Carlingford Castle: owners and constables
Niall C.E.J. O’Brien
Carlingford castle stands on the
west side of Carlingford Lough with the ruins of Greencastle on the east side –
both built to protect the seaward entrance to the Lough and the medieval
gateway to Ulster. This article is a recollection of the owners and constables
of Carlingford castle from when the castle was erected in the 1190s to the late
medieval ages at the end of the fifteenth century.
Early years of Carlingford castle
In the late twelfth Bertram de
Verdun was granted the whole Cooley peninsula in the years 1189-91 when Prince
John was Lord of Ireland. But Bertram de Verdun didn’t get time to settle the
area with colonists before his death in 1192. In 1195, Thomas de Verdun, son of
Bertram, considered the Cooley not to be of strategic importance to the
family’s Irish estates. In that year he gave a large part of the Cooley to Hugh
de Lacy after the latter married Thomas’s sister, Lescelina de Verdun. Hugh de
Lacy succeeded in developing the Cooley and founded the town of Carlingford.
Although Carlingford castle is often described as ‘King John’s castle’ it is
more likely that Hugh de Lacy was responsible for its construction.[1]
The original structure of the
castle was possibly oval in shape but this was changed in the 1260s with the
erection of the two story great hall on one side. In the nineteenth century a
deep railway cutting beside the castle isolated it from the town and makes the
structure stand out in the landscape.[2]
Plan of Carlingford castle by OPW
Rebellion of Hugh de Lacy
In 1208 Hugh de Lacy, Earl of
Ulster, supported the rebellion of William de Braose against King John but it
was not until the summer of 1209 that King John had removed the possible
Scottish invasion of England and could safely take an army to Ireland. King
John landed at Crook, near Waterford in June 1210 and moved northwards against
de Lacy and de Braose. By 9th July 1210 the King’s army had reached
Carlingford where Henry Fitz Earl received ten marks for taking two galleys
northwards with a message from King John. The King’s army stayed at Carlingford
for three days before moving on to Jordan de Sackville’s castle on 12th
July. The King’s army moved north through east Ulster until 19th
July when the army besieged and captured Carrickfergus castle.
Hugh de Lacy had abandoned all
his other castles, including Carlingford, in the hope of holding out in
Carrickfergus but the siege was short lived. Hugh de Lacy and his brother
Walter de Lacy escaped from Carrickfergus castle but many of their followers
were captured. After the end of the de Lacy rebellion King John turn south back
through east Ulster. On 2nd August he reached Carlingford and stayed
four days playing games and directing the rebuild of the castle. Nicholas the
carpenter received 20s while Master Osbert the quarryman and Alberic the
ditcher got 10s each.[3]
Carlingford area in royal hands
After the rebellion the de Lacy
lands in Meath and Ulster were taken into royal ownership including Carlingford
and the Cooley. In May 1212 King John granted one knight’s fee by the sea near
Carlingford in Ulster to Reginald, King of Man.[4] In
the same year £8 6s 8d was spent on the garrison of Carlingford castle for one
year.[5]
The castle was then a royal castle.
Roger Pipard of Co. Louth was
lord of Carlingford and the Cooley under commission from King John. On 6th
July 1215 King John sent a command to Roger Pipard to deliver to the attorney
of Henry, Archbishop of Dublin, the castles of Carlingford, Antrim and Rath
along with the bailiwicks of Ulster and Uriel (Louth).[6]
This was so that the Archbishop could surrender the castles and territory to
the new justiciar of Ireland, Geoffrey de Marisco.[7]
Richard de Burgh, constable of Carlingford, 1217
Sometime after July 1215 custody
of Carlingford castle was given to Richard de Burgh. This Anglo-Norman was the
son of William de Burgh and a daughter of Donal Mor, King of Thomond. Before
1225 Richard de Burgh married Egidia de Lacy, daughter of Walter de Lacy, and
Margaret de Braose and thus related to the Earl of Ulster. In 1224 Richard de
Burgh began to make real the grant of Connacht to his father and became the 1st
Lord of Connacht. The de Burgh/Burke family were important lords in Connacht
for centuries afterwards.
On 17th January 1217 a
mandate was sent by the King’s council at Oxford to Richard de Burgh to deliver
the King’s castle of Carlingford to Geoffrey de Marisco, justiciar of Ireland.
