."
u
Provided always, and be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, that any clause, sentence, matter or thing in this act,
or in any other act or acts passed or made, or to be passed or
made in this present parliament, contained, mentioned, or expressed,
shall not or may attaint, or convict, or be otherwise prejudicial
unto Dudly Bagnel, Esq., son and heir of Walter Bagnel, late of
Dunlickny in the county of Catherlogh, Esq., deceased, nor to
Henry Bagnel, brother of the said Dudly, nor to Catharine Corbet,
alias Bagnel, sister of the said Dudly, nor to the heirs or issues
lawfully begotten of the said Walter Bagnel, Dudly Bagnel, Henry
Bagnel, or Catharine Corbet, alias Bagnel, nor of any or either
of them: and that the said Dudly Bagnel, Henry Bagnel, and
Catherine Corbet, alias Bagnel, and every of them, and the
heirs and assigns of every of them respectively, shall have
hold and enjoy their respective estates and interests in law and
equity in all and every the castles, lordships, manors, seigniories,
lands, tenements, rents, reversions, remainders, and hereditaments,
with their and every of their appurtenances, which did of right

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLoW,

193

belong or appertain unto the said Walter Bagnel, or whereof he
was seized, as of his estate of inheritance in use, possession, or
remainder, on the three and twentieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord, one thousand, six hundred and forty-one, or at any
time after any act or acts, ordinance or ordinances, matter or
matters, thing or things, done or to be done in this present parliament, or otherwise at any time since the three and twentieth day
of October, one thousand, six hundred and forty-one, to the damage,
prejudice, or harm of the said Walter Bagnel, his heirs or assigns,
to the contrary notwithstanding.
" Provided always, and be it enacted, that neither this present
act nor any thing therein contained, do any ways prejudice or tend
in any manner to alter any right, title, interest, mortgage or lease
that Sir John Temple, master of the rolls in this kingdom, or his
late mother the lady Temple had in the year one thousand six
hundred and forty, to any lands, tenements, or hereditaments,
belonging to Walter Bagnel, Esq., late father of the said Dudly
Bagnel, lying or being within the county of Catherlogh : saving
nevertheless to all and every person and persons, bodies politic and
corporate, their heirs, executors, successors and assigns, such
right and title either in law or equity, and such benefit and advantage of redemption which they or any of them could or might have
had either in law or equity, as fully and amply as if the proviso
herein last before mentioned had never been had or made, any
thing in the said proviso to the contrary hereof notwithstanding."
The u Act explanatory of the Act of Settlement" contains
the following:
" And it is further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the
earl of Clanrickard, earl of Castlehaven, Morrough, earl of Inchiquin, the earl of Clancarty, lord viscount Dillon, Simon Luttrell,
Dudly Bagnel, Esq., Henry Bagnel, Catherine Corbet, Theobald
Purcell, Esq., and such others who are particularly mentioned in
the said former act to be restored to their estates, and therein,
and thereby, are actually restored without any previous reprizal,
and their and every of their executors and assignees shall
stand and continue restored to and vested in such their estates
thereby intended, and shall have and enjoy the lands, tenements,
and hereditaments, and all other the benefits and advantages of the
said former act in such manner and form and for such estates and
with such privileges, immunities and discharges respectively as in
and by the said former act are mentioned and expressed: nevertheless it is hereby declared, that this restitution and confirmation
is not to extend to any lands, tenements or hereditaments other
than such as did truly and without fraud upon the two and twentieth
of October, one thousand six hundred and forty and one, belong to
and were enjoyed by the said persons or some of them, their or some
of their ancestors or heirs, or were in the possession and seizin of
some others in trust for them or some of them, or be particularly expressed in the several and respective clauses of the said former act;
and to the end it may more clearly appear how much land the per-

il)4

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

sons aforesaid are truly entitled unto by virtue of this or the said
former act, and how far the persons who are or shall be dispossessed by them or any of them ought to be relieved by virtue of
this act, it is further enacted, that all and every the persons aforesaid who claim any benefit by the clauses aforesaid shall make out
such their title as to the several parcels of land which they demand
before the commissioners for execution of this act within such time
as shall be limited by the commissioners and take out their decrees
for so much as shall be allowed upon their claims, and in default
thereof shall forfeit two years' value of the lands in their or any of
their possessions respectively or in the possession of their tenants
or trustees, one moiety to the king's majesty, the other to the informer, to be recovered in like manner as other forfeitures are by
this act appointed to be recovered."
ABSTRACTS OF GRANTS OF LANDS AND OTHER HEREDITAMENTS,
UNDER THE ACTS OF SETTLEMENT AND EXPLANATION.

A.D. 1666—1684.
To James, duke of Ormonde*—Carrigneslane, five hundred
and one acres, (eight hundred and eleven acres two roods and six
perches statute measure), ten pounds two shillings and ten pence
three farthings.—Killmolish, ninety six acres three roods, (one
hundred and fifty-six acres two roods and thirty-six perches statute
measure), one pound nineteen shillings and two pence farthing.—
Mizell, four hundred and thirty-eight acres and one rood, (seven
hundred and nine acres three roods and twenty perches statute),
eight pounds seventeen shillings and five pence three farthings.—
Shragh, three hundred and forty-six acres, (three hundred and sixty
acres one rood and thirty-five perches statute), seven pounds and
three half-pence.—Garran Pursin Killcoole, one hundred and
twenty-four acres, (two hundred acres three roods and eighteen
perches statute), two pounds ten shillings and two pence halfpenny.—Ballymogie, one hundred and eighty-four acres, (two
hundred^ and ninety-eight acres and eight perches statute), three
pounds fourteen shillings and six pence farthing.—Ballykealy, four
hundred and sixty-nine acres two roods, (seven hundred and sixtyacres two roods and two perches statute), nine pounds ten shillings
and three half-pence.—Bally wadrum alias Bally vardrum, part of
Ballykealy, Tobergurtine, parcel of Mizell, Graignespedoge,
twenty-four acres, (thirty-eight acres three roods and twenty
perches statute), nine shillings and eight pence halfpenny.—CI on*
macshenine, one hundred and sivteen acres and one rood, (one
hundred and eighty-eight acres one rood and nine perches statute),
two pounds seven shillings and a penny.—Temple Peter, half,
sixty-six acres three roods and twent perchesy, (one hundred and
eight acres one rood and fourteen perches statute), one pound
03» When the acreable contents of the above grants are given, both in
Irish plantation and English statute measure, the latter is enclosed (thus).
The sums specified are the quit-rents reserved by the crown.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

m

seven shillings and three farthings.—Ballinrush, one hundred and
twenty acres, (one hundred and ninety-four acres, one rood, and
twenty-one perches statute), two pounds eight shillings and seven
pence farthing.—Shangarry, four hundred and thirteen acres, (six
hundred and sixty-eight acres, three roods, and thirty-nine perches
statute), eight pounds seven shillings and two pence.—Tycoline,
one-third part of Rathrush, Ballygodderman, two hundred acres,
(three hundred and twenty-three acres three roods and thirty-five
stat.), four pounds and one shilling.—Ballymogeleine, one hundred
and eighty-three acres and three roods, (two hundred and ninetynine acres one rood and three perches statute), three pounds fourteen shillings and ten pence.—Ballygerrell or Garrett, three hundred and fifty acres and one rood, (five hundred and sixty-seven
acres one rood and sixteen perches statute), seven pounds one shilling and ten pence.—Ballywalden, parcel of Ballygarret, fortyfive acres three roods, (seventy-four acres and eighteen perches
statute), eighteen shillings and six pence.—Nichollstowne, part of
Ballykealy aforesaid, Bogganbegg and Bogganmore ; bar. Forth,
county Carlow.—Dated 14//* JSovember 18th year.—{Cert. 10//*
Jug.) Inrolled in the Exchequer, 19th December', 1666.
Sir John Temple, knt., Master of the Rolls.—Cargan alias
Ballycarny, one hundred and sixty-nine acres one rood.—Castleto wne, one hundred and forty-five acres.—Parke, one hundred and
eighty-one acres and two roods; barony and county of Carlow.—
Total quantity, four hundred and ninety-five acres three roods
plantation, (eight hundred and two acres three roods and eleven
perches statute.) Total rent, ten pounds and eight pence three
farthings.—Date 18//* June 18M year.—{Cert. 22nd May.)—
Inrolled 5th July, 1666.
Arthur, earl of Anglesey.—Linkinstowne, two hundred and
sixty-three acres and one rood, five pounds six shillings and
seven pence farthing.—Gortengrowen, forty-four acres two roods,
eighteen shillings and one farthing ; barony and county of Carlow.
—Date 26th June, iSth year.—Inrolled 6th July, 1666.
Counsellor Thomas Piggotl.—Killcurry,
three hundred and
thirteen acres, six pounds six shillings and nine pence farthing.—
Mougherrine or Mongoherin, two hundred and forty-four acres
one rood, four pounds eighteen shillings and eleven pence.—Clonegaule, three hundred and thirty-nine acres, six pounds seventeen
shillings and three pence farthing.—Ballyredmond, two hundred
and twenty-three acres, four pounds ten shillings and three pence
three farthings; barony of St. Mullan alias Forth, county Carlow.— Date 15th Jan. 18//*year.—Inrolled 23rd. March, 1666.
Samuel Blackwell, Esq.—Little Pollardstown, one hundred
and sixty-six acres prof., fifteen acres unprof., three pounds seven
shillings and two pence three farthings.—In Urghlin, six hundred
and six acres, twelve|pounds five shillings and four pence three farthings.—Johnstown, four hundred and two acres one rood and
thirty-two ^perches prof., seventeen acres unprof. eight pounds
B3

196

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

two shillings and eleven pence three farthings.—Kernanstown alia*
Corgan, one hundred and sixty acres prof, eighty-three acres three
roods unprof., three pounds four shillings and nine pence halfpenny;
barony and county Carlow.—Date 21st March, 19 th year,—
Inrolled 21th April, 1667.
Captain Thomas Newbrugh.—Cloghnagh alias Cloghanoy,
four hundred and fifty three acres plantation, (seven hundred and
thirty-three acres three roods and six perches stat), nine pounds
three shillings and five pence farthing; barony and county of Carlow.
—Date 11/h December18th year. Inrolled 7th February, 1666.
Peregrine Pritty gent.—The castle, town and lands of Dunganstowne and New Garden, two hundred and ninety-six acres
one rood and five perches plantation, (four hundred and seventynine acres three roods and twenty-eight perches statute), six
pounds; barony and county of Carlow.—Date 28ch February,
19th year.—In rolled 20 th Jun e, 1667.
Sir Richard Kennedy, Ant., second baron of the exchequer.
—Rathnegeragh, four hundred and twenty-six acres.—Dromfeagh,
two hundred and twenty-five acres.—Culetughty, four hundred
and forty acres.—Knocknemurrane, two hundred and fifty-three
«cres prof, fifty acres unprof.—Miltown, one hundred and two
acres prof, sixty acres unprof.—Garryhill, Killraghin alias Tinraghin, twenty acres prof, sixty acres unprof.—Ballidoher alias
Ballydurley, thirty-two acres.—Clonfarty,^, three acres prof., two
acres unprof. Ballinkillibegg, twenty acres prof, thirty acres unprof.; barony of Idrone Shane, one hundred and sixty-three acres.
Knockdrumnagh aud Knockilldarragh; one hundred seventy-five
acres,—Rahinlea and Bellalagh, four hundred and six acres and
two roods ; barony of Forth.—Total quantity, (three thousand
six hundred sixty-four acres three roods and twenty perches stat.)
Total rent forty-five pounds sixteen shillings and three half-pence.
—Date 6th December, 19 th year.—Inrolled Yith March, 1667.
Thomas Crossthwaite.—Kneestown and Morrestown, three
hundred and seventeen acres.—Ardnehue (part) one hundred and
seventy-eight acres; barony of Carlow. Total quantity, four
hundred and ninety-five acres plantation, (eight hundred and one
acres three roods and eleven perches statute). Total rent, ten
pounds and five pence halfpenny.—Date 13th March, 19th year*
—Inrolled iSth March, 1666.
Sir John Ponsonby, knt.—Grangeforth (besides one thousand
seven hundred and one acres and one rood, formerly confirmed to
him) eighty acres plantation, (one hundred and twenty-nine acres
two roods and thirteen perches statute), one pound twelve shillings
and four pence; barony of Carlow.—Date ith September, 21st
year.—*-Inrolled 5th January, 1659.
Richard, earl of Cork, lord high
treasurer.—Eranranny,
three hundred and twelve acres and the unprof.—In Killoughternan next contiguous to Eranranny, to be cut by an N. and S. line,
two hundred and forty acres and thirty-five perches, and the unprof.;
barony of Idrone.—Date 4th September, 20th year,—Inrolled
2nd October, 1668.

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

197

Arthur, earl of Anglesey.—Clonmullin, three hundred and
fifty-three acres and three roods, five pounds seven shillings and
seven pence farthing.—Carrigduffe, one hundred and sixty-two
acres, two pounds nine shillings and one penny three farthings.—Kilbranish, two hundred and seventy-five acres, four pounds three
shillings and six pence.—The wood and mountains of ditto, twentyeight acres three roods and ten perches, eight shillings and seven
pence three farthings.—half of Barragh, with their appurtenances,
forty-two acres, twelve shillings and nine pence; barony of Forth.
Ballyhegan, sixty acres, eighteen shillings and a penny.—Balleling, one hundred and ninety-five acres, two pounds nineteen
shillings and two pence three farthings.—-the 6th part of St. Molinges, with their appurtenances, one hundred and fifty five acres,
two pounds seven shillings and three farthings; barony of St.
Molins.—Date 23rd May, 20tk year.—birolied 9th June, 1668.
Dame Anne, relict of Sir Thomas Harman,
knight.—Gorinmay alias Gorminagh, one hundred and forty-five acres and three
roods, two pounds nineteen shillings.—Labynyseay, sixty one^
acres, one pound four shillings and eight pence halfpenny.—third
part of Ratheden, one hundred and thirty-six acres and two roods,
two pounds fifteen shillings and three pence.—Kilcopickan alias
Killcopigan, ninety-eight acres and three roods, one pound nineteen shillings and eleven pence halfpenny.—More, part of the same,
sixty acres three roods, one pound four shillings and eight pence.
In Killcallatrim, ninety seven acres and one rood, prof., one
hundred and nine acres and three roods unprof., one pound nineteen shillings and five pence.—More in the same, one hundred and
fifty-one acres one rood, three pounds one shilling and two pencfr
three farthings.—Pasture and timber in ditto eighty-one acres, one
pound twelve shillings and nine pence halfpenny.—Knockanackroe,
two hundred and ninety acres, five pounds seventeen shillings and
five pence.—In part of the same, marked in the plot (r. a.) one
acre and three roods, with a proportionable part of the unprofitable,
seven pence farthing ; barony of Idrone. Date 30th Julyy 20M
year.—Inroiled \3th August, 1668.
William Draper, Esq.—Owlert alias Owlard, one hundred
and eighty-seven acres, Cooleroe, two hundred and thirty-one
acres; barony of Forth.—Date 2&th May, 20th year.—Inrolled
30th May, 1668.
James Stopford, Esq.—Kilnesnell alias Kiltumell alias Killtinnell, Ballinvally and Ballycullin alias Ballaghellin, fifty-seven
acres three roods and one perch. Knockanacroe alias Lackanarly
or Lackananerly (part) eighty-six acres and two roods profitable,
sixty-five acres unprof. In Kynogh alias Cunoge, to be cut off
by a north and south line, twenty-five acres one rood and twentythree perches prof., sixteen acres unprof. Killoghternan, part to
be cut off by a north and south line, ninety-seven acres three roods
and five perches; barony of Idrone. Total (four hundred and
thirty-three acres and twenty-seven perches statute), rent five
pounds eight shillings and two pence halfpenny. Ballycrinegan,
three hundred and twenty-two acres. More of the same called

198

HISTORY ANJ> ANTIQUITIES

Ballybegg, forty acres, with the mountain thereto belonging; barony
of Idrone. Lissfallecan or Lissalecam alias Carrickleagh, twtf
hundred and ninety-four acres. Ballybrack, three hundred and
forty-four acres and two roods. Tinekilly alias Seskin, one hundred and seventy-one acres. The moiety of Tinecarrigge, seventyfive acres. Ballyroughan (third part) twenty-three acres. Ballyknockrampen, or Crompen, and Booleblaek, forty acres; barony
of St. Molins. Rathmoile, one hundred acres ; barony of Idrone,
Total, (two thousand two hundred and fifty acres two roods and
twelve perches statute), rent twenty-eight pounds two shillings and
eight pence farthing. Date 14 th October; 20th year.
Charles, Viscount Fits-Harding.—Ballylinan and Killisane,
one hundred and twenty acres, two pounds eight shillings and
seven pence farthing.—Urghlin, part of, next to Ballynekill, two
hundred acres, four pounds one shilling and six pence.—Ballynekill and Browneen, sixty acres, one pound four shillings and three
pence half-penny.—Pollardstown, part of, next to Ballylinan,
twenty acres, eight shillings and one penny farthing; barony of
Carlow. Total, (six hundred and forty-seven acres statute.) Total
rent, eight pounds two shillings.—Date \lth Sept. \9th year.—
Inroiled Uth May, 1668.
Ja?nes, duke of York.—Johnstown (part) seventy-nine acres
two roods and eight perches.—Baggan, forty acres.—Ballybrin,
alias Ballybamen, one hundred and twenty acres.—In New Garden
and Dunganstown, two hundred and three acres thirty-five perches.
In Ballybrin alias Ballybamen, forty-four acres.—Gurteenevackane
alias Gortingrocan, forty-four acres two roods.; barony of Carlow.
Date 5th February, 2\st year.—Inr oiled 8th June, 1669.
William, lord Viscount Dongan, brother of Sir Walter, and
son of Sir John Dongan, knights, and baronets.—The moiety
of the great and small tithes of the parish of Cloedagh or Cioydagh,
three pounds five shillings.—The moiety of the rectory of Athade,
with the great and small tithes thereof, one pound ten shillings and
nine pence. Date 29 th of July, 2lst year.—Inr oiled 9th
October, 1660.
Arthur, earl of Anglesey.—Cornellane alias Cornallane, one
hundred and thirty three acres two roods, two pounds thirteen
shillings and ten pence. Tinnihinny alias Tinyhinch alias Teneheny, two hundred and twenty-four acres, four pounds ten shillings
and eight pence. Ballyhanry alias Ballyhaury, eighty-five acres,
one pound fourteen shillings and five pence half-penny; barony of
St. Molins.—Boggy pasture, belonging to Park, one hundred and
fifty-four acres, three pounds two shillings and three pence halfpenny.—Wood belonging to the two Pollardstowns, and part of
Urghlin, one hundred and fifty-four acres, three pounds two shillings
and three pence half-penny ; barony of Carlow.—Date 9th Sept*
2\st year.—Inrolled 22nd Nov. 1669.
Philip, Lord Wharton.—The castle, messuage, mill and lands
of Killerick, four hundred and eighty-nine acres.—Ardnehugh
(part) eighty-one acres. Total, nine hundred and twenty-three

O*1 THE COtJNTV OF GARLOW.

199

acres one rood and nine perches statute) rent eleven pounds ten
shillings and ten pence half-penny; barony of Carlow.—Date 30th
July, 21st year.—Inrolled 15th Nov. 1669.
Sir William Temple, baronet.—Killballyhew, three hundred
and forty-six acres two roods (five hundred and sixty-one acres
1 rood and three perches statute) seven pounds three pence three
farthings; barony of Carlow.—Date 20th May, 2lst year,—
Inrolled 7th Oct. 1669.
Richard Jones.— The impropriate tithes of the parish of Catherlogh, Clonmoylske and Urrughlin, for ever.— Charles Worth.
The impropriate tithes of the parish of Grangeforth, for ever.—
John Eastwick.
The impropriate tithes of the parish of Hacketstown, for ever. Richard Jones. The impropriate tithes of the
parish of Temple-Peter, for ever.—Date 9th March, 21st year.
Inrolled \2th March 1669.
Sir John Ponsonby, Knt.—Grangeforth, one thousand seven
hundred and one acres, (two thousand seven hundred and fifty-five
acres one rood and fourteen perches statute), thirty-four pounds
eight shillings and nine pence three farthings; barony of Carlow.
Date 20th May, 21st year.—Inrolled 3rd October, 1669.
Michael harry.—Two third parts of Rathrush, four hundred
acres.—Milltown, one hundred and seventy-three acres, one rood.
Ardreane alias Addborne, sixty-six acres three roods.—Tromon,
forty-eight acres three roods—Total, six hundred and eighty-eight
acres three roods plantation, (one thousand one hundred and fifteen acres two roods and twenty-seven perches statute),—rent
thirteen pounds eighteen shillings and eleven pence; barony of
Forth.—Date 13th June, 22ndyear.—Inrolled11th June, 1670.
John Wilcox, of London.—In Kinogh alias Cunogh, seventyeight acres seventeen perches prof., sixty-one acres unprof.—More
of the same, twenty-seven acres.—In Killesnell alias Killtenell,
Ballinvally and Ballycullin alias Ballaghulen, to be cut off by a N .
and S. line, two hundred and three acres two roods and thirty-nine
perches. Total three hundred and eight acres three roods sixteen
perches plantation, (five hundred acres one rood and three perches
statute), rent six pounds five shillings—barony of Idrone. Date
27th June, 22nd year, Inrolled 4th November 1670.
James Stop/ord, Esq.—In Lorum, one hundred and fifteen
acres, one rood, thirty-six perches, two pounds, six and eight
pence halfpenny, barony of Idrone. Date 6th July, 23rd year.
Inrolled 5th October, 1671.
Sir Richard Kennedy, knight and baronet, second baron of
the Exchequer. Clony, two hundred and three acres, three
perches; Glassgrauny and Knockshane, one hundred and fourteen
acres, barony of Forth; of Siskin-Rian, the south part, two
hundred and eighty one acres, one rood, one perch, barony
of Idrone.—Total five hundred and ninety-nine acres, one perch,
plant, (nine hundred and seven acres one rood five perches,
statute), rent, twelve pounds two shillings and six-pence three
farthings. Date ISth June, 30thyear. Inrolled27th Sept, 1678,

200

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Patrick Wall, Esq. son and heir of Ulick Wall, deceased,
and grandson of Edward.—The Castle of Ballynekill, with
the appurtenances and the Castle / moiety of Ballynekill, sixtyeight acres, one rood. The moiety of Ardnehugh, one hundred
and sixty-six acres, twenty perches.—Two parts of Pollardstown,
one hundred and eighty-eight acres, one rood, barony of Carlow.—
Graigne-Spidoge, twenty-four acres.—The moiety of TemplePeter, sixty-six acres, two roods, two perches.—Clonshannon,
alias Cloghneshannon, one hundred and sixteen acres, one rood.—
A moiety of Killane, eleven acres.—The moiety of Moyshell,
two hundred and nineteen acres.—To the use of the heirs and
assigns of Ulick for ever. Date 12th Feb. 31 st year.
Inroiled
3rd March, 1680.
Richard Warburton, of Garryhinch, in the Queen s County,
Esq.—Kilbreckan, Kilgarran, and Ballynemeere, two hundred
and fifty-one acres, twenty-five perches, or two hundred and fifty
acres, one rood, twenty-five perches, (four hundred and six acres,
one rood, twenty-one perches statute), three pounds ten shillings ;
part Fennagh, barony Forth and Idrone. Date 9th Oct. 3ith
year. InrolledSQth Oct. 1682.
An account of the particular savings contained in the patents
tinder the Acts of Settlement and Explanation.
In the preceding grant to the Duke of Ormonde.—Saving
to Edmond Roch and his heirs, the full benefit of his decree.—To
Francis Eustace, the benefit of his decree to the lands of Killmoglish.—To Ulick Wall, such right as should be decreed him,
as a nominee, the duke being first reprized, to Mizell, Graigenespidoge, Clonmocshenine, and Temple-Peter, half.—To Mary
Walsh, the benefit of her decree to Kinure.
On the restoration of the king, the duke of Ormonde was
justly raised to various offices of rank and dignity. He enjoyed
the particular favour of his majesty, who, in this instance at least,
did not seem ungrateful for past services. But the frequent, if
not universal attendant of great prosperity is envy; to which, in
courts, is superadded the baleful passion of jealousy, as exhibited
towards the objects of royal favour. The duke of Ormonde
could not hope to escape the dislike of the envious and jealous,
nor could he expect to avoid the bad feeling of the unsuccessful,
the unprosperous, or the discontented. Accordingly, we find
that attacks were made on him in various shapes; among the rest
the aid of the press was called in by his calumniators. About the
year 1671, several libellous tracts appeared; one of which was
entitled: Queries relating to the revenue of Ireland, and to the
duke of Ormonde. It was stated in this production, that the
barony of Idrone, in our county, was decreed to the duke by the
commissioners of the court of claims ; while insinuations are
made against the honour of the commissioners, as well as the
veracity of the witnesses, on whose testimony they acted. This
allegation was, however, wholly untrue. As the duke did not
then possess one aGre of the barony more than he had enjoyed before the rebellion; when his lands in it were very limited in extent.

O F THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

201

Attempts were now made by the Romanists to repeal the acts of
settlement; for which purpose pretended grievances and fabricated
acts of injustice were exhibited. Among others, the duke of
Ormonde was charged with passing the lands of various individuals
for his own, and thus adding considerably to his estate. Carte
enters very fully into this matter, which might be considered not
merely an attack on the character of the duke of Ormonde, but on
the vested interests of the Protestants and others who had been
secured in the possession of their property by the acts of settlement.
As two of the principal witnesses brought forward by the enemies
of the duke and by the discontented party were closely connected
with our county, and as, in short, most of the transactions related occurred within its boundaries, we must give the statement of
Carte, which we do in his own words :
" Edmond Byrne (says he) was a freeholder in the barony of
Forth, in the county of Catherlogh, and as such, with the ancient
proprietors in that barony, signed the petition presented by them
to his grace's commissioners, in the year 1663 ; wherein they acknowledged a tenure to the duke, and this by the advice of Patrick
Byrne, their counsel at law. He was a considerable witness in
giving evidence to several juries for making good those tenures,
and was himself of one or more of those juries, who upon their
oaths found the said tenures, being for the most part Irish proprietors of land within the barony, to whom some English protestants were joined. He gave the like evidence before the claims;
but renting a small parcel of land at Shragh, of the earl of Arran,
(upon whom his grace had settled his lands in that barony), and not
paying the rent, he was distrained upon, and giving bond for payment, but failing therein, was thrown into gaol. > Byrne in his
necessity was willing to try any means of relief, and forgetting his
former oaths, thought fit to pretend that there was no quit-rent
really due to the duke of Ormonde out of the barony of Forth,
and that the lands he rented were rightfully his own. He offered
his service to discover this before the commissioners for concealments, but that commission not going forward, his son Gerald
went to England, and petitioned the duke for relief, who told him
he would write to his agent Mr. Matthews to see redress given
him, if he were aggrieved in any respect. The man did not care
to be referred to Mr. Matthews; and to give some colour to his
pretensions, produced three different notes, with the names of his
grace's commissioners put to them, expressing that he was to pay
only a chiefery out of the lands of Shragh, and directing Mr. John
Bagot the receiver to suspend the rent till further order. The duke
saw by the hand-writing that his commissioner's names were not
wrote by themselves, and suspecting the forgery, caused Mr. Gascoigne his secretary to take copies thereof. He told Byrne his
suspicions, but offered to send directions into Ireland, that he should
have the benefit of these notes, if either of the commissioners would
own they had signed them. Byrne seeing he was like to be detected, came no more near his grace ; but meeting with encourage-

202

HISTORY AND A N T i q i / l T I S S

ment, presented a petition to the king for redress. He did not
wait the issue of i t ; but finding that Sir W . Flower was in town,
and fearing his forgery would be severely punished, he absconded,
and made off for Ireland,
" The other witness produced was one captain James Nolan,
whose ancestor Hugh Nolan divided his little estate in Shangarry, in the .same barony, containing ten acres Forth measure,
equally between his two sons, Cahir and Daniel. The former
left issue, and the latter marrying two wives, had by the first
Edmond, father of James Nolan. Daniel, on occasion of a differrence with his son, declared that Edmond was born two years
before wedlock, and by a feoffment made September 6th, 1640,
ready to be produced and proved, settled what land he had in Shangarry on Patrick Nolan, his son by his second wife Anastace Byrne,
and his heirs ; so that captain Nolan could have no right to the
land, which Patrick Nolan entered upon and possessed from his
father's death, till he took lands in Connaught. The captain joined
with the nuncio's party in the war, and before he went abroad in
Daniel Kavanagh's regiment, in 1652, had, in an excursion from
the garrison of ClonmuUin belonging to that party, being guilty of
several murders, and particularly had hanged Patrick Nolan, Jas.
Curreen, a servant of Thomas Bagnall, (whom he took out of bis
master's haggard at Ballenunry), and two others of the neighbourhood, and there were living witnesses to prove the facte.
Captain Nolan came back into Ireland some time after the restoration, and it appearing by an inquisition after the death of Thomas
earl of Ormonde, signed by Sir Philip Percival, that the rents of
eight pence an acre had been duly paid him out of all the lands
belonging to ancient proprietors within the barony of Forth, and
being proved that Shangarry in particular paid rent to Walter earl
of Ormonde; and being found in 1664 at a court baron before
John Walsh, as the duke's seneschal, by a jury of ancient native
proprietors, (of which captain James Nolan was one), that it was
held of his grace by certain rents and customs ; and Patrick Nolan,
the ancient proprietor of that place, having acknowledged the same;
Shangarry had, upon these and other evidences, as well as by other
testimony, being adjudged by the court of claims to belong to the
duke of Ormonde. Possession had been accordingly taken of it,
the lands having never been set out to adventurers; and captain
Nolan rented the premises for some time; but having on May 6th,
1669, (as the indictment runs) traitorously murdered one Thady
Nolan, and not daring to stand a trial, he fled into England.
" Somewhat above a year after his flight thither, he came to
the duke of Ormonde with a petition, setting forth, ' that he had
been necessitated to come out of Ireland to complain of his sufferings and grievances to his grace ; that he had been turned out
of an estate which had belonged to his ancestors, and had been
rented by himself; that Mr. Walsh could certify it was through
his industry, that his grace was possessed of several other lands
in the barony of Forth; that he had been at great charges in sup-

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

203

porting the duke's title against Sir Richard Kennedy and captain
Thomas Bordell, in the court of claims; and having two children
with him whom he intended to send abroad to be educated, he
could subsist no longer in London, and desired his grace to make
him some satisfaction for his charges in the suit with Kennedy, and
to dismiss him back to Ireland.' The duke gave him eight guineas
to bear his charges thither, and wrote to Mr. Matthews and Mr.
Walsh to give him a recompense, if there was any truth in his
pretensions, This was his story on August 6tb, 1670, when he
presented that petition to his grace; but it was as false as what he
afterwards advanced. For instead of going to Ireland as he pretended, he found it more for his advantage to continue in London,
to clamour against the duke of Ormonde, and at last to petition the
king. This he did on November29th, 1671, representing, 'that
his grand-father was seized in fee of some lands in the barony
of Forth in the county of Catherlogh on October 29th, 1641, and
died thereof seized in 1647, as his father likewise did in the same
year; that the petitioner followed his majesty's fortune abroad in
1652, and continued constantly in his service beyond the seas till
1662, when he returned into Ireland, with hopes (upon his majesty's restoration) to be restored to the said lands as his birthright and
inheritance; that the duke of Ormonde finding those lands contiguous to part of his own estate, and not enjoyed by any adventurer or soldier, possessed himself of the same without any manner of title, and that his grace, upon the petitioner's address to
him, had agreed and promised to restore the said lands to the petitioner, paying to his grace and his heirs yearly twelve pence per
acre country measure j whereunto the petitioner agreed, to avoid
the charges of passing the court of claims; that his grace, pursuant to that agreement, passed those lands in his decree and
letters patents, and seeing that the petitioner (contented with that
agreement) omitted the advantage he might get by suing for those
lands in the court of claims, refused ever since to give the petitioner the benefit of the said contract; but still detained the lands
against all equity and justice, to the utter destruction of the petitioner, his wife, and nine young children, if not commiserated by
his majesty. The premises considered, and forasmuch as the
said lands were still undisposed of to any use by the acts of settlement and explanation, and that the duke of Ormonde who enjoyed them at present could pretend no other title to the same but
as was before premised; the petitioner therefore prayed that his
grievances and woful oppression might be referred to the commissioners appointed to review the settlement of Ireland, and the
said commissioners ordered to take such speedy course for the
petitioner's relief as should be convenient and just.'
" The duke was present in council when this petition was read,
and desired that Nolan might be called in, his grace offered, that
if he could, prove that either himself or those employed by him had
made any such bargain with him, as he mentioned, he would give
him the land. Nolan affirmed, that Mr. John Walsh ha<J made it

2c

204

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

with him before forty witnesses. The duke was very well satisfied
of the falsehood of Nolan's claim to the few acres of land in Question, having before in answer to his letter of August 6th, 1670,
received from Mr. Walsh a report of the state of the case, by
which it appeared, that neither the captain nor hi9 father had ever
any right, or been in possession of the land, and that the true old
proprietor, Patrick Nolan> was still living, and ready to prove histitle and former possession. He was also fully persuaded, that
John Walsh bacf never made any such agreement as was pretended;
and therefore moved that Nolan might prove the facts charged in
the petition; which was ordered accordingly. The pretended bargain with Mr. Walsh was now the chief, and indeed the only
point in question ; and therefore though the duke could not think
it possible, that he should enter at all into such a contract in his*
behalf without his consent, or if that was possible, that he, would
not in all that time advise the performance of it, yet be wrote to
him for an account of that affair* Walsh absolutely denied any
such contract, having only let him the land as a common tenant,
upon the man's desire to be so admitted.
" This appeared pretty clearly from tl>e occasion of their being
let, upon the court of claims having adjudged them to the duke of
Ormonde. Immediately after that decree, viz., on July 27th,
1663, captain Nojan presented a petitipn to, his grace, which I
judge to, be in his own hand-writing, because it is evidently the
same with that in which the other beforementioned, and presented
to the duke seven years afterwards, was written, setting forth,' that
the petitioner's ancestprs had time out of mind been farmers to his
grace and his noble ancestors of the land of Shangarry, paying
twenty shillings rent a year, with.other usual country customs
and duties; that he had committed no crime to occasion ^ forfeiture,
and had served for twelve years past abroad with his grace, in
his majesty's service, yet had entered no claim, relying altogether
upon the goodness of his grape, and being ready to submit himself to $uch increase of rent as his grace should think fit. H©
desired that his grace would likewise be pleased to consider the
zealous affection of the petitioner's predecessors to the most noble
house of Ormonde; for when Walter Butler, earl of Ormonde, was
detained in England, and Sir Arthur Savage came with some pretended title or interest, and constrained most part of the barony
of Forth to compound with him ; yet the petitioner's father and
grandfather openly declared against his interest, and were put to
great charges at law, till Walter, earl of Ormonde, had settled his
affairs, and sent orders for their quiet possession of the said lands,
which they so enjoyed till the late times of usurpation, and therefore he humbly prayed his grace to settle him in the said land in whatsoever manner he should think fit.' On the back of this petition,
there is an order signed by his grace, referring the examination of
the matter to John Walsh ; upon which the captain was admitted
to rent the land of Shangarry.
" It is very evident from this last recited petition, that the lands

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

W5

in question had always been rented of his grace's ancestors, and
consequently were rightly adjudged to him by the court of claims;
that captain Nolan had made no bargain with Mr. Walsh, nor had
contributed any thing towards the procuring the decree of the court;
for if he had, he would not have been silent on this occasion, and
have rested all his merits on his* predecessor's adherence to the
hotfse of Ormonde, and on his own service abroad. H e pretends,
indeed, that he was an innocent, and might have entered his claim,
if he had pleased ; but these were mere pretences, for though he
had been never so innocent, he had no colour of title to the land,
which belonged to Patrick Nolan, who was so well, known to be
the old proprietor, that he had at this very time joined as such in the
(common petition of the freeholders of that barony to the duke;
and if his descent and title had been never so good, yet his guilt
was such, that by the act of settlement he otight to lose his land,
and by the common law his life also. It is not a little strange that
such a fellow should be suffered to bring an accusation against a
man of the duke of Ormonde's quality arid character; and it would
certainly have been the more proper way, first to have sent Nolan
into Ireland in custody, to undergo a trial for the crimes laid to
his charge; and then if he could fairly acquit himself thereof, to
take his pretensions into consideration.
" The duke of Ormonde, notwithstanding Nolan's crimes, still
thought it behoved him to vindicate himself from an accusation
which had been industriously spread in the world, arid was become the subject of common discourse. He took occasion front
the two petitions being sent him by the king's order to offer to his
majesty in council the following answer to the purport thereof.
€
YourriiajeSty, (says he), by your order of Jan. 19th, in council, was
pleased to command that two petitions, the one from captain James
Nolan, the other m the name of one Edmond Byrne^ should be
sent me ; and though I am not thereby commanded to iriake any
answer to those petitions, yet I conceive it may be your pleasure,
and my duty, to give your.majesty the best account I am, here
and at present^ able to give of the matters complained of.
"(Your majesty may be pleased to be informed, that no man
could be a greater stranger to his own fortune arid interest than
myself; neither my faculties or inclinations much enabling or disposing me to that kind of wOrk. Besides, that the breaking out
of the rebellion in Ireland, when I was perhaps more fit and inclined to consider my own affairs, gave me other employment, and
rendered any thought of the management of my fortune (which
was wholly possessed by the rebels) utterly useless. Soon after
your majesty's happy restoration, you were pleased to command
me again to serve you in the government of that kingdom ; where
the absence of the royal authority for so many years, the divided
interests there, and other difficulties, and attending the settlement
of that kingdom, so took up my time and thoughts, that I was
constrained to put the management of my private concernments
into the hands of friends and servants, the most prudent and ho-

206

HISTORY AND ANTIQUrTffiS

nest I could light on; with this general instruction, to let me rather
lose my right in some things, than to gain any thing for me wrongfully, or but hardly from any man. This instruction (I presume)
they have observed, not being able to conceive what temptation
they could have to transgress it. That an instruction to this effect was given, Sir Wm. Flower, who was one of the persona
entrusted and employed by me, and now in town, will, 1 think,
acknowledge.
"' What I have thus far troubled your majesty with, is to discharge myself from the suspicion of any sordid desire or mean
contrivance to gain more land, than might be fairly and justly
mine. Wherein I may the more easily be believed, for that of
what I might legally and fairly have kept, I have parted with the
value of some thousands a year, to those, who I thought in some
degree worthy of relief and compassion. And if this be true, as
I am able to make it appear, it will seem improbable, if not incredible, that I should enter into so low and unwarrantable contracts, as those where with I am charged in the said petitions;
especially for so wretched a portion of land, as their pretensions do
amount unto, not exceeding (as I am informed) forty pounds a
year.
" (Having informed your majesty how great a stranger I was and
am to my own interest, and thereby, and by the forementioned
instruction given those employed by me (as I humbly conceive)
freed myself from the guilt of their failings, if any could have
been fixed upon them, all I can now say to the matter of their
complaints is ; first, as to Nolan, that about the month of August,
1670, he gave me a petition to the effect of that presented by him
to your majesty, and referred himself for the truth of his allegation
to Mr. John Walsh, (one of the persons entrusted by me), to
whom I sent the petition and the case of Nolan stated by himself.
From Mr. Walsh I received a return much differing from the case
stated by Nolan, who having seen it, made a kind of reply unto
it, which pretended to answer the objections of Mr. Walsh * which
papers are hereunto annexed. But not being able to judge of the
truth on either side, and being willing to afford all reasonable relief to Nolan, if his allegations proved true, I writ a letter by him
to my brother George Matthews, who manages my affairs, directing him to enter into the full examination of the matter, and to
return me a true state thereof; and gave Nolan money to bear his
charges into Ireland. But for what reason, or by what advice he
declined that, and took the way he is now in, and kept my letter
in his hands, he best knows. Thus I leave captain Nolan, with
this only observation, that when he thought it might be for his own
advantage, he frankly swore those lands did hold of me, and that
now he as confidently affirms that they did not.
" c As to Byrne, the account I receive from Mr. John Walsh is,
that he was the first of all the ancient proprietors of the barony of
Forth, who gave evidence for my title and tenure in the lands of
that barony; that he with others signed to a petition preferred to

t)tf THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

20?

me by those proprietors in the year 1663, wherein they acknow*
ledged my tenure; that he was the principal person who gave
evidence to several juries to make good the said tenure, and was
himself of one or more of their juries; that he was one of the
witnesses who deposed publicly in the court of claims, that the
said lands were held by me and my ancestors by certain rents and
duties; that therefore, and upon producing of several rent-rolls,
court-rolls and other evidences, the said lands were decreed to me,
and past to me by certificates and letters patent pursuant to the
act. But Mr. Walsh utterly denies, that the said Byrne did ever
desire his advice concerning a claim to be by him entered in the
court of claims, nor did he ever divert him, or any body else,
from so doing; nor did eVer make any such promise to the said
Byrne, as he pretends,
" ' This is all I can at present say as to Edmond Byrne, whose
case differs from Nolan's principally in this, that whereas Nolan
first affirmed, that I had made a contract with him, and not being
able to prove that, charged it upon those employed by me; this
Byrne, son of the said Edmond, produced a writing unto me con*
taining some such kind of promise as he now pretends, subscribed
by Sir William Flower, Edward Butler, and Matthew Harrison ;
whose hands upon view, I found to have been counterfeited; as
will appear, if he be called upon to produce the said paper, whilst
Sir William Flower is here to judge of his own hand-writing/
"Nolan had flattered himself, that the prayer of his petition
would have been readily granted, and that the examination of the
matter of it would have been referred to the before-mentioned
commissioners (appointed in consequence of colonel Talbot's petition) for reviewing the settlement of Ireland. He thought himself sure of finding powerful friends among them, who would help
out the defects of his evidence, and did not question but they would
be glad to countenance every thing that could throw a reflection on
the duke of Ormonde. But the order of council on November
29th, requiring him to prove his allegations before the board, entirely disconcerted all his measures. In the following month,
when he was to produce his witnesses pursuant to the order, he
presented another petition to the king, praying ' that his majesty
would be graciously pleased to order, that colonel Richard Talbot
might appear before his majesty at council, to declare his knowledge of the matter depending between his grace the duke of Ormonde, and the petitioner/ This was granted, but Talbot apprehensive that it might prove at last a scandalous affair, and that
himself might possibly be involved in the censure which it deserved,
thought fit to pretend business in Ireland, and set out for that
kingdom. Nolan hereupon presented another petition, which was
read in January 19th, in council, representing, that he was not
able to produce his witnesses before his majesty in England, and
that colonel Richard Talbot had departed for Ireland before his
knowledge in the premises had been examined, and that the rest
of his witnesses were in Ireland, and in the records of his majes-

208

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ty's exchequer, and other courts in that kingdom that could further
justify and clear the true allegations of the petitioner in his said
former petition; for which reason he prayed that his.majesty would
be pleased to order, that the petitioner's witnesses, and all other
necessary proofs concerning the premises might be examined in
Dublin before any persons that his majesty should think fit/
" After seven weeks' trifling in this manner, without producing
any one witness, it was not thought reasonable to countenance
Nolan's new 6hift and pretences; so that no order was made for
examining witnesses in Dublin. Yet the man met with such extraordinary indulgence, tliat upon a representation from some body
at the board (for it is not mentioned in Nolan's petition) ' that Sir
Bernard Gascoigne could give an account of what colonel Talbot
Baid on that occasion before his departure for Ireland, it was
ordered, that Sir B. Gascoigne should be spoken with to deliver
his testimony in writing unto the clerk of the council attending/
This was a new kind of evidence, which however it was allowed
on this, was never admitted before on any occasion; yet it did
not serve the tiH-n, Sir Bernard not being able to say any thing in
the matter. At last the several petitions of Nolan, and the duke
of Ormonde's answer, being read in council in February, the king
declared, i that the complaint against the duke for seizing lands
in the county of Catherlogh without title, was false and scandalous,
and commanded, that as such, the same should be dismissed from
the council board/ It happened very luckily for captain Nolan,
that his grace had not yet received the account of his murders at
Ballenunry, nor the deputy clerk of the crown Patrick Lambert's
certificate, (dated February 10th), of the record among the
pleas of the crown of the county of Catherlogh, containing
the captain's indictment for the murder of Thady Nolan, with
the depositions relating to that fact; which did not come to the
duke till the 21st of that month*
".When these two persons, Byrne and Nolan, were the only
witnesses that could be found, and their little parcels of land the
only instances that could be alleged, to colour the charge laid upon
the duke of Ormonde of passing other people's land for his own;
i t must be a strange prejudice or a strange weakness in any body
now to give the least credit or entertainment to so groundless a
•calumny/'*.
Thus ended this base attack on the duke of Ormonde. These
vile attempts to disturb the arrangement of property were all finally
<jtushed by the abolition of the commission appointed for reviewing
the act of settlement; which was effected in pursuance of an
address to the king, from the English house of commons, on 26th
March, 1673.
In the year 1675, being the twenty-sixth of the reign of the
king, he granted a new charter to the borough of Carlow. The
following is a copy of the document:
* Carte's Vdt of Ormonde, vol, ii, p. 431.

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

209

CHARTER GRANTED BY KING CHARLES T H E SECOND TO
T H E BOROUGH OF CATHERLOGH.

CHARLES the SECOND,

by the grace of G O D , of England,

Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, &c,
to all to whorae these presents shall come, greeting. WHEREAS
by letters under our royal signett and signe manuall, bearing date
at our Court at Whitehall, the sixteenth day of August, which
was in the three and twentyeth yeare of our raigne, directed to
our right trusty and well-beloved councellor, John Lord Berkeley,
our Lieutenant-Generall, and Generall Governor of our said
Kingdome of Ireland, and to the Chiefe Governor or Governors
there, for the tyme being, wee did signifie our Royall will pleasure
therein setting, setti?ig forth that whereas many of the Charters
of the severall cittyes and townes formerly corporate in our said
Kingdome of Ireland have beene by reason of the severall miscarriages and misdemeanors of the sai<J citties and townes dureing
the tyme of the late horrid rebellion in yfc our Kingdome, forfeited
unto us and others of the said corporacons are dissolved or otherwise determined, soe that instly wee might reseize all the liberties
and franchises that have been by any of our Royall ancestor*
granted to the said corporations, if wee would take the full and
uttmost advantage y* wee legally might against them, and that
whereas wee were graciously pleased for the incouragement of
trade in our said Kingdom of Ireland t to extend our favour to
such of the said corporacons as our said Lieutenant-Generall and
Generall Governor of our said Kingdome of Ireland should judgebest meritting the same, and to grant unto them new Charters,,
with such lands and other privileges, liberties, and advantagesformerly belonging unto them, as should appear unto our said
Lieutenant-Generall and Generall Governor of our said Kingdome?
of Ireland, to beet fitt and reasonable to be granted unto them^
wee did therefore by our said letters declare our royall will and
pleasure, and did, thereby give unto our said Lieutenant-Generall
and Generall Governor of said Kingdome of Ireland, full power
and authority upon humble suite made unto our said Lieutenants
Generall and Generall Governor of our said Kingdome of Irelan-f
by the members of the said severall citties and towns to cause new
charters by the advice of our learned councell in that our kingdoms
or some of them to bee passed unto ye said citties and towr^
formerly corporate respectively under the greate seale of our said'
kingdome of Ireland in such manner as our said lieutenant general
and generall governor of our said kingdome of Ireland should
thinke fitt; and whereas Robert Browne Esq., late portreeve of o i r
towne and borrough of Catherlagh in our county ot Catberlf ,'|h
in our province of Leinster in our said kingdom of Ireland, and by
the free burgesses and communitye of the said towne and burrou gh
duely considering our grace and bounty freely intended to our $®i&
citties and townes corporate in bur said kingdome of Ireland h ave
humbly petitioned us that wee would bee graciously pleased to gi 'ant
unto taem a new charter for the said burrough and to incorporate

210

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

them by the names of soveraigne ffree burgesses and communitye
of our said towne and burrough of Catherlagh with such franchises,
liberties, priviledges, and advantages as they formerly under such
restrictions and limitations as we should thinke fitt and most conduceing to our service and the supporte of the said burrough. And
whereas wee are graciously pleased for the better planting and improveing of the said towne and settling of trade and manufactures
therein, to condescend unto the humble desires of the petitioners,
now know yee, that wee of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge
and meere mocon by and with the advice and consent of our right
trusty and right welbeloved cousen and councellor Arthur, earl of
Essex, our lieutenant generall and generall governor of our said
kingdom of Ireland, and according to the tenor and effect of our
aforesaid letters under our Royall signett and signe manual beareing date at our court at Whitehall the said sixteenth day of August,
which was in the said three and twentieth yeare of ourraigne, and
Inrolled in the rools of our high court of chancery in our said kingdome of Ireland, have declared, ordained, and appointed, aud wee do£
by these presents for us, ourheires, and successors, declare, ordaine
and appoint, that the aforesaid towne of Catherlagh and all and singular castles, messuages, tofts, mills, houses, edifices, buildings, cartilages, gardens, waters, rivers, lands, tenements, and hereditaments
whatsoever, with their appurtenances, lyeing or being, in or within,
the said towne or village, or the precincts thereof, shall from henceforth for ever bee one intire and free burrough of itselfe, and shall
for ever hereafter be called and knowne by the ye. name of the
burrough of Catherlogh; and all and singular the aforesaid premises
into one intire and free burrough of itselfe by the name of the burrough of Catherlagh, wee doe erect, constitute, make, and ordaine
by these presents; and further wee doe by these presents will, ordain,
and appoint, that within the said burrough there bee one body
corporate and politique consisting of one soveraigne, twelve free
burgesses and a communitye, and that all ye* inhabitants within the
towne and lands aforesaid bee and for ever hereafter shall bee by
force of these presents one body corporate and politique in matter,
deed and name, by the name of the soveraigne, free burgesses, and
Communitye of the burrough of Catherlagh, and them by the name
of soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the burrough of
Catherlagh, aforesaid, into one body corporate or politique in
deed and name, really and fully wee doe for us, our heires,
and successes, by these presents erect, make, ordain and constitute, and that by the same name they shall have perpetual!
succession, and that they by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses, and communitye of the said burrough of Catherlagh, bee and
for ever hereafter shall be persons able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, andpossesse, lands, tenements,liberties, priviledges,
jurisdicco?is, franchises, and hereditaments, whatsoever, of what
nature or kind soever they bee to them and their successors in feejand
forever, and alsoe goods and chatties, and other things, whatsoever,
of whatsoever nature or kind they bee, and also give, grant, demise,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

211

and assigne, lands, tenements and hereditaments, goods and chatties,
and to doe and execute all other matters and things by the name
aforesaid, and that by the name of soveraigne free burgesses and
communityeof theburrough of Catherlagh they plead and bee impleaded, answer and bee answered, defend and bee defended before
us our heirs and successors, and before whatsoever justices and
judges of us, our heires and successors, in whatsoever courts of us,
our heires and successors and elsewhere wheresoever, of and in all
manner of accons, suites, pleas, quarrells and demands whatsoever
against them or by them in any manner to be psequted or obtained.
And that they the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said
burrough and their successors for ever shall have full power and
authority to chuse, returne and send to discreete and fitt men to
serve and attend in every parliament hereafter to be held in' our
said kingdome of Ireland, and that such men soe chosen, returned
and sent, may have full power and authority to debate and consult
of such affairs and matters as shall bee there declared mdppounded
to them and others, thereupon freely to give their votes and to doe
and execute all other things whatsoever as fully and freely as any
other burgesses of any other ancient burrough in our said kingdome
of Ireland or in our said kingdome of England in parliament then
have accustomed to doe and execute; wherefore wee will and by
these p$ents for us, our heirs and successors we doe give and grant
the aforesaid soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough
and their successors, and also we doe for us, our heires and successors require and command all sheriffs, officers and minister^ whatsoever of us, our heires and successors of our said county of Catherlagh for the time being to whom any our writt or writts of
election of burgesses of parliament within our said county of
Catherlagh at any time or times hereafter shall be directed, that
every such sheriff, officer or minister to whom any such our writt or
writts shall be directed shall make their pcepts to the soveraigne
and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being for the
electing and returning two of their burgesses according to the forme
and effect of the same writt or writts, and these or Ires patents or the
inrollment thereof shall bee as well to the said soveraigne and free
burgesses of the said burrough and their successors as to all and
singular the sheriffs, officers and ministers whatsoever of us, or heirs
and successors, or sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalf.
And to the intent that it may appear to after times that this new
corporation was at first composed of honest, discreet men, wee
doe make, nominate and constitute the said Robert Browne, Esq.
to bee the first and modeme soveraigne of the said burrough, to
continue in the same office until the feast of St. Michaell the Archangell next after the date of these psents; and wee doe by these
psents institute, ordaine and appointe that the said Robert Browne,
before he take upon him to execute the said place of soveraigne of
the said burrough, by vertue of these psents, doe take the oaths
of supremacy established by act of parliament secundo Elizabethe
in this kingdome, and the oath of allegiance, besides the oath here2 D

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HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

tofore usually taken upon the admission of any pson into the office
ofportreeve of the said burrough, and also this ensueing oath, viz.
I, Robert Brown, doe declare and believe that it is not ktwfull upon
any ptence whatsoever to take armes against the king, and that I
doe abhor yt. trayterous position of taking armes by his authority
against his pson, or against those that are commissioned by him,
fioe helpe mee God: the said oaths to be taken before our trusty
and welbeloved councellor Sir John Temple, knight, master of the
rolls in our said kingdome of Ireland, whome wee doe hereby impower and authorize to administer to ye. said Robert Browne, Esq.
said oaths. And wee doe likewise make, nominate and constitute our
trusty and welbeloved councellor Sir John Povey, knight, chiefe
justice of our court of chief place in our said kingdome of Ireland,
Sir William Temple baronett, John Nicholas, Esq., Robert Browne,
Esq., Edward Reynolds, gentleman, John Warren, Esq., Robert
Curtis, Michall Heade, gent. Samuell Blackshaw, gent. Sir Thomas
Butler, bart.-, Sir John Davallier, knight, Henry Berkeley, Esq.,
and John Tench, gent, to bee first and modern twelve free burgesses
of the said burrough, to continue in the said office of free burgesses
of the said burrough dureing their severall lives, unlesse that they
or any of them in the mean time for misbehaviour or other reasonable cause shall be removed from the said office or offices; and wee
doe likewise by these psents institute, ordaine and appoint that the
said Sir John Povey, Sir William Temple, John Nicholas, Robert
Browne, Edward Reynolds, John Warren, Robert Curtis, Michall
Heade, Samuell Blackshaw, Sir Thomas Butler, Sir John Davallier, Henry Berkeley and John Tench respectively, before they
or any of them take upon them to execute the said place or places
of free burgesses of the said burrough by virtue of these psents,
doe take ye. aforesaid severall oaths of supremacy and allegiance,
besides the oath heretofore usually taken upon the admission of any
pson or psons into ye. office of free burgesses of the said burrough,
and also this ensueing oath, viz. I, A. B. doe declare and believe
that it is not lawfull upon any pretence whatsoever to take armes
against the king, and thatt I doe abhor that traytorous position of
taking armes by his authority against his pson or against those thatt
are commissioned by him, soe helpe mee God: the said oaths to
bee taken before the said Robert Browne, being first sworn soveraigne of the said burrough, whome wee doe hereby impower and
authorize to administer to the said Sir John Povey, Sir William
Temple, John Nicholas, Robert Browne, Edward Reynolds, John
Warren, Robert Curtis, Michall Heade, Samuell Blackshawe, Sir
Thomas Butler, Sir John Davallier, Henry Berkeley and John
Tench, severally and respectively the said oathes. And wee doe
likewise make, constitute and nominate John Smith, Richard Curtis,
John Paagett, Richard Browne, Thomas Hollyday, and William
Scoley, and such other psons who are at psent free of the said
burrough together with all the inhabitants of the said towne, and
soe many other psons as the soveraigne and free burgesses of the
eaid burrough lor the time being shall admitt into the freedome of

OF THE COUNTY OF CARXOW.

213

tlit* said burrough to bee of the communitye of the said burroughs
And wee doe by these psents further ordaine* institute and appoint©
that noe person or persons that shall hereafter bee elected soveraigne
or burgesse of the said burrough of Catherlagh shall bee capable
of holding, enjoying or executing any the said offices, plans or employments untili hee or they shall have taken the aforesaid oath of
supremacye and the oath of allegiance, besides the oathes usually
taken; upon the admisson of any pso?is into the said respective
offices, places or employments, and also this ensueing oath, viz.,
I, A. B. doe declare and believe, that it is not lawfull upon any
ptence whatesoever to take armes against the king, and that I doe
abhor that traytorous position of taking armes by his author!tye
against his person or against those that are commissioned by him>
soe helpe mee God : the said oathes to be taken before such person
or psoas as shall admit them to the said severall offices, places and
employments, who are hereby empowered, authorized and required
to administer to them the said oathes and upon any such pson or
psons refusall to take ye. said oathes, the election of such pson or
psons into any the said offices, places or employments is hereby
declared to bee absolutely null and void, such psons only excepted
with whose takeing the said oath of supremacye the lord lieutenant
or other chiefe governor or governors of our said kingdome of
Ireland for the time being for some particular reasons shall thinke
fitt by writing under his or their hands by name to dispense. And
our will and pleasure further is, and wee doe by these psents for us,,
our heires and successors grant unto the said soveraigne, free bur*
gesses and communitye of the said burrough and their successors,
that the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for
the tyme being, shall and may on the feast of St. John the Baptist
yearly for ever assemble themselves in some convenient place
within the said burrough, and that the said soveraigne, free burgesses
being soe assembled, or the major pte of them, before they departe
may there elect one of the more discreete free burgesses of the
said burrough to the office of soveraigne of the said burroughs who.
haveing taken the aforesaid severall oathes in manner as aforesaid,,
may enter upon the execucon of the said office for one yeare from
the feast of St. Michaell the archangeli then next following, and
untili one other of the burgesse9 of the said burrough bee duly
chosen approved of and sworne to that office in manner as aforesaid.
And further of our like especiall grace, certain knowledge and
meere mocon, wee will and by these psents for us, our heirs and
successors doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and
communitye of the said burrough and their successors, that if and
as often as it shall happen that the soveraigne of the said burrough
for the tyme being within the yeare after hee is chosen and sworne
to the office of soveraigne of the said burrough as aforesaid shall
dye, or any wayes avoyd his said office that then and soe often the
free burgesses of the said burrough and their successors, or the
major pte of them, shall and may within fifteene dayes after such
vacancye chuse another fitt pson of the said number of free burgesses to the soveraigneshippe of ye. said burrough, for the governing

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HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

of the said towne during the residue of the said yeare, and that every
pson orpsons, to the said office of sovereign of the said burrough soe
as aforesaid chosen, shall and may execute the office of soveraigne
of the said burrough, untill the feast of St. Michaell the archangel],
next after such election, hee first taking the aforesaid several oaths
in such manner as in these psents is set forth. And further, because
the soveraigne for the time being may many times have just occasion
to hee absent from the said burrough of Catherlagh, either for the
public affairs thereof, or on his own urgent occasions; wee doe
therefore for us, our heirs and successors by these psents give and
grant unto ye. said soveraigne and free burgesses, and their successors, that the said Robert Browne and his successors, soveraigne
of the said burrough for the time being, and every of them shall
have full power from tyme to tyme during his tyme of government
with the consent of the burgesses of the said towne, for the time
being, or of the greater pte of them, to substitute in his absence
some discreett and substantial pson, being one of the number of
the burgesses, inhabiting in the said towne and burrough, to bee
the deputy soveraigne of the said burrough during the absence of
the said soveraigne; and such deputy soveraigne for the tyme being,
wee doe by these psents, fully and absolutely authorize to doe and
execute all things whatsoever belonging to the said office or place
of soveraigne, during the absence of such soveraigne in as large
and ample manner, as if the said soveraigne himselfe were psonally
psent; such deputy soveraigne before he enter upon the said office,
first taking the aforesaid several respective oaths, before the said
soveraigne and burgesses then psent, whome wee doe hereby
authorize dulety to administer the same. And further our will and
pleasure is, and wee doe by these psents, for us, our heirs and
successors, make, ordain and appoint the soveraigne of the said
burrough of Catherlagh, for the tyme being, to be a justice of the
peace within the said countie of Catherlagh, and within the bounds
and limitts of the said countye, during the time that hee shall bee
soveraigne; and wee doe hereby give full power and authority unto
the soveraigne of the said burrough, for the time being, to doe and
execute all and every act and acts, thing and things, whatsoever,
within the bounds and lymits of the said countye of Catherlagh,
in as absolute and ample manner as any justice of the peace within
our said countye of Catherlagh, may or ought to doe, by the laws
and statutes of this realme. And further of our more especiall grace,
certain knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice,
and consent aforesaid, wee will, and by these psents, for us, our
heirs and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the said burrough and their successors,
that if any of the free burgesses of the said burrough, soe as afore*
said in these psents named, or any of the free burgesses of the
said burrough, hereafter to| be chosen, shall die or are removed
from their offices, which free burgesses and every or any of them
misbehaving themselves in that office, our will is, that they bee removeable at the pleasure of the soveraigne, and the maior pte. of
the free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being ; that

OF THE COUNTY OF C^RLOW.

