stituted, is to have power over all the said vicars and parishioners, and exercise the care of souls, wherefore there has been an humble address made unto us, on behalf of the aforesaid parishioners, that we might be pleased by our apostolical favor to add the authority of our confirmation, will, and ordination, to the end, therefore, they may exist more firmly, and that we might be further pleased to provide what may seem fit in relation to the premises. We, therefore, who love the advancement of the divine worship, and have been always willing that whoever would have ecclesiastical benefices united to others, should, among other things, tell the clear yearly value of the fruits, rents, and incomes of the benefices, for which no union should be made otherwise, and that always in case of unions, matters should be made known to the parties concerned, as is observed in the confirmations of unions already made. We having an account of the true yearly value of the fruits, rents, and incomes of the said vicarage of the said church of St. Nicholas and college thereof, and of the other donations and oblations, and of the manner of the last vacation of the said vicarages of the churches of St. Nicholas and St. James, and having before us expressly the tenor of the letters of the aforesaid erection, donation, application, appropriation, union, connexion, and incorporation, ordination and will, and in regard to the aforesaid petition, We by our apostolical authority in virtue of these presents, do confirm and approve, and by force of this writing do strengthen the aforesaid creation, donation, application, appropriation, union, connexion, incorporation, will, and ordination, and all and every thing contained in said letters; and we supply all and every defect, as well of law as of fact, and even of any other solemnity whatsoever omitted; and if any has happened therein, and for further security of the premises,

we, by the aforesaid apostolical authority, do erect de novo without prejudice to any other, the said church of St. Nicholas into a Collegiate, and therein do appoint one wardenship, for one warden or custos, and eight perpetual vicarages for so many priests, who as head and members of the said Collegiate, do make a chapter, having privilege of a common seal, a chest or burse, a table and other Collegiate ornaments. We also for ever unite, annex, and incorporate anew, the aforesaid vicarage of St. James, with all its rights and appurtenances, and all other fruits, rents, and incomes thereof, not execeding the value of six marks sterling, according to the common estimation as the aforesaid parishioners allege, to the said church of St. Nicholas, to whom the care of souls appertains; and though the vicarage of St. James should be vacant for so long a time, as that the collation thereof should lawfully devolve to the Apostolical See, according to the statutes of the Lateran council, it is especially reserved to the aforesaid church, and by the same authority. We appoint and order that the aforesaid church of St. Nicholas, so erected into a Collegiate, according to the aforesaid ordination of the said Archbishop, be for the time to come, perpetually ruled and governed by eight priests, who must be learned, virtuous and well-bred men, and accustomed to the English rite and manner of divine service; and that the aforesaid priests be presented by the chief magistrate, or mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the said town, to the aforesaid warden or custos for the time being, and that on the same presentation they may be instituted by the said warden, perpetual priests or vicars in the said college. But the aforesaid warden or custos, who is every year removeable, ought to be presented to the aforesaid priests or vicars by the said superior or mayor, and burgesses, and at the said pre

sentation to be by the said priests or vicars instituted warden for that year in the said college; and the said warden, after having obtained his institution, should have during the year for which he is elected or instituted, power over all the said priests or vicars of the said church of St. Nicholas, and over all the parishioners, and exercise the cure of souls of both the said priests and parishioners, without prejudice to the right of any other parishioner, or any other. We by the aforesaid authority, do grant for ever, to the aforesaid chief magistrate or mayor, bailiffs and equals, of the said town, a right of patronage, and presenting the aforesaid priests to the warden, to be instituted vicars by him, and of presenting the warden to the priests or vicars to be instituted by them. And if any attempt happens to be made contrary to those, knowingly or ignorantly by any person of what authority soever, We from this time forth decree the same to be void and of no force, notwithstanding any other former will, or any other apostolical constitutions or ordinations to the contrary; and if any person that was to be provided for, has obtained special or general letters of the said See, or its legates, to this or the other annexed ecclesiastical benefices, and by the said letters proceeded to an inhibition, reservation, and decree, or otherwise, It is our will that the said letters, and the prosecutions made by them, be not from henceforth extended to the aforesaid united vicarages. But by this we would have no prejudice done to them, as to their obtaining other benefices, privileges, indulgencies, or any other apostolical letters, special or general, of whatsoever tenor they be, or that their effect may be any ways hindered, or deferred in relation to any other matter but what is expressed, or totally inserted in those presents, of which, and their tenor, a special recital may be found

in our letters, provided by this union the church of St. James be not deprived of the due service, and the cure of souls be by no means neglected, but the accustomed charges thereof be graciously supported.

Let it not be lawful for any persons whatsoever, to break or by a rash boldness, oppose these letters of our confirmation, approbation, communication, application, union and connexion, incorporation, institution, ordination, confession, decree and will; and if any one will presume to attempt it, let him know that he incurs the indignation of Almighty God, and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Dated at Rome, at St. Peter's, in the year of our Lord's incarnation 1484, the 6th of the ides of February, and the first year of our popedom.

L. GRIFUS.

CHARTER GRANTED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH TO THE TOWN OF GALWAY.

ELIZABETH, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland Queen, defender of the faith, and so forth, to all unto whom these present letters shall come, greeting, We have inspected letters patent of our most dear brother, our Lord Edward VI. late king of England, to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town of Galway, in our kingdom of Ireland, the tenor whereof follows in these words:

EDWARD VI. by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland King, defender of the faith, and of the Church of England supreme head on earth, to all unto whom these present letters/shall come greeting. We have inspected into the letters patent of our Lord

Henry the Eighth late King of England, our dearest father, made in these words:

Henry by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and Ireland supreme head on earth, to all unto whom these present letters shall come greeting; Know ye, that whereas Lord Richard, late King of England, the second after the conquest, having taken it into consideration the town of Galway in Connaught, which is the key of those parts of his lands of Ireland (in which town all his faithful and loyal people, as well foreigners as others coming into the said parts, were received, saved, comforted and relieved) lay exposed as well to Irish enemies as English rebels on all sides, and the burgesses of said town and others dwelling therein, and coming thereunto, dare not without great conduct come to the said town either by land or by water, nor go out of the same to exercise merchandizing or other necessary affairs, and that the said burgesses, for the safe custody of the said town, have against the malice of the said enemies and rebels continually, by day and night, maintained and supported men for defence in the said town at their own proper cost, to the manifest impoverishment of their state, hath towards the assistance, relief, and comfort of the said town, that merchants and others may be the more encouraged and comforted to dwell and inhabit in the said town, for the better resistance of the malice of the said enemies and rebels; by his letters patent, dated at Dublin the 26th day of January in the 19th year of his reign, of his special grace granted and given license for him and his heirs, as much as in him lay, to the portrieve and common burgesses of the said town of Galway, that they and their heirs and successors, common burgesses therein, may from thenceforward, per

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