men and arms; and, perceiving the advantageous position afforded by the hill on which the monastery of St. Augustine stood, he laid the foundation of a fort on that eminence, within two hundred yards of the walls, which completely commanded the town and harbour, and afterwards became one of the most considerable fortifications in the kingdom.

The building of these extensive works of defence was carried on with vigor. On the 10th of August, 1602, the lord deputy informed Mr. Secretary Cecil, that the fortifications at Galway were almost finished, and that it would be needful for the place to have four demi-canons and four whole culverins, which he thought would make it of very great use against the Spaniards, if they should happen to land there, as he suspected, and that for this and other similar works it would be necessary to have some great ordnance." On the 18th of November following. his lordship set out on his journey for Connaught, his principal design being, "to view the town of Galway, and to consider how the descent of foreign enemies might best be prevented."-He kept Christmas in the town; and, judging it a place of great importance to be preserved from being possessed by any foreign enemy he gave directions to finish the fort, which, from its situation, would so effectually command the haven, and defend the town from foreign invasion. While he remained, the O'Flaherties of Iar-Connaught, the Mac Dermotts of the Courlews, O'Connor Roe, and many others, came in and submitted.

James I. was proclaimed here in April, 1603. Upon the accession of this monarch, the Irish, supposing him a Catholic, entertained hopes that their ancient religion would be no longer proscribed, and accordingly the principal cities and towns of the kingdom immediately declared for the open and uncontrolled confession of faith. The lord deputy made every exertion to suppress this rising spirit, and finally succeeded in putting it down. He issued particular orders to that effect to the magistrates of Galway, which were punctually attended to; and he was soon after informed by the mayor, "that howsoever he found no seditious inclination in the citizens, yet, to prevent disorders in these mutinous times, the governor of the fort had given him some of his soldiers to assist his authority, whom he to that purpose had placed in the strongest castles of the city."

The fort being at length finished, Sir Thomas Rotheram, knight, was appointed governor, on 28th May, 1603. His patent recites that the king, as well for the punishment and reformation of his evil subjects, as for the defence of his good

and loyal ones residing in the town of Galway, and St. Augustine's fort, near adjoining, thought it very necessary that some meet person should be appointed commander of the said fort, and of all such companies thereof, horse and foot, as were then, or should thereafter be sent to reside there; and, having conceived a good opinion of his valor, wisdom, and provident circumspection for the managing of causes of like effect and moment, appointed him commander of said foot and forces, with the rule and government of all persons residing in or repairing to the bounds and circuits of his said command, as well within liberties as without, of the town and harbour of Galway.' Sir Thomas appears to have merited the high encomium contained in his patent: he governed the fort with unimpeachable conduct for a period of thirty-three years, and was elected mayor of Galway in 1612, being the only instance in which that office was filled by any except a native of the town, or of its ancient names or families, for upwards of one hundred and seventy years.

Immediately after the accession of James, the corporation petitioned for a confirmation and extension of their privileges, which the king answered by letter under his own hand, to the earl of Devonshire, lord lieutenant, dated 20th December, 1603, stating that, Although for some respects we thinke not fitt to enlarge any further liberties to them, than formerly they have had, yet wee are pleased that they shall have a confirmacon and renuinge of such privileges and liberties as by any former charters they doe hold."-This answer not being so favourable as was expected, they declined for the present suing out the charter, expecting a more seasonable opportunity; which accordingly was supposed to have offered in 1608, when they again petitioned, but with no better success than before, as appears by the king's letter, dated at Westminster, the 3d of March, in that year, and afterwards recited in the charter. Not discouraged at this disappointment, they immediately again renewed their solicitations, not only for a renewal and confirmation of all former privileges, but also that the town and liberties might be erected into a separate and distinct county; sheriffs appointed in place of bailiffs; and, in consideration of the great increase of mercantile

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"that the assizes should be kept in the town of Galway, and to prevent the removing it to Loughrea."-Corp. Book, Lib. B. p. 109.-For a long time, before and after this period, the judges were entertained free of expense by the town, perhaps to induce them to hold the assizes there. This was afterwards abridged to the payment of their lodgings; and on 21st September, 1771, it was ordered in common council, "that this corporation shall not for the future be at any expense for the judge's lodgings."-Corp. Book, Lib. I.-But this was repealed the 7th October following, and the expense, 107. yearly, has been ever since defrayed by the town.

