IRISH DOCUMENTS # 1
Statutes of
Kilkenny (1366)
Whereas at
the conquest of the land of Ireland and for a long time after, the
English of
the said land used the English language, mode of riding and apparel and
were
governed and ruled, they and their subjects...by the English law; in
which time
the rights of God and of Holy Church and their liberties according to
their
conditions were maintained in due obedience.
But now many English of the said land, forsaking the English language,
fashion, mode of riding, laws, and usages, live and govern themselves
according
to the manners, fashion and language of the Irish enemies, and also
have made
divers marriages and alliances between themselves and the Irish enemies
aforesaid; whereby the said land and the liege people thereof, the
English
language, the allegiance due to our lord the King, and the English laws
there
are put in subjection and decayed and the Irish enemies exalted and
raised up
contrary to right....
Firstly, it
is ordained...that Holy Church be free and have all her franchises
without
infringement.... Also it is ordained and established that no alliance
by
marriage...fostering of children, concubinage or amour...be henceforth
made
between the English and Irish.... And that no Englishman or other
person being
at peace shall give or sell to any Irish in time of peace or war horses
or
armour or any manner of victuals in time of war. And if any do to
the contrary and thereof be
attaint, that he shall have judgment of life and limb as a traitor to
our lord
the King.
Also it is
ordained and established that every Englishman shall use the English
language
and be named by an English name, leaving off entirely the manner of
naming used
by the Irish; and that every Englishman use the English custom,
fashion, mode
of riding and apparel according to his estate....
Also,
whereas diversity of government and divers laws in one land cause
disunity of
allegiance and disputes among the people, it is agreed and established
that no
English having disputes with other English henceforth make distraint or
take
pledge, distress, or vengeance against any other whereby the people may
be
troubled, but that they shall sue each other at the common law.... And
that no
difference of allegiance henceforth be made between the English born in
Ireland
and the English born in England by calling them 'English hobbe' or
'Irish dog,'
but that all shall be called by one name [i.e.] the English lieges of
our lord
the King....
Also,
whereas a land which is at war requires that every person do render
himself
able to defend himself, it is ordained and established that the
[English] use
not henceforth the games which men call 'hurlings' with great clubs at
ball
upon the ground, from which great evils and maims have arisen to the
weakening
of the defence of the said land....
Also it is
ordained that no Irish...shall be admitted into any cathedral or
collegiate
church...amongst the English of the land.... Also, whereas the Irish
minstrels
coming among the English spy out the secrets, customs and policies of
the
English whereby great evils have often happened, it is...forbidden that
any
Irish minstrels...shall come amongst the English; and that no English
receive
them or make gift to them....
Also it is
agreed and assented that one peace and one war shall be throughout the
entire
land, so that if any Irish or English be at war in one county the
counties
around them shall make war and harass them in their Marches.... Also it
is ordained that, if dispute arise
between English and English whereby the English on one side and on the
other
gather to themselves English and Irish in the country there to remain
to make
war upon and aggrieve the other to the great damage and destruction of
the
King's liege people, it is agreed and assented that no English shall be
so
daring as to stir up war with each other to draw away henceforward any
English
or Irish for such purpose....
Also,
whereas the commons of the land complain that they are in divers ways
distressed by want of servants, for which the assigned Justices of
Labourers
are much the cause by reason that the common labourers are for a great
part
absent and fly out of the said land; it is agreed...that, because
living and
victuals are much dearer than they were wont to be, each labourer,
reasonably
in his degree according to the discretion of two of the most
substantial and
discreet men of the city [etc.] where he shall perform his labour,
shall
receive his maintenance in gross or by the day....
Poynings'
Law (1495)
An act that no parliament be holden in this land until
the acts be certified in England
Item, at
the request of the commons of the land of Ireland, be it ordained,
enacted and
established, that...no parliament be holden hereafter in the said land,
but at
such season as the king's lieutenant and council there first do certify
the
king, under the great seal of that land...; and if any parliament be
holden in
that land hereafter, contrary to the form and provision aforesaid, it
be deemed
void and of none effect in law.