The ecclesiastical history of Ireland : from the earliest period to the present times

Front matter

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND

THE GIFT OF

Preface

Ik the following work an attempt is made to illustrate a section of the history of the Christian Church which has hitherto been very imperfectly explored. As many of its transactions have been variously described, and have excited keen discussion, it has been found necessary to sift the evidence throughout, and to recognise no fact which cannot be established by direct or circumstantial testimony. In every case of consequence, care has been taken to give the authorities for the statements advanced ; so that all, who desire more fully to investigate the subject, may have an opportunity of judging for themselves as to the credit of the witnesses who vouch for the conclusions adopted. To facilitate reference, the date of the publication of the volume quoted, as well as the page, is generally indicated.

The reader may perceive that, throughout this work, primary use has been made of contemporary information. In this vi^ay the truth can be best ascertained and most satisfactorily exhibited. During the present century immense additions have been made to the materials available for the study of Irish history. A new aspect has been given to many occurrences by the publication of some poem, or memoir, or letter, or state paper, or other document, long entombed in gloomy and inaccessible manuscripts. These new materials have been carefully surveyed ; and, in the following work, frequently employed.

PREFACE.

The early Ecclesiastical History of Ireland reveals singular arrangements. As the country lay outside the bounds of the old Roman empire, its Church, when originally organized, did not come under the operation of the canons of the General Councils ; and thus it was that, until a comparatively late period, it continued to differ in polity and worship from most of the other churches of Europe. But withal, in the seventh century, it enjoyed perhaps the purest spiritual light in Christendom. In this work its ancient constitution is pourtrayed ; subsequent changes are explained ; and an account is given of the form it presented at the time of the English invasion. We then enter on a dark and dreary period of long duration ; and, when the Reformation dawns elsewhere, its rays do not reach Ireland. The extraordinary position of its Church during the reign of Elizabeth has here received special attention.

In the time of James I, when Protestantism began to be an element of importance in the country, it presented, in the northern province, a divided front ; as, alongside the E.stablished Church, there stood forth a vigorous Non-Conformity. The same diversity continues to this day. It is the object of the present work to trace the proceedings of all the religious denominations in the island ; so that the reader, as he passes on from age to age, may be acquainted with their relative strength, their peculiar arrangements, and their mutual influence. In this respect the Ecclesiastical History of Ireland now submitted to the reader differs from any publication of the kind which has yet appeared. It comes down to the times in which we live; and, whilst it details the movements of the adherents of the See of Rome, it also records the operations of the various Protestant Churches.

The history of Ireland since the Reformation cannot fail to awaken deep yet melancholy interest. We here see a form of religion set up by the State, but rejected by the mass of

PREFACE. ix

the population ; and we find the maintenance of the dominant creed producing perpetual discord for centuries. The causes which contributed to impede the progress of the Reformed faith are minutely described ; and no attempt is made to conceal the errors of either Romanists or Protestants. It is the duty of history to daguerreotype, as plainly as possible, the proceedings of the various parties in the ecclesiastical drama; and a pure theology has nothing to fear from a correct report even of the faults of its advocates.

Some of the views presented in this work may be new to many readers; but they have not been hastily adopted. The student of history should desire simply to know the truth — no matter how it may interfere with particular interests ; and the writer ventures to anticipate that all who are in pursuit of information in a right spirit will not seek for it in vain in the following pages.

Contents

Dedication Preface . .

Book I

FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO IRELAND TO THE SYNOD OF RATHBREASAIL, a.d. iiio.

Chapter I. The Early History Of Irei,and, And Its Apostle Patrick

Early colonization of Ireland — The Sacred Island — Threatened invasion by the Romans — King Cormac "turned to the adoration of God" — First planting of Christianity in Ireland, and Coelestius — Palladius sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine — His want of success — Patrick had been already in Ireland — No notice taken of him by Pope Leo I. — Patrick's Confession ; his history — Not sent from Rome — Planted in Ireland the ecclesiastical arrangements of Brittany — Why Palladius unsuccessful in Ireland — The Lives of Patrick not trustworthy— Palladius and Patrick confounded — Patrick attempts the conversion of Laoghaire — His hymn — Great number of bishops ordained by Patrick in Ireland — Patrick not free from superstition — Early Irish Church used no images in worship— Did not practise the rite of Extreme Unction, and knew no Purgatory — Patrick, and the Reform of the Civil Law. . . Page 3 — 24

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 11.

