The street of the Cooks

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PART II.

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS OF COOK STREET.

CHAPTER I.**

The Street of the Cooks - Jesuit College, Back Lane - “Mass Houses” in Cook Street - Adam and Eve Chapel - Attack on “Mass House” in Cook Street - Arrest of Catholic Alderman - Banishment of the Orders from Dublin in 1629 - Archbishop Bulkeley and the English Privy Council.

oldmap.gif (38907 bytes)(Map of Cook Street and its Environment, showing its many interesting associations with the History of Dublin City in the past:-

(1) Jesuit College, Cook Street.

(2) The Church of SS. Michael and John’s (Rosemary Lane).

(3) St. Audeon’s Arch.

(4) Jesuit College, Back Lane.

(5) 92 Cook Street, where Fr. Betagh S.J., died.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The inquiry by the Local Government Board which took place in 1910, *re *the proposed Cook Street area, recalled to the mind of the student of Dublin history many interesting epochs in connection with the story of the penal days, and the struggle for the preservation of Ireland’s Faith against desperate odds which was waged within the area under the purview of the Local Government Inspector.

A glance at the map of Dublin, as it existed 200 years ago, shows that within the ambit of Cook Street stood no less than four Catholic places of worship-the Franciscan, the Dominican, the Jesuit, and a Parish Church. It is a street full of historic recollections and events, many worthy of recall, found in the works of the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Sir John Gilbert, W. J. Battersby, E. Evans, and others, from which I cull the following:-

Cook Street was anciently known as “Le Coke Street or Vicus Cocorum,” the street of the Cooks, the Dublin members of which profession were incorporated under the name of the “Guild of Cooks,” or Fraternity of St. James the Apostle. The Guild possessed four Charters. Its first, dating 1444, its second Charter (1565) incorporating it with the Society of Vintners, was confirmed by James I.

After amalgamation, the Coporation of Cooks and Vintners assembled at their Hall in the Eagle Tavern, Eustace Street. The Shoemakers, or the Guild of the Blessed Virgin, had their Guild Hall in Cook Street, a large stone building at the rere of the houses Nos. 21 and 22 Cook Street, built early in the 18th century.

From the following one may learn how this trade at that period dealt with those of the body who worked for less than the standard rate of prices, as fixed by the Trade Committee. In the *Dublin Journal *of 6th June, 1768, the following appears: -

“On Monday last a poor shoemaker was carried on a pole through the streets, attended by a number of the trade apprentices, etc., telling the people as they went along that it was for working under price; but, being pursued by our vigilant sheriffs, some of the ringleaders were lodged in Newgate, Corn Market, close to their Guild Hall. So far back as the year 1356 the name Cook Street is mentioned in deeds of assignment. On the northern side of Cook Street stood, in 1402, the city residence of the old Norman family of De Burnell. This family seemed to fill a large space in the events of the period. We learn that John Burnell was attainted and executed at Tyburn, for having been one of the principal supporters of Silken Thomas in his revolt in 1535. Later in 1577 Henry Burnell is mentioned as being one of those who opposed Elizabeth’s levying cess upon the Pale.”

Sir Henry Sydney, the Governor of Ireland, writes at this date:- “Burnell’s father is alive, and an old man, but neither in youth nor age lived or was able to live in half that appearance that this man doth. He thirsted earnestly to see the English Government withdrawn hence.” Despite this character he was appointed Justice of the Queen’s Bench in 1589, but his loyalty to the powers that be was not of that nature which pleased them, for he, in 1605, then a very aged man, was committed a prisoner to his own house for having engaged in a deputation formed of the principal Roman Catholics of the Pale to petition for a remission of the religious disabilities imposed upon them.

