YALE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

HISTORY

OP THK

CHURCH OF IRELAND,

FROJI THE

REFORMATION TO THE REVOLUTION;
IVITH
A PRELIMINARY SURVEY,
FROM
THE PAPAL USURPATION, IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY,
TO ITS
LEGAL ABOLITION IN THE SIXTEENTH.
BY
THE RIGHT REV? RICHARD MANT, D.D.,
LORD BISHOP OF DOWN AND CONNOR.

LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKEE, WEST STRAND.

M.DCCC.XL.

London :
Harrison and Co., Printers,
St. Maktin'3 Lane.

TO THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST,
CATHOLICK AND APOSTOLICK,
UNDER HIS PROVIDENCE
IN IRELAND EY LAW ESTABLISHED :
SPECIALIY TO THE
BISHOPS AND CURATES,
AXD THE
CONGREaATIONS COMMITTED TO THEIR CHARGE:
THIS HISTORICAL SKETCH,
INTERESTING PROBABLY FROM ITS SUBJECT, HOWEVER DEFECTIVE
IN EXECUTION, IS, AFTER ALMOST TWENTY YEARS OP
PROFESSIONAL CONNEXION, PRESENTED AS
THE AUTHORS RESPECTFUL OFFERING OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
AND BROTHERLY LOVE.

DOWN AND CONNOR HOUSE,
October, 1839.

ADVERTISEMENT.

My opinion ofthe utility of a work on tlie subject of the present
undertaking is briefly stated at its commencement. Ignorance
of the existence of such an one Induced me to engage in this
attempt to supply the deficiency ; aud I may add, that It cer
tainly would not have been nndertaken, If I had hoped to see
the realizing of the prospect, several years ago held out to the
publiek, that a History of the Ohurch of Ireland would be put
forth by one so well qualified to execute It, as the present Regius
Professor of Divinity In the University of Dublin. Having
however, been assured by Dr. Elrington, that prolonged Ill-
health, and other literary and professional occupations, prevented
him from fulfilling his intention ; and that he should be happy
to be released from his promise by the task falling into other
hands ; I have ventured to do that, with which the reader, as
well as myself, might have had better reason to be satisfied, if
it had been done by another.
In constructing my work, much difficulty has been encoun
tered, and much information withheld, by the absence of a fuller
supply of materials. Of such as I could command, I have
endeavoured to make the best use in my power. In some cases
advantage has been now and then taken of kind assistance, which

VI ADVERTISEMENT.
has been for the most part acknowledged on the occasion. But
for the friendly zeal and intelligence, by which my attention has
been directed to many valuable channels of information in the
University Library, as well as for the free use of a copy of
Ware's History of the Bishops, enriched with a large collection
of curious manuscript annotations, derived from various sources,
my special thanks are due to its learned possessor, the Reverend
James Henthorn Todd, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.
R. D. AND C.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
SUMMARY VIEW OP THE CHURCH OF IRELAND, FROM THE
PAPAL USURPATION, IN TIIE TWELFTH CENTURY,
TO THE BEGINNING OF TIIE REFORMATION,
IN TIIE SIXTEENTH.
Section I.
PAGE
Introduction. Polity and Independence of the Church. Commence
ment of the Pope's Interference. The Archiepiscopal Pall. No
mination to Bishopricks. Papal Encroachments on the Royal
Prerogative ........ 1
Section II.
Encroachments by the Irish Hierarchy on the King's Prerogative.
Arrogance and violence of the Prelates towards each other. Other
Enormities in the Hierarchy. Abuses of Excommunication.
Treatment of Hereticks . • . . . . .14
Section III.
Moral Character of the Clergy in general. Abuse of Ecclesiastical
Privileges. Celibacy. Concubinage. Intellectual Character.
Defective means of Education . . . . .30
Section IV.
Monastick Institutions. Their Number. Orders. Some of their
Rulers Lords of Parliament. Monks and Friars, how disting-uished
from each other. False Principles in the Foundation of these
Establishments. Practical evil in them predominant over good . 39
Section V.
Superstitions prevailing in the Church. Veneration for Saints. Tra
ditionary Legends. Modes of celebrating Divine Worship. Vene
ration for outward Signs of the Holy Communion. Canonization
of Saints. Reverence for their Reliques. Reverence for other
sorts of Reliques. Reverence for Crosses and Images. Belief in
fictitious Miracles . . . . . . .63
Section VI.
Superstitions continued. Pilgrimages. Penances. Indulgences.
Dramatick Representations of Scripture. Assumption of a Monas
tick Habit before Death. Masses for the Dead. Patron Days.
Depressed Condition of the Lay-members of the Church. Need of
Reformation . . . . . . .81

Vm COMEiMS.

CHAPTER II.

LATTER PART OF THE REIGN OF KING HENRY THE
EIGHTH. 1535—1547.
Section I.

PAGE

Review of the Condition of the Church. Recognition of the King's
Supremacy intended. Ai-chbishop Cromer's Opposition. Co
operating Obstacles. George Browne made Archbishop of Dublin.
Ineffectual Effort of the King's Commissioners. Parliament of
1537. Acts relative to the Church . . . . .106
Section II.
Difficulty of carrying the foregoing Acts of Parliament into execution.
Archbishop of Dublin's Endeavours to remove False Objects of
Worship. King's Correspondence with him. Inquest of Com
missioners into the State of the Kingdom. Impediments opposed
to the Archbishop's Exertions by the Lord Deputy. Necessity of
fresh Support from England ..... 124
Section III.
Pope's Encouragement to resist the King's Claims. Bull of Excom
munication. Removal of Images from Churches. Image Worship
encouraged by Lord Deputy. Archbishop Browne's Diligence in
Preaching. Form of Beads or Prayers. Resistance of the Clergy.
Visitation by the Privy Council. Archbishop .Browne's Purpose
of Visiting remote Parts of the Country .... 137
Section IV.
Dissolution of Iilonasterics. Ineffocf ual Recommendation for some to
be continued. Twenty-four of the liiyher class suppressed. Let
ters Patents, ordering- Inquiry coucerning Images and Reliques,
and other Monastick Property. Piovision for Parish Churches
deprived of Divine Service. King of England .declared by Parlia
ment Kir.g, instead of Lord, of Ireland. Effect of King's Supre
macy in Nomination to Bishopricks. Provision for Improvement
of Religion. Death of Archbishop Cromer. Dowdall appointed
by the King to succeed him. Death of King Henry the Eighth.
Effect of his Reign on the Irish Cliurch .... 166

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER III.
REIGN OF KING EDWARD THE SIXTH. 1647—1563.
Section I.
PAGE
Slow Progress of Reformation in Ireland. Divided Sentiments of the
Clergy. Exercise of Ecclesiastical Patronage. Order for intro
ducing the English Liturgy. Vicerojr convenes the Bishops and
Clergy. Order resisted by Primate Dowdall : approved by Arch
bishop Browne : carried into effect in Dublin. Sir Anthony Saint-
leger recalled, and Sir James Crofts appointed Lord Deputy.
Liturgy the first Book printed in Dublin .... 187
Section II.
Correspondence between the Lord Deputy and the Primate. Con
ference between them. Primacy taken from Archbishop Dowdall,
and conferred on Archbishop Browne. Withdrawal of Archbishop
Dowdall from the Kingdom. Appointment of Goodacre to the
Archbishoprick of Armagh, and of Bale to the Bishoprick of
Ossory. Cii'cnmstances of their Consecration. State of Religious
Instruction. Activity of Bishop Bale. Death of Archbishop
Goodacre. Death of King Edward VI. State of the Cliurch. . 205

CHAPTER IV.

BEIGN OF QUEEN MAEY. 1563—1568.
Proclamations on Queen Mary's Accession. Reinstatement of Arch
bishop Dowdall. Deprivation of the Protestant Bishops. Their
places occupied by Papists. Hugh Ciirwen, archbishop of Dublin.
Revival of Popish superstitions. Encouraged by the Lord
Deputy. Pope Paul's Bull. Acts of Parliament for suppressing
Heresy and LoUardy. Tlie Queen's purpose of persecuting the
Protestants interrupted by her Death. .... 220

X CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 1658—1603.
Section I.
PAGE
Dilatory Proceedings with respect to the Irish Clmrch. Revival of
the English Liturgy. Remarkable occurrence on the Singing of
the Litany in Christ Church. Queen Elizabeth's first Parliament.
Act for Restoring the Jurisdiction of the Crown. Act of Uni
formity. Remarkable clause of it. Acts relating to the First
Fruits and the Election of Bishops. Alterations in Ecclesiastical
matters during the last Reigns. Removal of Popish Images and
Reliques. Appointment of Adam Loftus to the Primacy. Apo
stolical Succession in the Church of Ireland. Declaration of Chief
Articles of Religion. . . . • • .262
Section II.
Two Bishops deprived for refusing the Oath of Supremacy. Con
formity of the others. Abuse of Episcopal Property. Deprecia
tion of Bishopricks. Exercise of the Royal Prerogative in
appointing Bishops. Titular Bishops. Act of Parliament caused
by clerical irregularities. General Immorality and Irreligion. Act
for erecting Free Schools. Opposition to attempts at propagating
the Reformed Religion. Irish Liturgy and Catechism. Irish
New Testament. Bull of the Pope, and its consec|uences. . 275
Section III.
Sir Henry Sidney's Letter to the Queen. Her Commission for the
supply of Churches and Curates. Instances of Popish Insubordi
nation. Sir John Perrot's Instructions concerning the Church.
Appointment of a Bishop for Kilmore. Failure of Plan for an
University. Act against Witchcraft. Foundation of University
of Dublin. ........ 207
Section IV.
Edmund Spenser's Account of the Irish Church. Sir Francis Bacon's
Plan for its Iiriprovement. Difficulty of the Subject. Henry
Ussher. James Ussher. An eminent Controversialist and
Preacher. Conduct of the Government towards the Papists. Act
of Uniformity not enforced. Forebodings of Ussher. Benefaction
to the University. State of the Church at the Queen's Death. . 320

CONTENTS. XI
CHAPTER VI.
REIGN OF KING JAMES THE FIRST. 1603—1625.
Section I. PAGE
Favourable circumstances at the King's Accession. Popish Disturb
ances notwithstanding. Proclamation of Indemnity and Oblivion.
Efforts of the Jesuits and Seminary Priests. Trial and Conviction
of Robert Lalor. Progress of Lord Deputy, Sir Arthur Chichester,
through three Counties of Ulster. Sir John Davies's account of
their condition. ....... 343
Section II.
Conspiracies and Rebellions in the North. Forfeiture of Lands.
Plantation of the Northern Counties. The King's care for the
Improvement of the Religious Establishment. Emigrants from
Scotland. Their prepossessions, and tlie effect of them on the
Churoh. Proclamation against Popish Emissaries. Report of his
Diocese by the Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin. . . . 360
Section III.
Christopher Hampton advanced to the Primacy. A Parliament and
Convocation of the Clergy. Articles of Religion. Summary of
their contents. Their discui'sive character. Exceptions taken to
them at the time. Their discrepancy with those of the Church
of England. Regal Visitation of the Province of Dublin. Arro
gant conduct of the Papists. ..... 379
Section IV.
Elevation of James Ussher to the Bishoprick of Meath. His Efforts
for the Conversion of Papists. King's Commission for Inquiring
into the State" of the Province of Armagh. Reports from Seven
Dioceses in that Province. Presumption of the Popish Clergy
exemplified. Bishop Ussher's Sermon on the Swearing-in of Lord
Deputy Viscount Falkland. Primate Hampton's Letter on the
occasion. Proceedings concerning the Papists. Death of Primate
Hampton. Bishop of Meath appointed to succeed him. Death of
the King. State of the Chui-ch . . . . .392

xu CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
REIGN OF KING CHARLES THE FIRST. 1626—1649.
Section I.
PAGE
Accession of the King followed by a Bull of the Pope. Condition of
the Church iu general ; particularly of the Diocese of Armagh.
Project "of allowing Privileges to the Papists. Judgment of the
Primate and other Bishops thereupon. Published by the Bishop
of Deny. Its consequences. Measures of the Government. Pro
clamation irreverently received. Danger of the Archbishop of
Dublin from an Insurrection. Proceedings coucerning the Papists. 418
Section II.
William Bedell, bi.sliop of Kilmore. State of his Diocese. Neglect
of Ecclesiastical Processes. The King's Letter to the Archbishops
and Bi.shops on Affairs of the Church, Diligence of the Primate.
His, Injunctions to his Clergy. Exemplary Conduct of Bishop
Bedell. Some of his Measm-es questionable . . . 433
Section III.
A Regal Visitation under Lord Wentworth. Report of it by Dr.
Bramhall. Bishop Laud's Letter of Instructions to the Lord
Deputy. Braiuhall's account of the state of the Church. Growth
of Protestant Sectarianism. Irregular Ordinations. Reprehensible
conduct imputed to two Northern Bishops. Nonconforming
Ministers ........ 444
Section IV.
Increase of Popery in Ireland. Bishop Bedell's plan for converting
the Natives. Sentiments of the Government on the subject.
Qualification of age for Bishopricks. Bramhall made Bishop of
Deny. Commission for repair of Churches. Lord Wentworth's
exhibition of the state of the Churcli. Archbishop Laud's answer.
Settlement of question of Precedence between the Archbishops of
Armagh and Dublin ••.... 464
Section V.
Acts of Parliament for Improving the Temporal Estates of the Church.
Convocation. Petition to the King in behalf of the inferior Clergy.
Proposed adoption of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of
England. Difficulty of carrying it, surmounted by the Lord De
puty. Conduct of Primate Ussher. Proceedings in Convocation.
Canon for manifestation of Agreement between the two Churches.
Effect on the fomier Articles of the Irish Church. Subscription

CONTENT.';:. XIU

to them abandoned. Proposal to adopt the English Canons. Com
position ofa new Book committed to Bishop Bramhall. Wherein
diff^ering from English Book. Omissions. Additions. Publication
of the Canons. Congratulatory Letter of Archbishop Laud . 482
Section VI.
Measures for Improving tho Temporalties of the Church. Bishop
Bramhall's valuable services. Petition from the Clergy in Convo
cation, 1636. Improvements relative to the Clergy and Church
Service. Repair of Cathedrals. Final sentence of Deposition by
Bishop Echlin ou the Nonconforming jMinistors. Henry Leslie,
bishop of Down and Connor. Five of the Clergy of that diocese
refuse to subscribe to the Canons. The Bishop's solicitude to
retain them in the Church. His Visitation Sermon, 1636. His
conference witli the Dissentients, and sentence upon them. His
exemplary conduct ....... 607
Section VII.
Scotch Covenant introduced into Ireland. Precautions of the Govern
ment. Case ofa Clergyman named Galbrath. Northern Counties
infected. Correspondence of Bishop of Down and Connor with
Lord Dejinty. High character of the Bishop. His Speech, or
Visitation Charge, at Lisnegarvey, 16o8. Its important contents
in connexion with the History of the Church. His continued
intercourse with the Government ..... 623
Section VIII.
Renunciation of the Covenant, and Petition from divers Inhabitants
of tlie North of Ireland. An Oath framed in consecj^uence. Ire
land an Asylum for Scottish Episcopal Refugees. Case of Arclu-
bald Adair, bishop of Killalln. Irregular Cojulucfc of a Clergyman
of Raphoe. Correspondence of the Bishop with the Government.
Loyalty of the Irish Clergj'. Earl of Stralibrd's withdrawal from
tlie Viceroyalty. Petition to the English Parliament against Pre
lates and Prelacy. Petitions to the Irish Parliament against the
Bishops of Raphoe, Down, and Derry. Persecution of Bishop of
Derry, and his Deliverance . . ... 639
Section IX.
Rebellion of 1641. Previous circumstances. Its objects. Its effects
on the Church. Destruction of her Members. Fate of her Go
vernors. Her Desolation. Conduct of Romish Clergj^ Their
Temper and Projects exemplified. Protestant Sectarists. West
minster Assembly of Divines. Solemn League and Covenant. Its
prevalence in Ireland. Suspension of the Royal Authority . 654

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII,

THE USURPATION. 1647—1660.
PAGE
Royal Power suspended. Dublin surrendered to Parliamentary Com
missioners. Order for discontinuing the Liturgy. Declaration of
Dublin Clergy. Episcopal Signatures. Memorable Examples of
continued use of the Liturgy. Personal dangers of Ministers of
the Church. Revenues of Vacant Bishopricks sequestered. Legal
ized Plunder of Episcopal Property. Opportunities of exercising
private Malice against the Clergy ..... 683

CHAPTER IX.

REIGN OP KING CHARLES THE SECOND, PROM THE
RESTORATION. 1660—1685.
Section I.
Restoration and Proclamation of the King. Church restored to her
Station. Surviving Bishops. Satisfaction at Bishop Bramhall's
elevation to the Primacy. Opposition to the Church. King-
determined to support it. Appointments to Vacant Bishopricks.
Solemnity of the Consecration of the new Bishops. New Arrange
ments of certain Sees. Hostility of Church of Rome in Ireland.
Bishop Taylor's Sketch of Popery as then existing. Protestant
Sectarists. The Law concerning them. How treated by the Pri
mate ; and by Bishop Taylor, and the other Northern Bishops . 602
Section II.
Prevailing Sentiment in favour of the Church. The Primate Speaker
of the House of Lords. His Usefulness to the Clergy. Declara
tion of Parliament for Episcopacy and the Liturgy. Reprobation •
of the Solemn League and Covenant. Manifestation of Opinion
on late Events. Symptoms of Discontent in the Presbyterians.
Death of Archbishop Bramhall. His recommendation of Bishop
Margetson for his Successor ...... 628
Section III,
Act of Uniforniity. Act for preventing Benefices being holden together
in England and in Ireland. Sectarian Plot. Popish Synod. The
Remonstrance. Instructions to Lord Berkley about the Church.
Violence of the Anti- Remonstrants. Interposition of the English
Parliament. Proclamations against the Papists. Excellent Go
vemment of the Duke of Ormonde .... 646

CONTENTS. XV

Section IV.

Sectarists. New Covenant. Scarcity of Churches. Poverty of Bene
fices. Mr. Boyle's attenipt at Converting the Irish Papists. Death
of Distinguished Churchmen. Prhnate Margetson. Bishop John
Leslie, Bishop Jeremy Taylor ..... 661

CHAPTER X.
REIGN OF KING JAMES THE SECOND. 1685—1690.
Section I.
Accession of the King. Earl of Clarendon Lord Lieutenant. Army
new-modelled. Papists in Civil Offices. Earl of Tj'rconnel Lord
Deputy. Changes in favour of Popery. Oppression of the Clergy.
Vacant Bishopricks not filled. Clergy encouraged to apostatize.
King's Declaration of Liberty of Conscience. Dispensing power
attempted. Sufferings of Protestants. Exiiulsion of Bishops and
Clergy. Dublin Clergy . . . . . .679
Section II.
The King's Arrival in Ireland. A Parliament. Mode of calling
it. Its composition. Repeal of the Act of Settlement. Act of
Attainder. Proscriptions under it. Its atrocity '. . . 702
Section III.
Contributions for the Relief of the distressed Irish Protestants, Act
annulling the Jurisdiction of the Church. Act for vesting Eccle
siastical Dues in Priests of the Romish Church. Clergy deprived
of their Churches. Protestants prevented from meeting- together.
Oppression of the University. Character of King James's reign.
Re-establishment of the Church .... 716

APPENDIX.

I. Catalogue of the Archbishops and Bishops who are ascertained to
have occupied the Sees of the Church of Ireland, during the period
comprised within the foregoing narrative .... 736
II. Question whether any Bishops resigned at Queen ' Elizabeth's
accession ........ 743
INDEX  .749

The reader is rec[uested to take the following passage, in continuation of
the paragraph which terminates with the words " the canonical age,''
in page 269.
And this opinion derives support from an entry in the old Grace Books
of the University of Cambridge, whence it appears, that in November, 1 667,
when Archbishop Loftus was admitted to his degree of Doctor of Divinity,
he had been engaged twenty years in the study of Theology. This was four
years and eight months after he had been made archbishop, in the twenty-
eighth year of his age, according to the supposition. Thus, at the later
period he must have been in his thirty-third year, and have commenced
his theological studies in his thirteenth. This improbable result is favour
able to the opinion on the side of a more advanced time of life : which
opinion also tallies bettor with the statement in Ware's Histori/, that at
his death, the 6th of April, 1605, he was " worn out with old age;" for
after liis consecration he lived forty-two years, so that, if at that tirae
he was only in his twenty-eighth year, at his death he was only in his
seventieth.

THE CHURCH OF IRELAND.

CHAPTER I.
SUMMARY VIEW OF THE CHURCH OP IRELAND FROM
THE PAPAL USURPATION, IN THE TWELFTH CEN
TURY, TO THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION,
IN THE SIXTEENTH. Section I.
Introduction. Polity and Independence of the Church.
Commencetnent of the Pope''s Interference. The Archie
piscopal Pall. Nomitiaiion io BishopricJcs. Papal
encroachments on the Royal Prerogative.
An acquaintance with the history of the Reformed introduction.
J-., 1 p T 1 1 • t* 1 , • Occasion of the
Churcn or Ireland is necessary for completing an present wort.
acquaintance with the hi.story of the British empire
in general, as well as with that of Ireland in par
ticular. It is also necessary for completing an
acquaintance with the history of that National
Church, of which the Irish Church forms an integral
member, the United Church of England and Ireland.
But an acquaintance with the history of the Reformed
Church of Ireland is not readily attainable : for,
whilst England and Scotland each possesses its eccle
siastical histories, Ireland is destitute of similar
channels of intelligence. Those, indeed, who are
solicitous on the subject, and have the various sources
of information at hand, may search it out, where it
lies overwhelmed, as a secondary topick, among the
records of the general history of the country; or
B

2 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cn. I-
imperfectly blended with the biographies of eminent
political or ecclesiastical characters; or mixed up
Mdth heaps of miscellaneous documents. But it is
not easy thus to procure a copious, detailed, entire,
and continuous view : and in all likelihood the con
sequence is, that the history of the Reformed Irish
Church is known, with any considerable degree of
accuracy and fulness, by a few only; and by the
many is hardly known at all.
And the design The deslgn of the present undertaking is to give
a regular narrative of events in the Church of Ire
land, and thus to supply a defect in the ecclesiastical
history of the British empire, during the important
period that intervened between the commencement
of the Reformation, in the reign of King Henry the
Eighth, and its iinal establishment by the abdication
of King James the Second. Information on this
subject may be found, as already intimated, dispersed
over several quarters, but it requires to be collected,
combined, and arranged : and, although after all it
be incomplete from the failure of many valuable
documents, still, perhaps, sufficient may be brought
forward to engage and reward attention. The cir
cumstances of my professional life naturally made
me desirous of becoming possessed of this informa
tion ; and that, which I in the first place endeavoured
to procure and digest for my own satisfaction, I
thought might be so increased and constructed as to
be not unacceptable to others. But before we enter
on the proposed narrative, it will be useful to
take a brief survey of the condition of the Irish
Church at the beginning of the ijroposed period,
or rather during the three or four centuries that
preceded it.
Primitive polity The polity of the Church of Ireland, like that of

Sec I.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 3
all national members of the Church Catholick, was of the chm-ch of
from the first episcopal, comprising the three orders ""'" '
of ministers : bishops, priests, and deacons. At the
era of the Reformation, its episcopate consisted of
four archbishops and twenty-six suffragan bishops.
Each of the archbishops had metropolitan authority
and jurisdiction in his own province ; and the Arch
bishop of Armagh, being the Primate of all Ireland,
possessed a visitatorial power over the other three
provinces. The suffragan bishops had been in former
times much more numerous. In the earliest ages,
indeed, of the existence of the Irish Church, they
are said to have exceeded three hundred : but many
of these were situated in small villages or districts,
and their number was soon reduced. In the year
1152, or about four centuries before the Reforma
tion, in a national synod they amounted to thirty-
four : of whom ten were in the province of Armagh,
five in that of Dublin, twelve of Cashel, and seven
of Tuam. Of some of these the names were
retained at the time of the Reformation, and
indeed are still preserved ; but of the greater number
the names had at that period been changed into
others of a simpler form and more easy pronuncia
tion, or had been merged in the names of other
contiguous bishopricks, with which the smaller and
less important had been united'.
Until about the middle of the twelfth century independence of
. . , ., , , the Irish Church.
the Church of Ireland maintained its character, as
an independent national church, without acknow
ledging any pre-eminence, authority, or jurisdiction,
of the See of Rome. The Archbishops of Armagh
exercised a spiritual power throughout the country;
> Hislory and Antiquities of 1 Knight ; edited by Walter Harris,
Ireland, by Sir James Wake, | Esq. Dublin, 1764. Vol. ii. p. 285.
B 2

4

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Appointment
liibliops.

and erected archbishopricks and bishopricks without
consultation or communication with the Roman
of Pontiff. For the supply of vacant bishopricks persons
were elected by the clergy, or by the clergy and
laity, of the diocese, recommending them to the
king ; or by the king's nomination or influence, con
curring with the good-will of the clergy and people :
whereupon the bishop-elect was sent to the arch
bishop for consecration: to the Archbishops of
Armagh for the most part, except in the case of
those colonies of Ostmen from the north of Europe,
who inhabited the cities of Dublin, Waterford, and
Limerick; and who, esteeming themselves country
men of the Normans, now in possession of England
and of its highest ecclesiastical dignities, sent their
bishops to be consecrated by the Archbishop of
Canterbury. But in every case these appointments
and consecrations were altogether independent of
the Papal See^
The earliest interference of the Pope on such
occasions in Ireland was in the twelfth century.
Archiepiscopal Tho palHuiu, Or pall, is an ensign of dignity,
ArchWshoT'M''a^ which the Pope had taken upon himself to confer
'''"'''^' upon archbishops. But this ensign Vi^as never worn
by an Irish archbishop until the year 1152'. Mala
chy O'Morgair had occupied the archiepiscopal see
of Armagh by the joint suffrages of the clergy and
. people, and resigned it afterM-ards by his own volun-
Yearofom-Lord tary act lu ] 137, retiring to the suffragan bishoprick
of Down. What was his motive to the step, which
he took two years later, has not been distinctly

First interfe
rence of the
Pope.

" Discourse on the ReUgion of
ihe Ancient Irish. By Dr. James
Ussher, Archbishop of Arraa"-h •
edit, Dublin, 1815, chap. viii.

" Wabe's History of the Irisl\
Bishops, being vol. i. of his Histori/
and A-itiiiprlt'ii-s, p. 55.

Sec. L] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 5
stated; but it is most probably to be found in a
desire to assimilate the usages and discipline of tlic
Irish Church more nearly to those of Rome ; espe
cially by introducing among the clergy an obligation
to celibacy, Mhich Avas not required of them at the
time in question, but was, at au early period after,
most earnestly imposed upon them by Malachy in
his new capacity, in which he soon made his appear
ance among them. However this be, the step, which
he now took, was that of a journey to Rome, for the
purpose of soliciting from the Pope two palls : one
for the metropolitan see of Armagh, which, though
possessed from the beginning of archiepiscopal dignity
and authority, had never borne the archiepiscopal
pall ; the other, for the newly-constituted metropo
litical church of Cashel, which was indebted for its
creation to his almost immediate predecessor Celsus.
Innocent the Second, who at that time filled the The Popcs com-
. .iTirii 1 teous reception
Papal chair, received Malachy very courteously, ofMaiaci.y.
informed himself accurately by his means of the
condition of the Irish Cliurch, confirmed the estab
lishment of the archbishoprick, invested him with
the office of his legate in Ireland, an office recently
instituted, and previously filled by only one occupant*,
and dismissed him with tokens of singular respect
and benevolence : but with regard to the jjalls, he
acquainted him, that a matter of that consequence
ought to be transacted with great solemnity, and by
the common suffrages of a National Council, which
the Pope advised him to call on his return into
Ireland, with a promise that, upon their request, the
palls should be granted. The Papal policy appears
to have been to encourage the zeal of the voluntary
agent, so as eventually to produce the desired
'' Abp. Ussheb's Religion ofthe Ancient Irish, p. 74.

6 FROM THE TWELFTH TO f*^"- ^*
consummation, but to be cautious of adopting any
measure without being previously assured that it
would be acceptable to the Irish Church.
Maiachysexcr- On hls Tctum to Ireland, Malachy, in his cha-
tlTpa^ar^ho- racter of Papal legate, proceeded to exercise his
"'^' function in all parts of the country, and was indefa
tigable in his efforts to reduce the Irish Church to a
conformity with that of Rome. Gelasius had suc
ceeded to the vacancy which he had made in the
archbishoprick of Armagh. And matters being at
length judged ripe for prosecuting the application
for the palls, with the concurrence of the primate
and the legate, a national synod was assembled at
Year of our Lord Holmpatdck iu the year 1148, when fifteen bishop,?,
two hundred priests, and a considerable number of
the inferior clergy are said to have attended, and
joined in making a solicitation to the Pope. Euge
nius the Third had in the interval succeeded to the
Papal chair. To him, therefore, the request of the
assembly was addressed ; and Malachy, at his own
urgent intreaty, was deputed to convey it. His
sudden illness and death upon his journey caused an
interruption in the progress of the business com
mitted to him. But the delay was of no long
duration. The opportunity for the Pope's interpo
sition, afforded by the previous transactions, was not
to be omitted. And accordingly, in the year 1152,
John Paparo, Cardinal Priest, having been appointed
by the Pope his apostolick legate to Ireland, arrived
with four palls, which he was commanded to confer
on the four Irish archbishops of Armagh, Dublin,
Cashel, and Tuam'.
Palls conferred For the iiiore solemn execution of the Papal
on the four arch- . . -¦¦
bishops by Cardi- coinmissiou, auothcr national synod was convened at
nal Paparo. ' Wabe's Bishops, p. 68.

Sec, I.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 7
Kells on the Oth of March, 1152. To the mandate, vearofourLord1152.
which ordered this convention, the greater part of
the Irish bishops yielded obedience ; there were
some, however, of them, as well as of the inferior
clergy, among whom those of Armagh and of Down
are particularly noticed, who refused to sanction, by
their presence, the acts of the council. But the
legate, regardless of the opposition, proceeded to
execute his instructions in the presence of those
clergy who were assembled : and he accordingly
conferred the pall on each of the four archbishops,
distinguishing, at the same time, the See of Armagh
with its peculiar honour, and recognising Gelasius,
in accordance with ancient usage, as the Primate of
all Ireland. " The Annals of St. Mary's Abbey," says Harris, Geiasius.theArst
iu his edition of Sir James Ware's Lives, "and those Armagh, Tho
at the end of Camden, call this prelate ' the first
Archbishop of Armagh ; that is, the first who used
the pall: although others before him were called
archbishops and primates out of reverence to St.
Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, whose see was, from
the beginning, held in the greatest honour, not only
by bishops and priests, but by kings and princes.' "
The fact is as we have seen ; he was the first arch
bishop, who compromised the independence of the
National Church of Ireland by accepting the stamp
and ensign of his ecclesiastical dignity from the
hands of a foreign prelate.
A foundation was thus laid for the Bishop of progress of the
T • 1 C* 1 J. l^ope's interfe-
Rome's interference with the vacant Irish Sees ; but rence with the
it does not appear to have been extended further
than the bestowing of the archiepiscopal pall till the
vear 1206. In the mean time, King Henry the

8 FROM THE TWELFTH TO LCh. I.
Second had acquired the dominion of Ireland, m
1172. 1172; and soon after the acquisition, namely, in
1175. 1175, had exercised his prerogative in a council held
at Windsor, by giving the bishoprick of Waterford,
then vacant, to an Irishman named Augustin, and
sending him to the Archbishop of Cashel for conse-
1202. cration. But in 1202, the lordship of Ireland
having, in the mean time, passed to King John, on
a vacancy wliich occurred in the archbishoprick of
Armagh, a competition for the succession ensued
among Simon Rochford, bishop of Meath ; Ralph,
le Petit, or the Little, archdeacon of Meath ; and
Humphrey de Tickhull, each of them pretending to
be the candidate on whom the choice of the electors
had fallen. The king decided in favour of Tickhull,
on the 4th of May, 1202. But another candidate,
Eugene MacGillivider, was declared archbishop by
the Pope. The king, incensed by this usurpation of
his authority, sent mandatory letters, on the 22nd of
r203. May, 1203, to all the suffragan bishops of that
province, forbidding them to acknowledge Eugene
for their metropolitan : and circulated duplicates
among all his faithful subjects of the province,
imposing on them the like prohibition".
i-irst archbishop About the cud of that year, however, the king's
.^ippointe y 10 j^j.gj-^|3Jg|jQp fjjgji . g^j^j }jjg authority was then exerted
in confirming the election of Ralph, archdeacon of
Meath. But Eugene, ^vho, by his Irish extraction
and his personal good qualities, was rendered popu
lar with tlie clergy and lait}^ had on the very first
occasion hastened to the Court of Rome, and secured
a publiek acknowledgment and formal ratification of
his claim from the Papal See. A powerful influence
Avas also set in motion by himself or his friends for
" Ware's Bishops, p. G2.

Sec I.J THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 9
counteracting the opposition of the king : three
hundred marks of silver and three marks of gold,
presented in Eugene's behalf by two friars of Melli-
font, for restitution of the lands and liberties appur
tenant to the archbishoprick, dispersed the indigna
tion, and secured the acquiescence of the unworthy
sovereign. In the grants made to British adven
turers, the donation of bishopricks and abbeys had
been expressly reserved to the Lord of Ireland ; but
the honour of the crown and the dignity of the
country weighed light against the necessities of the King.iohn'sweakness and
weak and venal John ; his wrath was appeased by venaiuy.
the gratification of his covetousness, and he con- 1200.
firmed the appointment of Eugene'.
This is the first Archbishop of Armagh who subsequent con-
- , . T , 1 -r» , tests between tho
appears to have been appointed by the Pope s pro- idngandtiiD
. . . 1 • -I p P.tpe for episco-
vision ; nor can any instance be cited ot a pretence pai appoint

ments.

on the part of the Pope to confirm a bishop, when
elected, till the fatal collation of the archiepiscopal
palls. But from this period history abounds with
lamentable examples of controversy between the
king and the Pope for this attribute of ecclesiastical
supremacy. The nature of this controversy, as Avell
as the general course whicli henceforth prevailed in
episcopal appointments, may be understood from
the foUowing statement.
Upon the next vacancy of the see of Armagh, Keg
in 1217, Luke Netterville, the archdeacon, was
regularly and canonically elected by the cha])ter;
and went over to England with the instrument of
his election, for the purpose of procuring the king's
confirmation. This, however, was refused, upon the
plea of the election having been made Avithout the
kino-'s licence. For it had been the constant order
"> Ware's Bis/iops, p. 64.

ihir method
of appointing
bishops.

1217.

10

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Cu. I.

Interference of
the Pope with
Euch appoint
ments.

of proceeding in England, and the same became the
order in Ireland after the introduction of the English
laws, that, upon a vacancy in the archbishoprick or
bishoprick, the chapter first sued to the king for a
conge d'elire : that is, a licence to proceed to elec
tion ; aud, after an election made, they certified it
to the king, and obtained his royal assent ; and
thereupon he issued a writ of restitution to the
temporalties, Avhich he held in his hands until the
see Avas settled. If any chapter proceeded to au
election without the king's previous licence, the
king annulled the act, and commanded them to
proceed to a ueAv election, ujion licence first ob
tained. Sometimes, hoAvever, he Avas graciously
pleased to pardon the contempt ; always adding to
the grant of this favour a clause, that it should not
be made a precedent to the prejudice of the croAvn,
and obliging both the electors and the elected to
give security for that purpose ; and sometimes he
proceeded judicially against the offenders, and im
posed a heavy fine on them for their contempt".
Meanwhile the Pope often interfered ; and,
when he found an election to a church litigated,
would place a pastor in it, " out of the plenitude of
his power," as he termed it, without any election ;
and would often disapprove and nullify canonical
elections, and jjlace his own dependants in vacant
sees, in contempt and violation of the king's prero
gative. Still, AA'hatever poAver the Pope usurped on
these occasions, it had relation only to the sjiiritual-
ties ; namely, those profits Avhich the bishop received
as bishop, and not as a baron of parliament, such as
visitation, ordination, and institution dues. The
temporalties, or lay revenues, Avhich the bishop
" Wahid's Bishops, i\ do.

Sec. I.] TIIE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 11
enjoyed, still remained entire to the crown; and'
the provisional bi,shop had but little for his sub
sistence, until he obtained restitution to the tempo
ralties by the king's consent.
Thus to complete the appointment of a bishop, inconvenient
there Avere henceforth three parties concerned : the ofThTmethod.
king, the Pope, and the diocesan chapter; and of
these the conflicting sentiments and Avishes A^'ere
the fruitful source of much contest and confusion,
by no means conducive to the honour or Avelfare of
the Church. As to the chapter, indeed, they had
little more than a nominal share in the appointment ;
for the conge felire by degrees was considered as
leaving to the electors only the shadow of a right,
Avhile, in the licence to elect, the king named the
jDerson to be elected. The inutility and absurdity of
this method Avere perceived ; and accordingly at an
early season of the Reformation, in the second year
of Queen Elizabeth, the conge d'elire Avas abolished
in Ireland ; and the nomination to bishopricks left to
the appointment of the crown by letters patent,
Avithout any capitular election. But Avith respect to
the rival claims of the king and the Pope, matters
Avere not so easily adjusted. Much inconvenience
Avas continually caused by the conflict of the sup- papaiusurpa-
posed rights of each ; nor Avas the Pope satisfied
Avith his actual usurpation of the spiritualties, but
sometimes endeavoured to wrest the temporalties
also out of the power of the croAvn. Hence it
became the constant practice for bishops on receiv
ing their temporalties from the king, to renounce by
a solemn document all right to the same by virtue
of any Papal provision, and to acknowledge that
they Avere granted only by the royal bounty. Yet
the Pope was often on the Avatch to make encroach-

tions.

12

FROM THE 'lAVELFTH TO

[Cn. I.

12.5S.
Submission of
King Henry the
Third.

'ments on the croAvn, Avhen it Avas Avorn by a prince
naturally feeble, or involved in political difficulties.
Thus, in 1268, Avhen King Henry the Third Avas at
Avar Avith his barons. Pope Alexander the Fourth
sent him an insolent command to restore Abraham
O'Conellan to the temporalties of the archbishoprick
of Armagh, Avhich had been granted to him by his
Holiness through the plenitude of his poAver ; and to
that command the necessitous king tamely sub
mitted'.

Further en
croachments of
the Papacy on
royal preroga
tive.

Other encroachments were attempted to be made
on the royal prerogative by the Papal provisions, in
Avhicli Avere inserted clauses prejudicial to the king
and the kingdom. As a counteraction of such
encroachments, it was customary for the Irish bishops
to receive consecration in Pjuglaud, that so, before
the completion of their titles by the king, they might
be obliged to renounce in person any claims pre
judicial to the croAvn, contained in the Pope's bulls.
Sometimes this renunciation AA^as alloAved to be made
by proxy; and then the bishop-elect w^as spared the
trouble and expense of a journey into England, by
virtue of a royal mandate for his consecration by the
Irish Metropolitan, as in the instance of Richard de
Northampton, consecrated by the Archbishop of
Dublin to the bishoprick of Ferns in 1282"'. In
l)ursuance of the same principle of counteraction,
in the time of King EdAvard the Second, in 1306,
the king refused to restore the temporalties to
Walter, who had been advanced to the archbishop
rick of Armagh by the Pope's provision, until he had
renounced all the offensive clauses, and engaged to
jiay a fine of a thousand croAvns for that misde-
' Warl's Bi.ihops, p. 67. '» 17?., p. 441.

Sec. I.-] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 13
meanour". It Avas another device of the Papal see,
to protract the time by long and useless delays in
examining a bishop's election ; and so to constrain
him, though lawfully elected, to resign his right into
the Pope's hands, and to receive his bishoprick again
by the Pope's provision dearly purchased, as in the
case of William de Bermingham, elected to the arch
bishoprick of Tuam in 1289; aud, on his resignation of
his laAvful claim, reappointed to that see by the Pope".
But the influence of the Papal See in Ireland Avas Prejudicial i
made instrumental to the furtherance of its anibi- papaisee.*''
tions projects, iu other Avays prejudicial to the rights
both of the sovereign and the subject. Tn 1229, a
chaplain of the Pope Avas sent over Avith a demand of
the tenths of all the moveables, to support him
against the Emperor Frederick : a tax so hard to be
discharged, that it AA'as necessary to part from, not
only the cadows and aqua vitse, but cA^en the chalices
and altar-cloths". In 1240, another missionary
arrived from Pope Gregory, with a demand, under
pain of excommunication and otlier censures eccle
siastical, of the tAventieth part of the Avhole land,
besides donations and private gratuities for the main
tenance of the Avar against the emperor : whereby he
extorted a thousand and five hundred marks or more'*.
In 1270, another messenger Avas sent, requiring the
tithes of all spiritual promotions for three years to
come, to carry on the Avars of the Pope Avith the
King of Arragon ; a demand Avhich Avas greatly
murmured at and gainsaid, yet the nuncio Avent not
em]) ty away". In 1329, a remarkable reservation in

Ware's Bishop/s, p. 71.
Ib., p. 608.
Hibernia Any! icana, or His-

Cox, Esq. ; 1689. vol, i, p, 61,
'^ Cox, i., Go,
" Annals of Ireland. By Sir

tory of Ireland. By Richaed ' James Wabe. Hen. Ill, p, 67.

14 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO CC«- I-
favour of the Papacy Avas made in a commission, sent
by the Pope's Penitentiary General to the Dean of
St. Patrick's, empoAvering him to hear the Arch
bishop of Dublin's confession of certain crimes, in
pursuance of the request of the archbishop himself;
the commission, in the thirteenth year of the pontifi
cate of Pope John the Twenty-second, empoAvered
the dean to remit all the sins which might be con
fessed by the archbishop, except contempt of Papal
authority'\ And in 1394, Pope Boniface the Ninth,
for the promotion of a favourite of his oavu, took the
extraordinary step of translating William O'Corma-
cain, against his will, from the archbishoprick of
Tuam to the bishoprick of Clonfert : a translation
which the archbishop took so much to heart, that he
neglected to expedite his Bull in due time, and was
thereupon deprived, and fell into a fit of sickness,
Avhich at last terminated in his death : " a new
strain," as Harris hath well remarked, " of the Pope's
usurped power ; who presumed to do what the king
could not do, namely, to deprive a man of his free
hold without the judgment of his peers"."
Section II.
Encroachments by the Irish Hierarchy on the Kitifs Prero
gative. Arrogance and violence of the Prelates towards
each other. Other enormities in the Hierarchy. Abuses
of Excommunication. Treatment of HereticJcs.

Example of the Meanwhile the Same spirit of encroachment, Avhicli
Papal See follow- , , i .i • j? ii T-i ti
ed by the Irish actuated the occupiers ot tne Roman See in oppo-
hierarchy. . . - , . . ,
sition to the royal prerogative, Avas imparted to the

History and Antiquities of i^'t. \ 'MoTscti Mason, Esq, Dublin,
Patrick's Cathedral. By W. | 1820. p. 122,
"¦ Wabe's Biship.t, p. C40,

Sec, II,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 15
highest order of ecclesiasticks ; and manifested itself,
as occasions were offered, in the members of the
Irish hierarchy.
In the early part of the thirteenth century, instances of en-
Henry de Loundres, archbishop of Dublin, filled the

eroachmcnts by
the prelates on
honourable and confidential office of Lord Justice of gativT.^hian

Ireland under King John. Yet so regardless was he uubunV"
of the trust reposed in him, and of the consequent
duty, and so glaring Avere his infringements of the
rights of the crown by drawing temporal causes into
ecclesiastical courts, that the clamours of the subjects
A^'ere no less excited against him than the resent
ment of the king ; and in the year 1223, on the com
plaints of the citizens of Dublin, a Avrit Avas issued
to prohibit him fi'om such practices in future, not
Avithout threats of severe penalties if he proceeded '.
Similar writs of prohibition, under pain of losing in an archbishop
his temporalties, were issued against Albert of Co
logne, archbishop of Armagh ; Avho, during his occu
pancy of the metropolitical see from 1240 to 1247,
roused the displeasure of King Henry the Third, by
labouring to advance the usurped authority of the
Pope ; and especially by prosecuting a long suit with
the prior of Lanthony in the spiritual court concern
ing pleas of advowson and patronage which belonged
only to the temporal courts of the king^
About 1250, the bishops in general formed a pro- inthewshops
,-. ni ,1 nij_ collectively;
ject to deprive the king of the custody ot the tem
poralties during the vacancy of a see ; and also to
prevent their tenants from sueing in the king's courts
without the Pope's assent^
About 1277, Nicholas, bishop of Down, asserted inaBishopof
his privilege to hold almost all pleas of the crown in
his manors ; and claimed cognisance of felonies, and
' Wabe's Bislwijs, p, 310. " lb., p. 60. ' lb., p. 606,

Down ;

16 FROM THE TWELFTH TO L^a. I.
the right of ransoming felons ; for Avhich he Avas
called to account by King Edward the First, and
amerced. A full narration of the charge aud the
judgment is given by Harris, as a " discovery of the
usurpations made on the croAvn by the aspiring
bishops of those days." And in the year 1297, the
same bishop Avas indicted for another offence of a
similar complexion. For the abbey of the convent
of St. John at DoAvn being void, the prior and con
vent sought and obtained the king's licence for elect
ing another abbot. But the bishop broke into the
Abbey, and stole the letters of licence, and created an
abbot of his oavu choice, and restored to him the
temporalties ; Avhereupon both he and the newlj'-
created abbot Avere prosecuted for the usurpation*.
In.™ Archbishop lu the iutcrval betAveen these two occurrences,
namely, in 1285, the Archbishop of Armagh,
Nicholas Mac Melissa, made an attack on the king's
prerogative, by seizing the temporalties of the See
of Dromore during a vacancy; for which he was
prosecuted in the King's Bench in Ireland, and
amerced twenty marks, half of the penalty being
afterwards remitted by the king on his paying the
remainder. The same primate, in 1291, promoted
and headed a very extraordinary association, Avhereby
In an as.sociation tho tlirce other archblsliops, all the suffragan bishops,
bishiprami all the deans and chapters, and the other orders and
isiops, degrees of the clergy, unanimously engaged in a con
federacy, not only under their hands and seals, but
confirmed, moreover, by the sanction of an oath.
They SAvore, first, that if they, or any of them, their
churches, rights, jurisdictions, liberties, or customs,
should, by ant/ lay lioiver or jurisdiction vuhatever, be
impeded, resisted, or grieved, they Avould at their
' Ware, p, 109,

Sec. II,"] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. ] 7
common expense, in proportion to their respective
incomes, support, maintain, and defend each other in
all courts, and before all judges, either ecclesiastical
or secular. Secondly, that if any of their mes
sengers, proctors, or the executors of their orders,
should suffer any loss or damage in the execution of
their business, by any lay power or Jurisdiction, they
would amply, and Avithout delay, make up to them
all such losses and damages, according to a rateable
proportion of their revenues. Other articles of the
agreement pledged them to mutual co-operation in
enforcing sentences of excommunication, so that, if
a person excommunicated in one diocese, should flee
to another, the place AA'here he continued should be
put under an interdict ; and laid every archbishop
and bishop, who should be negligent in executing
the agreement, under a penalty respectively of five
hundred marks and tAvo hundred pounds, to the Pope.
This agreement was executed in the Dominican con
vent at Trim, the Sunday after St. Matthew's day ;
and, as Harris observes, needs no comment ^
In 1346, a parliament, holden at Kilkenny, in an Archbishop
having granted the king, Edward the Third, a hissutrraians;
subsidy for the exigences of the state, the Arch
bishop of Cashel opposed its being levied Avithin
his province, and summoned an assembly of his
suffragan bishops, who joined with him in decreeing
that all beneficed clergymen, that contributed to the
subsidy, should be ipso facto deprived of their bene
fices, and rendered incapable of obtaining any other
preferment Avithin that province ; that any of the laity,
who were their tenants, contributing, should be ipso
facto excommunicated ; and that their children to the
third generation should be incapable of being pro-
' Wabe's Bishops, p. 70.

In a Bishop of
Limerick.

18 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO ICa. I.
moted in the province to any ecclesiastical benefice.
In consequence of these decrees the archbishop and
the three bishops, who had attended the assembly,
went to Clonmel ; and in their pontifical robes,
openly, in the middle of the street, excommunicated
all who had advised or granted the subsidy, and all
who were concerned in levying it ; especially the
king's commissioner for receiving it from the several
collectors in the county of Tipperary".
And in 1423, February the 3rd, a writ was
directed to Cornelius O'Dea, bishop of Limerick,
requiring him to appear before Edward, bishoj) of
Meath, lord deputy, without excuse, on Tuesday
next before St. Patrick's day, to answer such things
as should be objected to him on the king's part,
which summons he disobeyed'.

Controversy
between the
Archbishops of
Armagh and
Dublin.

Unbecoming There are on record during the same period
conduct of the . in
prelates towards vRrious Bxamples of arrogaut and domineering con-
each other. -^
duct in different members of the hierarchy towards
each other, which reflect much discredit on the
individuals, and are no slight scandal to the Church.
Among these disputes and contests, one of the
most prominent is the rivalry, which prevailed for
three or four centuries, between the Archbishops of
Armagh and Dublin, as to the right of each bearing
his cross erect in the province of the other. This
controversy, Avhich had existed in earlier times, but
been allayed in 1262, again broke out in 1311,
when it Avas revived by John Lech, archbishop of
Dublin ; who, relying on the support of the king,
whose favourite and almoner he was, forbade the
primate, Walter Jorse, to appear in the province of
Dublin with that emblem of metropolitical dignity.
" Ware's Bishops, p. 478.
^ Rot, Pat. Tur. Berm. 2 Hen, VIII. N. 46, D.

Sec. II.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 19
The primate declined the contest, being probably
overborne by the king's power, which supported his
competitor". But, on the death of the primate, his
brother, Robert Jorse, Avho succeeded him, con
tinued the contest ; and, having arrived at Howth
the day after the Annunciation in 1313, he arose in
the night-time, and by stealth erected his cross, and
carried it in that position as far as the Priory of
Grace Dieu, within the province of Dublin, where
some of the archbishop's family met him ; and,
beating down his cross, drove him in confusion out
Leinster^ This contest was carried on from time
to time with such violence, that on five several
occasions, betAveen the years 1429 and 1438, John
SAvain, the archbishop of Armagh, having been
summoned to appear at parliaments holden in the
province of Leinster, as often made returns to the
Avrit of summons, that ' he could not personally
attend without violating his consecration oath " to
defend the rights of his see, being hindered by the
contradiction and rebellion of the archbishop and
clergy of Dublin, on the articles of bearing his cross
and his primatial jurisdiction in that province'"."
And similar returns were made by his successor,
John Prene, in 1442 and 1443, and four times by
Archbishop JNIey in 1446, and the three succeeding
years". An interval of tranquillity succeeded, till
the controversy was again raised by Archbishop
Alan, a prelate of a high and turbulent spirit, in
1533, in opposition to Primate Cromer".
In the meantime different scenes of disgraceful
outrage were occurring, in which the rulers of the
Church unhappily bore too conspicuous a part.
" Ware's Bishops, p. 74. " lb., p, 75. "> Ih., p, 77.
" P., p. 86. '^ P., p. 78, 348.
C 2

20

FROM THE TAVELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

CoTi tention
between the
llishops of Wa
terford and
Lismore.

Usurpations of
Bishop of Derry.

About the year 1210 a most scandalous contention
was carried on betAveen tAVO rival prelates, of
Waterford aud of Lismore, concerning certain lands
alleged by each to be the property of his see. The
question was referred for decision to delegates
appointed by the Pope. The history is too long for
insertion. But Avhat especially relates to our
immediate purpose, is the conduct of the Bishop of
Waterford ; who, being condemned by the delegates,
and enraged at their sentence, formed a private
plot with some of his dependants, for seizing the
Bishop of Lismore. They besieged him for some
time in his cathedral, where he was engaged in
divine service. As he quitted the church they fell
upon him, tore off his episcopal robes, robbed the
church of its property, and hurried him frora place
to place, till they brought him to the castle of
Dungarven, where the Bishop of Waterford threw
him into a dungeon in irons. Seven weeks after,
the Bishop of Lismore, having been cruelly mace
rated with thirst and hunger, escaped from prison ;
but was again surprised and seized by the Bishop of
Waterford's clerk, who drew a sword and attempted
to cut off his head. These opprobrious transactions
Avere accompanied by the most outrageous behaviour
of the Bishop of Waterford against the delegates
and his metropolitan, the Archbishop of Cashel ; and
led to a sentence of excommunication against him
and his clergy, Avho abetted him in his outrages'^
About 1266 a part of the diocese of Raphoe Avas
taken away, and annexed to the See of Derry, by
the overbearing power of the bishop of the latter
see ; who also treated after the same manner many
churches ofthe diocese of Clogher".

Ware, p. 528.

" lb., 271, 288.

Sec. II.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 21
In 1353 a contest arose betAA^een the Archbishop contest between
of Cashel and his suffragan, the Bishop of Water- cashei'Ld"'
ford, who had burned two Irishmen for heresy, ford,""^"
without the licence of the metropolitan ; or, accord
ing to another account, for a contumely off'ered to
the Virgin Mary. Thereupon " on Thursday after
St. Francis's day, a little before midnight, the arch
bishop entered privately into the church-yard of the
blessed Trinity at Waterford, Avith a numerous guard
of armed men ; and made an assault on the bishop iu
his lodgings, and grievously Avounded him and many
others in his company, and robbed him of his
goods"." This was an outrage of a metropolitan on his outrage of the
inferior; the following is that ofa suffragan on his rick on the Arch-
superior. In 1369, a Bishop of Limerick having
been accused of violating the privileges of the Fran
ciscan Friars, the matter Avas referred, by the Pope,
to the Archbishop of Cashel. But on a citation
being issued for au ansAver to the alleged grievances,
the bishop laid violent hands on the archbishop, tore
the citation from him with such force that he drcAV
his blood, and ordered him to be gone Avitli menaces
of further injury to him and his attendants. In the
end, after much litigation, the archbishop being
compelled to fly from Limerick by the danger of
fresh personal assaults, the bishop, clothed in his
pontifical ornaments, entered the city with his accom
plices; and by bell, book, and candle, publickly
excommunicated every person who had supplied the
archbishop Avith food or entertainment. And when
the archbishop, on a day of solemnity, repaired to
Limerick, according to custom, to preach, the bishop
caused publiek proclamation to be made, that no
'5 Ware, p, 533.

22 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO [^11. I.
person, under pain of excommunication, should hear
his sermon; and excommunicated by name those
who attended it ; and when the archbishop left the
city, the bishop sent after him some of his servants,
who laid violent hands upon him, and forped the
bridle from his horse '°.

Allusion to otl-cr
enormities.

Extortion of
Archbishop of
Dublin.

Trials by battle.

Action between

Some acquaintance with these enormities is
necessary for giving an insight into the condition of
the Irish Church, during the ages preceding the
Reformation : but it is painful to dwell upon them
in detail. It may suffice, therefore, to allude in
passing to the extortion of the Archbishop of
Dublin, Henry de Loundres, in 1212, whom " they
nicknamed, as the Irish do commonly give additions
to their governors, in respect of some fact or quality,
' scorch- villain' and ' burn-bill,' because he required
to peruse the Avritings of his tenants, colourably jire-
tending to learn the kind of each man's several
tenure, and burned the same before their faces,
causing them either to renew their estates or to hold
at will'':"— To the trial by battle, in 1284, waged in a Avrit
of right for a disputed manor, between the champion
of the Bishop of Ossory, and the champion of his
competitor'"; and to a similar trial by combat,
appointed in 1446, in Smithfield, between Thoma.g
Fitzgerald, prior of Kilmainham, and James Butler,
earl of Ormond, the former having impeached the
latter of high treason '° : —
To the action brought in 1309, by the prior of

'° Ware, p. 508,
" Campion's History o/Ireland,

" Ware's Bishops, 406. Cox,
i. 76. " Warburton's History of
Dublin, i. 180,

Sec. II,]

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

23

Controversy be
tween Arch
bishop of Ar
magh, and friars.

the Abbey of Ardfert, against the bishop of that Pi-iorofArdfcrt,
diocese, and the chaplain of the church, for forcibly """ '""''^'
taking from the friars of the convent the corpse of
John de Cantelupe, and burying it elseAvhere, and
also for beating and otherwise ill-using sundry friars
of the house; the bishop, at the same time, pro
hibiting all persons, under pain of excommunication,
from furnishing the friars with any necessaries, either
through charity or otherAvise^": —
To the great controversy Avhich arose in 1337,
betAA'een the Archbishop of Armagh and the regulars,
when at length, by favour of the Pope, the friars got
the better ofthe prelate": —
To the resistance made in 1381, by the prior and Assauu of Prior
c^ ri ) Tl • -mv -IT of St. Saviour's
brethren of St. Saviour s I' nary, Dublin, against the rriary on pro-
1 1 T-fc 11 1 n ¦^^"''1^1 of the
appointment, by the Pope and the general master of order.
the Dominicans, of a provincial of that order;
opposing him by force of arms on his arrival at the
monastery, meeting him at the door in coats of mail,
Avith SAvords, clubs, and other weapons, assaulting
him, and, with the assistance of the people, who
rushed in on the ringing of the bell, seizing the pro
vincial and his partizans, dragging them like common
malefactors through the city, and imprisoning them
in the castle ^^ ; —
To the articles of impeachment alleged in parlia- impeachment of
Txr /* 1 IT* Archbishop of
ment, in 1421, by the Bishop of Waterford and Lis- cashei f<
more against the Archbishop of Cashel, charging ties.
him, among other offences, Avith the scandalous
enormities of counterfeiting the King of England's
seal, and his letters patent, and sacrilegiously taking
a ring from the image of St. Patrick, and giving it
to his concubine": —

1- scan
dalous enormi-

¦¦^o Aechdail's Monasticon, p.

300. 2' Cox, i. 124.

^'' Aechdall's Monasticon, p.
208. 2'^ Ware's Bishops, p, 480,

24

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Irregularities and publ ick adul
tery of Bishop of
Down.

Rival claimants
of bishoprick of
Kilmore.

Rival claimants
of Priory of Kil-
mainliam.

Controversy be
tween the two
cathedrals of
Dublin.

IMiU'der of Bishop
of Leighlin by
his archdeacon.

To the numerous irregularities of the Bishop
of Down, in 1434 ; and especially his criminal con
versation, and publiek cohabitation, with a married
Avoman, in the castle of Kilclief, his episcopal resi
dence"^'': —
To the contest, in 1489, between two rival
claimants of one and the same bishoprick, both as
serting their right to the episcopal dignity, and both
strangely entitled, at a provincial synod, "by the
grace of God, Bishops of Kilmore^*: —
To the no less remarkable contention in 1485,
between tAvo claimants of the priory of Kilmainham,
prosecuted Avith violence and outrage, and termi
nating in their ignominious ejection from their
dignity, and in the death of one in imprisonment,
and of the other in poverty and disgrace ^° : —
To the pertinacious and irreconcileable contro
versy between the two cathedrals of Dublin, con
cerning the election of their archbishop, Avhich
continued to be carried on betAveen the contending
parties, notwithstanding the efforts of the Pope for
their reconciliation^': —
And to the murder, in 1525, of a Bishop of
Leighlin, by his archdeacon, because he had rebuked
him for his insolence, obstinacy, and other crimes,
and threatened him Avith further correction"^"-

Abuse of the
power of excom
munication.

Incidental mention Avas just now made of ex
communication, and the greater excommunication
also Avas specifically noticed. This penalty Avas of
two sorts : the less and the greater. The effect of
The less oxcom- tho Icss Avas to Separate the subjects of it from a
niunication, .*¦ ^

^¦' Harris's State of the County
of Down, 1744, p, 24.
^' Ware's Bishops, p. 229.

^^ Ware's Annals, Hen. VII.
p. 2.
^' Ware's Bishops, p, 320,
'¦"' lb., p, 401,

Sec. II.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 25
participation of all the sacraments of the Church,
and to retain them in that condition, until they were
assoiled or absolved. The greater excommunication And the greater.
was much more formidable. For its effect Avas a
separation of those against Avliom it Avas pronounced,
" from God, and from all holy Church, and also from
the company of all Christian folk, never to be saved
by the passion of Christ, nor to be holpen by the
sacraments that be done in holy Church, nor to have
part with any Christian man"." I cite the descrip
tion from an English Avrlter, but I suppose it to be
equally applicable to the Irish Church. This poAver-
ful engine of ecclesiastical discipline, in both its
divisions, was not unfrequently Avielded against indi
viduals or communities by the rulers of the Church :
if sometimes in visitation of offences, Avhich required
severe reprobation, at others in a manner the most
arbitrary, for the gratification of personal revenge or
avarice, and in a degree Avhicli Avas much more than
commensurate Avitli the offence, and to an extent
which comprehended the innocent with the offender.
The exclusion of individuals from the communion Excommunica-
„ , . tion of iudivi-
of the church Avas a common exercise ot episcopal duals,
jurisdiction. Thus, early in the thirteenth century,
for the most outrageous treatment of the Bishop of
Lismore, folloAved by contumacy towards the Pope's
delegates : first, the partizans of Robert, bishop of
Waterford, then the Bishop of Waterford himself,
and lastly the clergy of his diocese, Avere excommu
nicated bv the Archbishop of Cashel, and under the By an Aroh-
bishop of Ctshel;
Pope's authority, with the solemnity of a publiek
proclamation, and the accompaniments of bell, book,
and candle''".
^' Becon's Reliques of Rome: tVorks, vol. iii. foi. 378, b.
'» Wake's Bishops, p. 529.

26

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

LCir.

By an Arch
bishop of Cashel
and his suffra
gans ;

By a Bishop of
Limerick ;

By an Arch
bishop of
Armagh ;

By an Arch
bishop of Ar
magh ;

In 1346, Ralph Kelly, archbishop of Cashel,
with three of his suffragan bishops, decreed that all
their tenants who should contribute to a certain sub
sidy, should be, ipso facto, excommunicated".
Peter, bishop of Limerick, in the year 1376,
treated the brethren of the Gray Friary in that city
with great indignity ; and excommunicated every per
son Avho should either repair thither to hear divine
service, or desire sepulture within their church.
And afterwards, having been cited to appear before
the Archbishoj) of Cashel for heresy, the same
bishop in his pontificals entered the city of Lime
rick, and by bell, book, and candle, excommunicated
every person who had supplied the archbishop Avith
food or entertainment ^^
In 1424, a sentence of the greater excommuni
cation Avas denounced by John Swayn, archbishop of
Armagh, on Catharine O'Farrel and Cornelius, her
son, in case of disobedience to a claim for some of
the principal goods, such as his horse, his ring, and
his cup, which belonged to a deceased Bishop of
Ardfert ; and a similar claim was made on the exe
cutor of a deceased Bishop of Clogher, in pursuance,
as the citation states, of a prescriptive custom".
In or about 1442, O'Donnel, prince of his clan,
having seized the profits of the bishoprick of Raphoe,
of which Archbishop Prene was the guardian, and
being aided in his usurpation by the dean and chap
ter, the archbishop prosecuted them to a suspension,
excommunication, and interdict, declared O'Donnel
an heretick, and deprived the dean and chapter of
their benefices 'S

General excom
munication ;

A general interdict, or the excommunication of
=" AVare, p. 478, =¦= lb., p. 508, ¦" Ih., p, 253, 185, ' J,., p, 274.

Sec. II,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 27
an entire province or district, was of less ordinary
occurrence, though some examples of it are on re
cord. Thus, early in the thirteenth century, in re-
A'enge for certain injuries inflicted on him by Hamo
de Valoniis, lord justice of Ireland, John Comyn,
archbishop of Dublin, not only pronounced a sen- ByanArdi-
•' ^ bishop of DubUn;
tence ot excommunication against the offender and
his associates, but, by an interdict on the unoffending
city and diocese, suspended therein the celebration
of all religious rites'".
In or about 1220, his successor, Henry de By another Arch-
T 1 ...... ~ 1 •, , 1 bishop otDublin;
Loundres, in vindication of some exorbitant de
mands of his clergy, which were resisted by the
raagistrates and citizens, together with particular de
nunciations of the offenders, combined a general
interdict upon the whole city '".
And in 1267, the Archbishop of Dublin, Fulk de ByanothcrAroh-
bishopof Dublin;
Saunford, highly resented certain encroachments
made by the mayor and citizens on the ecclesiastical
immunities, and having ineffectually admonished
them to forbearance, by his ordinary authority, pro
mulgated against them the sentence of excommuni
cation, and put the city under an interdict ; in con
firmation of which the Pope's legate sent orders to
the Bishops of Lismore and Waterford, to denounce
by bell, book, and candle, the excommunicated
mayor and citizens in all publiek places within the
city of Dublin »'.
About 1222, Donat, archbishop of Cashel, inter- By an Arch-
¦^ bishop of Cashel,
dieted the king's tenants and lands within his dio
cese ; which interdict, being without any reasonable
cause, he was enjoined by the Pope to relax in
fifteen dajs'\
The use of "bell, book, and candle," specified in Ben, boot, and

candle.

=* Ware, p, 317, '" P. ^' P., p. 322, ^» P., p, 471,

28 PROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cii. I-
some of the foregoing references, was an awful and
alarming accompaniment, sometimes annexed to the
sentence of excommunication for the purpose of
giving additional terror to a denunciation, terrible as
it was in itself A circumstantial account of this
ceremony, as practised in Ireland, does not occur to
my recollection ; but it probably did not differ in
any material particulars from that which was used at
the same period in England ; and of which the fol
lowing narrative is supplied by Staveley's History of
Churches iti England, on the authority of one of the
early Reformers. He observes, that " an extraordi
nary and dreadful use was made of bells, and that
was the cursing by bell, book, and candle." And he
Manner of curs- prococds to " relate the manner thereof, out of an
ing by them. ancient festival, and the articles of the General
Great Curse, found at Canterbury, in the year of our
Lord 1562, as it is set doAvn by Thomas Becon, in
the ' Reliques of Rotne.' This was solemnly thun
dered out once in every quarter. ... At Avhicli
action the prelate stands in the pulpit, in his aulbe,
the cross being lifted up before him, and the candles
lighted on both sides of it, and begins thus : ' By
authority of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and
the glorious mother and maiden, our Lady St. Mary,
and the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, and all
apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and the hallows
of God, all those be accursed,' Avhereon the book
records the offenders against whom the curse is de
nounced ; and then concludes all Avitli the curse
itself, thus : " And now by authority aforesaid, we
denounce all those accursed that are so founden
guilty, and all those that maintain them in their sins,
or give them hereto either help or counsel, so they
be departed from God and all holy Church ; and that

Sec. II,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 29
they have no part of the passion of our Lord Jesus
Christ, nor of no sacraments, nor no part of the
prayers among Christian folk. But that they be
accursed of God, and of the Church, from the sole of
their foot to the croAvn of their head, sleeping and
Avaking, sitting and standing ; and in all their words,
and in all their Avorks ; but if they have no grace of
God to amend them here in this life, for to dwell in
the pain of hell for ever without end. Fiat, fiat. Do
to the book ; quench the candles ; ring the bell ;
amen, amen.' And then the book is clapped to
gether, the candles bloAvn out, and the bells rung,
with a most dreadful noise made by the congregation
present, bewailing the accursed persons concerned in
that black doom denounced against them'°."
During this period the fire of persecution against Burning of here-
lieresy was lighted in Ireland, and the first victim Avas '"'''°'
one Adam Niger, or Adam Duff, of the family of the AdamDuff.
O'Tools, in Leinster ; who, in the year 1326 or 1327,
being possessed, as was said, Avith a diabolical spirit,
denying the incarnation of Christ, the Trinity of Per
sons, and the resurrection of the flesh, professing
also that the Scriptures Avere fabulous, and that the
See of Rome did affirm these errors, was by the
Church adjudged to death, and was burned and
hanged in the fire in Hoggin-green, near Dublin".
About the same time a charge was brought by The Lady aiico
ILetile.
the Bishop of Ossory against the Lady Alice Kettle,
with two accomplices, of " enchanting and witch
craft." One of the latter, Petronilla, a female ser
vant, was convicted and burned at Kilkenny. What
3' History of Cliurches in Eng- I "'' Loftus MS., Mareh's Library,
land. By Thomas Staveley, Esq, Dublin,
1712 ; pp. 235, 2.38. I

30 FROM THE TVi^ELFTH TO C^"-
became of the lady herself, and of the other accom
plice, does not clearly appear. It has been stated,
both that she escaped, and that she suffered death ;
and together with the charge of sorcery, has been
blended that of heresy, which was alleged also
against Arnold le Power, lord of Donnoil, and then
seneschal of Kilkenny, and eventually against the
Lord Justice of Ireland. On a solemn investigation
of the charge, the lord justice was pronounced "a
zealous and faithful child of the Catholick church ;"
but before the acquittal of the unfortunate Le Power,
he died in confinement ; and because he died unas-
soiled, his corpse Avas left for a long time without
burial".
Two Irishmen of Somewhat later in the same century, about ]363,
the ClankellanB , t • i /• xi /-ni -in • x i j*
burnt, two Irishmou of the Clankellans Avere convicted ot
heresy, or according to another account, of con
tumely, offered to the Virgin Mary, before the Bishop
of Waterford, and burned by his order''^
These were the earliest severe visitations of
heresy in the Irish Church. Meanwhile, as to that
particular form of heresy, so called, which in the
ensuing centuries excited the jealous vengeance of
the Papal power, that did not show itself in Ireland
till long after its first appearance in England, nor
even till the era of the Reformation.
Section III.
Moral character of the Clergy in general. Abuse of Eccle
siastical Privileges. Celibacy. Concubinage. Ititellec-
tual character. Defective means of Education.
^T'^l wghTn "^^^ characters of the clergy in general seem not to
morau!"^ havo stood high in the scale of moral improvement,
*' Mason's St. Patrick's Cathedral, 2jp. 120, 121.
^^ Wake's Bishops, p. 633.

Sec, III,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 81
being depressed both by an exemption which they
claimed as belonging to their profession, and by the
restraints which it imposed upon them.
Their ecclesiastical privileges appear to have been Ecclesiastical
abused by them, and used as a shelter for dishonesty abusedf ^
and outrage in the ordinary transactions of life.
Thus a clerk, being indicted in 1310 for secreting
himself in the church ofthe Holy Trinity in Dublin indefenccof
by night, and breaking open a chest Avherein Avere
deposited the alms given for the relief of the Holy
Land, and carrying away the greater part of the
money; and also for breaking open a coffer, and
taking books thereout ; and at the same time, de
spoiling the image of St. Catherine of part of its
ornaments, appeared, and pleaded that he Avas a clerk,
and could not answer '-
The same plea Avas alleged in 1307 by the prior and of murder,
of the canons regular of Newtown, who was accused
of inhumanly murdering a canon of his house, by
stabbing him with a knife, and of assisting his
brother to kill another friar. The jsrior pleaded
that as a clerk he was not obliged to answer".
Letters patent having been issued by the king in and of violence
1390, for inquiry into divers extortions and offences
committed in the Cistertian Abbey of Dunbrody, the
royal commissioner on his arrival was assaulted with
force and violence by the abbot and six of his monks,
aided by their associates, who seized and destroyed
the king's letters, and secured the commissioner in
the abbot's prison for sixteen days, and compelled
him to SAvear that he would never prosecute any of
the persons concerned in the transaction ^
After the same manner the clergy deemed their
' AncnDALL's Monasticon, p. 163. ^ lb,, p. 661.
^ P., p. 738.

32 from THE ..TAVELFTH TO [Ch. I.
privileges infringed and violated, and were roused to
expressions of deep indignation by a canon enacted
Clerical resist- Jn ^ provluclal svuod at Limerick in 1529 ; whereby
ance to a canon ¦•¦ •' i 'j. i? '
against ecclesias- authorltv Avas fflven to the mayor of that city tor iin-
tical debtors. •' O *^ mi IU
prisoning ecclesiastical debtors until they sliould
make due satisfaction to their creditors, Avithout
danger to the magistrates of incurring the censure of
excommunication. The inference from this profes
sional tenacity of exemption from a civil penalty in
such a case is not favourable to a character for inte
grity in those who maintained it*.
Celibacy. Moauwhile the consequences which have been
commonly found to result from a forcible restraint
imposed upon the innate and lawful appetites of
human nature, did not fail to contaminate the purity
of the Irish clergy.
Its introduction So late as the twelfth century, the celibacy of the
ministers of religion was not required nor generally
practised in the Church of Ireland. About that
period it was encouraged, and matrimony earnestly
discountenanced, by the same legate of the Roman
See, who Avas the prime promoter of Papal authority
in that kingdom. And it is not a little remarkable,
that about fifty years afterwards, in 1185, Albin
O'Mallory, abbot of Baltinglass, and subsequently
bishop of Ferns, preaching on the subject of the
continency of clergymen at the synod in Dublin,
lamented how the probity and innocence of the Irish
clergy had been of late vitiated. The cause of this
indeed he referred to the evil examples of the clergy
of England and Wales, against whom he bitterly in
veighed, and shoAved how great had been the chastity
of the Irish clergy before they had contracted con-
' Waue'.s Bishops, p, 482,

and effects.

Sec. III.] THE SIXTI^NTH CENTURY. 33
tagion from corrupt strangers. Giraldus Cambrensis, Report of cirai-
the celebrated historian, archdeacon of St. David's, "'" •^''"^'"¦^"^'^¦
Avho Avas present at the sermon, took upon him to
rebuke the preacher for his censure of the English
clergy, confessing that the Irish clergy Avere com
mendable enough for their religion, and among other
virtues, for their chastity ; but he hinted that their
long fasts Avere concluded with drunkenness, and
that their virtue Avas something rather in appearance
than in reality'.
Thus, according to the testimony of Giraldus, canon of Arch-
the character of the Irish clergy Avas open to other '""'"'p *^°"^"-
charges of irregularity: Avhilst, as to that of incon
tinence, to Avhatever cause it be attributed, the fact
of its preA'alence, and of the recent deterioration of
their characters in that respect, is too sufficiently
attested by the complaint of the preacher ; corro
borated as it is by a canon of John Comyn, arch
bishop of Dublin, made at this same synod, Avhicli
" under the penalty of losing both benefice and office,
forbids that any priest, deacon, or subdeacon, should
keep any Avoman in his house either under the
pretence of necessary service, or any other colour
whatsoever ; unless a mother, oavu sister, or such a
person whose age shall remove all suspicion of any
unlaAvful commerce °." An occurrence, Avliich had
taken place not long before, may serve still further
to corroborate the allegation in the sermon, and to
justify the prohibition of the archbishop ; for of his
immediate predecessor in the archiepiscopal see it
is related that so high was his esteem for chastity,
and so determined was his opposition to the contrary
vice in his clergy, that on one occasion he sent to
Rome for the purpose of procuring their absolution
" Ware's Bishops, p. 439. " P., p. 317.
r>

84 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cn. I.
onehundredand from the Popo, oue huudrod and forty clerks, who
forty clerks sent iti . , t n . .. ,^7
to Rome for in- uad bceu coiivictod of incontinency .
Ex^'^:rvTpre. It woro ucedless, as it is revolting, to dwell on
valence of incon- i^^i^j^j^^j^l examples of this profligacy. Its extensive
prevalence appears from such attestations as these.
And it is a proof of the prevalence and the notoriety
of the vice, that among the municipal regulations,
enacted for the good order of the town of Galway,
by the corporation, in the year 1520, such a laAV
should be found on the books of records, as the
following : — " That no priest, monk, nor canon, nor
friar, shall have no w — e nor leman, in any man's
house within the town, and that man which keepeth
or hosteth the said w — e or leman, to forfeit twenty
shillings." And again, in the year 1530, " enacted
that any priest or vicar of the college, found with
any fault or crime, to lose one hundred shillings, and
his benefice : and also if he or they keep any av — e,
being with child, or bearing him children, to pay the
above penalty'." The author, from whose work
these extracts are cited, observes, that this is the
only imputation Avhich occurs, affecting the moral
character of the town of Galway. Perhaps it should
be regarded less as a local imputation than as an
indication of the besetting sin of that class of men
against whom the regulations are directed.
Not deemed dis- The slu, indeed, appears to have been so lightly
esteemed of, that of those Avho Avere taught to
believe marriage unprofessional and dishonourable,
and who had recourse instead to illegitimate con
cubinage, there were some who made, and seduced
others to make, a glory of their shame. Such is the
'' Ware, p, 314.
" Haediman's History of Galway, jip, 202, 238.

Sec. Ill,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 35
purport of an anecdote, related by Bishop Bale, who,
on his first arrival in Ireland, at an early stage of
the Reformation, in 1552, had the foUoAving memor
able conversation with a Popish priest relative to
the parentage of the latter : — " The parish priest,"
he says, "of Knocktoner, called Sir Philip, was
very serviceable, and in familiar talk described to
me the house of the White Friars, Avhich some time
Avas in that toAvn : concluding in the end that the
last prior thereof, called William, AA'as his natural
father. I asked him, if that were in marriage ? He
made answer, No : for that was, he said, against his
profession. Then counselled I him, that he should
never boast of it more. Why, saith he, it is an Tobetheiuegi-
¦ . -1 , 1 -I 1 , • 1 timate offspring
honour m this land to have a sjiiritual man, as a of a clergyman
1 . 1 11 1 » , . esteemed an
bishop, an abbot, a monk, a tnar, or a priest, to honour,
father. With that I greatly marvelled : not so
much of his unshamefaced talk, as I did that
adultery, forbidden by God, and of all honest men
detested, should there have both praise and prefer
ment'." In further exemplification of which it may be
noticed, that Ralph Kelley, Avho died archbishop of
Cashel, in 1361, is recorded as the illegitimate son
of a Carmelite friar, by the Avife of a merchant named
Kelley, of Drogheda. The authority is that of John
de Bloxham, Vicar-General of that order in Ireland
about the year 1325. And that, in 1444, Bishop
M'Coughlan and James, the bishop's son, archdeacon
of Clonmacnois, Avere slain in battle with another
sept of their name'". And in confirmation ofthe

^ Vocacyon of John Bale to'fhe
Bishoprick of Ossory. Repub-
lislied in the Harleian Miscellany,
vol. vi. p. 41 2,

'" Ware's Bishops, p, 478, and
his Writers of Ireland, pp. 85,
320, Bishops, p, 173,
D 2

S6 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO [Cu, I,
same may be cited the charge made by the jury of
Clonmel to the king's commissioners, in 1537, of
several of the regular priests in that part, Avho kept
lemans or harlots, and had wives and children ; as
well as an Act of Parliament, Avhich was passed not
many years after, namely, in the eleventh year of
Queen Elizabeth, 1569, in consequence of a disco
very made by Sir Henry Sydney, the lord deputy,
" of the great abuse of the clergy of Munster and
Connaught, in admitting unworthy persons to eccle
siastical dignities, which had not laAvfulness of birth ;
but AA'ere descended of unchaste and unmarried
abbots, priors, deans, chaunters, and such like, get
ting into the said dignities either with force, simony,
friendship, or other corruiDt means, to the great
overthroAV of God's holy Church, and the evil
example of all honest congregations"."

Low intellectual
state of the
clergy.

The intellectual condition of the clergy seems
to have been at this period one of great depression.
The character given of them in that respect by
Archbishop BroAvne, in the reign of King Henry
the Eighth, 1535, appears just, and ajiplicable to
those of the preceding ages. "This island hath
been for a long time held in ignorance by the Roraish
orders ; and as for their secular orders, they be in a
manner as ignorant as the people, being not able to
say mass, or pronounce the Avords, they not knoAving
Avhat they themselves say in the Roman tongue "."
And Avhen a similar character of ignorance and
illiteracy Avas attributed to the priests shortly after

" Irish Stat., II Eliz. c. 6.
'- Robert Ware's Reformation
of the Church of Ireland, in the

Life and Death of Gecrrge Browne,
Archbishop of Dublin.

Sec. III.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 37
by the Lord Deputy, Sir Anthony St. Leger, in the
presence of Archbishop DoAvdalJ, the great advocate
of the Papac}', it met Aiith no contradiction.
Some of the higher dignitaries, indeed, are
recorded as constant and assiduous iu exercisinsf
the office of preachers'", and as possessed of learn
ing, AA'hich they probably acquired by their education
at the English or continental universities. But, for w.int of pi.icca
Jl , 1 , * (, i, 11 f, -, , • -, ^^ education.
the instruction of the great body of the parochial
clergy, provision must have been hardly at all attain
able. About the middle of the fourteenth century,
Richard Fitz-Ralph, archbishop of Armagh, who is
commemorated as a learned divine and an able and
diligent preacher, and AAdio left behind him testi
monies of his literaiy qualifications in a manuscript
book of sermons, Avhich he preached partly in Lon
don, Lichfield, and other places in England ; partly
at Drogheda, Dundalk, Trim, and other churches in
his province ; and partly at Avignon in France ;
ap]iears to have been desirous of procuring for others
similar adA'antages of education to those Avhich he
had himself enjoyed. He accordingly sent three
or four of the secular priests of his diocese into
England to study divinity at Oxford ; but they Avere
forced soon to return, because they could not find
there a Bible to be sold ". Facilities of that kind
Avere hardly likely to be more purchasable in Ire
land ; meauAvhile in the latter country places of
domestick education Avere feAV and ill provided.
From ancient Avriters of reiiutation and credit Ave university of
^ Armagh
are informed, that there Avere of old time schools or
academies in Ireland, to Avhich not natives only, but
" Ware's Bishops, pp. 82, 291.

14

Lewis's History of the Translations ofthe Bible,

38

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Cn.

Attempts to es
tablish au uni
versity in
Dublin ;

the British, Saxons, and Scots, resorted for educa
tion". But in the comparatively modern times now
under review, or the three or four centuries preced
ing the Reformation, these had for the most part
passed aAvay, with the exception of that of Armagh,
the high estimation of which was attested by a
synod of twenty-six bishops, convened by the
primate in 1162, avIio decreed, that " no person for
the time to come should be admitted a publiek reader
in divinity, unless he had been a student, fostered or
adopted by Armagh"." But this single institution
Avas insufficient for the necessities of the country;
and the places of others, which had fallen into decay,
were not effectively supplied by new foundations,
notwithstanding the attempts which had been occa
sionally made for that purpose.
Thus in 1310, John Lech, archbishop of Dublin,
formed a plan for founding an university for scholars,
in that city; and procured a bull from Pope Clement
the Fifth, dated July 10, 1311. But the arch
bishop's death in 1313, before the project had been
matured, prevented its execution".
In 1320, the scheme was again undertaken by
the succeeding archbishop, Alexander Bicknor, who
renewed the foundation, and procured a confirmation
of it from the Pope, John the Twenty-second. The
instrument, which contains the rules for its govern
ment, by a chancellor and two proctors, is to be
seen in Ware's Antiquities of Ireland, page 37; and
a divinity lecture was afterwards instituted by King
Edward the Third, and his protection extended to
all students resorting to this university, " conscious,"

Ware's Annals, p, 3G.
Ware's Bishops, page 60 :

Stuart's History of Armagh, pp.
140, 592.
" AVare's Bishops, p, 330,

Sec. III.]

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

39

as his majesty expresses himself, "of the benefits
arising from such studies, and especially as thereby
virtue was jji-opagated and peace maintained'"." But
there appears to have been no provision of a special
endowment ; and thus, the maintenance of the
scholars failing, the university, by degrees, came to
nothing, though some traces of it remained in the
tirae of King Henry the Eighth ; for in the provincial
synod, holden in Christ Church, Dublin, Walter
Fitzsimons, then archbishop, the suffragan bishops,
and the clergy of the province, granted certain
stipends to be paid annually to the lecturers or
readers ofthe university".
In 1465 also, at a parliament, convened in Drog- And at Drog
heda, by Thomas, earl of Desmond, an act was passed
for founding an university in that toAvn, and endoAV-
ing it Avitli privileges similar to those of the univer
sity of Oxford "'. The Avant, however, of sufficient
revenues seems to have been fatal to this as to the
former project.

Section IV.
Motiastieh Institutions. Their number. Orders. Some of
their Rulers Lords of Parliament. Monks and Friars,
how distinguished from each other. False principles in
the foimdation of these establishments. Practical evil in
them predomitiant over good.
Some substitute for the defect of schools and uni ver- Great number of
, .,_ , j_»i*j.*i.i." monastick insti-
sities Avas supplied by the monastick institutions, tutions.atan
which were very numerous in Ireland ; and had been ^^"^^p^"" ¦
at an early period much cherished and frequented, so
that in the seventh century the monks had multi-

'" Rot. Pat. 32 Edw. Ill,, cited
in Mason's St. Patrick's Cathedral,
p. 101.

'^ Ware's Bishops, p. 344.
2" Stat. Roll, 5 Edw. IV. Log
ins' MS. Marsh's Library.

40 from the TAVELFTH TO [Cii. I.
plied to such an extent, as to have been supposed
equal to all the other inhabitants of the kingdom.
Such is the computation of Bishop Nicholson, as
quoted by Archdall in the introduction to his " Mo
nasticon Hihernicumr p. 11 : Avhich contains an
account of above eleven hundred of these institu
tions; augmented by his subsequent inquiries, as
stated in the introduction to Grose's Irish Antiqui
ties, p. 16, by about three hundred more. Of many
of these, however, very little, not even the exact
situation, is known ; and many others had lost their
monastick character, or had been incorporated Avitb
others, before the era of the Reformation.
Probable amount Sir Jamos Ware, in his "Annals" enumerates
disso'iu'tion! "'° three hundred and eighty-two, purposely omitting
those which had been, erected in the first times of
the Church of Ireland, and Avere afterwards con
verted into parish churches; indeed, by far the
greater number of those, which he enumerates, had
been founded Avithin three or four centuries of their
dissolution, in the reign of King Henry the Eighth.
Several abbeys and monasteries, Avhich had been
omitted in this enumeration, M-ere added, partly from
records, and partly from subsequent Avriters, by
Harris, in his edition of Ware's History and Atiti-
quities ; and he also supplied frora records, as far as
they gave light to the subject, the naraes of the
grantees or assignees of the several monastick lands
after the suppression. The catalogue thus supplied
amounts to about five hundred and sixty-five, araong
Avhich several of an early date are specified as having
been made parish churches or bishop's sees, and
several haA^e no notice of their ultimate assignment.
Thus the number of those, Avhich were suppressed by
King Henry the Eighth, according to this enumera-

Sec. IV.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 41
tion, does not vary materially from Ware's enume
ration of three hundred and eighty-tAvo. Possibly
this ought to be increased by the addition of some
of those contained in Archdall's Monasticon. Other-
Aviso the sum of the monastick institutions in Ireland,
at the period in question, falls short of four hundred.
These contained devotees ofa variety of orders: virions monas-
Augustinians, Benedictines, and Cistercians, Domi
nicans, Franciscans, and Carmelites ; in the poet's
language :
 Eremites and friars,
White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery '.
Of all the monastick establishments of Ireland, Augustinians.
those of the Augustinian order Avere the most nume
rous : the more so in outM-ard appearance, because
the several monasteries, Avhicli had been founded in
that country Avhilst the Irish Churcli continued to be
independent of the Roman See, AA^ere required by
Pope Innocent the Second, in the Lateran council of
]139, to submit to the rule of St. Augustine; so
that they became afterwards reckoned araong the
institutions of that order. Inclusive of those, the
houses for regular canons Avere tAvo hundred and
tAA'enty, and for nuns sixty-five. PIoAveA'er, ex
clusively of those, the monasteries of the regular
canons of St. Augustine exceeded most others in
nuraber. And including the Aroasian canons, Avho Aroiisi.ins.
were a branch of the Augustines, reforraed about
1097, in Aroasia, an abbey in the diocese of Arras,
they araounted at the dissolution to about seventy.
At the sarae tirae, the houses of the nuns, or regular
canonesses of the order, Avere about tAA'enty.
Under the same general head of Augustinians, victorincs.
came the regular canons of St. Victor, of Avhom
' Milton's Paradise Lost, B, iii, v, 474,

42

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Cii. I.

Premonstraten-cians.

Knights Hos
pitallers, or of
6t. John of Jeru
salem.

Gilbertines.

Benedictines.

Cistercians.

Mendicant
Friars.

Franciscans.

little seems to be known ; and the Premonstraten-
cian, or White Canons, who derived their name
from Premonstre, in the diocese of Laon, in Picardy.
Of each of these there were about seven establish
ments at the dissolution. The military order of
Knights Hospitallers, or Knights of St. John of
Jerusalem, Avho succeeded to the possessions of the
Knights Templars, on their abolition in 1312, also
adopted the rule of St. Augustine: as did that of
St. Gilbert, a rule composed of those of St. Augus
tine and St. Benedict. At the suppression there
were about twenty-three establishments of the
Knights of St. John : of the Gilbertines there was
only one.
Of the Benedictine order there were about ten
establishments of monks, and about half that number
of nuns. The Cistercian, or, as it was also called,
the Barnardine, being a reformed order of the Bene
dictines, comprised about forty institutions for men,
who were likewise knoAvn by the appellation of
White Monks. There appear to have been only
two establishments for nuns of this order, which
were dedicated, as usual in such cases of Cistercian
nunneries, to the Virgin Mary.
There were, also, the four orders of Mendicant
or Begging Friars, bound, as their name imports, to
live upon gratuitous contributions. These were,
first, the Dominicans, so called from their founder,
St. Dominic ; or black friars, from the colour of their
habit ; or preaching friars, or predicants, from their
chief professional occupation : their establishments
were about forty.
Secondly, the Franciscans, Avhose establishments
Avere about a hundred and fourteen. Their name,
likewise, was derived from their founder, St. Francis;

Sec, IV.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 43
and, from an affectation of humility, they termed
themselves friars minor, and from the colour of their
dresses they were named gray friars. Their rule of
discipline, liaving been somoAvhat relaxed, had been
brought back to its primitive severity; Avhen they
Avho preferred it in its relaxed state acquired the
distinction of Conventuals, and they Avho admitted
the stricter form were denominated Observantines :
there Avas also another division, Avhich Avas called
the third order of St. Francis. Of the Avhole
number of their brotherhoods, the Conventuals
constituted about sixty-nine ; and the Observantines,
or strict order, about nine ; and the reraaining thirty-
six Avere of the third order.
Thirdly, Carmelites, or White Friars, to the carmeiites.
number of about twenty monasteries, denominated
from Mount Carmel, the first abode of their order,
or from the colour of their dress.
Lastly, Eremites of St. Augustine, or Austin Austin Friars.
Friars, as subject to the Augustine rule ; and under
the same rule, and soraetimes identified Avith them,
the Crossed or Crutched Friars, or Cross-bearers;
the former having tAventy-two, the latter fourteen
houses : and AA'ith these raay also be classified the
Trinitarians, for the ransoraing of Christians avIio
Avere iu captivity to Pagans ; but of this order there
appears to have been only one fraternity, Avhicli was
likeAvise under the rule of St. Augustine.
There Avere other denominations of monastick Friars do Pceni-
orders in England, and on the Continent : but the ciuisti.
preceding comprise all such establishraents in Ire
land, unless it be the Friars de Pcenitentia Jesu
Christi, also named the Sax Friars, of Avhom men
tion is once made in the reign of King Edward the
Second, about the year 1330. This order was com-

44 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cu- I-
menced in the year 1245 ; it appeared in England,
in 1258, at Cambridge; aud Avas transferred to
Ireland, Avhere it seems to have had one establish
ment in Dublin, in 1268. But it Avas of no long
duration: iu Endand it Avas condemned in 1307,
and its houses passed to other fraternities, or to
private persons ; and in Ireland the traces of its
existence are obscure and uncertain.
Several abbots, Sevoral of tlio I'ulers of these establishraents
&c., Lords of
Parliament. posscssed, upoii summous, a place and a voice among
the Lords of Parliament. Ware has particularly
mentioned fourteen abbots and ten priors ; but
observes, that, as to their certain nuraber, it is far
short of Avhat appears in the records. Of the epi
scopal vacancies, a large proportion aa^s filled frora
the sarae quarter. Thus, of about tAA-enty-six pre
lates who occupied the archiepiscopal see of Armagh
in the three centuries before the Reformation, three
had been previously abbots, and seven others inferior
raembers of some regular religious community.
After such eleA^ation, they appear to haA^e been fond
of exhibiting an outAvard sign of attachment to their
former society, by Avearing the habit of their respec
tive orders, such being the common practice of the
bishops Avho had been so elevated : and the laying
aside of the monastick dress Avas regarded as a scan
dalous act, and one Avhich by the canons deserved
censure of the greater excommunication ; so that
for such omission, at a Provincial Synod holden hy
the Archbishop of Armagh, in 1427, a Bishop of
DoAvn Avas called to account, and admonished to
amend the scandal ; and, on his neglect of the
admonition, Avas peremptorily cited, in 1430, to

Sec. IV.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 45
shoAv cause Avhy he should not be formally excom
raunicated '\

The members of the different orders that have Distinctionof
been recited occupied their several abodes of monas
teries, abbeys, priories, friaries, convents, cells, pre-
ceptories, coinraanderies, hospitals, and nunneries.
The different rules Avhich regulated their dress, their
diet, their habits, their modes of living, their occu
pations, their devotions, and other particulars, dis
tinguished them from each other. One general dis
tinction, hoAvever, prevailed betAveen the monks and Difference be-
, f. • 1 • 1 ^• n,-, 1 tween monks
the friars: the essential diiference seems to have and friars.
been this, that Avhereas the monks possessed pro
perty, Avhich belonged to them, however, in common,
the friars had originally no property, either private
or in common, but begged their subsistence from
the charity of others ; although eventually they
likeAvise became proprietors of large possessions.
In practice, also, the friars had more latitude, as to
going about and preaching in their neighbouring
parishes, whilst the monks Avere chiefly confined to
their cloisters.
Of these institutions the four orders of mendi- jiodem origin
, ' of the mendicant
cant friars Avere of comparatively raodern introduc- orders.
tion ; being, as Archbishop Ussher says, " a kind of
creatures unknoAvn to the Church for twelve hun
dred years after Christ, and instituted contrary to
the general Council of Lateran, held under Innocent
the Third, which prohibited the bringing in of any
raore religious orders into the Church." And he
thus describes their character after the example of
one of his predecessors : — " Now there is started up
a new generation of raen, that refuse to eat their
' Ware's Bishops, pp. 202, 41.5.

46

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Character of
them by Arch
bishop Fitz-
Ralph.

Early forms of
monachism
degenerated.

Monastick insti
tutions deemed
meritorious.

OAvn bread, and count it a high point of sanctity to
live by begging of other men's bread ; if yet the
course they take may rightly be termed begging.
For, as Richard Fitz-Ralph, that famous archbishop
of Armagh, objected to their faces, before the Pope
himself and his cardinals in his time, (and the
matter is little amended, I Aviss, in our's,) 'scarce
could any great or poor man of the clergy or the
laity eat his meat, but such kind of beggars would
intrude on him : not like other poor folks, humbly
craving alms at the gate or door (as Francis com
manded and taught them in his testament,) by
begging ; but without shame introducing themselves
into courts or houses, and lodging there, where,
Avithout any invitation, they eat and drink Avhat
they find among them : and not content with such
conduct, carry aAvay with them either wheat or meal,
or bread, or flesh, or cheese, (although there Avere
but two in an house,) in an extorting manner ; there
being no one Avho can refuse their petitions unless
he would divest himself of natural shame'.'"
Meanwhile the early forms of monachism, Avhich
the ecclesiastical historians of Ireland are fond of
connecting Avith the first introduction of Christianity
into the country, Avere, with many modifications and
innovations on the original plan, and with new con
stitutions, and under new denominations, perpetu
ated in the monasteries, which had greatly degene
rated from their prototypes ; and Avith a portion of
the good, originally contemplated by the primitive
institutions, mingled, in the lapse of time, a larger
share of concomitant evil.
The principle, indeed, Avhich actuated the foun
dation and maintenance of these institutions, as it
^ Religion of the Ancient Irish, p. 58,

Sec. IV.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 47
continually shows itself in the terms of their endoAv-
ments, Avas essentially faulty and raischievous: for
they were considered as treasures of merit, pro
pitiatory offerings, Avhereby their founders and bene
factors might expiate the sins and purchase the
salvation, not of theraselves only, but of others whom
they might comprise with them in their deed of gift ;
whether dead, living, or not yet born. Of this
principle profession is continually made in a very
usual form of expression, Avhereby the gift is said to
be granted "for the health of the soul" of the
grantor, and of those of his family and friends, or
his ofificial predecessors or successors.
For example, in 1178, William Fitz-Andelm Examples of this
gave, on the king's part, to the abbey of St. Thomas, a^t different^
Dublin, recently founded by hira, certain lands " for '""'''¦ 1178,
the health of the souls of Geoffry, earl of Anjou,
father to the king, his mother the empress, and all
his ancestors, and for the king himself and his sons ;"
and in 1180, "Felix, bishop of Lismore, for the uso,
health of the soul of the king, and his son John, and
also of his oavu, did grant to this priory the church
of St. John in Lismore, paying tAvo candles of wax,
each Aveighing tAvo pounds, yearly \"
In 1200, " Johanna, countess of Pembroke, for 1200.
the health of the souls of her father. Earl Richard,
and her lord, William Mariscall, bestowed on the
Priory of the Holy Trinity, certain tithes for the
support of one canon to say masses for their souls'."
In the same year, Walter de Lacie granted a 1200.
piece of land to St. Thomas's Abbey, " in pure and
perpetual alms, for the health of his soul, and of
Hugh his father, and of his mother Rose de Munem-
nene, who lies buried in the church"."
* Aechdail's Monasticon, p. 178, ' lb., 162, "^ ii,, p, 181.

48 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cii, I.
Theobald, the son of Walter, butler of Ireland,
who died in 1206, confirmed to God and the blessed
Virgin, and certain monks of the Cistercian ordei-,
all his possessions in ArkloAV, " for the love of God
and the blessed Virgin, and for the health of the
souls of Henry the Second, king of England, King
Richard, and King John, and those of Runulph de
Glainvill, Earl William Mareschal, the Lord
Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, his (Theobald's)
brother, Hervey FitzAvalter, his father, Matilda, his
mother, and for his own soul and that of his wife,
Matilda'."
1207. Roger de Pippard, lord of Atherdee, founded an
hospital there for croutched friars, in 1207, " for the
health of his oavu soul, and the souls of his wife
Alicia, his father William, his mother Joan, and hi,s
brethren Gilbert and Peter °."
1210. Milo le Bret, " for the health of his soul, and
the souls of his Lord Hugh Tyrril, and his sons
Roger and Richard," made grants in 1216 to the
Priory ofthe Holy Trinity «.
1230. In 1230, Geoffrey de Tureville assigned two
raarks out of certain lands to the priest Avho, in the
same priory " should daily say a mass at the new
altar of the blessed Virgin, for the health of his own
soul and those of his friends '"."
1374. The " great expence and burden of supporting
divers chaplains aud clerks, to say divine offices for
the king's health and for the souls of his ancestors,"
Avas assigned, in 1374, as a ground for certain immu
nities granted by King Edward the Third to the
priory of St. John the Baptist, Dublin".
]4ao. The monastery of the Dominican friars at Cashel
¦> Aeciidall, p, 759. » lb., p, 445. " lb., p, 155.
'» lb., p, liC, "1 lb., p. 203.

Sec, IV.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 49
having been destroyed by fire in 1480, it Avas rebuilt
by the Archbishop John CantAvell ; and the instru
ment for its re-erection declared, " That all persons
assisting and agreeing to this uoav foundation should
be brethren and sisters of the order ; and should
partake of all masses, prayers, serraons, vigils, and
other good deeds of the brotherhood throughout the
kingdom in this life, and afterwards they should
enjoy eternal happiness"."
In 1484, the Archbishop of Dublin having i4a4.
released certaiii contested rights to the priory of
Holmpatrick, it was ordered that " the said convent
should keep yearly an anniversary for the archbishop
and his successors, on the morroAv of All Souls, by
singing a placebo and a dirige"."
And in 1513, Gerald, earl of Kildare, by his last ma
AA'ill, " bequeathed his best gown of cloth of gold and
purple, to make dresses for the priests of the priory
of the Holy Trinity, Dublin ; he also bequeathed to
the prior and canons the town of Caparaw, Avitli its
appurtenances, for the support of the canon who
should celebrate mass for the health of his soul ;
and pray for the soul of Thomas Plunket, soraetirae
Chief Justice of the Coraraon Pleas, and the souls of
all the faithful. A yearly commemoration, with an
office of nine lessons, was appointed for the earr*."
But examples of the avowed operation of this
principle of imaginary merit, on behalf of founders,
benefactors, their friends, their ancestors, and their
posterity, are beyond number : and a few only have
been cited almost at random during a succession of
ages, and under various modes of application.
Another pernicious departure from the truth Derogatory to
'^ Aeciidall, p. 647. '' P., p. 219. " P., p. 168.

50

FROM THE TAVELFTH TO

LCh. I.

tlie honniir of
God.

Monasteriesfountled under
the invocation
of the Deity;

And of other
patrons ;

Of the Virgin
JTary ;

attended the foundation of these establishments, con
sisting in the confusion Avhich Avas introduced
between the claims of the divine Being and those of
his creatures, and even of the works of his creatures'
hands. A monastery was wont to be placed under
the guardianship of a chosen protector, " under the
invocation," for such was the phrase, of this or that
particular patron. The patronage of the Godhead,
however, was not accounted sufficient, but was
seconded or superseded by that of a sainted mortal
or deified stock of wood.
Thus, for example: whilst the Franciscan mo
nastery at Clonkeen, and that of the Augustinian
eremites at Inistormor, were " under the invocation
of the Holy Trinity ;" and that of the Dominican
friars at Arklow, " under the invocation of the Holy
Ghost ;" two chantries or chapels in the church of
Callan were founded "under the invocation of the
Holy Trinity and St. Catherine ;" and the Augusti
nian priory at Aghrim, " under the invocation of St.
Catherine" alone '^
Examples of foundations, made " under the invo
cation of the Virgin Mary," are the most frequent.
Such were the monasteries of regular canons at
Navan and at Killagh, and the nunnery of regular
canonesses at Termon-Fechan ; the Cistercian abbeys
of Fermoy, of Shrule, and of Bectiff ; to Avhich may
be added the Cistercian monastery of Gray Abbey,
remarkable for being " under the invocation of the
Virgin Mary, of the Yoke of God ;" the Dominican
friary of Burishool, and the Carmelite friaries of
Clara and of Frankford, were also " under the invo
cation of the Virgin Mary." The priory of regular
canons at Great Conall was devoted to a joint
" Aechdali, pp. 281, 602, 769, 349, 270.

(Hvarious paints;

Sec. IV,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 61
patronage, being "under the iuA'ocation of the Virgin
Mary and St. David '\"
" Under the invocation," severally, " of St. John,
St. Peter, and St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, St,
Michael, Mary Magdalen, St. Columba, St, Brigid,
and St. Edmund the King and JNlartyr," were founded
the Augustine hospital for cross-bearers, or crouched
friars, at Ardee ; the Augustine abbey for regular
canons at Clare; the Augustine hospital for crouclied
friars at Kells ; and the priory of the knights of St.
John of Jerusalem, at Kilmainham, the abbey of
regular canons at ]\Iayo ; the Dorainican friary at
Drogheda ; the priory of regular canons at INIonain-
cha ; the monastery of the black nuns of St. Augus
tine at Moylagh; and the priory of canons regular
at Athassel''. The tAVO Dominican friaries of Tralee and Sligo, of the cross.
and the Franciscan friary of Strade, Avere founda
tions "under the invocation ofthe Holy Cross'"."
No incidental good, arising out of these institu- preponderance
tions, could have compensated for the essential evil
inflicted on religious truth by prominently professing
these principles, as the motives and objects of
monastick endoAvments. But in truth, there Avas no
small portion of practical evil also interwoven intrin
sically with whatever incidental good they may have
occasioned. On a general view, they militated against God's opposition to the
, f. , divine will and
purpose in the creation of man ; for whatever may uw.
be pleaded in favour of celibacy, under particular
aspects, and in particular circumstances, it was not

" Aechdall, pp. 668, 304,
491, 69, 436, 616, 120, 498, 396,
318.

" 75., pp. 446, 43, 648, 222, 605,
456, 667, 669, 640.
'" P., pp. 307, 637, 509.
E 2

52 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch. I
according to the Divine Avill, that a very large pro
portion of human kind should be shut up in cloistered
seclusion; bound by indissoluble obligations to
abstain from honourable marriage, the first law of
man's Creator ; and precluded from exercising the
duties, the virtues, and the charities, of social and
domestick life.
rr.acticai efTcct.-i. Further, if regard be had to their particular
operation, and to the effects Avhicli practically they
produced, the evil greatly preponderated. For,
whilst on the one hand they raay have been instru
mental in iJroducing habits of labour and industry;
on the other, they gave encouragement to inactivity
and indolence, luxury and self-indulgence in their
inmates, leaving to the parochial clergy, the vicars
who Avere charged Avith the care of the parishes, a
very disproportionate share of emolument, and seek
ing to lower them in publiek estimation. Whilst in
some cases, under Avholesome laws steadily enforced,
they may have assisted a spirit of devotion, and cor
responding holiness and chastity of life ; in others,
under a system faulty in itself, or faultily adminis
tered, they led to the substitution of outward mor
tification for inward sanctity, gave occasion to
hypocrisy, spiritual pride, and vain glory, or induced
usages of intemperance, licentiousness, and impurity.
Whilst in some cases, by the exercise of a free
hospitality and bounty, they may have contributed
to the relief of the traveller and the stranger, in
need of temporary aid ; and been the means of sus
taining the sufferer under honest poverty and
unavoidable distress ; in others the promiscuous dis
pensation of their doles supported only those, who
did not need, or did not deserve it, and Avas lavished
in perpetuating the indigence, Avith its concomitant

Sue, IV,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 53
vices, AAdiich they themselves had made. Whilst iu
some cases, they afforded a refuge for the sick, the
infirm, and tho afflicted, they in others Avere juivi-
leged sanctuaries for criminals, and encouragers of
crime. Whilst in some cases they may have laid
the foundation of useful learning, of philosophy and
divinity, in others they only filled the mind Avitli
legendary tales, and the creations of a fond imagina
tion. Whilst in some cases they may have preserved
and dispensed Avhat remained of the knoAvledge of
God, and true religion, in others they only more
firmly established the reign of false doctrine and
superstition ; and Avere especially instrumental in
maintaining the corrupt vieA\s and deceitful usages,
Avhich at those times overloaded the Church's pro
fession of Christianity.
Sorae of those views and usaoi-es shall now be
specified, as enabling us better to understand the
roli"ious condition of Ireland durhin- the centuries
at ]n-esent under revicAv, Section V.
Superstitions preta'divg in the Church. Veneration for
S'lints. Traditionary Legends. Modes of celebrating
Ditine Worship. Veneration for outward signs of the
Holy Communion. Canonisation of saints. Reverence
fur their reliques. Rerercnce for otker sorts of reliques.
Reverence for crosses and images. Belief in fictitious
tniracles.
Among the superstitions Avhich superseded true prevailing super-
religion iu the Irish Church, and shoAved theraselves ^'""'"*-
in the conduct and marked the character of the
people, the following are the most conspicuous.
They do not materially differ from those Avhich pre
vailed at the same period in England, and in other

54

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

rCH. I.

parts of Papal Christendora : but they are needful
to be specified here for the purpose of impressing
on the reader that Ireland was not exempt from the

general contagion.

Veneration of
saints.

God's honour
given to his crea
tures.

122(1.

1 . The inordinate veneration of saints was car
ried to such an extent, as to associate them on the
most solemn occasions with the Godhead, as if they
were partakers of the Divine nature and attributes.
Thus, not to insist upon the ordinary and well-known
Offices of the Church, upon the erection of the build
ing, which afterwards became one of the cathedrals
of Dublin, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin,
together with the Pope's legate, in 1191, consecrated
the noAv edifice with great pomp and ceremony " to
God, our Blessed Lady Mary, and St. Patrick'."
In 1220, Henry de Loundres, archbishop of
Dublin, made certain grants to the said church,
Avhich he described as " devoted to God, and Saint
Mary, and the Blessed Peter, and the Blessed
Patrick, our patron ^"
In 1202, a priory was founded by Williara de
Burgh, in the country of Antrira, " to the honour of
God and the Virgin Mary I" And about 1220,
William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, founded an
abbey at Kilkenny " in honour of God and 8t,
John\" In 1432, Richard Talbot, archbishop of Dubhu,
decreed certain ordinances for some of the officers
of the church, " to the honour of God the Father
Almighty, and of the glorious Virgin his Mother

1 AIaso.n-'s St. Patrick's Cathe
dral, p, 2.
•* Maso?!, App. p, xx.xvi.

¦* Aechdall's Monasticon, ];,

11.

¦* Geose's Irish A

32,

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 55
the Blessed INIary, and of the Blessed Apostles Peter
and Paul, and of our patron Saint Patrick'."
John Alleyn, dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, by i^"^-
his Avill, in 1505, " coraraltted his sinful soul to the
grace and raercy of Jesus Christ, the JSIaker and
Redeemer of him and of all mankind ; and to the
most blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother ; and to all
Saints^" And, in 1515, a bull, addressed to the Bishops of ms.
JSIeath, Waterford, and Leighlin, by Pope Leo the
Tenth, denounces upon every one Avho shall infringe
it, " the indignation of Almighty God, and of the
Blessed Peter and Paul, his Apostles'."
2. Traditionary legends of the most palpable Traditionary
falsehood, in default or rivalry of Scriptural know- ^^™
ledge, Avere taught for the religious instruction of
the people.
Of these, the tAVO following may serve for speci
mens : the former being an account of a prophetical
vision, Avitnessed by St. Patrick, of the future con
dition of the Irish church ; the latter, a narrative of
the conquest of another saint over the Prince of
Darkness. The forraer of these is copied from a "History of a vision of st.
Ireland, Ancient and Modern, taken from the most
authentick Records, by the Abbe Mac Geohegan ;
published at Paris, in 1758, under the authority of
the King of France, and dedicated to the Irish
Brigade. Translated from the French by P. O'Kelly,
late Professor of Languages in the city of Versailles.
Dublin, 1831." " St. Patrick," says Joceline, as
quoted by the Abbe, " filled with apprehensions for
^ Mason, App. p. xxxiv. "* lb., p, xiv.
' lb., p. xviii.

56

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Cu. I.

Future state of
the church su
pernaturally re
vealed to him.

A miracle of
St. Ncssan.

the church he had founded, offered up a fervent
prayer to God, to knoAV what its destiny Avould be
in future ages. The Lord, having heard his prayer,
first presented to his vIoav an island, as if all on fire,
and covered with a flame which raised itself to the
skies: he afterwards beheld only the tops of the
mountains burning. Those first visions may be
applied to the four first ages of Christianity in this
island, when religion was still in all its splendour.
But the eclipse, occasioned by the incursions of the
barbarians of the north in the ninth and tenth cen
turies, is strongly represented by the darkness,
which, according to the vision, had succeeded to the
light, and by the thinly-scattered sparks Avhich the
saint beheld in the valley.s, and the still lighted coals
which lay concealed beneath the ashes. The light
which the apostle saw coming from the north, and
AA'hich, after dispelling the darkness, lighted the
whole island, implies the re-establishment of religion
after the expulsion of the Danes ; which that author
ascribes to the zeal of the learned Celse, otherwise
Celestine, Ceallach, or, in the language of the coun
try, Kellach, Avho was Archbishop of Armagh in the
beginning of the tAvelfth century, and of his suc
cessor St. Malachi °."
The latter legend is cited by the modern his
torian of St. Patrick's Cathedral from the Register
of John Alan, the last Archbishop of Dublin before
the Reformation, and it is said to have been AA'ritten
Avith the archbishop's oavu hand. Mr. Mason adds,
that this story of Satan flying from the holy man,
and escaping into the earth at Puck's Rock, is
preserved among the neighbouring people by tra
dition. " Mac Geohegan's Hist. vol. i. p. 467,

Sec, V,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 57
It seems that ou an island, called " Ireland's
Eye," not far frora the raain land, a monastery Avas
founded, in 570, by St. Nessan, thence denominated
St. Nessan's Isle in the Bull of Pope Alexander the
Third, Avhich Avas issued in 1179. Alluding to this
island, the archbishop describes it as the spot
" where that holy man, St. Nessan, Avas ustant in
frequent prayers, fasting, and Avatching. In Avliich
place," he continues, " there appeared to hira the ms personal
,,.,,./. « 111 1 defeat of the
evil spirit in the forra of a very black raan, whora ovuspirit.
Avith some indignation he pursued, with hyssop full
of holy Avater ; Avalking over the sea for the space of
about a mile, and bidding the Devil to enter tlie
rock at a place Avhicli is called Howth, Avhere that
hill is vulrarlv naraed ' PoAvkes-rock,' and outside
is seen his image in stone of a very common appear
ance. Where it is related, that, at the time when
he put the devil to flight, there fell into the sea his
own book of the Gospel, called by the inhabitants
' the Keslowre,' Avhich afterwards being found by
sailors uninjured, it has thenceforth, and to this day,
been there held in great value, and no common
veneration : so that scarce a religious man dares to
swear upon it, on account of the vengeance of God
hitherto manifested on men, Avho liaA^e sworn on it
falsely"." But these, perhaps, may be regarded as mere pri-
A'ate tales. One, therefore, shall be added from the
authorised publiek services of the Church. It relates
to a very distinguished Irish saint ; and is taken frora
the suppleraent annexed to the Roraan Breviary,
and containing proper offices commemorative of cer
tain of the saints of Ireland, published by the
" Mason's St. Patrick's Cathedral, p, 04,

58

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Miraculouslegend of
St. Bi'idget,
or Brigid.

Her miraculous
deformity.

Miraculous resto
ration of her
former beauty.

printer and bookseller of the Royal College of May-
nooth, Dublin, 1808.
" Brigid," says the lesson for the 1st of February,
being the festival of St. Brigid, virgin, patroness of
Ireland, " Brigid, a holy virgin of the province of
Leinster, in Ireland, born of noble and Christian
parents, became the mother of many holy virgins in
Christ. When she was yet a little infant, her father
saw men, clothed in white garments, pour oil upon
her head, thus prefiguring the future purity and holi
ness of the virgin. Arriving at the first years of
childhood, she so earnestly, from the bottora of her
heart, clung to Christ the Saviour, Avhora she chose
for her spouse, that, for love of hira, she expended on
the poor whatever she could acquire. And lest the
suitors, by many of Avhom, on account of her incom
parable beauty, she was sought in marriage, should
comj^el her to break the vow of virginity, by which
she had bound herself to God, she prayed God to
make her deformed, and presently she was heard ;
for one of her eyes immediately became swollen, and
her whole face was so altered, that she Avas permitted
to send back a message to her suitors, and to conse
crate her virginity to Christ by a solemn vow.
" Having then taken to her three maidens, she
2)roceeded fortli to the Bishop Macheas, St. Patrick's
disciple, who seeing over her head a pillar of fire,
put on her a shining vest, and a white robe, and
having read holy prayers, admitted her to the cano
nical profession, Avhich the blessed Patrick had intro
duced into Ireland. Whereupon, whilst she was
stooping her head to receive the sacred veil, when
she had touched with her hand the wood at the foot
of the altar, that dry wood, on a sudden, became
green again, and her eye was healed, and her face

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 59
restored to its pristine beauty. And afterwards, by
her exaraple, such a multitude of maidens embraced
that institution of a regular life, that in a short time,
it filled all Ireland with convents of virgins : amonast
Avhich that, over Avhich Brigid herself presided, Avas
the chief, and on that, as their head, all the rest
depended. " Moreover the holiness of this virgin is attested .Mi,ack>per-
by the miracles Avrought by her both during her life,
and after its termination. For ofttimes she cleansed
lejoer,?, and, by her prayers, procured health for those
who Avere afflicted with various infirmities ; yea, she
also gave sight to a man blind from his birth. And
when Bishop Broon Avas falsely accused, by an un
chaste Avoraan, that she was with child by him, by
makino- the sign of the cross on the mouth of the
neAv-boni infant, who thereupon announced his real
father, she rescued the accused from calumny. Nor
Avas she Avanting in the spirit of prophecy, whereby uer spirit of pro-
she foretold many future things, as if they were pre
sent. To St. Patrick, also, the apostle of the Irish,
to Avhom she was joined in the most holy intimacy,
she foreshoAved the day of his departure from this
life, and the place of his burial, and was present at
his departure, and gave him a linen cloth, which she
had prepared beforehand for swathing his body. At
length, yielding up her beautiful soul to her spouse
Christ, she Avas buried in the same tomb with the
blessed Patrick."
3. For the scriptural and primitive modes of wor- celebration of
ship, publiek prayers, and the ministration of the
sacraraents, were celebrated in an unknown tongue,
with the inventions of a fond imagination.
Some of these are described feelingly and for-

GO FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch. I.
Remnants nf clbly, but, as It sliould seem, not untruly, by Bishop
ti'm','nio"r"''' Bale, Avho, on his arrival in Ireland in 1552, found
the remnants of the Romish superstition still in ope
ration, notwithstanding the progress of the Reforma
tion, and thus speaks of the religious rites Avhich
first fell under his notice in Waterford.
" In beholding the face and order of that city, I
saw many abominable idolatries maintained by the
priests for their Avorldly interests. The communion,
or supper of the Lord, was there altogether used like
a pojnsh mass, Avith the old apish toys of antichrist,
in boAvings and beckonings, kneelings and knockings.
. . . There wailed they over their dead Avith pro
digious hoAvlings and patterings, as though their
souls had not been quieted in Christ, and redeemed
by his jjassion, but that they raust corae after, and
help at a pinch with requiem eternam, to deliver thom
out of hell by their sorroAvful sorceries." And Avheii,
by the reraoval of the restraint imposed by the Re
formation under King Edward tlie Sixth, the former
observances revived, and " the clergy resumed again
the Avhole possession, or heap of super.stitions of the
BLshop of Rome," " they brought forth their copes,
candlesticks, holy waterstocks, crosses, and censers ;
they mustered forth in general procession, most gor-
geousl}', all the toAvn over, Avitli ' Sancta Maria, ora
pro nobis,' and the rest of the Latin Litany ; they
again deceived the people as aforetime, Avith their
Latin mumblings; they made the Avitless sort be
lieve that they could make, every day, new gods of
their little Avhite cakes, and that they could fetch
their friends' souls from flaming purgatory, if need
be, Avith other great miracles else'"."
BMuncr of ccic- Add particularly the inanner of celebrating the
braling mass. '" Bale's Vocacyon.

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 01
mass. " Of all occupations," says the same Avriter,
" methinks it is the most foolish ; for there standeth
the priest disguised, like one that would shoAv some
conveyance or juggling play, lie turneth his back
to the people, and telleth a tale to the Avail in a
foreign language. If he turn his face to them, it is
either to receive the offering, either to desire them to
give hira a good Avord, Avith Ora pro me, fratres, (Pray
for rae, brethren,) for he is a poor brother of theirs ;
cither to bid them God speed, Avith Dominus vobiscum
(the Lord be Avith you), for they get no part of his
banquet ; either else to bless them Avitli the bottom
of the cup, Avltli .Benedictio Dei (the blessing of God),
when all the breakfast is done."
4. The veneration for the outAvard signs of the Rohsious pro-
sacrament of our Lord's Supper Avas shoAvn, not only
by the lifting up and AVor,shipping of the sacramental
bread in the celebration of the mass, but by solemn
exhibitions of it in publiek processions, amid a con
course of gazing votaries, and Avith all the porap and
circumstance of the most super.stitions observances.
These processions Avere Avont to be conducted on
several occasions, with much imposing pageantry:
both in the case of the holy sacrament, Avliich Avas ofthehoiy
sacrament;
carried about among numerous appendages of ban
ners, crosses, torches, censers, and vessels of frank
incense, so as to attract the reverence of the people ;
and in that of bier.s, Avhich held the reliques of ofrdiqucs.
saints, and Avhich Avere brought before the attention
of the publiek on certain festivals, as the days of Ro
gation, Palms, and Corpus Christi, for soliciting and
collecting alms toAvards the rebuilding of churches,
or the supply of other necessities. A publication of
curious extracts from the proctor's accounts of the

62

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Carrying of the
host through the
kingdom. 115G.

receipts and disbursements of money for St. Patrick's
Cathedral", in the year 1509, contained in Mason's
history of that church, records certain payments
made to the persons employed in those processions,
as well as for the sacramental bread and wine, and
the other exigencies of the Church.
In connexion with these processions may be men
tioned the enterprise of Turlogh, monarch of Ireland
in 1156, who caused the host to be carried A^^ith
great solemnity to the abbey of Roscommon,
through the kingdom, attended by a large concourse
of clergy and other religious men : and there to be
deposited in a tabernacle prepared for it of immense
value'*.

Canonization of
saints.

St. Malachy.

St. Laurence
O'Toole.

6. The canonization of saints, whereby, after
the example and in the manner of the ancient
heathens' apotheosis, or deification of their heroes,
favoured individuals were declared worthy, after
their death, of publiek honour and veneration in the
Popish Church, was a ceremony observed in the
Church of Ireland.
Thus, for the first time, this distinction Avas con
ferred in the twelfth century upon Malachy, arch
bishop of Armagh, whose claims upon the gratitude
of the Papal See have already been mentioned ; and
who, having been the first of the Irish hierarchy to
submit the independent Church of his OAvn country
to the authority of the Bishop of Rome, may have
been well thought entitled to be the first to receive
from him in recompense the distinction of a cano
nized saint". And soon after, Laurence O'Toole,

" Mason's St. Patrick's Cathe
dral, Appendix ; pp. xxix. xxxi.
No. XVII.

'^ Archdall's
619. " Ware's Bishops, p. 31,

Sec, V,J

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

03

archbishop of Dublin, Avas adraitted to the same
honour by Pope Honorius the Third". "The holy
prelate," says a modern Romanist historian, " fell
sick in the town of Eu, Avhere he died in the odour
of sanctity, on the 14th of November, 1180, and Avas
interred in the church of Our Lady in that city. . .
The miracles Avhich God Avrought by his intercession,
both before and after his death, induced Pope
Honorius the Third to place him amongst the num
ber of saints, 1225, by a bull, dated the third of the
ides of Deceraber, and the tenth year of his pontifi
cate  The reliques of this saint AA'ere
removed to Dublin, and deposited in the cathedral
of the Holy Trinity'*." After this event, a chapel,
adjoining the high choir in the cathedral, previously
dedicated to the Holy Ghost, was dedicated to the
canonized archbishop, and called St. Laurence
O'Toole's chapel ; as the narae of the cathedral
church of Down, originally consecrated to the Holy
and Blessed Trinity, and so denominated, was, on its
transformation into a Benedictine monastery in
1183, changed to the name of St. Patrick, to Avhom,
on that occasion, it was dedicated '°.

6. The veneration for saints was transmitted to veneration for

reliques.

their reliques or mortal remains.
The above-named St. Laurence O'Toole having
died in Normandy, sorae of his bones, as already
noticed, were translated to the church of the Holy Their translation
Trinity, Dublin; as those of the ArchbLshop of
Arraagh, Richard Fitz-Ralph, coramonly called St.
Richard of Dundalk, those, at least, which passed for

from one place
to another.

» Ware, p. 313.
'* Abbe Mac Geohegan's His
tory of Ireland, v. i. p. 175.

'^ Harris's History of the
County of Down, p. 27.

04 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO [Cn. I.
his, for, as Pembrige observes, " it is yet a question
whether they were his bones, or another man's","
were conveyed about 1360 frora Avignon, the place
of his death, to Dundalk, the place of his birth,
where they were deposited in a raonuraent in the
parish church ; and as those of St. Malachy in 1194
had near fifty years after his death been translated
from Clareval, Avliere he Avas interred, and deposited
with great reverence and devotion in the abbey of
INIellifont, and other monasteries of the Cistercian
order'".
Specification of lu a cliapter held at Louth, in 1242, by Albert
reiiiues." "" of Cologue, archblshop of Armagh, at Avhich were
present all the abbots and priors of regular canons
in the kingdom, the veneration of the people Avas
excited by an exhibition of many reliques of saints
brought from Rome by St. Mochtra. The abbey of
Ardboe derived particular sanctity from its preser
vation of the remains of St. Colraan, as did that of
Roscoraraon from the shrine which contained the
reliques of its founder ; and the interment of St,
Ibar, in the monastery of Begery, procured the like
esteem for the place, Avhere his reliques continued to
be honoured. The hand of St. Rundhan, preserved
in a silver case in the abbey of Lovrah, and a piece
of a bone of one of St. Kiaran's hands in the cathe
dral of Clonmacnois, sufficed for impressing on each
a stamp of peculiar reverence ; and a single tooth of
St. Patrick gave a name and dignity to the church
of Clonfeakle, " the Church," as the name signifies,
"of the Tooth'"." Minute portions of the mortal
remains of these holy men were deposited in various

" Annals of Ireland. App, to
Camden's Britannia, M,ccc,ix.

'WxTXE'sBishopis, p. 57. p. 106.

Archdall's Monasticon, pp.
678, G19, 733, C67, 33. Ware,

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 65
places, and cherished with reverential regard. We
are inforraed by a raodern Romanist writer, that on
the translation of the reliques of St. Malachi to the
abbey of Mellifont, " particles of them were dis
tributed to the different Cistercian monasteries''"."
Of the veneration, Avhich Avas at this period veneration for
- - , , , „ , reliques remark-
thought due to the mortal reraains of saints, an abiyexempimed.
instance raay be given, as supplied by a transaction
in the life of St, INIalachy, about the middle of the
tAvelfth century. The transaction shall be related,
word for Avord, as it is given in a work composed for
the instruction of the Irish students of the Romish
Churcb, and entitled "An Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland, from the Introduction of Christianity into that
country, to the cotnmencement of the tenth century.
By Rev. P. J. Carew, Professor of Divinity, Royal
College, Maynooth."
" During the incursions of the Danes," says the unknownburiai-
Professor of Divinity, "the remains of St. Brigid and wck*, st. Brigid,
cii_/-^ii 1 i_ L' -\ ^ ^nd St. Coliunba.
fet. Loluraba Avere, as Ave here see, transferred to
DoM'n, and placed in the sarae grave Avith those of
the illustrious apostle of Ireland. The memory of
this event Avas indeed faithfully preserved ; but the
recollection of the particular spot, where the sacred
reliques of those three holy personages lay, became
gradually obliterated from the minds both of the
clergy and people. It would seem probable, that
care had been taken to confine the knowledge of
this circumstance to a few persons only : for had it
been generally disserainated throughout the country,
it must, in a short time, have reached the Danes,
Avhose saA^age impiety appeared particularly to delight
in dishonouring the reliques of the saints.
" The extraordinary veneration which St. Mala-
^^ MacGeoghegan's History, v. i. p. 198. F

66 from the TAVELFTH TO [Cn, I,
Discovered by chy entertained for St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St,
supernatural r-i i i • 1
revelation 10 St. Columba, made him anxious to discover the grave
where the bodies of those holy persons reposed.
But every eflrort Avhich his ingenuity could devise
proved unavailing, for no memorial remained which
could assist hira in the inquiry. All human means
having failed, the good bishop had recourse to
prayer ; and with a holy importunity he earnestly
besought God to make known to him the place in
which the earthly reraains of those three distin
guished favourites of heaven were deposited. The
prayer of the venerable prelate was at length favour
ably heard. On a certain night, while he offered up
in the church his fervent jjetition to the Almighty, a
ray of light, like a sunbeam, was seen by him to
pass along the churcb, until it reached a particular
part of the temple, Avhen it ceased to advance.
Persuaded that heaven had chosen this mode to
reveal to him the subject Avliich he so ardently
desired to know, St. Malachy caused the place to
which his attention had been thus draAvii, to be
iramediately examined. His exertions were re-
Avarded with the success which they so well deserved ;
for when the earth was removed, the bodies of the
three saints were found deposited together in the
Removed to a sauie grave. By the bishop's direction the precious
more honourable . , , ... t i i • /y*
grave by Papal remaius wei'o then raised up, and placed in conins
aut on y. wliich he had provided for them. As soon as this
ceremony Avas completed, the bodies were consigned
to the same tomb. De Courcy, the Lord of Down,
being informed by the bishop of Avhat had taken
place, it was resolved that messengers should be
sent to the Holy See to solicit permission to remove
these sacred reliques from the grave Avhere they
reposed, to a more honourable part of the church.

Sec. v.] the SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 67
Urban the Third then filled St. Peter's chair; and
it happened that De Courcy and St. Malachy were
both personally knoAvn to him. That pontift" re
ceived their petition favourably, and immediately
ordered Vivian, the Cardinal Priest of St. Stephen,
to repair to Ireland, and assist at the celebration of
the intended ceremony. The day fixed for the per- Pope's festival in
commemoration
formance of the sacred rite Avas that on which the thereof.
Church honours the memory of St. Columba. On
that day the venerable remains of the three most
illustrious saints of Ireland were accordingly trans
ported, Avith the usual solemnities, to the place
Avliich had been prepared for them. At the cere
mony, fifteen bishops and a numerous assemblage of
other ecclesiastics attended ; and in order that the
memory of this interesting event might be preserved,
they ordained that the anniversary of the tran,slation
should be kept thenceforward as a solemn festival
throuo-hout the churches of Ireland."

¦o'

7. Other sorts of reliques partook of the vene- veneration for
,, 1 jji ,1 • {, , i other sorts of
ration shoAvn to the mortal remains of saints. reiiquos.
Among these may be niQutioned the raitre, the
crosier, and sorae of the A^estments of St. Cormac,
Avhich belonged to the church of the Franciscan
monastery at Thurles^' ; the mitre of St. Ailbe, pre
served for many ages, Avith great veneration, in the
abbey of Emly ; the bq|ls of St. Senan, St. Nenn,
and St. Evin, preserved respectively in the islands
of Inniscattery, and Inis M'Saint, and in the abbey
of Monasterevan ; and the pastoral staffs of St-
Finchu in Brigoun, and St. Muran in Fahan, richly
ornaraented Avith jeAvels and gilding; all of which
were held to be endoAved with miraculous powers^
''^ Grose's Irish Antiq., ii. 86.
F 2

68 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch, I,
and used for the coramon people to swear by", — an
oath, as recorded by Giraldus Cambrensis in 1186,
esteemed much more binding than one upon the
holy Gospels".
The staff of But the most distinguished of these was the
Jesus; supposed crosier of St. Patrick, coramonly knoAvn by
the name of " the staff of Jesus," and held in the
greatest respect ; not only on account of the belief
that it had been used by the apostle of Ireland, but
from the traditionary legend which connected it Avith
our Saviour himself. No mention is made of this
by the saint's most ancient biographers ; but the
folloAving is the history of this celebrated staff, as
delivered by Joceline, in 1185 : —
Miraculous do- " St. Patrlck, movcd by divine instinct, or angelick
nation of it to .. , .
St. Patrick; rovelatiou, visited one Justus, an ascetick, Avho inha
bited an island in the Tyrrhene sea ; a man of ex
emplary virtue and most holy life. After mutual
salutations and discourse, he presented the Irish
apostle with a staflp, which he averred he had received
from the hands of Jesus Christ himself In this
island were some men in the bloom of youth, and
others who appeared aged and decrepit ; St. Patrick,
conversing with thera, found that the.se aged persons
were the sons of the seeraingly young. Astonished
at this miraculous appearance, he Avas told, that from
their infancy they had served God ; that they were
constantly employed in works of charity, and their
doors were open to the traveller and distressed;
that one night a stranger came to them, with a staff
in his hand, and they accomraodated him to the
best of their poAver ; that in the morning he blessed
them and said, ' I am Jesus Christ, whom you have
always faithfully served, but last night you received
"^ Archdall, pp. 656, 50, 202, 333, 58, 90. '^ Grose, ii, 25,

Sec, V,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTUEY. GO
me in my proper person.' He then gave his staff to
their spiritual father, with directions to deliver it to
a stranger named Patrick, Avho Avould shortly visit
thera ; ' in saying this he ascended into heaven, and
left ns in that state of juvenility in which you
behold us ; and our sons, then young, are the old
decrepit persons you now see.' " Joceline goes on to
relate that Avith this staff" our apostle collected every
venomous creature in the island to the top of the
mountain of Cruagh Phadraig, in the county of Mayo,
and then precipitated them into the ocean '^
"When St. Malachy becarae primate," as re- its imputed
lated by an author lately cited", " Nigellus, who had ™™'
usurped the primatial see, carried the staff aAvay
from Armagh ; and such Avas the importance at
tached to the possession of it, that many persons
in consequence adhered to the usurper. But Nigel
lus did not retain it long ; it Avas again restored to
Armagh," Avhere it was made an object of super
stitious veneration. In the time of Giraldus Cara-
brensis, in 1179, during a liillage of the city and
abbey, it was stolen and carried to Dublin ; a theft
of such great iraportance in the estimation of that
superstitious age, as to merit a record in the annals
of the country, as the breaking of it had been
recorded on a former occasion in 1027^°. Having
then been presented to the cathedral of the Blessed
Trinity, it was there preserved with reverential care,
being the subject ofa miracle on occasion of a great The subject of ;
tempest in 1461; when the chest, which contained ^'""'^'
the staff of Jesus and other reliques, being broken
to pieces by the falling-in of the east window, the
staff was found lying, Avithout the least damage, on
^' Archdall's Monasticon, p. 150. ^^ Carew's Pedes. Hist.
*° Archdall, p, 21,

70

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

Pieces of the
true cross in
Ireland,

the top of the rubbish ; but the other reliques Avere
entirely buried under it. And there it remained till
the suppression of the monasteries ; and in 1538
was removed from thence with the other reliques,
and in the publiek high street destroyed by fire".
A piece of the true cross, also, was preserved in
several places with religious veneration. One of
these had been presented by Pope Pascal the Second
about 1110 to Murtogh, monarch of Ireland, and
gave occasion for his founding, near Thurles, a Cis
tercian abbey, with the name, and in honour, of the
" Holy Cross^^" Another piece of it, which was pre
sented to the Cistercian abbey of Tracton, in the
county of Cork, by Barry Oge, in 1380, became
there the object of popular devotion". Another
was preserved in the neighbourhood of DubHn; for
in a contest between two competitors for the priory
of Kilmainhara in 1482, it is related, that one had
been deprived by the great master of the order, under
an accusation of pawning or selling divers ornaments
of the house, particularly a piece of the cross'".

Veneration for
sand

images.

Specimens of
images, favou
rite objects of
idolatry.

8. Crosses of stone, and images, were dispersed
generally over the country, and made objects of spe
cial reverence, and treated with all the outward de
monstrations of religious worship. Out of the vast
variety of each of these, a few individual instances
may be selected.
As a specimen of the general propensity to this
idolatrous form of religion, it may be briefly noticed,
that the walls of St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin
contained several niches, which the superstition of
the times furnished Avith images of saints". Parti-
.ofCork,'i.1l^.

"'' Warburton's Hist, of Dub
lin, vol. i, 181,
'° Grose's Antiq., i. 67.

^^ Smith's /Tm
"" Cox, i. 177.
^' Mason, p. 8.

Sec, V,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 71
cular iraages are occasionally mentioned, as of St.
John the Baptist, in the priory Avhich bore his name
in Dublin'^ ; of St. Dominick, in the monastery of
the Dominican Friars at Cork" ; of St. Patrick, St.
Brigid, and St. Columba, over the east window of
the cathedral church of Down" ; and of St, Patrick,
in his pontifical habiliments, and St. Francis and St.
Dominick, in the habits of their respective orders,
over the northern door of the principal church of
Clonmacnois. Below these Avere portraits of the
same three saints".
Not to venture, hoAvever, on an extended ex- images of our
Tn ,. o 1 ¦ 1 ¦ •. ry blessed Lord,
emplmcation of general image-Avorship, it may suffice and the virgin
to specify a few instances frora the chief class of '"^'
Christian idolatry, as practised in Ireland; and to
observe that the image of our blessed Saviour in the
cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Christ Church,
Dublin, and that of his virgin mother in the same
cathedral, the latter wearing a crown, which was bor-
roAved for the purpose of crowning Lambert Simnell
in 1487, when he assumed the character of the
murdered Richard, duke of York ; another beautiful
image of the Virgin with the child Jesus in her
arras, in the abbey of the same city, which bore her
name ; another in the abbey of Trim, and another
in that of Irrelagh, and another in the Dominican
monastery of Youghal, all gifted with miraculous
endowments; and another of the sarae character at
Kilcorban ; are distinguished exaraples of the reve
rence paid to images. Concerning the last of these,
namely, that which was worshipped in the chapel,
called the chapel of the Blessed Virgin of the

^^ Archdall, p. 405.
'^ P., p, 67.
^ Harris's Down, p. 27.

"' Ledwich's Antiq. of Ireland,
p. 75.

72

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I,

Examples of
crosses, distin
guished as ob
jects of religious
veneration.

The sanctified
resorts of nume
rous devotees.

Rosary, at Kilcorban, Burke, in his History of the
Dominicans, gives the folloAving citation frora Heyn :
" The frequent miracles Avhich God performs through
that statue, daily confirm the Catholicks in the true
faith, and in the worship of the queen of heaven'"."
With respect to the former objects of religious
veneration mentioned under this head, in Armagh
alone there were, about the middle of the twelfth
century, four stone crosses, and the fragment of a
fifth, besides two in the burying-ground annexed to
the cathedral. In the fifteenth century, about the
year 1441, the primate removed to Armagh from
the cathedral of Raphoe, another cross, which is sup
posed to have been the source of considerable profit
to the dean and chapter of Raphoe from the mira
culous power attributed to iV.
Many of these objects of misguided devotion,
either singly or associated with each other, gave a
character of sanctity to different parts of the coun
try, where they had been erected, and which were
frequented by numerous devotees. In the cemetery
of the principal of the seven churches at Glendaloch,
and near Temple Mac Derraot, one of the nine
churches of Clonraacnois, were several of these erec
tions, one of which, in each case, being forraed of a
single entire stone, and distinguished frora its com
panions by superior height, respectively of eleven
and fifteen feet, Avas a favourite object of popular
adoration'". The still greater altitude of eighteen
feet contributed, with its rude sculpture, to give
additional celebrity to the ancient cross of St. Boyne,
Avith which the abbey of Monasterboice Avas deco-

^' Aechdall's Monasticon, pp.
167, 147, 577, 303, 289, 82.
^' Stewart's Hist, of Armagh,
pp. 143, 197,

¦" Archdall, 773, 392, 491,
Ledwich, 76,

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 73
rated. The cross of Clonmacnois likeAvise Avas orna
raented on its face, and on the sides of the shaft,
with handsorae but rude commemorative sculpture,
representing, in a succession of relieved compart- p°™ouursof ''^'^

crosses.

ments, the principal events in the life of St. Kiaran,
the founder and patron of the neighbouring abbey.
A more usual erection Avas a simple shaft, with a
cruciform head; adorned with no carving at all, as in
the cross of Finglas, Avhicli gives a name to tAvo baro
nies of the county, or at least with no carved figure,
as in the above-named example at Glendaloch, or
with a figure intended to represent our blessed
Saviour's crucifixion, such as I have seen at Kilfe
nora. A circular mass of solid stone, with one ver
tical and two lateral projections, was a comraon forra
of the upper part of the monument, as in the last-
mentioned instance, and in that of Finglas ; in some
instances, as at Clonmacnois, and at Kilclispeen, iuTip-
perary, whither the cross Avas brought by supernatural
agency, the stone was cut away, and intervals left be
tween the straight pieces and the circular. These
intervals had their appropriate use. In the church- Their miracu-
1 p m n 1 T-v ^^"^^ efficacy.
yard of Tallagh, near Dublin, Avere various crosses ;
one of which, mounted on a pedestal, had in its head
four perforations, through which it was usual to draw
childbed linen, for securing the easy delivery of the
parent, and health to the infant". A similar pro
vision, and applied to the like purpose of affording
relief and comfort to the Avearers, by drawing through
the perforations their articles of dress, distinguished
.another remarkable cross at Monaincha'"'.
9. Fictitious miracles are another article in the Fictitious
catalogue of the superstitions of the Irish Church.
'° Grose's Irish Antiq., p. 15. ^° Ledwich's Antiq., p, 116,

74 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch. I.
These were attributed, sometimes to the efficacy of
their material objects of veneration, and sometimes
to the agency of their saints.
Anunextin- With rospoct to tlio foruier, in the nunnery of
guishable fire. r<T-t r» i-iiii
fet. Brigid, at Kildare, was a fire, which had been
preserved for many ages by the nuns, and Avas said
to be unextinguishable, though it had been extin
guished by the Archbishop of Dublin in 1220. The
fire, however, was re-lighted, and continued to burn
till the suppression of monasteries ; one miracle
attendant on it was, that, notwithstanding its per
petual consumption of fuel, ashes never increased'".
About 1321, a great flood in the river Nore
destroyed all the bridges and mills in Kilkenny, but
dared not approach the high altar of the Franciscan
abbey-church".
Miraculous cures In 1397, the Amtals of the Four Masters relate,
that Hugh MattheAvs, by fasting and prayers in
honour of the miraculous cross of Raphoe, and of
the image of the Blessed Virgin at Trim, recovered
his lost eye-sight. And in the year 1411, that from
the five wounds of the crucified figure there floAved
forth a stream of blood, whereby various kinds of
infirmity were healed".
Displeasure indi- ludicatious of dlsploasuro, also, as well as of
good will, were supposed to be thus supernaturally
attested. When Comyn, archbishop of Dublin, in
the early part of the thirteenth century, visited an
offence committed against him by the Lord Justice
Avith the extremest ecclesiastical vengeance, he
caused the crucifixes and images in the cathedral-
to be taken down and laid upon thorns, as if the
passion of the Redeemer were renewed in the per-
" Grose's Irish Antiq., i. 37. "^ P., i. 37.
*' Colgan, Trias Tliaumaturga.

%vrought by
images.

cated by them.

Sec. v.] the SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 75
secution of the minister; and his sufferings were
supposed to be reiterated in one of the figures,
Avhich Avas exhibited to the beholders with the face
inflamed, the eyes .shedding tears, the body bathed
in SAveat, and the side pouring forth blood and
water ¦'^
It was from the sarae feeling of veneration for
iraages, and belief in their potency, that, at a some-
Avliat later period, naraely, in 1611, a fabulous story,
the sequel of the history of early tiraes, was told
of Babbington, bishop of Derry : that he in vain
attempted to burn an iraage of the Virgin Mary,
Avhich belonged to the Dorainican friary of Coleraine;
and that, thereupon, he was instantly seized Avith a
violent illness, and died".
With respect to the rairacles attributed to the Miracles
J. • , 1 i- 1 1 i- 1 wrought by the
agency of saints, raay be particularly mentioned agency of samts.
Avhat ensued, when, in 1108, the great altar of the
abbey of Clonmacnois Avas robbed of many valuable
effects, " Whereupon," as related by a Romish his
torian, " the clergy of the abbey made incessant
prayers to God and St. Kieran to enable them to
discover the guilty person. Twelve years after
Avards, in 1120, the stolen jewels were found in the
possession of a Dane of Limerick, who was delivered
by the King of Munster to the coraraunity of Clon
raacnois for execution : when he openly confessed,
that he had been at the several ports of Cork, Lis
more, and Waterford, and continued some time at
each, expecting a passage to another kingdom : that
all • the other ships left their harbours with fair
Avinds ; but as soon as any vessel which he had
entered into had set sail, he saAv St. Kieran with his
•" Hoveden, referred to by Ware, Bishops, p. 317.
^^ Archdall, p. 84.

76

FROM THE TAVELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

staff return it back again ; and that the saint con
tinued so to do till he was taken"."
Among miracles of this class, allusion may be
made in general to those related to have been
wrought by Matthew O'Heney, archbishop of Cashel,
Avho died in the year 1206 ; by John Comyn,, arch
bishop of Dublin, Avho died in 1212 ; and by Richard
Fitz-Ralph, archbishop of Armagh, Avho died in 1360".
Pre eminence of But pre-emiueut in this respect, as well as in all
St. Jlalacliy as ^ ^
a worker of others calculated to elevate the pretensions of the
miracles. Roraish Church in Ireland, was Archbishop Malachy
O'Morgair, who cured a inadraan with holy Avater";
and by Avliom the performance of a miracle to impart
the benefit of extreme unction to a lady, who Avas
unexpectedly deprived of life before she received it,
is thus related by the before-cited "Professor of
Divinity in the Royal College of Maynooth."
" The lady of a certain knight, who resided near
Bangor, being at the point of death, the saint was
sent for to prepare her for the awful moment of dis
solution. When he arrived at her place of abode,
her sickness had somewhat abated, and her friends
besought the saint to defer until the raorning the
discharge of his sacred office. Malachy yielded
AA'ith reluctance to their request. But the holy man
had soon occasion to repent of his condescension;
for in a short time after he had retired from her
house, he was overtaken by some of the attendants,
Avho proclaimed, by their lamentations, the melan
choly intelligence that their mistress Avas now no
more. Overwhelmed with grief and remorse for

A lady brought
to life, that she
might receive
extreme unction.

¦"¦ Mac Geoghegan, quoted by
Archdall, pp, ,^87, 388.
*' Ware's Bishops, pp. 470,
317, 83.

¦" Bishop Taylor's Diss, from
Popery, p. 337.

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 77
the facility Avith A\hich he had yielded to the impor
tunity ofthe lady's friends, the holy bishop returned
to her apartraent ; and raising his hands to heaven,
exclairaed, ' It is I Avho have siniied by this delay,
and not the poor creature.' Then, standing by the
bed of the deceased lady, the afflicted pastor, Avith
tears and sighs, poured forth his prayers to God in
her behalf The reraaining part of the night the
saint eraployed in supplicating the Divine mercj^
and in conjuring those Avho Avere present to watch
and pray along Avith him. At length, toAvards the
break of day, the lady opened her eyes, raised her
self in the bed, and reverently saluted the saint.
Elated with joy, the good bishop then administered
to her the sacrament of extreme unction. The sin
gular favour, Avhich God had shoAvn to her at the
intercession of his minister, Avas prolonged until she
had performed the penance, Avliich the saint had
enjoined her. As soon as this obligation was com
plied Avith, the lady, after receiving with devotion
the holy rites of religion, relapsed into her former
state of debility, and departed in peace^°."
Before Ave quit this enumeration of reliques, catalogue of re-
1 • 1 • 1 T-ll i-i- llc|ue3 in Christ
images, and miracles, it may be desirable to exhibit cimrch, ouwin,
in the fourteenth
a catalogue ot the treasures of that kind possessed century.
by the church of the Holy Trinity, comraonly called
Christ Church, Dublin. It is taken frora a manu
script of the fourteenth century, now in the library
of Trinity College : and the Latin original is faith
fully represented in the following version.
" These are the venerable and miraculous reliques
of the cathedral metropolitan church of the Holy
Trinity, Dublin.
*^ Carew's Eccles, Hist, of Ireland, pp. 311, 312.

78

FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch, I.

" First, the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, cru
cified, which is said to have twice uttered words.
" Also the staff of Jesus, which the angel con
ferred on the Blessed Patrick.
Account of the " Also the marble altar-stone of St. Patrick,
sort of altar- 1, • l i i . i
stone, on which upou winch a lopor was transported, miraculously
fromEngiand SAvlmmiug from Britain to Ireland."
I pause a little, to explain the vehicle, on which
the leper made his miraculous and very memorable
passage across the Irish Channel. The original word
is superaltare ; equivalent Avith which are the
phrases, "Altare Portatile," "Altare Viaticmn," a,nd
" Tabula consecrata," According to these names, it
appears to have been " an itinerary, portable altar,"
made of a "neat stone," as Staveley says, in his
History of Churches, " insigned with the cross, and
duly consecrated ; of such a length and breadth as
might conveniently hold the holy cup and consecrated
host, with an apt frame of wood whereon to set it"."
Such altars were designed to be carried from j^lace
to place, for the celebration of mass, but they were
not coramon ; the bishops were cautioned to be very
careful and wary in consecrating them ; and they
were very hardly and rarely granted but by the Pope
hiraself or his penitentiary. The English name was
that, by Avhicli I have translated it above, as appears
frora Becon's Reliques ofRotne, cited in Dr. Words
worth's Ecclesiastical Biography". "Also, should
have licence to carry about Avith thera an altar-stone,
whereby they might have a priest to say them mass,
or other divine service, where they would, Avithout
prejudice of any other church or chapel, though it
were also before day, yea and at three of the clock
after midnight in the summer time." Further
™ P. 219. " Vol. ii. p. 280.

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 79
information, if desired, raay be found in Du Cange's
Glossary, and Dugdale's Mona.sticon, Avhere, hoAV-
ever, the friend Avho has examined them for mc
informs me that all the documents quoted for the
use of the word are English ; and probably the par
ticular altar-stone in question, used as it was for a
conveyance from Britain to Ireland, Avas of English
fabrication. The subject, howoA'er, raay be further illustrated
by an Irish authority, Avhich describes very much the
same sort of altar, as that to Avhich the foregoing
English authorities have directed us. Of the con
stitutions and canons, made by John Comyn, arch
bishop of Dublin, at a provincial synod, in 1186, the
first " prohibits priests frora celebrating raass on a
wooden table, according to the usage of Ireland ;
and enjoins, that in all monasteries and baptismal
churches altars should be raade of stone ; and if a
stone of sufficient size to cover the Avhole surface of
the altar cannot be had, that in such a case a square
entire and polished stone be fixed in the raiddle of
the altar, where Christ's body is consecrated, of a
corapass broad enough to contain five crosses, and
also to bear the foot of the largest chalice. But in
chapels, chauntries, or oratories, if they are neces
sarily obliged to use wooden altars, let the mass be
celebrated upon plates of stone of the before-men
tioned size, firmly fixed in the wood 'I"
We proceed with the catalogue of the Christ catalogue of re.
Christ Reliques : mues continued
" Also, the girdle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Also, some of the milk of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. " Also, a thorn of the crown of our Lord Jesus
'* Ware's BisJwps, p. 316.

80 PROM THE TAVELFTH TO [Ch. I.
Christ. Also, some of the bones of St. Peter and
St. Andrew, the Apostles.
"Also, reliques of St. Catherine, Virgin and
Martyr. " Also, reliques of St. Clement, Martyr.
" Also, reliques of St. Oswald, Bishop, and of St.
Faith, Virgin.
" Also, reliques of St. Brandan, Abbot.
"Also, reliques of St. Wulstan, Bishop. Also,
reliques of St. Thoraas, Martyr. Also, reliques of
St. Edmund the Confessor.
"Also, reliques of St. Lucy, Virgin. Also,
reliques of St. Anastatia, Virgin and Martyr. Also,
of the stone Avhere the law was given.
" Also, of the Avood of the golden gate. Also, of
the sepulchre of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
" Also, ofa bone of St. Blase. Also, of the manger
of the Lord. Also, of the oil of St. Nicholas.
" Also, of the cloak of the Lord, in which he lay
in the manger. Also, a bone of the bones of St.
Patrick. Also, a bone of the bones of St. Columba,
Abbot. Also, a bone of the bones of St. Brigid,
Virgin. Also, a bone of the bones of St. Laurence,
Martyr. " Also, a bone of the bones of St. Oswald, Martyr,
"Also, more reliques from St. Laurence, Arch
bishop. " Also, of the reliques of St. Silvester, Pope.
"Also, of the reliques of the eleven thousand
virgins. " Also, of the reliques of St. Pannosa, Virgin
and Martyr.
"Also, of the reliques of St. Herbert, Bishop,
Also, of the reliques of St. Daunt, Bishop.
" Also, of the sepulchre of Lazarus. Also, of

Sec. v.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 81
the reliques of St. Audoen, Bishop and Confessor.
Also, of the reliques of St. Benedict, Abbot.
" Also, of the reliques of St. Basil, Bishop. And
of St. Germanus, Bishop.
"Also, ofthe reliques of St. Olave, King.
" Also, other reliques innuraerable, of Avhicli it
Avere tedious to make special mention."
Section VI.
Superstitiotis continued. Pilgrimages. Penatices. Indul
gences. Dramatick representations of Scripture. As
sumption of a monastich habit hefore death. Masses for
the dead. Patroti Pays. Depressed condition of the
lay-tnembers ofthe Church. Need of Reformation.
10. The practice of going on pilgriraages, intimately pilgrimages:
connected with some of the foregoing superstitions,
was observed at the same time to a very great extent
and with earnest diligence and zeal.
These were undertaken soraetimes to the Con- to Rome;
tinent, as in the instance of the Abbot Iniar, Avho in
the year 1134 died ou a pilgrimage to Rome' ; and
in that of fifty persons, who Avent from the diocese
of Dublin in 1451, Avitli recommendatory certificates
from the archbishop to Pope Nicholas the Fifth, to
celebrate the jubilee then kept under the Pope's
authority ; of which number seven were pressed to
death, together Avith many other j^ilgrims from all
parts of Christendom, besides those who died on
their return".
More comraonly such journeys were undertaken to different parts
frora one part to another of Ireland, from various
motives dictated by a blind superstition, and Avith
different objects of spiritual or temporal advantage.
'Archdall, p. 24. ^ Ware's Bishops, p. 341.
G

82

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch. I.

To places ctosen
by celebrated

To pieces of
handicraft by
Baints ;

To memorials of
antiquity, called
by saints' names ;

Sometimes the attraction was the peculiar sanctity
attributed to a particular spot, which had been
blessed by the choice of some celebrated saint, as
the site of some religious edifice of his foundation;
thus, in the twelfth century an opinion generally
prevailed, that no person could die in the Isle of
Monaincha, be his malady ever so extreme, or his
fate ever so urgent, secured as it was in the enjoy
ment of this privilege, by the merits of its patron
saint Coloraba, and thence called " Insula viventium,"
the island of the living. This legendary celebrity
brought from the remotest parts innumerable pil
grims to expiate their sins at the altar of the saint,
and was the occasion of a gainful trade for several
centuries ".
Sometimes the special attraction was some piece
of handicraft, the supposed workmanship of the
saint's own hand ; thus, in Cape Clear Island was a
pillar of stone, bearing towards the top a cross rudely
carved, as tradition reported, by St. Kieran; and
greatly venerated by incredible crouds of pilgrims,
who assembled around it on the 5th of March, which
was his festi var.
Sometimes a memorial of antiquity, bearing a
saint's name, and imagined to be possessed of some
peculiar miraculous property, drew together the
itinerant multitudes : thus on the day of St. Patrick,
the saint's penitential bed, and other similar ancient
monuments, fit objects as they were deemed for the
devotion of pilgrims, filled with devotees the parish
church of Domnach Glinne Tochuir, in Inisoen;
while Devenish was rendered alike attractive by the
stone coffin, called the bed of St. Molaise, the usual
place of his devotions, and celebrated for the relief

Archdall, p. C68,

* P., p, GO,

Sec, VI,J THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 83
Avhich it Avas said to afford to pains in the backs of
those who reposed in it ; and to women in a state of
pregnancy a similar inducement was offered by an
assurance, that such as should enter and turn thrice
round in the cavity of a rock, near the door of the
church of Inismore, called our Lady's Bed, saying
at the same time certain prayers, should be safely
delivered from the perils of child-birth'.
Sometimes a church or churches built by some to churches,
,,. , 1 1 1 f-i •! 1 built by workers
distinguished worker ot miracles, with other rem- ofmhaoies;
nants of his devotion Avhilst alive, gathered together
large concourses of his posthumous admirers ; thus,
multitudes of persons . of every age and either sex
continually flocked to the valley of Glendaloch ;
and there, among his seven churches and his nume
rous crosses of stone, celebrated the festival of their
venerable founder, St. Keivin°.
Sometimes the place of a saint's interment was to places of
_ pi.T 11 1.1 saints' Inter-
the cause of a like assemblage; thus, in the monas- ment;
tery of Begery, where were deposited the mortal
remains of St. Ivar, and where his reliques continued
to be kept in honourable preservation, crowds AA'ere
asserabled to unite in the litany of St. .Slngus, which
invoked the departed saint, together Avith one hun
dred and fifty of his disciples ^
Sometimes a favourite image, celebrated for its to miraculous
miraculous powers, becarae equally raeraorable for
the multitudinous pilgrimages, and the costly offer
ings with Avhich it was honoured. This was the
case, in a remarkable degree, with the wonders
attributed, and the adoration paid, to an image of
the Blessed Virgin preserved in the abbey of Trim ;
which, in the year 1444, is said to have wrought
great miracles ; particularly to have restored eyes to
» Archdall, pp. 97, 260, 634. « P,, p, 766, ^ P,, p. 733.
G 2

images;

84 FROM THE TAVELFTH TO [Cu. I,
the blind, tongues to the durab, and lirabs to the
weak and decrepit. The narrative adds that " in
the sarae year a woman is said to have brought fortli
cats"."
To holy wells; Holy wolls, imagined to enjoy the special patron
age and benediction of some tutelary saint, aud
to be endued with salutary or healing properties,
attracted to their miraculous AA'aters annual croM'ds
of infirm aud diseased A'isitants, in pursuit of preter
natural health and vigour. These Avells were gene
rally dispersed over the country, and the pilgrims
who visited them Avere numerous in proportion ;
and, as exaraples, may be mentioned, especially St,
Patrick's at Finglass, St. Colomb's at SAvords, St.
Francis's at Kilkenny, and St, Conald's at Iniskeel ;
St. Finian's at Erynagh, St, Thomas the Martyr's
near Down, St. Kilian's at Fenaugh, and others
equally celebrated and frequented ; for instance,
those of Kilmacduagh, St. Michael's Mount, and
Inislounagh^
To reliques, Probably a raere feeling of ignorant and inde
finite devotion in favour of some valued relique on
some occasions animated the enterprise : as appears
to have been the case Avith those, avIio resorted on
every Holy Thursday to pay their offerings to a piece
of the holy cross preserved in the abbey of Tracton ;
and with the great rebel chief O'Neil, when, in
1579, he raade a pilgriraage, as did one of the
Desmonds in 1599, to visit a piece of the same
original instrument of our blessed Saviour's death,
said to be preserved in the abbey of the Holy Cross '".
Pilgrimages, acts lu souie cases, agalu, the pilgriraage was con-

of penance, or
for indulgences.

° Archdall, p. 677.
" Mason's St, Patrick, p. 49,

Archdall, pp, 216, 100, 375, 119,
129, 409, 292, 801, 663,
'» Archdall, pp, 79, 660,

Sec, VI,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 85
nected Avith acts of penance and raortification for
the expiation of sins; and in others Avas regarded
as the price paid for indulgences granted as in
remuneration of a meritorious act.
For the protection of persons thus engaged, the Protected by
/,, 1, 111 l',ii parliament.
interposition of the ruhng poAvers had been solicited
and procured. In a petition preferred by Nicholas
Dovedale, lu-ebendary of Clonmethan, to parliaraent,
in 1476, it was stated, that " divers persons, aliens,
strangers, and denizens, did frequent, in considerable
numbers, by Avay of pilgrimage, the chapel of St.
Catherine, the virgin and martyr of FeldstoAvn,
which Avas appropriated and annexed to his prebend,
being for the health and safety of their souls, and
accomplishment of their petitions and j^rayers ; and
upon his complaint that they had been at divers
times vexed and molested, on divers pretences ; by
reason of Avhich they Avere obliged to lay aside such
devotions and pilgrimages ; it Avas thereupon enacted,
that the persons and properties of all such jiilgrims
should, during their pilgriraage, be under the king's
protection ; nor should the persons of any such be
arrested, on any Avrit or authority Avhatever, for debt,
treason, felony, or trespass, until said pilgrimage be
accomplished"." 11. Penances, Avhether in connexion with pil- penances.
grimages, or otherwise inflicted on the sinner by his
ecclesiastical superior, in punishraent and expiation
of his sins, were araong the other characteristicks of
the Church at the season under revieAv.
One of the most notorious theatres of this sort
of superstitious infliction Avas St. Patrick's purgatory,
on an island of Lough Dearg, in the county of
" Stat. Roll, 14 Edw. IV., cited in Mason's St, Patrick, p. 54,

gatory.

86 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cn, I.
Donegal, about which the penitent was compelled
to crawl, bare-legged and bare-armed, painfully
lacerating his knees and hands as he slowly effected
his passage over the sharp stones". Another was
the high mountain of Slieve Donard, in the county
of Down, to the top of which he M'as sentenced to
climb under the heat of a midsummer sun, and there
to offer his devotions to the saint from Avhom the
mountain derives its name".
St. Patrick's pur- But of these superstitions the former seems to
require more particular notice. It was founded
upon a vision, ascribed by Matthew Paris to the
fraud or illusion of an Irish soldier in the tAvelfth
century, adopted by a Cistercian monk, and embel
lished with all his powers of ingenuity ; and thence
publickly set forth, and impressed upon the minds of
the uneducated and credulous natives, with circum
stances calculated to work upon their hopes and
fears, and thus to bring them under more absolute
thraldom to their priests by the influence of stimu
lating and deceitful imaginations. Christ, as the
soldier is reported to have told his vision seen in
St. Patrick's purgatory, appeared to St. Patrick, but
whether to the priraitive apostle of Ireland, or to
one Avho bore the name of his more illustrious pre
decessor, about the year 850, the legend has not
determined ; and leading him to a desert place,
showed him a deep hole, and instructed him that
whoever repented and was armed with true faith,
and entering into that pit continued there a night
and a day; should, during his abode there, behold
the pains of purgatory and of hell, and the joys of
heaven, and be thereby purged and cleansed from
'" Archdall, p. 102 ; Ledwich, p. 134,
" Harris's County of Down, p. 121.

Sec. VI,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 87
all his sins. A church and monastery, founded by
the saint ; seven chapels or cells in different parts
of the island, which is only one hundred and twenty-
six yards long and forty-four broad, or about the
size of an English acre ; about the same nuraber of
circular inclosures or conical piles of stones, dis
tinguished by the names of the beds or circles of St.
Patrick, St. Abage, St. Molass, St. Brendan, St.
Columba, St. Catherine, and St. Brigid, were the
results of this irapious iuA-ention ; above all, the
purgatory of St. Patrick, Avhich Avas a cave sixteen
feet and a half long by about tAvo Avide; so Ioav,
that a tall raan could not stand in it upright; so
confined, that it could not contain more than nine
persons ; and so closed, that no light could enter in,
except through the doorAvay, or a small windoAv in
one corner. In and round these structures, at stated
seasons of the year, for tAvo or three weeks in suc
cession, and from every district of the land, vast
raultitudes of pilgrims promiscuously craAvled : pain
fully exercising their bodies Avith penitentiary inflic
tions, but crowning the tortures of the day Avith
nightly scenes of revelry, intemperance, debauchery,
and riot ; and exhibiting by their subsequent con
duct scant fruits of joenitence.
There were other favourite spots, where the other places of
macerations of self-tormenting Avere succeeded by ''™™°''"
the orgies of self-indulgence ; such, for example, as
the valley of Glendaloch, and the islands of Innis
cattery and Inniscaltra : but the small isle of Lough
Dearg appears to have been pre-eminent in evil at
least in a scandalous notoriety. For much to the
discontent and loss of the priests, who throve upon
the sufferings and sins of the deluded people, the
shameful imposture and enormities of the place

penances.

88 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch. I.
excited, at length, papal displeasure; and by a
decree of Pope Alexander the Sixth, in 1497, it
incurred a sentence of demolition ; which, hoAvever,
was not effectually accomplished, for in the year
1630, the government of Ireland gave orders for its
final suppression '\
occasiomai Such peuauces as these, that have been now
mentioned, were in ordinary course. An example
of occasional penance is furnished by the narrative
of an assault made on the Earl of Ormonde, in
1434, by the citizens of Dublin, Avho, at the same
time, furiously attacked and broke open the gates
of St. Mary's abbey, and carried off the abbot by
force, " bearing him up, some by his feet, and others
by his hands and arms." A publiek penance was
in consequence enjoined upon the mayor and citi
zens to proceed barefoot to the cathedrals of the
Holy Trinity and St. Patrick's, and to the monastery
of the Blessed Virgin, begging pardon for the
offences committed by them in their churches.
And, in 1492, another treacherous and violent
assault Avas raade on another Earl of Orraonde, in
St. Patrick's cathedral, by the citizens of Dublin,
Avith circumstances of sacrilegious outrage ; Avbich
was A'isited by the Pope's legate with this sentence,
that " in detestation of so horrible a fact, and in
perpetual memory of the transaction, the mayor of
Dublin should go barefoot throughout the city in
open procession, before the sacraraent, on Corpus
Christi's day, AAdiich penitent satisfaction was after,
in every such procession, duly accomplished 'V
12. Indulgences by the Pope have been already
" Cox, vol. ii, p, 54,
'^ Mason's St, Patrick, pp, 132, 141.

Sec, VI,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 89
intiraated to have been connected with the practice rap.aiindui-
gences in reward
of undertaking pilgrimages. Such indulgences were of pilgrimages;
granted in 1399 and 1401, to all who should visit
the monastery of Sligo on certain festivals, and to
all who should visit the friary of Drogheda; and, in
1415, to all persons who should visit the friary of
ArkloAv, and give alms to the friars; and, in 1450,
to all who should make a pilgrimage to the abbey
of Navan, or contribute to repair or adorn it. Other
similar privileges Avere granted in 1400 and 1423,
to all persons Avho should visit the Dorainican friary
of Galway on particular festivals, and contribute to
its repairs ; and, in 1426, to all who had contributed
to the building of the monastery of Portumna ; and,
in 1450, to all Avho should undertake pilgriraages to
the abbey of Navan '°.
Papal indulgences Avere also given for purposes Andforother
differing in kind frora the preceding. In 1476,
Octavian del Palatio, the Pope's nuncio in Ireland
and the adjoining isles, granted an indulgence of
two months to all inhabitants of this kingdom Avho
should give subsidies toAvards the propagation of the
Christian faith, and the Crusades ; provided they
should visit the cathedral of St, Patrick's and the
Holy Trinity, the chapel of St. Mary near the old
bridge, belonging to the preaching friars, and that
of St. Thomas, and should there say thrice seven
psalms Avith litanies, or else the Lord's Prayer three
score times, Avith the angel's salutation. The sub
sidies required Avere, from archbishops, bishops, earls,
and countesses, tAvo marks each ; from abbots,
barons, and baronesses, one mark and a half; from
nobles of inferior quality, doctors and their Avives, one
mark ; and from other persons, half a raark each.
'« Archdall, pp. 6-08, 760, 5.59, 274, 275, 295, 559.

gences.

90 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Ch. I,
All indulgences to other churches were to cease for
eight months ".
And of the same nature appears to be a docu
ment in the archives of Christ Church, Dublin, being
a later indulgence and plenary pardon of all sins,
however enormous, granted by Donald O'Falloii to
Richard Skyret, then canon, but aftenvards prior, of
that cathedral, for contributions to the Crusade. He
entitles himself Deputy of the Order of Minors,
being an observantine Franciscan, and on the seal is
called the Guardian of Youghal. In the year 1485,
he Avas advanced to the see of Derry by the provision
of Pope Innocent the Eighth ; but it Avas not in his
episcopal capacity that he granted the foregoing
indulgence, which was dated in 1482'".
Episcopal indui- But thoro woro other "indulgences," of which
frequent mention is made in the history of this
period of the Irish Church, and which require some
explanation : for, as Harris observes, " possibly every
reader may not know Avliat is meant by these indul
gences. Fuller, in his Worthies of Cambridgeshire,
declares his ignorance of them : ' unless,' says he,
' they signified a promise of a pardon of so many
days to such who should go on pilgrimage to such a
church, or be contributors to the repairs or building
of it.' And this he thinks an over-papal act for a
jDlain bishop. But," continues Harris, " it was usual
with the Pope to grant faculties to bishops for this
purpose. Thus Maurice de Portu, archbishop of
Tuam, in 1506, obtained a faculty from the Pope
for granting indulgences to all Avho should hear his
first mass at Tuam, after his return frora Rome;
but he died on his journey before he had the oppor
tunity of celebrating his first mass. These indul-
" Mason's St, Patrick, p. 139, '" AVare's Bishops, pp. 197, 198,

Sec, VL] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 91
gences AA^ere a relaxation of so many days' penance Explanation of
enjoined upon any person Avho should do such or
such an act. This seems to be the true meaning of
these indulgences :" on Avhich it may "be further
remarked, that, " Avhen a bishop took upon him to
grant them, the confirmation of the archbishop of
the province was necessary for giving them effect"."
The manner in Avhich this poAver Avas exercised, and
the nature of the acts to which it was applied, avIU be
better understood from the foUoAving exemplification.
About the year 1220, Henry de Loundres, arch- in what manner,
bishop of Dublin, having founded in his diocese an acts granted ;
hospital of the Holy Ghost, granted such indul-
¦^ r By Archbishop
gences to those avIio should A'isit and give alms or ofDuwin,
largesses to the said hospital, in these words, " Of
the penance enjoined to them vie relax thirty days ;"
words which set forth the meaning of the i^rivilege
to the effect already explained. The same arch
bishop granted thirteen days' indulgences to the
abbey of Glastonbury, in England^".
About 1227, Waiter, bishop of Waterford, ByBishopof
1 1 , . 1 1 1 Waterford,
granted tAventy days indulgences to the abbey of 1227;
Glastonbury, as many to the church of the Blessed
Virgin, ten days to the church of Basseleke, ten
days to the chapel of Horty, thirteen days to the
church of Torre, twenty days to the church of the
Holy Trinity of Godenie, all belonging to the said
abbey, and thirteen days to the reliques of it^'.
About 1233, Jocelin O'Tormaig, bishop of Ar- ByBishopof
dagh, granted to Glastonbury Abbey fifteen days' in- ' "ms-,
dulgences, and as many to that of St. Albans *^
In 1237, Christian, bishop of Emly, granted in- ByBishopof
dulgences of tvA^enty days to the promoters of the ^"'\s!-,

Ware's Bishops, p. 263, ™ lb., p. 320.
«' P., p, 530. ^2 lb., pp. 251, 252.

92

FROM THE TAVELFTH TO

[Cn. I,

By Bishop of
Killaloe, 12.55 ;
By Bishop of
Connor, 1257;

By Bishop of
Elphin, 1262;

By Archbishop
of Cashel, 12fill ;

By Bishop of
"Waterford, 12i;il;

By Bishop of
Lismore, 12(10:

building of St. Paul's church, London. And in
1252, the like grant was given to St. Paul's, by Gil
bert, successor of Christian, in the see of Emly.
In 1255, Isaac, bishop of Killaloe, made a grant of
eight days to the same building. In 1257, a similar
grant of forty days' indulgence was given to the con
tributors to the building of St. Paul's, by Wilham,
of Port Royal, bishop of Connor ^^
In or about 1262, Thomas Mac Ferall, bishop of
Elphin, granted indulgences of fifty days to the
chapel of the Virgin Mary in the Temple of Lon
don ; and forty days more to those, Avho, out of a
motive of doA'otion, should visit the tomb of Roger,
in St. Paul's, in the same city".
In 1268, David Mac Carwill, archbishop of
Cashel, granted forty days' indulgence to St. Paul's,
Loudon ; and in 1270, the sarae grant Avas raade for
the sarae purj^ose, by Thoraas Liddell, bishop of
DoAvn^\ About 1280, Stephen of Fulburn, bishop of
Waterford, granted the church of Glastonbury forty
days to the abbey, ten days to those Avho should visit
the reliques, twenty days to those Avho should visit
the cross, ten days to those Avho should vi.sit the
sapphire, (a stone of some virtues there preserved,)
tAventy days to the church of Torre, t^-enty days to
the hospital, and as many to the church of the Holy
Trinity of Godenie, all belonging to the said abbey,
amounting, on the Avhole, to one hundred and forty
days"'. In 1289, Richard Cor, bishop of Lismore, granted
forty days' indulgences to any person Avho should
hear mass frora any canon of Christ Church, Dubhn;

' Ware, pp. 294, 295, 591, 220.
" lb., pp. 474, 197.

" lb., p. 630,
'=« lb,, p, 553,

Sec. VI.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 93
or should say the Lord's Prayer, or an Ave-lNIary for
the benefactors of the said church ; and Nicholas de
Effingham, bishop of Cloyne, made the same grant.
And in 1291, the sarae grant Avas made severally by
MattheAV O'Heothy, bishop of Ardagh, and Williara
O'Duffy, bishop of Clonmacnoise".
In 1414, John Cely, bishop of DoAvn, having ByBishopof
erected and consecrated an altar in Christ Church, ini;
Dublin, to the honour of the Virgin Mary, granted
forty days' indulgences to all the canons avIio should
celebrate mass, and devoutly pray at the said altar ^°.
BetAveen the years 1417 and 1439, John Swayn, By Archbishop
archbishop of Armagh, made a grant of forty days' ° 'hi?;'
indulgences to any person avIio should give relief to
Moyn Mackennery, a man Avho had been reduced to
poverty ; and a sirailar grant to any one Avho should
contribute to the ransom of Nicholas Chamberlain,
who had been taken prisoner by the Irish enemies ;
and raany of the like sort '^
In 1442, John Prene, archbishop of Armagh, ,442;
being highly incensed against the dean and chapter
of Raphoe, and having deprived them of their bene
fices, granted raoreover forty days' indulgences to all
Avho should fall upon their persons, and seize or
dissipate their substance'".
In 1443, on the petition of the dean and chapter 1443;
of St. Patrick's, Dublin, John Mey, archbishop of
Arraagh, granted forty days' indulgences to all per
sons who should contribute to the proA'iding a great
bell for that cathedral, and to making some neAv
windows and other repairs therein".
In 1453, on the arrival of the raelancholy iieAvs By Archbishop
that Constantinople was taken by the Turks, and the °'""um.
Emperor Constantine Paleologus slain, Michael Tre-
¦" W-vBE, pp. 553, 576, 252, 171, '^ P., p, 202.
¦^ P., p. 198. ^0 lb., p. 274. 31 lb,, p, 86.

94 PROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cn, I,
gury, archbishop of Dublin, proclairaed a fast to be
strictly observed throughout his diocese for three
days together, and granted indulgences of an hun
dred years to the observers of it ; and he himself
went before the clergy in procession to Christ
Church, clothed in sackcloth and ashes "°.
Theatrical repre- 13. Dramatick representations of scriptural events
sentations of ^ ^ ¦*¦
Scripture events, of the most sorlous aud solomu kinds were made
the subjects of publiek exhibition, on the great festi
vals of the church, as means, it is to be presumed,
of combining religious instruction with popular
entertainment. Thus in the year 1506, the aAvful occurrences of
our blessed Saviour's passion Avere set forth in a play
in the Hoggin Green, since called College Green,
near Dublin". And the like method was employed
for impressing upon the publiek raind the subjects of
and of legends, their suporstitious legends. Thus at the sarae place,
in 1523, the life of St. Laurence, one of the cano
nized objects of Irish veneration, Avas played for the
edification or amusement of the admiring mul
titude.
andmythoiogicai With subjccts of theso kiiids were sometimes
stories. blended others derived from the heathen mythology.
Thus in the year 1628, Arland Ussher being then
mayor, and Francis Herbert, and John Squire,
Christmas exhi- balllffs, the Earl of Ossory, being lord deputy of Ire-
different trades laud, was luvited ovoiy day in Christmas to a new
play ; wherein the tailors acted the part of Adam
and Eve ; the shoemakers represented the story of
Crispin and Crispianus ; the vintners acted Bacchus
and his story ; the carpenters that of Joseph and
Mary ; Vulcan, and what related to him, was acted
by the smiths ; and the comedy of Ceres, the god-
»s Ware, p. 341 . 33 £ of tus MS., Marsh's library.

of Dublin,

Sec. VI.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. ^5
dess of corn, by the bakers. Their stage Avas erected
on Hoggin Green, hoav called College Green ; and
on it the Priors of St. John of Jerusalem, of the
Blessed Trinity, and of All HalloAvs, caused tAvo
plays to be acted, the one representing the passion
of our Saviour, and the other the several deaths
Avhich the apostles suffered".
A similar exhibition is recorded, as accompanying E-xhibition on
the procession of Corpus Christi day, on Avhich the dity.
glovers AA'ere to represent Adam and Eve, with an
angel bearing a sword before thera ; the corrisees,
perhaps the curriers, Avere to represent Cain and
Abel, Avith an altar and their offering ; raariners and
vintners, Noah and the persons in his ark, apparelled
in the habits of carpenters aud salmon-takers ; the
Aveavers presented Abraham and Isaac with their
offering and altar ; the sraiths represented Pharaoh
Avith his host ; the skinners the carael Avith the
children of Israel ; the goldsraiths Avere to find the
King of Cullen, {qu. the kings of Cologne, that is,
the Eastern Magi?) the hoopers were to find the
shepherds, with an angel singing Gloria in cvcelsis
Deo ; Corpus Christi guild was to find Christ in his
passion, with the Maries and Angels ; the tailors
Avere to find Pilate Avith his fellowship, and his Avife
clothed accordingly; the barbers, Annas and Caia-
phas ; the fishers, the Apostles ; the merchants, the
Prophets ; and the butchers, the tormentors '\
The same sort of entertainment appears to be Proctor'saccount
intended by the Proctor's account, already referred r^en™ in "st.
to, in St. Patrick's cathedral, in the year 1509;
where an alloAvance is required of " three shillings
and one penny paid to Thomas Mayowe, i:>laying
''* RoBT. Ware, MS. quoted in Warburton's Hist, of Dublin, i, 108,
== Hist, of Dublin, i, 110.

96 FROM THE TWELFTH TO [Cn, I.
with seven candles, on the feast of the Lord's Nati
vity, and the Purification, this year; and of four
shillings and sevenpence paid to those who played
with the great and little Angel, and the Dragon, on
the feast of Pentecost ; and four shillings and two
pence paid for victuals to the sarae, who played on
the days of the sarae feast, this year'°."
char.ietersofthe Tho plays, horo spokoii of, seem to have been
sented bT°pup- performed by the machinery of puppets, Avhich Avere
made to personate the characters of the drama.
And this interpretation is illustrated and confirmed
by a curious passage, quoted in Warton's History
of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 240, 4to., from Lam-
barde's Topographical Dictionary, written about the
year 1570. "In the days of cereraonial religion,
they used at Wytney, in Oxfordshire, to set forth
yearly, in raanner of a show or interlude, the resur
rection of our Lord, &c. For the Avhich purposes,
and the more lively hereby to exhibit to the eye the
whole action ofthe resurrection, the priests garnished
out certain small puppets, representing the persons
of Christ, the watchmen, Mary, and others ; amongst
the which one bare the part of a Avaking watchman,
who espying Christ to arise, made a continual noise,
like to the sound that is caused by the meeting of
two sticks. The like toy I myself, being then a
child, once saw in Paul's Church at London, at a
feast of Whitsuntide, where the coraing down of the
Holy Ghost Avas set forth by a white pigeon, that
was let to fly out of a hole, that yet is to be seen in
the raidst of the roof of the great aisle."
Bishop Bale's at- John Balo, blsliop of Ossory, in King Edward
thSeexhi'bittons! the Slxth's rclgn, endeavoured to improve these
dramatick exhibitions of religious subjects; and under
=" Mason's St. Patrick's. App. pp. xxviii. xxix.

