Miler Magrath

{{Short description|Irish prelate (died 1622)}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Archbishop | honorific-prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] | name = Miler Magrath | honorific-suffix = | title = [[Archbishop of Cashel]] | image = Portrait, Miler McGrath, Bishop of Clogher Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 5927858 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = Miler Magrath | native_name = {{langx|ga|Maolmhuire Mag Raith}} | appointed = 3 February 1571 | term_end = 14 November 1622 | predecessor = James MacCawell | successor = [[Malcolm Hamilton (archbishop)|Malcolm Hamilton]] | other_post =  | ordination = | ordinated_by = | consecration = 4 November 1565 | consecrated_by = [[Francesco Pisani|Francesco Cardinal Pisani]] (Roman Catholic) | birth_name = | birth_date = {{circa|1523}} | birth_place = ''[[Fermanagh|Fir Manach]]'' (Fermanagh) | death_date = {{death date and age|1622|11|14|1523|df=yes}} | death_place = | buried = | nationality = [[Irish people|Irish]] | religion = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] / [[Church of Ireland|Anglican]] | residence = | parents = | spouse = (1) Amy O'Meara (2) ''name unknown'' | children = five sons and four daughters | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = [[Bishop of Down and Connor]] (1565–1580) | alma_mater = | motto = | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt =  | other = }} [[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] '''Miler Magrath''' (also ''Miler McGrath'' or ''Myler McGrath'', {{langx|ga|Maolmhuire Mag Raith}}; {{Circa|1523}} – 14 November 1622) was a senior-ranking Irish [[prelate]] born in the [[Gaelic Ireland|Gaelic]] {{lang|ga|[[túath]]}} of [[Fermanagh]] in [[Ulster]], the northern [[Provinces of Ireland|province]] in Ireland. He came from a family of hereditary historians to the [[O'Brien clan]]. He entered the [[Franciscan Order]] and was ordained to the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Catholic priesthood]]. The [[Holy See|Vatican]] later appointed him the [[Bishop of Down and Connor]] in Ireland,<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/rehabilitating-miler-magrath-a-catholic-and-protestant-bishop-1.1902962 Irish Times]</ref> but he converted to the Anglican [[Church of Ireland]], becoming the Protestant [[Archbishop of Cashel]]. Magrath is viewed with contempt by both [[Protestant]] and Catholic historians, owing to his ambiguous and corrupt activities during the [[English Reformation|Reformation]]. He also served as a member of the [[Parliament of Ireland]].<ref>"A New History of Ireland" [[T. W. Moody]], [[F. X. Martin]], [[Francis John Byrne|F.J. Byrne]] and [[Art Cosgrove|Cosgrove, A]] pp411-413: [[Oxford]], [[Oxford University Press|OUP]], 1976 {{ISBN|0-19-821745-5}}</ref>

==Early life and Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor== Archbishop Magrath was probably born at or near the village of [[Pettigo]] in what is now the south-east of [[County Donegal]] in [[Ulster]] (he was not born at the current Termon McGrath Castle, just outside Pettigo, as that structure was not constructed until ''circa'' 1611<ref>Brian Lac[e]y (editor), ''Archaeological Survey of County Donegal'', pp. 350-351. Donegal County Council, [[Lifford]], 1983.</ref>). At Magrath's birth, and during most of his lifetime, Pettigo and the surrounding 'Termon Magrath' lands, which included [[St Patrick's Purgatory]], were part of [[Fermanagh]] ([[Irish language|Irish]]: ''Fir Manach''), a ''[[túath]]'' or lordship in [[Gaelic Ireland]]. Most of Fermanagh later became part of [[County Fermanagh]]. Magrath became a [[Franciscan]] priest<ref>[https://www.libraryireland.com/biography/ArchbishopMilerMagrath.php Library Ireland]</ref> and spent his early life in Rome – "''on the Capitoline''" – whence he was sent on a mission to Ireland. It was believed that, on passing through England, he displayed his Catholic letters of authorisation to demand bribes for accepting the Reformation. In any case, he appears to have satisfied the authorities that his position as a Catholic bishop in Ireland would not preclude his valid assent to the [[Act of Supremacy]].

In October 1565, Magrath was appointed as the Roman Catholic [[Bishop of Down and Connor]], although the [[temporalities]] were ruled over by his kinsman [[Shane O'Neill (Irish chieftain)|Shane O'Neill]], chief of the [[O'Neill dynasty|O'Neill clan]], whom he visited in 1566.

