Longbeforethecommissionforsuppressionarrivedthescrambleforashareintheplunderhadbegun。InthiscontesttheDeputy,ArchbishopBrowne,andtheprincipalmembersoftheprivycouncilledtheway。
JohnAlen,MasteroftheRolls,wasthefirsttoprofitbythespoliationofthereligioushousesbygettingpossessionofthepropertyofSt。Wolstan\'s1536,LordGreysecuredforhimselfthegoodsandpossessionsoftheConventofGrane。TheEarlofOrmondandtheButlerfamilygenerallyenrichedthemselvesoutofthelandsofthemonasteriessituatedinthesouth-easternportionofIreland,asdidalsoahostofhungryofficialsandgentlemenindifferentpartsofIreland,suchastheCowleys,Alens,St。Legers,Lutrells,Plunketts,Dillons,Nugents,Prestons,Berminghams,Townleys,Aylmers,Flemings,Wyses,Eustaces,Brabazons,etc。[41]EvenPatrickBarnewall,whohadresistedsostrenuouslythesuppressionofthemonasteriesin1536,couldnotresistthetemptationofsharingintheplunder。HesecuredforhimselfalargeportionofthelandsandadvowsonsoftheConventofGrace-Dieu。InthiswaytheAnglo-Irishnobleswerebribedintoacquiescencewiththeking\'sreligiouspolicy,andwereenabledtotransmittotheirdescendantsimmenseterritoriesoverwhichtheyweretoruleashereditarylandlordslongaftertheoriginoftheirtitlehadbeenforgotten。Similarly,inordertoputanendtotheoppositionofthecityauthorities,whichhadgoodgroundtocomplainofthesuppressionsofhousesthatweredoingsomuchinthecauseofcharityandeducation,largegrantsweremadetothecorporationsofDublin,Waterford,Limerick,Clonmel,etc。Wealthymerchantswhohadmoneytoinvestwerenotslowincomingforwardtosecureleasesofportionsofthemonasticlandandtherebytolaythefoundationsofanewso-calledaristocracy。Thegoldandsilverornaments,thesacredvessels,thebells,andthechurchplategenerallyweresoldforthebenefitoftheking,buttheofficialswereneverparticularlycarefulaboutmakingtheproperreturns。Fromapartialaccountgivenbythecommissionersin1541itappearedthatfromthesalesofthejewels,reliquaries,pictures,andgoodsofthemonasteriestheyhadreceivedover£2,500Irishofwhichtheyhadgivencloseon£500tothesuperiors,servants,etc。,andretained£375astravellingexpenses。[42]WiththesubmissionoftheEarlofDesmond,O\'BrienofThomond,O\'Donnell,etc。,amoredeterminedcampaignwasinitiatedforthetotaldestructionofthereligioushouses,andparticularlyofthosebelongingtotheMendicants,notmerelyinthePalebutthroughoutIreland。AspecialcommissionwasissuedAug。1541totheEarlofDesmondandothers\"totakeinventoriesof,todissolve,andtoputinsafecustody,allreligioushousesinLimerick,Cork,Kerry,andDesmond。\"InreturnforhisactivitytheEarlofDesmondwasrewardedwithseveralgrantsofmonasticland,andevenO\'Briendidnotthinkitbeneathhimtoshareintheplunder。Insomeplaces,asforinstanceinMonaghan,theFranciscanFriarswereputtodeath。ButintheIrishdistrictsgenerallythedecreeofsuppressionwasnotenforced,andevenintheEnglishportionsofthecountrythesuppressionofthemonasteriesdidnotmeantheextinctionofthemonks。TheFranciscansandDominicansinparticularseemtohavebeenalmostasnumerousattheendofthereignofHenryVIII。astheyhadbeenbeforeheundertookhiscampaignagainstRome。
ThewholestoryofthesesadyearsissummarisedinastrikingifslightlyexaggeratedfashionbytheFourMasters。\"Aheresyandnewerror,\"theysay,\"sprangupinEnglandthroughpride,vain-glory,avarice,andlist,andthroughmanystrangesciences,sothatthemenofEnglandwentintooppositiontothePopeandtoRome……TheystyledthekingthechiefheadoftheChurchofGodinhisownkingdom。Newlawsandstatuteswereenactedbythekingandcouncilaccordingtotheirownwill。Theydestroyedtheorderstowhomworldlypossessionswereallowed,namely,theMonks,Canons,Nuns,theCrouchedFriars,andthefourMendicantOrders,namelytheFriarsMinor,theFriarsPreachers,theCarmelites,andtheAugustinians,andthelordshipsandlivingsofallthesewereseizedfortheking。Theybrokedownthemonasteriesandsoldtheirroofsandtheirbells,sothatfromAranoftheSaintstotheIccianSeetherewasnotonemonasterythatwasnotbrokenandshattered,withtheexceptionofafewinIreland,ofwhichtheEnglishtooknonoticeorheed。Theyafterwardburnedtheimages,shrines,andrelicsofthesaintsofIrelandandEngland;theylikewiseburnedthecelebratedimageofMaryatTrim,whichusedtoperformwondersandmiracles,tohealtheblind,thedeaf,thecrippled,andpersonsaffectedwithallkindsofdisease;theyburnedtheStaffofJesus,whichwasinDublin,andwhichwroughtmiraclesfromthetimeofSt。Patrick,andhadbeeninthehandsofChristwhileHewasamongmen。Theyalsoappointedarchbishopsandbishopsforthemselves,andthoughgreatwasthepersecutionoftheRomanemperorsagainsttheChurch,scarcelyhadthereevercomesogreatapersecutionfromRomeasthis,sothatitisimpossibletonarrateortellitsdescriptionunlessitshouldbenarratedbyonewhosawit。\"[43]TheAnnalistsmighthaveaddedafactnoticedbyadistinguishedProtestanthistorianthat\"insteadofbestowingtheir[ofthemonasteries]incomesontheameliorationoftheChurch,orexpendingtheminprovidingforthereligiousorsecularimprovementofthepeopleinanyotherway,caringlittleapparentlyfortheimpoverishmentoftheChurch,he[HenryVIII。]
misappliedthoserevenuesforthepurposesofpromotinghisowngratificationorenrichinghisfavourites。\"[44]
VeryearlyinhisreignHenryVIII。haddreamtofthecompletesubjugationofIreland,butitwasonlyafterthesuccessfuloverthrowoftheGeraldineRebellion1534-5thattherealisationofthesedreamsseemedtobewithinmeasurablereach。TheboldnessandmilitarygeniusofLordLeonardGreybadefairtobringallIrelandwithinthesphereofEnglishjurisdiction,untilthereligiouscrisisarosetocomplicatetheissues。ManyoftheIrishprincestookoffenceatthedoctrineofroyalsupremacy,theattackonimages,pictures,pilgrimages,relics,etc。,andatthedesperateeffortsthatwerebeingmadetodriveoutentirelythemonksandnuns。Duringtheyears1537and1538rumoursofagreatconfederationreachedtheearsoftheEnglishofficials。ItwasrepresentedthatConO\'Neill,ManusO\'Donnell,O\'BrienofThomond,theDeBurgosofConnaught,andtheEarlofDesmondhadjoinedhandstoprotecttheyoungGarrettFitzgeraldandtodefendtheauthorityofthePope。Messengers,itwassaid,werepassingconstantlyfromIrelandtoScotland,andfromScotlandtoRome。Itwasreportedin1539thattheIrishprincesregardedHenryVIII。asaheretic,whohadforfeitedalltitletotheLordshipofIreland,thattheyweredeterminedtoupholdtheauthorityofthePope,thattheyexpectedhelpfromtheEmperor,fromFrance,andfromScotland,andthatifaninvasionwereattemptednoteventheAnglo-IrishofthePalecouldbereliedupononaccountoftheirattachmenttothePopeandtotheGeraldines。[45]
ButthesuccessfulexpeditionsagainstboththeNorthandSouthundertakenbytheDeputyin1539seemstohaveputanendtoallconcerteddefence,andtohavereducedtheIrishprincestoastateofutterhelplessness。Oneafteranothertheyhastenedtomaketheirsubmission,toaccepttitlesandhonoursandmoneyfromtheking,andtoconsenttoholdtheirterritoriesbyroyalpatent。Alreadyin1534
theEarlofOrmondhadacceptedthereligiouspolicyofHenryVIII。inthehopeofscoringatriumphoverhisoldrivals,theGeraldines。