Sec. VI.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 97
his patronage a tragedy of God's proraises in the
old law, and a coraedy of St. John Baptist's preach
ings, of Christ's baptising, and of his temptation in
the wilderness, Avere ])layed at Kilkenny, after the
manner of some pieces of his composition, which are
still extant. But these subjects are manifestly unfit
for such representations. The very association has
an air of profaneness ; and they gradually fell into
disuse, and at length became obsolete, under the
light diffused by the Reforination.
14. To mitigate the terrors of approaching death, Assnmption of
, , /• i 1 • 1 1 J monastick dress
and to secure future happiness, recourse Avas had to before death;
several superstitious observances ; to one in parti
cular, which, although not so prevalent as to be
represented, like pilgrimages, of general adoption,
Avas by no means uncommon even araongst persons
of distinction ; namely, that by which they attempted
to secure a passport to heaven under a borrowed
semblance ; and, as Milton says :
¦ To be sure of Paradise,

Dying put on the weeds of Dominick,
Or in Franciscan thought to pass disguised ^^.
During the period under consideration, tAVO arch
bishops of Cashel, and three bishops respectively of By sever-ai
Raphoe, Derry, and Ross, are named in Sir James ^^^^°^'''
Ware's History, as having assumed on their death
beds the Franciscan, Cistercian, or Dorainican habit,
and being buried in that attire, and in a monastery
ofthe same order'"; a practice, which is observed by
Ware's continuator, Harris, to have been " according
to the humour of those times, and thought to be of
great consequence ;" and Avhich in fact was not con-
"1 Paradise Lost. B. iii. v. 478.
"" Ware's Bishops, pp. 475, 478, 274, 291, 588.H

98

PROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch, I,

And distinguish
ed layraen.

fined to ecclesiastical persons, as we are elsewhere
informed ofa Lord Justice of Ireland, who in 1257
died, and was buried in the monastery of Youghal),
in the habit of a Franciscan friar; of Dermot
O'Brien, prince of Thomond, who in 1313 had
recourse at Ennis to the like passport to happiness,
which was adopted in 1343, by Matthew M'Comara,
who built the refectory and sacristy of the monastery,
and was there buried in the habit of the order ; and
of Alexander of the Ashgrove, Avho assumed the
same habit in 1348, and was interred in the Fran
ciscan friary of Kilkenny".

Private masses.

Examples,
founded by Abp,
of Armagh,

15. Private masses, or raasses perforraed by the
priest alone, for the benefit of the dead, and in which
the living had no participation, were universally pre
valent, and had becorae the source of large revenues
to the clergy, by reason of the donations and be
quests, given for the perpetual maintenance of these
expiatory ceremonies.
Exaraples of these are too abundant for enume
ration. Two or three, however, may be briefly
noticed : as for instance, that John SAvayn, arch
bishop of Armagh, having founded a chapel and
chantry, dedicated to St. Anne, in St. Peter's church,
Drogheda, early in the fifteenth century, John May,
one of his successors, soon afterwards " annexed a
large portion of the archiepiscopal tithes to the
chapel, in pure alms, for ever, as a compensation for
a greater nuraber of priests, to pray perpetually for
his soul, and the souls of his predecessors and suc
cessors, and of all the benefactors to the same
Church"." " Archdall's Monasticon, pp, 81, 45, ?,1-l-.
" Ware's Bi.shops, p, 86.

Sec. VI.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 99
And a curious manuscript in the library of Tri- Andinchrist
^ .. T^ 1 T Church, Dublin.
mty College, Dublin, contains a list of the names of
the deceased, Avhose bodies, in the fourteenth cen
tury, rested in the dust in the cathedral church of
the Holy Trinity, Dublin, and in the precinct of the
sarae ; Avith a prayer that God Avould be propitious
to their souls : for Avhich, it goes on to say, " the
prior and canons of the same place are bound to
pray ; and especially once in the year solemnly to
celebrate for thera exequies and masses, Avith bells
sounded and candles lighted about them."
After the like raanner, in 1244, Luke, arch- Andinst.Pat-
bishop of Dublin, having, at the instance of Warin,
one of the canons of St. Patrick's, granted a piece of
ground for OA'er to the vicars; the vicars bound
themselves to celebrate one raass in the church
every day, for the souls of the fathers and raothers
of the archbishop and of the said Warin, and like
wise for their souls, when they should die ; and that
on their anniversaries they would celebrate raass in
a solemn manner, subject to deprivation of their
benefices in the event of non-performance. And in
1364, in consideration of an acre of land granted
by King Edward the Third, through his son Lionel,
duke of Clarence, the dean and chapter incurred a
sirailar obligation of perforraing anniversaries for
the souls of the king and queen, of the duke
and duchess, and of their ancestors and posterity
for ever'". Multitude of
ror these forraaiities a smgle altar was not suf- same church.
ficient, but in the sarae church a multitudinous
provision was made for their observance. Thus at a
great synod, holden in 1157, for the purj^ose of con
secrating the church of Mellifont, at Avhich Avere

o

JIaso.\'s St, Patrick, pp. 108, 124.
H 2

100

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch, I.

Mass celebrated
at several at the
same time.

present the Archbishop of Armagh, then apostohck
legate, and divers other princes and bishops, amongst
numerous rich gifts to the abbey was included a
chalice of gold for the high altar, and holy furniture
for nine other altars in the same church".
These masses were frequently celebrated, many
in the same church and at the same time. Thus in
the church of Galway A\ere the following chapels
and altars: — 1. The high altar of St. Nicholas, in
the choir; 2. The altar of Jesus Christ, in the
chapel of Christ Judging ; 3. ' The altar of St.
Michael, in the chapel of the Guardian Angels ; 4.
The altar of St. Mary Major, in the ancient chapel
of the Lynches ; 5. The altar of the blessed Mary,
in the new and great chapel of the Blessed Mary,
under the title of the Blessed Mary, mother of God;
6. The altar of St. Jaraes ; 7. The altar of St. Ca
therine, in her gilt chapel ; 8. The altar of St. John
the Baptist, joined to the column of the pulpit;
9. The altar of St. Bridget ; 1 0. The altar of St,
Martin ; 11. The altar of the Blessed Sacraraent, in
the chapel dedicated to it; 12. The altar of St.
Anne, in her chapel; 13. The altar of St. Patrick,
in his chapel, originally dedicated to hira ; 14. The
altar of the Holy Trinity, in its chapel. These
fourteen chapels and altars are specified by a modern
historian of the town, as a criterion for estimating
the magnificence of the church of Galway before the
Reformation ; and he adds the remark, that in
alraost all of these the sarae time was often emj^loyed
for the celebration of divine service'".
Comparative re- 15. lu tlils euuiueration it raay be noticed, that
¦•^ Archdall, p, 479,
" IIardiman's Hist, of Galway, p. 246, note.

Sec. VI.J THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 101
whilst one chapel and altar Avere erected in honour spect for the
of the holy Trinity, and one in honour of our Lord patron d.iys.
Jesus Christ, there Avere tAvo in honour of the Virgin
Mary, one of St. Michael, one of St. James, and
one of St. John the Baptist, and almost the entire
of the remainder, being nearly a moiety of the
Avhole, Avere in honour of canonized saints. The
proportionate regard shoAvn, during the times in
question, to the uncreated and created objects of
religious veneration, raight be illustrated by this
appropriation ; and a similar illustration might be
drawn from the appropriation of time : for the
festival days of the several patron saints were
soleranly observed, whereas small regard Avas paid
to the Lord's-day, that being the day selected in
several places for the holding of publiek markets ''^
A failure in the reverence due to this day Avas loumamentson
evidenced in the year 1541, ivhen the parliament 1541.
having passed an act declaring Henry the Eighth
king of Ireland, the Sunday folloAving Avas selected
for proclaiming him king, in St. Patrick's church,
and the next Sunday for " having tournaments and
running at the ring Avith spears, on horseback*"."
Whereas the guilt of the murder of five innocent
unoffending persons, on Friday, the 8th of Septera
ber, 1556, during their occupation in the hay-field,
" after they had serA'ed God according to the day,
was coloured by the priests, avIio caused it to be
noised all the country round, that it was by the
hand of God these persons Avere slain, for that they
had broken, they said, the great holyday of our
Lady's nativity'"." •¦¦' Cox, i. 103,
" Hist, of Dublin, i. 109, from a MS, in the ColL Library,
'"' Bale's Vocacyon.

102

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Cn, I,

Condition of the
members of the
Church in
general.

Outrages upon
religious edifices.

16. It remains to be briefly noticed, that under
the circumstances to which we have adverted, the
condition of the merabers of the church in general
could not be expected to be, and in reality was not,
dLstinguished by sound religion and useful learning.
Revealed truth was inaccesssible to them at its
source iu the Holy Scripture; and in its trans
mission through the channels of ecclesiastical rites
and ceremonies, and ministerial instruction, it had,
for the most part, lost its primitive and essential
character ; so that the spiritual worship of God, and
belief in the Gospel of his blessed Son, and cor
responding holiness and purity of life, were well nigh
superseded and obliterated by fabulous legends and
superstitions, and unedifying observances. Meau
Avhile with a clergy too commonly illiterate, Avith
scanty means and opportunities of intellectual im-
jiroveraent, and araid the continual agitation of
intestine tumults and warfare, illiteracy was the
general state both of their chief men and of the
people ; so that we need hardly wonder at the
statement of history that, even in the year 1546,
there were men of high rank and station in the
country so destitute of the elements of education as
to be incapable of writing their names. Their
conduct, indeed, during this period exhibited palpa
ble symptoms of brutality and ferocity; and was
marked by a contemptuous disregard, not only for
ingenuous learning, but for religion, Avhose abodes
and ministers they often desecrated with sacrilegious
outrage. Of one perfidious Irishman, indeed, an unbap
tized marauder, or corbi as he was called, because
he had never been christened, one M'Adam, or
Hugh M'Gilmori, we are inforraed, Avho, in 1407,

Sec. VI.] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 103
destroyed forty churches, and Avas afterwards killed
in that of Carrickfergus, his previous ravaging of
which, by breaking the Avindows, and carrying off
the iron-bars, had disabled it for affording hira pro
tection from assault"". But the outrages of this
laAvless barbarian had their counterparts in the
violence of those from whom, professors as they
were of the Christian faith, better things inight have
been hoped and expected.
Thus the destruction of the inhabitants of the irreligious con
toAvn and abbey of Kildare by a King of Leinster, of rank.
in 1135, the forcible abstraction of the abbess frora
her cloister, and her compulsory marriage Avith one
of his own folloAvers'": the plunder, in 1171, by a
chieftain, naraed Manus M'Dunleve, of several
churches": the conversion of the church of Milick
into a stable, by William de Burgh, in 1203, who
appears to have committed sacrilege with as little
compunction as he ate flesh meat during Lent*":
the plunder of the abbey of Innisfallen, in 1180,
and the slaughter of the clergy in their cemetery by
the Macarthys'": the destruction of the monastery
of Lough Dearg, which, notwithstanding its celebrity
and reputed holiness, Avas reduced to ashes by Bra-
tachas O'Boyle and M'Mahon, in 1207'': the assault
made by John de Rathcogan, in 1306, upon the
Abbot of Crossmalyne, the imprisonraent of his
person, and the rifling of his monastery": "the hea
thenish riot of the citizens of Dublin, in 1492, in
rushing into St. Patrick's church armed, polluting
with slaughter the consecrated place, defacing the
*' Marlebur&h's J«rea&, App, *" P., p, 294,
to Camden's Britannia. '"' P., p. 302.
^•i Archdall, p. 328. " P., p. 102.
" lb., p. 83. " P., p. 601,

104

FROM THE TWELFTH TO

[Ch, I.

Moral condition
of the lower
Irish.

images, prostrating the reliques, rasing doAvn altars,
with barbarous outcries, more like miscreant Sara
cens than Christian Catholicks'*:" the attack, in
1392, upon the abbey of St. Thomas, by the mayor
of Dublin and the bailiffs, and others of the citizens,
armed, " with intent and malice aforethought," " to
drag thereout John Serjeant, the abbot, and all his
party, or to kill them there ;" and their persistance
in their evil designs, notwithstanding the interposi
tion of the government, " bringing fire to burn the
abbey, destroying several hosts, breaking the Avin
dows, surrounding the king's ofificers, and forcibly
rescuing their prisoners":" the burning of the cathe
dral churcli of Cashel, in 1503, by the Earl of
Kildare, Avho acknowledged the sacrilegious action,
and affirmed, with a soleran oath, that he Avould not
have committed it, had he not supposed that the
archbishop himself was in the church'": and the
raurder, in 1513, of Edmund Burke in the monastery
of Rathbran, where he had sought protection from
the unnatural malice of his brother's sons": these
and similar outrages mark the ecclesiastical annals
of the country, and leave the brand of barbarism
and irreligion on the character of its inhabitants of
rank, from Avhicli it is hardly to be supposed that
the inferior instruments of iniquity could be
exempted. Of the moral condition, indeed, of the lower
Irish, during the period in question, a sketch has
been draAvn in recent times by an ecclesiastick of
high dignity in the Romish church in Ireland, as
cited by Dr. Phelan, in his History, p, 128; and by

"* Hollinsshed, cited by Ma
son, St. Patrick's Cathedral, p.
141, Note h.

" Archdall, p. 194.
'" M'Geouegan's Hist. i. 421.
'"'' Archdall, p. 608.

Sec, VI,] THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 105
hira they are represented as exhibiting ferocity
combined with cunning, and astuteness with cruelty,
as characterized by individual bravery and collective
cowardice, aud as generally estranged from honesty
and truth. The features of this portrait, it is to be
hoped, are exaggerated : but the delineation had
probably too near a resemblance to the original, as
it may be traced in the occurrences of the times.
Upon the whole, whatever pretensions may have General charac-
T 'ill 1 1 T 1 1 • • tor of the Irish
been justly advanced by Ireland, in previous ages, chmch.
to the title of " the Island of Saints," an exaraina
tion of its subsequent condition shows, that its pro
fession of Christianity had becorae such as to pre
clude its continued claira to that appellation; that
it had fallen raany degrees below the standard of
evangelical purity and siraplicity, and Avas Aveighed
down by a burden of corruption and error during
the centuries under revioAv ; and Avas abundantly in
need of iraproveraent in its profession and practice
of religion, in the character of its clergy and people,
and in the ordinances of its church, at the era of the
Reformation.

106

CHAPTER II.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE LATTER PART
OF THE REIGN OF KING HENRY THE
EIGHTH  1535—1547,
GEORGE CROMER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE  1535—1542,
GEORGE DOWDALL, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE  1543,
Section I.
Review of the Condition of the Church. Recognition of the
King''s Supremacy intended. Archbishop Cromer s oppo
sition. Co-operating obstacles. George Browne tnade
Archbishop of Dublin. Ineffectual effort of the King's
Commissioners. Parliament of 1537. Acts relative to
the Church.
Depressed state At tlic ora of the Reforiuatiou, the Church of Ire-
ireiand before laud partook of those raarks which were inherent in
the Church of England also, as well as in the other
churches of western Christendom. The true Avord
of God was not preached by her ministers, nor
acknowledged by her people, through the general
ignorance or prohibition of the Holy Scriptures.
Legendary tales maintained an ascendency over the
Christian verity. Transubstantiation, AA-afer-worship,
and half-communion ; auricular confession, and dis
cretionary absolution ; purgatory, pilgrimages, pen
ances, and indulgences ; the invocation of saints,
and the adoration of images and reliques : all con
spiring to derogate from God's honour, and to lay
false foundations for man's hope of salvation ; were
some of the enormities which deformed her creed

Sec. I,] THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII. 107
and religious practice. The sacraments of Christ
were partly Avithheld, or superstitiously adrainistered :
they, as likewise the publiek prayers of the Church,
were celebrated in a strange tongue : and certain
other ecclesiastical ordinances were raised to the
dignity of the tAvo sacraments of Christ. Celibacy
Avas enjoined upon her clergy. They, as Avell as her
people, Avere little distinguished for moral or intel
lectual iraproveraent. Monastick establishments
existed to a great and very detrimental extent.
And of those who bore the episcopal office in her
coraraunion, her four archbishops and twentj^-six
bishops, the appointraent was conferred, the allegi
ance claimed, and the rights and privileges circum
scribed, by a foreign potentate ; frora Avhom the
metropolitans had submitted to receive their archie-
j)iscopal palls from the middle of the twelfth cen
tury, in acknoAvledgment of the Papal supreraacy.
It Avas by the abrogation of this supreraacy, and King's supre-
, ''pi .,.1 1 T n^acy, first step
the assertion ot the sovereims right to the undi- to Reformation.
vided dorainion over all his subjects, as Avell eccle
siastical as civil, that the first advance was raade
toAvards the reformation of religion, the providence
of God converting the counsels of the monarch for
the maintenance of his own royal prerogative into
the means of purifying and renovating his Churcli.
King Henry the Eighth having succeeded in causing year of omr Lord
his supreraacy in the Church of England to be
" recognised by the clergy, and authorized by Par
liaraent," Avas desirous of establishing the like
supreraacy in the Church of Ireland, " forasrauch as
Ireland Avas depending and belonging justly and
rightfully to the iraperial crown of England'."
' Eng. Stat. 26 Henry VIII., c, 1. Irisli Stat, 28 Henry VIII,,

1537.

tlie country.

108 THE REIGN OF [Cn. IL
Opposition of But his desire raet with a powerful opponent in
Archbishop ^ ii.i »
Cromer. v./roraer, archbishop of Armagh, who had lately held
the highest civil office of Lord Chancellor in the
kingdom ; and Avho, still occupying the first eccle
siastical dignity of Primate of all Ireland, exerted
the influence derived from his publiek stations, aided
by the personal qualities, which he is related to
have borne, " of great gravity, learning, and a sweet
demeanour," in alluring his suffragan bishops and
inferior clergy to support the Pope's supremacy in
desjnte ofthe pretensions ofthe king'.
Difficulties The general condition of the country; the dis-
arising from the . ,. .
general state of uuion, disseusioHS, aud inutual jealousies Avhich pre-
vailed araong different classes of its inhabitants,
especially between those of different national origin
or parentage ; the hereditary antipathy in the
descendants of the earlier inhabitants against the
sovereign, as not of indigenous extraction, nor a
native of the soil ; their prevalent disposition to
indulge in resistance to his authority, and to seek
assistance frora foreign poAvers to support them in
their resistance ; the reraoteness of their situation,
which rendered thera less accessible to the visitations
of the king's poAver, and less fearful of his indigna
tion ; their continual intestine agitations, which had
indisposed the raind, and afforded little convenient
occasion for speculative inquiries, and for intellectual
or spiritual iraproveraent ; the absence of any per
vious extraordinary impulse for directing the mind
to seek for knowledge, and the want of literary
institutions for giving efficacy to the impulse if it
had existed ; the people's habitual subjection to
their clergy, and the ignorance of the clergy them
selves, and their blind and superstitious devotion to
^ Ware's Bishops, p, 91 .

Sec, L] KING HENRY VIII, 109
their ecclesiastical superiors ; the long and deep-
rooted prepossession in favour of one, A\ho had pre
tended to suprerae authority in the church for three
or four centuries, and Avhose character they had
been accustoraed to A'enerate as all but divine; and
with all this a persuasion of the fact, that the
earliest English king, who had claimed dominion in
Ireland, derived his claira in the first place frora a
Papal grant, so that the royal authority, however it
raay have been afterwards upheld, had been origi
nally, as they were taught to believe, founded on a
power Avhicli it iioav sought to displace and super
sede : these and the like impediments in the state
and prepossessions of the inhabitants co-operated
Avith the zeal of the primate, in obstructing the
inroad, Avhich the dominion of the sovereign Avas
attemjDting to make on that of the Pope,
Upon the difficulties arising from the circum
stances of the country it is not proposed to dAvell :
but as to the sentiment of the English sovereignty KingofEng-
,,,,np r , ' 11, rt land's claim to
being derived from a foreign source, it may be briefly the dominion of
remarked, that the claim of the kings of England to
the dominion of Ireland Avas independent of any
Papal authority. Whatever right Pope Adrian may
have pretended to possess or to exercise in the
bestoAval of that kingdom on King Henry the Second,
he had by right, as Sir John Davies has remarked,
" no more interest in this kingdom than he Avliich
offered to Christ all the kingdoins of the earth'."
And in point of fact, to use the Avords of Archbishop
Ussher, " Whatsoever become of the Pope's idle
challenges, the crown of England hath otherwise
obtained an undoubted right unto the sovereignty
' Discovery why Ireland tvas never entirely Subdued, by Sir J.
Davies, p. 15. Edit. 1747.

110

THE REIGN OF

[Cn, II,

Appointment of
George Browne
to the Archbi
shoprick of
Dublin.

of this country ; partly by conquest, prosecuted at
first upon occasion of a social war, partly by the
several submissions of the chieftains of the land
made afterwards. For ' Avhereas it is free for all
men, although they have been formerly quit from all
subjection, to renounce their own right, yet now in
these our days, (saith Giraldus Cambrensis, in his
History of the Conquest of Ireland,) all the princes
of Ireland did voluntarily submit, and bind them
selves with firm bonds of faith and oath unto Henry
the Second, king of England*.' " With respect,
indeed, to the Pope's imaginary right, and the con
sequent grant to Henry the Second, it has been
stated that " the Irish parliament had occasionally
acknowledged this to be the only legitimate founda
tion of the authority of the crown of England'."
But neither by the statutes of King Edward the
Fourth, to which reference is made as the founda
tion of this statement, nor by any other of the Irish
statutes, can I authenticate this position. So that
there appears to have been at no time any parlia
mentary recognition of the hypothesis, which repre
sented the king as the feoffee of the Pope in dero
gation ofthe royal supremacy.
When, hoAvever, the king had determined to
assert and establish his supremacy, in opposition to
the Pope's usurped authority, there were not Avanting
numerous adversaries, and at the head of these Avas
Archbishop Cromer.
Meanwhile, an opportunity had been afforded
for introducing into the Church a counteracting
force in the person of a man, not inferior to the
primate in moral and intellectual faculties, but Avhose
¦¦ Abp, Ussher's Religion ofthe Ancient Irish, p. 116.
' History of Irehind, by Thomas Leland, D.D., voL ii, p, ICO,

Sec, I,] KING HENRY VIH. Ill
mind was happily emancipated frora the thraldom of
Popery, and awakened to the genuine truths of the
Christian faith : a man who has been handed down
to posterity as of " a cheerful countenance, iu his
actions plain and doAvnright, to the poor merciful
and corapassionate, pitying the state and condition
of the souls of the people: and Avho, Avhile he M'as his character.
Provincial of the Augustin Order in England,
advised the people to raake their application for aid
to Christ alone, and for Avhich doctrine he was much
taken notice of, and not to the Virgin Mary and
other saints"."
George BroAvne, whose character is thus briefly Notice ot Arch-
sketched by Archbishoj) Ussher, A\'ho is commemo
rated by Sir Jaraes Ware, as " the first of the clergy
who embraced the Reformation in Ireland," and to
AAdiose exertions, seconding his example, the Church
of Ireland Avas mainly indebted, under divine Provi
dence, for the commencement of her restoration to
the primitive faith and Avorship, had been an Augus
tin friar of London, having received his acaderaical
education in the house belonging to his order at
HolyAvell, in Oxford. Having becorae eminent
among his brethren, he was made provincial of that Provincial of tho
Augustin friars
order in England ; and afterwards taking his degree in England.
of Doctor of Divinity, in some foreign university,
he Avas incorporated in the same at Oxford in 1534,
and at Cambridge soon afterwards. In the folloAving
March, he was advanced by King Henry the Eighth Archbishop of
' J n J n Dublm, March,
to the archbishoprick of Dublin, Avhich had been i^ss.
vacant since the preceding July. It is reasonable to
^ Sir James Ware's Bishops, \ Ware's Annals, and inserted be-

pp. 349, 162. RoBT. Ware's Life
of Abp. Browne, contained in tlie
Enslish cditiori of Sir James

tween tiiose of Queen Mary and
Queen Elizalieth.

112 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IL
suppose that the interval had been employed in
making choice of a fit person for this elevated
station, the arduousness and iraportance of which
were greatly enhanced by the peculiar circumstances
of the time. An acquaintance with the writings of
Luther, and an attachment to the principles of the
Reformation, together with his good personal quali
ties, recommended him to the king's favour; but
Patronised by his principal patron was the Lord Privy Seal, Crom
well, who, under the peculiar title of the king's
1535. vicegerent in ecclesiastical matters, administered all
the powers annexed to the king's supremacy in
England. Thus nominated by the royal authority,
His election and havlug beoH olectod to the see by the chapters of
consecration. the Holy Trinity and St. Patrick's, and having
received the royal assent on the 12th of March,
before his consecration, the mandate for Avhich had
been issued the day after the royal assent, he Avas
invested by Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, and
Fisher and Shaxton, respectively bishops of Roches
ter and Salisbury, according to an act then lately
passed, with the pall and other archiepiscopal
ensigns ; and on the 23rd of March, writs Avere
issued for restoring to him the temporalties of the
see.
Commencement Tho aiTlval of tho archblshop In his diocese was
tion il irehanT tlie first stop taken by the Reforination in Ireland.
There is an assertion indeed in Dr. hEhAi^D's History \
that " the spirit of religious disquisition had forced
its way into Ireland with the succession of English
settlers. So that in the famous parliament of the
tenth year of Henry the Seventh, laws had been
revived to prevent the growtli of lollardism and
' Vol. ii. p. 158.

Sec. L] king HENRY VIII. 113
heresy." But the printed statutes of Henry the
Seventh's reign, as well as Dr. Bullingbroke's
Collection of Ecclesiastical Laiv in Ireland, which
embraces all the statutes affecting the Church, alike
fail in supplying any proof of the latter position;
except so far as it may be involved in the act,
chap. 22, of the tenth year of that king, the year of
our Lord 1495, Avhich, following the precedent of
an act of 1468, the eighth year of King Edward the
Fourth, chap. 1, " ordained all statutes late made
wdthin the realra of England, concerning the com
mon and publiek weal of the same, to be accepted,
used, and executed in Ireland." By this enactment,
the English statute of the second of Henry the
Fifth, chap. 7, which was directed against "hereticks
and lollards," was adopted into the Irish code, in
common with all other acts of parliaraent previously
made in England. But amidst the mass of English
statutes this act of Henry the Fifth Avas not specially
noticed ; nor was any new law established, nor old
law revived, whence the groAvth of " lollardism and
heresy" in Ireland may be reasonably inferred;
whilst in the earlier narratives of the occurrences in
that country, no vestiges appear of the spirit of
religious disquisition having forced its way by means
of settlers from England, and led to the entertain
ment of the reformed opinions, until the appearance
of the new archbishop in the metropolis of his
diocese and of the kingdom.
The archbishop soon found his new seat of Difficulties of
T . . , , , , f, 1 . Jris situation.
dignity to be by no means one ot repose and inac
tion, being promptly called upon to take a prorainent
and resolute part on the question of the supremacy,
as well as on other matters which Avere judged to
I

114

the reign of

[Ch. ii.

Letter from Abp.
Browne to the
Lord Cromwell,
Sept. 6, 1535.

Violent opposi
tion in the pro
vince of Armagh,

need correction in the Church. A body of commis
sioners was about this time appointed by the king,
to confer with the principal persons in the country,
for removing the Pope's authority from Ireland, and
for reducing that kingdom to a conformity with
England in acknowledging the sovereign power of
the Crown, whether in things spiritual or temporal.
Cromwell, the lord privy seal, who was the princi
pal minister in the conduct of this affair, seems to
have anticipated no serious impediment in early
arriving at a favourable result. But the difficulties
and perils of the undertaking were soon experi
mentally felt by the archbishop, by Avhom the insuf
ficiency of the commission, the obstacles which it
had to surmount, and the best raethod of supplying
its defect and giving eflficacy to the king's intention,
were pointed out in a letter to his patron, of Sep
tember the Oth, 1535, which at the same time sets
forth in a striking light the illiteracy of the clergy,
and the blind and superstitious zeal of the people".
" My most honoured Lord,
" Your humble servant receiving your mandate, as
one of his hlghness's commissioners, hath endeavoured,
almost to the danger and hazard of this temporal life, to
procure the nobility and gentry of this nation to due obedi
ence, in owning of his highness their supreme head, as A^'ell
spiritual as temporal ; and do find much oppugning therein,
especially by my brother Armagh, who hath been the main
oppugner, and so withdraAvn most of his suffragans and
clergy, with his see and jurisdiction. He made a .speech to
them, laying a curse on the people, whosoever should own
his hlghness's supremacy: saying that this isle, as it Is In
their Irish Chronicles, Insula Sacra, belongs to none but
the Bishop of Rome, and that it Avas the Bishop of Rome's
predecessors gave it to the king's ancestor.3. There be two

Life of Abp. Browne. Cox, i. 240.

Sec. L] KING HENRY VIIL 115
messengers by the priests of Armagh, and by that arch
bishop, now lately sent to the Bishop of Rome.
" Your lordship may inform his highness, that it is con- a parliament re-
venient to call a parliament in this nation to pass the
supremacy by act ; for they do not much matter his hlgh
ness's commission, which your lordship sent us over.
" This island hath been for a long time held in Ignorance Extreme reiigi-
by the Romish orders. And as for their secular orders, o™ 'snorance.
they be in a manner as ignorant as the people, being not
able to say mass, or pronounce the words, they not knowing
what they theraselves say In the Roman tongue. The
common people of this island are more zealous in their
blindness, than the saints and martyrs were in the truth at
the beginning of the Gospel. I send you, my very good
lord, these things, that your lordship and his highness may
consult what is to be done. It is feared O'Neal Avill be
ordered by the Bishop of Rome to oppose your lordship's
orders from the king's highness : for the natives are much
in numbers within his powers. I do pray the Lord Christ
to defend your lordship from your enemies."

In pursuance of the archbishop's advice, a Par- a Parliament,
liament was holden at Dublin in the spring of the
year 1537, under Leonard Lord Gray, the lord de- May, 1537.
puty. By a statute of the tenth year of King Henry
the Seventh, chap. 4, commonly called Poyning's
Act, it had been ordained, " that no Parliament
should thenceforth be holden in Ireland, till the
king's lieutenant and council should first have certi
fied to the king, under the great seal of the land,
the causes and considerations, and all such acts as
them seemed should pass in the Parliament; and
should have received the king's aflBrmation of their
goodness and expediency, and his licence to sumraon
the Parliaraent under the great seal of England."
But soon after the commencement of the present
Parliament, "by the pleasure and content of his
I 2

116

THE REIGN OF [Cii. II.

S^Acf ^''^'^' ^^J^*^*!'" Poyning's Act Avas repealed ; and it Avas
" enacted that this Parliaraent, and all its acts and
ordinances should be valid, provided they should be
thought expedient for the king's honour, the in
crease of his revenue, and the common Aveal of
Ireland"." Confidential coraraunications frora the king's
ecclesiastical vicegerent most probably made knoAvn
what measures would be acceptable to the king.
Act for the king's Aiid hereupoii a bill Avas introduced for enacting
supremacy. ¦*¦ ^ ^
" that the king, his heirs and successor,?, should be
the supreme head on earth of the church of Ireland,
and should have poAver and authority, from time to
time, to visit, reform, restrain, and amend all such
errors, heresies, abuses, offences, contempts and enor
mities, whatsoever they be, Avhich by any manner,
spiritual authority, or jurisdiction, ought or raay law
fully be reforraed, restrained, or amended, most to
the pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of vir
tue in Christ's religion, and for the conservation of
peace, unity, aud tranquillity of this land of Ireland ;
any usage, custora, foreign laws, foreign authority,
prescription, or any other thing or things to the con
trary notwithstanding'"."
Act of Appeals. Anothor bill was introduced for taking away all
appeals to Rome in spiiritual causes, and referring all
Actag.ainstthe such ajijioals to the crown" ; and another, sj^ecifically
authority of the . , ,. cix-i.i /.t-.
Bishop of Rome. " agaiust tlio authority ot the Bishop of Rome;
recounting the various mischiefs, temporal and spiri
tual, which attended the usurped authority of the
Bishop of Rome's by some called the pope, and
the necessity of excluding such foreign pretended
» Ir. Stat., 28tli Henry VIII,, c, 4,
'°/i., c,5. "Ib.,c,6. '^A, C.13,

Sec, I.] KING HENRY VIIL 117
poAver, forbidding all persons, on pain of premunirc,
to extol or raaintain, by Avriting or any act, the
authority, jurisdiction, or poAver of the Bishop of
Rome within this realm ; giving order to the jus
tices of assize and of peace, to inquire of offences
agaiust this act, as of other offences against the
king's peace ; commanding all archbishops, bisho]:)S,
and archdeacons, their comraissaries, vicars-general,
and other their rainisters, to raake inquiry of such
ecclesiastical persons as offend ; imposing an oath of
supremacy on all ecclesiastical and lay officers ; and
enacting that an obstinate refusal so to do, be, and
be punished as, high treason.
The passing of these bills, in assertion of the DUBcuityof
king's supremacy, and in contradiction and to the acts.
annihilation of the Pope's, was attended Avith much
difficulty, especially frora the daring opposition of
the spiritual peers. But the foresight Avhich had
dictated the measure Avas not Avanting in energy to
enforce it ; and the occasion called forth frora the
Archbishop of Dublin the following speech, distin
guished raore for its straightforAvardness, brevity,
and decision, than for deep argument or rhetorical
display.

" My lords and gentry of his majesty's kingdom of Archwshop
T 1 1 Browne's speech.
Ireland, " Behold, your obedience to your king is the
observing of your Lord and Saviour Christ ; for He,
that High Priest of our souls, paid tribute to Csesar,
though no Christian. Greater honour then surely is
due to your prince, his highness the king, aud a
Christian one. Rome and her bishops, in the fathers'
days, acknowledged emperors, kings, and princes to

118

THE REIGN OF

[Cu, n.

Its efficacy.

be supreme over their dominions, nay Christ's vicars ;
and it is much to the Bishop of Rome's shame to
deny what their precedent bishops owned. There
fore his highness claims but what he can justify the
Bishop Eleutherius gave to St. Lucius, the first
Christian king of the Britons ; so that I shall, with
out scrupling, vote his highness King Henry my su
prerae, over ecclesiastical matters as well as tem
poral, and head thereof, even of both isles, England
and Ireland ; and that without guilt of conscience,
or sin to God. And he who will not pass this act,
as I do, is no true subject to his highness."
This speech of the archbishop was well seconded
by Justice Brabazon ; and whether the assembly
was invited by his example, or won by his reasoning,
or controlled by his firmness, or startled by his de
nunciation, the bills overcame all opposition, and
were passed into laws. One particular species of
opposition, however, was made to give way before a
distinct enactment, which requires some words of
explanation.

Summons of
proctors to
attend at Parlia
ments.

It had been usual for two proctors of every dio
cese to be suraraoned to Parliaraent, " to be there
as councillors and assistants to the sarae, and upon
such things of learning as should happen in contro
versy, to declare their opinions, much like as the
convocation within the realm of England is com
monly at every Parliament begun and holden by the
king's highness' special licence, as his majesty's judges
of his said realm of England, and divers other sub
stantial and learned men, having groundly inquired
and examined the root and first establishment of
the same, do clearly determine." But these proctors
were noAV alleged to be " of their ambitious minds

Sec.L] KING HENRY VIII. 119
and presumption inordinately desiring tohaveautho- Theirciaimsto
. 1. 1 , 1 ir»i^° regarded as
rity, taking upon themselves to be parcel of the members.
body, and clairaing that nothing can be enacted at
any Parliaraent Avithout their assent." And this
they Avere thought to do, " not Avithout the jjrocure-
ment and maintenance of some of their superiors,
to the only intent that the said proctors for the raost
part, being now their chaplains, and of mean de
gree, should be the stop aud let, that the devilish
abuses aud usurped authority and jurisdiction of the
Bishop of Rorae, nor of theraselves, should not come
to light or knoAvledge, that sorae good and godly
reforraation thereof raight be had and provided"."
The irapediments caused by this opposition were Letter from the
set forth in a letter frora the Lord Deputy Gray and Lordcromweu
Justice Brabazon to Lord Cromwell, as given in the "MayHss?.
correspondence between the governments of Eng
land aud Ireland'* ; " advertising his lordshijJ, that
the Wednesday before Pentecost, being the sixteenth
day of this month, the Parliament was prorogued prorogation of
until the 20th day of July next coming, albeit that j^Vz^™
the Coraraons and Lords raade instant petition that
it raight have been prorogued until Crastino Ani-
marura. But considering both the obstinacy of the
spiritualty used in this session, and having reraera
bered, if the king's highness would send any cora-
raissioner hither, Ave thought it good to have the
Parliaraent open at his coraing, to the intent that
the Avilfulness of the spiritualty being refrained,
things for the king's honour and profit, and the com
raon weal of this land, now by them denied to be
granted, may then pass accordingly. The froward
ness and obstinacy of the proctors of the clergy, obstmacy of the
" Ir.Stat., 28 Henry VIIL, c. 12.
" Stale Papers, Henry VIII., Part iii,, p. 437.

120 THE EEIGN OF [Cn. II.
proctors of the fromtho begimiiiig of this Parliament, and at this
"'''^' session, both of thera, the bishops and abbots, hath
been such, that we think Ave can no less do than
advertise your lordship thereof.
" After the assembly of the parliament at this
session some bills were passed the Common House,
and by the speaker delivered to the high house, to
be debated there. The spiritual lords thereupon
made a general ansAver, that they would not come
Opposition of the in, nor debate upon any bill, till they knew whether
spiritual lords, . , , . • i i • ,_
the proctors in the convocation had a voice or not.
Whereupon we perceiving that by this raeans they
sought an occasion to deny all things that should be
presented unto the upper house, Avhere they Avere
the most in number, and at eA^ery other session
divers of thera either carae out, or else Avithin three
or four days raany of them Avould ask licence to
depart ; at this time nevertheless appearing, and
having like licence continued (of a set course,)
wholly together, every day, in the parliament house ;
I, the king's deputy, called to rae all the king's
learned counsel, to debate with thera about their
Proctors shown doubt of tbolr proctoi's ; who not only shewed unto
to vote. thera the opinions of the learned men of England,
together with their own reasons, that the said proc
tors had no voice in the parliaraent, but also proved
unto them by parliaments holden there, that it
should seem by the entries of the rolls, that their
denial or assent was not material, but that it was
written under divers acts, 'procuratores cleri non
consenserunt,' yet were the same acts good and
eff'ectual in law."
Sorae imperfect sentences follow in the letter,
which afterwards continues and concludes the sub
ject thus : —

Sec, I,] KING HENRY VIII. 121
"Whereupon, considering their obstinacy, we continuation of
thought good to prorogue the parliaraent for this tj-s letter.
time; and against the next session provide a remedy
for them. And therefore, my lord, it were Avell
done that sorae raean be devised Avhereby they
may be brought to remember their duties better.
Except the raean may be found that these proctors xocosMty for
1 ... .*., ,, 1 in checking the
may be put from voice in the parliament, there shall proctors;
but few things pass for the king's profit. For
hitherto, since this parliament, have they shewed
theraselves in nothing conformable. We think that
no reasonable man Avould judge them to have such
pre-eminence iu a parliament, that though the king,
the lords, and the coraraons, assent to an act, the
proctors in the Convocation House, though they
Avere but seven or eight in nuraber, as soraetirae
they be here no more, shall stay the same at their
pleasure, be the matter never so good, honest, and
reasonable. But it doth well appear that it is a
crafty cast, devised betAvixt their masters, the
bishops, and them. It is ffood that aa'o have against Means prop,.sod
' ° ° for so doing.
the next session a declaration from thence, under
the king's great seal of England, of this question,
Avhether the proctors have a A'oice in the parliament,
or not? and that every act, passed Avithout their
assents, is noA^ertheless good and effectual."
In pursuance of this letter, amongst the other Act passed for
acts "draAvn and delivered to coraraissioners under ciesiasticai op-
the great seal of England," in July folloAving, " to
be conveyed to Ireland, and passed there by parlia
ment, which shall be holden at the being there of
the said commissioners," there was provided " an
act to deterraine the authority of the proctors of the
convocation, which take upon thera now to direct
the whole parliament." It was thereupon enacted.

122

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. n,

Proctors de
clared not mem
bers of pai'lia-
ment.

that " the proctors should not be deemed or taken,
from the first day of the present parliament, as
parcels or members of the sarae, but only as coun
sellors and assistants ; and that they should give no
voice, nor should their assent be requisite or neces
sary to any act'^" And thus a fatal blow was
inflicted on that ecclesiastical opposition, which
otherwise, in the persons of these representatives of
the clergy, and under the manageraent and dictation
of their spiritual rulers, might have been effectual in
defeating the proposed alterations, and in perpetuat
ing the abuses and ascendency of the papacy.

Act for first
fruits.

First-fruits of re
ligious houses.

Pensions to ab
bots.

Twentieth part
of benefices.

In the sarae parliament several other acts Avere
passed, which had reference to ecclesiastical property,
and raaterially affected the church and the clergy.
The act for first fruits, taking for its precedent a
similar act in England, enacted that all j^ersons,
norainated to any ecclesiastical preferraent, should
2?ay to the king the profits for one year, to whom
soever the foundation, patronage, or gift belong".
Another vested in hira the first-fruits of abbeys,
priories, and hospitals : a previous act having pro
vided for the suppression of thirteen religious houses
by narae ; for the assurance of pensions to the
abbots during their respective lives, and for the
enjoyment of the possessions by the patentees, to
whom the king should have granted them".
Another ordained, that the twentieth part of the
profit of all spiritual promotions be paid yearly to
the king for ever : an enactment so well pleasing to
the king, that he sent a particular letter of thanks
to the lords spiritual for the grant '°.
'> Irish Stat,, 28 Henry VIII,, c. 12, " P., c. 8,
" P,, c. 16 and 26. '' lb., c. 14,

Sec, I,J KING HENRY VIII. 123
Another prohibited the payment of Peter-pence, Prohibition of
pensions, and other impositions, to the bishop or see rapiii dispensa-
of Rome, and the procuring of dispensations, licences,
and faculties from thence ; and authorized the grant
ing of thera by commissioners appointed by the
king, in the same manner as by the Archbishop of
Canterbury in England".
By another act of the same parliament, for English order,
encouraging " the English order, habit, and lau- guage'.''" ™'
guage," spiritual promotions Avere directed to be
given " only to such as could speak English, unless,
after four proclamations in the next market toAvn,
such could not be had." And an oath was to be
administered to " such as take orders, and to such
as are instituted to any benefice, that he Avould
endeavour to learn and teach the English tongue to
all and every being under his rule ; and to bid the
beads in the English tongue, and preach the word of
God in English, if he can preach ; and to keep or
cause to be kept within his parish a school for to
learn English, if any children of his parish corae to
hira to learn the same, taking for the keeping of the
same school such convenient stipend or salary as in
the same land is accustomably used to be taken"":"
an engagraent this which, by persons grossly igno
rant of the purport of the statute iu general, as well
as of this specifick enactment, has been invidiously
and injuriously misinterpreted into an obligation
incurred by every parochial incumbent, of providing
at his own cost a general gratuitous education for
all the poor children of his parish !

'» Irish Stat,, 28 Henry VIII,, c. 19,
^° P,, c, 15.

124 THE REIGN OF [Cii, II,

Section II.
Difficulty of carry iny the foregoing Acts of Parliament into
execution. Archbishop of Dublitis endeavours to remore
false objects of tcorship. King''s Correspondence tcitli
him. Inquest of Commissioners into the State of the
Kingdom. Impediments opposed to the Archbishop's
exertions by the Lord Deputy. Necessity of fresh sup
port from Etigland.
Foregoing acts Ix lias beou judgod convenient to notice together
opposed by the
Popish party and thoso sovoral acts relating to eccle.siastical persons,
the primate. as they Avere all passed in the same parliament of
1637, Avhich passed the acts of Supremacy, and of
prohibition of the Pope's usurped authority. Revert
ing, however, to these most iraportant acts, we must
observe, that although the efforts for enacting them
triuraphed over piowerful resistance, still in the
execution of them no sraall difficulty remained.
And this indeed was to be expected. For long
standing j^repossessions, Avhether personal or national,
though they have not their foundation in reason, are
not quickly to be eradicated ; and, however little
could reasonably be pleaded for an Italian bishop's
claim to pre-erainence and poAA'er in the British
isles, the idea of submission to his usurped authority
was not more preposterous than it Avas inveterate.
Thus a Popish party, opposed to the rightful prero
gative of the sovereign, recognised as it noAV ex
pressly was and strengthened by the law of the land,
still persevered in its resistance ; and at the head of
that party Avas the primate, Avho, if he did not
venture to act in open defiance of this two-fold
authority, yet forbore to exert his influence in con
firming and extending it ; and Avas sedulous rather

Sec, II,] KING HENRY VIII, 125
and active in giving Avhat secret countenance and
patronage he dared to the opposition.
To such opposition an additional stimulus Avas Archbishop of
doubtless given by the endeavours, made at the same bimsciftoaboii»h
time by the Archbishop of Dublin, for abolishing the nquesr"' '"
false objects of Romish Avorship from the churches
Avithin his jurisdiction. His two cathedrals in par
ticular, as there has been already occasion to
observe', abounded with these symbols of corrup
tion. In the church of the Holy Trinity, or Christ's
Church, the reliques and statues were innumerable ;
and in the walls of St. Patrick's a multitude of
niches had been furnished by the superstition of the
times with images of saints. These endeavours Avere
about coincident in tirae with sirailar proceedings
carried on under the royal authority in England ;
and the archbishop acted under the like authority,
Avhich had been recently acknoAvledged in Ireland
by the late statutes, having received instructions
frora the Lord Cromwell to that effect". But in
executing these instructions he Avas met Avith oppo
sition, not only from the primate, but from those
who were next in authority to hiraself within his
own diocese ; naraely, the prior of the church of the Resisted by the
Holy Trinity, Robert Castele, alias Payneswick, and ° "^ 'gm'^nes.
Edward Bassenet, dean of St. Patrick, Avho were
tempted by the emoluments accruing from those
superstitious objects of veneration to resist the king
and the archbishop, and to seek support in their
resistance from the Pope^
This conduct of Archbishop Browne does not unaccountable
prepare us for finding liim about this time the '''^^''^'^"'¦'' °'

Above, pp. 70, 77. " Cox, i. 256.
^ Mason's St. Patrick's, p. 148.

126 the EEIGN OP [Ch, II.
the king against objoct of a solemii expostulation for neglect of the
the archbishop. ^ °
1537. king's interest and of his own duty, and of a conse
quent menace of removal from his dignity, in a letter
addressed to him by the king. On the contrary,
when we have regard to his previous behaviour, as
well as to the vagueness of the charges, and the
uncertain and obscure evidence on which they are
alleged, we may probably not err in ascribing them
to the disingenuous artifice of some secret enemy,
working upon the irritable, suspicious, and capricious
temper of the arbitrary sovereign. The letter, how
ever, which is transcribed from the State Papers,
correspondence between the English and Irish
governments, part III. page 465, is as follows,
having been written the 31st of July, 1537.
" To the Archbishop of Dublin.
LetterfromKing " Right roverond Father in God, trusty and well-beloved,
Henry to the __,. n n* -^ • i
Archbishop of "We greet you well, bignifying unto you, that
whereas, before your promotion and advancement to that
order, dignity, and authority of an archbishop, ye shewed an
appearance of such entire zeal and affection, as well to the
setting forth and preaching the sincere word of God, and
avoiding of all superstition used against the honour of the
same, as to employ yourself always diligently for your part
to procure the good furtherance of any our affairs, as much
as in you lay, and might appear to be to our contentment
and satisfaction, that thinking your mind to be so earnestly
fixed upon the same, that ye would persevere and continue
Expression of stlll iu that your good purpose ; yet nevertheless, as we do
pointment. ^'"'^' ^oth partly perceive, and partly by sundry advertisements
and ways be informed, the good opinion that we had con
ceived of you is, in manner, utterly frustrate. For neither
do ye giA^e yourself to the instruction of our people there in
the M'ord of God, nor frame yourself to stand us in any
stead for the furtherance of our affairs ; such is your light
ness in behaviour, and such is the elation of your mind in
pride, that glorying In foolish ceremonies, and delighting in

Dublin. July 31, 1637.

Sec. II.] KING HENRY VIH. 127
tee and tts, in your dream comparing yourself so near to a
prince in honour and estimation, that all virtue and honesty
is almost banished from you. Reform yourself, therefore,
Avlth this gentle advertisement : and do first your duty
towards God in the due execution of your office ; do then
your duty towards us, in the advancement of our affairs
there, and in the signification hither, from time to time, of
the state of the same; and we shall put your former
negligence In oblivion.
" If this will not serve to induce you to It, but that ye The king
AvUl still so persevere In your fond folly and ingrate un- move him." '^*"
gentleness, that ye cannot remember what Ave have done,
and how much above many others ye be bound, in all the
points before touched, to do your duty, let it sink into your
remembrance, that we be as able, for the not doing thereof,
to remove you again, and to put another man of more virtue
and honesty In your place, both for our discharge against
God, and for the comfort of our good subjects there, as we
were at the beginning to prefer you, upon hope that you
would in the same do your office, as to your profession, and
our opinion conceived of you, appertalneth."
A letter, in many respects similar, was at the King's letter to
same written by the king to Staples, bishop of Meaa!''"^"
Meath. It states that the king had advanced him
to his bishoprick, on account of his zeal in preaching
the pure word of God. It charges hira with slack
ness and negligence, but not with affecting princely
appellations : and contains no further threat, than
that, " if he does not ensue this adA-ertiseraent, the
king will look upon him for his remissness, as shall
appertain." In Avhat manner Bishop Staples received this
reproof does not appear : but the following answer
from Archbishop Browne is copied from the 512th
page of the volume above cited.
" May it please your most excellent highness to be Archbishop of
advertised, that the Ilth of September I received your most sep™mberriM7'

128 THE REIGN OF [Ch. II.
gracious letters, bearing date at your majesty's manor of
Sunninghlll the last day of July : Avlilch perused did not
only cause me to take fruitful and gracious monitions, but
also made me to tremble In body for fear of incurring your
Justifies himself majcsty's dlsploasuros. And where your majesty wrlteth
preaching. unto me, I have not endeavoured myself in setting forth
and preaching the sincere word of God, avoiding all super
stition used against the honour of the same, I may signify
unto your highness, of verity, that for my small abode here,
there bath not these many years any of my predecessors so
much exercised in declaring to the people the only Gospel
of Christ, persuading and inducing the hearers unto the
true meaning of the same, utterly despising the usurped
power of the Bishop of Rome, being a thing not a little
rooted amongst the inhabitants here.
Asserts his acti- " Touclilng tlic socond article in your grace's letter, con-
service.*'"''""^^ cerning your majesty's affairs here, I refer me to judgment
of the most part of your highness's council here, how In
that behalf I have used myself, being the first spiritual man
that moved the twentieth part and first-fruits ; setting
forth, what in me lay, the like first-fruits of all monasteries,
being before not motioned. But given it is to this land
miserable, of behaviour or gesture soever men be, to have
malignors : yea, and those that be of sucb subtle nature,
that of others good proceedings themselves can find means
to win the praises, whicb, If their doings were apparent,
God knoweth right unworthy ; that I beseech God send
once amongst us more charity.
Explains his use " Concerning the third and last article of your grace's
noms."^'"'"^™" letters, that I should use writing tee and us, I trust It hath
not been seen in me, unless It were at such times as I, with
my tAVO chapters of Christ Church and St. Patrick's,
directed our humble letter unto your highness, subscribed
with all our names, concerning the accomplishment of your
grace's letters, to the said chapters and me addressed, for
electing the Dean of St. Patrick's: which if I did, most
humbly beseech your highness to take it in good part, for
assuredl}' it was by remissness of the writer, and great
oblivion of my foreseeing the same ; submitting my negli
gence unto your grace, upon my demeanours hereafter.

Sec. II.] KING HENRY VIII. 129
" Finally, certifying your majesty, tbat I received your iiumbiy pro-
grace's other letters, at this season to me addressed, in tbe f™^<^^'"^''"^-^-
behalf of Edward Vaughan, tbe queen's grace's servant, tbe
contents whereof I have fully accomplished. Beseeching
your highness, of your most accustomed goodness, to accept
this my rude letter ; answerable, even as I Avere personally
doing my duty, preaching on knees before your majesty;
declarmg the certainty of all the premises with knowledging
my ignorancies, desiring of God, that hour or minute I
should prefix myself to declare tbe Gospel of Christ after
any other sort, than of my part most unworthy have here
tofore done before your majesty, in rebuking the papistical
power, or in any other point concerning the advancement
of your grace's affairs .should not be prompt to set forth
benignly, that the ground should open and swallow me.
Certain sacramentaries there be here, which Indeed I have
spoken against, perceiving Avell that I have been the more
maligned at ; beseeching the blessed Trinity to give them
better grace, and that your grace may see redress, as, when
it shall be your determinated pleasure, your majesty may.
So knoweth God, who preserve your excellent highness in
your regality, long to persevere. From your grace's city of
Dublin, the 27th day of September.
" Your grace's obedient subject,
{Signed.) " George Dublins."
{Superscribed.)
" To tbe king's majesty, his most dread
sovereign lord, be these delivered."
The archbishop Avrote a letter to the sarae effect
to Lord Cromwell, but no further result of the
imputations brought against him is on record.
At the same time the coraraissioners, who had inquest of the
been appointed to inquire into the state of the king- Xtoe'stetTof
dora, proceeded on their journey, and pursued its "'^''"'sdom.
object, by holding inquests relative to the several
counties and toAvns that they visited. A suramary
result of those inquests, taken from the State-Paper K

ISO

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. 11.

Complaintsagainst the
clergy.

Portion canon,
explained.

Archbishop of
Dublin's cause
for dissatisfac
tion with the
government.

OflBce, is given in the correspondence between the
two governments*. Whence it is shoAvn, that
besides numerous complaints against the laity, some
Avere preferred also against the clergy. Undue fees
were exacted by the bishops and their oflScials for
the probate of Avills, and for judgment in matri
monial and other causes. Various priests were
charged Avith extortion in the fees demanded for
baptisms, for Aveddings, for the purification of Avomen,
and for burials. Sorae are accused for taking portion
canon, which is explained, in one parish, to have
been the taking, on a raan's death, of his best array,
arras, sword, and knife ; and the same, even on tlie
death of a wife during her husband's life : in another
parish, to have been the taking from the husband,
on his wife's death, of the fifth penny, if his goods
were under tAventy shillings; and fiA^e shillings, if
above that amount : and in a third parish, the taking
of one penny three farthings in the shilling. Some
parsons, abbots, and priors, Avere charged with not
singing mass, though they took the profits of their
benefices: and the jury of Clonmell charged several
of the regular priests in that part with keeping
leinans or harlots, and having wives and children.
But, reverting to the position of Archbishop
Browne, it raay be remarked, that, although he had
incurred the censure of the king for some imaginary
neglect of duty, he seeras to haA'e thought that he
had hiraself more real cause of remonstrance Avith
the government, for Avant of the requisite encourage-
in ent to give eflficacy to his exertions in his most
difficult and invidious oflfice. He Avas evidently
impressed Avith a deep sense of the arduousness of
his task, and the necessity of poAA'erful co-operation :
* Part iii, p, 510, note.

Sec, II,] KING HENRY VIII. 131
a strong testiraony to which is borne by the following
letter to Lord CroraAvell, dated January the Sth,
1538; and copied frora the Lambeth library into
the State Papers'.
" Right honourable, and my singular good lord, my nis letter to tho
, 11, • ^ Lord Cromwell,
bounden duty premised. jan. 8,1530.
" It may please your lordship to be advertised, that
Avlthln the parties of Ireland, Avhich grieveth me very sore,
yea, and that within the diocese of Dublin, and province of
the same, Avhere the king's power ought to be best known,
Avhere It hath pleased his most excellent highness, through
your good lordship's preferment, to make me, under his
grace, a spiritual officer, and chief over the clergy ; yet,
that notwithstanding, neither by gentle exhortations, evan- nis complamt
gelical instruction, neither by oaths of them solemnly taken, '^J^Hthe"''"^'
nor yet by threats of sharp correction, can I persuade or in- ci^jrsy-
duce any, either religious or secular, sithence my coming
over, once to preach the Avord of God, or the just title of our
most illustrious prince. And yet, before that our most
dread sovereign was declared to be, as he ever was indeed,
.supreme head over the Church committed unto his princely
care, they that then could and would, very often even till
the right Christians were Aveary of them, preach after the
old sort and fashion, Avill now not once open their lips In
any pulpit, for the manifestation of the same, but In corners,
and such company as them liketh, they can full earnestly
utter their opinions ; and so much as In them lyeth, hinder
and pluck back amongst the people the labour that I do
take in that behalf. And yet they be borne against me,
and especially the observants, Avhich be worst of all others ;
for I can neither make them swear, ne yet preach amongst
us, so little regard they my authority. And that cometh,
so far as I can judge, of the extreme handling that my lord
deputy hath used toAvards me, what by often imprisonment, msiu-treatment
and also expelling me my own house, keepmg there no Deputy!'"'^
hospitality at all. And so contemptuously he vilipendeth
me, that I take God to record, I had, but that hope com-
» Vol, ii,, p. 539,
K 2

132

THE REIGN OP

[Ch, II.

Prevalence of
popish influence.

A vioar-general
recommended.
Arrival ofa par
don from Rome,

forteth me, rather forsake all, than abide so many igno
minious reproaches.
" But if your lordship would, for the good love and
mind that you bear unto the mere and sincere doctrine of
God's word, and also unto the advancement and setting for
ward of our most excellent prince's just title, send either
unto master treasurer, the chief justice, the master of the
rolls, or any two of them, whom I think meet for that pur
pose, such a strait commandment OA^er me and all other
ecclesiastical persons, as I perceive the king's grace hath
sent of late into England to the sheriffs of every shire ; I
would, God willing, so execute my own office, and prick
other forwards, that be underneath me, by the authority
thereof, tbat bis grace and your lordship should Avell allow
my faithful heart and diligent service. For until that such
a thing, or more vehement, come amongst us, It Is but vain
to look after any amendment here, but always expectation
of the former abuses. And to prove the same, there is
never an archblshop nor bishop but myself, made by the
king, but he is repelled, even now, by provision. Again,
for all tbat ever I could do, might I not make them once,
but as I send my own servants to do it, to cancel out of the
canon of the mass, or other books, the name of the Bishop
of Rome ; Avhereby your lordship may perceive that my
authority is little regarded.
" I have advertised your lordship divers times, what In
convenience might fall for lack of dispensations ; for in that
point they be compelled to sue to Rome. Wherefore I
think good, that with all celerity and speed it Avere neces
sary that Ave had dispensations, a vicar-general, and a
master of the faculties.
" There is of late come Into Ireland from Rome a par^
don, much consonant to tbat pardon granted by Julius the
Second, in time of the wars between the French king and
him ; and that was, that they that would enjoy it, should
fast Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, next after they
heard first of it, and on the Sunday consequently ensuing
to receive the communion. And many, as it is reported,
have received the same. But if so traditorous a fact, and
like flagitious iniquities, should pass, neither justly exa-

Sec. II.] KING HENRY VIH. 133
mined nor condignly punished, being committed Avhile tbe
king's grace's high commissioners be here, seeing these men
so ready and prompt to admit the Bishop of Rome's letters,
and so sturdy and flinty against our prince's power ; what
will men think ? I cannot in my conscience, considering
my oath and allegiance, let such enormities escape, but
make just relation, that the king's majesty may have sure
knowledge how unfaithful a sort he hath In this land ; and
namely, the spiritualty, which seduceth the rest. The
living God knoweth my heart, who ever prosper your lord
ship with immortal felicity. — Amen. From the king's
city of Dublin, the Sth day of January.
" Your lordship's at commandment,
{Signed.) " George Dublin."
{Superscribed.)
" To the right honourable and his most especial good lord,
the Lord Privy Seal, be these letters delivered."
Early in the year 1538, Cowley, the king's soli- inspection of the
¦' •' , ry, counties of Wex-
citor, and White, " exercising the office of justice of ford^ waterford,
Kilkenny, and
his highness' liberty of the county of Wexford," in- Tipperary.
spected the said county, and also the counties of
Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary ; and " by vir
tue of the king's coraraission taxed and made an ex
tent of the value of the twentieth part, and the first-
fruits, of all benefices in the said counties, and re
turned the same into the king's chancery in Ireland."
In a letter to the Lord Privy Seal", White gives a Justice AVhite's
p 1 . 1 . T . 1 letter to Lord
report ot their proceedings, and introduces an ac- cromweu.
count of a serraon which he had heard at Waterford
from one Dr. Sail, a gray friar, who had inveighed
against " the breaking or putting down of churches,
and making them prophane places, as they do now
adays in divers places;" and had in consequence
been apprehended by the mayor of the city, and sent
to the Lord Deputy and council, and by them impri-
° State Papers, vol. ii., part iii,, p. 562.

134

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. II.

Commendation
of the Lord
Butler.

His family and
parentage.

soned in the castle of Dublin. " So as now," ob
serves the narrator, " what for fear they have to
preach their old traditions, and the little or no good
will they have to preach the verity, all is put to
silence. Yet, thanks be to God," he adds, " his
king's majesty hath one Catholick city, and one cham
pion, the Lord Butler, in the land, that dare repugn
against the detestable abusions of so sundry sects,
as this miserable land is in manner overflowed withal,
whose i^harisaical ceremonies and hypocrisy, of so
long time continued here, hath not only trained and
brought the people, in manner, Avholly from the
knowledge of God, but also in an evil and erroneous
opinion of the king's most noble grace, and of all
those that, under his majesty, be the setters forth of
the true Avord of God, and repugnators against those
abuses." The family of Butler, Avhich was settled in Eng
land under the Norman Williara, had accorapanied
Henry the Second to Ireland in 1172. Pierce, earl
of Ormonde and Ossory, was at the head of the
family at this time ; and the Lord Butler, here men
tioned AAdth such honour, was the son of the Earl
of Ossory. He was hiraself treasurer of Ireland, and
admiral of the kingdom. It is matter of no common
interest to read the testimony of such a nobleman,
as conveyed under his own hand in a letter to the
king, concerning the necessity of the religious
instruction, in order to the civil improvement, of
Ireland ; and it is not unpleasing to speculate on the
impression, which may have been made on the king's
mind by Lord Butler's ingenuous commendation of
one, ou whom the king had been induced to look
with disapprobation. ' State Papers, as above, p. 663.

Sec, II,] KING HENRY VIH. 135
' My most humble duty premised to your most excel- Letter from Lord
James Bu'
the king.

lent majesty. It may please the same to be advertised, ¦'^"«^ Sutler to

that your grace's commissioners here have consulted with
my lord, my father, me, and others of your majesty's privy
council here, coveting the subversion and extinguishing of
abusions and enormities used here ; and finally have devised
certain rules and orders, AA'hereby your hlghness's laAvs and
good civility raay be planted and established, to the increase
of your majesty's honour and profit, and the common Aveal
of your grace's subjects, Avhioli proceedeth in good sort,
trusting consequently to baA^e good success. To the fur
thering Avhereof I shall endeavour me to do my diligence,
as your grace's commissioners here may more amply express
to your highness,
" And, undoubtedly, I think nothing more necessary to
induce the people to good civility, than sincerely and truly
to set forth the Avord of God to the people here, as hath by Preaching the
your most excellent highness been dilated and pronounced n°cess°arytotha
within your grace's realm of Ensland, as a lanthorn to all <=i»'ii improve-
•^ " _ ^ _ o 5 ment of the
other good Christian princes to use the same ; Avhereby they people,
might see and perceive the long fraudulent traditions, and
detestable abusions, of the papistical sect and pharisaical
sort, of the Avhlch there be too many of high degrees here ;
and the good people to be led by true doctrine to the very
infallible light of truth. And for my part, I, as one pro
fessed of Christ's religion, shall not omit for any fear, perse
cution, or other respect, to further and set forth the same
effectually, to the uttermost of my power, according my
bounden duty -to Christ, and under Him to your majesty:
Avherein the Archblshop of Dublin hath, by many predica- Commendation
tions, very fruitful now of late dilated, more than ever I Dubim. ^ "
heard in your grace's land, of the truth and plainness worthy
high thanks,
"Beseeching Almighty God to continue your most
excellent majesty long in felicity. Written at your high-
nes,s's city of Dublin, the last day of March.
" Your most humble and bounden
" Subject and servant,
{Superscribed.) {Signed.) "James Butler."
" To our Sovereign Lord the King's
most excellent Majesty."

136

THE REIGN OP

[Ch, II.

ArchbishopBrowne's sense
of his singular
position.

Letter from the
Archbishop of
Dublin to the
Lord Cromwell.
April, 1638.

Character of the
Popish clergy
and people.

His prayer for
support from
England.

In his correspondence with the Lord Privy Seal,
between tAvo and three months antecedent to the
date of Lord Butler's letter to the king, the arch
bishop had disclosed his vieAA^s of his singular position.
Sirailar feelings manifestly dictated the following
letter, Avritten by him on the Sth of April, 1538, to
the Lord Crorawell, showing his strong conviction of
the obstacles Avhich beset him from his opponents,
and of the necessity of additional support from
England, and of more active co-operation from the
Irish government".
" Right honourable, and my singular good Lord,
" I acknowledge my bounden duty to your lordship's
good-will to me, next to my Saviour Christ's, for the place
I noAv possess. I pray God to give me his grace, to execute
the same to his glory, and his highness's honour, with your
lordship's instructions.
" The people of this nation be zealous, yet blind and
unknowing : most of the clergy, as your lordship hath had
from me before, being ignorant, and not able to speak right
words in the mass or liturgy; as being not skilled in the
Latin grammar, so that a bird might be taught to speak
with as much sense as several of them do in this country;
these sorts, though not scholars, yet crafty to cozen the poor
common people, and to dissuade them from following his
highness's orders. George, my brother of Armagh, doth
under-hand occasion quarrels, and is not active to execute
bis highness's orders in his diocese.
" I have observed your lordship's letter of commission,
and do find several of my pupils leave me for so doing. I
will not put others in their livings, till I do know your
lordship's pleasure ; for it is meet I acquaint you first. The
Romish reliques and images of both my cathedrals in
Dublin took off the common people from the true worship;
but the prior and the dean find them so sweet for their
gain, that they heed not my words. Therefore send, in
your lordship's next to me, an order more full, and a chide
° lAfe of Abp). Browne.

Sec, II,] KING HENRY VIH. 137
to them and their canons, that tbey might be removed.
Let the order be, that the chief governors may assist me in
it. The prior and dean have Avritten to Rome, to be
encouraged ; and, If it be not hindered, before they have a Apprehension of
mandate from the Bishop of Rome, the people Avlll be bold, f";,^^ Rome!
and then tug long, before his highness can submit tbem to
his grace's orders. The country folk here much hate your
lordship, and despitefuUy call you, in their Irish tongue,
The Blaclcsmith' s Son.
" The Duke of Norfolk is, by Armagh and the clergy,
desired to assist them, not to suffer his highness to alter
church-rates here in Ireland. As a friend, I desire your
lordship to look to your noble person; for Rome hath a
great kindness for that duke, for it is so talked here, and
will roAvard him and his children. Rome hath great favour
for this nation, purposely to oppose his highness ; and so
have got, since the act passed, great indulgences for rebel
lion ; therefore my hopes are lost, yet my zeal Is to do
according to your lordship's orders. God keep your lord
ship from your eneraies here and in England',"

Section III.
Pope's encouragement to resist the King's claims. Bull of
Excommunication. Removal of Images from Churches.
Image tcorship encouraged by Lord Deputy. Archbishop
Brou-ne's diligetice in preaching. Form of Beads or
Prayers. Resistance of the Clergy. Visitation by the
Privy Council. Archbishop Browne's purpose of visiting
remote parts of the country.

excommunica-

The anticipated encouragement from the Pope, in Pope's smi of
opposition to the king's claim on the allegiance of tion.
the people, was not long in coming ; and it carae
after that raanner, according to which it has ever
been the presumptuous policy of the Papal power,
to protect an usurpation the raost unjust and tyraii-
° Life of Abp. Browne.

138

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IL

Letter from
ArchbishopBrowne to the
Lord CromweU.
May, 1538.

Popish vow of
obedience.

nical by the most profane and bitter iraprecations.
The information was conveyed by the archbishop to
the Lord Crorawell, the ensuing May, in the follow
ing letter : —
" Right honourable,
" My duty premised : it may please your lordship to be
advertised, sithence my last, there has come to Armagh and
his clergy, a private commission from the Bishop of Rome,
prohibiting bis gracious hlghness's people, here in this
nation, to own his royal supremacy ; and joining a curse to
all them and theirs, who shall not within forty days confess
to their confessors, after the publishing of it to them, that
they have done amiss in so doing. The substance, as our
secretary hath translated the same into English, is
thus : —
" ' I, A.B., from this present hour forward, in the pre
sence of the Holy Trinity, of the Blessed Virgin, mother of
God, of St. Peter, of the holy apostles, archangels, angels,
saints, and of all the holy host of heaven, shall and will be
always obedient to the Holy See of St. Peter of Rome, and
to my holy lord the Pope of Rome, and his successors, in
all things, as well spiritual as terajjoral, not consenting In
the least that his holiness shall lose the least title or dignity
belonging to the papacy of our niother church, or to the
regality of St. Peter.
" ' I do vow and swear to maintain, help, and assist the
just laws, liberties, and rights of the mother Church of
Rome. " ' I do likewise promise to confer, defend, and promote,
if not personally, yet willingly, as in ability able, either by
advice, skill, estate, money, or otherwise, the Church of
Rome, and her laws, against all Avhatsoever resisting the
same. " ' I further vow to oppugn all hereticks, either in
making or setting forth edicts or commands, contrary to the
mother Churoh of Rome ; and in case any such to be moved
or composed, to resLst it to the uttermost of my power, with
the first convenience and opportunity I can possess.
" ' I count all acts, made or to be made by heretical

Sec.III.] king henry VIII. 189
powers, of no force, or to be practised or obeyed by myself,
or any other son of the mother Church of Rome.
" ' I do further declare him or her, father or mother,
brother or sister, son or daughter, hu.sband or wife, uncle or
aunt, nephew or niece, kinsman or kinswoman, master or
mistress, and all others, nearest or dearest relations, friend
or acquaintance whatsoever, accursed, that either do or shall
hold, for time to come, any ecclesiastical or civil, above the
authority of the mother Church ; or that do or sball obey,
for the time to come, any of her the mother Church's op
posers or enemies, or contrary to the same, of which I have
here sworn unto ; so God, tbe blessed Virgin, St. Peter.
St. Paul, and the holy evangelists help, &e.'
" His highness the viceroy of this nation, is of little or
no power with the old natives ; therefore your lordship will
expect of me no more than I am able. This nation is poor
in wealth, and not sufficient now at present to oppose them.
It is observed that OA^er since his hlghness's ancestors had
this nation In possession, the old natives have been crav'ing practice of the
foreign poicers, to assist and rule them. And noAV both JroTOfOTeTn""^
English race and Irish begin to oppose your lordship's powers.
orders, and do lay aside their national old quarrels, which
I fear avIU, if anything Avill, cause a foreigner to invade this
nation. I pray God I may be a. false prophet ; yet your
good lordship must pardon mine opinion, for I write it to
your lordship as a warning \"
This bull of excommunication from the Pope w^as
intended not to be a mere Lrutum fulmen, but to be
the harbinger of more open and determined hostility
against the king and his liege subjects, A^dio dared to
resist the aggressions of the papal tyranny. About
Midsummer a Franciscan friar, named Thady Birne,
was apprehended ; and, having been put into the pil- Apprehension of
¦'¦¦*- . , . ^ Franciscan
lory, was confined in prison, until the king's order fnar.
should arrive for his transmission to England. But
terrified by the report that he AA'as to be put to death,
he committed suicide on the 24th of July in the
' Cox's Hist., i., 257, 258.

140

the reign of

[Ch. II.

Letter to O'Neal
from the Bishop
of Metz.
April, 1538.

Charge to sup
press heresy.

O'Neal declares
himself cham
pion of the
papacy. 1530.

castle of Dublin ; and amongst other papers, Avas
found in his possession the folloA^dng letter to
O'Neal, dated at Rome April the 28th, 1538, exciting
hira to rebellion in the naraes of the Pope and cardi
nals, and under the signature of the Bishop of Metz,
" My son O'Neal,
" Thou and thy fathers are all along faithful to the
mother Churcb of Rome. His Holiness Paul, now Pope,
and tbe council of the holy fathers there, have lately found
out a prophecy there remaining, of one St. Laserianus, an
Irish Bishop of Cashel, Avhereln he saith, that the mother
Church of Rome falleth, when in Ireland the Catholick faith
is overcome. Therefore, for the glory of the mother Church,
the honour of St. Peter, and your own secureness, suppress
heresy and his holiness' enemies ; for when the Roman
faith there perisheth, the see of Rome falleth also. There
fore the council of Cardinals have thought fit to encourage
your country of Ireland as a sacred island ; being certified,
Avhilst the mother Church hath a son of worth as yourself,
and those that shall succour you and join therein, that she
will never fall ; but have more or less a holding in Britain,
in spite of fate.
Thus having obeyed the order of the most sacred coun
cil, we recommend your princely person to the [care of the]
Holy Trinity, of the blessed Virgin, of St. Peter, St. Paul,
and all the heavenly host of heaven. — Amen.
" Episcopus Metensis°."
This and the like solicitations to rebellion and
treason, in behalf of the Bishop and Church of Rome,
were not lost upon O'Neal, Avho early in the follow
ing year, declared himself the champion of the
papacy ; or upon others of the Irish leaders, to whom
they appear to have been addressed, and Avho, en
gaging in a confederacy, took the field, and committed
great devastations, till they Avere defeated by the fore
sight and valour of the Lord Deputy aud Sir William

Ware's Life of Abp. Broivne. Cox's Hist., i,, 258,

Sec, IIL] KING HENRY VIII. 141
Brereton. But, instead of dAvelling on these trans
actions, our business rather is to relate that, notwith
standing all opposition both frora Avithin and frora
without, the reformation of the Church Avas sloAvly
but progressively advancing, and thus giving an
earnest and opening the way of further improvements.
In particular, the Archbishop of Dublin at images and re-
length succeeded in the accomplishment of his from°chu"rches.
design of removing the monuments of superstition
from his tAvo cathedrals, and from the rest of the
churches in his diocese : and especially the miracu
lous staff of St. Patrick, Avhich had been plundered
from the cathedral of Armagh, and presented to
that of the Holy Trinity, in Dublin, in 1180, and
had since been treasured up as one of its most
valuable reliques, was publickly committed to the
flaraes and burnt ; and the images in general Avere
displaced, and in their room were substituted the
creed, the Lord's-prayer, and the ten command
ments, decently framed and ornamented". About
the same time these objects of idolatrous Avorship
elseAAdiere were generally defaced or reraoved, after
the exaraple Avliich had been set in England. Thus
an image of our blessed Saviour on the cross, in
the abbey of Ballybogan, int he diocese of Meath,
which had been held in great veneration, was pub
lickly destroyed by fire"; and the same fate befell
the equally venerated image of the blessed Virgin,
in the abbey of the canons regular, at Trim, in the
sarae diocese; and the oblations and treasures,
which many superstitious votaries had offered there,
Avere at the same time taken and carried away.
But in these latter instances, whatever may have
been the archbishop's good Avill on the occasion, he
^ AVare's Bishops, * Archdall, p. 515.

142

THE REIGN OP

[Ch, II,

Letter from
ArchbishopBrowne to Lord
Cromwell on the
occasion. June, 1538.

appears to have had no concern in the transaction.
He had been accused, indeed, of such an intention
early in the year in which it occurred ; but had
defended himself against the charge in a letter to
the Lord Privy Seal, dated the 20th of June, 1538 :
— " For that I endeavour myself, and also cause
others of my clergy, to preach the Gospel of Christ,
and to set forth the king's causes, there goeth a
common bruit among the Irishmen, that I intend to'
pluck doAvn our Lady of Trim, with other places of
l^ilgrimages, as the Holy Cros,s, and such like ;
Avhich, indeed, I never atterapted, although my con
science Avould right well serve me to oppress such
idols. But undoubted they be the adversaries of
God's word, Avliich have kindled the same, thinking
it will be to my reproach, that I pray God amend
them ; fearing, that all those of this country, being
now there, wliich feign themselves outwardly to be
the maintainers of the Gospel, it is not inwardly
conceived in their hearts'."

The Lord De
puty in favour of
image-worship.

But, however this be, in any attenipt, AA'hich had
for its object the reraoval of idolatry from the
country, no assistance was rendered by the Lord
Deputy. For, although in an incursion into the
north, he had burned the cathedral church of Down,
and converted it into a stable", and defaced the
monuraents of the Saints Patrick, Brigid, and Co
lumba'; and rifled the abbey of Ballyclare, and left
neither chalice, cross, nor bell in it"; and seized and
confiscated the ornaments of the church of Gahvay
on an incursion into the wesf; and committed many

^ State Papers, vol. iii, part iii,
p. 35.
° Loftus MS. Marsh's Library.

' Ware's Annals,
" Cox, i. 265.

Hardiman's Galway, p. 239.

Sec. IIL] KING HENRY VHI. 143
other acts of sacrilege for Avhich he Avas afterwards
brought to trial ; nevertheless he Avas a favourer and
practiser of iraage-Avorship, and generally a^cII- dis
posed to the Popish corruptions, "This last Aveek," Lord Butter's let-
tertoLord Crom-
says Lord Butler, in a letter to Lord CroniAvell, the weu, August sc,
26tli of August, 1538'", " the vicar of Chester, sitting '"""'
at my Lord Deputy's board, the Archbishop of
Dublin, the Cliief Justice, the Master of the Rolls,
AAitli others of the king's council, and I, there pre
sent, said openly before us all, that the king's Report of the
. -., nil' 1111 kmg's order in
majesty had coraraanded that images should be set favour of image-
up again, and honoured, and Avorshipped, as much as
ever they Avere ; and Ave held us all in silence in my
Lord Deputy's presence, to see Avhat he Avould say
thereto. He held his peace, aud said nothing : and
then my Lord of Dublin, the Master of the Rolls,
and I, said, among other things, that, if he Avere in
any other place, out of my Lord Deputy's presence,
Ave Avould put him fast by the heels, and that he had
deserved grioA^ous punishraent. His lordship kept
his tongue, and said nothing all the Avhile. Surely
he hath a special zeal to the Papists. My lord of
Dublin proraised rae, at ray departure out of Dublin,
to put the said vicar in the castle."
And in a letter of October the 20th, from Tho- Letter from Tho
mas Allen to Lord Cromwell, we read", "Here was Lordcromwen.
a bishop and a friar put in the castle of Dublin for
their high and notorious offences against the king's
majesty; and at the last sessions were brought to
Trim, to have been indicted, arraigned, and suflfered
accordingly. Yet our masters of the laAv, and all
other, (in good faith, except my Lord Treasurer,
and very foAV besides,) be such papists, hypocrites,
'" State Papers, vol, iii, part iii, p, 95,
" P., vol, iii, part ii, p. 103,

144

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

The Lord De
puty an idolater.

Archbishop
Browne's dili
gence in preach
ing.

Thomas Agard's
letter to Lord
Cromwell, Aprilj
1538.

Encouragement
given to the
Pope's adherents.

and Avorshippers of idols, that they were not in
dicted : Avhereat my Lord of Dublin, Mr. Treasurer,
and the Master of the Rolls, Avere very angry.
Howbeit they could not remedy it. They three
Avould not come in the chapel, Avhere the idol of Trim
stood, to the intent they Avould not occasion the
people : notwithstanding my Lord Deputy, very
devoutly kneeling before her, heard three or four
masses." Another method for promoting the Reforraation,
practised by the archbishop, Avas the diligent preach
ing of the Gospel, in Avhicli he employed himself
assiduously; but under what obstacles and hin
drances may be partly collected from the following
extract of a letter, addressed the 5th of April, 1538,
to Lord CromAA'ell, by Thoraas Agard'^: "Here as
yet the blood of Christ is clean blotted out of all
raen's hearts, Avliat with that monster, the Bishop of
Rome, and his adherents, in e.special the false and
crafty bloodsucker,s, the Observants, as they Avill be
called most holiest, so that there remains more
virtue in one of their coats and knotted girdles, than
ever A^-as in Christ and his j^assion. It is hard, my
good lord, for any poor man to speak against their
abusions here. For, except it be the Archbishop of
Dublin, which doth here in preaching set forth God's
word, with due obedience to their prince, and my
good Lord Butler, the Master of the Rolls, Mr,
Treasurer, and one or tAvo more Avhich are of sniall
reputations, here is else none, from the highest, may
abide the hearing of it, spiritual, as they call them,
nor temporal ; and in especial, they that here rule
all, that be the temporal lawyers, which have the
king's fee."

State Papers, voL ii. part, iii. 570.

Sec. IIL] KING HENRY VIII. 145
Another method used by the archbishop Avas Form of prayers
•PI /^T 11' 1 put out by Arch-
that ot putting forth, as Ordinary, under his seal, a bishop Browne.
certificate of the lawful supremacy of the king, aud
of the nullity of the Pope's supremacy, under the
title of " The Form of the Beads," or prayers, to be
addressed by all the clergy to the people, directing
them what they should pray for.
" Ye shall pray for the universal Catholick Church, chmches of
--.., . England and Ire-
both quick and dead ; and especially for the Church lana identified.
of England and Ireland." The phrase is not in the
plural " churches," but iu the singular " church ;" and
it occurs five tiraes raore in the course of the instru
ment. First the Form calls upon the people to " pray
for the king, suprerae head in earth, iraraediate under
God, of the said Church." It sets forth, that " the Duty of acknow-
unlawful jurisdiction, long usurped by the Bishop of supremacy.
Rorae, then called Pope, is now by God's law, by
authority of parliament, and by and with the whole
consent and agreement of all the bishops, prelates,
and both the universities of Oxford and Cambridge,
and also the whole clergy both of England and
Ireland, extinct and ceased for ever, as of no
strength, value, or effect in the Church of England
and Ireland." It alleges the like acknowledgment
of the king's supremacy : and accordingly it declares
that " every true Christian subject of this land
ought, not only to acknowledge and obediently re
cognise the king's highness to be supreme head in
earth of the Church of England and Ireland, but
also to speak, publish, and teach their children and
servants the sarae, and to show unto thera, how that
the said Bishop of Rorae hath heretofore usurped
not only upon God, but also upon our princes."
It declares this to be true, not only of the speaker's
knowledge, but "that the sarae is certified unto rae
L

146

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Exhortation to
deface the Bishop
of Rome from
primers and
other books.

And to put all
ti-ust in our Savi
our.

Prayer for the
different orders
of men ;

from the might of my ordinary, the Archbishop of
Dublin, under his seal, Avhich I have here ready to
show you."
" Therefore," continues the Form, " I exhort you
all, that ye deface him, the said Bishop of Rome, in
all your primers, and other books, where he is named
Pope ; and that ye shall have from henceforth no
confidence nor trust in hira, nor in his bulls, or
letters of pardons, which beforetirae with his jug
gling casts of binding and loosing, he sold unto you
for your raoney, proraising you therefore forgiveness
of your sins, Avhere of trutli no man can forgive
sins, but God only ; and also that ye fear not his
great thunder-claps of excoramunication or inter
diction, for they cannot hurt you : but let us put all
our confidence and trust in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
which is gentle and loving, and requireth nothing of
us, AA'hen Ave have offended him, but that we should
repent and forsake our sins, and believe steadfastly,
that He is Christ, the Son of the living God, and
that He died for our sins, and so forth, as it is con
tained in the Credo ; and that through Him, and by
Him, and by none other, we shall have remission of
our sins, a pena et culpa, according to his promises
made to us in raany and divers places of Scripture."
The Forra then directs prayer for Prince Edward,
for the king's issue, for the bishops, for all the
clergy, " and naraely for all thera that preach the
Word of God purely and sincerely :" then for the
nobility, in especial for the Lord Deputy and the
king's most honourable council, for the mayor of the
city, and his brethren, Avith all the comraonalty of
the sarae ; or for the parishioners of the parish, and
generally for all the teraporalty : lastly, " for the
souls that be departed out of this Avorld in the faith

Sisc, IIL] KING HENRY VIII. 147
of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Avhich sleep in rest and Ana for the
, , . ..... deij.arted in the
peace, that they raay rise again and reign Avith faith of cm-ist.
Christ in eternal life. For these, and for grace,
every man say a Paternoster and an Ave."
But this provision of the Ordinary did not receive Disobedience of
the obedience of all his clergy. One exaraple to cie™y°
the contrary is furnished by a letter of the Sth of
May", wherein he advertises the Lord Privy Seal,
that —
"On the first Sunday iu May, being with us the Letter from the
translation of St. Owen, In whose church a prebendary of Lord cromweu,
St. Patrick's, named Humfrey, of whose nature and con- ^'"y''
dition I have partly declared unto your lordship heretofore,
the very occasioner and author of the vllipension and con
tempt that I am in, besides discord and debate soAvn between
me and my friends ; tbis man singing high mass, as that a contumacious
day, because that he is there parson, at the time when that ^^^ ™ ^^^'
the beads is customably red, after the form and manner as
I have devised, and set them forth for all curates ; he him
self thought scorn to read them. Wherefore his parish
priest, according unto his oath, Avent up Into the pulpit,
and there began to read them unto the people. He had
unnethes red a three or four lines, but the parson began the
preface, and the quire sang, in so much that the beads were
unbidden. And certain of the parish presented it unto me.
"Then I considered this man, first, how that he did severe measmea
himself stick to swear unto tbe king, and also moved other j"<ised necessary
f^' ^ towards the im-
the same ; seeing him also contemning my articles, devised pugners of the
for the furtherance of God's word, and the advancement of macy.
our sovereign's title of supremacy, being one of my chief
church, promoted also within the city so nearhand me ;
I could no less do, but committed him unto ward, till I
hear further of the king's pleasure. They be in a manner
all at the same point with me. There is an twenty-eight
of them, and amongst them all there is not three learned
of tbem, nor yet scarce one that favoureth God's word.
Your lordship might do a good deed to have a little thing
" State Papers, vol, iii, part iii, p. 6.
L 2

148 THE REIGN OF [Ch, IL
put in practice with them, and that is de non idoneis remo-
vend'is : else it is but vain for me,' or any other, to take
pains in our prince's causes."
The latter part of the letter is on a different
subject, but still having relation to, and illustrating
the state of, the church : —
Mischief of auri- " On the first day of this term there was a letter brought
cuhir confession, ^^^q j^-,g^ Interclpate, which should have been conveyed from
the Father of Trim unto another of the same coat, which I
have sent unto your lordship; Avherein you may perceive
their towardness, and yet great men in these parts may
evil spare them for their auricular confession : for they may
be bold to utter unto them treason and other. If they
lacked them, I suppose they should lack much boldness to
do evil. Where they rule, God and the king cannot justly
reign. As knoweth God, unto whom I commit your lord
ship perpetually. " Your lordship's,
{Signed.) " George Dublins,
(Superscribed.)
" To the Right Honourable and my singular
good Lord, my Lord Private Seal," [" In haste."
The case of the disobedient clergyman, and its
sequel, are thus pursued in another letter from the
archbishop to Lord Cromwell, of the 20th of
May'*:—
Archbishop " It may please your lordship to be advertised, that in
to"™d^crom-' ™y l^st letter, directed unto your lordship, I signified unto
weu,May2o. jjje same, that for his pervicaclty and negligence I com
mitted one Humfrey, a prebendary of St. Patrick's, unto
ward, till time that I knew further the king's pleasure in
correcting of such obstinate and sturdy papists; thinking
that in so doing I should have been aided and assisted by
my Lord Deputy and the council. Howbeit, spite of ray
beard, yea, and to my great rebuke, whiles that I was at
an house of Observants, to swear them, and also to extinct
that name, naming them Conventuals, my Lord Deputy
" As above, p. 147.

Sec, IIL] KING HENRY VIII. 149
hath set him at liberty. (So doth his lordship aid me in opposition ma
my prince's causes.) I think the simplest holy-water clerk LordDcputy?
is better esteemed than I am. I beseech your lordship in
the way of charity, either cause my authority to take effect,
or else let me return home again unto the cloister. When
that I was at the Avorst, 1 was in better case than I am
now, Avhat with my Lord Deputy, the Bishop of Meath,
and the pecuniose Prior of Kilmainham (Rawson), God
send remedy, Avho ever have your lordship in his safe
tuition. At Dubhn, the 20th of May.
" Your lordship may give credit unto this bearer, for he Difference be-
is my chaplain, I have committed now of late into ward bishop of Dubun
the Bishop of Meath's suffragan, which in his sermon ^^fh"''"^ "^
praj'ed, first for the Bishop of Rome, then for the emperor,
and at last for the king's grace, saying : — ' I pray God, be
never depart this world, until that he hath made amends.'
What shall a man think of the bishop that hath such a
suffragan ? HoAvbeit, I doubt not but that he shall be dis
charged ; ask, and nought believe.
{Signed.) " Geoegius Dublin."
{Superscribed.)
" To the Right Honourable and my most singular
good Lord, the Lord Private Seal."
The allusion made in the foregoing letter to
Staples, bishop of Meath, arose from an unhappy
difference which prevailed between the archbishop
and him, caused by certain sermons Avhicli they had
delivered in the preceding Lent, and in which each
was said to have maligned the other, on the evidence
of insufficient, perhaps slanderous, witnesses, of
whom Humfrey was one. Much crimination and its adjustment.
recrimination followed, and hard words were used
on both sides, little creditable in truth to the
Christian profession, or the dignified station of
either. In the end, articles, drawn up by each
party, were sent to the Lord Privy Seal ; but the
dispute seeras to have been adjusted between them

150

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IL

by his interposition, without pronouncing on its
merits.

Visitation of four
counties by the
Privy Council,
December, 1538,

Detailed in a
letter to the
Lord Privy Seal,
Jan. 18, 1539.

On the 12th of December, 1538, the council of
Ireland, but Avithout the Lord Deputy, with whom
they Avere on terms of mutual dissatisfaction and
distrust, addressed to the Lord Privy Seal a letter,
in answer to a communication recently received
from him. The ansAver was signed by Allen, the
lord chancellor; the Archbishop of DubHn; the
Bishop of Meath ; T. Rawson, prior of Kilmainham ;
Brabazon, vice-treasurer; Justice Aylmer; and
three other members of the council : wherein they
say, — " Touching your lordship's advertisement for
the setting forth of the word of God, abolishing of
the Bishop of Rome's usurped authority, and extin
guishing of idolatry, Ave have well begun therein
already, and to our power shall persevere with all
industry and diligence. Beseeching your lordship,
frora time to time, to ascertain us of such devices,
as shall be there executed for that purpose, to the
intent the sarae raay take like eflfect here." And in
pursuance of this assurance, the Lord Chancellor,
Brabazon, and Aylraer, accorapanied by the arch
bishop, repaired, in the vacant time about Christmas,
into " the four shires above the Barrow," namely,
CarloAV, Wexford, Waterford, and Tipperary, for the
several ecclesiastical purposes above enumerated, as
well as for " the keeping of sessions, and redress of
the people's complaints." An ample detail of all
their proceedings is given to the Lord Privy Seal, in
rather a voluminous letter from Clonmell, January
the 18th, 1539 ; to be found, as well as the pre
ceding, ill the State Papers, vol. iii., part 3, pp. 108
— 116. Omitting the civil affairs Avhich employed

Sec.III.] KING HENRY VIII. 151
them, I extract the following account of their
operations, as connected with the Church.
They resorted first to Carlagh, Avhere the Lord
James Butler kept his Christmas : and being there
very well entertained, from thence they Avent to
Kilkenny, Avhere they Avere no less entertained by
the Earl of Ormonde. There, on New Year's Day, preaching of
the Archbishop of Dublin preached the Avord of God, Bro« ne at kh-
having very good audience, publishing the king's
said injunctions, and the king's translation of the
Pater Noster, Ave Maria, the Articles of Faith, and
Ten Comraandraents, in English: divers papers
whereof they delivered to the bishop, and other pre
lates of the diocese, coraraanding thera to do the
like through all their jurisdictions.
The Saturday following they repaired to Ross. AtRoss;
There, the morn after, the archbishop preached :
which done, that night they went to Wexford, where Atwe.xford;
the archbishop preached on the Epiphany Day,
having a great audience, publishing the said injunc
tions, and doing all things there as they did at Kil
kenny. The Saturday following the Epiphany they came AtAVaterford;
to Waterford, where the mayor and his brethren,
during their abode, both well entertained thera, and
used themselves obediently, in conforming them
selves to their orders and directions. There the
Sunday my Lord of Dublin preached, having a very
great audience; where, also, they published the
king's said injunctions, and the residue of his plea
sure likewise, as they did in Kilkenny, Ross, and
Wexford. There four felons were executed, accom
panied with another thief, a friar ; whom, araong the
residue, they comraanded to be hanged in his habit,
and so to remain upon the gallows, for a mirror to
all*other_his brethren to live truly.

]52

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. il

At Clonmell.

Oath of Bupre-
macy taken by
two archbishops
and eight bi
shops.

At the writing of the letter they were at Clon
mell, where, on the Sunday, the Archbishop of
Dublin was to preach, likeAvise as he did in other
places before mentioned, in the presence of all the
bishops of Munster; "who, upon our command
ment," it is observed, " be repaired hither for the
most part already; and, or they depart, they shall
be sworn to the supremacy of the king, and against
the Bishop of Rome."
The letter concludes with a desire, " that it may
please his lordship, by his next letters, to give thanks
to my Lord of Dublin for his jjains and diligence he
hath used in this journey with us, in the setting
forth of the word of God." And in another letter of
February the Sth, written after they returned to
Dublin, and signed by the archbishop, as well as his
three companions, it is reported : — "At Clonmell Avas
with us two archbishops and eight bishops, in whose
presence ray Lord of Dublin preached, in advancing
the king's supreraacy, and the extinguishment of the
Bishop of Rome. And, his sermon finished, all the
said bishops, in all the open audience, took the oath
mentioned in the Acts of Parliament, both touching
the king's succession and supremacy, before me, the
king's chancellor; and divers others there present
did the like."

Archblshop
Browne's com
plaint ofthe
Lord Deputy,
for seizing his
house and fur
niture.

A letter from the Archbishop to the Lord Privy
Seal, about a Aveek after the preceding, complains
that, during his absence in the parts of Munster,
" the Lord Deputy had repaired to Dublin, and there
entered, not only into his place of Saint Pulcars,
but also did take, and was still using, such his
household stuff, as his said house Avas furnished
withal, not only to his great hindrance, but also, on

Sec, 111,1 KING HENRY VIII. 153
his part, the debilitating of the Avord of God, aaIucIi
grieved him full sore. Nevertheless he did Avhat
he might in accoraplishing his duty ; trusting that
Lord Crorawell, when opportunity of time should
serve, would obtain the king's grace's letters to the
said deputy, for the restorance of his said house."
Much of this letter is occupied in commendation
of the Lord Chancellor Allen, and in complaints of
the Lord Deputy. But Avhat is more important to
our subject is the concluding paragraph, in which
he says, "At such season as your lordship's pleasure his purpose of
shall be to send hither authority ad causas ecclesia.s- distHcfs^wthl
ticas, God willing, I intend to travel the country as ^" "'*'"'
far as any English is to be understanded ; and
where, as I may not be understanded, I have pro
vided a suflTragan, naraed Doctor Nangle, bishop of
Clonfert, who is not only aa'oII learned, but also a
right honest raan, and undoubtedly Avill set forth as
well the word of God as our prince's causes, in the
Irish tongue, to the discharge, I trust, of ray con
science. Which said bishop was promoted to the Expulsion of
said benefice, by the king's majesty and you ; and, '"""^
by comraandment of the king's highness, and your
good lordship, by rae consecrated ; although as now
he is expulsed, and a Rorae runner, who carae in by
provision, sujiported in the sarae by one M'Williara,
a naughty traitorous person, governor of those parts,
to whom the said Doctor Nangle, my suffragan,
showed the king's broad seal, for justifying of his
authority, which the said M'Williara little esteeraed, TheLordDe-
but threw it away and vilipended the same. Not- of'p^opi*''^™''''^
withstanding that, my lord deputy Avill see no
redress, for that his lordship is so affectioned to the
said M'Williara, although his lordship had the king's
highness letters in the favour of my said suflfragan.

bishops.

154 THE REIGN OF [Ch, II,
Nevertheless his lordship did a greater enterprise
His deposition of than that, in Obrenes country. He there deposed
a bishop. _ _ ,
a bishop, which AA^as likeAvise promoted by the king s
highness ; which bishop Avas at Clonmell at our last
journey, and there in presence of the Lord Chan
cellor, Lord Treasurer, Master Sub-Treasurer, and
me, declared unto us the truth thereof And, for
as much as we could perceive, he was a right fatherly
person; and he, that the Lord Deputy hath now
promoted to the sarae, is a gray friar, one of the
holy confessors of the late Garrantynes, even as rank
a traditor as ever they Avere."
What Avas the issue of the intention above
declared, does not appear ; nor what was the result
of the reraonstrance in favour of Bishop Nangle.
Conjectme as to Tlio doposod blsliop was possibly Dominick Tirrey,
bishop. who had been raised to the See of Cork and Cloyne,
by the king's mandate in 1538, and Avas a favourer
of the Reformation. Sir James Ware, however,
does not notice his deposition, nor any Papal inter
ference with him so early as 1538, though he speaks
of the Pope's appointment of a Franciscan friar in
1540, which, however. Bishop Tirrey successfully
resisted". " Wake's Bishops, p. 564.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 155

Section IV.
Dissolution of Monasteries. Ineffectual recommendation for
some to be continued. Twenty-four of the higher class
suppressed. Letters patents, ordering inquiry concerning
Images and Reliques, and other monastich property.
Provision for Parish Churches deprived of Divine Ser
vice. King of England declared by Parliament King,
instead of Lord, of Ireland. Effect of King's supretnacy
in nomitiaiion to Bishopricks. Provision for improve
ment of Religion. Death of Archbishop Cromer. Dowdall
appointed by the King to succeed him. Death of King
Henry the Eighth. Effect of his reign on the Irish Church.
Meanwhile the dissolution of the raonasteries. Dissolution of
,.,,., - ,. ., monasteries.
which had been commenced at an earlier period,
was vigorously prosecuted, and effected to a large
extent. During his occupancy of the see of Dublin, about its oommence-
the year 1528, Archbishop Alan had been one of
Cardinal Wolsey's instruments in procuring the dis
solution of forty of the lesser monasteries '. Subse
quently other abbeys and religious houses had been
suppressed, and their property given to other persons
by the king's letters patent, or vested in the crown
by Act of Parliament, the provision of a yearly
pension being made for their respective chief go
vernors ^
Thus in the Loftus MS., Marsh's Library, under ana progress,
1536, it is stated, that " this year the religious
houses and monasteries in Ireland were granted to
the king, by the authority of parliaraent, to the
nuraber of three hundred and seventy : the yearly
value whereof amounted to 32,000(?., and their
' Ware's Bishops, p. 347.
' Irish. Stat, %Q Hepry VJII,, c. 16.

166

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

1537.

InefFectuul re-
comincnd ation
for the preserva
tion of some reli
gious houses.

moveables Avere rated at 100,000/." HoAvever this
be, it is certain that, in 1537, as appears from a
Commissions for letter to tlio Lord Privy Seal, Crorawell, from the
their suppres- .^_. ^^
Lord Deputy, and Brabazon the Vice Ireasurer',
by virtue of a comraission under the great seal of
England, and according to the king's pleasure, the
Irish goA^ernment had then lately suppressed eight
abbeys, naraed in the coraraission, and had effected
the assurance to the king of the lands and posses
sions forraeriy appertaining to them. And, in 1538,
a re2:)ort was made of a commission for the suppres
sion of all abbeys, which called forth a recommenda
tion from the Lord Deputy and council, that " six
houses should stand and continue, changing their
clothing and rule in such sort and order, as the
king's grace should will them : Avhich are named
St. Mary Abbey, adjoining to Dublin, a house of
white monks; Christ's Church, a house of canons,
situate in the midst of the city of Dublin; the
nunnery of Grace Dieu, in the county of Dublin;
Connal, in the county of Kildare ; Kenlys and Gere-
pout, in the county of Kilkenny. For in those
houses commonly, and other such like, in default
of common inns, which are not in this land, the
king's deputy, and all other his grace's council and
officers, also Irishmen, and others resorting to the
king's deputy in their quarters, is and hath been
most coraraonly lodged at the costs of the said
houses. Also in them young men and children,
both gentlemen children, and other, both of man
kind and Avomenkind, be brought up in virtue,
learning, and in the English tongue, and behaviour,
to the great charges of the said houses ; that is to
say, the womenkind of the Avhole Englishry of this
" State Papers, vol, ii, part iii, p. 438.

Their alleged
advantages.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 157
land, for the more part, in the said nunnery, and the
mankind in the other said houses. And in the said
house of St. Mary Abbey hath been the common
resort of all such of reputation, as haA'e repaired
hither out of England. And in Christ's Church,
parliaments, councils, and the coraraon resort, in
term time, for definitions of matters by judges and
learned men, is, for the raost part, used 
For AA-bich causes, and others raoved and reasoned
amongst the council, it vA-as thought, the king's most
gracious pleasure standing thereAA'ith, more for the
comraon Aveal of this land, and the king's honour
and profit, that the said six houses, changing their
habits and rules, after such sort as shall jdease the
king's majesty, should stand, than the profits that
should to the king's grace grow by their suppres-
sion^" A p)etition to the same effect, relative to their Petition from st.
1 iTTT-k.rNiTi Mary's Abbey.
own house, was sent to the Lord Privy Seal by the
abbot and convent of St. Mary, pleading, araongst
other things, that " verily they were but stewards
and purveyors to other raen's uses, for the king's
honour: keeping hospitality, and raany poor men,
scholars, and orphans^"
But no concession appears to have been made to
this recommendation and petition. Accordingly, we
find raost of the superiors of the houses just enurae
rated in the list of those abbots and priors, Avho upon
assurance of pensions during their respective lives,
as provided by the late Act of Parliaraent, began General
now to surrender their religious houses to the king, tor
The number of those surrendered Avas very great;
and it would be tedious to particularise them : but,
* State Papers, voL iii, part iii, p, ISO. ' /},, p. 142.

surren
djr of monas-
ies.

158

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Twenty-four of
the higher order
suppressed. 1539.

besides others of inferior note, a catalogue is here
annexed of no less than twenty-four monasteries of
a higher class, which are recorded to have been sup
pressed in 1539 ; and of which the fourteen abbots
and ten priors were lords of parliament, and entitled
to a seat and suffrage amongst the spiritual peers'.
On this occasion, the prior and convent of the Holy
Trinity, in Dublin, were converted and changed, as
expressed by the charter, into a dean and chapter;
the noAv foundation, which has been since known by
the name of Christ Church, being confirmed by the
king in possession of the ancient estates and immu
nities ^
The following is a list of the governors of religi
ous houses, AA'hose abbeys and priories were sup
pressed, as above stated. The Abbots of

Mellifont,
St, Thomas' Abbey, near
Dublin,
St. Mary Abbey, near Dublin,
Baltinglas,s,
Jeripont, Tintern, in the county of
Wexford,
Douske,Tracton, in the county of
Cork,

Dunbrody,
Mage, alias Nenai, in the
county of Limerick,
Wony, alias Wethney, same
county,
Rossglass, alias IMonaster-
evan,
Bectif,Rathto, in the county of
Kerry.

The Priors of

St. John of Jerusalem,
Christ's Church, Dublin,
St. Peter's, near Trim,
Conal, Kells in Ossory, Kenlis,

St. Patrick's, in Down,
All Saints', near Dublin,
Athassel,Killagh,St. Mary, in Louth.

° Cox, Hist., i. 260.
' Ware's Annals. Archdall's Monas. p. 169.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 159
Of the abbeys here named, all belonged to the orders to which
y-H, • 1 ^ n c^ mi these abbeys and
Cistercian order, except that ot St. Ihomas, near pnoriesbeiongcd.
Dublin, and that of Rathto, or Rattoo, which belonged
respectively to the orders of St. Victor, and of
Aroacia. All the ten priories belonged to the
regular canons of St. Augustin, except that of St.
John of Jerusalem; those of Christ's Church and
All Saints', Dublin, which belonged to the regular
canons of Aroacia ; and that of St. Patrick, Down,
which belonged to the Benedictines.
If, however, a voluntary surrender of a monastery compulsorymeanssometimes
was refused, compulsory raeans appear to have been resorted to.
enforced against the recusant. Thus, when Manus
O'Fihily, the last abbot of St. JNIary's, Thurles, would
not surrender, he was carried a prisoner to Dublin,
where he suffered a long confinement ^
Still an entire dissolution ofthese establishments Dissolution not
universal.
was not eflfected at the present time. For so we
are informed by Sir John Davies, who, in his account
of Ireland, written in the reign of King Jaraes the
First, reraarks, that "the abbaies and religious
houses in Tirone, Tirconnell, and Ferraanagh, though
they were dissolved in the 33rd year of King Henry
the Eighth, were never surveyed nor reduced into
charge, but were continually possest by the reli
gious persons, until his majesty, that now is, carae
to the crown °."
On the Ord of February, in the 30th year of the Letters patents
,, ,. , p TT-ii-f^/-,i for an investiga-
king, being the year of our Lord 1539, letters patents tion concerning
under the privy seal were issued to William Braba- reuques.
zon, sub-treasurer of Ireland, together with John
Aleyn, chancellor ; George, archbishop of Dublin ;
Robert Cowley, master of the rolls; and Thomas
Cusak, Esq., appointing, araongst other things, " that
= Grose's Irish Antiq,, ii, 86, ^ Edit, 1747, p, 263.

160 THE REIGN OF [Ch. II.
they should investigate, inquire, and search out,
Avhere, within the said land of Ireland, there Avere
any notable images or reliques, at Avhich the simple
people of the said lord the king were wont super
stitiously to meet together ; and wandering as on
pilgrimage, to walk and stray about them, or other
wise to kiss, lick, or honour them, contrary to the
honour of God ; and that they should break in
pieces, deform, and bear away the sarae : and thus
with all things pertaining, annexed, and adjoined
thereto, they should utterly abolish thera, so that no
fooleries of this kind raight thenceforth for ever be
in use in the said land or dominion of the aforesaid
lord the king'"."
The comraission also directed, with respect to
such monasteries and religious houses, as were
willingly surrendered into the hands of the king,
and thereupon dissolved, that the commissioners
should take for the king's use and possession all
goods, moveable things, and chattels, lands, and
revenues thereof; and sell and alienate the same,
except gold and silver plate, jewels, princij^al orna
ments, lead, and bells ; and from the proceeds, and
also frora the revenues of the said monasteries and
houses, if the goods and moveables thereof were
insuflftcient, should pay all just debts, and all other
reasonable charges, incidental to the said monasteries
or religious houses. It also gave authority to the
coraraissioners, to allow the chief governors and
heads of the said houses such portion of the things
aforesaid, as raight be fitting for their rank, and
appear convenient in the commissioners' discretion.
And it directed thera to provide for the sufficient
and secure keeping of the jewels and other move-
'" Publiek Records of Ireland, 1810—181.5, PI, VI, No, 3.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VHI. 161
ables in their custody, to the use and behoof of the
said lord the king.
In the Record OflSce, Custom-house Buildings, rou in Record
Dublin, is preserved a roll, which contains the fore
going coraraission, and, subjoined to it, the account
rendered by the commissioners of the execution of
their trust. By the kindness of Mr. Hardiuge, the
gentleman who has the official charge of this un
published document, I have been very obligingly
furnished with a translation of it, and am thus
enabled to state the following particulars of the
commissioners' inquiry.
The roll contains three distinct accounts, made commissioners'
^ __,. . T* , . n 1 account contain-
by Sir William Brabazon, in pursuance of the com- cdiutherou.
mission directed to him and the other commis
sioners. The first account gives a detail of the sum of prico of property
326/. 2s. lid., returned by the coraraissioners in cat™edra\L'd'
form following : " for the price of divers pieces of ^'"'" " "' '^^'
gold and silver in mass and bullion, and also of
certain precious stones set in gold and silver, and of
silver ornaments and other things upon divers images,
pictures, and reliques, in the late monasteries, priories,
cathedral and parish churches, and other places,
within said land of Ireland under-written lately
existing, broken and destroyed, and by said commis
sioners, by virtue of the commission of the lord the
king aforesaid, into the hands of the lord the king
taken, and appraised, and by the before-recited title
sold." Of the thirty-five articles, which comprise
this account, about six or seven are specified as the
price of property belonging to religious houses,
araounting to about 130/. ; three, of property belong
ing to the cathedral churches of St. Patrick, Dublin,
of Leoghlin, and of Ferns, amounting to 38/, 3*. 8d. ;
M

162

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Property in
abbeys, priories,
and hospitals.

Property in
friaries.

Total amount.

and the reraainder araounting to about 160/,, as the
price of property belonging to parish churches and
chapels. One article, without naraing any place,
specifies 20/., as being "the price of 1,000 lbs.
weight of wax, manufactured into candles, tapers,
iraages, and pictures."
The same account also details by name thirty-
nine monasteries, abbeys, priories, and hospitals, out
of which arose a sum of 1710/. 2s., "the price of
divers vases, jewels, and ornaments of gold and
silver, and bells, and the utensils and household
stuff" of superstitious buildings, and other goods and
chattels." Whilst some of the articles here enume
rated did not exceed a few pounds, and were as low
even as three, two, or one, others were of consider
able magnitude : for example, the price of the pro
perty found in the monastery of Mellyfounte was
141/. 7s. 3d. ; in the monastery of Kells was
191/. 1*. 8d.; in the abbey of the Blessed Virgin
at Trim was 186/. 15^. 2d., besides 40/., accounted
for in the preceding list ; and in the monastery of
the Blessed Virgin, near Dublin, was 385/. 17*. 8d,,
besides 21/. 2s. Qd. also before accounted for.
The same account further details by name thirty-
seven houses of brothers or friars, out of which arose
a sum of 487/. 16*. 8^d., being the price of property
similar to the foregoing, and varying in the several
houses, from 11. in the house of the Carmelites at
Kildare, to 67/. 17s. 5d. in that of the Dominicans
at Kilkenny. The sum total of this first account was
2544/. 1*. 7^d. A second and a third account
follow, consisting of the like particulars, to the
amount respectively of 35/. 11*. and 130/. 2s. dd.:
in all, 2709/. 14*. 9^d.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 163
This is the Avhole araount of the property seized, no detail of
as returned by the coraraissioners, who hoAvever give
no detail of the property, nor coraraunicate any
inforraation of its nature, other than by the general
terms above reported: except that, in the first list,
an account is rendered of 3/. 7*. 6d,, "for the price
of divers silver or holy crosses, in the late abbeys of
Kilcooley and Innislannagh ;" and elsewhere notice
is taken of sundry bells, appertaining to the dif
ferent monasteries, which were committed to the
custody of various persons, named in the account,
who were to render an account of the sarae.
Araongst these the following entry occurs : — " Nor
do they " (the said accountants) " render any price
for a bell, to the late house of brothers of Clane, at
the time of the dissolution, appertaining, inasmuch
as said bell came into the hands of Lord Leonard
Gray, late deputy of the lord the King of his land of
Ireland aforesaid, so that no produce in respect
thereof came to the hands of said accountants, as
they say upon their oaths."
A detail of the property might have presented images and
.,1 . . ~ ,. • Jl reUquesnot
US witn some curious information concerning those specified in
" notable images and reliques," the objects of the
" superstitious reverence of the simple people of the
lord the king," the investigation of which was one
special object of the commission. These no doubt
were numerous. But it is most probable, that very
few of the former were of any more valuable mate
rial than wood, stone, or composition ; in which case
they were broken in pieces, and destroyed by the
express orders of the king's commission : if of gold
or silver, they would likewise be broken and
defaced, and then sold as " gold and silver in mass."
As to the reliques, they also would probably be how disposed oi,
M 2

164 THE REIGN OP [[Ch. II.
destroyed; or, if valuable, be disposed of in the
same raanner as the iraages.
It should be observed, that the comraission, of
Avhich the above account has been given, appears to
have been issued in pursuance of the act of the
28th of King Henry the Eighth, chap. 16; Avhich,
whilst it invested the possessions of the monasteries
therein recited in the king for the publiek use,
enacted also, that "the king's highness should have
and enjoy to his own proper use all such ornaments,
jeAvels, goods, cattails, and debts, Avhich appertaineth
or belongeth to any of the chief governors of the
said monasteries or religious houses, in the right of
the said monasteries or religious houses." And the
foregoing report of the commissioners is a return of
an iuA^entory and sale of the chattels, reserved by
this Act of Parliament for " the king's oavu proper
use " specially : the reason of the commissioners
taking upon themselves so to sell being expressed
in the account, naraelj^ " the great need of the king
iu bis Avars Avitli the Earl of Desmond and others,"
and the sale being made Avith the consent of the
privy council.
It should be observed, also, that the account
includes the ornaments and other possessions, not
only of the monasteries dissolved under the aforesaid
act of the 28th of King Henry the Eighth, but of
those likewise dissolved under the act of the 33rd,
chap. 5 : consequently it embraces a general collec
tion of such chattels of most, if not of all, of the
monasteries, and appears therefore to be a complete
account, so far as regards the ornaments and other
things, of which an exception Avas made in favour of
the king.
Provision for ¦ The dissolutlou of several religious houses, to

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 165

which parish churches had been appropriated, having parish churches
1 .. ,. .,1 . n ,^ connected with
caused an interruption in the service of the cures, them.
which had been served by members of the commu
nity, whereto they had been appropriated, in 1542
an act Avas passed for empoAvering the Lord Deputy,
the Lord Chancellor, the Vice-Treasurer, the Chief
Justice, and other persons of high official and legal
stations, to erect and incorporate a vicarage in each
of the several parish churches, which had been
appropriated to religious houses dissolved, having no
vicar endoAved": a provision, Avhich eventually
proved very incommensurate with the evil. Mean
while, in 1540, a commission had been issued, for
granting annual stipends to the monks of the sup
pressed abbeys".
In the sarae year, 1542, an act was passed, that Kings of Eng-
the King of England should in future bear the name Kmgs of Mand.
of king, instead of lord, of Ireland, which had been
previously his title": an act, which, whilst it was
especially pleasing to the king, Avas welcomed also
with singular demonstrations of joy in Dublin, as
one of great publiek advantage. And " its publica
tion Avas celebrated with raeraorable solemnity in
St. Patrick's cathedral the following Sunday, in the
presence of the Lord Deputy, the Earls of Orraonde
and Desmond, and others of the nobility, in their
parliament robes, and of several of the bishops and
clergy, Avhere a solemn mass was performed by the proclamation of
Archbishop of Dublin ; and after the raass, the act p'Ttrlckl" *''
Avas proclairaed iu presence of the asserably, and Te
Deum sung with great joy and gladness to all men. p„biick rejoio-
The same Sunday, great bonfires were made in the occasion."^
" Ir. Stat. 33 Hen. VIII. c. 14. '^ Ware's Annals, p. 103.
" Ir. Stat. 33 Hen. VIII. c. 1,

166

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Tlie cause of
them.

Motives to this

city, wine set in the streets, great feasting in their
houses, with a goodly sort of guns"." To give more
cause for rejoicing, the Lord Deputy and council
thought it good, that all prisoners, not confined for
debt, or for any very heinous crime, should be set at
liberty. And the king himself issued a proclamation
for a general pardon.
The cause of this exultation was, that, though it
Avas manifest, as the act declares, that the Kings of
England had, by the name of Lords of Ireland,
possessed all manner of "kingly jurisdiction, power,
pre-eminence, and authority royal, belonging or ap
pertaining to the royal estate and majesty of a
king ;" yet occasion had been taken upon this diffe
rence of names to found a supposed difference of
authority, and to seduce the inhabitants of this
portion of the king's dominions from showing that
obedience to his person and laws, which Avas accord
ing to tlieir allegiance and bounden duties.
This recognition of the supreme dominion of the
king by his royal title had been recoraraended to the
king's commissioners in 1537, by Allen, master of
the rolls, as recorded in the State Papers '^ on the
special ground, that " Irishmen of long continuance
have supposed the royal estate of this land to con
sist in the Bishop of Rome for the time being, and
the lordship of the Kings of England here to be but
a governance under the obedience of the same, which
causeth them to have more respect of due subjection
unto the said bishop, than to our sovereign lord."
The same consideration had been urged upon the
Lord Deputy Saintleger, both personally and in
writing, by Staples, bishop of Meath, in 1538, " as

Cox, i. 270. History of Dublin, i, 193.
" Vol. ii. part iii. p. 480.

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 167
doubting not, in short time, to have all Ireland then
SAVorn to due obedience, the lack Avhereof, in my
opinion, doth rauch hinder their d,.ties to be done'°."
And Sir Anthony Saintleger being noAv lord
deputy, for Lord Gray had been recalled early in
1540, the sarae recommendation was submitted by
him and the council to the king's consideration the
same year, as a recognition, to Avhich all the nobility
and other inhabitants of the land would agree, and
which Avould cause those of the Irishry raore gladly
to obey his raajesty, on account of tbeir foolish
opinion, that the Bishop of Rorae should be King of
Ireland. The act was accordingly passed, to the great instructions
° •' -^ ° ^ attcndmgita
satisfaction of the kingdora. The proclaraation of it proclamationin Munster.
in every shire of Ireland was one of its enactments. Juiy,i542.
But in Munster particularly, the proclamation of it
was accorapanied by certain special ordinances,
founded on the avowed state of general incivilization,
lawlessness, and insubordination, prevalent in that
part of the kingdora ; and bearing raelancholy testi
raony to the depressed condition of religion, and to
the necessity of instant improvement: for such is
the obvious inference frora such instructions as
these, " That bishops raay exercise their jurisdiction
in their diocese, according to the law of God and the
canons ;" " that laymen nor boys be not adraitted to
ecclesiastical preferments, and that such as be in
already, shall be imraediately deprived ;" and " that
all those who have dignities or benefices ecclesiasti
cal, shall take orders and reside "."
The legal estabUshraent of the king's supreraacy Kong'ssupre-
.... 1 , . . macy shown in
in matters ecclesiastical was now operating in a very appomtment to
vacant bishop-
'« Slcite Papers, vol. ui. p. 30. » Cox, i. 270. "<"^'''

168 THE REIGN OF [Cii. II.
important department, and producing a sensible eflfect
on the appointment to vacant bishopricks.
Before this period, such appointments had been
of late made by papal nomination, the temporalties
of the see being restored to the new bishop by the
king's Avrit. But now the appointment proceeded
from the croAA^n; and if, as appears in a few cases, it
is referred to a provision or provisional bull of the
Pope, the nomination was rendered valid by the con
firmation of the king, consequent on " the oath of
allegiance being taken," or " homage being done,"
or " submission being raade and fealty sworn" to the
king by the individual norainated '°.
From 1636 to Thus in the interval of ten or eleven years, which
elapsed between the enactment of the king's supre
macy in 1536, and his demise in 1547, of about thir
teen vacancies, which are recorded as having occurred
in sees where Sir James Ware has ascertained the
Circumstancesof successlou, tho appoiutmeiits to Clonmacnoise in 1539,
thePopo, to Down and Connor, and to Clonfert, in 1541, and
to Clogher in 1542, appear to have been made " by
provision of Pope Paul the Third," and to have been
confirmed by King Henry the Eighth, on submission
being formally plighted ; agreeably to which, in his
letter from Greenwich, October 8th, 1542, the king
expresses his will in this manner concerning Clogher;
" Ye shall understand that we have taken the sub
mission of the Bishop of Clogher, and caused our
council to receive of hira his bulls and his oath here,
which he yielded unto us, and we have given also
unto him a new grant of the same, and 40/. in
andbytheking. luouey'"." Ou tho other hand, the appointments to
Tuam, to Cork and Cloyne, and to Clonfert, in 1536,
" Ware's Bishops, pp. 174, 187, 206, 642.
'" Rot. Can., 32, 33, Hen, VIII,

Sec, IV.] KING HENRY VIII, 160
to Kildare in 1540, to Ardagh in 1541, to Arraagh
and to Eraly in 1543, to Elphin in 1544, and to Kil
laloe in 1546, AA^ere priraarily and entirely of the
king's noraination and donation.
Particularly as to the cases of Eraly and Elphin :
in the letter frora GreeuAvich, October Sth, 1542,
the king directs to elect and consecrate ^neas
O'Hifernan, " and to take his oath and horaa,ge
according to the rainute, which you shall receive
herewith ; which oath, our pleasure is, that all bishops,
to be hereafter raade in that our realra of Ireland,
shall make unto us." The oath foUoAvs upon the
roll*". And with respect to Elphin, the king, Henry o.ath of wshops
VIIL, sent his conge d'elire to the dean and chapter "" ™->»''"^"°°
of that cathedral, to choose Conatius O'Shyagal
bishop. But they refusing to comply Avith the king's
mandate, he directed a writ to Christopher, arch
bishoj) of Tuam, to admit, institute, consecrate, and
invest him therein, March 23, 1545", jjursuant to
letters under the privy seal ¦ to the Lord Deputy
Saintleger, Westminster, July 1, 1544, " AAdlling that
by virtue thereof, as well you our said deputy shall
make, or cause to be made, in our narae, all such
writings, as in such case be requisite, for the assu
rance of the said Conatius O'Shyagal to the same
bishoprick, aud also to take his oath according to our
laws in that behalf ordained."
In certain instances, indeed, there Avere rival rcsuu of^ivai
appointments by the Pope, as for example, to Cork the Pop"™""''
and Cloyne in 1536, to Clonfert in the same year, to
Kildare in 1540, and to Armagh in 1542 ; but these
were rejected and rendered null by the king's autho
rity, and the bishops of the royal nomination were
seated in their respective sees with the exception of
•'" Rot. de Annis, 32, S3, Hen. VIII. ^i /j^ gg^ jj^^^^ ^UI

170 THE REIGN OF [Ch. II.
Bemarkabie ex- Clonfort, " where the king's majjesty preferred one
cephon 0 cion- .^^ -Jangle to the bishoprick, but one Rowland Burke
purchased bulls from the Bishop of Rome, whereby
he expulsed the king's presentee. Whereupon, as I
heard say," observes Robert Cowley in a letter to
Lord Crorawell, " the king's highness wrote to the
Lord Deputy to prosecute the provisor, and to see
the king's presentee restored to his possession.
Nothing was executed of the king's pleasure in that
behalf, whereby general recourse is daily to Rome by
religious men of Irish nation, and papisticals; so
that where, in tirae past, they repaired to the king's
highness, to obtain his grace's determination, they go
immediately to Rorae, and obtain what they pursue,
so that there be now lately five bishops in Ireland by
the Bishop of Rorae's authority, besides abbots and
priors. And never so much suit from Ireland as now
to Rome, all by permission and sufferance, without
any prosecuting."
However, with respect to this jiarticular case of
Clonfert, Burke, who had been advanced to the see
by the Pope's bull, afterwards submitted and SAVore
fealty to the king, and obtained the royal assent in
October, 1541, the Pope's bull having been first can
celled. With respect to the other bishops by the
Pope^s authority, if appointed since the act for the
king's supremacy, they must have been those already
enumerated, of Clonmacnois, Down and Connor, and
Clogher, as having subsequently made submission
and taken the oath to the kins'.
Of two or three other sees, which were vacant
during the before-mentioned period, between 1536
and 1547, but in which the circumstances of the suc-
ces,sion have not been distinctly recorded, it is to be
presumed with a high degree of probability, that the

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 171
appointment was made exclusively by the king, as to
Ferns in 1539, and to Ross in 1544. Kilmore is pccunar condi-
the only see which can be positively alleged as form- cmo of Kiimoro.
ing an exception to the general rule ; of which
Harris has stated it to be " observable that lying in
an unsettled and tumultuous country, it had been
much neglected by the crown of England ; and that
even after the Reformation, the bishops of it suc
ceeded either by usurpation or by papal authority '^"
And from this there Avas no deviation till 1585, in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
MeauAvhile a convincing example of the practical Remarkawe case
effect of the transfer of the supreraacy frora the the Pope's nomi-
Pope to the king, and of the consequent substitu
tion of the royal instead of the papal patronage, is
furnished by the life of a certain individual. In
1521, on a vacancy in the see of Limerick, King
Henry the Eighth felt great anxiety, and laboured
earnestly, in stead of the deceased prelate, to intro
duce Walter Wellesley or Wesley, for whora he
entertained a high regard. But the king's favourite
was rejected, and another person proraoted by the
Pope. Ten years after, naraely, in 1531, Wellesley
obtained the See of Kildare by the provision of the
Pope, Cleraent the Eighth, at the instance of the
king, who again exerted himself for his advance
ment. On Bishop Wellesley's death in 1540, by
the like i^roAdsion of the Pope, a successor was nomi
nated ; and as he survived only a few days, a second
received the Pope's nomination. But the king,
having been now declared suprerae head of the
Church of Ireland, rejected the noraination ; and a
successor of his own choice, William Miagh, was
22 Ware's Bishops, p. 230.

172

THE REIGN OF

[Ch.II,

consecrated, and maintained undisturbed possession
of the see"".

Remittance by
the king of a
debt from Arch
bishop Browne.

In 1542, the king having made a grant of cer
tain lands, which in great part belonged to the Arch
bishop of Dublin, but Avhich the archbishop Avas con
tented liberally to release to his majesty, the Lord
Deputy and Council prayed the king to remit to him
a debt of 280/., "in respect of his said conformity,
and that he hath, sithence his repair into this your
realm, sustained great charges in your highness' ser
vice, and carae very poor to his said promotion,
having no manner dilapidations of the goods of his
predecessor; Avhereby he shall not only be the more
able to serve your majesty, and be Avell requited for
his said conformity, but also bind him, according to
his most bounden duty, to pray to Almighty God for
the long preservation of your most royal estate;
otherAvise Ave think the raan shall not be able to pay
your majesty, and live in any honourable estate"."
The king grants The klug grautod the prayer in the archbishop's
fo'r thlArdl-'^ ' favour : " not doubting but he will the better apply
his charge and office, and j^rovide that there may be
some good preachers to instruct and teach the
people in those parts. Willing, therefore, you, our
deputy and council, that you have a special regard
also to this point ; and as you may provide that they
may learn by good and catholick teaching, and the
ministration of justice, to know God's laws and ours
together; Avhich shall daily more and raore frame and
confirm thera in honest living and due obedience, to
their oAvn benefits, and the universal good of the
country"."

for the Arch.
hishop.

''" AVare's Bishops, pp. 510, 389.
State Papers, vol. iii,, part iii,, p, 390. " P., p. 396,

Sec. IV,] KING HENRY VIII. 173
Inthe same year 2", the Lord Deputy and Council Assistance
of Ireland applied to the Privy Council in England h,g°tio cTergy's'
for their assistance in checking an abuse which Avas """''"j^^'!"''"'
prevalent among the Irish clergy. " Being adver
tised that sorae beneficed persons have resort thither,
intending to sue for licences of non-residence, con
trary to the laAvs of this realm, which, if they should
obtain, Avere great hindrance to the coramon Aveal
here; Ave shall, therefore, beseech your good lord
ships to move the king's majesty to stay such suits
for licences of non-residence."
In the same year", araong "certain devices for pianfordisscmi-
tlie reforraation of Ireland," by John Travers, to- tathV th^ """
gether with others for its civil improveraent, we ^'"''Tois.
find the following directed to its spiritual good.
" Whereas the inhabitants of this realm, for the more
part, have of long tirae, and yet hitherto be, igno
rant of the true doctrine of Christ, for lack of preach
ing the same, Avliich hath caused thera to neglect due
obedience to God and the king ; it shall be, for the
remedy hereof, necessary that the Archbishop of
Dublin, my Lord of Meath, and such others as
favour the Gospel, do instruct the Irish bishops of
this realm ; causing thera to relinquish and renounce
all popish or papistical doctrine, aud to set forth sin
cerely, within each of their dioceses, the true word
of God." In the same year^", the king Avrote to the Lord Acts for the con-
Deputy and council, " We think it raeet, that see- '"™''^° ''™' "'
ing we have passed here the act for the continency
of priests, you should in like manner follow, and do
the same there ; or, at the least, upon consideration
of the state of the country, cause such a reasonable
2' State Papers, vol. iii,, part iii,, p. 418. s' lb., 431.
'¦=" P., p, 428,

174

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II,

book to be devised and sent hither for that purpose,
as may be to God's pleasure in the avoiding of that
sin, and to the advancement of the honest name and
fame of our clergy of that realm." By the Enghsh
statute of 31 Henry VIII., c. 14, the incontinency
of priests was made felony ; but by chapter 10 of the
next session, this statute, on account of its severity,
was repealed for the first and second offences; and
the crime was, in the first instance, made punishable
with loss of goods, and, if the offender had more
than one benefice, with the forfeiture of the revenues
of all but one ; the second off'ence subjected him to
the forfeiture of all his revenues ; and the third to
perpetual imprisonment.

Plan for con
verting Christ's
Church into a
free school,
August, 1S42,

The Lord Deputy had devised a scheme, which
he communicated in a letter from himself and the
council to the king, August the 27th, 1542, for
having the perpetual residence of a council in Dub
lin ; and as a house for their residence and their
entertainment, he proposed to appropriate Christ's
Church, which had formerly been a house of regular
canoris, and was lately converted into a cathedral
with a dean and chapter, but which he thought
might be spared for that purpose, as less well en
dowed, and less meet to be preserved and main
tained, than the other cathedral of St. Patrick. Out
of the revenues thus appropriated, a free-school also
was to be founded, " whereof there is great lack in
this land, having never a one within the same ;" and
for maintenance of the church of Christ's Church,
the parishioners of three or four small churches,
nigh adjoining, were to be annexed to the parish of
Christ's Church, and their own churches turned to
some other use, and provision to be thus made for

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 175
preserving and maintaining the building, and for the
necessary supply of ministers. The plan was again
brought forward by the Lord Deputy, and pressed pian again
, . . . f, pressed,
upon the kmg s attention, in a coraraunication of June, 1543.
June the 4th, 1543.
The king, in his answer, adraitted "the device to Kmgnotun-
1 T HIT I, ,, -I favourable to
have a good appearance, and that " some fruit and
benefit might thereby ensue to the realm ;" and he
expressed his pleasure to have a more particular
declaration of the revenues, and of their intended
employraent ; that he might resolve and determine
the matter, as he should think raost expedient.
Further deliberation, however, changed the sen- its failure.
tiraents of the Lord Deputy. The revenues on
investigation proved to be less than had been
imagined. Christ's Church was " the metropolitan
church, in whose narae or title much of the arch
bishop's lands was annexed to the see." The mayor
also and commons of the city, having heard " that
the same was raoved tq be changed from the name
of a college and to be made a parish church, and
that there were no more colleges of the king's new
erection Avithin the whole realra, and that their city
would be totally defaced and disparaged," raade
earnest suit that the said Christ Church raight stand
as it then was. The result was a change in the
purpose of the governraent, and thus Christ Church
retained its character of a cathedral. The whole
particulars may be found in the correspondence
between the two governments ; State Papers, vol. iii.
part iii. pp. 414, 468, 484, 489.
The 15th of March, 1543, died Archbishop Death of Primato
Cromer. Regard being had to the impediments mKu'is.iMs,

176

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Surmises as to
his successor.

Motives to tho
new appoint
ment.

offered by hira to the king's raeasures, it was to be
expected that a raan of different principles would be
selected to succeed hira in the priraacy ; and ac
cordingly that a successor Avould be sent from
England, as on the vacancy of the archbishoprick of
Dublin, eight years before ; or that Archbishop
Browne, who had so diligently and efficiently filled
that vacancy, would be advanced to the superior
dignity of Primate of all Ireland ; or that the station
would be conferred on some other of the actual
prelates, such as Staples, bishop of Meath, or Miagh
of Kildare, or Sanders of Leighlin, or Tirrey of Cork
and Cloyne, who are on record as favourers and
promoters of the Reformation, and of whom Bishop
Staples, in particular, seems to have been distin
guished for his zeal and activity in the promotion of
true religion, and to have enjoyed the king's good
opinion and favour, being employed in several com
missions issued at different times by the crown for
ecclesiastical purposes.
But whether the principles of the future primate
had not yet been disclosed, which indeed is hardly
probable ; or that the animating force, which actuated
the king in the exercise of his ecclesiastical patron
age, had been removed by the fall of Cromwell; or
that the king himself, having succeeded in accom
plishing his projects for his oavu aggrandisement,
cared not for the spiritual iraproveraent of the
Church, and abandoned the cause of the Reformation,
of which he had given indications, not in England
only, by his conduct about " The Six Articles," but
in Ireland by bestowing a special mark of favour and
confidence on Archbishop Cromer, in his appoint
ment, together with the Lord of Louth, as arbitrator

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 177
of such controversies as might arise in Ulster,
on certain subjects specified in the edict ="; a very
different nomination to the primacy uoav took
place. Another person had been recommended for the BaronofDeivin'a
station in 1541, the son of a nobleman, the Lord mended. 1541.
Delvin, who had been Lord Deputy fourteen years
before, possibly in anticipation of an earlier vacancy:
for in an answer of the king to the letters of the
Lord Deputy and council, dated the 21st of February,
in that year, we find, " Where you desire to have a
son of the late Baron of Delvins preferred to the
archbishoprick of Arraachan ; we do consider the
said bishoprick to be there a great and principal
dignity, and therefore before Ave shall deterraine our
pleasure in it, we would be glad to have the party
sent hither, that Ave raight both see hira, and further
knoAA', how he is qualified for such an office : where
upon we shall raore certainly signify our pleasure
unto you in that behalf'"."
In the following year, however, 1542, things were promise of the
changed. For in another letter from the king Ave tooeorgeDow-
read, "We have granted, at your request, to Parson '" ' 1542.
Doudall, both a pension of 20/. sterling, till he shall
be promoted by us to a benefice exceeding that sum,
or enjoy the bishoprick of Armacon, which we have
also granted unto him, when it shall first and next
be vacant""." This grant had been raade on Dow-
dall's voluntary surrender of the Crouched Friary of
Ardee, of which he was the prior'^ Accordingly,
George Dowdall, a native of the county of Louth,
and official to his predecessor Archbishop Cromer,
'^^ Ware's Annals, Hen. VIII., p. 106.
'° State Pajyers, vol, iii, part iii. p. 299. 2' lb., p. 429.
'^'¦^ Archdall, p, 447. N

178

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

And consecra.
tion.

succeeded to the primacy, by the interest of the
His nomination, Lord Doputy, Sir Anthony St. Leger", who had
also procured for hira the guardianship of the spiri
tualties of the archbishoprick during the vacancy, in
which interval a synod had been held of the clergy
of the diocese ; and by the king's mandate, beariiig
1543; date the 28th of Noveraber, 1543, he was in the
early part of the folloAving December consecrated by
Edward Staples, bishop of Meath, and other assistant
bishops : the mandate for his confirmation and con
secration having been directed to Edward, bishop of
Meath ; Cornelius, bishop of Raphoe ; Eugenius,
bishop of Down and Connor; Edmund, bishop of
Kilmore ; Hugh, bishop of Clogher; Florence, bishop
of Clonmacnois; Richard, bishop of Ardagh; and
Thady, suffragan bishop to the Archbishop of Dublin.
Who this " Thady, suffragan bishop to the Arch
bishop of Dublin," raay have been, is by no means
certain. The other seven, named in the mandate,
were suflfragans to the Archbishop of Armagh, in the
sense of diocesan bishops, under that metropolitan.
But in the province of Dublin there was, at that
tirae, no bishop of the name of Thady. It is true,
that on the death of Wellesley, bishop of Kildare, in
1540, a Franciscan friar was, by the Pope's provision,
declared bishop on the 16th of July, but died in a
few days. " Whereupon," as Sir James Ware states ",
" on the 15th of November following, Thady Rey
nolds, doctor of the civil and canon law, was by the
like provision nominated. But the king, (being
noAv declared supreme head ofthe Church of Ireland,)
rejected this election, and advanced William ]\Iiagh
to the bishoprick, and afterwards called him into his
'¦^^ Wake's Bishops, p. 91.
^¦' Rolls, 8G Hen, VIII. «' Ware's Bisliops, p. 390.

Question con
cerning one of
Abp. Dowdall's
consecrators.

Sec, IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 179
privy council of Ireland." In endeavouring to ascer
tain who Avas the individual mentioned in the kiner's
mandate, I have been struck by this identity of
name : and it has occurred to me, as a possible, but
hardly as a probable, case, that in drawing up the
instrument a confusion may have arisen between the
names of him who had been nominated to the see,
and of him who actually occupied it.
It appears, however, more probable, that Thady suffraganwshopa
was suffragan bishop to the Archbishop of Dublin,
in the sense of an assistant. The English statute
of 26 Henry VIII. chap. 14, had " enacted that
every archbishop and bishop of this realm, (of
England,) and elsewhere within the king's domi
nions, being disposed to have any suffragan, shall
name two persons to the king, who shall choose
one." The preamble speaks of such suffragans, as
"having been accustomed to be had within this
realm;" and Dr. BuUingbroke, in his Ecclesiastical
LatJU of Ireland, vol. i. p. 189, remarks upon this,
that " These were the sarae with the ancient chor
episcopi, or bishops of the country; so called by
way of distinction frora the proper bishops of the
city or see. And they were very comraon," he
adds, " in England ; taking their titles frora places
' in partibus infideliura,' or frora places in Avhich,
though there were fixed sees, and they had been
ordained to thera, they could not reraain with safety;
and upon this account we find several Irish bishops,
frora tirae to time, received and acting as suffragans,
under English bishops."
-After this manner, it appears from a letter of Example of one
Archbishop Browne, quoted above, page 153, that, to bishopo/Duh-"
assist him in preaching to the Irish natives, he had
" provided a suffragan, named Dr. Nangle, bishop of
n2

180

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

And under the
Archbiahop of
Armagh.

Archbishop Dow
dall's character.

Clonfert," Avho had been " expulsed" from his OAvn
diocese by a lawless governor of those parts, coun
tenanced by the then Lord Deputy, Lord Gray. Of
this Bishop Nangle, the archbishop afterwards re
peatedly speaks as "his suflTragan." It should seem,
therefore, by no means improbable that he raay have
subsequently had the assistance of another "suffra
gan," besides or instead of Nangle, and that this
Thady may have been the man ; and this probability
is increased by evidence furnished by Sir James
Ware's report, that a Bishop of Ardagh, who suc
ceeded to his see in 1553, had been " before a suf
fragan to Dowdall, archbishop of Armagh""." This
question has been examined somewhat more than on
its own account it might deserve, if it did not appear
to throw some light upon the administration of
ecclesiastical oflSces at this period by means of suf
fragan bishops. As to the noraination of this indi
vidual, in the mandate for the consecration of the
new archbishop, together with seven bishops of the
province of Armagh, and the non-insertion of the
name of the Archbishop of Dublin, Avhilst that of
his suffragan was inserted, the case under both
aspects is reraarkable, but any inquiry in search of
explanation could be answered only by conjecture.
To revert then to the Archbishop of Armagh;
his consecration was solemnized in obedience to the
mandate, by the Bishop of Meath, as the consecrat
ing bishop, with the assistance of some of the other
prelates named in the commission. Archbishop
Dowdall is related to have been a man of gravity
and learning, and a very assiduous preacher, but
withal a most zealous advocate for popery: not
Avithstanding which, he was contented to accept his
''" Ware's Bisliops, p, 255.

iSEC. iv.j KING HENRY VIII. 181
advancement from the king ; and could never suc
ceed in obtaining a provision from Pope Paul the
Third, Avho had conferred the archbishoprick on
Robert Waucop, by others called Venantius, a Scot,
who assisted at the Council of Trent, from 1545 to
1547; and is transmitted by history with the glory
or the shame, of having, about two years before,
been the first to introduce the Jesuits into Ireland,
with the favour and countenance ofthe Pope°'; and
the observing reader, as is well remarked by Cox, in
his history, Avritten in 1689, " will easily perceive
the dismal and horrible effects of that raission, which
hath ever since embroiled Ireland, even to this day'°."
The conduct of Archbishop Dowdall, first in his unsteadiness
. , t, ii» •! 1°^ want of prin-
accepting the primacy from the king, notwithstand- cipie.
ing his attachment to the papacy, and then in seek
ing a nomination frora the Pope, notwithstanding
his acknowledgraent of the king's supreraacy, leaves
hira Avith a character which it were diflScult to vin
dicate from the charge of instability, if not of dis
regard and dereliction of principle, unless indeed in
accordance with the rules of morals which his rival,
the titular primate, had lately introduced into the
kingdora, as raeans of undermining the simplicity
and godly sincerity of the Gospel.
For the present, however, the new primate seems
not to have had much opportunity of manifesting his
Popish predilections by any act directly hostile and
offensive to the advocates of the reformed religion ;
and the only measure attributed to him at this
period is, that in a synod holden by hira in St. Provincial sy-
Peter's Church, Drogheda, June 20, 1545, it was
appointed and ordained, "that the festival of St.
Richardj archbishop of Arraagh, should be cele-
" Ware's Bishops, p. 93. Cox's Hist, i. 272. «" Ibid.

nod, June, 1545.

182

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. II.

Richard Fitz
ralpb.

brated with nine lessons yearly, in crastino Johannis
etPauU^\" that is, the day following the 26th of June.
Canonization of The canouization of the celebrated primate, Richard
Fitzralph, under the designation of " St. Richard of
Arraagh," seems to have been the act of Dowdall
himself: for when, in consequence of the miracles
attributed to Fitzralph after his death, Pope Boni
face the Ninth had issued a commission to certain
prelates for holding an inquiry concerning their
truth, the whole matter was permitted to vanish
away in silence under the commission".
Thus by recognising the saintship of his illustri
ous predecessor, and by appointing a rule for cele
brating his festival, Archbishop Dowdall gave a
convincing testimony of his own religious predilec
tions ; but he appears to have had no occasion for
placing himself in an attitude of resistance to the
Ileformation, as no fresh eflfbrts were raade for its
advancement in the Church of Ireland till after the
year 1546, when the death of King Henry made
way for that youth of blessed memory, his son and
successor King Edward the Sixth.
One of the last acts of King Henry the Eighth
with respect to the Church of Ireland, was a com
mission for the resignation of the opulent cathedral
of St. Patrick, Dublin, and the taking of the lands
and possessions from the dean and chapter. The
chapter at first refused, but soon after they yielded ;
and in January, 1547, the month in which the king
died, the resignation was made by the dean, Edward
Basnet, and the chapter. But these possessions,
having been given to the Exchequer, were restored
by Queen Mary to the Church, in 1554^'.
=» Eeg. Dowdall, p. 89. *« Ware's Bishops, p. 83.
¦" Ware's Annals.

Commission for
the resignation
of St. Patrick's.

Death of the
Idng, January
28, 1547,

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 183
Before, however, Ave take a final leave of King Recapitulation
—.p , . •,, n ^ of chief trans-
Henry s reign, a compendious reference to sorae of actims affecting
. ..1, ,. I'll T It *ho Church of
its principal transactions, Avhich liave been already ireund m King
, /. 1 f. 1 1 , Henry's reign.
passing before us, may be useful as supplying us
Avith a general view at this epoch of the Irish
Church. The establishment of the king's supremacy upon The supremacy.
the ruin of the Pope's was of infinite iraportance
toward future religious iraprovement, inasmuch as
it released the Church from the shackles which
bound her, hand and foot, to the burden of the
Romish corruptions, and must have precluded her
from raaking any progress in the discovery and pro
fession of the truth. Thus far benefit accrued from
this most momentous action of King Henry's reign,
though little perhaps with his good will, at least
toAvard the close of it : for had he been desirous of
effecting a reformation from Popish error, he never
would have placed such a primate as he actually did
at the head of the Irish Church.
Nor was it at all a symptom of good will, that Dissolution of
Avhen he relieved the Church from the impediment
of the monastick institutions, he forbore to provide
thereby for the religious education of her people,
as well as to bestow upon her any secular benefit,
and left her incapacitated for necessary activity, and
beset by difficulties, which were in a great degree
created or augmented by the disappropriation of the
ecclesiastical revenues for his own gratification and
the enrichment of his favourites, and the consign
ment of them for ever to the hands of lay possessors.
The appropriation to himself of the first-fruits and
annual portions of the value of benefices was another
injury which he inflicted on the Church.

monasteries.

184 THE REIGN OF [Ch. II.
Still a progressive iraprovement in spiritual rela
tions was slowly, but perceptibly, making way.
Abolition of In many places, especially in the metropolis of
idolatry. ^.^^ kiugdom, idolatry had been to a great extent
abolished : and the syrabols and objects of idolatry
had been superseded in the churches by the founda
tion, the means, and the sanctions of a purified
worship, which were expressed in the adraission of
an English translation of the Creed, the Lord's
Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, as proper
erabellishments of their walls, and as parts of the
divine service celebrated within them.
Proper principle Tho Form of Prayor, introduced by the arch-
shSorir bishop into his diocese of Dublin, valuable in itself,
was especially useful as setting forth and exempli
fying the principle of Common Prayer, to be con
ducted in the language of the people, and liberated
from anti-Scriptural innovations ; although a further
aj^plication of the principle was needed in adapting
such a form to the circumstances of the Irish popula
tion, and in renouncing the superstitious rites of the
mass, and the invocation of the Virgin Mary.
I am not aware whether the English translation
of the Bible had been hitherto introduced into Ire
land : probably, indeed, it had not ; though on that
subject may arise a question, to which there will be
occasion to advert in the succeeding reign. But it
Preaching of tho IS plaiu that the preaching of the Word of God, as
distinguished from Roraish corruptions, especially
with respect to the proper object of religious trust
and worship, and to the merits of our blessed
Redeemer as the only ground of Christian hope,
had been practised with earnestness by the Arch
bishop of Dublin, the Bishop of Meath, and some
other bishops and clergy, notAvithstanding the obsti-

Sec. IV.] KING HENRY VIII. 185
nacy and perverseness, or the infatuation and reck
lessness, of the majority : and that it had been
preached not inefficaciously appears, not only from
the support given to the archbishop in Dublin, but
from the numerous assemblies which attended his
sermons at Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, and
Clonmell. Whether the tAVo archbishops of Cashel and aucsuons.asto
Tuam, and the eight other southern bishops who
attended at the last toAvn, were themselves imprest
with a conviction of the truth of the Archbishop of
Dublin's preaching, as Avas the case with Tirrey,
bishop of Cork and Cloyne, and Nangle, bishop of
Clonfert : Avhether, on their return to their respective
dioceses, they took measures, and with what success,
for spreading the truth among their clergy and their
people : whether they distributed the copies of the
Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Coraraand
ments in English, which had been committed to
them for that purpose : and whether by such means,
and in pursuance of the statute for the establishment
of parochial schools, under the superintendence aud
dir(!ction of the clergy, any religious instruction was
conveyed to the spiritual edification of the rising
generation : we have, I apprehend, little opportunity
of information. Nor are Ave informed, what was
the issue of Archbishop Browne's intention of
preaching the Gospel in the reraote parts of the
kingdom ; and of employing the aid of a suffragan,
capable of addressing the people in Irish, where the
English language was not understood. In his own
imraediate charge he was undoubtedly assiduous :
and together Avith his, are transmitted with honour
able distinction, as advocates and promoters of the
Reformation, the names of two bishops of his pro^

186 REIGN OP KING HENRY VIII. [Ch. II,
vince, Sanders of Leighlin, and Miagh of Kildare.
In the province of Armagh, Staples, bishop of Meath,
is the only known exception to the episcopal adhe
rents to the Papacy, acting under the influence of
the admonitions and example of the two successive
primates, Cromer and Dowdall.

18/

CHAPTER III.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
KING EDWARD THE SIXTH . . 1547—1553.
GEORGE DOWDALL, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE ..... 1551.
GEORGE BROWNE, ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN,
AND PRIMATE  1551—1553.

Section I.
Slow progress of Reformation in Ireland, Divided senti
ments of the Clerg-y. Exercise of Ecclesiastical patronage.
Order for introducing the English Liturgy. Viceroy
convenes the Bishops atid Clergy. Order resisted by
Primate Doicdall : approved by Archbishop Browne:
carried into effect in Dublin. Sir Anthony Saintleger
recalled, and Sir James Crofts appointed Lord Deputy.
Liturgy the first book printed in Dublin.
The first years of the reign of King Edward the Reformation not
Sixth appear to have produced little effect in the mTheflrltyeLs
religious improveraent of the Church of Ireland. " '"* "'"''¦
In fact we are at a loss for satisfactory documentary
evidence on the subject, and raust be content with
what few particulars we can glean for our informa
tion. Thus in the Loftus MS., Marsh's Library, auestionabie
it is stated, that, " in the year 1549, the mass was cernrngdivme"
put down, and divine service was performed in
English." But more than this I do not find any
account of such an alteration ; and the occurrences,
which will presently be noticed, appear hardly con
sistent with the statement.

188

the REIGN OF

[Ch. Ill,

No parliaments
at this time in
Ireland.

No parliaraent was called during this period;
and no eflforts are recorded to have been made,
either by the English or the Irish government, not
withstanding the zeal and diligence with Avhich the
Reformation was promoted in England, and the
effectual raeans eraployed there in its behalf That
England, the more powerful kingdom, and the seat
of the imperial governraent, should take the lead ia
framing an ecclesiastical systera, wliich should be
the future rule of the two churches, was indeed
natural and reasonable; and itwas probably deemed
the safest, the surest, and the Avisest course, to make
good the cause of the Reforination by the requisite
provisions in that country, where it raet Avith a
ready corapliance and support from the popular
sentiment, before fresh experiments were tried in
Ireland, Avhere they were less likely to be acceptable
either to the clergy or jieople.
The raajority, indeed, of the bishops, as Avell as
c'ie'igy\T Popery, of the luferior clergy, were decidedly attached to
the Popish creed and practice, under the patronage of
Priraate Dowdall. To wean thera from their pre
possessions, and to use them as instruments for
propagating the Reformed faith among their fellow-
countrymen, would have been a raost desirable
consummation. But, much as it was to be desired,
it was as little to be expected. For they were
wrought on by a powerful influence, both at home
and frora abroad; and, although there may have
been araong thera sorae men of learning and intel
lectual improveraent, they may be thought to have
been generally ignorant and illiterate ; Avhilst of the
fond superstition, to which sorae of them Avere
devoted, a particular example' is related in a Bishop
' Ware's Bishops, p, 291 .

Attachment of
the bishops and

Sec.L] KING EDWARD VI. 189
of Derry, who died and was buried at the very
period of which we are now speaking, in the habit i.^o.
of a Franciscan friar, as a passport to heaven. Other
examples of the same idle fancy are recorded of other
bishops of the Irish Church, as occurring at no dis
tant dates, by Sir James Ware ; who, or rather his
continuator Harris, remarks it to have been "ac
cording to the humour of those tiraes, and to have
been thought to be of much consequence'."
With respect to the less numerous class of Limited poweis
,, , , ,, , « iij_of the Protestant
prelates, who are known to have been favourable to bishops.
the Reformation, from thera exertions in its favour
were to be expected, and raay be presuraed to have
been raade. But even as to the first and principal
of these, the Archbishop of Dublin, although con
vincing evidence, in the course of the preceding
reign, has been adduced, of his disposition to avail
himself, of every practicable opportunity for disse
minating the truth of the Gospel, and for calling in
other preachers to his aid, still his exertions must
have been, for the most part, limited within his oavu
sphere of ecclesiastical duty, his own diocese and
province : whilst in the cases of the bishops of
Meath, Kildare, and other suffragans, their sphere
raust have been still raore reduced ; so that, Avhat
ever raay have been the effect of their efforts within
their own respective charges, they can hardly have
been capable of producing a general change in the
religious sentiraents of the kingdora, and great need
existed for a supply of additional ministers anxious
for the suppression of the Popish corruptions, and
for the adA^anceraent of pure aud undefiled religion.
In the meantime, however, the royal authority Bxerciseof
1. in,ji» i»j_l • I, 1. ecclesiastical
Avas directed to this end in the exercise of ecclesias- patronage.
^ See above, p. 97.

con ected.

190 the REIGN OF [Ch. III.
tical patronage ; and the appointment to bishopricks,
as they became vacant, gave proof of the actual
superiority of the crown over the Papal pretensions,
and was an earnest of more in future. Cox, indeed,
has remarked, that " the Reformation made at this
tirae small progress in Ireland, since the same year,
1550, produced bishops of each sort; for on the
10th of May, Arthur Macgenis was, by provision
of the Pope, constituted Bishop of Dromore, and
confirnied therein by the king; and Thoraas Lan
caster, a Protestant, was, on the 3rd day of Septem
ber, made Bishop of Kildare'." But this appears to
be incoraplete as to the facts, and erroneous as to the
inference.
Error of Cox For, ill the first place, however Macgenis may
corip,>fo,1 ' J. ' C J
have been constituted Bishop of Dromore, he was
" confirmed by the king," as Ware adds, " upon
taking the oath of allegiance^;" and it is to be
moreover remarked, on the authority of the Rolls',
that " on the 10th of May, 1550, he had a pardon
granted to him, under the great seal, for having
received the Pope's bull, and for other misdemean
ours ;" whereas Lancaster was consecrated to the
bishoprick of Kildare by the absolute commission
of the king. Secondly, at or soon after the same
time, six other appointments are on record, as
having been made by the king, and carried by his
authority into effect : whereas I find no other exam
ple of a bishop about this time being appointed by
a Papal provision. This is a more coraplete state
ment of facts. And thus we raay perceive a proof
of the progress of the Reformation, so far as relates
to the maintenance and extension of the king's
' History of Ireland, i. 288. " Ware's Bishops, p. 264.
" RoUs, 6 Edw. VI.

Sec. I.] KING EDWARD VI. 191
supremacy, and to the exercise of it on behalf of
men favourable to the improveraent of the Church ; Appointment of
for in the appointraents to Avhich I have just alluded, bishops."
of seven bishops to vacant sees, by King Edward
the Sixth, in 1550 and the two following years,
namely, to Kildare, Leighlin, Limerick, Waterford
and Lismore, Elphin, and Ossory, as well as to the
archbishoprick of Arraagh, five at least of the
number, for instance, the Bishops Lancaster of Kil
dare, Travers of Leighlin, Casey of Liraerick, and
Bale of Ossory, and finally Archbishop Goodacre,
Avill hereafter fall under notice as friends and sup
porters of the Reforraation.
In connexion, however, with these episcopal vacancy in the
proraotions, a case may be here raentioned, the orSei'n™''
explanation of which is not obvious. In March, ™''p"^'''
1551, the archbishoprick of Cashel was vacated by
the death of Archbishop Butler, who had occu
pied the see twenty-three years. It was naturally
to be expected that a successor Avould be at once
appointed, as in other cases of vacancy; but, in fact,
although King Edward survived till July, 1553, the
place was not supplied till after his demise. Thus
for an interval of more than two years, this archi
episcopal see continued without an occupant ; and
the Church and the kingdom lost that benefit in
the cause of the Reforraation, which raight have
ensued from the appointraent of an advocate of
that measure to one of the highest ecclesiastical
dignities in Ireland. During the vacancy of the
see, four of the prelates just mentioned, one of
them a suffragan of Cashel, were appointed by the
crown and consecrated. What was the cause of
this omission? Could not there be found a per
son qualified and willing to undertake the charge ?

192

the reign of

[Ch. hi.

Our knowledge of the non-appointment is derived
frora Ware ; but he neither atterapts to account for
it, nor indeed makes any comment on the fact. The
choice of a fit person to fill the see of Armagh,
which was vacant about the same time, was, as we
.shall hereafter see, a matter of great diflficulty.

Order for intro
ducing the
English liturgy
into Ireland.

Question whe
ther the English
Bible was intro
duced by King
Henry the
Eighth into
Ireland.

But in noticing these episcopal appointments,
we are partly anticipating occurrences, which fol
lowed the iraportant raeasure that now deraands our
attention. By authority of the late king, the Holy
Scriptures had been translated into English, and
copies placed in all the parish churches of that
kingdora, for the general instruction of the people
by raeans of their vernacular language. And, im
mediately after the accession of King Edward the
Sixth, a forra of Coraraon Prayer in the same lan
guage had been undertaken and composed ; ratified
by Parliament and convocation the 15th of January,
1 549 ; and thereupon brought into use in all the
parish churches. The latter of those iinproA'eraents
Avas now, after a delay of two years, not perhaps very
easy to be accounted for, jDroposed to be made in
Ireland; and on the 6th of February, 1551, an
order Avas addressed to the Lord Deputy, Sir
Anthony St. Leger, for introducing the same liturgy
into all the churches of Ireland".
This order seems to say, that the translation of
the Holy Scriptures had been introduced by King
Henry's authority into Ireland at a forraer period :
for it recounts the evils which his subjects had sus
tained " in both his realms of England and Ireland,"
under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome ; and
it specifies, as a reraedy for these evils, the transla-
" Life of Archbishop Browne, 13. Cox's Hist, i. 288.

Sec. I.] KING EDAVARD VI. 193
tion of the Holy Scriptures, which the same king
had " thought raost fit and convenient to be placed
in all parish churches Avithin his dominions for his
faithful subjects," in Ireland therefore, it is to be
presumed, as Avell as in England. This jiresumption
is further countenanced by tlie substance of the
order : for whilst, on the one hand, it gives no direc
tions concerning the procuring of copies of the Holy
Scriptures, Avhich, unless previously ordered, Avas to
be expected on such an occasion ; it doe,?, on the
other hand, direct the noAV Liturgy to be used in all
the churches of Ireland ; and as one of the provisions
of the Liturgy is the reading of lessons from Holy
Scripture, the direction seems to pre-suppose the
existence of books Avhence to read them. It docs
not appear, hoAvever, from other documents, that
any injunction or provision of this kind had been
made in the former reign with respect to Ireland,
nor any thing indeed beyond " the king's translation
of the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, the Articles of
Faith, and Ten Commandments in English':" and
tuch instructions concerning the Bible, as have
fallen under my notice in this respect, speak of
England only".
Another expression is remarkable in this order, statement that
namely, that the king had "caused the Liturgy and Luu^gyttsa
Prayers of the Church to be translated" into Eng
lish : an expression which imports, not the construc
tion of a new Liturgy, but the translation of an old
one; and which was probably introduced for the
purpose of refraining, as rauch as possible, from
doing violence to the prejudices and feelings of those
for whose use the Liturgy was intended. Certainly
1 Above, p. 151.
" Burnet's Hist. Records, vol. i. part ii, p, 377. O

translation.

194

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IIL

Copy of the
order.

Recounts the
vices occasioned
by the jui-isdic-
tion of the bi
shops of Rome.

Consequent dis
solution of mo
nasteries,

And translation
eft Setiptures.

the assertion could not be in strictness raade, that
this Liturgy was a translation of " the Liturgy and
Prayers of the Church " into the English language :
for the Liturgy, as now put forth, had not existence
in any other language; and though many of the
prayers had previously existed, their retention much
redounding to the credit of the Reforraers in piety,
sober-mindedness, and wisdom, yet in numerous
instances they were purified and amended, they were
accompanied with additional compositions, and wore
a different form and structure as a whole. But
advantage seems to have been taken of the identity,
so far as it existed, in the hope of avoiding alarm or
offence in the people of Ireland, and of concihating
their good will.
The order was as follows": —
" Edward, by the grace of God, &c.
" Whereas our gracious father, King Henry the
Eighth, of happy memory, taking into consideration the
bondage and heavy yoke that his true and faithful subjects
sustained under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Rome, aa
also the ignorance the commonalty were in, how several
fabulous stories and lying wonders misled our subjects in
both our realms of England and Ireland, grasping thereby
the means thereof into their hands, also dispensing with the
sins of our nations by their indulgences and pardons for
gain, purposely to cherish all ill vices, as robberies, rebel
lions, thefts, whoredoms, blasphemy, idolatry, &c. : He,
our gracious father, King Henry, of happy memory, here
upon dissolved all priories, monasteries, abbeys, and other
pretended religious houses, as being but nurseries for vice
and luxury, more than for sacred learning : therefore, that
it might more plainly appear to the world, that those orders
had kept the light of the Gospel from his people, he thought
it most fit and convenient, for the preservation of their souls
and bodies, that the Holy Scriptures should be translated,
» Cox, i. 288,

Sec.L] KING EDWARD VI. 195
printed, and placed in all parish-churches within hi,s
dominions, for his faithful subjects to increase their know
ledge of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We there
fore, for the general benefit of our well-beloved subject.s'
understandings, whenever assembled and met together iu
the said several parish churches, either to pray or hear
prayers read, that they may the better join therein in unity,
hearts and voice, have caused the Liturgy and Prayers of Translation of
the church to be translated into our mother-tongue of this Engj'i^^r^^ '"*"
realm of England, according to the assembly of divines
lately met within the same for that purpose. We therefore
will and command, as also authorise you, Sir Anthony
Saint Leger, Knight, our viceroy of that our kingdom of
Ireland, to give special notice to all our clergy, as well arch
bishops, bishops, deans, archdeacons, as others our secular
parish priests within that our said kingdom of Ireland, to
perfect, execute, and obey this our royal will and pleasure
accordingly. " Given at our manor of Greenwich, the 6th of Febru
ary, in the fifth year of our reign.
"E. R.
" To our trusty and well-beloved Sir Anthony Saint
Leger, Knight, our chief governor of our kingdom of Ire
land," The first step taken by the viceroy on receiving Assemwyofthe
this order, and before he proceeded to notify it by
a general proclamation, was to call together an
assembly of the archbishops and bishops, and of the
clergy of Ireland, on the 1st of March, 1551: and March i,i56i.
to acquaint thera with his majesty's order, as also
with the opinions of those bishops and clergy of
England who had acceded to the order. And he
thereupon told them, that " it was his majesty's will
and pleasure, consenting unto their serious conside
rations and opinions, then acted and agreed on in
England, as to ecclesiastical matters, that the sarae
be in Ireland so likewise celebrated and performed."
0 2

196 THE REIGN OP [Ch. IIL
Opposition of To this communication of the Lord Deputy an
Dowdall.'"^ answer was returned by the primate, Archbishop
Dowdall, who promptly availed himself of the oppor
tunity, the first which seems to have occurred, iu a
general meeting of the prelates and clergy of the
kingdom, since his elevation, for oppugning the
royal authority, and testifying his zeal for the Pope,
and discrediting the proposed improvement in reli
gious worship. He accordingly expressed himself
in strong terms opposed to the provision caused by
the king to be made, and now set forth by his autho
rity : he contended against the Liturgy, that it might
not be read or sung in the church : and he accom
panied his opposition with the contemptuous reflec
tion, substituting the word " mass " for " service,"
" Then shall every illiterate fellow read mass."
The order sup- The Prlmate's reflection was readily raet by the
Lo'dDeiMiiy." Lord Doputy, who made a judicious and sufficient
reply ; briefly alleging where the charge of illiteracy
properly rested, and propounding one incontro
vertible argument in favour of a form of prayer in
the vernacular tongue, as mutually intelligible both
to the minister and to the people. " No," said he,
" your grace is mistaken ; for we have too many illi
terate priests amongst us already, who neither can
pronounce the Latin, nor know what it ineans, no
more than the common people that hear them ; but
when the people hear the Liturgy in English, they
and the priest will then understand what they
pray for."
^.cn.frl"^'"'"'' '^^^ primate seems to have felt the force of the
appeal, for he did not attempt to refute it; but
adopting a course which is no unusual substitute for
argument with those who are sensible of the weak
ness of their cause, he had recourse to the language

recourfee to
menaces.

Sec, I,] KING EDAVARD VI. 197
of menace and intimidation, and bade the viceroy
" beware of the clergy's curse." And indeed, in so
doing, he Avas only folloAving the instruction and
example of his acknowledged lord and master, the
Bishop of Rome, in his commission to his subjects
in King Henry the Eighth's reign, and was adopting
the usual practice of the papal authorities on similar
occasions. The cautionary charge, however, Avas lost on the TheLord Deputy
T c 11 • 1 1 slights Iho
Viceroy. " i fear no strange curse, said he, " so menace.
long as I have tlie blessing of that Church Avhich I
belioA'e to be the true one."
" Can there be a truer Church," the archbishop Altercation con-
thereupon deraanded, " than the church of St. Peter, chmchof Rome.
the mother Church of Rome ?"
" I thought," returned the Lord Deputy, " Ave
had all been of the Church of Christ ; for he calls
all true believers in him his Church, and himself the
head thereof"
The archbishop again demanded, " And is not
St, Peter's church the Church of Christ ?"
To Avhich the Lord Deputy calmly replied, " St.
Peter Avas a meraber of Christ's Church ; but the
church Avas not St. Peter's ; neither was St. Peter,
but Christ, the head thereof"
Thus ceased this very remarkable altercation. Thcrrim.-.te,and
For the primate, indignant, as it should seem, at the the assembly™
counteraction offered to his resistance of the pro
posed measure, and to his zeal for the papal church,
and the pretended successor of St. Peter, thereupon
rose up and left the assembly, accorapanied by several,
perhaps all, of the bishops within his jurisdiction
who were present, except the Bishop of Meath, Avho
continued behind, together with the other clergy Avho
remained.

198

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. III.

Order teeeivcd
hy Archblshop
Browne.

Concurrence of
other bishops.

Bishop Staples.

Bishops Lan
caster and
Travers.

Bishop Coyn.

The viceroy then took the order, and held it forth
to the Archbishop of Dublin, who stood up, and re-
ceived it with these words : " This order, good
brethren, is from our gracious king, and from the
rest of our brethren, the fathers and clergy of Eng
land, who have consulted herein, and compared the
holy Scriptures with what they have done; unto
whora I subrait, as Jesus did to Csesar, in all things
just and lawful, making no question why or where
fore, as we own him our true and lawful king'"."
Several of the more raoderate bishops and clergy
adhered to Archbishop Browne ; among whom were
Staples, bishop of Meath ; Lancaster, bishop of Kil
dare ; Travers, bishop of Leighlin ; and Coyn, bishop
of Limerick. If there were any other bishops, their
naraes have not been recorded.
Of these. Staples, who was an Englishman, and
had been educated at Cambridge, and had afterwards
become one of the canons of Cardinal Wolsey's new
foundation in Oxford, was promoted to his bishoprick
twenty years before, during the Pope's usurpation.
But he appears to have been early instrumental and
active in promoting the changes in religion ; and had
been placed in several oflSces of trust by King Henry,
and latterly been called to the Privy Council, and
made Judge of the Faculties, by the reigning sove
reign". The Bishops Lancaster and Travers had
been recently iDromoted to their sees, namely, in
1550, both being married men"' ; and were probably
selected for their respective stations frora regard to
their approval of the Reformation. Bishop Coyn
had occupied his see near thirty years, having been
promoted in 1522 by the Pope, in opposition to the

'" Ware's Bishops, p. 350.
'^ P., p. 390, 461,

P., p. 152,

SEC. 1.J KING EDAVARD VI. 199
king, who was earnest in his endeavour to place
Walter Wellesley, a favourite of his oavu, in the
vacant bishoprick'^ as before relnted. What may
have been his opinion on the changes uoav in agita
tion, does not appear ; nor Avhat other ju'elates took
part with those who joined the Archbishop of Dub
lin in acceding to the king's order. Soon afterwards
age and infirmity caused Bishop Coyn to resign his
see, in Avhich he Avas succeeded by Williara Casey,
an advocate of the Reforraation.
The result of this assembly Avas a proclamation order carried
TTixiT-v f, • 1 -I ^^^ effect.
issued by the Lord Deputy for carrying the order Easter d.'iy,i55i.
into effect, and the consequent celebration of divine
Avorship according to the English Liturgy on Easter
Day, in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, in the pre
sence of the viceroy, the archbishop, and the raayor
and bailiffs of the city, when the archbishop preached
a sermon on the eighteenth verse of the 119th Psalm,
" Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy
law." In this sermon, which has been transmitted to Archbishop of
. . Dublin's sermon.
US, with commendation not unmerited , he set forth
the injuriousness of the Church of Rome in not per
mitting the use of the Holy Scriptures in any other
tongue but tbe Latin ; and the blindness, the folly,
and the artifices of her image-worship. But the
raost raeraorable feature of it is that sort of pro-
phetick spirit with which he describes the future
emissaries of Rorae, " false prophets, that shall de- his anticipation
ceive you with false doctrines, whom you shall take emissM-iesm
as your friends, but they shall be your greatest ene
mies; speaking against the tenets of Rome, and
yet be set on by Rorae ; these shall be a rigid people,
full of fury and envy." The conduct of those fana-
'^ Ware's BisUps, p. 610. '¦' Cox, i. 290.

disguise ;

200

THE KEiCIN OF

[Cn. III.

His dctc.'iption
of tbe J-iuits ;

of tlicir influ
ence

ani their fa.)}.

ticks and hypocrites, Avho soon after attempted to
subvert the Anglican churcb, Avill probably be here
present to the reader's mind.
And again : " But there are a new fraternity of
hite sprung uj), avIio call themselves Jesuits, which
Avill deceive many : who are much after the scribes
and pharisees' manner. Amongst the Jews they
shall strive to abolish the truth, and shall come very
near to do it. For these sorts will turn themselves
iuto seA^eral forms: Avitli the heathen, an heathenist ;
Avith atheists, au atheist; with the Joavs, a Jcav; and
Avith the reformers, a reforraade ; purposely to know
your intentions, your minds, your hearts, and youv
inclinations, aud thereby bring you at last to be like
the fool that said in his lieart, there was no God,
These shall spread over the whole world ; shall be
adraitted into the council of princes, and they never
the wiser; charming of them, yea, making your
l^rinces reveal their hearts, and the secrets therein,
unto them, and yet they not perceive it ; which Avill
happen from falling frora the laAv of God, by neglect
of fulfilling of the laAV of God, and- by winking at
their sins ; yet in the end, God to justify his laAv
sball suddenly cut off this society, even by the hands
of those who have most succoured thera, and made
use of thera, so that at the end they shall become
odious to all nations. They shall be worse than
Jews, having no resting-place upon the earth ; and
then shall a Joav have more favour than a Jesuit","

Kceall of Sir
Anthony St.
Leger.

In the Avhole of the foregoing transactions, the
conduct of the Lord Deputy appears unexception
able. Shortly afterAvards, however, he Avas recalled ;
and his removal has been attributed to some repre-

Ware's Life of Archbishop Browne,

Sec, I.] KING EDAVARD VI, 201
sentations made in his disfavour by the archbishop,
though the precise cause or nature of the AA'ant of
harmony between them has not been satisfactorily Aiiogcdditri-
specified. Ware, in his ^toW*"', says, " The arch- iiTmnnd tho""
bishop accused him of treason ; AAdiat the article """ '^'°i''
alleged against him Avas, I cannot tell ; but he Avas
recalled, and, in all probability, cleared himself; for
in the reign of Queen INIary, he was again preferred
to this governraent." It is the raore recent state
ment of Cox, " Whether the Lord Deputy vA^'ere not
zealous in propagating the Reforination, or Avhat
other differences there Avere between hira and the
archbishop, I cannot find; but it is certain, the arch
bishop sent complaints against him into England, and
thereupon he was recalled"."
Admitting the fact to have been as here stated, various acciuuts
. '111,. 1 ^^ ^'-"^ caubj of
the solution may possibly be found in the earnest- hisrccaii.
ness Avitli Avbicli the archbishoji Avas desirous of carry
ing on the Avork of the Reformation, in accordance
with the views now prevailing in England Avitli the
king and his advisers ; and a want of corresponding
energy on the part of Sir Anthony St. Leger, in for-
Avarding the same vioAvs ; for, although he put in
action the king's order, as Ave have seen, he may have
been reluctant to proceed forAvard in urging it on the
observance of those who AA'ere unAvilling to obey it,
such as the primate and the popish party. The fact
of his being reinstated in his situation of viceroy by
Queen Mary in the succeeding reign, when the arch
bishop Avas deprived of his see for his attachment to
the Reformation, may give countenance to the sur
mise that Sir Anthony St. Leger Avas not altogether
decided in his religious principles, or at least Avas not
resolute in exercising his authority for the execution
>" P, 123. " Cox, i, 291,

202 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IIL
of the king's order. It is remarkable, however, that
soon after his re-appointment by Queen Mary, he
was again displaced, in consequence, as was supposed,
of a charge against him, that he had ridiculed the
Romish doctrine of transubstantiation.
prohahiynot But the causo of lils being recalled at this time
dissatisfaction, by Klug Edward may have been altogether misap
prehended. For, without intiraating any dissatisfac
tion as the cause of it, Strype simply says, " It was
thought fit to send for home Sir Anthony St. Leger,
the king's chief officer in Ireland ; the king declaring
by letters, that he intended to make use of him, and
to employ him nearer home." And a little below
he adds an extract from the king's Warrant Book,
" A letter to Sir Anthony St. Leger, to repair home
to the king's presence ; and that before his departure,
he see Sir Jaraes Crofts placed there. . . . Four-
and-twenty letters were also sent, all of one effect,
declaring that, for divers considerations, the king
minded to occupy Sir Anthony St. Leger about cer
tain his necessary businesses here at home. There
fore presently sendeth, to supply the oflfice of deputy
there. Sir James Crofts, as by his letters patent to
them shall more plainly appear '"."
Appointment of Howevor this raay have been. Sir Jaraes Crofts,
Sir Jaraes Crofts. ... n t . . , , . i t
April, 1561. a gentleman ot his majesty s privy chamber, was
appointed to the government of Ireland by letters
patent, the 29th of April, 1551 ; and soon afterwards
arrived, bringing with him instructions for himself
and the council, amongst which those that relate to
ecclesiastical affairs are the following : "1. To pro
pagate the worship of God in the English tongue ;
and the service to be translated into Irish in those
places which need it. 2. To prevent the sale of
'" Memorials Ecclesiastical, vol. ii,, b. ii., c. 3, p. 264.

SEC. 1.J KING EDAVARD VI. 203
bells, church goods, chantry lands, &c., and to
inventory thera"."
The latter of these instructions was intended to instruction con-
1 -t rv* , 1 , 1 1 1 , 1 • 1 -t corning the sale
check official or private peculation, which, under ofchmchpro-
the serablance of promoting the Reformation, or ''°''^'
under shelter of the confusion that attended it, had
been directed against objects of superstition, and
withal against other things, perfectly inoffensive and
unobjectionable; and that in the way of plunder,
and for the personal emolument of the perpetrators.
An example of the sort of enormity here intended,
is supposed to have occurred about this tirae, when
the English garrison of Athlone, or more probably
some lawless spoilers from a distance, pillaged the
celebrated abbey and church of Clonmacnoise, to a
most scandalous extent ; so that, " as the Annals of
Dunnagall," quoted by Ware, relate, " they took
away the bells, destroyed the images and altars, not
sparing the church books nor the Avindow-glass."
This outrage, however, did not take place until the
following year; and it was, in all probability, less
against such acts of lawless and barbarous violence,
than against the abuse or pretence of official autho
rity that this instruction was directed.
The former of the two instructions was in fur- instruction con-
therance of the king's order promulgated by Sir shipoTGodhi"'
Anthony St. Leger; charging the new vice-regal ^°'^'^^'
government with the duty of carrying into effect
that order for the introduction of the English liturgy
into the churches of Ireland ; but at the same tirae
applying the principle of the order, in a raodified
forra, to cases in which it could not be strictly
employed as originally propounded. For the prin
ciple that both the minister and the people should
'^ Cox, i. 290.

204 THE REIGN OF [Cn. IIL
Direction for an uuderstaud the prayers in which they mutually
of'the'iuurn-!™ joined, required no less that the liturgy should be
used in the Irish language, in parish churches where
the Irish only Avas understood, than it did that in
parish churches, where the English was the verna
cular language, it should be used in English. And,
however the time may have been hoped to arrive,
when the Euglish tongue should have become the
common language of the" people of both realms, it
was for the present a wise ordinance, that divine
service, according to the authorized forra of prayer,
.should be provided for in the native Irish tongue in
places where the circumstances of the case made it
needful. Such an ordinance Avas, indeed, necessary
for the advancement of the Reforraation, and the
spiritual iraproveraent of the people, in those ])art.s
of the kingdora Avhere the English language Avas uot
knoAvn ; nor could those parts haA'e profited by the
recent introduction and increased propagation of the
liturgy, if the celebration of it had been restricted
to that language. It would have been well, had this
purpose been as promptly and vigorously executed
as it AA'as happily and prudently projected. The
short duration of the reign of King Edward probably
prevented its execution. Meanwhile this instruc
tion raay serve, in sorae degree, as an ansAver to the
reraark of Bishop Burnet ; Avho having stated, under
this date, tb^it " the Reformation raade but a small
progress in that kingdora," adds, " it was received
araong the English, but I do not find any endeavours
were used to bring it in among the Irish*"."
BookofCommon The arrival of the new viceroy in Dublin coin-
Praycr, iirst ¦ i i • i
book printed m cidod witli au occurreiice of great interest to the
Dublin. °
1551. man ot letters and the typographer, as well as to the
'" Hist, of the Reformation, part II, b. i. p. 379.

