named Patrick Kirwan, was appointed Warden, eight Vicars were nominated, and several other changes made. On the 11th of February, 1603, James I. granted all the possessions of the Augustinian Friary to Sir George Carew, Knight, and in the following year the circuit for Judges of Assize commenced in the county of Galway, and for several years the Assizes were alternately held in Galway and Loughrea. On the 18th of December, 1610, a charter was granted by King James I., separating "the Town of Galway," and all castles, messuages, rivers, rivulets, lands, tenements, and other hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being within the space of two miles of every part of the said town, in a straight line, which should from thenceforth and for ever be one entire county of itself, distinct and separate from "the county of Galway, and to be called, and known as the County of the Town of Galway, that the site and precincts of the Abbey of St. Francis, and St. Augustine's Fort, and its lands should be excluded from the County of the Town, and belong to the County of Galway, that the Judges of Assize and general jail delivery might hold their sessions in said Abbey, and the Sheriffs of the County of Galway, their County Courts there. A guild of merchants of the Staple, presided over by a Mayor, and composed of two Constables, and such a number of Merchants as they, the Mayor of the Staple and his Constables, should think fit, was established. The Corporation of the town was empowered to use several ensigns and ornaments, and the Mayor, for the time being, to have a sword and mace borne before him. In this year also the bailiffs were first called Sheriffs. On the 12th of April, 1652, the gates of Galway were thrown open to the Cromwellian army, the town having surrendered after a long and obstinate siege. Sir Charles Coote directed Colonel Peter Stubbers to march in with two companies of foot and take possession of Galway. The town was at this period so strong, and of such importance, that its loss was said to have decided the fate of Ireland. Colonel Stubbers took up his quarters in the large building in High-street. His insolent soldiers were not long in the town when they commenced to persecute the peaceful and industrious inhabitants in a terrible manner. This caused the people to combine to oppose them, and they agreed among themselves to hold no intercourse whatever with Stubbers, or the troops under his command. These Families, who were of different races and settled in the town at different periods, were fourteen in number, and from the feeling of clanship which existed between them, and the determined resolution which they formed of resisting their enemies, they were contemptuously styled by the soldiers THE TRIBES. Many persons are under the erroneous impression that the tribes enjoyed some particular monopoly at the

period of the Cromwellian settlement, but such is not the case. The only real difference between those Fourteen Families and the other inhabitants of Galway was-for they enjoyed the same laws, and exercised the same privileges-that they incurred the odium of Stubbers and his Cromwellian followers. Many of the Fourteen Families having left the town after its surrender in 1652, to avoid persecution, returned again on the restoration of King Charles II., and then for the first time arrogated to themselves the privilege of electing the Warden of Galway, which was always previously done by the whole Corporation, irrespective of NAME OR RACE. The Tribes considered themselves entitled to do so on account of the loyalty of their forefathers since their first settlement in Galway, but there were several other families equally respectable residing in the town at the time, who were just as loyal as they were, and more ancient settlers. The latter would not submit to allow the rights which were enjoyed by their ancestors to be monopolized by a few, and it is evident from the charter of Incorporation granted to the town on the 12th of March, 1687, by King James II., that his Majesty intended their rights should be respected, as several NonTribes residing both in the town and country held office under it. However, the epithet applied by the Cromwellian soldiers was afterwards adopted by the descendants of the brave citizens as an honourable mark of distinction. The following is a list of the FOURTEEN TRIBES of Galway, with their attributes and origin:

As the Duke de Lauzun approached the town, he flattered himself that he would get a most hospitable reception, but the people of Galway

had heard of his base conduct, and were aware that the strong and well-armed force which now accompanied him was taken away from Limerick, at a critical moment when they were most required, and that he had also brought with him twenty pieces of cannon, together with large quantities of ammunition and provisions. They knew he did all in his power to discourage the garrison of Limerick, by telling them that the King's cause was for ever lost in Ireland, that the soldiers were not only newly raised, and badly armed, but cowardly and ignorant; that their officers knew nothing of etiquette, heraldry, or precedence, and were not fit society for the elegant French gentlemen sent over to assist King James, by the great Louis, King of France; and that he was sure the city of Limerick, on which they and Sarsfield so much. relied, could be captured, if only pelted with roasted apples. Under these circumstances, the inhabitants of Galway could only recognise him as a traitor, and accordingly closed the gates of the town against him, though they joyfully received the Duke of Tyrconnell, in consequence of being the King's Viceroy. On being refused admittance by the citizens, the Duke de Lauzun marched to Torlough-na-Franca, about ten miles from Galway, on the Athenry road, where he encamped, and afterwards returned to Limerick, by Gortinsiguara. On reaching Limerick he expressed great surprise, on finding that the city had so very successfully withstood the siege, and restored the ammunition to Sarsfield which he had taken with him to Galway, and which in itself greatly endangered the safety of the city, for at the time the Prince of Orange retreated from before the walls, the Irish had only fifty barrels of powder remaining. When De Lauzun returned to France, he was cashiered for his bad conduct while in Ireland-and would have been imprisoned in the Bastile, but for. the interference of Queen Mary Beatrice (96), and King James, who interceded for him with Louis XIV.

