The History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway
Chap. V.
From 1641 to the
Restoration of Charles II. 1660.
Opulence of Galway at the commencement of the Irish rebellion, 23rd
October, 1941 - Report of Sir Francis Willoughby, governor of St.
Augustine's fort, near Galway, on that event - The care of the earl of
Clanricarde to secure the peace of the county - Loyal resolutions of the
town - Disputes with the fort - Massacre at Shruel - Revolt of the town,
and siege of the fort - The fort relieved, and the town submits to the
earl of Clanricarde - Violent proceedings of the governor of the fort -
He bombards the town - Lord Forbes arrives with a fleet in the bat -
Besieges the town - His barbarous conduct - The fort besieged, taken and
demolished - The town declares in favour of the Irish, and against the
parliament - Persists in its loyalty to the kind - Several
fortifications built - Tumults in the town, occasioned by the pope's
nuncio on the question of the cessation - Compelled at length to
proclaim it - The nuncio departs from Galway - The town advances money
to the state - Grateful acknowledgements of Charles II. - Dreadful
plague in the town - Marquis of Ormond takes shipping in Galway, and
leaves the kingdom - Negociations with the duke of Lorraine - His
ambassador arrives in Galway - The town besieged by the parliamentary
forces under Sir Charles Coote - Its strenuous defence and final
surrender - The plague rages - Cruel proceedings against the inhabitants
- Licentiousness of the soldiery - Unjust measures of the rulers in
Dublin, contrary to the articles of surrender - The corporation new
modelled - The ancient inhabitants turned out of the town, and the
houses destroyed - Plans of the government relative to Galway - Lands
and houses valued and sold - Total decay of the town at the time of the
Restoration.
Opulence of Galway at the commencement of the Irish Rebellion, 23d
October 1641
A period is now arrived, which will be for ever memorable in the
history of Ireland, and in the transactions of which our town acted a
very conspicuous part. Already, for upwards of sixty years, since the
troubles raised by the Mac-an-Earlas were appeased, Galway
enjoyed peace and tranquility under the rule of its own magistrates.
Warmly attached to the ancient religion of the land, firm in its
allegience to the crown, and obedient to the laws, it had arisen to an
eminent degree of respectability, wealth and national consequence, when
the never to be sufficiently lamented rebellion, or civil war, broke out
in Ireland, on the 23d. Of October, 1641.
Report of Sir Francis Willoughby, governor of St. Augustine's fort,
near Galway, on that event
Sir Francis Willoughby, who was then governor of St. Augustine's
fort, near Galway, (which had been thoroughly repaired at considerable
expense, in 1636, and rendered one of the most complete fortifications
in the kingdom,) in the month of October, 1641, departed for Dublin,
leaving the fort, with two companies, under the command of his son,
captain Anthony Willoughby. He arrived there on the night of the 22d,
and stated, in council, that neither at Galway, nor all the way from
thence, did he observe the least disposition in any of the inhabitants
to rise; nor did he entertain any suspicion for the safety of his own
person: and yet, had the design of an insurrection been general, he
conceived the rebels might have thought the seizing of him of some
advantage towards gaining possession of that important fortress.[a]
The care of the earl of Clanricarde to secure the peace of the
county
Ulick, the fifth earl of Clanricarde, governor, for life, of the town
and county of Galway, having fortunately returned to Ireland in the
summer of 1641, was then at his castle of Portumna.
[b] As soon as he heard of the troubles, he took
every precaution for the security of the county. On the 28th October he
dispatched messengers to Galway, to Sir Richard Blake, with an account
of the breaking out of the rebellion, and directions that the town
should be most strict and vigilant in its watch and guards. This
information was immediately communicated to the mayor and council: arms
and ammunition, with which they were but badly provided, were supplied:
orders were issued to strengthen the town gates where they were weak and
defective, and the guards and watches were doubled. On the 6th of
November his lordship arrived; he remained two days, during which time
he put the town and fort in the best possible posture of defence,
augmented the two companies of the latter to two hundred men, and
directed the mayor and corporation to furnish it with provisions, with
which it was but indifferently stored; and, to provide for his own
company in Loughrea, he took out of the store-house one hundred
firelocks and as many pikes; but more than half of these, upon trial,
was found unserviceable.
Loyal resolutions of the town
The consternation of the town was considerably increased by the
archbishop of Tuam deserting his castle, and flying for refuge to the
fort, and the subsequent treacherous surprisal of lord Clanricarde's
castle of Aghnenure, in Iar-Connaught, by young Morough-na-dubh
O'Flaherty. On the 11th, a general assembly was convened in the tholsel;
and it was, amongst other things, unanimously resolved, "that to the
last man the said town of Galway would lose their blood and lives in his
majesty's service, in the defence. and for the safety of the said fort
and town." The fort was furnished with one hundred pecks of wheat, fifty
pounds worth of timber and other necessaries, all of which were to be
paid for upon the restoration of tranquility in the kingdom.
Notwitstanding these exertions, some misunderstanding interrupted the
harmony which hitherto subsisted between the fort and town. Captain
Willoughby, who was a young and unexperienced man, of hot and
ungovernable temper, began to conduct himself in the most rash and
violent manner towards the townsmen, who, on their part, were not
without a large portion of pride, and particularly piqued themselves on
entertaining high notions of honor. With these dispositions, on both
sides, disputes were inevitable. Willoughby, on some trifling or
pretended occasions, imprisoned some of the inhabitants, and placed
guards of musketeers on their goods and ships; and the town, exasperated
at those proceedings, seized and imprisoned some soldiers belonging to
the fort. At this juncture the earl of Clanricarde hastened to Galway,
and with difficulty prevailed on the town to furnish the fort with
supplies, which they had before refused to do without ready money. He
remained in the town from the 5th to the 11th of February, and from the
1st to the middle of March;
[c] and, so far succeeded in composing those unhappy
differences, the mayor and corporation, on the 13th, signed a
declaration, wherein they stated, "the fast fidelity of their ancestors
to the crown of England, and how far this ancient colony hath been
trusted and beloved by the kings successively, and in what happy
condition and prosperity they lived under their powerful protection."
They then declared their allegience and determination, at the hazard of
their lives, lands and goods, to preserve the town in obedience, to
defend his majesty to the utmost of their power and contribute for the
mutual defence of the town and fort, for his majesty's service.
Willoughby, on the same day, signed a similar declaration of mutual
amity and defence; and lord Clanricarde departed, on the 14th, well
pleased at having reconciled two such important places, upon which the
peace and security of the province so much depended.
Revolt of the town, and siege of the fort
In the meantime the town declared its intention to invest the fort,
and made every preparation for the purpose, by raising a battery, and
blocking up all the passages to it, in order to reduce it by famine.
They were joined by some country gentlemen, and about thirteen or
fourteen hundred men from lar-Connaught and daily expected considerable
assistance from Mayo: but, on the 13th of March captain Willoughby
having received intelligence that a large body of the Iar Connaught
forces would, on that night, quarter in the east suburbs, he immediately
set fire to all the houses in that direction, and the people within the
town were vexed and mortified at beholding the entire in flames and
burned to the ground. The earl of Clanricarde, whose first object was to
supply the fort with provisions, dispatched about one hundred and forty
carriages of wheat, malt, and several other necessaries, to his castle
of Oranmore, from whence they were safely conveyed to the fort by water.