Sec. L] KING EDWARD VI. 205
churchman : namely, the appearance of the first book
printed in Dublin, being an edition of the recently
established liturgy. The title-page of the volume
describes it as The Book of the Common Prayer and
Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and
Ceremonies ofthe Church: after the use ofthe Church
of England. Dublinice, irt offtcina Hunifyedi Powcli.
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum . A uno Domin i,
M.D.LI. It professes to be " printed at the com
mandment of the Right Worshipful Sir Anthony
Sentleger, Knight ofthe Order, late Lord Deputy of
Ireland, and Council of the same." At the end of the
volume is a prayer for the Lord Deputy, mentioning
by name " Sir James Croft, uoav governour over this
realra, under our most dread and sovereign Lord,
Edward the Sixth." A handsome copy of this book
is preserved in its fittest repository, the library of
Trinity College, Dublin; and it is doubted by the
Rev. James Henthorn Todd, the learned under-
librarian, and one of the junior fellows of the college,
whether there be another in existence.
Section II.
Corresjwtidenc^ beticeen the Lord Deputy and the Primate.
Conference between them. Primacy taken from Arch
blshop Dowdall, and conferred on Archbishop) Browne.
Withdrawal of Archbishop Dowdall from tke kingdom.
Appointment of Goodacre to the Archhishoi^r'wk of Ar-
tnagh, and of Bale to the Bishoprick of Ossory. Cir
cumstances of their consecration. State of religious
instruction. Activity of Bishop Bale. Death of Arch
bishop Goodacre. Death of King Edtcard VI. State
of the Church.
The new viceroy. Sir Jaraes Crofts, has the character The LordDcputy
of having been "a zealous Protestant';" and agree- enca'withA^ch-
' Cox, i. 291.

bishop Dowdall,

206 THE reign of [Ch. iil
ably to that character, as well as in dutiful discharge
of the trust reposed in him by his sovereign, he lost
no tirae on bis arrival in endeavouring to persuade
the primate into submission to the king's order con
cerning the liturgy. Having, therefore, been sworn
i»i. into oflfice on the 23rd of May, he wrote an earnest
letter to Archbishop DoAvdall, on the 16th of June,
iuAuting him to a conference with the other pre
lates ; and sending his letter, in testimony of respect,
by the principal of the primate's suffragans, Staples,
bishop of Meath. This letter, and the primate's
answer follow, copies of them being preserved
among the Harris MSS., in the Royal Dublin
Society's Library, vol. iv. p. 472.
Letter from Lord Sir Jamos Crofts, lord deputy, to George Dow-
Prtaate." ^ dall, bishop of Armagh : —
" Reverend Sir,
" We understand you are a reverend father of the
Church, and do know full well that you are not ignorant
of the obedience due unto kings and princes ; for the chief
of bishops, namely, Christ, the bishop of our souls, shewed
you the way by his tribute given unto Csesar, the same
being formerly confessed and acknowledged to be so due by
tbe bishops of Rome themselves ; therefore if your Lord
ship will appoint a place where I may conveniently have
the happiness of appeasing wrath between the fathers of
the Church and your grace, I shall think my labour well
spent to make a brotherly love therein, as 1 profess myself
to be a Christian. Yet as I am employed under my most
gracious sovereign lord, within this his majesty's realm, I
needed not have sought this request ; but fearing we shall
have an order ere long to alter church matters, as well in
offices as in ceremonies, which I would prevent if possible,
therefore out of my hearty affections unto your paternal
gravity and dignity, I have written by the chief of the
bishops under your jurisdiction, (viz.) the Bishop of Meath,
by whom we entreat your grace's answer. From his

Sec. IL] KING EDWARD VI. 207
majesty's castle of Dublin, June 6th, 1552." (Apparently
a mistake in the MS. for June 16th, 1551.)
{Signed.) " James Crofts."
{Superscribed.)
"To the Reverend Father in God, George, archbishop
of Armagh, at St. Mary's Abbey, by Dublin."
The Archbishop of Armagh's answer to the Lord
Deputy. " Right Honourable,
" Your kind and hearty overtures came unto me prmiate'sanswor
unexpected. I fear it is in vain for me to con\'erse witb an deputy.
obstinate number of churchmen, and in vain for your lord
ship to suppose the difference betAveen us can be so soon
appeased, as our judgments, opinions, and consciences are
different : yet do accept of your honour's friendly proffers.
I shall rejoice to see your lordship, and would have waited
on you in person : but having withdrawn myself for a long
space during your predecessor's government, and for a while
since, it is not so meet for me to appear at your lordship's
palace. This, I hope, is a sufficient reason from
" Your lordship's humble servant,
" George Akmachanus."
" To the Right Honourable Sir James Crofts, Knight,
his Majesty's Viceroy of Ireland ^."
In pursuance of this negotiation, the proposed conference of
conference took place the following day, in the great and mshovoi' ^
hall of St. Mary's Abbey, where the priraate had for ^^t^^^^
some time resided in a state of dignified or sullen
seclusion, and where the Lord Deputy condescended
to his huraour, and attended him accompanied by
the Bishop of Meath, and Lancaster, bishop of Kil
dare. In the debate which ensued, the particulars
of which are extant in a manuscript of the British
Museum 'j the principal interlocutors were the Pri-
' Habris's MSS., Eoyal Dub- I " Tract. Variantes Hibernicaa
Un Society, vol, iv. p. 472, 1 Speotmtes, Cod. Clarendon, xx,

208

THE REIGN OF

[Ch, III,

Their rc.=;poctfiil
dcnioixmiui' tj-
¦\vardb liiui.

mate and the Bishop of Meath, and occasionally the
Lord Deputy. And although neither party gave
way to the sentiments of his opponent, aud no pro
fitable result accrued from the discussion, it is grati
fying to notice the viceroy's demeanour of re,spectfiil
courteousness toAvards the dignified ecclesiastick,
Avhose opinions he disapproved ; and hoAV the suffra
gan bishop, Avhilst he frankly controverted aud
effectually repelled the jiositions of his metropolitan,
accosted him AAdth the most becoming inoffen,sive-
uess, temperance, and reverence of language and of
manner. The conference was opened by this question from
the archbishop :

Objection to the
subsfitufion of
tho liturgy for
tho mass.

Vindication of
the liturgy.

" My lord, Avhy is your honour so for my compliance
Avith these clergymen, who aro fallen from the mother
Church?" Lord Deputy. " Because, reA'orend father, I would
fain unite you and them, if possible,"
Archbishop. " How can that bo expected, when you
have demolished the mass, to bring in another service of
England's making ? "
Lord Deputy. " Most reverend father, I make no
doubt but here bo those, who Avill ansAver your grace, which
behoofs them best to answer in this case, as it belongs to
their function,"
Bishop of Meath. " My lord says aa'oII, as your grace
Avas talking of the mass, and of the antiquities of it."
Archbishop. " Is it not ancienter than the liturgy, now
established without the consent of the raother Church ? "
Bishop) of Meath. " No, may it please your grace : for
the liturgy, established by our gracious King Edward and
bis English clergy, is but the mass reformed and cleansed
from idolatry."
Archbishop. " We shall fly too high, we suppose, if
Ave continue in this strain. I could wish you would hearken
unto reason, and so be united."

Sec. II.] KING EDAVARD VI. 209
Bishop of Meath. " That is my prayer, reverend sir, if
you will come to it."
Archbishop. "The way then to be in unity is not to The ma-s un.ai-
alter the mass." _ rft^ '^r;.^'
Bishop of Meath. " There is no Churcb, upon the face of
the whole earth, hath altered the mass more oftener than
the Church of Rome : which hath been the roa.'ion, that
causeth the rationaller sort of men to desire the liturgy to
be established in a known tongue, that they may knoAV
what additions have been added, and what they pray for."
Archbishop. " Was not the mass from the Apostles'
days ? how can it be proved, that the Church of Rome hath
altered it?"
Bishop of Meath. " It is easily proved by our records Frequent aitera-
of England. For Ccelestinus, bishop of Rome, .in the fourth ^^2!^ ""'
century after Christ, gave the first introlt of the mass,
which the clergy was to use for preparation ; even the
psalm, ' Judica me Deus, &c. ;' Rome not owning tbe word
mass till then."
Archbishop. " Yes, long before that time : for there
was a mass called St. Ambrose's mass.''
Bishop of Meath. " St. Ambrose was before Ccelestinus: a forgery added
but the two prayers, which the Church of Rome had foisted t-orL'^'"'"'"'^''
and added unto St. Ambrose's works, are not in his general
works : Avhicli hath caused a Avise and a learned man lately
to write, tbat tbose two prayers were forged, and not to be
really St. Ambrose's."
Archbishop. " What writer dares write, or doth say
so?" Bishop of Meath. " Erasmus, a man who may well be Authority of
compared to either of us, or the standers by. Nay, my ''*™"°'
lord, no disparagement if I say so to yourself: for he was a
wise and a judicious man, otherwise I would not have been
so bold, as to parallel your lordship with him."
Lord Deputy. " As for Erasmus's parts, would I were
such another : for his parts may parallel him a companion
for a prince."
Archbishop. " Pray, my lord, do not hinder our dis
course ; for I have a question or two to ask Mr. Staples."
Lord Deputy. " By all means, reverend father, proceed."
P

210

THE REIGN OF

[Cu, IIL

Compared with
that of the
Churchof Kome.

Church of Rome
errs in praying
to the Blessed
Virgin as to a

Not exclusively
called "Blessed."

Christ the only
mediator.

Archbishop. "Ts Erasmus's writings more powerful
than the precepts ofthe mother Church?"
Bishop of Meath. " Not more than the holy Catholick
one, yet more than the Church of Rome, as that Church
hath run into several errors since St. Ambrose's days."
Archbishop. " How hath the Church erred since St.
Ambrose's days? Take heed lest you be not excommu
nicated." Bishop of Meath. " I have excommunicated myself
already from thence. Therefore with Erasmus I shall aver,
that the prayers in St. Ambrose's mass, especially that to
the Blessed Virgin Mary, appears not to be in his ancient
works : for he had more of the truth and of God's Spirit in
him, than our latter bishops of Rome ever had, as to pray to
the Blessed Virgin, as if she had been a goddess."
Archbishop. " Was she not called ' blessed ;' and did
she not prophesy of herself, when she was to bear our
Saviour Jesus Christ, that she would be called by all men
'blessed?'" Bishop of Meath. " Yes, she did so. But others be
called 'blessed,' even by Christ himself. In his first
sermon, made by him in the mount, ' blessed,' saith he, ' be
the meek, be the merciful, be the pure of heart : blessed be
those persecuted for righteousness' sake, and those that
hunger and thirst after the same :' and he blessed the low-
minded sort, of which few or none of the Bishops of Rome
can be said to be called since Constantine's reign. Christ
also to all those, who shall partake of his heavenly king
dora, will likewise say unto them, ' Come, ye blessed of my
Father, &c.' "
Archbishop. " Why, pray, is it not probable, that St,
Ambrose desired the Blessed Virgin's mediation for him, as
she is the mother of Christ? Are not children commanded
by God's commandments to reverence and obey their
parents ? therefore, as he is a man, why may he not be
subject?" Bishop of Meath. " St. Ambrose knew better, that he
ought to apply to Jesus, the sole and only mediator between
him and God ; and that, as Christ is man, he is the me
diator. If the Blessed Virgin, therefore, can command her

Sec. ll.J KING EDWARD VI. 211
son in heaven to mediate, then St, Ambrose would have
made her a goddess, or a coadjutor with God, who is
himself omnipotent. And lastly, if Ave make her a mediator
as well as Christ, Ave do not only suspect Christ's insuffi
ciency, but mistrust God's ordinances, thinking ourselves
not sure by his promises to us and our forefathers, that
Christ should be our mediator."
Archbishop to the Lord Deputy. " My lord, I signified
to your honour, that all was in vain, Avhen two parties
should meet of a contrary opinion ; and that your lordship's
pains therein Avould be lost, for Avhich I am heartily sorry."
Lord Deputy. " The sorrow is mine, that your grace
cannot be convinced."
Archbishop. "Did 3'our lordship but knoAV the oaths oath of Popish
I'l iji, ,* ¦! 1 bishops at conse-
we bishops do take at our consecrations, signed under our cration;
hands, you would not blame my steadfastness. This oath,
Mr. Staples, you took with others, before you were per
mitted to be consecrated. Consider hereon yourself, and
blame not me for persisting as I do."
Bishop of Meath. " My Lord Deputy, I am not
ashamed to declare the oath, and to confess my error in so
swearing thereunto. Yet I hold it safer for my conscience
to break the same, than to observe the same. For Avhen
your lordship sees the copy thereof, and seriously considers,
you will say it is hard for that clergyman, so swearing, to
be a true subject to his king, if he observe the same : for Abolished by
that was tbe oath, which our gracious king's royal father macy°'^^"^"
caused to be demolished, for to set up another, now called
the oath of supremacy, to make the clergy the surer to his
royal person, his heirs and successors."
"Then," as the manuscript narrative concludes
the account, " the Lord Deputy rose and took leave ;
so likewise did the Bishops of Meath and Kildare,
who waited on his lordship."
A contest for precedence had for some centuries Archbishop
been agitated between the Archbishops of Arraagh deprived of the
and Dublin, each claiming it in right of his see : but ^'^™'"^^'
latterly it had been enjoyed with little or no opposi-
p 2

212

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. III.

Which was con
ferred on Arch-
bi.shop Browne.
Oct. 1551.

Withdrawal of
Archbi.shopDowdall
from the king
dom ;

tion by the Archbishop of Armagh, who was distin
guished by the title of Primate of all Ireland, from
the Archbishop of Dublin, who styled himself only
Primate of Ireland, after the manner used for dis
tinguishing in the like respect the Archbishops of
Canterbury and York in England. But in conse
quence of the parts respectively taken by the two
archbishops on the recent occasion ; iu testimony of
disapprobation of the obstinate opposition raade by
Archbishop Dowdall to the Reformation, and specially
to the introduction of the liturgy ; and in acknoAV-
ledgraent of the zeal, resolution, and extraordinary
services of Archbishop Browne ; by an act of the
20th of October, 1551, the king and council of
England deprived the forraer of the primacy of all
Ireland, and by letters patent conferred the title on
the latter and his successors, and annexed it to the
see of Dublin for ever : a transfer of dignity, which
seems to explain an ambiguous expression in the
Lord Deputy's letter, Avhere he represents himself as
" fearing they should have an order ere long to alter
Church matters, as well in offices as in ceremonies,
which," he adds, "I would prevent if possible."
What occurred further on this question in the suc
ceeding reigns, until it was finally settled by decree
of King Charles the First, raay be noticed on the
fitting occasions.
At present it remains to be related, that Arch
bishop DoAvdall, being deprived of the primacy, with-
droAv beyond the seas ; or as stated by the Loftus
MS. Collection of Annals relating to Ireland, in Marsh's
Library, Dublin, that he "fled the realm*." "I do
not find," says Harris', "that he was stripped of his
' 3. 2. 7. Year 1553. Ware's Bishops, p. 92.
' P. 157.

Sec. II.] KING EDWARD VI. 213
bLshoprick : but his high stomach could not digest
this affront. He Avent into voluntary banishment,
and lived an exile for a tirae in foreign parts, during
the reraainder of the reim of Kino- Edward the
Sixth." This banishraent of his is alluded to by
him in his epitaph, where he attributes it to the
banishment of the holy faith :
Exul sacra fide^ pat-rice me finibus egit.
The sacred faitli exiled me from my country drove.
The self-imposed banishment of the archbisho]}. Differently re-
being a withdrawal of hiraself frora his official station, punishmekt.
and a dereliction of his official duties, seems to have
been regarded by the government as a virtual resig
nation of his office. Or, on the hypothesis, noticed
by Sir Jaraes Ware's son, in his Life of Archbishop
Brotvne", that Dowdall was really banished, a remo
val from his station by the king may have formed
part of his punishment, according to what, in the
opinion of the last cited Avriter, "was then held
lawful ;" and according to the poAA'er, Avhich the late
King Henry the Eighth professed to belong to hira,
and threatened to exercise against the then Arch
bishop of Dublin, Avho had incurred his displeasure.
In either case the archbishoprick of Armagh Avas
considered A'acant ; and measures Avere accordingly
taken for providing a successor.
It was thought couA^enient that this place, as care taken m
well as the vacant bishoprick of Ossory, recently ofa^ucccKor™
raade so by the death of its forraer occupant, should *!'^*|^^'''='''"''"'P'
be filled by divines frora England, for the purpose,
no doubt, of supplying thera with known advocates
of the Reforraation. And Avith this view. Arch
bishop Cranmer Avas consulted, that so, " by the
influence of very wise and learned men, and good
° P. 157.

214

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. III.

Four persons
named by Arch
bishop Cranmer.

His preference
of AVhitehead.

preachers, the Gospel might be the better propagated
in that dark region. But because," says Strype,
"it was foreseen to be difficult to procure any
Englishmen, so endowed, to go over thither, there
fore Secretary Cecil, being then Avith the king in his .
progress, sent a letter to the archbishop, to nominate
some Avorthy persons for those preferments, and
whora he thought Avould be willing to undertake
thera. He returned hira the names of four, and
said, ' he knew raany others in England, that Avould
be meet persons for those places, but very foAV that
would be gladly persuaded to go thither:' for it
seeras the English were never very fond of living
in Ireland. But he added, concerning those four
which he had naraed, ' that he thought they, being
ordinarily called, for conscience sake would not
refuse to bestow the talent committed unto them,
wheresoever it should please the king's majesty to
bestoAv them.' He recoraraended, likewise, a fifth
l^erson for this promotion, a wise and well-learned
man ; but he doubted Avhether he would be per
suaded to take it upon him."
Of these four, the archbishop judged Whitehead
the fittest for the archbishoprick of Armagh, giving
hira this character, " that he was endued Avith good
kuoAAdedge, special honesty, fervent zeal, and politick
wisdom." And of his fitness and high character, as
Avell as of Cranmer's anxiety to supply the Irish
archbishoprick with a Avorthy occupant, a proof is
added by the fact, which is stated by Dr. Words
worth to have been related afterwards : namely,
that, " on the accession of Queen Elizabeth, White
head was solicited to accept the see of Canterbury,
but refused'." Next to Whitehead in fitness,

Ecclesiastical Biography, i. 112, note.

Sec. II.] KING EDWARD VI. 215
Cranmer judged Turner: of Avhora he gives this
relation, "' That he was merry and witty withal.
Nihil appetit, nihil ardet, nihil somniat, nisi Jesum
Christum : and in the lively preaching of hira and
his Avord, declared such diligence, faithfulness, and
wisdora, as for the same deserveth rauch coraraenda
tion." The king concluded upon Turner. But he, on Turner, selected
the preferraent being proposed to hira, and pressed mi^^'"^'
upon him, by the archbishop, showed the utraost
repugnance to accept it. And the objections which
he raade, and the arguraents with Avhicli they were
met, as related by the above-named ecclesiastical
historian, are worthy of being here reported, as
shoAving the impressions at that time made on sentiments of
English rainds by the supposed condition of Ireland, cerning ireiaud.
" He urged to the archbishop, that, if he went
thither, he should have no auditors, but must preach
to the AA'alls and stalls : for the people understood
no English." The archbishop, on the other hand,
endeavoured to answer all his objections, though
evidently himself very imjierfectly informed on the
subject. He told him, " They did understand
English in Ireland ; though, whether they did in the
diocese of Armagh, he did indeed doubt. But, to
remedy that, he advised him to learn the Irish
tongue : Avhich with diligence, he told him, he inight
do in a year or two ; and that there would this
advantage arise thereby, that both his person and
doctrine would be raore acceptable, not only unto
his diocese, but also throughout all Ireland."
Turner, however, was resolute in his refusal. Appointment of
And in the end the charge fell upon Hugh Good- '^'"'*'""'*'
acre, the fifth person naraed by the archbishop, and
represented as " a wise and well-learned man," but

216

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. III.

Character of him
by the Lndy
Elizabeth.

Appointment of
Bale to Ossory.

Letters commen
datory from the
council of Eng
land.

of Avhoin Cranraer doubted " whether he would be
persuaded to undertake the charge." He had been
vicar of Shadfleet in the Isle of Wight, and chaplain
to Bishop Poynet, of Winchester. Strype supposes
hini to have been at first chaplain to the Lady Eliza
beth : at least he had been long knoAvn to her.
And about the year 1548, or 1549, she had procured
for hira a licence to preach frora the Protector,
to whom she bore this testimony in his favour:
" That he liad been long time known unto her, to
be as well of honest conversation and sober living,
as of sufficient learning and judgment in the Scrip
tures, to preach the Word of God. The advance
raent whereof she so desired, that she wished there
were raany such to set forth God's glory. She
therefore desired Cecil, avIio was in attendance upon
the Protector, and to whora she wrote, that as here
tofore at her request he had obtained licence to
preach for divers other honest raen, so he Avould
recommend this man's case unto my lord, and there
with procure for hira the like licence, as to the other
had been granted."
Whilst Goodacre was thus appointed to the
archbishoprick of Arraagh, Bale AA'as fixed on for the
bishoprick of Ossory, by the special selection and
designation of the king himself And that they
might find the better countenance and authority in
the exercise of their functions, the privy council
Avrote two letters to the Lord Deputy and council
of Ireland : the one dated October 27, iu commen
dation of the bishop elect of Ossory ; and the other
dated November 4, in commendation of the bishop
elect of Arraachan".
" Strypb's Memorials of Archbishop) Cranmer, vol. i. jjp. 392 —
401. Oxfoi'd, 1812.

Sec. IL] KING EDWARD VI. 217
Soon after his arrival in Ireland, the archbishop consecration of
elect was consecrated in Christ Church, Dublin, on Goodacre,
the 2nd of February, 1553, by the Archbishop of
Dublin, assisted by the bishops of Kildare, and of
DoAvn and Connor. And together with him was
consecrated his friend and brother chaplain, the cele
brated John Bale.
Bale, a native of Suffolk, had been educated, And Bishop
Bale.
first in the Carmelites convent at Norwich, and
afterwards at Jesus' College, Cambridge ; at which
time, according to his own confession, "ignorance uis account of
his former life.
and blindness had Avholly possessed him;" till by
the instrumentality, not of a monk or a priest, but
of a temporal lord, the Lord Wentworth, he betook
himself to the source of all true knowledge, the
written word of God ; and thus was converted from
the error of his ways, and shook off the yoke of his
former superstitious profession, and, as he expresses
it, " to tliroAV off all marks of the beast, and accord
ing to the divine precept," (1 Cor. vii. 9,) he married
a faithful wife, Avho proved his inseparable com
panion and co-partner in all his following troubles
and exilements.
He had been thrown into prison, in the reign of incidents of his
King Henry the Eighth, first by Lee, archbishop of "'"'^ '''"•
York, and afterwards by Stokesly, bishop of London,
for preaching against the Roraish religion : especially
the invocation of saints, and the worshipping of
images. In one of his books, speaking concerning
the practisers of these Popish superstitions, he
added, " Yea, I ask God mercy a thousand times,
I have been one of them myself" Thus his own
experience qualified him to bear testimony to the
true character of these enorraities : nor less to the
unchaste, licentious, and shameful practices, used

218 THE REIGN OF [Cn. III.
too commonly in the monastick life, into one order
of which he had been initiated. When imprisoned
for this testimony, he escaped from his persecutors,
by supplicating the protection of the Lord Cromwell,
the king's vicar-general. But, on Cromwell's death,
he had thought it not safe for hira to abide longer
in the country, and had Avithdrawn himself into
Lower Germany, Avhere he lived eight years,
avoiding the persecution which arose in the latter
part of King Henry's reign on account of the Six
Articles. Thence, on the succession of King
EdAvard, he returned to England : and having
resided for some time in the faraily of Poynet,
bishop of Winchester, whose chaplain he vvas, and
then at his parsonage of Bishop's Stoke, near South
ampton, he was shortly after promoted, on the king's
own motion, and Avithout the solicitation of any
other person, to the bishoprick of Ossory, Avhither
he proceeded immediately, freely at the king's oAvn
charge, and now received consecration.
Circumstances His consecratloii was not effected without oppo-
of his consecra- .^. „ ., • l l • 1- i l s i -i.
tion. sition from the popishly-inclined clergy : and it was
attended by some circumstances, Avhich, whilst they
exemplify the determined character of Bale, give
some inforraation as to certain practices theu exist
ing in the Church of Ireland. It should seem that
the consecration of the Irish bishops had hitherto
been solemnised according to the Pontifical and
unreforraed rites, for the First Book of Common
Prayer, there used by the king's order, contained no
Use of the Eng- form of ordination or consecration. But in England,
in the year 1552, a new form of ordination had
been introduced, constructed on the principles of
Scripture and primitive antiquity, and stripped of all
' Ware's Bishops, p. 415.

Sec. IL] KING EDAVARD VI. 219
those superadded ceremonies, Avhicli in later times
had been introduced with a vioAv of giving more
pomp to the celebration. This form, Avhich Avas the
only one uoav used in England, had been annexed
to the Act of Parliaraent, Avhich authorized the
Second Book of Common Prayer of King EdAA'ard
the Sixth'": it had not, hoAvever, been brought into
action in Ireland by the laAvs of the kingdom, nor
Avas it authorised there by Act of Parliaraent until
the second year of Queen Elizabeth : nor does it
appear that any order frora the king had been sent
to Ireland for the use of his Second Book, to Avhich
this ordinal Avas annexed. It is said that, at the
instance of Lockwood, dean of Christ's Church, the
Archbishop of Dublin intended to use the old Pon
tifical on this occasion ; that the Lord Chancellor, a
Protestant, concurred ; and that Goodacre was easily
persuaded to it: Bishop Burnet adds, "the two Different opi-
, 1 X • 1 1 ,1 T .* nions about it.
others, Irishmen, who AA'ere now to be consecrated ;
but this is a mistake, for there Avere no others
besides Goodacre and Bale : possibly he raeans the
two assistant bishops : and on the proposal being
made to use the English forra, the dean very ear
nestly protested against its use, alleging, " that it
would be an occasion of turault, as well as that it
Avanted authority by the Irish laAvs." But a con
trary sentiment Avas raaintained by others, especially
by the Bishop-elect of Ossory, Avho contended, that
" if England and Ireland be under one king, they
are both bound to the obedience of one laAv under
him," and who absolutely refused to be consecrated
by the old Pontifical. In the end he was supported
by the Lord Chancellor, who was also one of the
Lords Justices, and the archbishop consented to
'" Collier's E.:cl. Hist., vol. ii. p. 321,

220

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. III.

Question con
cerning the mi
nistration of the
Holy Commu
nion.

solemnize the consecration by the English form,
Avhich he had at first declined, apparently because it
did not stand upon the same footing of the king's
order as the Liturgy which he had received : and so
the consecration was celebrated, "there being no
tumult among the people, and every man, saving the
priests, being well contented"."
Another alteration was made on the same occa
sion in one of the rites of the church, in consequence
of the resistance of the uoav bishop, who refuted all
opposition, by declaring that they might " set their
hearts at rest, for he came to the church of Ossory
to execute nothing, but according to the rules of the
Book of Common Prayer." The holy sacrament of
the Lord's Supper being about to be administered,
" he refused to communicate in the wafer or printed
bread, but caused a Avhite manchet to be set on the
altar '\" In explanation of this statement, it Avill be
convenient for the reader to be apprised of an article
of the Rubrick, appended to " the ministration of
the Holy Communion," in the Liturg}', which, as we
have seen, the king had ordered to be observed in
all the churches of Ireland. " For avoiding of all
matters and occasions of dissension, it is meet that
the bread prepared for the Communion be made
through all this realm after one sort and fashion:
that is to say, unleavened and round, as it was before,
but without all manner of print, and something
more large and thicker than it was, so that it may
be aptly divided in divers pieces ; and every one
shall be divided into two pieces at the least, or more,
by the discretion of the minister, and so distributed."
" Vocacyon of John Bale to the BisJioprick of Ossory, in Harleian
Mise, vol. vi. Burnet's Hist, of Reform., part ii. b. i. p. 379.
'^ AVare's Bishops, p. 417.

(.jr-*.!! J-At

KlJNG EDWARD VI. 221

The distinction here mentioned is precisely that Dale's conduct
which Bale intended, between " the Avafer or jirinted rfubriek in the
bread," and " the Avhite manchet," or small loaf,
" bread without all raanner of print," Avhich another
Rubrick of the sarae liturgy also directed to be " set
forth upon the altar." King Edward's second book
is less particular ; but says, " it shall suffice that the
bread is such as is usual to be eaten at the table Avith
other raeats, but the best and purest Avheat-bread
that conveniently may be gotten." Both directions,
however, Avere introduced for the purpose of laying-
down a rule, which should distinguish the reformed
from the Popish mode of ministering the Holy Com
munion. And it is difficult to understand, how the
consecrating Archbishop of Dublin, any more than
the Bishop-elect of Ossory, can have been consent
ing to the use of the Popish mode.
I am not aware that we possess means of rauch Defects in gwing
. n . , . i.i*-T**-ii popular instruc-
mtormation as to the raanner in which indiviaual tion in religion.
bishops and other clergymen exerted themselves in
promoting the truths of the Reformation, or in which
their exertions were received and turned to account
by those for whose instruction they were raade. If
zeal and diligence existed in the instructors, their
language for the most part did not qualify them for
conveying instruction to the popular mind. And
indeed it is to be feared, that there was a very meagre
supply of such instruction as the circumstances of
the country made peculiarly requisite.
This is stated in a letter of the Sth of May, Letter from the
_ _ ^^, -,, ft Lord Chancellor
1552, frora Thoraas Cusacke, Lord Chancellor of to the nuke of
, T ., . . Northuuiber-
Ireland, to the Duke of Northumberland ; wherein lana. May, 1552.
he delivers his opinion, " that the poor and simple
people be as soon brought to good order as to evil.

222

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. m.

Bishop Bale's
activity in sup
port of the Re
formation.

if they were taught accordingly ; for hard it is for
such men to know their duties to God and to the
king, when they shall not hear teaching or preaching
through all the year, to edify the poor ignorant to
know his duty. So as, if these poor people were
taught to know their duties, and brought up as other
subjects be, it is like that they would be good sub
jects, whereas now they show theirselves obedient
through honest exhortation, and most part for fear."
And he afterwards says, that " preachers should be
appointed amongst them, to tell them their duties
towards God and their king, that they may know
Avhat they ought to do. And as for preaching,"
he again complains, " Ave have none, which is our
lack : without whicli the ignorant can have no
knowledge, and which were very needful to be
redressed'"." In the case, however, of the new Bishop of
Ossory, so far at least as his ignorance of the Irish
language did not incapacitate him, that energy which
was to be expected from a man of his ardent tem
perament, of his zeal, assiduity, activity, and devotion
to the reformed faith, in opposition to the Romish
errors, and which he had already long and repeatedly
manifested, was put forth in its full force, and not
without effect, on his transplantation to the Church
of Ireland. For immediately after his consecration,
he betook himself to Kilkenny, the place of his
cathedral Church, and his episcopal residence ; and
engaged in preaching the Gospel, in Avhich practice
he constantly persevered, notwithstanding the oppo
sition and contradiction which assailed him from the
greater part of his prebendaries, and frora the advo
cates of the Papacy in general.
'^ MSS. T. C. D. F. 8, 16, p. 70.

Sec.IL] king EDWARD VI. 223
The principles, indeed, and practices of the
Reformation appear to have taken very faint hold of
the minds of the people at this period : and, even
where the provisions of the English liturgy were Principles of the
avoAvedly adopted, they were corrupted by an inter- mixed with
mixture of Romish superstitions. The holy Com- tions!
munion of the Lord's Supper Avas "used like a Po])isli
mass, Avith the old apish toys of anti-Christ, in
bowings and beckings, kneelings and knockings ; the
Lord's death, after St. Paul's doctrine, neither
preached, nor yet spoken of" On his arrival frora
England at Waterford, Bale had been forcibly ira
pressed by the appearance of these remnants of the nemnantsof
li'iij n 1 1 T' 1 T Popei-y in Divine
old idolatry, as well as by the " prodigious howlings service.
and patterings" with which they wailed over the
dead, as if the redemption by Christ's passion were
not sufficient to procure quiet for the souls of the
deceased, and to deliver thera out of hell without
these " sorrowful sorceries." His appearance soon
afterwards in Dublin, and that of his friend and
forraer associate the Archbishop of Armagh elect,
are stated by him to have been cordially welcoraed
in the metropolis : where " much of the people," he
observes, " did greatly rejoice of our coining thither,
thinking by our preachings the Pope's superstitions
A^'ould diminish, and the true Christian religion
increase '\"
Thus instigated on the one hand by horror of the subjects of
enorraities which he had Avitnessed, and cheered on
the other by the friends of the reforraed doctrines.
Bishop Bale, immediately after his consecration,
went forAvard to his charge.
" My first proceedings," he says, " in that doing
'¦' Bale's Vocacyon, printed in the Harleian Miscellanies, vol. vi.
pp. 411, 412.

224

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. m.

Not aided by his
clergy.

Opposed by the
I'opish priests.

IIi3 animadver
sions on their
licentiousness ;

were these : I earnestly exhorted the people to
repentance for sin, and required them to give credit
to the Gospel of salvation : to acknowledge and
believe, that there was but one God ; and Him alone,
without any other, sincerely to Avorship: to confess
one Christ for an only Saviour and Redeeraer, and
to trust in none other raan's prayers, merits, nor yet
deservings, but in his alone for salvation. I treated
at large both of the heavenly and political state of
the Christian Church ; and helpers I found none
araong ray prebendaries and clergy, but adversaries
a great nuraber.
" I preached the Gospel of the knowledge and
right invocation of God : I maintained the political
order by doctrine, and moved the Commons always
to obey their raagistrates. But when I once sought
to destroy the idolatries, and dissolve the hypocrites'
yokes, then followed angers, slanders, con.spiracies,
and, in the end, the slaughter of raen. Much ado I
had with the priests : for that I had said among
other, that the AA'hite gods of their making, such as
they offered to the people to be Avorshipped, were
no gods, but idols; and that their prayers for the
dead procured no redemption to the souls departed,
redemption of souls being only in Christ, of Christ,
and by Christ. I added that their office, by Christ's
straight comraandraent, was chiefly to preach and
instruct the people in the doctrine and ways of God,
and not to occupy so much of the time in chaunting,
piping, and singing."
Together Avith the foregoing cause of displeasure
Avhich he gave the priests, Avas connected the free
dom Avherewith he animadverted on the licentious
ness of their lives. " INIuch were the priests offended
also, for that I had in my preachings Avilled them to

Sec. IL] KING EDWARD VI. 225
have wiA^es of their own, and to leave the unshame
faced occupying of other raen's Avives, daughters,
and servants. But hear what answer they made rae
always, yea, the most vicious men among them :
' What ! should we marry,' said they, ' for half a
year, and so lose our livings?' .... Well,
the trutli is, I could never yet, by any godly or
honest persuasion, bring any of them to marriage;
neither yet cause them to leave that filthy and
abominable occupying, what though I most earnestly
laboured it."
The English liturgy Avas another subiect of the nis admonitions
, ° °-' ¦' on the English
bishop s earnest admonitions, and another cause of uturgy.
scandal to the clergy. " Another thing was there,
that much had displeased the prebendaries and other
priests. I had earnestly, ever since my first coming,
required them to observe and follow that only Book
of Comraon Prayer, which the king and his council
had that year put forth by Act of Parliament. But
that would they at no hand obey ; alleging, for their
vain and idle excuse, the lewd exaraple of the Arch
bishop of Dublin, which was always slack in things
pertaining to God's glory : alleging also, the want of
books, and that their own justices and lawyers had
not consented thereunto : as though it had been
lawful for their justices to have denied the same, or
as though they had rather have hanged upon thera,
than upon the king's authority, and comraandment
of his council"."
These allegations, however, had raore in their obstacles to the
favour than the bishop was Avilling to allow : for the Engiishuturgy
clergy might have reasonably and properly had ward vl, not
regard to the example of their metropolitan, and to
the authority of the governraent of the country,
'^ Bale's Vocacyon, as above, pp. 413, 414. Q,

226 THE REIGN OF [Ch. III.
which was now administered by the Lord Chancellor
Cusack, and Aylmer, lord chief justice of the King's
Bench, who had been appointed Lords Justices ol
the kingdom in tbe preceding December. As to
" the lewd example," meaning, I suppose, the foolisli
or ignorant example, "of the Archbishop of Dublin,"
the case appears to have been this : he had received
the First Book of King Edward, in obedience to the
king's order, through the Irish government, but he
had not received the king's Second Book, lately
authorised by the English parliament, but hitherto,
so far as is recorded, not ordered to be received in
Ireland. Had the order been given, the same
motives now, as before, would doubtless have secured
the archbishop's obedience. But with respect to
the writer of the foregoing accusation, it may he
remarked, that, with an uncommon warmth of tem
perament, he allowed himself in the use of an
unbecoming coarseness, and even grossness, of ex
pression, in speaking of those who had incurred his
displeasure. And that his displeasure had been
incurred in no slight degree by Archbishop Browne,
is evident from this and other passages in this
treatise, where his character is censured in no mea
sured terms, but without a statement of reasons
sufficient to justify the charges.
Bale's continued But howcvcr thesc thiugs may have been, the
diligence. Bishop of Ossory was diligent in discharging his pas
toral duties, preaching continually in his cathedral of
Kilkenny till after Midsummer, though not without
much opposition. Still the period during which lie
presided over his diocese, " quietly preaching Christ
and salvation 'by him alone to his people, and laboiu'-
ing to -withdraw them from popish superstitions,"
seems to have been a season of satisfaction to him-

Sec.IL] KING EDWARD VI. 227
self, and of profit to his flock. And he speaks with
complacency of that " half-hour's silence," as he
styles it, alluding to St. John's expression in the
Revelation, chap, viii., 1, " and those foAV years of
rest that God's people here enjoyed under that
blessed servant of Christ, King Edward."
But the period was short. For he had scarcely Death of tha
occupied his seat six months, when the king died, ArrfibMiop
and Queen Mary ascended the regal throne. The °° Tssk
Archbishop of Armagh, Goodacre, who had been
consecrated with Bishop Bale in February, had died
in the foUoAving May, a few weeks before the king's
demise ; " that godly preacher, and virtuous learned
man," as he is characterised by Bale in his Vocacyon ;
who alleges that he was " poisoned at Dublin by
procurement of certain priests of his diocese, for
preaching God's verity, and rebuking their common
vices." The account, which conveyed to him this
intelligence, warned him also that a similar plot was Aiiegeacanseof
laid against his own life. It ought, however, in jus- Goodacre?"
tice to be stated that no evidence is given of the
allegation ; and that Sir James Ware, in his brief
sketch of the archbishop's life, does not adopt the
charge, but merely records his death, without at
tempting to assign the cause ; wherein he is followed
by Mr. Stuart, the historian of the city of Armagh.
Bale also relates, what he probably could do with
greater certainty, that the archbishop left behind him
many Avritings of great value ; if, however, any of
them were published, their publication had escaped
the researches of the industrious ecclesiastical anti
quary, Strype'" ; nor is his name included in Harris's
edition of Sir Jaraes Ware's history of English
writers who flourished in Ireland, where may be
'" Memorials of Abp. Cranmer, vol. i. p. 400.
Q2

228 REIGN OF EDAVARD VI. [Ch. IH.
found a long catalogue of Bale's own publica
tions".
Summary of re- The death of tho klug OU the 6th of July, 1553,
ligious improve- „ , , , , i • i <• , i
ment during this put a stop for tlio presout to the improveraent of the
Church of Ireland. Not much, indeed, had been
done or attempted by the English government in
that behalf, during his six years' reign ; a forbear
ance which is probably to be attributed to a pru
dence or timidity of counsels during the king's mino
rity, and to a sense of the intractable temper ofthe
people, and their inveterate attachment to the super
stitions of the Church of Rome. The foundations,
however, for future improvement had been laid, in
the maintenance of the king's supremacy, in the ap
pointment of men of high character to the episco
pacy, in the introduction of the English Liturgy, and
in the initiative step for its being set forth in the
Irish language. By these means, as well as by a
careful aud due administration of the laws of Eng
land, great countenance and encouragement were
given to those avIio embraced the Reformed religion,
especially Avithin those counties knoAvn by the name
of the English pale ; the Common Prayer Book of
England being brought over thither, and used in
most of the churches of the English plantation, by
authority of the king, there being hitherto no law
of their own parliaments to enforce it on their
observance '^ '7 Book II. p. 323.
'" Heylyn's History ofthe Reformation, p. 123.

229

CHAPTER IV.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
QUEEN MARY .... 1553—1558.
GEORGE DOWDALL, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH
AND PRIMATE .... 1553—1558.
Proclamations on Queen Marfs accession. Reinstatement
of Archbishop Dowdall. Dcpriration of the Protestatit
Bishops. Their places occupied by Papists. Hugh
Ciirwen, archbishop of Dublin. Rerival of Popish super
stitions. Encouraged by the Lord Deputy. Pope Paul's
Bull. Acts of Parliament for suppressing heresy and
LoUardy. The Queen's purpose of persecuting the Pro
testants interrupted by her Death.
The succession of Queen Mary to the crown of succession to the
•' crown of Ireiaud
Ireland did not encounter the teraporary interrup- regulated by that
^ -^ ^ to the crown of
tion AA'hich AA'as opposed to her claim upon the crown England.
of England. The croAvn of Ireland, indeed, had
been entailed upon the Lady Elizabeth by name, by
the Irish statute of the 28tli year of King Henry
the Eighth, chapter 2 ; and that statute had not been
subsequently repealed by any Irish act. But the
English statute of the 3oth year of King Henry the
Eighth, chapter 2, was, in effect, a repeal of the
aforesaid Irish statute, as it Avas avowedly a repeal of
the English statutes to the same effect. For Ireland
was a kingdora subordinate to that of England, and
forming a part of its dominion. Whoever was king
of England, Avas, in fact, king of Ireland, as much
as he Avas of any of the minor dependent islands,
the isle of Shejipy, for example, or the Isle of
Wight. This was the case at common law ; and it
had been explained to be so by the Irish statute of

230

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IV.

Proclamationson the queen's
accession.

Rejoicings at
Kilkenny.

Bisliop Bale's ac
count of them.
August, 1553.

33rd Henry the Eighth, chapter 1, Avherein it was
enacted that the king and his successors, kings of
England, shall be " kings of Ireland, as united and
knit to the iraperial crown of the realra of England."
Thus Ireland was bound to submit to the same dis
posal of the crown, which might be made in Eng
land ; so that when after twelve days' disturbance,
which had been raised in opposition to Queen Mary,
she was peaceably seated on the English throne, her
succession to that of Ireland followed as a regular
consequence '.
Intelligence of this event having been commu
nicated by the council of England to the lords jus
tices of Ireland, the queen's succession was announced
in Ireland by a proclamation, Avhicli had been sent
over from the council of England on the 20th of
July, 1553 ; wherein she was styled " supreme head
of the church.'' This was read in Dublin, and in
other cities and towns of the kingdom, as is usual on
such occasions; and was soon after followed by
another proclamation, giving to all persons who
would, liberty to attend the mass, but not compelling
thereunto those who AA'ere unwilling.
In what way this event may have been celebrated
by the friends of the papacy in other towns of Ire
land, I am not aware that we have information. But
the following account of the proceedings at Kil
kenny, given by Bishop Bale, is curious, and may,
perhaps, be taken as a speciraen of what occurred
elsewhere. "On the 20th day of August," he says, "was the
Lady Mary with us at Kilkenny proclaimed queen
of England, France, and Ireland, with the greatest
solemnity that could be devised, of processions,
' Cox, i. 29

Cn. IV.] QUEEN MARY. 231
musters, and disguisiiigs, all the noble captains and
gentlemen thereabout being present. What ado I
had that day with the prebendaries and priests,
about Avearing the cope, crosier, and mitre, in pro
cession, it were too much to AA'rite.
" I told them earnestly, when they would have
compelled rae thereto, that I was not Moses' rainister,
but Christ's. I desired thera not to corapel me to his
denial, which is, St. Paul saith, in the repeating of
Moses' sacraments and ceremonial shadows. (Gal. v.)
With that I took Christ's testament in my hand, and
Avent to the market cross, the people in great num
ber following. There took I the 13tli chapter of
St. Paul to the Romans, declaring to them briefly
what the authority was of the worldly poAvers and
magistrates, what reverence and obedience were due
to the same. In the meantirae had the prelates
[qu. prebendaries] gotten two disguised priests, one
to bear the raitre afore me, and another the crosier,
making three procession pageants of one.
" The young men in the forenoon played a tra
gedy of God's promises in the old law, at the market
cross, with organ, plainges, and songs, very aptly. In
the afternoon again they played a coraedy of St.
John the Baptist's preachings, of Christ's baptising,
and of his terajDtations in the wilderness, to the
small contentation of the priests and other papists
there." The bishop was still active, both publickly and Restoration of
privately, in maintaining, what he believed to be the stitions.
truths of the Gospel, in opposition to all gainsayers.
But "on Thursday, the last day of August," he
says, " I being absent, the clergy of Kilkenny blas
phemously resumed again the whole Papism, or heap
^ Bale's Vocacyon, as above.

232 THE REIGN OF [Ch.IV.
of superstitions of the Bishop of Roine:_ to the
utter conterapt of Christ and his holy Avord, of the
king and council of England, and of all ecclesias
tical and politick order, Avithout either statute or
yet proclamation. They rang all the bells in that
catliedral, minster, and parish churches ; they flung
up their caps to the battlements of the great temple,
AA'ith smilings aud laugliings most dissolutely; they
brought foith their copes, candlesticks, holy-water
stocks, crosses, and censers ; they mustered forth in
general procession most gorgeously all the town
over, with ' Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis,' and the
rest of the Latin Litany. They chattered it, they
chaunted it AA'ith great noise and devotion ; they
banquetted all the day after, for that they were
delivered from the grace of God into a warra sun.
" For now they raay, now frora thenceforth, again
deceiA'e the people, as they did aforetime, Avith their
Latin mumblings, and make merchandise of thein.
2 Peter ii.
" They raay raake the Avitless sort believe, that
they can raake every day new gods of their little
white cake,s, and that they can fetch their friends'
souls frora flaming purgatory, if need be, Avith other
great miracles else.
"They may now Avithout check have other men's
Avives in occupying,  aud be at an utter defi
ance with marriage, though it be au institution of
God, honourable, holy, righteous, and perfect.
"I Avrite not this Avithout a cause: for Avhy?
There Avere some araong thera, which boasted both
of this, and rauch raore too vain to be told.
"And Avhen they were demanded, how they
would, afore God, be discharged? They made
answer, that ear-confession Avas able to burnish them

Dowtlall restored
to the urch-
bi.sliopiiok and
piiiniicy.

<Jh. IV.] aUEEN MARY. 233
again, and to make them so Avhite as suoav, though
they thus offended never so oft."
The death of Archbishop Goodacre, between tAvo
and three months before the queen's accession, saved
him from deprivation, and left the see open for the
restoration of Archbishop DoAvdall ; avIio, towards
the close of the year 1553, and shortly after the
arrival of the new viceroy. Sir Anthony St. Leger,
was recalled frora his voluntary banishraent ; and
on the 12th of March folloAving Avas by letters M.irch, 1534.
patent restored to the title of primate of all Ireland,
which King EdAvard had granted to Archbishop
Browne, but the patent for which the queen now
obliged him to surrender, and deliver it cancelled
into the chancery".
The restoration of this dignity to the recalled Dceiivr.ition of
archbishop Avas accompanied by a declaration of the tilm'of't'ho"
ancient usage, according to which it had been appro- Armagh.''
priated to the metropolitan see of Armagh. " We
restore," said the queen to Archbishop Dowdall,
"the primacy of all Ireland, Avhich your predeces
sors, beyond the memory of man, have been knoAvn
to have held ; and we confirm to you for ever the
sarae, coraraanding that all other archbishops and
bishops shall pay obedience to the priraates iu the
exercise of their primatial office." Thus he reco
vered both the archbishoprick and the style of pre
eminence forraeriy annexed to it, as it Avere by a
"remitter" or restitution to that right, of which he
had been before deprived. On the same day a grant
Avas also made to him in commendam during life, of
the precincts of the late dissolved monastery or
hospital of St. John of Athirdee, of Avhich he had
' Ware's Bishops, p. 92.

234

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IV.

St. Legor again
Lord Deputy.
bept. 1553.

Commission for
restoring Popery,
April, 1554

And punishing
the married
clergy.

Deprivation of
the Protestant
hisliops ;

been prior before the dissolution of abbeys, and
before his original promotion to the archbishoprick
of Armagh. No time was now lost in endeavouring to reduce
Ireland again under the entire dominion of Popery.
And it is a circumstance not unworthy of remark,
that the individual, Sir Anthony St. Leger, under
whose government this new religious change was to
be effected, was the same who had been entrusted
with the viceregal office, for effecting the alteration
of the preceding reigns : and who, having been
superseded in the reign of King Edward, Avas now
again sent over to Ireland, and resuraed his office of
Lord Deputy in September, 1553.
In pursuance of the plan for re-establishing the
Papal dominion, in April, 1554, the month following
that in. which the primate had been restored, a
coraraission Avas issued to the archbishop, to Walsh,
elect bishop of Meath, Leverous, the future bishop
of Kildare, and other delegates, empowering them
to take measures for restoring the Papal religion,
and especially for re-establishing celibacy among the
clergy, by punishing those Avho had been guilty of
violating it by marriage. In execution of this com
mission, on the 29th of June, Staples, bishop of
Meath, was deprived of his see, one of his judges
being the person previously chosen for his successor;
and in the latter end of the sarae year the like
penalty was inflicted on Browne, archbishop of
Dublin; Lancaster, bishop of Kildare; Travers,
bishop of Leighlin ; and Casey, bishop of Limerick.
Bale, bishop of Ossory, had fled beyond the seas'
Of these prelates, Bishop Staples is said to have
been " deposed on account of a conspiracy against
* Ware's Bishops, p. 92. Cox's Hist. i. 299.

vu. IV.J QUEEN MARY. 235
the Roman pontiff," raeaning probably that he had
taken an active part in the Reforraation, especially
in maintaining the king's, in preference to the Pope's
supremacy. Such is the statement of a roll, cited
in Archdall's MS. additions in the Library of the
Royal Irish Academy. Besides AA'hich, the general
offence Avith which they were all charged was, that
they were raarried raen : the same offence which had
been visited a short time before by the same penalty
on their English brethren in the episcopate ; and
the same which was likoAA'ise visited on sorae of the
inferior clergy of Ireland, as in the case of Jaraes Andotthemfe-
Wliite ; the particulars of Avhose trial in 1557, at
which Bishop Leverous presided, on an accusation
of having contracted raatriraony, are still extant in
a visitation book of the diocese of Dublin ^
Of these martyrs of the Reformation in Ireland, Popish calumny
against Arcli-
Archbishop Browne has been the subject of a Popish bishop Browne.
aspersion, noticed in his life, page 159, that " he
died through joy, having had a bull frora the Pope,
to be restored to his see of Dublin :" an aspersion,
supported by no evidence but the gratuitous affirraa
tion of a Romish writer ; inconsistent with the fact,
that the Pope, if he had granted such a bull, must
likewise have dispensed AA'ith his marriage, AA'hich
rendered hira, according to the tenets of Rorae,
incapable of holding a bishoprick ; but above all
diametrically opposed to a long course of profes
sional activity, in which he exerted his powers Avith
simplicity and sincerity, and used all faithful dili
gence in repressing the errors and corruptions of the
papacy. What remains of his subsequent history amounts subsequent his-
tory of the de-
to no more than this : that he, as well as the Bishops pnved bishops.
^ Mason's St. Patrick, p. 162.

236

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. IV.

Persecutions of
Bishop Bale.

Substitution of
Papists.

Staples, Lancaster, and Travers, is supposed to have
died not long after deprivation. Bishop Casey sur
vived the reign of the persecuting queen, and was
restored to his see by Queen Elizabeth. Bishop
Bale, before his flight, had been the object of violent
assaults frora sorae Popish priests and others, who
sought his life, and attacked hira in his house at
Bishop's Court, and slew five of his servants before
his face. But he defended himself by shutting the
iron grate of his castle, and Avas thus jsreserved from
his eneraies till the arriA'^al of the chief raagistrate of
Kilkenny Avith a military force ; Avho, under favour
of the night, conveyed him in safety to Kilkenny,
and thence sent him to Dublin. But there also his
life was hunted after; so that he AA'as again com
pelled to take refuge in flight ; until at length, after
numerous perils and disasters, from storms and
jsirates, from captivity and plunder, he reached
Basle ; and thence, after a peaceful abode of five
years, returned to England in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, but never sought a restoration to his see,
being contented with a prebend in the cathedral of
Canterbury, bestowed on him by the bounty of the
queen. In 1559 Bi.shop Bale was one of the seven
bishops named in the warrant for the consecration
of Dr. Parker to the archbishoprick of Canterbury,
but he Avas not called upon to officiate at that
soleranity. In the room of the deprived bishops, supporters
of the Reforination, popish prelates were substituted ;
the mode of their appointment being expressed by
Sir Jaraes Ware in a variety of phraseology, such as
"appointed by the queen, and confirmed by the
Pope ;" " by a Papal provision ;" " advanced by the
Pope at the instance of the queen ;" " advanced by

Ch. IV.] . QUEEN MARY. 237
the queen." And they, on their consecration, took
the folloAving oath, as appears frora the publiek
records. " I, A. B., bi,sliop of C, elected and con
secrated, do profess that I have and hold all the
temporal possessions of the said bishoprick from
your hands, and from your successors, kings of
England, as in right of the crown of your kingdom
of Ireland, and to you and your successors, kings of
England, I will be faithful. So help rae God, and
God's holy gospels "."
After the deprivation of Archbishop BroAvne, nughcmwen
the see continued vacant for some tirae. But on nXun'.'"""
the 22nd of February, 1555, a licence was issued by I'^'-y.iMs.
King Philip and Queen Mary to proceed to the
election of a successor : the licence having been, it
should seera, preceded by the queen's letter, under
her privy signet, to the dean and chapter of Christ
Church, dated the 18th of February, in the first and
second year of her reign, and signed on the top of
the letter with her own hand, " Marye the queene,"
as cited by Harris in his continuation of Ware, frora
the chapter-house of that cathedral. The person
chosen for the archbishoprick was Hugh Curwen, a
native of Westmoreland, doctor of laAv,s, dean of
Hereford, and archdeacon of Oxford. He was con- nis consecriition
secrated in St. Paul's cathedral, London, according Loitdon""'*"
to the form of the Roman pontifical, on the Sth of
September, 1555, together Avith the bishops of
Exeter and Bangor ; and on the 12th of Septeraber,
four days after bis consecration, he was appointed by
the queen, whose chaplain he Avas, lord chancellor of
Ireland, whither he proceeded Avithout delay, taking
with hira the following charge from her majesty.
= Cox. i. fiOO,

238 THE REIGN OP ' [Cii. IV.
Queen's charge " To our tvusty and well-belovod dean and chapter of
chipLroTctott the cathedral of Christ's Church, in Dublin, within our
Church. i-eain^ of Ireland.
" Mary Queen.
" Trusty and AveU-beloved, VA'e greet you well : and
forasmuch as the right reverend father in God, our right
trusty and well-beloved councillor, the Archbishop of Dubhn,
being lately chosen for that see, repaircth speedily to that
our realm of Ireland, as well to reside upon the cure of hi.g
bishoprick, which now of long hath been destitute of a
Catholick bishop, as also to occupy the oftico of our high
chancellor of that our realm : albeit we have good hopes ye
will in all things of yourselves carry yourselves towards him
as becometh you ; yet to the intent he might govern the
clergy committed unto him, to the honour of Almighty God,
and for the remain of our service, we have thought fit to
require and charge you, that for your part ye reverently
receive him, honour, and humbly obey him in all things, as
appertaineth to the duties tending to God's glory, our
honour, and the common weal of that our realm, Avhereby
ye sball please God, and do us acceptable service.
" Given under our signet, at our manor of Greenwich
the 15th day of September, in the third year of our reign."
Incidents in the Tho uow archblshop had forraeriy been chaplain
Spcurwen." to Kiug Heuiy VIIL, and in that capacity had
preached often before him, so that his sentinients
upon the leading articles of controversy at that
period were made known, and have been transmitted
to posterity. By Strype, in his Life of Parker, vol.
An advocate for i. 508, WO are iufoi'med that " in the year 1532, in
a sermon before the king, he spoke much in behalf
of the supremacy; Avhen one Elston, a friar of
Greenwich, openly told him in that presence 'he
lied ;' for which he Avas coramitted to prison. In
1553, when Friar Peto had, in the king's presence,
at Greenwich, inveighed against the king's marriage
Avith Anne Bolen; Dr. CurAvin the next Sunday

Cn. IV.] QUEEN MARY. 239
preached before the king, aud spake as much for And for the
that marriage ; aud added, that he much Avondered with Anne bo-
hoAv a subject dared so audaciously to behave him
self before the king's face, as he had done. But
however he were for the supremacy and the mar
riage, and went along with the king in his other
proceedings, yet he Avas a zealous man for the zcnious for the
corporal pre-
corporal presence ; and the death of the pious Frith sence.
was attributed to him. For in a sermon preached
before the king in Lent, he inveighed against the
Sacramentaries ; and at length in sorae heat said,
' It is no marvel, though this abominable heresy so
much prevail among us ; for there is one now in the
ToAA'er (meaning Frith), so bold as to Avrite in de
fence of that heresy, and yet no man goeth about
his reformation.' But this," adds Strype, " Avas the
Bishop of Winchester's device, to put the king upon
prosecuting that poor man."
On his appointraent to the see of Dublin, he set He encourages
¦^ -^ idolatry.
hiraself to counteract the effects which had been
wrought by his predecessor ; especially he caused to
be re-erected in Christ Church the marble image of
our Saviour, which Archbishop Browne had dis
placed ; though, as we shall see iu the succeeding
reign, he himself again caused the image to be
removed. Both of these facts are recorded by
Strype, {Life of Parker, i. 90,) avIio seems to have
been not without reason for the character, which
he elsewhere gives of Archbishop Curwen, that he
Avas "a complier in all reigns." {Life of Cranmer, a compiler in au
reigns.
p. 54.) The foUoAving extract from a conteraporaneous Favourable im-
letter, dated December 4, 1555, gives an account by ws nrst ser-
p ,, . , ,.,.« T , . r. mnn, December,
ot the impression raade m his favour by his first 1555.
appearance in his neAv situation; but the accom-

240 THE REIGN OF [Cil. IV.
panying notice that it Avas Avritten " from Martin
Peliy, or Pellys, or Pells, to the Lo  "
leaves us in ignorance of the author, except as to
his narae, as well as of the nobleman to whom it
was addressed.
" Also please it your lordship to be advertised, that the
Archbishop of Dublin did preach his first sermon that he
made in this land the Sunday after St. Andrew, in Christ
Church in Dublin, and did set forth the word of God in
his sermon sincerely and after such a sort, that those men
that be learned and unlearned both do give hiin as high
praise, as I have heard given to any one man ; .so that
those men, that favour the word of God, are very glad of
him, and prayeth for him so to continue'."
po^sesstono't'by" At Or about the same time the other newly
bishops.'* appointed bishops took possession of the vacant
sees: Walsh, of Meath; Leverou,s, of Kildare;
O'Fihely, or Field, of Loughlin ; Lacy, or Lees, of
Limerick ; and Thorney, of Kilkenny. All of these
appear to have been natives of Ireland. Roland
Baron, likewise a native, had been previously ap
pointed by the queen to the archbishoprick of Cashel,
vacant at the time of her succession ; being elected
by the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's, of Cashel,
at the coraraand of her raajesty, by a conge d'elire,
dated the 20th of November, in the first year of
her reign.

Primate Dowdall
active in restor.

Meanwhile the restored primate was not remiss
ing Popery. -jj, tostifyiiig hls zoal for the peculiarities of his
religion, which had been shaken by the inroads of
the Reformation.
In 1554, the same year in Avhich he acted in
¦' Wap.e'.s MSS. V. 7/), p. 180, ex Collect. D. Geo. Carew, Lambeth
MSS. Library, No. 002, p. ISO.

»^H.iv.j QUEEN MARY. 241
the same cause under the royal commission, he held provincL^i synod
a provincial synod in St. Peter's church, Drogheda, °^'^™im4.'''
or Tredagh, as the toAvn Avas then called ; the con
stitutions of Avhich chiefly tended to the restoration
of Popery and the deprivation of the married clergy,
and of which one article laid an obligation upon all
rectors and vicars, who did not know how to preach,
of engaging a substitute to preach for thera four
times a year. The next year he caused a day of juwice for re-
jubilee to be observed through all Ireland for the Pop'eiy. i^:;.
restoration of the Romish religion. And in 1556
he held another provincial synod at Drogheda, in Provincial synod
,.,,., T 1 , .. ^I'l ^^ Drogheda.
which little more Avas done than the giving ot liberty isss.
to husbandmen and labourers to work on certain
festivals during harvest.
In the second of these years the Archbishop of provincial synod
Dublin also, it being the year of his appointment,
held a synod of his province, " as he pretended for
reformation of religion %" and therein made some
constitutions about the rites and ceremonies to be
used in the Church. Of the value of some of these
ceremonies a judgment may be formed from their
probable similarity to those of which notice is inci
dentally given as being in use under the revived Revival of
Romish rites,
Romish ritual. On the swearing-in of the Lord 1557.
Chancellor (Archbishop Curwen,) and Sir Llenry
Sydney, as lords justices in 1557, "mass was cele
brated, and they were censed and sprinkled with
holy water." And on occasion of a rebellion in
Thomond being quelled by the Lord Deputy in the
same year, " the Earl of Thomond, together with
the freeholders of that country, did, on Sunday, the
10th of July, swear on the sacrament, and by all
the reliques of the church, as book, bell, and candle-
8 Loftus MS. Marsh's Library. R

242 THE REIGN OF [Cn.IV.
light, (they are, says Cox, the very words of the
herald's certificate,) to continue loyal to the queen,
and to perform their agreements Avith the Lord
Deputy °."
Lord Fitzwaiter, The Loi'd Deputy here mentioned was Thomas
lord deputy. ± J n i
RatcliflF, Viscount Fitzwaiter, afterwards Earl of
Sussex, who had entered on his office in May, 1556,
as the successor of Sir Anthony St. Leger, Avho, by
st.Legerre- some Satirical verses in ridicule of the Popish doc-
eatirizing tran. trfue of transubstautiatioii, had given occasion to
his enemies at the English court for effecting his
removal. "Queen Mary," says Campion, in his
History of Ireland, chapter 10, "established in her
crown, committed her government once more to St.
Leger, whom sundry not known pelted and lifted at,
till they shouldered him quite out of all credit. He,
to be counted forward and pliable to the taste of
King Edward the Sixth's reign, rhymed against the
real presence for his pastime, and let the papers fall
where courtiers might light thereon, who greatly
magnified the pith and conveyance of that noble
sonnet. But the original of his own hand- writing
had the same firmly, though contrary to his own
judgment, wandering in so many hands, that his
adversaries caught it, and tripped it in his way ; the
spot whereof he could never Avipe out. Thus Avas
he removed, a discreet gentleman, very studious of
the state of Ireland, enriched, stout enough, without
gall."
ThcLord Deputy Fop thls. Or for souie other reasons, St. Leger
no enemy to 1 1 i t i
Popery; was recalled ; and his place was filled by the Lord
Fitzwaiter, who, on his arrival, showed that he had
no anti-popish prepossessions, by taking the usual
oath of office at the altar in Christ Church, on a
' Cox, i. 305, 307.

^n. iV.j QUEEN MARY. 243
mass-book '". And soon after, on the 2nd of July, he
proceeded to St. Patrick's Cathedral, nobly accora
panied, and was received at the door under a canopy
of state by the archbishop, arrayed in his pontificals,
the clergy also being habited in rich copes: and
kneehng there, he was censed, and having kissed the
cross, received the archiepiscopal blessing; after
Avhich, proceeding to the high altar, he continued
kneeling there Avhile the Te Deum was singing ; and
was there again censed and blessed, and mass was
celebrated by the archbishop".
But the religious principles of the new viceroy, nis instructions
and the views and purposes of the Englisli govern- Popely!" °
ment, were formidably testified by the instructions,
of which he was the bearer, to himself and the
council. These, bearing the superscription of "Mary
the Queen," by their first article require the Lord
Deputy and council, " by their example and all good
means possible to advance the honour of God and
the Catholick faith; to set forth the honour and
dignity of the Pope's holiness and see apostolick of
Rome ; and from time to time be ready with their
aid and secular force, at the request of all spiritual
ministers and ordinaries there, to punish and repress
all hereticks and Lollards, and their damnable sects,
opinions, and errors, and to assist the coraraissioners
of the legate, Cardinal Poole, which he designed to
send into Ireland to visit the clergy."
The spirit of these instructions AA'as transfused Their spirit
. . T 1 T-> 1 • 1 transfused into
intothe Acts passed in the Parliament that was soon Actsof Pania-
after assembled, naraely, on the 1st of June, 1556; June.isso.
and which, in fact, are the earliest Irish Acts, directed
against the doctrines ofthe Reforraed Church. For
it appears to be an erroneous stateraent of a modern
'» Cox, i. 303. " Mason's St. Patrick's Cathedral, p. 163.
R 2

244 THE REIGN OF [Ch.IV.
historian of Ireland, at least the printed collection of
the Irish Statutes does not verify the statement,
that, in the famous pariiaraent, held in the 10th
year of King Henry the Seventh, or in 1495, laws
had been revived to prevent the growth of Lollard
ism and heresy.
Queen Mary, therefore, is intitled to hold " the
bad eminence" of reviving the laws in question by
her new acts. As the forerunner of Avhich, hoAvever,
Hull from Pope about this tirae arrived a bull frora the Poiie, Paul
Paul IV. i
the Fourth, transraitted through Cardinal Poole,
proraising pardon and forgiveness to the spiritualty,
as well as the teraporalty, of her highness's realms
and dorainions, avIio had SAverved frora the obedience
of the See Apostolical, and declined from the unity
of Christ's Church. This bull, as related in the
preamble to the Act of 3 and 4 Philip and Mary,
theTimwal,'"'''' ^^^^P- ^' "liaving been delivered by the Lord Deputy
received. ^q ^^q Loi'd Chaucellor, Archbishop CurAvin, was by
him devoutly and revereudly received and read upon
his knees, in open parliament deliberately and dis
tinctly, in an high voice. And the Lords spiritual
and temporal, and the Commons, in the name of
themselves particularly, and also of the vA'hole body
of the realm, hearing the same, erabraced it right
revereudly and hurably kneeling upon their knee.s,
being repentant : and yielding thanks, had Te Deum
solemnly sung. And further, for a due proof of
their repentance, immediately proceeded to abrogate
and repeal all the acts and statutes made in parlia
ment, since the 20th year of King Elenry the
Eighth, against the See Apostolical of Rome, accord
ing to the tenour and eflfect of the said bull."
By this Act, the 3 and 4 of Philip and Mary,
chap. 8, much false and erroneous doctrine was

Cn. IV.] QUEEN MARY. 245
acknowledged to have been taught, preached, and Purport of the
written, partly by divers the natural born subjects of statutesTgTinlt'
the realm, and partly being brought in hither from
sundry other foreign countries : the providence of
God was commemorated, for having raised up and
set in the seat royal their majesties, as "persons
undefiled, and by God's goodness preserved from the
coinmou infection aforesaid :" the title of supreme
head of the Church Avas pronounced to be not justly
attributable to any king or governor ; but Avrits,
letters patents, commissions, aud other documents,
whether the title of supremacy were contained or
omitted, were declared good : bulls and dispensations
from Rome, not prejudicial to authority royal, or the
laws in force, and not repealed in this parliament,
were allowed to be put in execution : and the Pope's Pope's authority
holiness and See Apostolick Avere ordained to be
restored, and to have and enjoy such authority, pre
eminence, and jurisdiction, as his IToliness used and
exercised, or might have laAvfuUy used and exercised
by the authority of his supremacy, the said 20th
year of the reign of the king, her majesty's father,
within this her realra of Ireland and other her
dominions." And by another Act of the same Parliaraent, Act for reviving
intitled, "An Act for reviving of three Statutes made Lres/-^ '''^'"""
for the Punishment of Heresies," being 3 and 4
Philip and INIary, c. 9, " for the escheAving and avoid
ing of errors and heresies, Avhich of late have risen,
groAvn, and much increased, within this realm, for
that the ordinaries have wanted authority to proceed
ao'ainst tiiose that were infected therewith," it was
O
enacted, that " the three statutes made respectively
in the reigns of King Richard the Second, King
Henrv the Fourth, and King Henry the Fifth, ' con-

246

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. IV.

Penalties de
nounced by the
revived statutes.

Act for the dis
charge of first
fruits.

cerning the arresting and apprehension of erroneous
and heretical preachers,' and ' concerning repre,ssing
of heresies and punishraent of hereticks,' and ' con
cerning the suppression of heresy and LoUardy,' aud
every article, branch, and sentence contained in the
sarae three several acts, and every of thera, shall
frora the first day of this present parliaraent be
revived, and be in full force, strength, and eff'ect, to
all intents, constructions, and purposes whatever."
The reader raay probably not be aAVare of the
enactraents of the statutes thus revived, " made for
the punishment of heresy." It is requisite, there
fore, to be added in explanation, and for the proper
understanding of the tender mercies of his Holiness
the Pope, and of her gracious majesty the queen,
and of the true nature of that " right way" of religion
which they professed, that by the revival of these
statutes, the severest penalties were denounced upon
all persons preaching or teaching, or evidently sus
pected of preaching or teaching, against the Catho
lick, Avhereby, by the arrogant ascription to a
particular Church, of the narae Avhich belonged to the
Church universal, was meant the Roraish faith ; and
that all such persons might be arrested by the
diocesan ; and on conviction be kept in prison and
tried at his discretion; and refusing to abjure, or on
relapsing, be delivered to the secular arm and burnt
for the terror of others.
Two or three other enactments, respecting the
Church, were made in this parliaraent. By the act,
chap. 10, " for the discharge of the first fruits," pay
ments of first fruits to the crown on ecclesiastical
benefices were in future to cease, as Avell as of the
yearly tenths: and certain rectories, glebes, and
other emoluments, spiritual and ecclesiastical, latterly

Ch.IV.] QUEEN MARY. 247
possessed by the crown, Avere now renounced and
relinquished ; with a proviso, however, that the act
should not extend to any grants made by letters
patent to any persons or bodies, other than to
spiritual and ecclesiastical coiqjorations. Thus the
spoils of the Church, previously bestowed on the
laity, were confirmed and perpetuated.
Yet an exception to this appears in the case of
the priorship of St. John's of Jerusalera, coraraonly
called Kilmainhara, which, at the request of the king
and queen. Cardinal Poole, by his legatine power,
restored to its former possessors in 1557, and made
Oswald Messingberd the prior. This appointment
and institution was confirmed by the queen's patent
in the ensuing month. But in 1559, the first year
of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the new prior fled the
country ; and within a year, by a new act of parlia
ment, the priorship was again suppressed, and the
whole disposal of it left to the crown '^
In the same parliament, a petition from the new Act branding
Archbishop of Dublin, complaining of devastations Bro^vn'e¦s°^
,.,1. ., ..1 ,.. 1 children as
made by his predecessor in the archiepiscopal pro- bastards.
perty, was favourably received: and an act (which
however will be sought in vain, in chap. 10 of this
parliament, to which reference is given for it by Dr.
Leland, or anywhere else among the printed statutes,)
was passed, whereby all grants, made by Archbishop
Browne, of any parcel of the archbishoprick, either
to his own use, or that of his " bastards," (for such
Avas the term of ignominy, with which the legislature
thought it well to brand his children born in honour
able wedlock,) Avere declared utterly void'\
Meanwhile a commission had been issued, bear
ing date Deceraber the 3rd, 1556, to the Archbishop
'" Ware's Annals, p. 143. " History, vol. ii. p. 213.

248 THE REIGN OF [Cn. IV.
Commission of Dublln, aud the deans of Christ Church and St.
about Chuich . , ,
property and Patrlck's, togother with other commissioners Avho
Dec. 1506. were laymen, for taking account of all lands or tene
ments, all plate, bells, and other utensils or sums of
money, Avhich had lately belonged to the churches
or chapels of the diocese of Dublin : and for inquir
ing into the state of such churches or chapels
as were ruinous, and reporting by whose fault
they became so : sirailar coramissions Avere issued
about the sarae tirae, for the like purpose, in other
dioceses'*.
Gloomy prospect Rovei'ting*, howevei', to the act for reviving the
three statutes for the punishment of heresy, it may
be remarked, that the revival of these statutes, fol-
loAving on tbe instructions given to the Lord Deputy
and privy council, opened a fearful and gloomy
prospect to those, who should be so presumptuous as
to teach, or so unhappy as to incur the suspicion of
teaching, Avhat the subjects and agents of the Pope
should deem heretical, or not agreeable to the
Popish creed.
Penalties I*^ ™^y b® s^ifl' perhaps, that no hereticks Avere
ZfanVcaiuion. actually visitod with the penalties, denounced by
these formidable statutes. If the assertion be ad
mitted, the cause may be found rather in the wisdom
and caution of the friends of the Reformation, than
in the forbearance and dove-like harmlessness ofthe
champions of the papacy. Thus in the year 1554,
on account of prosecutions then instituted against
their religion, several English Protestants had fled
into Ireland from Cheshire ; and bringing with them
their families, goods, and chattels, lived in Dublin,
and became citizens of that city. They had with
them a Welshman, a Protestant priest, who secretly
" Rot, Pat. Cone, quoted by Mason, p. 163.

Ch.IV.] QUEEN MARY. 249
read to them on Sundays, and other days, the Eng
lish service and the Scriptures. But the cause of
their coming, and this tlieir private occupation, were
not discovered till after Queen JNIary's death ".
Should it be further said, that the penalties were intended perse-
not intended to be, and would not, in the course of
time, have been inflicted ; proof raay be required of
the assertion. And on the other hand, that it was
intended for the act not to sleep in peaceful inaction,
may be inferred from the siraple fact of its having
been enacted : for if otherwise why Avas it enacted showbyvarious considerations.
at all ? The sarae is to be inferred frora the con
comitant and consistent instructions to the Lord
Deputy and the council ; if otherwise, what was their
use, and why were they given ? The conduct also of
the queen, Avith respect to the friends of the Refor
mation in England, is an argument for the conduct
Avhich AA'ould be pursued in Ireland, if occasion Avere
found to exist. The character of Popery at all times
is a corroborative proof of the same.
On the Avhole, it is strictly in accordance Avith the
parliamentary enactments uoav under consideration,
with the proceedings of the government, Avith the
habits of the queen, and Avith the genius of her
religion, that means should have been taken for
inflicting severe punishment on the dissentients frora
the Roraish faith. There is, therefore, no cause of
astonishment in reading, that a comraission Asas comm:
issued for the purpose, although that purpose was iie'reticks
happily frustrated by a remarkable incident, con
cerning Avhich Cox observes, " Because the author
quotes the most reverend and learned primate,
Ussher, aud the meraorials of the most noble and
industrious Richard, earl of Cork, for the following
" Ware's Annals, p. 135.

is.sion
against the Irish

250 THE REIGN OF [Ch.IV.
story, I will insert it verbatim, as it is already printed
in the life of Archbishop Browne.
In what man- " Queen Mary, having dealt severely with the Pro-
nerfnutratcd. ^^^^^^^^ jj^ England, about the latter end of her reign
signed a commission for to take the same course with them
in Ireland ; and to execute the same with greater force, she
nominated Dr. Cole one of the commissioners, sending the
commission by this doctor : who in his journey coming to
Chester, the mayor of tbat city, hearing that her majesty
was sending a messenger into Ireland, and he being a
Churchman, waited on the doctor : who, in discourse with
the mayor, taketh out of a cloak-bag a leather box, saying
unto bim, ' Here is a commission, that shall lash the here
ticks of Ireland,' calling the Protestants by that title. The
good woman of the house, being aa'oII affected to the Pro
testant religion, and also having a brother, named John
Edmonds, of the same, then a citizen of Dublin, was much
By the insenuity troubled at the dootor's words. But watching her conve
nient time, whilst the mayor took his leave, and the doctor
complimenting him down the stairs, she opens the box, aud
takes the commission out, placing in lieu thereof a sheet of
paper, with a pack of cards, the knave of clubs faced upper
most, wrapt up. The doctor, coming up to his chamber,
suspecting nothing of what had been done, put up the box
as forraeriy. The next day going to the water-side, wind
and Aveather serving him, he sails towards Ireland, and
landed on the 7th of October, 15-58, at Dubhn: then
coming to the castle, the Lord Fitzwaiter, being the Lord
Deputy, sent for him to come before him and the privy
council. Who coming in, after he had made a speech,
relating upon what account he came over, he presents the
box unto the Lord Deputy : who causing it to be opened,
that the secretary might read the commission, there Avas
nothing save a pack of cards, Avith the knave of clubs upper
most ; which not only startled the Lord Deputy and council,
but the doctor, who assured them he had a commi.ssion, but
knew not bow it Avas gone. Then the Lord Deputy made
answer, ' Let us have another commission, and we will
shufHe the cards in the mean while.' The doctor being

of an English
woman.

Ch.IV.] queen MARY. 251
troubled in his mind went his \^'ay, and returned into Eng
land, and coming to the court obtained another commission;
but staying for the VA'ind at the Avator-side, news came unto
him that Queen Mary was dead. And thus God preserved
the Protestants in Ireland"'."
The sequel of the story is, that, on the recalling
of the Lord Deputy into England, Queen Elizabeth,
discoursing with hira concerning several passages in
Ireland, araongst other things he related the fore
going narrative : which so delighted the queen, that
her raajesty sent for the good woman, Elizabeth Her recompense
Edmonds, or by her husband's name, ISIattershed, E™abrth™
and gave her a pension of forty pounds a year during
her life, for saving her majesty's Protestant subjects
of Ireland '^
Queen Mary died on the 17th of November, Death of Queen
1558; leaving behind her a character of unexampled nov^I?, isss.
intolerance and cruelty towards those of her sub
jects who differed frora her religious faith. She Avas
most probably a sincere and zealous Papist ; " and
verily thought Avith herself that she ought to do
many things contrary" to the profession of the
reformed creed. But the more her evil deeds are
extenuated by a supposition of the sincerity of her
zeal, the more deep and dark is the brand of igno
miny stamped upon that form of Christianity, Avhich
actuated her in so nefarious a career.
" Cox, i. 308. '' Ware's Annals, p. 164.

252

CHAPTER V.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
QUEEN ELIZABETH . . • •
ADAM LOFTUS, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE .
THOMAS LANCASTER
JOHN LONG .
JOHN GARVEY
HENRY USSHER

1558-1603.1562-1568. 1568-1584. 1584—1589.1589-1594. 1595-

Queen Eliza
beth's accession
a relief to the
Church.

Section I.
Dilatory Proceedings tcitli respect to the Irish Church.
Revival of the English .Liturgy. Remarkable occurrence
on the singing of the Litany in Christ Church. Queen
Elizabeth's first Parliatnent. Act for restoring the
jurisdiction of the Grown. Act of Uniformity. Re-
tnarkable clause of it. Acts relating to the First Fruits
and the election of Bishops. Alterations in ecclesiastical
matters during the last reigtis. Removal of Popish
Images atid Reliques. Ap)pointme-nt of Adam Loftus to
the Primacy. Apostolical Succession in the Church of
Ireland. Declaration of Chief Articles of Religion.
The restoration of the royal poAA'er to a Protestant
sovereign in the person of Queen Elizabeth, whose
religious principles Avere soon avowed in favour of
the Reformation, relieved the friends of that altera
tion in the Church of Ireland frora such terrors as
they may have felt from the dominion of a Popish
queen, armed with poA^'er, as she Avas possessed Avith
the inclination, to enforce the tyrannical claims of
Popery by severe penal inflictions ; and opened
another door for the revival and further extension

Sec. I.] REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 253
of the true Catholick faith of the Gospel. Eliza
beth succeeded to the crown on the 17tli of No- nov.,is3i).
veinber, 1558. It was not, however, until six
months after her succession that any particular
measure was decided on immediately affecting the
Irish church ; nor until three months later that the
intended measure Avas put into operation.
The Earl of Sussex, who had been Lord Deputy uari of Sussex,
1.1, /.I T • 1 I'"''! Deputy.
during the latter part of the preceding reign, and
been continued in that office at the comraenceraent
of Queen Elizabeth's, was in a short time recalled :
but again appointed, aud charged, in May, 1559, is^d.
with' his new instructions, Avitli whicli, hoAvever, he
did not return to Ireland so as to be s^A•orn into
office till the 30th of August.
The service in English had ceased to be read Restoration of
the Engltah
publickly from the death of Edward the Sixth until Liturgy.
this second arrival of the Earl of Sussex. But then
on his going to Christ Church to receive the same,
" the Litany AA'as sung in English, and afterAvards
the Lord Deputy took his oath ; and then they
began to sing, ' We praise Thee, O God,' at which
the trumpets sounded." In the mean time it
appears, that " orders had been sent to new paint
the walls of Christ Church and St. Patrick's; and
instead of pictures and Popish fancies, to place pas
sages or texts of Scripture on the walls : and raen
had been employed for the execution of that work
on the 25th of May'."
The choice of persons to fill the high station of Religious prin-
1 1 1 • ciples little re-
Viceroy of Ireland, and to accomplish the important garded in the
^ . . -, choice of vice-
ecclesiastical, as well as civil, commissions entrusted roys.
to them, seems to have been less regulated by a
regard to their religious principles than might have
' Lonus MS., Marsh's Library.

254

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

been reasonably expected. In the reign of King
Edward the Sixth, Sir Anthony St. Leger had been
Lord Deputy, and was charged with those instruc
tions concerning the English Liturgy, which occa
sioned the degradation and flight of the Popish
Archbishop DoAvdall: and in the succeeding reign
of Queen Mary, he was re-appointed to the same
vice-regal oflice by that government, which at the
same time issued a coraraission for the deprivation
of the Prote,stant Archbishop BroAAuie. And noAV
the Earl of Sussex, who had been the instrument of
Queen Mary's tyranical projects in favour of Popery,
was eraployed by Queen Elizabeth for the restoration
of the English Protestant worship.

Lord Deputy's
instruetions.

English Litany
sung in Christ
Church.

The instructions to the Lord Deputy and the
council with reference to ecclesiastical raatters were,
" to set up the worship of God as it is in England,
and to make such statutes next Parliament, as were
lately made in England, mutatis mutandis^."
The Lord Deputy faithfully obeyed these in
structions. But in carrying into effect that which
related to the worship of God, a very remarkable
case occurred, of which Strype gives the following
account in his Life of Archbishop Parker. In pur
suance of the queen's instructions,
" The Litany," he says, " was sung in English in Christ
Churoh, Dublin. This gave great offence to some of the
Popish zealots, reckoning aright, that the use of the mass
Avas in danger of being laid aside in that cathedral. Some
thing, therefore, was to be done, now or never, to keep the
reputation of the old superstition : and a miracle was to be
shown in tbe said church the next Sunday, when the lord-
lieutenant, tbe archbishop, and the rest of the privy council,
were there at service.
" Cox, i. 313. « Vol. i. p. 90. Oxf. Edit.

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 255
"There was in that cathedral an imago of Christ iu Popish impos-
mai'ble, standing with a reed in his band, and the crown of
thorns on his head. And while service was saying before
this great assembly, blood Avas seen to run through the
crevices of the crown of thorns, trickling down the face of
the crucifix. The people did not perceive it at first : there
fore some, who were in the fraud, cried out to one another,
and bade them see, how our Saviour's image sweat blood !
Whereat several of the common people fell down Avitli their
beads in their hands, and prayed to the image. Vast
numbers flocked to the sight ; and one present, Avho indeed
AA'as the contriver, and formerly belonged to tbe priory of
this cathedra], told the people the cause ; namely, ' That
he could not choose but sweat blood, whilst heresy Avas
then come into the church.' The confusion hereupon Avas
so great, that the assembly broke up. But the people still
fell upon tbeir knees, thumping their breasts : and particu
larly one of the aldermen, and mayor of the city, whose
name was SedgraA'e, and who bad been at the English
service, drew forth his beads, and prayed with the rest
before the image. The Lord Sussex and those of the privy
council hastened out ofthe choir, fearing some harm.
"But the Archbishop of Dubliu, being displeased. The pretended
caused a form to be brought out of the choir, and bade the ^"Archbishop'
sexton of the church to stand thereon, aud to search and curwen.
AA'ash the image, and see if it would bleed afresh. The man
soon perceived the cheat, observing a sponge within the
hollow of the image's head. This sponge, one Leigh, some
time a monk of this cathedral, had soaked in a bowl of
blood : and early on Sunday morning, watching his oppor
tunity, placed the said sponge, so swollen and heavy with
blood, over the image's head within the crown ; and so, by
little and little, the blood soaked through upon the face.
The sponge Avas presently brought down, and showed to
these worshippers : and some of them cursed Father Leigh,
Avho Avas soon discovered, and three or four others that had
been contrivers with bim.
"The archbishop, the next Sunday, preached in the His sermon on
same church before tbe lord-lieutenant and the council, *''« °<"'^='™ :
upon 2 Thess. ii. 11, ' God shall send them strong delusions,

256

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

And removal of
the iiuu,ge.

Effect of his
account of the
iinpostiiro on
the queen.

that they should believe a lie :' exposing the cheats, Avho
openly stood there, with Father Leigh, upon a table before
the pulpit, with their hands and legs tied, and the crime
written on their breasts. This punishment they suffered
three Sundays, were imprisoned for somo time, and then
banished the realm. This converted above one hundred
persons present, who swore they would never hear ma.ss
more. " And further, upon tbe lOtb of September, 1559, the
archbishop caused this image to be brol^en down, although
he himself had caused it to be set up at bis coining to that
see, after it had been pulled down once before by George
Browne, the former archbishop in Iving Edward's time."
Such is the account of this raonstrous imposition
given by Strype ; who goes on to relate,
" The contents of this did Archbishop Corvven write in
a letter to Archbishop Parker : who Avas glad thereof, hy
reason tbat the clergy Avere debating at this present, whether
images .should stand in the churches or no ; the queen her
self being indifferent iu this matter, and rather inclinable
to them. But tbis letter, which the archbishop showed
her, wrought on her to consent for the throwing of the
images out of tbe churches, together with many texts of
Scripture, which our archbishop and other divines had laid
before her for the demoli,shing of theni."

A par
Jan.,

li.iment. 15G0.

This occurrence, Ave may presume, Avas not
devoid of effect on the Lord Deputy also, and pro
bably quickened his activity in re-establishing the
English Liturgy iu ])ursuance of bis instructions.
At the same time he was not inattentive to the
order relative to his parliamentary duty; and ac
cordingly in tbe Parliament, which was holden in
Dublin the following January, 1560, and continued
for a month, the following statutes, provided for the
future government and worship of the Church, were
promptly enacted.

Sec. I.J QUEEN ELIZABETH. 257

1. An act Avas passed, "restoring to the crown Act restoring to
the ancient jurisdiction over the state, ecclesiastical ancientjuris'-
and spiritual, and abrogating all foreign power 2'Eur,o. i.
repugnant to the same." By this act, the act of
repeal of the third and fourth of Philip and Mary
was repealed ; and the acts of the twenty-eighth of
King Henry the Eighth, which had been thereby
repealed, were revived ; the act for reviving the
three statutes made for the punishment of heresy,
and also the said three statutes, were repealed ; all
manner of foreign poAver, jurisdiction, and authority,
spiritual or ecclesiastical, within the realra, AA'as
abolished for ever; such jurisdiction was annexed
to the croAvn ; and the queen and her successors
were authorized by letters patent under the great
seal of England, or of Ireland, or the governors of
Ireland, by letters patent under the great seal of
Ireland, at the royal pleasure, to assign natural-born
subjects to execute the same. The Oath of SujDre-
raacy, acknowledging the queen and her successors
to be the only supreme governor of this realm, and
renouncing all foreign jurisdiction, Avas required to
be taken by all ecclesiastical persons, officers, and
ministers : forfeiture of office and promotion during
life was enacted as the penalty for refusing to
take the oath : to maintain or defend foreign
authority was pronounced an off'ence, for Avhicli an
ecclesiastical person should, the first time, lose all
his benefices; the second tirae, incur the penalties
of premunirc; and the third time, be adjudged to
suffer the penalty of high treason : no matter to be
judged heresy, but such as has been so adjudged by
the authority of the canonical Scriptures, or by one
of the first four general councils, or by any other
general council, or shall be so adjudged by parlia-

258 THE REIGN OF [Ch, V.
ment ; and the offence to be proved by two witnesses,
before the party arraigned, in person, face to face.
2. The next act passed in this parliaraent, which
affected the church, was that " for the uniformity of
Common Prayer and Service in the Church, and the
Administration of the Sacraments."
Actforunifor- The First Book of Common Prayer, provided in
mity.
2 Eliz., 0.2. the first year of King Edward the Sixth, had been
introduced, as we have seen, into the Church of
Ireland by the king's order. But his Second Book,
which had been put forth in England in the fifth
and sixth years of the king, does not appear to have
been ordered for observance in the Irish Church
during the short period that the king survived its
enactment. This book, having been repealed in the
first year of Queen Mary, had been revived, with
certain alterations and additions, by the English
parliament, soon after Queen Elizabeth's accession:
and the use of it was now enacted by the parliament
of Ireland in all the cathedral and parish-churches
of that kingdom. All ministers were commanded
to use it: and on such as should refuse to use it, or
should use any other form, or should preach or
speak in derogation of it, penalties were imposed;
first, the forfeiture of a year's profit of his benefice,
and six months' imprisonraent; for the second
offence, iraprisonment for one year, and deprivation;
and for the third offence, deprivation and imprison
ment for life. On all persons, also, who should
despise or deprave the said book, or cause any other
common and open prayer to be said or sung, or
interrupt the minister in saying Common Prayer, or
ministering the sacraments, fines and imprisonment,
varying according to the number of oflfences, were
inflicted. All persons, not having reasonable excuse,

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 259
were to resort to their parish-churches on all Sun
days and holydays, and there to abide orderly during
the service of God, on pain of the censures of the
church, and tAvelve-pence to be levied by the church
wardens for the use of the poor. All archbishops,
bishops, and other ordinaries, Avere earnestly required
and charged in God's name to put this act in exe
cution, and to punish offenders by the censures of
the church. And the books, concerning the ap
pointed services, were ordered to be procured in
every parish and cathedral church before the next
ensuing feast of St. John the Baptist, and the said
service be put in ure within three weeks next after.
And all other laws and ordinances, for any other
common prayer or administration of the sacraraents,
were enacted to be utterly void and of none effect.
Thus the liturgy of the Church of Ireland for the General eompu-
ance with this
future was identified, and placed upon the same statute.
footing of parliamentary authority, with that of the
Church of England. The general piety, solemnity,
and instructive and edifying nature of the prescribed
service, and the absence of everything which could
be justly thought exceptionable, either in substance
or in form, seem to have prevented the injunction
for its observance from being regarded as a grievance
by the Papists on its first enactment. On the con
trary, the bishops complied with this alteration in
the publiek worship: and the adherents of the
Romish Church in Ireland resorted to the parish
churches, Avhere the English service was used, during
a great part, if not the whole, of Queen Elizabeth's
reign. But all these enactments, and others in this Remarkable
. . , . f, ., , T clause authori^-
statute not requiring our notice, were followed by mgaLatm
one in conclusion, which is so reraarkable, that it
s 2

260 THE REIGN OF [Cn. V.
may well deserve to be set before the reader at
length. It will be observed to commence and to
proceed in a form, different from the usual form of
enactment, in which all the other clauses are ex
pressed: and thus aflPords a reasonable ground for the
opinion intimated by Dr. Leland, that it was " in
serted by the parliament after the first transmiss of
the bill, and possibly was procured by those A^'ho
had opposed \t\" The clause is as follows.
" And forasmuch as in most places of this realm, there
cannot be found English ministers to serve in the churches,
or places appointed for common prayer, or to minister the
sacraments to the people ; and that if some good mean
were provided, that they might use the prayer, service, and
administration of sacraments set out and established by this
act, in such language as they mought best understand, the
due honour of God should be thereby much advanced ; and
for that also, that the same may not be in their native
language, as well for difficulty to get it printed, as that few
in the whole realm can read the Irish letters ; we do,
therefore, most humbly beseech your majesty, that with
your highness's favour and royal assent it may be enacted,
ordained, established, and jjrovided, by the authority of this
present parliament, that in every such church or place,
where the common minister or priest hath not the use or
knowledge of the English tongue, it shall be laAvful for the
same common minister or priest, to say and use the mat-
tens, even-song, celebration of the Lord's Supper, and
administration of each of the sacraments, and all their
common and open prayer in tbe Latin tongue, in such form
and order as tbey be mentioned and set forth in the said
book established by this act, and according to the tenour of
this act, and none otherwise, nor in other manner ; anything
before expressed and contained in this act to the contrary
notwithstanding."
The clause why As to tliis remarkable clause, "if," says Dr.
ohjectlonahle. t i ' ' J
Leland, " it did not effectually provide for the edifi-
* History of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 225, note.

Sec.L] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 261
cation of the people, it at least served to sheathe the
acrimony of their prejudices against the reformed
Avorship, by allowing it to be performed in the usual
language of their devotions :" a, benefit, dearly pur
chased by the sanction given to a practice, Avhich
was " plainly repugnant to the word of God, and to
the custom of the priraitive Church." Waiving, compromise of
hoAvever, a consideration of the principle corapro- '"'
raised by this enactment, and admitting the occasion
of sorae substitute for the liturgy in the English
tongue, certain questions iraraediately offer them
selves to the mind, concerning the application and
the utility of the proposed substitute. The obvious Litmgy in wsh
substitute Avould have been the same liturgy in the stuuto™"'™
Irish tongue, in the native language of the people.
But this " inight not be, as Avell for the difficulty to
get it printed, as that feAV in tbe whole realm could
read Irish letters." Could not these difficulties then
have been overcorae by supplying the proper types
for the printing, and by training persons to read the
Irish character, if none Avere to be found actually
qualified ? Such a course was in fact adopted and
Avitli good success by a private clergyman, not raany
years after, so that it should seem to have been by no
means impracticable at this time by those in poAver.
But the substitute to be used Avas the liturgy Now,iyofpro-
"in the Latin tongue." In Avhat Avay Avas the Latin '''""'^'' '"""
version to be provided ? Was it by publiek autho
rity? Of that there are no traces of information,
nor do.es it appear at all probable. Was a transla
tion then frora English into Latin to be raade by
each individual minister? Was each rainister then
sufficiently conversant with English, to be able to
translate frotn that tongue ? If so, why could he
not use it as prescribed in the English service ?

version.

262

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Latin not intel
ligible.

King Edward's
instruction pre
ferable.

Act for restitu
tion of the first
fruits. 2 Eliz.
0.3.

Act for confer
ring bishoprickB.
2 Eliz. c. 4.

Was such minister sufficiently conversant with
Latin, to be able to translate into that tongue ? Yet
this is hardly consistent with the character of igno
rance and illiteracy ascribed to very many of the
clergy, so great that they were supposed not to
understand their own mass-books.
But suppose the common prayer to be used in
the Latin tongue, how could this be taken for " such
language, as they mought best understand ?" The
people surely must have been left without any benefit
from a service, to them as unintelligible as the Popish
service which it was to supersede; the proposed
provision, indeed, so far was calculated to "advance
the due honour of God," as it shut out from his
service idolatry, and superstition, and other unscrip
tural forms of worship ; but the application of the
provision to the benefit of the j)eople is by no means
easy to be discovered. That was a wiser and more
Avholesome provision, which was contained in one of
King Edward the Sixth's instructions, that the liturgy
in the Irish tongue should be used in places where
it AA'as needed : only care should have been taken to
supply the need, by getting common prayer-books
printed in that tongue, and finding or making minis
ters qualified to read them, if such could possibly
have been done.
3. A third act, passed in this parliament, Avith
relation to the Church, was that which enacted the
restitution of the first fruits and twentieths of eccle
siastical benefices to the crown, reviving the statute
of King Henry the Eighth to that eflfect, and repeal
ing that by which it had been set aside in the reign
of Queen Mary.
4. A fourth act recited the delay, costs, and
charges attending the election of archbishops and

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 263
bishops by deans and chapters ; represented that
such elections Avere indeed no elections, but only by
a writ of conge d'elire had pretence of elections. Bishops to bo .ap-
, T , -t , . pointed by the
serving to no purpose, and seeming derogatory to crown without
the royal prerogative, to which only appertained the
collation of all archbishopricks and bishopricks within
the realm; and thereupon enacted, that no such
election should be raade, or conge d'elire granted;
but that the queen and her successors by letters
patent, or the governor of Ireland by warrant, should
collate such persons as the queen or her successors
shall think meet. Persons so collated are required
to be consecrated and invested, without any other
election, and without sueing to any foreign power.
And the penalty of ^ preraunire is enacted against
those persons, who shall refuse to invest and conse
crate within twenty days, or shall do any thing to the
contrary of this act.
With respect to this last-raentioned act, it has This act m
been observed by Cox', that ina case, relative to the commonTaw.
appointraent of a bishop, which carae before the
court in the reign of Queen Mary, it was adjudged,
that the King of England may nominate and appoint
bishops in Ireland without the formality of a conge
d'elire; and this act of the second of Elizabeth is for
so much in aflSrraation of the comraon law. Certainly
this act was framed on the model of one that had
been passed in England for the election of bishops
in that kingdom, in the first year of King Edward
the Sixth. King Edward's act, however, had been Different laws of
repealed, and the earlier act of* the 25th of King taSnfinsuch
Henry the Eighth, authorizing the dean" and chapter "''"''¦
to elect, had been revived and re-established by the
English act of the 1st of Queen Elizabeth, passed
' Vol. i. p. 300.

264 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
the year before the enactment of this Irish statute,
which nevertheless reverted to the rule of King
Edward's law of appointment by royal collation, or
donation, by the king's letters patent ; and has since
continued to be the laAv in Ireland, notwithstanding
the contrary law and practice in England.
Different eccie- Wo may horo make a short pause, to notice the
siastlcal changes 11. . • 1 ¦ 1 l l 1 ¦ j. j j • i
in four succes- soveral altoratiOHS, AA'liich had been introduced into
sive reigns. ecclosiastical matters by the legal authorities, from
the reign of King Henry the Eighth to the present.
1st. King Henry held the ecclesiastical supre
macy, with the first fruits and twentieths of all
benefices ; at the same tirae, he raaintained seven
sacraraents, with obits, and masses for the living and
the dead.
Then, 2ndly, King Edward abolished the mass ;
authorized the Book of Coraraon Prayer, and the
consecration of the bread and Avine, in the English
tongue ; and established only tA^^o sacraraents.
Srdly. Queen Mary brought everything back
again to a conformity with the Church of Rome, and
to obedience to the Papal authority.
And now, 4thly, Queen Elizabeth again abolished
the Pope's supremacy; reserved the twentieths and
firstfruits to herself and her successors; put down
the mass ; and for a general uniformity of worsliip in
her dominion,s, as well in England as in Ireland, she
established tbe Book of Common Prayer, and forbade
the use of Popish ceremonies.
Perplexity of the Tlioso altoratious, SO rapidly succeeding' each
LordDcputy. , . , ^ i 1
Otlier, occasioned much difference of opinion about
ecclesiastical matters araongst the Nobility and Com
mons in Ireland ; and the difliculty was aggravated
by the invectives directed against the heretical queen

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 265
and her profane ministers by the Papal authorities ;
by the resistance opposed by the clergy to the reno
vation of the religion of the kingdora, and the
restitution of it to its priraitive form, in preference
to the coraparatively raodern innovations of Popery ;
and by the reluctance of the partizans of Rorae in
general to coraply with that purified systera of
Christian faith and practice, from Avhich they had
been so long and so far estranged. The perplexity
of the case was perceived by the Avell-Avishers of the
Queen at the A'ery beginning of the parliaraent ; so
that, after it had sat about a raonth, the Lord
Deputy dissolved it, and went over to England for pariLament dis-
the purpose of consulting her majesty about the
affairs of the kingdom. He returned again in the
course of a feAv months : and soon after received her
majesty's letters, signifying her pleasure for a general
meeting of the clergy of Ireland, and the establish
ment of the Protestant religion through the several
dioceses of the kinardora.
In the mean time, orders had been sent to ncmovaiof
Thomas Lockwood, dean of Christ Church, to remove fromVhurchcs.
from his church all Popish reliques and images ; and
to i)aiut and AA-hiten it anoAV ; effacing from the walls
all pictures, and other fanciful embellishments, and
substituting sentences of Holy Scripture : orders
which were soon after executed". And about the
same tirae, a large Bible, the gift, as it is related, of interest taken
Doctor Heath, archbishop of York, to the tAvo deans '"'°""''« "'''''^¦
and chapters of Dublin, Avas placed in the raiddle of
the choir of each cathedral of Christ's Church and
St. Patrick's ; where, on their being first offered to
publiek view, they caused a great resort of the
people thither to read and hear their contents.
" MS. LoFTOS, Marsh's Library.

266

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Small Bibles at that time, for private use, were far
frora coramon : but the hunger and thirst for them
was great, when means were offered for its gratifi
cation ; so that it appears frora the account of John
Dale, a bookseller, that in tAvo years time he sold
seven thousand copies for the booksellers in London,
when the book was first printed and brought over
into Ireland, in the year 1659 ; a large number,
when regard is had to the probable population of
the country, and to the small proportion of those
who were capable of reading'.

Irregularity rela
tive to a recent
Act of Parlia
ment.

Correction of a
mis-statement
concerning Arcbbinhop
Dowdall.

Mention has been already made of the law,
enacted in King Edward's reign, and recently re
vived in Queen Elizabeth's, ordaining the appointment
of bishops by royal collation or donation, in the form
of letters patents. There was, however, at the
outset, a want of decision in the government about
carrying this act into eflfect, as may be collected from
a remarkable exaraple. The death of Primate Dow
dall had nearly coincided with that of the late
queen. Strype, in his Annals of the Reformation,
quoting an anonymous authority, says that he was
deprived by Queen Elizabeth". But this is not cor
rect. In 1558, he took a journey to London on the
affairs of his Church, and died there on the 15th of
August, being the day following the festival of the
Virgin's Assumption in the Romish Church. This
is recorded in his epitaph, which was registered by
Thomas Walsh, principal registrar of the Court of
Armagh, on the 27th of February following, and is
transcribed into Harris's edition of Ware's Bishops'.
On his decease, "Terence, dean of Armagh, was
' Waee's Annals, » Steype's Annals, vol. i. c. ii. p. 73, folio.
" Pp. 92, 93.

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 267
appointed guardian of the spiritualties of the see;
and on the 3rd of July, 1559, he held a synod of the
English clergy of the diocese, in St. Peter's Church,
Drogheda'"." Thus, so far AA'as DoAvdall from being-
deprived of the archbishoprick of Armagh by Queen
Elizabeth, that he was actually dead three months
before her accession, although the vacancy had not
been filled in the interval.
Nor was it filled till a considerable time after Appointment of
Queen Elizabeth's accession, though no cause for Armagh, 1502.
this is recorded, and a suflficient one Avould be
diflScult to be surmised. Now, however, when it
had been determined by the government to supply
it by the appointment of Adam Loftus to the see,
the privy council were met by an unexpected diffi
culty; their statement of which, and of the remedy
which they devised for it, is thus noticed in a letter
from the queen, early in the winter of 1562.
" Whereas by other your letters of the 2nd of aueen's letter to
September, ye declare, that by reason of the absence
of sundry of the chapter of Ardraagh, the dean there
cannot conveniently proceed to the election of Mr.
Adam Lofthowse to that archbishoprick, according
to the authority lately received from us, and for
supply thereof do devise to make unto him in the
mean season a commission for the ordering of eccle
siastical causes within that diocese ; moving further,
that the rents growing out of the possessions of that
archbishoprick might be bestowed upon him by war
rant from us, and the sarae be holden without account
from the date of our letters of his noraination ; we
do very well allow your said devise." And so the
document goes on to give authority to the deputy
and proper officers for making the grant in question,
" Beg, Dowdal, p. 218, cited in Stuart's History of Armagh, p. 246.

268

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Cause of the
irregidarity un
certain.

Grant of the
revenues of the
archbishoprick to Loftus.
Novemberj 1562,

Previous inci
dents in the life
of Adam Loftus.

" by warrant hereof, and so to continue, until he
may receive his establishment in the bishoprick by
such ordinary means, as in semblable cases hath
been accustoraed."
The cause of this deviation from a recently-
ordained lavA', in favour of an ordinary, but now
legally-abolished, custom, raay be conjecturally traced
to the Aveakness of the governraent, a compulsory
compliance Avith inveterate prejudices, an instant
forgetfulness of the act of abolition, or the absence
of an intention to execute it strictly and generally":
but it is not recorded. The consequence however
Avas, as appears frora a roll in Chancery, dated the
18th of November, 1562, the fifth year of Queen
Elizabeth, that the future primate obtained a grant
of the revenues of the archbishoprick, and power to
deterraine ecclesiastical causes in his diocese, several
raonths before his consecration, Avliich was not
solemnized till the 2nd of March following, the
temporalties being restored to hira the next day.
Adara Loftus, or Lofthowse, as he is called in
the foregoing document, was a native of Yorkshire,
and the younger sou of an ancient and wealthy
family ; and thence his advancement was forwarded
by a more than ordinary allowance for his support
and education. At a publiek act at Cambridge he
had thus the advantage of appearing at an early
age under favourable circurastances before the
queen, A^'ho Avas struck by the elegance of his
oratory, and the subtilty of his skill in disputation,
at the same time that she was gratified by the come
liness of his person, and his graceful address. She
encouraged him to proceed diligently in his studies ;
graciously promised him early promotion ; made him
" Leland's Hist., vol. ii. p. 227.

Sec. I.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 269
one of her own chaplains ; and soon after sent him
into Ireland, in quality of chaplain to Thomas, Earl
of Sussex, then lord lieutenant 'I Then folloAved
his promotion, first, to the deanery of St. Patrick's,
Dublin, and then to the archbishoprick of Armagh ;
in appointing hira to Avhich by her letters patent,
the queen raakes honourable mention of the primate-
elect, and says that " his archbishoprick is a place of
great charge, in name and title only to be esteeraed,
without any worldly endowment resulting frora it"."
She therefore permits him to hold the deanery of
St. Patrick's, in commendam, until she should other
wise provide for him.
To his episcopal charge he Avas consecrated by iiisconsccration
the Archbishop of Dublin the beginning of March, ™'' ''
1563, being then a bachelor of divinity; and, as
reported in Ware's Histcrry of the Irish Bisliojjs,
" in the twenty-eighth year of his age : the youngest
archbishop that we meet with in this see, except
Celsus." But the biographer does not mention any Quest
dispensation from both the ancient and modern law
of the Church, M'hich prescribes that any man, which
is to be ordained or consecrated bishop, shall be full
thirty years of age'*: so that, finding the age of
Archbishop Loftus at his death to be diflferently
stated with an interval of two years between the
dates, I am inclined to take the latter, which Avould
fix his consecration at about tbe canonical age.
One of the lines of connexion by Avhich the Lines of aposto-
. ^. 1 . .. 11 iil lical succession
apostolical succession was continued and perpetuated in the episcopate
in the Church of Ireland after the Reformation, was
frora Archbishop Browne, through Goodacre, arch
bishop of Armagh. Another unbroken series of
'2 Ware's Bishops, p. 94. " Rot. Cane, 6 and 7 Eliz.
'¦' Gibson's Codex, vol. i. p. 115.

'stion con
cerning his age.

of the Irish
Church.

270 THE REIGN OP [Ch. V.
episcopacy is traced for the Protestant Irish hierar-
chy through Archbishop Loftus ; and that without
any cavil or pretence of irregularity, such as might
possibly be alleged in the former case, from the
consecration having been solemnized by a ritual,
which had not been authorized by the laws of
Ireland". From Curwin, the archbishop of Dublin
recognised by the Papacy, and who had been con
secrated in England according to the then legal
forms of the Roman pontifical, in the third year of
Queen Mary, Archbishop Loftus received his epi
scopal ordination and consecration ; and, on his trans
lation to the see of Dublin, he conveyed the same
episcopal character to Lancaster, his successor in
the primacy; and by theni the same was uninter
ruptedly transmitted through the several channels
which have since distributed the blessings of an
apostolical ministry through the Church of Ireland.
Indeed, not a shadow of a doubt can be thrown on
the apostolical succession in that Church. Even
the Popish prelates, so long as any of them survived
who were in their sees before the Reformation, were
ready to assist at the consecration of Protestant
No room for blslioiis ; SO that the true episcopal character of the
question about ^
the succession, hierarchy of the Irish Church is unquestioned and
unquestionable, and protected against all exception,
even from the Papists themselves.
Form of decia- About thls time, 1663, was established a form
^thoirconi-''*^ of deckratiou, which every archbishop and bishop
was required to make on occasion of his consecra
tion. With allowance for the change of name and
place, the form was as follows":
'» Ware's Bishops, p. 94, ^« Ware's Annals, Eliz., p. 7.

Sec. Ll QUEEN ELIZABETH. 271
" Ego, N. Archiepiscopus Dubliniensis, fro.
" I, N., archbishop of Dublin, elect and consecrated,
profess that I have and hold all tbe temporalties and pos
sessions of the said bishoprick, from the hands of Elizabeth,
queen of England, and so forth, and her successors, as in
right of the crown of her kingdom of Ireland : to her, and
to her successors, kings of England, I Avill be faithful. So
help me God, and the holy Gospels."
In the following year, 1564, the Lord Lieutenant proclamation
set forth a proclaraation against the meetings of the pffesTsand
friars and Popish priests in Dublin; and ordered ""'W
that none of them should lie within the gates of the
city. A penalty also was iraposed on every house
keeper who omitted coming to church on Sundays,
so that many carae to church rather than they
would pay the tax, Avhich Avas accurately collected.
At first they went to mass in the morning, and to
church in the afternoon ; but afterwards, to prevent
that evasion, a roll of the house-keepers' names in
every parish was called over by the church
wardens". In 1565, the Earl of Sussex was succeeded in sir Henry sid-
the chief governraent of Ireland by Sir Henry puty.^°"* '°''"
Sidney ; and soon afterwards there occurred a very "''°'
iraportant provision for raaintaining unity and sound
doctrine in the church, but one which, I apprehend,
is not generally known. For, in the year 1566, was
published, "A Brief Declaration of certain principal Declaration of
Articles of Religion ; set out by order and authority. Religion!'^
as well of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Sidney,
Knight of the most noble Order, Lord President of
the Council in the principality of Wales, and Marches
of the sarae, and General Deputy of this realra of
" Ware's Annals, Eliz,, p. 8.

Jan. 20, 16C6.

272

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V,

For maintaining
unity of doc-

Acknowledff-
ment of assent.

Article I. The
Godhead.

Ireland, as by the Archbishops and Bishops, and.
other Her Majesty's High Coraraissioners for causes
Ecclesiastical in the same Realra. Iraprinted- at'
Dublin, by Humfrey Powel, the 20th of January,
1566." It is intituled, The Book of the Articles; and on
the page next to the title-page, Avliich is given above,
the same Avords are repeated, Avith the addition of
these, annexed to the AA'ord " realm." " For the
unity of doctrine to be holden and taught of all
parsons, vicars, and curates, as well in testification
of their comraon consent and full agreeraent in the
said doctrine, as also necessary for the instruction
of their people in their several cures, to be read by
the said parsons, vicars, and curates, at their pos
session-taking, or first entry into their cures, and
also after that yearly at two several tiraes by the
year, that is to say, the Sundays next following
Easter-day and St. Michael the Archangel; and
this upon pain of sequestration, deprivation, or
other coercion, as shall be iraposed upon such, as
shall herein raake default."
Then follows the declaration of assent to be
made by each minister in the presence of his jieople.
" Forasmuch as it appertaineth to all Christian men,
but especially to the ministers and pastors of the
Church, being teachers and instructors of others, to
be ready to give a reason of their faith, when they
shall be thereunto required : I, for my part, now
appointed your parson, vicar, or curate, having before
me the fear of God and the testimony of my con
science, do acknowledge for myself, and require you
to assent to the same."
The Articles are tAvelve. The first asserts the
Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Godhead.

.Sec.L] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 273
The second- sets forth the suflficiency of the holy ii. noiysciip-
calionical Scriptures to salvation; and confesses all
the Articles contained in the three Creeds.
The third is as follows : " I acknowledge, also, m. Authority
the Church to be the spouse of Christ, wherein the
Word of God is truly taught, the Sacraraents orderly
ministered according to Christ's institution, and the
authority of the keys duly used. And that every
such particular church hath authority to institute,
to change, clean to put away ceremonies and other
ecclesiastical rites, as they be superfluous, or be
abused ; and to constitute other, raaking more to
seemliness, to order, or edification."
The fourth Article confesses that " it is not iv. cau to the
lawful for any raan to take upon him any office or
ministry, ecclesiastical or secular, but such only as
are laAvfuUy thereunto called by their high authori
ties according to the ordinances of this realm."
The fifth Article acknoAvledges " the queen's v. Queen's
. , , i.' 1 • -J. J? i. supremacy.
majesty s prerogative and sujDeriority ot government,
of all estates and in all causes, as well ecclesiastical
as teraporal, within this realm."
And the sixth denies " the authority of the vi. Denial of
Bishop of Rorae to be raore than other bishops have Romesautho-
in their provinces and dioceses."
The seventh confesses the Book of Coraraon vu. Book of
¦i-k ,1 1 t , ,T C-* , , ^ Common Prayer.
Prayer to be " agreeable to the Scriptures, aud
Catholick, Apostolick, and raost for the advancing
of God's glory, and the edifying of God's people,
botli for that it is in a tongue that may be under
standed of the people, and also for the doctrine and
form of ministration contained in the same."
The eighth asserts the perfect ministration of vm. Ministra-
Baptisra, although there is in it "neither exorcisra, *'™ °f '^''p''™-
oil, salt, spittle, or hallowing of the AA'ater now used ;
T

274 THE EEIGN OF [Ch. V.
and for that they were of late years abused, they be
I'easonably abolished."
IX. The mass. The iiinth condemns " private masses," or a
" publiek ministration and receiving of the Sacra
ment by the priest alone, without a just number of
communicants:" also it conderans the doctrine of
" the raass being a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick
and the dead, and a mean to deliver souls out of
purgatory."
X. Communion The touth aflRrius, that the " Holy Coraraunion
"" ° ™ '' ought to be ministered to the people under both
kinds."
XI. Images, re- Tlio eleventh " utterly disallows the extolling of
feigned miracles, imagos, rollcks, aud fcignod miracles; and also all
kind of expressing God invisible in the form of au
old man, or the Holy Ghost in the forra of a dove,
and all other vain worshipping of God devised by
man's fantasy, besides or contrary to the Scriptures:
as wandering on pilgriraages, setting up of candles,
praying upon beads, and such like superstition:"
and " exhorts all men to the obedience of God's law
and to the Avorks of faith."
xn. General The tAvolfth Artlclo is a general acknowledgment
acknowledgment f, ^ -t
of the precedmg. of tlio preceding. " Thoso things, above rehearsed,
though they be appointed by coramon order, yet do
I without all compulsion, with freedora of mind and
conscience, from the bottom of my heart, and upon
most mature persuasion, acknowledge to be true and
agreeable to God's word. And therefore I exhort
you all, of whom I have cure, heartily and obediently
to embrace and receive the sarae; that we, all
joining together in unity of spirit, faith, and charity,
may also at length be joined together in the kingdom
of God, and that through the raerits and death of
our Saviour Christ : to whom with the Father and

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 275
the Holy Ghost be all glory and empire, now and
for ever. Amen."
This declaration appears to be the same as one, Declaration
n 1 , ^ . . 1 Cil, , ^ , T • /• agreeable to one
of which a sumraary is given by Strype, in his Life in England.
of Archbishop Parker, and which Avas put out in
England in the year 1561, under the general name
of the Metropolitans and Bishops, but seeming to
have been chiefly the Avork of the archbishop '^

Section II.
Two Bishops deprived for refusing the Oath of Supremacy.
Conformity of the others. Abuse of Episcopal Prop>erty.
Depreciation of Bishopriclcs. Exercise of the Royal Pre
rogative in appointing Bishops. Titular Bishops. Act
of Parliament caused by clerical irregularities. General
imtnorality atid irreligion. Act for erecting Free
)Schools. Opposition to attempts at pi-opagatitig the
Reformed Religion. Irish Liturgy and Catechism.
Irish New Testament. Bull of the Pope, and its con
sequences.
The enactments concerning the Church in Queen two Popish
Elizabeth's first Parliament had no unpleasant effect of their sees"
upon its governors ; save that by the Act of Supre
macy, or rather by their own obnoxious conduct in
defiance of it, two bishops were deprived of their
sees : Leverous, bishop of Kildare, who refused to
take the Oath of Supremacy ; and Walsh, bishop of
Meath, who not only refused to take the oath, but
preached also against the queen's supremacy, and
against the Book of Common Prayer.
Their places were supplied respectively, by Alex- supply of the
ander Craike in the see of Kildare, and Hugh Brady
in that of Meath. The former, who had been pre-
" Strypb's Life of Abp, Parker, vol. i. pp. 182, 183.
T 2

vacancies.

276 the reign of [Ch. v.
viously iu possession of the deanery of St. Patrick's,
was permitted to retain that preferment in commen
dam ; but this did not prevent him from alienating
the property of the bishoprick much to the injury of
his successors'. To the AA'orth of Bishop Brady
testiraony Avas borne by the queen, in a letter of
October 6, 1564, to Sir Nicholas Arnold, lord
justice, and the rest of the coraraissioners for causes
ecclesiastical. " Which coraraission we send at this
present by the reverend father in God, the Bishop
of Meath, with whora we have had such conference,
as well in the matters contained in that commission,
as in sundry other belonging to the weal of that our
realm, as we see very good reason to allow of our
former choice of him ; and do certainly hope, that
he shall prove a faithful minister in his charge con
cerning his pastoral office, and a profitable councillor
of our estate there'."
Penalties in- Tho penalties upon the two displaced prelates
flietedonthe ^ '- mi
Popish bishops, varied according to their offences. The former,
being deprived of his bishoprick, was left at liberty ;
and for some time enjoyed the hospitable protection
of the Earl and Countess of Desmond, and then
earned his livelihood by keeping a school at Lime
rick, and in its neighbourhood : the latter, after his
deprivation, was thrown into prison, and some years
later was sent into banishment, and died at Alcala
in Spain, January 3, 1577, and was there buried in
the church of a Cistercian monastery, of which order
he was a monk".
Bishop Leve- In a book entitled De Processu Martyriali, &c.,
rous's reasons for ^ ^
non-compliance, printed at Cologne, in 1640, and quoted in Mason's
History of St, Patrick's CathedraV, of which Bishop
' Ware's Bishops, p. 391. ^ Rolls.
^ Ware's Bishops, p. 153. ' P. 1G3.

Sec. IL] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 277
Leverous Avas dean, his reason for non-compliance
Avith the demand of acknoAvledging the queen's
supremacy is thus recorded. The Lord Deputy
required to knoAv the cause of his refusal to take an
oath, already taken by many learned and illustrious
men. To Avhoin he made answer, that all ecclesi
astical jurisdiction Avas derived frora Christ : and,
since he thought not fit to confer ecclesiastical
authority ou the Blessed Virgin, his mother, it could
not be believed that supremacy, or priraacy of eccle
siastical power, Avas meant to be delegated by Christ
to any other person of that sex. He added likewise,
that St. Paul comraanded no Avoraan should speak
in the church, rauch less should one preside and rule
there : to confirm this opinion, he adduced authorities
frora St. Chrysostom and Tertullian. The Deputy
then represented to him, that, if he should refuse to
comply, he must of necessity be deprived of all his
revenues : he quoted in answer the text of Scripture,
" What shall it profit a man to gain the Avhole Avorld,
and lose his oavu soul?" An ansAver which entitles
him to respect for integrity in acting up to his con
viction, however weak and fallacious may be judged
the grounds on which his conviction rested.
Whilst we lament that the political oflfences of
these tAVO prelates subjected them to such visitations,
Ave cannot but call to mind that they had in the
preceding reign assisted in depriving other bishops
of their sees, and other clergymen of their livings,
and in particular, each his predecessor of his bishop
rick, for the unpardonable offence of being a raarried
man. These are the only tAvo Irish ^irelates who oniy two de-
appear to have been deprived in the reign of Queen ^"" '""'^'"
Elizabeth. In the anonymous Avork indeed, noticed
above, as cited in Strype's Ecclesiastical Annals,

278 THE REIGN OF [Cil. V.
mention is made of " an uncertain number of other
bishops there" being deprived, besides the Arch
bishop of Armagh. But, as the Archbishop of
Arraagh was certainly not deprived, for from the
death of Goodacre the see was vacant for some
years, except the tirae that Dowdall filled it, during
the reign of Queen Mary", and he, as we have already
seen, died before the accession of Queen Elizabeth ;
so there is neither record, nor rational ground of
suspicion, of the deprivation of any other,s, except
the two, Avhose deprivation is matter of historical
notoriety. Had any others been deprived, the fact
must have been known and recorded, and can hardly
have escaped the notice of the ecclesiastical his
torians of the tirae. Indeed, upon an inspection of
the condition of the different sees about this time, it
is evident that in about twenty no change of occu
pants occurred : and whatever obscurity may attach
to the occupancy of the remainder, being, as they
are, those of the least note and importance, there is
not the faintest probability thence given to the hypo
thesis in any case, that either of the bishops under
went a deprivation.
Difference ho- Tho slmplo fact may be thus stated, without fear
porai and spiri- of roasouable contradiction: that whilst many ofthe
teraporal lords retained their attachraent to the reli
gious principles in which they had been educated, and
transmitted the same to their descendants, all, with
two only exceptions, of the spiritual peers, who had
been formerly friends of the Papacy, either saw
cause to approve of the recent alterations, or, per
ceiving no disposition in the governraent to treat
them with rigour, contentedly acquiesced in the
existing order of things, whilst not a few of them
' Ware's Bishops, p. 94.

tual peers.

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 279
took advantage of the uncontrolled poAver Avliich
they possessed over the property of their sees, for
enriching their kindred, and impoverishing the
church and their successors.
The abuse of episcopal property Avas so injurious, LordDcpuiy'sin-
alid of such extent, that Avhen Sir Henry Sidney Avas ecclesiastical
sent to Ireland as Lord Deputy in October, 1565, oct.,'iai5.
amongst other instructions he brought with him this,
"That the Church lands aud estates be preserved
from AA'aste and alienation"." Whatever raeans of
preservation raay in consequence have been used,
they failed of producing the desired effect : for at
times subsequent, as Avell as antecedent, to this
instruction several cases are on record, some of which
may be cited as exaraples of the enormity.
BetAveen the years 1553 and 1566, Thonory, improvement of
bishop of Ossory, made many fee-farm leases of the ° °*"°'^^'
raanors aud possessions of his bishoprick at Ioav and
inconsiderable rents, which greatly impoverished the
see, and lopped off frora the bishoprick large branches
of its revenue'. Between 1560 and 1564, Craike,
bishop of Kildare, exchanged alraost all the raanors luuare,
and lands of the bishoprick, for sorae tythes of little
value, by which exchange the very ancient See of
Kildare was reduced to a raost sharaeful poverty;
and in the short time of three years he did more
mischief to his see, than his .successors were ever
able to repair^ About 1582, Allen, bishop of Ferns, Fems,
made long leases of many farms, reserving very
small rents, and coramitted many wastes on the
lands of the see°; and about the same period,
Cavenagh, bishop of Leighlin, treated the property Leighiin,
« Cox, i. 319. ' Ware's Bishops, p. 418.
8 Ware, 891. » lb., 446.

280 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
of his bishoprick in the like manner, leaving it in
such a naked condition as to be scarce worth any
person's acceptance : so that the poverty of the see
caused it, first to be held with sorae other prefer
ment, and then to be united to the see of Ferns'".
Archbishop Magragh, who succeeded to the see of
Cashel, Cashel in 1570, made most scandalous wastes and
alienations of the revenues belonging to it; and im
poverished it by stripping it of much of its ancient
estate". And Linch, who obtained the bishoprick
Elphin. of Elphin in 1584, so Avasted and destroyed it by
alienations, fee-farms, and other means, that he left
it not Avorth tAvo hundred marks a year'^ These
examples are bad enough : but they are outdone by
certain cases of the original " temporisers," as he
terms them, cited by Primate Bramhall, who parti
cularizes one see as left by its possessor so impover
ished, that it had but forty shillings of yearly revenue,
and another but five marks'".
Bishopricks re- Tho valuo of sovcral other bishopricks vvas at the
duced from other , . i t t p i ^ , • 1
same time much reduced from other causes, of which

causes.

the unsettled and lawless condition of the kingdom
was apparently amongst tbe chief; aud the conse
quence, as in cases of the forraer description, Avas the
evil of pluralities to a very pernicious extent.
Armagh. Thus, In 1567, Archbishop Loftus procured his
translation from Armagh to Dublin : whereupon
Harris, in his edition of Ware's History of th
Bishops, remarks, that " it is not to be admired at,
that he .sought a translation frora the primatial see;
for the North was then ruined by the rebelhon of
Shane O'Neal, and Armaffb, which with its catlie-

o

¦° Ware, p. 462.
" Ih., p. 484.
1* lb,, p. 034.

'» Ufe of Abp. Bramhall, by
Abp. Vesey.

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 281
dral had been utterly destroyed, afforded but little
profit '\"
It should, however, be reraarked, that this is not cause of Arch-
agreeable to the reason, said to have been assigned ['r.^aiat'ion qucs-
by the archbishop hiraself: for it is related in the '"""''''''•
Loftus MB. in Marsh's Library, that " at first there
were raany who wondered at the archbishop, why he
should resign his archbishoprick of Armagh, for to
be translated to Dublin, considering that the primacy
of Armagh Avas not only a higher title, but also had
a greater revenue and income belonging to it. So
Adara Loftus raade ansAver, he Avould rather have
less honour and less revenue in quietness, than to be
in danger, and to live within his diocese so far frora
the metropolis of Ireland, and to hazard himself
especially in those times."
There is also a curious fact, noticed by Strype in curious anecdote
his Life of Archbishop Parker, which does not appear wihopcmwin.''
to have been altogether explained. Under the date
of 1561, he observe.?, that "he meets Avith a letter,
Avithout date of year, but he supposes near about
this time, Avrit from Adam, archbishop of Armagh,
to our Archbishop of Canterbury, dated frora Trinity
College, Cambridge, Sept. 27. Wherein the Irish
archbishop, now not long entered upon his functions,
hinted how the Archbishop of Canterbury had pro
mised him his aid in all Church causes of Ireland, at
his last being in England ; especially for removing
the Bishop of Dublin. He was, as he described
him, a knotvn enemy, and laboured under open criraes :
which although he sharaed not to do, I am, said that
archbishop, almost ashamed to speak. So he desired
him, noAv being in England again, to put to his
helping hand, and to recommend some zealous man
'* Ware's Bishops, p. 95.

282

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. V.

ArclibishopCurwin trans
lated to Oxford.
1567.

Eeduced value
of Dublin.

Armagh.

to succeed in that bishop's place : and that he, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, would write to the court
of this matter"."
From the foregoing description, it should seem
that Archbishop CurAvin's character suflfered under
some heavy moral imputations, as we have already
seen his unsteadiness as to religion. It was not,
however, until six years after the supposed date of
this letter, that he vacated his see : when " being
now grown old, he desired to return and die in his
own country '"," and procured a translation to Oxford,
in the grant of which it is observable that no men
tion was made of his having been Archbishop of
Dublin "¦. Then it was that Archbishop Loftus, who
had before recommended a different successor, was
translated from the priraacy, on account, as is gene
rally supposed, of the scantiness of its revenues,
caused by the outrages of the rebels in the North.
For causes, not specified, the archbishoprick of
Dublin also was in such a state, that in 1572,
" Queen Elizabeth, on account of the poverty of the
see, granted hira a dispensation, to hold any compa
tible sinecure with his archbishoprick, not exceeding
one hundred 230unds a-year in value '^" On account
of the poverty of the See of Arraagh, Thomas Lan
caster, who succeeded to the primacy, on which
occasion he i3reached his own consecration sermon"',
had a licence, a few days after his consecration, to
hold in commendam several benefices, both in Eng
land and Ireland, Avhich at the time of his advance
ment he possessed, and to retain thera during such
tirae as he should continue priraate ; but under a

" Steype's Life of Abp. Parker, v. i. p. 221.
Strype, p. 508. '^ Ware's Bishops, p. 353.
" Ware, p. 353. •» Mason's St, Patrick, p. 170.

Sic. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 283
proviso, that the said churches should not be
defrauded of their usual service, but be supplied with
a provision of vicars and curates". The See of Meath.
Meath was so poor, when Bishop Brady Avas ]n-e-
ferred to it, that in the year folloAving his proraotion,
the queen sent special letters to the government,
ordering them to allow him five years respite for the
payraent of his first fruits^'. But in 1568, and
during the reraainder of his life, he enjoyed the
profits of the See of Clonraacnoise, which was at that
time, by Act of Pariiaraent, united to JNIeatb, as by union ot ushop-
ricks.
the sarae act Eraly AA'as united to Cashel'l In 1570,
Bishop Magragh is related to have received little or
nothing out of the See of Clogher, by reason of the cioghcr.
long wars in those parts ; and, after his translation,
the rebellions, which prevailed there, occasioned the
bishoprick to remain vacant for many years, during
the AA'hole of the reraainder of Queen Elizabeth's
reign ^^ And in 1600, John Crosby was norainated
to the united Sees of Ardfert and Aghadoe, described Ardfert and
in the oflScial document as the bishoprick of Kerry,
from the county, or, in old tiraes, the kingdora, in
AAdiich they were situated. He is there mentioned
to be " a graduate in schools of English race, and yet
skilled in the Irish tongue : well disposed in religion,
and Avho hath already some other means of living to
enable him to bear the countenance of such a pro
motion, which the place hath need of Because the
temporalties of that see, by reason of these rebellions,
are wasted and yield little profit, we have thought
no other better than he"."
With reference to what has been just said con
cerning the vacancy of the see of Clogher, the
^» Ware, p. 95. ^' lb,, p. 156. ^^ lb., p. 483.
^^ P., p. 188. ^* Rolls, 42 Eliz.

284 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
Queen appointed remark may be added, that in all ordinary cases the
to all bishop- ' i ' />
ricks; queen continually exercised her prerogative of
appointing bishops by her letters patent to the vacant
AVith rare excep- soes, oxcopt ill tlio iustauce of Kiliiiore, Avhich had
been usurped by a Popish intruder until 1585, and
then, after an incumbency of four years by the
queen's nominee, frora the confusion of the times
continued Avithout a bishop for the last fourteen
years of her reign : and except also in the instances
of the two northern bishopricks of Raphoe and
Derry, to which she raade no collation, unless in the
year 1595, when her reign was drawing towards its
close.
Apparent rule of lu othor casos slio luude rogular donation of the
distribution. , , • i i . i at*
sees, as they respectively became void. And in so
doing she seems to have followed the rule, for the
raost part, of placing Englishmen in those sees, the
occupiers of Avhich Avere brought iuto raore imme
diate comraunication vvith the governraent, and
occasionally in others, where their services appeared
likely to be useful ; but allowing at the same time,
a general preponderance to the natural claims ofthe
Irish clergy. Thus of the five appointments which
she raade to the primacy, four Avere given to Enghsh-
nien, one of Avhom also, Adam Loftus, filled the
only vacancy Avhich occurred during her reign in the
archbishoprick of Dublin. But two appointments
to each of the other archbishopricks of Cashel and
Tuam Avere bestoAved on Irishmen. To speak sum
marily : out of about fifty-tAvo nominations to Irish
bishopricks, made by Queen Elizabetli, sixteen Avere
of persons frora the other side of the channel,
including one Welshman in the number; twenty-
eight Avere natives of Ireland, of Avhom twenty-four
Avere of originally Irish farailies ; the remaining eight

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 285
are doubtful, at least I have not ascertained them.
These Avere the leQ-itimate prelates of the Church of The legitimate
° ¦* Irish episcopate.
Ireland ; and of these the genuine successors, both
by law and by due course of episcopal descent, are
the prelates who noAv constitute the Irish hierarchy
in the United Church of England and Ireland.
It is true that there existed in the kingdom other intru.sive mis-
*-" sionanes from
intrusive missionaries, sent by the Bishop of Rorae «<""'=•
as opponents of the sovereign, the laAvs, and the
Church of the kingdora, and arrogating for them
selves the jurisdiction, and calling themselves by
the usurped titles, of the rightful and duly-recognised
prelates. Thus, in the course of history, we read in
1567, of a titular Archbishop of Cashel, who, because Titular wshops.
the true archbishop would not surrender to him the
administration of his province, wounded him with a
skeine or Irish dagger, and made his escape for
safety into Spain". We read in 1568 ofthe titular
Bishops of Cashel and Emly being sent by certain
confederated rebels, as their ambassadors to the
Pope and the King of Spain, to iraplore aid and
assistance for rescuing their religion and country
frora the tyranny and oppression of Queen Eliza
beth'". We read in 1593 of the titular Primate of
Armagh, importuning a proclaimed traitor to invade
Connaught, with the intention of preying upon that
country ; of his forces being routed in battle ; and
himself vvith raany of them being slain ^^ We read
in 1599, of the titular Archbishop of Dublin cora
ing to another rebel and traitor, who had publickly
and haughtily professed that he would recover the
liberty of religion and his country, and bringing to
him Papal indulgences for all that Avould take arras
against the English, and a phoenix plume to O'Neal,
" Ware's Bishops, p. 483. =« Cox, i. 333. 27 7j_^ ;_ ^qq_

286 THE REIGN OP [Ch. V.
and 22,000 pieces of gold for distribution from the
King of Spain °^ But these, as they derived their
ecclesiastical character from a foreign prelate, so
were they dissentients and separatists from the
Church of Ireland ; and such has ever been the
proper character of their successors.
Abuse of epi- The blshops of Ireland have, for the most part,
scopai patronage, ^j^^ patronage of the dignities in their respective
cathedrals ; and this patronage had been abused by
several of those who occupied the southern and
western sees at the accession of Queen Elizabeth,
in a manner very injurious to God's honour, and to
the moral condition of the people. This is said on
the authority of the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney,
1JC8. who in the year 1568, raade a progress into Munster
and Connaught, nearly answering to the ecclesiastical
provinces of Cashel and Tuam ; and there " found
among other experiences," what he stated as the
Act of Parlia- proarablc of an Act of Parliaraent the following year,
TOrreetton,^ " tho great abuse of the clergy there, in admitting
of unworthy personages to ecclesiastical dignities;
which had neither laAvfulness of birth, learning,
English habit, nor English language ; but descended
of unchaste and unmarried abbots, priors, deans,
chanters, and such like ; getting into the said dig
nities, either Avith force, simony, friendship, or other
corrupt means, to the great overthrow of God's holy
Church, and the evil ensample of all honest con
gregations." The remedy proposed for this evil was
the enactment, which was accordingly made, " that
no person or persons be from henceforth admitted
or received to be dean, chanter, chancellor, treasurer,
or archdeacon of any cathedral church within Mun-

11 Eliz. c. C.

28

Cox, i. 422.

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 287
ster and Connaught, the cathedral churches of
Waterford, Limerick, Cork, and Cashel only ex
cepted, but only by the presentation and nomination
of the Lord Deputy, or other governor of this realm
for the time being, during the time and space of ten
years next ensuing."
The act also provided, "that no person or per- Benefices hcid by
.*¦ laymon and
sons so to be norainated and presented to any of the non-residents.
dignities aforesaid, shall be able to take any of the
said dignities, except he or they be within orders, of
full age, can read and speak the English tongue,
and shall reside upon the same dignities." The
abuses, noticed in the last jirovision, of ecclesiastical
benefices being holden by laymen and by non-resi
dents, appear to be of no uncommon occurrence at
this period. It was in the year 1568, that the
deanery of St. Patrick's, Dublin, Avas possessed by
Robert Weston, a civilian, avIio had succeeded Arch
bishop CurAvin in the chancellorship of Ireland, but
uot an ecclesiastick, having received the Archbishop
of Canterbury's dispensation from taking holy orders.
This dispensation he pleaded at a visitation of the
new Archbishop of Dubliu, Adam Loftus, in the
cathedral, this sarae year, July the 12th. The same
plea was alleged in vindication of himself from the
like charge, as well as for non-residence by one of
the prebendaries. Against three others, who were
charged with non-residence, and who appear not to
have had the same subterfuge, sentence of depriva
tion was proclairaed ^^
The kingdom in general was at this time over- General immo-
whelined by the most deplorable immorality and toeugtan. 1565
irreligion. On his arrival in Ireland about two
^^ Mason's St, Patrick, p. 170.

288

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Report of the
privy council.

Small appear
ance of religion.

years before, the Lord Deputy had consulted with
the privy council on the condition of the country,
and this was the appalling result of their investi
gations. " The pale was overrun with thieves and robbers ; the
countryman so poor, that he hath neither horse, arms, nor
victuals for himself; and the soldiers so beggarly, that they
could not liA'e without oppressing the subject; for want of
discipline they were grown insolent, loose, and idle; and,
Avhich rendered them suspected to the state, they were
allied by marriage to the Irish, and intimate with them in
conversation. " Leinster Avas harassed by the Tooles,- Birns, Kinshe-
lagbs, O'Morroghs, Cavenaghs, and O'Moors; but espe
cially the county of liilkenny was almost desolate.
" Munster, by the dissensions between the Earls of
Desmond and Ormond, vA'as almost ruined, especially Tip
perary and Kerry ; tbe barony of Ormond was overrun by
Pierce Grace ; and Thomond was as bad as the rest by
tbe wars between Sir Daniel O'Brian and the Earl of
Thomond. " Connaught was almost wasted by the feuds between
tbe Earl of Clanrickard, and M'William Outer, and other
lesser contests.
" And Ulster, wbich for some time bad been the recep
tacle and magazine of all the preys and plunder gotten out
of the other provinces, and so was richer than the rest, wa,s
in open rebellion under Shane O'Neal.
" As for religion, there was but small appearance of it ;
the churches uncovered, and the clergy scattered, and scarce
the being of a God known to those ignorant and barbarous
people'"." To meet this formidable array of evils, the Lord
Deputy and council took such measures as they
judged best, and which in general it does not fall
within our present province to notice. But with
respect to our more imraediate subject, amongst the
™ Cox,i. 319.

Sec. ll.J QUEEN ELIZABETH. 289
instructions which the Lord Deputy had brought
with hira from the queen, there A\'as one which
enjoined, " That religion and knowledge of the
Scriptures should be propagated and encouraged by
doctrine, example, &;c." Possibly the statute which iiEiiz.e.(i.
has been already mentioned as enacted in the parlia
ment next following these instructions, relative to
the providing of fit persons, duly qualified by their
birth and attainments, for ecclesiastical dignities in
Munster and Connaught, may have arisen out of
this instruction : it is highly probable that this was
the foundation of the act, passed in an adjourned
session of the same parliament, for the erection of
free schools throughout the kingdom.
The preamble, which is an important document Act for free
^ ^ schools, 12 Eliz.
in exposition of the extreme ignorance of the people «¦ i-
for want of good school discipline, plainly, strongly,
and briefly sets fortli the occasion of the act to be,
" Forasmuch as the greatest number of this your Preamhie set-
iiif>i • TT" 1 1 *^"S^ forth the
majesty s realra hath of long tirae lived m rude and people's mdeness
barbarous states, not understanding that Alraighty ranee.
God hath by his divine laAvs forbidden the raanifold
and heinous offences, which they spare not daily and
hourly to commit and perpetrate, nor that he hath
by his holy Scriptures coramanded a due and hum
ble obedience from the people to their princes and
rulers; whose ignorance in these so high points
touching their damnation proceedeth only of lack of
good bringing up of the youth of this realm, either
in publiek or private schools, where through good
discipline they might be taught to avoid these
loathsorae and horrible errors." And then ensues Knactmentfor
the enactment, in substance to this effect, that there cesan schools.
be thenceforth a free school within every diocese of
Ireland ; that the schoolmaster shall be an English-
u

290

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

man, or of the English birth of this realm ; that the
Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, and the Bishops
of Meath and Kildare, shall have the noraination of
the schoolraasters, each in his own diocese, for ever ;
that the Lord Deputy shall have the nomination in
every other diocese ; that the school-house shall be
erected in the principal shire-town of the diocese,
where school-houses are not already built ; and that
the Lord Deputy and council shall appoint a con
venient yearly salary, of which one-third part shall
be borne by the ordinary, and the other two by the
clergy of the diocese. It is also enacted that all
ecclesiastical livings that have corae by any title to
the queen, or any of her progenitors, shall be charged
to this payraent, in whose ever possession the same
are or shall corae.
Policy of the It seems to have been the policy of the Enghsh
improvement of govemraeut to civilize the Irish by raeans of the
ecountiy. Eugllsh lauguago, and thus to irai3rove their reli
gious and moral character ; or rather to take such
measures, as might at the same time produce their
civil improvement, and instruct them in a knowledge
and practice of the Gospel. As instruments well
suited for producing this general improvement
among their countrymen, regard appears to have
been had to the native youth, who, being by the cir
cumstances of their birth acquainted with the Irish
language, should be trained in a knoAvledge of the
English, and at the same time in the sound religious
principles and practices of the Church ; that thus in
due course they might become efficient in dissemi
nating true religion, and social and raoral cultivation
over the country, through the mediura of either the
Irish or the English tongue, as occasions might
require, aud in a way exempt frora all offence on

Religious educa
tion of the
native youtli.

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 291
the score of national antipathies. Such an object
was highly commendable in the government ; and
to the attainment of it the erection of the diocesan
free-schools appears calculated to have been con
ducive. Another measure for the religious improvement Proposed act for
of the country was proposed to be enacted in this churches.
parliament, but frora sorae unassigned cause failed
of success. In pursuance ofthe statute ofthe lOtli
of Henry the Seventh, chap. 4, coraraonly called
Poyning's Act, it was necessary that before the
meeting of any parliaraent the acts intended to be
proposed should be certified to the king under the
great seal of Ireland, and affirraed by the king and
council as good and expedient for that land, under
the great seal of England. Among the bills pro
posed to be enacted in the present parliaraent,
together with that for the erection of free schools,
was another for the reparation of parochial churches.
The parliaraent was opened on the 17th day of
January, 1569 ; it was not, however, until its fifth
session, on the 26th of May, 1570, that the forraer
of these bills becarae a law ; the latter was never
passed^'. The postponeraent in the one case, and its failure.
still raore the want of success in the latter, fair and
reasonable as its purpose appears, raay perhaps be
not iraproperly taken as a proof of a poAverful ojipo-
sition, prepared to counteract or resist every scherae
of the government for propagating the reformed
religion. Connected in its objects with these measures of Effort for reiigi-
the governraent, and nearly contemporaneous with brSiliSis?*
them, Avas au effort made by sorae zealous individuals,
'• Leland's Hist, vol. ii. p. 245.
U 2

292 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
not hoAvever without the encourageraent and aid of
the ruling powers, for the spiritual edification of the
people, and the extension of the Irish Church. The
¦\vaish, bishop of principal of these was Nicholas Walsh, who, about
°^'^* six years after, in 1577, was promoted to the bishop
rick of Ossory. A previous occurrence of the sir-
name in this narrative seeras to call for the explana
tory reraark, that he was the son, not of that Bishop
Walsh, who, by virtue of Queen Mary's commission,
had been one of the agents in removing his prede
cessor. Bishop Staples, from the See of ]Meath, and
had afterwards incurred the same sentence himself
in Queen Elizabeth's reign, for preaching against the
queen's supreraacy, and the newly-established Book
Hisparentagc. of Commoii Prayer; but he was the son of another
bishop of the sarae narae, who presided over the
united Sees of Waterford and Lismore, by mandate
from King Edward the Sixth, and is recorded to
have been a man of great repute for his learning and
religion. These qualities appear to have been trans
mitted to the son, who, having been educated at
Cambridge, and having afterwards possessed the
dignity of Chancellor of St. Patrick's, Dubhn, was
consecrated Bishop of Ossory in the beginning
of February, 1577. Sir Henry Sidney, the lord
deputy, had first recoramended for the vacant see,
Davy Clure, M.A. of Oxford, a man of learning and
coraraendable conversation, a divine, but not a civi
lian. This, however, not being approved of, he
recoraraended Mr. Walsh, a godly and well-learned
preacher '^
Irish Book of I meutlon these particulars in relation to a
and Catechism, prelate, porhaps not so well known amongst the
worthies of the Church of Ireland, as his character
°^ State Papers, vol. i. pp. 127, 168.

Sec. II.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 293
and good deeds deserve, for a mark of distinction
honourable to one, who in 1571, the period with iw.
which our narrative is now conversant, whilst he
was Chancellor of St. Patrick's, together with John JohnKemey.
Kerney, treasurer of that church, the beloved com
panion of his studies, was the first who introduced
the Irish types for printing into that kingdora ; and
obtained frora the governraent an order, that the
prayers of the Church should be printed in that
character and language ; and a church set apart in
the shire-town of every diocese, where they should
be read, and a sermon preached to the coraraon
people : a provision, which proved to be an instru
ment of conversion to the purified faith of the
Gospel in many of the previously uninstructed and
ignorant Papists, who were thus withdrawn frora the
modern inventions of Popery, and trained in the
profession of the ancient and Catholick Church".
Nor did the efforts of Bishop Walsh stop here. But n-ish New Test.a-
desirous of leading his countrymen to the pure well
head of truth, as contained in Holy Scripture, and of
showing thera the harmony which subsists between
the true word of God and the creed and worship of
the Church ; with the assistance of his friend, John
Keruey, and of Nehemiah Donellan, afterwards Archbisbors
n m 1 1 1 • r» Ounellan and
Archbishop of iuam, he comraenced a translation ot Danieu
the New Testaraent from Greek into Irish ; a work,
which was greatly approved of by Queen Elizabeth,
and eventually printed in 1603, and dedicated to
King James, on its completion by William Daniel^
the successor of Donellan in the archiepiscopal see".
For the labours of Bishop Walsh had been prema
turely interrupted by the execrable act of a profligate
^' Wabe's Bishops, p. 418.
'¦¦ Ware's Writers of Ireland, pp. 97, 107.

294

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Murder of
Bishop Walsh.

December, 1585.

wretch, Avho, whether in revenge at being cited by
the bishop into his court, for the crirae of adultery,
or being prorapted to the villany as a means of
preventing the bishop from carrying on the proceed
ings which he had coraraenced for recovering the
rights of his see, surprised hira in his house, and
stabbed hira with a skein or dagger. The bishop
died of the Avound, and was buried in his Cathedral
Church of Kilkenny, where a monuraent was
erected to his memory with a Latin inscription,
mentioning the date of his death, December 14,
1585, but not specifying the cause. The simphcity
and brevity of the inscription preclude also a notice
of the valuable undertaking, which is the fairest
monument to his memory.

Counteraction of
Popish party.

Religion pre
tence for rebel
lion.

BuU of Pope
Pius V.
March, 1570.

On recurring, however, to the point, whence we
have somewhat digressed, it may be remarked, that
whatever exertions were made by the government or
under its patronage, they were continually encoun
tered by corresponding energy in the Popi,sh party.
And especially at this time a countervaihng force
was kept in active operation by a confederacy of
some of the more licentious of the Irish lords, who
were no less diligent in spreading abroad disorder
and confusion. Religion was the pretended cloak
for their rebellion : in pursuance of which they sent
the titular Bishops of Cashel and Emly, and the
younger brother of the Earl of Desmond, as their
ambassadors, to solicit assistance from the Pope and
the King of Spain, to rescue their Church and
country from the tyranny and oppression of Queen
Elizabeth''^ Shortly after, in March, 1570, Pope
Pius the Fifth fulminated his bull of excommunica-

'* Cox i. 333.

Sec.IL] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 295
tion against the queen; and, as is remarked by a
Pojush historian of Ireland, Sullev^an, as quoted by
Cox", " deservedly deprived her of her kingdom;"
frora which deprivation followed, during the re
mainder of her reign, the natural consequence, that
bigotry and rebellion went together hand in hand,
and were bound in an indissoluble league for dis
turbing the government of the heretical sovereign,
and overthroAving the English laAvs and the Pro
testant religion, which were to the disaffected alike
objects of their suprerae hatred and abhorrence.
It was not until 1571, fifteen years after his nestor.ition of
T. ,.,/-. "\.r5 •• T one of the Pro-
deprivation by Queen Marys coinmissioners, and on testant bishops.
his successor's resignation of the bishoprick from
some cause AA'hich is not related, that Bishop Casey
Avas reinstated in his see of Limerick", being the
only one of the deprived prelates Avho Avas restored :
for Thomas Lancaster, bishop of Kildare, Avho bore
the same names, and has sometimes been identified,
with hira who succeeded Archbishop Loftus in the
priraacy =8, was, in fact, a different person ; and
neither he, nor any of his felloAV-sufferers, was again
placed in the episcopal office. Why neither of these. Question why
tlie otliei's were
who had incurred the ]:>enalty of their confession of not restored.
the reforraed faith, was restored to his dignity on
Queen Elizabeth's accession; or AA'hy Bishop Casey
was not restored till after the lapse of so long a
period of deprivation, has not been fully explained.
Bishop Bale is supposed not to have desired restora
tion ; and possibly the others were dead before the
opportunity had arrived for restoring them. But,
in effect, this conduct of the government rather
=« Cox, i. 337. " Ware's Bishops, p. 510.
^^ Wood's Athen, Oxon, vol. i. p. 175.

296

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

A coadjutor
bishop.

wears the appearance of lenity and forbearance
toAvards the advocates of Popery, than of a just and
equitable consideration for the martyrs of the
Reformed Church. Bishop Casey survived his
restoration tAventy years, having lived to a good old
age ; and is a rather uncommon instance of a Pro-
testant bishop having his spiritual functions per
formed by a coadjutor, on account of his great age
and infirm health, AAdiich rendered hira unequal to
the discharge of bis ofificial duties.
Scheme of a Pro- 111 1572, a schorae was formed by Sir Thomas
tion in the Ards. Siulth for maklug a Protestant plantation in the
Ards, a peninsular district of the county of Down,
under the conduct of his natural son, who was hke
wise a Thomas Sraith, assisted by a person of the
narae of Chatterton : but in consequence of the
murder of the leader of the colony, the design
proved unsuccessful. In the folloAving year, Hugh
Allen, one of the colonists, who had been "much
coramended to the queen as a good preacher and a
zealous man," Avas promoted to the bishoprick of
DoAvn and Connor, on the vacancy made by the
death of John Merriinan, the first Protestant bishop
who occupied that see, to which he had been
appointed four years before "°. The vacancy of the
see for more than tAvo years, on Allen's translation
to Ferns, in 1582, is a neglect on the part of the
governraent, rather to be laraented than explained.
^^ Ware's i?«V«(>ps, p. 446. Cox, i. 341.

Sec. III.l QUEEN ELIZABETH. 297

Section III.
Sir Heni-y Sidney's Letter to the Queen. Her commission
for the supply of Churches and Curates. Instances of
Popish Insubordination. Sir John Perrot's Itistructions
concertving the Church. Appointment of a Bishop for
Kilmore. Failure of Plan for an University. Act
against Witchcraft. Foundation of University of
Dublin.
In the autumn of the year 1575, the excellent Sir sir Henry
Henry Sidney, who had five times before been at Deputy.^""*
the head of the Irish government, was again intrusted
with the office of Lord Deputy. His thoughts and
his labour were at once bestowed on the improve
ment of the kingdora : and the result of his investi
gations, respecting the deplorable condition of the
church, Avas made known to the queen in the fol
lowing letter, written in the ensuing spring.
" May it please your moist excellent Majesty, jj.^j i.j^,|. ^.^
" I have in four several discourses, addressed unto <iueen.
the lords of your highness''s most honourable council, cer
tified them bow I found this your highness''s realm at mine
arrival into the same ; and wbat I have seen and under
stand by my travel these six last months, in which I bave
passed through each province, and have been almost in each
county thereof: the which I would not send to your most
excellent majesty, immediately to be read by the same, lest
they should have seemed too tedious, partly through the
quantity of the matter, but chiefly through the bad delivery
thereof by my pen : not doubting but your majesty is, by
this time, advertised of the material points contained in
them. "And now, most dear mistress and most honoured Lamentable state
sovereign, I solely address to you, as to the only sovereign °^ ""^ ohurch.
salve-giver to this your sore and sick realm. The lament-

298

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Diocese of
Meath.

Destitution of
curates.

Their character
and mode of
Uving.

Ruinous state
of churches.

Worse condition
of other dioceses.

able estate of the most noble and principal limb thereof, the
church I mean, as foul, deformed, and as cruelly crushed,
as any other part thereof, by your only gracious and reli
gious order to be cured, or at least amended, I would not
have believed, had I not for a great part viewed the same
throughout the whole realm; and was advertised of the
particular estate of each churoh in the bishoprick of Meath,
being the best inhabited country of all this realm, by the
honest, zealous, and learned bishop of the same, Mr. Hugh
Brady, a godly minister of the Gospel, and a good servant
of your highness, who went from church to church himself,
and found that there are within his diocese two hundred
and twenty-four parish-churches, of which number one
hundred and five are impropriated to sundry possessions,
now of your highness, and now leased out for years, or in
fee-farm, to several farmers, and great gain reaped out of
them above the rent, which your majesty receiveth: no
parson or vicar resident upon any of them, and a very
simple or sorry curate for the most part appointed to serve
them ; among which number of curates only eighteen were
found able to speak English, the rest Irish priests, or rather
Irish rogues, having very little Latin, less learning or
civility. " All these live upon the bare altarages " (emoluments
arising from the services of the altar) " as they call them ;
and were wont to live upon the gain of masses, dirges,
shrivings, and such like trumpery, goodly abolished by your
majesty: no one house standing for any of them to dwell
in. In many places the very walls of the churches down :
very few chancels covered, windows and doors ruined or
spoiled. There are fifty-two other parish-churches in the
same diocese, who have vicars endowed upon them, better
served and maintained than tbe other, yet but badly.
There are fifty-two parish-churches more, residue of the
first number of two hundred and twenty-four, which pertain
to divers particular lords ; and these, though in better estate
than tbe rest commonly are, yet far from well.
" If this be the estate of the church in the best-peopled
diocese, and best-governed country of this your realm, as in
truth it is ; easy is it for your majesty to conjecture in what

Sec.III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 299
case the rest is, where little or no reformation, either of
religion or manners, hath yet been planted and continued
among them : yea, so profane and heathenish are some Their heathen-
parts of this your country become, as it hath been preached
publickly before me, that the sacrament of baptism is not
used among them : and truly I believe it.
" If I should write unto your majesty, what spoil hath no church so
,,.,.. PI .11 i> miserable as that
been, and is, oi tiie archbishopricks, oi which there are lour, otiieiand.
and of the bishopricks, whereof there are above thirty,
partly by the prelates themselves, partly by the potentates,
their noisome neighbours, I should make too long a libel of
this my letter. But your majesty may believe it, that upon
the face of the earth, where Christ is professed, there is not
a church in so miserable a case : the misery of which con
sisteth in these three particulars: the ruin of the very Misery of three
temples themselves ; the want of good ministers to serve in ^°'^ "^
them when they shall be re-edified ; competent living for
the ministers, being well chosen.
" For the first, let it like your most gracious majesty Proposed reme-
to write earnestly to me, and to whom else it may best ings,
please you,' to examine in whom tbe fault is, tbat the
churches are so ruinous : if it be found in the country or
farmers, to compel them speedily to go about the amend
ment of them ; if the fault, for the churches of your high
ness's inheritance, be not in the farmers, nor they bound to
repair them, (and the most ruined of them are sucb as are
of your possession,) it may like you to grant warrant, that
some portion may yearly, of the revenue of every parsonage,
be bestowed on the church of the same.
" For the second and third, wbich is, that good minis- And ministers
tera might be found to occupy the places, and they made in°h^^''^'"'
able to live in them : in choice of wbich ministers, for the
remote places, where the English tongue is not understood,
it is most necessary that such be chosen as can speak Irish :
for which search would be made, first and speedily, in your to be sought in
ovm universities ; and any found there, Avell affected in Jjn^y'^rsft'fe^,
religion, and well conditioned beside, they would be sent
hither animated by your majesty; yea, though it were
somewhat to your highness's charge : and on peril of my
life, you shall find it returned vvith gain, before three years

300

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V

And in Scotland.

Provision recom
mended for tlie
churches of tho
pale.

Intreaty for
clergy from
England ;

For English
bishops to visit
Ireland.

be expired. If there be no such there, or not enough, (for
I wish ten or twelve at the least,) to be sent, who might be
placed in offices of dignity in the churcb, in remote places
of this realm, then do I wish, (but this most humbly under
your highness's correction,) that you would write to the
regent of Scotland, where, as I learn, there are many of the
reformed church that are of this language, that he would
prefer to your highness so many, as shall seem good to you
to demand, of honest, zealous, and learned men, and that
could speak tbis language : and, though for a while your
majesty were at some charge, it were well bestowed, for in
short time their own preferments would be able to suffice
tbem ; and in the mean time thousands would be gained to
Christ, that now are lost, or left at the Avorst.
" And for the ministry of the churches of the English
pale of your own inheritance, be contented, most virtuous
queen, that some convenient portion for a minister may be
allowed to him, out of the farmer's rent : it will not be
much loss to you in your revenue, but gain otherwise ines
timable, and yet the decay of your rent but for a while :
for, the years once expired of the leases already granted,
there is no doubt but that to be granted to the church will
be recovered with increase.
" I Avish, and most humbly beseech your majesty, that
there may be three or four grave, learned, and venerable
personages of the clergy there, be sent hither, who in short
space, being here, Avould sensibly perceive the enormities
of this overthrown cburch, and easily prescribe orders for
the repair and upholding of the same, AA'hich I hope God
would confirin. And I find no difficulty, but that your
officer bere might execute tbe same. Cause the bishops of
that your realm to undertake this apostleship, and that upon
their own cliarges. They be rich enough : and if either
they be thankful to your majesty for your immense bounty
done to them, or zealous to increase the Christian flock,
they will not refuse this honourable and religious travail ;
and I will undertake their guiding and guarding honourably
and safely from place to place : the great desire that I have
to have such from thence, is, for that I hope to find them,
not only grave in judgment, but void of affections.

Sec.III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 301
" I most humbly beseech your majesty, to accept these The Lord De
puty's excusea
for his letter.

my rude letters, as figures of a zealous inind for reformation f"/f,^'"""™°

of this your church and country; wherein me thinketh I
work waywardly, when the latter is preferred before the
former. When I had come to the end of this my evil-
scribbled letter, and beheld the illegible lines and ragged
letters of mine own staggering hand, I was ashamed to
suffer the same to be sent to your majesty, but made my
man to write it out again : for wdiich I most humbly crave
pardon, as for the rest of this my tedious petition. And
thus from the bottom of my heart wishing to your majesty
the long continuance of your most prosperous and godly
reign over us, your most happy subjects ; as a most faithful
and obedient servant, I recommend myself and service to
your most excellent majesty.
" From your highness's castle of Dublin this 28th of
April, 1576. " Your majesty's faithful, humble,
and obedient servant,
"H. Sydney'."
The same year in which this pathetick repre- commission to
rpctifv ecclesias*
sentation of the disastrous state of ecclesiastical ticai abuses.
affairs is dated, a commission was sent over from the
queen for rectifying it, by providing for the supply
of churches and ministers ^
As to this laraentable scarcity of churches, it is
reasonable to inquire, what was the cause of such a
defect in a country, so abundant as Ireland had of
old tiraes been in the sacred edifices of religion.
The cause may probably be found, to no small causes of the
degree, in the perpetual rebellions and conflicts cwifcs"^
which agitated the kingdora, illustrated as this con
jecture is by the recorded facts of the desolation
by which these intestine outrages were soraetimes
distinguished. ' Sir H. Sidney's Letters and Memorials, i. 112. « Cox, i, 347.

302

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

RebeUiong
and wars.

Thus near the commencement of this reign, in
1566, we learn, that in the common ruin which was
spread over the north by the rebellion of Shane
O'Neal's destruc- O'Noal, thc Cathedral, together with the metropolitan
tion of Armagh ' o ^
Cathedral. ia town of Armagh, was "utterly destroyed :" an
expression which must be taken with some qualifi
cation, as the building, which still exists, is evidently
in part the production of an earlier age. Still the
demolition must have been fearful and extensive:
for in an Act of Parliament, three years after, the
church is represented to have been " ruined, broken
down, and defaced*;" and it drew from the contem
porary historian, Camden, the following description !
" In our memory, the church and city of Armagh
Avere so foully defaced by the rebel Shane O'Neal,
that they lost all their ancient beauty and glory;
and nothing remaineth at this day, but a few small
wattled cottages, with the ruinous walls of a monas
tery, priory, and the primate's palace \" The cause
assigned for this outrage was, " that he did it, lest
the English should lodge therein;" for which fact
the sentence of excomraunication was pronounced
against hira by Archbishop Loftus, then Lord Primate
of all Ireland, and by the clergy of his diocese".
And thus at the very time of which we are
speaking, namely, in 1576, when the town of
Athenry was burnt by the Mac an Earlas, the
church itself was not exempt from the common ruin,
although it contained the burial-place of the mother
of one of the ravagers : a circumstance which was so
far frora mitigating his fury, that a remonstrance
addressed to the son, upon the plea that his mother
was buried in that church, was met by the unna-

Athenry Church
burnt by the
Mac au Earlas,
in I57G.

^ Ware's Bishops, p. 95.
' Ir. Stat. 11 Eliz. Sess. 3, c. 1.

° Camden's Ireland, p. 109.
« Ware's Annals, Eliz. p. 10.

Sec. III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 303
tural and impious answer, that " if his mother were
alive, he would sooner burn her and the church
together, than any English church should fortify
there'." That the like spirit animated others of the
rebel chiefs, is no uncharitable opinion: and that
it produced the like fruit, is a conjecture by no
means irrational. But indeed without having
recourse to the hypothesis of a malicious disposition,
exerted against the churches of the Protestant and
English faith, we cannot peruse the history of these
calamitous times, and follow such men as Rory
Oge O'More in their depredations, laying waste
large districts of country, and burning and destroying
whole towns and villages on their march, without
seeing ample cause to believe, that, Avhether inten
tionally or not, the churches must have fallen in the
general conflagration and demolition".
Having allowed, however, for the devastation of Natm-ai decay,
war and violence, much is probably to be attributed and effectively
to natural decay also, not seasonably encountered
and effectually remedied. In ordinary cases the law
imposed the charge of repairing churches on the
parishioners, and authorized the bishop to take cog
nisance of and direct the repairs. But under the
actual circumstances of the country it may be well
imagined, that the parishioners would be remiss in
discharging what belonged to them in this respect ;
and that the bishops would, in some cases at least,
be wanting in inclination to enforce the law, and
corapel the reparation, even if they possessed the
ability, which in the disturbed and lawless state of
the country, and araongst agitators and rebels, they
of necessity frequently did not. Thus natural decay
' Cox, i. 346. » P,, 350—352.

304 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
would come in aid of the desolating influence of
warfare; and its progress, when once commenced,
if not promptly and assiduously checked, would
advance with accelerated force, so as to make resto
ration impossible, and to consign the edifices to ruin,
as irremediable as that which was produced by the
devastation of war.
"faMmed""^' ^^^ whatever may have been the cause, that the
evil was widely prevalent appears too plainly from
the foregoing letter : not so any practicable remedy.
An attempt to introduce such a remedy by a legis
lative enactment, about six years before, failed of
success, as has been already shown. The attempt
itself is an argument, that a sufficient legal remedy
did not at that time exist : and Sir Henry Sidney's
letter must be understood as admitting the same
defect : otherwise, why such an earnest appeal to the
interposition of the queen? Whether or not she
interposed, in compliance with his earnest suit, is
not recorded, except so far as is intimated by the
subsequent coramission. Instances, indeed, of a
desire in the government to aniraate the bishops to
the exercise of such powers as they possessed, are
supplied by the conduct of two of Sir Henry Sid
ney's successors in office. Sir William Drury and
Sir John Perrot, Avho would fain have had means
taken for the repair of churches by episcopal autho
rity. But this produced no effect; at least there
will soon appear fresh occasion to lament the unsup-
plied deficiency of parochial edifices for divine
worship.
Scarcity of The scarcity of curates was another defect, which
curates. •'
by the queen's comraission was required to be sup
plied. The defect was obvious ; and the causes of
it were not far to seek. Thev were to be found to

Sec. III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 305
some extent in the abuse of episcopal patronage ;
more, in the want of persons properly qualified to
discharge the functions of the ministry iu a country
so peculiarly circumstanced as Ireland ; most of all,
perhaps, in the penury of the country, the multitude
of lay impropriations, despoiled from the church, and
the poverty of the benefices, which afforded uo com
petent maintenance for those avIio might be qualified
and Avilling to engage in the ministry. These causes
Avill be seen more particularly at a period, someAAdiat
later than the present, Avhen occasion Avill be offered
for recurring to these defects in the church : and
when it will be seen also, what little reraedy for the
supply of thera was ministered by this commission
of the queen.
Allusion A\as just uoav raade to the conduct of sir n. Sidney
— ^ Succeeded bv Siir
Sir William Drury, in endeavouring to effect the M'.Drmy.
reparation of the ruined churches. On the resigna
tion of the government of Ireland by Sir Henry
Sidney, who had filled the station eleven years, and
seven several tiraes, and left it Avitli the honourable
testimony of Camden ', that " he aa'rs one of the
most coraraendable deputies that ever was iu Ire
land," he Avas succeeded by Sir William Drury, iu
15X8 ; Avho, in the month of Septeraber, a foAV days
after he had been sworn into his office, made a
journey through Munster, accompanied by Sir
Edward Fitton, and others of the couucil. At oucen's injunc
tions relative to
Kilkenny, he bound several citizens, by a recogni- divinesorvice.
zance of forty pounds, to come to church, and hear
divine service every Sunday, pursuant to the queen's
injunctions; and he advised the Bishop of Ossory
" to raake a rate for the repair of the church, and to
» C.VMDEN, Elix., 231. X

306 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
distrain for the payment of it'°." I am not aware
what were the special instructions of the Lord
Deputy ; or whether he extended his advice to other
bishops ; or Avhat were the particular circumstances
which called for his interference at Kilkenny; or
Avhat was the result of his advice to the Bishop of
Ossory, the sarae Nicholas Walsh, of whora there
has been lately occasion for raaking respectful raen
tion on account of his exertions for the religions
improvement of the country.
Image of St Do- 111 the sauie year, and about the sarae season,
"umt It coA.' MattheAV Sheyn, Avho had been promoted to the
bishoprick of Cork and Cloyne about four years
before, and Avho is commemorated for his great
enraity to the superstitious veneration shown by the
Papists for the objects of their idolatrous Avorship,
gave an instance of this enraity, by publickly burning
at the high cross of Cork the image of St. Dominick,
belonging to the Dominican friary in that city,
greatly to the raortification and sorrow of the inha
bitants \Adio were attached to that superstition".
An act of pen- lu tlio saiuo year, on Sunday after St. George's
zen°ot Dublin, day, Jauies BedloAv, a citizen of Dublin, did penance,
standing barefoot before the pulpit in Christ Church,
and at the sarae time publickly confessed his faults,
which were these: 1. He had denied the queen to
be head of the Church. 2, He alleged that one
article of the ten coraraandments Avas false. And,
3. That the preachers, Avhen they Avere out of their
matter, and knoAv not Avhat to say, fell to railing at
the Pope. All Avhich particulars Avere said to be
confuted in a learned and eloquent sermon preached
by Adam Loftus, archbishop of Dublin".
"> Cox, i. .354. >' Ware's Z?«/,fy«, 504.
'- Warbuhto.m's Hist, of Dublin, i, 200.

Sec. III.j QUEEN ELIZABETH. 307
At or about this time several instances are Pope-s patronag,
recorded of the patronage given by the Pope to the rebeiT. ""
Irish rebels, in aid of their attempts to overthroAv
the dominion of Queen Elizabetli, and Avithal the
Reforraed Church of Ireland.
In 1579 the Earl of Desmond had become so EariofDcs-
, , - , , j^., . mend's letter to
insolent, that he wrote an arrogant letter to Sir the Lord justice.
William Pelham, who on the death of Sir William
Drury had been recently chosen Lord Justice,
importing that he and his brethren were entered
into the defence of the catholick faith, and advising
the Lord Justice to join hira : " understanding that
we took this raatter in hand Avith great authority,
both frora the Pope's holiness and from King Philip,
Avho do undertake to further us in our affairs as Ave
shall need''."
Nor Avas this an idle boast ; for in the preceding confederacy of
year, the holy father, Gregory the Thirteenth, partly langofs^.
to propiagate the Roraish faith, and partly to accjuire
the kingdora of Ireland for his son, had confederated
Avith King Philip of Spain to contribute to the
charge of the Irish rebellion, to join councils and
forces, and to send aid into Ireland under the cora
mand of an English fugitive, who was invested with
a marquisate to qualify him for so high a com
mand ".
And in the folloAving year, 1580, the sarae holy Papaiindui-
T'l 1 ii_C!l gences for fight-
father granted to all the Irish, who Avould hght ing agamst the
, queen, 1580.
against the queen, the same plenary pardon and
remission of all their sins, as Avere granted to those
who were engaged in the holy war against the
Turks '\
And in the autumn of the same year, seven
hundred Spaniards and Italians, under the command
" Cox, i. 301. " Lb,, p. 352. '^ /j,^ p_ ggg_
X 2

308

THE REIGN OF

[Cil. V.

Ireland given by
the Pope to the
King of Spain.

Iri-eligious and
unscrupulous
conduct of the
Pope.

of an Italian, landed in Kerry, being sent by the
Pope and King of Spain to propagate the miscalled
catholick religion ; and there they built thera a fort,
which being besieged by the Lord Deputy, Lord
Gray of Wilton, and suramoned to surrender, they
returned for ansAver, " That they held it for the
Pope and the King of Spain, to whora the Pope
had given the kingdora of Ireland'"."
By such courses of disloyalty to their natural
sovereign, and of conspiracy with her eneraies, of
sedition, rebellion, and outrage, did their holy father,
the Bishop of Rome, train his Irish children in the
knoAvledge and practice of their Christian duty; and
by such weapons of carnal warfare did his holiness
strive to raaintain the papal supremacy in Ireland
under the pretended semblance of the true catholick
faith. Nor did he scruple to authorize the republi
cation of the bulls of his predecessor. Pope Pius
the Fifth, against the queen, unthroning her as a
bastard and a heretick, and discharging her subjects
from their allegiance".
Death of Bishop 111 1582 died Robert Daly, bishop of Kildare: a
thricepiunder'ed' prolato UO otherwlso memorable than that, in the
1582. course of his eighteen years' incumbency, he had
been three tiraes turned in a inanner almost naked
out of his house, and plundered of his goods by the
rebels. He died in the winter of this year, soon
after the third outrage, which was supposed to have
been the cause of his death '\
And in the sarae year, to fill the vacancy lately
raade in the bishoprick of Clonfert, a successor was
appointed, with a dispensation to hold the church of
Duninore, in the diocese of Tuara : which is here

Cox, i. 307.

" Ib.

Ware's Bishops, p. 391.

Sec.III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 309
noticed for the purpose of remarking, tliat this
church had been held by Thomas Laly, a layman; Aiaym.ande-
Avho was deprived of it for his inability to exercise iity to cxerciso
the clerical functions"'. tions™

About Midsummer, 1584, a ucav Lord Deputy, instructions to
ri • T 1 T-» • 1 . T 1 T • 1 • * Sir J. Perrot,
Sir John Perrot, arrived in Ireland AVith instructions, lord deputy.
Avliich had no immediate reference to the Church,
except that " no man, ecclesiastical or civil, avIio
had any function or office, be suffered to be absent
frora his charge above tAvo months, Avithout special
licence, on pain of forfeiture"." The Lord Deputy's ms commission
, . , , . ., 1 ~ concerning
commission authorized hira "to collate and confer spiritual pro-
n • • 1 • 1 1 • 1 1 motions.
all spiritual promotions, except archbishops and
bishops*'." But this exception AA^as superseded in
the instance of the archbishoprick of Armagh, then
void, by one of his instructions, AAhicli empowered
him to " place there such an archbishop as the
Lord Deputy and the council should think fit."
Priraate Lancaster had died a short tirae before, ceathof Primatc
1 ¦ -IT 1 f, c* 1 • Lancaster.
having occupied the see between fifteen and sixteen
years from his consecration. Three benefices AAliich
he held in England, and three in Ireland, to com
pensate for the poverty of his see, constitute his
chief memorial. In the ensuing July, John Long, a joimLong,
native of London, and doctor of divinity of King's
College, Cambridge, was ]iromoted to the primacy by
the Lord Deputy, at Avhose instance also he Avas
called into tbe privy council in 1585.
Sir John Perrot was active in his govermnent, xiieLordDe-
and soon proceeded to exert all his poAvers for vouisfortho
repairing the ruinous and miserable state of Ireland, theciiuich.
For this purpose, together Avith other measures for
the civil improvement of the country, he directed
" RoUs. *» Cox, i. 369. "' lb., i. 368.

310

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

A bishop settled
at Kilmore.

Condition of tho
diocese.

his mind to the supply of its ecclesiaatical Avants.
During the three adrainistrations, which had inter
vened since the death of Sir William Drury in 1579,
no efforts are recorded to have been made for the
remedy of the crying necessities of the Church,
notAvithstanding the office of lord justice had been
filled by the Archbishop of Dublin during about a
year and a half of that interval. A sense of the
arduousness of the undertaking may have repressed
exertion. Sir John Perrot, lioweA^er, encouraged
the bishops to carry into effect the repair of the
cliurches in their dioceses, but apparently Avith little
good success ; and he recommended the English
government that no more bishopricks might be
granted iti commendani^^ .
It was during his adrainistration also, that means
were taken for bringing the diocese of Kilmore
under the royal jurisdiction. This see, lying in an
unsettled and tumultuous country, had been much
neglected by the Crown of England : so that, even
after the Reforination, the bishops of it succeeded,
either by usurpation or by papal authority, as is
instanced in the cases of those who occupied it from
1529 to 1585. But in the latter year, araong other
overtures raade to the council of England, for the
better advanceraent of the queen's interest in Ireland,
the Lord Deputy set forth the following representa
tion concerning this See of Kilmore : " that it had
not been bestowed on any Englishman or Irishman
by the queen, or any of her progenitors, within the
memory of raan ; that of late there was a lewd friar
come from Rome," (meaning one John or Richard
Brady, who, it seeras, had been Bishop of Kilmore,
under the Pope's title, before the year 1576,) "as a

Coa, i. 382.

Sec.III.] aUEEN ELIZABETH. 311
delegate of the Pope's, a^ ho usurped it, dispersing Uburped by a
, , .... in 1 IT, 1 1 1 1 Popish emissary.
abroad seditious bulls, and such like trash; that he, the
Lord Deputy, had dispossessed him of the place, and
hoped to bring hira to subraission, or to answer for his
lewdness ; and, as he judged it Avould be an increase
of her majesty's authority among those barbarous
people to have a bishop placed there by her majesty,
so he recoraraended John Garvey, dean of Cbrist
Church, to supply the place, and to supplant the
usurping bishop : and he desired a vA'arrant to iu-
throne hira." By a letter from the PriA-y Council of jobncarvoy
-_, _ , ITI "i~\ 1 made bi&hop,
England, it appears, that the Lord Deputy s recoin- im.
raendation and request were complied Avitli ; and
John Garvey AA'as, by letters patent, dated the fol
loAving 27th of January, 1586, advanced to the see
of Kilmore"'. It had been amongst the additional instructions pian for convert-
TTTT^ .,- ,, ing St. Patrick's
to the Lord Deputy, "to consider Iioav a college may into a couegc.
be erected ; and St. Patrick's Church, and the
revenue thereof, may be appropriated thereunto ;
and every diocese by Act of Parliament be made
contributory out of the leases of impropriations."
The Lord Deputy was desirous of obeying this
instruction : and accordingly of dissolving the cathe
dral of St. Patrick's, converting it into an university,
and applying its revenues to that use. But in this
undertaking, he found a formidable opponent in
Adam Loftu,s, archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chan- opposed by
cellor, who was deeply interested in the benefices Loftus!" '"'^
and other estates belonging to the cathedral, by long-
leases Avliich had been granted either to himself, or
to his children and kinsmen ; and, therefore, not-
A\'ithstanding the raeasure proceeded frora the crown,
"3 Ware's Bishops, p. 230.

312 THE REIGN OF [Ch. V.
he exerted all his influence for withstanding the
alienation of these revenues". At the sarae time,
in vindication of the archbishop's opposition, it
should be added, that there Avas a good ground for it
Publiek grounds in pubHck considerations. The croAvn norainated to
b'ilhops"oppo.si- all the dignities in Christ Church, the other cathedral
in the diocese of Dublin ; and all the prebends in
that cathedral Avere at the disposal of the chapter:
so that, if the project for converting St. Patrick's
into a college had been accoraplished, the arch
bishoprick would have been left, by the alienation of
the preferments in that cathedral, Avith very few and
inferior benefices in its patronage. Archbishop
King's letters, Avritten raore than a century after, are
stated to be filled with complaints of the smallness
of his patronage, so that he was scarcely able to
provide fit ministers for the service of the cures in
the several parishes of his diocese, notwithstanding
several parishes Avere united in sorae parts, for the
purpose of increasing the means ^\
Contention be- But, Avhatevor were the merits of the case,
tween tlie Lord .... i . i i i i
Deputy and the unliappily it was contested Avith no coraraendable
temper on either side. The archbishop Avas a man
of high spirit, aud used to bear sway in the govern
ment ; from the highest station in Avhich, namely,
that of Lord Justice, he had been removed by the
appointment of Sir John Perrot to the viceroyalty.
He fell, therefore, into contradiction, and thence
into contention, Avith the Lord Deputy ; nor A\as
the Lord Deputy of a temper to brook opposition
patiently. There foUoAved betAveen them no shght
animosity, Avhich came to the queen's notice, and
caused her majesty to interfere by letter for their
reconciliation. But the archbishop's enmity con-
" Ware's Bishops, p. 353. " Mason's St. Patrick, p. 103, note.

Sec.III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 313
tinned abated : and in the end it contributed, Avith
other causes of impeachment, to Sir John Perrot's
removal from Ireland, and subsequently to his con
demnation, some of the chief articles against him
being that he Avas severe in his administration, and
compelled the people to take the oath of allegiance,
and endeavoured to proraote laAvs against recusants".
In the raean tirae, by raeans of the Lord Treasurer raiuucoftho
of England, Avho Avas a fast friend and poAverful
supporter of the archbishop, the projected appropria
tion of the revenues of the cathedral Avas precluded,
notAvithstanding the royal authority, by AA'hich the
Lord DejJuty had engaged in the undertaking.
Possibly the anticipation of another project, Avhich
AA'as soon afterwards brought forAvard by the arch
bishop himself, may have produced a readier acquies
cence in the relinquishment of that wdiich had been
at this time proposed.
By Avay of introduction to an Act of Parliaraent, Act against
,.', .^ - ^ -- . , -vvltchcr.aft.
passed in the year 1586, I revert to an earlier period, soeiiz. c.2.
ISJC.
Avhen an incident occurred apparently connected Avith
the act in question. When tbe Lord Justice, Sir
William Drury, AA^as on a progress through the South
in 1578, it is related by Cox, that "he executed Probable cause
twenty-tAvo criminals at Liraerick, and thirty-six at
Kilkenny, one of which Avas a blackamoor, and tAvo
others A^ere Avitches, Avho were condemned by the
laAV of nature, for there was no positive law against
witchcraft in those days''^" The execution of these
wretched pretenders to supernatural qualities, with
out the warrant of national laAv, Avas surely a strong-
exercise of arbitrary power.
It Avas, probably, to provide for similar exigences,
¦'^ Cox, i. 387. ^' P., 354.

