was coming, and that it was a thing invented on purpose to cozen them, and bring them from their religion, and earnestly exhorted them not to be led thereby, but stand fast and join together, and that God was on their side. . . . He told them that the cattle which they had given him, was for the maintenance of friars beyond seas, and that the Pope would be highly pleased with the gifts they bestowed to so godly purposes. And further saith, that he vehemently exhorted them not to be afraid of anything, for Tyrone was coming, therefore willed them to be merry and of good courage : and for the English, they were to have no rule of power over them, but for two years . . . and that the King of Spain had 18,000 men in arms ready to come over, whereof Tyrone should be the chief; and that they should come within a year and a quarter, and land at 4 ports in Ireland . . . and would overthrow the English, and have Ireland to himself (sic). . . . All these speeches were uttered by the said friar. . . openly in his sermon, and that Connor Roe Maguire and Brian Cú Chonnacht Maguire were present from first to last.

TOBY CAULFIELD.

[A View of the Present State of Ireland, by Edmund Spenser. Spenser's Works (Globe ed.), pp. 679-80.]

In planting of religion thus much is needful to be observed, that it be not sought forcibly to be impressed into them with terror and sharp penalties, as now is the manner, but rather delivered and intimated with mildness and gentleness, so as it may not be hated afore it be understood, and their professors despised and rejected. For this I know that the most of the Irish are so far from understanding of the Popish religion as they are of the Protestants' profession, and yet do they hate it though unknown, even for the very hatred which they have of the English and their government. Therefore it is expedient that some discreet ministers of their own countrymen be first sent amongst them, which by their mild persuasions and instructions, as also by their sober life and conversation, may draw them first to understand, and afterwards to embrace, the doctrine of their salvation; for if that the ancient godly Fathers, which first converted them, being infidels, to the faith, were able to draw them from infidelity and paganism to the true belief in Christ, as St. Patrick and St. Columba, how much more easily shall the godly teachers bring them to the true understanding of that which they already profess? Wherein it is great wonder to see the odds which is between the zeal of Popish priests,

The flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel from Ireland took place in 1607. The Irish believed that Tyrone would return at the head of a foreign expedition to lead them again. He died at Rome in 1616.

• See note on Spenser in Ireland, p. 171.

and the ministers of the Gospel; for they spare not to come out of Spain, from Rome, and from Rheims, by long toil and dangerous travel hither, where they know peril of death awaiteth them, and no reward nor riches is to be found, only to draw the people to the Church of Rome: whereas some of our idle ministers, having a way for credit and estimation thereby opened unto them, and having the livings of the country offered them, without pains, and without peril, will neither for the same, nor for any love of God . . . be drawn forth from their warm nests and their sweet love's side to look out into God's harvest, which is even ready for the sickle, and all the fields yellow long ago. Doubtless those good old godly Fathers will (I fear me) rise up in the Day of Judgment to condemn them.

XXV. ANTI-PROTESTANT SENTIMENT

(1) Letter of Edward Staples, the Bishop of Meath. [To the Secretary of Sir Edward Bellingham, Lord Deputy (Dec. 1548). State Papers Ireland, Edward VI, Vol. I, No. 156.]

After most hearty commendations, in like manner I thank you for your letter, and when by the same ye wished me to be defended from ill tongues-res est potius optabilis quam speranda. Ye have not heard such rumour as is here all the country over against me, as my friends doth show me. One gentlewoman to whom I did christen a man-child which beareth my name, came in great counsel to a friend of mine desiring how she might find means to change her child's name. And he asked her why? And she said, because I would not have him bear the name of an heretic. A gentleman dwelling nigh unto me forbade his wife, which would have sent her child to be confirmed by me, so to do, saying, his child should not be confirmed by him that denied the Sacrament of the Altar. A friend of mine rehearsing at the market that I would preach this next Sunday at the Navan, divers answered they would not come thereat, lest they should learn to be heretics. One of our lawyers declared to a multitude that it was great pity that I was not burned, for I preached heresy so was I worthy therefore ; and if I preached right yet was I worthy to be burned that kept the truth from knowledge. . . . One of our judges said to myself that it should be proved in my face that I preached against learning. A beneficed man of mine own promotion came unto me weeping, and desired me that he might declare his mind unto me without my displeasure. I said, I was well content. My Lord, said he, before ye went last to Dublin ye were the best beloved man in your diocese that ever came in it, and now ye are the worst beloved 1 Staples was consecrated Bishop of Meath in 1530. He was one of Henry VIII's principal instruments in introducing the Reformation into Ireland.

