ences; viewed the records; and heard all the allegations on either side 1o. favour of He then declared, "that it appeared from divers His decision in evidences, that from all antiquity the See of Armagh Armagh. had been acknowledged the prime see of the whole kingdom; and the archbishop thereof reputed, not a provincial primate, like the other three metropolitans, but a national; that is, the sole Primate of Ireland, properly so called. That in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Archbishop of Dublin did constantly subscribe after the Archbishop of Armagh. That in the statute for free-schools, in the 12th of Elizabeth, the Archbishop of Armagh is nominated before the Archbishop of Dublin, as he is in that of the 27th of Elizabeth, where all the archbishops and bishops were ranked in their order, as appeared by the Parliament Rolls. For which reasons he decreed, that the Archbishop of Armagh, and his successors for ever, should have precedency, and be ranked before the Archbishop of Dublin and his successors, as well in parliament and convocation house, as in all other meetings; and in all commissions, where they should be mentioned; and in all places, as well within the diocese or province of Dublin, as elsewhere; until upon better proof, on the part of the Archbishop of Dublin, it should be adjudged otherwise." And thus was finally concluded this dispute, which had from time to time perplexed and disturbed both Church and State for many hundred years. It may be here incidentally noticed, that the same dispute having been perpetuated between the two titular archbishops, as late as the year 1670, the question was referred to the See of Rome; when the 10 WARE'S Bishops, p. 79. a Prestant g to his pre Appung Berrie ani abish that of a Pos queen to Primate Dow que of these cammas in succession, Armony Hampton maintained the rights of his we to precedence, both in parliament and in convocation. Among the MSS. of Trinity College, Dublin, are extant in his own hand-writing all the proofs which he drew on this occasion, and which he thus concludes: "I am weary, and a little ashamed, of spending so much time in matters merely formal. The Archbishop of Dublin hath compelled me. He challengeth that which is not due to him. I defend the long continued right of my see. My defence is novomary: his challenges and encroachments are suportluous, and more than needed." The death of Primate Hampton caused at that Come the suspension of the dispute. But, on its wumption against Ussher, King Charles the First, the ath of July, 1626, directed let Fond Down Fist Falkland wwwwwxo date and ences; viewed the records; and heard all the allegations on either side". favour of He then declared, "that it appeared from divers His decision in evidences, that from all antiquity the See of Armagh Armagh. had been acknowledged the prime see of the whole kingdom; and the archbishop thereof reputed, not a provincial primate, like the other three metropolitans, but a national; that is, the sole Primate of Ireland, properly so called. That in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Archbishop of Dublin did constantly subscribe after the Archbishop of Armagh. That in the statute for free-schools, in the 12th of Elizabeth, the Archbishop of Armagh is nominated before the Archbishop of Dublin, as he is in that of the 27th of Elizabeth, where all the archbishops and bishops were ranked in their order, as appeared by the Parliament Rolls. For which reasons he decreed, that the Archbishop of Armagh, and his successors for ever, should have precedency, and be ranked before the Archbishop of Dublin and his successors, as well in parliament and convocation house, as in all other meetings; and in all commissions, where they should be mentioned; and in all places, as well within the diocese or province of elsewhere; until upon better proof, on he Archbishop of Dublin, it should be And thus was finally conhich had from time to time d both Church and State for cidentally noticed, that the een perpetuated between the as late as the year 1670, the o the See of Rome; when the e's Bishops, p. 79. matter was solemnly considered, in a full meeting of Cardinals; and the congregation de propaganda fide, with the approbation of the Pope, decided, that "Armagh was the chief see and metropolis of the whole island"." Parliament and Acts for improving the temporal estates of the Church. SECTION V. Acts of Parliament for improving the Temporal Estates of the Church. Convocation. Petition to the King in behalf of the inferior Clergy. Proposed adoption of the ThirtyNine Articles of the Church of England. Difficulty of carrying it, surmounted by the Lord Deputy. Conduct of Primate Ussher. Proceedings in Convocation. Canon for manifestation of Agreement between the two Churches. Effect on the former Articles of the Irish Church. Subscription to them abandoned. Proposal to adopt the English Canons. Composition of a new Book committed to Bishop Bramhall. Wherein differing from English Book. Omissions. Additions. Publication of the Canons. Congratulatory Letter of Archbishop Laud. ON the 14th of July, 1635, a Parliament met, and also a Convocation of the Clergy. In this Parliament several acts were passed for improving the temporal estates of the Church, more, it has been said, than in any other parliament. The first was for the maintenance and execution of pious uses; obliging all archbishops and bishops to perform every such trust, according to the true intent of the deeds, in that behalf made or to be made. The next was a statute for confirmation of leases, made by the Lord Primate and other prelates of Ulster, of such endowments as had been granted by King James to the sees of Armagh, Derry, Clogher, Raphoe, and Kilmore; giving them power, at any 11 STUART'S Armagh, p. 365. time within five years, to make leases for sixty years of such lands. In another session of this parliament, a third and very important act was passed for the preservation of the inheritance, rights, and profits of lands belonging to the Church and persons ecclesiastical. This limited them to term and rent; prescribed what they might set, for what and how long; and was the great security of succession. Also in the same adjourned session another act was passed for the benefit of the inferior clergy; enabling restitution of impropriations, and tythes, and other rights ecclesiastical to the clergy, with a restraint from alienating the same, and directions for the presentations to churches'. Meanwhile business was transacting in the con- Convocation. vocation, affecting both the temporalties and spiritualties of the Church. prelates to the With respect to the former, the archbishops and Petition of the bishops, in behalf of the inferior clergy, agreed on king. the following humble petition to the king. It set forth, inferior clergy. "That in the whole Christian world, the rural clergy Distress of the have not been reduced to such extreme contempt and beggary as in this your highness's kingdom, by the means of the frequent appropriations, commendams, and violent intrusions into their undoubted rights in times of confusion; having their churches ruined, their habitations left desolate, their tythes detained, their glebes concealed, and, by inevitable consequence, an invincible necessity of a general nonresidence imposed upon them, whereby the ordinary subject has been left wholly destitute of all possible means to learn true piety to God, loyalty to their prince, civility Irish Stat., 10 Charles I., sess. iii., chap. 1 & 5; and 10 & 11 Charles I., chap. 2 & 3. |