FRO.M THE DEATH OF P.\TRICK TO THE DEATH OF COLUIIBKILLE, A. D. 465

All the early Irish bisliops not natives — The Welsh Church — Early prevalence of monasticism in Ireland — Monasticism of earlier growth than Christianity — Brigid and the nunnery of Kildare — Monks among the Druids — Monasteries at Armagh, Clonard, Clonfert, Bangor, &c. — Columbkille, his lineage and character — His dispute with Finnian of Mnville — Battle near Sligo — The Cathach — Columbkille excommunicated — His mission to lona — Apostle of Northern Picts — His ecclesiastical polity — Jurisdiction over bishops — His piety — His death — The Christianity of Columbkille and his contemporaries Page 25 — 39

Chapter III. From The Death Of Columbkille To The Death Of Adamnan, A.d. 597

IRISH MISSIONARIES, IRISH SEMINARIES, AND IRISH CIVILIZATION.

Great number of monks in Ireland, and prosperity of Irish seminaries — Irish missionaries on the Continent — Columbanus ; his attainments — Passes, first into Britain, and then into France — Settles in Burgundy — The discipline of his monasteries — Disputes with the French clergy about Easter — Writes to Gregory I. — His respect for Scripture — Again writes to the Pope — Offends King Thierry, and banished his dominions — Removes to Switzerland, and then passes into Italy — Settles at Bobbio — His remarkable letter to Boniface IV. — What he thought about the bishop of Rome — A truly great character — His disciple Gallus the apostle of Switzerland — Kilian, his labours and his martyrdom — Other Irish missionaries on the Continent — Fame of the Hibernian seminaries — ^Jealousy of Englishmen— Theodore, Adrian, and Aldhelm — Ireland had not now attained a high degree of civilization — Wars of the monks and chieftains — The clergy at length "exempted from hostings."

Chapter IV. From The Death Of Columbkille To The Death Of Ad,\mnan, A.d. 597

THE EASTER CONTROVERSY AND THE CLAIMS OF ARMAGH.

Romish missionaries arrive in England — Their character — Dispute relative to Easter and the Tonsure— Differ from the Irish in their religious rites and mode of Church government— The old British Church in Wales— Irish and British

CONTENTS. xlil

refuse to hold communion with the Romish missionaries — Complaining letter of the archbishop of Canterbury and two other Romish prelates— Letter to the Irish from Pope Honorius — Synod of Mai^h-Lene — Irish deputies sent all over the Church to make inquiries respecting the keeping of Easter; their report — The Southern Irish adopt the Roman mode of keeping Easter — The epistle of Cummian relating to the Paschal Cycle — Another epistle from Rome — Some of the Northern Irish conform to the Roman observance — Thomian of Armagh — Causes of the decline of lona — Growing importance of Armagh — ^Jealousy between Armagh and Downpatrick — Stories invented to support Armagh — Quarrels between monks of Patrick and Columbkille — The yellow plague and other disasters — Invasion of Ireland by king of Northumbria — Visit of Adamnan to England for the liberation of captives — Adamnan adopts the Roman mode of keeping Easter, and retires from Hy — Ascendency of the Southern Hy Niall and ruin of Aileach — Growing pretensions of Armagh— No metropolitans now in Ireland — Influence of monks from England in Ireland — Cummian's zeal for Romanism and his Penitential — The Lives of Patrick — Early Irish forms of religious service — Liturgies in Irish — Increasing superstition — Scriptures still highly valued , Page 56 — 89

Chapter V

FROM THE DEATH OF ADAMNAN TO THE FIRST ATTACK OF THE NORTHMEN ON IRELAND, A.D. 704 TO A.D. 795.

