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244 THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND
ArPEMHX. entrusted with the conservancy of the river, and especially
empowered to raise ballast, Henry Howard petitioned the
Lord Lieutenant in 1676 that a patent might be granted to
him, pursuant to the king's letter, which he had obtained,
for establishing a ballast office. 1
This, however, was
opposed by the Lord Mayor and citizens, on the ground
that the charter of King John gave to them the strand of
the river, 2 where ballast should be raised, 2 and they, there-
fore, prayed that permission
to establish a ballast office
might be granted to them, they applying the profits thereof
to the maintenance of the intended "
King's Hospital "
(since better known as the Blue Coat School). 8 The Lord
Lieutenant neither granted the prayer of the one petition
or the other, nor did Howard execute a lease which be had
proposed to take from the city.
1 Acts of Assembly, 1676.
Henry Howard petitioned the
Lord Lieutenant for order to pass
Letters Patent for a Ballast Office
in all the ports of Ireland pur-
suant to Letters under the King's
Privy Seal granted him five years
since. The Corporation answer
that by the Charter of King John
they own the Lifley and the
strand within the franchises of the
city ; that they have, by
Assembly,
acts of
laid down rules for
ballasting ; and by a late Assem-
bly, in July last, have revived
their ancient right to said ballast,
and hope to have a Ballast Office,
the profits whereof are intended for
the King's Hospital. City Assem-
bly Roll.
3 A.D. 1200. King
John con-
firms former charters, and gran's
to the citizens the fishery of one
half of the Liffey, with liberty to
build on the banks at their will.
Dated at Upton, 6th of November,
in the 2nd year of his
reign.
Historic and Municipal Docu-
ments from the Archives of the
City of Dublin, &c., 1172-1320.
Edited by J. T. Gilbert, F.S.A.,
8vo, Dublin, 1870. A.D. 1215.
Confirms to them the city in fee-
farm with that part of the LillVy
which belongs to them together
with one part of the said river,
except such fishings as we have
granted in free alms [to St. Mary's
Abbey, &c.], and such others as
are held by ancient tenure.
Dated at Marlbrege, 3rd of July,
in the 17th year of his reign.
3 Acts of Assembly. Nativity of
St. John, 1 682 : Thos. and Henry
Howard petition to the city :
that the king had granted them
his Letters for a Patent for erect-
ing a Ballast Office in Ireland ;
that they are willing to take a
lease of the Port of Dublin from
the city at fifty pounds a year,
and to surrender their title.