When illustrating the lives of the Irish Bishops, Ware and Harris, as
well as our modern annalists, seem to have devoted special care to the
See of Ossory, and hence its series of bishops is one of the most
complete and unbroken that we find in the history of our Church. It is
in the latter half of the fourteenth century that the first great
difficulty occurs. In 1367 a parliament was held in Kilkenny, and the
famous Act was passed commonly styled, _The Statute of Kilkenny_,
which, amongst other signatures, presents that of “William, Bishop of
Ossory”.[8] Its accuracy in all the other signatures, and in several
minor details, leaves no doubt as to the genuineness of the prelate’s
name, who at that time ruled the See of St. Canice. Nevertheless, such
a Bishop finds no room in the series of episcopal names given by Ware
and succeeding writers. John of Tatenal, they say, was appointed to
the see in 1360; and his death did not take place till 1370: thus the
above William is altogether excluded from the episcopal succession.
The chroniclers of the Augustinian order, however, enable us to solve
this difficulty. _John de Tatenal_, or as he is sometimes called _de
Tayenal_, was a member of that distinguished religious body, and was
appointed to the See of Ossory in 1370, the same year which saw him
carried to the tomb.
There was, indeed, another Bishop _John_ appointed in 1361. On the
20th of November that year, he promised to pay to the “Camera
Apostolica” the diocesan tax of 200 florins, equal to £40; and it is
remarked that this is a proof of the decay of the revenues of Ossory,
since only forty years before, on the appointment of Bishop Richard,
the tax amounted to 700 florins. On the 9th of January 1361/2
permission was granted to this bishop to return to his see, and from
the brief published in _Monumenta Vaticana_, pag. 319, we learn that
he had been consecrated some time before, by Raymond, Bishop of
Praeneste, then resident with the Papal court in Avignon. In 1364
Urban V. (xii. Kal. Aprilis, an. 2ᵒ) granted to him special faculties
and privileges, but no mention is made of him in the following years.
Thus we have full room for Bishop William, appointed before 1367, and
deceased about 1369.
Dr. John Tatenal, as we have seen, was appointed in 1370, and died
before Christmas the same year. _Alexander Petit_ alias _de Balscot_,
canon of the Cathedral of Kilkenny, a man of great learning and wisdom
(as Ware writes), was elected by the chapter to fill the vacant see;
and though this election was irregular and invalid, Gregory XI.
confirmed him as Bishop of Ossory by Brief of 10th February, 1371. He
subsequently was appointed by the crown to some of the highest offices
of the kingdom, and having held the see for fifteen years, was
translated to Meath in 1386.
_Richard Northalis_, a Carmelite, was next appointed to the See. His
promise to pay the usual tax of 200 florins to the “Camera Apostolica”
is dated 17th Feb. 1386/7. He was translated to Dublin in 1395, not in
1396, as Ware supposed. His successor _Thomas_, a Carmelite, surnamed
_Peverell_,[9] signed the usual obligation a few days after his
appointment on the 3rd of November, 1395, and after an episcopate of
three years, was translated to Leighlin, on 23rd January, 1398/9,
whence on the 2nd July following he was again translated to Llandaff,
in Wales (_Biblioth. Carmelit._). He was succeeded in Ossory by _John_
_Wultham_ (sometimes written _Wulcan_ or _Vulcan_), who was probably
appointed on the very day of Dr. Peverell’s translation to Leighlin,
and on 1st of February, 1398/9, signed an obligation to pay the usual
tax of 200 florins for himself, and in addition 200 florins for his
predecessor Thomas, who had not been as yet able to satisfy his
obligation. This bishop belonged to the order of St. Augustine, and
was translated to Dromore before the month of July, 1399. _Dr. John
Griffin_, Bishop of Leighlin, was soon after translated to our See by
brief of “6to Nonas Julii, 1399”, and on the 12th of July, he signed
an obligation “to pay _185 florins and 44 solidos_ as portion of the
tax unpaid by his predecessor John, and in addition 100 florins still
due from the time of Dr. Thomas Peverell”. It is added that no tax was
imposed upon himself, as his appointment was the second one which had
been made within the term of twelve months.