On the same day Roger Pipard was to deliver the King’s castle at Rath to the
justiciar.[8]
But the two castles could not be delivered to the justiciar as they were
previously seized by William de Lacy. William de Lacy was a half-brother of
Walter de Lacy and was sent into Meath and Ulster by his brother to make the
place ungovernable without a de Lacy in charge. In late January 1217 King Henry
III sent a command to William de Lacy to give up the castles to the justiciar
and pay for any damages done to the castles by William.[9]
Carlingford still a royal castle
On 4th October 1221
Geoffrey de Marisco surrendered to the King all the royal lands in Ireland and
the office of justiciar. But it was found that it was not customary to
surrender the royal castles by messenger or letter and therefore Geoffrey sent
Roger Huscari and David Basset to Westminster. The royal castles delivered up
to the King were Dublin, Limerick, Roscrea, Athlone, Carrickfergus and
Carlingford among others. Following the ceremony of surrender the King sent a
letter to Geoffrey de Marisco to deliver the royal castles to the new
justiciar, Henry, Archbishop of Dublin.[10]
On 25th June 1226 King
Henry III wrote to Geoffrey de Marisco, justiciar of Ireland, that he was
committing to Walter de Lacy a number of castles and estates in Ireland for
three years. Among the castles were Carrickfergus, Antrim and Rath which were
formerly held by Hugh de Lacy and Carlingford castle.[11]
Carlingford in de Lacy ownership
Throughout the 1220s the de Lacy
family were negotiating for their restoration of the Earldom of Ulster. On 15th
August 1226 the King granted Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster, a number of fairs at
his manors of Ratoath, Nobber and Carlingford. The fair at Carlingford was on
the vigil and feast of the Assumption and the thirteenth days after (14-28
August).[12]
In April 1227 King Henry III restored Hugh de Lacy to his lands in Ulster and
Meath.[13]
When Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster, died in 1243 without male heirs the Earldom
of Ulster was taken into royal hands. The King’s seneschals administrated the
Earldom until 1254 when Prince Edward was granted Ulster with the rest of
Ireland on his marriage to Eleanor of Castile.[14]
Fitzgerald ownership of Carlingford, 1229
In 1229 Hugh de Lacy, Earl of
Ulster, granted the castle and town of Carlingford to David Fitzgerald, 3rd
Baron of Naas, on the latter’s marriage with Hugh’s daughter Matilda. David Fitzgerald was then of the senior line of the Fitzgerald family in Ireland. The junior branches that later became the Earls of Kildare and Desmond were the survivors of succession as they produced male heirs. The House of Naas ended with David as he left only females heirs.[15] The
grant also included lands in Meath and Limerick.[16]
In 1244 Carlingford was chosen as
the place of embarkation for the King’s army in Ireland going overseas to
invade Scotland.[17]
In about 1261 a large construction project was started at the east side of
Carlingford castle overlooking the harbour. A two-storeyed hall was built with
attached buildings.[18]
Butler ownership of Carlingford, 1280
In about 1280 David Fitzgerald, 3rd
Baron of Naas, granted half the lordship of Carlingford to John the Butler on
the latter’s marriage with David’s daughter Matilda along with land at Ratoath
and Carrickittle in Limerick. David retained the castle and town of
Carlingford.[19]
Sometime shortly later, Matilda de Lacy gave to her daughter, Matilda de
Butler, the castle of Carlingford and the Cooley to hold forever. This grant
was in exchange for land given by Matilda de Butler in the Barony of Naas. On
12th November 1280 Matilda de Lacy wrote to all her tenants in
Carlingford telling them of her grant of same to Matilda de Butler and that
Matilda de Butler was now their lord.[20]
Loundres ownership of Carlingford, 1304
Matilda de Butler and her husband
John de Butler had five daughters, Matilda (wife of William de Loundres),
Margaret (wife of Richard de Loundres), Johanna (wife of Walter Lenfant), Rosia
(wife of Gerald de Rupe) and Lecelina (wife of Geoffrey Bryt).[21] In
1304 Matilda de Butler gave Carlingford castle and the town along with the
Cooley to her grandson William de Loundres, son of her daughter Matilda de
Loundres, to hold forever while giving Matilda de Butler thirty pounds of
silver for her life. On 11th April 1304 Matilda de Butler appointed
William son of Thomas, clerk, as her attorney to transfer the manor of
Carlingford to William de Loundres.[22]
De Burgh ownership of Carlingford, 1305
In 1243 William de Burgh
succeeded his father Richard de Burgh as lord of Connacht. In 1264 William de
Burgh was created 1st Earl of Ulster of the new creation by Prince
Edward and acquired the Earldom of Ulster in exchange for the manor of
Kilsheelan and other lands in Munster with the Prince.[23]
In 1271 William de Burgh was succeeded by his son Richard de Burgh, 2nd
Earl of Ulster, who obtained seisin of his estates in 1280.
On 13th May 1305 Nigel
de Brun gave to William de Loundres, Lord of Athboy, one carucate of land at
Molymartel which Philip Woodlock once held. This grant was made at the Loundres
manor of Carlingford but the manor would not long remain in the family. On 25th
June 1305 Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connacht gave William de
Loundres, Lord of Athboy, one messuage, one water mill, two carucates and 80
acres of land along with 74 acres of meadow, 220 acres of pasture and moor at
Molymartel in exchange for the manor, castle and town of Carlingford and the
land of Cooley and 245 marks. The advowson of Carlingford church was excluded
from the sale as it was held by the Knight’s Templar.[24]
It is not clear what immediate
impact the de Burgh purchase of Carlingford had on the town and castle. it was
possibly just a case of business as usual. In 1315 the quiet surroundings of
Carlingford was broken by the sounds of war as Edward Bruce invaded Ulster.
