The Gatehouse website record of a grant of murage for Galway granted 14/7/1578

Galway was given a grant of murage dated 14/7/1578.

This was in the form of:-

Surtax:- {forever}
Other aid:-Borough Charter

Wording

{From Hardiman}
Charter of Q. Elizabeth to the town of Galway.
Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, Queen, defender of the faith, &c. : To all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. We have inspected letters patent of our most dear brother, our Lord Edward the Sixth, late king of England, to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway, in our kingdom of Ireland, the tenor whereof follows in these words:—
Edward the Sixth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, king, defender of ihe faith, and of the church of England and Ireland, on earth supreme head : To all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. We have inspected patents of our Lord, Henry the Eighth, late king of England, our most dear father, made in these words.
Henry, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, and of the church of England and Ireland, on earth supreme head: To all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting.
Know ye that whereas, Lord Richard, late king of England, the second after the conquest, having taken into consideration that the town of Galway, in Connaught, which is the key of those parts of his land of Ireland, (in which town all his faithful and liege people, as well strangers as others, resorting to the parts aforesaid, were received, saved, comforted and relieved,) lay exposed on all sides as well to Irish enemies as English rebels, so that the burgesses of the said town and others dwelling therein, and coming thereunto, dare not, without great conduct, come to the said town either by land or by water, or go out of the same to traffic and transact other necessary business, and that the said burgesses, for the safe custody of the said town against the malice of the said enemies and rebels, had continually, day and night, maintained and supported in the said town, divers men for defence, at their own proper charges, to the manifest impoverishment of their estate, in aid of the relief and encouragement of the town aforesaid, and in order that merchants and others might be the more induced and encouraged to dwell and inhabit in the said town, for the better resistance of the malice of the said enemies and rebels; by his letters patent, dated at Dublin, the twenty-sixth day of January, in the nineteenth year of his reign, of his special grace, granted and gave licence, for himself and his heirs, as much as in him lay, to the provost and co-burgesses of the said town of Galway, that they and their heirs and successors, co-burgesses therein, might thenceforth, annually, for ever, from year to year, of their common assent, elect among themselves one sovereign of the said town, and that the said sovereign, when he should be by them so elected, that is to say, after the first election of such sovereign, before the said provost of the said town, and every year afterwards before the sovereign of the said town, in the year last preceding, should take a corporal oath, well and faithfully to rule and govern the town aforesaid, and to maintain the laws of the said late king, and the good customs of the said town, used and approved of, and all other things whatsoever concerning the office of such sovereign, in any such borough, rightly for the good government and benefit of the said town, to do and execute: and moreover, he granted, for himself and his heirs, to the said co-burgesses and their heirs and successors, burgesses there, that no merchant or other person whatsoever, whether foreign or native, of what state or condition soever he should be, who should not be continually resident in the said town, and sworn as a co-burgess of the same, to support and sustain, from time to time, all burthens in the said town as the burgesses themselves do, should thenceforth, within the liberty of the said town, by land or by water, buy or sell any merchandizes or victuals by retail, in any manner whatsoever, except only in gross; and likewise, that they, their heirs and successors, co-burgesses of the said town, should thenceforth, for ever, freely have, enjoy and use in the said town, and elsewhere within the government, power and dominion of the said late king, where they should reach, all and singular the liberties, franchises, jurisdictions, privileges, cognizance of pleas, tolls and free customs, as freely and quietly as the burgesses of his town of Drogheda, on each side of the water daily enjoyed and used, and by the charters of confirmation of him and his predecessors had, or of right ought to have had, as freely and quietly, and in the same manner as the said burgesses of the town of Drogheda had used and enjoyed the same: saving to the lord of the town of Galway aforesaid, and his heirs, the rents, services, fines, amerciaments, issues and other profits to him and the lords of the said town, from the said town and the courts thereof belonging or appertaining, and as they and their ancestors, lords of the said town, more freely and quietly had received, or of right were accustomed to receive the same: and also, he granted for him and his heirs, to the said burgesses of the town of Galway, that although they or their heirs or successors, burgesses of the said town, the liberties, franchises, jurisdictions, privileges, cognizances, tolls and free customs aforesaid, or any of them, in any case whatsoever arising, should thenceforth abuse or not use, that they, the liberties, franchises, jurisdictions, privileges, cognizances, tolls and free custom aforesaid, and every of them, might thenceforth freely use and enjoy, without the hindrance or impediment of him, his heirs or ministers whomsoever, as in said letters is more fully contained.
