faneness-Out of a due sense whereof, their Lordships have commanded me to signify unto you their dislike of such pernicious practices, and that they do (from good grounds) apprehend, that persons committing such misdemeanours do (under colour of such their wild carriage and proceedings) advance some designs which may be of dangerous consequence to the public good and safety, if not seasonably looked into and prevented; and do, therefore, desire you to inquire into the truth thereof, and to take speedy and effectual course that such persons as are come thither upon that account be excluded the garrison, and not permitted to return or reside there. And if any of the inhabitants profess themselves such, and shall at any time disturb the congregations when assembled for the service and worship of God, or otherwise break the public peace, you are then to secure such persons, and take care they be proceeded with according to due course of law in such cases provided, having due regard to preserve (by all good ways and means) the good government of that place, and timely to discountenance and suppress all disorders.

[THOMAS HERBERT, Clk. Council.]

Council Chamber, Dublin, 25th November, 1656.1

The Quakers suffered in consequence a very severe persecution in Limerick,2 where several of them suffered imprisonment, and were scourged. Barbara Blagdon, a Quakeress, was banished by Colonel Henry Ingoldsby, Governor of Limerick. He was aided by Lieut.-Colonel Hurd and Major Ralph Wilson in his violence to the Quakers, who first settled in the city two years before the above letter was written, and who in 1671 built a meeting-house in Creagh Lane.

CHAPTER XXXI.

DEATH OF CROMWELL-ACCESSION OF CHARLES II.-DISAPPOINTMENT OF CATHOLICS.-REWARDS OF THE REGICIDES AND ADVENTURERS.-GRANTS.— TRADESMEN'S TOKENS.-GRANT OF FISHERIES TO SIR GEORGE PRESTON.LORD ORRERY.-CORPORATION DOINGS, &c. &c.

"A HEAVY blow and a great discouragement" now awaited the Cromwellians in the death of their darling, who" was hurried to his woe" in 1657, bequeathing a title which did not long survive him, to his son Richard Cromwell, who wanted the sagacity, the talent, the unscrupulousness, and the daring of his father to support a position which demanded at this time more even of those qualities than the Protector could lay claim to, to retain his hold of power. With the exception of Ludlow and Sir Hardress Waller, there were few others who were either able or willing to sustain a tottering dominion. Broughill, Coote, Monk, Lambert, and others, who had raised themselves to fortune, if not to fame, on the Protectorate, now began to desert a cause which, in more prosperous seasons, had been dear to them.

Entries of Letters, &c., A. 30, p. 212.

* See Fuller's Account of the persecutions of the Quakers, &c.

Limerick, Galway, Clonmel, Carlow, Athlone, and many other cities and towns, now in the possession of the Royalists, through the operations of Coote and Broughill, only awaited the sign, to pronounce openly in favor of Charles II., who was speedily proclaimed king, and presented, not only a loyal address, but a present of twenty thousand pounds, with four thousand to the Duke of York, and two thousand to the Duke of Gloucester. The Cromwellian confiscations, however, laid the foundation of many families in the city and county of Limerick, to whom immense grants of land and houses were given, which were afterwards confirmed to them by the monarch whose father some of them helped to bring to the scaffold, and who now, with a weakness and treachery unparalleled in history, betrayed and ruined those who fought and bled, and lost all because of their attachment to his cause.1 It was thus that those were caressed who had enlisted under the banners of the usurper; whilst the Catholics, who expected to see justice done them, were compelled to mourn over disappointed hopes, and to bewail the folly of placing faith in princes. Whilst the rebellious regicides were confirmed in their broad lands, the ancient possessors were hunted to the fastnesses of Connaught, and forced to remain within the Mile End, that is, at the distance of a mile from the Shannon, to which they were confined by the Act of Settlement! Broughill was created Earl of Orrery, Coote, Earl of Mountrath; Sir Maurice Eustace, the old friend of the Marquis of Ormond, was made Lord High Chancellor; and Ormond himself who had surmounted all his difficulties and dangers, and now basked in the full effulgence of royal

1 I have given in the preceding chapter a list of some of those who obtained grants at this period, which grants were subsequently confirmed by Act of Charles II. I annex a few others:William Pope obtained large grants in the Liberties of the City of Limerick, amounting in all to 900 acres.

Grant to Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery, (enrolled under the Act of Settlement, Nov. 6th, 1666) comprised the lands of the manor of Tough, viz. Killaragh, Dromalty, Glauragh, and Tounteriffe (part), 788a. Dromsally, 180a. Moybegan, Portenard, Glassragh, and Ryceagh, 304a. Cregan and part Cregan, 120a. Cullinagh, and part of do., 725a. Annagh, 788a. Tobergariffe (part), 225a. Lohenbagh (part), 27a. Corast precoone, or Carantirocoan, 301a. Caporenat Shenagh, or Capienahene, 310a. Tearaff and Cullenaghshiffe, or Terehiss and Cullenacliffe, 328a. Cloughloghin, 27a. Barony Outhney beg, Co. Limerick, &c.