314

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Preamble of the aud to supplytho deficiency of the laAV, that "an
Act was passed against Avitchcraft and sorcery," in
the parliaraent of 1586: and it is here cited as
showing the state of publiek opinion on a subject,
connected with the religious profession of the king
dora. The prearable to this act, which sets strongly
forth, not only the extensive practice of witchcraft,
but the belief entertained of its efficacy, runs in the
foUoAA'ing terras : " Where at this present there is no
ordinary nor condign punishment provided against
the practices of the Avicked offences of conjurations
and invocations of evil spirits, and of sorceries,
inchantinents, charras, and witchcrafts, whereby
many fantastical and devilish persons have devised
and practised invocations and conjurations of evil
and wicked spirits, and have used and practised
witchcrafts, inchantments, charras, and sorceries, to
the destruction of the persons and goods of their
neighbours, and other subjects of this realra, and for
other lewd and evil intents and purposes, contrary to
the laws of Alraighty God, to the peril of their oAvn
souls, and to the great infamy and disquietness of
this realra."
The penalties enacted were, that persons using
any invocations or conjurations of evil and Avicked
spirits, to any intent or purpose, or using any Avitch
craft, enchantnient, charra, or sorcery, whereby any
l^erson shall happen to be killed or destroyed, should
be guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy : that
persons using witchcraft, enchantment, charm, or
sorcery, vA'hereby any one should be wasted, con
sumed, or lamed, in body or meraber, or his goods
or chattels destroyed, AA'asted, or impaired, should, for
the first offence, suffer one year's imprisonment, and
the pillory six hours once a quarter ; and, for the

Penaltiesenacted by it.

elevated to the
primacy. 158D.

Sec. IIL] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 315
second, death as a felon : and that persons taking
upon them to discover by Avitchcraft hidden trea
sures, or stolen goods, or to provoke unlaAvful love,
should, for the first offence, suffer one year's irapi-i-
sonraent and the pillory ; and, for the second, for
feiture of goods to the queen, and iraprisonraent
for life. The death of Archbishop Long, in 1589, caused Death of Arch
a vacancy in the priraacy, Avhich Avas filled by the "" '"'' """'
translation of Bishop Garvey frora the see of Kil- Bishop fi.irvey
more. He was born in the county of Kilkenny,
being the only Irishman promoted to the primacy
by Queen Elizabeth ; and had been educated in
Oxford, where he graduated in King Edward the
Sixth's reign^^ He appears to have been a raan of ms character.
high esteera ; for, whilst Dean of Christ Church,
Dublin, he had been called to the privy council, and
afterAvards promoted to the bishoprick of Kilmore,
on the special recommendation of the Lord Deputy,
and under the peculiar circurastances already raen
tioned. And on the present occasion, by her man
date dated at Westminster, July 12, 1591, the queen
gave orders for remitting to this prelate the payraent
of his first fruits for the archbishoprick, amomiting
to 137/. 13*. Id., on account of his great hospitality,
as also for his painful and true service to the queen
of a long tirae continued, being her ancientest coun
sellor in that kingdora ^°. He is not included in the
History of the Writers of Ireland; but, on the
authority of the Oxford Antiquary'"', there has been
ascribed to him a small treatise, entitled. The Con- nis treatise of
version of Philip Curwin, a Franciscan Friar, to the phiiip

the conversion of
Curwin.

28 Ware's Bishops. ^' Rolls, 31 Eliz.
i'" Wood's Athen. Oxon., i. 715.

316

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. V.

Kilmore again
left without a
bishop.

Refm-mation of the Protestant Religion, A. D. 1589,
published by Robert Ware, Dublin, 1681, frora two
co])ies of tbe original, remaining among Primate
Ussher's and Sir James Ware's papers". Philip
Curwin was a nepheAv of Hugh Curwin, who suc
ceeded Archbishop Browne in the see of DubHn, ou
his deprivation by Queen Mary.
It should seem that the Lord Deputy, Sir Wil
liam FitzAvilliaras, Avho had succeeded Sir John
Perrot the year before the proraotion of the ucav
priraate, did not attach the same importance as his
predecessor to the occupancy of the bishoprick of
Kilmore : since, after the proraotion of Bishop
Garvey, that see continued without a pastor above
fourteen years. This defect is said to have been
occasioned by the confusion of the tiraes '^ But,
whatever was the cause, it must have been very
inadequately supplied by the custodiura of the
bishoprick, during the vacancy, being- granted to the
Bishop of Down and Connor, reraote as those
charges are from each other, aud separated by three
intervening dioceses.

New plan for a
college in
Dublin ;

Proposed and
eflfected by Arch
bishop Loftus.

1590.

Though the plan for forming a college in Dublin,
as originally projected, under the governraent of Sir
John Perrot, had failed of success, principally from
the opposition of the archbisbop, Avho resisted such
an appropriation of tlie revenues of one of his cathe
drals, a similar plan Avas soon afterAvards proposed
by the sarae prelate, and accoraplished in the founda
tion of the college of Dublin, or, to describe it by its
raore coraprehensive and dignified appellation, of
the Dublin UniA'ersity. For this purpose, in 1590,
"In Easter holydays," as Sir James Ware defines
" AVare's Bishops, p. 90. ¦'- Ware, p. 231.

Sec. 111.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 317
the time, "Adam Loftus, Lord Archbishop of
Dublin, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Avith others
of the clergy, met the mayor, and aldermen, and
coraraons of the city, at the Tholsel, where he made
a speech to them, setting- forth 'how advantageous
it would be to have a nursery of learning founded
here ; and how kindly her majesty would take it, if
they would bestow that old decayed monastery of
All-Hallows, which her father, King Henry the
Eighth, had, at the dissolution of the abbeys, given
them, for erecting such a structure;' whereupon the site granted by
, , , , , the mayor and
mayor, aldermen, and commons unanimously granted ahicrmen.
his request'"." Within a week after, Henry Ussher, archdeacon
of Dublin, went over into England to the queen, in
order to procure a licence for the intended founda
tion. The queen readily granted the petition ; and,
by warrant, dated the 29th of December, 1591, oueen'swarrant,
•' December, 1591.
ordered a licence of mortmain to j^ass the seals for
the grant of the abbey of AU-HalloAvs, Avhich is
recited to be of the yearly value of 20/. ; and for the
foundation of such a college by Avay of corporation,
Avith a power to accept such lands and contributions,
for the maintenance thereof, as any of her subjects
should be charitably moved to bestoAv, to the value
of 400/. a-year. On the 3i-d of JNIarch following
letters patent passed in due form, pursuant to the Letters patent
., , 1 ' , t, , n • • , -I f*^!" 'he erection.
said warrant ; by which, first, a college is appointed
to be erected, to be the mother of an university, in a
certain place, called All-HalloAvs, near Dublin, for
the education, institution, and instruction of youth
in arts and faculties, to endure for ever ; secondly,
that it be called "The College of the Holy and
^^ Ware's Annals.

318 THE REIGN OF [Cii. V.
Undivided Trinity, near Dublin, founded by the raost
serene Queen Elizabeth ; " thirdly, that it consist of
one provost and three fellows, in the narae of raore,
and three scholars, in the name of more. These
were followed by other ordinances, araounting in the
AA'hole to twelve, for the constitution and future
governraent of the new incorporation.
Aid sought from To provide a fund for the necessary expenses of
tlie ffentrv this infant society, on the Ilth of March, 1592, the
Lord Deputy and the Privy Council issued circular
letters to sorae principal gentleraen in each barony
of the kingdom, entreating the benevolence of the
well-disposed inhabitants. In these they set forth
her majesty's tender care for the good and prosperous
estate of her realm of Ireland ; and her knowledge,
by experience of the flourishing estate of England,
lioAv beneficial it is to any country to have jjlaces of
learning erected in the sarae; and they earnestly
requested contributions in putting forward so excel
lent a purpose, as the new foundatiou, "for the
benefit of the whole country, whereby knowledge,
learning, and civility raay be increased, to the banish
ing of barbarism, tumults, and disorderly living frora
araong thera, and whereby their children, and their
children's children, especially those that be poor,
(as it were in an orphan's hospital freely,) raay have
their learning and education given thera with much
more ease, and lesser charges, than in other univer-
without .success, sities they can obtain it"." What this apphcation
produced in general does not appear ; but the return
made to the warrant by a gentleman in the barony,
if that be taken for a criterion, leads to the conclu
sion that the sum was very sraall : " He had applied
"' History of Dublin, i. 642—544.

Sec.III.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 319
to all the gentlemen of the barony of Louth, whose
ansAver Avas, that they Avere poor, and not able to
give anything toAA'ards the building of the college."
In the meanwhile, the queen's licence having Thanks of the
been obtained, "The Archbishop of Dublin went a the .Mayor! &c.,
second tirae to the Tholsel, and returned to the
mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city, thanks,
not only from the clergy, but from her majesty,
whose letter he shoAved them for their satisfaction.
And immediately labourers were set to Avork, to pull
doAvn the old ruinous buildings, Avhich they quite
demolished, save only the steeple '\"
On the 13th of March, 1591, according- to the coiiegoeom-
computation of the Church of England, or 1592, jiarch, 1502.
according- to the coramon computation, Thoraas
Smith, then raayor of Dublin, laid the first stone of
Trinity College; and on the 9th of January, 1593, students
the first students were adraitted into it. " Sir Wil- Jan. 1593.
liara Cecil, Lord Baron of Burleigh, Lord High
Treasurer of England, Knight of the most noble
Order of the Garter, and one of her Majesty's most
honourable Privy Council," for he is thus described
by Ware in his narrative of the event, " Avas the
first Chancellor thereof; Adam Loftus, Archbishop
of Dublin, the first Provost ; Lucas Cballouer, Wil
liam Daniel, Jaraes FuUerton, and Jaraes Harailton,
the first Fellows ; Abel Walsh, Jaraes Ussher, and
Jaraes Lee, the first scholars of the same." " The
year 1593," says Sir Richard Cox, with becoming
respect for the character of this invaluable institu
tion, the creation of which throws the brightest light
upon tbe reign of Queen Elizabeth over Ireland, " is
memorable for the college of Dublin, which was
then finished, and made an university ; whereof the
^^ Ware'.s Annals.

320 THE REIGN- OF [Cn. V.
Lord Burleigh was the first Chancellor, and Ussher,
afterwards the learned primate, Avas the first," he
should haA'e said, oue of the three first scholars,
" entered there ; which proved a good omen, that
that noble foundation would produce raany good and
learned men, for the service of God and King, both
in Church and State'"." — Esto perpetua!
Section IV.
Edmund Spenser's Account of the Irish Church. Sir
Francis Bacon's Plan for its improvement. Difficulty
of the Subject. Henry Ussher. James Ussher. An
eminent Controversialist and Preacher. Conduct of the
Govertimetit towards the Papists. Act of Uniformity
not enforced. Foreboditigs of Ussher. Benefaction to
the University. State of the Church at the Queen's
Death.
Spenser's The fouudatiou of Triulty College seems to deter-
iris™church. luiue thls to be the proper jieriod for noticing the
state of the Irish Church in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, as delineated by one who possessed the
best raeans for inforraing himself on the subject by
local observation, and who has communicated his
information in a forra Avhich bears strong testimony
to its veracity.
Ills connexion Edniuud Spouser, the illustrious author of The
lecounij. P(ig,j.iQ Qiigg^.ig^ accorapanied Arthur Lord Gray of
Wilton, lord deputy of Ireland, to tbat country in
1580, in quality of his secretary. In 1585 he ob
tained a grant of above 3,000 acres of land at Kil-
coleinan, in the county of Cork, where he settled
and resided with his faraily, and composed his
' V.,..,6*w-»u- incomparable poem. There, also, he composed, A
"= Cox, i. 402.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 321
View of the Stafe of Ireland, written Dialogue-tri.sc, Hisviewoftbo
bettoeen Eudoxus and Irenceus, the IMS. of Avhicb,
taken frora Archbishop Ussher's library, Avas first
published by Sir James Ware, in 1633'. His death, Datcot the work.
in 1596, or 1598, fixes the latest date at Avhich this
work can have been Avritten, as the tirae of his
settling in Ireland fixes the earliest. A passage in
the Dialogue, Avhere he raakes respectful mention
of persons " AA-ho Avere lately planted in their ueAv
college," reduces the question Avithin the few years
which preceded his death ; the college, as we haA'e
seen, having been completed in 1593.
It is, in truth, a frightful and a painful jjortrait. Melancholy
1 • 1 1 p n • T -n 1 •! . 1 picture ill his
which the following abstract Will exhibit ; but, even work on irciand.
if sorae features should be deeraed to be exaggerated,
" a want of moderation" being a fault which Harris
imputes to Spenser, it is to be feared, nevertheless,
that the copy bears too close a general resemblance
to the original.
Of the rainisters of religion he aflSrms, that " the Avoridiy charac-
clergy there, excepting the grave fathers which are
in high place about the state, and some few others
which are lately planted in their uoav college, are
generally bad, licentious, and raost disordered."
" Whatever disorders you see in the Church of
England, ye may find in Ireland, and many more ;
namely, gross siraony, greedy covetousness, fleshly
incontinency, careless sloth, and, generally, all dis
ordered life in the common clergymen. And,
besides all these, they have their particular enormi
ties ; for all Irish priests, which now enjoy Church
livings, they are in a raanner raere laymen, saving
that they have taken holy orders : but otherwise they
do go and live like laymen, follow all kind of hus-
' Ware's Writers- of Ireland, p. 327. Y

322

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Arbitrary
conduct of tlie
bishops.

bandry, and other worldly affairs, as other Irishmen
do. They neither read the Scriptures nor preach to
the people, nor administer the Coraraunion; but
baptism they do : for they christen yet after the
popish fashion. Only they take the tythes and
offerings, and gather what fruit else they may of
their livings, the which they convert as badly ; and
some of them, they say, pay as due tributes and
shares of their livings to their bishops, (I speak of
those Avhich are Irish,) as they receive them duly."
Persons such as these were not likely to forAvard the
English Reformation in Ireland.
Nor were the bishops more likely, possessed as
they Avere of absolute power over their clergy, whom,
knoAving, as they did, their own unworthiness and
incapacity, and that they were, therefore, still re
movable at the bishop's will, they kept in extreme
awe and subjection under them. That power they
exercised, as a raean of procuring Avliat portion they
chose for their own emoluraent of their clergy's
benefices ; " yea, and sorae of thera," as Spenser says,
" whose dioceses are in reraote parts, somewhat out
of the world's eye, do not at all bestow the benefices
which are in their own donation upon any, but keep
them in their oavu hands, and set their OAvn servants
and horseboys to take up the tythes and fruits of
thera, with the which sorae of thera purchase great
lands, and build fair castles upon the same. Of
which abuse, if any question be moved, they have a
very seemly colour and excuse, that they have no
worthy rainisters to bestoAv thera upon, and keep
them so bestowed for any such sufficient person as
any shall bring unto thera."
Intention of the It AA'as iuteuded by the first promoters of the
legislature as to .p^ „ . ¦*¦
vacant benefices. Reformation in Ireland, and it had been provided by

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 323
the legislature, that vacant benefices should be
bestowed upon "persons Avho could speak English, aoiicnryvm.
apt and convenient to occupy the same," in ^^I'e- '^' '''
ference to any person not so qualified. The frequent
preferment of Englishmen should seem to have been
the natural consequence of this provision.
But, although the bishops may not have declined now frustrated.
to obey this law, the result appears to have been
different from the anticipation. Many of the English,
who went over to Ireland for the purpose of such
preferment, were either unlearned or of questionable
character, so as to be justly deeraed incapable and
insufficient for succeeding to a benefice; for, as
Strype remarks, under the year 1563', "the igno
rance of the ordinary sort of clergymen, curates, and ignorance of
•' O,) ' oMinary
such like, is commonly said to be great about these EngUsh curates.
times. Notwithstanding all the pains that were
used to deliver the Church of that blindness that
enveloped the priests in the late popish tiraes, it
would not yet be dispelled. For an instance of this,
I bring in here the curate of Cripplegate, one Tem
pest, a well-meaning man ; who, having upon sorae
occasion, perhaps the metropolitical visitation, been
before Peerson, the archbishop's chaplain, was asked
by hira sorae questions ; and, araong the rest, what
was the meaning of the word 'function.' Which
hard word he could not tell what to make of; for
which it seems he was reprehended."
At the sarae time, those of distinguished worth Englishmen ot
. 1 . ,_ 1 1 p • Al good character
111 their own country shrunk frora exposing them- nnwiiimgtoseek
selves to the hazard of rejection by a bishop, who ireimd.™'"^
was himself the legal judge of the sufficiency of the
minister to be preferred, and who was likely to be
influenced in his judgment by his own national and
2 Life of Parker, vol. i. p. 258.
Y2

324

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Opposition from
PopishL'uiib^urifM.

f^carcity and
ruinous condi
tion of the
cdmrches.

religious prepossessions, and perhaps by a regard to
hi.s own interest, Avhicli might be advanced by his
rejection of the applicant. Besides, the poverty of
the benefices was often such, that they Avould not
afford " any competent maintenance for any honest
minister to live upon, scarcely to buy hira a gown."
Add to this the difficulty, which any English rainister
must have experienced in endeavouring to do good,
by teaching or preaching to those, who either could
not understand, or would not hear hira ; the dis
comfort of living among those, so ill-affected as the
common Irish then AA'ere to the English ; and the
hazard of coraraitting his safety, in the defenceless
security of a peaceful occupation, to the hands of
tiiose neighbours, whom the boldest members of the
profession of arms durst not live near, without means
of defence and preservation.
Meanwhile every opposition was to be encoun
tered from the ministers and eraissaries of the
Roraish Church : frora natives, who having gone
abroad to Rheims, Doway, Lovain, and other foreign
universities, thence returned home to propagate the
Popish creed ; and frora foreigners, A^llO crossed the
sea from Italy or Spain into Ireland, there to main
tain the authority of the Church of Rome. Both of
these lurking secretly in the houses of the inhabit
ants, and in obscure corners of the country, caused
more injury aud hindrance to true religion by their
private persuasions, than EnglLsli ministers could do
good by their publiek instructions.
Add to this the scarcity of churches, the devasta
tion of which must have reached to a most deplorable
extent : for, in speaking of " building up aud repair
ing all the ruined churches," he remarks, " Avhereof
the most part lie even with the ground." And then,

churchwardens.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 325
alluding to a recent attempt at their reparation,
Avhich had been raade probably in pursuance of the
queen's commission in 1576, and adding a reflection
conceived in a spirit of Avisdora and piety, Avorthy of
the author of The Faerie Qnccne, he subjoins, " And
sorae, that have been lately repaired, are so unhand-
soraely patched and thatched, that men do even shun
the places for the uncomeliness thereof Therefore
I Avould Avish that tliere Avere order taken to have
them built in sorae better forra, according to the
churches of England ; for the outAA'ard shoAA", assure
yourself, doth greatly draw the rude people to the
reA'erencing and frequenting thereof, AvhateA'er some
of our late too nice fools say, that there is nothing
in the seemly form and comely order of the church."
Churchwardens are recognised in the act for uni- w.mt of proper
formity, as existing in Ireland" ; but .Spenser annexes
a remark, Avhicli raay raise a doubt of the qualifica
tion of those oflicers, and their fitness to be intrusted
with the chai-o-e ofthese hallnv.-ed buildings: "And
for keeping and continuing thera, there should like
Avise church Avardens of the gravest raen in tbe parish
be appointed, as they be here iu England, which
should take the yearly charge both hereof, and also
of tbe school-houses, which I Avisb to be built near
the said churches ; for maintenance of both Avhich it
Avere meet, that some small portion of lands Avere
allotted." The scarcity of curates Avas another defect, AA'hich,
as Ave have seen, the queen's commission had directed
to be rectified. But the evil Avas still craving a
remedy : for the defect was more obvious, than AA'as
the sufficiency of any proposed mode of supply.
" When all is done," demands Spenser's friend, in
3 Irish Stat. 2 Eliz., c. 2. s. 3.

Scarcity of
curates.

326

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. V.

Proposed union
of parishes ;

An additional
evil.

State of ii'religion
of the people.

their imaginary dialogue, with reference to his
suggested reparation and preservation of the ruined
churches, " When all is done, how will you hfive
your churches served, and your ministers maintained ?
Since the livings, as you say, are not sufficient scarce
to make their gowns, much less to yield raeet raain
tenance, according to the dignity of their degree."
But Spenser's experience, observation, and judgment,
could furnish no better answer than the foUoAving,
" There is no way to help that, but to lay two or
three of them together, until such time as the
country grow rich and better inhabited ; at Avliich
tirae the tythes, and other oblations, will also be more
augraented and better valued." This expedient,
however, would in all probability have acted less as
a remedy for an existing disease, than as an occasion
for introducing neAV, and aggravating former, evils in
the ecclesiastical system. For whatever aid it may
have contributed for the teraporal raaintenance of
the ministers, at the same time by enlarging the
sphere, it AA'ould have extenuated the efficacy, of
their rainistrations, and impeded the spiritual im
provement of their flocks, and afforded additional
openings for the interference of those, who were
continually at hand, and on the watch for opportu
nities of strengthening and perpetuating the Romish
corruptions of the ancient Catholick faith.
How fearfully the faith had been corrupted, and
into what a degraded state of religious, or rather

irreligious.

the people of Ireland had

fallen, we learn frora the melancholy statement of
the sarae eye witness, " that they be all Papists by
their profession, but in the sarae so blindly and
brutishly informed, for the most part, that not one
amongst an hundred knoweth any ground of religion,

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 327
or any article of his faitli ; but can perhaps say his
Pater-Noster, or his Ave-Maria, Avithout any knoAv
ledge or understanding, what one Avord thereof
meaneth." The cause of this most miserable state of things, D!stv.ietca
, , temper of the
in Spenser's judgment, was to be found, not m the times a
hindrance to
fault of them, "that held the place of governraent, religious im-
pruvcment.
that they, Avhich are uoav in the light theraselves,
suffer a people under their charge to AvalloAv in such
deadly darkness," but rather in the distracted temper
of the times. "That which you blame is not, I
suppose, in any fault of Avill in those godly fathers,
Avhicli have charge thereof; but the inconvenience
of the time, and troublous occasions, AAdiereAvith that
Avretched realra hath been continually turraoiled.
For instruction in religion needeth quiet tiraes ; and
ere Ave seek to settle a sound discipline in the clergy,
Ave must purchase peace unto the laity : for it is ill
time to preach among swords, and most hard, or
rather impossible, it is to settle a good ojainion in
the minds of men, for matters of religion doubtful,
which have doubtless an evil opinion of us. For,
ere the new be brought in, the old must be re
raoved." And the mode of proceeding he thinks to be. Best mode of
that " religion should not be sought forcibly to be rcm«ly!'in
impressed into thera, with terror and sharji penalties, meTt*'^^"'"'^^
as now is the manner, but rather delivered and
intimated with mildness and gentleness, so as it may
not be hated before it be understood, and their
professors despised and rejected. And therefore it
is expedient, that some discreet ministers of their
OAVU countrymen be first sent over araongst them,
Avliich by their meek persuasions and instructions,
as also by their sober lives and conversations, may

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Scnthncnts of
Sir Francis
Uacon.

]\Ioral dGcrr*ada-
tion of the
people.

draw thera first to understand, and afterwards to
embrace, the doctrine of their salvation."
Such was Spenser's vieAv of the existing state of
religion in Ireland : of the evil and of the cure.
And it appears to have been about the same time,
that the same subject received the attention of
another illustrious person, a philosopher and a states
man, Avho was deeply impressed with a sense of the
degraded state of the people under the Popish domi
nation. Sir Francis Bacon, in his Considerations
touching the Queen's Service in Ireland, communicated
in a letter to Mr. Secretary Cecil, observes on the
rroper means of necBSsity of taklug pi'oper "means of instruction,"
instruction o x j.
necessary. for " tho recovory of the hearts of the people ;"
which, he says, they have not yet had. ITe remarks
that " till they be more like reasonable men than
they yet are, their society A\'ere rather scandalous
to the true religion than otherwise ; as jiearls cast
before SAvine : for till they be cleansed from their
blood, incontinency, and theft, AA'hich are uoav not
the lapses of particular persoiLS, but the very laws
of tbe nation, they are incompatible AA'ith religion
reformed." Considering " that one of the principal
pretences Avhereby the heads of the rebellion have
preA'ailed, both Avith the people andAvitli the foreigner,
hath been the defence of their religion," he says,
that " a toleration of religion, (for a time not
definite,) except it be in some principal toAvus and
precincts, seemeth to him a matter AA'arrantable in
religion, and in policy of absolute necessity."
" Neither," he continues, " if Rome will cozen
itself by conceiving it may be some degree to the
like toleration in England, do I hold it a matter of
any raoment, but rather a good mean to take off the
fierceness and eagerness of the humour of Rome,

Toloration in
religion re
commended.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 329
and to stay further excommunications or interdic
tions for Ireland. But there Avould go, hand in
hand with this, some course of advancing relio-ioo M.ans rccmn.
indeed, AA'here the people is capable thereof; as tbe viiininKtruc
sending over sorae good preachers, especially of that
sort AA'hich are vehement and zealous persuaders,
and not scholastieal, to be resident in principal
toAvns ; endoAving them Avith some stipends out of
her majesty's revenues ; and the recontinuing and
replenishing the college begun at Dublin, the plac
ing of good raen to be bishops in the sees there, and
the taking care of the versions of bibles and cate
chisms, and other books of instructions, into tbe
Irish language ; and the like religious courses, both
for the honour of God, and for the avoiding of
scandal and insatisfaction here, by the sIioav of a
toleration of religion in some parts there'."
Thus it Avas not frora inattention or indifference Difficulty feu at
to the state of Ireland, especially in respect of emigiXning tho
1.. .. ,_ r • {, i-i •! pcoj'lc of Irciand.
religion ; it was not from ignorance ot the evils
which beset the Churcb, or frora an indisposition to
reraedy them, on the part of sorae of the raost dis
tinguished Englishmen of the age ; that these evils
were not corrected. On the contrary, how this state
of unchristian darkness and heathenish dissoluteness
of morals could be abolished, and how in their room
could be substituted universally throughout the
country the pure light and the holy influence of
Christianit)', by the ministration of a Protestant
clergy, and according to the rites of the Reforraed
Church, Avas the problem which now, and during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth, occupied the thoughts of
many wise and good men. The English government
probably took different views from those expressed
¦* Bacon's Works, vol. iv. p. 605. London, 1730.

330

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

in the foregoing letter : at least tliey do not appear
to have acted upon them; and the problem, of
infinite importance as they must have deemed it,
still waited its solution.

Archbishop Gar
vey succeeded in
Armagh by
llenry ITssher.
1595.

nis education
aud character.

His nephew, tho'
illustrious James
Ussher.

In 1595, on the death of Archbishop Garvey,
the vacant see of the primacy was filled by the
appointment of Henry Ussher, of whom honourable
mention was lately made as the agent of Archbishop
Loftus, in seeking the patronage of the queen for
the new university. Though a native of Dublin, he
was educated out of Ireland, partly at Cambridge
and partly at Paris; and subsequently had settled
himself in University College, Oxford, being incor
porated there in the degree of bachelor of arts,
which he had taken at Cambridge. There, by the
diligence of his studie,s, he laid the solid and sure
foundation of theological learning which, combined
with the qualities of prudence, wisdom, and diligence,
raised him to the most elevated station in the Irish
Church ; and has caused his name to be transmitted
to posterity with the character of one " who sate in
the see of Armagh, as long as he lived, in great
honour and repute among all Protestants'*."
With the exception, however, of his able and
useful services in behalf of the new university,
there appears to be little more known of the actions
of his life, than of those of several of his predeces
sors ; and his name is almost eclipsed by that of his
raore illustrious nephew, who has been lately raen
tioned as one of the original scholars of Trinity
College : and who, in due course of time, succeeded
his uncle, after one intervening primate, in the
metropolitan see of Armagh.
¦¦ AVabe's Bishops, p. 97.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 331
The occasion for adverting to hira in this place challenge of tho
arises from a celebrated publiek dispute Avliich he symonds.
held with Henry Fitz-Syraonds, a learned Jesuit,
then in the castle of Dublin, who had said, that
" being a prisoner, he was like a bear tied to a stake,
and wanted some to bait him:" Avords aaIucIi were
interpreted into a challenge of disputation, with the
greatest and most learned champion, in the contro
versies between the Romish and the Reformed
Churches". Jaraes Ussher from his tenderest years, together jamesusshcr'a
with strong feelings of devotion, had manifested education.
great intellectual poAvers, Avhich were cultivated and
matured by assiduous study : and since his admission
to the newly-established college, he had read and
digested much of philosophy and history; had made
a great proficiency in chronology; had acquired a
sound knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ;
and especially had devoted his mind with the utmost
earnestness and care to the volume of the Holy
Scriptures, which he Avas wont to call the Book of
Books, and by which he determined to regulate his
life ; and thus prepared, he had engaged in the study
of polemical divinity, had diligently exarained the ms theological
most esteeraed works written in defence of Popery, ''"''™™™'=-
particularly Stapleton's Fortress of the Faith ; had
perused, here and there, divers books of the Fathers
of the Church, as the most ancient and best inter
preters of Holy Writ on points of controversy, on
which Stapleton claimed the support of antiquity
for the Romish tenets, and charged the advocates of
the Reformation with novelty; and had thus waxed
stronger and stronger in his conviction of the errors
" Life and Death of Archbishop Ussher, by Nicholas Beenaed,
p. 82.

332

the reign of

[Cii.y.

Judged Ut to
accept the
Jesuit's chal
lenge.

His letter to
Fitz-Symonds.

Subject of tho
dispiit.ltion. 150a.

of Popery, and of the truth of the doctrines professed
in his OAVU Church'.
With a mind thus disciplined and furnished, he
A\'as considered the properest person to take up the
Jesuit's challenge ; and, although only nineteen years
of age, he did not shrink from the combat, thus
expressing the grounds of his confidence, notwith
standing his youth, in a letter Avhich he subsequently
Avrote to his antagonist : " If I ara a boy, as it
hath pleased you very conteraptuously to narae me,
I give thanks to the Lord, that my carriage towards
you hath been such, as could minister no just occa
sion to despise ray youth. Your spear belike is, in
your oAvii conceit, a Aveaver's beam, and your abilities
such, that you desire to encounter with the stoutest
champion in the host of Israel ; and therefore, like
the Philistine, you contemn me as being a boy. Yet
this I would fain have you know, that I neither
carae then, nor do corae now, unto you in any con
fidence of any learning that is in rae, in Avliich respect
notAvithstanding I thank God, I ara what I am ; but
I come in the narae of the Lord of Hosts, Avhose
companies you have reproached, being certainly per
suaded, that even out of the mouths of babes and
sucklings He was able to shoAv forth his own praises ;
for the further manifestation whereof I do earnestly
request you, that, setting aside all vain comparison
of persons, we may go plainly forward in examining
the matters that rest in controversy between us."
The subject of the disputation Avas the contro
versies of Bellarmine, for AAdiich a meeting of once
a Aveek Avas agreed on : and it so fell out that the
first topick proposed was concerning Antichrist.
" Twice or thrice," says Dr. Bernard, " they had
' Life and Letters of Archbishop Ussher, by Richard Parr, p, 7-

Sec. IV.-\ QUEEN ELIZABETH. 333
solemn disputations, though the Jesuit acknoAv-
ledgeth but one. He was ready to have proceeded,
but the Jesuit was weary of it." His biographer
says, that "he had confessedly the victory; at iManncrofits
least the Jesuit Avas so baffled by his arguments, that
he gave up his cause"." HoAA^ever this may be,
dependence may be placed on the foUovAdng facts,
as collected frora Ussher's letter above cited : That
" at their last meeting, Fitz-Symonds j)roraised to
write to Ussher concerning the chief points of his
(Fitz-Syraonds's) religion ;" that " seeing he had
deferred the same, for reasons best knoAvn to hira-
selfj Ussher thought it not araiss to inquire further
of his raind concerning the continuation of the con
ference betwixt thera ;" that " he again earnestly
requested hira, that they raight go plainly forward
in exaraining the raatters, that rested in contro
versy betAveen thera." " OtherAvise," he subjoins,
"I hope you Avill not be displeased, if, as for your Differently re-
, , T , ,. presented by tho
part you have begun, so 1 also, for my oavu part, t«-o coutrover-
may be bold, for the clearing of myself and the trutli
which I profess, freely to make known what hath
already passed concerning this matter." It seems
that no answer was returned to this letter ; certainly
there AA'as no continuance of the conference. In the
Preface to his Britannoniachia, Fitz-Symonds aj^pears
desirous of throwing the blame of this upon Us,sher,
saying, with reference to their former controversy,
"he did not again deem me worthy of his presence :"
a statement perfectly irreconcileable Avith the " ear
nest request," raost ingenuously urged in the fore
going citation, " that they might go plainly forAvard
in examining the matters that rested in controversy
between them." " Ware's Bishops, p. 99.

334

THE KEICtN of

[Cn. V.

Select preaeliers,
lOlJO.

In 1600, by reason of the scarcity of preachers,
three young men Avere selected from the college,
and appointed to preach at Christ Church before
"the state," or government, of Ireland. One of
Bishop Richard- thosc was Johu Richardson, afterwards Bishop of
'°"' Ardagh, a person distinguished for his industry and
great abilities in the exposition of Scripture. The
narae of the second was Welsh, whose charge it was
to handle the body of divinity on Sundays in the
forenoon. The third was James Ussher, who Avas
intrusted with the task of preaching on the Lord's-
days in the afternoon, the chief governors at that
time usually attending divine service twice every
Sunday. " His part," says Dr. Bernard, " was to
handle the controversies for the satisfaction of the
Papists : which he did so perspicuously, ever con
cluding with matter of exhortation, that it was much
for the confirmation and edification of the Pro
testants : which the elder sort of persons, living in
my time, I have heard ofteri acknowledging." In
his capacity of catechist reader in the college, to
AAdiich office he was chosen about the sarae time.
His catechetical Ussher uiado It the subject of a weekly eraployment,
lectures. i . . i n i . n i*
to explain in the presence of that seminary ot reli
gious education the principal articles of Christianity,
as professed and maintained by the Reformers in
concurrence Avith the ancient church, in opposition
to the errors and innovations of Popery.

James Ussher's
sermons on
Popery.

nigh Commis
sion Coiu't in
Dublin.

An High Commission Court had been established
in the 3ear 1593, in DubUn, for inspecting and
reforming all offences comraitted against the Act of
Uniformity, in comraon with the other Acts of the
second year of the queen. And it also appears to
have been a regular and ordinary instruction to the

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 835
government of Ireland, " in all times and all places, instructions to
Avhere any great assembly should be made before ment concerning
, 11111 the chin-cli scr-
thein, to persuade the people by all good means and mcc.
ways to them seeming good, and especially by their
OAVU examples, to observe orders for divine service ;
and to embrace, and devoutly to observe, the order
and service of the church established in the realm,
by parliament or otherAvise ; to execute all manner
of statutes of the realra ; and to levy, or cause to be
levied, all inanner of forfeitures, &c.°"
In accordance with these injunctions, the Irish order for the
-r\r. f. Papists to a

attend

governraent, about the year 1599, saAV reason for the chmch scr-
issuing an order, obliging the Papists to attend
divine service in the churches every Sunday, under
a pecuniary mulct of twelve-pence, by virtue of a
clause in the Act of Uniformity"'. An additional
impulse and greater efficacy were given to this order
by the overthrow of the Spaniards, at the celebrated
battle of Kinsale, December the 24th, 1601 : at Promoted by the
which time it was designed, that the victory of the '^ looi.'''" '
Spaniards, if they had proved successful, should be
folloAved by the slaughter of most of the Protestants,
both in Dublin and elseAvhere, by the Irish Papists ;
but especially of the Protestant ministers, without
any distinction". But the hopes of the Irish being
frustrated by the defeat of their confederates, they
began to submit theraselves to the statute, which
Avas now carried into execution. And, for their
better instruction in religion, the lord lieutenant
and council directed the clergy to distribute them
selves amongst the different churches of Dublin, in
such manner that there might be a serraon for that sermons pro-
purpose at each church, in the afternoon of every rnstrucuon'.™
' Leland's Hist., vol. ii. p. Sa2. '° 'Wkr^'^ Bishops, p. 100.
" Bernaed's Life of Ussher, p. 8G.

336

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Ussher's mode of
religious instruc
tion.

Prospect of gain
ing the Papists,

Defeated.

Interposition of
the Englibh
ininiijtry.

Lord's-day, after the example of what had been
already begun at Christ Church before ¦" the state."
Amongst the clergymen A\dio engaged in this
labour, Avas James Ussher, who had been recently
admitted to the holy orders of deacon and of priest,
by his uncle the Archbishop of Armagh, by virtue
of a special dispensation, as he had not attained the
age prescribed by the canon law, which then regu
lated the church. The scene of his ministry on this
occasion was the church of St. Catherine ; where he
digested the substance of his instruction into brief
discourses, and then divided what he had dehvered
into the form of questions and answers for the next
Sunday. On which day persons of good esteem
voluntarily offered theraselves to repeat the answers
before the whole congregation, thus raore especially
arousing the attention, and contributing to the edifi
cation, ofthe Papists '\
By these labours of this erainent divine, and of
others his brethren in the ministry, not only in
Dublin, but in divers other parts of the kingdom,
where a similar practice was adopted, the Papists
were so regular and diligent in attending the service
of the church, that, if at any tirae they had occasion
to absent theraselves, they would send their excuse
to the churchAvardens. But on a sudden, the hopes
Avhich had begun to be entertained of bringing the
nation to one heart and one mind, and inducing
thera to glorify God with one mouth, in the creed
and worship of the Reformed Church of Ireland,
Avere intercepted and cut off.
The queen had ahvays acted toAvards the Papists
upon the principle of treating the peaceably-disposed
and obedient Avith forbearance and indulgence, and
'^ Bernard's Life of Ussher, p. 87.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 337
"pursuing none for religion." NotAvithstanding,
therefore, the establishment of the High Commis
sion Court, and the injunctions to the Irish govern
ment, her English rainisters interfered, to restrain
and counteract what they esteeraed an imraoderate
exercise of authority in religious raatters ; and their
directions were received with corresponding senti
ments by Charles Blunt, Lord Mountjoy, the lord Lord Mountjoy,
deputy, who after an interval of five months, during

ICOO.

which the governraent was adrainistered by Loftus,
archbishop of Dublin, and Sir George Carey, lords
justices, succeeded the Earl of Essex in the vice-
royalty, in February, 1600, and thus expressed him
self in answer to a comraunication from the lords of
the English council.
" Whereas it hath pleased your lordships in your last iiis answer to
letters to command us to deal moderately in the great pvivyoouncu.
matter of religion, I had, before the receipt of your lord
ship's letters, presumed to advise such as dealt in it, for a
time to hold a more restrained hand therein. And we Avere
both thinking ourselves Avhat course to take in the revoca
tion of what was already done, with least encouragement
to them and others ; since the fear that this course, begun
in Dublin, would fall upon the rest, Avas apprehended all
over the kingdom : so that I think your lordship's direction
Avas to great purpose, and the other course might have
overthrown the means of our own end of reformation of
religion. " Not that I think too great preciseness can be used in
the reforming of ourselves, the abuses of our own clergy,
churchdivings, or discipline : nor tbat the truth of the
Grospel can with too great vehemenoy or industry be set
forward, in all places, and by all ordinary raeans, most
proper unto itself, that was first set forth and spread iu
meekness : nor that I think any corporal prosecution or
punishment can be too severe for such as shall be found
seditious instruments of foreign or inward practices : nor
Z

338

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Indisposition to
enforce confor
mity by penal
ties.

Violation of Act
of Uniformity
connived at.

Ussher's alarm.

His remark.able
sermon and pre
diction on the
occasion, deli
vered in leoi.

that I think it fit that any principal magistrates should be
chosen without taking the oath of obedience, nor tolerated
in absenting themselves from publiek divine service : but
that we may be advised how Ave do punish in their bodies
or goods any such only for religion, as do profess to be
faithful subjects to her majesty, and against whom the con
trary cannot be proved '^"
Thus by the intervention ofthe executive autho
rity, although not repealed, the Act of Uniformity
ceased to be enforced, and the violation of it was
connived at : the power of the High Commission,
which had been set up at that period only in Ireland
in relation to the Papists, was withdrawn : under the
reviving and uncontrolled influence of the Po^^ish
jiriests, the Papists forbore to take part in the
Reformed worship ; and Popery resumed its ascen
dency over the unenlightened populace of the
nation '".
The spirit of Ussher was strongly " stirred within
him " b^ this uoav condition of things. He feared
that the allowance of the free exercise of the Popish
religion by publiek authority would tend to the dis
turbance of the government both in church and
state. He was deeply sensible, both of the offen-
siveness of its idolatrous practices in the sight of
God, and of its intolerant and j^ersecuting nature,
which raade it so dangerous and pestilential to man.
And he availed himself of a special solemnity, when
it was in his course to preach before the government
at Christ Church, for delivering a remarkable sermon,
in which he plainly expressed his sense of the recent
proceeding : choosing for his text the sixth verse of
the fourth chapter of Ezekiel, where the prophet, by
" lieiiig on his side," Avas to " bear the iniquity of
" Leland's Hist,, voL ii. p. 382.
" Beenard'.s Life of Ussher,

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 339
the house of Judah forty days; I have appointed
thee a day for a year ;" a prophecy which he noted,
by consent of interpreters, to signify the time of
" forty years" to the destruction of Jerusalem, and
that nation, for their idolatry: and then making-
direct application to his own country, in relation to
its connivance at Popery, in these irapressive words,
" Frora this year will I reckon the sin of Ireland,
that those, whom you now embrace, shall be your
ruin, and you shall bear their iniquity."
This api^lication of the prophecy was made in its accompiisit-
1601 ; and in 1641 broke out that rebellion, which
was consummated in the massacre of raany thou
sands of its Protestant inhabitants by those whose
idolatrous religion was now connived at. The fore
boding, in general, may have been no more than the
result of judicious conjecture and foresight, actuated
by an intimate knowledge of the true character of
the Romish religion ; the coincidence of time may
have been a fortuitous circurastance ; but it can
hardly excite surprise, that many of those, who were
apprized of the prediction, and who witnessed its
accomplishment, regarded it as an effusion of inspi
ration. In the mean time, he, who had uttered the
foreboding, never ceased to entertain a strong pre
possession of its approaching accomplishment.
"What a continued expectation he had of a judg- constantly ex-
ment upon that his native country," relates one of vasLv.'
his biographers, " I can witness from the year 1624,
when I had the happiness first to be known to him ;
and the nearer the time every year, the more con
fident, to my often wonder and admiration ; there
being nothing visibly tending to the fear of it "."

" Beenard's Life of Ussher, p. 40,

Z 2

340

THE EEIGN OF

[Ch. V.

Benefaction to
the Univerbity
of Dublin. 1C03.

Trinity College
Library and Bod
leian Library
contemporane ous.

In 1603, the University of Dublin received a
benefaction, probably as unexpected as it was accept
able to the society, and no less honourable to the
benefactors. Not long after the victory of Kinsale,
the coraraanders and oflicers of the English army
contributed 1800/. out of their arrears of pay in one
sum, to purchase books for the publiek library.
The employraent of the raoney for that use Avas
comraitted to Dr. Chaloner and Mr. Ussher, who
went to England on the occasion ; and there met
with Sir Thomas Bodley, who Avas engaged in the
similar occupation of procuring stores for his newly-
erected library at Oxford". There VA'as a friendly
intercoraraunion between the two parties in assisting
each other with scarce and valuable works : and it
is a pleasing reflection to the merabers of the tAvo
universities in after tiraes, as it was to' the delegates
of each at the tirae, that the Bodleian Library of
Oxford, and the Library of the University of Dublin,
designed as they were, each in its respective sphere,
to be the instruments of disseminating sound reli
gion and useful learning over the church and empire,
began together with an interchange of rautual kind
offices.

Death of Queen
Elizabeth. March 24, 1603.

iriimmary view
ot the Church of
Ireland during
her reign.

On the 24th of March, 1603, Queen Elizabeth
died, after a reign of raore than forty-four years, pro
ductive of less religious iraproveraent in her Iri.sh
dorainions, and of less accession to the well-being of
the Church of Ireland, than piety raight have
reasonably anticipated. Over what portions of tlie
country, and to what araount of its population, the
Church had been during that interval extended, it
were difficult to affirm ; probably her influence Avas
" AVaee's Bishops, p. 100.

Sec. IV.] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 341
not great beyond the most cultivated and civilized
parts, and even in those not entirely predominant.
The royal supremacy, indeed, was established ; and
wholesome laws had been enacted for the celebration
of her pure worship of God, and for sound religious
instruction : and raany efforts were raade, soraetimes
of a publiek and at others of a private kind, some
tiraes by constraint and at others by persuasion, to
bring the professors of a corrupt faitli and idolatrous
worship into her fold. But these were strenuously
counteracted by the edicts and eraissaries of the
Bishop of Rorae ; by the perseverance of the native
Roraish priesthood, and their associates frora abroad ;
by the rebellious spirit of the Irish chieftains, which
kept the kingdora in a state of constant comraotion ;
and by the absence of social good order, and habits
of moral culture in the people. That at the head of
the Church, and in the offices of her ministry, had
been placed men of distinguished zeal, ability, and
knoAvledge, suited to the exigency of the tiraes, may
have been the fact, but it does not satisfactorily
appear. Ossory, indeed, may raention araong its
bishops the narae of Nicholas Walsh, in honourable
competition with that of Bale, his more renowned
predecessor : but I knoAv not that Dublin can pro
duce a candidate to riv^al the ju-ofessional devotion
and energy of Archbishop Browne. Meanwhile,
notwithstanding partial efforts for the supply of the
defect, an avenue to the understanding of the great
mass of the population was needed through the
medium of a coramon language in the Church and
the people ; and from the indisputable evidence of
Sir Henry Sidney, about the middle of the queen's
reign, and from that of Spenser and Sir Francis
Bacon towards the close of it, we learn hoAV deficient

342 EEIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. [Cii. V.
was the Church in material buildings for the cele
bration of her worship, and in ministers to celebrate
it. That the queen and her English government
were not ignorant of these defects, evidence exists in
the communications, which passed between them,
and the persons intrusted with the local administra
tion of Irish affairs. Whether they were actuated
by that earnest desire which ought to have prompted
them to activity in the cause of God and of his
truth, but were impeded in their efforts by obstacles
insurmountable; or whether they were not fully
alive to their duty, and not properly strenuous in
the execution of it; different judgments may be
formed : but unhappily, in either case, the melan
choly fact is upon record, that sufl[icient provision
was not made for the ministrations of the Church.

a43

CHAPTER VI.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
KING JAMES THE FIRST . . . 1603— 1G25.
HENRY USSHER, ARCHBISHOP OP ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE  1G13.
CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON, ARCHBISHOP OF
ARMAGH, AND PRIMATE . . . 1613— 1G25.
Section I.
Favourable circumstances at the King's accession. Popish
disturbances nottoithstanding . Proclamation of Indemnity
and Oblivion. Efforts of the Jesuits and Seminary
Priests. Trial and conviction of Robert Lalor. Pro
gress of Lord Deputy, Sir Arthur Chichester, through
three Counties of Ulster. Sir John Davies's account of
their condition.
The first occurrences, in the reign of King James Natmai conncx-
the First, relative to the state of religion in Ireland, wuh Ireland'."^
afforded an ill omen of future tranquillity to the
Church, notwithstanding many circumstances con
spired to render probable a more peaceable state of
things. The royal family of the Stuarts, from whora
the new king descended, was partly of Irish blood :
and the sovereign himself was not only of Irish
extraction, but of the royal line, and entitled by the
Irish laAV to be King of Ireland. Thus the jealousy,
which the natives had entertained of the English
domination, was calculated to be allayed by the
consideration of their uoav becoming the subjects of
their rightful hereditary king.
The state of the country also was such as to pre-

344

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

state of the
country favour
able fo tran
quillity.

Ciuebtiiin con
cerning,' the nhe-
dienec due to a
Protestant king.

Irritation conse
quent in the
an.swcis of the
universities. I6U3.

elude the apprehension of fresh outrages for the
present. The great lords had submitted to the
royal authority ; the nuraber of native Irish had been
greatly dirainished by their many, prolonged, and
obstinate rebellions : the remainder in the rural
districts were in such a condition of poverty, that
the men of property had not wherewithal to stock or
cultivate their land, nor had any iraproveraents left
upon their estates, except perhaps a dismal castle
and a few pitiful cabins. Such a miserable condi
tion of things required a long interval of rest and
peace for its amendment : and gave additional ground
of expectation that people Avould live peaceably and
loyally under a new king of their own favourite
lineage. But a question had been submitted to tbe
universities of Salamanca and Valladolid, " Whether
an Irish Papist may obey or assist his Protestant
king ?" And this question had been about this time
resolved by thera in the negative by the two follow
ing- assertions: " 1st, That since the Earl of Tyrone
undertook the Avar for religion, and by the Pope's
approbation, it was as meritorious to aid hira against
the hereticks, as to fight against the Turks." " And
2nd, That it vA^as a mortal sin in any vA'ay to assist
the English against him ; and that those, who did
so, could have neither absolution nor salvation,
without deserting the hereticks, and repenting for so
great a crime'."
This noAv declaration, aided by the activity of
tlieir restless priests, threw the Irish Papists again
into a state of irritation ; Avhich showed itself first at
Cork on the arrival of the commissioners, who had
been sent thither by the Lord Deputy, the Lord
' Cox's History, vol. ii. 3.

Sec. I.] KING JAMES I. 345
Mountjoy, in common Avith the other cities and
boroughs, to make proclamation of the accession of
King James. After some apparent hesitation and Disturbances at
delay on the part of the raayor and his brethren, in
allowing the proclamation to be made, they in the
end assumed an attitude of decided resistance, hos
tility, and rebellion ; and took railitary measures for
setting up their religion by force. In pursuance of
this object, they carried the cross in procession about
the city, and forced all persons to reverence it ; they
ejected the ministers of the reformed faitli frora their
churches, defaced the sentences of Scripture Avhich
Avere written on the church Avails, and painted
the places with pictures ; they re-consecrated the
cliurches, and Avent daily in procession ; they seized
those religious houses Avliich had been converted to
civil uses ; they paraded the city iu attendance on
the ecclesiasticks, Avho led thera on clothed in the
habits of their respective orders ; they also took the
sacraraent to spend their IIa'os in the defence of the
Roraan Catholick religion ; they disarraed such Pro
testants as Avere in their poAver, shot at the episcopal
palace and threatened to raurder the bishop, and
actually killed a Protestant minister; and having
been taught by a seditious priest, " that he could not
be a laAvful king who was not approved by the Pojie,
nor sworn to maintain the Catholick religion," they
took a resolution in publiek council to excite the
other cities and towns to confederate with them for
the preservation of the Catholick faith.
Other cities and towns showed symptoms of the
same rebellious and anti-Protestant spirit. At
Waterford, they pulled down their Recorder from At waterford;
the cross, where he was reading the proclaraation of
the king's accession : they broke open the doors of

846

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

At Clonmell and
AVexf ord ;

At Limcrielc ;

At Kilkenny.

Lord Deputy's
progress through
tlie di&turbed
districts.

the hospital, and adraitted a Dominican friar to
preach a seditious sermon in St. Patrick's Church,
where among other injurious aspersions on the late
queen, he said, "That Jezebel was dead." They
also took the keys of the cathedral from the sexton,
and caused a priest to celebrate mass there. The
towns of Clonraell and Wexford, were not free from
the like insolences ; but being weaker and less
populous, they became sooner sensible of their
danger, if not of their fault, and more promptly
restored the churches to the Protestants. Limerick,
on the other hand, was one of the most forward and
daring in the insurrection, and gave the priests the
possession of all the churches, where they erected
altars, and publickly celebrated mass. The religious
at Kilkenny were not less precipitate and arrogant
than their brethren elsewhere. A Dominican headed
the sedition in that city; and broke open the Black
friars, which had for some time been used as a
court-house, and pulled down the seats, and erected
an altar, forced the keys of his house from the
occupier of that part of the abbey, and gave pos
session of the whole abbey to the friars, although by
Act of Parliament it had been turned into a lay-fee,
and by legal conveyances became the property of
others. These rebellious proceedings rendered it neces
sary for the Lord Deputy to undertake a progress
into Munster. Waterford, after ineffectually claim
ing some privilege founded upon an ancient charter,
tamely opened its gates : having previously sent a
young Dominican friar, to discourse with his lordship
in matters of religion, and to explain the grounds
and reasons of their proceedings ; when the friars
had the confident audacity to come in their habits,

Sec. I.] KING JAMES I. 347
with the crucifix exalted before thera, and to tell the
Lord Deputy, " That the citizens of Waterford could
not in conscience obey any prince that persecuted
the Catholick faith."
After sending a letter to Cork, announcing his Restoration of
approach, in which, amongst other things, he charged
them on their allegiance " to desist frora publiek
breach of his majesty's laws in the celebration of
mass prohibited by the sarae, and to yield due obe
dience to his magistrates," he was received into
Cork also without resistance, where the inhabitants,
as well as those of Waterford had been, were com
pelled to take the oath of allegiance, and to abjure
all foreign dependencies. He did the same at Lime
rick, and thence proceeded to Cashel, Avhere he
understood that a certain priest had bound a Pro
testant goldsmith to a tree, and threatened to burn
him and his heretick books; that he had really
burned some of the books, and kept the raan in that
miserable condition for six hours, expecting every
minute that fire should be set to the fagots ;
nothing, however, is recorded of his punishment, so
that the criminal appears to have made his escape ^-
Thence the Lord Deputy returned to Dublin, proclamation of
. • ,\ -I ir-j.'j.T_ 1 11 indemnity and
where, m the hope ot quieting the people, and lay- owivion.
ing them under an obligation to loyalty, and induc
ing them to an industrious, peaceful, and regular
mode of life, he issued a proclamation of general
indemnity and oblivion ; and restored all persons,
not attainted, to their former possessions ; and pro
hibited private actions for trespass comraitted during
the war. Acting on the same principles as his
deputy, the king was induced to show marks of
favour to some of the Irish chiefs ; and by these
2 Cox, ii. pp. 4—8.

348

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

Encroachments
of the Irish
resisted by the
king.

concessions and indulgences, " which," observes Cox,
"the Irish commonly interpret to be granted to
them more frora fear than love, they were encou
raged to petition the king for toleration of the
Popish religion. But the king thought it enough,
that the penal laws against that religion were not
put in execution, but rather were in effect suspended
by a connivance, which differed little from a tole
ration ; and finding he had to do AAdth a people that
never missed anything for VA'ant of asking, but were
apt to take the ell if he gave the inch, he became
the more reserved in his concessions to the Irish
from thenceforAvard"."

Sir Arthur
Chichester, lord
deputy, 1(104.

Activity of the
Jesuits in with
drawing tho
Papists from the
churches.

Act of Unifor
mity carried into
effect in Dublin.

In 1604, Sir Arthur Chichester was, for the first
time, sworn in lord deputy of Ireland. Until this
time the Papists had generally attended divine ser
vice in the churches, and were known by the name
of Church-Papists. But now the Jesuits and other
seminary priests busied themselves greatly iu dis
suading the people frora so doing, notwithstanding
the Act of Uniforraity, and the king's proclamation
founded thereupon. The Lord Deputy and Council
in consequence convened before them the aldermen
of Dublin, and some of the principal citizens, and
endeavoured by persuasions and lenity to draAv them
to their duty. And forasmuch as some material
difference was found between the original record
and the printed copies of the Act of Uniformity, in
order that none might plead ignorance of the origi
nal record, they exemplified the statute under the
great seal, and published it; and added thereunto
the king's injunction for its observance. But these
gentle measures being ineffectual, sixteen of the
^ Cux, ii. 9.

Sec. I.] KING JAMES I. 349
most eminent of the city Avere summoned to the
Court of Castle-Chamber; of whom nine of tbe
chief were censured, and six of the aldermen fined
one hundred pounds, and three fifty pounds each.
These were all committed to the Castle during the
pleasure of the court ; and an order was made that
none of the citizens should bear office till they con
formed. The week following the rest were censured
in the sarae raanner, except one alderman, who con
formed. The fines Avere allotted to the repairs of
such churches as had been damaged by the accidental
blowing-up of gunpowder in 1596, to the relieving
of poor scholars in the college, and to other cha
ritable uses ^
Meanwhile the priests arrogated to themselves interference of
the privilege, not only of taking offence at the pub- the administra-
lick administration of affairs, but also of reviewing
and deciding causes which had been determined in
the king's courts, and of compelling their subjects,
on pain of daranation, to obey their decisions, aud
not those of the law. In concurrence with these
seditious encroachments on the legitimate authorities
of the kingdora, they forbade the people to attend
the Protestant churches ; tliey publickly built anew Their exertions
churches for their own use ; they seized on some of p'opTry?""'^
the parish-churches by vdolenge ; and they erected
or repaired abbeys and monasteries in several parts
of the kingdom : especially at Multifernam, in the
county of Westmeath ; at Killconnell, in the county
of Galway ; at Rossariell, in the county of Mayo ;
at Buttevant, Kilkrea, and Tiraoleague, in the county
of Cork ; at Quin, in the county of Clare ; at Garin-
lough, in Desmond ; and in the cities of Waterford
and Kilkenny; intending, as an historian of their
^ Hist, of Dublin, v. i. p. 202.

350

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

They claim the
king to be of
their religion.

the Popish clergy
to leave the
kingdom. July, 1005.

own represents it, " to restore the splendour of
religion :" and as many Papists as pleased sent their
children to foreign seminaries for education without
contror. But not satisfied with these indulgences, they
had moreover the folly, as well as the impudence, to
proclaim in all places, and in every company, " That
the king was of their religion." Thus the govern
ment considered itself necessarily constrained to
interfere for the vindication of his majesty from so
groundless an imputation, as well as for impeding
the growth of Popery, and suppressing the insolence
Proclamation for of the Paplsts. And accordlugly on the 4th of July,
1605, a proclamation was is,sued, commanding the
Popish clergy to depart frora the kingdora before the
16th of the following December, unless they would
conform to the laws of the land. But whatever
apparent severity may at any tirae have marked the
laws against Popery in Ireland, they have not been
executed with corresponding strictness. And such
was the case with this proclamation, which was
faintly administered : and thus, whilst it furnished
the Irish Papists with a topick of complaint to their
continental partizans, it had little effect in reheving
the kingdom from their unlawful practices. At the
same time, in these they were encouraged by a bull
from the Pope, dated the 7th of December, 1605,
containing an exhortation and remission to the
Roman Catholicks of Ireland, and declaring it as
safe to sacrifice unto idols as to be present at the
common prayer. He therein also proraised them
aid of great force of Romans, Germans, and Spanish,
by the next harvest, and great store of arms to resist
their governors"!

Faintly admi
nistered.

Bull of encou
ragement from
the Pope.

Cox, ii. 10.

° MS. Lonus, Marsh's Library.

Sec. I.] KING JAMES I. 351
One person, however, Robert Lalor, vicar-gene- Apprehension of
^ ° Robert Lal..r.
ral, so called by his assumed title, of Dublin and i«io.
other dioceses in Leinster, was apprehended in 1606,
for disobedience to this proclamation ; and was in
Michaelmas term indicted upon the statute of the
2nd of Elizabeth, chapter 1, for advancing and
upholding foreign jurisdiction within this realm.
But he humbled himself to the court ; and volun
tarily, and upon oath, on the 22nd of December,
made recognition in these words :
First, he doth acknowledge, that he is not a lawful his recognition.
vicar-general in the diocese of Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns,
and thinketh in his conscience that he cannot laAvfully take
upon him the said office.
" Jtem, he doth acknowledge our Sovereign Lord King
James, that now is, to be his lawful, chief, and supreme
governour in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil ; and
that he is bound in conscience to obey him in all the said
causes ; and that neither the Pope, nor any other foreign
prelate, prince, or potentate, hath any power to control the
king in any cause, ecclesiastical or civil, Avithin this king
dom, or any of his majesty's dominions.
" Item, he doth in his conscience believe, that all
bishops ordained and made by the king's authority, within
any of his dominions, are lawful bishops ; and that no
bishops made by the Pope, or by any authority derived
from tbe Pope, within tbe king's dominions, hath any power
or authority to impugn, disannul, or control any act done
by any bishop made by his majesty's authority, as aforesaid.
" Item, he professeth himself willing and ready to obey
tbe king, as a good and obedient subject ought to do, in all
his lawful commandments ; either concerning his function
of priesthood, or any other duty belonging to a good sub
ject." On this confession he was indulged with more ms private
liberty, and with the free access of his friends ; and rcMgnition!

His indictment
on the statute of
prem uni re.

,352 THE REIGN OF [Ch.VI.
undoubtedly Avould have been liberated the next
terra, if he had not privately denied what he had
done publickly ; protesting that his acknowledgment
of the king's authority did not extend to spiritual,
but was confined to temporal causes only.
Tlie Lord Deputy being informed of this his pre
varication, it Avas resolved to try him upon the statute
of premunire, ofthe 16th year of Richard IL, chapter
5 ; and the resolution Avas discreetly taken, to indict
him upon that rather than upon any neAV statute
passed since the Reformation, in order that the Irish
might be convinced, " That even jjopish kings and
parliaraents thought the Pope an usurper of those
exorbitant jurisdictions which he clairaed; and
thought it inconsistent with the loyalty of a good
subject, to uphold or advance his unjust and unrea
sonable encroachraents on the prerogative of tbe
king, and the privilege of a subject, which tended to
nothing less than to raake our kings his lacquies, our
nobles his v^assals, and our commons his slaves and
villains." Upon this indictment, then, he was tried
and found guilty. In the course of his trial the
His equivoca- rocognitiou or confession, which he had voluntarily
made upon oath, was publickly read. This nettled
him exceedingly ; the rather because he Avas asked
whether he had not to some of his friends denied
that confession. He answered that he had not ; and
that he had only told some of them that he had not
acknoAvledged the king's supremacy in spiritual
causes ; and this he affirmed was true, for the word
in the confession was "ecclesiastical." Upon this
the Attorney-General learnedly descanted upon the
words " ecclesiastical" and "spiritual," aud exposed
the knavery and silliness of the prisoner's equivoca

tion

Sec.L] KING JAMES I. 353
tion; and then the sentence of the law was pro- And sentence.
nounced upon him : but it does not appear to have
been ever executed'.

In the summer of the year 1607, the Lord visitation of
Deputy, Sir Arthur Chichester, formed a resolution uistei™y th'e^ '"
to visit three counties in Ulster, namely, Monaghan, ico?'.^'
Fermanagh, and Cavan, which, being the most un
settled and unreforraed parts of that province,
appeared particularly to need his lordship's visitation
at that time. Several circumstances of the ecclesi-^
astical condition of those parts were brought under
notice by that visitation, which accordingly requires
our special attention.
On the 17th of July the Lord Deputy com- Narrative of the
menced his journey, accompanied by the Lord Chan- JoimDivies.
cellor, the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Oliver Larabert,
Sir Garret Moore, and Sir John Davies, the attorney-
general for Ireland : to the last of whora we are
indebted for the following intelligence, communi
cated in a letter to Robert Earl of Salisbury. The
first night, being Saturday, and the following, they
lodged at the abbey of Mellifont, in the county of Abbey
Louth, formerly belonging to the Cistercians, and
granted at the Dissolution to the ancestor of Sir
Garret Moore, who had fixed his residence here,
making the abbey a place of magnificence and de
light, and, at the same tirae, of defence, bordering,
as it did, iraraediately on the Irish rebels".
But sirailar accoraraodation was not expected as Provision for the
journey.
they proceeded ; and, accordingly, provision was made

of
Mellifont.

for their exigencies, soraewhat after the raanner of a
military progress. " On Monday night," says the
narrator, " his lordship camped in the fields, upon
' Cox, ii, 10, 11. " Archdall's Monasticon, p. 489.
2 A

354

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Monaghan.

Its ecclesiastical
condition inves
tigated.

Commission for
such investiga
tion.

the borders of Ferney, Avhich is the inheritance of
the Earl of Essex; and, albeit, we were to pass
through the wastest and wildest parts of all the
North, yet had Ave only for our guard six or seven
score foot, and fifty or three score horse, which is an
argument of a good time, and of a confident Deputy.
For, in forraer tiraes, Avhen the state enjoyed the
best peace and security, no Lord Deputy did ever
venture hiraself into those parts without an army of
eight hundred or a thousand men."
In this manner they proceeded to the town of
Monaghan, where full inquiry was raade into the
civil state of the country. After which the narrative
goes on to report the following investigation, con
cerning ecclesiastical matters, with its result'.
" When we had delivered the gaol, we impannelled
another jury, to inquire into the state of the Church in that
county, (Monaghan,) giving them these special articles in
charge ; namely, bow many parish churches there were in
that county ; who Avere patrons ; who were incumbents ;
Avhich of the churches Avere sufficiently repaired ; and what
damaged ; of Avhat yearly value they were ; what glebe,
tythes, or other duties belonged unto the Church ; and who
took the profits thereof.
" This we did by virtue of that great commission which
was sent out of England, about twelve months since,
Avhereby the commissioners have authority, among other
things, to inquire of these points ; and thereupon to take
order for tbe re-edifying and repairing of the churches, and
for the placing of sufficient incumbents therein. This point
of that commission Avas not before time jDut in execution
anywhere, albeit it was .sundry times moved at the council
table, that somewdiat might be done therein. But my
lords, the bi.shops, that sit at the board, being not very well
pleased tbat laymen .should intermeddle with ecclesiastical
' L,-.tter ,fro,n Sir John Davies to Robert Earl of Salisbmy, 1C07.—
Tracts, p. 227. Dublin, 1787.

Sec.L] KING JAMES I. 355
affairs, did ever answer that motion in this manner : ' Lot
us alone in that business ; take you no care for that : we
Avill see it effected, Ave AA^arrant you.' NotAvithstanding,
there hath been so little care taken, as tbat the greatest
part of the churches Avithin the pale lie still in their ruins ;
so as the common people, whereof many, Avithout doubt,
would conform themselves, have no place to resort unto,
where they may hear divine service. This consideration
moved us to inquire of the state of the Churcb in these
unreformed counties. The inquisition presented unto us in
this county AA'as in Latin, because the principal jurors Avere
vicars and clerks. It appeared that the churches, for the Destitute
most part, are utterly waste ; that the king is patron of all ; churches. ""'"'
and that their incumbents are popish priests, instituted by
bishops authorized from Rome ; yet many of them, like
other old priests of Queen Mary's time in England, ready
to yield to conformity.
"When we had received this particular information, consequence ot
it was thought meet to reserve it, and to suspend and stay absence!"^'^
all proceedings thereupon, until the Bishop of Derry,
Raphoe, and Clogher, (wbich three dioceses comprehend
the greatest part of Ulster, albeit they be now united for
one man's benefit,) shall arrive out of England; whose
absence, being two years since he bad been elected by his
majesty, hath been the chief cause that no course hath been
hitherto taken to reduce this poor people to Christianity,
and therefore majus peccatutn habet^°."
Monaghan is in the diocese of Clogher, which Long-continuea
^ ,. vacancy of the
see had been vacated m 1570, by the translation of ace ot cioghcr.
its bishoi^, who had received from it little or no
eraoluraent during his incumbency: and it had
afterwards continued vacant for many years, in con
sequence of the rebellions and protracted wars which
had been perpetually harassing that country. But,
in 1605, George Mountgoinery, a native of Scotland, Appointment of
and Dean of Norwich, Avas advanced by King Jaraes gomefy. °™
to the bishoprick of Clogher, as also to those of
'» As above, p, 240.
2 A 2

ahsence,

356 THE REIGN OF [Cu. VI.
Derry and Raphoe, neither of Avhich had been occu
pied for many years, most probably from the same
cause. It appears, hoAvever, that the bishop, after a
His culpable lapso of two yoars, had not yet entered on the dis
charge of his episcopal duties ; and his neglect is
indicated as the chief cause of the spiritual destitu
tion of his diocese, and branded, as we have seen by
the relater, for " the greatness of the sin." It does
not appear, however, that any raeasures had been
taken by the ruling powers for correcting his fault,
and remedying the consequent evils which were felt
by his people and the church. The poverty, indeed,
of the see of Clogher was soon after reraoved by the
munificence of the king, aaIio, together with many
other grants, annexed to the bishoprick the abbey of
Clogher, and its revenues, so as to render it one of
the most opulent bishopricks in Ireland. NotAvith
standing which, Bishop Mountgoinery, on surren
dering the two sees of Derry and Raphoe, in 1610,
was perraitted to undertake the adrainistration of
And plurality of that of Moath, wlilch he held together Avith Clogher
until his death, in 1620. He had also remained in
possession of his deanery of Norwich till September,
1614". But to proceed AA'ith the Lord Deputy on his
journey.
Lord Deputy's " Froui Mouaglian," says Sir John DaA'ie.3, " we went
amuner"' th^ fi''** "'g^^* to *lie ruins of tbe abbey of Chines, where
Ave camped, and passing from thence through ways almost
impassable for our carriages, by reason of the woods and
bogs, we came the second night after to the south side of
Loughrea, aud pitched our tents over against the island of
Devenish, a place being prepared for tbe holding of onr
And Et Fer- scssious for Fermanagh iu the ruins ofthe abbey there '^"
Qian.agli. " Ware's Bishops, pp. 188, 156, '^ Davis's Tracts, p. 243.

Sec. I.] ICING JAMES I. 367
At Fermanagh, the civil investigation Avas first
proceeded with. After Avhich,
"We made like inquisition here," the narrative con- Lord Deputy's
tinues, " touching ecclesiastical livings, as we had done in provement!
Monaghan. The erecting of a free school in this county
was deferred till the coming of the Bishop of Clogher. The
building of a gaol and sessions-house Avas likewise respited,
until my Lord Deputy had resolved of a fit place for a
market and corporate town : for the habitations of tbis
people are so wild and transitory, as there is not one fixed wiuncss ot tho
•Tl • 11 1 • la 1, country.
village in ali this county ".
Thus far the Lord Deputy's inquiries had been
limited to the diocese of Clogher. We next find
him in that of Kilmore, which, during the fourteen Diocese ot
~ _. , _ --^ Kilmore.
years that followed the proraotion of Bishop Garvey
to the primacy, in 1589, had, frora the confusion of
the tiraes, continued without a pastor. But, in
1603, the vacancy in this, and in the contiguous
see of Ardagh, was supplied by the appointraent
of Robert Draper. On Avhich occasion the Privy
Seal sets forth,
"That the king Avas Avell pleased to bestow the said vacancy flUed
bishopricks upon him, having received testimony of his fntervVi™^
sufficient learning and honest conversation to be meet to
supply tbose places, in regard that he was well acquainted Reasons ot
Avith tbe conditions and dispositions of that people, and Avas appohitmmt!' "*
able to instruct them in the Irish tongue, and thereby likely
to do more good among tbem in his said function. Because
the revenues M'ere become so small by tbe intolerable
oppression of the Irish rebels, tbe king annexed the rectory
of Trim, of which he was incumbent'*."
This honourable testimony to the character of
Bishop Draper does not prepare us for what follows,
as to the condition of his diocese, in Sir John
Davies's Narrative.
" As above, p. 261. " Rot. Pat. Jac. I.

358

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

Poverty of
Cavan.

Impropriate
parsonages.

Vicarages poorly
endowed.Ruinous stale of
churches.

Poverty and
ignorance of
incumbents.

Neglect of the
bishop.

" We came to Cavan, and pitched our tents ou the
south side of that poor Irish town."
" The state of the lay possessions being discovered, we
did not omit to inquire of the number and value of the par
sonages and vioarages, of the reparation of the churches, and
of the quality of tbeir incumbents: by which inquisition we
found, that the greatest number of parsonages were appro
priated unto two great abbeys, lying within the English
pale ; namely, the Abbey of FoAver, in Westmeath, granted
to the Baron of Delwyn, and the Abbey of Kells, whereof
one Grerard Flemynge is farmer. To the first of these
fourteen parsonages within this county are appropriate,
and to the other eight ; besides these are two or three more
belonging in like manner to the Abbey of Cavan, in this
county, being now in possession of Sir James Dillon. As
for the vioarages, they are so poorly endowed, as ten of them
being united will scarce suffice to maintain an honest
minister. For the churches, they are for the most part in
ruins ; such as were presented to be in reparation, are
covered only with thatch. But the incumbents, both par
sons and vicars, did appear to be such poor, ragged, igno
rant creatures, (for we saw many of them in tbe camp,) as
we could not esteem any of them worthy of the meanest oi'
those livings, albeit many of them are not worth above
40s. per annum.
" This country doth lie Avithin the diocese of Kilmore,
whose bishop (Jiobert Draper) was, and is, parson of Trym,
in Meath, which is the best parsonage in all the kingdom ;
and is a man of this country birth, worth well nigh 400/. a
year. He doth live now in these parts, where he hath two
bishopricks : but there is no divine service or sermon to be
heard within either of his dioceses. His lordship might
have saved us this labour of inquiry, touching matters eccle
siastical, if he had been as careful to see the churches
repaifed and supplied with good incumbents, as he is dili
gent in visiting his barbarous clergy, to make benefit out of
their insufficiency, according to the proverb, Avhich is com
mon in the raouth of one of our great bishops here: 'that
an Irish priest is better than a milch cow'\' "

Davies's Tracts, p. 266.

S33C. I.] KINO JAMES I. 359
Sir John Davies concludes his curious and inter- sir j. Davies's
esting account of this journey, with certain reflec- Jotncy"""' "'°
tions, of which those that relate to ecclesiastical
matters may be properly transcribed.
" If my Lord Deputy do finish these beginnings, and
settle these counties, as I assure myself he will, this Avill
prove the most profitable journey for the service of God
and his majesty, and the general good of this kingdom, that
hath been made in the time of peace by any deputy these
many years. For first his lordship having gotten a true
and clear understanding of the state of the clergy in these
parts, many will take a direct speedy course for the planting
of religion among these rude people, who are apt to take
any impression ; for his lordship knowing tbe number and improvement ot
value of tbe benefices in every county, may cause an union, ^^enderasTo"""
or rather a sequestration, to be made of so many as Avill churches and
T ' t, 1 • • 1 ministers.
make a competent living for a sole minister ; then may he
give order for building of as many churches as there sball
be competent livings for ministers in that county. And
this preparation being made, his lordship may lastly provide
sufficient incumbents to serve the churches." " Besides,
the crown is restored to all the patronages of ecclesiastical
promotions, which heretofore were usurped by the Pope,
and utterly neglected by the state here'^."
How far these favourable anticipations were Remark on the
realized, may be well doubted. In particular, the Ttructingthe"
state of these dioceses will again call for our atten- iii^h tongue.
tion on occa,sion of a royal comraission, about fifteen
years later ; and especially the united dioceses of Kil
more and Ardagh will fall under consideration when
we arrive at the period of Bishop Bedell's appointment
to thera about twenty-two years after the date of Sir
John Davies's narrative. It may here, however, be
remarked in passing, that the principle of " instruct
ing the people of those wild jmrts in the Irish
tongue," as the means of being " likely to do more
'« Davies, p. 268, 260.

360

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VI.

good among them," was professed and acted upon
by King James in the appointment of Bishop Draper
to this diocese : a principle which, it may be like
wise observed, had been acted upon at various periods
in the most uncivilized parts of Ireland, not indeed
by an uniforra provision, but probably by raany more
individuals, and to a considerably greater degree,
than those, who have not investigated the details of
Irish ecclesiastical history, may suppose.
Section II.

Conspiracy of
Irish noblci in
Ulster, IC07.

Their vindica
tion that they
had been per
secuted for their
religion .

Conspiracies atid Rebellions in the North. Forfeiture of
Lands. Plantation of the Northern Counties. The
King's Care for the Improvement of the Religious Esta
blishment. Etnigratits from Scotland. Their prepos
sessions, and the effect of them on the Church. Procla
mation against Popish Emissaries. Report of his
Diocese by the Bishop of Ferns atid Leighlin.
In 1607 a formidable conspiracy, encouraged by the
indulgences, which were interiireted into the weak
ness of the crown, was formed by the Earls of
Tyrone and Tyrconnel, the Lord Macguire, and
other Iri.sli nobles and great proprietors of Ulster,
for surprising the Castle of Dublin, and murdering
the Lord Deputy aud council, and thus establishing
their own independent authority. The conspiracy
being discovered, the conspirators endeavoured to
escape. Some, however, were taken and executed ;
and others, Avho had fled, being indicted on a special
coraraission for their trial, were outlawed '-
In their vindication they alleged, that they had
been injuriously treated, and especially had been
persecuted for religion ; but they were ansvA'ered by
' Cox, ii. 12.

Sec. II.] KING JAMES I. 361
a declaration from the king, published in November Auswoiedhythe
,., niin- f kii'S'sdcclaia-
the sarae year, Avhich repelled the allegation of tion.
injurious treatraent ; and Avitli respect to their other
plea observed, " that there was not any purpose of
proceeding against thera in raatters of religion, their
condition being to think inurder no fault, marriage
of no use, nor any man valiant vA'ho does not glory
iu rapine and oppression ; and therefore 'tAvere
unreasonable to trouble thera for religion, before it
could be perceived by their conv^ersation they had
any;  that they did stir up sedition
and intestine rebellion in the kingdom ; and sent
their instruments, priests and others, to make offers
to foreign states for their assistance ; and that, under
the condition of being made free frora the Engflish
governraent, they resolved also to coraprehend the
extirpation of all those subjects now reraaining alive
within that kingdom, formerly descended of English
race." But, although it Avere difficult to perceive from
the conversation of these rebels, that they had, pro
perly speaking, " any religion," yet religion, never
theless, such as it was, M'as undoubtedly a powerful
agent in tbeir rebellions : for it was not to no pur
pose, that the judgment of the Spanish universities
of Salamancha and Valladolid had convinced all the
Popish clergy of " the unlaAvfulness of assisting an
heretical prince or people against the Church;" or
that the priests, acting in conforraity with the prin
ciple of the judgment, fomented and encouraged
the rebellion, which was still prosecuted under the
conduct of other Popish chiefs, by affirraing, " That
all were martyrs who died in that service."
Nor were unequivocal syraptoras of the religious symptoms ot the
sentiraents of the conspirators given, when in the menrotre""conspirators.

Rcbellinn insti-
gatcil by religion.

362 THE REIGN OP [Cn. VI,
year 1608, on the surprise and capture of Culmore,
or Kilmore, and its magazine, by Sir Cahir O'Dog-
harty, he " burnt two thousand heretical books, as
he called them, refusing to let thera be redeemed
for an hundred pounds ;" or when after taking, with
little or no resistance, the neighbouring fort and
town of Derry, and having plundered it, and burnt
it to ashes, he murdered the governor and all the
Protestants, except the bishoj^'s wife, who with her
children was taken prisoner, and afterwards was
allowed to be ransomed.
Outlawry of the 111 consequenco of these rebellions, the last of

rebels.

'ico8. which was brought to a close in 1608, by an acci
dental shot, which ended the life of Sir Cahir
O'Dogharty, some of the rebels, on whom the king
had formerly tried in vain the effect of pardon, and
restoration to their property, were now outlawed,
and they and the rest Avere afterwards attainted by
Plantation of the parliament. By this judgment, large tracts of land,
counties. to the auiouut of 511,465 acres, of the Irish or
plantation measure, equivalent to 818,344 acres of
the English statute measure, in the counties of
Donegall, Tyrone, Coleraine, Ferraanagh, Cavan,
and Arraagh, were forfeited or escheated to the
crown : part of which was again by the crown
bestowed for various uses connected Avith the Church,
such as glebe-lands for ecclesiastical dignitaries and
other incurabents, for the College of Dublin, and for
free-schools ; and, araongst other modes of distribu
tion, the largest portion, assigned to any one purpose,
was that of 209,800 plantation acres, or 335,680
statute measure, for " the Londoners and other
undertakers," on the special agreement that " they
sliould not suffer any labourer, that would not take

Sec. II.] KING JAMES I. 363
the oath of supreraacy, to dAvell upon their lands." oathotsupre-
-r-» 1 n 1 •! -!• 1 /•T^ macy to be taken
Provision was raade for building the toAvns of Derry by every
and Coleraine, by the city of London, in 1611 ; but
on trial the accomplishment of this undertaking was
found impracticable, so that more time was allowed
for the forraer, which Avas actually corapleted by the Bunding ot
T 1 1 il 1 11 J.' c London-Dcrry,
Londoners, under the corapound appellation ot and coieraine.
London-Derry, in 1617. Provision was also made
for convenient plots of ground to be assigned to the
Bishop and Dean of Derry for their houses : and
that the city should have the whole territory of
Glancanken and Killetragh in the county of Cole
raine, and the patronage of the churches.
The king had found the estate of the bishopricks Bad condition ot
in Ulster, much entangled, and altogether unpro- inrn'stef"'''^
fitable to the bishops ; partly by the challenge, which
the late temporal Irish lords made to the Church's
patrimony within their countries, thereby to dis
courage all men of worth and learning, through want
of a maintenance, to undertake the care of those
places, and to continue the people in ignorance and
barbarisra, the more easily to lead them into their
own measures ; and partly by the clairas of patentees,
who, under the colour of abbey and escheated lands,
passed by patent raany of the Church lands, not
excepting even the site of cathedral churches, and Ana ot the
places of residence of bishops, deans, and canons, to ""¦"""*'*'"'
the great prejudice and decay of religion, and the
frustrating of his religious intent for the good govern
ment and reformation of those parts.
Nor were the parochial churches in a better con- And parish
dition than the cathedrals. They had, most of thera
in the country, been destroyed in the troubles, or
fallen down for want of covering : the livings were
very small ; and either kept in the bishop's hands by

churohcs.

364

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VI.

Remedy pro
vided by the
king.

way of commendams, and sequestrations, or else filled
with ministers as scandalous as their incomes: so
that scarce any care was talcen to catechise the
children, or instruct others in the grounds of re-
Negieot of divine llgioii ; aud for years together, divine service had
p^toraunstrue- not boeu usod iu auy parish church throughout
Ulster, except in some city or principal towns.
To remedy these abuses, and to make a proper
provision for tbe instruction of the people, and for
reducing them to a conformity in religion, the king
ordered, that all ecclesiastical lands should be re
stored to their respective sees and churches; and
that all lands should be deemed ecclesiastical, out of
which the bishops had at any time formerly received
rents or pensions : that compositions should be made
with the patentees for the site of cathedral churches,
the houses of residence of bishops and dignitaries,
and other Church lands, which were never intended
to be conveyed to them : an equivalent to be allowed
to the patentee, if he conformed willingly ; if not,
the patent to be vacated by due course of law, the
king being deceived in his grant, and the possessions
to be restored to the Church. And, to provide for
the inferior clergy, he engaged the bishops to give up
all their impropriations, and relinquish the tythes,
paid them out of parishes, to the respective incum
bents, making them an ample recompense with
grants of his own lands.
He caused every proportion, allotted to the
undertakers, to be made a parish, and a parochial
church to be erected therein ; the incumbent whereof
was, besides all the tythes and duties of each parish,
to have a glebe set out for him, of sixty, ninety, or
one hundred and twenty acres, according to the size
of the parish, and the proportion of wdiich it con-

Parochlal allot
ments.

Sec. IL] KING JAMES I. 365
sisted ; and this to be laid out, before any allotment
was made to others, in the raost convenient place,
and the nearest adjoining to the parish church.
To provide likewise for a succession of Avorthy provision tor
raen to fill these churches, he erected and endowed
free schools in the principal towns ; he made con
siderable grants of lands to the college, founded by
Queen Elizabeth at Dublin ; and vested in it the
advowson of six parochial churches, three of the
largest, and three of the middle, proportion in each
county'". Moreover he required, that " every of the said conformity m
religion required
undertakers, English and Scotch, before the enseal- otanunder-takers.
ing of his letters, should take the oath of supremacy,
either in the Chancery of England, or before the
commissioners appointed for establishing the planta
tion ; and should also conform themselves in religion
according to his majesty's laws^"
Notwithstanding, however, the regard, thus weii-beingof
slioAvn by the king for the well-being ofthe Church, structed'by this
and for the maintenance of the established religion, "* ™ " '""'
of this plantation there was one result deeply to be
lamented, as disturbing the Church's peace, impeding
her progress, and diminishing her power of promoting
religious improvement. The emigrants frora Scot
land, who were a nuraerous division of the new
settlers, brought with thera their own peculiar
prepossessions, and were attended or follovA'ed by
rainisters of their own, apparently sincere and
zealous, though raistaken raen, earnest in raain
taining and disseminating their national opinions.
These opinions for the most part consisted in
^ Carte's Life ofthe Duke of Ormonde, vol. i. p. 17.
^ Harris's Hibernica, p. 123.

366 THE REIGN OP [Cir. VI.
Pccuiiaropinions liostllity to the primitive and apostolical form of
of the emigrants „, , i t . i l j.- l
from Scotland. Churcli govemmeiit by bishops, and a partial pre
dilection for that presbyterian model, recently in
vented by John Calvin at Geneva, and adopted and
imported into Scotland by John Knox : in a rejection
of that liturgical mode of worshijj, which had been
transmitted from the earliest through all succeeding
ages of Christianity, and was now continued in the
British reformed Churches ; and in an attachment
to the modern fashion of devotional aspirations,
uttered under the sujsposed iraraediate dictation of
the Holy Spirit : in a contemptuous repudiation of
several decent and orderly, innocent and edifying
and ancient, signs and accompaniments of divine
worship, and a studied affectation of a bare, an
abstract, and frigid simplicity in the service of God :
in a condemnation of the aboriginal and hereditary
sentiments, practice, and authority of Christ's
Catholick Church, as the inter]3reter of God's holy
word, and in a professed reverence for that word
alone as the guide to religious truth, not however
independent of the freedom of private judgment,
carried to an undue and dangerous extent, or of the
systera of some favourite reformer, who had acquired
over their minds and opinions little less than a
Papal control.
Scotch cougiega- Uudor the influence of such prejudices as these,
tions formed ou . f n i ,i p
these principles, congregatious wcro formed by the new comers from
Scotland in the northern counties of Ireland, opposed
to the principles and provisions, and estranged from
the communion, ofthe Church.
Settlement of the The Settlement of the Scotch Presbyterians in
Scots in Ireland tit ti in ii.i.
legalized by Act Irolaud was not agreeable to the former inhabitants,
0 ^^ ames . gj|-|^gp ^.q ^^q earlier occupiers, or to those of English
extraction : and a special Act of Parliament was

Sec IL] KING JAMES I. 367
necessary to legalize it. For down to this period in
the reign of King James, there Avas still in force a
statute, enacted in the third and fourth years of
King Philip and Queen INIary, AAhicli prohibited the
bringing in, retaining, or marrying of Scots. This
statute continuing part of the law of the land during
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, adventurers of that
nation were precluded from settling in Ireland.
But, in the year 1614, being the Ilth of King
James, this Act was repealed, and multitudes of the Aiuititndes
Scots passed over into Ulster. Presbyterian minis- uistcr.
ters were sometimes attached to these colonies, and
congregations were forraed, the earliest of Avhich was
at Broad Island, in the county of Antrim, in 1611,
and another, about the same time, at HolyAvood, in
the county of Down ; and nearly coincident in time
with these were similar meetings at Antrira and
Carrickfergus, whence they spread into the adjoining
counties of Arraagh, Londonderry, Donegall, and
Tyrone, and the other parts of Ulster"". At the sarae
time there came over three ministers from England, English presby-
one a pupil of the celebrated Puritan, Cartwright,
patronized by the Lord Chichester, then Lord
Deputy, who had been a pupil of Cartwright also,
and was a favourer and encourager of the Puritans.
These congregations were soon afterwards united
into a system of mutual agreement and co-operation,
and pre,sbyteries formed in various districts.
A schism was thus established among the Irish a schism esta-
Protestants : a schism, opposed at the sarae tirae to the iSsh™""^
all the principles and laws of the Church Catholick,
and injurious to Christianity in general, but especially
detrimental under the circurastances of Ireland,
* Stuart's History of Armagh, p. 484. Loyalty of Presbyterians,
p. 161.

368 THE REIGN OF [Ch. VL
Avhere a consentient, corabined, and co-operating
effort, in the one regular body of the national
Church, by all the opponents of the papal errors,
might have been a poAverful instrument in God's
hand for correcting thera ; and where the want of
such agreement and co-operation not only weakened
the power, which was otherwise capable of being
brought into effectual action, but served as a positive
itspernicious argument for confirming the Papist in his delusions.
offsets If the Church has been less successful from that
period than sound piety raay have wished, in per
suading Popish recusants to an acknowledgraent of
the truth, he who best knows the value and the
weight of religious unity, and the paramount ini-
jiortance attributed to it by the adherents and advo
cates of the papacy, will best estimate the responsi
bility which attaches to those Protestant sectarists,
who impeded the progress of the Church by re
nouncing and condemning- her communion, and
introducing into the kingdom rival religious assem
blies, of AA'hich the characteristicks were dissent and
separation from the Church.
By Avhat disingenuous contrivances sorae of these
sectarists Avere enabled to evade the laws enacted for
the protection of the Church, and to insinuate them
selves into her rainistry, and to gain possession of
her benefices, will be subject for future attention.
Whilst the Government was thus inconsiderately
lending their assistance, in sowing the seed of modern
dissent and separation from the Church, their vigi
lance was continually required for keeping down the
shoots, which Avere ever and anon sprouting forth
frora the old stock of Popish insubordination and
In July, 1610, the forraer proclamation

Sec. IL] KING JAMES I. 369
of July the 4th, 1605, against titular bishops, Jesuits, Revivaiof
proclamation
friars, and other Roraish emissaries, was revived; agamst H.miih

emusaaries.

but it was so faintly executed, that no persons are J"iy> isio.
mentioned as having been apprehended in conse
quence, except the titular Bishop of Down and four
friars. Orders were also issued for tendering the
oath of supremacy to all raagistrates, justices of
peace, and other officers ; and to displace those who
should refuse to take it'-
It is at about this tirae that an instance occurs, instance eta
the first, of which I ara aware, and, in this case, 1612.
liraited to a single diocese, of the result of an inquiry
iuto the internal condition of the Church, made by
a metropolitan, in obedience to the injunctions of
the Crown. In the absence of more coraprehensive
docuraents, important information raay be soraetiraes vaiueotsuch
reports.
derived from such Diocesan Reports, which, whilst
they give accurate local delineations, contribute also
to throAv light upon the general condition of the
Church. In this respect, however, they should be
applied with caution and deliberation ; for there
raust haA'e been nuraerous peculiar circurastances, to
raodify the state of things in the several dioceses :
and much in the adrainistration of its affairs must
have depended on the vieAvs and opinions, the dis
position of raind, the ability and activity, of the
respective diocesans. Still it is gratifying and useful,
in investigating- the transactions of the tiraes, of
which most of the records are not in existence, to
meet with some of these ^less perfect memorials ;
and I esteem, as a valuable document of this kind,
that which occurs in the Reports of the Commis
sioners of Ptiblick Records in Ireland, vol. i. p. 264,
' Cox, ii. 17.
2 B

370

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VI.

and Leighlin.

Retmntohis bolng a retum to inquiries of his metropolitan, raade
hiquTries! by tt^e in 1612, by Thoraas Ram, bishop of Ferns and
bifhop of Fernd . , . . . , .
Leighlin, concerning many particulars in his diocese,
as to the state both of popery and of the Reformed
Church of Ireland. The document purports to be,
"The humble AnsAver of Thoraas, Bishop of Ferns
and Leighlin, to his Majesty's Instructions aud In
terrogations, lately sent unto the Archbishops and
Bishops of this Realm:" so that it must evidently
have been only one of a collection of similar docu
ments. It is intituled, " A true Account of the Bishop
of F(3riis and Leighlin, how he hath perforraed those
duties which the Right Reverend Father in God, the
Archbishop of Dublin, being his Metropolitan,
undertook unto his Majesty for hira and the rest of
his Suffragans; made this first of September, 1612."

Title of the
document.

The bishop's
manner of treat
ing papists.

islike of tbe
poorer soi t for
popery.

"1. Concerning the order and course, which I have
holden, for the suppression of popery, and planting the truth
of religion in each of my dioceses, it hath been of two sorts.
First, being advised by some in authority, unto whom his
Majesty's pleasure and the state of those times were better
known than unto me, to carry myself in all mild and gentle
manner toward my diocesans and circuits, I never (till of
late) proceeded to the excommunication of any for mat
ter of religion, but contented myself only to confer with
divers of each diocese, both poor and rich, and that in the
most familiar and kind manner that I could, confirming
our doctrines, and confuting tbeir assertions, by the touch
stone of all truth, the Holy Scriptures.
' ' And for the poorer sort, some of them have not only
discovered unto me privately their dislike of popery, and
of the mass, in regard they understood not what is said or
done therein, but also groaned under the burden of the
many priests, in respect of the double tithes and offerings,
tbe one paid by them unto us and the other unto them.
Being then demanded of me, why they did not forsake the

Sec.IL] KING JAMES I. 371
mass, and come to churcb, tbeir ansAver bath been, which
I know to be true in some, tbat, if they should be of our
religion, no popish merchant would employ them, being
sailors, no popish landlord would let tbem any lands, being
husbandmen, nor set them bouses in tenantry, being arti
ficers ; and, therefore, tbey must either starve or do as
they do.
" As for the gentlemen, and those ofthe richer sort, I obstinacy of the
have always found them very obstinate, whicb bath pro- ^°"'^'
ceeded from the priests resorting unto their houses and
company, and continuing to hammer them upon their
superstitious anvil.
" Touching the second course, since his majesty signi- The king's piea-
fied his express pleasure, tbat the censures of the Churcb JecusanT"'"^
should be by us practised against recusants, after often"
.... [Here the MS. is torn, so tbat there are only to be
read, with intervals, tbe Avords] " plain and mild manner,
but all to no purpose, I"  "to repair
unto tbeir parish church on days''  [Then,
after the AA'ord "sheriff," the document proceeds as follows :]
"I caused to be brought before me, hoping, then, that my The bishop's
persuasions and reasons, together with their apparent and thrrecutantr'"'
present danger, would make them relent ; myself prevailing
nothing with them, I intreated their landlord. Sir Henry
Wallop, to try what he could do Avith them, but all in vain.
This done, I singled them out one by one, and afforded
each of tbem this favour, to give them any reasonable time
to bethink themselves, upon tliese conditions ; first, that
they would repair to their curate's bouse twice or thrice
a-Aveek, and hear our service privately in bis chamber read
unto them ; next, that they would put me in good security
for the delivery of their bodies unto the sheriff, at the end
ofthe time to be granted, if they conformed not themselves:
but tbey jumped all in one answer, as if they had known x],eir prompt
beforehand wbat offer I would tender unto tbem, and had ™<i iina^mmous
• answer.
been catechised by some priest, what answer to make, viz.,
' that they were resolved to live and die in that religion,
and that they knew they must be imprisoned at the length,
and, therefore,' said they, ' as good now as hereafter".' "
" Publiek Records of Irda-nd, vol. i. p. 261.
2 B 2

372

THE EEIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

other curious
particulars in
this account.

Continualresidence of the
bishop.

His yearly
visitations.

His willingness
to tender the
oath of allegi
ance.

Oath of .supre
macy taken by
all bcneticcd
clergymen in his
diocese.

There are several other particulars mentioned in
this account, which are valuable and curious, as
illustrative of the general condition of the Churcb,
so far as it may be inferred from the affairs of a
single diocese.
An exaraple ofthe opinions entertained concern
ing the discharge of episcopal duties is furnished by
the statement of the bishop, that he " continually
resided either in the diocese of Ferns or Leighlin,
sometiraes in the one and soraetiraes in the other;
and, in whichever he had been, he had exercised the
ecclesiastical jurisdiction in his own person; Avhen
he was not there, his official supplied his room:"
that, " having been about seven years bishop, he had
every year once visited each of his dioceses in person,
and had called before hira his clergy in each deanery,
and two, at the least, of the laity out of every parish,
for sidesraen, upon their oaths, to detect all the
offences and defects of ecclesiastical cognizance, com
raitted within their several parishes, and had accord
ingly proceeded therein:" that, " if he were autho
rized under the seal to tender the oath of allegiance
to every man of sort within his diocese, he was most
ready and willing to put it in execution, to persuade
thera in the best and serious manner that he could
to take the oath, and duly and truly to certify the
Lord Deputy, from time to time, the naraes both of
the takers and refusers thereof:" and that "there
was never any yet admitted, by hira or his official,
unto any spiritual living within either of his dioceses,
but he did distinctly with his raouth pronounce,
and," adds the bishoji, " I doubt not but truly aud
willingly with his heart, erabrace and take the oath
of supremacy." It appears, that there Avere several popish priests

Sec.IL] KING JAMES I. 373
at this time resorting to, or harbouring in, the dio- ropish priests in
ceses of Ferns and Leighlin, of a\ hora this docuraent
enumerates sixteen in the former, and ten in the
latter diocese. Each of these is mentioned Avitli the
title of " Sir" prefixed to his name ; a title Avhicli is
commonly understood as generally descriptive of a
priest, but of Avhicli Fuller, iu his Church History,
says, "Such priests, as have the addition of Sir wby intituled
before their Christian narae, Avere raen not graduated
in the university, being in orders, but not in degrees ;
whilst others, intituled masters, had comraenced in
the arts^" And this sense of the word appears
probable in its application to the persons here spoken
of Of these two are particularly noted, as having two ot them
form Grl v
been ministers of the Church : " Sir John Quiltey, a ministers ot the
roving priest, sometime one of our clergy, but long-
since keeping here and there in the parishes of Old
Rosse and the isarisbes adjoining ; and Sir William
Barrick, a very old man, keeping at Noav Rosse, in
the house of William Bennett. This man, about
ten years since, ^\as one of our clergy, and was vicar
of New Rosse." Another gives occasion for the
following remark : " This Richard is now beginning
to build a mass-house in Rosse, upon the land of his
brother James. Mine humble suit is, that some objection made
, 1,1 /..ii'i'to the building
present course may be taken for the hindering ot new mass-
thereof; as also for the nailing- up of the door of
another chapel in that town of New Rosse, formerly
built by Sir David Dowle aforesaid."
" No Popish priest," observes the bishop, " hath objection to the
ever been adraitted either to Church living or vopish priests.
cure within either of ray dioceses during ray incum
bency; neither, God willing, during ray time ever
shall."

Chnrch Histoi-y, li. vi. p. 35'2.

374

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VI.

state of the
churches.

Ferns not a
good situation
for thecathedial.

Account of
schools in the
diocese.

JUschievoiis
interference of the Popish
priests.

Concerning the state of the churches in these
dioceses, the following notice occurs.
" All the churches within both my dioceses are builded
according to the country fashion, or bonds taken for the
building of tbose few that are unbuilded, except some few
parishes, Avherein there is yet little or no habitation, and
except the cathedral church of Ferns, Avhioh, having been
burnt by Feagh M'How in the time of rebellion, is so
chargeable to re-edify, that the dean and chapter are not
able to compass that work, neither is it indeed fit, that the
cathedral church should be at Ferns, being now but a poor
country village ; but either at Wexford, or at New Rosse,
being both incorporate towns, very populous of themselves,
especially Wexford, and of much resort by strangers. Yet
there is an ile of the cathedral church builded, Avherein
divine service is duly celebrated."
The bishop then makes report of two schools,
one in Wexford for Ferns, the other in Maryborough
for Leighlin ; the schoolmiaster being maintained by
himself and his clergy, according to the statute.
" Neither," he observe.s, " have I ever licensed any
schoolmaster to teach, but such as have first entered
bonds to teach none other books, but such as are
agreeable to the king's injunctions. But these
schools, established by authority, are to small pur
pose, if all the Popish priests in this kingdom take
that course, as in all probability they do, which a
priest, called Laghlin Oge, took not long since after
the celebration of his mass. For he taught the
people first, that VA'hosoever did send their children
or pujuls to be taught by a schoolmaster of our
religion, they Avere excoramunicated ipso facto, and
should certainly be damned, Avithout they did under
go great penance for their so doing. Next (though
not appertaining to this branch) that the infants,
Avhich were by us baptized, if they were not brought

Sec.IL] KING JAMES I. 375
to them to be rebaptized, both the parents so doing,
and the children so baptized, Avere damned."
" Lastly," the bishop thus continues, " though I The wshop's de-
hi 1 J 1 1 . , sh'e to root out
ave used ray best endeavour, according to my rope.y.and
simple skill, to reform recusants, yet have I come far reugion"*'
short of what I ought to have done ; and I raust
needs acknowledge rayself to be an unprofitable
servant. But by the grace of God I ara Avhat I am;
and by the said grace assisting me, I Avill endeavour
rayself raore and more to root out Popery, and to
sow the seed of true religion in the hearts of all
the people comraitted to ray charge : Avhicli though
I have no hope to effect as I Avould, yet ' est aliquid
prodire tenus, cum non datur tdtrd.' "
The bishop, having thus answered particularly vaiueottho
11 1 (, Al n , j'l t* , , 1 benefices in the
each branch ot the first article of inquiry, proceeds diocese.
to return, as near as he can learn, the true value,
comtnutiibus antiis, of the benefices of each diocese,
and the naraes and qualities of present incurabents.
Of the bishoprick of Ferns, he states " the Recent improve-
1 1 mi T^ 1 1 ment of the
present incurabent to be Ihoraas Rara, who at his wshoprickof
first coraing to the place found it worth, by the
year, one hundred marks, 66/. 6a: 8d,, sterling penny
rent. But by his recovery of the manor of Fethard,
by a long and chargeable suit at law, though ended
by coraposition at length, it is now bettered per
annum by 40/."
"This bishoprick," he adds, "hath been Avorth injury done to u
four or five hundred pounds by the year ; but by wshops.
the many fee-farms made thereof by his predecessors,
especially by Alexander Devereux and John Deve-
reux to their kindred and bastards, at very small
rents, it is reduced unto this sraall pittance aforesaid.
This bishoprick of Ferns and the other of Leighlin
lie both together; and the dwelling-houses of them

376

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

A^alue ot the
bishoprick ot
Leighlin.

Number and
average value of
the benefices in
Ferns.

Residence and
other particulars
of the incum
bents.

both, naraely Fethard (seated in the remotest part
from Leighlin of the Avhole diocese of Ferns,) and
Old Leighlin, are but twenty-seven English miles
asunder." He afterwards states himself to hold the bishop
rick of Leighlin, by union with that of Ferns,
"durante vitei, by virtue of his majesty's letters
patent. The annual rent thereof is 24/. ster., besides
the demesnes, vi^hich are very large, if the bishop
might enjoy his right. But in respect they are
almost all mountain ground, and rauch of them is
withholden by the neighbours thereof, yield very
little profit."
The benefices in Ferns were twenty-seven, con
sisting of the deanery and seven prebends; seven
rectories aud twelve vicarages. The value of them
is given in two parallel columns, in time of peace
and as reduced by rebellion. The highest value in
the forraer time is 50/., and in the latter 30/. ; being
the deanery : the next highest, respectively, is 25/.
and 20/. The loAvest value is 41., reduced by re
bellion to 4:0s. But in one case 71. is reduced to
nothing. The united amount is 380/. or 261/.:
yielding an average in the tAventy-seven benefices of
about 14/., or 9/. 13.9. 4c?., in peace or rebellion.
With two or three exceptions, the jncunibents
were residing on their benefices. Some are specified
as being "preachers," and some as being "reading
ministers." One of the incumbents was " a student
in Trinity College, near Dublin, aged about twenty
years." Of the vdcarages one was " of so small
worth, that no man would pass the patent for it, and
thereupon the curate enjoyed the profit." Seven of
the incumbents are reported as " ministers of Irish
birth, skilful jn, or having, the English, Irish, and

Sec.IL] KING JAMES I. 377
Latin tongues :" two " of Irish birth, having the
English and Irish."
In Leighlin were the treasurership and arch- Benefices and
^ incumbents iu
deaconry, and four prebends, eleven rectories, and Leighnn.
thirty-four vicarages ; one of the rectories being as
high as 30/. But the benefices in general varied
betAveen 12/. and 3/. in time of peace ; but so much
affected by rebellion, that twenty-five of thera are
returned as worth nothing. The same distinction
occurs between "preachers" and "reading raini
sters," there being, however, very few of the forraer
class. There were about twelve " of Irish birth,
having the English, Irish, and Latin tongues." And
two are raentioned " of English birth," of whom
oue had " some skill in the Irish tongue," and the
other was " skilful " in that lansfuag^e. One of the
vicarages Avas holden " in commendam by the Bishop
of Kerry;" and two of the rectories of very small
value, by tAvo scholars respectively of sixteen and
seventeen years of age, or thereabouts, "dispensed
withall gratia studii."
The bishop explains some of the foregoing par- Explanation ot
, . 1 111* , . • . , several of the
tieulars, as well as his own practice in raatters con- foregoing par-
nected Avith them, iu the following observations
appended to his return.
"At my first preferment unto these bishopricks, and The bishop's
finding such want of clergymen within both my dioceses, m^/stosr'**
especially of Leighlin, tbat some of tbe parishioners, being
by me blamed for carrying their children to Popish priests
to be christened, answered (though rather for excuse, as I
found afterwards, in that tbey reformed not themselves,
than for conscience sake), that they A\'ere compelled so to
do, in regard tbey had no curate of our religion near unto
them ; in imitation of the reverend bishops, living in the
beginning of the reign of our late queen of happy memory,
I entreated three or four men of English birth, and staid English,

S78

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

His provision ot
candidates for
the ministry.

Impropriations destitute of
vicars.

The Bishop of
Ferns and
Leighlin's ad
vice for the sup
ply of the defect.

carriage, and good report, being Avell able to give an account
of tbeir faitb in the English tongue, and to instruct the
people by reading, to enter orders of tbe Church ; and pro
vided for them first cures among the Engli.sh parishe.s,
afterward small vicarages, Avbich they enjoy at this time,
and reside upon them. And whereas two or three of the
natives of this country, being well able to speak and read
Irish unto their countrymen, sought unto me for holy orders,
I thought likewise fit, in tbe great scarcity of men of that
quality, to admit tbem thereunto (being likewise of honest
life, and well reported of among.st their neighbours), and to
provide them some sniall competency of living in the Irish
parts. Furthermore, being desirous, serere alteri seculo,
by providing a learned ministry, Avbich shall be able to
preach unto the people hereafter, I have also, according to
tbe ancient custom of my diocese, dispensed with three or
four youths of fifteen or sixteen years of age, to hold each
of them a church living under ten pounds in true value,
studii gratia, having taken order with the churchmen
adjoining, to discbarge the cures of tbe same, and having
had a watchful eye over these young men, that they did
and do bond fide follow 
[Rest of the sheet mutilated.]
The subjoined recoraraendation of the bishop's
was well worthy of attention, and touched a point
which has been fruitful in raischief to the Irish
Churcb. " There being divers impropriations within each of my
dioceses, whicb bave no vicars endowed, whose possessioners
are bound by their leases or fee-farms to find sufficient
curates : mine earnest request is, tbat a competent stipend
may be raised out of every such impropriation, whereby
tbe curate thereof may be maintained. And that two or
three of the impropriations of small value may be united
among themselves, if they be together ; and a competency
raised out of them all so united for an incumbent. But, if
they be asunder, that then they may be united to the next
parsonage or vicarage adjoining, and contribute towards the
bettering thereof: provided always, that in whichsoever of

Sec. IL| KING JAMES I. 379
the united churches divine service is celebrated, thither all
the parishioners of the churches united be compelled every
sabbath and holyday to repair in their course and turn.
Now tbe competency which I conceive will be fittest for the
impropriators to yield, and for the curates to receive, is the
small tithes of every such parish.
(Signed) " Tho. Ferness and Leighlin."

Section III.
Christopher Hampton advanced to the Primacy. A Par
liament and Convocation of the Clergy. Articles of
Relig'ion. Summary of their contents. Their discursive
character. Exceptions taken to them at the time. Their
discrepancy with those of the Church of England. Regal
Visitation of the Procince of Dublin. Arrogant con
duct of the Papists.
On the death of Henry Ussher, archbishop of nenryusshcr
Armagh, in 1613, Christopher Hampton was ad- primacy by"
vanced to the primacy, and consecrated by the Arch- Hampt™!"
bishop of Dublin, Avith three assistant bishops, on
the Sth of May. He Avas born at Calais, had been a
student of Christ's College, Cambridge, and elected
to the see of Derry, the year of his elevation to the
primacy. He is recorded as a prelate of great ms character
gravity and learning. A handsorae palace at Drog
heda, then the principal residence of the archbishops
of Armagh, Avas indebted to him for its foundation
and erection, as well as an old episcopal house at
Armagh for its reparation, the addition of sundry
new buildings, and the annexing to the see of three
hundred acres of land near the town of Armagh, for
men sal lands. By his care also the cathedral of
Armagh, which had been destroyed by Shane O'Neal,
was restored ; the walls with their windows recon
structed, the aisles reroofed, and the steeple rebuilt.

380

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VI.

Opening of the
parliament.^

Conduct of the
recusant nobi
lity.

and again furnished with the great bell, newly cast
for the occasion. And he appears to have been
particularly assiduous in repairing and rebuilding
the parochial churches of his diocese'.
A few days after his consecration, on the opening
of the parliament in great state by the Lord Deputy,
Arthur, Lord Chichester, May the 13th, the primate,
after divine service, preached in St. Patrick's cathe
dral before the other prelates and temporal peers of
the realm, Avith the exception of the recusant nobi
lity, who " Avent not into the church, neither heard
divine service or sermon, notwithstanding they were
lords of the parliament-house, and rode towards the
church with the lords of estate : yet they stayed
without during the time of service and sermon.
Now when service Avas done, the Lord Deputy
returned back to the castle : and those recusant
lords joined themselves again with rest ofthe estate,
and rode to the castle in manner as before they
came frora thence ^"
Notwithstanding an ineffectual atterapt to place
in the chair of the House of Coraraons a Popish
sirJohnDavics Speaker, Sir John Davies was elected to the office:
elected speaker . t i • i i
ofthe Houseof lu dischargiug the duties of which he made an excel-
Commons. i i x t~.
lent speech to the Lord Deputy concerning the con
dition of the country, observing with regard to its
former and its actual ecclesiastical state, as repre
sented in parliaraent, that in former times "the
bishops and archbishops, though their number was
greater than now it is, in respect to the divers unions
made of latter years, yet such as were resident in
the more Irish countries, and did not acknowledge
the king to be their patron, were never summoned
' Ware's Bisliops, p. 97.
" Letter from Sir Christ. Plunket, Desiderata Curiosa Hibern., i. 167.

Sec. IIL] KING JAMES I. 381
to any parliaraent ;" but that " this parliaraent is
called when all the lords spiritual do acknowledge patronage ot the
the king of England to be their undoubted patI•on^" ledgldVyaiT the
On the present occasion twenty-five spiritual lords ^^"' '"' '"""^'
were in attendance.
Although the raeeting of the parliament had
been accompanied by this and some other atterapts
on the part of the Papists in furtherance of their
own projects, it passed without any act or other
occurrence particularly affectino- the Church. But a convocation of
I ,> <-> the clergy.
together with the parliaraent was asserabled a con
vocation of the archbishops, bishops, and other clergy
of the Church of Ireland, to deliberate solemnly
with united efforts and counsels on matters relating
to religion. From the language of those, who have trans- Question whe-
1 . . p ..111 1 *^*'^'' ^''^'^ convo-
mitted to us this information, it should seem that cations were
the assembling of a convocation of the clergy Avas a
customary accompaniment ofthe assembling ofa par
liament in Ireland as well as in England. Dr. Ber
nard and Dr. Parr, in their lives of Archbishop
Ussher, relate, "Anno 1615, there was a parliaraent
in Dublin, and so a convocation of the clergy :"
apparently assuraing the latter as a consequence of
the former. The writer of the archbishop's life,
among Sir James Ware's Bishops, says, "A par- The fact
liament was held in Ireland, and, according to cus- "^"^ ^ '
tom, a convocation of the clergy." And this appears
to be the foundation of Dr. Smith's statement, in
his life of the same prelate, " Ordinibus regni
Hibernise parlaraento Dublinii A. m.dcxv. habito
coactis, pro raore indicta erat nationalis archiepis
coporum, episcoporum, reliquique cleri Hibernise
=¦ Davies's Tracts, pp. .302, ,30fi.

382 THE REIGN OF [Ch.VI.
Butquestion- syuodus." This stateraent of the custora may be
correct, perhaps also it may be questionable; at
least I find no authority, in fact, for maintaining the
existence of the custom, in other Avords, I cannot
call to mind any earlier exaraple than the present
of a convocation being holden.
Church of Ire- To procood, liowevei', to the business of this
land in constant
agreementwith couvocatiou. Tlie Churcli of Ireland, from the
that ot England. earliest days of the Reformation under King EdAvard
the Sixth, and especially during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, had depended in a principal degree, if not
altogether, on the Church of England, and had been
in agreement with that church in all things. Her
bishops had been in a great raeasure either English
men, sent over from England, or the descendants of
English parents, though of Irish birth. Her Liturgy,
her forms of ordination, and her sacred rites and
Irish clergy sub- cei'eraouies, Avere the sarae. Her clern^y practised
scribed the Eng- , o./ j.
lish Articles of an eutiro and reg-ular conformity, so far as the differ-
Religion. ° •'
ent customs of the two countries would allow, to the
articles and constitutions of the English Church:
and whether on their admission to holy orders, or on
their appointraent to the cure of souls, or on their pro
raotion to any ecclesiastical dignity, subscribed from
the year 1562, the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth,
to the English articles of faith. In coraraon Avith
others, Jaraes Ussher had thus subscribed, as appears
from his sermon before the parliament of England,
in which he most earnestly urges all to maintain the
unity and peace of the church, from this just con
sideration, that those very articles ought to be
accounted and were the raeasure, rule, and ground
of our communion ".
* Vita Jacobi Usserii, Script. Thoma Sjiitho, pp. 40, 72.

Sec. IIL] KING JAMES I. 383
But whether they wearied of their dependence, Desire otintro-
or abated of their reverence for the Church of Eng- articles.
land, there were at this time sorae of the clergy of
the Irish Church avIio Avere arabitious of establishing
an independent character; of fraraing articles of
religion of their oavu, and by their own authority,
and so of distinguishing themselves and their suc
cessors by their own peculiar character as a free
national church. But the more powerful and the
really actuating motive was that innovating- spirit,
which, having failed sorae years before in the attempt
to ingraft the doctrines of Calvin on the profession
of faith of the Anglican Church by raeans of the
notorious Larabeth Articles, was now to be eraployed
in attempting to substitute in the Irish Church a
UOAV profession, with which those articles should be
incorporated. The articles, which were accordingly now drawn Their division
into heads and
up, consisted of one hundred and four paragraphs, sections.
or sections, under nineteen heads ; each head being
divided into several sections. Thus, for example,
the first, which is entitled, " Of the Holy Scripture,
and the three Creeds," is divided into seven parts,
which relate respectively to the holy Scripture as
the ground of our religion and the rule of faith ; to
the canonical books of the Old and Noav Testaraent ;
to the apocryphal books ; to the translation of the
Scriptures into all languages, for the common use of
all men ; to their clearness ; to their sufficiency for
salvation; and to the three creeds, as capable of
being proved by most certain warrant of holy Scrip
ture. They comprehended, "alraost word for word," The Lambeth
as stated in a notice prefixed, "the nine articles "*-'¦"""''
agreed on at Lambeth, the 20th of November, anno

384

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

Rejected in
England,

Adopted in
Ireland.

Distinguished in
the general
arrangement.

15.95 :" but whereas it is stated, that they were
" agreed on at Lambeth," it is omitted to be added,
that they were immediately suppressed by Queen
Elizabeth, withdrawn by Archbishop Whitgift, and
afterwards, at the instance of such men as Bishops
Overall, Andrewes, and other luminaries of the
English Church, disapproved and rejected by King
James, when proposed to him by Dr. Reynolds, in
the conference at Harapton Court. However the
atterapt, which had been defeated in England,
was for the present more successful in Ireland.
And accordingly, under the influence of James
Ussher, not yet weaned from the consequences
which prevailed sorae tirae after the Reforination,
of studying divinity in the systems of modern
divines, instead of learning- the true doctrines of
Christianity, and the real sense of Scripture in
difficult or controverted passages, by having recourse
to the guidance of the primitive Church and the
writings of the early fathers, the Lambeth Articles
were adopted.
Each of these Larabeth Articles, and its respec
tive number, are pointed at by an index in the
margin : the Nine Articles, sometimes standing
apart, and forming each a separate article; and
being soraetiraes incorporated, or closely connected,
with some other proposition. Thus under the third
head, which is entitled, " Of God's eternal decree
and predestination," the second division is composed
entirely of the first and third of the Lambeth
Articles, and is expressed as follows : " By the same
eternal counsel God hath predestinated some unto
life, aud reprobated some unto death ; of both which
there is a certain number, known only to God, AA'hich
can neither be increased nor dirainished." Whilst

Sec.III.] KING JAMES I. 385
under the same head the fifth division is compounded
of two parts, the latter of which is marked by
inverted commas, as here below copied, being the
fourth of the Lambeth Articles : Such as are pre
destinated unto life be called according to God's
purpose, (his Spirit working in due season,) and
through grace they obey the calling, they be justified
freely, they be made sons of God by adoption, they
be made like the image of his only-begotten Son
Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good works,
and at length by God's mercy they attain to ever
lasting felicity. " But such as are not predestinated
to salvation, shall be finally condemned for their
sins." Some of these articles are of a more diffuse and Discursive cha-
discursive character than usually belongs to confes- irish 'Articfes.
sions of faith, and approach rather to the nature of
the homily: as, for instance the seventh, " Of justi
fication and faith ;" the tenth, " Of the service of
God ;" and the tAA'elfth, " Of our duty toAA'ards our
neighbours :" and some refer to topicks not usually Fnusuaitopieks
1 . 1 1 , 1 r A^ , i_ ^ • j_ * -L of some of them.
made the subject of this sort of composition, such as
the priraeval state, and the fall of the angels, in the
fourth article ; the proper dedication of the first day
of the week, or the Lord's-day, in the tenth ; and
the state of the souls of men after this life.
As to the doctrine ofthese articles, that we may objections to
speak historically of the manner in which they were doXine. "''
regarded at the time, " I know no cause," says Dr.
Bernard, in his Life qf Archbishop Ussher, " of some
men's speaking against them, unless for that they do
determine, according to St. Augustine's doctrine
against the Pelagians, ' the man of sin,' in 2 Thess.
ii., ' to be the Bishop of Rome, as the Morality of
the Sabbath.' "
2C

386

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Concerning the
Sabbath.

ConcerningAnti-Christ.

The latter of the passages here alluded to, occurs
tlius in the concluding section of the tenth article :
" The first day of the week, which is the Lord's-day,
is wholly to be dedicated to the service of God ; and
therefore we are bound therein to rest from our
common and daily business, and to bestow that
leisure upon publiek exercises, both publiek and
private :" a sentiment, inoffensive as it might appear
to us, and unexceptionable in its general bearing,
although, with reference to then existing contro
versies, not unreasonably open to objection, as soon
after it was objected to by Dr. Heylin, for appearing
to inculcate the Sabbatarian doctrine of a Judaical
rest being necessary to be observed on the Lord's-
day, and to establish that doctrine as an article of
faith =.
The other excepted passagp is at the end of the
fourteenth article, which affirms that " the Bishop of
Rome is so far from being the supreme head of the
church universal of Christ, that his works and doc
trine do plainly discover him to be ' that man of sin,'
foretold in the holy Scriptures, ' whom the Lord
shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
abolish with the brightness of his coming:' a defir
nitive appropriation of a difficult and much contro
verted text which had recently received that inter
pretation at a Calvinistick synod of the French
Reformers at Gappe in Normandy, but concerning
which it may be thought that such a decided judg
ment of its bearing was not discreetly introduced
into a body of articles of religion, constructed for
the purpose of avoiding all diversity of opinion
among the ministers of a national church.

Hist, ofthe Sabbath, part ii., chap, viii., p. 492.

Sec.III.] KING JAMES I. 387
Other exceptions vA'ere taken at the time, or not other exceptions
long after, against these articles, as speaking the time.
private opinions of their coraposer, and as agreeable
to the views, for which he also was supposed to have
a predilection, both in doctrine and discipline, of
many both members and opponents of the Irish
church. Some of these exceptions may be seen in
Collier's Ecclesiastical History, part ii., book viii.,
p. 708. But not to dwell upon them here, it may suffice strongest objeo-
to observe, that the strongest and most general *'™"'*''™-
objection to this declaration of the faith of the Irish
church, whether or not it were, as has been imputed
to it, " an absolute plot of the Calvinians of England
to make themselves a powerful party in Ireland,"
was its adoption of the Lambeth Articles, which had
been attempted to be introduced into the Church of
England, but the attempt had notoriously failed.
Concerning the merit or demerit of these Larabeth
Articles no opinion needs to be expressed : but it
may be remarked, that, whilst rauch encourageraent
was thereby given to the puritanical party, who had
been lately brought out of Scotland into Ulster, to
the discouragement and prejudice of the Church of
Ireland, an impediment was thereby laid also in the An impediment
way of an unity of sentiment and profession in the Ihe^ngushlnd"
two churches of England and Ireland: unless the i"* *"'*<='•
Church of England, following the example now set,
should annul her former decision, and admit the
peculiarities of the Lambeth system into her decla
ration of faith ; or unless, what was at the time
greatly more probable, and was eventually realized,
the Church of Ireland should, by rescinding, or
tacitly relinquishing, or letting pass into neglect and
disuse, the questionable articles, retrace the steps
2C2

388 THE REIGN OF [Ch. VL
which she had imprudently taken, and fall back
upon the surer and safer position of the English
church.
Put forth as Al- The Artlcles, of whicli sorae particulars have
tides of AtrreC"
ment among the beeu uow Specified, were in the end put forth as
cIgi'ctv " Articles of Religion, agreed upon by the Arch
bishops, and Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy of
Ireland, in the Convocation holden at Dublin, in the
year of our Lord God, 1615, for the avoiding of
diversities of opinions, and the establishing of con
sent touching True Religion." And annexed to
thera was " The Decree of the Synod, If any
Minister, of what degree or quality soever he be,
shall publickly teach any doctrine contrary to these
Articles agreed upon; if after due adraonition be
do not conforra himself, and cease to disturb the
peace of the Church, let him be silenced, and
deprived of all spiritual promotions he doth enjoy."
A question was mooted at the time relative to the
authority of the Articles, but has been answered by
the irrefragable evidence of Dr. Bernard, in his
Their authority Ufoof Prfmate Usshor : "Now whereas some have
Strtushedl^ doubted whether they were fully established as the
Articles of Ireland ; I can testify that I have heard
him say, that in the forenamed year, 1615, he saw
thera signed by Archbishop Jones, then lord chan
cellor of Ireland, and speaker of tlie house of
bishops in convocation ; signed by the prolocutor of
the house of the clergy in their naraes ; and also
signed by the then Lord Deputy Chichester, by order
from King Jaraes, in his narae. And," he proceeds,
" whereas some have rashly affirmed that they Avere
repealed by Act of Parliament, anno 1634, or
recalled by any decree of the synod then, needs no
further confutation than the sight of either." Biit

Sec.III.] KING JAMES I. 389
we need not now anticipate this question, which Questioncon-
^ cerning their
may be more fitly deferred till we corae to the trans- repeal.
actions of that year.
In the same year, wherein these articles Avere Rcgai visitation
¦' ... of the province
agreed on, there seeras to have been a regal visita- ot DuWin, leis.
tion of the province of Dublin. The MSS. Library
of Trinity College contains the following docuraent,
with reference to the state of the diocese, and the
difficulty of supplying its wants, by reason of the
irapropriations, and of the scarcity of sufficient mini
sters for the cures. The reader will notice the
distinction between " preachers" and " reading mini
sters;" a distinction AA'hich is frequently made in
similar documents of this period, as was lately
observed in the diocesan report of Ferns and Leigh
lin. The statement is evidently that of the arch- statement othis
iliocese bv A.rcli"
bishop himself, Thoraas Jones, who had been bishop Jones.
consecrated bishop of Meath in 1584, and translated
to the archiepiscopal see of Dublin in 1605 ; and
the raanuscript is apparently his own rough copy of
his report to the visitors.
" I confess," he says, "here is but a slender account impossibiuty ot
yielded ofthese tAvo last deaneries, Omurthie and Wicklow, i'^some'parishes!'
which lie in places remote. I humbly pray my true excuse
may be considered of ; which is, tbat I cannot possibly get
curates to supply the services of these churches. The rec
tories are impropriate, and the farmers cannot be drawn to
yield [any competent means to administer for serving the
cure ; besides, if we could get means, we cannot possibly
get ministers. The natives of this kingdom, being gene
rally addicted to Popery, do train up tbeir children in
superstition and idolatry ; so soon as they come to age, they
send them beyond seas, from whence they return either
priests, Jesuits, or seminaries, enemies to tbe religion esta
blished, and pernicious members to this state. Such
English ministers and preachers, as come hither for relief

390

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Archbishop's
care in furnish
ing the Dublin
chm'ches with
preachers.

Number of
ministers in the
diocese.

out of England, we do but take them but upon credit, and
many of them do prove of a dissolute life, which doth much
hurt. I do humbly desire a small supply of ministers,
and I will have an especial care to their placing in the best
manner I can. Some places are fallen void since the begin
ning of this visitation, for wbich I know not bow to provide
incumbents ; for the present this is our case.
" I might add hereunto that my archiepiscopal jurisdic
tion was granted away by my predecessor to a civilian.
The grant was confirmed by both deans and chapters. My
jurisdiction hath not yielded me any manner of profit, save
only my .... since my preferment to this see ; in
which time I have furnished all the churches of Dubliu
with sufficient preachers, which before tbey did want. I
bave preferred none but a preacher in my cathedral church,
or other parts. I take God to witness, I haA'e used my best
endeavours to place a good ministry; and my care and
travail shall be still employed to perform his majesty's
religious directions, and to discharge a good conscience
before God.
" So Avithin this diocese of Dublin there is the number
of thirty-eight preachers, and above forty reading ministers ;
besides there are two publiek schoolmasters within this
diocese, one Avithin the city of Dublin, and the other in St.
Patrick's ; which teach free schools, and their scholars do
pro,sper well, thanks be to God^."

Repeated inso
lence of the
Papists, IC16.

Calumnies on
the king's go
vernment, dedicated to the
prince.

In 1616 the interposition of the government
was again called for, by the insolent conduct of the
Papists, of which a specimen was given by the pub
lication of a book, written by David Rooth, vicar
apostolick, at the instigation and charge of a Popish
nobleman. The book was filled with a multitude of
false and malicious accusations of the king's govern
ment in Ireland, and yet dedicated to the Prince of
Wales : an example of singular shamelessness and

' From the MS. E. 3, 14, Trin. I tion Book of the Province of Dv/k
CoU. Dublin. The Regal Visita- I Un in 1615.

Sec.III.] KING JAMES I. 391
folly, to dedicate to the son aspersions and slanders
upon the father. But, as if the author intended to
mock the son, as well as to insult the father, he
added another dedication, by way of appeal, to all
foreign emperors, kings, and princes ; wherein he
avers, that the Irish look for nothing, but that the
king would use them like a king, that is, not like a
tyrant : comparing King Jaraes to Julian the Apos
tate, and Caius Caligula ; and the English to dogs
and wild beasts ^
But generally the exorbitances of the Papists Measures ot
, ., .. , . A. • A-i counteraction by
were at the tirae such as to constrain the govern- the government.
ment to act towards them with greater strictness.
Two measures were accordingly adopted for their
raore effectual restraint: one was the banishing of
all their regular clergy, who swarraed in vast raulti
tudes through almost every part of the kingdom ;
the other was to fperrait no magistrates or other
officers to discharge their functions, unless they had
qualified themselves by taking the oath of supremacy
according to law. In pursuance of these resolutions
a proclamation was issued against the Popish clergy, proclamation
in October, 1617. And, on the 5th of March foi- p^il'dergy,
lowing, the government seized on the liberties of "^"'
Waterford, with all their rent-rolls, ensigns of autho
rity, and publiek revenues ; for that city had ren
dered itself particularly obnoxious to punishraent
for its magisterial delinquencies. Three mayors in
three successive years had refused to take the oath
of supremacy, when tendered by the Lord President
of the province, acting under a special coramission ;
one of them, in the mean time, without the assist- meg.ai conduct
ance of the Recorder, had presided at a gaol-delivery, "vaTerford!" °
and tried and condemned a person accused of felony,
' Cox, ii. 33.

392 THE REIGN OF [Cu. VL
and by his own order caused him to be executed.
It appeared also on an investigation taken in Sep
teraber, 1617, that the statute of Queen Elizabeth
for uniformity had not been given in charge at then-
sessions for two years preceding".

Section IV.
Elevation of James Ussher to the Bishoprick of Meath. His
Efforts for the Conversion of Papists. King's Commis
sion for Inquiring into the State of the Province of
Armagh. Reports from Seven Dioceses in that Province.
Presumption of the Popish Clergy exemplified. Bishop
Ussher's Sermon on the Swearing-in of Lord Deputy
Viscount Falkland. Primate Hampton's Letter on the
occasion. Proceedings concertiing the Papists. Death
of Primate Hampton. Bishop of Meath appointed to
succeed him. Death ofthe King. State ofthe Church,
Death of Bishop In 1620 dledGeorgeMouutgomery, bishop of Clogher,
Mountgomery, , . T_ • T. Tr- T j
1620. di^ring whose incumbency King James annexed
raany other grants, and especially the abbey of
Clogher, with its revenues, to the bishoprick, which
thus became one of the richest in the kingdom. His
death caused a vacancy at the same time in the see
of Meath, which for ten years had been possessed
by him together with that of Clogher'.
^ A . ..^ In the see of Clogher he was succeeded by James
Contest of the O J
Clogher wuhfte Spottlswood, brotbor of the celebrated John Spottis-
vrimate. wood, archblshop of St. Andrew's, in Scotland, and
chancellor of that kingdom ; but before his consecra
tion he had a contest with Primate Hampton, con
cerning the exercise of episcopal jurisdiction by a
bishop before his solemn ordination to that office. The
Primate was disposed to bring the matter to a pub-
" Cox, ii. 34. ' V^aee's Bishops, p. 188.

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 393
lick trial ; but from this he AA-as dissuaded by Ussher, Mediation of
who had on the same occasion been elected to suc
ceed Mountgoraery in the see of Meath ; and AAdio,
Avhilst he censured the unadvised contestation of the
Bishop of Clogher Avith his raetropolitan, and professed
his own deterralnation not to act to the derogation
of the archiepiscopal authority, nevertheless doubted
the result of a publiek trial in the King's Court,
however the question raight be otherwise decided at
a disputation in the schools. The Priraate, however,
maintained, in answer, his original opinion and pur
pose. Whether he afterwards saAV cause to alter his Adjustment ot
views, or whether the bishop-elect became sensible "'° 'i>*i'"'='
of the scandal of such a question, betAveen the first
and an inferior raeraber of the hierarchy, being dis
cussed in a teraporal court, and in consequence
withdrew frora prosecuting the contest : the dispute
was not carried to that extreraity, but, after some
expostulation, was peaceably composed.
Meanwhile Ussher, whose election to the see of ,, . . . ,
^ Ussherappomted
Meath has been already noticed, was indebted for I'7 ""* ''i"?/" ..
•' ' the see ot Meath.
his elevation to the good opinion entertained by the
king of his piety, wisdora, and exquisite learning.
The appointment is attributed to the king's own
motion ; and it is said that he used often to boast
that Ussher was a bishop of his own making'. His
conge d'elire being sent over, " he was elected by
the dean and chapter there," says Dr. Parr, without
naming the cathedral. And the following- extract
from a letter from Oliver St. John, Viscount Grandi- Letter of eon-
son, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, testifies the good sratuiationfrom Viscount
Will entertained towards him m that kingdom : " I Grandison.
thank God for your preferment to the bishoprick of
Meath. His majesty therein hath done a gracious
2 Wake's Bishops, p. 103.

394

the REIGN OP

[Ch. vl

Bishop Ussher's
exertions for the
conversion of
Papists. 1621.

favour to his poor Church here. There is none here
but are exceeding glad that you are called there
unto; even some papists themselves have largely
testified their gladness of it'."
Society -De The erectlou of the society, " De Propaganda
Propaganda __^, t ,, t-. iii . . i. .
Fide" instituted. Fido, at Romo, whicli has jurisdiction over missions
and foreign Churches, and the influence of which
has been sensibly felt by the Churches of England
and Ireland, was nearly coincident with the elevation
of Bishop Ussher to the episcopal order*, Mean
while his high promotion rather increased than
abated his desire to advance the religious reformation
of Ireland, by spreading abroad, both publickly and
privately, the verities of the Christian faith.
On his return to his own country, in 1621, having
been consecrated at Drogheda by Primate Hampton,
he directed his mind and efforts especially to the
conversion of the merabers of the Romish com
munion, who abounded in great numbers in his
diocese, and whom he endeavoured to reclaim, by
private conversation and gentle methods of reason
ing. He was desirous, also, of preaching to them in
publiek, to which they objected, from their disin
clination to take part in the Church service ; but at
last they consented to hear him preach, provided it
were not in a church. He condescended to their
exceptions ; and regarding himself, we must suppose,
as exempt from that local restriction which in coni-
mon cases is fitly imposed on the publiek ministra
tions of the clergy, preached to them in the sessions^
house; and his sermon is said to have had such
effect upon tbe hearers, that their priests prohibited
them for thd future to hear him in any place.
The religious ignorance and prejudices of these
' Parr's Ufi, p. 17. * Cox, ii. 35,

Effects of his
preaching.

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 395
poor people were indeed deeply to be deplored. A ignorance and
rri i ,' ^ _ prejudices of tho
general obstinacy in clinging to their preposessions. Papists.
and a fond devotion to the reading of idle legends of
the lives of their saints, were combined with utter
destitution of all true knowledge of the Holy Scrip
tures; and, Winded as they were by the strong and
prevailing influence of these superstitions, the most
powerful arguments could draw from them only this
answer, "That they followed the religion of their fore- Their piea that
fathers, and would never depart from it." What, religion ot their
indeed, the religion of their forefathers had been they
little knew ; and it was to confute this error of the
Papists, and to give convincing proofs that Popery
was not the old religion of the kingdom, that Bishop
Ussher about this time composed his "Discourse on the ussher's dis-
Religion anciently professed by the Irish and British; " Keiigionotths

ancient Irish.

and showed that ignorance of the Holy Scriptures,
and purgatory, and image- worship, and the sacrifice
of the mass, and half-communion, and transubstan
tiation, and clerical celibacy, and Papal supremacy,
and the Bishop of Rome's spiritual jurisdiction in
the Christian Church, did not constitute parts of
that ancient religion.
In the early part of the year 1622, the king Royai visitation
issued a commission, in obedience to which the otAi^a'gh.'""'
several diocesans in the province of Ulster, or,
speaking ecclesiastically, of Armagh, made a report
of the true state of their respective bishopricks and
dioceses. These reports, with the exception of that
of the Bishop of Dromore, the absence of which is
not accounted for, have been preserved in a manu
script in the library of Trinity College, Dublin ; and
contain much curious information upon the usual
topicks of visitatorial inquiries* rendered^ however.

396

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VI.

AccotmlofEeven of the
northern dioceses.

Diocese of
Armagh.

Baneficcg.

Incumbents curates.

Parsonage bouses.

Churches.

specially valuable in the present case by the remote
ness of the period, and the general scantiness of
detailed intelligence concerning it, as well as by
the character of authenticity which belongs to the
reports. It is proposed in this place to make an
abstract of the document in its leading particulars,
and thus to illustrate the condition of the Church,
as to several articles of statistical inquiry, in the
seven northern dioceses of Armagh, Meath, Kilmore
and Ardagh, Clogher, Derry, Raphoe, and Down and
Connor. 1. Besides the dignities usually, but not always,
appended to an Irish Cathedral, naraely the deanery,
archdeaconry, j^recentorship, chancellorship, and
treasurership, the Archdiocese of Arraagh contained
at the time in question forty-six rectories, and
thirteen vicarages : the duties of which were dis
charged by forty-seven incumbents, resident or at
least serving their respective cures partly or alto-
and gether, and by thirteen curates ; raaking in the
whole sixty officiating ministers, some of whom are
especially noted as being " preachers ;" there were
also about eighteen non-resident incumbents. There
appear to have been only twenty parsonage-houses
in a habitable state, and six others decayed. The
remaining benefices had no such provision for the
minister. For the celebration of divine worship,
there were fifty-one churches in good or sufficient
repair, of which twenty-three were newly built, or
actually in building. Two or three of these are
stated to have been undertaken by private gene
rosity ; but in general there is no mention of the
manner in which the cost of erection was defrayed.
There were also belonging to these benefices about
eighteen churches, in a ruinous or decayed state.

~3ec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 397
In addition to these rectories and vicarages, there Appropriate or
Improprlato
were thirty-three appropriate, or, as they are now cures.
most commonly called, impropriate curacies, the
tithes being in the hands of layraen, Avho raade some
small allowance to the curates. On one of these
there Avas a resident curate : in ten the cure was
served sometiraes, " or according to the means ;" in
the reraaining twenty-two it seems not to have been EvUot impro
priations.
served at all. Seven of the churches belonging to
these cures were in repair, twenty-five were ruinous.
Besides these, five other appropriate cures were
without a curate, and without a church.
The value of these different benefices varied vaiueotbene-
among themselves, being, on a general view, greater
or less according to their respective positions in the
counties of Armagh, Tyrone, and Louth. In the in the county ot
Armagh ;
county of Armagh, the highest was 120/. ; the loAvest
30/., of which there was only one : the next lowest
was 50/., of which there AA'ere two : then several of
60/. or 80/., and one of 100/.: giAdng on an average
to each of fourteen benefices in that county the
yearly income of about 73/. 10*. In Tyrone, the ofTyrone;
highest was 100/., the lowest 10/., between which
extremes the scale was continually changing : thus,
on the whole, of twenty-two benefices in that county
the average was about 30/. 15*. The Louth livings, AndotLouth.
which coraprised the vicarages, were, again, of in
ferior value : the highest being 26/. ; several of the
lowest no raore than 21. or 3/. ; one of no value at
all : thus the twenty-five in that county produced on
an average not quite 10/. each. The incorae of the smaiiineomeof
irapropriate curacies graduated frora 5/., of which ™res?™'*
there were two, to 5*., of which there were several ;
the average incorae of thirty-one of these curacies
being 1/. 10*. ; and the income of eight being nothing.

398

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VL

Irish readers.

Diocese of
Meath.

Summary of the
diocese.

It may be not unworthy of notice, that there are
specified in the diocese three curates, two in the
county of Tyrone and one in that of Louth, who
could read Irish, as well as Euglish.
2. Of the diocese of Meath, I shall commence
with giving the summary, subjoined to the detailed
exposition, by Bishop Ussher, and dated the 28th of
May, in the year of our Lord God 1622. The
exposition itself is voluminous, and supplies the par
ticulars relative to the churches and parsonage-
houses, which will be inserted with the summary.
" There are in the Diocese of Meath :
" Dignities two, both belonging to the patronage of the
Bishop of Meath.
" Rectories, collative, presentative, and institutive,
fifty-one.
" Vicarages, collative, presentative, and institutive,
sixty-three.
" Curateships, or cures belonging to impropriate recto
ries and others, in all seventy-three.
" Chapels of ease, forty-three.
" The patrons of every living, and the farmers of the
impropriate rectories, are all set down and specified
in the first column, of which such as are recusants
are noted in the mai-gent."

Thus the total number of benefices in Meath
was two hundred and thirty-two. Of the incum?
Incumbents and bouts, tblrty-two wore non-resident. The incum-
curates. T, J. i» 1
bents ot the others, together with twenty curates,
discharged the parochial duties in the diocese. It
is not, however, by any means to be supposed, that
each of these was resident on, or served, the cure of
a separate benefice. The want of residences ren
dered the former impossible, for there were only
seventy-six parsonage-houses in repair: in parishes

Benefices.

Parsonagehouses.

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 399
where there had been any in former times, there
remained about twenty-two in a state of ruin or
decay; in the rest, forming in fact a considerable
majority, there appear to have been none at all.
Nor was it possible that each cure could have the smaii income of
incumbents.
services of a separate minister: this was precluded
by the miserable pittance which formed the incum
bent's income, amounting to a few pounds, or a few
marks, or in raany instances to only a few shillings a
year. The practice therefore appears to have been consequent
11. practice.
for an incumbent to fix himself in his parsonage-
house, if he possessed one, otherwise in some other
parish of his cure, or in some town as near as pos
sible ; and thence to discharge his duty as he could,
often, it is to be feared, very insufficiently.
Upon this point the following remarks of the
diocesan are most important, and show the difficul
ties which beset him.
" If," says Bishop Ussher, " the smallness ofthe means Diocesan's opi-
which cometh to incumbents be regarded, then many ofthe question ot'unioa
livings in this diocese are fit to be united, to make up a otparishes.
competent means for the minister. But if tbe spaciousness
of the parishes which are large, and consist of so many
inhabitants, as, if they should be reformed and brought to
the church, would be more in each parish than the cburch
would hold ; and the diff'erence of the patrons, the patron
ages being in several men's hands ; I think none of them
fit to be united. But that there were power and authority
given to the bishop, for the bettering of tbe means of tbe
well-deserving ministers, to unite such and so many livings
of the value of twenty pounds sterling per annum and under,
as he shall think fitting, during the incumbency of the well-
deserving minister."
In this diocese there appear to have been churches gene-
seventy-eight churches reported as in a state of m 'rep^iTd'" "
repair, and one hundred and fifty ruinous. But the

400

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Diocese of Kil
more and Ar
dagh. Benefices.Incumbents and
curates.

Irish ministers
or readers.

Small incomes
of the clergy.

Evil of impro
priations.

Churches.

Parsonage-
houses.

Glebes laid out
not according to
the king's direc
tions.

diocesan, in his sumraary, appends this observation :
" All the churches specified in this certificate, are fit
to be builded, repaired, and re-edified."
3. In the united diocese of Kilmore and Ardagh,
besides the two deaneries and archdeaconries, there
were sixty-four benefices, on which about twenty of
the incumbents were non-resident; the rest being
either resident, or at least serving their respective
cures, as already explained, with the assistance of
about ten curates. Of these, tAvo are particularly
noted, as ministers " of the country by birth," and
two others as being " capable of reading divine
service in the Irish tongue." Sirailar cases have
been already stated, as existing in the diocese of
Armagh ; and it raay be well to reraark in passing,
that the date of this docuraent is antecedent to
Bishop Bedell's time.
Several of the cures in this diocese were served
by the same rainister ; and sorae were not served at
all for want of raeans, the tithes in such cases being
altogether subtracted from the vicar or curate by
the impropriator ; and in one case the curate being
locked out of the church, and not suffered to do the
duty, by the Earl of Westmeath, an irapropriator to
a large araount. The churches in repair were four
teen, and one was in building ; those that were not
well repaired, or were ruinous, were fifty-five.
There were thirteen habitable parsonage-houses;
on the other benefices there were none, but thirteen
of the incumbents Avere " bound to build." The
diocesan. Bishop Moygne, appends an observation,
that " in the county of Leitrim, the glebes for the
most pai't are laid out in the most unprofitable
places, and remotest from the church, howsoever
his majesty gave directions to the contrary."

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 401
4. In the diocese of Clogher, the diocesan. Diocese ot
n 1-1 Clogher.
Bfsbop Spottiswood, reported two dignitaries, the
dean and the archdeacon : and requested resolution
and advice upon a difficulty which had arisen frora
the conduct of his predecessor, Bishop JMount-
goniery, Avho, "Avithout Avarraut frora his raajesty, invguiaractet
or consent of the clergy, had altered the corporation,
and to the dean and archdeacon had added a pre
centor and chancellor, Avitli only a verbal inaugura
tion." Besides the two dignities, the diocese con- Benefices.
tained twenty-nine rectories and seven vicarages,
the cures of which Avere served by fourteen resident
incumbents and six curates. One ofthe incumbents incumbents and
is stated to have been non-resident, " because there ''"'' ""'
was no British plantation, but he kept an Irish
curate :" and in the case of another, his brother is
mentioned as serving the cure, " who, because he is
not in orders, hath the primate's licence." There
were only four parsonage-houses in repair ; none in Parsonage
the other parishes. The churches in repair were churches.
five ; and there Avere four new, or in building, mass,
in one case, being performed in the old church.
The churches iu ruins or decay were tAventy-eight.
In this dioce.se Avere feAV impropriations ; one bene- vaiue of bene
fice AA^as as high as 160/., another as 100/., two as
Ioav as 6/. and 8/. Upon the entire number of
thirty-six, the average was about 32/. lO.s. a year.
5. The. diocese of Derry, besides the arch- Diuceseotrerry.
deaconry and three prebends, contained forty-five Benefices.
parishes, divided into four rural deaneries. There
appear to have been only two non-resident incura- incumbents and
bents; the others, with the assistance of fifteen
curates, discharged the parochial duties. One of iiish ministers.
the incurabents is described by the diocesan. Bishop
Downham, as " an honest man, but no licensed
2 D

402

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

li'ish scholars.

Converted
PoiJish prie&ts.

preacher, notwithstanding to catechise, and to speak
and read Irish, and sufficient for a parish, wholly
consisting of Irish:" and he describes another as
" an Irishman of mean gifts, having a little Latin
and no English, but thought by my predecessor
sufficient for a parish, consisting wholly of Irish."
The bi,¥hop also speaks of a parish vAdiere, during
the temporary absence of the incumbent recently
appointed, " the cure for reading was discharged by
an Irish clerk, and for other occasions by neighbour
ing ministers :" of another, where the incumbent
" dischargeth the cure as he may with the help of
au Irish clerk, the whole parish consisting of Irish
recusants :" of another, where the incurabent " dis
chargeth the cure, partly by hiraself every other
Sabbath, and in his absence by au Irish clerk, tole
rated to read either EnglLsh or Ii-i,sli :" of another,
where, " in the incumbent's absence, if any of his
parishioners would come, as I suppose foAV or none
do, the cure Avould be discharged after a sort by his
clerk, being an Irish scholar:" of another, where
" the cure is served, partly by the incurabent him
self, and partly by an Irish clerk, the parish con
sisting wholly of Irish peasantry." One or two
other instances occur, Avhere raention is raade of the
cure being " partly served by an Irish scholar,"
Avithout specifying the capacity in which he acted ;
and in one case it is reported, that in the absence
of the incurabent, who repaired to his church every
other Sunday, " the clerk taketh upon him, as I
now understand, to serve the cure." By "thO' clerk"
in these instances appears to be intended the parish
clerk. One exaraple in this diocese is given of a con
verted Popish priest, "late by the Pope's gi'ant

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 403
dean of Derry ; but now, being conformable to the
Reformed religion, M'as by the appointment of the
last Lord Deputy preferred to this sraall parish and
another which followeth : the cure of both which is
by the incurabent after a sort discharged."
There appear to have been thirteen jiarsonage Parsonage
houses in the diocese of Derry, none in the other
parishes. There appear also to have been nine chmches.
churches repaired ; seven new or in building ; and
thirty-three unrepaired or ruinous. Sorae of the
churches were rebuilt by the London companies ; and
there occur several instances of divine service being-
celebrated in a private house, during the temporary
want of a church.
The diocesan recommends eight parishes to be Diocesan's aa-
united, so as to form four : " and in every pair of unionofpai-ishea
these," he says, " one cburch is sufficient. All
other churches are needful to be reisaired, and it is
laraentable to behold the desolation of the most."
He coraplains of "the jurisdiction usurped by nis complaint of
,.rt T-. 1 Tl p/^1 *^^^ jurisdiction
authority frora Rome, to the great dishonour ot God usmpedby
and hindrance of religion, and shame of governraent.
The chief authority," he says, " is derived in the
pretended archbishop of Dublin, and the pretended
vice-priraate of Arraagh, by whora was raade a vicar-
general of Derry." "By hira are priests placed in evu influence ot
Popish Dricsts '
every parish, to celebrate the mass, and to execute
all other priestly functions ; VAdio, though they be
rude, ignorant, and vicious fellows, yet carry the
natives after thera generally; neither is there any
hope of reformation, whiles they are suffered to
reside among the people. Under the vicar-general
are placed four officials, at the least, in the four
deaneries, Avho, amongst many other abominations
that they practise, do for sraall rewards divorce Especially as to
^ „ marriages.
2 D 2

404

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Insufficiency ot
the laws.

'Complaint con
cerning the
ministers' glebes.

Diocese of Ra-
jihoe.

Benefices.

Incumbents and
curates.

Irish langu.age.

Parsonage
houses.

Churches.

married couples, and set thera at liberty to raarry
others ; insorauch that there is scarce any of year.s
but he hath raore wives living, and few women
which have not plurality of husbands."
" For the reraoving of these Popish priests our
laws are weak and powerless : neither can I get the
assistance of the railitary raen, as I desire. And
that which discourageth me most is, that when I
have got one of them apprehended, and convicted,
and committed, they have been by corruption set at
liberty to follow their forraer courses. Or Avhen I
have excomraunicated them, and procured the writ
de excommunicato capiendo, the sheriff of the county
of Londonderry, Tyrone, and Donegall, cannot be got
to a25prehend them, and bring thera to 2:)rison."
Occasion was also taken by the bishop to cora
plain, in the naraes of the rainisters, that they were
not established in their new glebes by any legal
assurance : and that they were laid out, for the most
part, in places too reraote, and divers of them in
other parishes.
6. In the diocese of Raphoe, including the cures
of the dean and chapter, the component parts of
which are specified, as four prebends, there were
twenty-seven parishes, of which the cures were
served by tAvelve incumbents, assisted by ten curates.
Tm'o of these incumbents were acquainted Avith the
Irish language, and able to teach therein ; three of
the curates were converted priests ; five were read
ing rainisters, botb in English aud Irish ; and there
were tAvo parish clerks, VAdio could read the Common
Prayer Book in Irish. There seem to have been
only two parsonage-houses, the other parishes being
destitute of them. Of the churches, nine were
repaired or repairing ; three were noAv, or in build-

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 405
ing ; seventeen were out of repair or ruinous ;
among these was the cathedral, of which the walls
only Avere standing, but a ueAV roof had been for
tAVO years in preparation, " Avhicli, God Avilling, AA'as
to be set uji this suraraer, at the bishop's and
parishioners' charge."
The deanery of Raphoe was presentative by his Patronage ot the
J r I J benefices.
majesty ; the rest of the dignities and parish churches
were at the bishop's collation, except nine, tAvo of
which Avere presentative by private patrons, and
seven by the college of Dublin. " Those ministers
and incumbents before mentioned have holden their
several dignities and parishes, of the diocese of
Raphoe, being legally instituted and inducted there
unto, since the tirae of his raajesty's new plantation
of Ulster. But," adds the bishop, " I cannot find
by any record of the said diocese remaining, what
adraissions, institutioiLS, and inductions, since the
lOtli of Henry the Eighth, have been raade to the
tirae of the said plantation. And it is like, the want ot records
1 .« 1 1 . . 1 „ since 10 Henry
records, it any have been, m war-tirae were lost. vm.
" Of the aforesaid parishes, though the most part Diocesan'sopinion cn the
be very sraall, and unable to raaintain an honest union of
parishes.
minister, yet can they not be well united, albeit ten-
uitatis gratici pro hac vice the incurabents have thera
by his raaje.sty's raost gracious dispensations, for they
are next joining and convenient to be united, belong
ing to the presentations of divers patrons, who Avill
not possibly agree together."
Several e-rievances were laid before the coramis- Grievances
stiitedbytho
Sioners by the bishop and clergy of this diocese, of bishopand
1 . , 1 .1 clergy.
which two or three may be mentioned.
One of them set forth that "whereas the ancient a warr.ant sought
for repairing
parish churches of the diocese were for the raost chiuchcs.
part ruinated, and none of thera in good and suffi-

406

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

Inconvenientsituation of the
glebe lauds.

Prayer for the
maintenance of
parish clerks.

Prayer for in
dulgence to wards
Irish scholars.

cient repair, and the parishioners refractory and
unwilling to rectify the same ;" they therefore prayed
" a Avarrant to the bishop, assisted Avith the minister
and churchwardens of every parish, for plotting and
levying the equal taxation of the parishioners, as
formerly have been done by the Lord Deputy of this
kingdom, that the material churches of the said
diocese may be finished as they are begun."
Another set forth, that " the glebe lands, lately
allotted to the parish churches in the diocese, do not
lie near the several parish churches, nor any way
conveniently for the ministers, but lie in remote
places, far frora the church, which is the great and
only stay of not building of the rainister upon the
said glebes;" and they therefore pray, "that some
convenient course may be taken for the exchange of
parcels of land, being near the churches, Avith as
much of the several ministers' glebes as shall be pro-
l^ortionable for quantity and quality."
Another sets forth the custora, " that there shall
be jjarish clerks in every parish, raaintained by a
certain raean contribution of the parishioners ; yet,
notwithstanding, in the diocese of Raphoe all the
parishioners are refractory and unwilling to yield any
benevolence at all for the raaintenance of the said
clerks ;" and they accordingly pray, " that some mean
consideration may be set down, to be levied by yearly
distress by the churchwardens frora the refusers."
And another sets forth, that "wdiereas in the
said diocese there are divers Irish scholars, Avho haA^e
conforraed theraselves in religion, and are curates in
divers parishes under the British rainisters, and yet
are fined as the rest of the multitude of the natives,
for that they have their residence upon under
takers' lands, which should be planted with British

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 407
tenants ;" Avhereupon they pray to be " relieved of
such fines, seeing they serve in the Church, and
endeavour, by all ineans, the conversion of their
country-people." 7. The report of the united diocese of Down and Diocese ot Down
j-^ , , ,A^ 1 I, -} 1 •• 1 and Connor.
Connor is given with less fulness aud precision, and
with less of incidental inforraation, bearing ou the
general history of the Church. It appears, hoAvever,
that the diocese contained sixteen churches in a cimrciics.
state of repair, and about one hundred and ten in a
state of decay or ruin : added to Avhich Avere forty-
five chapels, also in a ruinous condition. These chapeis, a locai
chapels seera to have had sorae local peculiarity ;
for, Avith reference to the parish of Abbevaddo, alias
Belfast, the folloAving reraark occurs : " This church
is known to have six chapels, all which make but
one parish ; and by this it appeareth, evidently, that
these sraall chapels, Avhereof there are a great num
ber in this diocese, were part and parcel of some
church, and raust yet of necessity be united and cast
to the next adjacent churches." But, besides these, Necessity ot
there were raany other denominations of vicarao-ea, """""*¦
curacies, or chapels, of such small value, by reason
of the tithes beiug impropriate, as to be incapable of impropriations;
maintaining a minister ; so that it had been neces- quenceL™"'"
sary to unite no less than six or eight into a single
benefice, and in sorae cases to leave the cure altos-e-
ther unserved. The aaIioIo of the benefices of the Benefices.
diocese were under the care of about forty-three
resident rainisters, of whora four were curates; Ministers.
nearly trebling the nuraber of the churches fit for use, chm:ches.
but yielding an insufficient supply for the number
and extent of the parishes in an extensive diocese.
In 1622, the presumption and arrogance of the

408

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI

rrcsuniption of
the I'opisli clergy
in tlie Diocese of
]Moath. IG2-2.

A clergjTnan
prevuntcd from
offiti.iting by a
Popish priest.

Triars of
JMnltifeniam.

Bi&hop U.sshcr'8
St-rmon before
tlic LordDcputy.

Accnunt given
of the Sermon by
the preacher.

Popish clergy and their adherents were exemplified
by tAVO occurrences in the diocese of Meath, and
gave occasion to some publiek notice aud agitation".
It Avas certified to the diocesan by a letter from Mr.
John Ankers, preacher of Athlone, (such is the title
by AA-bich tbe bishop designates hira,) "That, going
to read prayers at Kilkenny, in West Meath, he
found an old priest, and about forty Avith him, in
the church ; who was so bold as to require him, the
said Ankers, to depart until the priest had done his
business." The other case concerned the friars of
Multifernam, who, not content to possess the house
of IVIultifernam alone, from Avhich tbey had been
dislodged by the late Lord Deputy, Lord Grandison,
Avere going about raaking collections for the building
of another abbey at Mullingar, for the reception of
a fresh body of their order.
Soon after these occurrences, naraely, on the 8th
of Sejitember, Henry Cary, viscount Falkland, Avas
SAvoru in Lord Deputy ; on which occasion of his
receiving the sword. Bishop Ussher Avas called upon
to preach at Christ Church : Avhen fitting himself,
as he says, to the present occasion, he took for his
text those Avords in the 14th to the Roraans, "He
beareth not the SAvord in vain." There he shoAved,
1st, Avhat Avas meant by this sword ; 2ndly, the
subject Avherein that poAver rested ; Srdly, the mat
ters Avherein it A^'as exercised ; 4thly, thereupon
Avhat it Avas to bear the SAvord iu vain. Whereupon,
falling upon the duty of the magistrates, in seeing
those laws executed, that Avere made for the fur
therance of God's service, he first declared, that no
more AA'as to be expected herein frora the subordinate
magistrate than be had received in coramission from
the supreme, in whose power it lay to limit the
* Cox, ii. 39.

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 409
other at his pleasure. Secondlj', he Avished that, if
his majesty, AA'ho is, under God, our supreme gover
nour, AA'ere pleased to extend his clemency tovA'ards
his subjects that Avere recusants, sorae order, not
Avithstanding, raight be taken with them, that they
should not give us publiek affi-onts, and take posses
sion of our churches before our faces. And that it
might appear that it Avas not Avithout cause that ho
made his motion, he instanced in the two cases,
AA'hich had lately fallen out, at Athlone and Multi
fernam. These things he only touched in general,
not mentioning any circumstances of persons or
places. Thirdly, he entreated, that whatsover con
nivance Avere used unto others, the laAvs might be
strictly executed against such as revolted from us,
that Ave might at leastAvise keeji our OAvn, and not
suffer them Avitliout all fear to fall away from us.
Lastly, he made a publiek protestation, that it was
far from his raind to excite the magistrates unto
any violent courses against thera, as one that natu
rally abhorred all cruel dealings, and wished that
effusion of blood might be held rather the badge of
the whore of Babylon, than ofthe Church of God'.
This is the account, Avhich the preacher gives of
his sermon, in a letter of Oct. 16, 1G22, to the Lord
Deputy, viscount Grandison, as a particular, " which
partly concerned the bishop himself, and in sorae
sort also the state of the Church in this poor nation."
And he then proceeds to state, in few words, the on-enec t^iiccn at
offence which had been taken, aud bis own vindica- Tho^ucachcrs
tion. "These points, hoAvsoever they were delivered
by me with such limitations, as in moderate men's
judgments might seem rather to intimate an allow
ance of a toleration in respect of the general, than
« Parr's Life of Us.^hcr, p. 83.

410

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Letter from
Primate Hamp
ton to Bishop
Ussher.

Recommends satisfaction to be
given.

to exasperate the state into any extraordinary
severity ; yet did the Popish priests persuade their
followers, that I had said, ' The sword had rusted too
long in the sheath,' whereas in my whole sermon I
never made mention either of 'rust' or 'sheath:'
yea, some also did not stick to give it out, that I did
thereby closely tax yourself for being too remiss in
^prosecuting the Papists, in the time of your govern
ment. I have not such diffidence in your lordship's
good opinion of rae, neither will I Avrong myself so
much, as to spend time in repelling so lewd a calum
niation. Only I thought good to mention these
things unto your lordship, that if any occasion should
be offered hereafter to speak of them, you might be
informed in the truth of matters."
But the folloAving day produced a letter from the
Lord Primate, Archbishop Hampton, to the Bishop
of Meath, breathing great mildness and benignity,
but evidently written under the persuasion, that the
sermon had been delivered indiscreetly, and required
an apology in extenuation. " Salutem in Christo,
" My Lord, " In the exceptions taken by the recusants again,st
your sermon, I cannot be affected, as Gallio Avas at the
beating of Sosthenes, to care nothing for them. I am
sensible of that Avhich my brethren suffer : and if my advice
bad been required, I should have counselled your lordship
to give lenitives of your own accord, for all which was
conceived over harsh or sharp ; the inquisition, whether
an offence were given or taken, may add to the flame
already kindled, and provoke further displeasure ; it is not
like to pacify anger. But let your case be as good as
Peter's Avas, when the brethren charged him injuriously for
preaching to the uncircumcised, the great Apostle was
content to give them a fair publiek satisfaction. Acts xi. :

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 411
and it wrought good effects, for tho text saith. His auditis,
quiererunf et glorificaverunt Deum; 'it brought peace to
the congregation, and glory to Cod.'
"My noble Lord Deputy hath propounded a Avay of Lordnci.uiy's
pacification, that your lordship should here satisfy such of l^^° ^'''" '''"
the lords as Avould be present, AA'hereiii my poor endeavours
shall not be wanting. Howbeit, to say ingenuousl}' ^'\•llat I
think, that is not like to have success : for the Lord of
K^illcenny, and your other friends, trying their strengths in
that kind at Trim, prevailed not ; but can tell your lordship
what is expected. And, if my wishes may take place,
seeing so many men of quality have something against you, course rccom-
tarry not till they complain, but prevent it by a voluntary primtie.''^ "'^
retraction, and milder interpretation of the points offensive,
aud especially of drawing the SAVord, of which spirit we arc
not, nor ought to be ; for our Aveapons are not carnal, but
spiritual. Withal it Avill not be amiss, in mine opinion,
for your lordship to Avithdraw yourself from these parts,
and to spend more time in your oaa'u diocese: that such, as
will not hear your doctrine, may be drawn to love and
reverence your lordship for your hospitality and conversa
tion. Bear with the plainness of an old man's pen ; and
leave nothing undone to recover the intercourse of amity
between you and the people of your charge. 'WevQ it but
one that is alienated, you would put on the bowels of the
Evangelical shepherd, you would seek him and support his
infirmities Avith your own shoulders : how much more is it
to be done when so many are in danger to be lost ? But
they are generous and noble, and many of them near unto
you in blood or alliance ; Avhich will plead effectually and
conclude the matter fully, whensoever you .sheAV yourself
ready to give them satisfaction. In the mean time, I will
not fail to pray God for his blessings unto the business ; and
so do rest " Your lordship's very loving brother,
" Tredagh, October 17, 1622." " Armagh'."
What was the consequence of this beautiful and consequence of
truly fatherly appeal of the priraate, does not appear, letter not
linown.
' Parr's Life of Ussher, p. 84.

412

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VI.

The comraon lives, indeed, of Bishop Ussher take no
notice of this expostulation ; and Dr. Parr's Collec
tion of Letters, Avhicli contains the foregoing, makes
no raention of any ansAA'er. Cox, indeed, relates,
that, hoAvever groundless Avas the claraour of the
Papists, the bishop was fain to preach an explanatory
sermon to appease it. Such a sermon, if preached,
probably resulted from the archbishop's advice : but
I cannot verify Cox's relation.

Popish magi
strates refuse to
take the oath of
supremacy. Nov., i632.

Censured in tlie
star chamber.

Bishop of
Mcath'b argii-
lucnt on the
occasion.

In the following raonth, November, 1622, some
Iri,sh Papists of quality, having- been promoted to
certain publiek offices, refused to take the oath of
supremacy, in obedience to the law. For preserving
the authority of the law inviolate, and for maintain
ing the publiek tranquillity, the Lord Deputy and
the privy couucil thought it necessary to inflict a
censure upon thera in the star charaber. The 22nd
of Noveraber was the day appointed for their
appearance. And then, the danger of the law for
refusing the oath was opened by the judges ; and
the quality and quantity of the offence aggravated to
the full by those who spoke of thera : whereupon the
Bishop of Meath took up the subject, being a
member of the council, stating that the part, most
proper for hira to deal Avitb, was the inforraation of
the conscience, touching the truth and equity of the
raatters contained in the oath. The positive duty of
acknoAvledging the supreraacy of the government of
these realms, in all causes whatsoever, to rest in the
king's highness only ; and the negative duty of
renouncing all jurisdictions and authorities of any
foreign prince or prelate, within his majesty's do
minions ; were calmly and deliberately argued, and
in a form calculated, as appears, not only to avoid

Siic. IV.] KING JAMES I. 413
offence, but to give satisfaction ; for sorae of the
persons, who had been suniraoned to hear the
sentence of premunire pronounced against thera,
expressed themselves convinced by the bishoji's
reasoning, and submitted willingly to take the
oath". In 1623, January the 21st, another proclamation Proclamation
1 T-k ¦ 1 1 1 1 against the
Avas published ag-ainst the Popish clero'A', secular and Popi.^h oiergy.
'^ ° 1 ^. Jan., 1C23.
regular, ordering them to depart the kingdom within
forty days, after Avhich all persons were forbidden to
converse with them. It was probably executed
after the usual manner of such proclamations ^
In the same year, 1623, King Jaraes, by letters p.atenttotho
Archblshop of
patent, dated April the 10th, granted to Archbishop Armagh, giving
power of grant-
Hampton, and his successors. Archbishops of Armagh, ing special
marriage
for ever, amons: other thino-s, a poAver of issuing licences.
°. ¦ n O ' i ° 1G23.
licences, or faculties for marriages at uncanonical
hours and places, Avith a right of appointing com
missaries for granting such faculties, usually called
in Ireland prerogative licences. The patent AA'as
given in virtue of tAvo Irish statutes, which in the
beginning of the grant are mentioned as the foun
dation of the several powers therein granted :
namely, "the Act of Faculties," ofthe 28th of King
Henry the Eighth, and the Act of the 2nd of Queen
Elizabeth, " for restoring to the crown the ancient
jurisdiction over the estate ecclesiastical and spiri
tual;" by both which acts there is lodged in the
crown a poAver to authorize such person or persons,
as the croAvn shall think proper to exercise the
several poAvers therein raentioned in this kingdora'".
Previously to this, in the year 1617, the office of ofBcc of king's
king's almoner had been instituted, with the annual uued.
" Cox, ii. 39. Bernard, 63. I '" Primate Boulter's Letters,
" Cox, ii. 39. I vol. i. pp. 01, 62.

414

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vl

Death of Arch
bishop Hampton
1G23.

His character.

The Icing's
partiality for
Bishop Ussher;

fee of 100^. English, and the first appointment to
the office conferred on the primate".
On the 3rd of January, 1625, Primate Hampton
died, having lived unmarried till his death, in the
73rd year of his age. Of his learning, which is said
to have been great, no fruits remain ; but from the
letter, which has been transcribed into these pages,
the reader will probably have formed a favourable
opinion of his character. Nor will the good im
pression be impaired by the following brief extract
of another letter of his, written to Bishop Ussher,
the 12th of August, 1623, and preserved in Dr.
Parr's Collection. " The Gospel," he says, " is not
sujiported with wilfulness, but by patience and obe
dience. And if your lordship light upon petulant
aud seditious libels, too frequent now-a-days, as
report goeth, I beseech you to repress them, and
advise our brethren to the like care."
At the period of the primate's death. Bishop
Ussher was in England, on a special licence of
absence, granted by the council of Ireland, at the
instance of the king, for enabling- him to prosecute
the work, in which he was engaged at the king's
comraandraent, on the antiquities of the British
churches. The king had previously testified his
high opinion of Ussher by promoting him, as we
have seen, by his own act to the See of Meath,
having previously accepted with singular gratifica
tion the elaborate work, dedicated to his majesty, on
the constant succession and state of the Christian
churches from the Apostles' times : and had recently
returned hira a special letter of coraraendation for
bis duty and affection, well expressed by his late
in the council chamber; "wherein," says

carnage

" Rolls, 14 Jac. I.

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 415
the king, " your zeal to the maintenance of our just
and lawful poAver, defended with so much reason
and learning, deserves our princely and gracious
thanks ;" so that it appears to have been altogether
in the natural course of events, that his majesty, on
learning the vacancy in the Primacy of Ireland,
promoted to that dignity the prelate, whom he had Appoints him to
^ the primacy.
on former occasions delighted to honour. This was
one of the last acts of King James's royal authority,
for, about six days after, the king himself died on Death of the
the 27th of March, 1625. """"¦

The reign of King James has exhibited the summ.aryv:

ICW
of the Church
during this
rjign.

Church of Ireland with features similar to those
which marked it under the preceding reign, but
exemplified in a greater variety of instances. In the
province of Leinster, from the archdiocese of Dublin,
and from the suffragan united diocese of Ferns and
Leighlin, the like complaints have been heard of an
insufficiency of ministers, of an incompetency of
clerical income, and of a want of material edifices
for the celebration of divine worship ; and the com- General pre-
plaints have been echoed through the province of s miur evus.
Ulster, from every diocese, with one solitary excep
tion, which there is no reason to suppose occasioned
by any peculiar advantages which it possessed over
the others.
In Ulster, indeed, the king testified his desire to
improve the condition of the Church by grants of
land to the clergy, but in raany cases his good inten
tions were defeated by an inadequate execution.
And, although in some instances efforts were made
for fixing the clergy in their proper residences, and
for supplying them with buildings for their official
ministrations, the existing evils do not appear to

416 THE REIGN OF [Ch. VL
Evils not grap- liavo boeu ever fairly grappled Avith by the governing
government. poAvors, Or to havo callod forth a great and simul
taneous effort for their remedy : so that the raembers
of the Church were left in a condition of lamentable
destitution, as to the means of assembling for publiek
worship and instruction, or of receiving the aid of
pastoral guidance for themselves or their children;
and the rural districts in particular are described
as presenting a spectacle of almost total abandon
ment and desolation.
The sarae observation, as to the absence of
co-operating and combined exertions, under the
auspices of the authorities of the kingdom, applies
Partial attempts to tlio attouipts iiiado for tlio iustructioii of the
at instructing _ ii* i> f i t • i
the people. people at large by the instrumentality ot the Irish
language. Many instances have fallen under our
notice of the existence of Irish incumbents or
curates, of Irish readers, and Irish clerks ; but these
j^rovisions seem to have been the result of individual
projects of improvement, rather than of a general
and united effort of authority. At the same time,
they were met by united and vigorous exertions on
the part of the Popish emissaries. Thus little pro
gress appears to have been made in bringing the
people in general within the fold of the Reformed
Protestant Church of Ireland : whilst on the other hand, by the
encouragement afforded by the Irish government to
Protestant dissenters and separatists, the foundation
was laid for an accumulation, in time to come, of
additional impediments and perils to the well-being
of the Church; the soundness of whose religious
profession was also in some degree committed by
incorporating with it the modern inventions of
the Genevan reformer through the mediuin of
the Larabeth Articles. But by the blessing of

Sec. IV.] KING JAMES I. 417
Providence this evil was not permitted to be of
long continuance : being obliterated in the suc
ceeding reign by a recurrence to " the .Apostles'
doctrine," concerning God's aaIII in raan's salvation,
as avowed in the professions of the early Christians,
and perpetuated in the Articles of the Church of
England.

2 E

418

CHAPTER VIL
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
KING CHARLES I. . . . . 162.5—1649.
JAMES USSHER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE ..... 162.5—
Section I.
Accession of tlie King followed by a Bull of the Pope,
Condition of tlie Churcli in general ; particularly of
the Diocese of Armagh. Project of allowing Privileges
to the Papists. ,Iudgmetit of the Primate and other
Bishop)s thereupon. Published by the Bishop of Derry.
Its consequences. Measures of the Government. Pro
clamation irreverently received. Danger of the Arch
bishop of Dublin from an Itisurrection . Proceedings
concernitig the Papists.
New Bull of the The accossiou of King Charles the First to the
"'"'¦ throne was soon followed by a bull of Pope Urban
the Eighth, wherein he exhorted the Catholick, or,
speaking more properly, the Popish subjects of the
king, rather to lose their lives than to take that
pernicious and unlawful oath of allegiance, whereby
not only provision was made for maintaining fidelity
to the King of England, but for wresting the sacred
sceptre of the Universal Church from the Vicars of
Almighty God ; and which Paul the Fifth, his prede
cessor, of happy raeraory, had conderaned as such : an
Its effect on the exliortatiou which did not fail to operate on the Irish
subjects of the papacy, and to encourage their
naturally unquiet spirits to fresh agitation'.
' Cox, ii. 41.

Ii-ish.

Sec. L] reign OF KING CHARLES I. 419
The new priraate had been detained for sorae Return ot
months in England by a quartan ague, the conse- to'iidand."'""^
quence of extraordinary professional exertions in the
pulpit; and, on his return to Ireland, in 1626, he
found that, whatever AA'as his accession of dignity
from his late promotion, it brought no diminution
of labour or difficulty; and that the state of the
Church was such as to require all the exertions of
her faithful sons under the new reign.
A letter of congratulation, addressed to him, Letter to him
soon after his promotion, by Thomas Moygne, bishop otKHmore!
of Kilraore and Ardagh, raay be here transcribed
from Dr. Parr's Collection, as opening a general
prospect of the actual condition of the Irish Church.
" Most reverend, and my honourable good Lord,
" I do congratulate, with unspeakable joy and com
fort, your preferment, and that both out of the true and
unfeigned love I haA'e ever borne you, for many years con
tinued, as also out of an assured and most firm persuasion
that God hath ordained you a special instrument for the
good of the Irish Church, tbe growth whereof, notwith
standing all his majesty's endowments and directions, re
ceives every day more impediments than ever. And that impediments
not only in Ulster, but begins to spread itself into other the church.
places; so that the inheritance of tbe Church is made
arbitrary at the council table ; impropriators in all places
may hold all ancient customs, only they, upon whom the
cure of souls is laid, are debarred ; St. Patrick's Ridges,
vfhicli you know belonged to the fabrick of that church, are
taken away: within the diocese of Armagh, the Avhole Revenues of the
clerg)', being all poor vicars and curates, by a declaration "^^^^^ *"''^™
of one of the judges this last circuit, (by wbat direction I
know not,) without speedy remedy Avill be brought to much
decay: the which I rather mention because it is within
your province. The more is taken away from tbe king's Augmentation to
clergy, the more accrues to the Pope's : and the servitors ellrg'y"^"^'
and undertakers, Avho should be instruments for settling a
2 E 2

420

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. vii.

Importance of
the Primate's
station.

St. Patrick's
Ridges.

Church, do hereby advance their rents, and make the
Church poor.
" In a word, in all consultations which concern the
Church, not the advice of sages, but of young counsellor.?,
is followed. Witb all particulars the agents, whom we
have sent over, will fully acquaint you, to whom I rest
assured your lordship will afford your countenance and best
assistance. And, my good lord, now remember that you
sit at the stern, not only to guide us in a right course, but
to be continually in action, and standing in the Avatch-tower
to see that the Church receive no hurt. I know my Lord's
Grace of Canterbury will give his best furtherance to the
cause, to whom I do not doubt, but after you have fully
possessed yourself thereof, you will address yourself. And
so, with the remembrance of my love and duty unto you,
praying for the perfect recovery of your health,
" I rest, your lordship's most true and
" Faithful servant to command,
" Tho. Kilmore, &c."
" March '±% 1625^"
A particular phrase in the foregoing letter, that
of " St. Patrick's Ridges," appears to require some
explanation. Among the duties reserved in ancient
leases, that which is denominated "ridges" occurs
frequently. It appears probable that the service of
a certain number of days in harvest, to which the
lord was entitled, was commuted, and the duty
ascertained by the measure of the space, in pre
ference to that of time ; hence a " ridge" of work, in
soAving or reaping, became, by mutual consent, a
substitute for the service of one or more days. The
economy fund of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin,
that is, the fund for sustaining the fabrick and other
expenses of the cathedral, received frora the dioceses
of the suffragan bishops a revenue, not unfrequently
mentioned under the name of " St. Patrick's Ridges."

'' Park's Life of Ussher, p. 322.

Sec. L] king CHARLES 1. 421
By an instrument of May 10, 1550, these "ridges,"
throughout the dioceses of Ferns, Ossory, Leighlin,
and Kildare, and the deaneries of Oraurthy, Rath-
more, aud Salmon-leap, were leased for an annual
rent. And a pecuniary consideration was received
from them so late as the year 1606, for they are
noticed in the proctor's accounts of that year''.
From the foregoing letter, it appears that these laicenaway
... ,1,1 .^^-»(- • fromtheChiu-ch.
duties were recently taken away in 1d2o ; a priva
tion Avhich the writer notices, amongst others, as a
diminution of the inheritance of the Church.
The following- statement, by one of his biogra- stateof the
1 /» 1 . ? 1 1 Diocese of
phers, ot the primates conduct, so soon as the Armagh.
restoration of his health allowed him to enter on the
personal discharge of the duties of his high office,
may serve to throw additional light on the condition
of the Church, that part of it, at least, which was
especially under his metropolitical superintendence.
" Being now returned into his native country," says Dr.
Parr, " and settled in this great charge, (having not only
many churches, but dioceses, under his care,) he began
carefully to inspect his own diocese first, and the manners inspection of it
and abilities of those of the clergy, by frequent personal ^ ° """ °"
visitations ; admonishing those be found faulty, and giving
excellent advice and directions to the rest, charging tbem
to use the Liturgy of the Churcb in all publiek administra
tions ; and to preach and catechise diligently in tbeir
respective cures ; and to make tbe Holy Scriptures the rule,
as well as the subject, of their doctrine and sermons. Nor
did he only endeavour to reform the clergy, among wbom, hjs exertions tor
in so large a diocese, and where there was so small en- "^ improvement.
couragements, there could not but be many tbings amiss ;
but also the proctors, apparitors, and other officers of his
ecclesiastical courts, against whom there were many great
complaints of abuses and exactions in bis predecessor's time :
nor did he find that Popery and prophaneness had increased
¦' Mason's St. Patrick's, p. 75.

422

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Projected indul
gences to the
Papists, 102(1.

Assembly ot the
prelates ou the
occasion, Nov. 26, 1020.