215

then the soveraigne and the rest of the free burgefsses of the said
burrough for the tyme beinge, within seaven days after the death
or removall of such free burgesse or burgesses, shall and may
assemble themselves in some convenient place within the said durrough, and that the said soveraigne and free burgesses being so
assembled, or the major pte of them before they depte, shall and
may elect one or so many as shall be wanting of the aforesaid
number of twelve free burgesses, of the better and more disereete
inhabitants of the said burrough, into the place or places of that free
burgesse, or those free burgesses soe dead or removed from their
aforesaid offices, to continue in the same office or offices during
their naturall lives, unless for misgovernment or, misbehaviour in
that behalfe they or any of them shall be removed ; and that every
pson so chosen to the office of a free burgesse of the said burrough
before bee bee admitted to execute that office, and within seven
days after such ellecon, shall take the aforesaid severall oaths of
supremacye and allegiance, and likewise his corporate oath before
the soveraigne of the said burrough for the time being, or before
the residue of the free burgesses of the said burrough then surviveing
and in ye- said offices remaining or the maior pte of them, well
and faithfully to exercise the office of a free burgesse of the said
burrough; to which said soveraigne for the tyme being, and to the
free burgesses or the maior pte of them for the tyme being, wee
doe by these psents give full power and authority to administer the
aforesaid severall oaths to such free burgesse newley sworne, and
soe often as in the like case shall happen. And further of our especiall grace certain knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the
advice and consent aforesaid, wee doe by these psents for us, our
heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said sovereigne, free
burgesses and communitye of the said burrough, and their successors, that they and their successors for ever shall and may have,
and hold a court in some convenient place within the said burrough,
to be held before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme
being, and to hold pleas in the said court every Thursday from
week to week, of all and singular accons of debt, covenant, trespasse, detinue, contract and psonall demands, whatsoever, happening or arising in or within the said burrough or the liberties
thereof, not exceeding the sume of five markes sterl., and yt# yt%
court bee reputed, and accounted a court of record for ever. And
our further will and pleasure is, and wee doe, by these psents, of
our like especiall grace, certain knowledge and meere mocon, by
and with the advice and consent aforesaid, grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the said burrough, and
their successors for ever, that they and their successors from tyme
to tyme as often as they shall think fitt, shall and may congregate,
and assemble themselves in some convenient place within the said
burrough, and in their assemblyes there make, appointe, ordain and
establishe such acts, ordinances and by lawes for the good and
wholesome government of the said burrough, and ef the inhabitants thereof, as they or the maior pte of them shall think fitt and

210

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

necessary; and that they may have power and authority to punish,
chastise and correct, by fines and pecuniary mulcts, whatsoever
such psonsy as are offenders against such ordinances and by lawes,
soe that the said acts ordinances and by lawes, fines, and mulcts,
be reasonable, and not contrary or repugnant to the lawes and
statutes of our said kingdome of Ireland, nor any the rules,
orders and directions made and established by our Keutenant, and
councell of our said kingdome of Ireland, for the better regulating
of the saidborrough of Catherlagh, amongst other our citties walled
townes and corporacons, within our said kingdom of Ireland. And
further wee will, and by these psents, for us, our heirs and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and conimunitye of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that
they may have a guild mercatory, within the said burrough, and
the same or the like comon seale which the portreeve, free burgesses
and comnpinitye of the said towne, lately had; to bee ingraven with
such forme and inscription as they shall think best to serve for the
affairs of the said burrough for ever; and that they may from tyme
to tyme, for ever, as often as need shall require, elect, constitute,
and ordaine of themselves two serieants at mace, and other inferior officers, and ministers necessary for the better government of
the said burrough, and the inhabitants thereof. And every pson9
soe from tyme to tyme chosen, constituted and ordained, wee doe
make, constitute and ordain to bee serieants at mace and other
officers, and ministers of ye* said burrough respectively, and to
continue in their said offices during their good behaviour or at the
will and pleasure of the said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the said burrough; and that every such serieant, officer
and minister, before hee bee admitted to exercise his office, doe
take his corporall oath, before the sovereigne of the said burrough
for the tyme being, well and faithfully to behave himself in his
office. And further of our like especiall grace, certain knowledge
andmeere mocon, we doe, by these psents> for us, our heires and
successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses
and communitye of the said burrough, and their successors, for ever,
that the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, for
ever shall bee clerk of the markett, within the said burrough, and
the liberties thereof, aud that hee shall have from tyme to tyme,
full power and authority to doe and execute all and every thing
and things, to the said office of clerke of the markett, within the
said burrough, belonging or in any wise appertaining, soe that noe
other clerke of the markett of us, our heirs and successors, shall
enter into the said burrough or ye* franchises thereof, to doe or
execute the said office of clerke of the markett or any thing to the
said office of clerke of the markett, within the said burrough belonging or appertaining. AND WHEREAS, we are fully satisfied
that it is of great importance to our realme of Ireland, and will
tend much to the advancement of trade, traffique and commerce, in
our said kingdome, that all sorts of manufactures should bee improved therein, and that the said sovereigne, free burgesses and

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

217

communitye, have declared themselves willing, and forward to
give all incouragement and furtherance to soe good a worke, therefore, our will and pleasure is, and the said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye, of the said burrough of Catherlagh, doe
for themselves and their successors accordingly grant and agree to
and with us our heirs and successors, in manner and forme following, that is to say: that it shall and may bee lawfull to and for
every pson and psons, as well strangers and aliens, as our subiects of Protestant religion who are or shall bee traders, artizans,
or otherwise skilled and exercised in any misterye, craft, or trade,
or in the workeing or makeing any manufacture, who shall at any
time hereafter att or before the end of the next session of parliament to bee held in our said kingdome of Ireland, come into the
said burrough of Catherlagh with intent and purpose there to inhabitt and dwell upon his or their reasonable suite or request made
in that behalf, and upon payment or tender of twenty shillings,
by way of fine unto the soveraigne of the said towne, to be admitted a freeman of the said burrough of Catherlagh, and during
his or their residence there to have, exercise and enjoy all privileges
and imunityes of tradeing, buying, workeing, and selling, in as
large and ample manner as any freeman of the said burrough, may
have, exercise or enjoy the same, by vertue of his or their freedom,
any thing in these our Ires patents contained to the contrary thereof, notwithstanding. Our royal will and pleasure is, and wee doe
hereby grant, and declare that every such pson and psons, who
shall bee admitted to bee free of the said burrough, in manner as
aforesaid, shall from thenceforth bee deemed, esteemed, and taken,
and bee denizen and denizens, within this kingdome, and shall and
may have, hould and enioy all other freedoms; benefits and advantages granted, or intended by the said acts; any former law, statute,
charter, usage or custome of our said kingdome of Ireland, or of
the said burrough of Catherlagh, or otherwise to the contrary thereof, in anywise notwithstanding; provided nevertheless, and our
expresse will and pleasure is, that all such strangers, artificers and
others who shall bee admitted freemen, in manner as aforesaid,
before hee or they bee admitted freemen, doe take the oath of allegiance, and such other oaths as are directed and appointed in
such cases to be taken, in and by the said act, and shall pay beare
and sustaine all such and like charges as othere freemen, our subiects of like trade, craft or mistery, shall or doe usually beare, and
pay within the said burrough. And further of our ample grace,
certain knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice, and
consent aforesaid, wee doe, by these presents, for us, our heirs and
successors, grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that
these our Ires patents or the inrollment thereof, and every clause,
and article therein contained, shall be construed, interpreted and
adiudged to the greatest advantage, benefitt, and favour of the
said soveraigne, free burgesses or communitye of the said burrough,
and their successors, against us our heirs and successors, as well

218

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

in all our courts and else where as in our said kingdom of Ireland,
as elsewhere wheresoever, without any other conformacon, lycence or tolleracon hereafter to bee paired or obtained, notwithstanding that our writt of ad quod damnum, had not issued to
enquire of the pmisses before the making of those our Ires patents,
and notwithstanding any other defect or any other cause, matter or
thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof, although noe expresse
mencon bee made of the true yearely vallue or certainty of the
pmisses, or of any guift or grant heretofore made by us or any of
our pgem'iors, to these the said soveraigne, free burgesses and
communitye, of the said burrough of Catherlagh, or either of them,
of the said pmisses, in these psents any statute act, ordinance,
provision or restriccon, or any other cause,^matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstanding. And
Wee further will and by these psents for us our heires and successors, doe grant that these our ires patent, shall be passed under
the great seale of our said kingdome of Ireland, unto them the
said soveraigne, free burgesses and communitye of the burrough of
Catherlagh, and their successors for ever, without any fine, greate
or small, to bee rendered or paid unto us our heires and successors
in our hanaper of said kingdome of Ireland; provided always that
these our Ires patents bee inrolled in the rolls of our high court of
chancery in our said kingdome of Ireland, within the space of six
months next ensuing the date oi these psents, any statute, act,
ordinance, pvision, or restriccon, or any other cause, matter or
thing whatsoever to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. I N WITNESS whereof, we have caused these our Ires to bee
made patents. Witnesse our aforesaid lieutenant ^enerall and
general! governor of our said kingdom of Ireland, att Dublin, the
four and twentyeth day of December, in the six and twentyeth year
of our raigne.
A.D. 1681. The country in general, and our county not less
than any other part of it, seems at this period to have reached
some degree of order; property was secure, the laws were respected
and the professors of the reformed religion were now so eligibly
circumstanced, that, (as may be collected from the following passage in a letter from a chaplain of the duke of Ch monde), Ireland
was considered a desirable place of refuge for the persecuted Protestants of France. " Joignez & tout cela," says the writer, " la
douceur des loix, et Texcellence du gouvernenlent sous lequel on
vit ici sous les meilleur des rois, qui ne se propose de gouverner
que par des loix si douces, et qui est d'autant plus parfaitement
un de ces dieux etde ces enfans du souverain, dontparle l'ecriture;
qu'etant vrayment monarque, il ne peut etre tyran. Ajoutez encore
la veritable liberte, et la propriete de biens dont jouit ici le sujet;
sans ctre expose a se voir accable de taxes et d'impots, ou mange
de gens de guerre."* This flattering picture was, however, soon
* De l'etat present d'Irlande et des ^vantages qu'y peuvent trouver lea
Protestaiis Francoises: en unlettre d'un des ehapelainssde monseigneur leduc
d'Ormond, viceroi d'Irlande; a un de ses amis en Angleterre. Dublin, 168L

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

219

to be reversed ; the time speedily arrived, when instead of peace
and prosperity, Ireland presented a scene of tumult and disorder;
and happy would it have been for the infatuated James II., had he
followed the example of his more moderate brother.
Narcissus Marsh was appointed to the bishopric of Leighlin mild
Ferns, in 1682. He was born at Harrington, near Highworflt^
in Wiltshire, on the 20th of December, 1638. By his father's
side he was descended from a Saxon family, anciently settled in
Kent; from which county his great grand-father removed to the
place of his birth. His mother*s name was Colburn, of a Dorsetshire family. Having acquired the rudiments of learning at High*
worth, and being fully prepared to enter the university, he was
admitted a student of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, in July, 1654;
and on the 30th June, 1658, was elected probationer fellow of
Exeter Hall. He took his degree of master of arts, July, 1660 ;
on the 11th December, 1667, that of bachelor of divinity; and
on the 23rd June, 1671, the degree of doctor of divinity; which
degree was again conferred on him, by the university of Dublin,
on the 27th February, 1678. Having thus mentioned the dates
of his earlier promotions, we shall now notice some passages in a
MS. autobiography, yet extant. W e have great pleasure in availing ourselves of this document, as it admirably|pourtrays the character and conduct of this excellent man, distinguished scholar,
and exemplary prelate.
During his residence at the university, he says, ° I betook myself seriously to the study of the old philosophy, mathematics, and
oriental languages; and before Lent, 1658, (when I took my degree of A.B.) I had made a good progress in them all. I was
then nineteen years old and about a quarter. All this while I constantly kept an entire fast every week, from Thursday, six o'clock
at night, until Saturday, eleven at noon. For which God may be
praised." At this period he unbent his mind by occasional performance on the bass viol, and by a weekly concert in his rooms.
€i
This I did (he says) as an exercise, using no other ; but labouring hard at my studies all the rest of the week. Yet, O Lord,
I beseech thee to forgive me this loss of time and vain conversation."
He looks on his promotion to the rank of fellow of Exeter Hall,
as the event which led to his subsequent successful career. " In
March, 1662, (being then a little past twenty-three years of age),
I was invited up to London to lake the living of Swindon in Wilte,
that was then void, and in the king's gift. In order whereunto I
was put into full orders at one and the same time by Dr. Skinner,
bishop of Oxford, in K. Hen. VII. chapel, Westminster, though
then under age for priesthood. The Lord forgive us both; but I
knew no better but that it might legally be done."
Shortly afterwards, he was appointed chaplain to doctor Seth
Ward, bishop of Exeter: " but preferring my study to all worldly
advantage, I still stuck close to the university ." Indeed an attachment to literary retirement seems to have formed a prominent
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am

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

trait in his character, as we may thus learn :—a. finding that the
marrying a gentlewoman would be expected from me by those on
whose favour I had already and must much depend, and being
averse to entangling myself in the cares of the world, I quitted the
living after I had enjoyed it a year, and adhered to my fellowship,
keeping in the college all along." Having stated this affair, he
prays as follows: uO my God, I bless thy holy name for delivering
me out of the snare that they had laid for me ; and if 1 have done
amiss in that affair, I beg thy forgiveness : and O Lord, pardon
them I beseech thee, for what they designed and acted (not against
me I do think) but against the intent and purpose of my heart
to render thee and thy holy church such service, as in the married
state I could not be able to do, which 19 my only reason why I
have hitherto kept myself a single man. The Lord, my God,
enable me henceforth to be so, that in this respect also I may redeem my time." No one can feel surprised, that such a man
arrived at eminence.
Having successively obtained the appointments of chaplain to
the bishop of Exeter, and to lord chancellor Hyde, earl of Clarendon, he was on the 12th of May, 1673, promoted to the office
of principal of Alban Hall, Oxford, by the duke of Ormonde,
chancellor of the university. As an individual of great learning
and merit, he was unanimously chosen to preach the anniversary
sermon on the 5th November, 1667, and the act sermon in 1678.
H e had been previously selected as one of the additional proctors
for preserving order in the university during the abode of Charles
II. there, in 1665. These are the several offices which he filled
previous to his removal to Ireland. Through the exertions of
Doctor John Fell, and the favour of the duke of Ormonde, then
lord lieutenant of Ireland, he was nominated by King Charles II.
successor to Doctor Michael Ward in the provostship of the
university of Dublin, in December 1678; and was sworn into
office on the 24th January following. During his occupancy of
the office of provost, he devoted much time to study; which,
however, did not prevent the strictest and most correct performance
of his public duties. By the death of Doctor Boyle, a vacancy
occurred m the bishopric of Leighlin and Ferns, which was filled
by the promotion of Doctor Marsh, by letters patent, dated the
27th February, 1682. He was consecrated in Christ-church,
Dublin, on the 6th of May, following, by his metropolitan, Francis, archbishop of Dublin, assisted by the archbishop of Armagh,
and the bishops of Meath, Kildare, Cork and Ross, and Kilmore.
With these sees, he held the rectory of Killeban, in the diocese of
Leighlin, in commendam*
By an inquisition taken at Carlow, on the 2nd June, 1664, it
was found, that Edmund Wall, 23rd October, 1641, was proprietor and possessor of the town and land of Ballylean and Killesame, in the parish of Ueghlin, and barony of Catherlogh, con• Harris'* Ware, vol. i. p. 449. MS, Life.

OF THE COUNTY OF GAELOWJ

221

tainiiign>ne hundred and twenty acres of land* part of the town
and lands of Ballynekilly and Browneene, in the parish of Killerick,
in said barony, containing sixty acres of land; part of the town
and lands of Ueghlin, containing two hundred acres, part of the
town and lands of Pollardstown, twenty acres.
Charles IL died on the 6th of February, 1685.

CHAP. X X V .
Reign of James II.

A.D. L685, to A.D. 1688.

JAMES, duke of York, succeeded his brother, the late king*.
Being a bigoted Roman Catholic, he, with a total disregard to his
professions on accession to the throne, commenced and continued
a series of tyrannical acts for the furtherance of his sect and the
depression of his Protestant subjects. In Ireland, the earl of Clarendon, as being too moderate, was recalled from the government,
and colonel Richard Talbot, created earl of Tyrconnel, a furious
papist, appointed in his place. One of his first steps was to disarm the Protestant militia, which, as has already been noticed,
was established in each county. And notwithstanding, that the
members of these corps had purchased their own arms, they were
required, with an utter disregard of justice, to deposit them in the
king'6 6tore.
Among other unjust and illegal devices for the complete prostration of the Protestant interest, it was resolved to dissolve the corporations ; but being well aware that the members of these bodies
would never relinquish their charters unless compelled by law, Tyrconnel at first endeavoured to persuade them to admit Roman Catholics, in order thus to effect their subversion. The resolution,
however, of Sir John Knox, then lord mayor of Dublin, and of
the board of aldermen, completely frustrated that project, and he
was obliged to bring Quo warranto inquiries against the corporations in order to effect their destruction.
To prevent the transfer of writs of error to England, alt these
vexatious inquisitions or quo warranto,, were brought in the
Court of Exchequer; where in two terms judgments were obtained
against most of the charters of Ireland. The chief baron, a
creature of the government, hurried over the causes with the most
indecent haste, and did not even allow sufficient time for reply
from the defendants. While in no case was just ground of disfranchisement alleged, nor was forfeiture adjudged after a legal trial*
On pitiful pretences and paltry grounds were one hundred corpp*
rations deprived of the title to their rights and privileges.*
• King's State of the Protestant*.

222

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

In some cases the ancient charter was superseded by the grant
of a new one, by which Romanists were constituted masters and
wardens; who, when installed in office, forthwith committed to
prison all the old members who would not submit to them.
Among the rest, Carlow did not escape. The charter granted
by the late king was abrogated, and another, of which the following
is a copy, issued in its stead.
CHARTER GRANTED BY JAMES II. TO THE BOROUOH OP CARLOW.
JAMES the SECOND, by the grace of G O D , king of England,

Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To all
to whome these presents shall come greeting. Whereas the tovvne
of Catherlagh is an ancient town in the province of Leinster and
county of Catherlagh, and populous, and that the soveraigne free
burgesses and commonaltye of the said towne had and used divers
franchises, liberties, and priviledges, and to bee a hodie politique
by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of
the towne of Catherlagh, all which franchises, liberties, and priviledges, by judgment of our court of Exchequer in Ireland, were
seised into our hand; yett wee being willing that a certain order and
method may be observed therefore, keepinge the peace, and for the
better regulating and governing the said towne, and our people
therein inhabiting and resorting to the same, and fore encouraging
of trade and traiBque within the said towne, know yee, that we of
our spetiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, by and
with the advice and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved
cousin and councellor, Richard, earl of Tyrconnell, and deputy
generall and generall governor of our kingdome of Ireland, and
according to the tenor and effect of our Ires under our Royall
signett and signe manuell beareing date att our court at Windsor,
the twentieth day of Sept., in the third yeare of our raigne, and
inrolled in the rolls of our high court of chancery in our said
kingdom of Ireland, have declared, ordained, and appointed, and
wee doe by these presents for us, our heires and successors declare,
ordaine, and appoint, that the aforesaid towne of Catherlagh and
all and singular castles, messuages, tofts, mills, houses, edifices,
buildings, curtilages, gardens, waters, rivers, lands, tenements,
and hereditaments, whatsoever, with their appurtenances, lying or
being in or within the same towne or village, or the precincts thereof,
shall from hence forth for ever bee one intire and free burrough of
ittselfe, and shall for ever hereafter bee called and knowne by the
name of the burrough of Catherlagh; and all and singuler the
aforesaid premisses into one intire and free burrough of ittselfe, by
the name of the burrough of Catherlough, wee doe for us, our
heires, and successors, erect, constitute, make and ordaine by
these presents ; and that the said burrough and the franchises and
liberties thereof, shall extend to the same meares and bounds that
the burrough of Catherlough and the precincts thereof did formerly
extend themselves; and further, wee doe by these present?, will,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

223

ordaine, and appoint, that within the said borrough there bee one
body corporate^ and politique, consisting of one soveraigne and
twenty four free burgesses and a eommonaltie, and that all the
inhabitants within the said towne and lands, aforesaid, bee and for
ever hereafter shall bee by force and vertue of these presents one
bodie corporate and politique, in matter, deed and name, by the
name of the soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the
burrough of Catherlough, and them by the name of the soveraigne
free burgesses and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlough,
aforesaid, into one body corporate and politique, in deed and name,
really and fully, wee doe for us, our heires, and successors, by
these presents erect, make, ordaine, and constitute, and that by
the same name they shall have perpetual succession, and that they
by the name of soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie, of
the said burrough of Catherlough, bee and for ever hereafter shall
bee persons able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, and
possesse, lands, tenements, liberties, priviledges, jurisdictions,
franchises, and hereditaments, whatsoever, of what nature or
kinde soever they bee, to them and their successors, in fee and
for ever, and alsoe goods and chatties, and all other things whatsoever, of whatsoever nature or kinde they bee, and alsoe to give,
grant, demise, and assigne lands, tenements, and hereditaments,
goods and chatties, and to doe and execute all other matters and
things by the name aforesaid, and that by the name of soveraigne,
free burgesses and commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlagh,
they may plead and bee impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and bee defended, before us, our heirs, and successors, and
before whatsoever justice and judges of us, our heires, and successors, in whatsoever courts of us, our heires, and succssors,
and elsewhere, wheresover of and in all manner of actions,
suites, pleas, quarrells, and demands, whatsoever, against them,
or by them, in any manner to bee prosecuted, or obtained. And
wee doe further for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant
to the soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the burrough
of Catherlough, and to their successors, and wee doe by these
presents for us, our heires, and successors, ordaine, constitute, and
declare, that they the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the
said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors for ever,
shall have full power and authority to choose, returne, and send
to discreete and fitt men to serve and attend in every parliament
hereafter to bee held in our said kingdome of Ireland, and that
such men from tyme to tyme so chosen, returned, and sent, may
have full power and authority to debate and consult of such affairs
and matters as shall bee there declared and propounded to them,
and others, and thereupon freely to give their votes, and to doe
and execute all other things whatsoever, as fully and freely as any
other burgesses of any other ancient burrough in our said kingdome
of Ireland, or in our kingdome of England, in parliaments there
have accustomed to doe and execute; wherefore wee will, and by
these presents for us, our heires, and successors, wee doe give
and grant to the aforesaid soveraigne and bui'gesses of the said

224

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

burrough for the tyme being, and tbeir successors, and also wee
doe for us, our beires, and successors, require and command al|
sherhTsj officers, and ministers whatsoever, of us, our beires, and
successors, of our said county of Catherlough, for the tyme being,
to wbome any our writt or writts of election of burgesses of parliament within our said county of Catherlough att any tyme, or
tymes, hereafter shall be directed, that every such sheriffe, officer,
or minister to whome any such our writt, or writts, shall be directed,
shall make their precepts to the soveraigne and free burgesses of
the said burrough for the tyme being, and their successors for the
electing and returneing two burgesses to serve in parliament according to the forme and effect of the same writt or writts, and
these our letters patents or the inrollment thereof shall bee as well
to the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough and
their successors to all and singular the eheriffes, officers, and
ministers, whatsoever, of us, our heires, and successors, a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe. And to the intend
that it may appeare to after times, that this new corporation was att
first composed of honest and discreet men, wee doe for us, our
heires, and successors, make, nominate, and constitute, Garrett
Quigley, merchant, to be the first and moderne soveraigne of the
said burrough, to continue in the same office untill the feast of St.
Michaell the Archangell, next after the date of these presents, and
afterwards untill another bee elected and sworne, if in the interim
hee bee not removed, whome and every other soveraigne hereafter
to be named, within the said burrough, wee will shall bee removeable for misbehaviour in their said office, att ye. will and pleasure
of ye. burgesses of ye. said burrough for the tyme being, or ye.
maior parte of them, and we doe by these presents constitute, ordaine, and appointe, that ye. said Garret Quigley, before hee take
upon him to execute the said office of soveraigne of the said burrough,
by vertue of these presents, doe take the usual oath of duely and
faithfully executing the said office, and alsoe the oathes ensueing,
viz, I doe hereby acknowledge, professe, testifie, and declare, in
my conscience before God and the world, that our soveraigne lord,
king James, is lawfull and rightfull king of this realme and other
his majesties dominions and countries, and I will beare faith and
true allegiance to his majestie, his heires, and successors, and hiro
and them will defend to the utmost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts, whatsoever, which shall be made against
bis or their crowne and dignity, and doe my best endeavour to
disclose and make knowne unto his majestie, his heires, and successors, or to the lord deputy, or other chief governor or governors
of this kingdome for the tyme being, all treasons, all treaterous,
conspiracies, which I shall know or heere to bee intended against
his majestie, his heires, and successors, or any of them, and I doe
make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily, willingly and
truely, upon the true faith of a christian, soe helpe mee God, & c ,
and I doe also declare and believe, that itt is not lawfull upon any
pretence whatsoever, to take armes against the king, and^ that I doe

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOS.

225

abhor that traytorous position of taking armes by his authority
against his person, or against those that are commissioned by him,
soe helpe me God, &c. The said oathes to be taken before the
last soveraigne, or some justice of peace within the said county of
Catherlough, whome we doe hereby impower and authorize to administer to the said Garret Quigley the said oathes. And wee doe likewise for us, our heires, and successors, make, nominate, and constitute, our trusty and well beloved Sir Laurence Esmond, baronet,
Henry Berkeley, Esq., John Warren, Esq., Pierce Bryan, Esq.
Maior Charles Cavanagh, Insigne Callaghane McCallaghan, Francis Eustace, Esq. John Baggott, Esq., Patrick Wall, Esq.,
Hubert Kelly, Esq., Marcus Baggott, Esq., Edmond Jones,
Esq., William Cooke, Esq., Oliver Grace, Esq., John Dwyer,
Esq., John Grace, gent, Pierce Byrne, gent., Edmond Dwyer,
apothecary, John Browne, gent., Edmond Carrell, merchant,
Thomas Keegan, merchant, Henry Webber, merchant, Thomas
Chanders, nayler, and Samuell Barrett, gent, to bee the first and
moderne twentie-four free burgesses of the said burrough, to continue in the said office of free burgesses of the said burrough during
their severall lives, unlesse that they or any of them in the mean time
by reason of some provision in these presents, or for misbehaviour,
or other reasonable cause, shall be removed from the said office, or
offices, and wee doe likewise by these presents constitute, ordaine,
and appoint, that the said burgesses and all and every burgesse or
burgesses hereafter to bee named, shall before they Or any of them
bee admitted to execute the said place, or places of free burgesses
of the said burrough by value of these presents, doe take the usual
oathe of duely and faithfully executing the place of a burgesse, and
the other oathe of fidelitie aforesaid, the said oathes to bee taken
before the soveraigne of the said towne or burrough for the tyme
being, whome wee for us, our heirs, and successors, doe hereby
impower and authorize to administer the said oathes. And wee
doe likewise make, constitute, and appoint the inhabitants of the
said towne and soe many other persons as the soveraigne and free
burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being shall admitt into
the freedome of the said burrough, to bee of the communitie of the
said burrough, and wee doe, further, by these presents ordain,
constitute, and appointe, that noe person or persons that shall hereafter bee elected soveraigne or burgesse of the said burrough of
Catherlough shall bee capable of holding, enioying, or executing
any the said offices, places, or employments, untill he or they
fehallhave taken the aforesaid oathes before the last soveraigne, or
before some justice of the peace of the said county, or before two
or more of the said burgesses whome respectively wee for us, our
heirs, and successors, doe impower to administer the same. And
our will and pleasure further is, and wee doe by these presents for
us, our heirs, and successors, grant to the said soveraigne, free
burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough and their successors, that the said soveraigne and free burgesses, of the said
burrough for the tyme being, and their successors, shall and may,

226

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

on the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist, yearly, for
ever, if it bee not Sunday, and if itt bee Sunday, then the next
day following, assemble themselves, in some convenient place
within the said burrough, and that the said soveraigne and free bur*
gesses, so assembled, or the maior part of them, before they depart may there elect one of the more discreet free burgesses of the
said burrough, to the office of soveraigne of the said burrough,
who having taken the aforesaid several oathes in manner as aforesaid^ may enter upon execution of the said office for one year, from
the feast of St. Michaell the archangell, then next following, and
from thenceforth untill another of the free burgesses of the said
burrough bee duely chosen and sworn to that office, in manner as
aforesaid. And further of our like special grace, certain knowledge, and meere mocony wee will, and by these presents for us,
our heirs, and successors, doe grant unto the said soveraigne, free
burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors, that if and as often as it shall happen that the soveraigne
of the said burrough for the tyme being after election and before
hee is sworn, or within the yeare after hee is chosen and sworn to
the office of soveraigne of the said burrough, as aforesaid, shall
dye, or his office any wayes become voide, that then, and soe often
the soveraigne and ffree burgesses of the said burrough and their
successors, or the maior part of them, as the case shall happen,
shall and may, within ten dayes after such vacancye, choose another fitt person of the said number of the free burgesses to the
soveraigneshipp of the said burrough for the governing of the said
towne, for one whole yeare from the feast of St. Michaell the archangell, then next following, or during the residue of the said
years, as the case shall happen, and that every person or persons
to the soveraigneeshipp of the said burrough soe as aforesaid chosen,
shall and may execute the office of soveraigne of the said burrough
for one whole yeare, from the feast of St. Michaell the archangell
then next following, or for the residue of the said year as the case
shall happen, and from thence forth, untill another bee chosen and
sworn to the said office, in manner aforesaid, hee first taking the
aforesaid severall oathes in such manner as in these presents is sett
forth. And further, because the soveraigne for the tyme being
may many tymes have just occasion to bee absent from the said
buiTOugh of Catherlough, either for the publique affairs thereof,
or on his own urgent occasions, wee doe therefore, for us, our
heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne*
free burgesses, and commonaltie and their successors, that the said
Garret Quigley, and his successors, soveraignes of the said burrough for the tyme being, and every of them shall have full power
and authority from tyme to tyme, during his or their tyme of government, with the consent of the free burgesses of the said towne
for the tyme being, or the maior part of them, to substitute in his
absence some discreet and substantial! person, being one of the
number of the burgesses of the said towne and burrough, to be
the deputy soveraigne during the absence or will and pleasure of

OF TUB COtfNTY OF CARLOW.

227

such soveraigne for the tyme being; wee doe, by these presents,
fully and absolutely, authorize the said deputy soveraigne to doe
and execute all things whatsoever belonging to the said office or
place of soveraigne, during the absence, or will and pleasure of
such soveraigne, in as large and ample manner as if the said soveraigne himself were personally present; such deputy soveraigne,
before hee enter upon the said office, first taking the aforesaid
severall and respective oathes before the said soveraigne then present, whome wee doe hereby authorize duely to administer the
same. And further, our will and pleasure is, and wee doe by
these presents for us, our heires, and successors, make, ordaine,
and appoint the soveraigne of the burrough of Catherlough, for the
tyme being, to bee a justice of the peace within the said county of
Catherlough, and within the bounds andlimitts of the said burrough,
during the tyme hee shall bee soveraigne ; and wee doe hereby
give full power and authoritie unto the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being, to doe and execute, all and every act
and acts, thing and things, whatsoever, within the said bounds and
limits of the said county of Catherlough, in as ample manner as
any justice of the peace within our said county of Catherlough
may or ought to doe by the laws and statutes of this realme; ne'e
taking the usuall oathe of duely and faithfully executing the place
of a justice before any two of the burgesses of the said burrough
for the tyme being, or before the last soveraigne, or before some
justice of the peace of the said county, to whome by these presents
wee give power respectively to administer the said oathes. And
of our more especiall grace, certain knowledge, and mere moeonp
by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, wee will, and by
these presents for us, our heires, and successors, doe grant unto
the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said
burrough, and their successors, that if any of the free burgessea
of the said burrough in these presents named, or hereafter to bee
chosen, shall dye or bee removed from their office, every of which
burgesses herein as aforesaid named, and of the burgesses hereafter named, misbehaving themselves in that office, our will is,
that they be removeable att the pleasure of the soveraigne and
burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior
part of them, within seven days after the death or reraovall of such
free burgesse, or free burgesses, shall and may assemble themselves in some convenient place within the said burrough, and
that the said soveraigne and free burgesses being so assembled, or
the maior part of them before they depart, shall and may elect one
or soe many as shall bee wanting of the aforesaid number of
twentie-foure free burgesses, of the better and more discrette in*
habitants and commonaltie of the said burrough, unto the place or
places of that free burgesse, or those free burgesses soe dead or
removed from their aforesaid offices to continue in the same office or
offices during their naturall lives, unless formisgovernmentormis*
behaviour in that behalfe, they or anyone of them shall bee removed ;
and that every person soe chosen to the office of a free burgesse
2 F

228

HfSTORT AND

ANTIQUITIES

t)f the said burrough, before hee bee admitted to execute that
office, before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme
being, or before the residue of the free burgesses of the said burrough then surviving, or the maior parte of them, shall take the
tisuall oath, well and faithfully to exercise the office of a free burgesse of the said burrough, and the oathes of fidelity aforesaid, to
which said soveraigne for the tyme being, or the free burgesses or
the maior part of them, for the tyme being, wee doe by these
presents give full power and authority to administer the aforesaid
eeverall oathes to such free burgesses and soe as often as the like
case shall happen. And further of our more especial grace, certaine
knowledge, and meere mocon, by and with the advice and consent
aforesaid, wee doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses,
and commonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors for
ever, that they and their successors shall and may have and hold a
court in some convenient place within the said burrough, to bee
held before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being,
and to hold pleas in the said court every Tuesday, from weeke to
weeke, of all and singular actions of debt, covenant, trespasse,
detinue, contract, and personal demands, whatsoever, happening
or arrising, in or within, the said borough or the liberties thereof,
not exceeding the sum of five marks sterling, and that that court
be reputed and accounted a court of record for ever. And our
further will and pleasure is, and wee doe by these presents of our
like speciall grace, certain knowledge, and meer mocon, by and
with the advice and consent aforesaid, for us, our heires, and successors, grant unto.the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and coramonaltie of the said burrough, and their successors for ever, that
they and their successors from tyme to tyme as often as they shall
thinke fitt, shall and may congregate and assemble themselves in
some convenient place within the said burrough, and in their assemblie there to make, appoint, and establish such acts, ordinances, and by laws for the good and wholesome government of the
said burrough and of the inhabitants thereof, as they or the maior
part of them/shall think fitt and necessary, and that they may have
power and authority to punish, chastise, and correct by fines
and pecuniary mulcts, whatsoever, such persons as are offenders against such ordinances and by lawes, soe that the said
acts, ordinances and by lawes, fines and mulcts bee reasonable
and not contrary or repugnant to the lawes and statutes of our
said kingdom of Ireland. And further wee will, and by these
presents, for us, our heires and successors, doe grant unto the said
soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough,
and their successors for ever, that they may have a guild mercatory within the said burrough, and the same or the like common
seale, which the soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of
the said towne lately had, to bee engraven with such forme and
inscription as they shall thinke best to serve for the affairs of the
said burrough, tor ever, and that they may from tyme to tyme,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

220

for ever, as often as occasion shall require, erect, constitute and
ordaine of themselves two serjants att mace and other inferior
officers, aud necessary for the better government of the said burrough respectively, and to continue in their office during their
good behaviour, or att the will and pleasure of the said soveraigne
and free burgesses of the said burrough, or the maior part of them,
and that every such serjant, officer, and minister before hee bee
admitted to execute his office, doe take his corporall oathe, antiently used before the soveraigne of the said burrough, for the
tyme being, well and faithfully to execute his place and behave
himself, and the other oathes of fidelitye aforesaid. And further wee
doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and
grant to the said soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie and their
successors, that they and their successors shall and may have within the said burrough, for ever hereafter, a towne clerke ; and wee
doe by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, ordaine,
constitute, and make JohnQuigley to bee the first and moderne towne
clerke of the said burrough, to continue in that office during his
naturall life, unless in the mean time hee bee removed by virtue of
some provision in these presents, or for misbehaviour, whome and all
others hereafter succeeding him in the said office in such case, wee
will to bee removeable by the soveraigne and/ree burgesses of the
said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior part of them; the said
office of towne clerke to bee exercised by himself or his sufficient
deputy; and that as often as the said office shall become vacant by
death, or removall, thatt then the said soveraigne and free burgesses of the said burrough for the tyme being, or the maior part
of them, shall and may choose another fitt person to bee towne
clerke of the said burrough, to continue in that office during his
naturall life, unless hee bee removed as aforesaid, and that the
said modern towne clerke, and all others hereafter succeeding him
in the said office, shall, before they or any of them be admitted
to execute the said office, take the usuall oathe of well and faithfully executing the said office, and the oaths of fidelity aforesaid,
before the soveraigne of the said burrough for the tyme being,
whome wee doe always for us, our heires, and successors, impower
and authorize to administer the said oathes. And further, of our
speciall grace, certain knowledge, and mere moco/i, wee doe by
these presents for us, our heires, and successors, give and grant
unto the said soveraigne, free burgesses and commonaltie of the
said burrough and their successors, for ever, that the soveraigne of
the said burrough for the tyme being, for ever, shall bee clerke of
the markett within the said burrough and the liberties thereof, and
thatt hee shall have from tyme to tyme full power and authority to
doe and execute all and every thing and things to the office of the
said clerke of the markett within the said burrough belonging, or in
any wise appertaining, soethat no other clerke of the markett of us,
our heires, and su&cessors, shall enter into or intermeddle therein*
And further, of our speciall grace, certain knowledge, and meere
mocoti) for us, our heires, and successors, for the better suppor

230

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

of the said towne and for carrying on the public workes thereof,
wee have given and by these presents doe give and grant unto th«
said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of the said burrough of Catherlough and to their successors all and singular the
castles, messuages, houses, tofts, gardens, orchards, curtilages,
lands and tenements, reversions, remainders and all such and soe
many the same and the like incomes, services, customes, petty
duties, pavements, gattages, feares, marketts, usuages, authorities,
jurisdictions, franchises, liberties, and priviledges, and all other
hereditaments whatsoever which the soveraigne, free burgesses and
commonaltie of the burrough of Catherlough aforesaid, att any
time before the said judgment was given against the said burrough
had possessed, occupied, used or enioyed by reason of any charters,
letters patents, grants, prescriptions, antient customes, or any other
lawfull tytle whatsoever or which they or any of them were accustomed to have, possesse, occupie, use or enioy; to bee held of
us, our heires, and successors as of our castle of Dublin in
free and common soccage. SAVETNG alwayes, and out of this
charter or grant, itt is excepted and reserved for us, our heires, and
successors, all titles, rightes, rents, services, customes, subsidies,
poundage, excize, priviledges, and demands whatsoever, which
wee before the said judgment was given had held or occupied in
right of our crowne in or within the said burrough, liberties and
franchises thereof, otherwise then by reason of discontinuance,
forfeitures, or dissolution of the liberties and franchises soe seised
unto our hands as aforesaid; saveing and reserving to the chiefe
governor or governors of us, our heires, and successors of our
said kingdome of Ireland, power to approve of any recorder OF
towne clerke, hereafter to bee elected within the said burrough,
and that noe such recorder or towne clerke shall exercise any such
office untill hee bee approved of by such chiefe governor or governors, in writing, under his or their hand. Provided alwayes,
and by these presents for us, our heires, and successors wee reserve
and give to our deputy generall and other chiefe governor, or'governors, of us, our heires and successors of our kingdome of Ireland
for the tyme being full power and authority by order of the privy
councell of us, our heires, and successors, in our said kingdome of
Ireland, written under their hands as well the soveraigne as any
of the burgesses and other officers of the said burrough of Catherlough, by these presents named and constituted, or that shall
hereafter be chosen and constituted, at the will and pleasure of our
deputy generall or other chief governor or governors of us, our
heires, and successors of our said kingdome of Ireland by any
such order of our privye councell of Ireland from tyme to tyme
will remove the soveraigne, or any of such burgesses and officers,
or will declare them to bee amoved from thence forth from their
offices respectively, that all such person and persons, is, are, and
will bee ipsa facto amoved, and removed, without any further
processe, soe as often as the like case shall happen, any thing in
these presents to the contrary notwithstanding. And further, of

OF THE COUNTY OF CAttLQW.

2Sl

our special) grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, by and
with the advice and consent aforesaid, wee doe by these presents
for us, our heires, and successors, grant unto the said soveraigne,
free burgesses and commonaltie of the said burrough of Catherlough and all theire successors, for ever, that the soveraigne, free
burgesses for the tyme being shall have power to admitt persons
to bee free of the said burrough, they takeing the usuall oath of a
freeman, and the oathes of fidelitie aforesaid, before the soveraigne
ior the tyme being, to whome wee give power to administer the
same ; and that these our letters patents or the enrollment thereof
and every clause and article therein conteyned shall bee construed,
interpreted and adiudged to the greatest advantage, benefitt, and
favour of the said soveraigne, free burgesses, and commonaltie of
the said burrough, and their successors against us, our heires, and
successors, as well in all our courts, and else where, in our said
kingdome of Ireland as else where, wheresoever, without any other
confirmation, lycence or toleration here after to bee procured or obtained ; notwithstanding that our writt of ad quod damnum, hath
not issued, to enquire of the premisses before the makeing of these
our letters patents, and notwithstanding the statute of mortmaine,
or the statute made at Limerick in the three and thirtieth yeare of
the raigne of King Henry the eight for lands given by the king;
and notwithstanding, any other defect, or any other cause, matter,
or thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof although noe expresse
mention, &c. PROVIDED ALWAYES, that these our letters patenta
bee inrolled in the rolls of our high court of Chancery in our said
kingdome of Ireland, within the space of six months next ensueing
the date of these presents, any statute, &c. I N WITNESSES
whereof wee have caused these our letters to bee made patents.
Witnesse our aforesaid deputy generall, and generall governor of
our said kingdome of Ireland. Dublin, the foure and twentieth
day of February in the fourth yeare of our raigne.
The sovereign and burgesses thus appointed were, with scarcely
a single exception, Roman Catholics. It will also be observed,
that the new corporation were rendered complete slaves of the
government by the absolute power over them reserved to it. Thus
were exertions made to propagate tyranny as well as Romanism.
Protestants could never submit to such thraldom, and accordingly,
many of them now removed to England.
It is worthy of remark, that in 1687, every sheriff appointed in
the kingdom was a Romanist, with the exception of one, who wa3
admitted by mistake. Sir Laurence Esmond was sheriff of the
county of Carlow.*
A. D . 1 6 8 8 . On the 4th of July, a charter was granted to Old
Leighlin, empowering it to send members to parliament. As usual
Harris.

232

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

the officers seem to have been Roman Catholics. The following
is a list of their names :
Sovereign—Nicholas Keally.
Burgesses—28.
Pierce, lord visconnt Galmoy, Nicholas Archdekin, gent.
Dudley Bagnal, Esq.
Gilbert Wall, gent.
Morgan Kavanagh, Esq.
Michael Wall, gent,
Patrick Nash, Esq.
Hugh Fagan, gent.
Theobald Denn, Esq.
Thomas Purcell, gent.
Patrick Wall, Esq.
Richard Keally, merchant.
William Cooke, Esq.
Theobald Purcell, gent.
Patrick Lambert, Esq.
Pierce Hagherin, gent.
Edward Wall, Esq.
Henry Rickens, gent.
Thomas Keally, Esq.
Ferdinand Brent, gent.
Richard Keally, gent.
Pierce Poor, merchant.
William Kearney, gent.
William Reddy, gent.
Ignatius Nash, gent.
Richard Butler, gent.
James Keally, gent.
Nicholas Nash, gent.
Jas. Hackett, Esq. Town Clerk*
The new magistrates thus appointed acted with little or no regard to justice. When a difference occurred between a Protestant
and a Roman Catholic, it required but the complaint of the latter
to obtain the committal of his opponent to prison ; and the magistrates, flushed with their unaccustomed authority, had no hesitation in issuing warrants for the arrest of persons of the highest
rank. To enter into any detail of the misgovernment, oppressive
acts, or tyrannical proceedings of James II. or of his instruments,
would be inappropriate in a local work. Suffice it to say, that the
Protestants, who formed the majority of his subjects, unable to
endure the unrelenting persecution under which they now groaned,
applied for aid to William, prince of Orange, who, at the head of
the kingdom of Holland, had made himself feared and respected
by the highest powers in Europe. On the 5th November, 1688,
he landed on the British shores ; which event virtually terminated
the brief reign of the bigotted, despotic, and ill-fated James II.

CHAP, X X V I .
Reign of William III. A.D. 1688, to A.D. 1702.
SOME necessary preliminary proceedings having been transacted,
the royal dignity was accepted by the prince of Orange, who ascended the throne of these realms by the style of William III., on
the 13th February, 1689.
James having fled from England; landed at Kineale on the 12th

OF THE COUNTY OF CARtOW.

233

March, 1689, and entered the metropolis on the 24th of the same
month. One of his first acts was the issue of a proclamation calling a parliament to meet at Dublin, on the 7th May following.
Had the house of lords been regularly assembled, most of its members would have been Protestants. In order, if necessary, to
overpower them, the outlawries of popish lords were reversed,
new creations were made, and other expedients were in readiness.
But none of these measures were required, as of sixty-nine Protestant temporal lords, not more than four or five now remained in
Ireland, and of twenty-two spiritual but seven were forthcoming.
With regard to the house of commons, it was evident that it must
be almost, if not altogether composed of Roman Catholics. For,
the power of election in boroughs had been completely taken from
the Protestants; while in counties, many of the freeholders' had
fled, and those who remained were intimidated from appearing at
elections; their attendance at which, they further knew, could
effect no good. In short but six Protestants were elected.
This parliament, thus illegally convened and returned, met at
Dublin, on the 7th of May, 1689.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherloglu—Dudley Bagnal, Esq.
Henry Luttrell, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogk.—Mark Baggot, Esq.
John Warren, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Darby Long, Esq.
Daniel Doran, Esq.
In the house of lords sat, Cheevers, viscount Mount-Leinster ;
a new creation, we believe, of James. Among the nobility of
Ireland at this period, was William Brereton, baron of Leighlin ;*
who seems not to have been present at this parliament, and yet
escaped the attainder with which Richard Ogle, viscount Catherlogh,f was visited.
This parliament continued its sittings from the seventh of May,
to the 20th of July following; and, in this very brief space of time,
effected the complete destruction of the arrangements of property
in Ireland, by a repeal of the acts of Settlement and Explanation,
under which two-thirds of the Protestants of the kingdom held
their property ; all of which was now restored to those who possessed it previously to the 22nd of October, 1641. They attainted
three thousand Protestants, by name, of high treason, and vested
their estates in the late king; the pretence on which this act of
plunder was committed, being the absence from the kingdom of
the objects of it The tenor of this act was, that it should have
full force did the individuals named not return in three months,
and make their submission; while, with an extraordinary description of justice, the act itself was kept perfectly secret until the
specified time had elapsed ! The following persons connected with
* A Protestant. We learn from Lawrence's Interest of Ireland, (p. 145.)
that in 1540, Sir William Brereton, baron of Leighlin, was lord justice of
Ireland.
t A Protestant, and peer in 1661, Lawrence,

234

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

our county are named In this precious specimen of law, justice, and
liberality:
Lieutenant Joseph Stopford,
Robert Doyne, Esq,
John Dunbar, of Catherlogh, gent.
Captain Chidley Coote, of Shier wood park,
Narcissus Marsh, lord bishop of Leighlin and Ferns5
Benjamin Burton, banker,
John Tench, of Staplestown, Esq.,
Richard Warren, Esq.,
Francis Bradstown, of Morterstown, gent,
Thomas Bernard, of Cloghuae, gent.,
John Lucas, of Rathdaniel, yeoman,
Edmond Jones, of Tullow, Esq.,
Cadwallader Wyn, of Killelongford, gentf
Roger Piers, gent.,
Joseph Ivy, of Grangeford, gent,
Urban Vigor, of Old Leighlin, gent.,
• Cocks, of Ballydartane, clerke,
Robert Stopford, of Ballybrack, Esq.,
Charles Wilcocks, of Sherwood Park, gent.,
Elliot, of Staplestown, clerk,
Ogle, viscount Ogle of Catherlogh,
Richard Boyle, of Old Leighlin, Esq.,
Edmond Pleydell, of Tankardstown, Esq.,
Sir Maurice Eustace, of Baltinglass, knt.
It was now quite obvious, that Protestants could expect no security for either life or property. Such of them as yet remained
in the kingdom, were plundered by thieves, instigated, we regret
to say, by the priests, and encouraged by their popish neighbours :
from which species of persecution no remedy existed, but attendance at mass.* The clergy were treated with even more of
cruelty* The house of the bishop of Leighlin was broken open
and plundered before his departure from the kingdom, and several
of the inferior clergy were not only robbed, but personally maltreated and abused. In short, every indignity was offered to them,
and they found it difficult to escape with their lives. +
At this period, Dudley Bagnal was lord lieutenant of the county of Carlow, and Maurice Baggot and William Cooke, deputies.
There were numerous grievances suffered by the Protestants of
Ireland, to which we have not made allusion; and it was now obvious that some speedy remedy should be applied to the evils of
Ireland, some effort made to reduce the kingdom to peace, order,
and subordination. For this purpose, duke Schomberg was despatched with a considerable force, and landed, on the 13th August,
1680, Hi3 progress, however, was not as speedy as was dest*
• King's State of the Protestant*. Pub, ed, 1730, p, 24S.

t Ibid,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLO W,

2d5

rable, and king William resolved to undertake the reduction of
Ireland in person.
Previous to his departure from London the king deemed it necessary to appoint commissioners of the great seal for Ireland.
Accordingly, by patent dated at Westminster, 80th May, 1690,
he nominated Sir Richard Reeves, knt., Robert Rochfort,* Esq,,
and Richard Pyne, Esq. to that office. They attended king William to Ireland, and remained at Belfast until the victory at tbs
Boyne placed the greater portion of the country at his command.
The following were among the officers of the army of James
I l „ on the 2nd June, 1690:—Colonel Charles Kavanagb, colonel Sir Maurice Eustace, colonel Dudley Bagnal, lieutenant colonel Richard Eustace.f
On the 1st of July, 16*90, was fought the ever memorable
battle of the Boyne; when the forces of king William ware completely victorious.
Resolving to use all gentle means to reduce the people to subjection, his majesty issued the following declaration* on the 7th
July, 1690.
u

T H E DECLARATION OF WILLIAM AND MARY, KING AND
QUEEN OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,
TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF OUR KINGDOM OF IRELAND, WHOM
IT MAY CONCERN.

miliam R*
As it hath pleased Almighty God to hless our arms in this kingdom with a late victory over our enemies at the Boyne, and with
the possession of our capital city of Dublin, and with a general
dispersion of all that did oppose us, we are now in so happy a
prospect of our affairs, and of extinguishing the rebellion of this
kingdom, that we hold it reasonable to think of mercy, and to
have compassion upon them, whom we judge to have been seduced.
WHEREFORE, we do hereby declare, we shall take into our royal
protection all poor labourers, common soldiers, country farmers,
ploughmen, and cottiers, whatsoever, as also all citizens, townsmen, tradesmen and artificers, who either remamed at home, or
having fled from their dwellings, shall, by the first day of August,
next, repair to their usual places of abode, surrendering up what
arms they have to such justices of the peace, as are, or shall be
appointed by us, not only to receive the same, but also to register
the appearance of such of the said persons, as shall come, and
submit unto our authority : for our royal intention is, and we do
hereby declare, that we will not only pardon all these poor, seduced people, as to their lives and liberties, who shall come in by
the time aforesaid, for all violences they have done or committed
by the command of their leaders during the war; but we do also
promise to secure them in their goods, their stocks of cattle, and
* Ancestor of John S. Rochfort, Esq. of Clogbgrenan, in our county.
f King,
2G

236

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

all their chattels personal whatsoever, willing and requiring them
to come in ; and where they were tenants, then to preserve the
harvest of grass and corn for the supply of the winter, But, for
as much as many of them had a legal right to the tenancy of
several lands, some holding from Protestants, and some from popish
proprietors, who have been concerned in the rebellion against us,
our will and pleasure is, that all those tenants who held from our
good Protestant subjects, do pay their rents to their respective
landlords, and that the tenants of all those, who have been concerned in the present rebellion against us, do keep their rents in
their hands, until they have notice from the commissioners of our
revenue, unto whom they are to account for the same. AND as
we do hereby strictly forbid all violence, rapine, and molestation
to any, who shall thus come in, and remain obedient to us, so for
those of this, or any other rank or quality, who are already in our
quarters, and within our power, and obedient to us, we do hereby
charge and require, that they be not disquieted in any sort, without
our particular command. For the desperate leaders of the present
rebellion, who have violated those laws, by which this kingdom is
united, and inseparably annexed to the imperial crown of England,
who have called in the French, who have authorized all violences
and depredations against the Protestants, and who rejected the
gracious freedom we offered them in our proclamation of the 22nd
February, 1689, as we are now, by God's great favour, in condition to make them sensible of their errors, so, as we resolved to
leave them to the event of war, unless by great and manifest demonstrations, we shall be convinced they deserve our mercy, which
we shall never refuse to those who are truly penitent.
" Given at our royal camp at Finglas, near
Dublin, the 7th day of July, 1690, in the
second year of our reign.
" By the king's most excellent majesty, you
are hereby required to affix our great seal to
this declaration ; for which this shall be your
warrant.
a

ROBERT S^UTHWELI,.".

