Carrick-on-Suir (Carrykmcgriffyn) was given a grant of murage dated 12/7/1344.
This was in the form of:-
This is a grant which may have been used for walls but could have been used for other civic improvements.
Wording
Breve pro praeposito & communitate villae de Carrykmcgriffyn de consuetudinibus capiendis.
Rex dilectis sibi proposito & communitati ville de Carrymcgriffyn salutem Cum nuper in auxilium ville vostre praedicte muro lapideo claudende & pontis vostri ejusdem ville construend' & reparand' concesserimus vobis consuetudines de omnibus rebus venalibus ad eandem villam tam per terram quam per aquam venientibus sive per pontem illum transeuntibus per certum terminum nondum transactum capiend' Nosque postmodum intelligentes quod occasione capc'ois consuetudinum praedictarum diverse rob'ie & alia mala quam plurima tam in villa praedicta quam prope villam illam per malef'cores praerie ibidem & pacis nostre perturbatores inimicos & rebelles nostros indies perpeteantur non sine manutenencia & receptamento quorumdam in eadem p'ria assidue residencium ob quod vobis sub forisf'cura consuetudinum praedictarum & omnium bonorum & catallorum vestrorum & aliorum que erga nos forisfacere potuistis distincte inhibuimus ne aliquas hujusmodi consuetudines in villa praedicta caperetis aut per alios quoscumque capi permitteretis quousque aliud a nobis haberetis in mandatis Nosque postmodum intelligentes bonum gestum vestrum in capiendo & arestando quosdam de felonibus & pacis nostre praedicte perturbatoribus pro manutenencia concessimus vobis quod vos consuetudines praedictas capere possitis juxta tenorem litterarum nostrarum praedictarum vobis inde confectarum revocac'oe praedicta non obstante Et ideo vobis mandamus quod proclamac'oem inde in villa vestra praedicta & alibi ubi melius expedire videritis publice fieri fac' T' praefacto locum ten' apud Dublin xii die Jul.
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The K. formerly granted to the provost and community of the town of Carryk McGriffin, customs from all things coming to that town for sale for a certain time, in aid of enclosing the town with a stone wall and constructing and repairing a bridge there. Afterwards hearing that on the occasion of the seizing of those customs by various robbers and other evil deeds perpetrated by malefactors in and near that town, not without support from those living in that country the K. prohibited the taking of those customs in that town. On account of their good action in capturing certain of the K.’s felons, GRANT that they may receive the said customs, notwithstanding the said revocation.
Attested:
John Morice, deputy of John Darcy, Jcr
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Rex, recit' quod quandam concesserat praeposito et communitati ville de Carryk Mcgriffin, (in auxilium ville sue muro ;apideo claudende, et pontis ejusd' construend' et reparand'), consuetudines de omnib' rebus venal' ad eand' vill' venient' per custum terminum; quam concession' postea, ob roberias et al' mala occasione capcionis ear' consuetud' perpetrat', revocav'at; nunc ob bonum eor' gestum in capiend' quosd' de felonib' Regis, concess' quod consuetud' praedictas capare possint revocacione non obstante.
Granted by Edward III. (Regnal year 18). Granted at Dublin. Granted by locum.
Primary Sources
Commissioners on the Public Records of Ireland, 1889 (prepared 1829-30),
Chartae Privilegia et Immunitates, being transcripts of charters and privileges to cities, towns, abbeys and other bodies corporated, 18 Henry II. to 18 Richard II., 1171 to 1395 (Dublin; Irish Record Commission) p. 57 (Ref. E. Rot. Claus. 17, 18 Edw. III m.7.)
A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters, c. 1244-1509, CR 18 Edw. II
View CIRCLE recordTresham, Edward (ed), 1828,
Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendarium (Dublin; His Majesty's printers) p. 45 No. 74
Secondary Sources
Thomas, A., 1992, The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 43-46
1835, Reports from Commissioners: Municipal Corporations in Ireland Vol. 27 p. 6
Comments
the earliest reference is to the restoration of a murage grant in 1344, which had been suspended, in which mention was made of a wall of stone (CPI 157). In 1450 Parliament allowed a murage grant following an application from the Provost etc., in which it was stated that the town had been 'twice entirely burnt in the last 14 years' (except the church and castle), only half of the town was 'well walled', but they were too much impoverished to improve the other half; and the usefulness of Carrick as a resting place en route from Waterford to towns in S Tipperary was emphasised (SR II 243-5). (Thomas)
The feel of this is a retrospective grant of a murage taken without royal consent. The suggestion being royal consent was not seen as essential for such grants but clearly were preferred to avoid legal problems.
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 30/03/2009. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