Threeyearslater1537MacGillapatrickofOssorypromisedfaithfullytoabolishtheusurpedjurisdictionofthePope,tohavetheEnglishlanguagespokeninhisterritories,andtosendhissontobebroughtupwithaknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguageandcustoms。Inreturnforthishereceivedaroyalgrantofhislandandpossessions,wascreatedBaronofColthillandCastleton,andwaspromisedaseatintheHouseofLords,afavourwhichheobtainedin1543,whenhewasappointedapeer[46]withthetitleofBaronofUpperOssory。BrianO\'ConnorofOffalyandhisrivalCahirmadetheirsubmissioninMarch1538。TheyrenouncedthejurisdictionofthePope,agreedtoholdtheirlandsfromtheking,andtoabandonallclaimstotributeorblackrentfromtheirneighboursofthePale。BrianO\'ConnorwascreatedBaronofOffaly。HewasfollowedinhissubmissionbytheEarlofDesmond1541,MacWilliamBurke,O\'BrienofThomond,ManusO\'DonnellAug。1541andfinallybyConO\'Neill1542。Allthese,togetherwithahostofminorchieftainsanddependents,renouncedtheauthorityofthePope,acceptedre-grantsoftheirlandsfromtheking,beggedforEnglishtitles,anddidnotthinkitbeneaththeirdignitytoacceptgiftsofmoneyandrobes。ConO\'NeillbecameEarlofTyrone,hissonMatthewBaronofDungannon,O\'BrienEarlofThomond,hisnephewDonoghBaronofIbricken,MacWilliamBurkeEarlofClanrickard,whileknighthoodsweredistributedfreelyamongthelessernobles。[47]AlthoughtheremayhaveexistedinthemindsoftheIrishchieftainsacertainamountofconfusionaboutthetemporalandspiritualjurisdictionofthePope,especiallyasthePopesseemtohaveclaimedapeculiarsovereigntyinIreland,yetitisimpossibletosupposethattheycouldhaveactedingoodfaithinsigningthedocumentsofsubmissiontowhichtheyattachedtheirsignatures。ThattheyrecognisedthedangerousandhereticaltendenciesofHenry\'sreligiouspolicyisevidentenoughfromthecorrespondenceoftheyears1537-39,andthattheynevermadeanyseriouseffortstocarryoutthetermsoftheseagreementsmustbeadmitted。ItisquitepossiblethatlikethenoblemenofEnglandtheywerepersonallywillingtoacquiesceinHenryVIII。\'sreligiouspolicyforthesakeofsecuringgoodtermsforthemselves,butthattheyfounditimpossibletodoanythingonaccountoftheoppositionofthevastbodyofthepeople。HenryVIII。recognisedthathewasnotinapositiontoenforcehisauthorityincaseofO\'Brien,O\'Donnell,O\'Neill,MacWilliamBurke,etc。,andhenceheadvisedhisofficialstoseektowintheseoverbykindnessandpersuasionratherthanbyforce。Inparticulartheyweretoendeavour\"topersuadethemdiscreetly\"tosuppressthereligioushousesintheirterritories,butatthesametimenoattemptwastobemade\"topressthemovermuchinanyvigoroussort。\"[48]O\'BrienofThomondandDesmondwerenotunwillingtoshareintheplunderofthemonasteries,butasaruletheconditionofaffairsasregardsreligionwasbutslightlyaffectedbythesubmissionsofthechieftains。
ThenewDeputy,AnthonySt。Leger1540,waswellfittedtoprofitbythemilitarysuccessesofLordGrey。AsaroyalcommissionerthreeyearsbeforehehadampleopportunityofknowingtheconditionofIreland,thecharactersoftheprincipalleaders,andtheinducementsbywhichtheymightbetemptedtoacknowledgetheauthorityoftheKingofEngland。Hereliedupondiplomaticratherthanmilitarypressure,andhewassocompletelysuccessfulthattheprivycouncilcouldreportin1542thatIrelandwasatpeace。Alreadyin1537,Alen,theMasteroftheRolls,hadcalledtheattentionoftheroyalcommissionerstothefactthatmanyoftheIrishregardedthePopeasthetemporalsovereignofIrelandandtheKingofEnglandonlyasLordofIrelandbyvirtueofthePapalauthority,andadvisedthemthatHenryshouldbeproclaimedKingofIrelandbyanActofParliament。
ThisadvicewasapprovedwarmlybyStaples,BishopofMeath1538,andwasendorsedbytheDeputyandcouncilinaletteraddressedtoHenryVIII。inDecember1540。[49]Thesuggestionwasacceptedbytheking,whoempoweredSt。LegertosummonaParliamenttogiveiteffect1541。
ParliamentmetinJune1541。HowmanymembersattendedtheHouseofCommonsorwhatparticulardistrictswererepresentedisnotknownforcertain;butinallprobabilityitwasonlyfromtheeasternandsoutherncountiesandcitiesthatdeputieswereappointed。IntheHouseofLordstherewerepresenttwoarchbishopstogetherwithtwelvebishops,theEarlsofOrmondandDesmond,andanumberofviscounts,lordsandbarons,nearlyallofwhombelongedtotheAnglo-Irishfaction。O\'BrienofThomonddidnotattend,buthesentdeputiestorepresenthim;O\'DonnellandO\'Neillheldthemselvesalooffromtheproceedings;andDonoghO\'Brien,MacWilliamBurke,CahirMacArtKavanagh,O\'Reilly,PhelimRoeO\'NeillofClandeboy,andKedaghO\'Moreattendedinperson,butwerenotallowedtotakeanactivepartintheproceedingsortovote。[50]AbillwasintroducedbySt。LegerbestowingonHenryVIII。thetitleofKingofIreland,andwasreadthreetimesintheHouseofLordsinoneday。ThenextdayitwaspassedbytheHouseofCommons。Itwasagreedthatthemonarchshouldbestyled\"HenryVIII。bytheGraceofGodKingofEngland,France,andIreland,DefenderoftheFaith,andoftheChurchofEngland,andalsoofIreland,onearththeSupremeHead。\"Theproclamation,itwasreported,wasreceivedwithjoyousacclamationinDublin,whereamodifiedgeneralamnestywasdeclaredinhonourofthehappyevent。
Thereportofwhathadtakenplaceproducedundoubtedlyagreateffectonthoseprinceswhostillheldaloof,sothatbeforetheendoftheyear1542evenConO\'Neillhadmadeanignominiouspeacewiththegovernment。
WhilethequestionsofroyalsupremacyandthejurisdictionofthePopewerebeingdebatedinParliament1536-7thebishopsandproctorsoftheclergyincurredthewrathofBrowneandtheEnglishofficialsgenerallybytheircourageousresistancetothenewproposals,showingtherebythattheyhadnosympathywiththeanti-
Romanmeasures。Noristhereanyreasontosupposethatanyconsiderablebodyofthemadoptedadifferentattitude,thoughthesubmissionoftheirEnglishbrethrencouldnothavefailedtoproducesomeeffectonthem,particularlyassomeofthemwereEnglishmenthemselves,andmanyofthemmusthavereceivedtheireducationatsomeoftheEnglishuniversities。InadditiontoBrowne,whoboastedofbeingonly\"aking\'sbishop,\"theonlymenwhocanbeprovedtohavetakenanactivepartinpropagatingthenewviewswereEdmundStaplesofMeathandRichardNangle,thebishopwhomHenryVIII。
endeavouredtointrudeintoClonfert1536。TheformerofthesewasanEnglishmanappointedbythePope1529attherequestofHenryVIII。AsmighthavebeenexpectedhetookthesideofthekingagainsttheEarlofKildare,andwhenthestrugglebeganinIrelandbetweenthefriendsandtheopponentsofroyalsupremacyinIrelandhejoinedtheformer。LikesomanyoftheotherReformersheshowedhisanxietyforthegospelbytakingtohimselfawifeandbyappropriatingforhisownusethegoodsoftheChurch,butthereisnoevidencethathiseffortsproducedanyeffectonthegreatbodyofhisclergy。RichardNangleofClonfertfoundhimselfopposedbyRolanddeBurgo,thebishopprovidedbythePopetotheSeeofClonfertFeb。1539BrowneannouncedthatheintendedpersonallytocarrythelightofthegospelwhereverEnglishwasunderstood,andthathehadsecuredasuffraganinthepersonofDr。Nangle,BishopofClonfert,tosetforthGod\'sWordandtheking\'scauseintheIrishtongue。[51]OwingtothestateofopenhostilityexistingbetweenBrowneandStaplesthearchbishopdidnotregardthelatterasafellow-labourer。ButevidentlyatthisperiodtheseweretheonlythreebishopsonwhomanyreliancecouldbeplacedbyHenryVIII。Similarlyinadocumentdrawnupin1542
entitled/CertainDevicesfortheReformationofIreland/,BrowneandStaplesalonewerementionedasfavouringthegospelorascapableof\"instructingtheIrishbishopsofthisrealm,causingthemtorelinquishandrenounceallpopishorpapisticaldoctrine,andtosetforthwithineachoftheirdiocesesthetrueWordofGod。\"[52]
