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.
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