Historical Collections OF THE CHURCH IN IRELAND DURING The Reigns of K. Henry VIII Edward VI. and Q. Mary WHEREIN Are several material Passages omitted by other Historians concerning the Manner how that Kingdom was first converted to the Protestant Religion and how by the special Providence of God Dr. Cole a bloody Agent of Q. Mary was prevented in his Designs against the Protestants there Set forth in the Life and Death of GEORGE BROWNE sometime Arcbishop of Dublin who was the first of the Romish Clergy in Ireland that threw off the Popes Supremacy and forsook the Idolatrous Worship of of Rome with a Sermon of his on that Subject Printed at London and sold by Randal Tayler 1681. The Reformation of the Church of Ireland in the Life and Death of GEORGE BROWNE sometime Archbishop of Dublin c. GEORGE BROWNE by Birth an Englishman of the Order of St. Augustine in London and Provincial of the Fryars of the same Order in England being a Man of a meek and peaceable Spirit was preferr'd to the Archiepiscopal See of Dublin by King Henry the Eighth and consecrated before his Arrival into Ireland by Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury two other Bishops assisting him viz. John then Bishop of Rochester and Nicholas then Bishop of Sarubury on the 19th of March Anno 1535. The Reverend James Vsher late Primate of Armagh amongst his Memorials of Ireland gives this holy Father this Description George Browne was a Man of a cheerful Countenance in his Acts and Deeds plain down right to the poor merciful and compassionate pitying the state and condition of the Souls of the People advising them when he was Provincial of the Augustine Order in England to make their applications soly to Christ which Advice coming to the Ears of Henry the 8th he became a Favourite and upon the decease of John Allen late Archbishop of Dublin became his Successor within five years after that he had enjoyed that See he much about the time that King Henry the 8th began to demolish the Priories Abbeys and Monasteries formerly Built by the Romish Clergy within these His Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland caused all Superstitious Reliques and Images to be removed out of the two Cathedrals in Dublin and out of the rest of the Churches within his Diocess he caused the Ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Creed to be placed being gilded and in Frames about the Altar in the Cathedral of christ-Christ-Church in Dublin he was the first that turned from the Romish Religion of the Clergy here in Ireland to embrace the Reformation of the Church of England for which Fact he was by Queen Mary laid aside and his Temporality taken from him yet he patiently endured Affliction for the Truth to the end Upon the Reformation of King Henry 8th in England and at his Renouncing the Papal Power or Supremacy of Rome the Lord Thomas Cromwell then Lord Privy Seal wrote unto George Browne then Archbishop of Dublin signifying from his Highness then terming the King by that Title that he was fallen absolutely from Rome in Spiritual matters within his Dominion of England and how it was his Royal Will and Pleasure to have his Subjects there in Ireland to obey his Commands as in England nominating the said George Browne Archbishop one of his Commissioners for the Execution thereof who in a short space of time wrote to the Lord Privy Seal as followes My mosâ— Honoured Lord YOur humble Servant receiving your Mandate as one of His Highness's Commissioners hath endeavoured almost to the danger and hazard of this temporal life to procure the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation to due obedience in owning of his Highness their supream Head as well Spiritual as Temporal and do find much oppugning therein especially by my Brother Armagh who hath been the main oppugner and so hath withdrawn most of his Suffragans and Clergy within his See and Jurisdiction he made a Speech to them laying a Curse on the people whosoever should own his Highness Supremacy saying that Isle as it is in their Irish Chronicles Insula sacra belongs to none but to the Bishop of Rome and that it was the Bishop of Romes Predecessors gave it to the Kings Ancestors There be two Messengers by the Priests of Armagh and by that Archbishop now lately sent to the Bishop of Rome Your Lordship may inform his Highness that it is convenient to call a Parliament in this Nation to pass the Supremacy by Act for they do not much matter his Highness's Commission which your Lordship sent us over This Island hath been for a long time held in Ignorance by the Romish Orders and as for their Secular Orders they be in a manner as ignorant as the people being not able to say mass or pronounce the Words they not knowing what they themselves say in the Roman Tongue the Common people of this Isle are more zealous in their Blindness than the Saints and Martyrs were in Truth at the beginning of the Gospel I send to you my very good