172 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



of anyone, " as from relation of their parents and other old faithworthy 

 persons of said city of Dublin they often heard." For want of repair the 

 Alms House feU down about twenty years before. 



The jurors also found that King John, before his said gift, was seised to 

 take of ever)' brew of ale and mead for sale in Dublin, 3 gallons, and that the 

 taking of same was that custom which he was wont to have in the taverns, &c. 

 In addition, they found that the abbey took this continuously from the time 

 of the gift ; and they often heard old men say that the abbey had right and 

 title to what they claimed, by pretext of said gift 



Another document, which appears at foL 27 of the ancient Kegister, 

 contains a reconl of legal proceedings brought by the abbey against certain 

 brewers in Dublin, with the result in each case. These proceedings, as a 

 matter of fact, are earlier in point of time than those already considered, but 

 it seems more convenient to have hat! the origin of the tolboll first described. 

 The various pleas recited at length in them are of interest as affording an 

 insight into the nature of such as were used in courts of law in Ireland at this 

 early period. 



In the octaves and quinzaine of Sl Martin, 2 Edward the Second (1308), 

 John le Hore, William de Vylers, John Haywanl, John de Castleknock' 

 Hugh de Castleknock, Hugh Silvestre, Richard Ethnarde, Mabila Amalde, 

 John de Silleby, Elena de Donne, Joan Tyrell, Thomas Corlice, John Coliz, 

 ll'ilfrt Milt'in, William Comewayleis, Robert de Trapston, Ulissina Lotrix, 

 Walter de Nanglc, ■Juliana Honicode,' John Sampson, Wilham Botiller, 

 William Callane, Rogt^r Barboure, Walter Shereman, and William de Topishane 

 (brewers and tavemer*) were attached at suit of the King and of the Abbot 

 of St Thomas's, to answer wherefore they hindered the said abbot from taking 

 the custom of ale and mead (in this case a gallon and a half) granted by 

 King John, which were made in certain taverns in Dublin, from Tuesday 

 next before the feast of the Nati%'ity of St John the Baptist, 30 Edward I, to 

 20 October, 2 E<lward II, whereby the abbot avers that he has lost to the 

 value of £100. The defendants declared that they were not bound to answer, 

 as under royal charters citizens of DnbUn were not to be impleaded outside 

 the walls of the city, on any plea arising within it ; and the mayor, John le 

 Decer, sought that the plea shoidd be brought within the walls. The abbot 

 replicl that as this matter concerned the alms of the King's progenitors, and 

 bis own, being drawn away, it might be brought anywhere, and that the 

 citizens ought to answer in any place at the King's will for trespasses 



' Juliuu Honicote omed > mnanage in St. Werburgh'a parub, which before 1317 Willum de 

 Shereman ■chaired troa bar. (Deeds of St. WerbaTgh'i.) 