Early in the following year Dr. Griffin was summoned to his reward,
and in May, 1400, another Bishop _John_ was appointed to the See of
Ossory. This bishop is only known to us from the lists of the
Apostolic Chamber. On the 14th of May, an. Dom. 1400, he signed his
own individual obligation for the sum of 200 florins, and moreover
promised to pay 81 florins and 47 solidos “_pro residuis Domini
Johannis prae-antecessoris sui_”. On the 26th of September, the same
year (1400), Pope Boniface IX. advanced _Roger de Appleby_ to the
vacant see,[10] and on the 28th of the same month, it is entered in
the books of the Apostolic chamber, that he “ratas habuit
obligationes, tum Johannis sui praedecessoris immediati tum alterius
Johannis in Floren. 81 et solid. 47: pro se autem nihil obligavit quia
fuit facta promotio bis in anno”.
The successor of Bishop Rogers was according to Ware, the _John
Vulcan_, whom we have already seen appointed to this see in 1398/9,
and the year 1404 is assigned as the probable date of his accession.
Here again the list of taxes paid to the _Camera_ comes to our aid. It
tells us that, on 17th November, 1402, “_Johannes Walteri_”, Bishop
elect of Ossory, promised the usual sum of 200 florins, and also the
residue of the former debt of his predecessor John, viz., flor. 81,
and solid. 47. It was, probably, the similarity of name that induced
the learned writer to transplace Dr. Wultham, and make him successor
of Roger Appleby in the see of St. Canice.
_Thomas Snell_, Archdeacon of Glendalough, who had held the see of
Waterford and Lismore since 1399, was next appointed to this see.
Ware, indeed, dates his appointment to Ossory in 1405, but the lists
to which we have already so often appealed in this paper, attest that
he signed the usual obligation on being appointed to this see on the
11th March, 1407/8. This bishop bequeathed to his successors a mitre
adorned with precious stones, and presented to his church some richly
ornamented vestments. Rev. William Purcell appeared in the Council of
Constance in the beginning of 1416, as proxy of our bishop, as we
learn from Martene, _Veter. Monument._, tom. vii. col. 1222.
_Patrick Ragged_ on the death of Bishop Thomas, was translated from
the see of Cork to Ossory, by brief of 15th of December, 1417. An
ancient writer gives him the character of “a prelate who governed his
flock with justice and piety, and instructed them both by word and
example.” He was appointed agent of the _Camera Apostolica_ in Ireland
on the 11th January, 1417/8; and he died, not on the 20th of August,
as Ware arbitrarily asserts, but in the first month of 1421.
_Dionysius O’Dea_ was appointed to the see vacant _per obitum
Patritii_, by Pope Martin V., in the beginning of August, 1421, and on
the 6th of the same month signed his obligation for the usual tax of
200 florins assigned for his see.
_Thomas Barry_, or as he is styled in the Roman lists, _Thomas Baury_,
made the usual declaration on the 5th of April, 1527, having been
appointed some days previous Bishop of Ossory. During his episcopate,
a famous controversy was carried on before the tribunal of Pope
Nicholas V., regarding the parochial church of Callan, which is
described as _alias Kilbride_, that is, dedicated to St. Brigid. This
controversy was not decided till the pontificate of Pope Paul II.,
some years after the death of our Prelate.
_David Hacket_, prior of the Augustinian monastery of Ahassel,
dedicated to SS. Edmund and Martin, and situated in the diocese of
Cashel, was advanced to our see by Pope Pius II., and was consecrated
_in curia Romana_ in the year 1460. When signing his usual obligation
on 14th July, 1460, he is still styled _Episcopus Ossoriensis
electus_. He died, according to Ware, on the 24th October, 1478.[11]
_John O’Hadian_, who is styled _Hedayn_ in the Consistorial Acts,
received from the Holy See the Archdeaconries of Cashel and Ossory on
the 8th of January 1459/60 (_Monument. Vatic._, pag. 424), and on the
15th January, 1479, was proclaimed in consistory Bishop of Ossory. It
is added in the record of his appointment that, “die 21 Februarii
sequentis consecratus fuit in ecclesia S. Tryphonis de Urbe a
Benedicto Archiepo. Mitilenensi, assistentibus sibi Stephano Archiepo.
Antibarensi et Stephano Sagiensi Epo”. He was appointed collector of
the Apostolic taxes in Ireland in 1482, and his death is recorded on
6th of January, 1486/7.
