IV.
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 [pg 104] 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.”