Licensing Laws in Old Galway

By 5 and 6 Edward VI, when the Puritans controlled Galway, it was provided, "That no man should keep an Ale House, without being licensed," under penalty of three days imprisonment and a fine of 20s. It was added:

"But because many Ale House keepers in those Days were not able to pay that Forfeiture, and it was seldom levied by reason of Poverty, which made People unwilling to prevent the offenders:"

therefore a further punishment was added by the Statute, 3, Charles, which not only inflicted the forfeiture of 20s. to the use of the poor to be levied by the Constable or Church Warden, by Warrant of a Justice before whom the offence was proved, and which Distress may be sold three days afterwards; but it provided that if no Distress could be taken, the Justice should deliver the offender to the Constable to be whipped. For the second offence the offender was to be committed to the House of Correction for a month. A married woman who kept an Ale House, without license, made her husband liable to punishment.