ButthoughnoneoftheIrishbishopsappointedbythePope,withthesingleexceptionofStaplesofMeath,tookanyactivestepstoassisttheking,fewofthementeredthelistsboldlyindefenceoftheRomanSee,andmanyofthem,liketheirEnglishbrethren,triedtotemporiseinthehopethatthestormmightsoonblowpast。[53]EdmundButler,theillegitimatesonofSirPiersButler,afterwardsEarlofOrmond,seemstohavejoinedwiththerestofhisfamilyinacknowledgingroyalsupremacy。Hetookaseatintheprivycouncil,actedasintermediarybetweenthegovernmentandtheEarlofDesmond,signedasawitnessthedocumentbywhichthelatterrenouncedtheauthorityofthePope,acceptedforhimselfportionsofthepropertyofthesuppressedFranciscanFriaryatCashel,andwaspresentattheParliamentof1541。[54]HughO\'CervallenofClogherwasappointedbythePopein1535,buthewenttoLondonin1542aschaplaintoConO\'Neill,surrenderedhisBullsofappointment,tooktheoathproscribedbyHenryVIII。,andacceptedagrantbyroyalpatentofhisdiocese,togetherwithapensionof£40ayear。[55]NeedlesstosayhewasrepudiatedbythePope,whoappointedanothertotakehisplace,andwasdrivenfromhisSee。JohnQuinnofLimerickwasreportedbyLordGreytohavetakentheoathofroyalsupremacyin1538,[56]buttheDeputy\'sleaningstowardsRomeevenonthisjourneywereproclaimedsofrequentlybyhisopponentsonthecouncilthatitwouldbedifficulttobelievehim,didnotthenameoftheBishopofLimerickappearamongstthewitnessestothesubmissionoftheEarlofDesmond。[57]Thoughhisattitudeatthisperiodwasatleastdoubtful,itiscertainthathestoodloyaltoRomeoncehediscoveredtheschismaticaltendencyofthenewmovement,sinceitwasfoundnecessarybythegovernmenttoattempttodisplacehimin1551bytheappointmentofonewhowaslikelytobemorepliable。
Thefactthatsomeofthebishopssurrenderedthereligioushousesofwhichtheywerecommendatorypriors,asforexample,EdmundNugentofKilmore,MiloBaronofOssory,andWalterWellesleyofKildare,[58]
andacceptedpensionsfromthekingasacompensationforthelosstheysustainedbythesuppressionofthemonasteries,createsagravesuspicionoftheirorthodoxy,thoughitdoesnotprovethattheyacceptedroyalsupremacy。Baronwasundoubtedlyinclosecommunicationwiththegovernmentofficials,andNugentseemstohavebeenremovedbythePope。Again,severalofthebishops,RolanddeBurgoofClonfert,FlorenceKirwanofClonmacnoise,EugeneMacGuinnessofDownandConnor,andThadyReynoldsofKildare[59]surrenderedtheBullstheyhadreceivedfromRome,andacceptedgrantsoftheirdiocesesfromtheking。Suchastep,however,affordsnodecisiveevidenceofdisloyaltytotheHolySee。ForyearsasharpcontroversyhadbeenwagedbetweentheKingsofEnglandandthePoperegardingthetemporalitiesofbishoprics。ThePopesclaimedtohavetherightofappointmenttoboththespiritualitiesandthetemporalities,andgaveexpressiontotheseclaimsintheBullsofappointment。Thekingsontheirpartassertedtheirjurisdictionoverthetemporalities,andtosafeguardtheirrightstheyinsistedthatthebishop-electshouldsurrenderthepapalgrantinreturnforaroyalgrant。SuchacustomwaswellknownbeforeanyschismaticaltendencieshadmadethemselvesfeltinEngland,andcompliancewithitwouldnotprovethatthebishopsinvolvedlookeduponthekingasthesourceoftheirspiritualjurisdiction。ThemainpointtobeconsideredincaseofthebishopswhosurrenderedtheirmonasteriesortheirBullsiswhatkindofoath,ifany,weretheyobligedtotake。IftheyconsentedtosweartheformofrenunciationprescribedforIrishbishopsbythekingtheirorthodoxycouldnotwellbedefended,butitispossiblethat,asHenryVIII。didnotwishtopressmatterstoextremeswiththeIrishprinces,hemayhaveadoptedanequallyprudentpolicyincaseofthebishops,andcontentedhimselfwiththeoathofallegiance。
Fullycognisantoftheimportanceofwinningthebishopstohisside,HenryVIII。tookcaretoappointhisownnomineesassoonasavacancyoccurred。Bydoingsohehopedtosecurethesubmissionoftheclergyandpeople,andtoobtainforhimselfthefeespaidformerlytoRome。
Duringthetenyears,between1536and1546,heappointedDominicTirreytoCork,RichardNangletoClonfert,ChristopherBodkin,alreadyBishopofKilmacduaghtoTuam,AlexanderDevereuxtoFerns,WilliamMeaghtoKildare,RichardO\'Ferral,latepriorofGranardtoArdagh,AeneasO\'HernanorO\'Heffernan,latepreceptorofAney,toEmly,GeorgeDowdall,latepriorofArdee,toArmagh,ConatO\'Siaghail,achaplainofManusO\'DonnelltoElphin,andCorneliusO\'Dea,achaplainofO\'BrienofThomond,toKillaloe。Thoughtherecanbelittledoubtthatsomeofthesereceivedtheirappointmentsasarewardfortheiracceptanceofroyalsupremacy,itisdifficulttodeterminehowfartheywerecommittedtothereligiouspolicyofHenryVIII。Itiscertainthatnoneofthem,withthepossibleexceptionofNangle,tookanactivepartinfavouringthecauseoftheReformationinIrelandoncetheyunderstoodtherealissuesatstake,andthatthefactoftheirbeingopposedineverysinglecasebyalawfulbishopappointedbythePoperendereditimpossibleforthemtodomuch,howeverwillingtheymighthavebeentocomplywiththewishesoftheking。[60]
DuringthiscriticalperiodinIrishhistoryPopePaulIII。wasinclosecorrespondencewithseveraloftheIrishbishopsandlayprinces。TimeandagaintheofficialsinIrelandcomplainofthe\"Rome-runners,\"oftheprovisionsmadebythePopetoIrishbishoprics,ofthemessengerspassingtoandfrobetweenIrelandandRome,andofthePope\'sco-operationinorganisingtheGeraldineLeaguein1538and1539。Itshouldbenoted,however,thatthesillyletterattributedbyRobertWaretoPaulIII。,whereinheissupposedtohavewarnedO\'NeillthatheandhiscouncillorsinRomehaddiscoveredfromaprophecyofSt。LaserianthatwhenevertheChurchinIrelandshouldfalltheChurchofRomeshouldfallalso,isapureforgerypublishedmerelytodiscreditthePopeandtheRomanSee。[61]
UndoubtedlyPaulIII。wasgravelyconcernedabouttheprogressofamovementthatthreatenedtoinvolveIrelandintheEnglishschism,andwasanxioustoencouragethebishopsandprincestostandfirmintheirresistancetoroyalsupremacy。In1539reportsreachedRomethatGeorgeCromer,theArchbishopofArmagh,whohadresistedthemeasuresdirectedagainstthePopeduringtheyears1536-38,hadyielded,andasaresulttheadministrationoftheSeewascommitted1539toRobertWauchope,adistinguishedScotchtheologianthenresidentinRome。WhatproofswereadducedinfavourofCromer\'sguiltarenotknown,butitiscertainthattheofficialcorrespondenceoftheperiodwillbesearchedinvainforanyevidencetoshowthatCromeracceptedeitherintheoryorinpracticetheecclesiasticalheadshipofHenryVIII。Heheldalooffromthemeetingsoftheprivycouncil,nevershowedtheslightestsympathywiththeactionoftheArchbishopofDublin,andthoughhisnameappearsonsomeofthelistsofthespiritualpeersintheParliamentof1541,theofficialreportofSt。
Legermakesitcertainthathedidnotattend。[62]ItisquitepossiblethattheArchbishopdidnotfindhimselfinagreementwiththepoliticalschemeswherebytheIrishprincesandtheKingofScotlandweretojoinhandsfortheoverthrowofEnglishauthorityinIreland,andonthisaccounttheKingofScotlandwasdesirousofhavinghimremovedtomakewayforhisagentattheRomanCourt。
ThenewadministratorofArmagh,RobertWauchope,thoughsufferingfromweaksight,wasrecognisedasoneoftheablesttheologiansofhisday。HetookaprominentpartinthereligiousconferenceatWorms1540andattheDietofRatisbon1541。HeattendedtheCouncilofTrentduringitsearliersessions,andrenderedveryvaluableassistance,particularlyinconnexionwiththedecreesonJustification。Thedateofhisconsecrationcannotbedeterminedwithcertainty。ProbablyhewasnotconsecrateduntilnewsofthedeathofCromer1543reachedRome。In1549hesetoutforScotland,andapparentlylandedonthecoastofDonegalinthehopeofinducingO\'NeillandO\'Donnelltoco-operatewiththeFrenchandtheScots。Hiseffortswerenot,however,crownedwithsuccess。FindinghimselfdenouncedtothegovernmentbyO\'NeillandbyGeorgeDowdall,whohadbeenappointedtotheSeeofArmaghbytheking,hereturnedtoRomewherehewasgrantedfacultiesaslegatetoIreland,buthediedinafewmonthsbeforehecouldmakeanyattempttoregainpossessionofhisdiocese。[63]BeforethedeathofCromerHenryVIII。,againstthewishesofsomemembersofhiscouncilinIreland,whofavouredthenominationofthesonofLordDelvin,hadselectedGeorgeDowdall,latepriorofArdee,tosucceedhiminArmagh。DowdallwenttoLondon,incompanywithConO\'Neill,andreceivedfromthekingayearlypensionof£20togetherwiththepromiseoftheArchbishopricofArmagh。[64]Thoughhemusthavegivensatisfactoryassurancestothekingonthequestionofroyalsupremacy,DowdallwasstillinhisheartasupporterofRome,andasshallbeseen,heleftIrelandforatimeratherthanagreetotheabolitionoftheMassandtheothersweepingreligiousinnovationsthatwereundertakeninthereignofEdwardVI。[65]