Lord these things that your Lordship and his Highness may consult what is to be done It is feared O Neal will be ordered by the Bishop of Rome to oppose your Lordships Order from the Kings Highness for the Natives are much in Numbers within his Powers I do pray the Lord Christ to defend your Lordship from your Enemies Dublin 4. Kalend. Decembris 1535. The Year following a Parliament was called in Ireland the Lord Leonard Grey being then King Henry's Vice-Roy of that Nation in which George Browne then being not many Months above a Year in his Archipiscopal Chair in Dublin stood up and made this short Speech following My Lords and Gentry of this His Majesties Realm of Ireland BEhold your Obedience to your King is the Observing of your God and Saviour Christ for He that High Priest of our Souls paid Tribute to Cesar though no Christian greater Honour then surely is due to your Prince His Highness the King and a Christian one Rome and her Bishops in the Fathers days acknowledged Emperors Kings and Princes to be Supream over their Dominions nay Christs own Viâ—ans And it is as much to the Bishop of Romes shame te deny what their precedent Bishops owned therefore his Highness claims but what he can justifie the Bishop Elutherius gave to St. Lucius the first Christian King of the Britains so that I shall without scrupling vote his Highness King Henry my Supream over Ecclesiastick matters as well as Temporal and Head thereof even of both Isles England and Ireland and that without Guilt of Conscience or sin to God and he who will not pass this Act as I do is no true Subject to His Highness This Speech of George Browne startled the other Bishops and Lords so that at last through great difficulty it passed upon which Speech Justice Brabazon seconded him as appears by his Letter to the Lord Thomas Cromwell then Lord Privy Seal of
pardon my opinion for I write it to your Lordship as a Warning Dublin May 1538 Your humble and true Servant George Browne To the Lord Privy Seal with speed Upon the Feast of St. John Baptist following the said Geoâ—ge Browne seized on one Thady ô Brine one of the Order of â—t Francis who had Papers from Rome as follows being sent to the Lord Privy Seal by a Special Messenger My Son ô Neal THou and thy Fathers were all along faithful to the Mother Church of Rome His Holiness Pau◠〈◊〉 Pâ—â—e and the Council of the holy Fathers there have laâ—ely found out a Prophecy there remaining of one St. Lacâ—rianus an 〈◊〉 Bishop of Cashell wherein he saith That the Mother Church of Rome falleth when in Ireland the Catholic faith is ovâ—â—â—â—me Therefore for the Glory of the Mother Church the Honour of St. Peter and your own Secureness suppress Heresie and his Holiness's Enemies for when the Roman Faith there perisheth the See of Rome falleth also therefore the Council of Cardinals have thought fit to encourage your Country of Ireland as a sacred Island being certified whilst the Mother Church hath a Son of worth as your self and of those that shall succour you and joyn therein that she will never fall but have more or less a holding in Britain in spite of fate Thus having obeyed the Order of the most sacred Council we recommend your Princely Person to the holy Trinity of the Blessed Virgin of St. Peter St. Paul and of all the heavenly Host of Heaven Amen Romae 4 Kalend. May 1538. Episcopus Metensis Upon further Examinations and searches made this Thade ô Birue was pillor'd and confined a prisoner until His Highness's further Order for his Tryal but News coming over that he must be Hanged he made himself away in the Castle of Dublin on the Eve of the Feast of St. James yet his dead Corps was carried to the Gallows Green and hanged up and after there buried but it was said by the Register of St. Francis Monastry of Dublin that they brought him from thence and buried him in that Monastry George Brown having enjoyed the See of Dublin seven years or thereabouts King Henry the 8 th upon the Dissolution of the Abbeys Priorys and Monastrys here in Ireland changed the Priory of the Blessed Trinity of Dublin into a Deanery and Chapters since which Mutation it hath generally bore the Name of Christ Church Upon this Alteration as it appears upon Record this Cathedral consisted of a Dean and Chapters a Chanter a Treasurer six Vicars Chorals and two Singing Boys allowing to them two 45 l. 6 s English durame bene placito which Sum his Daughter Queen Mary confirmed for ever having confirmed the Deanery yet with Alterations as she was a Romanist This Catheral continued after this said form though not in Popery even until King James his days who then altered all what King Henry and his Daughter had done and upon this second Alteration he constituted a Dean a Chanter a Chancellor a Treasurer three Prebends six Vicars Chorals and four Singing Boys ordering likewise that the Archdeacon of Dublin should have a Place in the Quire and a Vote in the Chapters As for a further Description of this