576 pointments. Instances of Episcopal Appointments [Book V. A.D. 1172. indolence on their part; for while he allows that the mode of they strictly fulfilled their monastic duties, he making epis- accuses them of neglecting at the same time copal aptheir pastoral obligations. Be that as it may, it is certain that the custom of appointing members of the monastic institutions to the episcopal office, must have added greatly to the weight and influence of those communities in this country. Among the early instances of such appointments noticed by Dr. Lanigan, we subjoin a few for illustration of this point. Christian, bishop of Lismore in 1151, had been abbot of the Cistertian house of Mellifont. The first (Cistertian) abbot of Boyle was made bishop of Clonfert, and died in 1171. The bishop of Derry, who died in 1173, had been an Augustin canon. An Augustin abbot became archbishop of Armagh in 1174. An abbot of Mellifont became bishop of Emly in 1177. The Cistertian abbot of Baltinglass succeeded to the see of Ferns in 1185. The bishop of Elphin, who died in 1195, had been a Cistertian abbot of Boyle. An Augustin canon succeeded to Clogher in the same year. The Cistertian abbot of Monasterevan became bishop of Leighlin in 1197. A Cistertian monk was raised to the archbishopric of Tuam in 1201. An English Augustin canon to the bishopric of Ossory in 1202, and a Cis CH. I.] from the newly introduced Monastic Orders. 577 tertian monk to the archbishopric of Cashel in A.D. 1172. 1206, &c. &c.* between the Irish. Many instances there are on record which Dissensions prove that between the native Irish and the new new monks monks introduced among them, there existed and the much strife and bitterness, which led to many disgraceful quarrels. To these we shall have to refer again further on. Suffice it here to say, that supported as the latter class of persons was by the power of England, and the patronage of the pope, they could be little troubled by the feeble opposition of their Irish antagonists. the names The narrow limits of our space prevent us Origin of from giving the reader, in this work, any par- Benedictine, ticular account of the different orders of monks Cistertian, whose names occur in this chapter.† Only we Augustin may mention that the Benedictines were so called from their founder, the Abbot Benedict. The Cistertians, a reformed order of these, were so called from Cisteaux or Citeaux, a village of Burgundy in France, where their sect had been first established. And the Augustin canons took their name from the famous St. Augustin of Hippo, who flourished in A.D. 397, although their order did not come into existence until A.D. 1061. They were first introduced into * These instances may all easily be found in Lanigan, vol. iv. † An account of them may be found in Churton's Early English Church, pp. 319-343. 578 State of Religion, &c. in Ireland [Book V. A. D. 1172, Ireland, it would seem, by Primate Malachy, in A.D. 1137, when he became bishop of Down.* land during riod of our to CHAP. II. BRIEF GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF RELIGION AND State of reli- In the preceding chapter an attempt has been which em what less The period here especially referred to is that braces some during which Ireland was subject to the combined influences of England and Rome, a period consisting of about 365 years, reckoning from than 400 years. * Lanigan iv. 105, 106. CH. II.] under Anglo-Romish influence. 579 to A.D. 1537. A.D. 1172, in which the Synod of Cashel met, A. D. 1172 (and introduced, for the first time, canons for the Church of Ireland, sanctioned by the joint authority of the king of England and the pope of Rome,) to A.D. 1537, when the pope's supremacy was, with the sanction of the English government, abolished by the Irish parliament. The whole time during which the Church of Ireland was subjected to Roman influence was somewhat longer; and its commencement may be reckoned from various periods, according as we connect it with the giving of the palls, the appointment of the first legate, or other earlier intrusive proceedings. Its extinction may also be referred to various dates; as for instance, to the period above noted, when the supremacy of the pope was abolished; or to 1551, when a reformed ritual was introduced into the Irish Church; or to 1560, when the bench of Irish bishops more fully ratified by their assent the work of reformation under Queen Elizabeth. of Romish Ireland easily traceable. The student of Irish history has no difficulty, The origin we may easily see, in tracing the origin and and progress subsequent development of Romish power in influence in the country. The several steps of its progress are plainly set forth in our annals. The first persons who were in any way instrumental to drawing the Church of Ireland under the dominion of Rome were the Danes. Their second 580 to A.D. 1537. Of the first beginning and early progress [BOOK V. A. D. 1172 bishop in Dublin (A.D. 1074) was the first bishop resident in Ireland (so far as history informs us) who acknowledged subjection in spiritual matters to any but an Irish primate.* The first public assertion of the pope's supremacy, as extending to Ireland, was that made by Pope Gregory VII. in his letter to the Irish, written about A.D. 1084.† The first Romish legate for Ireland was Gillebert, who was bishop of the Danes of Limerick in 1106.‡ The same Gillebert was the first who made an effort to have the old Irish service books abolished, and the Roman office or mass book introduced universally instead.§ The first Irish council at which a pope's legate presided, was that of Rathbreasil, in 1118.|| The first episcopal appointment in Ireland in which any influence of the pope, however faint, can be traced as existing, appears to have been one made by St. Malachy as legate, in the nomination of a bishop for Cork about A.D. 1140.¶ The first saints of the "Island of Saints" who were elevated to the dignity of that name by a papal sanction, were Malachy and Laurence who died in 1148 and 1180, respectively. The first palls bestowed on any prelates of the Irish Church were sent over here in 1151.** The first wearers of them were the following arch p. 421, sup. † p. 427, sup. pp. 435, 450, sup. § p. 442, sup. p. 451, sup. ¶p. 477, sup. ** 482, sup. |