He then raised what forces he could muster in the country, to the number
of seven hundred foot, and near two hundred horse, and on the 2d of
April arrived at Oranmore; where, finding that the two only land
passages towards the fort, which were narrow, were occupied by the
enemy's cannon, it was judged dangerous to attack the besiegers,
particularly as they were entrenched in a craggy place, where his horse,
which was the principal strength, could be of no service. He thereupon
resolved to distress them by cutting off their supplies of provisions,
of which they were already scarce; and with this view he placed strong
garrisions in his castles of Oranmore, Clare-Galway, and Tirellan; the
last of which was situate upon a neck of land commanding the river of
Galway, and was committed to the charge of lieutenant Dermot O'Daly, a
brave officer,[c]
who, with three companies of and thirty musketeers, performed most
essential services. The rest of his troops he quartered up and down the
barony of Clare, upon the tenants and estates of the townsmen and their
friends, and with his horse scoured the plains, hindering all resort to
the market, or any supply of provisions. The effects of these prompt and
vigorous measures were soon felt, and produced discontents among the
people within, and their auxiliaries without. The higher classes of the
inhabitants were not favourable to the violent proceedings which had
taken place, and the remainder dreaded their consequences and result.
Meetings were accordingly held, and it was at length resolved to propose
terms of adjustment and pacification.
The fort relieved, and the town submits to the earl of Clanricarde
The earl of Clanricarde, anxious for many pressing reasons, to
terminate this dangerous revolt peaceably and with expedition, entered
into a cessation of arms to the end of the month. In the mean time
commissioners were appointed to treat with his lordship; and on the 23d
of April, Sir Dominick Browne, Richard Martin, esq., and alderman
Browne, for the town, and Sir Valentine Blake and Theobald Burke for the
county, presented certain propositions, many of which the earl would not
at all hearken to. Several meetings were held; but before the terms
could be finally adjusted, captain Ashley, in the Resolution, a ship of
thirty guns, four hundred tons, and one hundred and thirty men, arrived
in the bay, having on board two pieces of cannon, forty barrels of
powder, thirty thousand weight of biscuit and other provisions for the
fort. On receiving this seasonable supply, Willoughby, whose enmity was
implacable, was, with difficulty prevented by the earl from bombarding
the town. The inhabitants in dismay sent Geoffry Browne, Richard Martin,
esqrs. and others to his lordship, with new, and, as they supposed, more
acceptable proposals, but he now refused to listen to anything less than
an absolute submission. The terms which he dictated to them were, to
dismiss their garrison, send away the army from the camp, and give
hostages; lay down their arms, restore all the goods taken from the
English, dismount the ordnance pointed against the fort, and demolish
the new bulwarks; to sell or issue out no powder, ammunition or arms,
but by warrant from his lordship; to deliver all the powder and
ammunition, which were then in the town, into the hands of special
commissioners; and, finally, that no powder or arms should be admitted
to land in the town, but be brought directly to the fort. These
conditions were discussed at a public meeting of the corporation; and
although considerable clamour was raised in the town, and most violent
opposition given by the clergy,
[f] all except the last were agreed to. But the camp
before the fort becoming greatly distressed for provisions, and at
length breaking up, the earl, on the 10th of May, took possession of
their trenches, and poured thirty-three great shot from his heavy
ordnance into the town, at the same time summoning them by a trumpet to
surrender. The mayor desired time until the next day, when, after much
debating, the submission was resolved upon, and signed.[g]
On the following morning Geoffry Browne and John Blake, both lawyers,
and Martin Skerrett and Peter D'Arcy, merchants, were sent as hostages,
and on the 13th the gates were thrown open. The mayor, attended by the
adlermen and several of the burgesses, attired in their robes of office,
awaited the coming of the earl at the cross which divided the town and
fort, and there he made his public submission, and delivered up the
keys. The "young men" laid down their arms, and his lordship received
the town into his majesty's protection, until his further pleasure
concerning them should be known.
Violent proceedings of the governor of the fort
Thus, at a time pregnant with the greatest danger, was "one of the
strongest and most important towns in the kingdom, inferior to none for
its trade, riches, strength and situation,"
[h] reduced to obedience by the single exertion and
influence of the earl of Clanricarde, unassisted by the state and almost
without bloodshed. The disaffected throughout the province were greatly
disheartened at this signal success, which was the more fortunate, as
one Francis D'Arcy, a merchant of the town in a ship laden with corn,
arms and ammunition, had only two or three days before put into a creek
in Iar-Connaught, and carried the entire to Galway. By this means,
besides the stores of provisions, a most seasonable supply of ten pieces
of ordnance, sixty muskets, and two thousand seven hundred pounds weight
of powder, fell into the earl's hands. The provisions were ordered for
the use of the fort, and the arms to supply that and other garrisions
through the country. - This happy result gave universal joy to every
class of persons but the disaffected. The lord justices also, whose
views were very different from those of lord Clanricarde, entirely
disapproved of his receiving the submission, or granting protection to
the town, and expressly directed him to receive no further submissions,
but to prosecute the rebels and their adherents, harbourers, and
relievers, with fire and sword; and they soon after issued orders to all
commanders throughout the kingdom, tending to the extermination of the
Irish Catholics.
Sir Richard Blake, Sir Roebuck Lynch, Patrick D'Arcy, Richard Martin,
Patrick Kirwan, the Recorder, and several others of the most respectable
natives and inhabitants of Galway, had incessanly laboured, first to
prevent, and afterwards to terminate, the commotions in the town. Many
of them, being in danger of their lives from the fury of the rabble,
were obliged to retire, but had now returned at the request of the earl
of Clanricarde, who hoped by these means to preserve peace within the
town, while he laboured for the security of the county. All his
measures, however, were soon frustated by the conduct of Willoughby and
Ashley, the captain of the ship Resolution, that lay in the harbour. The
latter, who, in disposition, much resembled Willoughby, was also
extremely covetous, and a violent parliamentarian, and, either out of
avarice or from principle, made it a point to violate the pacification.
He first seized and pretended to make a prize of Francis D'Arcy's ship,
although she lay under the protection of the fort. He landed his men,
and plundered the sea-coast all round the bay, pillaged Sir Richard
Blake's house at Ardfry, and carried away his goods and cattle, and
those of his tenants. Richard Morris, an old tenant of lord
Clanricarde's in Iar Connaught, coming in a boat to Galway with some
goods to discharge his rent, had the entire seized by Ashley's men, and
no satisfaction could be obtained for any of these doings. Captain
Wlloughby's conduct was equally outrageous; his soldiers endeavoured to
hinder all recourse to the town, and those who attempted to have access
to it were robbed by them. Although the town had puncually performed the
articles agreed upon, yet the governor, without any cause, seized upon a
large house or inn near the great gate, called the Bull, then kept by
some English innkeepers, and in this he placed a garrison which
considerably annoyed the inhabitants. He also sent a garrison to Castle-Gare,
stationed another near St. Dominick's abbey at the west, and placed
disorderly sentinels at every gate, who abused such as offered to go
out, attempting to take them prisoners to the fort, and exercise martial
law upon them, besides killing and robbing the poor people that came to
market, burning their fishing-boats, and not suffering them to go out.
Captain Willoughby bombards the town
When the inhabitants ventured to remonstrate with him on these
proceedings, he threatened to discharge his ordnance into the town; and,
not satisfied with the usual supplies from the country, he sallied forth
in conjunction with captain Ashley, and with parties of horse and foot
indiscriminately burned and broke open houses, carried away goods, and
plundered the entire district, to the extent of upwards of one thousand
sheep, and two hundred head of cattle. This system of rapine and
devastation had the effect, which perhaps the perpetrators intended, of
exasperating the whole country. Captain Willoughby, in one of his
predatory excursions with a trumpeter and a troop of horse, coming to a
town of lord Clanricarde's made a prisoner of one Redmond Burke, (serjeant
of a company in the forces which lord Clanmorris had raised for his
majesty's service,) a man of good character and an experienced soldier,
respected and well allied in the country him he bound, and, with two
others, carried; to the fort, and had immediately hanged, (in the view
of the town's-people, who were looking on from the walls,) under the
commission for martial law, which he lately received from the lords
justices.