AttheurgentrequestofRobertWauchopePaulIII。determinedtosendsomeofthedisciplesofSt。IgnatiustoIrelandtoencouragetheclergyandpeopletostandfirmindefenceoftheirreligion。St。
Ignatiushimselfdrewupasetofspecialinstructionsfortheguidanceofthosewhowereselectedforthisimportantmission。Thetwopriestsappointedforthework,PaschasiusBroetandAlphonsusSalmeron,togetherwithFranciscusZapatawhoofferedtoaccompanythem,reachedScotlandearlyinFebruary1541,and,havingfortifiedthemselvesbylettersofrecommendationfromtheKingofScotlandaddressedtoO\'Neillandothers,theylandedinIrelandaboutthebeginningofLent。Theirreportspeaksbadlyforthereligiousconditionofthecountryattheperiod。Theycouldnothelpnotingthefactthatallthegreatprinces,withoneexception,hadrenouncedtheauthorityofthePopeandhadrefusedtoholdanycommunicationswiththem,thatthepastorshadneglectedtheirduty,andthatthepeoplewererudeandignorant,thoughatthesametimenotunwillingtolistentotheirinstructions。Inmanyparticularsthisunfavourablereportwaswellfounded,especiallyinregardtothenobles,butitshouldberememberedthattheseJesuitsremainedonlyafewweeksinthecountry,thattheywereutterlyunacquaintedwiththemannersandcustomsofthepeople,andthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthemtohaveobtainedreliableinformationaboutthereligiousconditionofIrelandinthecourseofsuchashortvisit。Itshouldbenoted,too,thattheyplacedtheresponsibilityforthefailureoftheirmissionontheKingofScotlandwhofailedtostandbyhispromises。[66]
DuringthelastyearsofHenryVIII。\'sreignSt。Legercontinuedhiseffortstoreducethecountrytosubjectionnotbyforcebutbypersuasion。Thereligiousissuewasnotputforwardprominently,andwiththeexceptionofgrantsofmonasticlandsandpossessionsverylittleseemstohavebeendone。TheDeputy\'sletterscontainglowingreportsofhissuccesses。InthecourseofthewarmcontroversythatragedbetweenhimandJohnAlen,theChancellor,duringtheyears1546
and1547,thevariousreportsforwardedtoEnglandaresufficienttoshowthatoutsidethePaletheEnglishauthoritieshadmadelittleprogress。AlthoughSt。Legerwasabletofurnishastrikingtestimonyfromthecouncilastohissuccess,andalthoughaletterwassentbytheIrishprincesinpraiseofHenryVIII。[67]1546,proofsarenotwantingthatHenry\'spolicyhadmetwithonlypartialsuccess。
AccordingtoalettersentbyArchbishopBrownein1546theIrishpeoplewerenotreconciledtoEnglishmethodsofgovernment,andaccordingtothechancellor,theking\'swritdidnotrunintheIrishdistricts。TheIrishmenwhopretendedtosubmitdidnotkeeptotheirsolemnpromises。TheystillfollowedtheirownnativelawsregardlessofEnglishstatutes,andthekingcouldnotgetpossessionoftheabbeysorabbeylandssituatedwithintheirterritories。Eventhecouncil,whichsoughttodefendtheDeputyagainsttheseattacks,wasforcedtoadmitthathisMajesty\'slawswerenotcurrentintheIrishdistricts。[68]OneofthelaststepstakenbythecouncilatthesuggestionofHenryVIII。wastheappointmentofavice-regentinspiritualsfortheclergy,tograntdispensationsastheyweregrantedinEnglandbyCranmer,soastopreventtheIrishfromhavingrecoursetoRomeforsuchgrants。[69]
HenryVIII。diedwiththeknowledgethathehaddonemorethananyofhispredecessorsforthesubjugationofIreland。\"Thepolicythatwasdevised,\"writesCusacke,LordChancellorofIreland,\"forthesendingoftheEarlsofDesmond,Thomond,Clanrickard,andTyrone,andtheBaronofUpperOssory,O\'Carroll,MacGennis,andothersintoEngland,wasagreathelpofbringingthosecountriestogoodorder;fornoneofthemwhowentintoEnglandcommittedharmupontheKing\'sMajesty\'ssubjects。ThewinningoftheEarlofDesmondwasthewinningoftherestofMunsterwithsmallcharges。ThemakingofO\'BrienanEarlmadeallthatcountryobedient。ThemakingofMacWilliamEarlofClanrickardmadeallthatcountryduringhistimeobedientasitisnow。ThemakingofMacGillapatrickBaronofUpperOssoryhathmadehiscountryobedient;andthehavingtheirlandsbyDublinissuchagageuponthemastheywillnotforfeitthesamethroughwilfulfolly。\"[70]
Asfarasreligionwasconcerned,however,therewasverylittlechange。TheMasswascelebratedandtheSacramentswereadministeredasbefore。Hereandtheresomeofthebishopsandclergymighthavebeeninclinedtotemporiseonthequestionofroyalsupremacy,butwhateverdocumentstheymighthavesigned,orwhateverappointmentstheymighthaveacceptedfromHenry\'sagents,thevastbodyoftheprinces,bishops,clergy,andpeoplehadnodesiretoseparatethemselvesfromtheuniversalChurch。HenryVIII。had,however,renderedunintentionallyanimmenseservicetoreligioninIrelandbypreparingthewayforthedestructionofroyalinterferenceinepiscopalandotherecclesiasticalappointmentsandoftheterribleabuseoflaypatronagethathadbeenthecurseoftheCatholicChurchinIrelandforcenturies。AlltheseabuseshavingbeentransferredtothesmallknotofEnglishofficialsandAnglo-Englishresidents,whocoalescedtoformtheProtestantsect,theCatholicChurchwasatlastfreetopursueherpeacefulmissionwithoutletorhindrancefromwithin。
TheaccessionofEdwardVI。madenonotablechangeinIrishaffairs。
TheDeputy,St。Leger,wasretainedinoffice,aswerealsomostoftheoldofficials。Somenewmembers,includingGeorgeDowdall,ArchbishopofArmagh,wereaddedtothecouncil,andarrangementsweremadeforthecollectionoftherevenuesfromthesuppressedmonasteriesandreligioushouses。AroyalcommissionwasissuedtotheDeputy,theLordChancellor,andtheBishopofMeathtograntfacultiesanddispensationsinasampleamannerastheArchbishopofCanterbury。Fromthetermsofthiscommissionitisclearthattheroyaladvisersweredeterminedtoderivesomefinancialprofitfromtheroyalsupremacy。Thefeefordispensationsforsolemnisingmarriagewithouttheproclamationofthebannswasfixedat6s。8d。
about£34s。,formarriagewithintheprohibitedtimesat10s。,formarriagewithintheprohibitedtimesandwithoutbannsat13s。4d。,andformarriagestobecelebratedwithouttheparishchurchofthecontractingpartiesat5s。[71]Similarly,anorderwassentthattheplateandornamentsofSt。Patrick\'sCathedralshouldbedispatchedbysometrustworthymessengertoBristol,theretobedeliveredtothetreasurerofthemint。Thiscommandmustnothavebeencarriedoutcompletely,becausesevenmonthslaterJan。1548theDeanofSt。
Patrick\'swasrequestedtodeliveroverfortheuseofthemintthe\"onethousandouncesofplateofcrossesandsuchlikethings\"thatremainedinhishands。[72]
FromtheverybeginningofEdward\'sreigntheProtectorsethimselftooverthrowtheCatholicChurchinIrelandbysuppressingtheMassandenforcingtheLutheranorrathertheCalvinistteachingregardingTransubstantiationandtheRealPresenceofChristintheEucharist。