To our Commissioners of our
great seal of Ireland."
The commissioners of the great seal appointed certain justices of
the peace in each county, to receive the arms and register the names
of all persons who should submit, in consequence of the foregoing
declaration. The following were nominated in our county:
The Sheriff for the time being,
Win. Brereton,
Sir Thomas Butler,
Marmaduke Taylor,
Dr. Henry Berkeley,
James Waller.
Nicholas Kemys,
William, resolved not to remit in hits exertions for the reduction
of Ireland* now pursued his course to the south. From Carlow,
he despatched the dujse of Ormonde to Kilkenny, to secure po?=

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

237

session, of that city, in which part of the enemy's force still remained. Upon the advance of the king's forces, they retired*
having first extorted a considerable sum of money from the inhabitants. William proceeded from Carlow to Kilkenny, where he
was splendidly entertained by the duke of Ormonde.*
King William embarked for England, on the 5th of September,
1690.
Doctor Narcissus Marsh was translated from Leighlin and Ferns
to the archbishopric of Cashel, on the 26th February, 1690, from
thence to Dublin, dn the 24th of May, 1694, and thence to Armagh, on the 18th February, 1703. He died on the 2nd of
November, 1713, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Hepub-J
lished a work entitled Manuductio ad Logicam, written by Philip
de Trieu, to which he added the Greek text, and some tables;
printed at Oxford, in 1678, #vn. Ho added illustrating notes to
Gassendus' small tract De Demonstrations, printed with the former.
While provost of the university of Dublin, he published—Institutiones Logica in usum juventutis Academica Dubliniensisy—
1681, 8vo. He wrote also a work on acoustics. A charge delivered by him to the clergy of the diocese of Dublin, was published
in 1694, quarto. But, independently of his works, the well
known valuable public library which bears his name will ever
render the memory of this prelate respected. It was during his
occupancy of the see of Dublin, that doctor Marsh resolved on the
establishment of this useful institution. Having built a house near
St. Patrick's cathedral, and purchased nine thousand volumes of
books, (being the library of the bishop of Worcester, then lately
deceased,) he procured an incorporation in the year 1707, in which
it is stated, that the " Most Reverend Father in God, Narcissus,
lord archbishop of Armagh, primate and metropolitan of all Ireland,
while archbishop of Dublin, did, out of his generous inclinations
to the public good of this kingdom, for the propagation of the true
christian religion, and for the encouragement of learning, at his
own great costs and charges, erect and build a fair large house,
upon part of the garden or ground belonging to the house of St.
Sepulchre's, which is the ancient seat or palace of the archbishops?
of Dublin, near to the city of Dublin/' &c. He had> himself,
three thousand volumes of books, in every branch of literature,
which he deposited, together with the nine thousand, already mentioned, in this public library. The archbishops of Armagh and
Dublin, the lord chancellor, lord chief justice of king's bench and
common pleas, the chief baron of the exchequer, the deans of the
two cathedrals of Dublin, and the provost of the university for the
time being, are governors, and a body corporate, whose duty is,
to manage and preserve the library.
Bartholomew Vigors, L.L.D. succeeded doctor March as bishop
of Leighlin and Ferns. He was educated in the university of
Dublin, and thence appointed to the rectory of St. Mary's, Wex«
* Story's History of the wars of Ireland, Lon, 1693,

238

SfSTOH? AND ANTIQUITIES

ford, and subsequently to the deanery of Armagh, by letters
patent, dated 29th June, 1681. On the removal of bishop Marsh
to the see of Cashel, he was promoted to the bishopric of Leighlin
and Ferns, by letters patent, dated 27th February, 1691. H e
was permitted to hold the rectory of Killeban in commendam.
Doctor Vigors was consecrated in Christ church, Dublin, on the
8th of March following his appointment, by Francis, archbishop
of Dublin, assisted by the archbishop of Cashel, and the bishops
of Deny, Meath, Kildare, and Killaloe.*
On the 23rd March, 1692, king William declared the war in
Ireland to be concluded.
Parliament met on the 5th of October, 1692,
MEMBERS.
County Of Catherlagh.—Sir Thomas Butler, k n t and baronet,
John Tench, Esq.
JB. Catherlagh.—Sir Wm. Russell, knight and baronet.
Walter Weldon, Esq.!
B. Old Leighlin.—Edward Jones, Esq.
John Dunbar, Esq.
15th. Oct. 1692. A petition of the deputy sovereign, common
council, freemen, and inhabitants of the borough of Catherlagh,
complaining of an undue election of burgesses to serve in this present parliament for the said borough, was read, and referred to
the committee of elections and privileges.
18th. Oct. 1692. Mr. Poulteney delivered in at the clerk's table
a bill in paper, intituled, an act, declaring all attainders, and all
other acts, made in the late pretended parliament, to be void.
Ordered, that the said bill be laid on the table.
19th. October, 1692. The petition of John Browne, Esq. complaining of the undue election of burgesses to serve in this present
parliament for the borough of Catherlagh, was read, and referred
to the committee of elections and privileges ; and then, it being a
a fast-day, and the house being to go with Mr. Speaker to Christchurch, the house adjourned, till to-morrow morning at nine of the
clock.
20th. October, 1692. A petition of Edmond Jones, Esq.vcomplaining of an undue election and return of a burgess to serve in
this present parliament for the borough of Catherlagh, in the county
of Catherlagh, was read, and referred to the committee of elections
and privileges.
Parliament again met on the 27th August, 1695.
MEMBERS.
Catherlagh—Sir Thomas Butler, baronet.
John Allen, Esq.
JB. Catherlagh—Edmond Jones, Esq.,
Robert Curtis, Esq,
* Harris's Ware, vol. i. p, 450,

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

28D

J5. Old Leighlin—Richard Boyle, Esq.
Edward Jones, Esq., lately dead.
John Beauchamp, Jun. Esq., returned in
place of said Edward Jones,
31st August, 1095. A petition of John Browne, Esq., was
presented to the house and read, setting forth, that the petitioner
and Robert Curtis, Esq., were duly elected burgesses to serve for the
borough of Catherlagh, in the county of Catherlagh, in this present
parliament, and were so returned by Walter Rochfort, Esq.,
sovereign of the said borough, (and to whom the precept for the
said election was directed), by indenture signed and sealed by the
said sovereign and the majority of the burgesses and freemen of
the said borough; that soon after the said election, the said sovereign tendered the said indenture to Benjamin Bunbury, Esq.,
high sheriff of the said county, (who had directed the said precept
as aforesaid), and desired him to seal and execute a counterpart
thereof; but the said sheriff refused so to do, and annexed to the
writ of election an indenture, signed and sealed by some of the
burgesses of the said borough, and not by the sovereign thereof,
by which last mentioned indenture, the said Robert Curtis and
Edmond Jones, Esq., are returned as duly elected to serve in this
present parliament for the said borough; whereas the said Edmond
Jones was not so elected, but the petitioner and the said Robert
Curtis were duly elected burgesses to serve for the said borough as
aforesaid.
Now forasmuch as it appears by the first mentioned indenture,
ready to be produced to the house, that the petitioner and the said
Robert Curtis were duly elected burgesses to serve in the present
parliament for the said borough, and so returned by the proper
officer; and for that the said sheriff hath notoriously misbehaved
himself in making the said return annexed to the Writ, and in refusing to indent with the said sovereign, according to the form of
the statute in that case made and provided; and for that the said
borough hath at present no representatives in this parliament returned
by the proper officer according to law; and therefore praying the
house to take the premises into consideration, and to order the
clerk of the crown to annex unto the writ of election the said indenture returned by the said sovereign, and to give the petitioner
such relief in the premises as shall seem meet and just.
Ordered, That the examination and consideration of the said
petition be referred to the committee of elections and privileges,
and that they report the matter thereof, with their opinion thereon,
to the house.
5th September, 1695, A petition of Thomas Burdett, Esq.,
was presented to the house, and read, setting forth, that the petitioner stood a candidate for the election of the borough of Catherlagh, in the county of Catherlagh, but was illegally obstructed in
his said election by the sovereign of the said borough, who at the
beginning of the election publicly declared in court to the petitioner,
that he would not indent with him or any one9 unless that he gave

240

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

bonds to indemnify the corporation, by which the petitioner supposes the said sovereign meant to serve them without charges,
which wages (though the petitioner) did not expect desire, yet he
does humbly consider, that the sovereign's executing the said bond
was arbitrary and illegal, and a hindrance to a free election, upon
which the petitioner was free to decline; and therefore prayirig th£
house to order a new election, and grant such order against the
said sovereign, as shall meet.
Ordered, That the examination and consideration of the said
petition be referred to the committee of elections and privileges,
and that they report the matter thereof to the house* with their
opinion thereupon.
11th September, 1695. Mr. Solicitor General reported from the
committee of privileges and elections, that the said committee had
taken into consideration the petition of John Browne, complaining
of the undue election and return of Edmond Jones, Esq.; returned
to serve in this present parliament as a burgess for the town of
Catherlagh, in the county of Catherlagh, and came to this resolution ; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the
table, and is as followeth, viz.:
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee that Edmond
Jones, Esq., is duly elected to serve as a burgess in this parliament for the borough of Catherlagh, to which resolution the house
agreed.
21st October, 1695. Ordered.—That Mr. Speaker issue his
warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new writ to the
sheriff of the county of Catherlagh, to choose a burgess for the
borough of Old Leighlin, in the place of Edmond Jones, Esq.,
deceased.
28th March, 1696. The X4SSOCIATION of the knights, citizens,
and burgesses of Ireland in parliament assembled.
WHEREAS there has been a horrible and detestable conspiracy
for assassinating his majesty's most sacred person, and invading
his kingdoms with French forces, contrived and carried on by the
late king James and his adherents, to subvert our religion, laws,
and liberties; we the knights, citizens, and burgesses, in parliament assembled, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do heartily,
sincerely, and solemnly profess, testify, and declare, that his majesty king William was, and is, rightful and lawful king of England, Ireland, Scotland, and France, and the dominions and territories thereunto belonging, and we do mutually promise and engage
to stand by and assist each other, to the utmost of our power, in
the support and defence of his majesty's most sacred person, title,
and government against the late king James, the pretended prince
of Wales, and all their adherents, and against all other persons
whatsoever; and in case his majesty come to any violent and untimely death, which God forbid, we do hereby further freely and
unanimously oblige ourselves to unite, associate, and stand by each
other, in revenging the same upon his enemies and their adherents,
and in supporting and defending the succession of the crown, ac-

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

241

cording to an act made in England in the first year of the reign of
king William and queen Mary, intituled, " an act, declaring the
rights and liberties of the subject, and settling the succession of the
crown/'
(This document is signed by ROBERT ROCHFORT, speaker;
THOMAS BUTLER and J O H N ALLEN, members for the county of
Carlow; EDMOND J O N E S and ROBERT CURTIS, members for the

borough of Carlow ; and numerous others. I do not observe the
names of the members for the borough of Old Leighlin in the list.)
14th August, 1697. Ordered— That Michael Wall, of Kilkenny, John Fitz-gerald, brother to Garret Fitz-gerald of Ballyellin, in the county of Catherlagh, and George Gahan, be taken
into custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house, for a breach
of privilege complained of by Mr. Connell, a member of this house.
Parliament was dissolved on the 14th June, 1699.*
Jn 1693, Charles, second and youngest son of Thomas, earl of
Ossory, was created baron of Cloghgrenan, viscount Tullow, and
earl of Arran. He was brother to the last duke of Ormonde. He
died without male issue in 1758. Thus these titles became for the
second time extinct.
Forfeitures, of course, followed the war in Ireland against William I I I . In consequence of the intolerable tyranny of James
II., William had been acknowledged king of these united realms,
on the 13th February, 1689, by the major part of the people;
and all who waged war against his government, afterwards, were
consequently engaged in rebellion, and could hope for nothing but
the usual results. The estates thus forfeited were vested in trustees,
and a court was established, in which all who had any description
of legal claim to them, or any part of them, were to declare it,
on or before the 10th August 1700. The following is a transcript
pf the claims relating to lands in
THE
• Jaurnale of the Irish House of Commons.

THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

h5

Estate or interests
On what Lands.
By what Deed or Writing.
'Late Proprietor.
claimed.
Allowed,
Estate determinable on, By lease dated 20th Feb. 1668, from Hi IBallyhealy, bar. Forth, jJohn Bagott.
Sir Thomas Butler.
chard late earl of Arran to Mich. Smith,
CAllowed,for so long
three lives.
J time as Fs. Eustace
and assigned from Smith to the claimant.
Estate for 31 years from!By lease dated 20th Peer, 1687» fromAgha, banldrone,
Ditto.
'Oliver Eustace, j had power to make
1st May 1688.
f the tease.
Fras. Eustace.
Morris Warren.
Two hundred pounds' By bond dated 1st May, 1684, and judg-Laragh, &c.
[John Warren. Disallowed.
debt and six pounds] ment entered in Hilary Term, in the
rent charge per ann. 2nd and 3rd year of J as. II. and assigned
o
to the claimant by Oliver Keating, 11,
Feb. 1698, and by deed of assignment
from Elinor Warren, widow, dated 11,
Feb. 1698.
O
Thomas Cooper, gent. An estate for years.
Dismissed*
By lease not yet expired, the date or term Clonygafc,
Dudly Bagnal.
not set forth in claim to Hen. Smith-!
>
wick, Esq., anclj by him demised to thel
claimant by lease dated 14, Nov. 1674,
B
for 28 years from May, J675.—Witnesses. Hugh Gethins, Ed. Worner,|
Wm. Browne.
Epltraim Heretage.
[A term for years.
By lease to Sir Nichl. Armorer, dated 28,|New garden and Dun- Private estate. Dismissed and attend
March, 1071, for 31 years from May, ganstown, alias Dun
above*
1670. Witnesses: M. Wren, A. Turner,j canstown bar. Carlow
T. Howard. And assigned by Mina and!
Christian to claimant, 9th Mar., 1696.1
Witnesses, Jas. Euly, Chas. Hart.
I
John Rogers,
By lease to Thos. Rogers, dated 21 Aph, Cloneene, bar. Idrone. Fras. Eustace orj\Allowed,
Ditto.
1681, for 25 years from 25th Mar. pre-!
Oliver Eustace
ceding, and by administration came to
the claimant.
j
Claimants.

By lease dated 30th March, 1669. Wit- Herraldstown, barony Jn. Baggot, Esq. Allowed the lease, but
nesses: John Baggot, Jas. Gibbon,| Rathvilly.
Idisallowed the clause
Edmd. Bourke.
\of renewal.
An estate for lives.
By lease dated 20th Jan. 1673.
Ballykinnen, barony [John Warren. Allowed.
Pierce Byrne.
Catherlogh.
Ditto.
Ditto.
By lease dated 20th November, 1677.
Sragb, ditto.
Earl of Arran.
Ditto.
John Weaver, jun. Esq An estate for years. 1 By lease dated 2nd May, 1682.
Rahiniskey, ditto.
Isaac Brereton.. , ditto.
An estate for three lives jBy lease dated 24th March, 1669, to Thos. Part of Shangarry and|Jn. Baggott, o^Disallowed. AfterJohn Nowlan.
Bagnal in trust for the claimant, from! Ballinrush barony Mount Arran
wards allowed a
Richard late earl of Arran.
I Forth.
saving in Baggot'$ ^
decree.
^
James Cox, clerk, and|\£ 830 6s. 2d. mortgage]By lease and release dated 29th and 30th!Agah, Boreduff, Clou-' Oliver Eustace Allowed the mort- m.
Margaret his wife.
lent at several times, June, 1677- Wit. Jas. Hall, Thomas] meen, bar. Idrone,
gage being 8331: B
Dempsy, Thomas Sisson.
paying 33/.per an. o
By deed, dated 1st Mar., 1694. Wit,
to the trust, out of §
Jasper Cox, Thos. Eustace, Edward]
Vloneen.
' y
Byrne, &c.
K
By deed pole due 1st May, 1604, witnesses]
O
last above named.
By deed of leases and release, dated 3rd
C
and 4th May, 1698. Wit. John Beau
champ, Thomas Eustace, Dan. Keefe,
>
Jn. Cox, and by other deeds dated 13th
tr
or 14th Dec. 1699. Wit. by Hen. TurO
ner, Dan. Keefe, John Costigan. By]
judgment in ejection in Trinity term,
1696.
Residue of 31 years,] By Indenture dated 8th of June, 16974 Cloneen br. Catherlogh Oliver Eustace, Dismissed and allowJohn Cox, gent.
from Fras. Eustace, Esq.
commenced 25th
gent.
ed a saving as to
March, 1697.
the claimant's right
against F. Eustace.
A term of years.
By lease dated 19th Jan. 1691, for 21 iCastlemore.
.Oliver Eustace. Dismissed for non fcS
Thomas Eustace.
years.
pros.
~* Ancestor of the Author.
Anthony Ryan.*

Estate for three Uvea.

By lease and release dated 21st and 22nd| Killknock, Ballynirry, Fras. Eustace &][Allowed according to *&
* Cloneeue, &c.
Oliver Eustace, * the settlement of ^
June, 1688.
Fras, Eustace.
l^glOOO penalty for pay- By bond with a warrant to confess judg- Castlemore and Rath,] Ditto,
billowed out of the
Ditto.
r
ment, dated the 6th Nov. 1698. Judg- Gilbertstown, Bendins
ment of £500.
2000/. chargeable
ment entered up and elegiats taken out]town, with other lands.
on the estate of F,
as of Michs. Term, 1698. Wit. to bond:
Eustace,
Geo. Byrne, Tho. Purlevant. ^
!
[
£10Q0 penalty for £500, By bond with a warrant to confess judgmt,,]|The whole estate.
Ditto,
ditto.
dated 20 July, 1699. Wit. Christ. BorrJ
Jno. Merrineld. Judgmt. entered up in
Hilary term, 1699.
•-3
John Beauchamp, jun, Estate for years com- Lease dated 10th March, 167.0, to Richard| Carrowlegg, Carrow- Private estate. \Allowed,
O
mencing the 1st May, Jones, clerk. Wit. M. Wren, W. Turner, more, bar. Idrone.
Esq.
<
Tho. Hey wood. And assigned to thej
1670.
>
claimant by Theod, Jones, Administra-j
as
tor of Richd. Jones, by deed dated 8th
o
June, 1694. Wit. Edwd. Jones, Hen.|
>
Radkin, Evan Jones, Fran. Medlicott
as
Thomas Hardy, gent. Estate for three lives, By lease dated 1st Sept. 1677. Wit. Hugh! Ballielow, Ballirian, (Dudley Bagnall. Ditto,
H
with clause of renewal| Fagan, Jno. Malone, Mau. Loragan,
Esq.
HughFagan, gent.
Estate for three lives, By lease dated 21st Sept. 1687, to Edm Kiilcarrick, br. Idrone, Ditto.
£
ditto,
Byrne. Wit, John Tomnis, Walt. Bagnail, Nich. Bagnall, G. Hartley. And1
assignment for Byrne to the claimant!
by deed dated the 1st Augt. 1698.
Ditto.
By lease dated 10th Apl, 1685. Wit. Wat. Kildrynagh, ditto.
Ditto.
ditto*
ditto.
Bagnall, Thos. Corbett, Chas. Butler,)
Dudley Colclough.
Estate for years com- By lease dated 1st May, .1688, to Edm.1 Knocksquir, ditto.
Ditto.
ditto,
ditto.
mencing 1st May. Fagan. Wit. Edw. Fitzgerald, Chas.
1688.
Byrne, Dan. Doran. Come to claimant)
as admr. of Edm. Fagan.
Thpmas Eustace.

A remainder in tail.

Ditto,
Maurice Cavanagh.
Francis Blakeny.

Ditto.

James St. John,
Patrick WalL

James Bell.
John Tench,
Ditto.
Walter Bagnall,

OF THE COUNTY OP CA

James Doyle.

i ditto.
Estate for three lives] By lease dated 20th Aug. 1686. Wit. W. Kiicarrick.
ditto,
from lady day, 1686. Bagnall, Dudley Colclough, Tho. Cor-[
bett, Chas. Butler.
IAn estate for three lives! By lease dated the 24th May, 1680. Wit, Ballymoon, br. Idrone. do.
Disallowed
Jas. Fagan, Hen. Fagan, Jas. Keating.
IAn estate during hisl By parole, agreement before the 13th Feb. Cloghevalten, ditto.
do.
Ditto,
life.
1688. Wit. Tirlogh Byrne, Morg. Doyle|
James Doyle.
jAn estate for three lives!By lease dated 1st Nov. 1671. Wit. Gar Killcomney and Baliy- do.
Allowed.
with clause of renewalj ret Wall, Richd. Poore, Morg, Doyle.
whenen.
Ditto.
By lease dated 1st Nov. 1677, to Samuel Rossdillig, br. Idrone,^ do,
Ditto,
Blackshaw and Wm. Bridge. Wit. M.
Lonagan, E. Carroll, Geo. Spicer. And]
assigned 25th Mar., 1684, to the clai
mant.
An estate for three By lease dated the 20th Mar., 1683. Wit. Bohermore and Dun- do.
ditto,
lives.
| Geo. Matthew, Thady Meagher.
lickney 160 acres.
A term for years.
By lease from the earl of Arran to John The moiety of Myshall, John Baggot,
ditto*
Evers for three lives, dated 30th Mar. barony Idrone.
1669. Wit. Francis Aungier, James!
Gibbon, Edm. Burke, demised by Evers!
to claimant, dat. 25th Mar. aforesaid.
Wit. John Tench, Edm. Wall, J. West.
I An estate for three lives.By two several leases, both dated 1st May, Nurney, ditto.
Dudley Bagnall, ditto.
1678.
An estate for years.
By deed dated the I8th D e c , 1677. Wit.! Ballycroge, Rathcroge, Ditto.
ditto,
Tin rylane, &c
Thomas Siston, Sec.
An estate for two lives By lease dated 20th D e c , 1676. Wit. Sirj Oldtown Orchard, &c, do.
ditto.
barony Idrone.
Thomas Butler, and Hugh Fagan.
Remainder in fee for]By deed of lease and release dated 4th and Ballymore, Ballylow, do.
ditto.
life, and to issue male 5th Mar. 1668. Wit. John Bryan,
Oldtown, Downleckny.
in tail reversion after Arthur, Rich. Poun, Ja. Morris.

53

o

to

to
a jointure and termj[By deed of feoffment, dated 17th May,
1668» Wit- Just. M'Carthy, Hen. Bag.
of 500 years for sis
nail, Ed. Butler, Jo. Bourden, Den.
ter's portions.
Camry, Thomas Pendergrass.
Deeds of lease and release dated 16th|
and 17th Oct., 1688.
Wit. Martin Folkes, And. Card, Rich.
Coling, Richard Tonson.
Mehetable Paul, widow,jAn estate for lives.
By deed dated 1st May, 1677, to James Sleguff, Rath, andKil Dudly Bagnall. \Allowed, 'paying the
fines.
administratrix to Jos.
Bell, and by mesne assignment to the] crutt.
Paul.
claimant's husband.
do.
Allowed,
John Tumin,
(Term of 21 years, tol By lease from Dudley Bagnall to claimant, Ballynegran,
commence after the dated 25th Dec. 2nd James II. Wit.
death of one Pierce] William Purcell, Ricbd. Reddy, Bagnall|
Brereton, since de- Synocke.
ceased.
Allowed the lease duEstate for three lives. By lease from the duke of Ormonde, dat.|[Bailynunry, Kilcoole,j
Christian Boor.
ring the life o/Frs.
barony Forth.
10th June, 1699.
Eustace, and dismissed as cautionary as to the lease
from the duke of 5
Ormonde*
Estate for 31 years from By deed dated the 8th May, 1696. And! Garkeenleene, alias (Oliver, son of
Flaxland, Bendenstownl Fra&. Eustace.
by assignment dated 27th Jan. 1698.
1st May, 1696.
Gilbertstown, and part]
of Killenock.
£40 rent charge for 16] By deed dated 29th Nov., 1684. Wit Ballytomin, and seve Dudley Bagnall, Allowed,
Henry Carter.
Edm. Jackson, Lettice Symthwick, Sa-| veral other lands.
years.
ra Symthwick.
\Allo w&: according
The forfeited lands of] Ditto.
Anne, the wife of Dudlyj£400 per ann. during; By a saving clause in the late act.
Dudly Bagnall, Esq
Bagnall, Esq*

her husband's life,
and arrears thereof.
A jointure after hia By deeds of settlement in the year 1668, Oldtown, Orchard, Kill
and 1688. Wit. Justin M'Carthy, Hen.| edmond, &c.
death.
Bagnall, Edw. Butler, Jno. Bryan, R.
Power, Martin Folkes, And. Car, &c,
Sir Gervas Clifton, bart. £2000 portion and int By articles of agreement dated 16th July, All the lands,
with dame Anne his| 1687. Wit. Edw. Burdett, Adam Coiclough, Richard Pepper.
wife.
Nicholas Bagnall and ^5000 for their por-l By lease and release, dated the 16th and Ditto.
others, the younger tions, besides main- 17th Oct. in the 4th year of the late K.l
children of Dudly tenance and several James. Wit. John Bryan, R. Power,
Bagnall, Jn. Butler,] remainders in tail toj Martin Folkes, &c.
surviving executor of] them limited.
Walter Butler, and
Sir Gervas Clifton,!
bart, for dame Anne]
his wife.
Nicholas, George andj[Several provisions for By lease and release dated 16th and 17th Ditto.
Dudly Bagnall, Mary,] portions and mainte-j of Oct. in the 4th year of late K. James.
Margaret, Katherine, nance, and several Wit. John Bryan, R. Power, Martin
and Anne, younger! residues in tail, as the! Folkes, &c.
children of Dudly same are to them se-j
Bagnall, Esq. John] verally limited.
Butler, surviving executor of Walter But-1
ler, and Sir Gervas|
Clifton, bart. for damej
Anne, his wife.
Joan White, sister, heir,]Rent charge of 16/. By deed dated 1st May, 1640, from Walt.
and executrix of Wal-j 16s. until 168/. be] Bagnall, deceased.
ter White.
paid.

Ditto.

do.

do.
do.

do.

ditto

jCappaghwater, barony!Jn» Warren,Esq. \ Allowed*
Remainder of 21 years,! By lease dated 25th March, 1686,
j Forth,
from 25th Mar. 1686
By lease and release, dated the 17th and Shangarry, Ballinrush,][John Baggott. \Ditto.
An estate tail.
Mark Bagott, Esq.
18th May, 1683. Witnesses Jno. Crow, &c. Mount Arran, &c.|
Newtown, &c, Por
Abel Ram, John Rock.
trushin, &c, with di-|
vers others.
Math. Bagott, a minor,
Ditto,
The same premises
Ditto.
By the same deeds.
byM. Bagott, his father, > Ditto.
do.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
;Mary ana* Teresa Ba-I Ditto.
gott, by M. Bagott their
father, prochain ami.
Dudly Bagnall Ditto.
Morgan Doyle.
IAn estate for three lives By lease dated the 1st November, 1670| Kiliclonagh.
Witnesses, Pierce Power, Jame3 Doyle.
o
Ditto.
Ditto.
An estate for one life. [By lease dated 20th April, 1677- Wit, Ballynesilloge, barony Ditto.
Geo. Wall, James St. John, Val. Wall. 1drone.
>
Wm. Browne, gent.
Residue of 21 years, By lease from Francis Eustace, Esq. dated!j The town and lands of]Oliver Eustace. Dismissed for non
pros.
Boherduff, and 23
commencing from the 23rd Mar. 1692.
acres reputed part of
25th March, 1693,
Agha, and taken as
part of Boherduff,
«©
, barony Idrone.
O
Francis Eustace, Esq. A reversion fee after][By lease and release, dated the 21st and Kilnock, Ballycurry,
Ditto.
> Allowed, according to H
22nd of June, 1688, in pursuance of] Ballynewry, Cloneen
several remainders.
I the deed, with a S
The benefit of chargingj articles upon the marriage of Oliver, Kilmurry, Sec,
saving to the duke r
the lands with 2060/. claimants son. Witnesses, John Nugent;
of Ormonde.
for payment of debts John Delamer, Rowland Eustace, &c;
and portions for
younger children, &c.
and another limitation for life, if hesur-:
vived hia son Oliver,
of 50/. per ann. or the
Edmond Nowlan.

overplus of 150/. settled in jointure onl
Elinor the wife of]
Oliver.
Allowed.
Jn. Bagott, a minor by A remainder in tail,]By lease and release, dated 17th and 18th Shangarry, Ballinrush,|John Bagott.
his guardian and fa- after the death of Jn, May, 1683, pursuant to articles upon #c. barony Forth.
ther Mark Bagott,] and the said Mark| the marriage of the claimant's father and
mother. Witnesses, John Crow, Abel,
Bagott, claimant's
Esq.
grandfather and father|. Ram, John Rock.
Dudley Bagnall, Disallowed,
(By lease parole in 1674, to Tirlaugh Byrne) Donroe, 100 acres.
Pierce Byrne, gent. [An estate for lives.
! the claimant's father.
!
'or non
[Residue of 31 years By lease from Francis Eustace, Esq., datedi Part of Killnock, 70[ Oliver Eustace,
Loghlen Kinselagh,
acres.
j
pros.
commencing the 25th| 4th January, 1699.
March, 1699.
By lease parole, in the beginning of the [Aghilare, Coolnisygane John Warren. \Allowed.
Margaret Nowlan, spin-] Ditto. 1687.
year 1687, from John Warren, Esq., and 200 acres, br. Forth
ster.
a note under his hand promising to
Castletown, Park, Dudley Bagnall,
perfect a sufficient lease in law.
Ditto.
An estate for 99 years]|By lease dated 19th October, 1698, from Ballycanry, Killbally- Esq.
Jeffery Paul, Esq.
commencing the 19th Jno. Tench, Esq. Witnesses, R. Saun- hugh, Staplestown,
October, 1698.
ders, Philip Gasteen, Thomas Sisson _ §* several other lands
Maurice Warren, gent, 100/. paid Oliver Keat-I By judgment obtained against claimant asl Larragh, Aghclare, Bai- IJohnWarren.
Ditto.
ing, in satisfaction of heir to John Warren, his father, in thej lynavally, and other|
a judgment, and in-| Exchequer, in Hilary Term, the 2nd and lands.
terest 50/. paid by 3rd of the late K. James.
j
Ellen Reeves to Eli- By the assignment of an annuity for|
nor Warren, in trust] Elinor Warren. Witnesses, Elinor Warfor claimant, for the ren, Anthony Suxbury.
arrears of an annuity
of 6/. per ann. and
also the 6/. per ann.
subject to a proviso!
in the deed.
i

o
»g
El
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o
a
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o

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i

I Disallowed as to BalMichael Byrn, adminis- A term of 21 years, to By lease dated, 20th October, 1679. Wit-,ponniger and several ditto.
1
Ian, and dismissed
trator of Garret Byrne- commence the 1st of nesses, Joshua Laugharn, William War-] other lands.
the rest.
May, 1691, after thel ren, and others.
expiration of a former
lease of 21 years, to
commence the 1st of
May, 21 years tol
commence after the]
death of Margt. Byrn
Michael Byrne adminis- An estate for years, tol By deed dated, 28th July, 1678. Wit-]Bally vally and Nurney. ditto.
trator of the wife of commence in 1682.
nesses, Edmond Harvey, Edm. Dunn.j
Garret Byrne.
Ballybryn alias Bally- Private estate. Allowed,
Sir Richard Stephens,]Residue of a term for| By lease.
bamin, bar. Cather-]
knt.
31 years.
lagh.
Part of Kilknock and Oliver Eustace. DittOy according to
Elinor Eustace.
J200/. per ann. jointure, By deed dated, 22nd June, 1688.
other lands.
the settlement.
Wm. Blackney, in be- [An estate for three lives By lease dated, 1st November, 1677. Wit.|Ballycormuck, barony JDudley BagnalL Allowed,
half of James, Wm.j with a clause of re-| Samuel Blackshare, Rowland Power, Idrone.
and Mable Blackney,! newal for one life.
and others, and left by will dated, 30th
minors.
August, 1685, to claimants. Witnesses,!
to the will, William Blackney, Henryj
Fitzgerald, and others.
Patk. and Dan Ryan,|
{Term for three lives. By instrument of agreement for a lease,] Lands of Ballynry.
Ditto.
Dismissed,
executors of William
dated 28th September, 1684, to claimRyan.
ant's testator.
Pierce Byrn.
A lease after the expi- By deed dated, 22nd July, 1678. Wit- Town and lands of Bal-]uJohn Warren. Allowed*
livally and Nurny.
ration of a former lease nesses, Edmond Harvy, Edm. Dunn.
[for 11 years, which 11
years ended in 1682.
|Termfor21 years, com-|By deed dated25th March, 1678.
Ditto.
Town and lands of
Ditto.
Ditto,
jmencing 27th Mar.l 693.;
Laragh.

g>
o

-3
O

*
c

rj

3
&

Mortgage in fee for)|By lease and release, dated the 7th and 8th!Town and lands of La« |John Warren. Allowed and referDecember, 1687. Witnesses, George] raghand Gorigonoge,
red.
135/. and interest.
Annesley, Edmond Birne, Wm. Connor. barony Forth.
[Term for three lives re- By deed dated 20th August, 1697, from Land of Kellies, baronv| John Bagott. Dismissed for non
John Bernard.
pros.
Forth and Rathvilly.
newable for ever, in the duke of Ormonde. Witnesses, Ste
reversion after the| phen Sweet, Henry Harrison, &c.
death of Tho., C.
and W, Bernard.
Term for three lives. |By lease dated 1st May, 1680. Witnesses. Lands of Killedmond Dudley Bagnall. Dismissed.
Ditto.
Hugh Fagan, Dan. Demsey, &c. to] and Tomduffe.
Thomas Harney, and by agreement in
anno 1685 with Harney, come to clai-j
mant.
f
!
Thomas Cuppage, gent Residue of 1.9 years, By lease dated 1st April, 1687, from Tho- Part of the lands of Cio- 01iver Eustace. Allowed.
commencing 5th Mar, mas Rogers, who held from Francis] neene, and other
Eustace. Wit. Matthew Rogers, &c.
lands.
before the lease.
By lease and release, dated 21st and 22nd| Town and lands of Pierce viscount! Dismissed as cautim
«• Jas. Butler, merchant.' Absolute fee.
February, 1681. Witnesses, Walter Rathlin.
Galmoy.
ary.
Butler, Christopher Horncastle, &c,|
And fine levied in Easter, 1681, andj
recovery suffered as a collateral security
and statute staple acknowledged to clai-|
mant of 1800/. for performance of covenant.
Charles Byrn.
An estate for three lives By lease dated 8th November, 1663. Wit.| Carrigbegg.
Dudley Bagnall Dismissed.
Piers Bruton, Edmond Keating.
Fra9. Eustace, Edwd.j A remainder in tail to] By deed of release dated 22nd June, 1688, Killknock, Ballycurry,| Fras. Eustace. {Allowed accordfoig to
Eustace, Jos, Eustace, Fras., Ewd. and Jos, pursuant to articles of intermarriage, Clonee, and several Oliver Eustace.
tlie settlement.
and Alice Eustace, mi- and 1000/. to Alice.
dated 9th February, 1682.
other lands.
nors, by Nichs. Eustace,
their next friend.
Josh. Mitchell,
jMoney laid ont and expended by the claim;487/. 13*. 4tf.
lOliver Eustace. \Disjmssed for non
ant and his father, in prosecuting and'
pi'GS,
Henry Warren.

making out hia majesty^ title to thef
estate of Oliver Eustace,
Isaac Hctfroide* mer- An annuity of 100/. perj'By lease and release, dated July, 1693. Two parts of the rectory Lord Galmoy. Wisaltowed*
aim. forever.
chant.
Witnesses, Benj. Burton, and others,] and tithes of Bally-]
| from Walter Butler, who had a mort- ellen.
gage in fee from Pierce, late lord vis-j
count Galmoy. *
Thomas Moore.
Residue of a term of 87 By several assignments came to Wiliiaml Ballynecarrick.
Dudley Bagnall, Allov>ed,
years, commencing at! Plant, who conveyed to claimant byj
Michaelmas, see the deed dated 12th March, 1699. Wit14th Chas. I.
j nesses, Christopher Clarke, &c.
Wm. Cooke, gent.
1960/. mortgage, part of]By fines in Easter Term, 1688, and by] Towns and lands of Bal- lord Galmoy. Ditto and referred. O
several debts due by lease and release dated 15th and 16th lyellen, Cioghnurny
and other lands.
judgment to claimant. July, 1688, lands being then in claim
w
ant's seisin and possession, by a mortgage!
>
by lease and release dated the 22nd and
23rd March, 1684. Witnesses to first!
deeds, Mathew Cooke, &c, and to the]
last, Walter Butler, $c.
Estate in fee.
Ditto.
By lease and release from lord Galmoy, Moiety of Killmulla- (Dudley Bagnall Allowed §L per ann. Z
dated 22d and 23rd March, 1684. Wit- poge.
out of the lands of
nesses, Walter Butler, &c. And by
Kilmallapoge.
5
fine in Easter Term, and by lease and
release, Wit .by Mathew Cooke, Terence j
O'Donell, &c.
H. Warren, and others, 200*. portion.
Bywilldated 13th October, 1694. Wit Town and lands of Lar[Dismissed for non
the younger children;
raghteig and other
Edmond Carroll, &c.
pros.
of John Warren. Esq.]
lands.
deceased, by Catherine Warren, widow,!
their mother, who is
the executrix of the]
said John.

By eame.

Larraghleig and otner
lands.
I
I
By lease dated 5th May, J68£, to Tho- Rahin, Killane, and John Warren. Allowed.
mas Burdett, the claimant's late father,
other lands br. Forth.j
and by his will come to claimant.
Residue of 1000 years,' By lease dated the 3d June, 1676, from Seskinrian, bar. Idrone, [George Mathews Dismissed as caution*
Ditto.
commencing on the! George Mathews to claimant's father.
and other per- art/ subject to BagWitnesses, Edward Butler, &c. And
date of the lease.
sons.
nall* s chiefry.
come to claimant by his father's will. j
By lease dated 10th May, 1776. Wit-j Ballenkillen, ditto.
An estate for lives.
[Dudley Bagnall, Allowed.
Turlagh Byrne.
nesses John Byrne, &c.
!
By lease dated 15th March, 1674, to Johnj Kilgreny and other
Ditto,
Ditto during claimliny Byrne, widow and Ditto.
a
Byrne. Witnesses, Garret Wall, &c.
lands bar. Idrone*
ant's life.
administratrix, of Jn.j
o
Byrne.
a
Ditto.
By lease dated in the year 1673. Wit- Rahana, and Moyvala, do.
Dismissed.
Gerald Byrne.
H
nesses Garret Wall, &c
Tho. Bunbury, gent. Residue of 99 years, sub By lease dated the 5th March, 1685,] Moyshell, bar. Forth.
Ditto, for non pros.
c
ject to redemption onj Witnesses, Mary Bunbury, &.
payment of 60/,
By lease and release, dated 23rd and 25th; Pollard^town bar. Ca-| Patrick Wall.
Joa. Bunbury, gent, ad- 120/. mortgage.
ditto.
>
April, 1684, to the intestate. Witnesses! therlogh.
ministrator of Johnj
IT*
James Hay, &c.
Robinson.
c
145/. 10*. penalty.
By bond dated 15th June, 1678.
[Dudley Bagnall ditto.
Eliza Keally.
Catherine Warren, wi-i ThWs.
dow of John Warren,
Esq., deceased.
Thomas Burdett, Esq. Lease for lives.

3

A term of 31 years, from! By lease dated 10th December, 1670, to Ballytomin and other] Ditto.
1st May, 1670.
Henry Smithwick. Wit. and by several lands.
Hen. L. Santryaminor,
assignments come to claimant.
By lease dated 18th July, 1684. Wit*l Painstown, barony
by Charles Campbell, Lease for lives.
Wm. Cooke,
nesses, John Browne, &c,
Catherlogh.
Esq.
'

John James*

ditto.
\Alloived and referred.*

' The obeervations in i(al4ct were written (we understand, by or for the trustees) on the margin of the book from which our extracts were made.

254

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

INQUISITIONS IN THIS REIGN.
Names of persons,
Dudley Bagnall,
Ditto,
Pierce, lord Galmoy
John Baggott,..
Oliver Eustace,
Charles Cavanagh,
Oliver Eustace,
Ditto,

Date.
Place where taken.
8th December, 1690.
Catherlagh.
ditto,
ditto,
27th July,
anno 6.
ditto,
ditto,
6.
ditto,
/25th March, anno 7.
ditto,
7.
ditto,
17th April,
9.
ditto,
15th Novr., — 9.
F r o m " an abstract of the arrears of quit-rents, &c. returned by
the collectors of the several districts to be standing out in arrear in
each barony in each district at Christmas, 1694, in the province
of Leinster," we find the following in relation to our county :
Barony of Catherlogb,
Idrone
Forth
Rathviliy
St. Mullins.

Quit-rent
^£42
Crown-rent
70
Q u i t - r e n t . . . . . . 145
Crown-rent
26
Quit-rent
164
Crown-rent
30
.Quit-rent
21

3
9
5
15
10
5
2

10
3
3
5§
2
0
10f

King William the third died on the 8th March, 1702, in the
fifty-second year of his age, having reigned thirteen years.

CHAP.
Reign

of Queen Anne.

XXVII,
A . D . 1702, to A . D . 1714.

A N N E , daughter of J a m e s I I . ascended the throne, on
death of her brother-in-law, William I I I .

the

ABSTRACT OF CONVEYANCES FROM THE TRUSTEES OF THE
FORFEITED ESTATES AND INTERESTS IN IRELAND, IN 1 6 8 8 /
COUNTY OF CARLOW.

To Sir William Robinson, of Dublin, lent., 15th May, 1703 ;
consideration, five hundred and eight pounds. T h e town and lands
of Ballylane, one hundred and fifty a c r e s ; barony of Forth.-—
T h e estate of Charles Byrne, attainted.—Inrolled 21th May,
1703.
JohnAsgill,
of Ross-castle,
Esq.—23rd June, 1 7 0 3 . — T h e
manor, capital messuage or mansion house of Dunleckney, and
all other the estate of Dudley Bagnall, Esq., attainted, for his
* In the Chief Remembrancer's office,

t Appen, H, Commons Jour.

OF THE COUNTY Of CAR LOW.

255

life, with such remainder in fee as was left in him by his settlement.
Inrolled 28th July, 1703.
Richard Wolsley, of Mount-Arran, county Carlow, Esq.,
17th June, 1703; consideration, seven hundred and fifty pounds.
The lands of Dunore, two hundred and twenty-seven acres, three
roods and twenty-four perches.—Killmalapoge, one hundred and
seventy-five acres.— Total rent, six pounds, thirteen shillings and
ten pence half-penny ; barony of Idrone.—The estate in fee-simple
of Dudley Bagnall, attainted, but were claimed by Anne his wife,
Walter his eldest son, and other his cousins, daughters, or relations, for several particular estate^ and incumbrances pretended to
be to them limited by two deeds of settlement, dated 7th May,
1688, and 17th October, 1688, which claims the trustees did not
allow.—Inrolled 30t/i July, 1703.
Thomas Burdeit, of Garrahill, Esq., 16th June, 1703 ; consideration, one hundred and three pounds.—The lands of Tobbernoha, thirty-four acres—part of Ballymore adjoining to Garrahili.
To hold these during Bagnal's life only.— The rent service or
chiefry of five pounds four shillings a year out of Seskinryan and
Gormanagh ; barony of Idrone.—The estate of Dudley Bagnall,
Esq., attainted.—Inrolled 3Qlh July, 1703.
Maurice Warren, of Nurny, county Car low, Esq., 14th
June, 1703 ; consideration, one thousand and fifty-seven pounds.
The town and lands of Nurny and Ballinvally, Ballan and Coniger,
Gappaghwater, Laraghteige and Garryoung, Ballykeeneen, Aghaelare, Cooleneshigan ; barony Forth.—The estate of John Warren, attainted. To hold to him and his heirs.—Inrolled 1th July,
1703.
Walter Stephens, of Dublin, Esq.—21st June, 1703; consideration, four hundred and forty-three pounds.—The town and
lands of Ballybrin alias Ballybamen, one hundred and sixty-six
acres ; barony of Carlow—the estate of the late king James.—
Inrolled 3rd August, 1703.
The Reverend Benjamin Neal, of Wexford, archdeacon of
the diocese of Leighlin, 26th April, 1703; consideration, 415/.—
The town, lands and mill of Waterstown, 686 acres ; barony of
Rathvilly, demised by Richard, earl of Arran, 6th November,
1676, to Hubert Kelly, attainted, for the lives of the said Hubert,
Harborne Kelly, his eldest son, both since deceased, and Mark
Baggett, now in Dublin, son to "John Baggett, of Crosclogh,
county Carlow.—To hold to said Neal, during the said Baggett's
life.— Inrolled 1th May, 1703.
Charles La Bouleey, of Carlow, gent., 17th June, 1703;
consideration, sixty-one pounds.—A house and garden, the base
court, and the walls of a brewhouse and malthouse, which were
burnt, ten acres; town of Carlow.—The estate of John Warren,
attainted.—By lease from the earl of Thomond, for ninety-nine
years, if his sons Henry, Thomas, and James should so long live;
commencing 29th Sept., 1687, at the rent of five pounds, and two
shillings and six pence receiver's fees.—Inrolled 13th July, 1703.

256

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

The Right Honourable Philip Savage, Esq., chancellor of
the Exchequer, 24th March, 1702 ; consideration, three hundred
and ninety-four pounds ten shillings.—The town and lands of
Ballykelly, six hundred and forty-five acres.—Shangarry, five
hundred acres.—Ballinrush, five hundred acres.—Shraugh, onehundred and forty acres.-—In Mishell, two hundred and nineteen
acres.—In Killmaglish, forty-acres.—Carranpurseen, two hundred
acres; barony of Forth, county Carlow.—Portrusheen, with
Toobinstown and part of Buolymore, seven hundred acres.—Heraldstown, two hundred and fifty acres ; barony of Rathvilly,
same county.—The estate of John Baggott, Esq., attainted;
which having been granted 26th Feb., 1697, to Joost, Earl of
Albemarle, were by him, by deeds of lease and release, dated 27th
and 28th February, 1698, for the sum of three hundred pounds
conveyed to Charles Balwin, of Dublin, Esq., in trust for Mark
Baggott, Esq., to whom, by deeds of lease and release, dated
8th and 9th March, 1698, he conveyed the same in execution of
the said trusts; and the said Baggott, by indenture dated 22nd
March, 1702, assigned and made over his interest and right of
purchasing the premises from the trustees, for three hundred and
five pounds ten shillings to said Ph. Savage.—Inrolled 8th April,
1703.
Colonel Wentworth Harman, 22nd June, 1703 ; consideration,
one hundred and seventy-four pounds. A moiety or full half of the
town and lands of Ballure and Straghnedarry; barony of Forth,
county Carlow—the estate of John Warren, attainted.—Inrolled
29th June, 1703.
Nathaniel Evans, of Ballywilliamroe, county Carlow, gent.,
31 st May, 1703 ; consideration, two thousand two hundred and
sixty-six pounds.—The towns and lands of Knockroe, three
hundred and ninety-one acres.—Seskin Nodery, three hundred and
thirty-six acres,—Dunroe, three hundred and forty acres.—Tarrisbegg, three hundred and sixty-two acres.—Clonegoose, sixty-nine
acres.—Knocknegoudonagh, one hundred and sixty-five acres.—
Ballywilliamroe and Mc. Manahow, five hundred and twenty-three
acres, f Newtown, five hundred and five acres,—Rohanagh and
Moyvally, four hundred and two acres.—Crannagh, Knocknekeiran,
three hundred and eighty-seven acres.—Ballynesilloge, two hundred
and fifty-four acres.—Ballyntorin, Ballyknockane, Ballyderumie,
and half of Faranoule, four hundred and fifty-five acres—part of
Ballymore, one hundred and ninety-six acres—Kilgreny alias
Killedane and Ballyclantumuck, four hundred and forty acres—
Killedmund and Tomduffe, three hundred and sixty-two acres—
tClonegagh and common to Newtown and Clonegagh, two hundred
and twelve acres—Rossdillig and Oienerly, one hundred and
eighty-five acres—Clogh water, one hundred and forty acres;
barony of Idrone, county Carlow—rent, one pound fourteen shillings—the estate of Dudly Bagnall, Esq., attainted ; for life, with
a reversion in fee after several estates tail claimed and allowed, to
hold for the said Dudly's life arid the said reversion.—Note: By

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

257

deed, dated 26th June, 1703, Mr. Evans declared that the lands
thus -f- marked were purchased in trust for Thomas Wilcocks, of
Dublin, grocer, who paid two hundred and sixty pounds for the
same, and he conveyed them over to him accordingly, subject to
four shillings a year quit-rent.—Inrolled 20th Oct. anno second of
Anne.—Inrolled 26th June, 1703.
John Beauchamp, of Ballinloughan, county Carlow, E$q.»
7th June, 1703; consideration, five hundred and four pounds.—
The town and lands of Cairowbegg and Cairowmore alias Corris,
three hundred and seventy-nine acres; barony of Idrone, county
Carlow—the estate of the late king James.—Inrolled 14M June,
1703.
Richard Tighe, of Dublin, Esq., 22nd June, 1703 ; consideration, three hundred and forty-eight pounds.—Part of the lands
of Johnstown, seventy-nine acres ; barony and county Carlow-—
the estate of the late king James.—Inrolled \§th July, 1703.
Walter Weldon, of Rahin, Esq., 14th June, 1703; consideration, three hundred and sixty pounds.—The towns and lands
of Killane, Rathinkillane, and Gargart, two hundred acres ; barony
of Forth, county Carlow—the estate of John Warren, attainted.
Inrolled 9th Oct., 1703.
Catherine Johnson, of Dublin, widow; 23rd June, 1703;
consideration, six hundred pounds.—The north part of New
^Garden and Dunganstown, one hundred and forty-four acres;
barony and county of Carlow—the estate of the late king James.
Inrolled 20th Nov., 1703.
Parliament met at Dublin on the 21st September, 1703.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlagh.—Sir Thomas Butler, baronet.
Pierce Butler, Esq.
Borough of Catherlagh.—Richard Wolseley, Esq.
Hon. Charles Howard, Esq., or
Walter Weldon, Esq.
This indenture certifies Charles Howard to have fortynine votes of the freemen, inhabiting in that borough;
and Walter Weldon forty-six votes of the like freemen, inhabitants: but the said Walter Weldon had
sixty-five votes of the like freemen and others, not
inhabiting in the said town; and the said Charles
sixty-one votes of the like not inhabiting ; and that
each of them had an equal number of votes of the
burgesses.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—James Agar, Esq.
John Tench, Esq.
27th September, 1703.*—A petition of Major Thomas Burdett
was presented to the house and read, setting forth, that the petitioner was one of the candidates at the last election of knights for
the county of Catherlough ; that a poll being demanded, and proceeded upon, several persons were offered to poll for Pierce But-

258

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ler, Esq., another of the candidates against whose votes the
petitioner excepted, as not qualified for want of sufficient freehold,
according to law, and prayed the high sheriff of the said county,
that the said persons might be examined when such freehold was
obtained, and where it lay ; but being over-ruled therein, the petitioner insisted, that after the closing of the poll there might be a
scrutiny and examination into the qualifications of the persons
who had voted, which was promised by the sheriff in open court.
That at and after the closing the poll, the petitioner insisted on a
scrutiny ; that the qualifications of the several persons excepted
against, and others, might be examined into, but was denied, upon
pretence, by the sheriff, that nothing was to be understood by the
scrutiny but only casting up the gross number of the poll, without
inspecting the qualifications of the voters. That the petitioner was
duly elected a knight of the shire to serve in this present parliament
for the said county, by a great majority of the Protestant freeholders;
and if the number of the persons who had no right to vote be deducted out of the roll taken for the said Pierce Butler, the petitioner is elected by a majority of the freeholders of the said county.
That by reason of the aforesaid proceedings, and other undue and
unfair practices at the said election, the said Pierce Butler obtained
a small majority, and is returned to serve as a knight of the shire
for the said county in this present parliament, by which return the
petitioner conceiveth himself to be grieved; and therefore humbly
praying that the proceedings at the said election may be inquired
into by the house, and that he may be relieved therein as shall be
thought fit.
Ordered.—That the said petition be referred to the committee
of privileges and elections, and that they do examine the matter
thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon to the
house.
30th September, 1703. Ordered—That Colonel Ponsonby,
Sir Christopher Wandesforde, &c. or any five or more of them,
be appointed a committee, to meet at the speaker's chamber this
afternoon, at five o'clock, to prepare and bring in heads of a bill
to make the river Barrow navigable; and that all members of this
house of the adjacent counties and boroughs therein be of the
committee ; that they have power to adjourn from time to time,
and place to place, as they shall think fit, and report the same to
this house.
5th October, 1703. Mr. Molesworth, according to order, reported from the committee of the whole house appointed to take
into consideration the state of the nation, that they were come to
several resolutions in the matter to them referred, which he delired in at the table, and are as follow :
Resolved—That the house be moved, that all sheriffs of counties, clerks of the crown and peace, and gaolers, do give an account to this house what popish archbishops, vicars-general, deans,
Jesuits, monks, friars, and other regular popish clergy, and papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction convict, are or have

Otf THE COUNTY OF CARIGW.

259

been in their several custodies; together with the reasons, why
such of them as remained in their custody have not been transported ; as also what popish regulars and dignitaries convict have
been transported, according to the statute, and when; and what
regulars or dignitaries not convict, do remain m their custody;
to which resolution, the question being put, the house did agree,
and ordered the same accordingly.
7th October, 1703,—Ordered—That the committee of privileges
and elections do report specially to this house, as well the merits
of the election, as the matter of the double return of burgesses
to serve in this parliament for the borough of Catherlagh.
28th October, 1703.—Ordered—That the committee of privileges and elections be adjourned till to-morrow, at five o'clock
in the afternoon, and that they do then sit and hear the matter of
complaint of Major Thomas Burdett against the undue election
and return of Mr. Butler, a member ol this house.
30th October, 1703.—Ordered—That the matter of complaint
upon the petition of Major Thomas Burdett against the undue
election of Mr. Pierce Butler, a member of this house, be heard
l)y counsel at the bar of this house on Tuesday next.
2nd November, 1703.—The house, according to the order for
the day, proceeded to hear the matter for complaint on the petition
of Major Burdett against the undue election of Mr. Butler, returned
to serve in this present parliament as knight of the shire for the
county of Catherlagh, and counsel on both sides having been
heard, and several witnesses examined, and being withdrawn;
Ordered—That the further hearing of the matter be adjourned
till Saturday morning next.
Ordered—That the witnesses on both sides do then attend the
house, without further summons.
6th November, 1703.—The house, according to the order for
the day, proceeded to the further hearing of the matter of complaint
on the petition of Major Thomas Burdett, against the undue election of Pierce Butler, Esq., a member of this house, returned to
serve in this present parliament as knight of the shire for the county of Catherlagh, and examined witnesses and heard counsel
fully in the matter; and they being withdrawn;
Resolved—That Pierce Butler, Esq., is duly elected to serve
in this parliament, as one of the knights of the shire for the county
of Catherlagh.*
1st June, 1709.-—Sir Pierce Butler reported from the committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of William
Simthwick, and others, in relation to making the river Barrow
navigable, that they had come to several resolutions in the matter
to them referred, which he read in his place, and after delivered
at the table, where the same were again read, and are as follow:
• Major Burdett was elected member for the county in the following year,
© the decease ot Sir Thomas Butler, bart. M.P.
n
2K

26G

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Resolved—That
it is the opinion of this committee, that the
allegations in the petition are true.
Resolved—That
it is the opinion of this committee, that the
making the river Barrow navigable from Athy to the sea, will be
a public benefit to the province of Leinster and other parts of this
kingdom, and that the same may be effected for three thousand
pounds sterling.
T o which resolutions, the question being severally put, the
house did agree.
Ordered—That
leave be given to bring in heads of a bill on the
said resolutions, and that it be recommended to Sir Pierce Butler
and M r . Beauchamp to prepare the same.
29th J u n e , 1 7 0 9 . — T h e order of the day being read.
Resolved—That
this house do, on Thursday, the 28th day of
J u l y next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to
take into consideration heads of a bill for making the river Barrow,
in the county of Kildare, Queen's county, Catherlogh, Kilkenny,
Wexford, and Waterford, navigable.
28th J u l y , 1 7 0 9 . — R e s o l v e d — T h a t this house do, this day
fortnight, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to take
into consideration heads of a bill for making the river Barrow, in
the counties of Kildare, Queen's county, Catherlogh, Kilkenny,,
Wexford, and Waterford, navigable.
25th August, 1 7 0 9 . — T h e order of the day being read.
Resolved—That
this house do, this day fortnight, resolve itself
into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration
heads of a bill for making the river Barrow, in wthe counties of
Kildare, Queen's county, Catherlogh, Kilkenny, Wexford and
Waterford, navigable.*
T h i s parliament was dissolved on the 6th May,- 1 7 1 3 .
A new parliament assembled in Dublin, on the 25th of November, 1713.
T h e members for our district were as follow:
County of Catherlogh.—Rt.
Hon. Sir Pierce Butler, bart«
Jeffery Paul, of Ballyraggin, Esq,
Borough of Catherlogh.—Thomas
Burdett, Esq.
Walter Weldon, E s q .
Borough of Old Leighlin,—John
Beauchamp, Esq.
St. Leger Gilbert, E s q .
27th November, 1 7 1 3 . — A petition of Thomas Burdett, E s q .
was presented to the house, and read, setting forth, that the petitioner stood candidate for one of the knights of the shire for the
county of Catherlogh to serve in this present parliament, and was
duly elected by a considerable majority of the real and known
freeholders of the said county, although some gentlemen, and
particularly the popish gentlemen of the said county, Mr. W a l t e r
Bagnall, Mr. William Cooke, M r . J o h n Baggott, and several
• On the 30th August, parliament was prorogued ; so that nothing wat
done respecting the Barrow at that time,

OF THE COUNTY OF GAR.LOW.

261

other papists, without regard to the laws for preventing papists
breeding any dissensions amongst Protestants at elections, have
interfered in a zealous and most industrious manner, contrary to
the laws of the land and the rights of elections, and that as well
before as on the day of election, and after the writs issued, by
making several occasional freeholders, some of which were their
menial servants in livery, by menacing many others even to the
destruction of their families if they did not vote as they would
have them, and by appearing in the field well mounted, well
armed, and in red coats, with several of their emissaries throughout the field managing and seducing freeholders, and by other several doing illegal and unwarrantable acts to influence the election
against the petitioner in favour of Jeffry Paul, Esq., one of the
candidates ; that Benjamin Bunbury, Esq., high sheriff of the
said county, having been guilty of partial, undue, and illegal
practices at the said election, in favour of the said Jeffry Paul, did
return the said Jeffry Paul as knight of the shire for the said county, though the petitioner had a majority of the real, known, and
lawful freeholders as aforesaid, and therefore praying for such
relief as to the house shall seem meet.
Ordered—That the said petition be referred to the committee
of privileges and elections.
4th December, 1713.—A petition of John Tench, Esq., was
presented to the house, and read, setting forth, that at a court
held by Thomas Burdett, Esq., sovereign of the borough of Catherlaugh, in the county of Catherlaugh, for the election of burgeeses to serve in this present parliament for the said borough, by
virtue of a precept from the sheriff of the said county to him the
said sovereign directed, he the said Thomas Burdett, presiding in
the said court as sovereign, did nevertheless stand candidate at
the said election, together with Walter Weldon, Esq., and the
petitioner, and having procured a majority of the burgesses' votes,
positively refused to take any votes of the community or freemen,
who, to the number of about one hundred, appeared, were ready,
and offered to have polled for the petitioner, insisting on their ancient and continually claimed right so to do, notwithstanding
which he, the said sovereign declared himself duly elected, and
after the rising of the said court by indenture with the sheriff of the
said county, returned himself one of the burgesses to serve in this
present parliament for the said borough, contrary to ancient usage
and laws of parliament, as the petitioner conceives and is advised, and
of dangerous consequence to the constitution thereof; and therefore praying the house to take his cause into consideration, and to
make such order therein as shall seem meet.
Ordered—That the consideration and examination of the said
petition be referred to the committee of privileges and elections,
and that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same,
together with their opinion thereon, to the house.
Parliament was dissolved by the death of Queen Anne, on the
1st August, 1714.

262

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

CHAP. XXVIII.
Reign of George I. A.D. 1714, to A.D. 1727.
George the first, of the house of Hanover, succeeded Anne as
lovereign of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Parliament met at Dublin, on the 12th day of November, 1715,
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Francis Harrison, Esq.*
Thomas Burdett, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Richard Wolseley, Esq.
Walter Weldon, Esq,
Borough of Old Leighlin.—John Beauchamp, Esq.
St. Leger Gilbert, Esq,
26th November, 1715.-*-Francis Harrison being elected a
knight of the shire for the county of Catherlogh, and also a burgess
for the borough of Duleck, in the county of Meath, made his
election to serve for the county of Catherlogh.
1st Dec. 1715.—A motion being made, that the late sheriffs of
several counties, who signed addresses to her late majesty, in opposition to the address of the late house of commons for removing
Sir Constantine Phippst from his employment, may be ordered to
attend this house.
Ordered, that Richard Vigors, Esq., late sheriff of the county
of Catherlooh, do attend this house this day fortnight.
15th Dec. 1715.—The order for the day being read, that the
late sheriffs of several counties who signed the said addresses, do
attend this house this day;
Ordered, that Richard Vigors, Esq., late sheriff of the county
of Catherlogh, do attend this house on Monday next.
22nd Dec. 1715.—The order for the day being read, that the
late sheriffs of several counties, who signed addresses to her late
majesty, in opposition to the address of the late house of commons,
for removing Sir Constantine Phipps from his employment, do attend this house;
And Richard Vigors, Esq., late sheriff of the county of Catherlogh accordingly attended at the door, was called in,
and at the bar confessed he had signed the address of the said
county, that he was heartily sorry for his fault, and humbly begged
pardon of the house, and then withdrew :
And the question being put,—that the said Mr. Richard Vigors
be taken into custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house,
It passed in the negative.
Ordered, that the said Mr. Richard Vigors be discharged from
further attendance.
20th Dec. 1721.—Mr. Rose reported from the committee of
privileges and elections, the matter as it appeared to them, touching
* A banker In Dublin, and partner of Benjamin Burton, Esq.
f Lord Chancellor.

OF T H E COUNTY OF OARLOW.

