Sir William Pelham arrives in Galway, 1579

On the 7th of November, 1579, the lord justice, Sir William Pelham, arrived in Galway, accompanied by the earl of Thomond and the Berwick bands. "His lordship removed into the towne of Galway, twelve mills, verie rockie way, and full of great loughes. The towne is well bulte, and walled, with an excellent good haven, and is replenished with many welthie merchants. The townes-men and wemmen present a more civil show of life than other townes in Ireland do, and maie be compared, in my judgement, next Dublin and Watterford, the only towne." kk He was most honorably received; and, in order to encourage the inhabitants, he confirmed certain articles. which were in effect as follows:-

The charter of Gallewaie, with new liberties, confirmed.

First.-"That no writ of subpoena shall be warded out of the chancerie against anie inhabitant of Gallewaie, until the partie which sueth out the writ, have put in good and sufficient suerties before the lord chancellor or the maior of Gallewaie to prosecute the same with effect.
"That no new office or ofiicer be erected in the towne of Gallwaie by anie deputie or governour, otherwise than as they in times past have been used to do.
"That the maior, by the advice of foure aldermen, and other foure discrqet men of the towne, upon good considerations, may grant safe conduct and protection to English rebels and Irish enimies.
"That the merchants of the towne, which shall buie anie wares or merchandize of strange merchants, shall put in good and sufficient bonds before the maior, that he will well and truly make paiment unto the said merchant stranger for his debt and dutie.
"That if anie inhabitant of the towne use anie undecent and unreverent speach to the maior, that he shall be punished according to the qualities of the fault and offense.
"That the maior, bailiffes and inhabitants shall inioy, use and exercise all their ancient liberties, usages and customes.
"That in all actions tried before the maior, the partie condemned shall paie reasonable costs, and the said maior shall not take anie fee for anie sentence, called Oleigethe.
"That no dead bodies shall be interred or buried within the towne and walles of Gallewaie.
"That when anie strange merchants come to their port and haven, that the same be serched and viewed for weapons and munitions, and that none above the number of ten persons of the said ship shall come into the towne.
"That no stranger be suffered to take the view of the strength of the towne, nor to walk on the wals.
"That the maior, from time to time, doo take the muster and view of all the able men, and of their furniture and armour.
"That all unserviceable people in time of service be sent out of the said towne.
"That sufficient vittels, from time to time, be prepared to serve the towne for ten moneths at the least before hand.
"That a store-house be provided alwais in the towne for a staple of vittels to be kept there at all times. ll

The lord justice, on departing, found it necessary to leave a company of soldiers behind him, which were commanded by captain Casey; and there being no barracks to receive them, he was obliged to hire a house for their accommodation, the rent of which was paid by the queen. These were the first regular troops ever quartered in Galway.mm

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