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A LIST OF THE PROVOSTS, MAYORS, BAILIFFS, AND SHERIFFS, OF THE CITY OF LIMERICK, FROM THE YEAR 1195, TO THE YEAR 1866, etc.

1197. In this year, being the ninth of Richard I., Limerick obtained a charter to elect mayors and bailiffs: The Arthur and Sexten MSS. say: "On the 18th of December this year, John, Earl of Moreton, then sole Lord of Ireland, dwelling at the time in Killaloe (in pago Laonensi), bestowed on Limerick, by his charter, the honours of a city, and gave to it the same liberties, immunities, indulgences, and privileges, which he had a short time before granted to the city of Dublin; he gave to it the faculty of electing prætors, who are called mayors, and duumvirs, whom they used to call bailiffs, but whom by a more recent charter of King James I., they now call sheriffs". The first royal charter was not granted to Waterford till 1205-6, by King John in the seventh year of his reign; and it was not till 1220, the 5th of Henry III., that a charter was granted to Cork. The 6th of July, first Richard I., 1189, is assigned by some authorities as the date of the grant of mayor and bailiffs to London.' The

1 We learn from Nash's City of London Records, that Alfred, King of the West Saxons, com mitted the safe custody of London to his son-in-law, Adhern, Earl of Mercia; on his death the whole city reverted to King Edward "the Elder", and remained in his hands and governed by him by "Portgraves" or "Portreeves".

Coke says, 2 Institute, "Before and since the time of Richard I., London was governed by a Portreeve. In Richard I. by the bailiffs, afterwards by a 'mayor' appointed by the King. But by 9th John, the King granted' quod eligant a mayor de seipsis annually"".

Stow says, that in the reign of King Edward, the last before the Conqueror, Wolfegare was portgrave, as appears by charter. The charter was, 66

Edward, King, greeteth Alfward, Bishop, and Wolfgare, my Portgrave, and all the burgesses of London".

Another charter, "King Edward greeteth Williamh Bishop and Swetonan my Portgrave". Also in another charter to Cherlsey he says, "To William Bishop and Leofstane and Alffy portgraves".

White MSS., followed by Ferrar and Fitzgerald, state that London did not obtain a mayor till 1207, ten years after Limerick. The charter of King John to London (12th May, 1208), gave the privilege of appointing the mayor annually to the citizens. Richard reserved the choice to the king. White, who states he compiled his list of mayors from three ancient manuscripts, disagrees in some particulars with Sexten's Chartulary and Book in the British Museum, which contains a list of mayors and bailiffs from 1256, when he places Reynald de Sancto Jacobo as mayor, to 1636, when his list terminates. The Arthur MSS. begin the list in 1215, when they place Siwardus de Fferandona as provost; and in the year 1218, give Thomas Fitz-John Arthur as mayor. Arthur's list ends in 1651. We compile our roll from the three MSS., supplying names from one which do not appear in the other.

PROVOSTS.

1195 John Spafford, elected and sworn on Monday after Michaelmas Day, and to continue such till Monday after Michaelmas the year following.

1196 Alexander Barrett, 1197 Henry Troy.

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In reign of William Conqueror, " William Bishop" procured from the Conqueror his charter of liberties. "To the said William Bishop and Godfrey, portgrave, and to all the burgesses of the city of London". Anno 1087.

"Portgrave, or portreeve, means (Saxon, two words) port or town, and guardian or keeper”. The first charter was as follows:

"William, Kyng, gret William Bisceep and Gosfregh porterelan, and calle tha Burhwarn binnen Londone Frencisce and Englisce friendlise".

(By William Conqueror in Saxon language.)

King Stephen used portgrave.

Henry II. "Portgrave".

These portgraves were called vice comites, viscounts, or sheriffs, as being under comes, i.e., an earl.

Fitz-Stephens wrote (Henry II.), this city is divided like Rome, instead of consuls has sheriffs, it has senators and aldermen.

Richard I. changed the title of portgrave to bailiff, and appointed two persons yearly.

1209 King John altered the title from bailiff to "mayor" (quere from Latin major, or meyr (Sax.), or miret (Brit.), and the sheriff's called baliva.

Stowe shows that the office of mayor was older than that of Richard I., 1189.

FIRST MAYOR.

Henry Fitz Alwyn (draper) was first elected Mayor of London. He served from Richard I. until 15th John (24 years), but he was originally "bailiff", and then nominated "mayor". In 1208 the King, by letters patent, granted to the citizens the liberty and authority yearly to choose themselves a mayor.

In 12th May, 9th King John, by letters patent, granted permission for a mayor to be annually chosen by themselves out of their own body.

Henry III. in 1233, granted a charter to the citizens of London to choose their own mayor. The title of "Lord" accorded to mayor by Richard II. in 1381.