that ever came here. I asked why? Why, saith he, for ye have taken open part with the State that false heretic, and preached against the Sacrament of the Altar, and deny saints, and will make us worse than Jews. Where if the country wist how, they would eat you, and besought me to take heed of myself for he feared more than he durst tell me. He said, ye have more curses than ye have hairs of your head; and I advise you for Christ's sake not to preach at the Navan as I hear ye will do. I said it was my charge to preach, and because there was most resort, God willing, I would not fail, but preach there. Hereby ye may perceive what case I am in, but put all to God.

(2) Thanksgiving Services for the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. [Archbishop Loftus to Burghley (22 Sept., 1590). State Papers Ireland, Elizabeth, Vol. CLIV, No. 37-]

By the bad example of some great personages of credit in this State, this people hath . . . grown to wonderful obstinacy and herein do persist unto this day-increasing in malice beyond all measure and utter detestation of religion. . . . I assure your Lordship their obstinacy now is such that unless they be enforced, they will not ever come to hear the Word preached, as by experience we observed at the time appointed by the Lord Deputy and Council for a general assembly of all the noblemen and gentlemen of every county, after her Majesty's good success against the Spaniard, to give God thanks for the same. At which time, not

withstanding the Sheriff of every county did their duties with all diligence, and warned all men to repair to the principal church in every county, wherein order was taken for public prayers and thanksgivings unto God, together with a sermon to be preached by choice men in every diocese, yet very few or none almost resorted thereunto, but even in Dublin itself the lawyers, in term time, took occasion to leave the town of purpose to absent themselves from that godly exercise--so bewraying in themselves, besides their corruption in religion, great want of duty and loyalty unto her Majesty, and giving just occasion unto us to conceive doubtful opinion of them. . . .

a

(3) Catholic Officers in Dublin. ["Remembrances by Captain Barnaby Rich concerning the state of Ireland" (14 August, 1612). Lansdowne MSS., 156, Fol. 10.]

There is not a city in Ireland (no not Dublin itself) that is able year after year, for two years together to make choice of a

Rich was an Essex gentleman, the author of many popular tracts, who had lived in Ireland for many years. His ardent Protestantism, according to his own confession, made him exceedingly unpopular in Dublin. This is one of a series of confidential papers addressed by him to Sir Julius Cæsar, Chancellor of the Exchequer in England.

mayor and two sheriffs that will take the oath of obedience to his Majesty but to speak of interior officers, as notaries, sergeants, constables, jailors and such other like in Dublin where they are most conformed, I know not any of these but is a Papist that on Sunday mornings will first hear a Mass, then after that, they will bring the Mayor to Christ Church, and having put him into his pew they convey themselves to a tavern till the sermon be done, then they bring the Mayor back again to his house. . . It is strange that in Dublin where the Word of God hath been so plentifully preached, that they should make no better choice but of such officers for the service of his Majesty, but such as will impugn his Majesty's laws.

XXVI. CATHOLIC IRELAND IN THE EARLY

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

(1) Italian Report, 1613.2 ["Miscellanea Vaticano-Hibernica" (15801631), Archivium Hibernicum (Cath. Record Soc. of Ireland) (1914), III. 300.]

