(From Molanus’ Idea,p.96)

HE passed several years in prison in Dublin, and endured in it all the hardships of cold and confinement. 

Broken down by sufferings, he exchanged this brief life for eternity, in the year 1621. 

We have the following testimony borne to his merits by the Archbishop and several of the leading clergy of the city :-

We, the undersigned, 

having been asked to declare what we know with certainty of the manner of life and of the death of Francis Tailler, senator[1] of Dublin, and resolved to give to virtue the praise it deserves, and to all good men the honour due to them even after death, testify and declare from certain knowledge that the aforesaid Francis Tailler, senator of the city of Dublin, was by far the most respected of the senators of Dublin, and not only that he was of good repute and much honoured by all good men, but so faithful to God that though far advanced in years, and respected for his virtue and constancy which was tested by various persecutions and imprisonment at the hands of the enemies of the Catholic Church, yet he could never be induced to swerve by a hair’s breadth from the profession of the Catholic faith and obedience to the Church of Rome. 

Wherefore, after an imprisonment of seven years, worn out by old age and the hardships of the prison, he died in the Castle of Dublin on January 30th, 1621. 

So we testify, and in proof of our good faith, we gladly subscribe our names and set our seals to the same.

Given in Dublin, in Ireland, August 17th, 1630.’

Thomas Fleming,’ Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland[2].

Luke Rochfort, RP. of St. Audeon’s

Patrick Cahill, Rector of St. Mary’s Galtrim.

Fr. Dominic Nugent, of the Order of Preachers.

Henry Cusack, Superior of the Residence S.J., Dublin.

‘I wish to add my testimony to what is known by public report and spread abroad by the abundant testimony of many persons, and to show my respect for one who was an example to future generations, and whose memory we can never sufficiently commend. 

Francis Tayler was sprung from an ancient noble family both on the father’s and the mother’s side, and filled several public offices with great credit, as that of Mayor, Treasurer, and Senator, in fine, in the City of Dublin, the metropolis of Ireland. 

But he was far more illustrious by his profession of the Catholic faith to which he was very much attached all his life. 

He put the crown to this constancy and to his other great virtues by a glorious death after an imprisonment of seven years in the Castle of Dublin, on the 201h of January, 1621.

‘In testimony whereof I have set my name and seal to these presents.

‘Given in Paris, May 4th 1631.’

Thomas Mede, Protonotary of the Holy Roman Church, formerly Almoner of the Most Illustrious Cardinal de Bérulle.

[1] He was Alderman. See Gilbert’s Calendar of Records of Dublin, il.42.
Ware gives Francis Taylor as Sheriff in 1586 and Mayor in 1595

[2] He was Archbishop of Dublin from 1623 to 1656. See his Life in Renehans Collections, i. 190. and Moran’s Archbishops of  Dublin, p.294

Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.