And whereas also, the aforesaid lord Richard the Second, late king of England, on the 18th day of November, in the nineteenth year of his reign, by other his letters patent in aid of the said town of Galway, (which was situated in the marches between divers his enemies and rebels, as well English as Irish, and by their daily attacks was very much impoverished,) as well for the safety of his faithful people of the said town, to be enclosed with a stone wall, as of the parts adjacent, and in aid of the paving of the said town, granted to his beloved the provost and bailiffs and commonalties of the town of Galway, and their successors, that they might, by themselves, or by those who should be by them thereto deputed, take for all saleable things coming to the said town, by land or by water, or passing from the same, the customs or tolls underwritten; that is to say—
For every pound of ginger for sale one penny,
for every pound of saffron for sale two pence,
for every pound of pepper for sale one farthing,
for every pound of galingale for sale one penny,
for every pound of cloves for sale one penny,
for every pound of grains of paradise for sale one penny,
for all other sorts of spices, of the value of twelve pence, for sale one farthing,
for one hundred pounds of wax for sale six pence,
for one hundred pounds of alum for sale three pence,
for every hide tanned, fresh (green) or salted, and put or to be put into juice in the said town, and without, as far as the island which is called Eniskyreach, one halfpenny,
for every pound of silk for sale three pence,
for every piece of legis for sale four pence,
for every piece of English cloth for sale three pence,
for every piece of Irish linen cloth, containing twelve yards, one halfpenny,
for every hundred weight of iron for sale two pence,
for every bundle of rods of iron for sale one penny,
for every seme of sables for sale one penny,
for one hundred stones of Spanish iron for sale four pence,
for every fotmel of lead for sale one halfpenny,
for one hundred pounds of scroff one penny,
for all kinds of goods, of the value of twelve pence, for sale one farthing,
for one thousand spike-nails for sale one penny,
for every frail of batry for sale eight pence,
for every large kettle or large dish for sale four pence,
for every hundred of butry for sale four pence,
for every ton of wine for sale six pence,
for every pipe of wine for sale three pence,
for every crannock of common malt for sale one penny,
for every crannock of best mult for sale two pence,
for every cramiock of wheat for sale two pence,
for every seme of corn for sale one halfpenny,
for every seme of butter for sale one penny,
for every last of butter for sale one penny,
for every stone of tallow for sale one halfpenny,
for every mease (500) of herrings for sale one halfpenny,
for every crannock of salt for sale one penny,
for every crannock of barley, beans and peas, for sale one penny,
for every crannock of oats and other corn for sale one penny,
for every stone of wool for sale one penny,
for every sack of wool for sale four pence,
for every hide tanned, fresh or salted, for sale one halfpenny,
for all manner of hides of the value of twelve pence, and of other hides of shorlings, for sale one penny,for one hundred wool-fells for sale one penny,
for one hundred lambskins for sale two pence,
for the value of twelve pence of other skins for sale one farthing,
for every horse, of the price of forty shillings and upwards, for sale six pence,
for every pack horse, steer, bull, ox and cow for sale one penny,
for every calf for sale one farthing,
for every large hog for sale one penny,
for every sheep or goat for sale one halfpenny,
for every small hog one halfpenny,
for one hundred rabbit skins for sale two pence,
for one hundred wool-fells for sale three pence,
for every hundred dry fish for sale one halfpenny,
for one horse load of fish for sale two pence,
for every salmon for sale one farthing,
for one thousand eels and merlings for sale one penny,
for every kind of timber and also for carts, small carts and boards, of the value of four shillings, one penny,
for every falcon or hawk for sale one penny,
for every tercel or tercelet for sale one halfpenny,
for every millquern one penny,
for two hand querns one farthing,
for twelve crannocks of coal for sale one penny,
for every stone of butter, hogs lard, tallow and cheese,
for sale one halfpenny,
for every ton of honey for sale eight pence,
for every pipe of salmon for sale eighteen pence,
for every hundredweight of glass for sale one penny,
for every hundred weight of scalphyn or other fish, salt, dry or hard, for sale one penny,
for two thousand onions for sale one penny,
for eight pounds of hemp and flax for sale one penny,
for eight shanes of garlic for sale one farthing,
for every new chest or box, and every thousand dishes and wooden platters, for sale one farthing,
for one hundred pounds of pitch or rosin for sale one halfpenny,
for one hundred gads of steel for sale one halfpenny,
for every kind of ware of the value of twelve pence, of which no mention is above made, one farthing,
for every kind of ware of the value of six shillings and eight pence for sale, not above expressed, one halfpenny, and for every kind of ware of the value of thirteen shillings and four pence for sale, likewise not herein before contained, one penny: and, therefore, he commanded the aforesaid provost, bailiffs and commonalty of the said town of Galway, that they should cause and order the said customs and tolls, and every of them, from day to day, to be levied, collected, received and had in the said town in manner aforesaid. Provided always, that the monies arising therefrom should be faithfully expended on the murage and pavage of the said town, and not otherwise, as in the same letters is more fully contained.
