This very connection of the Reformed doctrines with the imposition of foreign rule and a foreign tongue proved, in effect, one of the greatest obstacles to their progress, and joined together the Irish, both the natives and the descendants of the colonists, in resistance to them. Hitherto here had been amongst the Irish little of that love of country as a whole which we have agreed to call Nationality. The O’Neills, the O’Donnells, and the rest lived and died, not for Ireland, but for their clan. Now gradually, under pressure of foreign interference, a broader Patriotism grew up, and entwined itself so closely with Catholicism, that the two ideas became, to the majority, inseparable.

Elizabeth found, therefore, in Ireland for her religious policy many and ardent opponents ; while her supporters were few, and, except where their private interests were concerned, lukewarm and unenterprising. This was true of both the Anglo-Irish and the Celtic population, of the clergy and of the laity. At the time of her accession twenty-six bishops and four archbishops occupied the Irish Sees. Very few of these ” conformed ” ; that is to say, took the Supremacy Oath and agreed to the new religious legislation and all that it involved. Nor, we gather, were the inferior clergy more compliant, although, in their case, we have to rely on general statements and indirect evidence, as no figures are available.

The bishops and priests who refused the Supremacy Oath were generally, though not always, deprived of their Sees and livings, and either Englishmen, or Irishmen of more pliant dispositions, put in their places ; the better posts being usually reserved for Englishmen. These imported clerics were not, as a rule, persons likely to reflect credit on the Church to which they belonged. Of the bishops, some were men of extremely bad private character ; some were lazy and greedy of gain; even those anxious to discharge their duties conscientiously were hampered by their ignorance of the only language known to most of their flock. The miserable stipends of the Sees and livings were not calculated to attract men who could hope for ecclesiastical preferment in their own country.

It was a common practice for a bishop to sell a large part of his episcopal lands, or to let it for long periods of time, at nominal rents, to his relatives or friends. Often also the livings in his gift were bestowed on persons of low class, ” servants and horseboys,” or on mere children. The churches were neglected, and suffered to fall to ruin. In many places no parochial duty was done.