July
Ofcourse, the efforts of the Queen were not acknowledged in Rome, and the Pope himself made appointments to Sees, when vacancies occurred owing to either death or ” removals for heresy.” The position of Papal bishops was a very dangerous one, as Elizabeth regarded them as most serious obstacles to the success of her religious policy. Large rewards were offered for their apprehension, and, when captured, they were imprisoned, for years or for life, often in dark and filthy dungeons into which the light of day never penetrated.
Nor was the Irish Catholic Church without its martyrs during Elizabeth’s reign and that of her successor. Several prelates and a great many of the clergy suffered death for their faith. The execution of Dermot O’Hurley, Archbishop of Cashel, in 1584, was accompanied by circumstances of great atrocity. His feet, enclosed in metal boots partly filled with oil and butter, were ” toasted ” in a fire, till the flesh fell from the bones. He was afterwards hanged. Bishop Patrick O’Hely of Mayo was also tortured on the rack, before being put to death (1578). Laymen and women who gave shelter to bishops or priests were often punished
by imprisonment.
- Bookmark :
- Digg
- del.icip.us
- Stumbleupon
- Redit it
