Evening star., 1903-07-01
THE DISPUTED BULL.
Pope Adrian's Gift of Ireland to Henry
II Not a Hoax.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
In your issue Of June % appears under
the head of "Papal Bull Humbug'
studies concerning Adrian w. by Prof. Oh
iver Joseph Thatcher of the University Of
Chicago, who has been diligent to satisfy
himself while on a visit to the Vatican
library concerning the docilty and verify
of Taurus. 1t may have been a solecism
on the part of the student. however. in his
hurry to practice joke on Adrian ~,
Henry III. his messenger, John of Sails
bury, bishop of Chatres. but twas an obi
GUS painful. execrable and unwarranted
usurpation upon the benign and betrayed
Irish people. An honest man would not
attempt to bestow that which did not be-
long to him: to so do would be equivalent
to pundering. The commandment is Thou
shalt not steal" On this occasion twas
violated. Jesus Christ nor any of his apos
ties never attempted Adrian's method Of
giving away people and kingdoms. "Tts a
blessing that the kingdom of heaven is
where no bull can enter. otherwise who
knows what scurvy villain we might be
subject to, That beast (bulD caused havoc.
desolation, outrage and bereavement. In
the History of Catholic Church. by NJ. L..
Able ]. E. Darras. Vol. III. p. 26o, N. Y.
1870, Is published the following: The
same month and year December H. A. d.
115i) which had witnessed the election
of Nicholas Breakspear to the throne of
the Vatican. was signaliZed the coronation
of Henry Plantagnet, the second of his
name in the English realm On learning
the exaltation of his subject to the papal
chair Henry wrote him congratulatory
letter. The tidings of your promotion.
wrote the king. have been received with
transport in your western home proud of
having given to the world this new lumi-
nary the light of Christendom. May the
hand OF God. which has transplanted you,
as a tree of life. from the soil of England
to the midst of His paradise. in the
church. likewise shelter you from the fury
Of the winds" John of Salisbury. bishop
OF Chartres. the friend and fellow country
man of Adrian. was tntrusted with the
grateful mission of bearing this letter
to the pope. John of Salisbury was In
structed to ask the popes permission for
the King of England to enter and hold
Ireland with view to the restoration of
the Christian religion. crushed down by
native idolatry. Adrian granted the
quest by bull. in which he thus addresses
Henry II: 1T is universally known. as
you aware. that Ireland. well
all other islands which have received the
faith OF Christ, belong. as fiefs. to the
Roman Church. We. therefore. gladly al
low you the right which you seek for the
spread of our holy religion" The bull was
accompanied by a gold ring. set with
costly emerald. a mark of inveStiture
This fact. with the express words OF Adrian
~, perfectly established the existence of
the public law, which gave to the popes
of the middle ages a species of sovereign
protectorate of universal suzerainty. Be
hold the murderer of Thomas Beckett
archbishop of Canterbury. asking the
pope's permission to enter and hold Ire
land to restore the Christian religion
crushed down by native idolatry. A. D.
43l the metropolitan See of Armagh was
established A. d 596, st. Augustine set
foot upon the Isle of Thanet England. He
founded the celebrated Abbey of Canter-
bury. The Irish pagan had start of his
brother. the English pagan of 165 years
to eradicate their beloved idols. I23 years
and 5SS years. respectively. up to Adrian )
said. after 700 years in the practice of
Christianity. they were as yet idolatrous
Bulls are very vicious at times. particularly
when shown red rag. though 1t be a
cardinal red. shook before said bulls eye.
Here follows another bull, trained to carry
on his horns a bauble; Pope Paul w (this
was a name known in Jerusalem about A.
d. 36 to 80. made notorious by the murder
ing of Stephen). June Z. A. ID. 1857, mount
ed his bull and rode Ireland into king
dom. at the request of Philip and Mary.
which request was presented by a depu-
tation consisting of a bishop and two
nobiemen. The great God may not again
trust any race of people with another son
of His, knowing the hospitality shown His
first on a well-remembered visit. He can.
II he will cause to be born to Him null
titude of sons and endow them with wis
dom and power enough to work this planet
for better use than that which at present
obtains. What, then, would become OF
the prophets. thaumaturgists gorgeously
attired prelates, in silks. satins and dia-
monds. when these sons of God should ap.
pear. barefooted and lily clad. seize and
strip the arrogant earthly host, to gropt
as when dropped from the matrix. This
Would be turning the tables. Who car
dispute the Power capable to accomplish
aIltthis? DAVID FLYNN.