Lewis's Topographical Dictionary - Waterford City

In 1536, Henry VIII wrote to the mayor and citi-zens by William Wyse, a gentleman of the city in high favour at court; and conferred on them a gilt sword and a cap of liberty to be borne before the mayor, which are still carefully preserved.  In 1547, Sir Edward Bellingham, who had been sent over by the Lord Pro-tector and Privy Council of England, landed here with an army of 1600 horse and 400 foot; and in 1549 the Lord-Deputy Sidney, who had encamped at Clonmel, and was apprehensive of being attacked by the insur-gent chiefs, sent to the mayor for a few soldiers for three days; but the citizens, pleading their privilege, refused him any assistance.

In 1588, Duncannon (on Waterford harbour) was fortified, in consequence of an invasion of the Spaniards, who committed great depre-dations in the counties of Waterford and Wexford.  In April, 1600, the Lord Deputy came to Waterford, where he received the submission of some of the Fitzgeralds of Decies and the Powers. On the accession of James 1 great disaffection prevailed in the city; and dangerous tumults arose at his proclamation. In consequence of these and of similar demonstrations of hostility, the Lord-Deputy Mountjoy made a progress into Munster, and, arriving at Grace-Dieu, within the liberties of the city, on the 5th of May, 1603, summoned the mayor to open the gates and admit his majesty's army into the city; to which the citizens replied that, by a charter of King John, they were exempt from having soldiers quartered upon them, and would admit only the Lord-Deputy himself.

Two Roman Catholic clergymen, in the habit of their order, and bearing the cross erect, went into the deputy's camp to defend the conduct of the citizens.  But the Lord-Deputy threatening "to draw King James's sword and cut the charter of King John to pieces, destroy the city, and strew it with salt," the citizens opened their gates to him and his army, and swore allegiance to the new monarch; after which, leaving a strong garrison to keep them in subjection, Mountjoy departed.