USHER, AND MATTHEW OF PARIS.

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licit the sanction of the Pope for that project, without which he could not presume to undertake it. He says the Pontiff expressed the satisfaction with which he assented to the king's request, and exhorted him to bear always in mind the conditions upon which that assent had been grounded.

Dr. Lanigan also, though he acknowledges that many historians regard " Adrian's Bull" as a forgery, is himself certain it is a real and authentic document. Gratianus Lucius and M'Geoghegan regard the Bull as spurious. It is not to be found in the "Bullarium Romanum", which is a very significant circumstance; but, in justice to the advocates of the authenticity of the Bull, it must be said that Baronius asserts he found a copy of it in the Vatican library. Giraldus Cambrensis, Usher, and Matthew of Paris give their testimony in favour of the authenticity of the Bull. An allusion to the grant of Ireland to Henry is made in a letter to that king by Pope Alexander III., in the year 1172. It is also referred to by Pope John XXII., in a brief addressed to King Edward II., in the year 1319. A treatise on this Bull of Adrian IV. has been recently published by Most Reverend Monsignor Moran, Bishop of Ossory, bearing the impress of his Lordship's intimate knowledge of Irish ecclesiastical history, his deep research, critical acumen, and profound erudition. His Lordship enunciates that the Bull, even as accepted by some historians, is by no means a definition " ex cathedra", nor does it propose a dogma to the universal Church for the belief of the faithful, but that it is merely commendatory for the reformation of evil manners, and for the promotion of religion and virtue and the interests of the holy Church, and for the extension of the kingdom of Christ. But his Lordship, in the most cogent train of

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MGR. MORAN: BARONIUS.

argument, arraigns even the very authenticity of the accepted document. It is an undoubtedly ascertained fact, that Papal Bulls, to which at all times, but more especially in medieval ages, such momentous importance was attached, were frequently forged. To such a systematic extent were those audacious forgeries perpetrated, that not long since a matrix for multiplying the seal for Papal Bulls was found amidst the ruins of one of the Anglo-Norman monasteries founded by the house of De Courcy. It is by no means improbable that the De Lacies, Strongbows, and others were adepts at those disreputable stratagems to advance their projects, and were not at all fastidious in employing them. It is not merely now that the authenticity of the Bull is for the first time doubted. The Irish people doubted its authenticity from the earliest period of its promulgation. In many ancient manuscripts it is endorsed "Datum Roma", though at the time it professes to have been issued it is quite certain that Pope Adrian was at Beneventum. The Bull of Adrian bears date the latter days of the year 1155. Pope Adrian died in 1159. The English invasion commenced in 1169. Henry II. landed in 1172. The promulgation of this Bull, if authentic, would have undoubtedly added the most powerful sanction and an overwhelming moral influence to the promotion of the king's ambitious projects. Yet it is most worthy of consideration, that though the Bull is dated seventeen years previously, the king never once appealed to it for authority, or even mentioned its existence. It was never produced or proclaimed till three years after the invasion, and till twenty years after the date of the Bull, and till sixteen years after the death of the Pope. The king met the bishops at Cashel in the year 1172, and though

GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS.

119

Adrian's Bull, if it existed, should have pleaded the most powerful apology to the Irish prelates for his invasion and assumption of the sovereignty of Ireland, Henry never even indirectly alluded to it, but observed regarding it the most mysterious silence. These are historical facts which must ever excite grave suspicions of the authenticity of this Bull. No light or argument can be adduced to guide us through these clouds of doubt to the conclusion that the Bull is authentic, except the statements of Giraldus Cambrensis, and those indeed afford but a very weak foundation for the credence. The authenticity of the Bull, and its object, which he asserts was for the promotion of religious discipline, and not for territorial conquest, are very especially treated of by Lynch, in his "Cambrensis Eversus". After a due consideration of the arguments adduced by contending historians on this much vexed question, I consider the weight of argument is entirely on the side of those who doubt or deny the authenticity of the Bull.

The Mandatum.

HE next ceremony was that of the washing of the feet of the thirteen priests. The Holy Father was conveyed from the Loggia, with the usual procession, and borne in the "sedia gestatoria", again entered the Basilica.

There was a terrific rush of the vast multitude to witness the ceremony of the Pope washing the feet of the pilgrims, which took place in the transept of the Church of St. Peter's, which was splendidly draped and festooned

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DUKE CONSTANTINE: PRINCESS OLGA.

for the occasion. A very large space of the vast area of the church was enclosed by draped barriers, within which none were allowed to enter unless in full dress. On the left was erected a long massive bench, ascended by many steps, intended for the pilgrims, covered all over with rich tapestry-opposite were erected boxes for the ambassadors over them were the boxes for the royal personages and their immediate relatives, all festooned and decorated. At the extreme end was the very lofty Papal throne, with overhanging canopy, festoonings in crimson velvet, coats of arms and escutcheons. At either side of the enclosure were boxes exclusively for ladies, and the centre space was occupied by gentlemen in full dress. Amongst the many royal personages present, the youthful and portly figure of the Grand Duke Constantine appeared very prominent and "facile princeps". He wore a very light, sky-blue uniform, with silver epaulettes, silver embroidery, and pendent ornaments, which with the sky-blue ground, formed a beautiful contrast. He wore a broad silk sash across his breast. Her Royal Highness Princess Olga was on his left; she was in full dress in black silk. She wore no feathers in her hair, no lappets, diamonds, jewels, or other ornaments, but a black silk veil, suspended from her hair, fell behind with great simplicity and grace. Her lady-like placidity of expression, her easy gentleness of manner, and dignified deportment, invested her with the "air distingué", and quite accorded with her Royal Highness's exalted rank. Several ladies of honour and some officers in Russian uniforms stood behind them during the entire ceremony. Six of the noble guards, in their full dress uniforms, stood three at either side of the steps of the Pope's throne, one above the other, with their drawn swords

held across their breasts. The pilgrims, thirteen in number, entered from under the arch that leads to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. They were led in procession by some officers of the noble guard round the enclosure, and then to their seats on the elevated bench. They wore long, loose cassocks of white cloth, tied round their waists with a silk cincture, a long cowl hanging behind, and a white mantle over their breasts and shoulders, very tall white caps, white stockings, and white shoes. After a long interval the Holy Father entered from under the same archway. He wore a red cope and white mitre, and was accompanied by very many Cardinals, crossbearers, many ecclesiastical dignitaries, and other officials. He ascended the throne, and the Deacon, with acolytes at either side, chaunted the Gospel from the twenty-first chapter of St. John, after which the Papal choir sang the versicle "Mandatum Novum". His Holiness then took off his cope, girded himself round with a silk band, and, preceded by his many exalted attendants, and one bearing a silver salver with many napkins, proceeded towards the pilgrims. At the foot of each stood a vase of water. The stockings were cut, so that the subdeacon could turn them up and expose their feet without the awkward process of pulling off their stockings. The Holy Father knelt. An esquire poured water out of the silver vase on the foot, which was received underneath in a silver basin. The Pope rubbed the foot, dried it, and kissed it. The Deacon presented the pilgrim a napkin and a bouquet of flowers. He was followed by the treasurer, bearing a richly-embroidered purse of scarlet velvet, out of which he took a medal of silver and another of gold, which he successively presented to each. The Pope re-ascended the throne, and the concluding orations