Commission about Church property and churches. Dec. 1556. Gloomy prospect for Protestants. Penalties avoided by wis of Dublin, and the deans of Christ Church and St. Patrick's, together with other commissioners who were laymen, for taking account of all lands or tenements, all plate, bells, and other utensils or sums of money, which had lately belonged to the churches or chapels of the diocese of Dublin: and for inquiring into the state of such churches or chapels as were ruinous, and reporting by whose fault they became so: similar commissions were issued about the same time, for the like purpose, in other dioceses". Reverting, however, to the act for reviving the three statutes for the punishment of heresy, it may be remarked, that the revival of these statutes, following on the instructions given to the Lord Deputy and privy council, opened a fearful and gloomy prospect to those, who should be so presumptuous as to teach, or so unhappy as to incur the suspicion of teaching, what the subjects and agents of the Pope should deem heretical, or not agreeable to the Popish creed. It may be said, perhaps, that no hereticks were dom and caution. actually visited with the penalties, denounced by these formidable statutes. If the assertion be admitted, the cause may be found rather in the wisdom and caution of the friends of the Reformation, than in the forbearance and dove-like harmlessness of the champions of the papacy. Thus in the year 1554, on account of prosecutions then instituted against their religion, several English Protestants had fled into Ireland from Cheshire; and bringing with them their families, goods, and chattels, lived in Dublin, and became citizens of that city. They had with them a Welshman, a Protestant priest, who secretly 14 Rot. Pat. Conc., quoted by Mason, p. 163. read to them on Sundays, and other days, the English service and the Scriptures. But the cause of their coming, and this their private occupation, were not discovered till after Queen Mary's death". cutions; considerations. Should it be further said, that the penalties were Intended persenot intended to be, and would not, in the course of time, have been inflicted; proof may be required of the assertion. And on the other hand, that it was intended for the act not to sleep in peaceful inaction, may be inferred from the simple fact of its having been enacted for if otherwise why was it enacted Shown by various at all? The same is to be inferred from the concomitant and consistent instructions to the Lord Deputy and the council; if otherwise, what was their use, and why were they given? The conduct also of the queen, with respect to the friends of the Reformation in England, is an argument for the conduct which would be pursued in Ireland, if occasion were found to exist. The character of Popery at all times is a corroborative proof of the same. On the whole, it is strictly in accordance with the parliamentary enactments now under consideration, with the proceedings of the government, with the habits of the queen, and with the genius of her religion, that means should have been taken for inflicting severe punishment on the dissentients from the Romish faith. There is, therefore, no cause of astonishment in reading, that a commission was commission issued for the purpose, although that purpose was hereticks; happily frustrated by a remarkable incident, concerning which Cox observes, "Because the author quotes the most reverend and learned primate, Ussher, and the memorials of the most noble and industrious Richard, earl of Cork, for the following 15 WARE's Anmals, p. 135. against the Irish In what manner frustrated. of an English woman. story, I will insert it verbatim, as it is already printed in the life of Archbishop Browne. "Queen Mary, having dealt severely with the Protestants in England, about the latter end of her reign signed a commission for to take the same course with them in Ireland; and to execute the same with greater force, she nominated Dr. Cole one of the commissioners, sending the commission by this doctor: who in his journey coming to Chester, the mayor of that city, hearing that her majesty was sending a messenger into Ireland, and he being a Churchman, waited on the doctor: who, in discourse with the mayor, taketh out of a cloak-bag a leather box, saying unto him, Hero is a commission, that shall lash the hereticks of Ireland,' calling the Protestants by that title. The good woman of the house, being well affected to the Protestant religion, and also having a brother, named John Edmonds, of the same, then a citizen of Dublin, was much By the ingenuity troubled at the doctor's words. But watching her convenient time, whilst the mayor took his leave, and the doctor complimenting him down the stairs, she opens the box, and takes the commission out, placing in lieu thereof a sheet of paper, with a pack of cards, the knave of clubs faced uppermost, wrapt up. The doctor, coming up to his chamber, suspecting nothing of what had been done, put up the box as formerly. The next day going to the water-side, wind and weather serving him, he sails towards Ireland, and landed on the 7th of October, 1558, at Dublin: then coming to the castle, the Lord Fitzwalter, being the Lord Deputy, sent for him to come before him and the privy council. Who coming in, after he had made a speech, relating upon what account he came over, he presents the box unto the Lord Deputy: who causing it to be opened, that the secretary might read the commission, there was nothing save a pack of cards, with the knave of clubs uppermost; which not only startled the Lord Deputy and council, but the doctor, who assured them he had a commission, but knew not how it was gone. Then the Lord Deputy made answer, Let us have another commission, and we will shuffle the cards in the mean while.' The doctor being 6 troubled in his mind went his way, and returned into England, and coming to the court obtained another commission; but staying for the wind at the water-side, news came unto him that Queen Mary was dead. And thus God preserved the Protestants in Ireland"." The sequel of the story is, that, on the recalling of the Lord Deputy into England, Queen Elizabeth, discoursing with him concerning several passages in Ireland, amongst other things he related the foregoing narrative: which so delighted the queen, that her majesty sent for the good woman, Elizabeth Edmonds, or by her husband's name, Mattershed, Elizabeth. and gave her a pension of forty pounds a year during her life, for saving her majesty's Protestant subjects of Ireland". Her recompense from Queen Mary. Queen Mary died on the 17th of November, 1558; leaving behind her a character of unexampled Nov. 17, 1558. intolerance and cruelty towards those of her subjects who differed from her religious faith. She was most probably a sincere and zealous Papist; "and verily thought with herself that she ought to do many things contrary" to the profession of the reformed creed. But the more her evil deeds are extenuated by a supposition of the sincerity of her zeal, the more deep and dark is the brand of ignominy stamped upon that form of Christianity, which actuated her in so nefarious a career. 16 Cox, i. 308. 17 WARE'S Annals, p. 164. Queen Eliza beth's accession a relief to the Church. SECTION 1. Dilatory Proceedings with respect to the Irish Church. Revival of the English Liturgy. Remarkable occurrence on the singing of the Litany in Christ Church. Queen Elizabeth's first Parliament. Act for restoring the jurisdiction of the Crown. Act of Uniformity. Remarkable clause of it. Acts relating to the First Fruits and the election of Bishops. Alterations in ecclesiastical matters during the last reigns. Remoral of Popish Images and Reliques. Appointment of Adam Loftus to the Primacy. Apostolical Succession in the Church of Ireland. Declaration of Chief Articles of Religion. THE restoration of the royal power to a Protestant sovereign in the person of Queen Elizabeth, whose religious principles were soon avowed in favour of the Reformation, relieved the friends of that alteration in the Church of Ireland from such terrors as they may have felt from the dominion of a Popish queen, armed with power, as she was possessed with the inclination, to enforce the tyrannical claims of Popery by severe penal inflictions; and opened another door for the revival and further extension |