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186

REIGN OF 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 adherents to the Papacy, acting under the influence of the admonitions and example of the two successive primates, Cromer and Dowdall.

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Slow progress of Reformation in Ireland. Divided sentiments of the Clergy. Exercise of Ecclesiastical patronage. Order for introducing the English Liturgy. Viceroy convenes the Bishops and Clergy. Order resisted by Primate Dowdall: 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 Sixth appear to have produced little effect in the religious improvement of the Church of Ireland. In fact we are at a loss for satisfactory documentary evidence on the subject, and must be content with what few particulars we can glean for our information. Thus in the LOFTUS MS., Marsh's Library, it is stated, that, "in the year 1549, the mass was 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 consistent with the statement.

Reformation not

much advanced

in the first yea's

of King Edward.

questionable

statement con

cerning divine

service.

No parliaments at this time in Ireland.

Attachment of

the bishops and

No parliament was called during this period; and no efforts are recorded to have been made, either by the English or the Irish government, notwithstanding the zeal and diligence with which the Reformation was promoted in England, and the effectual means employed there in its behalf. That England, the more powerful kingdom, and the seat of the imperial government, should take the lead in framing an ecclesiastical system, which should be the future rule of the two churches, was indeed natural and reasonable; and it was probably deemed the safest, the surest, and the wisest course, to make good the cause of the Reformation by the requisite provisions in that country, where it met with a ready compliance and support from the popular sentiment, before fresh experiments were tried in Ireland, where they were less likely to be acceptable either to the clergy or people.

The majority, indeed, of the bishops, as well as clergy to Popery. of the inferior clergy, were decidedly attached to the Popish creed and practice, under the patronage of Primate Dowdall. To wean them from their prepossessions, and to use them as instruments for propagating the Reformed faith among their fellowcountrymen, would have been a most 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 from abroad; and, although there may have been among them some men of learning and intellectual improvement, they may be thought to have been generally ignorant and illiterate; whilst of the fond superstition, to which some of them were devoted, a particular example' is related in a Bishop

1 WARE'S Bishops, p. 291,

of Derry, who died and was buried at the very period of which we are now speaking, in the habit of a Francisian 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 distant dates, by Sir James Ware; who, or rather his continuator Harris, remarks it to have been "according to the humour of those times, and to have been thought to be of much consequence *."

1550.

Limited powers of the Protestant

With respect to the less numerous class of prelates, who are known to have been favourable to bishops. the Reformation, from them exertions in its favour were to be expected, and may be presumed to have been made. But even as to the first and principal of these, the Archbishop of Dublin, although convincing evidence, in the course of the preceding reign, has been adduced, of his disposition to avail himself of every practicable opportunity for disseminating 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 own sphere of ecclesiastical duty, his own diocese and province: whilst in the cases of the bishops of Meath, Kildare, and other suffragans, their sphere must have been still more reduced; so that, whatever may 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 sentiments of the kingdom, and great need existed for a supply of additional ministers anxious for the suppression of the Popish corruptions, and for the advancement of pure and undefiled religion.

In the meantime, however, the royal authority Exercise of was directed to this end in the exercise of ecclesias- patronage.

2 See above, p. 97.

ecclesiastical

Error of Cox corrected.

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 time 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 confirmed therein by the king; and Thomas Lancaster, a Protestant, was, on the 3rd day of September, made Bishop of Kildare"." But this appears to be incomplete as to the facts, and erroneous as to the inference.

For, in the first place, however Macgenis may 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 misdemeanours;" 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 example of a bishop about this time being appointed by a Papal provision. This is a more complete statement of facts. And thus we may perceive a proof of the progress of the Reformation, so far as relates to the maintenance and extension of the king's 4 WARE'S Bishops, p. 264.

8

History of Ireland, i. 288.

Rolls, 6 Edw. VI.

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