2i)3

a breach of privilege complained of to be committed by Mr. Charles
Burn against Thomas Burdett, Esq., a member of this house, and
the resolution of the committee thereupon, which he read in his
place, and afterwards delivered in at the table,, where the same
was again read, and agreed unto by the house, and is asfolloweth:
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Charles
Burn is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by Thomas
Burdett, Esq., a member of this house.
Ordered—That the said Charles Burn be, for the said breach of
privilege, taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending
this house.
25th Oct. 1723.—A complaint being made to the house of a
breach of privilege committed by Mr. John Baggott, and by Mr,
Wm. Todd, under-sheriff of the county of Catherlogh, against
Sir Thomas Burdett, bart, a member of this house, by forcibly
entering on his possession in the lands of Kilmaglish, Bolybreen,
and Rahinkillane, in the said county, during the time of privilege;
Ordered, that the matter of the said complaint be referred to
the committee of privileges and elections, and that they do examine
and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house.
28th Oct. 1723.—Ordered, that the committee of privileges
and elections do sit on Saturday next in the afternoon.
Ordered, that the complaint of Sir Thomas Burdett, bart., a
member of this house, against Mr. John Baggott and Mr. Wm.
Todd, be then heard before the said committee.
23rd Dec. 1723.—Ordered, that John Beauchamp, Esq., a
member of this house, have leave to go into the country for a
month, upon extraordinary ^occasions.
Parliament, after different prorogations, met again on the 7th of
September, 1725.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh*-—Sir Thomas Burdett, bart.
Jeffery Paul, Esq., in the room of
Francis Harrison, Esq., deceased.
Borough of Cather logA,—Walter Weldon, Esq.
John Hamilton, Esq., in the room of
Richard Wolseley, Esq., deceased.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—John Beauchamp, Esq.
St. Leger Gilbert, Esq.
12th Oct. 1725.—Jeffery Paul, Esq., returned ta serve in this
parliament as knight of the shire for the county of Catherlogh, in
the room of Francis Harrison, Esq., deceased, took the oaths,
and made and subscribed the declaration, and took and subscribed
the oath of abjuration, pursuant to the laws made for those purposes.
14th Oct. 1725.—A petition of Walter Bagnall, Esq.* was
presented to the house, and read, setting forth, that a writ issued
for electing a knight to serve in this present parliament for the
county of Catherlogh, in the room of Francis Harrison, Esq.,
deceased; that on the 7th day of September last, the said writ

264

HJSTOHY AM)

ASTtQVlTIES

was delivered to Richard Wolseley, Esq., high sheriff of the said
county; that the petitioner intending to stand candidate in the said
election, application was made to the said sheriff on behalf of the
petitioner, to appoint a day for the said election some time in the
said month, but the sheriff declared he would not, but would appoint the first of O ctober then next; that the said sheriff having
afterwards appointed the 4th of this instant to proceed on the said
election at Carlow, the petitioner and Jeffery Paul, Esq., the other
candidate, came there, and the sheriff having declared the majority
of freeholders of the said county for Mr. Paul, the petitioner de*
manded a poll, which was agreed to, and the said Mr. Paul and
the petitioner consented to poll ten at a time, and continued so to
do by turns till the election should be ended ; that during the whole
time of the said election the said sheriff behaved himself so much
in the favour of the said Mr. Paul, that he refused the votes of
several persons for the petitioner who were legal freeholders, and
admitted several persons to vote for the said Mr. Paul, who had
not freeholds for six months before the day of election, and others
who were by law disabled and unqualified to vote in the said election ; that the poll being ended, the sheriff was desired to signify
how the same stood, who directed his clerk to declare the same,
and accordingly the clerk declared the majority for the petitioner;
and thereupon the books were closed by consent of both parties,
the said Paul not pretending to a majority, or to demand a scrutiny,
nor was there any scrutiny demanded by the said Mr. Paul, or by
any other person on his behalf; that the sheriff then declared that
he would adjourn his court for half an hour, and take with him hi3
clerk only; that the court being accordingly adjourned without the
consent of the candidates, the sheriff and his clerk withdrew, and
having returned, the sheriff declared he disallowed thirty-seven of
the persons who voted for the petitioner, and had been examined
by Mr. Paul's lawyers, and sworn to their freeholds, and their
names entered and polled by the sheriff's directions; that the
petitioner and several of the freeholders present demanded of the
sheriff the reason why he disallowed the votes of the said thirtyseven who had been so examined and sworn to their freeholds, and
were ready upon a scrutiny to make good their freeholds, to
which the sheriff made answer, he neither would give any reason
for disallowing the said thirty-seven, or give them any opportunity
to make out their freeholds ; that the said sheriff notwithstanding
that the petitioner was duly elected knight of the shire for the said
county, on the said election, by a fair majority of the freeholders
of the said county, hath indented with, and returned the said Mr.
Paul: and therefore praying the house to take the petitioner's case
into consideration, and to do therein as shall be judged proper.
Ordered, that the matter of the said petition be heard at the
bar of this house this day fortnight.
28th Oct. 1725.—The house, according to order, proceeded to
the hearing of the merits of the election for the county of Catherlogh, and the counsel on both sides were called in ; and the petition
of Walter Bagnall, Esq., complaining of the said election, was

OF THE COUNTY OF CABLOW,

205

read, and the petitioner's counsel examined several witnesses; and
then the counsel being directed to withdraw,
Resolved, that John Griffith hath prevaricated with this house
on his examination, as a witness before the house.
Ordered, that the said John Griffith be, for his prevarication*
taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
Then the house adjourned till four of the clock in the afternoon„
The house proceeded in further hearing the merits of the said
election, and the counsel on both sides were called in, and the
petitioner's counsel examined several witnesses, and the sitting
member's counsel also examined several witnesses, and then the
counsel withdrew.
Resolved—That Jeffery Paul, Esq., is duly elected a knight of
the shire to serve in this parliament for the county of Catherlogh.
Resolved—That Richard Wolseley, Esq., high sheriff of the
county of Catherlogh, did discharge his duty with great integrity
at the late election for the said county.
Then the house adjourned till to-morrow morning at ten o'clock.
2nd November, 1725.—A petition of Sir Pierce Butler, bart.?
and Richard Butler, Esq., praying that leave may be given to
bring in heads of a bill for limiting the said Sir Pierce's estate,
immediately after the death of him and Dame Anne Butler, his
wife, without issue male, to the petitioner Richard Butler, and
for raising money on the said estate for the payment of incumbrances
affecting the same, was presented to the house, and read.
Ordered,—That Mr. Joshua Allen, Mr. Paul, & c , or any
three or more of them, be appointed a committee to meet tomorrow morning, at nine of the clock, in the speaker's chamber,
to examine the matter of the said petition; that they have power
to adjourn from time to time, and place to place, as they shall think
fit, and report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon to
the house.
A complaint being made to the house of a breach of privilege
committed by Mrs. Anne Bagenal, and Mr. Francis Enraght, her
attorneys against Richard Warren, Esq., a member of this house,
by serving several of his tenants on the lands of Graiglug, in the
county of Catherlogh, the estate of the said Mr. Warren, with
summons in ejectment, during the time of privilege.
Ordered—That the matter of the said complaint be referred to
the committee of privileges and elections, and that they do examine
and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house.
1 lth November, 1725.—Mr. Joshua Allen reported from the
committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of Sir
Pierce Butler, bart., and Richard Butler, Esq.; that they had
come to a resolution in the matter to them referred, which he read
in his place, and after delivered in at the table, when the same
was again read, and agreed unto by the house, and is as folioweth :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
petitioners have fully proved the allegations of their petition.
Ordered—That leave be given to bring in heads of a bill to en-

t06

itl^GRY AND ANTiauiTflik.

able Sir Pierce Butler, baronet, and Richard Butler, Esq., his
nephew and heir, to make a further settlement of the estate lately
belonging to Sir Thomas Butler, deceased, for the benefit of themselves and their family, without prejudice to the jointure of Dame
Anne Butler, wife of the said Sir Pierce, or to the provisions
made for their issue by a settlement made on their marriage by the
said Sir Thomas Butler, and for other purposes therein mentioned,
and that it be referred to the committee to whom the said petition
was referred, to prepare and bring in the same.
18th November, 1725*—Ordered—That the committee of
privileges and elections be discharged from proceeding on a breach
of privilege complained of to be committed by Mrs, Anne Bagenal
and Mr. Francis Enraght, against Richard Warren, Esq., a
member of this house, they having made the said Mr. "Warren
satisfaction.
29th November, 1725. Ordered—That John Beauchamp,
Esq., a member of this house, have leave to go into the country
for three weeks, upon extraordinary occasions.
17th February, 1726. A complaint being made to the house of
a breach of privilege committed by Mrs. Susanna Moore, against
the honourable William Moore, Esq., a member of this house, by
serving him with notices of trial for recovery of dower in several
lands, the estate of the said Mr. Moore, in the counties of Wicklow,
Catherlogh, and Tipperary, during the time of privilege;
Ordered—That the matter of the said complaint be referred to
the committee of privileges and elections, and that they do examine
and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house.
Parliament was dissolved by the death of the king, on the 11th
June, 1727.
A committee was appointed by the house of commons to inquire,
what addresses were sent from several counties and towns within
this kingdom, in opposition to the addresses of the late house of
commons for removing Sir Constantine Phipps from his employment. On the 30th November, 1715, they presented a report^
from which the following is an extract:
" That an address was sent to her late majesty, signed by the
governor, high sheriff, the justices of the peace, grand jury, and
gentlemen of the county of Catherlogh, dated the 27th day of
March, 1714, containing the following paragraph, viz.
" We cannot but with the greatest sense of gratitude acknowledge,
how much we are indebted to your majesty for the full securities
provided for the Protestant succession in the illustrious house of
Hanover, against popery and the Pretender, and likewise of your
sacred majesty's consummate wisdom in the late affair relating to
that excellent and faithful minister, your chancellor of this kingdom."*
The number of men in the militia of our county in 1715, was
* Journals of H* of Commons, vol. Hi. Appea. p. viii.

OF THE

COUNTY OF CARLOW.

267

two hundred and sixty-eight; the number of arms allotted to the
county, one hundred and seven.
From ' * an abstract of the returns from the commissioners of
array of the several regiments, troops, and companies of militia in
the provinces of Leinster and Connaught," it appears that in 171#,
the county of Carlow had one regiment of dragoons, consisting of
•five troops, and one independent company of foot.
The following names appear in " a list of sheriffs who had not
closed their accounts the 10th day of October, 1722, commencing
at 1692, and ending at the year 1715, exclusive."*
COUNTY CATHERLOGH.

A.D. 1694, Edmond Jones, Esq. 1706, George Brereton, Esq.
1707, Digby Berkeley, Esq.—1712, Maurice Warren, Esq.—
1713, Benjamin Bunbury, Esq.—1714, Richard Vigors, Esq.—
A list of sheriffs of County of Carlow, who from 1714 to
1723 had not closed their accounts.
A.D. 1715, Henry Percy, Esq.-—! 716, Charles Nuttall, Esq.
—1717, Wentworth Harman, Esq.—1718, Charles Bernard,
Esq.—1719, Jeffrey Paul, Esq.—1721, Richard Wolseley, Esq.
—1722, William Pendred, Esq.
One of the first acts of the Irish parliament in 1715, was the
attainder of the duke of Ormonde, for conspiring to restore the
Pretender. He possessed considerable property in our county,
and, therefore, an account of the various titles then enjoyed by him
will be apposite as well as interesting. He was at that time possessed of the following titles, viz. The most high, puissant, and
noble prince, James Butler, duke of Ormonde, earl of Brecknock, and baron of Lanthony and Moore Park, in England; duke,
marquis, and earl of Ormonde, earl of Ossory and Carrick, viscount Thurles, baron of Dingle and Arklow in Ireland; baron of
Dingwall, in Scotland; hereditary lord of regalities and governor
of the county palatine of Tipperary, and of the city, town, and
county of Kilkenny ; hereditary lord chief butler of Ireland, lord
high constable of England, lord-warden and admiral of the cinqueports and constable of Dover castle ; lord lieutenant of the county
of Somerset, lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county
of Norfolk; high steward of the cities of Exeter, Bristol, and
Westminster; chancellor of the universities of Oxford and Dublin, colonel of the first regiment of foot-guards, and the first regiment of horse-guards; captain general and commander in chief of
all her majesty's forces by sea and land throughout the British dominions, or acting in conjunction with allied powers ; one of her
majesty's most honorable privy council in England and Ireland ;
knight companion of the most noble order of the garter, and lord
lieutenant, general, and general governor of Ireland.—The estates
forfeited by this great nobleman, have been valued at eighty thousand pounds sterling per annum. An act was passed in 1721,
* Journals of the House of Commons, vol iii.
2L

Stfg

HISTORY AN'O

ANTIQUITIES

enabling his brother, the earl of Arran, to re-purchase the entire
of the Irish property from the crown, save the palatinate of Tipperary, which was suppressed.*
Doctor Vigors, bishop of Leighlin and Ferns died on the 3rd
of January, 1721 ; having enjoyed the sees thirty years. He was
buried at St. Patrick's cathedral, Dublin. He purchased from
Joseph Dean, Esq., chief baron of the exchequer, a fee-farm in
the manor of Old Leighlin, for five hundred and forty-eight pounds,
and by his will desired that his executor, by advice of the archbishop of Dublin, should convey the fee-farm to his next successor, the bishop of Leighlin, for the use of him and his successors
for ever. He further bequeathed to the said prelate, the sum of
three hundred pounds ; to be employed in the increase of the revenue of the poor bishopric of Leighlin ; either by the purchase
of a fee farm, or the erection of a house for the more convenient
habitation of the bishop; with the advice of the archbishop of
Dublin for the time being. He left ten pounds each to the poor of
the parishes of Ballindearig and Urglin, and the same sum to the
poor of Leighlin. Bartholomew* Vigors, x\.M., son of the bishop, was presented to the deanery of Leighlin.f
Josiah Hort succeeded doctor Vigors. He was born at Marshfield, in Gloucestershire. Having attended a grammar-school in
Bristol, he was entrusted to the care of a private tutor in London, and afterwards entered at Clare-hall, Cambridge, where his
tutor was Mr. Richard Laughton. He received deacon's orders,
in 1705, from doctor John More, bishop of Norwich; and towards the conclusion of the same year was ordained priest by
doctor Simon Patrick, bishop of Ely. He was then appointed to
the parish of Wicken, in the last-named diocese, by the earl of
Oxford; and in 1706, he was presented to the vicarage of Wendover, in Buckinghamshire, (in the patronage of the crown), by
lord chancellor Cowper.
Mr. Hort, in 1709, attended Thomas, marquis of Wharton,
lord lieutenant of Ireland, as his domestic chaplain ; and shortly
obtained a patent for the parish of Kilskir in the diocese of Meath,
vacant by the promotion of doctor Ralph Lambert to the deanery
of Down. "But the title of the crown," says Harris, " to that
advowson was litigated; and Moreton, bishop of Meath. admitted
his own son to it, under a title derived from a popish lord, who
had forfeited by the rebellion of 1641. Whereupon a quare impedit was brought, and a complete verdict obtained in behalf of
the crown. But the cause was removed into England by writ of
error, where it depended for many years ; aud at last was ended
by a judgment of the British house of lords. During this interval,
Mr. Hort was instituted to the rectory of Haversham, in Buckinghamshire, upon the queen's presentation, by the favour of the
lord chancellor Cowper. Judgment being at length given in be* Memoirs of the family of Grace. By S, Grace, Esq., F. S. A.
f Harris.

OF TI1H COUNTY OF CARLOW.

2 69

half of the title of the crown to Kilskir, in 1717, he came over
and possessed himself of the parish ; but lost upwards of seven
year's profits, which could not be recovered from the clerk defendant, by any law then in force. This vexatious delay gave rise
to an act of parliament, anno 6 George I., and since continued,
for the better securing the rights of advowson and presentation to
ecclesiastical benefices ; by which not only all essoins in writs of
quare imp edit are taken away, but the intruder is upon eviction
made accountable for the mesne profits, after a sufficient allowance
made for serving the cure."
Mr. Hort was promoted, in 1718, to the deanery of Cloyne,
and rectory of Louth, by the duke of Bolton, lord lieuteuant of
Ireland. In 1720, he was transferred to the deanery of Ardagh ;
and thence was presented to the bishopric of Leighlin and Ferns,
by the duke of Grafton, lord lieutenant of Ireland, by letters patent, dated the 10th February, 1721. He was also granted the
rectory of Killeban. The new prelate was consecrated on the
26th of said month of February, in the church of Castleknock,
by the bishops of Meath, Kilmore, Ardagh, and Dromore.
George the I. died on the 11th June, 1727.

CHAP. XXJX.
Reign of George, II.

A.D. 1727, to A.D. 1760.

George II, succeeded to the throne on the death of George I.
By the favour of Lord Carteret, lord lieutenant of Ireland, bishop Hort was translated from Leighlin and Ferns, to the sees of
Kilmore and Ardagh, by letters patent, dated 20th July, 1727.
John Hoadley, archdeacon of Salisbury, was promoted to the
bishopric of Leighlin and Ferns, by the letter of king George I.,
dated 3d June, 1727. But the king died before either he or bishop Hort could pass the patents for their respective preferments.
He, however, procured the letters patent of George II. dated
August the 4th; and was consecrated in St. Patrick's church,
Dublin, on the 3d of September following, by William, Archbishop
of Dublin, and other assisting prelates. Bishop Hoadley was
translated to the archdiocese of Dublin, on the 11 th of January,
1729.
Arthur Price was translated to Leighlin and Ferns from the see
of Clonfert, by letters patent, dated 26th May, 1729, and thence
to the diocese of Meath, on the 4th Feb. 1733.
Edward Synge was translated from the see of Cloyne, to Leighlin and Ferns, by letters patent, dated the 8th February, 1733.
The following is a letter from this prelate to Dean Swift:—-" Sept.
18, 1738. Sir, a message which I just now received from you by

270

HfsTORV AND ANTIQUITIES

Mr. Hughes* gives me some hopes of being restored to my old place,
Formerly I was your minister in musicis : but when I grew a great
man (and by the by,you helped to make me so) you turned me off.
If you are pleased again to employ me, I shall be as faithful and
observant as ever. I have heard Mr. Hughes sing often at Percival's, and have a good opinion of his judgment: so has Percival,
who, in these affairs, is infallible. His voice is not excellent, but
will do ; and, if I mistake not, he has one good quality, not very
common with the musical gentlemen, i. e. he is desirous to improve himself. If Mason and Lamb were of his temper, they
would be as fine fellows as they think themselves. I am, sir, your
most obedient humble servant, EDWARD FERNS."* Bishop Synge
was translated to Elphin.
George Stone succeeded, by letters patent, dated 5th June,
1740,
He was consecrated at Chapelizod, on the 3rd of August,
by the archbishop of Dublin. He was translated to Kildare.
William Cottrell, son of Sir Charles Cottrell, master of the
ceremonies, dean of Raphoe, was appointed to the see of Leighlin
and Ferns, by letters patent, dated 24th March, 1743. He was
consecrated at Christ-church, by the archbishop of Dublin, on the
19th June, 1743. He died in"England, on the 21st June, 1744.
Robert Downes succeeded, by letters patent, dated 1st August,
1744, and was consecrated in St. Michael's church, Dublin, by
John, Archbishop of Armagh, on 19th August. He was translated to Down and Connor, on the 13th October, 1752.
A new parliament met on the 28th of November, 1727.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Robert Burton, Esq.
Jeffery Paul, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—James Hamilton, Esq,
Richard Wolseley, Esq,
Borough of Old Leighlin<—Thomas Trotter, Esq.
John Beau champ, Esq.
Parliament again met, on the 23rd of September, 1729,
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh*—Robert Burton, Esq.
Richard Butler, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—James Hamilton, Esq.
Richard Wolseley, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Thomas Trotter, Esq.
John Beauchamp, Esq.
11th November, 1729.-—A complaint being made to the house
of a breach of privilege committed by Mr. Charles Callaghan,
Thomas Callaghan, Patrick Cummin, Thomas Cummin, John
Bourk, Miles Devitt, and John Sheehan, against James Hamilton,
* Hawkesworth's Life of Swift.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAttLOW.

271

Esq. a member of this house, by disturbing him in his possession
of the castle-yard of Catherlogh, during the time of privilege.
Ordered—That the matter of the said complaint be referred to
the committee of privileges and elections, and that they do examine
and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house.
11th December, 1729.—Ordered —That it be an instruction to
the committee of privileges and elections, that they do hear the
matter of a breach of privilege complained of to be committed by
Mr. Charles Callaghan, and others, against James Hamilton, Esq.
a member of this house, on Saturday next.
13th December, 1729.—Ordered—That it be an instruction to
the committee of privileges and elections, that they do hear the
matter of a breach of privilege, complained of to be committed by
Mr. Charles Callaghan and others against James Hamilton, Esq,
a member of this house, on Tuesday next.
15th December, 1729. Ordered—That it be an instruction to
the committee of privileges and elections, that they do hear the
matter of a breach of privilege, complained of to be committed
by Mr. Charles Callaghan and others, against James Hamilton,
Esq. a member of this house, on Wednesday next,, at nine of the
clock in the morning.
18th December, 1729.—Dr. Trotter reported from the committee of privileges and elections, that they had heard the matter of a breach of privilege, complained of to be committed by
Charles Callaghan, Thomas Callaghan, Patrick Cummin, Thomas Cummin, John Bourk, Miles Devitt, and John Sheehan,
against James Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house, and had
come to several resolutions therein, which he read in his place,
and after delivered at the table, where the same were again read,
and agreed to by the house, and are as follow :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Charles Callaghan is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by
James Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Thos.
Callaghan is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by
James Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Patk.
Cummin is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by
James Hamilton,- Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Thomas Cummin is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by
James Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that John
Bourk is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by James
Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that Miles
Devitt is guilty of the breach of privilege complained of by James
Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that John

272

HisTORV AND ANTIQUITIES

Sheehan is guilty of the breach of privilege, complained of by James
Hamilton, Esq., a member of this house.
Ordered—That the said Charles Callaghan be, for his said
breach of privilege, taken into custody of the serjeant at arms
attending this house.
Ordered—That the said Thomas Callaghan be, for his said
breach of privilage, taken into the custody of the serjeant at
arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said Patrick Cummin be, for his said breach
of privilege, taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered.—That the said Thomas Cummin be, for his said
breach of privilege, taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms
attending this house.
Ordered—That the said John Bourk be, for his said breach of
privilege, taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending
this house.
Ordered—That the said Miles Devitt be, for his said breach of
privilege, taken into the custody of the said serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said John Shehan be, for his said breach of
privilege, taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending
this house.
10th February, 1729.—Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue
his warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a writ to the
sheriiFof the county of Catherlogh for electing a knight of the
shire to serve in this parliament for the said county, in the room of
JeiFery Paul, Esq., deceased.
Parliament having been prorogued on the 14th May, 1730^
met again on the 5th October, 1731.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Robert Burton, Esq.
Richard Butler, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—James Hamilton, Esq.
Richard Wolseley, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Thomas Trotter, Esq.
John Beauchamp, Esq.
2 0th October, 1731.—A complaint being made to the house that
Chas. Callaghan, I h o s . Callaghan, John Bourke, PatrickCummin,
John Sheehan, Thos. Cummin, Miles Devitt, who were ordered into
custody the last session of parliament for a breach of privilege by
them committed against James Hamilton, Esq., a member of
this house, had absconded themselves so as they could not be taken.
Ordered—That the said Charles Callaghan be taken into the
custody of the serjeant at arms, attending this house.
Ordered—That the said Thomas Callaghan be taken into the
custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said John Bourke be taken into the custody
of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said Patrick Cummin be taken into the
custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAKLOW.

273

Ordered—That the said Thomas Cummin be taken into the
custody of the Serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said John Sheehanbe taken into the custody
of the Serjeant at arms attending this house.
Ordered—That the said Miles Devitt be taken into the custody
of the Serjeant at arms attending this house.
3d November, 1731.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring
in heads of a bill for repairing the road leading from Kilcullenbridge, in the county of Kildare to Leighlin-bridge, in the county
of Catherlogh; and that Mr, Aylward, Mr. Wm. Gore, and Mr.
Patrick Wemys do prepare and bring in the same.
10th November, 1731.—Mr. Aylward, according to order,
presented to the house heads of a bill for repairing the road leading from Kilcullen-bridge, in the county of Kildare, to Leighlinbridge, in the county of Catherlogh ; which were received and read,
and committed to a committee of the whole house on Saturday
next.
Ordered that the committee be empowered to receive a clause
or clauses.
13th November, 1731.—The house according to order, resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into
consideration heads of a bill for repairing the road leading from
Kilcullen-bridge, in the county of Kildare, to Leighlin-bridge, in
the county of Catherlogh ; and alter some time spent therein, Mr.
Sp eaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Aylward reported from the committee, that they had gone
through the said heads of a bill, and made several amendments
thereto; which he was directed to report when the house will please
to receive the same.
Ordered—That the report be made on Monday next.
15th November, 1731.—Mr. Aylward, according to order, reported from the committee of the whole house to whom heads of a
bill for repairing the road leading from Kilcullen-bridge, in the
county of Kildare, to Leighlin-bridge, in the.county of Catherlogh, were committed, that they had gone through the same, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto with some amendments ; which he read in his place, and after delivered at the table,
where the same were again read.
And a motion being made, that the said heads of a bill be now
again read ;
The same were read accordingly.
Then the amendments, made by the committee to the said heads
of a bill, were agreed to by the house with some further amendments.
Ordered—That Mr. Aylward do attend his grace the lord lieutenant with the said heads of a bill, and desire the same may be
transmitted into Great Britain in due form.
1st December, 1731.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring
in heads of a bill for explaining and amending an act, made in the
twenty-eighth year of the reign of king Henry VIII., intituled.

274

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

" An act for the weirs of the Barrow, and other waters in the
county of Kilkenny;" and that Mr. Marshall and Mr. Flood do
prepare and bring in the same.
2nd December, 1731 .---Mr. Marshall, according to order, presented to the house heads of a bill for explaining and amending an
act made in the twenty-eighth year of king Henry V I I I . , intituled
u
An act for the weirs of the Barrow and other waters in the
county of Kilkenny ;" which were received and read, and committed to a committee of the whole house on Saturday next.
4th December, 1731.—The house, according to order, resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration heads of a bill for explaining and amending an act made in the
twenty-eighth year of the reign of Henry VIII., intituled, a An
act for the weirs of the Barrow, and other waters in the county of
Kilkenny;" and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Marshall reported from the committee, that they had gone
through the said heads of a bill, and made several amendments
thereto, which he was directed to report when the house will please
to receive the same.
Ordered—That the report be made on Monday next.
8th Dec. 1731.—Mr. Marshall, according to order, reported
from the committee of the whole house, to whom heads of a bill
for explaining and amending an act, made in the twenty-eighth
year of the reign of king Henry VIII., intituled, u An act for
the weirs of the Barrow, and other waters in the county of Kilkenny," wrere committed, that they had gone through the same
paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto with some amendments ; which he read in his place, and after delivered at the table,
where the same were again read,
And a motion being made, that the said heads of a bill be now
again read,
The same were read accordingly.
Then the amendments, made by the committee to the said heads
of a bill, were again read, and agreed unto by the house, with a
further amendment.
Ordered—That Mr. Marshall do attend his grace the lord lieutenant with the said heads of a bill, and desire the same may be
transmitted into Great Britain in due form.
10th February, 1732.—A bill, intituled, an act for explaining
and amending an act, made in the twenty-eighth year of the reign
of King Henry VIII., intituled, " An act for the weir upon the
Barrow, and other waters in the county of Kilkenny," was presented to the house and read the first time, and ordered to be read
a second time to-morrow morning.
l l t h February, 1732.—A bill, intituled, an act for explaining
and amending an act made in the twenty-eighth year of the reign
of king Henry VIII., intituled, " An act for the weirs upon the
Barrow, and other waters in the county of Kilkenny," according

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

275

to order, was read a second time, and committed to a committed
of the whole house on Thursday next.
15th February, 1732.—The house, according to order, resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration, a bill intituled, an act for explaining and amending an act,
made in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of king Henry VIII.,
intituled, " An act for the weirs upon the Barrow, and other waters
in the county of Kilkenny;" and after some time spent therein
Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Marshall reported from the committee, that^they had gone
through the said bill, and that he was directed to report when the
house will be pleased to receive the same.
Ordered—That the report be now made.
Then Mr. Marshall reported, that the committee had gone
through the said bill, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto
wtthout any amendment.
Ordered—That the bill be engrossed.
16th February, 1732.—An engrossed bill, intituled, an act for
explaining and amending an act, made in the 28th year of the
reign of king Henry VIII., intituled, " An act for the weirs upon
the Barrow, and other waters in the county of Kilkenny/' was
read the third time.
Resolved—That the billfdo pass.
Ordered—That Mr. Marshall do carry the said bill to the lords,
and acquaint them, that this house hath passed the same, and
desired their concurrence thereunto.
28th February, 1732. A message from the lords by Mr. Ste*phens and Dr. Riley, that the lords have agreed to an engrossed
bill sent up by this house, intituled, an act for explaining and
amending an act, made in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of
king Henry VIII., intituled, " A n act for the weirs upon the
Barrow, and other waters in the county of Kilkenny," without
any amendment.
IOth March, 1732.—The royal assent was given to the bill
following:
An act for explaining and amending an act made in the twentyeighth year of the reign of king Henry VIII., intituled, " An act
for the weirs upon the Barrow, and other waters in the county of
Kilkenny."
Parliament was this day prorogued. It met again on the 4th
October, 1733.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh—Robert Burton, Esq*
Sir Richard Butler, Bart.
Borough of Catherlogh.—James Hamilton, Esq.
Richard Wolseley, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Thomas Trotter, Esq.
John Beauchamp, Esq.
3rd December; 1733.—A complaint being made to the house
2M

276

HISTORY AND ANTIQUiTISS

of a breach of privilege, committed by Denny Cuffe, Esq., high
sheriff of the county of Catherlogh, John Baggot, John Dillon^
Rowland Eustace, Darby Murray, John Curreen, and John Mekins, against Ca?sar Colclough, Esq., a member of this house, by
forcibly entering on his possession in the lands of Staplestown, and
other lands in the said county, and turning out his servants during
the time of privilege;
Ordered—That the matter of the said complaint be referred to
the committee of privileges and elections and they do examine and
report the same, with their opinion thereupon to the house*
8th December, 1733. Ordered—That leave be given to bring
in a bill for relief of the creditors of the bank, lately kept by SamL
Burton and Daniel Falkiner, and of the creditors of the bank
lately kept by Benjamin Burton, Samuel Burton, and Daniel
Falkiner, and of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin
Burton, and Samuel Burton, and of the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton and Francis Harrison, and that it be referred to the
committee to whom the said petition was referred, to prepare and
bring in the heads of a bill.
14th December, 1733.—Doctor Trotter reported from the
committee of privileges and elections, that they had heard the matter of a breach of privilege complained of to be committed by
Denny Cuffe, Esq., high sheriff of the county of Catherlogh, Jn.
Baggot, John Dillon, Rowland Eustace, Darby Murray, John
Curreen, and John Mekins, against Caesar Colclough, Esq., a
member of this house, and had come to several resolutions thereon,
which he read in his place, and after delivered at the table;
And the first of the said resolutions being again read,
Ordered—That the said report be re-committed.
19th December, 1733. Ordered—That John Beauchamp, Esq.,
a member of this house, have leave to go into the country for three
weeks, upon extraordinary occasions.
22nd December, 1733.—Mr. Sheppard, junior, according to
order, presented to the house heads of a bill, for relief of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Samuel Burton and Daniel Falkiner/and of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton, Samuel Burton, and Daniel Falkiner, and of the creditors of
the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton and Samuel Burton, and
of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton and
Francis Harrison; which were received and read, and committed
to a committee of the whole house on Thursday next.
24th December, 1733.—A petition of Jas. Butler, of Rathornan, in the county of Catherlogh, gentleman, and Anne Butler,
alias Harrison, his wife, setting forth, that they will be greatly
affected by heads of a bill now before this house, for the relief of
the creditors of the bank lately kept by Samuel Burton and Daniel
Falkiner, and of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton, Samuel Burton, and Daniel Falkiner, and of the
creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton and Samuel
Burton, and of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Benjamin
Burton and Francis Harrison, and praying for a saving therein^ in

OF THE COUNTY OF CABJ-0W.

27?

respect the petitioner Anne's dower, as widow to Marsh Harrison,
her late husband, deceased, brother to the said Francis Harrison,
or that the petitioners may be heard by their counsel against the
said heads of a bill, was presented to the house, and read.
Ordered—That the consideration of the said petition be referred
to the committee of the whole house to whom the said heads of a
bill are committed, and that the petitioners be heard by their counsel, if they think fit, before the said committee.
31st December, 1733.—A petition of Charles Burton and
Francis Burton, in behalf of themselves and others, the children
and legatees of Alderman Benjamin Burton, deceased, setting
forth, that they will be greatly affected by heads of a bill now before this house tor the relief of the creditors of the bank lately
kept by Samuel Burton and Daniel Falkiner, and of the creditors
of the bank7lately kept by Benjamin Burton, Samuel Burton, and
Daniel Falkiner, and of the creditors of the bank lately kept by
Benjamin Burton and Samuel Burton, and of the creditors of the
bank lately kept by Benjamin Burton and Francis Harrison, and
praying to be heard by their counsel against the said heads of a bill;
was presented to the house and read.
Ordered—That the consideration of the said petition be referred
to the committee of the whole house to whom the said heads of a
bill are committed, and that the petitioners be heard by their
counsel, if they think fit, before the committee.
The house, according to order, resolved itself into a committee
of the whole house, to take into consideration heads of a bill for
relief of the creditors of the bank lately kept by Samuel Burton,
(&c.) and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the
chair.
Mr. Sheppard, junior, reported from the committee, that they
had made some progress in the matter to them referred, and that
he was directed to move the house for leave to sit again.
Resolved—That this house will, to-morrow morning, resolve
itself into a committee of the whole house to take the said heads
of a bill into further consideration.
1st January, 1734.—The house, according to order, resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into further
consideration the heads of a bill for relief of the creditors of the
bank lately kept by Samuel Burton, (&c.) ; and after some time
spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Sheppard, junior, reported from the committee, that they
had made some further progress in the matter to them referred,
and that he was directed to move the house for leave to sit again.
Resolved—That this house will, on Thursday next, at twelve
o'clock, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to take
the said heads of a bill into further consideration, and nothing to
intervene.
[Again taken into consideration on January 3, Jan. 4, Jan. 5,
Jan. 8.]
9th January, 1734.—A petition of Walter Bagnal, praying a

278

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

saving in heads of a bill now before this house for relief of the
creditors of the bank lately kept by Samuel Burton, ( & c ) , in relation to several sums of money paid into the hands of the said
Benjamin Burton out of the rents and profits of the petitioner's
estate, was presented to the house and read.
Ordered—That the consideration of the said petition be referred
to the committee of the whole house to whom the said heads of a
bill are committed.
10th January, 1734.—The house, according to order, resolved
self into a committee of the whole house, to take into further
consideration heads of a bill for relief of the creditors of the bank
lately kept by Samuel Burton, (&c.); and after some time spent
therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Chaigneau reported from the committee, that they had
made some further progress in the matter to them referred, and
that he was directed to move the house for leave to sit again.
Resolved—That this house will, on Saturday next, resolve itself
into a committee of the whole house to take the said heads of a
bill into further consideration.
[This matter further considered on Jan. 12.]
14th January, 1734.—The house, according to order, resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house to take into further consideration heads of a bill for relief of the creditors of the bank
lately kept by ^Samuel Burton, (&e.) ; and after some time spent
therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr, Sheppard, junior, reported from the committee, that they
had gone through the said heads of a bill, and made several amendments thereto, which he was directed to report when the house will
please to receive the same.
Ordered—That the report be received on Thursday next.
17th January, 1734.—Mr. Sheppard, junior, according to
order, reported from the committee of the whole house to whom
heads of a bill for relief of the creditors of the bank lately kept by
Samuel Burton, (&c.) were committed, that they had gone through
the same, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto, with some
amendments, which he read in his place, and after delivered at the
table;
And a motion being made, that the said heads of a bill be now
read,
The same were read accordingly.
Then several of the amendments made by the committee to the
said heads of a bill were again read, and agreed to by the house,
with some further amendments.
Ordered—That the further consideration of the said report be
adjourned till to-morrow morning, at twelve o'clock, and nothing
to intervene.
18th January, 1734.—The house, according to order, proceeded to take into consideration the report from the committee of
the whole house to whom heads of a bill for relief of the creditors
of the bank lately kept by Samuel Burton, (&c.) were committed,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

279

And the rest of the amendments made by the committee to the
said heads of a bill were again read, and agreed td by the house,
with some further amendments.
Ordered—That Mr. Sheppard, jun«, do attend his grace the
lord lieutenant with the said heads of a bill, and desire the same
may be transmitted to Great Britain in due form.
[Said biil read first time, on 25th April, 1734. Ordered to be
engrossed, 26th April, 1734. Passed and sent to the lords, 27th
April, 1734. Received the royal assent, on the 29th April,
1734.]
5th March 1736.—A petition of Samuel Low and many others,
whose names are thereunto subscribed, gentlemen and freeholders
of the counties of Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Kildare, CARLOW,
Monagban, Tipperary and Limerick, and several other parts of
Ireland, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the gentlemen
and land-holders in this kingdom, setting forth that the clergy in
the several parts (where the petitioners dwell, have commenced
and threaten to commence suits for a new kind of tithe, under
the name of agistment for dry and barren cattle, which will be
very grievous to the petitioners, and to all those who are sued for
the same, and praying relief therein, was presented to the house
and read.
Ordered—That Mr. Morgan, Mr. Serjeant Bettesworth, &c.
or any five or more of them, be appointed a committee, to meet
to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock, in the speaker's chamber, to
examine the allegations of the said petition; that they have power
to send for persons, papers, and records, and to adjourn from
time to time, and place to place, as they shall think fit, and report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, to the house,
and that all members who come have voices.
4th January, 1738.—A petition of John Beauchamp, Esq., in
behalf of himself and Nathaniel Evans, and others, minors, to
whom he is guardian, setting forth, that they will be greatly affected by a bill now under the consideration of this house, for the
relief of the creditors of Daniel Reddy, Esq., and of Dudley Reddy,
his brother, deceased, by sale of their real and personal estates,
for payment of their debts, if the same should pass into a law, and
praying to be heard by their counsel against the said heads ot a
bill;
Was presented to the house, and read, and referred to the committee of the whole house, to whom the said heads of a bill are
committed.
Ordered—That the petitioners have leave to be heard by their
counsel, if they think fit, before the said committee.
18th February, I740.~-Ordered—That Sir Richard Butler,
bart., a member of this house, have leave to go into the country
for a month, upon extraordinary occasions.
29th Nov. 1743.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in
heads of a bill for allowing further time to persons in offices or employments to qualify themselves, pursuant to an act intituled,t€ An

280

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

act to prevent the further growth of popery ;" and that Doctor
Trotter, (one of the members for Old Leighlin) and Mr, Francis
Leigh do prepare and bring in the same.
Ordered—That leave be given to bring in heads of a bill for
amending, repairing, and shortening the highway, or road leading from Athy, in the county of Kildare, through the coal-pits to
Castlecomer, in the county of Kilkenny, and from thence to the
town of Carlow, in the county of Carlow; and that Mr. Morgan
and sir John Denny Vesey do prepare and bring in the same.
After prorogations, parliament met on the 8th day of October, 1745.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogk*—Robert Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart.
Borough of Catherlogh*—James Hamilton, Esq.
Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Thos. Trotter, Esq.
Hon. Robert Jocelyn.
Thomas Carter, the younger, Esq.,
in the room of the said Thomas Trotter, Esq.
8th October, 1745.—Ordered that Mr. Speaker do issue his
warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out a new writ for
electing a burgess ^to serve in this present parliament for the
borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Catherlogh, in the
room of John Beauchamp, Esq., deceased.
1st November, 1745.—Ordered-—That Mr. Speaker do issue
his warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out a new writ for
electing a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Catherlogh, in the room
of Thomas Trotter, Esq., deceased,
23d January, 1746.—A petition of Joseph Fade and John
Wilcox, Patrick Creagh, Nicholas Clinton, James Caffel, Mark
Whyte and John Farran, for and on behalf of themselves, and
several other of the creditors by debenture tickets or warrants,
issued by the trustees of the turnpike-road leading from the town
of Kilcullen, in the county of Kildare, to the town of Catherlogh, setting forth, that they have advanced large sums of money
towards the repair of the said road, and that the tolls arising
thereon are not sufficient to pay the interest of the said money,
and praying relief, was presented to the house, and read.
Ordered—That Mr. Wall of Maryborough, Mr. Keating, &c.
or three or more of them, be appointed a committee, to meet in
the speaker's chamber to-morrow morning, at nine of the o'clock,
to examine the matter of the said petition, and that they do report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house; and
they have power to adjourn from time to time, and place to place,
as they shall think fit.
24th January, 1746.—Mr. Benjamin Burton presented to the
house, pursuant to their order;

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLGW;

281

A return from the commissioners of array for the county of
Catherlogh.
The titles whereof were read.
Ordered that the said returns do lie upon the table, to be perused by the members.
J9th December, 1747.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring
in heads of abill to explain, amend, and make more effectual the laws
made for repairing the road from the town of Kilcullen, in the county
of Kildare, to the town of Catherlogh, and for increasing the tolls, and
regulating the expenses of the said road ; and that Sir Richard Cox
and Mr. David Bindon do prepare and bring in the same.*
Parliament having been prorogued, met on the 10th Oct. 5 l749,
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh*—Robert Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Baronet.
Borough of Catherlogh.—J ames H amilton, Esq.
Sir Richard Wolseley, Baronet.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Honourable Robert Jocelyn,
Thomas Carter, the younger, Esq.
Parliament was prorogued, and again met on the 8th October,
1751 ; when our district had the same members.
11th December, 1751. Ordered—That leave be given to
bring in heads of a bill for making and repairing the road leading
from the town of Athy, in the county of Kildare, through part of
the Queen's county, and through the town of Castlecomer, in the
county of Kilkenny, to the town of Leighlin-bridge, in the county
of Carlo vv; and that Mr. Fitz-Gerald and colonel Blennerhasset
do prepare and bring in the same.
13th December, 1751.—Mr. Fitz-Gerald, according to order,
presented to the house heads of a bill for making and repairing the
road leading from the town of Athy, in the county Kildare, through
part of the Queen's county, and through the town of Castlecomer,
in the county of Kilkenny, to the town of Leighlin-bridge, in the
county of Carlovv, which were received, read, and committed.
Resolved—That this house will, on Monday morning next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to take the said
heads of a bill into consideration.
19th December, 1751. Ordered—That the committee of the
whole house, to whom heads of a bill for making and repairing the
road leading from the town of Athy, (&c), are committed, have
power to receive a clause to direct the trustees, in the said heads
of a bill to be named, to meet alternately at the towns of Athy,
Castlecomer, and Leighlin-bridge.
And also a clause to prevent the scraping of the turnpike roads,
or laying straw or other materials thereon for making dung, or
digging and taking away the ground in the high roads, on either
side the turnpike roads.
And then the house, according to order, resolved itself into the
* Journals of the Irish House of Commons. Vol. IV,

282

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

said committee ; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker
resumed the chair.
Mr. Fitz-Gerald reported from the committee, that they had
made some progress in the matter to them referred, and that he
was directed to move the house for leave to sit again.
Resolved—That this house, will, to-morrow morning, resolve
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take the said heads
of a bill into further consideration.
7th January, 1752. Ordered—That the committee of the
whole house, to whom heads of a bill for making and repairing the
road leading from the town of Athy, (&c), are committed, be
empowered to receive a clause to enable the trustees to farm the
tolls or duties, to arise on the said road, for one or two years.
And then the house, according to order, resolved itself into the
said committee; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker
resumed the chair.
Mr. Fitz-Gerald reported from the committee, that they had
gone through the said heads of a bill, and that he was directed to
report when the house will please to receive the same.
Resolved—That the report be received to-morrow morning.
8th January, 1752.—Mr. Fitz-Gerald, according to order,
reported from the committee of the whole house, to whom heads
of a bill for making and repairing the road leading from the town
of Athy, (&c), were committed, that they had gone through the
said heads of a bill, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto, with some amendments, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the table.
And a motion being made that the said heads of a bill be now
read, the same were read accordingly.
Then the amendments made by the committee to the said heads
of a bill were again read, and agreed unto by the house.
Ordered—That Mr. Fitz-Gerald do attend his grace the lord
lieutenant, with the said heads of a bill, and desire the same may
be transmitted into Great Britain in due form.
21st April, 1752.—A bill, intituled, an act for making and
repairing the road leading from the town of Athy, in the county of
Kildare, through part of the Queen's county, and through the
town of Castlecomer, in the county of Kilkenny, to the town of
Old Leighlin in the county of Carlow, and from thence to and
through the town of Leighlin-bridge, in the said county of Carlow,
was presented to the house, and read the first time, and ordered to
be read a second time to-morrow morning.
22nd April, 1752.—A bill, intituled, an act for making and
repairing the road leading from Athy, ( & c ) , according to order,
was read a second time, and committed.
Resolved—That this house will, to-morrow morning, resolve
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take the bill into consideration.
23rd April, 1752.—The house, according to order, resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into consider-

S F Tli-E COUNTY OF CARLOW-

283

aiimij a bill, intituled, an act for making and repairing the road
leading from the town of Athy, (&c\) ; arid after some time spent
therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Fitz-Gerald reported from the committee, that they had
gone through the bill, and that he was directed to report when the
house will please to receive the same.
Resolved—That the report be now received.
Then Mr. Fitz-Gerald reported, that the committee had gone,
through the bill, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed thereto,
without any amendment*
Ordered—That the bill be engrossed.
24th April, 1752.—An engrossed bill, intituled, an act for
making and repairing the road leading from the town of Athy,
( & c ) , was read the third time.
Resolved that the bill do pass.
Ordered—That Mr. Fitz-Gerald. do carry the bill to the lords,
and desire then* concurrence.
29th April, 1752.—A message from the lords by Doctor Wall
and Mr. Cuife, that the lords have agreed to an engrossed bill sent
up by this house, intituled, an act for making and repairing the
road leading from the town of Athy, (•&&), without any amendment.
1st May, 1752.—Mr. Speaker reported, that the house had
attended his grace the lord lieutenant in the house of peers, where
his grace was pleased to give the royal assent to the bill following:
An act for making and repairing the road leading from the town
of Athy, (&c.)*
On the 7th October, 1755, when parliament commenced a
session, the members of our county continued the same as last
stated.
Parliament met again on the 11 th October, 1757.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Robert Burton, Esq*
Sir Richard Butler, Baronet.
Borough of Catherlogh.—James Hamilton, Esq.
Sir Richard,Wolseley, Baronet.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Thomas Carter,, jun.,Esq.
Rt. Hon. Richard Rigby, sworn the
24th of October, 1757.
11th October, 1757. Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue
his warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out a new writ, for
electing a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Carlow, in the room of
the honourable Robert Jocelyn, now lord viscount Jocelyn.
After prorogation, parliament met 16th October,'1759.
12th November, 1759.—A petition of the sovereign and burgesses of the town of Carlow, and several principal gentlemen of
* Journals of H, of Commons, vol, v.
2N

284

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, and Kildare was presented to
the house, and read, setting forth, that there had been a great
trade carried on for many years by the river Barrow, from Monasterevan through the town of Athy, in the county of Kildare, Carlow and Leighlin-bridge, in the county of Carlow, to the town of
Ross, in the county of Wexford, and the city of Waterford, to the
great advantage of the trade of this kingdom. That there are
some small stoppages in the course of the said river, which greatly
obstruct the navigation thereof, in dry seasons, and which might
be removed or avoided at a small expense, and render the navigation of the said river of the greatest advantage to the public ;
and praying the house to take the premises into consideration, and
to grant such assistance as the houso shall think proper.
Ordered—That Mr. Benjamin Burton, Mr. Ke&tinge, &c. or
any three or more of them, be appointed a committee, to meet tomorrow morning, nine of the clock, in the speaker's chamber, to
examine the matter of the said petition, and that they report
the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house ; and that
they have power to adjourn from time to time, and place to place,
and to send for persons and papers.
14th November, 1759.—Mr. Benjamin Burton reported from
the committee to whom the petition of the sovereign and burgesses of the town of Carlow, and several of the principal gentlemen of the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny and Kildare was referred,
the resolutions which the committee had directed him to report to
the house, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in
at the table, where the same were read, and agreed unto by the
house, and are as follow:
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
petitioners have fully proved the allegations of their petition.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
petitioners deserve encouragement.
Ordered—That the said report be referred to the committee
of the whole house appointed to take into consideration the supply
granted to his majesty, as also his grace the lord lieutenant's speech.
17th November, 1759.—The right honourable the chancellor
of the exchequer, according to order, reported from the committee
of the whole house to whom it was referred to consider of the
supply granted to his majesty, as also his grace the lord lieutenant's
speech, the resolutions which the committee had directed him to
report to the house, which he read in his place, and afterwards
delivered in at the table, where the same were read, and are as
follow:
17. Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that
a sum of two thousand pounds be given to the Right Hon. Charles,
earl of Drogheda, Sir Richard Butler, Baronet, Maurice Keatinge,
Esq., Benjamin Burton, Esq., John Rochford, Esq., Walter
Weldon, Esq., and James Agar, the younger, Esq., or any
three of them, to be by them applied to -remove the obstructions

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

285

in the navigation of the river Barrow, from the tide water at St.
Mullins to Monasterevan, to be accounted for to parliament.
The seventeenth resolution being read a second time, was
amended, and the resolution so amended, is as folJoweth :
Resolved—That a sum* of two thousand pounds be given to
the R t Hon. Charles earl of Drogheda, Sir Richard Butler, Bart.
Maurice Keatinge, Esq., Benjamin Burton, Esq., Jno. Rochford, Esq., Walter Weldon, Esq., James Agar, the younger,
Esq., the Right Hon. James, earl of Kildare, the Right Hon.
John, earl of Wandesford, Sir William Cooper, Bart., John Gore,
Esq., Beauchamp Bagnal, Esq., Robert Doyne, Esq., Ralph
Gore, Esq., Jno. Digby, Esq., Henry Bunbury, Esq., Elias
Best, Esq., John St. Leger, Esq., William Stewart, Esq., George
Hartpole, Esq., and William Browne, Esq., or any three of them,
to be by them applied to remove the obstructions in the navigation
of the river Barrow, from the tide-water at St. JMullms to Mo=
nasterevan, to be accounted for to parliament.
To which resolution so amended, the question being put, the
house did agree.
31st January, 1760.—A petition of the sovereign, burgesses,
freemen and inhabitants of the corporation of Carlow, was presented to the house, and read, praying to allow a clause to be inserted in heads of a bill intended to be brought in relative to the
lamps of the city of Dublin, to empower the petitioners to erect
lamps in the liberties of the said town of Carlow, at such proper
and convenient distances as to the house shall seem meet.
Ordered—That the said petition be referred to the committee
appointed to bring in heads of a bill relative to the lamps of the
city of Dublin.
11th March, 1700. Ordered—That the committee of the
whole house to whom heads of a bill for the more effectually enlightening the city of Dublin, and liberties thereof, and for the
erecting of public lights in the other cities, towns corporate,
and market towns in this kingdom, are committed, be empowered
to receive a clause, or clauses, for enabling the representatives pt
William Aldrich and Hugh Cuming to receive all such arrears of
lamp-money as shall be due to them at the expiration of the present acts of parliament now in force for lighting the city of Dublin;
and also a clause, or clauses for charging the city of Dublin with
the sum of one thousand five hundred pounds, to be paid into the
hands of Sir CHARLES BURTON, and James Dunn, Esq., to buy
up the lamps, and lamp-irons now in use, and for other purposes
in the said clause, or clauses to be mentioned.
22nd March, 1760.—The order being read for the house to
resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to take into
consideration heads of a bill for further continuing, explaining,
and amending the several acts of parliament now in force for erecting lamps in the city of Dublin, and liberties thereof,
Ordered—That the said order be discharged.
Parliament was prorogued on the 17th May, 1760,

280

HISTORY AND

AWTIQVITIES

u

From an account of the number of Protestants who have beec
arrayed in the several counties, counties of cities, and towns ID
the province of Leinster and Connaught, as returned by the commissioners of array, in the years 1756, and 17579" it appears
that the number in the county of Carlow was eight hundred and
eighty-seven.*
John Garnet was consecrated bishop of Leighlin and Ferns in
1752. He was succeeded by the Hon. William Carmichael, who
wa9 translated in 1758 ; and in the same year, Thomas Salmon
was appointed to the sees. Richard Robinson was translated to
this bishopric in 1759.
George the second died on the 25th October, 1700,

CHAP. XXX.
Reign of George III.

A . D . 1760, to the year 1800.

George the third succeeded George I I .
Parliament met on the 22nd day of October, 1761.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.^—Right Hon. Benjamin Burton.,
Thomas Butler, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Robert Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Right Hon. Francis Andrews^
who made his election to serve for
the city of Londonderry.
John Burke, Esq.
Edward Nicholson, Esq., in the room of
the said Francis Andrews, sworn 16th
November, 1761.
27th October, 1761.—The Right Hon. Francis Andrews being
chosen a citizen for the city of Londonderry, and also a burgess
for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Catherlogh,
made his election to serve for the city of Londonderry.
Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk
of the crown to make out a new writ for electing a burgess to serve
in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the
county of Catherlogh, in the room of the said Francis Andrews.
27th October, 1761. Ordered—That the Reverend Doctor
* Journals of the House of Commons.
i We have been favoured by Edward Butler, Esq., Sovereign of Carlow,
with a copy of notices kept by his father of the various elections in the county
since 1761; from which we learn, that on the above occasion Beauchamp
Bagenal, Esq, was a candidate.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOVV ,

287

Thomas McDonnell, be desired to preach before this house, at St.
Andrew's church, on the 5th day of Nov. next, being the anniversary thanksgiving-day for the happy deliverance of king James
the first, and the estates of England, from the most traitorous and
bloody intended massacre by gunpowder, and also for the happy
arrival of his majesty King William, of glorious memory, for the
deliverance of this church and nation, and that the Right Hon,
FRANCIS ANDREWS and Doctor Clement do acquaint him there-

with.
28th Oct. 1761.—Ordered—That Mr. Thomas Butler, Mr.
Morres, & c , or any five or more of them, be appointed a committee, to meet next Friday morning, nine of the clock, in the
speaker's chamber, to inquire into the application of the sum of
two thousand pounds given last session of parliament, to be applied
to remove the obstructions in the river Barrow, from the tide-water
at St. Mullins to Monasterevan, and to examine ftinto the state of
the navigation of the said river, and to report their opinion how
much more money will be necessary to complete the same ; and
they have power to adjourn from time to time, and place to place.,
and to send for persons and papers, and all members who come
are to have voices.
31st Oct. 1761.—The house was moved, that the special report
from the committee of privileges and elections, on a complaint of
an undue election and double return for the borough of Catherlogh,
in the year 1703, October 14th, and the resolutions 'of the committee thereupon, be read ; the same were read accordingly.
3rd Nov. 1761.—Ordered, that the committee to which it was
referred to inquire into the application of the sum of two thousand
pounds given last session of parliament, to be applied to remove
the obstructions in the river Barrow, from the tide-water at St.
Mullins to Monasterevan, be revived, and they are to meet next
Friday morning.
7th Nov. 1761. Ordered, that the several committees to whom
it was referred to take into consideration the petition of Patrick
Ewing, to inquire into the application of the sum of two thousand
pounds given last session of parliament to be applied to remove the
obstructions in the river Barrow, from the tide-water at St. Mullins
to Monasterevan; and who are appointed to take into consideration
the petitions of Francis Ozier, silk manufacturer, ( & c ) , be empowered to examine, in the most solemn manner, such persons as
they shall think proper upon the subject matter of the said several
' petitions and inquiry.
10th Nov. 1761.—Mr. Thomas Butler reported from the committee to whom it was referred to inquire into the application of the
sum of two thousand pounds given last session of parliament, to
be applied to remove the obstructions in the river Barrow, from
the tide-water at St. Mullins to Monasterevan, and to examine
into the state of the navigation of the said river, and to report
their opinion how much more money will be necessary to complete
the same, the matter, as it appeared to them, and the resolutions

288

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

of the committee thereupon; which report he read in his place,
and after delivered in at the table, where the same was read, and
the resolutions are as follow :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
continuing to carry on the navigation of the river Barrow, from
the tide-water at St. Mullins to Monasterevan, will be greatly advantageous to the public, and deserves the further aid of parliament.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a sum
of five thousand two hundred and sixty-three pounds will be necessary to carry on the said navigation from St. Mullins to the
town of Graignemanna.
To which resolutions, the question being severally put the house
did agree.
Ordered—That the said several reports be referred to the committee of the whole house appointed to take into consideration the
supply granted to his majesty, as also his excellency the lord lieutenant's speech.
13th Nov. 1761.—The Right Hon. Anthony Malone, according
to order, reported from the committee of the whole house to which
it was referred to take into consideration the supply granted to his
majesty, as also his excellency the lord lieutenant's speech, the
resolutions which the committee had directed him to report to the
house, which he read in his place, and after delivered in at th.e
table, where the same were read, and are as follow:
22. Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a
sum of two thousand pounds be given to the most honourable
James, marquis of Kildare, Charles, earl of Drogheda, John, earl
of Wandesforde, the Right Hon. Sir William Fownes, Bart., the
Right Hon. Benjamin Burton, Sir Richard Butler, Bart., Thomas
Butler, Maurice Keatinge, John Rochford, Walter Weldon, James
Agar, the younger, John Gore, Beauchamp Bagenell, Robert
Doyne, Ralph Gore, John Digby, Henry Bunbury, Elias Best,
John Sentleger, William Stewart, George Hartpole, and William
Browne, Esquires, or any five of them, to be by them applied to
remove the obstructions in the navigation of the river Barrow from
the tide-water at St. Mullins to Monasterevan, to be accounted for
to parliament.
The said resolutions being severally read a second time, wereP
upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the house.
23rd Dec. 1761.—Ordered, that Mr. Oliver, Mr. Copinger, &c.
or any three or more of them, be appointed a committee, to meet
to-morrow morning, nine of the clock, in the speaker's chamber,
to inquire into the state and condition of the turnpike-road leading
from the town of Carlow to the city of Kilkenny, and into the
management of the trustees, and the application of the tolls arising
from the said road, and to consider of proper methods to put and
preserve the said road in repair; and they have power to adjourn
from time to time, and place to place, and to send for persons and
papers, and to examine in the most solemn maimer such persons

Oir THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

2Bd

as they shall think proper upon the subject matter of the said
several inquiries, and they have power to sit, notwithstanding any
adjournment of the house, and all members who come are to have
voices.
13th April, 1762.—Ordered—That the committee to whom it
was referred to inquire into the state and condition of the turnpikeroad leading from the town of Carlow to the city of Kilkenny, and
into the management of the trustees, and the application of the
tolls arising from the said road, and to consider of proper methods
to put and preserve the said road in repair, be revived.
20th April, 1762.—Mr. Oliver reported from the committee appointed to inquire into the state and condition of the turnpike-road
leading from the town of Carlow to the city of Kilkenny, and into
the management of the trustees, and the application of the tolls
arising from the said road, and to consider of proper methods to put
and preserve the said road in repair, the resolutions which the
committee had directed him to report to the house, which he read
in his place* and after delivered in at the table, where the same
were read, and agreed to by the house, and are as follow :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that all
future boards of the trustees of the said road, shall be held alternately at Leighlin-bridge, in the county of Carlow, and in the city
Kilkenny.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that on the 9th
day of April, 1751, Joseph Blunt was appointed treasurer for one
year, at a salary of six pounds as the funds of the road could not
then aiFord a larger salary ; and that the said Joseph Blunt has
ever since that year claimed credit in his accounts for fifteen pounds
yearly, notwithstanding the funds of the said road are decreased
since that period, and are now less than they were on the said 9th
day of April, 1751.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
salary of six pounds a year, is sufficient for the treasurer of said
road, from the 9th day of April, 1751, to the 9th day of April,
1762.
Resolved—7'hat it is the opinion of this committee, that the
saving out of the treasurer's salary from the 9th day of April,
1751, to the 9th day of April, 1762, should be immediately applied to the repair of the road from Carlow to Leighlin-bridge.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that it is
the duty of the trustees of said road to settle accounts with their
treasurer once in every year.
Ordered—That the said report do lie on the table.
Parliament was prorogued on the 30th April, 1762, and
met again on the 11th October, 1763.
MEMBERS.

County of Catkerlogh.—Right Hon, Benjamin Burton,
Thomas Butler, Esq.