Monks in lona and Ireland conform to the Roman mode of keeping Easter — Papal supremacy not acknowledged in Ireland — Celibacy not obligatory on the Irish clergy — Irish missionaries on the Continent — The Irish bishop Clemens and his two sons — The Irishman Virgil disputes with Boniface — Virgil settles at Salzburg — Two learned Irishmen, Clemens and Albin, patronized by Charlemagne — Alcuin corresponds with Colgu of Clonmacnois — Charlemagne does not overlook Ireland — The Apostolic Succession in the Church of Ireland - No archbishops originally in Ireland — Brigid and her bishop Conlaedh — No diocesan bishops in Ireland — Presbyter abbots ordain ; the case of Findchan — The Irish co-arbs — The old Irish bishops thickly planted — One bishop ordained bishops — Endowment of the monasteries — Termon-land and Herenachs — The co-arb of Patrick — His influence with the king of Ireland — His disHke of the king of Ulidla — Hugh Allan, king of Ireland, promotes the ambitious views of the abbot of Armagh— Dispute between the monks of Durrow and Clonmacnois — The Cain Phatraig — Abbot and bishop of Armagh different — Tribute to co-arb of Patrick extended — Spurious title-deeds of See of Armagh — A spurious canon — The Book of Armagh — The Book of the Angel — The abbot of Armagh prepared to acknowledge the claims of the Pope — Increasing superstitions in Ireland — The staff of Jesus — The arts cultivated in Ireland — Stone churches — Round towers — Irish use instrumental music in worship Page ^o—V^^ xiv CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

FROM THE FIRST ATTACK OF THE NORTHMEN ON IRELAND TO THE DEATH OF BRIAN BORUMHA, A.D. 795 TO A.D. IOI4.

The Vikings — Black and Wliite Strangers— Attacks on Rechrann, lona, Inishmurry, Bangor, and Armagh — Turgesius n ms ' over Northern Ireland ; his death — Dissensions of native Irish chiefs — Northmen find allies in discontented native dynasts — Black and White Strangers quarrel ; battle of Carlingford — Dublin the capital of the Northmen — Learned Irishmen go abroad — Unfriendly reception of Irish clergy on the Continent — Canon of Council of Chalons — Canon of Council of Celcyth — No diocesan hierarchy in Ireland — Comparatively pure faith of Irish Church — Evidences of Irish piety — No image-worship in Ireland — Transubstantiation not acknowledged in Ireland — Sedulius and his commentaries — Sedulius ignores the supremacy of the Pope ; opposed to image-worship and transubstantiation ; his views as to justification and the marriage of the clergy ; regards bishops and presbyters as originally the same — Dungal, the Irishman, settles at Pavia ; opposes Claudius, bishop of Turin — Claudius of Turin and his views — Claudius not an Irishman, but probably instructed by an Irishman — Intellectual eminence of Irishmen in the ninth century ; causes of this — ^Johannes Scotus ; his genius, wit, and learning — His views relative to reprobation and transubstantiation — Mode of administration of the Eucharist in the ancient Church of Ireland — Old Eucharistic hymn — Incorrect modes of speech relative to the Eucharist — ^John Scotus, the Saxon monk — Patrick of Glastonbury — Many high-born Irishmen now ecclesiastics — Cormac Mac-Culinan ; his character and remarkable career — Fighting clergy — Continued attacks of the Northmen — Malachy II. king of Ireland — Brian Borumha (or Boru), his early career ; his vigorous and wise administration — Battle of Clontarf ; Brian's religious exercises on that day — Worship of the Irish at this period — Gradual introduction of Latin — Increasing power of co-arb of Patrick — Disputes about the co-arbship — Influence of the Book of Armagh — Pilgrimages to Rome — Brian Boru makes a remarkable entry in the Book of Armagh Page 126 — 157

Chapter VII

FROM THE DEATH OF BRIAN BORUMHA TO THE CLOSE OP THE .SYNOD OF RATHBREASAIL, A.D. IOI4 TO A.D. IIIO.

