Although they had many grievances, being, almost without exception, Catholics, the Lords of the Pale, and most of the Anglo-Irish nobility and gentry elsewhere at first hesitated to join the revolt. On their treatment by the Government authorities their future action would, to a great extent, depend. The Lord Justices, by so wording their first Proclamation as to make it appear that they considered the conspiracy as one of the " Irish Papists " in general; by receiving with marked coldness the ... Read More

The Established Church the Deputy regarded as a State Department, to be strictly controlled by the Government, but at the same time to be maintained in such a position of dignity and honour as would command the respect of the people.  Anything likely to conflict with this  aim, such as absenteeism or neglect of their duties on the part of the clergy ; the alienation of episcopal lands ;   carelessness regarding the conduct of church ceremonies or the condition of the churches themselves, ... Read More