290

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Borough of Cathcrlogh.—Robert Burton, Esq,
Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart*
Borough of Old heighlin.—John Burke, Esq.
Edward Nicholson, Esq.
1st November, 4 763.—Ordered—That, the Right Hon. Mr.
Burton, Mr. Doyne, and others, or any three or more of them,
be appointed a committee, to meet to-morrow morning, nine of
the clock, in the speaker's chamber, to inquire into the expenditure of the sum of two thousand pounds given the last session of
parliament to remove obstructions in the navigation of the river
Barrow, from the tide-water at St. Mullins to Monasterevan : and
they have power to adjourn from time to time, and place to place,
and to send for persons and papers, and to examine in the most
solemn manner, such persons as they shall think proper upon the
subject matter of the said inquiry, and all members who come
are to have voices.
15th Nov. 1763.—The Right Hon. Benjamin Burton reported
from the committee appointed to inquire into the state of the navigation of the river Barrow, the resolutions which the committee had
directed him to report to the house, which he read in his place,
and after delivered in at the table, where the same were again read,
and agreed to by the house, and are as follow :
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the money
granted by parliament for carrying on the navigation of the river
Barrow, has been expended in carrying on the said work.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the sum of
live hundred pounds over and above the money granted by parliament, has been expended in the said work.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that a very considerable progress has been made in the said work, since the last
session of parliament.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a sum
of five thousand four hundred pounds will be necessary to carry on
and finish the navigation to the town of Graigenamanagh, in the
county of Kilkenny.
Ordered—That the said report be referred to the committee of
the house appointed to take into consideration the supply granted to
his majesty, as also his excellency the lord lieutenant's speech.
22nd Nov. 1763.—The Right Hon. Anthony Malone, according to order, reported from the committee of the whole house,
appointed to take into consideration the supply granted to his majesty, as also his excellency the lord lieutenant's speech, the resolutions which the committee had directed him to report to the
house, which he read in his place, and after delivered in at the
table, when the same were read, and are as follow :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a sum
of four thousand pounds" be given to the corporation for promoting
and carrying on an inland navigation in Ireland, to be by them applied towards making the river Barrow navigable from the tide-

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

291

water at St. Mull ins, to the town of Monasterevan, in the county
of Kildare, to be accounted for to parliament.
The twentieth resolution being read a second time, was amended
by expunging the words, " four thousand," and inserting in their
stead the words, " one thousand five hundred," and the resolution so amended is as follows :
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a sum
of one thousand five hundred pounds be given to the corporation
for promoting and carrying on an inland navigation in Ireland, to
be by them applied towards making the river Barrow navigable
from the tide-water at St. Mullins to the town of Monasterevan,
in the county of Kiidare ; to be accounted for to parliament.
To which resolutions, the question being put, the house did
agree.
23d January, 1764.-—Ordered—That Mr. Morres, Mr. Bagwell and others, or any three or more of them, be appointed a
committee, to meet to-morrow morning, nine of the clock, in the
speaker's chamber, to inquire into the state and management of the
turnpike-road from the city of Dublin to Kilcullen-bridge, Carlow,
and Kilkenny, and the funds and tolls belonging to the same, and
report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the house ; and
they have power to adjourn from time to time and place to place,
and to send for persons and papers and to examine in the most solemn
manner, such persons as they shall think proper upon the subject
matter of said inquiry, and all members who come are to have voices.
23rd February, 1764.—Mr. Morres reported from the committee appointed to inquire into the state and management of the
turnpike-roads from the city of Dublin to Kilcullen-bridge, Carlow, and Kilkenny, and the funds and tolls belonging to the
same, the resolutions which the committee had directed him to report to the house, which he read in his place, and after delivered
in at the table.
Ordered that leave be given to bring in heads of a bill pursuant
to the said resolutions, and that Mr. Morres, Mr. Bourke, and
Mr. Le Hunt, do prepare and bring in the same.
28th February, 17(54.—Mr. Morres presented to the house,
occording to order, heads of a bill for altering, amending, and
making more effectual the laws for the repair of the road leading
from the city of Dublin through the towns of Kilcullen and Carlow, to the city of Kilkenny, which were received, read, and committed.
Resolved—That this house will, next Thursday morning, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to take the said
heads of a bill into consideration.
[March 2, 1764, Mr. Morres ordered to attend the lord lieutenant with the heads of said bill. May 7, bill read first time.—
May 9, bill ordered to be engrossed. May 8, bill read second time,
May 10, bill passed.—May 11, agreed to by the lords.]
20

<m

HISTORY

AND ANTIQUITIES

Parliament having been prorogued, met again on the 2#nd October, 1765.
MEMBERS,

County of Catherlogh*—Right Hon. Benjamin Burton, Esq.
Thomas Butler, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart.
Robert Doyne,jun., Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin*—John Bourke, Esq.
Edward Nicholson, Esq:
22nd October, 1765.—Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue?
his warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new writ for
electing a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Catherlogh, in the county of Catherlogb, in the room of
Robert Burton, Esq., deceased J
I9th November, 1765.—Mr. O r Hara reported from the committee to whom it was referred, to inquire into the expenditure of
the several sums granted by parliament during the last session,
how much of the said respective sums remain unapplied, and in
whose hands ; and also to inquire what progress has been made in
those several works, and the expediency of continuing the same,
and whether any of them, and which, be so far advanced, as that
a certain estimate may be made of such sums as will be necessary
for their completion; and to whom the several petitions presented
to the house this session, for an application of any part of the public revenue, was referred; the matter as it appeared to them, with
the resolutions of the committee thereupon, which he read in his
place, and after delivered in at the table, when the same were
read, and the resolutions of the committee are as follow :
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the sum
©f one thousand two hundred pounds three-shillings and ten-pence,
excepting forty-five pounds for pells and poundage, has been expended on the navigation of the Barrow since the last session
of parliament, and that the remainder of the grant of last session
remains in the treasury for the discharge of debts contracted on
account of the said works.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the said work
has been completed for three miles, and that a considerable part
of the traffic of the country is at present carried on by large boats
navigating the said, river, and that it will be expedient and very
advantageous to that part of the kingdom that the said work should
be completed.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, by an estimate
laid before them, that the sum of thirteen thousand two hundred
and forty pounds will complete the said navigation.
To which resolutions the questions being severally put, the house
did agree.
26th February, 1766.—Ordered—That the committee of the
whole house appointed to take into further consideration heads of
a bill for the more effectually amending the public roads, be em*.

OF THE COUNTY OF CAitLGW.

29S

powered to receive a clause or clauses, to enable the. vestries of the
several parishes in the towns of Carlow, ( & c ) , to raiso money
upon the inhabitants of such parishes who live within the bounds
of said towns for paving, gravelling, or cleansing the streets
and lanes of said towns, or for fixing up lamps to enlighten said
streets or lanes.
After several prorogations, parliament met on the 20th October
1767; being its fourth session.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogk.*—Thomas Butler, Esq.
John Hyde, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart.
Robert Doyne, jun., Esq.
Borough <f Old Leighlin.--Jo\m Bourke, Esq.
Edward Nicholson, Esq.
20th October, 1767.—Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do isstio
Lis warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new writ for
electing a knight of the shire to serve in this present parliament
for the county of Catherlogh, in th« room of the Right Honourable^ Benjamin Burton, deceased.
6th November, 1767.—Ordered—That a committeejbe appointed to inquire into the state of the navigation of the river Barrow,
and whether the money granted last session of parliament, towards
carrying on the said navigation, hath been applied to the purposes
for which it was granted.
16th November, 1767.—Mr. Agar reported from the committee to whom it was referred to inquire into the state of the navigation of the river Barrow, the matter as it appeared to them, with
the resolutions of the committee thereupon, which report he read
in his placea and after delivered in at the table, where the 6ame
was read.
REPORT.—Your committee first examined Mr. John Semple*
deputy director of the works, who said, that towards making the
said river navigable from St. Mullins to Monasterevan, the lock at
St. Mullins hath been thoroughly repaired; that the banks or trackway hath been fortified, by placing large stones in the front next
the river, for near two miles, to defend said banks from the great
floods j[as well as from the ^boatmen's poles from tearing it down,
which was the case before this was done.
That there is a breast-lock completely finished on the lands of
Carrigleade, to pass the great fall there. That there is four hundred and eighty yards in length of a canal at Carrigleade aforesaid, which is nearly finished. That there is likewise seven hundred yards of the bed of the river, cleared from the end of the
aforesaid canal, to near the bounds of Knockeen and Tinehinch,
by blasting rocks, and removing the same to a considerable dis* On this occasion, Thomas Bunbury, Esq., of Kill, addressed the county, but declined a contest.—From notes by the fate Mr, Butler,

294

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

tance. That there is also seven hundred yards of a trackway made
along the face of a rock, and a wall of eight feet thick, built to
the side next the river, to defend it from the same. That there is
a part of a stone weir, made across the river at the great stream
of Carrigleade, to rise a back water to a proper height. That all
the said work is nearly finished ; and had the weather continued,
would have been completely finished before this.
And your committee have come to the following resolutions:
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that since the last
session of parliament, the lock at St. Mullins, has been thoroughly
repaired, that the banks and trackway for near two miles, have
been made and effectually fortified ; that a breast-lock hath been
completely finished on the lands of Carrigleade; that there are
four hundred and eighty yards in length of a canal nearly finished ;
likewise seven hundred yards in length of the bed of the river,
cleared near Knockeen, by blasting of rocks, and otherwise ; and
also, a trackway of near seven hundred yards near said rock, and
a stone weir, across the river, at the great stream of Carrigleade.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the sum
granted last session of parliament, and the sum remaining then in
hands, have been applied to the purposes for which they were
granted.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that to make and
complete a navigation, from the end of the present work, to the
remotest bounds of the lands of Knocknabolade, being near three
miles in length, will require the sum of six thousand one hundred
and eighty-four pounds, eighteen shillings, and ten pence, as appears
by an estimate of the same laid before your committee, and hereunto annexed, to which your committee refer.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
said navigation requires and deserves the further aid of parliament.
19th November, 1767.—The report relative to the navigation of the river Barrow, was read, as also the resolutions of the
committee.
To which resolutions, the question being severally put, the
house did agree.
A new parliament met on the 17th day of October, 1769.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh,*—Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
William Burton, Esq,
Borough of Catherlogh.—John Hyde, Esq.
Edward Hoare, Esq.
James Somervill, Esq., in the room
of the said John Hyde, who made
his election to serve for the county
of Cork.
•The above members were elected on the 18th July, 1768. Thomas
Butler, Esq., addressed the county, but did net contest the election,— From
Mrt Butter's Notes.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

293

Borough of Old Leighlin.—Sir Fitz-Gerald Aylmer, Baronet.
Thomas Monck, Esq.
18th October, 1769.—John Hyde, Esq., being chosen a
knight of the shire for the county of Cork, and also a burgess for
the borough of Carlow, made his election to serve for the county
of Cork.
Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk
of the crown, to make out a new writ for electing a burgess to
serve in this present parliament for the said borough of Carlow, in
the room of the said John Hyde.
8th November, 1769.—Mr. Speaker acquainted the house, that
he had received a letter from Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., who is
at present indisposed, that he being chosen a knight of the shire
for the county of Carlow, and also a burgess for the borough of
Enniscorthy, in the county of Wexford, made his election to
serve for the said county of Carlow.
Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk
of the crown to make out a new writ for the electing a burgess to
serve in this present parliament for the said borough of Enniscorthy, in the room ot the said Beauchamp Bagenal.
10th November, 1769.—Ordered—That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expenditure ol the sum of two thousand
pounds, granted in the last session of the last parliament to the
corporation for carrying on the inland navigation of this kingdom,
to be by them applied towards carrying on the navigation of the
river Barrow, and what further sum will be necessary towards
finishing the same.
And a committee was appointed of Mr. William Burton, Mr,
Attorney General, and others.
14th November, 1769.—Mr. William Burton reported from
the committee to whom it was appointed to inquire into the expenditure of the sum of two thousand pounds, granted in the last session of the last parliament, to the corporation for carrying on the
inland navigations of this kingdom, to be by them applied towards
carrying on the navigation of the river Barrow, and what further
sum wrill be necessary towards finishing the same, the matter as
it appeared to them, with the resolutions of the committee thereupon, which he read in his place, and after delivered in at the
table, where the same were read, and ordered to lie on the table
for the perusal of the members.
REPORT.—The committee first examined Mr. John Semple,
director of the work, who informed them that he was employed in
the year 1761, to carry on the navigation of the river Barrow,
that there are four miles completed, and that so much of the river
is navigable. That to finish from that part to the bounds of
Knocknebandilla, will require the sum of four thousand seven
hundred and forty-two pounds. That the sum of two thousand
pounds may be expended between this and the next session of parliament upon the said work.
Mr. George King, pay-clerk, being also examined, as to his
accounts, delivered in his account of receipts and payments, (to

296

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

which the committee refer), by which it appears that the remains of
the two thousand pounds granted in the last session, and three
hundred and sixty-five pounds, seventeen shillings, and seven pence
halfpenny, remaining of a former grant, only a balance of sixtyone pounds, twelve shillings, and three pence.
And then the committee came to the following resolutions :
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that of the sum
of two thousand pounds granted the last session of parliament,
the sum of one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight pounds,
seven shillings, and nine pence, including fees, has been applied
towards carrying on the navigation of the river Barrow.
Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that four miles of
the said navigation have been completed, and that the river is
navigable for that length.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that a sum
of two thousand pounds will be necessary to carry on the said work,
until the nvxt session of parliament.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that it will
be of great advantage to the inland trade of the counties through
which the said river runs, to proceed on the said work.
Parliament having been prorogued on the 18th May, 1771,
met again on the 8th October. 1771.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh*—Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
William Burton, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh*—Edward Hoare, Esq.
James Somervell, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Sir Fitz-Gerald Aylmer, Bart.
Thos. Monck, Esq.
22nd November, 1771.—Ordered—That leave be given to
bring in heads of a bill for enabling a company of subscribers, at
their own expense, to carry on the navigation of the river Barrow,
and for other purposes; and that Mr. William Burton, Mr. Agar,
Mr. Thomas Butler, and the Right Hon. Sir Archibald Acheson,
do prepare and bring in the same.
23rd March, 1772.—Sir Thomas Butler, presented to the
house, according to order, heads of a bill for incorporating a company of subscribers for promoting and carrying on the navigation
of the river Barrow, which were received, read, and committed.
Resolved that this house will, to-morrow morning, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to take the said heads of
a bill into consideration.
[Said bill taken into consideration on 27th March, 1772; and
on the 28th March.]
Parliament was prorogued on the 2nd June, 1772.
Parliament assembled on the 12th October, 1773.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
William Burton, Esq.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOWa

297

Borough of Catkerlogh.—Edward Hoare, Esq.
James Somervell, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin,—Sir Fitzgerald Aylmer, Baronet
Right Hon. John Blaquiere.*
12th Oct. 1773.—Mr. Speaker acquainted the house that he
had issued a warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new
writ for the election of a member to serve in parliament for the
borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Catherlogh, in the
room of Thomas Monck, Esq., deceased,
5th Feb. 1774.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in
heads of a bill for altering, amending and making more effectual
the laws for the repair of the road leading from the city of Dublin
through the towns of Kilcullen and Carlow to the city of Kilkenny,
and that Mr. Agar, Mr. Nevill, and Mr. Foster, do prepare and
bring in the same.
[Heads of said bill presented to the house, on 22nd Feb. 1774,
Taken into consideration and ordered to be laid before the lord
lieutenant, 8th March.]
Parliament having been prorogued, again met on the 10th Oct.
1775, when the members for our district remained the same.
6th Dec. 1775.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in
heads of a bill for incorporating a company of subscribers for promoting and carrying on the navigation of the river Barrow, arid
to enable them to regulate the trade thereof, and that Mr. Burton,
Mr. Agar, Mr. Pomeroy, and Mr, Morres, do prepare and bring in
the same.
6th Dec. 1775.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in
heads of a bill for altering and amending an act made in the twentyfifth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the second^
entitled, " an act for making and repairing a road leading from the
town of Athy, in the county of Kildare, through part of the
Queers County, and through the town of Castlecomer, in the
county of Kilkenny, to the town of Old Leighlin, in the county
of Carlow, and from thence to and though the town of Leighlinbridge, in the county of Carlow, " and that Mr. Talbot, Mr,
Darner, and Mr. Serjeant Copinger, do prepare and bring in the
same.
[Heads of said bill presented, 8th Dec. Ordered to be laid before the lord lieutenant, 11th D e c ]
[Bill read first time 19th Feb. 1776. Agreed to by the lords
5th March, 1776. Received royal assent, 7th March, 1776.
18th Dec. 1775. Mr. Burton presented to the house, according
to order, heads of a bill for incorporating a company of subscribers
for promoting, carrying on, and completing the navigation of the
river Barrow, and regulating the trade thereof, which were received, read, and committed.
• Is this the person of whom the Metropolitan Magazine speaks in the
following terms, in an article on the peerage ?:—" down to De Blaquiere, the
ruined adventurer, who was made a peer (Lord De Blaquiere) at the Union
in order to save his person from arrest for debt, when the Irish parliament
ceased to be a protection,—No, for March, 1833, p. 2Q5,

298

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Resolved—-That the house will, the first Wednesday after the
recess, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to take
the said heads of a bill into consideration.
Parliament having been dissolved, a new one assembled on the
18th June, 1776.
MEMBERS.

County of Cather logh.—William Burton, Esq.
William Bunbury, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Right Hon. John Ponsonby, who
made his election to serve for the county of Kilkenny.
John Prendergast, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin. —Right Hon. Sir John Blaquiere,
K. B9
Hugh Massey, Esq.
20th June, 1770.—Ordered that Mr. Speaker do issue his
warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out a new writ for"
electing a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the
borough of Catherlogh, in the room of the Right Hon. John
Ponsonby.
Parliament wras prorogued, on the 20th June, 1776, and again
met on the 14th October, 1777.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh,—William Burton, Esq.
William Bunbury, Esq.
Beauehamp Ragenal, Esq., in the
room of the said William Bunbury, Esq., deceased.
Borough of Catherlogh.—John Prendergast, Esq.
Arthur Dawson, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Right
Hon. Sir John Blaquiere,
K. B,
Robert Jephson, Esq.
15th October, 1777.—A petition of William Paul Warren, of
Kilkenner, in the county of Carlow, Esq., was presented to the
house, and read, setting forth, that on the 18th day of May, 1770,
the election for members to serve in parliament for the said county
of Carlow began, and William Burton and William Bunbury^
Esqrs., in conjunction, and petitioner, declared themselves candidates : that said election was proceeded on by James Garrett,
Esq., the sheriff of said county, from thence to the 23d of May,
aforesaid, when the said sheriff, upon casting up the poll, declared
a majority in favour of William Burton, Esq., one hundred and
seventy one, and in favor of William Bunbury, Esq., ninety two,,
and declared them duly elected : that the gross poll appears to be in
numberfivehundred and ninety-four, of which twelve were rejected,
of the remainder, petitioner had two hundred and forty-six voices,
whereof one hundred and forty-six were single for petitioner : that
as well before as during the course of the said election, several
threats and menaces were made use of by the agents of, and by

OP TfiE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

299

others on the part of the said William Burton and William Bunbury, to intimidate such of the freeholders of the said county who
intended, and had declared their intentions of voting for petitioner,
from doingso; by which, and other undue, unconstitutional, andimproper means, great numbers of such freeholders were intimidated
from voting for petitioner, and were induced to vote for the saidWm.
Burton and Wm. Bunbury: that several persons who were papists, and
others who were married to popish wives, and several other persons who had no freehold in said county, were received and permitted to vote for the said William Burton and William Bunbury,
on said election: that petitioner finding that the agent of, and
others on the part of the said William Burton and William Bunbury, persisted in unduly influencing in manner aforesaid the
voters who otherwise would have voted for petitioner, from doing
so, and that such voters were by such means unduly influenced to
vote for the said William Burton and William Bunbury ; petitioner
before the close of the poll objected to the whole of the freeholders
who voted for the said William Burton and William Bunbury,
and requested that the sheriff should take down such objection
in his poll-book, but said sheriff refused so to do; that all or
most of the persons who voted for the said William Burton and
William Bunbury, were induced so to do by the undue means
aforesaid, and also by means of the said William Burton and
William Bunbury's entertaining such voters publicly at several
houses in the town of Carlow, which were opened by the said
William Burton and William Bunbury for the entertainment of
such voters, the expense of which was defrayed by the said William Burton and William Bunbury, contrary to the late act of
parliament: that were it not for the above undue means, petitioner
would have had a great majority of voices in his favour over the
said William Burton and William Bunbury, and therefore praying
the house to order the name of petitioner to be inserted in the
said sherifFs return, in the place of the said William Burton or
William Bunbury, or to give petitioner other relief.
Ordered—That the said petition be taken into consideration the
2nd day of Dec. next, at two of the clock.
Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant or warrants
for such persons, papers and records as shall be thought necessary
by the several parties, on the hearing of the matter of the said petition.
16th October 1777.—The house being satisfied upon the examination of a witness at the bar, that there were but two candidates,
and no contest at the election for the borough of Old Leighlin, in
the county of Catherlogh.
Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk
of the crown, to make out a new writ for electing a burgess to
serve in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin,
in the room of Hugh Massey, Esq., now lord baron Massey,
called up to the house of peers.
25th November, 1777.—Wm. Burton, Esq., being chosen a
knight of the shire for the county of Carlow, and also a burgess
2P

300

HIST.ORY AXD

ANTIQUITIES

for the borough of Ballynakill, in the Queen's county, made his
election to serve for the said county of Carlow.
A motion was made that the order of the 15th of October last,
appointing the 2nd day of December next for taking into consideration the petition of Wm. Paul Warren, Esq., complaining of an
undue election and return for the county of Carlow, might be
read, and the same being read accordingly,
Ordered—That the said order be discharged.
Ordered—That leave be given to withdraw the said petition,
And the same was withdrawn accordingly.
4th May, 1778.—Ordered—That Mr. Speaker do issue his
warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new writ for electing a knight of the shire to serve in this present parliament for the
county of Catherlogh, in the room of William Bunbury, Esq.,
deceased.
In 1776, Arthur Young, the celebrated agriculturist, visited
Ireland. In his progress through the kingdom, he did not leave
the county of Carlow unvisited. He alludes to the farming operations of Mr. Browne of Browne's-hill, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. J a s .
Butler of Ballybar, Mr. Bernard, and Captain Mercer, and
speaks rather favourably of the state of our county.*
Parliament met on the 12th October, 1779.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—William Burton, Esq.
Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh.—John Prendergast, Esq.,
Arthur Dawson, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin,—Rt. Hon. Sir John Blaquiere, K.B,
Robert Jephson, Esq.
Parliament was prorogued on the 2nd September, 1780, and
met again on the 9th October, 1781, having the same members
for our district.
14th February, 1782.—Resolved—That according to the true
construction of an act, passed this session, entitled, " an act to explain and amend an act, entitled, an act for regulating the trials
of controverted elections, or return of members to serve in parliament," when an excuse offered by or for a member for his absence has been disallowed, such member shall be ordered into the
custody of the serjeant at arms, without putting any question
thereupon, unless the house shall inflict some other censure upon
such member.
The name of Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., being called, and no
excuse having been made for his absence,
Ordered—That Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., be taken into the
custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
13th June, 1782.—Ordered—That a committee be appointed
to inquire into the state of the navigation of the river Barrow,
what contracts have been entered into for executing any part of
* Tour in Ireland, vol i. p, 87.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

301

the same, and what sums have been expended and are due on the
said works.
And a committee was appointed accordingly.
Ordered—That the committee have power to sit, notwithstanding any adjournment of the house.
Parliament was prorogued on the 27th July, 1782, and dissolved on the 25th July, 1783.
The depression of trade and manufactures, the defalcation of
the revenue, and consequent weakness of the government, had
rendered it unable to afford due protection to the people of Ireland
during the American war. In consequence of this unhappy state
of things, the volunteers first appeared, about the year 1778, and
continued gradually increasing in strength till 1782, when they
comprised a large body of the gentry and yeomanry of the country,*
Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., of Dunleckny, was the leader of
this independent, self-constituted array, in the county of Carlow ;
and some noblemen were enrolled in its ranks. It was certainly a
happy circumstance, that, as the raising of such a military force was
at all effected, the higher orders should have become its conductors,
as thus the evils of anarchy, or perhaps spoliation, were avoided.
It was, however, in the abstract, a dangerous kind of proceeding;
though, on this occasion, its immediate termination was not un~
nappy.
Perfect legislative independence having been obtained by the
Irish parliament, mainly through the exertions of Henry Grattan,
the house of commons was disposed to grant him the reward due
to his labours. On the 27th May, 1783, Beauchamp Bagenal,
Esq., one of the representatives for the county of Carlow, spoke
in the house, in the following terms :
" I will beg leave to congratulate this country. W e have at last
got the freedom which all the would should have—it is our birthright; but in our meridian there is no life without it. Our existence now begins, and will depend upon what use we make of the
population and wealth that will result from the advantages of a free
constitution.
" I will beg leave to congratulate England,—Instead of a nominal
or a repugnant dependant, she has now a powerful, faithful ally,
one that she can never exist without.
" I will beg leave to congratulate his majesty—he has conciliated
three millions of such subjects as must make him happy—men as
willing to be loyal as they are determined to be free.
C
\I will congratulate his ministers also. They may now depend
upon such support as they ought always to look for.—And to whom
does the empire owe all this ? To a man principally, who is resolved to take no reward from government.—1 will not pretend to
say he was wrong, though I know that such merit ought always
to be distinguished in every manner that is possible. Shall every
body have what they ought to have, except him alone, to whom
every individual in this empire is so much indebted, and by whose
example every individual in the universe may be so much benefit e l
* Hardy's life of Charlcmont, vol, L p, 378,

302

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

H e has saved this empire from an iron age and has restored sett
unequivocal golden one. By our affectionate alliance with England, we shall not only be benefited ourselves, but shall see a beloved sister revive, without any painful repining, or apprehensions
for her prosperity.
€C
In these happy circumstances in which he has placed us (though
I honour every private compliment I may call those that I see paid
to our illustrious benefactor) I believe there is no man that would
not blush to think a Grattan's child might point at a statue or
monument that has often been dedicated to slander or problematical
merit, and say, that was my father's, your benefactor's only reward. I have therefore a motion to make you, which might appear
like presumption in me, as it is of so much importance to the glory
and interests of this kingdom, if 1 could suppose that any member
of the British empire would give it a negative; the purport of it is,
that we should take into consideration what sum we should grant
for the purpose of purchasing a seat, and building a suitable mansion for our great benefactor, in testimony of our gratitude for the
unequalled services that he has done for this kingdom. Were we
to omit this, or should we do it in a manner unsuitable to the situation he has raised us to, we should be very ungrateful indeed, and
never might we expect that a blessing could attend it.
*' It must be needless to say any thing in favour of such a measure, or I would not dare to be the mover of it. I will only add,
that as he has left nothing undone that is material to the prosperity
of this kingdom, it can no more lay a precedent for hurtful grants
of the same nature here, than Blenheim did in Great Britain.
" Far be it from me to compare even the services of Marlborough
to those for which we stand indebted ; we have no deductions to
make from our gratitude. Without protracting, or any public expense, his efforts have been timed and conducted with so much
wisdom, and the appearance of such a being on earth was so essential to the establishment of liberty at this most critical juncture,
that without superstition, men may well record him amongst the
most propitious interpositions of heaven.
" He has crowned his work—and under his auspices the throne
of freedom is fixed on so certain a basis, and will probably be
always so well supported by the due influence the public are likely
to acquire under his system, that with the blessing of God there
is no danger of parliament itself ever being able to shake it; nor
shall parliament I trust, ever again be profanely styled omnipotent,
I am conscious I must have anticipated men infinitely better qualified to bring such a measure forward; one excuse I have, for it is
not the impatient wish that every body must have to see such a
character exalted—nor any little vanity to distinguish myself—but
as I never had any private acquaintance, nor private conversation
with our great benefactor, I thought it might come as well from
one from whom he could not have any item, as from the most distinguished personage that he is intimate with.
" Virtue, ta be sure, is its own reward, and we know that

OF THE COUNTY OP CAKLOW.

303

our generous benefactor is in his own sphere of happiness, content.
But shall we be content without doing our duty ?—Shall we be
ungrateful?—God forbid.
" Gratitude seems to be a virtue peculiarly adapted to nations
that have received such benefits as ours. It is often neglected by
individuals, because it is often out of their power to be as grateful
as they wish ;—we, I trust, shall never have such another opportunity of exercising ours. God forbid we should let it slip.
" To-morrow, after the grant to his majesty is settled, and after
a proper thanksgiving is offered to heaven, for the happy recovery
of our rights, I will move—* That this house do resolve itself into
a committee, to take into consideration what sum we should grant
for the purchasing an estate, and building a suitable mansion for
our illustrious benefactor, Henry Grattan, Esq., and his heirs for
ever, in testimony of our gratitude for the unequalled service that
he has done for the kingdom of Ireland.' " * A liberal grant was
made to Mr. Grattan.
Charles Jackson was translated to the bishopric of Leighlin and
Ferns in 1761. H e was succeeded by Edward Young, in 1765.
The Hon. J . D. Bourke was consecrated bishop of these sees, in
1772 ; Walter Cope was translated to them in 1782, William
Preston in 1787, and Euseby Cleaver in 1789. Further information relating to the diocese of Leighlin will be found in the appendix.
(15)
A new parliament met on the 14th October, 1783.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.f—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Sir John Browne, Bart*
Charles Desvoeux Esq,
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell.
Hon. Arthur Acheson.
11th Nov. 1783.—The order of the day for calling over the
names of such members as made default to appear on Friday, the
7th instant, being read,
The name of Henry Bruen, Esq., (member for the borough of
James-town,) being called, and no excuse having been made for
his absence,
Ordered—That Henry Bruen, Esq., be taken into the custody
of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
The name of the Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell being called,
and no excuse being made for his absence,
Ordered—That the Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell be taken into
the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house. J
• The Hihernian Magazine, for 1783. p. 661.
t John Rochfort, Esq., contested this election. At its conclusion, the
votes stood thus : for Mr. Burton, five hundred and eight: for Sir Richard
Butler, three hundred and fifty-one: for Mr. Rochfort, three hundred and
thirty-seven. Gross poll, six hundred and seventy-one; of which one hundred and seven were single votes, or plumpers, for Mr, Rochfort.—Mr* Butler's Notes.
% Fourteen members were taken into custody on this occasion,

304

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

The name of the Hon. Arthur Acheson being called,
It appeared to the house that the Hon. Arthur Acheson is now
serving on a select committee.
12th Nov. 1783.—The names of the members who had been ordered to be taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms, were
upon motion called over.
The name of the Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell being called,
Ordered—That the Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell, now in custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house, be discharged,
paying his fees.
The name of Henry Bruen, Esq., being called,
Ordered—That Henry Bruen, Esq., now in custody of the
serjeant at arms attending this house, be discharged, paying his
fees.
23d February, 1784,—The names of Sir John Browne, Bart.
(&c.) being severally called, and no excuse being made for their
absence, they were severally ordered into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house.
28th February, 1784.—The names of Sir John Browne, Bart.,
William Burton, Esq., (&c.) being severally called, they were
severally excused in pursuance of the resolution of Thursday the
6th day of November last.
1st March, 1784.—A petition of the gentlemen, clergy, and
freeholders of the county of Carlow, was presented to the house,
and read, setting forth, that the petitioners, sensible of the excellence of our original constitution, wish to have it restored to its
genuine principles. That the petitioners, with concern observe
that the people are not at present adequately represented;
that the majority of the present house of commons are returned
by ea few interested individuals, and therefore cannot be said to
speak the voice of the people ; and that the trust which electors
repose in their representatives is of the utmost importance, and
ought frequently to revert to its original owners. That a reform
of the parliamentary representation would add lustre and dignity
to the crown, secure the happiness and prosperity of the people,
and invigorate the trade and manufactures of this kingdom : and
therefore praying the house will take these things into serious consideration, and pass such laws as shall appear adequate to remedy
the grievances complained of.
Ordered—That the said petition do lie on the table for the perusal of the members.
Parliament was prorogued on the 14th May, 1784, and met
again on the 20th January, 1785.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—Wm. Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart.
Borough of Calherlogh* — Sir John Browne, Bart.
Charles Desvoeux? Esq,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW,'

305

Borough of Old Leighlin.—Right Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell, commonly called lord Luttrell.
Hon. Arthur Acheson.
24th March, 1785.—A petition of the Right Reverend Father
in God, Walter, lord bishop of the united bishoprics of Leighlin
and Ferns, was presented to the house, and read, setting forth that
the demesne or mensal lands of the said united bishoprics lie a
great distance asunder, and are inconveniently situated, and there
is no mansion-house yet built for the residence of the bishop of
the said united bishoprics ; that part of the lands of Lower Ferns,
and other lands situated near the cathedral church of the diocese of
Ferns, containing two hundred and sixty-seven acres, part of the
estate of the said bishopric, are convenient for a demesne for the
bishops of the said united sees ; that the said lands were demised
for a term of years to James Symes, Esq., deceased, who at his
death demised his interest in the said lands to Mitchelburne Symes,
Esq., and Robert White, gent, in trust, for the use and support
of St. Patrick's hospital for lunatics and idiots, that the said Robert White is dead, and the said Mitchelburne Symes, with the
consent of the said governors, has agreed to surrender the said
lease, in consideration of one thousand five hundred pounds,
to be paid by petitioner for the use of the said hospital; that the
Right Rev. Bartholomew Vigors, heretofore bishop of the said
see, bequeathed the sum of three hundred pounds to his immediate
successor, for the purpose of buying a lease, or building a house
tor the more convenient habitation of the bishops of the said see ;
that the Right Rev. Edward Young, heretofore bishop of the said
see, bequeathed to his successors in the said see the sum of seven
hundred pounds to be laid out in building a house for the residence
of the bishops of the said see; that the said two sums have not
yet been laid out, pursuant to the said bequests, and are now in
the hands of your petitioner ; that the petitioner apprehends the
intentions of said testators will be more effectually carried into execution by applying the said two sums in aid of the purposes
aforesaid, than by applying them strictly according to the directions
of the said bequests; and that petitioner is advised the aid of parliament is necessary to enable him to carry the several matters
aforesaid into execution: and praying the house to make such
order therein as they shall think fit.
Ordered—That said petition be referred to the consideration
of a committee.
And a committee was appointed accordingly.
4th April, 1785.—The Honourable General Luttrell reported
from the committee appointed to take into consideration the petition of the Right Reverend Father in God, Walter, lord bishop
of the united bishoprics of Leighlin and Ferns, the resolutions
which the committee had directed him to report to the house, which
he read in his place, and after delivered in at the table, where the
same were read, an£ are as follow:

306

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Resolved—That it appears to this committee, that the petitioner
has fully proved the allegations of his petition.
Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee, that the
petitioner deserves the aid of parliament.
Ordered—That leave be given to bring in a bill pursuant to the
prayer of the said petition, and that the Honourable General Luttrell and the Right Honourable Mr. Ogle do prepare and bring in
the same.
28th May, 1785.—Sir Hugh Hill, according to order, reported
from the committee of the whole house, appointed to take into
further consideration the most effectual method of continuing and
completing the inland navigation of this kingdom, the resolutions
which the committee had directed him to report to the house, which
he read in his place, and after delivered in at the table, where the
same were read, and are as follow :
10. The resolution amended, was agreed to by the house, and
is as follows:
Resolved—That the said engineer or engineers, do make surveys and estimates for making the river Barrow navigable from
Monasterevan to the tide-water ; (&c), such surveys and estimates
to be laid before this house the first day of the next session.
7th September, 1785.—The house was this day prorogued.
From " an account of the sums granted by the navigation board
from the 29th September, 1771, to the 29th September, 1783,"
we learn that the following grants were made for the river Barrow:
s. d.
£.
A.D. 1772,
5,000 0 0
1773,
4,000 0 0
1775,
3,000 0 0
1779,
1,060 0 0
1780,
1,000 0 0
1782,
5,000 0 0
1783,
2,000 0 0
21,060 0 0*
Parliament met on the 19th January, 1786; being the third
session of the fourth parliament of Geo. I I I .
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Baronet.
Borough of Catherlogh.—Sir John Brown, Baronet.
Charles Desvoeux, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Hon.
Henry Lawes Luttrell,
commonly called lord Luttrell,
Hon. Arthur Acheson.
16th March, 1786.—Ordered—That the committee of the
* Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. IX*

OP THE COUNTY OP GARLOW.

307

whole house to whom it was referred to take into consideration a bill
to explain and amend an act passed in the twenty-third and twentyfourth years of his present majesty, entitled," an act for the protection and improvement of the inland fisheries of this kingdom,'' be
empowered to receive a clause or clauses to alter the time for
taking salmon in the river Slaney.
Parliament was prorogued on the 8th May, 1786, and again
assembled on the 18th January, 1787.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogk.—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, BartBorough of Cat/wrlog7i.—Sir John Browne, Bart.
Charles Desvoeux, Esq,
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Hon. Arthur Acheson.
Edward Leslie, Esq.; sworn 12th
February, 1787.
23rd January, 1787.—A motion was made and the question
being put, that Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of
the crown to make out a new writ for electing a burgess to serve
in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the
county of Carlow, in the room of the Right Hon. Henry Lawes
Luttrell, commonly called lord Luttrell, now earl of Carhampton.
It was carried in the affirmative.
The proceedings of the house, on Saturday last, in the words
following:
" A motion was made, and the question being put, that Mr.
Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown to make
out a new writ for electing a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Old Leighlin, in the county of Carlow,
in the room of the Right Hon. Henry Lawes Luttrell, commonly
called lord Luttrell, now earl of Carhampton,
" It passed in the negative,"
Were upon motion read at the table.
And a motion was made, and the question being put, that the
said proceedings be expunged from the Journals of this house.
The House divided.
Tellers for the ayes, C
Right Hon. Mr. Connolly,
who went out,
\
Mr. John Wolfe:
Tellers for the noes, 5 Right Hon. Mr. Mason,
who staid within, \
Mr. John Toler:
It passed in the negative.
24th February, 1787.—Ordered—That the secretary of the
navigation board do lay before thit house an account of the money
paid to James Oates and James Delahunte, in consequence of the
contract for completing and finishing the locks at Clohasty and
Aughnagash in the river Barrow.
26th February, 1787.—The house being informed that Mn!
Baggs, secretary to the navigation board, attended at the door, he
was called in, and at the bar presented to the house, pursuant to
their order.
2q

90S

mSTOnY AKD ANTIQUITIES

An account of the money paid to James Oates and James De>
lahunte in consequence of the contract for completing and finishing
the locks at Clohasty and Aughnagash, in the river Barrow.
The title whereof was read, and the account ordered to lie on
the table for the perusal of the members.
10th April, 1787.—Ordered—That the committee of the whole
house to whom it was referred to take into consideration a bill
for directing the application ot the funds granted by parliament for
promoting and carrying on inland navigation in this kingdom, and
for other purposes therein mentioned, be empowered to receive a
clause or clauses for the better regulation of the Barrow navigation.
11th April, 1787.—Ordered—That the committee of the whole
house to whom it was referred to take into further consideration a
bill for directing the application of the funds granted by parliament
for promoting and carrying on inland navigation in this kingdom,
and for the purposes therein mentioned, be empowered, to receive
a clause or clauses to empower the lord lieutenant, or other chief
governor, for the time being, to appoint proper persons to employ
engineers for the purpose of making estimates and surveys, and to
empower the commissioners named in said bill to raise money on
the tolls of the river Barrow, for the repairs of the locks on said
river.
14th February, 1788.—The order of the day for calling over
the names of such members as made default to appear yesterday,
being read,
The name of William Burton, Esq., being called, and no excuse being offered for his absence,
And the question being put, that the said William Burton be
taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house,
It was carried in the affirmative.
The name of Sir Richard Butler, Bart., being called, he alleged
as an excuse for his absence, that he had been ill in the country,
and was not able to come to town before yesterday, and that on
his arrival the door was shut,
And the question put, that the excuse offered by the said Sir
Richard Butler be allowed,
It passed in the negative.
And the question being put, that the said Sir Richard Butler be
taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this house,
It was carried in the affirmative.
The name of Sir John Browne, Bart., being called, he required
to be excused for his absence, being sixty years of age or upwards;
and having at the table verified the cause of such requisition upon
Oath, he was excused accordingly.
The name of Sir Charles Desvoeux, Bart., being called and no
excuse being offered for his absence,
And the question being put, that the said Sir Charles Desvoeux
be taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this
house,
It was carried in the affirmative,

W

T H E C O W T Y QP CAHtOW.

301)

The name of the Honourable Arthur Acheson being called, and
no excuse being offered for his absence,
And the question being put, that the said Arthur Acheron be
taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms attending this housei
It was carried in the affirmative.
The name of Sir Edward Leslie, Bart., being called,, an excuse was offered for his absence by the Right Hon. Mr* Speaker,
who informed the house that he had received a letter a month ago
from the said Sir Edward Leslie, purporting that he had business
in England, but that as soon as it was despatched he would attend
his duty, and Mr. Speaker having verified the same upon oath.
And the question being put, that the excuse offered for the said
Sir Edward Leslie be allowed.
It was carried in the affirmative*.
Parliament was prorogued on the 18th April, 1788;
In "An account of the flour sent by land carriage and canal
to Dublin, from the 24th June, 1784, to the 24th June, 1785,
distinguishing the names of the mills, the number of miles from
the castle of Dublin, the owners' names, the quantities in hundreds weight, and the bounties paid for the same,"* we find the
following relating to the county of Carlow :
Names of Mills.
Burrin,
Bridewell, . .
Carlow,
Carlow,
..
Clashganny,..
Lodge,
..

Miles
|
Owners' of the
Flour.
distance. 1
40,
; Francis B y r n e ,
Thomas Delany.
39,
Thomas Delany.
39,
I
James Hamilton.
38,
J a m e s Byrne.
54,
|
50,
J Matthew Weld.

Quantities
in Cwta.
2469

43
I

535

201
!
!

16

8266

Bounties
paid.

\66L17sM.
3 2 4
34 ]5 1
13 0 4
1 8 9
697 3 4

From " An account of the bounties paid on wheat, bere, and
barley, and oats brought by inland carriage and canal, to the city
of Dublin, from Michaelmas, 1784, to Michaelmas, 1785, specifying the particular amount of each species of grain, and bounty
paid thereon," f w e t a ^ e t n e following relating to our county:
three hundred and eighty-two thousand, four hundred and fortyone stones of wheat; one thousand, four hundred, and fifty-eight,
pounds, four shillings, paid : two hundred and thirty-three thousand,
eight hundred and thirty-three stones of oats, one thousand, one
hundred and fifteen pounds, five shillings, and five pence paid ;
one hundred and fourteen thousand, nine hundred and forty-seven
stones of bere and barley ; five hundred and forty-one pounds,
two shillings, and eight pence paid.
Parliament met on the 5th February, 178i), when the members
of our district remained as last mentioned.
1 lth March, 1789.—A petition of the undersigning subscribers
for improving the Barrow navigation between Athy bridge, in the
county of Kildare, and the tide-water at St. Mullin's, in the county
of Carlow, with a plan and estimate annexed, was presented to
• Journals of the House of Commons, vol. xii.

f Ibid,

310

HTSTORY AND ANTfQUITrES

the house, and read, setting forth, that the petitioners have lately
caused a plan to be made for the improving of the navigation of the
river Barrow from Athy, in the county of Kildare, to the tide-water
at St. Mullin's in the county of Carlow, and also an estimate the
expense of said proposed work, to which plan and estimate they refer.
That the petitioners are willing to undertake the execution of said
work in the term of ten years, to be computed from the 1st July,
1789, on receiving from parliament an aid or bounty equivalent to
thirty thousand pounds or two thousand pounds per annum for the
term of seventeen years. That in case the petitioners shall be
encouraged to undertake said work, they propose to provide by
subscription (the particulars of which are annexed thereto) a further
sum of thirty thousand pounds in addition to such parliamentary
aid, subject to the provisions contained in the sixth resolution of
the house of the 25th March, 1788. That the said petitioners do
not require to receive any part of the said aid, except as they shall
prove before the commissioners of imprest accounts, from time to
time, the expenditure of their own money, and they then humbly
hope to receive a sum equal to one half of what they shall have so
proved to be expended, so as in the end to receive half of the
whole expenditure. That the petitioners, in consideration of the
said aid, do propose not to exceed three half-pence per ton per
mile for coals, culm, flags, stones, bricks, sand, and such like
articles, two pence per ton per mile toll for all other goods, and
three half-pence per mile for each passenger : and therefore praying the grant aforesaid.
Ordered—That the said petition be referred to the consideration
of a committee, and that they do in the first place examine how
far the orders of the house of the 25th of March, 1788, have
been complied with, and report the evidence upon such examination to the house on the report of the said petition.
And a committee was appointed of Mr, Colville, Mr. Griffith,
and others, or any five or more of them, and they have power to
meet to-morrow morning, and to adjourn from time to time, and to
send for persons and papers, and all members who come are to
have voices.
]6th March, 1789.—Mr. Burton reported from the committee to
whom it was referred to take into consideration the petition of the
subscribers for improving the Barrow navigation between Athy
bridge, in the county of Kildare, and the tide-water at St. Mullin's, in the county of Carlow, which report he read in his place,
and after delivered in at the table, where the same was read.
Ordered—That the said report be referred to the committee of
the whole house, to whom it is referred to consider further of the
application of the tillage duties.
27th April, 1789.—Ordered—That the committee of the whole
house to whom it was referred to take into consideration a bill for
the promotion and encouragement of inland navigation, be empowered to receive a clause or clauses to enable the subscribers to

the Barrow navigation to obtain possession of the said river and

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLO W.

311

the works thereon from the bridge of Athy to the tide-water at St.
Mullin's, on the conditions and under the restrictions therein
specified,
Parliament was prorogued on the 25th May, 1789, and again
met on the 21st January, 1790.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart,
Borough of Catherlogh.—Sir John Browne, Bart.
Sir Charles Desvoeux, Bart.
Hon. James Caulfield Browne, in
the room of the said Sir John
Browne, now lord baron Kilmaine.
Sworn 21st Jan. 1790.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Hon. Arthur Acheson,
Sir Edward Leslie, Bart.
Parliament was dissolved on the 8th April, 1790, and a new
one assembled on the 2nd July, 1790.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.*—William Burton, Esq.
Henry Bruen, Esq.,
Borough of Catherlogh.—Augus. Cavendish Bradshaw, Esq.
John Ormsby Vandeleur, Esq., of
Kilrush, in the county of Clare,
Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.— Hon. Arthur Acheson,
Edward Cooke, Esq.
Parliament was prorogued on the 24th July, 1790, and met
again on the 20th January, 1791.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—William Burton, Esq.
Henry Bruen, Esq.
Borough of Catherlogh,—Augustus Cavendish Bradshaw, Esq.
John Ormsby Vandeleur, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.— Hon. Arthur Acheson.
Edward Cooke, Esq.f
Patrick Duigenan, Esq.,J in the
room of the Hon. Arthur Acheson, now lord viscount Gosford.
Sworn 28th Jan., 1791.
Parliament having been prorogued on the 5th May, 1791, met
• The county was addressed by Sir Richard Butler, but there was no contest.— Mr. Butler's Notes.
t This gentleman held a high office under government. There is a biographical account of him in a volume of the "Public Characters."
J The celebrated and strenuous opponent of the Roman Catholic claims.

3l£

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

again on the 19th January, 1792, when the members fot our
district were as last mentioned.
28th January, 1792.—The house being informed that Mr. Mac
Lean, secretary to the commissioners of account attended at the
door, was called in, and at the bar, presented to the house, pursuant to act of parliament, an account of the Barrow navigation
company from the 27th day of October, 1788, to the 8th day of
January, 1791. First account.
Parliament was prorogued on the 18th April, 1792, and again
assembled on the 10th of January, 1793, when the members from
the county of Carlow remained the same as last.
29th Jan. 1793.—The house being informed that Mr. Mao
Lean, secretary to the commissioners of accouut, attended at the
door, he was called in, and at the bar presented to the house, pursuant to act of parliament, an account of the Barrow navigation
company from the 8th day of January, 1791, to the 25th day of
February, 1792. Second account.
5th Feb. 1793.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in
a bill to establish a militia in the kingdom of Ireland, and that the
earl of Hillsborough, lord viscount Headfort, Mr. Monck, the
Right Hon, Mr. Secretary Hobart, Mr. Bushe, and Mr. Hayes,
do prepare and bring in the same,
[Bill for amending and reducing into one act of parliament
the laws relating to the militia of Ireland.]—Read first time,
March 4. Read second time, March 7. Read third time, March
19. Agreed to by the lords, March 26. Received royal assent,
April 9, 1793.
In pursuance of the bill just mentioned, a regiment of militia
was raised in the county of Carlow. Henry Bruen, Esq., of Oak
Park, one of the representatives for the county, was appointed
colonel* Commissions to the following gentlemen were signed by
kirn :
To be Major—Walter Kavanagh. Dated April 26th, 1793.
To be Captains—Thomas Whelan. Dated do.
Philip Newton. Dated April 27,1793.
John Newton. Dated April 28th.
To be Lieutenants—John Wolseley, Dated April 26th.
John Bennett. Dated April 27th.
John Leckey. Dated April 28th.
William Astle.* Dated April 29th.
Abraham Jones. Dated April 30th,
Constantino Brough. Dated May 1st;
To be Ensigns—William Carter. Dated April 26th.
Ashley Crofton, jun. Dated April 27th.
Joseph Malone. Dated April 28th.
Haggerty, jun. Dated April 29th.
To be Adjutant.—John Wolseley. Dated April 26th.t
* Grand-uncle O the author. He was afterwards a Captain in the fegi ]
f
tnenfc
t Anthologia Hibernica* vol. i. p, 480,

O^ THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

313

The following are the routes and quarters of the Carlow regiment of militia. When embodied in 1793, it was ordered to*
Nenagh, thence to Charles-fort, near Kinsale ; to Cove ; to Waterford ; to Trim ; tq Downpatrick; to Blairismore Camp; to
Drogheda ; to Navan, where the regiment was stationed in 1798,
and from whence it proceeded to Nittstown, on the banks of the
Boyne, where an action took place with the rebels. The latter
fled almost immediately, although they were in great numbers,—
From Navan the regiment marched to Robertstown; to Cork ; to
Charles'-fort; to Middleton; to Mullingar ; to Roscrea; thence
to Carlow, in 1802, when it was disembodied.
Parliament was prorogued on the 16th August, 1793, and again
met on the 21st January, 1794, when the members for our district remained as last.
10th February, 1794.—Third account of the Barrow naviga-'
tion company, from the 1st day of February, 1792, to the 1st
day of May, 1793, presented.
Parliament was prorogued on the 25th March, 1794, and
again assembled on the 22nd January, 1795, our district having
the same members as last stated.
3lst Jan., 1795.—A petition of the catholics of the county of
Carlow, whose names are thereunto subscribed, on behalf of themselves and others of his majesty's catholic subjects, was presented
to the house and read.
Ordered—That the said petition do lie on the table for the perugal of the members.
14th February, 1795.—Fourth account of the Barrow navigation company from the 1st May, 1793, to the 31st December
following, presented.
On the 5th June, parliament was prorogued.
In 1795, the Roman Catholic college of Carlow was established by Doctor Keeffe, Romish bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.
It was first opened for the education of lay students, but has been
since extended to the preparation of priests. The accommodations
are calculated for the reception of one hundred students of each
class ; but there has never been that number at one time in the
establishment. The present officers of the college consist of the
president; professor of theology and vice-president; principal of
the lay-college and professor of natural philosophy; professor of
logic, and Hebrew; bursar; dean of the ecclesiastical college ; two
professors of classics; professor of classics, and dean of the lay
college; lecturer on natural philosophy; vice-dean of the lay college ; and professor of mathematics, and of the study h a l l . ~
Doctor Doyle, the present Roman catholic bishop of Kildare and
Leighlin, whose publications under the signature of J.K.L. (James9
Kildare and Leighlin,) have rendered him so celebrated,^entered
the college of Carlow in 1809, as professor of rhetoric, and a few
years afterwards was appointed professor of theology. Doctor
Doyle was chosen for the office of Romish bishop, which he now
holds, in November, 1819. He has since been examined by com-

314

HISTORY AXD ANTIQUITIES

mittees of the houses of lords and commons ; and whatever may
be thought of the principles developed on those occasions, as well
as in his writings, (of which assuredly we do not approve), it must
be confessed, that great talent has been thus exhibited.
Parliament m#t on the 21st January, 1790.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh,—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart., in the
room of Henry Bruen, Esq., deceased. Sworn 9th February, 1796.*
Borough of Catherlogh.—Hon. Augustus Cavendish Bradshaw.
John Ormsby Vandeleur, of Kilrush, in the county of Clare, Esq.
Sir Frederick Flood, Bart., in the
room of the said Augustus Cavendish Bradshaw, who accepted a
place of profit under the crown.
Sworn 25th February, 1790.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Paterick Duigenan, Esq.,
Edward Cooke, Esq., re-elected,
having accepted a place of profit
under the crown. Sworn 21st February, 1796.
29th January, 1790.—Account of the Barrow navigation from
the 1st January, 1794, to the 31st December following, presented.
From " an estimate of the charge of militia regiments for one
year ending at 31st March, 1790/' it appears, that the Carlow
militia consisted of two hundred and sixty-three men ; its expense
for the year, seven thousand and sixty-five pounds, nine shillings,
and eleven pence.—In the year ending 1797, the number of companies was five; of men four hundred and four ; the expense nine
thousand and fifty-seven pounds, nineteen shillings, and four pence.
Parliament was prorogued on the 15tk April, 1790, and
met again on the 13th October, 1790.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.—William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart,
Borough of Catherlogh.—John Ormsby Vandeleur, Esq.
Sir Frederick Flood, Bart.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Patrick Duigenan, Esq.,
Edward Cooke, Esq., re-elected,
having accepted a place of profit
under the crown. Sworn 20th October, 1790.
* On this occasion, John Staunton Rochfort, Esq., of Cloghgrenan, addressed the county, but did not contest the election, with Sir Richard '.Butler.—
Mr* Butler's Notes\

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

315

9th March, 1797.—Ordered—That the committee of the whole
house to whom it was referred to take into consideration a bill to
explain and amend the laws now in force relating to the militia of
this kingdom, be empowered to receive a clause or clauses to provide for the increase of the militia of the counties of Carlow and
Kildare to six companies each.
.•
,
An account of the monies paid into the treasury for recognU
zances forfeited and fines imposed at assizes, commissions of
oyer and terminer, and general gaol delivery, and sessions of
the peaee, from the 25th March, 1788, to 25th March, 1796,
COUNTY OP CARLOW.

A.D. 1788, Robert Cornwall, Esq.,

sheriff, twelve pounds, two shillings, and ten pence.—1790, Richard Mercer, Esq., sixty-two pounds, three shillings.—1791,
Walter Kavanagh, Esq., three pounds, four shillings, and eleven
pence,—1792, John Stewart, Esq., five pounds, two shillings,
and seven pence.—-1795, Jn. Maxwell, Esq., four pounds, eleven
shillings, and one penny.
Parliament was dissolved on the 11th July, 1797. A]new one
met on the 9th January, 1798.
MEMBERS.

County of Catherlogh.*—-William Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Bart,
Borough of Qatherloghs—Henry Sadlier Prittie, Esq.
William Elliot, Es<j.
John Wolfe, Esq., in the room of Mr.
Elliot, who made his election to eerve
for St. Canice. Sworn 24th February, 1798.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Edward Cooke, Esq.
Sir Boyle Roche, Bartf
31st January, 1798.—The house being informed that an officer
^attended at the door, he was called in, and at the bar presented
to the house, pursuant to act of parliament, Barrow navigation
company, for one year ending the 31st December, 1796, seventh
account, two thousand, seven hundred and eighty-six pounds, and
four pence. Ordered to lie on the table.
1st June, 1798.—Barrow navigation company, for one year
ending 31st December, 1797. Eighth account, presented.
Parliament wa9 prorogued on the 6th October, 1798.
From " A list of all the justices of the peace who have been
appointed in this kingdom since the 1st day of June, 1789, to the
* This election was contested. The candidates were, Sir Richard Butler,
Bart., Walter Kavanagh, Esq., William Burton, Esq., and Philip Newton,
Esq. The votes, at the close, stood thus: Mr. Burton, 1072; Sir Richard
Butler, 1069; Philip Newton, 936 ; Walter Kavanagh, 922,—Mr. Butler's
Notes.
t This is the gentleman, the blunders of whose Irish oratory afforded so
much amusement. He is noticed by Sir Jonah Barrington ja his Persona!
Sketches*
2R

me

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

80th day of April, 1798, inclusive," we collect the following
names relating to the county of Carlow: Walter Kavanagh, appointed in 1790; Rev. Henry St. George, 1791; Joshua Paul,
1791 ; Samuel Carpenter, jun., 1791; Edw. Eustace, 1792 ;
Henry Bruen, 1793; William Browne, 1793; Beauchamp Coldough, 1795; David La Touche, jun., 1795; John Staunton
Rochfort, IT96; Bryan Kavanagh, 1796; John Butler, 1796;
R. Eustace, 1796; Richard Evans, 1797; James Butler, 1797;
Joseph Hardy, 1797; Sir Charles Asgill, Baronet, 1797; Philip
Newton, 1797; Henry Rudkins, 1797; Reverend Jas. WGhee,
1797; Nicholas Aylward Vigors, 1797; Thomas Hardy, 1797 ;
Sir Richard Butler, Bart., 1798; Edward Eustace, 1798 ; Thos.
Kavanagh, 1798.*
The county of Carlow was not exempt from the disastrous
consequences of the rebellion of 1798. We take the following
account of the previous transactions from the work of Sir Richard
Musgrave, Bart., who from his personal knowledge of many of
the events of those times, as well as opportunities of obtaining
direct, authentic information, must be considered a competent and
sufficient authority.
" Not only in Carlow," says Sir Richard, " but in most of the
counties of Ireland, the priests in the year 1791 and 1792, began
to take an accurate account of their sectaries in every family
within their respective parishes, which was supposed to be done
with a view of ascertaining their relative strength by their numbers,
when compared with the members of the established church.—
About the same time, maps pointing out the property of the old
popish ^possessors, were printe<| and published,
" The great zeal with which the priests began about that time
to establish religious fraternities among the populace, of which the
scapular was the most prominent, gave an additional proof that a
conspiracy was in contemplation. This institution introduced
among them an extraordinary sanctity and austerity of manners,
and afforded a trial of their silence, which was so essential to
promote such a measure.
" The insolence of the lower class of people was obviously increased about the year 1793, by the following incidents: the
priests were enabled to build stately chapels by the subscriptions
not only of their own flock, but of Protestants; which formed a
^striking contrast to, and reflected on, the ruined edifices where
Protestants, less enthusiastic, worshipped their God. At a time that
a Protestant clergyman in that county could not obtain a sum of
money to build a church for three hundred Protestants, whom he
had attended for twelve years in a sooty cabin, the priest of
Carlow built a college and chapel, which must have cost from
three to four thousand pounds.
" In the beginning ofthe year 1797, the insolent looks andhaughty
demeanour ofthe peasants, who would not formerly approach a gen• Journals H. Commons* vol xvu\ Appen,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARfcOW.

SIT

tleman but with the greatest humility, challenged his attention with
a broad stare, often followed by a sardonic gim.
" Such was the state of the county of Carlow in the month of
November, 1797, when some informations, sworn privately before
a magistrate) gave unquestionable proofs that a conspiracy was
forming; and the following event removed every doubt on that
head: Mr. Bennett, who lived near Leighlin-bridge, was rash
enough to declare his detestation of a United Irishman, and that
he would give five hundred pounds for the head of one; for which
on the same night he was murdered, in the dead hour of the night,
and his house was robbed of five hundred pounds in cash. This
money, and their success in gratifying their vengeance against so
respectable an enemy, inspired them so much with the hope of
accomplishing their main design, that they began to assemble in
great numbers, and to organize with great celerity*
" A gentleman passing through Leighlin-bridge, said, he made it
a rule to give the people a drink; and having ordered a barrel of ale
forAthem, the conspirators in great numbers, who seemed prepared
for the business, mounted one of their drummers on the barrel, and
proceeded in regular array, and with some arms, to the house of
a man at Moneybeg, (Bagenal* s-town), who had sworn examinations against some of them, and murdered him in his bed ; they
then proceeded to the house of Mr. Bagenal, a gentleman who had
formerly represented the county, but having kept behind a bank
of earth, it protected them from the shot of three of his Protestant
yeomen, who kept up a constant fire upon them, until an accidental shot, from a blunderbuss of one of their own party, killed one
of the united men, of the inauspicious name of Paine.
" Six of his popish yeomen were posted outside his house^ be*
hind a wall, (for he kept the Protestants within it), commanded
by his lieutenant, who afterwards recommended to- Mr. Bagenal,
not to depend on a papist, though he, and his two sons, were of
that persuasion, as he could not prevail on the three others to fire
on the assailants ; and he declared, that he never would serve with
any of them.—In their retreat they plundered and shattered the
house of Mr. Mulhallan, and beat and insulted him in the most
cruel and ferocious manner.
" From that time they never ceased to plunder houses of arms,
and other valuable articles, avoiding the patroles of Mr. Robert
Rochfort, of Cloghgrenan, and Mr. Cornwall, of Myshall-lodge,
who, much to their honour, never ceased to harrass those miscreants by night, at the head of their respective yeomen corps ; while
other gentlemen, palsied by fear, sought for protection by courting
the priests. In short, I have been assured, that the county of
Carlow would ha\e been as much desolated as the county of Wexford, but that those gentlemen, by unabated exertions and the most
undaunted courage, struck terror into them, by surprising and
arresting numbers of them, in their most secret haunts and recesses.
" In all their depredations, they never offered any injury to the
property, or insult to the person of a papist, except that in

SK

HISTORY A^D ANTIQUITIES

some cases they took arms from such 'persons of that persua»
eion, as were not likely to use them, or were not engaged in the
confederacy*
" On requiring arms of a widow of the popish religion, near
Leighlin, they informed her thatthey were for her benefit, and that
of the Catholic cause. A man of the name of Hughes, appeared
before Mr. Cornwall, of Myshall-lodge, a magistrate, on the 21st
of July, and confessed that he had been a lieutenant, under a captain James Nowlan ; and he stated the whole progress of the rebel*
lion from its commencement. He stated that the night previous to
the attack on Borris, Leighlin-bridge, and Bagenal's-town, he
received orders from Nowlan, how he was to attack the enemy; and
on asking him whom he was to consider as such, the captain repli-;
fcd, the king's troops and the Protestants in general; The popish
rabble, and numbers of Roman catholics in comfortable, nay in
opulent situations, took oaths of allegiance before magistrates,
who gave them certificates of their having done so; and.an abtmflance of such certificates were found in their pockets when they
were made prisoners at the battle of Kilcomney, and elsewhere.
" Many Protestants were murdered, many of their houses were
burnt, and much of their property was destroyed, in that part of
the county of Carlo w bordering upon the county of Wick low and
Wexford. Most of the popish yeomen in the ^county of Carlow
Were disaffected, and would, had an opportunity offered, have
turned their arms against their king and country.
" In Sir Richard Butler's corps of cavalry, nine papists of whom
bis permanent Serjeant was one, conspired to murder its Protestant
members. The serjeant was to have posted in the rear the conspirators, who were to have fired on the Protestants in action.
Seven of them were convicted and hanged, the other two fled;
but coming in under the proclamation obtained their pardon.
" Mr. Burton, member for the county, had a corps of infantry,
in which he discovered twenty popish traitors, whom he expelled,
and seventeen of them were afterwards hanged or transported.
The arms of his corps being deposited in the guard house, and
guarded by six popish members, when] the insurrection was
expected, they poured water into the muzzles, and wet the pans,
of their firelocks.
" About thirty-six popish yeomen were shot in Carlow and its
vicinity; but there was not a single instance of disaffection discovered in a Protestant, that I could hear of; except Sir Edward
Crosbie, who was hanged at Carlow ; and it is well known that he
bad long piqued himself on being a deist and a republican."*
ATTACK ON CARLOW.—On the 25th May, 1798, the garrison

oi Carlow consisted of a party of the 9th Dragoons, the light
company of the north Cork militia, commanded by Captain Heard,
a party of the Louth militia, under Lieutenant Ogle, Sir Charles
•Memoirs of the different rebellions in Ireland.—Appen, p. 24. 4to
€J^4 1 SO I * - :

OF THE COUNTY o F CARLOW.

