A statement on this matter considered. Ware says that the Archbishop of Armagh also was of Ware's pardoned among the rest; which however seems to be a mistake, as Octavian was opposed to Simnel from the first. Moreover the delinquent ecclesiastics were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to King Henry, before they could be absolved from an excommunication which he had caused under the pope's bull to issue against them. Ware gives the names of the prelates and ecclesiastics who took the oath and were absolved, in July, 1488, and Octavianus is not among them. On the contrary he was employed in administering the oath of allegiance on the 26th of the said month to various individuals that had been partizans of Simnel. Archbishop permitted late Irish clerks to certain benefices for two years. (Vid. Bacon's Life of Henry VII., p 583, &c. Lond. 1706. Ware's Annals, Henry VII. Cox, Vol. 1, &c.)] In connection with the name of Archbishop Fitz Simon, (which has furnished occasion for the preceding observations,) there is another circumstance on record which seems worth noticing in this place; and which will be sufficiently explained to the reader from the tenor of an act, (2nd Richard 3,) passed in the year 1484, to the following effect; - -"That whereas divers benefices of ye Dioe of Dublin are situated among Irish enemies, of which ye advowsons belong to ye Abp. of Dublin, in right of his see, and as no Englishman can inhabit ye said benefices, and divers English clerks, who are enabled to have cure of souls are not expert in ye Irish language, and such of them as are expert disdain to inhabit among ye Irish people, and others dare not inhabit among them, by which means divine service is diminished, and the cure of souls neglected, It is therefore enacted that Walter Fitz Symond Abp. of Dublin may for two years collate Irish clerks to ye said benefices, without any impeachment from ye king, his heirs, officers, or ministers, any act to ye contrary, notwithstanding, provided such beneficers be sworn to allegiance." Again, (8 Hen. 7) this Abp. had ye same privilege granted him in general by another act of parliament.Rolls. (See the MS. additions in the copy of Harris's Ware above-mentioned, at p. 1101.) Inge's efforts to im Polydore Virgil (Hist. Ang. p. 677, ed. 1578) says Archbishop that Hugh Hynk "had put the kingdom in as good a condition as the untowardness of the wild Irish would suffer him." (H. 346.) prove the wild Irish. No. XVIII. SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF THE SUCCESSION OF PRELATES IN THE of the cata given. The following list of the prelates who from Character the time of St. Patrick have successively occu- logue of pied the chief see of Ireland, is taken, like the names here preceding one, from Ware's works, as edited by Harris, Dublin, 1739. It must however be confessed that the chronology and other particulars relating to the names which occur in the former part of the list are somewhat uncertain, and open to question. As being however the most complete enumeration attainable from the best sources, the catalogue cannot but be regarded as interesting and valuable. Ref. to page in Harris's Ware. (1,21) (34) (35) (36) Cormac is said (in the Vit. Tripartita S. P.) to have visited Cormac, 482-497 Connaught (where he had been educated by the bishops Domnal, Comitius, Connetus, and Darbon,) in the exercise of his primatial power. Dubtach I., 497-513.. Surnamed Mac Guaire Hua Farannan, some annals at least have him, and make him legate of all Ireland. [Which speaks not much for their credibility.] Feidlimid, 551-578 Cairlan, 578-588 Eochaid, 588-598 (39) Senach, 598-610 Mac Laisir, 610-623 .. Thomian (Mac Ronan) 623-661 "By general suffrage elected," Colgan, AA. SS. 53. He was concerned in the Paschal controversy, but it does not appear on which side. See the fragment of a letter, on this subject, and that of the Pelagian heresy, written by the Roman clergy to Thomian and the other bishops, abbots, and priests of Ireland, in Bed. Ec. Hist. ii. 19 Segere, 661-688 Flan Febla, 688-715. (40) Congusa, 730-750 Cele Peter, 750-758 (41) Ferdachry, 758-768 Foendalach, 768. Resigned 771 There are irreconcilable