The first Provost of Dublin, given in Harris's His. of Dub, was John Le Decer, 1308; first mayor, 1309, Thomas Cussack; first Lord Mayor, Sir Daniel Bellingham, 1665.

[A. S. W. refer respectively to Arthur, Sexton, and White's MSS.]

MAYORS.

BAILIFFS.

1214 Siward Minutor,

1215 Siwardus de Fferendona.

1216 J. Russell, alias Creagh.

1217 John Banbury.

1218 John Fitz-Thomas Arthur. Nicholas Walsh, Nicholas Fitz-Hiu, A.

1219 John Avenbrugger,

Fitzgerald gives the above name and date, on what authority I know not.
Maurice Blund, Pierse Russell.

1230 Reynold de St. Jacobo,

In page 23 of the Black Book, Simon Herwarder is styled Mayor, and Maurice Blund and Walter of Adare
Provosts; again, p. 40, Reginald de Sto. Jacobo is called Seneschal of Limerick.

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From 1239 to 1255 sixteen Mayors are unknown say White's MSS., but the following appear In A. and S.

1241 Nicholas Fitz-Thos. Arthur

1255 John White,

John Moore, Richard Reymbold.

1258 Thomas Crop,

1259 Adam Serjeant,

1260 Henry Troy,

1261 Robert Juvenis (S.) (or Young?) Robert Reym

bold, Alexander Barret (W.)

1262 Reginald de St. Jacobo,

1263 John Russell, alias Creaghe, 1264 John Banbery,

1265 Richard Troway,

1266 Geraldus de Mulier, S.
1267 John Hamilton, (S. W.
Hampton, W.)

1268 Robert Poynes, (W.)
1269 Henry Troy, W.
1270 Richard Milles Owen, W.
1271 John White, W.
1272 Gregory Wanybould, W.
1273 John Bambery, W.
1274 Gilbert Fitz-Thomas, W.
1275 Geraldus Millis Owen,
1276 Edmund Longan,

Anlane O None, Owen Moore, S.

John Moore, Richard Reymbold, S.
John Danyell, John Nash, (S.)

Thom Albe, John Troy, (S.)
Richard Whyte, Richard Laceye, S.
Richard White, Gregory Winebald, S

A. gives Gregory Wynedbald Mayor, and William de Rupe and John Daniel as balll 1277 Gregory Vonbonde (Bon

bonde),

1278 Morris Lisborne, S.

1279 Gerald De Murley, 1280 Maurice Blund,

1281 Richard Troy,

1282 Henry Troy, 1283 John Kildare, 1284* Gerald Morles, 1285 Edmond Longane, 1294 Maurice Lisborn, 1295 Gerald de Morly,

1296 Richard Troy.

1297 Nicholas Fitzsimons,

1298 Gerald Morles,

William De Rupe, John Danyell, S.

Anlane O'Noyne, Owen Moore, S.
Anlane O'Noyne, Owen Moore, S.
John Walsh, John Troy, S.
John Walsh, John Troy, S.
John Daniel, Thom. Ricolf, A.
Nicholas White, Richard Longane.
Nicholas White, Gregory Wainbold.

Anlonus O'Neonan, Owen Moore, S.
Nicholas Walsh, John Troy, S.

1299 Richard Troy,

1300 John Kildare (second time

Mayor, Arthur MSS.)

Gerald Domilier W.

No names are given for sixteen years, commencing 1284 and ending 1300, by Sexten r Arthu White supplies some names during these years.

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1329 Greg. Wyneband,

1330 Greg. Wyneband,

John White,

1331 Greg. Wyneband,

Owen Moore, Richard Milles Owen.

Hugo Woedfor,

Laynach.

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A.

John Hamond, Daniel Martell.

1325, Thomas Kildare, and Richard Miles Owen, Mayors.

Nicholas Black, William Moore, W.

John Daniel, John Nash.

John White, Phillip Rembold.

William Blunde, David Russell.

A. and S, but according to White, Richard Milles Owen, John Moore, and Richard Rembold.

John of Kildare and William Cropp (A. and S.).

John Moore, John Rembold (White).

William de Rupe, John Daniell.

From 1302 to 1349, Sexten gives no names; Arthur gives some, and White the following:

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1334 Thomas Black, of Kildare,

1335 Richard Milles Owen,

Thomas Tallow, John Howse.

William de Rupe, John Daniel.

John Vigmor, John Troy.

John Rembold, Richard Rembold.

Sexten states that John Daniel was mayor this year, James Moore, John Massie, Bailiffs.

The Prendergasts had large estates in those days at Kilcolman, near Doneraile, and also at Mitchelstown, then considered in the county of Limerick. There was a suit raised as to what county part of their estates was in, and twelve freeholders of Cork, and twelve of Limerick, were summoned to decide the point. The record as to this is, Roll of Justices Itinerant, 44 and 45 Hen. III. I presume this branch of the Prendergasts ended in an heless, who carried the estates to the family of the Geraldines known as the White Knights.

