Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/305

 Folklore and History in Ireland. 295

without which sign of jurisdiction they could arrest for recovery of debt no sailor or other person in any vessel.

From these dignified proceedings to civic drinking bouts may seem a sad falling off — though a feast, or a drinking, would be, after all, but the natural end — in Ireland — of any ceremonial display, and I have one or two notes on this point which may at least amuse you.

James II. annulled the Dublin charters, and as he did elsewhere, dismissed all except Jacobite Aldermen. The deposed Aldermen, however, continued to assemble privately at an alehouse in Skinner's Alley. There they elected their own Lord Mayor and officers, until after the Battle of the Boyne they were reinstated in office by William III. From this originated the name of the first Orange Association, which was called the Association of the Aldermen of Skinner's Alley. According to Barrington, " A lord-mayor was annually appointed ; and regularity and decorum . ., always prevailed until, at least, towards the conclusion of the meetings . . . King WiUiam's bust being placed in the centre of the table. . . . Their charter- dish was sheeps trotters (in allusion to King James's running away from Dublin), rum punch in blue jugs, whiskey punch in white ones, and porter in its pewter. . . . The real business began by a general chorus of " God Save the King ! " The " lord-mayor " then gave the charter- toast, " always given with nine times nine." On July i " Every man unbuttoned the knees of his breeches and drank the toast on his bare joints " :

" ' The glorious,— pious, — and immortal memory of the great and good King William — not forgetting Oliver Cromwell, who assisted in redeeming us from popery, slavery, arbitrary power, brass-money, and wooden shoes. May we never want a Williamite to kick the ... of a Jacobite ! and a . . . for the Bishop of Cork ! And he that won't drink this whether he be priest, bishop, deacon, bellows-blower, grave-digger, or any other of the fraternity