Henry VIII Declares Himself "Supreme Head of the Church" . In order to understand the events which followed the recall of Grey, we must retrace our steps and consider, in its earliest stages, the question which has, more than all others, down even to our own day, complicated the relations between Ireland and England—namely, what is known as " the religious difficulty." In 1532 Henry VIII had regularly begun a quarrel with the Pope, by asserting himself to be " Supreme Head ... Read More

When Garrett Og, Earl of Kildare, was permitted by Henry VIII to return to Ireland (1529), he was not, as has already been stated, restored to his office of Deputy. This was conferred on Sir William Skeffington, an elderly English knight of no great ability. The new Viceroy was directed to be guided in his administration by the advice of Kildare. This dual arrangement, however, worked so badly that, in 1532, Skeffington was recalled, and Kildare became Deputy once more. The haughty Geraldine had ... Read More