Specimen of a" Covenanter's" Bull of deposition of a king of England. of King Charles the First of England. And it may likewise be very strikingly illustrated from the sentiments expressed in a Declaration, publicly set forth by some of the Covenanting party in Scotland a few years afterwards. A portion of it, as a specimen of the views of that party on the subject in question, is here subjoined. The original document itself was read aloud, and then posted up at the cross of Sanquhar, by Mr. James Renwick, a most eminent preacher and leader of the Covenanters, on the 28th of May, 1685. "A few wicked and unprincipled men having proclaimed James Duke of York, though a professed Papist and excommunicated person, to be king of Scotland, &c., we the contending and suffering remnant of the pure Presbyterians of the Church of Scotland, do here deliberately, jointly and unanimously protest against the foresaid proclamation, in regard that it is choosing a a murderer to be a governor, who hath shed the blood of the saints; the height of confederacy with an idolater, which is forbidden in the law of God; contrary to the Declaration of the Assembly of 1649, and to many wholesome and laudable acts of Parliament; and inconsistent with the safety, faith, conscience, and Christian liberty of a Christian people to choose a subject of Antichrist to be their supreme magistrate. And further, seeing bloody Papists, the subjects of Antichrist, are become so hopeful, bold, and confident under the perfidy of the said James Duke of York, and Popery itself like to be intruded again upon these covenanted lands; and an open door being made thereunto by its accursed and abjured harbinger Prelacy, which these three kingdoms are equally sworn against, we do in like manner protest against all kinds of Popery in general, and particular heads, &c. &c. &c," all which expressions of sentiment Mr. James Renwick's biographer justifies by asking, "Was not the Revolution Settlement founded on the very principles contained in these declarations? And did not the whole nation do, in 1688, on a larger scale, what the Covenanters did on a small scale?"—Life of Mr. Renwick, pp. 88, 89. Vid. No. IV. sup. between this from Rome. We have neither space, wish, nor need to en- The parallel ter on these questions here. Only it may be re- and similar marked, that, making full allowance for the dif- manifestoes ferences existing between the relative positions of the Church of Rome and the Covenanters, towards the Crown of these realms, there will remain, after all, a curious analogy between the recorded sentiments of these respective parties on the subject of regal excommunication, deposing power, &c. in order to see which very clearly, it is only necessary to read over the words of the preceding declaration, substituting for "James, Duke of York, &c.," "the Princess Elizabeth, although a professed Protestant;" for " we the pure Presbyterians, &c.," we "Pius V., &c.;" for "idolater," "heretic;" for "acts of parliament, &c.," "decrees and canons of the universal Church, or judgments and sentences of her most famous doctors, universities, &c. ;" for "prelacy," the "oath of allegiance," &c. &c. No. LXIV. Circumstances of which oc curred the below re NOTICE OF ONE OF THE EARLY CONGREGATIONS OF THE MODERN In that useful and interesting collection the the times in Desiderata Curiosa, (Dublin, 1762,) we find, (in vol. i. p. 394,) a very authentic and sufficiently transaction remarkable notice of the Sunday proceedings of corded, one of the primitive congregations of the modern Romish ecclesiastical organization in Ireland; proceedings which took place just at the time when arrangements were in a forward state of progress for extending their newly introduced episcopacy and priesthood throughout this island, and which, as illustrating in a very striking manner the condition of ecclesiastical affairs in the country at that time, appears well deserving of a place in this collection of records. The noas described tice we refer to occurs in the form of deposisition of tions taken before Sir Toby Caulfield, an indiShane vidual well known to the reader of the history Oct.22,1613. of Ireland at that period, as member for Armagh in the depo O'Donnelly. in the parliament of 1613, as one of the grantees who obtained lands in the Plantation, &c. &c. This document is transferred by Mr. Phelan to a note in his "Policy," (pp. 262, 263,) in his own usual careless and random way of quoting. It is here inserted as given in the original work. "The Examination of Shane McPhelomy O'Donnelly, taken before me Sir Toby Caul field, Knt., October 22, 1613. a conventi the Co. "Shane McPhelomy O'Donnelly saith, That about the T. McCrodend of May last past, upon the Sunday, he was at mass den, Romish at the Glynn in Bryan McGwyre's country between the friar, holds county of Fermanagh and Tyrone, where Tirlaugh cle on the McCrodden, a fryer there, lately come from beyond seas, borders of said the mass, and was preaching most part of the same day; and in his sermon he declared that he was sent Fermanagh. from the pope to persuade them that they should never His pious alter their religion, but take the pope to be their true exhortahead, and rather go into rebellion than change their re- tions, ligion; and that the English service proceeded from the seducement of the devil, and did earnestly exhort them upon pain of damnation, to stand on their keeping rather than alter their religion. At which mass there assembled (as he thinketh) 1000 people of all Fermanagh except himself and one Shane Roe O'Quinn, son to Cale O'Quinn, who accompanied Neale McTirlaugh, Nuis O'Neale of the Largye; which Neale McTirlaugh upon these speeches uttered by the friar, spake aloud, saying - God be thanked we heard this mass; God be blessed such a one as you came amongst us to give us this council; for our parts we will rather go into rebellion, and be eaten with dogs and cats, rather than go to the English service to hear the devil's words.' And the said Shane Roe O'Quinn said the very same words after him. And the fryer had at that day given him at the least two and copious hundred cows and garrons. This examinant, and one pelf, on this Dowaltagh O'Donnelly and Neal O'Flanigan, were pre- occasion. VOL. III. 21 His refer ence to the parliamentary agitation of the same year, sent, and will justify as much as is here set down. He further saith that the fryer told them that the parliament was coming, and that it was a thing invented on purpose to cozen them and to bring them from their religion, and earnestly exhorted them not to be led thereby, but stand fast and join together and that God was on their side; and that there was certain money imposed for the expences of men gone into England for the cause of religion and the charges of the knights of the shire, four pence on every couple. He exhorted them to pay it willingly and speedily, as it was God's business they went about. He told them that the cattle which they had given him was for the maintenance of fryers beyond the seas, and that the pope would be highly pleased with the gifts they bestowed to so godly purposes. And further saith that he vehemently exhorted them not to be and promi- afraid of any thing, for Tyrone was coming, therefore ses of aid for willed them to be merry and of good courage; and for beyond seas. the English, they were to have no rule or power over them, but for two years. And further said, that he A prophecy! found by his reading in books at Rome, a prophecy that to help the the English should surcease their rule in Ireland when a rebels from cause. bridge was built over the river at Liffer, and that the king of Spain had eighteen thousand men in arms, ready to come over, whereof Tyrone should be the chief; and that he would come within a year and a quarter, and land at four ports in Ireland, the names whereof this examinant hath forgotten, and would overthrow the English; and have Ireland to himself. This deponent saith, that the money 4d. a couple, is gathered by the sheriffs bailiffs in the county of Fermanagh. All these speeches were uttered by the said fryer Tirlaugh McCrodden openly in his sermon, and that Connor Roe McGuire • As mentioned at pp. 881, '2, sup. |