Stale of Ireland after the death of Brian Boru— Ireland has still some literary reputation— Marianus Scotus, Tighernach, and others— Pilgrimages to Rome

; —Conversion of the Northmen to Christianity— Bishops of Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick, their ecclesiastical position- Effect of Norman Conquest of England on Ireland— Letter from Gregory VII. to the Irish— Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, and the Church of Ireland— Letters of Lanfranc

CONTENTS. XV

to the king of Dublin and to Turlogh O'Brien — Anselm of Canterbury and his correspondence with Ireland- -Number of bishops still in Ireland — Malchus, bishop of Waterford — O'Haingly, bishop of Dublin— Gillebert, bishop of Limerick and his zeal for Romanism — King Murtogh O'Brien and his correspondence with Anselm of Canterbury— Murtogh favourable to ecclesiastical changes — Bestows the city of Cashel on the Church — Celsus of Armagh — Degeneracy of the co-arbs of Patrick — Visitations of the co-arbs of Patrick— Celsus consents to new arrangements — The Synod of Rathbreasail — Gillebert, the Pope's legate, presides ; comparatively few bishops present — Murtogh O'Brien and the S5mod — Diocesan episcopacy set up — Distribution of the dioceses — S)mod of Usneagh — Old Irish bishops not chorepiscopi — Deterioration of the Irish Church — Increase of superstition— Conduct of the clergy when pestilence apprehended — Fasting of the clergy — Liberty of the Irish Church lost by the Synod of Rathbreasail Page 1^2) — 184

Book II

I'ROM THE SYNOD OF RATHBREASAIL TO THE DEATH OF HENRY Vn. a.d. iiio TO a.d. 1509.

Chapter I

FROM THE SYNOD OF RATHBREASAIL TO THE CLOSE OF THE SYNOD OF CASHEL, A.D. IIIO TO A.D. II72,

State of Ireland not improved by recent ecclesiastical legislation— Civil war- Destruction of churches and monasteries — Malachy O'Morgair and his biographer Bernard— Malachy son of a clergyman— Ivar O'Hegan and Malachy— Malachy ordained and acts as vicar for Celsus— Malachy afterwards instructed by Malchus at Lismore— His acquaintance with King Cormac Mac Carthy — Malachy becomes abbot of Bangor ; becomes bishop of Connor- Bernard's account of Connor— Ritualism of Malachy— Irish marriages why condemned— Malachy's labours at Connor— Appointed archbishop of Armagh — Driven out of Ulster— Opposition of the family which had long enjoyed the co-arbship of Armagh— Malachy returns from Kerry to Ulster ; makes a compromise and obtains the staff of Jesus ; after some time resigns the primacy ; becomes bishop of Down -Malachy sets out for Rome— Visits Clairvaux— His intercourse with the Pope— Appointed Papal legate— Directions relative

to the Palls — Cistercian monks settled at Mellifont— Malachy's zeal Malachy

encounters an opponent of transubstantiation— Bernard's Life of Malachy not quite trustworthy — Malachy again sets out for Rome— His death at Clairvaux — His suspicious miracles — Cardinal Paparo now sent to Ireland Synod of i CONTENTS.

Kells— Palls "iven to Arimgli. Casliel, Dulilin, and Tuam— Dissatisfaction of the northern clergy— Arrangements of the Synod of Kells — Irish annals give little information respecting important Irish Synods— Pope Adrian IV. authorizes Henry II. to invade Ireland — Genuineness of the Pull indisputable

What the Pope meant by the Irish nurseries of iniquity— A new privilege

given to Armagh — Bull not immediately acted on — Synod held at Armagh when the first paity of the invaders arrived — Its pusillanimous proceedings — Equivocal conduct of Irish bishops — Henry's proceedings in Ireland — Synod of Cashel — Its canons and their tendency — Great change in the Church of Ireland . . . , P^^ge I §7 — 222

CHAPTER IT.

FROM .THE SYNOD OF CASHEL TO THE DEATH OF KING JOHN, A.D. II72 TO A.D. I216.

