Charles II.
with a recognition of the spiritual supremacy of the Vatican. In this document the right of the Pope to depose heretical and excommunicated princes and other obnoxious tenets, popularly, but incorrectly, supposed to form an essential part of the Roman Catholic creed, were distinctly and explicitly abjured. The Remonstrance was at first favourably received, and many eminent Catholics, both lay and clerical, gave it the support of their names64; but some expressions, which appeared to reflect upon the dignity of the Holy See, gave offence to the ecclesiastical authorities, and, after a bitter controversy of three years, the Irish Bishops pronounced against it.65 A second formula, identical in substance with the former, but somewhat more guarded in its language, was then drawn up by the Primate, accepted by the clergy, and, on a frivolous pretext, rejected by the Government.66
With the theological orthodoxy of the Bishops' decision we are not now concerned; the political results of the dispute need alone detain us here. It is impossible to doubt that Walsh was actuated by a sincere desire for the welfare of his countrymen; but he was the dupe of men more cunning and less honest than himself. Peter Talbot, in a work which is certainly the fullest, and probably the ablest, statement of the case against the
90