Greencastle was taken and a Scottish garrison installed under an Irishman. By
29th June Dundalk was taken and destroyed. In July the justiciar
marched north through Dundalk and Carlingford in the company of Richard de
Burgh, Earl of Ulster, among many others. The Scots retreated into Ulster. At
Carlingford the justiciar halted his army and allowed Richard de Burgh command
of part of the army to pursue the Scots. On 3rd October the Scots
suddenly gave battle at Connor after previously persuading the O’Connors of
Connacht to leave the Earl’s army. The Earl of Ulster fought bravely but had to
give up his position and fled to Connacht to try to control the waring
O’Connors. The Earl was later imprisoned by the citizens of Dublin on the
accusation of assisting the Scottish army.[25]
The Earl’s daughter, Elizabeth had married Robert the Bruce in 1302.
Geoffrey le Blound, constable of Carlingford, 1320
It is not clear how Carlingford
castle performed in the Scottish invasion which was eventually defeated in
1318. In 1320 Geoffrey le Blound was appointed constable of Carlingford castle.[26] On
30th July 1326 the bailiffs of Carlingford received letters patent
from King Edward II to aid with enclosing their town with a stone wall, for six
years.[27]
Richard de Burgh died in 1326 and
was succeeded by his grandson, William de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster.
The young Earl of Ulster left the administration of Connacht to his cousin,
Walter de Burgh but Walter ran his own show in Connacht to the disquiet of the
Earl. When the Earl tried to impose order on his barons it led to resistance.
On 6th June 1333 the Earl was on his way from Newtownards to
Carrickfergus when at Belfast he was treacherously murdered by John de Logan
with Robert, son of Richard de Mandeville and Robert, son of Martin de
Mandeville. Richard de Mandeville was the husband of Gyle de Burgh, sister of
Walter de Burgh.
William de Burgh’s widow,
Matilda, daughter of Earl Henry of Lancaster, fled to England with her infant
daughter Elizabeth, heir to Ulster and Connacht.[28]
After the murder of William de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, Carlingford castle was
taken into the King’s hand by reason of the minority of the Earl’s heir.
At the time of his death in 1333
William de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, held the castle and manor of Carlingford in
County Louth of the king in chief for the service of one knight’s fee. The
property also included the Cooley and the new town of Cooley along with
property at Ballykan, Maydensland, Knockegan, Ballylug, Dunregan, and Kingsland
to name but a few.[29]
Byndo Guydelot, constable of Carlingford, 1334
On 11th December 1334
King Edward III wrote to the escheator of Ireland to deliver Carlingford castle
to his yeoman, Byndo Guydelot of Florence who was recently granted custody of
the castle. The escheator was to ensure that Byndo was paid the accustomed fee
out of the issues of le Coly and other lands attached to the castle.[30]
In September 1339 the King promised to repay a loan of 100 marks received from
Byndo Geyl, merchant of Florence.[31] Was
this person the same as that constable of Carlingford? It is difficult to say
for sure.
Lionel, Duke of Clarence ownership of Carlingford, 1347
After her escape from Ireland
Elizabeth de Burgh settled in England as the most sought after heiress of her
day. At an early time King Edward III betrothed the young heiress to his third
son, Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence. They were married in 1352 but in 1347
Lionel gained possession of her Irish estates and was made 4th Earl
of Ulster and 5th Lord of Connacht. Elizabeth de Burgh died in 1363
and Lionel of Antwerp died in 1368. Their only child, Philippa Plantagenet was
born in August 1355 at Eltham Palace. At the time of his death in 1368 Lionel
was seized of the manor of Carlingford among other places. Carlingford was held
of the king in chief by the service of one knight’s fee.[32]
Mortimer ownership of Carlingford, 1369
In August 1369 Philippa
Plantagenet married Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and
Carlingford passed into the Mortimer family. Edmund Mortimer served as Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland in the 1370s and on 27th December 1381 died at
Cork. On the death of Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March and Ulster, his lands in
England, Wales and Ireland came into the King’s hands because of the minority
of his heir, Roger Mortimer.[33]
Walter Somery, constable of Carlingford, 1382
Because of the better survival of
royal records compared to those of the large landed gentry we get the names of
some constables of Carlingford castle from 1382 onwards as the Mortimer estates
were for a long time held by the crown due to the minority of a number of hers.