[i] After this outrage, which was little better than
deliberate murder, he proceeded to open hostilities against the town,
and, as if in a fit of frenzy, without any provocation, burned all the
suburbs, the houses whereof were set for more than one thousand pounds a
year rent, and obliged upwards of seven hundred families to retire
within the walls, to the great incumbrance of the town. He killed
several of the inhabitants, assaulted and scaled the walls by night, and
fired his cannon into the town for an entire day, though it produced no
other effect than a vast lavish of powder, and a discovery of the small
injury his ordnance could do to the town, together with the retreating
back into the fort of all the guards and sentinels that had been placed
near the gates. All these desperate proceedings were well calculated to
create, and did accordingly cause universal discontent and resentment,
and occasioned and hastened the general and successful confederacy which
afterwards ensued, and effected the destruction of the fort, and finally
ended in the total subversion of the royal authority in the country.
Lord Forbes arrives with a fleet in the bay
Such was the situation of affairs about Galway, on the 7th of August,
1642, when considerable agitation and suspence were occasioned in the
town by the appearance of squadron of seventeen ships, on the morning of
that day, sailing into the bay. They came to anchor in the road, and
boats were soon observed to pass and re-pass between them and the fort.
This was the fleet of Alexander, lord Forbes, who was appointed by
parliament, (without his majesty's concurrence,) lieutenant-general of
the additional forces raised by the London adventurers, to waste the
coasts of Ireland in a privateering way. His first exploit, after his
arrival, sufficiently indicated his intentions, and put the town on its
guard against him. He landed a body of men on the county of Clare side
of the bay, and burned the houses and wasted the lands of Daniel and
Turlough O'Brien, the only two gentlemen in that country who adhered to
their allegience, invariably relieved the English, and assisted with
their long boats and provisions for the relief of the fort, when it was
besieged. Lord Forbes declared openly against the late pacification, and
required the town to receive a garrison of his men. A messenger arrived
from him with a letter for the mayor, and the form of a submission which
he insisted upon, by which they were to confess themselves to have been
rebels, and humbly submitting to beg his majesty's intercession for them
to the parliament of England, and to declare they would admit such
governors as the king and state should appoint, and until then put
themselves under the protection of lord Forbes. This was followed by a
proclamation of safe conduct to repair to his ship,[k]
but the town's-people were too wise to be caught in such a snare, and
his lordship was a good deal mortified to find that they refused all his
proposals, and declined to receive his garrison, or to make the
submission he required. On the contrary, insisting upon the pacification
which they had made and observed, they applied to the earl of
Clanricarde for protection. His lordship represented to lord Forbes the
fatal consequences that would attend a breach of the pacification and
the commencement of hostilities against the town by endangering the
peace of the country, and making it the seat of war, which he would be
totally unable either to prevent, or effectually oppose.
Forbes besieges the town
But Forbes, stimulated by Willoughby and Ashley, and governed by the
advice of the famous fanatic, Hugh Peters, whom he brought with him as
his chaplain, and who was afterwards hung and quartered for his
rebellious proceedings and the murder of the king, was entirely deaf to
every remonstrance of reason or discretion. He landed his men on the
west side of Galway, took possession of St. Mary's Church, planted two
pieces of ordnance against the town, and burned all the surrounding
villages. In this extremity lord Clanricarde, and lord Ranelagh,
president of Connaught came to Tirrelan, to endeavour to pacify matters;
and, even while there, they could perceive the country around on fire,
and heard of several women and children inhumanely killed by his men.
They exerted all their power and influence to put a stop to these
proceedings, and to persuade lord Forbes to withdraw his forces, and
leave the town and country in quiet; but even these entreaties would
have proved ineffectual, had he not perceived what little effect his
battery had upon the walls, and that his men were becoming troublesome
for want of payment.
At length, finding himself unable to take the town, or to execute his
designs against it, he quit the bay on the 4th of September, and sailed
for Limerick; after having, with brutal rage, defaced St. Mary's church,
dug up the graves in that ancient burial-place of the town, and burnt
the coffins and bones of those that lay there interred; which barbarbous
conduct served but to make his memory detested, and exasperated the
minds of a people already rendered almost desperate from the treatment
which they received. Immediately after his departure, a pinnace, which
he left behind him in the bay, took a merchantman belonging to the town,
valued at nearly six thousand pounds, and made her a prize. Thus were
these ill-fated people doomed to suffer all the miseries of war, and to
be treated as enemies or the worst of rebels, at a time when they were
desirous of peace, and particularly zealous in the cause of the king,
and in the public avowal of their loyalty and allegience. That there
were, at the same time, many discontented and disorderly persons in the
town is certain. The young men and lower orders would not be governed by
the magistrates: the influence and interference of the clergy, who from
the beginning, were advocates for violent measures, were considerable;
and the failure and prevention of their trade and traffic, at home and
abroad, (a great portion of which, between the ships in the bay and the
neighbouring towns, was usurped with many advantages by Willoughby;) all
conspired gradually to lessen the influence of the earl of Clanricarde
in the town, and to prepare for the courses which were afterwards
adopted.
The fort besieged, taken and demolished
The disputes between the town and fort still continued unabated. The
gates remained closed, and all intercourse was stopped. Willoughby,
having seized some of the inhabitants, caused William Lynch, a freeman,
to be executed on board one of the ships in the harbour, and kept one
Geoffry Lynch under sentence of death in the fort; while the town
forces, on the other side, killed several of his soldiers. Both parties
at length appealed to the earl of Clanricarde. Willoughby offered to
sign such propositions, for the safety of the town and accomodation of
all matters, as they should require; and they accordingly proposed to
throw open the east gate, and allow free traffic, on condition that he
and all others resident in the fort, should take an oath to be true and
faithful to the king, and admit none to the fort, or under its
protection, or within the reach of their cannon, that adhered, to the
parliament of England, in opposition to the king; that they should not
molest the town, or any member thereof, by sea or land; that they should
restore all prisoners, goods and chattels taken since the last
pacification, and particularly the ship seized by the pinnace, or its
value: and towards the conclusion of these conditions and proposals,
which were presented to lord Clanricarde by Sir Richard Blake and
Patrick D'Arcy, they "humbly intreat his lordship to take the present
condition of this town into his serious consideration, and beseech him
not to forget his ancestors love to it, and their hereditary and never
interrupted zeal and propension to love, honour and serve him and his
family; and, after a sad contemplation of their representations unto him
that he may please to take that resolution thereupon that may be
suitable to his favour, piety, honour and justice, and that he may be
sure this town, in all fortunes, will continue the affection, obedience
and respect it owes him." - Notwithstanding all their endeavours, this
treaty ended in nothing, owing to the insincerity and delays of
Willoughby. Even while it was depending, his soldiers made two sallies
into the country; killing, in the first, by their own confession, a
dozen of poor innocent people, men, women and children; and, in the
other, pillaging all the remains of Sir Richard Blake's stock at Ardfry.
