Vice Rector Universitatis.
T. A. Nameche.
Viro Eximio ac Reverendissimo Bartholomaeo Woodlock, Magnifico Rectori Universitatis Catholicae in Hibernia.
NOTICES OF BOOKS.
I.
History of the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin since the Reformation. By Rev. P. F. Moran, D.D. Vol. i. Dublin: James Duffy, 1865.
We are happy to announce the publication of the first volume of the History of the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin since the Reformation, by the Rev. Dr. Moran, of the Irish College, Rome, whose past services to the annals of our religion and country are well known. The first part of the volume now before us gives an account of the violent and tyrannical manner by which it was attempted to introduce Protestantism into Ireland under Henry VIII. and Queen Elizabeth. The arguments by which the Reformers propagated their opinions were fraud and treachery, fire and sword, penal laws and the confiscation of property. Dr. Browne and Dr. Loftus, two Englishmen, who received all the jurisdiction they enjoyed, as Archbishops of Dublin, from Henry and his daughter, Elizabeth, made themselves remarkable by their bigotry and their spirit of persecution. During their times no Catholic bishop, canonically appointed, could exercise spiritual powers in Dublin; but the wants of the faithful were provided for by vicars-apostolic, or administrators, lawfully appointed by the Holy See. Dr. Moran gives an interesting account of the labours of several of them, and especially of Father David Wolf, one of the companions of St. Ignatius, of Father Newman, and Father White. Towards the end of the sixteenth century a bishop, by name Donald, was appointed to Dublin by the Holy See, but nothing is known of his history. In the bull appointing Dr. De Oviedo, in 1600, it is merely mentioned that the see of Dublin was vacant by the death of Donald, late archbishop.
The history of Dr. De Oviedo and of the wars of the O'Neills is given at considerable length. After the death of that prelate, Dr. Matthews was translated from Clogher to Dublin in 1611, and governed this diocese with the zeal of an apostle down to the year 1623, when he died in Rome, esteemed and honoured by the Roman Pontiff. The labours of our prelate are fully described by Dr. Moran, and his provincial statutes, replete with wisdom and learning, are given in the appendix.
Dr. Fleming, son of the Baron of Slane, succeeded Dr. Matthews in 1623, and was equally distinguished as his predecessor for virtues and good works. During the first period of his episcopate, the Irish Church had to suffer a great deal from the persecuting spirit of the government, and especially from the hostility of Lord Strafford. Yet in such troubled times Dr. Fleming held several synods, and laboured assiduously for the establishment of ecclesiastical discipline. As Dr. Matthews had founded an Irish college at Louvain, so Dr. Fleming was most anxious to procure the means of education for the students, by establishing or encouraging other colleges in France, Spain, Belgium, and Italy. Speaking of the college of Antwerp, which had been endowed by Rev. L. Sedgrave and Rev. James Talbot, Dublin priests, Dr. Moran says: