The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 7 · Section 7
The Irish Bishops.
JOHN CVMIN Arch-bishop of Dublin.IN the yeare of Grace 1197. *Hoveden Annal. pars poster…or p. 773.Hamo de Wa…is, with the other Gardians of Ireland, and Earle Iohns men, offered some injury to Iohn Cumin, Arch-bishop of Dublin, whereupon the Archbishop willing rather to be banished, then to suffer such great injuries to himselfe and his Church to goe unpunished, excommunicated the foresayd presumers and passed a sentence of interdict against his Arch-bishopricke and departed, commanding the Crosses and images of the Cathed…all Church to bee taken downe and hedged about with thornes, that so those malefactors might be terrified, and recalled from their will of preying upon the goods of the Church. But they still persisting in their maligne purpose, there happened a miracle not hea…d of in our times. There was a Crucifix in the Cathedrall Church of Dublin, wherein the image of Christ was more exactly carved, than in all others in Ireland or elsewhere, which they had in most veneration.Anno. 1313. This Image being layd prostrate on the ground and hedged about with thornes, on the sixt weeke fell into a trance, and his face (I doubt if true by the Arch-bishops or Priests Legerdemaine) appeared overspread with a vehement rednesse, as if it had beene in a fiery furnace, and a great sweate issued out of its face, and little drops fell down from its eyes, as if it wept, and on the sixth houre of that day blood and water issued out of its left side, and on the right side of its brest, which the ministers of that Church diligently gathering up, sent an Ambassie after their Arch-bishop Iohn C…min commanding him to certifie the Pope the event hereof, under the Testimony and Seales of venerable men. Yet the other Bishops of Ireland albeit they had often read
En tua res agitur paries cum proximus arde…,
notwithstanding passed by the dammages and injuries which the servants of Iohn Earle of Morton had done to their fellow Bishop, with closed eyes, and become like rammes not having hornes, they retired from the face of the pursuer. But Iohn Bishop of Dublin, being in Exile came to Richard the first, King of England, and Iohn Earle of Morton his brother, but could have no justice, nor restitution of the things taken from him. It seemes his cause therefore was not good. After which hee continued long in England, leaving both his Chur…h and Diocesse still under interdiction, and the others under the sentence of Excommunication. O what impiety and malice is there in Prelates who for a meere supposed injury from one or two, will interdict an whole Kingdome or Dioces…e, and wil rob God of his publicke service (as they account it) and me…s soules of all spirituall food and exercises of Religion, to wrecke their malice upon an enemie or two? But this hath beene their common Atheisticall practise: God and men m…st suffer in the highest degree, rather than they lose their wills or the smallest punctilio of their usurped Antichristian honour.
Anno. 1212. this Arch-bishop dying, Henry Condies succeeded him,HENRY SCORCH VILLEIN. who was called *The Annals of Ireland, in Mr. Cambden, p. 154.155.Scorch Villeyn, by occasion of a certaine treacherous act of his; for one day calling his Tenants before him to answere by what tenure they held of him, those Tenants shewing him their Deedes and Charters, he commanded their Deedes and Charters to be burned (of purpose to disinherit them of their rights) for which most unjust act, the Freeholders ever called him Henry Scorch-Villein: he was Justice of Ireland, and built Dublin Castle, bu… of his preaching to build men up in grace, I finde not one syllable.
Anno 1313. *The Annals of Ireland. p. 168.Fryer Roland Ioce Primate of Armach arrived at the Isle of Houth the morrow after the Annunciation of the ble…sed Virgin Mary, Iohn Leekes.and rising in the night by stealth, tooke up his Crosier, and advanced it as …arre as the Priory of G…ace Dieu; whom there encountred certaine of the Arch bishop of Dublins servants (Iohn Leekes was then Arch-bishop of this See) debasing and putting downe that Crosier; and the Primate himselfe o… Armach they chased with disgrace and confusion out of Lem…ter.