On 1st June 1382 Walter Somery was granted the office of constable
of the castle of Carlingford and Greencastle in Ulster; and seneschal of the
lordships of Coly and Mournes, and receiver of the said lordship of Mournes;
along with keeper of both parts of the ferry-toll between Greencastle and le
Coly. Walter Somery was to take a fee of £20 per year from the issues of the
lordship, together with the profits of the said ferry-toll and other fees
belonging to the said castles by right or custom. During his time as constable
Walter Somery was to render faithful accounts of the issues and profits of the
lordship to the Exchequer in Dublin. In this grant it appears that Carlingford
was the secondary castle as Walter Somery was instructed to stay continually in
person at Greencastle for its safe custody.[34]
John White, constable of Carlingford, 1380s
Sometime after 1382 Walter Somery
was replaced as constable of Carlingford castle by John White. Presumingly
Greencastle and the lordship of the Mourne Mountains remained by Walter. On 8th
May 1387 John White was replaced as constable at Carlingford by Hugh More.[35]
Hugh More, constable of Carlingford, 1387
On 8th May 1387 Hugh
More was appointed constable of Carlingford castle, by Robert de Vere, Marquis
of Dublin, with the accustomed fees. Carlingford was granted to Robert de Vere,
one of the chief favourites of King Richard II, during the minority of Roger de
Mortimer.[36]
John White was ordered to deliver Carlingford castle to Hugh More.[37]
In the summer of 1388 the Lord of Nithsdale plundered and burnt Carlingford
with 500 men before re-joining the Scottish army in the north of England.[38]
Edmund Loundres, constable of Carlingford, 1388
Hugh More didn’t remain long as
constable of Carlingford, possibly because he failed to defend the place
against the Scots. On 18th August 1388 Edmund Loundres was appointed
constable of Carlingford castle for six years for the Marquis of Dublin. Edmund
was also responsible for the lands attached to the castle and in the lordship
the Cooley peninsula.[39]
On the following day, 19th
August 1388, Edmund Loundres was allowed to have Carlingford castle without
rendering anything for the first year and £16 per year afterwards to the
Exchequer. This generous conditions of employment was because at that time the
castle at time was described as ‘being out of repair and unsafe’ hence the need
for Edmund Loundres to spend extra money on repairs, over and above the normal repair
bill. William, son of Nicholas Nugent, baron of Delvin, and John Loundres of
Co. Meath agreed to act as guarantors for Edmund Loundres to pay the rent.[40]
In the time of King John Carlingford was located within the lordship of Ulster
but by 1388 it and the Cooley Peninsula were in Co. Louth.[41]
Meanwhile English politics was to
change the governance of Carlingford. In 1386 the fear of a full scale invasion
from France and other issues turned the chief barons against King Richard II
and his royal favourites, one of the chief favourites was Robert de Vere. In
October 1386 the royal government was placed under Parliamentary rule for one
year. King Richard toured Wales and the Midlands gathering support with de Vere
by his side. But in late 1387 the King’s attempt to recover power met with
complete collapse. After the defeat at Radcot Bridge De Vere fled overseas and
died at Louvain in 1392. The Lordship of Ireland now resumed under the Commission.
In April 1388 an order was sent to the Bishop of Meath, justiciar of Ireland
for de Vere, to destroy all the Irish seals of de Vere and regrant all the
appointment made by de Vere.[42]
This order was not immediately put into operation as the appointment of Edmund
Loundres to Carlingford was made in August 1388 in the name of Robert de Vere.[43]
On 28th June 1389 Edmund
Loundres was appointed by King Richard II as constable of Carlingford castle and
lord of the Cooley. Edmund Loundres asked to be allowed hold the castle without
rendering for the first two years as the attached lands were so burned and
wasted by the King's enemies.[44] The
O’Neill Mor was steadily pressing on the colonists of Ulster for a number of
years and the Dublin government was unable to take effective action against
him. Only with the capture of O’Neill’s son did John de Stanley, justiciar of
Ireland, advance to Ulster. On 20th February 1390 a peace treaty was
made with O’Neill which held for a number of years.[45]
Instead of two years free rent
Edmund Loundres was allowed to levy the issues and profits of Carlingford and
the Cooley for a further two years following the first two years for his own
use and for the maintenance of the castle.[46]
Carlingford royal service
The security situation around
Carlingford had become so serious that two royal services were summoned to
defend the district. In 1388 following the Scottish attack the first service
was made with limited response.[47]
On 16th February 1392 another royal service was proclaimed for all
the chief lords of Ireland to appear at Carlingford well-armed with their
soldiers. Not everyone answered the call and Thomas Butler was fined 60s for
non-appearance. On 2nd May 1392 he had this reduced to 20s because
his lands at Ballymellyn were in waste and he couldn’t pay the original fine.[48]
Roger Mortimer succeeds to Carlingford
By the grant of 1388 Edmund
Loundres was made constable of Carlingford for six years, i.e. to end in 1394.