The

Sufficiency of priests in Ireland.-The population Catholic, nearly all openly professing their religion.-The English penal laws not enforced. A comparatively small number infected with heresy in the cities. The rural population ignorant to a large extent in matters of faith.-The nobility and gentry nearly all Catholic; hence the possibility of a large number of priests.Estimated number of the clergy in Ireland: 800 seculars, 130 Franciscans, 20 Jesuits, a few Benedictines and Dominicans. Franciscans always held in great esteem.-Greater learning and acquirements desirable in many of the secular clergy, the best being those educated in the Continental seminaries : at Douai, Bordeaux, Lisbon, and Salamanca.-The people have preserved the faith because naturally inclined to it; always attached to the Holy See; always hating the English; always opposed to novelty and tenacious of old customs.-Heresy introduced by violence and against their wish; externally Protestantism is in the ascendancy, all the archbishoprics and bishoprics being in the hands of the heretics.-Ireland counted 4 archbishops and 37 bishops; 9 under Armagh, 5 under Dublin, 12 under Cashel, 11 under Tuam. No factions among the clergy.

[Original in Italian.]

"We do humbly assure your Lordships that in this city of Dublin there is as great plenty of preaching the Word in the several parishes of the city on the Sabbath days (besides a public lecture once every week in each of the two cathedral churches) as in any city in England of like quality."-The Lord Deputy and Council in Dublin to the Privy Council (Feb. 1602). Cal. Car. MSS., IV. 432.

• The document of which a brief summary is quoted here forms part of a report, which was sent to the Holy See, 6th April, 1613, by the Brussels Internuncio, Mgr. Bentivoglio, on the state of Catholicity in the countries subject to his supervision.

(2) Memorial presented to the King of Spain on behalf of the Irish Catholics (1619).1 [Archivium Hibernicum (1917), VI. 48–54.]

Condition of the Catholics in Things Spiritual

Every Catholic is condemned to pay 12d. Irish if he does not attend the Protestant service-which is held in one of his own violated churches. Four times a year the judges going on circuit enquire from the parson the names of all such Catholics as do not obey this law, in order to punish them severely.

No Catholic is permitted to teach anything, even grammar. The schoolmaster must be a Protestant, in order to bring the children up in heresy. If, contrary to the command of the Viceroy and Privy Council, a Catholic dare to teach Catholic children, he is fined heavily and kept in prison during the pleasure of the Viceroy; then on pretence of restoring him to liberty they banish him out of the Kingdom. Thus they force Catholics either not to teach or else to quit the country.

They forbid a Catholic, unless he has leave from the Viceroy and the Privy Council, under penalty of imprisonment for life, to go to Spain for the purpose of education; and in case anyone does go, even without the leave of his parents, they confiscate their property and imprison them until they give bail that they will bring him back and not let him go again. . . . Besides fining Catholics for not going to church, the pseudo-archbishops and bishops of Ireland excommunicate them If after the third warning they do not conform, they are imprisoned and cruelly treated. They get no food, and if they are not to die of hunger must incur great expenses. At the present day there are many of them in prison throughout Ireland, and especially in Dublin Castle there are many gentlemen and respectable merchants who have been confined for years. . .

When the Lord Deputy and Council have arrested a Catholic, either a layman or an ecclesiastic, they ask him whether the Pope can depose the King for his disobedience, deprive heretics of their possessions, etc., and they suggest an affirmative answer, in order to condemn him to death and to confiscate his property.

Every Protestant justice of the peace has authority to arrest priests and to search for them in any house, and the fact of having such authority is publicly announced over and over again: last (1617), a Proclamation to this effect was posted up everywhere. . .

year

If a Catholic is convicted of having heard Mass; for the first offence he is fined 200 crowns and imprisoned for 6 months, for the second he is fined 400 crowns and imprisoned for a year, for the third he is fined 800 and imprisoned for life. The imprison

This memorial was presented to Philip III by an Irish priest who had been educated in Spain and had returned to Ireland as a missionary.