Cathedral we shall omit it having reserved the same for a large Narrative of the sald Cathedral in a Book which is ready for the Press entituled The Amiquities of the City of Dublin King Henry the 8 th deceasing and his hopeful Offspring King Edward the 6 th succeeding within a short space after his Royal Fathers Death that hopeful Prince by the Advice of his Privy Council began to consider what good Effects the Translation of the holy Bible had done also how much it had enlightened the Understanding of his Subjects they altered the Liturgy Book from what King Henry had formerly printed and established causing the same to be printed in English commanding the same to be read and sung in the several Cathedrals and Parish Churches of England for the common Benefit of the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and that his Subjects of Ireland might likewise participate of the same Sweetness he sent over Orders to his Vice Roy Sir Anthony St. Leger then being Lord Deputy of that Nation that the same be forthwith there in Ireland observed within their several Bishopricks Cathedrals and Parish Churches which was first observed in Christ Church at Dublin on the Feast of Easter 1551. before the said Sir Antbony George Browne and the Mayor and Bayliffs of Dublin John Lockwood being then Dean of the said Cathedral The Translation of the Copy of the Order for the Liturgy of the Church of England to be read in Ireland runs as follows EDWARD by the Grace of God c. Whereas our Gratious Father King Henry the 8th of happy memory taking into consideration the Bondage and heavy Yoak that his true and faithful Subjects sustained under the Iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome as also the Ignorance the Commonalty were in how several fabulous Stories and lying Wonders missed our Subjects in both our Realms of England and Ireland grasping thereby the means thereof into their hands also dispensing with the Sins of our Nations by their Indulgenses and Pardons for Gain purposely to cherish all evil Vices as Robberies Rebellions Thefts Whoredoms Blasphemy Idolatry c. He our Grations Father King Henry of happy memory hereupon dissolbed all Priors Monastrys Abbeys and other pretended Religious Houses as being but Nurseries for Vice or Luxury more than for sacred Learning He therefore that it might more plainly appear to the World that those Orders had kept the light of the Gospel from his People he thought it most fit and convenient for the Preservation of their Souls and Bodies that the holy Scriptures should be Translated Printed and placed in all Parish Churches within his Dominions for his faithful Subjects to encrease their knowledg of God and of our Saviour Iesus Christ We therefore for the general Benefit of our well-beloved Subjects Vnderstandings when ever assembled or met together in the said several Parish Churches either to pray or to hear Prayers read that they may the better joyn therein in Vnity Hearts and Voice have caused the Liturgy and Prayers of the Church to be translated into our Mother Tongue of this Realm of England according to the Assembly of Divines lately met within the same for that purpose We therefore Will and Command as also Authorize you Sir Anthony S. Leger knight our Vice-Roy of that our kingdom of Ireland to give special notice to all our Clergy as well Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons as others our Secular Parish Priests within that our said Kingdom of Ireland to perfect execute and obey this our Royal Will and Pleasure accordingly Given at our Mannor of Greenwich Febr. 6. in the Fifth year of our Reign E. R. To our trusty and well-beloved Sir Anth. St. Leger Knight our Chief Governour of our Kingdom of Ireland
Several Collections from Anthony Martin formerly Bishop of Meath BEfore Proclamations were issued out Sir Anthony St. Leger upon this Order called an Assembly of the Archbishops and Bishops together with other of the then Clergy of Ireland in which Assembly he signified unto them as well His Majesties Order aforesaid as also the Opinions of those Bishops and Clergy of England who had adhered unto the Order saying that it was his Majesties Will and Pleasure confenting unto their serious Considerations and Opinions then acted and agreed on in England as to Ecclesiastical matters that the same be in Ireland so likewise celebrated and performed Sir Anthony St. Leger having spoken to this effect George dowdall who succeeded George Cromer in the Primacy of Armagh stood up who through his Romish Zeal to the Pope laboured with all his power and force to oppose the Liturgyof the Church that it might not be read or sung in the Church saying then shall every illiterate fellow read Service or Mass as he in those days termed the word Service To this Saying of the Archbishops Sir Anthony replyed No your Grace is mistaken for we have too many illiterate Priests amongst us already who neither can pronounce the