Their protesta
tion against tole
ration of Popery.

in that kingdom by anything more than the neglect of due
catechising and preaching ; for want of which instruction
the poor people, that were outwardly Protestants, were very
ignorant of the principles of religion ; and the Papists con
tinued still in a blind obedience to their leaders. Therefore
he set himself with all his poAver to redress these neglects,
as well by his OAvn example as by his ecclesiastical disci
pline ; all which proving at last too weak for so inveterate
a disease, be obtained his majesty's injunctions to .strengthen
his authority, as shall be hereafter mentioned*."
An increase of the army in 1626 having been
found necessary, in order to raake the Papists raore
willing to contribute to its support, it was proposed
to suspend all proceedings against thera for raar-
riages and christenings by priests, and to alloAV them
other privileges without taking the oath of supre
macy, with the design of introducing a more publiek
toleration of their religion. To this end a great
asserably of the nation was convened by the Lord
Deputy, Lord Falkland, at the castle of Dubhn,
without any religious distinction.
But to obviate this design, the Lord Primate
invited all the archbishops and bishops to his house
for the purpose of consulting upon the course fit for
thera to take upon a question of so delicate a nature,
and so abundant in the raost momentous conse
quences to religion and the Church : and there the
asserabled prelates, on the 26th of November, una
nimously drew up, agreed to, and subscribed, the
following protestation against any toleration of
Popery, especially from regard to secular advantages.
The instrument was entitled " The Judgment of
divers of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland,
concerning Toleration of Religion ;" and it bore the
signatures of the Archbishops of Armagh and Cashel,
¦' Park's Life of Ussher, p. 27. ^ Cox, ii. 48.

Sec, L] KING CHARLES I. 423
and of the Bishops of Meath, of Ferns and Leighlin,
of Down and Connor, of Derry, of Cork, Cloyne, and
Ross, of Killala and Achonry, of Kilmore and Ardagh,
of Dromore, of Waterford and Lismore, and of
Limerick. The English names of the dioceses are
here recited, for sorae of them probably would not
be obvious to many readers under their Latin appel
lations. " The religion ^of the Papists is superstitious and idola- Foi-m of their
trous ; their faitb and doctrine erroneous and heretical ; "''' ^™ '
their church, in respect of botb, apostatical. To give them,
therefore, a toleration, or to consent that they may freely
exercise their religion, and profess their faith and doctrine,
is a grievous sin, and tbat in two respects.
"For, 1. It is to make ourselves accessory, not only to sinfuhjcssotthe
their superstitions, idolatries, and heresies, and in a word to tion.
all the abominations of Popery; but also, which is a con
sequent of the former, to the perdition of the seduced people,
which perish in the deluge of the Catholick apostasy.
" 2. To grant tbem toleration in respect of any money its great danger.
to be given, or contribution to be made by tbem, is to set
religion to sale, aud with it the souls of the people, whom
Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious
blood. And, as it is a great sin, so also a matter of most
dangerous consequence. The consideration whereof we
commend to tbe wise and judicious. Beseeching the God
of truth to make them, Avho are in authority, zealous of
God's glory and of the advancement of true religion :
zealous, resolute, and courageous against all Popery, super
stition, and idolatry. Amen.
" Ja. Armacbanus. Richard, Corke, Cloyne, signatures to the
-„ '' protestation.
Mal.'^Oasciielien. Kosses.
Anth. Medensis. Andr. Alaohadens.
Tho. Hemes and Lagh- Tho. Kilmore and Ardagh.
Iin. Theo. Dromore.
Ro. Dunensis, &c. Michael Waterford and
Georg. Derens. Lysmore.
Fran. Lymerick*."
' Pakr's Life of Ussher, p. 28. Bernard's Life, p. 60.

424

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

The foregoing were the signatures to this solemn
protestation of the Irish episcopate against the
apostate Church of Rome: for the reader's more
ready identification of the individuals, I annex their
family names in the foregoing- order :

Family names ot
the protesting
bishops.

" James Ussher.
Malcolm Hamilton.
Anthony Martin.
Thomas Ram.
Eobert Echlin.
George Downham.
Richard Boyle.

Archibald or AndroAV Ha
milton '.
Thomas Moygne.
Theophilus Buckworth.
Michael Boyle.
Francis Gough."

Publication of
the judgment by
the Bishop of
Derry.

"All these bishops," says Dr. Bernard, in his
Life of the Archbishop of Armagh, " are dead ; and
this Lord Primate, surviving thera all, is now dead
also ; but by this they still speak."
This "judgment" of the prelates seeras not to
have been published at the time, and the suspension
of it gave occasion for an occurrence which must
have been of no ordinary or trifling eflfect. For at
April 23, 1627. the next raeeting ofthe asserably, April 23rd, 1627,
George Downhara, bishop of Derry, preached at
Christ Church, before the Lord Deputy and council,
on the subject of toleration, against which he thus
remonstrated :
" Are not many araong us, for gain and outward
respects, willing and ready to consent to a toleration
of false religion, and thereby making themselves
guilty of a great offence, in putting to sale not only
their own souls, but also the souls of others?"
" But," he then deraanded, " what is to be thought
of toleration of religion? I Avill not deliver my
own private opinion, but the judgraent of the arch
bishops and bishops of this kingdom, which I think

His sermon.

W^are's Bishops, pp. 486, 652.

Sec.L] KING CHARLES I. 425
good to publish unto you ; that, Avhatsoever shall
happen, the world may know that AA'e are far from
consenting- to those favours, Avliich the Papists
exjiiect." And, after this preamble, he published the Acclamation ot
¦*• i the people.
judgment ; and the people gave their votes also Avith
a general acclamation, and cried aloud "Araen"."
The bishop then proceeded to justify the iudg- Bishop Don n-
¦^ _ -^ J ./ J o iiam'sjustillca-
in ent against the objection, that " vA'hat was spoken tion of the judg-
for the maintenance of religion and the service of
God, should be thought to be a hindrance of the
king's service ;" expressing their heart's desire that
any army raight be settled for the defence of the
country ; " only this," he added, " we desire, that
his gracious majesty Avill be pleased to reserA'e to
himself the most of those peculiar graces, which of
late have been offered, the greatest AAhereof might
much better be spared than granted for the disho
nour of God and the king, to the prejudice and
impeachment of true religion, and countenance of
the contrary ; and what is wanting raay be supplied
by the country, and I shall exhort all good subjects
and sound Christians, to show their forwardness in
this behalf" The text the bishop then took was
Luke i. 23, 24, 25, when he spake much against
men's subordinating religion, and the keeping of a
good conscience for outward and worldly respects,
and to set their souls for sale for the gain of earthly
matters". The next Lord's-day, the Lord Primate preached The primates
before the sarae auditory. Frora his text, 1 John
V. 19, " Love not the world, nor the things that are
in the world," he raade the like application as the
Bishop of Derry : rebuking those, who for worldly
" Bernard's Life of Ussher, pp. 62—65. ' lb,, p. 64.

426

THE REIGN OE

[Ch. VIL

Effect of the Bj.
shops' Judg
ment.

Assembly at the
Castle,
April, 1627.

ends, as Judas, sell Christ for thirty pieces of silver,
or, as Balaam, follow the wages of unrighteousness;
foretelling, as he had often done, of judgments for
these our inclinations to such permissions and tole
rations, that, wherein men inight think to be gainers,
at the end they would be losers ; and applying to
the then present tiraes that speech of Jereralah to
Baruch, of God's being about to pluck up Avhat he
had planted, and to break down what he had built ;
and his bidding him not to seek great things for
himself The Judgraent of the bishops prevailed so much
with the members of the Church, that the proposals
advanced slowly, and seemed to have little prospect
of success. But sorae forces being necessary in the
weak and distracted condition of the kingdom, the
Lord Deputy and council besought the primate, in
his capacity of a privy councillor, and in considera
tion of his great esteera in the asserably, to move
them to an absolute grant of some competency for
supplying the king's necessities, as well by his Popish
as his Protestant subjects, without any conditions
whatever. The asserably having been for this purpose sum
moned by the Lord Deputy to the Castle-chamber,
the last day of April, 1627, the Lord Primate deli
vered a speech at considerable length, pressing parti
cularly upon those who were of the Popish profession,
but of English descent, the necessity for their own
security of maintaining the crown against the com
mon eneray. And he took occasion to defend the
late conduct of the prelates in their Judgment, by a
particular reference to the execution of the statute
against recusants, which was proposed to be foi-
borne.

Sec. I.] KING CHARLES I. 427
" Wherein, if some of my brethren, tbe bishops, bave speech of Pii-
been thought to have shoAved themselves more forward than "'"'" ^''^'""¦•
wise, in preaching publickly against this kind of toleration ;
I hope the great charge, laid upon them by yourselves in
the parliament, wherein that statute was enacted, will plc;id
their excuse. For there the lords temporal, and all the
commons, do, in God's name, earnestly require and charge
all archbishops and bishops, and other ordinaries, that they
should endeavour themselves, to the utmost of their know
ledge, that the due and true execution of this statute may Appeal to the
be had throughout their dioceses ; and they are charged, .is i.ecu"sants."°^
they will answer it before God, for such evil and plagues, as
Almighty God might justly punish bis people Avith, for
neglecting these good and wholesome laws. So that, if in
this case they bad holden their tongues, they might have
been censured little better than atheists, and made them
selves accessory to the drawing down of God's heavy ven
geance upon the people."
It Avill be observed, that in this vindication of Differcuce of the
the Judgment of the bishops, the priraate eraployed fortheVudg-
an argument, founded on the law of the land, which "'^" '
prescribed their duty, and personally applicable to
his hearers. And this was prudently adapted to
the circumstances under which he spoke. But the
Judgment itself had taken the higher and holier
ground of the sinfulness of the Popish superstitions
and idolatries in God's sight, and of the sinfulness
of their being accessory to thera, and instruraental
in propagating them to the seduction and perdition
of the people ; especially out of regard to any worldly
compensation. This speech of the Lord Primate failed of attain- Ea-ocis ot the
ing the effect, which had been much to be desired.
Dr. Parr, whilst he records, laments the failure, with
the remark, that the standing forces, then moved
for, which were to have been all Protestants, would
in all probability have prevented that cruel rebellion

pi-imatc's speech.

428

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. VIL

Publiek exercise
of Popery dis
allowed.

King's accept
ance of contri
butions unsatis
factory.

which broke out a few years after. At the request
of the Lord Deputy, a copy of the speech was given
to him, and transmitted to the king, who receiA'ed it
Avith an expression of his approbation, as much con
ducing to his service and the publiek safety. Meaii-
AA'hile this zealous protestation of the bishops dreAv
frora the House of Coraraons of England a remon
strance to his majesty to this eflfect :
'¦ That the Popish religion was publickly jirofessed in
every part of Ireland ; and that monasteries and nunneries
were there newly erected, and replenished with votaries of
both sexes, which Avonld be of evil consequence, unless sea
sonably repressed."
And these two extraordinary actions put a stop
to any further attempts for the publiek exercise of
Popery in Ireland at that time'".
Still, in consideration of a certain payment
undertaken by the Irish agents, the Enghsh govern
ment thought it reasonable that the king should
signify his gracious acceptance, by conferring some
uncommon favour on the agents and contributors.
And this accordingly was done, much to the discon
tent of the Protestants, who bore above a third part
of the publiek charge ; and felt themselves greatly
aggrieved, that they should be raade to purchase
graces and immunities for the Papists. Whilst the
Pajiists, on the other hand, made no account of the
Protestant part of the contribution, but took to
themselves the Avhole value and merit of the lar
gess : and in the end proceeded to such arrogant
and tumultuous behaviour, that the Lord Deputy
was corapelled to raortify thera by a proclamation
against the Popish regular clergy. This Avas issued
the 1st of April, 1629, and iraported,
'» Cox, ii. 44.

Sec.L] KING CHARLES I. 429
" That the late intermission of legal proceedings against Proclamation
Popish pretended titular archbishops, bishops, abbots, deans, j^opi^h ciorgy.
vicars-general, Jesuits, friars, and others of that sort, who j^p"'- 102.1.
derive their pretended authority and orders from tbe see of
Rome, in contempt of his majesty's royal power and autho
rity, had bred such an extraordinary insolence and presump
tion in them, as he Avas necessitated to charge aud command
them in his majesty's name, to forbear the exercise of their
Popish rites and ceremonies"."
Of the manner in which this proclamation was Mannerin which
it was published
published and observed, a memorable instance is ami observed.
recorded in a letter from the Lord Deputy to Pri
mate Ussher, dated April the 24th, 1629.
" I have received information, both of the unreverend Lord Deputy's
manner of publishing the late proclamation at Drogbedab, p'rimate.
and the ill observance of the same since it AA'as published. Aprd24, 1629.
For the first, that it was done in scornful and contemptuous
sort, a drunken soldier being first set up to read it, and then
a drunken Serjeant of the town : both being made, by too
much drink, uncapable of that task, (and perhaps purposely
put to it,) made the same seem like a May-game. And
for the latter, that there is yet A-ery little obedience showed
thereto by the friars and priests ; only that they have shut
up the fore-doors of some of tbeir mass-bouses, but have as
ordinary recourse thither by tbeir private passages, and do
as frequently use their superstitious service there, as if there
were no command to the contrary : tbose mass-bouses being
continued in their former use, (though ]3erhaps a little more
privately,) without any demolishing of tbeir altars, &c."

instructions.

In continuation, the Lord Deputy prays and ms further
authorizes the priraate, calling to his assistance Mr.
Justice Philpot, who was then resident there, to
enter into a serious examination of the premises,
and to give hira a full inforraation of AA'hat he should
find thereof, by the first opportunity. No further
inteUigence, however, appears on the subject.
" Cox, ii. 53.

430

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VIL

Irregular pro
ceedings at
Raphce.

Jurisdictionexercised by
Popish clergy.

Meanwhile some irregular proceedings had been
reported on the part of the titulary Bishop of Raphoe,
and at an assembly of people in that town, concern
ing which the Lord Deputy commends the care and
pains taken by the priraate in searching out the
truth of the raatter, and in transmitting information
of the proprietors and possessors of the Popish con
ventual-houses in that town : adding Avithal,
" As to their conventual-houses, Ave have given his
majesty's attorney-general a copy of the paper inclosed in
your letter to us, and gave him directions to put up infor
mations in his majesty's Court of Exchequer, against the
proprietors and possessors of those houses, that thereby way
be made for such further course of proceeding as the several
cases shall require"."
Whether any other consequences followed from
this proclaraation, I do not find. But Cox, having
related the publishing of the proclaraation at Drog
bedab, adds the following statement :
" It was so despised and contemned by the Popish
clergy, that they nevertheless exercised full jurisdiction,
even to excommunication : and they not only proceeded in
building abbeys and monasteries, but bad the confidence to
erect an university at Dublin, in the face of the govern
ment, whicb, it seems, thought itself limited in this matter
by instructions from England."

Thomas Jones,
archbishop of
Dublin, ICn.'i— 16)!).

On the death of Archbishop Loftus, in 1605,
soon after King James's accession, the see of Dublin
was occupied by Thoraas Jones, an Englishman, Avho
died in 1619 : raeraorable chiefly for having repaired
a great part of the cathedral of Christ Church Avhich
fell in his time, and for having restored the steeple
which AA'as in a decayed and ruinous condition"'; less
honourably for the injurious application to his oAvn

Cox, ii. 63.

Ware's Bishops, p. 355.

Sec.L] KING CHARLES I. 431
private aggrandizement, A\'hen Dean of St. Patrick's,
ofthe property ofthe deanery". He was succeeded Lancelot Buiue-
in the archbishoprick by Lancelot Bulkeley, a native ¦*' 1019.
of Beaumaris, in Anglesey; but educated at Brazen-
nose College, Oxford, and a doctor of divinity of the
University of Dublin.
About the time with which we are now engaged, ms danger in a
Popish riot,
this prelate incurred considerable personal danger 1629.
from an insurrectionary riot of the Jesuits and friars.
Having been informed of their continued practice to
infuse sedition by their sermons into the Popish
inhabitants of the city, the archbishop aj)})lied to the
lords justices for a warrant and a file of musketeers
to seize the offenders. The Carmelites, in Cork
Street, together with their assembly, rose in a body
to oppose the execution of the warrant. They fell
upon the guard, and aflFronted the archbishop and
the mayor, who assisted with his attendants. The
archbishop was obliged to cry out for help, and take
to flight, and with difficulty saved himself by seeking
shelter in a neigbbourino' house '\
This riot was committed about Christinas, 1629. Measures ot the
- _ ^ government in
In the folloAving raonth, the lords justices reported eonseiuenee.
it to the king and privy council of England, and
before the end of the raonth received the foUoAving
recognition :
" By your letter we understand, how tbe seditious riot,
moved by the friars and tbeir adherents at Dublin, bath by
your good order and resolution been happily suppressed :
and we doubt not, but by this occasion you Avill consider,
how much it concerneth the good government of that king
dom, to prevent in time the first growing of such evils."
In pursuance of this were added directions from
his majesty :
" Mason, p. 174. "> Ware, p. 356.

432 ' THE REIGN OF [Ch. VIL
" That the house, where so many friars appeared in
their habits, and wherein tbe reverend archbishop and the
mayor of Dublin received tbe first publiok affront, be
speedily demolished, and be a mark of terror to the resisters
of authority : and that the rest of the houses, erected or
employed there or elsewhere in Ireland to the use of super
stitious societies, be converted to bouses of correction, and
to set idle people on Avork, or to other publiek uses, for the
advancement of justice, good art, or trade."
Proceedings Tho lords justlcos at this time were Adam Loftus,
Papists. Viscount Ely, lord chancellor, and Richard, earl of
Cork, lord treasurer ; having been appointed on the
recall of the Lord Deputy, viscount Falkland, in
1S29. October of this year. Imraediately on coraing into
ofl&ce, they had directed that the Papists should be
prosecuted for not coraing to church ; and accord
ingly the statute of the second of Queen Elizabeth
was given in charge at the assizes, but by instruc
tions from England such prosecutions were super-
st. Patrick's Pin- sodod. Novertheless, the lords justices, being
gatory exposed. i . t-* nt
exceedingly zealous against Popery, caused St.
Patrick's Purgatory, in a small island of Lough
Dergh, in the county of Donegall, to be digged up ;
and thereby laid open to the world that notorious
iraposition, to the great loss and disgrace of the
Popish clergy, who had derived a high reputation
and vast emoluments from that fraudulent and
shameful superstition '^
Restless spirit But notwithstaudiug this exposure and loss, and
clergy. ' although tho Poplsli clergy in general were so
depraved and ignorant, that the severest censure
ever pronounced upon the clergy of the Church of
Ireland, was uttered by an Irishman, Avho said,
" That the king's priests were as bad as the Pope's
'" Cox, ii. 53, 54.

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES I. 433
priests;" yet did their restless spirit of tumult and
outrage rise again at this time to such a height, that
a priest, being seized for some unlawful practices in
Dublin, was forcibly rescued by the populace. Thus steps necessary
,,,., nil ,.. 1 ^or their repres-
the lords justices were compelled by their insolence sion.
to take steps for their repression : and, by direction
of the council of England, they seized upon fifteen
of the religious houses, lately erected by the Papists
in Dublin, for the king's use ; and, in 1632, their
principal house in Back Lane was disposed of to the
University of Dublin, who placed therein a rector
and scholars, and maintained there a weekly lecture,
which the lords justices often countenanced by their
presence. But afterwards, in the tirae of the next
Lord Deputy, the building was allowed to return to
its former use, and again became a mass-house.

Section II.
William Bedell, Bishop of Kilmore, State of his Diocese.
Neglect of Ecclesiastical Processes. The King's Letter
io the Archbishops and Bishops on Affairs ofthe Church.
Diligetice ofthe Primate. His Itijunctions to his Clergy.
Exemplary Conduct of Bishop Bedell. Sotne of his
Measures questionable.
It was about this period that another distinguished Bedeii's eariy
ornament was added to the episcopate of the Church
of Ireland, in the person of William Bedell, a native
of Essex, and in 1593 a fellow of Eraanuel College,
Cambridge, vA'here he took his degree of B.D. in
1599, with the reputation of singular knowledge in
the Latin, Greek, and HebreAV languages ; subse
quently the chaplain and honoured companion of Sir
Henry Wotton, King James's arabassador at Venice ;
aud the bosom friend aud most intimate intercora-
r

434

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Provost ot Tri
nity College,
Dublin.

Bishop of Kil
more and Ard
agh.

1629.

Disadvantages of
his bishopriclr.

municant of learning, of Father Paul Sarpi, the
illustrious historian of the Council of Trent.
From a retired and obscure benefice in the
diocese of Norwich, whither he had withdrawn on
his return from Italy, by an unaniraous election of
the fellows, he was called to the provostship of
Trinity College, Dublin, which, after sorae diflSculty,
he was persuaded to accept by the king's positive
coraraands : and he applied himself to the govern
ment of the college with a vigour of raind peculiar
to him ; composing diflferences araong the fellows,
rectifying disorders, and improving discipline ; and
training the youth in religious knowledge by weekly
lectures on the Church Catechism, with such a
mixture of matters speculative and practical, that
his discourses were regarded both as learned lectures
of divinity, and excellent exhortations to piety and
virtue'. He continued in this employment about two
years ; when, on the recoraraendation of Laud, at
that time Bishop of London, he was, in the fifty-
ninth year of his age, advanced to the united see of
Kilmore and Ardagh : the king, in the letters for his
promotion, raaking honourable raention of the ser
vices he had done, and the reformation he had
wrought in the university.
There has been former occasion for remarking
that the bishoprick of Kilmore had, from different
causes, been subject to peculiar disadvantages. It
had indeed been possessed by two successive bishops
of King James's appointment since 1603; and that
king, by a commission in the seventeenth year of his
reign, had ordered that all lands in the county of
Cavan, or within the noAV plantation of Longford
' Ware's Bishops, p. 232.

Sec. IL] KING GHARLES I. 435
and Leitrim, Avhich should be found by inquisition
to have formerly belonged to the sees of Kilmore
and Ardagh, should be restored to them. But, not
withstanding these means of iraprovement, little or
no benefit had accrued from thera for the publiek
good, however instrumental they raay have been
made to the emolument of Bishop Bedell's prede
cessors. "He found his diocese," says Bishop Burnet, in Bishop Bumet-a
, ... account of it.
his very copious life of hira, " under so many dis
orders, that there was scarce a sound part remaining.
The revenue was wasted by excessive dilapidations,
and all sacred things had been exposed to sale in so
sordid a raanner, that it was grown to a proverb ;
and there was scarce enough reraaining of both these
revenues to support a bishop, who was resolved not
to supply hiraself by indirect and base methods ^"
But the general state of his diocese will be best Bishop BedeU'a
represented by transcribing a letter, which he ad- Laud.
dressed to Bishop Laud a few months after his
promotion. " Right reverend Father, my honourable good Lord,
" Since my coming to this place, wbich was a little
before Michaelmas, (till which time the settling of the state
of the college, and my Lord Primate's visitation, deferred
my consecration,) I have not been unmindful of your lord
ship's commands, to advertise you, as my experience should
inform me, of the state of the Church ; which I shall now
the better do, because I have been about my dioceses, and
can set down, out of my knowledge and view, what I sball
relate; and shortly to speak much ill matter in a few Miserable state
Avords, it is very miserable. ° " ""^°'^'
" The cathedral church of Ardagh, one of the most Dilapidated
ancient in Ireland, and said to be built by St. Patrick, " "" ^^'
^ Bishop Burnet's Life of Bishop Bedell, pp. 34—30.
2 F 2

436

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Popish recu
sants.

Popish clergy
numerous and
powerful.

Mass-houses.

Friars.

Poverty of the
people.

English minis
ters.

Clerks.

together with tbe bishop's house there, doAvn to the ground.
The church here, built, but without bell or steeple, font or
chalice. The parish churches all in a manner ruined, and
unroofed, and unrepaired.
" The people, saving a few British planters here and
there, (which are not tbe tenth part of the remnant,) obsti
nate recusants. A Popish clergy, more numerous by far
than we, and in full exercise of all jurisdiction ecclesias
tical by their vicar-general and officials ; who are so con
fident, as they excommunicate those that come to our
courts, even iu matrimonial causes : which affront hath
been offered myself by the Popish primate's vicar-general,
for which I have begun a process against bim. The
primate himself lives in my parish, within two miles of
my house : the bishop in another part of my diocese, fur
ther off.
" Every parish hath its priest ; and some two or three
a-plece, and so their mass-houses also ; and in some place,?
mass is said in the churches.
" Friars there are in diverse places, aa'Iio go about,
though not in tbeir habits, and by tbeir importunate beg
ging impoverish the people ; who indeed are generally very
poor, as from that cause, so from their paying double tithes
to their OAvn clergy and ours, from tbe dearth of corn, and
the death of their cattle these last years, with the contri
butions to their soldiers and their agents : and, which they
forget not to reckon among other causes, tbe oppression of
the court ecclesiastical, Avhich in very truth, my lord, I
cannot excuse, and do seek to reform.
" For our own, there are seven or eight ministers iu
each diocese of good sufficiency ; and, (which is no small
cause of tbe continuance of tbe people in Popery still,)
English ; which haA'e not the tongue of the people, nor
can perform any divine offices, or converse Avith them ; and
whicb hold, many of them, tvvo, or tbree, four, or more
vicarages a-piece. Even tbe clerkships themselves are in
like manner conferred upon tbe English ; and sometimes
two or three, or more, upon one man, and ordinarily bought
and sold, or let to farm.

Siic. IL] KING CHARLES I. 437
His majesty is now, Avith the greatest part of this
country, as to their hearts and consciences. King, but at
the Pope's discretion. " AV'lLL. KiLMOKE and ArDAGH.
" Kiltnore, April I, 1630."
The description in the foregoing letter, which Application of
concerns the state ofthe bLshopricks of Kilmore and to the other sees.
Ardagh at that time, is ajiplied by Cox generally to
the Irish sees'. But Avhatever cause may haA'e
existed for coraplaint in other dioceses, and no doubt
there Avas cause enough, the language of Bishop
Bedell, true as it certainly Avas iu his use of it, would
probably have been an exaggerated representation in
a general application.
With respect, hoAvever, to his complaint of the Neglect of eccie-
neglect of ecclesiastical processes in his court, that cesses.
seems to have been experienced in others likeAvise :
and an example is supplied in the case of Bishop
DoAvnham, of Derry, who, during the goA'ernment of instanced in the
the Lord Chancellor Loftus and the Earl of Cork, '^'"^-^ »' ¦'^"•J'-
obtained a commission, by immediate Avarrant frora
himself, to arrest, apprehend, aud attach the bodies
of all people Avithin his jurisdiction, who should
decline the sarae, or should refuse to appear upon
laAvful citation, or, appearing, should refuse to obey
the sentence given against thera ; and authority to
bind them in recognizances, with sureties or without,
to appear at the council table, to ansAver such con
tempts. The like comraission was renoAved to him
by the Lord Deputy, Viscount WentAvorth, October
23, 1633. Both Avere obtained on his information,
that his diocese abounded with all manner of delin
quents, who refused obedience to all spiritual pro
cesses \
" Cox, ii. 63. * Ware's Bishops, p. 292.

438

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

General cause of
complaint.

Generally, also, there appears to have been too
much cause for complaint, with respect to other
ecclesiastical charges, affecting the ministers of the
Church, both the bishops and their clergy. Such
was the representation made by the Lords Com
mittees for Irish Affairs to his majesty, who thereupon
sent over his letters to all the archbishops of Ireland,
to remind them of their duty, and to strengthen
their authority.

Letter of tho
King to the
Archbishops. 1631.

Growth of tho
Komlsh faction.

Want of care in
the clergy.

Special charge to
the bishops.

right trusty, and

" Charles Rex.
" Most Reverend Father in God,
entirely beloved, we greet you well.
"Among such disorders as the Lords of our Privy
Council, deputed by us to a particular care of our realm of
Ireland and the affairs thereof, have observed and repre
sented to us in that government, as well ecclesiastical as
civil, we have taken in special consideration the growth
and increase of the Romish faction there, and cannot but
from thence collect that the clergy of that Church are not
so careful as they ought to be, either of God's service or the
honour of themselves and their profession, in removing all
pretences of scandal in their lives and conversation. Where
fore, as we have by all means endeavoured to provide for
them a competency of maintenance, so we shall hereafter
expect on their part a reciprocal diligence ; both by their
teaching and example to win tbat ignorant and superstitious
people to join with them in the true worship of God.
"And for that purpose we have thought fit, by these
our letters, not only to excite your care of these things,
according to your duty and dignity of your place in that
Church ; but further to authorize you, in our name, to give,
by your letters, to tbe several bishops in your province, a
special charge, requiring them to give notice to their clergy
under them, in tbeir dioceses respectively, that all of them
be careful to do their duty, by preaching and catechising in
the parishes committed to their charge ; and that they
live answerable to the doctrine which they preach to the
people.

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES I. 439
"And further we will, that in our name you write to Bishops torwd-
every bishop Avithin your province, that none of them pre- ^en to hold other
sume to hold with their bishopricks any benefice, or other
ecclesiastical dignity whatsoeA'er in their own hands, or to
their oavu use, save only such as we have given leave, under
our broad seal of tbat our kingdom, to hold in commendam.
And of this we require you to be very careful, because there
is a complaint brought to the said Lords Committees for compiaint to the
Irish Affairs, that some bishops there, Avhen livings fall void tees for°irSi
in their gift, do either not dispose them so soon as they ^^<^^^-
might, but keep the profits in their own hands, to the
hinderance of God's service, and great offence of good people ;
or else they give them to young and mean men, which only
bear the name, reserving the greater part of the benefice to
themselves ; by which means that Church must needs be
very ill and weakly served.
" Of which abuses and the like, (if any shall be prac
tised,) we require you to take special care for the present
redress of them, and shall expect from you such account of
your endeavours herein, as may discharge you, not to us
only, but to God, whose honour and service it concerns.
" Given, under our signet, at our palace at Westmin
ster, the twelfth of April, in the sixth year of our reign '."
This command of the king fully agreed with the ThePrimato's
desires of the Lord Primate, who accordingly dill- executing this
gently engaged in the execution of the office com
mitted to his care. He therefore endeavoured to
reform, in the first place, the disorders complained
of in his province, and which had been already under
his correcting hand. And, in the next place, he
made it his business to reclaim those deluded people
from the religion to which they had been bred : and
by frequent and familiar conversation with the
nobility and gentry of that persuasion, as well as his ms exertions to
, , . . . , reclaim Popish
neighbours of the inferior sort ; by inviting them to recusants,
his house, and mildly discoursing with them on the
' Parr's Life of Ussher, p. 38.

440

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. VIL

And Protestant
sectaries.

His injunctions
on his clergy.

Catechetical
instruction.

chief tenets of their religion ; he convinced many of
their errors, and brought them to a knowledge of
the truth. He also advised the bishops and clergy
of his province to deal with the Popish recusants in
their several dioceses and cures after the same man
ner ; the best, if not the only ineans, in the absence
of penal laws, to restrain the publiek profession of
that religion. Nor was his care confined only to
the conversion of the ignorant and deluded Irish
Papists ; but he also airaed at the reduction of the
Scotch and English sectaries to the coraraunion of
the Church ; conferring and arguing with divers
of them, as well ministers as laymen, and showing
them the weakness of their scruples and objections
against joining the publiek services of the Church,
and submitting to its government and discipline".
The injunctions laid by the Lord Priraate on his
clergy, as their guide in the instruction of their
flocks, are also not undeserving of being specified,
and may illustrate this portion of our narrative.
Having related his practice of preaching himself
every Lord's-day in the forenoon, " In the after
noon," continues Dr. Bernard, " this Avas his order
to me ; that, besides the catechising of the youth
before publiek prayers, I should, after the first aud
second lesson, spend about half an hour in a brief
and plain ojjening of the principles of religion in the
publiek catechism ; and after that I Avas to preach
also. First, he directed rae to go through the Creed
at once, giving but the sura of each article ; then,
next tirae, at thrice ; and, afterwards, each time an
article, as they might be more able to bear it ; and
so projDortionably the Ten Comraandraents, Lord's
Prayer, and the doctrine of the Sacraments. The
' Ware's Bishops, p. 108. Parr's Life of Ussher, p. 39,

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES I. d41
good fruit of which was apparent in the vulgar Goodtmitof
such inatruc-
people, upon their approach unto the Communion, tions.
when, as by the then order the names of the receivers
were to be given in, so some account was constantly
taken of their fitness for it. An exemplary injunc
tion for this age, having been too much neglected.
His order throughout the diocese to the rainisters
was, to go through the body of divinity once a-year,
which he had draAvii out accordingly into fifty
heads'." Such was the exemplary diligence of the Lord Exemplary cou-
¦i-k • 1 • 1 f* 1 • rv» 1 '^"^^ °^ Bishop
Primate; and, in regard to one of his suffragans, the Bedeuintbc
history of the whole Church of Christ does not in ot his diocese.
all probability contain a more perfect pattern of a
Christian bishop, than raay be contemplated in the
life of Bishop Bedell, as to the care Avitli which he
supplied all A'acancies within his diocese ; the strict
ness with which he conducted his examinations for
holy orders ; his constant refusal to ordain auy,
without a title to a particular flock ; his studious
observation of the behaviour of his clergy, mixed
Avith paternal tenderness and compassion for their
Aveaknesses ; his earnest endeavours in counteracting
pluralities, and in prevailing upon all to observe
parochial residence ; and his constant business at his his visitations.
visitations in investigating the state of his diocese,
and in giving good instructions and advice both to
the clergy and the laity.
" The visitations in Ireland," observes Bishop Burnet,
" had been matters of great pomp and much luxury, which
lay heavy on the inferior clergy. Some slight inquiries
were made, and those chiefly for form's sake ; and, indeed,
nothing was so much minded, as that which was tho
' Bernard's Life of Ussher'^. 84.

442

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. Vii.

Episcopal, me
tropolitical, and
royal visitations.

reproach of them, the fees, that Avere exacted to such an
intolerable degree, that they were a heavy grievance to the
clergy. And, as the bishop's visitation came about every
year, so every third year the archbishop made his metropo
litical visitation, and every seventh year the king's visitation
went round ; and in all these, as they were then managed,
nothing seemed so much aimed at, as how to squeeze and
oppress the clergy, who were glad to purchase their peace
by paying all that was imposed on them by those severe
exactors. But our bishop reformed all these excesses, and
took nothing but what was by law and custom established,
and that was employed in entertaining the clergy; and,
when there was any overplus, he sent it always to the
prisons for the relief of the poor."

Questionable There wero, however, two or three alterations of
pos'^dby'sishop ^ quostiouable character, which Bishop Bedell Avas
^'"^°"' anxious to introduce into his diocese, and which
should hardly be passed without notice, constituting,
as they do, memorable occurrences in the history of
the Church. I allude to his diocesan synods of his
clergy and his synodical canons ; his indignation at
the undue extent, to which in his opinion the arch
bishop carried the exercise of the metropolitical
poAver over his suflfragans ; and his attempt to intro
duce a correction of abuses in the ecclesiastical
courts, by going, and sitting, and judging in his own
courts himself
These, indeed, are matters of history as well^as
of biography. But, as chiefly connected with the
personal events of Bishop Bedell's life, it may sufl5ce
Diocesan synods, briefly to obsorve, that in the first of these attempts
at diocesan improvement, the legality of which was
controverted at the time, he has not been imitated
in subsequent periods, when convenient opportunities
might have been taken, if individual bishops had
judged the example fit for imitation: that, with

and synodical
canons.

judge in his own
court.

Sec. IL] KING CHARLES I. 443
respect to the second, the archbishop's poAver of Archbishop's
suspending the bishop's jurisdiction iu his diocese, in hishop'sjurisdio-
the year of the metropolitical visitation, has been
constantly perpetuated without offence or molesta
tion, though the period, during Avhich the suspension
is continued, is uoaa', at least in practice, limited to a
feAV Aveeks, instead of being extended throughout the
year, as Avas the case Avhen it encountered Bishop
Bedell's reprobation : and that, with respect to the
third particular, naraely, that of the bishop's acting Bishop aotmg a
as judge in his oavu court, though at the tirae " the
other bishops were glad at this step our bishop had
made," as Bishop Burnet relates, " and encouraged
him to go on resolutely in it, and assured him they
would stand by hira ;" yet in the end, as related by
the sarae biographer, " they did not stand by him,
but were contented to let hira fall under censure,
without interposing in it as in a cause of common
concern ; and even the excellent 2U"iinate told him,
the tide went so high that he could assist him no
more ; for he stood by hira longer than any other of
the order had done ;" and although the bishop " con
tinued, notwithstanding the censure, to go into his
court, as he had done before, and although an order
Avas given underhand to let him go on as he had
begun," it has not been subsequently deemed fitting,
either by the makers or the interpreters of the laws,
to confer that power on the bishops, or to declare
that it belongs to them ; or by the bishops, in imita
tion of Bedell's exaraple, to claira that power for
themselves.

444

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VII.

Section III.
A Royal Visitation utider Lord Wentworth. Report of it
by Dr. Bramhall. Bishop Laud's Letter of Instructions
to the Lord Deputy. Bramhall's account of the state of
the Church. Growth of Protestant Sectarianism. Irre
gular Ordinations. Repirehen sible conduct imputed to
two Northern Bishops. Non-conforming Ministers.

Royal visitation.
1033.

Early life of
John Bramhall.

Patronized by
Lord Went
worth.

In 1633, AA'as holden a regal visitation, of Avhich
John Bramhall, avIio afterwards became successively
Bishop of Derry aud Archbishop of Armagh, Avas
one of the commissioners, or at least one of the chief
assistants and directors. Bramhall Avas a man of
high distinction in his own country, whence he had
been recently brought into Ireland by the uoav Lord
Deputy, Thomas Viscount WentAvorth, aftei-Avards
the illustrious but ill-fated Earl of Strafford. Having
been educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge,
and thence reraoA'ed into Yorkshire, of which county
he was a native, he had becorae so celebrated for a
disputation with three Roraish priests of the order of
Jesuits, that he vAas appointed chaplain to the
famous Priraate of York, Archbishop Mathews, to
whom he endeared himself by great dexterity in the
conduct of ecclesiastical aud civil aflfairs. And, after
the archbishop's death, by his wisdom, eloquence,
and deportment, he so gained the affections of the
nobility, gentry, and commoners, of that country, that
Sir Thomas Wentworth, then Lord President of
York, selected him for his chaplain, and after a
short time conveyed him to Ireland, as the fittest
instrument to serve in the design, Avhich for
two years before his arrival he had meditated and
resolved; namely, the reforination of

religion,

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES I. 445
and the reparation of the broken fortunes of the
Church'. In the visitation, which now ensued, the reve- Resuitottho
nues of the Church were found to be miserably
Avasted, the discipline scandalously despised, and the
ministers but meanly considered. The bishopricks Reduced reve-
, nues of the
were wretchedly dilapidated by fee-farms and long bishopneks.
leases at sraall rents : granted partly by the Popish
bishops in Queen Elizabeth's reign, who resolved to
carry aAvay Avith thein as much as they could, like
the wise but unjust steward, gratifying their friends,
that they might receive thera into their habitations;
and partly by their Protestant successors, A\ho raight
fear, perhaps, another turn of affairs ; and, folloAving
the example of their predecessors, condescended to
the same arts. By these means many bishopricks
were made as low as sacrilege could make thera.
Cloyne AA'as reduced to five raarks ; hence the bishop
of that see was called " Episcopus quinque raarca-
rum." Aghadoe aud Ardfert, in the county of Kerry,
were reduced respectively, the latter to about 60/.
a year, and the former to I/. 1*. 8c?. Of Limerick
about five parts in six were made away in fee-farms
or encroached on by the undertakers. Cashel,
Emly, Waterford, Lismore, and Killaloe, all raade
the sarae coraplaint. Cork and Ross fared the best
of any: a very good raan. Bishop Lyon, having been
placed there early in the Reformation, prevented any
diminution in the revenues of those churches ; and
he was succeeded by two prelates of the family of
the Boyles, who were distinguished by the like
uprightness of character. But with this exception,
"there was not," adds Bishop Vesey, the biographer
of Primate Bramhall, " one bishoprick in the pro-
' Ware's Bishops, p. 118.

446

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Prevalence of
simony.

vince of Cashel, that had not the print of the sacri
legious paw upon it : and on some of them, * ves
tigia nulla retrorsum.'" Siraony also was another
evil, which was found to prevail very generally with
the patrons of ecclesiastical benefices. This state of
things, however, was discovered not to be liraited to
the southern bishopricks ; for on his appointment to
the see of Derry in the following year, and on his
inquiry into the condition of that diocese. Bishop
Bramhall discovered there the existence of the .
same evils, which had been disclosed by the regal
visitations. A report of this visitation was duly made to the
Lord Deputy, who had entered upon his oflfice the
25th of July in the sarae year, 1633. The result of
this report will be noticed in the parliaraentary
proceedings of the year 1635; in the mean time
Lordwentworth, attention may be given to some other occurrences
lord deputy, ., . . , . i i x i t-. ,
July, 1633. more nearly coincident with the Lord Deputy s
appointment and arrival.

Heport to the
Lord Deputy,

Letter from
Bishop Laud,
April, 1633.

5-he king's wil
lingness to give
up impropria
tions ;

In anticipation of his early settlement in his
viceroyal station. Laud, then bishop of London, had
written him a letter, April 30, 1633, wherein he
prayed him " to consider of so many particulars as
concern the Church and religion, with as much
favour as justice can give way unto\"
The particulars of most publiek concern are
these : " That in the great cause of impropriations,
which are yet remaining in his majesty's gift, and
which he is most graciously willing to give back to
God and his service, you will do whatsoever may
justly be done for the honour and service of our two
great masters, God and the king; that you would

'¦^ Strafford Letters, vol. i, p. 82.

Sec. IIL] KING CHARLES I. 447
countenance and assist the Lord Primate of Armagh
in all things belonging to this great service ; and
particularly for the procuring of a true and just
valuation, that the king may know what he gives
the Church."
After an interval, he adds, " I am likewise com- And to establish
,,,,. . IT 111* *'^^ jurisdiction
manded by his majesty to deliver your lordship a ofthochmeh.
clause of a letter, sent unto rae by the Lord Priraate
of Armagh, March 1st, 1632, vA'ith which I acquainted 1033, common
his majesty. At which time his princely pleasure
was that your lordship should assure the Lord
Primate that he would see the jurisdiction of the
Church established there to be maintained against
both recusants and other factionists whatsoever;
and that you should do your best endeavour to stop
all such rumours as may dishearten the bishops in
God's service and his."
He adds, after another interval, "I further pray Means devised
. tor the mainte-
your lordship to take notice by the Lord Primate nance ot curates.
of Armagh, of the readiness of the Lord Chief Jus
tice of Ireland, to set forwards the maintenance of
the ministers in that kingdom, and to encourage
him to advance the same. As also to move the
Lord Chief Justice for his opinion, what legal course
he shall think fittest may be held for the present
means of curates, out of the impropriations in Ire
land : which I am credibly informed his lordship is
very able and willing to give."
Together with those salutary instructions on a Jewish sehooi-
master in Derry.
subjects of general application, the letter embraces
others, which relate to particular persons or places ;
of these the following is remarkable. "There is
one Christopher Sands, who, as I am informedj
dwells now in Londonderry, and teaches an English
school there ; and I much fear he doth many things

448

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Letter from
Bramhall to
Bishop Laud,
August, 1633.

there to the dishonour of God, and the endangering
of many poor souls. For the party is a Jew, and
denies both Christ and his Gospel, as I shall be able
to prove, if I had him here. I humbly pray your
lordship that he may be seized on by authority, and
sent over in safe custody, and delivered either to
myself or to Mr. Mottershed, the registrar of the
High Comraission, that he may not live there to
infect his raajesty's subjects."
Nearly coincident with the regal visitation, and
explanatory of several particulars mentioned in the
report of it, as well as communicative of information
sought by the Bishop of London, is the following
iraportant letter, written in the course of this sura
raer by Dr. Brarahall to Bishop Laud, concerning
the condition of the Church of Ireland.

state of the poor
church of Ire
land.

Churches ruin
ous and sordid.

Parochial church
the Lord De
puty's stable.

Vaults of Christ's
Church tippling
rooms.

" Right Reverend Father,
" My mo.st honoured lord, Presuming partly upon
your licence, but especially directed by my Lord Deputy's
commands, I am to give your fatherhood a brief account of
the present state of the poor Churcb of Ireland, such as
our short intelligence here, and your lordship's weightier
employments there, will permit.
" First, for the fabricks, it is hard to say, whether the
churches be more ruinous and sordid, or the people irreve
rent, even in Dublin, tbe metropolis of this kingdom and
seat of justice. To begin the inquisition, where the refor
mation will begin, we find our parochial church converted
to the Lord Deputy's stable, a second to a nobleman's
dwelling-house, the choir of a third to a tennis-court, and
the vicar acts the keeper.
" In Christ's Church, tbe principal church in Ireland,
whither the Lord Deputy and council repair every Sunday,
the vaults, from one end of the minster to the other, are
made into tippling-rooms for beer, wine, and tobacco^
demised all to JPopish recusants, aud by them and others so
much frequented iu time of divine service, that though

Sec. IIL] KING CHARLES L 449
there is no danger of blowing up the assembly above tbeir
heads, yet there is of poisoning them with the fumes. The profanation of
table, used for the administration of the blessed Sacrament ^^0!°'"'" """"
in the midst of the choir, made an ordinary seat for maids
and apprentices.
" I cannot omit the glorious tomb iu the other cathedral Tomb in st. Pa-
church of St. Patrick, in the proper place of the altar, just ot'tiie'aitM.*°°
opposite to his majesty's seat, having his father's name
superscribed upon it, as if it were on purpose to gain the
worship and reverence, which the chapter and Avhole church
are bound by special statute to give towards the east. And
either the soil itself, or a licence to build and bury, and
make a vault in the place of the altar, under seal, which is
a tantamount passed to the earl and his heirs. ' Credimus
esse Deos?' This being tbe case in Dublin, your lordship
will judge what we may expect in the country."
The tomb here complained of had been erected
by the Earl of Cork, with a vault of hewn stone
beneath it. As to its usurping the place of the
altar. Archbishop Ussher explained, that the place
of its erection was an ancient passage into a chapel
within the church, which had time out of mind been
stopped up with a partition of boards and lirae, and
he considered it a great ornaraent to the church.
His explanation, hoAvever, did not give entire satis
faction ; and in the end the monument was removed
to another less offensive situation". I now proceed
with Dr. Brarahall' s letter :
"Next, for tbe clergy: I find few footsteps yet of The clergy, their
foreign differences, so I hope it will be an easier task not to a^htS7
admit them than to have them ejected. But I doubt much
whether the clergy be A'ery orthodox : and could wish botb
the articles and canons of the Cburch of England were
established here by Act of Parliament or state; that, as
we live all under one king, so we might both in doctrine
and disciphne observe an uniformity.
' Mason's St, Patrick, notes Liii. Liv.
2 G

450

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Poverty and ig.
norance of Infe.
rior ministers.

Evil of plmali.
ties,

And non-resl
dence.

" The inferior sort of ministers are below all degrees of
contempt, in respect of their poverty and ignorance. The
boundless heaping together of benefices by commendams and
dispensations in tbe superiors is but too apparent : yea, even
often by plain usurpation, and indirect compositions made
between tbe patrons, as well ecclesiastick as lay, and the
incumbents; by which the least part, many times not
above 40s., rarely 10^. in tbe year, is reserved for him that
should serve at the altar : insomuch tbat it is affirmed, that
by all or some of these means one bishop in the remoter
parts of the kingdom doth hold three-and-twenty benefices
with cure. Generally their residence is as little as their
livings. Seldom any suitor petitions for less than three
vicarages at a time. And it is a main prejudice to his
majesty's service, and an hindrance to the right establish
ment of bis cburch, that the clergy have in a manner no
dependence upon the Lord Deputy, nor he any means left
to prefer those that are deserving amongst thera. For
besides all those advowsons, whicb were given by that good
Abuse of the late patron of the church. King James, of happy memory, to
bishops and the college here, many also were conferred upon
the plantations, (never was so good a gift so infinitely
abused :) and I know not how, or by what order, even in
these blessed days of his sacred majesty, all the rest of any
note bave been given or passed away in the time of the late
Lord Deputy." (Viscount Falkland.)
" Lastly, for the revenues : how small care hath been
taken for the service of his majesty, or the good of the
church, is hereby apparent, tbat no officer, or other person,
can inform my lord, what deanery or benefices are in his
majesty's gift ; and about three hundred livings are omitted
out of the book of tax for first-fruits and twentieth parts ;
sundry of tbem of good value, two or three bishopricks, and
the whole diocese of Killfannore. The alienations of church
possessions, by long leases and deeds, are infinite : yea, even
since the Act of State to restrain them, it is believed that
divers are bold, still to practise in hopes of secresy and
impunity, and will adventure until their hands be tied by
act of parliament, or some of the delinquents censured in
the Star Chamber. The Earl of Cork holds the whole

king's bounty.

Churcli reve
nues.

Alienations of
church property.

Sec. IIL] KING CHARLES I. 451
bishoprick of Lismore, at the rent of 40s., or five marks,
by the year : many benefices, that ought to be presenta
tive, are by negligence enjoyed as though they were appro
priate. " For the remedying of these evils, next to God and his Remedies tor
sacred majesty, I know my lord depends on your father- "'^^'^ '^'"'°'
hood's wisdom and zeal for the churcb. My duty binds
me to pray for a blessing upon both your good endeavours.
For the present, my lord hath pulled down the deputy's
seat in bis own chapel, and restored the altar to its ancient
place, which was thrust our of doors. The like is done in
Christ's Church. The purgation and restitution of the
stable to the right owners and uses will folloAv next ; and
strict mandates to my lords the bishops, to see tbe churches
repaired, adorned, and preserved from profanation, through
out the kingdom.
"For the clergy and tbeir revenues, my lord is careful Lord Deputy's
that no petitions be admitted witbout good certificate and ^^^™ ""^
diligent inquiry, (thought a strange course here :) and to
enable himself and the succeeding deputies, to encourage
such as shall deserve well in the churcb, his lordship
intends, as well in tbe commission for defective titles, as for
the plantations, to reserve the right of advowson to his
majesty, and as Avell by diligent search in tbe records, as by
a selected commission of many branches, to regain such
advowsons as have been usurped through the negligence of
officers, change of deputies, or power of great men ; and by
the same to inform himself of tbe true state of the church
and clergy, to provide for the cures and residence, to perfect
his majesty's tax, to prevent and remedy alienations, to
restore illegal impropriations, to dispose, by way of lapse,
of all those supernumerary benefices Avhich are held unjustly,
and not without infinite scandal, under the pretence of com
mendams and dispensations, and to settle, as much as in
present is possible, tbe whole state of the churcb. Tbis
testimony I must give of his care, that it is not possible for
the intentions of a mortal man to be more serious and sin
cere than his in those things, that concern the good of the
poor church. 2 G 2

452

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VII.

Disunion of the
Romish ecclesi
asticks.

"It is some comfort to see the Romish ecclesiasticks
cannot laugh at us, who come behind none in point of dis
union and scandal.
" I know my tediousness will be offensive, unless your
lordship's licence, and my Lord Deputy's command, procure
my pardon. I will not add a word more, but the pro
fession of my humble thanks and bounden service ; and so
being ready to receive your lordship's commands, I desire
to remain, as your noble favours have for ever bound me,
" Your lordship's
" Daily and devoted servant,
" John Bramhall"."
"Dublin Castle, August the lOth, 1663."

Growth of Pro- Of the ecclesiastical evils, which at this time
testant secta
rianism, were beginning to require the attention of the
government, though not specified in the foregoing
report, one was the activity and growth of Protestant
sectarianism, which had been for some time gaining
a firmer footing in the North, where its ministers
were distinguished for their opposition to the Church.
But though these persons objected to the constitu-
oppositiontothe tlou aud discipliuc of the Church, they were willing
Church compati- - , . , , ,
Me with accept- to acccpt ot hor appoiutmeuts and emoluraents ; and
appointments, for that purposc allowod themselves in the use of an
expedient, which raay well excite astonishment in
the conduct of those, who made peculiar preten
sions to the character of "godly" men. The case
shall be set forth, as exemplified especially in two
distinguished members of the body : and it shall be
set forth in the most unexceptionable form, namely,
that of their own narratives.
It may be convenient, however, in the first place,
to submit the following brief statement to the con
sideration of the reader.

¦* Collier's Ecclesiastical History, part ii, b. ix. p. 760.

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES I. 453
Among the records of the Sovereign's Court of Keoordofordl-
Prerogative in Dublin is deposited a Regal Visita- dioceses ot Do^™
tion Book of the diocese of Down and Connor, in ot Raphoe. '
the year 1633. From this it appears, that amongst
several other clergymen, ordained by Robert Echlin,
the bishop of the diocese at that period, Robert
Blair had been admitted by him in 1623 to the holy
orders of deacon and of priest : and John Livies-
towne had been admitted, in 1630, to the same
orders by Andrew [Knox], bishop of Raphoe. This
authentick docuraent takes no notice of any devia
tion from the regular form of ordination as prescribed
by law ; that is, the form of ordination, contained in
the Book of Common Prayer, and no other, pre
scribed by the Act of Uniformity, 2nd year of
Elizabeth, chap. 2, with a solemn charge of obedience
on all archbishops and bishops, as they will answer
before God for their neglect. No other authority
for alleging such deviation exists, so far as I am
aware, except in the narratives which are about to
be cited. It might be reasonably questioned, there
fore, how far these narratives are worthy of credit,
involving, as they will be found to do, the faithful
ness of two bishops, in maintaining their sacred
engagements to the Church.
We now proceed to the narratives, contained in Authorities for
the hves of Mr. Robert Blair, written by himself, nanativr"*
and of Mr. Edward Brice, by Mr. John Livingston ;
and of which an abstract is given in " An Historical
Essay upon the Loyalty of Presbyterians in Great
Britain and Ireland, from the Reformation to this
present year 1713."
Mr. Robert Blair, it seems, had been invited Mr. Robert
from Scotland, in 1623, by the Lord Claneboy, son intothe"^™
of a Presbyterian minister in Scotland, to settle in ' iks.

454

THE REIGN OP

Mode of effec
tuating it.

\ponference with
the Bishop of
3Down and
Connor.

[Ch. VII.
the parish of Bangor, in the county of Down ; but
he declined the offer, because he " could not submit
to the use of the English liturgy, nor to episcopal
government." He was assured, however, that his
lordship was " confident of procuring a free entry for
him, which he quickly effectuated. So all my
devices," he observes, "to obstruct a settlement
there did evanish, and take no eflfect, the counsel of
the Lord standing fast in all generations : yea, his
wisdom overruled all this, both to procure me a free
and safe entry to the holy ministry; and that, when
after some years I met with trials for my non
conformity, neither patron nor prelate could say that
I had broken any condition to thera."
The mode of "effectuating this free entry" to the
holy ministry is thus related.
"The Viscount Claneboy, my noble patron, did, on my
request, inform tbe bishop how opposite I was to episco
pacy and tbeir liturgy, and had the influence to procure my
admission on easy and honourable terms. Yet, lest his
lordship had not been plain enough, I declared my opinion
fully to the bishop at our first meeting, and found him
yielding beyond my expectation. The bishop said to me,
' I hear good of you, and will impose no conditions on you :
I am old, aud can teach you ceremonies, and you can teach
me substance ; only I must ordain you, else neither I nor
you can answer the law nor brook the land.' I answered
him, that his sole ordination did utterly contradict my
principles : but he replied both wittily and submissively,
' Whatever you account of episcopacy, yet I know you
account a presbytery to have divine warrant ; will you not
receive ordination from Mr. Cunningham, and the adjacent
brethren, and let me come in among them in no other
relation, than a presbyter ?' Tbis I could not refuse, and
so the matter was performed."
Thus an avowed opponent of episcopacy and the
English liturgy was, according to his own account, in

Sec. III. I KING CHARLES I. 455
compliance with his " principles," and by an " old," a
"yielding," and a "submissive" bishop, whose prin
ciples are left to conjecture, "easily and honourably"
admitted to the ministry of an episcopal Church,
Avith which the English liturgy was the exclusive
rule of publiek worship. The complacency and self-
sufiiciency of the narrative might provoke a smile, if
it did not relate to so sacred a subject, and excite
more grave and serious feelings. But leaving the
style and tone to the reader's perception, I would
offer two or three reraarks on the fallacy, which dis
tinguishes this whole alleged proceeding.
The bishop " would impose no conditions" on Mr. his supposed
Blair : and so " neither patron nor prelate could say ""dination."'
that he had broken any condition to them."
But this is a perfect delusion. In conferring Faiiaeyoftho
holy orders, a bishop is personally nothing : he has "p"'™-
nothing whatever to say or to do about "conditions"
on his own account. He is the trustee, the repre- a bishop is
, ,. ,^ * * A. J.1 r A.1 /-^i -t , trustee for the
sentative, the mmister, the organ ot the Church : in chm-ch.
her name he acts ; his course of proceeding is pre
scribed by her, and he has promised, and is pledged
to, "faithfulness" in following it. Thus he is
appointed by the Church to confer " episcopal ordi
nation ;" aud in so doing he is to conduct himself
" by laAvful authority," and according to the form of
ordination, which the Church has provided ; he is to
enforce on the candidate the duties which the
Church requires, and to demand of hira an acknow
ledgment of the conditions which the Church
imposes ; he is not to " come iu among others in no
. other relation than as a presbyter" among presbyters,
an equal among equals, but he is to come promi
nently forward, a bishop above presbyters, a superior
above ministers of a lower order ; he is not to see

456

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Sinfulness of
betraying his
trust.

Case of Mr.
Livingston. Silenced in Scot
land for his
opposition to
prelacy.

His admission to
the ministry in
Ireland, August, 1630.

Application to
the Bishop of
Haphoe.

the candidate " receive ordination" from others, but
he is himself to ordain him. The bishop, who should
err from this line, would betray his trust, compro
mise the Church's character, assume an unlawful
power, break his promise, and forfeit his pledge of
fidelity. Thus he would corarait a grievous sin.
And any person, who should seduce, or tempt, or
encourage him to the comraission, would be a par
taker of the sin ; nor could he, by the supposed
absence of a condition iraposed by the bishop, be
held excused from observing the conditions, virtually
and implicitly imposed by the Church. This general
view is submitted to the reader, and with hira is left
the particular application.
The other case is that of Mr. John Livingston,
who, " in consequence of his opposition to prelacy,
was silenced by Spottiswood, Archbishoj) of St.
Andrews, in 1627 ; but still continued to preach in
Scotland occasionally and by stealth, his settlement
in any parish being constantly opjjosed by the
bishops." He however likewise had an opening in
Ireland ; and his raode of procuring " a free entry
into the ministry" is thus described by himself
" About August, 1 630, I got letters from the Viscount
Clanniboy to come to Ireland, in reference to a call to Kil-
linchy : whither I went, and got an unanimous call from
the parish. And because it Avas needful I should be or
dained to the ministry, and the Bishop of Down, jn whose
diocese Killincby was, being a corrupt, humorous," [or, for
different editions read differently,] "timorous man, would
require some engagement ; therefore my Lord Clanniboy
sent some with me, and wrote to Mr. Andrew Knox, bishop
of Haphoe : who, when I came and had delivered the letters
from my Lord Clanniboy, and from tbe Earl of Wigton,
and some others, that I had for that purpose brought out of
Scotland, told me he knew my errand : that I came to him

Sec. IIL] KING CHARLES I. 457
because I had scruples against episcopacy and ceremonies,
according as Mr. Josias "Welsh and some others had done
before ; and that he thought his old age was prolonged for
little other purpose but to do sucb offices : that if I scrupled
to call him ' my lord,' he cared not much for it ; all he
would desire of mo, because they got there but few sermons,
was, that I would preach at Ramallen the first Sabbath ;
and that he would send for Mr. William Cunningham, and his expedients
two or three other neighbouring ministers, to be present ; hoiy orders.
who after sermon should give me imposition of hands. But,
although tbey performed the work, he behoved to be present ;
and although be durst not answer it to tbe state, he gave
me the Book of Ordination ; and desired that anything I
scrupled at, I should draw a line over it on the margin, and
that Mr. Cunningham should not read it. But I found
that it had been so marked by some others before, that I
needed not mark anything : so the Lord Avas pleased to
carry that business far beyond anything that I had thought,
or almost ever desired."
Here, then, we have a ceremony, under the ^re- pretendcdepisco-
text of an episcopal ordination by the Church's
authority, performed in the presence, indeed, but
without the participation of the bishop, by inferior
ministers ; the service being read, so much of it, at
least, as the candidate's "scruples" allowed to be
read, by one of those ministers, and iraposition of
hands being given by hira and the rest : a practice,
as it appears, not unusually sanctioned by the feeble
old man, of whom it is most charitable to believe
that, if the narrative be true, he was at the time in
his dotage. And this dereliction of the bishop's
function,|and this usurpation of it by inferiors, and
this violation of the law, and this treachery and
fraud upon the Church, is gravely attributed to the
special pleasure, the signal interposition and agency
of the Lord !
These two cases have been set forth as examples

458

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. vii.

Similar ordina
tion of other
Preshyterians.

Manner of their
ministrations.

of a practice which was prevalent, so at least it Avas
represented, araong persons of a particular class.
The sarae " compromise," — I use the phrase em
ployed by the author of Presbyterian Loyalty, to
describe the transaction, — which has been detailed iu
the more notorious examples of Mr. Blair and Mr.
Livingston, was the resort of their obscurer brethren.
Such a grievous charge however, for a grievous
charge iudeed it is, ought not to be alleged, but on
the most unexceptionable authority. I cite, there
fore, the words of the historian of the Lbyalty of th
Presbyterians, when I repeat the charge, that "all
those of the same persuasion who were ordained in
Ireland between that time," the tirae, naraely, of
Mr. Blair's ordination in 1622, " and the year 1642,
were ordained after the sarae method." " And all
of thera," adds ray author, " (Blair and all the rest,)
enjoyed the churches and tithes, though they re
raained Presbyterians still, and used not the Liturgy."
(Part L chap. iii. p. 162.)
Let one word be added on the raanner in which
the persons thus adraitted to the ministry obeyed
the injunctions of the Church. One of the first acts
of Mr. Blair was to rebuke his patron for kneeling
at the Lord's supper, the practice of those godly
ministers being to communicate in a sitting posture :
and "in my congregation," says he, "we had both
deacons for the poor and elders for discipline." And
Mr. Livingston relates, " not only had we publiek
worship, free of any inventions of men, but we had
also a tolerable discipline." In a word, their dis
cipline and their mode of worship appear to have
been Presbyterian. Was this according to the sti
pulation required by the Church in her Form of
Ordination, that her ministers " will give all faithful

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES I. 459
diligence to minister the discipline and the sacra
ments of Christ, as this Church hath received the
same?" Or was this stipulation one which scrupu
lous consciences evaded by " drawing a line over it
in the Ordination Book ? "
Bnt there is, perhaps, little cause of astonish- other ministers
. . connected with
ment that persons, who had thus procured admission them.
into the Church, should afterwards, whilst they
partook of her dignities and emoluraents, and were
nominally coraprehended vAithin her pale, have per
severed in maintaining the peculiarities of discipline
and worship, which marked those Avho were in
avowed dissent and separation frora her. With
these others were connected, attached to the prin
ciples of nonconformity, and adopting, in some
degree, its practices, especially where they could
escape detection in the retireraent of rural i^arisbes,
but conforming so far as seeraed necessary to raeet
the requisitions of the diocesans, under whose super
intendence they held their preferraents.
Little disposed, hoAvever, as sorae of these pre
lates were to strain too tight the obligation to
conformity, and inclined rather to regard such devia
tions with indulgence, and to treat thera with uuAvar-
rantable laxity of discipline, the boldness and reck
lessness, with which the rules of the Church were set
at nought, and the Presbyterian peculiarities pressed
upon the people, called for a stronger exercise of
authority even frora the more lenient bishops, upon
those lawless ministrations. Even Bishop Echlin, Bishop Echun
of Down and Connor, who had been guilty, or at d'uty."
least is under the imputation, of such crirainal weak
ness in Mr. Robert Blair's case, was hereby taught a
lesson of greater prudence and caution, and recalled
to the practice of his duty: and it appears to have

460

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Cause of applica
tion to Bishop
Knox.

been in consequence of his requiring what the
Church enjoined, a strict conforraity to her provisions
from candidates for the ministry, and of his refusing
to admit those who would not pledge themselves to
its observance, that Mr. John Livingston and some
of his brethren in irregularity, had recourse to the
Bishop of Raphoe for ordination.

Exercise of epi
scopal jurisdic
tion by Bishop
Echlin. ie-26.

Insult offered by bl shoUS.
Mr. Blair to the '¦
bishops and epi
scopal clergy.

Bishop of Dro
more 's conduct
on the occasion.

Bishop Echlin indeed proceeded to exercise
episcopal jurisdiction over some of those non-con
forming ministers of the church : as is shown in a
remarkable example in the year 1626, when he
called uj^on Mr. Blair to preach at the Lord Pri
mate's triennial visitation of the diocese. Priraate
Ussher was then absent in England ; but the visita
tion was holden by his officials, two of whom were
And the preacher took occasion to insult
those ejDiscopal representatives of the metropolitan,
his own diocesan, and the assembled episcopal
clergy, by a discourse, wherein, as he bears testi
mony himself,
" I endeavoured specially to show, that Christ our Lord
had instituted no bishops, but presbyters, or ministers : and
proved this first from the Holy Scriptures ; next from the
testimonies of the more pure among the ancient fathers and
divines, that have been seeking reformation these thirteen
hundred years ; and lastly, from the testimonies of the more
moderate divines, botb over sea and in England : not for
getting to rank tbe learned Dr. Ussher, their primate,
among the chief. And then I concluded with an exhorta
tion to them, to use moderately that power, which custom
and human laws had put in their band. And indeed they
took with the advice, without challenging my freedom.
Only the Bishop of Dromore, who was brother-in-law to
Dr. Ussher, exhorted me privately to behave as moderately
towards tbem, as they had done to me, and then bade me
farewell." '

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES I. 461
Theophilus Buckworth was at that tirae Bishop
of Dromore. Some time afterAvards, in 1630, the bishop again Mr. Biair-s ser
mon before the
called upon the same rainister to preach an assize lordsjustices.
^ ' 1030.
sermon before the lords justices, who carae annually
to the northern circuit. One of these, it seeras. Sir
Richard Beaton, the lord chief baron of the Ex
chequer, was " a violent urger of conforraity to the
English cereraonies:" and so the preacher raost
uncharitably represents the call, as "a more dan
gerous web, woven by the crafty bishop, the former
snare being broken ;" but he triumphantly subjoins,
"the only wise Lord, to whom I had committed
myself and my rainistry, did break this snare also,
and brought rae off with corafort and credit."
It is not a little remarkable Avith what arrogant Language of the
self-sufficiency these irregular ministers habitually mta'isterskTde-
speak of their own proceedings, frequently attri- ooourrencer"
buting their irregularities and lawlessness to a
special divine interposition; and how continually
they ascribe to the worst motives the conduct of the
bishops and other friends of the church, who acted
agreeably to their principles and engageraents as
episcopalians. Episcopacy, and everything connected
with it, appeared in their eyes, and is represented in
their writings as a sort of spiritual leprosy; and even
their most favoured Ussher could obtain from Mr.
Livingston no better character than that of being
"a godly man, although a bishop." No wonder, Messrs. Living-
then, that when this person and Mr. Blair had su°spen'dtd"or''
availed themselves of their ministerial character in '™«"'''"'y-
1631, for encouraging by their presence and partici
pation certain irregular proceedings in Scotland,
and their diocesan, the Bishop of Down and Connor,
had in consequence suspended them from the tem-

462 THE REIGN OP [Cn. VIl.
porary exercise of their ministerial functions, he is
stated by one of the delinquents to have been urged
to it " by the means of one Mr. Henry Leslie, dean,
and afterwards bishop, of Down, a violent and vain
glorious man ; and of Mr. John Maxwell, one of the
ministers of Edinburgh, who was gaping for a
bishoprick."
Mr. Blair seeks Ou thls occaslou Mr. Blair sought relief from
relief from the
Lord Primate, the interference of the Lord Primate, to whom it
seems that he had been made known by Lord Clane
boy, but whose courteous invitation to his table he
had excused himself from accepting, because he had
" once met with the English Liturgy there, and he
expected other things than formal liturgies in the
family of so learned and pious a man." It seems,
also, that on some previous occasion the priraate
had " tried Mr. Blair's mind concerning ceremonies,
wherein," he says, " we were not so far from agree-
His statement of iug as I feared. But when I had freely opened my
opinions. grievances, he admitted that all these things ought
to have been removed, but the constitution and laws
of the place and tirae would not permit that to be
done. He added, that he was afraid our strong dis
affection to these would mar our rainistry ; that he
had himself been importuned to stretch forth his
hand against us ; and that, though he would not for
the world do that, he feared instruments would be
found who would do it ; and he added, that it would
break his heart if our successful ministry in the
north were interrupted. Our conference ending, he
dismissed me very kindly, though I gave him no
high titles ; and, when trouble carae upon us, he
proved our very good friend."
Doubts suggested Sucli au admisslou concerning- the provisions of
bythisnarra- xi /-^i i o j ^
tive. the Church, and such patronage and commendation

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES I. 463
of raen, who were schisraaticks from her communion,
and avowedly hostile to her polity and laAvs, Avere
surely not agreeable to one in the primate's station
of dignity and trust ; so that in perusing this nar
rative, the mind of the reader, if it does not repu
diate the account at once and altogether, will jiro-
bably fluctuate between doubts of the accuracy of
the narrator, and misgivings as to the discretion and
wisdom, not to say the integrity, of the distinguished
subject of the recital. But, however this be, the
friendship of the primate is stated by Mr. Blair to
have been experienced on occasion of the suspension
of himself and his companion: for Archbishojj primate-s inter-
Ussher vATote to Bishop Echlin in terms Avhich, if favo"^!"'
correctly reported, corabined a vindication of these
irregular rainisters with a stricture on the judgment
of their diocesan, for he required Bishop Echlin to
" relax his erroneous censure."
They were less successful, however, in a case
which soon after occurred, in 1632, when the bishop
cited the same two offenders before him, and urged
them, with two others of their sect, " to conform,
and give their subscription to that effect. We
answered, that there was then no law nor canon in
that kingdora requiring this. Notwithstanding he Afterwards sus-
had the cruelty to depose us all four from the office l^f^i
of the holy ministry :" an office, be it observed, to
Avliich they had been admitted upon their promise
to the Church, if not expressly given, yet positively
due and substantially pledged, of conforraity to her
laAvs, and from which promise no authority, but that
of the Church herself, had power to exempt thera.
Application, however, was now again made in ineffectual
their behalf to the priraate. " But he told us," says ;?fmate? '"'
Mr. Blair, " he could not interpose, because the

for non-
¦mity.

464 THE REIGN OF [Ch. VIL
lords justices had an order from the king respecting
us. And, when we had recourse to their lordships,
they remitted us to the king, from whom only
remedy could be had." The interference, therefore,
of his majesty was in consequence solicited: but the
bishop's sentence of deposition Avas not reraoved,
and for that time, at least, the non-conforming
ministers were silenced.

Section IV.
Increase of Popery in Ireland. Bishop Bedell's plan for
converting the Natives. Sentiments of ihe Governmeni
on the subject. Qualification of age for Bishopricks.
Bramhall made Bishop of Derry. Commission for repair
of Churches. Lord Wentworth's exhibition of the state
of the Church. Archbishop Laud's answer. Settlement
of question of Precedence between the Archbishops of
Armagh atid Dublin.
Increase of Whilst those offorts were raaking by the Protestant
non-conforraists, there was a general increase of
Popery throughout the kingdora ; even in some
parts which had been raost conspicuous for attach
ment to the Church.
Letter to Lord "I find," says Mr. Justico Cressv, in a letter to the
JS'tieecTsr' 1^0^'^ Deputy, dated Wexford, August the 15th, 1633,
August, 16.33. u ^^^^ ^]^jg country, whicb doth contain the raost ancient
English plantators, Avho were lately the most forward pro
fessors of the Reformed Christian religion in the kingdom,
by the pernicious confluence of priests, who here have
Bomishhier- raised amongst them a Romish hierarchy of bishops, com-
fo'rd.'^ '" ^^ "^ missaries, vicars-general, and other officials, to the over
throwing of the royal power, and to the estabhshing of a
foreign state and jurisdiction in all causes ecclesiastical, are
now in a sort become principally Romish and Popish ; and
so, as themselves confess, do even groan under the burden.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 46&
I mean the secular aud common people. Noav. my lord,
this being directly agaiust tbe laws established, not invading
only, but even abrogating, bis majesty's princely government
over them of his states of this kingdom of Ireiaud, I held
niA'self bound, not only by mv oath as a iudi/e, and as a it."! uiegauty
1 , • , -^ • , ,1- exposed by tho
servant to tlie kmg, but even Dy my allegiance, to oppose judge.
this with all tbe force and strength that my place could
afford; and therefore in my charge upon the jury, did
declare unto them the quality and fearful consequences
thereof; and, as far as I could, did endeavour to anticipate
and prevent the policy of tbeir priest's absolutions from
perjury and wilful breach of their oaths : but, I fear, all iu
vain ; for they are all recusants, not oue Protestant among
them'." Such is the testiraony to the increase of Popery General incrcaFe
1 T • 1 1 1 1'1'i*'^ Poperv.
Ill a particular district, borne by a layman of high
legal station, Avho appears to have incurred, for the
discharge of his duty, the risk of assassination, of a
plot for effecting AAbicli he Avas kindly warned by a
friend. Testiraony to its general increase is thus
borne by Bishop Bedell, avIio, in a letter to the Lord Bishop Bedcn-j
Deputy, significantly bearing date, " the day of our lesj.
joyful deliverance from the Popish PoAvder Plot,
1633," affirras his kuoAidedge,
"That, in this kingdom of bis majesty, the Pope bath Pope's kingdom
another kingdom far greater in number, and (as I have ZTg-T.
heretofore signified to tbe lords ju.stices and couucil, wdiich
is also since justified by them.selves in print,) constantly
guided and directed by tbe orders of the new congregations
' de propaganda fide,' lately erected at Rome, and by tbe
means of the Pope's nuncios residing at Brussels or Paris :
that the Pope hath here a clergy, if I may guess by my
own diocese, double in number to us, the hands whereof
are by corporal oath bound to bim, to maintain him and
his regalities 'contra omnem hominem,^ and to execute bis
mandates to their utmost forces ; Avhich accordingly they
' Straf ord Letters, i. 103.
2 h

466

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. vii.

Irregular regulars.

Popish college
in Dublin.

New friaries.

Oath of allegi
ance decreed to
be not lawful.

Purpose of
Bishop Bedell's
statement.

do, styling themselves in print, ' Ego, N. Dei et Apostolicae
sedis gratia, Episcopus Fernen, Ossorien, &c.'
" I know that there is in this kingdom, for the moulding
of the people to the Pope's obedience, a rabble of irregular
regulars, commonly younger brothers of good houses, who
are grown to that insolency, as to advance themselves to be
members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, in better ranks
than priests, insomuch that the censure of the Sorbonne is
fain to be employed to curb them, which yet is called in
again, so tender is the Pope of these his own creatures.
" I know tbat his holiness hath erected a new university
at Dublin, to confront his raajesty's college there, and to
breed up the youth of this kingdom to his devotion.
" I know, and have given advertisements to the state,
that these regulars dare erect new friaries in the country,
since the dissolving of these in the city; that they have
brought the people to such a sottish senselessness, as that
they care not to learn the Ten Commandments, as God
himself spake and writ them, but flock in great numbers
to the preaching of new superstitions, and detestable doc
trines, such as their own priests are ashamed of, and at
these they leA^y collections, three, four, five, and six pounds,
at a sermon.
" Shortly I knoAV, that this clergy and these regulars
have at a general meeting, like to a synod, as they them
selves style it, holden at Drogheda, decreed that it is not
lawful to take the oath of allegiance ; and, if they be con
stant to their own learning, do account his majesty in their
own hearts to be king, but at the Pope's discretion^"
This stateraent of the Bishop of Kilraore was
made for the purpose of refuting an accusation, that
he had opposed the service of his majesty, by object
ing to the maintenance and upholding of the army.
He therefore introduces his statement with the pre
face, " If I should have had such an intention, this
had been not only to oppose the service of his
majesty, but that of the Highest Majesty, and to

Strafford Letters, i. 147.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 467
expose with the publiek peace mine oavu neck to
the scaines of the Romish cut-throats :" and he con
cludes it Avith the inference, " In this estate of this
kingdom, to think the bridle of the army may be
taken aAvay, it should be thought, not of a brainsick,
but a brainless man."
But whilst Avitli this persuasion, founded on nis mode of pro-
experience and careful inquiry, of the Popish interest Papists.
then in Ireland, and of the numbers, the terapers,
and the principles of the Papists, he was convinced
of the necessity of a strong military force for their
repression, it VA^as not by any compulsory measures
that Bishop Bedell aimed at their conversion. ITis
endeavours for that end Avere prosecuted throughout
his episcopal life, and were of the gentlest, and raost
concihatory, and raost persuasive kind. And oppor
tunity may be taken of the foregoing representation
of the state of Popery at a particular period, for
drawing the reader's attention to the bishop's modes
of proceeding, Avhich may be found more fully
detailed iu Bishop Burnet's life of him.
He laraented to observe, that the native Irish conversion of the
Popish priests.
Avere little regarded by the clergy of the Church, but
were left almost entirely in the hands of their own
priests. He was aAvare also of the extrerae igno
rance of these priests, most of whom could only read
their offices without understanding them, and could
teach them no more than to recite their " Paters
and Aves " in Latin. He therefore determined to
attenipt the conversion of the natives. The quickest
Avay appeared to be the gaining of some of the
better informed of the Roraish priesthood : and
thence the hope was entertained of spreading
amongst the native Irish the knoAvledge of the
2 H 2

468

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Religious puhli-
cations in
English and
Irish.

Irisli I.ituvpy in
his cathedral.

Translation of
the Old Testa-

Reformed religion, or, to speak more strictly, of
Christianity itself: for of Christianity they had no
other notion, except what consisted in giving their
entire confidence, and confessing their sins, and
paying tlieir tythes, to their priests. ITe therefore
l^ersuaded several priests to change their religious
profession ; and, being satisfied of the trutli of their
conversion, provided sorae with ecclesiastical bene
fices. Near hira, also, was a convent of friars, on
which he bestowed rauch care in instructing them,
and with good success.
And, in order to furnish his converts with the
raeans of instructing others, he reduced the elements
and most necessary truths of Christian knowledge
into a short catechism ; which he printed, together
Avith some forms of prayer, and some instructive and
edifying passages of Ploly Scripture, on a sheet, one
page of which Avas English, and the other Irish, aud
circulated it through the diocese, where the Irish
joyfully received it. By his directions, also, the
Comnion Prayer Book was read in Irish in his
cathedral, for the benefit of his converts; and all his
clergy were encouraged in setting-up parish schools.
Besides, the Noav Testament, and the Book of
Common Prayer, having been already translated into
Irish, he determined on placing in the hands of the
natives the Old Testament also in the same lan
guage. And he procured a person qualified for the
work; and, having made himself acquainted with
the language, he employed his diligence in revising
and correcting tbe translation, and in a few years
finished it, and eng-ao-ed for and set out the business
of having it printed, AAdien, by the breaking out of
the Rebellion, he was interrupted before the accom
plishraent of this great design.

Sec. IV.] KING CH.\RLES I. 469
Ofthe attempts thus made by Bishoji Bedell for rrcvious cxam-
the religious iraproveraent of his diocese, similar attempts.
examples have, for the most part, already fallen
under our notice. The peculiar merit of his attempts
appears to have been, that they Avere instituted on a
more methodical systeni, and conducted on a more
comprehensive scale, than those Avhich preceded ;
and they have had the adA^antage of being recorded
and set forth at length by the pen of a biographer,
Avho to favourable ojiportunities of procuring intelli
gence added a zealous disposition in detailing it.
What Avould have been the result of this experi- Their inobicma-
meiit, if it had not been thus interrupted : Avhether
it would have succeeded to any considerable extent
in the diocese of Kilmore, under the patronage of its
exeraplary bishop ; whether it would have been thus
recommended to the adoption of other dioceses, aud
thus ultimately have been the instrument in God's
hand for propagating a holier faitli throughout the
kingdom, if full time and opportunity bad been
alloAved for its trial : or whether, ou the other hand,
as in the case of Price, bishop of Kildare, and arch
bishop of Cashel, at a somewhat later period, Avho
" Avas A^ery diligent and laborious in reclaiming the
Papists to the communion of the Church, and for
that end maintained many Irish clergymen to preach
to them in their country language'," the praise
worthy experiment Avould have been defeated by the
restless activity and persevering efforts of the Popish
priests to counteract the design : may, after all, be
matter of speculation, and probably tbe occasion of
a variety of opinions in the speculators. But, in any credit due to
result, history OAves its tribute of respectful and for the attempt.
honourable notice to the calm solicitude, the dispas-
3 Ware's Bishops, p. 487.

470

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Principle of the
Government as
to religious
imity.

Bishop Vesey's
account of Lord
Wentworth'serrand.

Tyi-anny of
Popish priests.

sionate meditation, the unwearied energy, and the
Christian piety and benevolence of the venerable
jorelate Avho conceived, and, to the extent of his
abilities, jjrosecuted and effected his design.
MeauAvbile it should be noticed, that this plan of
religious reformation appears not to have been ap
proved by the Government ; certainly it was not
countenanced by Lord WentAvorth during his vice-
royalty, the principle of whose adrainistration Avas,
to enforce religious unity by Church discipline, and
to invigorate Church discipline with the secular arm.
It was in those days, indeed, the prevailing and
general opinion, that for sujDpressing vice and pro-
fanenesg, for counteracting schisra and sacrilege, the
dishonour and bane of the Reformation, as Avell as
for extirpating the earlier evils frora Avhich the
Reforraation sprang ; the raost effectual, if not the
only expedient, was to allow the Church the free
exercise of that spiritual poAver, Avliich she derives
frora Christ only, and to render it significant and
operative by civil penalties.
" Tbis," says Archbishop Vesey, the biographer of
Bishop Bramhall, " was indeed a great part of the Lord
Deputy's errand into this kingdom. The policy of that age
was to make tho monarchy strong and redoubtable to its
neighbours ; and tbe Protestant religion healthy and long-
lived, by an entire union of all his majesty's subjects
in the same confession and Avorship : and he knew all men
aro not to be preached and disputed, but to be governed,
into virtue and piety, peace and unity ; and, but that those
endeavours Avere unbajjpily misunderstood, we should not
have had reason to complain of that valetudinary state
which the Church now labours under."
In the present age such policy Avill be deemed
an infringeraent of personal privileges; but thus
much may be observed, that surely no obligations

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 471
or restraints of the most compulsory and penal
statutes could equal the tyranny exercised by Popish
priests over their subjects ; binding their Avills as
with a cart-rope, and searing tlieir consciences with
a hot iron.

In a letter from Archbishop Laud to the Lord ArchbishopLaud's letter fo
Deputy, dated Larabeth, Oct. 14, 1633, the follow- the Lord Deputy.
Oct., 1633.
ing remarks occur about the manner proposed for
supplying vacancies in the Irish Episcopate.
" I heartily thank your lordship for the inclosed paper
that you. sent me, though you might have spared the pains;
for I was never jealous that you would do anything against
the good of the Church, or such intentions as I have towards
it. For I am most confident (and I protest my heart and
pen go together) that since the Reformation there was
never any deputy in that kingdom intended tbe good of the
Church so much as your lordship doth. And I hope you Lord went-
are as resolute in your thoughts for me, that, since I was the church.
the first man that humbly besought bis majesty to send of
his chaplains to be bishops in that kingdom, I shall not The king's
now recede from it, unless it be at some times, and on some *^p'*'°^-
particular occasions, when I may receive information from
your lordship of some very able and discerning men on
that side.
"Concerning the age of such as should be made bishops Fit age for the
in those parts, I see your lordship and I shall not differ ^'"^""p^"^'
much ; for I did never intend, may I have free use of my
own judgment, to send you any decrepid man amongst you.
For I very well know, that in places where less action is
necessary than in Ireland, a man may be as well too old as
too young for a bishoprick. Your lordship would not have
any there under thirty-five, nor above forty-five. And,
truly, my lord, I am in the middle way, and tbat useth to
be best ; for I would have no man a bishop anywhere
under forty. And if your lordship understood clergymen
as well as I do, I knoAV you would in this be wholly of my
judgment. I never in all my life knew any more than one

472

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VII.

Bramhall niado
Bishop of Derry.
16,34.

On Archbishop
Laud's recom
mendation.

Observations on
hisiiBc.

made a bishop before forty ; and he proved so well, that I
shall never desire to see more, nor Avill, if I can binder it;
but tbis way that I have expressed, bave witb you for all
occasions, both for Church and State. And, if at any time
I send you any of my acquaintance, and break rule of age,
life, or doctrine, lay it upon me home^"
It is not a little remarkable, that the first vacancy,
which occurred araongst tbe Irish bishops, caused a
deviation frora the rule tbus formally announced.
But it so happened, that precisely seven months
after the date of the preceding, on the 14tli of May,
1 634, the archbishop Avrote thus to the Lord Deputy :
" Now, my lord, to your great business. Since the
Bishop of Derry is dead, I have (though against the
rule which I have lodged with his majesty) moved
earnestly for Dr. Bramhall to succeed him ; and
given hira the reasons, Avhy, for his oavu service, and
the good of the Church iu that kingdom, he should
dhspense in this particular for the doctor's beiug a
little too young. His majesty, after some arguing
on the business, and with great testimony of your
lordship's good service to himself aud the Church,
granted him the bishoprick, as you Avill see by the
letters which accorapany these. This I have readily
done to serve you, with sorae departure frora my own
judgraent in matter of age, hoping the doctor Avill
supply it with temper ; aud then he hath the more
strength for his bu.siness, which he says he Avill not,
and I say he must not, leave, till that Church be
better settled ; which I dare say must be uoav, Avhen
a king, a lord deputy, and a poor archbishop, set
jointly to it, or never." BranihaU's biographers
relate him to have been born in or about the year
1593 ; in which case, at the time in question, he
^ Strafford Letters, i. 124.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 473
must have been hard upon, if not rather more than,
forty years of age; beyond the limit, therefore,
Avhich the archbishop liiid defined for the episcopal
qualification. The case gave occasion for another important objection to
Irish bishops
general observation from Archbishop Laud : " \v hat holding com-
^ meii'l(im,i in
Dr. Bramhall holds in England, he must leave : that England.
bishoprick, being good, needs no commendam ; if it
did, it must be helped there. For I foresee marvel
lous great inconvenience, and very little less than
mischief, if Avay be given to bishops there to hold
commendams here\"
In the interval between the dates of the Iavo commissions for
1 ¦ • 1 ' • (, -r^ 1 repair of
letters, just cited, a communication of December, churches.
1633, from the Lord Deputy, inforras the Arch
bishop of Canterbury, " Commissions for repair of
churches are issued over the Avhole kingdora, and all
the life shall be given to it that possibly I can : and
yet it may be, some hot-heated prelate may think,
there is no good intent to religion. But I must
answer him, that his brain-sick zeal Avould A^'ork a
goodly Reformation surely, to force a conformity to
a religion, AA-hereas yet there is hardly to be found
a chnrch to receive, or an able rainister to teach
the people. No, no, let us tit ourselves in these
two." The Lord Deputy had evidently turned to the Lord Deputy's
best account the tirae and opportunity, afforded him wshopLaudmi
for investigating the state of the Church, since his 01^4°°
arrival in Ireland. About this tirae, he tbroAv
together the particulars of the information he had
collected, and transmitted it to Archbishop Laud,
in a letter of January 31, 1634; which it is hardly
' Strafford Letteis, i. 255.

474

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VIL

possible to peruse without feelings of disappointment
and astonishment, as well as of pain and sorrow.

Desire of religi
ous conformity
between England
and Ireland.

Propositions for
improving the
Church of
Ireland.

Distempered state of the
Church.

Places of educa
tion iU-con-
dueted.

" May it please your Grace,
" The reducing of this kingdom to a conformity in
religion with tbe Church of England is no doubt deeply set
in bis majesty's pious and prudent heart, as well in perfect
zeal to the service of tbe Almighty, as out of other weighty
reasons of state and government.
" But to attempt it before the decays of the material
churches be repaired, and an able clergy be provided, that
so there might be both, wherewith to receive, instruct, and
keep the people, were as a man going to warfare without
munition or arms. It being, therefore, most certain, that
this to-be-wished Reformation must first work from our
selves, I am bold to transmit over to your grace these few
propositions, for tbe better ordering this poor Church, which
hath thus long laid in the silent dark : and thereupon crave
your counsel, that I may understand what his majesty will
be pleased to ordain further herein.
" The best entrance to the cure will be clearly to dis
cover tbe state of the patient, wbich I find many ways
distempered : an unlearned clergy, which have not so much
as the outward form of churchmen to cover themselves
with, nor their persons any ways reverenced or protected ;
the churches unbuilt ; tbe parsonage and vicarage-houses
utterly ruined ; the people untaught, through the non-
residency of the clergy, occasioned by the unlimited shame
ful numbers of spiritual promotions witb cure of souls,
which tbey hold by commendams ; the rites and ceremonies
of tbe Church run over vi^ithout all decency of habit, order,
or gravity, in the course of their service ; the possessions of
tbe Church, to a great proportion, in lay-hands ; the bishops
aliening their very principal houses and demesnes to their
children, to strangers ; farming out their jurisdictions to
mean and unworthy persons ; the Popish titulars exercising
the whilst a foreign jurisdiction much greater than theirs.
" The schools, which might be a means to season the
youth in virtue and religion, either ill-provided, ill-governed
in the most part, or, which is worse, applied sometimes

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES L 475
underhand to the maintenance of Popish school-masters ;
lands, given to these charitable uses, and that in a bountiful
proportion, especially by King James of ever blessed
memory, dissipated, leased forth for little or nothing, con
cealed contrary to all conscience, and the excellent purposes
of the founders. The college here, Avhich should be tbe
seminary of arts and civility in the elder sort, extremely
out of order, partly by means of tbeir statutes which must
be amended, and partly under the government of a weak
provost. "All the monies, raised for charitable uses, converted Abuse of puWiek
to private benefits ; many patronages unjustly, and by
practice, gotten from the crown.
"Many ofthe Cburch livings never so much as once Neglect of first-
mentioned in the office of first-fruits ; whereby the crown
doth not only lose what belongs unto it, but the Churcb a
protection and safety, Avhich ever follows it, where her
interests and the interests of the crown are thus woven
together. " Here are divers of the clergy, Avhose wives and children Families of the
are recusants : and there I observe the Church goes most reciSints!"*
lamentably to wreck, and hath suffered extremely under
the Avicked alienations of this sort of pastors, wherein I
could already give many instances. Therefore, I judge it
fit tbis should be inquired after, and themselves avoided
and deprived, if by any legal means it can possibly be
effected. " They are accustomed here to bave all their christen- Private christen
ings and marriages in their private houses ; and, whicb is marriages.
odd, they never marry till after supper, and so to bed.
This breeds a great mischief in tbe commonwealtb, which
is seen in this ; that, because these rites of tbe Church are
not solemnized in tbe publiek and open assemblies, there is
nothing so common as for a man to deny his wife and
children, abandon the former, and betake himself to a new
task. I conceive it were fit, that these particulars should
be reduced to the custom of England, which is, not only
much better for the publiek, but the more civil and comely.
And, indeed, I hold it most needful, your lordship would
take a course, that all tbe canons, now in force in England,

476

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Adoption of the
Englisli canons
recommended.

Vse of a high
commission in
Dublin.

ArchbishopLaud's answer.
March, 1G34.

Repair both of
the material and
spiritual Church
recommended.

should be imposed upon tbis clergy ; and the Church
altogether governed under tbose rules for tbe future, for as
yet they have no canons set by publiek authority at all.
"And, finally, I hold it very fit, there Avere a high com
mission settled bere in Dublin, conceiving the use of it
might be very great, to countenance the despised state of
tbe clergy; to support ecclesiastical courts and officers,
much suffering by means of the overgroAvth of Popery in
this kingdom ; to restrain tbe extrerae extortions of officials,
registers, and such like ; to annul all foreign jurisdiction,
whicb daily groAvs more insolent than other ; to punish the
abominable polygamies, incests, and adulteries, which, both
in respect of the exercise of a foreign jurisdiction, and for
the fore-mentioned reasons are here too, too frequent ; to
provide for the maintenance of the clergy, and for their
residence, either by themselves or able curates ; to take an
account, bow monies given to pious uses are bestowed ; to
bring the people bere to a conformity in religion ; and, in
tbe way to all these, raise, perhaps, a good revenue to the
crown. But then I could wi.sh, there be good choice had
in naraing of commissioners ; and that it be not set on foot,
till Ave see Avbat may become of a parliament, in case his
majesty sball hold it fit to assemble that council'."
On the Ilth of ]\Iarch foUoAving, the archbishop
ansAvered the Lord Deputy, in part to this effect.
" The auatomj', which you make of the Irish ecclesias
tical disease, makes it apparent, that it is spread so univer
sally over the body, tbat a very wise physiciau can scarce
tell where to begin his cure. But if you AA'ould have my
foolish judgment, thus it is.
" I would set upon the repair of the material and the
spiritual Church together ; and first I Avould have a general
and strict command issued out, that every minister should
read all divine service wholly and distinctly, in a grave and
religious manner, to the people ; and this I take it may be
presently done witbout any noise, because they have the
English liturgy already. And at tbe same time would 1
have an act made, that no man of what degree soever

Straffoi-d Letters, i. 187, 188.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 477
sliould hold above two benefices witb cure, and tbose Avitbin
a limited distance, that tbey may the better take care of
them. If these two were once settled, the rest Avould
follow in order, especially if your lordship can reduce some
more of their temporalties for maintenance ; and keej) them,
especially the bishops, from tbeir sacrilegious alienations,
about which you are in a very good Avay, and bis majesty
commands me to thank you for tbat care.
" For the schools, if your lordship Avill reraedy anything. Remedy con-
you must take tbe same Avay for restoring their temporalties, '^"'""^'¦'^ °°
without wliich reward no man Avill take pains ; and there
are not many men, which deserve better or worse of a state
than schoolmasters. And where abuses are grown so many
and great, I do not see any Reformation possible, Avithout
some severity. Therefore, if your lordship will rectify this,
you must turn out the insufficient, and especially those,
Avhich train up the youth in Popery.
"For the third thing your lordship mentions, I con- Remedy, asto
,1 .. 'c.i 1 ,,. publickcbarities
ceive the remedy is more easy : tor there you nave nothing
to do, but to tum tbe money, given to charitable uses, to
the use intended by the donor ; to reduce such patronages,
as are unjustly gotten from the crown ; and to enter into
the first-fruit office all such benefices as are uot there already,
and yet are valuable in that account : wbich I mention so,
because with us in England no benefice pays auy subsidy,
which is not above 6/. value in the king's books.
" As for the college, I ara A'ery sorry they have chosen Archbishop ob-
me chancellor; and, if tbey will follow the directions I ceiiorofthe
have given them by my Lord Primate, I hope they will ''""^^le.
send me a resignation, that I may give it OA'er, and your
lordship be chosen, being upon the place, and able to do
them much more good. As for their statutes, if they need
any mending, I shall not refuse that pains : but, before I
can enter upon tbat service, if they have a confirmation of its statutes to be
their statutes under the broad seal of tbat kingdom, or
this, I must have a commission under the same seal, to
authorize me to alter or do what I think fit with them ;
else I may not meddle. If this shall be thought fit, I will
presently send for a copy of their statutes, and such excep
tions, as the wisest men in that society can make against

altered.

478

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

The provost to
be changed.

New body of
statutes for the
university.

Robert Ussher
made Bishop of
Kildare.

them, and so proceed. For the provost, if he be a weak
one, the fault is not mine : for, when tbe Bishop of Kilmore
was preferred from that government, I Avas resolved to
make the Dean of Cashel, that noAv is, his successor ; and
though my Lord Primate writ very earnestly for a native
and his kinsman, that now is provost, tvith assurance of his
sufficiency; and though two of the fellows came over and
petitioned his majesty; yet all this should hardly have taken
me off, had not the Dean of Cashel at that time absolutely
refused me : and, if now your lordship think him as fit for
the place as I do, I will join with you for the preferring of
the present provost ; and, to be roA'cnged of his former
refusal, put in the Dean of Cashel, alway provided, that for
his better encouragement, he may hold his deanery'."
Some of the foregoing- topicks will fall again
under our notice hereafter. For the present, it may
be stated with respect to the last paragraph of Arch-
bisboiJ Laud's answer, that the statutes of the
university having been referred to his consideration,
he drew up a body of laAvs for the university of
Dublin, as he had already done for that of Oxford,
and procured the royal authority for their establish
ment : and with respect to the provostship, that the
Dean of Cashel, William Chappel, afterwards pro
moted to the united bishopricks of Cork, Cloyne, and
Ross, was, in the year following the date of this
correspondence, placed at the head of the academical
body, on the removal of Robert Ussher, son of the
forraer Priraate of that narae, and cousin of the
actual Primate, to the See of Kildare. The removal
of Ussher to this superior station in the Church may
be judged not unmerited, if he has been correctly
reported by his biographer, " as a i)relate orthodox,
unblameable, learned, of a meek, modest, conscien
tious, and gentle behaviour ; constant and assiduous

Strafford Letters, i. 212.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 479
as a preacher, and eminent for his abilities in the
pulpit" :" although he may have been deficient in
"the vigour and activity," for AA'hich his successor in wiiii.-un chap-
, ,,. * . , i.,i pel, his successor
the provostship was conspicuous, and "Avhich he as provost.
showed in enforcing uniformity and strict Church
discipline in the college, in opposition to the schisra
and fanaticism of the times ; in his eminent know
ledge of the science of government, and his exact
temper in the adrainistration of it, which appeared
in the raildness and regularity of his management of
the society, and in the perfect obedience of the
scholars to the rules and statutes of the house"."
Here also it may be convenient to mention, as nigh commis-
resnlting from this correspondence, that a high com
mission court was at no distant period established in
Dublin, after the pattern of that in London, and
possessed of similar powers, the principal of which
are specified in the concluding paragragh of the
Lord Deputy's letter to the archbishop. But the
appointment of this court was suspended, according
to the intention there indicated, until after the
meeting of the parliament at that time in contem
plation.

In the mean time, it was deterrained to hold a Question of pre-
.. f, 1 1 cedence between
parliament, and withal a convocation of the clergy: the Archbishops
, , . . , ., of Armagh and
and as a preliminary, to settle the question concern- nubun.
ing the precedence of the Archbishops of Arraagh
and Dublin, which had not been agitated since the
reign of Queen Mary, who restored to Archbishop
Dowdall the primacy, of which he had been deprived
by King Edward. Recently it had been again
revived by the Archbishops of Dublin, first by
Thomas Jones, and then by Lancelot Bulkeley; the
' Ware's Bishops, p. 392. * lb., p. 567.

480

"THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

Rights of his
see maintained
by Archbishop
Hampton.

By order of tbe
ting, 1626.

Tl e claims ex
amined by Lord
AVentworth. June, 1634.

latter of whom, soon after his consecration, took up
the controversy with Primate Hampton, and noAV
again resumed it with Primate Ussher. The ground,
on which he rested his claira, was the presumption,
that " a Protestant king and council Avould confirm
the patent, granted by a Protestant king to his pre
decessor, Archbishop Browne, and abolish that ofa
Popish queen to Priraate DoAvdall."
Ag-ainst each of these claimants in succession
Archbishop Hampton maintained the rights of his
see to precedence, both in parliament and in con
vocation. Among the MSS. of Trinity College,
Dublin, are extant in his oaa'ii hand-writing all the
proofs which he drew on this occasion, and which he
thus concludes: "I ara AA-eary, and a little ashamed,
of spending so much tirae in matters merely formal.
The Archbishop of Dubliu hath compelled nie. He
challengeth that Avhicli is not due to him. I defend
the long-continued right of my see. INIy defence is
necessary : his challenges and encroachments are
superfluous, and more than needed."
The death of Priraate Hampton caused at that
time the suspen,sion of the dispute. But, on its
resumption against Ussher, King Charles the First,
on the Sth of .luly, 1626, directed letters to the
Lord Deputy, Viscount Falkland, and the privy
council, to examine into and finally determine the
difference, that the scandal, arising from such an
unseemly contention betAveen prelates, might b^
avoided. But nothing was done in execution of
this command until June, 1634, a little before the
meeting of parlia.raent : when the Lord Deputy,
Viscount Wentworth, summoned the two arch
bishops before the council board, and during two
successive days narroAvly examined into the differ-

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES I. 48 1
ences ; viewed the records ; aud heard all the
allegations on either side'".
He then declared, "that it appeared from divers ms decision lu
, ^-^ « . - favour of
evidences, that frora all antiquity the See of Arraagh Armagii.
had been acknowledged the prime see of the whole
kingdom ; aud the archbishop thereof reputed, not a
provincial primate, like the other three metropo
litans, but a national ; that is, the sole Priraate of
Ireland, properly so called. That in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth,- the Archbishop of Dublin did con
stantly subscribe after the Archbishop of Arraagh.
That in the statute for free-schools, in the 12th of
Ehzabeth, the Archbishop of Armagh is nominated
before the Archbishop of Dublin, as he is in that of
the 27th of Elizabeth, Avhere all the archbishops and
bishops were ranked in their order, as appeared by
the Parhament Rolls. For which reasons he de
creed, that the Archbishop of Armagh, and his
successors for ever, should have precedency, and be
ranked before the Archbishop of Dublin and his
successors, as well in parliament and convocation
house, as in all other meetings ; and in all cora
missions, where they should be inentioned ; and in
all places, as well within the diocese or province of
Dublin, as elseAvhere ; until upon better proof, on
the part of the Archbishop of Dublin, it should be
adjudged otherwise." And thus was finally con
cluded this dispute, whiph had frora tirae to tirae
perplexed and disturbed both Church and State for
many hundred years.
It may be here incidentally noticed, that the
same dispute having been perpetuated between the
two titular archbishops, as late as the year 1670, the
question was referred to the See of Rome ; when the
'¦' Ware's Bishops, p. 79. 2 I

482 THE REIGN OF [Cn. VIL
matter Avas solemnly considered, in a full meeting of
Cardinals ; and the congregation de propaganda, fide,
with the approbation of the Pope, decided, that
" Arraagh was the chief see and metropolis of the
whole island"."

Section V.
Acts of Parliament for Improving the Temporal Estates of
the Church. Convocation. Petition to the King in behalf
of the inferior Clergy. Proposed adoption of the Thirty-
Nitie Articles of the Church of England. Difficulty of
carrying it, surmounted by the Lord Deputy. Conduct
of Primate Ussher. Proceeditigs in Convocation. Canon
for tnatiifestatioti of Agreement between ihe two Churches.
Effect oti the former Articles ofthe Irish Church. Sub-
scriptioti to them abatidoned. Proposal to adopt the
English Canons. Composition of a new Book committed,
io Bishop Bramhall. Wherein diff'ering from English
Book. Omissions. Additions. Publication of the
Cations. Congratulatory Letter of Archbishop Laud.
Parliament and On the 14th of July, 1635, a Parliament met, and
July, 10.35. also a Convocation of the Clergy.
Acts for improv- lu thls Parliament several acts were passed for
esfaterot'the"'''' improvlug tlio temporal estates of the Church, more.

Church.

it has been said, than in any other parliament. The
first was for the maintenance and execution of pious
uses ; obliging all archbishops and bishops to per
form every such trust, according to the true intent
of the deeds, in that behalf made or to be made.
The next was a statute for confirmation of leases,
made by the Lord Primate and other prelates of
Ulster, of such endowments as had been granted by
King James to the sees of Armagh, Derry, Clogher,
Raphoe, and Kilmore ; giving them power, at any
' ' Stuart's Armagh, p. 305.

Sec. v.] king CHARLES I. 483
time within five years, to make leases for sixty .years
of such lands.
In another session of this parliament, a third
and very iraportant act was passed for the preserva
tion of the inheritance, rights, and profits of lands
belonging to the Church and persons ecclesiastical.
This limited them to term and rent; prescribed
what they might set, for what and how long ; and
Avas the great security of succession. Also in the
same adjourned session another act was passed for
the benefit of the inferior clergy ; enabling restitu
tion of impropriations, and tythes, and other rights
ecclesiastical to the clergy, Avith a restraint frora
alienating the same, and directions for the presenta
tions to churches'.
Meanwhile business was transacting in the con- convocation.
vocation, aflfecting both the temporalties and spiri
tualties of the Church.
With respect to the former, the archbishops and Petition of the
bishops, in behalf of the inferior clergy, agreed on ting.
the following humble petition to the king. It set
forth, " That in the whole Christian world, the rural clergy Distress of the
have not been reduced to such extreme contempt and beg- inferior clergy.
gary as in this your highness's kingdom, by the means of the
frequent appropriations, commendams, and violent intru
sions into their undoubted rights in times of confusion ;
having their churches ruined, their habitations left desolate,
their tythes detained, their glebes concealed, and, by inevit
able consequence, an invincible necessity of a general non-
residence imposed upon them, whereby the ordinary sub
ject has been left wholly destitute of all possible means to
learn true piety to God, loyalty to their prince, civility
' Irish Stat., 10 Charles I., sess. iii., chap. 1 & 5 ; and 10 & 11
Charles L, chap. 2 & 3.
2 I 2

appropriations.

484 the reign of [Ch. vii.
towards one another, and whereby former wars and insurrec
tions have been occasionally both procreated and main
tained. Whereas by settling a rural clergy, endowed with
competency to serve God at bis altar, besides the general
protection of tbe Almighty, which it will most surely
bring upon your majesty and this kingdom, barbarism and
Superstition will be expelled, the subject shall learn his
duty to God and his sovereign, and true religion be pro
pagated.
Prayer for the " Our most humble suit is, that your highness would
be graciously pleased, for God's cause and for his Church's
cause, and for the encouragement of others by your royal
example, to so good a work, to perfect the pious intentions
of your blessed Father, and your sacred majesty, by esta
blishing upou a rural and resident clergy, those appropria
tions which are yet in the crown undisposed. So as the
same may bring no diminution to your revenue, nor con
siderable prejudice to the rights of the imperial crown of
this realm, as by a representation of the true state of these
benefices made to the Lord Deputy, and hereunto annexed,
may appear''."
Spiritual mat- The convocatiou was, at the same time, actively

ters.

engaged in questions aflfecting the sijiritual condi
tion of the Church.
General confor- Tlio two cliurches of England and Ireland were
mity of the two ti.i ••, n .i-
Churches. actuatod by the same spirit, and presented, in a
great degree, the same appearance as to their reli
gious provisions ; for indeed the reformation of the
latter had followed the direction of the former. But
in the construction of their respective Articles of
Religion, the Church of Ireland had declined the
example of the sister church ; and, in particular, had
defined certain speculative questions which had been
in England, more wisely, perhaps, and tenderly, left
undetermined. By many sincere and zealous friends
' Collier's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 763.

Skc. v.] king CHARLES I. 485
of both churche.s, this absence of perfect unity Avas
lamented, and an entire harraony of profession de
sired. The course to be pursued Avas the adoption Proposed adop
tion of the
by the Irish Church of the Thirty-Nine Articles of xhirty-Nino
•' •' Articles.
the Church of England. This measure Avas strongly
recommended by Bishop Bramhall : it was cordially
encouraged by the English and Irish Governraents :
it received the concurrence, if not the zealous co
operation, of the Lord Priraate : and to procure the
general consent of the bishops and clergy, and so to
establish a perfect and unequivocal identity in the
profession of Christian doctrine AA'as a principal ob
ject of the present convocation.
The chief, if not the only, difficulty, which at- Difficulty pre
tended the measure, seems to have arisen out of the Msh Articles of
different body of articles which the Church of Ire
land had agreed upon in 1615. The history of the
proceedings taken for accomplishing the measure, as
deduced from the correspondence betAveen the tAvo
governments, is extremely curious; and derived,
as it is, from such a source, cannot but be
authentick. The subject must have been discussed in earlier Letter to the
letters, which do not appear; for in one from the fromArciI-'
Archbishop of Canterbury to the Lord Deputy, oc^^eM.""*'
dated October 20, 1634, manifest reference is raade
to a former comraunication, to which this is an
answer. " I knew how you would find my Lord
Primate affected to the Articles of Ireland ; but I
am glad the trouble that hath been in it will end
there, without advertising of it over to us. And course with re-
Avhereas you propose to have the Articles of England
received in ipsissimis verbis, and leave the other as
no Avay concerned, neither affirmed nor denied, you
are certainly in the right ; and so says the king, to

486

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. vn.

Letter from tho
Lord Deputy to
the Archbishop.
Dec, 1634.

Suggestion of the
Primate.

Lord Deputy's

His previous
security.

Artifice of the
lower house of
convocation.

whom I imparted it, as well as I. Go, hold close,
and you will do a great service in it'."
But in a letter of December the 16th, 1634, the
whole business is more fully opened to the arch
bishop by the Lord Deputy, who expresses his desire
of " certifying to his grace how all hath gone with
us in the convocation-house."
" In a former letter of mine," remarks Lord Went
worth, " I mentioned a way propounded by my Lord Pri
mate, how to bring upon this clergy the Articles of Eng
land, and silence those of Ireland without noise, as it were
aliud agens, which he was confident would pass among
them. " In my last I related to you how his grace grew fear
ful he should not be able to effect it ; which awakened me,
that had rested hitherto secure upon that judgment of his,
and had indeed leaned upon that belief so long as, had I not
bestirred myself, though I say it, like a man, I had been
fatally surprised, to my extreme grief, for as many days as I
have to live.
" The Popish party growing extreme perverse in the
Commons House, and the Parliament thereby in great
danger to have been lost in a storm, had so taken up all my
thoughts and endeavours, that, for five or six days, it was
not almost possible for me to take an accompt how business
went among them of the clergy. Besides I reposed secure
upon the Primate, who all this while said not a word to me
of the matter. At length I got a little time, and that mcst
happily too ; informed myself of the state of those affairs ;
and found that the lower house of convocation had ap
pointed a select committee to consider the Canons of the
Church of England ; that they did proceed in the exami
nation without conferring at all with their bishops ; that
they had gone through the Book of Canons, and noted in
the margin such as they allowed with an A ; and on others
tbey had entered a D, which stood for deliberandum; that
into the fifth article they had brought the Articles of Ire
land, to be allowed and received under the pain of excom-
'" Strafford Letters, i,, 820.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 487
niunication ; and that they had drawn up their canons into
a body, and were ready that afternoon to make report in the
convocation." Highly displeased at this contrivance, the Lord i.oid ucputy-a
- , . interview with
Deputy, as he goes on to relate, sent for the chair- the chairm.an of
„ , . , , . . , . , 1 . , 1 'l^i^ committee.
man of the committee, requiring him to bring the
Book of Canons, so noted in the margin, together
Avith the draught- he was that afternoon to present
to the house ; expressed his indignation at the pro
ceedings, at which he felt above measure ashamed
and scandalized ; and coraraanded hira on his alle
giance to report nothing frora that committee to the
house, till he had heard frora the Lord Deputy.
Thereupon he called a meeting of the Primate, Meeting of the
the Bishops of Meath,- Raphoe, Kilraore, and Derry, othSs."^"
the prolocutor of the house, and all those who had
been of the coraraittee, and publickly told thera,
"how unlike clergymen, that owed canonical obe
dience to their superiors, they had proceeded in their
committee ; how unheard a part it was, for a fsAv
petty clerks to presume to raake articles of faitli
without the privity or consent of state or • bishop ;
what a spirit of Brownism and contradiction he ob
served in their deliberandums, as if, indeed, they pur
posed at once to take away all government and order
forth of the Church, and leave every man to choose
his own high place, which liked him best."
The Lord Deputy then laid his injunctions, of The Lord dc-
which these were the most important : that the tiJns.""''"'"'
prolocutor should put no question at all in the
house touching the receiving or not of the Articles
of the Church of Ireland ; that he should put the
question for allowing and receiving the Articles of
England, barely, content or not content. And,
hecause there should be no question in the canon

488

the reign of

[Ch. vii.

The Primate's
supposed know
ledge of the
transaction.

Canon framed to
meet the exi
gence.

L»ird Deputy's
jealousy of the
Primate.

Canon passed by
both houses.

thus to be voted, he desired the Lord Primate would
be pleased to frame it : and, after the Lord Deimty
had perused it, he vvould send the prolocutor a
draught of the canon to be propounded, enclosed in
a letter of his own.
" It is very true," observes the Lord Deputy, making
his own comment on the transaction, " that, for all the
Primate's silence, it was not possible but he knew how
near tbey were to bave brought in those Articles of Ireland,
to the infinite disturbance and scandal of the Church, as I
conceive : and certainly could have been content I had
been surprised. But he is so^ learned a Primate, and so
good a man, as I do beseech your grace it may never be
imputed to him. Howbeit I will always Avrite your lord
ship the truth, whomsoever it concerns.
" The Primate," he continues, " accordingly framed a
canon, a copy whereof you have here, which I not so well
approving, drew up one myself, more after the words of the
canon in England, which I held best for me to keep to, as
close as I could, and then sent it to my lord. His grace
came instantly to me, and told me, be feared the canon
would not pass in such form, as I had made it, but he was
hopeful, as be had drawn it, it might ; besought me there
fore to think a little better of it.
" But I confess, having taken a little jealousy that his
proceedings were not open and free to those ends I had my
eyes upon, it was too late now, either to persuade or affright
me. I told his lordship I was resolved to put it to them in
those very words ; and was most confident there were not
six in the houses tbat would refuse them, telling him, by
the sequel we should see, Avhether his lordship or myself
better understood tbeir minds on that point, and by that I
would be content to be judged : only, for order sake, I
desired his lordship would vote this canon first in tho upper
house of convocation ; and, so voted, then to pass the ques
tion beneath also.
" Without any delay then I writ a letter to Dean Leis-
ley, (the prolocutor,) with the canon enclosed, which
accordingly was that afternoon unanimously voted, first

Sec. v.] king CHARLES I. 489
with the bishops, and then Avith the clergy, excepting one
man : you shall find his name amongst the committees,
who singly did deliberate upon the receiving the Articles of
England \"
The foregoing account of the proceedings of the
Lord Deputy, raade, as he solemnly affirms, " A\ith
an upright heart, to prevent a breach, seeming at
least, betAvixt the Churches of England and Ireland,"
discloses some of the secret springs by Avliich their
agreement AA'as attempted respectively to be pro
moted or retarded. What folloAvs is a narrative of nishop vescy's
, . , . ., , n.arration of
some of the proceedings in the convocation, recorded some proceedings
in Bishop Vesey's Life of Primate Bramhall, and
derived in substance from the report of Thoraas
Price, archbishop of Cashel, who was at the time
archdeacon of Kilraore, and consequently one of
the lower house of convocation.
" The Bishop of Derry," says his biographer, "laboured Bisiiop Br.ain-
in the convocation, to have the correspondence between the }'"/ utr-ni'iTtj"'
two churches more entire and accurate : and discoursed, "'"" Articles.
with great moderation and sobriety, of the convenience of
having the Articles of peace and communion in every
national Church, worded in that latitude, that dissenting
persons in those tbings, that concerned not the Christian
faith, might subscribe, and the Church not lose tbe benefit
of their labours for au opinion, which, it may be, they
could not help : that it Avere to be wished that such
Articles might be contrived for the Avhole Christian Avorld,
but especially that the Protestant Churches under his
majesty's dominion might ' all speak the same language ;'
and particularly tbat those of England and Ireland, being
reformed by the same principle and rule of Scripture,
expounded by universal tradition, councils, fathers, and
other ways of conveyance, might confess their faith iu the
same form. For, if tbey were of tbe same opinion, why
did they not express themselves in the same words l"
* Strafford Letters, i. 312 ; ii. IG.

490

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII,

Answer in favour
of the Articles of
1615.

Bishop Bram
hall's reply.

The first of the
Irish canons
passed by the
convocation.

But he was answered, " that, because their sense
was the same, it was not material if the expressions
differed ; and therefore it was fitter to confirm and
strengthen the Articles of this Church, passed in
convocation, and confirmed by King James, in 1615,
by the authority of this present synod."
To this the Bishop of Derry replied, "That
though the sense might be the same, yet our adver
saries clamoured much that they were dissonant
confessions ; and it was reasonable to take aAvay the
offence, when it might be done easily : but for the
confirmation of the Articles of 1615, he knew not
what they meant by it ; and wished the propounder
to consider, whether such an act would not, instead
of ratifying what was desired, rather tend to the
diminution of that authority, by which they were
enacted, and seem to question the value of that
synod, and consequently of this : for that this had
no more power than that, and therefore could add
no moments to it, but by so doing might help to
enervate both."
By this prudent dressing of this objection, he
avoided the blow he most feared ; and therefore
again earnestly pressed the receiving of the English
Articles, which Avere at last admitted. Whereupon
immediately " drawing up a canon," says his biogra
pher, rather perhaps we may suppose, bringing for
ward the canon which had been previously drawn up
by the Lord Deputy, and with a copy of which he
would naturally be intrusted for the occasion, " and
proposing it, it passed accordingly." The canon is
the first of those that were made in that convocation :
namely, " ofthe agreement of the Church of England
and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian
religion ;" and is expressed in the following terms.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 491
"For the manifestation of our agreement with the English Articles
Church of England in the confession of the same Christian approved!"'
faith, and the doctrine of the Sacraments ; we do receive
and approve the Book of Articles of Religion, agreed upon
by the archbishops, and bishops, and the whole clergy, in
the convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord,
1562, for the avoiding of diversities of opinions, and for the
establishing of consent touching true religion. And there
fore if any hereafter shall affirm, that any of those Articles
are in any part superstitious or erroneous, or such as he may
not with a good conscience subscribe unto, let him be
excommunicated, and not absolved before he make a publiek
recantation of his error."
Thus the English Articles were received and Question as to
approved by the Irish convocation with the single &ish''™tMes.
dissentient voice of a nonconformist minister from
the diocese of Down. But the agreement being
thus affirmed between the two Churches, by the
Irish Church's adoption of the Articles of the Church
of England, a question arose, as to the effect pro
duced by this adoption on the forraer Articles of the
Irish Church. Ou this question much diflference of
opinion prevailed, as related by writers contempo
raneous, or nearly contemporaneous.
Some persons affirmed that "the Irish Articles Different opini-
were formally annulled by this adoption','' and "the MstoriTns.^'* ""^
whole* book now called in":" but these affirmations neyiin.
are disproved by the preceding narrative, which
shows that no proposition at all was put upon that
subject. Some alleged that those Articles were intended
to be, and, in fact, were, if not formally, yet virtually
repealed ; others maintained that the act was in
tended only as a recognition of the truth of the
Euglish doctrines, but did not affect the privilege of
' Collier, Eccl, Hist, v. ii, 763. '^ Heylin's Tracts, p. 492.

492

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

l-uUer.

CoUicr.

Opinion of
Primate Ussher.

the Irish Church, to express her own sentiments iu
her own form of words.
Some held that the entire receiving of the nine-
and-thirty Articles, M'ithout the least reserve, implied
a virtual abrogation of their own ; (and this is pro
bably the meaning of Fuller, when he states them
to have been "utterly excluded';") that "this was
the necessary consequence, as far as there Avas any
inconsistency between the English and the Irish
Articles ; for this canon, being the last act of the
Irish Church, it must, like a last will, stand in fiirce
against all prior declarations of a contrary import":"
that, in point of fact, there was an inconsistency
between the English Articles and those, which,
under the title of the Lambeth Articles, had been
rejected by the English Church, though subsequently
embraced by the Church of Ireland, and incor*
porated with her own Articles of 1615; and they
accordingly contended, that the adoption of the
English Articles was in reality a repudiation of the
Irish. Others disputed, that there was no inconsistency
betAveen the two bodies thus brought into compari
son ; that the English and the Irish, or Lambeth,
Articles might well stand together; that the latter
only contained the doctrine of the English more
fully setforth ; and that, in short, the Articles ofthe
Church of England vA-ere only received in the sense
ofj aud as they might be expounded by, those ofthe
Church of Ireland. This seems to have been the
opinion of Primate Ussher, who had been the original
framer of the Articles, now supposed to be silently
repealed. In a letter to a friend, giving, a few
months afterwards, an account of the late convoca-

'' Church History, b. xi. p. 149.

» Collier, ii. 763.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 493
tion, he observes, " The Articles of Religion, agreed
upon in our forraer synod, anno 1615, we let stand
as they did before. But, for the raanifesting of our
agreeraent with the Church of England, we have
received and approved your Articles also, concluded
in the year 1562, as you may see in the first of our
Canons." And some pains were taken by both his
chaplains, Dr. Bernard and Dr. Parr, in their several Report of his
^ chaplains.
lives of the Primate, to shoAv that, in his judgment,
the Articles of 1615 preserved their original au
thority. On the other hand, it appears to liav^e been the Apparent in ten-
'¦ '¦ tion of the
intention of the tAVO Governments, that, whilst no Governments.
violence should be offered to the Primate's feelings,
nor any slur cast upon his character, by the avowed
repeal of the Articles, which he had himself cora
posed, the establishment, nevertheless, of the English
Articles, being, as they conceived them to be, incon
sistent with the others, should give silently and
effectually a death-blow to those previously esta
blished in the Church of Ireland. And such appears
to have been the purpose of Bhshop Bramhall, as Purpose of
. . '¦ '- Hishop Brani-
intimated by the course above attributed to hira by haii.
his biographer. Archbishop Vesey ; and as confirraed
in his funeral sermon, by Bishop Jeremy Taylor, who
commends his care in " causing the Articles of the
Church of England to be accepted as the rule of
publiek confessions and persuasions here ; that they
and we might be populus unitis labii, of one heart and
one lip, building up our hopes of heaven on a most
holy faitli ; and taking away that Shibboleth which
made this Church lisp too undecently ; or rather in
some little degree to speak the speech of Ashdod,
and not the language of Canaan."
This diiference of opinion led for a time to a dif-

494

THE REIGN OF

LCn. VII.

Consequentdifference of
practice.

Impropriety of
two sets of
Articles.

Ineffectual peti
tion for ratifica
tion of Irish
Articles.

ference of practice amongst the rulers of the Church.
" The Lord Priraate, with most of the rest of the
bishops at that time," says Dr. Bernard ; " some few
bishops," says Bishop Vesey ; required of their clergy
for some time subscriptions to both sets of Articles ;
the others seem to have been contented with the
subscription to the English only, as prescribed by
the first Irish Canon.
And well might they be so contented ; and well
might the other practice have been, as it soon was,
abandoned. For, as hath been properly observed,
by Dr. Smith, in his Life of Ussher, " it must seem
highly ridiculous, not to say scandalous, that two
Confessions, disagreeing in various doctrines of theo
logy, should be retained in the sarae Church ; or that
the faith and doctrine of the English Church, very
recently received and approved with great solemnity,
should, by the admission oi those former doctrines,
be again disapproved and rejected."
The double subscription was felt, indeed, by
those who had adopted it, to be an insufficient sub
terfuge. They, therefore, petitioned the Lord Deputy
that he would alloM' and procure the Irish Articles,
which had been framed nineteen years before, to be
ratified by Act of Parliament. But he was so far
from granting, or patiently listening to, this unsea
sonable petition, which he, with his wonted sagacity,
foresaw would be greatly detrimental to the publiek
peace, that he rejected it with extrerae indignation;
and in the end, if credit raay be given to the Scotch
Coraraissioners, in the articles of the most bitter
crimination, which they exhibited to the EngUsh
Parliament, in 1641, against Lord Strafford, he
threatened Ussher, and the other advocates of the
proposal, that, unless they desisted from it, he Avould

Sec. V.J king CHARLES I. 495
order those Articles to be burnt by the hands of the
common hangman °.
But, however this be, the latest period, to which Difference in
A, T,iY, • ^ • A, .• T subscriptions
the dilierence in subscriptions was continued, was discontmuedin
that of the confusion introduced into the Church by
the Irish Rebellion in 1641, about six or seven years
after the adoption of the Articles of the Church of
England. On the restoration of the Church, after
that disastrous period, no attempt seems to have
been made for reviving the Articles of 1615 ; but
Smith, in his Life of Ussher, affirms, that he had
" often and often heard, from bishops and presbyters
of the Church of Ireland, that they recognised and
used the English Articles only. The others naturally
fell into neglect, desuetude, and oblivion, as if they
had never existed" ;" carrying with thera the rem
nant or the serablance of disagreement between the
two sister Churches, in all things affecting the purity
of their faith.
The agreement with the Church of England in proposal to adopt
,.,.., 1 1 . 1 . . nie English
doctrine having been settled in the convocation, it canons.
was further moved by the Bishop of Derry, that, as
they had received the Articles, so they would like
wise the Canons, of the Church of England, in order
that the two Churches might have the sarae rule of
government as well as of belief An objection to
this proposal was made with great earnestness by the
Lord Primate, that it would appear to be the betray- objections of the
ing of the privileges of a national Church : that it
might lead to placing the Church of England in a
state of absolute superintendence and dorainion over
that of Ireland : that it was convenient for some dis
crepancy to appear, if it were but to declare the free
° Vita Jac, Usserii, scrip. Thom. Smith, p. 73.

496

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VII,

Predisposition of
the convocation
In their favour.

Construction of
Boole of Canons
committed to
Bi.shop Bram
hall.

agency of the Church of Ireland, and to express her
sense of rites and ceremonies, that there is no neces
sity of the same in all Churches, which are inde
pendent of each other ; and that different canons and
modes might co-exist with the same faith, charity,
and coraraunion.
By these and sirailar arguraents the Lord Pri
mate prevailed with the convocation, in which the
prepossessions of many of its raerabers inclined theni
to a favourable reception of his reasonings. Theiact,
indeed, seeras to have been in some degree agreeable
to the statement of Mr. Carte, in his Life of th
Duke of Ormonde, that the convocation contained
many members inclined in their hearts to the puri
tanical peculiarities, as disting-uished from the more
sober and chastised ordinances of the Church of
England, and of themselves prepared to object to
some of the English Canons, now offered to their
judgraent and approbation ; particularly to such as
concerned the solemnity and uniforraity of divine
worship, the adrainistration of the Sacraments, and
the ornaments used therein; the qualifications for
holy orders, for benefices, and for pluralities; the
oath against simony, the times of ordination, and the
obligations to residency and subscription '°.
It was accordingly concluded, that such canons
as were fit to be transplanted should be adopted in
the Chm-ch of Ireiaud, and others be added to them,
having been constructed afresh for the purpose, so as
to form a complete rule peculiarly suited to the
circurastances of the country.
The execution of this task Avas coramitted to the
Bishop of Derry ; and the result was the Book of
Constitutions and Canons for the regulation of the

Carte's Life of Ormonde, v. i. p. 78.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 407
Church of Ireland, vvhich, having been passed in
convocation, receiA'ed its final confirmation and au
thority from his majesty's assent, according to the
form of the statute, or Act of Parliament, made in
that behalf.
These canons for the most part agreed in sub- Agreement and
,. . •iiT-ii-i/-~i p difference with
stance and intention with the English Canons, from the English
Canons.
which, hoAvever, they differed much in arrangeraent
and construction, Avithout any obvious improveraent,
rather perhaps the contrary. Iu number also they
Avere less, amounting to one hundred only, whereas
the English code coraprised one hundred and forty-
one. This dirainution is attributable in a consider
able degree to a corabination, occasionally, of raore
than one of the English into one only of the Irish
Canons. Of their contents in general it were needless and Leading points
f, , T-i . . 1 **^ difference.
superfluous to atterapt an abstract. But it is de
sirable to state the leading points, wherein they
differed frora the English; especially in regard to
the objections, Avhich are alluded to above as having
been entertained by many merabers of the Irish
convocation agaiust the Canons of the Church of
England. Some differences will appear to have been
introduced, probably in corapliance with the pre
possessions specified above ; if the differences be
less numerous or less important, than might have
been expected, that result is reasonably to be attri
buted to the earnest desire for conformity between
the tvA'o Churches, which actuated the distinguished
prelate, to whom the construction of the iieAV code
AA'as committed.
1. As to "the soleranity and uniformity of substantial, but
-, , , t, t, -i' nut circumstiin-
divme Avorship." That "that form ol liturgy or tiai, uniformity
T • 1 11 1 1 • of divine
divine service, and no other, shall be used in any woisiiip.recog-
nlscd.
2 K

498 THE REIGN OF [Cii. VII.
church of this realm, but which is established by
law, and comprised in the Book of Common Prayer,
and administration of the sacraments," was as dis
tinctly affirmed by the 3rd Irish canon, as it could
possibly be by the 36th, or any other of the English;
so tliat uniforniity of divine worship was thus far
apparently secured. Yet a difference is observable
in the rules which relate to circurastantial uniformity,
or at least to the solemnity, of such worship.
Special direc- III pursuaucc of the Apostle's rule, " Let all
reyerencr^' things be doiie deceutly, and according to order,"
the 18th English canon distinctly judged and
directed, that in divine service "all raanner of
l^ersons then present shall reverently kneel upon
their knees, when the general confession, Htany, and
other prayers are read ; and shall stand up at the
saying of the belief, according to the rules in that
behalf prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer;
and likewise, when in time of diviue service the
Lord Jesus shall be mentioned, due and lowly
reverence shall be done by all persons jiresent, as it
hath been accustoraed." It also ordains, that every
"man, woman, and child" shall "say in their due
jilaces, audibly with the rainister, the confession, the
Lord's prayer, and the creed ; and make such other
answers to the publiek prayers, as are appointed in
the Book of Common Prayer." The corresponding
Irish canon, which is the 7th, directs, that all persons
attending divine service, shall " use all such reverent
gestures and actions as by the Book of Common
Prayer are prescribed in that behalf, and the com
mendable use of the Church received." Thus it
refrains frora special notice of the postures appointed
Omitted in the for divluo serA'lce ; and it omits the direction con
cerning " bo^^ing- at the name of Jesus," and an

Irish canons.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 499
audible participation in the service, by every " man,
woman, and child."
2. As to " the administration of the sacraments," Explanation of
iT-iTi 1 • 1 1 • 11 Cl '^''"^^ "^ baptism.
the 13th Enghsh canon, which explains " the laAvful
use of the cross in baptism," not without au expres
sion of sorrow at the inefficacy of the care and pains
taken by King Jaraes the First, at the Hampton
Court conference, for satisfying those who stuck at
and impugned it, was altogether oniitted from the
Irish body of canons. Aud together with the expla
nation Avas, of course, omitted the clear language, in
which the canon lays doAvn the duty of every private
man, both rainister and other, to submit to publiek nutyofsub-
¦• mitting to autho-
authority in all things of themselves indifferent, ntyinthinga
•^ ° indifferent.
which in some sort alter their nature, when laAvfully
commanded or forbidden.
In the administration of the Lord's supper, on
comparing the canons of the two Churches, I have
not been struck by any deviation in the later from
the solemn provisions of the earlier code. But I
may remark incidentally, that the 18th Irish canon,
instead of deviating from, does concur with the 27th
and the 21st English in two iraportant injunctions :
namely, that "no rainister, when he celebrateth the Kneeling at the
communion, shall wittingly adrainister the sarae to nton.™™™"
any but such as kneel;" and that "the minister
shall deliver both the bread and the wine to every Delivery to each
. , n 1, communicant
communicant severally. severally.
3. As to "the ornaments used in divine service," use ot the
whereas the 58th English canon enjoins, that " every ™'''^""''
minister saying the publiek prayers, or ministering
the sacraments or other rites of the Church, shall
wear a decent and comely surplice," there appears
no corresponding Irish injunction, although in the
7th, notice is taken of the surplice, as Avorn in
2 K 2

500

THE REIGN OF

[Cir. VII.

Ten command
ments and
chosen sentences.

Form of prayer
before sermons.

What Articles
the test of tho
candidate'sfaith.

Additional canons.

Provision of
divine worship
in Irish.

cathedral and collegiate churches. And under this
head it may be remarked, that there is no corre
sponding Irish to the 82nd English canon, which
orders " that the ten commandinents be set up on
the east end of every church and chapel, where the
people may best see and read the same ; and other
chosen sentences written upon the walls of the said
churches and chapels in places convenient."
The 55th English canon also, intitled "The
Form of a Prayer to be used by all preachers before
their sermons," has not any counterpart in the Irish
body. These are its chief, if not its only, omissions
upon the specifick articles of divine worship.
In the other particulars enumerated above, I
have perceived no deviations of moment; unless it
be, that, in relation to " the quality of such as are to
be made ministers," an account of the candidate's
faith is required by the 34th English canon, " accord
ing to the Articles of Religion, approved in the synod
of the bishops and clergy of this realm, one thousand
five hundred and sixty-two;" and by the 31st Irish,
"according to the Articles of Religion, generally
received in the Church of England and Ireland."
The question, Mdiich has been already stated, con
cerning the eff'ect of the recent adoption of the
EnglLsh Articles, and the jealousy which prevailed
in sorae rainds concerning thein, may have given
occasion for the indefinite terms of this condition.
Additional canons, suggested by the peculiar
exigences of the Irish Church, were also interwoven
with those of the English code.
The Sth canon directed, that the parochial
minister, subject to the judgraent of the ordinary,
should " endeavour, that the confession of sin.^, aud

SiiC. v.] KING CHARLES I. 501
absolution, and all the second service at or before
the communion, to the homily or sermon, Avhere the
people all, or most, are Irish, shall be used in Eng
lish first, and after in Irish." The 86th canon
directed, that " where the minister is an Englishman,
and many Irish in the parish, such a parish clerk Parish cierks
shall be chosen, as shall be able to read those parts tho°Borvice. '
of the service, AAdiich shall be appointed to be read
in Irish, if it raay be." And in the 94th canon,
which directs the churchwardens to provide two
Books of Comraon Prayer and a Bible in ev-ery
church, for the rainister and for the clerk, it is
added, that " where all or the most part of the people
are Irish, they shall provide also the said books in
the Irish tongue, so soon as they may be had. The
charge of these Irish books being to be borne also,
wholly by the parish."
These provisions were suggested by the exigen
cies of the country, arising out of its peculiar condi
tion Avith respect to the language of its inhabitants.
But one of them in particular, the second, is a
striking evidence of the obstruction presented to the
reformed religion, seeing that it was deeraed neces
sary to allow part of the service of the Church to be
read by one, aaIio was not an ordained rainister.
The folloAvino- were designed to counteract the counteractions
^ ^ . . T of the prevailing
prevailing religious ienorance and superstition, and religious igno-
'¦ O b a ^ _ rauce.
to be instruraental in substituting an acquaintance
with the true religion of the Gospel.
By the 9th canon, preachers were instructed caution against
•^ ¦*¦ T* • 1 lieresies iind
to "teach no vain opinions, no heresies, nor Popish Popish errors.
errors, disaijreeina- from the Articles of Religion,
generally received in the Churches of England and
Ireland; nor anything at all, whereby the people
may be stirred up to the desire cf novelties or con-

502

THE REIGN OF

[Cil. VII.

Catechizingenforced by spe
cial conditions.

Rules of preach
ing and cate
chizing.

Superstitious
customs to be
rooted out.

tention : but shall soberly aud sincerely divide the
word of truth, to the glory of God, and to the best
edification of the people."
The canon, which provided for the catechizing of
the young and ignorant every Sunday, being the
Ilth, prohibited the minister from "adraitting any
to be raarried, or to be godfathers or godmothers
at the baptism of any child, or to receive the holy
communion, before they can say the articles of belief,
the Lord's prayer, and the commandments, in such a
language as they understand."
" For the better grounding of the people in the
principles of Christian religion," it was by the
12th canon ordained, " that the heads of the cate
chism, being divided into as many parts as there
are Sundays in the year, shall be explained to the
people in every j^arish church. In the handling
whereof the ministers and curates are to use such
moderation, that they do not run into curious ques
tions or unnecessary controversies, but shortly declare
and confirm the doctrine proposed, and make appli
cation thereof, to the behoof of their hearers. Tho
ministers also in all their preaching,?, and catechiz-
ings, and private conferences, when need requireth,
shall teach the people to place their whole trust and
confidence in God, and not in creatures, neither in
the habit or scapular of any friar, or in halloAved
beads, medals, reliques, or such like trumperies.
They shall do their endeavour likeAvise to root out
all ungodly, superstitious, and barbarous customs, as
using of charms, sorcery, enchantments, witchcraft,
or soothsaying ; and generally to reform the manners
of the people committed to their charge, unto a
Christian, sober, and civil conversation."
And by the 97th canon, the churcliAvardeiis Avere

Sec. v.] king CHAELES I. 503
directed, " with the approbation of the ordinary of Monuments of
1 11 111,, 1*1 1 superstition to
the place, to see that all rood-lofts, in which Avooden be taken away.
crosses stood ; all shrines, and all coverings of shrines,
and all other monuments of feigned miracle,s, pil
grimages, idolatry, and superstitions, be clean taken
aAvay and removed."
There were three or four other additional ordi- other supiJie-
f»iT-iii/-Ni 1 nicntal rules.
nances, suppleraental to those of the English Church.
"For remedy of the sraallness of the raainte- umons of roe-
nance of the clergy," it Avas ordained by the 36th .age's?'"'
canon, " that Avhen there is in one parish a rectory
and vicarage, or portion of tythes collative, the bishop
shall unite them perpetually; and those unions the
deans and chapters shall be bound to confirm, to
remain perpetually as one entire benefice."
The 43rd directed, that "as often as churclies consecr.ation of
,,.,,, f, 1 ,1 , new churches.
were neAvly built, where formerly there were not,
or churchyards appointed for burial, they shall be
dedicated and consecrated : provided that the ancient
churches and churchyards shall not be put to any
base and unworthy use."
By the 19th, the afternoon before the adini- Preparation for
, . the holy coniinu-
nistratiou of the holy coraraunion, the minister was men.
directed to " give AA'arning by the tolling of a
bell, or otherAvise, to the intent, that if any have
any scruple of conscience, or desire the special
ministry of reconciliation, he may afford it to those
who need it." And the people were exhorted to
special examination of the state of their own souls ;
and that " finding theraselves either extreme dull,
or much troubled in mind, they resort unto God's
ministers, as well for advice and counsel, as for the
quieting of their consciences by the power of the
keys which Christ hath committed to his ministers
for that purpose."

504

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. VII.

Prohibited times
of marri;ige.

Character of the
alterations.

A preferable
mode.

Relative posi
tion of the two
Churches.

And by the 49th, persons were directed to
marry, " neither in the time of Lent, nor of any
publiek fast, nor of the solemn festivities of the
nativity, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord, or
of the descension of the Holy Ghost."
That these additions, considered in their appli
cation to the state of religion in Ireland, were
generally improvements to the English canons, may
be readily admitted : that the omissions likewise
were improvements, may be questioned at least,
perhaps denied. Nor can I think that any good
purpose was answered by the dismeraberraent and
reconstruction of the entire body upon a different
plan. If the object was to maintain the independ
ence and free agency of the Irish Church, that
object might have been attained by appending to
the English canons, or interweaving with them, such
additions as appeared requisite for national purposes,
and then adopting the code, in pursuance of Bishop
BrarahaU's proposal, in its original forra, with those
additions. Such a code Avould have been more
complete in itself, and better fitted for preserving
that unity of Christian profession, which was avow
edly manifested by the adoption of the English
Articles, than by rejecting sorae of the English
canons, and new-modelling the whole. For, whilst
the wisdom of these objections is by no means
l^alpable or indisputable, the new-modelling of the
code gives an appearance of discrepancy, which
really does not exist.
I have judged it expedient to go into some
detail on this subject. And the reader may thus
be made aAvare of the general agreeraent between
the tAVO Churches, in their Canons as well as in their
Articles ; and better apprehend the position of the

May 10, 1635.

Sec. v.] KING CHARLES I. 505
Church of Ireland after the accoinplishraent of these
important acts of legislation.
Thus various affairs of no sraall difficulty and congratulatory
delicacy, and deeply affecting the character and well- blimp i™ud to '
being of the Church, Avere finally completed : aud the usshcr,
Lord Primate had soon afterwards the satisfaction
of receiving the following letter of congratulation
from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
" Salutem in Christo.
" ily A-ei-y good Lord,
" I thank you heartily for your letters; and am as Prospects of
heartily glad that your parliament and convocation are so 011^011!°''°
happily ended, especially for the Church ; and that, both
for tlie particular of youv letting leases, Avhich is for main
tenance, and for the quiet, and well ordering, and ending of
your book of canons. I hope now the Church of Ireland
Avill begin to flourish again, and that both Avith inward
sufficiency and outward means to support it.
" And for your canons, to speak truth, and Avith Avonted lus opinion of
hberty and prudence, though I cannot but think the English
canons, especially with some few amendments, Avould have
done better ; yet since you, aud that Church, have thought
otherwise, I do very easily submit to it, and you sball have
my prayers, that God would bless it. As for tbe particular Amiotsubscrip-
abont subscription, I think you have couched that well, ''°"'
since, as it seems, there Avas some neces.sity to carry that
article closely. And God forbid you should, upon any
occasion, have rolled back upon your former controversy
about the Articles. For, if you should have risen from
this convention in heat, God knows when or how that
church Avould have cooled again, had the cause of difference
been never so slight. By AAdiich means the Romanist,
Avhich is too strong a party already, Avould both have
strengthened, and made a scorn of you. And therefore ye cause of thanic-
are much bound to God tbat, in this nice and picked age,
)ou have ended all tbings canonically, and yet in peace.
And I hope you will be all careful to continue and

606

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. VII,

Letter from Sir
G. RadelifFe to
Bishop Bram-
haU, September
22, 1635.

Alarm at the
publication of
the Canons.

maintain that Avhich God hath thus mercifully bestowed
upon you. " Your Grace's very loving Friend and Brother,
" W. Cant.
" Lambeth, May 10, 1635."
But if these proceedings were an occasion of
thankfulness and congratulation to the Church and
her friends, they produced different sentiments in
her enemies. This appeared on their publication in
the ensuing autumn. For in a letter from Sir George
Radcliffe, jsrincipal secretary to the Lord Deputy,
Dublin Castle, September 22, 1635, he observes to
the Bishop of Derry, " The Canons are published in
print this week : and by occasion of speaking
thereof, here is a panick fear risen in this toAvn, as if
a new persecution, so they call it, were instantly to
be set on foot. Here is also much talk of a book,
newly come over, out of England, printed at Cam
bridge. The author, a country minister, styles him
self priest: and of five treatises which the book
contains, one is, that charity is to be preferred before
faith, hope, or knowledge : another, that Antichrist
is yet to come : and a third, that the law of God, as
it is qualified in the Gospel, may be performed in
this life. This startles a Puritan as rauch as the
Canons do a Papist"."

Rawdon Papers, jj. 23.

Siic. VI.] KING CHARLES I. 507

Section VI.
Measures for improving the Temporalties of the Church.
Bishop Bramhall's valuable services. Petition from the
Clergy in Convocation, 1636. Improvements relative to
the Clergy and Church Service. Repair of Cathedrals.
Final sentence of deposition by Bishop Echlin on the Non
conforming Ministers. Henry Leslie, bishop of Down
and Connor. F'lve ofthe Clergy of that Diocese refuse to
subscribe to the Canons. The Bishop)'s solicitude to retain
them in the Church. His Visitation Sermon, 1636. His
conference with the Dissentients, and sentence upon them.
His exemplary conduct.
In pursuance of the Acts of Parliament, recounted Measures for im-
in the last section, and Avith the support ofthe Lord porawes of\he'^'
Deputy, raeans Avere proraptly taken for iraproving """ '
the temporalties of the Church. The Bishop of
Derry Avas employed for this useful purpose : and
Sir James Ware, or rather ]Mr. Plarris, bears the
folloAving honourable testimony to the zeal and
efficacy with Avhich he executed his undertaking.
"The foundations being laid, the bishop immediately Bishop sram-
applied himself to the building, AAdiich he carried up with
incredible expedition. The fee-farms and impropriations
stuck like ivy to the old walls, and it A^-as hard to separate
them. In all the numerous controversies arising from
thence, he was the moderator to state the rents, and com
promise the whole differences ; generally by consent of
parties, sometimes by order from the council-table, whicb
then determined many matters, especially Avbere forms and
niceties had rendered the laws incompetent for that end.
"But, to carry on tbe work AA'ith effect, he recom- Rt persons re-
mended able and prudent persons to the Lord Deputy for " "g™,"^^* '°''
the higher preferments of the Churcb. Dean Sing was made ments.
Bishop of Cloyne, of which he soon gave a good account,
and raised every mark of the revenue to an hundred

hall's valuable
services.

508

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Improvement of
the primacy.

Letter from
Archbishop Usshcr to Bishop
Bramhall.

Benefits pro
cured for the
inferior clergy.

Forwarded by
the King.

By the Lord
Deputy.

pounds ; and Dean Lesly was made Bishop of Down and
Connor : both prelates of parts and learning."
To these specifick instances of Bishop Bram
hall's profitable exertions. Sir James Ware's History
adds the folloAving, in correspondence Avith his Life
by Bishop Vesey.
" It v('ould be an endless labour to be particular in all
tbe services he did the Chuich. I shall mention only one
instance of AA'hat he did in tbis sort, in relation to the pri
macy, as it appears in a letter from Archbishop Ussher to
him, dated the 25th of February, 1635, not a year after the
statute had passed. ' I find,' says he, ' by the catalogue of
compositions, that the augmentation of the rents of this see
amounteth to 735/. 4s. 4rf. per annum, and that you have
now passed the greater part of your journey. Not only
myself, but all my successors, will have cause to honour
the memory of the Lord Deputy, aud yours, whom God
hath used as an instrument to bring this Avork to such per
fection.' If," observes the biographer, " so great an im
provement Avas made in tbis one see, by the surrendering of
fce-farnis, and compositions for the rents, and that this was
only the half of his journey, what may we judge Avas done
by him through the kingdom T'
But they were not the episcopal revenues onl}^
which were iraproved by Bishop Brarahall.
" He AA'as not less industrious or successful," continues
the same writer, "in behalf of tbe inferior clergj', whose
case be often lamented, and often singly su,stained. He
obtained for them some few impropriations, by power of
reason and persuasion ; more by the laAv ; but most of all
by purchase. The king's example Avas of great influence
upon the occasion. He liad by his letter restored all im
propriate tythes, as fast as tbe leases should expire. The
Lord Deputy, in pur.su.ince thereof, restored several livings
kept by his predecessors for tbeir provisions, reserving
something to be annually paid out of them for that end;
and this noble precedent had its influence on some of the
' Wake's Bishops, \\ 1 20. Vesey's Life of Bramhall,

Sec. VI.] KING CHARLES I. 509
nobility aud gentry. Ho persuaded somo into a full resti
tution, and others into a competent endowment of the
vicarage, or at least an allocation of a decent salary for tho
cin-ato. Where neither reason, religion, nor laAv could pre
vail, he dealt in the way of purchase ; and, to raise a suffi
cient fund for this purpose, he employed his own income
very liberally.
"The Archbishop of Canterbury countenanced the Uy the Arch-
work, and lent him both his hand, head, and purse, having terbmy.
designed 40,000/. for it. His majesty gave some money for
pious uses, Avhicli his grace procured to be committed to
onr bishop's management. He borrowed great sums of vaiious expo-
several rich men, and secured thein repayment out of the Bishop Bram-
issues of the impropriations Avhich he bought ; putting ''""•
them into the hands of such creditors, for a certain number
of years, ujjon the expiration of which they were to revert
to the Church. He also got niouey by voluntary subscrip
tions; aud he so ordered matters, on the surrendry of
fee-farms, that the surplus rents, Avhicli he gained for several
bishops, should be for some years in this way employed.
From such of the clergy as were rich, he had great assist
ance by procuring loans, which he Avas A'ery just in repaying.
By these and other prudent methods, he regained to the
Church, in the compass of four years, 30,000/., some say
40,000/., per anutini, Avhereof ho gave an account to tho
Archbishop of Canterbury at his going into England.
Many poor vicars now eat of the tree which the Bishop of
Derry planted ; and many have their grounds refreshed by
his care and labour, who know not the source of the river
that makes them fruitful ^"
'* AVith so much care and assiduous labour," says Bishop Bishop Jeremy
Jeremy Taylor in his Funeral Sermon, "did the Bishop of ^^^^„7to uLhop
Derry endeavour to restore the Church of Ireland to that Br.amhairs
splendour and fulness, which, as it is much conducing to
the honour of God and of religion, God himself being tbe
judge, so it is much more necessary for you, than it is for
us. And so this wise prelate rarely Avell understood it ;
and having tho advantage and ble,ssing of a gracious king,
and a lieutenant, patron of religion and the Church, ho
^ AVakk's Bishop.% p. 120.

510

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VII.

Some of them
intercepted.

Hia services
acknowledged by
the convocation.

improved the deposita pietatis, as Origen calls them, the
gages of piety, which the religion of the ancient princes
and nobles of this kingdom had bountifully given, to such a
comfortable competency, that, though there be place left for
present and future piety to enlarge itself, yet no man hath
reason to be discouraged in bis duty.
" But the goods of this world are called waters by Solo
mon. Stolen waters are sweet, and they are too unstable
to be stopt : some of these waters, in tbe recovery of which
he had been greatly and principally instrumental, did run
back from their proper channel, and return to another
course than God and the laws intended. Yet his labours
and pious counsels were not the less acceptable to God and
good men : and therefore, by a thankful and honourable
recognition, the convocation of the Church of Ireland hath
transmitted in record to posterity their deep resentment of
his singular services and great abilities in this whole affair.
And this honour will for ever remain to that Bishop of
Derry : he had a Zerubbabel, who repaired the temple, and
restored its beauty ; but he was the Joshua, the high priest,
who under him ministered this blessing to the congregations
of the Lord."

Petition from
the clergy In
convocation.

Acceded to by
Lord Deputy.

In 1636, the clergy in convocation presented to
the government a humble petition, that all Popish
schoolmasters might be suj^pressed ; that inquiry
should be made by fit commissioners into the abuses
of free-schools, and speedy orders given for their
reformation ; and that, whereas frequent burials in
abbeys occasion the great conterapt and neglect of
parish-churches, and are mainly prejudicial to the
clergy, sorae good course might be taken to restrain
that abuse by Act of State. The Lord Deputy in
consequence expressed his approbation of this peti
tion, in a letter of June 2, 1636, to the Lord Pri
raate and the rest of the commissioners for eccle
siastical causes ; and required and authorized them
to advise of some good means for preventing the

Sec Vl.J KING CHARLES I. 511
said abuses in future : especially to see that publiek
schools, whether founded by statute or by his
majesty's princely endowment, be not so extremely
neglected as they are, or served by Popish, or other
stipendaries, and to proceed to the deprivation of
such persons as should be found to be grossly cul
pable in this kind^
The Lord Deputy j^i'oceeded hereupon to take Measures for cor-
notice of the general non-residence of clergymen, residence of
to the dishonour of God, the disservice of their '"'"^'
cures, the vain expense of their means in cities aud
corporate towns, and the great scandal of the Church.
And he required and authorized the commissioners
to proceed instantly AA'ith all severity to the refor
mation of this great abuse ; to cause all those whora
they should find living idly about Dublin, or other
cities or towns, or upon their farms, to repair
instantly to their parish-churches, to attend that
charge, Avhereof they owe an account both to God
and man : if they should disobey commands in this
respect, to sequester their livings for a year ; and, if
they be still negligent, to deprive them : " pur
posing," he adds, " upon our return to this kingdom,
if it shall so please God and his majesty, to take a
strict account of your proceeding and good endea
vours in each of these particulars."
Another reformation, affecting the church service, Negieot of iicep-
is thus mentioned by the Lord Deputy in a letter to remedied."'
the Archbishop of Canterbury, dated Dublin, this
last of December, 1636 : " After speech with my
Lord Primate, concerning the due keeping of the
holydays, according to the rules ecclesiastical, we re
solved to recomraend it to the four archbishops, and
they to their suffragans, which I have done very
^ Strajfo-rd Letters, ii. 7.

512 THE REIGN OF [Cu. VII,
effectually : so as I am confident the former omis
sion or neglect thereof will be recompensed by a
heedful observance of thera for the future'."
correspondenco In 1637 aud the foUowiug year, some correspoii-
concerning the ° '' *
Irish cathedrals, doucc toolc placc betweou the Lord Deputy and the
Archbishop of Canterbury, relative to the repair of
some of the Irish cathedrals. In a letter of August
August, 1637. 28, 1637, the archbishop says, "My Lord of DoAvn
hath written unto me that the cathedral of his dio-
Down Cathedral cosB lycs wasto, aud canuot possibly be built without
the aid of a general purse, or his majesty's special
favour in granting some part of the fines imposed in
the Court of High Comraission, towards so pious a
work. I am heartily glad to see the bishop's care of
that his church, but am not willing to stir far in that
business, till I hear from your lordship what possi
bility you find for it ; and the rather because you
gave me a touch in your last letters of the ruinous-
christ Church, usss of Chrlst Church in Dablin; and whether you
Dublin, rumous. .^^q^]^ jjg couteut auothor cathedral should be
thought on before it, is in my thoughts worth asking
you the question ; and as I hear frora you, so shall I
proceed."
nebuiidingof 111 a letter to the archbishop, October 18, 1637,
Zll""^' the Lord Deputy thus proposes to provide for that
October, 1637. ^^^ f^j. gimiiai- exigencles. " For the cathedral of
Down, if it shall be thought fit, (as stands with rea
son in ray opinion,) there should be an Act of State
injoining that whole diocese to contribute their seve
ral proportions of the charge it shall be estimated at,
and to be raised upon the abler sort, not upon the
poor people, I assent it with all- ray heart ; neitlier
for that alone, bnt for all the cathedrals throughout
•' Strafford Letters, ii. 42,

Sec.VL] king CHARLES I. 513
the Avhole kingdom. If his majesty therefbre Avrite
a letter for the purpose, I Avill do all the service
therein possible."
In a letter of the following month, November King's pleasure
T^ thereon.
11, 1637, the archbishop informs the Lord Deputy nov.igs?.
that he had acquainted the king Avitli the proposal
concerning the cathedral of DoAvn; that the kiug
was Avell pleased that such an act should be raade as
had been mentioned ; aud prayed his lordship to
cause the letter, which he would have for the cathe- „
dral, drawn here under his oavu eye, and sent over
ready for his raajesty's hand.
And on the 20th of April, 1638, the Lord De- Bmidinjof
. Christ Church
puty Avrites, " For the building of Christ Church, proposed. April, 1G38.
now that his majesty and your lordship approve of
the way, I trust to show you, I neither sleep nor for
get it ;'' and again, in the sarae letter, " By this
pacquet you have the letter for the building of the
cathedral of Doavii ; which returned shall be put into
action." But this subject of the cathedrals does not
appear to have been resumed'.

position on tho
non-con form hi g
ministers in
Down.

It Avas during the progress of the events last re- ssntcnccofde
cited, and not long after the convocation of tbe
clergy, that the final sentence of deposition was pro
nounced by the diocesan, Bishop Echlin, against
those non-conforming ministers of the Church in the
diocese of Down, Avho had fallen under the censure
of the bishop, as already related, and been suspended
from their ministerial functions.
In consequence of the earnest intercession of intcrv.ii of six
-f 1 r-1 ^ .^ f, 1 • 1 months between
Ijord CastlesteAA'art, distinguished for his zealous suspension and
L n T -r^ • ,, 1 11 deposition.
patronage of the Presbyterians of the north, the
Lord Deputy was Avilling that the suspended niini-
» Strcfford Letters, ii,, 101, 120, 132, 157.
2 L

514 THE REIGN OF [Cii, VII,
sters should be restored, though only for a limited
tirae ; and he thereupon exju-essed his wish to the
bishop, that they raight be relieved frora the sen
tence of suspension for six raonths. On the arrival
of that period. Lord Castlestewart renewed his in
treaty for a prolongation of the term. But this Avas
not agreeable to the governing powers ; and accord
ingly, at the instance of the Lord Deputy, the Bishop
revived the sentence of suspension upon Mr. Blair,
and another of the delinquents ; a third having died
in the interval, and Mr. Livingston, the fourth,
being, for some unknown reason, not comprehended
in the renewed proceedings.
Deposition pro- The seuteuce of suspension was soon afterwards
nounced. J-
followed by that of deposition, for which they Avere
cited to appear before the bishop at Belfast, and the
sentence Avas read to thera by the regular officer.
To a reraonstrance of Mr. Blair, that this sentence,
as well as the preceding, was without authority, the
bishop prayed that he would appeal from him, and
over again prayed him to appeal. But all other ap
peal was declined, except to the tribunal of Christ;
" and there," said Mr. Blair, " I cite you to appear,
that ye may ansAver for your ill deeds of this kind,
and for what ye are now going to do. And this
citation," he adds in his narrative of the transaction,
" ere long took effect, the bishop dying in fearful
dumps of conscience."
Death of Bishop Tlio death of Blshop Ecliliu OU tlio 15th of Julj,
Echlin. J-
juiy i:;, 1035. 1635, gave occasion for the promotion of Henry
Lesley, from the deanery of Down to the bishoprick
of DoAvn and Connor, to which he was consecrated ,
at Drogheda on the 4th of the folloAving October.
Character of his PJe is rccordod as a raan of vig-orous mind and large
Bueecssor,13i&liop ^ ^
Henry Leslie. acquirements; conversant with the history and

gEC. ¦ i.j iviiMj UIIAKIjES 1. Slo
writings of the ancient ecclesiastical fathers, and
Avell acquainted VA'ith the constitution and qualities
of the primitive church catholick, the features of
Avhich he saAv reflected, and earnestly admired and
loved them, in the national churches of Britain. As
a bishop of the Irish church, he knew that she had
laid upon him, and that he had undertaken, the duty
of maintaining her discipline, and of punishing those
" that AA'ere unquiet, disobedient, and criminous in
his diocese ;" he carried, therefore, at once into effect
against the fourth of those ministers of the church
Avho had refused to submit and conform themselves
to her laAvs, the sentence of deposition, which his
predecessor had omitted with respect to that indi
vidual, Avho Avas accordingly deposed in the Novem
ber folloAving. And, in pursuance of the order of
the late convocation, at his primary visitation holden visitation,
, . July, 1630.
at Lisnagarvie, or Lisburn, according to its modern
appellation, in July, 1636, he called ujjon his clergy Refusal of avo
for their subscription to the canons, which Avas refused subscribe tho
T n /. ,1 1 canons.
by fave ot the number.
The Bishop was desirous of retaining these raen Bishop's sonci-
in the church, if it M'ere possible ; and, in order to them m the
this, of reraoving their scruples, of satisfying their
minds of the fitness of the Church's provisions, of
persuading thera to conforraity, and of reconciling
them to the proposed subscription. Instead, there
fore, of proceeding judicially against thera, he took
the gentler and raore conciliatoiy method of a pri
vate conference ; which not only proved ineffectual,
but the report of which was put forth and spread
abroad with so partial a representation of the trans
action, as to deter him from repeating a sirailar
attempt. Thus recourse to other expedients becarae
his duty, to the discharge of which, although per-
2 L 2

Chiu'ch.

516

THE REIGN OF

[Cil. VII.

Assembly of the
clergy at Belfast.
August 10, 103G.

Tlic Bishop's
sermon.

Its text and
piincipal articles.

ceiving its necessity, he showed raanifest reluctance,
till animated and encouraged to the painful task by
his brother in the episcopacy. Bishop Bramhall of
Derry. With this purpose, then, he convened an assem
bly of his clergy at Belfast, on the 10th of August;
and addressed thera in a discourse, which he pub
lished next year, 1637, at Dublin, under the title of
" A Treatise of the Authority of the Church, the
sum whereof was delivered in a Serraon preached at
Belfast, at the Visitation of the Diocese of DoAvn
and Connor, the tenth day of August, 1636. By
Henry Leslie, Bishop of the Diocese : together with
an AnsAA'er to certain Objections raade against the
Orders of our Church, especially kneeling at the
Coraraunion." The text of this sermon AA'as the 18tli chapter of
St. Matthew, and the 17 th verse ; " But if he neglect
to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as a
heathen man and a publican." And the princijial
articles of it set forth the poAver committed to the
Church, and vested in the bisliops, for keeping and
propounding the sacred oracles, and applying them,
by jireaching and administration of the sacraments;
for ordaining ministers, and appointing them their
stations, and directing them in their duty; 'for de
ciding controversies ; for making laAA-.«, and enacting
circumstances and ceremonies in the outAvard Avor-
.ship of God; and for censuring offenders: all which
articles are discussed at length. lie descants upon
the sin of those Avho take upon them the office of
rainisters, not being called by tbe Church ; who,
having no ordination to our calling, have taken upon
them to preach ; a sin the same as that of Uzziah,
Avbo intruded himself into the oflice of the priest-

Sec, VL] KING CHARLES I. 517
hood. And he takes occasion to specify the errors
of those sectaristiS, by Avhora many simple people are
deceived, and led from the Avholesome pastures of
the Church, to Avander in the principles of schism.
"This," he says, "must not be suffered any longer, objections of
But you AA'ill say, ' Tho difference is only about small mat- andrantro-" '^
ters, aud it is a pity to deprive ministers, aa'Iio are painful ™'''''''
and laborious, for a ceremony,'
" For answer, I sball desire yon to consider, that they
do not only oppose the ceremonies, but tbe whole Liturgy
of the Church, wherein the soul of God's publiek AA'orship
doth consist. Besides, their doctrine is not sound. For
they have taught that the order of bishops is anti-Christian;
which we know to be apostolick : tbat our ceremonies are
damnable ; wliich we can proA^e to be both lawful and
decent: that our service-book is a heap of errors; Avhicli
we can justify to bo tbe most absolute liturgy tbat auy
church in the world bath : that the sign of tbe cross in
baptism, and kneeling in the act of receiving tbe coiniiiu-
nion, is plain idolatry ; than which hell itself could not
have devised a more shameless calumny : that the Eucha
rist being a .supper and a feast, no gesture should be used
at it but a table gesture, to express our co-heirship and
equality Avitli Christ ; which, if it smell not strong of
Arianism, I have lost my scent : that all festival days,
besides the Lord's day, and all set fasts, are Jewish, and
contrary to our Christian liberty ; which is the condemned
heresy of Aerius. They have cried down tbe most whole
some orders of tbe Cburch, as Popish superstitions; nimicl}',
confirmation of cliildren, absolution of penitents, private
baptism of infants in case of necessity, the communion of
the sick-, and almost whatsoever hath any conformity Avith
the ancient Church."  "If you have slandered your
neighbour, you are bound in conscience to make bim satis
faction ; what satisfaction, then, can you make unto tbe
Church, your mother, -whom you bave slandered with no
less than whoredom ? Whereas, oven strangers have given char.icter of the
her this testimony, that she is, of all Churclies this day, for ^^;";gers""'
doctrine most pure ; for difeci};linc most conform unto the

518

THE REIGN OF

[Cii.VII.

Danger of con
niving at objec
tions.

TTniformity in
national Church
necessary.

Intolerance of
the sectarists.

primitiA'e and apostolick Churches ; for learning most emi
nent ; for good Avorks most fruitful ; for martyrs most
glorious, " 2. Albeit, their strife were only for ceremonies, yet
Avere it not safe for tbe Church to Avink at such persons,
though they contend but for trifles ; for, if the contentious
humour be not let out, it will fester and spread, like a gan
grene. Contention will groAV a schism, nnd a schism will
prove an heresy. So it was witb tbe Corinthians, 1 Cor. xi. :
where the Apostle complains, first of tbeir unreverent beha
viour in the Church, A-er. 1 6 ; then of schisms, ver. 1 8 ;
after that of heresies, ver. 19, If men be suffered to dis
grace ceremonies, they will proceed further to contemn and
profane the Sacraments, as in Corinth : when they had sit
coA'ered at prayer, they grew as unreverent and bold with
tbe Sacrament, eate and drunk as if they had been in their
own bouses, ver. 22. It is, therefore, good to quench the
spark when it is first kinkled, lest it increase into a great
flame, and burn up Church, religion, and all.
" 3. Consider, tbat albeit in Churches of divers iving-
doms the unity of faith may subsist, with diversity of cere
monies and orders ; yet in the same national Church we
must labour, not only for unity in faitb, but also for uni
formity in discipline ; otherwise order cannot be maintained,
peace cannot be preserved : when every man hath a fashion
by himself, there will folloAV infinite distraction and con
fusion 
" Finally, I pray you to remember, that when those
men had the government in their hands, there was never
any Church more zealous to A'indicate her orders from con
tempt, nor more forward to inflict severe censures for small
offences, than they were. And so much did they profess.
The Church of Scotland, in their Constitutions, which were
printed with their Psalm Books, say, ' A small offence may
justly deserve excommunication, because of the offenders
contempt and contumacy.' And, again, ' Any sin may be
pardoned, rather than contempt of Avholesome admonitions,
and lawful constitutions of the Church.' Now, shall they
inforce others to the obser\'atiou of their orders, and punish

the disobedient with

severest

censures? and shall not the

Sec.VL] KING CHARLES I. 519

king's majesty, and the gOA'ernors of our Churcb, inforce Necessity of cn
them to the observation of our orders, which have been toTiiochurch!'
established by the whole Church in a laAvful Synod, and
confirmed by Act of Parliament, and by his majesty's royal
anthority ? Oh, my brethren, deceive not yourselves ;
think not that the Church, the king, the state, the law,
and all, will stoop to your fiincies ! No, if you will not
obey the constitutions of the Church, you raust feel the
weight of her censures : if you Avill not submit yourseh'es
unto the Church, as to your mother, she will not oavu you
for her children, but cast you out, as Hagar and Ismael
were cast out of Abraham's house, for their mocking and
proud disobedience."
The serraon, or treatise, frora which these ex- vaiuoofthis
tracts have been taken, being rare and little known,
but containing at the same time much valuable mat
ter, clearly expressed and forcibly urged; and being,
at the same time, not raerely conversant AA'ith the
concerns of a particular diocese, but iraraediately
connected with the general controversy betAveen the
Chuich and the nonconforraists, and throwing light
upon the points in controversy; it has been judged not
amiss to introduce the foregoing arguments of Bishop
Leslie, delivered, with raany others, for the purpose
of keeping, if possible, the dissentient rainisters in
his fold. The following affectionate appeal con
cluded the serraon ; and it cannot be read without
sentiments of respect for this faithful pastor, and of
concern that his exertions were rendered ineffectual
by the unhappy prepossessions and pertinacity of his
hearers. " All these things," he concluded, " deserve your con- Affectionate ap-
sideration, and may give you occasion to repent hereafter, v^^\'^* "= <=<"»-
when it will be too late. I thought it, therefore, my duty
to warn you, as Reuben did his brethren ; beseeching you,
for God's sake, if there be any bowels of compassion in you
towards tbe Church, your mother, your brethren, your

520

THE REIGN OF

rCn. VII.

friends, your fliock, yourselves, tbat you would yet lay aside
all prejudice and partiality, and the spirit of contradiction,
and compose yourselves to peace, unity, aud love. ' 0 pray
for the peace of Jerusalem ! Let peace be Avithin her
walls, and prosperity within ber palaces !' Think not that
you are Aviser than the Churcb, than all Churches ; a.s if
the Word of God had come only from you, or to you, and
to none be,sides. But remember tbat you are men, and so
may err ; tbat better men bave erred, and have thought no
shame to acknowledge tbe same, and retract their error.
In this life Ave sball never be resolved of all doubts 
The safest course is, Avhere you doubt, especially about
matters of this kind, concerning order and church pohty, to
submit yourselves peaceably to the judgment ofthe Church;
and then, ' if ye be otherv^'ise minded, God shall reveal even
the same unto you.' Phil, iii. 5. ' Now the God of peace
and consolation give us, tbat we may be like-minded one
towards another ; that we may all speak one thing, and
tbat there be no dissensions amongst us ; but that we be
knit together in oue mind, and in one judgment, endeavour
ing to keep the unity of the spirit iu the bond of peace.
Amen,"

The bishop's
lvilIio,^'nc;b to
hear and discuss
objections.

His conference
with the dissen
tients

The bishop, having concluded his discourse,
called upon the five nonconforraing ministers to
corae forward : AA'lien, declining to hold any private
conference Avith them, by reason of the misrepre
sentation Avhich had been made of Avhat had passed
on the former occasion, he j^rofessed his Avillingness
to raeet them the following day in the presence of
the persons then assembled, and to hear and discuss
their objections.
On meeting next day in the church, agreeably to
this proposal, the bishop called upon the five dissen
tients " to knoAv, if they Avould subscribe the first
four canons ; or, if they Avere ready to lay open their
objections, and he Avould ansAver in behalf of the
Church to defend all that Avas commanded." It Avas

b

Sec.VL] KING CHAliLES I. 521
answered by one of the party, that " seeing he had
done them that favour to offer them an hearing,
they were ready to lay open their doubts ; and, that
there might be no confusion, the corapany had
intrusted to one of their nuraber to lay open their
minds, to Avliora they prayed the bishop to give
audience with patience."
And this he accordingly did, Avith patience most no authentick
*^ *' ^ account of It.
admirable. But of the conference which ensued
there is no authentick account, and such as is alto
gether Avorthy to be relied on. There appears,
indeed, to have been one by Mr. Patrick Adair, cir
culated in manuscript by the Presbyterian party, and
since printed ; but the bishop imjieacbed its accuracy
at the time, and contradicted its statements, and de
scribed it as a "libel," and as " falsely traducing all
his proceedings." Such a docuraent therefore is
not of historical authority, and is calculated to de
ceive and mislead rather than to instruct and inform.
So far, indeed, as it sets forth the opinions of objections made
. l.v the Picshy-
the party Avhich it was intended to favour, it raay, teriuus t(, con-
perhaps, be adraitted : and thus it makes us ac
quainted with the objections of these nonconformists,
being indeed the usual objections of the sectarists of
the time ; such as alleged corruptions in the autho
rized translation of the Holy Scriptures, the untruths
contained in the Apocrypha, the publiek reading
of the Apocrypha in the Church service, the omis
sion of reading rauch of the canonical Scripture, the
avouching of the day of Christ's nativity, the avouch
ing that Christ was born seven days together, the
kneeling at the sacrament of the Lord's supper,
Avhich Avas the chief stumbling-block, and raost fully
and strongly urged.
The Bishop of Derry, A\ho is said to have been

622

THE REIGN OF

[Cn, VII.

Residt of the
meeting.

Painfulness of
the sentence.

Necessity of the
act of deposition.

Exemplary eon-
duct of the
bishop.

not present during the greater part of the debate,
but to have come into the cliurch Avlieu the six iirst
topicks had been discussed, is reported to have
expostulated with his brother of DoAvn, commending
his charity, but not his wisdora, in suffering such
open objections against the orders of the Church ;
and assuring hira that he could not ansAver it, that
he had given the objectors such liberty that day.
The result was an adjournment of the meeting, first
to the afternoon, and then to the folloAving raorning ;
when the nonconformists still continuing to refuse
subscription to the canons, the bishoj) jn-onounced
upon them the sentence of deposition.
This sentence, distressing as it may have been
and doubtless AA'as, not to the deposed rainisters only,
but to their friends and partisans, was, it may be
safely affirmed, to no one more jDainful than to the
bishop whose office called upon hira to pronounce it.
His conduct throughout tbe discussion was marked
by patience, moderation, and forbearance, and by a
spirit of good will and conciliation, which prompted
him to raake concessions to the prejudices of the
dissentients, exceeding the strict line of his duty.
As to the act itself of deposition, it was ren
dered necessary by the circumstances. For to have
jjermitted these rainisters to persist in their non-
conforraity, still professing themselves nevertheless
ministers of the Church, would have been to aban
don all pretence to ecclesiastical authority and
discipline. At the sarae tirae his language in answer
to one of the deposed delinquents, who appealed to
the consciences of all present concerning his life and
doctrine during his rainistry, was kind and respectful
to the individual, at the same tirae that it intimated
the proper ground on which the Avliole question

S-.iC. VL] KING CHARLES I. 528
should be made to rest. " Mr. Cunningham, I con
fess your life and doctrine hath both been good.
But I must say to you that which was said to a
certain man at Rome, who was to be put to death
for a mutiny. Sorae pleaded for his life, alleging
that he had done good service to the coraraonwealth,
and could do raore afterwards. But one of the
council replied, ' Non opus est reipublicfe eo cive
qui parere nescit.' And so say I to you, 'The
Church hath no need of those Avho cannot tell how
to obey.'" The reader will judge, how far this
exercise of episcopal authority, in correcting disobe
dience to the laws and raaintaining their authority,
deserved to be stigmatized, as it has been by the
historian of the Loyalty of Presbyterians, with the
characters of "severity and tyranny," directed, to
all appearance, against Bishop Leslie, in common
with the other northern prelates of that period ^

Section VII.
Scotch Covenant introduced into Ireland. Precautions of
the Government. Case ofa Clergyman tiamed Galbrath.
Northern Counties infected. Correspondence of Bishop
of Down and Connor ivith Lord Deputy. High charac.
ter of the B'lshop. His Speech, or Visitation Charge, at
Lisnegarvey., 16-38. Its important contents in connexion
mth the History of the Church. His continued inter
course with the Government.
The tumultuary and rebellious spirit which had for scotch covenant
some time taken posses,sion of Scotland, and deso- ireiand?"
lated her Church, AA'as uoav .spreading itself into
Ireland. The Scotch, who had acquired property in
" Part II, chap. i. p, 225.

624

the reign of

LCh, VII.

Precautions of
the government.

Case of -Iir. Gal
brath. 1C3U.

Ills nnminatiun
to a benefice in
Raphoe.

that kingdora, or become inhabitants there, had
originally brought with thera their national preju
dices in favour of nonconformit}', anti-liturgical
worship, anti-episcopal polity and jurisdiction in the
Church, and resistance to legitimate authority : and
they AA'ere iioav endeavouring to introduce into that
country their National Covenant, which they had
recently fraraed for the maintenance of their own
discipline and Avorship ; the precursor, at the dis
tance of five years, of the notorious Solemn League
and Covenant.
Under these circumstances it Avas a very com
mendable, as well as a very natural, i^roceeding on
the part of the Lord Deputy, to design that " the
clergy of the Church of England and Ireland be
instructed to preach to the people against the dis
orders and rebellions of the disaffected, as they do
raost impudently inveigh against the Common Prayer
Book and cereraonies of our Church'." And it
Avas equally natural and becoraing in the govern
ment, to take all possible precautions agaiust the
bestowal of ecclesiastical benefices on persons Avho
AA'ere jdedged to measures liostile to the Church's con
stitution and laAAS, as was the case Avith all those Avho
had taken the Scotch Covenant. An example of this
prudent precaution occurred in the summer of 1638.
Frora the Armagh Book of 1622, of which some
account has been given under the former reign, it
appears that at that time the Archdeacon of Raphoe
was Mr. Thomas Bruce, who " possessed no living-
belonging to that archdeaconry, but held the par
sonage and vicarage of the parish of Teaghboyne,
presentative by the Duke of Lennox," On a vacancy
of these preferments in 1638, a Scotchman, of the

Strafford Letters, ii, 102,

Sec. VIL] KING CHARLES I. 625
name of Galbrath, was brought forward to supply it.
But hoAv the disposal of the vacant preferraent fell
into the hands of the governraent, or in what way
Galbrath, was recoraraended to the vacancy, is not
explained. His eligibility, hoAvever, for the appoint- nis eiigibinty
, , • 1 1 • 1 questioned.
raent is tlius represented as questionable in a letter
of the 7th of August, frora the Lord Deputy to
Archbishop Laud.
" Your grace may not only undertake for Taboine, but Letter from Lord
for all tbat is in my disposal, as often as yo-a shall be pleased wsiiopLaud.
to call for it. iUl tbat I beard from Dr. Bruce these three
mouths, is very lately : and that was no more, but tbat a
messenger employed by him into Scotland for tbat purpose
brought certain knowledge, that Galbrath bad signed and
sworn the Covenant ; so that we are like to have a brave
archdeacon of him. Nevertheless if himself may be trusted,
all will be well no doubt ; or else there is more ingenuity
to confess trutli in this gentleman, than I ever yet observed
in a Puritan. But it makes no matter; so soon as I come
back, if Dr. Bruce stay upon tho business, and like not his
change so well as he did, I will send for and quicken him,
to the intent his majesty may be sooner obeyed'"
The king's pleasure on this subject is thus cora
raunicated to the Lord Deputy by a letter from the
archbishop. " If Dr. Bruce will justify tbat Galbretb bath either King's pleasure
sworn or subscribed tbe Covenant, your lordship is to make ^tC'i-amrr'''
stav, and not to put him into posse.ssion of Taboine. And letter to Lord
.' ' -L ' Deputy.
in the mean time I bave, by bis majest3''s command, spoken scpt. lo, icss.
Avith my Lord Alarquis Hamilton, AA'ho is .suddenly and
unexpectedly come hither, to inform himself and send up
present word of the truth of it ; and if he have subscribed,
his majesty is resolved he sball not bave the benefice. In
the mean time I would know bis Christian name, and the
place in Scotland where he subscribed'."
' Strafford Letters, ii, 19.5. ' As above, ii. 213,

526

THE REIGN OF

[Cii, VII,

Close of corre
spondence by-
letter from Arch
bishop Laud.
is^ov. 2, 1638.

Subsequent in
formation con
cerning Mr.
Galbrath.

