The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-22 00:00:00

HISTORY OF DUBLIN.

We continue our extracts front IVliitelaw and
Walsh's History of nubile. The more we exa-
mine this work, the more are we surprised and gra.
lifted by the extent of information it contains, and
the variety and nansiittness of research it displays.
To the ant ilinJri 111, who delights to search into the
foundation and originals of a great city—the gene-
ral achnler, who feels u curiosity to inquire into the
present condition and circumstances of the second
city in the Briti.is dominions, and the seventh, pro.
batsly, in Europe—or to the patriot, who possesses
the desire and the means of advancing the prospe.
rity of his country, by promoting the interests and
forwarding the institutions of its metropolis, we
are satisfied this work will prove a most valuable
acquisition.
" The City of Dublin anciently consisted rf twenty Cor-
porations, to which five have been in latter times added.
" An ancient custom prevailed fur a long time iu the
City of Dublin, always against the great festivals of the
year, to invite the Lord Deputy, the Nubility, and other
persons of quality and rank, to an entertsineinent, 11l which
they first diverted them with stage plays, sod then regaled
them with a splendid banquet. The several Corporations
also, upon their Patron's slave, held themselves obliged to
the like observances, which were for a very lon time strictly ••
kept up and practised.
"We are told from a writer • (tee whom in other respects
we are ninth obliged?, that Thomas Fitzgerald Earl of Kil- '
dare, and Lord Lteeitenaiit of Ireland in the year 1528, was
invited to s new play every day in Christmas; Arland Umber
being then Mayor, and Francis Herbert and John Squirt, Bai.
lab ; wherein the Tailors acted the part of Adam and Eve;
the Shoemakers represented the part of Crispiu and Crispi-
anus; the Vintners acted Bacchus and his story; the Car-
penters that of Jose-ph and Mary; Vutean, and what related
to him, was acted by th,• Smiths; and the comedy of Ceres,
the Goddess of Corn, by the Bakers. The stage was erected
on Hoggin-green, now called College-green, and on it the
Priors of St. John of Jerusalem, of the Blessed Trinity, and
of All-Hallows, caused twee plays to be acted ; the one re-
presenting the Paulo's of our Saviour, and he other, the
several Deaths which the Apostles suffered.
• • • •

" Something upon this subject is to be met with in a
manuscript in the College Library, where it is said, • that in
the Parliament of 1541, wherein Henry VIII. was declared
King of Ireland, there were prisent the Earls cf Ormond
and Desmond, the Lord Barry, Mac-Gilla.Pharirig, Chieftane
of Ossory, the sons of O'Bryan, Mac-Carthy.mor, with
many Irish Lords—and on Corpus Cluisti.day they rude
about the streets with the processiun in their Parliament
robes, Reid the Nine Werthies was played, and the Mayor
bore the Mace before the Diputy on horseback. The SUS*
day following King Henry was proclaimed King of Ireland,
in St. Patrick's Church, •nd the next Sunday they had
tournaments on horseback, and running in the ring with
spears on horseback.'
• • I 000000

" Among other days of solemnity the Festival of St.
!George was celebrated with high veneration. lit the Chain
took of the city of Dublin are several entries to that
pie pose.
" Ist. It was ordered, in maintenance of the pageant of
St. George, that the Mayor of the foregoing year hi Id
find the Emperor and Empress with their train and fol. .
lower', well apparel!. d and Rerontred--that it to say, the •
Reparor attended with two doctors, and the Empress with
two knights, and two maidens richly apparelled to bear up
the train of her gown.
" Item. 2illy. The Mayor for the time being was hi find
St. Geory,e a horse and the Wardens to pay 3r. 441. ful. his
wager that day, The Bailiffs for the time being were to find
four houses, with men mounted en them well apparelled, to
bear the pole-sae, the standard, and the several swords of
the nutlet or and St. George.
" Item, 3ilty The elder Master of the Gnild was to find a
maiden well sills to lead the dravin, and the (leek of the
Market was to find a golden line f,, the dragon, &c.
" Other diveisions have been substituted in the room of
dime that were la!d aside.
" Exclusive of the entertainments at the Mayoralty
House, many of the Corporations adopted the custom of
walking in procession through the streets, on their rerMective
patron's days, dreamed out in the several colslars and em-
blems of their trades; from whence they retired to church
to hear the wand of God, and from thence to au eutertain.
mewl prodded at the tape:tire of their Corporations; bot Ibis
practice has been latterly discontinued."