It is not sure if he served the full six years or got a renewal of his
appointment. On 18th June 1393 Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl
of March and 6th Earl of Ulster, recovered his Irish estates from
the hands of the crown. It is possible that Roger Mortimer appointed his own
man to be constable of Carlingford. Roger Mortimer spent much of his adult life
as he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1382 while still a child. As the
nearest blood relation to King Richard II, Roger Mortimer was accepted by many
as heir-presumptive to the throne. On 20th July 1398 while out
riding near Kellistown, Co. Carlow, Roger Mortimer was killed in a skirmish
with Irish troops. Roger’s death left the vast Mortimer inheritance in another
royal wardship as his son Edmund Mortimer was only seven years old.[49]
Mortimer arms
Stephen Gernon, constable of Carlingford, 1400
Because of the Mortimer minority
Carlingford came once again into royal hands. By 1400 Stephen Gernon was constable
of Carlingford castle under that royal commission. The Gernon family were long
residents in County Louth. On 28th April 1400 Stephen Gernon was
allowed to receive £20 from the foreign betaghs in the lordship of Mourne for
the custody of Greencastle. For the custody of Carlingford castle, Stephen
Gernon was allowed 100s (£5) with castell muse and other appurtenances.[50]
By this grant it appears that
Greencastle was considered the more important castle to defend. This also
repeats opinion of the earlier grant to Walter Somery in 1382 where he was
instructed to live at Greencastle and just act as constable of Carlingford.[51]
On 27th November 1400
Stephen Gernon, constable of the two castles of Greencastle and Carlingford,
got a licence to take for his money grain and tithes within the lordship of
Cooley for the victualling of the two castles.[52] A
year later, on 12th December 1401 John and Thomas More received a
licence to buy 40 crannocks of wheat and oats from grain offered for sale in Co.
Louth and to transport them to the castles of Carlingford and Greencastle for
the victualling of same.[53]
But shortly after Stephen Gernon ran
into trouble as he was accused on involvementin the murder of John Dowdall,
sheriff of Louth, and along with James White and Christopher White had
judgements passed against him. A fourth person, Sir Bartholomew de Verdun was
outlawed. In 1404 the four petitioned the King to have the judgements annulled
and their lands restored as they had nothing to live on in England. This
petition was not successful and in 1406 Stephen, James and Christopher asked
for an annulment of their outlawry and a pardon Stephen and James for escaping
from Tutbury castle.[54]
John More, constable of Carlingford, 1401
On 17th March 1401 the
above John More was appointed constable of the castles of Carlingford and
Greencastle.[55]
On 20th February 1403 a grant was made to John More, for past
services, of the manor of Raskeagh lying in the marches of Dundalk. The manor
had been utterly devastated by the Irish enemies of O’Neil, Magennis and
O’Hanlon, and had come into the King's hand on account of the forfeiture of
Reginald Haddesore. John more was to render one un-mewed sparrow-hawk annually
for all the services due from the manor. This grant was made to John More as
constable of Carlingford and Greencastle.[56]
John More was appointed constable
of the two castles on a fee of £25 for the first year. But John More considered
this amount to be insufficient to maintain the two castles and before February
1403 he petitioned King Henry IV for an increase as he said that Edmund
Loundres, former constable had an allowance of 80 marks per year. On 26th
February 1403 John More was allowed custody of the two castles with the fee of
£40 per year from the rents of two thirds of the lands of Carlingford, Cooley
and the Mourne (the other third of the rents were held in dower by Eleanor,
widow of Roger Mortimer). If the rents of these lands was insufficient to meet
the £40 fee John More could receive the balance from the revenues of Ireland
provided that 10 marks (£6 13s 4d) should be spent annually upon the repair of
the two castles.[57]
But the two thirds of the rents
of Carlingford, Cooley and Mourne only amounted to £34 3s per year and the
Exchequer in Dublin was slow to pay the balance. By 1407 the Exchequer payment
had gone into arrears. On 12th March 1407 an order was made to pay the
arrears to John More. By that time Lady Eleanor Mortimer was dead and so John
More was further granted the remaining one third of Carlingford, Cooley and
Mourne to have for as long as he held the custody of the castles of Carlingford
and Greencastle. For the remainder of his custody John More was freed from
furnishing an account and the fee of £40 could be deducted for the repairs of
the two castles.[58]
Carlingford castle
The repair of the two castles of
Carlingford and Greencastle was of sufficient importance to the local
community. In 1410 the provost, bailiffs and community of Carlingford
petitioned the Dublin government for relief of all subsidies, tallages and
military expenses until the coming of age of Edmund Mortimer. The townsfolk
declared that the town and lordship of Carlingford contained only 20 carucates
of land, and was cut off from the rest of County Louth both by high mountains
and wooded passes. This prevented help from coming to aid the town against the
frequent attacks by the Irish and Scots. On 13th March 1410, at the
request of Richard Sydgrave, baron of the Exchequer, the town was granted
freedom from all such taxes.[59]
The waters around Carlingford
were also dangerous for locals and visitors alike with pirates and raiders
having control of the seas. See the article of a group of Minehead fishermen
captured off Carlingford in 1404 = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2015/06/minehead-fishermen-at-carlingford-in.html
Among the reasons put forward by
Janico Dartas, the next constable of Carlingford castle, to remove John More
had to do with the repairs of the castle and that fact that John More was
absent overseas for a number of years.[60] In
December 1405 John More, citizen and merchant of London, nominated Janico
Dartas and Hugh White as his Irish attorneys for the ensuing year.[61] But
the appointment of John More in 1401 described him as John More, esquire of
Ireland.[62]
Maybe Janico Dartas was making use of two people with the same name to say that
John the constable was absent for years.