differences in our writers concerning the succession at this period. (42) Dubdalethy I., 778. Ob. 793 Affiat, 793-794 At the request of Conmach in 799, the abbot Fothadius drew up a remonstrance against the obliging of the clergy to attend the royal army on warlike expeditions, which was presented to the king, and proved effectual for their exemption. Torbach Mac Gorman, 807-808 (43) Nuad made a visitatorial circuit in Connaught, the first by a bishop of Armagh, since the days of Cormac, the third from St. Patrick. Flangus Mac Loingle, 812-822. (43) Artrigius, 822-833 He visited in 822 the whole province of Munster, being probably the first who since the days of St. Patrick had exercised his primatial rights in that district by visitatorial circuit. In 824 he also visited Connaught The Ulster Annals state that about this period the law of St. Patrick was propagated throughout Munster by Phelim Mac Criffan its monarch, and Artrige Archbishop of Armagh. Ussher thought that this law was a monastic rule, [Primord. 1050,] but Colgan conceived [more correctly it would seem] that it related to the metropolitan jurisdiction, and the power of visiting and exacting certain provisions and dues from the province. The same law was subsequently established in Connaught. (See Colton's Visn. of Derry, by Reeves.) Eugene (Monaster), 833-834 Ainmire, 874-875 Cathasach Mac Robartach, 875-883 (45) A.D. 889. A tumult and sedition having been excited in Armagh at the feast of Pentecost, between the Princes of Tirone, (with his people,) and Down (with his,) the faction was quelled by the interference of Primate Mælbrigid, who to punish their marked irreverence towards the Church of God, and their open disrespect of St. Patrick, fined each party 200 oxen, exacted hostages for their future good conduct, and caused six of the most active of "the boys" on each side to be executed on a gallows. Joseph, 927-936, "prince of Armagh".. Mælpatrick Mac Maltule, " prince of Armagh," 936 Muiredach Mac Fergus, 957. Dep. 966 Dubdalethy II., Mac Kellach, 966-998 (48) He is said by Colgan to have been elected the chief moderator of all St. Columba's congregations in Ireland and in Albanian Scotia. Murechan, 999. Resigned 1001 Mælmury or Marian, 1001-21 In his days Brian Boru was slain. Amalgaid, 1021-50 (49) This prelate at the commencement of his primacy made a visitatorial circuit through Munster. He was father of the archbishops Mælisa and Donald, and had for suffragan Mæltulius. Dubdalethy III., 1050-65 (50) Colgan says he wrote an account of the archbishops of Armagh to his own time. Cumasach O'Herudan, 1065. Resig. eod. Visited Munster in 1069. Donald Mac Amalgaid, 1092-1106 : (51) He made in 1093 a visitatorial circuit through Cinel Eogain, and another through Munster in 1094. (Here end all catalogues derived from the Psalter of Cashel.) Celsus, 1106-1129 Maurice, 1129-1134 (54) Malachy O'Morgair, 1134-1137. Resigned, (appointed by Celsus) (61) Mælisa O'Carrol, 1184, Ob. eod. He died on his journey to Rome to solicit the pope's confirmation, in compliance with the doctrine and practice in this matter introduced into Ireland a short time previously by Malachy, &c. Amlave O'Murid, 1184-1185 .. Thomas O'Connor, 1185-1201 (62) Eugene Mac Gillivider, 1206-1216 This appears to have been the first primate of Ireland who was indebted for his elevation to a papal appointment, on the occasion mentioned at p. 619 sup. One result of the power which began after this to be exercised in all such appointments by the kings of England and the popes of Rome, was this, that few Irishmen, (or almost none of them,) were ever permitted to enjoy the distinction of primates in their own isle, but rather Englishmen, or others from beyond sea, as may easily appear even from inspection of the names which occur in the succeeding part of this catalogue. (Vid. H. W. 62, 63) Luke Netterville, Archdeacon of Armagh, 1220-1227. Elected by the chapter but rejected by the king for want of a Conge d'elire, (or king's license to proceed to election.) On a new election after a "Conge" had been granted, he was re-elected; confirmed afterwards by the king and pope, and consecrated by Stephen Langton (64, 65) |