Latine nor know what it means no more than the Common people that hear them but when the people hear the Liturgy in English they and the Priest will then understand what they pray for Upon this Reply George dowdall bade Sir Anthony beware of the Clergles Curse Sir Anthony made answer I fear no strange Curse so long as I have the Blessing of that Church which I believe to be the true one The Archbishop again said can there be a truer Church than the Church of Saint Peter the Mother Church of Rome Sir Anthony returned this answer I thought we had bin all of the Church of Christ for he calls all true believers in him his Church and himself the Head thereof The Archbishop replied and is not St. Peter the Church of Christ Sir Anthony returned this Answer St. Peter was a Member of Christs Church but the Church was not St. Peters neither was St. Peter but Chrise the Head thereof Then George Dowdall the Primate of Armagh rose up and several of the Suftragan Bishops under his Jurisdiction saving only Edward Staples then Bishop of Meath who tarried with the rest of the Clergy then assembled on the Kalends of March according to the old stile 1551. but if we reason as from the Annunication of our Lady which was the 25 th of March it was 1550. Sir Anthony then took up the Order and held it forth to George Browns Archbishop of Dublin who standing up received it saying this Order good Brethren is from our Gracious King and from the rest of our Brethren the Fathers and Clergy of England who have consulted herein and compared the holy Scriptures with what they have done unto whom I submit as Jesus did to Caesar in all things just and lawful making no question why or wherefore as We own Him our true and lawfull King After this several of the meeker or most moderate of the Bishops and Clergy of Ireland cohered with George Browne the Archbishop of Dublin amongst whom Edward Staples Bishop of Meath who was put out from his Bishoprick for so doing in Queen Mary's days on the 29 th of June 1554. John Bale who on the second of February 1552. was Consecrated Bishop of Ossory for his fidelity and afterwards by Queen Mary expulsed Also Thomas Lancaster Bishop of Kildare who was at the same timâ— put from his Bishoprick with several others of the Clergy being all expulsed upon Queen Maries coming to the Crown When these passages had passed Sir Anthony was in a short time after recalled for England and Sir James Crofts of Herefordshire Knight placed Chief in his stead who began his Government from the 29 th of April 1551. Sir James Crofts upon his coming over endeavoured much for the perswading of George Dowdall to adhere to the Order asoresaid but Dowdall being obstinate his Majesty and the Learned Privy Council then of England for his perversness upon the 20 th of October following took away the Title of Primate of all Ireland from him and conferred the same on George Browne then Archbishop of Dublin and to his Successors by reason that he was the first of the Irish Bishops who embraced the Order for Establishing of the English Liturgy and Reformation in Ireland which place he enjoyed during the remainder of King Edwards's Reign and for a certain time after as you shall know further in its due course and place Alterations following one after another even upon this Reformation of the Church of England and the Title of Primacy being disposed of as we have already mentioned unto George Brown aforesaid some Writers saying that George dowdall was banished others that he was not but went voluntary of his own will yet not to dispute the case another Archbishop was consecrated in lieu of him though then living by which it was then held lawful as also that constituting of Archbishops and Bishops was in the power of Kings and not in the power of Popes or of the Bishop of Rome which would be much to the Abasement of the Powers of the Crown of England ever to resign or to acknowledge to the contrary Hugh Goodacre Bachelour of Divinity was consecrated Archbishop of Armagh by the said George Browne together with John Bale Bishop of Ossory already mentioned in Christ Church in Dublin on the second of February Anno 1552. Thomas Bishop of Kildare and Tugenius Bishop of Down and Connon assisting him yet notwithstanding Hugh Goodacre's Consecration George Browne then held the Title of Primacy of all Ireland This Reformation and Alteration having not time to settle or to take root it was soon quashed and pulled down by that lamentable loss of that hopeful Prince King Edward the Sixth who died at Greenwich the 6 th of June 1553. Upon King Edward's Decease the Council having met to consult together upon the Affairs of these Dominions as also how they might confirm and establish what they had already ordered and enacted as well in Ecclsieastical matters as Temporal a Division soon sprung up some being for the Choice of the Lady Jane Gray others for Queen Mary at last upon conclusion Mary the Kings Sister was voted Queen upon the Proposals and Promises which she made to the Council to confirm all that had been perfected by her Father King Henry the 8 th and her Brother King Edward and his Honoured Council After she had been crowned and enthroned she for the space of three or four months seemed moderate to the Protestant Reformers yet all that while combining with Rome and her Emissaries but having accomplished her Designs she revoked her fair Promises which with Papists is a Rule esteeming it no sin to break Contracts or Covenants with Hereticks and Protestants numbred with such sort of People especially with
