[ 175 ] 



VII. 



ON THE ANCIENT DEEDS OF THE PARISH OF 

 ST. JOHN, DUBLIN, 



Preserved in the Library of Trinity College. 



By The EEV. JOHN L ROBINSON, M.A. 



(Plate XXIX.) 



Read Ff.kuuakv 28. Published July 13, 1916. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The collection of deeds, of which a Calendar is here given, was lodged in the 

 Library of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1852 by the Prebendary and church- 

 wardens of the old city parish of St. John the Evangelist, commonly known 

 as the parish of St. John of Bothe Street. With the deeds was lodged a 

 short abstract of their contents. From the abstract it appears that a full 

 translation of many of the deeds was then in existence, but this translation 

 is not now forthcoming. Attached to this abstract is a copy of the Librarian's 

 receipt, in which the deeds are stated to be held in trust, and returnable on 

 demand. The whole collection is catalogued as no. 1477 in the Manuscript 

 Catalogue of the Library. 



The parish to which the deeds belonged has now been united with the 

 parishes of St. Werburgh and St. 13ride ; but it was itself, from the middle of 

 the si.Kteenth century, a union of the parishes of St. John and St. Olave. A deed 

 [no. 170(166)] of 1558 speaks of this union as having lately taken place, and 

 provides for the contingency of the two parishes being again separated and 

 " severed from this unyon." Consequently, some of the deeds refer to lands 

 which were the property of the parish of St. Olave or, as it was commonly 

 called, of " St. Tullock." 



The key to the formation of this collection of deeds is found in the will 

 [no. 112 (110)] of- John Lytill, citizen of Dublin, who died in 1434. By it he 

 bequeathed to the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the parish church of 

 St. John, his holdings in the parishes of St. Michan, St CHave, and St. John, 

 to endow a perpetual chantry of one priest for the repose of the souls of his 

 first wife and himself, their parents and benefactors ; and he appoints that 



B.f A.. PKOC, VOL. XXXIII., SECT. Q. [ 26J 



