REILY, Hugh – Ireland’s Case Briefly Stated.

REILY, Hugh. Ireland's Case Briefly Stated; or, A Summary Account of the Most Remarkable Transactions in that Kingdom since the Reformation. In two parts. Bound with Bishop Plunket's speech. [Paris? or Louvain? s.n.] Printed in the year 1695. 12mo. pp. [xii], 132. In two parts with separate title-pages for each but continuous pagination and signatures. Possible places of publication from Wing. Original sprinkled calf, spine gilt, title lettered in gilt. From the library of James Hustler of Acklam with his armorial bookplate on front pastedown, dated 1730. The Clements copy with the armorial bookplate of Henry J.B. Clements on lower pastedown. Lacks front blank. Signature crossed out at a very early date on lower margin of titlepage. A very good copy. Exceedingly rare.

No copy of this variant edition listed on COPAC.

Hugh Reily, also known as Hugh Reilly or Hugh O'Reilly (c.1630-1695) was M.P. for Cavan Borough in the Patriot Parliament of 1689 and a famous political author. Reily studied at the Irish Bar where he qualified as a barrister about 1650. He was legal advisor to Saint Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh during his trial in 1681, after Plunkett's previous advisor Sir Nicholas Plunkett died. Plunkett said about Reilly "he took many risks for me".

An important book which, according to the DNB, was for a long time "almost the only printed argument in favour of Irish Roman Catholics." This was a pioneering work asserting the rights of Irish Catholics under the Treaty of Limerick. Hugh Reily was Master in Chancery and Clerk of the Council in Ireland during the reign of James II. Subsequent to going to France with James II he was said to have been appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland at the exiled King's Court at St. Germains. He was dismissed, however, after offending the exiled monarch with the contents of this book which complains bitterly of the treatment of the Catholics in Ireland during the reign of Charles II.

Possible places of publication from Wing. Our copy has a variant titlepage and does not contain 'By A True Lover of his King and Country'. Bound in is 'Bishop Plunket's Speech', containing twenty pages.