transactions, that a guild of merchants of the staple might be incorporated.Geoffry Lynch Fitz-Dominick and Patrick French Fitz-Robert were deputed to present this petition to the king in person; and, through the interference and interest of Rickard, then earl of Clanrickard, (who shortly before was appointed first lord president of Connaught, ) their application proved successful. Accordingly letters, signed by the privy council of England with the royal assent, were transmitted to the lord lieutenant of Ireland; in pursuance of which, by charter, dated 18th December, 1610, all the former privileges of the corporation were fully confirmed: and as the town of Drogheda was one entire county by itself, incorporate in fact and name, distinct and separate from the counties of Louth, Meath, and all other counties, so it was given and granted that the town of Galway, and all castles, messuages, rivers, rivulets, lands, tenements and other hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being within the space of two miles of every part of the said town, in a straight line, should, from thenceforth, for ever be one entire county of itself, distinct and separate from the county of Galway, to be named

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The king, in the privy seal for this appointment, thus expresses himself: "For that we think it may make more for our service that the province of Connaught have a governor with certain title, as our province of Munster hath, our pleasure therefore is, that upon surrender of such letters patents as our right trusty and right wellbeloved cousin, the earl of Clanrickard, now hath for his charge there, you grant unto him such other letters patents, under our great seal there, with the title of president, in such form and manner as our president of Munster hath, except you shall see cause, by advice of our council there, to alter any clauses thereof, or to add unto it."—2 Jac. I. 3 p.—The patent is dated, Dublin, September 1, 1604.-2 Jac. I. 2 p. f. m. 49.—Sir Oliver St. John, knight, and privy counsellor, was appointed vice-president under the earl; and on 9th June, 1615, Sir John King, knight, muster-master-general, and Sir Thomas Rotheram, were appointed, jointly and severally, to be his majesty's chief commissioner or commissioners in civil causes, with the council of the province, to administer civil justice to the subjects there, during the absence of the lord-president and vice-president.-Rot. 13 Jac. I. 1 p. f. m. 20.

Before the distribution of Connaught into counties, by Sir John Perrott, in 1585, the entire province was divided into two great districts, called the counties of Connaught and Roscommon, whose sheriffs are mentioned in various records, as far back as the reign of Henry III. It would be a matter of more difficulty than utility, at the present day, to trace out the limits and extent of those two ancient divisions; but as it may be of some importance that the true boundaries of the county of Galway, as originally laid down, should be known, and as the town was comprehended within the county, until separated as above, the following abstract is taken from an inquest, held on oath at Galway, on the 11th of August, 1607, before Sir Anthony Sentleger, then master of the rolls, and

Peter Palmer, second justice of the common pleas, in which its limits were accurately ascertained.

BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY OF GALWAY.

"The county of Galwaye extended in length from the marysh of Meanagh-keogh, buttinge easteward upon the King's County unto Kanleama, beyond Bunowne, in Yearconaght, westward 60 miles or thereaboutes, and in breadth, from the river or streame of Boyle, buttinge southwarde on the county of Clare to Lahagh-Stanton, (so called, for that a principal man of the Stantons was slayne in that place,) adjoyninge to Clanmorrish, northward 37 miles, or thereabouts.-The boundes or meares of the saide county begynieth beyond the river of Sheanon easteward, at the said marishe of Meanagh-keogh which devideth the greate woods of Killiecorrie, whereof the woods westward of the saide marishe are included within the boundes of the county of Gallwaie, and the woods easteward of the marishe are of the King's County; and so boundinge forwarde to the river of Brosnagh, and reyteyninge the course of the streame, it falleth into the river of Sheanon; and, includinge the islands of Inchenegal and Inyshmore, it extendeth forward by easte, the islands of Inishfadda, as the course of the streame runneth: from thence, includinge the islands of Portklyely, it goeth dyrectly to Dirremeegane, and, includinge the islands of Illanmore and Inishealdry, it runneth through Loghdirgirt, and so to the river of Boyhe, and holdinge that river against the streame to Loghetory.-The earle of Thomond doeth challendge a towne lande, consistinge of fower quarters, called Ballynrowand, Killratyry and Ballyshannoyhe, which is included within theise boundes, to be parcell of the county of Clare that beinge beyond the memory of man held by the earles of Clanrickarde, and by them sett for rent to the Clanshides, a cepte of the Mc. Ne Marres, who, upon discontent, came thither to dwell. Theise fower quarters are founde and presented, upon the makinge of the composicon, to be parcell and