Bull of Adrian a public document — Irish prelates readily submit to Henry II. — Letters of Pope Alexander III. to the Irish princes, Henry II. and the Irish prelates — Brief of Alexander III. read in Synod of Waterford — Degradation of the Irish Church — Ireland imperfectly subdued — The Brehon law and the laws of England — Rapacity of the English adventurers — Death and character of Strongbow — William Fitz-Aldelm and John De Courcy — The legate Vivian at Downpatrick — Vivian holds a Synod at Dublin ; his covetousness — Change in the constitution of the Irish Church — Laymen excluded from Synods — Bishops no longer appointed solely by clergy and people — Augustin made bishop of Waterford by the king — Irish prelates at the Third Council of Lateran — Laurence O'Toole, archbishop of Dublin ; his history and character — His successor John Cumin — Advancement of Dublin and jealou.<!y of Armagh — Synod of Dublin in A.D. 1 186 — Regulations relative to tithes — Celibacy of the clergy — Albin O'MulIoy and Giraldus Cambrensis in the Synod of Dublin — Canons relating to altars, fonts, and graveyards — Imperious character of Archbishop Cumin— His dispute with the Viceroy — The diocese of Dublin laid under an interdict — The English invasion and ecclesiastical architecture— Abbeys built by the in vadei-s— Difference betv/een the new and old monasteries— Jocelin and his Life of St. Patrick— Disputes created by a vacancy in the archbishopric of Armagh— Innocent IIL and King John- Irish prelates at Fourth Lateran Council— Constitutions of a Synod at Trim in A.D. 12 1 6— Suppression of small bishoprics— Bishoprics united with others— The bishopric of Glendalough— Christ Church, Dublin, and St. Patrick's— The Pope now at the height of his power— Altered position of Irish bishops- Prelates appointed to civil offices— Promotion of Englishmen in Church of Ireland-Uegeneracy of the higher clergy-Disputes between bishop of Waterford and bishop of Lismore- Papal power advances rapidly in Church of Ireland ... j,

CONTENTS.

Chapter III

FROM THE DEATH OF KING JOHN TO THE DEATH OF KING EDWARD I., A.D. I2l6 TO A.D. 1307.

Multiplication of religious edifices no proof of the growth of true godliness — The Dominicans, Franciscans, and other new orders appear in Ireland — Superstition and Papal influence promoted by these new orders — Tithes now generally paid — Secular dignity and power of the clergy — Exemption from civil jurisdiction — Oppression of the ecclesiastical courts — Case of the widow Margaret le Blunde — Collisions between civU and ecclesiastical courts — Usurpations of ecclesiastical courts — Excommunication and its effects — Dispute between the archbishop of Dublin and Fitz-Adam the keeper of the king's forests — Dispute between the citizens of Dublin and the clergy respecting ecclesiastical dues — The Pope supports the clergy — Church Defence Association established by the archbishop of Armagh — Abuse of Church patronage — Irishmen excluded from Church dignities — Englishmen and Italians promoted — Dissatisfaction of native Irish clergy — Steady growth of Papal influence — Four great Papal assessments in this century — The granting of Indulgences — History of Indulgences — Veneration of relics — Relics of St. Mochta — Relics of Patrick, Brigid, and Columbkille found at different times and in different places — Literary Irishmen, John of Holywood, Peter Hibernicus, Gotofrid, and Thomas Hibernicus — ^John Duns Scotus and the Immaculate Conception — Suppression of the Knights Templars by Clement V. . . . Page 253 — 272

Chapter IV

FROM THE DEATH OF EDWARD I. TO THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II., A.D. 1307 TO A.D. 1399.

Unsatisfactory state of Ireland — British and Brehon law — Arrival of Edward Bruce ; crowned King of Ireland — His defeat and death — His Irish adherents excommunicated by the Pope^Petition to the Pope from King Donald O'Neill and the Irish — Its melancholy statements — Heartless conduct of the Pope — English injustice continued — Prosecution of Dame Alice le Kyteler for heresy — Conduct of Ledred, bishop of Ossory — Le Poer, and the Irish Chancellor — Condemnation of Dame Alice and Petronilla — Sentence on William Outlaw — No proper account of the proceedings preserved — Career of Ledred, bishop of Ossory — Richard Fitzralph, archbishop of Armagh — His controversy with the Mendicants — His account of the Mendicants — His opinions condemned — His death, and reputation for sanctity — The English power continues to decline in Ireland— The degenerate English— Gossipred and Fosterage— Ill-advised proceedings of the English government— The Statute of Kilkenny and its provisions— Dispute between the archbishops of Armagh and Dublin — Coyne and Livery — Refusal of the bishops to submit to parliamentary taxation — Seditious conduct of Archbishop Kelly^Despotism of the clergy — Rapacious collection of tithes— St. Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Dearg —Wretched state of the population English by birth and English by blood — Attempts made to provide a

better education— Proposed colleges in Dublin and Drogheda. Page 273 — 300

h

CONTENTS.

Chapter V

FROM THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD 11. TO THE DEATH OF HENRY VII., A.D. 1399 TO A.D. 1509.