The/Injunctions/ofEdwardVI。andthe/Homilies/ofCranmerweredispatchedfortheguidanceoftheArchbishopofDublin,andofthosewho,likehim,weresupposedtofavourreligiousinnovations。InlikemannertheEnglishCommunionservice1548andtheFirstBookofCommonPrayer1549weremadeobligatoryinthosedistrictswheretheEnglishlanguagewasspokenorunderstood。AsinEngland,thegreatsubjectofcontroversyinIrelandduringtheearlyyearsofEdward\'sreignwastheBlessedEucharist。AScotchpreacherhadbeensentintoIrelandduringtheyear1548topreparethewayfortheabolitionoftheMassbyattackingtheRealPresenceofChristintheSacramentoftheAltar。TheArchbishopofDublin,whohadbeennotedpreviouslyforhisradicaltendencies,objectedtosuchdoctrines,andcomplaintswereforwardedagainsthimtothecouncil。Hewaschargedwithhavingleasedorotherwisedisposedofthegreaterportionofthepropertyofhisdiocesetohischildrenandfavourites,withhavingfailedtosetforthhisMajesty\'s/Injunctions/and/Homilies/,withhavingcalumniatedtheDeputyandheldsecretcommunicationswiththeEarlofDesmondandotherIrishprinces,andwithhavingneglectedtopreachasinglesermonbetweenNovember1547andSeptember1548,whenhetookoccasiontoinveighagainsttheScotchpreacherwhocondemned\"theabuseoftheBishopofRome\'smassesandceremonies。\"[73]AboutthesametimetheDeputyfeltobligedtoreprovetheTreasurerofChrist\'sChurchforhavingrefusedtoallowtheEnglishCommunionServicetobefollowedinthatchurch,andtowarnhimofthepunishmentinstoreforhimifhepersistedinhisobstinacy。
ButifBrowneweresomewhatbackwardinadaptinghimselftothenewtheories,hisrival,StaplesofMeath,whohadpridedhimselfhithertoonhisconservativetendencies,hastenedtothereliefofthegovernment。HewenttoDublintosupporttheScotchpreacherinhisattackontheMassandtheBlessedEucharist,butifwearetobelievehisownstoryhisstayinDublinwashardlylessagreeablethanwasthewelcomethatawaitedhimonhisreturntoMeath。Hisfriendsassuredhimthatthecountrywasupinarmsagainsthim。Alady,whosechildhehadbaptisedandnamedafterhimself,soughttochangethenameofherbaby,forshe\"wouldnothavehimbearthenameofaheretic。\"AgentlemanwouldnotpermithischildtobeconfirmedbyonewhohaddeniedtheSacramentoftheAltar。ManypeoplewhoheardthatthebishopwasgoingtopreachatNavanthefollowingSundaydeclaredtheirintentionofabsentingthemselveslesttheyshouldlearnheresy。Aclergymanofhisownpromotioncametohimintears,andhavingaskedpermissiontospeakhismindfreely,informedhimthathewasdetestedbythepeoplesincehehadtakenthesideofthehereticsandpreachedagainsttheEucharistandSaints,thatthecursespouredoutuponhimweremorenumerousthanthehairsofhishead,andthathewoulddowelltotakeheedashislifewasindanger。[74]
SirEdwardBellinghamsucceededSt。LegerasDeputy,andarrivedinMay1548。DuringtheearlymonthsofhistermofofficehewasbusilyengagedagainsttheO\'ConnorsofOffaly,theO\'Carrolls,andothers,whothreatenedthePaleoncemore。Hiseffortswerecrownedwithconsiderablesuccess,andduringtheyear1549hefoundhimselfinapositiontopushforwardwiththereligiouscampaign。FrominquiriesmadehelearnedthatinallMunster,Thomond,Connaught,andUlsterthemonasteriesandotherreligiousestablishmentsremained,andthattheyfollowedstilltheoldreligiouspractices。[75]HewrotetothesecretaryoftheProtectoraskinghimtoinformhismasterofthelackofgoodshepherdsinIreland\"toilluminatetheheartsoftheflockofChristwithHismosttrueandinfallibleword,\"takingcareatthesametimetorecommendtheProtectortoappointtheclergymenwhohadbeenbroughtoverfromEnglandtovacantbishoprics,sothatthepublicfundsmightberelievedbythewithdrawaloftheirpensions。
ThemayorandcorporationofKilkennywereorderedtoseethatthepriestsofthecityshouldassembletomeettheDeputyandmembersofthecouncil。Theypromisedthatalltheclergyshouldbepresentwithoutfail,but,asshallbeseen,theinstructionsofSirEdwardBellinghamandhiscolleaguesproducedbutlittleeffectevenintheverystrongholdoftheOrmonds1549。WalterCowleywassentonacommissionintothedioceseofCashelto\"abolishidolatry,papistry,theMassSacramentandthelike,\"buthecomplainedthatthearchbishop,insteadofbeingpresenttoassisthim,tarriedinDublinalthoughhehadbeenwarnedthathispresencewasrequired。[76]Thetruthisthat,thoughthearchbishop,asoneoftheButlers,waswillingtogotogreatlengthsinupholdingthepolicyofEdwardVI。,hehadnointentionoftakingpartinacampaignagainsttheMassortheBlessedEucharist。[77]ThelatterwrittenbythisprelateFeb。
1548,inwhichhepraisedhighlytheconductofWalterCowley,whoplayedsuchaprominentpartinthesuppressionofthemonasteriesandtheseizureofecclesiasticalproperty,isoftenquotedasaproofthathewasstronglyinfavouroftheReformation,butsuchastatementcouldbemadeonlybyonewhohasfailedtounderstandthedifferencebetweenOrmondismandProtestantism,andtherelationsofbothCowleyandthearchbishoptotheformer。
BellinghamwasrecalledtoEnglandin1549,andsoonafterhisdeparturenewdisturbancesbrokeoutinIreland。DesmondandO\'Brienwereregardedasunreliable;aunionbetweenthetwogreatrivalfamiliesoftheOrmondsandtheDesmondswasnotimprobable,andtomakemattersworse,newsarrivedinDublinthatRobertWauchope,thepapalArchbishopofArmagh,hadarrivedintheNorthtobringaboutaleaguebetweenO\'Donnell,O\'Neill,theScotch,andtheFrench1550。
Dowdall,whohadbeenintroducedintoArmaghbyroyalauthority,reportedthepresenceofhisrivalinInnishowen,andO\'NeillandManusO\'Donnellpledgedthemselvestoresisttheinvaders。ThecouncilhastenedtothankthenorthernchieftainsfortheirrefusaltoholdcorrespondencewiththeFrenchemissaries,whohadaccompaniedWauchope,andwarnedthemthattheFrenchintendedtoreducetheIrishtoastateofslavery,andthattheFrenchnobilityweresosavageandferociousthatitwouldbemuchbettertoliveundertheTurkishyokethanundertheruleofFrance。[78]
InJuly1550St。LegerwassentoncemoreasDeputytoIreland。Hewasinstructed\"tosetforthGod\'sserviceaccordingtoourtheking\'s
ordinancesinEnglish,inallplaceswheretheinhabitants,oraconvenientnumberofthem,understandthattongue;wheretheinhabitantsdidnotunderstandit,theEnglishistobetranslatedtrulyintotheIrishtongue,tillsuchtimeasthepeoplemightbebroughttounderstandEnglish。\"ButasusualthefinancialsideoftheReformationwasnotforgotten。TheDeputywascommandedtogiveorderthatnosaleoralienationbemadeofanychurchgoods,bells,orchantryandfreechapellandswithouttheroyalassent,andthatinventoriesweretobemadeineveryparishofsuchgoods,ornaments,jewels,andbells,ofchantryorfreechapellands,andofallotherlandsgiventoanychurch,\"lestsomelewdpersonsmightembezzlethesame。\"[79]OnhisarrivalinDublinSt。Legerfoundaffairsinaveryunsatisfactorycondition。\"Ineversawtheland,\"hewrote,\"sofaroutofgoodorder,forintheforts[there]areasmanyharlotsassoldiers,and[therewasduring]thesethreeyearsnokindofdivineservice,neithercommunion,noryetotherservice,havingbutonesermonmadeinthatspace,whichtheBishopofMeathmade,whohadsolittlereverenceatthattime,ashehadnogreathastesincetopreachthere。\"[80]RumourswereoncemoreafloatthattheFrenchandScotchwereabouttocreateadiversioninIreland。AlargeFrenchfleetwaspartiallywreckedofftheIrishcoast,andsomeoftheGeraldineagentsinParisboastedopenlythattheIrishprincesweredeterminedto\"eitherstandordieforthemaintenanceofreligionandforthecontinuanceofGod\'sserviceinsuchsortastheyhadreceiveditfromtheirfathers。\"[81]
WhileSt。Legerwasnotslowintakingmeasurestoresistaforeigninvasion,hedidnotneglecttheinstructionshehadreceivedaboutintroducingtheBookofCommonPrayerinplaceoftheMass。HeprocuredseveralcopiesoftheEnglishserviceandsentthemtodifferentpartsofthecountry,butinsteadofhavingittranslatedintoIrishhehaditrenderedintoLatinfortheuseofthosedistrictswhichdidnotunderstandEnglish,inthehopepossiblythathemighttherebydeceivethepeoplebymakingthembelievethatitwasstilltheMasstowhichtheyhadbeenaccustomed。Apparently,however,thenewliturgymetwithastubbornresistance。InLimerick,althoughthecityauthoritieswerereportedtobefavourable,theBishop,JohnQuinn,refusedtogivehisconsenttotheproposedchange,andthroughoutthecountrygenerallytheDeputywasforcedtoconfessthatitwashardtoplantthenewreligioninmen\'sminds。Herequestedthatanexpressroyalcommandshouldbeaddressedtothepeoplegenerallytoacceptthechange,andthataspecialcommissionshouldbegiventohimselftoenforcetheliturgy。[82]