_Oliver Cantwell_, who, in various entries of the Vatican archives,
receives the names _Cantnel_ and _Wertell_, was advanced to the
episcopate in consistory of the 26th March, 1487, the see being
described as vacant _per obitum Joannis extra curiam_. This
illustrious bishop belonged to the order of St. Dominick, and De
Burgo, in _Hib. Dominic._, pag. 478, gives a letter of Innocent VIII.,
dated 27th March, 1487, authorizing him to be consecrated by any
bishop holding communion with the Holy See. The first years of his
episcopate were disturbed by the rebellion of Lambert Simnel and its
accompanying disorders, and we find published by Rymer a letter of the
above-named Pontiff, Innocent VIII., exhorting the Bishop of Ossory
and the other Prelates of the Irish Church to use their influence in
quelling the rebellious excitement which prevailed throughout our
island. Dr. Cantwell governed the diocese for almost forty years, and
in a very advanced age he passed to his eternal crown on the 9th of
January, 1526/7.
_Milo Fitzgerald_, better known by the family surname of _Baron_,
belonged to the order of St. Augustine, and was prior of the famous
monastery of Inistiogue. On the death of the aged Bishop Cantwell, Dr.
Fitzgerald was advanced to the vacant see, whilst at the same time he
received an apostolic dispensation permitting him to retain his former
priory. He is commemorated in the papers of the _Camera Apostolica_ as
having paid a portion of the diocesan tax on 10th July, 1528; and from
other sources we learn that he presented to his church a marble altar,
and bequeathed to his successors a pastoral staff of silver. By one of
the usual _voluntary surrenders_ of the 31st year of Henry VIII.
(1540), this good bishop was compelled to hand over his priory to the
agents of the crown. The first to enjoy its spoils was Sir Richard
Butler, but on 20th December, 1551, an order was issued by the Lords
of the Council in England, commanding it to be given to _Edward
Seyntloo_ for twenty-one years, “in consideration of his painful and
diligent services in the late wars in Ireland” (Morrin, i. 255).
Nevertheless, in 1567 Queen Elizabeth ordered it to be again leased to
Sir Edmond Butler, together with the monastery of Connall and the
greater part of the possessions of the Abbey of Baltinglass, and thus
were the offerings of the piety of our fathers sacrilegiously
plundered in order to gratify the vanity and the pleasures of the
retainers of the crown.
Bishop Milo ruled the see of Ossory till his death in 1550. From
several letters written by the Lord Deputy immediately after his
demise, we learn what little progress had been made by the so-called
reformation in Ossory at this period. For instance, he thus writes on
the 5th of December, 1550:――
“And now as touching the bishoprick void (of Ossory), it
shall be well done some honest man be placed therein for the
advancement of religion, which, although it hath been here
much talked of these two or three years past, yet hath it
been smally set forth in deed, and perchance if the
disposition of men here were thoroughly known, it would be
thought a thing not easy to be brought to pass”. (Shirley,
_Original Letters_, pag. 46).
It is not easy to understand how this important see was allowed to
remain vacant for more than two years. As yet no record has been
discovered of a canonically appointed successor till the accession of
Queen Mary. But we feel persuaded that, at this time, according to the
unvarying custom of the Holy See, such a successor was appointed by
Rome. Even the king’s letter appointing John Bale to the see, is only
dated 22nd of October, 1552 (Morrin, i. 267). In this letter the king
commands the lord deputy to receive the new bishop as one highly
commended; and yet the order for his consecration was not issued till
the 1st of February following.
Dr. Bale was one of the first founders of the Establishment in our
island: in fact he was for awhile the great pillar of that state
institution, and hence has found many eulogists amongst those who
succeeded him in the enjoyment of its temporalities and rich
benefices. Thus Dr. Mant devotes several pages of his _History of the
Irish Church_ (i. 220, seqq.) to commend “the zeal, assiduity,
activity, and devotion to the reformed faith in opposition to the
Romish errors”, displayed by this apostle of the Established Church.
It will not, therefore, be uninteresting to inquire a little into Dr.
Bale’s true character, although we do not reckon him amongst the
bishops of this see, that thus, whilst we await the _historical_
grounds on which Mr. Whiteside _promises_ to justify that most
monstrous institution which ever provoked a nation’s anathema, we may
supply one faithful sketch at least for the consideration of our
readers.
He was born in Suffolk in 1495, and having embraced a religious life,
passed through the various scientific grades in Norwich and Cambridge.