Curtailment of the English Pale — Confusion created by the Wars of the Hoses — Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck— The Pope supports Henry VII. — The English sustain themselves in Ireland by dividing the natives and pensioning some of them — Attendance in the Irish Parliament avoided— The Fitzgeralds and the Butlers — Poynings' Act — ^Jealousies of Irish and English clergy — Charges against Archbishop O'Hedian — The Annals of Ulster— The art of printing and the use of fire-arms — Irishmen at Roman jubilee in 145 1 — Pilgrimages, funerals, and vi'ax-lights— Masses for the dead — Disputes and violence of the clergy — Military prelates — Incontinence of the clergy — Keating, prior of Kilmainham, his violence and sedition — Non-residence of the higher clergy — Avarice of the clergy — Extortion of the Court of Rome — Simony — Competition for appointments to benefices — Union of bishoprics — The bishopric of Enaghdune and the wardenship of Galviray — Erection of convents — The Franciscan convent of Donegal — Disorders of Irish convents in 15th century — Mendicants almost the only preachers — How Ireland became so intensely popish — Artifices of the Pope to advance his influence — The method of Provisors — The Pope supports the king of England — Excommunication often employed — Ov?en O'Neill and the archbishop of Armagh — Disputes between the clergy and others — Irish Church represented in Council of Constance — Fall of Constantinople — Pestilence and famine in Ireland — Miserable state of the country Page 301 — 326

Book III

FROM THE DEATH OF HENRY VII. TO THE DEATH OF JAMES I. A.D. 1509 TO A.D. 1625.

Chapter I

THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII., A.D. 1509 TO A.D. I547,

State of Ireland in the beginning of Henry's reign— Weakness of the English Government— Proposal to subdue the country— Rebellious spirit of the native chieftains—Pope had no reason to fear for his dominion— Ignorance of the clergy and people- Immunities of churchmen— Henry not more licentious than contemporary popes and princes-His objections to his marriage with Catherine sustamed by the best canonists-Ireland not so well prepared for the Reforn^.t.on .s England-Popularity of Henry in the bepinnin^ of his rei^n-The

CONTENTS. xix

Earl of Ossory agrees to resist the Pope — Irish churches generally in a ruinous state in the beginning of this reign — Suppression of the monasteries — George Browne, archbishop of Dublin — Commencement of the Reformation — Character and proceedings of Browne^Opposition of Cromer, archbishop of Armagh — The Irish Parliament declares the king head of the Church — Makes other arrangements relating to the Church — Continued suppression of monasteries— Use of English required throughout the Pale — A law made for the establishment of schools — The proctors oppose the Supremacy Bill — Injudicious movements of Archbishop Browne — Destruction of the Staff of Jesus and of the Image of the Virgin at Trim — -Measures taken by the Pope — Continued opposition of Cromer — Paul III. excommunicates Henry — Letter from the bishop of Meath, or Metz, to O'Neill— Character of Con O'Neill— Folly of the Irish in now adhering to the Pope— O'Neill becomes the leader of the Northern Irish — Defeated at Ballahoe — Humiliation of the native chiefs — Submission of Desmond, O'Neill, and others — Submission of the hierarchy — The Irish Parliament declares Henry king of Ireland— Popularity of the measure — Appearance of the Jesuits in Ireland — Robert Waucop, Romish archbishop of Armagh — Continued suppression of the monasteries — Little done in this reign to advance the Reformation in Ireland — Translation of the Lord's Prayer and a few other formularies into English — No blood shed in Ireland for religion in the reign of Henry VJII. — Peaceful state of the island at the end of his reign Page 329— 354

Chapter II

THE REIGNS OF EDWARD VI. AND MARY, A.D. I547 TO A.D. I558.