TheformalorderfortheintroductionoftheEnglishservicewasforwardedtoSt。LegerinFebruary1551,andwaspromulgatedinthebeginningofMarch。BishopQuinnofLimerickwasforcedtoresignthetemporalitiesofhisSeetomakewayforWilliamCasey,whowasexpectedtobemorecompliant。AnumberofbishopsandclergyweresummonedtomeetinconferenceinDublintoconsiderthechange。AtthisconferencethereformingpartymetwiththestrongestoppositionfromthePrimateofArmagh。AlthoughGeorgeDowdallhadacceptedtheprimatialSeefromthehandsofthekingandhadtriedtouniteloyaltytoRomeandtoHenryVIII。,hehadnointentionofsupportinganhereticalmovementhavingforitsobjecttheabolitionoftheMass。
FromtheverybeginningoftheProtector\'srulehehadadoptedanattitudeofhostilitytotheproposedchanges,asisevidentfromthefriendlyletterofwarningaddressedtohimbytheLordDeputyBellingham。[83]ThePrimatedefendedsteadfastlythejurisdictionoftheBishopofRome,andrefusedtoadmitthatthekinghadanyauthoritytointroducesuchsweepingreformsbyvirtueofhisoffice。
FindingthathiswordsfailedtoproduceanyeffectontheDeputyhelefttheconference,togetherwithhissuffragans,exceptStaplesofMeath,andrepairedtohisowndiocesetoencouragethepeopleandclergytostandfirm。St。LegerthenhandedtheroyalcommissiontoBrowne,whodeclaredthathesubmittedtotheking\"asJesusChristdidtoCaesar,inallthingsjustandlawful,makingnoquestionwhyorwherefore,asweownhimourtrueandlawfulking。\"[84]
ThoughSt。Legerpretendedtobeastrongsupporterofthenewreligion,yet,accordingtoArchbishopBrowne,hecontentedhimselfwiththeformalpromulgationoftheroyalorders。HehimselfonhisarrivalinIrelandassistedpubliclyatMassinChrist\'sChurch,\"tothecomfortofhistoomanylikePapists,andtothediscouragementoftheprofessorsofGod\'sword。\"HeallowedthecelebrationofMass,holywater,Candlemascandles,andsuchliketocontinueinthedioceseofthePrimateandelsewherewithoutprotestorpunishment。Heseemed,even,totakethesideofthePrimateatthecouncilboard,andsentamessagetotheEarlofTyrone\"tofollowthecounsellandadviceofthatgoodfather,sagesenatorandgodlybishop,mylordPrimateineverything。\"HewentsofarastopresenttheArchbishopofDublinwithanumberofbookswrittenindefenceoftheMassandTransubstantiation,andwhenthearchbishopventuredtoremonstratewithhimonhiswantofzealforGod\'swordtheonlyreplyhereceivedwas,\"Goto,goto,yourmattersofreligionwillmarall。\"[85]St。
Leger\'smainobjectwasthepacificationofthecountryandtheextensionofEnglishpower,bothofwhich,hewellknew,wouldbeendangeredbyanyactivecampaignagainsttheMass。
St。Legerwasrecalled,andSirJamesCrofts,whohadbeensentonaspecialcommissiontoIrelandafewmonthsearlier,wasappointedDeputyinhisplaceApril1551。HisinstructionsinregardtotheBookofCommonPrayerandtheinventoryoftheconfiscatedchurchplatewerecouchedintermssimilartothosegiventohispredecessor。[86]AnxiousfromthebeginningtoconciliatePrimateDowdall,heforwardedtohimarespectfulletterJune1551callinghisattentiontotherespectpaidbyChristHimselfandSt。Petertotheimperialauthority,offeringhisservicesasmediatorbetweenthePrimateandhisopponents,BrowneandStaples,andwarninghimofthelikelihoodofmuchmoreseriouschanges,whichhetheDeputypledgedhimselfifpossibletoresist。[87]TothiscommunicationthePrimatesentanimmediatereply,inwhichheofferedtomeethisopponentsinconference,thoughhecouldholdoutnohopeofagreement,astheir\"judgments,opinions,andconsciencesweredifferent。\"[88]
TheconferencetookplaceatSt。Mary\'sAbbeyinthepresenceoftheDeputy。TheArchbishopofDublin,StaplesofMeath,andThomasLancaster,whohadbeenintrudedintotheSeeofKildarebyroyalauthority,attendedtodefendthenewteachingagainstthePrimate。
ThesubjectsdiscussedweretheMassandtheBlessedVirgin。StaplestooktheleadingpartonthesideoftheReformers,and,asDowdallhadanticipated,noagreementcouldbearrivedat。ThePrimateappealedtothetermsoftheoathofloyaltytothePopetakenbybothhimselfandhisopponentsattheirconsecration,butStapleshadnodifficultyinproclaimingthatherefusedtoconsiderhimselfboundbythisoath。Themeetingbrokeupwithoutanyresult。[89]Dowdall,havingforwardedadeclarationtotheLordChancellorthathecouldneverbebishopwheretheHolyMasswasabolished,fledfromIreland。
BrownewroteimmediatelytotheEarlofWarwickbeseechinghimtoconferonDublinalltheprimatialrightsenjoyedhithertobyArmagh,whiletheDeputysoughtforinstructionsaboutthevacantSeeofArmaghNov。1551。[90]Dowdallwasdeprivedofhisdiocese,andthePrimacywastransferredtoDublin1551。
StillCroftswasforcedtoadmitthattheReformationwasmakingbutlittleprogressinIreland。Thebishopsandclergygavehimnosupport,andinspiteofallhecoulddo\"theoldceremonies\"werecontinued。HebesoughthisfriendsinEnglandtosendoverreliablemenfromEnglandtofillthevacantbishopricsandtosetforththe\"king\'sproceeding,\"oriftheycouldnotdothat,tosendsomelearnedmentoremainwithhimbywhosecounselhemightbetterdirect\"theblindandobstinatebishops。\"TheSeesofArmagh,Cashel,andOssorywerethenvacant,and,astheDeputypointedout,itwasofvitalimportancetotheReformersthatreliablepriestsshouldbeappointed。CranmernominatedfourclericsfortheSeeofArmagh,fromwhomthekingselectedRichardTurner,avicarinKent。Buthedeclinedthehonour,preferringtoruntheriskofbeinghangedbyrebelsthantogotoArmagh,whereheshouldbeobligedto\"preachtothewallsandthestalls,forthepeopleunderstandnoEnglish。\"
Cranmertriedtore-assurehimbyremindinghim\"thatifhewilttakethepainstolearntheIrishtonguewhichwithdiligencehemaydoinayearortwothenbothhisdoctrineshallbemoreacceptablenotonlyuntohisdiocese,butalsothroughoutallIreland。\"
NotwithstandingthisgloriousprospectTurnerremainedobdurateinhisrefusal,andatlastArmaghwasofferedtoandacceptedbyoneHughGoodacre。[91]Cashelwas,apparently,consideredstillmorehopeless,andasnobodyuponwhomthegovernmentcouldrelywaswillingtotaketherisk,theSeewasleftvacantduringtheremainderofEdwardVI。\'sreign。ThoughCroftswasstronglyinfavourofthenewreligion,hehadthetemeritytosuggestthatThomasLeverous,thetutorandformerprotectoroftheyoungheirofKildare,shouldbeappointedtoCashelorOssory。\"Forlearning,discretion,andgoodliving,\"hewrote,\"heisthemeekestmaninthisrealm,andbestabletopreachbothintheEnglishandtheIrishtongue。Iheardhimpreachsuchasermonasinmysimpleopinion,Iheardnotinmanyyears。\"[92]
ButasLeverouswaswellknowntobenotonlyaGeraldinebutalsoastrongPapisttheDeputy\'srecommendationwassetatnought,andtheSeeofOssorywasconferredonJohnBale。Thelatterwasanex-Carmelitefriar,who,accordingtohimself,waswonfromtheignoranceandblindnessofpapistrybyatemporallord,althoughaccordingtoothers,\"hiswifeDorothyhadasgreatahandinthathappyworkastheLord。\"Onaccountofhisviolentandseditioussermonshewasthrownintoprison,fromwhichhewasreleasedbyCromwell,withwhomhegainedgreatfavourbyhisscurrilousandabusiveplaysdirectedagainstthedoctrinesandpracticesoftheChurch。Onthefallofhispatronin1540BalefounditnecessarytoescapewithhiswifeandchildrentoGermany,whencehereturnedtoEnglandafterthedeathofHenryVIII。Hewasamanofconsiderableability,\"withlittleregardfortruthifhecouldbutincreasetheenemiesofPopery,\"andsocoarseandvulgarinhislanguageandideasthathisworkshavebeenjustlydescribedbyonewhoseProtestantismcannotbequestionedasa\"dunghill。\"[93]
