because an Act of State, though not confirmed by Parliamentary sanction, had usually great authority in Ireland; but before any suspicion of sincerity was excited, these graces produced discontent and divisions. All submitted cheerfully to the contribution, which was the price of the favours conferred, but the Recusants assumed to themselves the whole merit, and disregarded the Protestants, who paid above a third part of the public charge; they professed the greatest loyalty, but secretly exulted in the persuasion, that the authority of the Crown in Ireland could not be supported without their assistance, and, urged on by their ecclesiastics, proceeded to the most imprudent excesses. They celebrated their religious worship with public solemnity, and with the full parade of their ostentatious ritual. They seized churches for their service, avowedly and severely executed their ecclesiastical jurisdiction, erected everywhere new monasteries, and even in the city of Dublin established a college for the education of their youth, under the superintendence of a distinguished ecclesiastic. The Protestants, galled by these intemperate proceedings, urged upon the Lord Deputy the necessity of interference. Lord Falkland, indisposed to severity from his natural disposition, and instructed by the English Government to display the greatest moderation in religious matters, was at length compelled to issue a proclamation, importing that "the late intermission of legal proceedings, against Popish pretended titular Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Deans, Vicars-general, Jesuits, Friars, and others, deriving their pretended authority from the see of Rome, in contempt of his Majesty's royal power and authority, had had such an extravagant insolence and presumption in them, that he was necessitated to charge and command them, in his Majesty's name, to forbear the exercise of their Popish rites and ceremonies." This proclamation was not treated even with the common respect due to an Act of State. At Drogheda it was received with peculiar marks of contempt, as appears from a letter of the Lord Deputy to Archbishop Ussher, in which he states: "I have received information both of the unreverend manner of publishing the late pro clamation at Drogheda, and the ill observance of the same since it was published. For the first, that it was done in scornful and contemptuous sort, a drunken soldier being first set up to read it, and then a drunken serjeant of the town; both being made by too much drink incapable of that task (and perhaps purposely put to it), made the same seem like a May game. And for the latter, that there is yet very little obedience shewed thereto by the Friers and Priests; only that they have shut up the foredoor of some of their mass houses; but have as ordinary recourse thither by their private passages, and do as frequently use their superstitious services there, as if there were no command to the contrary; those mass houses being continued in their former use (though perhaps a little more privately) without any demolishing of their altars, &c." The Lord Deputy then complains, in very strong terms, of the Archbishop not having given him information of the proceedings at Drogheda, and censures him for his neglect of duty as a Privy Counsellor. He concludes by calling upon him to take the assistance of Mr. Justice Philpot, and inquire into the circumstances of the case. Archbishop Ussher appears to have been justly offended with this letter, and the Lord Deputy sent him an apology, protesting he did not intend to give his Grace any cause of discontent, and blaming his Secretary. It seems strange, indeed that the Lord Deputy should not require his information from the commander of the garrison at Drogheda, rather than from the Archbishop; more particularly, as the Archbishop had just been visited by a severe domestic calamity, in the sudden death of his learned and excellent brother, Ambrose Ussherd. A few days after, a d Ambrose Ussher, the only brother of the Archbishop, was educated for a short time at Cambridge, and then became a Scholar and Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. His literary attainments were very considerable, particularly in the Eastern languages. The very learned William Eyre mentions him with great respect, in a letter to the Archbishop. "Interea vero loci agnosco me valde obæratum esse et tibi et doctissimo fratri tuo Ambrosio, qui peritissima manu sua quædam in meum usum ex Alcorano Arabice exscripsit."-Epist. 4. vol. xv. pag. 21. He died in March, 1628. The only work he published was, A brief Catechism, very letter of thanks was sent to the Archbishop from the Lord Deputy and Council, for his exertions in investigating some irregular proceedings charged against the titular Bishop of Raphoe, and for ascertaining the proprietors of the conventual houses in that town. They inform His Grace that they had given directions to His Majesty's Attorney-General, "to put up informations in His Majesty's Court of Exchequer against the proprietors and possessors of the houses, that thereby may be made for such further cause of proceeding as the several cases shall require." On the 13th of September, 1629, Archbishop Ussher consecrated, at St. Peter's, Drogheda, the learned and ex well serving for the instruction of youth, published without date. There is a large collection of his works, in manuscript, preserved in the library of Trinity College. The most considerable work was a translation of the Bible into English, with a dedication to James I. It is supposed that this was not printed, in consequence of the translation undertaken by direction of the King. The other works are: Disputationes contra Bellarminum de Capitibus Fidei cum Synagoga Romana controversis. 4 tom. fol. An Arabic Dictionary and Grammar. Sermons on Luke, xvii. 16, Rom. x. 17; on perfect Reformation, preached before the State; on Psalm cxix. 60, against delaying Repentance. Sermons on Matt. xi. 28, 29, 30; Psalm lxxxii. 7; Luke, x. 20. Notæ in Evangelium S. Matthæi. Exposition of the four first Chapters of St. Matthew. Summaria Religionis Christianæ Methodus. The beginning of a work entitled, The greater Catechism. Theologia seu Corpus Theologiæ positivæ cum Catena S. Scripturæ. Miscellanea Theologica. The Reducing of Scripture Doctrine to the Use of the Conscience. An Exposition of St. Paul's Epistle to Philemon. The Examples of Holy Scripture unfolded. Loca in quibus Arabica Geneseos translatio ab Interpretatione LXX. recedit vel in quibus ab ea cum fonte Hebræa discrepat. Loca in quibus Arabica Evangelia differunt a Vulgata Lectione. A Discourse on Acts, xxiii. 