. 6 1 being tried, the Governor said: "Thou didst deserve to be scourged. but I give thee to the people.' Another Egyptian document is of equal interest in its close parallelism to an event at the beginning of the Gospel story. St. Luke tells us, with reference to the census under Quirinius, that all went to be enrolled, every one to his own city.' The Egyptian parallel is an order of the Prefect of Egypt, referring to a much later census of the same series 'to notify all who for any cause whatsoever are outside their nomes [i.e., districts] to return to their own homes that they may . . . carry out the customary business of the enrolment.' ... These few examples serve to show how much light is thrown on the ideas and expressions of the New Testament writers, more particularly St. Paul, by the discoveries in Egypt. Of course it is important not to yield to the temptation to exaggerate the importance of these texts. In the case of the Gospels the influence of Aramaic thought and speech is more important than that of Greek technicalities, and even in St. Paul's Epistles every suggestion must be examined in its relation to the context and to its theological value. Nevertheless the value of the Egyptian discoveries is very considerable. As our knowledge of the papyri increases we are able to reconstruct, with an evergrowing richness of detail, the daily life of ordinary people in New Testament times. Thus a natural environment is provided for the facts and expressions in the New Testament, and as this environment comes to be more clearly known, we find that these features at which critics have cavilled as extraordinary and unreal are seen, one by one, to form part and parcel of the ordinary life of those times. So it has come about that the latest results of modern research have confirmed and explained our earliest records of ancient Christianity, and the New Testament scholar of to-day is like to the householder who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old' (Matt. xiii, 52). 6 LAURENCE CARDWELL, S.J. 1 Deissmann, p. 267. * Cf. Milligan, Greek Papyri, No. 28. PRIMATE SWAYNE'S VISITATION OF MEATH (A.D. 1428) IN BY REV. L. P. MURRAY. N pre-Reformation days the Primate of Armagh enjoyed the right of Visitation over the suffragan dioceses of his province. The accounts of these Visitations, preserved in the old registers kept by the Primates, are invaluable to those who wish to compile either diocesan or parochial histories. Not only do they contain the names and dates of many prelates which would otherwise have perished, but frequently they give complete lists of the parish priests and dignitaries of the diocese visited. As the Visitations dealt, for the most part, with such matters as ecclesiastical taxation, discipline, dispensations, ecclesiastical titles, monastic lands, and church revenues, they let in a flood of light on the history of the Irish Church of the Middle Ages. When the time for the Visitation approached, numerous appeals, complaints, and difficult cases from the suffragan dioceses were forwarded to the Primate, in order that he might be prepared to give his decision. It seems to have been the rule to open the Visitation with a Provincial Synod, to which all the suffragan Bishops were cited. Matters of general interest were there discussed, disciplinary regulations were made, and the course of the Visitation outlined. Evidently the Primate was not bound to make the Visitation in person. Sometimes he visited the diocese of Meath, but, as a rule, he commissioned others to make the Visitations inter Hibernicos. The record of one of these Visitations, made in 1397 by Primate Colton, was published in full, more than half a century ago, by Dr. Reeves. That record has supplied ecclesiastical historians with some of the most valuable materials concerning the pre-Reformation Irish Church. It is a matter for regret that the records of the other Visitations have never been given to the public. In this paper we deal with the Provincial Council held at Drogheda, on October 13, 1427, and the Metropolitan Visitation of Meath early in the following year. It is hoped, in a concluding paper, to continue the account of the Visitation for the other suffragan dioceses. Owing to the limitations of space, no attempt is made to follow the example set by Dr. Reeves in his very full edition of Colton's Visitation. The various documents are merely catalogued,' care being taken to give all names of persons and places in full. On July 28, 1427, citations for a Provincial Synod, to be held in Drogheda on October 23, were sent out from the Primate's manor of Termonfeckin to the following Bishops: Edward of Meath, Donatus of Kilmore, Eugenius of Connor, Arthur of Clogher, Laurence of Raphoe, Richard of Ardagh, Donald of Derry, and John of Down. The Bishop of Meath was instructed to cite the Archdeacons of Meath and Kells, all abbots, priors, and clergy (both exempt and non-exempt), and those of the laity likely to have interest