We next see the passing of the “Inns” into the hands of the stranger, when, in 1613, James I. granted to Philip Hore Burnell, Inn, Cook Street, and an orchard or garden.” Sir James Carroll, King’s Remembrancer to James I., and Mayor of Dublin in 1612, 1613, and 1634, had his mansion in Cook Street. In the latter year he presented to Lord Deputy Wentworth a memorial containing” propositions concerning the keeping of the streets of the Cittie of Dublin clean, and for ordering and settling the multitude of beggars in and near the cittie, and for reforming and correcting sundry other sorts of disordered persons” - problems which are awaiting solution to-day.

It is recorded that in 1623 the Privy Council of Ireland received information how many Jesuites, Fryers, and Popish Priests had come from beyond the seas and from England into this kingdom, and a list was procured of those who were then succoured in Dublin, who had their conferences at the houses of Alderman Fyan and Alderman Sir James Carroll.

The names recorded in the list as mentioned are as follows -William Malone, a Jesuit; James Comefore, a Fryer Bartholomew Hamlin, a Priest; James Hamilton, a Scotch Fryer; Luke Rocheford, a Priest; Thomas Coyle, a Priest; one Hamlin, a brother to the aforesaid Hamlin, a Fryer; Patrick Brangan, a Priest; one O’Donogh, a Priest; Laurence Cheevers, a Fryer; John Netterville, a Jesuit; Francis Fade, a Jesuit; one James Talbot, Vicar-General.

Upon the authorities learning of the meeting in conference of the foregoing they issued a proclamation from Dublin Castle on the 24th January, 1623, for the banishing of Jesuites, Fryers, and Popish Priests out of Ireland within 40 days after the date thereof.

The Most Rev. Bishop Donnelly, in his introduction to the Egerton MS., gives us a glimpse as to the condition of affairs in our city in 1618. A Government return states- “The places of most public note whereunto the priests resort for Mass in Dublin are:- The Bakers’ Hall, in the College, adjoining St. Audoen’s Chancel; a back room of Brown, near Newgate (at this period in Corn Market); a back room of Mr. Plunkett, in Bridge Street; a back room of Nicholas Queitot’s, in Bridge Street; a back room of Carey, in High Street; a back room of Widow O’Ragan, in High Street; Shalton’s house beyond the bridge, at the corner of the so-called Hangman Lane (Hammond Lane).”

It will be noted that all the places named are within Cook Street ambit but the last one on the list.

When Charles I. ascended the throne in 1625 there was a slight relaxation of the Penal Laws. The Discalced Order coming into Dublin about this time established themselves in Cook Street, close to the Franciscans, who had a small chapel in a laneway off that street, which was known as “Adam and Eve’s,” from a sign of a publichouse which stood at the corner, a name which still clings to the church of the Franciscans (St. Francis of Assisi) on Merchants’ Quay.

The era of toleration was soon to come to a close. In April, 1629, a proclamation was issued “Banishing Jesuites, Fryers, and Popish Priests out of Ireland within 40 days after the date thereof.”

This was the prelude to the stirring times and momentous events which took place within the Cook Street area shortly after.

The following sidelights by the late Mr. Evans are of interest in connection with the Franciscan Church on Merchants’ Quay, the historic Church of the Franciscans, but more popularly known as the “Church of Adam and Eve”:

This chapel was not dedicated to the names of the first parents of mankind, as the general reader would at first naturally surmise, but from the following traditional story, which we believe to be not generally known:- In the reign of Henry 111(1236), he granted a piece of ground on the southern suburb of Dublin, adjacent to the City Walls, to the Conventual Franciscans, whereon they erected a spacious church and dwellinghouse.

When Henry VIII. suppressed all the monasteries he granted or sold to one Thomas Stephens for the sum of £36 6s., (or about £726 of our present money), and an annual rent of two shillings, this property. The nephew and heir of Thomas Stephens, the purchaser of the monastery, although still pretending to be a Roman Catholic, converted it into a garden, and subsequently used it as building ground, so that not the least memorial either of the church or monastery now remains.