Both which letters patents, and all grants in them contained, the lord Henry, late king of England, our predecessor, by his letters patent, dated at Westminster, the 12th day of March, in the third year of his reign, accepted, approved,, ratified, and to the aforesaid provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, by the tenor of the aforesaid letters, granted and confirmed; as the aforesaid letters reasonably testify, and as the said provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, have always reasonably used and enjoyed the liberties, franchises, jurisdictions, privileges, cognizances, tolls and customs aforesaid, and every of them, as in the said letters of confirmation is likewise fully contained.
And whereas, afterwards, lord Edward the Fourth, our grandfather, late king of England, by his letters patent, dated at Woodstock, the 28th day of August, in the fourth year of his reign, accepted, approved, ratified, and to the sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the said town of Galway and their successors, granted and confirmed all and singular the letters patents aforesaid, and all and singular in them contained, and hath also pardoned, remitted and released unto them all and all manner of actions, demands, and all which to him our said grandfather, against them the said then sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, or their successors, by reason of the premises, or any of them, appertained or could appertain : And moreover, for the greater security of the then sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the said town of Galway, and their successors aforesaid, of his more abundant grace, he granted to them, that they and their successors, all and singular the said customs and tolls specified in the said letters patent, on the 18th day of November aforesaid, to the aforesaid provost, bailiffs and commonalty, as aforesaid, granted, from saleable articles coming to the said town of Galway by land or by water, or passing from the same by themselves or their ministers thereto, to be deputed in this behalf, from time to time, may take, receive, levy, have and retain, freely, quietly, well and peaceably for ever, without the hindrance, impediment or contradiction of his heirs, or other his officers or ministers whomsoever. Provided always, that the monies arising therefrom should be expended on the murage and pavage of the said town, and not otherwise, as aforesaid: And further, for the greater security and safeguard of the said town, the said lord Edward, our grandfather, willed and ordained that no person, of what estate, degree or condition he should be, (his lieutenant and chancellor of our said land wholly excepted,) should in any wise enter our said town, unless by the licence, assent and superintendence of the sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the said town ; as in the said letters of confirmation of our said grandfather is likewise more fully contained.
And whereas also, afterwards, Richard the Third late king of England, by his letters patent, dated at Westminster, the 15th day of December, in the second year of his reign, considering the premises, and that the said town of Galway might the better resist the enemies and rebels aforesaid, of his special grace, ratifying and allowing all and singular the letters patents above recited, and all and singular in them contained, for himself and his heirs, as much as in him lay, accepted, approved, ratified, and to the then sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the said town of Galway confirmed; and also all and all manner of actions and demands, and all which to him, the said king Richard, against them, the said sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, or their successors, by reason of the premises, or any of them appertained or could appertain, he pardoned,remitted and released; and moreover, for the greater security of them, the then sovereign, provost, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and their successors aforesaid, of his more abundant grace granted, that they and their successors, all and singular the aforesaid tolls and customs, specified in the said letters patent, of the I8th day of November, to the aforesaid provost, bailiffs and commonalty as aforesaid, made, from saleable articles coming to the said town of Galway by land or by water, or passing from the same by themselves or their ministers, to be deputed in this behalf, from time to time, may take, receive, levy, have and retain freely, quietly, well and peaceably, for ever, without the impediment or contradiction of him, the said king, his heirs or ministers whomsoever. Provided always, that the monies arising therefrom should be expended on the murage and pavage of the said town, and not otherwise, as aforesaid. And further, for the greater security and safeguard of the town of Galway aforesaid, the same late king willed and ordained, and by the same letters patent gave and granted licence unto the sovereign, provost, bailiffs and commonalty of our said town of Galway, that they might yearly, for ever, of their common assent, elect one mayor and two bailiffs within the said town of Galway, as is accustomed to be done in the town of Bristol, well and laudably to rule and govern the said town of Galway, and the laws and good customs therein, anciently used and approved of, to maintain and administer in all things as was becoming : and also, for die greater security and safeguard of the said town of Galway, he willed and ordained, that no person, of what estate, degree or condition soever he should be, should thenceforth, in any wise, enter the said town of Galway, unless by the licence, assent and superintendence of the said mayor, bailiffs and commonalty of the said town. Further, of his more abundant grace, and for the greater security and safeguard of the said town of Galway, he willed and ordained, and for himself and his heirs, as much as in him lay, granted that, thenceforth, neither the lord M'William, lord of Clanrickarde, nor his heirs, should have any rule or power within the said town of Galway, therein to act, receive, exact, ordain or dispose of any thing by land or by water, as he the said lord and his predecessors were anciently accustomed to receive and exact, without the special licence and by the assent and superintendence of the mayor, bailiffs and commonalty of the said town of Galway, to whom he gave, granted and attributed full power and authority to rule and govern the said town well and laudably in all things, as was becoming, as in his said letters patent is more fully contained.