Anno. 1324. Alexander de Bickner, Arch-bishop of Dublin being in England, joyned with th… Arch-bishops and Bishops of England in Alexander de Bickner Arch-bishop of Dublin.rescuing Adam de Arlton Bishop of Hereford even when he was openly arraigned for high Treason against King Edward the second at the Parliament barre: the highest affront that ever I read offered to publicke Justice; the story whereof is formerly recited at large, p. 54.55. & Anno… 1326. he *W…lsingham Hi…t. Angl. p. 98.99. Holins. p. 335. Ant. Eccles. Brit. p. 227.sided with the Queene and other Prelates against King Edward the second his Soveraigne, to his deposall and destruction, in which he was very active. Anno. 1331. on the *Walsingh. Hist. Angl. p. 101.vigill of Saint Marke the Evangelist, the O-Tothely came to Tavelagh, and robbed this Alexander Arch-bishop of Dublin, *The Annals of Ireland. fol. 184.tooke away three hundred sheepe, and slew Bichard White, and other men of his company, the retinue of the Lord Archbishop of Dublin, were by a traine or ambush slaine by David O-Tothill in Culiagh.
David O-Hirraghey.Anno. 1337. whiles Iohn Charlton was Lord Justice and held a Parliament at Dublin, *Annals of Ireland. fol 187.Doctor David O-Hirraghey Arch-bishop of Armach being called to the Parliament made his provision for house-keeping in the Monastery of Saint Mary neere unto Dublin; but because he would have had his Crosier carried before him, he was impeached by Alexander Arch-bishop of Dublin and his Clerkes, and permit him they would not.
Archbi…hop of Ca…sels.Anno. 1379. The *Walsingh. Hist. Ang. p. 224.255.Arch-bishop of Cassel… in Ireland, came from Rome, sent thither for certaine urgent causes, bringing backe with him a great power of binding and loosing from the Pope; when he came to London, preaching to the People, he denounced the King of Franc…, and as many as adhered to the Anti-Pope, to be involved in the sentence of Excommunication, affirming that even now it would be an acceptable time to England, as well in the cause of the King of England as of the Pope, to invade the Kingdome of France, especially since it was probable, that a King Excommunicated would not have any confidence of resisting. Thus this Messenger of Peace proves a publicke Herald to proclaime warre. The King of France on the other side, makes Proclamation through all his Kingdome, that none should obey Pope Vrban, and if any did …ee should be beheaded, and all his goods should be confiscated to the Kings use: after which the confederates of Pope Clement and Vrban, meeting in the field, above 5000. were slaine on Clements part in one battle, with Bernard Decksale their Generall, and many more afterwards.
Anno. 1420. there was a Parliament, held at Dublin, at which time *An…als of Ireland p. 200. in Mr. Cambden. Chron. of Ireland in Holinshed p. 77…Richard O-Hedian Richard O-bedian.Bishop of Cassell was accused by Iohn Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford, upon 30. Articles layd to his charge. After all that, he charged him that he made very much of the Irish, and loved none of the English; that he bestowed no benefice upon any English man, and gave order likewise unto other Bishops that they should not conferre the least living tha… was …pon them. That he counterfeited the King of Englands seale, and the Kings Letters Patents, that he went about to make himselfe king of Mounster; also that he tooke a Ring away from the Image of Saint Patricke, which the Earle of Desmund had offered, and bestowed it upon an Harlot of his, beside many other enormities, which he exhibited in writing: And the Lords and Commons were much troubled betweene these twaine. Now in the same Parliament there was debate betweene Adam Pay Bishop of Clon, and another Prelate, …or that he sayd Adam went about to unite the others Church unto his, but the other would not; and so they were …ent and referred unto the Court of Rome, and this Parliament lasted 18. dayes.