Janico Dartas, constable of Carlingford, 1408
In this difficult time for the
people of Carlingford, the castle got a new constable called Janico Dartas in
about 1408. Janico Dartas was appointed by Stephen Lescrope, deputy of Thomas
of Lancaster, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. But if the people hoped for relief
from the frequent attacks by the military skill of Janico Dartas they were to
be disappointed. In 1408 Janico Dartas demised the job of constable to Peter
Dowdall in return for £18 per year.[63]
It seems that Janico Dartas was
more interested in Carlingford castle for the income he could get out of the
place than with defending the castle against Irish and Scottish attackers. This
was a life time pattern of acquiring government revenues for himself. In
October/November 1399 Janio Dartas petitioned King Henry IV for a grant from
the revenues of London and Drogheda.[64] In
May 1400 Janico Dartas was appointed constable of Trim castle. On his surrender
of Trim castle in April 1404 Janico Dartas received a grant from King Henry IV of
£100 per year from the Dublin Exchequer for life. This was confirmed by Henry V
and the Exchequer accounts of the early 1420s show Janico receiving the money.
Janico Dartas married Joan Taaffe, a member of a prominent Meath family and
acquired a large property portfolio in Meath and Leinster.[65]
In the 1420s James White was
appointed seneschal of Ulster by the King but after a year Janico Dartas
successful convinced the King that the job was vacant and was appointed
seneschal. In July 1425 Janico Dartas was made seneschal of Ulster and
constable of Greencastle. On 12th December 1426 James White
petitioned the King for restoration of his position as seneschal which he lost
by foul means.[66]
James White was not the only person
disgusted with Janico Dartas. John More, the former constable of Carlingford
castle was also aggrieved at his dismissal. In about 1408 John More petitioned
the King for restoration of his position as constable of Carlingford and
Greencastle.[67]
Later unknown date John Cusack, sheriff
of Louth, was amerced for 6s 8d because he didn’t return a writ of scire facias (a writ requiring a person
to show why a judgement regarding a record or patent should not be enforced or
annulled) between John More and Janico Dartas concerning the castles of
Carlingford and Greencastle.[68]
The result of the disputes between the constables is not known.
A number of years later Janico
Dartas acquired the job of constable of Dublin castle and various other fees
and wages. But his possession of same was questioned by others. In 1419 Janio
Dartas petitioned the King for letters patent confirming his possessions and
that he was given these revenues by King Henry IV and they were recently
confirmed under the great seal of Normandy.[69]
On 16th September 1420
King Henry V granted Janico Dartas, in reward for good service, the manors of
Esker, Newcastle, Lyons, Tassagard and Crumlin around Dublin. But the grant
failed to mention other gifts and grants previously received by Janico which
were contrary to the ordinance. On 18th February 1421 a writ was
issued to the Bishop of Durham, chancellor, to draw up letters under the Great
Seal to make good Janio’s possession of the five manors. But the Bishop of
Durham failed to draw up a letter of confirmation relating to the manor of
Crumlin and Laurence Merbury got a grant of same from the Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland. on 28th July 1426 Janico Dartas petitioned the King for new
letters patent to hold Crumlin for life with the issues from the manor
backdated to the original grant.
The new letters were drawn up but
Janico Dartas didn’t long enjoy the manors as by December 1426 he was dead. On
7th December 1426 Thomas Everyngham petitioned for the job of constable
of Dublin castle on the same terms as Janico Dartas held it and stated that
Janico Dartas was then deceased.[70]
Edmund Mortimer succeeds to Carlingford
On 9th June 1413
Edmund Mortimer was given control of his estates in England, Wales and Ireland
by King Henry V. In 1415 Edmund Mortimer recived papal dispensation to marry
his cousin, Anne Stafford, who like Edmund, was a descendant of King Edward III
and so strengthening Edmund’s claim to the throne. Henry V was naturally
displeased and imposed a fine of 10,000 marks. But Edmund Mortimer was entirely
loyal to the King and fought in the French wars. On 9th May 1423
Edmund Mortimer was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. But although Edmund
Mortimer was lord of Connacht, Ulster and Meath he at first opted to stay in
England. After a dispute and the death of his kinsman, Sir John Mortimer,
Edmund Mortimer came to Ireland in 1424 but his stay was cut short as on 18th
January 1425 he died of the plague at Trim castle. Edmund Mortimer left no male
heirs and the vast Mortimer estate passed via his sister Anne Mortimer to her
son, Richard, Duke of York, through whom the Yorkist claim to the throne
contributed to the War of the Roses.[71]
Henry Grey, constable of Carlingford, pre 1425
Edmund Mortimer had appointed
Henry Grey as constable of Carlingford without acquiring a licence from the
King. Previous appointments by the Mortimer family were not subject to such a
licence and it appears that because Richard, Duke of York, was a minor at his
father’s death in 1415, the crown just wished to ensure its own power.[72]
On 18th May 1425 Henry Grey received a pardon, on payment of a fine,
for becoming constable of Carlingford without licence and was allowed to
continue to hold the job for life with all customs, profits, and the ferry-toll
income, along with the lordship of Cooley.[73]
On the same day at Drogheda, 18th
May 1425, a similar pardon in return for a fine was made to Sir James White and
his sons, Christopher, Louis, John and Patrick for accepting the office of deputy
constable of Carlingford castle in Cole and of the ferry-toll from the Henry
Grey.[74]
Paul Gosling said that the ‘documentary records tell us nothing of conditions
in the castle … or of the lives of its countless inhabitants and nameless
garrison’.[75]
For the most part this statement is true but we can with some confidence that
the White family in about 1425 were the garrison. It is sometimes supposed that
a large medieval castle would have a large garrison but in most cases a few
men, maybe a dozen as most, were the full garrison. There was no standard army
in medieval times and most soldiers were civilians called up by their lord in
times of emergency to defend their district or attack hostile territory. In the
sixteenth century when a permanent government army was formed castles were
often only garrisoned by a dozen men of less.