And we (Henry VIII.) also considering the premises, and towards the aid, relief and comfort of our town of Galway aforesaid, that merchants and others may be the more induced and encouraged to reside and inhabit in the said town,
for the better resisting the malice of all enemies and rebels whomsoever, and especially of those parts; of our special grace, all and singular the letters patents above recited, and all and singular the matters in them contained, ratifying and approving, we do for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, accept, approve and ratify the same, and to the now mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our said town of Galway, their heirs and successors, by the tenor of these presents, we do give, grant and confirm: and also we have pardoned, remitted and released, and by these presents do pardon, remit and release, unto them and every of them, all and all manner of actions and demands, and all which can or may appertain to us, against them the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, or any of them, their or any of their heirs or successors, by reason of the premises, or any of them: and further, for the greater security of the said now mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our said town of Gal way their heirs and successors aforesaid, we do, of our more abundant grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, give and grant unto the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, their heirs and successors, all and singular the liberties, franchises, customs, usages, commodities, profits, matters, tolls, and all other things whatsoever, in the aforesaid several letters patents of the kings aforesaid, and every of them, specified and contained, without any resumption, forfeiture, or destroying of the letters patents aforesaid, or any of them, or of the aforesaid liberties, franchises, privileges, customs, usages, commodities, profits, things tollable, and all other things whatsoever, or any of them notwithstanding. We have likewise granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, our port of Galway aforesaid, and the bay or arm of the sea which enters between the islands of Arren, and from thence runs or flows to our town of Galway aforesaid, and that all ships and boats which enter the port, bay or arm aforesaid, loading and unloading at our town of Galway aforesaid, and no where else within the port, bay or arm aforesaid, nor in any land lying or being near the same, or in any water or rivulet running into the said bay or arm, or flowing from the same, and that the aforesaid burgesses and commonalty, and their heirs and successors for ever, be eased of the toll, lastage, passage, portage, murage, pavage, poundage, and all other customs and usages throughout all our kingdoms and power ; and that every mayor of said town to be elected for the future, shall effectually take and perform the oath accustomed to be taken in that office, before that person who hath been next before him in the office of mayor of the said town, or before two others who have before borne that office in the said town; and that no person or persons, who shall, for the future, import wines in any ship or boat to the quay or port of Galway aforesaid, and there unload the said wines, shall pay prisage for such wines, because prisage has not hitherto been accustomed to be paid there: and that no merchant or merchants, foreign or native, who shall import into, or unload at the said town, or the port or quay of the said town, or export from, or load at the same, any merchandizes or wares, shall pay any customs, poundage or tolls, nor any other thing for the said wares or merchandizes, except only such customs, poundage and tolls, as were accustomed to be paid there in times past for such merchandizes or wares; and that the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of said town, their heirs and successors, and every of them, shall and may load and transport whithersoever they shall please, all and all manner of merchandizes and wares, as well of the staple as otherwise, woollen and linen only excepted, any statute, act or ordinance to the contrary thereof made notwithstanding. We have moreover granted, and do, by these presents, give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid, their heirs and successors, and every of them, all and singular such liberties, usages, jurisdictions, privileges, franchises and customs, cognizance of pleas, as the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Drogheda, on both sides of the water, in our kingdom of Ireland aforesaid, have or had, or reasonably used and enjoyed, as freely and quietly, and after the same manner as the said mayor, sheriffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Drogheda have used and enjoyed the same, without the hindrance, disturbance, molestation, impediment or grievance of us, our heirs or successors, or of the lieutenant deputy of our kingdom of Ireland aforesaid, the justices, sheriffs, escheators, coroners, seneschals, bailiffs or other ministers or officers of us, our heirs or successors whomsoever, or any other whomsoever : saving to us and our heirs, the rents, fee-farms, services, amerciaments, issues and other profits, to us and our ancestors, lords of the town aforesaid, out of the said town and the courts of the same issuing, belonging or appertaining, as we and our ancestors, lords of the town aforesaid, freely and quietly had, or of right ought and were accustomed to receive the same : saving also to us, our heirs and successors, the customs of every last of hides in the port of said town, which is called the cocket, as we have or of right ought to have received the same; saving also to th provost and burgesses of the town of Athenry and their successors, in our said town of Galway, and the port of the same, all and singular such liberties, franchises and privileges, as the provost and burgesses of Athenry aforesaid, or any of them, were or was accustomed or used to have in times past in our said town of Galway, and in the port of the same; these our present letters patent, nor any thing in them contained and specified, in any wise notwithstanding: Although express mention of the true yearly or any other value, or of the certainty of the premises, or any of them, or of other gifts or grants by us, or by any of our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the town of Galway aforesaid, or any of them heretofore made, in these presents, is not made, or any statute, act, ordinance, provision or restriction to the contrary thereof made, published, ordained or provided, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Westminster, the 3d day of July, in the 36th year of our reign.