TheconsecrationofGoodacreandBalewasfixedforFebruary1553,andtheconsecratingprelatesweretobeBrowne,Lancaster,whohadbeenintrudedbythekingintoKildare,andEugeneMagennisofDown。Attheconsecrationceremonyitselfapeculiardifficultyarose。AlthoughtheFirstBookofCommonPrayerhadbeenlegalisedinIrelandbyroyalproclamation,theOrdinalandtheSecondBookofCommonPrayerhadneverbeenenforcedbysimilarwarrant,andtheirusewasneitherobligatorynorlawful。Baledemanded,however,thattheyshouldbefollowed。WhenthedeanofChrist\'sChurchinsistedontheuseoftheRomanOrdinal,hewasdenouncedbythebishop-electas\"anass-headeddeanandablockheadwhocaredonlyforhisbelly,\"andwhenBrowneventuredtosuggestthattheceremonyshouldbedelayeduntiladecisioncouldbesought,hewasattackedas\"anapicure,\"whoseonlyobjectwas\"totakeuptheproxiesofanybishoprictohisowngluttonoususe。\"TheviolenceofBalecarriedallbeforeiteventotheconcessionofcommonbreadfortheCommunionService。[94]
GoodacrewasbyEnglishlawtheArchbishopofArmagh,butthethreateningattitudeofShaneO\'Neillpreventedhimfromeverhavingthepleasureofseeinghisowncathedral。Balewas,however,morefortunate。HemadehiswaytoKilkennywhereheproceededtodestroytheimagesandpicturesinSt。Canice\'s,andtorailagainsttheMassandtheBlessedEucharist,butonlytofindthathisownchapter,theclergy,andthevastmajorityofthepeoplewereunitedintheiroppositiontohim——
[1]/StatePapersHen。VIII。/,ii。,9。
[2]/StatePapers/,ii。,197。
[3]Gasquet,/HenryVIII。andtheEnglishMonasteries/,p。51。
[4]/StatePapers/,ii。,465,539;iii。,1,5,8,29,35,65。Bagwell,i。,379sqq。
[5]ThisaccountoftheParliament,1536-7,istakenfromBrewer\'s/LettersandPapers,ForeignandDomestic,HenryVIII。/,vols。x。,xi。,xii。Thereferencescanbefoundundertherespectivedates。
[6]FortheaccountoftheproceedingsofthisCommission,cf。
/LettersandPapersofHenryVIII。/xii。,pt。ii。,pp。294-316。
[7]/LettersandPapersHen。VIII。/,xii。,pt。i。,no。1447;pt。ii。,159。
[8]/StatePapers/,ii。,465-6。
[9]/LetterofBrownetoCromwell/,Id。,539-41。
[10]/LettersandPapersHenryVIII。/,xiii。,pt。i。,no。961。
[11]/StatePapers/,ii。,570。
[12]Id。,iii。,6。
[13]Id。,ii。,516。/Letters/,etc。,xii。,pt。1,159,658,769;
xiii。,pt。1,1420。
[14]/StatePapers/,iii。,1-3。
[15]/StatePapers/,iii。,8,29,31。
[16]/LettersandPapers/,xii。,pt。2,no。64。
[17]/StatePapers/,ii。,560。
[18]GreytoHenryVIII。,26July,1538。Id。iii。,57sqq。
[19]BrownetoCromwell,iii。,122-4。
[20]Id。,63-65。
[21]/StatePapers/,ii。,570。
[22]/StatePapers/,iii。,110。
[23]Id。,iii。,18。
[24]/StatePapers/,iii。,122。
[25]/StatePapers/,iii。,35。
[26]Id。,iii。,95。
[27]Id。,iii。,103。
[28]/AnnalsofF。M。/,1537;/ofLochCé/,1538correctdate,1538-9。
[29]/Hib。Dominiciana/,pp。726-52。
[30]/LettersandPapersHen。VIII。/,vol。xi。,no。1416。
[31]/IrishStatutes/,i。,127-32。
[32]/StatePapers/,ii。,438。
[33]/CalendarofPatentRolls,Ireland/,i。,55。
[34]/CalendarofPatentRolls,Ireland/,i。,54-55。
[35]/StatePapers/,iii。,130。
[36]/LettersandPapers/,xiv。,1stpt。,no。1006。
[37]/StatePapers/,iii。,142-3。
[38]/LettersandPapers/,xiv。,pt。1,no。1021。
[39]Forsurrenders,cf。/CalendarofPatentRolls/,i。,53-9。
/CalendarofStatePapers,Ireland1509-73/,56-58。
[40]Forthepensionsgrantedtothereligious,cf。/FiantsofHenryVIII。/App。SeventhReportPublicRec。Office。/CalendarofPatentRolls,Ireland/,i。,59sqq。
[41]Forthesegrants,cf。/FiantsofHenryVIII。SeventhReportofD。
KeeperofP。R。,Ireland。/
[42]/LettersandPapers/,xvi。,no。775。
[43]Underyear1537。Thedateisnotcorrect。
[44]Mant,/ChurchHistoryofIreland/,1846,ii。,713。
[45]/StatePapers/,iii。,56-7,136-7,147,175-6。
[46]/StatePapers/,ii。,514-5。
[47]Cf。/StatePapers/,vol。iii。/LettersandPapersHenryVIII。/,xiii-xvii。/CalendarofDocuments,Ireland1537-41/。/CalendarofCarewManuscripts/,vol。i。
[48]/StatePapers/,iii。,332-3。
[49]Cf。/StatePapers/,ii。,480;iii。,30,278。
[50]/LettersandPapers/,xvi。,no。935。ThereisacleardiscrepancybetweenthisdocumentandtheofficialreportofSt。Leger/StatePapers/,iii。,305inregardtotheecclesiasticspresent。
[51]/StatePapers/,iii。,123。
[52]Id。,431。
[53]Gogarty,/TheDawnoftheReformationinIreland//Ir。Th。
Quart。/,viii。。
[54]Cf。/StatePapers/,vol。iii。,427sqq。,/LettersandPapersHen。
VIII。/,xvi。p。225,/FiantsofHen。VIII。/157,387。
[55]/StatePapers/,iii。,429。
[56]/LettersandPapers/,xii。,pt。1,no。1467。
[57]Id。,xvi。,p。225。
[58]Cf。/FiantsofHenryVIII。/,nos。104,108,147。
[59]Cf。Id。,nos。187,262-3,378。
[60]Fortheseappointments,cf。/CalendarofPatentRolls/,i。,1536-46。
[61]Bridgett,/BlundersandForgeries/,1890,244。
[62]/StatePapers/,iii。,305。
[63]Cf。Stuart-Coleman,/HistoricalMemoirsofArmagh/,xi。,Moran,/Spicileg。Ossiriense/,i。,13-32。
[64]/StatePapers/,iii。,429。
[65]Stuart-Coleman,xi。Gogarty,/DocumentsConcerningPrimateDowdall/,/Archiv。Hib。/,vols。i。,ii。。
[66]Hogan,/HiberniaIgnatiana/,1880,6-8。
[67]/StatePapers/,iii。,562。Itisveryprobable,bothfrominternalandexternalevidence,thatthisletterisaforgery。
[68]/StatePapers/,iii。,555-66。
[69]Id。,580sqq。
[70]/CarewPapers1515-74/,245-6。
[71]/CalendarofPatentandCloseRolls/,i。,150。
[72]Shirley,/OriginalLettersandPapers/,3,31。
[73]Shirley,/OriginalLettersandPapers/,18,20。
[74]Id。,22-25。
[75]Shirley,/OriginalLettersandPapers/,22。
[76]Id。,32-5。
[77]Shirley,/OriginalLettersandPapers/,35。Renehan-McCarthy,/CollectionsonIrishChurchHistory/,vol。i。,239。
[78]/CalendarofStatePapers/Ireland,i。,107。
[79]/CalendarofCarewPapers/,i。,226-7。
[80]Shirley,op。cit。,41-2。
[81]Bagwell,/IrelandundertheTudors/,i。,352。
[82]Shirley,op。cit。,47-8。
[83]/Archiv。Hib。/,i。,260。
[84]Cf。/Archiv。Hib。/,i。,264-76。Cox,/Hib。Anglicana/,288-90。
ThereportoftheConferenceisevidentlygarbled。ItisdueprobablytothepenofRobertWare。
[85]Shirley,op。cit。,54-60。
[86]/CalendarCarewPapers/,i。,231。
[87]/Archiv。Heb。/,ii。,245。
[88]Id。,246。
[89]/Archiv。Hib。/,ii。,246-55。Averypartialaccountofthedisputation。
[90]Shirley,op。cit。,58-61。
[91]Bagwell,op。cit。,i。,369。
[92]Shirley,op。cit。,62。
[93]Ware\'s/Works/,i。,416-17。
[94]Fromhisownaccountin/VocacyonofJohnBale/,etc。/Harl。
Miscell。/,vi。。
CHAPTERIX
THECHURCHINIRELANDDURINGTHEREIGNSOFMARYANDELIZABETH
1553-1603
Seebibliography,ii。Hamilton,/CalendarofStatePapers,Ireland/,4vols。/CalendarofStatePapers/Carew,6vols。,1867-73。/ArchiviumHibernicus/,vols。i。,ii。,iii。1912-14。
Moran,/Spicil。Ossor。Id。/,Editionsofthe/CommentariusdeRegnoHiberniae/Lombard,1863,andofthe/Analecta/Rothe,1884。O\'Sullevan,/HistoriaeCatholicaeIberniaeCompendium/ed。
Kelly,1850。Bruodin,/PassioMartyrum/,1666。Molanus,/Ideatogataeconstantiae……cuiadjungilurtripartitamartyrumBritannicaruminsularumepitome/,1629。Shirley,op。cit。Brady,/StatePapersConcerningtheIrishChurchintheTimeofQueenElizabeth/,1866。Cotton,/FastiEcclesiaeHiberniae/,6vols。,1851-78。Hogan,/TheDescriptionofIreland,etc。,in1598/,1878。
O\'Daly-Meehan,/TheRise,Increase,andExileoftheGeraldines,EarlsofDesmond/,etc。,1878。Spenser,/ViewoftheStateofIreland/,1633。Lynch-Kelly,/CambrensisEversus/,etc。,3vols。,1848。/LiberMunerumpublicorumHiberniae/,1152-1824,2vols。,1848。Gilbert,/HistoryoftheCityofDublin/,3vols。,1859。
Id。,/FacsimilesofNationalMSS。ofIreland/,4vols。,1875。
Lodge,/DesiderataCuriosaHibernica/,etc。,2vols。,1772。
/PacataHibernia/,1633。
