_Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum Historiam Illustrantia; quae ex
Vaticani, Neapolis, ac Florentiae Tabularis depromsit, et Ordine
chronologico disposuit_ Augustinus Theiner, Presbyter Cong. Oratorii,
Tabulariorum Vaticanorum Praefectus, etc. Folio, Romae, Typis Vaticanis,
1864. One Volume folio, pages 624.
The notice of the See of Ardagh in the sixteenth century, printed in our
opening number, has probably prepared our readers to estimate the value of
the important series of documents upon which it is founded. We purposed to
urge strongly upon the clergy of Ireland the duty of supporting generously
the distinguished scholar, who in his love of Ireland has undertaken the
costly and laborious work of publishing all the manuscript materials of
Irish history which are preserved in the archives of the Vatican, and has
already given in the opening volume an earnest of their extent, as well as
of their historical value. We are happy, however, to find that what we had
desired and intended, has already been put in a practical form, and that
an effort has been made to forward among the friends of Irish history the
sale of this most interesting collection. We cannot, therefore, we
believe, advance more effectually the object which we have at heart, than
by transferring to our pages the following notice, which has been printed
for private circulation:—
“Monsignor Theiner’s Collection from the Secret Archives of the Vatican,
of Naples, and of Florence, is unquestionably the most important
contribution to the history of the Church in these countries since the
great historical movement of the seventeenth century. It comprises upwards
of a thousand original documents, Pontifical Bulls, Briefs, and Letters,
Consistorial Acts, Inquisitions, Reports, etc., ranging from the
pontificate of Honorius III., 1216, to that of Paul III., 1547.
“These papers, in the main, relate to the history of Ireland and of
Scotland, especially of the former country. There is hardly a diocese in
Ireland of which they do not contain some notice, and in many cases, as,
for instance, that of Ardagh, already noticed by the learned editor of the
Essays of the lamented Dr. Matthew Kelly, but traced in detail in the
_Irish Ecclesiastical Record_, No. I., pp. 13-17, they serve to fill up
important breaks in the existing records, and to correct grave and vital
errors in the received histories.
“But, in addition to the Irish and Scotch documents, the volume contains
many of wider and more general interest; among which it will be enough to
specify a single series—nearly a hundred unpublished letters of Henry
VIII., relating chiefly to the negociations regarding the divorce, which
they present in a light almost completely new.
“This volume is printed entirely at the expense of the distinguished
editor. It is meant as an experiment; and, should the sale, for which he
must mainly rely upon the countries chiefly interested, suffice to cover
the bare cost of publication, it is his intention to continue the series
from the archives of the Vatican, down through the still more interesting,
and, for Irish history, more obscure, as well as more important, period of
Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and James I.
“Mgr. Theiner has requested his friend, Rev. Dr. Russell, President of St.
Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to receive and transmit to Rome any orders
far the volume with which he may be favoured.”