He, after pulling down the church and convent, sold the beautiful corbels, exquisitely-wrought mullions, and marble altars, in England. Thenceforth the Franciscan Friars had a precarious life in the city of Dublin until about the year 1615, when they rented a small back house at the rere of an old tavern in Cook Street, then known as the sign of Adam and Eve. The entrance to this back house was through a long, narrow passage from Cook Street, which also served as a kind of hall-door entrance to the inn.

At the period we are now writing about all alehouses, inns, etc., in the city of Dublin were licensed to sell spirituous liquors at all reasonable hours on Sundays as well as week-days, except at such hours as Divine Service in the parochial churches would have been performed. At this period, and for upwards of a century later, the Penal Laws were in full vigour against the Roman Catholics, by which they were not only prohibited from attending at their religious assemblies, but were also prohibited having chapels or other places of worship in the city, save only whatever private places they would select and have known only to their own members.

Therefore, the priests or friars of the Cook Street Convent, to evade the laws that were against them, said their Masses at such hours on Sundays as would not conflict with the hours at which Protestants assembled at their respective churches, and usually had some confidential person placed at the entrance door, who would not allow any person to pass into the private chapel except those whom he knew to be Roman Catholics, and all such persons had, as a pass or countersign, to use the expression, “I am going to Adam and Eve.” Hence the name still applies to the Franciscan Church till the present day.

When the present church was, in 1832, erected on the site of the old one, the old tavern (Adam and Eve) was also taken down, its site forming the large courtyard and entrance enclosed with iron railings into the church from Cook Street.

Returning to the historic story of bygone days, we learn that on St. Stephen’s Day, 1629, the then Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, Lancelot Bulkeley, commenced his campaign of persecution of the Roman Catholics. When in Dublin, on the pretence that the Jesuits and the Friars were infusing sedition amongst their congregations, he applied to the Lords Justices for a warrant to seize the offenders then meeting in Cook Street.

Intolerance was reigning at the Council Board in Dublin Castle, and the appeal was granted. The Bishop, accompanied by the “Major,” with a military escort, entered upon his plan of campaign. The following description of the attack on the “Mass House” in Cook Street is thus recorded, and is still in existence in the Library of the Franciscans, in Merchant’s Quay

1629[-301], January 4[-14], Dublin. – to -----:-

“Father: in my former letter of the 28th or 29th of December I did seirtefie you of the prosiding of our Maior and Lord Archbishopp [*Ie., *the Protestant Archbishop, Dr. Launcelot Bulkeley.]; which if you have not received, the manner was this, viz. - The Maior, accompened with the Lord Archbishop, the Recorder, Mr. Johnn, and Mr. Kely, aldermen, with the Sherif, Foster, Capten Carey, and his sowlders came aboutt alawen of the clocke in to the chepell [and] the dors being fast brock open them; the chepell being full, and they redy to goe to mas; one ther comming in the pepell were in aubproare; with that the Maior pulled down the pickterr and the Lord Archbishop pulled down the pulpett; the sowiders and the pepell weare by the heres one with another, and the pickteres were all brocken and defased, and they toke within five sutts of vestments and one chales. There was two of the younge friors taken and putt in the custody of Bently, the Pursevant (Edward and one Barnewell), and they were reskued by the women. Our Maior and the Bushoppe coming from the Friors’ howse, the country folke and some other children and sarvants pursued them, casting stones and the durt of the kenel after them, and pursued until they were forced to go into Sim. Esmond howse in Skinner Roe, and ther staid until the Justices come from church. The Justices and the Counsel satt, and sent presently a proclamation that no mane, neither their children nor sarvant should goe abrode or stire out dores. This being done one Saterday, Sunday they said nothing; Monday morning all the Catholicke aldermen were sent for to the Counsell Tabell, and ther examined by poll, wherof I was the second man examined, which I will forbear to writt of; being too long to relatt. But after we were examined each of us was confined in a secret place apart. My brother James, Mr. Torner, Mr. Edward, and Robert Arthur, and Mr. Russell of Lecale were committed to the Castell; Mr. Walter Usher and myself leaft free.