Notwithstanding his solemn vows, he availed himself of the libertinism
which prevailed in 1530, to take a wife, and adopt the new tenets of
the Reformers. He himself avowed that _a temporal lord_ was the
instrument of his “conversion”, and Nicholson, in his _Historical
Library_, adds, “that in truth his wife Dorothy had as great a hand in
that happy work as the Lord”. More than once he was threatened with
imprisonment, but he always escaped through the protection of Lord
Cromwell, on whose death he fled from the kingdom and took refuge in
Germany. On the accession of Edward VI., he returned to England, and
happening to be presented to the king in Southampton, received at once
a promise of the vacant bishopric. Bale first arrived from England at
Waterford, and he himself attests that “he was forcibly impressed by
the appearance of the old idolatry”;[12] that is, he found there a
fine devoted Catholic people, true to the faith of their fathers. His
consecration in Dublin met with great opposition “_from the popishly
inclined clergy_”, and even the two Irish assistant bishops protested
against the use of the English liturgy on the occasion.[13] During the
six months that he held the temporalities, he tells us that he
“enjoyed great peace”, but at the same time both clergy and people
remained devotedly attached to the Catholic faith: “helpers”, he says,
“I found none among my prebendaries and clergy, but adversaries a
great number”. On the accession of Queen Mary, his episcopal career
was quickly brought to a close in Ossory. “On the 20th day of August”,
he writes, “was the lady Mary with us at Kilkenny proclaimed queen of
England, France, and Ireland, with the greatest solemnity that could
be devised of processions, musters, and disguisings, all the noble
captains and gentlemen thereabout being present. What ado I had that
day with the prebendaries and priests about wearing the cope, crosier,
and mitre in procession, it were too much to write”. On Thursday, the
31st of August, the clergy and people of that Catholic city assembled
to proclaim their faith: as yet no statute or proclamation had been
made, but they could not brook any longer delay: “They rang all the
bells in that cathedral, minster, and parish churches”, (writes Bale),
“they flung up their caps to the battlements of the great temple; they
brought forth their copes, candlesticks, holy water stocks, crosses,
and censers; they mustered forth in general procession most gorgeously
all the town over, with _Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis_, and the rest of
the Latin litany”.
Even here, however, the trials of Dr. Bale were not terminated. A
party of the citizens, having at their head an individual named
_Barnaby Bolger_, surrounded his house, threatening him with death,
unless he ceased to defile by his presence their Catholic county. It
was only by the interposition of the mayor with four hundred soldiers,
that the commotion was partially quelled; at night Bale made his
escape to Dublin. Instead of protection, he found that new dangers
awaited him in that capital of our island; in the disguise of a sailor
he was again obliged to seek safety by flight; sailing for Zealand, as
_Harris_ tells us, he was taken prisoner at sea, and tried for treason
in Cornwall; escaping thence he sailed for the Continent, but was once
more seized by pirates, and sold as a slave;[14] having paid his
ransom, he lived during the following years at Basle and Geneva. On
the accession of Elizabeth he returned to England, but never sought to
be restored to the See of Ossory.
The writings of Bale acquired some celebrity on the continent, where
they were nearly all composed. They are full, however, of the vilest
calumnies against the religious orders and the Holy See, and are
written with characteristic acrimony of style. Hence Fuller, in his
_Catalogue of English Writers_, says: “Bale knew not how to moderate
his passions, and hence deservedly received the agnomen _Biliosus
Balaeus_”. Montacutus also (in _Apparat._, § 83) styles him,
“impotentis linguae et calami scriptor”. Pitseus is still more severe,
for he thus epitomizes Bale’s character, “omnia foedissimus scurra
mendaciis et calumniis replevit”. Andrew Valery, in his preface to the
_Bibliotheca Belgica_, writes, “Joannes Balaeus homo impius quidem,
nominari tamen hoc loco vel ideo potuit ut quis e sordibus gemmas
legat”; and in fine, Gerrard Vossius condemns his bad faith in
treating of the early writers, “unum scio in priorum saeculorum
scriptoribus non raro Balaei fidem claudicare” (_De Historicis
Latinis_, lib. i. cap. 32, pag. 170). Such was the character of this
boasted champion of the established church in our island! But it is
time to return to the successors of saint Canice.
John Thonery, a native of Kilkenny, was nominated to this see by Queen
Mary. The following is the letter of the queen to the lord-deputy,
dated October the 14th, an. 1ᵒ (_i. e._ an. 1553):
“Whereas we perceive the bishoprick of Ossory to be void, we
have thought good, for the learning and integrity of life
which we understand to be in John Thonery, bachelor of
divinity, to nominate and appoint him to the same
bishoprick: these shall be therefore to will and command you
to make letters-patent under our great seal to the said
John, of the bishoprick, and to give further order for his
consecration and installation, according to the order of our
said realm”.