The Chief of Clooneene heard, with regret, from his friend Arthur Ffrench, of Tyrone, who was then staying in Galway, of De Lauzun's treachery, and was disappointed to learn, that the troops sent over by the King of France had returned to their own country, for he knew that if they had been commanded by Sarsfield they would have rendered good service. In the course of the day, however, he was rejoiced at receiving a letter from his grandson, informing him of the retreat of the Prince of Orange from Limerick. This welcome news rapidly spread abroad, and was received with joy by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who manifested their delight by erecting a large bonfire near the Rock of Durragh. On the ensuing day, during

which the demonstrations were continued, the Chief added much to the general mirth, by directing Costellan to order at his wine merchant's. in Galway a large quantity of groceries to entertain the people with. On this day he also invited several of the neighbouring gentry to dine with him, and the evening was passed very pleasantly, all being well pleased with the daring conduct of Sarsfield and De Boisseleau, and the company only regretted that the former was not in command of the Irish army. The gallant conduct of Donal Bran, and his band, was also discussed, and the guests unanimously bestowed the highest praise on the dauntless Rapparee, who now commanded 400 trustworthy men, not one of whom was ever known to desert, or in any way betray the confidence reposed in them by their fearless leader.

CHAPTER XXVI.

DISAFFECTION AMONG THE WILLIAMITES.

THE English army having abandoned the siege of Limerick, part of the forces marched to Carrigalis, on Saturday the 30th of August, taking with them the greater part of the cannon, which was guarded by the regiments of Lord Drogheda and Steward. Their march was, however, slow and cautious, the officers feeling uneasy lest they might be attacked or intercepted by the Rapparees. This feeling of uneasiness was increased, on account of the ground being swamped in several places, owing to the late heavy fall of rain, but particularly as they had only oxen to draw the heavy ordnance. The scarcity of horses was occasioned by the capture of those which were conveying the cannon at Ballyneddy by Sarsfield, the great number lost during the siege, and those that were sent to convey the wounded Williamites to Clonmel and Cashel. The officers also feared that their men would desert if attacked, as they were already quite discontented, and continually and loudly clamouring for their pay, which up to this they had not asked for, being fully satisfied with plundering the country they passed through. The dissatisfaction among the soldiers was so intense, that many of them actually refused to accompany their officers on the march when setting out; and when pressed to do so, threatened to desert, and join the Irish garrison in Limerick, which some of them

really did; but on being promised their pay when they would have reached Cullen, they made no further objection, and proceeded on the march with the rest of the troops.

On the 31st of August the whole of the Williamite army withdrew from before Limerick, and the Irish garrison, at the command of Sarsfield, fired a round from the great guns of the city to express their delight. Flags and banners were hung out from nearly all the houses, and with hearts palpitating with sensations of joy, the citizens rushed out and demolished all the fences and other fortifications which had been raised during the siege; and to their honour be it said, did not neglect to inter the bodies of their enemies, which they found plentifully scattered about in various directions, and some of which were in an advanced state of decomposition. On this day, also, the English forces pitched their camp at Carrigalis, and afterwards marched to Cullen, where they were joined, on the 4th of September, by the newly-appointed Lords Justices who had accompanied the Prince of Orange to Waterford, and who were directed by him to arrange with the Count de Solmes and Baron de Ginckell all matters relative to the army, for the Prince wisely considered, that as the hopes entertained by the soldiers of plundering Limerick were for ever frustrated, they would undoubtedly become disaffected, and clamour for their arrears of pay. When the Lords Justices had completed their arrangements in this respect with the Commander-in-chief, and the men were paid, the army, on the 6th of the month, moved on towards Tipperary.

The conduct of the Williamites, while on their retreat, was of the most cruel and relentless nature, and their ferocity increased as they moved further from the city; but their wicked designs on the innocent inhabitants of the country through which they marched were frustrated, to a great extent, by the ever vigilant Rapparees, who scoured that neighbourhood under Donal Bran, the White Sergeant, and Galloping O'Hogan, who acted with their usual alertness in surprising stragglers, capturing ammunition, arms, and horses, cutting off supplies, shooting sentinels, and intercepting couriers.

On the 7th of September, Lieutenant-General Douglas having received orders, proceeded at the head of a large force to take up his winter quarters in the North; and early on the morning of the 8th, the Marquis de la Forrest and Lord Lisburn, with 400 foot and 500 horse, were despatched to attack Kilmallock. On arriving before this town, the English immediately summoned the small and badly-armed garrison to surrender to their Majesties King William III., and Queen Mary II., the lawful sovereigns of Ireland, according to the voice of