We also (Edw. VI.) ratifying and approving the letters aforesaid, and all and singular the matters in them contained, do for us and our heirs as much as in us lieth, accept and approve the same, and to our beloved the present mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of Galway aforesaid, and their successors of the said town, by the tenor of these presents, do ratify and confirm, as the said letters do reasonably testify. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Westminster, the 8th day of November, in the third year of our reign.
Know ye that we, (Queen Eliz.) of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, have given, granted, confirmed, ratified and approved, and by these our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give, grant, confirm, ratify and approve unto Peter Lynche, now mayor of our said town of Galway, in our said kingdom of Ireland, John Blake and Francis Martin, now bailiffs of the said town, the burgesses and commonalty of the said town, and their successors for ever, by whatsoever name or names of incorporation, or other name, they, or any of them, in any letters patent of any of our progenitors or predecessors, or in any other manner was or were, at any time, incorporated, called, named or known, all and singular the privileges, franchises, liberties, advantages, jurisdictions, customs, emoluments, forfeitures, prescriptions, uses, usages, cognizances of pleas, honors, dignities, elections, donations, grants, authorities, fines, redemptions, amerciainents, issues, and all other profits and hereditaments whatsoever in the aforesaid letters patents, and in all and singular other letters patent in them inspected and recited, contained, granted, specified and expressed, in as ample manner and form, and as fully, freely and entirely as the said letters patents testify, likewise in as ample manner and form as they or their predecessors, at any time had, or ought to have had, held, occupied, used or enjoyed the same, by reason of any prescription, use or custom, or by reason or pretext of any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever, although they or their predecessors, or any of them, have or hath ill-used or abused the premises or any of them. And moreover, of our more abundant special grace, of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, full power and authority to elect, make, constitute and create yearly, on the Monday next after the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, in the guild-hall or tholsel of the said town, a recorder, coroner, escheator, customer, comptroller of customs, searcher, gauger, and all other officers and ministers whomsoever necessary and convenient within the said town, and the franchises and liberties of the same: and that the said recorder, coroner, escheator, customer, comptroller of customs, searcher, gauger, and all other officers and ministers whomsoever, so by the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors, from time to time, elected, made, constituted and created, and every of them, shall have full power and authority to do and exercise all and singular things which, to the offices and officers aforesaid and every of them, do or ought to appertain or belong, and to receive, have and levy, to their proper use, all and singular fees, regards, commodities and profits whatsoever to the officers aforesaid and every of them appertaining and belonging, as fully, freely and entirely, and in as ample manner and form as any other recorder, coroner, escheator, customer, comptroller of customs, searcher, gauger, or any other such officers or ministers, or any of them, may or can do, exercise, have, receive, levy and enjoy, in any towns, cities, or other places within our said kingdom of Ireland: and that no other recorder, coroner, escheator, customer, comptroller of customs, searcher, gauger, or any other such officers or ministers of us, our heirs or successors, shall enter or in any wise intrude themselves to exercise or have said offices within the town aforesaid, the franchises and liberties thereof. And moreover, of our more ample grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these, our present letters patent, we do for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, full power and authority to give and grant, with the licence of the deputy or governor of our said kingdom of Ireland, from time to time, in writing first obtained, as well in time of war as in time of peace, to all and singular foreign merchants, from time to time coming and willing to come to the said town, for the purpose of merchandizing, and with merchandize, safe and secure conduct and protection to come to the town aforesaid, and return from the same, safely and securely, with their ships, boats, goods and merchandize, freely and quietly, without the impediment, hindrance, claim, molestation or grievance of us, our heirs or successors, or of any lieutenants, deputies, justices or other officers or ministers of us, our heirs or successors whomsoever. And further, of our more abundant grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given, and granted, and by these, our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our said town, and their successors for ever, that the said mayor of our said town, who now is, during the time he shall be mayor of the said town, shall be the admiral of us, our heirs and successors, within the town aforesaid, and the liberties and franchises of the same, and within and over the islands of Arren, and from the said islands to Galway aforesaid, on each side of the water there, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters; and that all and singular other mayors of our town aforesaid, for the time being mayors of the said town, so long as they shall be mayors of the same, shall be the admirals of us, our heirs and successors, and every of them, for the time he shall be mayor of the said town, as long as he shall be mayor of the same, shall be the admiral