The congé d’elire to the dean and chapter of the cathedral of St.
Canice was issued on December 26th, and the mandate for his
consecration was given on 31st December, the same year, (Morrin, i.
306). This prelate is described as a benefactor to his see, and he is
especially commended for taking care “to have the antient charters of
his church, which otherwise would have perished, transcribed and
sealed with his seal” (Ware, pag. 418). Though summoned to Parliament
as bishop of Ossory in the first year of Elizabeth, and receiving
commissions from the crown even in Elizabeth’s reign (Morrin, i. 370,
412), the government found him inflexible in maintaining the Catholic
faith, and consequently declared that his election from the beginning
was void, and that his acts as bishop could not be valid, since the
heretical Bishop Bale was still living.[15] In this, however, the
government fathers of the Establishment only gave another proof of
their inconsistency, for a few years before, they declared that the
fact of the flight of Dr. Dowdall rendered vacant the see of Armagh,
and they actually proceeded to the consecration of Goodacre for that
see, though Dowdall was still living. There is one great advantage,
however, which we derive from the hostile course pursued by the agents
of Elizabeth in regard to Dr. Thonery; it supplies us with the
clearest proof we could desire of his unflinching devotedness to the
Church of his fathers; and when we find Sir W. Cecil, on the 4th July,
1565, conveying instructions to the lord deputy, that, “Her majesty
understanding that the archbishoprick of Cashel and the bishoprick of
Ossory have been long void, whereby hath grown lack to the
ecclesiastical government there”, would wish to have the sees united,
and one bishop appointed “who might serve as counsellor there”
(Shirley, _Orig. Lett._, 207), we are more than justified in
concluding that our Catholic bishop was faithful to his trust, and
successfully guarded the flock entrusted to his care against all the
inroads of heresy. He passed to the crown of his zeal and labours
about the year 1567.
The next bishop was _Thomas Strange_ (or _Strong_), appointed in
consistory of 28th March, 1582. The following is the consistorial
entry:
“Die 28 Martii, 1582.
“Sua Sanctitas referente Card. Senonensi providit ecclesiae
Ossorien. in Prov. Dubliniensi, a pluribus annis vacanti per
obitum Joannis O’Thonery, in dicta dioecesi defuncti, per
Thomam Strong, Presbyterum Waterfordiensem, Doctorem
Theologiae, in curia praesentem”.
In the Vatican list of the Irish clergy in 1579, Dr. Strong is twice
commemorated, first, under the heading of those who were pursuing
their studies on the Continent we find him described as “Thomas
Strongius, Parisiis, annorum 32”; and again, under the heading: “Qui
sunt in Hibernia fideles operarii vel certe facile eo transmitti
possunt”, we find him thus mentioned in the fourth place: “D. Thomas
Strong, Waterfordiensis: hic tenet utramque linguam Anglicanam et
Hibernicam sed melius Anglicam” (_Ex Archiv. Vatic._) Immediately
after his consecration he set out for the theatre of his missionary
labours; but it was only “in ruffling apparel with gilt rapier and
dagger”,[16] that a bishop could then visit his flock, and so vigilant
were the agents of Elizabeth in his pursuit, that he was soon
compelled to seek refuge in Spain. It is thus the bishop of Killaloe
writes on 29th October, 1584:
“Thomas Ossoriensis episcopus mansit in Hibernia aliquot
mensibus in habitu saeculari, tandem contulit se ex Hibernia
ad Hispaniam”.
We cannot say with certainty whether Dr. Strange was able at any time
subsequently to return to his see. Whilst in Spain he devoted himself
to the sacred ministry as assistant of the bishop of Compostella, and
he died there (according to the new computation) on 20th January,
1602. The contemporary, Malachy Hartry, in his _Triumphalia Sanctae
Crucis_, thus briefly sketches his career:
“Dum in hac sua patria degisset, Catholicae fidei causâ et
ecclesiae permulta et gravissima a persecutoribus sustulit
et in Hispaniam ire cogitur; Compostellae in Gallicia, demum
anno Domini 1601. Januarii die 20ᵒ obiit atque in claustro
Cathedralis Ecclesiae D. Jacobo consecratae, sub marmoreo
lapide, uti vidi cum Strangorum stemmate inciso, terrae
traditur”.