I 



Falkiner — The IrhJi Guarda. 16 



the regiment, who, in a counter-petition, demanded an inquiry into the 

 matters complained of, averring their indignation at aspersions which 

 they stigmatised as "a high reflection on the officers and soldiers of the 

 said Guards, either in committing or suifering such oppressions to he 

 committed hy those under their command."^ But in general the rela- 

 tions between soldiery and civilians were harmonious, and Dublin -^as 

 proud of the regiment. In 1666- "his grace the Duke of Ormond, 

 taking notice of the many buildings lately made on Oxmantown Green, 

 which have taken up so much room there that His Majesty's Horse and 

 Foot Guards and the City Militia have not conveniency to exercise as 

 formerly," and " recommending the city to take present orders that 

 the grounds upon St. Stephen's Green, lately walled in, be forthwith 

 made iit for that purpose," the Assembly cheerfully ordered that the 

 ground should be levelled and made smooth with that object. This was 

 accordingly done, and thenceforth St. Stephen's Green became the 

 parade-ground of the Guards. A review of the regiment on this ground 

 twenty years later is described in Clarendon's State Letters.^ 



A further memorial of the connexion of the Irish Guards with 

 Dublin is supplied in the records of two Dublin parishes. The 

 regiment appears to have attended Divine service regularly every 

 Friday, sometimes in St. Michael's and sometimes in St. Audoen's, 

 and in 1671 Lord Arran contributed a sum of £150 towards the re- 

 building of the latter church. In requital of his liberality it was 

 ordered " that the arms and supporters of the said Earl of Arran be 

 fairly presented and erected in the said church " f and further, that 

 every commissioned officer of the Royal regiment, from the said Eaid 

 to the ensign, should henceforth enjoy all privileges and indemnities of 

 parishioners in regard to marriage, christenings, and burials. The 

 parish of St. Michael was less fortunate, when two years later it 

 solicited a like contribution, notwithstanding that it was averred that 

 "for several years past the several companies of the Royal regiment 

 practised in this city have made use of the Church of St. Michael, 

 but in all that time nothing hath been contributed towards the repara- 

 tion of the said church or the seats thereof." 



Mention has just been made of the City Militia, and some confusion 

 might easily occur between the two bodies, which in the Assembly rolls 



'Dublin Corporation Records, iv., p. 423. 



-Ibid. p. 3S3, lltli Aug. 1666. 



^Clarendon's " State Letters," vol. i., 434, Sth June, 16S6. 



* Gilbert's " History of Dublin," i., 281. 



