Annals from 1640 to 1704.

A. D. 1640, April 3. Sir Christopher Wandesford left lord deputy

A committee from the house of commons goes over to England to impeach the earl of Strafford.

Dec. 3. The lord deputy dies suddenly a.

Dec. 30 Robert lord Dillon and sir William Parsons are sworn lords justices.

February following the lord Dillon removed, and sir William Parsons and sir John Borlace swore lords justices.

The Irish parliament send over two petitions (containing their grievances) to England, one to the king, the other to the parliament.

March 4. An impeachment from the commons was brought to the house of lords against sir Richard Bolton lord chancellor, John lord bishop of Derry, &c. for introducing arbitrary government and giving unjust decrees, &c.

A. D. 1641. May 11. The parliament sits again.

August 7. The parliament is adjourned to the 9th of November.

October 23. The castle of Dublin was intended to be surprized and taken by the lord Maguire, Mac-Mahon, Hugh Birne, captain Brien O-Neill, and other conspirators, who had fomented a rebellion through the kingdom. But the design was prevented by the discovery of Owen O-Conolly, and the vigilance of the lords justices; and several of the conspirators were apprehended, and some of them afterwards executed.

Oct. 24. The alarms and fears were so great in Dublin, that the castle draw-bridge was once let down, and some of the state went to the plat-form of the castle to view the supposed Irish army, which was falsely said to be approaching.

Nov. 2. Sir Francis Willoughby was made commander of the castle, and sir Charles Coote governor of the city. Application was made to the city of Dublin for money to answer this emergency, but so prevalent was the popish faction in it at that time, that they could be persuaded to advance no more 40 or 50 l. and that to be paid partly in cattle. Few of the popish citizens administered the least relief to the poor stripped and despoiled English, who fled thither from the cruelties of the papists in distant parts of the kingdom.

A thousand of the stripped English, who had fled to Dublin, were formed into a regiment, and put under the command of sir Charles Coote, and two regiments more under the lord Lambert and colonel Crawford. The castle was victualled, and an old well in it cleared, the better to fit it for a siege. The council was removed out of the castle to Cork-house, and the rolls and records of several offices removed to the same place.

In December sir Simon Harcourt landed at Dublin with 1,200 foot, and soon after was made governor in the room of sir Charles Coote, who was sent abroad upon other business; but sir Simon was slain at the siege of Carrickmean in the county of Dublin early in the following year, and sir Charles Coote was again made governor.

Part of the walls of the city fell down this year, and were left unrepaired by the citizens; under pretence of want of money, until the lords justices sent them 40 l. to advance that service.

Jan. 24. The lord lieutenant’s regiment of foot under lieutenant colonel Monck, as also sir Michael Earnly and colonel Cromwell’s regiment of foot, with others or horse, landed at Dublin.

A. D. 1642. Sir Charles Coote was slain at Trim, and the lord Lambert made governor of Dublin in his room on the 12th of May. The lords justices ordered the citizens of Dublin to bring in their their plate to be coined to furnish the necessary exigencies of the army, promising that they should be satisfied out of the next supply; upon which proclamation 1,200 1. worth of plate was brought into the mint.

July 21. The Irish parliament sat.

Oct. 9. Mr. Robert Goodwin and Mr. Robert Reynolds arrive in Dublin, with money and orders to inquire into the state of the army and kingdom, from the parliament in England, who procured a subscription of most of the officers in the army, to take debentures on the forfeited lands for part of their pay.

A. D. 1643. The mayor of Dublin was called before the lords justices and council to confer with them about raising 10,000 1. half in money and half in victuals, to enable the army to enter upon action, and prevent the ensuing cessation with the rebels; but such was the poverty of the place, that the matter was found not feasible, and the cessation followed.

July 2. Sir Robert Meredith, sir William Parsons, sir John Temple, and sir Adam Loftus are committed by his majesty’s orders to the castle, being averse from the cessation of arms with the Irish.

Jan 21. James marquis of Ormond is sworn lord lieutenant of Ireland.

A. D. 1644. An excise was laid by proclamation on all goods consumed in the city of Dublin, together with other taxes, and three pence an acre on all lands inhabited within the English pale, to support the army, and answer other exigencies.

In August this year the citizens of Dublin were numbered, and found to be of protestants 2,565 men, and 2,986 women ; of papists 1,202 men, and 1,406 women.

A. D. 1646. Peace was proclaimed in Dublin by the officers at arms in their formalities between the king and the Irish rebels, but the heralds sent to other cities for the same purpose were opposed in some of them. The pope’s nuncio marched at the head of Owen Roe O-Neil’s and general Preston’s armies united, to besiege the marquis of Ormond in Dublin, and intended to take it by a general assault at his first approach ; but this design was frustrated for want of provisions, and no attempt made.

