HE was Vicar General of the dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns,
‘a good and pious man, who has great influence in the ecclesiastical concerns of this kingdom.’
His capture is thus spoken of in a letter of Chichester to the Earl of Salisbury, of February 26th, 1606 :
‘They have taken one Lawler, a priest, whose name is well known to the Lord Lieutenant.
They got him by the endeavour of Sir Oliver Lambert,
who set his lieutenant, who was then one of their provost marshals, to watch him,
and he was quietly taken, with some papers, and divers popish trinkets.
He is a notable seducer of the people and called himself Vicar General of Dublin and Kildare,
and so reputed throughout Leinster.’
He was indicted under the 2 Eliz. c.i., for advancing and upholding foreign jurisdiction within this realm.
If we are to believe Cox, he humbled himself to the Court, and voluntary and upon oath made a recognition, -
1. That he was not lawful Vicar General in the dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns.
2. He doth acknowledge King James to be his supreme governor in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil.
3. That all bishops ordained by the King’s authority within any of his dominions are lawful bishops.
4. He professeth himself willing to obey the King as in all his lawful commandments,
either concerning his function of priesthood or any other duty belonging to a good subject.’
His name is not given in Rothe’s Catalogue of Martyrs.
He was a prisoner in the Castle of Dublin on November 12th, 1606.
Most probably he was confined there till his death, for there is no further mention of him in the State Papers.
