Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hickey, Antony
HICKEY, ANTONY (d. 1641), theologian, belonged to the Irish family of h-Icidhe, of co. Clare, many members of which practised medicine during some generations. Hickey entered the order of St. Francis, and studied at Louvain under Hugh MacCathmhaoil, or MacCawell, who was subsequently Roman catholic primate of Ireland. He became professor of philosophy and theology at Louvain, and subsequently at Cologne, where his learning secured for him a high reputation. In 1619, by order of the administrators of the Franciscans, he removed from Cologne to Rome, with the object of collaborating with his countryman, Luke Wadding, in the publication of the works of Duns Scotus and the ‘Annales Minorum.’ In 1639 the general assembly of the Franciscans at Rome appointed Hickey to the important post of diffinitor or sub-head of the order. Hickey projected publications on the history and hagiography of Ireland, for which his acquirements and knowledge of the Irish language rendered him specially qualified. He died, before this work was commenced, on 26 June 1641, at St. Isidore's, Rome, where he was buried. Hickey's epitaph was written by Wadding, who entertained great affection for him, and testified to his erudition, humility, and piety. Some unpublished writings by Hickey, of a theological character, remained in the possession of Wadding. A portrait of Hickey is preserved in the college of St. Isidore.
Hickey's published works are: 1. ‘Nitela Franciscanæ religionis, a Dermitio Thadæo,’ Lyons, 1627, a treatise in vindication of the principles of the Franciscan order, in reply to strictures by Abraham Bzovius or Bzowski, a Polish Dominican author. Hickey's pseudonym, ‘Dermitius Thadeus,’ was the name of one of his early instructors. 2. ‘R. P. F. Joannis Duns Scoti, doctoris subtilis, ordinis minorum, quæstiones in lib. iv. sententiarum. Nunc denuo recognitæ, annotationibus marginalibus, doctorumque celebriorum ante quamlibet quæstionem citationibus exornatæ et scholiis per textum insertis illustratæ; cum commentario R. P. F. Antonii Hiquæi, Hiberni, ejusdem ordinis S. Theologiæ lectoris emeriti,’ Lyons, 1639, 3 vols. folio; this annotated edition of parts of the works of Scotus was for the series which Wadding and his Irish associates undertook with the patronage of the king of Spain. Hickey did his work by order of Giovanni Campanea, minister-general of the Franciscans, and at the request of members of that order. By direction of the cardinals of the congregation of rites, Hickey compiled materials for the revised offices of the church for the festival of St. Catherine of Siena.
[Archives of Irish Franciscans; MSS. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin; Scriptores Ordinis Minorum, Rome, 1650; Epitome Annalium Ordinis Minorum, Rome, 1662; H. Sbaraleæ Supplementum ad Scriptores Trium Ordinum, Rome, 1806; Rome, Ancient and Modern, by J. J. Donovan, D.D., 1843.]