of us, our heirs and successors, within the port, bay, town, liberties, franchises and suburbs of Galway aforesaid, and within and over the islands of Arren, and from the said islands to Galway aforesaid on each side of the water there, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters; and that the aforesaid mayor, who now is, and every other mayor for the time being, in the said town, shall have full power, authority and jurisdiction, from time to time, to inquire, hear, determine, do, exercise and execute all and singular things appertaining and belonging to the office and jurisdiction of admiral within the port, bay, town, liberties, franchises, suburbs, islands and places aforesaid, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters aforesaid, in as ample manner and form, and as fully, freely and entirely, as our admiral or the admirals of our heirs and successors for the time being, in any place within our kingdom of England, or within our kingdom of Ireland can or may inquire, hear, determine, do, exercise or execute ; and that no admiral of us, our heirs or successors, shall have or exercise any power, authority or jurisdiction within the port, bay, liberties, franchises, suburbs, islands and places aforesaid, by sea or land or fresli waters, nor in any manner in or concerning any thing which to the office of admiral appertain, within the port, bay, liberties, franchises, suburbs, islands and places aforesaid, can or may intrude ; and that the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, may have, enjoy, receive and levy for the common use of the town aforesaid, all and singular wrecks of the sea, forfeitures, fines, amerciaments, redemptions, issues, commodities, advantages, emoluments and profits whatsoever, within the port, bay, town, liberties, franchises, suburbs, islands and places aforesaid, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, by reason of his admiralty or admiral's jurisdiction, forfeited, accruing and arising, or to be hereafter forfeited, accruing and arising; and that the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, may and can, from time to time, put themselves into full possession and scizen of and in all and singular the said wrecks of the sea, forfeitures, fines, amerciaments, redemptions, issues, commodities, emoluments and profits whatsoever, and the same to raise, receive, take, collect, and have by themselves or their officers, or any of them, and to retain the same without any account or other thing to us, our heirs or successors, or to any admiral of us, our heirs or successors, to be rendered, paid or made. And further, of our more abundant special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, we do give and grant unto the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, that no burgesses, inhabiting, dwelling or residing within the town, franchises and liberties of Galway aforesaid, or any of them, shall hereafter be drawn or compelled to come out of the town, the franchises and liberties of Galway aforesaid, before any justices, barons, commissioners, and other our officers whomsoever, to any assizes, sessions, inquests or juries in our city of Dublin, or in the county of Dublin, or elsewhere within our kingdom of Ireland to be held, concerning any matter or matters, cause or causes, thing or things, arisen, done or committed, or to arise, be done, or committed within the said town, the franchises and liberties of the same: nor shall the said burgesses, inhabiting, dwelling or residing within the said town, the franchises and liberties of the same, or any of them, be put, impanelled, returned, or sworn without the town of Galway, for any matter, forfeiture or cause, growing or arising, or to arise, be done, committed, grow, or happen within the said town of Galway, the franchises and liberties of the same, before any justices, barons, commissioners, or other our officers whomsoever, in any assizes, juries, attaints, recognizances, or other inquiries whatsoever, in the said city of Dublin, or in the said county of Dublin, or elsewhere within our said kingdom of Ireland, to be taken, arrayed or returned, though they should concern us, our heirs or successors, or any other whomsoever, but only within our town of Galway aforesaid, the franchises and liberties of the same, before our justices, barons, commissioners, or other officers whomsoever, when we, our heirs and successors, from time to time, shall see expedient.
Moreover, of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given, granted, and by these, our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us, our heirs and successors, lieth, we do give and grant unto the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, that no merchant or merchants, foreign or native, who shall import or unload, transport or load any merchandize, saleable goods or wares whatsoever, to the town aforesaid, or at the port or bay of the said town, or from the town aforesaid, or from the port or quay of the same, by land or by water, shall pay or give, or be compelled to pay or give, customs, poundage, tolls or other burthens, things or dues whatsoever, to us, our heirs or successors, or to any other person or persons for such merchandize, saleable goods or wares, or any part of the same, save only the customs and burthens following, viz. (see page 18, the customs being the same,) all and singular which customs, burthens and usages aforesaid, we do, of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, give and grant for us, our heirs and successors, to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors, for ever granting and commanding that they, the usages, burthens and customs aforesaid, and every of them, in the town aforesaid, in form aforesaid, from day to day, shall cause and ordain to be levied, collected, received and had: Provided always, that the monies arising thereout shall be faithfully expended on the murage and pavage of said town, and not elsewhere nor otherwise.
