them. gences were a relaxation of so many days' penance Explanation of enjoined upon any person who should do such or such an act. This seems to be the true meaning of these indulgences;" on which it may be further remarked, that, "when a bishop took upon him to grant them, the confirmation of the archbishop of the province was necessary for giving them effect"." The manner in which this power was exercised, and the nature of the acts to which it was applied, will be better understood from the following exemplification. About the year 1220, Henry de Loundres, archbishop of Dublin, having founded in his diocese an hospital of the Holy Ghost, granted such indulgences to those who should visit and give alms or largesses to the said hospital, in these words, "Of the penance enjoined to them we relax thirty days;" words which set forth the meaning of the privilege to the effect already explained. The same archbishop granted thirteen days' indulgences to the abbey of Glastonbury, in England 20. In what manner, and for what acts granted; By Archbishop of Dublin, 1220; Waterford, 1227; About 1227, Walter, bishop of Waterford, By Bishop of granted twenty days' indulgences to the abbey of Glastonbury, as many to the church of the Blessed Virgin, ten days to the church of Basseleke, ten days to the chapel of Horty, thirteen days to the church of Torre, twenty days to the church of the Holy Trinity of Godenie, all belonging to the said abbey, and thirteen days to the reliques of it". Ardagh, 1233; About 1233, Jocelin O'Tormaig, bishop of Ar- By Bishop of dagh, granted to Glastonbury Abbey fifteen days' indulgences, and as many to that of St. Albans". Emly, In 1237, Christian, bishop of Emly, granted By Bishop of indulgences of twenty days to the promoters of the 19 WARE'S Bishops, p. 263. 20 Ib., p. 320. 22 lb., pp. 251, 252. 1237; By Bishop of Killaloe, 1253; By Bishop of 1257; By Bishop of 1262; By Archbishop of Cashel, 1268; By Bishop of 1280; By Bishop of 1289. building of St. Paul's Church, London. And in 1252, the like grant was given to St. Paul's, by Gilbert, successor of Christian, in the see of Emly. In 1255, Isaac, bishop of Killaloe, made a grant of eight days to the same building. In 1257, a similar grant of forty days' indulgence was given to the contributors to the building of St. Paul's, by William, of Port Royal, bishop of Connor 23. In or about 1262, Thomas Mac Ferall, bishop of Elphin, granted indulgences of fifty days to the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the Temple of London; and forty days more to those, who, out of a motive of devotion, should visit the tomb of Roger, in St. Paul's, in the same city". In 1268, David Mac Carwill, archbishop of Cashel, granted forty days' indulgence to St. Paul's, London; and in 1270, the same grant was made for the same purpose, by Thomas Liddell, bishop of Down 25. About 1280, Stephen of Fulburn, bishop of Waterford, granted the church of Glastonbury forty days to the abbey, ten days to those who should visit the reliques, twenty days to those who should visit the cross, ten days to those who should visit the sapphire, (a stone of some virtues there preserved,) twenty days to the church of Torre, twenty days to the hospital, and as many to the church of the Holy Trinity of Godenie, all belonging to the said abbey, amounting, on the whole, to one hundred and forty days". In 1289, Richard Cor, bishop of Lismore, granted forty days' indulgences to any person who should hear mass from any canon of Christ Church, Dublin; 23 WARE, pp. 494, 295, 591, 220. 24 Ib., p. 630. . 25 Ib., pp. 474, 197. 26 Ib., p. 553. or should say the Lord's Prayer, or an Ave-Mary for the benefactors of the said church; and Nicholas de Effingham, bishop of Cloyne, made the same grant. And in 1291, the same grant was made severally by Matthew O'Heothy, bishop of Ardagh, and William O'Duffy, bishop of Clonmacnoise". Down, 1414; of Armagh, 1417; In 1414, John Cely, bishop of Down, having By Bishop of erected and consecrated an altar in Christ Church, Dublin, to the honour of the Virgin Mary, granted forty days' indulgences to all the canons who should celebrate mass, and devoutly pray at the said altar. Between the years 1417 and 1439, John Swayn, By Archbishop archbishop of Armagh, made a grant of forty days' indulgences to any person who should give relief to Moyn Mackennery, a man who had been reduced to poverty; and a similar grant to any one who should contribute to the ransom of Nicholas Chamberlain, who had been taken prisoner by the Irish enemies ; and many of the like sort". In 1442, John Prene, archbishop of Armagh, being highly incensed against the dean and chapter of Raphoe, and having deprived them of their benefices, granted moreover forty days' indulgences to all who should fall upon their persons, and seize or dissipate their substance 3o. In 1443, on the petition of the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's, Dublin, John Mey, archbishop of Armagh, granted forty days' indulgences to all persons who should contribute to the providing a great bell for that cathedral, and to making some new windows and other repairs therein". 