THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND IN THE Life and Death of GEORGE BROWNE Some time ARCH-BISHOP OF DUBLIN BEING The First of the Romish Clergy that adhered here in Ireland to the Reformation of the Protestant Church of England being then Reformed within this Realm of Ireland Anno 1551. Dublin Printed by Jos Ray at College-green for Jos Howe 's Bookseller at the Kings Arms in Castle-street 1681. TO THE READER BEholding and taking into Consideration the Condition of the Protestant Religion at present it caused me to recollect and unite so many Collections as I could find amongst my Manuscripts for this purpose Chiefly to set forth this small Narrative of the Reformation of the Protestant Faith first established within this Realm of Ireland entituling the same The Life and Death of GEORGE BROWNE sometime Archbishop of Dublin as he was the first of the Clergy here in this Nation that adhered thereunto Also to set forth Romes Contrivances how she and her Emissaries endeavoured to oppose both God and Majestrate purposely to darken the Glorious Beams of the holy Gospel which at that time was but newly like a Plant sprouting out of the Earth recovering of its strength after a hard and tedious winter season having met with many sharp Nips yet through Gods Providence how it gathered strength and hath hitherto flourished in spight of all evil Oppositions whatsoever contrived by Rome and her Adherents to depress the same The Narrative will speak for it self not bringing forth Rayling Accusations which too many do either in Pulpits or in Libels in these days which doth but open a Gap for Satan and his Imps to divide Protestants but plainly laying before you History and Records collected by wise and judicious men whose Memorials to future Ages give a second Breathing though dead yet by their Works still living The Reformation of the CHURCH of IRELAND in the Life and Death of GEORGE BROWNE sometime Archbishop of Dublin c. GEORGE BROWNE Geo. Browne his first Function and when he was Consecrated Archbishop of Dublin by Birth an Englishman and of the Order of St. Augustine in London who by space of time became Provincial of the Fryars of the same Order in England being a man of a meek and peaceable Spirit upon the sad Accident that befell John Allen his Predecessor who had been Archbishop of Dublin a Description of whom may at large be read not only in the Crhonicle called The Second Addition to Giraldus Cambrensis of Ireland but also in Sir James Wares Book titled De Praesulibus Hiberniae Vid. James Ware de Praesulibus Hiberniae page 119. Annales ejus page 193. pag. 118 119. to whom we refer the Reader where he may find that this George was preferred 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 Sarisbury on the 19th of March Anno 1535. Styl Angl. The Reverend James Usher late Primate of Armagh Primate Usher his description of this George Brovvne amongst his Memorials of Ireland gives this holy Father this Description George Browne 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 who 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 Priorys Abbeys and Monasterys 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 Commandments the Lords Prayer and the Creed to be placed being gilded and in Frames about the Altar in the Cathedral of 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 his Chief the Lord Thomas Cromwell then Lord Privy Seal wrote unto George Browne then Archbishop of Dublin signifying from His Highness the King then terming the King by that Title 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 Commissiners for the Execution thereof who in a short space of time wrote to the Lord Privy Seal as follows My most Honoured Lord YOur humble Servant receiving your Mandate as one of His Highness's Commissioners George Cromer then Archbishop of Armagh Against the Supremacy of K. H. the 8th Geo. Browne desires a Parliament to be in Ireland to confirm the Kings Supremacy Geo. Brownes complaint of the Irish Clergies Ignorance The zeal of the Commonalty of Ireland O Neale of the Irish Papists a great Stickler for the Pope against the King 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 this 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 the 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. Septembris 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 Archiepiscopal Chair in Dublin stood up and made this short Speech following My Lords and Gentry of this His Majesties Realm of Ireland BEhold Geo. Browne the Archbishop of Dublin his Speech 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 Vicars And it is much to the Bishop of Romes shame to 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 Brown 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 England which original is in that famous Library of Sir Robert Cotton out of which Sir James Ware that learned Antiquary transcribed the same Within few years after that the Act of Supremacy had past in Ireland Justice Brabazon seconded George Browne we do find by a Letter written by George Browne to the Lord Cromwell complaining of the Clergy and how they fall off from what had past and how the Bishop of Rome and Ireland 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 Geo. Brovvne his complaint to the Lord Privy Seal of the Unstedfastness of the then Irish Clergy 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 Glory and His Highness Honour with your Lordships Instructions The People of this Nation be zealous yet blind and unknowing most of the Clergy 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 crafty to cozen the poor Common people and to dissuade them from following His Highness Orders George my Brother of Armagh doth underhand occasion Quarrels and is not active to execute His Highness's Orders in his Diocess His Complaint of Images and Reliques 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 His Complaint of the Prior of the Holy Trinity and Dean of St. Patricks in Dublin and how the Irish hate the Lord Privy Seal 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 The Duke of Norfolk and the Irish combine together 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 have got Rome's Indulgence to Rebel in Ireland since the Act passed great Indulgences for Rebellion therefore my hopes 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 of April 1538. Your Lordships at Commandment George Browne To the Lord Privy Seal his Honourable good Lordships Ex Antographo Soon after this Letter had been written A Bull from Rome excommunicating those who own'd the Kings Supremacy 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 Nation which Caused 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 in to English is thus I AB from this present hour forward in the presence of