The following extract from another letter of the
archbishop, November 2, 1638, closes the corre
spondence on this subject.
" Galbretb, that would have your great benefice, is a
Covenanter : there is certain'news of it brought now to the
king; and thereupon his majesty bath commanded me to
signify unto you, that you sball not give bim the benefice.
And yet I will not give you counsel to bestow it witbout
the king's privity. But Avheu you bave it in youv power,
and the time draws on for the bestowing it, if you then
send me word, I'll do best to give you content. I bear
further, that this Galbretb hasted out of Scotland for killing
a man there ; but I am not so certain of this, as I am tbat
be is a Covenanter ; that is, ujDon the matter, that bo is a
traitor^" The correspondence, relating to the individual
whose character had been called thus into question,
seems to have terminated here ; at least there is no
further continuance of it in the collection of letters,
from which the preceding extracts have been taken.
It is probable, therefore, that the inquiry terminated
here in a raanner unfavourable to the subject of it.
There is, however, some reason to suppose that, not
withstanding the laudable endeavours made by Lord
Wentworth and Archbishop Laud, to arrive at the
truth, they may have been misled by ill-founded
statements; or, at all events, that the suspected
person succeeded in attaining the object of his
wishes : for, in Carte's Life ofthe Duke of Ormonde,
an account is given of a "Mr. Archdeacon Gal-
braith, a Scot by original, but well affected to epi
scopacy and monarchy, of very good sense and
learning, great prudence, and full as great resolution,
Avell beloved and esteemed by all the British officers
and gentlemen in those parts ;" and who appears to
•* Strafford Letteis, ii, 2.30,

«EC. Vll.J KIXG CHARLES I. 527
have been rauch trusted and employed by the duke
on occasions of confidence^
Whilst the government would fain have kept jwiscincfoftho
out any fresh importers of evil principles into Ire- inn!unr™™
land though the raediura of the Scotch Covenant,
they had rauch of mischief there to contend with,
and had great reason to apprehend the accumulation
of raore. The northern counties, indeed, were generally Especially in
assailed : but in particular, the counties of Doavu Antrimr'^
and Antrira, lying opposite to the western side of
Scotland, Avhere these enormities principally pre
vailed, and separated from it by a narroAv and unin
terrupted passage, were principally exposed to this
religious aud moral infection. And it appears that
in the j'ear 1638, one Robert Adaire, a justice of
tbe peace in the county of Antrim, possessing there
an estate of about 500/. a year, and having also
some estate in Scotland, had joined hiraself to the
Scotch faction, signed the Covenant, received the
oath of rebellion, aud had latterly been appointed
one of the coraraissioners for the county against the
king. There was reason for believing that, on strict
inquiry, other proprietors of estates in Ireland would
be found to have engaged theraselves in the sarae
confederacy. This intelligence having been given to Henry communication
Le,slie, then Bishop of Doavu and Connor, whose Leslie to Lmd
diocese is situated in the before-mentioned counties s^lZli, loaa.
of Down and Antrim, he transraitted it to the Lord
Deputy in a private and confidential letter, Avherein
he took occasion to exj^ress his sentiments, accora
panied Avith further iutelligence, concerning the
^ Carte's Life of Or/nond.;', i, 531,

528 THE REIGN OF LC"- VII.
intended object and extent of these insurrectionary
moveraents.
Confldence of the "All the Puritans iu my diocese," says the bishop,
the Scotch rebels, "are Confident tbat the arms, raised against the king in
Scotland, will procure them a liberty to set u]) tbeir own
discipline bere amongst themselves ; insomuch tbat many
wbom I had brought to some measure of conformity bave
reA'olted lately: and when I call tliem in question for it,
tbey scorn my process ; if I excommunicate tbem, tbey
know tbey will not be apprehended, in regard of tbe liberty,
tbeir lords have, of excluding all sheriffs. Besides, it
grieveth my heart to hear, how many Avbo live in Scotland,
who, coming over hither about matter of trade, do profess
openly that they haA'e signed the Covenant, and justify what
they have done, as if the justice of this kingdom could not
overtake tbem.
" Tliese tbings I have presumed to represent unto your
lordship. So humbly craving pardon for my boldne,ss, I
pray God to bless your lordship with all health and happi
ness, and to continue long amongst us for the good of this
Church and kingdom. " So jDrayeth your lordship's
" I\Iost humble servant and daily orator,
" Hen. Dunensis",
" L'unegarv'ie, 'iind of Sept., 16SS."
Lord Deputy's Thls cominunicatioii of the bishoj") was properly
acknowledgment •.! t -i .i, iti
appreciated, and graciously received by the Lord
Deputy with an assurance, that he had sent for
Adaire, and AA'ished the occasion of his haA'ing done
so to be kept secret. He expressed his opinion,
that the bishop would do well privately to inquire
the names of all others who followed the same
example, and also of all such as professed them
selves Covenanters, and send them to the Lord
Deputy. He also requested to receive a list of such
as revolted from their conformity, and stood in con-
¦^ Strafford Letto-s, ii, 21 0,

of tlic communi
cation.

Sec. VII,] KING CHARLES I. 529
tempt of the bishop's process, and also the ]daces of
their abode ; proraising that he would not fail speedily
to send out pursuivants for them, who should appre
hend and render theni subject to the ecclesiastical
courts, and under the jurisdiction of their ordinary.
"Nor," concluded the Lord Deputy, "is this a business nis sense of the
to be neglected, or faintly to be slipped over; but quickly pvomptcmrec-
and roundly to be corrected in tbe first beginnings : lest, ''""•
dandled over long, the humour grow more churlish, and
difficult to be directed and disposed to the peace of Church
and commonwealth, especially in a time, Avhen the assump
tions and liberty of this generation of people threaten so
much distraction and unquietness to both. And, therefore,
as I much recommend your lordship's zeal therein, so Avill
it be ever becoming your lordship's piety and courage, con
fidently to oppose and withstand their disobedience and
madness, as hitherto you have done : wherein you may be
assured of all tbe assistance tbat rests in the power of
" Your lordship's very aflFectionate
" Faithful friend to serve you,
" Wentwoeth'."
"Dublin, October 4^, 1638."
Lord Wentworth appears to have forraed no ill- Biographical
founded judgment of the character ofthe prelate, in characte" of
whom he thus reposed confidence. Henry Lesley, "''°r'^"'"''
or Leslie, for the name is differently written at
different times, a branch of the noble faraily of
Rothes, in Scotland, had been chaplain to King
Charles the First ; and during the civil wars, which
ensued upon the present correspondence, attached
hiraself to his royal raaster's person, and followed
hira in his greatest extremities; attended him at
Oxford, in 1644, and in several other parts of Eng-
Land; and patiently, loyally, and magnanimously
suffered the loss of all his fortune in the comraon
^ Straford Letters, ii. 219,
2 M

530 THE REIGN OF [Cn. VII.
calamity. His profession prevented him from taking
up arms in person ; but he had two sons, James and
William Lesley, both captains, A\liom he equipped
and encouraged in their king's and country's cause,
which they assisted to the last with extraordinary
valour and conduct ; and afterwards, for their hospi
tality, and beneficial services to the publiek, were
universally beloved and honoured in Ulster to the
days of their deaths.
But the bishop was not distinguished only in the
manner just described : he has been transmitted to
posterity as honourably conspicuous, for his piety,
gravity, learning, loyalty, hospitality, and affability:
and it has been recorded of him, that he was uni
versally skilled in antiquity, especially in the writings
of the early fathers of the Church, both Greek and
Latin ; that he understood perfectly the priraitive
constitution and history of the Church Catholick;
and that no man knew better, or proraoted more
earnestly, the reformation of religion, according to
the Church of England '.
Personal merit The lilstory of a National Church comprehends
to he noticed in a
national history, the history of her worthies : and it is pleasant and
improving to bring forward to grateful observation
the names and characters of men, honoured in their
generation, but who in the course of time may have
fallen into comparative oblivion, perhaps have been
commemorated for the purpose of being maligned.
Such seems to be the case with the pious and loyal,
the conscientious and vigilant prelate, with whom
the course of historical events has brought us into
connexion ; and upon a notice of whose merits I
have been disposed to linger a few moments, ere we
passed on. " Wahe's Bishops, p. 208.

Sec. VII,] KING CHARLES I. 631
Of his watchfulness and diligence in superintend- Bishop Leslie's
.,.,, , ijji'j. 11 visi tation speech,
ing his diocese, he gave about this time a memorable Sept., ms.
exaraple, in the delivery of what he denominated " a
speech," but which in more modern language would
be termed a charge, at the visitation of Down and
Connor, holden in Lisnegarvy the 26th of Septem
ber, 1638. It Avas soon afterAA'ards "published by
authority" in London, professing to be "A full
Confutation of the Covenant, lately sworn and sub
scribed by many in Scotland ;" and the same year it
appeared in a Latin translation, at Dublin, made by
one of the bishop's chaplains. It is important as an
historical document, affording a melancholy proof of
the successful efforts which had been used for infect
ing the Irish Church with the innovating and dis
orderly spirit of Scotch Presbyterianism.
The composition is divided into two general Former pait haa
, , , „ f -I • ^ il ^ the character of
heads, the former of which more exactly corresponds a charge.
with the notion of a charge, being addressed succes
sively to the clergy, and the churchwardens, and the
assembled body of both the clergy and laity of the
diocese, in regard to their several duties so far as
they appeared to fall under their diocesan's pastoral
inspection. In the first place, he expostulates with the clergy Expostulation
for their great fault in the general neglect of eate- ™' ' *'"' ''''''^^'
chising. He reminds them that to this duty they Neglect of cate-
are bound by the canons of the Church, and by his
authority enforced at his first visitation ; and though
they should pay respect to neither of these, which he
knows to be the case with many of them, yet he
beseeches them to consider, that they are bound to
it by their own consciences. He remarks, that
preaching is now so highly accounted of, that it has
excluded from the Church both the immediate
2 M 2

532

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. vii.

Evil conse
quences of tho
prevailing fond
ness for
preaching.

Twofold allega
tion against
churchivai'dcns.

Neglect of the
churches.

Neglect of their
oath to present
disorders.

worship of God, which is the same as publiek prayer,
and the duty of catechising: and that it is uoav
esteemed the chief and sole service of God, the very
sura of Christianity, as if religion consisted altogether
in the hearing of sermons. And he admonishes
them in conclusion, that if their consciences do not
hereafter prompt them to the discharge of this duty
of catechising, his conscience will constrain him to
the performance of his duty, by proceeding against
them according to the canons of the Church.
Secondly, he alleges a double complaint against
the churchwardens. The first, that, although their
office calls upon thera to be careful about the fabrick
of the Church, most of the churches are in no better
keeping than hog-styes. And he condemns an
opiinion, entertained by some as one of the mysteries
of their religion, that God is worshipped with the
greatest purity, after a slovenly inanner, and in a
raean and homely cottage ; and that any cost is too
much to be bestowed on God's service. His second
complaint against thera he represents as still greater:
naraely, their neglect of their oath, by which they
are bound to present all known disorders within
their parishes, especially with respect to those
persons, who do not repair to church for hearing
divine service, and who do not receive the holy
coraraunion as ordered by the Church. He esteems
the churchwardens indeed the most disorderly men,
the chief causes and ringleaders of the separation ;
and supposes them to be chosen in some parishes
more especially, for the very purpose of preventing
others frora being presented. Aud he compares the
bond formed in Scotland for defending each other
by arms, with that formed by their fellows in his
diocese for defending each other by oaths. Finally,

Sec VII.] KING CHARLES I. 533
he warns them plainly, that he will proceed against
them : first, for neglecting to repair their churches ;
secondly, for their nonconformity; thirdly, for not'
presenting notorious offenders ; and lastly, for their
perjury. And he cautions thera, that, if relying
upon the patronage, which they suppose to be used
for their protection, they despise his authority as too
feeble to punish thera, he will deliver thera over to
a more powerful court.
In the third place, he complains, both of the compiaintof
1 1 p 1 1 1 general non-
clergy and of the laity, for a general nonconformity, conformity.
and disobedience to the Church's orders. He
reminds the clergy, that they have all sworn, sub
scribed, and promised absolute conformity : and he
remonstrates with them, that, when they are gathered
together with their people, they slide back frora
their duty ; and for a colour of obedience, read sorae wegicct and
part of the prescribed service, the lessons it raay be, thepiraoribcd
and a feAV collects, as if they were intrusted with the
liberty of mincing God's service, cutting and carving-
it at their pleasure. And he tells them plainlj', that
those Avho refuse to be tied by oaths, subscriptions,
and promises, are capable of being tied by nothing
but a coercive power.
The laity he censures for being still worse ; for
refusing to hear any prayer at all. He coinplain.s,
that while divine service is reading, they walk about
the churchyard ; and when prayer is ended, they
come rushing into the church, as it were into a
play-house, to hear a sermon. But he expresses a
hope, that, ere it be long, a course shall be taken,
that they, who will hear no prayers, shall hear no
sermon. The prevailing disobedience in all these par- Prevailing dis-
ticulars he attributes to the encouragement supplied by the insuneo'^
tion in Scotland.

534

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Second general
head of the
speech.

Six degrees of
Gcctarianlsm.

by the existing- insurrection in Scotland ; Avhich
leads them to think and say, that, the king having
been forced to yield to the demands of the Scotch,
a liberty AA'ill be procured for the rest of his subjects,
and, amongst others, for those in Ireland, to live as
they list. He warns them against such self-deceit.
For, he tells them, whatever strength of resistance
there may be in Scotland, they of that party in Ire
land, he thanks God, are not so numerous, but that
the laws and authority of the king are well able to
overtake them. And he assures them, that the
insolent opposition, elsewhere made against their
sovereign, will cause those of the same faction here
to be more narrowly looked to : for now that our
neighbour's house is on fire, it is high time to look
to our own.
The second general head of his " speech," to
which the bishop then passes on, contains a state
ment of the origin of Presbyterianism at Geneva
about eighty years before, of its transmission to
Scotland, and of the results which it had produced
in that country ; especially as testified by the recent
Covenant, the unlawful character of which, and of
the confession and oath of mutual defence under
taken by the Covenanters, are ably unfolded, and
clearly established, to the utter conviction of the
nonconformists. The sketch which he draws of this innovation
in the Christian church is so correct as matter of
history, is so tersely and forcibly delineated, and is
so illustrative of this portion of our narrative, that I
am induced to lay the following extract before the
reader. " You may perceive how that sect, since the first begin
ning of it, which is not much above fourscore years, in"tlio

Sec VIL] KING CHARLES I. 535
reign of Queen Mary of England, hath proceeded from evil
to worse, by six degrees.
"At first they did only manifest a di,slike of episcopal i. Disiikeof
government, and some ceremonies used in the Church of vemmentr'
England, as liking better of the goA'ernment of Geneva,
Avhich was devised by Master Calvin, and that cunningly
enough for the state of that republlck, which, being popular,
could not brook any other government of tbe Church but
tbat wbich is popular also. And yet I must tell you, that
Master Calvin wanted nothing of a bishop, but only the
title. For the Church of GencA'a is not a parochial, but Though the go-
diocesan church, consisting of clivers parishes, which make Genev™iaepi-
up one great presbytery, and he all the days of his life Avas scopai.
moderator thereof; without whose consent no act, neither
of ordination nor jurisdiction, Avas done. And so likewise
Mr. Beza, for ten years after the other's death, held the
same place of government, until Danaeus set him beside the
cushion, and procured the presidency to go by turns.
" In tbe next place, from dislike they proceeded to con- 2. contempt of
tempt of episcopal government ; and this, if ye will believe yel^mt.
St. Cyprian, hath been the very beginning of all heresies
and schisms.
"In the third place, from contempt they did proceed 3. open disohe-
unto open disobedience to all the orders of the Churcb.
And, like those of whom Nazianzen speaks, would be
pleased with nothing, but what did proceed from their own
devising, esteeming him the holiest man who could find
most faults.
" From disobedience they did proceed unto schism and 4. schism,
open separation, accounting themselves only to be the
brethren and congregation of Christ, and all others, who
are not of their faction, to be the children of this world.
" From schism they proceeded to heresy : for it is most 6. Heresy.
true AA'hich St. Jerome did observe, that ' every schism
doth devise unto itself a heresy;' some false doctrine or
other to maintain their separation. And these men have
devised not a few, and some that have been condemned by
ancient councils and fathers, as, namely, Epiphanius reckons
among the condemned heresies of Aerius, that he main
tained there was no difference between a bishop and a pres-

536

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

G. RebeUion.

Earnest and
ail'ectionatc eon-
elusion of the
speech.

byter, and tbat all set fasts are unlawful, Jewish, and
superstitious. And is not tbis tbe doctrine of these men ?
" But lastly, their disobedience, schism, and heresy,
have now drawn them into open rebellion, and I wonder
whither they will go next. For I am deceived if they have
not yet a further journey to go, and that they cannot subsist
until they arrive at pure anabaptism. From which they
now differ but a little. And surely if any of yon will read
the history of the anabaptists, you Avill find that their pro
ceedings were a great deal more moderate and Christian
like than these men's are. This is the just judgment of God,
tbat they who run out of the communion of the Church
should likewise run out of their own wits."
To attempt in this place an abstract of a learned
and extensive treatise, as is the sequel of the charge,
would be beside our more immediate purpose. But
the reader will not dislike to peruse the concluding
paragraph, marked as it is by those symptoms of
sincerity and impressive earnestness of language,
AA'hich accorapany a deep conviction of the truth in
the raind of the speaker.
" And now I have wearied botb you and myself with a
long .speech. I know there are many bere who think I
have spoke too much. But I could not have said less, and
manifest my fidelity to God and tbe king. And if it be
true, which is grown unto a proverb, that ' Leves loquuntur
curas, ingentes stupent,' no man can expect that my speech
should be eloquent ; for I protest before God, that I haA'e
spoken out of the grief of my heart, and the very anguish
of my soul. When I consider the fearful after-claps that
are likely to ensue, it fears me that our sins are come unto
a full maturity, and that wc are noAV ripe for God's sickle
to reap us. I dare not say with St, Paul, tbat I coidd
Avish myself anathema, or separated from Christ for my
countrymen ; but I can say Avith a sincere heart, that I
could be content my life were given in a sacrifice, .so that
could procure the peace of the Cliurch, redeem his majesty's
honour, which is so deeply Avounded, and preserve ray

Sec VII,] KING CHARLES I. 537
native country from destruction. And therefore I beseech
all you, Avho bear good will unto Sion, that you Avould
apply all your endeavours for quenching of this fire, espe
cially labouring to reclaim them who are committed to your
charge : ' And of some have compassion, making a differ
ence ; and others, save with fear, pulling them out of the
fire.' Jude, ver, 22, 2.3. And let all of us be instant with
God in prayer, lifting up our hearts and our hands to the
heavens, and beseeching bim, who is tbe author of peace
and lover of concord, that He Avould bo pleased to open the
eyes of that people, and turn their hearts, that they may
acknowledge their duty to God and to his vice-gerent.
Amen." It is in pursuance of the same subject, which continued corro-
"LT •Tix-»'i (, -r\ 51 1 1 fepondenee with
nad occupied the Bishop of Downs thoughts, and the Lord Deputy.
prompted his address to the people of his charge at
his visitation, that we uoav proceed to his continued
intercourse with the Lord Deputy on the subject of
their former coraraunications.
" I know," affirms the bishop, in a letter dated October ManyMi-h
8, 1638, " there are many in my diocese, and other parts of srtoh'coifspi-
the kingdom, who have joined in this conspiracy; but I ''•"¦^'¦
am not able to make proof against them, if they should
deny it : for of late I have had no intelligence out of Scot
land ; all letters tbat come unto me are intercepted. Be
sides, my friends, from wbom I bad Avont to receive my
information, live at Edinburgh and Aberdeen ; and know
not what is done in the west parts of that country, whither
only our people do resort, yet I will use all means to dis
cover them. And, in the mean time, I dare say that these
persons, whom I present to your lordship, are guilty :
because tbey are notable nonconformists, and have been
lately in Scotland.
"As for those who contemn my process, and oppose my wilfulness of the
jurisdiction, they are more in number than would fill all '''"™i"™«i™s-
the gaols in Ireland ; but the churchwardens are the deepest
in that guilt, who Avill present none that are disobedient to
the Government ; and to that purpose they are chosen. As

538

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Petition of the
Irish Preshyte
rians.

in Scotland they are entered into a bond to defend one
another by arms, so it seems that in my diocese they have
joined in a bond, to defend one another by their oaths, I
have, therefore, in obedience to your lordship's commands,
sent a list of these churchwardens, extracted out of my
registry. If it may please your good lordship to make all
or some of them examples, it will strike a terror in the rest
of that faction.
" Since his majesty has been pleased to condescend so
far unto them in Scotland by his last joroclamation, against
which, notwithstanding, they have protested ; there is such
insulting amongst them here, that they make me weary of
my life. And, as I am informed, they are now drawing a
petition to his majesty, that they may have the like fixvour
in Ireland as is granted to their fellows in Scotland ; which
I bojje your lordship, in your deep wisdom, will prevent.
Maltreatment of My officers have been lately beaten in open court. I bave
officers, sent a warrant for apprehending the parties, by virtue of a
writ of assistance from your lordship, whereof I never made
use before ; and, if I apprehend them, I will keep them in
restraint till your lordship's pleasure be known. They do
threaten me for my life ; but, by the grace of God, all their
brags sball never make me faint in doing service to God
and the king."
This letter from the Bishop of Down was, accord
ing to the Lord Deputy's desire, submitted by the
Archbishop of Canterbury to the king. The general
directions, concerning the lawless proceedings of the
Scotch in Ireland, were comprised in the king's
resolute answer to the Lord Deputy, " that you take
what order you in your wisdom may think fittest,
with your refractory Scottishmen there, so you do it
in time, and suppress them before they get the bjt
between their teeth."
With respect to their prayer for special indul
gence, the answer is more specifick. " Whereas,"
says Archbishop Laud to Lord Wentworth, Nov. 2,
1638, "the bishop writes, he is informed, that some

Bishop Leslie's
letter submitted
to the king.

King's directions
to the Lord
Deputy. Nov. 2, 1639.

Sec VII.] KING CHARLES I. 539
Scots in Ireland are drawing a petition to his ma
jesty, that they raay have the like favour in Ireland
Avhich is granted to thera in Scotland ; to this his
raajesty says that you raay make this answer: 'That, special indui-
''•'•'•'•' gence not granted
whatsoever he hath indulged to Scotland, is because to Presbyterians
in Ireiaud, and
they have there had soraetirae a church-government, why.
such as it was, confused enough, without bishops.
But for Ireland, it hath ever been reformed by, and
to, the Church of England. And your lordship, his
majesty hopes, will keep the people steady to that ;
and the Scottishmen, who will live there, your lord
ship must see that they conform themselves to it ;
or, if they will, they may return into Scotland, and
leave honester men to fill the plantations.' "

Section VIII.
Renunciation of the Covenant, and Petition from divers
L iihabitants of the North of Lreland. Ati Oath framed
in consequence. Ireland an Asylum for Scottish Ep)iscopicd
Refugees. Case of Archibald Adair, Bishop of Killalla,
Irregular Conduct of a Clergyman of Raphoe. Cor
respondence ofthe Bishop ivith the Government. Loyalty
of the Irish Clergy. Earl of Strafford's Withdrawal
from the Viceroyalty. Petition io the English Parlia
ment against Prelates and Prelacy. Petitions to the
Irish Parliament against the Bishops of Raphoe, Down,
and Derry. Persecution of Bishop of Derry, and his
Deliverance.
Considering the distempers of the time, and the Renunciation of
lawless and portentous conduct of the Covenanters, '^ "iSg™ '
it was judged fit for the Government to receive from
the Scottish on the Irish side of the Channel, a
renunciation of the frantick Covenant contracted by
some of their countrymen on the other side. This

540

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. VII,

Petition from
divers Scottish
inhabitants of
Ireland.

Their dislike of
the Covenant.

Prayer to be per
mitted to vindi
cate themselves.

Petition received
with commenda
tions by the Lord
Deputy.

was prepared in the form of a humble petition, ad
dressed to the Lord Deputy and Council, by " divers
lords spiritual and temporal, knights, gentlemen, and
others of the Scottish nation, inhabiting in the king
dom of Ireland."
The petitioners " declared their iuAA'ard sorrow,
Avith which they had observed the disorders in Scot
land, occasioned by a late Covenant, entered into by
some of their countrymen there, vAdthout his majesty's
authority ; they avowed their utter dislike of such
courses, and their apprehension that, perhajis, those
inconsiderate proceedings of that faction might be
understood as reflecting upon them, though innocent
thereof: they, therefore, craved leave to be admitted
to vindicate themselves from so great a blemish, as
the contagion and malignity of the lewd and despe
rate transgressions of that faction ; and begged their
lordships to jirescribe some AA'ay, whereby they might
not only declare themselves free from any imputa
tion or suspicion of consent to those proceedings, but
also testify their bounden duty, faith, and allegiance
to the king, and their dislike of that Covenant, and
of all other covenants entered iuto without his
majesty's authority, in vindication of which they offer
their lives and fortunes against all persons whatso
ever : tbey signify their confidence, that no man of
charitable disposition will impute to the whole nation
the disloj'alty of that faction, and their hope that the
Covenant will appear to have been by force iraposed
on very great numbers, who, when occasion shall
enable them, Avill express their loyalty to the king,
as becometh all Christian and faithful subjects."
This petition Avas signed by above forty of the
incst respectable names in that part of Ireland;
including the Viscounts INIontgoniery and Claneboy,

Sec, VIII.] KING CHARLES I. 541
the Bishops of Clougher, Raphoe, and Doavu, and
the Archdeacons of Down and Armagh. It was
received by the Lord Deputy and council with cora-
raendations of the Avisdoin of the petitioners, and of
the testimony thus given of their loyalty and faith
fulness to the king. An oath was accordingly oath framed in
framed, proraising all due submission and obedience '^""^'^i"""''-''
to the king ; and not to bear arms, or do any rebel
lious or hostile act against his royal comraands ; and
renouncing and abjuring- all oaths and covenants con
trary to what was therein SAVorn, professed, and pro-
raised. This AA'as required to be taken by all persons
of the Scottish nation, of sixteen years and upwards,
inhabiting or having any estate in the kingdora of
Ireland ; and commissioners were appointed, and
sent through the country, to administer it.
The Church of Ireland, at a somewhat later Ireland .an asy-
, fv> 1 1 1 • • • ^^^^^ ^^^ Scotch
period, suffered under the acrimonious persecution episcopalians.
of the intolerant sect, whose covenant was thus
formally abjured by raany, who were sensible of its
factious and malignant nature. At the present crisis,
when the flame of disaffection was so overAvhelming
in Scotland, as to drive raany of her orthodox and
loyal clergy to seek refuge in other lands, Ireland
conspired with England in affording an asylura to
the fugitives. In particular, the Archbishop of St. Hospitality of
Bishop Bram-
Andrews, the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Bishop of hau,
Ross, and other lawful rulers of the Church of Scot
land, being driven frora their episcopal seats by
schismatical intruders, sought shelter in the hos
pitable dwelling of the Bishop of Derry, and sought
it not in vain. His hospitality and bounty were
largely acknowledged by them in several letters,
" praying God to roAvard hira for the relief which he
gave to his distressed and persecuted brethren, of

542 THE REIGN OF [Cn. VII.
whom their own country AA'as not worthy ; not doubt
ing but succeeding ages would mention it to his
honour'."
ca^e of Archi- Ono of the Irlsh episcopacy at this time, Archi-
bishopofKii- bald Adair, a native of Scotland, and bishop of Kil-
lalla, lalla, fell under a charge of being favourable to the
Covenanters. His character, as transmitted by his
tory, is equivocal. If charity hesitates to adopt the
appellation, which stigmatises him as a "wretched
hypocrite'," candour can hardly deny that his claim
to uprightness and sincerity comes in a very ques
tionable shape. The case was this. A Scotch re
fugee, of the name of Corbet, had, with much learn
ing and ingenuity, written a book, under the title of
Lysitnachus Nicanor, showing the parallel between
the Jesuits and the Scotch Covenanters. He was in
consequence received with favour by other friends of
the Church, and especially by the Bishop) of Derry ;
Reeommenda- aud recommeuded for a considerable benefice, then
h™patronyc. ""^ vacaut, lu the gift of the Bishop of Killalla. The
bishop, it seems, had a great affection for his own
country; and, though he condemned the courses
taken by his countrymen, he disapproved of their
exposure in a strange nation, and was displeased
with the man who had exposed them.
Ills rejection of Thls is the favouiable view of his conduct. His
sentiments, at the same tirae, were expressed in lan
guage personally offensive to Corbet. " Pie told him
he was a cwby, with allusion to his name (that word
signifying, in their language, a crow or raven,) that
fled out of the ark, and that he should not have
where to set his foot in his diocese." Pie told
hira also, "that it was an ill bird that defiled
' Vesey's Life of Bramhall. ^ Leland's History, vol. iii. p. .52, 72.

him.

Sec VIIL] KING CHARLES I. 543
its own nest;" adding other expressions of virulence
against such men as refused to covenant with their
brethren". Corbet, in consequence, laid informations before information laid
.^ against him.
the High Commission Court against the bishop, whom
he accused of being a partisan of the Covenanters ;
which, indeed, he had given sorae reason to suspect
from the tenour of his speech, which was calculated
to extenuate, at least, if not to justify, the lawless
and seditious conduct of men, who had broken out
into open rebellion against the sovereign, and con
tumaciously extirpated episcopacy from their coun
try. His indulgence towards the conduct of his
countryraen leads to the opinion, that, AA'hatever were
his profession and his station, in principle he was
friendly to their cause. It was thought dangerous,
therefore, whilst the Covenant was in full force in
Scotland, and every exertion was making for its
establishment and further propagation in Ireland, to
suffer a man of his supposed principles to continue
in power, and in a capacity to corrupt his clergy, and
encourage such noxious principles in his diocese.
The consequence was his deprivation on the 18th nis deprivation,
of May, 1640 ; but the administration having soon
after fallen into the hands of two puritanical lords
justices. Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlase,
the king was induced to regard the sentence as ex
ceeding the measure of the offence. He therefore
directed it to be expunged; and advantage was
taken of a vacancy which soon afterwards occurred and promotion
, _ , to AVatcrford.
m the diocese of Waterford and Lismore, for ad
vancing the deprived prelate to that bishoprick in
July, 1641.
^ Vesey's Life of Bramhall, Burnet's Life of Bedell,

544

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. vii.

John Leslie,
bishop of
Raphoe,

Irregularity of
one of his clergy.

Patronized hy
Sir WilUam
Steward,

Instructions
from the king.

Letter from
Archbishop
Laud. Nov. 21, 1638.

The offenders
be proceeded
against.

On the death of Bishop Knox in 1632, the See of
Raphoe was filled by John Lesley, or Leslie, a sound
and consistent churchman, as will appear on several
future occasions ; and who, about this time, was
called on to interpose for the correction of a gross
irregularity in his diocese, coramitted by one of his
clergy, who, to other disorderly and uncanonical
actions, added a vehement attack from the pulpit on
the bishop's jurisdiction. His offence was aggra
vated by some misconduct of his wife, which is not
exactly specified, but which appears to have con
sisted of some ecclesiastical enormities, the encou
ragement probably of unlawful religious assemblies ;
and it was patronized by a neighbouring gentleman.
Sir William Steward, or Stewart, whose character
lay under the imputation of some previous immo
rality, which, as well as the countenance afforded by
him to the irregularity of the minister, seems to
have exposed him to legal animadversion.
The bishop, perceiving the necessity of inter
posing in behalf of the episcopal authority, but cau
tious of moving without due support, reported the
case to the Lord Deputy, to whom the following ex
tract of a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury,
significantly dated " Lambeth, Wednesday, Novem
ber 21st, 1638, the day of the sitting down of the
Assembly in Scotland," conveyed the king's pleasure
upon the subject.
" These are briefly to let you know that I am so sen
sible of the business of Pout and his Avife in the diocese of
Raphoe, that I have put it again to his raajesty's serious
consideration, and thus he bath commanded me to Avrite
to your lordship.
" He would have the Bishop of Raphoe to deprive Pont
of bis benefice for the Avild sermon be made against tbe
bi.sbop's juri.sdietion ; and to pi'oceed agaiust his wife in

Sec. VIIL] KING CHARLES I. 545
such way as her fault deserves, and the laws will bear ;
aud, if the crime be not of too old a date, his majesty would
have Sir William Stewart questioned for the whoredom
and bastardy. But howsoever tbat fall out, his majesty's
command is, that if Sir "William SteAvart do not give your
letters a good answer, and yourself satisfaction in the pub-
lick Avay, you are to remove him from being a counsellor iu
that state wbich he serves no better. Yet if all or any
part of tbis bis majcstj^'s direction sball seem too sliarp, it
is left wholly to your judgment to moderate, as you find
cause upou the place*."
A letter to the archbishop from the Lord Deputy, tetter from Lord
on the 12th of January folloAving, shows the further archwlhop in
p 1 1 • rr* • continuation.
progress of this affair. jan. 12, mm.
" As for this business betwixt my lord of Raphoe and
Sir William Stewart, it is put into a Avay of examination,
and tbe cause vs'ill have publication this next term. There
sball be all possible care taken, aud if the bishop make good
his charge, as in trutli I am persuaded he will, believe me,
tbe other sball smart ; m)'- eyes are open upon it, as Avell
knoAving what the consequences of such beginnings show
theniselves, if not early prevented and stopped,
" Font's Avife is here in the castle ; and for the exami
nation and puni.shment of tbat conventicle, I have put it to
tbe high commission, who will effectually and roundl)- pro
ceed therein. Pont himself, and some other of the princi
pal, are gone into Scotland ; and as for tbe bastardy, I con
ceive it will be best to see how Sir William acquits himself
in this business, aud thereupon to stir the prosecution, or let
it rest, as occasion sball serve'',"
It should have been noticed, that besides the Distmhanoe of
charge against Sir William Steward, arising out of jvai!uet"!^n.
Pout's misconduct, he was accused with having him
self disturbed the bishop's jurisdiction, by a sum
raons issued by hira, as a justice of peace, to bring
before him an officer of the bishop, whilst in attend
ance on the bishop's court. Ignorance of this last
' Strafford Letters, ii. 24.5, ' lb., ii, 270.
2 N

546

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII,

Ignorancepleaded iu
excuse.
Lord Deputy's
letter. May, 1639.

circumstance was pleaded, and admitted as an
excuse. " The cause betwixt my Lord of Raphoe and Sir
William Stewart," says the Lord Deputy, in a letter of
May 10, 1639, " hath been heard at the board. The bishop
proved the fact as he had alleged in his petition, saving that
it was not made appear, Sir William knew the bishop's
court was sitting, when he and the rest of the justices sent
for the apparitor, being the only circumstance that should
have made it amount to a crime. Only some words Sir
William spake, scandalous to the proceeding of the ecclesi
astical courts, on which I took hold, and gave him a A'ery
round and publiek rebuke for his pains ; and in plain terms
let him know that I should not endure to have those pro
ceedings, ordained for the good government and peace of the
Church, discountenanced by any persons or subjects what
soever ; and that, if it had appeared he had known the
bishop's court had been sitting, when he sent to fetch
their officer before him, I would have been the means to
have removed him from the council board. And so the
matter was ended with advantage to tbe bishop ; and Avill,
I am persuaded, move that sort of people to be more cir
cumspect what they do to the prejudice of the ecclesiastical
courts. " This in present I hold sufficient in regard Sir William
took tbe oath readily, hath in his own person been con
formable, and that his two sons, whom your lordship had
heard had been Covenanters in Glasgow, have for certaiii
been in this kingdom these last fourteen months, and that
one of his sons took the oath with his father"."

Grant of three
subsidies to the
king from the
clergy.

About this time the loyalty and zeal of the Irish
clergy in the king's service were testified by an act,
of AA-hich honourable mention is made in a letter
from the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Strafford, to
his majesty, who had, about a tAvelvemonth before,
graced his then well-beloved and worthily-trusted
counsellor, Avith these additional titles of official
° Strafford Letters, ii, 3."r.

Se". VIIL] KING CHARLES I. 547
and transmissive dignity. The letter was written
Dublin, Good-Friday morning, 1640, being the 3rd
of April, when the writer was going on ship-board ;
thus, as in the end it proved, taking his last farewell
of his viceroyalty : from which, after about a year's
interval, he was transferred to the block by the
enemies of the Church and monarchy.
"The clergy," he says, " liaA'e given your majesty the Letter from Eari
, , f., , 1 , , , 1 • of Strafford, lord
greatest giit, that was ever given the crown in our memory; lieutenant,
for there being three subsidies of the former remaining Apnis, ic4o.
payable these next three years, they have given six subsidies
more, to be paid in three years. So as now there are nine
subsidies that will be due, and come into the Exchequer, in
tbat time. Nor doth it rest so : for they have also con
sented a new tax of all ecclesiastical livings in the kingdom,
to be rated and set at in tbe king's books, at tbe sixth part
of the full value thereof : Avbicli I am confident will double
their subsidies, and so also exceedingly improve the first-
fruits and twentieth parts futurely.
" In few Avords, Sir, your person aud authority here is nis favourable
infinitely honoured and reverenced : this people abundantly ^^ngJi™"! "'"
comforted and satisfied in your justice, set with exceeding-
alacrity to serve the crown the right way in these doubtful
times, and much trusting and believing us, your majesty's
poor ministers. All this in as high a measure as your own
princely heart can wish. And if all tbis be not literally
true, let the shame be mine, so wretchedly to have misin
formed your majesty'."
How diff'erent from the picture, drawn by the controverted by
fond imagination of this generous-minded man, was
the actual condition of the people's inclination, we
shall soon perceive melancholy evidence !
The withdrawal ofthe virtuous and noble Earl bf petition of the
Strafford from the viceroyalty of Ireland encouraged ti!c Engnsh'pai"
the Presbyterians of the North to indulge without
' Straffcrd Letters, ii. 202.
2 N 2

liament.

548

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VIL

Complaint of tho
prelates.

Gener.al accusa
tions.

P.artlculars ex
hibited iu tliiity-
one articles.

reserve their bitter enmity against the Church, the
essence of which they concentrated in an address
to the English Parliaraent under the appellation of
" The petition of some Protestant inhabitants of the
counties of Antrim, Down, Derry, Tyrone, &;c., in
the province of Ulster in the kingdom of Ireland"."
The petitioners set forth, that " partly by the
cruel severity and arbitrary proceedings of the civil
magistrate, but principally through the unblest way
of the prelacy with their faction, our souls are
starved, our estates undone, our farailies impove
rished, and many lives among us cut off" and de
stroyed." " The prelates," they proceed to say, " have by
their canons, of late, their fines, fees, and imprison
ments at their pleasure ; their silencing, suspending,
banishing, and excomraunicating of our learned and
conscionable ministers ; their obtruding upon us
ignorant, erroneous, and profane persons to be our
teachers ; their censuring of raany liundred.s, even to
excoramunication, for matters acknowledged by all
to be indifferent, and not necessary ; their favouring
Popery, in this kingdom a double fault; their per
secuting of purity, and endeavouring to bring all to
a lifeless formality ; divers of them being notorious
incendiaries of the unquietness and unsettled estate
between these kingdoms ; with many the like too
tedious to relate, as more fully in our ensuing-
grievances doth appear. These our cruel task
masters have made of us, avIio were once a people,
to become as it Avere no people," &ic.
Then, after a prayer " for reparation, iu some
measure, of their unatterable damages," thev go on
to exliibit "a particular of manifold evils and heavy
" A .Sample of , let-black Prclalick Calmmiy, &o., p. 133,

Skc. viii,] KING CHARLES I, 549
pressures, caused and occasioned by the prelacy and
their dependants;" this is comprised in thirty-one
accusatory or rather condemnatory articles, Avhich
stand on record a disgraceful and raelancholy monu
raent of the raind and sentiraents of nonconformity,
as it existed in Ireland in the year 1641 ; of the
spirit of ecclesiastical antipathy the most virulent
and malevolent, expressed with the utmost acerbity
of invective ; and of slander putting fortli her fic
tions, distortions, and exaggerations, Avith all the
fearless confidence of siraplicity and truth.
These allegations are Avouiid up and concluded
with the following brief peroration. " Thus they,"
that is, the prelates, the continual subject of the
foregoing charges, " publishing and proclainiing
theraselves the children of Ishraael and Esau, we
most humbly beseech you, as the true sons of Israel,
to take order with thera as God shall direct, Avhom
we shall ever pray to be aiding aud assisting unto
you, iu tliis great and glorious work of reformation."
This petition VA^as soon afterAvards printed in a pctitidu printed
, P ...... in a tract.
tract, for more convenient circulation, as an expo
sition of the bishops' " overruling lordly power." It
Avas presented by Sir John ClotAvorthy to the Long-
Parliament, and accepted by them; but with what
particular result does not appear, though little doubt
can be entertained of the favourable inclination of
those whose prepossessions are so well known con
cerning episcopacy and the Church.
In the Irish Parliament also, Avhere the High Petitions to tho
Commission Court was abolished as illegal and apainst'the
, . , , northern
unconstitutional, several petitions were presented wshops.
against the Bishops of Raphoe, Doavu, and Derry.
With respect to the first in particular, a petition

550 THE REIGN OF [Cu, VII,
from the AvidoAV of the irregular preacher. Pout, was
referred to a selected committee, Avho made on it a
report pirejudicial to the bishop ; which, however,
being adopted by the house, and sent up to the
Lords, AA-as not made the ground of any further pro
ceedings.
Impeachment of Upou Blshop Bramhall of Derry the most vehe-
hau. ment assault was made, an impeachment being lodged
against him, together with the Lord Chancellor
Bolton, the Lord Chief Justice Lowther, and Sir
George Radcliffe, by Sir Bryan O'Neil, the represen
tative of the Popish party, supported by Protestant
nonconformists. The bishop's friends advised him
to continue in Derry, where he was superintending
his charge, and not expose himself to trial in Dublin.
But, conscious of his integrity and innocence, he
hastened to the metropolis ; and appeared the next
day in the parliament house, greatly to the astonish
ment of his enemies, by whom he was made a close
prisoner.
Description of The courso of thls persecution shall be related in
his persecution,
by Bishop Taylor, tlic forclble aud oloquent language of Bishop Taylor,
who thus describes the discomfiture of malignity
before uprightness and truth.
" When the numerous armies of vexed people heaped
up catalogues of accusations ; when the parliament of Ire
land imitated the violent proceedings of the disordered
English; when his glorious patron was taken from his
head, and he was disrobed of bis great defences ; Avhen
petitions were invited, and accusations furnished, and
calumny was rewarded and managed with art and power ;
when there were above two hundred petitions put in against
bim, and himself denied leave to answer by word of mouth ;
when he was long imprisoned and treated so that a guilty
man would have been broken into affrightment, and pitiful
and low considerations : yet then he himself, standing

Sec. VIIL] KING CHARLES I. 551
almost alone, like Callimaohus at Marathon, invested Avitli
enemies and coA^ered with arrows, defended himself beyond
all the powers of guiltiness, even with the defences of truth
aud the bravery of innocence, and answered the petitions
in writing, sometimes twenty in a day, with so much clear
ness, evidence of truth, reality of fact, and testimony of
law, that his very enemies were ashamed and convinced.
They were therefore forced to leave their muster-rolls, and
decline tbe particulars, and fall to their ev /J-eya, to accuse
him for going about to subvert the fundamental laws ; the
way by Avhich great Strafford and Canterbury fell ; wbich
was a device, when all reasons failed, to oppress the enemy
by the bold affirmation of a conclusion they could not
prove." A letter written at this time, April the 26th, Letter from m-
1641, by the bishop to the Lord Priraate, contains toMnJate "
much of the charge against hira, and of the defence Aprn as, len,
which he pleaded : and an extract from it may be
here fitly inserted from Bishop Vesey's Life.
" It Avould have been a great comfort and contentment nis zeai for the
to me, to have received a few lines of counsel or comfort in c'ii"^^h * *'"'
this my great afHiction, which has befallen me for my zeal
to the service of his majesty, and the good of this Churcb ;
in being a poor instrument to restore the u.surped advow
sons and appropriations to the crown, and to increase the
revenue of the Churcb, in a fair just way, always with the
consent of the parties, which did ever use to take away
errors, " But now it is said to be obtained by threatening and charge against
force. What force did I ever use to any? What one man ^™«=^"'"='i'
ever suffered for not consenting ? My force was only force
of reason and law. The scale must needs yield when
weight is put into it. And your grace knows to what pass
many bishopricks were brought, some to 100^, per annum ;
some .50/., as Waterford, Kilfenoragh, and some others ;
some to five marks, as Cloyne and Kilmacduagh : How in
some dioceses, as in Ferns and Leighlin, there was scarce a
living left that was not farmed out to the patron, or to
some for his use, at 21,, 31,, 4/,, or 51, per annum, for a long

552

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Ills vindica Lion
of Ills conduct.

Tlie I'riniatc'B
a.if.uianec of his
sympathy and
exertions.

His incdi.alion
ivith the kin".

time, three lives, or a hundred years : How the chantries
of Ardee, Dondalk, &o,, Avere employed to maintain pi-iests
aud friars, Avhich aa-e uow the chief maintenance of the
incumbents. " In all tbis, my part Avas only labour and expense :
but I find that losses make a deeper impression than bene
fits. I cannot stop men's mouths ; but I challenge all the
Avorld for one farthing I ever got, either by references or
church preferments. I fly to your grace as an anchor at
this time, when my friends cannot help me. God knoAvs
how I have exulted at night, that day I had gained any
considerable rcA^enue to the Church, little dreaming that iu
future times that act .should be questioned as treasonable,
I never took the oath of judge or counsellor ; yet do I not
kno\A% wherein I ever in all these passages deviated from
tbe rule of justice. My trust is in God, that, as my inten
tions Avere sincere, so He Avill deliver me 
Since I Avas a bishop, I ncA^er displaced any man in my
diocese, but Mr, Noble for bis professed Popery, Mr. Hugh
for confessed simony, and Mr. Dunkine, an illiterate curate,
for refusing to pray for his majesty.
" Almighty God bless your grace, even as the Church
stands in need of you at this time ; Avliich is the hearty and
faithful prayer " Of your grace's obedient sei-A^ant and suffragan,
" Jo: Derensis.
'' April IQ, 1641."
The Primate in his ansAver gave the bishop,
among other things, an assurance of his oavu sym
pathy and exertions in his behalf; of the good Avill
of the king ; and of the interest taken in his wel
fare by the excellent nobleman, M'ho had recently
fallen a sacrifice to the malevolence of their ene
mies. " I assure you my care never slackened in soliciting
your cause at court, with as great Adgijancy as if it did touch
my own proper person. I ne^-er intermitted an occasion of
mediating with his majesty in your behalf, who still pitied

Sec. VIIL] KING CHARLES I. 553
your case, acknoAvledged tho faitbfubicss of your services
botb to tbe Church and to him, avowed tbat you were no
more guilty of treason than liimself, aud assured me that be
Avould do for you all that lay in bis power 
My Lord Strafford, the night before bis suffering, (which
Avas most Christian and niagnanimous, ad stuporein usque,}
sent me to tho kin<:'', srivinc; rae in cbarpc, amoujj; other par-
tieulars, to put him in mind of you, and of the otlier tvA'o
lords that arc under tbe same pressure."
In the end, the king, being anxious that the
bishop's death should not be added to that of the
noble earl, who had made his safety one of the
objects of his dying request to his majesty, sent over
to Ireland a letter, to provide for the bishop's deli
verance. But the word of a king AA'as scarcely
poAverful enough to procure obedience. However,
at length, the bishop Avas restored to liberty, though
Avithout any publiek acquittal, the charge still lying-
dormant against hiin, to be awakened when his
enemies should please. "But, alas!" says Bishop
BrarahaU's biographer, "these AA^ere flashes that
caused raore fear than hurt : the fiery raatter at last
burst into such thunder-claps, that the foundation of
the Avliole kingdora reeled."
It will be onr business to advert iraraediately to
the tempest, the fury of which is thus emphatically
anticipated by the biographer of the BLshop of Derry.
But a conteraplation of tbe virtues and charities of
domestick life, blended Avith qualities of a more
commanding kind, and shedding a gleam over the
darkness of publiek or private calamity, is soothing Letter from the
to the mind of the observer: and the reader will !o m"s. niam"^
pardon rae for pausing to lay before hira the foi- M.n'chuMoio.
lowing letter to Mrs. Brarahall, written by the
Bishop of Derry in his confinement, the 12th of
March, 1640.

554

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. VIL

" My dearest joy,
" Thou mayest see by my delay in Avriting that I am
not willing to write while things are in these conditions.
But shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall
we not receive ill 1 He gives and takes away, blessed be
his holy name ! I have been near a fortnight at the black
rod, charged with a treason. Never any man was more
innocent of that foul crime : the ground is only my reserved
ness. God in bis mercy, I do not doubt, will send us many
merry and happy days together after this, Avhen this storm
is bloAAm over. But this is a time of humiliation for the
present. By all the love between us, I require thee that
thou do not cast clown thyself, but bear it with a cheerful
mind, and trust in God that He will deliver us°,"

Section IX.
Rebellion of 1641. Previous circumstances. Its objects.
Its effects on the Church. Destruction of her dienibers.
Fate of her C-lavernors. Her Desolation. Conduct of
Romish Clergy. Their temper and projects exempl'ified.
Protestant Sectarists. Westtninster Assembly of Divines.
Solemn League and Covenant. Its prevalence in Ireland.
Suspension of the Royal Authority.

PebcUion of
1641.

Previous general
tranquiUity.

The thunder-storm, to which the biographer of
Bishop Brarahall alludes in the extract near the
conclusion of the last section, was now about to
burst upon the Church.
At the period preceding the year 1641, there
aj^pears to have been a general tranquillity through
out the kingdom, unless where it was molested by
the Scotch innovators, and a general good agree
raent betAveen the Irish and English inhabitants.
The tAVO nations had lived together for raany suc
cessive years in security and comfort, and with a
" Rawdon Papers, p. 75.

iiu\ IX,] KING CHARLES I. 555
mutual interchange of friendly offices. Their inter-
inarriages Avere frequent, their manners had acquired
a great degree of similarity, and there was much
probability in the prospect of a long endurance of
peace and good-will.
In particular, the Papists were enjoying the free Free exercise of
/..I, T* -n,i • '11 the Popish rcli-
exercise of their religion. By the excessive indul- gion.
gence of the late governments, their titular arch
bishops, bishops, vicars-general, provincial con
sistories, deans, abbots, priors, and nuns, all lived
unrestrainedly, if somewhat covertly, amongst them ;
aud exercised over them an uncontrolled and volun
tary jurisdiction. Their priests, Jesuits, and friars,
had of late years exceedingly multiplied ; and
returned in vast nurabers frora Italy, Spain, and
other foreign countries, Avhither the children of the
native Irish, who were devoted to the sacred j^ro-
fession, Avere usually sent for education. These,
Avithout interruption, had quietly settled themselves
in the chief towns and villages, as well as in the
houses of the noblemen aud private gentlemen
throughout the kingdom : so that, notwithstanding
any penalties which they raight have suffered from
a strict enforcement of the laws, they were allowed
in fact the private, but undisturbed, exercise of all
their religious rites and ceremonies.
It was under such circumstances as these, that piot for Rebei-
for several years a deep plot was laid for a general liiTssaore.
Rebellion, and massacre of the English and Protestant
inhabitants, by Popish priests and Jesuits of the
Continent, in conjunction with those of Ireland.
For carrying it into execution, they were accustomed
in their publiek devotions to recoraraend the good
success ofa great design, calculated to promote the
prosperity of the kingdom and the advancement of

556

the reign of

[Cii, VII.

Its rcli:^'iuus
motives.

Secular motives.

Encouragementof the people by
the priests.

Objects of the
Hebellion.

the Catholick cause. For exciting the people to
accoraplish the undertaking Avith greater animation,
they loudly declaimed everywhere against English
men and Protestants, impressing on the people that
to kill a heretick was no more sinful than to kill a
dog, but that to relieve or protect one Avould be au
unpardonable sin. They represented also most invi
diously the severe courses taken by the English
Parliament for suppressing the RomLsli religion : and
they most falsely invented a story of a secret con
spiracy for seizing the principal Irish noblemen aud
gentlemen of that persuasion, in the ensuing No
vember, and compelling them, under the dread of a
general massacre, to embrace the Protestant faith '.
Together with these religious motives to ani
mosity, they combined others of a secular kind.
The prosperity of the English settlers; their large
possessions and goodly iraproveraents ; the English
property in the soil AvithdraAvn frora theraselves, the
ancient proprietors, aud only true owner.?, as they
esteeraed theinselve,s, whose present condition AA'as
in comparison one of extreme degradation and Avretch-
edness ; were additional motives to animosity and
hostility. Add to these the liberty, given by the priests to
the people, upon dismissing them at mass on the eve
of the Rebellion, to go forth, and take po,ssession of
all their lands, which Avere unjustly detained by tbe
English; and to plunder, strip, and despoil the
invaders of all their cattle and goods.
And surely the incentive must have been power
ful, to prompt a whole nation, as it were, to do
de.'^pitc to our common nature ; and to cast from
them all the feelings of humanity ; and to combine
' Irish Rebellion, liy Sir John Temi'Le, p. 1,5, 4tu,

Si:c. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 557
together, for the jiurpose of involving all the
English, raan, woman, and child, old and young, in
one SAveeping destruction, and thus extirpate them
utterly from the country.
Such, hoAvever, Avas the purpose, and such the ns explosion,
. , Oct. 23, 1041.
atterapt, of that barbarous massacre, Avhich, having
been plotted with Jesuitical malignity and artifice,
and carried forAvard to the period of its consumma
tion with secresy the most raarvellous, at length, on
the 23rd of October, 1641, suddenly burst forth and
filled large districts of Ireland, more especially in
the northern counties, with human sacrifices, so that
" the land Avas defiled Avith blood."
The period was especially favourable to the seasonable op
enterprise by reason of the difficulties and dangers
which pre-occupied and beset the government in the
other parts of the empire. This sentiment is strongly
put forAvard by Dean SAvift, in his sermon on the
martyrdom of King Charles the First. " The Irish
rebellion AA'as wholly OAving to that wicked English
Parliament. For the leaders in the Irish Popish
massacre would never have dared to stir a finger, if
they had not been encouraged by that rebellions
spirit in the English House of Commons, which they
very Avell knoAv must disable the king from sending
any supplies to his Protestant subjects here : and,
therefore, we may truly say, that the English Parlia
ment held the king's hands, while the Irish Papists
here Avere cutting our gi-andfatbers' throats ^"
The detail of horrible atrocities, which were then norrihie atioci-
perpetrated, is too painful to be needlessly contem
plated : and it is not intended in the present pages
to offer thera to the reader's observation. They raay
'' Swift's Works, v, ix. p. 179.

558

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. VIL

be found by those who seek them, in the histories of
Ireland, where they stand established on the evidence
of eye-witnesses, who attested thera in answer to
judicial inquiries, and on oath. Their general
character raay be set forth in language, designed to
depict the revolutionary horrors of infidel France
about a century and a half later:
The savage, panting under Indian skies,
Red with the blood of human sacrifice,
Would list in dread amaze the wondrous tales,
And bless his gentler tribes and happier vales".

Its effects on the
Church.

Ruin of her
sacred edifices.

Instances of
plunder and
sacrilege.

Our more immediate business, however, Avith
this nefarious conspiracy is to regard it in its effects
upon the Church of Ireland, to the Avell-being of
AA'hich, and even to its very being, in raany parts of
the kingdora, it raust for a tirae have been fatal.
In numerous instances no doubt the Church Avas
despoiled of her sacred edifices for divine worship.
When we read that " the cathedral church and
town of Armagh were burnt, many towns laid waste,
all the fair plantations made by the British left
desolate," and that fire was one of the instruments
of this general waste and desolation, we can hardly
refrain from the inference, that other churches Avere
involved in a sirailar fate to that which destroyed
the cathedral of Armagh : and it is but reasonable
to suppose, that in other cases the like result Avould
follow from that spirit of plunder and sacrilege,
which " forcibly broke open the doors of the cathe
dral church of Kilkenny ; and plundered it of its
property there deposited, its chalices, surplices,
ornament,s, books, records, aud writings;" whilst
" the general reraonstrance of the distressed Pro
testants in the province of Munster," pouring forth
' RiciiABDs's Modern France.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 559
to the king their griefs and supplications, com
memorated the previous improvement of religion,
testified " by the enlarged congregations both in
cathedral and parochial churches," and lamented
over " their temples demolished, or worse, prophaned
by sacrifices to idols*."
But into whatever condition, or into whosesoever Diminuti(m of
her congrega-
hands, the churches may have fallen, their congrega- tions.
tions were deplorably diminished by this sudden
devastation. Of the nuraber of the merabers of the Church, Different stato-
wlio were swept off by this besom of destruction, it bers slaughtered.
is not possible to speak with precision. The Act of ActofPariia-
Parliament, which Avas subsequently passed for cele- charies ii.c. 2'!.
brating the 23rd of October, as an anniversary of
thanksgiving for deliverance from the conspiracy,
recites that " many thousand British and Protestants
were massacred, and many thousand others of them
were afflicted and torraented Avith the most exquisite
torraents that raalice could suggest." The SAvorn
testiraony of Robert Maxwell, clerk, archdeacon of Robert waxwcu.
Down, and subsequently bisbo^J of Kilmore, declares,
August 22iid, 1642, that "the diary, which he wrote
amongst the rebels, being burned, with his house,
books, and all his papers, he referreth himself to the
number in gross, which the rebels themselves have
upon enquiry found out and acknowledged ; which,
notwithstanding, will corae short of all that have
been murdered in Ireland, there being above one
hundred and fifty-four thousand now wanting of the
British, within the very jirecinct of Ulster." As a
general summary of the whole, Sir John Temple sir.johnTcmpic.
states, that " since the Rebellion first broke out, unto
the time ofthe cessation, made September 15, 1643,
' Temple, pp. 99—102.

560

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Kumbers re
duced.

Sir AVilliam
Petty.

which was not full two years after, above three
hundred thousand British and Protestants were
cruelly murdered in cold blood, destroyed some
other way, or expelled out of their habitations,
according to the strictest conjecture and computa
tion of those who seemed best to understand the
numbers of English planted in Ireland, besides those
feAV who perished in the heat of fight during the
war." It appears, however, to be by later writers more
commonly thought, that those numbers are great
exaggerations of the truth. A Popish writer, indeed,
has extenuated the amount to eight thousand in all.
But it was the calculation of Sir William Petty, who
surA'eyed the kingdom soon after the vA'ar, and had,
therefore, sufficient means of information, and was
neither by interest nor inclination disposed to favour
the Irish, that there were only thirty-seven thousand
British massacred in all the first year of the troubles.
This calculation is reported, discussed, and approved
by Carte ; and it does not vary to a great extent
frora the account of Lord Clarendon, adopted by
Iluine, that above forty-thousand were murdered at
the first outbreak, before any danger was appre
hended. It should be observed, hoAvever, that these
calculations do not extend beyond a limited sjiace df
time, and must, no doubt, receive a considerable
accession, in order to reach the total amount of the
British slaughter.
Of the British and Protestants thus slaughtered,
whatever raay have been the araount, a very large
proportion, it cannot be doubted, were raerabers of
Parochial clergy, tlio Churcli of Ireland. Of the parochial clergy, at
the same time, it is evident that a great number
became victims ofthe general extermination. Several

Lord Clarendon.

llunie.

Urcnihnr.tj of tho
Church.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 561
of these, their naraes, their sufferings, and their in
dignities, are on record ; as of one who Avas iuhuraaiily
murdered at Killyinau, in the county of Tyrone, and
another, who, with his wife and four children, under
went the sarae fate at Limerick ; of one who was
stripped, and driven, like a wild beast, through
Cashel, the rebels following, and pricking him on
AA'ith darts and rapiers, till he fell down dead ; of
others, at the same place, Avho Avere thrust into a
loathsorae dungeon, and kept there for many weeks
in abject and raiserable bondage ; and of others,
again, who were hanged, at the sarae place, Avith cir
cumstances of unfeeling and pitiless barbarity ; of
others, who, having been barbarously slaughtered,
were exposed in their reraains to laceration and
rautilation, to indignity and insult, at Kilkenny :
and of others who were refused Christian burial,
after being raurdered, or, having been buried, AA'ere
dug out of their graves, as patrons of here,sy, at Kil
laloe. The Vicar of Urras, in the county of Mayo,
having been terrified into a profession of Popery,
becarae a drummer in the corapany of an insurrec
tionary officer, and was then slaughtered for a re
compense by the rebels'.
Upon one of these ministers, in particular, was pecuihar outinge
inflicted an act of peculiar outrage, which requires
especial notice. Seven Protestant heads being
triumphantly erected, on a inarket-day, upon the
market-cross of Kilkenny, slashed, stabbed, and
mangled, into the raouth of one of thera, being that
of a clergyman, with his cheeks slit up to the ears,
was inserted a gag or carrot ; and a leaf of the Bible
being placed before him, he was bidden to preach,
being insultingly told that his mouth was wide
= Temple's Irish Rebellion, pp, 94, 87, 111, 106, 95.
2 0

on a clergyman.

562

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Outrages ou the
Holy Scriptm-es.

enough. The outrage, thus offered to the rainister
of God's word, harmonized AA'ith that Avhich Avas
off'ered to the word of God".
Of the irreligious treatment of the latter many
other exaraples are recorded. In the counties of
Wicklow, Tyrone, Cavan, Ferraanagh, and in the
Queen's County, instances might be specified of the
Holy Volume being- cut or torn to pieces, being cast
into the fire and burned, being plunged into, and
soiled with, filthy water, being leaped upon and
trarapled under foot,- with exclamations of bitter
reproach and imprecation; as that this Book Avas
the cause of all the strife and contention in the
countrj', and that there VA-as good hope of all the
Bibles in Ireland being polluted and trodden on, as
that was, and of there being soon not one suffered
to remain in the kingdom'.

Disasters ofthe
bishops.

Primate Usslier.

During such acts of animosity against the Church,
and everything connected with it, perpetrated by
the Irish Papists, under the auspices of their hier
archy and their priesthood, who participated or
abetted these atrocities, it is not to be supposed that
the governors of the Church escaped uninjured.
The disasters, indeed, which befel tbem in these
days of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, raay be
traced with considerable particularity, though not
with perfect precision.^
The Priraate, in the preceding year, had gone on
a short visit of private business to England ; whence,
however, he never returned to his native country.
But his absence did not exerapt hira frora a share of
the coramon affliction. In a very few days after the
breaking out of the Rebellion, his houses in the
country were plundered by the rebels; his rents
^ Temple, p. 97. ^ lb,, p. 99.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 563
seized ; his tenements quite ruined or destroyed ;
his nuraerous flocks and herds of cattle, to a very
great value, driven avA'ay ; in a word, nothing escaped
their devastation, but his library and the furniture
of his house at Drogheda, which Avere secured by
the strength of the place, notwithstanding a long
and dangerous siege, and the library with rauch
difficulty transmitted to him the following year.
To pawn all the jewels and plate in his jaossession
was necessary for his present supply.
Bulkeley, archbishop of Dublin, remained in that Archbishop
city, which, by a raarvellous interjjosition of God's
providence, had been preserved frora irarainent de
struction, and becarae the sole place of refuge for
the persecuted Protestants of the country. He died
some years afterwards, at Taulaght, his country resi
dence in the neighbourhood, spent with age and
grief for the calamities of the times.
Hamilton, archbishop of Cashel, ajjpears to have ArchWshop
sought safety in a remote country ; at least, he died
at Stockholm, a very aged man, in 1659.
Boyle, archbishop of Tuara, and with him Max- Archbishop
well, bishop of Killala, retired for protection to M°axweii, "^'"^
Galway, in 1641 ; and Avere in great peril of their
lives from an insurrection of the townsmen, who
took up arms against the garrison. Bishop Maxwell
had been forced from his episcopal palace by the
rebels, jdundered of his goods, attacked, with his
wife, three children, and a number of Protestants, in
all about a hundred, at the bridge of Shruel, when
several were slain, and the bishop himself, with others,
was wounded ; but happily escaped, under the protec
tion of a neighbouring gentleman, who took them
to his house, and afforded them signal assistance".
=• Clankickarde's Memoirs, pp. 72, 73.
2 0 2

564

THE REIGN OF

[Cn. VII.

Several bishop.s,
whose sufferings
are not particu
larly known.

Bishop Martin.

Bishop Henry
Lesley.

Of several no incidents are related, beyond the
date, and, perhaps, the place, of the death of each.
Spottiswood, bishop of Clogher, died at Westmin
ster, in 1644. Richardson, bishop of Ardagh, is
supposed to haA'e died in London, August, 1654.
He had taken early alarm at the Rebellion, and
withdraAvn, with all his substance, into England, in
the summer of 1641. Buckworth, bishop of Dro
more, on the breaking- out of the Rebellion, also
retired to England, and died in 1652. Under similar
circumstances, Ussher, bishop of Kildare, died in
1642; aud Adair, bishop of Waterford, at Bristol,
in 1647; and Synge, bishop of Cloyne, at Bridge-
north, in 1653, having, however, not gone to Eng
land till 1647 ; and Dawson, bishop of Clonfert, at
Kendal, his native jilace, 1643. Of these no par
ticulars, having reference to the Rebellion, are
related, save the fact of their having apparently
sought a refuge from the storm in England.
Of the following more particulars are related.
As that Martin, bishop of Meath, having had his
house pillaged and burnt in the beginning of the
troubles, and all his property seized by the rebel.'',
who left him nothing, capable of being converted
into money, but a foAV old gowns, continued in
Dublin, under circumstances of which we shall have
occasion hereafter to make honourable mention, till
he died there, oppressed with poverty, and a victira
to the plague, in 1650:
That Lesley, bishop of Doavu and Connor, pa
tiently and raagnaniinously endured the loss of all
his substance in the common calaraity ; and having
loyally attended his sovereign in his distress, was, on
the restoration of that sovereign's son, proraoted to
the see of Meath, in 1660 :

Sec. IX.] KING CHARLES I. 565
That Bramhall, bishop of Derry, having narrowly nishopBram-
escaped a plot to circumvent hira by Sir Phelim
O'Neale, under a pretence of secret intelligence
between thera, which was intended to bring upon
hira a dishonourable death ; and having had his car
riages searched and plundered ; took ship privately
for England, and was of great service, by his faithful
adherence to the king ; and, in the end, after escaping
frora raany and great dangers, became Archbishop of
Armagh at the Restoration :
That Williaras, bishop of Ossory, having been Bishop wiuiams.
compelled to flee from his see within a few months
of his consecration in 1641, whence he had derived
no emolument, and having passed through a long-
succession of poverty, suffering, and persecutions,
survived them all, and was reinstated in his
bishoprick in 1660 :
That Chappel, bishop of Cork and Ross, fled to Bishop chappei.
England in December, 1641, to avoid the fury ofthe
Rebellion, which had commenced about tAvo months
before ; and having suffered much from captivity in
his voyage, and afterwards from the loss of a choice
and valuable library, died iu 164,9 at Derby; having,
during the troubles in England, been relieved out of
the alms of Avell-disposed persons :
And that Henry Tilson, bishop of Elphin, re- Bishop TUson.
tired to England, having undergone the pillage of
his library and goods by the titular bishop ; and was
buried at Dewsbury in 1655.
One of the Irish j^relates, Lesley, bishop of nishop .loim
Raphoe, continued in the country under circum- ^'"'^''^'•
stances hereafter to be mentioned ; and one other,
Jones, bishop of Killaloe, appears not to have quitted
the country, as he is related to have died in Dublin
in 1646. The sarae may perhaps be said of Sib-

566

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. VIL

Bishop Webb
and Bishop
Bedell.

Persecutions of
Bishop Bedell.

Exclamation of
a Komish priest
concerning him.

thorp, bishop of Kilfenora, who was translated to
Liraerick in 1642, and died in 1649 at Dublin. In
the raean time, by reason of the wars, he never re
ceiA'ed the slightest emolument from his preferment.
Two were taken prisoners by the rebels, Webb,
bishop of Limerick, and Bedell, bishop of Kilmore ;
of whom Bishop Webb died the same year in cap
tivity; and Bishop Bedell was seized and carried
with his faraily to the castle of Longhouter, built in
a sraall island, and encompassed with deep water, at
a few miles distance. He suffered much frora the
ruinous state of the building, and its exposure to the
inclemency of the weather and the winter's severity.
There, after about twenty days' imprisonment, he
was exchanged for certain prisoners of distinction
among the rebels ; but, although previously proraised,
he was not alloAved to ju-oceed to Dublin, the usual
l^lace of refuge for the outcast and distressed ; and
he died shortly after, his death having been hastened
by the weight of his sorroAA', and the hardships of his
confineraent. The persecutions of that excellent
man are related at length in his life by Bisho2:> Bur
net ; and they offer an example of piety, resignation,
fortitude, and forbearance, VA'orthy of the primitive
and best days of Christian martyrdom : an example
which, though it was lost upon the titular intruder,
who supplanted him in his dwelling, and for a Avhile,
in a fit of intoxication, excepted against the burying
of the heretick's body in the consecrated ground of
his OAVU churchyard, was more duly estimated by
another minister of that coraraunion ; and contri
buted with his exeraplary life, in drawing forth that
memorable exclamation, " O may my soul be with
Bedell!" And surely the wish might reasonably be in-

Remains of Lough Oughter Castle, where Bishop Bedell
was confined in 1641.

his tombstone.

Sec. IX.] KING CHARLES I. 567
dulged, for if it be alloAvable to express an opinion
upon the probable condition of a departed spirit,
that of Bedell may have been well supposed to be
translated to the abodes of blessedness. MeaiiAvhile
over the grave, wherein were deposited his mortal re- Description of
mains, was laid a tombstone, with a shield, distin
guished by his armorial bearings, and surmounted by
a mitre ; with an open book, and an hour-glass, and
other emblems of mortality beneath; and with au
ill-arranged, ill-spelt, and coarsely-carved inscription,
AA'hich has been recorded by Bishop Burnet, though
with some inaccuracy, and still exists, but is hardly
legible. In the year 1820, a gentleman visited the spot ;
and communicated the result in a letter dated July
the Sth, from Cavan, about three miles distant from
Kilraore, to his brother, whose kindness empowers
me to mention these particulars.
" I had," he observes, " in consequence of the gross ig
norance regarding Bishop Bedell in this county and town,
determined to set this day apart for inquiry at the place of
his remains, and in tracing accurately the inscription, and I
accordingly succeeded beyond my idea. The annexed is a
tolerably correct sketch of the slab. I bad much difficulty
in reading tbe inscription ; indeed it puzzled me twice, and
I was perplexed, but determined to make it clear. The
letters are all raised on a brownish slab, broken in pieces,
and the edges of the letters are so rounded by time, that
there is little shade from them, so as to recognize them from
the plane surface. I accordingly awaited the bursting out
of the sun, which, as the shadows from the index of a dial,
relieved the letters a little for me, and made my success
complete. The inscription then is truly and really this :
Gulielmi Bideli
quondem Kilmorens
is Ejjiscopi
Depositum,

568

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

Bedell's tree.

Decayed state of
the inscription.

" As a few years will remove all, I AA'ish you to keep this
as the fruit of accurate inquiry, and the more especially as I
could not obtain any aid in making the matter more easy.
I have seen some notices of the inscription, but they are all
incorrect. The grave is in a retired part of the church
yard, and a sycamore-tree, of at least twelve feet in circum
ference, the growth of ages, is flourishing near it, and fling
ing its time-honoured arms over the hallowed spot."
The sycamore tree here mentioned has the tra
ditionary character of having been idanted by the
hand of Bishop Bedell, and is known by the name
of Bedell's tree ; being situated on the outside of
the churchyard Avail, and at one end of a noble
terrace, contiguous to the old episcojaal residence.
When I visited the scene in 1833, about thirteen
years after the date of the foregoing narrative, it
presented an appearance of singular stateliness and
beaut)', and extended its branches far beyond the
boundary which separated the churchyard from the
bisboji's demesne, and over the last resting-place of
the venerable prelate whose name it bore. I then
transcribed the inscription with difficulty, A\liicb has
been increased, no doubt, by the decay of the inter
vening years ; for a copy of it, recently made by my
desire (October, 1839), has been forAvarded Avitli the
remark, " I send it as it stands : tbe first letter, like
C, is of course G, and the first word in the second
line quondam. But the inscrijition is not at first
sight intelligible, and it took half an hour's constant
kneeling over the stone to raake out the sense by
means of fingers as well as eyes."
To those A^•ho can pass with " frigid philosophy "
over "scenes that have been dignified by virtue, wis
dom, and piety," the foregoing detail may need some
ajiology. To those who are alive to the influence of
local associations, this digression to the resting-jdace

Sec. IX.]

KING CHARLES I.

669

of Bedell AA'ill plead its own excuse. And they will
receive with indulgence, at least, and complacency,
the annexed engraving, of which the upper part
exhibits the arras and accorapaninients, as sketched
by the visitor of 1820, and recently exarained and
corrected on the spot, and the loAver the inscription
in its actual state of decay and iinperfection. The
extent of the decay raay be inferred from the fact, that
in the tAvo copies of the inscription, so carefully traced,
the spelling of the bishop's name does not tally.

570 THE REIGN OF [Ch. VII.
bS,"^^^''"^ At the interment of Bishop Bedell many ofthe
chief rebels asserabled, out of their singular value
for his excellence, and discharged a volley of shot
over his grave, crying out in Latin, " Requiescat in
pace ultiraus Anglorura!" "May the last of the
English rest in peace !" For they had often said,
that as they esteeraed him the best of the EnglLsh
bishops, so he should be the last to survive among
them. And one of a pensive and desponding mind,
pondering the actual state and the immediate pro-
selects ofthe Church, of AA'hich he was so distinguished
a governor, might not unreasonably, perhaps, have
caught in that sound the requiem for the Church
Depressed con- horsolf She was woll nigh spent with her afflic-
church. tion. During the six years, indeed, of war and
tumult, which filled up the interval between the
Irish massacre and the murder of the king, she
struggled, mutilated as she was and enfeebled, to
keep up a precarious existence. But although, on
the one side, the noble Marquis of Orraonde, the
lord lieutenant of Ireland, was exerting his influence
to secure or recover for her all that was possible of
her rights and privileges, her buildings, her benefices,
and jurisdiction; on the other side the Popish
hierarchy were here assuming the titles of the
episcopacy of the kingdom, and occupying the
Church's palaces and temples, and claiming her pos
sessions, and asserting a paramount dorainion; and
there the parliaraent of England Avas putting forth
its powers for depriving her of her apostolical erai
nence and her beauty of holiness, and reducing her
to a level Avith the sects and systems of human and
modern invention: till at length the iron hand of
CromAvell, red with the blood of his sovereign, laid
its strong grasp upon her, and extinguished nearly

Sec. IX.] KING CHARLES I. 671
all that reraained of her spirit, and left her but the
shade AV of a narae.

The Roraish clergy, who, asthe lordsjustices say, synod of Popish
" had hitherto Avalked somewhat invisibly in these ciergy, '
works of darkness," now began openly to justify
that Rebellion, Avhich they were before supposed
underhand to promote. Hugh O'Neile, titular pri
mate of Arraagh, suraraoned the bishops and clergy
of his province to a synod at Kells. They raet on
the 22nd of March, 1642; and, after raaking sorae
constitutions against murderers, plunderers, and the
usurpers of other people's estates, they declared the
AA'ar, so they called the Rebellion of the Irish, to be
laAvful and pious, and exhorted all persons to join in
support of the cause.
Thomas Diaz, or Desse, titular bishop of Meath, Absence of titu-
liad been summoned to this synod ; but neither Meath.
carae in person, nor sent a proxy to appear for him.
He had not offered so much as an excuse for his
absence, nor admonished any of the dignitaries of
his Church to go thither. He had laboured earnestly
to keep the nobility and gentry of his diocese from
embarking in the Avar, which he maintained to be
groundless and unjust : and had succeeded so Avell,
particularly with the Earl of Westmeath, in whose
house he lived, and with several gentleraen of the
Nugent family, that they had not stirred. It was
necessary in policy to censure a prelate, Avho had ccnsme passed
done them so much mischief, and to destroy the
credit which he had with his flock. They ordered
hira to recant an opinion, so contradictory to their
own ; to subscribe the acts of the synod ; and to
subrait himself in three weeks, under pain of incur
ring suspicion of heresy, and of being- informed

upon him.

572

THE REIGN OF [Cii. VIL

against to the Pope ; and in case he did not submit
within that time they declared him suspended ab
officio.
General synod, Xo the authority of a provincial synod it Avas
thought proper to add that of a general synod of all
the Roraish bishops and clergy in Ireland, Avhich met
on the 10th of May at Kilkenny. The three titular
Archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, and Tuara, with six
other bishops, and the proxies of five more, besides
The \yar declared vicars geuei'al aud other dignitaries, were present,
just and lawful. ° O'l'
and declared the war to be just and laAvful.
Provisions for its Auiong othor coustitutions, they ordered an
conduct. ^ ^
exact register to be kept in each province of the
burnings, raurdei-.s, and cruelties coramitted by the
Protestant forces, and passed censures on such of
their people as were guilty of the like outrages.
They provided that no distinction should be raade of
old and new Irish, and that all who had taken arms
should be united by a common oath of association :
that all who should refuse to take the oath, or were
neuters, or who assisted the enemy with victuals,
arms, advice, or intelligence, should be excommu
nicated, and deemed enemies of the cause and be
trayers of their country. They directed all eccle
siastical revenues to be received by particular col
lectors ; and, after a competency being allowed to
the proprietor, the rest to be applied for the service
of the Avar.
Keguiation for For tho better exercise aud support of their
support of the 1 1 • ¦ 1
confederacy. coufedoracy, they made several regulations Avith
.legard to the provinces ; ajipointing provincial conn-
ciLs, coraposed of clergy and laity together, to be
settled in each, and a general council of the nation
to be formed at Kilkenny, to which the others were
subordinate. They resolved also to ajiply to foreign

Sec. IX.] KING CHARLES I. 573
potentates ; and ordered that, in the next general
asserably a prelate, a nobleraan, and a lawyer should
be deputed to the Pope, the Emperor, and the King
of France, to solicit for assistance. These were acts
purely'. of the clergy: but the nobility and gentry,
then at Kilkenny, joined in forming the oath of
association ; in naming the raembers of the supreme
council, of which Lord Mountgarret was chosen
president; and in appointing a general asserably of
the whole nation to meet in that city in the October
following". Of the temper and the projects of the Popish specimens of the
hierarchy, with respect to the Church of Ireland, at vopish hierar-
this season, the following maybe cited as specimens, "'''
which represent the objects of its ambition under
various aspects, all of thera, however, looking to
wards the sarae end.
In 1642, the 24th of October, a general assera- rosscssionsof
bly of the lords spiritual and temporal, and others ciergy appro-
the representatives of the confederates, Avas held at ^October, i642.
Kilkenny, where, amongst raany other ordinances it
was decreed, " That the possessions of the Pro
testant clergy, in right of the Church, shall be
deeraed the possessions of the Catholick clergy."
And on the 14th of November they naraed their
supreme council, which contained, together with
others, the foUoAving prelates, thus absolutely de- Titiesofthe
scribed: " Archbishop of Dublin," "Archbishop of
Tuam," « Bishop of Clonfert," " Archbishop of Ar
magh." And to the same effect in 1650, occurs a
" Declaration of the undernamed bishops, iu the
name of theraselves and the rest of the bishops,
convoked at Limerick, as deputed by thera." It
professes to be " fi-oni ourselves, as the sense like-
" Carte's Life of Ormonde, v. i. p. 31(5.

574

THE REIGN OF

I Ch. VIL

Churches seized,
June, 1045.

Jurisdiction and
patronage of
benefices claimed, January, 1G47,

Exhortations of
the Pope by his
nuncio, 1645.

wise and true meaning of the "rest of our brethren,
other bishops of this kingdom :" and it bears an
nexed the signatures of persons calling themselves
absolutely and without qualification. Archbishop of
Tuam, Bishop of Clonfert, of Killala, of Cork and
Cloyne, Bishop of Kilmacduagh '°.
In a meeting ofthe Popish clergy, June 1, 1645,
for the purpose of considering certain terms of
agreement with the king, it was determined, " abso
lutely, expressly, and clearly to set down in the said
treaty of peace a special article, to the effect of
keeping in their hands such churches, abbeys, monas
teries, and chapels now in their hands, and reco
vered by them for the true worship of God ;" and at
a general assembly of the confederates, on the ninth
of the same month, in pursuance of the foregoing
decision of the clergy, it was voted, " That as to the
demand of restoring the Protestant churches, there
should be given a positive denial."
And in another congregation of the Popish
clergy, in January, 1647, a paper of proposals was
agreed upon, which was submitted to the general
assembly of the confederates on the first day of their
meeting, and contained this demand, " That they
should have all raanner of jurisdiction, privileges,
and immunities, as amply as they had in the time
of King Henry the Seventh, and have all the
Church livings, &c., conferred upon them."
Such was the spirit with which the Popish clergy
regarded the Church of Ireland, and such the pro
jects which they meditated for its overthrow, in
accordance with the exhortation of the Pope Inno
cent the Tenth, communicated to them by his nuncio
at one of their assemblies in 1645, who had been

Cox's Hist. Y. ii. pp. 12^1, 151, 185.

Sec. IX.] KING CHARLES I. 675
instructed to asserable the bishops and prelates of
the kingdom ; to unite aud encourage them to per
sist in the war, till their religion should be esta
blished, and a Romanist appointed lord lieutenant ;
and to induce thera to receive the decrees of the
Council of Trent". And the overthrow of the
Church, considered in the character of a National
Church, must have been the consequence of the
privations, to which it was their aim that she should
be subraitted. The Illarquis of Orraonde, the lord lieutenant, sentiments of
the Lord Lieu-
seeins to have been duly sensible of this, and to have temmt.
raade that conviction the rule of his own determina
tion: for in a letter, addressed to the Lord Digby, m's letter to
on Christinas Day, 1646, he thus plainly and Dec.25, i646.
resolutely indicates his sentiments. "I shall be
seech you to be careful of one thing, which is, to
take order that the comraands, that shall be directed
to me touching this people, if any be, thwart not the
grounds I have laid to rayself in point of religion,
for in that and in that only I shall resort to the
liberty left to a subject, to obey by suffering : and
particularly that there be no concession to the
Papists, to perpetuate churches or church livings to
thera, or to take ecclesiastical jurisdiction from us.
And as for other freedoras from penalties, for the
quiet exercise of their religion, I am clear of opinion,
it not only raay, but ought to, be given them, if his
majesty shall find cause to own them for anything
but rebels."
The Church, however, had enemies, little less protest.ant sec-
acrimonious or dangerous than the Papists, to be
encountered in the Protestant sectarian faction.
" Carte's Ormonde, i, 659.

576

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. vii.

English proceed
ings against
prelacy.

Westminster
Assembly of
Divines.

Primate Ussher
named a
member.

Hia non-atl-end-
anco.

By the English houses of parliament, first a de
claration had been raade " for the taking aAvay of
bishops, deans, and chapters," aud then a bill was
passed for " the utter abolishing and taking aAvay"
of prelacy, having been introduced into the LoAver
House in December, 1642, and agreed to by the
Upper on the 20th of January, 1643. To these
measures, however, the king refused his assent.
They also first framed a bill, which they afterwards
changed into an ordinance, for "an Assembly of
Divines, to meet at Westminster; and assist the
parliament in settling such a government in the
Church, as may be agreeable to God's holy word,
and bring it into nearer agreement with the Church
of Scotland, and other reformed Churches abroad."
The assembly was forbidden by the king's proclama
tion to meet; but on the 1st of July it met
notwithstanding. Of this assembly the Archbishop of Armagh was
nominated a member : but he approved, neither of
the authority by which it was appointed, nor of the
business which it was designed to execute : " so that
he never troubled hiraself to go thither. But when
that mock asserably found that he scorned to come
among them, they complained of hira to the House
of Commons, who soon voted hira out again ; which
yet the archbishop took raore kindly," says his
biographer, who raight have added, which was rauch
more to the archbishop's credit and honour, " than
their choosing him into it." And it may be here
noticed, as an honour to the Church of Ireland and
her clergy, that of that body either no one was
judged fit to be associated with the Westminster
divines, or no one demeaned himself by admitting
the association, with the single exception of John

cliurchniiu'uiber of that
body.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 577
IT oyle, FelloAv of Trinity College, Dublin, and Pro- a single irish
fessor of Divinity in that university. But let not
the university or the Church feel ashamed of the
fact, when it can be added :
Faithless found
Among tlie faithful : faitliless only he !
For vvhat less than faithlessness can be attributed to
auy rainister of the Church, who sanctioned tho acts
of an assembly, AA'hich substituted the Directory for
the Book of Common Prayer, aud modern Sectarian
ism for the Apostolical Church Polity; and insti
tuted and established " The Solemn League and
Covenant." But although the Church of Ireland is exempt itsinnueneecv-
frora any participation in " that bad erainence," the irdand.
kingdom of Ireland Avas not exempt from its con
tamination. Among the ten peers and tAventy
commoners, who were lay assessors of the clerical
merabers of the asserably, there Avas at least one
delegate from Ireland, Sir John ClotAvorthy, of
Antrira. Measures Avere taken also at an early
stage of its proceedings for extending its influence
to that kingdora ; and there AV'anted not a deter
mined band of dissenters and separatists from the
Church, to strengthen by a uoav bond of union their
efforts for the Church's destruction.
The Solemn League and Covenant becarae the soiemn League
great instruraent which was employed to forAvard the °'° """"' '
objects of that faction: the Soleran League and
Covenant, of which the two leading articles, bound
upon the confederates by oath, were these.
1. "That AA'e sball sincerely, really, and constantly, its two first
through the grace of God, endeavour, in our several places
and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion in
2 P

678

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. vii.

the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline,
and govermnent, against our common enemies ; the refor
mation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland,
in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according
to the word of God, and the example of the best reformed
Churches ; and we shall endeavour to bring the Churches
of God, in the three kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction
and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of
Church-government, directory for worship, and catechising,
that we, and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live
in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dAvcll in the
midst of us,
2. " That we shall in like manner, without respect of
persons, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, prelacy, (that
i,s, Church-government by archbishops, bishops, tbeir chan
cellors and commissaries, deans, deans and chapters, arch
deacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on
that hierarchy,) superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness,
and whatsoever else shall be found to be contrary to sound
doctrine, and the poAA'er of godliness, lest we partake in
other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of
their plagues ; and that tbe Lord may be one, and his namo
one, in the three kingdoms,"
These articles will raake sufficiently apparent the
tendency of the Soleran League and Covenant, as
affecting tbe Church of Ireland, in common with
King's procian.a- that of Euglaud. The king, by a proclaraation on
tion against ^ o ., i
the Covenant, tho 9tli of Octobor, 1644, had declared it "to be a
Oct. 9, 1644. traitorous and seditious corabination against him,
and against the established religion and laAvs of the
kingdora, in pursuance of a traitorous design and
endeavour to bring in a foreign force to invade
England ;" and had coinraanded all his subjects not
to take it.
The Marquis of Ormonde sent directions to
all the officers in those parts, that were under his
command, to refuse it, showing the iniquity of the

Measures to
prevent its adop
tion in Ireland.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 579
oath. The lordsjustices and council wrote the sarae
day to General Monroe, charging hira not to suffer
the Covenant to be taken by any of the officers or
soldiers under his coraraand ; and four days after, on
the 18th of Deceraber, they published a proclama
tion, condemning it as a seditious combination
against his majesty, contrary to the municipal laws
of the kingdom, destructive to the governraent of
the Church established, inconsistent with the liberty
of the subject, and tending to create great unquiet
ness and distraction in the kingdom ; and so they
forbade all persons either to tender or take it. This
was followed soon after by a long declaration from
the same authority ; wherein, for the information of
the people, they entered into a particular exaraina
tion of all parts of the Covenant, fully deraonstrated
the unlawfulness thereof, and renoAved their charge
upon all persons to refuse it'^
But these orders and arguments were too weak inciin.aiion of
to oppose the passion, with Avliich the Covenant was favour."^""''''
received in the North, where most of the old officers
of the Scottish troops were inclined to it ; and the
inhabitants were so eager for its adoption, that they
had dispatched a messenger to Scotland, expressly
to desire that it might be sent over to them. The
colonels, indeed, of all the regiments under the
Marquis of Ormonde's coraraand Avere averse to it ;
and at a nieeling at Belfast, on the 2nd of January, ncsoiutionot
1645, at which were present the Lord Montgomery, offlc™sag-"nst
Sir Robert SteAvart, Sir James Montgomery, Sir W. ' jan.s, iws.
Cole, the Colonels Chichester, Hill, and Mervyn,
and Robert Thornton, raayor of Derry, Sir W.
SteAvart, though absent, approving- their resolutions ;
they all agreed privately amongst themselves, in
" Carte's Ormonde, i, 487. 2 p 2

580

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. vii.

Covenant pressed
by emissaries
from Scotland.

Taken in the
cliui'ch of Car-
lickfergns ;

And generally
in the counties
of Down and
Autiim.

resolving to preserve their allegiance to his majesty,
to obey the orders of the INIarquis of Ormonde, and
not to accept the Covenant.
But the influence of the Scottish forces was
predominant with the inhabitants of the North, who
were most of them Scotch by original, and Cove
nanters by principle. And on the arrival of four
ministers of the kirk in the beginning of April, sent
for the purpose of tendering and pressing the Cove
nant, the country, previously quiet, was thrown into
a state of general disturbance.
On the 4th of that month, the Covenant was
taken with great solemnity in the church of
Carrickfergus, by Monroe and his officers, and in
two days aftervvards by all his soldiers, Avith the
single exception of Major Dalzeel of his own
regiment, the only person who refused. The
ministers afterwards dispersed themselves over
the country, to tender it to the rest of the array;
and passing through the several parishes of the
counties of Doavu and Antrim, recommended it
everyAvhere ; the country people, as well as the
soldiery, taking it with as much zeal as if it were the
only raeans of preserving both their souls and bodies.
The iphabitants were indeed so violent for it, that
they refused raaintenance to the soldiers, who would
not take it : and there was so strong an inclination
for it with the officers of the old Scotch regiment,s,
that they took it privately without the knowledge
of their colonels, who had declared against it; and,
when they came to know and inquire into the
matter, found the number of them thus engaged so
very great, that they wanted power to suppress or
stop tbeir progress.
Notwithstanding the decision and activity of the

Coleramo.

Tumultuous
proceedings at
Derry.

Sec. IX,] KING CHARLES I. 581
government, and the general fidelity and courage of
the commanding officers of the British forces iu
Ulster, the Covenant still continued to make its
way, being urged forwards Avitli the utmost violence
by the Scotch ministers. These men preached up
the Covenant in all places, and pressed it upon
acceptance as no less necessary to salvation than
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and would
alloAV no raan to receive the one who refused the
other. They carried all before thera Avherever they
carae, every one complying with it, except at Cole- Refused at
raine, a toAvn which had been almost ruined by a
Scotch garrison, and of which the chief inhabitants
refused to take the test.
Derry, in the mean time, presented a different
scene, being too much disposed to receive the Cove
nant. That town was full of factious and seditious
persons, who had on forraer occasions torn the Book
of Coraraon Prayer, and thrown libels about the
streets, threatening every person who should dare
to use it. So that the mayor, who had written to
the itinerant rainisters, with a request that they
would refrain frora visiting the town, was corapelled,
when he went to church, to take a strong guard of
English soldiers of his oavu corapany, and plant
thera about the reader's desk, to secure himself
from being insulted, and the book from being torn,
as they threatened, before his face. Tavo of the
Scotch ministers, however, were introduced into the
toAvn with a great company, and leave was demanded
of the mayor, that they might preach in the church.
This being refused, they preached two seditious
sermons in the raarket-place ; and their patron, Sir
Frederick Hamilton, made an oration to the people,
exhorting them to take the Covenant.

582

REIGN OF KING CHARLES I.

[Cii. VIL

corresponacnco Such Were some of the steps whereby the sec-
betwccn the see- • rt i t-» t
tarian Covenant tariau Coveuaut kept pacB with the Popish oath of
and Popish asso- . ,
elation. association; the great difference betAveen them
being only in the different substitutes, Avhich they
proposed to establish upon the ruins of the
Church, which both of them were calculated to
destroy. It was not till the 30th of January, 1649, that
the teraporary triuinph of rebellion aud fanaticism
VA'as accomplished in England by the martyrdom of
King Charles the First : but in Ireland the king's
authority had been annulled tAvo years before, and
the poAver had passed into the hands of the Usurping
Government, Avliere it continued till 1660, during
the first eleven years of the nominal and legal, but
not the actual, reign of King Charles the Second.
During that interval raany events occurred intimately
connected with the history of the Church of Ireland :
but forasmuch as they occurred under the exercise,
not of the kingly, but of the parliamentary, authority,
I ara induced to take thera apart frora the reigns of
both these sovereigns, and to dispose of them in the
following chapter as occurrences during the Usurpa
tion.

The Usurping
Government.

683

CHAPTER VIII.
CHURCH OF IRELAND DURING THE USUR
PATION  1647-1660,
JAMES USSHER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE ..... —165.5.
Royal Power suspended. Dublin surrendered to Parlia
mentary Commissioners. Order for discontinuing the
Liturgy. Declaration of Dublin Clergy. Ep'iscopal
Signatures. Memorable e.vamples of continued use of
the Liturgy. Personal dangers of Ministers of the
Church. Revenues of vacant Bishopricks sequestered.
Legalized plunder of Episcopal Property. Opportunities
of exercising private malice against the Clergy.
¦Rebellion had been for some years successfully long's orders
raging through the country ; and the city of Dublin sumi^er of °
had been long besieged, and appeared incapable of a
protracted defence. Whereupon the king had sent
his orders to the Lord Lieutenant, " that, if he could
not keep the city, he should rather surrender it to
the parliament than to the Irish."
The Lord Lieutenant was well acquainted with its surrender to
the sentiments of the Protestants of that kingdora ; ta^^'c'iSmmir
although sorae of them were very fearful of the ^'™^'^'
Covenant, and many of thera were jealous and sus
picious of each other, yet they agreed in mistrust
and abhorrence of the coraraon eneray. He acceded,
therefore, to the advice of the privy council, that he
would treat with the parliaraentary commissioners
for the surrender of Dublin, and not exjiose its inha
bitants to the mercy of their cruel and hereditary
enemies: advice to which he the more listened.

584

THE USURPATION.

[Ch. VIIL

Lord Lieute
nant's exertions
for the Church.

because he knew that the design of many in the
Rebellion was to alienate Ireland from England, and
to extirpate all the English, whatever might be their
religious profession. And these evils Avere probably
avoided by the determination. But, so far as tlie
welfare of the Church was concerned, she can hardly
be accounted a gainer from the success of the par
liamentarian party.
With that party, indeed, the Lord Lieutenant
had exerted his influence in behalf of the Church,
her ministers, and services : and had strongly repre
sented to them the great scandal they would incur
from a prohibition of the Liturgy. And of this his
paternal care the clergy of Dublin testified their
grateful sense : for about eighty of the body, together
with Benjarain Culme, dean of St. Patrick's, assem
bled in the castle, and united in an affectionate
address to his excellency; wherein they expressed
aratiiudeofthc slncore gratitude for his vigilant care, exercised to
Dublin clergy. , ,,, , p-r>.iT
preserve, not only within the city of Dublin, but
also in out garrisons, the free exercise of the true
reformed religion according to the Liturgy and
Canons of the Church, at a tirae when the use of
that Liturgy was prohibited both in England and
Scotland : and withal, say they, " we do ingenuously
profess, that out of your piety and nobleness 3'ou
have vindicated our calling and places frora con
terapt, ju'otected us frora personal injuries, and pro
vided for us a subsistence, without which many had
undoubtedly starved '."
But, notwithstanding the exertions of the Mar
quis of Ormonde, the ministers of the Church soon
became sensible of the evil disposition of those to
whose keeping they were consigned, and to some of
¦ Carte's Ormonde, iii, 403.

Evil disposition
of the parlia-
mentai-lans.

Cn. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 585
whose proceedings Ave have uoav to turn our atten
tion ; and if in so doing \A'e shall see cause to lament
the persecuted and desolate condition of the Church,
we may find motives to consolation and thankfulness
in the conscientious behaviour of some of her faith
ful sons. On the surrender of Dublin, in 1647, to the order for diseon-
. . - tinning tho
parliamentary commissioners, an order was issued Linugy.
for the discontinuance of the Liturgy, and the
observation of the Directory, in all churches and
chapels within the city^ The Directory, it may be The Directory.
convenient to be mentioned, was a meagre and lati
tudinarian code of instructions to the puritanical
clergy from the Assembly of Divines at Westrain
ster, generally directing thera how to regulate their
publiek devotions, but not stinting them to the use
of a particular form of prayer. In issuing this order,
the commissioners had not the warrant of any ordi
nance of parliament, either for prohibiting the
Liturgy, AA'hich was the only form of worship esta
blished by lavA', or for introducing the Directory,
whicli had no legal authority.
At this tirae Anthony Martin, bishop of Meath, Anthony Mar-
T-* (, 1 11 TT- • ^ 1 tin, bishop of
Avas Provost of the college. His episcopal palace Meath.
had been pillaged and burnt by the rebels iu 1641,
and all his property seized : he retired therefore to
Dublin ; where, being a member of the privy coun
cil, he ahvays with courage and constancy opposed
any peace Avith the Irish until the king's honour Avas
vindicated from their aspersions of being a favourer
of the Rebellion, and until raore safe and satisfactory
terms, than Avere at first proposed, could be procured
for the Protestants.
Soon after the flight of the Provost, in conse-
* Ware's Bishops, i, 127, 158,

586 the USURPATION. [Ch. VIIL
nis election to queuce of the Rebellion, the Bishop of Meath was
appointed to the office, and with his family took up
his abode in the college. January the 16th, 1642,
the then present members of the council subscribed
an agreement to send their plate the following day
to satisfy the officers of the army, who had warmly
pleaded their condition. A messenger, being sent
to the absent members, presented the paper to the
bishop for his subscription ; when he answered, " that
having been plundered by the rebels, he had neither
plate nor anything else to convert iuto money, but a
Not agreeable to few old gowus." The bishop from hls office was iiot
the commis- i i ^ j_l T a. • • ,i
loners. agreeable to the parliaraentary commissioners then
in Dublin ; nor to several of the council, from his
activity in parliaraent, where he had opposed some
of their extraordinary proceedings. His answer,
therefore, was taken as an affront, and he was com
mitted a prisoner to one of the sheriffs of Dublin
by warrant of the lords justices and five of the coun
cil. The week foUoAving he petitioned the board to
be removed to his own house, but his petition was
rejected. He then applied to the king for relief,
setting forth his poverty and hardships ; and Avas at
last enlarged, after a considerable restraint.
His perseverance Not loug after thls, appeared the parliamentary
Liturgy.'"" order for superseding the Liturgy by the Directory.
But the Act of Uniformity, which established the
Liturgy, was still unrepealed and in force. The
bishop therefore stood to the law and his duty : he
courageously slighted the order, and persevered in
using the Liturgy in his college chapel, preaching
also to a croAvded auditory against the heresies of
the times with an apostolical plainness and liberty
of speech. He Avas taken off in Dublin by the

Cu. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 587
plague, in July, 1650; and, it is painful to add,
oppressed Avith poverty.
Nor Avas he singular in his attachment to the Declaration of
r, !• (»i/-ii 1 TVTi tho Dublin
prescript form of worship ot the Churcli. Not- dcrgy.
withstanding this order for abandoning it, and sub
stituting the Directory, the clergy of Dublin in
general AA'ere so tenacious of their oaths of allegiance
and supremacy, and their voavs to their ordinaries,
that they could not be weaned from the Liturgy of
the Church of England, in Avhich ministry they
desired to finish their course Avith joy : and the Oth
of July, 1647, they unanimously published a Decla
ration to that end, drawn up with great reason, per
spicuity, and eloquence.
This Declaration Avas an ansAver to a raessage, Message from tho
.1,1 , , ... n , {, commissioners,
sent by the coraraissioners, consisting, first, of a
question, " Whether the rainisters of the city of
Dublin AA-ill officiate in their several churches, not
using the Book of Common Prayer ? " Secondly, of
a concession, " That such as Avill officiate may use
the Directory, or .such service as is agreeuble to the
word of God : but not use the Book of Common
Prayer." The rainisters in their answer express their grief Answer of the
at heart, on their oavu account and for their people, *^'''"^"
for the AA'ant of the daily accustomed service of God,
in the tAvo cathedrals and the parish churches of the
city, and for their people being of late deprived of
them and their ministry. They set forth that they
have been and are debarred frora their churches and
the exercise of their rainistry by the coraraissioners'
injunctions of June 24, 1647, requiring the discon
tinuance of the Book of Coraraon Prayer, and the
receiving of the Directory, with danger of non-pro
tection in case they disobey. And they profess that

588

THE USURPATION.

[Cu. vm.

Reasons for non
compliance.

Ordination pro
mise.

Oath of supr^2-
macy.

Act of Unifor
mity.

Communion of
the Cliurch.

Lawful constitu
tion of Book of
Common I*rayer.

they cannot Avith a good conscience obey those in-
junctions, for the folloAving reasons.
I. They plead their solemn proraise before God
at their ordination, that they would " so minister
the doctrine, and sacraraents, and discipline of Christ,
as the Lord hath commanded, and as this realm hath
received the same."
II. They had often taken the oath of supremacy,
acknoAvledging " the king to be the only supreme
governor of this realra in all things ecclesiastical as
well as teraporal ;" and they did not conceive that
to receive a Directory, or any other forra, without
the king's authority, could stand with this oath.
III. As the Act of Parliament of Queen Eliza
beth, still in force, expressly commands the use of
the Book of Coramon Prayer, so it forbids any other
forra or manner of comraon prayer or adrainistration
of the sacraraents : and with any private dispensa
tion thereof they could not coraply for conscience
sake. IV. The Book of Coraraon Prayer being one
main part of the Reforraation in the Churches of
England and Ireland, to lay it aside, and receive the
Directory, or any other forra, would be to depart
frora the communion of the Church of England and
Ireland. V. The order of constituting a laAV in matters
ecclesiastical is, first, that it pass the determination
of a laAvful ecclesiastical council, and then receive
the sanction of the supreme civil magistrate. And
the order of the promulgation and execution of such
law is, first, the supreme civil magistrate remand?
and recoraraends it to the ecclesiastical governors,
and they deliver it to the rest of the pastors, and
they to the people. So that the immediate actual

Cu. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 589
reception of an order ecclesiastical by the rainisters
is from the hand of the bishop or ordinary; on
which is founded the solemn promise of reverent
obedience to his ordinary and other chief rainisters,
made before God by every minister at his ordination.
These premises being all fulfilled with respect to the
Book of Common Prayer, and any other form want
ing all of them, they could not without breach of
promise, and neglect of the judgraent of their ordi
naries, receive any other form, considering the king's
coramand concerning the use of the Commoii Prayer
only, expressed in the Act of Parliament, and the
commands of their lawful convocation of bishops and
clergy, confirmed also by the king, in the Canons of
1634; of which the third expresses, "That forra of
Liturgy or divine service, aud no other, shall be
used in any church of this realra, but that which is
coraprised in the Book of Coraraon Prayer."
VI. They added that the Reforraed Church of Freedom of the
Ireland was a free National Church, and not subor- chmch!
dinate to or depending upon the convocation of any
other Church. And should they receive or admit of
any other forra, without the authority of this Church,
they should be guilty of betraying the liberty of the
free National Church of Ireland.
VII. The Book of Comraon Prayer had beeu in People's afrcction
use in this Church frora the beginning of the commonPrayer.
Reformation. They had preached for it, and recom
mended it to the people : the people of God in this
city generally loved it, had been edified by it, were
loath to part frora it, and earnestly desired its con
tinuance. Should they consent to take it away,
they would be guilty of a sin, in destroying that
AA'hich is well built, and in giving great offence and
scandal to the consciences of their brethren.

5y0 THE USURPATION. [Cu. VIIL
Church and^ ""^ VIII. Lastly, they commend the argument of
state. the University of Oxford, that by leaving the Book
of Common Prayer, and receiving any other form,
they should conderan the Church and state for the
penalties and censures against recusants ; and justify
them in their imputations of injustice against our
Churches of England and Ireland.
Thcirmotives Havlug tlius explained that they have not lightly
for forbearing l • l n f, , , • {,
exercise of their Or ODstuiately, or out of factiou, or any spirit of op
position, forborne the exercise of their ministry since
the commissioners' injunctions, in the end they pre
sent this ijetition :
Their prayer, " That you would be pleased in pity and compa,s,9ion to
the Protestants of this city, and to us tho ministers, who
else, by your injunction aforesaid, are endangered to be ex
posed to banishment, loss of estate, and of present subsistr
ence, with our wives and families ; to restore us to our
churches, ministry, and exercise thereof, by permitting us
Porpermissionto to use the Book of Comnion Prayer in our several cathedral
use the Book of ¦, • i t ^ p ^ i.i i {,
CommonPrayer. and jiai'isn cliurcties, as formerly we used the same beioro
your injunction aforesaid ; and to grant us your protection
therein, till such time as further order be taken by a convo
cation of the clergy, and an Act of Parliament in this king
dom. And in the mean time, Ave shall endeavour to de
mean ourselves in the whole course of our ministry with
such Christian faithfulness and moderation, as that we shall,
by the help of G-od, give no just occasion of offence."
Names sub- Tho Declaration, of which the preceding sketch
scribed to the , _ i m i i j1 y n •
Declaration. IS au abstract, AA'as subscribed by the loilowing
naraes, which I subjoin out of respect to the sound
principles, the perspicuous, forcible, and eloquent
exposition of them, and Avithal the spirit of Chris
tian firmness and moderation of those ministers of
Christ, who stood forward as the charapions of the
Church's Book of Common Prayer. To each name
I have endeavoured to annex a description of the

Cil. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 591
station in the Church, then or subsequently borne by
the individual ; for which intelligence I ara chiefly
indebted to the aid of the Very Rev. Henry Cotton,
D.C.L., Dean of Lismore, and Treasurer of Christ
Church, Dublin, 1839.
Ed. Laonensis, (Edward Parry, bishop of Killaloe,
and treasurer of Christ Church,)
Jac. Margetson, (Dean of Christ Church, afterwards
Archbishop of Dublin, and then of Armagh.)
Ben. Culme, (Dean of St. Patrick's.)
Ambr. Aungier, (Chancellor of St. Patrick's.)
Ja. Sybold,
Godf. Rhodes, (Treasurer of St. Patrick's,)
Hen. Hall, (Cbantor of Christ Church, afterwards
Bishop of Killala,)
Jos. War, (or Ware, Prebendary of Stagonil, St.
Patrick's.)
Jo, Brookbank, (Prebendary of Christ Church.)
Gilbert Deane, (Preb, of Tassagard, St. Patrick's.)
Dud. Boswel, (Preb. of St. Andrew's in St. Patrick's,
and of St. Michael's in Christ Church.)
Bob. Parry, (Preb. of St, Andrew's in St. Patrick's.)
Joan Creighton, (Chancellor of Christ Church.)
Edw, Syng, (of St. Patrick's ; afterwards Bishop of
Limerick, and then of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross.)
Rob, Dickson,
Rand. Ince,
Henry Byrcli, (Prebendary of Monmohenock, St.
Patrick's.)
Rich, Powel, (Preb, of V\'icklow, St. Patrick's '.)
Amouffst the signatures to this Declaration, all F.i.iscop.ai si-n.T
of thera worthy to be had in honour, it Avill be ob
served to bear the naraes of seA'eral clergymen, at
the time or afterwards, of the episcopal order: of
EdAvard Parry, treasurer of Christ Church, who had
been consecrated to the bishoprick of Killaloe in
^ Boblase's I'j~ish Rebellion, p. 184 ; and App,, p. 94 — 98.

tures to the l)e-
cl.aration.

592

THE USURPATION.

[Ch. VIII.

Particulars of
Bishop Synge,

Occasional
liberty to use
tlie Cliurch
service.

this year, and whose subscription stands at the head
of the catalogue; of Jaraes Margetson, dean of
Christ Church, proraoted to the archiepiscopal See
of Dublin in 1660, and Archbishop Bramhall's suc
cessor in the primacy three years later ; of EdAvard
Hall, chanter of Christ Church, who was promoted
to the bishoprick of Killala and Achonry in 1 660 ;
and of EdAvard Synge, AA'ho held some ecclesiastical
preferment in St. Patrick's cathedral, together with
some benefice in the county of Donegall. On this
last he constantly resided, frora the year 1647,
during the reraainder of the Usurpation, and con
tinued to use the Coramon Prayer in all the publiek
offices of his ministry, notwithstanding- the severe
prohibitions of the commissioners of the English
parliament. Several complaints were made of his
conterapt of the order of the intrusive governraent :
but by the interest which his persuasive letters on
that occasion had procured hira with Dr. Gorge,
then auditor-general under the usurpers, the prose
cution commenced against him was stopped ; and he
VA'as ever afterwards allowed in the use of the Com
mon Prayer, of which permission he availed hiraself,
not in his own only, but also in the neighbouring
parishes, till the period of the king's restoration.
On that occasion he was proraoted to the See of
Liraerick; and in 1663, to the united bishopricks of
Cork, Cloyne, and Ross\
It may be that on other special applications an
indulgence from this lawless and arbitrary injunc
tion may have been granted by the ruling powers.
Thus on a visit paid to Ireland in 1648, by Bishop
Bramhall, it is related that at Portumna, in the
county of Galway, he and his companions enjoyed
¦* Ware's Bishops, p. 5C9.

Cb. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 593
the freedom of using the Church service, under the
protection of the Marquis of Clanrickard. Certainly
this freedom was not likely to be conceded out of
respect for the bishop himself; for having had a very
narrow escape at the revolt of Cork, his deliverance
was so vexatious to CroniAvell, that he declared he
would have given a large sura of raoney for the
apprehension of that Irish Canterbury \
By one, however, of the episcopacy of Ireland, John Lesley,
•' r i. J bishop of
the illegal order of the usurpers appears to have Kaphoe.
been set at nought, in the person of John Lesle}'," ^
who had been translated from the bishoprick of Ork
ney, or of the Isles, in Scotland, to that of Raphoe
in 1633. On his reraoval to his ubav diocese, he had
erected a stately episcopal residence, contrived for
strength as well as for beauty ; and by its raeans, in
the Rebellion of 1641, he preserved a good part of
the country, jiarticularly those aa'Iio placed thera
selves under his protection in his own diocese.
After contributing to the support of the king's cause
in Ireiaud, on its declension in England, he raised a
corapany of foot for his majesty, and raaintained
both officers and soldiers at his own charge. ITe
aftei'Avards endured a siege in his castle of Raphoe nis resistance to
against Oliver CroiUAvell, and held out to the last in
that country. He declared then against the Presby
terian, as AA'ell as the Popish, pretences for rebellion.
He would join neither in the treasons, nor in the
schisras, of the times : but unalterably adhered to
the practice as well as principles of the Church,
whose Liturgy he constantly used in his own family, nis constant use
after the publiek use of it was interdicted ; and even
in Dublin he held frequent confirmations and ordina
tions, prosecuted by the faction in poAA'er, but
^ Ware's Bishops, i. 122.
2Q

ofthe Lituigy.

594

THE USURPATION.

[Ch. viii.

Archblshop Bul
keley.

Affecting anec
dote of his last
use of the Book
of Common
Prayer. Nov. 1, 1649.

Censured by the
ruling powers.

persevering in the discharge of his episcopal func
tions ^
Connected Avith this subject is an affecting anec
dote concerning Bulkeley, archbishop of Dublin,
then in the eighty-first year of his age. Sinking
under his sense of the calamities of the time, which,
the following year, brought down his gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave, and looking forward, as it should
seera, to his early dissolution, on the 1st of Novem
ber, 1649, he took an affectionate leave of the avcII-
affected clergy in Dublin, and addressed to them a
valedictory sermon in St. Patrick's cathedral. There
were jsi'esent two brothers of the name of Parry,
John and Benjamin, sons of the Bishop of Killaloe,
who has been already noticed as having taken the
lead in subscribing the petition for the use of the
Comraon Prayer Book, and afterAvards successively
bishops of Ossory; Thomas Seele, afterwards pro
vost of Trinity College, and dean of St. Patrick's,
Dublin ; Mr. BosAvell, prebendary of St, John's,
Christ Church; and William Pilsworth, a minister
Avho read the Common Prayer'.
With the exception, perhaps, of a very feAv
obscure and unascertained instances, and with the
probable exception of Bishop Martin, in the College
Chapel, this was the last time that the Liturgy was
publickly read, until the Restoration of King Charles
the Second. The action, hovA'ever, did not escape
the jealous vigilance or the severe animadversion of
the ruling poAvers; and the venerable archbishop,
together with all those who were present at the
solemnity, was visited with censure and confinement
for the offence".

Ware's Bishops, i. 190,

' lb., p, 356.

'Ib.

Ch. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 595

During these times of consternation to the Dangers of
- ministers of tl
ministers of the Church, they were exposed to church.
personal dangers alike from Papists and Puritans.
Thus in 1648, Bishop Bramhall was in imminent Bishop Bram.
peril of his life from the Romanists of Limerick,
because the Earl of Roscoinnion, who, having met
with a fatal accident, survived only so long as to
raake open declaration of his faith, professed, at the
instance of the bishop, that he died in communion
with the Church of Ireland. On his departure from
Ireland, he experienced another great deliverance
from the other faction ; for he was closely pursued
by two parliamentarian frigates ; and, being nearly
overtaken, was only preserved by a sudden and pro
vidential change of the wind. Soon afterwards, Rem.irkabie
. n, . 1 T I, occurrence in
intending a journey into Spam, he stopped for re- spain.
freshment at a house, vA-here the hostess addressed
hira by his name. On his expressing astonishment at
being discovered, she revealed to hini the secret,
showed him his picture, and assured' hiin there were
several of thera on the road, in order that being thus
made known, he might be carried before the Inqui
sition. She informed hira also, that her husband,
araongst others, had power to apprehend hira, and
would certainly execute the comraission, if he found
hira'. This narrative has been lately commented upon probabiyac
by Dr. Kippis, in his new edition of the Biographia
Britannica, as "very extraordinary: for unless he
had done soraething relative to that kingdom, of
AA'hich we have now no account, it seeras scarcely
conceivable, that such measures should have been
adopted for apprehending- hira." Yet the well-
knoAvn character of the individual, his station in the
" Ware's Bishops, pp. 123, 127.
2 q2

596

THE USURPATION.

[Ch. viii.

Dean Margetson.

Bishop AVilli.ams.

Episcopalrevenues seques
tered.

Church, his former connexion with those of tho
highest authority in his own country, and the influ
ence of which he was probably still possessed, may
be sufficient to account for the hostility of that
jealous and watchful tribunal, and leave unsuspected
the statement of the contemporaneous historian.
His journey should seera to have been connected
with some object relating to the then state of
religion. But whether " the purpose of drawing a
parallel, between the Liturgy of the Church of Eng
land and the publiek forms of the Protestant
Churches," was likely, as has been stated (in the
Raivdmi Papers, p. 107, note), to lead to the design
of a journey into Spain, raay seem questionable.
Thus, again, Margetson, dean of Christ Church,
having fled into England in 1647, Avas overtaken by
unexpected evils, as great and general as those from
which he fled. Amongst other sufferings, he was by
the parliaraentary party taken prisoner and throAvn
into confineraent, until he was at last set at liberty
in exchange for sorae railitary officers. The like
disaster befell Williams, bishop of Ossory, on his
flight frora Ireland, in 1641 ; being intercepted by
a party of the parliaraentary troops, and carried a
prisoner to Northampton'".
Of the sees, which became vacant during the
Usurpation, it was the sacrilegious practice of the
then rulers of the state, to sequestrate the revenue;-,
and to leave the bishopricks unoccupied : partly that
the property of the Church might be confiscated and
appropriated by power, as it could not be by right,
to secular purposes ; and partly, that the constitution
of the Church might be broken up and annihilated,
as her ejoiscopacy by degrees should cease to exist,
'° AA^ are's Bishops, p. 422.

Cu, VIII,] THE USURPATION. 597
Of sixteen vacancies, which had occurred at various sixteen vacant
, _ , sees unsupplied.
periods, betAveen the assumption ot the sovereign
jiower by the parliament, and the restoration of the
laAvful king, all continued unsupplied at the latter
epoch ; so that eight bishops only were at that tirae
surviving, to raaintain and perpetuate the Apostolical
succession and government in the Church.
In the mean time, the property of those, A\'ho Legalized
, , t, Tl ,, Til I, plunder.
nghtfuUy possessed it, Avas liable to a sort ot
legalized plunder.
Thus the possessions of the Archbishop of cuhun.
Dublin and of the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's
Cathedral, were confided to certain trustees, by
AA'hom the church was occasionally converted to
profane uses".
The church of Galway Avas greatly injured by the caiway.
soldiery, avIio converted the chapels and aisles into
stables, and destroyed almost the entire of the
ancient and venerable monuments, insomuch that at
the Restoration it AA'as found altogether in a state of
dilapidation, and in total Avant of repair'^
Of this abuse a raeraorable example also is re- BishopnckofOssorv
corded in the case of Williams, bishop of Ossory, to
Avhose see belonged several houses and lands in the
immediate neighbourhood of Kilkenny, rendered
especially valuable by that situation. Certain com
missioners having been appointed by the parliament
to dispose of the land of delinquents, for paying- the
arrears of the soldiers, made no difference betAveen
the Church lauds and the lands of the rebels;
but distributed among the indigent soldiery the
best houses, gardens, orchards, and lands, of the
bi,shop, and other clergy, Avliich one of the com-
" iilAso>i's St, Patrick's, p. 191. '^ Hardiman's Galway,]^. 247.

598

THE USURPATION.

[Ch. viii.

General distress
of the clergy.

Archbishop Ussher.

Bishop Bram-
haU,

Allowance to
bishops from tho
govemment. 1658.

missioners bought up at an easy and inconsiderable
value". But, not to dwell upon such cases as this, the
condition of the clergy was, no doubt, one in general
of great penury and distress. Archbishop Ussher,
after various situations of more or less embarrass
ment, was fain to accept a home frora the hospitable
bounty of the Countess of Peterborough, whose lord
he had, many years before, been the happy instru
ment of converting from Popery, and who now
gratefully acknowledged her obligation by an asylum
in her house for nine or ten years preceding his
death ". The unexpected payment of a debt of 700/.,
long due to Bishop Brarahall, and made "in his
greatest necessity," was a very seasonable relief, both
to himself and to many confessors of the royal cause,
"to whom even of his penury he distributed so
liberally, that the blessing of such as were ready to
perish fell upon him 'I"
A case, however, of such self-evident truth, as
the privations and distresse,s, to which the clergy of
the Church of Ireland must have been exposed
during the Usurpation, hardly needs a fuller exem
plification. But that, however, is a memorable fact,
as stated in the Life of Williams, bishop of Ossory,
that Henry Cromwell, governor of Ireland under his
brother Richard, in 1658, being informed that the
bishop often preached in Dublin, was desirous of
hearing hira at his own house : and that, when the
serraon was ended, Henry Cromwell invited him to
dinner, and afterwards sent him a message, that, as
he allowed the rest of the bishops each a hundred
pounds a year for their maintenance, so he offered

" Ware's Bishops, p. 425.
Parr's Life of Ussher. '> Vesey's Life of Bramhall.

Ch. VIIL] THE USURPATION. 599
the like to him. The bi.shop oAvned the obligation,
but ansAvered, "that he Avas resoh'ed to live contented
with the small raeans he had of his own."
Bishop Heber, in his Life of Bishop Jeremy opportunities
Taylor, incidentally notices "the peculiar evils of nSe™'°
the times," as giving occasion for " the effects of
private malice," in disturbing the tranquillity and
happiness of the clergy.
" A person named Tandy, whom Taylor calls a mad
man, and Avho appears, by Lord ConAvay's letters, to have
been something like an agent to diiferent noble families,
out of pure jealousy that tbe new-comer stood more in
favour with his patrons than himself, and was a more
welcome and frequent guest at their houses, denounced him
to the Irish pri-vy council as a dangerous and disaffected jeremy Taylor
character, and more particularly, as having used the sign of p™" ™ounc'ii.'''''
the cross in the ceremony of private baptism. Taylor him
self does not seem to have been much alarmed : but Conway
expresses himself on the subject witb a degree of feeling
which does him honour ; and with an indignation against
the informer, not unnatural in one who conceived, that, in
attacking his friend, that informer was treating himself
Avitb ingratitude. In consequence of the information laid
against Taylor, a warrant was issued to the governor of
Carrikfergus, by the Irish privy council, to bring him before
them for examination. In the minutes of the council no
other entry occurs relating to him ; and it is, therefore,
probable, tbat his friends had power to obtain his speedy
discbarge. The journey, however, to Dublin, in the heart
of winter, was sufficient to throw him into a severe illness,
which perhaps was admitted by the government as a plea
for letting him off so easily,"
In illustration of the foregoing narrative, it raay
" ° •' Illustration of
be here raentioned, by the way, that, at the tirae in ">eforegomg
•' *^ narrative.
question, Taylor had been recently established in a
lectureship at Lisburn, in the county of Antrira,
residing principally at Portraore, the property of the

600 THE USURPATION. [Cn. VIIL
Earl of Conway, about eight miles distant from that
toAvn. " Perhaps, indeed," says Bishop Heber, " he
only visited Lisburn for the discharge of his weekly
lectureship ; since the tradition of his descendants
deterraines him to have chiefly, if not always, occu
pied a house in the imraediate neighbourhood of his
patron's mansion ; and to have often preached to a
small congregation of loyalists in the half-ruined
church of Kilulta."
Correction of J copy tho Statement as I find it; wishins-, at
part of the state- ¦*¦ *' ^ O'

ment.

the same time, to offer a correction of one not very
important particular in it, and to accompany it with
an observation upon another.
Church in which Tlioro Is lu the dlocese of Down and Connor no
Taylor officiated. parish of the name of Kilulta, or Killultagh ; but
there is a townland of that narae, frora which the
manor takes its designation ; and ray informant, the
Rev. EdAvard Cupples, vicar-general of the diocese,
remarks that he cannot find that there is any church
yard, or ruin of a church, in that townland. It
appears, however, that the church of Ballinderry,
which was used before the building of the present
one, was built in the time of King- Charles the
Second, and was always called " the new church," in
contradistinction, as is supposed, to an old church,
the ruins of which stand in au ancient churchyard,
still an extensive burial-ground on the margin of
Lough Beg, at a very short distance from Portraore,
where Bishop Taylor formerly resided. "This," adds
my corrrespondent, " I take to have been the church
in Avhich Bishop Taylor officiated."
Remark on tho As to tho Statement that Bishop Taylor " often
phraseology of , .^ , .^
the statement, proachod to a siuall congregation of loyalists," I
strongly suspect that the language is, 'not that of
Bishop Heber himself, but of his informant, who has

Ch, viii,] the USURPATION. 601
us^ed a kind of phraseology derived probably frora the
times with which we are now concerned, and still not
uncomraon in a country, raany of the inhabitants of
AAhich are taught to assign a very undue value to
the office of preaching, in coraparison of the princi
pal duty to be perforraed iu God's " House of Prayer:"
where the people, amongst whom a clergyman exer
cises his ministry, are frequently wont to be termed
his " hearers ;" and the avowed motive, which brings a
congregation together, is frequently nothing more
than a desire to "hear" such and such a preacher.
In the church, whither he resorted. Bishop Taylor
may have preached to his little flock of loyalists ;
but he also, no doubt, accustoraed his congregation
to the duty of publiek prayer: and of prayer, I
Avould fain believe, according- to that LitursA', of
which both he and his biographer were so capable of
estimating the value, and of enjoying the beauty.

602

CHAPTER IX.
church of IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
KING CHARLES THE SECOND, COM
MENCING WITH HIS RESTORATION . 1660—1685.
JOHN BRAMHALL, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE  ] 660—1663.
JAMES MARGETSON, ARCHBISHOP OF AR
MAGH, AND PRIMATE . . . 1663—1678.
MICHAEL BOYLE, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE  1678—
Section I.
Restoration atid Proclamation ofthe Kitig. Church restored
to her station. Surviving Bishops. Satisfaction at
Bishop BramhalVs elevation to the Primacy. Opposition
to the. Church. King determined to support it. Appoint
ments to Vacant Bishopricks. Solemnity of the Conse
cration of the tiew Bishops. Ne-w Arrangements of
certain Sees. Hostility of Church of Rome in Ireland.
Bishop Taylor's Sketch of Popery as then existing. Pro
testant Sectarists. The Law concertiing them. How
treated by the Primate ; and by Bishop Taylor, and the
other Northern Bishops.
Declaration of The hououred uamo of Jeremy Taylor may not
Londom'""^ '" uuaptly couuect the narrative of the depression of
April 24, 1660. ^j_^^ Cliurch wlth that of her resuscitation and resti
tution, of which he was a conspicuous part. He had
in the last year visited England, apparently for some
private or domestick purposes; and had thus an
opportunity of annexing his name to a Declaration of
the loyalists of London and its neighbourhood, on
the 24th of April, 1660; an occurrence Avhich raay

Sec. L] reign OF KING CHARLES II. 608
have been useful in bringing hira under the irarae
diate notice of the restored sovereign; and so far
have contributed with his forraer office of chaplain to
the raartyred king, and his long-tried attachment to
the royal person, with his losses and sufferings, with
his profound learning and his exuberant eloquence,
and Avith his well-known principles of devotion to
the monarchy and filial veneration for the Church,
in recomraending hira for proraotion on the event of
their ensuing- Restoration.
The king was proclairaed in Dublin, on the 14th proclamation of
of May, 1660, and, as soon as the order was received, dumiu.
II 1 f. 1 T • 1 -Jl 1 May 14, 1660.
in all the great toAvns of the kingdom, with wonder
ful acclaraations of joy. The Marquis of Orraonde,
being made lord steward of the household, and
having received other substantial raarks of favour, as
one whom the king delighted to honour, the bishops
and episcopal clergy yet left in Ireland now applied
to hira for that patronage and protection, which he
had ever, and on all occasions, been ready to afford
them, to the utmost of his power; and, considering sLarquis of or-
,1 , A 1 [, 11 A • A A monde the de-
the present to be a very favourable opportunity to fender of the
provide for their comfortable maintenance, and to
establish the Church on a foundation better than it
had ever enjoyed before, he resolved to stand forward
in her defence.
Besides the Scotch ministers in the northern Efforts of the
counties of Ireland, there Avere others ofthe Presby- iretoui.™™""
terian party, who, under the patronage of the usurp
ing government, had latterly gotten possession of the
churches in Dublin and its neighbourhood ; and,
without any regard to the ecclesiastical constitution
of the kingdom, diligently laboured to bring the
people into subjection to the rules of the Covenant,

604

THE reign of

[Cii, IX.

Exertions in
behalf of Episco
pacy.

Which was &till
the legal cstii-
bliBhnicnt.

and regulated their conduct of divine worship by the
Directory ; but these were not numerous, the bene
fices ofthe country at that time being not of sufficient
value to tempt any considerable number to come
thither from England. Few as they were in number,
aud too feeble to prevail by their own influence, they
made application to the king, iraraediately on his
landing in England, in the hope of getting their
model of Church government established by the
credit and interests of their English friends. En
deavours Avere likewise made for promoting in the
array of Ireland a similar ^^etition about Church
government, in opposition to the episcopal form.
These movements caused alarm in the episcopal
divines ; and they accordingly carae forAvard with a
protestation against the proceedings of their oppo
nents, and an earnest desire that the order of bishops
and the use of the Litugy might be jrireserved. This,
too, was in full accordance with the wishes and
opinions of the Peers, and of the most respectable of
the Commons, who jjossessed the far greater part of
the wealth and importance of the nation, and Avho
took delight in that ancient form of ecclesiastical
polity. Episcopacy, raoreover, and the Liturgy, were
still part of the legal establishment of the kingdom ;
for, notAvithstanding the violent courses AA'hich had
been lawlessly pursued for the overthroAV of each,
no laAV had at any time been regularly enacted,
which might give a colour for the annulling of either.
It followed, of course, that, when the king resumed
his throne, the Church resumed her station. The
best method, accordingly, Avas judged to be to fill up
all vacant ecclesiastical preferments with men of
Avorth, character, abilities, aud learning, zealously
affected to the constitution of the Church, and Avell

Sec, I,] KING GHARLES II. 605
qualified to maintain their possession. And thus, on
the recoraraendation and persuasion of the Marquis
of Ormonde, the king was induced, in the first week
of August, to nominate for the occupation of tbe
vacant sees the most eminent raen that could be
found among the clergy of Ireland".
At this period the Church of Ireland had pre- Eight surviving .
.j_ in bishops.
served only eight of her former bishops : Bramhall,
of Derry ; John Lesley, of Raphoe ; Henry Lesley,
of Down and Connor ; MaxAvell, of Kilmore ; Baily,
of Clonfert ; Williams, of Ossory ; Jones, of Clogher;
and Fulwar, of Ardfert. Of these, the Bishop of
Derry in particular was well known and highly
esteemed for his previous ecclesiastical services :
so that the general sense of the Church and of the
kingdom concurred with the judgraent of the
government, which raade an early selection of him Bishop Br,amhaii
, ,,._ , 1 r, X 1 11 ¦ nominated to the
tor the archbishopricfv ot Armagh, and the primacy Primacy,
and metropolitical dignity of all Ireland, to which
he was nominated in August, 1660, and formally
ajipoiuted on the 18th of January, 1661.
How acceptable this nomination of Bishop nis nomination
Bramhall was to the friends of the Church, appears friemisVtho
frora the following letter of congratulation, which
AA'as addressed by Lord Caulfield, afterwards knoAvn
by the honourable epithet of the good Lord Charle-
mont, to the uoav Priraate, on the 22nd of October,
1660. "As the news of your lordship's safe arrival is most Letter of congra-
1 , • -A. -\--\ - - I" A. • ' - tulatlon from
welcome to me, so is it likewise occasion ot great rejoicing j^g^,^ ciuifieu,
to all those in the kingdom Avho truly fear God and pray for °°'' ^^' '^'"'¦
the welfare of his Church : it being yet fresh in the memo
ries of us all, how eminent an instrument your lordship hath
been long since in the propagating the true ancieut Protes
tant religion in tbis kingdom.
' Cabtk'.s Life of Or.iionde, ii. !in7.

606

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Prevalence of
schisms o.nd
heresies.

Nomination of
the new bishops

Delay in their
consecration.

" My lord, never had the Church more need of such a
champion than now that the looseness of tbe late times hath
been the occasion of so many schisms, and given opportunity
to such numberless number of heresies to creep in amongst
us, that not many days ago it was hardly possible to find
two of one religion. And therein are these unhappy north
ern quarters most miserable, abounding with all sorts of
licentious persons ; but those whom we esteem most danger
ous are the Presbyterian factions, who do not like publickly
to preach up the authority of the kirk to be above that of
tbe crown and our dread sovereign. I have myself dis
coursed with divers of their ministers, both in publiek and
private, who have maintained that the kirk hath power to
excommunicate their kings : and when the oaths of allegi
ance and supremacy were administered here, one of them
told me that we had pulled down one pope and set up
another. But I made bold to inflict such punishments as 1
thought were proper for their offences ; and hindered their
meetings where I considered there might be anything con
sulted of, tending to the breach of the peace, either in church
or common Avealth^."
At the sarae early period of the noraination of
the new Priraate, the new bishops also were named,
yet the same space of time elapsed before their con
secration; during which interval it was irapossible
to reraedy the irregularities and confusion which
had become incorporated with the affairs of the
Church. It has been stated that, for a want of a
new great seal, which was in the first place necessary
to be made, the new bishops could not take out
their patents, and of course could not be sooner
possessed of their sees. The king's declaration,
hoM'ever, of his resolution to support Episcopacy
was esteemed of great importance in the existing
crisis ; and his letters, therefore, were issued for
thera under the signet.

Rawdon Papers, ji. 127.

Sec.L] KING CHARLES II. 607
Still this was not sufficient to annihilate the Hopes of the
Anti-cplseopa-
hopes of those who Avere solicitous for the extirpa- uaus.
tion of the episcopal order: and the delay of the
consecration encouraged thera to circulate a report,
that the king had deterrained not to have any
bishops, and to flatter theraselves with an expecta
tion of attaining their end. For this pui'pose,
addresses were set on foot in the name of the Pro
testant inhabitants of the kingdora, and of the adven
turers and officers, civil and railitary, to beseech his
majesty, that the godly rainisters of the Go,spel, who
had long laboured araongst thera, raight be con
tinued and countenanced.
There were also greater raen than these, who Attempts to di-
y-.,! 11 11 PI minlsh the reve-
secretly mahgned the Church, though they forbore nues of the
bishops.
to raake open avowal of their disaffection ; and thus
gave such clandestine encourageraent to the sectaries,
that they becarae more and more presumptuous in
petitioning against the bishops, and more refractory
in insulting the laws for conformity. Finding, how
ever, the episcopal order and the polity of the
Church to be impregnable, they then betook thera
selves to the expedient of atterapting to lessen the
influence of the bishops, by dirainishing their reve
nues, and dejiriving thera of their raeans of support
ing their dignity, a state of indigence being com
monly attended with contempts
Their efforts with the king in that respect pro- Petition from
duced frora the Lord Priraate elect, and the other
bishops, then resident in Dublin, a countervaling
petition, in the narae of all the orthodox clergy of
Ireland ; wherein they besought the protection of
the king, as a nursing father, by the divine law, to
^ Carte's Ormonde, ii, 209.

608

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Presented to
the king,
Dec. 5, 1660.

King's letter
in answer.
Dee. 24.

Restoration of
temporalties to
the Church.

Mandate for
consecr.ation of
bishops,
Jan. 1661.

the churches VA'itbin his dorainions, and, by the laAvs
of tbe land, the great patron of the clergy.
To this petition, presented to the king on the
6th of Deceraber, his raajest}', in a letter of the 24th
of the sarae month, returned a gracious answer:
assuring the petitioners,
" That he would, by all the ways and means in his
power, preserve their rights and those of the Church of
Ireland, so far as by law and justice he might ; and that
nothing could give him more content than, when occasion
should be off'ered, to add to the revenues thereof, vvhich had
been too much diminished by rapacious or improvident
hands, and to restore it to its ancient patrimony; so as they
needed not either to fear the taking away of the rents
raised in Lord Strafford's time, or to doubt of any endea
vours of his which might tend to raake that Church
flourish ; as they might perceive by his late letters sent to
Ireland for the settling of the impropriate and forfeited
tythes in his gift upon the respective incumbents*."
In fine, the king restored to the Church all her
temporalties, in as full and ample a degree as she
had possessed thera in the year 1641, since which
tirae the actually ruling poAvers had extended aver
them an usurped authority. In right, also, of his
prerogative of investiture, he proceeded by his letters
jiatent of the 25tli of January, 1661, to appoint
bishops to the sev'eral vacant sees, and issued his
regal mandate to the Archbishop of Armagh for
their consecration. With hira were associated as
assistants the bishops of Raphoe, Kilraore, Clogher,
and Ossory; the Bishop of Down and Connor
having been on the IStli of January translated to
the see of Meath, vacated by the death of Bishop
Martin ; and thus raaking an opening, which from
its situation in the north-eastern counties of the

¦* Cartk's Ormonde, ii, 210,

Sec. L] KING CHARLES II. 609
kingdom, with Avhicli Jeremy Taylor had already jeiemy Tayior,
„ , , T c • i 1 ¦ , 1 bisliop of Down
formed a connexion, aud trom its embracing the andcouma-;
property of his patron, the Earl of Conway, may
have been especially recoramended to his accept
ance : aud for which he also raay have been judged
singularly Avell qualified by his piety, suavity of
manners, and great theological attainments ; that
diocese being at the tirae infested more than any
other in the kingdom Avith the most virulent and
claraorous, because the raost ignorant and prejudiced,
of the sectaries.
The sarae distinguished person was entrusted Ami vice chan-
° ^ cellor of the I'ul-
also with the office of Vice-Chancellor of the Uni- veisityofDuwin.
versify of Dublin, for the purpose of reducing into
order that iraportant body, which had been thrown
into great confusion by the agitation of the late
troublous tiraes, and needed the mind and hand of a
raaster for restoring it to its former discipline and
usefulness. To fill the vacancies in the archiepLseopal sees of Names of the
T^iT im Ttfl- 1111 T-x "'-'^^' archbishops,
Dublin and Iuam, Margetson, who had beeu Dean
of Christ Church before the Rebellion in 1641, and
Pullen, chaplain to the Marquis of Ormonde, were
selected for consecration: the otlier archl)ishoprick
of Cashel beiug filled by the translation of Bishop
Fuhvar from the see of Ardfert. Together Avitli
these, ten others were chosen for consecration to
that number of the vacant sees, on the 27th of
January, 1661 : men for the raost part recommended
by their loyalty to their king, and their attachment
to the faith, the polity, and the worship of the
Church ; and several of whora had, during the late
season of Popish and Puritanical i^ersecution, in
maintenance of their principles, gone through fire
2 R

610

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Names cf the
new bishopa.

Consecrationsea'mon.

and water, had lost their possessions, and jeopardied
their lives.
The names of these new bishops, and of their re
spective appointments, are the following : Michael
Boyle, dean of Cloyne, to the bishoprick of Cork
and Ross ; John Parker, dean of Killala, and chap
lain to the Marquis of Orraonde, Avho had been
plundered and iraprisoned for his loyalty under the
tyranny of Cromwell ; Robert Price, dean of Con
nor, who, in that capacity, had been a great sufferer
for the royal cause ; and George Wild, who, for his
adherence to the king, had been stripped of his fel
lowship in St. John's College, Oxford, by the parlia-
raentarian visitors in 1648, and otherAvise underwent
much privation for the same cause ; severally to the
bishopricks of Elphin, of Ferns and Leighlin, and
of Derry; Edward Synge, dean of Elphin, and
Henry Hall, cbantor of Christ Church, Dublin, who
had signed the petition in favour of the Liturgy, and
against the Directory, to the bishopricks of Lime
rick and Killala ; George Baker, doctor of divinity,
of Trinity College, Dublin, to the bishoprick of
Waterford and Lismore ; Robert Lesley, a young
man of great promise, son of the Bishop of Down,
to the bishoprick of Dromore ; Edward Worth, dean
of Cork, to that of Killaloe ; and Jereray Taylor, to
that of Down and Connor. To Taylor was com
mitted the conspicuous and honourable office of
preaching the consecration sermon in St. Patrick's
cathedral, Dublin ; and it was published at the re
quest of the lords justices, the bishops, and gene
ral convention ; and is reported, by a contemporary
authority, to have given " great and general satisfac
tion, so elegantly, religiously, and prudently A^'as it
composed, and so convincing to the judgments of those

Sec. I.] KING CHARLES II. 611
who opposed the order and jurisdiction of episco
pacy'." An anthem, subsequently celebrated under Anthem.
the title of Quam denuo ewaltavit Dominus coronam,
was specially coraposed by Dr. Williara Fuller, then
dean of St. Patrick's, and afterwards Bishop of
Limerick, and sung on the occasion ; and the cere
mony was solemnized according to the desire and solemnity of ths
*' ° ceremony,
special order of the Priraate, " as decency and the
dignity of so holy an office did require," in the pre
sence of the deans, and dignitaries, and other mem
bers of the two cathedrals ; of the pro-vice-chancel
lor and merabers of the university ; of the ministers
and civilians of the city ; of the lords justices and
the nobility ; the mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and com
mon council ; and the general convention of Ireland,
led by their speaker ; all these, without the least in
vitation, voluntarily gave their attendance at the
whole soleranity, from a desire to show their respect
to the bishops. Let it be added, as not the least
gratifying circumstance of the day, that " the Avhole
ceremony was conducted Avithout any confusion or
the least clamour heard, save raany prayers and bless
ings frora the people, although the throng was great,
and the windows throughout the whole passage of
the procession to and from the cathedral filled with
spectators*." The consecration, at the sarae time, and by im- ceremony impa-
position of the same hands, of twelve Christian
bishops, two of the number being of metropolitan
eminence, to their apostolical superintendence of the
Church of Christ, is an event probably without a
parallel in the Church. The event, and its conse
quences, with reference to the illustrious Primate
* Mason's St Patricks, pp. 192, 194.
2 R 2

ralleled.

612 THE REIGN OF [Cn, IX.
engaged in the consecration, is thus noticed by
Commemorated Blshop Taylor 111 lils seriuou preached at the funeral
fune/ai. "™" of Archblsliop Bramhall iu the year 1663. "There
are great things spoken of his predecessor, St.
Patrick, that he founded seven hundred churches
and religious convents ; that he ordained five thou
sand priests ; and with his oavu hands consecrated
three hundred and fifty bishops. Hoav true the .story
is 1 know not ; but we AA'ere all Avitnesses that the
late Primate, Avhose memory we uoav celebrate, did
by an extraordinary contingency of Providence, in
one day, consecrate two archbishops aud ten bishops;
and did benefit to almost all the churches of Ireland ;
and AA'as greatly instrumental in the re-endoAvments
of the whole clergy ; and in the greatest abilities
and incomparable industry was inferior to none of
his antecessors."
Assembly of tho A Suitable and affecting sequel to this solemnity,
iramediately before the separation of those uoav in
vested with the ajiostolical character, and their dis
persion into their several dioceses to the flocks
" over whom the Holy Ghost had made thera over
seers," was another collective meeting of the body in
Christ Church cathedral; when the iioav Bishop of
Limerick, Edward Synge, a learned and zealous
lu-eacher, distinguished for his impressive elocution
in the pulpit, and for the jieculiar efficacy of his ap-
liishop synge's peals to oacli individual in a congregation, delivered
a raost apposite discourse ; and pressed upon the
assembly the exhortation of the apostle, words pecu
liarly calculated, on such an occasion, to strike the
imagination, and to raise the devotion, of a con
siderate mind : " Finally, brethren, pray for us, that
the word of the Lord may have free course and be
glorified, even as it is with you ; and that Ave may

sermon.

Sec. I,] KING CHARLES II. 613
be delivered frora unreasonable and Avicked men, for
all raen have not faith."
Before quitting this subject of the consecration unionsof
, , . 1 1 , . , 1 bishopricks.
of the neAV bishops, this seeras a convenient place
for remarking, that the bishoprick of Cloyne was
noAv united to Cork aud Ross, and the rainor
bishopricks of Ardagh, of Ardfert and Aghadoe,
and of Kilfenora, respectively, to the raore important
and contiguous sees of Kilraore, Liraerick, and
Tuam, Kildare alone remained unsupplied, having
been stripped of its manors and estates a hundred
years before, and left without sufficient provision for
a bi,shop. But soon after this, the prebend of May
nooth iu St. Patrick's cathedral was annexed to it in
commendam, when Thomas Price, chaplain to the Thomas Prico
Marquis of Ormonde, aud archdeacon of Kilmore, Bishop of kh-
was promoted to the bishoprick ; and consecrated on Marche, i66i,
the 6tli of JVIarch in the sarae year, 1661, by the
Archbishoj) of Dublin.
Thus the episcopate of the Church of Ireland nuh episcopate
A\as again corapleted, consisting of four archbishops,
and seventeen suffragans, or twenty-one prelates in
the whole ; and so it continued for the next one
hundred and seventy years, with but few, and those
not very material, modifications, of which the princi
pal were, that, in the year 1662, the administration
of the small diocese of Dromore, adjacent to those
of Doavu and Connor, was intrusted to Bishop Tay
lor, " on account of his virtue, wisdom, and industi-3',"
but was restored on his death in 1667 to the station
of a distinct see ; and that of Cloyne, Avhich was uoa^-,
in 1661, united to Cork and Ross, Avas again sepa
rated frora them in 1678, and so continued for the
above-mentioned period of one hundred and soA'enty
years.

614

THE REIGN OP

[Ch. IX.

The Church's
antagonists.

Popish sepa
ratists.

DltBeulty of con
verting them.

racUity of spe
culation.

The Church, however, in this her renovated state,
was opposed by powerful and determined antago
nists ; the same who had brought her to the brink of
temporal ruin, and who were not likely to regard her
restitution and recovery with complacency.
On one side were the Popish separatists, the
members of the Church of Rome in Ireland, who
were banded together by all their old obligations of
Papal supremacy, priestly doraination, inveterate pe
culiarities of belief and practice, national as well as
religious antipathies ; irritated moreover by a con
sciousness of the barbarities which they had lately
inflicted on the Church of Ireland in the persons of
her people ; by a sense of their own recent defeat,
and of the loss which they had sustained in the con
flict, both of ecclesiastical ascendency, and of tem
poral property and prosperity ; and by the auticipa-
tion of being enabled, perhaps, on some future more
fortunate occasion, to assert their national supe
riority, to claim their alienated possessions, and to
wreak a still raore formidable vengeance upon those
by whom they had been despoiled of what they
fondly cherished in their memories as their ancient
and hereditary rights.
It was no slight task for the Church to stand her
ground against these opponents ; to have succeeded
in making an inroad into their territories, and at
taching any of them to her cause, appears hardly
possible. Speculation, indeed, upon such cases is
easy. Upon the basis of fancied analogies, corre
sponding, perhaps, in two or three particulars, but
separated from each other by many more, Ave may
satisfy ourselves with raising an imaginary structure,
as if the cases of Wales or of the Norman isles

Sec. I.] KING CHARLES II. 615
were generally applicable to the condition of Ireland.
Or from a few particular instances, attended by cir
cumstances peculiarly favourable, we may be pleased
with drawing a general conclusion ; as in reasoning
from Bishop Bedell's partial success to the universal
conversion of the people^ In truth, much per
plexity attends every view of this important ques
tion. And the problem still remains to be solved,
whether at all, and by what means, could the Church
of Ireland, at the Restoration, have succeeded in
overcoming the numerous and powerful jjreposses-
sions of the Romish population of the country under
the dominion of their hierarchy, and attaching thera
to a purer profession of religion.
Of the attention bestowed by the governors of Bishop Tayior-s
the Church on this evil, and of their solicitude to p'op^y"^ '^'""
provide- a reraedy, there exists a palpable and perraa
nent testimony in a celebrated work of one of the
most erainent of their body ; for the Dissuasive from
Popery was at this time coraposed by Bishop Jeremy
Taylor, in compliance with the earnest entreaties of -iwtten at the
his episcopal brethren. And it stands, and ever will Mshb4°opt^
stand, an imperishable raonuraent, amongst many
others, of the intellectual powers and theological
treasures of its illustrious author, and is, at the same
tirae, an incontrovertible historical record of the
sense entertained by his brethren in the episcopate,
as well as by himself, of the duty imposed on them
by the growing numbers and strength of the emis
saries of the Church of Rome, " to run to arms, I
mean," he says, " to the weapons of our warfare, to
the armour of the Spirit, to the works of our calling;
and to tell the people of their peril, to warn them of
the enemy, and to lead them in the ways of truth,
" Heber's Life of Taylor, p. cxix.

uaofulncas.

616 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IX.
and peace, and holiness; that, if they would be
adraonished, they might be safe; if they would
not, they should be without excuse, because they
could not say but tbe prophets have been araongst
thera"."
Its capability of It is as a docuraent in proof of the sentiraents
and wishes of the bi.shops of the Church of Ireland
at that period, as to Avorking a change in the religious
character of the deluded Romanists of the country,
that this Avork has been noticed. A discussion of
the merits of the coraposition would Avithdraw us too
far from our immediate subject ; but it may be inci
dentally remarked, tbat if "this discourse.be too
long and too learned to penetrate among the moun
tains and into the cottages," as judged by Bishop
Taylor's excellent biographer, Bishop Heber, " yet," in
the judgment ofthe sarae eminent writer, " as furnish
ing the agents in the work of conversion with argu
ments adapted alike to the ignorant and the Icai-ned ;
with zeal increased in proportion to their oavu know
ledge of the importance of the truths which they
conveyed ; and with that celestial armoury of spiritual
weapons, which his admirable knowledge of Scripture
has supplied, it might have itself been a source of
light to thousands ; a means, in God's hand, of dry
ing up the waters of bitterness, and removing the
greatest obstacle which has existed to the peace and
prosperity ofthe empire"."
As an historical document, also, this " Preface"
of BLshop Taylor is in another respect conducive to
our purpose; namely, as supplying an authentick
exposition of the condition of the Ii-i,sh Papists, as
presented to the actual observation of so intelligent
' Preface to the Dissuasive frotn Popery.
" Heber's Life of Taylor, p. cxxii.

Condition of the
Irish I'apists.

tion and blind
ness.

Sec. I.J KING CHARLES II. 617
and able a Avitness, Of the religious belief and
practices of those, AA'ho Avere trained in the profession
of that Avhicli they were instructed to hold " as the
only true religion," the author of the Dissuasive
from Popery has bequeathed to us tbe folloAving
description, " We have observed amongst the generality of the Irish Tiicirsupcrsti
such a declension of Christianitj', so great credulity to
believe every superstitious story, sucb confidence in vanity,
such groundless pertinacity, sucb vicious lives, so little
sense of true religion and the fear of God, so much care to
obey the priests, and so little to obey God ; .such intolerable
ignorance, sucb foul oaths and manners of swearing, think
ing themselves more obliged by swearing on the j\Iass-book
than the four Gospels, and St. Patrick's Mass-book more
than any new one ; swearing by tbeir father's soul, by their
gossip's hand, by other things which are tbe product of
those many tales that are told them ; their not knowing upon
Aviiat account they refuse to come to church, but only that
noAv tbey are old, and never did, or their countrymen do
not, or their fathers or grandfathers never did, or that tlieir
ancestors Avere priests, and tbey will not alter from their
religion ; and, after all, can give no account of their religion,
Avhat it is ; only tbey believe as their priest bids tbem, and
go to mass, which they understand not, and reckon their
beads to tell the number and the tale of tbeir prayers, and
abstain from eggs and flesh in Lent, and visit St. Patrick's
Avell, and leave pins and ribbons, yarn or thread, in their
holy Avells, and pray to God, St. Mary and St. Patrick, St.
Columbanus and St. Bridget, and desire to be buried with
St. Francis's cord about them, and to fast on Saturdays in
honour of our Lady.
" These, and so many other things of like nature, we see
daily, tbat Ave, being conscious of the infinite distance which
these things have from the spirit of Christianity, know that
no charity can be greater than to persuade tbe people to
come to our churches, where tbey shall be taught all the
Avays of godly wisdom, of peace and safety to their .souls ;
whereas, now there are inan-i' of them that know not how

Charity to per
suade them to
come to church.

618 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IX,
to say their prayers, bnt mutter, like pies and parrots,
words which they are taught, but not pretend to under
stand."
Remarkable The bishop thou procoods to give one particu-
iustance of super- , »i. . ii ¦. iiti
Btition. lar mstance of their miserable superstition and blind
ness.
Sanctity Ota heu. " I was lately," he relates, " within a few months very
much troubled with petitions and earnest requests for the
restoring a bell, which a person of quality had in his hands
in tbe time of, and OA'-er since, the late Rebellion. I could
not guess at the reasons of their so great and violent impor
tunity; but told the petitioners, if they could prove that
bell to be theirs, the gentleman Avas willing to pay the full
value for it, though he had no obligation to do so, that I
know of, but charity. But this was so far from satisfying
them, that still the importunity increased, which made me
diligently inquire into the secret of it. The first cause, I
found, Avas, that a dying person in the parish desired to
have it rung before him to church, and pretended he could
not die in peace if it were denied him ; and that the keep
ing of that bell did anciently belong to that family, from
father to son. But, because this seemed nothing but a
fond and an unreasonable superstition, I inquired further ;
and at last found that they believed this bell came from
heaven, and that it used to be carried from place to place,
and to end controversies by oath, Avhiob tbe worst men
durst not violate, if they swore upon that bell, and the best
men amongst them durst not but believe him ; that if this
bell Avas rung before the corpse to the grave, it would
help him out of purgatory ; and that, therefore, when any
one died, the friends of the deceased did, Avhilst the bell
was in their possession, hire it for the behoof of their
dead, and that by this means that family was in part
maintained.
Influence of " I was troubled," coutinues the bishop, "to see under
priests and friars. , • • o i i • i i i t i ¦ r>
what spirit ol delusion these poor souls do lie ; how mh-
nitely their credulity is abused ; how certainly they believe
in trifles, and perfectly rely on vanity, and how little they
regard the truths of God, aud how not at all they drink of

Sec.L] KING CHARLES II. 619
the waters of salvation. For the numerous companies of
priests and friars amongst them take care tbey sball know
nothing of religion but Avhat they design for them ; they
use all means to keep them to tbe use of the Iri.sb tongue,
lest, if they learn English, they inight be supplied with
persons fitter to instruct them. The people are taught to
make that, also, their excuse for not coming to our churches,
to hear our advices, or converse Avitli us in religious inter
courses, because they understand us not, and they will not
understand us, neither will they learn that they may under
stand and live. And this and many other evils are made iheir eociesiasti-
greater and more irremediable, by tbe afl^rightment avhich '"' ^"^
their priests put upou them by the Issues of their ecclesias
tical jurisdiction, by which, they uoav exercising it too pub-
hckly, they give them laws, uot only for religion, but oa'cii
for temporal tbings, and turn tbeir proselytes from the
mass, if they become farmers of tbe tythes from the minister
or proprietary Avithout their leaA-e."
Sorae observations follow, indicating the charac- ThcRomish
, ^ , 1 T • A.1, •!• -A. A. religion poUtical.
ter ot the religion thus prevailing, as an instruraent
of political, as Avell as of religious, partisanship.
" I speak that which I know to be true, by their oavu
confession and unconstrained and uninvited narratives : so
that, as It is certain that the Romish religion, as it stands in
distinction and separation from us, is a body of strange pro
positions, having but little relish of true and pure Christi
anity, as will be made manifest, If the Importunity of our
adversaries extort It ; so It Is here amongst us a faction and
a state-party, and design to recover their old laws and bar
barous manner of living, a device to enable them to dwell
alone, and to be ' populus unius labii,' a people of one
language, and unmingled witb others. And if this be
religion, it is such an one as ought to be reproved by all the
severities of reason aud religion, lest the people perish, and
tlieir souls be cheaply given away to them that make mer
chandize of souls, who Avere the purchase and price of
Christ's blood,"
The truth appears to be that at the time in

620

THE REIGN OF

[Ch, IX.

Chief impedi
ment to convcr-
Bion.

question, as aa'oII as at other times, the cause of the
bondage of " the poor deluded Irish" was the donii-
iiation of the Popish hierarchy and priesthood,
who " shut up the kingdom of heaven against men."
And accordingly BLshop Taylor subjoins a charitable
and humble prayer to God, " to accept and bless his
well-meant labour of love ; and that, by some
admirable Avays of his Providence, He will be pleased
to convey to them the notices of their danger and
their sin, and to deobstruct the passages of necessary
truth to thera : for wc knoAv," he says, " the arts of
their guides, and that it will be very hard that the
notice of these things shall ever be suffered to arrive
to the coramon people, but ' that AA'hich hinders will
hinder, until it be taken aAvay.' However, we be
lieve and hope in God for remedy."

Protestant dis
senters and sec
tarists.

Scottish Cove
nanters.

With these her old opponents on one side, on
the other there were not Avanting those Avho had no
less aniniosity to the Church, though of recent
introduction. These were the Protestant dissenters
and separatists ; in doctrine, absolute predestinariaixs,
espousing the Calvinistick system in all its fearful
enormity; in their notions of Churcb polity anti-
episcopal ; in their modes of religious Avorship anti-
liturgical: AA-hether English commonwealth's men,
settled under the protection of the usurping govern
ment for the raost part in the neighbourhood of
Dublin ; or Scottish Covenanters, Avho had passed
over from the opposite coast, and taken possession
of the parishes in the raore northerly parts.
Of these some had probably settled in Ireland
in the early part of the century, and had either con
tinued there, in a persevering separation from the
Church, without interruption ; or, after a temporary

Sec, L] KING CHARLES II. 621
Avithdrawal to Scotland, had returned with their
prepossessions in favour of the Presbyterian disci
pline and Avorship, confirmed by intercourse Avith its
original professors. Others in the capacity of cba])-
lains had attended the Scotch regiments, Avhich Avcre
sent to Ireiaud during the Rebellion. Others had
been commissioned by the Assembly of Scotland to
establish themselves iu Ulster: and others had spon
taneously accepted invitations from particular con-
s'reo-ations. Connected lioAveA'er bv common anti- Hostility to the
O O ¦ Cliurch and her
pathy to the ecclesiastical polity of England and governors.
Ireland, aud devoted to their peculiar vIcavs, for the
maintenance of which they were soleranly pledged
by Avhat they fondly deemed a sacred, though iu
truth an irreligious and illegal engagement, but
which Avere essentially at variance Avith the consti
tution and principles of the Church, these men
afforded a discouraging prospect to her members,
especially to her governors ; personally obnoxious as
the latter were to these gainsayers, but whose duty
it nevertheless Avas to maintain and extend her
polity, her doctrines, and her ordinances.
To counteract this hostility, and to bring to their ^-..^d of eountci-
rio'ht minds those Avho had been lono- in a condition
of religious delusion, much argument aud persuasion,
much gentleness and lenity, rauch caution and pru
dence, ranch reproof, and long-suftering, aud doctrine,
Avere needed, in conjunction with a steady exercise
of their legitimate authority, on the part of the
governors of the Church.
By the restoration of the monarchy, the law for Eestoration of
regulating the ordinances and ministrations of the church'smiM^
Church, Avhich had been arbitrarily precluded from ''"''"'°°''
operation, and kept in a temporary abeyance, by the
usurping govermnent, but which had not been

622

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Provisions of tho
law.

Conditions of
admitting mini
sters into the
Church.

annulled or superseded by any other legal enact
ment, was of course restored to its former rightful
jurisdiction. It may be convenient, that its provi
sions be here called to recollection, in explanation of
the duty imposed upon the bishops, and of the pro
ceedings which they in consequence pursued.
By the Irish Act of Uniformity, 2 Eliz,, chap. 2,
it was enacted, that no other form of ordination
shall be used in the Church of Ireland, but what is
contained in the Book of Common Prayer : neither
shall any Liturgy be used by ministers, except the
Liturgy of that book, on pain of forfeiting for the
first offence one year's profit of the offender's bene
fice, with six months' imprisonment ; for the second
offence, deprivation of benefice, with a year's impri
sonment ; for the third, imprisonment for life : if
not beneficed, the party convicted shall, for the first
offence, be iraprisoned a year ; for the second, during
life. "And for the due execution thereof, the
queen's majesty, the lords temporal, and coraraons,
do, in God's narae, earnestly require and charge all
archbishops and other ordinaries, that they shall
endeavour to the utraost to put the sarae into exe
cution, as they will answer before God for such evils
and plagues, wherewith Almighty God may justly
punish his people for neglecting their good and
wholesome law."
This, which was afterAvards further ratified and
enforced by the act of 17 and 18 Charles IL, was
the actual law of the land at the time of the king's
Restoration. And thus we perceive the form, by
vAhich alone men could lawfully be admitted to the
office of ministers in the Church ; the condition of
divine service, on which alone they could lawfully
retain their stations ; and the obligation iraposed, by

Sec. I.] KING CHARLES IL 623
the most solemn adraonition and earnest charge,
upon the bishops, of enforcing the enactraents of
the law, in respect both of episcopal ordination and
of conforraity to the Book of Coraraon Prayer.
Upon these principles, in discharge of their j;;xfon"ic
bounden duty, the bishops now proceeded to act : wshops.
regulating their conduct by the requisitions of the
law, which they at the sarae tirae adrainistered with
prudence and kindness. The Priraate appears to
have set an excellent exaraple of these qualities on
a memorable occasion, " in turning the edge of the
most popular objection of that tirae against con
formity ;" and it is here related in the language of
Vesey, bishop of Limerick, and afterAvards arch
bishop of Tuam, in his Life of Primate Bramhall.
"When tbe benefices were called at tbe visitation. Primate Bram
,.,., . !•! 1 11 hall's manage-
several appeared, and exhibited only such titles as they had ment of his
received from the late powers. He told them, they were ''^^''^^'
no legal titles : but In regard he heard Avell of them, he
was willing to make such to them by institution and induc
tion, which they humbly acknowledged, and intreated his
lordship so to do. But, desiring to see their letters of orders,
some bad no other but tbeir certificates of ordination by
some Presbyterian classes, which, he told them, did not
qualify them for any preferment In the Churcb, Where
upon the question immediately arose, ' Are we not ministers
of the Gospel?' To which his grace answered, that that
Avas not the question : at least he desired for peace sake, of
whicb he hoped they were mmisters too, that that might
not be the question for that time. ' I dispute not,' said he,
'the A'alue of your ordination, nor those acts you have
exercised by virtue of it : what you are, or might do, here
when there was no law, or in other churches abroad. But
we are now to consider ourselves as a National Church,
limited by law, which among other thiugs takes chief care
to prescribe about ordination : and I do uot know, how you
could recover the means of the Church, If any should refuse
to pay you your tithes, if you are not ordained, as the law

624

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. IX.

nis letters of
orders.

of this Church requireth. And I ara desirous, that she
may have your labours, and you such portions of her reve
nue, as shall be allotted you iu a legal and assured way,'
By this means be gained sucb as were learned and sober ;
and for tbe rest It Avas not much matter."
" Just as I was about to close up this particular," con
tinues the biographer, " I received full assurance of all that
I oftered in it, Avhich for the reader's sake I thought fit to
add, being tbe very words which his grace caused to be
inserted into the letters of one Mr, Edward Parkinson,
whom be ordained at tbat time, and from whom I had
them by my reverend brother and neighbour, the Lord
Bishop of Killalow. ' Non annihilantes priores ordines, (si
quos habuit,) neo validitatem aut invaliditatem eorum de-
terminantes, multo minus omnes ordines sacros ecclesiarum
forenslcarum condemnantes, quos proprio judici rellnqulmus:
sed solummodo supplentes, quicquid prius defuit, per
Canones Eccleslfe Anglicause requisitum ; et providentes
paci ecclesiae, ut sobismatis tollatur occasio, et consclentils
fidelium satisfiat, nee ullo modo dubitent de ejus ordinatione,
aut actus suos Presbyterlales tanquam invalidos aversentur:
in cujus rei testimonium, &c.' "

Proper meauins;
of the foregoing
narrative.

From this statement and document the reader
will understand, that, on admitting to episcopal
orders a person who had been previously ordained
by Presbyterians, Primate Bramhall made professiou,
" that he did not annul the minister's former orders,
if he had any, nor deterraine their validity or inva
lidity ; rauch less did he condemn all the sacred
orders of the foreign Churches, whora he left to their
OAVU Judge : but that he only supplied, whatever Avas
before AA'auting, as required by the canons of tlie
Anglican Church ; and that he jirovided for the
jieace of the Church, that occasion of schism might
be removed, and the consciences of the faithful
satisfied, and that they might have no manner of
doubt of his ordination, nor decline his presbyterial

Sec. I.] KING CHARLES II. 625
acts as being invalid." And this profession the
Primate inserted iu the noAvly-ordained minister's
" letters," his letters of orders, as they are technically
called ; being the regular certificate, or formal official
testimonial, which every clergyman of the Church
recelA-es, of his having been lawfully ordained.
It is, therefore, not a little remarkable, that this Erroneous rcpre-
.j sentation of it.
account should have been taken by a respectable
historian of the Church of England, as the ground
for an assertion, that, with regard to any rainisters
Avho had received Presbyterian orders in the con
fusion of the great Rebellion, the raethod, employed
by Archbishop Brarahall, aa as, uot to cause thera to
"undergo a noAV ordination, but to admit them into
the ministry of the Church, by a conditional ordina
tion, as we do in the baptism of those, of whom it is
uncertain, Avhether they are baptized or not'."
But this assertion is not sui^ported by the state- Assertion op-
raent of Bishop Vesey, and the document alleged by authority quoted.
him : on the contrary it is directly opposed to both.
For they give us to understand, that the archbishop
did " ordain" the persons in question, " as the law of
this Church requireth;" therefore not conditionally,
for the law of this Church recognises no conditional
ordination : but that subsequently he introduced into
his " letters" of orders an explanatory remark. The
historian seeras to identify the form of ordination
Avith the subsequent letters of orders, or certificate.
But, whatever be the cause, the error is raanifest :
and it requires correction, both that the character of
such a raan, as Priraate Brarahall, may be vindicated
frora the allegation, and even from the suspicion, of
illegally deviating from the prescript forras of the
Church, whereas he acted professedly and strictly,
' Nichols's Defence ofthe Chnrch of England, Introd. p, 112.
2 S

626

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

" as the law of the Church requireth ;" and that the
princii^les and provisions of the Cburch herself may
not be misapprehended, in a matter of such infinite
importance as the due ordination of candidates for
the sacred ministry.

Bishop Taylor's
exemplary con
duct.

Violent invec
tives of the
sectarists.

Conciliatoryconduct of tho
hishop.

In the mean time, the conduct of Bishop Taylor,
in endeavouring to remove the irregularities, which
had spread over his diocese of Down and Connor,
was exemplary, and confirmed the judgraent of those,
who had been instruraental in placing hira in that
most arduous and responsible situation. The ob
structions which there assailed hira, the persevering
assiduity with which he endeavoured to surraount
thera, the wisdom and gentleness of his personal
deportment, and the happy success, Avhich to a great
extent blessed his exertions, are thus stated by
Carte, in his Life of the Duke qf Ormonde.
" The pulpits of the diocese, filled with Scots Covenant
ers, rang with nothing but warm exhortations to stand by
the Covenant even unto blood, violent Invectives agaln,st
the bLsbop's person, and vehement harangues against epi
scopacy and liturgies, These were the only subjects of their
preachings for four months together, notwithstanding all
the endeavours of that excellent man, who soon gained upon
all the nobility and gentry, one only excepted, but still found
the ministers Implacable. He Invited them to friendly con
ferences, desired earnestly to speak with them, went to
them, seut some of their own sect to invite them, offered to
satisfy them in anything that was reasonable, preached
every Sunday among them in the several churches of his
diocese, and courted them with the kindest offers. All the
effect, which this had upon the ministers, was, that It put
them upon entering into a new Covenant, whereby they
pledged themselves to speak with no bishop, and to endure
neither their government nor their persons. But it wrought
very differently upou the better sort of people: who by

Sec.L] KING CHARLES II. 627
these methods, and by the refusal of tbe ministers to dis
pute, (to which their own followers urged them, and inter
preted their declining to be ignorance and tergiversation,)
were so far gained, that the bishop. In less than two years,
found his diocese generally conformable."
With respect to the ministers, whom he found nis course with
)^ the sectarian
in possession of the churches, there was only one of ministers.
two courses which it was possible for him to pursue.
The course, chosen by the Primate, we have seen
was that of giving episcopal ordination to the indi
viduals, and so perraitting thera to retain the
benefices. The sarae course might have been
adopted by Bishop Taylor, had it depended upon
his choice. But the Presbyterian ministers in his
diocese assumed from the first an attitude of deter
mined hostility against him. They refused to submit
themselves to his episcopal jurisdiction ; and when
the day of his visitation was announced, they con
federated together, and in a body agreed not to
attend it. The obvious consequence followed. Not Prescribed by
having received episcopal ordination, these persons
could not be recognised, as rainisters of the Church
of Ireland : and the benefices, which they were thus
not qualified to hold, Avere declared to be, what in
law they M'ere, actually vacant, and the vacancies
AA'ere supplied by the bishop in the exercise of his
legitiraate authority.
The sarae course was taken in the other northern similar comseiu
dioceses, especially in those of Raphoe and Clogher. citgh^.'*"''
In the Avhole, fifty-nine persons declined to qualify
themselves for ministering in the Church in such
ways as the laws prescribed, and were of course
precluded from the enjoyment of her privileges : of
these thirty-eight were in the united diocese of Down
and Connor, eight in that of Clogher, and thirteen in
2 S 2

628 the reign of [Ch. ix.
that of Raphoe'". The disinclination to treat them
with undue severity, and the inclination on the con
trary to treat tbem Avith indulgence, lenity, and
kindness, and to receive them into the ministry of
the Church on their becoming properly qualified, are
sufficiently proved by the fact of several persons,
similarly circumstanced, being ordained by Bishop
Taylor, on their conforming, -and thereupon collated
to benefices in his diocese. Section II.
Prevailing sent'iment in favour of the Church. The Primate
Speaker of tlie House of Lords. His usefulness to the
Clergy. Declaration of Parliametit for Episcop>acy und
the Liturgy. Reprobation of the Solemn League and
Covenatit. Manifestat'ion of op'inion on late Events.
Symptoms of discontent in the Presbyterians. Death of
Archbishop Bramhall. His recommendation of Bishop
Margetson for his successor.
Sentiment in The tyrauuy of anti-episcopal and anti-liturgical, as
favour of the 11 f, J, 1 . 1 f.
Church. vvell as ot anti-monarchical, frenzy was uoav over
past; and the tide of publiek favour, in the most
respectable portions, at least, of the community, was
flowing strongly in support of the polity and ordi
nances of the Church. The executive governraent
especially, and the legislature of the kingdora, gave
satisfactory evidence of this sentiraent.
T3.ari of orrciT'a Tlio goveruraeut was at this tirae adrainistered
quisof ormondoi by loi'ds justlcos : naraely. Sir Maurice Eustace, lord
an. 2, 1601. chaucellor, and Roger Boyle and Charles Coote,
earls of Orrery and Mountrath. Their deterralna
tion to support the Church was expressed on the
2nd of January, 1661, by one of the nuraber, to the
tried and effective friend of the Church, the Mar-
'" WoDRow',s I-Ii.'<t. of ihe Suff'erings of the Church of Scotland,
vol. i. Appendix, p. 72,

Sec, 11,] KING CHARLES IL 629
quis of Ormonde, on occasion of some dissatisfaction
shoAvn by the Presbyterian body at a recent procla
mation of the government. In this letter, the
writer signified his assurance that
" The Protestants of this province will be on all occa
sions, and in all places, ready to lay doAvn their lives and
fortunes In obedience to any of bis majesty's commands.
We are noAv generally in these parts all common prayer
men ; and I hope Ave shall have a general conformity there
unto throughout all tbe kingdom,"
Such was the prevailing sentiment as conveyed
by the Earl of Orrery's letter, Avherein was enclosed
the following narrative.
" We have bad these two days four ministers before us, Desire of the
wbich were sent from the several Presbyteries in Ulster to ^^^^i^e tiieir
the lords justices and council, desiring liberty to exercise ministry.
their ministry in their respective parishes, according to the
way tbey bave hitherto exercised It In : and .expressing
their great sorrow to find themselves numbered with Papists
and fanatlcks in our late proclamation, whicli prohibited
unlawful assemblies.
" After many debates upon several proposals hoAV to Answeroftho
answer them, Ave resolved on this answer : That we neither '"'''''' J"^'"^"^^'
could nor would allow any discipline to be exercised In
Church affairs, but wbat was warranted and commanded by
the laws of the land. That they were punishable for having
exercised any other. That we should not take any advan
tage of them for the pa.st, If they would comport themselves
conformably for tbe time to come. Tbat if they were dis
pensed withal, by pleading that a submission thereunto was
against their consciences, Papists and fanaticks Avonld
expect the like indulgence from the like plea, AvhIch we
knew their own practice, as well as judgments, led them
to disallow of. That vs'e took it very 111, divers of those,
which had sent tbem, bad not observed the time set apart
for humbling themselves for the barbarous murder of his
late majesty, a sin which no honest raan could avoid being
sorry for. That some of their number had preached sedi-

630 the reign op [Ch. ix.
tiously, in crying up tbe Covenant, tbe seeds of all our
miseries ; and in lamenting his majesty's breach of it, as set
ting up Episcopacy as introductory to Popery, which they had
not punished in exercising any of their pretended disciphne
over such notorious offenders. And lastly, that. If they
conformed themselves to the discipline of the Church, they
should want no fitting countenance and encouragement In
carrying on their ministry ; so, if they continued refractory,
they must expect the penalties the law did prescribe.
Reply of the " To all wblch they answered, that, as far as their con-
mimsters, . ,>¦>¦,
sciences would permit thera, they would comply, and what
it would not, they would patiently suffer. That It was
their religion to obey a lawful authority, and such they
owned his majesty was, either actively or passively. That
if any of their judgment had preached sedition, they left
them to themselves, and disowned them : and if they had
the exercising of their discipline, they would punish severely
all such. That many of them had according to the procla
mation kept the fast for the king's murder, which they
heartily detested ; and for the doing thereof In the usurper's
government many of them had been imprisoned and se
questered ; and that, to the last of their lives, they Avould
continue loyal to bis majesty. And lest they might offend
against our proclamation, they desired to know what Avas
meant by unlawful assemblies, because some Avere so severe
as to interpret their meetings to pray and preach on the
Lord's-day, to come under that head. To which we told
them, that by unlawful meetings was only meant such
assemblies as were to exercise any ecclesiastical jurisdic
tions, which were not warranted by the laws of the king
dom, and not to hinder their meetings in performing paro
chial duties in those benefices, of which they were possessed
legally or illegally.
" They seemed much comforted with the last assurance :
so tbat, having again exhorted them to conformity, and
promised them therein all encouragement, we dismissed
them to try wbat this usage and the admonition avIII pro
duce. I have had several private discourses with them,
and I leave no honest means unessayed to gain tliem\"
^ Oereby's State Letters, vol. i. p. 29.

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES II. 631
Early in the spring of this year, 1661, a j^arlia- a parliament
, - _ May, 1661.
ment was convened; and met on the appointed day
in the usual manner, riding on horseback in great
solemnity to St. Patrick's cathedral, Avhere a sermon
was preached by the Bishop of Down and Connor ;
and thence to Chichester House, the place of their
sitting. The office of Speaker of the House of Lords, The Lord Pri-
. , , .11 , i-iiTi mate, Speaker of
being inconsistent with the station, which the Lord the House of
Chancellor held, as one of the lords justices, that
dignity was conferred on the Lord Primate : con
cerning whose appointment to the office, and the
motives which actuated it, the Earl of Orrery, on
the 8th of May, thus wrote to his former corre
spondent, recently created Duke of Ormonde.
" His majesty having empowered the lords justices to Motives to hia
appoint a fit person to be Speaker of the House of Lords," ='pi">"'™"'-
I proposed " my Lord Primate, well known in the orders
and proceedings of that House, having sat in two parlia
ments; a constant eminent sufferer for his late and now
majesty ; and that In such a choice we might let the dis
senters and fanaticks see, what we intend as to Church
government. Besides it was but requisite, the Church,
which had so long suffered, should now, in the chief of it,
receive all the honours we could confer on it. My Lord
Chancellor for some days dissented therein, but at last con
curred : and this day my Lord Primate sate in that cha
racter ^"
By means ofthe Primate's diligence and activity, nisusefuiness
many advantages were obtained for the Church "'"''°"='^-
during this session of pariiaraent. Several of the
bishops procured an augraentation of their revenues •
and the inferior clergy recovered rauch of the for
feited impropriate tythes. The Convocation, which
also Avas now assembled, were so deeply impressed
^ Orrery's State Papers, i. 34.

632

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

with a grateful sense of his good services to the
Church, that they acknovAdedged them in a solemn

instrument of recognition.

Declaration of
the Lords for
Kpiscopacy and
the Liturgy,
May 14.

Adopted hy the
Commons.

Reprobation of
the Solemn
League .and
Covenant.

Communicated
to, and promptly
leccived by, the
Commons.

Previous to the procuring of these benefits, how
ever, and the first action of the Lords in this parha
ment, was, at the motion of the Lord Viscount
Montgomery, soon aftervA'ards created Earl of Mount-
Alexander, an order on the 14th of May for drawing
up a Declaration, by which all subjects of the king
dom of Ireland were required to conforra to the
episcopal model of Church goveruraeut, and to the
Liturgy as established by law. This matter was
thus proraptly raoved, with a view of anticipating
objections frora the Presbyterians and other sectaries,
of Avhom there were too considerable a division
araong the Coraraons, and who might be expected
to object to the Declaration, if it were deferred till
they felt theraselves fully secured in their estates.
The Declaration, thus seasonably proposed and
adopted in the Upper House, was sent doAvn to the
Commons, and readily agreed to, and returned to
the Lords Avithout alteration. They concurred with
the like readiness in pronouncing a judgment of the
utraost reprobation on that oath and bond of asso
ciation, to the introduction and prevalence of which
they attributed the late Rebellion, and M'hich they
now ordered to be branded with marks of the
greatest ignominy, pronouncing a justification of it
an act of hostility and injury to the king, the Church,
and the kingdom.
The following is the strong, but not unmerited
language, in which this order AA'as expressed, on the
25tli of May, 1661 : and the Declaration Avas com
municated to the Commons, and their concurrence

ing the
Covenant.

Sec, II.] KING CHARLES II, 633
desired on the 27th, on AA'hich day the Declaration
was thrice read in that house and passed. Aud thus
the forAvardness of the parliament outran even the
zeal of the Convocation, with respect to tbis iniqui
tous confederacy^
"We, tbe Lords Sjalritual and Temporal of Ireland, iu onicrforbm-u.
Parliament assembled, being deeply sensible of tbe sad and
miserable effects of tbat horrid confederacy aud conjuration,
commouly called ' The Solemn League and Covenant,' as
the great incentive of tbe Rebellion in all bis majesty's
dominions, do adjudge and declare, tiemine contradicentc,
that the same was and is against the laws of God, and the
fundamental constitution of this kingdom ; and, therefore,
do condemn it as schismatical, seditious, and treasonable :
and, therefore, order, tbat it be burned in all cities, toAvns
corporate, and market-toAvns, within this kingdom, by the
hand of the common hangman, or officer to be a]3poInted by
the magistrate of the place ; who is also required to be
present, and see the execution hereof on tbe next market-
day after the receipt of this order.
" And do further declafS,' that whosoever sball, by word Dcfcnceof it
or deed, by sign or writing, go about to defend or justify
the said treasonable Covenant, shall be accounted and
esteemed as an enemy to bis sacred majesty, and to the
public peace and tranquillity of this Church and kingdom''."
This session was marked by several other inci- sentiments of
„ parliament on
dents, which bore testiraony to the sentiraents ot late events.
both houses of parliament concerning the late
disastrous events.
The members of the Lower House took an early uousoofcom-
, , 1 • • 1 j_ • C mons receive the
opportunity of manifesting their wish to give proot noiy com-
, , ,. J. J.1 /^T T munion from tho
of their conformity and obedience to tne (../nurcn. LoidPrimate,
For, on the 31st of May, the Master of the Wards J"""-"^"-
reported to the house, that according to their order
he had waited on the Lord Primate with an iutima-
^ Vesey's Life of Bramhcdl. " Lords Journals, May 25, 1661.

634

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Characters of
Lord Strafford,
Archbishop Bramhall, and
others, vindi
cated. June 18, July 15.

Order conceru-
ing Primers and
Bibles. Julys?.

tion of their request, that the Holy Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper might be administered to them by
his hands; that he had accordingly appointed the
Sabbath Day next corae fortnight for the celebration
at St. Patrick's Church, according to the Liturgy of
the Church of Ireland, and the Friday before for a
preparatory serraon between nine and ten in the
morning. The subject of the serraon, delivered in
pursuance of this appointment, was the duty of
repentance, as testified by the forsaking and amend
ment of former sins. By order of the house, on the
17th of June, thanks were returned to his grace for
his great pains on the occasion, AA'ith a request that
he Avould cause the sermon to be printed, which
was in consequence done, and the serraon remains
amongst his M'orks under the title of " The right way
to safety after Shipivreck."
On the 18tli of June, an order was entered on
the journals of the House of Lords, and a corre
sponding one on those of the Commons, the 15th
of July, " That such matters as may seem to be intrenchments
on the honour, Avorth, and integrity of Thomas Earl of
Strafford, the Lord Primate, the Lord Chancellor Bolton,
and the Lord Chief Justice Lowther, whose memory this
house cannot in justice suffer to be sullied with the least
stain of evil report, be totally and absolutely expunged and
obliterated from tbe journals and records of the house."
On the 27th of July, an order was made in the
Upper tlouse,
" That the lords bishops have a care, that the Primer,
Avhicli hath a prayer in it for the Lord Protector, be not
taught in any of their respective dioceses ; and that Dr,
John Sterne do make a search for them among the
stationers in this city."