Moreover, of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these, our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty and their successors for ever, that they, the now mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of the town aforesaid, and their successors, and every of them, may and can, from time to time, assemble, prepare and collect themselves, and every of them, and all and singular the other inhabitants of the town aforesaid, with all and singular their friends, servants, tenants and adherents, and every of them, at their and every of their will and pleasure, with defensive arms or otherwise, as to them or any of them shall seem most expedient, within the town aforesaid, the liberties, franchises and suburbs of the same, or without, in any other place whatsoever, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, to resist, repel, recover and vindicate all and singular robberies, spoils, depredations and other injuries, damages and crimes whatsoever, against them, or any of them, made, perpetrated, offered or committed, or for the time to come to be made, perpetrated, offered or committed, by any of the neighbouring Irish, or by any rebels, malefactors or disturbers of the peace of us, our heirs and successors ; and that it shall and may be lawful for them, the now mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors, and all other the inhabitants of the town aforesaid, and every of them, with their friends, servants, tenants and adherents, from time to time, for ever, to pass, ride, sail, and go by sea, with arms, ammunition, flags displayed in warlike manner, or otherwise, as they and every of them shall think proper, to any country, island, arm of the sea, or place whatsoever, to prosecute, take, recover and vindicate robberies, felonies, spoils, depredations, injuries and crimes whatever made, offered or committed against them, or any of them; and to have, recover, distrain, make and receive recompence, distresses, restitution and evictions for such robberies, felonies, spoils, depredations, injuries and crimes against the said rebels, depredators and malefactors, and every of them, without the hindrance, calumny, molestation, grievance, disquiet, suit, vexation, disturbance or impediment of us, our heirs or successors, lieutenants, deputies, justices, sheriffs, or other the officers or ministers of us, our heirs or successors whomsoever ; any statute, act, ordinance, restriction, law, use, prescription, proclamation, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding.—And further, of our more ample grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and do, by these present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and their successors for ever, that every mayor and every recorder of the town aforesaid, for the time being, during the time that they, or any of them, or their successors, shall be mayor or recorder of the town aforesaid, or that they or any of them shall bear and exercise the offices of mayor and recorder of the town aforesaid, that they and every of them shall be keepers and justices of the peace of us, our heirs and successors, and the justices of us, our heirs and successors, for the delivery of the gaol of us, our heirs and successors, from time to time, for ever, within the town aforesaid, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, for felonies and other misdemeanors committed within the said town, the suburbs, franchises and liberties thereof; and we do for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, make, constitute, create and ordain all and singular mayor and mayors, recorder and recorders of the town aforesaid, and every of them, for the time being, for ever, keepers and justices of the peace of us, our heirs and successors, and justices of us, our heirs and successors, of gaol delivery, from time to time, within the town aforesaid, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, for the felonies and misdemeanors aforesaid ; and that all and singular mayors and recorders of the said town, for the time being, and every of them, for ever, shall and may have full power, authority and jurisdiction to enquire and examine, by the oath of good and lawful men of the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, of and concerning all and singular felonies, murders, rebellions, transgressions, riots, routs, conventicles, meetings, ambuscades, conspiracies, concealments, misprisions and other crimes, offences and misdeeds whatsoever done, committed or perpetrated, or hereafter to be done, committed or perpetrated within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs thereof, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, and of and concerning all and singular entries into any land or tenement by strong hand; and likewise of entries made, or to be made, into such lands or tenements peaceably, and afterwards held or to be held by force, power or strong hand within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same ; and also of all and singular articles, and statutes, for the delivery of cloth and hoods, and concerning labourers, servants, vagabonds, carpenters, artisans, weights, measures, victuals, tanners of hides, slaters, inn-keepers, and of all and singular articles contained in any statutes whatsoever now set forth and provided : likewise of all and singular articles and things whatsoever, of which any justices or keepers of our peace, or any justices of gaol delivery in any other place within our kingdom, of England, or within our kingdom of Ireland can inquire, and to do, exercise and execute the premises, and all and singular other matters within the town aforesaid, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, which to the offices of keeper, or justice of the peace, or justices of gaol delivery, or any of them, appertain or belong, and all and singular the same to hear, determine and adjudge, according to the law and custom of our kingdom of Ireland: and that no keeper or justice, keepers or justices of the peace of us, our heirs or successors, or any justice or justices of us, our heirs or successors, for the delivery of our gaol or the gaol of our heirs or successors, assigned or to be assigned, in any county, or in any other place within our kingdom of Ireland aforesaid, shall enter, or in any wise intrude, to inquire concerning the premises, or any of them, or to hear, determine or adjudge them, or any of them, or to do, exercise, or execute any other thing which appertains or belongs to the office or offices of keeper or justice of the peace, or to the office of justice of gaol delivery, within the town aforesaid, the franchises, liberties or suburbs of the same, by sea, land or fresh waters; and that if any inquest or any indictment, presentment