The History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway Chap. VI. From 1660 to the Surrender of Galway to King William's Forces, 1691. On the restoration of Charles II. many of the new settlers disappear, and the old natives and former inhabitants return - Letters of the king to the lords justices, to restore them to their freedom and estates - Animosities and disputes between them and the new settlers - An instance of one of these contentions - Prejudice of the lords justices against the old natives - Opposition given to their claims - Excluded from corporate privileges, and finally expelling the town - New rules established - The corporation lands, with the charter and market duties, granted to Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton - The earl of Essex, lord lieutenant, opposes the grant - His description of the decayed state of the town - Colonel Theodore Russell purchases the charter and market duties, and is elected mayor - The king grants a new charter, containing many ample privileges - Population of the town considerably diminished, and the houses falling to ruin - Many of the old natives give security and are permitted to return to the town - They are soon after obliged to depart, owing to the clamors and discontent of some members of the corporation - Address to the kind, on his escape from the Rye-house conspiracy - Accession of James II. to the throne - The Catholic inhabitants return to the town, and made free of the corporation - Catholic clergy established in the town - New charter granted - Troubles begin, and the fortifications of the town repaired - Resolutions to adhere to king James and his government - Protestant inhabitants removed out of the town - Battle of Aughrim - Siege of the town - It surrenders on articles - Treatment of Roman Catholics - Fortifications built, to secure the conquest of the town and the islands. On the restoration of Charles II many of the new settlers disappear and the old natives and former inhabitants return. On the restoration of Charles II such of the new settlers in Galway as were distinguished for the violence of their principles, or their hatred of the royal cause, apprehending prosecution and punishment, suddenly disappeared, while as many of the old natives, as survived the past scenes of destruction, hailed with joy an event from which they expected, according to the king's repeated declarations, not only the termination, but also the reward, of their manifold sufferings, and particularly the restitution of their usurped privileges and estates. Accordingly, one of the acts of the king, after entering upon the exercise of his royal function, was an order to reinstate the ancient inhabitants of Galway in the possession of their properties and privileges, directed to the lords justices of Ireland, of the following tenor: Charles R. "Forasmuch as the ancient inhabitants, freemen and natives of our towne of Galway, in our kingdome of Ireland, have held that town for us against a siege of nine months, being encouraged and commanded thereunto by our several letters, and was the last towne of consequence, in that our kingdome, that held out for us against the usurped power: and whereas the said ancient inhabitants, freemen and natives, and our garrison there being reduced to necessity, have, at the rendition of the said towne, made quarter, and obtained articles of warre from the commander in chief of the army besieging the said towne; by which articles, bearing date the 5th of April, 1652, amongst other things, they were to enjoy their freedoms, privileges and immunities, and their respective interests, houses and estates, in such manner as is in the said articles are mentioned; upon consideration whereof, after full debate of that matter, at a committee of our privy councill, appointed for Irish affairs, wee thought it reasonable and just to allow and make good unto the said inhabitants, freemen and natives, the benefit of the said articles.- It is, therefore, our will and pleasure, and we do hereby order and require, that the said inhabitants, freemen and natives, and all other persons in the said articles comprised, shall have and henceforth enjoy all and singular the benefits, advantages, libertyes, freedomes, privileges and immunities and all and singular the houses, estates, lands, tenements and hereditaments within the said town of Gallway and libertyes thereof, and elsewhere, which were promised unto them in or by the said articles, as by the instrument thereof, perfected by you, Sir Charles Coote, earl of Mountrath, bearing date as aforesaid, unto which we refer you, shall appeare; and we do hereby require you to cause this our royall pleasure and commande to be duly executed as fully and as amply, for the advantage of the said inhabitants, freemen and natives, and others comprised, as the said articles and instruments aforesaid doth express, which you are there upon the place to peruse, examine and allowe, without other or future explanations or expositions there, as the same was concluded on the rendition of the said towne: and we are likewise pleased, and it is our will, order and commande, that the said inhabitants, treemen and natives, shall have and be allowed such furtller addition of grace as you shall find us engaged unto by our royal letters, or they can justly claime by the articles of peace concluded tllere in the yeare 1648: and in as much as we are informed, by the duke of Ormonde, that divers of the said inhabitants, freemen and natives, have in a more erninent manner than others, and in the worst of times, gyven teslymony of their loyalty and affection to us, we require you particularly to inform yourselves of the said persons, and to treate, use and esteeme them as persons in a more speciall manner meritting of us, and accordingly to countenance, favour and settle them in the same measure as we have provided for others by express names in our declaration. And it is our royall will and pieassure, and we require all persons concerned to give ready obedience to these our commandes and order, as they will answer the contrary at their perills. And, for the more speedy and effectuall execution thereof, it is our will and pleasure that you issue and give your effectuall orders unto our commissioners appointed for executing of our publique declaration and to all our commissioners, officers and ministers, who are or shall be employed or concearned in the restoring of persons restorable, to