Tuesday following, Mr. Gooding, Mr. Mapas, and Mr. Steaphens were examined, and Mr. Gooding committed to the Marshailsie, Mr. Steaphens to the Castle, and Mr. Mapas to Sir Tadie Duff’s howse in regard of his sickness. Wensday, the widow Nugent in Wine Tavern Stritt was committed with many others; and all the Constables of Cook Stritt, Come Market, and High Stritt comitt; and they are all at this present in prison.”

The Council of Dublin Castle, evidently prompted by Archbishop Bulkeley, who was most indignant at the Papists defending their church and their priest, lost no time in corresponding with the Privy Council in London, who were of the same way of thinking upon such matters as his Grace. On referring to a somewhat scarce volume, entitled “Secrets of Empire,” a supplement of the “Cabala,” published in London, 1654, page 340, we find the following:- The Lords of the Councel of England to the Lords of the Councel in Ireland, 31 Jany., 1629 - By your letters dated the ninth of January, we understand how the seditious riot moved by the Friars and their adherents in Dublin, hath by your good order and resolution been happly supprest, and we doubt not but* *by this occasion you will consider how much it concerneth the good government of that kingdom, to prevent the first growing of such evils, for where such people be permitted to swarm, they will soon grow licentious, and endure no government but their own, which cannot be otherwise restored than by a due and seasonable execution of the Law, and of such directions as from time to time have been sent from his Majesty and this Board.” …

… “This we write, not mistaking the faire course you have taken; but to express the concurrency of our Judgments with yours, and to assure you of our assistance in all such occasions wherein for your further proceedings we have advised. And his Majesty requireth you accordingly to take order, first that the house wherein Seminiary Friars appeared in their habits, and wherein the Reverend Archbishop and the Maior of Dublin received the first affront, be spedily demolished, and be the mark of terror to the resistors of authority, and that the rest of the houses erected or employed there or elsewhere to the use of suspicious societies, be converted to houses of correction, and to set the people on work, or to other publick uses, for the advancement of Justice, good Arts or Trades; and, further, that you will use all fit meanes to discover the Founders, Benefactors, and Maintainers of such Societies and Colleges, and certifie their names, and that you will find out the Lands, Leases, or Revenues applyed to their uses, and dispose thereof according to the Law, and that you certifie also the places and institutions of all such Monasteries, Priories, Nunneries, and other Religious houses, and the names of all such persons as have put themselves to be brothers and sisters therein, especially such as are of note) to the end such evil plants be not permitted to take root anywhere in that Kingdome, which we require you to take care of. For the supply of Munition which you have reason to desire we have taken effectual order that you shall receive it with all convenient speed, and so-(Signed):

The Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, Lord President, Lord Privy Seal, Lord High Chamberlain, Earl of Suffolk, Earl of Dorset,Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Kelly, Lord Viscount Dorchester, Lord Newbergh, Vice Chamberlaine, Mr. Secretary Cook, Sir William Alexander.”

 

The Mass houses or chapels then in Cook Street and its ambit were closed, as was the Jesuits’ College in Back Lane, which was sequestered and given to Trinity College. The latter building was used by Cromwell as an hospital for his troops during his Irish campaign. I may add it stood near what we know in our own time as the Tailors’ Hall.

Before passing away from Archbishop Bulkeley, the name of Cromwell recalls two incidents worthy of note. Just 40 years after his “battle” in Cook Street) “spent with grief for the calamities of the times and the sufferings of the Church,” Dr. Bulkeley departed this life at Tallaght on the 8th September, 1650, in the 82nd year of his age.

The other incident is one within our own time. Centuries have passed; the clouds of persecution have rolled by; 247 years after the action of the Bishop in Cook Street we see the Lord Mayor of Dublin, accompanied by his citizen soldiers, with all the pomp and circumstance of State, not demolishing, but unveiling, amidst the applause of a mighty multitude, in the principal street of our city, a memorial to a son of St. Francis-Father Theobald Mathew.

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