or concern in the proceedings. On the same day, citations were issued to the Archdeacon of Down, and the Deans and Chapters of Clogher, Raphoe, and Derry. On August 4 a further batch of citations were issue to Ada M'Gynd, Archdeacon of Dromore, to our beloved in Christ, the Elect of Cluain,' and to the Dean and Chapter of Armagh. The letter to the Archdeacon of Dromore differs in form from all the others. It is entitled, "To Ada M'Gynd, Archdeacon of Dromore, from John, custos spiritualitatis, et spiritualis jurisdictionis et temporalitatis Episcopatus Dromorensis, ipso episcopatu ipsius non plene consulto sede vacante.' Included in the citation are 6 omnes et singulos dignitates personatus et officia canonicatus et Praebendae ceteraque Beneficia in ecclesia Dromorensi obtinentes, et abbates, etc.' Great care was taken that all the letters should be properly delivered. Nicholas Alexander, Rector of Clonmore, VOL. XXII-16 Co. Louth, certified on his return from Meath that he had delivered the citation to Edward of Meath in the monastery of Fours. Augustine M'Cradagh promised, in the presence of Walter Kylte, that he would deliver the letters to the Bishops of Kilmore and Ardagh; John Somore of Dundalke brought the citations to the Bishops of Raphoe, Connor, and Derry; Philip M'Gewyn gave a receipt for those addressed to the Archdeacon of Dromore and the Dean and Chapter of Armagh; the Primate's bailiff, Walter White, carried the message to the Elect of Clonmacnoise ; while the Archdeacon of Armagh received his own citation in person at the Primate's mansion of Terfeckin. The Synod opened on the appointed day in the parochial church of St. Peter's, Drogheda. After a solemn Mass, celebrated by the Primate, followed by the singing of the Veni Creator, the roll was called. Frater Joannes Peller, Prior of St. John's, Trim, exhibited a certificate as legally constituted procurator for Edward, Bishop of Meath. The Meath clergy were also represented by Procurators. Thomas Couper, Vicar of St. Mary's, Drogheda, represented the clergy in general, while Robert Cole, Canon of the Priory of Lanthon juxta Gloucester, but then staying at Duleek, appeared on behalf of the subject monasteries of his Order. The remainder of the roll was marked as follows: John, Bishop of Down, appeared by his procurator, the Archdeacon of Down. Arthur, Bishop of Clogher, appeared by his procurators, Philip the Dean, Salamon M'Grenor, and Magonius O'Hanraghtaych, canons of the church of Clogher. Donald, Bishop of Derry, answered in person. Laurence, Bishop of Raphoe, appeared by his procurator-was personally prevented by the war. John M'Gynde, Archdeacon of Down, appeared by procurator. Richard of Ardagh appeared by procurator-personally prevented propter guerram. The Bishop of Connor and the Elect of Cluain did not appear, nor did they send any excuses. After allowing a day's grace to the absentees, the Primate declared them contumacious, poena reservata. The Provincial and Capitular constitutions were read and approved. Petitions and complaints were considered. The Primate decreed that, in accordance with the promulgated constitutions, any petition, nullam faciens mentionem de Incumbente, would be invalid. Arrears of diocesan procurations were paid by those present. A certificate was exhibited from John de Obizis, Collector of Apostolic dues in Ireland, that John Cantwell, Archdeacon of Ossory, had been appointed Sub-Collector. After the routine business had been transacted, the Primate announced that he was about to proceed on a metropolitan Visitation of the Province (diffinimus et decernimus, etc.). He directed that a citation should be sent to the Dean of Armagh to attend the opening of the Visitation in the Cathedral church of Armagh, on November 4th prox. On the following day, Walter Kylte, cleric of the diocese of Armagh, was sent with a letter of citation to the Bishop of Meath, to appear with his clergy before the Archbishop in the parochial church of St. Patrick's, of Trym, on January 19. The Bishop was ordered to appear in person, and to notify the Archdeacons of Meath and Kells, as well as all abbots, priors, abbesses, prioresses, rectors, vicars, parochial chaplains, and others in the deanery of Trym, divina celebrantes. Letters and titles of election, dignities, benefices, and orders should be ready for inspection, and the clergy of the other deaneries should be notified to be prepared in their turn. Laici fide-digni should be cited from each parish. The diocesan procurations (60 marks sterling) must be paid before the Visitation begins. Within a few days the Primate received from the Bishop of Meath a certificate of receipt for the citation, and a notification that the command had been executed. A list of those cited from the deanery of Trym is appended :— Dnus. William Yong, Archdeacon of Meath. Dnus. John Stanyhurst, Archdeacon of Kenlys. Frater Wm. Scurlag, Abbot of the monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Trym. |