cause this our order to be put in speedy and due execution; alsoe that you give order to our barons of our court of Exchequer, attorney and solicitor-generall, and other officers there concerned, to cause all and every matters and things remaining in charge upon the houses and estates of any of the said persons, who are to be restored by virtue of this order, to be putt out of charge, without further charge, plea or suite, other than the ancient charge; and likewise that you command the trustees appointed for settling the securityes for arreares, before the 5th of June, 1649, and all persons deryving from them, to suffer the said inhabitants, freemen and natives, and other persons before mentioned, without interruption, to possess and enjoy their severall estates, whereunto they are to be restored as aforesaid, and the profits thereof, notwithstanding any disposall made or to be made by the said commissioners whatsoever; for all which, this shall be to you, and all persons concerned, a sufficient warrant.Given at our court, at Whitehall, the 17th day of June, in the thirteenth year of our reigne. By his majesties command." This gracious and equitable mark of the royal favor, however sincere and well intentioned the motives of the king might then have been, proved but of little use to those for whom it was intended. Party feelings ran so high in the nation, that their claims were drowned amidst the general clamour of discontent: but the inveterate prejudices of the men in power against their religious principles operated more powerfully against them than any other cause. The king's declaration, also, as might reasonably have been expected, occasioned several animosities and disputes between the old natives, who reclaimed their properties, and such of the newcomers as remained in the town, and who, depending on the partiality and protection of the existing government, resolved to run all hazards rather than tamely surrender their newly-acquired possessions. In order to convey a general idea of the feelings by which those contending parties were then agitated, an occurrence which took place between two of the most respectahle of the disputants is here selected as a specimen of the remainder. Robert Martin, of Ross, one of the natives of the town, having obtained an order from the king to be restored to the possession of his mansion-house in Galway, which was then in the occupation of Edward Eyre, the recorder, (and one of the members recently elected to represent the town in the new parliament,) he came to Galway to demand possession, which being refused, complaint was made to the lords justices that the occupant, Mr Eyre, not only refused to obey the king's order, but also declared, "that he denied the king to be the only head or chief governor of the kingdom, and that he did not value his order at eighteen pence." Upon receiving this information, the lords justices directed the attorney-general to lay it before the commons: the accused member was immediately summoned; and he delivered in a written statement, totally denying the charge, and challenging an immediate investigation.[a] After some further communications and delays, the house at length came to a resolution, that there were no grounds for the complaint, and the recorder, having received some handsome encomiums for his loyalty and integrity to his majesty, was unanimously acquitted. This injudicious proceeding, on the part of the accusers, proved considerably considerably injurious to the interest of the old proprietors, and equally servicable to the new; for it served not only to prejudice the minds of the lords justices against the former, but also to increase and strengthen the opposition of their opponents; insomuch that, from the previously ruined state of their finances, the resistance and delays now given to their claims, and the consequent heavy expenses attending the prosecution of them, they were in general either defeated, or abandoned in despair, and left unfinished; in consequence of which, very little benefit, as belore observed, was derived from the king's declaration in their favor; and whatever part of their ancient patrimony the descendants of the natives afterwards possessed in the town, was principally obtained by purchase from the new possessors, whose titles, however acquired, had been ratified and indiscriminately confirmed by grants and leases from the crown.[b] They were also continued in all the offices of the corporation; and although several writs of Quo-warranto had been brought against them for exercising jurisdiction as a corporate body, and judgment finally obtained, they still retained their power in the town, through the influence of the duke of Ormond, and were ultimately triumphant over all opposition. New rules established, 1672 The town continued to be governed under its former charters until the year 1672, when the "new" rules, orders and directions were made and established by the lord lieutenant and council, pursuant to the act of explanation "for the better regulating of the corporation and town of Galway, and the electing of magistrates and officers there." By these rules, which have the force and effect of an act of parliament, The names of the mayor, sheriffs, recorder, or town-clerk, to be annually elected for ever thereafter, are to be forthwith, presented for approbation to the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors, and the privy council; and if they or any of them be not approved of within ten days, a new election shall take place, except in cases of such as die in their year of office. The warden to be nominated by the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of the kingdom, for the time being. All officers of the corporation to take the oaths of supremacy and allegience, and also that against taking arms against the king. [c] All officers to be elected by the mayor, sheriffs and common council: all matters in debate first to pass the common council before being propounded in tholsel, and offenders disfranchised. All foreigners, strangers and aliens, as well others as Protestants, being merchants, traders, artisans, artificers, seamen or otherwise, then residing or to come to reside in the town, to be admitted freemen during residence and habitation, and to be deemed denizens of the kingdom, on payment of a fine of twenty shillings, first taking the oaths and paying charges: any person, magistrate, or otherwise, refusing to admit such, or