Nov. 14. Commissioners arrive from the English parliament with 1,400 foot for the preservation of Dublin ; but the lord lieutenant refuses to resign to them, so that they carried their supplies to Ulster.

February following the marquis of Ormond agrees to surrender Dublin arid the government to the parliament commissioners.

March 17. The Irish parliament made an address of gratitude to the marquis of Ormond.

A. D. 1647. On the 18th of June the marquis of Ormond, compelled by extreme necessity, surrendered Dublin to the commissioners of parliament, rather than it should fall into the hands of the confederated Irish rebels; and he himself soon after left the kingdom. Colonel Michael Jones was made governor of Dublin, who gained a great victory this year at the battle of Dungan-hill, slaying 6,000 Irish with the loss of only 20 men.

Nov. 24. Owen Roe burns the country about Dublin, so that 200 fires were seen from a steeple there.

A. D. 1648. The walls and fortifications of the city of Dublin were repaired and strengthened by colonel Jones.

A. D.1649. The marquis of Ormond sat down before Dublin at Finglas on the 19th of June, and on the (On the same day colonels Reynolds, Venables and Hanks, landed with 600 horse and 1,500 foot, and other supplies for the city) 25th of July marched to Rathmines and closely besieged it. But on the 2d of August colonel Jones, governor of the town, raised the siege by an unexpected and successful sally, in which 4,000 men were killed, and 2,517 taken prisoners; the artillery and baggage were lost, and the marquis escaped with much difficulty.

On the 14th of August Oliver Cromwell, lord lieutenant and commander in chief under the parliament, landed at Dublin with a supply of 9,000 foot and 4,000 horse, and had a good fleet to attend the service and having settled the civil and military affairs at Dublin, on the 30th of that month he marched out with 10,000 men to besiege Drogheda. The government of the city was again committed to sir Theophilus Jones; who on the 13th of March following was commanded on other service, and colonel Hewson made governor.

A. D. 1650. This summer the plague (which began the year before) raged most violently in Dublin.

In December this year the marquis of Ormond went to France, leaving the marquis of Clanrickard lord deputy.

A. D. 1651, July 12. The last battle fought in this war was at Knocknaclashy, where the Irish were utterly overthrown by the parliament forces.

Nov. 26. Ireton died at Limerick, and lieutenant general Ludlow was made commander in chief of the army by the commissioners at Dublin.

A. D. 1652. A high court of justice was erected in Dublin by the commissioners of the parliament, for the trials of such as were accused of the barbarous murders committed by the papists in the rebellion, in which sir Phelim O-Neil and others were condemned and executed. Courts for the same purposes were erected in other parts of the kingdom.

A. D. 1653. Sept. 26. It was declared that there was an end of the rebellion.

A. D. 1654. Fleet wood is made lord deputy

A. D. 1655. Henry Cromwell is made commander in chief but in the civil government others were joined in commission with him.

A. D. 1658, Sept 3. Oliver Cromwell dies; upon his death the new protector Richard made his brother henry Cromwell lord lieutenant of Ireland.

A. D. 1659, May 7. After Richard’s resignation, the parliament sent over Jones, Tomlinson, Corbet and Berry to govern Ireland.

A party of general officers inclined to the restoration of the king, in January this year surprized the castle of Dublin, and the commissioners of government, which done, they declared for a free parliament, and upon the petition of the mayor and aldermen of Dublin, summoned a convention.

A. D. 1660. They accept his majesty’s declaration from Breda, and concur to his restoration.

Sir Hardress Waller seized the castle for the parliament but was obliged to surrender it after a siege of five days.

The restoration accomplished.

King Charles II. complimented the city of Dublin with a collar of S. S. and bestowed a foot company to Robert Dee, the then mayor. The same year doctor Michael Boyle and 11 new bishops were consecrated altogether in St. Patrick’s-church.

A. D. 1661. A parliament was summoned, sir Audley Mervin speaker, which gave the duke of Ormond 30,000 l. He was appointed lord lieutenant, and sworn the year following.

A. D. 1663. Alexander Jephson, Mr. Blood, colonel Abbot, major Warren, and several other discontented adventurers and soldiers formed a plot to surprize the castle of Dublin; but the duke of Ormond, then lord lieutenant, received notice of their design from the earl of Orrery and sir Theophilus Jones, to the latter of whom Jephson had discovered it on the 19thh of May at Lucan, endeavouring to persuade him to join in the design; and the discovery prevented any attempt; four persons were executed for it.

