WALSH, Peter. Four Letters on Several Subjects, to Persons of Quality. The fourth being an Answer to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln’s Book, Entituled, Popery. The Epistle Dedicatory to the Duke of Ormond.

[London] Printed Anno 1686. 19mo. pp. [xlvi], 590. Modern full brown morocco, covers ruled in gilt. Spine divided into five panels by four gilt raised bands, title in gilt on red morocco label in the second, the remainder elaborately tooled in gilt; board edges ruled in gilt; blue and white endbands. Some marginalia, a few leaves close shaved. Previous owner’s signature on titlepage. All edges gilt. A very good copy. Exceedingly rare in commerce.

A scarce work by the Irish Franciscan controversialist Peter Walsh (c.1618–1688), and his final publication. The place of printing is assigned to London by Wing; the Folger collation gives [48], 590, [2] pages and identifies Thomas Barlow as the Bishop of Lincoln referred to on the title-page.

The volume collects four substantial letters written over the preceding decade and reflects Walsh’s distinctive position in the religious and political controversies of Restoration Ireland. The first concerns the treatment of Catholic clergy following the proclamation of 1674; the second and third engage with Nicholas French, Bishop of Ferns, while the fourth answers Barlow’s attacks upon Catholic political loyalty. Walsh defended Catholic doctrine while arguing against claims that allegiance to Rome necessarily compromised the temporal authority of princes.

Of particular Irish interest is Walsh’s close association with James Butler, Duke of Ormond, to whom the work is dedicated. In the dedicatory epistle Walsh recalls first seeing Ormond at Kilkenny Castle in 1648 and acknowledges the Duke’s long-standing favour towards him. Walsh was a central figure in the controversy surrounding the Irish Catholic Remonstrance, which attempted to reconcile Catholic allegiance with loyalty to the restored monarchy. His often controversial stance placed him at odds with important sections of the Irish Catholic hierarchy.

An important late seventeenth-century Irish Catholic controversial work, combining questions of religion, political allegiance and the legacy of the Confederate and Restoration periods.

[L1 8C]