Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/595

 TALBOT. 591 of the Hanover succession, were further rewarded in the year 1716, with the archbishopric of Tuam, which he held till his death, which happened on July 24th, 1741, in the eighty-third year of his age. The writings of this excellent prelate, consisting of small tracts, which have, separately, passed through many editions, form 4 vols. 12mo. PETER TALBOT, A Roman Catholic prelate of great talents, but of an ambitious and intriguing disposition, was the son of Sir William Talbot, of an ancient family in the county of Dublin, and brother to the celebrated Earl of Tyrconnel. He was born in 1620, and received into the society of the Jesuits in Portugal, in 1635. After passing through the usual course of study, he took holy orders at Rome, whence he returned to Portugal. He afterwards read lectures on moral theology at Antwerp, and is supposed to have been the person who, in 1656, found means to reconcile Charles II. to the Romish religion, and to have been secretly sent by him to announce that event to the court of Madrid. Being sent by his superiors into England to promote the interest of the church, he was extremely assiduous in paying his court to Cromwell, and even attended his funeral as a mourner. Having joined with Colonel Lam bert to oppose the Restoration, he was compelled to fly from England, to which, however, he found means to return on the marriage of the king with the infanta of Portugal, in whose family he became one of the officiating priests; but having by his intrigues occasioned some confusion at court, he was ordered to quit the kingdom. Having been absolved from his vows by Pope Clement IX., he was, in 1669, made titular archbishop of Dublin. On his arrival in Ireland in this capacity, he involved himself in a dispute with the titular primate, Plunket, pretending that the king had appointed him overseer of a l l the clergy o f Ire land. On the discovery o f the pretended popish plot i n 1678, his intriguing disposition led t o a suspicion that h e was concerned i n i t h e was imprisoned i n consequence i n 1