A. D. 1665. The chief magistrate of Dublin was honoured with the title of lord mayor, sir Daniel Bellingham being the first that bore that character, and the king granted to the city 500 1. per annum for ever, to support that dignity

A. D. 1666, June 11. The popish clergy met in a national synod at Dublin.

Sept. 27. Edmond Reiley, titular archbishop of Armagh, is sent prisoner to England.

The second court of claims sat at Dublin disposing of lands by lot to the officers of forty nine.

Oct. The lord lieutenant and council conifer about sending 105,000 bullocks for the relief of London, lately burnt.

A. D. 1667. The king being alarmed with reports of a French invasion, the militia of the city of Dublin, and of all other parts of the kingdom were raised, arrayed and armed, and those of Leinster rendezvouzed on the Curragh of Kildare, while those of Dublin did the same with in the city.

A. D. 1668. The spire of St. Audoen’s steeple was blown down by a storm, and broke the roof of the church.

A. D. 1669, Sept. 18. John lord Roberts baron of Truro landed at Howth, was met at Young’s castle by the lord mayor, recorder, aldermen and commons, after Mr. Recorder had congratulated his safe arrival, the lord mayor presented to him the sword, cap of maintenance, mace, keys of the city gates, &c. but his lordship refused to receive the same till he was sworn lord lieutenant of Ireland, which was done the same day.

A. D. 1670, March. A great storm happening at new moon, with great winds and rain, the wind at S. E. the water over flowed the bank at Ringsend, Lazer’s-hill, and over Mr. Hawkins’s new wall up to the college, and flowed very high into the city, which overthrew some houses and laid many cellars and warehouses under water.

April. John lord Berkeley baron of Stratton, lord lieutenant of Ireland, landed at Ringsend and was sworn the Came day’

This spring the lime trees were planted on each side the walks round St. Stephen’s green, the walks gravelled, and the green levelled and trenches made to carry the water away which much annoyed the green.

This year there was a long wall of stone built at the south side of St. James’s-gate to convey the water to the new cistern, and new leaden pipes were laid through the city, much larger than the former, for conveyance of the water, which was all done at the city charge.

The foundation of St. Andrew’s-church was laid, and the church built at the charges of the parishioners and by bountiful contributions of many well disposed persons.

June 10. John lord Berkeley, lord lieutenant, mustered the whole army of horse and foot of Ireland on the Curragh of Kildare, and in the mean time committed the fife keeping of his majesty’s castle and city of Dublin to the lord mayor and city militia (The lord lieutenant’s warrant to the lord mayor- “After our hearty commendations to your lordship, wee having appointed a rendezvouz of.the army at the Curragh of Kildare on the 20th day of the next month, to which place the guards of horse and foote now in his cittie are to attende. And wee haveing great confidence of the good affection of your lordship and this cittie in general to his majesty’s service, have resolved to comitt not onely the guard of the cittie but of this castle also, dureing our absence, to you and the militia forces under your command, of which we pray and require you to take notice, and cause the several officers of the traine bands to putt themselves and the men they command in readines to take upon them the guard of the place, when we thall draw out his majesty’s forces now here, wherein wee desire your care, and that due watch and competent guards be kept for the safety of this castle and cittie, and for your furtherance therein wee have appointed major John Griffin to attend you from time to time to receive and give out your orders. And soe wee bid you heartily farewell from his majesty’s castle of Dublin the 20th of June I6770. Your lordship’s very loveing friend,

Jo. Berkley.”

To our trusty and well beloved the lord mayor of the cittie of Dublin.

Ellis Leighton.

Sept 3. This year at the charges of the commissioners of the customs an exchange place was made in the garden of Cork-house, very convenient with buildings erected on pillars to walk under in foul weather, where merchants and others met every day at the ringing of the bell to treat of their business.

This year the spire of St. Audoen’s-church was rebuilt and all the church new roofed at the charge of the parishioners and other well minded persons, but the new spire is neither so high or stately as the old, which was blown down by an outrageous storm about two years before.

Eight new bells were put up in St Patrick’s-steeple, six in Christ-church (At present there are eight) and five in St Katherine’s-church.

The hospital for decayed citizens children, commonly called the Blue-coat-Hospital, [of which more hereafter] was erected this year in the city of Dublin. The same, year the Wooden-bridge over the Liffey, commonly called Bloody-bridge, was built.

A. D. 1671. The apprentices of Dublin assembled themselves riotously together with an intention to break down the wooden-bridge, 20 of whom were seized and committed to the castle; but afterwards as a guard of soldiers were carrying them to Bridewell, they were rescued, and four of them killed in the fray; from which accident it took the name of bloody-bridge.