"Grants under the Commission of Grace." Printed folio.

1684. To Digby Foulkes of various lands in Limerick and Cork. Ps. 5 and 6.

Grant to John Crips, of estates in the Co. of Limerick, and within the liberties. Id. p. 6.

Do. to Thomas Maunsell in this County. Id. p. 6.

Do. to George and Simon Purdon of lands here and in Clare Co. Id. p. 7.

Do. to Joseph Stepney of lands in Co. Limerick. Id. p. 7.

Do. to Thady Quin of lands in Clare and Limerick, including weirs and fisheries. Id. p. 8.
Do. to Joseph Ormsby. Id. p. 8.

Do. to Thomas Power. Id. p 9.

Do. to Robert Nayley. Id. p. 9.

Do. to Edward Rice of lands in the Barony of Conello, Id. p. 12.

Do. to Henry Widdenham. Id. p. 17.

Do. to Brooke Briges. Id. 18.

Do. to Patrick Sarsfield. Id. 18.

1685. To Laurence Clayton, in Cork Co., and in Limerick Co. and City. Id. 34.

Do. in the City of Limerick to Doctor Jeremy Hall. Id. 36.

Do. to Samuel Burton. Id. 36.

Do. in Cork and Limerick, to Nicholas Lysaght. Id. 36.

Do. in the liberties of Limerick and Kilmallock. Id. 37.

Do. within the City of Limerick, very extensively, to Archbishop Michael Boyle. Id.p.37-8
Do. to Dame Mabell Tynte and to Henry Tynte. Id. p. 41.

1686. Grant of a small portion of lands in this Co., with extensive possessions in Mayo and Sligo. Id. 46-7.

Do. to Daniel Webb. Id. 47.

sunshine, was raised to a Dukedom, and the Viceroyalty of Ireland, and given territories in eight counties.'

Thus the cup of hope which had been presented to the lips of the Irish Catholics, was rudely dashed from it by hands from which better treatment was

1 Lands granted to the Duke of Ormonde by the Act of Settlement and Court of Claims.— Carte's Ormond, Vol. 11. p. 132.

COUNTIES.

Galway

Kildare

Meath

Dublin

Waterford

Catherlogh

Kilkenny

* Smith's-town contained 834 acres, and New-Church 116 acres, two roods and eight poles, and was granted by the Duke to Robert Walsh and his heirs male, for the rent of £5 a year.

expected. They were told, when they presented their claims in London, to desist from further applications, because one of their agents was Sir Nicholas Purcell, who was alleged to have subscribed a document by which the agents of the Supreme Council of the Confederates were empowered to make an offer of the sovereignty of Ireland to the Pope, or any Catholic prince, provided they received essential assistance in the recovery of their civil and religious privileges.

What must we think of him who, described by Sir Robert Southwell, is said to be "the true standard of his own office, regenerating therein those pillars of a Church that do at the same time adorn as well as support the Holy Fabric," whilst he (Ormond) in reference to his own anomalous position, observes, in writing of the Earl of Orrery's letters and despatches: "I know well and so does he, that I am born with some disadvantages as to the present juncture, besides my natural weakness and infirmities, and such as I can no more free myself from than they from me. My father and mother lived and died Papists, and bred all their children so, and I, by God's merciful Providence was educated in the true Protestant religion, from which I never swerved towards either extreme, not when it was most dangerous to profess it, and most advantageous to quit it. My brothers and sisters, though they were not many, were very fruitful and very obstinate (they call it constant) in their way; their fruitfulness has spread into a large alliance, and their obstinacy has made it altogether Popish. It would be no small comfort to me, had it pleased God it had been otherwise, that I might have enlarged my industry to do them good and serve them, more effectually to them, and more safely to myself; but as it is I am taught by nature, and also by instruction, that difference of opinion in matters of religion dissolves not the obligations of nature, and in conformity to this principle, I own not only what I have done, but that I will do my relations of that or any other persuasion all the good I can, but I confess at the same time, that if I find any of them who are nearest to me acting or conspiring rebellion, or against the government, and the religion established among us, I will endeavour to bring them to punishment sooner than the remotest stranger of my blood. I know professions of this nature are easily made, and therefore, sometimes little credited; but I claim some belief from my known practice, for I have been so unfortunate as to have had kinsmen in rebellion, and so fortunate as to see some of them fall when I commanded-in-chief: those that remain, have I hope, changed their principles as to rebellion; if they have not, I am sure they will find I have not changed mine." Well indeed was he designated the unkind Deserter of loyal men and true friends!