1442; 1413; of Dublin, 1453. In 1453, on the arrival of the melancholy news By Archbishop that Constantinople was taken by the Turks, and the Emperor Constantine Paleologus slain, Michael Tre 97 WARE, pp. 553, 576, 252, 171. 29 Ib., p. 198. 20 Ib., p. 274. 28 Ib., Theatrical representations of gury, archbishop of Dublin, proclaimed a fast to be strictly observed throughout his diocese for three days together, and granted indulgences of an hundred years to the observers of it; and he himself went before the clergy in procession to Christ Church, clothed in sackcloth and ashes". 13. Dramatick representations of scriptural events Scripture events, of the most serious and solemn kinds were made the subjects of publick exhibition, on the great festivals of the church, as means, it is to be presumed, of combining religious instruction with popular entertainment. and of legends, and mythological stories. bitions by the different trades of Dublin. Thus in the year 1506, the awful occurrences of our blessed Saviour's passion were set forth in a play in the Hoggin Green, since called College Green, near Dublin". And the like method was employed for impressing upon the publick mind the subjects of their superstitious legends. Thus at the same place, in 1523, the life of St. Laurence, one of the canonized objects of Irish veneration, was played for the edification or amusement of the admiring multitude. With subjects of these kinds were sometimes blended others derived from the heathen mythology. Thus in the year 1528, Arland Ussher being then mayor, and Francis Herbert, and John Squire, Christmas exhi- bailiffs, the Earl of Ossory, being lord deputy of Ireland, was invited every day in Christmas to a new play; wherein the tailors acted the part of Adam and Eve; the shoemakers represented the story of Crispin and Crispianus; the vintners acted Bacchus and his story; the carpenters that of Joseph and Mary; Vulcan, and what related to him, was acted by the smiths; and the comedy of Ceres, the god32 WARE, p. 341. 33 Loftus MS., Marsh's Library., dess of corn, by the bakers. Their stage was erected on Hoggin Green, now called College Green; and on it the Priors of St. John of Jerusalem, of the Blessed Trinity, and of All Hallows, caused two plays to be acted, the one representing the passion of our Saviour, and the other the several deaths which the apostles suffered". Corpus Christi A similar exhibition is recorded, as accompanying Exhibition on the procession of Corpus Christi day, on which the day. glovers were to represent Adam and Eve, with an angel bearing a sword before them; the corrisees, perhaps the curriers, were to represent Cain and Abel, with an altar and their offering; mariners and vintners, Noah and the persons in his ark, apparelled in the habits of carpenters and salmon-takers; the weavers represented Abraham and Isaac with their offering and altar; the smiths represented Pharaoh with his host; the skinners the camel with the children of Israel; the goldsmiths were to find the King of Cullen, (qu. the kings of Cologne, that is, the Eastern Magi?) the hoopers were to find the shepherds, with an angel singing Gloria in excelsis Deo; Corpus Christi guild was to find Christ in his passion, with the Maries and Angels; the tailors were to find Pilate with his fellowship, and his wife clothed accordingly; the barbers, Annas and Caiaphas; the fishers, the Apostles; the merchants, the Prophets; and the butchers, the tormentors". The same sort of entertainment appears to be intended by the Proctor's account, already referred to, in St. Patrick's cathedral in the year 1509; where an allowance is required of "three shillings and one penny paid to Thomas Mayowe, playing 34 ROBT. WARE, MS. quoted in WARBURTON'S Hist. of Dublin, i. 108. 25 Hist. of Dublin, i. 110. Proctor's account for entertain ments in St. Patrick's |