May 20. About two of the clock in the morning a fire happened in the store-house, commonly called the parliament-house, in the castle, and burnt the house with muskets, pikes, match and armour therein, to the value of some thousands of pounds, but by God’s providence the powder was before removed to Cromlin.

Dec. 26. Being St. Stephen’s-day, at a stage play at the great theatre in Smock-alley, the upper gallery fell down (being burthened by the multitude of people therein) into the pitt, by which three persons were killed and many wounded; the play then acting was Bartholomew Fair

A. D. 1672, Sept. 24. Arthur earl of Essex, lord lieutenant, and the council made rules and orders for the better regulating the corporation of the city of Dublin, and electing of magistrates and officers in it, pursuant to a clause in the act of explanation of the act of settlement. By these orders, commonly called the (These rules have undergone considerable alterations; for by an act passed. in the 33d of his late majesty king George II. intitled, “An act for the better regulating the corporation of the city of Dublin,” the power of the commons of the city is greatly extended in the election of the city magistrates, for reasons given in the preamble to the said statute, viz. “Whereas diffention and disputes have, from a dissatisfaction as to some parts of the present constitution of the corporation of the city of Dublin, arisen, and for some years past subsisted amongst several citizens of the said city, to the weakening the authority of the magistrates thereof, who are hereby rendered the less able to preserve the publick peace within the city: therefore for remedying the aforesaid mischiefs and inconveniencies, and for restoring harmony and good will among the citizens, and for preserving peace and good order therein,; at the humble petition of the lord mayor, sheriffs, commons and citizens, &c”

It may not be unnecessary to shew how the common-council of the city is now chosen out of the twenty-five corporations, and also how the magistrates are elected. The common-council of the city of Dublin, consisting of lord mayor and 24 aldermen, fitting by themselves as heretofore and also the sheriffs for the time being and sheriffs-peers, not exceeding 48, and 96 freemen elected out of the several guilds or corporations, shall be the common-council of the said city, and the representative body thereof.

By the above mentioned act, the return of double numbers from the several corporation: are struck off, and no more returned to the lord mayor than what are to serve in the common-council. The masters or wardens on refusing or neglecting to return the names of the persons elected by their several corporations to serve in the common-council, upon complaint made to the common-council, and notice given to the persons complained of, and upon due proof it appearing a wifull neglect, the said masters and wardens shall by the common-council be disfranchised, and rendered for ever incapable of holding any office within the city; and upon default of the master and wardens, the clerk of the guild to return the names of the persons so chosen, which, upon his refuting, he shall also be disfranchised and for ever incapable of holding any employment within the city, and the corporation is impowered, in six days after the usual time of making such returns, to appoint new master or masters, wardens, and clerk, and a return to be made in six days after by said new master, &c shall be as valid, as if made by the former master, &c. None to be chosen of the common-council but such as shall at that time follow the business or trade of such corporation for which they shall be so elected, or shall have served an apprenticeship, or followed the same for five years, the guild of merchants excepted, and they shall be merchants or traders. None to vote for commoncouncil men but in the corporation in which he was first made free. The lord mayor to convene the common-council at the end of every three years, which are finally to determine all differences touching the qualifications, returns, &c. of the persons elected to serve in the common-council for the three years next ensuing, and for this purpose the lord mayor, aldermen and commons shall sit together, but upon no other occasion. The common-council may as formerly exercise the same power of changing the number of commons serving for any corporation, and distributing the same among any ether corporations in the said city, so as the whole number out of all the guilds do not exceed 96 persons.

In electing sheriffs, the commons at the usual time shall nominate eight freemen resident within the said city or liberties, each of them worth in real or personal estate in possession 2000 l. over and above his just debts, and shall return their names to the lord mayor and aldermen, or the usual quorum of them, to elect two persons out of the said eight to serve as sheriffs for the ensuing year and in case of death or resignation, four freemen as before qualified to be nominated by the commons, and their names returned to the lord mayor and aldermen, to elect one thereout to fill the vacancy.

In electing the chief magistrate, the lord mayor and aldermen, or the usual quorum to return the name of the person so elected (which must be an alderman of said city) to the commons for their approbation, without which approbation, no person shall be capable of serving said office, which person, if rejected, the lord mayor and aldermen shall elect another, and return his name, and so from time to time until the commons shall approve the names of such returns from the lord mayor and aldermen to the commons, as well as from the commons to the lord mayor and aldermen, to be by the town clerk posted up fairly written in capital letters upon five of the most publick places of the city, within two days after the election, and on the Saturday following such posting to be printed in the Dublin Gazette, and two other publick papers, and in case of any failure in the lord mayor and aldermen to do what is necessary in the said elections, then the commons may assemble themselves, and if the failure be in the commons, the lord mayor and aldermen, or their usual number may assemble themselves at the Tholsel the next day (sunday excepted) and then and there to elect the said officers respectively, and such election shall be valid.

