Nicholas Cusack
Nicholas Cusack (died 5 September 1299) was a thirteenth century Bishop of Kildare and member of the Franciscan Order.[1]
He belonged to a prominent Anglo-Irish family from County Meath, who were tenants in chief to Baron Skryne, and were later based mainly at Cushinstown. Walter de Cusack (died 1334), the judge and military commander, was a cousin. Nicholas clearly regarded himself as an Englishman, and he was always hostile to the Gaelic Irish.[2]
After the death of Bishop Simon of Kilkenny in 1272, divisions in the Chapter led to a seven year vacancy in the See of Kildare, the Chapter being split over the rival claims of the Dean of Kildare and the Treasurer.[2] Finally, Nicholas was chosen in November 1279. Being conveniently in England, where he enjoyed an extended stay, he petitioned King Edward I of England to grant him the temporalities of the See.[3]
As bishop, he is chiefly remembered for his warning to the King in 1284/5 as to the disloyalty of Irish monks, to whom he was deeply hostile.[3] He warned that the monks were meeting with the native Irish rulers in secret and assuring them that it was lawful and Godly to attack the English colony.[3]
In 1291, he was involved in controversy when a number of other bishops complained to the King about his taxation demands. The following year he and the Bishop of Meath, Thomas St Leger, were chosen to collect the papal tax granted by Pope Nicholas III to the King for the relief of the Holy Land.[2]
In his last years, he clashed several times with William de Vesci (d. 1297), the Justiciar of Ireland, and his subordinate Thomas Darcy, Seneschal of Kildare. The clashes were over the extent of William's private rights and privileges as Lord of the liberty of County Kildare, which he had inherited from his mother, Agnes de Ferrers, who was one of the Marshal co-heiresses. These disputes do not seem to have been related to the numerous complaints about William's maladministration as Justiciar, which led to his removal in 1294.
Nicholas died on 5 September 1299 and was buried in Kildare Cathedral.[2]
References
- ^ Wills, James, ed. (1840). "Nicholas Cusack". Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen: From the Earliest Times to the Present Period, Arranged in Chronological Order, and Embodying a History of Ireland in the Lives of Irishmen. Vol. 2. MacGregor, Polson, & Co. p. 204. OCLC 17341442.
- ^ a b c d Mac Shamhráin, Ailbhe (2009). "Cusack, Nicholas". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. doi:10.3318/dib.002347.v1.
- ^ a b c Otway-Ruthven, Jocelyn (1993). A History of Medieval Ireland. Barnes & Noble. p. 138. ISBN 1-56619-216-1. OCLC 29439278.