England which original is in that famous Library of Sir Robert Cotton out of which Sir James Ware that learned Antiquary tanscribed the same Within few years after that the Act of Supremacy had past in Ireland we do find a Letter written by George Browne to the Lord Cromwell complaining of the Clergy how they fell off from what had past and how the Bishop of Rome had contrived matters against the then Reformation Collected by Sir James Ware out of an old Registry some time in the custody of Adam Loftus Hugh Corwins Successor and also Archbishop of Dublin Right Honourable and my singular good Lord. I Acknowledge my bounden Duty to your Lordships Good will to me next to my Saviour Christs for the Place I now possess I pray God give me his Grace to execute the same to his G lory and his Highness's Honour with your Lordships Instructions The People of this Nation be zealous yet blind and unknowing most of the lergy as your Lordship hath had from me before being ignorant and not able to speak right Words in the Mass or Liturgy as being not skilled in the Latin Grammar so that a Bird may be taught to speak with as much sense as several of them do in this Country These sorts though not Scholars yet are crafty to cozen the poor Common People and to dissuade them from following his Highness's Orders George my Brother of Armagh doth underhand occasion Quarrels and is not active to execute his Highness's Orders in his Diocess I have observed your Lordships Letter of Commission and do find several of my Pupils leave me for so doing I will not put others in their Livings till I do know your Lordships Pleasure for it is meet I acquaint you first the Romish Reliques and Images of both my Cathedrals in Dublin of the Holy Trinity and of St. Patricks took off the Common People from the true Worship but the Prior and the Dean find them so sweet for their Gain that they heed not my Words Therefore send in your Lordships next to me an Order more full and a Chide to them and their Canons that they might be removed Let the Order be that the Chief Governours may assist me in it The Prior and Dean have written to Rome to be encouraged and if it be not hindred before they have a Mandate from the Bishop of Rome the People will be bold and then tugg long before his Highness can submit them to his Graces Orders The Country Folk here much hate your Lordship and despitefully call you in their Irish Tongue the Blacksmiths Son The Duke of Norfolk is by Armagh and that Clergy desired to assist them not to suffer his Highness to alter Church Rules here in Ireland As a Friend I desire your Lordship to look to your Noble Person for Rome hath a great kindness for that Duke for it is so talked here and will reward him and his Children Rome hath great Favours for this Nation purposely to oppose His Highness and so having got since the Act passed great Indulgences for Rebellion therefore my hope is lost yet my Zeal is to do according to your Lordships Orders God keep your Lordship from your Enemies here and in England Dublin the 3d. Kalends April 1538. Your Lordships at Commandement George Browne To the Lord Privy Seal his Honourable good Loraships Ex Autographo Soon after this Letter had been written News came to the Castle of Dublin that the Bishop of Rome had sent over a Bull of Excomunication of all those who had or shall own the Kings Supremacy within the Irish Nations whichcaused the Archbishop to write accordingly Right Honourable MY Duty premised it may please your Lordship to be advertised sithence my last there has come to Armagh and his Clergy a private Commission from the Bishop of Rome prohibiting His Gratious Highness's people here in this Nation to own his Royal Supremacy and joyning a Curse to all them and theirs who shall not within forty days confess to their Confessors after the publishing of it to them that they have done amiss in so doing the substance as our Secretary hath translated the same into English is thus I A B. from this present hour forward in the presence of the holy Trinity of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God of St. Peter of the holy Apostles Archangels Angels Saints and of all the holy Host of Heaven shall and will be always obedient to the holy See of St. Peter of Rome and to my holy Lord the Pope of Rome and his Successors in all things as well spiritual as temporal