Anno… 1532. Iohn Allen Arch-bishop of Dublin, Iohn Allen…Chaplaine to Cardinal Wolsie and his Creature, put the Earle of *Stain…urst his continuation of the Chronicles of Ireland p. 88.92.Kildare to great trouble wrongfully, to take away his life, and that out of affection to his Lord and Master the Cardinall. This Arch-bishop, Anno. 22. H. 8… was specially and by name excepted out of the Kings generall pardon of the Premunire and other offences, granted to all the Clergie that yeare, as appeares by the Act it sel…e. 22. H. 8. c. 15. No doubt it was because the King tooke speciall notice of some great injuries and mis-demeanors by him committed, which he meant to question him for. After this, meaning to sayle into England, Anno. 1534. and that secretly lurking… as Tartajus, Thomas Fitzgerald and others apprehended and haled him out of his Bed, brought him naked in his …hirt, bare footed and bare headed to their Captaine, whom when the Archbishop espied, incontinently hee kneeled, and with a pitifull countenance and lamentable voyce he besought him for the love of God, not to remember former injuries, but to weigh his present calamity, and what malice so ever he bare his person, yet to respect his calling and vocation, in that his enemy was a Christian, and he among Christians an Arch-bishop. As he spake thus, bequeathing his soule to God, his body to his enemies merc…, Thomas Stibon without compassion, and withall inflamed wi…h desire of revenge, turned his horse aside, saying in Irish, Away with the Churle, meaning the Arch-bishop should be detained as Prisoner… But the Caitifes present, mis…onstring his words, murthered the Arch-bishop without further delay, brained and hackt him in gobbets, his blood withall crying to God for revenge; the place ever since hath beene hedged and imbarred on every side, ungrowne and unfrequented for the de…estation of the fact; rough and …igorous Justice, deadly hatred of the Giraldins for his Masters Wolsies sake, and his owne, as he had much crossed and bridled them in their governments, promoted their accusations, and forged a Letter against them to their prejudice and danger as was likely, was the cause of his ruine.
Anno. 1567. Marice a runne gate Priest going to Rome was consecrated Arch-bishop of Cashell by the Pope:*Stainhurst, Ibid p. 118. arriving in Ireland, he made challenge to the same See; which being denyed to him by the Arch-bishop placed there by the Queene, the sayd supposed Bishop sudainely with an Irish scaine, wounded the Bishop, and put him in danger of his life.
*S…ain…urst, Ibid. p. 166.Anno… 1579. The Lord chiefe Justice of Ireland upon suspition of Treason, committed the Chauncellor of Liviricke to Prison, for which he was indicted and found guilty; and the Bishop likewise upon the same su…pition was committed Prisoner to his owne hou…e.
Anno. 1600. *Mr. Cambden in his description of Ireland. p. 135.The Rebells of Mounster by their Agents, a certaine Spaniard elect Arch-bishop of Dublin, the Bishop of Clonfort, the Bishop of Killaloe, and Archer a Jesuite, had obtained at leng…h with praying, intreating and earnest beseeching at the King of Spaines hands, that succour should be sent into Mounster to the Rebels, under the conduct of Don Iohn D' Aquila, upon assured hope conceived, that all Mounster would shortly revolt, and the titular Earle of Desmond, and Floren… Mac-Carti joyne great aydes unto them; but Sir George Carew the Lord President of Mounster, had providently before intercepted them, and sent them over into England. Whereupon D' Aquila arrived at Kinsale in Mounster with two thousand Spaniards, old Souldiers, and certaine Irish Fugitives, the last day of October, and straight wayes having published a writing wherein he gloriously stiled himselfe with this Title (Master Generall and Captaine of the Catholike King in the warre of God, for holding and keeping the faith in Ireland) endeavoureth to make the world beleeve, that Queene Elizabeth by the definitive sentences of the Pope, was deprived of her Kingdomes, and her Subjects absolved and freed from their Oath of Allegiance, and that he and his men were come to deliver them out of the Devills clawes and the English tyranny. And verily with th… goodly pretence, he drew a number of lewd and wicked persons to band and side with him through these Prelates meanes.
I have now given a short account of some of …he Irish Prelates disloyall and seditious Actions in …ormer ages; which I shall close up with the accusations and proceedings against some of them within the limits of this last yeare.
On the fourth of March last the whole house of Commons in Ireland, sent up these Articles of High Treason against Iohn Bramham Bishop of Derry and others, to the Upper House of Parliament there, which I finde Printed with Captaine Aud…ey Mermin his speech, who presented them, at the time of their transmission.