interrupting them when admitted, to be disfranchised. These rules, which were in effect the same that regulated the other cities, walled-towns and corporations of the kingdom at the time, although introduced into the succeeding charter, continue in force to the present day. [d] The corporation land, with the charter and market duties, granted to Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton The reader will not be surprised that the same king, who had so ungratefully permitted the injustice that had taken place against the former inhabitants of Galway, and that, after spilling their blood and wasting their treasures in his cause, would equally disregard the interests of their successors in the corporation, who, he was well aware, became his friends merely from necessity, and would remain so only so long as it was consistent with their interest. Of this he now gave a striking instance. During the civil war, the town's-people mortgaged, at different times and to several persons, almost all the entire of the corporation property, consisting of their lands, and the charter and market duties,e for several sums of money, which they handed over to the duke of Ormond and marquis of Clanricarde for the king's service. After the restoration the mortgages were found to be forfeiting persons; and the premises having been vested in the king under, the acts of settlement and explanation, he accordingly, by letters patent, dated 5th December, 1673,f granted the entire to Elizabeth Hamilton, widow of James Hamilton, esq., one of the grooms of his majesty's bed-chamber, and to her heirs. This unexpected exercise of a dormant right, which it was supposed was obsolete, and such as would never have been thought of, or at revived, against the present corporation, created considerable alarm. Mrs. Hamilton's agent, Mathew Quin, for daring to assert her rights, though under pretence of having offered insult to the mayor, was thrown into prison, and every resistance was made against her in the town. She accordingly had recourse to chancery for redress, and, after some proceedings, which were defended by the mayor,g she succeeded in establishing her claim, and thus laid the groundwork of the future decay and monopoly of the corporation. King grants new charter, 1676 Such was the melancholy state to which this once opulent town was reduced in the hands of its new possessors. The corporation, however, to prevent their utter ruin, solicited Theodore Russell, esq., a colonel in the army, who had amassed considerable wealth, and was then settled in the town, to enter into a negociation with Mrs. Hamilton on the subject. He accordingly, on condition of being elected mayor, and continued in that office, purchased from her, in the year 1674, the charter, market and petty duties for £2,500. [i] He was then elected, and served eleven years successively, during which time he continued in the exclusive receipt of those duties and customs; [k] and, encouraged by the commiseration expressed by the lord lieutenant for the decayed and ruinous state of the town, he and the rest of the corporation, in the year 1676, petitioned for a new charter, "for the encouragement of trade and his majesty's service in the town;" and that the great disbursements of colonel Russell, "to redeem them from their lost condition, should be provided for, and further compensation made for his great pains and favour therein shewed unto them." This application was favorably received by the lord lieutenant; and accordingly the king, by charter, dated the 14th of August, 1676, ordained and granted that the town of Galway should, at all times, for ever thereafter, be one entire and free borough of itself, to be known by the name of the "town and borough of Galway;" and that the town, and all within two miles of it, in a direct line, should thenceforth be a county of itself, corporate and separate from the county of Galway, and be known by the name of the "county of the town of Galway;" provided always that judges of gaol delivery, justices of peace, sheriffs and other officers of the county at large, should have free ingress and regress, to hold their sessions, &c. in the town. That the corporation should consist of one mayor, two sheriffs, free burgesses and commonalty, to be called and known by the name of the "mayor, sheriffs, free burgesses and commonalty of the town and county of the town of Galway;" by which name they might purchase lands and goods, demise lands, and do all the other things corporate, plead and be impleaded, and return members to parliament. The modern mayor, sheriffs, recorder and town clerk, were appointed, and their successors for ever thereafter, to be elective, and to hold for one year. That the mayor might appoint a deputy in case of sickness or absence, and that the usual oaths should be taken. That he and the recorder, and their deputies, should be justices of the peace for the county of Galway; and directions were given for the election of mayor, in case of death in office. That the sheriffs should be elective and all writs, bills, &c. for execution within the town, should be directed to them. That no other sheriff should enter the town to execute his office, except as before excepted. The names of the corporate officers to be presented, and the warden nominated pursuant to the "new" rules. That no officer should be capable of exercishlg his office until he should take the prescribed oaths; and on refusal, his election to be void, unless dispensed with by government. That all officers should be chosen by the mayor, sheriffs and common council; and that no freeman should vote, if not of the council. That no matter should be proposed in the tholsel until first passed in council.