But what most of all evinced the real principles and intentions of the
inhabitants of the fort, was the conduct of captain Constable, commander
of one of the ships that came to assist it. This man, standing on the
rampart of the fort next the town, called with a loud voice twice over
to the townsmen on the walls, "A new king, you rogues and traitors; your
king is run away, you shall have a new king shortly, you rogues." From
all these and other circumstances it was at length concluded that the
fort was no longer in his majesty's obedience, but entirely at the
disposal of the parliament.
At this crisis, colonel John Burke arrived in Galway, where he was
joyfully received, having been some time before appointed
lieutenant-general of Connaught by the general assembly of Catholics
which met at Kilkenny on the 24th of October, 1642. Colonel Burke was
born in the county of Mayo: he was a man of great prudence and
discretion, a brave experienced soldier, (having served upwards of
thirty years in the service of Spain,) and high in the confidence of the
town and country. He at first endeavoured to keep a fair correspondence
with the fort, offered to open the gates; have the benefit of markets
and free intercourse between it and the town, provided they contained
themselves within bounds, were obedient to the directions of lord
Clanricarde, desisting from spoiling, burning or plundering the country,
killing or taking the town's-men prisoners, or relieving or aiding the
puritans that daily come in ships unto them, and who were the king's
declared enemies. These amicable propositions being all rejected by
Willoughby, and the castle of Clare-Galway having, on the 28th of
February, 1643, through the contrivance of Jonakin Lynch, the earl of
Clanricarde's tenants there, the carelessness of the warders, and the
management of a Franciscan friar, been surprised by captain Thomas
Burke, of Anbally, the acquisition or such a place of such strength and
importance at once determined their future proceedings. Colonel Burke
declared against the fort, and called upon the several gentlemen of the
country to levy forces for the purpose of besieging it. Accordingly, in
April, 1643, Francis and John Bermingham, son and grand-son of lord
Athenry, Sir Ulick Burke, Hubert Burke of Dunamon, Redmond, Rickard and
Thomas Burke of Kilcornan, Derrymacloghny and Anbally, the three Teige
Kellys of Gallagh, Aughrim and Mullaghmore, Sir Valentine Blake, Sir
Roebuck Lynch, and other principal gentlemen of the county, took up
arms, and marched with considerable strength towards Galway. Colonel
Burke put himself at their head, and about the latter end of that month
began to inclose the fort at a distance, and fortify some passages
towards the sea, to hinder any relief from that quarter. He invested it
with upwards of a thousand men, and posted a body of troops at
Clare-Galway and Athenry, to prevent any movement which might be
attempted by lord Clanricarde. Provisions becoming scarce in the fort,
captain Willoughby who, on his part, was not inactive, dispatched a
party of fifty men to make booty in Iar-Connaught: they were discovered
by the town, who sent some companies to lie between them and their
boats, and most of them were cut off. In the beginning of May the siege
was pushed on with vigor; the town undertaking to defray the expense,
and supply the forces which were drawn out of the country and the county
of Mayo for that purpose. Two bulwarks and batteries were erected; one
on the point of St. Mary's church in the west, called Rintinane; and the
other on the opposite point of Rinmore; and a chain was drawn across the
harbour to hinder access by the sea. Lord Clanricarde was unable to
afford any relief.
Rear-admiral Brooke, in the ship Providence, arrived in the bay in
the beginning of June, with provisions and arms for the fort; but the
batteries on the points of Rinmore and Rintinane hindered him from
approaching. He endeavoured in the night to throw in supplies, but his
long boats, being met by those of the town, were forced to retire.
Captain Willoughby, being thus disappointed of succour, desired
permission from colonel Burke to deliver the fort to lord Clanricarde;
but this, in the moment of success, he refused to agree to, on any other
terms than that his lordship should take the oath of union or
association, and not dispose of the place without the consent of the
several persons under-named.[l]
These terms the earl, with that consistency and loyalty which always
marked his proceedings and character, totally rejected. Willoughby was
then forced to treat for a surrender to the confederates. Articles
having been accordingly agreed upon and signed,
[m] he surrendered that important fortress on the
20th of June, and also the castle of Oranmore, without the knowledge or
consent of lord Clanricarde. The time of the surrender happened
fortunately for the confederates; for on the following day, three large
ships arrived in the bay with assistance. Captain Willoughby and his men
embarked on Sunday, the 25th June, in the Bonaventure, commanded by
vice-admiral Swanlea, the Providence, commanded by rear-admiral Brooke,
two pinnaces and a barque sent them by the town;
[n] thus leaving, by his misconduct, the second fort
of importance in the kingdom in the hands of the confederate forces, who
soon after caused it to be demolished, by order of the supreme council.
The town declares in favour of the Irish, and against the parliament
The rejoicings in Galway, on the surrender and demolition of the
fort, were excessive; public prayers and thanksgiving were offered up
for this signal event and happy deliverance from its troublesome and
dangerous neighbour. On the 6th of August they threw open their gates to
the Irish, and immediately after raised three hundred pounds to enable
them to lay siege to Castle-Coote, in the county of Roscommon, which,
with lord Clanricarde's towns of loughrea and Portumna, were the only
places of strength that held out in the province.
Several fortifications built
Although the town was thus freed from exterior annoyance, the
inhabitants wisely foresaw, from the unsettled and turbulent state of
the times,- that many serious troubles were likely to follow. They,
therefore, resolved to be prepared against any future hostile attempts
which might be made, and, accordingly, before the end of the year 1643,
finished the east and south-east rampart, beginning at the great bulwark
of the east gate, and extending from thence round to the little bridge
which led to St. Augustine's abbey, together with the wall commencing at
the works erected in the mayoralty of William Martin, and leading from
thence, in a south-east direction, to the point of Cean-na-bhalla, at
the quay. For some years after this period several considerable
additions were made to the fortifications. In 1645 the strong bulwark
about Lyons-tower was built as well to protect the abbey of St. Francis
as to guard the little gate. The flanker about the new tower, and also
that adjoining Lyons-tower, with the wall and ramparts, were completed
in 1647, under the superintendence of the mayor and Walter Joes, for the
defence of the town walls, and of the shipping in the pool. These works
were soon after furnished with twelve heavy pieces of cannon, consisting
of four brass and four iron of twelve, and four iron of eighteen pound
ball, which were purchased in France by the direction of the
corporation, and brought over by Francis D'Arcy. The gates were all
repaired, and the new flanker outside the east gate was built in 1649.
The following year the rampart and bastions, from thence to Kirwan's
tower, were completed, which finished the line of fortifications round
the town, and rendered it, particularly for defence, the most
considerable in the kingdom.
The affairs of the confederates proceeded prosperously in Connaught,
until the defeat and slaughter by Sir Charles Coote, of the titular
archbishop of Tuam in 1645, in his attempt to recover Sligo. The
important consequences which followed this event, particularly that
attending the discovery, among the archbishop's papers, of an authentic
copy of the famous private treaty between Charles I. and the earl of
Glamorgan, are fully detailed in all the histories of this period; but
the subjoined dispatch, from the abbot of Kilmannock to the warden of
Galway, contains a more satisfactory account of the affair itself than
is elsewhere to be found.
[o] During all the vicissitudes of these unhappy
times, the town steadily adhered to its original declaration of
allegience to the king, which it embraced every opportunity of publicly
testifying. An offensive publication, intitled "Dis putatio apologetica
de jure regni, &c." was about this time written and published by Connor
O'Mahony, an Irish Jesuit, at Lisbon: its principal intention was to
recommend the separation of Ireland from England, and to stimulate the
descendants of the old Irish to choose a king of their own nation, and
throw off the English yoke. This book was condemned by the supreme
council at Kilkenny
[p] and ordered to be burned; but the mayor,
sheriffs, burgesses and commonalty of Galway previously assembled on the
subject, and published a declaration, expressing their abhorrence of
these pernicious doctrines. This document, which contains a
manifestation of their then principles, is, for its curious import and
singularity of expression, laid before the reader.