In May 1567, he attended on the [[Lord Deputy of Ireland]], [[Sir Henry Sidney]], at [[Drogheda]], where he agreed to conform to the reformed faith and to hold his See from [[the Crown]]. In 1569, John Merriman was appointed the Protestant Bishop of Down and Connor: Magrath held on to the Catholic See, before he was finally deprived of Down and Connor by Rome in 1580 for [[heresy]] and other matters; thus he had enjoyed dual appointments as both a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] and a [[Church of Ireland]] [[prelate]] for nine years.

==Anglican Bishop – Clogher and Cashel== In 1570, Magrath was appointed by [[Elizabeth I|the Crown]] as the Protestant [[Bishop of Clogher]],<ref>''Clogher clergy and parishes : being an account of the clergy of the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Clogher, from the earliest period, with historical notices of the several parishes, churches, etc'' Leslie, J.B. p 8: Enniskille; R. H. Ritchie; 1929</ref> including the [[temporalities]], and visited England, where he fell ill of a fever. In February 1571, he was then appointed [[Archbishop of Cashel]] and [[Bishop of Emly]] (no new appointment was made to Clogher until 1605). In the same year he imprisoned some Franciscan priests at Cashel. In a rage, the rebel crusader [[James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald]] threatened to burn to ashes everyone and everything connected with [[Archbishop]] Magrath if they were not released. The friars were immediately liberated by Edward Butler. In 1572 Magrath brought charges against Butler's elder brother, [[Thomas Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde|The 10th Earl of Ormonde]], but they were given no credence. In 1575, as he went on his way to Dublin, he was attacked and badly injured by the [[Rapparee|kerne]] of a hostile clan.

Until the end of the [[Desmond Rebellions]] in 1583, Magrath remained in his province, while assisting the English government on the one hand and intriguing with the Catholic rebels on the other. In October 1582, he travelled to England bearing letters of strong recommendation, which cited his ability to provide valuable information on the rebels. He complained that Cashel was only worth £98 and – in spite of the misgivings of [[William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley|William Cecil]], Lord Burghley – was granted the See of [[Bishop of Waterford and Lismore|Waterford and Lismore]] ''[[in commendam]]'', which he held until 1589, and then again from 1592 upon the death of Bishop Wetherhead. Despite his allegiance to the authorities, Magrath never arrested the new Catholic Archbishop of Cashel, Dr Kearney, who lived peacefully under his nose. However, Magrath continued to court favour with the authorities, and in 1584 he did arrest the Catholic [[Bishop of Emly]], [[Maurice MacBrien]], who died two years later in custody in [[Dublin Castle]]. In March 1589 he wrote commending the Kerry plantation undertaker [[William Herbert (colonizer)|Sir William Herbert]], who was a controversial figure on the Protestant side.

In 1591 Magrath visited England without leave, and grave charges were pressed against him in his absence. During his visit he sought to convert to Protestantism the condemned Gaelic Prince of [[Breifne]], [[Brian O'Rourke]], who scorned the bishop at the foot of the gallows-ladder before his execution in London. At about this time Magrath's cousin, [[Dermot Creagh]], was the Catholic [[Bishop of Cork and Cloyne]] with Legatine authority in [[Munster]], and they remained on mutual terms. Magrath appears to have feared that his soul was in jeopardy, and with a view to repentance and reconciliation with Rome, took care that his cousin would not be captured, while at the same time feeding information to the Crown about his whereabouts.

==Nine Years War== {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2013}} In 1596, during the [[Nine Years War (Ireland)|Nine Years War]], Archbishop Magrath and [[Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond|the 10th Earl of Ormond]] were involved in a conference at [[Faughart]] with the Northern chiefs, offering them the possession of [[Ulster]], apart from [[County Louth]], [[Carrickfergus]] and [[Newry]] as these areas were held by English garrisons. The offer was rejected, but was the basis for County Louth being considered part of [[Leinster]] from that time forward.

In 1599, Magrath was taken prisoner by Con, son of his kinsman [[Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone|Hugh, 2nd Earl of Tyrone]]. The [[earl]] ordered Magrath's release on the grounds that only the Holy Father had authority to lay hands on his "''friend and ally''". Magrath promised that he would return to Catholicism, except that he had to see to his children, and Con released him on conditions: a money payment, with O'Meara's son<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Macnamara |first=George U. |date=1903 |title=Archbishop Miler Magrath |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20566193 |journal=Ulster Journal of Archaeology |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=185–190 |issn=0082-7355}}</ref> (related to Magrath's wife) to act as surety in person.

