Saint Mary's beacon., 1873-02-06
IRELAND AND POPE ADRIAN ~

The recstt controversy between the el
oqaent Dominican. Father Burke. and III.
accomplished English historian. Froade,
, ia referencs 70 EngIish dossinion u Ire.
land, having revived the historical inqai.
~ as to the genuineness Of the Hull BY
which Pope Adrian Iv.-is supposed IA
have made q grant -of. Irel.nd TO Hcnry
The Sceoad Of England. we commence to.
day. aud shall conclude ia our next pa.
per. an erudi,e. acute and fair-minded
criticism on this interesting and long de-
bated issue Of medieval history. merely
promising. that the author 10 known 70 b
the learned Bishop Of Ossary and that tn.
aninsus ofthe writer. so far as it is discover.
able at all. is national and in no offensive
sense sectarian. The article will repay
the closest attention of the historical stu.
dent.
There was time when il would be lii.
tie less than treason to question the gen.
uiness Of the Bull by which Pope Adrian
Nv. 10 supposed to have made grant oI
ireland TO Henry tho Second aud, in.
deed. from the frst half of the thirteenth
to the close OF The fifteenth century. !, wa.
principally through this supposed grant o
the Holy See that the English Govern.
ment sought to justify their claim to hold
dominion in our island. However. opin.
ions and times have changed. and at the
present day this Bull Of Adrian has as liz.
tie bearing on the connection between
England and this country as il could pos.
sibly have on the union Of ihe Isle of Man
with Great Britain.
Laying aside all prejudiced opinions
the controversy as to the genuincness o.
Adrian's Bull should be viewed in pure.
y historical light. and its decision must
depend on the value and weight of tn,
historical arguments which may be ad.
vanced to sustain it. .0..- .
The following is literal translation o.
the old Latin text Of Adrian's Bull:
| adrian. Bishop. servant Of the ser.
wants Of God. to our most dear Son in
Christ, the illustrious King Of the Eng
H>h. greeting and the Apostolical Bene.
diction.
1.-The thoughts Of your Highness are
laudably and profi,nbly directed to the
greater glory of your name on earth and
TO the increase Of the reward Of eternal
happiness in heaven. when as Catholic
Prince you propose to yourself to extend
the borders Of the Church. to announce
the aru,hs Of Christian Faith to ignorant
aud barharous nations. and to root out the
weeds of wickcdness frsm the Geld of ths
Lord !; and the more cfTectually to accom-
plish this. you inr'"rc the counsel and
favor Of the Apostolic See. In which
matter We feel assured that the highe,
yonr aims are. and the more discreet you,
| proceedings. the happier. With Gods aid
will be the result; because those under
tahings thn, proceed from the ardour o
faith aud the love of religion are sure al
ways 10 have a prosperous end and issue
II, is bevcnd all doubt. as your High
ness also doth acknowlcdge. that Ireland
and all the islands upon which Chris, th'
Sun Of Justice has shonc and which hav,
received the knowledge of the Christian
faith. are sui ject to the authority of S,
Peter ana ofthe most Holy Roman Church
Wherefore We are the more desirous te
sow in them an acceptable seed and 8
plantation pleasing unto God. because We
know that a most rigorous account OF them
shall be required Of us hereafter
Now, most dear Son in Christ, yo,
have sisni6cd to us that you propose t.
enter the island of ireland to establish th.
observance Of law amongst its people. ant
TO eradicate the weeds OF vice and tha
you are willing TO pay from every hous,
one penny rs IN annual tribute to st. Pc.
ter. and to preserve the rights OF the
churches Of that land whole aud inviolate
We. therefore. receiving with due favo,
! your pions and lsudable desires, and gra.
ciously granting our consent to your Pc
,i,icn. declare that It Is pleasing and ac.
ceptablc to Us. tha. for the purpose Of en-.
lsrging the limits Of the Church. setting
bounds to the torrent Of vice. reforming
evil manners. planting the seeds Of virtue
and increasing Christian faith. you should
enter that island sud carry into effect thos,
things which belong to the service Of Coo
aud TO the salvation Of that people; ant
that the people Of that land should honor
ably receive and reverence you as Lord
the rights Of the churches being preserve,
untouched and entire, and rescrviug th,
annual tribute Of one penny from ever,
house to st. Peter and the most Holy Ro
man Church. -
1t therefore. yoa. resclve 10 carr,
these designs into execution. let Il be you
study to form the people 10 good moral.
aud take such orders both hyyoursclf ana
by those whom you shall nnd qualified i,
faith. in words. end Ia conduct, that th,
Church there may Be adorned. and tn,
practices Of Christian faith be plantes
and increased aud let all that tends Il
the glory of Gcd aud the salvatioa Of soul
be ordered BY you that you may deserv,
10 ohsain from God au Increase OF ever
lasting reward. aud may ssaars on ssrsl
a glorious name throughout all time. :
Given q, ROme." &c. -. t =
Before We proceed With the .nau;ry .
to the .genuinepess OF this lettef Of Pop
Adrian. I wust, dstain the, reader with
few brief preliminary remarks ,t s.g
First: Some passages Of this iIrpcrtan
document hare been very unfairly deal
with BY modern writer's uLile rarrortiu,
20 discuss i,s, merits. Thus. far insasncs
Professor Richcy. in bis Lectures on IRIS
| Hsxfssrvs nrrssut,uw a trsu~ass,or of al