[q] About the same time the corporation farmed, from
the commissioners-general of Connaught, for two thousand four hundred
pounds, the excise, thirds and rents arising out of the town and county,
for they ear ending the 1st May, of 1648: the principal part of the
money was immediately advanced, and the remainder stipulated to be paid
within a few months. Trade seemed on the increase; and the town, amidst
the grievous troubles which agitated the remainder of the kingdom,
enjoyed for a while a reasonable portion of peace and security.
Tumults in the town, occasioned by the pope's nuncio on the question
of the cessation
The assembly at Kilkenny having found it necessary to conclude a
cessation of arms with lord Inchiquin, president of Munster, Rinuncini,
the Pope's nuncio, immediately published a declaration against it. From
this the assembly appealed, and was supported by a great body of the
clergy of the kingdom, together with the army under the command of the
marquis of Clanricarde, lord Taaffe and general Preston. In vain the
nuncio fulminated his excommunications; his measures and party fell into
discredit. In this dilemma he sought refuge in Galway, where he had some
abettors, particularly the warden and others, whom his presence and
exhortations stimulated to open acts of violence and commotion. The
mayor was desirous to proclaim the cessation, but was prevented by the
populace, who forced their way into his house, and wrestled the ensigns
of authority from his hands; but this insolence occasioned such a
tumult, that, had they not been immediately restored by the very hand
that took them. the consequences would have been lamentable; and, even
as it was, two or three men were killed. The carmelite friars, shewing
some resistance against this proud ecclestiastic, their dwelling was
assaulted by night, and their persons abused. In a fit of rage he
ordered their bell to be pulled down, and placed two priests at the
entry to their chapel, to keep the people from resorting there to
prayers. Those who favoured the cessation were declared under censure;
the churches were closed, and all divine offices interdicted. In this
state was the town, when the archbishop of Tuam, who declared against
these measures, arrived. Having desired to see the nuncio's power for
assuming such authority, he refused to produce it, whereupon the prelate
told him to his face that he would not obey: "Ego," answered the nuncio,
"non ostendam:" "et Ego," replied the archbishop, "non obediar ;" and he
immediately after caused the church doors to be opened by force. The
nuncio, finding himself thus opposed, summoned a synod to meet in Galway
on the 15th of August; but the council forbidding the clergy to attend,
and ordering all civil and military officers to stop their passage, they
were unable to meet. Lord Clanricarde having been, in the mean time,
reinforced by Inchiquin, laid siege to the town on the 14th of August,
and, hindering all access of provisions by land or water, the promoters
of those violent proceedings, unprepared for a siege, were forced, about
the 4th of September following, to surrender. They were then put under
articles to proclaim the cessation, pay a considerable sum of money, and
renounce the nuncio, who, thus finding all his measures frustrated, took
shipping at Galway, on the 23d of February following, and departed from
the kingdom.
The town advances money to the state
The English and Irish armies being now united, under the command of
the marquis of Ormonde, Galway advanced him five thousand pounds
[r] on the security of the customs of the town, in
aid of his intended campaign against the parliamentary forces. Upon this
occasion his lordship knighted Walter Blake, the mayor.
Grateful acknowledgements of Charles II
The melancholy news of the king's violent death soon after reached
the town, and was received with every manifestation of sorrow. His
successor, Charles II., was immediately proclaimed with the greatest
solemnity. The mayor had afterwards the satisfaction of receiving the
following letter from his majesty.
"Charles R.
"Trusty and well-beloved, we greete you well. Wee have been duly
informed of the loyalltye and good affection that you and the cittie
of Galway have expressed to us at all tymes, but especiallye of late,
when others have soe shamefully betrayed the trust we reposed in them,
by resigning themselves into the hands and power of the rebells: wee
do Ibte not but you will constantly continue the same loyalltie to us,
with due care for the preservation of our just authority amongst you;
and for your encouragement therein, wee assure you that wee are not
only truly sensible of what you have alreadye done for our service,
but as that cittie of Galway is one of the principal citties that hath
eminently continued their loyalltye and devotion to us, soe shall we
in due time conferre such priviledges and favour upon you as may be
lasting monuments of your deserving above others, and of our
particular grace and acceptation thereof, and soe wee bid you
farewell.-Given at our court in Jersey, the 4th day of Februarye,
1649, in the second year of our raigne.[s]
"To our trusty and well beloved the mayor and aldermen of our
cittie of Gallwaye."
The day this communication was received in Galway was one of the last
days of its greatness and prosperity. For upwards of a century after
this period, war, pestilence and persecution, succeeding each other in
rapid and melancholy succession, afflicted its devoted community, and
reduced this once opulent, populous and respectable town to the most
unenviable situation. Since the commencement of the civil commotions, a
degree of insubordination and licentiousness had prevailed amongst the
inhabitants, which it was not in the power of the magistracy either to
suppress or control; and vices, before unheard of and unknown, and
indeed incompatible with the integrity and simplicity of former manners,
were now become prevalent and familiar.
[t]
Dreadful plague in the town
The population of the town had also increased considerably, several
persons from the country flocking in with their families and property
for protection; and in this crowded state was the place when the plague
made its appearance, in the month of July, 1649, and continued to rage
with unabated violence until the end of April following, during which
time it swept away upwards of three thousand seven hundred of the
inhabitants, including two hundred and ten of the most respectable
burgesses and freemen with their families. Those who survived or escaped
the contagion gradually left the town, as the only means of
preservation, until it was almost entirely deserted of its inhabitants.
They assembled in the country; and, having made a collection of two
thousand marks to pay physicians and provide necessarles for the sick,
they formed a committee of health, whose judicious measures and
assiduity finally succeeded in eradicating the infection. An entry of
this memorable visitation, made in the corporation book in the year
1650, concludes with these words: "It is to be ever remembered how our
Saviour, out of the abundance of his mercy, hath, about our Lady's day
in lent last, freed and cleared this town and all the inhabitants
thereof from the said sickness, so as they have returned to their own
dwellings and ever since do inhabit them with as much security as ever
before."
Marquis of Ormond takes shipping in Galway, and leaves the kingdom
The town was no sooner freed from this dreadful visitation, than it
became again involved in all the distracting politics of the times. The
marquis of Ormond, having determined upon leaving the kingdom, arrived
here in the beginning of December, accompanied by lord Inchiquin,
colonels Vaughan, Wogan, Warren, and about twenty other persons of
distinction, all of whom sailed from Glaneinagh, in the bay, on board
the Elizabeth. of Jersey, a small frigate of twentyfour guns, and, after
a hard passage of three weeks, landed at Perose, in Basse Bretagne. At
the same time, a large Dutch ship, called the Seven Stars, sailed from
Kilcolgan, which arrived at another port in France. The marquis of
Clanricarde, who succeeded as lord deputy, soon after he arrived in
town, and knighted the mayor, Sir Oliver Oge French; but he
could not, however, prevail on the inhabitants to admit a garrison, or
any number of troops, but what should be entirely under their own
control.
Negotiations with the Duke of Lorraine
In the latter end of February, Stephen de Henin, abbe of St.
