and to satisfy the covetousness and ambition of a. D. 1615. importunate candidates for the episcopal office, than from any anxiety on their own part to be over hasty in attempting to construct a new hierarchy for Ireland. Accordingly it can hardly be stated with correctness that at the close of Elizabeth's reign there were as yet two Churches in Ireland ;* for, although there were numberless recusants, that is, Romish dissenters from the established religion, with some titular prelates and even primates of their party, still they had not as yet adopted means for organizing their body in a regular and complete ecclesiastical form, so as to supply all Ireland with a new episcopacy.

Romish titu

with Ireland

sion of King

After the death of the titular primate Magau- Only one ran, which occurred as already recorded, in A.D. lar bishop 1594, no papal primate was appointed in Ireland connected for the space of nearly fifteen years, until at on the acceslength Peter Lombard was nominated about A.D. James, 1603 probably, for the exact date is not, as far A.D. 1603, as I can find, on record.† And although mention is made in our annals of several titular prelates connected with different Irish sees, (as Down, Derry, Killaloe, &c.,) who flourished in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, yet it does not appear that any of them were surviving in the reign of King James, except Cornelius Ryan, or • See Appendix, No. 75, inf. † See Appendix Nos. 26, 62, 65, 66, inf.

and he resi

dent in Spain.

added about A.D. 1608,

and two

soon after.

A. D. 1615. O'Melrian, titular bishop of Killaloe, who was living abroad; and who appears, according to this statement, to have been the only Romish bishop having the title of an Irish see, and that of course by usurpation, in the first years of the reign of Two others King James I. Peter Lombard was added, as titular primate, about the year 1608, if not earlier; and David Carney, as titular Archbishop of Cashel, about the same time, or soon after. And to these again were added, without much more very delay, two others, namely, Owen M'Mahon for Dublin, and Florence Conroy for Tuam; their appointment having taken place at Rome, shortly after the arrival there of the exiled Hugh O'Neill, and by his influence; and the principal immediate object of their elevation to such an office being apparently, that they might in a more dignified character present themselves to foreign courts, as the agents of "the Prince of Ulster," soliciting pecuniary and military aid in his behalf. Of these five titulars here mentioned, David Carney, of Cashel, was the only one residing in Ireland in 1613. But Owen McMahon came afterwards in like manner, to occupy himself in the labours connected with his usurped office.*

Only one resident in Ireland in 1613.

Measures

Such was the state of the titular hierarchy of adopted by Ireland at the period of our history at present • Appendix, ib. and No. 68. Also O'Sullivan, Hist. Cath, ut inf.

the recu

new hierar

under consideration. Measures were however A. D. 1614. now to be adopted for setting about the improve- sants for orment of this establishment in earnest, as a work ganizing a which could no longer be safely delayed. For chy, &c. the experience of ten years had shewn that it A.D. 1614. were idle to wait for King James to restore the Roman religion in Ireland, however fondly some at first might have hoped for such a result of his accession. For the purpose therefore of making a commencement of the business of regular organisation of their community, and as a model, it would seem, for the other provinces, a conference or synod of the papal clergy of the province Account of of Armagh was convened at Drogheda for seve- the titular ral days, and terminated there in the month of Drogheda. February, 1614. At this meeting were present sundry Romish ecclesiastics, calling themselves by the style of "right reverend lords vicarsgeneral, officials, and rural deans," with certain select professors of theology, papal canonists, and members of the regular orders of Jesuits, Franciscans, and Cistertians. A minute of their proceedings, comprised in one of the Ussher MSS. of the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, conveys to us a good deal of instructive intelligence concerning the matters transacted by this assembly; from which, as throwing some light on the germination of the modern Irish

MS. E. 3, 8, in the MS. Library, T.C.D.

synod of

L

Concerning

rity and ob

A. D. 1614. branch of the Church of Rome, it will be useful to make rather copious extracts in this place. The minute commences with a preface "To the autho- the Reader," giving an account of the authority jects of this whereby these ecclesiastics took upon themselves meeting, to deliberate in such a manner on Church affairs, the occasion of their coming together, &c. "In the absence," say they, "of the archbishop of Armagh, primate of the whole realm, who has heretofore been detained at Rome by public business, it appeared to be our concern, especially as all the suffragan sees of that province were vacant, to provide some proper course, such as we might find to be most in accordance with the sacred canons, and with the principles of natural right and reason, for the government of the Catholic clergy and people in order to their everlasting salvation. This we were the more bound to do, inasmuch as the said most illustrious primate had committed to us the pleniheld under tude of his jurisdiction; on the strength of which we issued notice to all vicars-general, with certain rural deans, and other of the more eminent persons of the clergy of this province," to assemble together for the purpose of deliberating on the present state of ecclesiastical affairs. And having held with their assistance "a kind of substitute for a provincial synod, we have ordained," say they, "sundry rules and constitu

which is

the sanction

of Peter

Lombard, pretended

primate of all Ireland.

tions, by which the Catholic clergy, and the A. D. 1614. people committed to their charge, may be assisted and guided; saving the rights of the better judgment and authority of the apostolic see, to whose correction we willingly record our submission." After such a preface, commences the "Minute of this Provincial Conference," divided into four capitular distinctions or chapters, and an appendix. The headings of the four chapters are first given, and are as follows:"The First Capital Distinction relates to the The titular subject of the maintaining of an hierarchy and usurp spirisystem of jurisdiction for this province, to avoid tual jurisconfusion, during the absence of its prelate, and while the suffragan sees are without bishops.

:

ecclesiastics

diction;

with the mi

"The Second Capital Distinction relates to interfere the rites of religion, and the due and uniform nistry and administration of the sacraments.

sacraments;

to be reform

"The Third Capital Distinction relates to the take on them reformation of manners, and the abolition of cer- ers of mantain abuses, whether of recent introduction or of ners, &c.; older standing.

regulate

"The Fourth Capital Distinction relates to and also to the appointment and observance of days of fast- fasts, festi ing and of abstinence, and of holidays; to which vals, &c. is subjoined an ancient constitution relative to tithes and church furniture.

"The appendix to the conference is concern