319

Burton's corps of yeomanry cavalry, the Carlow yeoman infantry,
commanded by Captains William Burton and Hardy Eustace, and
forty volunteers; in all about four hundred and fifty. Colonel
Mahon of the 9th Dragoons had the chief command.
The garrison had intelligence of the intended attack by an intercepted letter, as well as from the vigilance of Lieutenant Roe, of
the north Cork militia, who had observed the common people assembling near the town on the evening of the 24th May. Colonel
Mahon, accordingly, made immediate preparations for the defence
of the town; which were not unnecessary, as, about two o'clock
on the morning of the 25th, the rebels in number about 2000,
having met at the house of Sir Edward Crosbie,* marched thence
into Carlow, under the command of one Roche, shouting that the
town was their own. But signal was their disappointment. Their
progress was unchecked until they reached the potatoe market in
TulJow-street, where they were spiritedly attacked by two sentinels
posted at. the collector's door and a loyal Protestant who joined
them. And so effectual was the fire of these three persons, that
the rebels were compelled to diverge towards the gaol, in which
quarter they met an equally warm reception. In short, such was
the destructive fire to which they were now exposed, that they
were compelled to a speedy retreat, and endeavoured to escape by
the road on which they had entered the town. Several of them
took refuge in the cabins of that outlet, which were fired by the
soldiery, and many of the unfortunate wretches were thus consumed.
It is calculated that not less than 600 of the rebels were killed on
Jlhis occasion; of which number, 417 were buried in gravel pita
at the Queen's county side of Graigue-bridge.
It was intended, that a junction should have been effected at
Carlow between the rebels of the Queen's and Carlow counties;
but the intelligence that two pieces of cannon were planted at
Graigue-bridge, caused the former body to change their route. They
burned the houses of some Protestants at Ballyckmoiler, and attacked the mansion of the Reverend John Whitty,t situated near
Aries, and about five miles from Carlow. " But," says Sir Richard Musgrave, " it was bravely defended by himself and eleven
Protestants, who kept up a constant fire, killed twenty-one rebels,
and baffled all their attempts to storm or burn it. The conflict
continued from three to six o'clock in the morning." We have
often heard this defence mentioned in terms of the highest admiration, as one of the most brilliant actions of the rebellion.
Executions by martial law followed the battle of Carlow.
Among the number who suffered, was Sir Edward Crosbie, Bart.
It is but justice to add, that this gentleman's friends assert his complete innocence ; and Sir Jonah Barrington (who enters somewhat
fully into this matter in his Personal Sketches) warmly advocates
a similar opininn. The truth seems to be, that the unfortnnate
t • Gordon's History of the Rebellion of 1798, p. 77.—Sir Edward Croshic
lived at Viewmount, near Browne's-hill.
f Now of Rkketstown 5 Rector of the union of Ratfrvilly*

320

HfSTORY AND 'ANTIQUITIES

baronet was somewhat tinged with the " liberal" principles of the
day, though perhaps he did not sanction the full develop ement of
them, as exhibited in open insurrection.
BATTLE OF HACKETSTOWN.—The first attack on this town
occurred on the 25th of May. The rebels were, however, repulsed by the yeomanry and a party of the Antrim militia. The
second and more serious aifair took place on the 25th June* The
small garrison consisted of the yeoman infantry, fifty men, commanded by Captain Hardy, and forty of the Antrim militia, under
lieutenant Gardiner. The country people were seen assembling on
the 24th, of which intelligence was forwarded to the commanders
of the neighbouring yeomanry corps; but, with the exception of
Captain Chamney's, none of them were enabled to render any
assistance* The rebels were 13,000 strong, commanded by Garret
Byrne of Ballymanus, his brother William, Messrs. Perry,
M'Mahon, Michael Reynolds and Edward Fitzgerald. The
garrison issued forth to attack them, which served as a feint, but
on their retreat Captain Hardy and four men were killed. Some
of the infantry, whose entire force was about one hundred and
twenty, took possession of the barrack, while others entrenched
themselves behind a breast-work which had been previously constructed.
The rebels, supposing their victory certain, raised a tremendous
yell, and rushed towards the town, but they were received with a
a steady, well-directed fire from the garrison. They then set fire
to [the houses, every one of which, except the barrack and two
more, were speedily in flames. The scene at this period must
have been horrible ; the incessant fire of the musketry, the cries
of the rebels, the smoke, the flames, the falling houses; but all
did not daunt the spirit of the gallant band who defended the town.
The Rev. James M'Ghee had secured himself and nine men in
one of the houses which remained untouched by the fire, and, together with those within the barrack, maintained a deadly fire on
the rebels; who, finding all their efforts unavailing, retreated, at
half-past three o'clock. In this very severe engagement, which
continued for the greater part of a summer's day, the loss of the
rebels has been calculated at five hundred killed; more than twenty
cars loaded with dead and wounded were removed by them. The
loss of the loyalists was but eleven men killed and fifteen wounded.
The achievement was certainly glorious, when relative numbers
are considered. We feel no small pride, that such invaluable men
as the Hacketstown YEOMANRY should have been found within the
boundaries of the county of Carlow. Do not such men merit encouragement and protection ? (16).
With reference to the Rev. J . McGhee and his men, Sir Richard
Musgrave remarks : " That gallant party would have been unable
to defend themselves for want of ammunition, had not lieutenant
Fenton, of the Talbot's-town cavalry, been providentially prevented from attending his duty by a contusion, occasioned by a fall
from his horse, as he sat behind a pier between two windows making

OS* THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

321

cartridges ; and to the immortal honour of Mrs. F enton, she continued to go about the house, and to supply the besieged with refreshments during their laborious and perilous service; and when
their stock of balls was exhausted, she broke up her pewter plates,
and cast bullets ofthem with her own hand, which her husband made up
into cartridges."—The garrison retreated to Tullow in the evening.
Subsequently to the battle, the same body of rebels burned the
house of every Protestant for a circuit of six miles around Hackeestown, and murdered all the inmates who fell into their hands.*
BORRIS.—" Mr. Kavanagh, of Bonis," says Sir Richard Musgrave, " having been distinguished for his loyalty, and his activity
as a magistrate, was peculiarly the object of rebel vengeance."-—
On the night of the 24th May, Borris house was attacked by a
body of 5,000 rebels ; they were, however, repulsed by Captain
Kavanagh's yeomanry corps, with the loss of fifty men killed and
wounded. On the 12th June, a second attack was made on the
town of Borris, when the rebels burned the houses of Mr. Kavanagh's yeomanry. At the mansion house, which was garrisoned
by twenty of the Donegal militia and seventeen of the yeomanry,
they met a formidable resistance. They were commanded by
K earns, a priest, who was afterwards hanged at Edenderry. The
rebels had a howitzer with which they attempted to break down
the walls of the house, but were unsuccessful. They were finally obliged to retreat, with considerable loss. " One of the rebels," says Sir Richard Musgrave, " who was wounded and could
not retreat, proved to be a tenant of Mr. Kavanagh, who lived
close to his house, and to whom he had been singularly kind. On
being asked why he embarked in this treasonable enterprise, he
confessed, that he was tempted to do so, by a promise of obtaining a portion of his estate*"
At Kilcomney, near Borris, a brief action took place ; tho
king's forces being commanded by Sir Charles Asgill. A few discharges of artillery were sufficient to cause the flight of the rebels.
They retreated to the county of Wexford, through Scullogh-gap ;
pursued by the army with great slaughter for six miles. The entire
of their cannon, baggage, stores, and provisions fell into the
hands of the loyalists.
From a paper of the rebel conspirators read at their national
committee, on the 26th Feb. 1798, we learn that the number of
their armed men in the county of Carlow was 9,414; finances
there in hand, 49/. 2s. lOrf. The following are two resolutions
agreed to on the same occasion : *6 Resolved—That each county
toko have not yet paid up their finances, shall be requested to pay
seventy-pounds, except the county of Carlow, which shall only
pay forty-pounds. Resolved—That the counties of Cartow,
Meath, Wicklow, Deny, Down, and Antrim deserve well of their
country, for their manly offer of emancipating her directly; but
that they be requested to bear the shackles of tyranny a little longer,
* Musgrave, Gordon*

32§

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

untilthe whole kingdom shall be in such a state of organization as will
by their joint co-operation, effect without loss their desirable
point, which is hourly drawing to a crisis.'"*
We remarked, that the immediate consequences of the existence
of the volunteer force were not unhappy. . The following extract
from a paper circulated by the concocters of the rebellion will show
the use to which the organization and proceedings of that body
were shortly afterwards applied. We print the capitals and italics
as in the original:—c* And we do call on and most earnestly exhort our brethren THE VOLUNTEERS OF IRELAND, who may in

fact establish, as they have in theory restored, the independence of
their native land: we call upon all our countrymen in general to
follow our example, and to form similar societies in every quarter
of the kingdom for the promotion of constitutional knowledge and
the dispensation of genuine Whig principles; the people when
thus collected will feel their own weight and secure that power
%vbich theory has already admitted as their portion, and to whichifthey
be not aroused by their present provocations to vindicate it, they
deserve to forfeit their pretensions for EVER."f Nothing can more
clearly demonstrate, than the preceding passage, the pernicious, baneful consequences arising from the advocacy of wild, undefined notions
of popular liberty. The mind of the unthinking multitude thus receives an impetus, which hurries them on to lengths, from which,
perhaps, the beginners or fomenters of the work would themselves
recoil. Let the Whigs behold what were considered their genuine
principles; let them learn, that they have been preached up as
sanctioning revolution, republicanism, and rebellion.
The first lodge of the Orange Institution was founded in the
county of Armagh, on the 21st September, 1795. The name af
Orangeman, however, previously existed. " They were," says
Sir Richard Musgrave, "merely a society of loyal Protestants,
associated and bound together, solely for the purpose of maintaining and defending the constitution in church and state, as established by the Prince of Orange, at the glorious revolution, which
they regarded as a solemn and sacred duty. ,; This body was and is
purely DEFENSIVE in its principles. Its members are men attached
to a limited monarchical form of government; they are supporters
of genuine civil and religious liberty; they are admirers of the British constitution; they are attached to British connection: they
are not wild theorists ; they are not lovers of revolution ; they are
not fond of innovation ; they are not inclined to republican principles. They reckoned all, or nearly all the Protestant yeomanry of
1798 in their body, and were mainly the saviours of the country at
that important crisis. They are the men whom a sound and wise
British government would cherish and support.—The county of
Carlow is indebted to John Staunton Rochfort, Esq., of Cloghgrenan, captain of the Cloydagh yeomanry, for the introduction
* Journal R, Commons, Vol. XVII., Part 2. Appendix.
f Journals of the House of Commons. Vol, 17. Part2, Appen. p. 845.

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

323

(in 1798) of that bond of loyalty, the Orange system, within its
limits.*
By " An account of the sums of money claimed by the suffering loyalists in the different counties in Ireland, for their losses
sustained in the rebellion of 1798, and laid before the commissioners appointed by act of parliament for compensating them,"
we find the sum claimed by the county of Carlow wa,s 24,854/*
14*. Id.
Parliament met on the 22nd January, 1799.
MEMBERS.

County of Ca/herZogh.~—Wi\\'mm Burton, Esq.
Sir Richard Butler, Baronet.
Borough of Catkerlogk.—-Henry Sadlier Prittie, Esq.
John Wolfe, Esq.
Borough of Old Leighlin.—Edward Cooke, Esq.
Sir Boyle Roche, Baronet.
1st March, 1799.—Ordered—That leave be given to bring in a
bill for the division of the barony of Idrone,in the county of Carlow;
arid that Mr. John Staunton Rochfort, (of Cloghgrenan, member
for the borough of Fore, county Westmeath), colonel Barry, Sir
Richard Butler, Bart., Mr. William Burton and Mr. Cornwall do
prepare and bring in the same.
2nd March, 1799.—Mr. John Staunton Rochfort presented to
the house, according to order,
A bill for the division of the barony of I drone in the county of
Carlow ; which was received and read a first time, and ordered to
be read a second time on Monday next
[Said bill passed, March 6. Agreed to by the lords, March 12.
Assent, March 25.]
Parliament was prorogued on the 1st June, 1799, and again
assembled on the 15th January, 1800, when the members for our
district were as last stated.
14th February, 1800.—Petition of the freeholders of the county
of Carlow against a legislative union with Great Britain, presented.
Ordered-—That the said petition do lie on the table for the
perusal of the members.
4th March, 1800.—Petition of the freeholders of the county
of Carlow against a legislative union with Great Britain, presented.
Ordered—That the said petition do lie on the table for the perusal of the members.
7th June, 1800,—The house was moved that the order of the
day, that an engrossed bill for the union of Great Britain and
Ireland,'beread the third time, might be read.
And the said order being read accordingly,
* The author's father, (a member of the Tullow yeoman cavalry in 179S)
joined the Orange Society«•— He was a member of: the Tullow lodge.

2s

324

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

A mofion was made, and the question being put, that the said
bill be read a third time on Friday the 2nd day of January next,
It passed in the negative.
Then the said bill, according to order, was read a third time.
A motion was made, and the question being put, that the said
bill do pass ; and that the title be, An act for the union of Great
Britain and Ireland.
It was carried in the affirmative.
A motion was made and the question being put, that the Right
Hon. lord viscount Castlereagh do carry the said bill to the lords
and desire their concurrence,
It was carried in the affirmative.
[Said bill agreed to by the lords, August 16. Received the
royal assent on the 1st August, 1800.]
1st July, 1800. Ninth account of the Barrow navigation company to the 1st February, 1800, presented,*
On the 2nd August, parliament was prorogued, and in consequence of the Act ofjUnion, did not again assemble in Ireland. The
borough of Old Leighlin was abolished, and that of Carlow deprived
of one member.
A meeting of the freeholders of the county of Carlow, was held
on the 21st January, 1799.
E D WAR© EUSTACE, Esq., high sheriff, in the chair; when the
following resolutions were agreed to :
Resolved unanimously—That no advantages this country could
derive from a union, would be a compensation for the loss of its
independence.
Resolved unanimously—That our representatives have not the
power to annihilate this parliament, and to transfer to that of another kingdom the right of legislating for this nation.
Resolved unanimously—That it is highly dangerous and improper to agitate the question of a union in the present unsettled state
of this kingdom.
Resolved unanimously—That the high sheriff be requested to
communicate as speedily as possible those resolutions to our representatives in parliament
Resolved unanimously—That the conduct of the speaker deserves our warmest thanks; and from his opposition to the measure,
and his knowledge of the interests of this country, and constant
attention to them, we are strengthened in our present opinion.
EWD.

EUSTACE, Sheriff.

Copy of letter from Sir Richard Butler, Bart., M.P. for the
county of Carlow:
" To Edward Eustace, Esq., high sheriff of the county of Carlow.
u
Dear Sir,—I have had the honour of your letter, enclosing
the resolutions of the freeholders of the county of Carlow.
" I shall be always happy to receive and obey the instructions of
• Journals of the House of Commons, vol, xix.

OS? THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

323

my constituents. I lament extremely that I happened to be absent
when the question of a legislative union between this kingdom and
Great Britain was brought forward. Had I supposed that a measure of such importance would have been discussed in parliament,
on the first day of the session, I certainly would have attended,
notwithstanding the very precarious state of health of the dearest
part of my family. My sentiments on that question perfectly coincide with those expressed in the resolutions—and if the measure
shall be again brought forward, be assured I will oppose it to the
utmost of my power. I ana &c.
" Garryhunden, January 27th, 1799.

R I C H . BUTLER*"*

Such, it appears, were the sentiments of the freeholders of the
county of Carlow on the subject of the legislative union with
Great Britain. Matters are, however, so much changed since the
occurrence of that event; the tremendous evils apprehended from
the union not having arisen; the Romanists being since admitted
into parliament; the pernicious revolutionary spirit at present abroad;
these circumstances, as well as others, have placed the question in
an aspect so different, that we are fully convinced, that not one
ot the land owners, gentry, or Protestants, who might formerly
have opposed the Union, would now desire to behold its repeal.
* Walker's Hibernian Magazine for 1790,

326

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

CHAP. XXXL
Present state of the Antiquities of the County of Car low.
AGHADE.—The church of Aghade stands at the distance of
about four miles south of Tullow, and adjoining the road leading
to Newtown-Barry. It is prettily situated on gently elevated
ground, in the midst of a highly cultivated district. A rivulet
running close by the church-yard adds to the beauty of this tranquil
scene. The church is a modern structure of plain architecture,
and of the usual oblong shape, with square belfry and spire.
TOMBS AND INSCRIPTIONS.

On granite, cut in the rudest manner, in Roman capitals :
I.H.S.
H E R E LIES THE BODY OF DENIS DONOGHUE (SON OF NICHOLAS
DONOGHUE) WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE
31st DAY O F M A R C H IN THE 27th YEAR OF HIS AGE, 1738.
D E U S SIT ILLI PROPITIUS.

There are several other tombstones in granite of an old date, but
the inscriptions contain nothing worthy of note.
Within a handsome railed enclosure, planted with evergreens, is
a raised monument on which are to be found these words :
In memory of the Rev. Henry St% George, late of Altamont^
in the county of Car low, during forty years rector of this parish;
who died May the 30th, 1831, in the 88th year of his age, hi
every station of his life, he executed its respective duties with
judgment, diligence, and fidelity.
The purity of his faith, the
rectitude of his conduct, and his unwearied labours in the pastoral office testified his piety towards GOD ; his kindness, humility,
and candour, with his exemplary attention to the wants, temporal
as well as spiritual, of his fellow creatures, proved his benevolence towards MAN. Reader ! behold the upright, for the end
of THAT man is peace.*

The families of Baillie and Tomlinson have tombstones here.—
For further information relating to this parish, see the Appendix.
ARDRISTAN.—"Within one mile of Tullow and in the parish and
town-land of Ardristan, are the ruins of an old church. The
walls yet standing are sixty-three feet long, twenty-four feet broad
at west-end, and eighteen at east-end. Length of chancel twentyfour feet. One gable and part of side wall are standing. A stone
pointed arch in good preservation divides the chancel from the
nave. There are but few tombstones. The burial ground is surrounded by old thorn, trees.
BALLYELLEN.—This burial ground is situate near the highroad
* It may be observed, that possibly this and the following inscriptions
may be here preserved, when decayed, or obliterated in their first situatioji,

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

B21

leading from Borris to Gore's-bridge, and contiguous to the latter.
The ruins of an old church stand here, of which but a small part
of the walls remain. Inside the church lies a tombstone well
worthy of notice. In the centre is a cross and the letters I.H.S.,
and round the margin are engraved in raised Roman characters the
following words :
DIONISIUS. ORYAX.
UXOR, FIANNO. DOM. 1625,

DE. BALLYELLEN. GENEROSUS, ET%
FIERI, FECERUNT. 4. DIE. OCTOBRIS.

We regret to say, that the lower part of the stone is broken,
and that the part which we have omitted above is lost or illegible.
The house in which the above named O'Ryan (who was a gentleman, as the word generosus indicates) resided, still stands near
the church-yard. The traditions of the peasantry relate, that the
O'Ryans formerly owned a large part of the country about Ballyellen ; of which, indeed, we have better proof than mere tradition,
as the reader of the foregoing pages is aware. It is said, that a
large pot full of gold was found buried in the kitchen of Dionysius
O'Ryan after the mansion had passed from his family.
BALLYKNOCKAN.—The church and burial ground of Ballyknockan are elevated over the river Barrow, and in the outlets
of Leighlin-bridge. The church is a modern structure of unadorned appearance. The following are among the inscriptions :
H E R E , LIETH. THE. BODY. OF. WILLIAM. CAREW. WHO.
DECEASED. THE. 1 3 , OF. OCT. 1 7 2 2 . AGED 9 0 . YEA. AND. ALSO,
THE. BODY. OF. HIS. WIFE. MARY. WHO. DECEASED. THE. 1 0 .
OF. F E B . 1700. AND. ALSO. THE. BODY. OF. THEIR, SON.

PIRCE. WHO.—(The stone is here sunk in the earth.)
H E R E , LYETH. THE. BODY. OF. H V G H . DOWLING. WHO.
DECEASED. T H E . 6 . DAY. OF. OCTOBER. 1 7 1 2 .

Here lieth the earth of Robert Carew died April the 1st
ll55 aged 14. Since the year 1300 to this 1778 Leighlinbridge was not without the name of Carew.
I.H.S.
Underneath this tomb doth lie
xis much virtue as could die
When alive did vigour give
To as much beauty as could live.
Mrs. Catherine Moore Lane one of the celebrated Miss
Q'Beirnes of Dublin departed this life 21th of June 1794,
aged 36 years, and may her soul rest in peace.
Amen.
In an inclosure, adjoining the church-yard, is a monument, on
which is the following inscription:
John Stewart, Esq., die« October the 23rd, 1819 aged 63
years. Although the tie between them is in this life broken his
widow sorrows not as one without hope trusting that their happy

reunion will take place in blessed immortality this the Lord

328

mSTQRV AND ANTIQUITIES

Jesus Christ. Not to record his well known worth but to gratify
their own feelings this monument is erected to the memory of
the deceased by his attached widow and his affectionate son.
Near Ballyknockan, and contiguous to the road leading to the
Royal Oak, is one of the ancient raths, of very considerable ex«
tent. It is called Maudlin moat by the peasantry.
BALLYLAUGHAN CASTLE.—In the parish of Dunleekny, town-

land of Ballylaughan, and barony of ldrone East, stands the ruin
of this castle ; of much pristine strength and importance. It is at
present roofless, but the walls are in good preservation. The
castle is square in formation, having two round towers flanking
the front; from the outer extremity of one of which to that of the
other, being a distance of forty-feet. From front to rear, the castle measures forty-two feet; breadth at rear, thirty-feet; greatest
height of walls, about fifty-feet. The walls are about five feet
thick ; built of rude stone work, but in the most permanent manner. Fourteen stone steps conduct to the second floor, which rests
on an arch. There are two flights of steps higher up, but they
are in a state of dilapidation. An apartment, about seven feet in
height, with two windows, seem to have been in each of the towers ; between the towers was the chief entrance of arched, cut
stone. The appearances of the ground adjacent would indicate,
that the castle was formerly surrounded by a ditch.
At a distance of eighteen yards to the west * stands another ruin,
of about thirty feet square. It has one stone-cased window, with
holes for iron bars. The walls are five feet in thickness, and the
structure is about twenty feet in height.
About forty-yards from the main building, to the north, is another ruin of small dimensions. Near which is a large, ancientlooking dwelling-house, formerly occupied by the Beauchamp family;
a member of which was for a considerable period one of the repre*
sentatives of the borough of Old Leighlin, in parliament. The
family of Beauchamp has been for centuries and still is one of
great distinction in England.
The history of the castle may be found in the preceding pages.
W e shall now merely mention, that it formerly belonged to the
Kavanaghs; and was occupied by Donogh Kavanagh, (second son
of Murrough Ballagh, styled king of Leinster,) at the end of
the sixteenth century. Shortly afterwards it passed into the possession of the Bagenal family; but is now on the estate of Henry
Bruen, Esq.. colonel of the Carlow regiment of militia, whose
father made a large purchase of land in this county from the late
Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
BALLYMOON CASTLE.—The ruins of this spacious structure
(built by the Knights Templars) stand on the town land of Ballymoon, parish of Dunleckny, and barpny of ldrone East. It is
on the estate of Robert La Touche, Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of
the Carlow regiment of militia. The building is roofless; the
walls, which are about thirty-feet in height, form a square, one
hundred and thkty-two feet by the same. From the eastern wall

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOWj

329

project two square towers, from the south, one, and from the
north, another. The windows, being mere loop-holes, are in
good preservation, about five feet in height, four inches broad,
and of a crucifix form at top; which latter circumstance might probably have arisen from the - semi-ecclesiastical profession of the
founders. The entrance is on the west ; by a cut-stone arched
gateway, the upper part of which has now fallen from its place.—
The main walls are not less than eight feet thick, and are covered
with earth and grass. When the author visited the castle, some
sheep were peacefully grazing within its walls. The centre appears to have been at all times an open, uncovered area, surrounded
by the tenements of the inmates. The architecture is of great
strength and durability. To the right on entering is a pointed
arch, inside which and in the main wall are some stone steps,
leading to a loop-hole. From this circumstance, some idea may
be formed of the extraordinary solidity of the structure. The
history of this castle is given under the proper dates,
BARRAGH.-—A church in ruins and burial ground, with this
name are situate in the barony of Forth, a mile and a half from
Myshal, and near the road leading to Newtownbarry. One gable and part of the side walls are standing. The walls are clad
with ivy. The church appears to have been seventy-eight feet
long by twenty-one broad, with stone cased windows of but six
inches in breadth on the exterior. But one of these windows now
appears. The burial ground lies about twenty yards from the
ruins, and is divided from them by a rivulet. The following, in
Roman capitals, is among the inscriptions :—
H E A R LYETH THE BODY OP MARGET N E A L E ALIS D E M P SEY, WHO DIED ON THE
DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1 7 2 7 ,
AGED 2 9 YEARS. LORD HAVE MERCY ON US.

Followed by a death's head, and the words MEMENTO MORI.
BORRIS.—The house at this place belonging to Thomas Kavanagh, Esq., is a spacious and magnificent structure. It was built
by his grandfather, but greatly altered and improved by the late
Walter Kavanagh, Esq., elder brother of the present proprietor.
The Messrs. Morrison were the architects employed on this occasion, and the model adopted by them, was the English baronial
mansion of the sixteenth century.
There is nothing coming strictly under the denomination of antiquities in Borris; the reader, however, will find an account in
the appendix (18) of some relics connected with it, and which
we are enabled to publish through the favour of Thoma6 Kavanagh*
Esq.
BROWNE'S-HILL.—One mile and a naif from Carlow, at Browne's
Hill, (the seat of William Browne, Esq.,) is one of the Danish
pagan altars, called Cromleacs, from Qromy God, and leac, a flat
stone. It is a rock of great dimensions, raised on an edge, and
propped on the east by three upright supporters. Another pillar
stands at some distance.

330

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

The chief stone and supporters measure (according to Ledwich)
as follows:
Feet,

Inches*

5
Heigbt of the three supporters . .
8
Thickness of the upper end of >
4
6
the covering stone
3
18
9
Breadth of the same
19
Length of the slope inside
0
Length of the outside
..
22
6
Solid contents in feet, 1,280; weighing near eighty-nine tons, five
hundreds, and making an angle with the horizon of thirty-four degrees.
CARLOW.—The first object which demands our attention here is
the castle. This once magnificent structure, built after the most
approved Anglo-Norman models of square torm, with a tower
at each angle, now presents but the mere wreck of its former grandeur. It is built on a gentle eminence in the town, and on the
east bank of the river Barrow. The bridge leading to the Queen's
county, is within a few yards of the castle. Until a late period this
noble structure was in very tolerable preservation ; but in the year
1814, it was tenanted by Philip Parry Price Middleton, M.D.,
who, we regret to say, effected the overthrow of a fortress which
had withstood the assaults of Time and of man for ages. This
gentleman intending to convert the castle into $. private residence,
proceeded in his alterations so very unskilfufiy, that, having disturbed the foundations, more than one half of the building fell to
the ground. Fortunately, this event took place on Sunday, as
otherwise many lives might have been lost. The height of the walls
yet remaining, is about sixty-five feet, which seems to have been
the original altitude of the structure. The length of the side from
the extremity of one tower to that of the the other is one hundred
and five feet, and as the building was square, an idea can be
formed of its former great extent.
The church is a modern structure, and will be highly ornamental*
to the town, when the very elegant spire, now erecting, is completed. On entering the church-yard a flat marble slab, with the
following inscription, strikes the eye of the visitor:
Hie SITUS EST BENT AMINUS DAILLON GALLUS BRITANU GENEROSA FAMILIAORTUS. ECCLESIA REFORMATA PRESBYTER ERUDITUS DIU OB RELIGIONEM INCARCERATUS ET DEMUM RELEGATUS QUI POST L X X I X ANNOS.
STUDIO PIETATE ET LABORE
EVANGELICA MAGNA EX PARTE DIMENSOS QUATRIDUO POST OBITUM PALINA UXOR1S HIC INHUMATA AN1MAM FURAM EXHA*
LAVIT *
ACGIPE DOCTE CINUS MUSARUM PrGNUS AMORIS,
ACCIPE SI FAMAM MORTE PERI RE VETENT.
SI CHRISTI CASTRIS PUGNANS CAPTIVUS ET EXUL
URBEM HANG FUNERIBUS CONDECORARE VELIT.
CAR TEGERENTDR IIUMO S1MUL OMNIA ET JNOLYTA VIRTUS,

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

331

ET GENUS AC ARTES ET PIETATIS HONOS ?
IMMEMOR URBS F U E R I T TAMEN BAUD MARCESCET OLYMPO.
CLAMABIT QUE LAPIS VlVET HIC ARTE MEA.
OBIIT ILLE VlR J A N . I l l A N . D O M .
MDCCIX.

Near the preceding, also in Roman capitals :
HERE LIE THE BODY OF TWO BROTHERS EDWARB AND SAMUEL
PAGET ; WHO DEPARTED THIS L I F E , SAMUEL T H E 2 3 D . O F J A NUARY 1 7 1 9 , IN THE 5 T H YEAR OF HIS AGE, AND EDWARD T H E
5TH OF F E B . ENSUING, IN THE 7 T H YEAR OF HIS AGE, SONS TO
LIEUT, COLL. PETER GILBERT PAGET AND ANEEST DE GOULAINEI
HIS W I F E .
H E R E LIETH THE BODY OF LT. COLL. PAGET FATHER O F YE;
ABOVE NAMED CHILDREN. WHO DEPARTED THIS THE 2LST O F
9BRE. 1720.

Contiguous to the above :
I N : HOPES : OF : A : BLESSED : RESURRECTION : HERE : LIETH :
THE : BODIES : OF : BENJAMIN : BUNBURY : T H E : FATHER : AND I
BENJAMIN : BUNBURY . THE : SON : BOTH : OF : KILLERIG : ESQRS:
*
T H E : F O R M E R : DEPARTED : THIS : LIFE : APRIL: YE 4TH : 1707 :
AGED : 44 : YEARS : T H E : LATTER : JANY : YE : 3 : 1715—16 :
AGED : 39.

Within the church the following attract our notice. On white
marble, with figure in court dress at top :
This monument was erected by THOMAS GURLEY, Esq., as
an affectionate tribute to the memory of his brother BAGNEL
GURLEY, Esq. and to commemorate his many virtues. His
friends and acquaintances lament the irreparable loss of his sin'
cere and warm friendship, agreeable and instructive conversation, polite and cheerful manners, liberal yet prudent hospitality,
and every social virtue that sweetens and adorns private life.—
He died on the 25th day of February, 1796, in the 25th year of
his age.
At same side of the communion table with the above, (on
white marble, with figures well sculptured by Kirk,) is the following inscription:
This small tribute of respect and affection to departed excellence and worth is erected to the memory of J A N E , the beloved
wife of the Rev. GEORGE V E R N O N , RECTOR of CARLOW, and

onty daughter

of the Venerable THOMAS KINGSBURY, ARCH-

DEACON OF KILLALA. by her deeply afflicted husband. This
meekly devout, enlightened christian died in the prime of life9
and her character was a rare combination of every gift with
every perfection.
With talents far beyond those given to the generality of persons, she never sought any display of them.—
With a deep knowledge of literature, she preferred above all
that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation.
Though silent and reserved amidst company, and rather desirous of avoiding it, she was ever accessible to the poor and distressed,
and always studying
how to relieve their necessities and
2T

332

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

wants.
She excelled in sculpture fainting,
and acquaintance with the learned languages, but far more so in the
exemplary discharge of duty in every relation of life ; as a
loving and dutiful daughter, a tender and affectionate ?nolher9
a most devoted and fondly attached wife. Her death was universally lamented, for in her society lost an ornament, her parents their pride, her husband his more than companion, his
guide, his example, and friend; the poor of this town an active and zealous benefactress and its youth a pious and Christian
instructress.
Trusting for salvation alone in the merits of her
Saviour, she resigned her soul into the hands of God who gave it
on the 4th day of December, 1827, and 29th year of her age,
Spotless without and innocent within,
Shefear'd no danger far she knew no sin ;
So unaffected,, so compos d a mind,
So firm, yet soft, so strong, yet sorefin'd,
Heaven as its purest gold, with sufferings tried
The Saint sustain d it, but the Woman died.
Near the Barrow, and on the north of the town, is an ancient
burial ground called the graves; said to have been granted by the
earl of Thomond, when possessor of the castle and other extensive
property here. There are no inscriptions of much interest. We
liave noted the following :
ALIAS : SHERLOC
HIS : WIFE : WITH : F I V E : OF : THEIR :
CHILDREN: H E :
ED THE : 6 : OF : M
H: 1718 : S H E E :
—
ED : THE 6 : OF : DECEMBER : 1691.
ALLSOE : HIS : GRANDCARLDRE : BY : MARGRET : CARROLL :
ALIAS: WARREN.

This stone is broken, which causes the blanks in the above.
HERE : LIES : THE * BODY : OF : ELLEN • KEAGAN : ALIAS
.
*
DORMER : WIFE : TO : THOMAS : KEAGAN : OF : GRAIGE : AND
DAUGHTER : TO : WILLIAM : DORMER: OF : ROSS : WHO : DEPARTED :

THIS:

LIFE:

THE:

13:

DAY:

OF:

R I S H E D : T H E : N E E D Y : A L W A I S E : wth

AUGUST:

1708:

CHE-

: PLENTY : BLESD : AND :

M A Y : H E R : SOVLE: ENIOY : ETERNAL: REST.
AMEN.

J.H.S.
Sacred to the memory of Catherine Macartney, alias Coffey >
the most beloved wife of Thomas Macartney, of Archer s grove,
in the county Kilkenny, Esq., who "died 5th February, 1814,
aged 50 years. The Lord have mercy on her soul.
Amen.
Here lies inshrined beneath this sacred tomb,
By heaven foreboded as her final doom,
A mother kind, a wife sincere was she,
As Daphnis mourned even by every tree.
When Deaths dread dart had pierced her mortal frame•,
Her godlike spirit left this dreary vale;
Her soul was wafted to the joyous plains,

Where sweetest harmony fqr ever reigns.

OF T H E COUNTY OP CARLOW,

333

The general appearance of the town is modern. The antiquary
will find no private residence of an old date in Carlow. In which,
respect, it presents a striking contrast to the neighbouring city of
Kilkenny, where, independently of public structures, the streets,
passages, and houses afford considerable interest by their obviously
ancient construction. It is, however, gratifying to us, to be enabled to state, that as regards the essential article of neatness, no
town in the kingdom can claim superiority to Carlow.
CASTLE-GRACE.—A ruin of this name stands near Tullow. It
was erected by the distinguished family of Grace, descendants of
Raymond le Gros.
CLONMULLIN.—It was, we are told, at this castle'(situate in the
barony of Forth) formerly belonging to the Kavanaghs, that the
far-famed beauty Aileen Aroon, lived. Her name, it appears,
was Ellen Kavanagh. She has been immortalized by the poet's
art. Mr. Hartstonge gives some account of her, which may be
read in the Appendix. (19)—Daniel Kavanagh of Clonmullin,
Esq., one of the confederated catholics in 1646, forfeited his estate
and died unmarried in Spain. There are frequent notices of Clonmullin in the foregoing pages. About fifty years since, some remains of the castle were standing, but now the plough passes over
its site. The estate at present belongs to that very estimable nobleman, John, lord Farnham, one of whose ancestors planted it
with palatinates from Germany, whose descendants yet remain, and
preserve much of their peculiar manners and appearance.
CLONEGAL.—This village is situated on the river Deny, about
seven miles east of Tullow. It is on the borders of the county.
A castellated mansion, with ramparts on top, at present inhabited
by William Durdin, Esq., M.D., is worthy of notice. It was
built by the Esmonde family in 1625, and continued in their possession to a recent period. In the early part of the last century,
Morgan Kavanagh of Borris Idrone, Esq., married Frances,
daughter of Sir Laurence Esmonde, of Clonegal, Baronet.
The church is a modern structure, in excellent preservation, but
the burial ground is evidently of no late date. Among the inscriptions are the following:
J.H.S.
HERE : LYETH*. INTER'D : THE : BODY : OF : MR. JOHN : ESMOND :
WHO:
DEPARTED: T H I S : L I F E : JUNE : T H E : 9:
1715.
REQVIESCAT : IN : PACE : AMEN.

Representation of a soldier with a gun on his shoulder, and
underneath:
Here lieth the body of the spirited volunteer Henry Browne,
departed the 14th May, 1784, aged 26 years.
The following lines were written, I am told, by the late Henry
Tighe, Esq., of Rosanna, in the county of Wiclclow^ Ralph, the
subject of them, was wood-ranger to Mr. Tighe. Pefbtp&ius lady,
the gifted author of " Psyche," lent a hand to the production:

334

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

To the memory of William Ralph, of Kilcarry, who died on
the 2lst February, 1818, aged 71 years.
Guard of the wood in settled low content
Lived William Ralph, a ramble paid his rent,
A boy, in sportive toil he climbed the trees,
A man, he loved them rustling in the breeze*
As he grew old, his old companions spread
A broader, browner shadow o'er his head.
While those he planted shot on high and made
For many a rook a hospitable shade.
With this one change life gently crept away,
A placid stream itflowed from day to day.
His friends and children loved him as the tear
Well spoke, profusely shed upon his bier.
If he hadfaults, thou also hast thy share,
Strike thy own breast and feel what lurketh there,
He who sees all shall judge both him and thee ;
Repent, for as it falls so lies the tree.
CLOGHGRENAN.—The old castle of Cloghgrenan, to which
allusion has been frequently made in this work, stands at the distance
of about two miles south of Carlow, on the west bank of the Barrow. It now forms the entrance to the demesne of John Staunton
Rochfort, Esq.; and, as may be supposed, is completely in a state
of decay. From its considerable height, situation, and ample covering of ivy, it is, however, yet a picturesque object.—In the demesne, and romantically situated, are the ruins of the ancient
church of the parish of Cloydagh, with its burial ground. A large
old tree grows inside the church. The walls are standing, in
tolerable preservation. Tombs with the following inscriptions are
Jo be found in the interior.
J.H.S.
Here lieth the body of Mr. Richard Warren, who departed
this life on the 1st day of February\ 1733, aged 66 years.
Erected by his wife Theodosia Warren, alias Bryan.
Here lieth the body of Mrs. Amy Greene, wife ofWm. Nassau Greene, Esq., of Carlow, who departed this life, January
22nd, 1761.
Erected to the memory of John Greene, of Millbrook, in the
county of Kildare, Esq., who departed this life on the 28th day
of July, A.D. 1819, aged 70 years. Also to the memory of
Mary Anne, his widow, who departed this life on the 24th day
of August, A.D. 1822, aged 66 years.
This tomb is erected by John Greene, Esq., of Moatfield,
county KU$aw. to the memory of his dearly beloved wife Amy
Greene, whoAeparted this life Vdth day of August, 1818, in the

Z2nd year of her aget sincerely and most deservedly lamented

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

335

6y her surviving friends.
Also underneath lieth the body of
Robert Greene, their infant son.
On a marble slab is the following;
Lucy flochfort bom 20th December, 1803, died 22nd
1804. Just known and lost.

July

In the church-yard is to be seen this curious inscription:
Jo/my Bates one of Christ's little ones,
CLONMORE CASTLE.—The spacious piece of antiquity of this
place is situate near Hacketstown, and in the barony of Rathvilly.
In shape it is square ; one hundred and seventy feet, by the same.
The castle has towers at each angle, and is surrounded by a fosse,
of about twenty feet in depth. The walls are live feet thick; and the
narrow, stone-cased windows were obviously furnished with iron
bars. One of the side walls has disappeared, but the other three
are in good preservation, and if unassailed by the Gothic hands of
man, will probably resist the tooth ot Time, for ages to come.
The demolished wall, was no doubt removed in order to procure
free ingress to two Or three cabins and their appurtenances, which
classically ornament the interior. Indeed, I have been credibly informed, that part of the window-cases now serve the very ignoble
purpose of forming part of the materials of some pig-sties ! But
such desecration of ancient works of art, by the unthinking and
ignorant, is not at all an uncommon circumstance in this country.
In GROSE'S Antiquities,* we read as follows: " CLONMORE

CASTLE. This is a square castle, the south and north sides of
which are defended by towers. The walls are of great thickness,
but fast hastening to decay. Ivy covers the breaches in the walls,
and the windows are quite in ruins. It seems to have been strongly
protected by a wet ditch which surrounds it."—Such is the meagre,
incorrect, and unsatisfactory account given us of Clonmore; and
that in one of our standard works. But too frequently do we find
the contents of topographical publications on Ireland, superficial
and erroneous; as well from want of due inquiry, as from neglect
of personal observation.—Clonmore castle was probably built by
the Ormonde family, who obtained an extensive grant here from
Henry VIII. By an inquisition taken at Carlow, in 1630, it was
found, that the earl of Ormonde was possessed of the castle of
Clonmore, and considerable territory adjoining. The castle and
much^ of the surrounding country is now the property of the
Honourable Hugh Howard, uncle to the earl of Wicklow.
At the distance of about a hundred yards from the ruins, stands
the small parish church of Clonmore ; near which is a rude granite
cross, seven feet in height. To the north of the church lies an
* Written by Ledwich, though having the name of Grose on the title page;
the premature death of the latter having prevented the execution of his intended work.

336

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

old stone basin, probably at one time used as a reservoir for " holy
water/' In the burial-ground are the shattered parts of another
stone cross, which, when complete and erect, could not have been
less than ten feet high. The shaft, sunk in a stone socket, still
stands, and near it is to be seen the dissevered upper part. The
country people have a tradition, that this appendage of Romanism,
was broken by Cromwell; but almost every devastation of the
kind is attributed to him; perhaps with some justice, as he certainly
could not be charged with any great love of popery or its emblems,
Few persons of any taste will, however, justify the unnecessary
and indiscriminate ravages committed on works of art by the puritans of the seventeenth century.
The following inscription (somewhat mutilated) appears on a
«tone in the church-yard:
I.H.S.
H E R E : LYETH : THE : BODY : OF : M : 'EDMOND : M ' H U G H :
GAUNKAUGH :. B Y R N : AND: H I S : T H R E E : CHILDREN: MORTAGH : JOHN : AND : A N N .
H E : WAS : ye. GREAT : GREAT :
GRANDSON: OF: P H E L I M : B O U Y :
UG : D E C E A S E D : OCT.
T H E : 2 0 : 1737: AG&D
.

CLONAGOOSE.—These ruins of a church, and a burial-ground,
lie one mile from Borris, in the barony of Idrone east. The length
of the building was seventy-two feet, the breadth twenty-four. The
remains of five windows yet appear; the breadth of which on the
exterior is but six inches, while from their gradually opening to the
interior, they are rendered there, perhaps, five feet across. Part
of the walls had been recently thrown down, obviously for the stone;
some of which seemed to have been re-chiselled there lor other
buildings. This is another instance of the barbarous ravages committed on the ancient structures of the kingdom, by persons equally
devoid of good taste and right feeling. I was, however, glad to
perceive, that the burial-ground is well enclosed by a wall in
thorough repair. A stone reservoir of about two feet in diameter
lay inside the ruins ; a sure indication that it had been a Roman
catholic place of worship. The following are among the inscriptions:
*
I.H.S.
H E R E LYES Ye. BODY OF DANIEL EGAN WHO DEPARTED THIS
LIFE THE 11th OF MARCH 1717 AGED 67 YEARS, THE LORD
HAVE MARCEY UPON HIS SOULE.

I.H.S.
Erected by Pat Cloney in memory of his wife Anne Cloney
alias Byrne who depot, this life February 16, 18$2, aged 50
years.
Like you in this world I had my day
Remember death and for me pray,
May she rest in peace, Amen.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.'

337

CLONMULSH.—The small, plain church, and burial-ground of
Clonmulsh, are situate four miles south of the county town, in the
barony of Carlow, and to the left of the road leading from the
latter place to Bagenalstown, The following inscriptions are to
be found on tomb-stones :
Frances Marianne, daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady
Butler of Ballin Temple, died on the Wth day of November,
1829, aged 12 years.
Here lie entombed the remains of Thomas Eustace, Esq,,
son of Hardy Eustace, Esq., who departed this life the 9th day
of June, 1819.
Also the remains of Hardy Eustace, Esq., who departed
this life the 22nd day of August, 1820.
Beneath this tomb lie interred the mortal remains of Major
Oliver Moore* iv ho died on the 23rd March, 1814, aged 37
years; twenty-one of which he devoted to the service of his
king and country abroad, in Germany, Holland, the West
Indies, and in Egypt.
He encountered all the dangers of the
field at home, as Brigade Major of the yeomanry of the county
of Carlow, for nearly eleven years. He discharged the duties of
that station with the most unremitting seal, activity, and exertion, and having in public and in private maintained the high
reputation of the soldier and the gentleman, he lived admired,
respected, and beloved, and died universally, deeply, and deservedly lamented.
Rev. Thomas Roberts.
1783.
Also the remains of Mrs. Mary Beevor, who departed
life the 6th day of Feb. 1822.

this

Erected to the memory of Catherine Hill, by her brother
Colonel Sir Dudley St. Leger Hill, K.C.B., whose poignant
grief for her irreparable loss, but equals the love and fraternal
affection he bore her while alive. She died in Carlow, on the
28M of Oct. 1817, in the 26th year of her age, universally regretted by a numerous acquaintance.
Beneath this stone rest the mortal remains of John Bennet,
Esq., of Viewmount in this.county, who departed this life on
the Ath of May, 1827, aged 63 years. Truly regretted, an
honest man and a sincere friend.
On a blue slab indented in the wall of the church.—Sacred to
the memory of Mrs. Bridget Hill, this monument is erected by
* Brother of George Moore, Esq., late M.P. for the city of Dublin,

338

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

an affectionate husband, who with a number of bewailing children
all rest in hope that her many virtues on earth may be rewarded
in heaven by that OMNIPOTENT POWER who is always merciful to

his creatures as they are obedient to his will. Knowing that
her redeemer liveth, resigning herself to his mercy, and imploring his blessing on \the family she was leaving after her9
she died on the llth of July, 1814, in the 54th year of her age.
CLOCH-A'-PHOILL, (literally the hole stone, in Irish.)—Two
miles south of Tullow, in the parish of Aghade, is a huge piece of
granite of singular appearance. It is about twelve feet in height
and four in breadth, having an aperture through near the top.
There is a tradition, that a son of one of the Irish kings was
chained to this stone ; but that he contrived to break his chain and
escape. This tradition coincides exactly with our historical notice,
(p. 19). There are marks left, caused by the friction of the
iron on the stone. We would at once conclude that it was a bull,
or some other animal that was chained here, and not a human
being; were not the tradition confirmed by written history, the
verity of which we are not disposed to controvert. The stone is
now thrown from its perpendicular, and it was a practice with the
peasantry to pass ill-thriven infants through the aperture in order
to improve their constitution. Great numbers formerly indulged
in this superstitious folly, but for the last twenty years the practice
has been discontinued. My informant on this occasion was a
woman who had herself passed one of her infants through the
aperture of this singular stone. She informed me, that some of the
country people talked of having it cut up for gate posts, but a
superstitious feeling prevented them. Every antiquary would regret
the demolition of the cloch-a-phoill.
DUNLECKNY.*—Eight miles south of Carlow, and barony of
Idrone East. Part of the side walls and gables of an old church
are to be found here ; contiguous to the one in present use. The
former building, in common with almost all others, of an ancient
date in the county, is of very rude architecture. There are two
stone-cased windows in the east end, six feet in height by ten
inches in breath. In the interior stands a raised tomb of the
Blackney family. On a flag indented in one of the walls is the
following inscription:
I.H.S.
Here lieth the body of James Byrne, who died the 30th July
1759. Aged 78. Lord have mercy on him. Amen. AISQ
Mary Byrne,
There are several other inscriptions on slabs indented on the
walls, and the number on tomb-stones in the church-yard is very
great; but there are none of ancient date.
GARRY HILL.—Of this place Seward writes: " Garryhill, a large
ruin near the church of Drimesin, it was anciently one of the cas• Correctly Dun-lekne, the fort on the hill side.

OP THE COUNTY OF CAHLOW.

33D

lies of the kings of Leinster." Drum/ay should be substituted
for Drimesin. It was the Kavanagh family to which the castle of
Garrachill or Garryhill belonged.
FENAGH.—Seward thus speaks of a castle situate at this
place. " At Fenagh church are the ruins of an old castle which
appears to have been well fortified by strong ramparts and a double
ditch ; formerly the seat of one of the kings of Leinster."—Topographia Hibernica, 1795. This was probably a just representation of the state of these ruins at the time specified ; but corn now
waves over the ground formerly occupied by this ancient edifice.-—
Vestiges of the ditch or fosse, however, remain.
The church is a plain, modern building. The following are
among the inscriptions in the burial-ground:
Here lieth the body oftlie charitable Thomas Garrett of Jane*
ville deceased, Aug. 31, 1759, aged 48 years.
Here lie deposited in humble hope of a joyfulresurrectionthe mor*
tal remains of James Garrett, late of Mountpleasant, Esq.—
Vain would prove an attempt at panegyric ; since no eulogy
could do justice to his merits. Reader, wouldst thou be had in
everlasting remembrance ? Endeavour to emulate his virtues. He
departed this life July the 17th, 1818. Aged 72 years,
When the last awful trump shall sound,
And earth in strong convulsion groan.
In robes made white may he be found.
From sin exempt before the throne.
Within a railed enclosure, is a raised tomb, overhung by evergreens, on which may be read the following words :
Underneath this stone are deposited the remains of Colonel David
La Touche.
Joined to an appearance calculated to win all hearts he fwssessed
every virtue that could endear him when known. Liberal, benevolent,
and sincere, the most dutiful son, the fondest husband, the most
affectionate father, the warmest friend, the kindest landlord, he
fulfilled his private duties with matchless integrity, and his remains
were honoured by the regret of a whole county. His afflicted widow
makes an humble acknowledgment of the goodness of the Almighty in
having blest her with such a husband and her children with such a
father.
Born 5th of May, 1769. Died 15th March, 1816.
May I die the death of the righteous, and may my last end be like his,
CECILIA LA T O U C H E .

HACKETSTOWN.—The church here is of recent erection.
following are among the inscriptions in the burial ground.
Rudely cut and obviously of old date:

The

H E R E LYES THE BODY OF DEBORAH YOUNG WHO DEPARTED—

2 u

340

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

This stone was erected by John Byrne for himself and family.
Here lieth the body of Eliza Byrne who departed this life Maf
the 25th. 1779 aged 18 years.
Tender parents weep no more,
Nor friends shed a tear,
For I am gone but just before,
Unto my Saviour dear.
Here lieth the body of Mr, John Jones of Woodside, wh&
departed this life 20th of April 1830, in the 99th year of his
age.
Sacred to the memory of Thomas Hardy, Esq. who was
Jdlledin action when fighting for his king and country against
the rebels at the battle of Hacketstown on the——of
June
1798.
This monument is erected by his sons Lt. Coll. Henry
Hardy and the Rev. John Hardy in respect to a beloved father}s
memory June SBth 1829. Beneath this tomb also lie the remains of Francis Hardy, Esq., who died A.D.
and
Henry Hardy, Esq., who died A.D.
grandfather and father
of the above named Thomas Hardy, Esq.
The names, together with the total absence of t h e " I . H . S /
and other indications of Roman Catholicism, amply show, that
the great majority of persons buried here have been Protestants.
Indeed, since the early part of the last century, when Benjamin
Burton, of Burton-Hall, Esq., leased his large estate here to
Protestants ,(who then were the only eligible persons), this part of
the county has been the strong hold oi that interest.
KELLYSTOWN.—Of Kellystown, Seward writes tlms : et Here
is a large ruined church dedicated to St Patrick, and said to have
been built by him. It formerly belonged to the ancient family of
Cummins, a name still surviving and numerous in this part of the
country. There are several of that name interred in the church
whose vaults are still remaining, tho' there is but one whose
inscription is intelligible; it is as follows : Hoe facet sub lapide
Huge Mac Cummins 1603." On the above, I have to observe,
that the ruined church does not seem to have been large; the name
of Cummins is not now numerous, and there are but few inscriptions of this family. The latin epitaph is not correctly given.—
The words so far as legible run thus ;
HlC
-JACET
LISTOWN CUM

DE HVGO MAC CVMVN QUO—DAM DE KEL-

This inscription is in raised Roman capitals, and runs along the
margin of the stone, in the way usual in the early part of the
seventeenth century. On the left side the words are completely
obliterated, apparently by the feet of people standing on the stone.
The tomb is for the most part worn quite smooth. An arch of
the old church, in perfect preservation^ still remains. Anew church

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

341

was erected, adjacent to the former one, about the year 1807;
when we regret to say, that one of those singular structures, the
round towers, was pulled down to make way for the belfry. This
act of inexcusable barbarism, much, and justly, annoyed Mr.
Doyne, the proprietor of the estate. In the church-yard m the
tomb of a Cummins, aged 108, who died in 1795. Kellystown
lies about five miles east of Carlow. The ground being here elevated, a considerable prospect is obtained of the surrounding
country.
Mr. Brewer tells us that, " the more aneient name of this place
is aU-mna-ur-iosal-na-moen—the church of the poor mourning
Minister women ; allusion to a sanguinary battle fought here, in
or about the year 478, in which the Munster warriors were defeated and slaughtered by those of Leinster." This battle is mentioned, pp. 18 and 07 of this work.
KILEDMUND.— The church of Kiledmund which was built by
one of the Bagenal family, stands at the foot of Mount Leinster,
and in the barony of Idrone East. The scenery here is of a superior order, from the contiguous mountains and extensive plantation of trees. The Black Stairs and the celebrated pass called
Scullogh-gap are prominent objects. The church is a neat
building, fifty-feet by twenty-two. On a monument inside a walled
enclosure, handsomely overshaded by laurel, is the following inscription :
Robert Edward Carroll departed this life August the lltk
1806, aged 30 years.
This gentleman's widow, Mrs. Amelia Carroll was buried here
about the year 1825. She was a daughter of the late Beauchamp
Bagenal, Esq., of Dunleckny, and lived in a plain house which
stands near the church. Mr. Carroll was a member of the respectable county Wicklow family of that name.
Near the preceding mausoleum, is a monument with these
words :
Here lieth the remains of Doctor John Minchin of Bagenalsioivn who departed this life the 7th of January 1823 aged 25
years.
In sure and certain Jwpe of
a
Glorious resurrection
Hark from the tomb a doleful sound,
My ears attend the cry,
Ye living men come view the ground,
Where you shall shortly lie.
This tomb was erected by his afflicted widow Catherine Mm*
chin, alias Little, as a small tribute of her affection and love.
On the townland of Lacken, near Kiledmund, is a granite
cross, about three feet in height, on which the following inscription
is legible :—
O.K.L. DEC. 1737. A.C.

342

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Near the stone is a cairn or heap of stones. The cross is mutilated; the peasantry say the damage was done by some soldiers,
who used it as a target.
KILTENNEL.—One mile from Kiledmund is the ruined church
of Kiltennel; situate in a rude and wild district. Two gables
and one side wall of the coarsest architecture, are standing.—
There is an arched entrance in the wall, about six and a half feet
high, by twelve in breadth. Ivy covers the Walls, and inside is a
receptacle for " holy water," of about eighteen inches in diameter.
An enclosure, or continuation of the church, stands at the east end,
inside which a large ash tree is growing. The following inscription (with a coat of arms at top), on a slab indented in the wall,
informs us of the history of this subjoined edifice:
CAPTIN . EDMUND . B Y R N E . ERECTED . THIS . CHAPEL . AND .
DOCTOR . EDMUND . BYRNE . ARCHBISHOP . OF . DUBLIN . CONSECRATED . YE. SAME. I N . Y E . Y E A R . 1 7 0 9 .

On a flat stone are these words:
Underneath this stone doth lie As much Vertue as Could Die
Which when Alive did Vigour give to as much Beauty as Could
live. Her age was four years old and died last Michaelmas
day> 1742. Name. Ann Warren.
Near the'preceding:
HERE LYETH THE BODY OP TERENCE BYRNE WHO DEPARTED
THIS L I F E THE 8 6 T H YEAR OF HIS AGE. 1 7 1 1 .

In the burial ground may be found the following inscriptions :
Erected by Lieutenant John Stone in memory of his father
the late Lieutenant Thomas Stone who was killed by the rebels
on the 26th day of June, 1798, aged 76 years.
Erected by John Sinnott of Kiledmond in memory of his
beloved father John Sinnott, Lieutenant of Mount Leinster
Infantry, who departed this life January the 1th 1828, aged
76 years.
KILLINANE.—The ruins of the church of Killinane, and its
burial bround, lie halfway between the Royal Oak and Leighlinbridge. One gable and a side wall (sixty-three feet in length)
are standing, and the ruin is bisected by another wall. A window
in a ruinous state is observable in the east end. The whole is covered by a profusion of ivy. Inside the western end of the ruins
is a tomb—with the following inscription ;
Underneath are deposited the remains of Harriet C. Smyth
second daughter of Patrick Smyth late of Baillieborow in the
county of Cavan, Esq. She died the 22nd of October, 1808.
In the burial ground is this inscription, amongst others :
H E R E LIETH THE BODY OF JOHN ROBERTS WHO DEPARTED
THE 2 5 t h OF JULY, 1710, AGED 9 9 YEARS.