- Regulations were then laid down as to the admission of foreigners, artisans, &c. to their freedom. A guild of merchants of the staple was appointed: also that the mayor, sheriffs, free burgesses aand commonalty might have and use such several vestments, ensigns and ornamcnts, "for the honour and dignity of the town," as had been used before the 23rd day of October, 1641; and that the mayor should have a sword borne before him, "for the greater eminence of the mayoralty, or office of mayor." That they should have a tholsel wherein to assemble, and have full power and authority to make bye-laws, and punish for the breach of them, provided such bye-laws and punishment should be reasonable, and not repugnant to the laws of the kingdom, or the "new" rules. That they should forever thereafter hold a weekly court on every Tuesday and Friday, before the mayor and recorder or their deputies, of all pleas and actions upon the case, trespass, &c. arising within the town and county of the town, and cause the defendants to be attached by their goods and chattels, or their bodies to be arrested and imprisoned. The king then confirmed unto them and their successors, for ever, all manors, messuages, houses, countries, lands, &c. possessed by their predecessors on the 22nd October, 1641, and all liberties, franchises, powers, authorities, &c. before that time granted unto them by any royal grants or charters, or enjoyed by any other right or title whatsoever, saving to Elizabeth Hamilton her rights in and to any lands formerly belonging to the corporation, and to Theodore Russell his right to the charter, market and petty duties and customs lately assigned by her; and it was specially ordained that the corporation should not demand or levy any of these customs, until he, his assigns or agents, should receive out of the same the sum of £2,500. which he disbursed, and he also paid 300l. over and above, "as a reasonable compensation for the great pains and trouble undergone on behalf and for the good of the corporation: after which they were to revert to the mayor, sherisfs, free burgesses and commonalty for ever.[l] Town in decline For this ample extension of corporate privileges, the town was principally indebted to the earl of Essex, who evinced every inclination to promote its interest, and if possible, to restore it to its original state: but all exertions of this nature proved abortive, for being deprived of its former respectable population, and possessed by a set of men their very opposite, both in principles and character, who were bred up to a military life, and mostly ignorant of any other pursuit, commerce entirely declined, and even the buildings, for want of inhabitants, were falling to the ground. This latter circumstance caused the agent of the duke of Ormond (his lordship having some time before obtained a grant of several forfeited houses in the town,) to represent, in the year 1679, to the corporation, "that by reason of the removal of the market and Irish inhabitants, a greate parte of the houses of the towne were falling down;" and he then required, "that such of the Irish of the said towne as should give security might be restored." [m] This, after much opposition, was complied with only through necessity. Several of the ancient names and families having accordingly entered into recognizance for their peaceable demeanor, were permitted to return, and the trade of the town immediately after began to revive. [n] This soon awakened the rankling hatred and jealousy of the members of the corporation; and four months had scarcely elapsed when they assembled, and in a body, represented to the mayor "that several intruders and un-freemen and others, who kept servants not fitly qualified, do daily intrude on our privileges, by thrusting themselves and their servants into our said corporation. and keep open shop, to the great indignitye of the laudable laws and customs of the same." [o] However inclined the mayor might be, he was unable to resist this intolerant body; and consequently, many of the persecuted people, who had been so recently admitted, were again obliged to quit the town. [p] Accession of James II to the throne For the five succeeding years very little worthy of observation occurred in the town, with the exception of a loyal congratulatory address presented in 1683, by the corporation to Charles II on the escape of his majesty, and the duke of York, from the Rye-house conspiracy;[q] and a memorial in the year 1684, from the Catholic merchants and traders, (many of whom had, in the interim, been permitted to return,) to the lord lieutenant and council, for a reduction and settlement of the charter duties, whereupon a certain schedule was agreed to between them, and the corporation, under which these duties afterwards continued to be received. [r] On the accession of James II to the throne, the hopes of the proscribed Catholic natives of Galway once more revived, and they ventured more freely to approach the town. King James II The king soon after having directed the earl of Clarendon, the lord lieutenant, to provide for the admission of Catholics to the freedom of corporations, colonel Russell, the mayor, on the 25th of June, 1686, received directions from his lordship to admit to their freedom such of the Roman Catholic merchants and dealers as should desire it, without tendering the oath of supremacy, or any other oaths except those of allegience and of freemen, at the same time nominating nineteen of the principal persons to be immediately admitted free, and sworn of the common council. This communication was received with dismay. The council assembled; and, after some debate, the mayor was requested to communicate their readiness to admit these, and all other the natives and inhabitants of the town, to their freedom; but as, by the rules of the corporation, they were bound and sworn to maintain the ancient customs, one of which was, that the common council should be elected only on the Monday after Michaelmas day, they should be obliged to postpone that part of his directions until then; but that, on the 2d of July following, those to be admitted free would be proposed in tholsel. In answer to this, the lord lieutenant observed, that in extraordinary cases they were not bound to any particular day to admit members of the council, and peremptorily directed immediate obedience to his former orders.s Accordingly, in the beginning of July, one hundred and sixty Catholics, of the ancient names and natives, were sworn, and before the end of the year several others were admitted, by which time they obtained a complete ascendancy in the corporation. t After the severe treatment which Roman Catholic inhabitants of the town had, for many years before this period, experienced, it would be expecting more than the nature of man is capable of, (at least in an aggregate body actuated by the mingled feelings of passion, prejudice and revenge,) if they did not, on the present occasion, not only feel elated, but even proceed to lengths which, under other circumstances would be unjustifiable. In the scenes which follow, however. they exercised their newly-acquired power with moderation, compared with the former proceedings of