538 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 



list of Irish writers as the author of a Latin treatise entitled Bieta 

 Medicorum. One John Stanihurst, who was Archdeacon of Kells early 

 in the fifteenth century, was probably of the same family. 



The connexion of his father and family with the city was the 

 means of procuring for Stanihurst his fii'st professional advancement. 

 He was little more than thirty, and cannot have been many years at 

 the Bar, when, in 1554, he was appointed to act as deputy during the 

 illness of the Eecorder of Dublin, Thomas FitzSimon, with the 

 reversion of the office so soon as it should become actually vacant. 

 A few months later, on the death of PitzSimon, he was formally 

 appointed Eecorder.^ It was, perhaps, fortunate for Stanihui'st that 

 the tenure given him was for life, for it would appear from the action 

 of the city assembly when appointing his successor that his absorption 

 in political and other affairs was somewhat resented. This can hardly 

 be deemed surprising, since within a few years, as appears from 

 various Fiants, Stanihurst was appointed successively to the positions 

 of Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, Seneschal of Esker, Master in 

 Chancery, Customer of Dublin, and General Escheator. His successor 

 in the office of Eecorder was, therefore, appointed only " during the 

 good wyll and pleasure of the assemblie " ; was required to ''be 

 resydent and keepe his continuall dwellinge within the lymyttes and 

 fraunches " of the city ; and was enjoined not to receave office of the 

 prince, ne yearelye fee or annuytie." 



It was within three years of his appointment to the Eecordership 

 that Stanihurst was first returned to Parliament, where he represented 



1 The terms of the Hecorder's oath of office are given in Gilbert's Dublin 

 Corporation Records, vol. i., p. 250, from the Dubhn Chain Book, and are worth 

 reproducing : — 



<' The oath yeven by Mr. Patrick Sarsfeld, Maior of this cittye of Dublin, unto- 

 James Stanyhurst, the Eecorder of the said cittye, the xviiith daye of January, in 

 the first and second yeres of the reignes of our soverain lord King Phillip, and of 

 our soverain lady Queen Mary : 



" First, you shall sweare to be faithfull and true unto our soveraigne lord, the 

 King, and to our soverain lady, the Queen, King and Queen of England, France 

 and Ireland, their heirs and successours for evermore. You shall give your faith- 

 full and true counsaill unto the Maior of this cittye for the tyme beinge, as a 

 Eecorder should doe, and shall at all tymes annswer bym for counsaill without 

 lawful impediment. You shall justly and truly minister justice unto all the King's 

 and Queen's subjects that shall have to doe before you, and in right and true 

 manner execute all and singular things appertaining and belonging to the office of 

 Eecorder of this cittye. These and all other things for the King's majestie and 

 Queene's weale, and the weale of this cittie, to your power you shall keep doe and 

 execute. So God you helpe, and by the holy contents of this book." 