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLQW,

343

The forty-sixth milestone, (Irish measure), from Dublin, stands
at this place.
OLD LEIGHLIN.-— The cathedral church of the diocese of Leighlin stands at the distance of two English miles west of Leighlinbridge. The site is admirably adapted for a structure dedicated
to religious purposes. A nook is formed by the adjacent hills, and
here, quite removed from any thorough-fare, far away from the
busy haunts of men, this relic of antiquity raises its venerable
head. The history of Old Leighlin may be learned in the foregoing pages; we shall here render a minute account of its present
state and circumstances.
The cathedral (which is of the plainest Gothic architecture)
consists of a nave and chancel. The length of the nave is eightyfour feet; that of the chancel, sixty-feet; breadth, twenty-one
feet. There are a door and window in the west end, and two side
entrances. Ancient reservoirs for " holy water/' are fixed in the
wall to the right hand, on entrance, of the south door, and on the
left of the western. In the nave is a large stone baptismal font,
sustained by a pedestal which rests upon a raised foundation six feet
square. The font is at the height of about five feet from the^floor of
the*nave, A very curiously worked arch of stone may be observed
over part of the nave. The entire inside is, with the usual bad taste,
whitewashed. The belfry tower is about sixty feet in height, and
has a mean sort of slated spire on top; which from its pigmy size,
and general unsuitableness to the building on which it is erected,
has the worst possible effect. Winding stone steps are continued to
the summit of the belfry; forty steps lead to the first landing place,
after which twenty-two more, of very narrow construction, conduct to the top. The date on the bell is 1787.—From the north
side of the cathedral project two structures in a ruinous state.
The dimensions of that toward the west, are, twenty-seven feet by
twenty-four, on the inside; with windows closed up and roofless.
The other runs on a line with the east end, projects from the
cathedral twenty-two feet, and is fifty-two feet in length. It is
about thirty feet in height, and is roofless. A Gothic window of
superior workmanship, and in good preservation, is to be seen in
the eastern extremity of this latter ruin.—In the chancel are stalls
for the dean and chapter. T o the right, on entrance, we find them
thus lettered: DEAN—CHANCELLOR—TULLOGYMAH—TECOLM—
READER—to the left thus: PRECENTOR—TREASURER—ARCHDEACON— ULLARD—AGHOLD.

Having thus depicted the general features of the cathedral, let
us now proceed to the monuments. These are well worthy of notice. Inscriptions may be observed on five flags in the aisle of the
chancel. Commencing at the communion table, they are in order
as follows. In black letter, with curious figuring in centre :

%it jwctt %Lfytu* Ranter*
t fc*u* $va$ivi tt amtn tib* 1567.
Part of this stone is improperly covered by the wooden steps of the

344

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

communiontable. This is the tomb of Matthew Sanders, bishop
of Leighlin. Near the preceding, also in obscure black letter, of
which the following are a few words :

tt $:e ftfSatmeg tnutug tiling
In the middle of the aisle, with a cross in the centre, and the
following words round the margin;
H1C . JACET . CORPVS . MURTAGH. OGB . CAVENAGH . QVI .
O B I I T . X X l X . D I E . J U L I I . A N N O . D M 1 . 1 5 8 1 . JOANNIB .
BIRNE . U X O R I S . E J U S . OBIIT . XV.
MARTII . A N N O , DNI .

1590.
Near the preceding:
HERE . LYETH . THE . BODY . OF . MARY . VIGORS . WIFE . OF .
RICHARD. D . VIGORS. W H O . DECEASED . THE . SECOND. D A Y .
O F . MARCH . 1 7 0 3 .
THOV. DUST. A N D . CLAY.
TELL . ME . I . SAY
WHERE . IS . THY. BEAUTY. FLED
WAS . IT . IN . VAIN.
OR . DOTH. IT . GAIN .
THE . FAVOUR . WITH . THE . DEAD.

Adjoining the above, also in Roman capitals :
H E R E . L Y E T H . T H E . BODY; O F , SAMUELL . G R E E N . W H O .
DECEASED. T H E . 2 5 . DAY" . O F . J U L Y . 1 6 9 5 . A N D . A L S O .
T H E . BODY . OF .
GREEN . WIFE . OF . SAMUELL . GREEN .
AND . GRANDMOTHER . TO . MARY • VIGORS . WHO . DYED YE,
1VTH- O F . NOVEMBER. 1 7 0 6 . B E I N G . EIGHTY-FOUR. YEARS.
O F . AGE.

On a small black marble slab indented in wall of chancel:
Beneath this place lyeth ye body of Mrs. CHRISTIAN NICHOLSON, late wife to ye.Honourable Colonel JAMES NICHOLSON, who
departed this life ye. 2nd of February, Anno Domini, 1706—7,
in the 31st year of her age.
True piety Sf unafected goodness joyned
With all ye. graces of a verluous mind
Fitted her early for a blest remove
To Saints and Angells in ye. Realmes above:
Quam vivam cmnes Colebant
Imitenter Defunctam.
The inscriptions in the nave, next claim our attention ; and first
in attraction is a raised tomb, (two feet in height, seven in length
and three in breadth), which stands opposite the south entrance.
It is generally reputed, even by men of education, that this is
the tomb of a bishop Kavanagh; but, I think a very slight degree
of scrutiny will prove, that such is not the fact. The characters
are in black letter, relief, and would certainly puzzle most persons.

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

345

We confess our inability to decipher the entire, but the following
words are certainly to be found on the stone:

Wt j&ttt Offfllelfiftttt <©'38r£tt ftltit*—WBium 2&ai)attaj$
itita
tavvalofku bzllmtbvtn. %t&$lmU.
Thus it would seem, that it belonged to a person named O'Brin or
O'Byrne. The three townlands last mentioned are in this immediate neighbourhood. I could not discover the exact year inscribed
on the tomb; but it is certainly subsequent to 1500. There is a
coat of arms on one side of the tomb, with the initial B. at top.—
This monument was pulled in pieces by the deluded rebels of
1798 ; but has been since restored to its original state, with the
exception of an addition very improperly made at the foot, where
the fragment of another tomb has been used to repair this. Nothing could be more injudicious, as it may mislead and confuse the
future inquirer. W e , however, do our duty in pointing out the
circumstance.
There are inscriptions on two flags of the nave, which run as
follows:
H E A R LIETH THE BODY OF HENRY RYDKINS WHO DEPARTED

THrs LIFE IN MAY T H E 20. 1726, AGED 101 YEARS.

Also

the body of his son Henery Rudkins yjho departed this life
April the 6th 1738, aged 53 years.
This has a coat of arms and crest at top. Near it is the other,
with death's head and crossed bones, after which are the following
words:
HERE LYETH INTERRED Y E . BODY OF MRS. JANE BUTLER LATE
O F RATHELLINE IN YE. COUNTY OF CATHERLOUGH WIDOW WHO
DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 2 0 OF JANUARY, 1 7 1 9 , IN THE SIXTY
FIRST YEAR OF HER AGE. AND HER YOUNGEST SON DER. BUTLER
WHO DIED SOME YEARS BEFORE.

Here lieth the body of Mrs. Jane Edwards daughter to ye.
above named Jane Butler who departed this life ye* ^th day of
May 1750 aged 72 years. Her life was Faith Hope Charity
and Love Aft companion for the blest above.
The burial ground now claims our notice. In an enclosure under the east window of the cathedral are three monuments of the
Vigors family.
The following inscriptions are to be found in various parts of the
burial ground.
Sacred to the memory of Lieutenant Robert Henry Boughton
of the 85th Regiment of Foot, late of Corsham county of Wilts
England.
Died the 30M of October J 827.
Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Anne Rudkin wife of Gilbert
dickering Rudkin, Esq. This stone was erected in order to
perpetuate the virtues of the best of wives, the fondest of parents. Her life was short and not unchequered by pain and af

346

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

fliction; but she bore with Christian resignation, the dispensations of Heaven ; And, knowing that this earth was not her
place, she sought her abode above all sublunary things, on the
ISth day of February, 1818, aged 38 years.
Beneath this tomb is interred the remains of Mary Phillips
wife to Richard «/. Phillips Esq., of Ballingate in the county
of Wexjord, and third sister to Cornet Roche, late of Font
Hill in this county. She departed this life, October the 29tit
1823, aged35 years.
J.H.S.
H E R B . LIES . T H E . BODY . O P . DANIEL . LYON . W H O . DESESED . MEAY , T H E — — 1 7 3 1 . AGED . 3 3 . YEARS.

Tombs of the names of Nowlan. Kavanagh and Murphy, are
very numerous. The fence (it can be scarcely called a wall)
round the burial-ground is in the worst possible repair. When
the writer visited this scene, some pigs were industriously rooting
Over the graves ! Of the state of the cathedral we have little better to report; as part of the ceiling of the interior has fallen
down, the roof in general is in a state of decay, and the entire
edifice carries an appearance of decline.
In the burial-ground is a large square cut stone, somewhat similar
in shape to one at Wells, and another standing near Killinane.—
Probably this was the third stone which marked the boundaries of
the ancient borough of Old Leighlin.
The well of St Laserian (the founder of the church and episcopal see of Leighlin) is situate near a stream which rises in the
adjoining hills, and at a distance of about one hundred yards west
of the cathedral church. Seward in his Topographia Hibernica, thus writes : " It is situate at the east end of the church of
Old Leighlin. It is covered with great ash trees and much frequented by the Irish, who come to it from all parts of the kingdom." The well is not at the east end, but at the west, as alreadymentioned, and at present the visitors of this scene are but very
few ; the patron being prohibited since the year 1812, in consesequence of the death of a man who was killed in a fray here.—
This was a very commendable act on the part of the parish priest
of Leighlin, as the greater part of the multitude who visited this
place on the 18th of April (the patron day) under pretence of
religious purposes, rendered it a scene of drunkenness, gambling,
and debauchery. Two very old ash trees and a white thorn, which
formerly overshadowed the well, were cut down (about 1823) by
the late Captain y igors, of Erindale, who leased a considerable tract
of land here from the see of Leighlin. The white thorn, was formerly hung with all sorts of rags by the devotees, pilgrims, or visitors of this holy spot. At present the well is almost choaked up

OF THE COCNTY OF CARLOW.

347

with mud, and is hardly distinguishable from the marsh by which
it is encompassed. About ten yards from the well stands a rude
stone cross, five feet in height. The whole is surrounded by a
low straggling ditch. Near the cathedral is a plain house, formerly occupied by Dean Vigors. This entire scene has one uniform appearance of desertion and desolation. There is, however,
a fine prospect of the country, with Mo.unt Leinster in the distance.
LEIGHLIN-BRIDGE.—The ruins of the ancient black castle
stand here, at the foot of a bridge of nine arches, on the east
bank of the Barrow. It is in shape, an oblong square, and of
perhaps fifty feet in height. The summit is completely covered
over with ivy, planted by the present possessors of the castle,—
One floor of the structure resting on an arch remains ; to which,
there is an ascent by stone stops, as there is to the top. This
castle seems to have stood at one of the angles (N. W.) of a square
formed by a wall seven-feet thick and partly by other structures.
At the south east angle may be observed the remains of a tower
of rotund form and great strength. Its ruins are now about twentyfour feet high, the walls are ten feet thick, and a flight of twelve
stone steps are to be found in the interior. From the castle, the
wall runs two hundred and thirty-four feet south along the bank of
the river; from thence it formerly proceeded to the circular tower
just mentioned, then towards the town, and from thence again to
the castle, thus forming nearly a square. The space within the
wall was three hundred and fifteen feet (the length from the tower
to the river) by two hundred and thirty-four, as already mentioned. The entire was surrounded by a fosse. The western
wall is the only one now in existence. At its south end is a building evidently ancient, as loop holes and a stone cased door are visible in it. The outer wall of this latter structure forms part of
the boundary leading from the S.W. angle to the tower. It was
here that the ancient religious house of Leighlin-bridge was placed,
and probably this very building formed part of it. The burial
ground of the monks lay near it, inside the great wall; which
burial-ground is now a kitchen-garden, where several human
bones have been dug up. When dispossessed of their tenement here,
the monks removed to a house on the same side the river, about
two hundred yards from the castle. The last of them disappeared
five years since, and with him the establishment ceased to exist.—
It is stated that the bridge here was originally much narrower than
at present ; but I can scarcely think that were this the fact, it could
possess sufficient strength to encounter the floods of such a river as
the Barrow. However, a mark is pointed out under one of the
arches, which is stated to exhibit the former breadth of the bridge.
The history of the bridge, the castle and other objects of interest
will be collected in this work. A reference to the index will add
facility to to the inquiry. The tower or fort and surrounding wall
are probably those constructed by Bellingham in the reign of Edward VI.
2x

348

lirSTORY AND ANTTQUfTIES

Lonr/M.—-Or Lowran as Seward calls it. Of this place, he thus
writes in 1795 :-—(t situate within one mile of Ballylaughan Castle, it is but a poor place with as poor a church. However the 18th
of April being a patron day of St. Lazarianus (Laserian) is highlycelebrated, who was one of the first founders of the cathedral of
Old Leighlin and was buried here/'—There is now no patron
held, nor is there any memorial whatever of St. Laserian, in the
church-yard. Indeed, there can be no doubt that he was not buried
here but at Old Leighlin. The only objects worthy any notice,
are two handsome modern tombs of the Rudkin family.
S T . MULLINS.—This very ancient and interesting place is situate twenty-one miles south of Carlow, in the barony of the same
name and on the borders of the county. The scenery of the
place is beautiful, indeed; the river Barrow rolling majestically
along, its banks nobly elevated, and on the Kilkenny side handsomely planted, together with a smaller stream, which here forms a
junction with the nobler estuary, altogether render this region
highly picturesque. The little stream just mentioned, passes through
a deep defile from the village of Glyn, and the walk of one mile
from the latter place to St. Mullins would well repay the visitor,
independently of any attraction of an antiquarian nature.
Not less than twelve centuries have passed since St, Mullin
founded an abbey here. The particulars "of its history will be
found arranged under their proper dates. Of the present state of
the place, the following is a comprehensive detail. And first asregards the modern church, it is a structure of the plainest possible
character. Within it are some chaste and elegant monuments and
inscriptions of the Kavanagh family.
With regard to the ancient buildings ; there are five in "ruins
Within the burial ground, together with two walls forming part of
another ; and outside the enclosure to the south, there are the dilapidated remains of an additional structure. None of these possess
any architectural beauty whatever.
The five ruined buildings just mentioned, lie south of the church ;
they are of an oblong shape and run from east to west. W e shall
now state the inscriptions in each, commencing with that farthest
from the present church. On a flat stone are the following words :
I.H.S.
Here lieth the body of Si?non Kavanagh who deceased the
7 day of Novetiiber in the year of our Lord God 1724 and in
the 33 year of his age.
Lord have mercy on his soule.
Amen.
M foot are crossed bones and skull, with the words momento
mori.
The second ruin is three feet from preceding, with door in gable,
window over it, and a window at each side. Three marble slabs
are indented on east end, with inscriptions as follows :
I.H.S.
Underneath lyeth the body of Bryan Kavanagh Esq., who

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

049

departed-this life April, 22nd 1740. Aged 41 years. He
marry d Mary, daughter to Colonel Thomas Butler of Kilcash9
by whom he had 5 sons, of whom 4 dyd infants, and six daughters. Requiescat in pace.
I.H.S.
Underneath lyeth interrd ye. body of Morgan
Kavanagh.
Esq., who departed this life Feby. 22d., 1720. aged 51 years.
He marry d Frances, daughter to Sir Laurence Esmond, Bart,
by whom he had three sons, and two daughters* To his second wife, he marry d Margaret, daughter to Harvey Morres
Esq , of CasllemorreS} by whom he had one son.
Requiescat
in pace.

Underneath lyeth the body of Harvey Kavanagh Esq., who
departed this life April 17, 1740, aged 32 years. He marry'd
Mary daughter to John Meade Esq of Bally hail, by whopi he
had one son arid one daughter.
Requiescat in pace.
A third ruin stands about twelve feet from the last mentioned^
and of the same construction, but no gables remaining. There
are no tombs or inscriptions inside. At eighteen feet from this
latter structure are two ancient walls of considerable height, clothed
in ivy; between which and the present church is a ruined chapel,
seventy-two feet in length by twenty-four in breath. Part of the
north side is down, and the building is intersected by a wall which
ran to the roof. Two apertures for bells at top. On entering a
pointed arched doorway in west end, a stone reservoir for water is
found in the wall to the left hand. The top of the ruin is covered
with ivy, Within the east end is a large flag lying flat on which
(partly defaced) is the following inscription in raised letters:
S V B HOC LAPIDE LAET CORPVS DANIELLIS KfNSELLAGH OLIM
DE
Q V — O B I I T 8 DIE MENSIS NO ANNO DO 1 6 4 6 .
ETIAMQUl
HINC IN MEMORIA SUI
L.K.

On the same stone:
Also are here deposited the remains of Doctor James Kinsellagh who departed this life in November, 1781 aged 81 years.
Also his wife Mary Kinsellagh alias Doyle who departed this
life in April 1794 aged 74 years. Reqt in pace. Amen.
The figure of a cross occupies the centre of this tomb, and towards the lower part are a death's head and crossed bones, with
the motto momento mori. The above Latin inscription runs
round the margin of the stone, as usual in the seventeenth century.
Indented in the wall of the east end, and erected in 1822, is a
black slab with these words.
Here are deposited the remains of Patrick Doyle and Ids
wife Catherine who lived to the age of 126 years} fyc.

350

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

At the exterior of the east end of the second of the ruins already
alluded to, is a flat stone with the following inscription :
I.H.S.
Here lieth the body of James Kavanagh of Inch ivho died
Sept, 6, 176*4. Aged 19 years. Also the body of Honour
Kavanagh alias Eustace ivho died Oclo
Requiescant in pace.
In the centre of the church yard is an inclosure, with a wall
about four feet high, intersected by another, having a stone cross
at top. The bisecting wall has a black marble slab indented on it,
with the following inscription :
Here lieth the body of Bryan Kavanaugh of Drummin of the
family of Bally leaugh. A man remarkably known to the nobility and gentry of Ireland by the name of Bryan Nestroake
from his noble actions and valour in King James s troops in the
battle of the Boyne and Aughri?n. He died February the 8th
1735. Aged 74 years. Also the body of his wife Mary Kavanagh alias Murphy with four e of their children. R.I. P.
This monument is erected by his son Mr. James Kavanaugh
cf Dranagh departed this life June the 23rd 1790, aged 70
years. Also his wife Mary Kavanaugh departed this life April
the 3rd9 1753 aged 32 years, and also his daughter Elenor
Motley alias Kavanaugh departed this life March the 10th
1797, aged 50 years. Lord have mercy on their souls. Amen,
I have been informed, that the Bryan Nestroake', above mentioned, got the appellation, from a mark or stroke, which he
carried on his face, in consequence of a wound received in a duel
with an English officer, about the time of the battle of the Boyne.
On a flat flag, inside the in closure, and near the preceding, are
inscribed the following words :
Here lieth the body of Mr. Edmond Kwvanagh late of Turrah
depd. this life Feb. the 8/A 1804, aged 49 years.
Also his wife Catherine Kavanagh grand daughter to the renown champion Bryan Nestroake depd. July 2 1 , 1821, agedll
years.
The Roches of Conogue have tombs inside.—At the east end
of the largest of the ruins, are the remains of a stone cross, with
the socket in which it stood; also, a small roofless walled inclosure
with a descent of two steps into it, and one window.—There are
numerous tombs of the Kavanaghs, Brenans, Murphys, Doyles,
Ryans, and Whelans, but I have given all that is remarkable. St.
Mullins was anciently, and continues still the burial place of the
family of Kavanagh of Borris.
There is a holy well here, inclosed by a stone wall, round which
the deluded peasantry do " penance" on the eve of the fair days
of the year.
MYSHAL.—This village is situate eleven miles from Carlow, in
the barony of Forth. A church in ruins is the only remnant of

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

351

antiquity observable here. Part of one end and of the side walls
are standing. There is an arched door in the gable, about three
feet in breadth. The walls are covered with ivy.
In the burial ground are the following :
I.H.S.
Here lietli the body of the Reverend Edward Eustace, Of
Mi/shall, Capuchin, who departed January, 1783, aged 66 years,
Requiescant in pace. Amen.
Here lieth the body of Rowland Eustace, who departed this
life September the \\th 1799, aged 54 years. May the Lord
have mercy on his soul. Amen*
NURNEY.—This church and burial ground lie about six miles
from Carlow, near the road leading to Bagenalstown. Within the
church yard are the remnants of a rude stone cross, and outside
the wall to the north is a perfect one six feet in height. The church
is built of cut stone. The spire remains unfinished. Within a
railed inclosure is a raised tomb, with the following inscription:
Here lieth the body of Henry Bruen of Oak Park in the
county of Carlow Esquire who departed this life on the I4t/i
day of December in the year of our Lord 1795 in the 55th year
of his age.
In another part of the burial ground is a curious inscription, as
follows:
Here lieth the bodys of James M'Cormack and his wife Dinah
late of Clonneen Quarter master and agitant 44 years and
cornner 40 years. Aged between 90 and 100. Died July 29,
1762.
There is a splendid view of the western part of the county, with
the river Barrow, from Nurney church yard.
RAHILL.—The ruins of the church of Rahill stand on" the townland of the same name, about one mile from Rathvilly, and teri
from Carlow. There is but a gable end and the mere foundations
of the rest of the walls remaining. The church was bieected by a
wall, and its dimensions seem to have been, sixty three feet in
length by twenty-seven in breadth. The situation is pretty; the
Wicklow mountains, Cadeen and Lugnaquilla add grandeur to the
prospect. There are but three or four tomb-stones.
Within the remains of the former church are the two following:
Hear Lyeth The Body Of Elizabeth Beasley Alias Chidley
Alias Enraght.
She Dyed On The 1 \th Day Of April 1753.
She Was A Sinceare Christian In Principle And Action. Her
Life Was Exemplary And Her Death Pious. Aged 60.
Near this place lyeth the body of Wm. Pendred, Esq., who
departed this life the Sth of June 1759 in the 4Sth year of his
age. This stone is erected by his son Wm, Pendred of Baradery Esq., to perpetuate the memory of his many virtues*

352

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

This William Pendred lived at the large house situate on the
neighbouring townland of Broghillstown, and over the river Slaney.
He was succeeded in it by the grand-father of the author, who
now inherits it. In 1752, Mr. Pendred was allotted seat No. 4
in the church of Rathvilly, as will be seen by reference to the
Appendix. (20) It would seem that the walls of Rahill were
pulled down for the stones, as many of them lie scattered at some
yards distance.
RAHINGEERAH, or Rathnegiragh.—At Rahingeerah, near
Garryhill, are the ruins of an ancient castle. It is mentioned
more than once in this work. See page 155, and elsewhere.
RATHVILLY.—The church and burial ground of Rathvilly are
situate at the village of the same name, over the river Slaney, and
at a distance of ten miles from Garlow. The church was built in
1751, and has been lately ornamented with a spire. Among the
inscriptions are the two following :
I.H.S.
The prayers of all who views this monument are required for
ike soul of George Mulloy who departed this life March the 17 th
1765.

TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. ANNE WHITTY,

Here lie beneath this marble stone consign dt
Wife, mother, sister. Christian, all combin'd,
Each station gently fWd by God approved,
She died lamented as she lived beloved.
The shaft by which the fatal blow was given,
No sting inflicting sent her soul to Heaven.
Died 22nd Feb. 1826.
The Bunbury family have a monument here. Further particulars
relating to this parish may be found in the Appendix. (20) Near
Rathvilly is one of the ancient moats ; and on the adjacent townland of Waterstown is a rude stone cross, embedded in a socket
of like material, and about seven feet in height. It is supposed,
that the parish church formerly stood at this place.
ROYAL OAK.—This place is situate eight miles south of Carlow,
on the townland of Clorouske, late the estate of Major Boyle
Hewson of Kilkenny; who on his demise, left it to the family of
Way, who now possess it. The well known inn was established
here probably a century ago ; and if we may judge from the signboard that ornaments the front of the house, is named in commemoration of the famous escape of King Charles the second, by
concealment in an oak tree. Some twenty or thirty houses and
cabins form a sort of street here. Three hundred yards east of
the Royal Oak, is Bagenal bridge, over the Barrow built by Walter
Bagenal, Esq., who died in 1745. The ancient ford is forty yards
below the bridge.

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW,

353

SLYGUFF.—The ruins of this church with a burial ground
stand on a site beautifully elevated over the river Barrow, about
two miles south of Bagenalstown. The parish of Slyguff is very
contracted in breadth, but in length it extends from the ruins to
the summit of Mount Leinster, a distance of seven miles.—Two
side walls of the old church are standing. The structure was
originally seventy-eight feet in length and twenty-one in breadth \
but now only fifty-one feet of the side walls remaining. The following is the most ancient inscription:
THE BODY OF GEORGE BURROUGHS LYETH HERE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE IX HIS 2 0 T H YEAR, 1 8 DECR. 1 7 6 2 .

In 1806, a fine gold ancient clasp for a cloak was found near
Slyguff ruins, by Mr. Mathew Murphy of this place. It weighed
four ounces, and was beautifully carved. Mr. Murphy sold it to
the Royal Dublin Society for the sum of twenty pounds. The
name of Slyguff in the Irish language was Sliev guv.
STAPLESTOWN CHURCH.—Two miles east of Carlow stands this
very handsome modern church. On white marble in the interior
may be read the following inscription :
Sacred to the memory of Walter Bagenaly Esq., of Dunleckney, in this county, who departed this life on the 18/// of June,
1814, in the 52nd year of his age. This monument is erected
by Elizabeth and Maria Bagenal, his disconsolate widoiv and
daughter, to perpetuate [the memory of a husband and parent,
beloved, honoured and respected.
His mortal remains lie entombed beneath the adjoining stone.
The above mentioned gentleman was the last male of the ancient family of Bagenal.
The burial ground contains nothing worthy of observation.
TOBIN'S-TOWN.—The following account of a cromleac at Tobin's-town, is taken from Grose's Antiquities: " On the west end
is a portico, formed by two upright pillars, somewhat round but
irregular, each eight feet high, terminated behind by a broad flat
stone set on the edge, eight feet high and nine feet broad, making
a portico of six feet wide and four deep. This is covered by the
cromlech, or large sloping stone. This stone is twenty-three feet
long, eight broad at the upper end over the portico, and six at the
lower or back part, where it rests on small stones about a foot high.
Its thickness on the upper end is four feet, and at the lower two.
The under surface is plain and even, but the upper convex. The
upper part has a large channel, from which branches a number of
smaller ones: to some they appear natural, to others artificial, for
sacrificial purposes. The sides are enclosed and supported by
several upright anomalous stones from three to six feet high, making a room eighteen feet long ; eight at the upper or west end, and
five broad at the opposite one, and from two to eight feet high,
perfectly secure against every inconvenience of weather. From the
portico westward is a sort of avenue about forty yards long, formed

354

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ot small irregular artificial hillocks. This avenue leads to the
portico. The cromlech is situated in a low, plain field, near a rivulet, on the road from Tullow to Hacketstown."
TULLOW, anciently Tullagh or Tullo-Pkelim.*—The only remains or rather appendage of the abbey of St. Austin now observable, is the upper part of a stone cross of large dimensions. It
is broken from its shaft, and lies on the site of the former abbey,
near the bridge, and south of the river. A burial ground is to be
found in the same place, but no inscription of the least interest.
There is a well here, enclosed by mason work, and a Gothic window, lately erected, and intended to represent part of the ancient
abbey. This latter was in bad taste and less propriety ; for whatever might be said in palliation of the erection of counterfeit ruins
on new sites, nothing can be advanced in apology for the constructing of a spurious, illegitimate piece of imitation on ground where
it looks like profane intrusion, and might possibly mislead or deceive future inquirers. Full sure are we, that were St. Austin
himself in the flesh, he would not sanction such doings.—The history, of the abbey will be found in the preceding pages.
About three years since the old church (erected in 1740) was
pulled down, and a new one erected. The inscriptions are well
worthy of notice. In the interior on white marble, with a coat of
arms at top, may be read the following words :
Underneath lieth the body of the Honourable Lieut. General
Clement Nevil, who departed this life the fifth day of August,
1744, in the 70th year of his age. He was the eldest commissioned officer in his present Majesty King George the Second's
service, and had the honour to receive his first commission, from
the ever glorious King Williain The third, when Prince of
Orange, which bore date the 31st December, 1688; as he set
out in military service, under that great patron of Liberty,
so he had the happiness to be first employed under General Kirk
in the relief of London Derry; and soon after carried the
colours at the battle of the Boyne, both memorable events by
which this kingdom in particular was delivered from impending
slavery. He afterwards served as Lieutenant Colonel in Spain
and acquitted himself with great honour, when Paymaster to
the unhappy persons who were left prisoners in that country.
His public services ended as they began in the defence of his
country at the battle of Preston, where his treatment of those
deceived men, when in his care as prisoners, will always be
mentioned as an example, that true courage, and the tender est
humanity, ever go together. He was descended by his father &
side, from a younger branch of Lord Abergaveny s family, and
his mother was sister to Sir Charles Wolseley, of Wolseley, in
the kingdom of England, and county of Stafford, Baronet.
The notification at foot, " David Sheehan, Fecit, 1745," indicatejs the period at which the monument was prepared, and by
* Tullagh, in Irish, signifies a gentle hill.

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

355

whom. It does the artist or rather his memory (for I suppose he
is gathered to his fathers) very considerable credit.—The family
of Wolseley have large landed property near Tullow.
The following inscription may be read on a monument, within a
railed enclosure, in the church yard .
Here lietli the body of John Roger son, late of Bettyville, in
the county of Carlow, Esq., who departed this life on Sunday,
May the 8th, anno Domini, 1785, aged 66 years.
Possessed
of a noblefortune he did not dissipate it in luxury or extravagance, but during his lifetime expended the greatest part of his
inco??ie in acts of most extensive charity and
munificence;
dying unmarried, and not having any near relations who had a
natural claim upon him, he bequeathed 4,000/. to the different
charitable foundations in the city of Dublin, and the residue of
his estates to that very patriotick and extended charity, the Pro~
test ant charter-schools of Ireland.
Resolved, thai in his death, the orphan and the poor should
not feel the loss of so liberal a benefactor.
There are well-constructed tombs ot the families of BUNBURY,
W H E L A N , SHEPARD, BREWSTER, GETHINGS, & C , in the burial

ground.
In raised letters, on an old stone, are to be found these words :
HIC . JACET . WALTERUS. MOTTLY . ET • UXOR . E J U S . JOANNA •
WYSE. T E R R A . FUl . QUONDAM. RURSUS . S U M . T E R R A .
NIHIL . SUM . TERRA . VALE.
1626.

The following inscription may be read on the bridge of Tullow:
This bridge was built by Mr. Thomas Nowlan of Rathvaran9
farmer, in the year 1767, Sir Richard Butler, Bart., Thomas
Bunbury, Robert Eustace, Esqrs., Messrs. Robert Leckey and
John Brewster, overseers.
A barrack formerly stood on the ground now occupied by the
court-house. It was erected, we understand, in the reign of Queen
Anne; the materials of the building being composed of the walls
of the old abbey, which were pulled down for the purpose.
There are no remains of the castle extant. It stood, we believe, near the site of the present church,—For further particulars,
see appendix. (21)

2 y

B56

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

CHAP. X X X I I .
Some account of the respectable families who have been long
resident in the county of Car low, and who possess property in it.
W e have pleasure in adding this chapter to our work, were it
only for the purpose of shewing, that this county (though it has no
resident nobleman) possesses among its gentry some of the highest
blood in the kingdom.
W e should observe, that in the following notices we have styled
all those Esquire, who were entitled to the rank of gentleman;
the latter designation, following the name, not being now used,
except in law papers.. Regarding the rank of gentleman, we find
as follows in R E E S ' Cyclopaedia. " Gentleman, a person of good
family, or descended of a family which has long borne arms, the
grant of which adds gentility to a man's family. Mr. Camden observes, that the distinction of a gentleman is the bearing of arms
from the grand-father ; and that he who bears arms from his grandfather is to all intents and purposes a gentleman of blood. Sir
Edward Coke says, that esquires and gentlemen are only names of
worship and not of dignity. And before these the heralds rank all
colonels, Serjeants at law, and doctors of the three learned professions. Guillim says, that if a gentleman be bound apprentice to
a merchant or other trader, he hath not thereby lost his gentility."
It is a vulgar error, that a specific quantity of property is the qualification of an Esquire; as many persons are entitled to the rank
from civil or military offices ; all Captains in the army are esquires ;
and we do not find property at all mentioned as the foundation of
a right to the title. The rank of gentleman is clearly defined. It
is held either by birth, education, or profession; and it is clear,
that no one can claim the title of esquire, who has not first the
rank of gentleman.
ASTLE.—This family now exists but in descendants from females. It was, however, one of respectability and we shall not
omit it here.
The Astle family has been long of considerable wealth and distinction in Staffordshire. Beaumont Astle, Esq., was an officer of
the army engaged under William I I I . in the reduction of Ireland,
and in the maintenance of civil and religious liberty. Early in
the last century he settled in the county of Carlow. He married
as his first wife
, by whom he had one son, Henry,
who died without issue. His second wife was Catherine, daughter
of
Berkeley, Esq., of the county of Carlow. The Berkeley family is one of great distinction in England, and the Irish
branch of it was highly respectable. The name is mentioned in
the foregoing pages. They possessed considerable property in our
county; the townlands of Ardristan and others belonged to them.
This property was sold by a member of the family, (the last male
of it, we believe), to Thomas Burgh3 Esq., of Bert House,

01? THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

357

county Kildare, whose descendant, lord Dowries, now possesses i t
On the 18th {September, 1727, Henry Berkeley, Esq., (brother
of the above named Catherine), demised and granted for ever, to
Beaumont Astle, Esq., (then a Captain of Dragoons), part of the
lands of Ardristan. Captain Astle built a dwelling house on this
estate, and called the seat Beaumont.
It is now called Elle?igrove, and is tenanted by Edward Eustace, Esq. Captain Astle
had issue by his second marriage: Beaumont, a solicitor, who
died without issue; Marmaduke, who died without issue; Abigail,
who died without issue ; Lettice, married to Ralph James, Esq,,
of Urelands, county Wicklow; Catherine, married to «
—
James, Esq. Captain Astle married as his third wife, Elizabeth,
daughter of
D'Abbadie, Esq., by whom he had issue
as follows: 1, William, a Captain in the Carlow regiment of militia, who died in 1809 at Tuam, where the regiment then lay.
H e died without issue; and thus the name became extinct. 2, Anne,
married to John Ryan, of Broghillstown, in county Carlow, Esq.
3, Mary, (bap. 20 April, 1740) ; 4, Grace.
The will of Captain Astle, the elder, (who, we understand,
had attained the rank of Major in the Carabineers), is dated, 2nd
April, 1770 ; it was proved, 11th May, 1773. His widow survived him, as appears by the following entry in the registry book
of the union of Aghade: "Burials. April ye. 17th, 1770. The
widow Astle at Ardristen."
Captain William Astle, above named, was a man of more than
ordinary spirit. A circumstance which occurred at Nenagh, where
the Carlow militia was quartered in 1793, is worthy of mention.
A difference having occurred between a Mr. Watson (who was a
recruiting volunteer, in expectation of a commission), and the colonel of the Carlow regiment, a hostile message from the former
was the consequence. The colonel, however, did not notice the
application ; but Astle was resolved not to let Mr. Watson off so
easily. They fought in the yard of the head inn, then kept by
one Pyne, when Astle was wounded in the breast. Captain John
Newton, afterwards lieutenant colonel of the regiment, was Astle's
second on the occasion. Captain Astle, though a very inoffensive
man, was in his time, principal in two or three hostile meetings.
He was a keen sportsman, and was particularly fond of fowling.
He had some of the best dogs in the kingdom. On his death,
two of them brought the very high price of eighty pounds.
BAGENAL.—Although the last male of this family has descended
to the grave, we cannot omit an account which must be interesting.
Sir Nicholas Bagenal, knight, Marshal of Queen Elizabeth's
armies, (died 1575.) married Ellen, daughter and coheir of E .
Griffith of Penrhyn. Issue: 1, Sir Henry Bagenal, knight, marshal of Queen Elizabeth's armies, for many years> and for his
eminent services had grants i'rom the crown of many extensive
manors, &c. Born 155iL Killed at the battle of Blackwater 1598,*
* Sir W, Scott alludes to Marshal'Bagenal in his poem of '* Rokeby*"

358

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

2 , Dudley, 3, Ambrose, 4, Francis, 5, Mary, 6, Ralph, 7, Jane,
8, Isabel, 9, Margaret, 10, Edward, 11, Anne, 12, Ursula.
The above Sir Henry Bagenal married Eleanor daughter of
Sir John Savage, of Rocksavage. Issue : 1, Arthur, 2, Griffith, 3,
John, 4, Anne.
The above Arthur succeeded to his father's estates of Plasnydd,
& c , and also received many grants from king James I. which were
renewed by Charles I. of large estates in the counties of Louth,
Down and Armagh. Died 1643. He married, in 1602, Magdalen,
daughter of Sir R. Trevor, of Trevallyan, county of Denbigh.
Issue : Nicholas. Died 1712. Married 1, lady Anne Bruce, daughter
of the earl of Ailesbury, 2, Sidney, daughter of R. Grosvenor,
of Eaton, Chester. He had no issue, and his property is now
possessed by the Marquis of Anglesey as heir to Lewis Baillie,
bishop of Bangor, who married Anne daughter of Sir Henry
Bagenal,
County of Carlow branch,—Dudley, son of Sir Nicholas Bagenal, had a son named George, who was granted by letters patent,
dated 11, June, 10th year of king James I. (1612)"certain estates
in the county of Carlow, in consideration of his good and faithful
services, and of the good and faithful services of his father, Dudley Bagenal, to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Said George
married Joanna Butler, daughter of Walter, 11th earl of Ormonde,
by Helena, daughter of Edmund 2nd viscount Mount Garret. Issue:
Walter, who received grants similar to those of his father by letters
patent, dated 21 July, 2nd year of Charles I. (1626) in consideration of the services of his father and grand-father; also the whole
barony of Idrone in the county of Carlow.
Said Walter married Elizabeth, daughter of lord Teynham^
widow of J . Plunket, Esq. Issue : Dudley, died 1712. Married,
in 1668, Anne daughter of S. Mathew, Esq. of Thomastown ancestor of lord LlandafF. Issue : Walter. Born, 1671. Died 1745.
Married, in 1740, Eleanor Beauchamp. Issue: Beauchamp.
Born, 1741.
This gentleman came into possession of an immense estate in the
county; in fact, all, or nearly all that had been granted to his
ancestor by James I. He, however, commenced selling portions
of his estate immediately on his accession to it. He made two
extensive sales of land to the La Touche family, one lot of which
has since been disposed of to lord viscount Beresford. The late
Henry Bruen, Esq., likewise made a great purchase from him.
The remainder of his landed property is now possessed by Lord
Downes, in right of his lady, and by Philip Newton, Esq.—Mr.
Beauchamp Bagenal was a man of singular character. It has been
said of him, that he had the eccentricity of the Bagenals, the parsimony of the Beauchamps, and the pride of the Mathews. He
was a man of great personal spirit, and fought in his time not less,
we believe, than half a score of duels. The church-yard of Killinane was a favorite'spot with him on these belligerent occasions ;
where ; being lame from an accident, he always maintained his per-

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.'

359

pendicular by resting against one of the tomb-stones; and thus
received the fire of his adversary. In fact, Mr. Bagenal was a
very fair specimen of the " fire-eating" Irish squires of that day ;
so admirably pourtrayed by Miss Edgeworth in her Castle Rackrent. Mr. Bagenal was at all times a high patriot: the reward,
however, intended for him in 1798, was not the most grateful.
This very discreditable circumstance has been already noticed
(p. 317), and assuredly carries with it an important lesson. Mr.
Bagenal married Maria, widow of
— Ryan, Esq. Issue :
Walter, born 1762. Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., died in 1801.
Walter married Elizabeth, widow of
Chambers, Esq. Only
issue : Maria, married to Sir Ulysses Burgh, K.C.B., now. Lord
Downes. Walter Bagenal, Esq., died in 1814, when the name
of this ancient family became extinct.
We have found the name of this family spelled by historians, & c ,
in no less than seven different ways, viz. Bagenall, Bagnal, Bagnail, Bagnel, Bagnoll, Bagenell, and recently Bagenal. The
name of Ralphe Bagenall is signed as a privy councillor to an order
dated at Dublin, 11th November, 5th Edw. VI. The mode last
adopted would therefore seem to approximate closely to the original.—The same varieties are observable in spelling the name of
Grace. Thus : Gros, Grosse, Crassus, Gras, Grasse, and Grace.
Were there many families of the same name, this various orthography would doubtless lead to error.
BLACKISEY.—Mr. Blackney, one of the present members of
parliament for the county, is of a Roman Catholic family which
has been resident in this county for a considerable period. See p.
250.
BROWNE.—Of this family, Brewer writes as follows: " T h e
line of the Browne family settled at this place (Browne's-hill), derives from the house of Rokewood Hall, Abbess Roding, and
Weald Hall, in Essex. In the year 1050, Robert, second son of
John Browne, of Wickham and Abbess Roding, Esq., passed
into Ireland, and his descendant, the late Robert Browne, Esq.,
purchased the estates in this county, now in the possession of the
present proprietor.''
William Browne, of Browne's-hill, Esq., married Charlotte,
daughter of Joseph, earl of Mayo, in 1794. Lady Charlotte
Browne died in 1800.
Mr. Browne married, secondly, Letitia, daughter of John, earl
of Norbury, on the 8th March, 1813.
BUNBURY.—-The original surname of this family, according to
numerous and authentic records, was St. Pierre; one of which
name accompanied William the Conqueror to England. The name
of St. Pierre became, however, extinct in the beginning of the
15th century, and the designation of Bunbury, having been previously adopted by the descendant of the first St, Pierre, has ever

360

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

since been retained.* The family of Bunbury has been settled in
the county of Carlow for about a century and a half.
BURTON.

Sir CHARLES BURTON, Baronet, of Pollerton, in

the county of Carlow ; married in 1807, Susannah, daughter of
Joshua Paul Meredith, Esq.; succeeded to the title as third Baronet, upon the demise of his father, in 1812.
LINEAGE.—This family claims a common ancestor with the
noble house of Conyngham ; namely, Sir Edward Burton, of the
county of York, who was created a knight Banneret, by King
Edward IV., after the battle of St. Albans, in 1460. From this
gallant soldier lineally descended the brothers,
FRANCIS and THOMAS BURTON, who settled in Ireland in 1610.

The former dying without issue, the latter became the head of the
Irish branch of the family, and was succeeded by an only son,
SAMUEL, whose third son,

Benjamin Burton, Esq. becoming an eminent banker in Dublin,
attained the highest corporate honours of that city, (the aldermanic
gown and mayoralty in 1706), and represented it in parliament
from 1703 to 1723 ; he married Grace, daughter of Robert Stratford, Esq., of Belan, in the county of Kildare, and had six sons,
with as many daughters. The fifth son,
1. CHARLES BURTON, Esq., like his father, obtained the ho-

nours of the corporation of Dublin, and a seat in parliament
through the same civic body. Mr. Alderman Burton was knighted
by the viceroy, lord Harrington, and was created a baronet ot
Ireland, 5th September, 1758. H e married Margaret, eldest
daughter of Richard Meredyth, Esq., of Shrowland, in the county
of Kildare, by whom he had one son and five daughters. Sir
Charles died in 1775, and was succeeded by his only son,
2. Sir CHARLES, of Pollerton, in the county of Carlow. This
gentleman married Catherine, third daughter of John (Cuffe),
second lord Desart, by whom he had a son; Charles, as above.
Sir Charles died, in 1812.f
BUTLER.—Sir THOMAS BUTLER, Baronet, of Ballin-Temple, in

the county of Carlow ; born 14th October, 1783 ; married 30th
January, 1812, Frances Graham, fourth daughter of John Graham Clarke, Esq., of Sutton, in the county of York, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; by whom he has issue,
Richard Pierce, born 4th March, 1813.
Thomas, born 23rd May, 1814.
Antoine-Sloet, born 11th October, 1824.
Arabella-Sarah, born 27th May, 1815.
Louisa-Charlotte, born 2nd January, 1817.
Frances Marianne, born 3rd July, 1818.
Dorathea, born 20th August, 1819.
Isabella-Horatia, born 1st June, 1822.
Laura-Mary, born 5th December, 1825.
? Burke.

t Burke's Baronetage*

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOWj

361

Sir Thomas succeeded to the title as eighth baronet, at the decease
of his father, 16th January, 1817.
LINEAGE. The family of Butler is one of the most ancient
and illustrious in the British dominions ; and, for the services which,
at different periods, it rendered to the crown, it has obtained titles
of honour in each of the kingdoms which constitute the empire.
1. Thomas Butler, Esq., of Cloghgrenan, in the county of
Carlow, supposed to be lineally descended from Sir Edward Butler,
knight, second son of James, ninth earl of Ormonde, was created
a baronet of Ireland ] 6th August, 1628. Sir Thomas represented
the county of Carlow in parliament, in 1639. He married Anne,
daughter of Sir Thomas Colclough, knt., of Tynterne Abbey, in
the county of Wexford, and relict of Nicholas Bagenal, Esq., by
whom he had four sons and three daughters, and was succeeded
by his eldest son.
2. Sir Edmund, who married Juliana, daughter of Bernard
Hyde, Esq. of Shinfield, in the county of Berks, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
3. Sir Thomas of Garryhunden.—This gentleman married
Jane, daughter of the Right Rev. Richard Boyle, D.D. lord bishop of Leighlin and Ferns; by whom he had several children.
Sir Thomas represented the county of Carlow in parliament, A.D.
1692.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
4. Sir Pierce, M.P. for the county of Carlow, A.D. 1713;
who married Anne, daughter of Joshua Galliard, Esq. of Enfield,
in the county of Middlesex, and was succeeded at his decease by
his son,
5. Sir Richard, M.P. for the county of Carlow, from 1729 to
1761.
This gentleman married Henrietta, daughter and coheiress
of Henry Percy, Esq., of Leskin, by whom he had four sons and
six daughters, and was succeeded at his decease by his eldest son,
6. Sir Thomas, M.P. for the county of Carlow, A.D. 1761 ;
married Dorothea, only daughter of Edward Bayley, D.D. of
Ardfert, and Archdeacon of Dublin, and niece of Sir Nicholas
Bayley, Bart., of Plas Newyth, in Anglesey, (father of Henry,
first Earl of Uxbridge of that family, and grandfather of Henry
William, present Marquess of Anglesey:) by whom he had four
sons and as many daughters. Sir Thomas was succeeded by his
eldest son,
7. Sir Richard, who represented the county of Carlow in parliament, from 1783 to 1800. This gentlemen married Sarah,
only daughter of Thomas Worth Newenham, Esq., of Coolmore,
in the county of Cork, by whom he left issue,
THOMAS, present baronet, with several other children.
Sir Richard died 16th January, 1817,
Motto—Comme je trouve.*
BUTLER of Broomville.—James Butler, Esq. of Broomville,
Captain of the Carlow regiment of militia, is son of Wm. Paul But* Burke's Baronetage\

362

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ler, Esq., who was son of Sir Richard Butler, Bart, great-grandfather of the present Sir Thomas Butler, Baronet.
COLCLOUGH.—The best mode of shewing the origin of this family, is to copy an inscription on a tomb at Tintern Abbey, county
of Wexford.lt runs in the following words : " Here lieth the body
of Sir Anthony Colclough, Knt., eldest son of Richard Colclough,
of Wolstanton in Staffordshire, Esq., who came first into this land
the 34th year of Henry VIII., and then was Captain of the pensioners, in which place and others of greater charge, he continued
a most faithful servitor during the life of Edward VI. and Queen
Mary, and until the 26 year of our most noble Queen Elizabeth,
and then died the 19 Dec. 1584. He left by his wife Clare Agare,
daughter of Thomas Agare, Esq., seven sons, Francis, Ratcliffe,
Anthony, Sir Thomas Colclough, Knt., John, Matthew, Leonard ;
and five daughters/'
Sir Thomas, just mentioned, succeeded to the estates of his father (who had received a grant of Tintern Abbey and its appurtenances from Queen Elizabeth), and died 23rd Aug. 1624.
Henry Colclough, Esq., settled at Kildavin in our county, early
in the last century. He married
Beauchamp, sister of Mrs.
Walter Bagenal. Tssue: Beauchamp, who resided atBohermore ;
Caesar, and Patrick.
Beauchamp married Bridget
. Issue : Henry, of Sion,
near Carlow ; who married Anne, daughter of Alexander Crawford, of Milnwood, county Fermanagh, Esq., and grand-daughter
of Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester.
DOYNE.—In the reign of Queen Anne,
Doyne, Esq;,
became possessed of thetownland c'.: Tullow, with rights and privileges in regard to fairs and markets, under the last Duke of Ormonde. Welles, in the county of Wexford, is the chief estate of
this family; but the present possessor, Robert Doyne, Esq., resides at his cottage near Tullow, in our county.
EUSTACE.—Campion states, that the ancestor of this ancient
family was Robert le Powere, who was despatched to Ireland as
an envoy, in the year 1175. Stanihurst says, that the name was
originally Powar, or de Powar. W e have not ascertained when
the descendants of Robert le Power, or Powar, assumed the name
of Eustace, or Fitz-Eustace, but it seems to have been previously
to the year 1300. These changes of name were very frequent in
the middle ages ; of which arbitrary alteration of family appellation,
that of Bunbury furnishes another instance. The name of the
Carew family, Hooker informs us, was originally Montgomerie,
but they altered the latter to that of their residence at Carew in
Wales. Names were sometimes assumed from offices held by the
person; thus the high names of Butler, in Ireland, and Stuart,
or Steward, in Scotland, arose from the honorary offices held by
individuals in the royal household. Instances of this optional
change of name might be multiplied.
Campion tells us, tliat Powere, alias Eustace^ is named m

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW.

363

baron of Domvile, anno 1317. A.D. 1454, Sir Edward FitzEustace was lord deputy to the Duke of York, chief governor of
Ireland. Sir Rowland Fitz-Eustace, created baron of Portlester
in 1461, was in that year lord deputy to George, Duke of Clarence,
chief governor of Ireland. Lord Portlester was rlord high treasurer of Ireland for a period of thirty-eight years ; and also filled
the office of deputy chancellor at various times. He died without
male issue in 1496. About this period the family seem to have had
estates and residences at Castlemartin, Harristown, and Kilcullen.
A.D. 1541, Henry VIII. granted to Thomas Eustace, the title
of viscount Baltinglass, and in 1542, the dissolved abbey of
Baltinglass was presented to him. He died in 1549, and was succeeded by Rowland, his second son. Rowland's son, named James,
was the third viscount Baltinglass. He was a zealous supporter
of the popish cause, and engaged with Fitz-Gerald, earl of Desmond, the Kavanaghs, O'Byrnes, and others, in open rebellion
against the government of Queen Elizabeth. The termination of
this career was, however, not happy; as in the year 1584, lord
Baltinglass and his four brothers were convicted of high-treason,
and all their estates confiscated, by an express statute. Lord Baltinglass retired to Spain, as has been already ^mentioned, p. 111. Tho
Baltinglass estates were granted to Sir Henry Harrington.
In the reign of Charles I., Sir Maurice Eustace was speaker of
the house of commons. In 1660, he was lord chancellor of Ireland,
and one of the lords justices. Having much improved the house,
demesne, and appurtenances of Harristown, he obtained a patent
empowering it to return two members to parliament. He is frequently mentioned in this work. The county of Carlow family are
of the same branch with Sir Maurice Eustace. They seem to
have been settled in this county at least two centuries, as in 1639,
Oliver Eustace, Esq., was returned one of its members to parliament.
At the time of James II., the Eustace family, then^ we presume, Roman Catholics, espoused the cause of that misguided and
unfortunate monarch. Other families in the county acted similarly.
An inquisition taken in the reign of William III., informs us^ that
Francis Eustace of Castiemore, fought at the Boyne and Aughrim,
for James. As will be seen by reference to our account of the
proceedings of the court of claims, the estates of Francis and
Oliver Eustace were in consequence confiscated; thdiigh a considerable portion was eventually saved. • »•••
v
Edward Eustace, Esq., of Castiemore, married Bridge^ daughter
of _
Longfield, Esq., of the county of Cork, early in the
last century. Issue: James, Robert, William, Maria, Anne* and
Bridget. Their descendants are as follows:
James had issue : 1, Edward, who married . Elinor, daughter
of Sir Richard Butler, Bart. His son is the present James Eustace,
Esq., of Castiemore. 2, Hardy, married —-— Bernard. Issue,:
present James Hardy Eustace, Esq., of Hardy-niount; and several
others.