their opponents. Soon after their admission, they informed the lord lieutenant that the revenues of the town were embezzled and misapplied, and offered to prove the fact, if an investigation were ordered. This was promised; and the mayor, who was principally concerned in the charge, was directed not to offer himself as a candidate for that office the ensuing year, and he was soon after ordered to march with his regiment to Athlone.u On the Ist of August, 1686, John Kirwan Fitz-Stephen, (afterwards Sir John Kirwan, of Castlehacket,) a Catholic, was elected mayor for the ensuing, year; and the earl of Clanricarde, another, was appointed governor of the town. Protestant inhabitants removed The king, as soon as he had heard of these spirited preparations of the town of Galway, expressed himself in the highest terms of satisfaction. In July, 1689, three additional companies were raised, and the officers chosen were presented to his majesty for approbation. [aa] The Protestant inhabitants were afterwards removed, by the governor, to the west suburbs, for the better security of the town. [bb] In April following the mayor received directions, by order of the king in council, "to put out of the court of aldermen and common council, such Protestants and disaffected men as should appear to him to be such, and to send their names presently to Dublin." Commissioners soon after arrived to view the state of the town. who directed several repairs to be made on the walls, and a fortification to be built round Barachalla. For these works 800l. were, on the 3d and 11th of July, ordered to be levied on the inahbitants. The community of St. Francis supplied stone and other materials; and the remainder of that year and part of the next were consumed in their completion. Battle of Aughrim, 1691 The eventful day that was to decide the fate of the town was now drawing nigh. On the 12th of July, 1691, the hostile armies of the two contending monarchs met on the memorable plains of Aughrim, whence the noise of their cannon might be easily heard at its gates. It is not our intention to enter into a description of the sanguinary and decisive engagement which here took place: the news of its result was known that night in the town, whither several of the fugitives fled for shelter. The alarm of the inhabitants may be easily conceived to have been extreme, and every preparation was made for defence. Many, however, were so panic-struck, that they would have compromised for their safety by immediately surrendering almost on any terms. Lord Dillon, the governor, the French lieutenant general D'Ussone, and the other officers of rank in the town, immediately held a council of war. It appeared that the town, though strong and well stored with provisions, was deficient in men and arms, which were drawn away by degrees to supply other exigencies. The garrison consisted but seven regiments of foot with a few troops of horse, and these neither full nor well armed; but their great dependance was on the promises of Balldearg O'Donnell, whom they hourly expected from Iar-Connaught with the troops under his command. [cc] Patrick Sarsfield Though thus circumstanced, it was unanimously resolved to defend the town. General Ginckle, the English commander, having judged it necessary to reduce Galway before he should proceed to Limerick, after a few days delay to refresh his troops, marched on the 17th of July towards Athenry, and encamped on the surrounding plains. On the same day he advanced, with a party, three miles nearer Galway, to a rising ground, from whence he could see the shipping in the bay. On his return to the camp he found a Mr. Shaw, a merchant of the town, (who, with a few other Protestants, had that morning escaped,) from whom he received a full account how matters stood within. This information was the most satisfactory, as it differed entirely from what he had previously received from others, that the garrison consisted of five thousand men, and those well armed; that the stores were considerable, and the town almost impregnable; that Sarsfield, with the whole of the Irish horse, was upon his march with a resolution to raise the siege; and that Ballderg's party was about six thousand strong: all which led him to apprehend that he would have more trouble with Galway than he expected, and the siege would be protracted to the ensuing winter; a circumstance which, above all others, he was most anxious to avoid. Seige of the town At this juncture, Denis Daly, of Carrownekelly, in the county of Galway, esq. second justice of the court of common pleas, and one of the privy counsellors of James II [dd] despatched a messenger to general Ginckle, desiring that a party might be sent for him, who should seemingly force him from his habitation; a circumstance which he conceived would lead to a more speedy surrender of the town. It seems that this gentleman, whose distinguished worth and integrity had gained him the confidence and esteem of all parties, had, with the other principal gentlemen of the county, for several months previous to the battle of Aughrim, held a correspondence with the English government, for the submission and general pacification of this part of the kingdom; to effect which, he proposed, amongst other things, the surrender of Galway. He had measures preconcerted with a few of the principal inhabitants of the town for the purpose, who, clearly foreseeing that resistance would be useless, had privately authorized the proposal, promising all their assistance to have the town delivered up, and that on stipulated terms, much more advantageous than those subsequently obtained by capitulation. Matters being so arranged, a party of the English army had, in the preceding winter, marched as far as the Shannon, on their way towards Galway; but the French party having, in the mean time, gained the entire ascendency of the town, the project failed. On the present occasion, however, judge Daly conceived that the apparent forcible seisure of his person would induce those with whom he had formerly negociated, (and by whose assent he had made the undertaking to government,) to excite a party in the town who would insist on a surrender, to prevent the useless effusion of human blood: but in this he was also disappointed, for the French faction still prevailed; and though some of the magistrates and many of the townsmen were for surrendering, several of them were imprisoned for declaring their intentions. The defence of the