In 1600, Magrath went to London and convinced [[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury|Robert Cecil]] of his loyalty, although appearing a turbulent person, and was granted a pension. While at court he accused [[Henry Lee of Ditchley|Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley]] of treason, with the "''most indecent and contumelious words''", and Lee's cousin, [[Thomas Lee (army captain)|Thomas Lee]] (a captain in the Irish service who was later hanged for his involvement with the coup attempt of [[Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex|the 2nd Earl of Essex]]), wrote to Cecil seeking the opportunity to meet the charges.

Magrath returned to Ireland with the English-backed pretender to [[James FitzGerald (Tower Earl of Desmond)|the earldom of Desmond]]. He claimed poverty owing to the war, but Cecil soon complained that he was allowing the Anglican [[Church of Ireland]] to lie like "''an hogsty''" and sought [[George Carew (Ireland)|Sir George Carew]] to remonstrate with him over this neglect.

==The New Era== Under [[James VI and I|James I]], Magrath's holding of four bishoprics and seventy spiritualities was criticised by [[John Davies (poet, born 1569)|Sir John Davies]], then attorney-general of Ireland. In 1607, the [[Archbishop of Dublin]], [[Thomas Jones (archbishop)|Thomas Jones]], criticised his spiritual administration, and Magrath resigned [[Bishop of Waterford and Lismore|Waterford and Lismore]] six months later. The estate of Lismore had been sold by him to [[Sir Walter Raleigh]] for a nominal price, although he kept the capitular seal of Cashel. He was ultimately compelled to accept the Sees of [[Bishop of Killala|Killala]] and [[Bishop of Achonry|Achonry]] in [[Connacht]], which were of little worth: in 1610, he complained he had not received their possession, and the full grant was not made until 1611.

In 1608, a jury found that he had declared his kinsman, the fugitive rebel [[Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone|Lord Tyrone]], wronged over the Bann fishery (a property right relating to the ancient authority of English law in Ireland, which the Crown had successfully contested in a precedent-setting case), and had credited O'Neill with, "''a better right to the crown of Ireland than any Irishman or Scottishman [ie. James I] whatsoever''". Despite the sensitivity of the matter, the indictment was not proceeded with. In a further assertion of his identity, Magrath rowed with the [[Bishop of Derry]] in 1609 over the possession of Termon Magrath, the lands of which were granted in the following year to Magrath's son, James.

Magrath moved to Ulster (where he erected a building, which still stands at Templecrone, County Donegal), and had William Knight appointed his co-adjutor at Cashel; Knight soon left the country after disgracing himself by drunken behaviour in public. It was reckoned that the revenues and manors of the See of Cashel were entirely wasted. The Lord Deputy, [[Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester|Sir Arthur Chichester]], had a poor opinion of Magrath, describing him as "stout and wilful", but held back for fear of his influence amongst the Ulster Irish, and Stafford too spoke of his oppressions.

In 1612, the underground Irish Provincial of the Franciscan Order still held out hope of Magrath's reconciliation with Rome; in 1617 it was thought he might exchange the [[Rock of Cashel]] for the [[Capitoline]], where he had spent his youth. Magrath's last known involvement in public life was on his attendance at Parliament in Dublin in 1613. He died ten years later, in his 100th year, after 52 years as a bishop.

==Legacy== Magrath has remained a figure of controversy in [[Irish history]]. On the Protestant side, he is widely blamed for the rapacious financial corruptions which gave the [[Reformation in Ireland]] a black eye from which it has never recovered. He was further scorned for being a drunkard. On the Catholic side, he was viewed as an [[apostate]] priest and a collaborator with a violently [[Anti-Catholic]] monarchy.

Given the treachery through which he lived, and whatever one might say about his real allegiances, Magrath possessed a knack for survival. The forbearance shown by his most bitter critics at Court, even when they were certain that he was obstructing the persecution of Catholics, is an indication of his great power and influence. In any case, the wide freedom allowed to him and his great skill in manipulating both sides at once shows how very tricky were the times.

As for being a drunkard, perhaps his longevity gives the lie to that charge.

Magrath married a Roman Catholic, Áine Ni Meara, daughter of John O'Meara of [[Lisany, Ireland|Lisany]], in [[County Tipperary]]; and had issue, Turlough, Redmond, James, Brian, Marcus, Mary, Cicely, Anne, and Ellis. Upon his wife's death, Magrath remarried.<ref name=fastihibvol1>{{cite book |last=Cotton |first=Henry |title=The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland |edition=2nd |series=Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae |volume=1, The Province of Munster |year=1851 |publisher=Hodges and Smith |location=Dublin |pages=12–13}}</ref>

