Diocese of Glendalough in the Fifteenth Century (published in 1893)

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Original article published in: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Fifth Series, Vol. 3,No. 4 (Dec., 1893), pp. 421-422.

In pursuance of the hope expressed at the close of my Paper on Killadreenan (in the number of this Journal for June, 1893), that our antiquarians would try and clear up the mist that surrounds the historical fact of a revival of a distinct Diocese of Glendalough in the fifteenth century, I beg to forward the documents subjoined, copied from the Vatican Archives last February, which may serve to throw some light on the subject:-

1. ” Ex Libro Provisionum, a.d. 1466-88, f. 9. – Eadem die (mercurii xxvii. Apr. 1468) et Concistorio ad relationem Rmi Dni Cardinalis Senen. promovit Dnum Joannem ad Ecclesiam Glanden (Glandolacen ?) vacan. per obitum ultimi Episcopi, extra R. Curiam defuncti.”

2. ” From Brendon’s Bullarium Ordinis Prcedicatorum. – R. Epus Portuensis Cardlis Valentini S. R. C. Vic. Camerarii. Hodie SS. D. N. Sixtus div. Provid. Papa IV. in suo concistorio secreto, ut moris est, ad relationem Rmi in Xto ptris et dni dni E. U. SS. Petri et Marcellini presbiteri Cardlis Ulisbonen. de consilio Rmi praesent. dnis Carbus etc., Ecclesiae Glandebaten. alias Glandolocen. in provincia Dublinien (Dublinen.) pastore carenti per obitum bonae memoriae Michaelis olim Ep. Glandebaten. extra Rom. Curiam defuncti; de persona Venlis viri Dionysii Ord. Fratrum Praedica torum expresse professi de legitimo matrimonio procreati, in sacerdotio et aetate legitima constituti et in Theologia baccellarii, auctoritate apostolica providit, ipsum que eidem Ecclesiae in Episcopum et pastorem praefecit: Curam regimen et adminis trationem ipsius Ecclesiae in spirituallbus et temporalibus sibi plenarie committendo eumdemque a censuris, etc., ad effectum duntaxat, etc., absolvendo. In quorum fidem praesentem schedulam fieri et propria manu subscriber!, soliti nri parvi sigilli jussimus impressione communiri. Dat. Romae. ap. S. Petrum die lunae XXII. Oct. MCCCCLXXXI. (1481) Pont. praef. SSmi Dni Nri Papae anno undecimo. R. Vice-Camer. manu propria.”

If the first of these documents refer to Glendalough – of which some doubt may be entertained – we find, in 1468, a certain John made Bishop in succession to some predecessor unnamed. From the second document, about which no doubt can exist, a Bishop named Michael governed that See in succession to John, and died sometime in 1481. Then we have the appointment, in the October of that year, of the Dominican Friar Denis, in all probability identical with Friar Denis Whyte, who, according to the document in Alan’s “Register,” made a surrender of the Bishopric in the Chapter-room of St. Patrick’s in 1497. This Bishop is not mentioned by De Burgo (Hib. Dominic.) in his list of Dominican Friars appointed to Irish Sees. There is also a slight discrepancy in dates, as the successor to Denis was appointed in 1496, whereas the surrender is dated 1497. Possibly Denis was either incapacitated, or induced to resign the See into the Pope’s hands some time before he accomplished the legal surrender in 1497.

3. “Ex Libro Obligationum, 149_2-98, p. 171.?Die XII. Feb. 1496. Rdus Pater Dnus Yvo Ruffi, electus Grandolacen. [sic] obtulit Camrae Apost. et Sacro Collegio, etc., pro communi servitio dictae Eccsiae Glandolacen. ratione provisionis et praefectionis de persona sua eidem Eccliae auctoritate apostolica facta sub data, Romae 4o Id. Nov. anno tertio, flor. aur. etc. triginta tres cum uno tertio ad quos dicta Ecclia taxata reperitur et quinque minuta servitia consueta, eorundem cois et minutorum servitiorum medietatem infra sex menses prox. sequen. solvere promisit, etc. Dicta die datae fuerunt Bullae parti quia solvit omnia jura, patet per cedulas.”

4. “Ex Libro Obligationum, 1498-1503, p. 91. – Die 3a Sep. 1500. D. Garcias de Gibralcon, Scrip. Apost. ut procurator et procur. nom. Rev. P. D. Fr de Corduba elec. Eccliae Glandelaten. sponte obtulit Cam. Apost. et S. Coll. etc. pro communi servitio diet. Eccliae rat. prov. et praefect. de persona praef. D. Franc, eidem Eccliae per Bullas Dni Alex. P. P. VI. sub data, Romae 12. Kal. Sep. anno sui Pont. 8. auctoritate apost. facta, flor. aur. 33 cum uno tertio, ad quos diet. Ecclia taxata reperitur, et 5 minut. servit. consuet. Eorundem autem, etc. Aliam vero medietatem infra alios 6 menses ex tunc et immediat. etiam prox. sequen. solvere promisit, etc. Dicta die Bullae diet. Eccliae fuerunt datae Dno Garciae quia solvit omnia jura praed. . patet per cedulas, etc. Die II. Sep. solvit ducatos 20. f. 29. pat. No int. 9. fol. 2.”

From these documents no doubt whatever can remain but that the Holy See provided a regular succession of Bishops for Glendalough -during the latter half of the fifteenth century, and in the following order: –

Anno 146-. Unnamed.

1468. John.

147-. Michael.

1481. Denis (White), o.p.

1496. Yvo Rum, o.s.f.

1500. Francis de Corduba, o.p.

Ϯ N. Donnelly, Bishop of Canea.

Reproduced with the kind permission of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

Original article in: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Fifth Series, Vol. 3,No. 4 (Dec., 1893), pp. 421-422.

Imagery used did not appear with original article.