burden upon the unfortunate settlers: The Coyne and Livery

Above: Map of Munster

One of the earliest results of the creation of the Palatine Earls was the introduction of a new burden upon the unfortunate settlers. This was the impost which figures largely in later history as ” coyne and livery.”

 In the year 1330, the Viceroy called for the help of the Earl of Desmond against the Irish of the south. The Munster Geraldine came with an army of 10,000 men, and this large force he quartered upon the settlers. In this, Desmond professed to follow a custom recognised by the Irish by which the chief was entitled to maintenance for himself and his followers (called ” coinmed”<= ” coiney,” or ” coyne “) from his under-tenants.

 Desmond’s example was soon followed by the other earls and lords. But, while the Irish laws carefully regulated and limited the amount of this tax, the system was adopted by the Normans without any check or safeguard to protect the unhappy tenants.

It became, therefore, an arbitrary and crushing burden to harass still more the inhabitants of the ” English land,” and to drive them out of the country, leaving their lands to be re-taken by the Irish. The evils of the system were soon seen, and many laws were directed against it, but they were all merely futile proclamations.