in possession of the temporalities of that see by the king's authority, bearing date July 17, 1321.* Slane, papal council for form in Ire Three years after, in 1324, this Philip was Philip of despatched by the king, Edward II., on an em- commissionbassy to the pope, having for its object "the er, holds a Reformation of the state of the Irish Church;" promoting which commission he executed so much to the Church resatisfaction of his royal master, that on his re- land. turn he was called into the privy council of Ireland. The pope likewise armed him, together with the archbishops of Dublin and Cashel, with a commission to make a careful inquisition into what might be suitable and expedient for promoting tranquillity and peace in that country; for which purpose those archbishops and he, having met in council, with many of the nobility, gentry, and official personages in Ireland, the following resolutions were by them adopted, as being needful for promoting the welfare and quiet of the realm :— lutions "Ist. That the disturbers of the peace and invaders Statement of the king's rights should be pronounced excommuni- of the resocated by the archbishops and bishops, by virtue of the apostolic authority. adopted on this occa "2ndly. That the small and poor bishoprics, not exceed- sion; ing £20, £40, or £60 a year, and which were governed * Harris's Ware, pp. 559, 360. which are confirmed by the pope, by the mere Irish, (who are known to have been sowers of discord and contention in the country in various ways during the time past,) should be united to the more eminent archbishoprics and bishoprics. "3rdly. That the Irish abbots and priors should be enjoined by the authority aforesaid to admit the English into a lay brotherhood in their monasteries, &c."* On the breaking up of the council, Bishop Philip was despatched with these resolutions to the king, and by him sent on to the pope, to procure the confirmation of them by his authority; his majesty considering them to be, as he expresses it," useful for checking the stubborn wickedness of the Irish people." The agent however, (acting most probably under the influence of Archbishop Malachy aforesaid, whose interests and objects were so directly concerned,) exceeded his commission, and without giving to who oddly the king, or to the bishop or chapter of Enaghapplies one dun, any intimation of such a proceeding, made Annadown application to the pope, in the name of his royal "to have the cathedral churches of employer, " Enaghdun, Achonry, and Kilmacduagh, united to the metropolitan church of Tuam," which union was accordingly, by the pontifical authority, enacted to take place in compliance with such a request. Some years after, in 1330, we find Malachy making use of this papal enact of them to in particular. * Rymer, ib. p. 554. ment, as a ground for seizing into his own hands the jurisdiction and revenues of the see of Enaghdun, in defiance of the claims of Thomas, then lawful bishop of the place.* complains of pontiff. This conduct gave occasion to a fresh letter Edward III. of remonstrance and complaint against Mala- the proceedchy's proceedings, from the English monarch ing to the (now Edward III.) to the Roman pontiff. It was written, the king observes, "under a feeling of pity and compassion for the desolate condition to which the venerable father, Thomas, by the grace of God, Bp. of Enaghdun, was reduced;" and to expose "the delusion practised on his majesty himself, as well as on the pontiff;" and further, with a view to obtaining redress, "lest in reproach of the episcopal dignity, the said bishop should be obliged to beg his bread." "It appears to us quite incredible and inconceivable," says King Edward, "that any such union can have been instituted by you . . . especially as the church of Enaghdun aforesaid His descripis among the mere English, and ruled by an nadown as English bishop, and the church of Tuam among settlement. the mere Irish, and ruled by a mere Irish prelate, and the said bishopric of Enaghdun exceeds the taxation afore cited; so that the said union, if it have any existence, is quite repugnant to Rymer, par. ii. p. 780. tion of An an English Malachy succeeds in the terms of our said father's application, and the informations above noticed, by virtue of which it is said to have been granted."* And Malachy however carried his point. subjugating although the union of Achonry and KilmacduEnaghdun. agh to Tuam did not then take place, yet Enaghdun remained united to it, and apparently by virtue of this authority, in succeeding ages. Malachy died at a very advanced age in 1348.† Bishops of Enaghdun still met the union to Tuam. Attempts were subsequently made to revive and maintain a succession of prelates in Enaghwith after dun, as we find mention in after times, of persons appointed to the office on different occasions. Thus, in the next century, while Maurice O'Kelley was archbishop of Tuam, "John Brit, a Franciscan friar, was advanced to the see of Enaghdun, upon the death of Henry Twillow, bp. thereof, on Jan. 24, 1402" and again in the time, it would seem, of "Cornelius," archbishop of Tuam, "John Camere, a Franciscan friar also, was advanced to the see of Enaghdune, upon the death of Matthew, on the 14th of Nov. 1421." These latter bishops of Enaghdun appear from their very names to have been of the English interest, which may have made the Irish residents of the diocese more willing to give up their local feelings in favour Rymer, par. ii. 780. ↑ Harris's Ware, pp. 560, 610. ib. 611. of a see for themselves, and to favour the union of their district to the diocese of Tuam, where a prelate ruled of a race, (in, at least, the most instances,) more congenial with the bent of their national feelings. "builds" of Anna "In A.D. 1400, the church of Annadown was O'Flaherty built, [or probably, 'repaired,' or only partially the church re-edified,'] by O'Flaherty (Hugh Mor) chief of down, his name:" which indicates the interest still A.D. 1400. taken in the place by the native sept connected with it, and the strength of their influence in the locality at the period referred to.* the occasion collegiate church in Galway. In fact it appears to have been felt by this Note as to time, that, whatever claims the Anglican set- for the fountlers might reasonably assert to some kind of dation of a ecclesiastical pre-eminence to be enjoyed by a dignitary of their nation in this part of Ireland, yet, the attempt to maintain a bishop of their own in the see of Annadown, in opposition to the national prejudices of the original inhabitants, had always more or less failed, and was more unlikely now than ever to be attended with success. The founding of the Collegiate Church of Galway, (referred to in the document quoted at the commencement of this article,) by Donat (or Donogh) O'Murray, archbishop of Tuam, [A.D. 1458-1484] would seem • Hardiman's h-Iar Connaught, p. 156, notes. VOL. III. Y |