1, 2, 3. Texts of Scripture to illustrate those two Articles of the Creed concerning the Holy Ghost and the Catholic Church. Various Forms of Prayer, and several Forms of Blessing, collected from the Liturgy and the Holy Scriptures. The Principles of Religion explained in English, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. The Foundation of the Christian Religion gathered into six Principles. emplary Dr. Bedell, Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh: the assisting bishops were Robert Bishop of Down and Connor, Theophilus Bishop of Dromore, and James Bishop of Clogher. This appointment appears to have been made at the request of the Bishop of London (Laud), who, in one of his letters to Archbishop Ussher, expresses great satisfaction that Mr. Bedells preferment gives your Grace Important Considerations about Popery, collected from different Places. Libri 4. de sacra Eucharistia, et Libri duo contra Papistas. Sermons on Matthew xi. 28, 33, 41, with miscellaneous Observations on other Matters. Notæ in Aratum Solensem, Martialem, Ovidii Epistolas, Elegias, Librum de Arte Amandi, &c. pro illustranda Sacra Scriptura. Notæ in Nicandrum, Plautum, Catullum, Tibullum, Propertium, Græcos Autores, Titum Andronicum, Ennium, Nævium, M. Pacuvium, L. Accium, Annæum Senecam, Manilium, Petronium Arbitrum, pro illustranda S. Scriptura. Notæ in Pindari Carmina. Excerpta ex Prospero Aquitanico Episcopo Regiensi. Of the Kingdom of Great Britain, or a Discourse on the Question of Scotland's Union with England, shewing, 1st. What the Union is; 2dly. Reasons enforcing the Union; 3dly. The supposed Enormities from the Union answered. Laus Astronomiæ. De Usu Spheræ, cum Numero Constellationum. e Mr. Mason, in his Life of Bishop Bedell, has described the Fellows at this period as factious and uncivilized;" and adds, " that it is scarcely to be wondered at, that his gentle spirit should shrink from the certain tempest." That disturbances had arisen in the College, nay, that there never had been peace within its walls, is very certain: but that this was the consequence of the misrule, to which the Fellows had been subjected from the first opening of the College, will appear from the following letter addressed to the Provost, which places them in a very favourable point of view, and proves that they fully appreciated the value of his services: "To the Revd. and worshipful William Bedell, D. D., and Provost of T. Coll. near Dublin these give. At Horminger, near St. Edmonds Bury in Suffolk. The "REV. AND WORSHIPFUL SIR,-Our earnest desire of your speedy return and present residence in the College, as the present condition doth require, doth enforce us to solicit and importune you, as well by letters as by this speciall messenger, to hasten your journey towards us. College affairs and welfare, as depending upon your providence and care in all actions and government thereof, doth require your presence and care more and more. In the time of your absence you know there can be no VOL. I. H such contentment." The Fellows of Trinity College were obliged to petition the King, that they might be allowed lawful admission of students unto this society without your authority and approbation: there can be no conferring of degrees either in the College or University: no election of Fellows or Scholars, no distribution of chambers to such as will resort hither in expectation of your admission. The Fellows are not to proceed against any parties in matters of law without consent of the Provost, for no pleadings in their name can be effectual, and without such course and order the College is like to suffer at their hands this next Term, who have any controversy with it for lands or rents. It is to be considered that the tenants being backward to pay their rents will take occasion to delay their payments, as appeareth by their words and actions in some part since your departure, alledging that no discharge can secure them in the absence of the Provost, and that the power and authority of the Fellows is no sufficient warrant in his absence for their security from future troubles. Some reports have possessed very many in this kingdom that you intend to resign your place of Provost in this College, and to continue your residence in England, which reports, as we hope, are most untrue, and such thoughts are far from your heart, whose zeal and affection doth aim above all things at the glory of God and the good of his Church, both which you cannot any where so much as in this kingdom further and advance, if it please you to continue and persist in your former zealous and godly resolutions: as we know no man so worthy of this government as yourself, so our affection and duty do ever according to your deserts prefer you before all others. Your first endeavours amongst us do assure us of prosperous success in the godly education of the students of this society, and pronounce much future happiness to arise to this Church and Commonwealth, by your longer residence and godly labours. We beseech you that neither expectation of altering the College charter or effecting any other matter at Court may delay your return. The words of discontented men and ignorant relations of some others ought not to divert wise men from their prudent and honest determination, which, we assure us, will be truly verified in you. Mr. John Floyd is departed hence for England without consent or notice of the Fellows: as his attempts have formerly proved, his labours are to hinder the good of this College by his pragmatical and sinister plots. His allegations to you we desire you to refer to full trial at your return. He hath formerly showed himself as ready to deny as to affirm the same things. We desire you as for the glory of God, so for the perpetual good of the College, to persist constant in your desire to advance this society by your presidence and residence therein: there is no place nor people that love you better or more willing and careful to encrease your means. The part of the lecture at Christ Church, which became void by Mr. Parry's departure, is conferred on you: and there is good hope that the benefice of the Treasurership of St. Patrick's Church will shortly devolve unto you, which is compatible with your place in the College as the opinion is of those that know that living best. The more ample relation of these and all other passages we refer to Mr. Travers, |