Causes of the slow progress of the Reformation in Ireland m the reign of Edward VI. — Activity of the Jesuits and the Papal party — Why the native chiefs adhered to the Pope — Want of evangelical preachers — The Reformation curtailed the fees of the clergy — Reforms now introduced without the authority of Parliament — New prelates favourable to Protestantism appointed— Dowdall of Armagh leaves the country — Goodacre appointed his successor — Bale, bishop of Ossory ; his zeal and labours — Bale's difficulties and dangers — Peace of Ireland during the reign of Edward VI. — English Liturgy introduced — Great lukewarmness on the part of the authorities — Papal party vastly encouraged by the accession of Mary — Dowdall of Armagh returns — Married bishops and clergy deposed — Synod of Drogheda, and the preaching of the rectors and vicars — Hugh Curwin made archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor — His peculiar position as a member of the Irish Tiierarchy — Other Roman Catholic prelates appointed — Popery fully re-established by Parliament . — Act for the punishment of heretics^ Reasons why no blood shed for religion in Ireland in reign of Mary — Confiscation of monastic property now continued — Ireland as disturbed in the reign of Mary as at any former period — The system of colonization first introduced into Ireland in the reign of Mary. Pa^e 355 — 370

CONTENTS.

Chapter III

FROM THE ACCESSION OF ELIZABETH TO THE DEATH OF SHANE O NEILL, A.D. 1558 TO A.D. 1567.

Elizabeth soon proclaims her attachment to Protestantism — A strange scene in a Dublin cathedral — Curwin, archbishop of Dublin — Bibles in Ireland — The Irish Parliament of 1560 — Act of Uniformity, and Oath of Supremacy — Remarkable clause in the Act of Uniformity — The bishops in the Pailiament of 1560 — Few of the bishops conformed — The Irish Episcopal Succession — Causes of dislike to Protestantism — Character of the bishops who remained Romanists — Irishmen still go to Rome in quest of bishoprics — The Jesuits in Ireland — David Wolf — Character of the Protestant hierarchy — Craike, Brady, and Loftus — Act of Uniformity could not be enforced, and Oath of Supremacy neglected— Articles of Religion for the Protestant Establishment — David Wolf, the Nuncio, and Shane O'Neill Pa^c^iTi — 396

Chapter IV

FROM THE DEATH OF SHANE O'nEILL TO THE DEATH OF THE EARL OF DESMOND, A.D. 1567 TO A.D. 1 583.

Wretched state of Ireland at this period— Preaching of the friars unprofitable- Causes of the decay of the parish churches-Elizabeth excommunicated by Pius v.— Strange dilemma in which Romanists were placed by the Bull of Excommunication- The Bull induces some to rebel— Greoory XIII explains the Bull of Pius V.-The Act of Uniformity seldom enforced- Acts ol the Irish Parhament of is69-Proposal to divide Ireland into counties and erect schools-Viceroy to administer Church patronage in south and west- N.cholas Walsh and John Kearney-The Liturgy translated into Irish- Arrangements for preaching in Irish-Irish types brought into the country- Walsh made bishop of Ossory. His labours and murder-A translation of the New Testament into Irish commenced-The effects of the Reformation in Ireland as compared with its effects elsewhere-Little interference in many places with the old Romish priesthood- Proposal to make soldiers bishops- Oross Ignorance and incompetency of the clergy-State of the diocese of Meath-Unworthy bishops, Middleton, Sheyne, and others-Only four of the prelates could preach-Extraordinary career of Miler Magrath, archbishop of Cashel-His scheming ; his pluralities ; his use of aqua vitce ; his peculations -His return to Romanism, and his funeral-Causes of the discontent of the Irish chieftains and their adherents- Quarrels of the Earl of Ormond and the

CONTENTS. xxi

Earl of Desmond — Disloyalty of Desmond — Rebellion of James Fitzmaurice — Fitzmaurice subdued and pardoned — His proceedings in France, Spain, and Italy — The Bull of Gregory XIII. against Elizabeth, and in support of Fitzmaurice — Departure of Fitzmaurice and Sanders from Rome ; arrival in Spain — The adventurer Stukeley ; his death in Africa — Arrival of Fitzmaurice and Sanders in Ireland — Proclamation issued by Fitzmaurice — His death — Succeeded in the command by Sir John Desmond — Fresh Bull issued by Gregory XIII. — Defeat of the insurgents, and death of Allen — Rebellion of Desmond — Arrival of Italians and Spaniards at Smerwick — Cruel massacre — Death of Sir James Desmond, of Sir John Desmond, and of the legate Sanders — Capture and death of the Earl of Desmond — Desolation of the south of Ireland— Its spiritual condition Po'i^'if)! — 428