not consenting in the least that his holiness shall lose the least Title or Dignity belonging to the Papacy of our Mother Church of Rome or to the Regality of St. Peter I do vow and swear to maintain help and assist the just Laws Liberties and Rights of the Mother Church of Rome I do likewise promise to confer to defend and promote if not personally yet willingly as in ability able either by Advice Skill Estate Mony or otherwise the Church of Rome and her Laws against all whatsoever resisting the same I further how to oppugn all Hereticks either in making or setting forth Edicts or Commands contrary to the Mother Church of Rome and in case any such to be moved or composed to resist it to the uttermost of my power with the first convenience and opportunity I can possible I count and value all Acts made or to be made by Heretical Powers of no force or worth or be practised or obeyed by my self or by any other Son of the Mother Church of Rome I do further declare him or her Father or Mother Brother or Sister Son or Daughter Husband or Wife Vncle or Aunt Nephew or Neece Kinsman or Kinswoman Master or Mistress and all others nearest or dearest Relations Friend or Acquaintance whatsoever accursed that either do or shall hold for the time to come any Ecclessastical or Civil power above the Authority of the Mother Church or that do or shall obey for the time to come any of her the Mother of Churches Opposers or Enemies or contrary to the same of which I have here sworn unto so God the Blessed Virgin St. Peter St. Paul and the holy Evangelists help c. His Highness Vice Roy of this Nation is of little or no power with the old Natives therefore your Lordship will expect of me no more than I am able This Nation is poor in Wealth and not sufficient now at present to oppose them It is observed that ever since His Highness's Ancestors had this Nation in possession the old Natives have been craving Foreign Powers to Assist and Rule them and now both English Race and Irish begin to oppose your Lordships Orders and do lay aside their National old Quarrels which I fear will if any thing will cause a Foreigner to invade this Nation I pray God I may be a false Prophet yet your good Lordship must
decency with mildness and in order servently crying unto God Open thou mine eyes that I may behold the wondrous things out of thy Law then should you rightly keep the Law and the Prophets It is the part of a Prince to be wise for he hath a great Charge to Rule and govern a Nation Your late King foreseeing Rome and her Pope's intentions how that he intended to inslave his Subjects and to keep them in the state of ignorance consulted with the Learned of his Realm knowing that Youth might quickly be wrought on therefore he prepared before his death a wise and Learned sort of Counsellors for his Sons Overseers not trusting to one or two but to several that he might the better Rule his people whose eyes the Lord God Almighty hath opened betimes to behold his wondrous works Though the words of my Text be plainly thus Open thou mine eyes the meanest of you that hear me have eyes but the true meaning of the words is Endue us with understanding for a Fool hath eyes and sees men women beasts birds and other things but yet wants understanding So when we say Open thou our eyes we desire the Lord God to instruct and teach us the knowledge of his Laws When you were lately led in blindness your eyes beheld the Images that then stood in several of the Monasteries and Churches until they were removed yet all this while were your understandings blinded because ye believed in them and placed your trust in them Suppose an Artist or Workman make an Image either of Man or Woman and at last a Clergy man of Rome give it such a name calling it St. Peter or St. Paul or St. Mary or St. Anne must not that man though he behold his own handy work and knows in his heart that it was his own work blind and void of and understanding of the Law of God and of the wondrous things that are contained in the Law of the Lord Yes surely he must be blind and void of Reason and of the true Faith that would worship the same The Workman carved the Eyes but these Eyes see not he likewise carved the Ears but they hear not the Nose and it smells not the Mouth and it neither breaths nor speaks the Hands they feel not the Feet but they stand stâ—â—k still How therefore can your prayers be acceptable unto this Image that sees you not approaching towards it that hears you not when you pray to it that smells not the sweet smells be they of Myrrhe or Frankincense burning before it How can it absolve you when the mouth is not able to say Thy sins are forgiven thee And if you place a certain sum of Money in the palm of the hand of that Image come you again to morrow the Money it is true shall find a customer but the Image never the wiser who took it and if you desire to have it come unto you it cannot without help therefore the Workman that made this