h many centuries before, from one who came to them
with very different credentials; and years of oppression and most cruel
persecution have failed in inducing them to obey human authority rather
than divine.

Dr. Browne soon found that it was incomparably easier for Henry to issue
commands in England, than for him to enforce them in Ireland. He
therefore wrote to Cromwell, from Dublin, on "the 4th of the kal. of
December, 1535," and informed him that he "had endeavoured, almost to
the danger and hazard of my temporal life, to procure the nobility and
gentry of this nation to due obedience in owning of his Highness their
supreme head, as well spiritual as temporal; and do find much oppugning
therein, especially by my brother Armagh, who hath been the main
oppugner, and so hath withdrawn most of his suffragans and clergy within
his see and diocese. He made a speech to them, laying a curse on the
people whosoever should own his Highness' supremacy, saying, that
isle--as it is in their Irish chronicles, _insula sacra_--belongs to
none but the Bishop of Rome, and that it was the Bishop of Rome that
gave it to the King's ancestors."[390] Dr. Browne then proceeds to
inform his correspondent that the Irish clergy had sent two messengers
to Rome.[391] He states "that the common people of this isle are more
zealous in their blindness, than the saints and martyrs were in truth;"
and he advises that a Parliament should at once be summoned, "to pass
the supremacy by Act; for they do not much matter his Highness'
commission, which your lordship sent us over." Truly, the nation which
had been so recently enlightened in so marvellous a manner, might have
had a little patience with the people who could not so easily discern
the new light; and, assuredly, if the term "Church by law established"
be applicable to the Protestant religion in England, it is, if possible,
still more applicable to the Protestant Establishment in Ireland, since
the person delegated to found the new religion in that country, has
himself stated it could only be established there by Act of Parliament.

The Parliament was summoned in 1536; but, as a remote preparation, the
Lord Deputy made a "martial circuit" of Ireland, hoping thereby to
overawe the native septs, and compel their submission to the royal will
and pleasure. "This preparation being made," _i.e.,_ the "martial
circuit"--I am quoting from Sir John Davies;[392] I request the reader's
special attention t