or any other thing whatsoever, within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs thereof, before any other keeper or justices of the peace of us, our heirs or successors, or for the delivery of the gaol of us, our heirs or successors, or before any of them, assigned or to be assigned, in any other county or place, such inquiry, indictment, or other thing whatsoever, which shall be made, determined or adjudged within the town aforesaid, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, before the aforesaid other keepers or justices of the peace of us, our heirs or successors, or before the aforesaid justices of us, our heirs or successors, assigned for the delivery of the gaol of us, our heirs or successors, shall be held as null and void, and of no force or effect. And moreover, of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty, and to their successors for ever, that no sheriff, escheator,or other officer or minister of us, our heirs or successors, or any of them, except the bailiffs and other officers of the said town, shall in any wise enter the said town, the franchises, liberties or suburbs thereof, to do or exercise their office in any manner whatsoever, nor shall they or any of them intermeddle or intrude in any manner within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same:— and that the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty and their successors for ever, shall and may have and hold a gaol and prison within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs thereof, wheresoever they shall think expedient ; and that they may and can, for them and their successors for ever, have and retain a keeper of the gaol and prison aforesaid, prisoners in the same from time to time to incarcerate and imprison, for whatsoever cause or crime they or any of them, shall be taken, attached or arrested, within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same; and likewise them, and every of them, to detain and keep by themselves, or by their ministers thereto deputed, and also them so incarcerated and imprisoned, according to due form of law, on bail or otherwise, at their discretion, to give up, liberate or enlarge.—And further, of our more abundant special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these our present letters patent do for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiifs, burgesses and commonalty of the town of Galway aforesaid, and their successors for ever, all and singular such and the like liberties, franchises and privileges, pre-eminences, jurisdictions, authorities, easements, immunities, profits, commodities, advantages, customs, usages, forfeitures, issues, fines, redemptions and other hereditaments and things whatsoever, as the mayor, sheriffs and citizens of our city of Waterford, in our kingdom of Ireland aforesaid, or the mayor, sheriffs and commonalty of our town of Drogheda, in our kingdom of Ireland aforesaid, and every of them, have, or ought to have held, enjoy and use, by reason, force or pretext of any grants or letters patent of us, or any of our progenitors or predecessors whatsoever, or by reason, force or pretext of any use, custom, statute, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever, within our said city of Waterford, the franchises, liberties and suburbs thereof, and within our town of Drogheda aforesaid, the franchisee, liberties and suburbs thereof; and that the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid and their successors for ever, shall have full power and authority to do, receive, deliver, administer, exercise and execute all and singular things which appertain and belong to the aforesaid, liberties, franchises, privileges, pre-eminences, jurisdictions, authorities, easements, immunities, profits, commodities, advantages, customs, usages, forfeitures, issues, fines, redemptions and other hereditaments and things whatsoever, within our town of Galway aforesaid, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, as well by sea as by land and fresh waters, in as ample manner and form, and as fully, freely and entirely as the said mayor, sheriffs & citizens of our said city of Waterford, within the said city of Waterford, the franchises liberties and suburbs of the same, or as the said mayor, sheriffs and commonalty of our said town of Drogheda, or any of them, within the said town, the franchises, liberties and suburbs of the same, may or can, in any manner, do, receive, deliver, administer, exercise and execute:—And further, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given and granted, and, by these our present letters patent, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth, we do give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid, and their successors for ever, that all and singular the articles, clauses, sentences and grants in these letters patent, and in all and singular other letters patent, by us, or by any of our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid, or to their predecessors or any of them granted shall be accepted, judged, understood, interpreted and construed in as bountiful and favorable a manner as may be and not otherwise, nor in any other manner, to the advantage and profit of the said mayor and bailiifs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid, against us, our heirs and successors, in all courts whatsoever of us, our heirs and successors, and before all judges, justices, barons of the Exchequer, and other officers and ministers of us, our heirs and successors whomsoever; although express mention of the true yearly value, or of the certainty of the premises or any of them, or of other gifts or grants by us, or by any of our progenitors aforesaid to the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of our town of Galway aforesaid, or to any of them heretofore granted, is not made in these presents, or any statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation or restriction, to the contrary thereof made, published, ordained or provided; or any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Gorhambury, the 14th day of July, in the 20th year of our reign.
By the Queen herself, and of the date aforesaid.

Granted by Elizabeth I. (Regnal year 20). Granted at Gorhambury. Granted by the Queen herself, and of the date aforesaid..

Primary Sources

Hardiman, James, 1820, The History of the Town and Country of the Town of Galway Appendix No. III p. vi-xxvi (The full latin text is also given) online copy

Secondary Sources

Thomas, A., 1992, The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 106-113 (citing MCI 317)
1835, Reports from Commissioners: Municipal Corporations in Ireland Vol. 27 p. 318

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