MAYORS.

1336 John White,

1337 Greg. Wainbold,

BAILIFFS.

Richard Noxthine, John White, W.

John Daniel, John Nash.

According to Arthur the persons following-John of Kildare, John Daniell, Thomas Ricolf.

1338 John Kildare, A. W.

1339 Thomas Kildare,
1340 Richard Miles Owen,
1341 Thomas Bambery,
1342 Robert White,
1343 Gregory Wambold,
1344 Simon Bouir,

Gregory de Lisborn, W.

1345 Nicholas Fitz-Thomas, Simon Coney,

1346 Nicholas Fitz-Symons,

1347 John Croft, W.

Nicholas Symons, John Troy, A.
Richard Troy, Nicholas Howse, W.
John Fleming, Laurence Daniel, W.
Thomas Taylor, John Howse, W.
John Daniel, John Nash, W.

Richard Miles Owen, Thomas De Rannecks, A.

Martin Fitz-Thomas, William More A.

Richard Miles Owen, Thomas de Knock, W.
Nicholas Tabernator, Thomas White, A.

W. gives John Bambury as mayor.

1348 Richard Miles Owen, senior, Adam Moore, Richard Reymbald, A. W.

349 Richard Miles Owen, of

Rd. F. Thomas, John Lofts, A.

White gives Thomas Silver, Richard Troy, and Nicholas Hussey.
Richard Fitzthomas, John Loftus, W.

Emly,

350 Richard Millisse of Emly,

1352 Nich. Fitz-Thomas

1353 Nicholas Fitzsimon,

1351 Robert Creagh,

1354 John Nash (W),

John Moore, Richard Rembold, W.

Martin Fitz-Thomas, William Moore, A.

Wm. FitzAdam More, Maurice Fitz Richard FitzThomas, A.
Thomas Troy, Mw Howse, of Hunlin, S.

1355 Nicholas Black, of Kildare, John Vigoner, Richard Rembold, W.

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This mayor was sworn in on the festival of St. Senan the Bishop. A. MSS.
John Ffleminge, Laurence Daniel, A.
John Wigmor, John Troy, A.

1360 Rd. Milles Owen, jun., A.W.
1361 Nicholas Bakkecar,

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Wm. Longe, John White, S.
Walter Gilbert, Roger White, S.

1365 John Fitz-Thomas Arthur, Rd. Nashe, John White, S.

1366 Thos. Bambery,

1367 John Bultingfourd,

1368 Gilbert Fitz-Thomas,

1369 John White,

1370 Gilbert F. Thomas Blake,

1371 Robt. Creaugh, S. 1372 John Arthur, S. 1373 Nicholas Blackader,

1374 Rd. Milles Owen, 1375 Wm. Bambery, 1376 Rd. Bultinfourd, 1377 Thomas Kildare,* 1378 William White, 1379 Thomas Kildare, 1380 Rd. Bultingford, 1381 John Banbery,

Rd. Dony, Robt. Lisborne, S.
John Vigmor, Rd. Skiner, S.
Dominick Cricke, William Man, W.
Richard Nophine, John White, W.
John Creaugh, John Troy, A.
John Arthur, W.

David Cricke, Thom. White, A.
John Wigmore, John Troy.

These were officers A.D. 1362, 12th August. S.
John Ffleminge, Laurence Daniell, S.
Wm. Longe, John White, S.
Thom. Pill, Roger White, S.

Wm. Longe, Rd. Grant, S.

Thomas Barkley John Man, W.

Thomas White, Thomas Spicer, S.

Peter O'Cullen, Brandon O'Hurtigane S.

Wm. Longe, Thom. Taylor, S.

One of this name (Kildare) was representative for the county and city of Limerick in the parliament of Edward III, A.D., 1876, at Westminster.

[Between the Sexten and Arthur, and the White MSS. roll there is much discrepancy from 1357 to 1483, which I have endeavoured as far as possible to adjust by a careful comparison of the rolls. In reading these confused accounts of the chief magistrates of Limerick, we are reminded of what Livy says of those of Rome:"Tanti implicant errores temporum et nominum ut nec qui consules fuerint secundum quosdam oruinares, nec etc". "So many mistakes about persons and dates embarrass one, that you can neither tell who were consuls after others, nor", etc. However, there is nearly a perfect agreement in all the MSS. rolls from 1483 down to 1636 and 1665, when S. and A. end. Arthur would appear to have had access to Sexten's roll, which he margins some times with E. S. He quotes ancient MSS. for his roll, Sir James Ware, family monuments and records, etc., etc.]

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