MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS IN IRELAND.
345 LIMERICK.
CITY OF LIMERICK.
Henry IV.
Henry V.
This charter, after reciting the foregoing grant by John Earl of Morton to the citizens of Limerick, of the liberties and free customs of Dublin, and that they had theretofore used and enjoyed the same, although not expressed in that charter, in order to remove all ambiguity as to the liberties and free customs of the citizens of Limerick, confirms to them " all the liberties and free customs expressed in the charters of Dublin," which this charter then proceeds to specify in detail.
Many of them connected with the then existing state of the law have long hecome obsolete.
Those most deserving of notice are," that no citizen plead outside the walls ofthe city of any plea, except of a plea concerning extern tenures not belonging to the hundred of the city:'' iS that the citizens should be free of toll, lastage, pontage, passage and all other customs, throughout the King's entire land and dominion:" 'fthat the hundred should be held within the city once only in a week; that the citizens might distrain their debtors by their chattels in Limerick, and that of the lands, tenements and tenures within the city, right be done to them according to the custom of the said city; and that concerning debts lent and pledges given within the city, pleas might be there held according to the custom ofthe city, saving the pleas of the Crown."
It further specifies that the citizens of Limerick should have all reasonable guilds, as the burgesses of Bristol had; and empowers them to choose a mayor of themselves annually for the government ofthe city, " to be presented, when elected, to the King, if present; if not, to his justice of Ireland, and swear allegiance:" "that the citizens should have all the tenures belonging to the city to dispose of at their pleasure, with their common assent, to hold in free burgage, by service of langable, ancl that each citizen might improve in building wheresoever he would, on the bank within the said city; that they might have and possess all lands and waste places in the said liberty, at their will to build upon, for the use of the city;" and it granted them a 15 days' fair at the feast of St.
James, with all the liberties and free customs to such fair belonging.
11.
This charter was confirmed by Henry IV.
in the first year of his reign, 25th June 1400.
12.
Henry V.
by a charter dated 20th January, first year of his reign, 1413, after confirming the preceding charters and all the privileges therein contained, although they might not have been theretofore used and enjoyed according to the charters, and reciting the services of the citizens against the King's Irish enemies, granted to the mayor and com¬ monalty of the city the power of meeting and making ordinances and statutes for the advantage ofthe city, and power to elect from themselves a mayor and two bailiffs annually; the mayor to be sworn before the mayor of the preceding year (instead of before the King or his justices, asunder the preceding charters;) or in his default, from death or other cause, before the citizens : the bailiffs to be sworn before the mayor.
It gives to the mayor and bailiffs cognizance of all pleas, real and personal, assize of novel disseisin, mort d'ancestre and others, with power to arrest and attach by body ancl goods within the eity for all contracts and trespasses arising within the city and liberties, and according to law to imprison, punish or discharge the defendants; the mayor to be escheator, coroner and inquisitor, and the mayor and bailiffs to have the profits of all pleas; and it declares that no justiciary, escheator, inquisitor, clerk of market, or other servant of the King, justice of the peace, or of labourers, shall enter or interfere in any matter within the city, except concerning felonies, which should be determined by com¬ mission to any other person, and the mayor for the time being.
Full power is given to the mayor and his successors to inquire, hear and determine all matters belonging to the aforesaid offices " according to the usage of the kingdom of Ireland and the common law;" and to the mayor and commonalty to have all fines, amerce¬ ments ancl issues to justices of the peace belonging, and all other forfeitures, chattels of fugi¬ tives and felons, waifs, strays, forfeitures of bread and other victuals, tolls, and the custom called cocket, with power to collect and receive them by their own officers, to their own use, by land and by water ; and the profits of the fishery called the lex-weir, with its appurtenances for ever.
It further grants that none of the .city
should plead or be impleaded beforethe King or his justiciary of lands or tenements, rents or services, or of any other thing arising within said city by land or water, but should be bound to proceed before the mayor and bailiffs within the' city.
It empowers the mayor and commonalty to hold their market as of old; and the charter directs that no one of Irish blood or nation (the word Irish to be understood as usually understood in Ireland) should be mayor, or exercise any other office within the city ; and that no person should take or maintain any man or child of Irish blood and nation as apprentice, on pain of losing his franchise.
13.
An exemplification by Henry VI.,
in the second year of his reign, (1423,) of the preceding Henry VI.
charter, is recited in the first charter of Elizabeth hereinafter stated.
14.
Henry VI.
also, in the eighth year of his reign, (1429,) confirmed the previous charters " of such of the franchises, liberties and acquittances as were not revoked by the advice and assistance of the lords spiritual and temporal in a Parliament held at Westminster, in the first year of his reign."
15.
These charters were again confirmed by Henry VIL, in the second year of his reign Henry VII.
(1489.)
& 16.
And by Edward VI.,
in the sixth year of his reign (1551.)
< 17.
Queen Elizabeth granted two charters to this corporation.
The first us dated 25th October, seventeenth year of her reign, (1575,) and after confirming and renewing all former charters and privileges, grants a sword of state and hat of maintenance to be borne before fhe mayor within the city and liberties.
.
_,
to.
c.i
4 s
Edward VI.
1st Charter of Elizabeth,
