Articles agreed upon, between Francis I. King of France, and James Fitzjohn Earl of Defmond: Extracted by Tillet out of the Records in Paris. Anno 1523.

THA

HAT as foon as the Kings fhips fhould land in Ireland, the faid Earl in person, and at his own charge, fhould take Armes against his fovereign King Henry VIII. not onely, to conquer that part of the kingdom wherein he lived (which fhould be to the proper ufe and benefit of the faid Earl, except onely one port, which fhould be referved for the French King for ever, for to harbour his ihips in; and that port to be left at the election of the King, out of one of these three, viz. Kinfale, Cork or Limerick) but alfo for to reftore the Duke of Suffolk to the Crown of England, from whence he was banifhed, and at the prefent living in France.

The Earl of Defmond for this War was to

raife

7

raife 400 horfe, and 10,000 foot; and if need required, to increase them into 15000, or more.

The King covenanted to entertain them at the rate of two Angels le peece for every man armed with Corffelets and Mayle for three months; and for every man furnished onely with Swords and Halberts, at one Angel le peece for the like time,

That for the draught of the Artillery which fhould be fent into that land by the King and the Duke of Suffolk, the Earl thould provide horfes fufficient.

That after the war was begun, the French King fhould not at any time make truce or peace with the King of England, without comprehending therein the faid Earl and Turloghe O'Brian with his nephew.

That if King Henry VIII fhould, after a truce or peace accorded, make war upon the faid Earl, the French King was to fend them aid of men, fhips and artillery.

That if during the faid truce or peace, the faid earls fubjects or tenants' fhould refufe to pay him fuch rents and duties as anciently they were accustomed, that then the faid King at his own charge, was to fend two fhips well appointed to be at his command, until the faid fubjects or tenants were reduced to their former obedience, and the faid fhips to be victualed by the earl.

That the King fhould give unto the earl of Defmond a convenient penfion during his life; and unto David Mac Maurice, of Rathkeal, the earls fenefchal, an yearly pension of five hundred livres during his life.

No. II.

The CHARTER granted by King James the Firft to the CITY of LIMERICK.

J

AMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith &c. To all to whom these presents letters fhall come greeting know ye that we of our fpecial grace certain knowledge and meer motion confidering that from the firft beginning of the rebellion in the province of Munfter in the kingdom of Ireland even to this day the citizens of our city of Limerick às faithful fubjects have fuftained not only Intolerable fpoiling and wafting of their goods, and depopulating their land but what is greater the cruel fhedding of their blood and the continual danger of the lofs of their lives in defence of our faid city of Limerick for us againft our rebels and weighing therefore the fafety of our crown and the fending of their arms and men into Ulfter and other places of our faid kingdom of Ireland on their own proper cofts and charges for the aid and ftrengthening of our arms.

We therefore in confideration thereof as in regard to very many offices and acceptable fervices done by our faid citizens to us and to our ancestors and for the future to be done to us our heirs and fucceffors we will ordain inftitute declare and grant that our city of Limerick aforefaid be and remain for ever hereafter A FREE CITY of itfelf and that the Mayor Bailiffs and Citizens of our city of Limerick aforefaid and the citizens and inhabitants

N.n

bitants of the fame city of themselves for ever be and fhall be by virtue of thefe prefents one body Corporate and Politick in matter thing and name by the names of Mayors Sheriffs and Citizens of the city of Limerick and them by the name of Mayors Sheriffs and Citizens of the city of Limerick one body Corporate and Politick in matter thing and name really and to the full for us our heirs and fucceffors We do erect make ordain and create by these prefents and that by the fame they have perpetual fucceffion and be and fhall be in after times for ever perfons fit and capable in law to have obtain receive and poffefs lands tenements liberties jurif diction franchifes and hereditaments whatfoever of what kind nature or quality foever they fhall be to them their fucceffors in fee or perpetuity or to any term and also to give and grant demife and affign the fame lands &c. and to do and execute all and fingular other matters and things by the name aforefaid and by the faid name they may plead answer defend and be defended in what places or courts whatsoever in all and fingular actions fuits complaints caufes matters and demands whatfoever in the fame manner and form as other our liege people of England or Ireland in law may and can plead &c. and may have obtain give, demife &c.

And that the faid Mayor Sheriffs and Citizens for the time being fhall have a common feal to serve for the doing of their matters and things and for their fucceffors and that it fhall and may be lawful for them and their fucceffors to break change and make a new that Seal from

time to time as it fhall feem more 'expedient and of our more ample grace and meer motion we will and for us and our fucceffors we have ratified and confirmed and by these presents for us our heirs and fucceffors we do ratifie and confirm to the aforefaid Mayor and Sheriff's and their fucceffors all and fingular fo many fo much fuch like and the fame lands tenements circuits waters fishes wafte places conceffions donations elections authorities dignities ambulations perambulations cognizance of pleas prefcriptions ufes cuftoms mills water courfes ways ditches advowfons prefentations and nominations customs liberties privileges franchifes immunities exemptions cafualties jurifdictions and all and other fingular emoluments and hereditaments whatsoever how many how much of what fort and which the Mayor Bailiffs and Citizens of Limerick now lawfully have or which they or their predeceffors or any of them by what name foever or by reafon of any Corporation heretofore lawfully have held ufed or enjoyed by reafon or means of any charters or letters patents in any manner heretofore made confirmed or granted by us or our progenitors. Kings or Queens of this our kingdom of England or by any other lawful manner right custom or prescription heretofore used.

To

have hold and enjoy the aforefaid lands tenements cuftoms liberties &c. and all and others the premises above by these prefents ratified and confirmed by the aforefaid Mayor Sheriffs and Citizens and their fucceffors for their ufe and that of their fucceffors for ever rendering and paying to us our heirs and fucceffors,

N n 2