Montgomery manuscripts

The Montgomery Manuscripts.
229
"Earle, dated 1661, 48 and might have had the precedency of date before his brother Moore ;*9 it was
offered to his Lo p to be, but he declined that compliment (that might raise envy) which brotherly
concession was ill requitted, when the trial about S'. Wolstan's 50 came to be heard. His Lo p as-
sumed the title of M\ Alexander, in honour of his descent by his mother, from the family of
Alexanders, Earles of Strivling,s x in Scotland, and his Lo p (in the patent) had this epithet gave him,
viz. Qui ?iec Eegem nee Religionem reliquit. Whereas, in those troublesome turning times many
them) did verily believe there could not be a man found
in all Ireland that should pass untoucht through so many
pikes." — Narrative of the Karl of Clarendon's Settlement
and Sale of Ireland, p. 85. 'Innocents,' whether papist
or protestaht, were obliged to make out their qualifica-
tions of innocence ; but that done, they were not re-
quired to take out any new patents for their estates,
because they were not to derive any new title from the
king, but were remitted to their old title to such lands as
they previously owned. — Howard's Exchequer and Re-
venue of Ireland, vol. i., pp. 197, 204.
& Dated 1661. — The third viscount Montgomery was
created earl of Mount- Alexander, by privy seal, White-
hall, June 20; patent, Dublin, July 18, 1661. — Liber
Hibemur, vol. i. , part i. , p. 9.
49 Brother Moore. — Henry Moore, third viscount
Drogheda, was created earl of Drogheda, by patent,
dated 14th June, 1 661. — Ibid.
s° The trial about St. Wolstan's. — Whilst the third vis-
count Montgomery was permitted to rusticate at Leixlip,
see p. 206, supra, he appears to have obtained such a
knowledge of the beautiful and extensive estate of the
Aliens of St. Wolstan's as afterwards induced him to make
strenuous efforts for its possession. When the settlement
of Ireland was in progress immediately after the restora-
tion, he had influence sufficient to get the following clause
introduced into the "Instructions" accompanying the
Act of Settlement: — " LXVII. And in case the
manor, castle, town, and lands of St. Wolstan's, alias
Allen's Court, in the county of Kildare, and county of
Dublin, or either of them, formerly the inheritance of
Sir Thomas Allen, knight, deceased, or now belonging to
the Lady Allen, his wife, for term of life, or years yet to
come, and the remainder or remainders thereof unto
Robert Allen, John Allen, William Allen, and James
Allen, some or one of them, shall, upon inquiry, be found
to be forfeited, you are hereby required to cause the same
to be delivered unto our right trusty and right well-beloved
cousin and counsellor, Hugh, earl of Mount-Alexander,
his heirs and assigns, for ever, subject, nevertheless, to
the payment of the like rents and services as the adven-
turers for lands in the province of Leinster are subject
unto, and with the like benefit of reprisal in case of re-
stitution, as any adventurers, their heirs and assigns,
have, or ought to have, and also with benefit of reprisal
in case any adventurer be intituled to the same, or any
part thereof. Provided always, that wdtensoever we shall
declare under our great seal of England or Ireland, our
will and pleasure to revoke the estate hereby granted, in
all or any part of the premises, that then, and immediately
from and after such declaration, the estate so revoked
shall cease and determine, and remain subject unto the
rules and ends of this declaration, as if this grant had not
been made." In pursuance of the above clause, the king
granted the estate of St. Wolstan's to the earl of Mount-
Alexander. The'following is a copy of the patent con-
veying this grant : —
" Charles the 2nd, by the grace of God, &c. —
" Whereas, Sir Thomas Allen, deceased, was in his
life-time seized in his Demesne as of fee or of some other estate
of Inheritance of and in the Manor, Castle, Town, and Lands
of St. Wolstan's, otherwise called Allenscourt, in the Co. of Kil-
dare, with several other Castles, Manors, Towns, and Lands, Ad-
vowsons, & Heredi ts . in the Co. of Kildare and Co. of Dublin.
After whose death the premises came to Lady Allen, his wife,
who became seized of the premises for term of her life, or pos-
sessed for a certain term of years still to come, and not expired,
under payment of a rent of 40 shillings per Ann. steriing. And
whereas Lady Allen is still surviving, and the reversion and remainder
of and in all and singular the premises after her death, or after the
determination of any other estate or interest of which she is possessed
descended or came to Robert Allen, John Allen, William Allen, and
James Allen, or to some or one of them, who all (or some of them)
were outlawed or indicted of High Treason, by reason of which the
premises are in our gift and disposition. And whereas we retain a
sense of the great and constant services and things done and sus-
tained for our father of Blessed Memory and us, And that the said
Hugh may be in some measure remunerated for the services and
things by him sustained, of whose allegiance and fidelity we are
satisfied, Know ye, therefore, that we, of our special favour, certain
knowledge, and mere motionywith the advice and consent of our
well-beloved Sir Maurice Eustace, Knight, Lord Chancellor of our
sd. Kgm. of Ireland, and of our well-beloved and faithful cousin and
Councellor Roger, Earl of Orrery, our justices of the sd. Kgm. of
Ireland — and also according to the tenor and effect of certain letters
of ours signed with our hand, and sealed with our Privy Seal, bearing
date at our Court of Whitehall, the igth day of Oct 1 "., in the year of
our Lord, 1661, and in the 13th y r . of our reign, and now enrolled in
the rolls of our Chancery of our sd. Kingm. of Ireland. We have
given, granted, & to the aforesaid Hugh, Earl of Mount Alexander,
and Viscount Montgomery of Ardes, all those Manors, Castles,
Towns, Lands, Tenements, Advowsons, and Heredi 15 . of Donagh-
comfer, 187a. 3r. 34P. of Profitable Land ; Also, all the Towns, Lands,
Tenements, & Heredi 15 . of St. Wolstan's, otherwise Allen's Court,
with the Appurtenances, containing 2T7a. 3r. 32p. of Profitable
Lands, Also, the Town, Lands. & Heredi ts . of Parson's Court, with
the appurtenances containing 62a. '3r. 24P. of Profitable Land. Also
[And so through the whole of the Allen Estate, as in the schedule,
to the decree of Innocence, in James Allen's case — ],
saving the right, title, claim, and interest of all Adventurers, their
heirs and assigns to the premises, or any part thereof. And, further,
we give and grant for us and our successors if it should chance that
any of the premisses should belong to any Adventurer that Reprisals
of as great value, worth, and purchase, shall be delivered and con-
firmed to the afd. Hugh, Earl of Mount-Alexander, his heirs and
assigns.
" To have, enjoy, occupy, and hold all and singular the premises
to the afd. Hugh, Earl of Mount Alexander, and Viscount Mont-
gomery of Ardes, his heirs and assigns to the sole use of the afu.
Hugh, his heirs and assigns for ever. Rendering yearly to us and
our heirs such rents as were heretofore paid, therefor or thereout to
us. In testimony, whereof, &c. 12 June, in the 14th year of our
Reign.
" Entered & Examined, 25 June, 1662."
For copy of the above grant, the editor is indebted to the
kindness of John P. Prendergast, Esq., author of The
Cromwelliah Settlement of Ireland.
5' Earles of Strivling. — Mount- Alexander was also the
name of the family residence adjoining the town of Com-
ber, which had been prepared for the second viscount,
G I