Catherine, and ambassador of the duke of Lorrain, arrived in the bay of
Galway, with offers of assistance and relief for the nation. The marquis
of Clanricarde, as soon as he was apprised of his coming, repaired to
Tirellan, and appointed a committee, composed of bishops, nobility and
the gentry then in the town, to treat with him; but on ascertaining his
proposals, which were, that the duke, his master and his successors,
should be accepted as protectors of Ireland, with royal powers, and that
some towns should be put into his hands, as security for what he should
expend in recovering the kingdom, the lord deputy, with strong
expressions of resentment, totally rejected them, as entirely
derogratory to the king's honor and authority, and, preparing to depart
from Tirellan, refused the abbe even an audience of leave. This
reception so intimidated the ambassador, that he immediately changed his
conditions, and consented to advance twenty thousand pounds on the
security of the city of Limerick and town of Galway, without any other
stipulation. To this the marquis assented, referring all articles
relative to the protectorship to be adjusted by a treaty at Brussels,
which was to be managed by the queen, the duke of York and lord Ormond.
He then issued a warrant of freedom to the town,
[u]> and articles of agreement were concluded between
the ambassador and the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses and commonalty, by
which it was covenanted that the town should be governed according to
its charters, be free from any imposition of taxes by the duke, or pay
of his soldiery, secure in their persons, goods, lands, estates and
possessions, upon which if any injury should be committed, full
reparation should be made; and, finally, that the town should not be
liable to repay the twenty thousand pounds or any part thereof, except
its just proportion. Sir Nicholas Plunket and Geoffrey Browne, Esq.,
were dispatched by the lord deputy to Brussels, with directions to
conclude the treaty in conjunction with lord Taaffe. How this afiair was
conducted and ended, may be found in all the histories of those times.
They entered into articles with the duke, contrary to the directions
which they had received. The lord deputy made a formal protest against
this unwarrantable proceeding; and Lorrain, taking the opportunity, from
some private unexplained reasons, put an end to the treaty.
The town besieged by the parliamentary forces under Sir Charles
Coote
Whilst this hollow negociation was going forward, the parliamentary
forces proceeded with rapid strides towards the conquest of the kingdom.
Preston, the gallant Irish commander, betrayed and gradually defeated in
every other quarter, finally threw himself with a few troops into
Galway, where he was intrusted with the chief command, and honored with
the title of governor. The town was soon after invested by Sir Charles
Coote and commissary-general Reynolds and was quickly reduced to a state
of blockade. The castles of Tirellan, Oranmore and Clare-Galway were
taken; and on the 12th of August, 1651, the enemy pitched their camp
between Lough-a-thalia and Suckeen, within a few hundred yards of the
walls. Limerick having surrendered on the 27th of October, a council of
war was held by Ireton, to determine whether he should immediately march
with his army towards Galway. The general himself and several officers
were for this measure; but others complaining of the ill condition of
their men, through sickness and severe service, and the near approach of
winter, it was resolved that, for the present, they should summon the
town to accept the conditions originally tendered to Limerick.
Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th of November, dispatches arrived
from the lord deputy for the governor, (inclosing letters also to the
mayor and inhabitants), in which, after some pointed reflections, he
informs him that if he shall freely communicate the proposals to the
town's-people, and be himself "waving the frivolous impertinences of a
soldier's honor or humor rather," inclined to capitulate, he might then
expect to partake in the benefit of the conditions; but that if he
smothered or suppressed them, he might be sure that his head would pay
for the trouble or mischief that should follow.
[x] Enraged at this threat, Preston, on the 12th,
returned an angry answer of defiance, telling Ireton that the "heads of
those with him were as unsettled on their shoulders as any he knew of
within the town." The communication for the inhabitants was artfully
contrived to create distrust of the garrison; but the example of
Limerick operated more powerfully; they seemed inclined to yield, and
accordingly desired to know the particulars of the conditions which he
proposed. In the mean time, Preston, dreading the event of a surrender,
by which his life would be endangered, took shipping in the bay, and
went to France. Before any further negociation could take place, Ireton
died in Limerick, of the plague, on the 29th of November, and was
succeeded in command by lieutenant-general Ludlow. On the death of this
"gloomy republican," a momentary gleam of hope passed over the
desponding minds of the inhabitants of Galway, and they again determined
on the most vigorous resistance. About the beginning of December Coote
again proposed the conditions offered to Limerick, but they declined the
treaty. Hostilities warmly commenced, and continued with various success
on both sides, until some reverses experienced by the town, changed the
face of affairs. Being in a state of strict blockade, and provisions
beginning to grow scarce, about eighty of the inhabitants went privately
out of the town, and seizing one hundred head of cattle, designed to
drive them in, but being met on their return by a party of the enemy,
upwards of sixty were killed, and the cattle retaken. This
disappointment was followed by another much greater; for two vessels
laden with corn, endeavouring to get into the harbour, were pursued by
two parliamentary frigates, who took one, and forced the other on the
rocks, near the islands of Arran, where she was lost.
[y] These disasters were considerably heightened by
the increased population of the town, which was crowded by multitudes of
the nobility, clergy, and other persons of rank and interest in the
kingdom, who flocked hither as their last place of refuge and safety.
Meetings were frequently held to deliberate upon the state of affairs,
at which the marquis of Clanricarde generally presided; and it was at
length resolved, when too late, that proposals should be made for a
general pacification and settlement of the kingdom. Accordingly
dispatches to that effect were sent by the marquis to general Ludlow, on
the 14th of February, requiring at the same time, a safe conduct for
commissioners to carry on the treaty. To these proposals Ludlow, on the
24th, returned a vague and indefinite answer, merely informing him that
the settlement of the nation belonged to the parliament, who he was
assured would not capitulate with those who ought to be in submission,
and stood in opposition to their authority; but "if the Lord inclined
their hearts to submission, such moderate terms would be consented to,
as men in their condition could reasonably expect." submission here
intimated may easily be conceived to have meant little else than an
absolute surrender of their lives and liberties to the mercy of the
besiegers. The great council (as they were still called) again assembled
within the town, and resolved to propose a cessation of arms, and demand
a licence for commissioners to repair to the parliament in England.
These proposals having been also rejected,
[z] the principal part of the nobility and men of
rank, then in the town, took shipping in the bay, and left the kingdom
in despair.
Its strenuous defence and final surrender
Thus circumstanced, the inhabitants unanimously resolved to sell
their lives as dearly as they could. Every preparation, both offensive
and defensive, was vigorously made; the fortifications were refitted;
communication with the country was renewed, and succours contracted for,
which would have enabled them to protract the war, and even render its
issue in some degree doubtful. These preparations, though they excited
the alarm and raised the fears of the enemy, had, however, no other
effect than that of rendering them more inclinable to terms of
accommodation. The great dearth of provisions, which now threatened the
besieged with all the horrors of approaching famine, at length obliged
them to submit to a treaty of capitulation with Coote. Commissioners on
both sides were appointed; and the conditions originally offered to
Limerick, by Ireton, were now made the basis of the articles, which were
finally agreed upon, and signed on the 5th of April, 1652. By these
articles, the town, forts, fortifications, &c. were to be delivered up
to Sir Charles Coote for the parliament on the 12th instant; all persons
within the town were to depart with their goods to any other part of the
nation, or beyond the seas. The same time was allowed the clergy to quit
the kingdom; and all those comprized in the second article were to have
an indemnity for past offences, except Dominick Kirwan and others who
were concerned in the attack on captain Clarke's ship on the l9th of
March, 1641. The inhabitants were to enjoy their estates to them and
their heirs for ever, in all houses, castles, lands, &c. within the town
and the old and new liberties, with liberty to let and set same, but, in
case of sale, to pay a third part of the price to the state of England.