town was therefore, as already mentioned, determined upon; and Ginckle, encouraged by the information of Shaw, at length resolved to besiege it. This resolution was, however, considered by some as too premature: the summer was now advanced, and Limerick, the principal strength and dependance of the nation, was yet to be reduced. The capture of Galway, it was considered, would immediately follow that of Limerick, or, should it even hold out that it would be more easily taken by a winter siege than that important place, which, the year before, had defeated the English army, commanded by the king in person. It was, therefore, concluded that it would be more advisable to station sufficient forces in Athenry, Loughrea, and the other neighbouring towns and positions, to keep the garrison of Galway in awe, and, with the main body of the army, while it was fresh and flushed with victory, immediately to lay siege to Limerick. The general, however, more prudently reflected on the danger of leaving so considerable a place as Galway behind him, which, although the garrison was then weak, might be reinforced by Balldearg O'Donnell, or by French troops which were daily expected in the bay, and thereby become too powerful for his army, which had already been considerably reduced. For these reasons, he resolved to lose no time in commencing the siege, and made every necessary preparation for the purpose. He immediately informed the lords justices of his determination; and they dispatched an express to captain Cole, commander of a squadron then cruising about the mouth of the Shannon, to sail with all expedition to Galway; and empowered him to offer conditions, in case the town should make proposals; but he did not arrive until after its surrender, and was then ordered to return to his former station. While these preparations were making for the siege, the town was equally active in preparing for defence. The French began to repair the fortified works on the hill; the town's-people were employed on the fort, near the south-east corner of the wall; several strong works were thrown up to defend the east gate, and all the cabins and hedges round the suburbs were levelled. Within the walls eight guns were planted on the upper citadel; near it was a platform of six, and eight or ten more were raised at the south-east corner. Upon the turret, which stood towards the middle of the long curtain that extended next the bay, there were two, and on the side next the river five more, which, with those planted towards the west and north, made about fifty pieces of cannon. Many of these, however, were old and ill-mounted; some of the best guns belonging to the town having shortly before been taken away for other urgent services, and several fine brass pieces lay dismounted and useless in the streets. Although there was a considerable store of provisions, a great quantity of meal, salt, and other additional supplies, was brought from the shipping in the bay. Before the movement of the army towards the town commenced, a party of horse, commanded by the famous colonel Lutterel, attempting to approach and assist the town, was met by a body of cavalry posted at Kilcolgan, and forced to retire. The Irish commanders also attempted to throw in reinforcements across the bay from the county of Clare; and upon the appearance of captain Morgan, with a party under his command, they were prevented, after a skirmish in which three or four men were killed and eight taken prisoners. These disappointments however, did not dishearten the town but rather stimulated all its exertions, and every preparation was made to defend it to the last extremity. [ee] On the morning of the 19th July, the English forces, consisting of upwards of fourteen thousand men, chiefly infantry, marched from Athenry for Galway. The remainder of the army, consisting of three thousand horse and dragoons, was left there under the command of lieutenant-general Scravenmore and major-general Ruvigny, as well for the convenience of forage, and securing the passes for the cannon intended to be sent for to Athlone, (should the siege prove tedious,) as for observing the motion of the Irish forces. The troops advanced in two columns, with a rearguard of one hundred men to each wing, commanded by a lieutenant-colonel, and each regiment preceded by a captain, ensign, and fifty firelocks. They met with no opposition in their approach, until they arrived within view of the town, when some skirmishes took place between the advanced posts and parties of the French and Irish forces. The latter set fire to the castle Tirellan, to prevent the enemy making any use of it against the town, and retained the possession of the outworks of the castle, until they were driven from them by the repeated attacks of a superior force; after which they approached the town by the river, and burned all the suburbs beyond the north-west gate. In these recontres several of the English were killed. The Irish troops then entered the town amid loud acclamations, and the besieged manifested every intention of making the most vigorous resistance. Ginckle not expecting such immediate and determined opposition, as soon as a part of the army was drawn up as near the town as he could approach with safety, judged it prudent to summon the garrison to surrender. He offered them the benefit of the lords justices' late declaration, if they yielded without giving him any further trouble or delay; but the governor made answer, "that Monsieur D'Ussone, as well as himself, and the rest of the officers, were resolved to defend the place to the last." While the messenger remained in town, the soldiery impatient for action, discharged several shots from the cannon on the walls, which was afterwards complained of as unusual, and contrary to the rules of war, but it appeared the men were not aware of the communication. The remainder of the day was occupied in fixing the positions of the army round the town, during which the cannonading continued from the walls, though it was attended but with very little effect, in consequence of the favourable situation of the ground chosen by the besiegers. As soon as it was dark, the four regiments of colonel Tiffins, St. John, Monsieur Cambons and lord George Hamilton, with one Dutch and another Danish regiment of foot, and four squadrons of horse and dragoons, all commanded by lieutenant-general Mackay, crossed the river nearly opposite the castle of Menlo, about two miles north