"that the town of Galway, the isles of Arran, Inisbuffyn, Clagganbay, Lettermalin, &c. were then garrisoned; and conceived most necessary that they should be continued as standing garrisons."-Original Council Book. Soon after this, James Darcy petitioned the Council, setting forth, "that the Commissioners of Loughrea have lately assigned him a proporcon of wast and course mountayne land in the barrony of Ballinehinsy, in the territory of Ire-Connaught, which yieldeth very little profitt either to the petitioner, or any other inhabitants that might be drawn to reside thereon: And, that, although the principall profitt of the said land, in all times, hath been by fishing on the sea coast, yet the Governor of Innes-Boffin, and others, have lately seized on some boates" (see the preceding order of 12th June, 1656) "belonging to some tenants who reside on parte of the said landes, and would not permitt the said tenants to take any fish on the said coast without disturbance."-Order: "Refer the same to Sir Charles Coote, to give such order therein as he shall hold just. Council Chamber in Dublyn, the 26th Jan., 1659. Thos. Herbert, Clarke of the Councill."-Id.

The Council books from which the foregoing extracts have been taken, contain important documents relating to the general history of Ireland, at that period. Other notices of Inisbofin and the "Owles," taken from the same sources and intended for insertion here, are reserved for an opportunity which it is hoped may yet occur, of illustrating the History and Antiquities of Mayo, particularly its western districts. The future topographer of that great and interesting county, will derive valuable information from the " Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," printed for the Irish Archæological Society, A. D. 1844

"Trial of Mr. Robert Martin for the murder of Lieut. Henry Jolly; at the bar of the King's Bench, Dublin, 2nd May, 1735.

"The Court being sat, and the following jury sworn, viz. Michael Burke-Thomas French-Henry Burke-John Burke-Ross Mahon-William Boylan-John Holliday-John Broughton-Walter Lambert-David Poor-George Davis-(One omitted.) The first witness for the Crown was Lieut. Geo. Bell.-Was not present at the time of the quarrell between the prisoner and deceased, but very soon after deceased's death, saw him lying on the ground, in a gore of blood; and his body with several fresh bleeding wounds, three of which were on his right side close upon his breast, and one of them pierced out of his back quite through and through his body. Deceased had also two wounds more on the left side, which penetrated the very cavity of his body. Having been asked by the Court had deceased any other wounds, he said, a few on his left hand and arm, but they would not prove mortal. He felt to know if deceased had

any

any pulse, and found none. This testimony he gave at the Coroner's Inquest on the deceased's body at Galway. The Court and the Prisoner asked this witness very few questions, his testimony being only grounded on the description of the deceased's wounds.

Captain Edward Southwell, sworn.—Mr. Jolly and witness were diverting themselves in a billiard-room at a coffee-house in Galway. The prisoner Martin furiously came up into the room, drew his sword, and instantly demanded satisfaction of the rascal who spit upon him as he was passing by. Witness answered it was he that did it, but through no affrontful design, and in the most humble manner asked his pardon. Such humility little availed, for Mr. Martin insisted upon further satisfaction, and, being in a very great passion, witness said, 'Let me go to my barrack for a sword-I will very speedily return, and comply with your request;' there being no sword between either Mr. Southwell or the deceased, Mr. Jolly.

any

"Prisoner asked witness was the first attack by the deceased with instrument not a sword, at the billiard-table, before the prisoner drew his sword? Answer.-No. "The next evidence was Robert Watson, the coffee-boy, who swore that there were four yards' distance at the Billiard-table between Mr. Martin and Mr. Jolly; the latter standing by the window, and Mr. Martin at the door with his sword drawn, and approached Mr. Jolly. That Mr. Jolly took up a chair to defend himself, through the frame of which the prisoner made several thrusts at the deceased.

"The evidence on behalf of the prisoner were Julian Mathews, Nicholas Bates, [ ] Donnolly; and others who, to their knowledge, gave their several testimonies in favour of the prisoner. Donnolly's testimony appeared very much in his favour, and of great moment to the jury. The Court then summed up the evidence, and charged the jury; who, after some stay, brought in the verdict NOT GUILTY. Dublin, printed by E. Waters, Blind Quay, 1735."

This report was evidently a hasty and imperfect publication, issued immediately after the trial, to gratify public curiosity; and cannot, therefore, be much depended upon. The panel was from the venue of the offence; and the lenity of a "Galway jury" has since become proverbial. The traverser ten years after embraced the Protestant faith. See Certificate, No. 96, dated 14th July, 1745, on the "Convert roll" containing that year, in the Rolls Office, Dublin, in which he is described as "Robert Martin of Dangan in the county of Galway, Esq." He died an aged man about A. D. 1792. Lieutenant Jolly was interred in St. Nicholas' Church, Galway; where the following inscription may be seen on a small mural monument:-" Near this place lies the body of Henry Jolly, Lieutenant of Grenadiers in the Hon. General James Dormer's Regiment of Foot."

APPENDIX.

1.

Composition between Queen Elizabeth and the Lords, Chieftains, &c. of Connaught.

IT

A. D. 1585.

T was not until late in the reign of Elizabeth that the province of Connaught was brought under subjection to the Crown and laws of England. The proceedings by which that event was achieved were commenced by the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sydney, in A. D. 1575; and completed by a succeeding Deputy, Sir John Perrot, in A.D. 1585. The project was, to divide the province into shires; then to induce the lords and chieftains to receive sheriffs into those shires; and, finally, to prevail on the chiefs themselves to surrender their Irish titles and tenures, and to receive back their possessions by patents from the Crown, to descend in hereditary succession according to the laws of England. In a dispatch to the lords of the Council, A. D. 1576, Sir Henry Sydney writes, that he had "proved before theim," i. e. the lords and chieftains of Thomond, "(lately annexed to the presidenty of Connaught by the Name of the countye of Clare,) the verie Roote and Origine of their Ruyne was the uncertaine Graunte and vnstable possession of their Landes, wherevpon grewe their Warres, I brought them to agree to Surrender all their Landes, and take it of her Highnes agayne and yeelde bothe Rent and Service."-See "Letters and Memorials of State," before referred to, p. 125. Fo. London, 1747, vol. i. p. 102.

On 28th April, 1576, the Lord Deputy further informed the Council that he had "devided Connaught (besides the East Breanie or Oreilies, and the Annalye or Offeralls countrie) into fower counties; namelye, Sligo, which was a Parte of nether Connaught and Maio, which was an other parte of the same: Galway, which was called Upper Connaught, and Rossecommen, which was called the Playnes of Connaught.