John Stafford, constable of Carlingford, July 1427
On 29th July 1427 John
Stafford was appointed as the royal constable of Carlingford castle and two
part of the lordship of Cooley with the fishery, rents and customs attached to
the castle and lordship for as long as the castle was in the King’s hand. John
Reve and William Crike of Co. Louth gave mainprize for John’s good behaviour
and that he would fulfil the job and render 40s per year for the lordship.
Another source records that the grant was worth 100s per year.[76]
Henry Grey, constable of Carlingford, August 1427
But John Stafford didn’t stay
long as constable of Carlingford castle – he may even didn’t get a catch to
visit it. Within a fortnight John Stafford was removed as constable and on 12th
August 1427 at Trim Henry Grey was reappointed constable of Carlingford along
with two thirds of the lordship of Cooley for as long as the King held the
estate. For the office Henry Grey was to render 4 marks (£2 13s 4d) per year. William
Sutton of Trim and Richard Neuport of Co. Meath gave mainprize for Henry’s good
behaviour.[77]
Three days before Henry grey’s
reappointment, on 9th August 1427, William Sutton was made receiver
to the King's use of eels and other fish that belonged by custom to Carlingford
castle and was to answer at the Exchequer.[78]
Edmund White, constable of Carlingford castle, 1469
It is not known for how long
Henry Grey remained as constable of Carlingford castle. The next constable of
record was Edmund White in 1469. He held responsibility for Carlingford and
Greencastle as was customary since the late fourteenth century.[79]
Edmund White was an appointee of John Tiptolf, Earl of Worcester and Lord
Deputy of Ireland. The White family were in competition with the Savage family
for control of the Earldom of Ulster at the time.[80]
Carlingford castle after 1469
In 1495 a law was passed that
none but Englishmen should be henceforth appointed as constable of the castle.[81]
Clearly a number of people of the Irish race were constables between 1427 and
1495 to the displeasure of the authorities. Since March 1461 the ownership of
Carlingford had passed into royal hands when Edward of York became King of
England. Before he became King, Edward was 4th Duke of York, 7th
Earl of March, 5th Earl of Cambridge and 9th Earl of
Ulster and heir of Carlingford from the de Burgh and Mortimer families.[82]
After the end of the medieval
period Carlingford castle continued to have a garrison even if its strategic
location on the route to Ulster was by-passed by other land routes, notably the
Moyry Pass. In the early eighteen century the castle was finally abandoned and
became the ruin that we see today.[83]
Conclusion
Thus we come to the end of the
medieval story of Carlingford castle. The castle changed through the hands of
many families and was subject to long periods under royal control by the
minorities of the aristocratic heirs. It played an important role in defending
the entrance to the Earldom of Ulster and as a link between the north under
pressure and the wider English colony of Leinster. Although we have greater
records of the castle under royal administration it would seem that the castle
fared better when under its secular owners who built the castle in the twelfth
century and rebuilt it in the mid thirteenth century. Today due to the poor
condition of the structure much of the castle is closed off to the public. It is
the hope that this article will open up the castle to the public in literature if
not in some future physical form.
===========
End of post
===========
[1]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), pp. 1, 3
[2]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 38
[3]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251 (5 vols. Kraus reprint,
1974), nos. 404, 407; A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A
history of Medieval Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), pp. 79, 80
[4]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251 (5 vols. Kraus reprint,
1974), no. 428
[5]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An Antiquarian’s
Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 44
[6]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 611
[7]
A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), p. 86
[8]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, nos. 741, 742
[9]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251,
no. 755; A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of
Medieval Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), p. 89
[10]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 1015
[11]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 1386
[12]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 1544
[13]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents
relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251, no.