The election of common-council men by the several guilds, and also every election made, or approbation given by the commons to be by ballot; no person chosen lord mayor, sheriff, recorder, or town-clerk to be capable to execute the office until approved of by the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors and privy council, as hath hitherto been usual. The lord mayor, aldermen and sheriffs, and every of them, are justices of the peace in the said city and liberties.) new rules, the Constitution of the city received some alterations. For I. upon the election of a lord mayor, sheriffs, recorder or town clerk of Dublin) the approbation of the chief governor or governors of the kingdom and the privy council was made necessary, which before was not required; and if the person elected and presented be not approved, that then they shall go to a new election, and present again, and so toties quoties until an approbation be had. II. That the election of a lord mayor, sheriffs and treasurer of the city (which formerly was in the representatives of the people at large) was now veiled in the lord mayor and aldermen, eight of whom were to be present at the election. III. The treasurer, sheriffs, and other receivers of the city revenues were yearly to account before auditors of the city, or a quorum of them, for such purpose assigned; which account was to be taken within six months after the expiration of their respective offices; and they were to pay over such monies as they received to the treasurer for the time being, under pain of disfranchisement by the lord mayor and aldermen, or usual quorum of them: and, in case of neglect, by the chief governor or governors and privy council. IV. The oaths of supremacy and allegiance, together with that called the little oath, were appointed to be taken by all persons elected either lord mayor, sheriff, treasurer, alderman, town-clerk, or of the common-council, or master or wardens of any of the corporations or guilds, under pain of incapacity to hold such places; and upon refusal to take such oaths the election to be void: yet a dispensation reserved in the chief governor or governors. V. Whereas the common-council of the city did consist of a lord mayor and 24 aldermen, who usually sat together in one room by themselves, and of sheriffs-peers not exceeding 48 in and of 96 other persons to be chosen out of the guilds or corporations of the city, who usually sat together in one room by themselves, and were usually called the commons of the city, among whom the sheriffs for the time being presided: by these new rules it was ordered, that the common-council of the city should consist of the lord mayor and 24 aldermen, who, or any eight or more of them, with the lord mayor, should continue to sit apart by themselves, and also of the sheriffs, who are to preside among the rest of the common-council, and of the sheriffs-peers, not exceeding 48 in number, number, and of 96 other persons to be chosen out of the guilds or corporations; which said 96. were to continue only common-council men for three years. And further, that such guilds should some time in November at the end of every three years elect double the number usually chosen out of such guilds, and by the master and wardens present their names to the lord mayor in such month, who in the presence of one of the sheriffs and eight of the aldermen, should before the 24th of December following elect out of them the number usually serving in the common-council for each such guild, which persons shall be of the common-council three years, and upon death or removal the guild to present two others, one of whom to be chosen; the persons so elected, with the sheriffs peers, so as there be 40 or more present, shall fit and vote and act in the general quarter and other assemblies of the commons. Upon neglect or refusal of the guilds within said times to elect, or the master or wardens to return, or the refusal of the persons elected to serve, then the election out of such guilds is to devolve on the lord mayor and aldermen, or usual quorum; and no others to be of the commons, besides the sheriffs, who are still to preside among the commons, and the said sheriffs peers and 96 persons. Any pretending to be of the commons, before such election, to be disfranchised by the lord mayor and aldermen, or the usual quorum of them. Yet this rule does not debar the lord mayor, aldermen and common-council of their former power of changing the numbers of their common-council, and of distributing the same among other corporations, so as the whole number exceed not 96, and they be presented and elected as aforesaid. VI. All strangers, foreigners, and aliens, as well others as protestants, being merchants, traders, artizans, artificers, seamen, or otherwise skilled or exercised in any mystery, craft or trade, or in the working or making any manufacture, or in the art of navigation, shall be admitted freemen of the city, or of any guild or fraternity of the same, upon payment or tender of 20s. to the lord mayor and common-council, and, if they desire it of any guild, during their residence in this kingdom, and shall be denizens, they taking the oath of allegiance, and other oaths taken by freemen, and paying like charges as other freemen, upon pain of disfranchisement of the lord mayor, &c. for refusal, and rendering them incapable (without the government’s licence) of being freemen or members again: and such stranger on tender of 20s. and taking the oath of allegiance before a justice of peace of the county of Dublin, shall be a freeman, and free of any guild by taking the freeman’s oath before such justice, and paying such charges as aforesaid. The hinderers or interrupters of such strangers in their business to be disfranchised.

