Plan of the "Cittie of Limerick" From Pacata Hibernia

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• Title - Cittie of Limerick
• Cartographer - Thomas Stafford/George Carew
• Date - 1633 ( but 1810)
• Size - 380mm x 290mm on large sheet
• Condition - Folding plan, cut tight to top left margin as is usual, slight tear 6mm to fold at left side. Slight toning in plate area, otherwise strong impression, robust heavy paper, good condition. Uncoloured. Blank Verso.

Important Plan of Limerick City from Pacata Hibernia

The importance and significance of the "Pacata Hibernia" has been widely acknowledged by historians as a priceless first hand contemporary account of the latter stages of the Nine Years War, and especially the conduct of the campaign in Munster.  

The elaborately worded original title sums up it's intentions for the reader thus; "Pacata Hibernia. Ireland appeased and reduced· Or, An Historie of the Late Warres of Ireland, especially within the Province of Mounster, under the government of Sir George Carew, Knight, Then Lord President of that Province, and afterwards Lord Carew of Clopton, and Earle of Totnes, &c. Wherein the Siedge of Kinsale, the Defeat of the Earle of Tyrone, and his Armie; The Expulsion and sending home of Don Iuan de Aguila, the Spanish Generall, with his forces; and many other remarkeable Passages of that time are related".  

George Carew, apart from his fierce military reputation, had a considerable reputation as an antiquary. He was the friend of William Camden, John Cotton and Thomas Bodley. He made large collections of materials relating to Irish history and pedigrees, which he left to his secretary, Sir Thomas Stafford, also his nephew (but reputed on scanty evidence to be his natural son). Stafford published "Pacata.." in 1633, 4 years after Carew's death, the authorship of which he ascribes to Carew, (as can be seen above) but which has since been correctly attributed to Stafford himself. The book was reprinted in 1810.

This charming and attactive map is from the Second Edition of 1810, and shows the walled city of Limerick as it looked at the turn of the 16th Century. A true facsimile of the original, the primative outline of the city shows towers, battlements, dwellings, churches, bridges and City Gates etc. A scarce and collectable item!

Important Map of Limerick 

Item ID: 15779-0

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