of the town. They were all safely over by break of day, and met with no opposition except from a party of dragoons sent to oppose their landing, which, being overpowered by superior numbers, was obliged, after a severe skirmish, to retreat. This formidable detachment (which was wafted over on floats previously constructed, but without success, to seize the only three ships that remained in the bay, and which sailed that night) occupied all the passes from Iar-Connaught, and put an end to any further hopes of succour from Balldearg O'Donnell. This disappointment was followed by another, resulting from the treachery of one Bourke, a captain in the Irish army, who deserted, before the English were many hours before the town, and informed general Ginckle that the fort towards the south-east was nearly finished; and, therefore, the sooner it was attacked, the easier it would be gained: he also added, that, from its importance, as it commanded a great part of the wall on that side of the town, its loss would considerably dispirit the besieged. It surrenders on articles The next morning, July 20th, count Nassau and general Talmash, with a party of grenadiers and two regiments of foot, were conducted, by Bourke, the safest and nearest direction to attack the fort, and the troops arrived almost at the foot of the works before they were discovered. This unexpected attack, having caused considerable confusion within, the English pushed forward through some faint firings, and threw in their grenadoes, which obliged the soldiers to abandon the fort, and retire by a line of communication drawn between it and the town. - In this action the English had only a lieutenant and men killed, and but two lieutenants and eight men wounded. As soon as they entered the fort, a tremendous fire was opened on them from the walls, by which several were killed and wounded, particularly their principal engineer, who fell as he was giving orders to his men. In the meantime the west suburbs were set on fire, to prevent their being possessed by the troops that crossed the river, and the besieged still shewed in every quarter the most determined resolution of resistance. But at that moment the principal inhabitants, who were inclined to surrender, waited on the governor, and, representing the impossibility of maintaining the town against such an army, make use of every argument to persuade him to enter into a treaty. Their councils at length prevailed, and at the hour of ten o'clock he ordered a parley to be beat, and despatched a letter to the English commander, requiring safe conduct for some persons to manage a capitulation. This welcome message was gladly received by the general; a satisfactory answer was immediately returned, and a cessation accordingly proclaimed on both sides. The town's-people and soldiers crowded in great numbers to the walls, and the English troops having approached near enough to hold conversation, several inquiries passed for friends and acquaintance in each other's army. In the afternoon hostages were exchanged: those on the side of the English were lieutenant-colonel Purcell, Coote, and the marquis de Rheda and those of the town, lieutenant-colonels Lynch, Burke and Reilly. The articles not being agreed to on that day the cessation was continued until ten o'clock the following morning. In the mean time, several debates took place in the town on the terms to be obtained and given; but the hour limited having arrived before they were able to agree, Ginckle became impatient, and having ordered eight guns and four mortars to be drawn to the fort, which was taken the day before, he sent a drummer to the town to order away his hostages; and, although the besieged demanded and obtained more time to agree among themselves, his impatience was so great, that he sent once or twice to press them to a speedy conclusion. At length lieutenant-colonel Burke, one of the hostages, was permitted to go into town; and Talmash, who evinced every inclination to lay the treaty aside, and even made some cold-blooded declarations that it would be preferable to attempt the town by storm, desired that, "when they were ready to begin again, they would give a signal by firing a gun in the air"; but the other replied, "they would not fire a gun from within until they were provoked from without." In a short time after, on the 21st July, the articles were agreed to, signed and exchanged by general Ginckle, on the part of the English, and by the lords Clanricarde, Dillon and Enniskillen, on the part of the besieged. Of these articles, being sixteen in number, the principal were, that the town was to be surrendered on the following Sunday, the 26th of July. The French officers and soldiers, and such of the garrison as wished it, to be conducted to Limerick. A free pardon to be granted to all within the town, with liberty to possess their estates, real and personal, and all other liberties and immunities which they held, or ought to have held, under the acts of settlement and explanation. The clergy and laity were to be unmolested in the private exercise of their religion, and the clergy protected in their persons and goods. The gentlemen of estates belonging to the town and garrisons to carry certain arms, and the Roman Catholic lawyers of the town were to have free liberty of practice, as in the reign of Charles II. [ff] Immediately after the articles were signed, the governor gave the earl of Clanricarde, lord Enniskillen, colonel Dominick Browne, lieutenant-colonel Bodkin and major Dillon, as hostages for the due performance of the terms to be observed, until the town should be delivered up. William Robinson, deputy paymaster of the army, was thereupon sent in to take an account of the stores, which were found to consist of eight hundred and fifty hogsheads of French meal, sixty barrels of salt, a considerable quantity of ammunition, and other articles of value. In the afternoon of the same day the English troops took possession of the outworks, and the governor dismounted the cannon on the walls. A friendly intercourse subsisted between both armies and their commanders until the time for surrendering arrived; and about seven o'clock on the morning of the 26th, general D'Ussone went out to the English camp, where he stayed about half an hour, and then proceeded with a guard to Limerick. Sir Henry Bellasyse being appointed governor of the town, marched in with his own, colonel Brewer's and colonel Herbert's regiments, and