ThedeathofEdwardVI。6July1553andtheaccessionofQueenMaryputanendforthetimebeingtothecampaignagainsttheCatholicChurch。ThepartyoftheEarlofNorthumberlandmadeafeebleattemptinIreland,astheyhaddoneinEngland,tosecurethesuccessionforLadyJaneGrey,buttheireffortsproducednoeffect。Onthe20thJulytheprivycouncilinEnglandsentaformalorderfortheproclamationofQueenMary,togetherwithanannouncementthatshehadbeenproclaimedalreadyinLondonasQueenofEngland,France,andIreland,DefenderoftheFaith,andonearthSupremeHeadoftheChurchesofEnglandandIreland。[1]ThiscommandwasobeyedpromptlyinDublinandinthechiefcitiesinIreland。InKilkennyLordMountgarretandSirRichardHowthorderedthataMassofthanksgivingshouldbecelebrated,andwhenBalerefusedtoallowsuchidolatrytheyinformedtheclergythattheywerenolongerboundtoobeythebishop。MarywasproclaimedinKilkenny20Aug。,andonthefollowingdaytheclergyandpeopletookpossessionoftheCathedralofSt。Canice。Crowdsofthecitizensproceededtoattackthepalaceofthebishop,sothatitwasonlywiththegreatestdifficultythattheMayorofKilkennywasabletosavehislifebysendinghimtoDublinatnightundertheprotectionofanarmedescort。FromDublinBalesucceededinmakinghisescapetoHolland,fromwhichheproceededtoBasle,wherehespenthistimeinlibellingtheCatholicreligionandtheIrishclergyandpeople。
ShortlyafterthecoronationofQueenMarySirThomasSt。LegerwassentovertoIrelandasDeputywithinstructionsthathewastotakestepsimmediatelyforthecompleterestorationoftheCatholicreligion。PrimateDowdallwasrecalledfromexile,andrestoredtohisSeeofArmagh;theprimacy,whichhadbeentakenfromArmaghinthepreviousreignowingtothehostileattitudeadoptedbyDowdalltowardsthereligiousinnovations,wasrestored,andvariousgrantsweremadetohimtocompensatehimforthelosseshehadsustained。[2]
InApril1554aroyalcommissionwasissuedtoDowdallandWilliamWalsh,formerlyprioroftheCistercianAbbeyofBective,toremovetheclergywhohadmarriedfromtheirbenefices。InvirtueofthiscommissionBrowneofDublin,StaplesofMeath,ThomasLancasterofKildare,andTravers,whohadbeenintrudedintotheSeeofLeighlin,wereremoved。BaleofOssoryhadfledalready,andCaseyofLimerickalsosucceededinmakinghisescape。O\'CervallenofClogher,whohadbeendeposedbythePope,wasdrivenfromhisdiocese,andaninquirywassetonfootatLambethPalacebeforeCardinalPoletodeterminewhowasthelawfulArchbishopofTuam。ChristopherBodkin,BishopofKilmacduagh,hadbeenappointedtoTuambythekingin1536,whiletwoyearslaterArthurO\'Frigil,acanonofRaphoe,receivedthesameSeebypapalprovision。AttheinquirybeforeCardinalPoleitwasprovedthatthoughBodkinhadcontractedtheguiltofschismhehaddonesomorefromfearthanfromconviction,thathehadbeenalwaysasternopponentofheresy,andthatinthecityanddioceseofTuamthenewopinionshadmadenoprogress。Apparently,asaresultoftheinquiry,anagreementwasarrangedwherebyBodkinwasallowedtoretainpossessionofTuam。[3]TheotherbishopswereallowedtoretaintheirSeeswithoutobjection,aclearproofthattheirorthodoxywasunquestionable。
Inplaceofthosewhohadbeendeposed,HughCurwen,anEnglishman,wasappointedtoDublin,WilliamWalsh,oneoftheroyalcommissioners,toMeath,ThomasLeverous,theformertutoroftheyoungGarrettFitzgerald,toKildare,ThomasO\'Fihil,anAugustinianHermit,toLeighlin,andJohnO\'Tonory,aCanonRegularofSt。
Augustine,toOssory,whileJohnQuinnofLimerick,whohadbeenforcedtoresigntheSeeofLimerickduringthereignofEdwardVI。,wasapparentlyrestored。TheselectionofCurwentofillthearchiepiscopalSeeofDublinwasparticularlyunfortunate。Howeverlearnedhemighthavebeen,orhoweverdistinguishedhisancestry,hewasnotremarkableforthefixityofhisreligiousprinciples。DuringthereignofHenryVIII。hehadacquirednotorietybyhispublicdefenceoftheroyaldivorce,aswellasbyhisattacksonpapalsupremacy,though,likeHenry,hewasastrongupholderoftheRealPresenceofChristintheEucharist,andofTransubstantiation。LikeatruecourtierhechangedhisopinionsimmediatelyontheaccessionofQueenMary,andhewasrewardedbybeingpromotedtoDublinandappointedLordChancellorofIreland1555。TheCathedralChapterofSt。Patrick\'sthathadbeensuppressedwasrestoredto\"itspristinestate;\"newdignitariesandcanonswereappointed,andmuchofthepossessionsthathadbeenseizedwerereturned。[4]
TheMassandCatholicceremonieswererestoredwithoutanyoppositioninthosechurchesinDublinandLeinsterintowhichtheEnglishservicehadbeenintroduced。AprovincialsynodwasheldinDublinbythenewarchbishop1556towipeoutalltracesofheresyandschism。
PrimateDowdallhadconvokedpreviouslyasynodoftheNorthernProvincesatDroghedatoundertakeasimilarwork。Inthisassemblyitwaslaiddownthatallpriestswhohadattemptedtomarryduringthetroublesofthepreviousreignshouldbedeprivedoftheirbeneficesandsuspended;thattheclergywhohadadoptedthehereticalritesinthereligiouscelebrationsandintheadministrationoftheSacramentsshouldbeadmittedtopardonincasetheyrepentedoftheircrimesandcouldprovethattheirfallwasduetofearratherthanconviction;
thatalltheancientritesandceremoniesoftheChurchinregardtocrosses,images,candles,thuribles,canonicalhours,Mass,theadministrationofthesacraments,fastdays,holidays,holywater,andblessedbreadshouldberestored;thattheBookofCommonPrayer,etc。,shouldbeburned,andthatthePrimateandthebishopsoftheprovinceshouldappointinquisitorsineachdiocese,towhomtheclergyshoulddenouncethosewhorefusedtofollowtheCatholicworshipandceremonies。Arrangementswerealsomadetoputanendtoabusesinconnexionwiththebestowalofbeneficesonlaymenandchildren,withtheappointmentofclericstoparishesanddignitiesbytheHolySeeontheuntrustworthyrecommendationoflocalnoblemen,withtheexcessivefeeschargedbysomeoftheclergy,withtheneglectofthosewhosedutyitwastocontributetotherepairsoftheparishchurches,andwiththefailureofsomeprieststowearabecomingclericaldress。[5]
InJuly1556LordFitzwalterwassenttoIrelandasDeputy。\"OursaidDeputyandCouncil,\"accordingtotheroyalinstructions,\"shallbytheirowngoodexampleandallothergoodmeanstothempossible,advancethehonourofAlmightyGod,thetrueCatholicfaithandreligion,nowbyGod\'sgreatgoodnessandspecialgracerecoveredinourrealmsofEnglandandIreland,andnamelytheyshallsetforththehonouranddignityofthePope\'sHolinessandApostolicSeeofRome,andfromtimetotimebereadywithouraidandsecularforce,attherequestofallspiritualministersandordinariesthere,topunishandrepressallhereticsandLollards,andtheirdamnablesects,opinions,anderrors。\"Theywerecommanded,too,toassistthecommissionersandofficialswhomCardinalPoleaspapallegateintendedtosendshortlytomakeavisitationoftheclergyandpeopleofIreland。[6]OnthearrivalofthenewDeputyinDublinhewentinstatetoChrist\'sChurchtoassistatMass,afterthecelebrationofwhichhereceivedtheswordofstatefromhispredecessorbeforethealtar,andtooktheoathinpresenceofthearchbishop。\"Thatdone,thetrumpetssoundedanddrumsbeat,andthentheLordDeputykneeleddownbeforethealtaruntilthe/TeDeum/wasended。\"[7]
ThenewDeputywasinstructedtotakemeasuresforsummoningameetingofParliamentinthefollowingyeartogivelegalsanctiontotherestorationoftheCatholicreligion,andtodealwiththeecclesiasticalpropertythathadbeenseized。PossiblyinthehopeofsecuringsomeoftheseagainfortheChurchacommissionwasissuedtotheArchbishopofDublin,theBishopofKildare,andanumberofclericsandlaymen\"toinquireconcerningthechalices,crosses,ornaments,bells,andotherpropertybelongingtotheparishchurchesorchapelsinthecountyofthecityandcountyofDublinandofsalesmadethereoftoanypersonorpersons,theprice,inwhosehandstheythenremained,andalsoinwhosepossessionwerethehouses,lands,andtenements,belongingtothosechurches。\"SimilarcommissionswereissuedtoothersforthecountiesofDroghedaandLouth,Kildare,Carlow,Wexford,Kilkenny,Meath,Westmeath,Waterford,Tipperary,Limerick,Cork,and\"forthecountyofConnaught。\"[8]