same When the Liturgy of â—he Church â—f England â—as first read 〈◊〉 Dublin King Henry the 8th deceasing and his hopeful Offspring King Edward the 6th 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 sing 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 Anthony George Browne and before 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. K. Edvvards Order for the Liturgy of the Church of England to be read in Ireland 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 misled 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 Indulgences and Pardons for Gain purposely to cherish all evil Vices as Robberies Rebellions Thefts Whoredoms Blasphemy Idolatry c. He our Gratious Father King Henry of happy memory hereupon dissolved all Priorys Monastrys Abbeys and other pretended Religious Houses as being but Nurseries for Vice and Luxury more then 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 Subjeccts to encrease their Knowledge 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 St. 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 other our Secular Parish Priests within that our said Kingdom of Ireland to perfect execute and obey this our Royal Will 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 Knt. our Chief Governour of our Kingdom of Ireland Several Collections from Anthony Martin formerly Bishop of Meath An Assembly called on this Order of King Edwards BEfore Proclamations were issued out Sir Anthony St. Leger upon His 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 consenting 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 his Arguments with George Dowdall Armachanus 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 Liturgy of 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 Sir Anthony his reply to George Dowdall To this Saying of the Archbishops Sir Anthony replyed No your Grace is mistaken for we have two 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 Gerge Dowdall to Sir Anthony Upon this Reply George Dowdall bade Sir Anthony beware of the Clergies Curse Sir Anthony to Geo. Dovvdall 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 George Dovvdall's Reply the Mother Church of Rome Sir Anthony's Return Sir Anthony returned this answer I thought we had been all of the Church of Christ for he calls all true Believers in him his Church and himself the Head thereof George Dovvdall The Archbishop replied and is not St. Peters the Church of Christ Sir Anthony Sir Anthony returned this Answer St. Peter was a Member of Christ Church but the Church was not St. Peters neither was St. Peter but Christ the Head thereof Then George Dowdall the Primate of Armagh rose up George Dovvdall leaves the Assembly and several of the Suffragan 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 Annunciation of our Lady which was the 25th of March it was 1550. Sir Anthony then took up the Order Geo. Brovvne his Speech upon King Edvv. Order and held it forth to George Browne 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 Geo. Brovvne's Speech wrought on several of the Irish Bishops and Clergy to adhere to Protestanism Vid. Plura cum Ja. Waraeo in Praesul Hib. Sir Anthony recalled and Sir James Crofts made Lord Deputy of Ireland George Dovvdall deprived of the Title of Primacy of all Ireland and George Browne though Archbishop of Dublin enjoying that Title A president shewing how it lies in Kings to expulse and to Constitute Archbishops or Bishops making no question why or wherefore as We own Him our true and lawful 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 29th 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 time 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 29th of April 1551. Sir James Crofts upon his coming over endeavoured much for the perswading of George Dowdall to adhere to the Order aforesaid but Dowdall being obstinate his Majesty and the Learned Privy Council then of England for his perversness upon the 20th 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 Edward's Reign and for a certain time after as you shall know further in it 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 consecrated Archbishop of Armagh though George Dovvdall was living 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 Eugenius Bishop of Down and Connor assisting him yet notwithstanding Hugh Goodacres Consecration George Browne then held the Title of Primacy of all Ireland K. Edvvard's Death alters what hath been done before 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 6th of June 1553. The Lady Jane Gray and Q. Mary contend for the Crown 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 Ecclesiastical 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 8th and her Brother King Edward and his Honoured Council Q. Mary recalls what K. H. and K. E. had done 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 Papists these promises vanished and then began the Romish Church not only to undo what King Henry and his Son King Edward had reformed but to prosecute the Reformers and Reformed with Fire and Faggot Sir James Crofts recall'd and G. Dovvdall restored But to our purpose upon the 11th of November Anno 1553. she recalled Sir James Crofts and sent over Sir Anthony St. Leger Lord Deputy into Ireland This Sir Anthony had not been half a year Chief Governour of Ireland before Queen Mary revoked the Title of Primacy from George Browne expulsing Hugh Goodacre out of the Archbishoprick of Armagh and recalling George Dowdall to his See and restoring him to the Primacy of all Ireland as formerly which Title hath ever since stood firm in Armagh without any Revocation either by Queen Elizabeth or by any of her Successors George Browne upon this Revocation was by George Dowdall expulsed George Browne by George Dowdall expulsed and not thought fit to continue in his See of Dublin as being a married man and it is thought had he not been married he had been expulsed having appeared so much for the Reformation in both these former Kings days upon the expulsing of this George Browne all the Temporalities belonging to the Archbishoprick were disposed of unto Thomas Lockwood then Dean of Christ Church in Dublin It having been an antient Custom ever upon the Translation or Death of any of those Archbishops to deposite the Temporalities into the hands of the Priors formerly of that Cathedral when it was a Priory and called by the name of the Cathedral of the Blessed Trinity And it is observable the last Prior became the first Dean upon the alteration as aforesaid The See of Dublin after this Expulsion lay vacant for two years or thereabouts until Hugh Corrin alias Corwine was placed therein Hugh Corwine succeeded G. Browne in the Archbishoprick of Dublin This Hugh was borne in Westmorland a Doctor of the Law being formerly Archdeacon of Oxford and Dean of Hereford he was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin in the Cathedral of St. Pauls in London on the 8th of September Anno 1555. He after