1498
[14]
Goddard Henry Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, 1169-1333 (Four Courts Press,
Dublin, 2005), vol. III, p. 267
[15]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 5
[16]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register (Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1916),
p. 146
[17]
H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, vol. 1, 1171-1251 (5 vols. Kraus reprint,
1974), no. 2687
[18]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), pp. 41, 44
[19]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register (Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1916),
p. 147
[20]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register,
p. 148
[21]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register,
p. xiii
[22]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register,
pp. 148, 149
[23]
Goddard Henry Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, 1169-1333 (Four Courts Press,
Dublin, 2005), vol. III, p. 266
[24]
James Mills & M.J. McEnery (ed.), Calendar
of the Gormanston Register,
pp. 149, 150; Calendar of Patent Rolls,
Edward II, 1307-1313, p. 394
[25]
Colm McNamee, The Wars of the Bruces: Scotland, England and Ireland, 1306-1328
(Tuckwell Press, East Linton, 1997), pp. 171, 173, 174; J.R.S. Phillips, ‘The
Mission of John de Hotham to Ireland, 1315-1316’, in England and Ireland in the Later Middle Ages: Essays in honour of
Jocelyn Otway-Ruthven, edited by James Lydon (Irish Academic Press,
Blackrock, 1981), p. 72
[26]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 44
[28]
Goddard Henry Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, 1169-1333 (Four Courts Press,
Dublin, 2005), vol. IV, pp. 239, 240, 243, 245, 246
[29]
J.E.E.S. Sharp (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. VII, Edward
III (Kraus reprint, 1973), No. 537, (p. 372)
[31]
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III,
1338-1340, p. 309
[32]
J.B.W. Chapman (ed.), Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Vol. XII, Edward
III (Kraus reprint, 1973), No. 322, (p. 321)
[33]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/5-richard-ii/91
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 23; RCH
[34]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/5-richard-ii/91
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 23; RCH
[38]
A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), p. 321
[40]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/12-richard-ii/43
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 23; RCH.; Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local
Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 44
[41]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/12-richard-ii/43
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 23; RCH; H.S. Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland,
vol. 1, 1171-1251, no. 428
[42]
A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), pp. 319, 320, 321
[44]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/13-richard-ii/28
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 24; RCH
[45]
A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), p. 322
[46]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/13-richard-ii/28
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 24; RCH
[47]
A.J. Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland (Ernest Benn, London, 1980), p. 321
[50]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/1-henry-iv/64
Sourced from RCH; NAI, M 2645, p. 37; NLI, GO MS 193, p. 42
[51]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/5-richard-ii/91
Sourced from RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 23; RCH
[52]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/2-henry-iv/12
Sourced from RCH; RIA, MS 24.D.5, p. 25; Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage
Trust, 1992), p. 44
[54]
Philomena Connolly, ‘Irish material in the class of ancient petitions (SC8) in
the Public Record Office, London’, in Analecta
Hibernica, No. 34 (1987), pp. 10, 39
[55]
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV,
1399-1401, p. 449; https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/8-henry-iv/75
[59]
https://chancery.tcd.ie/document/patent/11-henry-iv/79
accessed on 3 June 2015; Sourced from NLI, [Harris], MS 4, f. 167 & RCH;
NLI, GO MS 193, p. 67.
[60]
Ruairi Ó Baoill, Excavations at
Greencastle, County Down, CAF Data Structure Report No. 47 (CAF, Belfast,
2007), p. 8
[61]
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV,
1405-1408, p. 99
[62]
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV,
1399-1401, p. 449
[63]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 44
[64]
Paul Dryburgh & Brendan Smith (eds.), Handbook
and Select Calendar of Sources for Medieval Ireland in the National Archives of
the United Kingdom (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005), p. 164
[65]
Michael Potterton, Medieval Trim History
and Archaeology (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005), pp. 110, 111; Philomena
Connolly (ed.), Irish Exchequer Payments
(Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1998), pp. 552, 553, 554
[66]
Paul Dryburgh & Brendan Smith (eds.), Handbook
and Select Calendar of Sources for Medieval Ireland in the National Archives of
the United Kingdom (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005), p. 193; Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry VI,
1422-1429, p. 287
[67]
Philomena Connolly, ‘Irish material in the class of ancient petitions (SC8) in
the Public Record Office, London’, in Analecta
Hibernica, No. 34 (1987), p. 102
[69]
Philomena Connolly, ‘Irish material in the class of ancient petitions (SC8) in
the Public Record Office, London’, in Analecta
Hibernica, No. 34 (1987), p. 103
[70]
Paul Dryburgh & Brendan Smith (eds.), Handbook
and Select Calendar of Sources for Medieval Ireland in the National Archives of
the United Kingdom (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005), pp. 178, 190, 191,
193
[75]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 43
[79]
Ruairi Ó Baoill, Excavations at
Greencastle, County Down, CAF Data Structure Report No. 47 (CAF, Belfast,
2007), p. 8
[80]
K. Simms, ‘The King’s Friend: O Neill, the Crown and the Earldom of Ulster’, in
England and Ireland in the Later Middle
Ages: Essays in honour of Jocelyn Otway-Ruthven, edited by James Lydon (Irish
Academic Press, Blackrock, 1981), p. 231
[81]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), p. 44
[83]
Paul Gosling, Carlingford Town: An
Antiquarian’s Guide (Carlingford Local Heritage Trust, 1992), pp. 1, 9
Great article, thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy patrrnal ancestors were Mandeville and White