Internal Exile: Ussher and Laudianism: 1633–40

Abstract The arrival of Lord Deputy Wentworth in Ireland in 1633 marked a dramatic change in the tenor of ecclesiastical policy. In one respect, this was welcome to Ussher and his fellow clergy — Wentworth proved to be firm, even fierce, in his efforts to protect and improve the endowment of the church. But the other main thrust of his policy — to bring the Irish church closer into line with the Church of England — proved to be much more controversial. With the help of his chaplain, John Bramhall, and under the direction of his close ally, William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Wentworth set about in the Church of Ireland's convocation in 1634, introducing the Thirty Nine Articles as the church's confession and the 1604 English canons as its disciplinary code. Fierce resistance from Ussher and convocation forced a partial retreat: eventually, Wentworth and Bramhall made convocation adopt the English confession without abrogating the Irish one, and to agree an amended version of the 1604 canons. After convocation, Ussher left the task of directing the Church of Ireland to Bramhall and focused instead upon his studies. Though some historians have suggested that Ussher was, as a result, hostile to Wentworth, the primate seems to have maintained friendly relations with the Lord Deputy.