Image is as blind as deaf as dumb and as void of sense as the Image it self and so be ye all that put your trust in them Therefore of late new Artificers by springs have made artificial ones which for a certain time shall move and ye shall believe it to be real and certain But beware good people for they be but lying wonders purposely that ye may break the Law of God And thus hath the Devil devised a lying wonder that ye may be deluded to break the Law of the Lord which is Thou shalt not make unto thy self any Graven Image O Lord open thou our Eyes our Ears and our Understanding that we may behold the wondrous things that are in thy Law The Law of God is an undefiled Law Oh! why should we be so wicked then as to defile that Law which the Almighty God hath made so pure without blemish Jesus came to fulfil the Law and not to abolish the Law But there are a new fraternity of late sprung up who call themselves Jesuits which will deceive many who are much after the Scribes and Pharisees manner Amongst the Jews they shall strive to abolish the truth and shall come very near to do it for these sorts will turn themselves into several forms with the Heathen an Heathenist with Atheists an Atheist with the Jews a Jew and with the Reformers a Refomade purposely to know your intenations your minds your hearts and your inclintions and thereby bring you at last to be like the fool that said in his heart there was no God These shall spread over the whole World shall be admitted into the Council of Princes and they never the wiser Charming of them yea making your Princes reveal their hearts and the secrets therein unto them and yet they not perceive it which will happen from falling from the Law of God by neglect of fulfilling of the Law of God and by winking at their sins yet in the end God to justifie his Law shall suddenly cut off this Society even by the hands of those who have most succour'd them and made use of them so that at the end they shall become odious to all Nations They shall be worse than Jews having no resting place upon the Earth and then shall a Jew have more favour than a Jesuite Now to arm you all good Christians against these things that are to come lest ye be led into temptation Cry unto the Lord your God and heartily pray that he would be so merciful unto you as to open the eyes of your understanding that you may behold the wonders and pleasantness that is in his Law Which God of his mercy grant that you may all do Thus concluding with the Acts and Deeds of this Reverend Father we shall end with Queen Maries Designs how she intended to have persecuted the Protestants in Ireland but by Providence prevented as you shall further know by this following Relation being averred by several sufficient persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Qu. Mary having dealt severely with the Protestants in England about the latter end of her Reign signed a Commission foâ— to take the same course with them in Ireland and to executâ— the same with greater force she nominates Doctor 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 Here 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 in Dublin was much troubled at the Doctors words but watching her convenient time whilst the Mayor took his leave and the Doctor complementing 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 Waterside wind and Weather serving him he sails towards Ireland and landed on the Seventh of October 1558. at Dublin then coming to the Castle the Lord Fitz Walters being 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 Deputv 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 troubled in his mind went away and returned into England and coming to the Court obtained another Commission but staying for a wind at the waterside news came unto him that the Queen was dead and thus God preserved the Protestants in Ireland This being a Copy of Richard Earl of Cork his Memorials as also of Henry Vsher sometime Lord Primate of Armagh being also entred amongst Sir James Wares Manuscripts who hath often heard the late James Vsher Nephew to the said Henry and also Primate of Armagh avert the same and wondred that Mr. Fox had not inserted it in his Acts and Monuments there is yet living a reverend Father of the Church Henry now Lord Bishop of Meath who can affirm this Relation from the said James Vsher late Lord Primate of all Ireland Upon the recalling of the Lord Fitz Walters into England Queen Elizabeth who succeeded her Sister dscoursing with the said Lord concerning several passages in Ireland amongst other discourses he related the aforesaid passage that had hapned in Ireland which so delighted the Queen that Her Majesty sent for the good Woman named Elizabeth Edmonds but by her Husband named 〈…〉 gave her a Pension of Forty pound durantâ— vitae for saving 〈◊〉 Protestant Subjects of Ireland FINIS George Cromer then Arch bishop of Armagh The form of their Confession to their Popish Priest