Forces, muster and military discipline of the city.

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CHAP VIII.**

Of the forces, musters, and military discipline of the city of Dublin, according to antient constitutions, customs and usages.

The signal actions done form time to time by the citizens of Dublin, in aid of the state, will be seen hereafter; in the mean time, it may be thought necessary to say a few words of their military discipline in antient times, which produced those services for which that have been justly remarkable: For it is habit and discipline that create the chief distinctions between man and man in point of valour, notwithstanding what has been alledged on the score of inward worth.

The military forces of the city were antiently composed of 20 corporations, commanded in chief by the principal magistrate, and every company under the guidance of their respective masters, as captains, subordinate to whom were appointed lieutenants, and other inferior offices. The foot, consisting of 20 companies, were mustered and exercised four times a year; 1st On Easter-Monday, commonly called black monday, from a disastrous accidents to the citizens of Dublin on that day; 2dly, On May-day; 3dly, On Midsummer-eve; and 4thly, on St. Peter’s-eve.

On black monday and midsummer-eve the mayor and sheriffs mustered and commanded the forces in person; but on the other two days, the mayor and sheriffs of the bull-ring had the chief command of the bachelors, who were then mustered before them. The horse were mustered on Shrove-Tuesday, and then commanded in chief by the sheriffs of the city. The charges of these musters were defrayed by fines levied on such freemen as had been married the foregoing year. The mayor and principal citizens sat at these musters under a pavillion or tent erected on the top of a butt; and every person so married, being below the estate of paying a fine in money, presented the mayor with an orance, as an acknowledgement for the fine, which by the constitution and custom of the city he was liable to.

The mayor of the bull-ring was an officers eligible by the citizens yearly, to be captain or guardian of the bachelors of the city; and during the year of his office had authority to punish such as frequented brothel-houses, and the like infamous places. He took his name from an iron ring in Corn-market, to which the butchers fastened their bulls for baiting; and when any bachelor citizen happened to marry, the custom was for the attendant to conduct the bride-groom, upon his return from church, to the ring, and there with a solemn kiss receive his homage and last farewell: From whence the new-married man took the mayor and sheriffs of the bull-ring home to dinner with him, unless he were poor; in which case the mayor and his bachelors made a collection for him, which they gave to him at the ring, upon receiving his homage. But this office seems to have been ludicrous, and established merely by custom, without any foundation of authority.

The muster on black-monday, before mentioned, and the name of the day, had their rise upon this occasion. The Bristolines of Dublin, to whom Henry II. granted the city, by custom had introduced a sport among them, called, hurling of balls, which they practised on all festival days. One party of the citizens challenged another party to exercise this recreation on Easter-Monday near Cullen’s-wood, two miles from Dublin. Having, as they thought, at that time fully subdued the Irish enemy, they feared no attempt from them, and therefore went out unarmed. But a false brother gave notice of the citizens intention to the enemy, then lurking in the neighbouring mountains, who marched down privately, laid an ambush in Cullen’s-wood, who fell on the citizens unprepared and fatigued with the laborious diversion, and slew upwards of 500 of them.

This disaster happened in the year 1209, and ever since hath been called black-monday. The city was soon after replenished by a new colony of Bristolines, who for ages after kept up the memorial of this misfortune, by marching out to the place well armed every Easter-Monday, and bidding defiance to their enemies.

The citizens heretofore in general hostings marched out with a black standard carried before them; which proved a great terror to the Irish enemy, as knowing by dear bought experience that it was attended by valiant, well disciplined, and soldierly citizens.

To Chapter IX. Harris Contents.