A. D. 1676. Humphry Jervis (who had been sheriff of Dublin two years before, and afterwards lord mayor and knighted in 1691) set about building a bridge over the river Liffey, which was called Essex-bridge in honour of Arthur earl of Essex, then lord lieutenant of Ireland.

A. D. 1678, Sept. I. Upon the news of the popish plot in England, Peter Talbot, titular archbishop of Dublin, was imprisoned in Dublin castle.

Oct. 16. By proclamation all titular archbishops, bishops, and all who exercise ecclesiastical judisdiction under the pope, and all jesuits and other regular priests, are required to depart the kingdom by the 20th of November.

Nov. 20. By another proclamation the papists arc forbidden to come into the castle of Dublin and markets of Drogheda, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Wexford, Youghall and Galway.

In December the same year a letter was dropped in the streets of Dublin, discovering a conspiracy against the life of James duke of Ormond, then lord lieutenant; upon which a proclamation was issued offering a reward of 200 1. to the discoverer, and one Jephson and two priests were imprisoned for it.

A. D. 1679, March 26. A proclamation was issued for seizing the near relations of tories, and imprisoning them till such tories be killed or taken, also for apprehending the parish priest where a robbery 15 committed, in order that the criminals be taken or discovered.

A. D. 1681, July 1. Oliver Plunket, titular primate of Ireland, was executed at Tyburn.

A. D 1682. Ormond-market in Dublin was opened, and the year following the Tholsel built at the city charge.

A. D. 1683. There issued a commission of grace to the chief governor, the chancellor, the chief judges, &c. to grant his majesty’s title to those who were in possession, and to grant ,manors and other privileges for a reasonable fine, &c. This court of grace sat at the king’s inns, and was dissolved by the king’s death..

A. D. 1684, Feb. 11. Upon the death of Charles II. on the 6th instant, king James was proclaimed at Dublin.

March 20. The duke of Ormond delivered up the sword to the primate and lord Granard as lords justices; but the earl of Tyrconnel was lieutenant general of the army.

April 7. A great part of the castle of Dublin was consumed by a dangerous fire that begun about two in the morning. His excellency the earl of Arran narrowly escaping. The great magazine of powder (as also the tower in which the antient records of the kingdom were kept) was happily preserved from the approaching flames, which else had laid the city in ruins. This year (It was begun in 1680, and although it was at this time fit for the reception of invalids, it was not finished until 1686.) the Royal-hospital was built at Kilmainham near Dublin, at the charge of the army, being a stately, spacious, and commodious building, wherein 400 invalids are decently maintained. Two stone bridges were erected over the river Liffey this year by the city, the one called Ormond-bridge, after the duke of Ormond, then lord lieutenant, and the other Arran-bridge, from the earl of Arran, son and deputy to the duke for two years before.

A. D. 1685, Jan. 9. The earl of Clarendon is made lord lieutenant, and sir Charles Porter lord chancellor.

A. D. 1686, Feb 12.. The earl of Tyrconnel was sworn lord deputy, and endeavoured to prevail on the city of Dublin to admit papists to freedoms and offices of it, contrary to the. established laws; that by their means he might obtain a surrender of their charter, and so settle the the corporation in the hands of papists to his mind. But the resolution of sir John Knox, then lord mayor of Dublin, and of the board of aldermen spoiled this design, and obliged the earl to bring a quo warranto against the city charter, which was done. The lord chief baron Rice, a papist, would not allow the city so much time to put in their plea, as was sufficient to transcribe it with care. This hurry occasioned the clerk to mistake the date of one of their charters, which, upon discovering the error, they prayed leave to amend. But this was denied, and judgment given against the charter by the chief baron upon this defect of pleading, the merits of the cause never coming in question. The same way were most other corporations of the kingdom dealt with.

A. D. 1687. A great inundation happened in the river Liffey from excessive rains and a violent storm, which laid the low parts of the city under water up to the first floors ; insomuch that boats plied in the streets A part of Essex-bridge, which had been built but 11 years before, was broken down, and a coach and horses passing over it fell into the river.

A. D. 1688. The brutish and barbarous behaviour of sir Thomas Hacket, lord mayor of Dublin, to the protestants, laid many under the necessity of getting out of his power by leaving behind them their estates and concerns, and transporting themselves and what effects they could carry with them into England. Colonel Luttrell, governor of Dublin, did not fall short of his lordshop in barbarity, and the lord chief-justice Nugent made a third in the ruinous scheme against the protestants.

