Wicklow three hundred years ago

This proclamation from 1715 gives a glimpse of violence in society. Good to know times have changed..?

 

By The Lords Justices and Council of Ireland,

A Proclamation.

Grafton, Whereas a barbarous and bloody murder was committed on the body of Mr. Abraham Coats, in his dwelling house at Killinure, in the county of Wicklow, on Wednesday the seventh of December last, between nine and ten of the clock at night, by shooting the said Abraham Coats with a pistol, whereof he instantly died.

And whereas the said murderers did immediately after the said murder committed, make their escapes. To the end therefore that the said inhumane murder may be discovered, and the like barbarous action for the future prevention, bringing to condign punishment the offenders guilty, or concerned therein; We the Lords Justices and Council, have thought fit by this our proclamation, to publish and declare, that if any person concerned in, or guilty of the said murder (excepting the person who actually shot the said Abraham Coats) shall discover all or any of the other persons therein likewise concerned, so as they or any of them may be apprehended and convicted thereof; in such case the person so discovering such offender or offenders, after such conviction, shall not only receive His Majesties most gracious pardon for the said murder, (which said pardon shall be granted without fee or charge;) but also shall have and receive the sum of one hundred pounds sterl. And if any person or persons not guilty of or concerned in the said murder, shall discover, apprehend, or seize or cause to be apprehended or seized, one or more of the said persons concerned in, or guilty of the said murder, so as they or any of them shall be convicted on such discovery; the said person so discovering such murderers, shall receive the sum of one hundred pounds sterl. Which sum shall be forthwith paid by the Clerk of the Council, or his Deputy upon producing a certificate under the hand of the judge or judges, before whom such offender or offenders shall be convicted and found guilty of the said crime.

Given at the council-chamber in Dublin, the fourteenth day of March 1715.

Brodrick, Canc.  Will. Dublin,  Abercorn,  Mountjoy,  Donerail,  St.Geo. Clogher,  John Dromore,  Santry,  Shelburne,  Gowran,  Farrard, Wm. Whitshed,  Joh. Foster,  T. Southwell,  Oliver St. George,  Ben. Parry.

God Save the King.

Dublin: Printed by Andrew Crooke, Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, in Copper Alley, 1715.