They were to be charged with no contribution but in proportion with
other cities and towns, and were to enjoy two parts of their real
properties in all places within the state's dominion, but subject to
regulations for remuneration when contiguous to castles, fortifications
or streights. Upon surrender of the town, they were to enter into, and
enjoy all their real estates, until persons should be appointed by the
parliament to dispose of one third thereof for its use; and the
composition of five thousand pounds, insisted upon for the third part of
their goods and chattels, was referred to commissioners for remittal or
mitigation. The corporation charter and privileges were guaranteed, and
liberty to trade provided for. All prisoners, natives or inhabitants of
Galway, or the islands of Arran, were to be liberated without ransom;
and all ship goods or merchandize, taken by land or sea, going to, or
coming from the town, were to be restored. A breach of the articles was
to be deemed only the act of the person committing it. The lord
president, Coote, was to procure them to be ratified and confirmed,
within twenty days by the commissioners, and also to be secured by an
act of parliament. Sir Valentine Blake, Sir Oliver Ffrcncll, John Blake,
esq. and Dominick Blake, were to be delivered as hostages; and, finally,
the new castle at Tirellan and the fort in Mutton-island were to be
surrendered by twelve o'clock at noon on the day following.
[aa] These were the conditions upon which the town of
Galway surrendered to the parliamentary forces, and which will for ever
remain an idelible memorial of the perseverance and bravery of its
inhabitants, who, after a siege of nine months, during which they
suffered every human privation, at length succeeded in obtaining such
articles as, if honorably observed, would have had no other effect on
the town than that of transferring its allegience to the then ruling
power; but how flagitiously they were afterwards infringed in every
particular, as will appear in the sequel.
Sir Charles Coote, without delay, transmitted an account of his
proceedings to the commissioners of the parliament in Dublin, for their
approbation. His dispatches arrived on the 11th of April at the castle,
and, though it was then the hour of midnight, a council of war was
immediately summoned. The articles were taken into consideration, and,
having been unanimously considered as too favorable to the besieged,
several resolutions were entered into, which were almost entirely
subversive of their spirit and meaning. The result of this conference
was dispatched back that night, in order, if at all practicable, to
prevent the ratification of the treaty, or if it should, in the mean
time, be concluded, to have their counter-resolutions, explanatory of
its meaning, signed as soon after as possible; but they arrived too late
for the former purpose, and the latter was justly rejected by the
inhabitants, as an open violation and infringement of the articles. The
town was surrendered on the 12th, and the colonel Peter Stubbers marched
in with two companies of foot. The commissioners at Dublin exculpated
themselves to the council of state and parliament in England from having
consented to the articles, but, at the same time, stated that Sir
Charles Coote, in granting them, had, in their judgment, acted very
faithfully, and conceived that what he consented to was for the service
of the state; and, if he had not made those concessions, there was great
possibility that more troops would be brought into the town, which would
have kept all the forces in those parts occupied during the summer. From
the moment the articles were signed, it was resolved to violate them.
Coote informed the commissioners, that if the parliament ordered that no
Irish or Papists should be permitted to reside in any garrison in
Ireland, he was sure the inhabitants of Galway would declare themselves
bound by such a law, and that they would not insist upon the articles.
By these and similar contrivances they were gradually evaded, not,
however, without leaving a perpetual stain of the character of the then
unprincipaled rulers of the country.
Cruel proceedings against the inhabitants
With feelings of the deepest emotion, the attention of the reader
will now be turned towards the state of affairs within this devoted and
unhappy though once prosperous and flourishing town, whose inhabitants
were the first in Ireland that took up arms in defence of their religion
and king, and the last, either in Great Britain or Ireland, that laid
them down. The surrender was followed by a famine throughout the
country, by which multitudes perished. This was again succeeded by a
plague, which carried off thousands both in the town and the surrounding
districts; so that the severest vengeance of heaven seemed now to have
been poured down on the heads of this devoted community. Many, driven to
despair by the severities inflicted upon them, instead of avoiding the
pestilence, sought refuge in death from their merciless persecutors.
This dreadful visitation continued for two years, during which upwards
of one-third of the population of the province was swept away, and those
who survived were doomed to undergo sufferings to which even death
itself was preferable. Col. Stubbers, who was appointed military
governor of the town upon its surrender, under pretence of taking up
vagrants and idle persons, made frequent nightly excursions, with armed
troops into the country, and seized upwards of a thousand people, often
without discrimination of rank or condition, whom he transported to the
West Indies, and there had sold as slaves.[bb]
But the town was the great scene of persecution. Immediately after the
surrender, a contribution, amounting to four hundred pounds monthly, was
imposed contrary to the articles, which terminated in the total ruin of
the inhabitants. This excessive charge was exacted with the utmost
severity. An author who was then in the town relates,[cc]
that unless it was paid to the last farthing, at a certain hour, every
Saturday, of which notice was then given by beat of drum or sounding of
trumpets, the soldiers rushed to the houses of the inhabitants, and,
with their muskets pointed to the breasts of the inmates, threatened
them with immediate death, unless paid whatever they thought proper to
demand; and when, from the continual payments, the town's people were
unable any longer to discharge it, such articles of household furniture
as the soldiery could find, even to the clothes of the women, were
seized, and sold in the market-place for whatever they would bring; so
that, according to this author, the return of Saturday, being the period
of payment and visitation, seemed to the inhabitants to realize the idea
rormed of the day of judgment. the sounding of the trumpets striking
them with almost equal terror.
Licentiousness of the soldiery
Henceforth the most violent acts of oppression and injustice openly
took place without any control. The king's arms and every other emblem
of royalty were torn down; upwards of fifty of the Catholic clergy were
shipped to the islands of Arran and Bophin, until they could be
transported to the West Indies; and, being allowed but two pence a day
each for their support, they were nearly famished. The churches and
abbies were converted into stables for the dragoons, the chalices and
sacred vessels used as drinking cups, and the old and valuable libraries
of the clergy burnt or sold to the shops. The mayor and aldermen, though
expressly protected by the articles, were repeatedly abused and dragged
to prison, for daring to remonstrate with the licentious soldiery, who
set no bounds to their brutality and violence
[dd]
Unjust measures of the rulers in Dublin, contrary to the articles of
surrender - The corporation new modelled
The inhabitants having repeatedly, but in vain, appealed to the
governor against these atrocities, at length ventured to represent their
grievances to the commissioners in Dublin:[ee]
they received, however, such replies as shewed they were to expect no
relief from that quarter. After several specious and evasive answers, to
preserve the appearance of justice, orders of reference were made to the
very persons complained of: they were finally informed that the articles
of surrender, being still under consideration in England, could not be
interfered with; and they were thus dismissed, to undergo even worse
treatment than before for at all presuming to complain.
In the mean time the state was not inattentive to the security of the
town. The east and west citadels were built, and several new works added
to the east fortifications. It also appears that the very men who were
hourly violating all the laws of religion and humanity, with their usual
consistency of character, now considered it necessary to erect a
meeting-house "for the service of GOD," the expenses of which they took
care should be defrayed by applotment on the Catholic inhabitants. The
question concerning the articles of surrender having been at length
decided in England against them, contrary to the public faith, and to
every law of nature and nations, the final destruction of the
inhabitants was now determined upon. The first step taken was to
extinguish the old corporation; and accordingly upon a petition from the
English "Protestant inhabitants" of the town, an order was made by the
council of state, on the 25th of October, 1654, that the mayor and other
chief officers should be "English and Protestants," and in case the then
mayor or other chief officers were "Irish Or Papists," that they should
be removed. This order was immediately carried into execution; and
Thomas Lynch Fitz-Ambrose, the mayor, John Blake, the recorder, and
Richard Lynch and Anthony French Fitz-Peter, the sheriffs, were deposed;
and, in their place, colonel Peter Stubbers, the governor, was appointed
mayor, Robert Clarke recorder, and Paul Dodd and Marcus Lynch FitzThomas
[ff] sheriffs. The English soldiers were next made
free, and the old members of the corporation finally disfranchised.
