NOTES.

DEDICATORY EPISTLE.

Note 1.-Page. i.

The Marquis of Caracena.

It will be recollected that this family treated the Irish with marked respect. In the year 1602, a Marquis of Caracena was commissioned by the King of Spain, to attend on Red Hugh O'Donnell, who subsequently died at Valladolid. The Caracena who appointed Joyce to such an important position in the Cathedral of Brussels, was of the same family. I have designedly called D. Gregory, "Minister of Spiritual Affairs,' although I find him mentioned in the Hib. Dom. as cappellanus to Caracena.

A

Note 2.-Page iii.
Joyce.

66

very ancient family of English descent, a race of men," says the Venerable Hardiman. (Hist. of Galway, p. 14,) "remarkable for their extraordinary stature, who for centuries inhabited the mountainous districts in Jar Connaught. Much to the same purport is the description given by Ussher (in Primord, p. 726.) "Populus magnus sicut Gigantes, Procerae Homines staturae, et fortissimi." The D. Gregory Joyce, to whom Lynch dedicates his book, was of this family, as appears from a genealogical account compiled for a "Mr. Gregory Joyes," who died at Madrid, 1745. Hardiman, in the notes to O'Flaherty's West Connaught, (p. 248.) seems to discredit it, and terms it "a corruption of History.' We lay a part of it before the reader, as it has reference to the latter portion of the Dedicatory Epistle. "Dominus Jacobus Waraeus refert, quod in seculo 14° Eminentissimus, Thomas Joise fuit Cardinalis S. Sabinae et quod Walterus Joise, ordinis Proedicatorum (Frater dicti

Cardinalis,) fuit consecratus Archiep. Armach. a Nicholao Card. Ostiensi; et quod forte is idem fuit Walterus Anglicus quem Raphael Volaterraneus Edwardi Regis Angliae fuisse, Confessorem, et Genuae in Italia Sepultum asserit. Archiepiscopatum (Armach,) resignavit Anno 1311. Hic Sex habuit fratres ulterius, qui omnes ejusdem fuerunt ordinis Proedicatorum. Rolandus de Joise Dominicanus, et dicti Walteri frater germanus, consecratus est Archiepiscop. Armach. is porro Archiepiscopatum se abdicavit, Anno 1321.'

As it is not quite certain that any Irishman was ever honored with a Cardinal's hat, we leave the question to be discussed by others. It is however worthy of note, that the battle in which the prayers of Primate Joyce brought victory to the English army, was fought near Dundalk (1318), in which Edward Bruce was defeated by the English, under Sir John Bermingham. Bruce had reduced the Archdiocese of Armagh to such a fearful condition, that we can scarcely credit Camden's account

of it.

"Many were so hunger starved," says he (Annal. p. 177), “that, in Church-yards they took the bodies out of their graves, and in their skulls boiled the flesh, and fed thereon: yea and women did eat their own children for stark hunger."

I have not been able to ascertain at what period D. Gregory left Ireland, but it is likely he may have fled immediately after the dissolution of the Catholic League. He was a Friar-a Canon Regular, and sought an asylum from persecution. His exertions at Brussels in favor of the Domincian Friars, are set forth at considerable length in the Hib. Dom. p. 444. This document, in which the Dominicans bind themselves to say Souls-Masses, and recite Offices for the Kith, and Kin of D. G. Joyce, is signed by Dominick O'Kelly, William de Burgo, and Thomas Lynch. It is dated January, 1659. The foundations of the Irish Dominican Convent were laid A.D. 1666. Vide. Hib. Dom. p. 446. and the notices prefixed to Dr. French's works.

Note 3.-Page v.

I myself was present when Malachy Queely,

Malachy Queely (or, more probably, O'Kealy,) Archbishop of Tuam, slain by Coote at Sligo, a short time before Rinuccini's arrival in Ireland, was a very learned and brave man. A.D. 1645, he compiled a description of the Churches and Chapels in the Archdiocese of Tuam, for Colgan, in whose Acta S.S. they will be found at page 714. One of Rinuccini's first acts on his arrival at Limerick, was to celebrate the obsequies of this

