When Dublin College was erected it was expected that it would greatly elevate the standard of education in Ireland. It did not produce all the good fruits anticipated, as from the first it was regarded by the Romanists with distrust. Various means were employed by their clergy to dissuade the sons of the nobility and gentry of their communion from accepting its tuition. Some of the children of their higher classes went abroad to be educated in seminaries conducted by the Jesuits, and returned home firmly attached to Popery, and deeply prejudiced against the British government. But it must be admitted that the Reformation contributed much to the cultivation of literature even within the pale of the Church of Rome. The intellect of Ireland now awoke from the slumber of ages, and exhibited abundant proofs of its versatility and vigour. In the controversy between the Jesuits and the Jansenists, Peter Lombard, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Florence Conry, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam,1 took a prominent part; and distinguished themselves by the subtlety and eloquence with which they advocated their respective views of grace, free will, and predestination.2 Philip O'Sullivan Beare now wrote his "Catholic History;"3 and showed how well a gifted son of the Emerald Isle could mingle fiction with facts, and weep over persecutions created by his own fancy. In this reign honest Geoffry Keating also flourished: and produced that "History of Ireland" which will long remain a memorial of his industry, credulity, and superstition. Though Dublin College was denounced by the Roman 1 He is said to have been a native of Connaught, and to have been born about 1560. See before, p. 502, note (3). 2 See Brenan, p. 511; and Moran's Memoir of Lombard, prefixed to his Commentarius, pp. xv-xix. 3 It was published at Lisbon in 1621. O'Sullivan belonged to a sept settled on the southern coast of Ireland, remarkable for naval daring. See D'Arcy McGee's Irish Writers of the Seventeenth Century, p. 24. O'Sullivan's Historia Catholica Iberniæ Compendium, edited by the late Professor Kelly, of Maynooth, was republished in 1850 by Mr. O'Daly of Dublin. Keating was a native of Munster, and born about 1560. He finished his history about 1625. On one occasion he is said to have involved himself in much trouble by faithfully rebuking a lady of quality belonging to his congregation for gross immorality. See Brenan, p. 511. Catholic hierarchy, and though some of the arrangements relating to it were alike offensive and unwise, it proved withal a blessing to the country. It already contributed to the Church a small supply of pastors; and, by way of encouragement, the bishops occasionally conferred livings on youths of promise, at the very commencement of their collegiate curriculum, on condition that they would devote themselves to the sacred office. The University promoted a taste for literature; and, during this reign, JAMES WARE, one of the greatest antiquarians Ireland ever produced, was educated within its walls.3 In 1603 the noble library which belongs to it was founded; and a sum, nearly equal to that required for the erection of the original buildings, was expended on the purchase of books. King James proved a liberal patron; so that, from his reign, it had no longer to struggle with the pecuniary embarrassments which had hitherto interfered with its prosperity. But, for a long time, the attendance on the classes was not very encouraging. During the first twenty-three years of its existence, only fiftythree students were admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In this reign various schools-intended to supply a good classical education-were erected in Ulster. They obtained, as endowments, valuable grants of landed property 1 At this time all graduates were required by law to take the oath of supremacy. Heron's Constitutional History, p. 26. 2 Mant, i. 376-7-8. 3 Ware was knighted in 1629. He frequently represented his Alma Mater in the Irish Parliament. He was born in 1594 and died in 1666. In 1603 the soldiers employed in the suppression of Tyrone's rebellion raised among themselves £1,800-equal to from £12,000 to £14,000 of our money— to purchase books for the College library. Cox, i. 446. 5 James settled on the College a pension of nearly £400 a year, payable out of the Exchequer; endowed it with large estates in Ulster; and bestowed on it the patronage of eighteen livings. In 1614, it returned two members to the Irish Parliament. Heron's Const. Hist. of the University of Dublin, p. 35. 6 "The total sum of all the graduates that have commenced in this University from the first foundation thereof to this present year 1616 inclusive, containing the space of twenty-three years, viz :-In Divinity, 7; in Civil Law, I; in Physic, I; Bachelors in Theology, 7; Master of Arts, 38; Bachelors of Arts, 53; Bachelors of Music, 2; total 'graduates, 109"-TAYLOR'S History of the University of Dublin, p. 19. Queen's College, Galway, has for so far made much better progress. VOL. I. L L belonging to the confiscated estates.1 By these seminaries, students were provided for the College, and candidates for the ministry. On the whole, it must be obvious that the Reformed faith exhibited decided indications of vitality in Ireland in the early part of the seventeenth century. Romanism made a bold and persistent effort to maintain its ground; but the Protestant Church was in a much better position to grapple with its adversary at the close of the reign of James than at the close of the reign of Elizabeth. 1 See Report of the Endowed Schools Commission, pp. 7-9. this reign an endowed school was also established in Longford. It appears that in of the endowments were soon much abused. Ibid. p. 10. Some grammar schools were established and endowed by private individuals in this reign. Ibid. APPENDIX I. (See b. 395 of this volume.) A BREFE Declaration of certein Principall articles of Religion: set out by order & aucthoritie as well of the right Honorable Sir Henry Sidney Knyght of the most noble order. Lord presidet of the Coücel in the Principallitie of wales and Marches of the same, & general deputie of this Realme of Ireland as by Tharchebyshops, & Byshopes & other her majesties Hygh Commissioners for causes Ecclesiasticall in the same Realme. Imprynted at Dublin by Humfrey Powel the 20. of January. 1566. |