The Gatehouse website record of a grant of murage for Dublin granted 1/9/1204

Dublin (Dubliñ) was given a grant of murage dated 1/9/1204.

This was in the form of:-

Enforcement power:-

Wording

Alie littere patentes dirriguntur civibus Dubliñ per quas similiter eis gratias refert de bono servicio suo et eis mandat quod intendant ad civiatem suam firmandam, unusquisque ex parte sua, et quod nisi fecerint mandavit Justiciario ut ipse ad hoc faciendum compellat. {Teste domino Norwic. apud Gaitinton., j. die Sept.}
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Alie littere patentes dirriguntur civibus Dublin per quae {rex} eis gratias refert de bono servicio suo et eis mandat quod intendant ad civiatem suam firmandam, unusquisque ex parte sua, et quod nisi fecerint mandavit iusticiario ut ipse ad hoc faciendum compellat.
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Rex, etc., dilecto et fideli auo Meillerio, filio Henrici, justiciario Hibernie, salutem.
Mandastis nobis quod non habuistis locum ubi thesaurus noster reponi possit apud vos. Et quia tam ad hoc, quam ad alia multa, neccessaria essent nobis fortilecia apud Dublin, vobis mandamus, quod ibidem castellum fieri faciatis in loco competenti, ubi melius esse videritis ad urbem justiciandam et, si opus fuerit, defendendam, quam fortissimum poteritis, cum bonis fossatis et fortibus muris; turrim autem primum faciatis ubi postea competencius castellum et baluum et alia percunctoria fieri possint; et vobis hoc mandavimus; ad hoc autem capiatis pacacia nostra, sic nobis mandastis, ct ad presens ad hoc capiatis ccc. marcas de Galfrido filio Roberti, quas nobis debet.
Mandavimus et civibus nostris Dubline, per literas patentes, quod civitatem suam firment, et vos illos, siqui noluerint, ad hoc compellatis.
Volumus etiam quod una feria sit apud Donibrun, singulis annis, per octo dies duratura, in invencione Sancte Crucis; alia apud Pontem Beati Johannis Baptiste, similiter per octo dies, talia eis stallagia et thelonea statuentes, quam alia apud Waterford ad vincula Sancti Petri, per octo dies; alia apud Limeric in festo Sancti Martini, per octo dies. Et vobis mandamus quod ita fieri et denunciari faciatismercatores illuc venire debeant libenter. Teste, etc.
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{About end of Aug.} 226. The K. to Meyler Fitz Henry, justiciary of Ireland. The latter having apprised the K. that he had no place in which to deposit royal treasure, the K. commands him to cause a castle to be constructed in Dublin for the uses of justice in the city, and if need be for the city's defence, with good dikes and strong walls; and for this purpose to take 300 marks of the debt of G. Fitz Robert. The K. had commanded that the citizens of Dublin fortify their city, and that the justiciary compel them if they do not do so. The K. wills that there be a yearly fair at Dublin {Divelin}, on the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross {May 3}, to last for 8 days, and another fair for as many days at the bridge of St. John the Baptist, with stallage and tolls as at the 8 day fairs at Waterford on the feast of St. Peter ad vincula {Aug. 1}, and at Limerick on the feast of St. Martin {Nov. 11}. The justiciary shall cause it to be proclaimed that merchants may freely come to those fairs. {Close, 6 John, m. 18.}
Sept. 1. 228. The K. to the barons of Leinster. Thanks them for their aid and the good service they render to him, as he is informed by the justiciary of Ireland; prays that they forthwith deliver to the justiciary the promised aid, and that as they have hitherto borne themselves well and manfully in his service, they continue to bear themselves in like manner. Geddington.
Other letters patent directed to all faithful subjects of Ireland, whereby the K. thanks them for their good service and commands that they be intentive to the justiciary.
Further letters patent directed to the citizens of Dublin, whereby the K thanks them for their good service, and commands that they attend to the fortifying of their city, every one for his part, and unless they do so, mandate that the justiciary compel them. {Pat,, 6 John, m. 9.}

Granted by John. (Regnal year 6). Granted at Geddington.

Primary Sources

Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1835, Rotuli Litterarum Patentium in Turri Londinensi Asservati (1201-16) p. 45b (Record Commission) online copy
Gilbert, J.T. (ed), 1870, Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, 1172-1320 (Rolls Series 53) p. 61-2 online copy
Sweetman, H.S. (ed), 1875, Calendar of Documents Ireland 1171-1251 (London) p. 35 No. 226, 228 online copy

Secondary Sources

Coulson, Charles, 2009, Murage Grants (Handwritten list and notes)
Thomas, A., 1992, The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 79-93

Comments

citizens of Dublin ordered to fortify the city. (Coulson)
in 1204 the King commanded the citizens of Dublin to 'attend to the fortifying of their city everyone for his part' and granted power to the Justiciar to compel them if necessary; in 1206 he sough to relieve the burden by involving the 'barons and knights of Meath', apparently as the price for some favour that they had requested; and in 1214 a grant of 500 marks was made to the city to fortify their vill - possibly only as a loan, but worth two and a half times the fee-farm rent at it was set the following year (CDI I 226, 315, 529, 597) (Thomas)

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