466 Abuses in the succession of Armagh. [BOOK IV. A. D. 1129. For they allowed no one to be promoted to the bishopric, unless such as were of their own tribe and family; nor was it for any short period this execrable succession had continued, as nearly fifteen generations had already passed away in this villainy. And so firmly had this wicked and adulterous generation established their unholy right, (or wrong rather, that deserved to be punished with any sort of death,) that although on some occasions clergymen of their blood were not to be found among them, yet bishops they never were without. In fine, there had been already before the time of Celsus, eight individuals who were married, and without orders, yet still men of education. Hence arose all that neglect of church discipline throughout the enstate of Ire- tire of Ireland which we have already mentioned; land in con- hence that relaxation of censures, and wasting and of the sequence. away of religion; hence too that wild savage spirit that had stolen into the place of Christian meekness, nay a sort of Paganism introduced under the Christian name. For (what was unheard of since the very origin of Christianity) with utter disregard of order or cause, bishops were changed at the will of the metropolitan, so that one bishopric was not content with a single bishop, but almost every church must have a bishop of its own; and no wonder, for how could CH. III.] St. Bernard's views of Ireland, how far just. the limbs be healthy when the head was thus diseased ?"* 467 A. D. 1129. Bernard's severe. Such was the state of things in Ireland in the twelfth century, as described by one of the most censure eminent and esteemed writers of the Church of perhaps too Rome. Bernard's description however seems to have been somewhat highly coloured, as if he were not a little prejudiced against our forefathers in consequence of that independence in ecclesiastical affairs which they so long maintained. His expressions are strong and violent so long as he deals in general terms, but when we come to particulars, those which he mentions as the principal evils of the Irish Church, are scarcely of sufficient enormity to account for the indignation he exhibits. Having spoken of the Christianity then existing in Ireland as being but a sort of paganism, he refers chiefly in proof of the charge to such things as irregularity in episcopal appointments, neglect of the confessional and penance, non-payment of tithes and fruits, and general disrespect for the sacraments, customs, and authority of the Church of Rome. * Dr. Lanigan asserts in a very decided manner, that the hereditary usurpers of the see of Armagh were careful to have lawful bishops as vicars, to perform clerical functions for them. But there seems to be no proof whatever of this. There were indeed coadjutors, called suffragan bishops of Armagh, even in the times of lawful and regularly ordained archbishops. Had there been any thing of more regular vicars, Bernard would probably have known and mentioned it. Vid. Lan. iii. 382, 428. iv. 48, 106. Vit. S. Mal. cap. 10. ment to the sisted by the usurping family. CHAP. IV. CONTINUATION OF THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ST. MALACHY, FROM A. D. 1129. ARCHBISHOP Celsus* reflecting on the scandaMalachy's lous manner in which the see of Armagh had appoint- been made family property for so long a time, primacy re- was of opinion that there could be no better remedy devised for this evil, than the appointment to the primacy of one so generally influential and beloved as Malachy. He therefore nominated him in the manner already mentioned. One of the old family however, named Maurice, seized on the bishopric, and held it for five years "with the aid of the secular power," during which period it seems that Malachy was at Ibrach in Munster, as already stated. Malachy's friends were however very anxious that he should undertake the office according to the decree of Celsus and two of them in particular were exLismore,and tremely urgent in endeavouring to persuade him Limerick, to this step, namely, "Malchus and Gillebert, of urge him to whom the former is the same venerable personage of Lismore, whom we have already men Malchus of Gillebert of assume the office. ; * The original Irish name is Kellach, i.e. Kelly, Latinized into Celsus. CH. IV.] Malachy's elevation to the Primacy. 469 tioned; the other the person who they say was A. D. 1129. the first to exercise the office of legate to the apostolic see in all Ireland." duced to A.D. 1132. Malachy's retiring disposition however made He is at him resist the importunities of his friends for length inthree years, till at length a meeting of the consent. bishops and princes having been summoned to consider the matter, they forced him with threats to accept the proposed dignity. Even after this however he did not attempt to enter Armagh during the remaining two years of Maurice's life, lest by doing so he should cause any bloodshed or death among those to whom he came to minister life; but in all the country parts of the province he diligently employed himself in the duties of his episcopal office. tempts to A.D. 1134: On the death of Maurice, another named Nial atNigellus, (or Nial) one of the old race, appointed usurp the by him as his heir, succeeded in the usurpation. primacy, "But the king and bishops and faithful of the land" assembled to introduce Malachy into Armagh. Opposition and conspiracies were used by the other party to frustrate this endeavour, but they were defeated; miraculously, according to Bernard: Nigellus in consequence was obliged to flee from the place, his party sadly lamenting these proceedings, and complaining that they were robbed of their inheritance. Malachy meanwhile with VOL. II. * Vit. Mal. cap. x. G 470 Malachy becomes Bishop of Down. [Book IV. A. D. 1134. persevering diligence attended to the administration of the affairs of his bishopric, not indeed without constant danger from secret plots; no one however daring openly to hurt him: but at but is obli- length Nigellus was obliged to submit, and live to resign his in quiet acquiescence with a state of things which he had endeavoured in vain to avert. ged at length claim. Malachy re A.D. 1137. Malachy when forced to, accept the archbitires to the shopric, had done so with an understanding that bishopric of Down. in case order and peace were restored to the Church, he should be allowed again to resign the high office entrusted to him; and the desirable object which he had looked forward to having been attained in the space of three years, he then thought of fulfilling his purpose; and "seeing that all things were now in peace, he began to think of peace for himself;" and accordingly "substituted in his own place, Gelamade pri- sius, a good man, and one worthy of such an honour, the clergy and people consenting to the appointment." He himself now retired again, in A.D. 1137, to the scene of his former labours; but not exactly to Connor; for this reason, that that diocese included two ancient episcopal sees, having had formerly two bishops; and Malachy thought it better to divide the two parishes, (so Gelasius mate. *Vit. Mal. cap. xiv. Here again it may be observed, that the idea of the necessity of any sanction from the pope to this kind of appointment never seems to have entered the peoples' minds in those days. |