BRAMHALL (Dr John), archbishop of Armagh,
was born of an ancient family at Pontefract in York-
shire, about the year 1593. He was invited over to
Ireland by the lord deputy Wentworth; and soon after
obtained the arch-deaconry of Meath, the best in that
kingdom. In 1634, he was made bishop of London-
derry, which see he improved very much; but the
greatest service he did to the church of Ireland, was by
getting, with the deputy's assistance, several acts passed
for abolishing fee-farms, recovering impropriations, &c.
by which and by other means he regained to the church
in the space of four years 30,000 or 40,000l. a year. In
the convocation he prevailed upon the church of Ireland
to unite in the same faith with the church of England,
by adopting the 39 articles of that church; and would
willingly have introduced the English canons, but could
only prevail on their accepting such as they deemed
proper. Articles of treason were exhibited against
him in the Irish parliament; and at the treaty of Ux-
bridge in 1644, the English parliament made it a pre-
liminary article, that bishop Bramhall, with archbishop
Laud, and others, should be excepted from the general
pardon. He went abroad; but on the restoration was
appointed archbishop of Armagh, primate and metro-
politain of all Ireland, and was chosen speaker of the
house of lords. He died in 1663; and was the author
of several works, which are collected in one vol. folio.