February following the protestants of Dublin were obliged by military force to deliver up their arms and-horses; and the same practice was soon after carried into execution through the greater part of the kingdom.

The earl of Tyrconnel filled the churches with soldiers, and made them store houses for the arms of protestants. They -were again seized in September, the monuments and graves opened, and dead bodies tumbled out of their coffins, under pretence of searching for arms.

March 12. King James landed at Kinsale, marched to Dublin the 24th, and - next day called a parliament; this parliament sat till the 20th of July, and passed an act of repeal of the act of settlement, and by an act of attainder attaints near 3,000 protestants.

A. D. 1689. A mint was set up in Dublin for coining money of the worst kind of brass, old guns, and the refuse of metals melted down together, valued at about 3d. or 4d. a pound weight, which by proclamation dated June the 18th were made current. So that 20s. of this money were not intrinsically worth 2d. The half crown piece (being the largest at this time struck) represented on one side the king’s head in bust, inscribed JACOBUS. II DEL GRATIA. and on the reverse a crown laid on two sceptres in saltier with I. R. inscribed MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. Rex. 1689. Above the crown were XXX. denoting its value to be 30 pence, and on the exergue the month wherein the several pieces were coined, as Aug. Sept. Oct. The shillings and six-pences were the same. By another proclamation dated in December following, the half crowns were called in, and, being stamped anew, made to pass for crowns. These pieces bore the king on horse-back, inscribed JAC. II. DEI. GRA. MAG. BRI. FRA. ET. HIB. REX.

On the reverse a crown imperial guard with the four royal scutcheons (cross-wise and crowned) of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, interwoven with ANNO DOM. 1690, and inscribed CHRISTO VICTORE TRIUMPRO. By archbishop King’s estimate there was coined of this sort of money, from the firft setting up of the mint to the battle of the Boyne, being something above a year, 965,375 l. but by a closer calculation, much more, according to the following scheme, which seems to have been taken from the mint master’s accounts.

Weight of Metal.    Current value

lb.    oz.    l.    s.    d.

62,422    3¼ coined into    245,879    17     0 in large shillings.

110,308  15                        443,498     10    0 in large half crowns.

172,731  1½                       689,375       7    0 in large shillings and half crowns together.

14,080    3                            49,042       6    6 in six-pences.

8,914    11¾                         41,800       0    0 in small shillings.

21,267    0¾                       127,00         0    0 in small half crowns

TOTAL: 389,724    3¼   £1,596,799    0     6

In this wretched sort of money the popish soldiers were paid their subsistance, and the protestant tradesmen and creditors were obliged to receive it for their goods and debts, and it was reasonably computed that they lost about 60,000 l. a month by this cruel stratagem. The governor of Dublin, the provost-marshal, and his deputies threatened to hang all that refused it, and several were made prisoners upon the occasion.

A. D. 1690. Brass failing to answer the exigences, king James had brought himself into, a new contrivance was just before the battle of the Boyne set on foot, of impressing the last-mentioned stamps and inscriptions upon pieces of pewter, which were intended to be passed at the currency of a crown, and a proclamation was prepared for the purpose. But the success of king William’s arms put a stop to that project, and, though really stamped, they were never issued.

The difference between these and the pieces before mentioned, were not only in the metal, but these had on the breast and flank of the horse two small specks of copper, and the imperial crown between the scutcheons was also struck on a bit of copper. They were besides ornamented about the edges with this inscription, MELIORIS TESSERA FATL ANNO REGNI SEXTI. These pewter pieces are a great rarity, and probably but few of them were minted, the action at the Boyne putting a stop to any further coinage of this sort. I have one of them in my custody, and it is the only one I ever saw ; but the edge of it is so worn down that the legend is not to be read, so that I am obliged to the bishop of Derry’s information for the inscription round it.

April 18. Sir Cloudesly Shovel took a frigate out of the harbour of Dublin in sight of king James’s army, in which was contained a great proportion of the plate and other valuable moveables of the papist nobility and gentry.

May 3. This year the governor of Dublin issued an order, commanding all ministers and curates of the several parishes, and cures of the city and liberties to return to him a fair lift of the names of all male protestants and dissenters, from the age of 15 to 80 in the several parishes and cures by the thursday following, under the penalty of treating the disobedient as spies or enemies, and on the 18th of June he issued another order, requiring all protestants without the said districts, who were not house-keepers, or who had not followed some lawful vocation therein for three months before, to depart thereout within 24 hours, under pain of death or imprisonment; and that all protestants, not of the privy-council, nor in the king’s army, or actual service, shall deliver up within the said time their arms and ammunition into the stores, on pain of death. Further, that no protestant presume to walk the streets from ten a clock at night till five in the morning, nor at any time during an alarm; and that no greater number of them than five shall meet and converse at any time, either in house, streets or fields, under pain of death, or such punishment as a court martial shall think fit. He also made many of his verbal orders death. But the battle of the Boyne, which happened on the 1st of July, put an end to these schemes, and king James was obliged to fly from Dublin, and soon after left the kingdom.