The ancient inhabitants turned out of the town, and the houses
destroyed
This measure was only the prelude to others more serious: it was next
determined to banish all the native inhabitants out of the town, and to
supply their place with an English colony. An order was accordingly made
by the lord deputy and council, on the 23d of July, 1655, that all-
persons who claimed or had any right to any houses or other real estate,
within or contiguous to the town, being popish recusants, should remove
themselves and their families thereout before the 1st of November then
ensuing, being paid, pursuant to the articles their full value; and in
case they should refuse or neglect to do so, the officers and soldiers
were required to remove them.
[gg] Before the time limited for compliance with this
ordinance had expired, another was issued more immediate in its
operation; for "the state taking into consideration the extraordinary
strength of the town, and the great intercourse the inhabitants had for
many ages with the dominions of the king of Spain, and conceiving it
probable that the Spaniard might entertain more than common hopes from
that circumstance, under colour of giving succour to the king of the
Scots," (Charles II.) they accordingly, on the 30th of October, ordered,
"that all the Irish and other popish inhabitants should be forthwith
removed out of thr town, in order that accommodation should be provided
for such English Protestants, whose integrity to the State would entitle
them to be trusted in a place of such importance." This order was
carried into effect by Coote, the lord president, with unrelenting
severity.[hh]
The wretched inhabitants, without distinction of rank or sex, except a
few who were oppressed by sickness and years, were driven out of the
town in the midst of winter, (which was, at the time, peculiarly
severe,) and were forced to take shelter by the ditches and in poor
cabins in the country, without fire or sufficient clothing, in
consequence of which many fell victims to the uncommon inclemency of the
season. Thus deprived of its inhabitants, who were succeeded only by
soldiery, the town presented the appearance of a military camp, without
either order or regularity, and soon fell to decay. The superb houses,
which, in the language of the Annals, were fit "to lodge kings and
princes," and are described as the best built and most splendidly
furnished of any in the kingdom, were seized upon and occupied by the
lowest of the populace, until they were completely ruined. The trifling
trade which recently remained had now entirely ceased; and the town,
thus circumstanced, resembled a rich bee-hive plundered of its
treasures, while its industrious people lay smothered and destroyed.
Plans of the government relative to Galway
The work of destruction being thus complete, the ruinous situation to
which this unfortunate town was now reduced, at length forced itself on
the attention of the governing party; and an expedient was soon devised,
which it was supposed would remedy all that had been done. An act was
passed in the parliament of England, on the 17th of September, 1656,
"for the ascertaining and effectual setting out of lands and houses in
Ireland, in consideration of losses sustained by Anthony Edwards and
others, the well-affected inhabitants of the city of Gloucester," during
the siege which that city sustained against the royal forces in 1642.
The intentions of this act not being yet carried into execution, Henry
Cromwell, the lord deputy, embraced this as a favourable opportunity for
planting Galway with English settlers, to whom the forfeited lands and
houses could be disposed to the amount of £10,000. being the
compensation to be made to Gloucester. Having accordingly consulted the
council in Dublin on the subject, he forwarded dispatches to England on
the 7th of April, wherein, after stating that the public would suffer
considerably, if some speedy and effectual course were not immediately
taken for planting the town of Galway, he adds, "His highness hath too
perfect an understanding of that place, as wee need not add much;
howbeit we may be bold to say, that for the situation thereof, voisenage
and commerce it hath with Spaine, the strayts, West Indies and other
places, noe town or port in the three nations (London excepted) was more
considerable, nor, in all probability, would more encourage trade abroad
or manufactures at home, than this, if well improved. It is a town made
very defensive both by art and nature, and consists of many noble
buildings, uniform, and most of them of marble, which that country hath
plenty of; yet by reason of the late horrid rebellion and generall waste
then and since made by the impoverisht English inhabiting there, many of
the houses are become very ruinous; and inasmuch as there appears more
encouragement for this new plantation than formerly (for that no
Irish are permitted to live in the citty, or within three miles thereof,
the better to accomodate the inhabitants with conveniences, the place
becomes better secured,) and merchants have more hopeful gain by trade,
than when the interest of the towne was in the Irish and other Papists
that lived there." It was then proposed that the town and lands about
is, and other lands near Athlone, and at Ballinrobe, in Mayo, or such
part as should be thought fit, should be sold to the corporation of
Gloucester, by whom the town could be colonized; and he concluded by
recapitulating the many advantages which would result from such an
undertaking. The project was favorably received by Cromwell, and agreed
to by the citizens of Gloucester, who sent over doctor Thomas Clarges,
as their agent, to transact the business.
Decay of town
Lands and houses valued and sold
A survey of the forfeited lands was accordingly made,[ii]
of which Dr. Clarges was put into possession. The several forfeited
houses in the town were also surveyed and valued by captain William Webb
and James Hinds;
[kk] and although they were, on the 17th of February,
1657, declared to be in the real and actual possession of Anthony
Edwards and Thomas Whitcome, in trust for the purposes contained in the
Gloucester act, yet no immediate exertions were made to promote the
plantation. But Cromwell having, just about that time, ordered that
another sum of £ 10,000. which had been formerly allowed the town of
Liverpool for its losses in the parliamentary interest, should be
satisfied out of the remainder of the houses in Galway, the lord deputy
again pressed the subject of the colonization and improvement of the
town, as well on the inhabitants of Liverpool as those of Gloucester. He
represented to them, that for building, situation and strength, the town
was of very great importance to the security of the nation; and was most
advantageously situated for trade, having the sea open, and free for
Spain, the Straits, the Indies and other places; and that, before the
rebellion, it was inhabited by many wealthy and flourishing inhabitants;
and that it would concern them to use their utmost diligence for
speedily planting the place with English Protestants, by whom the
houses, then ruinous, might be repaired, and commerce, which was then
utterly decayed, might be revived. The reader may anticipate that all
these designs proved abortive; the wished-for plantation never took
place, having been perhaps only prevented by the unexpected and happy
revolution which immediately afterwards followed.
Total decay of the town at the time of the Restoration.
The appalling scene of atrocities, hitherto opened to the view of the
reader, is now drawing to a close. On the 15th of September, 1658,
Richard Cromwell was proclaimed lord protector in Galway, with great
rejoicings. The contemptible corporation of the day, having no more
victims to persecute, began to quarrel amongst themselves; and their
disputes became so violent that the government was obliged to interfere,
and threatened to annul the charter, and abolish their privileges. On
the 7th of August, 1659, an order issued to apprehend lord Clanricarde,
Sir Richard Blake, and the other principal gentlemen of the county; and
on the 22d, colonel Thomas Sadlier, the governor, was ordered to remove
"all the Irish Papists" out of the town and liberties, and not permit
them to return without licence from the commander of the forces. Other
instances of persecution afterwards occurred, but they gradually
decreased, both in number and severity; and some appearance of
moderation and justice was finally introduced, and for a while
established, by the restoration.
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