2 z

364

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Robert married Catherine Whelan and had issue : Edward, Robert, Thomas, James, Elinor, and others.
William married
• Meredyth, and had issue.
Maria married Nathaniel Evans, Esq., of Ballywilliamroe.—
Issue : 1, William. 2, Anne, married to David Ryan, Esq., of
Baron-bill, in this county. 3, Maria, married to Harman FitzMaurice, Esq. 4, Bridget, married to John Hill, Esq.
Anne married Jacob Warren, Esq.
Bridget married
McCarthy, Esq.
EVANS.—This family has been settled in the county about one
hundred and fifty years. In 1703, Nathaniel Evans, of Ballywilliamroe, Esq., made extensive purchases of land, as may be
seen, p. 256.
FELTUS.-—Henry Feltus, and Henry Blake, Esqrs,, natives of
England, settled at Kilmaglish, barony of Forth, in the reign of
William III. Feltus held about 1000 acres of land. He had a
son named Henry, who married Elizabeth, daughter of the above
named Henry Blake. Issue : Cuthbert who settled at Myshal,—
H e married Jane, daughter of Adam Bloomfield, Esq., of the
county Tipperary, uncle to the present Lord Bloomfield. Cuthbert died on 3d November, 1799, aged 77 years. His widow died
in 1821. Their issue was : John, died S.P., Henry, died S.P.,
and Adam married Rebecca, daughter of Benjamin Ball, of Seisin Park, county Wicklow, Esq. Issue : 1, Benjamin Bloomfield.
2, Elizabeth, married to the Rev. Nicholas Fenwick, son of the
Rev. Cuthbert Fenwick, of the county of Northumberland. Sir
Walter Scott alludes to thi3 old border family in the notes to one
of his poems.
FITZ-MAURICE.—This family is descended from Raymond le
Gros, the most distinguished of the knights who invaded Ireland
in the reign of Henry II. H e had a son named Maurice, whose
son first assumed the name of Fitz-Maurice, and was first baron of
Kerry.
William, the twentieth baron of Kerry, was born in 1633, and
died in 1697, leaving three sons. 1, Thomas, born 1668, created
earl of Kerry, by Geo. I. He was one of the lords who in 1697,
signed the association in defence of king William and the established
government. The present Marquess of Lansdowne is descended
from this nobleman. 2, William, 3 James, of Bannagh in the
county Kerry, who married Catherine, only daughter of William
Harman, of Dublin, Esq., with whom he received estates in the
county of Carlow, and Queen's county. Issue: Harman, who
died in 1748, leaving issue James. The issue of said James i s :
1, Harman, married to Maria, daughter of Nathaniel Evans, of
Ballywilliamroe, Esq. 2, James. 3, John, who resides in Carlow.
GARRETT.—Five brothers of this family, natives of England,
served in the army of Oliver Cromwell; two of them were killed

OF THE COUNTY OP CARLOW,

365

at the siege of Bunratty, in the county of Clare. One or more
of the brothers settled in the county of Carlow.
James Garrett had issue : 1, Thomas. 2, Susanna, married to*
James Shepard, Esq., of Paulville, in this county. Thomas had
issue: I, James. 2. Elizabeth, grandmother of Thomas H .
Watson, Esq., of Lumclone. And others.
James (died 1818) married Jane, daughter of John Perkins,
Esq. of Ballintrane Castle. Issue :
1, William, high sherifT of the county in 1806, married Margaret, daughter of Samuel Raymond, Esq., of Riversdale castle,
county Kerry. Issue : James Perkins. Samuel Raymond. Catherine Georgiana. Jane. William Thomas. Anna Maria.
2, Anne, married to Gilbert Pickering Rudkin, Esq,
3, Mary, married to John Watson, Esq.
In the list of certificates of landed property granted to soldiers,
&c, in pursuance of the Act of Settlement, in the Reign of Chas.
II., we find the names of Captain John Garrett', and William
Garrett. Gentlemen of this name have at present large landed
property in Hampshire and Sussex.
HAMILTON,—This family has been upwards of a century resident in the county.
HERRING.—This family has been long resident in our county.
HILL.—The ancestor of this family came from England as an
officer in the army of William III.
Edward Hill, Esq., married Catherine, daughter of Henry
Colclough of Kildavin, Esq., and cousin-german of the late
Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq.
Issue: 1, John, married Bridget,
daughter of Nathaniel Evans of Ballywilliamroe, Esq. 2, Dudley,
married
. Issue: Dudley St. Leger, now Colonel Sir Dudley
St. Leger Hill, K.C.B. Edward Eustace, married Georgiana Charlotte, daughter of William, Earl of Albermarle,on31stMarch, 1827.
KAYANAGH.—The descent of this very ancient family has been
traced :
Bratha, a Scythian prince, who having left his own country
with an army, settled on the coast of Spain.
Breoghan, king or prince of Gallicia in Spain. He built the
tower called Breoghan's tower, and also the city of Braganza, in
Portugal. He was likewise king of Castile, and it is said that
from him the people called Brigantes had their name.
Bile succeeded his father as sovereign of the countries which
he conquered, as above stated. Ithus slain by the Irish, in his
invasion of that country, had a son Lugo, ancestor of O'Driscoll
of Munster.
Galambh or Milesius of Spain, a warlike prince of Gallicia,
where he died after along and prosperous reign while preparing for
the invasion of Ireland. He married a daughter of he King of
Scythia.
Heber, first King of Ireland of this family jointly with his bro-

366

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

ther Heremon, by whom he was slain at the battle of Geishill in
the year 1297 before the Christian era. Heber was the ancestor
of the O'Briens, princes of Thomond, and king of Munster.—•
Heremon, youngest son of Milesius, after the death of his brother
Heber ruled sole monarch of all Ireland for fourteen years and
died.
Eurialus Faidh, or the prophet, youngest son, succeeded his
elder brothers as king of all Ireland, over which he reigned ten
years, and died ante-Chris. 1670.
Ethrialus succeeded his father in the monarchy, and reigned
twenty years. Slain A.C. 1650, by Counmalius, the Heberian,
who thereupon became king of Ireland,
Follachus, son of Ethrialus.
Tigernmasius regained the kingdom from the Heberian sept. In
this reign, gold mines were first discovered in Ireland. He died
A.C. 1677, after a reign of 77 years.
Eubothius, son of Tigernmasius.
Smirngallus, son Eubothius.
Fiachus Lowranna, sole monarch of Ireland for twenty-four
years. Slain A.C. 1440, at the battle of Bellgadan by Achaius
Mumha of the Heberian sept.
Aeneas Oll-muca regained the kingdom from the progeny of
Heber, made asuccessful expedition against the Scots, upon whom
he renewed the heavy tribute first imposed upon them by his ancestor Heremon, Slain in the battle of Cannan, by Ennius his Heberian successor, A.C. 1409.
Maonius son of Aeneasf
Rothactus reigned monarch of Ireland during twenty-five years.
Slain at the battle of Rath Crochan, A.C. 1357, by Sedneus of
the progeny of Hyrus.
Demanius, son of Rothactus.
Denius, son of Demanius.
Siornaus, surnamed Longaevus, said to have lived 250 years,
whereof he reigned 150 years. Slain A.C. 1030, in the battle
of Aillium, by the Heberian sept.
Oliullus Olchaion, son of Siornaus.
Gialchadius reigned over Ireland nine years, and was slain A.C.
1013, at the battle of Magh Mnioghe by the Heberian sept.
Nicodus Fionn-fail reigned 40 years. Slain also by the Heberan sept, A.C. 961.
Aidanus-glass, son of Nuodus.
Simeon Breae having defeated in battle his Heberian rival, Sedneus II. caused his limbs to be drawn asunder by wild horses ;
but after a reign of six years, he was himself defeated, A.C. 903.
and put to death in the same cruel manner.
Muredachus Bolgrach reigned one year according to some
chronicles, and four years according to others. He was at length
slain by the Heberian sept. A.C. 892.
Fiachus Tolgrach, youngest son of Muredachus, succeeded his
ten nephews in. the monarchy of Ireland, and reigned ten years,—

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

367

He was slain at the battle of Borin, by his Heberian successor,
Oliollus Fionn, A.C. 795.
Duachus Ladhrach reigned over Ireland ten years, and was
slain by the Heberian sept, A.C. 737.
Achaius Beiadhach, son of Duachus, father of Hugonius
Magnus.
Hugonius Magnus reigned over Ireland forty years. Slain by
his brother Baucadius, who usurped the monarchy, which he enjoyed but 36 hours, being himself slain by his nephew Lacgrius.
He married Ceasair, the daughter of a prince of Gaul.
Lacgrius Lore (or the murderer,) being so called from putting
his uncle Baucadius to death, in revenge for his father's murder,
became monarch of Ireland, and reigned two years, when he was
treacherously slain by his brother Cobthacus, A.C.—Cobthacus
reigned monarch over Ireland 50 (some say but 30) years. He
was ancestor to the families of O'Neill, O'Donnell, and other
princely families in Ulster and Connaught.
Olillus, son of Lacgrius-Lorc, and slain with him by his undo
Cobthacus.
Lauradius Navalis, so called from his skill in navigation, escaped, being then very young, into Gaul, upon the massacre of
his father and grandfather, where he grew to manhood, and being
assisted by the monarch of that country, in consideration of his
consanguinity, his great grand-mother being of that family as above
stated, he returned, slew his uncle, and became monarch of Ireland, over which he reigned nineteen years, and was slain by his
uncle's son, A.C, 522.
Olillus Bracan son of Lauradius.
Aeneas Ollamh, monarch of Ireland for eighteen years, and was
slain by his kinsman Irero, grand-son of Cobthach the murderer,
Breassel, son of Aeneas Ollamh.
Fergusius, son of Breassal, reigned eleven years as monarch
of Ireland. Slain, A.C. 3£4.
Felim, son of Fergusius.
Crimthann, son of Felim, reigned four years as monarch of Ireland, and was slain, A.C. 288.
Mogha-Airt, son of Crimthann.
Arturus, son of Mogha-Airt.
Alloid (by some called Olioll) son of Arturus.
Nuadad, son of Alloid.
Ferragh, son of Nuadad.
Olioll, son of Ferragh.
Fiacha, son of Olioll.
Breasal, king of Leinster.
Lugadius, or Lucy, king of Leinster.—Conla, youngest son,
ancestor to the kings and gentry of Ossory.
Sedna, King of Leinster, built the royal city of Rath-Minne.
Nuadad, king of Leinster, slew Edersceolus, monarch of Ireland, and thereupon succeeded to the monarchy, and was himself
slain six months afterwards, in the battle of Cliach, by Conarius

868

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Magnus, son of Edersceolus, who to revenge his father's murder, imposed the great fine of 300 white cows, 300 coverlets, or
pieces of cloth, 300 porks, and 300 golden hilted swords, upon the
kingdom of Leinster, which they were forced to pay annually, for a
Jong time after. • Fergusius, king of Leinster.
Rossius Ro, son of Fegusius.
Fionn, son of Rossius Ro.
Cormarius, king of Leinster, and for one year monarch of Ireland. Slain by his successor Crimthannus, in the 7th. year of
whose reign, the nativity of our blessed Saviour occurred.
Mog-Corb,king of Leinster. Slainin the battle of Bauin-da-clro-ga.
Cu-Corb, king of Leinster,. slain in battle by Ferach Fionn, monarch of Ireland. Married Eithne, daughter of Carbry Fionnmor,
king of Munster, and son of Cormarius Magnus, monarch of Ireland.
Nia-Corb, king of Leinster. This Nia-Corb had three brethren, viz., Mesincorb, Cormac, and Carbry. From these four
are descended the four chief septs of Leinster, viz. Dal-Machorb the principal. 2. Dal-Mesincorb. 3 Dal-Cormac, and 4,
Dal-Carbry.
Cormac, king of Leinster.
Felimy, king of Leinster.
Catharius -Magnus, king of Leinster, and for three years monarch of Ireland, left many large and valuable legacies to his children and friends as appears by his will recorded in an ancient book
book called
. He was slain in battle by his successor in the
monarchy Con-ced-cahach.
Rossius Failghe, eldest son. The country enjoyed by his posterity was from him called the land of Failghe. He was ancestor
to the families of O'Subhan, O'Mooney, OKillin, OMuldova,
O'Mulaithgen, O'Onchon, O'Bay, O'Cormac, O'Bearry of
Leacach O'Artay, O'Flinn, O'Dempsy, lords of Clanmalier,
O'Connor Faley and M'Colgan.
Breaseal Bealach, king of Leinster.
Eanna-nia, from whom are descended the O'Bowlings, the
O'Broins or Byrnes of Cualann, and the O'Tooles.
Eanna-Kinselach, king of Leinster; a powerful and warlike
prince, with whom the monarchs of Ireland were at constant war.
He defeated them in thirteen pitched battles, in the last of which,
fought at Cruachain, A,D. 409., king Eochaidh Moighmeodhin fa^
ther of Niallus Magnus was slain. The surname of Kinselagh is
derived from this prince.
Eocha, eldest son, king of Leinster, banished to Scotland by
Niallus Magnus", whom in revenge he afterwards slew in France.
Crimthan-cas, younger son, king of Leinster on the banishment of
his brother. He was the first king of Leinster who' received the
Christian faith. Deadha, third son, from whom descended in succession Owen, or Eoghain, Eiachra, Eare, Ferach, Foelan, and
St. Moling, founder of the abbey of St. Mullins, in co. Carlow,
made bishop of Ferns, in 032. Died on the 17th June, 697.—
Buried in his own abbey. His feast is kept on the 17th June.
Nathy, son of Crimthan-cas, whose sister Eithne-Nach was wife

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW,

369

of Aeneas, the first Christian king of Minister.
Derniot, son of Donogh, king of Leinster and of Ireland,
Owen, son of Nathy.
Siolan, son of Owen.
Faelan, son of Siolan.
Faolchu, son of Faelan,
Onchu, son of Faolchu.
Rudgal, son of Onchu.
Hugh, son of Rudgal.
Dermot, son of Hugh.
Carbry, son of Dermot.
Heneth, son of Carbry.
Keadagh, son of Heneth.
Donald, son of Keadagh.
Dermot, son of Donald.
Donoch, surnamed Miol-na-mbo.
Dermot, son of Donogh, king of Leinster and of Ireland,
Moroch, king of Leinster, from whom the surname of MacMurrough is derived.
Donogh Mac-Murrough, king of Leinster, slain by the Danes
of Dublin.
DERMOT MAC-MROROUGH, king of Leinster, sirnamedNa-gal, «'.<?,

of the strangers, so called because he invited the English over to
Ireland. He died 1171.*
Donnell Caomhin ach, i.e. handsome Mac Morrough, natural
son of Dermot Mac Morrough, fifty-eighth king of Leinster.—
From him the surname of Kavanagh. H e was fostered in Castlekevan. His descendants were elected kings of Leinster by the
Irish, and were acknowledged by the English power, tinder the^title
of Mac Morrough, until the time of king Henry the Eighth,
Donnell Oge Kavanagh, alias Mac Morrough, king of Leinster,
Art Mac Morrough slain at Arklow, 1281.—Murtagh Kavanagh Mac Morrough, slain at Arklow, 1281.
Morrough, son of Murtagh, king of Leinster, summoned to
attend king Edward II. against the Scots, 1314.
Art Kavanagh of Poll an montigh, i.e. the turf pits.
Art Oge Kavanagh of Polmonty and Borris Idrone, 1 Henry
IV. 1399.
Tirlogh Kavanagh of Polmonty and Borris Idrone.
Morogh Kavanagh of Borris, &c.
Art Kavanagh of St. Molins, Polmonty, and Borris, called Art
Boy.
Moriertagh Mac Art Boy Kavanagh of Templeoudegan, and
Ballyleigh, in the county of Carlow.
Cahir Mac Art Kavanagh, baron of Cowellellyn, 'created baron
of Ballian for life, by patent dated 8th February, 1st Queen Mary,
and also made Captain of his country, died before 1554. Married
Cecilia or Alicia, daughter of Gerald, earl of Kildare, lord lieu* He married Cacht, daughter of Cuchory O'More, King of Leix. An
account of the descendants of his daughter Eva, has already been given*

mo

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

tenant of Ireland by lady Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Thomas,
marquis of Dorset. Issue: 1, Morogh of Morgan Baccagh Kavanagh, succeeded his father as baron of Cowellellyn, a hostage lor
his father, 28 Henry V I I I . Will dated 1st Nov. 1622. Died
without issue. 2, Dermot MacCahir, created tanist or successor to
his brother Morris by patent dated 18th March, 2nd and 3rd of
Philip and Mary. Died without issue. 3, Bryan Kavanagh of
Borris and Polmonty. Submitted 1569. Died about 1572. He
married Elinor, daughter of George Byrne of Roscrea, in the
county of Tipperary, Esq , by whom he had
Morgan Kavanagh, of Borris and Polmonty. Will dated 17th
Oct. 1631; proved 13th August, 1636. Died 19th June, 1636.
His son was
Bryan Kavanagh of Borris and Polmonty, Esq. Will dated
5th August, 1656; proved 1663. Died 1st December, 1662,
and was buried in St. James' Church, Dublin. He married Elinor,
daughter of Sir Thomas Colclough, of Tintern abbey, in the
county of Wexford, knight, by Martha, daughter of Adam Loftus,
lord archbishop of Dublin—Issue :
Morgan, living in 1700, who married Mary, daughter of John
Walsh of Pilltown, in the county of Waterford, Esq.—Issue:
Morgan Kavanagh of Borris Idrone, Esq. He married Frances,
daughter of Sir Laurence Esmonde of Clonegal, Baronet, by
Lucy, daughter of the Right Hon. Richard Butler, of Killcash, son
of Thomas, viscount Thurles by lady Frances Touchet, daughter
of Mervyn, earl of Castlehaven.—Issue : 1, Bryan Kavanagh, of
Borris, Esq. Will dated, 20th April, 1741 ; proved 7th July,
1741. Died 22nd April, 1741. 2, Henry Kavanagh, Esq. Died
28th April, 1741. 3 , Charles Kavanagh, Esq., a general in the
Austrian service, governor of Prague, 1766. 4, Mary.
Above Bryan Kavanagh, Esq., married Mary, daughter of
Thomas Butler of Kilcash, Esq., by lady Margaret Burke,
daughter of William, earl of Clanricarde, eventual coheiress of
her brother John Butler of Kilcash, Esq.—Issue : 1, Thomas
Kavanagh of Borris, Esq. Will dated, 16th October, 1782;
proved 6th July 1790. 2, Margaret, wife of Richard Gal way of
Domville, in the county of Kilkenny, Esq, 3, Helen. 4, Frances.
b, Lucy. 6, Honora. 7, Mary.
Above named Thomas Kavanagh, Esq., married lady Susanna,
daughter of Walter Butler of Garryricken, Esq., father of John,
earl of Ormonde, by Elinor daughter of Nicholas Morres, son of
Sir John Morres of Knockagh, Bart., of the house of de Montmorency. Marriage license dated 24th November, 1755, in the
diocese of Ossory. Issue : 1, Walter Kavanagh, Esq. Died
without issue, 1818. 2, Bryan, died without issue. 3, Morgan,
died without issue. He married Alicia, daughter and heir of Michael Grace, of Gracefield in the Queen's county, Esq. 4, Thomas.
5, Helena, wife of James Archbold, of Daviestown in the county
of Kitdare, Esq. 6, Mary, wife of George Butler of Ballyragget,
in the county of Kilkenny, Esq. 7. Honora.

OF T H E COUNTY OP CARLOW.

871

Thomas Kavanagh, Esq., (last above named), married lady
Elizabeth Butler, daughter of John, earl of Ormonde, by lady
Anne Wandesforde, daughter and sole heir of the Right Hon.
John, earl of Wandesforde. Issue: Walter, born 20th March,
1814, Anne, Elinor, Elizabeth, Frances, Mary, Susanna and
others.* Lady Elizabeth Kavanagh died 14th December, 1824.
Thomas Kavanagh, Esq,, married secondly, lady Harriet Trench,
daughter of Richard, earl of Clancarty, by whom he has issue.
There were formerly branches of this family settled at Garryhill, Clonmullin, Ballylaughan, Ballyroboge, Ballylow, and Grage,
but they are now extinct.
ROCHE.—This respectable family has been long settled in the
county. They formerly resided at Coolmanagh, and afterwards at
Font-hill, near Cloghgrenan. At present their residence is at the
castle, Leighlin-bridge.
ROCHFORT,—The ancient family of Rochfort came to this
kingdom at the period of the conquest in the twelfth century, or
immediately afterwards. For, in the year 1243, lived Sir Richard
and John de Rochfort, who were lords of Crom and Adare.
Robert Rochfort, Esq., born in 1652, was a lawyer of much
eminence. In 1680, at the early age of twenty-eight, he was
appointed recorder of Londonderry. He was attainted by King
James's parliament, in 1689, and his estate of 443/. per annum
was sequestrated. However, he was appointed one of the commissioners of the great seal by King William in the following
year; and on the sixth of June, 1695, was constituted attorneygeneral. He was returned member for Westmeath in the parliament which met on the 27 th August following, and was chosen
speaker by the house. On the 30th June, 1707, he was appointed chief baron of the Exchequer. This gentleman died on the
10th October, 1727. John Staunton Rochfort, Esq., of Cloghgrenan, is his great-grandson.
Robert Rochfort, Esq., a member of this family, was created
earl of Belvedere, in 1737 ; but the title has lately become extinct.
RUDKIN.—Two brothers of this name (or rather Rydkins)
natives of Germany, settled in our county in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth. One of them fixed his residence at Wells, the other
at Corries. The burial place of the former is at Old Leighlin, that
of the latter is Lorum.
Henry Rudkin of Corries married his cousin-german Elizabeth,
daughter of Henry Rudkin, (died 1738). Issue: William (died
* Extracted from " The pedigree of the ancient, illustrious, noble and
princely house of KAVANAGH, in ancient times monarche of all Ireland, and
at the period of the invasion of Ireland by King Henry the Second, kings of
Leinster ; deducing their descent from Bratha the great grand-father of Milesi us, whoflourishedfourteen hundred years before the Christian era, down to
the present day.—The whole recorded in the archives of the office of Ulster
Mng of arms of all Ireland, and now extracted therefrom. MDCCCXV1I,"
Attested by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms.
3A

372

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

1817) married Mary, daughter of Thomas Bennett of Ballylaughan,
Esq. Issue of William: 1, Henry, married Arabella, daughter
of the Rev. George Sackvilie Cotter, of Castlemartyr, county
Copk. 2, Mark. 3, John, and several others.
Henry Rudkin, of the Wells branch, married his first cousin
Mary, daughter of Sir Edward Pickering, Bart, Issue : Gilbert
Pickering, (died at Pau, France, in 1830) married Anne, daughter
of James Garrett, Esq., of Janeville. Issue: Jane, married
Thomas Tench Vigors, Esq., of Erindale.
Maria, married
Jones, Esq.
R Y A N , or O'RVAN.—Keating traces the descent of this family
from Milesius, king of Spain, and Heremon, king of Ireland, A.M.
2738, through nineteen kings of Ireland, and princes, to Cathaoir
More (Charles the Great) who was monarch of the island, A.D.
122. Thence he conducts us to Nathi, "from whom," he says,
"the O'Ryans descended, a sept most free and hospitable/'*
At the period of the English invasion of the twelfth century the
O'Ryans were lords of the district of Idrone, in the county of
Carlow, as is related by Regan, and received by Leland, Harris,
and other modern historians. Having, however, resisted the invaders by force of arms, and being unsuccessful, they were dispossessed (according to the right of conquest, justly), of their territory ; which was subsequently disposed of as is related in the preceding parts of this work. The O'Ryans continued afterwards to
reside in the county in a subordinate station, and soon acquired
some property, as may be seen p. 152, and elsewhere. Like most
of the old Irish and Romanists, they seem to have engaged freely
in the almost perpetual rebellions of which this unfortunate country
was formerly the scene. The name of O'Ryan frequently occurs
in the "general pardons" granted by James I. Wre cannot say
what part they took in the rebellion of 1641. Since that period,
the members of the family of the author, having become Protesants, have been undeviatingly loyal.
In 1700, Anthony Ryan, Esq., was allowed, by the court of
claims, an estate for lives of Haroldstown, barony of Rathvilly,
containing 250 acres. See p. 243. This is the best proof of his
loyalty to king William's government. Two members of the family
were killed at the Boyne, fighting under the banners of William.
David Ryan, Esq., of Haroldstown, married
daughter
of
Pole, Esq., of the city of Dublin, by whom he had an
infant, who died young. He married, secondly,
, sister of
Nicholas Roche, Esq., of Coolmanagh. Issue: John, David, and
Sarah. Mrs. Ryan survived her husband, and was afterwards
married to the Rev. Richard Brough, curate of the parish of Rathvilly ; who was of the family of the late Captain Brough of the
Carlow militia and lieut.-colonel Brough, now of the royal artillery.
John settled at BroghhTs-town, about the year 1700. He possessed an estate of lives, renewable for ever, of the lands of Tom* History of Ireland by Jeoffry Keating, D.D,

Oi? THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

373

bay, (barony of Rathvilly,) and others, in all 800 acres, subject
to a rent of 2s. 6d. per acre ; which estate, with the common improvidence of those days, he sold to a person named Pilsworth for
£1500 ! somewhat less than two years' purchase. Pilsworth, however, did not long enjoy his bargain; for, having neglected to renew the lives, the property reverted to the Howard family, who
possess the fee. The name of this John Ryan frequently occurs in
the registry book of the union of Rathvilly, (as does that of his
brother David,) as may be seen in the appendix. He married,
firstly, Mary, daughter of
Mulligan, Esq., of Rathvilly.
Issue: 1, David. 2, Robert. The losses of the said David, (born
1752, died 14 Dec. 1802) of Baron-hill, by the rebels of 1798,
amounted to 238/. 2s. 3d. as appears by the published list of claims,
He married, firstly, Mary, daughter of
Pilsworth, Esq.,
of Graney, by whom he had one son, who died young; married,
secondly, on 4th March, 1787, Anne, (died 22nd Jan. 1814),
daughter of Nathaniel Evans, E s q , of Bally williamroe, and granddaughter of Edward Eustace, Esq., of Castlemore. Issue: John
Christmas, born 25th Dec. 1789, died on the 16th Oct. 1807; a
lieutenant in the 8th West India regt.—Richard, a lieutenant in
the Carlow militia, married Anne, daughter of the Rev. Charles
Seymour, Rector of Kilronan, county of Roscommon, by whom
he had six children. He died on 29th January, 1830.—John,
above named, married, secondly, Anne, daughter of Beaumont
Astle, Esq., of Beaumont in this county. Issue: 1, Beaumont.
2, Elinor. Said Beaumont (died 1810) of BroghiU's-town, married, by special license, on 22nd January, 1802, Mary, daughter
or James Shepard, Esq., of Paulville, in this county. Issue: John,
(the author of this work), and four others.
David, son of the first named David, settled at Leighlin-bridge,
He was more prudent than his brother in regard to his property.
He married Susanna, daughter of James Poe, of Harley Park, in
the county of Tipperary, Esq. Issue: James, who died young.
David, settled at Castlecomer, county of Kilkenny. He married
Anne, relict of
Younge, Esq., by whom he has nine
children.
Mr. Brewer, alluding to Dunleckny, states in his tC Beauties of
Ireland" as follows: " The late proprietor, Beauchamp Bagenal,
Esq., M.P., bequeathed this demesne to
Ryan, Esq., the
present (1826) owner of the estate, who, as we are informed, is
the lineal male representative of the chief of the O'Ryans, toparchs
of Idrone (in which Dunleckny is situated) at the period of the
Anglo-Norman invasion." There is much incorrectness in this.
The truth is, that Mr. Bagenal presented the house and demesne
of Dunleckny to his step-son, Bagenal Ryan, Esq., who speedily
alienated or relinquished it and settled in England. The owner of
the estate in 1826, and for many years previously, was Philip
Newton, Esq. With regard to the lineal descent of Mr. B. Ryan
from the O'Ryan, we cannot say more, than that we believe Mr.
Ryan was of a county of Kildare family; certainly he and his

374

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

father were strangers in the county of Carlow. It is further indubitable, that in 1826, when Mr. Brewer was conferring the existing
honour, the existence of Mr. Ryan had terminated, and he was
quiet in his grave.—Indeed, we regret to say, that we have discovered many inaccuracies in Mr. Brewer's book; the inevitable
result, probably, of the speedy production of an extensive work.
Nor can we say, we admire the'political tone of the production,
which is not merely ultra Irish but ultra "liberal." It is not by
flattering the passions, or espousing the cause of the Romish agitators, that the country will be benefited, or the integrity of the
empire preserved.
SHEPARD.—The ancestor of this family came to Ireland in a
military capacity; probably in the redoubtable army of Oliver
Cromwell. In the inrolment of certificates (in the Chief Remembrancer's office) of landed property, granted to soldiers, &c. in
the reign of Charles II., we find the names " Captain Thomas
Shepard, William Shepard, John Shepard, and Robert Shepard."
These Christian names have been all in use with the county of
Carlow family.
James Shepard, Esq., of Tankardstown, otherwise Paulville*
in this county, (died September, 1767), married Susanna, daughter
of James Garrett, Esq., of Janeville. Issue: 1, Mary, (baptized
1 June, 1730), grand-mother of Jas. Frazer, Esq., Captain in the
26th regiment of foot. 2, John, settled in the county of Wicklow,
where his descendants now reside, at Oatlands and Sheep-hill. 3,
James, of Paulville, (died January 31st, 1800, aged 61), married
Elizabeth, daughter of Ignatius Wickham, Esq., of Black-bull, in
the county of Wicklow. She died 5th April, 1793, aged 45 years.
The house and furniture of Mr. Shepard were consumed by the
rebels in 1798 ; for which he laid a claim before the parliamentary
commissioners tor the sum of 231/. 13s. 10c/. This gentleman, at
his decease, was possessed of property to the amount of at least
10,000/. sterling. The issue of his marriage was as follows:
1, Susan, married to Edw. Sherwood, Esq. 2, Sarah. 3 ,
James, (baptized 5 Sept. 1775, died May, 1803). 4, Wickham^
(bap. 1775), of Paulville, a solicitor. H e married Mary, daughter
of Robert Greene, Esq., of York-street, in the city of Dublin, and
niece to Captain John Greene, of Millbrook, county Kildare. H e
died, without issue, on the 5th Nov., 1829. His relict has since
married Richard Creighton, Esq., son of Surgeon Creighton, of the
city of Dublin. 5, Mary, married to Beaumont Ryan, Esq, 6,
John, (bap. 19 Feb. 1779, died in 1829.) 7, Thomas, (bap. 18
Feb. 1780, died—
), married
daughter of
—
Dejoncourt, of the city of Dublin, Esq. Issue: Elizabeth. 8,
Elizabeth, died young. 9, Elizabeth, (bap. 8 September, 1782,
died
). 10, William, (bap. 3 September, 1783), married
Catherine, daughter of Major Adams of AnnaJee, county of Cavan,
by whom he has several children. 11, Robert, (bap. 15 December, 1784.) J2, Henry, (bap. 16 December, 1786), a lieutenant

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

375

H . P . of the 12th foot. Names of the Shepard family frequently
occur as churchwardens, &c., in the registry-book of Tullow parish.
STEUART. The first member of this family who settled in the
county was styled, we understand, the Honourable Colonel John
Steuart. The title of honourable was then applied to all persons
of civil or military rank. He purchased land at Leighlin-bridge.
His son was William, who married
, daughter of Sir
Richard Butler, Bart., by whom he had issue John, (died 1819),
who married
•
daughter of John Whelan, Esq. Issue, 1,
William Richard, married
daughter of —
Duckett,
Esq. 2, a daughter married Rev. William Hickey of Wexford,
VIGORS.—Doctor Vigors, bishop of Leighlin^and Ferns, is ancestor of this family.
WATSON.—This family has been long settled in the county.
WHELAN.—The family of Whelan is of old standing in our
county.
There are other respectable families resident in the county, but
having lately settled in it, they do not class under the denomination stated at the head of this chapter. Of the late settlers, are
the families of Bruen, Duckett, Faulkner, Newton, &c. &c.
All the families mentioned in this chapter are Protestant, with
the single exception of the family of Blackney,
The Earls of Courtown, Aldborough Kenmare, and Bessborough, Lords Frankfort, Beresford, Downes and Cloncurry, the
Hon. Hugh Howard, &c. possesses property in the county, but
are non-resident.

371>

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

APPENDIX.
No. I. Referring to page 15.

i
as
as

§ '!
a
a?
S3

bo
*c3

Nurney

Clonegal

N.T. Barry

•ST]

B orris

Washingtongreen

Leighlin-bridge

Hacketstown

Rathvilly

Carlow

2 to

Tullow

]

Slieumargie, or Slieumarigue, constituted a part of the county
of Carl ow in 1553, as is proved by an inquisition of that year,
held to substantiate the king's title to the lands of Killeshin, &c.
situated in the lordship of Slieumargie and county of Carlow.
This district continued part of the county till the statute 3rd and
4th of Mary, chap. 2, incorporated the Queen's county.
The following scale of distances in the county will be useful.
We should observe, that in the preceding work we have invariably
employed the Irish measure, which is most familiar. It can be
easily converted into English. The following table is in Irish
miles.

0
1 154! 15J| 14* 1 19? . 54
Tullow
1 4J 1 8 1 9*1 10 fie* 10 | 7J 1 21 1 n\
1 4* 1 14| 1 14f 1 214| 1 4 | | 12 | 251 112
\ Hacketstown
i 17* 1 18 1 241| 18 | 15|l 28£ 154
14
Leighlin-bridg
1
1 2 1 9411211 1n liH18*
Washington-greer
i 4 311
"A
1 H! 15 1 " 4 I 1 " n 10*
iRr»rri<!
1 n i l 41

r 4Carlow, 74| 91 1 13*1 " I
1

8

X

••••IIX

)WI1

^al
uen
No. II.

19| 11*

HI
154

Refer, to p. 17.

" This confident author (Spenser) attempts to prove that the
surnames of Kavanagh, &c. were first brought out of Britain into
Ireland, But that they are of an English extraction is so far from

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

377

being true, that they are originally Irish, as expressly appears by
their genealogies, and are derived from Charles the great, king of
Ireland."—KEATING. Preface. Hist. Ir%
No. I I I . Refer, to p. 24.
This account is given in the life of St. Munnu : " On a certain
time there was a great council of the people of Ireland held in the
White-field; between whom there arose a controversy concerning
the order of celebrating Easter. For Laserian, abbot of Leighlin,
who presided over 1500 monks, defended the new order, which was
then lately sent from Rome; while others adhered to the old form.
But St. Munnu did not immediately appear at this council, though
every one waited for him. He stood by the old order, and came to
the council the same day before evening. Then St. Munnu said to
the abbot Laserian in the presence of all the people thus : It is now
time to break up this council, that every man may depart to his
own place. You have three options given you O Laserian: let
two books, one of the old order, and another of the new, be cast
into the fire, and let us see which of them shall escape from the
flames. Or let two monks, one of yours and another of mine, be
shut up in the same house, and let the house be set on fire, and we
shall see wThich of them shall escape unhurt. Or let us both go to
the sepulchre of a dead monk, and raise him up to life ; and he
will shew us which order we ought to observe in the celebration of
Easter. To which St. Laserian answered. W e will not proceed
to judgment with you; because we know, that if you commanded
Mount-Marge to be changed into the White-field and the Whitefield to be removed to the place where Mount-Marge stands, that
on account of your infinite labours and great sanctity, God would
immediately do this for your sake. Afterwards the people returned
everyone to their own houses.''—Ware's Writers of Ireland^. 23.
No. I V . Refer, to p. 41.
Hooker thus describes the Ossories, of which there were two :
" There be two Ossories, the one named the Upper Ossory,
which is the ancient inheritance of the Macguilfathrikes, and who
are the barons thereof; and this lieth in the diocese of Leighling :
the other lieth on the north of Ormond, and is under the jurisdiction
of the earle of Ormond, who is also the earle thereof, being named
earle of Ormond and Ossorie. It is a diocese of itselfe, and the
bishop thereof is named the bishop of Ossorie, whose see and
house is at Kilkennie."—Notes to Cambrensis.
No. V. Refer, to p. 42.
RODRRIC O'CONNOR t o FITZ-STEPHEN.
u

T H E Britons may not by law of arms, display their ensigns
in foreign possessions, nor dispossess the lawful heirs of their inheritance ; but they are with licence of the Irish to pack home. It
is a blemish of their nation to give aid to a shameful fact: neither

378

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

may the lechery of Dermot be mantled under British cloaks.
Wherefore depart, and forsake him, that is forsaken of God and
man; and here, by my messenger, receive to defray your charges,
and transport you to your native soil."
FITZ-STEPHEN'S ANSWER t

" Your present I will not accept; nor will I break the faith and
troth, I have promised to my friend Dermot; he forsaking not me,
I will not forsake him, neither leave him distressed. You speak
of lechery, what is that among (martial men ? I hear you have
bastards yourself. To what end is your embassy ? If Roderic
give counsel, we need it not; if he prophecy, we credit not his
oracle ; if he command as a prince, we obey not his authority ; if
he threaten as an enemy, a fig for his monarchy."*
No. VI. Refer, to p. 59.
The Knights Templars were instituted in the year 1118, and
obtained their designation from their original residence near the
Holy Temple. They wore a white habit, with a red cross on the
left shoulder. The knights having fallen into dissoluteness, the
order was totally abolished by the Council of Vienna, A.D. 1312.
No. VII. Refer, to p. 76.
Froissart notices this Mac Morrough Kavanagh in commendatory terms.
No. V I I I . Refer, to p. 95.
Sir JOHN DA VIES gives the following account of the power of
the lords who inherited the county of Carlow, as a county palatine till the reign of Henry V I I I . :
" T H E S E absolute palatines made barons and knights, did exercise high justice in all points within their territories, erected courts
for criminal and civil causes, and for their own revenues ; in the
same form as the king's courts were established at Dublin; made
their own judges, seneschals, sheriffs, coroners, as escheators ;
so as the king's writ did not run in those counties (which took up
more than two parts of the English colonies) but only in the church
lands lying within the same, which were called the cross, wherein
the king made a sheriff: and so, in each of these counties palatinate
there were two sheriffs; one of the liberty, and another of the
cross."
No. IX. Refer, top. 98.
The Irish nation and people even from the beginning have been
always of a hard bringing up, and are not only rude in apparel,
but also rough and ugly in their bodies : their beards and heads
they never wash, cleanse, nor cut, especially their heads; the hair
whereof they suffer to grow, saving that they do use to round it:
and by reason the same is never combed, it groweth fast together,
and in process of time it matteth so thick and fast together, that
• Cox, Hib. Ang.

OF T H E COUNTY OF CARLOW.

370

it is instead of a hat, and keepeth the head Very warm, and also
will bear off a great blow or stroke^ and* this* head of hair they call
a glib, and therein they have a great, pleasure.—Hooker's notes
to Cambrensis.
No. X. Refer, to p. f®.
There are in Ireland (Temp. Elizabeth) three sorts or degrees!
of soldiers : the first is the horseman, who'commonlie is a gentleman borne, and he is armed with such armor as the service of that
countrie requireth : the second degree is the kernaugh, and he
also is a gentleman or a freeholder borne, but not of that abilitie
to mainteine a horsse with his furniture, and therefore he is alight
soldier on foot; his armour is both light and slender, being a skull,
a left gantlet or a target, a sword and skelne, and three or four
darts : the third degree is the gaUoglasse, who was first brought
into this land by the Englishmen, and thereof taketh his name.—•
For galloglass is to saie, an English yeoman, a servant; his armor
is a skull, a jacke, an habergeon or shirt of male, a sword and a
sparre, otherwise named a galloglasse ax orlialbert, and this man
is counted the best souldier on foot, and the strength of the battell.
These in all hostings have attending upon them a number of boies
and kernes, and who doo spoile and kill all such as be overthrown
and hurt in the fields.—Hooker's Notes to Cambrensis.
No. XL Refer, top. 104.
The following is a copy of the inscription on Bishop Meredyth's monument:
Here lieth the body of Richard Meredyth, D.D., lord bishop
of Leighlin and Ferns* and dean of this Cathedral of St. Patrick's, who died August 3d A.D. 1597, In memory of whom
and several of his family who lie here interred this monument is
erected by Richard Meredyth of Shrowland in the county of Kildare, Esq, Charles Meredyth of Newton, Dean of Ardfert,and
Arthur Francis Meredyth, Esq., both in the county of Meath,
being the only remaining branches of his family.
1734.
Repaired A.D. 1768 by Sarah Meredith otherwise Paul
(relict of the above Richard Meredith) Thomas Meredith of
Newtown and Arthur Meredith of Dollardstown, Esqrs.
No. X I I . Refer top. 110.
The Robert Harpoole, or Hartpole, mentioned in the text, was?
a strict, vigilant, and active officer. He is recommended to the
Queen by the lord deputy of the day in very flattering terms;
which probably procured him the honor of knighthood, which he
afterwards enjoyed. A tomb has lately been discovered with the
following inscription : " Hie facet Robertas Hartpole Constabulariusde Catherlagh Sepluagenarios interuitS Octobris L594."
An engraved representation of this monument is given by Mr.
Sheffield Grace, in his very interesting Memoirs of the Grace fa* This was an error : he was only bishop of Leighlin*
3 B

380

0ISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

mily. Of the last <of the Hartpoles, Sir Jonah Barrington furnishes an account in the second volume of his Personal Sketches,
No. XIH. Refer, top. 114.
Hooker gives the following aocount of the " mere Irish " in the
days of Elizabeth. The numerous atrocities recently committed
by the lower orders in the south of Ireland, and the salutary effects
produced by coercion, would almost render the picture applicable
at the present day :
"And here may you see the nature and disposition of this wicked,
jeffrenated, barbarous, and unfaithful nation, who (as Cambrensis
writeth of them) they are a wicked and perverse generation, constant always in that they be inconstant, faithful in that they be always unfaithful, and trusty in that they be always treacherous and
untrusty.—Far withdraw the sword and forbear correction, deal
with them in courtesy, and entreat them gently, if they can take
any advantage they will surely skip out; and as the dog to his
vomit, and the sow to the dirt and puddle, they will return to their
old.and former insolency, rebellion, and disobedience."—Chronicles of Ireland.
No. X I V . Refer, top. 148.
A.D. 1608. KILLMACAHILL, diocese of Leighlin. By an instrument inrolled in this year, a moiety of this rectory was settled
on the hospital of our Saviour Jesus Christ in St. Mary's churchyard of Kilkenny.
No. X V . Refer, to p. 303.
A.D. 1823, Benedict Hamilton, Esq., brought an action to establish and recover the right of presentation to the parish church
of Carlow. It appeared, that in Feb. 1721, lordThomond, the
patentee, had conveyed all his right, title, and interest in the
lordship, manor, and castle of Carlow, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances to James Hamilton, Esq., for a sum of
20,000/. Mr. Hamilton was non-suited in the present action.
X V I . Refer to p. 320.
The following were the yeomanry corps of the county in 1798,
eo far as we have been enabled to obtain a correct list.
Borris cavalry and infantry. Captain—Walter Kavanagh.
1st Lieutenant.—LukeHagarty. 2nd Lieutenant—Thos. Bishop.
Bagenals-town
infantry.
Captain—Beauchamp Bagenal.
Lieutenant—Philip Brenan.
Carlow cavalry. Captain—Sir Charles Burton. 2nd Capt.—
Win, Browne, Lieutenant—Charles Burton.
Carlow infantry.
Captain—William Burton. 2nd Captain—
Hardy Eustace. Lieutenant—Edward Fitz-Gerald, 2nd Lieutenant—William Cooper Herring.
Cloydagh and Killeshin cavalry and infantry.
Captain-—
John Staunton Rochfort. 2nd Captain—Harman Fitz-Maurice.
Lieutenant—John Herring.

OF THE COUOTY OF CA&LOW.

381

GarryAunden cavalry and infantry* Captain—Sir Richard
Butler. 2nd Captain—Thomas Butler.
Lieutenant—Charles
Moore McMahon.
Hacketstown infantry.
Captain—Thomas Hardy. Lieut.—
William Saul. 2nd Lieutenant—Francis Thomas.
Serjeants—Edward Jones, Wm. Smith, Frajicis Vanston—
Protestants.
John Bulger, Wm. Bulger, Wm. Condle, Richard Codd, Benjamin Codd, Thos. Codd, Thos. Condle, Josh. Condle, John Dowling,
Robert Ellis, John Ellis, Thomas Ellis, Joshua Farrell, Geo.
Hawkins, Thomas Hobson, Darby Hannan, JohnHannan, Richard Hannan, James Hannan, Wm. Hannan, Matw. Liston,
John Langeral, Francis Lamb, John Lamb, James McDowell,
John Manning, James Magan, Thomas McCutchin, Wm. Mara,
Wm. Murphy, Josh. Noblet, Thomas Noblet, Charles Naylor,
George Needham, James Neillf Andw. Ormsby,, Josh. Pollard,
Henry Pollard, John Presley, Thomas Roche, Thomas Smith,
Samuel Sharpe, George SherclifFe, Henry Taylor, Richard Taylor
—Protestants. James Byrne, James Cullen, Wm. Darcy, Jas.
Kenna, James McDonald—Roman catholics,
Leighlin-bridge infantry. Captain—John Steuart. 1st Lieut.
James Thomas—2nd Lieut. James Carter.
Mount-Leinster infantry. Captain—Beauchamp Bagenal. 1st
Lieutenant—John Sinnott—2nd Lieutenant—Thomas Stone.
Myshal cavalry and infantry. Captain—Robert Cornwall,
2nd Captain of cavalry—William Knott. Lieutenant—Beauchamp Colclough.
Cornet—John Butler. 1st Lieutenant of
infantry—Benjamin Butler. 2nd Lieutenant—Benjn. James.
Tullow cavalry. Captain—Edward Eustace. Lieut—Robert
Eustace. Cornet—John Thomas Whelan.
William Brewster, Richard Butler, John Boyle, Wm. Burgess,
Paul Carter, James Eustace, Launeelot Gethins, L. Gethins, jun.,
William Hughes, Ambrose Harwood, John Hetherington, James
Hetherington, John James, Edward James, Wm. Lee, Beaumont
Ryan,* David Ryan,f James Rawson, James Shepard,J Wickham Shepard,J John Shepard,J Thomas Stone, Joseph Swan,
Thos Tomlinson, Gabriel Thorp, Charles Thorp, Richard Thorp,
Pilsworth Whelan, Richard Warren—Protestants,
Patrick Byrne, Edward Byrne, Richard Cullen, Wm. Callaghan,
Edward Coghlan, Syl. Coghlan, Edward Dargan, Mich. Dargan,
Mich. Donohoe, Edward Dillon, Jas. Kinselah, Terence Kinselah,
Thomas Kinselah, Garret Kelly, Wm. Kelly, Wm. Murphy, Jas.
Nowlan, John O'Brien—Roman catholics.
Serjeants—Christ. Moore, Samuel Semple—Protestants.
All the officers of the county were Protestants, with the exception of Lieutenant Philip Brenan of the Bagenai's-town corps, who,
we believe, was a Roman catholic.
* Father of the author.
| Maternal uncles of the author.

f Uncle of the' author.

382

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

No. X V I I . Refer top. 326.
AGHADE. A vestry was held on 31 st March, 1741. Signatures :
Bar, Vigors, minister:—William
Bernard, Beaumont Astle,
Churchwardens.—Henry
Astle.
An act of vestry on the 17th April, 1750, is signed in the following order—Bar. Vigors, minister, Richard Butler, fVm.
Brer eton, ChunInvar'dens—Beaumont Astle, Arthur Bail lie, J*
Echlin, Saml. Brownrigg, Philip Butler.
Nathaniel Evans, Esq., and Sir. Arthur Baillie appointed
churchwardens, at vestry, on the 31st March, 1752,
Vestry held on 13th June, 1757. Signatures: Richard Butler, Beaumont Astle, George Brereton, Arthur Baillie, Sfc.
Sir Richard Butler and Arthur Baillie, Esq., appointed churchwardens on 4th April, 1763.
W e regret to have it to state, that there are but very few vestry
books in the county of an old date, and in those there are obvious
omissions. Most of them commence subsequently to 1798; at
which period several were destroyed by the rebels.
No. XVIII. Refer top. 329.
The following extracts are taken from accounts appended to the
Kavanagh pedigree; which bears date 1817.
T H E CHARTER HOIIN. The horn is made of ivory, mounted
and ornamented with gilt brass. It has been in the possession of
the family of Kavanagh of Bonis-Id rone from a very early period,
and is supposed to have originally been the charter horn or tenure
by which they held certain estates. The late Thomas Kavanagh,
Esq., with the consent of his son, the present Walter Kavanagh,
Esq., presented it to Trinity College Dublin, where it now remains,
and is considered one of the greatest curiosities with which the museum of that university is enriched.
T H E FIGEEN. This curious piece of antiquity was found in
the demesne of Borris, in digging a ditch. It is composed of a
mixture of silver and tin, and wTeighs 16ozs. I7dwts. These are
commonly, though erroneously called MORAN'S RINGS, which were
of a different character, and were worn round the neck of the king,
and also of the chief hrehon, or judge, who was prime minister.
T H E LIATH MEISICITH. The very curious ancientbox called the
Liath Meisicith was for many ages an heir-loom in the family of
Kavanagh of Borris-Idrone, until it was presented (together with
the Charter Horn) as before stated, to the museum of Trinity College, Dublin, where it is now deposited and carefully preserved.
It is made of brass cased with silver, and when presented to the
university contained a number of loose sheets of vellum, on which
were written some extracts from the gospel and prayer for the sick
in the Latin language, but in the Irish character. There were also
water colour drawings of the apostles, tolerably well executed, and
supposed to have been the work of St. Moling, the patron saint of
that part of the country, and who was a member of the family of
Kavanagh, as appears by the pedigree; although the box itself is

OF THE COUNTY OF CARLO W.

383

supposed by General Vallancey to be of much greater antiquity
than the period at which St. Moling flourished.
No. XIX. Refer, top. 333.
" Carol! Moore O'Daly was brother to the celebrated Donogh,
a turbulent chieftain in Connaught, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
He was one of the most accomplished gentlemen of his day, and
particularly excelled in poetry and music. He paid his addresses
to Ellen daughter of M. Kavanagh a lovely and amiable lady,
who returned his affections more favourably than her friends wished,
who disapproved of the connexion. It happened that an affair of
consequence drew O'Daly to another part of Ireland, and the
friends of Ellen seized the opportunity of his absence to promote
the suit of a rival. By a variety of reports, artfully conveyed to
her, she was induced to suspect the attachment of her lover, and
was finally persuaded he had left the country to be married to another. The afflicted Ellen, indifferent now to every object, was
prevailed on by her friends to acquiesce in their choice. His rival
was favourably received, and a day was fixed for their nuptials,
which were to be as splendid as the hospitable manners of the
times, and the social propensities of the Irish called for on such an
occasion. The report of these preparations soon reached the ears
of the unfortunate O'Daly; he hastened his return, and arrived in
Connaught on the evening before the appointed day. Under the
impression of his feelings, he sought with his harp a wild and
sequestered spot on the sea-shore, and inspired by the enthusiasm
of the occasion he composed the song of " Eibhlin A'Ruin" which
remains to this time an exquisite memorial of his skill and sensibility. Disguised as a gleeman or minstrel he next day gained
easy access among the crowd of company that thronged to the
wedding; and after exercising his talents in a variety of ways for
the amusement of the guests, he was called upon by Ellen herself
to play. It was then that, touching his harp with all the pathetic
sensibility this deeply interesting occasion inspired, he infused his
own feelings into the song he had composed, and breathed into his
softened strain the very soul of pensive melody. The sympathetic
heart of Ellen instantly felt its force ; she recognized her lover in
his disguise, and by that secret communication of sentiment that
needs not the aid of words to convey it, intimated her unalterable
attachment and her readiness to fly with him from this reluctant
engagement.
The plan of escape was instantly concerted, the
guests were more liberally supplied with usquebaugh than even the
festivity of the occasion called for; they were reduced to a state of
insensibility and the happy lovers easily effected their escape."—
Minstrelsy of Erin* Notes, p. 168.
It should be observed, that the foregoing account seems to imply, that Ellen resided in Connaught; which must certainly be an
error; as the Kavanaghs were always a Leinster family. Besides,
tradition relates as we have stated in the text,—The scenes of some
of Mr. Hartstonge's poems are laid in the county of Carlow.

384

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

XX. Refer to. p. 352.
RATHVILLY. The following particulars are collected from the
registry-book of the union. At a vestry held in the church at
Rathvilly, on the 9th June, 1712, Messrs. Wra. Pendred and
Edmund Mulligan were appointed churchwardens.
In 1716, Messrs. John Mulligan and William Watson were
churchwardens.
In 1720, Messrs. Robert Mulligan and Denis Kinsellah were
churchwardens.
On 4th April, 1727, Messrs. Richard Mulligan of Baron-hill
and John Pigot appointed churchwardens for the year.
About this period the signatures of Benjamin Neale (archdeacon of Leighlin) and of the Paul family frequently appear in the
vestry book.
April 20, 1731, Robert, Edward and James Mulligan signed
the act of vestry.
Vestry on 12th April, 1748. Ordered that the parish church
of Rathvilly be immediately pulled down in order to be rebuilt.
Vestry on 31st March, 1752. It is agreed and ordered, that
the seats of the church shall hereafter belong to the following persons. No. 1, to Col. Paul and Col. Minchin. 2, to the Rev.
Mr. Enraght. 3, to the minister of Rathvilly. 4, to Mr. Pendred. 5. to Mr. Drought. 6, to Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Hawkins,
and Mr. Cooper. 7, to Knockava and Knocklishen. 8, to Mr.
Robert Mulligan and his brethren. 9, to the inhabitants of Rathvilly. 10, to Mr. Saunders and Captain Lucas. 11, to Thomas
Bunbury, Esq. 12, to William Bunbury, Esq.
Money expended by William and Thomas Bunbury, Esqrs. m
building the new church, A.D. 1750—1751, 234/. 3s. l\d.—
Subscribers: Joshua Paul 20/.; William Bunbury 10/. ; Thomas
Bunbury 10/. ; Benjamin Burton 3 / ; Wm. Pendred \l. 2s. 9d. ;
John Drought U 2*. 9d. ; Richard Mulligan U 2s. 9d.; Robert
Mulligan Us Aid. ; &c.
Vestry on 1st April, 1755, signed by John Stratford, and Edward Stratford.
At vestry on 5th Oct. 1757, Messrs. Francis Lucas, John
Ryan, and Edward Coogan were appointed overseers of the high
roads through the parishes of Rathmore, Straboe, and Rahill.
Messrs. John Ryan and Thomas Sharpe appointed churchwardens on the 23d March, 1761; and again on 13th April, 1762.—
Act of vestry on 30th Sept. 1761, signed by John Ryan, churchwarden, and David Ryan.—Act of vestry on 5th April, 1763,
signed John Ryan, churchwarden.
Act of vestry on 4th April, 1768, signed Richard
Brougk,
curate, Thomas Drought and Robert Mulligan, churchwardens.
In April, 1771, Messrs. David Ryan of Rathvilly and John
Waters were appointed churchwardens.
Act of vestry 3d April, 1774, signed Richard Brough, curate—David Ryan.

OP THE COUNTY OF CARLOW.

385

At vestry on 19th April 1802, Beaumont Ryan of Broghillstown, gentleman, appointed churchwarden for the ensuing year.
Act of Vestry on 28th Feb. 1803, signed Beaumont Ryan, churchwarden.—At vestry on 1st March, 1803, Beaumont Ryan, gentleman, appointed to raise money in Broghillstown and Rahill to
provide six substitutes for the militia.
No. XXI. Refer to p. 355.
TULLOW. The vestry-book of this parish is entitled u A register for the parishes of Tullowphelim, Ravilley, &c.M Its most ancient date is 1696.
In 1740, 100/. was raised for rebuilding the church of Tullow.
At vestry on 8th June, 1743, Thomas Bunbury, Esq., and Mr.
James Mottly, churchwardens made up their accounts; one item
of which was 205/. paid John J ohnson for building the church.
The Carlow regiment of militia was embodied on the commencement of the war succeeding the peace of Amiens in 1802; and so
continued till the 16th August, 1814, when it was disembodied.
The regiment was again called into action on the 13th July, 1815,
in consequence of the escape of Buonaparte from Elba; and remained on duty till the 26th March, 1816, when it was last disembodied. The following are the names of the officers of the regiment
in March, 1816 : Colonel—D. La Touche, jun,* Lieutenant
Colonel—Robert La Touche.f Majors—Richard Baillie, John
Faulkner Cornwall. Captains—Benjn. B. Galbraith, Harman
Herring, James Butler, Gilbert Rudkin, Pilsworth Whelan,$
Thos. Henry Watson. Lieutenants—Richard
Clifford, T . F .
Eames, Richard King, B. M'Mahon, Richard Ryan,§ John Sherlock, Henry Morton, Michl. Thorogood, Richard Butler, N . Bishop,
John Horton, Thomas Procter, II. Byrne.
Ensigns—Francis
Courtenay, B. Hobart, C. Brough, William Hill, Wm. Cooke.
Paymaser—Constantine
Brough. Adjutant—Luke
Haggarty.
Surgeon—Arthur Reed. Assistant do.—Henry Leonard.
The following members have been returned to parliament by the
county: A.D. 1807, David La Touche and Walter Bagenal, Esqrs.
—1812, D. La Touche and Henry Bruen, Esqrs.—1816 D. La
Touche died; succeeded by R. La Touche, Esq.—1818, H.
Bruen, Esq., and Sir U . Burgh,—1820, H. Bruen, Esq., and Sir
U . Burgh.—1826, Sir U. Burgh became Lord Downes; succeeded by Thomas Kavanagh, Esq.—1826, H. Bruen and T .
Kavanagh, Esqrs.—1830, H. Bruen and T . Kavanagh, Esqrs.—
1831, Sir J . M . Doyle and Walter Blackney, Esq.—1832, Thos.
Wallace and W . Blackney, Esqrs.
The following is a list of the county of Carlow Grand-Jury at the
July assizes, 1833, as the same has been printed : Sir Thomas
• Commission dated 22nd Dec. 1795.
X Ditto 9th February, 1814.

f Ditto 7th September, 18Q8.
§ Ditto 26th August, 1806.

386

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES

Butler, Baronet, Foreman: Henry Bruen, John S. Rochfort,
William F . Burton, Jno. Dawson Duckett, James Eustace,
James J . Bagott, Wm, R. Steuart, Jas. Butler, Wm. Duckett,
Jno. Whelan, Robert Eustace, Henry Faulkner, John Alexander,
Wm. Garrett, John Watson, Thomas H. Watson, Pilsworth
Whelan, Harman Herring Cooper, James H . Eustace, Thomas T,
Vigors, Samuel Elliott, Walter Blackney, Esqrs.

INDEX.*

Page.
Clonmore, 79, 94, 112, 126, 149?
159, 335.
Claims,
241.
Colclough,
316, 362,
Crosbie,
318, 319.
D.
Danes,
28,29,31,32,
Davies, Sir John,40, 79,114,151,147,
Dinrigh,
17,
Doyne, 234, 285, 288, 292, 293,362.
Bagenal, 110, 111", 123, 128, 147, Druids,
19,
152, 153, 159, 166, 167, 170, 173,
£.
175, 176, 178, 180, 187, 192, 193, Easter,
.
23, 24.
232, 233, 234, 235, 242, 244, 247, Esmonde,
148,225,231.
250, 254, 255, 263, 266, 285, 294, Eustace, 111, 116, 129,161, 126,225,
301,317,357,
234, 235, 242, 243, 244, 246, 248,
249, 250, 251, 254, 316, 324, 362.
Bagenal's-town
317, 318.
37,46,53.
Baggot, 201, 225, 233, 234, 242, 243, Eva, .
248, 254, 263.
Evans,
257, 279, 316. 364.
F.
Ballvmoon
30, 73, 74, 78, 328,
*....
364.
Barrow, 14, 17, 80,109, 170,260, Feltus, . .
274, 285, 288, 290. 295, 309, 315. Fitz-Stephen, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,
45,46,48, 49, 378.
Ballylaughan,
328.
Beauchamp, 239, 244, 257, 260, 262, Fitz-Gerald, 38, 41, 44, 45, 46, 48.
Fitz-Henry,
40, 48.
266, 270, 272, 279.
364.
Berkeley, 209,212,225, 236, 267,356. Fitz-Maurice,
12.
Blackney, ...
* . . . 250, 359. Forth, barony of,
78, 99.
Borris,
159,318,321,329. Fi einston,
G.
Brereton,
233, 236, 243, 267298, 364.
Bruen, 303, 304, 311, 312, 314, 316, Garrett,
Grace,
72, 149, 225, 333.
328, 375.
Grants,
115, 194, 254.
Browne, 209, 212, 238, 239, 240,
H.
248, 285,288, 316, 359.
Burton, 234, 270, 278, 285, 298, 314, Hacketstown, 159, 169, 171, 3sd,
339.
323, 360.
Butler, 105, 115,133, 160, 161, 162, Hamilton, 123, 270, 272, 283, 365.
170, 187,212,236, 238,241,242, Harman, 161, 163,173, 182,197, 257,
267.
257, 259, 260, 284, 288, 294, 303,
311, 314, 316, 318, 323, 324, 360. Hardy,
244,316,320.
Burdett, 239, 253, 255, 257, 259, Harrison,
262, 263.
260,261,262, 263.
Harpoole, 109, 110, 156, 161, 288,
Bimbury, 253, 261, 267, 285, 288,
379,
359.
Heme,
110,111.
Heber and Heremon,
16.
C.
365
Carlow, county of, 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, Herring,
365
29, 50, 63, 68, 77, 79, 80, 88, 95, Hill,
99, 101, 112, 160, 168, 173, 175, Hy Cabanagh and Hy Drone, .. 15
188, 189,191, 192,378.
Hy Kinsellagh,
15, 21. 26, 34.
Carlow, baronv of,
12.
I.J.
town of, 18, 21, 78,. 82, 103, Idrone, barony of, 32, 48, 52, 71, 77,
80,104, 111,323.
113, 126, 163, 169, 173, 183, 236,
238, 239, 240, 257, 262, 285, 297, Idrone East,
12, 323.
313, 318, 330.
Idrone West,
12, 323.
charters of, 60, 134, 209, 222. Interregnum,
183,187.
castle of, 53, 54, 76, 86, 90, 94, Inquisitions, 115, 148, 151, 220, 254.
95t 112, 120, 122, 172, 130, 178, Isabel,
.
52, 53, 57.
182, 184, 185, 186, 271, 330.
K.
Clonmullin, 18, 112, 131, 158, 333. Kavanagh, or MacMorrough, 17, 40,
Carew, 71,77, 81, 86, 104, 105,107,
47, 48,51,52, 71,72,73,76, 77,
109,110, 111, 113, 155.
78, 79, 81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92,
Cloghgrenan, 105, 112, 172,174, 183,
94, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105,
334.
106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
* The names of places in the grants and inquisitions are not inserted : the.
number being too great to admit of it.

A.
Page
Absentees, act of.
95.
Achadfinglass, abbey of . .26, 27, 29.
Adrian IV. bull of
35.
Aghade
326,382.
Anglesey
195, 197, 198.
Arran
241, 243.
Ardristan
326.
Astle
312, 356.
Athaddy, nunnery of . . . . . . . . . . 33.

388

INDEX.

116, 123, 125, 127, 131, .133, 147,
150, 151,152, 154, 155, 158, 159,
160, 167, 168, 170, 173, 177, 186,
2 2 5 , 2 3 2 , 235, 254, 3 1 2 , 3 1 5 , 3 1 6 ,
3 2 1 , 365, 376, 378.
Kelly V t o w n ,
340.
Killarge, 59, 74, 78, 80, 9 1 , 99, 127Kilfortchearn,
21.
Killinane, . .
342.
Knights Hospitalers,
77.
Knights Templars, 57, 59,73, 7 4 , 3 7 8 .
L.
Lacy, Hugh de
51,53.
LaTouche,
316.
Leighlin, diocese of 13, 33, 58, 140,
188.
Old, 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, 29, 30, 3 1 , 32, 59, 73, 75, 160,
231, 297, 377.
— , cathedral of 25, 32,34, 9 3 ,
343.
bishops of 29, 3 1 , 3 2 , 3 3 , 58,
59, 64, 71, 72, 76, 80, 84, 85, 86,
88, 89, 90, 9 1 , 92, 93, 101, 102,
103, 104, 123, 139, 148, 151, 164,
1.90, 219, 234, 237, 268, 269, 286,
303.
• bridge, 53, 54, 77, 87, 94,
101, 109, 112, 113, 122, 123,125 5
1 7 0 , 1 7 3 , 178, 183, 184, 273, 2 8 1 ,
283, 289, 297, 317, 318, 347.
• monastery, 7 1 , 83, 84, 87,
100, 1 2 3 , 1 3 3 .
, Romish bishop of, 177,
179, 184, 187.
Luttrell, 233, 303, 305, 306.
M.
MacMoiTough, Dermot, 3 3 , 34, 36,
37, 38, 40, 4 1 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46,
47, 55, 56, 7 1 , 369.
Marshal, ear], 57, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65,
66, 67, 68, 69,
Milesius,
16.
Militia,
266, 312, 313, 385.
Montmorency, Hervey de, 4 0 , 4 1 , 46,
49 5 1 .
Mou'ntjoy,
112, 113, 114.
N.
Newton,
3 1 2 , 3 1 5 , 3 1 6 , 375.
Norfolk, duke of
95.
O.
O'Ryrne, or Byrne, 47, 76, 8 1 , 85,
S6, 87, 99, 103, 110, 111, 112, 114,
123, 149, 154, 155, 166, 168, 177,
201, 225.
O'Connor, Roderic, 34, 4 1 , 48. 56,
377.
Orange Institution
322.
Ormonde, 116, 118, 123, 124, 126,
127, 131, 149, 157, 159, 160, 165,
168, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178,
179, 182, 183. 186, 191, 194, 200,
267.

Parliament, 147, 160, 173, 187, 190,
233, 238, 257, 260, 262, 270, 272*
275, 286, 293, 296, 298, 300. 303,
304, 306, 307. 311, 314, 315, 3 2 3 .
Paul
246, 249, 264, 267, 316.
Ponsonby
J96, 199.
R.
Rathvilly, barony of
12
Raymond le Gros, 46, 47, 48, 5 1 , 52,
53.
Rebellion of 1641,
165, 169.
Rebellion of 1798,
316,
Rinuccini
176, 177, 178, 179.
Roche
371,
Rochfort, 235,241,284, 285,288,314,
316, 317, 322, 323, 3 7 1 .
Rudkin
316, 3 7 1 .
Ryan, or O'Ryan, 17, 32, 46, 48, 52,
110, 123, 125, 152, 158, 243, 327,
357, 364, 372, 384 385.
S.
Schomberg
234^
Shepard
265, 374.
Steuart,
375,
St. Fortchearn
21.
St. Fintan M u n n u
24, 25, 377St. Gobban
23, 25, 26.
St. Kieran
2 1 , 22.
St. Laserian
24, 25, 377.
St. Mulling, barony of
13.
St. Moling, or Mullin, 26, 50, 93, 36S,
St. Mullins, abbey of 26, 3 1 , 33, 348.
Stopford
197, 199, 234,
St. Patrick,
20, 2 1 , 24, 9 3 .
St. Stephen, priory of 32, 3 3 , 73, 8 3 .
Strongbow, 37, 4 1 , 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,
5 1 , 52, 53, 60.
Surnames
31.
T,
Tench,
212, 234, 238, 2^5, 257,
Thomond
122, 122, 126.
Tobin's-town
353.
Towers, round
32,
Tullow, 19, 53, 77, 80, 100, 102, 115,
122, 124, 126, 133, 152, 186, 354,
385.
U.
Union, T h e
323, 325.
V.
Vigors,
262, 267,, 305, 316, 375.
Volunteers,
3 0 1 , 312.
VV.
Watson
375.
Warren, 212. 225, 233, 234, 242,250.
255, 267, 298.
Weldon, . . 2 3 8 , 257, 260, 262, 284.
Whelan
375.
Whittv
319.
William I I I . 232, 235, 237, 254, 286.
Wolseley 255, 257, 263, 265, 267,270,
283,286,293,312.
Y,
Yeomanry . . 317- 318. 320, 322, 380,

FINIS.
T. O'FLANAGAN, PRINTER, 2 6 ,

BACHELOR'S-WALK,

DUBLIN.