even before seats in the house of commons were greatly valued, the irish bishops had interested themselves in the municipal corporations and in municipal politics. in 1680 john vesey, archbishop of tuam, wrote to ormonde to present alderman thomas cartwright, the newly elected mayor of galway, "as a person very well qualified for that trust, on account of his conformity to the church, and consequently his loyalty to the king." "and indeed," added the archbishop, "i must needs say, with much comfort, for the few english protestants there incorporated, that they seem to be very well principled, all very uniform in their public devotions, and manageable on any occasion readily for his majesty's service."