about nine o'clock took possession of the guards, and planted his sentinels on all the posts in and about the town. While the town forces were preparing to march out, a quantity of gunpowder, which a party of them was dividing in the street, suddenly exploded, by which several of the men had their eyes blown out, and upwards of twenty were dreadfully wounded and disfigured. This accident at first caused some confusion, the soldiers on each side immediately suspecting that they mutually intended to fall on one another; but, as soon as the cause was ascertained, these apprehensions ceased. About ten o'clock lord Dillon marched out with the garrison, not being above two thousand five hundred men, (who are described as indifferently armed, and worse clothed,) having according to the articles, six pieces of cannon, (four of which were of iron,) drawn by English horses. They were also conducted to Limerick by a guard of horse and dragoons, and the same day, at noon, general Ginckle entered the town, and was received by the mayor, aldermen and recorder; the latter having delivered a congratulatory speech on the occasion. [gg] When the news of the capitulation of Galway arrived in England, it gave infinite satisfaction to the queen and ministry, and the articles were soon after ratified by their majesties. The event was perpetuated by a medal, on which is represented a bust of the king crowned with laurel, and inscribed with his usual titles. On the top of the reverse are the arms of Galway fixed against two palm branches, placed on saltire between a cap and a bible, the emblem of liberty and religion. The bottom is ornamented with two laurel branches twined together, and the area of the field filled with the following inscription:-" Galloway rebellium et Gallorum penultimum refugium, post plurimas strages Gulielmo III. magno restitutori religionis et libertatis, cim armamentariis simul ac navibus redditur. "-Galway, the last refuge but one of the rebels and the French, is, after much slaughter, surrendered, with all its magazines and ships, to the great William III. the restorer of religion and liberty." Treatment of the Roman Catholics Henceforth the affairs of the town will be found to present a very different appearance from that which they held for many years before. For some time before and during the siege, it was agitated by three distinct parties; first, those who were inclined for moderate proceedings; next, the more violent, who adopted the measures of Sarsfield and Tyrconnell; and lastly, the French who generally favoured the latter. These were succeeded after the surrender by two parties, the Protestants and Catholics, whose opposition to each other became so violent, that the governor, at first, found it extremely difficult to regulate matters between them. The Catholics, by the articles of capitulation, were entitled to carry arms, and their number, which was considerable, exciting the suspicion of the governor and the fears of the Protestants, he was persuaded to apply for an order to hold courts-martial for inflicting summary punishment on such as should disturb the peace of the town. The inclinations and disposition of the governor soon became manifest. On the 1st August, he informed general Ginckle, by letter, that he kept "a watchful eye on the Papists." [hh] On that day a new mayor was to be elected: the Catholics, under the articles, insisted on the right, the Protestants resolved to oppose them: each party separately proceeded to election, and both, after much tumult and confusion, made choice of the governor, who immediately appointed Revett (the last acting Protestant mayor in 1685,) his deputy; and then described "the Papists in these parts" as "the most dangerous fellows in the world." [ii] They were soon after deprived of all influence in the in the corporation; and the mayor, availing himself of a pretext for the purpose, disarmed every individual of the persuasion within the town. [kk] As an instance of his intentions towards these people, he recommendeed an order to issue, that some merchants, who were robbed near Athenry, should be remunerated by the Catholic inhabitants, and quoted the good effects of a similar measure in the town the preceding winter. They, however, relying upon their articles, appealed from his proceedings, and he was himself obliged, as governor, to transmit their petition for redress to the general. This had the desired effect and obtained for them a temporary respite from the persecutions which they were afterwards doomed to experience. Fortifications built, to secure the conquest of the town and Islands To secure the conquest of Galway after the departure of the army for Limerick, all the batteries and other works about the town raised both by the English and Irish forces, were levelled; but the fort formerly commenced on the hill beyond the south-east corner of the wall was repaired, and some fortified works were thrown up at the east gate, (thenceforth, in honour of his majesty, called William's gate, and at the west end of the bridge. The governor also recommended that a fort should be built, and the castle repaired on Mutton-island, without which, he stated, that the shipping could not be secure in the bay. This was accordingly ordered, and one thousand pounds were granted for the purpose. The castle was fortified, and the fort provided with ten pieces of cannon: a company of soldiers was then stationed on the island, another was sent to Arran, and the fort there was likewise repaired. The island and castle of Bophin (the latter built by Oliver Cromwell, and then commanded by colonel Timothy O'Riordan,) having surrendered by capitulation, were also preserved in a state of defence, this island being considered a place of great importance, and particularly so during a war with France, whose privateers could easily shelter in the harbour had the fort been demolished.-Thus, in the district of Galway, as in all other parts in the kingdom, every necessary precaution was taken to secure the fruits of the sanguinary and disastrous war which had just terminated, and which established a free constitution and a system of laws calculated to secure the peace and advance the prosperity of the country, if their beneficial effects had not been destroyed by the bigoted persecutions which soon afterwards took place, and which will for ever remain an indelible disgrace to the times immediately succeeding this period.   [../../../includes/logo.htm]