Oct. 7. An earthquake was felt in the city of Dublin, but no harm ensued.

A. D. 1691. In April, Mark Baggot was taken at Dublin in woman’s clothes, and in May following was condemned a spy and hanged.

July I 2. Was fought the sharp and decisive battle of Aghrim, in which St. Ruth the general was slain, with near 7,000 Irish, and about 700 on the other side.

Aug. 17. One hundred and forty commissioned officers taken at Athlone, Aghrim, &c. were sent from Dublin to Chester as prisoners.

Jan. 19. following began a great frost, which held till the middle of February.

March 23. By proclamation the war in Ireland was declared at an end.

A. D. 1695, May 29. The coin was raised by proclamation, a louis d’or 21s. a ducat 6s. 8d. &c.

This year the four courts for the administration of justice were new built in Christ-church-lane, Dublin, at the charge of the crown, and the courts in the mean time were held under the Tholsel, where the merchants kept their exchange.

Oct. 2. Pursuant to an act of parliament, the rolls, records, papers, &c. relating to the acts of attainder and other acts in the late king James’s time were cancelled and publickly burnt.

Oct. 8. Was kept a day of thanksgiving in Dublin, for the preservation of his majesty’s person, and the taking of Namur in sight of the French army, tho’ 100,000 strong.

A. D. 1696, Aug. 4. A proclamation was published in Dublin for apprehending Henry Every the pirate, and his crew, several of whom were taken.

Nov 10. The William pacquet-boat, with two mails and about 80 passengers, (among whom was brigadier Fitzpatrick, Mr. O-Neal, and many other persons of distinction) was cast away in a violent storm in Dublin bay, near Sutton, only the master and a boy saved.

A. D. 1697. The old parish of St. Michan’s, Dublin, including all that part of the city on the north tide of the Liffey, was, by act of parliament, divided into three parishes, viz. the New St. Michan’s, St. Paul’s, and St. Mary’s, and churches were erected in each of the two latter, by a tax on the parish.

This year Bartholomew Van-Homrigh, esq; one of the commissioners of the re venue, and then lord mayor of the city of Dublin, obtained a royal donative of a collar of S. S. to the value of near 1,000 l. to be worn by the chief magistrate of the city, the former collar having been lost in king James’s time.

This year, upon the commons address, his majesty king William gavee 3,000 l. to Trinity college, towards enlarging it by some additional buildings.

Nov. 4. The peace which was concluded with France at Ryswick, Sept. 10th, was now proclaimed at Dublin.

A. D. 1701. The city of Dublin, in grateful commemoration of their late deliverance from popery and slavery by the conduct of king William III. erected his statue on horse-back in brass upon a marble pedestal in College-green, with the following inscription on the marble work.

GULIEMO Tertio;

Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae,

Regi,

Ob Religionem Conservatam,

Restitutas Leges,

Libertatem Assertam,

Cives Dublinienses hanc statuam posuere.

It was begun A. D. 1700, sir Anthony Percy, lord mayor, and Charles Forrest and James Barlow, esqrs. sheriffs.

Finished A. D. 1701.

Sir Mark Ransford, lord mayor.

John Eccles, and Ralph Gore, esqrs. Sheriffs.

and was opened with great solemnity on the 1st of July 1701, being the anniversary of the victory at the Boyne.

A. D. 1703, Aug.12. The city of Dublin gave a splendid entertainment to the duke and dutchess of Ormond at the Tholsel, when the corporations marched through the city with their several pageants.

A. D. 1704. The Castle-market in Dame-street was built on the old site of St. Andrew’s-church and church-yard, by alderman William Fownes and Thomas Pooley, esqrs. and was on the 26th of July, this year, opened by the lord mayor, with proclamation and beat of drum.

The city marshalsea begun to be kept in a separate place from the marshalsea of the four courts in Bridge-street, Dublin.

Oct. 12. This year the foundation stone of the city work-house, at the west end of St. James’s-street, was laid by Mary dutchess of Ormond, attended by the lord mayor, recorder, aldermen and sheriffs; the lord mayor, sir Francis Stoyte, invited her grace to a splendid entertainment prepared by him upon that occasion. Thomas Wilkinson and Robert Cheatham were then sheriffs.

To Appendix I. Harris Contents.