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES II. 635
And on the 29th of July,
"That all the Bibles printed by the late Usurper's
printer, calling himself ' Printer to his Highness the Lord
Protector,' shall haA^e the title-page, where these words are
printed, torn from tbem ; and that no sale be made within
this kingdom of any Bibles with the said title-page."
On the same 29th of July, an order was entered Punishment of
,, . , offenders.
on the journals,
" That the mayor of Carrickfergus be brought to the
bar of this house, on his knees, for not burning the
Covenant, and fined 100^. sterling ; to be taken off on his
bringing sufficient certificate of having burned it."
And on the same day, another order,
" That Mr. Boyd, of Aliadowy, for holding a con
venticle at Desertoel, in the county of Derry, contrary to
the Declaration of this house, be examined by the Judges
of Assize, who ride that circuit, Avho are to proceed against
him according to the nature of his offence."
On the 12th of April, 1662, the parliament Anniversary
passed an act for a perpetual anniversary Thanks- enacted for the
giving to be celebrated in Ireland, on the 29th of "
May of each year, fgjlteie power and goodness of
God shown in the Kfig's Restoration. It records
his majesty's forced dxtermination into foreign parts
by the most traitorous conspiracies and armed power
of usurping tyrants, and execrable perfidious traitors :
his Restoration, without the least opposition or
effusion of blood, through the unanimous, cordial,
loyal votes and passionate desires of his majesty's
subjects; and it enacts the annual solemnizing of
the day, by all ministers of God's word and sacra
ments celebrating divine worship in their churches ;
and by all the inhabitants of the kingdom, resorting
to the churches, and devoutly abiding there during
such celebration. With reference to the late mas-

636

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

And the 23rd of
October.

Manifefatation of
the sentiments
of parliament.

sacre and rebellion, a similar act was passed for
celebrating the 23rd of October, as an anniversary
Thanksgiving-day, for the preservation of the lords
justices and council; and of all the British and
Protestant inhabitants in Dublin, and in other cities,
towns, and castles ; and of sundry other British and
Protestants, from falling into the hands of those
rebellious conspirators.
Thus by a variety of orders and enactments, the
parliament seized the first occasion for manifesting
their sentiments upon the late course of publiek
events, and the alterations which had recently oc
curred in it : their disgust at the Usurpation, by
which the Church, as well as the monarchy, had been
violated ; and their satisfaction, accorapanied by
solemn expressions of gratitude to the Author and
Giver of all good, at the re-establishraent of the
legitiraate civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the
kingdora.

Perplexity of
the government
in dealing with
nonconformists.

In the raean time, the government were throAvn
into some perplexity, as to the best mode of dealing
with the refractory enemies of the Church. This
appears from the folloAving letter of Lord Orrery, to
the Duke of Ormonde, April 16, 1662.
" Lately, upon a petition from the recu.'^auts of Ireland,
who had been indicted on the Statute of the 2nd of
Elizabeth, for not coming to church, Ave ordered the judges
in tbeir soA'eral circuits to sus'pend tbe execution of that
penal statute, till his majesty's pleasure were signified, or
iurtlier orders from ourselves. Soon after the noncon
formists of tbe North, being also Indicted for tbe same
offences, Ave gave the lik'e orders for tbem ; but Avould not
dhspense AvIth the penalties of the law to such as should
hold unlaAvful assemblies or conventicles. Though Ave
Avould connive at their not doing Avhat they should, yet Ave

Sec.IL] KING CHARLES II. 637
would not connive at their doing wbat they should not.
The good bishops soon found the bad oiFects of these Indul
gences, and acquainted us with tbem : AvliIch made us call
them to advise Avbat Avas fit to be done 
The thing Is very Aveighty In its consequences, and difiicult
In the resolution : aud, therefore, your grace's judgment Is
most requisite for our guidance. If the laws be fully put Preshyterian
. , r»i o ,^ 1 -ni T ministers refuse
in execution, ten parts ol eleven oi the people aviII be dis- („ confoi-m.
.satisfied ; if they be not put iu execution, tbe Churc'n will
be dissatisfied, aud sects aud heresies continued, I doubt
not, for ever: and if any ofthe sects be Indulged, It will be
partiality not to Indulge all ; if none be favoured, it may lie
unsafe. This Is to me a short state of tbe case, and too
true a one. If England and Scotland fall roundly upon tbe Their v.acancies
Papists and nonconformists, and Ave do not, Ireland will be ^"pi''''*'''
the sink to receive them all. If they are fallen upou equally
in the three kingdoms, may not tbey all unite to di.sturb the
peace? God direct your grace, but I am sure your com
mands shall be my rule^"
In the course of this year sorae alarming syrap- symptoms of dis-
f. T, rn , , T , , , T" afTcction in Ire-
toms of disatiection and insurrection appeared in laua.
Ireland, in consequence of a conspiracy betAveen tho
fanaticks of England and Scotland, and the rigid
Scotch Presbyterians in the Irish counties of the
north. In explanation of this, our attention must
be turned to an account of certain ecclesiastical
occurrences in England, which gave occasion for the
exercise of such an insurrectionary spirit.
The Act of Uniforraity recently passed in Eng- EngushActof
*' Uniformity.
land (for in Ireland the corresponding Act was not
passed till about three years afterAvards) bad caused
much dissatisfaction to the Presbyterians. The
court had given them some grounds to expect that a
part of that Act would be su.spended in their favour:
aud they had in consequence conducted themselves
with such insolence, as to offend the members of the
= Orrery's State Papers, i. 109,

638

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

King's inclina
tion in favour of
the nonconform
ists.

Opposed by par
liament.

House of Commons, who were very zealous in the
cause of Episcopacy. The ensuing festival of St.
Bartholomew was the day appointed for the mini
sters of that sect in England to declare their resolu
tion, whether or not they would conform to the
Book of Common Prayer. And the hopes, which
they had conceived of being suffered to continue
after the aiipointed day, induced the greatest and
most considerable of their number to declare that
they would quit their livings rather than conform.
The bishops forthwith acted upon their refusal,
and proceeded to supiply the benefices which had
thus becorae vacant. Most of those who had
quitted their benefices would have willingly con
formed for their recovery: but finding that it was
too late, they exclaimed bitterly against the court,
imagining that hopes had been held out with the
sole intention of deceiving them. It had indeed
been much debated in council, whether the Presby
terian ministers should be allowed to retain their
benefices, according to what AAas by some supposed
to have been promised by the king in the decla-
raration at Breda; or the Act of Uniformity
should be observed in all its force and sti-ictness.
The result was a consultation with Sheldon, bishop
of London ; and a declaration on his part, in the
narae of all the bishops, that they would not comply
with any resolution contrary to the meaning and
intent of that Act.
The council, though it contained several lords
favourable to the Presbyterians, thought it not
advisable after this for the king to continue their
ministers ; the rather, for fear of disobliging the
pariiaraent. The Act Avas carried into execution:
the clergy of the Church of England took possession

Sec.II.J king CHARLES II. 639
of the pulpits : the churches of London were no less
fully attended: the people appeared Avell satisfied
with their new pastors, and behaved themselves with
an orderly and decent observance of the Rubrick ;
so that his majesty began to be released from his
apprehensions of the consequences of offending a
powerful body of men.
The ministers, indeed, in their farewell sermons,
strove to inflame the people, but with little effect ;
and being thus the more exasperated, became too
much inclined to favour the turbulent designs of
other sectarists. Their cause, on the other hand,
was espoused at the court by the queen-mother, a
foreign Papist, and the Countess of Castlemain, a
Protestant by education, but recently a convert to
Popery ; till in the end the king, overcorae by their
importunity, or desirous of appeasing the spirit of
discontent apparently at work in the kingdom, and
having in fact no sincere attachment to the Church,
was persuaded, on the 26th of December, to set
forth a Declaration ; wherein he expressed his incli
nation to make good his proraises at Breda, and to
grant an indulgence to the nonconforraists, if it
could be done by the consent of parliament.
But the sentiments of parliament were directly
opposed to such indulgence. The House of Com
mons was composed of members zealous for the con
stitution of the Church : and they, in alarm at the
proposal, represented to his majesty that
" The Declaration of Breda contained in it no promise,
but only an expression of his intentions to do Avbat a parlia
ment should advise him in that matter, and no such advice
was ever given, or thought fit to be offered ; and for any to
pretend a right to the benefit of that Declaration, after their Eviisofc
representatives had passed, and his majesty assented to, the P'i™'=«'

640

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. IX.

Benefits of non
compliance.

Mutual feelings
of the Church
and the stc-
tnrists.

Act of Uniformity, Avas to dissolve the very bonds of govern
ment, aud to suppose a disability in the king and parlia
ment to make a law contrary to any part of that Declara
tion, tbougli both Houses should advise his majesty thereto ;
that the indulgence proposed would render the Avhole go
vernment of the Church precarious, and its censures of no
moment or consideration at all ; that it did not become the
wisdom of parliament to pass in one session a law for Uni
formity, and in the next to pass another to frustrate or
weaken the execution of it ; that it would expose his
majesty to the restless importunity of every sect or opinion
that should presume to dissent from the Church of England;
that it AA'ould be the cause of increasing sects and sectaries,
Avould take away all means of convicting recusants, was
inconsistent with the method and proceedings of the law of
England, and Avould be so far from tending to the peace of
the kingdom, that it was rather likely to occasion great
disturbance. Whereas, on the contrary, the asserting of
the laws and the religion established was the most probable
means to produce a settled peace and obedience throughout
the kingdom ; because the variety of professions in religion,
when openly indulged, must directly distinguish men Into
parties, and withal giA'e them opportunity to count their
numbers ; AA'hich, cousidering the animosities, that out of a
religioas pride would be kept on foot by the several factions,
tended directly and inevitably to open disturbance; nor
could bis majesty have any security, that the doctrine or
Avor.sbip of the several factions, AA'hich were all governed by
a several rule, aa'ouU be consistent with the peace of his
kingdom." The foregoing view is suggested by Carte, of the
considerations which actuated the English House of
Commons to resist the indulgence proposed for the
sectaries. The foUoAA'ing may be added as to the
mutual feelings of the contending parties.
The long and violent persecution which the
members of the Ciuirch of England had so lately
suffered from the tyrannical poAver of the sectarists.

Sec. II.] KING CHARLES II. 641
indisposed them for any measures which raight
flatter their late oppressors in their obstinacy, or
encourage thera to aim again at the superiority.
The sectarists, on the other hand, less patiently
submitted to the disappointment, because they had
been so lately in possession of the governraent, and
were indignant at being controlled by laws imposed
upon them by those, whom they had not long before
seen at their feet, and who, having divested them
of all their power, had stripped raany of thera like
wise of their ill-gotten estates. They resolved,
therefore, to collect all their strength, and to raake
an insurrection, before the nation should be better
instructed iu the principles, and thoroughly settled
in a course, of obedience : but, before putting their
hopes on the issue of a trial, it was judged prudent
to engage their partisans in Scotland and Ireland
to second their attempt. The re-establishraent of English Presby-
Episcopacy in Scotland had caused some discontent fmm scouand
in that kingdom ; but less than they had expected.
Their hopes from Ireland were more sanguine : for
those who belonged to their faction in that country
were both more numerous ; and they were at the
same time animated to resistance by the fear of
losing their estates, as well as their conventicles, and
encouraged by the unhappy divisions and unsettled
condition of the kingdom.
The consequence of this appeal to the Scoto-Irish consequence in
Presbyterians A\'as, in the first place, a plot to seize
the castle of Dublin ; and, secondly, a design for a
general insurrection. The progress of this conspiracy,
and the raeasures for its counteraction taken by the
Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Ormonde, who arrived
in Ireland about the time of its comnienceraent, may
be sought in Carte's life of that illustrious loyalist
2 T

642 THE REIGN OP [Cn. IX,
and conscientious supporter of the Church. The
foregoing allusion has appeared necessary, in proof of
the spirit then existing, and ready to be brought into
action, as opportunity should be offered, against the
Church's polity and worship.
Death of Primate Ou the 25th of Juuo, 1663, the Church of Ireland

Bramhall.

jme ss! IC63. was deprived of her Primate, Archbishop Brarahall,
A\'ho died on that day, in the 70th year of his age ;
a prelate, to AAhora, perhaps, more than to any other,
His valuable ter- the Church Is Indebted for the most valuable ser
vices to the . ¦ 1 1 f 1 ¦ i • • T • 1
Churcli. Vices, especially for his exertions in refieving her
from the dilemma into whieh she had fallen with
respect to her articles of religion ; in improving the
condition of her clergy ; and in repairing the breaches
and inroads, which had been made upon her disci
pline and good order before his advancement to the
Primacy.
Bishop Taylor's But & fow seuteuces, selected from Bishop
character. Taylor's sormou, preached at his funeral, will be the
raost acceptable testiraony to his value.
Hisimpedimtnts " At bls couiing to tlio Prlmacy, he knew he should
first espy little besides the ruins of discipline, a harvest of
thorns and heresies prevailing in the hearts of the people,
the churches possessed by wolves and intruders, men's hearts
greatly estranged from true religion ; and, therefore, he set
himself to weed the fields of the Churcb. He treated the
adversaries sometimes SAveetly, soraetimes he confuted them
learnedly, sometimes he rebuked them sharply. He visited
his charges diligently, and in his OAvn person, not by
proxies and instrumental deputations. He designed nothing
that we knew of, but the redintegration of religion, the
honour of God and the King, the restoring of collapsed dis
cipline, and the renovation of faith and the service of God
in the churches. And still he was indefatigable ; and, even
at the last scene of his life, intended to undertake a regal
visitation 

and Labours in
the Primacy.

Sec. II.] KING CHARLES II. 643
" Upon a brisk alarm of death, which God sent him the nis attachment
last January, he gave thanks that God had permitted him n°on of°uT""
to live to see the blessed Restoration of his majesty and the church.
Church of England, confessed his faith to be the same as
ever, gave praises to God that he was born and bred up in
this religion, and prayed to God, and hoped he should die
in the communion of this Churoh, which he declared to
be the most pure and Apostolical Church in the whole
world 
" To sura up all, he was a wise prelate, a learned doctor, His personal
a just man, a true friend, a great benefactor to others, a
thankful beneficiary AA'here he Avas obliged himself. He
Avas a faithful servant to bis masters, a loyal subject to the
king, a zealous assertor of his religion, against Popery on
one side and fanaticism on the other. The practice of bis
religion was not so much in forms and exterior minlsteries,
although he was a great observer of all the publiek rites
and minlsteries of the Church, as it was in doing good to
others 
" He Avas a man of great business and great resort. He His occupations.
divided his life into labour and his book. He took care of
his churches, aaIicii he Avas alive, and even after his death,
having left five hundred pounds for the repair of his cathe
dral of Armagh, and St. Peter's church in Drogheda, He
was an excellent scholar, and rarely well accomplished;
first instructed to great excellency by natural parts, and then
consummated by study and experience 
" It will be hard to find his equal In all things. For in his high cstima-
him were visible the great fines of Hooker's judiciousness,
of JeAvel's learning, of the acuteness of Bishop Andrewes.
 He showed bis equanimity in poverty, and his
justice in riches : he VA'as useful in his country, and profit
able in his banishment  He received publiek
thanks from the Convocation, of which he was president,
and publiek justification from tbe Parliament, where he Avas
speaker ; so that, although no man had greater enemies, no
man had greater justifications."

The death of Archbishop Bramhall caused a Archbishop Ma,
¦*- getson raised to
vacancy in the Primacy, which, on the 29th of "^^^^^-^y-

11)63.
2 T 2

644

THE REIGN OF

rca, IX.

August, was supplied by the translation of Arch
bishop Margetson from the metropolitan see of
Dublin: to his merit no higher testimony can be
borne, than the earnest recommendation which is
said to have been made of him to the Duke of
Ormonde by Primate Brarahall on his death-bed, as
the worthiest person for his successor. In a Latin
funeral oration, spoken over his hearse by William
Palisser, Fellow of Trinity College at the tirae, and
afterwards Archbishop of Cashel, this recoraraenda
tion is corainemorated.
By Plarris, however, in his edition of Sir James
Ware's History of the Bishops, this is regarded as
" a rhetorical flourish ;" and the truth of the asser
tion is questioned, on the ground that Primate Bram
hall was seized with an apoplectick fit in a court of
justice, and carried thence senseless, and so con
tinued till he died. But it was only about three
raonths before this final seizure, that he had suffered
so violent a shock of paralysis, that he "put his
house in order, having received the sentence of death
within hiraself, and knoAving that he was shortly to
render an account of his stewardship"." In his own
judgment at the tirae, as well as in that of his
attendants, this Avas his "death-bed," though, in fact,
it pleased God to protract his life a little longer;
and from this, his death-bed, it is by no raeans im
probable, that the recommendation of his successor
in the Priraacy, as affirraed by so respectable an
attestation, was conveyed to the Lord Lieutenant.
" Bishop Taylor' .s Funeral Sermon.

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES U. 645

Section III.
Act of Uniformity. Act for preventing Benefices being
holden together in England and in Ireland. Sectarian
Plot. Popish Synod. The Remonstrance. Instructions
to Lord Berkley about the Church. Violetice of the Anti-
Remonstrants. Interposition of the English Parliament.
Proclamations against the Papists. Excellent govern
ment of the Duke of Ormonde.
In 1665, tAVO Acts of Parliament were passed, both two important
^ Acta of Parlia-
of them intimately affectine- the vA'elfare of the ment.
•' ° 10G5.
Church; the former in respect of the due ministra- 17, mchariesii.
tion of publiek worship, the latter in its operation
upon ecclesiastical discipline, and the respectability
and efficiency of the clergy.
The former of these was the Act for the Uniform- Act for the uni-
, r»"r%iTiT-* pTTi 11 formity of Puh-
ity of Publiek Prayers: of AA'hich the prearable sets iick Prayers.
forth, that for the peace and advanceraent of reli- Preamble.
gion by unanimous agreement in the publiek worship
of God, it had been recommended to both houses of
Convocation to consider vA'hether the form used in
England, meaning the revised Liturgy, raight not be
profitably received in Ireland ; and that it had been
approved by thera, who presented to the Lord Lieu
tenant and council the Book of Common Prayer.
Accordingly the act ordains that the said Book Assent to the
^ Hook of Common
shall be used in all places of publiek woi-,ship ; and Prayer.
that all ministers, enjoying ecclesiastical benefices,
shall read and declare assent to the same, under pain
of deprivation ; and the like shall be done by every
person hereafter promoted. It ordains that all per
sons in holy orders, schoolmasters, and private tutors,
shall subscribe a declaration, " that it is not lawful,
upon any pretence whatever, to take arms against

646

THE REIGN OF

[Ch IX.

Declarationagainst the
Solemn League
and Covenant.

Episcopal ordi
nation necessary
for holding a
benefice.

Penalty of ad
ministering the
Lordis Supper
hy persons not
episcopally or
dained.

Application of
the leading
prmciple of the
Act,

the king ; and that I do abhor that traitorous posi
tion of taking arms by his authority against his per
son, and against those that are commissioned by him;
and that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church
of Ireland, as it is now by law established. And I
do declare," (these following Avords of the declara
tion were to be omitted after the year 1682,) " that
I do hold that there lies no obligation upon me, or
on any other person, from the oath coraraonly called
' The Solemn League and Covenant,' to endeavour
any change or alteration of government, either in
church or state ; and that the same was in itself an
unlawful oath."
The act further ordains, " that from the 29th of
September, 1667, no person who is now incumbent,
and in possession of any benefice ; and who is not
already in holy orders by episcopal ordination ; or
shall not, before the said 29th of September, be or
dained priest or deacon according to said form of
episcopal ordination ; shall hold said ecclesiastical
benefice, but shall be utterly disabled, and ipso facto
deprived of the same."
Also, it ordains, that " no person shall consecrate
and administer the Lord's Supper before ordained
priest by episcopal ordination; under penalty of 100/.,
and disability of being admitted to the order of
priest for one whole year."
Upon the leading principle of this act, in its
general application, it were needless to dAvell. But
VA'ith respect to its application to rainisters, actually
in possession of benefices, by rendering obligatory
upon them conformity to the Liturgy, and episcopal
ordination, it may be observed that these enactments
were demanded by the circumstances of the times,
and were essential to the well-being, not to, say the

Sec.III.] KIISTG CHARLES II, 647
being, of the Church. For to suppose a society, con
stituted on certain principles, and governed by cer
tain regulations, with its offices of trust and emolu
ment occupied, and its concerns administered, by
persons who disavoAv its principles, and conderan its
regulations, and profess others in direct opposition ;
or, iu other words, to suppose an episcopal Church,
with a liturgical worship, having its benefices pos
sessed by anti-episcopal and anti-liturgical rainisters ;
is to suppose an anomaly, calculated to produce any
effect rather than the Church's edification, and to
introduce every sort of unseemliness, disorder, and
confuision. The operation of the act on the nonconforming its operation on
Presbyterian ministers, though iu truth it only de- m™'i5t"ei°B'™"'*
prived them of that to which they were not lawfully
entitled, M'as nevertheless much to be laraented. In
pursuance of the laws previously in existence, the
benefices of some of the nonconforraists who had
refused to submit themselves to episcopal ordination
and jurisdiction, and thus virtually vacated their
benefices, had been already declared void, and sup
plied by fresh appointraents under the episcopal au
thority. Others appear to have been ejected, as dis
qualified for their stations by the absence of the con
ditions which the law required. The rest were re
raoved agreeably to this enactment, which ordained
the alternative of conforraity or deprivation.
In the raean time some, though not a large pro- conformity of
portion, of those who had been admitted to the Pres- nan ministers,
byterian ministry, conformed to the Church. These,
of course, incurred the severe reprehension of their
more inflexible brethren, and have been stigmatized
with some opprobrious language. Yet, whilst an
impartial and temperate observer would concede in

648

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Bi&hop Taylor's
works on episco
pacy and Litur
gies ; and mini-
faterial duties.

Enactment
against unepi-
600 pal ministers
not enforced.

favour of those, Avho adhered to their earlier views
and engagements, the credit of a conscientious,,
though perhaps an erroneous consistency, he would
hold it not unreasonable, and certainly more charit
able, to believe, in the case of those ministers of the
Presbyterians who received episcopal ordination, and
assented to the Book of Comraon Prayer, that they
may have, by the grace of God on honest and dili
gent investigation, been enabled to discover the fal
lacy of the modern imaginations, under the influence
of which they had been educated ; and to discern in
the Church of Ireland, the apostolical constitution,
and the scriptural worship, of the primitive and
Catholick Church of Christ, equally reraote frora the
corruptions of Rorae, and the latitudinarian licen
tiousness of Geneva.
To guide and assist their investigation upon these
topicks, such inquirers raay naturally have had re
course to Bishop Taylor's exposition of the " Divine
Institution, Apostolical Tradition, and Catholick
Practice of the Sacred Order and Offices of Episco
pacy," and to his " Apology for authorized and set
Forras of Liturgy against the pretence of the Spirit;"
at the same time, his tAvo sermons on " The Mini
ster's Duty in Life and Doctrine," or the same in
structions methodically arranged into an admirable
manual of " Rules and Advices to the Clergy of his
Diocese," were well adapted to the purpose of im
proving thera in the practice of their profession,
and of guarding thera against some mistakes, into
which, as Presbyterian ministers, they were in danger
of being betrayed.
The last enactment, above cited from the Act
for Uniforniity, that, namely, which inflicted a heavy
penalty on the administration of the Lord's Supper

Sec.III,] KING CHARLES II. 649
by a person not episcopally ordained, Avas of undue
severity ; a sense of which was probably the cause of
its being but little carried into execution. The
Presbyterian ministers, therefore, when deprived of
the benefices of the Church, continued their irre
gular proceedings, to the perpetual and irremediable
injury of "the apostles' doctrine and felloAvship" in
Ireland, and of the peace and unity of the Church.
In the sarae parliaraent of the 17th and 18fh Act for disabling
^ perbons to hold
year of King Charles the Second, an act, chaiiter 10, bcnciices both in
¦' ° ' ' 1 ' England and
was passed, calculated to be of great benefit to both irei'md.
the Churches of England and Ireland, but more
especially to the latter. A practice had long pre
vailed araong persons, holding ecclesiastical benefices
in England or Wales, to accept bishopricks or other
benefices in Ireland, and to retain with thera their
former preferments, notwithstanding tbeir inability
to discharge properly the duties of both. It was
now therefore enacted that frora the 24th of June,
1666, every person, having an ecclesiastical benefice
in England or Wales, be incapable of holding a
benefice in Ireland : that all grants of benefices in
Ireland, to all persons having benefices in England,
be null and void to all intents and purposes what
soever ; and that, if any person, having an ecclesias
tical benefice in Ireland, shall accept of a benefice
in England or Wales, his benefice in Ireland shall
be absolutely null and void.
In the early part of the year 1666, another Auotiier Prcs-
, bytei lan plot,
fanatick plot was discovered : according to which km.
there was " a general design in England, Ireland,
and Scotland, to rise at once in all the three kina-- o
doms ; to set up the Long Parliament, of Avhich
above forty members Avere engaged ; and to pull

650

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

¦Assembly of
Popish clergy.

The Remon
strance.

Refusal to adopt
it.

down the king, with the House of Lords, and instead
of the bishops to set up a sober and painful ministry."
By the vigilance, however, of the Duke of Ormonde,
lord lieutenant, and the activity of his son, the Earl
of Arran, the project was discovered and defeated'.
Nearly coincident with this disaffection of the
rigid Scotch Presbyterians in the North, was an
assembly of the Popish clergy, who, on the Ilth of
June in the sarae year, met in a sort of convocation
or national synod in Dublin \ by connivance of the
Lord Lieutenant, pursuant to his majesty's order:
when it was expected that they would ask pardon
for the Rebellion of 1641, and give the king new
assurance of their allegiance by taking an oath,
framed to that effect by their procurator, Peter
Welsh, and called " The Loyal Formulary," or " The
Irish Remonstrance." This Remonstance comprised
an acknowledgment of the king, as supreme lord and
rightful sovereign of the rgalm of Ireland ; of the
obligation to obey hira iu all civil and temporal
affairs, and to pay him faithful loyalty and allegiance,
notwithstanding auy power or pretension, any sen
tence or declaration, of the Pope or see of Rome;
with other corresponding- disclamations, resolutions,
professions, and protestations, confirmatory of such
acknowledgment. So far, hoAvever, were the Popish
clergy from fulfilling the expectation previously
formed of them, that one of their bishops said,
"They knew no crime of which they were guilty,
aud therefore they needed no pardon:" and they
not only refused to give the expected pledge of
allegiance, but prevailed with many, who had sub
scribed " The Remonstrance," to withdraw their
subscriptions, and to renounce that oath. In truth.

' Carte's Oruionde, ii, .321,

• Cox, Charles II., p. 8,

Sec, III.] KING CHARLES II. 651
they were then ready for a new rebellion, and in
daily hope of an invasion frora France; and were
thus disinclined for an oath of allegiance .
The aspiring arrogance of the Popish sect, dis- Popish rroganca
contented with indulgence, and emulous of publicity
and power, AA'as about this time evidenced at Cork
by occurrences, of AA'hich the folloAving comrauni
cation M'as made by a letter of the 2nd of July,
1667, by Lord Orrery to the Duke of Ormonde.
"Because masses are daily said in that city, and con- Letter from Eari
A"entlcles daily held there, I did, having therein advised Dukeo/o?-
AA'Itb the bishop, publickly order the mayor and governor, 'HMi<ie, July 2,
that, if any masses or conventicles were henceforth held in
that city and suburbs, tbey should disperse such meetings,
and seize on the chiefest In them, and proceed against them
according to law : it being a sufficient indulgence, that all
families Avitbin themselves may serve God in their own
way, and that they have their meetings in the country, it
being both an affront to authority, and a hazarding of his
majesty's garrisons, to have such confluences of people
gathered together, even in his majesty's garrisons. The
like I intend to do in the other garrisons of this province,
if your grace does not disapprove if."
The governraent of the noble Duke of Ormonde
was in the following year superseded by influence in
England, favourable to the Popish faction ; and he
was succeeded in the lord lieutenancy by John, Lord
Roberts of Truro, who also, after a brief tenure of
the viceregal office, was recalled, and his place sup
plied by John, Lord Berkley, baron of Stratton, LordBerwey,
nn , I I c, ,-t .1 lord lieutenant,
esteemed a more efficient agent of the purposes with 1670.
which he was to be intrusted. He was sworn into
office on the 21st of May, 1670. His instructions
expressed a strong interest for the religious pro-
' Carte's Ormonde. * Okeeey's State Papers, ii. 19G.

652 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IX.
sperity of the kingdom, and were after the following
manner.
His instructions " Forasmuch as all good success doth rest upon the
treTrtabUshcd.^ service of God, above all things you are to settle good orders
rciision. jj^ ^^g Church, that God may be better served in the true
established religion, and the people by that means be
reduced from tbeir errors in religion, wherein they have
been too long most unhappily and perniciously seduced;
and never more than since the late fatal Rebellion, which
bath produced too plentiful a seed-time of atheism, super
stition, and schi.sm.
" But in your care of religion be sure to moderate the
precipitation and preposterous zeal of any, on what specious
pretences soever, who, under the name of Christ's king
dom, the Churcb, and religion, disturb both the Ohurch
and state, and may endanger the peace thereof. Whereas,
by wisdom and moderation, the established religion will not
only be more firmly settled again, but by a Avise and diligent
hand tbe tares and cockle, which many years war and con
fusion have sowed, will be raost safely picked out.
" In order to tbis, proceed, as in the beginning of the
Lord Chichester's time, to the building and repair of
churches. And, because good preachers will be difficultly
obtained witbout competent raeans, inspect the ecclesiastical
livings, with assistance of some of the Church, and others
of skill, and raise thera as you can, and supply those in our
gift with pious, apt, and able persons, men of good respect,
and residents, and persuade all jiatrons to do the like, and
to eschew corruption. Observe the directions about the
Church of Ireland, anno 1623, and see tbat the clergy lose
nothing designed for thera in the several plantations. And
that fit and diligent schoolmasters raay have the benefit of
our donations, and the Act of Parliament. And that you
encourage the people to send their youth to the college of

Further instnic- Thls instructloii was the second in order, follow-
tions for effecting , ,
conformity. ing immediately ujion the usual formal notification
' Cox, Charles II., p, 9,

Sec, III.] KING CHARLES II. 653
relative to the appointraent to the Lord Lieutenancy.
In the 14th the subject of religion is again enforced :
" Endeavour to bring all to a conformity in tbe religion
by law established, and acquaint us Avith VA'hat difficulties
you meet with therein."
And the 20th and last instruction is this :
" Several Popish clergy, since the return of the Duke of
Ormonde hither, have exercised their jurisdiction to tbe
great grief of the remonstrants. If so, execute tbe laws
against the titular archbishops, bishops, and vicars-general,
that have threatened or excommunicated the remonstrants ;
and that you protect such remonstrants as have not Avith
drawn their subscriptions."
But, hoAvever specious were these instructions in Deeeitfuinegs of
^ these Instrue-
behalf of the established religion and Church of "<«"•
Ireland, they Avere in reality all false and hollow.
For the design, which showed itself less equivocally
in the succeeding reign, was already entertained, of
establishing arbitrary power upon the foundation of
Popery ; and the experiment, of which England was
to be eventually the scene, was first to be tried in
Ireland. The mystery of iniquity was at work, and
soon began to appear.
NotAvithstanding', then, these publiek instruc- LordLieute-
*^ * n.ant s an-ival an
tions, the jjrospect of Lord Berkley's arrival greatly encouragement
elevated the Popish party, who opposed the Reinon- monstrauts.
strance, which had been signed by many of the
nobility, gentry, and clergy of that coraraunion, and
contained a profession of their duty and resolution
to obey the king, as their only chief governor in tem
poral matters. Before the end of May, provincial
councils were holden in all the provinces of the
kingdora, and diocesan synods in most of the dioceses. Provincial ana
. _ , , diocesan sjmods.
The object was the prosecution of those regulars and
seculars who had subscribed the Remonstrance, aud

654

THE REIGN OF

[Cu, IX,

Remonstrants
discom-.aged.

Befriended hy
the Duke of
Ormonde.

Intei-position of
the Archbishop
of Armagh and
Dublin inef
fectual.

the total suppression of them and their adherents.
These were in consequence denounced as excommu
nicate, and persecuted with so much violence and
fury that starvation beset them in their own country ;
and their only ineans of preservation was submission
to their persecutors, or flight into foreign countries,
with the danger there of being corapelled to retract,
or of being burned as hereticks for denying the
Pope's temporal power.
Thus in imminent danger of being extirpated,
they apijlied to the Lord Lieutenant for his protec
tion. But when they waited on him with petitions,
they were not able to obtain an audience. And
Archbishop Margetson, the Lord Primate, who en
deavoured to speak in their behalf, was checked by
the Lord Lieutenant for his interposition.
In this extremity they had recourse to the Duke
of Ormonde; and on his powerful solicitation the
king gave particular instructions to Lord Berkley
to restrain the irregular actions of the persecuting
party, and to relieve the Reraonstrants frora oppres
sion for their loyalty. The duke gave notice of this
to the Lord Primate, and to the Lord Chancellor,
AAho also was Aj-chbishop of Dublin. And, "Give
me leave," said he, addres.sing the latter, "to beheve,
that when such jurisdiction is usurpied in the very
seat of your diocese, and employed with such circum
stances of arrogance, in defiance of the government,
and Avith such oppression to those of that clergy Avho
have manifested most affection and duty to it, more
may be expected from you than to sit still till you
are called upon."
The two archbifshops accordingly) made apphca
tion to the Lord Lieutenant, but met with so unfa
vourable a reception that tbey Avere discouraged

Sec, III,] KING CHARLES II. 655
from any further attempt. And, although the Re
raonstrants represented their grievances in a petition
to the king, and sought the royal protection, and his
majesty sent fresh orders to the Lord Lieutenant to
observe his forraer instructions, the Lord Lieutenant
did not interpose his authority in their behalf.
They were left to be crushed by the power and vio
lence of their adversaries ; who were allowed to go
on securely in the exercise of a foreign jurisdiction,
and to reunite all the Irish Papists under the direc
tion of spiritual guides, who considered the Pope as snie supremacy
, . T r. . , , 1 otthePope.
the supreme judge ot conscience, and the only sove
reign to whom, even in temporal matters, their
allegiance was due. Nor was this indulgence in
ecclesiastical jurisdiction the only favour now ex
tended to the Irish Papists ; it was soon followed by
orders for their admission to inhabit and trade in
corporations : many of them, also, procured admit
tance into the coraraission of the peace, and it Avas,
moreover, attempted to bring them into the army.
Such were the sentiments manifested by the sentiments of
Governraent of King Charles the Second, towards wards its enemies

and friends.

the enemies and the friends of the royal supre
macy in matters raerely temporal : to its enemies,
manifold indulgences ; to its friends, neglect and
abandonment to the penalty of heresy, incurred for
paying to the king the temporal allegiance claimed
for the Pope.
The Pope, meanwhile, had elevated to the titular PetcrTaibot,
archbishoprick of Dublin a powerful partisan, in the wshcpofDubiin,
person of Peter Talbot, who was a strenuous abettor
of the Anti-remonstrant faction in their persecution
of the advocates of loyalty to the king, in contradis
tinction to the Pope's temporal authority. This man,
upon the favour AA'hich he actually possessed at the

656 THE REIGN OP [Ch. IX.
English Court, founded the pretension of being the
king's commissioner for superintending the whole
order of the Popish clergy. And not only did that
body regard him Avith confidence and veneration,
but the Lord Lieutenant was wrought upon by his
arrogance, and suffered him to appear before the
Council in his hierarchal and archiepiscopal vest
ments, and to retire without molestation for this
daring violation of the laws, accompanied, as it was,
by a refusal to join in any acknowledgment of loyalty.
Nor only this ; but, on his application for the use of
sorae of the plate and hangings, the furniture of the
castle, in order to the celebration of mass in Dublin
with uncoraraon raagnificence, the secretary of the
Lord Lieutenant sent him the articles required for
this illegal celebration of the superstitious rite, add
ing Avithal, as was said, an expression of his wish,
that high mass might soon be performed in Christ
Church cathedral".
Petition of the The jealousy of the parliament of England was
ment to tlie arousod by the indulgences shown to the Irish
March 9, 1G73. Paplsts ; aiid, anxious as they generally were to give
effectual support to the English interest, and withal
to the religion of the Church in Ireland, the House
of Commons, on the 9th of May, 1673, addressed
his majesty in a petition^ wherein, having adverted
to the great calamities A^'llich had formerly befallen
the king's subjects of the kingdom of Ireland, from
the Popish recusants there, and to their increased
insolence and presumption, apparently endangering
that kingdom, and his majesty's Protestant subjects
there, they made, amongst others, the following
prayers. " Carte's Ormonle, ii, 41.3, 420. ' Cox, Charles II., p. H-

Sec. III.] KING CHARLES II. 657
"That your raajesty Avould give order, that no Papist papists not to he
be either continued, or hereafter admitted to be judges, ¦'"''s"*''
justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners or mayors, sovereigns
or portreeves, in tbat kingdom :
" That the titular Popish archbishops, bishops, vicars Popish oeciesias-
, , , J 11 j.l_ • • 1 • !.• 1 • ¦ tical juii-sdictlon
general, abbots, and all others exercising ecclesiastical juris- to be restrained.
diction by the Pope's authority ; and in particular Peter
Talbot, pretended Archbishop of Dublin, for his notorious
disloyalty to your majesty, and disobedience and contempt
of your laws ; be commanded by proclamation forthAvith to
depart out of Ireiaud, and all other your majesty''s do
minions, or otherAvise to be prosecuted according to law ;
aud that all convents, seminaries, aud publiek Popish
schools, may be dissolved and suppressed ; aud the secular
priests commanded to depart under the like penalty :
"That no Irish Papist be admitted to inhabit In any p.apist3 not to
part of tbat kingdom, unless duly licensed, according to the licence.
Act of Settlement ; and that your majesty would be pleased
to recall your letters of the 26th of February, 1671, and tho
proclamation thereupon, AA'hereby general licence Is given to
sucb Papists as inhabit in corporations there :
" That your majesty's letters of the 28th of September, irish rebels not
1672, and the order of council thereupon, whereby your fromproseeu-
subjects are required not to prosecute any actions against *'""¦
tbe Irish, for any wrongs or injuries committed during the
Late Rebellion, may likewise be recalled :
"That your majesty AA'ould be pleased from time to English Pro-
« .1 • , , • 1 p 1 1 testants to be
time, out of your princely wisdom, to give such further encouraged.
order and directions to tbe Lord Lieutenant, or other
ffOA'ernor of Ireland, for the time being, as may best con
duce to the encouragement of the English planters and
Protestant interest there, and the suppression of the inso-
lencies and disorders ofthe Irish Papists"."
Meanwhile, the Duke of Orraonde had been Dukeofor-
, r»Tii Al- monde again
reinstated in the vice-royalty of Ireland. And m viceroy.
1678, fresh alarra being excited on the report of the
plot, which was then said to have broken out iu
" Cox's History, vol. ii., Charles IL, p. 12,
3 U

1678.

658

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Proclamation for
soldiers to repair
to theii" garri
sons;

For Popish
bishops to quit
the kingdom;

For masters of
ships to convey
thera;

For disarming
the Papists,

England, the Council of Ireland met on the 14th of
October; and the Lord Lieutenant immediately
published a proclamation, commanding all officers
and soldiers in the army to repair to their respective
garrisons, there to remain, and not absent them
selves without a particular and express licence from
his grace. On the 16th, another proclamation issued, com
manding all titular Popish bishops and dignitaries,
all others exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction by
authority from the See of Rome, all Jesuits, aud
other regular priests, to depart the kingdom by
the 20th of Noveraber following. Orders Avere
given in the same proclamation, that all Popish
societies, convents, serainaries, and schools, should
be forthwith dissolved, and thenceforth utterly sup
pressed. To prevent all excuses for not obeying the pro
claraation for the banishment of the Popish clergy,
another was issued on the 16th of November,
requiring all owners and masters of ships, bound for
foreign parts, to receive them on board, and to
transport them accordingly.
The question of disarming the Papists admitted
some debate, not as to the thing itself, but as to the
manner of doing it. And this being agreed upon, on
the 2nd of November a proclamation issued, that no
persons of the Popish religion should carry, buy, use,
or keep in their houses any arms without licence ;
and that all such, within twenty days, should bring
in all their arms to persons appointed to receive
them ; and that all justices of the peace Avere to
search for such arms as should not be brought in,
and bind over the offenders to be prosecuted at the
next assizes. All per^sons also were to make a

Sec.III.] KING CHARLES II.. 659
return of the quantity of gun-powder in their
possession. That the several proclamations issued raight neinforccdby
have all the proposed effect, they were reinforced
by further orders from the Lord Lieutenant and
council. Thus letters were sent on the 2nd of December, Neglect of
to the sheriflFs of the several counties, to be com- ccnsmii.asto
municated to the justices of peace, "taking notice of ""^'^ ''°'^^'
their neglect in not apprehending such of the Popish
regular clergy, as did not transport theraselves, and
requiring thera to be raore diligent ; and to return,
not only their naraes, but the names also of such as
received, relieved, and harboured thera."
Similar letters were sent, with a further procla- as to persons
mation, " requiring all sheriffs, justices of peace, and
officers of the army, to be more diligent in executing
the proclamation of the 2nd of Noveraber ; to
return the naraes of all i^ersons licensed to carry
arras ; and to prosecute all those, who had not de
livered in their arras according to that proclaraation."
Directions AA'ere given to all raagistrates, and orders as to
officers of the customs and revenue in sea-ports, to arms;
be careful in searching for and securing all arms and
ammunition, which should be brought into the
kingdom. Orders AA'ere given for the suppression of mass- For suppression
. . . of mass-houses,
houses, and meetings for Popish services, m the
cities and suburbs of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Water
ford, Kinsale, Wexford, Athlone, Rosse, Gahvay,
Drogheda, Youghall, Clonmell, and Kilkenny; as
being the most considerable towns in the kingdom,
in which too many precautions could not be taken.
And, to omit no precaution in any respect, though
there was no soldier ever admitted into the army,
2 u 2

660

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX,

Papists forbid
den to enter
Dublin castle
and other forts.

High opinion
entertained of
tbe Duke of
Ormonde.

till he had taken the oaths of allegiance and supre
macy, yet, as sorae of them might possibly have beeu
since perverted, a proclamation was issued on the
20th of November, promising rewards for the dis
covery of any officer or soldier, who had heard mass
or been so perverted to the Popish religion.
By a proclaraation, issued on the 20th of No
veraber, it was moreover ordered, that none of the
Popish religion, or so reputed, should corae into the
castle of Dublin, or any other fort or citadel, without
special order from the Lord Lieutenant: that markets
and fairs should be kept without the walls of Drog-
heda, Wexford, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Youghall,
and Galway : that no persons of the Romish religion
should be suffered to reside in the said towns, or in
any other corporation, who had not for the greatest
part of twelve months past inhabited therein : that
no Papists should come to fairs and markets Avith
SAvords, pistols, or any other weapons and fire-arms ;
and that all of that religion should forbear meeting
by day or night in any great or unusual numbers.
Thus every precaution was employed for check
ing insurrectionary attempts. But, after all, the
great security for the peace and quiet of the king
dom lay in the general opinion, entertained by all
parties, of the Duke of Ormonde : the Protestants
resting secure under his protection and care for their
safety; and the Papists being, under his government,
in no apprehension of any violent or injurious
measures"

Caete's Ormonde, v. ii. pp. 478 — 481.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES II. 661

Section IV.
Sectarists. Neic Covenatit. Scarcity of Churches, Poverty
of Benefices, Mr. Boyle's attempt at Converting the
Irish Papists. Death of distinguished Churchmen.
Primate Margetson. Bishop John Leslie. Bishop
Jeremy Taylor.
From the foregoing enumeration of particulars, an Protestant soc-
, tarists engaged
estimate raay be formed of the continual activity of inanewcoye-
•^ , -^ nant, IS80,
the Popish spirit in pushing forAvard its encroach
raents ; and of the necessity, vA'hich AA'as felt by the
best and raost enlightened friends of the Church,
for unreraitting vigilance and diligence iu her sup
port and defence. But, in 1680, new cause of
uneasiness arose frora a different quarter: naraely,
the fanaticks and disaffected sectarists through the
kingdora, who were engaging in a new Covenant,
and forraing a corabination, which, unless promptly
impeded, might be as destructive to the peace of the
nation, and produce consequences as pernicious to
the well-being of the Church, as those which had
not long before resulted from the Solemn League
and Covenant.
This UOAV Covenant Avas spread with great assi- itso temiouiu
duity over several parts of Ireland, especially in the
northern counties, where the Presbyterian ministers
were generally of that class, called in Scotland
Remonstrators, and several of thera had actually
subscribed it. The Oath of Supremacy VA'as now
decried as unlawful by those raen, some of whom
had lately visited Scotland, where the Archbi.shop
of St. Andrews had been barbarously assassinated
under the pretext of religion, the true character of
which was attested by its fruits ; and where a new

662 the reign of [Ch.ix.
insurrection was fermenting and appeared likely to
break fortli among the people, especially the ignorant
fanaticks of the west. In consequence, probably, of
this correspondence with the Scotch Caineronians,
a soleran day of fasting and humiliation was soon
Presbyterian aftcrAvards kept at St. Johnstown, in the county of
Johnstown. ' Douogall, aud barony of Raphoe, where were assem
bled sixteen Presbyterian minister,s, and six or seven
thousand persons frora that barony, aud the neigh
bouring counties of Derry, Tyrone, and Ferraanagh.
Di effect counter- The Lord Lleuteuaiit knew by experience the
acted by care of , « i nn
Lord Lieutenant, mischief of such meetings, and took effectual care
for preventing their continuance and evil conse
quences. One Nathaniel Johnson, who had been
engaged in the late Scotch rebellion, and had passed
over into Ireland for the purpose of creating dis
turbances in Ulster, being apprehended, raade some
discoveries : and offering to raake raore upon an
assurance of jiardon, he was reraoved to Dublin
from the north, having- been kept some days in
custody under a strong guard, for fear of his being
killed by the Presbyterians, AA'ho AA'ere ai)prehen.sive
of their secrets being revealed by hira. From this
man the government received such intelligence as
proved the means of keeping in awe and subjection
the unquiet and turbulent spirit of those sectarists:
and of giving a proper direction to that vigilance,
which the Lord Lieutenant constantly employed,
and which enabled him, silently and without alarm,
to intercept whatever designs were formed for raising
disturbances in that quarter ofthe kingdom'.
Thus the watchfulness, the zeal, and the discre
tion of this excellent viceroy were blessed by Divine
' Carte's Life of Ormonde, ii. 508,

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES IL 663
Providence for the protection of the Church against
both classes of her restless enemies. And thus, not
withstanding the evil meditated in the English court,
the latter years of the reign of King Charles the
Second passed quietly away with little of incident to
fix the raind on the history of the Irish Church, but
not without the too customary causes for concern at
the insufficient supply of sacred buildings and of want of
... . 1 .. f, Al , , , -i I churches and
ministers, to make provision tor the spiritual wants ministers.
and necessities of the people.
An exaraple of a dilapidated church, laudably Kilkenny cathe-
dral renaired bv
re-edified by the exertions of one of the restored pre- Bishop Avimams.
lates, is thus recorded by Williaras, bishop of Ossory,
in the narrative of his persecutions and oppressions.
" Things being somewhat settled, I went to live upon
my bishoprick. In Kilkenny, where I found the cathedral
church and the bishop's house all ruined; and nothing
standing but the bare walls, without roofs, without windows
but tbe holes, and without doors : yet I resolved presently
to mend and repair one room, and to live in the bishop's
house ; and, as I had vowed, that if I should ever come to
my bishoprick, I Avould wholly and fully bestoAV tbe first
year's profit for the reparation of the church, so my wit
nesses in heaven know that I have done it : and have since
bestowed more, as 40/. the last summer for repairing the
steeple of the cathedral, and yet lOOOZ. more Avill not suffi
ciently repair that church."
And an instance of the defect on a larger scale, General sad
and in both particulars, is detailed by the same chmchesand
prelate, in his tract on "the sad condition of the '"'^^^'
Church and Clergy in the Diocese of Ossory ; and I
fear," as his title-page "adds, " not much better in all
Ireland." " Ifyou walk through Ireland," he observes, "as I rode A'ery great dis-
from Carlingford to Dublin, and from Dublin to Kilkenny, ruined churches.
and In my visitation thrice over the diocese of Cssory.; I
believe, that throughout all your travel you sball find it, as

664

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Insufficiency of
ministers and of
benefices.

Ecclesiastical livings given to
laymen.

Two classes of
benefices.

I found it, in all the ways that I went ; scarce one church
standing and sufficiently repaired, for seven, I speak within
compass, that are ruined, and bave only Avails, without
ornaments, and most of thera witbout roofs, without doors,
without windows, but the boles to receive the Avinds to
entertain tbe congregation." (Page 2.)
And again : " What shame and what punishment do
we deserve, for suffering the tombs and the sepulchres of
our heroick fathers, and the temples, houses, and altars, of
our good God and our Redeemer Jesus Christ, to lie so
waste, so ruined, and so defiled, as they are here in this
kingdom of Ireland ! For I do believe, that of about a
hundred churches that our forefathers built and sufficiently
endowed in the diocese of Ossory, there are not twenty
standing, nor ten well repaired at this day," (Page 6,)
Then, with respect to the deficiency of ministers,
he observes, " As God is Avithout churches for his people to meet in
to serve him, so He is without servants, enabled to do him
service, to praise his name, and to teach his people ; and to
have churches, and no cliurcbmeu, is to no purpose. Bnt
Avliy bave Ave not such churchmen as are able to instruct
God's people? I say it is easily answered: that It is not
so easy to get able, worthy, and sufficient churcluucn,
unless there vvere sufficient means and livings to maintain
them," After some intermediate remarks on the insuffi
ciency of the means for educating the clergy, " since
Henry the Eighth overthrew the abbies and raonas
teries, which were as universities to breed scholars,"
he then proceeds to show the insufficiency of the
maintenance of the clergy, iu consequence of " tbe
ecclesiastical livings of the Church having been given
to the king's nobility and lay gentry."
To exemplify his position, he then divides the
benefices of his own diocese into two classes; nam
ing the denomination and the holder of each.

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES II. 665
In the first class are "the rectories, the best Rectories kept
,,.»,.. 1 f, r- from the Church.
and the chiefest livings, that are ot any wortli, or of
any note within the diocese : and, as I shoAved you,
the nobihty, gentry, and cities do hold thera from
the Church, and do yield little or nothing for the
service of God in those churches ; neither dare the
poor vicars and curates, according to the bishop's
appointment, ask them anything for the serving of
those churches, nor is it to any purpose for any
incumbent to sue for any tythes or rights that belong
unto his church." (Page 18.)
The second class contains "what livings the Lhingsheidby
poor clergymen hold in their possession ; and of
what value they are unto them, deductis deducendis,
communibus annis, as by the inquisition of three or
four of the ablest clergymen in my diocese, with
myself, I have understood the same in my visitation ;
and thereby the reader may understand the mean
ness of our Irish livings, and judge, whether these
many livings, that each clergyman holds, are more or
enough to make one competent living for a worthy
and able man, that will constantly reside, and coii-
scionably preach unto God's people."
In illustration of these livings of the second class Average number
, , . of parishes in a
it should be stated, that a "living," in about six "ving.
instances, according to Bishop Williams's digest,
consists of a single "parish ;" that in two instances
a "living" comprises as many as nine "parishes;"
and that the number of " parishes," constituting a
" living," continually varies between these two ex
tremes: that the entire nuraber of "livings" is
twenty-two, and the number of "parishes" seventy-
seven, forming therefore on an average an union of
three parishes and a half to one living.
Also, that the value of the livings continually

666 THE REIGN OF [Ch. IX.
Average value of varies froiTi tou pouuds, whlch is the lowest, to sixty-
livlngs. _ _
six, one hundred and one, and one hundred and
twenty-five pounds, which are the three highest
values : and that the total value of the twenty-tAVo
livings is nine hundred and sixty-one pound.s, ten
shillings; being forty-three pounds, fourteen shil
lings, and a small fraction, to each upon the average.
Condition of the Thls brlof sumuiary of particulars, abstracted
parochial clergj'. from Bishop Williams's detailed exposition of the
condition of his diocese, may perhaps assist in open
ing the reader's mind to a clearer perception of the
situation of the parochial clergy of Ireland at the
tirae under review, of the nature and extent of their
charges, and of the occasion and necessity of those
unions, which have brought such obloquy on the
Church : at the same time that it may enable him
to render a just answer to the bishop's pertinent
inquiry, " Do you think that this value is sufficient
to maintain an able ministry, to supply all these
churches and parishes as they ought to be ; or that
Popery shall be supprest, and the true Protestant
religion planted amongst the people, by the unition
of parishes, and the diminution of churches, with
out any augmentation of tlieir means ?
• . . . . Credat Judseus Apella ;
Non ego^"
Bishop Mossom-s The dlocose of Ossory, which is the subject of
representation of
the diocese of the foregoing relation, is situated in the province of
Leinster, in one of the south-eastern districts of
the kingdom. An example of a similar state of
things in the North, or in the province of Ulster, is
supplied by an incident that occurred in the diocese
of Derry, of which the diocesan. Bishop ]\Iossom,
^ Page 25,

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES II. 667
having, in his petition to the king in council, pro
cured on the 13th of May, 1670, a recommendation
of his case to the Irish Society, made this represen
tation of the ecclesiastical condition of the city and
county of Londonderry.
"First, that the churches, especially those within the similar state of
twelve London proportions, Ave re generally ruinous, aud not *'"^<=''™'''^<'^!
one, e.xcept that within the city, was in repair, and accom
modation fit for God's Avorship ; neither Avere the inhabi
tants, such Avas their extreme poA^erty, any ways able to
rebuild or repair them ; so that the holy ofiices of God's
publiek Avorship were, for the most part, administered either
in a dirty cabin or In a common alehouse; and also that
not only Avere the churches ruinous, but likewise tbe mini- And ministers.
sters were generally and necessarily non-resident, not having
any houses upon their cures ; not being able, through
meanness of estate and numerousness of their families, to
build themselves houses, nor could they find habitations to
be hired upon the place ^"
What means were taken for the remedy of these instructions to
local evils, does not appear. But they seem to have conespondi'ifg
been regarded as an example of the general state of sentation^
the country, in the particular defects coraplained of
And the coincidence of dates raakes it not irapro
bable, that they gave occasion for the instructions
concerning the building and repair of churches, and
the encouragement of resident ministers, which were
enjoined upon Lord Berkley, as before mentioned,
on the 21st of May, 1670.
The desolation, indeed, appears to have been Dean swiffs ser-
very extensive and complete. In a serraon of Dean ciiariess mar-
Swift, on the martyrdom of King Charles I."*, *^' °"'
wherein he delineates the evils of puritanical zeal,
as evidenced by the Great Rebellion, is a forcible
^ MSS. British Museum, Donat., No. 4763, foi. 508, &c.
^ Works, ix. 181.

668

THE REIGN OF

[Cn, IX,

utter demolition
of the Irish
Churches iu the
RebeUion.

description of the utter demolition of the Irish
parochial churches by that devastating scourge, as
compared with the traces of less complete ruin
visible in England.
" Another consequence," he says, " of this horrid rebel
lion and murder was, the destroying or defacing of such
vast numbers of God's bouses. ' In their self-will they
digged down a Avail.' If a stranger should noAV travel in
England, and observe tbe churches In his Avay, he could not
otherwise conclude, than that some vast army of Turks or
heathens had been sent on purpose to ruin and blot out all
marks of Christianity. They spared neither tbe statues of
saints, nor ancient prelates, nor kings, nor benefactors: brolie
down the tombs and monuments of men famous in their
generations : seized the vessels of silver set apart for the
holiest use : tore doAvn the most innocent ornaments both
Avitbin and Avithout : made the houses of prayer dens of
tbioA'Cs, or stables for cattle. These Avere the mildest effects
of Puritan zeal and devotion for Christ : and this was \^'bat
themselves affected to call a thorough reformation. Jn tliis
kingdom (Ireland), those ravages Avere not so easily seen :
for, the people here being too poor to raise such noble
temples, tho mean ones Ave had were not defaced, but
totally destroyed,"
In the mean time, the experiraent Avhich had
been formerly tried of converting the native Irish
from the errors of Popery to the belief and profes
sion of primitive Christian truth, as maintained in
the Church of Ireland, Avas again attempted by ineans
of the Irish language.
Such e.'cperi- Tho RebelHou of 1641 had put an entire stop to
b/thcVeMiion experiments of this kind ; and the times which im
mediately succeeded Avere not favourable to their
resumption, although it appears that in the year 1652
was published a catechism, under the title of The
Christiati Doctrine, in two opposite parallel columns
in the English and Irish languages. With this

Fresh experi
ment for convert
ing the Irish by
means of the
Irish language.

Sec. IV,] KING CHARLES II. 669
exception, if any effort had been made for the conver
sion of the Irish until about twenty years after the
king's restoration, it had escaped the inquiries of Dr.
Richardson, as stated by him in his Short History of
such atterapts : an omission, which he attributes Probauc causes
1 1 1 PI -r»TiT"^ *'^^ interrup-
partly to the remembrance ot the past Rebellion, tion.
" which made so deep an irapression upon the rainds
of raany Protestants, who suffered in their own per
sons, estates, and relations ; and produced such keen
resentments, that the thoughts of this work seem to
have been laid aside for some time ;" and partly to
" the great scarcity of clergy, Avliich may be reason
ably supposed to have contributed not a little to the
omission'." The arduousness and defective success
of the work, as experienced on former trials, should
be also considered to have presented, in all proba
bility, an obstacle to a repetition of the experiment ;
for that those Avho presided over the Church imme
diately after the Restoration, were not indifferent to
the religious condition of the Irish population, has
already been evidenced by the exertions raade by
Bishop Taylor, in corapliance with the wishes of his
brethren in the episcopate, although the course
which they saw cause to adopt was not of the par
ticular kind now passing under our notice.
But however this be, the work was about this -vvork resumed
period again taken in hand by the Honourable Robert awo Robert
Boyle: honourable by descent and parentage ; raore °^'^'
to be honoured for his intellectual and moral endow-
raents ; still more worthy of honour as " the great
Christian philosopher," for so Dr. Richardson terras
him, AA'ho laboured to advance the truth and glory of
God. By this illustrious and excellent man, a fount

' A Short History of the At
tempts to Convert thePopishNatiees
(f Ireland to the Established Re

ligion, By John Richardson,
Rector of Belturbet, 1712. Page
26.

670

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Irish Catechism
and Bible
printed in 1600.

Care taken for
making the
edition of the
Bible perfect.

of Irish types was caused to be cast at his oAvn
charge, and an able printer to be instructed for pro
viding in that language the books necessary for the
spiritual improvement of the people. In 1680, he
thus printed in Irish the Church Catechism, togethei'
VA'ith the elements of that language. Soon after, he
resolved on reprinting Archbishop Daniel's Transla
tion of the Neio Testament at his own expense ; and,
by a subscription of 50Z. on his own part, bountifully
encouraged a proposal for printing Bishop Bedell's
Translation of the Old Testament likewise ; his efforts,
as regarded the defraying of the expense of the press,
being liberally aided by Dr. William Wake, after
wards Archbishop of Canterbury.
For rendering this edition of theBible more perfect,
the translation was first revised and corrected by JMr.
Kirk, a beneficed clergyman in England, but a native
of Scotland, and well skilled in the Irish tongue.
It was then transmitted to Ireland, and confided to
the care of Narcissus Marsh, at that time provost of
Trinity College, and subsequently, in succession,
bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, and archbishop of
Cashel, of Dublin, and of Armagh ; who, that he
might make such amendments as were requi,site, and
bring it to the nearest possible conformity to the
original, procured the assistance of the most learned
natives, and himself carefully superintended the re
vision of the entire translation. In particular, a
convert from the Church of Rome, of the name of
Higgins, was useful in completing the work. He
was employed, at the expense of the Primate, in
teaching the Irish language to the students of Trinity
College ; and being afterwards admitted into holy
oi-der,s, and settled in a parish in the county of Tip
perary, is related to have been the instrument of

Sec. IV.J KING CHARLES II. 671
much spiritual good by the conversion of many
natives to the truth.
By this zeal and diligence in its patrons, the edi- now Testament
. I, 1 TT 1 n , ¦ T • 1 completed in
tion ot the Holy Scriptures in Irish was soon accom- ww ;
plished. In the year of our Lord 1681, the New
Testament, introduced by a copious preface, was first
pubhshed ; and after it the Old Testament in 1685. om Testament
Many copies of them were sent from England, both
to Ireland and to the highlands of Scotland. But
whatever happy results may have been otherwise
likely to accrue in Ireland from the exertions of the
pious and benevolent projector and patrons of the
experiment, they were counteracted by a great politi- Good results
coimteraetcd by
cal event contemporaneous with the latter publica- accession of
, . , . King James II.
tion ; lor the same year, which witnessed the putting
forth of the entire word of God, as completed by the
addition of the Old to the New Testament, wit
nessed also the accession of an anti-Scriptural sove
reign to the throne.
During the period which is the subject of our Deaths of dis-
. , n 1 r-Ai tiuguishcd
present inquiry, some eminent rulers of the Church churchmen,
were removed from their scene of probation.
Of these the first in rank was Archbishop Mar- Primatc Marget-
getson, who died in 1678, being succeeded in the jiri- ' ic78;
macy, as he had been in the archiepiscopal See of
Dubliu, by Michael Boyle. His character, as deli- ms character.
neated by the friendly, but, to all appearance, the
impartial and honest hands of contemporaneous ad
mirers, Palliser, archbishop of Cashel, and Jones,
bishop of ^Meath, represents that he administered his
pastoral office with undissembled, sincere, and solid
wisdom ; that he was to his clergy mild and gentle ;
yet, where they deserved it, severe ; that their faults
touched him to the quick, yet he could scarce reprove

Leslie.

672 THE REIGN OF CCir. IX.
any of them with dry eyes; so that his conduct
could not fail to conciliate to him both their love
and veneration ; that in his legislative capacity, if
anything affected the Church, he was her true patron
and active champion ; that he pleaded her cause in
the supreme council with the most ardent zeal and
persuasive eloquence ; and that his great labour was
to jDreserve her revenues from sacrilegious hands, to
establish and secure the pure Protestant religion by
the fence of publiek laws, and protect it from the
insults both of its Popish and its schismatical
enemies.
iMiop John During this period, also, but a few years before
Priraate Margetson, had died John Leslie, distin
guished for his steadfast attachment to the Church
and her services, when Bishop of Raphoe, in defiance
of the Popish rebellion, and of the puritanical
tyranny; and subsequently, in 1661, translated to
the See of Clogher, where he continued to maintain
his character as an exemplary prelate, as well as a
man of perfect disinterestedness, and a scholar of
learning and research. He was supposed, at his
death in 1671, to be the oldest bishop then in the
world, having passed above fifty years from his con
secration. And to his oavu personal clairas upon tlie
grateful recollection of posterity, raay be added, that
his merits Avere reflected in his son, the illustrious
Charles Leslie, chancellor of Connor, one of the
soundest divines, and most powerful controversialists
of his age.
Bishop Jeremy Durliig the Same period, but still a few years
earlier than Bishop Leslie, the Church had been
deprived of a still brighter ornament in the person
of Bishop Jereray Taylor, of Avhom his friend, and
successor in the See of Dromore, Bishop Rust, has

Taylor.

Sec IV.] KING CHARLES II. . 673
emphatically pronounced, that "had his parts and
endoAvments been parcelled out among his clergy, it
would perhaps have made one of the best dioceses in
the world." The funeral sermon, frora which this high
coramendation is extracted, is characterized by Bishop
Heber, as " in itself no bad copy of Taylor's peculiar
style of eloquence, and as well calculated to show the
veneration in which he was held, the sweetness of his
temper, and the variety of his accomplishments."
He died at Lisburn, on the 3rd of August, 1667, msdeathand
in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and the seventh of iec7.
his episcopacy.
" His remains," adds Bishop Heber, " Avere removed to
Dromore, to tbe church of Avhich he had been a liberal
benefactor. No monument, boA\'ever, was erected to his
memory ; and, about a century afterAvards, his bones, and his bones said to
those of his friend Rust, were disturbed from their vault to J^^edr"""^'
make room for the coffin of another bishop. The late
venerable Bishop Percy had tbem carefully collected and
replaced. That their repose was ever violated, or that they
were suffered to lie neglected so long, is not to be recorded
without indignation."
In the sentiments thus expressed, the present
writer entirely concurs, on the supposition of the
facts having been correctly represented to the
biographer. But this is by no means clear. The
only bishop, who died in possession of the See of
Dromore, from 1713 to 1781, the date of Bishop
Percy's appointment, was George JNIarlay. He died
suddenly irt Dublin, April 13, 1763. The place of
his burial I have in vain atterapted to discover : but
by his present lineal representative it is thought,
that he was not buried at Dromore. Nor can I find Question about
any evidence, either recorded or traditionary, to
warrant the supposition, that it was to raake room for
his remains, that Bishop Taylor's were disjdaced : an
2 X

674

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. IX.

Prohabilitlea against it.

Bishop Taylor's
collin.

occurrence, than which, in the opinion of Bishop Mar-
lay's family, nothing could have been more unlikely.
Concerning Bishop Percy's alleged share in the
transaction, the Rev. H. Elgee Boyd, curate of
Dromore, in Bishop Percy's time, and domestick
chaplain of the bishop, uoav Prebendary of Droniara,
has stated to the Rev. Edward Cupples, vicar-general
of Down and Connor, by whom it has been reported
to me, that although Bishop Percy frequently made
his illustrious predecessor the subject of his conver
sation, he never gave the slightest intimation of the
remains having been collected by him, after they
had been disturbed : an incident, which he could
hardly have failed of occasionally noticing, if he had
been a party in the transaction. Indeed, the narra
tive of the transaction in some degree confutes
itself: for, if the bones AA'ere so " disturbed" as to
require to be " collected," it is difficult to conceive
how, after that lapse of time, they could be dis
tinguished and identified.
Some alterations were made in Dromore cathe
dral by Bishop Percy in 1 782, and again in 1807 ;
but these did not invade the spot, which general
tradition pointed out as the resting-place of Jeremy
Taylor, nearly under the coraraunion-table, at the
east end of the church : in which spot, about twenty
years ago, when his vault was opened for a particular
purpose, a leaden coffin was discovered with the
initials J. T. inscribed on the lid. The coffin, Avith
these initials, Mr. Boyd affirras that he himself saAV :
and he considers, that the fact of its having been so
found is a decisive refutation of the stateraent in
Bishop Heber's Life.
Concerning this gentleman, it is the opinion of
the present Bishop of Elphin, who succeeded Bishop

Sec. IV.] KING CHARLES H. 675
Percy, at Dromore, in 1811, that if such an event,
as we are investigating, had taken place, it raust
have been known to Mr. Boyd, from his long and
confidential intercourse with Bishop Percy. The
Bishop of Elphin has also obligingly informed rae
for his OAvn part, that he has no recollection of ever
having heard of the occurrence during the seven
years that he occupied the See of Dromore. And,
on the whole, after much inquiry, I can find no
evidence, documentary or personal, in support ofthe statement un-
stateraent in question. That the source, whence ™^^°''*'"'-
that stateraent was derived by Bishop Heber, VA'as
not infallible, has appeared from the error pointed
out on a previous occasion, concerning the supposed
Church of Kilulta.
As to the absence of a monuraent to Bishop Tay- his monument.
lor's meinory, a project for supplying that defect is
understood to have been forraed by Bishop Percy: but
the increasing infirraity of years, blindness, and finally
death, put an end to the proposed raeraorial. It re
raains, therefore, for the present writer to add, with
a feeling of grateful exultation, that the reproof, con
veyed by Bishop Heber's reraark on the absence of a
monument, has been removed by the clergy of the
united diocese of Down and Connor: who, in the
year 1827, placed in the cathedral church of Lisburn,
a white marble tablet, commemorative of the most
renowned bishop of the see ; appropriately decorated
on each side by a crosier, and above by a sarcopha
gus, on which is laid the Holy Bible, surmounted by
a mitre; indicating his principle and rule of action
by the Latin motto applied to that purpose by hira
self in his life-time ; and expressing, in the folloAving
English inscription, their sense of his episcopal, his
theological, and his personal, excellence.
«= 2x2

NON MAGNA LOQUIMTTR SED VIVIMUS :
NiraL OPINIONIS GRATIA OMNIA CONSCIBNTIiE FACIAM,

NOT TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF ONE
AVHOSE WORKS WILL BE HIS MOST ENDURING MEMORIAL,
BUT THAT THERE MAY NOT BE WANTING
A PUBLIC TESTIMONY TO HIS MEMORY IN THE DIOCESE
WHICH DERIVES HONOUR FROM HIS SUPERINTENDENCE,
THIS TABLET IS INSCRIBED WITH THE NAME
OF JEREMY TAYLOR, D.D.
¦WHO ON THE RESTORATION IN M.DC.LX.
OF THB BRITISH CHURCH AND MONARCHY,
IN THB FALL OF AVHICH HE HAD PARTAKEN,
HAVING BEEN PROMOTED TO THE BISHOPRICK
OF DOWN AND CONNOR,
AND HAVING PRESIDED FOR SEVEN YEARS IN THAT SEE,
AS ALSO OVER THE ADJOINING DIOCESE OF DROMORE,
WHICH AA'AS SOON AFTER INTRUSTED TO HIS CARE,
'• ON ACCOUNT OP HIS VIRTUE, WISDOM, AND INDUSTRY ;"
DIED AT LISBURN, AUG, 13, M.DCLXVIL,
IN THE 55th year OF HIS AGE :
LEAVING BEHIND HIM A RENOWN,
SECOND TO THAT OF NONE OP THB ILLUSTRIOUS SONS
WHOM THE ANGLICAN CHURCH
RICH IN WORTHIES HATH BROUGHT FORTH.
AS A BISHOP DISTINGUISHED
FOR MUNIFICENCE AND VIGILANCE TRULY EPISCOPAL,
AS A THEOLOGIAN, FOB PIETY THE MOST ARDENT,
LEARNING THB MOST EXTENSIVE AND ELOQUENCE INIMITABLE ;
IN HIS WRITINGS A PERSUASIVE GUIDE,
TO EARNESTNESS OP DEVOTION, UPRIGHTNESS OF PRACTICE,
AND CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE AND TOLERATION :
A POAVERFUL ASSERTOR OF EPISCOPAL GOVERNMENT,
AND LITURGICAL WORSHIP,
AND AN ABLE EXPOSER OP THB ERRORS
OF THE ROMISH CHURCH ;
IN HIS MANNERS A PATTERN OF HIS OAVN RULES
OF ifOLY LIVING AND HOLY DYING,
AND A FOLLOWER OF THE GREAT EXEMPLAR OF SANCTITY,
AS PORTRAYED BY HIM IN THE PERSON
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,

READER, THOUGH IT FALL NOT TO THY LOT
TO ATTAIN THE INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE
OF THIS MASTER IN ISRAEL,
THOU MAYEST RIVAL HIM IN THAT
WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST SCOPE EVEN OF HIS AMBITION,
AN HONEST CONSCIENCE AND A CHRISTIAN LIFE.

THIS TABLET WAS INSCnIBBD
BV THE BISHOP AND CLBRGV Of
DOWN AND CONNOB,
IN THE YEAR OF OUR I.ORD,
M.DCCC.XX VII,

iiii..i.iiin'i'iiiii

ftwrniwnuBpriiMjwiM.-

rprfMriMwr^TiTT
'I ' .^^N vr,^^» -wvr>i\ t35'.-^Jr-^¦¦a^^v — sBCTTL.^ ¦ «
;'"i-\:-;br;r;:^'a~::,r:'^5^.^;,^SF^'" ,J 1

v-3 ow v^g„co ni-i c a

-— — na.<l'E>.i\'\r^,=/-Sv,T— ---->
L^5_^AvJ!lliii \ ""Zmm
679

CHAPTER X.
CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE REIGN OF
KING JAMES II. .... 1685—1690.
MICHAEL BOYLE, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,
AND PRIMATE ...;.— Section I.
Accession ofthe King. Earl of Clarendon Lord Lieutenant.
Army tiew -modelled. Papists in Civil Offices. Earl of
Tyrconnel Lord Deputy. Changes in favour of Popery.
Oppression ofthe Clergy. Vacant Bishopricks not filled.
Clergy encouraged to Apostatize. King's Declaration of
Liberty of Conscience. Dispensing poiver attempted.
Sufferings of Protestants. Expulsion of Bishops and
Clergy. Dublin Clergy.
The day, which witnessed the accession of King unhappiness of
James the Second to the throne, was one of melan- Khirj^iesii.
choly foreboding to the Churches of England and
Ireland ; and the announcement of the event, which,
on its being notified in Dublin, was, by order of the
Duke of Orraonde, iramediately proclaimed with the
usual solemnity, was received vA'ith as rauch sorrow
of heart and dejection of countenance, on the part of
the raerabers of the Irish Church, as if they at that
time foresaw, what was no doubt in the apprehen
sions and fears of many, the calamities and unhappi
ness of the ensuing reign. But God is merciful: its duration.
and, if He sulfered a sanguinary Mary, or an arbitrary
and bigoted James, to afflict his Church, He limited
the dominion of each to a period of brief duration.
The reign, on which we are now entering, though

680 the reign OP [Ch. x.
abundant in affliction to the Church of Ireland more
especially, whilst it lasted, was confined to three
years and ten months in England, and legally in
Ireland likewise : but unhappily extended in the
latter country to about five years and five months.
King's accession. Klug Jaiues asceiidod the throne on the 6th of
Feb. 6, 1685. February, 1685. The withdrawal of the Duke of
Orraonde from the Lord Lieutenantcy of Ireland
soon followed in regular course : whereupon the Lord
Primate and the Earl of Granard became nominally
the lords justices. But the powers of the govern
ment were in reality, not in their hands, but in those
of Colonel Talbot, afterwards Earl of Tyrconnel, a
Papiist, AAdio Avas lieutenant-general of the army.
And by his authority, not only the English militia
were deprived of their arras, but the English in the
array began also to be dismissed, under pretence of
their being either Oliverians, or their descendants.
Earl of ciaren- But the liopos of the membei's of the Church
don. Lord , • i i i ¦ p
Lieutenant. woro, uot loug after, rovivod by the appointment ot
a new Lord Lieutenant in the person of Henry, earl
of Clarendon : and they were withal encouraged by
reflecting on the king's repeated proraises of jire-
serving the Church, and governing by the laAvs of
the land, and by the sacred and solemn obligation,
which he had incurred, of the Coronation Oath. A
report, indeed, was industriously circulated by the
Papists, that the new Viceroy was of their com
munion. But this error, whether voluntary or
accidental, was soon corrected: and all men were
convinced, that, if the Lord Lieutenant did not
succeed in supporting the English interest, and the
welfare of the Church, the failure would be attribu
table to the defect, not of inclination, but of poMer.

Sec I.J KING JAMES II. 681
It seems, however, that the committing of the Motive of his
Irish Government to the Earl of Clarendon was,
indeed, no other than a stratagera ; a blind, to hide
at the comraenceraent the violence of the intended
proceedings. The jealousies and apprehensions of
the Protestants were not to be rashly excited, but
to be treated with tenderness and forbearance ;
although in his publiek instructions the king inti
mated a desire of introducing Papists into the muni
cipal corporations, and intrusting them with the
magisterial and judicial functions. At the same
time, the power committed to the Lord Lieutenant
was inferior to that of his predecessors, and controlled
by a counteracting force ; and the publiek discou
ragements, which were soon laid upon the Church
aud her members, afforded too clear a foresight of
the hardships Avhich in a sraall process of tirae they
were to encounter.
During the Earl of Clarendon's ostensible govern- standing army
ment, but under the predominating influence of the
Earl of Tyrconnel, the standing army of Ireland
was new-modelled; a preliminary, but necessary,
step for attaining the king's ultimate end. Frivolous
pretences were alleged for displacing the raajority
ofthe officers, raany of whom had noother depend
ence for their subsistence, and sorae had purchased
their eraployraents at the expense of their whole
fortunes. Age and decrepitude was a coramon
pretext; by raeans of which men of vigour and
activity were discarded, and their places supplied by Protestant
other,s, their elders in age, but their inferiors in every brpapist"
valuable qualification. But the real offence was a
disinclination to be used as instruments for betray
ing their Church or their country; and Papists
Avere easily found to supply the vacancies thus

va
cancies suppUed

C82

the REIGN OF

CCh,X.

and honoiu".

opened'. Accordingly, neither the price which they
had paid for their commissions, nor the blood which
they had shed in behalf of the croAvn, sufficed to save
from dismissal above 300 Protestant officers, and
4,000 Protestant soldiers, whose places were supplied
chiefly with Popish natives, the fathers of whom had
lost their estates for their l•ebellio1a^
Civil alterations. Considerable alterations were made in civil
affairs also during the Earl of Clarendon's govern
ment. The hasty demand from the Lord Priraate of
the Great Seal of Ireland caused an opening for the
appointment of a new Lord Chancellor, whose em
barrassed circumstances made probable his imphcit
submission to his patrons. In the room of three
Protestant judges, wantonly and arbitrarily displaced^
Papists admitted succossors woro appointed, one of questionable charac
ter, and two, at least. Papists, of Irish birth, not
withstanding the protestation by the Lord Lieutenant
of the illegality of Papists being admitted to offices
of trust and honour, vA'ithout having taken the oath
of supreraacy. The municipal corporations, the
offices of the magistracy, and the Privy Council of
Ireland, were also in part supplied by persons of the
same religious profession.
If a professorship of the Irish language had
existed in the university of Dublin, it would have
been occupied by a Papist also, under the authority
of the king's mandate ; for a king's letter to that
effect was presented to the governors of the univer
sity during the vice-royalty of the Earl of Clarendon.
The document still remains araong the archives of
that learned body, a monuraent of the ignorance
which supposed the existence of a nonentity, as well
' Cox's History, ii. 1 7.
' DALRYjirLE's Memoirs, Part I. b, ir. p. 112.

Attempt to ob
trude a Popish
professor on the
University.

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 683
as of the tyranny Avliich would have obtruded such
an inmate on the society \
The reluctance, however, of a Protestant Lord Ean of Tyrcon
nel made Lord
Lieutenant probably threAv impediments in the way Deputy.
'-,''- •" February, luu7
of the projected changes. A coinmenceinent, too,
having been once raade, and a firm footing apparently
estabhshed, a convenient season seemed to have
arrived for casting off all disguise ; and the Earl of
Tyrconnel, a Popish nobleraan, who had been trained
in principles of politicks most hostile to the English
Government, and of religion most widely estranged
frora the tenets of the Reforraed Church, was placed
at the head of the Irish adrainistration, in February,
1687, with augraented povA'ers, though with the less
imposing title of Lord Deputy.
The ajipointraent of a Popish Viceroy was no in- speech of Lord
d* 1 * , , PiT »i f , 1 T\ • 1 Clarendon on re-
istinct syraptora of the projects of the Popish sove- unquishing the
reign ; and must have aroused dismal anticiiJations ^°^'^™™™ ¦
in the members of the Church, to AA'hose character
and conduct at this jjeriod the Earl of Clarendon's
speech in council, on leaving the government of
Ireland, bears the following honourable testimony.
" The English in this country have been aspersed with
the character of being generally fanaticks, wbich is a great
injury to them. I must do them the justice to say, that
they are of the Churcli of England, as appears by their
actions as well as professions. The churches here are as
much frequented, and tbe discipline of the Church as well
observed, as in England itself ; which is to be attributed to
the piety and labour of my lords the bishops. We of the Loyalty of the
Church of England can brag, that, Avhen rebellion over- '^'""'''''•
spread the three kingdoms, not an orthodox member of our
Church was engaged against the croAvn. And in our late
disorders Ave can boast, we were opposers of the bills of
' Leland's History, iii, 504,

684 the reign op [Ch.x.
exclusion ; and the sense, his majesty has been pleased to
express of our loyalty, will never be forgotten by us. I had
the happiness to be born a member of the Church of Eng
land ; and I hope God will give rae the grace to die one.
One thing tbe English of this country have to glory in:
that, of all bis raajesty's subjects, they made the earliest
advances towards his majesty's restoration, when the three
kingdoms were governed by usurpers. And after all the
endeavours of his loyal subjects in England seemed to be
disappointed, and there appeared no hopes, the English then
of this kingdom offered to submit to his majesty's authority.
I do not say this, ray lord, to detract from his majesty's
Roman Catliolick loyal subjects ; but I speak it in justice
to the others, who did their duty*."
Withdrawal of It was a melaucholy prognostick and forerunner
irdand"" ' "^"^ of the ovlls about to fall on those who were the sub
ject of this well-merited commendation, that the
withdrawal of fifteen hundred Protestant families
from a country, where they despaired of their future
security, accompanied Lord Clarendon's departure
from Ireland. Meanwhile, this high testiraony to
the value of those, who were objects of the new Vice
roy's bigoted aversion, can hardly have been accept
able to one whose aiipointnient had originated in a
determinate project for their persecution.

army

Lord Deputy's Havlug UOW gottou possesslou of the sword of
Church, state, Lord Tyrconnel quickly turned the edge of it
upon the members of the Church.
Treatment of the With respoct to the army, the English, who
remained in it after the former schemes for their
removal, were not only for the most part disbanded :
but their misery was insulted, and their afHiction
aggravated, by being disraissed at a distance from
their friends and habitations ; and by being deprived,
* State ofthe Protestants in Ireland, by a;Vm. King, D.D,, p. 805.

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 685
partly of their clothes, and partly of their horses and
arms, without any proportionate recorapense.
With respect to the civil governraent, that was changes in the
immediately made the subject of great alterations.
The uprightness and impartiality of the Lord Chan
cellor, whose refusal to prostitute his office to any
sinister projects disappointed expectation, caused
him to be removed from his station, in which he
was succeeded by Sir Alexander Fitton, a j^erson Lord chancellor
recoraraended by his recent conversion to the
Romish coraraunion, but utterly incorapetent from
natural incapacity and legal ignorance, and who had
been convicted of forgery, and passed several years
in gaol. Most of the Protestants, who had hitherto con- privy council.
tinued in the privy council, araongst others Dopping,
bishop of Meath, and Moreton, bishop of Kildare,
were superseded} or outnurabered, by an accession
of Papists. More Popish judges were raised to the p„pish judges
judicial bench, two at least in every court, that they genemL'""^'
might depend on a majority on all occasions. In
particular, at the head of the tAvo courts of King's
Bench and the Exchequer M'ere placed two men,
of very exceptionable character, but with qualifica
tions suited to the services expected from them.
These were Mr. Thoraas Nugent, afterwards created
Baron Riverstown, and JMr., afterwards Sir Stephen,
Rice : the forraer, the son of one who had been
Earl of Westraeath, but had lost his honour and
estate for his activity in the Rebellion of 1641, the
son being noted in his profession for nothing but
ignorance of the law combined with raore than
ordinary nationality of elocution, but whose igno
rance did not prevent him from being fixed upon by
the king as a fit arbiter to judge whether the out-

686 , THE REIGN OF [Ch. X.
lawries against his father and his fellow-rebels should
be reversed, and whether the settlement of Ireland,
founded on those outlawries, should stand good;
the latter, Mr. Rice, formerly infamous as a game
ster and a cheat at the inns of court, a man not
deficient in understanding, and sufficiently con
versant with the law, but raost conspicuous for his
inveteracy against the Protestant interest and set
tlement in Ireland, and notorious for the declaration,
that in all suits between Protestants and Papists,
the former should have no favour, but summum fits,
or the utmost rigour of the laAv^
These two men were respectively constituted the
Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and the Chief
Baron of the Exchequer. Each of them Avas sup-
jjorted by an assistant judge, distinguished by the
like hostility to the reformed Church. And in aid
of these, instead of a Protestant attorney-general,
Sir William Domvile, who, after a service of thirty
years, was superseded, because he would not consent
to reverse the Popish outlaAvries, nor otherwise take
part in destroying the settlement of Ireland, was
substituted Mr. Richard Nagle, afterwards knighted,
and raade secretary of state ; who had been origi--
nally designed for the clerical profession, and received
his education araong the Jesuits, but afterwards
applied to the study of the law, in Avhich a com
petent proficiency had recommended him to the em
ployment of raany Protestants, and thus brought him
acquainted with the peculiarities of their property,
which he was able to eraploy to their prejudice".
Into such hands vA'as committed the general
Popish sheriffs administration of justice and the laws. At the same
time Popish high sheriffs were appointed throughout
' State ofthe Protestants, pp. 68, 70, « lb., p. fl.

and magistrates.

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 687
the kingdom : and an overAvhelming number of
Papists put into the comraission of the peace, frora
Avhich raany of the Protestant raagistrates were
excluded, so that the former could at all times
command a majority, and exercise a predominant
authority. All charters AA'ere called in and con
demned, without attributing any particular fault to
one or raore corporations, or for the avowed purpose
of punishing or reforming thera, but with the raani
fest design of subA-erting them all: and Popish
mayors, aldermen, burgesses, and other members, popi»h corpora-
were put into the original charters, with a mixture,
hoAvever, of English Quakers, or other Dissenters,
but so limited in their poAver, especially in that of
choosing raerabers of parliaraent, as not to offer any
effectual obstruction to the Irish Papists. Thus
were all things disposed and regulated for the elec
tion of a parliaraent, prepared to carry on the designs
of the king, and to model the laAvs in the way most
conducive to the advancement of Popery, and to the
depression of the Church.
Meanwhile, Avith respect to ecclesiastical affairs, Ecclesiastical
care was taken that the laws, provided for protecting
the property of the Church, and for enabling the
clergy to recover their dues, should be of little or no
significance. The Popish inhabitants of the country were soon
taught to think scorn of the sentences of the judges
in the spiritual courts as innocent and harmless, and
to slight and set at nought an heretical excommu
nication. In causes of small dues and offerings, the ciergy precluded
Lord Chancellor absolutely refused to grant the aeTr income!"^
necessary writs for enforcing a sentence of excom
munication : and thus the clergy lost at once a very

688 THE REIGN OF [Ch. X.
considerable source of their income. When writs
were procured against the natives for their refusal
to pay their tythes to the clergy, the high sheriffs
seldom or never executed them : but, on the con
trary, several released those whom, on their entrance
into office, they found in custody on those accounts.
The recovery of debts by Protestants in general, had
been rendered extremely difficult or impossible
under the new system of administering the laws:
in this respect, also, the clergy experienced even
greater hardship than the other members of the
Church. And thus, upon the whble> during the
greater part of this unconstitutional, tyrannical, and
miserable reign, in the more Popish parts of the
country, though many of the clergy were possessed
of considerable benefices, they received from their
lawful property scarcely sufficient to purchase bread
for their families: whilst their enemies were daily
increasing in insolence ; and offering them continued
affronts, insults, and injuries; and, indeed, waited
only for the opportunity which inight be afforded by
a parliament for voting them "the main grievance
ofthe nation'."
Churches and Mauy particular instances likewise occurred of
chapels seized by , . j.' 1 xl /-ll l
Papists. the oppression practised on the Church.
Several of the places set aside for divine service
according to the rites of the Church, especially such
as were built on consecrated ground, where the
chapels of abbeys formerly stood, were violently
taken away. For several acts of state had passed
in Ireland, for the building of that kind of places of
publiek worship, partly because they were more con
veniently situated, and partly as being more easily

'' Short View of the methods
made use of in Ireland far the
Subversion and Destruction of the

Protestant Religion, S^c, pp. 5, 6.
By a Clergyman lately escaped
from tlience. London, 1689.

Sec. L] king JAMES II. 689
repaired than the ancient parish-churches. In most,
if not in all, instances where the proprietors of the
abbeys were Papists, these churches or chapels were
rudely and violently seized, and converted into mass-
houses, on pretence that they belonged to those pro
prietors, as, for example, at Portumna, Athenry, and
many other places ; though the consecrated ground,
belonging to all such abbeys, had been expressly
exempted frora the grants by Act of Parliament.
Provisions for Protestant education also were interference
apphed to Popish uses. By the Act of the 12th of pJpishpurpo^L
Queen Elizabeth, chap. 1, provision had been made
for the encourageraent of education in diocesan
schools, by raeans of Englishmen and Protestants :
¦ and the nomination of the schoolmasters in every
diocese, except four, had been committed to the
Chief Governor of Ireland for the time being. But
now, on any such school becoraing vacant, the Lord
Deputy abused the power committed to him ; for
he either left the place unsupplied, or filled it with
a Papist. Care was also taken to discourage other
Protestant schools, and to set up in opposition to
thera sirailar Popish establishments. Thus, in the
instance of the school of Kilkenny, founded and
endowed by the late Duke of Ormonde, a Jesuit's
school was instituted in the town, and a charter
procured for a college : whilst the Protestant, who
had industriously and successfully taught in the
duke's school, was driven away, and the school-
house violently usurped, and converted into a mili
tary hospital. An attempt was also raade to change Attempt on the
the University of Dublin into a seminary of Popery, Suiun""^"^
and to fill up vacant fellowships with Papists, con
trary to the fundamental design of the institution,
2 Y

690 THE REIGN OF [Ch, X,
and under the plea that the king had power to dis
pense with its statutes".
Vacant sees not The archbishoprlck of Cashel had become vacant
filled up. by the death of Archbishop Price, in the year 1684,
not long before the accession of King James to the
throne: and in the same year a vacancy had also
occurred in the bishoprick of Clonfert. In the fol
lowing year the diocese of Elphin, and in 1687 that
of Clogher, were likewise respectively deprived by
death of their spiritual overseers. The intention of
the king had been notified at an early period, not to
supply the places of these prelates: in accordance
with which arbitrary and illegal determination, these
four dioceses, one of them being of metropolitan
dignity, continued during the king's reign destitute
of their proper jiastoral superintendence'- Mean-
Their revenues wliilc tho oplscopal reveuucs M'oro received by col-
glven to titular , ., i . p i i • i
bishops. lectors under authority from the crown, and paid
into the exchequer ; and thence distributed by the
king's order amongst the titular bishops, acting by
Papal appointment, in salaries of 100/. or 200^. a
year. To the Romish primate an annual pension of
2000^. is said to have been assigned from these
funds. The bishops at the same time were instructed
to wear in publiek the habits of their orders : and
thus a regular Pojoish hierarchy was established
under the sanction ofthe royal authority"'.
Similar appro- A slrallar appropriation was made of the income
benefice!. of othor eccloslastical benefices which became vacaut,
and were in the king's gift. With respect to such
benefices it was the law, and it had been the regular
° King's State of Protestants, p, 217.
" Ware's Bishops, pp. 487, 646, 191, 636.
'° Dalrymple's Memoirs, part i,, book iv., p. 112.

Sec, I,] KING JAMES II. 691
practice, for the revenues to be sequestered on a
vacancy by the bishop of the diocese for the supply
of the cure during the interval, and for the use of
the next incumbent. The crown had no concern
with them. But now they were taken arbitrary
possession of by the king, and the churches left
desolate, without incurabent or curate : or if sup
plied with curates, the persons eraployed vvere raen
little qualified to do God or the Church good Service ;
who frora insufficiency had not arrived at previous
preferraent, or had been removed from their stations
for misconduct". Impediments were at the same tirae thrown in interference
the A^'ay of the regular rainistrations of the clerg)', Tn tbeirpuipits.
Avho were prohibited from discussing controversial
topicks in their pulpits. It would no doubt have
been highly acceptable to the government, if they
could have procured the countenance and sanction
of any of the clergy of the Church respectable for
character and station. And accordingly, in the hope
of seducing some frora their fidelity, the king had
ventured on an unprecedented exercise of his pre
rogative, and proffered a dispensation, with the pri- Dispensation for
vilege of retaining their forraer benefices, to such as aaopVpopcTy."^''
should renounce their profession as rainisters of the
Church of Ireland, and attach themselves to the
Romish coraraunion.
One narae only is on record, or, at the utraost,
two, as having been found faithless in the present
season of trial to the Church and her ministers.
Peter Manby, dean of Derry, had solicited and caseofPeter
expected a bishoprick in the Clmrch: disappoint- Deu-y^iMo." °'
ment in that pursuit is supposed to have co-operated
" Sliort View, p. 10.
2y2

692

THE REIGN OF

[Ch, X.

ills justification
answered by
Dr. King, 1687.

with hope of a more successful result in another
quarter, so that, in 1686, he became a convert to
Popery. He justified his conduct in a tract, entitled,
" Considerations which induced Peter Manby, dean
of Derry, to embrace the Catholique Religiou:"
which was ansAvered by the Rev. W. King, chan
cellor of St. Patrick's, Dublin, subsequently in suc
cession Bishop of Derry and Archbishop of Dublin,
in another tract, entitled, " An Answer to the Con
siderations which obliged Peter Manby, dean of
Derry, (as he pretends,) to embrace what he calls
the Catholique Religion." Both of these pamphlets
were published in Dublin, in the year 1687. Dr.
King was an able and powerful opponent of the
Popish clairas, as he afterwards proved himself of
those of the Presbyterians. On this occasion he
manifested great resolution and decision of mind,
by coming boldly forward at a season when Popery,
under the royal patronage, was in the ascendant,
and the Church, with her faithful advocates, perse
cuted and endangered. The sole participator in the
unenviable distinction of Manby was a clergyman
of the diocese of Connor, of the name of Alexander
Moore, precentor of that cathedral, and vicar of
Glenavy and Crumlin, in 1688.

Declaration
for Liberty of
Conscience,April 4, 1UU7.

Defeated in
Kn^'land.

On the 4th of April, 1687, the king pnt forth
his " Declaration for Liberty of Gonscience :" thereby
assuming to himself the power, by virtue of his royal
prerogative, of granting a general indulgence, and of
suspending at once all the penal statutes, by whieh
a conformity was required to the established reli
gion. This exercise of arbitrary authority, calling forth
the publiek opposition of the English bishops and

Six. I.] KING JAMES II. 693
clergy who declined to lend their aid to the further
ance of an illegal and unconstitutional act, led the
way to the overthrow of King James's dominion in
England, not without much interraediate peril to the
venerable men, A^hose conscientious sense of their
imperative aud indispensable duty placed them in a
position of unAvilling resistance to the royal will.
To Ireland, also, the influence of the "Declaration" More successful
1 • T 1 T-i 1 c '" Ireland.
Avas designed to extend. But the government ot
that kingdora was too firmly settled in the hands of
the Popish viceroy, by means of his military and
official instruments, to alloAv the question between
the crown and the country to be decided by so sura
mary a process, as that which took effect under the
j'atronage of the nobility and gentry of England,
devoted as they were to their national Church, and
capable of maintaining her rights and privileges. A
knowledge, indeed, of the success which had attended
her exertions Avas a source of consolation and encou
rageraent to the sister Church of Ireland : but the
latter had many severe trials to encounter, and was
v\ell nigh overwhelmed by the flood of Popish
despotisra, before, by the blessing of a gracious Pro
vidence, she was released frora the tyranny of her
arbitrary oppressor.
In one instance, however, at least, resistance was Resistance of
the Dean and
effectually offered by a venerable body to an experi- chapter of st.
. ,, ± Patrick's to the
ment, on which in England the king had made idngs dispensing
power.
shipAvreck of his authority; namely, that of his isa?.
dispensing power unconstitutionally exerted with
respect to a rainister of the Church.
In 1687, one ofthe vicars- choral of St. Patrick's, vicarchorai de-
¦r\iTi . 1 ii» ip^ 1 111 prived for non-
Dublin, having absented himselt from the cathedral, attemianceat
, ... , divine service.
was admonished at the dean s visitation to give due
attendance at divine service, and to perform his duty

694

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. X.

Letter from tho
king iu liis
behalf.

Order for his
restoration.

in the choir. In his defence he avowed, that he
had embraced the Roman Catholick religion, being
that of his sovereign ; which forbade him to pray, or
to officiate in divine offices, with the chapter : at the
same tirae he demanded to enjoy, as before, the
emoluments of his vicarage. After several ineffectual
admonitions, his letter of dismissal was read, aud
formally proclaimed, in his presence, on Thursday,
the 3rd of February following : it recited his manifest
neglect of those duties, which, by law and custom,
he was bound to perform ; it then pronounced him
contumacious, and incorrigibly disobedient to fre
quent monitions ; and finally it declared, that, by the
universal consent of all present, he was deprived of
the office and benefice of a vicar-choral. This judg
ment was signed by seventeen members of the
chapter, then present, among whom v^'as the proxy
of the archbishop, as treasurer. Isaac, the deprived
vicar-choral, appealed viva voce from this sentence,
to the king in his Court of Chancery.
On the 17th of October, he appeared again before
the dean and chapter with a letter from his majesty;
which set forth the deprivation of Isaac, with its
alleged cause, and his petition for the interposition
of the royal authority in his behalf.
" And we," the letter then proceeds, " being informed
of the truth of the said petition, and that the said Bartho
lomew Isaac hath been deprived of bis said office and
benefice, merely for his religion, do hereby signify unto you,
tbe Dean and Chapter of our said cathedral church, that it
is our Avill and pleasure, and we do hereby will and require
of you, that the said Bart. Isaa# be forthwith restored unto
tbe office of one of the vicars-choral of our said cathedral
church, and unto all emoluments unto the said office
belonging ; and we further signify unto you, that it is our
will and pleasure, and we do hereby, by our supreme

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 695
authority, dispense with the said Bart. Isaac's attendance
in the said choir of the said cathedral churcb, and with bis
officiating therein, as long as we, in our princely wisdom,
shall think fit, until we sball signify our royal pleasure to
the contrary ; and that the said Bart. Isaac shall and may
hold the said office, and tbe benefits thereof, notAvithstand
ing any laws, orders, constitutions, or usages, of our said
cathedral church to the contrary, or any laws, statutes,
customs, or constitutions, in our kingdom of Ireland to the
contrary notwithstanding. And for so doing this shall be
your warrant, and so we bid you farewell.
" Given at our Court of Windsor, 10th July, in the
third year of our reign. " By his Majesty's command, " Sunderland."
After perusing this letter, the dean and chapter
were unaniraous, prompt, and decided in taking the
requisite raeasures for their own defence, and for
vindicating the rights and privileges of the cathedral.
This resolute attitude raay perhaps have secured
thera from attempts at further aggression. No such
at least appear to have been made. The disposition,
however, of the king with respect to the rights of
the Church was sufficiently raanifested by his letter ;
the terms of which forbid the supposition, that any
respect, either for the laws of the cathedral, or for
the laws of the realm, withheld hira from enforcing
his royal pleasure in behalf of the disobedient and
contumacious Romanist '^
The alarm of a general massacre, such as had General
been experienced in 1641, was about this time
spread amongst the members of the Church : and
several of her principal nobility made thereupon
application to the Lord Deputy, who assured them
that no such design was intended, or should be
" Mason's St, Patrick, pp. 203, 204.

sacre appre
hended.

696 THE REIGN OF [Cii. X.
perpetrated, notwithstanding he admitted such a
proposal had been made to him. And he accord
ingly issued a proclamation, in which he promised
protection to all descriptions of persons, and made it
penal to discourse or give out that any such massacre
was intended. In fact, it should appear from credi
ble testimony, that such a project had been agitated ;
but that the execution of it had been postponed by
those most desirous of its accomplishraent, in conse
quence of the abhorrence expressed by the Lord
Deputy himself, and some of the officers ofthe army,
of so barbarous and unchristian an action".
Persecution of But, howovor thls luay have been, the Protes-
tho Protestants
throughout tho tants, who were dispersed over the kingdom, were
kingdom. * to '
nevertheless exposed to the mercy of the Irish, and
underwent extreme sufferings. Private thefts, com
mitted by the soldiery, were the first occasions and
forms of their distress. But now the Popish priests
interdicted all their people, between fourteen and
eighty years of age, from coming to mass, unless
each of them was furnished with a skene or dagger
of sixteen inches length in the blade, and a large
half-pike, under the penalty of excommunication, or
of the payment of seven shillings and six-pence fiir
each offence. The orders enjoined on them by the
priests were, that they should be ready at an hour's
warning, to go whithersoever they should be com
manded. And it was the business of the priests aud
their followers, to keep control over the Protestants
throughout the country, if the Irish standing army
should be drawn away together into the North, or if
an English army should land'*.
Meanwhile, immediate employment was found iu
plundering the Protestants of their cattle and other
" Short View, p.^ 12. " Ibid, p, 16.

Sec, I.J KING JAMES II. 697
goods : whole flocks and herds AA'ere driven avAay in
the night; and partly destroyed, and partly distri
buted and detained in the raore raountainous and
wilder districts. The plundered Protestants had no
remedy. The number of the spoilers rendered the
pursuit of them dangerous. If taken, the magistrates
Avould rarely commit them to prison : if committed,
release could be easily procured for them, as for
strong and able-bodied men, fit for the king's service :
besides, if taken and committed, neither inclination
nor occasion would be wanting of revenge'\
A cause for exciting jealousy and increasing hos- Danger of im-
,.|. f^ 111 1 T-» 1 • 1 provement of
tility was afforded by those Protestants who, in such propeity.
tiraes of disturbance, ventured to raake any improve
ment upon their property ; for any improvement was
imraediately interpreted into an expectation of the
arrival of the Prince of Orange, to rescue the king
dom from the authority of the kiug.
Such a suspicion lighted upon Vesey, archbishop Archbishop of
of Tuam, who had lately erected a steeple to his
cathedral church, and added some conveniences and
embellishments to his palace; for it was supposed
that he would not have incurred these expenses at
such an unseasonable tirae, when he might expect to
be deprived of both his church and his palace, if he
had not relied upon secret intelligence of an antici
pated deliverance. Notwithstanding, hoM'ever, the
jealousy with which he was regarded, and the plunder
that he sustained, even of the cattle which he kept
for his own table, he still continued in that barbarous
country; being anxious, as was likewise Tennison,
bishop of Killalla, to give encouragement and protec- Bishopof kh-
tion to the Protestants, as long as they could reraain
without irarainent danger of their own lives'". These
"^ Short View, p. 16. " Ibid, p, 17.

lalla.

698 THE REIGN OF [Ch. X,
were the only two reraaining bishops in the province
of Connaught ; and these were at length compelled
to take refuge in England, where they found safety
and sustenance for a season: the Archbishop in a
sraall lectureship in London, and the Bishop of
Killalla in the cure of the parish of St. Helen, in
the sarae city.
other prelates But thesc werB not the only prelates who were
driven from their i.,,™ 1.1
sees. banished trom their charges by these evil and dis
astrous times. Francis Marsh, archbishop of Dublin,
was corapelled, for his personal security, to Avithdraw
into England ; and at the sarae time were absent,
apparently under the same constraint, seven suffra
gans; namely, the bishops, — Sheridan, of Kilmore,
who, in the third year of King Williarh and Queen
Mary, was deprived for refusing to abjure his former
allegiance, and to take the new oaths ; Wiseman, of
Dromore; Moreton, of Kildare; Narcissus Marsh,
of Ferns and Leighlin ; Jones, of Cloyne ; William
Smith, of Raphoe ; and the well-known theologian,
Ezekiel Llopkins, of Derry, who retired to the
ministry of the parish of St. Mary, Aldermanbury,
or of that of St. Lawrence, Jewry, in the city of
London, where he died, in June, 1690. Another
bishop, namely, Hacket, of Down and Connor, was
at the same time absent, but apparently from a dif
ferent cause; for in 1693 he was suspended, by
virtue of a royal commission, for the neglect of his
pastoral office for twenty years.
Their estates The profits of tfio cstatcs of the expelled prelates
were withheld from them, being sequestered by the
Papists, to the following amount '^ ob.
Archbishoprick of Dublin . . . 1,800
Ditto Tuam . . . 1,700
>' MS, in Library of T. C. D.

sequestered.

KING JAMES 11.

Lshoprick of Kildare

Ditto

Derry .

Ditto

Raphoe

Ditto

Kilmore

Ditto

Killalla .

Ditto

Cloyne .

Ditto

Ferns and Leighlin

Ditto

Dromore

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 699
£.
. 1,000
2,000
. 1,0001,600 900
500 900 800
The only prelates who remained in Ireland during prelates who re-
the Avhole of these coramotions were the following Ireland.
seven : Michael Boyle, archbishop of Armagh ;
Anthony Dopping, bishop of Meath; Thomas OtAvay,
bishop of Ossory; Simon Digby, bishop of Liraerick;
EdAvard Wetenhall, bishop of Cork and Ross ; John
Roan, bishop of Killaloe ; and Hugh Gore, bishop of
Waterford and Lisraore.
Archbishop Boyle had been robbed of all his Ti.cir losses and
goods and house-furniture at Blessington, to the
value of 10,000/., by the Papists, who, for the sake
of further mischief, had also killed all the deer in his
park. And of the other prelates, not forcibly driven
into banishment, the Bishops of Cork and Waterford
are particularly recorded : the former as having
undergone great cruelties and sufferings from the
Irish Papists, from the year 1688 till the settlement
under King William the Third ; the latter as having
been inhumanly treated by the like hands, stripped,
beaten, pierced with raany wounds, and left for dead;
from which barbarous inflictions he escaped, to die in
Wales, in 1690 or 1691, being about the 80th year
of his age.
The inferior clergy were equally victims of this sufferings of the
formidable persecution. Whosoever escaped, they
were sure to be robbed and plundered. They were
exposed to perpetual affronts and assaults. Some

700

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. X.

Knglish Act of
I'arliaiucnt for
tlieir benefit.

Outrages on the
Dublin clergy.

were beaten and abused ; way-laid as they travelled
the high road ; shot at, and vA'ounded, and hardly
suffered to escape with their lives. Many Avere
deserted by their parishioners, who fled into some
safer country ; many were entreated by their parish
ioners to withdraw themselves from danger ; many
received threatening notices of irapending evils,
which were too truly and dreadfully accompli,slied.
Of some the houses were set on fire, and the pro
perty consumed ; on sorae personal injuries were
inflicted, so that death v^as the result; some were
reduced to a want of the comraon necessaries of life.
Many were cast into prison, and subjected to a long
and painful confiueraent. Some were tried for their
lives, and some were condemned to death.
To some of those, indeed, who by the extremity
of their dangers or their sufferings were driven from
their country, and compelled to seek refuge and
hospitality in England, relief was afforded by an
English Act of Parliaraent, VA'hich enacted that any
of the clergy of the Church of Ireland, v\'lio had pos
sessed benefices, from which they had been expelled,
in that country, should be capable of holding prefer
ment in England, without forfeiting their Irish bene
fices, provided they should resign their English pre
ferment, upon being restored to that which they had
been compelled to abandon.
But this enactment could have supplied no more
than a very inadequate remedy for the wants of
those who were expelled from Ireland. Meanwhile,
those who continued in the country were subject to
an uninterrupted and unrelenting persecution.
Even in the city of Dublin, under the eye of the
government, hardly one escaped affronts and abuses,
or could walk the streets in security and quiet, or

Sec.L] KING JAMES II. 701
safely perforin his publiek ministrations. To enu
merate all the acts of violence which they endured
were infinite. But Dr. King has raentioned the
naraes of sixteen or seventeen clergymen, and speci
fied the outrages which were offered to them by
assault, by imprisonraent, by menaces, by irapreca
tions ; by the musket and the lighted match, by the
naked sword, and by the bludgeon ; in the street and
in the highway, in the church and in the churchyard,
in the reading-desk and in the pulpit ; whilst con
ducting the devotions, or ministering to the instruc
tions of the living, or whilst perforraing the last
solemn offices over the dead. Their visitations of
the sick and the dying were impeded or interrupted
by the Popish priests ; who with insults aud threats
pretended to be acting by the king's authority, and
clairaed the faithful Protestant and meraber of the
Church as a convert to the Roraish corruptions.
The conduct of Dr. King himself at this trying Dr. King, the
crisis is worthy of grateful recollection. The Arch- Dubiinscom-
bishop of Dublin, Avhen compelled to fly for his per- °"°""^ '
sonal safety, substituted Dr. King as his commissary,
to visit and take care of his diocese during his ab
sence. But a doubt having arisen about the legal
execution of the commission. Dr. King declined the
office; and prevailed upon thetAvo chapters of Christ
Church and St. Patrick's, of the latter of Avhich he
had been elected dean, to choose the Bishop of Dopping, wshop
j\Ieath as administrator of the spiritualties, in the
absence of the archbishop. He hiraself neverthe
less took an active and zealous part in assisting the
bishop to meet the spiritual necessities, and promote
the comfort and benefit, of those distressed members
of the Church who were precluded by poverty from
fleeing into England; or who, having secured some

702

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. X,

E.\oellcnt con
duct of Bishop
Dopping.

small remnant of their property from plunder, con
tinued to reside at home with the hope of preserving
it. And thus, by the zealous co-operation of these
good men, the churches of the diocese were regu
lated, and the deserted parishes supplied with well-
qualified curates, so that scarce a congregation Avas
destitute of a pastor.
The Bishop of Meath, Avho had distinguished
himself by attacking Popery in the pulpit so early as
January, 1686, with such energy and effect as to
have caused the king to reraark upou it iu a letter to
Lord Clarendon, was raoreover now again honourably
distinguished for the eloquence, fortitude, intrepidity,
and magnanimity with which he laboured to support
the sinking cause of the Church ; frec[uently apply
ing, by petition, to the governraent in its behalf;
and speaking in the House of Lords, in 1689, Avith
great freedora, energy, and decision, against the
iniquitous and nefarious proceedings of King James,
in co-operation with the parliaraent, which at that
tirae he caused to assemble.
These proceedings, indeed, stand upon the page
of history as an example of the most flagitious and
unprecedented iniquity, the particulars of which it
is now our business to state.

Section II.

The king's arri
val in Ireland.

The King's arrival in Ireland. A Parliament. Mode of
calling it. Its composition. Repeal of the Act of Settle
ment. Act of Attainder. Proscriptions under it. Its
atrocity.
The king having been defeated in his attempts to
undermine and subvert the Church of England, and
to establish Popery upon its ruins in that kingdom,

Sec.IL] KING JAMES II. 703
and having compensated the unholy enterprise by
the sacrifice of his crown, abandoned that lost por
tion of his hereditary dominions, and, after a brief
sojourn in France, threw hiraself into the arras of
his Popish subjects in Ireland, who cordially wel
coraed hira to their shores. Landing at Kinsale on
the 12th of March, 1689, he was received by the March 12, leso.
Lord Deputy Tyrconnel, lately elevated to the rank
of a duke, and conducted to Cork, where in the
chapel of the Franciscan monastery, celebrated for
the possession of a well, blessed with supernatural
powers by the miraculous intercession ofthe founder,
he heard mass, being supported through the streets Hears mtiss at
of the city by tAVO friars of St. Francis, and attended
by others of the brethren arrayed in the habits of
their order'.
Proceeding thence to Dublin, which he entered AVorshipsthe
° _ host in Dublin,
Avith a large train of attendants on the 24th of the March 24.
same raonth, his entrance was greeted by the whole
body of the Popish hierarchy and clergy, invested
with all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of their
appropriate habiliments and decorations, and bearing
with them, in soleran procession, the consecrated
wafer, before which he bovA'ed with the most lowly
adoration, araidst the acclamations of a vast multi
tude of the people.
We have hitherto noticed the fostering of Po- rroceeaings
pery, and the injuries inflicted on the Church, under rityonueking.
the auspices, indeed, of the sovereign, but by the in
termediate agency of his Viceroy. We have now to
record proceedings, designated in the preceding sec
tion, as of the most flagitious and unprecedented
iniquity, sanctioned by the iraraediate authority and
' Smith's History of Cork, i. 389,

704 THE REIGN OP [Ch. X,
supervision of the sovereign himself And if in the
sequel he was constrained to adopt the course tliat
he followed, notwithstanding his own inclination to
the contrary, and if he had any real pretension to
the character which has been generally attributed to
him, of a well-intentioned and upright, although a
weak and ill-judging man, he must have been keenly
sensible of the extravagant and distressing price
which he paid for his Irish reception and support;
that price was paid by his consent to the measures of
the parliament which he was immediately induced to
assemble, especially and first of all by his consent to
the Act for attainting the Protestants of Ireland,
and forfeiting their estates.
Parliament sum- Thls act was passod in a parliament, which was
moned, March *
25, 1C89. summoned by the king's proclamation, dated March
the 25th, the day after his arrival in Dublin ; and
met on the 7th of May, 1689, and continued its
sittings till the 20th of the following July. The
calling of the parliaraent has been supposed to be
compulsory on the part of the king ; and the result
of applications, which he was unable to resist, forci
bly pressed upon his reluctant acquiescence by the
Popish claimants of estates, which had been for
feited in the Rebellion of 1641, and which, by the
"Acts of Settlement and Explanation," in King
Charles the Second's reign, had been confirmed to
the Protestant proprietors, by whom they had been
since, and still continued to be, possessed.
Acts of Settle- Lord Clareudou, on being sent to Ireland as
nicut and l^x- , , , . , « Tr' T i
planation. lord lleuteuaut, had it in charge frora King J ames to
declare, that he would preserve the Acts of Settle
ment and Explanation inviolable. He accordingly
made the declaration in council : and further gave
corresponding injunctions to all the judges, who

Sec.IL] KING JAMES II. 705
solemnly declared the same on the bench in their
respective circuits. In obedience also to the king's
commands. Sir Charles Porter, at that time lord
chancellor, made solemn declaration from the bench
of his raajesty's assurance, that he would preserve
those acts as the Magna Charta of Ireland : a The Magna
declaration, which was afterwards repeated by his iand.
successor. Lord Chancellor Fitton. TAvo-thirds of
the lands of Ireland were now held by the tenure,
recognised, deterrained, and established by these
acts : some of the lands having been obtained by
original grants from the crown ; to others the pos
sessors having succeeded by inheritance ; others,
again, having been procured from their lawful pos
sessors by purchase for valuable considerations.
In order to repeal those acts, and so to recover purpose of rc-
p ., A. ,A. p pealing them
possession of the property, its former oAvners, or
their representatives, are said to have compelled the
unhappy and erabarrassed king, reluctant as he was
in giving his consent, to the assembling of a parlia
ment, which, being composed of such raaterials as
they should select and corapact, inight be instru
mental in accomplishing their purposes.
The coraposition of the parliaraent was thus composition of
artfully raanaged. The House of Lords consisted of ""^i>»'"'"°^°'-
about thirty-five temporal peers, Papists, including
those who had been outlawed after the Rebellion of
1641, and whose attainder was now reversed, that
they might be qualified to sit; and of several ueAV Temporal peers.
creations, recently made by the king himself for the
occasion, such as the Lord Chancellor Fitton, created
Lord Gosworth ; Nugent, Lord Riverstown ; Mac-
arthy, Lord Mountcashel ; Browne, Lord Ken-
mare ; and some others. On the other hand, there
2 z

706

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. X.

Spiritual peers.

Their diMCnt
from the act.

Mentioned as
consenting.

were only four or five temporal peers, who Avere
Protestants, the rest having been driven out of the
kingdom by the late violent and lawless courses of
the Popish party ; and seven spiritual peers, whose
names have been lately recited, four of the bishop
ricks having been vacated about or since the time of
King James's accession, and by him left unsupphed,
and the possessors of the other eleven sees being
also absent from the country.
Thus a commanding raajority was prepared to
give eff'ectual support to the intended raeasures of
the governraent. If any additional weight had been
requisite for counterbalancing the Protestant votes,
and giAiiig the preponderance to the Popish, it Avould
haA'e beeu easily supplied by ineans of the titular
prelates of the Roraish Church iu Ireland, who were
ready, and Avere intended upon an emergencj', to be
called up to the House by Avrit.
^^^ith respect, however, to the seven spiritual
rightful peers, then in the kingdora, it should be
noticed that three of these, the Archbishop of
Arraagh, and the Bishops of Waterford and Killa
loe, were excused from attendance on parliaraent by
reasoii of their age and infirmities. The reraaining
four were obliged to appear, in corapliance with the
writs directed to thera ; and the king was fain to
make use occasionally of their moderation, to coun
terbalance the violence of his own party. But in
general they protested against the acts, and entered
their dissent. It is observable, however, that all
these acts of this pretended parliament are alleged
to be enacted by the advice and consent of the lords
spiritual and teraporal : whereas to many of them
not one spiritual lord consented, but they all unani
mously protested against them ; and at the passing

Sec.IL] KING JAMES II. 707
ofthe "Act of Attainder," they were not even
present. They coraplained of this, but were refused
redress: and the express raention of their consent
was nevertheless continued. A different and more
ingenuous course had been followed in passing the
Act of Uniforraity in Queen Elizabeth's reign, when
in consequence of all the lords spiritual, who were
present, dissenting frora the bill, they were not spe
cified in the enactment, which vA'as said to be made
" with the assent of the Lords and Coraraons in this
present parliaraent asserabled."
The House of Coraraons was returned to meet Formation of
,1 . - n n i • 1 1 the Lower House.
the exigency, by raeans equally well contrived, and
equally conducive to the end. The old corporations
having been destroyed, and Popish corporators hav
ing been introduced into the different raunicipal
offices, the raembers for the boroughs were for the
most part Papists, in accordance with the religious
profession of their electors. The sheriffs, whose
function it was to return the members for the
counties, and who had been nominated for that
especial purpose, all of them, with only one excep
tion, which arose frora the accidental raistake of a
narae, being PajDists, had notified the elections so
partially, that the voters, who belonged to their oAvn
side only, were apprized of them ; or conducted
them with such circurastances of inconvenience or
insecurity to the Protestant freeholders, that the
few, who might otherwise have taken part in the
elections, were precluded or deterred from voting.
" By these means," says Dr. King, " the parlia- Parliament con-
ment consisted of the most bigoted Papists : and of ™
such as were most deeply interested to destroy the
Protestant religion, and the Protestants of Ireland."
Some counties had no representatives : as Donegall,
2 z 2

708 THE REIGN OP [Cii. X.
Monaghan, Londonderry, and Fermanagh. Aud
twenty-nine boroughs were without any return, chiefly
on account of the reluctance of Protestant gentle
men to come forward as candidates. For examples
ofthese may be mentioned Carrickfergus and Antrim,
in the county of Antrim; Hillsborough, Bangor,
New Town, and Downpatrick, in the county of
Down; Charlemont, in the county of Armagh;
Lifford, Ballyshannon, Killibeg,s, and Donegall, in
the county of Donegall ; Monaghan, in the county
of ]Monaghan; Enniskillen, in the county of Fer
raanagh ; Londonderry, Liraavady, and Coleraine, in
the county of Londonderry. One of the members
for the county of Dublin Avas the infamous Colonel
Luttrell, by AA'hose well-knoAvn proclaraation the
raeeting together of raore than five Protestants was
Hen .urabie con- doclared criralual, and punishable as high treason.
b^re rorVheTni- Tho tAVO raorabcrs for the University of Dublin, (let

ve-'sltv.

their naraes be added for their honour,) Sir John
]\Iead and Mr. Coghlan, took their seats reluctantly,
" as thinking it scandalous to be found in such com
pany : and they could not prevail upon themselves
to sit out the whole session, but Avitbdrew before the
Act of Attainder came to be concluded, not enduring
to be present at the passing of that and some other
barbarous acts, agaiust which they found their votes
signified nothing whilst they stayed."
ncpe.li ofthe Act Tho first act of this raeraorable and never-to-be-
unen . foj-gQ^-j-gj^ parllauieut was the repeal of the " Act of
Settlement." Thus all Protestants, who were in
possession of lands, Avhether by grant, by inheritance,
or by purchase, which had at any former time
belonged to Papists, were compelled to relinquish
and restore them.

Sec, II,] KING JAMES II. 709
The injustice of the proposed act, its variance its injustice,
with the publiek benefit, and Avith that of the king,
its ruinous effects upon the kingdora and the people,
and its destruction of the national character for
fidelity and integrity, Avere forcibly urged by the
Bishop of Meath in parliaraent, on the 4th of June,
1689 : and a poAA'erful remonstrance against the bill
draAvn up by the Chief Justice Keating, and pre
sented to the king by the Lord Grauarde, clearly
represented, and strongly jiressed, the injuries threat
ened by it to the purchasers and proprietors of lands.
But all this was ineffectual. The "Act of iniquity of tho
Repeal" was passed : and that it raight include all respondence.-
possible descriptions of Protestants, sorae of whora
raight otherwise escape, an expedient AA'as devised by
the insertion of a clause, Avhereby " the estates of
all, Avho dwelt or stayed iu any place of the three
kingdoras, which did not oaa'ii King James's poAver,
or aaIio corresponded with any such as were favour
able to the cause of the Prince of Orange, were
declared to be forfeited, aud vested in his majesty,
without any office or inquisition found thereof"
By this clause vast numbers of peaceable and unof
fending Protestants AAere spoiled of their estates :
for the packets, which passed between Ireland and
England, were carefully and minutely searched at
every arrival and departure ; and every letter found,
on Avhatever subject, being an act of "correspon
dence," Avas held under this law a sufficient cause of
forfeiture. This " Repeal of the Act of Settlement" was a Act of Attainder.
good preparative to the celebrated, rather the infa
mous, " Act of Attainder," Avhich soon followed.
Of this latter act the preamble sets forth and con- its preamble.
demns " the invasion of the king's unnatural enemy.

710

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. X.

Enactment.

First list of tho
proscribed.

Its contents.

the Prince of Orange, invited by his majesty's rebel
lious and traitorous subjects ;" the desertion of King
James by the aforesaid subjects ; the levying of rebel
lion and war against hira ; the raising of an army by
the king's lieutenant, the Duke of Tyrconnel ; and the
refusal of the Protestants to come in and submit,
notAvithstanding that they were " Avitli all mildness
and humanity called to their allegiance, by procla
mation and promises of pardon for the past, "and
protection for the future."
"Be it therefore enacted," the act proceeds
" That the persons hereinafter named, being persons
who have notoriously joined in the said rebellion and
invasion, and some of whora are upon indictments
conderaned, sorae executed for high treason, and the
rest are run away and absconded, or are now in the
actual service of the Prince of Orange, and others
killed in open rebellion ; whether dead or alive shall
be deemed, and are hereby declared, traitors, and
shall suffer such pains of death, penalties, and for
feitures, as in cases of high treason belong : unless,"
the act proceeds to provide, " unless such of the
persons herein mentioned, as are resident in Ireland,
shall, before the 10th of August, 1689, submit
themselves to take their trial for high treason:"
and, in that case, "such person or persons, after
being acquitted by the laws of the land, or dis
charged by proclamation, shall be freed, discharged,
and acquitted, frora all pains, penalties, and for
feitures, by this act incurred and iraposed."
In this, which is the first list in the act, the
following persons were attainted, and their estates
forfeited: one archbishop; one duke; fourteen
earls ; seventeen viscounts] and one viscountess ;
two bishops ; twelve barons ; twenty-six baronets ;

Sec. IL] KING JAMES II. 711
tAventy-two knights; fifty-six clergymen; and one
thousand one hundred and fifty-three esquires and
private gentleraen. The attainted prelates were
Francis Marsh, lord archbishop of Dublin, and
Hopkins and Sheridan, respectively Bishops of Derry
and Kilraore.
The second list of the proscribed consisted of contents of tho
those who were absent frora Ireland before the 5th
of Noveraber, 1688, and who had not returned and
professed their allegiance, according to the procla
mation of the following spring ; and who were now
to be attainted, and their lands forfeited, if they did
not come in and submit, before the 1st of Septeraber,
1689. This list included one lord, seven knights,
eight clergymen, sixty-five esquires, gentleraen, &c.
The thii'd list included those, who, like the per- The third ust.
sons specified in the second, were absentees before
the 5th of Noveraber, 1688, and had not returned
on the piroclamation of the following March : but
whose term for appearance was extended to the 1 st
of October, 1689. In this list were contained one
archbishop ; one earl ; one viscount ; five bishops ;
seven baronets ; eight knights ; nineteen clergymen ;
and four hundred and thirteen esquires and gentle
men : the archbishop being Vesey, archbishop of
Tuam ; the other prelates the Bishops of Kildare,
Raphoe, Ferns, Cloyne, and Dromore.
The. fourth list contained persons, usually resident The fourth use.
in England, to whora was allowed the interval up to
the 1st of October, 1689, for giving in their adhesion
to King Jaraes, and professing their allegiance. The
act says, that as those persons " live in England or
Scotland, and there abide ; and by their not coraing
and returning into this kingdora, upon his majesty's
jiroclaraation, to assist in defence of this realm, must

"^1

712 THE REIGN OP [Ch, X,
be presumed to adhere to the Prince of Orange;" in
case of their not returning within the prescribed
time, their lives and lands were to be forfeited.
This list contained one earl ; fifteen viscounts and
lords ; fourteen knights ; four hundred and ninety.
two esquires and gentleraen. A few were to be
permitted to do homage in England, provided the
king should go thither in October : and his certificate
of their loyalty, under his sign manual, was to be
their protection in return for this suit and service.
To the others of this class no indulgence was to be
extended : but their Irish estates were to be sum
marily wrested from them, if they did not forthAvith
forsake their houses, the places of their constant
abode and residence in England and Scotland, and
join the army of King James. The act then pro
ceeds to vest all the lands of these parties in " his
Majesty, his heirs, and successors, from the 1st of
August last."
Provision of Aud UOW follows a provision, of which it has
unequalled atro ¦ ¦*¦
city. been forcibly but truly reraarked, that " in point of
atrocity and inhuraanity, it cannot perhaps be equalled
in the records of tyranny, since the commencement
of tirae."
Fifth list. After setting out a fifth list, containing the
naraes of one earl, seven countesses, one viscountess,
thirteen ladies, one baronet, and fifty-nine gentlemen
and gentleworaen, the act goes on to say :
" AVhereas these parties are, and for some time past
haA'e been, absent out of this kingdom, and by reason of
sickness, nonage, infirmities, and other disabilities, may for
some time further be obliged to stay out of the kingdom, or
be unable to return thereto : nevertheless, it being much to
the weakening and impoverishing of this realm, that any of
the rents or profits of the lands or tenements therein should

Sec. IL] KING JAMES II. 713
be sent into, or spent in, any other place beyond the seas,
but that the same should be kept and employed within tbe
realm, for the better support and defence thereof: Be it
therefore enacted, that all the estates and lands of these
persons shall instantly vest in his majesty, and his heirs and
successors. Provided, that if any of them have hitherto
behaved themselves loyally and faithfully to his majesty,
then, if they choose to return, (their inability to return
having been before admitted,) and prosecute their claim
against the crown, before the commissioners for disposing of
the estates taken from the Protestants by tbe Act repealing
the Act of Settlement, or in the Court of Chancery or of
Exchequer, then, on the adjudication of such tribunal in
their favour, their estates shall be returned to them."
The other clauses of the act were framed in the other fraudulent
and cruel provi-
sarae spirit of fraud, violence, and cruelty. One siona.
enacts, that the lands, thus seized, shall vest in his
majesty, freed from all mortgages, settlements, or
incumbrances, other than shall be proved and
claimed by the adherents of the king. Another
ordains a special saving provision for all Popish
owners of estates, forfeited in the Rebellion of 1641 ;
lest they should accidentally be prejudiced by the
construction of the Act of Attainder.
But a few words must be added, with respect to Modeofeon-
the manner in which the lists of the proscribed Pro- L't"!
testants were constructed : to the limitation iraposed
on the king's prerogative of raercy by a special
provision of the act : and to the absolute counterac
tion, provided against its apparent indulgences, by its
studied secrecy and concealraent.
First, the names in these fearful lists of the Names inserted
,, T 111 /> 1 , , . without due evi-
proscribed were marked down for destruction, on deuce.
the mere word of an enemy, or the fallacious breath
of vulgar rumour. The merabers of the parliament
were invited to send in the naraes of the Protestant

714

THE REIGN OF

[Ch. X.

King precluded
from pardoning.

Indulgences
rendered null.

gentry of estate, who lived near them, or in the
county or borough for which they served. They
were then assorted and digested under proper heads,
and inserted in the act by its framer. Sir Richard
Nagle, the Popish Attorney-General and Speaker of
the House of Commons. But this he did with such
precipitation and incaution, that, on presenting the
act for the royal assent, he informed the king, that
" many were attainted in that act upon such evidence
as satisfied the House of Commons ; the rest of
them were attainted, he said, upon common fame."
Secondly, lest the mind of the king, who was not
void of the feelings of humanity, should relent in
favour of any of the proscribed, and be disposed to
show raercy, Sir Richard Nagle is related to have
inserted a clause, without the king's knowledge, by
AA'hich the power was taken from the king himself of
pardoning, or exempting from forfeiture or death,
one single indlAudual Protestant on the lists, whose
23ai-don was not signed before the 1st of Noveraber,
1689, although the act itself was not raade publiek
till the following spring.
Lastly, it will have been noticed, that there is an
appearance of some indulgence extended to the pro
scribed on each of the three lists, varying according
to circurastances. Those on the first list being
resident in Ireland, there was allowed to them a
short time, within which they might submit, and
seek a reversal of the attainder: namely, till the
10th of August, 1689. The persons on the second
and third lists being resident out of Ireland, and the
circumstances of each of these classes varying also
from those of the other, a longer interval was
alloA\'ed than in the first case, but with some varia
tion between the two : thus those on the second list

Sec.IL] KING JAMES IL 715
were alloAved till the 1st of September, and those on
the third till the 1st of October, 1689. But these
apparent indulgences were utterly annulled by the
non-publication, or rather the studied concealment,
of the act. The provisions of it were not suffered to
be knoAvn by those, whose existence depended on
their observance of thera. " We offered large sums studied conceal-
merit of the acti
for a copy," says Dr. King, " but could not by any
means prevail, Chancellor Fitton keeping the rolls
locked up in his closet."
A copy, however, was at last procured by strata- a copy procured
gem, on occasion of the king hiraself being desirous
of pardoning one of the attainted persons, Sir
Thoraas Southwell, a personal friend of the king,
when Duke of York. By the utmost chance Sir
Thomas's solicitor succeeded in procuring access to
the roll for a foAv hours, in order to raake a draft of
a warrant for the reversal of the forfeiture ; and he
availed himself of the opportunity to secure a hasty
copy, which being- transraitted to England, the act
then first saw the light. But on the warrant being
subraitted to Sir Richard Nagle, to prepare a fiat
for his Majesty's signature, this confidential adviser
of the Crown, who had hiraself drawn up the bill,
informed the king, for the first tirae, as his majesty
afterwards alleged, of the clause, which deprived
him of the power of pardoning even his oavu old
companion and friend.
On the whole, these combined lists contain the contents of the
,,,, 11 j_ iC combined lists.
names of two archbishops, one duke, twenty-lour
earls and countesses, thirty-five viscounts and vis
countesses, seven bishops, twenty-six barons and
baronesses, thirty-four baronets, fifty-one knights,
eighty-three clergymen, two thousand one hundred
and eighty-two esquires, gentleraen, and gentle-

716

THE REIGN OF

[Cii. X.

women : making a total of two thousand four hundred
and fort3^-five ; and amounting, from the single king
dom of Ireland, to half the number proscribed in
Rome from the greatest part of the then known
world.

Embarrassmentand distress of
the Protestants.

Eelief contri
buted for tlicm
in England. IU'89,

Letter from
EngUsh bishopa
to their clergy.

Section III.
Contributions for the Relief of the Distressed Irish Protes
tants. Act antiullitig the Jurisdiction ofthe Church. Act
for vesting Ecclesiastical Dues in Priests of the Romish
Church. Clergy deprived of their Churches. Pro
testants prevented from meeting together. Oppression of
the University. Character of King James's reign. Re-
establishment ofthe Church.
This repeal of the Act of Settlement, and this
attainder and proscription of more than two thousand
four hundred Protestants, must have been pro
ductive of extreme pecuniary embarrassment and
personal distress to many of those who AA-ere subject
to their operation. The VA'ants, indeed, of the Irish
Protestants in England were such, as to give more
than one occasion for an appeal to the people of
England for their relief Two briefs were accor
dingly issued, at several times, by King William and
Queen Mary, and transmitted by the bishops to
the parochial clergy, for contributions among their
parishioners. On the latter of these occasions, the
Bishops of London, St. Asaph, Bangor, Chester, and
AVorcester, five of the commissioners appointed by
their majesties for making a general collection,
addressed a letter to the parochial ministers, whom
they intreated to communicate to their congrega
tions, " That the commissioners were very sensible
both of their late pains and charity, and of the great
liberality of their people towards the relief of the

Sec. IIL] KING JAMES IL 71 7
said poor Protestants of Ireland : that, unless ex
treme necessity urged, they should not so soon have
renewed their application in this way: that the
great sums, which had beeu so cheerfully given for
the relief of these their distressed brethren, were
now exhausted, notwithstanding they had beer.
managed with all possible care : that still raany
thousands, aud araong them many of great rank and
quality remained here, and AA'ere reduced to the last
extreraity, who must perish Avithout speedy relief.
And raost of these," the letter adds, " are not capable
of returning at present, many of them being aged
and infirm, great numbers belonging to Dublin, and
such other places, to which they cannot return with
out apparent hazard of their lives ; others are forced
to continue here till they have wherewith to pay
their debts, which they have contracted in their
exile, and to transport themselves and their families
into their own country." The date of this letter,
1689, coincides with that of the acts, before de
scribed, of King .lanies's parliament : and hereby a
pregnant proof is furnished of the accumulation of
individual indigence and misery, which those acts
must have occasioned, and of the inhuraanity of their
framers aud enactors.
At the same tirae, they unequivocally betrayed The king's
the predominant disposition Avith respect to the traTcThy these
institutions of the kingdom. In fact they operated
powerfully on the minds of many, who had been
industriously impressed with a favourable opinion of
the great mildness and lenity of King James towards
the Protestants of Ireland, and who were strongly
inclined to persevere in their adherence to him, pro
vided it were consistent with a reasonable hope of
preserving the constitution in Church and State.

718

THE EEIGN OF

[Ch. X.

But these disclosures opened their eyes to a percep
tion of the truth : and convinced them that the
tendency and object of the king's measures were
utterly irreconcileable with the maintenance of the
religious and civil liberties of the kingdom.

Act annulling
the jurisdiction
of the Church,

Two other Acts
confirming the
king's object.

This conviction was confirmed by another act
of King .laines's parliament, which annulled the
jurisdiction of the Church. By this act, all persons
who dissented from the Church were exempted from
its jurisdiction ; so that, in order to be free from all
punishment for misdemeanors, though cognizable
and puuLshable only in the ecclesiastical courts, a
man needed no raore than to profess hiraself a Dis
senter, or that it was against his conscience to sub
mit to the Church's jurisdiction. But, moreover, in
many places there was no bishop of the Church
remaining. And thus the Popish bishops, being by
another act, which is presently to be inentioned,
invested with bishopricks, so soon as they could pro
cure the king's certificate under his privy seal, all
former incapacities being removed, were to succeed
to the jurisdiction. Meanwhile, oue archbishoprick
and three bishopricks being already vacant, and tAvo
other archbishops and seven other bishops being
attainted, this law secured to the Papists the ecclesi
astical jurisdiction of more than half the kingdom at
once, as an earnest of the rest which was quickly to
follow. A further confirmation of the king's object was
afforded by tAvo other acts passed in this same Par
liament. In explanation of which it should be pre
mised, that almost all the parish churches in those
parts of the country where the Irish arms predomi
nated, except in Dublin, had been seized by autho-

Sec. IIL] KING JAMES II. 719
rity, the ministers of the Church of Ireland deprived,
and Popish priests inducted into, and settled in, the
the benefices. By the two following Acts the in
trusive priests and dignitaries, now first denominated
Roman Catholicks by such an instrument, instead of
Papists, their legal denoraination, were vested with
the perception of tythes, and all other ecclesiastical
dues, to the exclusion of the rightful incurabents.
The former of these Acis is entitled, " An Act Act concerning
Tj'thes and Ec-
concerning Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Duties, cicsmsticaiDuties.
The preamble sets forth,
" Whereas tythes, oblations, obventions, offerings, and
other ecclesiastical duties and profits, growing and arising
within all and every the respective parish and parishes of
this kingdom, (impropriate tythes excepted,) have, by the
law of the land, and constitution of holy Church, ever since
the Council of Lateran, been due and payable to the
respective pastors, curates, and vicars of the said respective
parishes, having cure of souls therein ; as a provision
and maintenance for them, for sei-A'ing the said cure, by
celebrating divine service, administering of sacraments,
preaching, and instructing the parishioners thereof iu the
true faith, and performing other pastoral duties belonging
to their functions :"
And, " Forasmuch as the Roman Catholick subjects of
this kingdom for some time past have maintained their own
priests, pastors, curates, and vicars, and thereby have been
very much impoverished, by being obliged to pay their
tythes and other ecclesiastical duties to the Protestant
clergy, who have not laboured in the administration of any
of the said spiritual offices for any of the said Roman
Catholicks :"
The act then proceeds to enact,
" That your Majesty's Roman Catholick subjects of this nom-m Catho-
,. 0 ,) ni* 1 licks to pay to
kingdom shall and may set out and pay all their tythes, tiieirownpriests,
oblations, obventions, and other ecclesiastical duties, wbich pe^ns""'"
of right are due and payable from thenceforth to their

720

THE REIGN OP

CCh. X.

Roman Catho
lick clergy
enabled to sue
for tythes.

respective Roman Catholick priests, pastors, curates, and
vicars, and to no other person or persons, of whatsoever
religion or persuasion soever, (impropriate tythes excepted,)
any law or custom to the contrary notwithstanding."
The reraaining clause enables the said Roman
Catholick clergy to sue for their tythes in any of his
majesty's courts.
" And all incapacities, heretofore devised by any tem
poral law, for disabling any of the said Roman Catholick
clergy from enjoying any benefices or tythes, or for making
any collations or benefices to them conferred void, are hereby
discharged and made void, to all intents and purposes."

Act conceming
appropriate tythes.

To be paid to
Roman Catho
lick dignitaries.

King to signify
who are Roman
Catholick digni
taries.

The succeeding- act was in explanation and fur
therance of the former. With reference to a doubt,
which had arisen in the interpretation of the forraer
act, whether " ai)propriate" tythes were to be paid
to the Roraan Catholick priests or to the Roman
Catholick dignitaries, where such tythes are payable,
it enacts in favour of the latter ; namely, " That the
Roman Catholicks of this kingdom, who are to pay
any such appropriate tythe,s, shall pay the sarae to
the respective Roman Catholick archbishops, bishops,
deans, deans and chapters, collegiate churches, arch
deacons, prebends, or other Roman Catholick digni
taries, in such raanner as the sarae were forraeriy
paid, since the Reformation, to the respective Pro
testant archbishops, bishops, deans, deans and chap
ters, collegiate churches, archdeacons, prebends, and
other ecclesiastical dignitaries of such parishes or
places ;" aud it gives the said Roman Catholick dig
nitaries power for the recovery of the said tythes ;
enacting, at the same time, that " such Roman
Catholick archbishops, bishops, and deans, as his
majesty by auy instruraent, under his privy signet
and sign manual, shall signify to be Roman Catholick

Sec.III.] KING JAMES H. 721
archbishops or bishops of any diocese, or deans of
such places or churches VAithiu this realm, .shall be
so reputed, taken and deenied :" a most extraordi
nary and arbitrary poAver, as hath been observed,
with which the Protestants, hoAvever much they
magnified the king's authority', noA'er trusted the
king nor any mortal man whatsoever.
It further enacts,
" That the king's majesty, his heirs and successors, and Power of ooiia-
all such as are, or shall be, Roman Catholick archbishops, HonofRomTn"
bishops, or other Roman Catholick dignitaries, Avithin this f^",.'^"""'"''*"'
kingdom, and their successors ; and all Roman Catholick
lords, knights, gentlemen, or others, and their heirs and
assigns respectively, who have, or sball have, any advowson,
collation, or right of jiresentation, nomination, or collation
to any benefice within the realm, shall for ever hereafter,
upon vacancy of any such benefice, have full power and
authority to present or collate a fit person to be the Roman
Catholick dignitary, curate, A'icar, or pastor of sucb benefice,
in such manner and form as they respectively, or any of
their predeces.sors or ancestors, did, or could have lawfully
done." It further enacts, that
"So much of any statute as tends to disable, or incajDa- incapacity of
citate, any of tbe said Roman Catholick dignitaries, prie.sts, removed.''"^ "^'^
pastors, or A^icars, from receiving, having, holding, or enjoy
ing any of the said ecclesiastical dignities or livings, iu
manner aforesaid, be and is hereby repealed and made A'oid,"
Thus their legal right aud title to the property of Deprivation and
the Church was taken from the clergy of the Church rightful ciergy.
of Ireland, and conferred upon their titular competi
tors, the schismatical and usurping eraissaries of a
foreign prelate ; and thus the succession of tho.'^e
competitors was perpetuated in their usurped sta
tions, and the rightful clergy excluded iu future
from the benefices of the Churcb, by the exercise of
tho patronage thus established.

722

THE REIGN OF

[Cii, X,

Churehes seized
by the P.apists.

Mode of seizing
the churches.

Dublin churches
seized by order
of Government,

This same Act, Avhich made their bishops and
priests capable of preferments and benefices, gave
them also a title to the churches belonging to those
benefices. But though some had been violently
seized on before the passing of the Act, immediately
on the passing of it they were alarmed by the land
ing of the troops under Duke Schomberg, and forbore
to press forward their clairas ; being contented for
the present that the churches should be left exposed
to the incursions of the Popish rabble, Avho de,se-
crated and defaced them with many circumstances of
insult and contumely, breaking the vA'indoAvs, tearing
up the seats, and throwing doAAu the pulpit, chancel,
and communion table ; and, in some cases, plunder
ing and carrying aAvay A^'hat Avas portable, and burn
ing- whatever was combustible. When, hoAA'ever,
the alarm on account of the invading army had in
sorae degree subsided, in consequence of the Duke
having halted his troops at Dundalk, and not pro
ceeding southward, the priests again took courage,
and, in the raonths of October and Noveraber, seized
on raost of the churches in the kingdora.
They proceeded thus. The raayor or governor
in the toAvns, Avith the priests, went to the churches,
and deraanded the keys of the sextons. If they
could not be found, they broke ojoen the doors, and
jiulled up the seats and reading-desk; and the
priests, having said mass in them, alleged them to be
their own ; and affirmed, that being uoav consecrated
places, to alienate thera, or give them back to here
ticks, would be sacrilege. In the country, the officers
of the militia, or army, gave them the same support.
JMeanwhile, in Dublin, the Government had, on
different occasions, ordered the churches to be seized.
On the 24tb of February, 1689, the Lord Deputy

Seo, Hi,] KIKG JAMES II. 723
filled them AAitli soldiers, for the purpose of receiving
the arms of the Protestants ; and kejit thera, some-
for a longer, some for a shorter time, upon tbis pre
tence. On the Cth of September he ordered them
to be seized anew, pretending that the Protestants
had concealed their arras in them : ou aa hich occa
sion the monuments and graves Avcre broken open,
and the coffins of the dead displaced, and tbe dead
bodies disinterred and exposed, till the Protestants
were alloAved to re-enter thc clnirches again, and
bury the dead ; but no arms were fouud, Iu parti
cular, Christ Church cathedral was seized by Colonel
Luttrell, the governor; aud during the king's resi
dence in that city, Mr. Alexius Stafford, a secular
priest, being made dean of the cathedral, celebrated
mass in it", St. Patrick's was taken possession of
by the soldiers, the raonuiuents iu it defaced, and
part of it converted into a stabled And about
tAA'enty-six other churches and chapels were seized
by the governor iu that diocese.
Insults and injuries of the sarae kind Avere else- popish outrages
where inflicted on the members of the Church by
the agents of the Popish government. Thus, on
the Ilth of August, 1689, the Lord Clare, governor
of Cork, coramitted all the Protestants of that city
prisoners to Christ Church, St. Peter's, and the
Court House. And having, in the following month,
expelled them frora their homes, he, on the Ilth of
October, shut up all the churches ; having perraitted
one Monsieur Boileau, a French officer, who was associ
ated Avith hira in the government of the city, to spoil
the wealthy Protestant inhabitants of their property,
and send it off to France, to the value of 30,000/.=
' Akchd.4.ll's Monast. p, 171. '^ Mason's St. Patricks, p. 177.
3 Smith's Hist, of Cork, ii, 1 96.

724

THE REIGN OF

[Ch, X.

Complaint to
the king.

Hia evasive
answer.

King's procla
mation,Dee. 13, 1609.

Audaoity of the
priest.^.

King Jaraes had expressly provided in his OAvn
Act for Liberty of Conscience, that the Protestants
should be free to " meet in such churches, chapels,
and other places, as they shall have for the purpose."
They complained, therefore, to the king of this
treatment, as a great violation of his oavu engage
ment. They further represented to him, that all
the churches of Ireland were in a raanner ruined in
the late v^'ar of 1641 : that with rauch difficulty, and
at a heavy expense, the Protestants had built aneAv,
or repaired thera ; that many had been erected by
priA'ate persons at their oaa'ii cost ; and that the
Iloman Catholicks had no title or pretence to thom.
But his raajesty answered, that the churches had
been seized in his absence at the camp, without his
consent or knowledge ; that, nevertheless, he was
under such obligations to his Roman Catholick
clergy, that he could not dispossess them ; that they
alleged a title to the churches which they had seized ;
and that, if the Protestants thought their title better,
they raust bring their action, and endeavour to
recover possession by laAA'.
A proclaraation, indeed, Avas put out by the king,
the 13th of December, 1689, in which he acknow
ledges that the seizing of the churches was a viola
tion of the Act for Liberty of Conscience : he does
not, hoAvever, order any restitution, but only forbids
the seizing of more. This was regarded by the
priests as a confirmation of their previous acquisi
tions : and at the sarae time operated as an incite
ment to diligence in getting possession of others,
before the Protestants should be aware of the pro
clamation, and prevent them from being seized.
But after all, where they were aAvare of the procla
raation, the priests thrcAv off thc mask, and acted

Sec. lIL] KING JAVIES IL 725
A^¦ith undisguised audacity : affirming, that the king-
had nothing to do Avith them or their churches ;
that they were immediately subject to the Pope ;
and that they would regard neither the king, nor his
proclamations, nor laAvs, raade to the daraage of tho
holy Church.
Nor AA"as the boast ineff'ectual. For the Pro- petitions to the
testants having been forcibly turned out of the fonfaliTwex-'^'^
churches of Waterford and Wexford, petitions were
jiresented to the king for redress : in the latter of
Avhicli, Alexander Allen, minister of the parish-
church, set forth, that
" He hath therein, for seA'eral years past, daily celebrated
divine service, and exercised all other diA'ine functions, with
piety to God, and constant loyalty to your majesty : yet
your petitioner, on the 25th of October last, AA-as dispos
sessed of his said church, (contrary to the late Act of Liberty
of Conscience,) by Edward Wiseman, Esq., mayor of Wex
ford ; who, a few daj's after, did not only, by tbe rabble
introduced by him, break doAvn and domoli.sh all the pews
and altar of tbe said church, but did seize and unjustly deny
your petitioner's ve.stineuts, church-book, and other orna
ments thereof, to the great prejudice of your petitioner and
his parishioners : although your majesty's Roman Catholick
subjects have several chapels fit for the exercise of their
religion, both within and without the walls of the said town,
and Avhereunto seA'eral Protestant inhabitants have given
liberal contribution."
The reasonableness of the petitions Avas so mani- ineffectu.ii inter-
fest, that, in spite of the opposition of the attorney king.'™"
and solicitor-general, an order was made in council
for the restitution of the churches, which order the
mayors and officers refused to obey. And in the
end, on pretence that the church of Waterford was
a place of too great strength to be trusted in the
hands of Protestants, it VA'as turned into a garrison :
and the renewed order and zealous exertions of the

726

THE REIGN OF

LCii, X,

Interruption of
divine worship
hy Papists.

Protestant expe
dients for divine
¦worship.

king himself, accompanied by the dismissal of the
disobedient mayor of Wexford, were insufficient for
procuring the restitution of that church. In a word,
when the king would have kept his promise, he had
not the poAA'er of doing so : and his Act of Parlia
ment for Liberty of Conscience, seconded by his
OAVU frequently-repeated pledge.?, could not prevent
the demolition, defacing, or seizure, of nine churches
out of ten in the kingdom.
The same Act proraised " full and free exercise
of their respective religions to all that profess Christ
ianity within the kingdom, Avithout any molestation,
loss, or penalty Avhatsoever :" but it omitted ¦ to
ordain any punishment on those who .should disturb
any religious asserablies. Into the churches, there
fore, of Avhich the Protestants still had the use, the
Popish officers and soldiers intruded, and interrupted
divine service or the sermon with menaces, and oaths,
and curses, and insult,s, and assaults, and every sort
of noise and disturbance. Still, much to the dis
content of the intruders, the Protestants collected
together for divine Avorship, and the zeal of those
who reraained supplied the absence of those that
were gone, and the churches were as crowded as
forraeriy. In the country, Avhere the Protestants Avere
deprived of the churches, they assembled in private
houses : and the loss of their ministers was supplied
with others, who, in the absence of a regular main
tenance also, officiated gratuitously, or Avere sup-
23orted by voluntary contributions. Thus there
apjieared no probability of .the service ofthe Church
being controlled and suppressed, but by compulsion.
And the folloAving successive measures appear to
have been directed to that end.

Sue, III,] KING JAMES II. 727
A proclamation on the 13th of July, 1689, for- Protestants fur-
, T T-, f, , . ' , bidden to go out
bade Protestants to go out of their parishes, j^artly, of tiieii parishes,
as hath been supposed, Avith a design of hindering
their religious assemblies ; for such must have been
the effect of the order in a country, wliere the num
ber of churches was less than that of the parishes.
On the 6th of September, in the same year, on seiviconotper-
. n n • , ^ ^ ii'pt niitted in Christ
pretence of a case ot pistols and a sword being found chmch.
in some outpart of the building, the cathedral of
Christ Church, Dublin, Avas locked up for a fortnight,
and no service in it permitted.
Ou the 13th of September, on pretence of some protestants for-
ships being seen in Dublin Bay, all Protestants were blofordivtao™'"
forbidden to assemble in any church, or in any other '™'"'"p-
jdace of divine servdce.
On the 27th of October, Christ Church Avas christchmch
appropriated to themselves by the Papists, and the 'Se p.^pists.'^ '''*'
Protestants precluded from officiating in it any more.
On the 18th of June, 1690, Colonel Luttrell, .uoc than Ave
f, T-.. ... , Tl* 1 f, 1 • 1 T, P)-otestantsfor-
governor of Dublin, issued his order, forbidding more bidden to meet
than five Protestants to meet and converse together, wm'"' °
on pain of death, or such other punishment as should
be thought fit by a court martial. And in answer
to the inquiry, Avhether this was designed to hinder
meeting- at churches ? it was replied, that it was
designed to hinder meetings there, as well as iu
other places. And, in execution of this, all the ah the churches
churches AA'ere shut up, and all religious assemblies *"'"p-
forbidden through the kingdom under pain of death.
" And we were assured," observes Dr. King, from Avbose
narrative most of tbe foregoing particulars have been ex
tracted, " that, if King James had retumed victorious from
the Boyne, it was resolved that tbey should never have been
opened for us any more : and the same excuse would have
served for his permitting this, which served him the former

728 THE REIGN OF [Cii, X.
year for not restoring the churches, taken away in his ab
sence at the former camp, even that he must not disoblige
his Roman Catholick clergy,"

The king's in Ju- 'fho Uulversity of Dublin partook in the general
rlous treatment .
oftheu.iivcr»ny. oppresslou of tlio Cliurcli. NotvA'ithstanding the
proraise of the king, on his first arrival in Dublin,
" that he would preserve thera in their liberties and
properties, and rather augment than diminish the
privileges aud immunitie.s, granted to thera by his
jiredecessors," yet he withdreAv from them the pen
sion annually paid them out of the Exchequer, as part
of their support, and proceeded to acts of violence
against the members of the foundation, then consist
ing of a jnovost, seven senior and nine junior felloAvs,
aud seventy scholars. /
Attempt to force All attempt had been made iu an earlier part of
a fellow on the , - . , . , ,
society. the king s reign, to force upon the college a pro
fessor for an office AAdiich had no existence. An at
terapt Avas subsequently made in behalf of the same
individual, to obtrude hira ou the society as one of
the senior fellows. The attempt was steadily re
sisted, partly on the plea of the individual's inca
pacity, but principally " for the much more important
reasons, drawn, as they alleged, as avoU frora the
statutes relating to religion, as from the obligation
of the oaths we have taken, and the interest of onr
religion which we will never desert, that render it
wholly impossible for us, without violating our con-
.sciences, to have any concurrence, or to be any Avay
concerned, in the admis.:iion of hiin." Thus Avhile
the same spirit of infatuation Avliich had actuated
the king to obtrude a president on Magdalen Col
lege, Oxford, was evidenced in his atterapts on
Trinity College, Dublin, the like spirit of conscien-

Sec. IIL] KING JAMES II. 729
tions resistance, which bad been roused iu the former
body, did not slumber in the latter.
But the resistance was ineffectual. The iiieiii- lycetion of the
, {, 1 • f ,, 1 . T , 1 1 provost :iud
bers ot the society were forcibly ejected by the sol-

fcll0«S

llbrarj-.

diers. The provost and several of the fellows suc
ceeded in effecting their escape into England ; others
were apprehended and comraitted to the raain guard :
all were displaced from their .situations, and tbeir
iraprisonraent was only forborne on condition of
three of them not meeting together on pain of death.
The college itself the king intended to couA-ert at a
future time into a Hominarv of Jesuits ; meauAvhile
he nominated Iavo Pojiish priests to be the provost
and librarian.
It has been already noticed that in the year 1601, primateUssher-s
soon after tlie foundation of tbe university, aband- thecoUcgo
sorae benefaction was raade, from the arrears of their
pay, by the English army in Ireiaud, for establishing
a library, A similar disposition actuated another
English army in that kingdom iu the year 1656,
Avhen advantage AA'as taken of the intended sale of
the costly and valuable collection of books, of the
manuscripts which were not in bis own handwriting,
and of the choice, though not numerous, collection
of coins, whicb Archbishop U.ssher had bequeathed
to his daughter ; and tho officers and soldiers of the
arinv then in Ireland, from a aenerous emulation of
the former noble action of Queen Elizabeth's army,
Avere incited by some raen of publiek spirit to follov,-
tlie example.
The purchase was accordingly effected ; but the
bountiful purpose of the purchasers was defeated by
some pretence of CromAvell aud his son, then coni-
raander-in-chief in Ireland, who withheld it from the
college. Aud the books being deposited in the

730

THE REIGN OF

[Cu. X.

College and its
contents seized
by the Papists.

castle of Dublin, unbestowed, unprotected, and dis
regarded, in rooras not properly secured, raany of
thera were lost or stolen during the anarchy and con
fusion that followed the usurper's death ; till after
King Charles the Second's restoration, they fell to
his disposal, and he generously bestowed them on
the university, agreeably to Priraate Ussher's original
design. This collection, together with the other contents
and furniture of the library, was uoav seized on by
King James's adherents, together with the fnrniture
of the chapel, the communion j^late, and all things
belonging to the college, or to the individual fellows
and scholars. The house was made a barrack for a
Popish garrison, the chapel was turned into a maga
zine, many of the chambers were employed as prisons
for Protestants, the doors, AA'ainscots, closets, and
floors were destroyed, and injury to a large amount
was comraitted on all the building and its contents,
the sole .offence being the design and use of the uni
versity as a place for Protestant education.

The king a mar- -^^^^ ^ sufficleut sketcli has been now given of the
tyrto Popery. ^j,jg^]g ^f ^^^g Church duriug this short but disastrous
reign. King James had made an early resolution
" either to die a raartyr, or to establish Popery." He
did not, indeed, die the death of a martyr, but he
endured a sort of martyrdora in the loss of his royal
dignity, and in final banishraent from his home and
His defeat at the hls couutry, by his defeat at the Boyne on the 1st of
July, 1690; about five years and five raonths after
his accession to the throne, and soraeAvhat more than
one year and a half after his abdication of the
English crown. The character of his mind, and the
tendency of his actions, are strangely illustrated by

Boyne July 1, 1690.

Sec.III.] KING JAMES II. 731
the two last acts recorded of hira, previously to the
conclusive battle ; naraely, the appointment, iu a
Roraish college at Kilkenny, of certain Popish priests
to benefices in the diocese of JNIeatb, frora Avhicli
the laAvful incurabents had been forcibly driven ; and
tlie establLshnient, by royal charter, of a new Bene
dictine nunnery in Dublin, the patent for which
bears date the 15th of June, 1690, a fortnight be
fore his final defeat and dethronement. To the character of ws
Church of Ireland his reign, almost from its com
raenceraent to its conclusion, vsas a calamitous series
of fallacious promises, of violated pledges, of uncon
stitutional and tyrannical decrees, of arbitrary im
positions, of oppressions and persecutions the most
bitter and relentless. These evils probably were the
dictates of wicked counsellors, rather than of his
own free will ; but they resulted frora his determi
nation to incur any danger in order to the establish
ment of Popery. However this be, his failure was
of incalculable importance to the religious condition
of Ireland ; for it laid a check for awhile in the Bri
tish empire on the aspiring, the restless, and the un
changeable spiirit of that doraineering power, and
restored her legitiraate rights and privileges, as pre
viously secured, to the Church.
Actuated by a lively sense of the deliverance congratulations
achieved for her by the victory of the Boyne, the Kingwimim!'
ministers of the Church, resident in Dublin and its
vicinity, waited iu a body on the conqueror in his
camp, and by the mouth of the venerable BLshop of
Meath, Avho had been their great advocate in afflic
tion, and who now conducted their rejoicing assem
bly, tendered to King William an addres,s, expressive
of their congratulations, their loyalty, and their

732

THE REIGN OF

LCh. X.

Thanksgiving at
St. Patrick's.

Restoration of
the Church.

prayers for his Avelfare'. On the following Sunday,
July the 6th, Dopping, bishop of JNIeatb, and Digby,
bishop of Liraerick, with all the clergy who were in
Dublin and its neighbourhood, the Priraate having
excused his non-appearance by reason of his great
age and infirraities, attended his triumidiant proces
sion to St. Patrick's cathedral, VAdiither he repaired
to return thanks for his success. There a sermon
was preached by Dr. King, who had been elected
not long before to the deanery, coraraemorating the
poAA'er, and wisdom, aud the ju-ovidence of God, in
the protection of his people, and the defeat of their
enemies'. And this AAas folloAved by the king's per
mission for the appointment of a day of solemn
thanksgiving, and for composing an occasional form
of prayer. Thus pure religion, rescued from the en-
croachraent of " Popish tyranny and arbitrary povA'er,"
A\as again established by God's good ^u'ovidence in
Ireland, under the safeguard of the laAv : and res
cued frora the arbitrary and tyrannical proscriptions
of the Popish kiug, as she had been not long before
delivered frora the sectarian persecutions of the re
publican usurpation, the Church of Ireland was
again vindicated and secured as part of the constitu
tion of the kingdom ; having all along, and indepen
dently of all secular support, preserved her character
of a true and sound part of the holy Catholick and
xVpostolick Church of Christ, by her three orders of
the ministry, transmitted in an unbroken line from
the apostles, and by her preaching of the pure AA'ord
of God, and her ministering
according to priraitive usage,
Book of Coinuiou Praver.

of the sacraraents,
as embodied in her

* Wake's Bishops, y. lOI.

» Masox, p. 211.

Sfx. IIL] KING JAMES II. 733
That this Apostolical and Scriptural Church AA'as obstructions to
not at the sarae time enabled to exert her influence,
and dispense the means of grace, over thc Avhole
kingdom and all its inhabitants, must be matter of
the most sincere and deep concern Avith those avIio
are capable of justly estimating her excellence. But
whatever efforts now or at any other time Avere
directed to that end, they were counteracted by im
pediraents inherent in the politico-religious condi
tion of the country, especially by the iudefatigable
energy and predorainant influence of the Roraish counteraction of
the Romish
hierarchy and priesthood, aaIiIcIi annulled all freedom hierarchy.
of thouglit and action in the Popish coraraunity, so
as to preclude the operation of Christian truth upon
their rainds, whilst they put forth all their poAvers for
the secular aggrandiseinent and profit of their party.
This object had been fully unfolded and boldly aA'OAved
in the last raiserable reign, when every exertion Avas
used for placing in the hands of the Papists all the
property and jiolitical poAver of the kingdom. Such
Avas the aim of their united efforts. And never can
it be enough lamented that the united energies of
Protestantism could not be brought into action on
the other side ; but that sectarianism was permitted evu influence
, , of sectarianism .
to divert the natural resources, to weaken the poAvers,
and to diminish the authority, of the Church ; and
thus to impede her efficacy in driving aAA-ay the erro
neous aud false doctrines of Popery, and in spread
ing over the kingdom the blessings of the reformed
and pure faith of Christ, and his ordinances, as pro
fessed and maintained in her Apostolical communion.

APPENDIX.

No. I.
Catalogue of tbe Arciibishop.s and Bishops who are ascertained to
baA-e occupied the Sees of the Church of Ireland, during
the period comprised Avitbin the foregoing narrati^'e, com
mencing in the year of our Lord 1.535, the twenty-.sixth of
the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, and ending in 1690,
the year of the Abdication of King James tbe Second, with
the f^irtb-iDlace or Country of each Prelate, bis previous Sta
tion in the Cburch, the dates of bis Succeeding to, and
Vacating, his Bishoprick, and his Translation, if any.

I. PROVINCE OF ARJIAGII.

ARCHBISHOrs OF ARMAGH.

Names.

Birth-plact'..

Previous StatioDS.' Succession

Vacancy. Translation.

George Cromer 

England 

l.V2->

. . 1S43

George Domlall 

County of Louth

f Prior of Crouched Fri- }
1 ars, Ardee  )

lol3

. . 1551 voluntary
banishment.

Hugh Goodacre 

England 

( Vicar of .Shadfleet, Isle |
1 ofWight  )

l.)5-2

. . 1552

George Dowdall 

As above 

15.53

. 15.38

Adam Loftus 

A orkshire 

Chaplain to Q. Elizabetli

1.50-2

. . 1567 to Dubliu.

Thomas Lancaster . . .

England 

Chaplain tu Q. Elizabeth

1568

.. 1584

John Long 

London 

King's College, CaniLridge

1S84

. . 1589

.Tohn Garvey 

Kilkenny 

Bisliop of Kilmore 

1089

.. 1594

Henry Ussher 

Dublin 

Archdeacon of Dublin . .

1595

.. 1613

Christopher Hampton

. Calais 

Bisliop-elect of Derry . . .

1613

. . 1624

James Us.slier 

Dublin 

Bisliop of Mcatll 

1021

. . 1655 during the
Usurpation.

John Bramhall 

Vorkshire 

Bishop of Derry 

1661

.. 1663

James Margetson 

Vorkshire 

Arclibishop of Dublin. . .

1663

.. 1678

Michael Boyle 

Irciand 

Archbishop of Dablin. . .

1678

sur\ived the Abdica
tion of King Jiuues.

BISHOPS OF MEATH.

Edward Stajilc,^ 
Lincolnshire . . .
Canon of Christ Chur.
Oxford 
1530
. 1554 deprived.
73G APPENDIX.
Names. Birth-places. Previous Stations. Succession. Vacancy. Translalioii.
William AViilsh  AA'aterford  CistercianMonkof BectifT 1551 .. 1500 depriveil.
Hugh Brady  Dunborn  Archdeacon of Meath .. . 1663 .. 1583
Thomas Jones  Lancashire .... Dean of St. Patriclc's  1584 . . 1605 to Dublin.
Roger Dod  England  Dean of Salop  1005 . . 1608
George Mountgomcrv Scotland  \ ^'^V"'' °^ ^rP'\ ^''" 1 1610 • ¦ 1020
° ' ¦ ( iihoc. and Clogher )
James Ussher  Dublin  Chancellor of St. Patrick's 1621 . . 1624 to Armagh.
Anthony Martin  Gahvay  Dean of Waterford  1625 .. 1650 during the
Usurpation.
Henry Leslie or Lesley Scotland  Bp. of Down and Connor 1069 .. 1661
Henry Jones'  Ireland  Bishop of Clogher  1661 .. 1681
Anthony Dopping .... Dublin  Bishop of Kildare  1681 survived the Abdica.

tion of King J;

auiL's.

BISHOPS OF CLONMACMIIS.

Quintin  Ireland  Franciscan Friar  1510 .. 15.3.S
Eichard Hogan  Ireiaud  Bishop of Killaloe  1538 . . 1538
Florence Gerawan .... Ireland  Fr.inciscan Friar  1539 . . 1551
Peter AVall (or AVale). . Ireland  Dominican Friar  1550 . . irim
In 1568 the bishoprick of Clonmacnois vvas by .Vet of Parliament united to that of
Meath, and Hugh Brady became bishop of (he two dioceses.
BISHOPS OF CLOGHEE.
Hugh O'CeiTallan .... Irciand  . . . . 1 5 12 not known, but later
than 1557.
Milcr Magragh  Fermanagh.... { ^X'rof D™"' ''^' } 1"° •• l'^'"'" t'ashel.
George Mountgomery Scotland  Dean of Down  1605 . . 1620
James Spottswood .... Scotland  D. D  1621 . . 1644
Hem-y Jones  Ireland  Dean of Ardagh  lGi~> . . 1661 to ^Aleath.
John Leslie or Lesley . . Scotland  l^ishop of Raphoe  1661 . . 1671
Robert Leslie or Lesley Ireland  IJishop of Raphoe  1671 . . 1672
Roger Boyle  Ireland  Bp. of Down and Connor lii72 . . 1687 when the
revenues of the see were applied by King James
to the -support of the Popish bishops, and the see
left unoccupied.
BlNlIOrs OF DOWX AND CONNOR.
Eugene Magenis  IiT'land  . . . . lo 11 unknown, but later
than ir).'jU
John Meri-iman  England  Chaplain to Q. Elizabeth loGS .. l.)72
Hugh Allen  England  . . . . 1-573 . . loS'l to Ferns.
Edward Edgeworth .. . England  Preb.ofTijiperkevin^Dub. lo9.1 .. 150.5
John Charden  Devoiisltire .... Beneficed in Exeter  I;j96 . . 1001
Robert Humston  M.A  161r2 .. lODiJ
John Tod  Dean of Casliel  1600 . . 1611 dq-riyed.
James Dundas  Scotland  Chantor of ^Murray .... 1612 . . 1612
Robert Echlin  Scotland  .. 1613 .. 163-5
Henry Leshe or Le.shy Scotland  Dean of Down  1035 . . 166'J tu Meath.
Jeremy Taylor  Cambridge .... Chaplain to K. Charles I, 1661 . . 1067
Roger Boyle  Ireland  Dean of Cork  1667 . . 1672 to Chightr.
Thomas Hacket  England  Dean Oi Cork  1072 survived the Abdioa-
eation of King Jaraes II.
BiSIIor OF KILMORE.
John Garvey  Kilk.'nnv  ]).¦¦¦¦ i.f CLv^t Chri'-t. .. l-3s,j , . 1,>;(^ tu Anii.'i.i;ii.

APPENDIX. 737
BISHOP OF .VEDAGH.
N.iiues. Birth-places. Previous Stations. Succe.sion. Vacancy. Translation.
Lisach Ferral  Ireland  . . . 1583 unknown.
BISHOPS OF KILMOKE AND AEDAGH.
Robert Draper  Ireland  Eector of Trim  1603 .. 1612
Thomas Moygne  Lincolnshire... Dean of St. Patrick's. .. . 1612 .. 1628

AVilliam Bedell  Essex.  Provost of Trinity College 1029

1633 I '^"'"s''. ^y
( resignation.
1641 1 Kilm°r«.l>y
I, ( death.

BISHOP OF AEDAGH.

John Richardson  Chester  Archdeacon of Derry .... 1033 . . 1654 during the
Usurpation.
BISHOPS OF KILMORE AND ARDAGH.
Robert Maxwell  Ireland  Archdeacon of Dow^n . . j \cRi \ 1672
Francis Marsh  Gloucestershire . Bishop of Limerick  1072 . . lOSl to Dublin.
William Sheridan .... Cavan  Dean of Down  1081 survived the Abdica
tion of King James II.
BISHOPS OF DROMORE.
Arthur Magenis  Ireland  .. .. .. 1550 unknown.
John Tod held the see in commendam with Down and Connor .... 16U6 .. 1611 deprived.
Theophilus Buckworth Cambi-idgcshire . Treasurer of Aniiagh ... . 1013 .. 1652 during the
Usurpation.
Eobert Lesley, or Leslie Ireland  Archdeacon of Connor .. lUOO .. 1001 to Eaphoe.
Jeremy Taylor held the see in commendam with Down and Connor . 1001 .. 1667
George Eust  Cambridge.... Dean of Connor  1667 .. 1670
Essex Digby  Warwickshire.. Dean of Cashel  1670 .. 1683
Capel Wiseman  Essex  Dean of Eaphoe  1683 survived the Abdica
tion of King Jaraes II.
BISHOPS OF EAPHOE.
George Mountgomery . Scotland  Dean of Down  1605 . . 1610 to Meatli.
Andrew Knox  Scotland  Bishop of Orkney  1611 .. 16.33
John Lesley, or Leshe . Scotland  Bishop of Orkney  1633 . . 1661 to Clogher.
Eobert Lesley, or Leslie Ireland  Bishop of Dromore  1C61 . . 1671 to Clogher.
Ezekiel Hopkins  Devonshire  Dean of Eaphoe  1671 .. 1681 to Derry.
AA'ilUam Smith  Lisnegarvy  Bishop of Killala  1081 survived the Abdica
tion of King James II.
BISHOPS OF DEEEY.
George Mountgomery . Scotland  Dean of Down  1605 . . 1610 to Meath.
¦n Tl , . J /-,! 1 • (FeU. of Corpus Christi] ,„,„ ipi,
BrtitusBabmgton.... Cheshire  | College, Cambridge [ ^^^° •• '""
John Tanner  Cornwall  {^ raZ !!''!.?!. ""I "'^^ •• "'^
George Downham  Chester  Chaplain to K. James I. . lOIC . . 1034
John Bramhall  Yorkshire  Archdeacon of Meath .. . 1634 .. 1660 to .Annagh.
George AA'ild  Middlesex  Chaplain to Abp. Laud . . I66I .. 1665
3 B

738

APPENDIX.

Name^. Hi rtli -place i.
Robert jSIossora  England 
Michael "Ward  Shropshire . . .
Ezekiel Hopkins  Devonshire . . .

Previous Stationi. Succeeuioii.
(Dean of Christ Ch.,| ir.^/.
\ Dublin  I
Bishop of Ossoiy  167!)
Bishop of Raphoe  1681

Vacancy. 'In
. 1679
. 1681
. 1690

II. PROVINCE OF DUBLIN.

ARCHBISHOPS OF DUBLIN.

5 Browne  London .

Ge
Hugh Curwin  AVestmoreland .
Adam Loftus  Yorkshire . . . .
Thomas Jones  Lancashire . . .
Lancelot Bullteley .... Anglesey 

James Margetson  Yorkshire 
Michael Boyle  Ireland 
John Parker  Dublin 
Francis Marsh  Gloucestershire .

( Proyincial of Angus- )
\ tine Friars  J
Dean of Hereford 
Archbishop of Armagh . .
Bishop of Meath 
Archdeacon of Dublin . . .
Dean of Christ Church . .
f Bishop of Cork, )
\ Cloyne, and Ross . J
Bishop of Elpliin 
f Bishop of Kilmore and )
( Ardagh  [

1535

. . 1554 ileprived.

1555

. . 1567 to Oxford.

1567

.. 1605

1605

.. 1619

1619

. . 1650 during the

Usin-pation.

1660

. . 1663 to Armagh.

1663

. . 1678 to Arraagh,

1678

.. 1681

1 681

survived the Abdica-

tion of King James II.

BISHOPS OF KILDARE.

Walter Wellesley .... Ireland  Prior of Conal 
TV'illiam Miagh  Ireland 
Thomas Lancaster .... England 
Thomas Leverous .... Kildare  Dean of St. Patrick's . , . .
Alexander Craik  . . . . Dean of St. Patrick's . . . .
Robert Daly  . . . . Prebend, of Clonmethan .
Daniel Neylan  . . . . Rector of Inniscatty ....
AVilliam Pilsworth. .. . London  Chancellor of Ferns ....
Robert Ussher  Ireland  Provost of Trinity Coll. .
William Golboum. . . . Chester  Archdeacon of Kildare . ,
Thomas Price  Wales  .Archdeacon of Kilmore . .
Ambrose Jones  Ireland  Archdeacon of Meath . . .

Anthony Dopping .
William Moreton .

TA IT (Chaplain to Duke of)
D-i^l^"  i Ormonde  \
Chester  Dean of Christ Chui-ch . .

BISHOPS OF OSSORY.

1531 .

. 1589

1540 .

. 1548

1550 .

. 1554

deprived.

1651 .

. 1559

deinived.

1560 .

. 1564

1564 .
. 1582
1583 .
. 1603
1604 .
. 1635
1635 .
. 1612
1644 .
. 1650
during the
Usurpation.
1601 .
. 1607
to Cashel.
1667 .
. 1678
1678 .
. 1681
to Meath.
I68I survived the Abdica
tion of King James II.
Milo Baron  Ireland  Prior of Inistiock  1527
.John Bale  Suffolk  Eector of Bishop's-stoke . 1552
John Thonory  KUkenny  B.D  1553
Christopher Gaffney . . Ireland  Prebendaiy of Tipper . .. 1667
Nicholas Walsh  Ireland  Chancellor of St. Patrick's 1577
John Horsfall  Yorkshil-e   1586
Eichard Deane  Yorkshire  Dean of Kilkenny  1 609
.Jonas Wheeler  Oxford  ¦] D hi" *[ ^*)^'^
GrifGlh AA'iUiams  Caernarvon .... Dean of Bangor  ] 641
1650 1553 by expul
sion.
15651576
1683 16091613 1040
1672
APPENDIX.

739

Nantes. ^ Birtb-pluces. Previous St.ttious. £
John Parry  Dublin  Dean of Christ Church .
Benjamin Parry  Dublin  Dean of St. Patrick's . . .
Michael AA'ard  Shropshire .... Provost of Trinity Coll .
Thomas Otway  AViltshiro  ] ^ aXuI- '"""''' ""'' }

I

BISHOPS OF FERNS.
Alexander Devereux . . AA'exford  Abbot of Dunbrody
John Devereux  AA'exford  Dean of Ferns  1560
TT 1 . 11 17 1 1 f Bishop of Down and 1 i re-,
Hugh Allen  England  i „J 1582

LCCessiou

. Viirancy. Translation.

1672

.. 1677

1677

.. 1078

1678

.. 1679

1079

survived tho Abdica-

tion of King James II.

1539

.. 1666

1560

.. 1578

\ Connor .

¦ f

. . 1599

BISHOPS OF LEIGHLIN.
Matthew Sanders .... Drogheda  .. ., .. 1527
Hubert Travers  . . . . . . . . . . 1550
TltomasField,orO'Fihel Cork  Franciscan F'riar  1665
Daniel Cavenagh  Ireland  Chancellor of Leighlin . . . 1567
Richard Mcredyth .... AVales  Dean of St. Patrick's .... 15S9

1549 1555 deprive.l.
15671587
1597

BISHOPS OF FERNS AND LEIGHLIN.
Eobert Grave  Kent  Dean of Cork  1600
Nicholas Stafford  .. .. Chancellor of Fems  1600
Thoraas Ram  Wintisor  Dean of Fems  1605
George .Andi'cw  Daventry  Dean of Limerick  1635

1600 1604 16311048 duriug tho
Usurpation.
1066 1682

Eobort Price  Wales  Dean of Connor  1661
Eichard Boyle  Ireland  Dean of Limerick  1666
Narcissus Marsh  Wiltshire  Provost of Trinity College 1682 sur\'ived the Abdica
tion of King James II.

III. PEOVINCE OP CASHEL.
AECHBISHOPS OF CASHEL.
Edmund Butler  Ireland  Prior of .Abbey of -Athassel 1527 . 1650
Eolaud Baron  Ireland  .. 15.53 .. 1561
BISHOPS OF EAILV.
jEneas O'Hifernan . . . Ireland  Preceptor of Anj-  1543 . . 1553
Revnnund de Burgh .. . Ireland  Observantine Franciscan . .. 1362
In 1568 the two Sees of Cashel and Emly were united by Act of Parliament.

AECHBISHOPS OF CASHEL AND BISHOPS OF EMLY.
James Mac Cagh well.. Cashel  Bishop-elect of Down ".. . 1567 .. 1570
Miler Magragh  Fermanagh  Bishop of Clogher  1570 .. 1622
Malcolm Harailton  Scotland  Chancellor of Down  1623 . . 1629
Archibald Hamilton... Scotland  {""tchonry".!!''} ^''^^ - "¦'"
Thomas Fulwar  Ireland  Bishop of Ardfert  I66I .. 1666
Thomas Price  Wales  Bishop of Kildare  1667 .. 1684 whju the
revenues td' the see were applied by King James
for the support of the Popish Bishops, and the
sees were left unoccupied. 3 B 2

740 APPENDIX.

BISHOPS OF LIMERICK.
- Names. Birth-places. Previous Stations. Succession. VacaDCy. Translation
.John Coyn  Ireland  Dorainican Friar  1523 . . 1551 resigned.
William Casey  Ireland  Rector of Kilcoman  1351 .. 1358 deprived.
Hugh Lacy or Lees .. . Ireland  Canon of Limerick  1557 .. 1571 resigned.
WiUiam Casey  As above  Restored  1571 . . I59I
John Thornburgh  Salisbury  Dean of York  1593 .. 1603 to Bristol.
Bernard Adams  Middlesex  | ^tgl Oxford''^ ^'''" } ""* " ^"'^S
Francis Gough  AA'iltshire  Chancellor of Limerick . . 1626 .. 1034
George Webb  Wiltshire  Chap, to King Charles I. 1634 . . 1641
Robert Sibthorp  Essex  Bishop of Kilfenora  1642 . . 1649 during the
Usurpation.
BISHOPS OF AEDFEET AND AGHADOE.
Nicholas Keenan  Ireland  . . . . 1588 . . 1699
John Crosby  Ireland  Prebendary of Disert  1600 . . 1631
John Steere  England  Bishop of Kilfenora  1622 .. 1628
AVilliam Steere  England  Dean of .Ardfert  1628 . . 1037
Thoraas Fulwar  Ireland  Eector of Kingroan  1641 . . 1661 to Cashel.
BISHOPS OF LIMERICK, ARDFERT, AND AGHADOE.
Edward Singe  England  Dean of Elphin  1661 .. 1663 to Cork,
Cloyne, and Ross.
AA'illiara Fuller  London  Dean of St. Patrick's  1663 . . 1667 to Lincoln.
Francis Marsh ..;... . Gloucestershire . Dean of Armagh  1667 .. 1672 to Kilraore
and Ardagh.
John A'esey  Coleraine  Dean of Cork  1672 . . 1678 to Tuam.
Siraon Digby  Queen's County Dean of Kildare  1678 sui-vived the Abdica
tion of King James.
BI.SHOPS OF AVATERFOED AND LISMORE.
Nicholas Comin  Limerick  Bishop of Ferns  1519
Patrick Walsh  Waterford  Dean of Waterford  1351
Marmaduke Middleton . . . . Rector of Killare  1379
,,.,,,- 1 r. 1. fin commendam with)
Miler Magragh  Fermanagh  | Cashel  J
Thomas Wetherhead . . Ireland  | ^'andCloj^ne"'^, .^"^ }
,-., ,, . T^ . fin commendam with)
Mder Magragh  Fermanagh  | Cashel  \
John Lancaster  England  Chap, to King James I. . .
Michael Boyle  London  Dean of Lismore 
John Atherton  Somersetshire . . Chanc. of Clirist Church
Avchibald Adair  Scotland  {^tTon™^!"'} 1«" - "^^jS"™
George Baker  Dublin  D.D.ofDublin  I66I .. 1865
Hugh Gore  Dorsetshire .... Dean of Lismore  1666 survived the Abdica
tion of King James II.
BISHOPS OF CORK AND CLOYNE.
Dominick Tirrey  Ireland  Eector of Shandon  1536 .. 1556
Eoger Skiddy  Ireland  Dean of Limerick  1357 . . 1566 resigned.
Eichard Dixon  Ireland  Preb. of Eathraichaid. . . . 1670 .. 1571 depriveil.
Matthew Shern  Ireland  .. .. 1573 .. 1.383

1519 .

