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No. VII PETITION OF DENIS MOLONY TO PARLIAMENT TO BE ALLOWED TO PRACTISE AT THE BAR THIS petition is copied from the MS. Rawlinson, M.L.A. 253, fo. 129, in the
Bodleian Library. Denis Molony was admitted to Gray's Inn September 7, 1687 , and to Lincoln's Inn , November 21 , 1711. In his will, dated November30, 1726 , and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, January 10, 172 , he describes himself as now of Gray's Inn and late of Lincoln's Inn . " He was a nephew of the Most Rev. John O'Molony, Bishop of Limerick , under whose will he inherited four thousand livres. The Bishop was the principal founder of the Collège des Irlandais , in Paris, and also endowed several Bourses in the College of Louis le Grand, Paris. My father's uncle , James Molony, was appointed to one of the latter on November 26, 1789. Denis Molony died unmarried at Gray's Inn December 11 , 1726, and was buried in St Pancras Churchyard, London. On his tombstonehe is described as being the 77th year of his age having always lived Faithfull to God King and Country." ALFRED MOLONY.
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TO THE HONBLE. THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS AND BURGESSES IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED . THE HUMBLE PETITION OF DENIS MOLONY
Sheweth : That your Petitioner has been out of Ireland these twenty years past and was entered of Gray's Inn and begun the Study of the Law there in the late Reign And observing that even in all former Protestant Reigns Roman Catholick Lawyers were allowed to practice the Law in that Kingdome he continued his said Study after the Revolution untill he was of a Standing for the bar at which time viz 3 Will and Mar an act of Parliament was made in England whereby it is enacted that no person such as are comprised within the Articles of Limerick should afterwards practice the Law in Ireland unless he first took an Oath and made and subscribed a Declaration inconsistent with the principles of the Religion your Petitioner doth profess. That your Petitioner's case is most particularly severeand the only single case of its nature He is the only person of his Country and principle that remained in England , continued the study of the Law after the Revolution and was ready for a call to the barr when the said Act was made He did besides soe far spend his means and youthe to qualify himselfe for the practise of the said profession (at a time the exercise thereof was allowed in Ireland to all persons of the same principle ) that when the said Act was made his age education and circumstances made it too late to think of applying himselfe to any other profession or calling whereas all other Irish Roman Catholick Lawyers concerned are such as were either called to the barr before the making of the said Act and because of their being for the most parte comprised within the Articles of Limerick are now permitted to practice the Law in Ireland Or such as begun