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Galway By-laws

These are by-laws passed by the city of Galway between 1505 and 1679.

Public Order & Morality

1505

That no housholder be an hostler, nor no mayntyner of the common horsse, or harlots, on payn of 6s. 8d.

1508

That whatsoever man, woman or childe, be found foulinge the streets or walls, either by night or day, to lose 2d.

1533

Any inhabitant who should begin any strife, debate or quarrel or draw out sworde, dagger or knife, to pay 100s. the weapon to be naylled and put up in the pullorie.

1584

Any inhabitant conforting, lodging, or mayntayning in his house or otherwise, any bawdry or harlotts, shall forfeit every time 20s.

1585

That no woman shall were no gorgiouse aparell, but as becometh them to do, accordinge to ther callinge, and in espetiall they shall all together foregoe the wearing of any hatts or cappes otherwise collored than blacke, and upon them they shall weare no costlie hatt bands or cap bands of gold treede; the mayorases the only excepted.

1625

Ordered in Council, that any person who shall scandalize and unmannerly behave himself in speeches to the mayor, shall forfeit £20

1679

Ordered, that several persons in the order named (principally the ancient families of Galway) are not fit to live in the towne, or men useful to the garrison.

Trade Controls

1511

That no butter be sold above one pennye a pound, and no dearer, on payn to lose 12d. and his body to be put in prison that doth the contrary.

1526

That no carpender nor mason shall not have for his hyre and wages but two pence naturallie every day, with meate and drink.

1542

That no person of this town shall buy or sell with any merchaunts of Lymbricke, Corcke, Watterford, Dublin, or other towns or citties, for any goods, or cause same to be transported by land or sea, unless they come to this town as other strangers and merchaunts in ships, on payn of forfeiting the goods and 20l.

1585

That all artifficers, craftsmen and comon labourers, do take more than they should for ther hiere, bothe by the yeare, quarter, monethe and daye, far over thassise set downe by the corporation.
That the show-makers, glovers and skinners of this towne, do not well tawne ther lether.
That candel makers have verie greate nede of reformation, for that they sell neither light nor sight, neither good tallowe nor good treere, ne yet any good stuff at all for candells.
That thaquavuite that is sould in towne ought rather to be cald aqua mortis, to poison the people.

Citizenship and the Natives

1511

That all idle men and women not able to pay tax ne talladge be expulsed the town.

1516

That no man shall lend or sell galley, botte or barque, to an Irishman¹.

1517

That no person shall give ne sell to no Irish any munition, as hand povins, calivres, poulder, leade nor sall peter, nor yet longeboves, cross boves, cross-bove strings, nor yearne to make the same, nor no kind of weapon, on payn to forfayt the same and a hundred shillings.

1518

If any man shall bring any Irishman to brage or boste upon the town, to forfeit 12d.

That no man of this town shall oste or receive into ther housses at Christemas, Easter nor no feaste elles, any of the Burks, McWilliams, the Kellies, nor no cepte elles, withoute license of the mayor and councill, on payn to forfeit 5l. that neither O' ne Mac shall strutte ne swaggere thro' the streets of Gallway.

1519

That no Irish judge nor lawire shall plede in no man's cause or atter within this towne or courte, for it agreeth not with the king's laws, nay yet the emprors in many placis.

1522

That no man be made fre unless he can speke the English tonge and shave his upper lipe weekly, sub poena 20s.

1585

That no inhabitant henceforth pay any cess, tax or talledge, but according to his ability of goods and lands.

Mayoral Privilege

1514

That the mayor, warden and bailiffs shell be the first served with all provisions at market, and then who first comes is first served.

1550

That the mayor, for the time being, shall have of the fishers of the logh or ryvere every fish day, betwixte Michaelmas and Hollontide, but two hundred small elles, and every of the bailiffs to have one hundred.