Bishop David Rothe

Rothe, David, Bishop of Ossory, was born in Ireland, the second half of the 16th century, and was educated at Douay. He was consecrated Bishop of Ossory in 1618. His name is appended to the declaration of the Kilkenny Confederation. On 18th August 1646, he interdicted Kilkenny for not agreeing to Rinuccini's policy. He died 20th April 1650. He is best known for his Analecta Sacra, published about 1617 (an exposure of James's plantation schemes, and an appeal for union among Irishmen), but he wrote various other works, chiefly relating to Irish Church history. Ware speaks of him as "a man of great natural parts, and very well accomplished in learning;" but is wroth that he should defend the truthfulness of the miracles recorded in the lives of the Irish saints. Archbishop Ussher speaks kindly of him. Messingham says that Rothe was "well versed in all sorts of learning, was an elegant orator, a subtle philosopher, a profound divine, an eminent historian, and a sharp reprover of vice." Thomas Ryves, an Oxford graduate, was knighted by James I. for his reply to the Analecta. Sir Richard Cox styles the Analecta "a most scandalous lying book, and stuffed with innumerable falsehoods and malicious accusations of the King's government, and yet dedicated to the Prince of Wales; which is a high strain of impudence and folly, to dedicate to the son reflections and scandals upon the father."

Sources

195. Irish Writers of the Seventeenth Century: Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Dublin, 1846.

128b. Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland, and Ireland, from A.D. 1400 to 1875: W. Maziere Brady. 3 vols. Rome, 1877.

339. Ware, Sir James, Works: Walter Harris. 2 vols. Dublin, 1764.