NOTES.
155
3rd. "They shall erect no crosses on their churches (Hib. chapels) and only toll, not ring their bells."
- [See the Irish Statute Book.—Crosses erected on Catholic chapels in Ireland have been repeatedly prostrated according to law.—As to ringing or tolling bells, either was early prohibited, and wholly unknown until of late years.]
4th. "They shall not wear the Arab-dress, ride upon saddles, &c."
- [The dress (Hib. rags) of the lower orders, (or according to their own phrase "the poor slaves") in Ireland, has become proverbial for its wretchedness. Their motly, and miserable appearance in this respect, once induced a witty foreigner to ask, if the English had not sent over all their old clothes to be worn by the Irish.—No Catholic dare ride a horse worth £5., and as for a saddle, that luxury was so rarely enjoyed, that its prohibition was considered altogether useless.]
6th. "They shall pay the highest deference to the Mussulmans (Hib. Protestants) and entertain all travellers for three days gratis."
[As for Catholic deference to Protestants generally, from a single example disce omnia.—In the town of Galway, the great majority of the Inhabitants was always Catholic, yet not one of them durst enter an open public building there, called the Exchange, with his hat on; nay more, while in it, he should remain uncovered, in the presence of his bonneted Protestant neighbour, as an acknowledgment of his deference to him, and of his respect for the "glorious" constitution. This degrading observance was strictly enforced, until James Daly (the grand-father of the present member of the name for that county, and who was himself a Protestant gentleman of considerable influence in the town,) put an end to it, about the commencement of the last reign. He walked arm in arm.