soldier-prelate in the church of St. Mary. The Nuncio has left us some details which I think worth translating, as they refer to this distinguished leader of the Confederates. "During the few days I remained at Limerick, there came the sad tidings of the melancholy death of the Archbishop of Tuam....This worthy Prelate returned to Kilkenny, after the capture of Sligo, and I have learned that on going away from the former place, he took leave of many persons and carried off his baggage, stating that he should never revisit Kilkenny. He quoted some prophecies regarding the Pastors of his Church, and I may observe that this (Irish) people is much given to such folly of vaticination. Returned to besiege Sligo, he was informed that the enemy's force was increased; but, either discrediting the assertion, or not taking sufficient precaution, he suffered himself to be surprised, and, being obliged to retreat, two Friars were killed at his side, and he himself was soon after slain by a pistol-shot in the loins. He was heard to say in his last moments, that he had done his utmost for the defence of the Catholic Religion, and that he gladly laid down his life for the same object." This great Prelate was not a Connaught man (Nunziatura, pp. 69. 102.) This Archbishop, "slain in actual defence of the faith," (Rinuccini, p. 70,) was succeeded by John de Burgo, of the house of Clanricarde. It appears from the Nuncio's correspondence, that the appointment of this Prelate was not what he would have wished, and it is interesting to know that the Grand Duke of Tuscany, sought the vacant mitre, for a Father Nicholas Donnellan, of the order of St. Augustin, who in the year 1647, was a lector of Theology in Vienna. Rinuccini opposed the election of Friars to Episcopal Sees on the plea, that the Regular Clergy were more skilled in Theology than Canon law, a profound knowledge of the latter faculty, being necessary to regulate the Church "in Foro externo." There was moreover a prejudice against the Friars, as being too much identified with the aristocracy whom they served as Chaplains. Nunziatura. p. 102. It will be seen, however, that he had no reason to be satisfied with Malachy O'Kealy's successor.

Note 4.-Page vii.

Verily in the Catholic Cities of any part of the World, &c.

I believe that this eulogy was as applicable to Waterford as to Galway. In the year 1646, these two cities excelled all the other Irish towns in religious pomps. During Rinuccini's nunciature, every moment he could snatch from diplomacy was devoted to enforcing a strict conformity with the Roman ritual and Pontifical. He attached vast importance to

processions, and would fain see our Irish Ecclesiastics as fond of such pageants as those of his own country; Galway in particular, as appears from his report, presented to Innocent X. on his return to Rome, came nearest his "ideal of a Christian Church." (Vide Nunziatura in Irlanda, p. 443). Let us now see what was the state of Ecclesiastical discipline in Ireland, on the Nuncio's arrival-of course we are bound to place implicit reliance on the statement of a man who was the accredited minister of the Roman court. "I now pass to describe the actual state of Ecclesiastical affairs-the principal object of my mission, and of this I cannot write without grief......for, the old bishops who have been accustomed to perform their few functions clandestinely, make no account of the splendour and grandeur of religion. Hence, it is, that they abhor, rather than adopt, sacred costume and ceremonials; celebrating (Mass) like ordinary priests, and administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, not only without a mitre and robes, but almost in laic apparel....but if this imbecility (fiacchezza) characterizes the greater number of the Bishops, be assured that it is much more conspicuous in the lives of the Friars. The latter, accustomed to live outside their Convents, and serve as chaplains to the aristocracy, from whom they receive ample payment,-free from a monastic discipline, and the habits of their orders, are very reluctant to listen to an adjustment, which would restore religious rigour, and cause them the loss of the aforesaid exemptions......hence, some of them have not scrupled to preach that the restoration of the Churches has nothing to do with the substance of faith, alleging the Bible teaches that the Hebrews were centuries without a Temple, and Christ instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice in a private house. Now, if persons of an other way of thinking had not endeavoured to remedy abuses like these, the lower orders would be wrought upon by such opinions, for as they have been accustomed to have Mass celebrated in their houses, they set so much value on this accommodation, that up to the present moment, I have not been able to induce (the Clergy) to carry the most Holy Sacrament processionally to the sick, nay, nor to have the consecrated particles kept in Tabernacles, as every vile craftsman must have Mass offered at his bedside during illness-and, what makes the scandal greatest, offered on the very table, which, when stripped of the sacred apparel, serves as a card-table, whereon they place large vessels of beer and viands for the dinner. It may be, that the excessive authority conceded to Friars, under the title of Missionaries, has occasioned these disorders. It is to be remarked, moreover, that this Irish Nation, the most negligent of all Europe, in whatsoever regards industry, is quite satisfied with what nature dictates; and hence it is, that the people exert no extraordinary