Lord-Deputies of IRELAND.
Ever since King Henry the second conquered Ireland, few of our English Princes went thither in person, and none continued any long time there, save King John, and King Richard the second, neither of them over-fortunate. But that Land was governed by a Substitute, commissioned from our Kings, with the same power though sometimes under several names.
| Lord Lieutenants. | Lord Deputies. | Lord Cheif Justice•…•…. |
| These were also of a double nature, for Some staid in Eng∣land and appointed Deputies under them, to act all Irish Affairs. Others went over into Ireland, trans∣acting all things by presence, not proxie. | Immediately deputed by the King to reside there. We insist on this title, as which is most constant and current amongst them. | Not of the Kings Bench or Common∣Pleas but of all Ireland. This power was sometime sole in a single person and sometimes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in two toge∣ther. |
Thus these three Titles are in sense Synonima, to signifie the same power and place. Some erroniously term them Presidents of Ireland, a Title belonging to the particular Governours of Mounster and Connagh.
It is true of Ireland what was once said of * Edom, their Deputies were Kings. No* 1.1 Vice-roy in Christendome (Naples it self not excepted) is observed in more state. He chooseth Sheriffes, and generally all Officers, save Bishops and Judges, and these also, though not made by his commanding, are usually by his commending to the King. He conferreth Knighthood, hath power of life and death, signified, by the Sword carried commonly before him, by a person of Honour. His attendance and House-keeping is magnificent, partly to set a Copy of State to the barbarous Irish, by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs runing after their native Lords; and the solemnity of a regulated retinue; partly to make in that Rebellious Nation, a reverential impression of Majesty, that by the Shadow they may admire the Sub∣stance, and proportionably collect the State of the King himself, who therein is re∣presented. Our English Kings were content with the Title of Lords of Ireland, until King Henry the Eighth, who, partly to shew his own power to assume what style he pleased, without leave or liberty from the Pope (whose Supremity he had suppres∣sed in his Dominions) partly the more to awe the Irish, wrote himself King thereof, Anno Dom. 1541. from which Year we date our Catalogue of Lord Deputies, as then, and not before, Vice-Royes indeed.
Indeed it was no more then needs, for King Henry the Eighth to assume that Ti∣tle, seeing, quod efficit tale magis est tale, and the Commission whereby King Henry the Second made William-Fitz-Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland, hath this direction; Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Regibus; Comitibus, Baronibus, et omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia, salutem.
Now, though by the post-poning of these Kings to Arch-bishops and Bishops, it plain∣ly appears that they were no Canonical Kings, (as I may say) I mean solemnly invested with the Emblems of sovereignty, [the King of * 1.2 Connagh, the King of Thomond] yet were they more then Kings, even Tyrants in the exercise of their * 1.3 Dominions, so that, King Henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself King Paramount above them all.