At this period manufactures were so flourishing in the province of Munster, and particularly in Limerick, that Lord Orrery, writing on the 8th of December, 1661, to the Duke of Ormond, states "that he could get the Munster clothiers to clothe the soldiers there on the credit of the Subsidy Bill," and states "it was the least of his thoughts that others should be clothed and those in the province not."2

It must be admitted too, that the Duke of Ormond exerted himself with very great success to introduce manufactures, particularly of woollens, into Carrick-on-Suir and Kilkenny, where they flourished for a long period, and where, notwithstanding every impediment, they have not totally ceased to this day.

1 Thorpe's Catalogue of the Southwell MSS.

2 Orrery's State Letters.

In Cromwell's time and subsequently, up to 1679, trademen's tokens were issued in Limerick. At first they were permitted to circulate owing to the absence of sterling coin. In reference to these coins, I find that at a meeting of the Corporation, held in 1673,1 it was ordered that the Corporation farthings, stamped in 1658, should pass current in the City and Liberties, at the rate of 20s. for 18s. There are not many of these coins now in existence. On the 23rd of October, 1673, these farthings were called in by the Corporation and reissued at par.

So strong was the impression made in France, and throughout Europe generally, by the unspeakable injustices which were flagrantly perpetrated against the too confiding Catholics of Ireland, by Charles II., and his advisers Lord Clarendon and the Duke of Ormond, that His Most Christian Majesty, the King of France, addressed a remonstrance to Charles II. on the subject, in which he reminded him of the way in which he (the King of France) had treated the Huguenots, whom he himself had treated with perfect impartiality when their claims were brought before him, taking occasion at the same time to acquaint Charles with the feelings, which prevailed universally on the subject of the persecution of the Irish people on account of their religion.3

In this year, during the Mayoralty of Henry Bindon, Sir George Preston got a patent for the great Lax weir and fishery of the Shannon from its

The Corporation Book containing the entry is in the British Museum.

I am indebted to Aquilla Smith. Esq. M.D. of Baggot-street, Dublin, for a full list of the Tradesmen's Tokens, &c., issued in Limerick between the years 1658 and 1679:1. Obv. "Limerick" in the centre.-A Castle. Rev "Clare."-Three towers.

2. Obv. "Citty of Limerick❞—A Castle. Rev. "Change and Charity"-1658. 3. Obv. "Limerick Butchers"-A paschal lamb. Rev. "Halfpenny, 1679"-The Butchers'

Arms.

4. Obv. "Anthony Bartlett, 1671"-Arms-three fishes fretted in triangle. Rev. "Of Lymrick Merchant"-Three Castles, ID.

5. Another similar, but smaller and without ID.

6. Obv. "John Bell, Mercht." Rev. "In Limrick."

7. Obv. "John Bennet, Merc." Rev. "Lymrick Penny"-1668.

8. Obv. "Edward Clarke"-E.C. ID. Rev. "Of Lymerick, 1670"-A cock.

9. Obv. "Edward Clarke"-A cock. Rev. "Of Lymerick, 1670"-E. C. §.

10. Obv. "Rowland Creagh." Rev. "Lymrick, Mercht."

11. Obv. "Of Limerick"-B. C. Rev. "Near Key Lane"-1688.

12. Obv. "Tho. Linch of Limrick"-Crest of the Butchers' Company, a winged bull. Rev. "His Halfpeny Token, 1679"-A harp.

13. Obv. "Thomas Marten, 1669"-Three castles, two and one. Rev. "Merchant in Lymrick"-T. M.

14. Obv. "Richard Pearce of"-A mortar and pestle. Rev. "Limrick, Apothecar"-R.M.P. 1668.

15. Obv. "William Rimpland”—A man dipping candles. Rev. "In Limbricke His half”— 'Peny, 1679."

16. Obv. "Ed. Wight of Limbrik"-Three castles. Rev. "His Half Peny, 1677"-A ship. 17. Another similar but of rude workmanship.

A variety of No. 2 has "City" instead of "Citty" in Ferrar's plate, fig. 3.

Dr. Smith has also a small variety of No. 14, and three varieties of No. 1, none of them are in good preservation.

In Dr. Smith's Cabinet:

No. 1. Three varieties-two of them engraved in Ferrar's Limerick.

2

3

4

5

12

13

14

15

16

I have some of the above coins; but my collection is not by any means so perfect as that of Dr. Smith, who stands deservedly high as an authority on all matters relating to Irish coins. This letter appears in the "Recit Exact et Fidele, &c.," published in Paris, 1696. The Letters Patent to him bear date 27th July, 13° Chas. II.; in these letters it is set forth that "divers fishings of salmon and pike and other fish, and also eels and eel weirs, and divers