==In popular culture== * Around [[1577 in poetry|1577]], a caustic satire against Irish Anglican bishops Magrath, [[Matthew Sheyn]] and [[William Casey (bishop)|William Casey]], and a fourth no longer recognizable, was composed as [[Irish bardic poetry]] by the [[Franciscan]] priest-poet [[Friar]] [[Eoghan Ó Dubhthaigh]] (Owen O'Duffy). In the poem, which begins, ''Léig dod chomortus dúinn'' ("No more of your companions for us"), much of the satire aimed at Archbishop Magrath burlesques the fact that his first name, "Maolmhuire", means ''"The Servant of Mary"'' in the [[Irish language]], when he had renounced the veneration of the [[Blessed Virgin]] in exchange for an earthly wife. The poet suggests that he deserved the name ''"Maol gan Mhuire"'' ("The Servant without Mary") much better.<ref>[[Vivian Mercier]] (1962), ''The Irish Comic Tradition'', [[Oxford University Press]]. Pages 138-139.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * Richard Bagwell, ''Ireland under the Tudors'' 3 vols. (London, 1885–1890). * Eoghan O'Duffy, tr. by [[John O'Daly]] (1864), ''The Apostasy of Myler Magrath, Archbishop of Cashel'', [[Cashel, County Tipperary|Cashel]], [[County Tipperary]]. * John O'Donovan (ed.) ''Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters'' 7 vols. (1851). * ''Dictionary of National Biography'' 22 vols. (London, 1921–1922). * 'Archbishop Magrath: The Scoundrel of Cashel' – 1 Oct 1974 by [[Robert Wyse Jackson]] * ''Archbishop Miler Magrath: The Enigma of Cashel'' by Fr. Patrick Ryan (Roscrea, 2014)

==External links== {{commons category|Miler Magrath}} * [https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/politics-and-the-church/the-strange-case-of-dr-biden-and-mr-hyde.html CERC] * [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100060/index.html] Account of Miler Magrath by [[Philip O'Sullivan Beare]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425053055/http://www.seamusjking.com/Articles%20Full/Miler_McGrath.html] Seamus J King's Talk given to Cashel Historical Society in 1986 on Miler McGrath * [http://mcgrathsearch.com/files/Version01_A.pdf Origins of the McGrath Family] by Michael F. McGraw (incl. descent from Miler Magrath)

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Eugene Magennis}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Down and Connor]]|years=1565–1580}} {{s-aft|after=[[Donat O'Gallagher]]}}

{{s-rel|ie}} {{s-bef|before=Hugh O'Carolan}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Clogher]]|years=1570–1571}} {{s-aft|after=[[George Montgomery (bishop)|George Montgomery]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[James MacCawell]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Archbishop of Cashel]]|years=1571–1622}} {{s-aft|after=[[Malcolm Hamilton (archbishop)|Malcolm Hamilton]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Marmaduke Middleton]] (bishop)}} {{s-ttl|title=Held ''[[in commendam]]'' the [[Bishop of Waterford and Lismore|bishopric of Waterford and Lismore]]|years=1582–1589}} {{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Wetherhead]] (bishop)}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas Wetherhead]] (bishop)}} {{s-ttl|title=Held ''[[in commendam]]'' the [[Bishop of Waterford and Lismore|bishopric of Waterford and Lismore]]|years=1592–1608}} {{s-aft|after=John Lancaster (bishop)}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Owen O'Connor]] (bishop)}} {{s-ttl|title=Held ''[[in commendam]]'' the [[Bishop of Killala|bishopric of Killala]]|years=1613–1622}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Archibald Hamilton (bishop)|Archibald Hamilton]] ([[Bishop of Killala and Achonry]])}}

{{s-bef|before=Eugene O'Hart (bishop)}} {{s-ttl|title=Held ''[[in commendam]]'' the [[Bishop of Achonry|bishopric of Achonry]]|years=1613–1622}} {{s-end}}

{{Anglican Archbishops of Cashel}} {{Anglican bishops of Waterford and Lismore}} {{Bishops of Clogher (Church of Ireland)}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magrath, Miler}} [[Category:1520s births]] [[Category:1622 deaths]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Fermanagh]] [[Category:Irish Friars Minor]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Down and Connor]] [[Category:Anglican archbishops of Cashel]] [[Category:Bishops of Waterford and Lismore (Church of Ireland)]] [[Category:Converts to Anglicanism from Roman Catholicism]] [[Category:Former members of Catholic religious institutes]] [[Category:English Reformation]] [[Category:16th-century Irish Anglican priests]] [[Category:17th-century Irish Anglican priests]] [[Category:People of Elizabethan Ireland]] [[Category:Irish Anglican archbishops]] [[Category:People from Pettigo]] [[Category:Bishops of Achonry]]