. 1551 resigned.

1351 .

. 1678

1379 .

. 1683 to St. David's

1382 .

. 1589 resigned.

1589 .

. 1392

1392 .

. 1607 resigned.

1607 .

. 1619

1619 .

. 1635

1636 .

. 1640

APPfiNDI-K.

741

BISHOPS OF CORK, CLOYNK, AND ROSS.
Names. Birth-places. Prei ion. Stations. Succcs.ioil.
AA'ilUam Lyon  Chester  Vicar of Naas  1 5^3
John Boyle  Kent  Dean of Lichfield  1618
Richard Boyle ....... London  Dean of AVaterford  1 630

BISHOP OF COEK AND EOSS.
AA'Uliam Chappel  Nottiugharashire Prov. of Trinity College ,

George Synge .

BISHOP OF CLOYNE.
England  Dean of Dromore .

1638

1638

\ licaiKA . Trausliition.
. 1617
. 1620
. 1638 to Tuam.

1649 during the
Usurpation.

1653 during the
Usurpation.

1663 to Dubhn.
1678

BISHOPS OF COEK, CLOYNE, AND EOSS.
Michael Boyle  Ireland  Dean of Cloyne  I66I
Edward Synge  Sllropshire .... Bishop of Limerick  1663
BISHOP OF COEK AND EOSS.
Edward AVetenhall ... . Litchfield  Chantor of Christ Church I67S stirnved thc .Abdica
tion of King James II,
BISHOPS OF CLOYNE.
Patrick Sheridan  Cavan  Dean of Connor  1679 . . 1682
Edward Jones  England  Dean of Lisraore  1683 survived the .Abdica
tion of King James.
BISHOPS OF KILLALOE.
Richard Hogan ...... Ireland  Franciscan Friar  1525

1539 1546 1555
1370 I6I2
1633
Edward Parry  Newry  Dean of Lismore  1647
Edward A^'orth  Cork  Dean of Cork  1661
Daniel AVitter  England  Dean of Down  1669
John Eoan  AVales  Dean of Clogher  1675

James O'Corrin  Ireland  . . . .
Comehus O'Dea  Ireland 
Terence O'Brien  Ireland 
Maurice O'Brien  Ireland  . .
John Rider  Cheshire  Dean of St. Patrick's .
Lewis Jones  Merionethshire . Dean of Cashel 

. 1339 to Clonmac nois.
. 1546 resigned,
. 1555
. 1566
. 1613 resigned.
.. 1632
. 1646
, . 1650 during the
Usurpation .
, . 1669
. 1675
survived the -Abdica
tion of King James.

IV. PROVINCE OF TUAJI.
ARCHBISHOP OF TUAM AND BISHOP OF KILMACDU-AH.
Christo; her Bodekin .. .. .. .. 1536 .. 1573
ARCHBISHOPS OF TUAM.
AVilliam Laly  Galway  Dean of Tuam  1373
Nehemiah Donellan .. . Galway  Coadjutor of Abp. Laly . 1595
AVilliam Daniel  Kilkenny  Treasurer of St. Patrick's 1609
Randolph Barlow  Dean of Christ Church . . 1629
HichardBoyle  London  P^and'E^sf .' .^!T!' } ^^^^
John Ma.xwell .  Scotland  Bp. of Ross in Scotland , . 1 645

1595
1609 resigned.
1628
1638 1641
1646 during the
Usurpation.

742

APPENDIX.

ARCHBISHOPS OF TUA-AI AND BISHOPS OF KILFENORAGH.

Vacancy.
. 1667

I'l^DslalioD.

Namci. Birth-places. Previous Stations. Succession.
Samuel PuUea  Yorkshire  Dean of Clonfert  1601 .
John Parker  Dublin  Bishop of Elphin  1667 . . 1678 to Dubliu.
John Vesey  Coleraine  Bishop of Liraerick  1678 sunuved the Abdica-
cation of King James.

BISHOPS OF ELPHIN.
Conat O'Siagal  Ireiaud  Abbot of Assadara  1541
Bernard O'Higgin .... Ireland  Dominican Friar  . . 1552
Roland De Burgo  Ireland  Bishop of Clonfert  1653 . . 1 580
Thomas Chester  London  .. ,, .. .. 1584
John Linch  Galway  L.L.B. of 0-xford  1581 .. I61I
Edward King  Huntingdonshire D.D. of Dublin  1611 .. 1638
Henry Tilson  Yorkshire  Dean of Christ Church . . 1639 .. 1656
John Parker  Dublin  Dean of Killala  1661 .. 1607
John Hudson  England  Dean of Cioghcr  1667 . . 1685
revenues of the see were applied by
to the support of the Popish Bishops,
was left unoccupied.

probitbly.

resigned.during the
Usurpation .
to Tuam.
i^hen the
King James
itnd the seo

BISHOPS OF CLONFERT.
j Provincial of the Au- 1
\ gustinian Hermits . J
Roland De Burgo .... Ireiaud  Dean of Clonfert  1541

Richard Nangle  Ireland

1636

1680

BISHOPS OF CLONFERT AND KILMACDUAGH.
Stephen Kerovan  Galway  Archdeacon of Enaghdune 1383
Roland Linch  Galway  Archdeacon of Clonfert .. 1602
Robert Dawson  Kendal  Dean of Down  1637
William Baily  Scotland  D.D. of O.xford  1644
I Chaplain to Kings 1
Edward AVolley  Shi'cwsbury ....

1602
1635
1643 1664 fwhen the
1684 A revenues
(ofthe sees

Charies I. and [ 1664
Charles II. J
wt^rc applied by King James to thc support of thc
Popish Bishops, and the sees were left unoccupied.

BISHOP OF KILLALA.
Owen O'Connor  Ireland  Dean of Achonry  1591 . . 1607
BISHOPS OF K1L1A.LA. AND ACHONRY.
Miler Magragh held these sees in commendam with Casliel 
Archibald Harailton . . Scotland  D.D. of Glasgow 
Archibald Adair  Scotland  Dean of Eaphoe 
John Maxwell  Scotland  Bp. of Ross in Scotland. .
Hemy Hall  Oxfordshire  Dean of Cork 
Thomas Bayly  Rutland  Dean of Down 
Thomas Otway  Wiltshire  Chaplain to Lord Berkely
.John Smith  Athboy  Dean of Liraerick 
William Smith  Lisnegarvy .... Dean of Dromore 
Richard Tennison .... Carrickfergus . . Dean of Clogher 

1607

.. 1632

1623

. . 1630 to Cashel.

1630

. . 1640 deprived.

1640

. 1645 to Tuam.

1661

.. 1663

1663

.. 1670

1670

. . 1679 to Ossory.

1679

.. 1680

1081

. . 1681 to Eaphoe.

I08I

survived the Abdica-

cation of King James II.

APPENDIX. 743

No. II.

Question, tjchether any Bishops resigned at Queen Eli'.abetJt's
Accession.
It has been stated in the foregoing narrative, page 27'>, that the
only bishops of the Church of Ireland, who Avere affected by the
measures consequent on Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne,
were Walsh, bishop of Meath, and Leverous, bishop of Kildare.
Whilst these sheets, however, have been passing through the press,
_a volume, apparently of much research and value, under the title of
An Apology for the Doctrine of Apostolical Succession, has been pub
hshed by the Honourable and ReA^erend Arthur Perceval, Avhich
contains the following passage.
" At the accession of Queen Elizabeth," says Mr. Perceval,
" of all the Irish bishops only two Avere deprived, and two others
resigned, on account of their adherence to the supremacy of the See
of Rome. The rest continued in their sees : and from them the
bishops and clergy of the Irish Church derive their orders 
This has never been disputed."
The whole of this passage I take to be indisputable, except that
part of it which afBrms " two of the Irish bishops to have resigned
their bishopricks on account of their adherence to the supremacy of
the See of Rome." In this particular the position of the excellent
Avriter appears to me questionable at least, or, I ma)- venture to say,
erroneous. He will not be displeased if I proceed to investigate
the position for the purpose of ascertaining its correctness. And as
he does not particularize the individuals, I purpose, as the most
complete and satisfactory method of proceeding, to recite the several
sees, with the occupancy of each at the queen's accession, Novem
ber 17, 1558, and the date and cause of each vacancy subsequent to
that event, so far as they are recorded and known.
Armagh Avas vacated by the death of George Dowdall, August
15, 1558, and had not been filled at the queen's accession.
Meath, by the deprivation of William Walsh, 1560.
Clonmacnois, by the death of Peter Wall or Wale, 1568.
Clogher was occupied by Hugh O'Cervallan in 1557, but how
much later is not recorded, nor how he vacated it. His successor
was appointed in. 1570.

744 APPENDIX.
Down and Connor was occupied by Eugene Magennis in 1560;
but how much later is not recorded. A grant of the sees was made
to James Mac Caghwell, January 6, 1565.
Kilmore ; the occupant of this see is not knoAvn.
Ardagh was vacated by the death of Patrick Mac Mahon, 1572.
Dromore, Raphoe, and Derry ; the occupant of neither of these
sees is known.
Dublin was vacated by the translation of Hugh CurAvin, 1567.
Kildare, by the depriA'ation of Thomas Leverous, 1560.
Ossory, by the death of John Thonory, 1565.
Ferns, by the death of Alexander De\'ereux, J 566.
Leighlin, by the death of Thomas Field, or O'Fihel, 1567.
Cashel, by the death of Roland Baron, 1561.
Emly, by the death of Reymund de Burgh, 1562.
Limerick, by the resignation of Hugh Lacy, 1571.
Ardfert was occupied by James Fitzmaurice in 1576; but how
much later is not recorded, nor how he vacated it. His successor
was appointed in 1588.
Waterford and Lismore, vacated by the death of Patrick Walsh,
1578. Cork and Cloyne, by the resignation of Roger Sldddy, 1566.
Killaloe was occupied by Terence O'Brien in 1566 ; but how
much later is not recorded ; nor how he vacated it. His successor
was appointed in 1570.
Tuam and Kilmacduagh, vacated by the death of Christopher
Bodekin, 1572.
Kilfenoragh ; the occupant of this see is not known.
Elphin was vacated by the death of Roland de Burgh, 1580.
Clonfert, the same, 1580.
Killala, occupant not known.
Achonry, occupant not known.
Of the twenty-eight bishopricks recited above, at the queen's
accession, there was vacant  1
Those, of which the occupants are not known, were
Subsequently there were vacated by deprivation
„ „ „ translation
death

7 2 1
11 2

„ „ ,, resignation
„ „ „ causes not recorded 4
Total . . 28
The question Avith "which Ave are engaged evidently turns upon
last six.

the last six

APPENDIX. 745
Tavo of these vacancies, namely, of Cork and Cloyne, and of
Limerick, were made by resignation ; but these can hardly be the
tAVO of which Ave are in search. For one AVcas in the year 1566, the
other in 1571, that is to say, eight years and thirteen years respec
tively, after the queen's accession ; not, therefore, on occasion of
\ that event, nor likely to be connected Avith it. Besides that, as to
.3 the question of the supremacy. Bishop Skiddy had previously
accepted the deanery of Limerick from King EdAvard the Sixth ;
and, although he had been appointed to the see of Cork and Cloyne
by Queen Mary, he had not been put by her into real possession,
but subsequently received a new grant, and his investiture, from
Queen Elizabeth, and Avas actually consecrated by her mandate.
Under these circumstances the supposed motive for resignation were
strange indeed.
Two of the A'acancies, namely, of Killaloe and Ardfert, were
made in a manner not recorded, but after the years 1566 and 1576
respectively ; probably at a considerable distance after, for the fol
lowing appointments took place in J 570 and 1588; so that, suj)-
posing the tAvo vacancies to have been made by resignation, a mere
gratuitous supposition, hardly reconcileable with Sir James Ware's
and Mr. Harris's ignorance of the fact, they are likewise thus re-
niOA'ed from connexion Avith the queen's accession.
There remain the vacancies of the two sees of Clogher and of
Down and Connor.
As to the former, there seems to be no positiA'e evidence that
Hugh O'Cervallan, bishop of Clogher, occupied the see later than
1557 ; but that he did occupy it later may be probably inferred from
the fact of the grant of the bishoprick being made to his successor,
September 18, 1570, near twelve years after Queen Elizabeth's
accession, so that the vacancy should appear to have been uncon
nected with that eA'ent. But if it was earlier, there is still no
authority for attributing it to resignation ; and the absence of such
authority affords a presumption against the fact, which could not
well have failed of being recorded at the time, or of falling under
the notice of historical antiquaries afterAvards. Besides the bishops
in question are said to haA^e resigned " on account of their adherence
to the supremacy of the See of Rome." But Bishop O'Cervallan
had long ago severed that adherence ; for having been first promoted
to his see by the provision of Pope Paul III., he gaA-e up his bulls,
and took the oath, then required, to King Henry VIII. ; Avho
thereupon gave him a ncAV grant of the bishoprick ; of vvdiich his
adherence to the supremacy of the See of Rome Avas not likely to
produce a subsequent resignation.

746 APPENDIX.
As to Down and Connor, the bi.sliop of that diocese likewise,
Eugene Magennis, had been advanced to it by provision from Pope
Paul III. ; but he likewise had made submission, and sworn fealty
to King Henry VIIL, from whom he had a pardon for accepting
the sees, in September or October, 1541 ; together with a dispensa
tion for holding iti commendam other benefices, which he voluntarily
surrendered, and which were then, by letters patent, annexed to his
bishoprick. Moreover in 1552, he assisted Archbishop Browne, to
gether with Lancaster, bishop of Kildare, at the consecration of
Goodacre and Bale, appointed by King Edward VI. , respectively
to Armagh and Ossory. And he was present in the session of par
liament which was opened in Dublin on the 12th of January, 1560,
wherein the Pope's power was utterly abrogated. " But I do not
find," says Sir James Ware, " when he died." Ware, therefore,
supposes, and so does, of course, his continuator Harris, that the
vacancy of this see was made by death, and not by resignation, of
which latter cause, if it had occurred, they could hardly have been
ignorant ; but, however made, the grant of the see to his successor
in 1565, renders it probable that the vacancy did not occur in im
mediate connexion with the queen's accession.
Upon the whole, if the position Avhich I have been examining,
rests upon any direct testimony, it is entitled to credit in proportion
to the validity of that testimony. If not, the foregoing review of
the occupancy of the Irish sees at Queen Elizabeth's accession may
be a sufficient warrant for the opinion, that no resignations were
made in consequence of that event; but rather that the hypothesis
of such resignations having been made, is not better founded than
the fiction, which, so late as the time of Strype, attributed to the
queen the deprivation of Primate DoAvdall, who, in fact, died three
months before she came to the throne.

POSTSCRIPT.
With reference to the foregoing investigation, my attention has
been just now directed to Mr. Dodsworth's little volume. The
Church of Etiglatid a Protester against Romanism and Dissent ; iu
the eighth number of which, page 8, is contained a quotation from
a recent tract, entitled. Historical Notices of Peculiar Tenets of the
Church of Rome. This quotation states, " That by the records of
the Irish Church it appears, that Avhen, in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, the Roman jurisdiction AA'as renounced, of all the Irish

APPENDIX. 747
bishops only two, namely, Walsh, bisho]D of Clonard," (meaning
Meath, of AA'hich Clonard was one of the numerous constituents,)
" and LiA^erous," (LeA'erous,) "bishop of Kildare, suffered deprivation
for their refusal to join in that renunciation. Two others, Lacey,
bishop of Limerick, and Skiddy, bi&hop of Cork and Cloyne,
resigned; the former in 1566, and the latter in 1571, po,s.sibly from
scruples on the same score." It mny be that these are the two
bishops of whom Mr. Perceval speaks as having " resigned, at the
accession of Queen Elizabeth." But, whether their resignation Avas
at all connected with the alleged or supposed cause, is left to the
decision of the reader, when he shall have considered the circum
stances above stated concerning the iuA'estiture and consecration ot
Bishop Skiddy, and the length of time Avhich elapsed during his
and Bishop Lacy's contented occupancy of their sees, without any
scruple, as it should seem, as to the Roman jurisdiction and
supremacy. After all, the question is of no great moment. But, having
stated as a fact what appears to be differently regarded by the above-
named respectable writers, I am fain to take this opportunity for
endeavouring to explain and verify my statement.

INDEX.

AuBEVADDO, alias Belfast, several chapels annexed to its churoh in
1622, 407
Abbeys, suppression of thirteen, enacted, 122
Abbots and Priors, provision made for them, on surrendering their
monasteries, 157
of suppressed houses, lords of parliament, 158
Acts of Parliament, 26 Henry YIII., chap. 14, English, conceming
suffragan bishops, 179
Poyning's Act, its purport, 115
repealed in Henry VIII.'s first parliament, 116
28 Henry VIII., chap. 4, repeals Poyning's Act, 116
28 Henry VIII., chap. 5, enacts the King's Supremacy, 116
28 Henry VIII., chap. 6, regulates appeals in spiritual cases, 116
28 Henry VIIL, chap. 8, enacts the payment of first-fruits to
the king, 122
28 Henry VlII., chap. 16, enacts the suppression of certain
abbeys, 122
28 Henry VIII., chap. 26, vests the first-fruits of suppressed
abbeys in the king, 122
28 Henry VIII., chap. 14, gives the twentieth of all spiritual
promotions to the king, 122
28 Henry VIII., chap. 19, prohibits all payments to the Pope,
123
28 Henry VIII., chap. 13, annuls Papal authority, 116
28 Henry VIII., chap. 12, determines the authority of proctors in
parliament, 121
28 Henry VIII., chap. 15, for encouraging the English order,
habit, and language, 123
28 Henry VIII., chap. 16, enacts the dissolution of monasteries,
155
28 Henry VIII., chap. 16, for the suppression of abbeys, 164
possessions given by it to the king, partly for the publiek, and
partly for his private use, 1 64
31 Henry VIII., chap. 14, and 32 Henry VIII., chap. 10, for
punishing the incontinency of priests, 174
33 Henry VIII., chap. 5, for the suppression of Kilmainham and
other religious houses, 164
3.3 Henry VIII., chap. 14, for endowing vicarages in parishes
appropriated to religious houses, 165
33 Henry VIII., chap. 1, for entitling the King of England
King of Ireland, 165
the earhest in Ireland directed against the reformed doctrines, 243

750 INDEX.
Acts of Parliament, 3 and 4 Philip and M.iry, chap. 9, for reviving
three statutes for punishment of heresy, 245
explanation of the three statutes, 246
gloomy prospect opened by them to Protestants, 248
purpose of carrying them into effect, 249
3 and 4 Philip and Mary, chap. 8, for repealing statutes against
the See of Eome, 244
its provisions, 245
3 and 4 Philip and Mary, chap. 10, for the discharge of the first-
fruits, 246
its provisions, 247
2 Eliz., chap. 1, for restoring the Crown's ancient jurisdiction,
2 Eliz., chap. 2, for the uniformity of Common Prayer, 258
for Uniformity, remarkable enactment at its conclusion, 259
impropriety and inapplicability of it, 260
for Uniformity, of Queen Elizabeth, still in force when the
Liturgy was superseded by the Directory, 586
2 Eliz., chap. 3, for restitution of first-fruits to the Crown, 262
2 Eliz., chap. 4, for annulling election of bishops by deans and
cltapters, and vesting it in the Crown, 263
hesitation about carrying it into effect, 266
correspondence between the queen and council about it, 267
deviation from the rule, and probable causes of it, 268
11 Eliz., chap. 6, to prevent the nomination of improper persons
to cathedral dignities, 286
12 Eliz., chap. I, for the erection of free-schools, 289
its occasion, 289
and provisions, 290
28 Eliz., chap. 2, against witchcraft and sorcery, 313
3 and 4 Philip and Mary, prohibited the bringing of the Soots
into Ireland, 367
repealed by 11 James I., 367
10 Charles I., for improving the estates of the Church, 483
in Ireland, for Uniformity of Publiek Prayers, 17 and 18 Charles
II. , its preamble, 645
and principal enactments, 645, 646
its operation on nonconformist ministers, 647
17 and 18 Charles II., chap. 10, for disabhng persons to hold
benefices both in England and Ireland, 649
of Charles II., enacting an annual thanksgiving for the King's
Restoration, 635
ditto for preservation from the late Rebellion, 636
of Uniformity in England, proceedings connected with it, their
effect in Ireland, 637
of Attainder, passed in the parliament of King James IL, 709
its preamble, 709
its enactments, 710
five lists of persons proscribed by it, 710 — 713
its spirit of fraud, violence, and cruelty, 713
of Repeal of the Act of Settlement, its injustice, 708
opposition made to it, 709
its effect on Protestants, 710

INDEX.

751

Acts of Parliament, of James II., for annulling the jurisdiction of the
Church, 71 B
of James 11., concerning tythes aud ecclesiastical dues, 719
of Settlement and Explanation, promises that they should be
maintained inviolable, 701
lands of Ireland for the most part held under them, 705
means for compelling their repeal, 705
Adair, Archibald, bishop of Killala, suspected of favouring the Scotch
Covenanters, 542
deprived of his bishoprick, 643
appointed to Waterford, 543
Adair, Mr. Patrick, his account of the conference between Bishop
Leslie and the nonconforming ministers, 521
Adaire, Robert, signs the Scotch Covenant, 527
correspondence concerning him, 528
Adrian, Pope, had no right to the kingdom of Ireland, 109
Agard, Thomas, his letter to Lord Cromwell concerning the preaching
of the Gospel, 144
Aghadoe and Ardfert, bishopricks of, their extreme poverty, 445
Alan, John, archbishop of Dublin, his narrative of a miraculous con
quest gained over the prince of darkness, 56
Cardinal Wolsey's instrument for dissolving some of the lesser
monasteries, 155
Allen, Lord Chancellor, joins in an answer to Lord Cromwell, touch
ing religious matters, 150
with other members of the privy council visits the four counties
above the Barrow, 150
detail of their proceedings, 151
Allen, Thomas, informs Lord Cromwell of favour shown to the
Papists, 143
Allen, Master of the Rolls, recommends the king's supreme dominion
to be recognised by the regal title, 166 ~
All-hallows, monastery of, given by the Corporation of Dublin as a
site for an university, 31 7
Altars and chapels, numerous in the same place, 100
Altar-stone, on which a leper passed from England to Ireland, 78
Ambrose, St., two forged prayers attributed to him by the Church of
Rome, 209
Anniversaries for celebrating private masses, 99
Antichrist, doctrine concerning, in the Irish Articles of Relio-ion, of
questionable propriety, 386
Anti-remonstrants, refuse toflcknowledge the king's temporal power, 653
Antrim, county of, earliest Presbyterian congregation formed at Broad
Island, 367
Apology for authorized and set forms of Liturgy against the pretence
of the Spirit, by Bishop Taylor, 648
Apostolical succession, how maintained in the Church of Ireland, 269
unquestioned and unquestionable, 270
in what persons maintained, 285
how maintained at the Restoration, 597
Archbishops, commanded by the king to be careful of the improve
ment of the clergy, 438

702 INDEX.
Archbishops and bishops, their full attendance on parliament in 1615,
381
their judgment against toleration of religion, 422
their sees and family names, 423, 424
their petition to King Charles I., in behalf of the inferior clerffv,
483 °^
disasters which befell them in the Rebellion of 1641, 562
proscribed by the Act of Attainder, 709
Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, question of precedence between
them finally settled, 479 — 481
Archbishopricks, how filled by Queen Elizabeth, 284
Ardagh, bishoprick of, united to Kilmore, 613
cathedral church of, its antiquity and ruinous condition, 435
Ardfert, abbey of, contest between its prior and the bishop of the
diocese, 23
Ardfert and Aghadoe, bishoprick of, united to Limerick, 613
Armagh, Archbishop of, Primacy restored to him by Queen Mary,
233
his precedency before Dublin decided, 481
Archbishops of, their jurisdiction independent of the Pope, 4
the first among the Irish prelates, 7
rivalry between them and Archbishops of Dublin, 18
archbishoprick of, five persons nominated for it to King
Edward, 213
difficulty of providing a fit person, 215
Goodacre appointed to it, 216
injured by rebellion, 282
improved by Lord Wentworth and Bishop Bramhall, 508
cathedral of, destroyed by Shane O'Neal, 280
restored by Archbishop Hampton, 379
cathedral and town of, destroyed in 1566, 302
laid waste in the Rebellion of 1641, 558
clergy of, opposed to the king's supremacy, 114
diocese of, report of its state, as to ministers, parsonage-houses,
churches, benefices, &c., in 1622, 396
province of, commission for inquiring into the state of its several
dioceses, 395
detailed reports of the dioceses with only one exception, 395
abstract of the report, 396
university of, its celebrity, 37
Army, new-modelled for the promotion of James's purposes, 681
Protestants displaced and Papists substituted, 682
Aroasian monks, a branch ofthe Augustinians, 41
Articles of Faith, with respect to candidates for the ministry, described
differently in English and Irish Canons, 500
Articles of Religion, brief declaration of, in 1566, 271
its object and contents, 272—274
corresponding to one in England, 276
general conformity of the Irish clergy to those of the Church of
England, 382
plan of forming new Articles for the Church of Ireland carried
into effect, 383

INDEX. 753
Articles of Religion, account of these Articles, 383 — 388
their incorporation of the Lambeth Articles, 384
their diffuse and excursive character, 385
exceptions taken to them at the time, 387
the impediment they presented to an union between the Churches
of England and Ireland, 387
put forth by the Convocation, 388
question concerning their authority answered, 388
question concerning their repeal, 389
those of England proposed to be adopted in Ireland, 484
account ofthe proceedings connected with their adoption, 485 — 491
Articles of Church of England adopted by Church of Ireland, 490
question of the effect thus produced on the Articles of the Church
of Ireland, 491—494
Articles of 1615, proposal for confirming them in 1635, 490'
answer to the proposal, 490
question as to the effect produced on them by the adoption of the
Thirty-nine Articles, 491
different opinions recounted, 491
opinion of Archbishop Ussher, 492
intention of the governments and Bishop Bramhall, 493
different practices consequent thereupon, 493
attempt to procure a ratification of them by Act of Parliament, 494
rejected by Lord Deputy with indignation, 495
fell into neglect after the Restoration, 496
Assembly of Divines at Westminster, Ireland not free from its con
tamination, 576
nominates Archbishop Ussher one of its members, 575
causes him to be voted out again, 576
Athenry, church of, burnt by the Mac an Earlas, 302
unnatural and impious answer on the occasion, 303
Augustinian monks, why particularly numerous, 41
Auricular confession, mischief of it, 148
Austin or Crutched Friars, their establishments, 43
Authority of the Church, set forth in a sermon, delivered to his clergy
and published by Henry Leslie, bishop of Down and Con
nor, 516
Bacon, Sir Francis, his letter to Secretary Cecil on the state of
Ireland, 328
recommends toleration of religion, 328
Bale, John, bishop of Ossory, his description of the Popish celebra
tion of divine worship, 60
his early life, 217
his promotion by King Edward VI., 218
his consecration, and circumstances of it, 218 — 221
his zeal in preaching the gospel at Kilkenny, 222
his horror at the Popish enormities, and description of them, 223
his account of the subjects of his preaching, 224
his charge against Archbishop Browne for not using King
Edward's Second Book, 225
his unbecoming grossness of manner, 226
3c

754 INDEX.
Bale, John, bishop of Ossory, his diligence in his charge, 227
his account of the proclamation of Queen Mary at Kilkenny, 230
his flight beyond the seas, 234
his persecutions and dangers, 236
named in the warrant for consecrating Archbishop Parker, 236
Ballinderry, old church of, where Jeremy Taylor ofiiciated, 600
Ballybogan, abbey of, an image of oiir Saviour there destroyed, 141
Baptism, sacrament of, not used in some parts in Queen Elizabeth's
reign, 299
canons relating to it, variation between them, 499
Baron, Roland, appointed to the Archbishoprick of Cashel, 240
Bassenet, Edward, dean of St. Patrick's, a supporter of Romish
superstitions, 125
Bastards, Archbishop Browne's children, born in lawful wedlock, so
called by parliament, 247
Bedell, William, his early life, 433
made Provost of Trinity College, 434
and Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh, 434
his letter to Bishop Laud, giving an account of his diocese, 435
his exemplary conduct in the management of his diocese, 441
some of his alterations of a questionable nature, 442
his letter to the Lord Deputy on the increase of Popery, 465
his sense of the necessity of a strong military force for the repres
sion of Papists, 466
his gentle and persuasive means for their conversion, 467
his attempt to convert the Romish priesthood, 467
and to circulate religious books in Irish, 468
his experiment a subject of speculation, 469
his peculiar merit in making it, 469
his plan of religious improvement not approved by the Govern
ment, 470
his captivity and sufferings in the Rebellion of 1641, 566
Popish testimony to his character, 566
description of his tomb, and the inscription on it, 567
mark of respect shown by the rebels, 570
Bedlow, James, does penance in Dublin, 306
Bell, book, and candle, manner of cursing by, 28
Bell, narrative of the remarkable sanctity of one, 618
Benedictine monks, their establishments, 42
Benefices to be given to such as could speak English, 123
in England or Wales made not tenable with benefices in Ireland,
649
Berkley, Lord, lord lieutenant, his instructions concerning reli
gion, 651
his arrival welcomed by the Popish party, 663
refuses to support the Remonstrants, 655
his submission to the arrogance of the Popish Archbishop Tal
bot, 656
Bernard, Dr., his life of Archbishop Ussher, 331
his account of the method of catechising practised in hia time, 440
Bibles, large, placed in the choir of the two Dublin cathedrals, 265
small, their scarcity in Dublin, 266

INDEX. 755
Bibles, large number of them sold in 1559, 266
Bigotry .and rebellion in Ireland went hand in hand, 295
Birne, Thady, a Franciscan friar, his apprehension for disloyalty, and
suicide, 139
Bishop of Rome, Pope so called, 114 — 116, &c.
his supremacy, unreasonableness and inveteracy of the senti
ments in its favour, 124
Bishop, his character and duty in the admission of candidates for the
ministry, 455
sinfulness of deviating from the prescribed line of duty, 456
Bishops, consecrated by Archbishop of Armagh or Archbishop of Can
terbury, 4
ancient mode of their election, 4
alterations in the mode, 9
three parties concerned in it, 11
Irish, why consecrated in England, 12
their opposition to the royal prerogative, 15
their discreditable conduct to each other, 18
authorized by the Pope to grant indulgences, 90
two rival, scandalous contention between them, 20
their attachment to the Popish Creed and practice under King
Edward VI., 188
insufficiency of those attached to the reformed doctrines, 189
their appointment in this reign by the Crown, 190
who supported the Reformation in the reign of King Edward VI. ,
191
those who received the English Liturgy, 198
Popish, oath taken by them at consecration at variance with
loyalty to the king, 211
removal of, supposed to be in the king's power, 213
their consecration according to the Pontifical, 218
introduction of the new form, 219
circumstances of its first use in Ireland, 220
two archbishops, and eight bishops, together took the Oath of
Supremacy, 152
of Munster, sworn to the King's Supremacy and against the
Bishop of Rome, 152
appointment of, after the Aot for the King's Supremacy, 1 68
oath of submission taken by them, 169
difference of proceeding with respect to those appointed by the
King and the Pope, 169
plan of instructing them in true religion, 173
Popish, substituted for Protestants by Queen Mary, 236
their mode of appointment, 237
charged to put the Act for Uniformity into execution, 259
required to be collated by the Crown, 263
different enactments on that subject in England and in Ireland, 264
hesitation in appointing them by collation, 266
canonical age for their consecration, 269
form of declaration at their consecration, 271
two deprived of their sees in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 275
causes of their deprivation, 276
3 C 2

756 INDEX.
Bishops, appointed to vacant sees by Queen Elizabeth, 284
the legitimate, in Ireland, 285
deprived by Queen Mary, not in general restored by Queen Eliza
beth, 295
in Queen Elizabeth's time, their power over their clercy, and
abuse of it, 322
Popish, generally conformed, 259, 278
impoverished the Church and their successors, 279
Popish, assisted at the consecration of Protestant bishops, 270
their unwillingness to be interfered with by laymen, 354
not to presume to hold any other benefice, except in commen
dam, 439
charged with misconduct as to the livings in their gift, 439
called upon to repress lawless ministrations, 459
age fit for those to be made in Ireland, 471
eight, survived the Usurpation, 597
legalized plunder of their property, 597
nominated to the vacant sees, 606
delay in their consecration, 606
advantage taken of it by the sectaries, 607
attempt to diminish their revenues, 607
their petition for the king's protection, 607
their consecration in St. Patrick's, 610
dignity and decency of the solemnity, 61 1
their entreaty that Bishop Taylor would undertake his Dissua
sive from Popery, 615
the law the rule of their conduct, and their obligations for
enforcing it, 622
who were driven from Ireland in the reign of King James II., 698
profits of their sequestered estates, 698, 699
who reraained in Ireland, 699
and clergy seek the patronage of the Marquis of Ormonde, 603
of Raphoe, Kilmore, Clogher, and Ossory, associated with the
Primate in consecrating the new bishops, 608
titular, intrusive missionaries in Ireland, 285
their unauthorized claims, 285
notices of them in history, 285
Bishopricks, impoverished by their holders, 278
and by other causes, 279
how filled by Queen Elizabeth, 284
their despoiled condition in Queen Elizabeth's time, 299
greatly injured by their occupiers, 445
particular examples of it, 445
general extent of the evil, 446
vacant, not filled during the Usurpation, 696
sixteen left unoccupied, 597
supplied with the most eminent men, 605
cause of delay in their appointment, 606
advantage taken of the delay by the sectaries, 607
vacated in James the Second's reign, not supplied, 609
their revenues appropriated for Romish bishops, 609
Blair, Mr. Robert, his life written by himself, 453
his objection to the Liturgy and Episcopacy, 453

INDEX. 757
Blair, Mr. Robert,his narrative of his admission into the Church, 454
his self-delusion, 455
and sin, 456
his disobedience to the Church after his ordination, 458
his insulting discourse at the Primate's visitation, 460
his uncharitable representation of a call to preach before the lords
justices, 461
his irregular proceedings in Scotland, 461
suspended by his diocesan, 462
seeks relief from Primate Ussher, 462
his account of a conversation which he had with the Primate, 462
questionable character of that account, 463
his appeal to the Primate against the censure of his diocesan, 463
his subsequent ineffectual appeal to the Primate and the govern
ment, 464
sentence of suspension against him revived, and followed by depo
sition, 514
his language to the bishop on that occasion, 614
Blessed, the term, not confined to the Blessed Virgin, 210
Book of Common Prayer, King Edward's Second, revived by Queen
Elizabeth, 258
as used in England, received by Act of Uniformity in Ireland, 645
Booth, David, vicar-apostolick, his false and insolent book against
King James the First, 390
Boswell, prebendary of Christ Church, signs the declaration in favour
of the Liturgy, 691
is present at one of the last publiek readings of it, 594
Boyle, Richard, archbishop of Tuam, his life endangered in 1641, 563
BoYLE, Michael, archbishop of Armagh, his losses in James the
Second's time, 699
Boyle, the Honourable Robert, his attempts to instruct the Irish by
means of their own language, 669
prints the Church Catechism in Irish, 670
causes to be made an edition of the Bible, 670
Brabazon, Justice, seconds Archbishop Browne in supporting the
king's supremacy, 118
concurs with the council in a letter to Lord Cromwell, and in a
progress through the country, 150
Brabazon, William, letters patent to him and others for inquiring
about images, reliques, &c., 159
account rendered of their inquest, 161
Brady, Hugh, bishop of Meath, testimony to his worth by Queen
Ehzabeth, 276
reports the state of his diocese to Sir H. Sydney, 298
Bramhall, John, one of the chief directors of a regal visitation, 444
his early life, 444
important letter from him to Bishop Laud, 448
recommends the establishment of the English Articles and Canons,
449
recommended for the bishoprick of Derry, 472
question about his age at the time, 472
his labours in convocation to effect a conformity between the
Churches of England and Ireland, 489

758 INDEX.
Bramhall, John, his labours to effect a correspondence between the
Churches of England and Ireland, 489
argues for the adoption of the English Articles, 490
proposes a canon for their adoption, 490
his purpose in procuring the adoption of the English Articles, 493
commended for it by Bishop Taylor, 493
proposes to adopt the Canons of the Church of England, 495
his proposal resisted by Archbishop Ussher, 495
appointed by convocation to form a body of Canons for the Ohurch
of Ireland, 496
his proposal with respect to the Irish Canons better than the
course followed, 504
his exertions for the improvement of the temporalties of the
Church, 607
his labours commemorated by Jeremy Taylor, 509
encourages Bishop Lesley to proceed against his nonconformlno'
clergy, 516
expostulates with him for his too great indulgence, 622
his hospitality to the persecuted clergy of Scotland, 541
petition against him to parliament, .550
his impeachment and persecution, 550
his letter of vindication to Archbishop Ussher, 551
his letter to Mrs. Bramhall, 554
his restoration to liberty, 553
his danger and losses in 1641, 565
allowed to use the Book of Common Prayer, 592
his offensiveness to Cromwell, 693
persecuted by Papists and Puritans, 696
his danger of apprehension in Spain, 595
remarks on the narrative, 596
relieved by the unexpected payment of a debt due to him, 598
his appointment to the Primacy, 605
cause of general satisfaction, 606
with the other bishops, petitions for the king's protection, 607
commanded to consecrate the new bishops, 608
his care for the maintenance of decency and dignity at the
consecration, 611
his mode of treating the nonconforming ministers of his diocese, 623
his ordination of them, and form of letters of orders, 623
meaning of the language used in them, 624
strange misrepresentation of it, 626
vindication of his conduct and character, 625
appointed Speaker of the House of Lords, 631
advantages obtained by him for the Church, 631
solemnly recognised by the Convocation, 632
requested to administer the Holy Communion to the House of
Commons, and preach on thc occasion, 633
his death and character, 641
his funeral sermon by Bishop Taylor, 641, 642
Bread and wine at the Communion, to be delivered to every coramu
nicant severally, by both the English and the Irish Canons,

INDEX. 759
Brice, Mr. Edward, his life by Mr. John Livingston, 453
Brigid, St., her miracles, commemorated on her festival in the
Breviary, 57
narrative of some of her miraculous performances, 58
her burial place miraculously discovered, 65
Browne, George, his character and early life, 111
his election to the archbishoprick of Dublin, 112
his consecration by Archbishop Cranmer, 112
difliculties attending his first arrival In his diocese, 1 13
his letter representing the rehgious condition of the country, and
praying for support, 114
recommends the calling of a parliament to enact the king's
supremacy, 115
his speech in parliament in support ofthe king's supremacy, 117
his endeavours to abolish false objects of worship, 125
censured by the king for neglect of his duty, 126
justifies himself from the censures, 127
his earnestness in preaching the Gospel, 1 28
his activity in the king's service, 1 28
his cause of complaint against the government, 130
his letter to Lord Cromwell on the subject, 131
his diligence in preaching commended, 136
his further application to Lord Cromwell for additional support,
136
communicates to Lord Cromwell the Pope's commission to the
clergy against the king, 138
removes the signs of superstition from his churches, 141
his diligence in preaching the Gospel, 1 44
obstacles and hindrances opposed to him, 144
enforces the king's supremacy and nullity of the Pope's, 145
opposed by the Lord Deputy, 148
complains to Lord Cromwell of the disobedience of his clergy, 147
difference between him and Bishop Staples, 149
reconciled by Lord CromweU, 150
accompanies the council on a progress, 150
preaches at Kilkenny, and other places, 161
commended by the council for his dihgence in preaching, 152
complains of the Lord Deputy's injustice, 152
purposes to visit the remote parts, 163
remission of a debt from him to the Crown, 172
receives the king's order for receiving the English Liturgy, 198
his sermon in Christ Church on the celebration of divine service
according to the English Liturgy, 199
his remarkable denunciation of the Jesuits, 200
appointed by letters patent to the Primacy, 212
reasons for his using the old Pontifical at the consecration of
bishops, 214
and for his not using King Edward's Second Book, 226
compelled to surrender his patent for the Primacy, 233
deprived of his archbishoprick, for matrimony, 234
Popish calumny against him, 235
his death, 236

760 INDEX.
Browne, George, his children born in wedlock declared bastards by
Act of Parliament, 247
Buckworth, Theophilus, bishop of Dromore, his exhortation to Mr.
Blair, 460
Bulkeley, Lancelot, archblshop of Dublin, his danger in an insurrec
tion of Jesuits and Friars, 43]
his controversy with Primate Hampton about precedence, 480
his sufferings from the Rebellion of 1641, 663
anecdote of his use of the Liturgy, 594
censured and confined for the offence, 694
Bullingbroke, Dr., his collection of ecclesiastical law in Ireland,
embraces all statutes relating to the Church, 113
Burnet, Bishop, answer to his remark, as to endeavours for intro
ducing the Reformation into Ireland, 204
a mistake of his corrected, 219
his detail of Bishop Bedell's method for converting Papists,
his narrative of the persecutions of Bishop Bedell, 566
Butler, Lord, a champion of the Reformation, 134
his opinion in favour of religious instruction, 1.36
his commendation of Archbishop Browne, 136
reports to Lord Cromwell a conversation concerning image-worship
at Lord Gray's table, 143
Calvin, his doctrines, failure of the attempt to ingraft them on the
English Articles, 383
similar attempt prosecuted in Ireland, 383
wanted nothing of a bishop but the title, 535
Camden, his account of the destruction of Armagh, 302
his character of Sir Henry Sidney, 305
Canon of the agreement of the Churches of England and Ireland,
account of its being past, 490
Canons, English, their introduction into Ireland recommended, 475
proposal to adopt them by the Church of Ireland, opposed, 495
Irish, in what respect improved from the English, 504
question whether any good purpose answered by new modeUing
the code, 504
body of them framed by Bishop Bramhall, and passed in convoca
tion, 496
their general agreement wdth the English Canons, 497
leading points of difference stated, 498
alarm taken by the Papists at their publication, 506
36th English compared with 3rd Irish, 498
18th Enghsh compared with 7th Irish, 498
27th and 21st English compared with 18th Irish, 499
13th, 65th, 58th, and 82nd English, no corresponding Irish
Canon, 499, 500
34th Enghsh compared with 31st Irish, 500
the 8th, 86th, 94th, 9th, Ilth, 12th, 97th Irish, suggested by the
peculiar circumstances of the Church, 600 — 503
36th, 43rd, 19th, and 49th Irish, supplemental to the English
Canons, 503, 504

INDEX. 761
Canterbitry, Archbishop of, consecrated some of the Irish bishops,
4
Caeew, P. J., Professor of Divinity, Royal College, Maynooth, his
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland quoted, 65, 76
Carmelites, or White Friars, their establishments, 43
Carrickfergus, Solemn League and Covenant taken in the church with
great solemnity, 580
Mayor of, ordered to the bar of the House of Commons for not
burning the Covenant, 635
Caete, his Life of the Duke of Ormonde, 365
his judgment on the extent of the massacre committed on Pro
testants in 1641, 560
Casey, bishop of Limerick, deprived of his see, 234
restored to his bishoprick, 236, 295
assisted therein by a coadjutor, 296
Cashel, an Archbishop of, his impeachment for sundry enormities, 23
Archbishoprick of, remarkable vacancy of, 191
Emly united to it, 283
province of, reduced revenues of bishopricks, 446
Castele, Robert, prior of the Holy Trinity, supports the superstitions
of Rome, 125
Castle-stew art. Lord, a zealous patron of the Presbyterians of the
North, 613
his repeated intercession for the nonconforming ministers of
Down, 614
Catechising and preaching, evils resulting from neglect of, 422
instructions for the conduct of it, 440
directions for the manner of it, 502
obligation on the clergy to practise it, and its great importance,
531
Cathedral of St. Patrick's, its possessions resigned to the Crown,
182
afterwards restored, 183
Cathedral and parish-churches, price of things found in them by the
king's commissioners, 161
Cathedrals of Dublin, large bibles placed in them, 265
Cathedrals, correspondence between Lord Deputy and Archbishop
Laud relative to the repair of them, 612
Cavan, county of, visited iu 1611 by Lord Deputy, 353
its condition, 358
its parsonages in a great degree appropriate in 1603, 358
poor endowment of its vicarages, 358
ruinous state of its churches, 358
poverty and ignorance of its incumbents, 358
Cecil, Secretary, consults Archbishop Cranmer on a vacancy of the
archbishoprick of Arraagh, 214
Celibacy, first introduced among the Irish clergy, 5
when first encouraged among the clergy, 32
in general, not agreeable to God's will, 51
re-established among the clergy, 234
Ceremonies, objections to them productive of serious evils, 517
Chaplains of the king recommended for Irish bishopricks, 471

762 INDEX.
Chappel, William, Bishop of Cork and Ross, his distresses and
poverty in 1641, 565
his vigour and activity in presiding over Trinity College, 479
Chapters, their part in the appointment of bishops, 10
soon superseded, 11
Charity, none greater than to persuade the Papists to come to Ohurch,
617
Charlemont, Lord, his letter of congratulation to Archbishop Bram
hall, 606
Charles I., King, his accession followed by a bull of the Pope, 418
his commendation of Priraate Ussher's speech in the Castle
Chamber, 428
his directions to the Lords Justices concerning a riot in Dublin by
the Papists, 431
his letter to the archbishops, conceming the conduct of the clergy,
his desire to promote the improvement of the Church and religion,
446
petitioned to improve the condition of the rural clergy, 483
improvement of the revenues of the Church under his auspices, 609
his directions concerning the Scotch nonconformists, 639
his testimony to Bishop Bramhall's merit, 652
his proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant, 578
his authority annulled in Ireland two years before his death, 581
Chaeles IL, King, first eleven years of his reign only nominal, 581
his proclamation in Dublin, 603
nominates the most eminent men for the vacant bishopricks, 605
his gracious answer to the bishops' petition, 608
restores to the Church all her temporalties, 608
disposed to indulge the English Presbyterians, 639
design of establishing Popery and arbitrary power, 653
sentiments of his government towards the enemies and friends of
the royal supremacy, 656
Chester, Vicar of, reports an order of King Henry in favour of image
worship, 143
Chichester, Sir Arthur, Lord Deputy, his treatment of the Papists, 348
his visitation of three counties of Ulster, 363
his journey after the manner of a military progress, 363
good effects anticipated from his progress, 359
results questionable, 369
opens the parliament of 1615 in great state, 380
signed the Articles of Religion of 1616 by order of King James, I.
388
Christ Church, Dubhu, enumeration of its rehques, 77
formerly priory of the Holy Trinity, 168
plan for converting it into a house of residence for a council, 174
causes of its failure, 176
instances of its desecration, 448
its ruinousness, 512
project for its rebuilding, 613
seized for the Papists, and mass performed in it, in reign of King
James IL, 723

INDEX. 763
Christenings and marriages, evil practice of having them in private
houses, 475
Christian doctrine, a catechism so called, in English and Irish, 668
Christianity, pure, how to be disseminated through Ireland, difliculty
of deterraining, 329
Church of Christ distinguished from Church of Rome, 197
Church of England and Irciand, use of the phrase in time of King
Henry VIIL, 145
Church of Ireland, its polity episcopal, 2
its episcopate at the Reformation, 3
its independence, 3
how brought into connexion with Rome, 4
its Independence, how first compromised, 7
summary view of, at the era of the Reformation, 106
how improved in the reign of King Henry VIIL, 183
questions as to the extent of improvement, 184
its condition in the early part of King Edward Sixth's reign, 187
its improvement postponed to that of the Church of England, 188
improvement of it stopped by the death of King Edward VL,
228
spoils of, conferred on the laity, perpetuated by Queen Mary's
parliament, 247
friends of the Reformation in it relieved by the accession of Queen
Ehzabeth, 262
no particular measures taken immediately in their favour, 263
true episcopal character of its hierarchy indisputable, 270
the lawful prelates of, 285
its lamentable state in the time of Queen Elizabeth, as represented
by Sir H. Sydney, 298
none in so miserable a case in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 299
attempts of the Pope in Queen Elizabeth's reign to overthrow it,
307
attempts of the rebels to overthrow it, 307
state of it in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 320
less improved during Queen Ehzabeth's reign than might have
been expected, 340
summary view of it during that period, 341
its peace disturbed by the plantation of Ulster, 365
cause which has impeded her effect on Popish recusants, 368
its general dependence on the Church of England and conformity
to the English Articles, 382
a new profession of faith devised for it, 383
summary view of it in the reign of King James L, 415
increased impediments to its growth, 419
additional light thrown on its condition, 421
instructions to Lord Deputy Wentworth for its improvement, 446
its jurisdiction to be established against all sectarists, 447
its unhappy state detailed by Dr. Bramhall to Bishop Laud, 448
sectarian expedient for procuring her appointments, 452
desirableness of reducing it to a conformity with the Church of
England, 474
impediments to effecting it, 474

764 INDEX.
Church of Ireland, lamentable state of it, as described by Lord Deputy
Wentworth, 474—476
propositions for its improvement, 474
its distempered state, 474 — 476
Archbishop Laud's suggestions for remedy of its evils, 476
several Acts of Parliament in 1635 for improving its temporal
estate, 483
improvement of its temporalties by Bishop Bramhall, 508
improvement of its revenues in King Charles the First's reign, 509
testimony borne to her by strangers, 51 7
effects on it of the Rebellion of 1641, 568
ruin of its material buildings, 658
diminution of its congregations, 559
calculations of the number destroyed, 659
its exhausted state and different enemies, 569
has no need of those who cannot obey, 52.3
resumed her station on the king's Restoration, 604
eight of her bishops survived the Usurpation, 605
special need of exertion in its favour after the Restoration, 606
her episcopate completed at the Restoration, 613
difficulty of her situation after the Restoration, 614
difficult to say how she could have overcome the prepossessions of
the Roraish population, 61 5
her arduous position with respect to Protestant sectaries, 620
law for regulating it restored with the raonarchy, 621
its provisions, the guide of her governors, recital of thera, 622
specious instructions in favour of it, false and hollow, 653
its raelancholy prospects on the accession of Jaraes II., 679
testiraony in its favour by Lord Clarendon, 683
hostihty shown to it by Lord Tyrconnel, 684
her clergy deprived of their rights in favour of the Popish clergy,
688
act of Jaraes II. for annulling its jurisdiction, 718
series of evils inflicted on it by King James IL, 731
her deliverance, 732
obstacles still in the way of her progress, 733
and nonconformists, points in controversy between them, 519
history of, uses of acquaintance with it, 1
how to be learned, 1
Churches of England and Ireland, uniformity between them recom
mended, 449
Canon declaring the agreement between them, 490
general agreement between them as to their Canons greater than
it appears, 504
Church of Scotland, bishops of, driven from their sees, sought shelter
in Ireland, 541
Church goods, bells, &c., order to prevent the sale of, 203
Churches, forty, destroyed by an unbaptized marauder, 102
his death in that of Carrickfergus, 103
importance of their good outward appearance, 326
in Cork, ordered to be shut up, and Protestants excluded, 723
in Dubhn, ordered to be seized for the Papists, 723

INDEX. 765
Church lands, instructions for preserving them from waste and aliena
tion, 279
examples of such abuse, 280
Churchwardens, appointment of fit persons recommended, 326
censured for neglect of duty, 532
Cistercian, or white monks, their establishments, 42
nuns, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, 42
Claneboy, Viscount, instrumental in introducing nonconformists into
the rainistry of the Church, 454 — 456
signs the petition against the Scotch Coven.ant, 541
Clanrickard, Marquis of. Book of Common Prayer tised under his
protection, 593
Clarendon, Henry, Earl of, his appointment to the Lord Lieutenantcy
of Ireland, 680
a blind, to hide the intended proceedings, 681
displaced from the govemment, 683
his speech on leaving the country, 683
Clergy, their remarkable agreement to resist all lay power and juris
diction, 17
their abuse of their privileges, 31
indignation at being liable to civil penalties, 32
their innocence, how said to have been vitiated, 32
before the Reformation, their moral character, 30
their intellectual character, 36
concubinage no discredit to thera, 34
complaints against them, before King Henry's commissioners, 130
before the Reforraation, their great ignorance, 136
their disobedience to Archbishop Browne, 147
their non-residence corrected, 173
required to use the English Liturgy, 195
illiteracy attributed to thera, 196
married, deprived of their benefices, 234
declaration to be made by them in 1566, 272
improvement of their condition recoraraended, 299
in Queen Elizabeth's time, their disordered lives and unprofessional
behaviour, 321
their orthodoxy questioned by Bramhall, 449
their mean condition, 474
many of their wives and children recusants, 475
the rurah their extreme contempt and beggary, 483
inferior, their condition improved by Bishop Bramhall, 508
instructed to preach against the disorders of the disaffected, 524
their liberal gift to King Charles I., 467
miseries inflicted on them in the Rebellion of 1641, 560
parochial, their condition in 1660, 666
Irish, one only a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines,
576
obstructed in the recovery of their property in reign of James IL,
687
their increased difficulties of living, 688
their persecutions from the Irish Papists in the reign of James II. ,
700

766 INDEX.
Clergy, ineffectual attempts to attach them to the Romish commu
nion, 691
congratulate King William on his victory at the Boyne, 731
of Dublin, sermons preached by them for the instruction of tho
Papists, 335
of Dublin express their gratitude to the Marquis of Ormonde for
his care of the Church, 584
of Dublin, their declaration to the Parliamentary Commissioners
concerning tho Book of Coramon Prayer, 587
reasons for their adherence to it, 588
their petition to be still allowed to use it, 590
names and stations of the Clergy who signed the declaration, 591
of Dublin, acts of violence inflicted on them by the Papists in
James the Second's reign, 701
illegitimate, evil of their admission to cathedral dignities, 286
checked by Act of Parliament, 286
of Scotland, driven frora their country by the Covenanters, and
hospitably received in Ireland, 541
Clergyman, peculiar outrage upon one in 1641, 561
Clogher, bishoprick of, vacant several years by reason of the wars, 283
bishoprick of, its revenues augmented by King James the First,
so as to become one of the richest in the kingdom, 392
diocese of, its neglected state from the absence of the diocesan, 355
its poverty and augraented revenues, 356
diocese, held together with Derry and Raphoe, 355
held together with Meath, 356
diocese of, account of its benefices, ministers, churches, parsonages,
&c., in 1622, 401
Presbyterian ministers who refused to qualify for the Church, 627
Clonmacnoise, cathedral of, scandalously pillaged, 203
Clonmel, jury of, their charge against the clergy, 36
Clotworthy, Sir John, presents to the Long Parliament a petition
from some Protestants of Ulster, 649
a lay-assessor of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 576
Cloyne, bishop of, how called from his poverty, 445
bishoprick of, united to Cork and Ross, 613
again separated, 613
Cloe, Dr., commissioner for lashing the Irish hereticks, 250
his disappointment, 261
Coleraine refuses the Solemn League and Covenant, 580
Collier, his statement respecting the Articles of the Irish Church, 491
CoLLYER, Jeremy, his Ecclesiastical History, objections stated in it
against the Irish Articles of 1615, 387
Comraission for the suppression of abbeys, 156
for restoring Popery, 234
for punishing the hereticks of Ireland defeated by a remarkable
incident, 250
for inquiring concerning repair of churches and supply of incum
bents, 364
Commissions for inquiring into the state of churches, 247
Commissioners for inquiring into the state of the kingdom, result of
their inquest, 129

INDEX. 767
Commissioners of Publiok Records in Ireland, a document from their
report cited, 369
CoMYN, John, archbishop of Dublin, his canon at a provincial synod,
relative to the clergy, 33
Conference between Lord Deputy and Primate Dowdall, 208 — 211
Confession, auricular, its supposed efficacy, 232
Conge d'elire, its inutility and absurdity, 1 1
adjudged not necessary by common law, 263
annulled by Act of Parliament, 263
Consecration of Bishops, different forms of, 218
dispute about the use of them, 219
Conforming Presbyterian ministers justified in so doing, 647
Conformity to the established religion required of the undertakers in
Ulster, 362
to Episcopacy and the Liturgy declared by the Lords, and agreed
to by the Commons, 632
Consecration of new churches directed by the Commons, 503
of twelve bishops unparalleled, 611
notice of the fact by Bishop Taylor, 612
affecting sequel to it, 612
Conspiracy in Ulster by the Irish nobles, 360
their pretext of religion answered, 361
how actuated by religion, 361
Convocation of the clergy, question whether it usually accompanied a
Parliament, 381
calling of one in 1615, and the important business transacted by
it, 382
of clergy in 1636, business in it affecting the temporalties and
spiritualities of the Church, 484
narrative of some of the proceedings in it, 489
recognise Bishop Bramhall's services for the clergy, 510
petition the Government concerning schools, 510
Lower House of, their contrivance with respect to the Articles of
Religion, 486
counteracted by Lord Wentworth, 487
Conway, Earl of, his feeling on the apprehension of Bishop Taylor, 599
Corbet, author of Lysimachus Nicanor, recommended for a benefice
to the Bishop of KillaUa, 642
consequences of that recommendation, 643
Cork, disturbances there by the Papists at King James the First's
accession, 346
churehes of, shut up, and Protestants excluded from them, 723
Earl of, coraplaint of the erection of his tomb in St. Patrick's
cathedral, 449
explanation of the fact not satisfactory, 449
and Ross, bishoprick of, an exception to the general dilapidation
of bishopricks, 445
Council of Ireland, their letter to Lord Cromwell touching the Re
formation, 150
their progress through the four shires above the Barrow, 161
Counties of Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary inspected
by commissioners, and reported on, 133

768 INDEX.
Counties, four above the Barrow, visited hy the Privy Council, 150
Covenant, national, of Scotland, attempts for introducing it into
Ireland, 624
precursor of the Solemn League and Covenant, 624
Scotch, a full confutation of it, in a speech addressed by Bishop
Lesley to his clergy, and published in 1638, 631
renunciation of it by some of the Scottish nation in Ireland, 639
new, spread over Ireland in 1680, put down by the Duke of
Ormonde, 661
Cox, his History of Irelatid, incorrect statement in it rectified, 190
his narrative of the defeat of the Commission for punishing the
hereticks of Ireland, 250
his error in applying to the Irish dioceses in general. Bishop
Bedell's description of Kilmore, 437
Coyn, bishop of Limerick, receives the English Liturgy, 198
Craike, bishop of Kildare, injury done by him to his successors, 276
Cranmer, Archbishop, nominates five persons for the archbishoprick
of Armagh, 213
Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments, set up in the Dublin
churches, 141
Cressy, Mr. Justice, his letter on the increase of Popery, 464
danger incurred by him in discharging his duty, 465
Crofts, Sir James, appointed Lord Deputy, 202
his instructions, 203
named in the prayer for the Lord Deputy, 205
invites the Primate to a conference, 206
his letter on the occasion, 206
his conference with the Primate, 208
Cusacke, Thomas, Lord Chancellor, complains of the scarcity of
preachers in King Edward's reign, 221
Cromee, George, archbishop of Armagh, opposed the establishment of
the king's supremacy, 108
his vehement opposition to tbe king's supremacy, 114
his opposition to the king's prerogative as established by law,
124
his remissness in executing the king's orders, 136
seeks aid from the Duke of Norfolk, 137
encouraged by commission from the Pope, 138
his death, 176
remarks on the appointraent of his successor, 176
Cromwell, Henry, allowed pensions to the bishops during the Usur
pation, 598
Cromwell, Lord, the patron of Archbishop Bro-wne, 112
his instructions for abolishing iraages, 126
hated and reviled by the coraraon Irish, 137
Cromwell, Oliver, his tyranny over the Irish Church, 570
his declaration concerning Bishop Brarahall, 593
Primers and Bibles, recognizing him as Protector, disallowed,
634, 635
Cross, the true, pieces of it rehgiously preserved, 70
Crosses, objects of religious veneration, 70
several examples specified, 72

INDEX. 769
Crusades, indulgences granted for their encouragement, 89
Culme, Benjamin, dean of St. Patrick's, unites with the clergy in
thanking the Marquis of Ormonde for his care of the Church,
684
signed the Declaration concerning the Book of Common Prayer, 592
Cunningham, Mr., deposed from the ministry, 522
insufficiency of his vindication, 523
satisfactory answer to his appeal, 523
Curates, insufficient supply of, in Queen Elizabeth's time, 304
causes of it, 305
recommended for impropriate parishes, 378
amount of provision to be made for them, 379
Curse, form of, pronounced for disobedience to the Pope, 138
Curwen, Hugh, archbishop of Dubhn, 237
recommended to the Chapter of Christ Church, 238
his religious and political sentiraents, 238
supposed cause of the death of Frith, 239
counteracts the efforts of his predecessor, 239
a coraplier in all reigns, 239
favourable impression made by his first sermon in Dublin, 240
provincial synod holden by him, 241
detects a pretended Popish miracle, 255
his sermon on the occasion, 256
causes the miraculous image to be taken down, 255
project for removing him, 281
his translation to Oxford, 282
Daly, Robert, bishop of Kildare, his persecutions by rebels, 308
Dalzeel, Major, refuses to take the Covenant, 579
Daniel, William, archbishop of Tuam, engaged in an Irish translation
of the New Testament, 293
Davies, Sir John, his remark on the Pope's claim to the kingdom of
Ireland, 109
his letter to Lord Salisbury with account of Sir Arthur Chiches
ter's progress in Ulster, 353
elected Speaker of the House of Commons in opposition to the
Papists, 380
his excellent speech to the Lord Deputy, 381
Dead lady, miraculously brought to life, that she might receive extreme
unction, 77
Declaration by the Dublin clergy in favour of the Common Prayer
Book and against the Directory, 588 — 590
names of those who signed it, 591
Delvin, Baron of, his son proposed for the archbishoprick of Armagh,
.177
Deposition, sentence of, on certain nonconforming ministers, its neces
sity, 523
Derry, bishoprick of, not regularly filled by Queen Elizabeth, 284
its reduced value, 446
diocese of, state of its ministers, churches, &c., in 1622, 401
luinous state of its churches, and poverty of its ministers. In 1670
667
3 D

770 INDEX.
Derry, factious and seditious character of its inhabitants, 680
their favourable disposition towards the Solemn League and
Covenant, 581
Governor and Protestants of, murdered by Sir Cahir O'Doghartv,
362 J n }>
Desmond, Earl of, his arrogant letter to the Lord Justice, 307
Devereux, Alexander and John, bishops of Fems, injury done by
them to the bishoprick, 375
Diaz, Thomas, titular bishop of Meath, disapproves of the Rebellion
of 1641, 570
Diocesan reports, important information to be derived from thera, 369
Directory, ordered to be used instead of the Liturgy, 586
Discourse on the ancient religion of the British and Irish by Bishop
Ussher, its occasion and contents, 395
Dispensations, necessary to be granted, 132
Dissenters and separatists, united for the Church's destruction, 577
Dissuasive from Popery, written by Bishop Taylor at the entreaty of
the bishops, 615
a record of the sense entertained by them of the growing strength
ofthe Church of Rome, 615
a fund of argument for controversialists, 616
au authentick exposition of the condition of Irish Papists, 617
Divine Institution, apostolical tradition, and Catholick practice of the
sacred order and offices of Episcopacy, by Bishop Taylor,
648
worship, difference between the English and Irish Canons relating
to it, 498
Dominican, or black friars, their establishments, 42
Dominick, St., iraage of, burnt at Cork, 306
Donellan, Nehemiah, archbishop of Tuara, engaged in a translation
of the New Testaraent into Irish, 293
Dopping, Anthony, bishop of Meath, removed by James II. from the
Privy Council, 686
his activity in the absence of the Archbishop of Dublin, 701
his honourable conduct in parliament, 702
resists the repeal of the Act of Settlement, 702
presents the congratulations of the clergy to King William on his
victory at the Boyne, 732
Dowdall, George, designed for the archbishoprick of Armagh on a
vacancy, 177
his previous condition, 177
mandate for his consecration, 178
his consecration and character, 180
ambiguity of his conduct, 181
holds a synod at Drogheda, 181
canonizes Richard Fitz-Ralph, 182
restored to the Primacy by Queen Mary, 233
commissioned with others to restore the Papal religion, 234
his zeal in restoring Popery, 240
opposes the introduction of the English Liturgy iuto Ireland, 196
his altercation with the Lord Deputy, 197
quits the assembly with indignation, 197

INDEX. 771
Dowdall, invited by Lord Deputy to a conference, 200
accepts the invitation, 207
his debate with Lord Deputy and Bishop Staples, 208
deprived of the primacy, 212
question as to the cause of his leaving Ireland, 213
his successor appointed, 214
his death in the reign of Queen Mary, 266
untruly said to have been deprived by Queen Elizabeth, 267
Down, a bishop of, his irregularities, 24
censured for not wearing his monastick dress, 44
a titular bishop of, apprehended in consequence of a proclamation,
369
cathedral of, burned by Lord Gray, 142
its ruinous condition, 512
letters relative to it between Lord Deputy and Archbishop Laud,
512
county of, an -early Presbyterian congregation formed at Holy-
wood, 367
and Antrim, counties of, principally exposed to infection from
Scotland, 527
receive the Solemn League and Covenant, 580
diocese of, transactions in it relative to non-conformist ministers,
513
and Connor, diocese of, its condition as to parishes, churehes, minis
ters, &c., in 1622, 407
its peculiarity as to chapels, 407
some ofthe clergy of, refuse to subscribe the Canons, 515
ineffectual attempts of the bishop to retain them in the Church,
615
their objections to conformity, 621
their deposition, 622
Presbyterian ministers who refused to qualify themselves for the
Church, 627
Downham, George, bishop of Derry, publishes the judgment of the
bishops concerning toleration, 424
receives the acclamation of the people, 425
justifies the judgment against objection, 425
obtains a commission for apprehending those who declined his
jurisdiction, 437
Dramatick representations of Scriptural events and legendary tales
publickly exhibited, 94
and of heathen mythology, 94
by machinery of puppets, 96
attempted iraprovement of them, 97
banished by the Reformation, 97
Draper, Robert, bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh, special reasons for
his appointment, 357
his inattention to his charge, 358
Drogheda, attempt to found an university there, .39
St. Peter's church, chapel there for perpetual masses, 98
Dromore, see of, united to Down and Connor, and again separated,
613
3 D 2

772 INDEX.
Drury, Sir William, Lord Deputy, binds the citizens of Kilkenny to
attend divine service on Sundays, 305
his execution of two persons for witchcraft, 313
Dublin, archbishoprick of, sorae time vacant after the deprivation of
Archbishop Browne, 237
its poverty in 1572, 282
its condition with respect to patronage, 312
the two cathedrals of, their controversy, 249
city of, impossibility of defending, 683
surrendered to the parliamentary commissioners, 584
diocese of, particulars concerning it, arising out of a regal visita
tion in 1616, 389
impossibility of supplying the churches with rainisters, 390
Popish university erected there, 430, 466
province of, under regal -visitation iu 1616, 389
aldemien of, means taken for inducing them to comply with the
Act of Uniformity, 348
mayor and aldermen of, grant a site for an university, 317
university in, failure of a project for establishing one, 312
a succeeding attempt more prosperous, 313
receives a benefaction of books from the English army, 340
unsuccessful attempts to establish an university there, 38
maj'or and citizens of, penances inflicted on them, 88
DcFF, Adara, first person punished for heresy, 29
Ecclesi.A-STical alterations in four successive reigns, 264
difficulties consequent thereon, 265
benefices, holden by layraen ou dispensation, 287
attempts to correct the evil, 286
disposal of, by King James the Second, 691
courts, Papists coming to them excomraunicated by their clergy, 436
commission for enforcing their authority, 437
question as to the fitness of bishops presiding in them, 443
livings, evil consequences of their having been given to the
laity 664
privileges, abused by the clergy, 31
Ecu LIN, Robert, bishop of Down and Connor, his faithfulness to the
Church called in question, 453
his conversation with an opponent of the Church, 454
his admission of him to holy orders by an unlawful form of ordi
nation, 455
recalled to tho practice of his duty, 459
requires 31r. Blair to preach at the Primate's visitation, 460
and at an assize before the Lords Justices, 461
his sentence of deposition on the non-conforming ministers, and
his de.ith, 514
En.MFNDS, or ^Mattershed, Elizabeth, narrative of her preservation of
tho Irish Protestants, 250
Education, difficult to be procured, 37
attempts at improving it, 38
Edward VI. , King, little improvement in the early part of his
vv\j.n, 187

INDEX. 773
Edavaed VL, King, his authority maintained in thc exercise of eccle
siastical patronage, 189
his order for introducing the English Book of Common Prayer
into Ireland, 192.— See " Enghsh Book," &c.
copy of the order, 194
his Second Book, objections to receiving it in Irciand, 225
not unreasonable, 226
summary of religious iraprovement during his reign, 228
his Second Book, use of it enacted in all churches of Ireland, 258
penalties for refusing or despising it, 258
bishops required to enforce it, 259
copies to be procured in all churches, 259
ecclesiastical alterations in his reign, 264
Elizabeth, Queen, rewards the woman who saved her Majesty's
Protestant subjects of Ireland, 251
her accession a relief to the Irish Protestants, 252
no steps taken immediately for their benefit, 253
effect produced on her by a pretended Popish miracle, 256
her revival of King Edward's Second Book of Common Prayer,
258
ecclesiastical alterations in her reign, 264
her letters for the establishment of the Protestant religion, 265
gives directions for the establishment of the Protestant religion in
Ireland, 265
only two bishops deprived in her reign, 275, App. No. II.
regularly made collations to vacant bishopricks, 284
made appointment to sees as they became vacant, 284
her apparent rule of appointment to sees as they became vacant,
284
number of Englishmen and Irishmen appointed by her, 284
deprived of her kingdom by bull of Pope Pius V., 295
her government rather indulgent to Papists than just to Pro
testants, 296
depressed state of the Church of Ireland in her reign, 299
her commission for supplying the want of churches and ministers,
301
attempts made by the Pope to overthrow her doininloii, 307
grants her licence for founding an university in Dublin, 317
her indulgence of the Papists, 336
her death, 340
effect of her reign on the Irish Church, 341
English, not fond of living in Ireland, 214
in Ireland, testimony to their value by the Earl of Claren
don, 683
army in Ireland, its officers make a benefaction of books to tho
University of DubHn, 340
bishops and clergy, project of Sir H. Sydney for employlno- them
in Ireland, 300
Book of Common Prayer introduced iuto Ireland, 191
not correctly called a translation, 193
probable motive for so representing it, 1 93
ordered to be used by the clergy of Ireland, 194

774 INDEX.
English Book of Common Prayer, rejected by Archbishop Dowdall, 197
received by Archbishop Browne and other bishops, 198
Book of Comraon Prayer, used in Dublin in 1551, 199
Liturgy, order for translating it into Irish, 202
first book printed in Dublin, 205
a copy of it in Trinity College library, 205
vindicated from Popish objections, 208
of 5 and 6 Edward the Sixth, objections to its being received in
Ireland, 225
ceased since King Edward the Sixth, revived after the accession
of Queen Elizabeth, 253
ordered by the queen to be restored in Dubhn, 264
remarkable case attending its restoration, 255
clergymen, causes of their not succeeding in Queen Elizabeth's
tune, 323
curates, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, remarkable exaraples of
their ignorance, 323
language, a qualification for adraission to cathedral dignities, 286
means chosen for civilizing the Irish, 290
order, habit, and language, eucouraged by Act of Parliament, 123
gross ignorance and misrepresentation of it, 123
Pater Noster, &c., delivered to the bishops for distribution, 151
Protestants fled into Ireland in Queen Mary's reign, 248
cause not discovered till afterwards, 249
statutes, accepted by law in Ireland, 113
Episcopacy and the Liturgy, part of the legal establishment at the
Restoration, 604
Episcopal duties, opinion of the discharge of them exemplified in 1612,
372
ordination, necessary for holding a benefice, 646
called for by the circumstances of the country, 647
also necessary for administering the Lord's Supper, under penalty,
646
of undue severity, and little carried into execution, 648
patronage, great abuse of, 439
-Erasmus, his character, 209
a forgery alleged by him against the Church of Rome, 209
bis -writinors more powerful than those of the Church of Rome, 210
Eremites of St. Augustin, or Austin Friars, 43
Excommunication, general, instances of, 27
of individuals e-xemplified, 26
the less and the greater, 24, 25
Extreme unction, its importance miraculously attested, 76
Ezekiel, a prophecy of, apphed by Ussher to the condition of
Ireland, 338
its accomplishment, 339
Faculties for granting indulgences, given by the Pope to bishops, 90
Falkland, Viscount, Lord Deputy, remarkable sermon on his being
sworn in, 408
censures Papists of quality for refusing to take the oath of supre
macy, 412

INDEX. 775
Falkland, Viscount, his letter to Primate Ussher on thc ill conduct cf
the Papists, 429
his instructions concerning irregularities at Raphoe, 430
compelled to issue a proclamation against the Pojilsh clergy, 428
solicits Primate Ussher to make a speech in the Castle Chamber, 42
transmits a copy of it to the king, 428
Fermanagh, county of, visited by Lord Deputy in 1611, 353
particulars of its ecclesiastical condition, 357
not one fixed A'illage in the county, 357
Fems and Leighlin, diocese of, report of it in 1612, a valuable docu
ment, 369
particulars of it, 370—379
several Popish priests harbouring in the diocese in 1612, 373
state of the churches therein, 374
value of the benefices, 375
depreciation of the bishopricks, 375
united by King James the First's letters patent, 376
comparative value of the benefices in peace, and as reduced by
rebellion, 376
First fruits of ecclesiastical preferments, act relating to, 1 22
neglect of, 475
Fitton, Sir Alexander, lord chancellor, motives to his appointment, 685
Fitzralph, Archbishop of Arraagh, attempts to improve education, 37
his character of the mendicant friars, 46
a festival ordained in his honour, 182
Fitzsymonds, Henry, the Jesuit, his challenge to a disputation, 331
controversy between him and Jaraes Ussher, 332
subject of it, 332
throws the blame of discontinuing it on Ussher, 333
Fitzwilliam, Sir William, Lord Deputy, his neglect of the bishoprick
of Kilmore, 316
Foreign powers, Irish practice to seek aid from, 139
Form of beads, or prayers, directing what the clergy should pray
for, 145
Form of prayer before sermons not contained in the Irish Canons, 500
Franciscans or friars minor, their establishments, 42
three orders of them, 43
Friar, hanged in his habit, 151
Friars, their interference with the rule of God and the king, 148
de Penitentia Jesu, or Sax Friars, 43
Friars mendicant, four orders of, 42
of modem institution, 46
their shameless conduct, 46
and Popish priests in Dublin, proclamation against their meeting,
271
Friaries, price of things found in them by the king's commissioners, 162
Fuller, his statement respecting the Articles ofthe Irish Church, 492
Fulwar, bishop of Ardfert, made archbishop of Tuam, 609
Galbrath, correspondence relative to his preferment, 524
result of the correspondence, and its sequel, 626
Galway, church of, its ornaments confiscated by Lord Gray, 1 42

776 INDEX.
Galway, church of, contained fourteen chapels and altars, 100
corporation of, laws relative to the clergy, 34
Garvey, John, made Bishop of Kilmore, 311
promoted to the primacy, 315
his character, 315
Gelasius, archbishop of Armagh, the first who accepted the archie
piscopal pall, 6, 7
Geneva, its church-government episcopal, 535
Gilbertian monks, 42
Giraldus Cambrensis, his opinion of the Irish clergy, 33
his history of the conquest of Ireland, 110
Glebes, not selected according to King James's directions, 400
God, his honour confounded with his creatures, 56
spiritual worship of, superseded by superstition, 102
and the saints, comparative honour shown to each, 101
Gjodacbe, Hugh, archbishop of Armagh, 215
opinion entertained of him by Cranmer, 215
and by Queen Elizabeth, 216
recommended by the English Privy Council, 216
his consecration, 21 7
his death attributed to poison, probably without cause, 227
valuable writings ascribed to him, 227
Gore, Hugh, bishop of Waterford, his inhuman treatment from the
Irish Papists, 699
Grandison, Viscount, Lord Deputy, congratulates LTssher on his being
made bishop of Meath, ,393
Gray, Arthur Lord, Lord Deputy, accompanied to Ireland by
Spenser, 320
Gray, Leonard Lord, Lord Deputy, Parliament called under him, 115
advertises Lord Cromwell of the prorogation of parliament, and
its cause, 120
his harsh treatment of Archbishop Browne, 131
sacrilegious acts ascribed to him, 142
a favourer of the Popish corruptions, 1 43
hears masses, kneeling before the idol of Trim, 144
his opposition to Archbishop Browne, 148
his seizure of Archbishop Browne's house and furniture, 1 52
supports a provincial governor in opposition to the king, 153
deposes a bishop of the king's promotion, 164
Hall, Henry, bishop of Killalla, signed the Declaration concerning
the Book of Common Prayer, .592
Hamilton, archbishop of Cashel, fled from the rebellion of 1641, 563
Hampton, Christopher, his elevation to the primacy, 379
his character and benefactions to his see, 379
his sermon at St. Patrick's on opening the parliament, 380
his letter to Bishop Ussher on account of a sermon before the
Lord Deputy, 410
his advice on the subject, 411
his death and character, 413
bis patent for issuing marriage hccnces at uncanonical hours, 413
appointed king's almoner, 414

INDEX. 777
Hampton, maintains his right of precedence against tho archbishops
of Dublin, 479
his remarks on the dispute, 480
Hearers, a congregation not properly so described, 601
Heath, archbishop of York, his gift of bibles to the cathedrals of
Dublin, 265
Heber, Bishop, his notice of thc peculiar evils of the times of the
usurpation instanced in Bishop Taylor, 699
his inaccurate description of thc church where Bishop Taylor
preached, 599
his language not of his own choosing, 600
correctness of bis narrative concerning Bishop Taylor's remains
questioned, 673
Henry IL, King, his appointment of a bishop to Waterford, 8
his right to the kingdom of Ireland, 109
his acquisition of the kingdom of Ireland, independent of the
Pope, 109
Henry V., King, statute in his reign against hereticks and Lollard.'-,
remarks on its adoption in Ireland, 113
Henry VIIL, King, his desire to establish his supremacy in the Church
of Ireland, 107
opposition which he encountered, 108
charges Archbishop Browne with neglect of duty, and threatens to
displace him, 126, 127
report of monastick possessions given to him for his own proper
use, 164
little careful of the spiritual improvement of thc Church, 1 76
benefit of his reign to the Church, 183
his good- will to it questionable, 183
alterations in ecclesiastical affairs in his reign, 264
Heresy, first instance of its punishment, 29
two Irishmen burned for, 30
and LoUardy, acts against, revived by the Parliament of Queen
Mary, 246
acts for the punishment of, repealed, 257
what to be so adjudged, 257
Hereticks, vow to oppugn them, 138
and Lollards, Queen Mary's instructions for their punishment, 243
fearful prospect of those deemed such in Queen Mary's reign, 249
proofs of intention to inflict the penalties of the law upon them
in Queen Mary's reign, 249
Heylyn, Dr., his objection to the Irish Article on the morality of the
Sabbath, 386
Hierarchy, Irish, at the era of the Reformation, 107
of the Irish Church, its true episcopal character, 270
catalogue of, from the Reformation to Revolution, App. No. I.
Higgins, a convert from Popery, useful incompleting an edition of the
Scriptures in Irish, 670
High Commission Court in Dublin, for enforcing the Act of Unifor
mity, 334
its power withdrawn by the English government, 338
in Dublin, recommended, 476

778 INDEX.
High Commission Court in Dublin, uses to which applicable, 476
Holy Communion, directions in preparation for It, 503
Holydays of the Church, the due keeping of them recomniended, 511
Holy Scriptures, translation of, question whether introduced by Heniy
the Eighth's authority into Ireland, 192
irreligiously treated In I64I, 562
plan for publishing an edition of them in Irish by Mr. Boyle, 671
history and success of it, 671
Holy Trinity, cathedral of, list of persons deposited there in the four
teenth century, 99
obligation on the prior and canons to celebrate their anniversa
ries, 99
prior and convent of, made dean and chapter of Christ Church, 158
House of Commons, artifices used for its composition in the time of
King James the Second, 707
consisted mostly of Papists, 707
counties and boroughs not represented, 708
House of Lords, in James the Second's reign, its composition, 705
Housekeepers required to go to church on Sundays, 271
HoYLE, Joshua, the only Irish clergyman a member of the West
minster Assembly of Divines, 676
Humfrey, prebendary of St. Patrick's, his opposition to his ordinary
as to divine service, 147
confined by the archbishop, and liberated by Lord Deputy, 148
Ignorance of the people, extreme, provision for counteracting it, 289
Image of Christ, displaced by Archbishop Browne, restored by Arch
bishop Curwen, in Christ's Church, 239
the subject of a Popish miracle in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 256
Images, objects of special veneration, 70
some remarkable examples, 71
and reliques, difficulty of removing them, 136
removed from the Dublin churches, 141
generally defaced or removed, 141
reliques, &c., commission for searching out, and destroying, 150
no specification of them in the report, 163
Impropriations, evil consequences of them, 298, 378
how recomniended to be remedied, 379
evil of them in the diocese of Dublin, in 1615, 389
evil of them, 400
their ill-consequences, 407
means taken for restoring them to the Church, 508
in some respects frustrated, 510
Incontinency of priests, laws for correcting it, 173
Indulgences of bishops, 89
meaning and nature of them, 90
nmnerous examples of thera, 91 — 94
by the Pope, 88
occasions and conditions of them, 89
Invocation, "under the invocation of," a form in the foundation of
monasteries^ 50
Ireland, view of the state of it by Spenser, 321

INDEX. 779
Ireland, state of, at the accession of King James the First, 343
crown of, its dependence on that of England, 229
common people of, their want of Instruction, 32<)
their immoral habits incompatible with reformed religion, 328
king of, statute for enacting the title, 165
kingdom of, overrun by immorality and Irreligion, 287
proceedings of Lord Deputy and council with regard to Its con
dition, 288
kingdom of, given by the Pope to the King of Spain, 308
northern counties of, assailed by the Scotch Covenant, 527
princes of, their voluntary submission to the crown of England,
110
Irish people, their extreme ignorance before the Reformation, 115
their applications to foreign powers for aid against the English,
139
clerks employed to supply the place of incumbents, 402
language, order for the use of it, where English was not under
stood, 203
propriety of the instruction for translating the Liturgy into it,
204
ministers who could speak it, recommended, 299
principle of instructing the people in it, exemplified, 359
more practised than generally supposed, 360
esteeraed a good instrument for converting the Irish Papists, 468
provisions for celebrating divine service in it, inserted in the Irish
Canons, 600, 601
fresh experiment for instructing the natives by means of it, 668
letters, alleged difficulty of printing in, or reading them, 260
ministers or readers, 400
Papists, forbidden to take the oath of allegiance to King Charles
the First, 418
readers, examples of, 397
scholars, who had conformed, fines unduly levied on them, 406
tongue, knowledge of, instanced as possessed by several ministers
in 1612, 376
translations of the Scriptures and the Liturgy, provided by Bishop
Bedell, 468 "
types for printing introduced into Ireland, 293
versions of the Bible and Catechism recommended, 329
Irreligious state of Ireland referred to the distracted state of the times,
327
Isaac, Bartholomew, vicar-choral of St. Patrick's, dismissed from his
vicarage for neglect of duty, 693
his appeal to James the Second to reinstate him, 694
Island of Saints, pretensions to that nanie lost, 105
Ireland so called, and claimed as belonging to thc Bishop of
Rome, 114
James the First, King, favourable circumstances of his accession, 343
Popish disturbances that nevertheless ensued, 344
his favour to some Irish chiefs, 347
more reserved in his subsequent concessions, 348

780 INDEX.
James the First, King, his desire to instruct the Irish in their oAvn
tongue, 360
gives large tracts of land for publiek uses in Ulster, 362
remedy applied by him to the religious abuses of Ulster, 364
his grants of lands and advowsons to Trinity College, 365
instructions and interrogations from him to the archbishops and
bishops, 370
his instructions concerning Popish recusants, 371
acknowledged by all the spiritual lords as their patron, 381
boasted that Ussher was a bishop of his own making, 393
issues a commission for examining the state of the dioceses in
Ulster, 395
his appointment of Bishop Ussher to the primacy, one of the last
acts of his reign, 414
summary view of the Church in his reign, 415
James the Second, King, his accession the cause of melancholy fore
bodings, 679
different extent of his reign in England and Ireland, 680, 730
endeavours to reinstate a vicar-choral, displaced from his post in
St. Patrick's, 694
attempts to force a fellow on Trinity College, 728
his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, 692
its coraparative effects in England and Ireland, 693
his exercise of the dispensing power, 693
his personal misconduct to his subjects, 702
his arrival in Ireland, 703
issues his proclamation for a parliament, 704
real character of his measures disclosed by the Act of Attainder,
704
declines to enforce his own provisions in defence of Protestants,
724
his resolution to establish Popery, 730
calamities inflicted by his reign on the Church of Ireland, 731
Jesuits, their first introduction into Ireland, 181
remarkable description of them by Archbishop Browne, 200
and seminary priests, their efforts in dissuading the people from
attending the Church-service, 349
their interference with the decisions of the king's courts, 349
tbeir rebuilding of churches and monasteries, 350
proclaim King James the First to be of their religion, 350
ordered by proclamation to quit the kingdom, 350
and friars, insurrectionary riot of, 431
danger caused by it to Archbishop of Dublin, 431
its penalty, 432
Jesus, staff of, legend conceming it, 68
Jew of London-derry, a schoolmaster there, directions for correcting
him, 447
John, King, his contest with the Pope about an archbishop, 8
bribed to compromise the rights of his crown, 9
Jones, archbishop of Dublin, his report of his diocese in 1615, made on
occasion of a royal visitation, 389
signs the Irish Articles in 1615, 388

INDEX. 781
Jones, archbishop of Dublin, his ineffectual endeavours to supply his
diocese with sufficient ministers, 390
for what actions memorable, 430
Jones, bishop of Killaloe, remained in Ireland during the Rebellion of
1641, 566
Jubilee for the restoration of the Romish religion, 241
Judgment of bishops against the toleration of Popery, 423
remarkable circumstances attending its publication, 424
assented to by the people, 425
vindicated by the statute, 427
as well as on higher grounds, 427
followed by a remonstrance from thc English House of Commons,
428
Keating, chief justice, resists the repeal ofthe Act of Settlement, 709
Kelley, Ralph, archbishop of Cashel, his illegitimacy, 35
Kekney, John, treasurer of St. Patrick's, associated with Walsh in
translating the Common Prayer Book and Scriptures^ 293
Kerry, bishop of, beneficed in Leighlin, 377
bishoprick of, name given to the sees of Ardfert and Aghadoe,
283
its temporalties wasted by the rebellions, 283
Kettle, the Lady Alice, charged with witchcraft, 29
Kieran, St., striking miracle attributed to him, 75
Kilcoleman, place of Spenser's residence, 320
Kildare, bishop appointed to it soon after the Restoration, 61.3
Kilfenora, bishoprick of, united to Tuara, 613
Kilkenny, particulars of proclamation of Queen Mar)'^ there, 230
cathedral church of, broken open and plundered in the Rebellion
of 1641, 668 ¦¦
its ruinous state in 1660, 663
school at, superseded by a Jesuit's college, 689
Kilmainham priory, two rival claimants of, 24
restored, and again suppressed, 247
Kilmore, two rival bishops of, 24
bishoprick of, its peculiar circumstances, 171
long unoccupied, 284
diocese of, much neglected hy the English government, .310
recommended to be brought under the royal jurisdiction, 311
a bishop appointed to it, 311
again neglected after Bishop Garvey 's promotion, 316
a bishop appointed to it in 1603, after a long interval, 357
united with Ardagh, 357
and Ardagh, diocese of, state of its incumbents, churches, parson
age-houses, &c., in 1622, 400
and Ardagh, diocese of, its general state as represented by Bishop
Bedell, 435
miserable condition of its churches, parishes, and ministers, 436
description improperly applied by Cox to the Irish dioceses in
general, 437
Kilulta, church of, where Bishop Taylor is said to have preached, none
such in existence, 600

782 INDEX.
Kilulta, church of, what church intended, 600
King, his original power in the appointment of bishops, 4
interfered with by the Pope, 4
his subsequent conflicts with the Pope, 9
encroachments on his prerogative, 12
of England declared King instead of Lord of Ireland, 165
cause of the change of title, 166
rejoicings on the occasion, 165
Kings of England, their claim to the dominion of Ireland independent
of Papal authority, 109
founded on conquest and submission, 110
King's supremacy, impediments to its establishment, 109
King, his supremacy established by Act of Parliament, 116
appeals to him in all spiritual causes enacted, 116
King's supremacy, severe measures judged necessary towards the im-
pugners of it, 147
effect of its legal establishment in the appointment to bishopricks,
167
King, declaration of unlawfulness of taking arms against him, 646
extraordinary arbitrary power vested in him by Act of James the
Second's parliament, 721
King's almoner, institution of the office, 413
King, William, archbishop of Dublin, his complaint of the smallness
of his patronage, 312
his answer to Manby's justification of his conversion, 692
his specification of outrages perpetrated on the Dublin clergy, 701
his activity in supplying the wants of the diocese, 701
preaches at St. Patrick's after the victory at the Boyne, 732
Kinsale, defeat of the Spaniards there, its effect, 335
Kippis, Dr., questions a narrative relating to Bishop Bramhall, 595
Kirk of Scotland, ministers of, sent to press the Solemn League and
Covenant on the north of Ireland, 579
their violence and success, 680
Scotch, high notions of its authority, 606
Kirk, a beneficed clergyman in England, employed in editing the Scrip
tures in Irish, 670
Kneeling at the Lord's Supper required by both the English and Irish
Canons, 499
Knights of St. John, or Knights Hospitallers, 42
Knox, Andrew, bishop of Raphoe, charge against him involving his
faithfulness to the Church, 453
his irregularity in ordaining a candidate who objected to the prin
ciples and practices of the Church, and by an unlawful form,
456
his usual practice, 467
Laghlin Oge, a Popish priest, his mischievous interference with the
Church, 376
Lalor, Robert, his apprehension and indictment, 361
his submission and confession of his offences, 361
his prevarication, 352
his subsequent indictment and conviction, 353

INDEX. 783
Laly, Thomas, a layman, deprived of a benefice, for inability to
exercise the clerical functions, 309
Lambeth Articles, rejected in England, adopted In Ireland, 383
incorporated almost word for word in the Irish Articles, 384
mode of their incorporation, 385
Lancaster, Thomas, archbishop of Armagh, licensed to hold several
benefices in commendam, 282
his numerous benefices, 309
Lancaster, Thomas, bishop of Kildare, a friend of the Reforraation,
receives the English Liturgy, 198
attends the conference between the Lord Deputy and Primate
Dowdall, 207
deprived of his see, 234
improperly identified with Archblshop of Armagh, 295
Lands forfeited, given by the Crovsm for publiek purposes, 362
Latin version of the English Liturgy suggested, 260
unfitness and inutility of the suggestion, 261
Laud, William, bishop of London, recommends Bedell for the bishop
rick of Kilmore, 434
his letter to Lord Deputy Wentworth concerning the Church,
446
Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, his letter to the Lord Deputy on
supplying vacancies in the Irish episcopacy, 471
his letter conceming the supply of the bishoprick of Derry, 472
objects to Irish bishops holding commendams in England, 473
his letter to Lord Wentworth on the diseased state of the Church,
476
objects to be Chancellor of the College, 477
his letter to Lord Deputy relative to the Articles of Religion,
485
his letter of congratulation to Primate Ussher, on the ending of
the parliaraent and convocation, 606
contributed to improving the condition of the Irish clergy, 509
his letter to Lord Wentworth concerning the preferment of Gal
brath, 526
his letter to the Lord Deputy concerning irregularities in the
diocese of Raphoe, 544
Lawlessness of the kingdom, several bishopricks impoverished by it,
279
Lawyers, their opposition to the Reformation, 143, 144
Laymen and non-residents, statute to prevent ecclesiastical benefices
from being holden by them, 286
an abuse not uncommon, 287
Lech, John, archbishop of Dublin, endeavours to found an university,
38
Legends traditionary, the vehicle of popular instruction, speciinens of
them, 65
Leighlin, a bishop of, murdered by his archdeacon, 24
Leland, Dr , a statement of his concerning the Irish parliament cor
rected, 110
his accuracy questioned with respect to the parliament ofthe 10th
of King Henry VIL, 113

784 INDEX.
Leland, Dr., a position of his not verified by the printed Irish st.atutes,
244—247
his opinion about a particular clause of the Act of Uniformity, 260
Le Power, Arnold, charged with sorcery and heresy, 30
Leslie, or Lesley, Henry, dean of Down, reviled by a Presbyterian
minister, 462
his promotion to the bishoprick of Down and Connor, 508 — 514
his character, 515
holds his primary visitation, and calls on his clergy for their sub
scriptions to the canons, 515
his concihatory measures towards the refractory, 615
his treatise of the authority of the Church, addressed to his clergy
and published, 516
extracts from it, 517 — 520
his affectionate appeal to the dissentient ministers, 519
his subsequent conference with them, 521
and its result, 622
his exemplary conduct towards them, 522
his memorable answer to one of them, 523
his letter to Lord Deputy, relative to insurrectionary movements
in his diocese, 528
his loyalty, and other excellent qualities, 530
his charge to his clergy, an important historical document, 531
account of some of its contents, 632 — 637
impressive earnestness of the conclusion of his charge to his clergy,
536
his continued intercourse with the government, 537
signs the petition against the Scotch Covenant, 541
petition against him to parliament by Presbyterians, 649
his losses from the Rebellion of 1 641, 564
translated to Meath, 608
IjESLey, John, bishop of Orkney, translated to Raphoe, 593
Lesley, or Leslie, John, bishop of Raphoe, signs the petition again.st
the Scotch Covenant, 541
interposes for the correction of an irregular clergyman, 544
his report of the case to Lord Deputy, 544
Presbyterian petition to parliament against him, 549
continued in Ireland during the Rebellion of 1641, 5 66
supports the king's cause, and maintains a siege against Cromwell,
593
constantly uses the Liturgy and ordinances of the Church, 593
his death and character, 672
supposed to be the oldest bishop in the world, 672
Leslie, or Lesley, Robert, made bishop of Dromore, 610
Letters of orders, given by Priraate Bramhall after ordaining Presby
terian ministers, mistaken, 625
their proper signification, 626
Leverous, bishop of Kildare, deprived for refusing to take the Oath of
Supremacy, 275
reason of his refusing, 277
Liberty of conscience, promised by James the Second, but not main
tained, 724

INDEX. 785
Library of Trinity College, Dublin, a benefaction of books made to it
from the English army, ,340
its foundation coincident with that of the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, 340
a second benefaction made to it by au English army in 1656, 729
its contents seized by the adherents of James the Second, 730
regal visitation book of the province of Dublin cited from Its
MSS., 389
contains a MS. visitation book of the province of Ulster, 395
abstract of its contents, 395
Limerick, its insurrectionary spirit at the accession of King James the
First, 346
Liturgy, propriety of the instruction for translating it into Irish, 204
Livings and parishes, relation between them, 665
Livingston, Mr. .John, his irregular conduct in Scotland, 456
his mode of procuring ordination in the Church of Ireland, 456
his conversation with Bishop Knox of Raphoe, and ordination by
him, 457
his conduct after ordination, 458
his character of Archbishop Ussher, 461
suspended for irregular proceedings in Scotland, 461
sentence of deposition pronounced against him, 615
Lockwood, dean of Christ Church, resists the new form of consecra
tion of bishops, 219
Loftus, Adam, his appointment to the see of Armagh, 267
difficulty concerning his election, 267
revenues of the archbishoprick granted to him before his conse
cration, 267
his early life, 268
his favour with Queen Elizabeth and promotion, 268
question about his age, when consecrated, 269
the apostolical succession continued through him, 270
translated from Armagh to Dublin, 280
difterent causes assigned for it, 281
his letter to Archbishop Parker, 281
preaches In defence of the queen's supremacy, &c., 306
opposes Sir John Perrot's attempt to convert St. Patrick's church
into a college, 312
motives to his opposition, 312
recommends to the mayor and aldermen thc foundation of an
university in Dublin, 316
first Provost of Trinity College, 319
Lollardism and heresy, no proof of their growth in Ireland before the
Reformation, 112
Londoners and other undertakers, lands granted to them on special
agreement, 362
Long, John, archbishop of Armagh, his appointment, .309
Lord of Ireland, title changed by Act of Parliament to King, 1 65
Lord's day, not duly observed, 101
less so than human festivals, 101
and festivals ofthe saints, proportionate regard shown to them, 101
Lough Dearg, St. Patrick's purgatory there, 86, 432
3 E

786 INDEX.
Loundres, Henry de, archbishop of Dublin, nicknames given to him
by the Irish, 22
Lord's Supper, English and Irish Canons relating to it agree together,
499
Lords' Committees for Irish affairs, their representation to King Charles
of the state of the Church, 438
complaint made to them of the improper disposal of benefices, 439
Loyalty of Presbyterians, author of, his account of the manner iu
which Presbyterians were ordained in the Church, 468
historian of, injustice of an opinion given by him, 623
Luttrell, Colonel, a member of James the Second's Parliament, 708
seizes the Cathedral of Christ Church, 723
forbids more than five Protestants to meet together, 727
Mac Geohegan, Abbe, his narrative of a supernatural vision of St.
Patrick, 55
Mac Gillivider, Eugene, archbishop of Armagh, tho first who was
appointed by the Pope, 9
Mac Molissa, Nicholas, archblshop of Armagh, his extraordinary
association of the bishops and clergy against any lay power,
16
Malachy O'Morgair, archbishop of Armagh, applies to thc Pope
for archiepiscopal palls, 4
appointed the Pope's legate in Ireland, 5
his efforts to subject the Irish Church to the Papacy, 6
his illness and death, 6
Malachy, St., canonized, and his bones distributed to different mo
nasteries, 64
miraculous rev.Litlon to him of certain reliques, 65
wonderful miracle wrought by him, 76
Manby, Peter, dean of Derry, converted to Popery, 691
bis justification of his conversion, 692
answered by Dr. William King, 692
Manchet, distinguished from the wafer at the holy communion, 220
Rubrick In King Edward's First Liturgy concerning it, 220
iise of it insisted on by Bishop Bale at his consecration, 221
Margetson, James, dean of Christ Church, signed tho Dublin De
claration concerning the Book of Common Prayer, 592
his flight and perils in 1641, 596
made Archbishop of Dublin, 609
Ijromoted to the primacy, 643
recommended for it by Archbishop Bramhall, 644
his ineffectual Interposition on the subject of the Remonstrance, 654
his death aud character, 671
Marriage, objected to by Popish priests, 225
the offence for which the bishops and clergy were deprived by
Queen Mary, 235
licenses, patent for issuing them at uncanonical hours granted to
thc Primate, 413
and divorce, abuse of by Popish priests in 1622, 403
certain times for it prohibited, 504
certain qualifications prescribed, 502

INDEX. 787
Marsh, Narcissus, his care in superintending an edition of the Bible
in Irish, 670
Marsh's Library, Dublin, the Loftus MS. there, being a collection of
annals relating to Ireland, 21 2
Martin, Anthony, bishop of Meath, his sufferings from thc rebellion
of 1641, 564
one of the last persons who used the Book of Common Prayer
during the Usurpation, 694
plundered in the Rebellion, 585
appointed Provost of Trinity College, 586
imprisoned by the Parliamentary Commissioners, 586
uses the Liturgy in his college chapel, 586
his death in poverty, 687
MARY,Queen,heraccessionto the Crown of Ireland not interrupted, 229
her proclamation of liberty to attend mass, 230
mode of its reception at Kilkenny, 230
her commission for restoring the Papal religion, 234
her letter to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Churoh, for elect
ing an Archbishop of Dublin, 237
her letters to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, in favour
of Archblshop Curwen, 237, 238
her instructions to Lord Deputy to advance Popery, 243
her instructions to Lord Deputy for punishing all hereticks and
Lollards, 243
her revival of Acts for punishing hereticks, 246
her intention to punish the Irish Protestants, 249
her proceedings for that purpose, 250
how defeated, 251
ber death and character, 251
ecclesiastical alterations In her reign, 264
Mass, Popish celebration of, 60
compared with the Liturgy, 208
frequently altered by the Church of Rome, 209
question concerning its antiquity, 209
first use of the word, 209
Masses, private, their nature and frequency, 98
donations for maintaining them, 99
many celebrated together at the same place, 100
Mass-houses, superstitious rites continued to be performed In them, 429
Maxwell, John, bishop of Killala, in peril of his life from the Rebel
hon of 1641, 563
SIaxwell, Robert, archdeacon of Down, signs the petition against
the Scotch Covenant, 541
his estimate of the number destroyed in the Rebellion of 1641, 559
Maynooth, royal college of, specimens of the instruction given to thc
students by the Professor of Divinity, 65, 76
Meath, bishoprick of, Clonmacnoise united to it, 283
its state in the time of Queen Elizabeth, 298
its want of churches and ministers, 298
held together with Clogher, 356
diocese of, report of its . benefices, ministers, parsonage-houses,
churches, &c., in 1622, 398
3 E 2

788 INDEX.
Meath, diocese of, two occurrences there exemplifying the Popish
spirit in 1622. 408
Mediator, Christ the only, 211
Members of the Church, before the Reformation, not distinguished by
sound religion or useful learning, 102
instances of outrageous conduct in men of rank, 103
moral condition of the lower Irish, 104
Merit, treasuries of, provided by monastick institutions, 47
instanced by numerous examples, 47
Metropolitan, outrage of, on his inferior, 21
Metropolitans, their suspension of their suffragans' jurisdiction, remarks
on it, 443
Jletz, Bishop of, his letter, in the name of the Pope and Cardinals,
exciting the Irish to rebellion, 140
Miagh, William, bishop of Kildare, circumstances of his appoint
ment, 171
a favourer of the Reformation, 176, 186
Ministers of the Church, causes of complaint against them, 438
means taken for their correction, 439
Ministers, their duty as to preaching and catechising, as prescribed by
the Canons, 502
Minister's Duty in Life and Doctr 'me, by Bishop Taylor, 648
Ministers, deficiency of in 1 660, 664
insufficiency for their maintenance, 664 — 667
Miracle, Popish, in Christ Church, Dublin, 254
particulars of it, aud its detection, 255
punishment of its contrivers, 256
its effect on the queen, 256
Miracles, fictitious, belief of them in the Irish Church, 73
remarkable examples, 74
Monagh.an, county of, visited by Lord Deputy In 1607, 353
particulars of its ecclesiastical condition, 354
churches for the most part utterly waste, 356
Monasteries, dissolution of, 155
dissolution of, causes assigned for, 194
recommendation from the Lord Deputy and Council for six of
them to stand, 156
usefulness attributed to them, 156, 157
the principal ones surrendered, 157
if not voluntarily surrendered, compulsory means used, 159
their dissolution not completely eff'ected, 159
price of things found in thom under the king's commission, 162
ch.attels of, account of them, 164
rebuilt by the Jesuits in King James the First's time, 349
Monastick dresses assumed by persons on their death-bed.s, 97
by distinguished ecclesiasticks, 97
by laymen of high station, 98
institutions, their number and orders, 39
some of their rulers Lords of Parliament, 44
often supplied episcopal vacancies, 44
evil of them preponderated over the good, 46
established on an essenti.ally faulty' principle, 47
confounded the Creator's honour with that of his creatures, 47

INDEX. 789
Monastick institutions, " under the invocation" of special patrons, 50
militated against God's purpose in the creation of man, 51
Montgomery, Viscount, signs the petition against the Scotch Cove
nant, 540
proposes in Parliament a declaration of conformity to Episcopacy
and the Liturgy, 632
Moore, Alexander, precentor of Connor, a convert to Popery, 692
Moreton, William, bishop of Kildare, removed by James II. from
the Privy Council, 685
MossoM, bishop of Derry, his representation of the state of his
diocese in 1670, 667
Mountgomery, George, bishop of Derry, Raphoe, and Clogher, evils
of his non-residence, 355
surrenders Derry and Raphoe, and appointed to Meath, 356
irregularly alters the corporation of his diocese, 401
Mountjoy, Lord, lord deputy, his letter to the English Govern
ment on the treatment of Papists, 337
his progress Into Munster, to repress the rebellious proceedings on
King James the First's accession, 346
issues a proclamation of indemnity and oblivion, 347
Moygne, Thomas, bishop of Kilmore, his letter of congratulation to
Archbishop Ussher, 419
represents to him the depressed state of the Church, and the
necessity of exertion, 420
Munster, its irreligious condition inferred from certain special ordi
nances, 167
Protestants of, their remonstrance relative to their distresses from
the Rebelhon of 1641, 558
Nagle, Sir Richard, attorney-general, motives to his appointment, 686
precludes the king from pardoning persons proscribed, 715
Nangle, bishop of Clonfert, a suffragan of Archbishop Browne, 153
forciby expelled from his benefice, 153
National churches, uniformity of discipline to be maintained in them, 518
Nessan, St., his personal victory over Satan, 57
New Testament translated into Irish, 293
Nicholls, Dr., in bis History of the Church of England, mistakes
Primate Bramhall's ordination of Presbyterian ministers, 625
Nonconforming ministers, sentence against them, 513
removed by the Act of Uniformity, 647
Nonconformists, their violence, and opposition to episcopal jurisdls-
tion, 537
their petition for the like indulgence in Ireland as in Scotland,
538
the king's objection to their petition, 539
Protestant, support the Popish party in Impeaching BIshoji Bram
hall, 560
Nonconformity to tho Church's orders, alleged against the clergy and
laity, 533
Non- residence of clergy, means taken to correct it, 511
Norfolk, Duke of, his assistance sought by the Popish clergy, 137
North of Ireland, abundance of all sorts of factions there, 606

790 INDEX.
Netterville, Luke, archblshop of Armagh, not confirmed, because
not elected with the king's licence, 9
Nugent, Baron Riverstown, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, his
character and appointment, 686
Oath of allegiance determined by Papists to be unlawful, 466
of supremacy, enacted in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 257
necessary to be taken by all persons on the lands of the Londoners
and other undertakers, 362
Obedience to the king a Christian duty, 117
vow of, to the See and Pope of Rome, 138
Observants, their resistance to authority, 131
their falsehood and craft, 144
virtue attributed to their coats and girdles, 144
their pernicious influence, 144
Octavian del Palatio, Pope's nuncio, indulgences granted by him, 89
O'DoGHERTY, Sir Cahir, his atrocities at Kilmore and Derry, 362
O'Neal, letter exciting him to rebellion, 140
declares himself champion of the Papacy, 140
Shane, his destruction of Armagh, 302
excommunicated for it, 302
O'Neil, Sir Bryan, his impeachment of Bishop Bramhall and others, 550
O'Neile, Hugh, titular Primate of Armagh, his measures in justifica
tion of the Rebellion of 1641, 570
Ordination, conditional, not practised by Archbishop Bramhall, 626
nor recognised by the Church, 625
Ormonde, Marquis of, lord lieutenant, his exertions in behalf of the
Churoh, 569
his determined resistance to the Popish claims, 574
treats for the surrender of Dublin to the Parliamentary Commis
sioners, 583
his exertions in behalf of the Church, 584
acknowledged by an address from the clergy, 584
stands forward in defence of the Church on the king's Restora
tion, 603
recommends the filling of the vacant bishopricks, 604
Duke of, counteracts conspiracy of the Presbyterians against the
Church, 641
interposes in favour of the Remonstrants, 664
his proclamations and orders for repressing the Papists, 658, 659
general confidence reposed in his government, 660
intercepts fresh attempts for disturbing the kingdom, 662
withdrawn from the lord lieutenantcy, 680
Orrery, Earl of, lord justice, his letter to the Marquis of Ormonde,
concerning the state of religion in 1661, 629
his letter relating the election of Primate Bramhall to the speak
ership of the House of Lords, 631
his letter to the Duke of Ormonde concerning the Papists and
Nonconformists, 636
giving an account of Popish arrogance at Cork, 651
Ossory, diocese of, sad condition of the church and clergy in 1660,
described by the bishop, 663

INDEX. 791
Ossory, two classes of benefices, 665
their extent and value, 660
Pall, archiepiscopal, its introduction into Ireland, 4
conferred on the four archbishops, 6
Palliser, William, his funeral oration on Archblshop Margetson, 641
his account of the character of Archbishop Margetson, 671
Papal indulgences for fighting against the queen, 307
Papists, their pretended miracle to preclude thc English Liturgy, 255
their compliance with the statute prescribing the English Liturgy,
259
ordered to attend church every Sunday, 336
their diligence in attending ohurch, 336
forbear to take part in the Protestant worship, 338
their disturbances on the accession of King James I., 344
poorer sort of, their dislike of Popery, and motives for adhering
to it, 370
of the richer sort, cause of their adhering to their religion, 371
their insolent conduct in 1616, 390
the government constrained to aot with greater strictness towards
them, 391
forbidden by their priests to attend on Ussher's preaching, 394
their deplorable Ignorance and prejudices, 395
their blind attachment to the supposed religion of their forefathers,
395
design for introducing a more public toleration of their religion, 422
opposed by Primate Ussher, and other prelates, 423
prosecuted for not coming to church, protected by Instructions
from England, 432
their restless and tumultuous spirit, 432
religious houses erected by them in Dublin, and seized by the
government, 433
necessity of a strong military force for repressing them, 466
gentle means to be used for converting them, 467
enjoyed free exercise of their religion before the Rebellion of 1641,
5.56
an authentic exposition of their belief and practice, 616
their miserable superstition and blindness, 617
instanced in the narrative of a bell, 618
to bring them to church an act of singular charity, 617
indulgences extended to them in the reign of King Charles the
Second, 655
interrupted by the Parliament of England, 656
proclamations of the Irish government for repressing them, 658
reinforced by orders of the Lord Lieutenant and council, 659
appointed by King James the Second to military and civil situa
tions, 681, 682
impediments in the way of their religious improvement, 733
of quality, refusing to take the oath of supremacy, censured in
the Star Chamber, 412
convinced by Bishop Ussher's reasoning, 413
Parentage of a Popish priest, remarkable anecdote of, 35

792 INDEX. .
Parishes, lands allotted to the undertakers in Ulster constituted such,
364
number of, comprised in a living, 665
Parish churches, appropriated to religious houses, provision made for
the cure of them, 165
In the king's dominions. Holy Scriptures ordered to be placed
therein, 193
all persons commanded to resort thither on Sundays and holy-
days, 259
their bad condition and necessity of repairing them, 291
bill for effecting It, unsuccessful, 291
Sir H. Sydney's suggestions for repairing them, 299
probable causes of their ruinous condition in Queen Elizabeth's
reign, 301
extent of the evil, and difficulty of remedying it, 303
deficiency of legal provisions, 304
bishops encouraged by Lord Deputy to repair them, 310
insufficient attempt at their reparation, 325
in 1611, great need of them, 355
petition for a taxation of the parishioners to repair them, 406
ruinous and irreverently attended in 1633, 448
directions for their repair, 451
commissions Issued for their rejiair, 474
ruinous state of, in 1660, 663, 667
seized by the Papists in King James the Second's time, 723
and Popish priests settled in them, 723
Parish clerks, petition for a parish tax to maintain them, 406
under certain circumstances allowed to read part of the service of
the Church, 501
Parker, Archblshop, makes use of a pretended miracle for deter
mining Queen Elizabeth against images, 266
Parliament of Ireland never recognised the king of England as feoffee
of the Pope, 110
of 1537, its enactments relative to ecclesiastical persons, 124
difficulty of carrying them into execution, 124
none called in King Edward's reign, 188
of 1635, acts passed In it for improving the temporal estates of
the Church, 482
solemn meeting of, in 1661, 631
of 1661, various orders of, indicating their sentiments on the late
events, 633—635
in Dublin called by King James the Second, 704
artful management in its composition, 705
Acts of, in James the Second's time, passed in the absence of the
spiritual peers, 706
English, its rebelhous spirit encouraged the Irish Rebellion of
1641, 557
of England, its oppression of the Irish Church, 570
confiscated vacant bishopricks during the Usurpation, 597
of England, opposes the Indulircnce of thc English Presbyterians, 639
of England_ petition King Charles the Second against indulgences
to Papists, 656
different articles of the petition, 657

INDEX. 793
Parliamentary Commissioners, Dublin surrendered to them, 583
their order for discontinuing the Lituro-y, 585
propose to the clergy of Dublin to use the Directory, instead of
the Botdc of Common Prayer, 587
Parr, Dr., his life and letters of Archbishop Usshcr, 3,32
Parry, Edward, bishop of Killaloe, signed the Dublin Declaration
concerning thc Coinmou Prayer Book and Directory, 591
his two sons present at one of the latest readings of it, 594
Parry, John aud Benjamin, bishops of Ossory, ])rcscnt at one of the
last publiek readings of the Liturgy, 594
Patrick, St., his vision of the future condition of tho Irish Church, 55
his burial-place miraculously discovered, 65
his crosier, miraculous history of It, 68
his purgatory in Lough Dearg, 85
its history, and description of it, 86
Patronage in cathedrals, how abused, 280
made the occasion of an Act of Parliament, 286
Peers and most respectable commons, iu favour of episcopacy, 604
Pelham, Sir William, lord justice, arrogant letter of Earl of Desmond
to him, 307
Pelly or Pellys, Martin, his letter, giving an account of Archbishop
Curwen's first sermon in Dublin, 240
Penances, occasions and theatres of them, 86
Perrot, Sir John, lord deputy, his instructions, 309
bis activity In his government, 309
brings the diocese of Kilmore under the royal jurisdiction, 310
his exertions for the improvement of the Church, 310
instructed to convert St. Patrick's church into a college, 31 1
defeated therein by Archblshop Loftus, 313
his removal from Ireland and condemnation, 313
Peterborough, Countess of, afforded Primate Ussher an asylum in his
exile, 598
Peter-pence, payment of, prohibited, 123
Petition to the English Parliament from northern Presbyterians against
the bishops, 547
to the Irish Parliament against the bishops of Raphoe, Down, and
Derry, 549
for redress of Protestant grievances in vain presented to King
James the Second, 725
Petty, Sir William, his calcvilation of the massacre of 1641, 560
Pilgrimages, sometimes to the Continent, 81
more frequently to different parts of Ireland, 81
different motives and objects of them, 82
Act of Parliament for protection of pilgrims, 85
Pilsworth, William, officiated at one of the last publiek readings of
the Common Prayer, 594
Pluralities, cause of their being lamentably extended, 282
evil of, 450
Plurality of wives and husband.?, its commonness, 404
Pont, an irregular clergyman In Raphoe, account of the proceedings
concerning bim, 544
Poole, Cardinal, the Pope's legate iu Ireland, 244

794 INDEX.
Pope, his earliest interference with the Irish Church, 4
progress of his interference, 7
interference of his claims with the king's in tho appointment of
bishops, 10
his other encroachments on the royal prerogative, 12
prejudicial effects of his claims, 13
remarkable Instance of his usurped power, 14
his imaginary right to the kingdom of Ireland not recognised by
the Irish Parliament, 110
his authority in Ireland, insufficient commission for removing
it, 1 14
remarked on by Act of Parliament as a name given to the Bishop
of Rome, 116
rejects a nominee of the king for a bishoprick, 171
his own nominee rejected by the king, 171
deemed an usurper by Popi.sh kings and parliaments, 352
his kingdom in Ireland far greater than the king's, 466
his bull of encouragement to the Irish Papists in December,
1605, 350
considered the only sovereign to whom even temporal allegiance
was due, 656
Paul the Fourth, his bull of pardon for disobedience to the see
apostolical, 244
narrative of its reception, 244
Pius the Fifth, his bull of excommunication against Queen Eliza
beth, 294
its consequences, 295
Gregory the Thirteenth, his acts for propagating the Romish faith
in Ireland, 307
Urban the Eighth, forbids the oath of allegiance to be taken to
King Charles the First, 418
Innocent the Tenth, exhorts the Popish bishops to persist in
war, 574
Pope's holiness. The, tender mercies of, exemplified, 246
supremacy, abrogation of, first step to the Reformation, 107
supremacy re-established by statute, 245
Popery, efforts for restoring it in Queen Mary's time, 241
proved to be not the old religion of the Irish, 395
why not to be tolerated, 423
check laid on the publiek exercise of it, 428
general Increase of through the kingdom, 464
various forms in which its influence was shown, 466
checked for a while by the failure of King James the Second, 731
Popish arrogance exemplified at Cork, 651
clergy, proclamation against them in 1629, 428
clergy, numerous and po-werful, 436
clergy, their oath of allegiance to thc Pope, 465
clergy justify the rebellion of 1641, 570
their meetings and proceedings in consequence, 571
clergy met in a national .synod, 650
ready for a new rebelhon, 651
ceremonies, celebrated on the reception of Lord Fitzwaiter, 243

INDEX. 795
Popish hierarchy, their assumption of the episcopal titles, 570
specimens of their temper and projects, 572
they claim tho possessions of the Church, 573
describe themselves as the bishops of the kingdom, 573
assert their right to the churches, 673
and all manner of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, 574
aud priesthood, their domineering influence over thoir people, 73.3
their objects unfolded in the reign of James the Second, 733
established under royal authority, 690
nobilltv and gentry, join the clergy in justifying the Rebellion of
1641, 672
oath of association, 578
its object the same as that of the Solemn League and Covenant, 581
party opposed to the king's prerogative, 124
their energy in counteracting- attempts at religious improve
ment, 294
peers refuse to attend divine service ou the opening of Parliament
in I6I5, 380
priests, their superstitious practices, 224
their licentious lives, 224
their objection to marriage, 225
in 1611, instituted by bishops authorized by Rome, 355
encouragers of rebellion, 361
their influence in keeping up Popery, 371
particulars of several in 1612, 373
their arrogance with respect to the instruction and rites of the
Church, 374
abuses caused by them, 403
insufficiency of the laws for correcting them, 404
their presumption and arrogance in 1 622 exemplified, 408
clergy, their representations of Bishop Ussher's sermon before the
' Lord Deputy, 410
priests, their restless activity in counteracting designs for convert
ing the Irish Papists, 469
their tyranny over their subjects unequalled, 471
and Jesuits, their conspiracy for a general rebellion and massacre
of Protestants, 655
means taken by them for exciting the people, 566
in time of James the Second, their means of distressing the
Protestants, 724
assert their power independently of the king's proclamation, 725
recusants, encouraged in their recusancy by differences among
Protestants, 368
instructions concerning them, and mode of treating them in 1612,
371
best means for their restraint, 440
religion, petition to King James the First for Its toleration, 348
reliques and images ordered to be removed from Christ Church, 265
rites and ceremonies, exercise of, forbidden, 429
ritual, specimens of, as revived under Queen Mary, 241
superstitions, example of their restoration on Queen Mary's acces
sion, 232

796 INDEX.
Popish vow of obedience, 138
" Portion canon," a demand of the clergy, explained, 130
Powersoourt, parish church of, injuries done to it in the Rebellion of
I64I, 558
Prayer Book translated into Irish, and read in the shire town of every
diocese, 293
"Preachers" distinguished from "reading ministers," 376, 390
good, recommended to be sent over from England to improve
the common Irish, 329
instructions concerning their teaching, 501, 502
Preaching, sound, difficulty of effecting it, 131
character of, before the Reformation, 131
and hearing of sermons, undue importance attached to, 532
undue value assigned to it, 601
Prerogative Court in Dublin, regal visitation book there cited, 453
Presbyterians, Scotch, their settlement in Ireland, 366
legalized by Act of Parliament, 367
their first congregatious in Antrim and Down, 367
their sentiments on the authority of the kirk, 606
historical essay upon their loyalty, 453
English, impatient of submitting to the Act of Uniformity, 640
seek support from Scotland and Ireland, 641
of Ulster, their petition to the English Parliament against the
bishops, 547
summary of their allegations, 648
printed in a tract for circulation, 549
in Ireland, conspiracy counteracted by the Duke of Ormonde, 641
Presbyterian ministers, their opposition to the Church, 452
their expedient for procuring her appointments, 452
unlawfully ordained. In possession of church benefices, 458
their self-sufficiency and condemnation of others, 461
apply to King Charles the Second for establishing Presbyte
rianism, 603
necessity of their receiving episcopal ordination, 623
judicious conduct of Primate Bramhall in satisfying them, 623
their violent opposition to Bishop Taylor, 626
refuse to attend his visitation, 627
not being episcopally ordained, their benefices of course vacant, 627
nuraber of those who refused to qualify in the northern dioceses, 627
aids In guarding them against mistakes, 648
their new covenant and meetings, 661
their designs of fresh disturbances intercepted, 662
in England vacate their benefices on account of thc Act of Uni
formity, 637
seek support from the court, 638
countenanced by the king, 639
opposed by the parliament, 639
Presbyterianism, its origin in Geneva, and its mischievous effects else
where, 534
Presbyteries of Ulster, ministers sent from them to the government in
1661, 629
particulars of their conferences with tbe Lords Justices 6'29

INDEX. 797
Premonstratensian or White Canons, 42
Price, archbishop of Cashel, his attempt to reclaim tho P.apists de
feated by the priests, 469
his report of proceedings in convocation concerning tho Articles,
489
consecrated bishop of Kildare, 613
Priests and friars, their influence, 618
their ecclesiastical jurisdiction, 619
Primate of all Ireland, title disputed between thc Archbishops of
Armagh and Dublin, 211
taken from Archbishop Dowdall and given to Archblshop
Browne, 212
Processions, religious, conducted with much pomp and pageantry, 61
Proclamation for Popish priests to depart from the kingdom, faintly
administered, 350
•against Romish emissaries in 1616, faintly executed, 369
against the Popish clergy in 1623, 413
against the Popish clergy in 1629, 428
irreverent manner of publishing it, 429
little obedience shown to it, 429
despised and contemned by the Popish clergy, 430
condemning the Solemn League and Covenant, 578
Proctors, in parliament, their functions, 118
their opposition to the king's measures in parliament, 1 18
their authority restricted, l21
Prophecy, alleged, concerning the Catholick faith in Ireland, 140
Proscribed persons, lists of, in the Act of Attainder of King James the
Second, 710—713
in what manner furnished, 713
incapacitated for being pardoned, 714
apparent indulgences annulled by other provisions of the Act, 714
Protestant sectarianism, its activity and growth, 452
dissenters and sectaries, their hostility to the Church after the
Restoration, 620
different occasions which brought them into Ireland, 621
Protestants of Irciand, schism introduced amongst them by Scotch
emigrants, 367
excluded from the Privy Council, and from civil and military
offices, by James the Second, 685
difficulties opposed to their recovery of debts, 687
in reign of King James the Second, their various sufferings, 71 6, 721
in the time of King James the Second, their churches seized by
the Papists, 722
ineffectually complain to the king, 724
their publiek worship interrupted, 726
assembled in private houses, 726
various steps taken for suppressing their religious meetings, 727
more than five forbidden to meet together, 727
Provincial councils and diocesan synods of the Popish clergy, 653
synod at Drogheda, holden by Primate Dowdall, 241
synod by Archbishop Curwen in Dublin, 241
Puritanical zeal in tho great Rebellion, its evils, 668

798 INDEX.
Puritans in Ireland, desirous of setting up their own discipline, 628
Radcliffe, Sir George, his letter to the Bishop of Derry on the pub
lication of the Irish Canons, 506
Ram, Thomas, bishop of Ferns and Leighhn, valuable report of his
diocese in 1612, 369
his course for suppressing Popery, and planting the truth of reli
gion, 370
never admitted Popish priest to church living or cure, 373
his caution with respect to schoolmasters, 37'*
his explanation of several particulars in his report, and of his
own practice, 377
his recommendation concerning impropriations, 378
Raphoe, bishoprick of, not regularly filled by Queen Elizabeth, 284
diocese of, state of its parishes, ministers, parsonages, churches,
&c., in 1622, 404
titular bishop of, his Irregular proceedings, 430
Presbyterian ministers who refused to qualify for the Church, 627
Ratcliff, Thomas, Viscount Fitzwaiter, his inclination for Popery, 242
his reception as Lord Deputy with Popish ceremonies, 243
his instructions to advance the Catholick faith, 243
Batcuff, Earl of Sussex, his recall and re -app ointment by Queen
Elizabeth, 253
Restoration of the English service on his second arrival, 253
his instructions for setting up the English Liturgy, 254
active in carrying his instructions into effect, 256
his Instructions for the establishment of the Protestant religion, 265
Reading ministers, as distinguished from preachers, 376, 377
distinction frequently made between them and preachers, 390
Rebellions In King James the First's time, consequence of them, 362
Rebellion of 1641, remarkably anticipated by Ussher, 339
general tranquillity preceding it, 564
means taken for exciting it, 655
motives to it, religious and secular, 556
promoted by the rebellious spirit of the English Parliament, 557
its horrible atrocities, 557
its special effect on the Church, 558
justified by the Romish clergy, 570
Record Office, Dublin, curious roll in it, relating to thc possessions of
monasteries, 161
Records, diocesan, loss of, from Plenry the Eighth to James the First,
405
Reformation in Ireland commenced with the arrival of Archbishop
Browne, 112
not previously introduced there, 113
its progress in the time of King Edward the Sixth, 190
bishops who supported it, 191
its principles and practices corrupted by intermixture of Romish
superstitions, 223
opposition to every scheme for propagating it, 291
Reformed religion, how encouraged in King Edward tho Sixth's
reign, 228

INDEX. 799
Reformed religion, special provisions for promoting it in thc Irish
Canons, 501
Regal visitation of the province of Armagh in 1622, 395
detailed report from the several dioceses, 396
of the province of Dublin in 1615, 389
in 1633, 444
result of its inquiries, 445
Regular priests charged with keeping harlots, and having wives and
children, 130
Reigns, successive, alterations introduced into ecclesiastical affiiirs, 264
Relief for distressed Protestants in James the Second's time contri
buted from England, 716
Religiou to be promoted by mildness and gentleness, 327
toleration of, recommended, 328
little appearance of it in 1566, 287
a certain knowledge of, a qualification for marrying, &c., 502
Religious edifices, outrages upon them, 102
instruction, difficulty of conveying it to the native Irish, 221
meagre supply of it in King Edward's reign, 222
Reliques of saints, reverence entertained for them, 63
catalogue of those in Christ Church, 77
of various sorts, mitre.s, crosiers, vestments, bells, &c., held in
religious veneration, 67
of St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Columba, miraculously dis
covered to St. Malachy, 05
translated by order of the Pope, 66
annual festival in commemoration, 67
Remonstrance, an acknowledgment of the king's temporal authority l)y
some of the Popish clergy, 650
Remonstrants, excommunicated, 655
acknowledge the temporal power of the king, 650
their danger from the opposite party, 654
seek protection in vain from the Lord Lieutenant, 054
Revenues of the Church, neglected and alienated, 450
Rice, Sir Stephen, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, his appointment
and character, 685, 686
Richard, St., celebration of his festival ordained, 182
Richardson, John, bishop of Ardagh, selected to preach before thc
government, 334
Richardson, Dr. John, his short history of attempts to convert thc
Popish natives of Ireland, 669
Roman Catholicks, various privileges granted to their clergy by acts of
King James the Second, 718
when first denominated by such an instrument, 719
Rome, bishop of, his authority annulled, 116
payments to him prohibited, 123
difficulty of cancelhng his name out ofthe Canon of the Mass, 132
encourages the Irish in opposing the king, 137
his commission to the clergy to that effect, 138
his usurpation condemned in a form of prayer before sermons, 145
his name to be defaced from Primers and other books, 146
bis bulls and letters of pardons ineffectual, 146
vices occasioned by his jurisdiction, 194

800 INDEX
Rome, bishop of, intrusive missionaries sent by him into Ireland, 285
his irreligious conduct for maintaining his supremacy, 308
church of, form of a pledge to maintain it, 138
its alterations of the mass, 209
distinguished from the holy Catholick Church, 210
emissaries of, prophetically described, 199
jurisdiction usurped by, in the reign of James the First, 403
Romish Church, its ministers and emissaries, injury done by them to
true religion, 324
special hostility to the Church of Ireland after the Restoration, 614
hierarchy, re-establishment of, 464
priesthood, the best means of attempting the conversion of the
Irish, 467
religion, its political character, 619
a chief impediment to conversion, 620
worship, false objects of, efforts for abolishing them, 126
Rood-lofts, and other monuments of superstition, ordered by the
Canons to be taken away, 503
Royal Dublin Society's Library, copy of letters from the Harris MSS.
preserved there, 206
Rules and advices to tho clergy of his diocese, by Bishop Taylor, 648
Rust, George, bishop of Dromore, his panegyrick on Bishop Taylor,
673
Sabbath, morality of, as asserted in the Articles of 1615, why objected
to, 385
Sacramental bread, carried in solemn religious procession, 62
Saints, veneration of, carried to an undue extent, 54
improperly associated with the Deity, 54
canonization of, variously exemplified, 62
places chosen by, or containing memorials of them, invested with
peculiar sanctity, 82, 83
Saint Lf.ger, Sir Anthony, lord deputy, his advice for enacting the
title of King of Ireland, 167
receives King Edward's order for introducing the EnolishLiturov,
194 S „ ^y,
calls an assembly of thc bishops aud clergy, 195
his altercation with the Primate, 197
his proclamation for the use of the Engli.sh Liturgy, 199
his recall attributed to a difference with Archbishop Browne, 200
probably without reason, 201
resumes his office of Ijord Deputy, 234
his removal by Queen Mai-y, and cause of it, 242
Saint Mary's Abbey, petition for its preservation, 157
Patrick's, cathedral of, vicars bound to celebrate an annual
mass, 99
cathedral, dean of, a layman, 287
project for converting it Into a college, 311
its failure, 313
desecrated in time of King Jaraes thc Second, 723
dean and chapter of, resist the attenipt of James the Second to
subvert their laws, 693
purgatory, ordered to bo destroyed, 432

INDEX. 801
Saint Patrick's ridges, explained, 420
Saint Saviour's Friary, Dublin, disgraceful conflict there, 23
S.\LL, Dr., a gray friar, apprehended for his sermon, 133
Sanders, bishop of Leighlin, a favourer of the liefonnation, 170, 186
Schisms and heresies, multiplied during the Usurpation, 606
Schools or academies in early times, 37
high character of that in Armagh, 38
attempts to establish one in Dublin, 39
erected for learning Enghsh, 123
diocesan, statute for erecting them, particulars relatincr to them
289 or n ,
object of tho government iu enacting thom, 290
erected and endowed in the principal towns of Ulster, 365
abuses of them, 474
petitioned against by Convocation, 510
Protestant, discouraged, and Popish set up, in Kino- James tho
Second's reign, 689
Scotch Presbyterians, zealous in vindicating their orders, 518
in Ireland, their refractory conduct, 538
petition of some of them, renouncing the Covenant, 539
oath framed in pursuance of the petition, 541
covenanters, their hostility to Bishop Taylor's office and person, 626
violence of their ministers increased by his kindness, 626
their conspiracy with the fanaticks of England and Scotland, 637
their plot for putting down the king, &c., 649
Scotland, Regent of, application to him recommended, for clergymen
who could speak Irish, 300
emigrants from, into Ulster, brought with them their religious
peculiarities, 365
character of their opinions, 366
congregations formed by them, and a schism instituted among
Irish Protestants, 367
its evil consequences, 368
tumultuary spirit spread from Scotland Into Ireland, 523
Insurrection there, cause of the prevailing disobedlenco In Ireland,
534
Scottish troops, their influence in spreading the Solemn League and
Covenant over the north of Ireland, 580
Scripture, texts of, instead of j)ictures, &c., painted on the Dubhn
cathedrals, 253
Sectarianism, its effect In weakening the powers of the Church, 368, 733
six degrees of, 535
Sectaries, endeavours for reducing them to the Church, 440
endeavour to extirpate episcopacy at the Restoration, 607
their sin and errors, 516
difference between them and the Church not about small mat
ters, 517
sorae of their objections .specified and condemned, 517
Seele, Thomas, dean of St. Patrick's, one of the last persons who
took part in the publiek reading of the Liturgy, 594
Sheyn, Matthew, bishop of Cork, burns an image of St. Dominick,
in 1578, 306
3 P

802 INDEX.
Sibthorp, bishop of Limerick, remained in Ireland without emolu
ment from bis preferment in 1641, 566
Singe, or Synge, Edward, bishop of Limerick, signed the Declaration
concerning the Book of Common Prayer, 591
continued to use it during the Usurpation, 592
preaches before the newly consecrated bishops at Christ Church,
612
Singe, or Synge, George, bishop of Cloyne, his improvement of the
bishoprick, 507
Sir, meaning of the title, as applied to a clergyman, 373
Slieve Donard, a mountain in th,i county of Down, a place of pe
nance, 86
Smith, Sir Thomas, his scheme for planting a Protestant colony in the
Ards unsuccessful, 296
Thomas, raayor of Dublin, lays the first stone of Trinity College,
319
Society " de Propaganda Fide," its formation, 394
Solemn League and Covenant, great Instrument with sectaries for thc
destruction of the Church, 677
its leading articles, 677
king's proclamation against it, 578
efforts of the government to repress it, 57"
commanders of regiments averse to it, 579
supported by Scottish forces and ministers fro.Ji Scotland, 579
its adoption in the northern parts of Ireland, 580
akin to the Popish oath of association, 581
condemned by parliament, 632
form of its condemnation, 633
its unlawfulnr.'- - declared by Act of Parliament, 646
Souls, departed in the faith of Christ, prayer for them ordered, 146
Spenser, Edmund, his connexion with Ireland, 320
his view of the state of it, 321
his representation of the want of ministers, 32]
and of churches, 324
his opinion of the seemliness and comeliness of churches, 325
his expedient for the supply of curates, 326
danger of it, 326
Spiritual and ecclesiastical causes, Jesuitical equivocation concernine'
them, 352
Spiritual peers, untruly said to have assented to the Acts of James
the Second's parliament, 706
their opposition to the acts of King Henry's first parhament, 117
use the proctors as instruments of opposition, 118
Spiritualty, their opposition to the king, 133
Spottiswood, James, made bishop of Clogher, 392
his contestwith Primate Hampton about the exercise of episcopal
jurisdiction, 393
signs the petirion against the Scotch Covenant, 541
Staples, Edward, bishop of Meath, censured by the king for slack
ness and negligence, 127
misconduct of one of his clergy, 149

INDEX. 803
Staples, conveys a letter from Sir James Crofts to Primate Dowdall
206 '
takes a prominent part in the ensuing conference, 208
recommends that the King of England be called King of Ireland,
166
active in the Reformation, 198
receives the English Liturgy, 198
deprived of his see, 234
causes assigned for it, 235
Statute of prmmun'ire, 16 Richard the Second, chap. 6, a proof that
even Popish kings and parliaments deemed the Pope an
usurper, 362
Steward, or Stewart, Sir William, the subject of episcopal anim
adversion in Raphoe, 644
directions of the government concerning him, 545
result of the proceedings, 546
Strafford, Earl of, his honour, worth, and integrity, vindicated by
Parhament, 634. — See Wentworth
Strype, his narrative concerning Archbishop Curwen, 239
his account of a pretended miracle in Christ Church, Dublin, 255
a misstatement of his corrected, concerning the deprivation of
Archbishop Dowdall, 267
also concerning that of other Irish bishops, 278
his account of the ignorance of English curates, 323
Stuart, royal family of, entitled to the kingdom of Ireland by
descent, 343
Subsidy for exigencies of the state, levy of it resisted by Archbishop
of Cashel and his suffragans, 1 7
Suffragan bishop, outrage of, on his superior, "21
Suffragan bishops, statute authorizing them, 179
instances of them in England, 179
in use in Ireland in the reign of Henry the Eighth, 180
Sunday, desecration of it by public tournament, 101
Supremacy, the Pope's, formal acknowledgment of by the Irish, 138
ofthe Kino- enforced In opposition to the Pope's, 145
royal, re-established by Parbamcnt in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 257
Surplice, directions concerning it in the English Canons not given in
the Irish, 499
Swift, Dean, attributes the Irish Rebellion to the English House of
Commons, 557
his description of the destruction of churches in the Rebellion, 667
Sydney, or Sidney, Sir Henry, lord deputy, sets out a declaration
of articles of religion, 271
his instructions for preserving the Church lands from waste, 279
his progress into Munster and Connaught, 286
his experiences there, 286
his instructions concerning religion, 288
probable consequences thereof, 289
his solicitude for the improvement of Ireland shown by his lettet
to the queen, 297
his personal investigation of the country, 298
his excellent character, 305
3 F 2

804 INDEX.
Synod, national, assembled in 1148, u
its solicitation to the Pope, 6
in 1152, receives the archiepiscopal palls, 7
general, ofthe Popish clergy, justifies the Rebellion of 1641, 671
provincial, of the Popish clergy of Armagh, justifies the Rebel
lion of 1641, 570
Synodical Canons, their propriety questionable, 442
Talbot, Peter, titular archbishop of Dublin, pretends to be the king's
commissioner for superintending the Popish clergy, 655
his arrogance to the Lord Lieutenant and Council, 656
Taylor, Bishop Jeremy, his commendation of Bishop Bramhall's
labours for the Church, 509
his eloquent relation of the persecutions of Bishop Brarahall, 550
brought before the Privy Council, on a malicious charge, during
the Usurpation, 699
his lectureship at Lisburn, and residence at Portraore, 600
church where he is said to have preached, incorrectly described,
600
reraark on the phraseology of the narrative, 601
his promotion on the king's restoration, 602
appointed to the bishoprick of Down and Connor, 608
made vice-chancellor of the university, 609
selected to preach the consecration sermon, 610
his notice of the consecration in Archbishop Bramhall's funeral
sermon, 612
entrusted with the bishoprick of Dromore, 613
writes his Dissuasive from Popery at the entreaty of the bishops,
615
his prayer to God for its success, 620
his endeavours to remove irregularities from his diocese, 626
opposition encountered by him, 626
his success in surmounting it, 627
supplies the places of those ministers who refused to qualify for
holding their benefices, 627
ordains and prefers those who were willing, 628
preaches at the opening of Parliament in 1661, 631
extracts from his funeral sermon on Primate Brarahall, 641, 642
his works on episcopacy, liturgy, and ministerial duty, 648
his death and character, 672
question concerning the violation of his remains, 674
inscription to his memory, 67.5
Temple, Sir John, his estimate of the massacres in 1641, 569
Temporalties of the Church, means taken for improving them, 607
Ten Commandments and sentences of Scripture, Canon concerning
them, 500
Tennison, bishop of Killala, compelled by the Papists to take refuge
in England, 697
Thady, suff'ragan bishop to the Archbishop of Dublin, included in
the mandate for consecrating Archblshop Dowdall, 178
inquiry concerning him, 179
Tilson, Henry, bishop of Elphin, his privations from the Rebelhon of
1641, 565

INDEX. 805
TiREEY, bishop of Cork and C!oyne, a favourer of the Reformation, 176
Tithes, and other ecclesiastical dues, made payable to Popish priests,
719
Tournaments, and running at the ring, on a Sunday, 101
Travers, John, his devices for the Reformation of Ireland, 1 73
Travers, Robert, bishop of Leighlin, a friend of the Reformation, 191
receives the English Liturgv, 198
deprived of his see, 234
Trials by battle. Instances of, 22
Trim, celebrated for an Image of the Virgin, 7i, 83, 144
our Lady of, destruction ofthe image, 141
Trinity College, Dublin, first stone laid, 319
first members of it, 319
grants made to it by King- James I., 365
purpose of providing it with new statutes, 475 — 477
insufficiency of the provost, 478
a professor attempted to be forced on it by James the Second, 682
a fellow attempted to be forced upon It by James the Second, 728
provost and fellows driven from It, 729
the library and other property seized, 730
library augmented by Archbishop Ussher's books, 729
seized by King James's troops, 730
curious MS. In it quoted, 99
a copy in it of the first book printed In Dublin, 205
curious MS. document, containing royal visitation of the province
of Armagh in 1622, 395
MSS. of, contain Primate Hampton's proofs of the rights of his
see to precedence, 480 — See Library
Tuam, two archbishops of, translation of New Testament into Irish
completed by thera, 293
Turlogh, monarch of Ireland, his carrying of the Host through the
kingdom, 62
Turner, chosen by King Edward for Archbishop of Armagh, 216
motives to his refusal, 215
his objections answered by Cranmer, 215
Twentieth part of spiritual promotions given to the king, 122
Tyrconnel, Earl of, a P.apist, his power in the government of Ireland,
680
appointed Lord Deputy, 683
his hostile proceedings agaiust the Churcb, 683
orders the churches of Dublin to be taken from the Protestants, 723
Tyrone and Tyrconnel, Earis of, their conspiracy and rebellion, 360
Ulster, plantation of, by King James, 362
forfeited lands In, bestowed by King James the First for publiek
purposes, 362
undertakers in, required to take the oath of supremacy, and con
form to the established religion, 362
rehgious evils introduced into it from Scotland, 365
bad" state of the bishopricks there, 363
ruinous condition of the cathedral and parish churches, 363
insufficient rehgious instruction, 364

806 INDEX.
Ulster, remedy applied to those abuses by King James the First,
364
province of, report of their bishopricks by the several diocesans
in 1622, 395
Uniformity of discipline, as well as unity of faith, to be maintained in
national churches, 618
Unions of parishes recommended, 326
danger of the expedient, 326
remarks on their necessity and expediency, 399
directed by the Canons, 603
their occasion and necessity, 666
Universities of Salamanca and Valladolid, their answer as to the
obedience due to a Protestant king, .344
Spanish, their judgment encouraged rebellion, 361
University of Dubhn, members of, their conduct in the parliament of
James the Second, 708
Ussher, Henry, archdeacon of Dublin, procures the queen's licence
for founding an university, 317
his early life and character, 330
appointed Archbishop of Armagh, 330
Ussher, James, one of the first scholars of Trinity College, 320
his distinguished character, 331
his early studies, 331
his pubhck dispute with Fitzsymonds the Jesuit, 332
defends himself against the contemptuous charge of his adver
sary, 332
his account of the termination of the controversy, 333
appointed to preach before the government, 334
his conduct as catechist of the college, 334
his statement of the King of England's right to the sovereignty of
Ireland, 109
his sermons for the instruction of the Papists, 336
his serraon before the governraent on occasion of the encourage
ment given to Papists, .338
his foreboding of a judgment on the country, 339
instrumental in Incorporating the Lambeth Articles with those of
the Church of Ireland, 384
elevated to the see of Meath, 392
interposes to settle a dispute between the Primate and the bishop-
elect of Clogher, 393
specially indebted to King James I. for his elevation, 393
elected by the dean and chapter, and congratulated on his prefer
ment by Lord Deputy, 393
his anxiety to promote the religious reformation of Ireland by
converting the Papists, 394
his publiok preaching to them, 394
his discourse on the religion of the ancient Irish, 395
his sermon on the swearing-in of Lord Falkland, 408
his account of It, and the offence taken at it by the Papists, 409
his justification of his sermon, 410
expostulated with by Primate Hampton, 410
uncertain issue of the affair, 411

INDEX. 807
Ussher, James, explains and maintains the oath of supremacy to
Popish recusants before tho council, 412
in great favour with King James, and appointed Archbishop of
Armagh, 414
congratulated on his promotion by Bishop Moyo-ne, 419
his care in inspecting and improvlug his diocese," 42*1
his encouragement of eatecbizino-, 422
his opposition to a plan for publiek toleration of the Popish
religion, 422
his sermon on the judgment of the bishops, 425
his speech in thc castle chamber, 426
unhappy failure of his speech, though commended by the kino-,
428 -fa'
his diligence in executing the king's commands for the improve
ment of the Church, 439
his success with Papists and other sectarists, 440
his injunctions on the clergy of bis diocese, 440
sentiments concerning the Church attributed to him by a non
conformist minister, 462
stated to have interfered for protecting that mmister from his
diocesan's censure, 463
his subsequent inefl'eotual interference, 464
his sentiments concerning the adoption of the Articles of the
Church of England, 485
his remarkable conduct in the progress of the business, 488
his opinion on the adoption of the Articles of the Church of Eno--
land, 492
opposes Bishop Bramhall's proposal to adopt the English Canons,
495
his testimony to Bramhall's improvement of the see of Arraagh,
508
his letter testifying his good will to Bishop Bramhall, 551
his sufferings from the Rebellion of 1641 , 562
nominated oue ofthe Westminster Assembly of Divines, 575
declines attendance, and is voted out again, 576
found an asylum with the Countess of Peterborough, 598
Ussher, Robert, provost of Trinity College, exceptions to him in that
character, 475, 478
his character as a prelate, 478
Usurpation by one bishop of another's rights, 20
between the reigns of Charles I. and Charles II. , 581
Vesey, Archblshop of Tuam, his account of the reduced revenues of
bishopricks, 445
his statement of the prevailing policy with respect to religion, 470
proceedings in convocation concerning the Articles, related by hira,
489
his account of Primate Bramhah's letters of orders, 625
rendered himself suspicious to the Papists in reign of King James
IL, 697
one ofthe proscribed prelates, 711
Viceroy, office of, persons appointed to it with little regard to their
religious principles, 253

808 INDEX.
Victor, Saint, regular canons of, 41
Virgin Mary, miraculous images of her, 71
ber worship confirmed thereby, 72
celebrity of her Image at Trim, 74, 83
prayed to as a goddess by the Bishops of Rome, 210
improperly sought as a mediator, 211
Visitations, their abuses corrected, 441
episcopal, metropolitical, and regal, 442
Wafer at the holy communion, how distinguished from the manchet,
220
AA^ales and tbe Norman Isles, their cases not analogous to that of Ire
land, 614
Walsh, Nicholas, bishop of Ossory, his parentage, 292
his preferments, 292
introduced Irish types for printing, 293
procured the Liturgy to be printed in that character, and read in
the shire towns, 293
commenced a translation of ths New Testament into Irish, 293
his death by assassination, 294
Walsh, Patrick, bishop of Waterford and Lismore, father of Bishop
Nicholas Walsh, 292
Walsh, WiUiam, bishop of Meath, deprived for preaching against the
queen's supremacy and the Book of Common Prayer, 275
Ware, Sir James, his History and Antiquities of Ireland, .3
his Annals, 111
Ware, Robert, his Life of ArclMshop Brotcne, 111
Waterford, its rebellious and anti-Protestant .spirit at the accession of
King James I., 345
rendered obnoxious to the government for the delinquencies of its
magistrates, 391
Waucop, Robert, appointed Archblshop of Armagh by tbe Pope, 181
first introduced the Jesuits into Ireland, 181
Webb, bishop of Limerick, his captivity and death In 1641, 566
Wellesley, Walter, remarkable circumstances attending bis promotion
to the episcopate, 171
Wells, holy, much frequented and honoured, 84
Welsh, Peter, frames the Loyal Formulary or Irish Reraonstrance, 650
Wentworth, Viscount, lord deputy, his patronage of Bramhall, 444
his appointment to the viceroyalty of Ireland, 446
the Church and religion specially brought under his attention, 446
bis care for the improvement of the Church, 451
principle of his administration with respect to reUgion, 470
informs Archbishop Laud of commissions issued for repair of
churches, 473
his letter describing the distempered condition of the Church, 474
examines and decides the question of precedence between the
Archbishops of Arraagh and Dublin, 480
his letter to Archbishop Laud, recounting proceedings about the
Thirty-nine Articles, 486
his displeasure at the conduct of the Lower House of Couvocarion,
487
his mode of counteracting it, 488

INDE.\. 809
Wentworth, Viscount, his jealousy of Primate Ussher's conduct,
and tenderness toward him, 488
discloses the secret springs of the transactions concerninnr the
Articles, 489
refuses to ratify the Articles of 1 61 5, 494
bis precautions in defence of the Church against the Scotch Cove
nant, 524
his letter to Archbishop Laud concerning the preferraent of Gal
brath, 525
his answer to Bishop Leslie concerning the insurrectionary raove
ments in the North, 528
his sense of the necessity of prompt correction, 529
created Earl of Strafford, and appointed Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, 546
his last letter to the king, reporting the bounty of the clergy and
the good condition ofthe kingdom, 547
exerts himself before bis death In defence of Bishop Bramhall, 553
Weston, Robert, a civilian, but not an ecclesiastick, dean of St.
Patrick's by dispensation, 287
Wetenhall, Edward, bishop of Cork and Ross, his sufl'erings from
the Irish Papists, 699
Wexford, most forward in its profession of the reformed religion, 464
overrun by Popery, 464
White, James, a Dubhn clergyman, deprived of his benefice for
matrimony, 235
White, a commissioner to inspect certain counties, 133
his report of proceedings to Lord Cromwell, 133
Whitehead, selected by Cranmer for the Archbishoprick of Armagh,
214
said to be afterwards chosen for Canterbury, 21 4
Williams, Griffith, bishop of Ossorv, his sufferings .and persecutions
in 1641, 565
perils in his flight in 1641, 590
injury to his property, 597
declines a pension oftered to bim by Henry Crorawell, 598
his account of Kilkenny cathedral, 663
of the ruinous state of the churches in Ireland, 663
and in Ossory especially, 664
Witchcraft, charge of, brought by Bishop of Ossory, 29
two persons executed for it, 313
statute enacted against It, 314
Word of God, difficulty of procuring It to be preached, 136
its necessity for the people's improvement, 135
rarely preached or listened to, 144
Worship, publiek, how celebrated before the Reformation, 60
Young men allowed to hold benefices, as means of prosecuting their
studies, 378

London :
Harrison and Co., PiiiNTBES,
St. Martin's Lank.

NEW WORKS AND i]:^TABLISHED BOOKS
selected FEOM THE CATALOGUES OP
JOHN W. PARKER, LONDON.

THE SCRIPTURAL CHARACTER of the ENGLISH
CHURCH CONSIDERED, in a SERIES of SERMONS, with Notes
and Illustrations. By the Rev. DERWENT COLERIDGE, M.A. 12s. 6d.
THE WORKS OF DOCTOR DONNE ; Avith a Memoir of
his Life. By HENRY ALFORD, M.A., Vicar of Wymeswold, and
late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. In Six Volumes Octavo, with
a fine Portrait, after an Original Picture by Vandatke. 3^. 12*.
DISCOURSES ON TRADITION AND EPISCOPACY;
preached at the TEMPLE CHURCH, and pubhshed by request. By
CHRISTOPHER BENSON, A.M., Master of the Temple. Octavo, 4s.
A MANUAL OF CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES; or, an
Account of the CONSTITUTION, MINISTERS, WORSHIP, DIS
CIPLINE, and CUSTOMS of the EARLY CHURCH ; with an In
troduction, containing a complete and Chronological Analysis of the Works
of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Compiled from the Works of Augusti, and
other Sources. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE, M.A., of St. Edmund Hall,
Oxford, Author of an English-Latiti and Latin-English Dictionary, Luther
and his Times, Sfc, One large Octavo Volume. 18s.
THE GREEK TEXT of the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ;
with Notes, Original and Selected ; for the Use of Students in the Uni
versity. By HASTINGS ROBINSON, D.D., F.A.S., Rector of Great
Warley, and formerly Fellow and Assistant Tutor of St.. John's, Camb. 8s.
THE CAMBRIDGE GREEK AND ENGLISH TESTA
MENT; the Greek (from the Third Edition of Stephens), and the
English from the Authorized Version, being given in Parallel Columns on
the same Page. 8s. Qd.
THE NEW CRATYLUS ; or, CONTRIBUTIONS toAvards a
more ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE of the GREEK LANGUAGE.
By JOHN WILLIAM DONALDSON, M.A., FeUow of Trinity CoUege,
Cambridge. 1 7*-
SYNCHRONOLOGY : being a Treatise on the HISTORY,
CHRONOLOGY, AND MYTHOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT
EGYPTIANS, GREEKS, AND PHCENICIANS, and the Harraony
between the Chronology of those Nations and that of the Holy Scriptures.
With Tables of Synchronology, Genealogies, &c. By the Rev. CHARLES
CROSTHWAITE. IS*?-

2 A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS,
EXPLANATORY NOTES on the PRAYER BOOK VER
SION of the BOOK of PSALMS, with copious Marginal References.
By WILLIAM KEATING CLAY, B.D., of Jesus College, Cambridge,
and Minor Canon of Ely. 7*. 6d.
ORIGINAL FAMILY SERMONS; by ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY CONTEMPORARY DIVINES OF THE ESTA
BLISHED CHURCH. Five Volumes, at 6s. 6d. each.
AN ILLUSTRATION of the METHOD of EXPLAINING
the NEW TESTAMENT by the Eariy Opinions of Jews and Christians
concerning Christ. By WILLIAM WILSON, B.D., late Fellow of St.
John's College, Cambridge. A New Edition, carefully revised. 8s.
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, from the
Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Conversion of Constantine. By the late
EDWARD BURTON, D.D. , 6s. 6d.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, TO THE
REVOLUTION in 1688; embracing Copious Histories ofthe Thirty-
Nine Articles, the Translation of the Bible, and the Compilation of the
Book of Comraon Prayer. By THOMAS VOWLER SHORT, D.D.
New and Improved Edition. 16s.
THE ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH ; its HISTORY, REVE
NUES, and General Character. By the Rev. HENRY SOAMES, M.A.,
Author of Elizabethan Religious History. A New Edition. 1 Os. 6d.
ELIZABETHAN RELIGIOUS HISTORY. By HENRY
SOAMES, M.A., Author of The History of the Reformation; The Anglo-
Saxon Church, Sj-c. Octavo, 16s.
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS; their MANNERS, CUSTOMS,
TRIALS and SUFFERINGS. By the Rev. W. PRIDDEN, M.A. 4s.
A HISTORY OF POPERY : Origin, GroAvth, and Progress of
the Papal Power ; its Political Influence and its Effects on the Progress of
Civilization; Present State of the Romish Church in Ireland; History of
the Inquisition; Monkish Legends. 9s. 6d.
THE BOOK OF THE FATHERS of the Christian Church,
and the Spirit of their Writings. 9s. 6d.
LUTHER and HIS TIMES; a History of the Rise and Progress
of the German Reformation. By the Rev. -I. E. RIDDLE, M.A., Author
of The Manual of Christian Antiquities, First Sundays at Church, ^-c. 5s.
]\IEMOIRS of the LIFE and WRITINGS of BISHOP
BUTLER, Author of The Atialogy. By THOMAS BARTLETT, M.A.,
one of the Six Preachers of Canterbury Cathedral, and Rector of Kino-stone,
Kent. Dedicated hy permission lo His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury .
Octavo, with an original Portrait. 12.y.

publi«hi:d nv john aa'. paekkr. 3
CUDWORTH ON FREEWILL; noAV first Edited from the
Original MS., and with Notes, by JOHN ALLEN, JI.A., Chaplain of
King's College, London. 3s.
THE EVIDENCES of PROFANE HISTORY to the TRUTH
of REVELATION. With numerous Graphic Illustrations. Dedicated,
by permission, to her Majesty the Queen. lOs. 6d.
SCRIPTURAL BREVIATES, or SHORT COMPENDIUMS
of FAITH and PRACTICE, for the SICK; consisring of Exhortarions,
Passages of Scripture, and Prayers, applicable to the several circumstances
of their Visitations. Price Is. per Set, Nos. 1 to 50; or Two Shillings
per 100 copies of any selected number; or, a complete set, bound in a
Volurae, 2s.
The object of the Scriptural Bre-viates is to assist the Parochial Clergy In the Pastoral care, ami the number
of them ^vill be increased should they prove to be generaUy acceptable.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DOCTRINE ofthe EUCHARIST.
The Scriptural Argument considered, in reply to Dr. Wiseman. By
THOMAS TURTON, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge,
and Dean of Peterborough. 8s. 6d. Also, the Author's
OBSERVATIONS on Dr. WISEMAN'S Reply. 4.s. 6d.
ARCHBISHOP USHER'S ANSWER TO A JESUIT;
with other Tracts on Popery. 13s. 6d.
THE CHURCHES OF ROME AND ENGLAND compared
in their Declared Doctrines and Practices. By RICHARD MANT,
D.D., M.R.I. A., Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. 6d.
ROMANISM AND PIOLY SCRIPTURE COMPARED;
wherein is shown the Disagreement of the Church of Rome with the Word
of God. By the Lord Bishop of Doavn and Connor. i)d.
THE MASSACRE OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. With
a concise History of the Corruptions, Usurpations, and Anti-Social
Effects of Romanism. By Sir W. S. R. COCKBURN, Bart., M. A. 6s.
GUY FAWKES; a HISTORY of the GUNPOWDER
TREASON, with SKETCHES of the CONSPIRATORS. By the
Rev. T. LATHBURY, M.A., Author of the History of the Etigltsh
Ejnscopacy.
* * * a faithful narrative of one of the deadliest Tragedies to be found in our domestic history  The
principles of the Conspirators are fully developed for the instruction of the present generation.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL: or LINDENHURST
PARISH ; a Tale. By R. M. ZORNLIN. 2s. 6d.

4 A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS,
THE CATHOLIC CHARACTER of CHRISTIANITY, as
Recognised by the Reformed Church, in opposition to the corrupt Traditions
of the Church of Rome ; asserted and vindicated in a series of Letters
addressed to a student at Oxford. By FREDERICK NOLAN, LL.D.
F.R.S. M.R.S.L., Vicar of Prittlewell, Essex. 5s.
EVIDENCES of CHRISTIANITY. By CHRISTOPHER
BENSON, M.A., Master of the Temple. 12s.
On SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES; Fourth Edition. 12s.
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH EPISCOPACY, from the
Period of the Long Parliament to the Act of Uniformity. By the Rev.
THOMAS LATHBURY, M.A. 12s.
THE APOCALYPSE— its PROPHETICAL CHARACTER
and INSPIRATION considered. By GEORGE PEARSON, B.D.,
Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge. 10s. 6d. Also, by
the sarae Author,
THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD'S DISCOURSES to the
Divinity of His Person and Character. Ts. 6d.
VILLAGE LECTURES ON THE LITANY. By the Rer.
WILLIAM PALIN, Rector of Stifford, Essex. 3s. 6d.
Hold fast the form of sound words. — 2 Tim. i. 13.
DISCOURSES ON REPENTANCE. By T. AINGER,
M.A., Assistant Minister of St. iMary, Greenwich. 2s. 6d.
A DISCOURSE ON DEATH; AA'ith APPLICATIONS of
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. By HENRY STEBBING, D.D. 4s.
THE MILITARY PASTOR ; a Series of PRACTICAL DIS
COURSES, addressed to SOLDIERS; with PRAYERS for their Use.
By JOHN PARKER LAWSON, M. A., Military Chaplain. 5s. 6d.
OFFICE FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK; with
Notes aud Explanations, by the late Archdeacon COXE. Is. 6d.
A DAILY PRAYER BOOK, for Families and Schools;
arranged from the Morning and Evening Services of the Church. By J. T.
BARRETT, D.D., Rector of Attleborough, Norfolk. Is. 6d.
A MANUAL OF FAMILY PRAYER; comprising Three
Weekly Courses of Morning and Evening Devotion. With Cohects for
the Feasts and Fasts. By the Rev. A. HORSFALL, M.A. 2s.
THE BOOK OF PRIVATE PRAYER, for the use of Mem
bers of the United Church of England and Ireland. By JOHN A. BOL
STER, M.A., Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Cork aud Cloyne. 2s.

PUBLISHED BY JOHN W. PARKER. 5
PROGRESSIVE EXERCISES in LATIN LYRICS. By
the Rev. J. EDWARDS, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge ; Second
Master, King's College School, London; and one of the Classical Ex
aminers to Christ's Hospital. Second Edition Revised. 3s.
PRINCIPLES of ENGLISH UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.
By the Rev. WILLIAM WHEWELL, B.D., F.R.S., &c. 5s.
A DISCOURSE on the STUDIES of the UNIVERSITY of
CAMBRIDGE. By the Rev. PROFESSOR SEDGWICK. 4s.
A LIFE OF ARISTOTLE, inchiding a Critical Discussion of
some Questions of Literary History connected with his Works. By
J. W. BLAKESLEY, M.A., Fellow of Trin. Coll., Cambridge. 8s. 6d.
STEMMATA ATHENIENSIA ; Tables of BIOGRAPHY,
CHRONOLOGY, and HISTORY, to facilitate the Study of the Greek
Classics. 5s.
DISSERTATIONS on the EUMENIDES of ^SCB[YLUS,
with the Greek Text, and Critical Remarks. From the German of
MULLER. 9s. 6d.
THE FROGS OF ARISTOPHANES, with ENGLISH
NOTES. By the Rev. H. P. COOKESLEY. 7s.
THE AULULARIA OF PLAUTUS, with Notes by JAMES
HILDYARD, M. A., Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. 7s. 6d.
SCHLEIERMACHER'S INTRODUCTIONS TO THE
DIALOGUES of PLATO ; translated from the German, by WILLIAM
DOBSON, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. 12j. 6d.
TRADITION UNVEILED; a candid Inquiry into the Ten-
dency of the Doctrines advocated in the Oxford Tracts. By the Rev.
BADEN POWELL, M.A., Savihan Professor of Geometry in the Uni
versity of Oxford. 3s.
THE CONNEXION of NATURAL and DIVINE TRUTH ;
or, the Principles of the Inductive Philosophy, and the Study of Secondary
Causes, considered as subservient to the Proof of a First Cause and the
Evidences of Rehgion. By the Author of the Above. 9s.
ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON'S PRJiLLECTIONES, PA-
RJiNESES, et MEDITATIONES in PSALMOS ETHICOCRITIC^.
A New Edirion, revised. By the Rev. JAMES SCHOLEFIELD, M.A.,
Greek Professor in the University of Cambridge. 8s.
THE CAMBRIDGE PORTFOLIO; a Periodical Work com
prising Papers illustrative of the principal features in the Scholastic and
Social System of tbe University; Notices of the most Erainent Characters
it has produced; Gleanings from the Manuscripts in the several Libraries;
and Contributions in Original Literature by contemporary Merabers. It
also contains descriptive accounts of the principal Buildings in C.-trabrldge,
their origin, history, and purposes, accompanied by numerous Etchings,
executed by Lewis, Ince, G. Cooke, and other eminent Artists. In Parts,
at 5s. each.

6 PITBLISHED BY .lOllX W. PAKKER.
BISHOP HALLIFAX ON THE CIVIL LAW ; a New Edi
tion, with Additions, by JAMES WILLIAM GELBART, LL.D., the
Queen's Professor of the Civil Law in the University of Cambridge. 8s. 6d.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS, frora MO-
SHEIM S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, for the Use of Students in
Divinity. By the Author of Questions and Ansicers from Burnet on the
Thirty-Nine Articles. 4s. 6d.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS, from
BURNET on the THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES. By the Author of
Questions and Answers from Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History. 2.?.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS on BUT
LER'S ANALOGY. By the Rev. G. W. CRAUFURD, M.A. 2s. 6d.
PALEY'S EVIDENCES of CHRISTIANITY EPITOMISED;
with a view to exhibit his Argument in a small compass, without omitting
or weakening .any of its component parts. 5s.
ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORALS: FOUR SER
MONS preached before the UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE. By the
Rev. Professor WHEWELL. New Edition with a Preface. 3s. 6cl,
A SYLLABUS OF LOGIC, in which the views of Kant are
generally adopted, and the Laws of Syllogism symbolically expressed. By
THOMAS SOLLY, Esq., late of Caius College, Cambridge. 7s. 6d. /
NATURAL THEOLOGY considered principally with reference
to Lord Brougham's Discourse on that Subject. By THOMAS TUR
TON, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge,
and Dean of Peterborough. Second Edition. 8s.
'''7r^}^¦:] THE GUIDE of the HEBREW STUDENT; con
taining an EPITOME of SACRED HISTORY, together with EASY
PASSAGES, in PURE BIBLICAL HEBREW, edited, with Additions,
Keys, and Glossary, adapted for English Learners, by HERMANN
HEDWIG BERNARD, Hebrew Teacher in the University of Cam
bridge. 10s. 6d.
LEO'S HEBREW GRAMMAR for the USE of SCHOOLS
and STUDENTS in the UNIVERSITIES. 12s. 6d.
GESENIUS' HEBREW LEXICON, translated by CHRIS
TOPHER LEO. Two Vols. Zl. 3s.
THE CHALDEE TEXT OF DANIEL, Chapter V., and the
SYRIAC of SAINT MATTHEW, Chapter VL v. 1—13, analyzed; for
the use of Students. By theRev. T. R. BROWN, M.A. 3s. 6d.
ELEMENTS OF SYRIAC GRAMMAR, by the Rev. G.
PHILLIPS, M. A., Fellow and Tutor of Queen's College, Cambridge. 10s.
London: JOHN W. PARKER, Publisher, West Strand.

PARKER'S CATALOGUE,
No. IL
SACRED LITERATURE; CHURCH HISTORY AND
BIOGRAPHY; DIVINITY; CLASSICS; MATHE
MATICS; GREEK, HEBREW, cVc.

For Historical and Scientific AVorks; Voyages and
Travels; Grencral Literature, and Popular
Science, &c., sec Catalogue, No. I.
 Books for Families; Select Books for Young
Persons; Small Books for General Circulation,
aic.j see Catalogue, No. III.

For Approved School Books, used at King's College,
London, an<l other Public Estahlishments ;
also School Books published under the General
Literature and Erlucation Committee of the
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge*,
see Catalogue, No. IV.

* Thc Works published under the Direction of tlii.^ Committcu-. are marked by a Star.

January, 1840.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND, from the
Reformation to the Revolution; with a Preliminary Survey, from the Papal
Usurpation in the Twelfth Century to it.s Legal Abolition in the Sixteenth.
By RICHARD MANT, D. D., Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.
With a Copious Index. 17s.
THE SCRIPTURAL CHARACTER of the ENGLISH
CHURCH CONSIDERED, in a SERIES of SERMONS, with Notes
and Illustrations. By DERWENT COLERIDGE, M.A. 12s. 6d.
THE WORKS OF DOCTOR DONNE ; with a Memoir of
his Life. By HENRY ALFORD, M.A., Vicar of Wymeswold, and
late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. In Six Volumes Octavo, with
a fine Portrait, after an Original Picture by Vandyke. 3Z. 12s.
DISCOURSES ON TRADITION AND EPISCOPACY;
By CHRISTOPHER BENSON, A.M., Master of the Teraple. 4s.
A MANUAL OF CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES; or, an
Account of the CONSTITUTION, MINISTERS, WORSHIP, DIS
CIPLINE, and CUSTOMS of the EARLY CHURCH ; with a Chro
nological Analysis of the Works of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Compiled
frora the Works of Augusti, and other Sources. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE,
M.A., Author of an EnglishPatin and Latin-English Dictionary, Luther
and his Titnes, Sfc. One large Octavo Volume. 18s.
It has been the object of the writer, to construct a History of Christian Antiquities sufaciently copious and
accurate for the use of the student in divinity, and at the same time instructive and acceptable to the general
reader; a work popular in point of structure and style, but containing the substance of the more scholastic
and expensive volumes of Bingham, and embodying information collected by modem divines, who have
investigated the history and usages of the early Chm-ch. Such a compendium was a desider.itum in our
theological literature. Our language lias hitherto possessed no book fit to occupy the same place, in relation
to the history of the Church, as that which has long been maintained by the Antiquities of Potter and Adam,
in connexion with the histories of Greece and Home.

Z A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS,
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, from the
Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Conversion of Constantine. By the late
EDWARD BURTON, D.D. 6s. 6d.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, TO THE
REVOLUTION in 1688 ; embracing Copious Plistories of the Thirty-
Nine Articles, the Translation of the Bible, and the Compilation of the
Book of Comraon Prayer. By THOMAS VOWLER SHORT, D.D.
New and Improved Edition. 16s.
TTIE ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH ; its HISTORY, REVE
NUES, and General Character. By the Rev. HENRY SOAMES, M.A.,
Author oi Elizabethan Religious History. A New Edition. 10s. 6d.
ELIZABETHAN RELIGIOUS HISTORY. By HENRY
SOAMES, M.A., kcAkior oi The History of the Ref ortnation; The Anglo-
Saxon Church, Sfc. Octavo, 16s.
THE EVIDENCES of PROFANE HISTORY to the TRUTH
of REVELATION. With numerous Graphic Illustrations. Dedicated,
hy jiermission, to her Majesty the Queen. 10s. 6d.
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS; their MANNERS, CUSTOMS,
TRIALS and SUFFERINGS. By the Rev. W. PRIDDEN, M.A. 4s.
A HISTORY OF POPERY : Origin, Growth, and Progress of
the Papal Power ; its Political Influence and its Eifects on the Progress of
Civilization; Present State of the Romish Church in Ireland; History of
tho Inquisition; Monkish Legends. 9s. 6d.
THE BOOK OF THE FATHERS of the Christian Church,
and the Spirit of their Writings. 9s. 6d.
LUTHER and HIS TIMES ; a History of the Rise and Progress
ofthe Gerraan Reformation. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE, M.A., Author
of The Manual of Christian Antiquities, First Sundays at Church, S^-c. 5s.
ISIEMOIRS of the LIFE and WRITINGS of BISHOP
BUTLER, Author of The Analogy. By THOMAS BARTLETT, M.A.,
one of the Six Preachers of Canterbury Cathedral, and Rector of Kingstone,
Kent. Dedicated hy permission to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Octavo, with an original Portrait. 12s.
*LIVES OF EMINENT CHRISTIANS. By RICEEARD
B. HONE, M.A., Vicar of Hales Owen. Three Volumes, 4s. 6d. each.

Vol. I.
ARCHBISHOP USHER,
DOCTOR HAMMOND,
JOHN EVELYN,
BISHOP WILSON.

Vol. II.
BERNARD GILPIN,
PHILIP DE MORNAY,
BISHOP BEDELL,
DOCTOR HOR NECK.

Vol. IIL
BISHOP RIDLEY,
BISHOP HALL,
TheHoNonABLEROBERT BOYLE.

PUBLISHED BY JOHN W. PARKER. 3
EXPLANATORY NOTES on the PRAYER BOOK VER
SION of the BOOK of PSALMS, with copious Marginal References
By WILLIAM KEATING CLAY, B.D., of Jesus Cohege, Cambridoe'
and Minor Canon of Ely. y^ g^,; '^
ORIGINAL FAMILY SERMONS; by ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY CONTEMPORARY DIVINES OF THE EST V-
BLISHED CHURCH. Five Volumes, at (i.s-. 6d each.
AN ILLUSTRATION of the METHOD of EXPLAINING
the NEW TESTAMENT by tho Early Opinions of Jews and Christians
concerning Christ. By WILLIAM WILSON, B.D., late Fellow of St.
John's Cohege, Cambridge. A New Edition, carefully revised. 8s.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DOCTRINE ofthe EUCHARIST.
The Scriptural Arguraent considered, in reply to Dr. Wiseman. By
THOMAS TURTON, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge,
and Dean of Peterborough. 8s. 6d. Also, the Author's
OBSERVATIONS on Dr. WISEMAN'S Reply to Dr.
TURTON on the EUCHARIST. By the same. 4s. 6d.
NATURAL THEOLOGY considered principally with reference
to Lord Brougham's Discourse on that Subject. By the Author of the
above. 8s.
ARCHBISHOP USHER'S ANSWER TO A JESUIT;
with other Tracts on Popeby. LSs. 6d.
THE CHURCHES OF ROME AND ENGLAND compared
in their Declared Doctrines and Practices. By RICHARD MANT,
D.D., M.R.I. A., Lord Bishop of Down aud Connor. 6d.
ROMANISM AND HOLY SCRIPTURE COMPARED;
wherein is shown the Disagreement of the Church of Rome with the Word
of God. By the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. i)d.
CUDWORTH ON FREEWILL; now first Edited from the
Original MS., and with Notes, by JOHN ALLEN, M.A., Chaplain of
King's College, London. 3s.
SCRIPTURAL BREVIATES, or SHORT COMPENDIUMS
of FAITH and PRACTICE, for the SICK; consisting of Exhortations,
Passages of Scripture, and Prayers, applicable to the several circumstances
of their Visitations. Price Is. per Set, Nos. 1 to 50; or Two Shillings
per 100 copies of any selected number; or, a complete set, bound m a
Volume, 2s.
The object of the Scrlptm-al Breviates is to assist thc Parochial Clergy in the Pastoral care, and the number
of them wlU be increased should they prove to be generally acceptable.

4 A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS,
THE DISTRICT VISITOR'S MANUAL; a Compendium
of Practical Information for the Guidance of District Visitors, and a
Library of interesting matter for the objects of their care. With a Prep ace,
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TRADITION UNVEILED; a candid Inquiry into the Ten
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THE APOCALYPSE— its PROPHETICAL CHARACTER
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THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD'S DISCOURSES to the
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VILLAGE LECTURES ON THE LITANY. By the Rev.
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A LIFE OF ARISTOTLE, including a Critical Discussion of
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Thirty-Nine Articles. '^^^ ^'^•
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BURNET on the THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES. By the Author of
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EXAMINATION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS on BUT
LER'S ANALOGY. By the Rev. G. W. CRAUFURD, M.A. 2s. 6^
PALEY'S EVIDENCES of CHRISTIANITY EPITOMISED;
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ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORALS: FOUR SER
MONS preached before the UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE. By the
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BISHOP HALLIFAX ON THE CIVIL LAW ; a New Edi
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LETTERS, STATUTES, and other DOCUMENTS, from the
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FULLER'S HISTORY of the UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE,
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Cam., and T. WRIGHT, M.A., Trin. Coll. Camb. In the Press,
UNIVERSAL MYTHOLOGY ; an Account of the most im
portant Mythological Systems, and an Inquiry into their Origin and Con
nexion ; with Considerations on the KORAN and the TALMUD. By the
Rev. HENRY CHRISTMAS, St. John's Coll., Camb. 7«.
A SYLLABUS OF LOGIC, in which the views of Kant are
generally adopted, and the Laws of Syllogism symbolically expressed. By
THOMAS SOLLY, Esq., late of Caius College, Cambridge. 7s. 6d.
A NEW SYSTEM of LOGIC, and Developement of the Prin
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THE FIGURES of EUCLID ; with Questions, and a Praxis of
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A COMPANION to EUCLID ; being a help to the Under
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Improved Figures, and an Original Demonstration of the Proposition
called the Twelfth Axiom. 4^_
THE MECHANICAL EUCLID. By the Rev. WILLIAM
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THE DOCTRINE OF LIMITS, with its Applications; namely,
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AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE on the DIFFERENTIAL
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LECTURES upon TRIGONOMETRY, and the APPLICA
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DYNAMICS, or a TREATISE on MOTION; to which is
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THEORY OF HEAT. By PHILLIP KELL AND, M.A.,
F.R.S., Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh;
late Fellow and Tutor of Queen's College, Cambridge. 9s.
LECTURES on ASTRONOMY, delivered at KING'S COL
LEGE, London, by the Rev. HENRY MOSELEY, M.A., F.R.S.,
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. With numerous
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*MECHANICS APPLIED TO THE ARTS. By PRO
FESSOR MOSELEY, of King's College, London. A New Edition,
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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF CHEMICAL
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Cambridge. 0<=ta^O' ^^'^^^ P^^*^'' ^^'-

8

A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS.

THE GREEK TEXT of the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ;
with Notes, Original and Selected ; for the Use of Students in the Uni
versity. By HASTINGS ROBINSON, D.D., F.A.S., Rector of Great
Warley, and formerly Fellow and Assistant Tutor of St. John's, Camb. 8s.
THE CAMBRIDGE GREEK AND ENGLISH TESTA
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THE NEW CRATYLUS ; or, CONTRIBUTIONS towards a
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By the Rev. J. W DONALDSON, M.A., Fell. Trin. CoU. Cam. 17s.
SYNCHRONOLOGY : being a Treatise on the HISTORY,
CHRONOLOGY, AND MYTHOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT
EGYPTIANS, GREEKS, AND PHCENICIANS, and the Harmony
between the Chronology of those Nations and that of the Holy Scriptures.
Bythe Rev. CHARLES CROSTHWAITE. 15s.
'"^mm THE GUIDE of the HEBREW STUDENT; con
taining an EPITOME of SACRED HISTORY, together with EASY
PASSAGES, in PURE BIBLICAL HEBREW, edited, with Additions,
Keys, and Glossary, adapted for English Learners, by PI. IL BERNARD,
Hebrew Teacher in the University of Cambridge. 10s. 6d.
LEO'S HEBREW GRAMMAR for the USE of SCHOOLS
and STUDENTS in the UNIVERSITIES. 12s. 6^.
GESENIUS' HEBREW LEXICON, translated by CHRIS
TOPHER LEO. Two Vols. 3/. 3s.
THE CHALDEE TEXT OF DANIEL, Chapter V., and the
SYRIAC of SAINT MATTHEW, Chapter VI. v. 1—13, analyzed; for
the use of Students. By the Rev. T R. BROWN, M.A. 3s. 6d.
ELEMENTS OF SYRIAC GRAMMAR, by the Rev. G.
PHILLIPS, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Queen's Cohege, Cambridge. 10s.

GERMAN LANGUAGE and LITERATURE,
BY PROFESSOR BERN.iYS, OF KING'S COLLEGK, LONDON.

GERMAN GRAMMAR. 5s.
GERMAN EXERCISES, adapted to the
Grammar. 5*. Qd.
GERMAN EXAMPLES, forming a KEY
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GERMAN POETRY for BEGINNERS.4s.

GERMAN READER, a Selection from the
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for the Use of Beginners. 58.
GERMAN HISTORICAL ANTHOLO
GY. Is.
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London: JOHN W. PARKER, Publisher, West Strand.

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